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HISTORY  /^^ 


WASHINGTON  COUNTY 


^  /        FROM  ITS  FIRST  SETTLEMENT 


prese:n^t  time, 

FIRST  UNDER  VIRGINIA  AS  YOHOGANIA,  OHIO,  OR  AUGUSTA  COUNTY 
UNTIL  1731,  AND  SUBSEQUENTLY  UNDER  PENNSYLVANIA; 


SKETCHES  OP  ALL  THE  TOWNSHIPS,  BOROUGHS,  AND  VILLAGES,  ETC. ; 

AND  TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 

A  FULL  ACCOUKT  OF  THE  CELEBEATEP  MASON  AND  DIXON'S  LINE,  THE 

WHISKEY  INSURRECTION,  INDIAN  WARFARE,  TRADITIONAL 

AND  LOCAL  HISTORICAL  EVENTS. 


Wh<%tever  makes  the  past,  the  distant,  or  the  future  preponderate  over  the  present, 
advances  us  in  the  dignity  of  thinking  heings. — Dr.  Johnson. 


BY 


ALFRED  CREIGH,  LL.D. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1870,  by 
ALFRED  CREIGH,  LL.  D. 

in  the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  in  and  for  the 
Western  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


\-'l^lH3> 


\ 


TO    THE    CITIZENS 

OK 

WASHINGTON  COUNTY,  PENNSYLVANIA, 

WHOSE    DEVOTION    TO    PATRONIZE    AND    ENCOURAGE 

MORALITY,  LITERATURE,  PATRIOTISM,  AND  RELIGION 

IS  NOT  SURPASSED 
BYANY    BODY     OF     CITIZENS    IN    THE 

AMERICAN    UNION, 

%\i^  Mmt 

IS  RESPECTFULLY   DEDICATED 
BY    THEIR    FELLOW-CITIZEN, 

ALFRED  CREIGH. 

ELLE5DALE  ViLLA, 

Washington,  Pa.,  June  29,  1870- 


(  3   ) 


PREFACE. 


For  the  last  nine  years,  the  author  of  this  volume  has  been  en- 
gaged in  collecting  and  arranging  materials  for  the  history  of 
Washington  County,  a  county  whose  existence  (not,  however,  in  its 
present  organized  chartered  form)  is  coeval  with  the  chartered  rights 
both  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  These  States  claimed  control 
over  its  territory,  until  the  disputed  question  was  finally  settled  and 
adjusted  by  extending  the  celebrated  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  in 
1785,  although  the  chartered  history  of  Washington  County  dates 
back  to  1781. 

There  has  been  a  growing  desire,  for  the  last  few  years,  among  the 
people  of  this  and  other  counties  to  investigate  and  become  acquainted 
with  their  local  history.  It  is  eminently  proper  and  praiseworthy  in 
any  people  to  rescue  from  oblivion  memorials  of  unpublished  facts, 
reminiscences,  and  traditions;  to  call  to  memory  the  primitive  days  of 
our  forefathers,  their  frontier  life  and  hardships,  their  struggles  with 
the  red  men  of  the  forest,  and  to  collect  and  preserve  valuable  and 
interesting  statistical  information  and  reliable  facts  which  will  tend 
to  perpetuate  their  history. 

Under  such  influences,  and  at  the  request  of  a  committee  of  my 
fellow-citizens,  I  entered  the  hitherto  untrodden  field  to  collect  all 
these  memorials,  and  now  present  them  for  your  consideration  and 
approval.  I  do  not  intend  to  convey  the  meaning  that  it  is  entirely 
perfect;  it  will  take  time  and  more  diligent  research  to  procure  the 
memorials  which  have  not  3'et  been  published;  but  this  volume  is 
intended  to  be  the  starting-point  from  which  the  future  historian  can 
gain  reliable  facts.  I  have  been  particularly  careful  not  to  give 
any  traditionary  facts,  without  being  corroborated  by  authentic  docu- 
ments or  strong  circumstantial  evidence. 

To  natives  and  their  descendants  of  Washington  County,  settled 
i'.  distant  places,  this  volume  will  prove  of  great  interest,  recalling 
(  4  ) 


PREFACE.  5 

to  memory  old  associations,  friends  of  former  years,  and  the  recollec- 
tion of  events  and  incidents  passed  from  memory. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  preparation  of  this  history  of  Wash- 
ington County  may  be  gathered  from  the  perusal  of  the  following 
correspondence : — 

Washington,  January  9,  186]. 
Dr.  Alfred  Creigh, 

Dear  Sir:  Our  "old  men"  are  fast  passing  away,  and  with  them,  unless  soon 
rescued,  will  be  lost  many  facts  connected  with  tlie  early  settlement  and  history 
of  our  borough  and  county.  Many  accounts  are  doubtless  in  existence  which 
are  also  liable  to  be  lost  when  the  present  possessors  cease  to  own  them. 

We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  some  one  to  gather  unpublished  facts, 
reminiscences,  memorials,  and  traditions  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  county, 
and  present  them  to  the  public  in  an  historic  form.  A  history  of  Washington 
Borough  and  County  would  prove  deeply  interesting  to  the  present  inhabit- 
ants and  to  their  children  scattered  all  over  the  land.  As  a  work  of  future 
reference,  it  would  be  invaluable.  Knowing  your  zeal  and  perseverance  in 
matters  of  this  kind,  we  would  respectfully  suggest  that  you  undertake  this 
work.  We  will  cheerfully  aid  you  in  obtaining  facts  and  gaining  access  to 
documents. 

We  believe  that  sufficient  numbers  of  the  book  could  be  sold  to  repay  you 
for  your  labor.     Hoping  you  will  comply  with  the  request. 

We  remain  yours,  &c., 
ALEXANDER  WILSON,  JOHN  L.  GOW, 
JOHN  H.  EWING,  THOS.  W.  GRAYSON, 

C.  M.  REED,  G.  W.  MILLER, 

J.  L.  JUDSON,  DAVID  AIKEN, 

JOHN  R.  DONEHOO,  WM.   VANKIRK, 

WM.  HOPKINS,  FREEMAN  BRADY,  Jr., 

JAMES  B.  RUPLE,  W.  S.  MOORE, 

H.  A.  PURVIANCE,  JAMES  W.  KUNTZ, 

WM.  HUGHES,  R.  H.  KOONTZ, 

A.  H.  ECKER,  GEO.  S.  HART, 

WILLIAM  SWAN,  W.  A.  MICKEY, 

W.  H.  HORN,  H.  J.  VANKIRK. 

REPLY. 

Washington,  January  21,  1861. 
Gbstlemen:  Your  letter  of  .January  9th  is  now  before  me,  and  after  mature 
deliberation  upon  its  contents,  I  shall  avail  myself  of  preparing,  and  at  the 
earliest  opportunity  of  presenting  to  the  public  a  full  history  of  Washington 
Borough  and  County.  The  reminiscences,  memorials,  and  traditions  which 
exist  in  this  county  will  make  an  interesting  work,  more  especially  as  this 
was  the.^r.s<  county  which  was  organized  in  Pennsylvania  after  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 


b  I'REl^ACE. 

It  is  true  that  the  history  which  I  am  about  to  write  will  require  untiring 
diligence,  unwearied  perseverance,  and  industrious  research,  yet  with  the 
promised  aid  of  yourselves  and  the  co-operation  of  my  fellow-citizens  who  may 
be  iu  possession  of  any  facts  or  traditions  tending  to  elucidate  our  history,  I 
have  no  fear  of  the  result.  As  Washington  County  was  the  Jirxt  organized, 
let  her  likewise  be  i\\*i  Jjrst  in  the  State  to  inaugurate  a  system  by  which, 
every  county,  following  her  example,  will  present  their  separate  histories  to 
the  American  people,  whereby  incalculable  good  will  result  not  only  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  but  to  the  rising  generation. 

With  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem,  I  remain  yours  truly, 

ALFRED  CREIQH. 
To  Alexandkr  Wilson,  Esq.,  and  others. 

The  materials  for  the  work  have  been  derived  chiefly  from  the 
Colonial  Records  and  Archives  of  the  State,  the  records  of  the 
county  and  borough,  files  of  newspapers,  pastors  of  churches,  and 
kind  friends  who  felt  a  deep  interest  in  procuring  for  my  use  these 
memorials.  To  the  committee  wdio  addressed  me  on  the  subject,  to 
my  friend  Hon.  James  Veech,  of  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  am  I  particu- 
larly indebted  for  the  use  of  his  notes  on  Washington  County,  and 
the  Mason  and  Dixon  question;  to  David  S.  Wilson,  Esq.,  who 
aided  me  by  his  counsel  and  research,  and  to  Rev.  Dr.  James  I. 
Brownson  who,  from  the  moment  of  its  undertaking,  felt  a  deep  and 
abiding  interest  in  its  publication,  with  many  others,  I  return  ray 
sincere  thanks,  fondly  trusting  that  the  work  may  meet  the  approval 
-of  all  my  fellow-citizens;  fully  convinced  that  any  imperfections  will 
be  overlooked  by  the  reader,  in  the  contemplation  of  the  variety  of 
subjects  presented  for  his  consideration. 

Where  any  error  is  discovered,  I  shall  be  thankful  to  the  reader 
to  inform  me  by  letter  of  the  inaccuracy,  and  I  shall  have  it  corrected 
in  a  subsequent  edition,  my  desire  being  to  give  a  faithful,  truthful, 
and  reliable  history  of  Washington  County. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

WASHINGTON  COUNTY — ITS  PRIMITIVE  HISTORY  UNDER  VIRGINIA. 

Spottsylvania  County;  its  boundaries — Orange  County — Frederick  Coun- 
ty; its  boundaries — Augusta  County  ;  its  boundaries — District  of  West 
Augusta — Justices'  Courts — Oath  of  allegiance — Oath  of  supremacy — 
The  test  oath — Oath  of  abjuration — Youghiogheny  County;  its  boun- 
daries, courts,  and  court-houses,  and  punishments — Pillory  and  stocks 
described — Whipping-post  and  ducking-stool — Ohio  County  ;  its  boun- 
daries and  court-house — Monongalia  County — Courts  and  roads — Or- 
phan children — Taverns — Coutin-ental  money — Ferries — Attorneys-at- 
law — Sheriffs  and  deputy-sheriffs — Surveyors — Military  officers — Grist- 
mills— Salts — Cotton,  and  wool  cards — Counterfeit  money — Allegiance 
— Naturalization — Passports — Benevolence  of  Youghiogheny  County — 
Marriage  extraordinary — Reflections     .......      9 

CHAPTER  II. 

A  GENERAL  OUTLINE  HISTORY  OP  PENNSYLVANIA. 

History  of  Pennsylvania,  from  the  date  of  its  charter  to  the  present  time, 
embracing  a  list  of  all  the  Indian  titles  to  lands — Historical  and  sta- 
tistical facts — The  date  of  the  formation  of  each  county  of  the  State, 
with  the  number  of  acres  and  population  in  each,  and  a  list  of  the 
Governors  from  the  accession  of  William  Penn,  its  proprietor,  in  1681 
to  1870 .27 

CHAPTER  III. 

ORIGINAL  AfcT  ESTABLISHING  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 
Divisions  by  the  formation  of  townships — Its  original  and  present  town- 
.ships  and  boroughs — Its  present  boundaries  with  topogrp.phical  and 
geographical  description  and  its  streams — Its  early  religious  element 
and  the  religious  agreement  of  1782 — Marriage  custom  and  ceremony — 
School-bouses 39 

CHAPTER  lY. 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE  SUPREME  EXECUTIVE  COUNCIL. 

A  brief  history  of  the  Provincial  Conference — The  Constitution  of  1776  ; 
the  Council  of  Censors;  the  Convention  of  1789;  the  Constitution  of 
1790 ;  the  action  of  the  Legislature  of  1825  ;  with  regard  to  a  conven- 
tion, and  the  vote  of  the  people  ;  the  Convention  of  1837  ;  the  Consti- 
tution of  1838,  and  the  full  proceedings  of  the  Supreme  Executive, 
from  1781  to  1791,  which  relates  to  Washington  County        .        .         .54 

CHAPTER  V. 

TOWNSHIPS  AND  BOROUGHS  IN  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

The  history  of  the  Townships  and  Boroughs  in  their  chronological  order, 
detailing  interesting  events  in  each — Also  the  history  of  churches  and 
the  present  state  of  education  in  each  township  and  borough        .         .     87 

( n 


8-  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

ELECTED  OFFICERS  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY  FBOM  1T90. 

Members  of  Congress — Senators  and  Representatives — President  Judges 
— Associate  Judges  and  Deputy  Attorney-Generals — Attorneys-at-Law 
— Prothouotaries — Registers — Recorders — Clerk  of  the  Courts — SheriflFs 
— Coroners — Commissioners — Clerks  to  Commissioners — Treasurers — 
Auditors — Notary  Public — Directors  of  the  Poor — Deputy  Surveyor- 
General — Justices  of  the  Peace     ........  250 

CHAPTER  VU. 

MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

Brig. -Gen.  Clark's  expedition  in  1781 — Col.  David  Williamson's  expedi- 
tion iu  1782 — Col.  William  Crawford's  expedition  in  1782 — Whiskey 
Insurrection  in  1791-4 — Outrage  on  the  Chesapeake  Frigate,  1807 — 
War  of  1812— Texas  Revolution,  in  1836— Mexican  War  in  1846— South- 
ern Rebellion  in  1861 278 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

HISTORY  OF  ASSOCIATIONS,  AND  EVENTS  WHICH  TRANSPIRED  IN 

WASHINGTON  COUNTY      .  .  .  .341 


APPENDIX. 
CHAPTER  I. 

THE  VIRGINIA  AND  PENNSYLVANIA  CONTROVERSY,  FROM  1Y52  TO  1783, 

The  date  of  the  earliest  settlements  by  Virginians  and  Pennsylvanians — 
The  difficulties  between  the  Governors  of  both  States  arising  from  these 
settlements — The  names  of  the  first  settlers — The  various  acts  of  Capt. 
Connolly  as  the  representative  of  Virginia  in  claiming  Fort  Duquesne 
(Pittsburg)  as  within  Virginia — His  treason — Commissioners  appointed 
by  both  States  to  run  a  temporary  line  until  the  Revolutionary  War 
would  terminate — The  action  of  botli  States  approving  of  the  same,  and 
the  necessity  of  erecting  Washington  County        .....       3 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE    MASON  AND  DIXON'S  LINE. 

Its  full  history — the  line  run  by  Charles  Mason  and  Jeremiah  Dixon — the 
claim  of  Pennsylvania — the  claim  of  Lord  Baltimore — the  appointment 
of  commissioners — the  labors  of  Mason  and  Dixon  ended  iu  1767 — new 
commissioners  appointed  iu  1783  by  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania— letter  from  Joseph  Reed  on  the  scientific  ajjparatus  to  be 
used — report  of  the  joint-commissioners — report  of  the  Pennsylvania 
commissioners — cost  of  running  the  line — the  western  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania run  by  commissioners  appointed  by  both  Stales,  and  the  report 
of  the  commissioners  thereupon — the  origin  of  the  Pan  Handle  in  West 

Virginia 24 

CHAPTER  III. 

INDIAN  HISTORY  OF  WESTERN  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  VIRGINIA. 

Names  of  all  the  tribes  of  North  America  in  1764 — Those  inhabiting  West- 
ern Pennsylvania  and  adjoining  territory — Letters  on  the  Indian  wrongs 
from  17(ir)  to  1780 — Rice's  fort — Letters  from  Dr.  J.  C.  Hupp  on  Miller's 
block-house — Captivity  and  escape  of  Jacob  Miller,  and  the  cruel  mur- 
der of  live  of  Miller's  friends — Vance's  fort — Well's  fort — Liudley's  fort     38 

CHAPTER  IV. 

WHISKEY  INSURRECTION.  .  .  .59 


HISTOEY  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    I. 

WASHINGTON  COUNTY— ITS  PRIMITIVE  HISTORY  UNDER  VIRGINIA. 

Spottsylvania  County;  its  boundaries — Orange  County — Frederick  County; 
its  boundaries — Augusta  County  ;  its  boundaries — District  of  West  Augusta 
— Justices'  Courts — Oath  of  allegiance — Oath  of  supremacy — The  test  oath — 
Oath  of  abjuration — Youghiogheny  County ;  its  boundaries, courts,  and  court- 
houses, and  punishments — Pillory  and  stocks  described — Whipping-post 
and  ducking-stool — Ohio  County  ;  its  boundaries  and  court-house — Monon- 
galia County — Courts  and  roads — Orphan  children — Taverns — Continental 
money — Ferries — Attorneys-at-law — Sheriffs  and  deputy  sheriffs — Survey- 
ors— Military  officers — Grist-mills — Salt — Cotton,  and  wool  cards — Counter- 
feit money — Allegiance — Naturalization — Passports — Benevolence  of  You- 
ghiogheny County — Marriage  extraordinary — Reflections. 

To  trace  the  history  of  Washington  County  from  its  primitive 
existence,  the  historian  should  give  facts,  but  the  inferences  and 
reflections  should  be  left  to  the  reader.  It  will  be  our  province, 
therefore,  to  examine  into  the  history  of  the  colony  of  Virginia 
from  its  first  settlement  on  the  25th  day  of  March,  1584,  to  the  23d 
day  of  August,  1785,  at  which  date  the  commissioners  of  the  States 
of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  entered  into  conciliatory  measures 
whereby  that  portion  of  Western  Pennsylvania  claimed  by  Virginia 
became  vested  in  our  own  State. 

Our  chartered  rights,  therefore,  are  deduced  from  charters  granted 
by  the  reigning  King  of  England,  either  to  the  colony  of  Virginia 
in  1584,  or  to  the  colony  of  Pennsylvania  in  1681,  as  the  records 
will  demonstrate. 

In  1584  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  obtained  letters  patent  for  discovering 
unknown  countries,  by  virtue  of  which  he  took  possession  of  that 
part  of  America  which  he  afterwards  named  Virginia,  in  honor  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  He  attempted  its  settlement,  but  failed.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  many  enterprises  in  England ;  and,  among  the 
number,  he  endeavored  to  place  Arabella  Stewart  on  the  throne, 
and  for  this  conspiracy  was  tried  and  condemned,  on  November  11, 
1603,  to  be  hanged,  drawn,"  and  quartered.  Notwithstanding  his 
conviction  and  sentence,  he  was  not  executed,  but  was  confined  in 
2 


10  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

the  Tower  as  a  prisoner,  where  he  remained  many  years,  devoting 
his  time  to  writing  the  History  of  the  World.  On  the  accession  of 
James  I.  to  the  crown,  Raleigh  was  released,  and  sent  on  a  mining 
expedition  to  South  America,  with  the  necessary  number  of  men  and 
ships,  of  which  Spain  was  informed;  but  the  expedition  failing,  and 
one  of  the  Spanish  towns  being  destroyed  by  fire,  tlie  Spanish  am- 
bassador demanded  satisfaction  by  the  return  and  death  of  Raleigh. 
He  was,  tlierefore,  immediately  seized,  and,  without  any  new  trial, 
was  beheaded  on  his  former  conviction,  on  the  29th  of  October,  1618, 
to  appease  the  anger  of  Spain. 

In  1606  James  I.,  by  virtue  of  his  prerogative  as  king,  divided 
the  colony  of  Virginia  between  two  companies :  the  southern  com- 
pany was  granted  to  Thomas  Gates  and  others,  and  called  the  London 
Company;  the  northern  company  was  called  the  Plymouth  Company. 
This  grant  embraced  all  the  lands  in  Virginia  from  Point  Comfort, 
along  the  sea-coast,  to  the  northward  two  hundred  miles,  and  from 
the  same  point,  along  the  sea-coast,  to  the  southward  two  hundred 
miles,  and  all  the  space  from  this  precinct  on  the  sea-coast  up  into 
the  land,  west  and  northwest,  from  sea  to  sea,  and  the  islands  within 
one  hundred  miles  of  it.  Subsequently,  on  the  12th  day  of  March, 
1612,  by  other  letters  patent,  the  king  added  all  islands  in  any  part 
of  the  ocean  between  the  thirlieth  and  forty-first  degrees  of  latitude. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1621,  the  colony  of  Virginia  established  a 
form  of  government,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  "General  Quarter 
Court  of  the  Company  in  England."  To  this  was  added  the  proviso 
that  no  order  of  the  Council  in  England  should  bind  the  colony 
unless  ratified  in  the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia.  Thus  early 
in  our  country's  history  was  introduced  those  principles  of  republi- 
canism, which  eventually  secured  to  us  our  present  form  of  govern- 
ment. 

The  king  and  the  Company,  however,  quarrelled,  and  he  suspended 
their  powers  by  the  Proclamation  of  July  15,  1624.  King  James  I. 
having  died  on  27th  March,  1625,  Charles  I.  took  the  government 
into  his  own  hands.  He  made  extensive  grants  of  plantations  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  also  woodlands,  in  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia, to  his  particular  friends.  Lord  Baltimore  and  Lord  Fairfax,  to 
the  former  of  whom  he  even  granted  the  separate  and  sole  right  of 
jurisdiction  and  government.  Charles  I.  having  been  deposed  by 
Oliver  Cromwell  in  1650,  and  assuming  the  title  of  Protector,  he 
considered  himself  as  standing  in  the  place  of  the  deposed  king,  and 
as  having  succeeded  to  all  the  kingly  powers,  without  as  well  as 
within  the  realm,  and  therefore  assumed  control  over  the  American 
colonics.  Virginia,  however,  had  expressed  herself  as  opposed  to 
Cromwell  and  his  parliament,  and  invited  Charles  II.  (the  son  of 
the  deceased  king),  who  was  then  an  exile  in  Breda,  Flanders,  to 
come  into  Virginia  and  become  their  king,  but  on  the  eve  of 
embarking,  in  1660,  he  was  recalled  to  the  throne  of  England,  on 
the  29th  of  May,  of  the  same  year.  After  Charles  II.  had  ascended 


■HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  11 

the  throne,  and  desirous  of  giving  a  substantial  proof  of  the  pro- 
found respect  he  entertained  for  the  loyalty  of  Virginia,  he  caused 
her  coat-of-arms  to  he  quartered  with  those  of  England,  Ireland,  and 
Scotland,  as  an  independent  member  of  the  empire.  Hence  the 
origin  of  the  term  Old  Dominion.  It  also  derives  this  term  from 
the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  of  the  English  settlements  in  the  limits 
of  the  British  colonies. 

Having  thus  exhibited  the  chartered  rights  of  the  colony  of  Yir- 
ginia  for  sixty-six  years,  let  us  retrace  our  steps  to  the  year  1634, 
when  the  colony  of  Virginia  was  divided  into  eight  shires  or  coun- 
ties. Six  of  these  were  situate  between  the  James  and  York  rivers, 
viz. :  Henrico,  Charles  City,  James  City,  York  City,  Warwick,  and 
Elizabeth  City  shires.'  The  Isle  of  Wight  Shire  was  between  the 
James  and  Caroline  rivers,  while  the  Northampton  or  Accomac 
Shire  was  on  the  eastern  shore.  From  these  eight  original  shires  or 
counties  have  been  erected  the  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  counties 
of  the  Old  Dominion,  fifty-six  of  which  are  situate  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  Mountain,  which  is  broken  by  the  Potomac  River  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  and  traverses  the  State  in  a  line  of  about  two  hundred  and 
sixty  miles,  separating  it  into  the  two  great  divisions  of  Eastern  and 
Western  Virginia. 

Spottsylvania  County. 

The  territory  of  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  was,  according 
to  the  original  chartered  rights  of  Virginia,  claimed  as  belonging  to 
the  county  of  Spottsylvania.  This  county  was  formed  from  parts  of 
Essex,  King  William,  and  King  and  Queen  counties,  in  1*720,  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  King  Georgfe  I.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  Alexan- 
.der  Spottswood,  who  was  then  Governor,  and  also  in  commemoration 
of  the  fact  that  he  made  ihQ  first  discovery  of  the  passage  over  the 
Appalachian  Mountains. 

The  preamble  to  the  act  erecting  this  portion  of  Western  Vir- 
ginia into  a  county  reads  thus  :  That  the  frontier  toward  the  high 
mountains  is  -exposed  to  danger  from  the  Indians,  and  the  late  set- 
tlements of  the  French  to  the  westward  of  the  said  mountains, 
therefore  it  is  enacted,  that  Spottsylvania  bounds  upon  Snow 
Creek  up  to  the  mill ;  thence  by  a  southwest  line  to  the  North 
Anna  River,  thence  up  said  mountains,  as  far  as  convenient,  and 
thence  by  a  line  to  be  run  on  the  northwest  side  thereof,  so  as  to 
include  the  northern  passage  through  the  said  mountains,  thence 
down  the  said  river  until  it  comes  against  the  head  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock River  and  down  that  river  to  the  mouth  of  Snow  Creek, 
which  tract  of  land  shall  become  the  County  of  Spottsylvania, 
from  May  1,  1721. 

By  the  act  of  1730,  Williamsburg  was  declared  to  be  the  county 
town,  and  the  same  act,  on  account  of  the  large  area  of  territory  to 
be  travelled  by  the  judicial  ofiicers,  provided  that  the  burgesses 
should  be  allowed  for  four  days'  journey,  in  passing  and  returning. 


12  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

In  1712,  Virginia  was  divided  into  forty-nine  parishes,  which  act 
also  determined  the  salary  of  each  clergyman,  but  in  1130  St. 
George's  parish  was  divided  by  a  line  running  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Rappahannock  to  the  Pamunkey  River,  the  upper  portion  to  be 
called  St.  Mark's,  and  the  lower  portion  St.  George's  parish. 

In  1734  the  names  of  these  parishes  were  changed,  St.  George's 
was  called  Spoftsylvania  and  St.  Mark's  was  named  Orange,  and 
all  settlors  beyond  the  Shenandoah  River  were  exempted  for  three 
years  from  the  payraeut  of  public  and  parish  dues.  It  is  apparent, 
therefore,  that  the  first  settlers  endeavored  to  mould  their  religious 
government  and  make  it  conform  as  near  as  possible  to  the  church 
of  England. 

Orange  County. 

In  1734,  Spottsylvania  County  was  divided,  and  from  it  Orange 
County  was  formed,  which  comprised  the  whole  of  the  colony  of 
Western  Virginia. 

Frederick  and  Augusta  Counties. 

In  1738,  the  act  of  legislature  erected  two  more  counties  out  of 
the  extensive  county  of  Orange,  by  naming  one  Frederick,  and  the 
other  Augusta.  Frederick  County  was  bounded  by  the  Potomac 
on  the  north,  the  Blue  Ridge  on  the  east,  and  a  line  to  be  run  from 
the  head  spring  of  Hedgeman  to  the  head  spring  of  the  Potomac, 
on  the  south  and  west.  Augusta  County  was  to  embrace  the  re- 
mainder of  Virginia  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

Augusta  County. 

In  October,  1776,  the  legislature  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  to 
ascertain  the  boundary  between  the  county  of  Augusta  and  the  dis- 
trict of  West  Augusta,  and  to  divide  said  district  into  three  distinct 
counties. 

District  of  West  Augusta. 

The  preamble  to  the  act,  which  embraces  much  historical  informa- 
tion, is  in  these  words  :  Whereas,  it  is  expedient  to  ascertain  the  boun- 
dary between  the  county  of  Augusta  and  the  district  of  West  Au- 
gusta— Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  that  the  boundary  between  the  said  dis- 
trict and  county  shall  be  as  follows  :  beginning  on  the  Alleghany 
Mountains,  between  the  heads  of  the  Potomac,  Cheat,  and  Green 
Briar  Rivers  (Haystack  Knob,  or  north  end  of  Pocahontas  County), 
thence  along  the  ridge  of  mountains  which  divides  the  waters  of 
Cheat  River  from  those  of  Green  Briar,  and  that  branch  of  the  Mo- 
nongahela  River  called  Tyger's  Valley  River,  to  the  Monongahela 
River ;  thence  up  the  said  river,  and  the  west  fork  thereof,  toBing- 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  13 

erman's  Creek,  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  said  west  fork ;  thence 
up  the  said  creek  to  the  head  thereof;  thence  in  a  direct  course  to 
the  head  of  Middle  Island  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Ohio,  and  thence 
to  the  Ohio,  including  all  the  waters  of  said  creek  in  the  aforesaid 
District  of  West  Augusta,  all  that  territory  lying  to  the  northward 
of  the  aforesaid  boundary,  and  to  the  westward  of  the  States  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  shall  be  deemed,  and  is  hereby  declared 
to  be,  within  the  District  of  West  Augusta. 

At  a  court  of  the  District  of  West  Augusta,  held  at  Fort  Du- 
quesne  (Pittsburg),  September  18th,  1716,  the  court  decided  that  on 
the  passage  of  the  ord'nance,  they  became  a  separate  and  distinct 
jurisdiction,  from  that  of  East  Augusta,  and  as  such,  West  Augusta 
assumed  and  exercised  independent  jurisdiction  over  its  entire  terri- 
tory. 

After  tlie  thirteen  colonies  had  declared  themselves  free  and  inde- 
pendent, the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia  passed  an  act  on  the 
20th  of  August,  1816,  enabling  the  present  magistrates  to  continue 
the  administration  of  justice  until  the  same  can  be  more  amply  pro- 
vided for. 

Justices'  Courts. 

Justices'  courts  were  organized  by  John  Eare;  of  Duumore,  his 
majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Governor-in-Chief  of  Virginia,  as  early  as 
December,  1114.  He  also  issued,  the  same  year,  a  commission  ad- 
journing the  county  court  of  Augusta,  from  Staunton  to  Fort  Dun- 
more.  This  fort  was  originally  called  Fort  Pitt,  but  in  1773  the 
British  government  abandoned  it,  and  Dr.  John  Connelly  took  pos- 
session of  it  in  the  name  of  Virginia,  and  named  it  Fort  Dunmore. 
It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  as  late  as  three  years  before  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  Pittsburg  and  the  surrounding  country  was 
claimed  as  belonging  to  the  district  of  West  Augusta.  This  inter- 
resting  cjuestion  will  be  fully  discussed  in  the  Appendix,  Chapter  II., 
wherein  we  shall  treat  of  and  examine  the  celebrated  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line. 

George  Croghan,  Edward  Ward,  John  Stephenson,  Isaac  Cox, 
George  M'Cormick,  Joseph  Beckett,  John  Campbell,  Dorsey  Pen- 
tecost, John  Connelly,  John  Gibson,  George  Vallandigham,  Thomas 
Smallman,  William  Crawford,  and  William  Goe  took  the  usual  oaths 
to  his  majesty's  person  and  government,  subscribed  the  abjuration  and 
test  oaths,  as  also  the  usual  one  of  justices  of  the  peace,  justices  of 
the  county  court  in  chancery,  and  justices  of  the  oyer  and  terminer. 

As  these  oaths  are  peculiar  in  their  character  I  shall  add  them. 

Oath  of  Allegiance. — I,  A.  B.,  do  sincerely  promise  and  swear 
that  I  will  be  faithful,  and  bear  true  allegiance  to  his  majesty  King 
George  the  Third.     So  help  me  God. 


14  HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Oath  of  Supremacy. — I,  C.  D.,  do  swear  that  I  from  ray  heart 
abhor,  detest,  and  abjure  as  impious  and  heretical,  that  damnable  doc- 
trine and  position,  that  princes  excommunicated  and  deprived  by  the 
Pope,  or  any  authority  of  the  See  of  Rome,  may  be  deposed  or  mur- 
dered by  their  subjects,  or  any  other  whatsoever.  And  I  do  declare, 
that  no  foreign  prince,  person,  prelate.  State,  or  potentate,  hath  or 
ought  to  have  any  jurisdiction,  power,  superiority,  pre-eminence  or 
authority,  ecclesiastical  or  spiritual,  within  this  realm.  So  help  me 
God. 

Tlie  Test  Oath. — I,  E.  F.,  do  declare  that  I  do  believe  there  is 
not  any  transubstantiation  in  the  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  or 
in  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine  at  or  after  the  consecration  thereof, 
by  any  person  or  persons  whatever.     So  help  me  God. 

Oath  of  Abjuration. — I,  G.  H.,  do  truly  and  sincerely  acknow- 
ledge, profess,  testify,  and  declare  in  my  conscience  before  God  and 
the  world,  that  our  Sovereign  Lord,  King  George  the  Third,  is  lawful 
and  riglitful  king  of  this  realm  and  all  other  his  majesty's  domin- 
ions thereunto  belonging. 

And  I  do  solemnly  and  sincerely  declare  that  I  do  believe  in  my 
conscience  that  the  person  pretended  to  be  Prince  of  Wales  during 
the  life  of  the  late  King  James,  and  since  his  decease  pretending  to 
be  and  takes  upon  himself  the  style  and  title  of  King  of  England,  by 
the  name  of  James  the  Third,  or  of  Scotland  by  the  name  of  James 
the  Eighth,  or  the  style  and  title  of  King  of  Great  Britain,  hath  not 
any  right  or  title  whatsoever  to  the  crown  of  this  realm  or  any  other 
the  dominions  thereunto  belonging,  and  I  do  renounce,  refuse,  and 
abjure  any  allegiance  or  obedience  to  him. 

And  I  do  swear  that  I  will  bear  faith  and  true  allegiance  to  his 
majesty  King  George  the  Third,  and  him  will  defend  to  the  utmost 
of  my  power  against  all  traitorous  conspiracies  and  attempts  what- 
soever, which  shall  be  made  against  his  person,  crown,  or  dignity, 
and  I  will  do  my  utmost  endeavors  to  disclose  and  make  known  to 
his  majesty  and  his  successors  all  treason  and  traitorous  conspiracies 
which  I  shall  know  to  be  against  him  or  any  of  them. 

And  I  do  faithfully  promise  to  the  utmost  of  my  power  to  support, 
maintain,  and  defend  the  succession  of  the  crown  against  him,  the 
said  James,  and  all  other  persons  whatsoever,  which  succession  (by 
an  act  entitled  an  act  for  the  further  limitation  of  the  crown  and  bet- 
ter securing  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  subject)  is  and  stands 
limited  to  the  Princess  Sophie,  late  Electress  and  Duchess  Dowager 
of  Hanover,  and  the  heirs  of  her  body  being  Protestants — and  all 
these  things  I  do  plainly  and  sincerely  acknowledge  and  swear,  ac- 
cording to  these  express  words  by  me  spoken  and  according  to  the 
plain  and  common  sense  and  understanding  of  the  same  words,  with- 
out any  equivocation,  mental  evasion,  or  secret  reservation  what- 
soever, and  I  do  make  this  recognition,  acknowledgment,  abjuration. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  15 

renunciation,  and  promise  heartily,  willingly,  and  truly  upon  the  true 
faith  of  a  Christian.     So  help  me  God. 

After  this  digression  we  shall  resume  our  narrative  of  the  district 
of  West  Augusta,  which,  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Vir- 
ginia, from  and  after  November  8th,  1776,  was  divided  into  three 
counties,  viz :  Youghiogheny,  Ohio,  and  Monongalia — to  each  of 
which  we  will  refer  seriatim. 

Youghiogheny  County. 

The  boundaries  of  this  county  lay  to  the  northward  of  the  fol- 
lowing lines,  and  began  at  the  mouth  of  Cross  Creek,  running  up  its 
several  sources  to  the  head  thereof;  thence  southeastwardly  to  the 
nearest  part  of  the  dividing  ridge  (which  divides  the  waters  of  the 
Ohio  from  those  of  the  Monongahela)  ;  thence  along  the  said  ridge  to 
the  head  of  Tenmile  Creek ;  thence  east  to  the  road  leading  from 
Catfish  Camp  (Washington)  to  Red  Stone  Old  Fort  (Brownsville)  ; 
thence  along  the  said  road  to  the  Monongahela  River  ;  thence  crossing 
the  river  to  the  said  Fort ;  thence  along  Dunlap's  old  road  to 
Braddock's  road,  and  with  the  same  to  the  meridian  of  the  head 
fountain  of  the  Potomac  (w^est  line  of  Maryland),  shall  be  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of  Youghiogheny  County, 

This  act  defined  the  qualifications  of  electoi's  and  various  essen- 
tial matters  for  the  future  prosperity  and  government  of  these  new 
counties.  Electors  were  required  to  be  free  white  male  persons  over 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  residing  in  the  county  and  State  one  year, 
and  in  possession  of  twenty-five  acres  of  land  with  a  house  thereon; 
claiming  an  estate  for  life  in  the  said  land  in  his  own  right  or  in  the 
right  of  his  wife. 

Courts  and  Court-house. 

The  electors  were  required  to  meet  on  the  8th  day  of  December, 
1776,  at  the  house  of  Andrew  Heath,  on  the  Monongahela  River,  to 
choose  the  most  convenient  place  for  holding  courts  for  the  county  of 
Youghiogheny.  ]S  otices  for  election  were  to  be  given  by  the  sheriff, 
ministers,  and  rectors  in  the  same  manner  as  for  representatives  to 
serve  in  the  General  Assembly.  The  law  also  provided  that  if  pre- 
vented holding  the  election  on  the  day  aforesaid,  by  rain,  snow,  or 
rise  of  waters,  the  sheriff  was  authorized  to  adjourn  to  that  day  week, 
or  as  often  as  so  prevented. 

The  electors  met  at  the  appointed  time  and  selected  the  farm  of 
Andrew  Heath  as  the  most  convenient  place.  This  farm  is  on  the 
Monongahela  River  (now  Washington  County)  nearly  opposite  and 
a  little  above  Elizabethtown,  Alleghany  County. 

The   court  directed  Thomas  Sraallman,   John  Canon,   and   John 
Gibson,  or  any  two  of  them,  to  provide  a  house  at  the  public  expensed 
for  the  use  of  holding  the  court,  and  that  the  sheriff  contract  with 
the  workmen  to  put  the  same  in  repair. 


IG  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

The  original  records  show  that  the  court  directed  Isaac  Cox  to 
contract  with  some  person  or  persons  to  build  a  complete  bar  and 
other  work  in  the  inside  of  the  court-house  to  be  completed  by  the 
next  court. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  1778,  Messrs.  Kuykendall  and  New- 
all  were  authorized  to  contract  with  some  person  to  junk  and  daub 
the  court-house,  and  provide  locks  and  bars  for  the  doors  of  the 
gaol,  and  to  build  an  addition  to  the  eastern  end  of  the  court-house 
and  gaol,  sixteen  feet  square,  one  story  high,  with  good,  sufficient 
logs,  a  good  cobber  roof,  a  good  outside  chimney,  with  convenient 
seats  for  the  court  and  bar,  with  a  sheriff's  box,  a  good  iron  pipe 
stove  for  the  gaol  room,  and  that  they  have  a  pair  of  stocks,  whip- 
ping-post, and  pillory  erected  in  the  court  yard. 

The  ancient  laws  of  Virginia  declared  that  the  court  in  every 
county  shall  cause  to  be  set  up  near  the  court  house  a  pillory,  pair 
of  stocks,  a  whipping-post,  and  a  ducking-stool  in  such  place  as  they 
shall  think  convenient,  which  not  being  set  up  within  six  months 
after  the  date  of  this  act,  the  said  court  shall  be  fined  five  thousand 
pounds  of  tobacco. 

Punishments. 

In  1780  Andrew  Heath  was  ordered  to  have  the  court-house 
and  gaol  repaired  and  to  erect  a  pillory  and  slocks.  It  appears 
that  the  price  paid  for  these  articles  of  punishment  at  this  time  was 
two  thousand  dollars,  continental  money,  to  Paul  JNIatthews,  the  con- 
tractor, which  amount  was  equivalent  to  three  hundred  and  seven 
dollars. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  17 18,  the  court  ordered  Colonel  William 
Crawford  and  David  Shepherd  to  lay  out  the  prison  boujids  for  the 
county  of  Youghiogheny,  and  make  report  to  the  court.  This  com- 
mittee subsequently  reported  the  prison  bounds  to  be  as  follows, 
viz:  Beginning  at  a  large  black  oak  standing  easterly  from  the  court- 
house and  marked  with  six  notches,  and  extending  thence  south- 
easterly by  a  line  of  marked  trees  to  a  white  oak  near  and  including 
the  spring  ;  thence  northerly  by  a  line  of  marked  trees,  including  the 
house  of  Paul  Matthews,  to  a  white  oak ;  thence  b}^  a  line  of  marked 
trees  to  the  place  of  beginning,  which  prison  bounds  were  approved 
by  the  court  and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

Paul  Matthews,  whose  house. was  included  in  the  prison  bounds, 
was  appointed  the  gaoler,  and  for  the  year  1778  was  allowed  seventy- 
five  pounds  five  shillings  and  tenpence  for  furnishing  prisoners  with 
victuals  and  finding  iron  for  criminals. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1780,  the  following  curious  entry  is  made 
in  the  minutes  of  the  court:  Ordered,  that  Isaac  Justice,  John 
Chamberlain,  William  Bruce,  and  William  ]\Iaybell  be  allowed  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds  of  tobacco  for  seven  days'  attendance 
as  a  guard  on  a  prisoner,  and  eighty-four  dollars  each  for  finding 
their  own  provisions,  and  the  sheriff  was  directed  to  pay  the  same. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  11 

At  the  same  sitting  of  the  court  we  find  that  Andrew  Heath  was 
directed  to  have  the  upper  story  of  the  gaol  put  iuto  order  for  ajury 
room. 

We  have  spoken  of  the  corporeal  punishments  inflicted  upon 
criminals,  which  consisted  of  the  pillory,  the  stocks,  the  whipping- 
post, and  the  ducking-stool,  each  of  which  I  shall  describe  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  these  relics  of  barbarism. 

The  Pillory  is  one  of  the  most  ancient  corporeal  punishments  in 
England,  France,  Germany,  and  other  countries.  As  early  as  1275, 
by  a  statute  of  Edward  I.,  it  was  enacted  that  every  stretch-neck  or 
pillory  should  be  made  of  convenient  strength,  so  that  execution 
might  be  done  upon  oifeuders  without  peril  to  their  bodies.  The 
pillory  consisted  of  a  wooden  frame  erected  on  a  stool  with  boles 
and  folding  boards  for  the  admission  of  the  head  and  hands.  The 
heroes  of  the  pillory  have  not  been  the  worst  class  of  men,  for  we 
find  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Leighton,  for  printing  his  Zion^s  Plea 
against  Prelacy,  was  fined  £10,000,  degraded  from  the  ministry, 
pilloried,  branded,  and  whipped  through  the  city  of  London,  in  1637, 
besides  having  an  ear  cropped  and  his  nostrils  slit.  The  length  of 
time  the  criminal  stood  in  and  upon  the  pillory  was  determined  by 
the  judge. 

The  Stocks  was  a  simple  arrangement  for  exposing  a  culprit  on 
a  bench,  confined  by  having  his  ankles  made  fast  in  holes  under  a 
movable  board.  Sometimes  the  stocks  and  wMp)piing-pod  were  con- 
nected together,  the  posts  which  supported  the  stocks  being  made 
sufficiently  high  were  furnished  near  the  top  with  iron  clasps  to  fasten 
round  the  wrists  of  the  offender  and  hold  him  securely  during  the 
infliction  of  the  punishment.  Sometimes  a  single  post  was  made  to 
serve  both  j^urposes,  clasps  being  provided  near  the  top  for  the 
wrists  when  used  as  a  whipping-post,  and  similar  clasps  below  for 
the  ankles  when  used  as  stocks,  in  which  case  the  culprit  sat  on  a 
bench  behind  the  post,  so  that  his  legs,  when  fastened  to  the  post, 
were  in  a  horizontal  position. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1775,  Luke  Jolifl"  was  tried  for  deserting 
from  the  militia  with  a  stand  of  arms  and  preventing  the  Indians 
from  returning  prisoners  held  by  them.  He  was  courted  at  Fort 
Dunmore  (Pittsljurg),  and  sentenced  to  receive  five  hundred  lashes 
with  a  cat-o'-nine-tails  on  his  bare  back,  well  laid  on,  at  such  hours 
and  in  such  manner  as  not  to  endanger  life  and  member. 

At  a  court  held  in  Washington  Connty,  June,  1786,  Richard  Burke 
was  convicted  of  larceny  and  sentenced  to  seventeen  lashes  at  the 
public  whipping-post  well  laid  on,  between  4  and  6  o'clock  P.  M., 
to  restore  the  goods  and  pay  fine  and  costs. 

For  the  purpose  of  restraining  evil,  men  suffered  in  the  stocks, 
but  women  in  ducking-stools.  This  punishment  was  extensively  used 
in  the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries.  The  following  descrip- 
tion was  given  by  an  intelligent  Frenchman  in  the  year  1700  :  He 
says  this  method  of  punishing  scolding  women  is  funny  enough. 


18  mSTOEY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

They  fasten  an  armed  chair  to  the  end  of  two  strong  beams,  twelve 
or  fifteen  feet  long  and  parallel  to  each  other.  The  chair  hangs  upon 
a  sort  of  axle,  on  which  it  plays  freely,  so  as  always  to  remain  in  the 
horizontal  position.  The  scold  being  well  fastened  in  her  chair,  the 
two  beams  are  then  placed,  as  near  to  the  centre  as  possible,  across 
a  post  on  the  water-side,  and  being  lifted  up  behind,  the  chair,  of 
course,  drops  into  the  cold  element.  The  ducking  is  repeated  ac- 
cording to  the  degree  of  shrewishness  possessed  by  the  patient,  and 
has  generally  the  effect  of  cooling  her  immoderate  heat,  at  least  for 
a  time. 

The  ducking-stool  forYoughiogheny  County  was  erected  at  the  con- 
fluence of  the  Ohio  and  the  Monongahela  rivers  on  February  2 2d, 
1115. 

We  are  glad,  however,  in  this  enlightened  age,  that  all  these  varied 
punishments  are  done  away  with,  especially  the  one  for  the  weaker, 
if  not  always  the  gentler  sex. 

While  on  the  subject  of  punishments  in  Youghiogheny  County, 
we  may  add  that  many  persons  were  fined  from  five  to  twenty 
shillings  for  drunkenness,  profane  swearing,  &c.,  &c.,  while  the 
sheriff,  George  McCormick,  received  one  pound,  seventeen  shillings 
and  sixpence  for  executing  a  negro  boy  on  the  28th  of  November, 
It 88,  belonging  to  James  Decamp. 

Previous  to  the  ratification  of  the  report  of  the  surveyors  by  the 
legislature  of  Virginia,  October  8th,  1785,  Ohio  County  had  been 
formed  from  Youghiogheny  by  the  line  of  Cross  Creek.  On  the  settle- 
ment of  the  boundary  question,  that  portion  of  Youghiogheny  County 
lying  north  of  Cross  Creek  was  added  to  Ohio  County,  being  too 
small  for  a  separate  county ;  and  the  county  of  Youghiogheny  became 
extinct ;  hence  Hancock  and  so  much  of  Brooke  as  lies  north  of 
Cross  Creek  was  the  last  of  the  ancient  Youghiogheny  County. 

Other  facts  connected  with  Youghiogheny  County  we  shall  reserve 
until  we  give  the  boundaries  of  Ohio  and  Monongalia  Counties,  the 
former  of  which  is  intimately  connected  with  Washington  County. 

Ohio  County. 

Ohio  County  originally  constituted  a  part  of  the  district  of  West 
Augusta.  Its  boundaries,  according  to  the  act  of  Assembly  of  Octo- 
ber, 177G,  were  as  follows — that  from  and  after  the  8th  of  November, 
1776,  all  that  part  of  the  said  district  lying  within  the  following  lines, 
to  wit,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Cross  Creek,  thence  up  the  same  to 
the  head  thereof;  thence  southeastwardly  to  the  nearest  part  of  the 
ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  from  those  of  Mononga- 
hela ;  thence  along  the  said  ridge  to  the  line  wiiich  divides  the  coun- 
ty of  Augusta  from  the  said  di.strict ;  thence  with  the  said  boundary 
to  the  Ohio  ;  thence  up  the  same  to  the  beginning,  shall  be  known  by 
the  name  of  Ohio  County. 

The  electors  of  Ohio  County  were  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Ezekiel 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  19 

Dewit,  on  the  8th  of  December,  17  V  6,  to  choose  the  most  convenient 
place  for  holding  courts  in  said  county.  It  is  said  that  for  some 
time  the  courts  of  this  county  were  held  at  Black's  Cabin,  ou  the 
waters  of  Short  Creek,  on  January  16,  1777,  at  or  near  where  West 
Liberty  is. 

Rev.  Dr.  Smith  says :  The  first  court  for  the  county  of  Ohio  was 
held  at  Black's  Cabin.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  this 
was  the  first  civil  court  held  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  On 
the  7th  of  April,  1777,  the  court  ordered  a  court-house  and  jail  to 
be  erected.  The  first  attorneys  admitted  to  practise  in  the  court 
were  Philip  Pendleton  and  George  Brent,  on  the  2d  November,  1778. 
Mr.  Pendleton  was  appointed  the  commonwealth's  attorney. 

In  a  work  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  entitled  "Old  Red- 
stone," which  contains  historical  sketches  of  Western  Presbyterian- 
ism — its  early  ministers,  its  perilous  times,  and  its  first  records,  we 
find  that  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  met  on  the  25th  of  October, 
1782,  at  Dunlap  Creek,  and  one  minister  was  appointed  as  a  supply 
at  Ohio  court-house.  This  place,  says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  was 
some  miles  west  of  the  present  town  of  Washington,  and  was  a  seat 
of  justice  under  the  government  of  Yirgiuia,  as  all  Washington 
County,  together  with  Fayette  and  Greene  and  a  large  portion  of 
Allegheny  and  Westmoreland  counties  was  claimed  by  that  State 
and  considered  a  part  of  Augusta  County,  Yirginia.  The  records 
show  no  other  appointment  for  a  supply  at  this  place. 

Monongalia  County, 

This  was  the  third  county  into  which  the  district  of  West  Au- 
gusta was  divided.  It  was  northward  of  the  county  of  Augusta, 
westward  of  the  meridian  of  the  head  fountain  of  the  Potomac,  and 
to  the  eastward  of  the  county  of  Ohio. 

The  Monongalia  court-house  was  on  the  farm  of  Theophilus 
Phillips  from  1776  to  1782  (now  owned  by  Everhart  Bierer),  near 
New  Geneva  in  Fayette  County.  By  an  act  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  Virginia  of  May,  1783,  it  declares  that  by  reason  of  the  late 
extension  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  the  court-house  of  Monongalia 
had  fallen  within  the  limits  of  Pennsylvania,  therefore,  the  house  of 
Zachwell  Morgan  (the  present  location  of  Morgantown,  Virginia) 
should  be  made  the  future  place  of  holding  courts  until  a  court-house 
should  be  erected. 

The  county  lines  of  Youghiogheny,  Ohio,  and  Monongalia  were 
adjusted  in  the  summer  of  1778  by  Col.  William  Crawford,  Richard 
Yeates,  Isaac  Leet,  William  Scott,  and  James  McMahon. 

Courts. 

The  courts  of  each  judicial  district  were  required  to  administer 
and  dispense  justice,  establish  ferries,  confirm  roads  when  reported 
necessary,  bind  out  orphan  children,  grant  letters  of  administration, 


20  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

probate  wills,  appoint  subordinate  oflBcers,  grant  tavern  licenses,  re- 
cord marks,  try  crimes  and  misdemeanors,  and  perform  such  duties 
as  would  advance  the  interests  of  the  community. 

When  the  court  met  at  Fort  Dunmore,  originally  Fort  Pitt,  on 
the  21st  of  February,  1T*75,  many  questions  were  presented  to  them 
at  this  and  their  subsequent  sittings,  some  of  which  we  shall  give  to 
gratify  the  taste  of  the  antiquarian,  and  as  calculated  to  throw  some 
light  on  our  early  history. 

Roads. 

Viewers  appointed  to  report  a  road  from  Fort  Dunmore  to  Fort 
Dunfield;  from  Gist's  to  Fort  Dunmore  and  Paul  Freeman's  on  Shir- 
tee  (Chartiers)  Creek,  by  James  Devore's  ferry.  From  P.  Mountz 
mill  by  Arbergus  ferry  and  from  thence  to  Catfish  Camp  (now 
Washington).  This  road  ran  from  Mountz  mill  by  way  of  Beeler's 
ferry;  thence  to  the  east  fork  of  Chartiers'  Creek;  thence  to  Catfish 
Camp.  From  Fort  Dunmore  to  Becket's  Fort  the  points  were  from 
Becket's  Fort  to  James  Wilson's ;  thence  to  the  Monongahela  River ; 
thence  to  the  head  of  Sawmill  Run ;  thence  to  Fort  Pitt  (Pittsburg); 
from  the  court-house -to  Pentecost's  mill  on  Chartiers'  Creek.  This 
road  began  at  the  court-house  on  Andrew  Heath's  farm ;  thence  to 
Spencer's  Point ;  thence  near  Richardson's  school-house ;  thence 
through  Gabriel  Cox's  land  ;  thence  crossing  Peters'  Creek  near  to 
John  Cox's ;  thence  to  Joshua  Wright's  ;  thence  to  William  Ste- 
phenson's ;  thence  to  Thomas  Crook's  ;  thence  to  said  mill.  This 
road  confirmed  April  24,  1778.  From  Catfish  Camp  (Washington) 
to  Pentecost's  mill;  confirmed  May  26,  1778.  Overseers  were 
Thomas  Ashbrooke  and  John  McDowell.  From  Fromau's  mill  on 
Mingo  Creek  to  the  road  leading  from  the  court-house  to  Pente- 
cost's mill,  between  the  plantations  of  Johnson  Wrights  and  John 
Johnston.  From  Fort  Dunmore  to  Dunfields,  to  join  Dunfields  on 
Chartiers'  Creek.  From  old  Redstone  fort  (Brownsville)  to  Conrad 
Walker's,  foot  of  Laurel  Hill.  From  Thomas  Gist's  to  Paul  Free- 
man's on  Chartiers'  Creek.  From  Redstone  old  fort  (Brownsville) 
to  Chartiers'  Creek  and  to  Paul  Freeman's.  From  the  mouth  of  the 
Youghiogheny  River  at  McKee's  ferry  to  the  road  from  Devore's 
ferry  to  Reno's,  near  Sampson  Beaver's  and  to  Freeman's  mill.  From 
Fort  Dunmore  to  Charles  Brice's  on  Raccoon  Creek.  From  Dorsey 
Pentecost's  by  Peter  Barrackman's  ferry  to  Fort  Dunmore.  From 
Major  William  Crawford's  to  near  the  forks  of  Indian  Creek.  From 
the  foot  of  Laurel  Hill  at  Conrad  Walter's,  by  William  Teagarden's 
ferry  on  the  Monongahela  to  the  mouth  of  Wheeling  Creek.  The 
points  of  this  road  were  from  the  confluence  of  Wheeling  Creek  to 
the  confluence  of  Tenraile  Creek,  on  the  Monongahela  River;  thence 
to  Walter's.  In  the  construction  of  roads  the  tithables  (that  is,  all 
persons  between  the  ages  of  10  and  45)  within  three  miles  of  the  pro- 
posed road,  were  required  to  work  upon  the  road  under  supervisors 
appointed  to  superintend  the  making  and  grading  of  the  same. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  21 


Orphan  Children. 

The  orphan  children  were  bound  out  by  the  court  as  apprentices. 
They  were  required  to  serve  until  they  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  ;  were  instructed  in  some  art ;  taught  to  read  and  write,  and 
arithmetic  as  far  as  the  rule  of  three  ;  given  two  suits  of  clothing, 
and  if  brought  up  on  a  farm,  each  male  also  received  an  axe,  maul, 
nugs,  and  wedges. 

Taverns. 

Taverns  were  licensed  by  the  court  of  Yougbiogheny  County,  and  in 
1778  we  find  that  the  court  fixed  the  following  bill  of  prices  for  the 
keepers  of  taverns.  Whiskey  by  the  half  pint,  two  shillings ;  whis- 
key made  into  toddy,  two  shillings  and  sixpence ;  beer  per  quart, 
two  shillings  and  sixpence ;  hot  breakfast,  three  shillings  ;  cold 
breakfast,  two  shillings  and  sixpence  ;  dinner,  four  shillings ;  supper, 
three  shillings;  lodging  with  clean  sheets,  one  shilling  and  sixpence; 
stabling  with  hay  and  fodder,  five  shillings  ;  corn  per  quart,  nine- 
pence  ;  oats  per  quart,  sixpence.  But  in  1781,  when  continental 
money  was  depreciated,  the  prices  were  changed  by  the  court,  who 
ordered  tavern  keepers  to  sell  at  the  following  rates  :  For  half  pint 
of  whiskey,  $4;  breakfast  or  supper,  S15;  dinner,  $20;  lodging  with 
clean  sheets,  $3  ;  one  horse  over  night,  $3  ;  one  gallon  of  corn,  $5; 
one  gallon  of  oats,  $4 ;  strong  beer  per  quart,  $6.  The  rates  of 
license  were  published  by  the  crier  of  the  court,  and  also  set  up  in 
the  most  public  places. 

Continental  Money. 

While  upon  the  subject  of  finances,  as  there  will  be  occasion  to 
refer  to  the  continental  money,  I  may  add  that  this  money  was  issued 
by  Congress  to  carry  on  the  Revolutionary  War,  for  the  redemption 
of  which  the  faith  of  the  colonies  was  pledged.  I  therefore  give 
the  dates  and  amounts  of  issues  from  a  reliable  source. 

1775,  June  22,  $2,000,000.  Other  emissions  from  this  date  to 
1780,  amounting  to  $200,000,000,  had  been  issued  and  none  re- 
deemed. 

1777,  January,  paper  currency  5  per  cent,  discount,  and  in  July  25 
per  cent.,  but  before  the  end  of  the  year,  $3  in  paper  would  not 
command  a  silver  dollar. 

1778,  April,  $4  in  paper  to  one  dollar  in  coin.  September,  $5  to 
one  in  coin,  and  December,  $6  50  to  one  dollar  in  coin. 

1779,  February,  $8  50,  May  $12,  and  September  $18  to  one  in 
coin,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  a  paper  dollar  was  worth  but 
four  cents. 

1780,  March,  one  dollar  in  paper  worth  3  cents;  May,  a  dollar 
worth  but  two  cents,  and  in  December,  $74  in  paper  was  worth  one 
dollar  in  silver. 


22'  HISTORY   or   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Ferries. 


The  court  licensed  the  following  persons  to  establish  ferries  at 
different  localities  within  the  county  of  Youghiogheny,  from  IT 75 

to  mo. 

Henry  Heath,  on  his  own  plantation  on  the  Monongahela  River. 
William  Lynn,  on  the  Monongahela  River,  from  his  house  to  the  land 
of  Francis  Hall.  Michael  Cressay,  at  Redstone,  old  fort  (Browns- 
ville), to  the  land  of  Indian  Peter.  James  Devore,  from  his  house 
on  the  Monongahela  River,  to  the  mouth  of  Pigeon  Creek.  To 
Samuel  Sinclair,  who  lives  in  the  forks  of  the  Monongahela  and 
Youghiogheny  rivers,  to  have  a  ferry  over  each  of  the  rivers.  Jacob 
Bausman,  across  the  Monongahela  River,  from  his  house  to  the  town 
opposite  (fort  Dunmore).  Christopher  Carpenter,  across  the  Mo- 
nongahela River,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  over  the  militia  men 
on  muster  days.  William  Anderson,  on  the  southeast  side  of  the 
Monongahela  River,  to  the  lands  of  Andrew  Heath.  The  prices 
established  by  the  court  for  ferriage  were,  fourpence  half  penny  for 
any  head  of  neat  cattle,  and  the  same  for  a  foot  person ;  two  shil- 
lings and  sixpence  for  a  man,  and  the  same  for  a  horse. 

Attorneys  at  Law. 

The  lawyers  were  required  to  take  the  abjuration,  test,  and  other 
oaths  to  which  I  have  referred.  The  record  gives  the  following  per- 
sons as  having  complied  therewith  during  the  years  1T75  and  1776. 

George  Brent,  Philip  Pendleton,  George  Rootes,  David  Semple, 
James  Berwick,  Andrew  Ross,  Henry  Peyton,  John  G.  Jones, 
Charles  Simms,  Samuel  Irwin. 

Sheriffs  and  Deputy  Sheriffs. 

During  the  years  1775  and  1780,  John  Christian  and  Joseph  Hor- 
ton,  George  McCormick,  ]\Iattliew  Ritchie,  William  Harrison,  Benj. 
Kuykendall,  Thomas  Smallman,  and  Edward  Ward  exercised  the 
office  of  sheriff,  and  Patrick  McElroy,  Francis  Worm,  David  Steel, 
William  Hawkins,  Hugh  Sterling,  John  Dossmau,  John  J.  Wood, 
Richard  Burns,  that  of  deputy  sheriff. 

Surveyors. 

David  Steel,  William  Crawford,  Edward  Sharp,  Gabriel  Green, 
Samuel  Fincli,  John  Harry,  and  Daniel  Leet  were  appointed  survey- 
ors, who  acted  as  such  for  several  years. 

On  the  17th  of  April,  1770,  Daniel  Leet  produced  a  commission 
from  the  College  of  William  and  Mary  to  be  Surveyor  of  the  County 
of  Augusta,  which  embraced  the  county  itself  and  the  district  subse- 
quently divided  into  three  counties.  He  took  the  usual  oaths  in  open 
court,  and  gave  as  his  securities  for  the  fulfilment  of  the  duties  of 
his  ofiBce,  George  Rice  and  George  McCormick,  Esquires. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  23 

It  appears  that  in  the  early  history  of  our  country,  these  certifi- 
cates or  commissions  from  a  college  were  absolutely  necessary,  for  in 
examining  the  records  of  Culpepper  County,  Virginia,  is  the  follow- 
ing record  :  20th  July,  1T49  (0.  S.),  George  Washington,  Gent, 
produced  a  commission  from  the  President  and  Master  of  William 
and  Mary  College  appointing  him  to  be  a  surveyor  of  Culpepper 
County,  which  was  read,  and  thereupon  he  took  the  usual  oaths  to 
bis  majesty's  person  and  government,  and  other  oaths  according  to 
law.  X/' 

Military  Officers. 

All  military  officers  were  required,  in  ojjen  court,  to  take  the  test 
and  other  oaths.  Among  the  list  of  officers  commissioned  is  the  name 
of  the  notorious  Simon  Girty,  who  subscribed  these  oaths  February 
22d,  1775,  in  Pittsburg,  and  yet  proved  recreant  to  all  his  obligations, 
renounced  civilized  life  and  assisted  the  Indians  in  torturing  the 
noble  and  heroic  Col.  William  Crawford,  at  Sandusky,  in  1782, 
where  he  suffered  the  most  terrible  death  which  Indian  ingenuity 
could  devise. 

Grist-Mills. 

Before  a  mill  could  be  erected,  so  tenacious  was  the  law  of  the 
rights  of  individuals,  that  it  required  the  sheriff  to  summon  twelve 
freeholders  of  the  vicinage  to  meet  on  the  land  to  determine  if  any 
of  the  adjoining  lands  would  be  affected  by  the  back-water  from  the 
dam,  and  the  jury  there  assembled  were  to  value  the  damages  and 
make  report  to  the  court.  Applications  were  made  by  the  following 
persons,  and  confirmed  by  the  court,  establishing  mill-seats  at  the 
localities  designated :  Paul  Froman  on  Mingo  Creek ;  Col.  John 
Campbell  on  Campbell's  Run  emptying  into  Chartiers'  Creek  on  the 
west  side  near  the  mouth  of  Robinson  Run  ;  Nicholas  Pease  on 
Chartiers'  Creek ;  Basil  Brown  on  Big  Redstone  Creek ;  Dorsey  Pen- 
tecost on  the  eastern  branch  of  Chartiers'  Creek.  These  mills  were 
erected  from  1777  to  1781. 

Salt. 

The  early  condition  of  the  inhabited  country  west  of  the  Laurel 
Hill  can  be  easily  imagined  from  the  decree  of  the  court  in  refer- 
ence to  this  article. 

In  1778,  November  24,  the  court  ordered  that  Isaac  Cox  be 
empowered  to  account  with  all  persons  that  hath  neglected  any 
business  relation  to  this  (Youghiogheny)  county's  salt,  lodged  with 
Israel  Thompson,  of  Loudon  County,  and  that  he  receive  the 
remainder  of  said  salt  and  transport  it  to  this  county  and  issue  the 
same  to  the  inhabitants  to  whom  it  is  due,  at  six  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings per  bushel,  and  the  profits  thereon  shall  be  his  full  satisfaction 
for  his  said  services,  and  that  the  said  Colonel  Cox  shall  also  pay 


2-4  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

all  demands  on  said  salt,  either  for  the  original  purchase  or  other- 
wise. 

On  September  29,  1719,  the  court  ordered  that  Col.  John  Canon 
have  the  public  mil,  which  now  lies  at  Alexandria,  brought  up  to 
this  (Youghiogheny)  county  and  distribute  it  to  the  persons  entitled  to 
receive  it,  and  that  he  be  authorized  to  contract  for  the  carriage  on 
such  terms  as  he  can,  taking  care  in  the  distribution  to  fix  the  price 
so  as  to  raise  the  money  due  thereon  for  the  original  cost.  January 
3,  nSO,  Bonjamin  Kuykendall  was  directed  to  bring  up  two  hun- 
dred bushels  of  salt  from  Alexandria  on  the  same  principles. 

Cotton  and  Wool  Cards. 

Intimately  connected  with  the  foregoing  subject  was  that  of  cot^ 
ton  and  wool  cards,  provided  for  at  the  public  expense,  under  the 
direction  of  the  court,  as  the  sequel  will  show. 

May  27,  1778,  the  court  ordered  Isaac  Cox,  Thomas  Freeman  and 
Andrew  Swearingen,  to  distribute  the  cards  assigned  for  this 
county,  upon  proper  and  suitable  satisfaction  produced  to  them.  On 
the  24th  of  June,  of  the  same  year.  Col.  John  Stephenson  and 
Isaac  Cox  were  directed  to  distribute  one-half  of  the  foregoing  cards 
to  the  battalion  of  Col.  Stephenson.  In  the  distribution  of  the  cards 
the  Committee  were  instructed  to  conform  to  the  Governor's  letter  of 
November  26,  1777,  which  provided  that  if  there  are  more  women  in 
either  battalion,  the  Committee  were  to  sujjply  according  to  the  num- 
ber of  persons  who  had  the  right  to  obtain  the  same. 

Counterfeit  Money. 

The  law  authorized  the  court  to  appoint  suitable  persons  to  decide 
upon  counterfeit  money.  Accordingly,  we  find  that  in  1779  Thomas 
Gist,  Thomas  Warren,  and  John  Irwin,  of  Pittsburg,  Matthew  Rit- 
chie and  Dorsey  Pentecost,  of  the  then  county  of  Westmoreland, 
but  in  1781  were  residents  of  Washington  County,  were  appointed 
and  sworn  in  as  judges  of  counterfeit  money 

Allegiance. 

1778,  June  22d.  Rev.  Edward  Ilughy  produced  a  license  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Londonderry,  in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  to  preach 
the  Gosi)el  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  was  read  in  open  court,  whereupon 
the  said  Edward  Ilugliy  came  into  court  and  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance and  fidelity  to  this  commonwealth.  The  Presbytery  of  Done- 
gal reported  to  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  May  19th,  1773,  that  they 
had  received  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughy  as  a  member,  and  that  on  May 
14th,'  1774,  they  had  suspended  him  for  unchristian  conduct  and 
character. 

1778,  August  28th.  Rev.  William  Renno,  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel, also  came  into  court  and  took  the  required  oaths. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY,  27 

The  advantage  to  be  derived  from  this  chapter  is  that  we  became 
acquainted  with  the  topography  of  the  country,  its  boundaries, 
streams,  laws,  customs,  and  names  of  the  leading  public  characters, 
and  thus  we  are  enabled  to  localize  facts,  events,  and  persons. 


CHAPTEE    II. 

A  GENERAL  OUTLINE  HISTORY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

History  of  Pennsylvania,  from  the  date  of  its  charter  to  the  present  time, 
embracing  a  list  of  all  the  Indian  titles  to  lands — Historical  and  statistical 
facts — The  date  of  the  formation  of  each  county  of  the  State,  with  the  num- 
ber of  acres  and  population  in  each,  and  a  list  of  the  Governors  from  the 
accession  of  Wm.  Penn,  its  proprietor,  in  1681  to  1870. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1681,  Charles  the  Second  granted  to  Wil- 
liam Penn  a  charter  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  the  king 
having  a  regard  to  the  memory  and  merits  of  William  Penn's  father 
in  divers  services,  and  particularly  in  his  late  conduct,  courage  and 
discretion,  under  James,  Duke  of  York,  in  that  signal  battle  and 
victory  fought  and  obtained  against  the  Dutch  fleet,  commanded 
by  Heer  Von  Opdam,  in  the  year  1655.  In  consideration  thereof, 
King  Charles  II.  granted  to  William  Penn,  his  heirs  and  assigns, 
all  that  tract  or  parcel  of  land  in  America,  with  all  the  islands 
therein  contained,  as  the  same  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Delaware 
River,  from  twelve  miles  distance,  northwards  of  New  Castletown, 
unto  the  three  and  fortieth  degree  of  northern  latitude,  if  the  said 
river  doth  extend  so  far  northward,  but  if  the  said  river  shall  not 
extend  so  far  northward,  then  by  the  said  river  so  far  as  it  doth 
extend,  and  from  the  head  of  the  said  river  the  eastern  bounds  are 
to  be  determined  by  a  meridian  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  head  of 
said  river,  unto  the  said  three  and  fortieth  degree.  The  said  land 
to  extend  westward  five  degrees  in  longitude,  to  be  computed  from 
the  said  eastern  bounds,  and  the  said  land  to  be  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  beginning  of  the  three  and  fortieth  degree  of  northern 
latitude,  and  on  the  south  by  a  circle  drawn  at  twelve  miles  dis- 
tance from  New  Castle  northward,  and  westward  unto  the  begin- 
ning of  the  fortieth  degree  of  northern  latitude,  and  then  by  a 
straight  line  westward  to  the  limits  of  longitude  above  mentioned. 
This  charter  is  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
is  written  on  parchment  in  the  old  English  handwriting.  Each  line 
is  underscored  with  red  ink,  the  borders  are  gorgeously  embla- 
zoned with  heraldic  devices,  and  on  the  top  is  a  portrait  of  his 
majesty.     This  document  is  nearly  two  hundred  years  old. 


28  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  charter,  William  Penn,  by  and  with 
the  advice,  assent,  and  approbation  of  the  freemen  of  the  said 
country,  had  authority  to  ordain,  make,  and  enact  laws.  Accord- 
iuf^ly,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1(582,  William  Penn  framed  a  form  of 
government  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  It  consisted  of  a 
preface  and  twenty-four  articles,  confirming,  unto  the  freemen 
thereof,  their  liberties,  franchises,  and  property. 

On  the  24th  October,  1682,  William  Penn  arrived  with  an  addi- 
tional number  of  colonists  at  New  Castle,  (now  in  the  State  of 
Delaware),  and  entered  into  a  solemn  covenant  with  the  Indians  by 
purchasing  their  lands  and  giving  them  full  satisfaction.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  William  Markham,  his  deputy,  had  preceded 
him  to  America,  and  had  entered  into  negotiations  wiih  the  Indians 
on  July  15,  1682,  but  it  was  stipulated  therein  that  this  act  was 
to  be  publicly  ratified  by  William  Penn  on  his  arrival.  Conse- 
quently, the  Sachems  and  their  tribes,  with  Penn  and  his  colonists, 
met  at  Coaquannoc  (Pliiladelphia),  but  the  treaty  was  confirmed 
at  Shackamaxon  (Kensington),  under  the  Elm  Tree. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  lands,  their  extent  and  limits 
as  purchased  from  the  Indians,  it  will  be  proper  to  remark,  that 
from  the  arrival  of  William  Markham,  deputy  of  William  Penn, 
until  the  year  1*192,  a  period  of  one  hundred  and  ten  years,  the 
whole  right  of  soil  of  the  Indians  within  the  charter  bounds  of 
Pennsylvania,  has  been  extinguished  by  the  follow  thirty -three  trea- 
ties and  purchases  : — 

1. — 1682,  July  15.  Deed  for  lands  between  the  falls  of  Delaware  and 
Neshaming  Creek,  confirmed  by  William  Penn,  October  24, 
1682,  under  the  elm  tree. 

2. — 1683,  June  23.  Deed  for  lands  between  Pennepack  and  Nesha- 
ming, and  to  run  two  days'  journey  with  a  horse,  backward  up 
into  the  country. 

3. — 1683,  June  25.  Wingebone^s  release  for  lands  on  the  west  side  of 
Schuylkill,  beginning  at  the  first  falls  and  backward  on  the  same 
as  far  as  his  right  extended. 

4. — 1683,  July  14.  Deed  for  lands  between  Schuylkill  and  Chester 
Creek. 

5. — 1683,  July  14.  Deed  for  lands  between  Schuylkill  and  Pennepack. 

6. — 1683,  September  10.  Kake  Tappan\'i  docd  for  his  half  of  all  his 
lands  between  Susquehanna  and  Delaware,  on  the  Susquehanna 
side. 

7. — 1683,  October  18.  3Iachaloha's  deed  for  lands  between  the  Del- 
aware River  and  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  up  to  the  falls  of  the 
Susquehanna. 

8. — 1684,  June  3.  3Ia)ighe)ighsin^sre\eQ.se  for  his  land  on  Perkioming. 

0. — 1684,  June  T.  Richard  MeUammiconVs  release  for  lands  on  both 
sides  Pennepack  on  Delaware  River. 

10. — 1685,  July  30.  Deed  for  lands  between  Pennepack  and  Chester 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  29 

Creek,  and  back  as  far  as  a  man  can  go  in  two  days  from  a  point 

on  Conshohocken  hill. 
11. — 1685,   October  2.  Deed  for  lauds  between  Duck  and  Chester 

creeks,  and  backward  from  Delaware,  as  far  as  a  man  could 

ride  in  two  days  with  a  horse. 
12. — 1692,  Juae  15.    Acknowledgment  of  satisfaction  for  land  be- 
tween   Neshaming  and   Poquessing   creeks,  and   back  to  the 

bounds  of  the  Province. 
13. — 1696,  January  13.  Dongan''s&tQdi  to  William  Penn  for  lands  on 

both  sides  of  Susquehanna,  from  the  lakes  to  the  Chesapeake 

Bay. 
14. — 1697,  January  5.    Taming^s  deed  for  the  lands  between  Penne- 

pack  and  Neshaming,  and  as  far  hack  as  a  horse  can  travel  in 

two  summer  days. 
15. — 1100,  September  13.  Deed   of   the  Susquehanna  Indians  for 

the  lauds  on  both  sides  of  the  Susquehanna  and  next  adjoining 

the  same,  and  comprising  Dongan's  deed  (No.  13) 
16. — 1101,  April  23.  Ratification  of  Dongan's  deed  and  the  deed  of 

September  13,  1100   (No.  14),  by  the  Susquehanna,  Shawnese, 

Potomac,  and  Conestogoe  Indians. 
11 1118,  September  13.  Deed  of  release  by  the  Delaware  Indians, 

for  the  lands   between   the  Delaware  and   Susquehanna  rivers, 

from  Duck  Creek  to  the  Lehigh  hills. 
18. — 1120,  December  16.   Controversy  respecting  the  boundary  of 

the  lands,  arising  from  the  distance  which  a  man  and  horse  can 

each  travel  in  a  day,  and  satisfactorily  arranged  by  deed. 
19. — 1126,   May  31.   Deed  for  lands  on  both  sides  of  Brandywine 

Creek. 
20. — 1132,  September  1.   Deed  for  lands  between  Lehigh  hills  and 

Kittatinny  Mountaijis,  between  Schuylkill  and  its  branches,  and 

the  branches  of  Delaware. 
21. — 1136,  October  11.   Deed   for  the  river  Susquehanna  and  the 

lands  on  both  sides  thereof,  eastward  to  the  head  of  the  branches, 

or  springs  running  into  the  Susquehanna,  and  westward  to  the 

setting  of  the  sun,  and  from  its  mouth  to  the  Kittatinny  hills. 
22. — 1136,  October  25.   The   preceding   deed  declared  by  the  In- 
dians to  include  the  lands  on  the  Delaware,  and  northward  to  the 

Kittatinny  hills. 
23. — 1131,  August  28.  Deed  comprising  the  walking  purchase,  or, 

as  far  as  a  man  can  go  in  a  day  and  a  half  from  the  westerly 

branch  of  Neshaming  up  the  Delaware. 
24.— 1149,  August  22.  Deed  for  lands  from  the  Kittatinny  Mountain 

to  Mahanoy  Mountain,  and  between  Susquehanna  and  Delaware 

on  the  north  side  of  Lackawaxen  Creek. 
25. — 1154,  July  6.  Deed  at  Albany  for  the  lands  on  the  west  side  of 
Susquehanna,  from  Kittatinny  Mountain,  to  a  mile  above  the 

mouth  of  Penn's  Creek,  thence  northwest  and  by  west,  as  far  as 

the  Province  extends  to  its  western  boundaries. 


30  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

26. — 1T58,  October  23.  Deed  of  surrender  of  part  of  the  purchase 
of  1754,  and  new  boundaries  declared  and  confirmed  from 
Penn's  Creek,  northwest  and  by  west,  to  Bufi'alo  Creek,  then 
west  to  Alleghany  Mountain,  and  along  the  east  side  thereof,  to 
the  western  boundary  of  the  Province. 

27. 1768,  September  5.   The  end  of  Nittany  Mountain   assumed 

as  a  station,  per  deed  made,  and  surveys  not  usually  made  north 
thereof. 

28. — 1768,  Xovember  5.  Deed  at  Fort  Stanwix,  commonly  called 
the  new  purchase. 

29. — 1784,  October  23.  Deed  explaining  the  boundary  at  the  treaty 
at  Fort  Stanwix  and  Pine  Creek,  declared  to  have  been  the 
boundary  designed  by  the  Indians. 

30. — 1784,  December  21.  Deed  declaring  Lycoming  to  be  the  bound- 
ary. 

31. — 1785,  January  21.  Deed  at  Fort  Stanwix  and  Fort  Mcintosh, 
for  the  residue  of  the  lands  within  the  Commonwealth,  made 
October  23,  1784,  and  January  21,  1785. 

32. — 1789,  January  9.  Indian  cession  of  lands  at  Presque  Isle. 

33. — 1792,  March  3.  It  is  necessary  to  state  that  on  the  3d  of 
October,  1788,  an  Act  was  passed  authorizing  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  to  draw  on  the  State  Treasurer  for  a  sum  of 
money  for  defraying  the  expense  of  purchasing  of  the  Indians, 
lands  on  lake  Erie.  It  is  usually  called  the  imrchase  of  the  tri- 
angle from  the  United  States.  This  triangle  contains  two  hun- 
dred and  two  thousand  one  huudi'ed  and  eighty  seven  acres  of 
land. 

To  the  student  of  Pennsylvania  history,  these  facts  are  worthy  of 
reraemberance,  because  it  gives  the  date  and  extent  of  the  purchases 
made  from  the  Indians.  We  shall  now  turn  our  attention  to  the 
government  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  when  in  its  infancy. 

On  December,  1682,  William  Penn,  in  accordance  with  the  sixteenth 
article  of  the  frame  of  his  government,  assembled  all  the  freemen  of 
this  Province  at  Chester  (then  called  Upland),  as  well  as  those  of 
the  three  territories  (as  they  were  called),  of  Newcastle,  Kent,  and 
Sussex.  At  this  purely  democratic  meeting,  an  act  of  union  passed, 
annexing  the  three  lower  counties  (now  the  State  of  Delaware)  to 
the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  in  legislation. 

The  Proprietor,  l)y  and  with  the  consent  of  the  first  Assembly, 
divided  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  into  three  counties,  and 
named  them  Philadelphia,  Bucks,  and  Chester,  while  the  Terri- 
tories retained  the  names  of  New  Castle,  Kent,  and  Sussex,  For 
each  of  the  counties  and  territories,  sheriffs  and  other  proper  officers 
were  appointed  by  the  Proprietor;  but  the  Council  and  Assembly- 
men were  elected  by  the  people. 

On  March  10th,  1683,  the  Council  and  Assemblymen  met  in  Phila- 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  31 

delphia ;  each  county  having  returned  three  members  for  the  Council 
and  nine  for  the  Assembly. 

In  the  year  1684,  William  Penn  returned  to  England,  leaving 
commissioners  with  a  President  to  administer  the  government  during 
his  absence.  But  this  mode  of  government  not  proving  satisfactory 
to  the  three  lower  counties,  its  form  was  changed  in  1691 ;  William 
Markham  was  appointed  Deputy  Governor  by  William  Penn.  It 
was  at  this  period  that  separate  legislatures  were  formed  and  the 
Provinces  became  finally  separated. 

In  August,  1699,  William  Penn  sailed  from  England  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  reassumed  the  reins  of  government  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  people.  On  the  28th  of  October,  1701,  he  pre- 
sented the  Council  and  Assembly  with  a  new  charter  of  privileges, 
and  having  appointed  Andrew  Hamilton  Lieutenant-Governor, 
sailed  for  England.  This  charter  continued  the  supreme  law  of  the 
Province  until  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  promulgated 
July  4th,  1776.  A  court  then  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  July  8th, 
17*76,  to  form  a  constitution  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on 
the  28th  of  September  following,  a  constitution  was  adopted  by  re- 
presentatives for  the  city  of  Philadelphia  and  the  counties  of  Phila- 
delphia, Bucks,  Chester,  Lancaster,  York,  Cumberland,  Berks,  North- 
ampton, Bedford,  Northumberland,  and  Westmoreland,  being  all  the 
counties  (eleven  in  number)  which  then  composed  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania.  It  is  eminently  proper  to  remark  that  Benjamin 
Franklin  was  President  of  the  Convention  which  formed  the  first 
Constitution  for  Pennsylvania.  Immediately  upon  his  taking  his 
seat,  the  repi'escntatives  unanimously  passed  a  resolution  inviting 
the  Rev.  William  White  (who  afterwards  officiated  for  many  years 
as  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  this  diocese)  to 
perform  divine  service  for  the  Convention,  to  jointly  offer  up  their 
prayers  to  Almighty  God  to  afford  His  divine  grace  and  assistance 
in  the  important  and  arduous  task  committed  to  them  as  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people  of  Pennsylvania,  and  to  offer  up  their  praises 
and  thanksgiving  for  the  manifold  mercies  and  the  peculiar  interpo- 
sition of  His  special  providence  in  behalf  of  the  injured,  oppressed, 
and  insulted  United  States. 

This  Constitution  was  the  supreme  law  of  the  State,  from  Septem- 
ber 28th,  1776,  the  date  of  its  final  adoption,  until  September  2d, 
1790,  when  a  second  constitution  was  formed  by  the  representatives 
of  the  people.  On  the  9th  of  October,  1838,  a  third  constitution 
was  adopted  by  the  people  ;  the  same  having  been  submitted  by  a 
vote  of  the  Convention  which  had  previously  assembled  to  make  the 
necessary  amendments. 

Having  thus  briefly  narrated  a  concise  history  of  the  State,  and 
to  which  we  shall  often  have  occasion  to  refer  in  the  history  of 
Washington  County,  I  shall  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  boundaries 
of  Pennsylvania  for  the  like  reason. 


32  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Pennsylvania  extends  from  north  latitude  39°  43'  to  north  latitude 
42°;  from  2°  17'  east  to  3°  31'  west  from  Washington  city.  It 
is  bounded,  in  common  with  the  State  of  Delaware,  from  the  Dela- 
ware River  by  a  circular  line,  around  New  Castle  County  to  the 
northeast  limits  of  Cecil   County,  Maryland,   .         .       24  miles. 

Due  north  to  the  northeast  angle  of  Maryland,       .         .  2      " 

Along  the  northern  limits  of  Maryland,        .         .         .     203      " 

In  common   with  Virginia,  from   the  northwest  angle  of 

Maryland  to  the  southwest  angle  of  Green  County^,    .       59      " 

Due  north  in   common  with  Ohio  and  Brooke  counties 

of  West  Virginia  to  the  Ohio  River,  .         .         .       64      " 

Continuing  the  last  noted  limit  in  common  with  the  Ohio 

to  Lake  Erie,  91      " 

Along  the  southeast  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  Western 

limit  of  New  York, 39      " 

Due  south,  along  Chautauque  County  of  New  York,  to 

north  latitude,  42° 19      " 

Thence  due  east  in  common   with  New  York,  to  the 

right  bank  of  the  Delaware  River,      ....     230      " 

Down   the  Delaware  to  the  northeast  angle  of  the  State 

of  Delaware,  230      " 


Having  an  entire  outline  of        ...         .     961      " 

The  greatest  length  of  Pennsylvania  is  due  west  from  Bristol,  ou 
the  Delaware  River,  to  the  eastern  border  of  Ohio  County  in  West 
Virginia,  through  three  hundred  and  fifty-six  minutes  of  longitude 
along  north  latitude,  40°  09'  This  distance,  on  that  line  of  latitude, 
is  equal  to  two  hundred  and  eighty  American  statute  miles. 

The  greatest  breadth  is  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  miles,  from 
the  West  Virginia  line  to  the  extreme  northern  angle  on  Lake  Erie,  it 
being  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles.  It  contains  forty-four  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  seventeen  miles;  or  twenty-eight  million  three 
hundred  and  sixty-two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  land. 

The  following  table  will  exhibit  the  population  of  Pennsylvania, 
both  as  a  Province  and  a  State,  from  1731,  at  periods  of  ten  years. 

1731—  10,000.  1780—  128,293.  1830—1,348,170. 

1740—  14,325.  1790—  474,373.  1840—1,724,033. 

1750—  21,000.  1800-  602,545.  1850—2,314,897. 

17(iO—  31,667.  1810—  810,091.  1860—2,905,215. 

1770—  39,065.  1820—1,049,313. 

I  shall  now  close  this  general  history  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
by  giving  the  names  of  each  county  ;  the  date  of  its  formation;  the 
number  of  acres  in  each,  with  their  respective  population,  premising 
the  following  tabular  statements,  with  the  remark,  that  Cameron 
County  was  not  organized  until  after  the  census  of  1860  had  been 
taken,  and  the  population  is  included  in  the  counties  of  Clinton, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


33 


Elk,  MeKean,  and  Potter,  from  which  it  was  taken ;  while  with  the 
part  of  Venango  which  was  added  to  Forest  by  act  of  Assembly- 
approved  October  31st,  1866,  the  population  was  transferred  but  not 
ascertained. 


Name. 


Date  of  Formation. 


Acres.   PopulaVn. 


Philadelphia Mar.  10 

Chester Mar.  10 

Bucks Mar.  10 

Lancaster May  10 

York Aug.  19 

Cumberland Jan.   27 

Berks Mar.  11 

Northampton Mar.  11 

Bedford Mar.     9, 

Korthumberland..  Mar.  27 


11.  Westmoreland -"eb.  26 


12.  Washington Mar.  28, 

13.  Fayette Sept.  26 

14.  Franklin Sept.     9 

15.  Montgomery Sept.  10, 

16.  Dauphin Mar. 

17.  Luzerne Sept.  2.5 

18.  Huntingdon Sept.  20 

19.  Allegheny Sept.  24, 

20.  Mifflin Sept.  19, 

21.  Delaware Sept.  26, 

22.  Somerset April  17, 

23.  Greene Feb.     9 

"  24.  Wayne Mar.  26 

25.  Lycoming April  13 

26.  Adams Jan.   22 

27.  Centre Feb.   13, 

28.  Armstrong Mar.  12, 


Beaver Mar.  12, 

Butler Mar.  12, 

Crawford Mar.  12 

Erie Mar.  12 

Mercer Mar.  12 

Warren Mar.  12 

Venango Mar.  13 

Indiana Mar.  30 

M'Kean  Mar.  20, 

Clearfield Mar.  26, 

Jefferson Mar.  26, 


Potter Mar. 

Cambria Mar. 


Tioga Mar.  26 

Bradford* Feb.   21 

Susquehanna Feb.   21 

Schuylkill Mar.     1 

Lehigh Mar.     6 

Lebanon Feb.   16 

Columbia Mar.  22, 

Union Mar.  22, 

Pike Mar.  26 

Perry Mar.  22, 

Juniata Mar. 

Monroe April 


1682,  one  of  Penn's  original  counties 80,640 

1682,  "  "  "  472,320 

1682,  "  "  "  387,200 

1729,  from  a  part  of  Chester 608,000 

1749,  "         "        Lancaster 576,000 

1750,  "         "        Lancaster 348,160 

1752,  from  a  part  of  Philadelphia,  Chester, 

and  Lancaster 588,800 

1752,  from  a  part  of  Buck.s 240,000 

1771,  "         "        Cumberland 636,160 

1772,  from   a  part  of  Cumberland,  Berks, 

Bedford,  and  Northampton 292,480 

1773,  from   a  part  of  Bedford,  and  in  1785 

part  of  the  Indian  purchase  of  1784 

was  added 672,000 

1781,  from  a  part  of  Westmoreland 373,410 

1783,  "         "        Westmoreland 527,360 

1784,  "  "        Cumberland 480,000 

1784,  "  "        Philadelphia 303,080 

1785,  "  "         Lancaster 3.57,760 

1782,  "  "        Northumberland 896,000 

1787,  "  "        Bedford 637,600 

1788,  from   a  part  of   Westmoreland   and 

Washiugton  482,560 

1789,  from  a  part  of  Cumberland  and  North- 

umberlaud 2.36,800 

17S9,  from  apart  of  Chester 113,280 

1795,  "  "        Bedford 682,240 

1796,  "  "        Washington 389,120 

1796,         "  "        Northampton 460,800 

1796,         "  "         Northumberland 691,200 

1800,        "         "        York 337,920 

1800,  from  a  part  of  Mifflin,  Northumber- 
land, Lycoming,  and  Huntingdon..  688,000 

ISOO,  from  a  part  of  Alleghany,  Westmore- 
land, and    Lycoming 408,960 

ISOO,  from  a  part  of  Alleghany  and  Wash'n.  298,240 

1800,        "         "        Alleghany 502,400 

1800,         "  "        Alleghany 629,760 

1800,         "  "        Alleghany 480,000 

1800,        "         "        Alleghany 416,000 

1800,        "         "        AUeg'y  and  Lycoming  5.)1,040 
1800,         "  "        AUeg'y  and  Lycoming  330,240 

1803,  from  a  part  of  Westmoreland  and  Ly- 

coming   492,800 

1804,  from  a  part  of  Lycoming 716,800 

1804,  from  a  part  of  Lycoming  and  North- 
umberland    761,600 

1804,  from  a  part  of  Lycoming 412,800 

1804,         "  "        Lycoming 384,000 

1804,  from  a  part  of  Huntingdon,  Somerset, 

and  Bedford 428,800 

1804,  from  a  part  of  Lycoming 714,240 


1810, 
1810, 
ISll, 
1812, 
1813, 
1813, 
1813, 
1814, 
1820, 
1831, 
1836, 


Luzerne  and  Lycoming  751,360 

Luzerne 510,080 

Berks  and  Northamp.  485,400 

Northampton 232,960 

Dauphin  and  Lancast.  195,840 

Northumberland 275,840 

Northumberland 165,120 

Wayne 384,000 

Cumberland 344,960 

Mifflin 224,640 

Northampton  and  Pike  384,000 


565,529 
74,578 
63,578 

116,314 
68,200 
40,098 

93,818 
47,904 
26,736 


53,736 
46,805 
39,909 
42,126 
70,500 
46,756 
90,244- 
28,100 

178,831 

16,.340 
30,597 
26,778 
24,343 
32,239 
37,399 
28,006 

27,000 

35,797 
29,140 
35,594 
48,755 
49,432 
36,850 
19,190 
25,043 

33,687 

8,859 

18,759 
18,270 
11,470 

29,155 
31,044 
48,734 
36,267 
89,510 
43,753 
31,831 
a5,065 
14,145 
7,655 
22,793 
16,986 
16,758 


*  Previous  to  March  24,  1812,  this  county  was  called  Ontario. 


34  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Name.           Dale  of  Formation.  Acres.  Populat'n. 

54.  Clarion Mar.  11,  1S39,  from  a  part  of  Venango  and  Arms'ng.  384,000  24,988 

65.  Clinton June  21,  1839,         "         "        Lycoming  aud  Centre  591, .360  17,723 

66.  Wyoming April  4,  1842,  from   a  part  of  Northumberland  and 

Luzerne 261,760  12,540 

57.  Carbon Mar.  13,  1843,  from  a  part  of  Northampton  and  Mon- 
roe   256,000  21,033 

68.  Elk April  18,  1843,  from  a  part  of  Jelferson,  Clearfield, 

and  McKean 446,720  5,915 

69.  Blair Feb.   26,  1846,  from  a  part  of  Huntingdon  and  Bed- 

ford   380,160  27,829 

60.  Sullivan Mar.  15,  1847,  from  a  part  of  Lycomiug 275,200  5,637 

61.  Forest Aprilll,  1848,         "          "        Jefferson  and  Venango  284,800  898 

62.  Lawrence Mar.  25,  18.50,        "         "        Beaver  and  Mercer. ..  229,120  22,999 

63.  Fulton April  19,  1850,         "          "        Bedford 268,800  9,131 

64.  Montour May     3,18.50,        "         "        Columbia 94,720  13,0,53 

65.  Snyder Mar.     2,185/5,        "         "        Union 187,520  15,035 

66.  Cameron Mar.  29,  1S60,  from  a  part  of  Clinton,  Elk,  M'Kean, 

Potter  (not  organized  Tvhen  census 

•was  taken.) 268,480 

Pennsylvania  has  been  called  the  Keystone  State  from  the  fact 
of  having  six  of  the  old  original  States  on  each  side  of  her.  It  is 
not  my  province  to  speak  of  her  majestic  mountains,  her  beautiful 
rivers  and  lakes — the  variety  of  her  soil — the  salubriousness  of  her 
climate — and  her  agricultural,  manufacturing,  and  commercial  inter- 
ests. Mine  is  a  humbler  sphere,  confined  henceforth  in  this  volume 
exclusively  to  the  history  of  Washington  County — thej^r.s-^  county- 
formed  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  after  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  had  been  promulgated  to  all  nations,  and  Pennsylvania 
had  assununl  her  rank  and  place  as  a  free  and  independent  State  ;  and 
therefore  named  after  the  immortal  Washington.  With  this  remark, 
we  can  truthfully  say  that  our  citizens  therefore  will  be  pre-eminently 
proud  of  the  character  of  Washington  County,  whether  viewed  in  a 
moral,  educational,  political,  or  religious  view. 

In  concluding  this  chapter  I  shall  add  a  list  of  the  chief  magis- 
trates, or  governors,  from  1681  to  the  present  time,  as  being  more 
immediately  connected  with  the  general  matters  therein  contained. 

ACCESS.  NA.MES.  EXIT. 

1 1681.  William  Penn,  Proprietor.  August,  1684. 

2. — 1684.  Thomas  Lloyd,  Pres't  of  Governor's  Council.   December,  1687. 
3. — 1687.  Thomas  Lloyd,  Robert  Turner,  Arthur  Cook,  John 
Symcock,  and  John  Eckley  appointed  Deputy  Lieutenants 
by  William  Penn. 
4. — 1688.  Capt.  John  Blackwcll,  Lieutenant-Governor.  1690. 

5. — 1690.  Thomas  Lloyd,  Deputy  and  Lieutenant-Governor.  1693. 

6. — 1693.  Benjamin  Fletcher,  Captain-(jeneral  and  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  aud  the  county  of 
New  Ciistle  and  territories.  September,  1698. 

7. — 1698.    William  Markham,  Lieutenant-Governor.  1700. 

8. — 1700.   William  Penu  again  acted  as  Governor  to     November  1,  1701. 
9. — 1701.   Andrew  Hamilton,  Deputy-Governor.  February,  1703. 

10.-17(13.   Edward  Shippen,  President  of  Council  "         1704. 

11. — 1704.  John  Evans,  Deputy-Governor,  "        1709. 

12._170!>.  Charles  Gookin,         "  May  31,  1717. 

13.— 1717.   Sir  William  Keith,     "  June  22,  1726. 

14.— 1726.  Patrick  Gordon,        "  ,  August  5,  1736. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  35 


15. — 1736.  On  the  death  of  Governor  Gordon,  the  Council  con- 
sisted of  James  Logan,  Samuel  Preston,  Anthony  Palmer, 
Clement  Plumstead,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Ealph  Asheton, 
Samuel  TIasill,  and  Thomas  Griffits,  who  elected  James  Lo- 
gan President  of  Council.  June,  1738. 

16. — 1738.  George  Thomas,  Lieutenant-Governor.  "     1747. 

17. — 1747.  Anthony  Palmer,  President  of  Council.  November,  1748. 

18. — 1748.  James  Hamilton,  Lieutenant-Governor.  October,  1754. 

19. — 1754.  Robert  Hunter  Morris  "  August,  1756. 

20—1756.  William  Denny  "  November,  1759. 

21.— 1759.  James  Hamilton  "  October,  1763. 

22. — 1763.  John  Penn,  son  of  Rich'd  Penn,  Deputy-Governor.    May,  1771. 

23. — 1771.  Richard  Penn,  Governor.  August,  1773. 

24.— 1773.  John  Penn,  "  July,  1775. 

Under  the  Council  of  Safety. 
25. — 1775.  Benjamin  Franklin,  President  of  the  Council,        August,  1776. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  September  28,  1776. 

26. — 1776.  Thomas  Wharton,  President  of  the  Supreme  Execu- 
tive Council.  October,  1777. 

27. — 1777.  Joseph  Read,  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive 

Council.  November,  1781. 

28. — 1781.  William  Moore,  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive 

Council  November,  1782. 

29. — 1782.  John  Dickson,  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive 

Council.  November,  1785. 

30. — 1785.  Benjamin  Franklin,  President  of  the  Supreme  Ex- 
ecutive Council.  November,  1788. 

31. — 1788.  Thomas  Mifflin,  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive 

Council.  September,  1790. 

When  the  Constitution  went  into  operation. 

Popular  Vote  of  Candidates  for  Governor  under  the  Constitution  of 
September  2,  1790. 

ELECTION.  MAJORITY. 

32.— 1790.  Thomas  Mifflin, 27,725 

Arthur  St.  Clair, 2,803        24,522 


Whole  number,    30,528 

32.— 1793.  Thomas  Mifflin 19,590 

F.  A.  Muhlenburg, 10,700         8,890 


Whole  number,  30,290 

32.— 1796.  Thomas  Mifflin, 30,029 

F.  A.  Muhlenburg, 10,011        20,018 

Whole  number,  40,040 

33.— 1799.  Thomas  McKean 37,244 

James  Ross, 22,643       14,601 

Whole  number,  59,887 


36 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


ELECTION. 

33.— 1802. 


33.— 1805, 


34.— 1808, 


Thomas  McKean, 
James  Ross, 
Scattering, 


Thomas  McKean, 
Simon  Snyder, 
Samuel  Snyder, 


Simon  Snyder, 
James  Ross,  . 
John  Spayd,  . 
Scattering, 


.    47,879 
.     17,037) 
94  j 

Whole  number,    57,472 

.    43,644 
.     38,4831 
395  J 

Whole  number,    82,522 

.  67,975 
.  39.575 
.       4,006 


34.— 1811.  Simon  Snyder, 

William  Tilghman, 
Scattering,     . 


34.-1814. 


Simon  Snyder, 
Isaac  Wayne, 
George  Littimore, 
Scattering,     . 


35.— 1817.  William  Findley, 
Joseph  Hiester, 
Scattering,     . 


36.-1820. 


37.— 1823. 


31—1826. 


Joseph  Hiester, 
William  Findley, 
Scattering,     . 


J.  Andrew  Shultz, 
Andrew  Gregg, 
Scattering, 


J.  Andrew  Shultz, 
John  Sergeant, 
Scattering,     . 


Whole  number,  111,564 


52,319 
3,609 
1 


,609) 
,675  j 


Whole  number,    57,603 

.     51,099 

.     29,566 

910 

18 


Whole  number,    81,593 

.     66,331 
.     59,272' 
11 


Whole  number,  125,614 

.     67,905 
.     66,300' 
21 


Whole  number,  134,226 


89,928 
64,211 


Whole  number, 


1.54,147 

72,710 
1,175) 
1,174  J 


30,748 


4,766 


8  J     24,386 


47,035 


20,605 


7,048 


1,584 


8j     25,709 


70,361 


Whole  number,     75,059 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


3t 


ELECTION. 

38.— 1829.  George  Wolf, 
Joseph  Ritner, 
Scattering, 


38.— 1832.  George  Wolf, 
Joseph  Ritner, 


39^—1835.  Joseph  Ritner, 
George  Wolf, 
H.  A.  Muhlenberg, 


78,219 

61,776 

12 


W^ole  number,  140,007 

.     91,335 

.    88,165 


Whole  number,  179,500 

.     94,023 
.     65,8041 
.    40,586) 


Whole  number,  200,413 


16,433 


3,170 


Of  these  votes  Messrs.  Wolf  and  Muhlenberg  had 
Joseph  Ritner,        .... 

Thus  making  Joseph  Ritner  a  minority  Governor  by 


106,390 
'94,023 

12,377 


Under  the  Constitution  of  October  9,  1838. 


40.— 1838.  David  R.  Porter, 
Joseph  Ritner, 


40.-1841.  David  R.  Porter, 
John  Banks, 
F.  Julius  Lemoyne, 
Scattering,    . 


41.-1844.  Francis  R.  Shunk, 
Joseph  Markle,  . 
F.  Julius  Lemoyne, 


41.-1847.  Francis  R.  Shunk, 
James  Irvin, 

E.  C.  Reigart, 

F.  Julius  Lemoyne, 
Scattering, 


42.— 1848.  William  F.  Johnston, 
Morris  Longstreth, 
E.  D.  Gazzam, 
Scattering, 


.     127,821 
.     122,325 

Whole  number,    250,146 

.     136,504 

.    113,473 

763 

23 


Whole  number,    250,763 

.    160,322 
.    156.040) 
2,566  j 


Whole  number,    318,928 

.    146,081 

.     128,148] 

.       11,247  ( 

1,861  j 

6J 


Whole  number,    287,343 

.    168.522 
.     168,225) 
48  \ 
24  J 


5,496 


22,245 


1,716 


4,819 


225 


Whole  number,    336,819 


38 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


KI.ErTinx. 

43.— 1851. 


Williiirn  Bigler,    . 
"William  F.  Johnston, 
Kitnber  Cleaver, 
Scattering, 


44. — 1854.  James  Pollock,  . 
William  Big^ler,  . 
B.  Rush  Bradford, 
Scattering, 


45.— 1857.  William  F.  Packer, 
David  Wilmot,     . 
Isaac  Hazelhurst, 
Scattering, 


46.— 1860.— Andrew  G.  Curtin, 
H.  D.  Foster, 


46.-1863.  Andrew  G.  Curtin, 

George  W.  Woodward, 
Scattering, 


47.-1866.  John  W.  Geary. 
Hiester  Clyraer, 


48.— 1869.  John  W.  Geary, 
Asa  Packer, 


.  186,499 

.  178,034 

1,859 

.    67 

Whole  number,  366,459 

.  203,822 

.  166,091 

...         .  2,194 

.    33 

Whole  number,  373,040 

.  188,846 

.  146,139 

.  28,108 
12 


Whole  number,  363,165 

.  262,349 

.  230,239 

Whole  number,  492,588 

.  269.506 

.  254,171 


i} 


Whole  number,  523,679 

.  307.274 

.  290.096 

Whole  number,  597,370 

.  290,5.52 

.  285,956 

Whole  number,  576,508 


6,539 


34,604 


14,527 


32,110 


15,333 


17,178 


4,596 


Although  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  has  had  but  forty-eight  governors, 
yet  from  the  numbers  attached  to  their  names  we  learn  some  have  filled  the 
office  two  and  even  three  terms. 

We  shall  close  this  chapter  by  giving  an  extract  from  the  41st 
chapter  of  the  acts  of  the  first  General  Assembly  of  Penn.'^ylvania, 
passed  December  7tl),  1082,  from  which  it  appears  that  the  fir.st  set- 
tlers began  the  year  in  March,  and  repudiated  the  heathen  names  as 
now  applied  to  the  days  of  the  week,  evidently  dcmoiislraliiig  that 
our  forefathers  w(!re  governed  by  a  religious  sentiment  in  our  organi- 
zation as  a  colony.     The  following  is  a  literal  copy : — 

"  And  bee  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  ye  days 
of  ye  week  and  ye  months  of  ye  year  sh.all  be  called  as  in  Scrip- 
ture, and  not  by  heathen  names  (as  are  vulgarly  used),  as  ye  first, 
second,  third  dales  of  ye  week,  and  first  second  and  third  months  of 
ye  year,  beginning  with  ye  day  called  Sunday  and  ye  month  called 
March." 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  39 


CHAPTER    III. 

ORIGINAL  ACT  ESTABLISHING  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

Divisions  by  the  formation  of  townships — Its  original  and  present  townships 
and  boroughs — Its  present  boundaries  with  topographieal  and  geographical 
description  and  its  streams — Its  early  religious  element  and  the  religious 
agreement  of  1782 — Marriage  custom  and  ceremony — School-houses. 

Having  ia  the  preceding  chapters  confined  myself  to  the  primi- 
tive history  of  what  is  now  known  as  Washington  County,  originally 
belonging  to  Virginia,  and  also  a  general  outline  history  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  thereby  laid  the  foundation  stone  upon  which  to  erect 
the  superstructure,  I  shall  now  proceed  with  the  general  history  of 
Washington  County. 

On  the  28th  of  March  1781,  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  passed 
an  act  for  erecting  part  of  the  county  of  Westmoreland  into  a  sepa- 
rate county,  and  the  reasons  given  in  the  preamble  to  said  act  are  in 
these  words:  Whereas,  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Westmore- 
land County  which  lies  west  of  the  Monongahela  River,  have  repre- 
sented to  the  Assembly  of  this  State  the  great  hardships  they  lie 
under,  from  being  so  far  remote  from  the  present  seat  of  judicature 
and  the  public  offices  ;  for  to  remedy  these  inconveniences  they  there- 
fore passed  the  act  of  separation.  The  act  is  in  eighteen  sections 
(the  preamble  being  numbered  the  first),  which  we  will  refer  to, 
either  at  length  or  by  giving  a  summary  of  the  contents  of  each  sepa- 
rately. 

Section  second  gives  the  boundaries  of  Washington  County  as 
follows  :  all  that  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  west  of  the 
Monongahela  River,  and  south  of  the  Ohio,  beginning  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  said  rivers,  thence  up  the  Monongahela  River  aforesaid, 
to  the  line  run  by  Mason  and  Dixon  ;  thence  by  the  said  line  due 
west  to  the  end  thereof;  and  from  thence  the  sajxie  course,  to  end  of 
five  degrees  of  west  longitude,  to  be  computed  from  the  River  Dela- 
ware ;  thence  by  a  meridian  line,  extended  north,  until  the  same 
shall  intersect  the  Ohio  River,  and  thence  by  the  same  to  the  place 
of  beginning  (the  said  lines  from  the  end  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line 
to  the  Ohio  River  to  be  understood  as  to  be  hereafter  ascertained  by 
commissioners  now  appointed  or  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose), 
shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  declared  to  be  erected  into  a  county, 
henceforth  to  be  called  Washington. 

Section  third  gives  the  same  rights  and  privileges  to  the  inhabit- 
ants as  enjoyed  by  other  counties  in  the  State. 


40  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Section  fourth  authorizes  the  trustees  to  take  assurance  of  ground 
whereon  to  erect  a  court-house  and  prison,  and  divide  the  county 
into  townships,  before  July  1st,  1181. 

Section  fifth  empowers  the  inhabitants  to  elect  Inspectors,  two 
Representatives  for  the  Assembly,  one  member  of  the  Supreme  Exe- 
cutive Council,  two  persons  for  Sheriff,  two  for  Coroner,  and  three 
Commissioners.  The  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  house  of 
David  Hoge,  at  the  place  called  Catfish  Camp,  now  Washington. 

Section  sixth.  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  to  have  like  powers 
and  authorities  in  Washington  County. 

Sections  seventh  and  eighth  provide  for  an  election  for  justices 
of  the  peace,  to  beheld  on  the  15th  of  July,  11  SI,  for  the  various 
townships,  after  judges  and  inspectors  have  been  elected. 

Section  ninth.  Justices  of  the  peace  authorized  to  hold  courts  of 
General  Quarter  Sessions  and  Gaol  Delivery. 

Section  tenth.  James  Edgar,  Hugh  Scott,  Van  Swearingen,  Daniel 
Leet,  and  John  Armstrong  appointed  commissioners  to  purchas. 
ground  for  a  court-house,  as  provided  for  in  section  four. 

Sections  eleventh  and  twelfth  provide  for  the  mode  of  defraying 
the  expenses  of  the  public  buildings. 

Section  thirteenth.  For  the  continuance  of  suits  commenced  in 
the  original  county. 

Sections  fourteenth,  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  collector  of  the  excise,  his  powers  and  fees. 

Section  seventeenth  directs  the  Sheriff  and  Coroner  of  Westmore- 
land County  to  officiate  until  those  officers  could  be  chosen  in  the 
new  county. 

Section  eighteenth  directed  the  amount  of  the  security  to  be  given 
by  the  Sheriff  and  Treasurer. 

Division  of  Washington  County. 

The  inhabitants  of  Washington  County,  with  those  of  Westmore- 
land, considering  their  counties  were  too  extensive,  and  that  they 
were  subject  to  many  inconveniences  from  their  being  situated  at  so 
great  a  distance  from  the  scat  of  justice,  conceived  that  their  inter- 
ests and  happiness  would  be  greatly  promoted  by  being  erected  into 
a  new  and  separate  county ;  the  legislature,  on  the  24th  of  September, 
1T88,  gratified  their  requests,  and  erected  Alleghany  County.  We 
shall  give  the  original  boundaries  of  this  new  county,  so  that  we  can 
trace  on  the  map,  the  territory  which  was  struck  off  from  Washing- 
ton County.  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Flaghertxfs  Run,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Ohio  River,  from  thence,  by  a  straight  line,  to  the 
plantation  on  which  Joseph  Scott,  Esquire,  now  lives,  on  3Ion- 
iour''s  Run,  to  include  the  same;  from  thence,  by  a  straight  line,  to 
the  mouth  of  Miller^s  Run,  in  Chartiers^  Creek ;  thence  by  a  straight 
line,  to  the  mouth  of  Perry^s  Mill  Run,  on  the  east  side  of  Monon- 
gahela  River;  thence  up  the  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  BeckeVs- 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY  41 

Run ;  thence  by  a  straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  Sewickley  Creek,  on 
Youghiogheny  River ;  thence  down  the  said  river  to  the  mouth  of 
Crawford's  Run ;  thence  by  a  straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  Bush 
Creek,  on  Turtle  Creek;  thence  up  Turtle  Creek  to  the  main  fork 
thereof;  thence  by  a  northerly  line  until  it  strikes  Puckety's  Creek ; 
thence  down  the  said  creek  to  the  Allegheny  River ;  thence  up  the 
Allegheny  River  to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  State  ;  thence 
along  the  the  same  to  the  river  Ohio,  and  tlience  up  the  same  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  The  above  portion  of  the  line  italicized  is  the 
portion  taken  from  Washington  County. 

But  the  inhabitants  of  Washington  County  still  seemed  desirous 
of  having  justice  administered  to  them  at  their  very  doors,  again 
petitioned  the  legislature  to  annex  a  certain  part  of  this  to  Allegheny 
County;  and  on  the  17th  of  September,  1789,'  the  General  Assembly 
believing  their  prayer  to  be  just  and  reasonable,  granted  their  re- 
quest. The  boundaries  of  that  part  of  Washington,  annexed  to 
Allegheny  County,  began  at  the  river  Ohio,  where  the  boundary  line 
of  the  State  crosses  the  said  river;  from  thence  in  a  straight  line,  to 
White's  mill,  on  Racoon  Creek;  from  thence  by  a  straight  line,  to 
Armstrong's  mill,  on  Miller's  Run,  and  from  thence  by  a  straight 
line,  to  the  Monongahela  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  Perry's  Run, 
where  it  strikes  the  present  line  of  Allegheny  County. 

By  this  act  of  annexation,  the  whole  of  Dickinson  and  part  of 
Cecil  toivnship  became  part  of  Allegheny  County;  according  to  a 
decision  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council.  Peter  Kidd  and  John 
Beaver  were  authorized  to  have  the  boundary  lines  marked,  each 
being  allowed  twenty-five  shillings  per  day,  out  of  the  treasury  of 
Allegheny  County. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1796,  another  portion  of  the  territory 
of  Washington  County  was  erected  into  Greene  County.  The 
boundary  line  began  at  the  mouth  of  Tenmile  Greek,  on  the 
Monongahela  River ;  thence  up  Tenmile  Creek  to  the  junction  of 
the  north  and  south  forks  of  said  creek  ;  thence  up  said  north  fork 
to  Colonel  William  Wallace^s  mill;  thence  up  a  southtvesterly 
direction  to  the  nearest  part  of  the  dividing  ridge  betiveen  the  north 
and  south  forks  of  Tenmile  Creek;  thence  along  the  top  of  the 
said  ridge  to  the  ridge  which  divides  the  waters  of  Tenmile  arid 
Wheeling  creeks;  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  head  of  Enlow^s 
branch  of  the  Wheeling;  thence  down  said  branch  to  the  western 
boundary  of  the  State;  thence  south  along  the  said  line  to  the 
southern  boundary  line  of  the  State  ;  thence  east  along  said  line  to 
the  river  Monongahela,  and  thence  down  the  said  river  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

The  words  italicized  form  the  southern  line  separating  Washing- 
ton and  Greene  counties. 

The  ofiScers  of  Washington  County  were  authorized  to  exercise 
the  duties  of  their  office  in  the  new  county  (except  justices  of  peace) 
until  similar  officers  were  appointed.  Washington  and  Greene  were 
4 


42  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

to  elect,  jointly,  four  representatives ;  while  Washington,  Allegheny, 
and  Greene  were  to  compose  the  congressional  district. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1802,  by  authority  of  the  legislature  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  following  alteration  took  place  in  the  line  between 
the  counties  of  Washington  and  Greene;  beginning  at  the  present 
lino,  on  the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters  of  the  Tenraile  and 
Wheeling  creeks,  near  Jacob  Bobbett's  ;  thence  a  straight  line,  to 
the  head-waters  of  Hunter's  fork  of  Wheeling  Creek,  and  thence 
down  the  same,  to  the  mouth  thereof,  where  it  meets  the  present 
county  line. 

The  act  of  the  same  date  declares  that  so  much  of  the  county 
of  Greene,  which,  by  the  act,  is  reunited  to  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, as  lies  west  of  the  road  called  Ryerson's  Road,  is  hereby  an- 
nexed to  Findley  township,  and  shall  hereafter  be  a  part  of  the 
district  called  Stevenson's  election  district,  and  that  part  thereof, 
which  lies  east  of  said  road  is  hereby  annexed  to  Morris  township, 
and  shall  hereafter  be  a  part  of  the  Washington  elected  district. 

The  Governor  was  authorized  to  appoint  two  commissioners  to 
run  and  mark  the  aforesaid  line  ;  the  expense  to  be  borne  equally 
out  of  the  treasury  of  both  counties. 

By  the  erection  of  Greene  County,  Morgan,  Cumberland,  Frank- 
lin, Greene,  and  Rich  Hill  townships  became  component  parts  of 
Greene  County. 

On  the  12th  of  March,  1800,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  General 
Assembly,  erecting  parts  of  Washington  and  Alleghany  counties  into 
a  new  county,  to  be  called  Beaver.  The  boundary  line  began  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Sewickley  Creek  on  the  Ohio  River;  thence  up 
the  said  creek  to  the  west  line  of  Alexander's  district  of  deprecia- 
tion lands  ;  thence  northerly  along  the  said  line,  and  continuing  the 
same  course  to  the  north  line  of  the  first  donation  district ;  thence 
westerly  along  the  said  line  to  the  western  boundary  of  the  State  ; 
thence  southerly  along  the  said  boundary,  across  the  Ohio  River  to 
a  point  in  the  said  boundary,  from  which  a  line  to  be  run  at  right 
angles  easterly  will  strike  White'' s  mill  on  Racoon  Creek,  and  from 
such  point  along  the  said  easterly  line  to  the  said  mill ;  thence  on  a 
straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Sewickley  Creek,  the  place  of 
beginning.  (The  words  italicized  is  the  boundary  line  between 
Washington  and  Beaver  counties).  The  expense  of  running  the 
line  was  to  be  borne  by  Beaver  County. 

Original  Townships. 

The  organic  act  authorized  the  trustees  to  divide  the  county  into 
a  suitable  number  of  townships.  In  accordance  therewith,  the  trus- 
tees subdivided  it  into  thirteen  townships,  in  commemoration  of  the 
thirteen  States  which  formed  the  United  States.  Their  names  in 
alphabetical  order  were  :  1.  Amwell  ;  2.  Bethlehem ;  3.  Cecil ;  4. 
Cumberland;  5.  Donegal;  6.  FalluwOeld  ;    1.  Hopewell;  8.   Mor- 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


43 


gan ;  9.  Nottingham;  10.  Peters;  11.  Robison ;  12.  Straban  ;  13. 
Smith. 

These  townships  went  into  operation  on  the  15th  of  July,  IT 81, 
by  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  legislature  and  the  election  of 
township  officers. 

As  the  county  became  more  thickly  settled,  the  people  felt  the 
necessity  of  forming  new  townships  and  boroughs.  This  power  was 
confined  to  the  legislature  until  the  24th  of  March,  1803,  when  it 
was  transferred  to  the  courts  of  Quarter  Sessions,  although  it  appears 
that  in  some  few  cases  the  courts  had  exercised  it. 

By  the  erection  of  new  counties  out  of  Washington,  whole  town- 
ships and  parts  of  townships  were  cut  off,  and  at  the  present  time,  May, 
1870,  we  find  that  Washington  County  has  eleven  boroughs  and  thir- 
ty-one townships  within  her  limits. 

We  shall  now  add  this  list  with  their  respective  organizations, 
from  the  formation  of  Washington  County. 


_0.  T.' 
O.T. 
o.  T. 

O.T. 
O.T. 
O.  T. 
O.  T. 
O.T. 
O.T. 


1. — Amwell  township,  formed  July  15,  1781. 
2.— Bethlehem  "  " 


3.— Cecil 

4. — Cumberland  " 

5. — Donegal  " 

6.— Fallowfield  " 

7. — Hopewell  " 

8. — Morgan  " 

9. — Nottingham  " 

o.  T.  10. — Peters  " 

O.T.  11. — Robisoa  " 

O.T.  12. — Straban  " 

0.  T.  13.— Smith  " 

T.  14. — Somerset  township,   formed  April  3,  1782. 
T.  15. — Greene  "  "  " 

T.  16. — Dickinson  "  "     September  15, 1785. 

B.    1. — Washington,  (town,)  formed   February  6,  1786. 
T.  17 — Hanover  township,  "     March  11,  1786. 

T.  18.— Franklin  "  "    July  16,  1787. 

T.  19.— Findley  "  "     May  6,  1788. 

T.  20.— Morris  "  "     March  13,  1788. 

■>.T.    1.— East  Bethlehem    "  "     January  18,  1790.     (See  Bethlehem 

township.) 
D.  T.    2. — West  Bethlehem  township,  formed  January  18, 1790.     (See  Beth- 
lehem township.) 
T.  21. — Chartiers  township,  formed  March  12,  1790, 


T.  22. — Cross  Creek 

T.  23. — Canton 
D.  T.    3. — Pike  Run 
D.  T.    4.— Rich  Hill 

T.  24.— Buffalo 

B.    7. — Cannonsburg 
township.) 


March  23,  1790. 
June  10,  1791. 
January  8,  1792. 
March  13,  1793. 
May  8,  1799. 
February  22,  1802. 


(See  Chartiers 


*  Explanation  of  letters — o.  t,  means  original  townships;  d.  t.  divided  townships; 
B.  boroughs. 


44  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

-Mount  Pleasant  township,  formed  May  12,  1806. 

-West  Middlctown  liorout^h,  formed  March  27,  1823. 

-East  Findley  township,  formed  December  24,  1828.  (See  Findley 

township.) 
-West  Findley  township,   formed  December  24,  1828.     (See  Find- 
ley township.) 
-North  Straban   township,  formed   May    2,  1831.     (See   Straban 

township.) 
-South   Straban   township,  formed   May  2,  1831,     (See   Straban 

township.) 
-Claysville  borough,  formed  April  2,  1832. 
-Carrol  township,  formed  September  30,  1834. 
-Greenfield  borough,  formed  A  pril  9, 1834.  (See  Pike  Run  township.) 
-Union  township,  formed  March  31,  1836. 
-East  Pike  Run  township,  formed  March  9,  1839. 
-AVest  Pike  Run  township,  formed  March  9,  1S39. 
-Monongahela  City,  formed  April  1, 1837.     (Sec  Carrol  township.) 
-Millsborough,  formed  April  16, 1840.     (See  Bethlehem  township). 
-West  Brownsville  borough,  formed   April   2,  1852.     (See  Pike 

Run  township.) 
-Beallsville  borough,  formed  February  16,  1852.     (See  Pike  Run 

township.) 
-Allen  township,   formed   June  14,  1853. 
-Jefferson  "  "     June  16,  1853. 

-California  borough,  formed  November  26,  1853.     (See  Pike  Run 

township.) 
-Independence  township,  formed. May  19,  1855. 
-Franklin  "  "     August  13,  1855. 

-Beutleysville   borough,   formed   May  2,   1868.     (See    Somerset 

township.) 

Of  these  boroughs  and  townships  we  shall  give  a  detailed  account 
in  Chapter  Y.  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  their  history, 
and  particularly  those  which  now  embrace  this  county. 

Its  Boundaries. 

The  present  limits  of  Washington  County,  therefore,  may  be  thus 
defined  geographically — bounded  on  the  north  by  Beaver  County, 
northeast  by  Allegheny  County,  east  by  Westmoreland  and  Fayette 
counties,  south  by  Greene  County,  and  west  by  the  State  of  West 
Virginia.  Its  greatest  length  is  thirty-two  miles,  its  mean  width, 
twenty-eight  miles,  containing  896  square  miles,  or  573,440  acres  of 
land,  in  latitude  40°10'21''  north,  and  longitude  from  Washington 
3012'53"  west.  Its  population  in  1700  was  23,866  ;  in  1800,  28,293 ; 
in  1810,  36,289  ;  in  1820,  40,038  ;  in  1830,  42,860 ;  in  1840,  41,279 ; 
in  1850,  44,939,  and  in  1860,  46,805. 

Topographical  Description. 

This  county  is  watered  by  many  streams  (which  will  be  given  in 
a  separate  chapter),  but  suflice  it  to  say,  however,  that  many  valleys 
are  formed,  of  greater  or  less  widtii  and  depth,  by  their  indentation, 


T. 

25.- 

B. 

10. 

D. 

T. 

5.- 

D. 

,  T. 

6. 

D. 

T. 

7.- 

D. 

T. 

8.- 

B. 

8. 

T. 

26. 

B. 

4.- 

T. 

27.- 

D 

.  T. 

9. 

D 

.  T. 

10. 

B. 

3. 

B. 

2. 

B. 

5. 

B. 

6. 

T. 

28. 

T. 

29. 

B. 

9, 

T. 

30. 

T. 

31. 

B. 

11. 

HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  45 

hence,  the  county  presents  a  rolling  character,  and  although  not 
belonging  to  the  class  called  mountainous,  yet  may  be  termed  hilly. 
These  hills  are  cultivated  to  the  very  tops,  and  in  point  of  agri- 
culture and  grazing  are  not  inferior  to  any  in  the  State.  The  undu- 
lating surface  of  the  county  presents  scenery  unsurpassed  and  pic- 
turesque, supporting  thousands  of  sheep,  and  is  truly  deserving  the 
name  of  being  the  largest  wool-growing  county  in  the  State,  and  the 
second  in  the  United  States  for  the  quality  of  the  wool. 

Geological  Description. 

In  a  geological  view,  the  rocks  belong  to  the  upper  series  of  our 
bituminous  coal  formation,  consisting  of  alternate  strata  of  sand- 
stone, shales,  and  limestone,  with  interposed  beds  of  coal  from 
three  to  six  or  eight  feet  it  thickness.  These  nearly  level  strata 
extend  over  the  whole  surface  of  this  and  a  great  part  of  the  adjoin- 
ing counties,  are  sometimes  cut  through  by  the  deep  valleys  of  the 
streams  and  exposed  in  varied  succession  in  the  steep  banks  and 
along  the  hill  sides,  in  situations  favorable  to  access  and  affording 
great  facilities  for  mining  and  quarrying.  Coal  for  domestic  con- 
sumption is  abundant  in  every  part  of  the  county  and  along  the  bank 
of  the  Monongahela.  It  is  mined  in  great  quantities  and  sent  down 
the  Ohio  River  in  boats. 

Streams. 

We  add  a  list  of  the  streams  of  this  county,  with  their  tributaries 
and  localities. 

The  Monongahela  River,  which  flows  through  the  eastern  part 
of  Washington  County,  rises  in  Randolph  County,  Virginia,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Laurel  Mountain, 'and  flowing  northwardly  for  about 
three  hundred  miles,  empties  into  the  Allegheny  River  at  Pittsburg 
and  forms  the  Ohio.  It  is  nearly  four  hundred  yards  wide  at  its 
mouth,  and  is  navigable  for  light  boats  sixty  miles,  to  West  Browns- 
ville, in  this  county,  and  for  small  boats  nearly  two  hundred  miles 
from  its  mouth.  Its  principal  tributaries  are  the  Youghiogheny  and 
Cheat  rivers,  which  enter  into  it  on  the  east  side,  but  on  the  west 
side,  in  Washington  County,  are  Tenmile  Creek,  Pigeon  Creek, 
Baker  and  Fish  Pot  runs,  Pike  Bun,  South  Fork  and  Maple  Fork, 
Mingo  Creek. 

Tenmile  Creek  empties  into  the  Monongahela  River  at  Clarks- 
ville,  Greene  County  ;  the  north  fork  of  this  creek  rises  in  Morris 
township  and  waters  the  townships  of  East  and  West  Bethlehem, 
Amwell  and  Morris,  its  tributaries  being  Middle  Fork,  Craft's  Fork, 
Road's  Fork,  Hoosang's  Fork,  McFarlane's  Fork,  Bane's  Fork,  with 
Kembler's  and  McGiffin's  Run.  Coniconick  empties  into  Craft's 
Fork  at  Prosperity.     Its  Indian  name  is  Cusuthee. 

Little  North  Fork,  with  its  tributaries.  Brush  Run,  Camp's 
Fork,  Carter's  Run,  Daniel's  Run,  Hawkin's  and  Plumb  Hill  forks, 


46  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

empties  into  it.  On  both  branches  of  Tenmile  Creek  are  many 
grist  and  saw-mills. 

Pigeon  Creek  empties  into  the  Monongahela  at  Monongahela 
City.  It  rises  by  two  branches  in  Somerset  township  and  flows 
northeast  through  Fallowfield  township.  Its  length  is  about  fifteen 
miles. 

Mingo  and  Little  Mingo  creeks  rise  in  Nottingham  township, 
and  flow  east  to  the  Monongahela. 

Baker  and  Fish  Pot  runs  empty  into  it  in  East  Bethlehem 
township. 

Peters'  Creek  and  its  branch  called  Pine  Branch,  Fry's  Branch, 
and  Bruce's  Run,  empty  into  the  Monongahela  River. 

Chartiers'  Creek  flows  a  north-northeast  course  of  thirty-five  or 
forty  miles  and  empties  into  the  Ohio  River  ^efe  miles  alwve  Pitts- 
burg. Its  tributaries  are  Catfish  Run,  Braddock's  Run,  Weirich's 
Run,  Leet's  Run,  north  branch  of  Chartiers',  Quail's  Run,  Little 
Chartiers'  Creek  and  its  tributaries,  Vance's,  Little's,  Pollock's, 
McCorkle's,  Kenny's,,  and  Brush  runs  on  the  east  and  west  side  of 
this  creek,  emptying  into  the  Ohio  River  below  Pittsburg.  Miller's 
Run  rises  in  Mount  Pleasant  township  and  empties  into  Little 
Chartiers'  Creek.  Robeson's  Run  rises  about  two  miles  north  .of 
Candor  and  empties  into  Racoon.  This  creek  flows  through  the 
townships  of  Robinson,  Cecil,  Mount  Pleasant,  Chartiers',  Canton, 
North  and  South  Strabane,  Somerset,  Amwell,  and  Morris. 

This  creek  derives  its  name  from  Peter  Chartiers,  who  went  among 
the  Indians  on  the  Ohio  and  tributary  streams  to  deal  for  peltries. 
He  was  an  influential  Indian  interpreter,  and  joined  the  French  In- 
dians on  the  Ohio,  to  the  injury  of  Pennsylvania.  Chartiers  had  a 
trading  station  on  or  near  the  mouth  of  the  creek.  Governor  Thomas, 
in  1745,  said  that  the  perfidious  blood  of  the  Shawnees  partly  runs 
in  his  veins. 

Big  and  Little  Racoon  rise  in  Mount  Pleasant  township ;  the 
former  near  Hickory,  and  the  latter  near  David  Lyle's,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Prospect  Church.  The  tributaries  of  these  creeks  are  Boyd's, 
Burgett's,  Cherry  Valley,  Bailey's,  Painter's,  Patrick's,  and  Brimner 
and  Brush  runs.  These  different  streams  water  the  townships  of 
Hanover,  Robeson,  Smith,  and  Mount  Pleasant. 

Harman's  Creek  rises  in  Smith  township,  and  with  its  tributaries 
of  Tucker  and  Buffalo  runs,  empties  into  the  Ohio  River  near 
Georgetown,  watering  the  townships  of  Smith,  Hanover,  and  Cross 
Creek.     Its  length  is  al)out  twelve  miles. 

Indian  or  Kino  Creek  (northeast  branch)  and  Tomlinson's  Run 
rise  in  Hanover  township  near  Florence. 

Cross  Creek  rises  in  Mount  Pleasant  township  and  runs  northwest 
to  the  Ohio  River,  a  few  miles  above  Wellsburg,  West  Virginia.  Its 
tributaries  are  Stewart's  Run — the  middle  fork,  with  Smiley's  Run, 
Lyle's  Run;  the  North  Fork  rises  near  Cross  Creek  Village.     This 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  47 

creek  flows  through  the  township  of  Mount  Pleasant,  Cross  Creek, 
and  empties  into  the  main  branch  of  the  creek  at  Patterson's  mills. 

Buffalo  Creek  rises  in  East  Pindley ;  its  tributaries  are  Brushy 
Run,  Mill  Run,  Indian  Camp  Run,  Buck  Run,  and  Dutch  Fork. 
These  streams  flow  through  the  townships  of  East  Findley,  Donegal, 
Hopewell,  and  Buffalo,  and  the  creek  itself  empties  into  the  Ohio 
River. 

Wheeling  Creek  rises  in  East  Findley,  having  for  its  tributaries 
Templeton's  and  Enslow's  Fork,  Hunter's  Fork,  and  Tucker's  Fork; 
these  streams  water  East  and  West  Findley  townships. 

Little  Wheeling  Creek  rises  in  Donegal  township  ;  Middle 
Wheeling  Creek,  in  West  Findley  township  ;  these  two  creeks  meet 
at  Triadelphia  and  empty  into  Wheeling  Creek  at  Shepherd's  mills. 

Early  Religious  Element. 

Our  first  settlers  were  composed  of  the  Scotch-Irish  element,  those 
who  emigrated  from  the  west  of  Scotland  and  the  north  of  Ireland, 
while  many  others  came  from  Cumberland  and  York  counties,  where 
the  same  element  prevailed,  and  not  a  few  from  Virginia.  These  early 
pioneers,  one  hundred  years  ago,  crossed  the  rugged  steeps  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  the  boisterous  waves  of  the  swift-flowing  rivers, 
and  penetrated  into  an  unknown  wilderness  to  secure  the  blessings 
of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  No  county  in  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, or  probably  in  the  United  States,  can  boast  of  a  purer,  better, 
more  intelligent  and  devoted  company  of  Christians  than  those  who 
settled  in  Washington  County.  Military  men  are  praised  for  their 
heroic  deeds,  statesmen  for  understanding  the  great  principles  of 
government ;  but  in  this  instance,  men  from  all  nations  meet  together 
around  one  common  altar,  and  declare  in  the  very  commencement  of 
their  labors,  their  religious  principles — in  other  words,  they  laid  the 
corner  stone  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  when  they  first  settled  Washing- 
ton County,  by  entei'ing  into  solemn  engagements.  These  engage- 
ments were  binding  not  only  upon  the  males,  but  upon  the  females 
also.  Whole  families  united  in  the  league  or  covenant,  and  the  princi- 
ples of  Presbyterianism  which  they  brought  with  them,  as  well  as 
those  of  other  religious  sects,  are  so  intimately  interwoven  with  our 
political  affairs,  that  our  civil  and  religious  interests  are  carefully 
guarded  by  their  descendants. 

To  illustrate  the  positions  I  have  assumed,  I  add  a  religious  agree- 
ment entered  into  between  these  early  pioneers,  which  I  received 
from  the  Rev.  John  T.  Fredericks,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Burgettstown,  Washington  County ;  and  before  giving  it  I  will 
give  the  causes  which  led  to  its  adoption.  This  "  Religious  Agree- 
ment," entered  into  on  the  14th  day  of  February,  1782,  is  in  the 
hand- writing  of  James  Edgar,  Esq.,  deceased,  who  was  an  Associ- 
ate Judge  of  this  county.  He  with  five  others  left  York  County  in 
1779 — all  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.    They  made  an  agree- 


48  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

ment  to  lociite  near  each  other,  so  that  they  might  secure  to  them- 
selves and  their  families  the  ordinances  and  preaching  of  the  gospel, 
and  be  tlie  means  of  collecting  a  church  with  like  principles  together, 
as  they  themselves  professed. 

These  families  left  their  eastern  homes  and  travelled  through  Ty- 
gart's  Valley  and  crossed  the  Monongahela  River  at  Parkinson's 
Ferry  (now  Monongahela  City).  Mr.  Ifugh  Scott,  one  of  the  six, 
settled  west  of  this  place  ;  another  where  BuflFalo  Church  and  Village 
now  stand  ;  James  Edgar  in  Cross  Creek  township,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Finley  Scott,  Esq. ;  another  settled  near  to  Briceland's 
Cross  Roads  (now  Florence)  ;  and  another,  Patrick  McCullough,  in 
what  became  Mill  Creek  Congregation,  in  Beaver  County  ;  yet  no  two 
settled  together,  but  in  contiguous  neighborhoods,  and  each  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  a  church  of  their  denomination  to  which  he  be- 
longed erected  to  (rod  and  dedicated  to  his  glory.  At  the  time  of 
this  "  Religious  Agreement"  there  were  no  altar  and  no  church  but 
the  forts  and  the  woods,  in  which  God  ^Yas  worshipped  with  pure 
hearts,  and  in  the  beauty  of  holiness  and  the  purity  of  truth.  This 
ADVANCE  GUARD  of  the  church  met,  and  while  the  minister  officiated, 
and  prayer  and  praise  went  up  from  pure  hearts,  sanctified  by  the 
grace  of  God,  they  grasped  the  faithful  rifle  to  defend  themselves 
against  the  insidious  attacks  of  the  Indians.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Stockton,  in  his  fortieth  anniversary  sermon,  says:  "In  these  forts 
(Wells'  and  Vance's)  social  and  afterwards  public  worship  w^as  kept 
up  for  seven  years,  especially  in  summer  and  autumn,  the  seasons 
when  the  Indians  were  out  west  to  make  their  raids,  and  it  was  a 
common  thing  for  men  to  go  to  these  meetings  armed  with  their  trusty 
rifles,  and  to  stand  guard  during  the  services."  Dr.  Stockton  also 
adds,  that  the  Rev.  James  Powers  "  preached  the  first  gospel  ser- 
mon under  an  oak  tree  just  outside  the  gate  of  Vance's  Fort.  It  was 
on  this  occasion  that  Dr.  Powers  baptized  the  child  of  Mr.  Marquis, 
which  was  the  first  person  who  received  that  rite  in  that  region  of 
country." 

"With  these  remarks  we  now  add  the  document  itself,  with  the  list 
of  names  attached,  many  of  whose  descendants  are  living  lives  of 
virtue,  of  honor,  and  of  honesty,  around  and  near  the  old  family  liearth- 
.<toncs,  consecrated  by  the  prayers  of  many  an  aged  fallier  and  mother, 
who  have  crossed  the  Jordan  of  death,  and  beckon  their  descendants 
to  the  ineffable  joys  of  the  spirit  world. 

Religious  Agreement. 

We,  and  each  of  us,  whose  names  arc  underwritten,  being  chiefly 
the  inhabitants  of  the  western  frontier  of  Washington  County,  con- 
sidering the  many  abounding  evils  in  our  own  hearts  and  lives,  as 
also  the  open  and  secret  violation  of  the  holy  law  of  God,  which 
dishonors  11  is  name  and  defiles  and  ruins  our  country  ;  such  as  ig- 
norance, unbelief,  hardness  of  heart,  contempt  of  God  in  his  ordi- 
nances, law,  and  gospel  (in  particular  in  setting  our  hearts  upon  the 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  49 

creature  in  one  line  or  another  more  than  upon  God),  breach  of  his 
Sabbath,  disobedience  to  parents,  backbiiings,  entertaining  bad 
thoughts,  and  receiving  groundless  evil  reports  of  others,  unfaith- 
fulness to  Grod  for  His  mercies,  profaning  His  name,  uncleanness, 
lascivious  songs,  iilthy  discourse,  promiscuous  dancing,  drunkenness, 
defraud,  deceit,  over-reaching  in  bargains,  gaming,  horse  racing, 
cock  fighting,  shooting  for  prizes,  lying,  covetousness,  discontent, 
fretting  against  the  dispensations  of  God's  providence,  unfaithful- 
ness for  God  (in  suffering  sin  to  remain  on  our  neighbor  unreproved), 
denying  God  in  the  neglect  of  family  and  secret  worship,  catechizing 
and  instruction  of  our  children  and  servants  or  slaves,  vexatious 
wranglings,  and  law  suits,  together  with  innumerable  evils,  provoking 
God  to  send  down  heavy  judgments  on  our  land,  and  to  withhold  or 
withdraw  His  gracious  presence,  and  unfit  our  soul  for  enjoying  any 
solid  happiness,  which  we  desire  to  acknowledge  with  shame  and 
sorrow  of  heart  before  God,  and  do  in  the  strength  of  God  and  de- 
pending on  His  Grace  for  support,  solemnly  promise  (to  our  power, 
according  to  our  various  places  and  stations)  to  engage  against, 
both  in  ourselves  and  others,  as  providence  shall  give  us  opportunity, 
and  prudence  direct. 

-  In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands,  this  14th  day 
of  February,  1*782.  (N.  B.  This  is  not  to  be  a  barrier  to  prevent 
any  from  signing  at  any  time  hereafter.) 

Robert  McCready,  William  Vance,  John  Stone,  James  Edgar, 
William  McCandless,  Robert  Dunbar,  Jojin  Robinson,  John  Donahey, 
Matthew  Hilles,  Benjamin  Bearkus,  John  McMillen,  Samuel  Hind- 
man,  George  McCuUoch,  John  Ekin,  Moses  Wallace,  David  Thomp- 
son, Henry  McBride,  John  Dodds,  John  Strain,  James  Barr,  Thomas 
Hanna,  James  Dabbin,  Thomas  Strain,  Samuel  Jefferey,  Alex.  Mc- 
Candless, Samuel  Leeper,  James  Matthews,  William  Smith,  Thomas 
Bay,  Ebenezer  Smith,  John  Cowen,  Thomas  Barton,  Hugh  Sherer, 
Hugh  Newel,  Arthur  Campbell,  John^ephenson,  Samuel  Johnston, 
James  Loop,  John  Hustein,  William  Thompson,  William  Reno, 
William  Rannells,  Henry  Graham,  William  Hughes,  William  Camp- 
bell, Patrick  McCormick,  John  Singer,  Joseph  Patterson,  Daniel  C. 
McCoy,  David  Kerr,  John  Morrison,  John  Stone,  William  Park, 
William  Smiley,  George  Marquiss,  Mary  Marquiss,  Thomas  Mar- 
quiss,  Joseph  Vance,  John  Marquiss,  William  Wallace,  Samuel  Reed, 
James  Marshall,  Elias  Newkirk,  John  Cooper,  William  McCullough, 
Alexander  Wright,  James  Jackson,  Agness  Jackson,  Mary  Cowen, 
Sr.,  Mary  Cowan,  Jr.,  Martha  Dunbar,  Prudence  Matthews,  Eliza- 
beth B.  Hughes,  Janet  McCandless,  Anne  Vance,  David  Rannells, 
Elizabeth  McCullough,  Ruth  Rannells,  Annie  Park,  Mary  Johnston, 
Martha  Edgar,  Mary  Graham,  John  Hughes,  Gabriel  Walker,  Alex- 
ander Kidd,  Jean  Patterson. — 86.  The  above  signed  the  first  day. 
Attached  is  a  second  additional  clause,  with  28  names  added  to 
the  first  list.     The  second  clause  and  names  read  thus : — 

We  desire  to  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  God,  who  hath  con- 


50  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

tinned  his  precious  gospel  with  us  in  purity,  and  especially  for  his 
late  gracious  outpourings  of  divine  influence  on  many  parts  of  the 
land,  and  especially  here  where  we  were  so  sunk  in  carnal  security 
and  wordly  niindedness,  floating  along  with  the  flood  of  vanity. 
And  we  desire  to  lament  our  barrenness  and  leanness  under  these 
gracious  favors,  and  we  do  now,  in  the  strength  pf  God,  rejying  on 
His  grace,  resolve  that  we  will  seek  to  the  Lord  for  help  to  improve 
these  precious  favors,  and  knowing  that  some  do  oppose  the  work, 
and  aspersing  it  as  a  delusion,  &c.,  we  will  be  guarded  in  our  con- 
duct, careful  of  our  company,  and  we  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of 
awakened  sinners  next  to  their  supplication  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
to  lay  open  their  case  to  ministers  and  experienced  Christians,  lest 
Satan  and  corruption  might  get  the  advantage  of  them,  and  that  we 
will  be  careful  and  watchful  to  perform  the  duties  required  by  Chris- 
tian rules  in  the  families  we  belong  to,  as  we  stand  related  severally 
as  parents  and  children,  husbands  and  wives,  masters  or  mistresses, 
and  servants. 

Signed  in  1186  by  Angas  Sunderland,  Jane  Sunderland,  Thomas 
Bay,  Elizabeth  Bay,  Mary  Patterson,  Sarah  Vance,  Jean  Marquis, 
Martha  Rannells,  Robert  Morgan,  Margaret  Marshall,  Susannah  Pat- 
terson, Robert  Marshal,  Elizabeth  Thompson,  Tabitha  Kirk,  Sarah 
Marquis,  Susannah  Parke. 

May  31,  1787,  Thomas  Hays,  Jos.  Colville  Yance,  William  Hus- 
ton, John  M.  Cloan,  Joseph  Wiley,  Catharine  Edgar,  Catharine 
Phillis,  John  Sanders,  Andrew  Ferguson,  Elizabeth  McMillen,  Mary 
Edgar,  Sr.,  Hannah  Huston. 

To  which  names  are  added  these  words,  "Whole  number  114 — 
dead  26."  James  Edgar,  Esq.,  makes  a  note  below  the  additional 
clause  of  these  words,  "  I  believe  this  additional  clause  was  made  on 
the  second  day's  signing." 

Time  would  fail  me  were  I  to  give  a  history  of  most  of  these  men 
whose  names  were  sul)scribed  to  this  religious  agreement.  Many 
of  them  filled  high  and  important  stations  in  church  and  State,  and 
have  licqueathed  to  their  posterity  a  priceless  inheritance.  Their 
descendants  linger  among  us,  and  the  rural  cemeteries  of  Cross  Creek, 
Buffalo,  Racoon  and  Burgettstown,  contain  the  remains  of  those  of 
whom  it  can  be  truthfully  said,  "  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in 
the  Lord." 

Marriage  Custom  and  Ceremony. 

In  connection  with  the  church,  I  shall  add  a  sketch  of  an  old- 
fashioned  wedding  party,  from  the  rare  work  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dodridge, 
such  as  was  practised  by  the  first  settlers. 

When  neighborhoods  became  in  some  degree  settled,  and  boys 
and  girls  had  grown  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  mutual  love 
resulted  in  marriage,  whicli  was  celebrated  different  from  weddings 
of  tlie  present  day.  An  eye-witness  and  a  participant  gives  the 
following  glowing  description  of  a  wedding  day  among  our  early 
settlers: — 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  51 

In  the  morning  of  the  wedding  day  the  groom  and  his  attendants 
assembled  at  the  house  of  his  father  for  the  purpose  of  reaching  the 
mansion  of  his  bride  by  noon,  which  was  the  usual  time  for  cele- 
brating the  nuptials,  which  for  certain  must  take  place  before  dinner. 

Imagine  an  assemblage  of  people,  without  a  store,  tailor,  or  man- 
tua-niaker  within  a  hundred  miles,  and  an  assemblage  of  horses 
without  a  blacksmith  or  saddler  within  an  equal  distance.  The 
gentlemen  dressed  in  shoepacks,  moccasons,  leather  breeches,  leg- 
gings, linsey  hunting  shirts,  and  all  home  made.  The  ladies  dressed 
in  linsey  petticoats  and  linsey  or  linen  bed-gowns,  coai'se  shoes, 
stockings,  handkerchiefs,  and  buckskin  gloves,  if  any.  If  there  were 
any  buckles,  rings,  buttons,  or  ruflles,  they  were  the  relics  of  old 
times,  family  pieces  from  parents  or  grandparents.  The  horses  were 
caparisoned  with  old  saddles,  old  bridles  or  halters,  and  pack-sad- 
dles, with  a  bag  or  blanket  thrown  over  them.  A  rope  or  string  as 
often  constituted  the  girth  as  a  piece  of  leather. 

The  march,  in  double  file,  was  often  interrupted  by  the  narrow- 
ness and  obstructions  of  our  horse-patlis,  as  they  were  called,  for  we 
had  no  roads,  and  these  difficulties  were  often  increased,  sometimes 
by  the  good  and  sometimes  by  the  ill-will  of  neighbors,  by  felling 
trees  and  tying  grape-vines  across  the  way.  Sometimes  an  ambus- 
cade was  formed  by  the  wayside,  and  an  unexpected  discharge  of 
several  guns  took  place,  so  as  to  cover  the  wedding  party  with  smoke. 
Let  the  reader  imagine  the  scene  which  followed  this  discharge, 
the  sudden  spring  of  the  horses,  the  shrieks  of  the  girls,  and  the 
chivalric  bustle  of  their  partners  to  save  them  from  falling.  Some- 
times, in  spite  of  all  that  could  be  done  to  prevent  it,  some  were 
thrown  to  the  ground.  If  a  wrist,  elbow,  or  ankle  happened  to  be 
sprained,  it  vpas  tied  with  a  handkerchief,  and  little  more  was  thought 
or  said  about  it. 

Another  ceremony  took  place  before  the  party  reached  the  house 
of  the  bride.  When  the  party  were  about  a  mile  from  the  place  of 
their  destination,  two  young  men  would  single  out  to  run  for  the 
bottle  of  whiskey,  the  worse  the  path,  the  more  logs,  brush,  and 
deep  hollows,  the  better,  as  these  obstacles  afforded  an  opportu- 
nity for  the  greater  display  of  intrepidity  and  horsemanship.  The 
start  was  announced  by  an  Indian  yell,  logs,  brush,  muddy  hollows, 
hill  and  glen,  were  speedily  passed  by  the  rival  ponies.  The  bottle 
was  always  filled  for  the  occasion,  so  that  there  was  no  use  for 
judges,  for  the  first  who  reached  the  door  was  presented  with  the 
prize,  with  which  he  returned  in  triumph  to  the  company.  On 
approaching  them,  he  announced  his  victory  over  his  rival  by  a 
shrill  whoop.  At  the  head  of  the  troop  he  gave  the  bottle  first  to 
the  groom  and  his  attendants,  and  then  to  each  pair  in  succession 
to  the  rear  of  the  line,  giving  each  a  dram,  and  then  putting  the 
bottle  in  the  bosom  of  his  hunting  shirt,  took  his  station  in  the 
company. 

The  ceremony  of  the  marriage  preceded  the  dinner,  which  was  a 


52  HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

substantial  backwoods  feast  of  beef,  pork,  fowls,  and  sometimes  veni- 
son and  bear  meat,  roasted  and  boiled,  with  plenty  of  potatoes, 
cabbage,  and  other  vegetables.  During  the  dinner,  the  greatest 
hilarity  prevailed,  although  the  table  might  be  a  large  slab  of  tim- 
ber hewed  out  with  a  broadaxe,  supported  by  four  sticks  set  in 
auger  holes,  and  the  furniture,  some  old  pewter  dishes  and  plates, 
the  rest,  wooden  bowls  and  trenchers  ;  a  few  pewter  spoons,  much 
battered  about  the  edges,  were  to  be  seen  at  some  tables.  The 
rest  were  made  of  horns.  If  knives  were  scarce,  the  deficiency  was 
made  up  by  the  scalping  knives,  which  were  carried  in  sheaths,  sus- 
pended to  the  belt  of  the  hunting  shirt. 

After  dinner  the  dancing  commenced,  and  generally  lasted  till  the 
next  morning.  The  figures  of  the  dancers  were  three  and  four  hand- 
ed reels  or  square  sets  and  jigs.  The  commencement  was  always  a 
square  four,  which  was  followed  by  what  was  called  jigging  it  off, 
that  is,  two  of  the  four  would  single  out  for  a  jig,  and  were  followed 
by  the  remaining  couple.  The  jigs  were  often  accompanied  with 
what  was  called  "cutting  out,"  that  is,  when  either  of  the  parties 
became  tired  of  the  dance,  on  intimation,  the  place  was  supplied  by 
some  one  of  the  company  without  any  interruption  of  the  dance. 
In  this  way  a  dance  was  often  continued  till  the  musician  was 
heartily  tired  of  his  situation.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  night, 
if  any  of  the  company,  through  weariness,  attempted  to  conceal 
themselves  for  the  purpose  of  sleeping,  they  were  hunted  up,  paraded 
on  the  floor,  and  the  fiddler  ordered  to  play  "  hang  out  till  to-mor- 
row morning." 

About  nine  or  ten  o'clock  a  deputation  of  the  young  ladies  stole  off 
the  bride  and  put  her  to  bed.  In  doing  this  it  frequently  happened 
that  they  had  to  ascend  a  ladder  instead  of  a  pair  of  stairs,  leading 
from  the  dinirfg  and  ball-room  to  the  loft,  the  floor  of  which  was 
made  of  clapboards  lying  loose  and  without  nails.  This  ascent  one 
might  think  would  put  the  bride  and  her  attendants  to  the  blush, 
but  as  the  foot  of  the  ladder  was  commonly  behind  the  door  (which 
was  purposely  opened  for  the  occasion),  and  its  rounds  at  the  inner 
end  were  well  hung  with  hunting  shirts,  petticoats,  and  other  arti- 
cles of  clothing,  the  candles  being  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
house,  the  exit  of  the  bride  was  noticed  but  by  few. 

This  done,  a  deputation  of  young  men  in  like  manner  stole  off  the 
groom,  and  placed  him  snugly  by  the  side  of  his  bride.  The  dance 
still  continues,  and  if  seats  happen  to  be  scarce,  which  was  often  the 
case,  every  young  man  when  not  engaged  in  the  dance  was  obliged 
to  offer  his  lap  as  a  seat  for  one  of  the  girls,  and  the  offer  was  sure 
to  be  accepted.  In  the  midst  of  this  hilarity,  the  bride  and  groom 
were  not  forgotten.  I'rotty  late  in  the  night  some  one  would  remind 
the  company  that  the  new  couple  must  stand  in  need  of  some  refresh- 
ments. Black  Betty,  which  was  the  name  of  the  bottle,  was  called 
for,  and  sent  up  the  ladder.  But  sometimes  black  Betty  did  not  go 
alone.     I  have  many  times  seen  as  much  bread,  beef,  pork,  and  cab- 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  53 

bage  sent  along  with  her,  as  would  afford  a  good  meal  foi'  a  half 
dozen  hungry  men.  The  young  couple  were  compelled  to  eat  and 
drink  more  or  less,  of  whatever  was  offered  them. 

In  the  course  of  the  festivity,  if  any  wanted  to  help  himself  to  a 
dram,  and  the  young  couple  to  a  toast,  he  would  call  out,  "  Where  is 
black  Betty?  I  want  to  kiss  her  sweet  lips."  Black  Betty  was  soon 
handed  to  him,  then  holding  her  up  in  his  right  hand,  he  would  say, 
"  Here's  health  to  the  groom,  not  forgetting  myself,  and  here's  to  the 
bride,  thumping  luck  and  big  children."  This,  so  far  from  being 
taken  amiss,  was  considered  as  an  expression  of  a  very  proper  and 
friendly  wish,  for  big  children,  especially  sons,  were  of  great  import- 
ance ;  every  big  son  being  considered  as  a  young  soldier. 

It  often  happened  that  some  neighbors  or  relations  not  being  asked 
to  the  wedding  took  offence,  and  the  mode  of  revenge  adopted  was 
that  of  cutting  off  the  manes,  foretops,  and  tails  of  the  horses  of  the 
wedding  company. 

On  returning  to  the  infare,  the  order  of  procession  and  race  for 
black  Betty  was  the  same  as  before.  The  feasting  and  dancing  often 
lasted  for  several  days. 

School-Houses. 

The  school-house  was  considered  as  necessary  to  the  prosperity  of 
a  settlement  as  the  church,  and  the  requirements  of  the  schoolmaster 
were,  that  he  could  read,  write,  and  cipher  as  far  as  the  double  rule 
of  three.  When  such  a  man  offered  himself,  the  neighbors  would 
employ  him,  and  immediately  set  about  the  erection  of  school-house. 
One  would  give  the  ground,  some  would  cut  the  logs,  some  would 
haul  them  to  the  appointed  place,  others  would  put  them  up.  In 
the  erection  of  the  school-house,  a  log  would  be  kept  out  the  entire 
length  to  answer  the  purpose  of  a  window.  The  fireplace  was 
built  with  logs,  with  a  stone  back  wall  calculated  for  a  back  log  six 
feet  long.  The  chimney  was  built  with  what  was  then  called  "  cat 
and  clay  chimney."  The  seats  were  made  of  small  trees,  cut  about 
twelve  feet  long  and  split,  the  flat  side  dressed  smooth  with  the  axe, 
and  legs  put  in  the  round  side,  which  stood  on  an  earthen  floor.  In 
summer  time  the  dust  would  be  sometimes  two  inches  deep,  hence  the 
scholars  for  amusement  would  amuse  themselves  by  "kicking  up  the 
dust "  (which  is  likely  the  origin  of  the  expression),  to  the  great  an- 
noyance of  the  schoolmaster,  who  would  use  his  cat-o'-nine-tails  very 
freely. 

In  old  times,  they  had  a  custom  which  is  now,  we  believe,  entirely 
laid  aside.  About  a  week  before  Christmas  the  larger  scholars 
would  meet  in  the  night  to  bar  out  the  master.  On  his  arrival  at 
the  school-room  he  would  endeavor  to  force  his  way  in,  but  finding 
his  efforts  unavailing,  he  would  enter  into  an  agreement  to  give  them 
holiday  between  Christmas  and  New  Year's,  give  a  gallon  of  whiskey, 
and  lots  of  ginger-cakes  on  Christmas  day,  and  play  corner  ball  with 
the  scholars  on  that  occasion. 


54  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SUPREME  EXECUTIVE  COUNCIL. 

A  brief  history  of  the  Provincial  Conference — The  Constitution  of  177G  ;  the 
Council  of  Censors  ;  the  Convention  of  1789  ;  the  Constitution  of  1790; 
the  action  of  the  Legislature  of  1825  ;  with  regard  to  a  convention,  and  the 
vote  of  the  people  ;  tlie  Convention  of  1837  ;  the  Constitution  of  lS;-i8,  and 
the  full  proceedings  of  the  Supreme  Executive,  from  1781  to  1791,  which 
relates  to  Washington  County. 

Supreme  Executive  Council. 

Before  proceeding  with  the  acts  of  this  body,  as  connected  with 
Washington  County,  it  is  necessary  to  give  a  history  of  its  rise  and 
origin,  as  interwoven  with  the  Constitution  of  1776. 

A  provincial  conference  of  committees  of  the  several  counties 
of  Pennsylvania  convened  at  Carpenter's  Hall,  in  Philadelphia,  on 
25th  of  June,  1776,  in  consequence  of  a  circular  letter  from  the 
committee  of  the  city  and  liberties  of  Philadelphia,  inclosing  the 
resolution  of  the  Continental  Congress  of  the  15th  of  May,  1776. 
Returns  of  delegates  were  laid  before  this  provincial  conference  fi'om 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  counties  of  Philadelphia,  Bucks, 
Chester,  Lancaster,  Berks,  Northampton,  York,  Cumberland,  Bed- 
ford, Northumberland,  and  Westmoreland  (these  ten  counties  then 
composing  the  province)  Thomas  McKean  was  chosen  President, 
Joseph  Hart,  Vice-President,  and  Jonathan  B.  Smith  and  Samuel 
C.  Morris,  Secretaries. 

The  President  directed  the  reading  of  the  resolution  of  the  15th 
of  May,  1776,  passed  by  the  Continental  Congress,  which  was  in 
these  words  : — 

Whereas,  his  Britannic  majesty,  in  conjunction  with  the  liords  and 
Commons  of  Great  Britan,  has,  by  a  late  act  of  Parliament,  excluded 
the  inhabitants  of  these  United  Colonies  from  the  protection  of  his 
crown  ;  and  whereas  no  answer  whatever  to  the  humble  petitions  of 
the  colonies  for  the  redress  of  grievances  and  reconciliation  with 
Groat  Britain  has  been  or  is  likely  to  be  given,  but  the  whole  force 
of  that  kingdom,  aided  by  foreign  mercenaries,  is  to  be  exerted  for 
the  destruction  of  the  good  people  of  these  colonies;  and  whereas 
it  appears  absolutely  irreconcilable  to.  reason  and  good  conscience 
for  the  people  of  these  colonies  now  to  take  the  oaths  and  other 
matters  necessary  for  the  support  of  any  government  under  the 
crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  it  is  necessary  that  the  exercise  of  every 
kind  of  authority,  under  the  said  crown,  shall  bo  totally  suppressed, 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  55 

and  all  the  powers  of  government  exerted  under  the  authority  of  the 
people  of  the  colonies,  for  the  preservation  of  interval  peace,  virtue 
and  good  order,  as  well  as  for  the  defence  of  their  lives,  liberties, 
and  properties,  against  the  hostile  invasions  and  cruel  depredations 
of  their  enemies ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  respective  assemblies 
and  conventions  of  the  United  Culonies,  where  no  government  suffi- 
cient to  the  exigencies  of  their  affairs  has  been  hitherto  established, 
to  adopt  such  government  as  shall,  in  the  opinion  of  the  representa- 
tives of  the  people,  best  conduce  to  the  happiness  and  safety  of  their 
constituents  in  particular  and  America  in  general. 

The  Conference  adopted  the  resolution,  and  resolved  to  adopt  a 
new  government  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  authority 
of  the  people  only. 

The  Convention  appointed  Monday  the  8th  day  of  July,  17*16,  for 
electing  members  in  the  different  counties  to  said  Convention,  and 
fixed  Monday  the  15th  of  July,  1*7 76,  for  the  assembling  of  the  dele- 
gates. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  1716,  delegates  from  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia and  the  ten  counties  of  the  State  as  above  specified,  met  in 
Philadelphia,  and  organized  by  electing  Dr,  Benjamin  Franklin, 
President ;  Col.  George  Ross,  Vice-President ;  John  Morris,  Secre- 
tary. The  Convention  terminated  their  session  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1776,  and  adopted  a  constitution,  containing  a  declaration 
of  rights  and  the  frame  of  government.  The  commonwealth  was 
to  be  governed  by  an  Assembly  of  the  representatives  of  the  freemen 
of  the  State,  a  President  and  Council.  In  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives the  supreme  legislative  power  was  vested,  but  in  the  President 
and  Council  the  supreme  executive  power  was  vested,  under  the  title 
of  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

The  first  Constitution  of  Pennsylvania,  adopted  July  15,  1776, 
provided  that  this  council  should  consist  of  twelve  persons,  chosen 
from  the  counties  then  in  existence,  but  provided  that  in  case  of 
the  formation  of  new  counties,  such  county  or  counties  shall  elect  a 
councillor.  The  Council  was  required  to  meet  annually  at  the  same 
time  and  place  with  the  General  Assembly. 

The  duties  of  the  President  and  Executive  Council  (five  of  whom 
constituted  a  quorum)  were  to  appoint  all  officers,  civil  and  mili- 
tary, except  such  as  were  chosen  by  the  people  or  the  General 
Assembly,  and  to  fill  vacancies,  grant  pardons,  remit  fines,  grant 
reprieves,  see  that  the  laws  were  faithfully  executed,  &c.  &c.  &c. 
Two  justices  of  the  peace  for  each  district  were  elected  for  seven 
years. 

The  Constitution  also  provided  that  a  Council  of  Censors 
should  be  elected  by  the  people  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October, 
1783,  and  in  every  seventh  year  thereafter,  whose  duty  was  to 
inquire  if  the  Constitution  had  been  preserved  inviolate,  whether  the 
different  branches  of  government  had  performed  their  duties  faith- 


56  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

fully,  and  whether  the  taxes  wore  justly  laid,  &c.  &c.,  and  to  call 
a  convention  to  amend  any  article  of  tt)e  Constitution  which  might 
be  defective. 

The  first  Council  of  Censors  met  on  November  the  10th,  178;{, 
when  Waxhington  County  was  represented  by  James  Edgar  and 
John  McDowell.  After  examining  the  Constitution  and  its  opera- 
tion, they  appointed  several  committees  and  adjourned  to  June  1, 
IT 84,  and  after  hearing  the  opinions  of  the  members,  they  passed  a 
resolution  by  a  vote  of  fourteen  to  ten,  that  there  was  no  absolute 
necessity  to  call  a  convention  to  alter,  explain,  or  amend  the  Con- 
stitution, but  drafted  an  address  to  the  people  on  the  necessity  of 
supporting  the  Constitution  by  giving  it  a  fair  and  honest  trial,  and 
if  at  the  end  of  seven  years  it  did  not  answer  the  desired  purpose, 
to  make  the  necessary  change. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1789,  a  resolution  was  adopted  by  the 
General  Assembly  by  a  vote  of  forty-one  to  seventeen,  that  it  was 
necessary  to  call  a  convention  to  revise,  alter,  and  amend  the  Con- 
stitution, and  for  this  purpose  the  authority  was  given  to  the  people 
to  elect  delegates  for  that  purpose,  to  meet  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
24th  of  November,  1789. 

This  Convention  met  at  the  day  appointed,  with  delegates  from 
the  city  and  county  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  counties  of  Bucks, 
Chester,  Lancaster,  York,  Cumberland,  Berks,  Northampton,  Bed- 
ford, Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  Franklin,  Montgomery, 
Dauphin,  Luzerne,  Huntingdon,  Delaware,  Northumberland,  and 
Alleghany  (there  being  twenty  counties  in  the  State).  The  delegates 
from  Washington  County  were  Alexander  Addison,  John  Hoge, 
David  Reddick,  and  James  Ross.  Thomas  ]\lifilin  was  elected 
President.  This  convention  adjourned  on  the  SOth  of  February, 
1790,  to  assemble  on  the  9th  of  August  following,  after  having 
adopted  a  constitution,  which  was  ordered  to  be  printed  for  the 
consideration  of  the  people  of  Pennsylvania.  The  reason  given  for 
a  change  is  thus  explained  by  Thomas  McKean.  The  balance  of 
the  one,  the  few,  and  the  many,  is  not  well  poised  in  the  State;  the 
legislature  is  too  powerful  for  the  executive  and  judicial  branches. 
We  have  now  but  one  branch  ;  we  must  have  another  branch,  a 
negative  in  the  executive,  stability  in  our  laws,  and  permanency 
in  our  magistracy,  before  we  shall  be  reputable,  safe,  and  ha)ipy. 

The  delegates  reassembled  at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  and  . 
after  a   careful  review  and   an  investigation  of  the    Constitution, 
adopted  the  same  on   September  2,  1790,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-one  to 
one,  and  was  officially  proclaimed  as  such. 

In  the  Constitution  of  1790,  the  legislative  power  was  vested  in 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  and  not  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  alone,  as  in  the  Constitution  of  1776. 

The  supreme  executive  power  was  vested  in  the  Governor,  while 
in  the  Constitution  of  1776  it  was  in  the  President  and  Supreme 
Executive  Council. 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  51 

The  Constitution  of  1790  going  into  effect,  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  was  abolished,  and  on  the  22d  of  April,  1794,  an  act  was 
passed  vesting-  all  the  powers  of  the  late  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil in  the  Governor,  unless  otherwise  vested  by  law.  On  the  28th 
of  March,  1825,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  to  ascertain 
the  opinion  of  the  people  relative  to  the  call  of  a  convention. 

On  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  1825,  the  people,  by  ballot, 
decided  against  the  proposed  convention.  On  the  second  of  May, 
1837,  a  State  Convention  assembled  at  Harrisburg  to  amend  the 
Constitution.  Hon.  John  Sergeant,  of  Philadelphia,  was  chosen 
President.  This  Convention  continued  in  session  until  the  July 
following,  when  it  adjourned  and  reassembled  in  October.  In  the 
following  December  the  Convention  removed  to  Philadelphia  and 
finally  closed  their  labors  on  the  22d  of  February,  1838.  The  pro- 
posed amendments  to  the  Constitution  were  adopted  by  the  people 
at  the  annual  October  election  of  the  same  year. 

I  shall  now  proceed  to  give  extracts  from  the  proceedings  of  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council,  on  subjects  referring  to  Washington 
County. 

Philadelphia,  Monday,  April  2,  1781. 

Present:  His  Excellency  Joseph  Reed,  Esq.,  President,  the  Vice- 
President,  and  members  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

The  Council  taking  into  consideration  the  act  of  Assembly  passed  the 
28tli  inst.,  entitled  "  An  act  for  erecting  part  of  the  county  of  Westmore- 
land into  a  special  county"  called  by  the  name  of  Washington. 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissioned  to 
be  the  Prothonotary  of  the  said  county  of  Washington. 

Resolved,  That  James  Marshal,  Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissioned  to 
be  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington,  and  that  John  Cannon  and 
David  Lite  (Leet)  be  appointed  and  commissioned  to  be  the  sub-Lieuten- 
ants of  the  said  county. 

Philadelphia,  April  4,  1781. 

Present :  His  Excellency  Joseph  Reed,  Esq.,  President,  and  Executive 
Council. 

James  Marshal,  Esq.,  appointed  by  the  Honorable  House  of  Assembly 
to  be  Register  for  the  Probate  of  Wills  and  granting  letters  of  administra- 
tion, and  Recorder  of  Deeds  for  the  county  of  Washington,  and  by  this 
Board  to  be  Lieutenant  of  the  said  county,  attended  in  council  and  took 
the  several  oaths  necessary  to  qualify  him  for  the  said  offices  respectively. 

Philadelphia,  April  20,  1781. 

Present :  His  Excellency  Joseph  Reed,  Esq.,  President,  and  Executive 
Council. 

Ordered,  That  Colonel  James  Marshal,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, be  authorized  and  directed  to  call  out  forty  men  of  the  militia  of 
that  county,  or  if  the  militia  shall  not  be  organized  sufficient  for  that  pur- 
pose, to  raise  the  said  number  of  men  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  and 
guarding  the  commissioners  appointed  to  run  the  line  between  this  State 
and  Virginia^  during  the  time  they  shall  be  on  that  service,  and  that  he  be 
5 


58  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

authorized  to  call  on  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Pitt  for  ammunition 
for  that  purpose. 
Col.  Daniel  Broadhead  was  commandant  at  Fort  Pitt. 

Philadelphia,  August  23,  1781. 

Present :  His  Excellency  the  President  and  E.xeculive  Couueil. 

Ecturns  of  Justices  for  the  following  townships  in  the  county  of  "Wash- 
ington were  received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  following  gen- 
tlemen were  elected  : — 

Peters  township.  John  Douglass  and  Robert  Thompson. 

Nottingham  toivnship.  Benjamin  Parkinson  and  Joseph  Parkinson. 

Strabane  toivnship.  (In  which  is  the  place  called  Catfish  Camp,  ordered 
bylaw  to  be  the  seat  of  justice).  Daniel  Leet,  Henry  Taylor,  John  White, 
Jsicholas  Little,  Alexander  Eddy,  and  David  Clark. 

Amwdl  toionship.  Abner  Howell  and  John  Craig. 

Donegal  toivnship.  Samuel  Mason  and  Samuel  Williamson. 

Hopewell  toivnship.  William  Scott  and  John  ]\Iarshall. 
>  Fallowfield  toivnship.  John  Parker,  John  Hall,  east  end,  and  John  Ste- 
venson and  Patrick  McCnllough,  west  end  of  said  township. 

Smith's  township.  Samuel  Johnston  and  James  Edgar. 

Cecil  toivnship.  Matthew  McConnell  and  John  Reed. 

On  consideration. 

Resolved,  That  Henry  Taylor,  William  Scott,  John  Craig,  John  White, 
Daniel  Leet,  John  Marshall,  John  Douglass,  Benjamin  Parkinson,  John 
Reed,  Abner  Howell,  Matthew  McConnell,  Samuel  Johnston,  and  Samuel 
Mason,  be  ap])ointed  and  commissioned  justices  of  the  peace,  of  the  court 
of  Common  Pleas,  and  of  the  Orphans'  Court  of  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, and  that  a  general  commission  be  issued  accordingly. 

Philadelphia,  October  11,  1781. 

Present :  The  Honorable  the  Vice-President  and  Executive  Council. 

The  Council  took  into  consideration  a  resolve  of  Congress  of  the  24th  of 
September  last,  appointing  Brigadier-General  William  Irvine  to  the  com- 
mand of  Fort  Pitt,  and  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  agreeably  to  the  said  recommendation,  the  Lieutenant  of 
the  county  of  Washington  be  ordered  to  call  forth,  agreeably  to  law,  upon 
his  requisition,"  such  militia  as  may  be  necessary  for  that  post  and  the  pro- 
tection of  the  county. 

Philadelphia,  Nov.  19,  1781. 

Present :  His  Excellency  the  President,  the  Vice-President,  and  Execu- 
tive Council. 

Dorsey  Pentecost,  councillor  elect  for  the  county  of  Washington,  attend- 
ed in  council  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  oath  of  office  required  by 
the  Constitution,  and  thereupon  took  his  seat  at  the  Board  as  a  member 
thereof. 

Philadelphia, 'Nov.  21,  1781. 

Present :  His  Excellency  the  President,  Vice-President,  and  Executive 
Council.  ' 

A  return  of  an  election  said  to  have  been  held  at  the  house  of  Pjzekiel 
Roe,  in  Bethlehem  township  in  Washington  County,  for  electing  justices 
of  the  peace  for  said  township,  was  presented  and  read,  and  on  inquiry,  it 
appeared  that  the  said  election  was  not  appointed  by  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  the  said  county,  where  a  "vacancy  had  happened,"  the  ■case  provided 
for  by  law,  but  in  consequence  of  a  neglect  to  choose  according  to  the  di- 
rections of  the  law,  wherefore  the  said  election  isvoid. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  59 

The  Council  therefore  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  the  said  township  of  Bethlehem,  agreeably  to  the  directions  of  the  act 
of  Assembly,  entitled  "A  further  supplement  to  an  act  entitled,  'an  act  di- 
recting the  mode  and  time  of  electing  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  and  the  several  counties  in  tliis  commonwealth,  and  for  other 
purposes  herein  mentioned,'  "  and  appointed  Thomas  Crooks,  Esq. 

Ordered,  That  he  be  commissioned  accordingly. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  24,  1781. 

A  free  conference  being  had,  it  appeared  to  be  the  sentiments  of  the 
Council  and  of  the  Committee,  that  an  additional  company  is  necessary  for 
the  defence  of  Washington  County,  and  to  complete  the  four  companies 
now  established,  and  that  it  might  loe  proper  to  make  application  to  Con- 
gress for  such  assistance  from  the  United  States  as  would  render  an  incur- 
sion into  the  Indian  country  prudent  and  practicable. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  30,  1781. 

A  petition  from  Thomas  Bay,  of  "Washington  County,  praying  to  be  re- 
imbursed for  sundry  expenses  he  has  been  at  in  raising  twelve  volunteers 
in  the  spring  of  the  year  1780  for  the  defence  of  the  said  county  was  read, 
and  thereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  said  petition  be  presented  to  the  General  Assembly. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  of  the  county  of  Washington  was  read, 
by  which  it  appears  that  the  following  gentlemen  were  duly  elected,  viz : 
Councillor,  Dorsey  Pentecost;  Reprcnentatives,  James  Edgar  and  John 
Cannon;  Sheriffs,  Van  Swearingen  and  Andrew  Swearingen ;  Coroners, 
William  McFarlane  and  William  McComb  ;  Commissioners,  George  Vallan- 
dingham,  Thomas  Crooks,  and  John  McDowell. 

On  consideration, 

Resolved,  That  Van  Swearingen  be  appointed  sheriff  of  the  county  of 
Washington,  and  that  William  McFarlane  be  appointed  coroner  of  the  said 
county,  and  that  they  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Van  Swearingen,  P]sq.,  sheriff  elect  for  the  county  of  Washington,  now 
offers  Andrew  Swearingen  and  Richard  Yeates  as  sureties  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office  of  sheriff,  according  to  law,  and  the 
same  are  approved. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  6,  1781. 

Resolved,  That  William  Scott  of  Cross  Creek,  and  Andrew  Heath  be 
appointed  agents  of  forfeited  estates  in  the  county  of  Washington. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  11,  1781. 

Ordered,  That  Col.  Lewis  Farmer  be  directed  to  purchase  the  following 
articles  of  clothing  for  the  company  of  rangers  to  be  raised  in  Washington 
County.*  Fifty  coats,  fifty  waistcoats,  fifty  pair  of  overalls,  fifty  hats,  one 
hundred  shirts,  one  hundred  pairs  of  shoes,  and  fifty  blankets. 

The  Hon.  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  presented  to  the  Board  a  state  of  the 
accounts  of  James  Marshal,  Esq.,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, agreeably  to  the  19th  section  of  the  militia  law  of  this  State,  and  the 
same  being  considered. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  accounts  be  transmitted  to  the  Auditors  of  the 
public  accounts. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  1,  1781. 

A  letter  from  John  Conner,  Esq.,  of  the  10th   inst.,  inclosing  his  com- 
mission of  sub-Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington,   and  praying  this 
Board  to  accept  his  resignation  thereof,  was  read,  and  on  consideration, 
Resolved,  That  the  same  be  accepted. 

*  See  December  27,  1781. 


60  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

On  consideration,  Philadelphia,  Dec.  19,  1781. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  Joseph  Stiles,  commissary  of  military  stores,  be 
directed  to  deliver  to  the  Hon.  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  five  hundred  vreight 
of  gunpowder,  one  thousand  weight  of  lead,  and  one  thousand  flints,  to  be 
forwarded  to  Col.  James  Marshal,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  AVashing- 
ton,  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  the  said  county. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  20.  1781. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  John 
Piper,  Esq.,  for  the  sura  of  three  pounds  specie  and  the  sum  of  nineteen 
pounds  specie,  being  money  advanced  by  him  for  the  carriage  of  Captain 
Boyd's  Company  of  Rangers  in  Bedford  County,  and  for  the  carriage  of  pow- 
der and  lead  for  the  counties  of  Washington,  Westmoreland,  and  Bedford. 

The  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  presented  to  the  Board  his  ac- 
count for  31  days'  attendance  in  Council  from  the  19th  of  November  to  the 
20th  of  December  inst.,  at  25  shillings  per  day  £38.15 

Mileage.  350  miles  coming  from  Washington  County  at  1  shilling 

per  mile  17.10 


Balance  specie  £56.05 

And  therefore  an  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honor- 
able Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq..  for  the  sum  of  fifty-si.K  pounds,  five  shillings 
specie,  amount  of  the  said  account. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  24,  1781. 

The  Council  took  into  consideration  the  appointment  of  sub-Lieutenants 
for  the  county  of  Washington,  agreeably  to  the  militia  laws  of  this  State  ; 
and  William  McCleary,  William  Parker,  George  Yallandingham,  and  Mat- 
thew Ritchie  being  recommended  ;  on  consideration. 

Resolved,  That  William  McCleary,  William  Parker,  George  Yalanding- 
ham,  and  Matthew  Ritchie  be  appointed  sub-Lieutcuants  of  the  county  of 
Washington,  and  that  they  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Philadelphia,  Dec. 27.  1781. 

The  Council,  taking  into  consideration  the  appointing  ofiBcers  for  the 
Ranging  Company  for  the  county  of  Washington, 

Resolved,  'i'hat  John  Hughes,  Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissioned  to 
be  Captain  of  a  company  of  Rangers  to  be  raised  in  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, and  that  Gabriel  Peterson  be  appointed  Lieutenant  and  James  Morri- 
son, Ensign  of  the  said  company,  and  that  they  be  commissioned  accord- 
ingly. 

Philadelphia,  Dec.  29,  1781. 

On  consideration  of  the  proposals  made  by  John  Cannon,  Esq.,  for  sup- 
plying the  militia  and  Rangers  of  the  county  of  Washington  which  may  be 
employed  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  said  county 

Ordered,  That  twelve  pence  per  ration,  in  specie,  be  allowed  for  the  ra- 
tions delivered  at  such  places  as  the  said  troops  may  from  time  to  time  be 
stationed  within  the  said  county  of  Washington. 

The  rations  to  consist  of 

One  pound  of  bread ;  one  pound  of  beef  or  three-fourths  pound  of  pork  ; 
one  gill  of  whiskey  per  day  and  one  quart  of  salt  and  two  quarts  of  vinegar, 
to  every  hundred  rations. 

Eight  pounds  of  soap  and  three  pounds  of  candles  to  every  seven  hundred 
rations. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  61 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  5,  1782. 

Resolved,  John  Hughes  be  appointed  Captain,  Gabriel  Peterson  Lieu- 
tenant, and  James  Morrison  Ensign  of  the  Company  of  Rangers  to  be  raised 
in  the  county  of  "Washington  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers. 

Resolved,  That  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  specie  be  paid 
into  the  hands  of  Henry  Taylor,  Esq.,  to  be  by  him  delivered  out  to  Captain 
John  Hughes,  Lieutenant  Peterson,  and  Ensign  Morrison  for  the  purpose 
of  recruiting  the  company  of  Rangers  for  the  county  of  Washington. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  8,  1782. 

The  Council,  taking  into  consideration  the  exposed  situation  of  the  fron- 
tier counties,  tlie  probability  of  invasions  of  them  by  parties  of  Indians,  and 
the  impossibility  of  obtaining  particular  orders  from  the  Council  for  calling 
out  in  due  time  the  militia  of  the  said  counties  iu  such  cases. 

Ordered,  That  the  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington  be  authorized 
and  empowered  to  call  out  such  and  so  many  militia,  according  to  law,  as 
they  may  judge  necessary  for  repelling  the  enemy. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  29,  1782. 
An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  John  McCashem  for 
the  sum  of  ten  pounds  specie  for  paying  for  the  transportation  of  clothing 
for  the  ranging  companies  of  Washington  and  Westmoreland  counties  from 
Philadelphia  to  Shippensburg. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  26,  1782. 
A  letter  from  the  Commissioners  of  the  Taxes  of  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton, respecting  the  collection  of  the  taxes  was  received  and  read,  and  on 
consideration  ordered  that  the  same  be  transmitted  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  State. 

Philadelphia,  March  5,1782. 
Ordered,  That  Captain  Joseph  Stiles,  Commissary  of  Military  Stores, 
be  directed  to  deliver  to  the  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost  one  thousand 
flints,  fifty  stand  of  arms,  and  fifty  pouches,  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Lieuten- 
ant of  the  county  of  Washington  for  the  use  of  the  Ranging  company  to  be 
raised  in  the  said  county. 

Philadelphia,  March  9,  1782. 
An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  Christo- 
pher Hayes,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  eighteen  pounds  fifteen  shillings  specie 
for  paying  for  the  transportation  of  arms  and  ammunition  from  the  city  to 
Conocheague  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  Washington,  Westmoreland, 
and  Bedford  counties. 

Philadelphia,  March  18,  1782. 
The  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  pi-esented  to  the  Board  the  fol- 
lowing account,  viz., 

Dr.     The  State  of  Pennsylvania  in  account  with  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq., 
For  attendance  in  council  from  the  20th  of  December,  1781,  to  the  23d  of 

March,  1782—94  days  at  17s.  6.  £82.5 

And  thereupon  an  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the 
Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  eighty-two  pounds,  five 
shillings  specie,  amount  of  the  said  account. 

Philadelphia,  March  30, 1782. 
Ordered,  That  James  Alison  be  appointed   sub-Lieutenant  of  the  county 
of  Washington  in  the  room  of  Daniel  Leet,  who  has  resigned. 


62  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Philadelphia,  March  30.  1782, 
The  Board  being  informed  by  letter  and  a  return  inclosed,  on  the  4th  oi' 
February  last,  from  Col.  James    Marshal,  Lieutenant   of  the   county   of 
Washinfrton,  that  there  were  irregularities  in  the  election  of  some  of  the 
militia  officers  of  the  said  county,  and  others  had  refused  to  serve, 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Lieutenant  be  directed  to  proceeded  with  all 
convenient  speed,  to  fill  up  the  said  vacancies  agreeably  to  law,  in  order 
that  commissions  may  issue. 

Philadelphia,  April  2,  1782. 
An  order  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  Dorsey  Pen- 
tecost, Esq  ,  for  the  sum  of  twelve  pounds  ten  shillings  specie,  to  be  paid 
to  Adam  Poe  for  taking   an   Indian  scalp  in  the  county  of  "Washington, 
agreeably  to  the  proclamation  of  the  Board. 

Philadelphia,  April  .3,  1782. 

A  return  of  justices  for  the  township  of  Somerset,  in  the  county  of 
Washington,  was  received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  Wm.  Parker 
and  John  Stevenson  were  duly  elected  justices  for  the  said  township,  there- 
upon 

Resolved,  That  Wilham  Parker,  Esq.,  be  appointed  a  justice  of  peace  for 
the  county  of  "Washington,  and  commissioned  accordingly. 

Philadelphia,  April  6,  1782. 
Ordered,  That  the  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington  be  authorized 
and  required  to  call  into  service,  and  put  under  the  direction  of  Alexander 
McClean,  Esq.,  such  number  of  militia  as  the  said  McCleun  may  judge  ne- 
cessary for  guards  to  the  commissioners  for  running  the  line  between  the 
States  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  not  exceeding  one  hundred. 

Philadelphia.  April  8,  1782. 

The  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  presented  to  the  Board  the  fol- 
lowing account  for  his  attendance  in  council,  from  the  24th  of  March,  till 
the  9th  of  April,  1782 ;  17  days  at  17s.  6d.  £14  17s.  6d. 

Thereupon  an  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable 
Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  fourteen  pounds  seventeen  shillings 
and  sixpence  specie,  amount  of  the  above  account. 

Philadelphia,  April  15,  1782. 

A  return  of  justices  from  Robinson  township  in  the  county  of  AVashing- 
ton  was  received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  Alexander  Wright 
and  James  Krvins  were  duly  elected  justices  for  said  township,  thereupon, 

Resolved,  That  Alexander  Wright  be  appointed  a  justice  of  peace  for 
the  county  of  Washington,  and  commissioned  accordingly. 

Wherkas,  It  hath  been  represented  to  this  Board,  that  the  freeholders 
of  the  townships  of  Cumberland  and  Morgan  in  the  county  of  Washington 
{noio  Greene)  have  each  of  them  neglected  to  choose  two  fit  persons,  on 
the  15th  day  of  July,  1781,  agreeable  to  the  act  of  Assembly  passed  the 
28th  of  March,  1781,  entitled  an  "Act  for  erecting  part  of  the  county  of 
Westmoreland  into  a  separate  county"  to  serve  as  justices  of  the  peace. 

And  whereas,  By  a  clause  in  an  act  of  Assembly  entitled  "A  further 
supplement  to  the  act  entitled  'an  act  directing  the  mode  and  time  of  elect- 
ing justices  of  the  peace  for  the  city  and  the  several  counties  of  the  com- 
monwealth, and  for  other  purposes  therein  mentioned,'  passed  August  31, 
1778,"  it  is  enacted  that  where  the  freeholders  of  any  district,  county,  town, 
township,  or  ward  within  this  commonwealth  have  refused  or  neglected, 
or  shall  hereafter  refuse  or  neglect  to  elect  justices  of  the  peace,  agreeably 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  63 

to  the  directions  of  the  before  recited  acts,  or  of  the  further  provisions 
herein  made,  that  then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  President  or 
Vice-president  in  council,  to  commission  a  suitable  number  of  justices  of 
the  peace  to  fill  up  such  vacancies  agreeably  to  the  number  -settled  in 
the  aforesaid  recited  acts,  therefore 

Ordered,  That  John  Minor  be  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
township  of  Cumberland,  and  Levi  Karrod  be  a  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  township  of  Morgan  in  the  county  of  Washington,  and  that 
commissions  be  issued  accordingly. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  17,  1782. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  John  Cannon,  Esq.,  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  specie,  in  part  of  contract  for  supplying 
the  troops  stationed  in  the  county  of  Washington  with  provisions,  for  which 
he  is  to  account. 

The  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  presented  to  the  Board  the  fol- 
lowing account  for  his  attendance  in  council,  viz.: — - 

From  the  9th  till  the  17th  of  April,  1782,  8  days  at  7s.  6d.  $7.00,  and 
thereupon  an  order  was  drawn  for  the  amount  of  said  account. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  12,  1782. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Captain  John  Hughes 
of  the  company  of  Rangers  to  be  raised  in  the  county  of  Washington,  for 
the  sum  of  sixty-five  pounds  specie,  being  two  months  pay  for  himself. 
Lieutenant  Gabriel  Peterson  and  P]nsign  James  Morrison,  officers  of  the 
said  company  for  which  they  are  to  account. 

Ordered,  That  Captain  John  Hughes,  of  the  company  of  Rangers  to  be 
raised  in  the  county  of  Washington,  be  directed  to  give  a  bounty,  not  ex- 
ceeding nine  pounds  specie,  for  such  recruits  as  he  may  raise  till  his  com- 
pany be  completed. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  July  12,  1782. 

Ordered,  That  the  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington  be  directed 
not  to  call  out  a  greater  number  than  one  hundred  militia  at  any  one  time 
for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  the  county,  but  by  special  order  of  this 
Board. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  July  25,  1782. 

Ordered,  That  a  special  commission  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  and  General 
Gaol  Delivery,  directed  to  the  Honorable  Christopher  Hayes  and  Dorsey 
Pentecost,  Esquires,  and  Edward  Coolie,  Esq.,  be  now  issued  to  the  county 
of  Washington,  for  the  trial  of  divers  persons  now  confined  in  the  gaol  of 
the  said  county  charged  with  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  14.  1782. 

Ordered,  That  the  county  of  Washington  be  directed  to  make  out  and 
return  to  the  Board  pay  rolls  of  moneys  due  to  the  militia  of  the  said  county, 
with  the  proper  vouchers  for  the  same. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  28,  1782. 

Ordered,  That  the  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington  be  directed 
to  call  out  no  more  militia  after  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  those  now  in 
service  ;  his  Excellency  George  Washington  having  received  intelligence 
that  the  British  have  called  in  all  the  savages,  and  that  no  more  parties  are 
to  be  permitted  to  be  sent  out  against  the  frontiers. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  26,  1782. 

A  letter  from  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  of  Washington  County,  with  a  return 
of  justices  for  Cumberland  township  in  said  county,  was  received  and  read. 


C4  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

by  •which  return  it  appears  that  William  McCleary  and  John  Armstrong 
wore  duly  cloctcd  justices.  On  consideration:  Ordered,  That  the  said 
letter  and  return  lie  on  the  table  for  consideration. 

In  Couxcil.  Philadelphia,  October  26,  1782. 

The  Council  resumed  the  consideration  ul'tlic  letter  from  Thomas  Hcott, 
Esq.,  and  the  return  of  justices  for  Cumberland  township,  Washington 
County  ;  and  thereupon, 

Ordered,  'JMuit  a  letter  be  written  to  the  said  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  inform- 
ing him  that  Council  think  it  not  quite  prudi'ut  to  issue  a  commission  upon 
so  old  a  return  as  that  in  which  Mr.  Edgar  is  mentioned,  unless  a  petition 
iVom  the  people  of  the  district  had  supported  the  sentiment  expressed  in 
his  letter  ;  and  that  they  have  also  thought  it  best  to  delay  their  decision 
on  the  return  now  received,  as  they  are  informed  it  is  probable  that  one  of 
the  gentlemen  named  therein  may  he  returned  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  ;  but  when  that  point  is  known,  the  Council  will  nominate  and 
issue  the  commission,  so  as  to  forward  it  by  the  first  opportunity. 

Ix  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  26,  1782. 

Petition  of  David  Hoge  was  read,  stating  that  he  had  conveyed  a  piece 
of  land  to  the  commissioners  to  build  a  courthouse  and  prison  in  Wash- 
ington County,  and  praying  the  said  commissioners  may  lie  ordered  to  report 
their  proceedings  as  soon  as  may  be  to  this  Board.     (See  March  14,  1783.) 

In  Council.  Pliiladelphia,  December  4,  1782. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  for  the  county  of  AVashington  was 
received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  following  gentlemen  were 
duly  elected  : — 

liepreseutah'ves.  Matthew  Ritchie  and  William  McCleary.  Sherijff^s. 
Yan  Svvearingeu  and  Andrew  Swearingen.  Coroners.  William  ]McFar- 
lane  and  John  Marshall.  Commissioner.  George  McCormick.  And  the 
same  being  considered. 

Ordered,  That  Van  Swearingen,  Esq.,  be  appointed  sheriff  of  the  county 
of  Washington,  and  that  AVilliam  jNlcFarlane  l)e  appointed  coroner  of  the 
said  county,  and  that  they  be  commissionc*;!  accordingly. 

Yan  Swearingen,  Esq.,  sheriff  elect  for  the  county  of  Washington,  offers 
Matthew  Ritchie  and  John  Cornaghan  as  sureties  for  the  faithful  discharge 
of  the  duties  of  his  office  of  sheriff  of  the  said  county,  according  to  law, 
which  the  Council  approve. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  February  1.5,  1783. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer,  in  favor  of  Col.  John  Cannon, 
for  ninety-live  ])ounds  si.x  shillings,  balance  of  his  account  for  rations  fur- 
nished to  the  militia  and  rangers  in  AVashington  County,  from  February, 
1782,  till  February,  1783. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  5.  1783. 

A  petition  from  Anne'Browne,  Jean  McCulloch,  Frances  Morgan.  Agnes 
Reed,  Catharine  I'ecas,  Leah  Norris,  Anne  Straight,  Hannah  Russel, 
Nancy  I'eckerol,  Elizal)eth  Shanks,  Elizabeth  Palmer,  and  Mary  Patter- 
son, convicted  of  fornication  and  Inistardy,  in  the  county  of  Washington, 
and  sentenced  each  of  them  1o  pay  a  fine  of  ten  pounds  to  the  use  of  the 
State,  praying  remission  of  tlieir  fines,  was  read,  and  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  the  fines  adjudged  to  be  paid  to  the  use  of  the  State  by 
the  persons  before  mentioned,  be  remitted. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  65 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  6,  1783. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  Dorsey 
Pentecost,  for  sixteen  pounds,  for  three  hundred  and  twenty  miles'  riding 
to  Philadelphia,  at  one  shilling  per  mile. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  14,  1783. 

A  report  from  Hugh  Scott,  Daniel  Leet,  Van  Swearingen,  and  John 
Armstrong,  of  the  county  of  Washington,  appointed  by  an  act  of  General 
Assembly  of  the  28th  of  March,  1781,  to  purchase  a  piece  of  land  in  said 
county,  thereon  to  build  a  court-house  and  prison,  was  received  and  read, 
setting  forth  that,  agreeably  to  the  directions  of  the  said  act,  they  have 
purchased  from  David  Hoge  a  piece  or  parcel  of  land,  within  one  mile  of 
the  centre  of  said  county,  for  the  purpose  expressed  in  the  said  act,  and 
submitting  the  same  to  the  approbation  of  the  Council;  whereupon. 

Ordered,  That  the  said  report  be  accepted  and  approved  accordingly. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  17,  1783. 

Ordered,  That  an  order  be  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Captain 
John  Hughes,  Lieutenant  Gabriel  Peterson,  and  Ensign  James  Morrison, 
of  the  company  of  rangers  in  the  county  of  Washington,  to  be  charged  to 
their  account ; 

Ordered,  That  a  letter  be  written  to  Henry  Taylor,  Esq.,  of  the  said 
county,  requesting  him  to  pay  to  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates 
of  Captain  John  Hughes'  Company  of  Eangers  two  months'  pay. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  21,  1783. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer,  in  favor  of  Mr.  Matthew  Ritchie, 
for  twenty-five  pounds  specie,  to  be  paid  by  him  to  Alexander  Wright  and 
William  Minor,  being  the  reward  allowed  by  proclamation  of  Council  for 
two  Indian  scalps  taken  in  the  county  of  Washington. 

The  Council  taking  into  consideration  the  proclamation  of  the  22d  day 
of  April,  1780,  offering  a  reward  for  Indian  scalps,  and  the  reasons  upon 
which  the  same  was  founded  no  longer  continuing, 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be  made  null  and  void,  anything  therein  con- 
tained to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Ordered,  That  the  foregoing  resolution  be  sent  to  the  Lieutenants  of  the 
county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  22,  1783. 

Resolved,  ThatCouncil  has  no  further  use  for  the  service  of  Captain  John 
Hughes,  commanding  the  Washington  County  Rangers,  after  the  5th  of 
April  next.  That  Captain  Hughes  be  informed  that  Council  return  him 
thanks  for  the  service  he  has  rendered  the  State  while  in  their  employ. 

An  order  was  drawn  in  favor  of  Captain  John  Hughes,  for  thirty  pounds 
specie,  being  two  months'  pay  advanced  to  him,  for  which  he  is  to  account, 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  fund  appropriated  to  the  frontier  defence. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  25,  1783. 

An  order  was  received  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Honorable  Dorsey 
Pentecost,  Esq.,  for  forty  pounds,  seven  shillings  and  six  pence,  specie, 
amount  of  his  account  for  his  attendance  in  council  from  the  10th  of 
February  till  the  26th  of  March,  1783. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  1,  1783. 

The  Comptroller  General's  report  upon  the  account  of  James  Marshall, 
Esq.,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington,  was  read  and  approved. 


6G  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  1,  1783. 

Ordered,  That  Capt.  Joseph  Stiles,  Commissary  of  Military  Stores,  be 
directed  to  deliver  four  hundred  and  fifteen  pounds  of  powder  and  eight 
cwt.  weight  of  lead,  to  Col.  Christopher  Hays,  for  the  use  of  the  militia  of 
Washington  and  Westmoreland  counties. 

Ordered,  That  letters  be  written  enjoining  it  upon  the  Lieutenants  of  the 
said  counties  not  to  issue  any  part  of  this  ammunition  upon  the    receipts  of 
the  officers  commanding  corps,  and  that  the   same  obligation  be  carried 
down  to  the  private  soldier. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  24,  1783. 

A  letter  from  John  Cannon,  Esq.,  contractor  for  the  subsistence  of  the 
Washington  Rangers,  was  read. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  29,  1783. 

The  Comptroller  General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Thomas  Scott, 
Esq.,  Prothonatory  of  Washington  County,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  6, 1783. 

Ordered,  That  the  Washington  Ranging  Company  be  immediately  dis- 
charged from  the  service  of  the  State,  but  that  in  settlement  of  accounts 
they  be  entitled  to  pay  and  rations  till  the  first  day  of  July  next.  The 
eldest  officer  of  the  company  lately  commanded  by  Capt.  John  Hughes,  is 
therefore  directed  to  put  all  his  vouchers,  &c.,  into  the  hands  of  Captains 
Boyd  and  Stokely.  The  corps  is  also  informed  that  Council,  under  a  sense 
of  their  many  services,  will  take  some  early  moment  to  call  the  attention  of 
the  Assembly  to  their  situation,  and  that  no  disposition  or  good  offices 
shall  be  wanting  to  render  it  as  easy  as  possible. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  27,  1783. 

A  letter  was   delivered  to  the  Clerk    of  the   General  Assembly   from 
Thomas  Scott,  Prothonotary  of  Washington  County,  in  reply  to  several 
letters  from  Council  upon  the  subject  of  the  late  communication  from  Vir- 
ginia. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  28,  1783. 

The  Comptroller  Genei-al's  report  upon  the  accounts  of  James  Pollock 
and  William  Cocheran,  Esqs.,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  23,  1783. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  Dorsey 
Pentecost,  Esq.,  fur  thirty-one  pounds,  fifteen  shillings,  in  full  fur  his  attend- 
ance in  council  to  this  day,  inclusive,  and  his  mileage. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  6,  1783. 

The  Honorable  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  sent  in  a  resignation  of  his  seat 
at  this  Board,  which  was  read  and  accepted. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  7,  1783. 

The  following  report  from  the  Comptroller  General  was  read  and 
approved,  upon  the  accounts  of  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  Prothonotary  of 
Washington  County,  for  ta.\  arising  from  writs  in  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  10,  1783. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Honorable  Dorsey  Pen- 
tecost, Esq.,  for  fifteen  pounds  fifteen  shillings  specie,  in  full  for  his  attend- 
ance in  council  till  the  Gth  inst.,  inclusive. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  31,  1783. 

Resolved,  That  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  be  appointed  a  Judge  in,  and 
President  of,  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  county  of  Washington. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  67 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  10,  1783, 

The  roturn  of  the  General  Election  held  in  the  county  of  Washington 
was  received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  following  gentlemen 
were  duly  elected,  viz  : — 

Censors.  James  Edgar,  John  McDowell. 

Councillor.  John  Neville. 

Representatives.  John  Stephenson,  Matthew  Ritchie. 

Sheriffs.  Van  Swearingcn,  Andrew  Swearingen. 

Coroners.  William  McFurlanc,  William  McComb. 

Commissioner.  Demas  Lindley. 

On  consideration.  Ordered,  That  Van  Swearingen  be  appointed  sheriff, 
and  William  McFarlane  coroner  of  the  county  of  Washington,  and  that 
they  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Van  Swearingen,  Esq.,  now  offers  John  Neville,  Andrew  Swearingen,  and 
Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esqrs.,  of  the  county  of  Washington,  as  sureties  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  ofBce  for  the  said  county,  accord- 
ing to  law,  which  the  Council  approve. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  14,  1783. 

A  representation  from  the  magistracy  of  Washington  County,  upon  the 
complaints  of  John  Campbell  and  John  Coxe,  was  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  20,  1783. 

The  following  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer,  viz :  In  favor  of  John 
Cannon,  Esq.,  for  two  hundred  and  seventy-four  pounds  five  shillings,  in 
full,  for  rations  furnished  to  Rangers  and  militia  in  Washington  County 
till  August  1783,  inclusively,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  frontier  fund. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  January  20,  1784. 

The  Comptroller  General's  report  upon  the  account  of  James  Marshall, 
Esq.,  Lieutenant,  and  James  Allison,  late  sub-Lieutenant  of  Washington 
County,  was  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  26,  1784. 

The  Comptroller's  report  upon  the  account  of  Samuel  Beeler  for  pro- 
visions furnished  to  the  Washington  County  militia,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  30,  1784. 

The  Comptroller's  report  upon  the  account  of  Matthew  Ritchie,  late 
sub-Lieutenant  of  the  county,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  5,  1784. 

The  report  of  the  Comptroller-General  upon  the  account  of  Colonel  Wil- 
liam Parker,  late  sub-Lieutenant  of  Washington  County,  was  read  and 
approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  10,  1784. 

John  White  attended,  and  Council  agreed  to  allow  him  twenty-one  pounds 
ten  shillings  for  riding  express  to  the  counties  of  Washington,  Westmore- 
land, Bedford,  Cumberland,  York,  Lancaster,  and  Chester,  with  dispatches 
to  the  several  sheriffs  of  said  counties,  for  calling  the  General  Assembly, 
and  thereupon  an  order  was  drawn  in  his  favor  for  fifteen  pounds  specie  in 
part  of  said  sum. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  July  23,  1784. 

A  letter  from  James  Marshall,  Esq.,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, was  read. 


68  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

In  Council  Philadelphia,  August  12,  1784. 

'J'he    Comptroller  General's   report   upon    the  accounts  of  Hon.  John 

McDowell  and  James  Edfar,  Esqs.,  and  orders  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  for 
the  "..•...  -      ,    n        ,  •„•  ,    .    n  „  .     .,    .      ..      , 


In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  10,  1784. 

The  record  of  the  conviction  of  Thomas  Richardson  of  burglary  in  the 
count}'  of  Washington,  was  read  and  considered ;  upon  which  it  was 

licsolved,  That  execution  of  the  sentence  of  the  court  be  made  and  done 
upon  him,  the  said  Thomas  Richardson,  on  Saturday,  the  2d  day  of  Octo- 
ber next,  between  the  hours  of  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon  and  two  of 
the  clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  at  the  most  proper  and  public 
place  within  the  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  25,  1784. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  of  the  State  in  favor  of  James 
Edgar,  Esq.  (for  fifty-six  pounds  eighteen  shillings),  amember  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Censors,  for  his  wages,  for  attendance  in  the  said  Council  until  this 
day,  to  be  paid  according  to  the  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  dated 
the  22d  day  of  November,  1783. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  27, 1784. 

An  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Henry  Taylor,  Esq., 
for  the  sum  of  two  pounds  five  shillings  specie,  for  his  services  in  paying 
the  Ranging  Company  of  Washington  County,  late  commanded  by  Captain 
Hughes,  agreeably  to  the  Comptroller-General's  report. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September,  28,  1784. 

The  Comptroller-General's  reports  upon  the  following  accounts  were 
read  and  approved :  For  provisions  furnished  to  the  AVashingtun  County 
militia  by  William  Cam])bell,  Richard  Elson,  John  Smith,  William  Rankin, 
Thomas  Cherry,  John  Nichols,  Henry  Enoch,  David  Shepherd,  Thomas 
Rankin,  Stephen  Treacle,  Demus  Lindley,  James  Marshall,  Jr.,  and  George 
Atkinson. 

In  Council.  P/i?7arfe7p7(m,  September  29, 1784, 

The  Comptroller-Generara  report  upon  the  account  of  Captain  Craig 
Ritchie,  for  the  pay  of  his  company  of  Washington  County  militia — also 
upon  the  account  of  William  McCleary,  Esq.,  sub-Lieutenant  of  the  county 
of  Washington,  was  read — and  approved  September  30,  1784. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  6,  1784. 

Matthew  Ritchie  and  John  Cannon,  Esqs.,  were  appointed  justices  of  the 
county  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  PJiiladelphia,  October,  19,  1784. 

A  petition  from  divers  inhabitants  of  AVashington  County,  complaining 
of  the  conduct  of  the  commissioners  of  taxes  in  said  county,  in  laying  the 
taxes  in  a  partial  manner  to  the  great  injury  of  the  petitioners,  was  read 
and  thereupon 

Ordered,  That  a  copy  of  said  complaint  be  transmitted  to  the  said  com- 
missioners, and  that  they  be  directed  to  explain  to  Council  their  conduct 
with  respect  to  the  petitioners  (which  was  accordingly  done). 

\ 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  69 

In  Council,  Philadelphia,  October  26,  1784. 

Upon  the  petition  of  Rachel  Cotton,  convicted  of  fornication  in  the 
county  of  Washington,  it  was 

Ordered,  That  her  fine  be  remitted. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  1,  1784. 

The  return  of  the  general  election  held  in  the  county  of  Washington 
was  received  and  read,  by  which  it  appears  the  following  gentlemen  were 
duly  elected : — 

Representatives.  Matthew  Ritchie,  John  Stevenson. 

Sheriffs.  James  Marshall,  Daniel  Leet. 

Coroners.  William  McCombs,  Robert  Benson. 

Commissioner.  James  Allison. 

On  consideration. 

Ordered,  That  James  Marshall,  Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissioned 
to  be  sheriff  of  said  county  of  Washington,  and  that  William  McCombs, 
Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissioned  coroner  of  said  county.  James  Mar- 
shall, Esq.,  offered  John  Hoge  and  John  Stevenson,  Esqs.,  as  sureties  for 
the  faithful  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  ofiTice  of  sheriff  for  the  said  county, 
according  to  law,  which  the  Council  approved. 

James  Marshall's  resignation  of  his  office  of  Register  and  Recorder  of 
Deeds  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington  was  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  3,  1784. 

A  bond  was  executed  in  Council  by  James  Marshall,  John  Stevenson, 
and  John  Hoge,  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds,  for  the  said  James 
Marshall's  faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office  of  sheriff"  of  the 
county  of  Washington  according  to  law. 

James  Marshall's  resignation  of  the  office  of  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of 
Washington,  was  read  and  not  accepte 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  10,  1784. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Col.  James  Mar- 
shall, Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington,  by  which  it  appears  that  a 
balance  of  eight  hundred  and  twenty-six  pounds  eighteen  shillings  and 
three  pence,  specie,  is  due  to  him,  was  read  and  approved  and  an  order 
drawn  in  his  favor  for  the  sum  of  fifty  pounds  specie,  in  part  of  the  said 
balance. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  16,  1784. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Captain  John 
Hughes,  late  of  a  company  of  rangers  raised  in  the  county  of  Washington, 
was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  17,  1784, 

A  dedimus  potestatem  was  issuea  to  Thomas  Scott  and  Thomas  Stokely, 
Esqs.,  of  the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  19,  1784, 

Thomas  Stokely,  Esq.,  was  commissioned  to  be  register  of,  and  probate 
of  wills,  and  granting  letters  of  administration,  and  recoi'der  of  deeds  in 
the  county  of  Washington,  in  consequence  of  an  appointment  to  those  of- 
fices by  the  General  Assembly. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  January  22,  1785. 

The  Comptroller- General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Ensign  James 
Morrison,  of  Captain  John  Hughes'  company  of  rangers  of  the  county  of 
Washington,  was  read  and  approved,  the  balance  due  to  him  being  ninety 
pounds. 


70  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Jn  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  25,  1785. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  iu  favor  of  Lieut.  James  Morri- 
son, late  of  Capt.  John  Hughes'  company  of  rangers  in  Washington  Coun- 
ty, for  the  sum  of  fifteen  pounds,  being  two  months'  pay,  for  which  he  is  to 
be  accountable. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia.  Jan.  27,  178.'3. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  following  accounts  were  read 
and  apj) roved,  viz  : — 

Of  Jonathan  Hennard  and  David  Buble,  for  provisions  furnished  to  the 
Washington  County  militia.      ""' 

Of  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  for  disbursements  in  raising  Capt.  Hughes' 
company  of  rangers. 

Of  AVilliam  Marshall,  for  losses  sustained  in  the  Indian  expedition  of  1781. 

Of  the  pay  due  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of  Captain 
Hughes'  company. 

Of  Lieut.  Gabriel  Peterson,  for  pay  in  the  said  company. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  11,  1785. 

Henry  Vanmetre  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  Cumberland  township, 
and  commissioned  according  to  law. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  24,  1785. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Captain  Andrew 
Swearingen's  ranging  company,  for  pay  from  Marsh  to  November,  1781. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia.,  March  1,  1785. 

The  return  of  an  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  district  of  Fal- 
lowfield  and  county  of  Washington,  was  read  and  postponed. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  2,  1785. 

The  Comptroller-General's  reports  upon  the  following  accounts  were  read 
and  ap]) roved,  viz  : — 

Of  Craig  Kitchie  and  Andrew  Munroe,  for  horses  lost  in  the  Sandusky 
expedition. 

Of  Lieut.-Col.  George  Vallandingham,  for  militia  services. 

Of  the  aforesaid  Capt.  Craig  Ritchie  for  rations  due  him  from  the  20th 
of  May  to  the  20th  of  June,  1782. 

Of  Van  Swearingen,  Esq.,  for  provisions  furnished  the  ranging  company 
of  Andrew  Swearingen,  captain,  and  for  seven  thousand  one  hundred  and 
forty  rations  furnished  the  militia  of  Washington  County,  from  April  1st 
to  September  2d,  1782. 

Of  John  Smilie,  for  a  horse  and  rifle  lost  in  the  Sandusky  expedition. 

Of  James  Curry  and  John  Geigcr,  for  team  hire  in  transporting  baggage 
of  the  troops  employed  in  escorting  the  convention  army  in  1778. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  i^,  1785. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  Joseph  Holmes, 
of  the  county  of  Washington,  for  provisions  furnished  himself  when  on 
militia  service,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  7,  1785. 

AVilliam  Graham  was  appointed  collector  of  excise  for  Washington, 
Westmoreland,  and  Fayette  counties. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  27, 1785. 

On  consideration, 

Ordered,  That  tJeneral  Neville  be  authorized  upon  his  return  to  AVash- 
ington  County,  to  place  some  lit  person  in  possession  of  the  buildings  at 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  71 

Fort  Mcintosh  (near  Beaver,  Pa.),  with  directions  to  keep  them  and  the 
public  timber  upon  the  adjoining  land  in  a  state  of  as  much  preservation 
as  possible. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  3,  1785. 

A  letter  to  John  Story,  Esq., additional  commissioner  for  settling  accounts 
(of  this  State  with  the  United  States),  requesting  him  to  enter  upon  the 
execution  of  his  office  as  soon  as  possible  in  Washington  County,  and 
Westmoreland  and  Fcyette,  unless  circumstances  shall  hereafter  require 
any  alteration  of  this  direction. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  7, 1785. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Dorsey  Pentecost, 
Esq.,  for  three  pounds  specie,  being  money  advanced  by  him  to  Mr.  William 
Croghen,  for  the  transportation  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  from  this 
city  to  the  county  of  Washington,  and  its  deposit  in  the  hands  of  the  lieu- 
tenant of  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  20,  1785. 

The  fine  imposed  upon  Annie  Essicks,  of  Washington  County,  upon  being 
convicted  of  fornication,  was  remitted. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Aug.  30,  1785. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  William  Shearer, 
of  the  county  of  Washington,  for  a  horse  lost  in  the  Sandusky  expedition, 
was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Sept.  22.  1785. 

A  return  of  a  magistrate  for  the  township  of  Donegal,  and  county  of 
Washington,  was  read.     (See  Feb.  6,  178G.) 

A  certificate  from  the  Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  peace  of 
the  county  of  Washington,  accompanied  by  a  petition  from  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Washington,  that  it  is  become  necessary  and  pro|)er,  and 
will  be  useful  that  the  aforesaid  town  of  Washington  be  erected  into  a  dis- 
trict for  the  election  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  was  read  and  approved, 
agreeably  to  law.     (See  Feb.  6,  1786.) 

A  return  of  ofiicers  chosen  to  command  the  troops  of  Washington 
County  light  horse  was  read  and  approved,  and  commissions  directed  to 
issue. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  26,  1785. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  for  the  county  of  Washington  was  re- 
ceived and  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  15,  1785. 

James  Marshall,  Esq.,  was  commissioned  sheriff  and  William  McCombs 
coroner  for  the  county  of  AVashington  ;  David  Reddick  and  John  Hoge, 
Esquires,  were  offered  as  securities  for  James  Marshall  and  accepted. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  February  6,  1786. 

William  Johnstone,  Esq.,  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  upon  a 
return  of  an  election  of  justices  for  the  district  of  Donegal,  in  the  county 
of  Washington,  and  commissioned  accordingly ;  to  this  commission  was 
added  that  of  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Neville: — 

The  town  of  Washington  was  this  day  erected  into  a  distinct  district  for 
the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace,  agreeably  to  a  certificate  of  the  court 
of  the  county  of  Washington. 


72  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  8,  1786. 

A  certificate  of  the  court  of  Washington  ('ounty,  for  dividing  the  town- 
ship of  Smith,  in  the  said  county,  was  read.     (See  September  2,  178G.) 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  19,  1786. 

The  Compti'oller-General's  report  upon  the  following  accounts  was  read 
and  approved  : — 

Of  Hugh  Sprouls,  of  the  county  of  "Washington,  for  a  horse  lost  in  the 
Sandusky  expedition.  Of  Joseph  Brown,  of  said  county,  for  rations  fur- 
nished to  the  militia  employed  on  the  said  expedition.  Of 'J'homas  Brown, 
of  said  county,  for  rations  furnished  as  aforesaid.  Of  William  McGlaughlin, 
of  said  county,  for  pork  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  militia  when  iii  service 
on  the  frontiers  of  Washington  County,  in  1782. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  July  25,  1786. 

John  Craig,  Esq.,  of  the  county  of  Washington,  was  appointed  collector 
of  excise  for  the  county  aforesaid,  and  for  the  counties  of  Westmoreland 
and  Fayette,  in  the  room  of  William  Graham,  resigned. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September,  2,  1786. 

A  certificate  of  the  division  of  the  township  of  Smith,  in  the  county  of 
Washington,  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace  held  at  Wash- 
ington, for  the  county  aforesaid,  on  the  5th  of  January  last,  was  read  and 
order  taken  that  the  decision  be  confirmed,  agreeably  to  the  decree  of  the 
said  court. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  24,  1786. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  for  the  county  of  Washington  was  re- 
ceived and  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  David  Keddick  was  duly  elected 
counsellor;  James  Marshall  and  AVilliam  Wallace,  sheriffs,  and  William 
McComb  and  Joseph  Wherry,  coroners  for  the  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  20,  1786. 

David  Reddick,  Esq.,  took  his  seat  at  this  Board,  agreeably  to  a  return 
of  the  general  election  for  the  county  of  Washington  (read  on  the  24th  of 
October  last),  having  previously  taken  several  oaths  of  qualification. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  21,  1786, 

A  certificate  of  the  division  of  Peters  township,  in  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, by  the  Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  held  at  Washington,  for 
the  county  aforesaid,  the  last  Tuesday  in  September,  1784,  was  read  and 
order  taken  that  the  decision  aforesaid  be  confirmed,  agreeably  to  the  decree 
of  the  said  court. 

John  Hogeand  Thomas  Scott,  Esquires,  were  appointed  and  commissioned 
justices  of  the  peace  for  the  district  of  Washington,  in  the  county  of  AVash- 
ington.  John  lloge  and  Thomas  Scott  were  also  appointed  and  commis- 
sioned justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  iu  and  for  the  county  of 
Washington. 

James  Marshall,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  sheriff,  and  Wm. 
McCombs,  coroner  of  the  county  of  Washington.  John  Hoge  and  David 
Reddick,  Esqs.,  were  accepted  as  sureties  for  Mr.  Marshall. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  25,  1786. 

An  order  was  taken  upon  motion,  that  as  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  late 
judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  president  of  that  court  for  the 
county  of  Washington  has  removed  from  the  county  aforesaid  and  is  now 
settled  in  a  neighboring  State,  that  he  be  suspended  in  the  oflBces  afore- 
said. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  73 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  12, 1786. 

Ordered,  That  the  commission  of  Collector  ot' Excise  for  the  counties  of 
Washing-ton,  Westmoreland,  and  Fayette  be  revoked,  and  that  John  Dodd 
be  appointed  collector  for  the  county  of  Washington,  and  Joseph  Douglass 
for  that  of  Fayette. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  20,  1786. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  David 
Redick,  Esq.,  for  twenty-three  pounds  five  shillings  in  full  for  his  attendance 
in  council  until  this  day  inclusively. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  9,  1787. 

The  Comptroller-General's  report  upon  the  account  of  James  Marshall 
Esq.,  Lieutenant  of  AVashington  County  from  November,  1784,  until  No- 
vember, 1786,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  12,  1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Col.  James  Marshall 
for  three  hundred  and  seventj'-eight  pounds  ten  shillings  and  nine  pence, 
in  part  of  the  balance  due  upon  his  account  as  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of 
Washington,  according  to  the  Comptroller  General's  report,  to  be  paid  out 
of  the  fund  arising  from  militia  fines. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  21,  1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  David  Re- 
dick, Esq.,  for  forty  pounds  five  shillings  in  full,  for  his  attendance  in  coun- 
cil until  this  day,  inclusively. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  12,  1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurerin  favor  of  the  Hon.  David  Re- 
dick, Esq.,  for  thirty-five  pounds  in  full  for  his  attendance  in  council  from 
the  21st  of  March  to  the  14th  of  April  inclusively,  and  his  mileage. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Aug.  18,  1787. 

The  fine  of  ten  pounds  imposed  upon  Ruth  Grenaugh,  convicted  ot  forni- 
cation and  bastardy  in  the  county  of  Washington,  was  remitted  upon  her 
petition  and  a  recommendation  in  her  favor. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Sept.  3,  1787. 

On  motion  ordered,  Thomas  Stockley,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commis- 
sioned a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of 
Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Sept.  14,  1787. 

Monday  next  was  assigned  for  going  into  the  consideration  of  the  return 
of  the  proposed  road  through  the  western  counties  of  the  State  and  Pitts- 
burg, together  with  the  several  petitions  against  it,  and  the  Secretary  was 
directed  to  request  the  members  of  the  General  Assembly  from  the  counties 
of  Washington,  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  and  Bedford  to  meet  council  on 
that  day  to  give  them  some  information  upon  the  subject. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Sept.  1787. 

The  members  of  the  General  Assembly  from  the  counties  of  Washing- 
ton, Westmoreland,  Fayette,  and  Bedford,  attended  in  the  council  chamber 
agreeably  to  the  request  of  the  council  of  the  14th  inst.,  and  a  conference 
was  held  upon  the  subject  of  the  proposed  road  from  Miller's  Spring  into 
Cumberland  County  to  Fort  Pitt. 


74  UISTOBY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Sept.  25,  1787. 

Joseph  Scott,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  district  of  Robinson  township,  in  the  county  of  Washington, 
and  also  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  in  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Oct.  5,  1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  David 
Redick,  Ksc]..  for  fifty-two  pounds  fifteen  shillings  in  full,  for  his  attendance 
in  council  until  the  4th  inst.,  inclusively,  and  his  mileage. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  2, 1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Col.  Jamos  Marshall, 
Lieutenant  of  Washington  County,  for  thirty-seven  pounds  two  shillings 
and  six  pence,  to  be  paid  by  him  to  vVbraham  Knslow,  Frederick  Crow,  Ste- 
phen Gapen,  Peter  Clawson,  William  Crawford,  Jesse  Yanmetre,  W.  Har- 
rod,  Sr.,  Michael  Dougherty,  John  Floiia*  John  Heaton,  William  Tarpine, 
Harrod  Newland,  Robert  Flora,  Alexaiulcr  Brown,  and  Peter  Dailey  for 
their  services  in  watcTTingthe  movements  of  Indians,  and  protecting  the 
frontiers  from  Indian  depredations  in  the  year  1782,  agreeably  to  the  act  of 
Assembly,  dated  December  1781. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  12,  1787. 

It  appearing  from  intelligence  received  from  AVashington  County  that  the 
Indians  have  murdered  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  county,  and  that 
the  people  there  are  in  want  of  arms  and  ammunition. 

Resolved,  That  one  hundred  stand  of  arms,  four  hundred  weight  of  pow- 
der and  eight  hundred  weight  of  lead,  and  one  thousand  flints  be  purchased 
by  the  Comptroller  General,  and  sent  to  the  Lieutenant  of  Washington 
County. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  15,  1787. 

Whereas,  It  is  represented  to  the  Board  that  the  Indians  have  recently 
committed  divers  depredations  on  the  frontier  settlements  in  this  State, 
therefore, 

Pesolved,  That  the  Lieutenants  of  the  several  frontier  counties  may,  from 
time  to  time,  order  into  actual  service  for  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants, 
such  part  of  the  militia  of  their  respective  counties  as  may  appear  to  them, 
or  any  of  them,  necessary,  not  exceeding  at  any  one  time  the  proportion 
allowed  by  law. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia.  December  3,  1787. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  David 
Rcdick,  Esf|.,  for  forty-five  pounds,  in  full  for  his  attendance  in  council  to 
this  day,  inclusively. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  4,  1787. 

Re.Hoived,  That  the  Lieutenants  of  the  city  and  the  several  counties  within 
the  State,  be  directed  to  collect  all  the  public  arms  within  their  respective 
counties,  have  them  repaired,  and  make  return  to  council,  with  the  accounts 
and  vouchers  necessary  for  payment. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  6,  1788. 

Two  certificates  of  the  division  of  Cumberland  and  Morgan  townships, 
and  of  the  township  of  Donegal,  in  the  county  of  AVashington,  by  the  Court 
of  General  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace  of  the  said  county,  in  order  for 
the  more  convenient  election  of  justices  of  the  peace,  were  received,  read, 
and  ordered  to  be  filed.     (See  August  7,  1788.) 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  75 

Samuel  Glassgow,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of 
the  peace  and  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the 
county  of  Washington,  upon  a  return  made  according  to  law,  for  the  dis- 
trict of  the  township  of  Hanover. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  6.  1788. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  David 
Eedick,  for  thirty-one  pounds  five  shillings,  in  full  of  his  account  for  attend- 
ance in  council  from  the  5th  day  of  May  until  the  5th  of  June,  1788,  inclu- 
sively, and  his  mileage. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  30,  1788. 

William  Wallace,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, upon  a  return  made  according  to  law,  for  the  district  of  Somerset. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia ,  August  5,  1788. 

An  order  was  drawn  in  favor  of  David  Eedick,  Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  fifty- 
three  pounds  fifteen  shillings,  in  full  of  his  account  for  his  attendance  in 
council  from  the  6th  day  of  June  until  the  5th  of  August,  1788,  and  his 
mileage  from  Philadelphia  to  Washington  County. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  7,  1788. 

Two  certificates  from  the  Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
for  the  county  of  Washington,  that  a  division  of  the  district  of  the  town- 
ships of  Cumberland  and  Morgan,  and  of  the  district  of  the  township  of 
Donegal,  in  the  said  county,  agreeably  to  act  of  Assembly,  dated  the  31st 
of  March,  1784,  for  the  election  of  justices  of  the  peace,  is  become  proper 
and  will  be  useful,  which  were  received  and  read  on  the  6th  of  May,  were 
this  day  taken  into  consideration,  and  the  division,  as  made  by  the  said 
court,  was  confirmed. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  8,  1788. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  David 
Eedick,  Esq.,  for  four  pounds  ten  shillings,  in  full  for  his  attendance  in 
council  from  the  6th  until  the  12th  of  this  month,  both  days  included. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  23,  1788. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Col.  James  Marshall, 
Lieutenant  of  Washington  County,  for  seventy-seven  pounds  eighteen  shil- 
lings and  four  pence,  payable  out  of  the  moneys  arising  from  militia  fines, 
being  in  full  of  two  several  accounts  for  militia  services  on  the  frontier  of 
the  said  county  in  September  and  October,  1787,  and  in  March,  April,  and 
May,  1788,  according  to  the  Comptroller  General's  report. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  James  Chambers  and 
William  Marshall,  for  fifty  pounds  nineteen  shillings  and  seven  pence,  pay- 
able out  of  the  militia  fines  of  the  county  of  Washington,  in  full  of  their 
accounts  for  repairing  the  public  arms  belonging  to  the  said  county, 
according  to  the  Comptroller-Geuerars  report. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  30,  1788. 

Henry  Taylor,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissionated  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Straban  ;  James  Edgar  a  justice 
of  the  peace  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Smith,  and  William  McFar- 
lane  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Amwell,  in 
the  county  of  Washington,  upon  returns  made,  according  to  law,  for  the 
said  several  districts.  They  were  also  appointed  and  commissionated  justices 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington. 


76  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

On  motion, 

Ordered,  That  the  said  Henry  Taylor  be  appointed  and  commissionated 
President  of  the  Court  of  ('oiiimnn  Pleas,  of  llie  Court  of  General  Quarter 
Sessions  of  the  Peace  and  Jail  Delivery,  and  of  the  Orphan's  Court  of 
Washington  County. 

Two  returns  of  justices  from  the  districts  of  the  townships  of  Cecil  and 
Dickinson,  in  the  county  of  Washington,  were  read  and  not  allowed,  as  the 
whole  of  Dickinson,  and  part  of  Cecil  district,  has  been  struck  off  to  the 
county  of  Allegheny. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  October  15,  1788. 

The  oath,  directed  by  the  Constitution  was  administered  to  the  Hon. 
David  Redick,  Esq.,  to  qualify  him  for  the  exercise  of  his  office  of  Vice- 
President  of  this  board. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  7,  1788. 

Returns  of  elections  of  justices  of  the  peace,  lately  held  in  several  dis- 
tricts of  Nottingham,  Hopewell,  and  Findley,  together  with  a  petition  against 
the  latter,  were  also  received  and  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  8,  1788. 

The  return  of  an  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  district  of 
Findley  township,  in  Washington  County,  wliich  was  read  yesterday,  was 
read  the  second  time,  together  with  a  petition  from  several  freeholders, 
resident  in  said  district,  complaining  of  illegal  proceedings  at  said  election, 
whereupon  it  was 

Ordered,  That  John  Hoge,  Thomas  Scott,  and  William  McFarlane, 
Esqrs.,  justices  of  the  peace  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington,  living- 
near  the  said  district,  be  authorized  and  directed  to  investigate  the  facts 
stated  in  the  said  petition,  upon  the  oaths  of  such  witnesses  as  may  be 
adduced,  and  make  report  thereof  to  this  Board  in  manner  and  form  pre- 
scribed in  and  by  an  act  of  Assembly,  entitled  '•  An  act  to  remedy  the 
defects  of  the  several  acts  of  Assembly  heretofore  made  for  regulating 
the  elections  of  justices  of  the  peace  throughout  this  State,  &c.,"  passed 
the  31st  day  of  March,  1784.     (See  March  31,  1789.) 

John  Reed  and  Hugh  Scott,  Esqrs.,  were  appointed  and  commissionated 
justices  of  the  peace  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  and  for  the 
county  of  Washington,  the  former  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Cecil, 
and  the  latter  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Nottingham,  upon  returns 
made  according  to  law  from  the  said  several  districts. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  10,  1788. 

William  Smiley,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  and  for  the  county  of  AVash- 
ington,  upon  a  return  made  according  to  law  for  the  district  of  the  town- 
ship of  Hopewell. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  25,  1788. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  David 
Redick,  Esq.,  for  seventy-two  poinds  seven  shillings  and  four  pence  in  full 
of  his  account  for  his  salary  as  Vice-President  from  the  14th  of  October 
until  the  4th  of  November,  1788,  and  for  his  pay  as  Councillor  until  this 
day,  including  his  mileage  and  cash  j^^fxid  for  postage  of  letters  on  public 
business. 
In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  6,  1788. 

On  motion, 

Rrsolved,  That  Monday  the  8th  inst.  be  assigned  for  going  into  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  sheriff  for  the  county  of  Washington. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  Y7 

In  Council.  Pliiladelphia,  Dec.  8,  1788. 

Mr.  Wood's  motion  for  appointing  a  sheriff  for  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton was  referred  to  Col.  Miles,  Col.  Smith,  and  Col.  Wood. 

In  Council.  Phtladelplna,  Dec.  23,  1788. 

On  motion, 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  employ  two  proper  persons  to  ride  to  the 
counties  of  Washington,  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  Bedford,  Huntingdon, 
Northumberland,  Cumberland,  Luzerne,  Franklin,  and  Dauphin,  to  bring-  to 
Council  from  those  counties  the  returns  of  electors  for  the  choice  of  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  and  that  he  assign  to  the 
said  expresses  their  proper  counties,  give  them  the  necessary  instructions, 
and  direct  the  said  expresses  to  set  off  on  Monday  next. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia.  Dec.  27,  1788. 

James  Dunwood  was  employed  as  one  of  the  persons  to  ride  to  the  coun- 
ties of  Washington,  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  Bedford,  Huntingdon,  Cum- 
berland, Franklin,  and  Dauphin  agreeably  to  the  minutes  of  the  23d  inst., 
and  it  was  agreed  to  allow  him  two  dollars  and  a  half  in  specie  per  diem 
while  he  is  employed  in  the  said  business. 

In  Council..  Philadelphia,  Dec.  31,  1788. 

The  return  of  members  to  represent  this  State  in  the  Congress  of  the 
iJnited  States  having  been  received  by  Council  from  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  the  several  counties,  except  the  county  of  Fayette, 

Resolved,  That  for  the  information  of  the  public,  the  following  state  of 
the  returns  be  published. 

Fred.  A.  Muhlenberg 
Henry  Wynkoop  . 
Thomas  Hartley .  . 
George  Clymer  .  . 
Thomas  Fitzsimmons 
Thomas  Scott  .  . 
Peter  Muhlenberg  . 
Daniel  Hiester    .     . 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  17,  1789. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  of  sheriffs  and  coroners  held  in  and  for 
the  county  of  Washington,  in  October,  1788,  was  received  and  read,  and 
David  Williamson,  Esq.,  thereupon  appointed  and  commissionated  sheriff, 
and  Robert  Benham  coroner  of  the  said  county. 

William  Parker  and  Josiah  Scott,  of  the  county  of  Washington,  were 
offered  and  accepted  as  sureties  for  the  said  David  Williamson's  faithful 
performance  of  the  duties  of  his  office  of  sheriff  for  the  county  aforesaid 
according  to  law. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  3,  1789. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  returns  of  electors  for  choosing  a  President 
and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  which  have  been  transmitted  to 
Council,  be  referred  to  Mr.  McClay  and  Mr.  Smith  to  inspect  the  same  and 
report  to  Council  the  names  of  the  ten  highest  to  vote,  which  being  done,  a 
proclamation  was  issued  embracing  the  names  of  the  following  electors  : 
Edward  Hand,  John  Arndt,  Lawrence  Kecne,  James  O'Hara,  Samuel  Potts, 
George  Gibson,  Coleman  Read,  James  Wilson,  David  Grier,  and  Alexander 
Grayson. 


8707 

John  Allison ... 

.  7067 

8246 

Stephen  Chambers  . 

.  7050 

8263 

William  Findley      .     , 

.  6586 

8094 

William  Irvine   .     .     , 

,  6492 

8067 

Charles  Pettit     .     .     , 

.  6481 

8068 

William  Montgomery  , 

.  6348 

7417 

Blair  McClerrachan     . 

,  6223 

7403 

Robert  Whitehill    .     , 

,  5850 

78  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  17,  1789. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter  from  Thomas 
Scott,  Esq..  with  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  thereon,  was 
read  and  adopted  as  follows,  viz  : — 

Resolved,  That  the  letter  from  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  of  the  20th  of  Janu- 
ary last,  together  with  the  proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  on  the 
same  subject,  be  transmitted  by  the  earliest  opportunity  to  the  said  Thomas 
Scott,  with  an  intimation  that  it  would  be  agreeable  to  Council  if  he  would 
endeavor  to  serve  during  the  first  session  of  Congress,  or  until  his  place  can 
be  supplied  without  expense  to  the  State  at  the  next  annual  election. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  28, 1789. 

Eleazer  Jenkins,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington upon  a  return  made  according  to  law  for  the  district  of  the  township 
of  Bethlehem  in  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  12,  1789. 

Absalom  Baird  and  John  Douglass,  Esqs.,  were  appointed  and  commis- 
sionated  justices  of  the  peace,  the  former  for  the  district  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  and  the  latter  for  the  district  of  the  township  of  Peters  in  the 
county  of  Washington,  upon  returns  made  according  to  law  from  the  said 
districts. 

The  said  Absalom  Baird  and  John  Douglass,  Esqs.,  were  also  appointed 
and  commissionated  justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the 
said  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  12,  1789. 

Upon  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  to  whom  was  referred 
the  petition  and  recommendation  in  favor  of  William  Stewart,  Aaron  Lyle, 
James  Ross.  James  McClellan,  John  Donat,  Josias  Gamble,  Samuel  Aguew, 
Robert  Ralston.  William  Campbell,  Joseph  Wells,  Samuel  Hanna,  and  John 
Rankin  for  remission  of  the  fines  which  have  been  imposed  upon  them  by  the 
last  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  held  in  the  county  of  Washington  upon 
their  being  convicted  severally  of  a  riot  in  said  county, 

Pesolrcd,  That  the  several  fines  due  to  the  Commonwealth,  imposed  upon 
the  petitioners  as  aforesaid,  be  remitted. 

In  Council,  Philadelphia,  March  18,  1789. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Hugh  Spear,  for  five 
pounds  seventeen  shillings,  in  full,  of  his  account  for  hauling  public  arms 
and  ammunition  from  Philadelphia  to  the  county  of  Washington,  for  the 
defence  of  the  western  frontiers. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  24,  1789. 

Mr.  Redick,  member  of  this  Board,  was  offered  and  accepted  as  suretj' 
for  'I'homas  Scott,  Esq..  Prothonotary  of  the  county  of  Washington,  in  the 
room  of  John  Neville,  Esq.,  who  was  approved  by  the  Board  on  the  19th 
instant  as  surety  for  Mr.  Scott. 

On  motion, 

Kfsolvcd,  That  a  dedimus  potestafem  issue  to  Thomas  Scott,  Thomas 
Stokely,  John  Hoge,  and  Absalom  Baird,  Esqs.,  of  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington. 

In  Council.  '  Philadelphia,  March  25,  1789. 

An  order  was  drawn  in  favor  of  Peter  Daily  for  three  pounds  fourteen 
shillings  and  eleven  ])ence,  payable  out  of  the  militia  fines  of  AVashington 
County,  being  the  amount  of  his  account  for  thirty-one  days'  militia  service 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  (9 

as  a  rang'er  on  the  frontiers  of  "Washington  County,  by  order  of  the  Lieu- 
tenant of  said  county,  and  for  subsistence  during  the  said  service. 

Also,  in  favor  of  Abraham  Inlow,  Edward  Sergent,  Andrew  Farley,  and 
Alexander  Burns,  for  fourteen  pounds  nineteen  shillings  and  eight  pence, 
amount  of  their  several  accounts  for  thirty-one  days'  militia  service  each, 
on  the  frontiers  of  said  county,  by  order  of  the  said  Lieutenant,  from  the 
25th  of  March  till  the  25th  of  April,  17S8,  inclusively,  and  for  subsistence 
during  the  said  term,  payable  out  of  the  militia  fines  as  aforesaid. 

In  favor  of  Thomas  Orr,  John  Lesnet,  John  Yance,  and  Hercules  Roney, 
for  fourteen  pounds  nineteen  shillings  and  eight  pence,  payable  out  of  the 
moneys  arising  from  militia  fines  as  aforesaid,  amount  of  the  several 
accounts  for  militia  services  from  the  8th  of  April  till  the  8th  of  May,  1788, 
inclusive,  and  for  subsistence  as  aforesaid. 

In  favor  of  Abner  Braddock  and  Francis  Braddock,  for  seven  pounds 
nine  shillings  and  ten  pence,  payable  out  of  the  moneys  arising  from  militia 
fines,  amount  of  their  several  accounts  for  militia  services  from  the  8th  of 
April  till  the  8th  of  May,  1788,  inclusive,  and  for  subsistence  as  aforesaid. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  28,  1789. 

AVhereas,  Thomas  Scott,  Esquire,  Prothonotary  of  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, hath  informed  this  Council  by  letter  that  he  hath  been  elected  a 
representative  of  this  State  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  that 
he  is  on  his  way  to  New  York  to  take  his  seat  as  such ; 

And  whereas,  The  said  'i'homas  Scott,  Esqui.'e,  by  the  acceptance  of  his 
appointment  as  representative  in  Congress,  is  incapable  of  discharging  the 
duties  of  prothonotary  of  the  county  aforesaid  ;  and  it  is  therefore  proper 
that  a  prothonotary  for  the  said  county  should  forthwith  be  appointed  in 
his  room  and  stead  : 

Resolved,  That  Alexander  Scott,  son  of  the  said  Thomas  Scott,  Esquire, 
be  and  he  is  hereby  appointed  Prothonotary  of  the  county  of  Washington  in 
the  room  and  stead  of  Thomas  Scott,  Esquire. 

James  Marshall.  David  Redick,  and  Thomas  Scott,  Esquires,  were  offered 
and  accepted  as  sureties  for  Alexander  Scott,  Esquire,  Prothonotary  of 
the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  30, 1789. 

Agreeably  to  the  Comptroller-General's  reports,  orders  were  drawn  upon 
the  Treasurer  for  the  following  sums,  payable  out  of  the  moneys  arising 
from  militia  fines  of  Washington  County. 

For  one  pound  nineteen  shillings,  amount  of  pay  due  to  seven  men  of  the 
Washington  County  militia,  two  days  in  July,  1787,  and  four  pounds  nine- 
teen shillings  and  four  pence,  pay  due  to  the  seven  men  of  the  said  militia 
from  the  8th  to  the  10th  of  June,  1788,  for  militia  services. 

For  five  pounds  twelve  shillings,  amount  of  pay  due  to  Captain  Thomas 
Axtell's  company  of  said  militia  in  actual  service  two  days  to  the  19th  day 
of  October,  1787. 

For  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  pounds  seventeen  shillings,  amount  of 
pay  due  to  Captain  Elcazer  Jenkin's  company  of  said  militia  in  actual  ser- 
vic,e  from  August  the  6th  to  the  20th  of  September,  1788. 

For  ninety-three  pounds  nine  shillings  and  four  pence,  amount  of  pay 
due  to  Captain  James  Scott's  company  of  said  militia  in  actual  service  for 
two  days  to  Sept.  1787. 

For  sixty  pounds  eight  shillings  and  two  pence,  amount  of  pay  due  to 
Lieutenant  Jonathan  Ross's  company  of  said  militia,  in  actual  service  from 
July  17th  to  August  13th,  1788. 

For  two  pounds  ten  shillings,  amount  of  pay  due  to  a  party  of  said 


80  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

militia  for  six  days  in  actual  service,  ending  the  22d  of  October,  1787,  and 
for  two  pounds  fifteen  sliillinji^s,  amouut  of  pay  due  to  seven  men  of  said 
militia,  for  seven  days'  actual  service,  eiidin2^  the  1st  of  November,  1787. 

For  fifty-three  potinds  fourteen  shillinj^s,  amount  of  pay  due  to  Ensign 
Sampson  Nicholas's  company  of  said  militia  from  June  9th  to  July  15th, 
1788. 

For  nine  pounds,  amount  of  John  Custard's  account  for  a  horse  lost  on 
the  Sandusky  expedition  under  Colonel  Crawford  in  1782. 

For  seven  pounds,  amount  of  Richard  Hale's  account  of  a  gun  taken 
into  actual  service  and  lost  in  1782,  in  the  expedition  under  Colonel  Craw- 
ford. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  March  31,  1789. 

A  report  from  John  Hoge  and  Thomas  Scott,  Esquires,  two  of  the  jus- 
tices who  were  appointed  by  Council  on  the  8th  day  of  November  last  to 
investigate  the  complaint  against  an  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  held 
in  Findley  township,  in  the  county  of  Washington,  on  the  2;5d  of  September, 
1788,  was  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  notice  of  the  time  of  holding  the 
said  election  was  not  given  according  to  law;  therefore, 

RpHolved,  That  said  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  township  of 
Findley  be  set  aside  and  made  void,  and  that  a  writ  under  the  lesser  seal 
be  now  issued  for  holding  a  new  election  of  justices  of  the  peace  in  and  for 
the  said  township,  on  the  28th  day  of  July  next,  according  to  law. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  8th,  1789. 

On  motion, 

Resolved,  That  Thomas  Ryerson  be  appointed  and  commissionated  a 
justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  27,  1789. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  David 
Redick,  Es(i.,  for  fift_v-six  pounds  in  full  of  his  account  for  attendance  in 
Council  until  the  1st  day  of  May,  1789,  inclusively,  and  for  mileage  coming 
from  Washington  County  to  Philadelphia. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May,  13,  1789. 

'J'he  account  of  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  Prothonotary  of  AVashiiigton  County, 
for  fees  upon  tavern  licenses  received  from  July  to  September,  1788, 
amounting  to  nineteen  pounds  eight  shillings,  was  read  and  approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  May  20,  1789. 

I'lie  petition  of  Elisha  Mills,  of  the  county  of  Washington,  praying 
remission  of  a  fine  often  pounds,  payable  to  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth, 
to  which  he  has  been  sentenced  by  the  Court  of  General  Quarter  Sessions 
of  the  Peace  of  the  said  county,  upon  being  convicted  of  fornication,  was 
read  and  an  order  taken  that  the  prayer  of  the  said  petitioner  be  granted. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  June  17,  1789. 

Two  orders  were  drawn  in  favor  of  the  lion.  David  Redick,  Es(|.,  one 
for  forty-four  pounds  fifteen  shillings,  in  full  of  his  account  for  his  attend- 
ance in  Council  from  May  2  to  June  19,  1789,  inclusively  of  his  mileage 
from  IMiiladelphia  to  AVashington  city, and  the  other  for  thirty-three  pounds 
and  eight  pence,  being  a  balance  due  upon  an  account  settled  by  the  Comp- 
troller and  Register-tJeneral.  for  his  services  and  expenses,  in  surveying  two 
islantls  in  the  rivers  Ohio  and  Allcirheny.  and  for  surveying  and  dividing  the 
reserved  tract  of  land  opposite  Pittsburg  into  town  and  out  lots,  agreeably 
to  the  order  of  Council  dated  November  28,  1787,  and  an  act  of  Assembly 
dated  September  1 1,  1787. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  '  8l\ 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  3,  1789. 

A  petition  and  representation  from  a  number  of  inhabitants  of  "Washing- 
ton County,  complaining  that  Thomas  Stokely,  the  Register  and  Recorder 
of  that  county  has  been  absent  for  upwards  of  six  months  from  the  county, 
and  praying  Council  to  appoint  some  person  in  liis  room  to  hold  and  exer- 
cise those  offices  until  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  shall  meet,  was 
received  and  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  2,  1787. 

The  following  account  of  Thomas  Rogers  was  read  and  approved,  for 
provisions  furnished  to  Captain  William  Leet's  company  of  Washington 
County  militia  from  the  15th  of  April  to  the  16th  of  May,  1782,  amounting 
to  three  pounds  six  shillings  and  ten  pence,  and  for  provisions  furnished  to 
Captain  William  Hogeland's  company  of  the  said  militia,  in  April,  1782, 
amounting  to  one  pound  fourteen  shillings  and  four  pence. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  September  29,  1789. 

The  following  account  of  Thomas  Rankin,  of  Washington  County,  for  his 
services  on  the  frontiers  in  1781,  amounting  to  ten  shillings,  was  read  and 
approved. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Nov.  6,  1789. 

A  return  of  the  general  election  held  in  the  county  of  Washington  on 
the  second  Tuesday  of  October  last,  was  received  and  read,  by  which  it 
appears  that  the  following  gentlemen  were  duly  elected:  Henry  Taylor, 
councillor ;  David  Williamson  and  William  Wallace,  sheriffs-  Samuel 
Clark  and  Sashbazer  Bentley,  coroners  ;  whereupon 

Resolved,  That  David  Williamson  be  appointed  and  commissioned  sheriff, 
and  Samuel  Clark,  coroner,  of  the  county  of  Washington. 

William  Parker  and  John  Leman  were  offered  and  accepted  as  sureties 
for  the  sherifiF  of  the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  30,  1789. 

John  Minor,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissionated  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, upon  a  return  made  according  to  law  from  the  district  of  the 
township  of  Greene  in  the  said  county. 

In  Council.  "  Philadelphia,  December  1,  1789. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer,  in  favor  of  John  Cannon,  Esq., 
for  fiftj'-three  pounds  ten  shillings,  for  his  attendance  in  Council  from  the 
7th  to  the  11th  of  February  and  from  the  10th  of  August  until  the  2d  of 
October,  1789,  and  his  mileage  coming  to  Philadelphia  and  returning  to 
Washington  County. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  3,  1789. 

Henry  Taylor,  councillor  elect  for  the  county  of  Washington,  appeared, 
and  being  qualified  as  the  Constitution  and  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  first  of 
June  last  directs,  was  admitted  to  his  seat  at  the  Board. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  5,  1789. 

A  letter  from  Daniel  Broadhead,  Esq.,  Surveyor-General,  dated  Novem- 
ber 23,  1789,  nominating  agreeably  to  act  of  Assembly  of  the  8th  of  April, 
1785,  Messrs.  Presley  Neville  and  Matthew  Richie,  as  "deputy  surveyors 
of  a  district  late  part  of  Washington  County,  part  whereof  has  since  been 
erected  into  a  separate  county  called  Allegheny,  bounded  by  the  great 
road  leading  from  Fort  Burd  to  the  town  of  Washington,  late  Catfish 
Camp,  from  thence  to  the  nearest  head-waters  of  Buffalo  Creek,  thence 


8 J  *  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

down  the  said  creek  to  the  line  of  the  State,  thence  along  the  same  to  the 
River  Ohio,  thence  up  the  same  to  the  mouth  of  the  Monongahela  River, 
and  thence  up  the  same  to  the  beginning,"  was  received  and  read,  and 
thereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  concur  with  the  said  nomination. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December,  8,  1789. 

General  John  Gibson  and  John  Neville,  Esqs.,  were  offered  and  accepted 
as  sureties  for  Messrs.  Presley  Neville  and  Matthew  Richie,  deputy  sur- 
veyors of  part  of  Washington  and  Alleghany  counties. 

A  petition  from  Margaret  Jeffries,  now  confined  in  the  workhouse  of 
this  city  for  larceny,  praying  remission  of  the  fine,  payable  to  the  use  of  the 
State,  and  the  punishment  at  hard  labor,  to  which  she  was  sentenced  for 
the  said  offence,  was  read,  and  Mr.  Taylor,  member  of  Council,  having  in- 
formed the  Board  that  the  petitioner  had  agreed  to  enter  into  an  indenture 
of  service  to  him,  and  that  he  will  send  her  to  the  county  of  Washington, 
if  Council  are  pleased  to  pardon  her,  thereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  said  Margaret  Jeffries  be  and  she  is  hereby  pardoned. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  9,  1789. 

A  certificate  of  the  division  of  the  township  of  Cecil,  in  the  county  of 
Washington,  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  for  the  more  convenient 
election  of  justices  of  the  peace,  which  was  read  on  the  first  day  of  Septem- 
ber last,  was  this  day  read  the  second  time,  and  an  order  taken  that  the 
said  division  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  confirmed, 
according  to  the  bounds  and  limits  following,  that  is  to  say,  beginning  at 
Chartiers'  Creek,  at  the  junction  or  mouth  of  Brush  Run,  and  continuing 
up  the  same  as  high  as  to  Matthew  Johnston's,  to  include  his  farm  in  the 
upper  division;  thence  leaving  James  Read's  farm  to  the  lower  division, 
directly  to  include  General  Washington's  and  Henry  Guy's  land  in  the 
upper  division,  and  immediately  to  intersect  to  outside  line  of  the  township. 

[In  the  Western  Telegraph  and  Washington  Advertiser,  the  following 
advertisement  is  published  under  date  of  Aug.  26,  1795.  Land  for  Sale. 
A  tract  of  land  of  about  three  thousand  acres,  late  the  property  of  Gene- 
ral Washington,  lying  on  Miller's  Run,  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylva- 
nia, of  an  excellent  quality,  rich,,  evel,  well  timbered,  and  well  watered, 
with  a  suitable  proportion  of  meadow  land,  will  be  sold  by  the  subscriber, 
living  in  Washington.  There  are  thirteen  farms  cleared  and  cultivated  on 
the  land,  and  to  accommodate  purchasers,  it  will  be  divided  into  small 
tracts.  Matthew  Richie.] 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  10,  1789. 

The  Comptroller  and  Register  General's  reports  upon  the  following  ac- 
counts were  read  and  approved,  viz  : — 

Of  Demus  Lindley,  for  seven  thousand  and  fifty-four  weight  of  flour  is- 
sued by  him,  from  June  the  14th  until  the  21st  of  November,  1788,  to  the 
Washington  County  militia,  in  actual  service  on  the  frontiers,  by  order  of 
the  Lieutenant  of  said  county,  amounting  to  fortj^-four  pounds  one  shilling 
and  nine  pence,  for  which  sum  an  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  for  the 
sum,  payable  out  of  the  militia  fines  of  Washington  County.  (See  March 
4,1790.) 

Of  Adam  Miller,  for  one  month's  service  as  a  spy,  watching  the  motions 
of  the  Indians  on  the  frontiers  in  the  year  1788,  amounting  to  two  pounds 
fifteen  shillings,  for  which  sum  an  order  was  drawn  on  the  Treasurer  as 
aforesaid. 

Of  Ensign  Isaac  Lindley,  for  the  pay  of  his   company  of  Washington 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  83 

County  militia,  for  nine  days'  militia  service  on  the  frontiers,  in  October, 
1787,  amountinj^  to  four  pounds  nine  shillings,  for  which  sura  an  order  was 
drawn  upon  the  Treasurer,  payable  as  aforesaid. 

Of  George  Tompoh,  for  his  provisions  employed  as  a  militia  man  on  the 
frontiers  of  Washington  County,  and  for  a  blanket,  a  pack  saddle,  and  two 
bags,  lost  on  the  said  expedition,  under  Colonel  Crawford  in  1782,  amount- 
ing to  two  pounds  seven  shilling  and  sixpence. 

Of  John  Hill,  for  a  saddle,  blanket,  two  bags,  and  a  wallet  or  knapsack, 
lost  on  the  said  expedition,  amounting  to  four  pounds  two  shillings  and 
sixpence. 

Of  Robert  Taylor,  for  thirty  days'  provisions  due  him  while  employed  on 
the  said  expedition,  amounting  to  one  pound  two  shillings  and  sixpence. 

Of  Richard  Hopkins,  for  a  horse  lost  on  said  expedition,  amounting  to 
four  pounds. 

Of  John  Turvey,  for  thirty  days'  provisions  due  to  him  while  employed 
on  the  said  expedition,  amounting  to  one  pound  two  shillings  and  sixpence. 

A  certificate  of  the  division  of  Hopewell  township,  in  the  county  of 
Washington,  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  for  the  more  convenient 
election  of  justices  of  the  peace,  agreeably  to  the  act  of  Assembly,  passed 
the  thirty-first  day  of  March,  1784,  which  was  read  on  the  first  day  of  Sep- 
tember last,  was  this  day  read  the  second  time,  and  an  order  taken  that  the 
said  division  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  confirmed 
according  to  the  bounds  and  limits  following,  that  is  to  say,  beginning  at  a 
certain  spring  on  the  head-waters  of  Cross  Creek,  which  rises  about  ten 
perches  from  the  township  of  Straban,  between  the  dwelling  houses  of  James 
Anderson  and  Timothy  Spencer,  thence  down  the  south  branch  thereof  to 
Wells'  mills,  thence  down  the  creek  to  the  State  line. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  17,  1789. 

The  Comptroller  and  Eegister-General's  reports  upon  the  following  ac- 
counts were  read  and  approved,  viz : — 

Of  Robert  Walker,  Jr.,  of  Washington  County,  for  provisions  furnished 
by  him  for  the  Sandusky  expedition  under  Colonel  Crawford,  in  the  year 
1782,  amounting  to  one  pound  two  shillings  and  sixpence. 

Of  Captain  John  Reed,  for  the  pay  of  his  Washington  County  militia,  in 
actual  service  against  the  Indians,  by  order  of  the  Lieutenant  of  said  coun- 
ty, from  the  24th  of  September  to  the  29th  of  October,  1788,  amounting 
to  forty-six  pounds  seven  shillings,  for  which  sum  an  order  was  drawn  upon 
the  treasurer  in  favor  of  the  said  Captain  John  Reed,  payable  out  of  the 
militia  fines  of  said  county. 

Of  Lieutenant  Alexander  Kidd,  for  the  pay  of  his  company  of  the  said 
militia  in  actual  service  as  aforesaid,  from  the  22d  of  October  to  the  24th 
of  November,  1788,  amounting  to  forty  pounds  sixteen  shilling  and  eight 
pence,  for  which  sum  an  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of 
the  said  Alexander  Kidd,  payable  out  of  said  fines. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Dec.  28,  1789. 

Upon  the  second  reading  of  the  return  of  an  election  of  justices  of  the  peace, 
held  in  the  township  of  Findley,  in  the  county  of  Washington,  on  the  28th 
of  July  last,  with  a  petition  against  it. 

Resolved,  That  William  Smith,  Esq.,  be  appointed  and  commissi»nated  a 
justice  of  the  peace  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the 
said  county  of  Washington,  he  having  a  majority  of  votes. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  11,  1790. 

James  Bell,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissionated  a  justice  of  the  peace 
and  of  the  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington,  upon  a  re- 


84  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

turn  made  according  to  law,  from  the   district  of  the  township  of  Morgan 
in  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  18,  1790. 

A  certificate  from  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Washington  County, 
of  the  division  of  Bethlehem  township  in  the  said  county,  by  a  straight 
line  run  from  Peter  Drake's  to  Weise's  mills,  for  the  more  convenient  elec- 
tion of  justices  of  the  peace,  agreeably  to  act  of  Assembly  passed  the 
thirty-first  day  of  March,  1784,  was  read  the  second  time,  by  which  it  ap- 
pears that  the  said  division  has  become  proper  and  will  be  useful,  it  was 
thereupon 

Resolved,  That  the  same  be  confirmed. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  22,  1790. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  Hon.  Henry  Taylor, 
Esq.,  for  the  sum  of  forty-nine  pounds  fifteen  shillings,  in  full  for  his  at- 
tendance in  council,  from  the  Hd  day  of  December,  1789,  until  the  22d  day 
of  January,  1790  (deducting  six  days'  absence),  and  his  mileage  coming  to 
Philadelphia  and  returning  to  Washington  County. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Jan.  25,  1790. 

Mr.  Ross  and  Mr.  Addison,  members  of  Convention,  and  Mr.  Ryerson. 
member  of  Assembly  for  the  county  of  Washington,  attended  and  produced 
in  writing,  a  statement  of  the  depredations  committed  by  the  savages  with- 
in that  county  from  time  to  time,  and  submitting  the  same  to  the  consider- 
ation of  Council,  whereupon 

Resolved,  That  Mr.  Findley,  Mr.  Miles,  and  Mr.  Taylor,  be  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  confer  with  the  said  gentlemen,  upon  the  subject  of  a  defence  for 
the  western  counties  against  the  Indians,  and  that  they  make  report  to 
Council. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  13,  1790. 

A  letter  from  Daniel  Broadhead,  Esq.,  Surveyor-Ueueral,  of  the  2d  day 
of  February  inst.,  informing  Council  that  he  has  appointed  Messrs.  David 
Redick  and  John  Hoge  deputy  surveyors  of  a  district  bounded  and  described 
as  follows,  viz  :  Northerly  by  the  great  road  leading  from  Fort  Bird  to  the 
town  of  Washington,  thence  by  a  direct  course  to  the  nearest  head-waters 
of  Buffalo  Creek,  and  down  the  said  creek  to  the  State  line,  easterly  by  the 
Monougahela  River,  southwardly  by  the  continuation  of  Mason  and  I)i.\on's 
line,  and  westerly  by  the  State  line  aforesaid,  and  submitting  the  said  ap- 
pointments to  Council  for  their  approbation,  agreeably  to  act  of  Assembly, 
passed  the  8th  day  of  April,  1785,  was  received  and  read,  and  theroupon 

Resulted,  'J'hat  Council  approve  of  the  said  appointments,  and  that  Col. 
James  Marshall  and  Andrew  Swearingen  be  accepted  as  sureties  for  the 
said  deputy  surveyors. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  Feb.  18,  1790. 

The  Comptroller  and  Register-General's  reports  upon  the  following  ac- 
counts were  read  and  approved,  viz  : — 

Of  Joseph  Brown  for  one  month's  pay  as  a  volunteer  militia-man,  while 
stationed  at  one  McDonald's,  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  of  the  county 
of  Washington,  in  August,  1782,  amounting  to  live  pounds  five  shillings. 

Of  Samuel  Brown  for  forty  days'  jiay  as  a  militia-man  in  Captain  Robert 
Miller's  Company,  stationed  on  llie  frontiers  of  said  county  in  the  year  1782 
and  1783,  amounting  to  four  pounds. 

Of  Alexander  Lashley  for  a  horse  which  was  taken  into  public  service 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  85 

and  lost  on  the  Sandusky  expedition  against  the  Indians,  under  Col.  Craw- 
ford, in  the  jear  1782,  valued  at  twelve  pounds,  and  allowed. 

Of  Georg-e  Sharp  for  bacon  and  flour  furnished  the  militia  of  Washino^ton 
County  under  his  command,  on  the  frontiers  of  said  county,  in  March,  1785, 
amounting  to  two  pounds  four  shillings. 

In  Council.  Ph/'Iadelplna,  March  4,  1790. 

Upon  the  second  reading  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  to  whom  was 
refe^'red  the  application  for  a  new  order  in  favor  of  Demus  Linsley  :^ 

Resolved,  That  the  order  which  was  granted  to  him  for  forty-four  pounds 
one  shilling  and  ninepence,  on  December  10,  1789,  on  the  militia  fines  of 
Washington  County,  be  cancelled,  and  that  a  new  order  for  the  same  be  is- 
sued, payable  out  of  the  militia  funds  of  the  county  of  Lancaster. 

In  Council.  Philadelplna,  March  8,  1790. 

A  letter  from  Thomas  Eyerson,  Esq.,  member  of  Assembly,  relative  to 
the  defence  of  the  western  frontiers,  against  the  invasion  of  the  Indians, 
was  received  and  read,  whereupon  it  was 

Resolved,,  That  to-morrow  be  assigned  for  taking  into  consideration  the 
several  papers  now  before  the  Council,  on  the  subject  of  a  frontier  defence. 

In  Council.  PhiladelpMa,  March  22,  1790, 

A  letter  from  his  Excellency,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  dated 
the  15th  inst.,  in  answer  to  the  letter  from  the  President  of  this  State,  of 
the  10th,  which  inclosed  the  representatives  from  some  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Washington  County,  respecting  the  mischiefs  which  have  been  committed 
for  several  years  past  by  the  Indians  in  that  county,  was  received  and  read, 
and  the  same  was  transmitted  to  the  General  Assembly  in  a  letter  from  the 
President  to  the  Speaker. 

In  Council,  Philadelphia,  April  6,  1790. 

An  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer  in  favor  of  the  Honorable  Henry 
Taylor  for  the  sum  of  fifty-five  pounds  ten  shillings  in  full  of  his  account 
for  his  attendance  in  council,  from  the  23d  day  of  January  until  the  6th 
day  of  April,  1790,  inclusively. 

James  Archer,  Esq.,  was  appointed  and  commissionated  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington, upon  a  return  made  according  to  law,  from  the  district  of  the  town- 
ship of  Franklin,  in  the  said  county. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  April  19,  1790. 

A  letter  from  Henry  Knox,  Secretary  of  AV'ar,  of  the  15th  inst.,  inclosing 
a  copy  of  a  letter  which  has  been  forwarded  by  him  to  the  Lieutenant  of 
Washington  County  in  this  State,  authorizing  him  to  embody  any  number 
of  men,  not  exceeding  eighty,  for  a  temporary  security  to  the  frontiers  of 
this  State,  was  received  and  read. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  19,  1790. 

Resolved,  That  the  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Washington  be  directed  to 
transmit  to  Council  as  soon  as  maybe,  a  return  of  the  officers  of  the  militia  of 
the  said  county  in  order  that  commissions  may  issue  to  them,  and  that  the  Sec- 
retary write  to  the  said  Lieutenant  and  inclose  him  a  copy  of  this  resolution. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  August  24,  1790. 

James  Mitchell,  John  Cannon,  and  Henry  Graham,  Esquires,  were  ap- 
pointed and  commissionated  justices  of  the  peace  and  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  in  and  for  the  county  of  Washington,  upon  returns  made 
to  Council  of  elections  held,  according  to  law,  in  the  following  districts, 


86  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

viz  :  Jamos  Mitchell  elected  in  the  district  of  Peters  township ;  John  Cannon 
in  the  district  of  Cbartiers,  and  Henry  Graham  in  the  district  of  Cross 
Creek. 

In  Council.  Philaddphia,  August  28,  1790. 

The  report  of  the  Comptroller  and  Register-Generals  upon  the  following 
accounts  was  read  and  approved  : — 

Of  Moses  Cook,  for  a  horse  which  was  lost  on  the  Sandusky  expedition 
agninst  the  Indians,  in  the  year  1782,  amounting  to  fifteen  pounds. 

Of  James  Brownlee,  for  flour  furnished  to  the  militia  of  Washington 
County,  in  tlio  month  of  May,  June,  and  July,  1787.  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Marshall,  amounting  to  nine  pounds  three  shillings  and  three- 
pence. 

In  Council.  Philadelpliia,  September  4.  1790. 

It  having  been  determined  at  a  conference  of  members  of  the  General 
Assembly;  the  members  of  the  Supreme  {Executive  Council;  the  Judges 
of  Supreme  Court,  Judges  Shippen  and  Wilson;  the  Attornej'-General  of 
the  State,  and  Alexander  AVilcocks  and  Jared  Ingersoll,  Escjuires,  Attor- 
neys-at-law,  that  the  powers  of  the  legislature  of  the  present  year  expired 
on  Thursday  the  second  instant,  and  that  the  office  of  State  Treasurer  and 
Register-General  of  the  accounts  of  this  commonwealth,  and  of  Register 
of  Vrills  and  a  Recorder  of  Deeds  in  each  county  of  this  State,  in  like 
manner  expired  on  the  said  day  ;  therefore 

Resolved,  'J'hat  by  virtue  of  the  powers  vested  in  this  Board  by  the  Con- 
stitution of  this  State, 

Thomas  Stokely  be  and  hereby  is  appointed  Register  for  the  Probate  of 
Wills  and  granting  Letters  of  Administration,  and  Recorder  of  Deeds,  in 
and  for  the  county  of  Washington. 

In  Council.  Fhiladelphm,  September  22,  1790. 

The  following  accounts  were  read  and  approved,  viz  : — 
Of  Thomas  Scott,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Peace  of  the  county  of  Washington, 

for  moneys  received  by  him  for  fees  upon  tavern  licenses  from  December, 

1788,  until  June,  1789,  amounting  to  thirty-nine  pounds  twelve  shillings, 

■which  sum  hath  been  paid  into  the  treasury. 

Of  Daniel  Beam,  for  his  pay  for  sixty  days'  service  as   a  Ranger  on  the 

frontiers  of  Washington  (bounty,  in  the  militia,  in  the  months  of  April  and 

June,  1788,  and  i'ur  provisions  during  the  same  time,  amounting  to  five 

pounds  ten  shillings. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  November  10.  1790. 

Andrew  Swearingen  and  Gabriel  Blakely  were  ofl'ered  and  acce])ted  as 
sureties  for  Thomas  Stokely,  Esq.,  who  was,  on  the  4th  day  of  Sojiteniber 
last  reappointed  Register  for  the  Probate  of  Wills  and  granting  Letters  of 
Administration,  and  Recorder  of  Deeds,  in  and  for  the  county  of  Wash- 
ington. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  11,  1790. 

A  letter  from  John  Hoge,  Esq.,  informing  council  that  at  tlie  last  general 
election  held  in  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Washington  and 
Fayette,  he  has  been  elected  to  represent  that  district  in  the  Senate  of  this 
State,  and  recpiesting  that  Council  would  be  pleased  to  accept  his  resigna- 
tion of  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace,  and  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  the  county  of  Washington,  which  ho  now  holds,  previous  to  his 
taking  his  seat,  was  read,  whereujion  it  was 

Hesulved,  To  accept  the  said  resignaliim. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  87 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  14,  1790. 

It  being  represented  to-Council  that  William  Wallace,  Esq.,  Sheriff  of  the 
county  of  Washington,  and  Samuel  Clarke,  Coroner  of  the  said  county  of 
Washington,  are  prevented  from  attending  in  Philadelphia  to  enter  into 
negotiations  and  to  give  bonds  with  sureties,  as  the  act  of  Asse.mbly  of  the 
5th  of  March  last  diierts  ;  thereupon 

Refiolved,  That  a  cuiitmission  under  the  great  seal  be  issued  to  Alexan- 
der Scott  and  Dr.  Absalom  Jiaird,  of  the  said  county,  authorizing  them  to 
take  from  the  said  sheriff  and  coroner  th^said  recognizances  and  bonds,  in 
the  manner  prescribed  in  and  by  the  said  act  of  Assembly,  and  that  the 
said  commissioners  make  a  report  to  council  of  their  proceedings  in  the 
premises. 

Thomas  Scott  and  John  Hoge,  Esqrs.,  were  accepted  as  sureties  for  the 
said  William  Wallace,  and  John  Hoge,  and  Henry  Taylor,  Esqrs.,  as  sure- 
ties for  the  said  Samuel  Clarke. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  December  20,  1790. 

The  following  order  was  drawn  upon  the  Treasurer,  viz  : — 
In  favor  of  the  Honorable  Henry  Taylor,  for  forty-four  pounds  ten  shil- 
lings, for  attendance  in  council  from  the  14th  of  November  to  the  21st  of 
December,  and  mileage  coming  to  Philadelphia  and  returning  to  Washing- 
ton County. 

The  Constitution  of  1790  going  into. effect,  the  oiiice  of  Supreme 
Executive  Council  was  abolished.  But  very  few  persons  having 
access  to  the  twenty-eight  octavo  volumes  which  compose  our  colo- 
nial records  and  archives,  I  concluded  to  incorporate  in  this  volume 
every  fact  contained  therein  in  relation  to  Washington  County,  so 
that  in  the  future  it  could  be  referred  to. 


CHAPTER    V. 

TOWNSHIPS  AND  BOROUGHS  IN  WASHINGTON  COUI^TY. 

The  history  of  the  TowDships  and  Boroughs  in  their  chronological  order,  de- 
tailing interesting  events  in  each — Also  the  history  of  churches  and  the 
present  state  of  education  in  each  Township  and  Borough. 

We  now  proceed  to  the  history  of  the  townships  of  Washington 
County,  which  have  been  enumerated  in  chapter  three,  commencing 
with  the  thirteen  original  townships,  and  placing  them  in  alphabeti- 
cal order ;  these  townships  having  been  organized  on  July  15th,  1781. 
When  one  of  the  original  townships  has  been  subdivided,  or  boroughs 
formed  therein,  we  shall  place  its  history  with  the  township  from 
which  it  was  taken,  yet  giving  a  separate  history.  New  townships 
and  boroughs  we  shall  place  in  chronological  order.  * 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


Amwell  Township. 


In  the  original  record  of  this  county  its  name  is  written  "Aim- 
well."  At  the  date  of  its  organization,  July  15th,  1781,  it  was 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Strabane  township,  east  by  Bethlehem 
township,  south  by  Morgan  township  (a  township  of  Greene  County 
since  1T9G),  and  on  the  west  by  Donegal. 

Its  present  boundaries  are  South  Strabane  on  the  north,  Morris 
and  Franklin  on  the  west,  West  Bethlehem  on  the  east,  and  Greene 
County  on  the  south.  On  the  19th  of  June,  1838,  part  of  Am- 
well was  annexed  to  Strabane  township,  and  at  the  ^lay  terra  of 
court  in  185G,  the  township  lines  between  Amwell  and  Morris  were 
changed  and  confirmed.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  the  borough  of 
Washington  ten  miles.  Its  population  in  18G0  was  2042,  of  which 
seven  were  colored.  Its  greatest  length  is  ten  miles,  breadth  four 
and  one-half  miles. 

This  township  is  drained  by  the  north  fork  of  Tenmile  Creek, 
by  the  little  North  fork  and  Bane's  fork  of  the  same  creek.  It  con- 
tains four  stores,  one  distillery,  and  ten  schools,  employing  five  male 
and  five  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  thirty-eight  dollars  and 
thirty-eight  cents,  and  the  latter  thirty-three  dollars  and  five  cents 
each  per  month,  with  five  hundred  and  nineteen  scholars,  of  which 
two  hundred  and  eighty-six  are  males  and  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  are  females — the  tuition  costing  each  scholar  per  month  eighty- 
three  cents.  Amount  of  tax  levied  for  building  purposes,  four  hun- 
dred and  thirty-eight  dollars  and  ninety-five  cents — total  amount 
levied  for  school  purposes,  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  dollars  and  fourteen  cents  ;  amount  received  fronx  the  State 
appropriation  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  dollars  and  thirty  cents. 
The  towns  are  Amity  and  Claiiktown  (Tenmile  Tillage.) 

Amity  is  about  ten  miles  from  tlie  county  seat,  and  is  on  Bane's 
fork  of  Tenmile  Creek  and  on  the  road  leading  from  Washington  to 
Wayncsburg,  containing  thirty-four  dwellings,  two  stores,  a  Presby- 
terian church*  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  and  a  Metho- 
dist Protestant  church,  the  pastor  of  wdiich  is  Rev.  F.  A.  Da}^ 

This  town  was  located  about  the  year  1790  by  Daniel  Dodd,  Esq., 
a  brother  of  the  Rev.  Tliaddeus  Dodd,  who  owned  the  land,  fonned 
the  plan,  and  numbered  the  lots.  The  position  being  central,  on  the 
main  thoroughfare  to  Greene  County,  a  hewed  log  Presbyterian 
church,  stores,  tavern,  .and  dwrliing  houses  were  soon  erected.  At 
that  earh'^datc  the  churches  were  destitute  of  heating  apparatus,  and 
the  church-going  members  sat  in  their  ]>ews  with  their  great  coats 
and  mittens,  while  the  women  were  muffled  up — not  in  furs,  but  in 
home-made  dresses  and  comfortable  shawls.  Here  we  may  remark, 
that  both  before  and  after  preaching  by  Rev.  Dodd,  the  male  part  of 
the  congregation  used  to  resort  to  the  tavern  to  warm  themselves, 
tlie  house  being  now  occupied  as  a  private  dwelling  by  Squire  Clutter, 
no  tavern  l)eing  licensed  in  the  place.     In  those  early  days  athletic 

*  See  pp.  217,  218. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  89 

sports  were  much  more  in  vogue  than  at  present;  long  bullets,  the 
ball  alley,  and  target  shooting  were  the  favorite  exercises,  and  the 
party  losing  paid  their  forfeit  by  ordering  drinks  for  all  hands. 

MORMONISM. 

The  village  of  Amity,  in  all  coming  time,  will  be  regarded  as  the 
Mecca  of  Mormonism.  It  was  in  the  year  1816  that  the  Rev.  Solo- 
mon Spaulding,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  settled  in  this  ru- 
ral village,  with  a  view  to  banish  ennui.  He  was  (what  is  familiarly 
known  as)  an  antiquarian,  and  travelled  far  and  near  to  investigate, 
scientifically,  Indian  mounds,  and  everything  else  _  connected  with 
American  antiquities,  for  the  purpose  of  tracing  the  aborigines  to 
their  original  source,  a  portion  of  one  of  the  lost  tribes  of  ancient 
Israel.  While  pursuing  these  investigations,  and  to  while  away  the 
tedious  hours,  he  wrote  a  romance,  based  upon  -fiction  ;  his  investi- 
gations and  history  at  the  same  time  leaving  the  reader  under  the 
impression  that  it  was  found  in  one  of  these  mounds,  and  through  his 
knowledge  of  hieroglyphics  he  had  deciphered  it.  As  time  and  cir- 
cumstances would  permit,  he  would  often  read  to  his  friends  in 
Amity  portions  of  his  fabulous  and  historical  romance. 

Rev.  Spaulding  resolved  to  publish  it  under  the  name  of  "  The 
Manuscript  Found,"  and  actually  entered  into  a  contract  with  a  Mr. 
Patterson,  of  Pittsburg,  to  publish  the  same,  but  from  some  cause  the 
contract  was  not  fulfilled.  The  manuscript  remained  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Patterson  between  two  and  three  years  before  Mr.  Spauld- 
ing reclaimed  and  recovered  it.  In  the  mean  time  a  journeyman 
printer  of  the  name  of  Sidney  Rigden  copied  the  whole  of  the  manu- 
script, and  hearing  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.'s,  digging  operations  for 
money  through  the  instrumentality  of  necromancy,  resolved  in  his 
own  mind  that  he  would  turn  this  wonderful  manuscript  to  good  ac- 
count and  make  it  profitable  to  himself.  An  interview  takes  place 
between  Rigden  and  Smith,  terms  are  agreed  upon,  the  whole  manu- 
script undergoes  a  partial  revision,  and  in  process  of  time,  instead 
of  finding  money,  they  find  curious  plates,  which,  when  translated, 
turn  out  to  be  the  Golden  Bible,  or  Book  of  Mormon,  which  was 
found  under  the  prediction  of  Mormon  in  these  words  (see  Mormon 
Bible,  p.  504):  "  Gro  to  the  land  Antura,  unto  a  hill  which  shall  be 
called  Shin,  and  there  have  I  deposited  unto  the  Lord  all  the  sacred 
engravings  concerning  this  people."  Oliver  Cowdery,  David  Whit- 
mer,  and  Martin  Harris,  certify  that  they  have  seen  these  selfsame 
plates  which  wei'e  deposited  by  Mormon — that  they  were  faithfully 
translated  by  the  gift  and  power  of  God,  because  God's  voice  declared 
it  unto  them,  that  the  work  was  true,  and  to  place  the  testimony  of 
its  truthfulness  beyond  a  peradventure,  eight  witnesses,  viz  :  Chris- 
tian Whitmer,  Jacob  Whitmer,  Peter  Whitmer,  John  Whitmer,  Hirara 
Page,  Joseph  Smith,  Sr.,  Hiram  Smith,  and  Samuel  H.  Smith  (al- 
most all  of  the  witnesses  belonging  either  to  the  Whitmer  or  Smith 
7 


90  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

family),  testify  that  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  the  translator,  showed  them 
the  plates  of  gold,  that  they  handled  them  with  their  own  hands, 
saw  the  curious  engravings,  and  that  the  plates  were  of  curious 
workmanship.  Such  is  the  account  of  the  most  stupendous  imposture 
which  has  been  perpetrated  for  many  centuries,  but  more  especially 
upon  so  intelligent  a  nation  as  the  American  people.  An  imposture, 
at  which  the  religious  world  stands  amazed,  paralyzing  the  marriage 
vow,  and  defying  the  power  of  the  general  government. 

To  place  this  question  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  and  to 
demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  Book  of  Mormon  was  originally  written 
in  Amity,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  I  shall  take  the  testimony  of 
living  witnesses,  whose  characters  are  bcj'ond  reproach,  and  beloved 
by  the  entire  community  as  persons  whose  veracity  cannot  be  ques- 
tioned, and  whose  intelligence  has  no  superior.  The  testimony  I 
shall  offer  is  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Amity,  Pa. — a  letter  from  Joseph  Miller,  Sr., 
the  intimate  and  confidential  friend  of  Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding,  and 
lastly,  a  letter  from  the  wife  of  Rev.  Spaulding,  which  was  originally 
published  thirty-one  years  since,  or  in  1839. 

1.  Letter  of  Rev.  J.  "W.  Hamilton 

BOOK   OF    MORMON. 

Some  time  since  I  became  the  owner  of  the  book  of  Mormon.  I  put  it 
into  tlie  hands  of  Mr.  Joseph  Miller,  Sr.,  of  Aniwell  township.  After  ex- 
amining it  he  makes  the  following  statement  concerning  the  connection  of 
Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding  with  the  authorship  of  the  book  of  Mormon. 

Mr.  Miller  is  now  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age.  He  is  an  elder 
in  the  ('umberhmd  rresbytcrian  Church.  His  judgment  is  good  and  his 
veracity  unimpeachable.  He  was  well  acquainted  with  Mr.  S.  while  he 
lived  at  Amity.  He  waited  on  him  during  his  last  illness.  He  made  his 
coffin,  and  assisted  to  bury  his  remains  where  they  now  lie,  in  the  Presby- 
terian graveyard  at  Amity.  He  also  bailed  Mr.  S.'s  wife  when  she  took 
out  letters  of  administration  on  his  estate. 

Mr.  Miller's  statement  may  be  relied  on  as  true.         J.  W.  Hamilton. 

2.  Letter  of  Jos.  Miller,  Sr. 

When  Mr.  Spaulding  lived  in  Amity,  Pa.,  I  was  well  acquainted  with 
him.  I  was  frc(iuently  at  his  house.  He  kept  what  is  callod  a  tavern. 
It  was  understood  that  he  had  been  a  preacher ;  but  his  health  failed  him 
and  he  ceased  to  preach.  I  never  knew  him  to  preach  after  he  came  to 
Amity. 

He  had  in  his  possession  some  papers  which  he  said  he  had  written.  He 
used  to  read  select  j)ortions  of  these  papers  to  amuse  us  of  evenings. 

These  papers  were  detached  sheets  of  foolscap.  He  said  he  wrote  the 
papers  as  a  novel.  He  called  it  the  "  Manuscrij)t  Found,"  or  "  The  Lost 
Manuscript  Found."  He  said  he  wrote  it  to  i)ass  away  the  time  when  he 
was  unwell ;  and  after  it  was  written  he  Ihougiit  he  would  publish  it  as  a 
novel,  as  a  means  to  support  his  family. 

Some  time  since,  a  copy  of  the  book  of  Mormon  came  into  my  hands. 
My  son  read  it  for  me,  as  I  have  a  nervous  shaking  of  the  head  that  ])re- 
vents  me  from  reading.   I  noticed  several  passages  which  I  recollect  having 


I 


HISTORY    OP   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  91 

heard  Mr.  Spaulding  read  from  his  "  Manuscript."  One  passage  on  the 
148th  page  (the  copy  I  have  is  published  by  J.  0.  Wright  &  Co.,  New  York) 
I  remember  distinctly.  He  speaks  of  a  battle,  and  says  the  Amalekites 
had  marked  themselves  with  red  on  the  foreheads  to  distinguish  them  from 
the  Nephites.  The  thought  of  being  marked  on  the  forehead  with  red  was 
so  strange,  it  fixed  itself  in  my  memory.  This  together  with  other  passages 
I  remember  to  have  heard  Mr.  Spaulding  read  from  his  "Manuscript." 

Those  who  knew  Mr.  Spaulding  will  soon  all  be  gone,  and  I  among  the 
rest.  I  write  that  what  I  know  may  become  a  matter  of  history ;  and  that 
it  may  prevent  people  from  being  led  into  Mormonism,  that  most  seductive 
delusion  of  the  devil. 

From  what  I  know  of  Mr.  Spaulding's  "Manuscript"  and  the  book  of 
Mormon,  I  firmly  believe  that  Joseph  Smith,  by  some  means,  got  possession 
of  Mr.  Spaulding's  "  Manuscript,"  and  possibly  made  some  changes  in  it 
and  called  it  the  "  Book  of  Mormon."  Joseph  Miller,  Sr. 

March  26,  1869. 

3.  Letter  of  Mrs.  Davidson,  formerly  Mrs.  Spaulding. 

THE   MORMON    BIBLE. 

Joseph  Miller,  Esq.,  an  old  and  highly  respected  citizen  of  Amwell  town- 
ship, sends  us  by  hand  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  of  Amity,  the  following 
communication,  which  originally  appeared  in  a  magazine  entitled  the  Evan- 
gelist of  the  True  Gospel,  published  at  Carthage,  Ohio,  in  1839. 

Mr.  Miller  has,  on  various  occasions  heretofore,  furnished  us  with  many 
interesting  incidents  connected  with  the  career  of  Solomon  Spaulding,  and 
the  oi'igin  of  the  so-called  Mormon  Bible.  The  present  contribution,  which 
consists  of  a  statement  from  the  wife  of  Mr.  Spaulding,  seems  to  furnish 
conclusive  evidence  that  the  "  Manuscript  Found,"  written  by  her  husband, 
and  the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  are  one  and  the  same. 

Origin  of  the  "Book  of  Mormon,''  or  '^Golden  Promise." — As  this 
book  has  excited  much  attention,  and  has  been  put  by  a  certain  new  sect  in 
the  place  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  I  deem  it  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  the 
public  to  state  what  I  know  touching  its  origin.  That  its  claims  to  a  divine 
origin  are  wholly  unfounded,  needs  no  proof  to  a  mind  unperverted  by  the 
grossest  delusions.  That  any  sane  person  should  rank  it  higher  than  any 
other  merely  human  composition,  is  a  matter  of  the  greatest  astonishment; 
yet  it  is  received  as  divine  by  those  who  dwell  in  enlightened  New  England, 
and  even  by  those  who  have  sustained  the  character  of  devoted  Christians. 
Learning  recently  that  Mormonism  has  found  its  way  into  a  church  in 
Massachusetts,  and  has  impregnated  some  of  its  members  with  its  gross 
delusions,  so  that  excommunication  has  become  necessary,  I  am  determined 
to  delay  no  longer  doing  what  I  can  to  strip  the  mask  from  this  monster  of 
sin,  and  to  lay  open  this  pit  of  abominations. 

Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding,  to  whom  I  was  united  in  marriage  in  early  life, 
was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  and  was  distinguished  for  a  lively 
imagination  and  a  great  fondness  for  history.  At  the  time  of  our  marriage 
he  resided  at  Cherry  Valley,  New  York.  From  this  place  we  removed  to 
New  Salem,  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  sometimes  called  Conneaut,  as  it 
is  situated  upon  Conneaut  Creek.  Shortly  after  our  removal  to  this  place 
his  health  sunk,  and  he  was  laid  aside  from  active  labors.  In  the  town 
of  New  Salem  there  are  numerous  mounds  and  forts,  supposed  by  many  to 
be  the  dilapidated  dwellings  and  fortifications  of  a  race  now  extinct.  These 
ancient  relics  arrested  the  attention  of  the  new  settlers,  and  becajne  objects 


92  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

of  research  for  the  curious.  Numerous  implements  were  found,  and  other 
articles  evincing  great  skill  in  the  arts.  Mr.  Spaulding  being  an  educated 
man,  and  passionately  fond  of  history,  took  a  lively  interest  in  these  devel- 
opments of  antiquity,  and  in  order  to  beguile  the  hours  of  retirement,  and 
furnish  employment  for  his  lively  imagination,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  giv- 
ing a?i  hiftoncal  sketch  of  this  long  lost  race.  Their  extreme  antiquity  of 
course  would  lead  him  to  write  in  the  viost  ancient  style,  and  as  the  Old 
Testament  is  the  most  ancient  book  in  the  world,  he  imitated  its  style  as 
nearly  as  possible.  His  sole  object  in  writing  this  historical  romance  was 
to  amuse  himself  and  his  neighbors.  This  was  about  the  year  1812.  Hull's 
surrender  at  Detroit  occurred  near  the  same  time,  and  I  recollect  the  date 
from  that  circumstance.  As  he  progressed  in  his  narrative,  the  neighbors 
would  come  in  from  time  to  time  to  hear  portions  read,  and  a  great  interest 
in  the  work  was  excited  among  them.  It  claimed  to  have  been  written  by 
one  of  the  lost  nation,  and  to  have  been  recovered  from  the  earth,  and 
assumed  the  title  of  "  Manuscript  Found."  The  neighbors  would  often 
inquire  how  Mr.  S.  progressed  in  deciphering  the  manuscript,  and  when  he 
had  a  sufficient  portion  prepared  he  would  inform  them,  and  they  would 
assemble  to  hear  it  read.  He  was  enabled,  from  his  acquaintance  with  the 
classics  and  ancient  history,  to  introduce  many  singular  names,  which 
were  particularly  noticed  by  the  people,  and  could  be  easily  recognized  by 
them.  Mr.  Solomon  Spaulding  had  a  brother,  I\lr.  John  Spaulding,  resid- 
ing in  the  place  at  the  time,  who  was  perfectly  familiar  with  this  work,  and 
repeatedly  heard  the  whole  of  it  read. 

From  New  Salem  we  removed  to  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  Here  Mr.  S. 
found  an  acquaintance  and  friend  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Patterson,  an  editor 
of  a  newspaper.  He  exhibited  his  manuscript  to  Mr.  P.,  who  was  very 
much  pleased  with  it,  and  borrowed  it  for  perusal.  He  retained  it  a  long 
time,  and  informed  Mr.  S.  that  if  he  would  make  out  a  title  page  and  pre- 
face, he  would  publish  it,  and  it  might  be  a  source  of  profit.  This  Mr.  S. 
refused  to  do,  for  reasons  which  I  cannot  state.  Sidney  Rigdon.  who  has 
figured  so  largely  in  the  history  of  the  Mormons,  was  at  this  time  connected 
with  the  printing-office  of  Mr.  Patterson,  as  is  well  known  in  that  region, 
and  as  Rigdon  himself  has  frequently  stated.  Here  he  had  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  become  acquainted  with  Mr.  Spaulding's  manuscript,  and  to  copy 
it  if  he  chose.  It  was  a  matter  of  notoriety  to  all  who  were  connected  with 
the  printing  establishment.  At  length  the  manuscript  was  returned  to  its 
author,  and  soon  after  we  removed  to  Amity,  Washington  County,  Pa., 
where  Mr.  S.  deceased  in  IHIG.  The  manuscript  then  fell  into  my  hands 
and  was  carefully  preserved.  It  has  frequently  been  examined  by  ray 
daughter,  Mrs.  M'Kinstry,  of  Monson,  Massachusetts,  with  whom  1  now 
reside,  and  by  other  friends.  After  the  "  Book  of  Mormon"  came  out,  a 
copy  of  it  was  taken  to  New  Salem,  the  place  of  Mr.  Spaulding's  former 
residence,  and  the  very  place  where  the  "Manuscript  Found"  was  written. 
A  woman-preacher  appointed  a  meeting  there;  and,  in  the  meeting,  read 
and  repeated  copious  extracts  from  the  "  Book  of  Mormon."  The  historical 
part  was  immediately  recognized  by  all  the  older  inhabitants  as  the  iden- 
tical work  of  Mr.  Spaulding.  in  which  they  had  been  deeply  interested 
before.  Mr.  John  Spaulding  was  present,  who  is  an  eminently  pious  man, 
and  recoqnized  ferfevtly  the  work  of  his  brother.  He  was  amazed  and 
afflicted  that  it  should  have  been  perverted  to  so  wicked  a  purpose.  His 
grief  found  vent  in  a  flood  of  tears  ;  and  he  arose  on  the  spot,  and  ex- 
pressed in  the  meeting  his  deep  sorrow  and  regret  that  the  writings  of  his 
sainted  brother  should  l)e  used  for  a  purpose  so  vile  and  shocking.  The 
excitement  in  New  Salem  became  so  great  that  the  inhabitants  held  a 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  93 

meeting  and  deputed  Dr.  Philastus  Hurlbut,  one  of  their  number,  to  repair 
to  this  place  and  to  obtain  from  me  the  original  manuscript  of  Mr.  Spaul- 
ding,  for  the  purpose  of  comparing  it  with  the  Mormon  Bible,  to  satisfy 
their  own  minds,  and  to  prevent  their  friends  from  embracing  an  error  so 
delusive.  This  was  in  the  year  1834.  Dr.  Hurlbut  brought  with  him  an 
introduction  and  request  for  the  manuscript  signed  by  Messrs.  Henry  Lake. 
Aaron  Wright,  and  others,  with  all  of  whom  I  was  acquainted,  as  they 
were  my  neighbors  when  I  resided  in  New  Salem. 

I  am  sure  that  nothing  could  grieve  my  husband  more,  were  he  living, 
than  the  use  which  has  been  made  of  his  work.  The  air  of  antiquity  which 
was  thrown  about  the  composition  doubtless  suggested  the  idea  of  convert- 
ing it  to  purposes  of  delusion.  This  historical  romance,  with  the  addition 
of  a  few  pious  expressions  and  extracts  from  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  has 
been  construed  into  a  new  Bible,  and  palmed  off  upon  a  company  of  poor 
deluded  fanatics  as  divine.  I  have  given  the  previous  narration,  that  this 
work  of  deep  deception  and  wickedness  may  be  searched  to  the  foundation, 
and  its  author  exposed  to  the  contempt  and  execration  he  so  justly  deserves. 

Matilda  Davidson. 
The  Rev.  Solomon  Spaulding  was  the  first  husband  of  the  narrator  of  the 
above  history.  Since  his  decease  she  has  been  married  to  a  second  husband, 
by  the  name  of  Davidson.  She  is  now  residing  in  this  place,  is  a  woman  of 
irreproachable  character,  and  an  humble  Christian,  and  her  testimony 
worthy  of  implicit  confidence. 

A.  Ely,  D.  D., 
Pastor  Congregational  CJmrch,  Monso7i. 

D.  R.  Ei,Y, 

Principal  of  Monson  Academy. 

Tenmile  Village. 

I  have  been  favored  with  the  followinf^  description  of  Clarktown, 
or  Tenmile  Village,  by  J.  C.  Milliken,  M.  D.,  one  of  our  most  suc- 
cessful physicians  in  this  county  : — 

This  town  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  near  the 
line  of  Greene  County,  on  North  Tenmile  Creek.  It  is  one  of  our 
neatest  country  villages,  with  one  main  street  and  another  running 
across  it  at  nearly  right  angles  ;  the  houses  are  generally  neatly 
painted,  with  yards  in  front  ornamented  with  evergreens,  shrubbery, 
and  flowers.  The  town  contains  one  large  flour  and  saw-mill,  one 
blacksmith  shop,  one  dry-goods  store,  one  carriage  and  wagon  fac- 
tory, one  shoemaker  shop,  two  physicians,  and  a  population  of 
about  two  hundred  and  twenty.  It  contains  a  Masonic  lodge,  and  a 
school-house  capable  of  containing  one  hundred  scholars,  in  which 
the  usual  branches  are  taught  nine  months  in  the  year. 

Early  Settlers. 

Of  the  earhj  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  county,  as  well  as  the  ad- 
joining county  of  Greene,  we  desire  to  speak.  The  first  settlers 
were  squatters  who  purchased  the  land  from  the  native  Indians  for  a 
gun,  trinket,  or  gewgaw,  of  whom  were  John  Rutman  and  Dennis 
Smith,  the  former  dying  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine  and  the  latter  at 


94  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

one  hundred  and  four ;  these  two,  with  William  Gordon,  Russel 
Reese,  John  Lorrison,  and  John  James  constituted  the  principal 
original  settlers. 

From  the  year  lYYO  to  ITOO  they  were  followed  by  a  different 
kind  of  men,  who  patented  their  lands  and  obtained  them  legally ; 
these  early  pioneers  were  Nathaniel  McGiffin,  David  Evans,  James 
Milliken,  Abel  McFarland,  George  Cooper,  and  John  Bates,  some 
of  whom  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  with  marked  distinction 
with  Washington,  La  Fayette,  Green,  Marion,  and  Sumpter. 

Forts. 

For  their  protection  these  early  settlers  erected  two  forts,  one 
called  Fort  3Iilliken,  situated  on  a  beautiful  mound  on  the  farm  of 
Mrs.  Samuel  Braden,  the  other  was  named  Fo7't  McFarland,  and 
located  on  the  farm  of  Peter  Garrett.  There  was  a  third  fort  or 
blockhouse  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Nehemiah  Woodruff,  Esq., 
where  many  bones,  arrows,  wares,  and  trinkets  are  unearthed  by  the 
farmer's  plough.  The  mound  that  encircled  the  area  of  this  third  fort 
until  recently  was  covered  with  large  trees,  and  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  are  numerous  burying-grounds  of  the  Indians. 

Churches. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1831  the  Revs.  A.  M.  Bryan,  John  Morgan, 
A.  Chapman,  R.  Burrow,  and  R.  Donnel  came  as  missionaries  to 
proclaim  the  doctrines  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 
They  held  a  camp-meeting  on  Abel  Milliken's  farm  near  Fort  Milli- 
ken. In  May,  1832,  another  camp-meeting  was  held,  and  another  in 
January,  1833  ;  the  result  of  these  camp-meetings  was  the  organi- 
zation of  a  church  on  the  22d  of  January,  1833,  which  was  called 
Pleasant  Hill.  The  church  is  built  of  brick,  and  located  about 
half  a  mile  from  the  village. 

The  following  pastors  have  officiated,  viz:  Rev.  John  Morgan, 
for  one  year  and  a  half;  Rev.  Alexander  Robinson,  one  year  ;  Rev. 
S.  P.  Allen,  one  year  ;  Rev.  E.  Howland,  six  months  ;  Rev.  Milton 
Bird,  five  years ;  Rev.  James  McFarland,  six  months  ;  Rev.  John 
Carey,  twelve  years ;  Rev.  Philip  Axtell,  four  years  ;  Rev.  Ste- 
phen Winget,  ten  years ;  Rev.  Jesse  Adams,  two  years.  Rev. 
Philip  Axtell  is  the  present  incumbent. 

North  Tenmile  Baptist  Church 

Is  situated  on  a  ridge  two  miles  north  of  Tenmile  village.  Its  his- 
tory runs  back  as  far  as  the  year  1772.  In  their  first  labors  they 
were  much  troubled  with  the  Indians,  and  were  often  compelled  to 
hold  their  meeting  in  Fort  McFarland.  Their  present  church  is 
the  third  which  has  been  erected  on  the  same  ground.  The  Rev. 
James  Sutton  was  their  first  regular  pastor ;  he  was  chosen  February 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  95 

4,  1774;  he  served  for  seven  3'ears.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Joh 
Corbly,  who  remained  for  two  years.  He  was  followed  by  Rev. 
David  Sutton.  How  long  he  preached  cannot  be  ascerta,ined,  because 
the  church  records  are  lost,  and  our  ne.xt  preacher  of  which  we  have 
any  sure  knowledge  was  Rev.  Charles  Wheeler,  who  became  the 
.pastor  in  1831  and  served  five  years.  In  1836,  Rev.  A.  B.  Bow- 
man became  the  pastor  and  resigned  in  1839,  when  the  Rev.  Levi 
Griffith  was  elected,  and  officiated  until  1842,  His  successor  was 
Rev.  F.  Downey,  who  served  until  1846,  then  followed  Rev.  Wm. 
Whitehead  for  eighteen  months ;  Rev.  S.  Kendall  Lenning,  for  six 
and  a  half  years ;  Rev.  T.  C.  Gunford,  for  one  year ;  Rev.  W.  Scott, 
for  six  months;  Rev.  B.  P.  Ferguson,  for, two  and  a  half  years; 
Rev.  J.  Boyd,  for  three  years.  In  1865,  Rev.  W.  B.  Skinner 
became  pastor,  who  remained  until  1867.  His  successor,  until  1868, 
was  Rev.  S.  Kendall,  who  was  followed  by  the  present  incumbent, 
Rev.  C.  W.  Tilton. 

American  Patriotism. 

On  February  6,  1839,  the  citizens  of  Amwell  township  met  and 
elected  John  Carter  President,  and  Samuel  L.  Hughes  Secretary. 
The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  adopt  measures  to  check  the  bit- 
terness of  party  strife,  sink  the  character  of  the  politician,  and  arise 
superior  to  party  dictation  and  party  influence,  by  assuming  the 
character  and  attributes  of  an  American  patriot. 

Bethlehem  Township 

Was  one  of  the  original  townships,  organized  July  15,  1781.  It  was 
at  that  period  bounded  by  Straban  and  Fallowfield  townships  on 
the  north,  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  Amwell  and  Frank- 
lin townships  on  the  south,  and  Amv/ell  on  the  east. 

Application  was  made  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  on  March 
13,  1788,  to  divide  the  township  into  East  and  West  Bethlehem 
townships,  and  on  the  18th  of  January,  1790,  the  court  directed 
the  division  to  be  made  by  a  straight  line  running  from  Peter  Drake's 
to  Weise's  mill. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  1788,  before  the  division  of  the  township, 
we  find  Michael  Simon  and  Anne  Ottia  his  wife  conveying  to  the 
trustees  of  the  Dutch  Presbyterians  two  and  a  fourth  acres  of  land 
situate  on  Brush  Run,  a  branch  of  Tenmile  Creek,  to  be  used  for 
divine  worship,  and  teaching  of  school,  and  a  burial-ground. 

April  12,  1792,  Joseph  Townsend  and  wife  conveyed  to  James 
Crawford,  Nathaniel  Heald,  Abraham  Smith,  John  Townsend,  John 
Heald,  and  Isaac  Jenkinson,  as  trustees  of  the  Quaker  Westland 
raeetiug-house,  a  certain  lot  of  ground,  containing  twenty  acres,  for 
a  meeting-house,  burying-ground,  and  other  necessary  purposes,  in 
consideration  of  twenty  pounds,  Pennsylvania  currency.  This  land 
is  on  the  draws  of  the  Monongahela  River  and  Twomile  Run. 


96  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


East  Bethlehem  Township. 

It  is  bounded  north  by  East  and  West  Pike  Run,  east  by  tlie 
Monongaliela  River,  south  by  Greene  County,  and  west  by  West 
Bethlehem.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  AVashington  eighteen  miles, 
its  greatest  length,  nine  miles,  breadth,  four  and  a  half  miles.  The 
National  road  crosses  the  river  by  a  bridge  in  the  northeast  angle 
of  this  township.  On  this  road  are  Fredericksfoivn  and  Mills- 
borough,  but  have  been  erected  into  separate  boroughs. 

East  Bethlehem  has  five  stores,  one  distillery,  and  ten  schools, 
employing  three  male  and  seven  female  teachers;  the  average 
monthly  salary  of  the  former  is  $30.66,  and  of  the  latter  $33.14. 
The  number  of  scholars  is  four  hundred  and  thirty,  of  which  two 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  are  males,  and  two  hundred  and  two  are 
females;  the  cost  of  tuition  per  month,  $1.18  per  scholar;  amount 
levied  for  school  purposes,  $1792.39  ;  received  from  the  State  appro- 
priation, $115.89.  Population  in  ^860,  white,  1825;  colored,  3Y, 
amounting  to  1862. 

August  25th,  1843,  an  alteration  was  made  and  confirmed  by  the 
court  on  the  division  line  between  West  Pike  Run  and  East  Bethle- 
hem townships. 

November  30th,  1848,  the  court,  upon  petition  and  hearing  the 
report  of  viewers,  attached  all  that  part  of  East  Bethlehem  to  East 
Pike  Run  except  West  Brownsville,  which  is  north  of  the  National 
road.  At  the  August  term,  1861,  the  line  between  East  and  West 
Bethlehem  was  changed,  so  as  to  include  Thomas  Martindale  ia  East 
Bethlehem. 

Fredericktown 

Is  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Monongahela  River,  below  the  great  bend, 
two  miles  north  of  the  mouth  of  Tcnmile  Creek,  eight  miles  above 
Brownsville,  and  twenty  miles  southwest  of  Washington.  It  was 
laid  out  by  Frederick  Wise,  on  August  21,  1790,  although  the  land 
was  patented  March  22d,  1788,  under  the  name  of  sugar-tree  bottom. 
In  laying  out  the  town,  the  proprietor  reserved  one  acre  of  ground 
for  a  cemetery,  and  lot  No.  44  for  a  school-house,  upon  which  a  brick 
edifice  has  been  erected,  containing  one  graded  school  with  two  de- 
partments. 

The  town  was  surveyed  and  laid  off  by  Isaac  Jonkinson  ;  lots 
measured  60  by  180,  having  Water,  Main,  and  Bank  streets  running 
parallel  with  the  riv(>r,  and  Washington,  Walnut,  and  Sycamore  run- 
ning at  right  angles  to  the  former;  each  street  being  50  feet  wide 
e.\cept  Main,  which  is  60.  Tlie  proprietor  of  the  town  entered  into 
an  agreement  with  Isaac  Jenkinson  and  others  September  20,  1793, 
recorded  in  t)ie  Recorder's  office  of  this  county,  that  no  distillery  for 
the  destruction  of  grain  or  fruit  shall  be  at  any  time  erected  on  the 
premises,  by  or  under  said  Wise  or  any  purchaser  of  his  or  their  pur- 
chase. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  9T 

In  1793  a  public  library  was  established,  which  continued  in  opera- 
tion until  the  31st  day  of  July,  1825,  when  it  was  closed  and  the 
books  sold. 

The  town  contains  a  population  of  320  inhabitants;  a  ^oneware 
pottery,  manufacturing'  30,000  gallons  annually ;  a  grist  and  saw- 
mill;  two  hotels;  a  rectifying  distillery;  fifty  dwellings;  and  salt 
works,  the  well  being  520  feet  deep. 

About  a  mile  below  Fredericktown  is  a  curious  cave  called  the 
Panther^s  den.  It  enters  the  hill  half  way  from  its  base,  by  a  small 
fracture  or  rent  in  the  rock.  After  going  a  few  yards  through  a  narrow 
and  descending  passage,  you  enter  a  wide  but  low  room  in  which 
you  can  walk  nearly  upright;  to  the  roof  of  this  room  the  exploring 
party  found  bats  hanging  in  a  stupid  kind  of  sleep.  By  clambering 
up  another  fracture  in  the  rock,  they  entered  another  room  ;  they 
were  required  to  roll  themselves  through  this  room,  and  entered  a  third 
by  a  narrow  and  descending  passage,  occasioned  by  another  rent  in 
the  rock.  This  room  was  high  eliough  to  walk  upright  in,  and  was 
divided  by  a  partition  of  petrifactions,  formed  by  the  drippings  of 
water  through  the  roof.     The  party  explored  it  about  forty  yards. 

David  S.  Wilson,  Esq.,  of  Washington,  has  kindly  permitted  me 
to  copy  the  following  letter,  the  original  of  which  is  in  his  posses- 
sion, and  is  a  proud  monument  to  the  citizens  of  Fredericktown 
and  its  vicinity,  showing  their  devotion  to  our  government  in  its  in- 
fant state.  The  letter  is  in  the  hand-writing  of  John  Adams,  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

To  the  inhabitants  of  Fredericktown  and  its  vicinity,  in  the  county  of 
Washington  and  the  State  of  Pennsylvania — 

Gentlemen:  Your  memorial  to  the  President,  Senate, and  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives has  been  presented  to  me  by  Judge  Addison,  for  which  I  return 
you  my  thanks. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  world,  the  elements  of  division  of  opinion 
among  the  people  have  existed;  the  distinctions  of  the  wise  and  foolish, 
learned  and  ignorant,  industrious  and  idle,  strong  and  weak,  virtuous  and 
vicious,  have  ever  prevailed,  and  while  these  continue  men  will  think  differ- 
ently. One  would  imagine  that  under  a  constitution  of  their  own  choice 
they  might  agree,  but  we  find  that  they  do  not;  to  be  sure  to  seek  shelter 
under  a  foreign  power  is  another  thing ;  they  must  be  depraved  and  lost, 
who  are  capable  of  this.  Very  few,  if  any,  whose  blood  was  first  distilled 
from  the  American  soil  can  be  of  the  number;  these  will  very  generally 
pledge  themselves  to  a  cordial  attention  to  every  duty  incumbent  on  citi- 
zens of  a  free  and  independent  Republic.  John  Adams. 

Philadelphia,  July  7,  1798. 

MiLLSBOROUGH 

Was  Inoorporated  as  a  borough  on  April  16,  1840.  Its  population 
in  1860  was  292.  It  is  21  miles  distant  from  Washington,  and 
is  situate  in  East  Bethlehem  township,  and  was  laid  out  by  Jesse 
Bomgarner  in  the  year  1700  (the  land  being  patented  June  3,  1769) 
on  the  north  bank  of  Tenmile  Creek,  at  its  confluence  with   the 


98  HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Monongahela  River,  at  which  there  is  a  ferry.  The  streets  are  50 
feet  wide — lots,  GO  by  180  feet.  The  houses,  generally  frame,  and 
some  brick ;  yet  a  few  of  the  old  landmarks  (log  houses)  still  re- 
main to  remind  the  inhabitants  of  the  days  of  "  Auld  Lang  Syne." 
There  are  sixty  dwelling-houses  and  three  churches,  viz.,  a  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  S.  Gibson  ;  a  Mcr 
thodist  Episcopal,  under  charge  of  Rev.  Mr.  Ilill,  and  a  Methodist 
Protestant  Church ;  two  cabinet-makers,  five  stores,  two  cooper 
shops,  one  blacksmith  shop,  two  foundries,  one  hotel,  one  wagon 
'manufactory,  a  steam  grist-mill,  a  saw  mill,  and  one  rectifying  dis- 
tillery in  this  borough.  Mill  Street  is  the  principal  street,  being  60 
feet  wide,  while  the  remaining  streets.  Ferry,  Walnut,  Water,  and 
Morgantown,  are  but  40  feet.  Three  of  these  run  east  and  west,  and 
the  others  intersect  them  at  right  angles. 

Millsboro'  has  two  school-houses  with  82  scholars,  34  males  and 
48  females ;  cost  of  tuition  per  month  is  $1.09;  amount  of  taxes 
levied  for  school  purposes,  $2.77  ;   State  appropriation,  $36.66. 

Half  a  mile  from  the  town,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  is  a 
rock  of  about  twenty  feet  square,  upon  which  are  curious  hierogly- 
phics which  can  scarcely  be  deciphered.  The  rock  is  of  a  sand-stone 
character,  and  upon  it  are  impressions  of  Indians,  animals,  pipes, 
feet,  heads,  claws,  &c. 

The  Monongahela  River  at  this  place  is  slack  water,  twenty  miles 
up  the  river  from  this  point,  as  far  as  Geneva.  Steamboats  ply  this 
river  and  carry  freight  to  and  from  Pittsburg,  and  supply  this  and 
the  adjoining  counties  and  West  Virginia.  An  old  water  grist-mill 
still  remains,  to  which  the  inhabitants  in  the  old  times  came  fifty 
miles. 

West  Bethlehem  Township 

Is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Somerset,  on  the  east  by  Somerset  and 
E.  Bethlehem,  on  the  south  by  Greene  County,  and  on  the  west  by 
Amwell  and  S.  Strabaue.  This  township  is  centrally  distant  from 
Washington  15  miles.  In  1860  it  contained  a  population  of  11)61, 
of  which  4  were  colored.  It  has  13  schools,  with  652  scholars,  of 
which  324  are  majcs  and  228  females;  the  cost  of  tuition  per  month 
being  98  cents  ;  the  total  amount  of  tax  levied  for  school  and  build- 
ing purposes,  $2421.97  ;  the  State  appropriation  being  $193.83.  Its 
length  is  10  miles  ;  its  breadth,  6  miles. 

The  towns  are  Hillsborough  and  Zollarsville.  Hillsborough 
is  on  the  National  Road,  midway  between  Washington  and  Browns- 
ville, 11  miles  from  each.  It  contains  38  dwellings,  3  preachers,  5 
physicians,  3  shoe  shops,  2  saddle  and  harness  shops,  1  hotel,  1 
blacksmith  shop,  1  wagon-maker  shop,  1  cabinet-maker,  2  carpen- 
ters, 4  stores,  a  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  It 
is  elevated  1750  feet  above  tide  water — 917  feet  above  the  Monon- 
gahela  River  at  Brownsville,  and   1002  feet  above  the   Ohio    at 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  99 

Wheeling.  It  was  laid  out  by  Stephen  Hill  and  Thomas  McGififen, 
Esq.,  deceased,  and  has  a  population  of  180  inhabitants. 

The  land  upon  which  Hillsborough  (now  called  Scenery  Hill)  was 
laid  out,  was  patented  September  15,  1784,  by  Wm.  Hill,  Esq.,  and 
named  Springtown,  and  contained  393|  acres,  for  and  in  considera- 
tion of  three  pounds  five  shillings  and  sixpence.  This  tract  is  now 
divided  thus :  the  land  upon  which  the  town  is  laid  out,  and  the 
respective  farms  of  Oliver  Lacock,  Valentine  Kinder,  John  Taylor, 
and  Joseph  W.  Cowan,  Esqrs.  The  aggregate  value  of  these  tracts 
is  estimated  at  $75,000. 

The  first  church  in  Hillsborough  was  erected  about  1850  by  the 
Presbyterians  and  Lutherans  ;  the  second  church,  by  the  Methodists, 
in  1852,  by  Hiram  Winnett.  Before  their  erection  divine  service 
was  performed  in  the  school-house.  The  Methodist  denomination  has 
had  the  efficient  services  of  Revs.  J.  White,  Geo.  S.  Holmes,  Wake- 
field, Hudson,  Yarnall,  and  many  others  who  have  labored  success- 
fully in  the  cause  of  their  Divine  Master.  The  Methodist  church  has 
about  eighty  members. 

The  first  postmaster  was  the  late  Samuel  Stanley.  He  worked  at 
the  carpenter  business  in  1810  at  the  large  storehouse  of  Oliver  La- 
cock  ;  settled  and  became  a  resident  of  the  place,  and  died  ten  years 
since  at  an  advanced  age.  As  a  man,  a  citizen,  a  Christian,  and  a 
Freemason,  he  had  no  superior.  His  daughter  fills  his  place  in 
the  post-office  department, 

Zollarsville  is  on  the  north  branch  of  Tenmile  Creek,  16  miles 
from  Washington.  It  was  laid  out  by  Stephen  Ullery  in  1856,  and 
is  a  small  and  thriving  village.  Near  the  residence  of  ex-sheriff  E. 
R.  Smith  is  the  remains  of  an  Indian  fort.  The  entrenchment 
around  the  fort,  which  can  yet  be  traced,  is  about  100  feet  from  the 
fort.  Bones,  pipes,  arrows,  &c.,  have  been  found.  None  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country  can  trace  its  origin ;  but  a 
tree  was  lately  cut  down  within  the  inclosure  of  the  grounds  of  the 
fort,  and  its  age,  according  to  the  mode  of  computing  the  age  of 
trees,  amounted  to  about  300  years.  Coal  is  found  at  180  feet, 
and  salt  water  at  400  feet. 

There  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  northwest  of  Zollarsville, 
and  a  Dunkard  Baptist  church  near  Mr.  Wherry's. 

This  township  has  a  number  of  grist  and  saw-mills. 

Half  a  mile  below  Hillsborough  there  was  erected  an  Episcopal 
church,  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dodridge  (but  the 
site  can  only  now  be  traced),  near  George  Taylor's,  Esq. 

Cecil  Township. 

This  was  the  third  of  the  original  townships  formed  July  15,  1781. 
Its  boundaries  were  Robinson  township  on  the  north  ;  Peters,  Dickin- 
son, and  Strabane  on  the  east ;  Amwell  on  the  south ;  and  Smith  and 
Hopewell  on  the  west. 


100  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

By  the  act  of  Assembly  of  September  24,  1788,  a  part  of  this 
township,  with  the  whole  of  Dickinson,  was  ceded  to  Allegheny  Coun- 
ty, at  which  time  the  county  was  formed  and  confirmed  by  the  Su- 
preme Executive  Council,  September  30,  1788.  An  application  was 
made  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  this  county,  praying  for  a 
division  of  the  township,  beginning  at  Chartiers'  Creek  at  the  junction 
of  the  mouth  of  Brush  Run,  and  continuing  up  the  same  as  high  as  to 
Matthew  Johnston's,  to  include  his  farm  in  the  upper  division,  thence 
leaving  James  Reed's  farm  in  the  lower  division,  directly,  to  include 
General  Washington's  and  Henry  Guy's  land  in  the  upper  divi- 
sion, and  immediately  to  interstjct  the  outside  line  of  the  township. 

December  9,  1789,  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  confirmed  the 
same,  and  the  township  thus  formed  was  called  Chartiers. 

Cecil  township  is  now  bounded  by  Robirson  township  and  Allegheny 
County  on  the  north,  Peters  township  and  Allegheny  County  on  the 
east,  Chartiers  and  North  Strabane  on  the  south,  and  Mount  Plea- 
sant and  Chartiers  on  the  west.  Its  greatest  length  is  7^  miles, 
breadth,  4|  miles.  Miller's  branch  of  Chartiers'  Creek  passes  south- 
east through  the  middle  of  the  township,  upon  which  are  several  mills. 
Its  population  in  1860  was  959,  of  which  but  one  is  colored.  It 
contains  three  stores.  The  township  line  between  this  and  Mount 
Pleasant  township  was  adjusted  and  confirmed  by  the  court. 

The  only  town  in  this  township  is  Venice,  12  miles  from  Washing- 
ton, named,  by  its  founder,  after  the  famous  maritime  city  of  Italy. 
We  cannot  say  with  the  poet, 

"  From  out  the  wave  her  structures  rise 
As  from  the  stroke  of  the  enchanter's  wand," 

there  being  but  26  dwelling  houses,  a  Presbyterian  church  south  of 
Venice,  with  a  parsonage  attached.  There  is  another  Presbyterian 
church  east  of  the  place. 

Tiiis  township  has  seven  schools  with  two  male  and  five  female 
teachers,  receiving  a  monthly  salary  of  $35.00,  having  210  scholars, 
of  which  112  are  males  and  98  females,  tuition  costing  each  scholar 
per  month  §1.35.  Amount  of  taxes  levied,  $1991.11,  and  receiving 
from  the  State  appropriation,  $98.67. 

Gen.  Washington's  Land. 

From  our  county  records  we  learn  the  history  of  this  land.  A 
patent  was  issued  July  5,  1775,  by  John,  Earl  of  Dunmore,  Lieute- 
nant and  Governor-General  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  to  George 
Washington,  for  lico  tlwunand  eight  hundred  and  Ihii^teen  acres  of 
land,  in  Augusta  County,  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  on  the  waters  of 
Miller's  Run,  one  of  the  branches  of  Shirtee  Creek,  which  is  a  branch 
of  the  Ohio  River.  Gen.  Washington  held  this  land  until  June  1, 
1796,  when  he  conveyed  the  same  to  Matthew  Richie,  Esq.,  of  this 
county,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  twelve  thousand  dollars. 
Witnesses  to  the  deed  were  James  Ross,  Esq.,  and  Charles  Lee,  the 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  101 

deed  being  acknowledged  in  Philadelphia  by  the  grantor,  before 
James  Biddle,  President  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  first 
district.  The  payments  on  the  land  were  $3180  cash,  and  the  balance, 
$8820,  in  three  equal  annual  payments  with  interest. 

Matthew  Richie,  Esq.,  in  his  advertisement  to  sell  the  land  after 
he  had  jDurchased  it,  says,  there  are  thirteen  farms  cleared  and  cul- 
tivated on  the  land,  which  is  of  excellent  quality,  rich,  level,  well  tim- 
bered, and  well  watered. 

Gen.  Washington  came  to  visit  his  lands  (which  were,  when  patent- 
ed, in  Augusta  County,  Virginia),  and  brought  ejectments  for  their 
recovery.  During  his  stay,  the  mother  of  James  Reed  (silversmith, 
formerly  of  this  place)  cooked  a  dinner  on  or  near  the  lands  for  the 
General,  and  on  his  return  stayed  one  night  with  Col.  John  Cannon,  the 
proprietor  of  Canonsburg. 

Before  the  sale  to  Matthew  Richie,  Esq.,  the  record  of  the  court 
shows  that  suit  was  instituted  for  the  recovery  of  this  land. 

Smith.  His  Excellency  George  Washington,  Esq., 

No.  110.  vs. 

{Samuel  McBride,  James  McBride,  Thomas Big'gart,  Wm. 
Stewart, Brice  McGehan,  John  Reed,  John  Glen,  James 
Scott,  William  Hillis,  and  Matthew  Johnson. 
Ejectment  served.    Hugh  M.  Breckenridge,  Esq.,  appears,  pleads  non  cul, 
and  enters  into  the  common  rule  and  rule  for  tryal  next  term.  March,  178.5. 
Removed  per  certiorari.  Clerk,  £1. 4.  4.  Sheriff,  £4. 19.  Mileage,  5  shillings. 

Our  court  records  alsohave  the  name  of  the  illustrious Benj. Frank- 
lin as  plaintiff.     April  1,  1T88. 

D  f  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive 

I      Council,  vs. 

Bradford.      David  WilUamson,  Andrew  Swearingen,  and  Thomas  Stokely. 
Summons.  Debt  £1000,  served  on  each.     Entered  by  plaintiff's  attorney, 
J.  Ross. 

The  suit  was  brought  against  David  Williamson,  who  was  elected 
sheriff  of  this  county  October  26,  1787,  and  his  securities. 

The  United  Presbyterians  have  a  church  formed  by  the  union  of 
the  Associate  and  Associate  Reformed  churches  in  1858.  The  Associ- 
ate congregation  of  Miller's  Run  was  organized  in  September,  1849, 
the  Rev.  A.  Anderson,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  Thomas  Beveridge,  D.  D., 
officiated  respectively  as  pastors  from  November,  1849,  to  June,  1855. 

The  U.  P.  congregation  of  Venice  was  organized  in  1858;  the  Rev. 
A.  R.  Anderson  has  officiated  as  pastor  from  April  17,  1860,  till  the 
present  time,  with  a  membership  of  182. 

,  Cumberland  Township 

Was  the  fourth  of  the  thirteen  original  townships,  which  was  orga- 
nized by  the  trustees  of  the  county  on  July  15,  1781.  It  was 
bounded  by  Morgan  township  on  the  north.  Mason  and  Dixon's 
line  on  the  south,  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  and  the  State 
line  on  the  west. 


102  HISTORY   OF    AVASHINQTON   COUNTY. 

Fort  Jackson  was  situate  in  this  township,  on  Tenmile  Creek, 
just  below  Wayuesburg.  The  watei's  of  Muddy  Creek  flow  through 
this  township,  upon  and  near  whicli  so  many  Indian  murders  were 
committed.     Garrard's  Fort  was  situate  on  Big  Whitley  Creek. 

By  the  erection  of  Greene  County,  on  the  9th  day  of  February, 
ItOG,  this  township  became  a  component  part  thereof,  Greene 
County,  at  its  organization,  being  composed  of  Cumberland,  Frank- 
lin, Greene,  Morgan,  and  Rich  Hill  townships.  These  five  town- 
ships have  been  subdivided  into  the  following  townships,  viz  : 
1.  Aleppo;  2.  Centre;  3.  Cumberland;  4.  Dunkard ;  5.  Frank- 
lin ;  6.  Gilmore  ;  1.  Greene ;  8.  Jackson ;  9.  Jefferson ;  10. 
Marion;  11.  Monongahela  ;  12.  Morris;  13.  Morgan;  14.  Perry; 
15.  Rich  Hill;  16.  Spring  Hill ;  17.  Washington;  18.  Wayne, 
and  19.  Whitely,  whose  population  in  1860  was  23,816,  and  whose 
territory  embraces  364,460  acres  of  land. 

Donegal  Township 

Was  organized  July  1.5,  1781,   by  the  trustees  of  the   county,  and 
ranks  fifth  in  alphabetical  order  out  of  the  thirteen. 

It  was  originally  bounded  by  Smith  township  on  the  north,  Mor- 
ris township  on  the  east,  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  on  the  south, 
and  the  State  line  on  the  west. 

On  the  Gth  of  May,  IT 88,  an  application  was  made  to  the  court 
for  a  division  of  the  township,  who  granted  it  and  ordered  a  copy 
to  be  forwarded  to  tlie  Supreme  Executive  Committee,  and  on  the 
7th  of  August  following  it  was  confirmed  by  the  Council,  by  the 
name  of  Finley  township. 

Its  present  boundaries  are  Independence  township  on  the  north. 
East  and  West  Findley  on  the  south,  Buffalo  and  East  Findlcy  on 
the  east,  and  West  Virginia  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  from 
Washington,  twelve  miles,  its  greatest  length  is  eight  miles,  breadth, 
six  and  a  half  miles.  The  township  is  drained  by  the  Dutch  Fork 
of  Buffalo  Creek,  Bush  Run,  and  Castleman's  Run.  The  National 
road  runs  southwest  through  it,  upon  which  lie  Claysville  on  the 
east,  and  WestAlexande?-  on  the  west. 

In  1860  its  population  was  1690,  of  which  thirteen  are  colored. 
It  contains  nine  stores,  nine  schools,  employing  seven  male  and  two 
female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $39.48,  and  the  latter,  $36.00 
per  month,  having  376  scholars,  of  which  205  are  males,  and  171 
females.  Cost  of  tuition  per  month,  $1.25;  amount  levied  for 
school  purposes,  $1776.69  ;  levied  for  building  puri>oses,  $1332.52, 
and  receiving  from  the  State  appropriation,  $146.25. 

West  Alexander  is  on  the  western  boundary  of  this  town.ship, 
fifteen  miles  southwest  of  Washington,  containing  ninety-two  dwell- 
ings, an  academy,  a  Presbyterian  church  and  parsonage,  and  a 
Methodi.st  Episcopal  church. 

This  town  was  laid  out  by  Charles  De  Hass,  on  May  12,  1817; 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  103 

the  sale  of  lots  took  place  the  10th  of  June  following.  Three  miles 
east  of  this  place  is  a  Roman  Catholic  church.  It  was  first  built  of 
logs,  on  laud  given  by  Mr.  Dougherty,  at  which  time  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Horner  officiated.  The  log  chapel  has  been  removed  and  a  brick 
edifice  erected. 

The  Ilempfield  Railroad  passes  through  this  township  from  its 
eastern  to  its  western  boundary,  through  the  borough  of  Claysville 
and  West  Alexander. 

On  September  7,  1795,  Thomas  Stokelj,  of  Washington,  and 
Jesse  Evans,  of  Fayette  County,  conveyed  three  acres  and  forty- 
eight  perches,  in  consideration  of  seven  shillings  and  sixpence,  to 
James  Armstrong,  William  Gaston,  William  Bower,  Samuel  Byers, 
and  John  White,  trustees  of  the  Presbyterian  church  belonging  to 
the  Ohio  Presbytery  and  now  supplied  by  Rev.  John  Brice.  It 
appears  from  a  deed  executed  May  30,  1796,  that  the  same  trustees 
purchased  the  same  property  from  William  Smith,  William  Slater, 
and  James  Stevenson,  trustees  of  the  Associate  Congregation  of 
Three  Ridges  (near  West  Alexander).  This  land  was  originally 
conveyed  by  Robert  Humphreys  and  wife  to  the  trustees  of  the 
Associated  church,  and  is  described  as  being  in  the  townships  of 
Finley  and  Donegal,  although  Humphreys  claimed  his  title  under  the 
Virginia  law.  The  question  of  title,  however,  was  referred  to  John 
Hoge,  Isaac  Leet,  and  James  Edgar,  who  awarded  it  to  the  Presby- 
terian church,  called  the  Three  Ridges.  Its  pastors  have  been  Rev. 
John  Brice,  Rev.  Mr.  Stephenson,  Rev.  John  McCluskey,  and  Rev. 
W.  H.  Lester. 

Claysville. 

The  town  of  Claysville  is  in  Donegal  township,  and  was  erected 
into  a  borough  the  second  day  of  April,  1832,  and  the  lots  sold  on 
the  8th  of  May  following.  Each  lot  is  fifty  by  two  hundred  feet 
deep,  with  suitable  and  convenient  streets  and  alleys  to  each  block. 
The  town  is  on  the  National  road  from  Cumberland  to  Wheeling, 
beautifully  located,  w^ell  watered,  in  a  fertile  section  of  the  county, 
and  with  a  good  population. 

It  has  eighty-five  dwellings,  two  churches — a  Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  Episcopal — a  tannery,  a  steam  mill,  four  stores,  one  con- 
fectionery and  one  distillery,  with  a  population  of  four  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  ;  two  schools  employing  one  male  and  one  female  teacher, 
ninety-two  scholars,  thirty-eight  males  and  fifty-four  females,  tuition 
costing  per  month  seventy-two  cents ;  amount  levied  for  building 
purposes  five  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  and  thirty  cents  ;  receiv- 
ing from  the  State  appropriation  forty  dollars  and  nineteen  cents ; 
amount  levied  for  school  purposes,  five  hundred  and  sixty-four  dol- 
lars and  thirty  cents. 


104  history  of  washington  county. 

Presbyterian  Church, 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Claysville  was  organized  September 
20th,  1820.  Its  first  liouse  of  worship  was  a  frame  building.  Its 
present  house  of  worship  is  of  briclv,  and  was  erected  during  tlie  sum- 
mer of  1830,  at  a  cost  of  about  three  thousand  dollars.  The  first 
pastor  was  Rev.  Thomas'  Hoge,  of  Washington.  Ilis  pastorate  con- 
tinued fifteen  years,  at  the  close  of  which  he  removed  to  Philadelphia. 
His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger,  who  officiated  for  four 
years.  From  1838  to  1846,  the  church- had  only  supplies.  On  the 
first  Sabbath  of  October,  1846,  the  Rev.  Alexander  McCarrell,  the 
present  pastor,  entered  upon  his  duties,  and  breaks  the  bread  of  life 
to  a  devoted  Christian  people.  This  church  has  a  Sabbath-school 
connected  with  it. 

Donegal  township  has  always  been  noted  for  its  morality  and  high- 
toned  religious  sentiment,  as  the  following  notice  will  show  :  the 
dockets  of  the  justices  of  that  period  exhibit  the  fact  that  many 
persons  were  brought  to  trial  and  fined. 

Whereas,  A  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  vicinity  of  Three  Ridges 
(West  Alexander)  have  entered  into  au  association  and  formed  an  acting 
committee  for  the  ])urpose  of  aiding  and  assisting  the  civil  authority  in  the 
suppression  of  evil  and  immorality,  they  take  this  method  of  informing  the 
public  that  after  the  date  hereof,  all  persons  driving  wagons,  pack-horses, 
or  unlawfully  travelling  through  said  vicinity,  or  doing  other  things  contrary 
to  the  penal  laws  of  this  State,  may  expect  to  be  dealt  with  as  the  law 
directs. 

W.  Smith,  Secretary.  John  McPherson,  President. 

The  United  Presbyterian  church  of  West  Alexander  is  composed 
of  the  Associate  and  the  Associate  Reformed  congregations  of  West 
Alexander. 

The  Associate  Congregation  was  organized  in  1839.  Rev.  Joseph 
Shaw  was  pastor  from  June  20th,  1843,  until  April  20th,  1852. 
Rev.  James  Murch  from  September,  1853,  until  1858.  The  pastors 
of  the  Associate  Reformed  Congregation,  previous  to  1859,  were 
Rev.  Joseph  Buchanan  and  Rev.   Gr.  D.  Bradford. 

In  1859,  these  two  congregations  were  united  under  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  Josias  Stevenson.  The  present  membership  of  the  congre- 
gation is  one  hundred  and  eighty. 

The  Associated  Reformed  Presbyterians  had  a  church  at  West 
Alexander,  in  which  Rev.  Alexander  McCoy  officiated  as  pastor  in 
1800.  His  successors  were  Rev.  AV'illiam  Patterson  and  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Shaw  in  1845.  During  Mr.  Shaw's  pastorate  the  church  became 
Seceders,  and  afterwards  United  Presbyterians,  whose  pastor  was 
Rev.  J.  Stevenson. 

Fallowfield  Township 

Was  the  sixth  of  the  original  townships  of  this  county.     Its  original 
bounds  were  Nottingham  on  the  north  ;  the  Mouougahela  River  on 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  105 

the  east ;  Bethlehem  township  on  the  south,  and  Strabane  township 
on  the  west.  Its  present  limits  are  Nottingham  and  Carroll  on  the 
north;  the  Monongahela  River,  Allen,  and  Carroll  townships  on  the 
east ;  E.  and  W.  Pike  Run  and  Allen  on  the  south ;  and  Somerset 
and  Nottingham  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  Washing- 
ton, 17  miles.  The  population  in  1860  was  897,  of  which  30  were 
colored.     Its  greatest  length  8i  by  6  miles. 

It  contains  two   stores,  seven   school-houses,  employing  3  male 
and  4  female  teachers,  with  267  scholars,  165  male  and  102  female; 
the  tuition  costing  $1.15  cts.  per  month;  amount  of  tax  levied  for 
school  purposes,  $1050.15  cts.;  the  State  appropriation  was  $81.90 
The  male  teachers  receive  monthly,  $35.16;  the  female,  $34.75. 

The  towns  in  this  township  are  Jonestown  and  Ginger  Hill.  Jones- 
town is  six  miles  from  the  Monongahela  River,  on  the  State  road 
leading  from  Canonsburg  to  Bellvernon ;  it  was  laid  out  by  John 
Jones,  in  1828,  and  has  a  population  of  about  fifty. 

Ginger  Hill  is  on  the  Williamsport  and  Washington  Turnpike, 
and  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  near  the  township  line. 

There  are  four  churches  in  this  township:  The  Presbyterian  Church 
on  Maple  Creek,  two  miles  from  Jonestown,  founded  in  1842.  The 
pulpit  was  first  filled  with  supplies  ;  Rev.  J.  W.  Kerr  was  elected 
its  first  minister ;  the  ministers  who  have  succeeded  him  were  the 
Rev.  James  Carson,  Rev.  A.  Virtue,  Rev.  Thomas  Yaneman,  and 
Rev.  W.  Hanna. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  on  the  State  road  from  Jones- 
town to  Bellvernon,  four  miles  from  Jonestown.  The  church  was 
built  in  1849,  and  has  had  the  successive  ministerial  labors  of  the 
Rev.  Warren  Long,  Rev.  T.  M.  Hudson,  Rev.  J.  G.  Sansom,  Rev. 
Geo.  W.  Cranage,  Rev.  John  Spencer,  Rev.  David  Sharpe,  Rev.  J. 
W.  Kessler,  Rev.  Henry  Neff,  Rev.  D.  B.  Campbell,  Rev.  J.  W. 
Weaver,  Rev.  Charles  H.  Edwards,  and  Rev.  McClure. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Chui'ch,  in  the  upper  end  of  the  town- 
ship, was  erected  in  1836,  on  the  road  leading  from  Bentleysville  to 
Monongahela  City  ;  it  is  called  Pigeon  Creek  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Its  first  preacher  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  E.  Babcock;  his 
successor  was  the  Rev.  Wm.  Tipton. 

The  first  church  built  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bab- 
cock was  of  brick,  30  by  40  feet,  but  a  new  one  has  been  erected 
about  200  yards  from  the  site  of  the  first  one ;  its  dimensions  being 
42  by  60  feet;  18  feet  to  the_  square,  with  a  basement  for  Sunday 
school,  lecture-room,  &c. 

A  Disciple  Church  was  established,  and  a  church  built  in  1866,  on 
the  farm  of  Button  Shannon,  Esq.  It  is  a  brick  edifice  30  by  40 
feet;  Rev.  Samuel  Fry  being  its  pastor. 

The  township  has  one  tannery;  two  grist-mills;  one  distillery; 
two  manufacturers  of  sorghum  ;  five  saw-mills  ;  one  extensive  vine- 
yard. 

8 


106  history  of  washington  county. 

Hopewell  Township 

Is  the  seventh  of  the  thirteen  original  townships  organized  by  the 
trustees  of  Washington  County,  July  15,  1781. 

At  its  formation,  it  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Smith  township  ; 
on  the  east  by  Robinson  and  Cecil;  on  the  south  by  Donegal;  on  the 
west  by  Virginia. 

On  the  1st  day  of  September,  1789,  an  application  was  made  to 
the  court  for  a  division,  which  w^as  subsequently  confirmed  by  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council,  on  December  10th,  1789.  This  division 
was  formed  by  running  a  line,  commencing  at  a  certain  spring  on  the 
head-waters  of  Cross  Creek,  which  rises  about  ten  perches  from  the 
township  of  Strabane,  between  the  dwelling-houses  of  James  Ander- 
son and  Timothy  Spencer ;  thence  down  the  south  branch  thereof 
to  Wells'  mill ;  thence  down  the  creek  to  the  State  line.  This  divi- 
sion formed  Gross  Creek  township. 

The  present  boundaries  of  this  township  are  Cross  Creek  and 
Mount  Pleasant  on  the  north  ;  Mount  Pleasant  and  Canton  on  the 
east ;  Buffalo  on  the  south,  and  Independence  on  the  west.  It 
is  centrally  distant  from  Washington  12  miles;  its  greatest  length 
six  miles;  breadth  three  and  a  half  miles.  Its  population  1213,  of 
which  87  are  .colored. 

It  contains  six  schools,  employing  one  male  and  five  female  teach- 
ers ;  receiving  as  their  monthly  pay  $30.00;  having  197  scholars, 
110  males  and  87  females  ;  tuition  costing  per  month,  §1.15.  Amount 
levied  for  school  purposes  $1563.67  ;  receiving  from  the  State  appro- 
priated $78.78. 

This  township  is  drained  by  the  waters  of  Buffalo  and  Cross  creeks. 

The  towns  are  West  Middletown,  Buffalo  Village,  and  Egypt -ov 
Midxcay. 

West  Middletown  being  a  borough,  we  shall  speak  presently  of  it 
in  connection  with  this  township. 

Buffalo  Village  is  on  a  fork  of  Buffalo  Creek,  seven  miles  south- 
west of  Washington,  and  contains  twenty  dwellings. 

Midway  is  on  the  Pittsburg  and  Steubcnville  Railroad,  which 
passes  through  this  township,  and  is  destined  to  be  a  place  of  con- 
sideraljle  importance. 

In  the  Register's  office  of  this  county,  in  the  will  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Smith,  of  Hopewell  township,  made  July  28,  1788,  he  be- 
queaths to  each  of  his  beloved  children  a  Bible,  to  be  paid  out  of 
his  personal  estate,  and  by  so  doing  "mean  to  intimate  to  them  as  I 
am  a  dying  man  and  in  the  siglit  of  God,  that  it  is  ten  thousand 
times  more  my  will  and  desire  that  they  should  find  and  possess  the 
pearl  of  great  price  hid  in  the  field  of  Scriptures,  than  enjoy  anything 
else  which  I  can  bequeath  to  them,  or  even  ten  thousand  worlds,  were 
they  composed  of  the  purest  gold,  and  all  brim  full  of  the  richest 
jewels,  and  yet  be  ignorant  of  the  precious  treasures  in  God's  Word 
that  are  entirely  hid  even  from  the  most  eagle-eyed  and  quick-sighted 
men  that  are  properly  of  this  present  world." 


history  op  washington  county.  101 

Upper  Buffalo  Presbyterian  Church, 

In  connection  with  the  name  of  this  great  and  good  man,  we  may 
state  that  he  was  elected  first  pastor  of  this  church,  organized  June 
21,  1779,  on  the  eastern  part  of  Hopewell  township,  at  Buffalo  Vil- 
lage, lying  north  of  Brush  Run. 

Rev.  Smith  served  until  April  19,  1792.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Mar- 
quis, of  Cross  Creek  church,  served  as  a  supply,  by  the  sanction  of 
Presbytery,  until  March  9,  1800,  when  the  Rev.  John  Anderson  ac- 
cepted a  call,  and  entered  upon  his  pastoral  labors ;  his  labors  ceased 
June  18,  1833,  and  his  successor  is  the  Rev.  John  Eaglesou,  D,  D., 
its  present  popular  pastor,  who  was  ordained  January  19,  1834,  and 
zealously  labors  in  the  promotion  of  his  Master's  cause.  Thus,  in 
the  course  of  ninety  years,  hnt  four  ministers  have  filled  the  pulpit, 
one  of  whom  is  still  living. 

Pleasant  Hill  Female  Seminary 

Is  located  in  this  township,  and  was  organized  in  1846,  near  the 
borough  of  West  Middleton.  It  is  on  the  dividing  ridge  between 
the  waters  of  Buffalo  and  Cross  creeks,  enjoying  the  advantages  of 
a  country  location,  salubrity  of  air  and  water,  delightful  rural  scenery, 
and  above  all,  retirement,  which  is  essentially  necessaiy  to  study. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a  highly  moral  and  industrious  population, 
engaged  generally  in  agriculture,  hence  the  advantage  is,  that  the 
faculty  of  the  seminary  are  not  compelled  to  impose  formal  restraints 
upon  young  ladies,  nor  to  cause  them  to  incur  inordinate  expense 
in  relation  to  appearance  or  dress. 

This  seminary  has  large  and  convenient  buildings,  halls  for  the 
literary  societies,  libraries,  philosophical  apparatus. 

The  seminary  is  under  the  control  and  management  of  Mrs.  Mar- 
tha McKeever,  who  is  fully  competent  to  sustain  the  institution  as 
well  as  to  oversee  and  provide  for  the  pupils  committed  to  her 
charge.  She  has  as  assistants,  Rev.  T.  A.  Crenshaw,  Miss  Kate 
M.  Bigger  Aurie  T.  Burkett,  John  M.  Bigger,  Esq.,  Miss  Ella  E. 
McKeever,  Miss  Eliza  McFadden,  Mrs.  G.  B.  Crenshaw. 

West  Middletown  Borough 

Is  situated  in  Hopewell  township,  and  was  erected  into  a  borough 
on  the  27th  day  of  March,  ^823. 

It  is  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township,  eleven  miles  from 
Washington. 

It  contains  ninety-two  dwelling-houses,  six  stores,  one  confection- 
ary, the  usual  number  of  the  mechanical  professions,  one  extensive 
machine  shop,  one  tannery,  a  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  a 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Protestant  church,  a  Disciple  church,  with 
Rev.  T.  A.  Crenshaw,  pastor  of  the  Disciple  church  at  Middletown, 
and  a  colored  Methodist  church,  and  a  population  of  about  eight 
hundred.     It  contains  two  schools,  with  one  male  and  one  female 


108  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY, 

teacher,  the  former  receiving  $56.00,  and  the  latter  $31.00  per  month, 
with  ninety-six  scholars,  fifty-two  males  and  forty-four  females,  tui- 
tion costing  eighty-seven  cents  per  month.  Amount  of  tax  levied 
for  shool  purposes,  $701  00,  receiving  from  the  State  $42.50. 

The  pastors  who  have  filled  the  pulpit  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  of  West  Middletown,  were  Rev.  S.  Findley,  D.  D.,  Rev. 
William  Wallace,  D.  D.,  Rev.  S.  Taggert,  from  1835  until  the 
present  time.     It  has  a  membership  of  128. 

Robert  Fulton. 

But  few  of  the  present  generation  are  aware  that  the  celebrated 
Robert  Fulton,  of  steamboat  notoriety,  owned  a  farm  in  Hopewell 
township,  in  this  county.  The  farm  contained  about  eighty-four 
acres,  and  the  patent  granted  by  the  State  to  Rev.  Joseph  Smith, 
December  12,  1785.  On  May  6,  1786,  Thomas  Pollock  sold  it  to 
Robert  Fulton,  and  his  father,  mother,  and  three  sisters  resided  on 
it.  After  the  death  of  his  father  the  widow  and  three  daughters 
resided  upon  it.  About  17 'J 9  his  mother  died.  In  1814  Robert 
Fulton  made  his  will  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  among  other 
legacies  he  left  to  his  sister  Elizabeth,  married  to  a  Mr.  Scott,  one 
thousand  dollars  and  the  above  farm,  with  all  the  stock,  during  her. 
life,  and  at  her  death  to  be  sold  and  divided.  To  his  sister  Isabella 
Cooke  he  left  two  thousand  dollars,  and  to  each  of  the  children  of 
his  deceased  sister  Mary  Morris  he  left  five  hundred  dollars.  Both 
Mrs.  Cooke  and  Mrs.  Morris  resided  in  the  town  of  Washington. 

Morgan   Township. 

This  was  the  eighth  of  the  thirteen  original  townships  organized 
July  15,  1781.  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Amwell  township, 
on  the  east  by  Bethlehem,  on  the  south  by  Cumberland,  and  on  the 
west  by  Donegal  and  the  Virginia  line. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1796,  with  Cumberland,  Franklin, 
Greene,  and  Rich  Hill  townships,  was  struck  ofi"  from  Washington 
County,  and  formed  Greene  County. 

Nottingham  Township    ' 

Was  the  ninth  of  the  original  townships  organized  July  15,  1781.  It 
was  then  bounded  on  the  north  by  Peters  township,  on  the  east  by 
the  Monongahrla  River,  on  the  south  by  Fallowfield  township,  and 
on  the  west  by  Strabane  township.  Its  present  boundaries  are,  Pe- 
ters on  the  north.  Union  and  Carroll  on  the  east,  Fallowfield  and 
Somerset  on  the  south,  and  N.  Strabane  on  the  west.  It  is  cen- 
trally distant  east  from  Washington  borough  13  miles.  In  1860  the 
population  was  916,  of  which  8  were  colored.  It  is  drained  by  Pe- 
ters Creek  on  the  north,  Mingo  and  Little  Mingo  Creeks  on  the 
south.     Its  greatest  length  is  6  miles;  breadth  4  miles. 

It  contains  five  stores,  five  schools,  employing  three  male  and  two 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  109 

female  teachers,  the  former  at  $32  per  month  and  the  latter  at  $28, 
having  214  scholars,  of  whom  96  are  males  and  108  females;  cost 
of  tuition  23er  month  81  cents  ;  amount  levied  for  school  purposes 
$9 V 0.89  ;  received  from  State  appropriation  $80.34. 

Its  town  is  Dunningsville,  a  small  village  with  a  population  of  sixty. 

The  Old  School  Presbyterian  church  of  Fairview  is  situated  on  the 
headwaters  of  Peters  Creek  in  this  township.  It  was  organized  by 
an  order  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  on  the  petition  of  James  McClane, 
at  the  instance  of  Rev.  George  JNlarshall,  by  a  committee  consisting 
of  Revs.  C.  Gr.  Braddock,  Robert  McPherson,  and  J.  Hazlett,  Feb. 
24, 1860,  with  twenty-one  members.  The  organization  was  perfected 
in  the  district  school-house  near  where  the  church  now  stands,  and 
which  was  occupied  as  a  church  until  the  new  building  was  completed. 

The  church  from  its  oi'ganization  until  September,  1861,  received 
the  services  of  Rev.  Geo.  Marshall,  Rev.  James  Black,  Rev.  George 
Birch,  Rev.  S.  M.  Nebling,  and  Rev.  John  Aiken,  at  which  date  the 
Rev.  John  Ewing  became  the  regular  pastor.  He  served  acceptably 
until  April  1,  1864,  when  he  resigned,  and  the  pulpit  was  supplied 
by  Rev.  Mr.  Gray  until  September  9,  1864,  when  Rev.  William 
Hanna  took  charge  of  the  congregation.  lie  was  the  first  installed 
pastor,  and  served  until  April  1,  1869,  when  the  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved,  since  which  time  Rev.  Wm.  Brown  has  been  supplying 
the  pulpit. 

The  following  persons  have  been  ordained  ruling  elders,  viz  :  Liver- 
ton  Thomas,  John  P.  Cochran,  William  Rees,  and  Jonathan  Case- 
ber.  The  trustees  are  James  McClane,  James  Roney,  and  William 
Thomas.  The  building  coramitttee  consisted  of  James  McClane, 
John  P.  Cochran,  and  Samuel  Hamilton.  There  is  a  Sabbath  school 
connected  with  the  church. 

A  United  Presbyterian  church,  called  Mount  Prospect,  has  been 
established  at  Munntown,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  Ralph,  which 
promises  to  do  much  good  in  the  dissemination  of  evangelical  truth. 
It  was  organized  in  January,  1860,  and  the  pulpit  filled  by  supplies 
until  September  29,  1864,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Ralph  took  charge  of  it. 
It  has  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty-two. 

The  most  extensive  establishment  in  any  township  of  this  county 
is  that  carried  on  by  Kammerer  Brothers.  Besides  a  very  large 
store,  embracing  general  merchandise  of  every  variety,  they  have  a 
flour-mill  in  which  forty  bai-rels  are  made  in  ten  hours.  The  build- 
ing is  stone,  thirty-six  by  fifty-six  feet,  three  stories  high,  with  a 
tile  roof,  running  it  by  a  forty  horse  power  engine.  In  connection 
with  the  store  and  flour-mill  they  carry  on  a  distillery.  Its  capacity 
is  forty  bushels  per  day,  or  one  hundred  and  fifty  gallons. 

Peters  Township 

Was  the  tenth  of  the  original  thirteen  townships  formed  by  the  trus- 
tees July  15,  1781,  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the  act  forming 
Washington  County. 


110  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

In  September,  1784,  a  petition  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions 
was  presented,  asking  for  a  division  of  the  township,  which  was  in- 
dorsed by  the  court,  and  afterward  confirmed  by  the  Supreme  Execu- 
tive Council  on  the  21st  day  of  November,  1*186.  This  division 
formed  Dickinson  township,  taken  out  of  its  northern  part,  which 
township  was  struck  off  to  Allegheny  County.  Its  original  bounda- 
ries were  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  north  and  east,  Nottingham 
on  the  south,  Robinson  and  Cecil  on  tlio  west.  It  is  now  bounded 
by  Allegheny  County  on  the  north,  Union  township  and  Allegheny 
County  on  the  east.  North  Strabane  and  Nottingham  on  the  south, 
and  Cecil  and  North  Strabane  on  the  west.  Its  greatest  length  is 
six  miles;  breadth  three  and  a  half  miles.  The  population  of  this 
township  in  1860  was  934. 

The  towns  are  Bower  Hill  and  Thompsonville.  These  are 
small  but  thriving  villages,  with  post-offices  at  each. 

Peters  township  contains  two  stores,  has  five  schools,  employing 
three  male  and  two  female  teachers  who  each  received  $30  per 
month,  with  300  scholars,  of  whom  166  are  males  and  134  females, 
tuition  costing  per  month  68  cents.  Amount  levied  for  school  pur- 
poses $1555.50,  and  receiving  from  the  State  appropriation  $90.09. 

LlJSUS   NATURiE. 

On  September  29,  1708,  upon  Esquire  Mitchell's  farm  in  Peters 
township,  a  child  was  born^  with  two  natural  heads,  one  affixed  to 
each  shoulder,  the  body  perfect,  but  no  parts  of  generation.  The 
child  was  dead  born,  and  appeared  to  have  been  dead  some  days 
previous  to  its  birth. 

The  United  Presbyterians  have  a  church  in  this  township  called 
Peters  Greek.  It  was  organized  in  1808,  and  the  following  pastors 
have  respectively  filled  the  pulpit,  viz  :  Rev.  R.  Bruce,  D.  D., 
from  December  14,  1808,  to  December  16,  1816.  Rev.  Alex.  Wil- 
son, from  October  8,  1817,  to  May  4,  1839.  Rev.  James  Brown, 
D.  D.,  from  September  10,  1840,  to  December  5,  1843.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Herron,  from  October  15,  1845,  to  January  4,  1853.  Rev.  J.  B. 
Whitten,  from  October  6,  1854,  to  January  17,  1856.  Rev.  A.  Y. 
Houston,  from  March  19,  1857,  to  June  16,  1868.  Rev.  John  Pat- 
terson, from  July  13,  1868,  until  the  present  time.  This  church  has 
a  membership  of  134. 

'Centre  Presbyterian  Church 

Is  located  in  Peters  township,  on  land  donated  by  David  Bell.  The 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  at  a  meeting  held  at  Bethany  church,  Allegheny 
County,  April  16,  1828,  granted  the  request  of  a  number  of  jiersons 
living  within  the  bounds  of  the  congregations  of  Bethel,  Bethany, 
Chartiers'  and  Mingo  creeks,  and  allowed  them  to  erect  a  meeting- 
house, in  order  that  they  might  enjoy  the  occasional  administration 
of  the  ordinances  among  then).  A  brick  meeting-house,  forty  by  fifty 
feet,  was  immediately  erected,  costing  twelve  hundred  dollars. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  Ill 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1829,  the  congregation  was  regularly 
organized  by  Dr.  Matthew  Brown.  At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery, 
held  at  Canonsburg,  January  5,  1830,  Centre  congregation  obtained 
permission  to  call  a  pastor.  On  May  4,  1830,  Rev.  John  H.  Ken- 
nedy, Professor  of  Mathematics  in  Jefferson  College,  was  elected  the 
pastor,  and  entered  upon  his  pastoi'al  duties,  but  was  not  installed 
until  June,  1831.     On  account  of  ill  health  he  resigned  in  1840. 

Rev.  Alexander  B.  Brown  became  stated  supply  in  1841  and  offi- 
ciated until  1845,  when  he  resigned,  and  Rev.  W.  H.  Orr,  Professor 
in  Jefferson  College,  was  chosen  in  the  same  year.  He  officiated 
about  seven  years,  and  near  the  close  of  his  pastorate,  in  1851,  a 
new  brick  building  was  erected,  located  a  few  rods  south  of  the  old 
structure,  on  a  more  elevated  piece  of  ground.  It  cost  two  thousand 
dollars. 

The  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton  became  pastor  in  1852  and  served  about 
two  years  and  six  months. 

Rev.  Alexander  B.  Brown,  D.  D.,  having  resigned  the  Presidency 
of  Jefferson  College  and  removed  to  the  country,  in  1856,  preached 
occasionally  at  Centre  church,  and  at  length,  in  1858,  became  pastor. 
His  health  failing.  Dr.  Brown  resigned  the  pastorate  December  16, 
1862. 

Rev.  Francis  J.  Collier,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Phila- 
delphia, was  called  in  October,  1863,  began  to  labor  in  November, 
and  was  ordained  and  installed  April  27,  1864.  He  is  pastor  at  the 
present  time. 

In  connection  with  the  church  there  is  a  Sabbath  school,  having 
eight  teachers  and  about  ninety  scholars,  which  holds  its  sessions 
every  year  during  the  summer  months.  The  church  is  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition.  The  number  of  members  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  ; 
the  numbcF  of  families  about  seventy  ;  the  number  of  elders,  seven. 
The  church  is  neatly  painted,  papered,  and  carpeted.  It  is  heated 
by  furnaces.  The  yard  surrounding  the  building  is  securely  inclosed 
and  tastefully  ornamented. 

Robinson  Township 

Was  the  eleventh  of  the  original  townships  formed  by  the  trustees, 
July  15th,  1781.  It  was  then  bounded  by  the  Ohio  River  on  the 
north,  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  Cecil  township  on  the 
south,  and  Smith  township  on  the  west;  but  its  large  proportions 
have  been  considerably  decreased,  and  it  is  now  bounded  by  Alle- 
gheny County  on  the  north  and  east,  North  Strabane  and  Notting- 
ham on  the  south,  and  Hanover  and  Smith  on  the  west,  centrally 
distant  from  Washington  borough,  north  sixteen  miles.  Its  greatest 
length  is  ten  miles ;  breadth  three  miles. 

Population  in  1860,  eight  hundred  and  forty,  of  which  twenty- 
three  are  colored.  It  is  drained  on  the  north  by  Racoon  Creek,  on 
the  east  by  branches  of  Chartiers'  Creek  and  Montour's  Run.     The 


112  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY 

pike  from  Pittsburg  to  Steubenville  runs  through  this  township. 
On  December  22cl,  1836,  the  lines  between  Robinson,  Cecil,  Mount 
Pleasant,  and  Smith  were  adjusted  and  confirmed  by  the  court.  It 
has  five  stores,  five  schools,  with  one  male  and  four  female  teachers — 
the  former  receiving  $34,  and  the  latter  $30  per  month,  with  156 
scholars  (76  males  and  80  females),  tuition  costing  $1.20  cents  per 
month  ;  the  tax  levied  being  seven  hundred  and  forty-two  dollars 
and  eighty-four  cents  ;  the  State  appropriation,  eighty-eight  dol- 
lars and  ninety-two  cents;  amount  levied  for  building  purposes,  ten 
hundred  and  fourteen  dollars  and  fourteen  cents.  The  towns  are 
Candor*  and  Havelock  Station. 

1793,  January  19th.  John  Clark  and  Jane  his  wife  conveyed  to 
William  Rankin,  Peter  Kidd,  William  McCandless,  Matthew  ]3ailey, 
John  Dunlap,  and  Alexander  Wright,  trustees  of  Racoon  congre- 
gation, in  consideration  of  nine  pounds  specie,  all  that  lot  of  ground 
whereon  the  congregation  has  erected  their  church,  under  the  pas- 
toral care  of  Rev.  Joseph  Patterson,  containing  seven  acres  strict 
measure. 

Upper  Racoon  Presbyterian  Church 

Is  located  in  Robinson  township.  Rev.  Joseph  Patterson  was  in- 
stalled as  the  first  pastor,  November  11th,  1789,  and  remained  as 
such  until  October  16th,  1816.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Moses 
Allen  the  27th  of  May,  1817,  who  officiated  until  October  16th, 
1839.  Rev.  Clement  N.  McKaig  was  ordained  his  successor,  June 
14th,  1841,  and  served  until  Rev.  John  W.  Kerr  became  its  pastor  in 
1862  and  resigned  in  1865.     The  pulpit  is  filled  with  supplies. 

There  is  a  tradition  in  the  northern  part  of  this  county  in  regard 
to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Patterson,  verified  by  the  most  substantial  aged 
men  of  our  county,  which  I  shall  relate.  Mr.  Patterson  was  a 
great  and  good  man — pi'ompt  to  his  word  and  conscientious  in  the 
discharge  of  his  every  duty.  A  subscription  was  being  made  up  to 
erect  a  meeting  house, 'and  the  day  appointed  for  its  payment.  The 
day  arrived  and  he  was  disappointed  in  not  receiving  the  promised 
money  which  would  liquidate  his  subscription,  amounting  to  six  dol- 
lars. Nevertheless  he  concluded  to  attend  the  meeting  at  the  school- 
house  (the  place  appointed),  and  make  such  a  statement  as  would  be 
satisfactory.  He  accordingly  started  with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder. 
Wending  his  way  along  to  the  meeting,  he  arrived  at  a  beautiful  grove, 
where  God  and  nature  seemed  to  invire  him  to  pour  out  his  soul  in 
prayer  and  by  faith  to  look  up  for  the  blessing.  In  the  midst  of  this 
devotional  exercise,  and  when  his  soul  w^as  earnestly  engaged  in 
prayer,  he  hoard  a  rustling  among  the  leaves.  He  opened  his  eyes, 
and,  behold,  a  panther  was  approaching  him.     He  raised  his  rifle  and 

*  Cnjirlor  i.s  in  tho  southern  part  of  the  township  and  has  forty  dwellin;^  house.',  with 
apopuintion  of  two  hundred  and  ten.  Ilavolook  Station  is  on  the  railroad,  on  the 
properly  belonfjinfj  to  tho  estate  of  Col.  McDonald.  This  road  passes  through  the 
southern  part  of  the  township  into  Smith. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  113 

killed  the  wild  animal.  He  took  the  scalp  and  skin  with  him  to  the 
meeting  as  a  trophy  of  his  victory.  He  sold  them  for  six  dollars, 
and  was  thereby  enabled  to  redeem  his  subscription. 

There  is  a  United  Presbyterian  church  not  far  from  the  Allegheny 
County  line  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.   C.  Rankin. 

Robinson  U.  P.  Church 

Was  organized  in  1833.  The  Rev.  William  Wilson  ofiBciated  from 
1S33  to  1842.  ,  Rev.  John  Scott,  D.  D.,  from  September  19th,  1843, 
to  June,  1845.  Rev.  James  G.  Rankin,  from  September,  1849,  to 
November,  1868.  The  Rev.  W.  R.  McKee  has  accepted  a  call 
and  commenced  his  pastorate  in  1869.  It  has  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty-seven. 

Strabane  Township 

Was  the  twelfth  of  the  original  thirteen  townships.  It  was  bounded 
by  Cecil  on  the  north,  Nottingham  and  Fallowfield  on  the  east,  Beth- 
lehem on  the  south,  and  Cecil  on  the  west.  On  the  22d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1785,  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  this  county  received 
a  petition  from  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Washington,  praying  that 
it  might  be  set  apart  as  a  separate  district  from  this  township.  The 
court  recommended  the  petition  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil, and  in  February,  1786,  the  request  was  confirmed.  On  Octo- 
ber 7,  1830,  the  township  was  again  divided  into  North  and  South 
Strabane  townships.  It  is  drained  by  Chartiers'  and  Little  Chartiers' 
creeks.     The  town  of  Washington  was  originally  in  this  township. 

An  alteration  of  the  boundary  lines  was  confirmed  by  the  court 
between  this  and  Amwell  township,  at  the  October  term  in  1830, 
the  line  running  from  the  house  of  Thomas  Hastings  to  the  mouth 
of  the  lane  at  or  near  Peter  Dager's. 

Chartiers  Presbyterian  Church. 

June  20,  1798,  Josiah  Haines  conveyed  two  and  a  fourth  acres 
of  land  to  the  Presbyterian  congregation,  holding  the  principles  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  as  adopted  in  1788,  and  on  the  26th  of 
June  following,  Craig  Ritchie,  Esq.,  attorney  of  Samuel  Gilpin,  of 
Cecil  County,  Maryland,  conveyed  to  the  trustees  of  the  same 
church  seven  acres  and  three-fourths  (the  remaining  two  and  a  fourth 
acres)  of  the  ten  acres  being  exchanged  by  the  said  trustees  for 
other  land  more  convenient. 

The  trustees  were  enabled  to  hold  land  as  a  body  politic  in  law, 
an  act  of  incorporation  having  been  procured  February  ]5,  1798. 
The  first  trustees  were  Robert  Hill,  William  Kerr,  James  McCreedy, 
William  Hays,  John  Mercer,  James  Morrison,  George  Craighead, 
James  Bradford,  and  John  Cotton.  The  following  members  of  the 
congregation  (February  15,  1798)  petitioned  for  the  charter:  John 
McMillen,    John   McDowell,    Craig   Ritchie,    Moses    Coe,    Robert 


114  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COLNTY. 

Hill,  William  Cochran,  George  Craighead,  William  Kerr,  Robert 
Hughes,  James  Foster,  James  Allison,  John  Johnston,  W^illiam 
Welch,  James  Officer,  Hans  McClean,  Abraham  De  Haven,  Robert 
Welch,  Robert  Rowland,  William  Hays,  John  Macahey,  Wm. 
Hartapee,  Nicholas  Smith,  Daniel  Kirkpatrick,  James  Wishart,  John 
Donnell,  William  Gault,  Alexander  Frazer,  John  Lindsey,  Thomas 
Brysland,  Samuel  Logan,  Thomas  Bracker,  John  McClain,  James 
Gaston,  John  Crawford,  George  McCook. 

This  church  is  now,  by  a  division  of  the  township,  in  North  Stra- 
bane.  It  is  one  mile  south  of  Canousburg,  on  the  road  leading  to 
Monongahela  City. 

It  is  supposed  that  this  church  was  organized  by  Dr.  John  McMil- 
lan, soon  after  his  ordination,  in  ItTG,  as  he  received  a  call  from 
both  this  and  Pigeon  Creek  church.  He  continued  its  pastor  until 
April  21,  I80O.  His  successor  was  Rev.  F.  Leake,  who  was  installed 
July  12,  1831,  and  served  until  June  21,  1843.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Alexander  A.  Brown  (son  of  Rev.  Matthew  Brown),  Sep- 
tember 3,  1844,  and  continued  to  officiate  until  January  11,  1848. 
Rev.  Robert  White  was  installed  September  6,  1848,  and  died 
December  14,  1848.  The  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Wilson  became  the  pas- 
tor on  the  20th  of  June,  1849,  and  resigned  bis  pastoral  care 
January  15,  1851.  Their  present  pastor.  Rev.  William  Ewing, 
was  installed  January  14,  1852.  This  church  is  one  of  the  oldest" 
west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains. 

In  a  public  newspaper  of  this  county  of  May  12,  1796,  a  meeting 
of  Dr.  Millan's  church  was  held,  and  after  the  religious  service  of 
Thursday  was  over.  Dr.  Millau  intimated  that  business  of  a  public 
nature  and  of  great  importance  required  the  consideration  of  the 
meeting.  He  was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Craig  Ritchie,  Esq.,  Sec- 
retary. The  Chairman  then  stated  the  present  critical  state  of  the 
country  and  the  danger  of  an  Indian  and  perhaps  a  British  war, 
when,  after  discussion,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : — 

Besolved,  unanimously,  That,  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  the 
interests  of  this  county  require  that  the  British  treaty  should  be 
carried  into  execution  with  good  faith. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  a  petition  be  circulated  and  signed, 
and  sent  to  the  House  of  Representatives  to  this  effect. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  That  the  following  petition  be  adopted. 

To  the  Honorable  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States : — 
The  petition  of  sundry  inhabitants  of  the  western  counties  of 
Pennsylvania,  humbly  showeth  :  Having  lately,  with  great  cordiality 
and  good  intentions,  very  generally  united  in  a  petition,  that  the 
House  of  Representatives  would  concur  in  the  execution  of  the 
British  treaty,  we  had  believed  that  no  further  expression  of  our 
wishes  would  be  necessary.  But  it  having  been  suggested  that  the 
Spanish  treaty  was  the  main  object  of  our  petition,  and  that  we  were 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  115 

indifferent  as  to  the  British  treaty,  and  seeing  our  apprehensions 
that  the  British  treaty  might  be  defeated  were  but  too  well  grounded, 
and  are  not  yet  removed,  we  feel  ourselves  constrained  by  a  regard 
both  to  safety  and  duty,  again  to  address  your  honorable  House. 

We  consider  the  British  treaty  as  peculiarly  advantageous  to  us 
and  essential  to  our  enjoying  the  blessings  of  liberty  and  peace. 
Its  ratification  made  it  a  solemn  national  act,  according  to  the 
terms  of  the  Constitution,  binding  the  people  and  every  branch  of 
government,  and  we  consider  its  execution  necessary  for  public 
faith  which  we  regard,  interest  which  we  pursue,  and  peace  which 
we  cherish.  We  therefore  pray  that  the  House  of  Representatives 
will  concur  with  the  other  branches  of  government  in  a  full  and 
faithful  execution  of  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain. 

This  petition  being  signed  by  all  present,  the  meeting  also  passed 
the  following: — 

Resolved,  That  the  Chairman  be  requested  to  write  to  his  breth- 
ren, the  ministers,  on  this  side  of  the  mountains,  requesting  them  to 
call  their  congregations  together  as  soon  as  possible,  on  some  week 
day,  and  take  their  sentiments  on  this  interesting  subject. 

In  connection  with  the  history  of  this  church  we  will  mention  a 
providential  incident.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John  McMillan,  in  1802,  and 
who  was  pastor  of  this  church,  met  with  a  severe  trial,  both  of  his 
faith  and  patience,  as  well  as  his  Christianity.  His  biographer  gives 
the  following  account  of  this  domestic  affliction :  Two  young  minis- 
ters of  great  promise  had  married  two  of  his  daughters.  The  Rev. 
John  Watson,  the  first  President  of  Jefferson  College,  under  the 
charter,  had  married  his  second  daughter,  Margaret.  The  Rev. 
William  Moorehead  had  married  his  eldest  daughter,  Jane.  For 
a  time  the  prospect  for  enlarged  domestic  and  social  enjoyment 
shone  brightly  on  the  doctor  and  his  family,  but  by  the  Allwise,  yet 
deeply  mysterious  providence  of  God,  these  two  ministers,  who  had 
been  married  to  two  sisters,  by  their  father,  on  the  same  day,  took 
sick  on  the  same  day,  died  on  the  same  day,  and  were  buried  in  the 
same  grave  at  the  Chartiers  Presbyterian  church.  The  two  funeral 
processions,  one  coming  from  the  house  of  Dr.  McMillan,  the  other 
from  the  village  of  Canonsburg,  met  at  the  same  point  where  the 
roads  united,  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the  graveyard. 

North  Strabane  Township. 

By  a  decision  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  on  the  2d  day  of 
May,  1831,  Strabane  township  was  divided  into  North  and  South 
Strabane.  This  township  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Cecil,  Peters, 
and  Chartiers ;  on  the  east  by  Peters  and  Nottingham  ;  on  the  south 
by  Somerset  and  South  Strabane  ;  and  on  the  west  by  Chartiers  and 
South  Strabane.  Its  greatest  length  is  6  miles  ;  breadth  6^  miles. 
In  1860,  the  population  was  1213,  of  which  48  are  colored. 


116  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Munntown  is  the  only  town  in  the  limits  of  the  township  with  a 
population  of  sixty. 

Tlie  township  has  two  stores,  six  schools,  with  two  male  and  four 
female  teachers,  each  receiving  per  month  $30,  with  285  scholars,  of 
whom  130  are  males  and  155  are  females  ;  cost  of  tuition  per  month 
77  cents.  Amount  levied  for  school  purposes,  $1463. 06  ;  received 
from  the  State  appropriation  $119.34. 

CoL.  Geo.  Morgan 

Lived  and  died  at  the  "  Morganza"  farm,  two  miles  below  Canons- 
burg,  in  this  township.  He  was  appointed  Indian  agent  as  early  as 
177G,  and  held  the  appointment  until  1779,  when  he  resigned.  Dur- 
ing the  time  he  held  the  office,  he  made  Pittsburg  his  head-quarters. 
History  represents  him  as  a  man  of  unwearied  activity,  great  per- 
severance, and  familiar  with  Indian  manners  and  habits.  He  won 
their  confidence  by  his  frank  manner,  soldierly  bearing,  generosity,  and 
strict  honesty.  After  an  eventful  military  life,  being  an  officer  in  the 
United  States  army,  he  retired  to  his  Morganza  farm,  and  devoted 
himself  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  high  honor  belongs  to  North 
Strabane  township  of  one  of  her  sons  (Col.  Morgan),  on  the  7th  of 
February,  1786,  receiving  a  gold  medal  from  the  Philadelphia  So- 
ciety for  Promoting  Agriculture,  for  furnishing  the  best  Essay  on  a 
Farmyard.  Hon.  Timothy  Pickering,  in  the  letter  forwarding  the 
medal,  says  :  "It  is  the  first  premium  ever  given  in  America  in  agri- 
culture." The  medal  is  in  the  possession  of  David  T.  Morgan,  Esq., 
of  Washington,  Pa.  It  is  of  gold,  one  and  three-fourths  inches  in 
diameter  ;  on  the  obverse  side,  a  farm-house  with  a  man  ploughing 
with  two  oxen  ;  on  the  reverse,  the  motto,  "  Venerate  the  Plough." 

South  Strabane  Township. 

This  township  was  formed  May  3,  1831,  by  a  division  of  Strabane 
township,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  North  Strabane  and  Char- 
tiers  ;  on  the  east  by  Somerset  and  W.  Bethlehem  ;  on  the  south  by 
Franklin  and  Amwell,  and  on  the  west  by  Washington,  Canton,  and 
Franklin.  Its  greatest  length  is  9  miles  ;  breadth  4^  miles.  In 
1800,  the  population  was  1003,  of  which  53  are  colored.  It  contains 
seven  schools  with  seven  female  teachers,  who  receive  thirty  dol- 
lars per  month,  having  232  scholars  (120  males  and  100  females); 
tuition  costing  $1.40  per  month.  Amount  levied  for  school  purposes 
$1189  12  ;  received  from  the  State  appropriation  $103  35. 

The  townsare  Cloakeyville  and  Williamsburg,  although  sometimes 
called  Martinsburg  The  former  is  situated  on  the  Williamsport  and 
Washington  turnpike,  six  miles  from  Washington,  and  the  latter  on 
the  national  road  two  miles  cast  of  the  borough  of  Washington. 
On  the  28th  of  February,  1863,  the  lines  between  Canton  and  South 
Strabane  were  confirmed  by  the  court. 

November  8th,  1857,  the  township  lines  between  Canton,  Chartiers, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  117 

and  South  Strabane  were  confirmed  by  the  court,  the  question  having 
been  referred  to  a  vote  of  the  people. 

Smith  Township. 

This  was  the  thirteenth,  or  last  township  organized  July  15,  1781, 
at  the  organization  of  Washington  County. 

The  original  boundaries  were  the  Ohio  River  on  the  north ;  Rob- 
inson and  Cecil  townships  on  the  east;  Hopewell  on  the  south,  and 
Virginia  on  the  west. 

On  the  5th  day  of  January,  1Y86,  an  application  was  made  to  the 
court  for  a  division,  which  being  sanctioned,  a  certificate  was  sent 
to  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  who,  on  the  11th  of  March,  1786, 
confirmed  the  decree  of  the  court,  and  Hanover  township  was  there- 
by erected.  October  7,  1830,  part  of  the  division  line  between  Hano- 
ver and  Smith  townships  was  confirmed  by  the  court. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  court,  held  in  1856,  the  boundary  lines 
between  Cross  Creek  and  Smith  were  changed  and  confirmed. 

Its  present  boundaries  are  Hanover  and  Robinson  townships  on 
the  north;  Robinson  and  Mount  Pleasant  on  the  east;  Cross  Creek 
and  Mount  Pleasant  on  the  south;  Jefferson,  Hanover,  and  Cross 
Creek  on  the  west.  Its  greatest  length  eight  miles ;  breadth  six 
miles.  It  is  centrally  situated  northwest  from  "Washington  borough 
sixteen  miles. 

It  is  drained  northwest  by  Racoon  Creek  and  its  branches.  Popu- 
lation in  1860,  1417,  of  whom  twenty-four  were  colored. 

It  contains  fourteen  stores,  ten  schools,  with  five  male  and  five  fe- 
male teachers,  the  former  receiving  $4 3.  .33  per  month  and  the  latter 
$33;  having  394  scholars,  of  whom  203  are  males  and  191  females; 
tuition  costing  per  month,  $1.33.  Amount  of  tax  levied  for  school 
purposes,  $2730;  received  from  the  State  appropriation  $131.04. 

The  Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  Railroad  passes  through  the  town- 
ship. 

The  towns  are  Burgettstown,  Bulger,  Bavington,  and  Whitetown 
coal  works. 

On  February  28,  1795,  George  Burgett  laid  out  Burgettstown  on 
the  south  fork  of  Racoon  Creek,  one  mile  north  of  the  centre  of  the 
township.  Then  it  was  called  West  Boston,  but  the  neighbors  de- 
siring to  honor  the  founder  of  their  village  called  it  Burgettstown. 

It  is  seventeen  miles  northwest  of  Washington,  and  on  account 
of  its  locality,  being  on  the  Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  Railroad, 
has  become  one  of  the  most  important  towns  of  our  county.  The 
Rev.  J.  T.  Fredericks  laid  out  an  addition  to  the  town  in  1865, 
whereon  is  the  railroad  station.  The  lots  are  selling  rapidly  and  the 
town  increasing  by  the  erection  of  good  and  substantial  buildings, 
and  an  energetic  and  thriving  community. 

Bulger  is  a  small  village  near  Bulger  station,  about  three  miles 
northwest  of  Burgettstown. 

Bavington  is  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  township,  and  White- 


118  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

town  coal  works  is  on  the  railroad,  and  laid  out  on  Mr.  Simpson's 
farm. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1810,  Captain  John  Bavington  of  this  town- 
ship attcmi)ted  to  cross  the  Ohio  River  at  Kelley's  Ferry  ou  a  flat- 
boat  (the  mouth  of  Harman's  Creek)  with  a  wagon  loaded  with 
whiskey  and  flour  and  four  liorses.  When  half  way  across,  by  the 
stamping  of  the  horses,  one  of  the  boards  became  loosened,  the  boat 
filled  with  water,  the  load  sank,  and  Capt.  Bavington  and  the  ferry- 
man were  drowned  When  the  bodies  were  found  Capt.  B  had  his  whip 
firmly  grasped  in  his  hand.  The  depth  of  the  Ohio  River  did  not 
cover  the  bows  of  his  wagon.  He  was  buried  at  the  cross  roads 
near  Florence. 

Presbyterian  Church. 

In  the  year  1845,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  Presbytery  of  Wash- 
ington, for  the  organization  of  a  church  at  Burgettstown,  which 
prayer  was  denied,  and  an  appeal  taken  to  the  Synod  of  Wheeling, 
who  granted  the  request  and  directed  the  Presbytery  to  organize 
the  church.  This  was  effected  October  18,  1849,  and  Reverend  Joel 
Stoncroad  was  elected  the  pastor.  In  October,  1850,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  James  P.  Fulton,  and  remained  its  pastor  until 
1857;  and  in  the  spring  of  1858  the  Rev.  James  T.  Frederick,  the 
present  pastor,  Avas  called,  and  ordained  in  October  following. 

In  1800  the  church  was  enlarged  and  refitted. 

There  are  two  United  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  township,  the 
former  in  Burgettstown.  It  was  organized  about  1809,  the  Rev.  W. 
C.  Brownlee,  D.  D.,  was  pastor  from  JNlay  3,  1809,  to  September  1, 
1812  ;  Rev.  Alexander  Donnan,  from  July  6,  1819,  to  May  12,  1840; 
Rev.  R.  J.  Hammond  from  1845  to  April  15,  1856;  Reverend  S.  H. 
Graham  is  the  present  pastor. 

It  has  a  membership  of  160. 

Centre  IT.  P.  Church  was  organized  in  1859.  Rev.  P.  8.  Kennedy 
has  been  its  pastor  from  September  4,  1802,  until  the  present  time, 
with  a  membership  of  150. 

There  was,  many  years  since,  on  the  farm  of  David  Leech,  Esq., 
on  the  road  leading  from  Hickory  to  Burgettstown,  about  half  way, 
a  United  Presbyterian  church  called  Mount  Vernon,  but  the  organi- 
zation docs  not  now  exist. 

Poets. 

Smith  township  has  the  honor  of  contributing  more  poetry  to  the 
intellectual  world  than  any  township  or  borough  in  the  county. 

Mr.  David  Bruce,  a  native  of  Scotland,  emigrated  to  America  in 
1784,  and  in  the  year  1794  he  settled  in  Burgettstown  as  a  merchant. 

In  his  leisure  moments  he  devoted  his  time  to  composing  poems, 
written  in  the  Scottish  dialect,  under  the  signature  of  the  Scots 
Irishman,  which  were  first  published  in  the  Western  Telegraph,  pub- 
lished in  Washington  by  John  Colerick,  who  afterwards  embodied 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  119 

them  into  a  valuable  work  on  account  of  their  merit.  In  these  poems 
Mr.  Bruce  displays  a  vivid  imagination,  and  both  wit  and  satire  are 
at  his  command,  while  patriotism  flows  in  gentle  and  harmonious 
strains. 

The  dedication  of  the  work  is  to  the  Hon.  Alexander  Addison, 
President  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  5th  district.  The 
concluding  verse  reads  thus  : — 

An'  when  your  enemies  hae  gaen 
To  that  black  hole  was  made  by  sin, 
May  ye  your  honorable  seat  maintain, 

Right  to  dispense, 
Wi'  mind  discriminating,  keen. 

An'  manly  sense. 

In  writing  of  Washington  retiring  from  public  life,  he  says : — 

His  parting  precepts  ever  dear, 
A  father's  love,  a  father's  care 

On  every  heart  impress; 
Illum'd  by  Wisdom's  purest  ray, 
Their  light  directs  the  surest  way 

To  peace  and  happiness. 

On  earth  will  future  bards  rehearse 

His  deeds  in  never-dying  verse, 

And  when  all  mortal  things  shall  cease, 

And  time  has  run  his  span; 
In  regions  of  eternal  spring, 
The  blest  their  heavenly  harps  will  string. 
And  to  seraphic  airs  will  sing 

The  friend  of  peace  and  man. 

In  the  year  1800  Mrs.  Sally  Hastings  removed  from  Donegal 
township,  Lancaster  County,  to  this  county,  and  composed  many 
fugitive  pieces  of  poetry,  which  she  afterwards  collected  into  a 
volume,  together  with  her  diary,  and  published  in  the  year  1808. 
Her  family  commenced  their  journey  on  Oct.  T,  1800,  in  the  mode 
then  used — a  wagon — to  travel  two  hundred  and  eighty  miles,  and, 
after  twenty-three  days'  journey,  arrived  in  Washington  County,  of 
which  she  says,  "  The  inhabitants  appear  to  be  a  sober,  rational,  and 
even  courteous  people,  who  prefer  convenience  to  parade,  and  par- 
take those  blessings  which  bounteous  Providence  allots  them,  with- 
out ambition,  envy,  or  stupidity."  On  October  31  the  family  left 
Canonsburg  for  their  new  home  in  Smith  township,  and  having 
arrived  on  the  land,  she  thus  writes,  "I  shall  take  a  seat  on  the 
trunk  of  a  tree,  while  the  men  are  cutting  a  road  to  the  house,  and 
endeavor  to  describe  the  spot  of  which  I  am  now  to  consider  myself 
an  inhabitant." 

Great  Nature,  in  her  loose  arrray, 

Derives  from  art  no  foreign  aid  ; 
The  lofty  oak,  the  spreading  bay, 

With  shade  still  deepening  into  shade. 


120  HISTORY    OP    AVASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

The  moss,  the  ivy,  and  the  vine 

Increase  the  awful  gloom  profound, 
"Whilst  bills  and  lonely  wilds  combine 

To  shed  fantastic  terrors  round. 

Time  would  fail  me  were  I  to  undertake  to  make  extracts  from 
this  volume  of  poems  written  by  SaPy  Hastings — one  must  suffice 
to  demonstrate  that  nature  forms  the  poet,  and  breathes  into  the  mind 
beautiful  ideas,  magnificent  conceptions,  and  eternal  thoughts. 

That  hand  that  wheels  the  spheres,  upon  the  tree 
Was  nail'd,  and  torn  and  crucified  for  me  1 
Here  let  eternal  wonders  ceaseless  rise  ! 
"J'he  creature  lives — the  Great  Creator  dies  ! ! 
And  dies  for  whom  ? — Oh,  wonder  ever  new  ! — 
My  guilty  soul,  your  Maker  dies  for  you  ! ! ! 
The  Lord  of  Life,  who  breath  and  being  gave, 
And  immortality  to  all  that  live, 
He  dies — how  can  He  die  ? — 'tis  wonder  new — 
Yet  in  His  hand  He  holds  death's  fatal  keys — 
Heaven,  earth,  and  hell  his  sov'reign  will  obeys, 

Somerset  Township 

Was  erected  into  a  township  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  and 
afterwards  confirmed  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  on  April 
3,  1782.  It  was  bounded  by  Strabane,  Peters,  and  Nottingham 
townships  on  the  north  ;  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east ;  Fal- 
lowfield  and  Bethlehem  on  the  south,  and  Amwell  and  Strabane  on 
the  west. 

Its  present  boundaries  are  North  Strabane  and  Nottingham  on 
the  north  ;  Fallowfield  and  "West  Pike  Run  on  the  oast  ;  AVest 
Bethlehem  and  "West  Pike  Run  on  the  south,  and  "West  Bethlehem 
and  S.  Strabane  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  "Washing- 
ton 12  miles.  Its  greatest  length  is  10  miles — breadth,  0  miles.  It 
is  drained  by  the  the  north  and  south  forks  of  Pigeon  Creek  on  the 
east,  and  by  branches  of  Little  Chartiers'  Creek  on  the  west. 

In  1860  its  population  was  1723,  of  which  62  were  colored.  The 
"Williainsport  and  "Washington  turnpike  runs  along  the  northern 
boundary.  It  contains  four  stores,  nine  schools,  with  six  male  and 
three  female  t(>aclu'rs,  the  former  receiving  $35  and  the  latter  $30  ; 
having  348  scholars  (180  male  and  168  female),  tuition  costing 
$1.14  per  month.  Amount  of  tax  levied  for  school  purposes,  $1347, 
and  receiving  from  the  State  appropriation  $11L93. 

The  towns  in  the  township  are  Bentleysmlle  and  Vanceville. 

The  BoROuaH  op  Bentleysville. 

This  town  was  laid  out  by  Shesbazzar  Bentley,  Jr.,  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1816,  on  the  waters  of  Pigeon  Creek.  It  is  25  miles  from 
Pittsburg,  '.)  miles  from  Monongahela  City,  10  miles  from  Browns- 
ville, and  15  miles  from  Washington.  Shortly  after  the  town  was 
laid  out  tiie  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  and  Baptist  families  united 


X 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  121 

and  erected  a  union  church,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  about  the 
year  1828. 

In  1848  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built,  in  which  Rev. 
J.  B.  Yarnall  officiates. 

On  May  2,  1868,  by  a  decree  of  the  court,  it  became  a  borough, 
and  contains  36  dwelling-houses,  3  stores,  1  school-house  with  two 
apartments,  a  literary  society,  2  grist  and  saw-mills,  1  steam  tan- 
nery, and  has  a  population  of  about  300. 

Vanceville  is  a  small  village,  having  about  twelve  houses,  and  is 
situated  on  the  south  branch  of  Pigeon  Creek. 

Pigeon  Creek  Presbyterian  Church, 

The  diary  of  the  Rev.  John  McMillan  throws  much,  light  upon 
the  early  history  of  this  church,  in  which  it  is  stated  : — 

1775,  the  fourth  Sabbath  of  August,  preached  at  John  McDowell's. 
Monday,  rode  about  six  miles  to  Patrick  McCullough's,  on  Pigeon 
Creek.  Tuesday,  preached  at  Arthur  Forbes's,  and  lodged  with 
Patrick  Scott.  Patrick  McCullough  lived  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  David  McNary,  Esq.,  and  Arthur  Forbes's  farm  is  the  property 
of  Frederick  Whitely,  and  Patrick  Scott's  residence  is  the  property 
of  Adam  and  Samuel  Wier.  The  sermon  alluded  to  was  the  first 
sermon  preached  within  the  bounds  of  the  Pigeon  Creek  congrega- 
tion, and  on  that  day  of  August,  1869,  the  congregation  celebrated 
its  centennial  anniversary. 

Rev.  John  McMillan  returned  to  his  father's  home,  at  Foggs' 
Manor,  in  October,  1775,  but  returned  and  preached  at  Pigeon 
Creek  on  the  4th  Sabbath  of  January,  1776,  and  on  the  following 
Sabbath  at  Chartiers.  He  returned  to  the  east  in  the  following 
March,  and  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  which  met 
at  Chambersburg,  June  19,  1776,  to  take  charge  of  Pigeon  Creek 
and  Chartiers  congregations,  having  received  a  call  from  these 
churches  April  23,  1776.  His  connection  with  Pigeon  Creek  church 
ceased  early  in  the  spring  of  1794,  and  the  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer  was 
called  to  its  pastorate  April  22,  1794,  and  served  until  1799.  Rev. 
Andrew  Gwin  was  installed  in  1800,  and  the  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved in  1817.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Andrew  Wylie,  D.  D., 
January  24,  1822,  and  ceased  to  act  in  September,  1829.  The  church 
had  no  regular  pastor  until  September  26,  1831,  when  Rev.  W.  C. 
Anderson  was  elected.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  April  17, 
1832,  and  served  until  July  15,  1836.  His  successor  was  Rev. 
Ebenezer  S.  Graham,  called  September  30,  1837,  and  installed  the 
following  month,  and  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  October, 
1842. 

The  congregation  did  not  elect  a  pastor  until  April  8,  1844,  when 

James  Sloan,  D.  D.,  was  elected,  and  he  was  subsequently  installed 

in  the  December  following.     The  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in 

October,    1862.      His  successor  was  Rev.  S.  M,  Henderson,  called 

9 


122  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

June  5,  1863,  ordained  and  installed  November  4,  1863,  and  pasto- 
ral relationship  closed  April  24,  1867.  The  present  efficient  and 
honored  pastor  is  the  Rev.  John  S.  Marquis,  who  was  called  March 
2,  1868,  and  installed  on  June  5,  1868.  As  a  successful  laborer  in 
his  Master's  cause,  for  humility  and  charity,  and  in  dispensing  gos- 
pel truth,  he  has  no  superior  in  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  To 
him  am  I  indebted  for  the  history  of  this  church,  which  was  planted 
in  the  wilderness  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  has  proven 
itself  a  fruitful  vine. 

Thejirst  Elders  of  the  church  were  Patrick  McCullough,  Patrick 
Scott,  Hugh  Cotton,  and  Hugh  Scott.  This  session  was  subse- 
quently increased  by  the  election  and  ordination  of  James  Smith, 
John  Hosack,  James  Kerr,  Joseph  Vaughn,  John  Stevenson,  Wil- 
liam Ferguson,  Robert  Moon,  and  John  Atkinson. 

July  17,  1836,  John  Vance,  Samuel  Gamble  Samuel  Ritchey,  Dr. 
Boyd  Emery,  William  Kerr,  and  David  Riddle,  Esqrs  ,  were  ordained. 

February  13,  1849,  Attdrew  Smith,  James  Vance,  John  Leyda,  Greer 
Mcllvaine,  and  John  Scott  were  elected,  and  ordained  April  8,  1849. 

March  3,  1856,  William  Smith,  William  Ramsey,  and  Edward 
Paden  were  elected,  and  ordained  elders  April  14,  1856. 

March  5,  1860,  Alexander  Hamilton,  Zechariah  Peese,  James 
Rankin,  and  John  C.  Messenger  were  elected  elders,  and  ordained 
April  8,  1860.  At  the  present  time  the  session  consists  of  Messrs. 
Greer  Mellvain,  William  Smith;  William  Ramsey,  Edward  Paden, 
Alexander  Hamilton,  Zechariah  Peese,  and  John  C.  Messenger. 

The  fust  Deacons  of  the  church  were  ordained  March  7,  1864, 
and  consisted  of  Messrs.  Isaac  V.  Riddle,  James  Jones,  William 
Barkley,  and  William  Davis.     This  church  has  306  communicants. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  iho  fird  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Red  Stone  was  held  in  this  church,  on  September  19,  1781,  the  fol- 
ing  ministers  being  present:  Rev.  John  McMillan,  Rev.  James 
Power,  and  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  with  Joseph  Neil,  Demas  Lind- 
ley,  and  Patrick  Scott  as  ruling  elders. 

The  fird  church  was  a  cabin  of  round  logs,  with  a  clap-board 
roof.  It  stood  within  the  present  graveyard,  and  was  neither 
chunked  nor  daubed  the  first  winter  after  its  erection. 

The  second  was  built  of  stone,  and  stood  in  the  graveyard.  The 
aisles  were  earthen,  with  a  floor  of  boards  under  the  pews.  Every 
family  had  a  pew  or  bench,  according  to  their  own  wishes,  hence 
there  was  a  great  variety  of  pews,  benches,  <fec. 

The  third,  building  was  en<cted  in  1829.  Proposals  having  been 
issued,  on  March  14,  for  a  brick  meeting-house,  56  by  70  feet  (15  feet 
to  the  s(iuare).  The  Building  Committee  or  the  trustees  were  John 
Atkinson,  Henry  Vance,  Samuel  Gaml)le,  and  W.  Paden. 

Sabbath  School. 
The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  1822.     Hon.  Joseph  Law- 
rence first  brought  the  subject  of  a  Sabbath  school  to  the  notice  of 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  123 

the  congregation,  John  C.  Messenger,  Esq.,  is  the  present  super- 
intendent, and  it  has  225  scholars. 

Other  Churches. 

A  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  built  in  1849,  on  the  road 
from  Hillsborough  to  Bentleysville.  •  It  is  a  neat  frame  building. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Yarnall  is  the  officiating  minister. 

Within  one  mile  of  Yanceville  is  a  Baptist  and  a  Disciple  church, 
on  the  road  from  Bentleysville  to  Washington.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Hardzoth  occupies  the  pulpit  of  the  latter  church,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Skinner  the  Baptist  pulpit. 

Pigeon  Greek  U.  P.  C/utrc/i  was  organized  in  1820.  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Wilson  was  pastor  from  its  organization  until  January  10th, 
1834;  Rev.  Bankhead  Boyd  from  September  24,  1834,  to  1860; 
Rev.  D.  S.  Littell  from  October  Itth,  1861,  to  the  present  time — 
with  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four. 

Greene  Township 

Was  erected  into  a  township  on  the  3d  of  April,  1782,  by  the  Court 
of  Quarter  Sessions  and  approved  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil. Its  boundaries  were  as  follows  :  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
Little  Whitely  Creek  and  running  therewith  to  the  dividing  ridge 
between  that  and  Big  Whitely  Creek;  thence  with  that  ridge  be- 
tween Big  Whitely  and  Muddy  Creek  to  Mason  and  Dixon's  line ; 
thence  to  the  Monongahela  River ;  thence  by  the  river  to  the  place 
of  beginning.  It  had  Cumberland  township  on  the  north  ;  the  Mo- 
nongahela River  on  the  east ;  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  on  the  south  ; 
Virginia  on  the  west.  By  the  act  of  February  9th,  1796,  this  town- 
ship, with  Cumberland,  Morgan,  Franklin,  and  Rich  Hill  townships, 
was  struck  off  from  Washington  County  to  form  Greene  County. 

Jarrett's  Fort  was  built  in  this  township. 

The  town  of  Greensburg,  Greene  township,  Washington  County 
(but  afterwards  Greene  County),  was  laid  out  by  Elias  Stone  on  the 
31st  day  of  May,  1791.  Greensburg  is  situated  on  the  Mononga- 
hela River,  on  a  part  of  a  tract  of  land  called  "Delight,"  patented 
to  Elias  Stone  and  Elizabeth  his  wife,  in  1787.  Each  lot  contains 
eighty-one  perches;  streets  forty  feet  wide.  Lot  number  sixty  was 
appropriated  for  public  use  and  at  the  discretion  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  town  contains  eighty  lots.  The  names  of  the  streets,  counting 
from  the  Monongahela  River,  were  Water,  Front,  Second,  Third,  and 
Fourth  streets.  Counting  from  the  eastern  side  of  the  town  were 
Diamond,  Stone,  Clear,  Walnut,  Minor's,  and  County  streets.  Lot 
number  sixty  was  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  County  streets. 

Dickinson  Township. 

The  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  made  application  to  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  to  organize  this  township,  and  on  September  ITth, 


124  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

1775,  by  its  action  ratified  the  application  of  the  court  with  the  fol- 
lowing boundaries — the  Monongahela  River  on  the  north  and  east ; 
Nottingham  and  Peters  on  the  south ;  Ilobinson  and  Cecil  on  the 
west. 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature  passed  September  24th,  1788,  Alle- 
gheny County  was  erected  into  a  county,  part  of  which  was  taken 
from  Washington  County.  The  proceedings  of  the  Supreme  Exe- 
cutive Council  of  September  30th,  1788,  says:  "Two  returns  from 
the  districts  of  the  townships  of  Cecil  and  Dickinson,  in  the  county 
of  Washington,  were  read  and  not  allowed,  as  the  whole  of  Dickin- 
son and  part  of  Cecil  district  has  been  struck  off  to  the  county  of 
Allegheny." 

Washington. 

The  town  of  Washington  originally  belonged  to  Strabane  town- 
ship, one  of  the  thirteen  original  townships  of  the  county,  erected 
in  July,  1781.  On  the  25th  of  September,  1785,  the  Court  of  Quar- 
ter Sessions,  upon  a  petition  of  the  citizens  requesting  to  be  formed 
into  a  separate  election  district,  indorsed  the  application,  and  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council  confirmed  the  proceedings  of  the  court 
on  the  6th  of  February,  1786.  From  its  being  originally  a  portion 
of  Strabane  township,  so  many  have  been  the  changes  that  its  present 
chartered  boundaries  are  Canton  and  South  Strabane  on  the  north. 
South  Strabane  on  the  east,  Franklin  and  South  Strabane  on  the  south, 
Canton  and  Franklin  on  the  west,  being  now  entirely  surrounded  by 
new  townships. 

The  original  name  of  this  town  was  Bassett,  which  was  laid  out 
by  David  Hoge,  Esq.,  of  Cumberland  County,  the  survey  being  made 
by  David  Roddick,  Deputy  Surveyor,  October  13,  1781.  Another 
plot  states  that  a  true  copy  of  the  plan  remains  in  the  hands  of 
John  Lukens,  Surveyor  General,  which  was  made  November  4, 
1784,  by  Edward  Lynch,  Deputy  Surveyor.  This  second  plot  was 
made  prior  to  the  sale  of  David  Hoge  to  his  sons  John  and  William. 
On  the  18th  of  October,  1781  (five  days  after  the  town  was  laid  out), 
David  Hoge,  Esq.,  the  proprietor,  conveyed  to  James  Edgar,  Hugh 
Scott,  Van  Swearingen,  Daniel  Lect,  and  John  Armstrong,  as  trus- 
tees of  Washington  County,  a  lot  for  a  court  house  and  prison, 
in  the  town  of  Bassett,  containing  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  square, 
being  bounded  by  Monongahela  (now  Market)  Street  on  the  east, 
Ohio  (now  Beau)  Street  on  the  north,  lot  No.  123  on  the  west,  and 
Johnston's  (now  Cherry)  Alley  on  the  south. 

The  name  of  the  town  was  permanently  changed  to  Washington 
on  the  4th  of  November,  1784,  the  date  at  which  the  second  plot 
was  made,  although  we  have  tlie  evidence  of  receipts  for  lots  being 
given  by  the  proprietor  in  October,  1781.  both  as  Basscttown  and 
Washington,  for  in  the  deed  of  David  Hoge  to  John  and  William 
Hoge,  of  November  7,  1785,  it  is  stated  that  the  said  David  con- 
veys to  his  sons,  John  and  William,  a  tract  of  land  in  Washington 


HISTOHY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  125 

County,  on  the  waters  of  Chartiers'  Creek,  and  known  by  the  name 
of  Caffishes  Gamp,  containing  eight  hundred  acres,  which  was  to 
include  the  town  of  Washington,  excepting  the  southwest  fourth 
of  said  town,  which  said  David  reserved  for  himself.  Subsequently, 
however,  on  the  10th  of  March,  1787,  he  also  conveyed  the  remain- 
ing southwest  fourth  of  the  town  to  his  sons,  John  and  William. 
This  deed  also  mentions  the  fact  of  the  name  of  the  streets  being 
changed,  based  upon  the  second  plot  of  1784. 

The  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  March  28,  1781,  directs  the 
electors  to  meet  at  the  house  of  David  Hoge  at  the  place  called 
Catfishes  Camp,  to  hold  their  elections  and  courts  until  a  court 
bouse  shall  be  built. 

To  understand  the  Hoge  purchase,  we  will  state  that  there  were 
three  tracts  of  land  originally  surveyed  and  purchased  by  David 
Hoge,  as  follows :  One  from  Martha  Hunter,  dated  November  4, 
1769,  containing  three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  acres  and  sixty-nine 
perches,  and  called  "Martha's  Bottom."  The  second  was  pur- 
chased from  Joseph  Hunter,  November  11,  1769,  containing  three 
hundred  and  thirty-one  acres  and  twenty-one  perches,  called  "  Grand 
Cairo,"  and  the  third  from  Abraham  Hunter,  surveyed  and  pur- 
chased November  11,  1769,  containing  three  hundred  and  thirty-one 
acres  and  twenty-one  perches,  called  "  Catfishes  Camp." 

The  town  of  Bassett  was  laid  out  on  a  portion  of  the  two  tracts 
of  land  known  by  the  name  of  Grand  Cairo  and  Catfishes  Camp, 
but  most  generally  known  by  the  latter  name.  It  was  laid  out  by 
David  Reddick,  Esq.,  at  the  request  of  David  Hoge,  Esq.,  on  Octo- 
ber 18,  1781;  it  then  embraced  all  the  lots  within  Walnut  Street 
on  the  north,  College  Street  on  the  east,  Maiden  Street  on  the  south, 
and  West  Alley  on  the  west,  containing  two  hundred  and  ninety-one 
lots. 

Upon  the  plot  of  the  town  of  Bassett  are  the  following  memo- 
randa :  Lots  marked  A  for  a  court-house  and  prison.  This  is 
the  same  public  square  now  occupied  with  a  court  house,  prison, 
&c.  &c.  Lots  B,  C,  D  were  reserved  by  Mr.  Hoge.  B  included 
the  lots  from  Pine  Alley,  the  residence  of  the  late  John  L.  Gow, 
deceased,  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  Ohio  (Beau)  streets,  the  resi- 
dence of  William  Smith,  Esq.  C  included  the  lots  from  the  Fulton 
House,  owned  by  Messrs.  Little  and  Melvin,  to  Johnston's  (now 
Cherry)  Alley,  or  the  house  occupied  by  Alexander  Murdoch,  Esq. 
D  all  the  lots  from  Pine  Alley,  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  William 
L.  Oliver,  deceased,  to  the  corner  of  Main  and  Ohio  {now  Beau) 
streets,  or  the  iron  hall  front,  owned  by  William  Smith,  Esq.  The 
plot  also  states  that  the  two  principal  streets,  viz.,  Monongahela 
(Main)  Street  and  Ohio  (Beau)  Street,  are  sixty-six  feet  wide.  The 
lots  are  sixty  feet  front  by  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  deep.  B,  C, 
D  were  each  divided  into  six  lots  of  forty  feet  front  and  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  deep.  Lot  171,  on  the  corner  of  Race  and  Char- 
tiers  streets  (now  Chestnut  and  Second),  and  at  present  owned  by 


126  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Mrs.  E.  H.  Turner,  was  given  gratis  for  a  place  of  public  worship, 
while  lot  172,  directly  opposite  and  owned  by  William  H.  Taylor, 
was  appropriated  for  a  school-house.  Lot  43  was  presented  to 
General  Washington.  This  lot  is  on  the  corner  of  Ga}'  and  Char- 
tiers  (now  Belle  and  Second)  streets,  and  with  the  adjoining  lot,  42, 
is  owned  by  the  First  Presbyterian  church.  This  lot  was  the  site  of 
the  old  red  school-house,  in  which  many  of  our  citizens  were  edu- 
cated under  George  K.  Scott,  deceased,  while  lot  102,  which  was 
presented  at  the  same  time  and  occupying  the  opposite  corner, 
being  the  southwest  corner  of  the  college  square,  is  owned  by  David 
S.  AVilson,  Esq. 

The  plot  of  Bassett  has  marked  upon  it  three  springs,  designated 
by  the  letters  a,  b,  c.  a  is  a  spring  given  for  the  use  of  the  town  ; 
b  and  c  are  springs.  Where  the  spring  run  is  parted,  the  water  sinks 
under  ground.  One  of  these  springs  is  on  the  corner  lot  owned  by 
Jacob  Koechline,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Maiden  streets,  and  in 
the  cellar  of  his  brick  house.  The  other  two  springs  are  on  the 
property  of  Wm.  Huston,  the  adjoining  lot,  south  of  Mr.  Koechline's. 

In  the  year ,  when  Judge  Baird  erected  his  steam  mill  at  the 

foot  of  Main  Street,  the  water  for  running  the  mill  was  conveyed  by 
wooden  pipes  from  this  spring,  and  several  of  the  lot  owners  through 
which  it  passed  had  fountain  pumps  connected  with  these  pipes. 
Catfishes  Camp  is  marked  upon  it,  near  the  spring  on  the  property 
of  Patrick  Bryson,  deceased. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  memoranda,  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  plot  and  outside  of  the  limits  of  the  town  of  Bassett,  is  the 
letter  a  and  the  words,  "  Great  plain  given  by  Mr.  Hoge  for  a  com- 
mon, about  seventy  or  eighty  acres."  In  an  examination  of  the 
minutes  of  the  Town  Council  of  June  6,  1811,  is  the  following 
record  : — 

Whereas,  A  portion  of  the  ground  heretofore  considered  as  a 
common  has  been  sold  and  is  about  to  be  improved,  to  the  prejudice 
of  the  rights  of  the  borough  and  to  the  serious  injury  of  several  of 
the  inhabitants,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  call  on  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  town  and  the  surviving  commissioners  who  negotiated 
with  Mr.  David  Hoge,  the  original  proprietor,  and  obtain  such  infor- 
mation respecting  the  claims  of  the  borough  to  said  ])roperty  as 
may  be  procured.  Messrs.  Alexander  Reed,  John  Wilson,  and 
Robert  Anderson  were  appointed  the  committee.  The  burgesses 
were  also  instructed  to  give  notice  to  all  persons  who  are  or  may 
attempt  building,  inclosing,  or  improving,  in  or  on  the  reputed  com- 
mons or  property  of  the  borough,  to  desist  therefrom.  The  minutes 
of  the  Council  do  not  show  that  the  Committee  ever  reported. 

David  Iloge  having  sold  all  his  interest  to  his  sons,  they  extended 
the  original  limits  of  Bassett  by  adding  thereto  on  the  east  of  Col- 
lege Street  to  the  alley,  called  Brewery  Alley,  commencing  at  the 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  12t 

eastern  end  of  Maiden  Street  and  running  to  Walnut  Street.  Also 
adding  on  the  south,  from  Maiden  Street  to  Hazel  Alley,  forty  build- 
ing lots  and  many  outlots. 

A  small  stream  running  through  the  southern  and  western  part  of 
Washington  bears  the  name  of  Catfish  Run.  It  will  also  be  re- 
membered that  the  tract  of  land  purchased  from  Abi-aham  Hunter 
was  called  Catfishes  Camp,  and  before  even  Bassett  was  laid  out  the 
few  hamlets  which  occupied  the  southern  part  of  Washington  were 
called  Catfish.  The  stream,  the  land,  and  the  town  all  derived  their 
name  from  a  celebrated  Indian  Chief,  whose  Indian  name  was  Tin- 
goocqua  or  Catfish,  who  belonged  to  the  Kuskuskee  tribe  of  In- 
dians, and  occupied  the  hunting  grounds  between  the  Allegheny 
Mountains  and  the  Ohio  River. 

In  the  records  of  the  Provincial  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  we  find 
him  participating  in  a  conference  meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  Dec. 
4th,  1759,  at  which  Governor  Hamilton  and  his  council  with  chiefs 
from  the  Wyoming,  Delaware,  and  Kuskuskee  Indians  were  present. 
At  this  council  the  Indian  chief  Catfish  made  the  following  speech, 
after  taking  four  strings  of  wampum  and  holding  two  of  them  sepa- 
rate in  his  fingers,  thus  spoke  : — 

I  have  not  much  to  say;  I  am  only  a  messenger.  I  came  from  the  Kns- 
kuskees.  The  nation  that  I  belong  to  as  well  as  many  others  to  the  west  of 
us,  as  far  as  the  setting  of  the  sun,  have  heard  that  you  and  Teedyuscung 
(Chief  of  the  Delawares)  sat  often  together  in  council  and  at  length  agreed 
npon  a  peace,  and  we  are  glad  to  hear  that  the  friendship  and  harmony, 
which  of  old  always  subsisted  between  our  and  your  ancestors,  was  raised 
up  again  and  established  once  more.  This  was  very  agreeable  to  us,  and  we 
came  here  to  see  if  what  was  related  was  true,  and  we  find  it  is  true,  which 
gives  us  great  satisfaction.  \_Then  taking  hold  of  the  other  two  strings  he 
proceeded.^ 

Brother.  Now  that  Teedyuscung  and  yon  have,  through  the  goodness  of 
Providence,  brought  about  a  peace,  we  entreat  you  to  be  strong  ;  don't  let 
it  slip  ;  don't  omit  anything  to  render  it  quite  secure  and  lasting  ;  hold  it 
fast ;  consider  our  aged  men  and  our  young  children,  and  for  their  sakes  be 
strong,  and  never  rest  till  it  be  thoroughly  confirmed.  All  the  Indians  at 
Allegheny  desire  you  to  do  so,  and  they  will  do  all  they  can  likewise.  [Gave 
a  string  of  wampum.^ 

Brother.  We  make  eleven  nations  on  the  west  of  the  Allegheny  who  have 
heard  what  you  and  'I'eedyuscung  have  concluded  at  the  treaty  of  Easton 
(in  1758),  and  as  we  all  heartily  agreed  to  it  and  are  determined  to  join  in 
it,  we  have  opened  a  road  to  where  Teedyuscung  lives,  and  we  the  messen- 
gers, have  travelled  much  to  our  satisfaction  on  the  road  which  he  has  made 
from  his  habitation  to  this  town  (Philadelphia).  We  have  found  it  a  very 
good  road,  and  ail  our  nations  will  use  this  road  for  the  time  to  come.  We 
say  nothing  of  the  Si.x  Nations.  We  do  not  reckon  them  among  the  eleven 
nations.  We  leave  you  to  treat  with  them  yourselves,  we  make  no  road  for 
them.  This  is  your  own  affair.  We  only  tell  you  we  do  not  include  them 
in  anything  we  say.     I  have  done.     [Gave  four  strings  of  wampum.^ 

At  what  period  Catfish  settled  in  this  part  of  the  country  tradition 
gives  us  no  account.  We  know,  however,  from  our  aged  citizen.  Col. 
George  Kuntz,  whose  father  removed  from  the  east  to  Washington 


128  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

in  1788,  that  he  knew  the  old  chief  when  he  had  a  camp  in  the  rear 
of  the  lot  on  wliicli  William  lluston's  inn  now  stands,  near  the  three 
springs  (which  I  have  spoken  of  as  being  designated  on  the  plan  of 
Bassettown).  Afterwards  he  moved  his  camp  near  to  the  spring  now 
caUed  Patrick  Bryson's  spring ;  from  thence  he  removed  his  camp  to 
Shirl's  woods  ;  from  thence  he  went  to  Ohio  and  died. 

Local  tradition  has  falsely  placed  his  tomb  in  the  graveyard  at 
Washington,  Pa.,  marked  by  a  large  unhewn  stone ;  but  such  is  not 
the  fact.  This  stone  was  procured  by  Alexander  Lytle,  Esq.,  de- 
ceased, on  the  Williamsport  road,  and  had  it  placed  at  the  grave  of 
his  wife.  Ilis  daughter  Harrier,  on  her  death-bed,  requested  that  the 
bodies  of  her  father,  and  mother,  and  family,  with  the  same  stone,  be 
taken  to  the  cemetery.  The  circumstance,  however,  gave  rise  to  a 
few  verses,  written  by  a  young  man  named  Hiram  Kaine,  Esq.,  a 
})rinter  by  profession,  yet  unassuming  as  a  poet.  To  preserve  his 
memory,  therefore,  who  composed  these  verses,  and  who  in  his  own 
language  desired  not  to  obtain  popularity  in  the  drawing-rooms  of 
the  wealthy,  but  in  the  workshops  and  homesteads  of  his  native 
place,  was  the  reason  why  he  tuned  his  rude  unlettered  harp. 

The  Grave  of  Catfish, 

1.  A  fitting  monument  was  that 

For  one  so  proud  and  stern — 
More  striking  than  a  marble  bust 
Or  consecrated  urn  ! 

2.  Unbending  as  that  massive  rock, 

You  braved  the  battle  storm. 
And  reared  amidst  its  fiercest  shock 
Thy  dark,  majestic  form. 

3.  Thou  needst  not  fear  the  pale  face  race, 

Who  slumber  by  thy  side  ; 
They  cannot  tear  the  home  from  thee, 
Which  living  they  denied. 

4.  The  unlettered  stone  above  thy  head 

Is  not  more  still  than  they, 

The  marble  not  more  motionless 

That  tells  us  where  they  lay. 

5.  The  rank  green  grass  is  twining, 

Its  wreath  above  thy  head. 
As  it  ever  richly  twineth 

Bound  dwellings  of  the  dead, 

6.  Oh  !  does  thy  spirit  ever  come. 

To  gaze  upon  this  mound, 
And  tread  upon  the  springing  grass 
Above  the  hallowed  ground  ? 

7.  Dost  ever  wander  o'er  the  hills 

Where  once  thy  tribe  did  roam, 
And  curse  the  race  wlio  on  tlieir  graves 
Have  built  themselves  a  home? 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  129 

8.  Thou  hearest  not,  dark  Chieftain — 

Thy  funeral  song'  is  sung, 
Tbe  emblems  of  thy  power  have  flown, 
Thy  last  war-whoop  hath  rung. 

9.  But  yet  thy  name,  hy  kindred  ghosts, 

Is  heard  by  yonder  rill, 
As  comes  its  murmuring  midnight  chime 
In  echoes  from  the  hill. 

When  Bassettown  was  laid  out,  David  Hoge,  in  October,  1181, 
issued  tickets  to  purchasers  of  lots  in  these  words  : — 

No.  15.  Basseftotvn,  October,  1781. 

This  will  entitle  Charles  Dodd  to  receive  a  sufficient  title,  subject  to  one 
dollar  a  year  in  specie,  for  a  lot  marked  in  the  original  plan  of  said  town,  58, 
provided  there  shall  be  erected  thereon,  on  or  before  the  thirtieth  day  of 
October,  1784,  a  house  eighteen  feet  square  at  least,  with  a  stone  or  brick 
chimney  therein.  David  Hoge. 

On  the  21st  of  July,  1784,  this  lot,  with  the  house,  was  sold  to 
John  Dodd,  for  £300  Pennsylvania  currency.  It  is  situated  on 
Main  Street  and  the  corner  of  Strawberry  Alley,  now  owned  by  Jas. 
G.  Strean,  upon  which  is  erected  a  three-story  house,  iron  front,  oc- 
cupied by  Mr.  Robert  F.  Strean's  hardware  store  and  the  Reporter 
printing  office. 

William  Darby,  Esq.,  in  the  year  1845,  and  then  in  the  71st 
year  of  his  age,  in  speaking  of  Bassettown  (now  Washington), 
said:  In  the  fall  of  1782,  the  site  where  Washington  now  stands 
was  a  vast  thicket  of  black  and  red  hawthorn,  wild  plums,  hazel 
bushes,  shrub  oaks,  and  briers ;  often  I  have  picked  hazel-nuts  where 
the  court-house  now  stands.  The  yell  of  the  savage  rung  in  fancy's 
ear  and  alas  too  often  in  the  heart  of  the  dying  victim.  The  whole 
country  was  a  dense  forest,  only  broken  by  small  patches,  with  dead 
trees,  made  so  by  the  axe  of  the  early  pioneer. 

Bassettown,  under  the  proprietorship  of  David  Hoge,  improved 
but  slowly,  there  being  but  two  deeds  on  record  prior  to  its  sale  in 
1785,  one  to  James  Marshall,  February  8,  1785,  and  the  other  to 
Charles  Dodd,  July  21,  1784.  After  John  and  William  Hoge  had 
purchased  the  town,  and  added  the  addition  thereto  of  all  the  lots 
south  of  Maiden  Street,  and  divided  the  land  into  outlets,  a  new  im- 
petus was  given  to  the  town,  and  lots  sold  rapidly  and  houses  were 
speedily  erected  thereon. 

In  this  connection,  we  may  add  that  Robert  Fulton,  of  steamboat 
notoriety,  held  three  lots  in  Washington.  While  sojourning  in  Lon- 
don, in  1793,  he  directed  Mr.  Hoge  to  make  deeds  of  these  three  lots 
to  his  three  sisters,  Mrs.  David  Morris  (  No.  4),  Mrs.  Isabella  Cook 
(No.  118),  Mrs.  Peggy  Scott  (No.  125). 

In  looking  over  the  original  lot-holders,  and  up  to  the  date  of  in- 
corporation, we  find  the  names  of  John,  William,  and  David  Hoge, 
Dr.  Moore,  William  Horton,  James  Marshall,  Charles  and  John  Dodd, 


130  HISTOKY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Absalom  Baird,  S.  Darley,  Anthony  Horseman,  J.  Lochman,  Jos. 
Harris,  Rev.  Jobn  Casper  Sinclair,  Thomas  and  David  Acheson, 
Van  Swearingen,  D.  G.  Mitchell,  Leonard  Boyer,  Thomas  Hutchin- 
son', D.  Moody,  Mary  Miller,  Philip  Milsach,  Thomas  Stokcly,  Hugh 
Mears,  ^largaret  Scott  (sister  of  Robert  Fulton),  D.  Blackmore, 
Hugh  AVorkman,  Edward  Lynch,  "Wm.  Findley,  Alexander  Addison, 
M.  Collins,  Thomas  Bristor,  John  Standley,  T.  Woodward,  Reasin 
Beall,  Robert  Fulton,  David  Morris,  Archibald  -Kerr,  John  Wilson, 
Alexander  Reed,  John  Flake,  Daniel  Moore,  James  Goudy,  James 
White,  James  Gilmore,  Isabella  Cooke  (sister  of  Robert  Fulton), 
James  W.  McBeth,  Stephen  Way,  Matthew  Ritchie,  Hugh  Wiley, 
Robert  Hazlett,  James  Ross,  William  Meetkirke,  Daniel  Kehr,  Abra- 
ham Lattimore,  Joseph  Seaman,  James  Orr,  J.  Purviance,  Gabriel 
Brakeny,  Stephen  Wood,  Hugh  and  Samuel  Workmen,  Patrick  Bry- 
son,  Daniel  and  Jonathan  Leet. 

But  what  changes  have  been  wrought  since  !  The  town  from  several 
hundred  inhabitants  has  increased  to  many  thousand,  its  manufactur- 
ing, commercial,  educational,  moral,  and  religious  interests  have  all 
been  largely  developed.  The  second  generation  of  these  pioneers  have 
also  been  gathered  to  their  fathers,  and  while  the  old  landmarks  re- 
main to  point  out  their  homes,  where  brotherly  love,  truth,  and 
friendship  reigned  supreme,  the  graveyard  and  the  cemetery  point 
to  their  sacred  ashes.  Amid  the  multiplicity  of  changes,  we  find 
the  original  property  only  remain  in  the  descendants  of  John  Wilson, 
Alexander  Reed,  David  Acheson,  and  Patrick  Bryson. 

The  citizens  of  Washington  knew  that  their  town  was  inferior  to 
but  few  of  the  towns  of  Pennsylvania,  but  that  it  was  destitute  of 
many  useful  improvements,  which  could  not  be  accomplished  without 
being  incorporated  as  a  borough.  Their  streets  were  not  regulated, 
and,  during  some  of  the  winter  months,  not  being  piked,  were  almost 
imyassal)le;  the  sideways  were  not  paved,  neither  was  there  public 
spirit  enough  to  purchase  afire-engine  to  make  provision  against ^i>e. 
In  the  midst  of  these  discouragements  and  difficulties,  a  town  meeting 
was  called  on  February  6,  1795,  to  consider  the  necessity  of  petition- 
ing the  legislature  for  an  act  of  incorporation.  The  people  met  and 
discussed  the  question,  but  the  principal  objection  was  that  the  taxes 
would  be  greatly  increased,  and  that  a  few  men  would  have  the  control 
and  direction  of  the  borough  affairs.  These  sentiments  prevailed,  and 
the  question  was  ventilated  through  the  Weste7'7i  Telegraph,  then 
published  at  Washington.  A  writer,  who  signs  himself  "  Tom  Stick 
in  the  Mud,''  thus  sarcastically^  writes  upon  the  subject :  "  For  my  part 
I've  lived  all  my  born  days,  and  my  posterity  before  me  and  my^  child- 
ren after  me,  up  to  the  eyes  in  mud  and  never  a  bit  the  worse  for  it, 
and  I  can't  see  why  other  people  should  think  themselves  better  stuff 
than  we.  I  loves  fun,  and,  at  our  end  of  the  town,  it  would  some- 
times make  you  die  with  laughing  to  see  your  calico-carcassed,  spin- 
dle-shanked f(jlks  sticking  fast  in  a  crossing-place  and  leaving  their 
shoes  behind  them." 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  131 

"A  Bachelor,"  in  answering  tne  foregoing  communication,  gives 
one  reason  wliy  the  town  should  be  incorporated,  in  these  words  : 
"  It  wouhl  prevent  emigrants  and  strangers  from  giving  as  accurate 
a  description  of  the  ladies' ankles  as  I  myself  can  do.  I  can  tell  any 
of  them  whether  they  are  flat-footed,  beef-shanked,  knock-kneed,  or 
whether  either  of  them  or  not.  Oh  1  how  I  have  shaken  my  sides 
to  see  them  straddling  through  the  mud  up  street  to  a  tea  drinking. 
I  hope,  therefore,  that  the  people  will  see  that  a  corporation  is  abso- 
lutely necessary."  Notwithstanding  this  newspaper  description,  the 
town,  however,  was  not  incorporated  until  the  13th  day  of  February, 
1810. 

The  act  of  incorporation  defines  its  boundaries  as  follows  : — 

"  Beginning  at  a  post  on  the  land  of  James  Ashbrook ;  thence  by  land 
of  Robert  Anderson,  Thomas  Officer,  and  others,  south  seventy-seven  de-' 
grees  west  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  and  one-half  perches  to  a  post; 
thence  by  land  of  Thomas  Jones,  William  Hoge,  and  others,  south  fourteen 
and  three-fourth  degrees  east  one  hundred  perches  to  a  post;  thence  by 
land  of  James  Ashbrook,  William  Sherrard,  and  others,  south  thirteen  de- 
grees east  sixty-three  and  one-half  perches  to  a  post ;  thence  by  land  of 
John  Hoge,  south  fifty-one  and  one-half  degrees  east  twenty-nine  perches 
to  a-  post ;  thence  by  land  late  of  John  Simonson,  Hugh  Workmen,  and 
others,  north  seventy-seven  degrees  east  one  hundred  and  twenty  perches 
to  a  post ;  thence  by  land  of  Thomas  McFadden,  Daniel  Kehr,  and  others, 
north,  four  and  one-half  degrees  west  eightj'-four  perches  to  a  post;  thence 
by  land  of  Robert  Hazlett,  Isaiah  Steen,  and  others,  north  ten  degrees  west 
one  hundred  and  two  perches  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

This  act  gives  them  authority  to  elect  officers,  make  and  enforce 
laws,  hold  property,  and  perform  such  acts  as  are  usual  to  corporate 
boroughs. 

On  the  2'7th  of  March,  1852,  the  borough  authorities  were  in- 
structed to  apply  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for  the  admission 
of  the  borough  of  Washington  to  the  benefits  and  privileges  of  a 
charter  under  the  act  of  Assembly  of  the  3d  of  April,  1851,  which 
was  subsequently  confirmed  by  the  court  on  the  18th  of  May,  1852. 

This  general  act  provides,  in  Section  30,  for  the  enlargement  of 
borough  limits,  by  not  less  than  twenty  of  the  freeholder  owners  of 
lots  petitioning  the  council,  and  they  declaring  by  ordinance  that  the 
limits  have  been  enlarged. 

June  10th,  1854,  and  6th  of  January,  1855,  the  borough  limits 
were  extended  to  the  present  lines.  At  the  May  term  in  1855,  the 
borough  was  divided  into  two  wards  by  Main  Street,  named  respec- 
tively the  East  and  West  Wards. 

With  these  preliminary  remarks,  we  may  now  state  that  the 
borough  of  Washington  is  situated  near  the  centre  of  Washington 
County,  on  the  National  road,  twenty-four  miles  from  Brownsville 
and  thirty-two  miles  from  Wheeling;  twenty-seven  miles  from  Pitts- 
burg and  twenty-two  miles  from  Monongahela  City.  Its  population 
in  1860  was  358T  (but  in  1870  about  4500).     Its  situation  is  salu- 


132 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


brious,  and  from  its  position  locally  adapted  to  become  a  manufac- 
turing centre.  Bituminous  coal  underlies  the  town  and  valley,  while 
a  railroad  of  seven  miles  would  not  only  add  Canonsbnrg  to  Wash- 
ington, but  develop  for  manufacturing  purposes  all  the  coal  which 
exists  on  Chartiers'  Creek. 

The  streets  are  rectangular,  and  are  all  sixty  feet  wide  except  Main 
and  Beau  streets,  which  are  sixty-six  feet  wide. 

Before  entering  upon  a  history  of  the  public  buildings  we  shall 
give  a  list  of  the  burgesses  and  town  council,  treasurers  and  town 
clerks,  since  the  date  of  its  charter  to  the  present  time — I  have  there- 
fore prepared  them  from  the  official  record  for  future  reference, 
knowing  that  our  borough  history  would  be  incomplete  and  imper- 
fect without  such  a  record. 


BURGESSES. 

24.- 
25.- 
26.- 
27.- 


1.— 1810.  Alexander  Reed, 

John  Wilson. 
2.— 1811.  Ee-elected. 
3. — 1812.  David  Alorris, 

Thomas  Officer 
4.-1813.  Re-elected. 
5. — 1814.  Daniel  Moore, 

James  Orr. 
6.— 1815.  David  Shields,  28. 

John  Wilson.  29. 

7. — 1816.  Alexander  Murdoch, 

Alexander  Reed.  30. 

8.— 1817.  John  Wilson, 

David  Morris,  31. 

9. — 1818.  James  Blaine, 

James  Shannon.  32.' 

10.— 1819.  James  Blaine, 

John  Gregg.  33. 

11.-1820.  Re-elected.  34. 

12.— 1821.  Re-elected. 
13.— 1822.  Re-elected.  35. 

14.-1823.  James  Orr, 

James  Ruple,  36.- 

15.-1824.  James  Ruple, 

Daniel  Moore.  37. 

16.-1825.  Re-elected. 
17.— 1826.  Hugh  Workman,  38. 

James  Orr. 
18.— 1827.  Re-elected.  39. 

19.-1828.  Re-elected. 
20.-1829.  James  Orr,  40. 

John  Kuntz. 
21.-1830.  Re-elected.  41. 

22.— 1831.  George  Kuntz, 

James  Orr.  42. 

23.— 1832.  John  S.  Brady, 
John  Wilson. 


-1833    Archibald  Kerr, 

John  Wilson. 
-1834.  James  Orr, 

John  S.  Brady. 
-1835.  Archibald  Kerr, 

James  Ruple. 
-1836.  John  R.  Griffith, 

James  Ruple. 
-1837.  Re-elected. 
-1838.  John  L.  Gow, 

James  Ruple. 
-1839.  James  Blaine, 

John  R.  Griffith. 
-1840.  Robert  Officer, 

John  S.  Brady. 
-1841.  Robert  Officer, 

George  W.  Brice. 
-1842.  Re-elected. 
-1843.  Robert  Officer, 

Thomas  McGiffin. 
-1844.  Isaac  Leet, 

James  Langley 
-1845.  Mathew  Griffin, 

Sample  Sweeney. 
-1846.  L.  P.  Hitchcock, 

John  L.  Gow. 
-1847.  William  McKennan, 

Alexander  Murdoch. 
-1848.  James  Ruple, 

James  liangley. 
-1849.  Collin  M.  Reed, 

Alfred  Creigh. 
-1850.  William  Hopkins, 

Collin  M.  Reed. 
-1851.  Alex.  W.  Acheson, 

Peter  Reimund. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


133 


43.— 1852. 

44.-1853. 

45.— 1854. 

46.— 1855. 

47.— 1856. 

48.— 1857. 

49.-1858. 

50.-1859. 
51.-1860. 

52.— 1861. 

53.— 1862. 
54.-1863. 


Alex.  W.  Acheson, 
Hufj^h  VV.  Reynolds. 
William  Workman, 
Charles  W.  Hays. 
Charles  W.  Hays, 
James  Sprisrgs. 
Alexandel  Murdoch, 
Samuel  Cunningham. 
Jacob  Slagle, 
James  Brown. 
James  B.  Ruple, 
William  Hopkins. 
James  W.  Kuntz, 
James  Rush. 
Re-elected. 
James  W  Kuntz, 
Thomas  J.  Walker. 
James  AV.  Kuntz, 
James  Rush. 
Re-elected. 
James  W.  Kuntz, 
Alfred  Creigh. 


55.-1864.  Andrew  Brady, 

James  Rush. 
66.— 1865.  Re-elected. 
57.-1866.  Charles  Hayes, 

William  Smith. 
58.-1867.  H.  J.  Vankirk, 

John  Hoon. 
59.-1868.  John  D.  Boyle, 

John  McElroy. 
60.— 1869.  John  D.  Boyle, 

J.  Y.  Hamilton. 

Municipal  elections  changed  by  the  legis- 
lature March  16,  1869,  and  directed  to  be 
held  in  October  of  each  year.  In  Wash- 
ington borough  the  burgess  and  two  coun- 
cilmen  were  directed  to  be  elected,  and 
the  subsequent  year  the  assistant  burgess 
and  three  councilmen — these  officers  to 
continue  in  office  two  years. 

61.-1869.  John  D.  Boyle, 

Theodore  f!  Slater. 


TOWN  COUNCIL. 

1. — 1810.  Hugh  Wilson,  Thomas  Acheson,  Hugh  Workman,  Robert  An- 
derson, and  Parker  Campbell. 
2.-1811.  Re-elected. 
3.— 1812.  John  Scott,  Matthew  Dill,  Hugh  Workman,  Parker  Campbell, 

and  Thomas  McGifiin. 
4. — 1813.  Thomas  McGiffin,  Parker  Campbell,  Daniel  Moore,  James  Orr, 

and  Hugh  Workman. 
5. — 1814.  Parker   Campbell,   Thomas  Officer,   Thomas   McGiffin,    Hugh 

Workman,  and  David  Morris. 
6. — 1815.  James  Orr,  Parker  Campbell,  Hugh  Workman,  Thomas  McGif- 
fin, and  Daniel  Moore. 
7. — 1816.  Thomas   McGiffin,  James   Lattimore,   James   Blaine,   Parker 

Campbell,  and  George  Baird. 
8. — 1817.  Alexander  Reed,  James  Blaine,  James  Lattimore,  James  Orr, 

and  Thomas  H.  Baird. 
9. — 1818.  Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan,  Hugh  Workman,  John  Wilson,  James 
Garret,  and  William  Hunter. 
10.-1819.  Hugh  Workman,  John  Wilson,  William  Hunter,  Thomas  M.  T. 

McKennan,  and  James  Garret. 
11.-1820.  Re-elected. 
12. — 1821.  Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan,  John  Wilson,  David  Eckert,  James 

Stevens,  and  John  Koontz. 
13.-1822.  Re-elected. 
14. — 1823.  Hugh  Workman,  Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan,  Jacob  Stagle,  John 

Wilson,  and  James  Stevens. 
15. — 1824.  Archibald  Kerr,  Thomas  Good,  James  Lattimore,  Thomas  M. 

T.  McKennan,  and  James  Kerr. 
16.-1825.  Re-elected. 

17.-1826.  Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan,  Thomas  McGiffin,  George  Kuntz, 
John  S.  Brady,  and  John  Wilson. 


134  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

18. — 1827.  Thomas  M.  T.  McKcnnan,  George  Kuntz,  John  Wilson,  Jacob 

Slaple,  and  Georfrc  L.  Morrison. 
19. — 1828.  Thomas  M.  T.  INIcKcnnan.  George  Kuntz,  Jacob  Slagle,  John 

K.  Wilson,  and  Samuel  Hazlelt. 
20. — 1829.  Thomas  M. 'J\  McKennan,  Jacob  Slagle,  George  Kuntz,  Wil- 
liam Ilobinson,  and  William  Hunter. 
21. — 1830.  John  K.  Wilson,  Thomas  M.  T.  McKcnnan,  James  Shannon, 

William  Robinson,  and  John  Wilson. 
22. — 1831.  William  Baird,  William  Robinson,  John  Wilson,  James  Shan- 
non, and  John  K.  Wilson. 
23.— 1832.  Re-elected. 
24. — 1833.  Hugh  AVorkman,  Isaac  Leet,  George  Kuntz,  Thomas  Officer, 

and  John  ]\lorro\v. 
25. — 1834.  Isaac  Leet,  John  Morrow,  George  Kuntz,  John  K.  Wilson,  and 

Thomas  Officer. 
26. — 1835.  James  Shannon,  Isaac  Leet,  John  K.  Wilson,  John  L.  Gow,  and 

John  AVilson. 
27. — 1836.  Isaac  Leet,  Andrew  Shearer,  John  N.  Dagg,  John  Morrow,  and 

John  Bradficld. 
28. — 1837.  John  L.  Gow,  John  N.  Dagg,  Andrew  Shearer,  John  Morrow, 

and  Georsre  Black. 
29.— 1838.  George  Black,  John  R.  Griffith,  Robert  Officer,  Andrew  Shearer, 

and  John  Morrow. 
30. — 1839.  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  John  Best,  Henry  Langlej,  James  H. 

Pattison,  and  Peter  Wolfe. 
31. — 1840.  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  Peter  Wolfe,  John  ]\[orrow,  Adam  Sil- 

vey,  and  Oliver  Lindsey. 
32. — 1841.  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  Peter  Wolfe,  Oliver  Lindsey,  James 

Brown,  and  Matthew  Griffin. 
33._1842.  Re-elected. 
34. — 1843.  Alexander  W.  Acheson,   George  Lonkert,  George  W.  Brice, 

John  Grayson,  and  John  S.  Brady. 
35.— 1844.  Oliver  Lindsey,  John  Best,  John  R.  Griffith,  Peter  Wolfe,  and 

Jacob  Kissler. 
36. — 1845.  William  Smith,  Oliver  Lindsey,  John  Best,  Peter  Kennedy,  and 

David  Wolfe. 
37. — 1846.  John    Morrow,    James    Brown,    Joseph    Henderson,   Thomas 

Logan,  and  George  Lonkert. 
38. — 1847.  James  M.  Hutchinson,  James  Brice,  T.  W.  Grayson,  Alfred 

Thirkield,  and  Robert  0   cer. 
39. — 1848.  John  Morrow,   William   Hopkins,  Charles  W.   Hays,   George 

Black,  and  James  Rush. 
40. — 1849.  Peter  Kennedy,  William  Hopkins,  Charles  AV.  Hays,  Jacob 

Single,  and  Oliver  Lindsey. 
41. — 1850.  John  Bausnian,  Philip  Kuhn,  Jacob  Kissler,  John  S.  Brady, 

and  Tiiomas  B.  Bryson. 
42. — 1851.  Sample  Sweeny,  Oliver  Lindsey,  Freeman  Brady,  Sr.,  Collin  M. 

Reed,  and  'J'homas  W.  Grayson. 
43. — 1852.  Freeman  Brady,  Sr.,  Oliver  Lindsey,  William  McKennan,  John 

Wiley,  and  James  Brown. 
44. — 1853.  John  Morrow,  William  R.  Oliver,  James  Rush,  John  Wiley,  and 

«  William  T.  Fleming. 

45.-1854.  Jacob  Kessler,  J.  L.  Jndson,  James  D.  Best,  Dr.  M.  U.  Clarke, 

and  Collin  M.  Read. 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


135 


46.— 1855.  Thomas  W.  Grayson,  T.  S.  McKinley,  H.  W.  Reynolds,  A.  R. 

Frisbie,  and  John  McClelland. 
47,-1856.  L.  W.  Stockton,  Dr.  J.  R.  Wilson,  Simon  Cort,  John  McElroy, 

and  Th.  B.  Bryson. 
48. — 1857.  James  TV.  Kimtz,  Charles  W.  Hays,  Thomas  B.  Bryson,  John 

McAllister,  and  S.  R.  Witherow. 
49.-1858.  John  Prigg,  Jacob  Goldsmith,  N.  F.  Brobst,  David  Wolf,  and 

W.  H.  Stoy. 
50. — 1859.  James  Walton,  James  W.  Humphreys,  William  T.  Fleming, 

Charles  W.  Hays,  and  Jackson  Spriggs. 
51.— 1860.  Re-elected. 
52. — 1861.  Charles  W.  Hays,  Freeman  Brady,  Jr.,  Andrew  Brady,  John 

Prigg,  and  Alexander  Frazer. 
53.— 1862.  Charles  W.  Hays,  Thomas  D.  O'Hara,  Andrew  Brady,  John 

Prigg,  and  Samuel  Beatty. 
54. — 1863.  John  Prigg,  John  Naghtan,  James  Walton,  John  W.  Lockhart, 

and  W.  T.  Fleming. 
55. — 1864.  Jacob  Miller,  Thomas  Seamans,  Alphew  Murphy,  A.  J.  Caton, 

and  P.  Waldron. 
56. — 1865.  Ira  Lacock,  John  Naugtan,  G.  Jackson  Dagg,  Wm.  H.  Drury, 

A.  H.  Ecker. 
57.— 1866.  Thomas  Walker,  T.  J.  Hodgins,  Nelson  Vankirk,  William  Fitz- 

william,  and  David  Aiken. 
58. — 1867.  James  C.  Acheson,  Thomas  McKean,  Charles  V.  Grier,  Alex. 

Seaman,  John  Hallam. 
59.— 1868.  William  Taylor,  John  Templeton,  G.  0.  Jones,  Robert  Davis, 

and  Samuel  Hazlett. 
60.— 1869.  Alfred  Creigh,  A.  B.  Caldwell,  J.  L.  Judson,  A.  C.  Morrow,  and 

James  Huston. 
By  act  of  the  legislature,  March  16,  1869,  three  councilmen  were  to  be 

elected  biennially  with  the  assistant  burgess,  at  the  October  election 

in  1869,  term  of  service  to  commence  April,  1870,  which  resulted  in 

the  election  of 

61. — 1870.  George  S.  Hart,  Martin  Luther,  and  James  Huston. 


TREASUREKS. 

1810- 

-12. 

Daniel  Moore. 

1863- 

-65. 

George  Kuntz. 

1813- 

-15. 

Alexander  Reed. 

1866. 

David  Aiken. 

1816. 

Daniel  Moore. 

1867. 

John  C.  Hastings. 

1817- 

-19. 

John  Barrington. 

1868. 

John  Aiken. 

1820- 

-35. 

John  Gregg. 

1869. 

L.  R.  W.  Little. 

1836- 

-5G. 

George  Kuntz. 

1870. 

M.  G.  Kuntz. 

1857- 

-62. 

George  Baird. 

TOWN 

CLERKS 

1810- 

-11. 

David  Shields. 

1848- 

-50. 

William  J.  Wilson. 

1812- 

-14. 

Samuel  Cunningham. 

1851- 

-54. 

Joseph  O'Hara. 

1815- 

-16. 

John  Cunningham. 

1855- 

-62. 

William  B.  Rose. 

1817- 

-31. 

John  Marshall. 

1863. 

Ashford  Engle. 

1832- 

-33. 

Samuel  Doak. 

1864. 

Henry  Brown  (2  mos.) 

1834. 

Henry  Langley. 

1864- 

-65. 

Thaddeus  Stanton. 

183.5- 

-40. 

George  W.  Brice. 

1866. 

I.  Goodrich  Ruple. 

1841- 

-42. 

Robert  K.  Shannon. 

1867. 

John  Aiken. 

1843- 

-44. 

Henry  M.  Brister. 

1868. 

Joseph  A.  McKee. 

1845- 

-46. 

James  McKinley. 

1869. 

John  AValdron. 

1847. 

David  Wherry. 

1B70. 

Wesley  Wolf. 

136  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Public  Buildings. 

The  pi>blic  buildings  in  Washington  Borough  consist  of  the 
court-house,  containing  the  court,  jury,  and  library  room,  and  the 
public  oiEccs,  the  gaol,  the  old  market  house,  town  hall,  containing 
an  audience  room,  council  chamber,  post  office,  citizens'  library, 
engine  house,  and  market  house,  Washington  and  Jefferson  college, 
Fii'st  Presbyterian  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  United 
Presbyterian  church,  Methodist  Protestant  church,  Trinity  Episco- 
pal church,  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  Second  Presby- 
terian church,  Koman  Catholic  church,  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church.  Disciples  of  Christ,  Baptist  church,  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  Wright's  Chapel  (African),  Franklin  Bank  of 
Washington,  Female  Seminary,  Union  School  building,  Washington 
gas  works,  Washington  cemetery,  Washington  coal  works. 

CouRT-HousE. 

On  the  18th  of  October,  1781,  David  Hoge,  of  Cumberland 
County,  conveyed  to  James  Edgar,  Hugh  Scott,  Yan  Swearingen, 
Daniel  Lcet,  and  John  Armstrong,  a  piece  of  land  in  the  town  of 
"Bassett"  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  Washington  County, 
to  erect  thereon  a  court-house,  prison,  &c.,  for  and  in  consideration 
of  the  good-will  he  beareth  to  the  inhabitants,  and  also  the  sum  of 
five  shillings.  The  ground  conveyed  is  thus  described  :  Situate 
in  Bassettown,  fronting  and  extending  along  Monongahela  (Main) 
Street,  240  feet,  and  in  the  same  manner  along  Ohio  (Beau)  Street, 
240  feet;  thence  with  the  lot  marked  in  the  original  plan,  123  (now 
owned  by  Pvobert  Boyd,  Esq.);  thence  with  Johnston's  (Cherry) 
Alley  240  feet  to  the  Monongahela  Street  aforesaid.  The  witnesses 
to  the  deed  were  Henry  Taylor  and  David  Ileddick,  which  was 
recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  February  7,  1785. 

The  organic  law  of  the  county,  dated  March  28,  1781,  section  9, 
directed  the  courts  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  David  Hoge,  Esq., 
until  a  court-house  shall  be  built  or  otherwise  provided  for.  The 
courts  were  held  at  the  designated  place  until  1783.  The  courts 
were  afterwards  held  at  the  house  of  Charles  Dodd  in  1783,  at  the 
house  of  James  Wilson  in  1784,  and  John  Dodd's  from  1785  to 
1787,  each  of  these  persons  receiving  a  stipulated  rent.  The  house 
of  Charles  Dodd  was  upon  the  lot  now  owned  by  James  G.  Strean, 
Esq.,  but  afterwards  John  Dodd  bought  the  same  property.  The 
house  rented  from  James  Wilson  was  on  the  lot  where  Mr.  William 
H.  Drury  resides.  The  courts  were  held  there  but  one  year,  and 
returned  to  Mr.  Dodd's.  The  gaol  occupied  the  first  floor  and  the 
court  the  second.  It  was  in  this  court-house  that  Thomas  Richard- 
son was  tried  for  larceny  in  1784,  convicted,  and  sul)sequently 
hainjrd,  an  account  of  which  we  shall  give  in  Chapter  VIII. 

In   1783  the  commissioners  began  the  erection  of  a  log  court- 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  loT 

house  aiifl  other  public  buildings,  which  were  not  completed  until 
July,  1787-  In  1784  a  tax  of  £500  was  laid  for  the  purpose  of 
building  a  court-house,  and  in  1788  an  additional  sum  of  £150  to 
pay  the  balance  on  the  same,  the  whole  amounting  to  £650.  This 
LOG  court-house,  the  Jirst  which  was  erected,  was  occupied  until  the 
winter  of  1790-91,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Rev.  Thaddeus 
Dodd  taught  a  classical  school  in  this  court-house,  and  afterwards 
kept  by  David  Johnston.  It  was  during  the  time  Mr.  Johnston  kept 
school  therein  that  it  was  burned.  He  afterwards  took  charge  of 
the  Canonsburg  Academy.  The  commissioners,  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1792,  laid  a  tax  of  £1500  to  erect  a  brick  court-house  and 
other  public  buildings. 

Local  traditions  have  placed  our  first  court-house  at  many  points, 
sometimes  in  different  parts  of  our  town,  sometimes  at  Razortown, 
on  the  Middletovvn  road,  and  sometimes  on  Mr.  William  Gabby's 
farm.  We  have  investigated  all  these  traditionary  reports,  and  will 
give  a  solution  to  the  whole,  remarking  that  not  much  confidence 
can  be  placed  in  tradition  without  being  sustained  by  history. 

No  other  places  for  holding  courts  were  ever  held  in  Washing- 
ton County  except  at  the  places  designated,  the  records  showing  of 
whom  the  several  houses  were  rented  in  the  town  of  Washington. 
/"  Our  readers  must  bear  in  mind  that  Washington  and  the  adjoin- 
ing counties  were  claimed  by  Virginia,  of  which  I  have  already 
given  the  history,  that  the  line  separating  Ohio  and  Youghiogheny 
counties,  Virginia,  ran  near  the  western  limits  of  the  borough  of 
Washington.  Youghiogheny  County  occupied  the  territory  cast  of 
this  line,  and  Ohio  County  west  of  it.  The  court-house  of  You- 
ghiogheny County  was  on  the  farm  of  Andrew  Heath,  nearly  oppo- 
site Elizabethtown,  Allegheny  County,  while  that  of  Ohio  County 
was  on  the  farm  of  William  Gabby,  two  miles  west  of  this  place. 
Mr.  William  Gabby  assures  me  that  the  logs  of  the  court-house 
were  used  by  bis  father  in  the  erection  of  a  kitchen,  and  that  the 
court-house  stood  between  the  brick  house  (now  occupied  by  his  son 
James)  and  the  barn,  near  the  spring.  John  Gabby,  Esq.,  received 
his  deed  for  the  same  farm  as  early  as  the  spring  of  1784.  In  cor- 
roboration of  this  statement,  I  quote  from  the  writings  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Smith,  who  says,  "  One  of  these  Virginia  court-liouses  (west 
of  the  Monongahela  River)  stood  a  few  miles  west  of  the  present 
town  of  Washington.  Washington  itself  did  not  exist,  but  a  few 
miserable  hamlets,  called  Catfish,  after  the  Indian  chief  of  that 
name  who  once  dwelt  there.  In  the  records  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Red  Stone,  also  bearing  date  October  16,  1782,  a  minister  was 
appointed  as  a  supply  to  preach  at  Ohio  County  -court-house,  a  seat 
of  justice  under  the  government  of  Virginia. 

The  traditional  story  of  a   court-house  at  Razortown  is  a  myth, 
mentioned  in  the  life  of  Patrick  Gass  ;  being  an  aged  man  when  he 
wrote  his  life,  he  mistook  the  Gabby  farm,  two  miles  west  of  Wash- 
ington, and  placed  it  two  miles  northwest  of  this  place.     Having 
10 


138  HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

thus  disposed  of  the  court-house  question,  we  resume  our  narrative, 
and  shall  speak  of  the  second  court-house  which  was  erected  on  the 
pulilic  square. 

The  second  court-house  was  erected  of  brick,  being  commenced 
in  1792,  in  the  centre  of  the  public  square.  The  cost  of  this  court- 
house may  be  thus  estimated  : — 

£     s.    d. 

1792,  Nov.       6.  Paid  James  Marshall  for  materials  for  public 

buildings 60     0     0 

"         "  7.     "      John  Benjaniin  and  William  Reed  in  full 

to  date  for  court-house,  &c.  .     807  11     1 

"         "  7.     "      William  Gray  for  measuring  and  calcu- 

liiting  public  buildings    .         .         .         6     6     1 

1793,  Jan.        8.     "      Messrs.    liccds,   in  full,  lor  work  done 

court-house  and  jail         .         .         .     157     8  10 
"     March  23.     "      Alexander  Cunningham  for  materials    .       12  14     8 


£1044     0     8 


"      April   10.  John    Reed    was   directed   to   build    a  wall   around   the 

pulilic  buildings,   which  he  had  completed  on  No- 
vember 6,  1793. 
1794,  Feb.     28.  Messrs.  Price  and  Leet  reported  to  the  commissioners  the 

price  of  the  carpenters'   and  joiners'  work  of  the 

court-house. 
"      March    4.  A  tax  for  £.ir)0  was  levied  for  finishing  the  mason  work, 

and  plastering  the  jail. 
"      July        7.  Bill  for  cleauiug  court-house  and  jail-yard,  twenty-four 

dollars  and  seventy-one  cents,  approved  and  paid. 
"      Sept.       3.  A  bill  of  John  and  James  Reed  for  three  hundred  and 

thirty-four  dollars  and  eighty  cents  ordered  to  be 

paid  for  work  done. 
"      July      19.  The  commissioners  employed  carpenters  to  work  on  the 

cupola  of  the  court-house,  finish  the  same,  and  have 

the  vane  gilded. 

This  court-house  was  improved  in  1819  by  an  addition  thereto,  the 
commissioners  having  awarded  the  contract  to  Thomas  II.  Baird, 
Esq.,  who  gave  as  liis  securities  David  Shields  and  George  Baird, 
Esqs.  October  18,  1836,  a  county  meeting  was  held  in  the  court- 
house to  take  action  with  regard  to  the  erection  of  a  court-house 
and  other  public  buildings,  which  meeting,  after  a  full  discussion, 
resolved  that  the  question  should  be  determined  by  a  vote  of  the 
electors  of  the  county,  who  decided  against  its  erection.  But  on 
March  9,  1839,  the  grand  jury  considered  the  erection  of  a  new 
court-house,  and  the  question  was  laid  over  to  the  next  grand  jury, 
who  indorsed  the  proposition.  The  commissioners  then  certified 
that  a  new  conrt-liouse  would  cost  $12,000,  and  the  repairs,  $5000, 
and  tlic  subsequent  grand  jury  sanctioned  its  erection,  as  the  public 
buildings  were  unfit  for  pul)lie  purposes  ;  and  the  whole  of  the  public 
square  should  be  entirely  changed,  and  present  an  apjiearauce  which 
would   be   alike  creditable  to   the  county  and   luive   all   the  conve- 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  139 

niences  which  the  wants  of  the  people  required.  Before,  however, 
giving  a  description  of  the  improvements  which  were  made,  it  will 
be  interesting  to  many  unacquainted  with  the  buildings  which  were 
upon  the  public  square  to  state  what  buildings  occupied  it. 

Commencing  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Beau  streets,  and  going 
south,  was  the  market-house,  with  a  superstructure  containing  six 
rooms  (a  full  description  of  which  wnll  be  found  under  the  title  of 
"Market  House");  next  to  and  adjoining  the  market-house  was  the 
engine-house  ;  then  an  alley,  which  led  directly  into  the  kitchen  of 
the  sheriff's  house,  through  which  access  was  had  to  the  jail ;  next 
was  the  sheriff's  office  and  house  attached,  and  the  prothonotary's 
office  ;  then  came  the  court-house.  On  the  south  of  the  court-house 
were  the  clerk  of  the  court's  and  register's  offices ;  adjoining  which 
was  a  small  shop  of  Alfred  Gait  (watchmaker,  well  known  as  an  ec- 
centric genius)  and  three  offices,  from  which  a  rent  was  derived — 
these  filled  up  the  square. 

These  three  offices  on  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  public 
square,  and  immediately  in  front  of  the  present  market-house,  were 
leased,  on  a  ground-rent  of  twenty  years,  on  the  1st  of  June,  1817. 
Each  office  was  required  to  be  in  size  22  by  24  feet  (with  an  alley 
10  feet  in  the  rear),  to  be  built  of  brick,  and  range  with  the  other 
public  buildings.  No.  1,  next  to  the  court-house,  was  leased  to  Wil- 
liam Hunter,  Esq.,  at  $3.01  per  foot  per  annum.  No.  2  was  leased 
to  John  Neal,  Esq.,  and  No.  3,  on  the  corner  of  the  street  and  alley, 
to  David  Shields,  Esq.,  each  at  $2.54  per  foot. 

We  now  resume  the  history  of  the  third  or  present  court-house. 
On  the  22d  July,  1839,  Jehu  Jackson,  Matthew  Linn,  and  Andrew 
Shearer  advertised  to  receive  sealed  proposals  until  July  15,  1839, 
at  10  o'clock  A.M.,  for  the  erection  of  new  public  buildings,  accord- 
ing to  the  plan  adopted,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  courts  and 
offices  of  the  county,  and  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  records  ;  and  a 
house  for  the  sheriff.  On  the  16th  July,  1839,  the  carpenter  work 
was  awarded  to  Henry  Shearer,  Esq.  ;  the  stonework,  to  Freejnan 
Brady,  Esq.  ;  the  cut-stonework,  to  Alexander  Ramsey,  Esq.  ;  fur- 
nishing and  laying  the  brickwork,  to  David  White,  Esq. 

On  the  25th  of  September  the  commissioners  caused  all  the  old 
buildings  to  be  removed  from  the  public  square,  except  the  offices  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  the  square,  whose  leases  had  expired,  in  which 
the  public  offices  should  be  temporarily  kept.  In  addition  to  these 
two  rooms  the  commissioners  also  rented  the  corner  room  of  the 
"Round  Corner,"  now  occupied  by  James  C.  Acheson.  They  also 
leased  the  Methodist  Protestant  church  from  James  L.  Porter  and 
Charles  E.  Jones  (trustees),  from  the  29th  of  August,  1839,  to  the 
29th  August,  1843,  for  the  sum  of  $200,  in  which  the  courts  should 
be  held,  with  the  privilege  of  leaving  the  same  when  the  new  court- 
house should  be  finished. 

On  the  25th  of  September,  1840,  the  commissioners,  Matthew 
Linn,   Andrew   Shearer,   and  James  Pollock,  Esqs.,  articled  with 


140  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Freeman  Brady  and   David  White,  Esqs.,  to  build  the  jail  walls, 
and,  with  David  Ilall  and  William  Wylie,  to  plaster  the  court-house. 

1842,  May  27.  The  statue  of  Washington  was  ordered  to  be 
placed  upon  the  dome  of  the  court-house,  and,  on  the  15th  of  October, 
James  Sterret,  of  Allegheny  County,  James  Chambers  and  William 
E.  Erret,  of  Washington  County,  were  selected  to  measure  the  car- 
penter work. 

On  December  9th,  1842,  the  commissioners  contracted  with  Wil- 
liam McFarlane  and  William  E.  Erret  to  build  a  portico  to  the 
sheriflF's  house,  for  which  they  were  to  receive  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars. 

The  cost  of  the  court-house  of  1839  was  twenty-nine  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eight  dollars,  to  which  is  to  be  added  the  sheriff's 
house,  costing  four  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty-eight  dollars, 
amounting  in  all  to  $34,3Y6. 

We  shall  now  advert  to  the  improvements  made  on  the  public 
square  in  186T-8  and  9.  Xeither  the  court-house  nor  jail  answered 
the  purposes  of  their  erection  ;  the  former  required  an  arbitration 
room,  library  room,  and  sherifiPs  office,  and  jury  room,  and  the  latter 
an  entire  new  building.  The  commissioners,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Jos.  W.  Cowan,  Thos.  J.  Bell,  and  Jas.  Walker,  on  the  23d  of  July, 
1866,  authorized  J.  W.  Barr,  Esq.,  a  superior  architect  of  Pittsburg, 
to  inspect  the  county  jail,  with  a  view  of  repairing  or  rebuilding  the 
same.  The  jail  undergoing  a  thorough  inspection  by  Mr.  Barr,  he 
gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  it  was  unfit  for  use,  upon  which  the  com- 
missioners very  judiciously  decided  that  he  should  submit  a  plan  for 
a  new  jail  with  the  probable  cost,  and  another  forrepairing  the  same. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  1866,  the  commissioners  submitted  these 
plans  to  the  grand  jury,  who  nnanimously  approved  the  erection  of 
a  new  jail,  and  the  plan  thereof  was  submitted  to  the  Secretary  of 
the  Commonwealth,  who  approved  of  the  same.  It  being  too  late  in 
the  season  to  commence  so  large  a  building,  it  was  postponed  until 
February  28,  1867,  when  the  new  ]5oard  of  Commissioners,  consist- 
ing of  Thomas  J.  Bell,  James  Walker,  and  Samuel  Weirich,  Esqs., 
resolved  to  proceed  to  the  erection  of  the  jail  under  the  approval  of 
the  grand  jury  and  the  direction  of  the  court. 

On  March  5th,  1867,  the  commissioners,  accompanied  by  David  S. 
Wilson,  Esq.,  their  attorney  (who  was  desirous  of  submitting  certain 
other  improvements  in  connection  with  the  court-house,  by  which 
all  the  necessary  rooms  could  be  obtained,  and  tlie  jail  connected 
with  the  court-room),  went  to  Pitts1)urg,  to  confer  with  Messrs.  Barr 
and  Moser  in  regard  to  the  plans  and  specifications  and  estimates  of 
the  new  county  prison,  and  the  improvements  therewith  connected. 

March  22d,  1867,  the  commissioners,  after  having  adopted  the  pre- 
sent plan,  and  under  the  instructions  of  David  S.  Wilson,  Esq.,  ap- 
pointed Messrs.  Barr  and  Moser  general  superintendents  of  the 
work,  to  be  allowed  one  per  cent,  of  the  cost  of  the  jail  as  their  com- 
pensation.    Nelson  Yankirk,  Esq  ,  was  appointed  superintendent  and 


I 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  141 

foreman  under  Messrs.  Barr  and  Moser,  his  compensation  being  $5 
per  day;  Samuel  Hargraves,  superintendent  of  the  brick  and  mason 
work,  at  $5  per  day.  The  general  superintendents  were  authorized 
to  select  all  the  materials,  and  Messrs.  Yankirk  and  Hargraves,  in 
their  respective  departments,  were  to  employ  and  superintend  all  the 
hands  necessary  for  its  completion,  but  subject  to  the  inspection  and 
condemnation  of  the  commissioners  and  general  superintendents. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  186*7,  the  contract  for  the  brick  was  awarded 
to  Chas.  V.  Grier  and  Joshua  R.  Forest,  with  John  Hallam  as 
security. 

The  new  prison  and  extension  to  the  court-house,  including  sheriff's 
office,  arbitration  room,  library  room,  &c.,  cost  forty-eight  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars. 

The  stone  wall  inclosing  public  square,  grading,  and  improve- 
ments to  sheriff's  house,  cost  thirty-five  hundred  dollars,  amounting  in 
the  aggregate  to  fifty-two  thousand  dollars.  Before  the  jail  was 
finished,  and  in  the  northeast  corner,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground, 
a  box,  containing  much  valuable  information,  was  deposited  in  the 
wall  by  A.  T.  Baird  and  C.  M.  Ruple,  Esqs.,  on  September  6,  1861, 
generally  relating  to  county  and  borough  affairs. 

Market-House. 

In  the  spring  of  1195  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Washington 
held  a  public  meeting,  at  which  it  was  unanimously  resolved,  that  the 
wants  of  the  people  required  a  market-house,  and  to  carry  this  re- 
solution into  effect,  the  meeting  appointed  two  of  their  prominent 
citizens  (Alexander  Addison,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Absalom  Baird)  to 
procure  the  necessary  amount  of  subscriptions,  and  employ  compe- 
tent workmen  to  erect  a  market-house. 

On  the  8th  of  September  following,  the  market-house  was  finished 
and  occupied,  the  commissioners  having  granted  the  northeast  corner 
of  the  public  square,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Beau  streets,  for  that 
purpose.  It  was  opened  under  the  following  regulations :  That 
public  markets  should  be  opened  on  Wednesday  and  Saturday  of  each 
week  ;  that  they  should  be  kept  open  from  early  dawn  to  10  o'clock 
A.  M.  of  the  appointed  days,  and,  by  agreement  of  the  citizens,  no 
provision  or  produce  of  any  kind  was  to  be  purchased  within  the 
prescribed  hours,  except  at  the  market-house  only. 

The  committee  having  discharged  the  duty  enjoined  upon  them, 
and  the  market-house  fulfilling  the  expectations  of  the  people,  yet 
they  were  compelled  to  issue  the  following  notice  on  Noveiuber  24th, 
1195:— 

"We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  state  to  all  concerned  in  the 
market-house  of  Washington,  that  the  e.xpenses  of  building  it  amount,  as 
it  appears  by  the  several  bills  in  our  hands,  to       '      .  .  $202.96 

We  have  received  for  subscriptions  only      .  .  .  126.81 


There  is,  therefore,  due  to  us  .  .  ,  .  76.15 


142  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

"  We  suhmit  it  to  all  interested  iu  the  market-house,  whether  they  oujrht 
not  immediately  to  pay  into  our  hauds  severally,  according  to  the  ability 
and  inclination  of  every  individual,  a  further  contribution  to  reimburse  us 
for  what  we  have  laid  out  for  this  building,  which  is  a  common  benefit  to 
all.  There  are  yet  some  arrears  unpaid  of  the  subscription,  but  much  is  not 
expected  from  them,  and  if  all  were  paid,  it  would  be  proper  to  have  a  small 
sum  in  reserve  for  occasional  repairs,  which  will  always  be  wanting  to  a  pub- 
lic building  like  this,  which  being  as  it  were  the  property  of  no  particular 
person,  no  one  thinKs  it  his  duty  to  preserve  it.  The  delinquent  subscri- 
bers are  informed  that  the  subscription  papers  are  lodged  in  the  hands  of 
William  !Meetkirk,  Esq.,  who  will  receive  payments,  and  unless  payments 
are  made  before  the  1st  day  of  December  next,  he  will  issue  process  against 
the  delinquents.  Alexander  Addison. 

Absalom  Baikd." 

Tliis  notice  had  the  desired  effect,  the  delinquents  paid  their  indebt- 
edness, and  the  citizens  with  commendable  zeal  paid  the  balance  by 
additional  subscriptions. 

Immediately  after  the  borough  was  incorporated,  in  1810,  the 
Council  passed  wholesome  laws  to  regulate  the  markets.  Yet  the 
wants  of  the  people  required  a  larger  and  better  market-house,  con- 
sequently the  town  council,  on  the  23d  day  of  October,  1813,  ap- 
pointed a  committee  consisting  of  Parker  Campbell,  James  Orr, 
and  Thomas  McGiffin,  Esquires,  to  report  on  the  expediency  of  erect- 
ing a  new  market-house  on  the  same  ground.  This  committee  re- 
ported (on  the  30th  of  October)  favorably,  and  on  the  6th  of  Nov. 
following,  the  chief  burgess  was  directed  to  call  a  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  on  the  12th  of  November,  to  consider  the  subject.  It 
appears,  however,  that  the  minds  of  the  people  were  greatly  agitated 
at  this  time  on  account  of  pecuniary  affairs,  the  war  and  other  mat- 
ters ;  and  action  thereon  was  indefinitely  postponed. 

On  the  Kith  of  January,  181.5,  another  meeting  of  the  citizens 
was  convened,  when  the  usual  officers  were  appointed  and  the  follow- 
ing resolution  adopted  : — 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  expedient  to  change  the  site  of  the  market- 
house  from  the  north  to  the  south  side  of  the  public  square,  for  the 
purpose  of  erecting  a  banking-house  on  the  northeast  corner  of  said 
square,  and  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  citizens  at  large; 
provided,  however,  that  no  change  or  alteration  in  the  present  site  of 
the  market-house  shall  take  place  until  the  consent  of  the  proper 
authority  shall  be  first  had  and  obtained  to  erect  a  banking-house  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square,  and  a  market-house  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  said  square,  nor  until  arrangements  be  made 
and  a  contract  entered  into  for  the  building  of  said  banking-house 
on  tliat  ground."  Alexander  ]Murdoeh,  Thomas  H.  Baird,  and 
James  Orr,  Esquires,  were  a])})ointi'd  to  procure  the  necessary  au- 
thority and  grant  for  said  market-house  and  banking-house  from  the 
legislature  and  commissioners  of  the  county. 

Subsequently  the  Committee  ascertained  that  the  public  square 
was  to  be  used  only  for  public  purposes,  and  if  diverted  from  that 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  143 

the  property  would  revert  to  the  original  owners ;  accordingly  the 
project  was  abandoned. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  1816,  however,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
citizens,  the  commissioners  granted  to  the  borough  permission  to 
erect  a  market-house  on  the  following  plan,  viz:  On  a  range  with 
the  public  offices  and  parallel  with  Main  Street,  to  front  on  Main 
Street  53  feet  and  on  Beau  Street  130  feet,  according  to  diagram 
adopted. 

On  November  2,  1816,  the  commissioners,  consisting  of  John 
Reed,  David  Little,  and  Jonathan  Knight,  made  a  second  grant, 
giving  permission  to  the  borough  to  erect  another  story  upon  the 
pillars  or  frame  of  the  market-house,  provided  that  one  room  should 
be  used  as  a  council  room,  and  that  after  the  expiration  of  twenty- 
five  years,  or  at  any  time  thereafter,  the  borough  shall,  upon  receiving 
the  sum  originally  expended  in  building  the  market-house,  deliver 
the  same  to  the  commissioners  for  the  use  of  the  county. 

On  the  5th  of  November  following,  the  citizens  met  at  the  court- 
house to  consider  the  expediency  of  erecting  a  superstructure  or  story 
on  the  pillars  of  the  market-house,  and  after  a  full  discussion  the 
burgesses  and  Council  were  instructed  to  erect  said  superstructure  in 
the  manner  contemplated  by  the  commissioners.  The  Council  there- 
upon convened  and  appointed  Parker  Campbell,  Alexander  Murdoch, 
and  Thomas  McGiffin  a  committee  with  authority  to  borrow  not  ex- 
ceeding two  thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  specified,  which  amount 
they  procured  from  the  branch  Bank  of  Philadelphia  established  in 
"Washington.  The  contract  for  the  building  of  the  superstructure 
was  given  to  James  Ruple,  Esq. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1817,  possession  of  the  market-house 
rooms  was  given  to  the  burgesses  and  Council,  who  rented  the  same 
on  the  25th  to  the  following  persons:  No.  1,  Robert  Estep  ;  No.  2, 
John  Purviance  ;  Nos.  3  and  5,  Thomas  H.  Baird ;  No.  4,  John  Mc- 
Cluney;  No.  6,  Matthew  Brown.  Subsequently  some  of  these  rooms 
were  occupied  as  school-rooms,  and  the  mention  of  the  names  of 
Philip  Potter,  Stephen  Wood,  George  Preeby,  and  Henry  Williams 
will  recall  to  the  recollection  of  many  of  our  inhabitants  the  incidents 
of  school-life,  the  rod  and  the  cat-o'-nine-tails.  At  one  time  one  of 
the  rooms  was  occupied  by  the  venerable  Judge  Grayson,  who  was 
then  editor  of  the  Washington  Examiner. 

After  mar.y  years  it  appears  that  the  spirit  of  enterprise  seized  upon 
our  citizens,  and  they  awoke  from  their  Rip  Van  Winkle  sleep  by 
being  admonished  by  the  commissioners  of  the  county,  in  1839,  that 
the  lease  of  the  market-house  grounds  would  soon  expire,  and  that 
the  public  square  would  be  occupied  by  a  new  court-house,  suitable 
buildings  for  sheriff,  &c.  A  meeting  of  the  Town  Council  was 
called  July  15,  1839,  and  Messrs.  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  Henry 
Langley,  and  John  R.  Griffith  were  appointed  a  committee  to  exa- 
mine the  lease  and  to  make  inquiries  in  regard  to  changing  the  site 
to  the  south  side  of  the  public  square. 


144  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

On  the  2d  of  August,  the  Town  Council  called  a  meeting  of  the 
citizens,  whereupon  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
adopted : — 

Whereas,  Tlie  commissioners  of  the  county  are  about  to  erect 
new  public  buildings  for  the  use  of  the  county,  and  in  the  execution 
of  their  plan  of  erection  it  will  be  necessary  to  remove  the  borough 
market-house  to  make  room  for  the  erection  of  a  contemplated  sheriff's 
house,  tlierefore 

Resolved,  That  the  burgesses  and  Council  are  hereby  authorized  to 
make  such  arrangements  with  the  county  commissioyers  for  the  ex- 
change of  the  present  market  ground  for  a  site  or  location  on  the 
south  side  of  the  public  square,  and  obtain  from  said  commissioners 
a  perpetual  lease  of  the  same  for  the  use  of  the  borough. 

The  Council  at  their  meeting  on  November  25th,  appointed  Henry 
Langley,  Esq.,  to  meet  the  commissioners  on  the  subject  of  the  re- 
moval of  the  market-house,  who  subsequently  reported  that  the 
commissioners  would  in  due  time  make  a  lease.  In  December  follow- 
ing, however,  Messrs.  A.  W.  Acheson,  James  Blaine,  and  Henry 
Langley  were  directed  to  view  the  ground,  ascertain  the  probable 
expense  of  erecting  a  market-house,  and  how  to  dispose  of  the  old 
one.  The  Committee,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1840,  reported  a  plan 
which  was  adopted,  and  on  the  6th  of  February,  the  Committee  en- 
tered into  Contract  with  John  Wilson  and  John  AV.  Seamans,  Es- 
quires, for  building  the  same,  the  price  being  settled  at  nine  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.  Messrs.  James  Blaine,  John  Iv.  Griffiths,  and  J. 
H.  Pattison  were  authorized  to  sell  the  old  market-house,  which  they 
accordingly  did,  and  made  report  thereof  to  the  Council.  To  the 
burgesses  and  Council  of  1839-40,  therefore,  were  we  indebted  for  the 
market-house  which  adorned  the  southern  part  of  our  public  square, 
the  stalls  of  which  were  first  leased  August  2,  1840. 

The  reason  of  the  market-house  being  set  so  far  back  from  a  range 
with  the  other  public  buildings  was  owing  to  a  lease  made  by  the 
commissioners  of  G6  feet  of  ground  on  Main  Street,  and  running 
back  about  40  feet,  upon  which  was  erected  three  offices,  the  lease 
of  which  did  not  expire  until  after  the  market-house  was  erected. 

Town  Hall. 

The  first  effort  for  the  erection  of  a  town  hall  was  made  May 
6th,  1842,  when  the  commissioners  of  that  date  executed  a  lease  to 
the  borough  of  Washington  for  all  the  ])ubh'c  ground  south  of  a 
line  conmiencing  at  the  curb-ston(!  on  Main  Street,  nine  feet  south 
of  the  new  court-house,  and  running  back  until  it  strikes  a  lot  of 
William  Smith's,  and  now  owned  (1870)  by  RoJbert  Boyd,  Esq.,  on 
condition  of  their  erecting  a  town  hall. 

March  23d,  1843.  The  Council  called  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  to 
ascertain  their  views  on  the  expediency  of  erecting  a  town  hall, 
and  engine-house,  which,  after  discussion,  was  decided  affirmatively, 
and  the  Council  appointed  Robert  Officer,  John  S.  Brad}',  and  Thomas 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  145 

McGiffin  to  report  a  plan  and  the  probable  cost.  A  plan  was  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  Erret  and  adopted  by  the  Council ;  but  on  the  6th  day 
of  May,  1843,  the  citizens  called  a  public  meeting  and  refused  its 
sanction  to  the  erection  of  a  town  hall. 

No  further  efforts  were  made  until  the  year  1868,  when  the  ques- 
tion was  again  agitated,  and  the  burgess  and  Council  called  a  meet- 
ing of  the  citizens  to  ascertain  the  public  sentiment  on  this  question. 
Many  urgent  reasons  were  given  for  its  erection,  but  that  which 
operated  upon  the  public  mind  was  the  generous  offer  of  Dr.  Francis 
J.  Lemoyne,  who  proposed  to  donate  ten  thousand  dollars  for  the 
purchase  of  a  public  library  if  a  fire-proof  vault  was  made  for  its 
reception  in  said  building.  The  question  was  referred  to  a  vote  of 
the  people,  and  decided  affirmatively.  The  terra  of  office  of  the  bur- 
gess and  Council  elected  March,  1868,  was  about  expiring,  and  the 
plans  and  erection  of  the  town  hall  were  committed  to  the  Council 
of  1869,  consisting  of  John  D.  Boyle,  Burgess  ;  J.  Y.  Hamilton,  As- 
sistant Burgess  ;  and  Alfred  Creigh,  J.  L.  Judson,  A.  B.  Caldwell, 
A.  C.  Morrow,  and  James  Huston,  Councilmen.  A  plan  and  speci- 
fication, as  drawn  and  prepared  by  J.  Kerr,  of  Pittsburg,  was  adopt- 
ed. Messrs.  Boyle,  Creigh,  and  Judson  were  appointed  the  Building 
Committee,  and  Messrs.  Boyle,  Caldwell,  and  Morrow  the  Finance 
Committee. 

It  IS  eminently  due  to  the  Council  of  1868,  consisting  of  John  D. 
Boyle,  burgess  ;  John  McElroy,  assistant  burgess  ;  Samuel  Hazlett, 
Robert  H.  Davis,  William  Taylor,  John  Templeton,  and  George  O. 
Jones,  to  state  that  the  citizens  of  the  borough  are  indebted  to  them 
for  taking  the  incipient  measures  of  the  erection  of  a  town  hall. 
On  February  16th,  1869,  they  procured  legislative  action  authorizing 
the  commissioners  to  lease  a  portion  of  the  public  ground  to  erect 
thereon  a  town  hall,  to  be  used  as  a  post-office  and  for  other  purposes  ; 
and  also  an  additional  act  on  February  17th,  1869,  authorizes  the 
burgess  and  Council  to  borrow  thirty-thousand  dollars  to  be  applied 
to  the  erection  of  a  town  hall,  at  seven  and  three-tenths  per  cent, 
per  annum ;  the  said  bonds  not  liable  to  be  taxed  for  county,  muni- 
cipal, or  school  purposes. 

The  contract  for  excavating  the  cellar,  executing  the  cut-stone, 
stone,  and  brickwork,  was  awarded  to  Andrew  Brady ;  the  oak 
timber  to  "William  B.  Cundall;  the  carpenter  work  was  given  to  J. 
Noble  Porter;  the  manufacture  of  the  brick  to  Andrew  Ford;  the 
pressed  brick  to  Samuel  Hutson ;  the  tinwork  to  Jesse  Jordan  ;  the 
ventilators  to  Jacob  Miller  ;  the  plastering  to  Thomas  Dagg  and 
Jeremiah  Marshall,  and  the  painting  to  Col.  Samuel  Bulford.  In 
connection  with  this  subject  it  is  proper  to  remark  that  the  brick- 
work was  sub-let  by  Mr.  A.  Brady  to  Messrs.  James  Huston  and 
John  Dye,  and  the  cut-stonework  to  Edward  Little. 

The  town  hall  is  a  substantial  brick  edifice  of  the  Franco-Italian 
style,  fronting  fifty-six  feet  on  Main  Street  and  extending  back  one 
hundred  feet,  with  a  cellar  underneath  the  whole  building. 


146  HISTORY   OF    AVASHINQTON   COUNTY. 

The  first  floor  is  occupied  by  the  post-office  and  vestibule,  a  read- 
ing room,  a  library  room  with  a  fire-proof  vault  in  which  the  library 
is  kept,  an  engine-house,  and  a  market-house. 

The  second  floor  consists  of  the  council  chamber  and  an  audience 
room  with  a  gallery,  capable  of  seating  one  thousand  persons. 

As  the  post-office  is  now  permanently  located  in  the  town  hall, 
I  shall  give  the  names  of  the  postmasters  as  far  back  as  can  be  asser- 
taincd,  and  the  year  in  which  they  entered  upon  the  duties  of  their 
office. 

1797.  "VVilliam  Meetkirke.  1844.  Jonathan  D.  Leet. 

1801.  Daniel  Moore.  1848.  James  M'Dermot. 

1805.  Iluijh  Wvlio.  1851.  George  W.  Aiken. 

1828,  Joseph  Henderson.  1852.  David  Acheson. 

1829.  Thomas  Morgan.  1856.  Freeman  Brady. 

1839.  Samuel  Workman.  1860.     James  M'Dermot. 

1840.  Robert  Colmery.  1865.    William  C.  Wylie. 

On  September  18,  1869,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  by  U.  S.  Grant, 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  so  rapid  was  the  work  carried 
forward,  that  on  April  1,  1870,  the  post-office  room  was  finished  and 
occupied.  We  give  below  the  ceremonies  of  laying  the  corner  stone, 
and  matters  connected  therewith. 

A  desire  being  expressed  on  the  part  of  many  citizens  that  the  President 
should  be  present,  and  deposit  a  box  containing  curiosities  in  the  corner 
stone  of  the  town  hall,  the  following  correspondence  between  the  Burgesses 
and  Council  and  President  Grant  took  place  : — 

Washington,  Pa.,  September  17,  1869, 
General  U.  S.  Grant,  President  of  the  United  States  : 

lIoxoKKD  Sir  :  The  unders*igned,  the  Burgesses  and  Councilmen  of  the 
borough  of  AVashington,  representing  its  citizens,  would  respectfully  solicit 
you  to  deposit  within  the  corner  stone  of  the  town  hall,  now  in  process  of 
erection,  on  Saturday  next  (September  18th),  a  box  containing  the  memo- 
rials of  the  present  and  the  past,  so  that  future  generations  may  learn  our 
history  to  the  present  time,  when  these  memorials  shall  come  to  light. 

The  occasion  is  one  worthy  of  your  consideration,  because  this  was  the 
first  county  and  town  named  after  the  Revolutionary  struggle  in  honor  of 
the  illustrious  Washington,  who  was  first  in  peace,  first  in  war,  and  first  in 
the  afl'ections  of  his  countrymen  ;  and  you,  honored  sir,  as  his  successor, 
both  as  President  and  Commander-in-Chief,  will  add  additional  interest  to 
the  many  interesting  remiuiscenceswhichclusler  around  our  ancient  borough 
by  complying  with  our  lequest. 

With  seutimcuts  of  high  esteem  we  remain  truly  yours, 

John  D.  Bovi.e,  Chief  Burgess. 

I.  Y.  Hamilton,  Asa't  Burgess. 

Alfred  Creioh,    "| 

A.  B.  Caldwell, 

Jamks  HisTON,       }  Council. 


J.  L.  Jldson, 

A.  C,  MOKBOW, 


J 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  147 

[reply.] 

Washington,  Pa.,  September  17,  1869. 

John  D.  Boyle,    Chief  Burgesfi ;    I.    T.   Hamilton,  Assistant  Burgess ; 

Alfred   Creigh,    A.  B.   Caldwell,   James  Huston,  J.  L.  Judson,  A.  C. 

Morroiv,  Councilmen  : 

Gf.ntlemen  :  Your  letter  of  this  date,  requesting'  me  in  behalf  of  the 

citizens  to  deposit  within  the  corner  stone  of  the  Town  Hall  now  in  process 

of  erection,  on  Saturday,  September  18th,  18G9,  a  box  containing  memorials 

of  the  present,  is  received. 

It  will  afford  me  pleasure  to  comply  with  this  request — enhanced  pleasure, 
because  your  county  and  town  were  named  in  express  honor  of  the  Father 
of  our  Country  (whose  name  they  bear),  whose  name  is  revered  by  every 
American  citizen  who  loves  his  country. 

With  great  respect,  vour  obedient  servant, 

U.  S.  Grant. 

The  time  fixed  for  the  ceremonies  above  alluded  to  was  2^  o'clock  on 
Saturday  afternoon. 

About  two  o'clock  Burgess  Boyle  and  Dr.  Creigh,  a  member  of  Council, 
proceeded  in  a  carriage  to  Mr.  Wm.  Smith's  residence,  to  accompany  the  Pre- 
sident to  the  public  square.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  President  the  Wash- 
ington brass  band,  being  on  the  ground,  played  a  national  air,  after  which 
Major  Ewing  announced  the  programme.  Rev.  W.  A.  Davidson,  D.  D., 
was  then  introduced,  and  asked  the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  the  undertak- 
ing being  inaugurated,  and  returned  thanks  for  the  success  and  prosperity 
of  the  country.  David  S.  Patterson,  Esq.,  counsel  for  the  Council,  was 
then  introduced,  and  delivered  the  following  pertinent,  terse,  and  eloquent 
remarks : — • 

The  speaker  said  he  would  confine  himself  to  a  brief  statement  of  facts, 
rather  than  attempt  any  formal  or  lengthy  address.  A  town  was  laid  out 
on  the  site  of  our  present  substantial  and  beautiful  borough,  in  October  of 
the  year  1781,  by  David  Hoge,  and  named  Bassettown.  Three  years  later 
it  was  sold  to  the  two  sons  of  its  founder,  and  they  gave  it  its  present  name 
in  honor  of  the  one  who  had  just  led  a  brave  people  to  independence.  In 
1810  the  little  village  obtained  a  borough  charter.  Favored  by  its  fortu- 
nate location  on  the  line  of  what  was  then  the  great  national  thoroughfare 
from  East  to  West,  its  citizens  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  greeting  all  the  dis- 
tinguished statesmen  of  the  West,  on  their  journeys  to  and  from  the  national 
capital.  Almost  on  the  very  spot  where  we  are  gathered  to-day  her  glad 
people  extended  a  joyful  greeting  and  cordial  welcome,  in  succession,  to 
Presidents  Monroe,  Jackson,  John  Quincy  Adams,  Harrison,  Polk,  and 
Taylor. 

For  twenty  years  past  the  railroads  have  whirled  statesmen  and  traffic 
over  other  routes,  leaving  our  town  to  a  lagging  inland  growth ;  but  the 
evidences  of  both  public  and  private  improvement,  during  the  last  year, 
seem  laden  with  better  hopes.  The  work  on  the  public  edifice  with  which 
the  people  had  determined  by  their  votes  to  ornament  the  public  square, 
having  progressed  to  the  point  of  laying  the  corner  stone,  the  borough 
authorities  had  wisely  determined  to  deposit  beneath  that  stone  a  box,  con- 
taining contributed  memorials  of  the  present  and  the  past,  so  that  coiping 
generations  might  learn  our  history  to  the  pi-esent  time,  when  these  memo- 
rials shall  come  to  light.  With  equal  wisdom  had  they  embraced  the 
opportunity  afforded  by  the  presence  of  General  Grant  amongst  us  to  have 
that  collection  of  testimony  to  the  future  deposited  by  the  hands  of  a  no 


148  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

less  distinguished  personagre  than  the  President  of  the  United  States  him- 
self, 'i'he  speaker  said  there  was  a  peculiar  fitness  in  this  feature  of  the 
ceremonies,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  tliis  was  the  first  town  named,  after  the 
first  great  struggle  for  independence,  in  honor  of  the  illustrious  hero  who 
became  the  first  President  of  the  United  States,  and  first  Commander-in- 
Chief  of  her  army  and  navy.  AVliiit  a  happy  thought  was  it,  then,  that 
secured  on  this  pleasant  occasion  the  presence  and  aid  of  the  distinguished 
hero  of  the  nation's  last  great  struggle — the  present,  living  successor  of 
the  good  Washington,  both  as  President  and  Commander-in-Chief. 

The  speaker,  in  conclusion,  turned  to  President  Grant,  and  addressed 
him  as  follows  :  *'  And  now,  most  honored  sir,  the  craftsmen  having  reported 
the  foundation  ready  for  the  corner  stone,  and  that  stone  being  e.xactly 
squared  and  now  ready  to  be  placed  in  its  proper  position,  by  virtue  of  the 
authority  of  the  Burgesses  and  Council  of  the  borough  of  Washington,  this 
bo.x  of  memorials  is  delivered  into  your  hands,  to  be  deposited  beneath  it." 

At  the  coDclusion  of  Mr.  Patterson's  speech,  the  President  silently  took 
the  bo.x  from  the  hands  of  Dr.  Creigh  and  deposited  it  within  the  corner 
stone,  after  which  the  l)and  struck  up  a  lively  tune,  and  the  Committee  of 
Reception  escorted  the  President  to  the  court  room,  where,  after  some 
introductory  remarks  by  Messrs.  Kwing  and  Hopkins,  the  citizens  generally 
came  forward  and  "shook  hands."  After  remaining  in  the  court  room 
about  an  hour,  the  President  retired  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  AVm.  Smith. 

List  of  articles  which  the  box  contained,  and  which  was  deposited  in  the 
corner  stone  (northeast  corner)  of  the  town  hall,  collected  by  Dr.  Alfred 
Creigh  : — 

Borowjh  Affairs. — Charter,  by-laws,  and  ordinances  of  the  borough  of 
Washington;  roll  of  present  officers  elected  April,  18G9  ;  roll  of  officers 
from  1810  to  the  present  time,  prepared  by  Alfred  Creigh  ;  blank  borough 
bonds,  upon  which  funds  were  raised  for  the  erection  of  the  town  hall ; 
carpenter  work  awarded  to  J.  Noble  Porter,  with  the  names  of  all  the  car- 
penters ;  mason  and  brickwork  awarded  to  Andrew  Brady,  with  the  roll  of 
Lis  workmen  ;  the  manufacture  of  the  brick  awarded  to  Andrew  Ford — the 
pressed  brick  to  Samuel  Hutson — the  oak  timber  to  AV\  B.  Cundall,  and 
the  tinwork  to  Jesse  Jordan ;  register  of  voters  in  the  borough  (also  the 
names  of  all  females  owning  property),  with  their  respective  occupations 
and  residence  ;  letter  of  John  D.  l?oyIe,  Chief  Burgess,  to  his  successor 
when  the  box  shall  be  oi)eued  ;  autograph  of  General  U.  S.  Grant— letter 
from  the  Burgesses  and  Councilmen,  and  his  reply,  and  notices  of  his  arri- 
val and  reception  ;  autographs  of  the  President  and  Associate  Judges  of 
Washington  County,  together  with  those  of  the  Prothonotary,  Register, 
Recorder,  Clerk  of  the  Courts,  Commissioners  and  their  Clerk,  with  the 
impressions  of  the  respective  seals  of  each  office,  as  well  as  the  autographs 
of  the  Borough  and  County  Treasurers,  High  Sheriff,  and  District  Attor- 
ney ;  list  of  pastors,  church  officers,  and  trustees  of  the  churches  of  the 
borough  ;  list  of  the  school  directors  of  the  Union  school,  with  the  name  of 
the  superintendent,  as  well  as  of  the  teachers  and  scholars,  with  their  ages, 
including  the  colored  school ;  officers  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Wash- 
ington, with  the  seal ;  history  of  Washington  cemetery  ;  catalogue  of 
Washington  Female  Seminary,  1868-()1) ;  catalogue  of  Washington  and 
Jefl*erson  College,  1868-G9 ;  proceedings  of  semi-centennial  celebration  of 
Washington  college  in  18riG  ;  premium  list  of  Washington  C^ounty  Agricul- 
tural Society,  IHG'.)  ;  Directory  of  First  Presbyterian  church,  with  the  his- 
tory of  tlie  Sal)ltalh  school  from  its  organization;  forms  used  in  the  bank- 
ing houses  of  W.  Smith  &  Son  and  Samuel  llazlett ;  officers  of  the  Wash- 
ington Gas  Company  ;  specimen  of  men's  and  boys'  wear  in  1869,  of  woollen 


,  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  149 

goods,  presented  by  A.  B.  Caldwell  &  Co.,  and  W.  Smith  &  Son  ;  specimen 
of  ladies'  dress  proods,  and  three  styles  of  bonnets  as  worn  in  1H69,  and 
presented  by  A.  B.  Caldwell  &  Co.;  eng-ravings  representing  gentlemen's, 
boys'  and  girls'  fashion  of  clothing  and  ladies'  style  of  bonnets  for  18G!).  by 
S.  Shaler  and  Mrs.  G.  Lonkert ;  specimen  of  domestic  goods  (for  ladies) 
manufactured  in  Washington  County ;  specimen  of  every  variety  of  paper 
collars,  by  Geo.  Metzner  &  Co.  ;  specimens  of  Saxony  wool,  raised  in  Wash- 
ington County,  and  presented  by  Maj.  Jacob  Morgan,  I.  Y.  Hamilton,  and 
Col.  S.  Beatty ;  style  of  carriage,  buggies,  and  velocipede,  by  S.  B.  Hayes 
&  Co.  ;  style  of  mowers  and  reapers,  with  descriptive  pamphlets,  by  J.  T. 
Kirk  ;  specimen  of  sewing  machines,  with  descriptive  pamphlets,  by  J.  T. 
Kirk;  a  bottle  of  pure  Monongahela  rye  whiskey,  by  J.  C.  Ruple;  Insurance 
agencies  in  Washington,  by  David  and  J.  Aiken  ;  specimen  of  cotton  raised 
in  Washington,  by  Miss  Ellen  Griffith;  by-laws  of  Washington  Lodge,  164, 
with  its  officers  since  1819 — of  Washington  Chapter,  150 — of  Council  No. 
1  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters — of  Jacques  DeMolay  Commandary  No.  3 
of  K.  T. ;  by-laws  of  Lodge  81  of  I.  0.  O.  F. ;  bj'-laws  of  Harmony  Lodge 
575  of  Good  Templars,  with  a  list  of  officers  and  members  ;  Jacob  Gold- 
smith's advertisement ;  specimen  of  cigars  manufactured  by  W.  L.  Euple  ; 
autographs  and  history  of  Samuel  Cunningham  and  George  Freeby  ;  set  of 
artificial  teeth  manufactured  by  Dr.  S.  Fulton. 

Coins,  Ancient  and  Modern. — This  class  consists  of  a  great  variety  pre- 
sented by  Miss  Clara  McCracken,  R.  M'llvaine  Drury,  A.  C.  Morrow, 
John  Harter,  David  Aiken,  W.  H.  Drury,  John  A.  Templeton,  J.  R. 
Kelley,  Jesse  Jordan,  and  John  Wilson  ;  American  coin  ranging  from  1776 
to  the  present  time. 

Currency. — Bank  af  Washington  and  Franklin  Bank  of  Washington,  by 
D.  S.  Wilson,  Esq.  ;  twelve  and  a  half  cent  note  issued  by  Frederick  Mary- 
land in  1840,  by  J.  A  Templeton  ;  postal  currency  prior  to  April,  1808,  by 
D.  S.  Wilson;  postal  currency  since  April,  1868,  by  W.  C.  Wiley;  Con- 
federate money  from  $5  to  $500,  by  J.  A.  Templeton  ;  Continental  money, 
by  Dr.  W.  S.  Mitchell ;  Continental  money,  by  S.  M.  Hall. 

General  rnatters. — Specimen  of  the  registry  system  of  the  Post  Office 
Department,  by  W.  C.  Wiley;  seal  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  and  of 
the  Secretary  of  State,  by  D.  S.  Wilson  ;  blanks,  &c.,  used  in  the  U.  S. 
Revenue  office,  by  John  E.  Bell ;  pamphlet  containing  acts  on  stamp  duties, 
by  J.  B.  Ruple  ;  National  Tax  law,  by  M.  L.  A.  McCracken ;  History  of 
Washington  County,  title  page  and  contents,  by  Alfred  Creigh;  An  In- 
viting Call  to  the  Children  of  Israel,  by  F.  Hood;  Pittsburg  Business 
Directory  of  1867,  by  John  D.  Boyle;  almanacs,  religious  and  medical,  by 
Messrs.  C.  M.  Reed,  F.  Hood,  S.  M.  and  J.  A.  Templeton;  Vicksburg 
paper  at  its  surrender,  by  J.  B.  Ruple;  stamps  placed  on  cigar  boxes,  by 
J.  C.  Ruple;  engraved  plate  of  names,  &c.,  by  J.  and  S.  Post;  History  of 
Knighthood  in  two  volumes,  by  Alfred  Creigh. 

Curiosities. — A  piece  of  cloth  from  the  pall  of  Henry  Clay,  deceased,  by 
D.  S.  Wilson,  Esq. ;  a  portion  of  the  hair  of  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne,  who 
died  in  1796,  by  D.  S.  AVilson,  Esc].;  a  piece  from  the  weeping  willow 
which  hangs  over  the  grave  of  Napoleon  at  St.  Helena;  a  shell  from  the 
Bay  of  Biscay  ;  a  piece  of  the  great  tree  in  California,  a  Japanese  writing 
desk,  and  some  postal  rebel  stamps,  by  J.  R.  Kelley,  Esq.  ;  two  pair  of 
revolutionary  shoe-buckles,  by  AV.  '1'.  Creigh. 

Newspapers. — Western  Telegraph,  edited  by  Colerick  &  Co.,  of  1797 
Washington  Examiner  of  1829,  by  John  Grayson  ;  Our  Country  of  1840, 
by  T.  J.  Morgan  ;  the  Tiny  Buffer  of  1840,  by  W.  Duane  Morgan  ;  Wash- 
ington Examiner  of  1843,  by  T.  W.  Grayson;  and  the  Loco  Foco  of  1844, 


150  HISTORY    OF    WASrilNGTOX    COUNTY. 

by  R.  "W.  Jones,  presented  by  Messrs.  Swan  &  Ecker  ;  the  American  Union 
of  1856,  by  J.  B.  Musser  ;  Washington  Examiner  of  1860,  by  A.  li.  Ecker 
and  J.  R.  Donchoo;  Washington  Review  of  1866,  by  Wm.  Swan;  and 
Wasliington  Tribune  of  1865,  presented  by  W.  T.  (Jreigh ;  Washington 
Review  and  Examiner  of  September  14,  1869,  and  AVashington  Reporter  of 
September  14,  1861);  The  Revolution,  by  Mrs.  Cady,  and  Harper's  Bazar, 
by  Geo.  Metzner. 

"Washington  and  Jefferson  Colleges. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  llStjthe  legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
passed  an  act  iucori)orating  and  endowing  Washington  Academy. 
The  trustees  were  Rev.  John  McMillan,  Kev.  Joseph  Smith,  Rev. 
Thaddeus  Dodd,  Rev.  John  Clark,  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  Rev.  John 
Corby,  Judge  Allison,  and  J.  McDowell,  Col.  Marshall,  and  Thomas 
Scott.  On  the  15th  of  December  following,  Thomas  Scott  and  Col. 
Marshall,  two  of  the  trustees,  addressed  a  letter  to  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, as  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  respectfully  so- 
liciting the  warrant  for  500  acres  of  the  donation  lands  which  were 
appropriated  by  the  legislature,  and  also  requesting  him  to  direct 
the  surveyor-general  to  lay  off  these  lands,  which  were  located  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Beaver  County,  and  were  sold  to  James  Alli- 
son about  1835. 

In  11  Sd  the  Academy  went  into  operation  with  twenty  students 
under  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  who  was  its  first  principal,  in  the  upper 
rooms  of  the  court-house.  He  continued  to  teach  until  tlie  winter  of 
1*790,  when  he  returned  to  his  congregation  in  Amwell  township, 
where  he  had  previously  opened  a  classical  school  in  1782,  the  first 
institution  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  in  the  great  valley  of  the 
Mississippi.  James  Hughes,  John  Brice,  Daniel  Lindley,  Robert 
Marshall,  and  Francis  Dunlaney  were  his  first  scholars  ;  the  school 
house  was  near  his  dwelling.  It  continued  in  operation  three  and  a 
half  years.  His  successor  in  1790  was  Mr.  David  Johnston,  who, 
upon  the  destruction  of  the  court-house,  accepted  Urn  situation  in 
the  Caiionsburg  Academy,  as  its  first  principal,  in  July,  1791.  June 
14,  1796,  Mr.  James  Dobbins,  of  York,  was  elected  and  served  un- 
til 1804,  when  Benjamin  Mills  became  the  principal,  who  officiated 
as  such  until  AVashington  Academy  w^as  incorporated  into  a  college. 

In  1790,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Esq.,  presented  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees fifty  pounds,  to  be  applied  to  the  purchasing  of  a  library,  which 
was  the  foundation  of  the  college  library. 

On  November  19,  1792,  AVilliam  Hoge,  Esq.,  for  the  love  he  bears 
to  useful  learning,  and  for  the  promotion  of  the  useful  arts,  sci- 
ences, and  literature,  presented  to  the  trustees  of  Washington  Acad- 
emy four  lots  of  ground,  being  240  feet  square,  in  the  eastern 
extremity  of  said  town,  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  outside  line  of 
the  town  (now  College  Street),  on  the  south  by  Belle  Street,  on  the 
west  by  lot  No.  104,  and  on  the  north  by  Cherry  Alley,  fronting  on 
Belle  Street  240  feet,  and  running  back  to  Cherry  Alley  240  feet, 


HISTORY    or    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  151 

being  lots  numbered  on  the  plan  of  the  town,  105,  106,  lOT,  and  108. 
These  lots  are  the  southeast  corner  of  the  present  college  campus, 
which,  however,  now  embraces  two  entire  squares,  bounded  by  Beau 
Street  on  the  north.  Belle  Street  on  the  south,  College  Street  on  the 
east,  and  Second  Street  on  the  west,  containing  fourteen  lots  from 
No.  102  to  115  both  inclusive.  I  shall  enumerate  these  lots  and  from 
whom  purchased  or  derived  by  gift,  in  their  order. 

No.  102  was  the  gift   of  David    S.  Wilson,   Collin  M.   Eeed,  Joseph  Mc- 

Knight,  Joseph  Henderson,  Esqs.,  and  Dr.  Thomas  McKennan. 
"    103  and  104  were  purchased  by  the  trustees.  May  9,  1833,  from  Johu 

Sheaffer,  Esq. 
"    105,  106,  107,  and  108  was  the  gift  of  'William  Hoge,  November  19, 

1792,  being  the  original  academy  grounds. 
"    109  was  purchased  from  David  Shields,  August  4,  1835. 
"    110  was  purchased  from  Daniel  Moore,  October  23,  1837. 
"    111  was  purchased  from  Henry  Langly,  executor  of  Samuel  Marshall, 

deceased,  July  1,  1835. 
"    112  was  purchased  from  George  Mitchell,  March  27,  1837. 
"    113  was  purchased  from  Rev.  David  Elliott,  June  27,  1836. 
"    114  was  purcliased  from  John  Wilson  (carpenter),  January  10,  1838. 
"    115  was  purchased  from  the  School  Directors,  March  8,  1837. 

To  these  lots  were  added  Cherry  Alley,  which  separated  the  tw^o 
squares.  The  college  campus  hg,s  a  front  of  500  feet  by  420  in 
depth,  or  about  five  acres. 

April  8,  1793,  the  trustees  were  authorized  by  the  legislature  to 
locate  all  or  any  part  of  the  granted  lands  westward  of  the  Alle- 
gheny and  Ohio  rivers. 

In  1793  the  trustees  erected  buildings  on  the  four  original  lots 
(105,  106,  107,  108),  thirty  by  thirty-five  feet,  two  stories  high,  for 
the  use  of  the  Academy.  This  is  the  centre  part  of  the  southern 
block  of  buildings.  The  hall  in  this  building  was  originally  used  by 
the  Presbyterians  as  a  place  of  worship. 

February  16,  1796,  the  trustees  made  application  to  the  legisla- 
ture, praying  for  a  donation  to  erect  additional  buildings.  On  the 
2d  of  May,  1797,  the  legislature  generously  donated  three  thousand 
dollars  to  complete  the  buildings,  on  the  condition  that  ten  indigent 
students  should  be  educated  for  a  period  not  exceeding  two  years 
each. 

Washington  College. 

On  March  21,  1806,  Washington  College  was  incorporated  and  all 
the  property  belonging  to  the  Academy  was  vested  in  the  trustees  of 
the  college  and  their  successors  Depending  on  its  own  resources, 
the  college,  under  judicious  management,  prospered,  and  so  grati- 
fied were  the  friends  of  literature  throughout  the  State,  that  the 
legislature,  in  1820,  granted  a  donation  of  five  thousand  dollars, 
payable  in  annual  payments  of  one  thousand  dollars  each. 

This  was  followed  in    1831  by  another  donation  of  five  hundred 


152  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY." 

dollars  annually,  for  five  years,  to  qualify  young  men  for  the  higher 
duties  of  life,  and  especially  qualify  such  as  should  become  teachers. 

Washington  College  as  a  Synodical  College. 

On  November  9,  1852,  bj  an  agreement  between  the  Board  of 
Trustees  and  the  Synod  of  Wheeling,  Washington  College  became 
a  Synodical  College,  by  which  the  trustees  and  professors  were 
first  nominated  by  the  synod  and  were  required  to  be  confirmed  by 
the  trustees.  The  synod  was  also  required  to  keep  the  college  in 
operation  by  means  of  a  permanent  endowment  fund,  but  the  pro- 
perty was  to  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  as  heretofore,  under 
the  charter. 

It  will  be  proper  at  this  time  to  give  the  plan  of  this  endowment 
fund.  It  was  placed  under  the  control  and  management  of  a  board 
of  seven  members,  the  corporate  style  being  "  The  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  (college  Endowment  Fund  of  tlie  Synod  of  Wheeling." 
It  was  chartered  by  the  State  of  Ohio.  Its  treasury  was  established 
at  Steubenville,  and  the  proceeds  were  to  be  paid  to  the  trustees  of 
the  college. 

The  plan  of  endowment  was  as  follows  : — 

1.  Twenty-five  dollars  paid  shall  entitle  the  subscriber  to  two  years' 
tuition  in  any  department  of  the  college. 

2.  Fifty  dollars  paid  shall  entitle  the  subscriber  to  the  tuition  of  one  stu- 
dent durin?  the  entire  course  in  the  college  proper,  or  to  four  years'  tuition 
of  one  student  in  such  departments  of  the  institution  as  he  may  prefer. 

3.  One  hundred  dollars  paid  shall  entitle  the  subscriber  to  a  family 
scholarship,  embracing  the  tuition  of  all  his  sons  during  the  entire  course 
in  the  coll(>ge  proper,  or  to  four  years'  tuition  of  each  of  his  sons,  in  such 
department  of  the  institution  as  he  may  prefer;  and  for  every  additional 
one  hundred  dollars  paid  he  shall  have  the  privilege  of  designating  the  sons 
of  any  additional  family  he  may  choose. 

4.  Two  hundred  dollars  paid  by  an  individual,  association,  or  congrega- 
tion, shall  entitle  said  individual,  association,  or  congregation,  to  a  perpetual 
scholarship,  transferable,  as  other  property,  to  which  the  subscriber  or  sub- 
scribers may  appoint  any  individual  whom  they  may  select. 

.5.  Five  hundred  dollars  paid  shall  entitle  the  subscriber  or  subscribers 
to  a  perpetual  scholarship  transferable  as  other  property. 

The  subscription  upon  this  endowment  was  not  to  be  considered  as  bind- 
ing until  sixty  thousand  dollars  shall  be  subscribed,  when  certificates  should 
be  issued  by  the  trustees  of  the  college  endowment  fund. 

In  pursuing  this  history  we  shall  next  take  up  the  action  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Washington  College,  held  September  6,  1864, 
who  passed  the  following  preand)le  and  resolutions  : — 

Whereas,  The  Synod  of  Wheeling,  with  which  Washington  Col- 
lege is  connected,  and  several  other  synods  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  October  last,  made  a  formal  and  earnest  proposition  to 
the  trustees  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges  for  the  union  of 
these  two  institutions  upon  some  equitable  basis,  accompanying  the 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  153 

said  proposal  with  an  offer,  pledged  by  a  responsible  person,  of 
$50,000  towards  the  endowment  of  the  united  college,  and  further 
proposed  that  the  question  of  the  location  of  the  college  proper, 
rendered  difficult  by  local  interests  and  feelings,  be  left  to  the  deci- 
sion of  a  disinterested  and  impartial  board  of  arbitrators  to  be  chosen 
jointly. 

And  whereas,  The  public  mind  seems  now  more  than  ever  not 
only  to  approve  but  to  demand  such  an  union  for  the  sake  of  the 
claims  of  education  in  this  region  of  country : 

Therefore  this  Board  deem  it  due  to  themselves  and  to  all  con- 
cerned, without  the  slightest  design  to  reflect  upon  any  other  party, 
to  make  known  the  fact  that  at  a  meeting  held  shortly  subsequent  to 
the  reception  of  the  proposition  of  the  synod,  they,  by  a  unanimous 
vote,  accepted  the  proposition  with  its  conditions,  agreeing  to  abide 
by  any  decision  of  the  question  thus  fairly  made.  Also  to  declare 
that  after  a  conference  of  a  committee  appointed  by  this  Board  with 
a  like  committee  of  the  Board  of  Jefferson  College  on  the  subject  of 
the  proposed  union,  which  was  fruitless  of  success,  owing  to  the 
declared  unwillingness  of  the  Jefferson  Board  to  submit  the  question 
of  location  to  the  judgment  of  any  persons  outside  of  their  own 
body,  or  in  any  way  to  imperil  the  interests  of  Canonsburg  in  regard 
to  this  question,  or  even  to  negotiate  at  all,  except  on  the  admitted 
condition  that  the  college  proper  shall  be  located  at  that  place.  We 
are  still,  as  we  have  from  the  first  been,  willing  to  adopt  the  pro- 
posal of  disinterested  arbitrameiit  as  originally  made,  and  to  join  in 
asking  such  legislative  sanction  of  a  settlement  so  made,  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  may  require  ;  and  fai'ther,  to  set  it  forth  as  the 
deliberate  judgment  of  this  Board  in  harmony  with  the  public  voice, 
that  the  interests  of  education,  as  well  as  of  the  State  and  church, 
would  be  promoted  by  a  proper  union  of  these  two  colleges. 

1.  Resolved,  That  in  order  that  the  attitude  of  the  Board  in 
regard  to  the  question  at  issue  may  not  be  misunderstood,  the  Sec- 
retary be  directed  to  report  the  foregoing  statement  to  the  Synod  of 
Wheeling,  and  also  to  publish  the  same  in  the  Presbyterian  Banner. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Board  approve  the  action  of  the  faculty 
and  local  trustees  in  proposing  to  the  faculty  and  local  trustees  of 
Jefferson  College  to  unite  in  an  effort  to  obtain  a  portion  of  the  State 
agricultural  fund  on  condition  of  a  union  of  the  colleges  as  calcu- 
lated to  facilitate  the  desirable  end  in  the  manner  proposed  by  the 
synods. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  Colleges  Consolidated. 

It  may  justly  be  remarked  that  from  the  year  1807  the  records  of 
the  trustees  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges  (situated  but 
seven  miles  apart,  the  former  at  Canonsburg  and  the  latter  at  Wash- 
ington), looked  forward  to  a  united  college.  It  is  unnecessary  in  a 
work  of  this  character  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  consolidation ; 
11 


V 


154  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

suffice  it  to  say,  that  to  accomplish  the  consolidation  of  these  two 
rival  institutions,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  C.  Beatty,  of  Steubenville,  in  1804, 
proposed  to  give  fifty  thousand  dollars  if  a  union  were  efiected.  The 
trustees  and  alumni  of  both  institutions,  after  preliminary  meetings, 
were  fully  convinced  of  its  necessity,  and  labored  incessantly  to  bring 
about  the  desired  union,  and  to  enable  the  reader  to  judge  impar- 
tially and  decide  for  himself  upon  the  merits  of  the  initiative  pro- 
ceedings, we  give  the  following  preliminary  proceedings,  which 
eventuated  in  their  consolidation. 

On  Sei)teniber  Tth,  1864,  the  Alumni  Association  of  Washington 
College  held  its  annual  meeting.  The  records  of  that  body  are  given 
in  these  words:  "The  Rev.  Francis  J.  Collier,  of  Canonsburg,  ap- 
peared as  one  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Alumni  Association  of 
Jefferson  College,  and  presented  the  following  series  of  resolutions 
adopted  by  that  body  touching  a  union  of  Washington  and  Jefferson 
colleges." 

"  1.  Resolved,  That  the  good  of  the  community,  the  cause  of  education, 
and  the  welfare  of  the  country,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  imperatively  demand  the  union  of  Wnshinijton  and  Jefferson  colleges. 

2.  Brsalvcd,  That  it  is  with  ])rof'ound  gratification  that  ■w"e  learn  that  a 
plan  has  been  agreed  upon  by  the  officers  of  the  colleges  depending  for  its 
consummation  u])on  the  appropriation  by  the  legislature  of  the  State,  of  a 
liberal  portion  of  the  funds  for  agricultural  colleges  and  their  ui;e. 

3.  Eesolvcd,  That  in  view  of  the  fact  stated,  we  hereby  respectfully  and 
earne.'stly  petition  the  legislature  of  the  State  to  take  early  and  liberal 
action  in  this  Itehalf.  So  far  as  we  can  understand  the  Ci\?e,  jiifit ire  does 
seevi  to  demand  that  no  small  part  of  the  funds  in  the  hands  of  the  legisla- 
ture for  distribution  ought  to  be  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  this  part  of 
the  State. 

4.  Nesolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  present  these 
resolutions  to  the  Alumni  Association  of  Washington  College,  and  in  con- 
nection with  a  committee  from  that  association,  to  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  colleges  and  to  the  legislature. 

The  committees  appointed  in  pursuance  of  this  4th  resolution  were, 
Rev.  George  P.  Hay,  of  Baltimore,  Rev.  F.  J.  Collier,  of  (Janons- 
burg,  and  R.  B.  Patterson,  Esq.,  of  Grcensburg,  on  behalf  of  the 
Jefferson  Alumni. 

The  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  W.  S.  Moore,  and  Hon.  Robert 
R.  Reed,  of  Washington,  on  behalf  of  the  Washington  Alumni. 

The  following  is  the  action  of  the  Washington  Alumni  Associa- 
tion : — 

Whereas,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Alumni  of  Jefferson  College,  ou  the  3d  of 
August  last,  it  was  resolved,  "that  tiie  good  of  the  community,  the  cause 
of  education,  the  welfare  of  the  country,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  king- 
dom of  Christ  imperatively  demand  the  union  of  Washington  and  Jefferson 
colleges"^A.\D  WUKHKAS,  it  is  understood  that  committees  of  the  Hoards  of 
Trustees  of  the  two  colleges  have  lately  been  appointed  to  confer  on  the 
subject  of  union,  but  alter  trial  iiavc  failed  tlms  far  to  agree  upon  a  ])lan  of 
union — and  wukueas,  a  wish  has  been  expressed  at  this  meeting  in  behalf  of 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  155 

the  Alumni  of  Jefferson  Collenfe,  by  one  of  their  number  acting  as  a  mem- 
ber of  a  comnjittee  appointed  for  that  purpose,  for  our  co-operation  in 
efforts  to  brintj  about  the  desired  consummation — therefore 

Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as  a  suggestion  has  been  made  through  the 
papers,  of  a  convention  of  the  Alumni  of  both  colleges  to  assemble  at  an 
early  day  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  for  the  consideration  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  the  union,  this  association  heartily  approve  such  suggestion. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  Dr.  James  I.  Brownson, 
Hon.  E,.  R.  Reed,  and  William  S.  Moore,  be  appointed  to  co-operate  with 
the  Alumni  of  Jefferson  College  in  calling  a  convention,  and  to  take  such 
other  action  as  in  their  judgment  may  be  proper  to  further  the  proposed 
object. 

The  call  for  the  convention  read  thus : — 

To  the  Ahmini  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges : — 

The  undersigned,  representing  jointly,  though  unoflScially,  the  Alumni  of 
Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges,  and  believing  that  they  express  a  wish 
very  common,  if  not  universal  among  the  sons  of  the  colleges,  do  hereby  in- 
vite their  brethren,  the  alumni  of  both,  to  meet  in  convention  at  the  city  of 
Pittsburg,  on  Tuesday,  the  27th  day  of  September  inst.,  at  4  o'clock  P.M., 
in  the  lecture  room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  to  take  such  action 
as  may  be  deemed  advisable  to  further  the  consolidation  of  the  two  colleges. 
It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  all  the  alumni,  who  possibly  can,  will  be  present 
at  the  proposed  convention,  as  it  is  believed  that  the  question  of  union 
will  probably  be  decided  within  the  next  few  weeks. 

On  behalf  of  Jeff'erso7i  College. — Boyd  Crumrine,  Francis  J.  Collier, 
Alonzo  Linn,  D.  A.  French,  James  G.  Dickson,  A.  C.  McClelland,  David 
McKinney,  Robert  P.  Nevin,  A.  Williams,  Thomas  Ewing,  J.  P.  Penney, 
John  M.  Kirkpatrick,  Jacob  H.  Miller,  James  P.  Sterritt,  John  M.  Ken- 
nedy, James  J.  Kuhn,  W.  G.  Hawkins,  Jr.,  T.  J.  Bigham,  Algernon  C.  Bell, 
David  W.  Bell,  James  Yeech,  James  Allison,  and  R.  Patterson. 

On  behalf  of  Washington  College. — James  I.  Brownson,  William  S. 
Moore,  Thomas  McKennan,  John  H.  Ewing,  William  McKennan,  D.  S. 
Wilson,  A.  T.  Baird,  N.  Ewing,  R.  R.  Reed,  James  Black,  Marcus  Wishart, 
David  Reed,  Thomas  C.  Lazear,  Marcus  W.  Acheson,  J.  M.  Gallagher,  S. 
J.  Wilson,  J.  S.  Morrison,  A.  P.  Morrison,  W.  A.  Childs,  and  0.  H.  Miller. 

This  call  was  also  indorsed  thus : — 

The  undersigned  approve  the  object  of  the  proposed  convention,  and 
unite  in  the  above  call. 

J.  W.  ScoTT,  President  Washington  College. 
D.  H.  Riddle,  }     r>    ^     /y  -u 

Wm.  Smith,       |    ^''''■f'-  C««ons&«rg. 

In  pursuance  of  this  call,  a  large  majority  of  the  alumni  of  both 
colleges  met  in  the  lecture-room  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
Pittsburg,  on  September  2T,  1864,  and  organized  by  appointing  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Chester,  of  Philadelphia  (not  an  alumnus  of  either  college) 
President,  Thomas  Ewing,  Esq.,  Aaron  Williams,  D.  D.,  and  Samuel 
J.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  Secretaries. 

The  meeting  was  opened  with  prayer. 

A  list  of  the  alumni  of  both  colleges  was  then  taken  and  sixty- 


156  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

nine  alumni  of  Jefferson  College,  and  sixty-six  of  Washington  Col- 
lege were  enrolled. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Jaracs  I.  Brownsou,  the  following  gentle- 
men were  appointed  a  coniniittee  on  business,  viz:  John  K.  Ew- 
ing,  Vi.  JNIcKennan,  Esq.,  and  S.  J.  Wilson,  D.  1).,  of  Washington 
College,  and  Loyal  Young,  D.  D.,  D.  McKenney,  D.  D.,  and  R.  P. 
Nevin,  Esq.,  of  Jefferson  College. 

Papers  being  now  called  for,  Rev.  F.  J.  Collier,  on  behalf  of  Jef- 
ferson College,  and  A.  W.  Acheson,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  Washington 
College,  read  extended  papers  proposing  plans  of  union,  which  were 
reported  to  the  Business  Committee. 

While  the  Business  Commiteewere  preparing  their  report  afriendly 
discussion  on  the  whole  subject  of  the  proposed  union  took  place,  in 
which  Rev.  Watson  Hughes,  J.  E.  Caruthers,  F.  J.  Collier,  John 
M.  Smith,  Geo.  Frazcr,  John  H.  Ewing,  Esq.,  James  I.  Brownson, 
and  others  took  part.  The  report  was  read  the  same  evening  at  an  ad- 
journed meeting,  and  action  on  the  same  continued  until  the  next  day. 

The  I'eport  of  the  committee  read  as  follows : — 

We,  Alumni  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  colleges,  seriously  wishing  to 
promote  the  best  interest  of  education  and  religion,  having  met  in  conven- 
tion and  discussed  in  a  candid  and  fraternal  spirit  the  proposed  union  of 
the  colleges,  do  express  our  views  as  follows  : — 

1.  Resolved,  That  we  see  the  hand  of  Providence  pointing  to  the  union 
of  the  two  ancient  colleges  whose  sons  we  are,  and  fi.xing  the  present  as 
the  time  for  the  happy  consummation  by  such  evident  facts  as  these :  The 
great  and  constantly  increasing  number  of  literary  institutions  in  the  laud  ; 
the  urgent  need  in  Western  Pennsylvania  of  an  eminently  influential  and 
richly  endowed  college  ;  the  desire  for  a  union  of  Jefferson  and  AV^ashington 
colleges,  soon  to  be  made  more  apparent  by  the  completion  of  a  connected 
railway;  the  very  unsatisfactory  condition  of  their  antiquated  buildings; 
the  reduced  number  of  students,  partly  the  result  of  our  national  troubles: 
the  inadequacy  of  the  old  salaries  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  times  and 
afford  to  professors  a  competent  support;  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  aid  for 
either  institution  in  its  separate  existence;  the  several  offers  made  by 
liberal  and  reliable  men  to  furnish  large  amount  of  funds  in  case  a  union  is 
effected,  and  depending  also  upon  that  event,  the  possible  donating  by  our 
legislature  of  a  valuable  grant  of  land  given  by  Congress  to  the  State  for  the 
advancement  of  agricultural  knowledge. 

2.  Resolved,  'J'hat  inasmuch  as  the  fund  which  constitutes  the  present 
endowments  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  colleges,  were  contributed  for 
educational  purposes  by  men  of  various  religious  creeds,  justice  urgently 
demands,  and  in  our  opinion  also  very  deserv(>dly,  and  in  case  of  a  union,  the 
institution,  which  being  thoroughly  Protestant  and  evangelical  in  its  govern- 
ment and  teachings,  should  not  be  under  the  control  of  any  ecclesiastical 
body. 

3.  Reaolvcd,  That  the  following  be  the  plan  of  union  recommended  for 
the  adoption  of  the  trustees  of  the  two  colleges  : — 

The  two  institutions  shall  he  united  and  consolidated  under  the  name  of 
Washington  and  Jefferson  College.  All  the  real  estate,  college  property, 
and  funds  of  each  of  said  colleges,  shall  be  transferred  to,  and  be  invested 
in,  the  united  institution. 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  15T 

The  scholarships  heretofore  granted  by  either  of  said  colleges  shall  be 
respected  and  their  terms  fulfilled  by  the  united  colleges. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  united  college  shall  consist  of  twenty-one 
members — to  be  elected  as  follows,  to  wit :  The  present  Board  of  Jefferson 
College  shall  choose  ten  persons,  and  the  present  Board  of  Washington  Col- 
lege shall  choose  ten  persons,  and  the  said  twenty  persons  so  cliosen  shall 
constitute  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  united  college,  and  shall  have  power 
to  fill  the  remaining  vacancy,  and  vacancies  thereafter  arising  from  death, 
resignation,  or  otherwise,  shall  be  filled  by  the  said  Board. 

The  control  and  management  of  the  property  and  funds  of  the  united 
college,  as  well  as  the  election  of  the  President  and  professors,  and  the 
conducting  of  its  business  generally,  shall  be  vested  in  and  exercised  by 
the  Board  of  Trustees. 

At  the  place  where  the  college  proper  shall  not  be  located,  that  is  to  say, 
at  either  Washington  or  Canonsburg,  there  shall  be  established  as  an  inte- 
gral part  of  the  united  college,  two  distinct  and  separate  departments — 
one  to  be  called  the  Preparatory  Department  and  the  other  the  Scientific 
Department  of  the  college.  The  Preparatory  Department  to  be  of  a  high 
grade,  and  of  such  a  character  as  to  fully  prepare  students  for  admission 
into  the  Freshman  Class  of  the  college  proper,  or  to  the  Scientific  Depart- 
ment. The  Scientific  Department  to  afford  such  instructions  in  the  higher 
English  branches — natural  sciences,  belleslettres,  mathematics,  civil  and 
military  engineering,  mechanic  arts,  and  modern  languages  as  may  be 
necessary  to  fully  prepare  young  men  seeking  education  therein,  for  the 
degree  of  S.B.  shall  be  conferred  upon  the  graduates  of  said  department. 
If  practicable,  an  Agricultural  Department  shall  be  connected  with  the 
Scientific  Department. 

To  overcome  a  difiSculty  which  seems  to  be  otherwise  insuperable,  the 
location  of  the  college  proper  shall  be  determined  by  lot,  in  a  mode  to  be 
agreed  upon  by  the  Boards  of  the  two  colleges.  Before  the  lot  shall  be  cast 
appropriate  legislation  shall  be  procured  to  effect  the  consolidation  of  the 
colleges  agreeably  to  the  foregoing  plans,  as  a  fundamental  basis  of  the 
union,  and  providing  that  as  said  lot  shall  result  the  location  of  tiie  college 
shall  be  finally  and  irrevocably  fixed  and  determined;  and  thereupon  the 
real  estate,  property,  and  funds  of  each  of  said  colleges  shall  be  i^pso  facto 
vested  in  and  become  the  property  of  the  united  college ;  the  charters  of 
the  said  colleges  shall  cease  and  determine,  and  their  respected  existence 
be  merged  in  the  united  institution. 

4.  Resolved.  That  in  case  our  hopes  are  realized,  commodious  buildings 
shall  be  erected  in  the  best  style  of  modern  architecture  and  furnished  with 
everything  essential  to  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  the  professors  and 
students. 

5.  Resolved,  That  on  account  of  their  eminent  ability,  their  exemplary 
demeanor,  their  faithful  services,  and  their  self-sacrificing  spirit,  the  Presi- 
dent and  Professors  now  installed  in  the  colleges  which  we  represent,  are 
entitled  to  our  highest  admiration  and  esteem,  and  we  will  accordingly  take 
pleasure  in  mentioning  their  superior  claims  and  commending  them  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  the  new  Board  of  Trustees,  whose  duty  it  will  be 
to  reorganize  and  enlarge  the  present  faculties  in  the  event  of  a  union  being 
consummated. 

6.  Resolved,  That  we  pledge  as  individuals  our  earnest  and  constant 
efforts  to  furnish  money  and  appliances  to  the  united  college,  and  to  per- 
suade young  men  to  seek  instruction  there  in  preference  to  any  other 
institution. 

7.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  make  known  our  pro- 


158  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

ceedings  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges, 
and  to  urge  tliem  to  convene  at  an  early  day,  and  take  action  concerning 
the  matter  which  we  so  unanimously  recommend,  stating  as  a  strong  reason 
for  promptness,  the  determination  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Beatty  to  withdraw 
and  not  renew  his  most  generous  and  long-standing  offer  of  ^50,000,  if  there 
is  no  immediate  prospect  of  a  union;  and  in  case  said  Boards  adopt  the 
recommendations  of  this  convention  that  the  said  convention  be  further 
empowered  to  co-operate  with  the  said  Boards  in  secunng  such  legislative 
action  as  may  be  recpiisite  to  carry  into  effect  the  plan  proposed,  and  also 
to  secure  for  the  Agricultural  Department  a  liberal  proportion  of  the  Con- 
gressional grant  of  lands. 

8.  Kesolccd,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  meeting  it  is  extremely  desir- 
able that  the  continued  co-operations  of  all  the  religious  denominations  here- 
tofore patronizing  these  colleges  should  be  secured,  and  it  is  therefore 
recommended  to  the  old  Boards,  in  selecting  the  persons  who  shall  consti- 
tute the  new  Board,  to  give  a  due  representation  to  such  of  the  ecclesiasti- 
cal denominations  as  are  now  represented  in  the  Board. 

The  report  and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted,  and,  iu 
accordance  with  the  seventh  resolution,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jacobus  and 
the  Business  Committee,  who  drafted  the  report  and  resolution,  were 
appointed  to  make  known  the  proceedings  to  the  trustees  of  both  col- 
leges. 

Accordingly,  on  the  4th  of  March,  18G5,  an  act  of  incorporation 
was  passed  by  the  legislature  uniting  these  colleges,  with  the  com- 
bined name  of  both.  By  this  arrangement  the  senior,  junior,  and 
sophomore  classes  were  placed  at  Canonsburg,  and  the  freshmen 
class  with  the  scientific  and  preparatory  department  at  Washington. 
This  experiment  after  a  trial  of  four  years  failed,  because  the  ma- 
chinery was  entirely  too  complicated.  The  people  were  losing 
confidence  in  its  usefulness,  and  the  public  mind  was  discussing  the 
question  of  a  united  and  consolidated  college.  The  trustees  of  both 
institutions,  feeling  the  responsibility  which  rested  upon  them  as 
the  custodians  of  private  and  public  funds,  as  well  as  of  the  church, 
commenced  taking  the  preparatory  steps  for  a  consolidated  college. 
Accordingly,  on  April  4,  1866,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  D.  U., 
was  formally  inaugurated  as  the  first  President  of  the  united  college, 
with  an  able  corps  of  learned  professors.  But  even  this  dividing  of 
interests — this  separation  of  faculty  and  students — did  not  answer 
the  desired  end,  because  it  produced  alienation,  jealousy,  and  even 
distrust,  and  the  trustees  felt  the  necessity  of  an  absolute  consolida- 
tion of  both  colleges  at  the  same  location.  A  committee  of  five  was 
appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  whole  subject,  AVashing- 
ton  and  Canonsburg  being  represented  by  one  member. 

To  aid  the  trustees  and  their  committee  in  the  momentous  ques- 
tion before  them,  the  aluniini  of  Jefferson  College  held  a  meeting  at 
Canonsburg,  vVugust  5,  1868,  at  which  a  series  of  resolutions  were 
adojjtod  urging  immediate  consolidation  as  necessary  to  the  success 
of  tlie  college,  and  ])ledging  the  acquiescence  of  the  aluniini  in 
whatever  decision  the  Board  of  Trustees  might  reach  relative  to  the 
location  of  the  college. 


HISTORY    Ui'    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  159 

The  Committee  of  the  trustees  in  due  time  made  a  report  recom- 
mending a  modification  of  the  charter,  which  amendment  was  care- 
fully prepared  by  Hon.  James  P.  Sterritt  (an  alumnus  of  Jefferson 
College),  chairman  of  the  Committee.  On  this  subject  we  shall  give 
the  words  of  a  committee  who  addressed  the  citizens  of  this  county 
on  this  important  question  : — 

"The  legislature,  ia  passing  it,  February  26,  1869,  made  only  a  single 
change,  which  limited  the  competition  for  the  site  of  the  college  to  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Board  of  Trustees,  in  adopting  this  amend- 
ment before  its  enactment  by  the  legislature,  and  then  in  accepting  it 
after  its  passage,  were  unanimous,  with  the  exception  of  one  member,  who 
resides  at  Pittsburg — all  the  members  residing  at  Canonsburg  and  Wash- 
ington voting  for  it." 

This  act  authorized  the  trustees,  by  a  vote  of  not  less  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  members  present,  to  iix  the  location  of  the  consoli- 
dated college  at  Canonsburg,  Washington,  or  some  other  place 
within  this  commonwealth.  If  the  trustees  did  not  determine 
its  permanent  location  within  sixty  days  after  the  passage  of  this 
act,  then  the  governor  was  to  appoint  five  commissioners,  four 
of  whom  should  agree.  The  trustees  were  also  authorized  to  place 
as  much  of  the  property  as  was  necessary  in  the  hands  of  seven 
local  trustees,  to  the  place  losing  the  college,  as  would  be  neces- 
sary to  establish  an  academy,  normal  school,  or  institution  of  a  lower 
grade  than  a  college. 

April  20,  18C9.  The  trustees,  in  accordance  with  the  act,  met 
this  day  in  Pittsburg  to  determine  the  question,  twenty-seven  mem- 
bers being  present  out  of  the  thirty  trustees.  Although  several 
places  wished  its  locality,  the  question  was  finally  limited  to  Canons- 
burg and  Washington — the  former  offering  a  subscription  of  sixteen 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  latter  fifty  thousand.  On  the  first  ballot 
(one  member  having  withdrawn)  sixteen  voted  for  Washington,  and 
ten  for  Canonsburg.  On  the  eighth  ballot  it  was  decided  by  a  two- 
third  vote  in  favor  of  Washington — thus  finally  settling  the  ques- 
tion, and  consolidating  Jefferson  and  Canonsburg  Colleges  as  one 
college. 

From  the  furnished  report  of  each  college,  at  the  time  the  union 
was  perfected,  we  find  the  endowment  fund  of  each  college  was  as 
follows : — 


Jefferson  College  Endoioment. 


James  O'lTara's  mortgage, 
James  Robb's  mortgage, 
Stock  in  Bank  of  Pittsburg, 
Stock  in  Canonsburg  Saving  Bank, 
In  Treasury,         .... 


$60,000.00 

5,000.00 

850.00 

820.00 

400.00 


$67,070.00 
Liabilities  of  Jefferson  College 10,296.79 

Real  Assets, 56,773.21 


160  HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY, 


Washington  College  Endoioment. 

Five-twenty  bonds,  U.  S., $2.5,150.00 

Premium  on  same,  5  per  cent.,     ....  1.2,")7.50 

Interest  for  lour  months, 1,0.56.25 

Seven-thirty  bonds,  U.  S., 3,600.00 

Interest  accrued  on  same,    .....  32.40 
J.  C.  Ramsey's  note,  secured  by  mortgage  and 

interest 5,4.50.00 

W.  S.  &  H.  Woodruff's  note 1,2.50.00 


„  7.796.15 
Sundry  notes,  with  interest, 6,124.50 

$43,920.65 

By  a  late  report,  it  appears  that  the  endowment  fund  of  the  con- 
.solidated  college  is  as  follows : — 

Jefferson  Collerre  fund, $56,099.29 

Washington  Colleije  fund, 42,698.33 

Eev.  Dr.  C.  C.  Beatty,  donation,  .         .         .       50,000.00 

Citizens'  subscription  of  Washington,        .         .       50,000.00 

$198,797.62 


From  a  gentleman  acquainted  with  both  endowment  funds,  I 
learn  that  the  interest  accruing  on  both  is  about  equal,  the  one 
being  invested  generally  in  bonds  and  mortgages  upon  real  estate, 
while  the  other  is  in  government  securities,  which,  although  differ- 
ing in  the  amount  of  the  capital,  say  $12,852,  yet  the  interest  is 
square. 

The  trustees  of  Cauonsburg  and  some  of  its  citizens,  dissatisfied 
^  with  the  recent  action  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  believing  that 
the  act  consolidating  the  union  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  colleges 
as  invalid  and  unconstitutional,  not  only  sued  out  an  injunction 
from  the  Circuit  Court,  but  brought  suits  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  result  of  which  we  refer  to  the  following 
pages : — 

At  the  September  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States, 
held  at  Wiliianisport,  Ta.,  in  the  year  18G9,  Judge  McCandless 
granted  a  preliminary  injunction,  restraining  the  Board  of  Trustees 
from  removing  the  collegiate  department  of  Washington  and  Jeffer- 
son colleges  from  Canonsburg  to  AVashington,  concurrently  with 
the  bill.  In  tlie  Circuit  Court  the  following  bills  in  equity  were 
filed  by  the  friends  of  Canonsburg  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Western  District  of  Pennsylvania,  viz:  The  Trustees  of  Jefferson 
College  VH.  Washington  and  Jefferson  College  ;  David  C.  Houston 
and  others  vs.  Washington  and  Jefferson  College  ;  Francis  J.  Col- 
lier and  otiiers  vx.  Wa.-^hington  and  Jefferson  College.  The  case 
was  fully  i)repared  by  James  Veech.  George  Shiras,  Jr.,  and  Boyd 
Crumrino,  P>qs.,  for  plaintiffs,  and  M.  W.  Acheson  and  D.  S.  Wil- 
son,    Esqs.,  for  defendants.     The  oral  argument,  however,   before 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  IGl 

the  Supreme  Court  was  opened  by  George  Shiras,  Jr.,  for  the  com- 
plainants, who  was  followed  by  M.  W.  Acheson  and  D.  S.  Wilson, 
Esqrs.,  for  the  respondents,  and  James  Veech,  Esq.,  closed  the  argu- 
ment for  the  complainant. 

The  following  arguments  were  presented  by  the  counsel  for  com- 
plainant. 

1.  Canonsburg  is  the  place  for  the  performance  of  the  scholarship  con- 
tracts. 

2.  The  legislature  could  not  relieve  the  corporation  from  the  full  and 
complete  performance  of  the  scholarship  contracts  at  Canonsburg.  The 
power  reserved  in  the  charter  of  1802  does  not  authorize  a  repeal  of  the 
charter  nor  any  alteration  of  it,  other  than  as  the  powers  and  privileges 
conferred  upon  the  trustees. 

3.  Legislation  could  not  be  accepted  by  the  trustees,  which  infringes  upon 
their  contracts. 

4.  The  act  of  1869  is  invalid,  because  it  does  not  aver  injurious  results 
from  the  act  of  1865,  and  does  not  protect  the  right  of  corporators,  and 
delegates  the  power  to  fix  the  location  of  the  college. 

5.  The  assent  of  donors  (scholarship  holders)  is  demanded  to  authorize 
any  change  in  the  charter  of  Jefferson  College. 

6.  The  act  of  1865  was  a  contract  between  the  trustees  of  the  two  col- 
leges, or  at  least  evidences  such  contract,  and  the  agreement  thus  evidenced 
is  violated  by  the  act  of  1869. 

To  this  the  respondents  replied  by  giving  the  following  statement 
facts  : — 

That  Jefferson  and  Washington  colleges  were  separate  institutions  of 
learning,  located  respectively  at  Canonsburg  and  Washington,  both  in  the 
county  of  Washington,  and  seven  miles  distant  from  each  other.  Jeffer- 
son College  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  Assembly  passed  January  15, 
1802,  and  Washington  College  by  an  act  passed  March  28,  1806. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1865,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  to  unite  the 
colleges  and  erect  them  into  one  corporation  under  the  name  of  Washing- 
ton and  Jefferson  College,  and  providing  for  the  instruction  of  the  senior, 
junior,  and  sophomore  classes  at  Canonsburg,  and  the  other  class  and 
department  at  Washington. 

On  the  26th  day  of  February  1869,  a  supplement  to  the  act  was  passed, 
providing  for  the  concentration  of  all  the  departments  of  the  college  at  one 
place,  and  under  this  act  they  were  located  at  AVashington. 

The  trustees  of  Jefferson  College  and  Francis  J.  Collier,  and  others,  in 
their  several  bills,  assail  the  act  of  February  26th,  ]869,  as  unconstitutional, 
and  David  C.  Houston  and  others  in  their  bill  assail  both  the  acts  of  March 
4th,  1865,  and  February  26th,  1869,  as  invalid  and  unconstitutional. 

Messrs.  M.  W.  Acheson  and  D.  S.  Wilson  submitted  arguments 
to  the  court  tending  to  establish  the  following  proposition  : — 

1.  That  the  corporation,  the  trustees  of  Jefferson  College  in  Canonsburg, 
in  the  county  of  Washington,  was,  by  the  very  terms  and  nature  of  its  poli- 
tical existence,  subject  to  dissolution  by  a  surrender  of  its  corporate  fran- 
chises. 

2.  That  by  the  acceptance  of  the  act  of  March  4th,  1865,  Jefferson  Col- 
lege surrendered  its  corporate  franchises,  and  therefore  ceased  to  exist. 


of 


102  HISTORY    OF    WASUINUTON    COUNTY. 

3.  That  the  frcneral  and  unconditional  power  to  alter  its  charter  is  dis- 
tinctly reserved  by  the  legislature,  and  is  an  integral  part  of  the  contract 
between  the  State  and  the  corporation. 

4.  That  this  power  may  be  exercised  whenever  the  legislature  deems  it 
expedient  to  do  so.  and  such  exercise  of  it  does  not  impair  the  contract 
between  the  State  and  the  corporation. 

5.  That  the  rights  of  the  plaintiffs,  growing  out  of  their  contracts  with 
Jefferson  College  are  subject  to  the  power  of  the  legislature  to  alter  the 
charter  of  that  institution. 

6.  That  the  legislature  was  therefore  constitutionally  competent  to  trans- 
fer the  location  of  Jefferson  College  to  Washington,  and  by  consequence  to 
fix  that  as  the  place  of  performance  of  the  plaintiffs'  contract. 

7.  That  in  any  aspect  of  the  case  the  complainants  are  not  entitled  to 
the  remedy  by  any  injunction. 

At  the  opening  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Phila- 
delphia, ou  January  3d,  1870,  Chief  Justice  Thompson  delivered 
the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  in  the 
several  cases  involving  the  right  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  con- 
solidate all  the  departments  of  the  Institution  at  this  place. 

David  C.  Houston,  John  Jounson,  et  al. 

vs. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 

The  Trustees  of  Jefferson  College  in  Canonsburg 

vs. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 

Francis  J.  Collier,  Wm.  Jeffrey,  et  al. 

vs. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 

The  unanimous  opinion  of  the  court  was  delivered  at  Philadelphia,  Janu- 
ary 3,  1870,  by  Chief  Justice  Thompson. 

These  three  bills,  relating  to  the  same  institution,  and  involving  con- 
siderations common  to  all,  were  argued  together,  and  as  they  can  be  most 
satisfactorily  disposed  of  together,  we  now  propose  to  do  so. 

The  first  of  them  raises  the  question  whether  the  contracts  of  scholar- 
ship between  the  complainants  and  others,  and  Jefferson  College,  did  not 
interpose  a  constitutional  barrier  to  any  legislative  grant  of  authority  to 
the  trustees  of  the  college  to  surrender  its  former  charter  and  accept  a 
new  one,  by  which  the  college  was  eventually  removed  from  Canonsburg 
to  Washington,  in  the  same  county. 

The  second  is  by  the  Trustees  of  Jefferson  College,  in  which  the  same 
question  is  raised  by  them  ;  and 

'i'he  third  is  by  some  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Wash- 
ington and  Jefferson  College,  in  which  they  complain  of  the  defendant,  that 
its  trustees  are,  under  pretence  of  authority  conferred  by  the  act  of  2Gth 
February,  lH(/.>,  about  to  violate  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  4th  March, 
1BG5,  by  which  Washington  and  .reffl'rson  College  was  authorized  to  pro- 
vide for  the  instruction  of  the  Senior,  Junior,  and  Sophomore  Classes  at 
Canonsburg,  and  students  in  the  Freslnnan  Class  and  in  the  Scientific  and 
Preparatory  Department,  and  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Art  in 
Washington,  and,  in  disregard  thereof,  about  to  unite  all  the  classes  at 
Washington,  and  to  remove  thither  the  library  and  other  movable  pro- 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  K'j 

perty  of  the  college,  and  to  sell  or  dispose  ©f  its  real  estate,  charging  that 
such  intended  acts  and  doings  would  be,  and  are,  in  contravention  of  the 
rights,  duties,  and  obligations  conferred  by  the  act  of  4lh  March,  1865, 
referred  to. 

Each  of  these  cases  was  set  down,  and  all  were  heard  together,  on  bills 
and  answers.  The  argument  took  a  wide  range,  and  counsel  had  an  atten- 
tive hearing,  such  as  the  magnitude  of  the  seeming  consequences  of  a  de- 
termination of  the  controversy  demanded.  The  questions  presented,  how- 
ever, were  not  numerous  or  complex  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  possible 
discontent  which  may  for  a  time  follow  the  displacement  of  an  ancient 
and  cherished  institution  of  learning,  if  the  law  require  it,  we  must  so  de- 
termine.    We  do  not  make  the  law. 

A  question  to  be  answered  in  passing  on  the  merits  of  the  first  of  these 
bills  is,  could  Jefferson  College  surrender  its  charter,  with  the  consent  of 
the  legislature,  and  accept  a  newone  consolidating  it  with  another  insti- 
tution or  college  of  the  same  nature  and  kind,  without  the  consent  of  the 
holders  of  scholarships  in  the  college? 

The  general  right  of  a  private  corporation  to  surrender  its  franchises 
may  possibly  have  exceptions,  but  undoubtedly  this  is  the  rule.  This  is 
generally  described  as  an  inherent  right,  which  would  necessarily  defeat  any 
attempt  by  legislation  to  enforce  upon  a  corporation  qualities  of  perpetuity. 
Such  a  thing  would  be  impossible  in  the  nature  of  things.  Corporations, 
like  individuals,  die  by  the  decay  or  loss  of  their  vital  functions,  and  this 
effectually  defies  authority  to  render  them  perpetual.  A  surrender  of  a 
franchise  is  the  voluntury  death  of  the  corporation,  and  is  one  mode  by 
which  it  may  cease  to  exist.  (19  John.  474;  8  Pte.  381.)  If  anybody  ever  did 
dispute  the  right  of  a  corporation  to  surrender  its  franchises  of  its  own 
mere  motion,  it  is  not  likely  that  such  a  contest  about  the  question  could  be 
maintained  long  where  both  parties  (the  State  and  the  corporation,  the 
grantor  and  the  grantee)  consent  to  it  absolutely  or  on  condition.  This  I 
take  to  be  incapable  of  being  disputed,  and  the  history  of  this  college  will 
show  that  this  is  just  what  has  transpired  in  its  case.  It  is  iadisputed  in 
the  pleadings. 

But,  independently  of  this  mutual  consent,  there  is  in  the  act  of  the 
15th  of  January,  1802  (the  original  act  of  incorporation  of  Jefferson  Col- 
lege), a  reservation  of  a  right  to  do  all  that  was  done  by  the  legislature  by 
the  act  of  1865.  In  the  5th  section  of  the  original  act  it  is  provided 
"that  the  constitution  of  the  said  college  hereby  and  herein  declared  and 
established  shall  be  and  remain  the  inviolable  constitution  of  said  college 
forever  ;  and  the  same  shall  not  be  altered  or  alterable  by  any  ordinance  or 
law  of  the  trustees,  nor  in  any  other  manner  than  by  an  act  of  the  legis- 
lature of  the  commonwealth."  In  the  Commonwealth  vs.  Bonsall,  3d 
Wharton  559,  a  provision  like  this  was  held  to  be  a  good  reservation  of  the 
right  of  the  legislature  to  change  and  alter  the  charter  of  the  corporation 
of  the  "  Public  School  of  Germantown."  The  reservation  in  that  act  of 
incorporation  was  in  the  same  words  almost  as  those  used  here  ;  there  is 
not  a  shade  of  difference  in  their  meaning,  and  but  a  single  literal  differ- 
ence. Granting  the  rule  to  be  that  a  private  charter  of  the  date  of  1802 
could  not  be  changed  by  the  legislature  without  the  assent  of  the  corpo- 
rators, or  by  virtue  of  the  right  reserved  that  such  charter  stand  on  the  foot- 
ing of  contracts,  we  have  no  difficulty  here,  for  there  is  not  only  assent 
here,  but  a  sufficient  reservation  of  the  right  to  sustain  the  action  of  the 
legislature  in  the  enactment  of  1865.  So  far  as  that  act  is  concerned,  no 
body  objected  to  its  passage,  nor  to  what  was  done  under  it,  in  consoli- 
dating Washington  and  Jefferson  Colleges  into  one  body.     The  holders  of 


104  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

the  scholarships  now  complainins:  made  no  objection,  and  we  must  presume 
them  to  have  been  satisfied.  What  was  done  was  not  done  in  a  coroer,  and 
thoy  do  not  allege  they  were  uninformed  of  it.  Thus  the  surrender  of  the 
charter  of  Jefferson  College,  and  the  acceptance  of  the  new  one,  may 
strictly  be  said  to  have  been  with  the  assent,  in  point  of  fact,  of  the  trus- 
tees, the  legislature,  and  the  scholarships.  This  is  an  assent  of  every  in- 
terest to  the  new  organization,  and  ought  to  silence  all  complaints  by  any 
person  having  a  legal  right  to  complain  or  interfere.  But  in  order  to  meet 
the  objection  of  the  holders  of  scholarships  in  the  Jefferson  College  directly 
on  the  merits  of  their  objection,  which  is  that  their  contracts  are  impaired 
by  tlie  acts  of  186.5  and  1869,  let  us  consider  it  and  see  whether  there  is 
anything  sound  in  it.  If  I  understand  it,  it  is  supposed  that  these  scholar- 
ships are  impaired  in  value  by  the  establishment  of  Washington  and  Jeffer- 
son College,  at  the  town  of  Washington,  some  seven  miles  distant  from 
Canonsburg,  under  the  authority  of  th»  act  of  26th  February,  1869.  It 
may  be  noticed  that  these  scholarships  are,  as  stated  in  the  certificates,  for 
the  endowment  of  Jefferson  College.  This  designation  does  not  alter  the 
matter.  1'hey  are  contracts  for  tuition  in  consideration  of  a  prepaid  sub- 
scription, and  as  ordinary  contracts  are  to  be  interpreted.  This  is  their 
effect,  no  more  and  no  less. 

By  the  act  of  March,  186,5,  Jefferson  and  Washington  Colleges  were 
consolidated  under  a  new  charter,  accepted  by  both.  The  legislature  was 
careful  in  granting  the  new  charter  to  avoid  the  very  question  now  intro- 
duced ;  and,  to  do  entire  justice  to  the  holders  of  certificates  and  scholar- 
ships, and  others,  provided  as  follows:  "  All  the  several  liabilities  of  the 
said  two  colleges  or  corporations,  by  either  of  them  suffered  or  created, 
including  the  scholarships  heretofore  granted  by  and  now  obligatory  upon 
each  of  them,  are  hereby  imposed  upon  and  declared  to  be  assumed  by  the 
corporation  hereby  created  ;  which  shall  discharge  and  perform  the  same 
without  diminution  or  abatement."  The  whole  and  entire  of  these  con- 
tracts are  thus  saved  in  their  identity  and  integrity.  This  was  one  of  the 
terms  of  acceptance  of  the  new  charter,  and  there  is  no  pretence  even  now  that 
itis  not  obligatory  on  the  new  institution, and  may  be  enforced  againstit,  after 
acceptance  of  the  charter,  by  every  means  known  in  the  law  applicable  to 
or  under  the  original  charter.  The  nature  of  the  new  college  as  an  insti- 
tution of  learning,  the  subjects  and  mode  of  instruction,  organization,  and 
even  the  professors,  I  believe,  are  the  same  as  they  were  in  Jefferson  Col- 
lege. 'J'here  is  no  pretence  of  impairment  of  these  contracts  on  grounds 
of  dissimilarity  of  instruction,  or  capacity  on  part  of  the  new  institution  to 
impart  it.  In  passing  I  may  say  that  no  objection,  on  any  grounds,  was 
made  to  the  change  during  the  three  years  in  which  the  college  acted 
partly  at  Canonsburg  and  partly  at  Washington,  under  the  most  cum- 
brous and  unheard  of  arrangement  for  a  college. 

It  is  not  therefore  on  either  of  these  grounds  that  these  scholarship  con- 
tracts can  be,  or  are  claimed  to  be  impaired,  but  another  and  different 
ground  is  insisted  on,  namely,  that  the  contract  for  tuition,  &c.,  contained 
therein,  was  to  be  performed  at  Canonsburg  and  not  elsewhere. 

When  we  recur  to  the  contracts  there  is  no  word  or  provision  to  this 
effect  in  them,  or  in  the  plan  or  prospectus  put  forth  to  induce  investments 
in  them.  No  doubt  it  was  e.\i)ected,  from  the  fact  that  Jefferson  College 
was  located  at  Canonsburg,  that  that  was  to  be  the  place  of  the  perform- 
ance of  the  contract.  On  the  face  of  the  contract — and  there  is  nothing 
but  this  in  the  case — the  contracts  are  personal  to  the  corporation,  and  it 
could  perform  or  offer  jierformance  anywhere,  whether  at  Washington  or 
Canonsburg.     The  contracts  are  complete  so  as  to  bind  both  contracting 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  1G5 

parties  without  designating  the  place.  The  party  liable  to  perform,  like  in 
any  other  personal  contract,  is  liable  on  it  wherever  found.  It  was  not 
even  an  incident  of  the  contract  that  it  was  to  be  performed  at  Canons- 
burg.  It  was  an  expectancy  perhaps— even  that  we  do  not  know — we 
simply  infer  it,  not  from  the  contract,  but  from  the  situation  of  the  con- 
tracting parties.  We  all  know  that  even  the  incidents  of  contracts  may  be 
changed  without  impinging  on  the  constitutional  prohibition  against  im- 
pairing contracts.  Stay  laws  which  change  the  remedy  and  rights  of  the 
parties,  to  some  extent  at  least,  have  from  time  to  time  been  passed  in  this 
and  other  States,  and  they  have  been  uniformly  sustained,  wherever  the 
contract  did  not  specially  provide  to  the  contrary.  Chadwick  vs.  Moore,  8 
W.  &  S.  50.  Bunn,  Raiguel  &  Co.  vs.  Gorgas,  .5  Wright  441,  Bilmyer  vs. 
Evans  et  al.  4  Wright,  324,  contain  all  that  need  be  cited  on  this  point,  and 
in  regard  to  the  distinction  noticed.  In  these  cases,  and  in  every  one  of 
the  kind,  it  has  been  usual  to  present  the  argument  that  the  contract 
having  been  made  in  view  of  the  remedy  existing  at  the  time  for  its  en- 
forcement, it  was  a  part  of  it,  or  at  least  an  inseparable  incident  of  it,  and 
to  permit  it  to  be  controlled  by  a  new  rule  was  to  impair  the  contract. 
These  are  instances,  it  must  be  admitted,  very  near  the  outer  verge  of  legis- 
lative power,  but  they  have  been  always  sustained,  and  in  these  apparently 
objectionable  features  are  incomparably  stronger  than  anything  which  can 
be  assumed  or  predicated  of  the  contracts  in  question. 

The  argument  in  support  of  the  plaintiff's  position,  not  being  sufBciently 
self-sustaining,  an  equity  is  invoked  to  its  aid.  That,  as  a  consideration  in 
the  question  before  us,  is  outside  of  the  case,  excepting  as  it  may  serve  to 
illustrate  the  argument.  This  equity  is  that  the  subscribers  for  scholar- 
ships made  them  in  view  of  their  proximity  to  Jefferson  College,  and  the 
convenience  of  maintaining  scholars  at  home  while  attending  upon  a  col- 
legiate course  of  instruction,  and  that  they  will  be  deprived  of  this  advan- 
tage by  the  removal  of  the  college  to  Washington.  As  nothing  of  this 
appears  by  the  contracts,  and  there  is  no  proof  of  it  aliunde,  it  may  or  it 
may  not  be  so.  It  may  have  induced  some  or  all  to  subscribe,  but  this  is 
surmise.  Certain  it  is  it  could  have  had  no  effect  on  subscribers  for  per- 
petual scholarships,  for  the  college  in  such  cases  finds  boarding,  lodging, 
and  tuition  to  the  scholar,  and  it  is  no  matter  to  the  subscriber  where  that 
may  be  done  as  far  as  expense  is  concerned.  This  is  a  matter  of  indiffer- 
ence to  him.  But  disappointed  expectations,  the  motive  in  entering  into  a 
contract,  do  not  affect  the  existence  of  the  contract.  All  that  may  occur 
and  the  contract  remain  in  full  vigor.  No  constitutional  provisions  extend 
to  cure  this  oft  necessary  result.  We  must  not  at  this  point  overlook  the 
great  fact,  in  any  contract,  that  it  is  always  made  in  view  of,  and  subject 
to,  the  natural  or  legal  contingencies  affecting  it,  or  to  which  the  contract- 
ing parties  may  be  subject  If  a  contract  be  made  with  a  corporation,  to 
be  executed  in  the  future,  the  contingencies  of  existence  must  be  regarded 
as  having  been  in  view  as  much  as  between  man  and  man.  The  risk  is 
taken  by  both  parties.  They  know  themselves  to  be  subject  to  such  con- 
tingencies, and  not  the  contingencies  subject  to  them.  It  must  be  presumed 
that  the  subscribers  to  these  scholarships  knew  that  the  legislature  might, 
with  the  assent  of  the  corporation,  alter  its  fundamental  law,  or  might  do 
it  on  the  terms  of  the  reservation  already  referred  to,  and  thus  defeat  their 
motive  for  subscribing,  and  that  it  had  power  to  do  so,  only  preserving  their 
contract.  This  might  be  done,  and  this  the  law  presumes  all  parlies  to 
have  known.  Therefore  in  no  sense  could  just  expectation  even  have  been 
disappointed  by  the  act  of  removing  the  college  to  Washington.  The  case 
of  the  Genesee  College  and  the  opinion  of  Judge  Johnson,  at  chambers,  I 


166  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

presume,  have  been  considered.  The  occasion  of  the  delivery  of  that 
opinion  was  upon  a  motion  to  vacate  an  injunction  order  restraining  the 
removal  of  tlie  collcjre  at  Lima  to  Syracuse,  pending  litigation  as  to  the 
right  to  remove.  It  is  true,  he  seems  to  have  gone  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
question  somewhat,  and  discussed  the  question  of  scholarships,  injecting 
the  force  of  a  contract  into  the  motives  for  Rul)scribing,  but  as  1  understand 
the  case  (no  facts  being  reported  with  the  opinion  furnished  us  on  a  sepa- 
rate leaf)  the  contest  was  between  the  scholarships  and  the  college,  unaf- 
fected by  the  authority  of  the  legislature.  This  might  make  a  material 
difference  between  that  case  and  the  one  in  hand.  I  incline  to  think  it  would. 
]5c  that  as  it  may.  if  the  case  goes  further  than  this,  while  we  acknowledge 
great  respect  for  the  learned  jurist  who  delivered  the  opinion,  we  cannot  fol- 
low it  to  the  extent  claimed  here. 

Lastly,  the  argument  in  this  case  culminates  in  an  assumption  that  the 
legislature  and  corjioration  of  Jefferson  College,  and  so  of  any  other  cor- 
porate body,  may  be  controlled  in  changing,  altering,  repealing,  and  sur- 
rendering the  charter  by  the  contractors  with  the  corporation.  'J'he  one 
may  consent  and  the  other  act  upon  such  consent  and  yet  this  may  be  set 
aside  by  outside  parties.  This  position  is  only  true  of  corporations  gene- 
rally to  the  extent  of  leaving  intact  contracts  and  preserving  legal  remedies, 
obviously  no  more.  'J'hat  is  always  provided  for  by  the  legislature.  1'he 
loth  section  of  Art.  1  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  would  pro- 
bably require  this,  although  the  ICth  section,  of  Art.  1  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  State,  expressly  provides  only  that  in  repealing  or  revoking  charters 
by  the  legislature,  no  injury  be  done  to  the  corporators.  But  we  need  not 
elaborate  this  consideration,  as  both  the  contract  and  remedy  are  preserved 
in  this  case. 

In  conclusion,  as  far  as  the  first  of  these  cases  is  concerned,  it  must  be 
recollected  that  "Washington  and  Jefferson  College  was  incorporated  by 
act  of  4th  March,  186.i,  and  located  for  certain  specified  purposes,  l)oth  at 
Canonsburg  and  Washington,  and  that  the  act  was  accepted  by  both  of 
the  old  institutions  to  be  consolidated.  Thenceforth  the  corporation  is 
under  that  act.  The  act  of  24th  February.  18(i9,  therefore,  providing  for  its 
removal,  as  the  trustees  or  a  majority  might  decide,  was  clearly  within  the 
constitutional  power  of  the  legislature,  sec.  16.  Art.  1.  Constitution  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  being  assented  to,  it  is  valid  beyond  question  or  contro- 
versy. 

For  all  these  reasons  the  bill  in  this  case  is  not  sustained,  and  must  be 
dismissed. 

Bill  dismissed  at  the  costs  of  the  plaintiffs. 

2.  As  to  the  second  of  the  above-mentioned  bills,  viz  :  The  Trustees  of  Jef- 
ferson College  in  "Washington  andJefl'erson  College,  but  little  is  required  to 
be  said.  We  have  virtually  decided  it  in  holding,  as  we  have  done  in  the 
first  of  these  cases,  that,  by  the  acceptance  of  the  act  of  186"!  in  connection 
with  Washington  College,  it  ceased  to  exist  under  its  original  charter. 
There  is  therefore  now  no  such  Board  as  the  trustees  of  Jefi'erson  College, 
with  tlie  right  of  suit  in  the  name  of  that  corporation.  (8  Pet.  281.)  Con- 
sec|uently  the  plea  of  the  defendant  is  sustained,  and  this  bill  must  be  dis- 
missed. 

Bill  dismissed,  and  Wm.  Jeffrey,  who  filed  it,  is  ordered  to  pay  the  costs, 
no  other  name  appearing  of  record  as  complainant,  and  there  being  no  legal 
Board  of  'I'rustet'S  such  as  that  which  purpdrts  to  the  plaintiff  in  the  bill. 

3.  The  third  and  last  of  these  l)ills  is  filed  by  a  minority  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  and  they  claim  that  the  act 
of  Assembly  of  18Gy,  authorizing  the  removal  of   the  college  as  consoli- 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  107 

dated  by  the  act  of  1865,  in  obedience  to  the  decision  of  the  requisite  num- 
ber of  trustees,  is  unauthorized  for  the  reason,  it  is  alleged  that  it  infringes 
the  contracts  of  scholarship  with  the  Jefferson  College,  which  they  assume 
could  only  be  performed  by  the  college  at  Canonsburg.  This  question  we 
have  disposed  of  in  our  views  in  regard  to  the  first  of  these  cases.  We 
need  not  i-epeat  them,  but  refer  to  them  as  showing  that  the  ground  of  un- 
constitutionality is  not  tenable.  It  is  difficult  to  discover  wherein  the  act 
of  1H69  is  obnoxious  to  the  charge  made,  and  the  act  of  1865,  which  was 
not  complained  of  by  the  plaintiffs,  was  not.  By  that  act  the  Freshmen  class 
and  preparatory  department  of  the  college  were  to  be  at  Washington,  and 
the  Senior,  Junior,  and  Sophomore  classes  were  to  be  taught  at  Canonsburg. 
Now,  unless  the  scholarships  exclude  the  Freshman  and  Preparatory  de- 
partment of  the  college — which  they  do  not — there  was  just  the  same  im- 
pairment of  the  contract,  if  any,  of  scholarships  in  obliging  scholars  to  go 
to  Washington  for  tuition  in  the  Preparatory  department  and  Freshman 
class  as  to  require  them  to  go  there  to  pass  through  the  remainder  of  the 
course.  Yet  this  objection  was  not  made  by  the  plaintiffs  or  anybody  else. 
This,  I  admit  is  rather  argumentum  ad  honiinem  than  an  illustration  of  the 
question  on  principle,  but  that,  we  think,  we  have  already  done. 

To  another  charge  in  the  bill  the  respondents  answer  that  they  intend  to 
remove  the  classes  of  the  college  to  Washington,  the  place  fixed  as  the 
site  of  the  college,  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  18G9,  and  to  dispose 
of  the  realty  strictly  pursuant  to  the  authority  of  the  act;  and  as  this 
was  not  replied  to  by  the  complainants,  it  must  he  taken  to  be  true;  and  as 
we  have  already,  in  the  first  of  these  cases,  held  the  act  of  Assembly  of 
1869  to  be  constitutional,  it  follows  that  this  bill  also  must  be  dismissed  at 
the  cost  of  the  complainants. 

Ordered,  That  the  several  bills  of  the  several  plaintiffs  herein  considered 
be  dismissed  at  the  costs  of  the  several  plaiutitfs  in  the  said  bills  I'espec- 
tively,  and  that  it  be  so  entered  in  each  of  the  cases. 

The  decision  being  thus  rendered  iu  favor  of  Washington,  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  through  their  attorneys,  went  into  the  Circuit 
Court  at  Erie  immediately,  and  moved  to  dissolve  the  injunction, 
which  motion  resulted  in  its  dissolution,  thereby  removing  the  re- 
straint that  had  been  imposed  upon  the  Board,  and  permitting  them 
to  put  all  the  departments  of  the  institution  in  operation  at  Wash- 
ington. 

An  appeal,  however,  has  been  taken  from  the  decision  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  the  case  of  D.  C.  Houston  and  others  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  which  is  now  pending. 

Washington  and  Jefferson  College. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  held  a  special  meeting  at  Washington  on  the  1st 
inst.  The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  take  proper  steps  to  put  the  college  in 
effectual  operation,  now  that  the  injunction  granted  by  the  Circuit  Court  of 
the  United  States  had  been  removed.  The  injunction  was  allowed  by  his 
Honor,  Judge  M'Caudless,  as  announced  by  him  at  the  time,  simply  to  afford 
the  complainants  an  opportunity,  by  means  of  equity  suits  iu  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Pennsylvania,  to  test  the  legality  of  the  action  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  in  consolidating  the  several  departments  of  the  college  at  Washing- 
ton. The  Supreme  Court  having  unanimously  sustained  the  action  of  the 
Board  by  their  late  decision  at  Philadelphia,  Judge  M'Candless  promptly 


1G8  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

dissolved  the  injunction,  thus  leaving  the  Board  of  Trustees  free  to  perfect 
the  organization  of  the  college  as  provided  by  the  amended  charter. 

This  has  been  done  accordingly,  and  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a 
committee  by  the  Board  to  announce  the  result  to  the  public.  The  higher 
classes  in  the  college  proper  have  been  restored  and  are  now  in  full  opera- 
tion, and  the  prospect  of  success  in  all  the  departments  of  the  institution 
is  highly  flattering.  The  Board  have  assurance  of  additions  to  the  Senior, 
Junior,  and  Sophomore  classes  by  the  return  of  some  of  their  members  who 
repaired  to  other  colleges  during  the  pendency  of  the  injunction.  From 
recent  letters  and  inquiries,  a  considerable  accession  to  the  present  number 
of  students  is  confidently  expected.  'J'here  are  now  enrolled  and  in  actual 
attendance  eighty-five  students.  In  view  of  the  obstacles  now  so  happily 
surmounted,  this  fact  furnishes  the  most  gratifying  assurance  of  undimin- 
ished public  confidence,  and  is  a  good  omen  of  future  and  permanent  suc- 
cess. 

We  are  gratified  to  state  that,  with  but  comparatively  few  exceptions, 
we  have  had  the  steadfast  approval  and  warm  sympathy  of  the  joint  alumni. 
This  has  been  our  source  of  strength;  and  now  that  the  unexpected  and 
extraordinary  attempt  to  break  down  our  college  union  has  signally  failed 
we  can  turn  with  assured  confidence  to  the  repeated  pledges  of  the  joint 
alumni  to  sustain  the  consolidated  college  in  the  higher  and  wider  sphere  of 
usefulness  upon  which  it  has  just  entered. 

The  Committee  having  in  charge  the  nomination  of  a  President  have  been 
instructed  to  act  promptly,  and  to  convene  the  Board  as  soon  as  they  are 
ready  to  make  a  nomination. 

In  the  mean  time  the  college  has  been  placed  in  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  J. 
J.  Brownson,  T).  I).,  as  President  pro  tcin.,  to  whom  the  Board  is  specially 
indebted  for  consenting  to  occu])y  the  position  temporarily,  as  well  as  for 
the  good  service  he  has  heretoibre  rendered  the  college  as  Vice-Presi- 
dent p?-o  ^cm.  With  him  are  associated  in  earnest  work.  Professors  Linn 
and  Jones,  formerly  of  the  department  at  Cauonsburg,  and  Professors 
Woods  and  Vose,  of  that  at  AVashington,  as  well  as  Professor  Simonton, 
lately  inducted  into  the  chair  of  mathematics.  The  full  amount  of  instruc- 
tion demanded  by  the  academical  and  scientific  courses  of  study  is  now 
given  by  these  gentlemen,  and  preparations  are  in  process  for  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  laboratory  and  the  employment  of  an  assistant  in  laboratory 
practice.  It  is  the  design  of  the  Board  to  enlarge  the  faculty  hereafter  to 
meet  the  advancements  and  wants  of  the  college. 

The  Committee  on  buildings  and  improvements  were  instructed  to  proceed 
to  the  discharge  of  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  have  their  reports  ready 
to  lay  before  tlie  Board  at  their  next  meeting. 

Arrangements  entered  into  by  the  Franklin,  Washington,  Philo,  and 
Union  Literary  Societies  of  the  college,  whereby  they  are  to  be  consolidated 
under  the  names  of  the  "  Franklin  and  Washington"  and  "  Philo  and  Union" 
Societies,  were  approved  by  the  Board,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  co- 
operate with  said  societies  in  carrying  into  effect  the  proposed  design. 

In  order  to  correct  an  erroneous  impression  derived  from  newspaper  pub- 
lications, we  desire  to  state  for  public  information,  that  the  allowance  of 
the  appeal  from  the  decree  of  the  Supreme  (^ourt  of  Pennsylvania,  by  a 
•Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  does  not  imply  an  ap- 
proval of  said  appeal  on  its  merits.  It  is  simply  and  only  an  authorization 
of  the  removal  of  the  case  into  the  Supreme  ('ourt  of  the  United  States, 
which  any  judge  of  that  court  is  bound  to  allow  in  a  casein  which  the  con- 
stitutional validity  of  a  State  law  is  drawn  in  question,  and  involves  no 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  169 

commitment  whatever  in  regard  to  the  merits,  or  even  to  the  consideration 
of  such  a  question. 

We  have  only,  therefore,  to  express  our  assured  conviction  that  the 
judgment  of  that  court,  even  should  the  case  be  prosecuted,  will  be  concur- 
rent with  that  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  our  own  ytate.  Abiding  in  this  faith 
and  confidence,  the  Board  will  continue  to  go  forward  in  the  work  of  com- 
plete and  efficient  organization  of  the  college  in  all  its  departments,  thereby 
worthily  commending  it  to  the  support  and  patronage  of  the  friends  of 
education.  John  Eagleson,    | 

A.  W.  AcHEsoN,  >  Committee. 
February  2,  1870.  J.  E.  Johnston,    J 

List  of  Presidents  and  Professors  from  Organization  in  1806. 

PRESIDENTS. 

1806.— December  13.  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D.  D.,  April  13,  1817. 
1817.— April  13.  Rev.  Andrew  Wylie,  December  9,  1828. 

(The  college  was  closed  for  two  years.) 
1830.— February  26.  Rev.  David  Elliott,  D.  D.,  December,  1831. 
1831.— December  31.  Rev.  David  McConaughy,  D.  D.,  October  12,  1849, 

(who  continued  until  May,  1850.) 

1850.— May  6.  Rev.  James  Clark.  D.  D.,  July,  1852. 

1852. — July.  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  pro  tem.,  September,  1853. 

Synodical  College. 

1853.— September.  Rev.  John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  1866.     . 

Under  the  Union  of  Jefferson  and  Washington  College. 

1865.— March  4.  Rev.  D.  H.  Riddle,  D.  D.,  pro  tem.,  April  4,  1866. 
1866.— April  4.  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards,  D.  D.,  April  20,  1869. 

Under  Consolidated  College  of  Jefferson  and  Washington,  at  Washington. 

1869.— April  21.  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  pro  tem. 
Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D. 

VICE-PBESIDENTS. 

1856.— Rev.  Wm.  P.  Alrich, 

1859.— Rev.  James  Black,  D.  D.,  1866. 

1868. — Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D. 

1868.— Rev.  John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  February  23,  1869. 

PROFESSORS. 

1806. — James  Reed,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy, 

1823. 
1806.— Isaiah  Blair,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Medicine,  1828. 
1815. — John  Reed,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  183  7. 

(Prior  to  this  period  the  languages  were  taught  by  tutors,   viz  :     An- 
drew K.  Russell,  Christopher  Rankin,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan.) 

1817. — Rev.  Francis  McFarland,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
1818. — Rev.  James  Rowland,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
1819. — Mays  Smith,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
1820. — -Rev.  Guerdon  Gates,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
1821. — Rev.  John  Stockton,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
1822. — Rev.  John  Graham,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 
12 


no  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

1823. — James  Workman.  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

1824. — John  AV.  Scott.  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

1830. — AVilliam  D.  Smith,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

1830. — Rev.  William  P.  Alrich,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

1831. — Rev.  J.  Holmes  Agnew,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

1831. — John  L.  Gow,  Esq.,  Professor  of  English  Literature. 

1832. — Joseph  Ritner,  Esq.,  Professor  of  French,  Civil  Engineering,  and 
Natural  Science,  1833. 

1833. — Wm.  K.  McDonald,  Esq.,  Professor  of  Belles  Lettres  and  Political 
Economy,  1836. 

1834. — Rev.  R.  H.  Lee,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  1837. 

1837. — Rev.  R.  H.  Lee,  Professor  of  Political  Economy,  1854. 

1837. — Rev.  D.  Ferguson,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  1844. 

1840. — Robert  Milligan,  Professor  of  English  Literature,  1851. 

1844. — Rev.  Nicholas  Murray,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  1853. 

1846. — John  L.  Gow,  Professor  of  Constitutional  and  Municipal  Law,  1851. 

1846. — James  King,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Anatomy,  Phys'iology,  and  Hy- 
giene, 1851. 

1851. — Rev.  James  W.  McKennan,  Professor  of  English  Literature  and 
Ancient  Languages,  1854. 

1851.— Robert  Alilligan,  Professor  of  Natural  Science,  1852. 

1853. — Rev.  E.  C.  Wines,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

1853. — Rev.  Samuel  J.  Wilson,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

1854. — Rev.  W.  J.  Martin,  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences,  1858. 

1858. — Wm.  H.  Brewer,  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences,  1859. 

1859. — Rev.  James  Black,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages,  1868. 

1860. — Alexander  Muckle,  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences. 

1861. — Rev.  Henry  Woods,  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages. 

1861. — George  W.  Miller,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

1862. — Rev.  Joseph  Waugh,  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

1864. — W.  J.  Bruq-h,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  1866. 

1865.— R.  D,  Wyl'ie,  Professor  of  Mathematics,  1866. 

1865. — Rev.  E.  F.  Farrier,  Professor  of  English  Literature,  1867. 

1866. — Geo.  B.  Vose,  Professor  of  Mechanics  and  Civil  Engineering. 

1866.— C.  M.  Podd,  Professor  of  Latin. 

1866. — Rev.  Alouzo  Linn,  Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  Literature. 

1865. — D.  Kirkwood,  LL.  D.,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy, 
l!S67. 

1866. — Samuel  Jones,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry. 

1866. — E.  11.  Twining,  Professor  of  Natural  Sciences,  December  23,  1869. 

1867. — Rev.  J.  S.  Roberts,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy,  Dec. 
23,  1868. 

1868.— S.  F.  Peckham,  Professor  of  Natural  Science.  1869. 

1869. — J.  S.  Simonton,  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Astronomy. 

(For  the  history  of  Jefferson  College  see  Canonsburg,  title,  Chartiers 
township.) 

In  connection  with  Washington  College  are  two  literary  societies, 
viz :  the  Union  Literary  Society,  and  the  Washington  Literary 
Society,  each  of  which  has  large  and  valuable  libraries. 

The  Union  Literary  Society  was  founded  November  10,  1809,  by 
Jonathan  Kearsley,  Andrew  Stewart,  Josepli  B.  Beeket,  John  Ste- 
phenson, Thos.  S.  Cunningham,  and  John  AlcKeunan. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  lYl 

The  founders  adopted  as  the  motto  of  the  Society,  "  Deo  juvante 
in  ardua  nitimmry 

The  Washington  Literary  Society  was  founded  February  22, 
1814,  by  Alexander  Gilleland,  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  William  Heaton, 
James  Page,  A.  0.  Patterson,  Robert  McLean,  Andrew  Page,  Jacob 
Wolf. 

The  motto  of  the  Society  is  "  Doctrina  vim  promovet  insitam." 

James  Monroe, 

President  of  the  United  States,  arrived  in  Washington  May  4,  1817, 
accompanied  by  Gen.  Brown  and  his  aid  Major  Worth,  General 
McComb  and  his  aid  Captain  Root,  and  Governor  Lewis  Cass  of 
Detroit.  They  were  conducted  to  David  Morris's  hotel  by  a  com- 
mittee of  arrangement  appointed  by  the  citizens,  and  escorted  by 
Capt.  McCluney's  company  of  infantry. 

The  President  the  next  day  left  for  Canonsburg  and  Pittsburg, 
accompanied  by  Gen.  Sutton,  Col.  Hill,  and  Maj.  Dunlap. 

President  Monroe. 

During  the  presidency  of  Rev.  Andrew  Wylie,  James  Monroe, 

President  of  the  United  States,  visited  Washington  on  May  4th, 
181*7.  He  was  received  and  welcomed  to  the  hospitalities  of  the 
place.     Dr.  Wylie  addressed  him  in  the  following  language  : — 

Honored  Sir  :  It  is  with  no  small  degree  of  pleasure  that  I  present  to 
your  Excellency,  in  behalf  of  the  trustees,  faculty,  and  students  of  Wash- 
ington College,  our  sincere  congratulation  on  your  safe  arrival  at  this  place. 

It  would  be  superfluous  to  attempt,  by  our  feeble  testimony,  to  add  to 
the  evidence  of  that  universal  satisfaction  with  which  an  enlightened  and 
happy  people  behold  your  Excellency  placed  in  the  highest  office  that  their 
grateful  suffrages  can  bestow.  The  public  expression  of  this  satisfaction 
is  infinitely  remote,  both  from  the  interested  adulation  of  sycophants,  and 
the  constrained  applauses  of  the  slaves  of  arbitrary  power.  It  is  the  voice 
of  nature,  the  utterance  of  the  heart,  the  spontaneous  effusion  of  the  souls 
of  freemen,  too  dignified  to  feign  what  they  do  not  feel,  and  too  intelligent 
and  generous  not  to  appreciate  your  past  distinguished  services  to  the  re- 
public, and  the  unequalled  advantages  of  that  government  whose  executive 
functions  you  are  called  to  discharge.  Participating  in  this  universal  sen- 
timent, permit  us  to  join  in  the  public  expression  of  it. 

A  kind  Providence  bestows  upon  us  liberty,  abundance,  and  health,  and 
we  acknowledge,  as  a  blessing  which  enhances  all  the  rest,  the  exercise  of 
that  spirit  of  benign  wisdom  which  sheds  its  radiance  on  the  commence- 
ment of  your  administration.  We  hail  its  orient  lustre  as  the  precursor  of 
a  still  happier  day  than  any  we  have  yet  seen — may  not  its  brightness  be  ob- 
scured by  the  mists  of  prejudice,  nor  its  serenity  disturbed  by  the  storms 
of  faction  ! 

As  friends  in  literature  and  mental  refinement,  which  require  for  their 
successful  cultivation  a  state  of  concord  where  all  the  charities  of  nature, 
unembittered  by  party  rancor,  have  free  scope  for  exercise,  we  cannot  but 
notice,  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  every  influence  calculated  to  produce 
such  a  state.     An  influence  of  that  happy  character  we  recognize  in  that 


112  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

liberal  poh'cT/  which  dictated,  and  which  everywhere  attends,  your  journey 
through  the  different  sections  of  the  United  States.  Inferior  in  its  harmo- 
nizing tendency  to  no  influence  but  that  of  the  religion  of  Immanucl,  may 
it  meet  no  obstacle  in  the  minds  of  the  people  to  prevent  its  having  its  full 
effect  in  allaying  the  jealousies  of  party,  and  increasing  the  action  of  those 
moral  ties  which,  still  more  than  those  of  interest,  are  requisite  to  bind 
together  this  confederated  republic. 

We  are  especially  sensible  of  the  honor  you  have  done  us  by  visiting  this 
western  region,  which  is  but  just  commencing  its  ascent  in  the  scale  of 
improvement.  Those  institutions  which  are  calculated  to  accelerate  this 
ascent  are  but  in  their  infancy;  yet  we  believe  your  Excellency  will  view 
them  with  some  degree  of  interest,  especially  such  as  have  for  their  object 
the  cultivation  of  the  mind,  since  this  is  the  source  to  which  all  those  im- 
provements which  render  a  people  great,  respectable,  or  happy,  must  be 
referred.  That  your  Excellency  may  have  the  happiness  of  contemplating 
the  progress  of  our  beloved  country  in  virtue,  literature,  arts,  and  power, 
becoming  still  more  rapid  in  every  successive  year  of  your  administration, 
and  that  you  may  enjoy  a  life  prolonged  amidst  the  choicest  gifts  and  bless- 
ings of  Heaven,  honored  sir,  is  our  fervent  desire. 

To  which  President  Monroe  replied  : — 

Sir  :  I  accept  with  unfeigned  pleasure  this  expression  of  your  sentiments 
in  behalf  of  the  trustees,  faculty,  and  students  of  Washington  College. 
The  object  of  my  present  tour  round  a  very  considerable  extent  of  our 
maritime  and  inland  frontiers  was  that  I  might  be  enabled,  from  a  personal 
knowledge  of  the  state  of  our  country,  to  discharge  my  official  duty  by  pro- 
viding for  its  best  interests.  In  this  journey  I  have  derived  great  satisfac- 
tion in  contemplating  the  increased  prosperity  of  our  beloved  country,  and 
observing  those  indications  of  patriotism  and  harmony  which  so  generally 
prevail  among  my  fellow-citizens,  and  which  this  movement  has  tended  to 
draw  forth. 

The  sentiments  expressed  in  your  address  do  honor  to  yourself  and  to 
the  literary  institution  over  which  you  preside,  and  are  not,  1  am  persuaded, 
the  language  of  adulation,  but  a  just  expression  of  your  esteem  for  our 
happy  Constitution,  which  secures  to  us  our  civil  and  religious  rights,  and 
is  so  well  calculated  to  answer  every  object  of  the  social  compact. 

In  providing  for  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  a  country,  a  careful 
attention  to  literary  institutions  and  the  education  of  youth  ought  ever  to 
occupy  a  high  place.  To  the  youth  wc  must  look  with  an  eye  of  deep 
interest — they  are  the  hope  of  our  country — and  I  cannot  omit  mentioning 
the  peculiar  gratification  I  have  received  from  observing  the  growth  of 
literary  institutions,  and  the  attention  which  is  paid  to  the  instruction  of 
youth,  and  which  is  certainly  the  best  and  most  permanent  basis  on  which 
our  privileges,  civil  and  religions,  can  be  founded. 

For  the  notice  you  have  taken  of  the  few  services  that  I  have  been 
enabled  to  render  to  my  country — for  the  friendly  wish  expressed  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  republic  under  my  administration,  as  well  as  for  my  per- 
sonal comfort  and  happiness.  I  pray  you,  sir,  to  accept  my  thanks,  and  per- 
mit me  to  reciprocate  my  best  wishes  for  the  prosperity  of  the  institution 
over  which  you  preside,  and  for  the  happiness  of  the  trustees,  faculty,  and 
students,  that  the  College  of  Washington  may  not  only  retain  its  present 
celebrity,  but  that  under  your  direction  it  may  be  growing  in  a  state  of 
progressive  and  rapid  improvement,  is  my  sincere  desire. 

Accept,  sir,  for  yourself,  the  trustees,  faculty,  and  students  of  Washing- 
ton College,  the  assurance  of  my  respect. 


history  of  washington  county.  173 

First  Presbyterian  Church. 

We  are  chiefly  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  I.  Brownson,  the 
present  efficient  and  highly  esteemed  pastor  of  this  church,  for  the 
historical  facts  contained  in  the  following  history  of  this  church. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  'the  Presbyterian  church  the  Pres- 
byterians who  resided  in  the  town  of  Washington,  in  October,  1T81 
(at  the  time  it  was  laid  out),  held  their  membership  in  the  church  of 
Chartiers,  near  Canonsburg,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan. 
From  this  period  to  1793  Presbyterial  supplies  preached  in  the  court- 
house. However,  when  the  stone  academy,  now  the  central  build- 
ing of  the  old  college,  was  erected,  it  served  both  for  educational 
purposes  and  religious  worship.  A  place  of  worship,  however,  being 
procured,  an  organization  was  effected  in  1793,  by  the  consent  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  Andrew  Swearingen,  Joseph  Wherry,  Ro- 
bert Stockton,  and  William  McCombs  were  ordained  as  the  first 
elders. 

This  being  the  first  regular  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  it  would  be  well  to  remark  as  an  historical  fact  that  the  re- 
cords of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  show  that  Alexander  Addi- 
son, a  licentiate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Aberlour,  Scotland*  and 
afterwards  the  distinguished  president  judge  of  this  judicial  district, 
preached  in  Washington  in  December,  1785,  when  application  was 
made  for  him  as  a  stated  supply,  which  request  was  granted  April 
18,  1786,  until  the  meeting  of  the  Synod. 

This  church  having  placed  itself  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Ohio,  which  was  organized  in  1793,  the  Rev.  James  Welsh  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  as  a  stated  supply  from  Aprils  1794,  for  one  year. 
Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer,  Rev.  John  Anderson, 
and  Rev.  Samuel  Potter  officiated  occasionally  as  supplies.  On  the 
23d  of  October,  1800,  William  McCamant  and  Robert  Anderson 
were  appointed  commissioners  from  the  church  to  attend  a  meeting 
of  the  Presbytery,  and  were  authorized  by  the  Washington  congrega- 
tion to  take  such  steps  as  would  procure  the  settlement  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Ledlie  Birch,  as  there  were  a  number  of  his  old  hearers 
and  neighbors  from  Ireland  in  the  congregation.  The  Presbytery 
of  Philadelphia  indorsed  his  papers,  and  also  many  distinguished 
divines  in  the  east.  It  appears,  however,  that  the  Presbytery  did 
not  receive  such  satisfaction  as  would  induce  them  to  give  him  the 
charge  ;  yet  he  continued  to  exercise  his  ministry  in  Washington, 
under  an  appeal  to  the  General  Assembly.  In  January,  1801,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  Cross  Creek,  the  Rev.  I3irch  under- 
went another  examination  of  his  experimental  acquaintance  with 
religion,  but  was  rejected.  The  Presbytery  then  appointed  sup- 
plies, and  a  portion  of  the  church  retained  Rev.  Mr.  Birch,  The 
Rev.  Birch  also  preached  in  Pittsburg  one  Sabbath  in  each  month, 
for  which  they  paid  him  one  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  while 
his  salary  in  Washington  was  six  hundred  dollars.     On  the  26th 


174  HISTORY    OF    WASHINQTON    COUNTY. 

April,  1801,  the  congregation  appointed  John  Wilson,  Samuel 
Young,  and  William  Smylie  commissioners  to  present  tlicir  com- 
plaint and  supplication  to  the  General  Assembly  in  the  May  following. 
The  letter  was  signed  by  Samuel  Whann,  James  Chambers,  Wil- 
liam McCamant,  Hon.  Henry  Taylor,  Dr.  Absalom  Baird,  and 
Robert  Anderson,  in  which  they  state  all  the  circumstances,  and 
repel  the  idea  of  an  attempt  to  establish  a  congregation  within  the 
bounds  of  an  old  organized  congregation,  which  the  Presbytery  deems 
irregular,  and  contrary  to  the  order  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

This  committee  also  state  a  fact  to  the  General  Assembly  w^orthy 
of  being  recorded  to  show  the  state  of  religion  at  that  period  in 
Washington — "We  doubt  not  but  that  your  humanity  and  zeal  for 
the  gospel  will  be  moved  at  hearing  of  our  state.  Our  town,  the 
most  populous  in  this  part  of  the  continent,  is  in  the  centre  of  a 
close  settled  country,  not  less  than  sixteen  miles  square.  The  Lord's 
Supper  never  was  dispensed  during  the  last  fifteen  years,  and  our 
families  not  even  comforted  by  one  ministerial  visit,  until  lately  by  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Birch  ;  and  not  more  than  two  or  three  solitary  supplies  in 
a  season,  until  now  they  are  sent  to  us  from  a  spirit  of  contention. 
We  therefore  humbly  and  respectfully  supplicate  that  you  will  be 
pleased  to  take  the  Rev.  Thomas  Ledlie  Birch  under  your  protec- 
tion, and  take  such  steps  towards  the  settlement  of  our  congregation 
as  your  wisdom  shall  seem  meet,  as  many  of  our  principal  members, 
now  grown  weary  from  all  their  attempts  to  obtain  a  gospel  minis- 
ter, being  so  many  times  frustrated,  have  declared  that  if  Rev  Mr. 
Bii'ch  is  obliged  to  leave  us  they  will  withdraw,  and  in  consequence 
we  must  nearly  cease  from  being  a  worshi[)ping  society." 

The  General  Assembly  having  examined  Rev.  Mr.  Birch  on  his 
experimental  acquaintance  with  religion  decided,  May^  20,  1801, 
that  they  find  no  obstruction  against  any  Presbytery  to  which  he  may 
apply,  taking  him  up  and  proceeding  with  him  agreeably  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  in  this  case  made  and  provided. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  at  Buffalo,  however,  July, 
1801,  a  majority  of  the  Washington  congregation  petitioned  the  Pres- 
bytery to  take  Rev.  Mr.  Birch  under  their  care,  in  accordance  with 
the  decision  of  the  General  Assembly;  but  the  Presbytery  resolved 
to  have  nothing  farther  to  do  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Birch  as  to  his  trials 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  as  well  as  from  the  general  report  which 
Dre vailed  with  respect  to  his  imprudent  and  irregular  conduct. 

This  led  to  an  open  rupture  between  the  friends  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Birch  and  the  congregation  of  Washington,  rei)resented  by  its  el- 
ders, Messrs.  Swearingen,  Stockton,  Wherry,  and  McComl).  These 
four  elders  procured  the  Washington  Academy  in  January,  1802,  for 
religious  v/orship,  while  it  was  closed  against  the  adherents  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Birch.  The  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Birch  was  buried  in  the  old 
Presbyterian  churchyard,  in  Buffalo  township,  where  he  was  settled 
as  pastor.  This  unchristian  strife  ceased  after  much  unchristian 
conduct  on  both  sides,  and  peace  and  tranquillity  were  restored  through 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  175 

the  instrumentality  of  a  gifted  young  man  who  preached  in  the 
stone  academy  in  the  spring  of  1805.  That  young  divine  was  the 
Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  a  graduate  of  Dickinson  College,  who,  by  his 
urbanity  of  manners,  Christian  conduct,  unassuming  habits,  and  being 
an  able  and  eloquent  minister  in  defence  of  the  principles  of  his  Divine 
Master,  received  a  uuanimous  call,  and  was  ordained  October  16,  1805 
— the  Rev.  Mr.  Snodgrass  having  preached  the  sermon  from  1  Tim. 
iv.  16,  and  Rev.  John  Anderson  delivering  the  usual  charges.  Im- 
mediately after  his  installation  Rev.  M.  Brown  commenced  the 
undertaking  of  raising  funds  for  the  erection  of  a  suitable  place  of 
worship.  He  was  pre-eminently  successful,  and  through  his  indefa- 
tigable labors  and  noble  exertions  a  brick  building,  seventy  by  fifty- 
five  feet,  capable  of  seating  600  persons,  was  erected  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  town,  on  lots  Nos.  6  and  7  on  First  Street.  It 
is  the  same  building  which  is  now  used  by  the  Messrs.  Hayes  &  Co. 
for  a  coach  and  carriage  factory.  Lot  No.  6  was  purchased  from 
Andrew  Swearingen,  executor  of  Van  Swearingen,  deceased,  for  $20, 
and  No.  7  from  Samuel  Wherry  for  five  pounds — the  titles  of  these 
lots  being  vested  in  Joseph  Wherry,  John  Simonson,  Parker  Camp- 
bell, Hugh  Wilson,  and  Daniel  Moore,  trustees  of  the  congregation. 
The  cost  of  its  erection  was  $3000,  although  for  several  years  it  was 
used  with  unplastei-ed  walls,  without  pulpit  and  pews,  and  a  perma- 
nent floor,  the  necessary  funds  being  wanted  to  complete  it.  The 
Lord's  Supper  was  first  administered  in  it  in  June,  1807,  and  it  was 
occupied  as  a  house  of  worship  for  the  last  time  September  7,  1851, 
when  the  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson  preached  a  sermon.  Psalm 
xlviii.  9 :  "  We  have  thought  of  thy  loving  kindness,  0  God,  in  the 
midst  of  thy  temple." 

This  history  of  this  church  edifice,  from  its  erection  to  1851,  em- 
braces the  history  of  all  the  regularly  settled  ministei's  of  the  Pres- 
bvterian  church  of  Washington. 

1.  Eev.  Dr.  Matthew  Brown  was  its  first  pastor  from  its  erection  until 
April  1.5,  IS'23,  a  period  of  about  eighteen  years,  when  he  resigned  in  order 
to  accept  the  Presidency  of  Jefferson  (JoUege.  During  his  ministry,  or 
from  1806  to  1816,  he  was  the  first  President  of  Washington  College. 

The  members  of  session  inducted  at  different  times  during  Dr.  Brown's 
pastorate  were  James  Brice,  Josiah  Scott,  William  Sherrard,  Hugh  Wylie, 
Thomas  Stockton,  Thomas  Officer,  Robert  Johnston,  Thomas  Fergus,  Oba- 
diah  Jennings,  James  Orr,  and  Dr.  John  Wisbart. 

2.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Obadiah  Jennings  (formerly  one  of  Dr. 
Brown's  elders),  who  had  been  a  distinguished  lawyer  and  also  pastor  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Steubenville,  Ohio.  He  was  elected  its 
pastor  and  his  election  approved  by  Presbytery  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1823,  and  installed  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month.  In  1828  he  resigned 
and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
and  died  in  1832. 

During  his  incumbency  Charles  Hawkins,  Robert  Colmery,  Jacob  Slagle, 
Robert  OfiBcer,  Adam  Wier,  and  Alexander  Ramsey  were  added  to  the 
session. 

In  1824,  this  church  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Washington 


176  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

(which,  however,  was  formed  October  18, 1819),  having  been  included  here- 
tofore in  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 

3.  The  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Jennings  (nephew  of  Rev.  Obadiah  Jennings), 
filled  the  pulpit  as  a  stated  supply  for  one  year. 

4.  In  the  summer  of  1829  a  call  was  tendered  to  Rev.  David  Elliott,  of 
Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania,  which  he  accepted,  and  was  installed  in  the 
fall  of  IH'29.  He  served  until  1836,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of 
Theology  in  the  Western  Theological  Seminary. 

During  Rev.  Dr.  David  Elliott's  pastorate,  Hugh  Fergus  and  Samuel 
Vance  were  made  ruling  elders. 

5.  In  November,  18157,  Rev.  Daniel  Deruelle  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
pastor,  and  labored  until  October,  1840,  when  he  resigned  and  accepted  an 
agency  in  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions.     He  died  in  1858. 

6.  Rev.  James  Smith,  of  Scotland,  succeeded  Rev,  D.  Deruelle,  in  De- 
cember, 1840,  and  continued  its  pastor  until  April,  1844,  when  ill  health 
compelled  him  to  resign.  He  returned  to  his  native  country  and  died 
March  12,  184.5,  leaving  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  in  Washington  the  in- 
heritance of  his  labors,  the  result  of  his  devotion  to  their  eternal  interests,' 
looking  forward  to  that  period  and  to  that  eternal  city,  when  and  where  he 
would  present  them  faultless  at  his  Father's  throne. 

7.  In  the  fall  of  184"),  Rev.  William  0.  Anderson,  D.  D.,  accepted  a  call 
from  this  church,  and  although  not  installed,  he  preached  until  January  9, 
1846,  when  he  removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  at  present  laboring  in 
New  Albany,  Indiana. 

8.  In  1847,  Rev.  John  B.  Pinney  was  elected  pastor  and  served  until 
April,  1848,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  agency  of  the  New  York  State 
Colonization  Society. 

During  his  pastorate  George  Baird,  James  Boon,  Joseph  Henderson,  and 
Dr.  Robert  R.  Reed  were  set  apart  as  eiders,  and  Isaac  Hewitt,  John  Wil- 
son, John  K.  Wilson,  and  John  Grayson,  Jr.,  as  deacons. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  at  this  place,  that  the  reverend  and  venerable 
Dr.  David  M'Conaughy  having  accepted  the  Presidency  of  Washington 
College,  in  May,  1832,  the  pulpit  was  chiefly  occupied  by  him  as  a  supply 
when  there  was  no  regular  pastor. 

9.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1849,  the  Rev.  James  Irwin  Brownson  was  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  church,  since  which  time  ho  has  been  officiating  at^ts 
altar,  offering  prayers  and  thanksgivings  to  God  for  his  loving  kindness  and 
tender  mercies  to  his  flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  has  made  him  over- 
seer. 

On  the  .5th  of  August,  1855,  Isaac  Hewitt,  James  Ewing,  and  Dr.  John 
Wilson  Wishart  were  ordained  elders,  and  on  the  12th  of  the  same  month, 
H.  H.  Clark,  John  Wiley,  and  James  C.  Acheson  were  ordained  deacons. 

On  the  IGth  of  January,  18.59,  John  AViley,  II.  H.  Clark,  and  Dr.  Thomas 
McKennan  were  set  apart  as  ruling  elders,  and  Jackson  Spriggs  and  David 
P.  Lowary  as  deacons. 

On  the  12th  day  of  June,  1804,  Thomas  McKean,  Edward  G.  Cundall, 
Jr.,  James  C.  Acheson,  and  John  lloon  (who  had  previously  been  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Claysville),  were  installed  elders,  and 
Samuel  Beatty,  William  Praull,  and  M.  Wilson  McClain  as  deacons. 

January  19,  1808,  John  B.  Miller  was  installed  a  deacon. 

December  19,  1869,  William  Davis.  Sr.,  M.  Wilson  McClain,  and  William 
Praull  were  ordained  elders,  and  William  Davis,  Jr.,  and  Geo.  W.  McCombs 
installed  deacons. 

'I'he  sccornl  house  of  worship  was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Second  and 
Belle  streets,  on  lots  No.  43  and  42,  the  former  of  which  was  given  by  the 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  Itt 

proprietor  of  the  town,  David  Hoge,  to  General  Washington,  while  the 
opposite  corner  (lot  102)  was  presented  to  Mrs.  Martha  Washington.  This 
building  was  ninety  feet  long  and  sixty-five  feet  wide,  and,  including  the 
gallery,  would  contain  from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  persons.  It 
was  dedicated  to  the  Triune  God,  September  11,  18.51.  The  dedicatory 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Dr.  James  I.  Brownson,  the  pastor,  from 
1  Kings  viii.  27-30.  He  was  assisted  in  the  exercises  by  Rev.  Elisha  P. 
Swift,  D.D.,  of  Allegheny  City,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  McConaughy,  and  Rev.  James 
Clark,  D.D.,  President  of  Washington  College.  The  church  contained  one 
hundred  and  fifty-four  pews,  besides  a  gallery.  The  basement  contained  a 
lecture-room  and  Sabbath  school-room.  The  whole  building,  including  the 
purchase  of  the  lot,  cost  $12,000. 

We  come  now  to  speak  of  the  third  house  of  worship.  Early  in 
the  spring  of  1868  the  congregation  determined  to  make  certain 
improvements  to  the  church,  which,  according  to  the  estimates  of 
Messrs.  Barr  &  Moser,  architects,  of  Pittsburg,  would  cost  about 
$8000.  In  removing  the  roof  it  was  found  that  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  take  down  the  walls  to  the  foundation.  The  basement,  after 
examination,  was  decided  to  be  most  solid  and  enduring,  and  upon 
it  the  trustees  resolved  to  erect  the  present  beautiful  superstructure, 
which  is  unsurpassed  for  architectural  beauty  and  symmetry  by  any 
church,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the  place.  The  carpenter  work  was 
awarded  to  Mi*.  Nelson  Vankirk,  the  stonework  to  Mr.  Hargraves, 
the  brickwork  to  James  Houston  and  John  Dye. 

Being  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  second  church,  it  is 
ninety  by  sixty-five  feet,  with  proportionate  height  of  ceiling.  The 
walls  and  ceiling  are  beautifully  frescoed.  The  pews,  pulpit,  and 
woodwork  arc  in  imitation  of  walnut ;  the  windows  of  stained 
glass;  the  spire  rises  in  height  143  feet;  the  building  is  covered 
with  slate ;  the  tower  contains  a  bell  costing  $500,  upon  which  are 
the  words  "Ploliness  to  the  Lord."  The  cost  of  the  building,  or 
rather  the  present  improvements,  are  $20,600.  The  lots  could  not 
be  purchased  and  a  similar  building  erected  for  less  tlian  $40,000. 
The  church  is  lighted  by  a  chandelier  with  eighteen  burners,  and 
forty-two  additional  lights.  Each  pew  is  provided  with  a  cushion 
and  carpeted,  the  cost  of  furnishing  the  church  was  $1800  ;  while 
the  matting  for  the  Sabbath  school-room  cost  $220. 

This  third  edifice  was  dedicated  on  March  27,  1869,  with  the 
following  exercises  : — 

A  portion  of  Scripture  was  read  and  prayer  offered  by  Rev.  J.  R.  John- 
son, of  the  U.  P.  Church;  a  sermon  from  Psalm  xcii.  13,  and  an  historical 
address  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.D. ;  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Caldwell,  of  Second  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  thus  dedicated  and  set 
apart  for  the  worship  and  service  of  the  Triune  God,  without  any  debt 
BESTING  UPON  IT.  An  offering  thus  made  cannot  but  receive  the  approval, 
acceptance,  and  blessing  of  the  Redeemer  of  the  world. 

The  Sabbath  School 

Of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  June  15,  1816, 
although  a  general  Sabbath  school  for  all  denominations  was  opened 


178  HISTORY   OF    WASniNGTON   COUNTY. 

February  11,  1814,  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  having  been  called  to 
take  the  preliminary  measures.  The  meetings  of  this  general  Sab- 
bath school,  however,  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Tlie  persons  who  have  filled  the  office  of  superintendent  were 
William  C.  Blair,  James  Williamson,  Charles  Hawkins,  Peter  De- 
Haven,  George  Baird,  John  W.  Scott,  Abner  Leonard,  G.  Holmes 
Agnew,  AVilliam  McCombs,  John  McClintock,  Henry  Williams,  Dr. 
Robert  R.  Reed,  who  filled  the  office  for  twenty-six  years,  and  James 
C.  Acheson,  many  of  whom  were  students  of  Washington  College, 
and  became  ministers  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  school  is  under  the  care  of  one  superintendent,  J.  C.  Ache- 
son  ;  one  assistant  superintendent.  Dr.  Thomas  McKennan ;  a  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  Thomas  McKean  ;  a  librarian,  A.  T.  Baird,  with 
two  assistants,  Alex.  Brown  and  A.  M.  Todd ;  having  ten  male 
teachers,  twenty  female  teachers,  and  three  hundred  and  five  scholars. 
The  average  attendance  is  210  upon  each  Sabbath.  The  infant 
school,  under  the  care  of  Miss  Maria  McKean  and  Miss  Martha 
Wiley,  contains  eighty-six  scholars. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

At  what  precise  date  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  was 
established  in  Washington,  the  records  of  the  church  do  not  state, 
but  the  memory  of  some  of  our  oldest  inhabitants  informs  us  that  itin- 
erant Methodist  preachers  occasionally  preached  in  the  court-house 
and  school-houses  about  1198.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  here  with 
regard  to  the  origin  of  Methodism  in  this  place,  that  about  this 
period,  Robert  Ilazlett  and  his  wife  (the  parents  of  our  esteemed 
fellow  citizen,  Samuel  Hazlett,  now  deceased),  left  Carlisle  to  settle 
in  Washington.  As  they  were  descending  Gallows  Hill,  the  old 
road  from  Fort  Redstone  leading  to  Washington,  the  husband  re- 
marked to  his  wife,  that  as  they  were  about  to  make  new  acquaint- 
ances, he  hoped  she  would  avoid  those  of  the  Methodist  persuasion. 
She  in  a  truly  Christian  spirit  replied,  that  with  the  blessing  of  God 
she  would  seek  them  out  and  adhere  to  them  through  evil  and  through 
good  rei)ort.  Her  subsequent  Christian  life,  her  devotion  to  the 
church  of  her  choice,  and  the  undying  influence  she  has  left  to  Me- 
thodism and  her  family,  is  the  best  evidence  of  her  change  of  heart 
and  acceptance  with  her  Redeemer.  She  died  in  1844,  and  has  ever 
been  recognized  as  the  principal  agent  in  introducing  and  fostering 
Methodism.  The  first  official  meetings  took  place  about  the  year 
1800,  as  the  deed  of  property  is  the  ofiieial  evidence  on  this  subject. 

As  early  as  February  5,  1801,  John  Hogo  and  wife  conveyed  to 
Thomas  Lackey,  Abraham  Carier,  Abraham  Johnston,  Titus  Rigby, 
and  John  Cooper,  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  for 
and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  ten  dollars,  lot  No.  194.  This 
lot  was  on  the  corner  of  Chestnut  and  First  streets,  and  now  owned 
by  Parker  Thompson.  Mr.  Hoge,  in  his  deed  to  the  trustees,  binds 
them  to  erect  a  church  for  the  use  of  the  members  of  the  Methodist 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  119 

Episcopal  church,  according  to  the  rules  and  discipline  of  said  church 
as  adopted  by  the  ministers  and  preachers  at  their  general  confer- 
ence, and  in  further  trust  that  they  shall  at  all  times  forever  hereafter 
permit  such  ministers  and  preachers  of  the  said  M.  E.  church  and 
none  others,  to  preach  and  expound  God's  holy  word  therein.  He 
also  provided  in  the  same  deed,  that  if  any  of  the  trustees  advanced 
money  for  the  use  of  said  church,  the  sum  shall  be  raised  by  mortgage 
or  by  selling  the  property,  after  giving  notice  to  the  pastor  in  charge, 
the  surplus  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  next  yearly  conference. 

We  have  ascertained  by  our  venerable  friend,  John  Harter,  Esq., 
whose  whole  lifetime  has  been  devoted  to  Methodism,  that  Mr. 
Hoge  in  making  out  his  deed,  conveyed  lot  No.  124,  instead  of  lot  193, 
and  that  after  the  log  church  was  erected  on  lot  193,  the  deed  was 
changed  by  the  following  act  of  the  legislature.  On  the  5th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1811,  the  legislature  authorized  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  to  convey  the  right  of  the  said  church  in  lot  No. 
194,  in  consideration  of  lot  No.  193,  to  be  conveyed  by  said  Hoge 
for  the  use  of  the  church.  Accordingly  we  find  that  John  Hoge  and 
wife,  on  the  11th  of  January,  1812,  did  convey  to  James  Chambers, 
Thomas  Lackey,  Abraham  Johnston,  James  Shannon,  and  Israel 
Brown,  lot  No.  193,  bounded  by  Chestnut  Street  on  the  north,  lot 
192  on  the  east,  Pine  Alley  on  the  south,  and  First  Street  on  the 
west,  for  and  in  consideration  of  one  dollar,  and  under  the  same  re- 
strictions as  lot  No.  194  on  the  opposite  corner  was  held. 

The  congregation  erected  upon  lot  193,  a  log  church  (long  since 
weather  boarded),  which  yet  stands  upon  the  corner  and  is  occupied 
as  a  dwelling  ;  the  trustees  after  the  erection  of  the  brick  church 
having  made  the  change. 

The  log  church  being  to  small  for  the  growing  congregation,  they 
erected  in  the  year  1816,  a  substantial  brick  building,  fifty-five  by 
forty  feet  in  the  centre  of  the  same  lot,  fronting  First  Street,  with 
a  gallery  round  the  same,  at  an  expense  of  six  thousand  dollars,  the 
brickwork  having  been  done  by  Wm.  Richardson,  and  the  carpenter 
work  by  James  Orr  and  John  Wilson.  After  this  church  had  been 
occupied  for  thirty-one  years,  the  interest  of  the  church  and  the  in- 
crease of  population,  demanded  that  a  more  appropriate  house  and 
one  better  arranged  with  Sabbath-school  and  class-rooms  should  be 
erected.  Accordingly  on  November  22d,  1847,  the  congregation 
appointed  a  committee  to  procure  subscriptions  and  select  a  suitable 
location.  On  the  following  6th  of  December,  the  Committee  report- 
ed that  they  had  purchased  lot  85  from  Mrs.  Abbot  for  $400,  and 
exchanged  the  parsonage  property  on  Beau  Street,  with  John  R. 
Grififitli,  for  lot  No.  84,  adjoining  the  former  lot,  making  a  front  of  120 
feet  by  240  feet  deep.  These  lots  are  on  Belle  Street  (formerly 
Wheeling  Street),  east  of  Main. 

The  Committee  estimated  the  cost  of  the  church  at  $3864,  of  which 
over  $2000  wei'e  subscribed. 

On  December  8,  184Y,  the  trustees  resolved  that  when  the  sub- 
scriptions should  reach  $2800,  and  with  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of 


180  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

the  brick  church  (then  occupied)  they  could  erect  both  the  church 
and  a  parsonage.  A  building  committee,  consisting  of  Ilcv.  Edward 
Birkett,  John  Ilarter,  Samuel  Hazlett,  Samuel  Mounts,  Alexander 
Sweeny,  and  George  Lonkert,  were  appointed  to  receive  proposals 
for  a  church  edifice,  to  be  fifty  feet  wide  and  seventy  feet  long,  with 
a  basement  appropriately  divided,  and  J.  W.  F.  White  was  appointed 
treasurer  of  the  building  funds.  Subsequently,  however,  Samuel 
llazlett,  Esq.,  and  John  Harter  resigned,  aud  J.  S.  Sheaffer  was 
added  to  the  Committee.  After  the  sale  of  the  old  church  property 
to  the  school  directors,  on  April  1,  1848,  at  which  time  possession 
was  given,  the  Building  Committee  awarded  the  contracts  as  follows  : 
The  bricklaying  and  furnishing  all  the  materials  to  Absalom  Huston, 
for  $1628.25,  and  the  foundation  at  $1.50  per  perch,  and  the  range 
work  at  40  cents  per  foot;  the  carpenter  work  and  painting  to 
Messrs.  Kuhn  and  Davis,  for  $2205  ;  the  pjastering  to  William 
Wiley  &  Son,  for  $360;  the  aggregate  amounting  to  $4825.65, 
including  the  purchase  of  the  $400  lot. 

The  trustees  also  awarded  the  following  contracts  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  parsonage :  The  carpenter  and  brickwork  to  Messrs.  Prigg 
and  Dye,  for  $1067.50,  and  the  plastering  to  William  Wiley  &  Son, 
for  $100,  amounting  to  $1167.50,  to  which  must  be  added  $55.75  for 
additional  work,  making  the  aggregate  amount  $1223.25.  The 
church  was  finished  on  December  31,  1848  (being  fifty  by  seventy 
feet  and  containing  seventy-two  pews),  and  was  dedicated  to  God 
by  Rev.  Bishop  Hamlin.  The  entire  cost  of  church  and  ]>arsonage, 
including  purchase  and  exchange  of  lots,  furnishing  church,  making 
stone  wall,  fence,  and  pavement,  amounted  to  $7845.78,  of  which 
amount  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  furnished  $400. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1848,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  procured 
from  the  court,  constituting  Samuel  Hazlett,  Alexander  Sweeny, 
John  Harter,  John  Sheaffer,  Joseph  Reynolds,  William  Wiley,  A. 
B.  Wolf,  George  Lonkert,  and  Samuel  Mounts,  as  trustees.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  trustees,  Samuel  Hazlett  was  elected  Presi- 
dent and  Samuel  Mounts  Secretary. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  during  the  erection  of  the  church 
edifice,  and  through  the  kindness  of  the  pastor  and  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  the  Methodists  occupied  their 
meeting-house  one-half  the  time  each  Sabbath,  until  the  church  was 
finished. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  give  the  list  of  ministers  who  have 
officiated  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  since  the  year  1801, 
with  their  respective  dates  : — 

1801.  Rev.  William  Miinroc.  1806.  Rev.  Thornton  Fleming. 

1802.  "      Archibald  iMcKlroy  and     1W)7.      "      Daniel  Hite. 
Rev.  William  I>ambden.  1808.      "      James  Roilcy. 

1803.  Rev.  John  Monroe.  1809.      "      Wm.  Brandeberry. 

1804.  "     Jacob  Dowal  and  Daniel    1810.     "     John  White. 

riitt.  1811.      "      Jacob  Gruber. 

1805.  Rev.  Jacob  Young.  1812.     "     Amos  Barnes. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


181 


1813. 

Rev. 

John  West. 

1814. 

William  Barnes. 

1815. 

John  Connelly. 

1816. 

Jaraes  Laws. 

1817. 

Joshua  Monroe. 

1818. 

Thornton  Fleming. 

1819. 

George  Brown. 

1820. 

John  Baer. 

1821. 

Georffe  Brown. 

1822- 

3.  Rev.  Henry  Furlong. 

1824.  Rev.  Charles  Cooke. 

1825.  "     Jos.  G.  Sansom. 
1826-7.  Rev.  Asa  Shinn. 

1828.  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson. 

1829.  "     Daniel  Limerick. 
1830-1.  Rev.  John  Waterman. 

1832.  Rev.  Daniel  Limerick. 

1833.  "      J.  G.  Sansom. 
1834-5.  Rev.  Wesley  Kenney 
1836-7.      "     Robert  Boyd. 


1838.  Rev.  James  Mills. 
1839-40.  Rev.  George  S.  Holmes. 
1841-2.  Rev.  S.  R.  Brockunier. 
1842-3.      "      Charles  Thorn. 
1844-5.      "      Charles  Cook. 
1846.  Rev.  Thomas  Hudson. 
1847-8.  Rev.  Edward  Birkett. 
1849-50.  Rev.  Wesley  Kenney. 
1851-2.  Rev.  Franklin  Moore. 

1853.  Rev.  James  Henderson. 

1854.  "      Edward  Birkett. 
1855-6.  Rev.  Charles  A.  Holmes. 
1857-8.      "      A.  G    Williams. 
1859-60.  Rev.  William  Cox. 
1861-2.  Rev.  Hiran^  Sinsabaugh. 
1863-4.     "      Hiram  Miller. 
1865-6.      "     J.S.Bracken. 

1866.  Rev.  Hiram  Sinsabaugh. 

1867.  "      W.  B.  Watkins. 
1868-70.  Rev.  W.  A.  Davidson,  D.D. 


In  August,  1809,  Rev.  Dr.  Kendree,  bishop  of  the  church,  and 
Rev.  Francis  Asbury,  preached  in  Washington.  In  1818  Wash- 
ington was  set  apart  as  a  new  district.  Rev.  Asa  Shinn  being 
appointed  presiding  elder,  and  Rev.  Thornton  Fleming  minister  in 
charge. 

Sabbath  School. 

In  connection  with  the  M.  E.  church  is  a  Sabbath  school,  under 
the  efficient  management  of  V.  Harding,  Esq.,  as  Superintendent, 
assisted  by  W.  J.  Wilson,  as  Assistant  Superintendent,  with  Samuel 
Hazlett,  Treasurer,  Joseph  M.  Spriggs  as  Secretary,  and  J.  Nick 
Hainer,  Wm.  Underwood,  A.  H.  Litle,  and  John  Seaman,  as 
Librarians.  The  school  was  organized  March  1,  1825.  Engaged 
in  the  benevolent  work  of  imparting  Christian  instruction  to  the 
youth  of  the  church,  are  nine  males  and  fifteen  females,  together 
with  two  additional  females  teaching  the  infant  school,  numbering 
twenty-six  teachers,  with  three  hundred  and  thirty  scholars. 

In  1831,  when  John  Harter,  Esq.,  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Sabbath  school,  he  organized  the  Missionary  Sabbath  school  by 
the  scholars  pledging  to  pay  one  cent  monthly  for  this  purpose. 
At  the  end  of  the  year  it  amounted  to  $7.87  ;  at  the  present  time 
the  sum  contributed  amounts  to  near  $300. 

United  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  history  of  this  church  may  be  dated  to  the  27th  day  of  No- 
vember, 1815,  when  the  first  meeting  was  held.  An  adjourned  meet- 
ing of  the  Seceder  body,  friendly  to  the  erection  of  a  house  of  pub- 
lic worship,  was  subsequently  held  at  the  house  of  Major  James 
Dunlap,  on  December  22,  1815,  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements. 

At  this  meeting  the  followmg  persons  were  elected  but  not  ordained 


182  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

elders,  viz :  Samuel  Fergus,  William  Wylie,  and  John  McClelland. 
These  things  transpired  when  under  the  control  of  the  Seceders,  but 
no  house  of  worship  was  erected,  nor  congregation  definitely  estab- 
lished because  Samuel  Fergus  had  become  a  prominent  member  of 
an  organization  styled  the  Associate  Reformed  Church. 

This  body  purchased  lot  No.  64,  originally  owned  by  Col.  D. 
"Williamson,  on  Belle  Street,  and  erected  thereon  a  brick  church,  but 
not  having  funds  to  finish  the  church  it  was  sold  by  the  sheriff  to 
the  Associate  Church,  who  purchased  and  finished  it.  Its  Jirst 
minister  was  Rev.  David  Carson,  who  was  elected  Professor  of  He- 
brew and  Church  History  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Presbyterian  Church,  located  at  Canonsburg,  which  had  received 
a  charter  from  the  legislature,  April  8,  1833.  He  preached  occa- 
sionally in  Washington,  but  was  elected  pastor  of  the  church  on  July 
1,  1834,  and  died  September  25,  1834.  His  successor  was  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Beveridge,  D  D.,  who  officiated  from  February  2,  1836,  to 
September  16,  1849,  when  he  resigned,  he  being  a  professor  in  the 
Theological  Seminary,  and  its  transfer  to  Ohio  occasioned  his  resig- 
nation. The  church  called  Rev.  Thomas  Hanna,  D.D.,  November 
16,  1849,  which  he  filled  to  his  death,  October  1,  1862.  His  succes- 
sor, the  present  pastor,  is  the  Rev.  J.  Rankin  Johnston,  elected 
March  IS,  1863.  During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Dr.  Hanna,  or  in 
the  year  1858,  the  Seceders  (or  Associates)  and  the  Union  (or 
Associate  Reformed  bodies)  united  as  the  United  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  in  1863,  five  years  after  the  union,  its  General  Assem- 
bly consisted  of  seven  synods,  fifty-four  presbyteries,  four  hundred 
and  sixty-two  ministers,  six  hundred  and  seventy-one  congregations, 
fifty-seven  thousand  five  hundred  and  fourteen  communicants,  and 
thiee  theological  seminaries. 

Through  the  influence  of  Rev.  J.  Rankin  Johnston  and  the  zeal 
of  the  members,  tlie  United  Presbyterian  Church  erected  a  new  and 
beautiful  church  on  Belle  Street  near  Main  Street,  on  lot  No.  55, 
originally  owned'  by  Samuel  Clark.  It  is  built  of  brick,  sixty  by 
eighty  feet,  with  a  gallery,  and  contains  one  hundred  and  eight  pews. 
It  has  in  addition  to  the  audience  room  (which  is  twenty  feet  high, 
an  arched  ceiling  of  a  six  feet  raise)  a  basement  story  of  twelve  feet, 
containing  a  lecture  and  Sabbath  school  room.  The  walls  of  the 
church  are  frescoed.     The  cost  of  the  church  was  $22,500. 

Tne  Eldership  of  the  church  consists  of  AVilliani  Gabby,  Sample 
Sweeny,  John  G.  Clark,  Dr.  M.  H.  Clark,  and  Joseph  McNary. 

The  IVustees  are  John  E.  Bell,  Lewis  Barker,  J.  P.  Fergus,  A. 
W.  Pollock,  Ebenczer  Rodgers,  and  James  Leiper. 

Sabbath  School. 

This  churcli  hag  a  Sabbath  school,  organized  in  1850,  with  six  male 
and  twelve  female  teachers,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  scholars, 
with  a  library  of  seven  hundred  and  twenty  volumes. 


history  of  washington  county.  183 

Methodist  Protestant  Church. 

When  this  denomination  was  organized  in  1833,  its  meetings  were 
held  in  the  court-house  until  1836,  when  the  church  removed  into 
its  own  edifice  erected  on  Beau  Street,  on  lot  No.  123,  now  owned 
by  R.  Boyd,  Esq.  The  edifice  was  built  of  brick,  thirty-five  by 
forty-five  feet,  with  a  basement  story  for  class  and  Sabbath  school ; 
the  trustees  being  James  L.  Porter,  Wm.  S.  Ilutchinson,  Wm. 
Hunter,  S.  B.  Robinson,  and  Charles  E.  Jones.  The  lot  was  the 
bequest  of  William  Hunter,  deceased,  who  in  his  will,  dated  April 
23d,  1839,  said:  "It  is  my  desire  that  my  executors  make  a  deed 
to  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Reformed  Church  for  a  part  of  the 
lot  on  which  their  church  is  built,  sixty  by  ninety  feet.  It  is  how- 
ever distinctly  understood,  that  on  the  completion  of  the, above  title 
I  am  to  be  clear  from  all  responsibilities,  either  in  a  private  capacity 
or  a  trustee  of  said  society." 

On  April  20th,  1841,  Robert  Officer,  executor  of  William  Hunter, 
dec'd,  executed  a  deed  to  Charles  E.  Jones,  John  R.  Griffith,  William 
Bushfield,  W.  S.  Hutchinson,  and  James  L.  Porter,  trustees  of 
said  church.  The  church  was  incorporated  January  5th,  1850 — its 
trustees  being  James  L.  Porter,  John  R.  Griffith,  Peter  Kennedy, 
Simon  Wolf,  and  David  Schultz.  The  church  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1851,  and  on  November  19th  of  the  same  year,  the  trustees,  con- 
sisting of  John  R.  Griffith,  I.  D.  Seaton,  James  T.  Dagg,  Peter 
Kennedy,  and  Simon  Wolf  sold  and  conveyed  the  lot  to  George  W. 
Brice,  Esq. 

The  second  church  edifice  was  also  erected  on  Beau  Street  and 
nearly  opposite  the  former,  on  lot  No.  148.  It  was  commenced 
November  1st,  1851,  under  the  supervision  of  the  following  trustees, 
(one  of  the  original  trustees  having  resigned):  John  R.  Griffith,  I.  D. 
Seaton,  James  T.  Dagg,  Peter  Kennedy,  and  A.  B.  Houston. 
James  T.  Dagg  was  appointed  general  superintendent.  The  build- 
ing is  of  brick,  forty-eight  by  sixty-eight  feet,  having  sixty-seven 
pews  with  a  basement  divided  into  class-rooms  and  for  Sabbath- 
school  purposes.  The  cost  of  the  lot  and  building  was  $1200,  and  on 
its  completion  was  dedicated  to  Almighty  God  in  1853,  by  the  name 
of  "Avery  Chapel."  It  was  named  after  that  distinguished  philan- 
thropist and  eminent  Christian,  Charles  Avery,  who  by  deeds  and 
words  assisted  in  its  erection,  and  a  marble  slab  bearing  his  name 
is  placed  in  the  front  wall  of  the  church  by  direction  of  a  resolution 
of  the  board  of  trustees,  adopted  June  27th,  1852. 

The  following  persons  have  officiated  as  pastors  of  this  church  since 
its  organization  in  1833  : — 


1833. 

Rev. 

W.  Russell. 

1840. 

Rev. 

Nelson  Burgess. 

1835. 

Eiios  Woodward. 

1842. 

J.  B.  Roberts. 

1836. 

John  Burns. 

1843. 

John  Cowell. 

1837. 

J.  Woodrufi". 

1844. 

James  Robinson. 

1838. 

James  Porter. 

184.5. 

Samuel  Clawson. 

1839. 

W.  Hughes. 

1847. 

J.  0.  Hazlett. 

184  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

1848.  Rev.  G.  B.  M'Elroy.  1860.  Rev.  W.  M.  Smith. 


1850.     ' 

'      F.   A.  Davis. 

1852.     ' 

'      A'al.  Lucas. 

1853.     ' 

Nol>le  Gillespie. 

1854.     ' 

'      S.  J.  Dorsey. 

1855.     ' 

'      John  Scott 

1857.     ' 

'      AV.  H.  Phipps. 

1859.     ' 

'      J.  D.  Herr. 

1862. 

W.  Wallace. 

18G3. 

Henry  Palmer. 

1865. 

D.  I.'K.  Rine. 

1867. 

J.  D.  Herr. 

1868. 

W.  Griffiths. 

1869. 

A.  S.  Woods. 

1870. 

No 

settled  pastor. 

This  church  has  a  Sabbath  school  under  the  care  of  Peter  Ken- 
nedy, with  4  lualo  and  5  female  teachers  and  55  scholars. 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church. 

Before  entering  upon  the  immediate  history  of  this  church  it  would 
be  proper  to  remark  that  the  beautiful  and  impressive  ceremonials  of 
the  Episcopal  Church  had  been  performed  in  Washington  as  early  as 
1810.  From  my  notes  I  find  there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  clergymen  in  that  year,  and  among  other  resolutions 
they  passed  the  following  resolution  : — ■ 

Resolved.  That  the  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Dodridge  open  a  correspondence 
with  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  through  him  permission  from  the  GenerrJ  Convention  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  to  form  a  diocese  in  the  western  country,  em- 
bracing the  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  Western  Virginia,  and  the 
State  of  Ohio,  to  elect  a  Bishop. 

In  1812  Rev.  Wm.  David,  of  Somerset,  Pennsylvania,  preached 
occasionally  in  a  school-house  near  the  site  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
on  Belle  Street. 

Time  rolls  by  and  several  families  settled  in  Washington,  who 
brought  with  them  the  religious  principles  of  their  choice,  and  in 
which  they  had  been  educated.  They  were  not  numerous  enough 
to  establish  a  church,  and  although  they  united  with  other  Christian 
associations,  yet  the  germ  was  planted  in  early  life,  and  they  looked 
forward  to  the  period  when  it  would  both  bud  and  blossom  like 
Aaron's  rod. 

In  1843  the  Rev.  Enos  Woodward,  of  Brownsville,  sent  word  to 
the  Episcopalians  that  he  would  occasionally  preach  to  them  if  a 
suital)le  place  could  be  obtained.  The  college  chapel  was  bad 
through  Professor  R.  11.  Lee,  and  the  fourth  Sunday  of  each  month 
the  services  of  this  church  were  performed  by  Rev.  E.  Woodward. 
On  November  12th,  1843,  he,  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Mr.  Dyer, 
of  Pittsburg,  administered  the  Lord's  Supper  to  their  communi- 
cants, the  first  time  which  this  rite  had  ever  been  given  according  to 
the  ceremonies  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  this  place  as 
far  as  we  can  ascertain. 

While  these  few  Episcopalians  were  thus  meeting  time  and  again, 
they  were  visited  by  Rev.  K.  J.  Stewart,  of  Connellsville  (who 
preached  both  in  the  court-house  and  Cumberland  I'resbyterian 
church),  who  advised  the  erection  of  a  church,  and  also  the  pro- 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  185 

priety  of  the  members  holding  a  prayer-meeting,  asking  Goa  to  direct 
thera  in  such  measures  as  would  secure  a  house  in  which  their  prin- 
ciples would  be  taught,  and  in  accordance  with  God's  holy  word. 
They  met  at  the  house  of  Professor  Leo,  and  after  earnest  and  im- 
portunate prayer,  so  strong  was  their  faith  that  before  the  services 
were  ended,  a  committee  consisting  of  Mrs.  F.  A.  Barlow,  Prof.  R.  H. 
Lee,  R.  P.  Lane,  M.  D.,  and  James  R.  Shannon  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  solicit  subscriptions,  while  the  Rev.  Stewart  pro- 
raised  that  he  would  bring  the  subject  before  a  special  convention 
which  was  shortly  to  assemble  at  Uniontown,  and  also  the  Bishop. 
The  effect  of  that  prayer-meeting  was  the  erection  of  the  church,  of 
which  we  shall  now  give  a  full  account. 

On  April  22d,  1844,  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held  to 
effect  a  permanent  organization.  Rev.  Enos  Woodward  was  called 
to  the  chair,  and  Prof.  R.  H.  Lee  was  appointed  Secretary.  After 
a  mutual  exchange  of  sentiments  the  meeting  resolved  that  it  was 
expedient  to  organize  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  Washington, 
and  the  following  persons  associated  themselves  together  under  the 
name,  style,  and  title  of  the  "  Parish  of  Trinity  Church,"  viz  :  Rich- 
ard Henry  Lee,  Joseph  Grey,  Curtis  P.  Browm,  Abigail  M.  Brown, 
Mary  C.  Brown,  Seth  T.  Hurd,  Daniel  Brown,  William  Howe,  Hugh 
H.  Reynolds,  R.  P.  Lane,  Anna  E.  Lee,  Eliza  H.  Hill,  Francis  H. 
Lee,  Eliza  M.  Crafts,  Letitia  Poole,  James  R.  Shannon,  John  Bull- 
ing, R.  Foster,  Samuel  Potter,  Harriet  Bulling,  F.  Anika  Barlow, 
Rebecca  Burton,  Harriet  Burton,  Flora  Lee,  J.  Bowman  Sweitzer, 
James  M'Corkle,  Leslie  Carrons. 

The  church  being  thus  organized,  they  elected  R.  H.  Lee,  R.  P. 
Lane,  Leslie  Carrons,  Joseph  Gray,  Wm.  Howe,  James  R.  Shannon, 
and  Hugh  H.  Reynolds  as  the  vestry,  and  the  Rev.  Enos  Wood- 
ward as  the  pastor,  to  which  he  consented. 

On  the  13th  May,  1844,  the  church  procured  an  act  of  incorpo- 
ration from  the  court. 

Rev.  E.  Woodward  officiated  as  the  rector  of  the  church  from 
its  organization  until  May,  1845,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  E.  J.  Messenger,  who  preached  until  the  following 
August,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation  to  become  a  missionary, 
went  to  Africa,  and  died  March  28,  1846.  From  their  organization 
to  August,  1845,  the  church  occupied  the  college  hall  ;  but  after 
this  period  they  removed  to  the  Lutheran  church.  The  pulpit  was 
filled  by  supplies  and  Prof.  Lee  as  a  lay  reader,  from  1845  to  1850. 
In  June,  1850,  the  congregation  resolved  to  build  a  church,  and  for 
this  purpose  they  purchased  lot  No.  160  on  the  east  end  of  Beau 
Street,  and  directly  opposite  the  college  edifice,  from  David  Shields, 
for  four  hundred  dollars.  William  McKennan  and  James  R.  Shan- 
non, Esqs.,  were  appointed  the  Building  Committee,  with  full  power 
to  act.  They  awarded  the  carpenter  work  to  Frederick  Hayes,  the 
mason  work  to  Messrs.  William  Cline  and  A.  B.  Houston.  It  was 
opened  for  divine  worship  December  15,  1850,  when  a  sermon  was 
13 


186  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

preached  from  Genesis,  chapter  xxviii.  verse  IT,  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Clements,  who  had  become  the  rector,  ajid  took  charge  of  tlie  church 
on  December  1,  1850.  The  cost  of  this  churcli  edifice  was  $2725  15, 
including  the  price  of  the  lot.  The  furniture  of  the  church  was 
presented  by  several  donors  ;  the  carpets  by  Trinity  Church,  of 
Pittsburg,  the  chancel  furniture  by  Christ  Church,  of  Brownsville, 
the  lamps  by  the  Female  Episcopal  School  of  Philadelphia,  and  the 
chairs  by  St.  Andrew's  Church,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  entire  indebtedness  of  the  church  edifice  being  liquidated,  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Alonzo  Potter  consecrated  the  church  on  Septem- 
ber 10,  1854.  March  31,  1855,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Clements  resigned, 
and  Prof.  R.  H.  Lee  was  elected  a  lay  reader,  to  officiate  as  such 
according  to  the  forms  and  canons  of  the  church.  In  January,  1856, 
Rev.  George  Hall  accepted  the  rectorship  of  the  church,  having  been 
previously  elected,  and  served  until  December,  185G,  when  he  re- 
signed, and  Prof.  R.  H.  Lee  was  again  elected  lay  reader. 

In  February,  1858,  Prof.  R.  H.  Lee  was  ordained  a  deacon  by 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Potter,  and  in  the  following  October  was  ordained 
a  priest  by  Rev.  Bishop  Bowman,  Assistant  Bishop,  and  took  charge 
of  Trinity  Church  as  its  rector.  Rev.  R.  H.  Lee  served  the  church  as 
a  faithful  and  consistent  ambassador  of  Christ  until  January  3,  1865, 
when  he  exchanged  the  church  militant  for  the  church  triumphant. 

The  devoted  friends  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lee  have  placed  in  a  niche  in  the 
west  wall  of  the  chancel  of  the  church,  a  beautiful  marble  tablet, 
containing  the  following  appropriate  and  touching  inscription  to  his 
memory : — 

In  memory  of  Rev.  Richard  Henry  Lee,  LL.  D.,  Rector  of  this  Parish 
from  A.  ]).  1858  to  A.  1).  180").  Born  in  Fi»irfax  County,  Viririnia,  A.D. 
1794.  He  received  a  claspjcal  education  at  Dickinson  Co]lep;e,  Pennsj-I- 
vania,  and  frraduated  with  hifrli  honors  at  an  early  aire.  Devoting  himself  to 
the  legal  profession,  he  practised  in  the  courts  of  his  native  State  until  the 
year  1834,  when  he  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Ancient  lianguages  in 
Washinjrton  College,  Pennsylvania,  a  ])osition  which  he  exchanged  in  1837 
for  the  chair  of  Ik'lles  Lettres  and  Political  Economy  in  the  same  institu- 
tion. In  1h54  he  resigned  his  connection  with  the  college,  and  was  shortly 
afterwards  commissioned  Lay  Reader  by  the  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  ordained  l)eacon,  Fehruary  10,  1858,  and  became  Rector  of  this 
Parish,  which  owes  to  him,  under  Cod,  its  origin  and  organization.  On 
Sunday,  Ochihcr  31, 1858.  he  was  ordained  Priest.  He  labored  in  his  holy 
office  faithfully  and  lovingly  until  the  close  of  his  life. 

He  died  January  3,  18(;5,  aged  71  years,  and  was  gathered  unto  his  fathers, 
having  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience,  in  the  communion  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  in  the  comfort  of  a  reasonable  religious  and  holy  hope,  in  favor 
with  Gud,  and  in  perfect  charity  with  the  world. 

It  is  proper  to  remark  that  during  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lee, 

the  church  edifice  had  been  found  so  defective  that  it  became  neces- 
sary to  erect  another,  more  durable  and  more  commodious.  In  con- 
sequence thereof  the  congregation,  with  commendable  zeal,  erected 
the  present  beautiful  Gothic  church,  at  an  expense  of  $3697  20, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  18T 

which  is  now  estimated  worth  $10,000,  which  was  consecrated  by 
Bishop  Potter  November  IT,  1863.  During  the  time  of  its  erection 
church  services  were  held  in  the  court-house. 

The  successor  of  Rev.  Dr.  Lee  was  James  Mcllvaine,  who  was 
commissioned  lay  reader  until  Rev.  James  A.  Brown  became  the 
rector,  December  22,  1865,  and  served  until  December  23,  1867, 
when  he  resigned,  to  enter  upon  a  larger  field  of  labor.  His  succes- 
sor was  Jacob  B.  McKennan,  Esq.,  who  was  commissioned  as  lay 
reader  by  the  Bishop  on  January  1,  1868. 

The  present  vestry  of  the  church  consists  of  Wm.  McKennan, 
Wra.  W.  Smith,  James  Mcllvaine,  Jacob  B.  McKennan,  Jr.,  Wm. 
B.  McKennan,  H.  H.  Reynolds,  Hugh  Q.  Miller,  and  Samuel 
Hargraves. 

On  October  IT,  1869,  Rev.  J.  K.  Mendenhall  preached  his  first 
sermon  in  Trinity  church,  and  was  oi'dained  November  5,  1869, 
Rector  of  the  parish,  by  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  J.  D.  Kerfoot,  Bishop  of 
the  diocese.  The  church  purchased  a  bell  weighing  2040  pounds; 
the  tenor  bell  of  a  peal  of  bells,  which  was  placed  in  its  proper 
position  in  the  bell-tower,  between  the  church  and  parish  school- 
house,  and  first  rung  January  16,  18T0. 

Sunday  School. 

On  June  9,  1844,  a  Sunday  school  was  established,  with  Professor 
Lee  as  its  superintendent,  having  four  male  and  five  female  teachers. 
This  school  has  an  excellent  library. 

Parish  School-house. 

The  congregation  resolved,  on  August  29,  1868,  to  erect  a  parish 
school-house  on  the  church  property  in  the  rear  of  the  church.  This 
praiseworthy  object,  through  the  liberality  of  its  members,  was 
completed,  February  2T,  186i),  at  an  expense  of  nine  hundred  and 
twenty-three  dollars  and  sixty-six  cents. 

Bequest  to  Trinity  Church. 

On  the  11th  of  May,  1865,  Wm.  L.  Bowman,  son  of  James  Bow- 
man, Esq.,  of  Brownsville,  died  in  the  26th  year  of  his  age.  When 
a  student  of  law  in  Washington,  he  became  a  communicant  in  this 
church;  and  so  greatly  attached  was  he  to  the  church  in  which  he 
devoted  his  life,  his  heart,  his  all  to  his  Redeemer,  that  he  manifested 
his  love  for  it  by  providing  in  his  will  that  his  executors  should  pay 
the  legal  representatives  of  the  church  two  thousand  dollars,  the  in- 
terest of  which  should  be  annually  applied  to  the  rector's  salary,  and 
the  principal  invested  for  this  purpose. 

German  Church. 

The  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  and  Reformed  church  is  bound- 
ed by  Walnut  Street  on  the  north ;  lot  No.  262  on  the  east;  Spruce 
Alley  on  the  south,  and  lot  No.  265  on  the  west;  the  church  own- 


188  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY, 

ing  lots  Nos.  263  and  264,  upon  which  is  a  frame  meeting-house  and 
attached  thereto  is  a  burial-ground.  These  lots  were  sold  by  John 
and  William  Iloge  to  Thomas  Woodward  August  29,  1786,  and 
conveyed  by  him  to  Peter  Snyder  September  12,  1787.  On  May  5, 
1812,  P.  Snyder  and  wife  sold  to  Jacob  Weirich,  Lewis  Hewitt, 
David  Sedicker,  and  Christian  Hornish,  trustees  and  managers  of 
the  German  Lutheran  and  Presbyterian  Church. 

On  October  13,  1840,  they  procured  an  act  of  incorporation  from 
the  court,  authorizing  the  election  of  nine  trustees,  and  incorporated 
as  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Clmrch. 

We  shall  give  the  respective  ministers  of  the  church  as  far  as  we 
have  been  able  to  ascertain  them;  although  the  records  of  the  church 
are  very  unsatisfactory,  we  must  depend  alone  upon  oral  testimony. 

The  first  minister  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Monesmith  ;  his  successor  was 
the  Rev.  Henry  Weygandt,  who  officiated  for  sixteen  years.  In 
1832,  Rev.  Abraham  Winters,  of  the  United  Brethren,  filled  the  pul- 
pit; his  successor  w^as  Rev.  John  Brown,  a  Lutheran;  after  him  was 
Rev.  Charles  Swissler,  a  Reformed  German  preacher.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Mr.  Doubert;  his  successor  Rev.  Mr.  Beckerman,  a 
Lutheran.  Then  followed  the  Rev,  H.  B.  Miller,  from  1830  until 
March  14,  1836,  when  Rev.  Abraham  Weills  occupied  the  pulpit  for 
eighteen  years,  or  until  1854.  His  successors  were  Rev,  C.  G.  Fred- 
ericks, Rev.  T.  Hartley,  Rev.  P.  Sweigert,  and  Rev.  Z.  H.  Gable. 

This  church  has  lately  been  refitted,  and  although  the  peo})le  have 
been  scattei'ed,  our  German  population  are  uniting  in  the  noble  efiort 
of  resuscitating  the  waste  places  of  this  branch  of  Zion,  so  that  the 
church  of  their  fathers  may  again  take  its  place  among  those  of  our 
ancient  borough,  dispensing  evangelical  truths. 

Second  Presbyterian  Church. 

On  the  9th  day  of  December,  1860,  a  meeting  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Congregation  of  Washington  was  held  in  the  church  to 
consider  the  necessity  of  enlarged  church  accommodations,  and  ap- 
pointed the  following  Committee  to  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
on  December  27,  1860.  The  Committee  consisted  of  Collin  M.  Reed, 
D.  S.  Wilson,  Thomas  McKeau,  Robert  F.  Strean,  Jackson  Spriggs, 
Dr.  J.  W.  Wishart,  J.  D.  Chambers,  and  William  Hughes.  The 
congregation  met  at  the  time  appointed  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
Committee.  A  majority  of  the  Committee  reported  that  the  only 
feasible  plan  for  increasing  eiiurch  accommodations  was  another 
church  organization,  and  suggested  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lution : — 

Believinir  it  to  be  our  duty  to  furnish  the  means  of  hearing  to  all  who  may 
desire  or  can  l>e  conslrainccl  to  listen  to  the'  preaching  of  the  diviuc  mes- 
sage ;  that  said  accommodation  is  not  furnished  at  our  present  church,  and 
any  increase  of  sittings  is  impracticable  and  inexpedient,  and  that  the  size 
of  our  congregation  justifies  llic  rocgniinendatiou  of  the  formation  of  anew 
congregation  as  the  only  effectual  remedy  in  the  present  exigency,  therefore 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  189 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  congregation  the  interest  of  religion 
would  be  promoted  by  the  organization  of  a  Second  Presbyterian  congregation 
in  Washington,  and  whenever  any  number  of  persons  will  signify  their  willing- 
ness to  engage  in  a  new  church  enterprise,  this  congregation  will  lend  them 
all  the  aid,  comfort,  and  encouragement  in  its  power,  and  to  that  end  do 
now  appoint  a  committee  to  co-operate  with  them  in  the  accomplishment  of 
this  object.  The  Committee  appointed  were  Collin  M.  Reed,  Thomas 
McKean,  John  Grayson,  Jr.,  H.  H.  Clarke,  and  W.  B.  Cundall. 

This  committee  had  a  conference  with  the  session  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  on  February  2,  1861,  for  the  purpose  of  fulfil- 
ing  the  above-mentioned  wishes  of  the  congregation,  and  requested 
the  session  to  designate  two  or  more  members  of  their  number  who 
may  favor  the  project,  and  carry  out  the  desire  of  the  congregation. 
In  view,  therefore,  of  the  congregation's  action  in  initiating  the  move- 
ment, a  movement  prompted  by  a  sincere  regard  for  the  interest  of 
religion  and  the  advancement  of  Presbyterianism  in  this  community, 
the  session  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  as  the  Committee  requested  the  session,  if  in  accordance 
with  their  views,  to  designate  two  of  their  number  to  gooff,  and  the  session 
having  learned  that  the  two  members  desired  by  the  persons  favorable  to 
this  movement  are  Dr.  John  W.  Wishart  and  H.  H.  Clarke,  therefore,  if 
these  brethren  should  feel  themselves  assured  that  such  is  their  duty,  whilst 
retaining  unabated  and  unqualified  confidence  and  Christian  affection  for 
them  as  brethren,  and  also  expressing  our  sorrow  at  the  thought  of  their 
separation  from  our  number,  yet  we  cannot  withhold  our  consent,  and  will 
follow  them  with  our  prayers  for  the  blessing  of  the  Master  upon  themselves 
individually,  and  upon  the  enterprise  with  which  they  are  to  be  connected. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  members  of  the  church  and  con- 
gregation, so  far  as  they  may  severally  feel  enabled  and  inclined,  to  lend 
this  movement  all  the  aid,  comfort,  and  encouragement  in  their  power. 

An  application  was  accordingly  made  to  Presbytery  on  March  12, 
1861,  for  the  organization  of  a  Second  Presbyterian  church,  which 
held  a  pro  re  nata  meeting  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  Rev. 
Dr.  John  W.  Scott  being  moderator,  and  Rev.  W.  B.  Keeling  clerk. 

Dr.  John  W.  Wishart,  representing  one  hundred  petitioners,  of 
whom  thirty-six  were  communicants,  presented  the  necessary  papei'S, 
when,  on  motion  of  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioners  was  granted. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  N.  B.  Lyon,  the  new  organization  was  styled 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church. 

On  motion  of  Collin  M.  Reed,  the  following  persons  were  desig- 
nated as  ruling  elders,  viz  :  Dr.  J.  W.  Wishart,  H.  H.  Clarke, 
Wm.  B.  Cundall,  and  John  Grayson,  Jr. 

On  motion  of  H.  H.  Clarke,  David  Aiken  and  Wm.  J.  Matthews, 
were  elected  deacons. 

A  constitution  was  adopted  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  trustees,  viz :  Collin  M.  Reed,  Andrew  Brady,  Norton 
McGiffin,  William  Blair,  and  John  Baird. 


190  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

The  Rev.  R.  V.  Dodge,  of  Wheeling,  was  unanimously  chosen  the 
pastor,  and  the  trustees  directed  to  procure  the  college  hall  for  the 
meetings  of  the  congregation,  until  more  satisfactory  arrangements 
could  be  made. 

Notwithstanding  all  these  preliminary  movements,  the  church  was 
not  at  that  time  organized,  but  the  members  returned  to  the  first 
church,  as  the  following  minutes  of  the  church  record  show.  A 
meeting  of  the  session  of  the  first  church  was  held  September  7, 
18G1,  and  adopted  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  : — 

Whereas,  On  the  12th  day  of  March,  1861,  the  session  dismissed  a  num- 
ber of  members  of  this  church  to  be  organized  into  a  Presbyterian  church  ; 
AND  WHEREAS,  iu  the  present  disturbed  state  of  the  country  and  the  depressed 
condition  of  money  matters,  there  would  seem  to  be  no  possibility  of  such 
organization  being  carried  forward  ;  and  whereas,  the  present  church  rela- 
tions of  the  persons  so  dismissed  are  peculiar  and  embarrassing  to  all  par- 
ties, therefore  it  was  unanimously 

Resolved,  That  this  session  do  most  cordially  invite  the  persons  thus 
dismissed  to  renew  their  former  relation  to  this  church,  assuring  them  of  a 
most  hearty  welcome  to  our  fellowship  and  to  a  participation  in  the  cares 
and  responsibilities  of  private  and  official  membership,  as  heretofore. 

The  hindrances  being  removed,  the  members  generally  composing 
the  Second  Presbyterian  church  held  a  congregational  meeting  on 
April  Ith,  1864,  and  unanimously  resolved  to  proceed  at  once  to 
carry  out  the  object  originally  contemplated  by  their  organization. 
A  unanimous  call  was  given  to  Rev.  R.  Y.  Dodge,  Avho  accepted 
the  same,  and  on  the  15th  day  of  May,  1864,  he  preached  his  intro- 
ductory sermon  in  Smith's  Hall,  the  present  place  of  worship,  but 
was  not  installed  as  pastor  until  October  4,  1864. 

On  June  26,  1864,  the  first  communion  was  administered. 

During  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  R.  Y.  Dodge,  H.  II.  Clarke, 
Esq.,  was  installed  ;  and  W.  B.  Cundall  and  John  Grayson,  Jr.,  were 
ordained  elders  on  June  19,  1864;  11.  J.  Yankirk  and  Wm.  Rlaii 
were  installed  as  deacons.  April,  1868,  Freeman  Brady,  Jr.,  and 
Morgan  Hayes  were  installed  as  deacons. 

Rev.  R.  Y.  Dodge  resigned  his  charge  May,  1868,  and  the  Rev, 
J.  C.  Caldwell  was  elected  June  1,  1868,  and  installed  August  1, 
1868. 

February  14,  1869,  Robert  Boyd  and  Hugh  McClelland  were  in- 
stalled elders ;  and  Freeman  Brady  and  John  B.  Yowell  were  or- 
dained elders. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Caldwell  officiated  as  minister  until  December  28, 
1869,  when  he  resigned.  On  April  12,  I8t0,  Rev.  Henry  Wood, 
Professor  in  Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  was  elected. 

Sabbath  Scuool 

The  2d  Presbyterian  church  has  a  Sabbath  school  connected 
therewith,  having  an  excellent  library.  It  was  organized  July  17, 
1864,  by  a  vote  of  the  congregation,  which  was  held  May  23,  1864. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  191 

The  first  officers  of  the  school  were  John  Grayson,  Jr.,  superintend- 
ent; H.  H.  Chirke,  assistant-superintendent;  John  Baird  and  W. 
Blair,  librarians  ;  H.  J.  Vankirk,  treasurer  and  secretary.  Its  pre- 
sent officers  are  Robert  Winters,  superintendent ;  H.  H.  Clarke, 
assistant-superintendent ;  J.  B.  Vowell,  Charles  Butts,  and  James 
McCoUum,  librarians ;  H.  J.  Vankirk,  treasurer ;  B.  McColluin, 
secretary.  The  school  has  ten  male  and  ten  female  teachers,  with 
150  scholars.  It  has  also  an  infant  school,  under  the  care  of  Miss 
Anastasie  Morgan,  having  upon  the  roll  82  members. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  consists  of  Col.  W.  Hopkins,  Charles 
Hayes,  A.  B.  Caldwell,  A.  Winters,  and  M.  G.  Koontz. 

The  number  of  members  connected  with  the  church  is  two  hun- 
dred and  fourteen. 

Roman  Catholic  Church. 

The  first  account  we  have  of  preaching  by  this  denomination  in 
Washington  was  on  February  1,  1824,  at  the  house  of  Matthew 
Blake,  by  the  Rev.  P.  Rafiferty,  although  preaching  was  held  pre- 
viously at  Wiliiamsport,  now  Monougahela  City,  in  this  county. 
After  an  interval  of  ten  years,  or  in  1834,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop 
Francis  Patrick  Kenrick,  who  had  already  established  a  chapel  near 
West  Alexander,  on  the  27th  of  March,  1825,  and  to  which  the 
members  of  this  church  were  attached,  on  account  of  the  distance, 
made  Washington  a  missionary  station,  and  sent  the  Rev.  S.  Maz- 
zuchelli  as  the  first  missionary.  He  preached  at  the  Old  Good 
tavern,  the  sign  of  the  black  horse,  south  of  Catfish  Run.  The 
property  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  F.  J.  Leraoyne.  In  this  house  mass 
was  celebrated  for  the  first  time  in  Washington,  and  also  preaching. 

This  denomination  at  that  time  were  all  German  Catholics,  except 
Michael  Kaine,  deceased  (the  father  of  C.  C.  Kaine,  formerly  one 
of  the  editors  of  the  "Examiner^'),  who  was  an  Irishman.  Shortly 
after  this  period  the  congregation  was  visited  by  Bishop  Kenrick, 
but  the  preaching  was  held  in  the  court-house.  In  1836  the  bishop 
made  another  visit,  and  confirmed  many  in  the  faith  of  the  church — 
this  being  the  first  time  the  rite  was  held  here.  June  21,  1837, 
Bishop  Kenrick  preached  in  the  German  Lutheran  church.  In  1835, 
however,  the  bishop  sent  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher  to  this  missionary 
field,  which  embraced  this  place,  Waynesburg,  and  Brownsville. 
Rev.  Gallagher  officiated  until  1843.  His  successors  were  Rev. 
James  Kearney  in  1844,  Rev.  Mr.  Duffy  in  1845,  Rev.  Jerome 
Kearney  in  1846,  Rev.  Mr.  Gallagher  in  1847,  Rev.  Dennis  Kear- 
ney in  1848,  Rev.  Mr.  Reynolds  in  1849,  Rev.  Wm.  Lambert  in  1850, 
Rev.  Mr.  McGowan  in  1851,  Rev.  Daniel  Hickey  in  1852 — who 
died  at  West  Alexander  in  1854 — Rev.  James  Farran  in  1854,  Rev. 
Francis  Joseph  O'Shea  in  1855,  Rev.  Jerome  Kearney  in  1856,  Rev. 
Francis  Joseph  O'Shea  in  1857,  Rev.  Dennis  Kearney  in  1858,  Rev. 
Wm    Noland  in  1859,  Rev.  F.   J.    O'Shea  in  1861,  Rev.  Patrick 


192  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

Shehan  in  18G2,  Rev.  John  P.  Tenney  in  1864,  Rev.  John  Scanlon 
in  1866,  and  Rev.  Thomas  McEnrue  in  1868. 

In  the  full  of  1841  a  lot  was  purchased  for  a  chapel  on  the  na- 
tional pike,  nearly  opposite  the  gas-works,  where  the  house  of  John 
D.  Martin  now  stands;  but,  after  its  purchase,  so  strong  was  the 
opposition  to  Catholici.«m  that  several  of  the  purchasers  of  the  ad- 
joining lots  gave  the  proprietor  notice  that  they  would  not  build 
upon  them  if  tlie  church  was  established  in  that  part  of  the  town. 
The  matter  was  finally  adjusted  by  the  Rev.  M.  Gallagher  and 
Ephraim  Blaim,  Esq. — the  church  waiving  her  interest  in  the  lot. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1842,  a  lot  was  bought  on  the  east  end  of  Belle 
Street  from  John  M.  Davis,  of  Pittsburg  (the  present  site  of  the 
chapel),  being  forty  by  sixty  feet,  for  sixty  dollars.  The  purchase 
money  was  subscribed  by  the  following  persons,  viz  :  Anthony  Renz 
$10,  Francis  Egan  $10,  William  Erret  $10,  James  Rush  $10,  Michael 
Metzner  $5,  Michael  Kirchner  $10,  and  Rev.  M.  Gallagher  $10. 

Mr.  Anthony  Renz  and  Marie  Jane  his  wife  presented  an  adjoin- 
ing lot  of  twenty  by  eighty  feet,  on  March  22,  1842.  Both  deeds 
were  made  to  Bishop  Kenrick  in  trust  for  the  church. 

The  church  was  commenced  in  1843,  and  finished  in  1844.  The 
carpenter-work  was  performed  by  Henry  B.  Roswell  and  Wni.  Mc- 
Ilvaine ;  the  mason-work  by  James  Hamilton,  at  a  cost  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars.  Although  preaching  Nvas  held  in  it,  the  chapel 
was  not  entirely  completed  and  consecrated  until  1854,  when  it  was 
dedicated  and  consecrated  by  Rev.  Bishop  Wheelin. 

Bishop  Kenrick  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  this  church, 
and  visited  it  four  times ;  in  addition  to  the  places  he  preached  which 
we  have  mentioned,  he  also  preached  once  in  the  Lutheran  church 
and  once  in  the  court-house. 

At  the  confirmation  held  in  1836,  there  were  but  eight  families, 
consisting  of  sixteen  persons,  enrolled  themselves  under  the  Inmner 
of  the  church;  in  1869  there  are  forty  families,  and  the  church  has 
three  hundred  members. 

It  is  worthy  to  remark  that  Mrs.  Carrol,  a  member  of  the  denomi- 
nation, died  and  was  buried  in  the  lot,  and  her  grave  is  beneath  the 
altar  of  the  church. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  Robert  Dnnnell,  Rev.  Reuben  Burrow,  and  Rev.  Alfred 
Bryan,  regularly  ordained  ministers  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Church,  on  the  29th  of  Scptemlier,  1S31,  met  in  the  court-house  at 
Washington,  and  organizecl  the  church,  by  receiving  into  its  commu- 
nion Al)el  M.  S.  Gordon,  William  Fleming,  Charles  Andrew,  J.  IIu- 
per,  Elizabeth  Wiley,  ]Mary  Jordan,  Ann  Jordan,  Martha  Mahafifey, 
and  Amelia  Mahaffey. 

On  the  30th  October,  1831,  this  church  held  its  second  meeting  in 
the  Baptist  Church,  when  the  Rev  Alfred  Bryan  was  assisted  by  Rev. 
John  Morgan,  and  twenty-nine  ]ktsoiis  were  added  to  the  church. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  193 

On  the  2Tth  of  November,  its  third  meeting  was  held  in  the  court- 
house, and  ten  persons  were  added.  On  January  23,  1832,  Rev.  A. 
Bryan  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Milton  Bird,  and  six  persons  received. 
February  24,  1832,  an  election  for  ruling  elders  was  held.  Peter 
Wolfe,  Moses  Little,  and  A.  M.  S.  Gordon  were  elected  and  or- 
dained ruling  elders.  December  25,  1832,  John  Hewitt  and  Andrew 
Bell  were  elected  and  ordained  elders.  1835,  June  14,  the  church 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Alfred  Bryan.  September  21,  1835,  James  Mc- 
Dowell; March,  1838,  James  Gutter}^,  Ezekiel  Tharp,  and  William 
Smith  ;  1844,  Odel  Squier;  1851,  William  Smith,  were  elected  elders. 

March  24,  1832,  Samuel  McFarland,  Alex.  Ramsey,  John  Wilson, 
William  Smith,  were  elected  trustees.  March  24,  1846,  William 
Smith,  Matthew  GriflBn,  Joseph  Martin,  and  Ezekiel  Tharp.  Janu- 
ary 11,  1858,  Hugh  Munnel,  John  Guthery,  James  McElree,  and  H. 
B.  McCollum. 

The  first  Board  of  Trustees  were  authorized  to  procure  a  house 
of  worship. 

In  1834,  Samuel  McFarland  erected  the  church  edifice  on  Belle 
Street,  from  voluntary  contributors  and  his  own  private  funds,  and 
in  1856,  it  appears  the  church  was  in  debt  to  him  $970.  The 
reason  given  on  the  records  why  the  church  did  not  prosper,  was 
their  failing  in  their  contract  on  this  occasion,  and  also  promising 
preachers  more  than  they  gave  them. 

The  ministers  who  have  been  ordained  as  pastors  were  Rev.  S. 
M.  Aaston,  Rev.  J.  Shook,  Rev.  J.  Eddv,  Rev.  Milton  Bird,  Rev. 
A.  T.  Reese,  Rev.  W.  E.  Post,  Rev.  S.'E.  Hudson,  Rev.  S.  Mur- 
dock,  Rev.  P.  Axtel,  Rev.  Robert  Martin,  Rev.  J.  C.  Thompson, 
Rev.  A.  S.  Robertson,  Rev.  Frederick  Wall,  Rev.  John  R.  Brown, 
Rev.  Weaver,  and  Rev.  John  Edmiston. 

In  186*7,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  the  church  did  not  meet,  there 
being  no  pastor,  and  the  people  united  with  other  churches.  The 
building  is  rented  to  the  Disciple  Church. 

"Disciples  of  Christ." 

Before  giving  a  history  of  the  different  church  organizations  in 
this  county,  we  would  prefix  the  following  account  of  this  religious 
denomination: — 

In  their  associated  organization  they  aro  called  the  Church  of 
Christ,  or  the  Christian  Church,  but  in  their  individual  religious  ca- 
pacity "Disciples  of  Christ."  As  early  as  1803  a  church  was  con- 
stituted in  the  Pigeon  Creek  settlement,  under  the  labors  of  Rev. 
Matthias  Luce,  the  Rev.  Specrs,  and  others,  taking  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures for  their  rule  of  faith  and  practice.  The  record  itself  styles 
this  organization  "The  Gospel  Church."  This  church  was  after- 
wards called  the  Baptist  church,  the  cause  of  its  origin  being  brought 
about  by  Rev.  Charles  Wheeler,  w^ho,  in  an  effort  to  introduce  the 
creed  of  that  denomination,  said,  "Those  that  subscribed  to  the  creed 


194  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

would  be  known  and  recognized  as  the  regular  Baptist  Church  of 
Pigeon  Creek,  those  who  would  not,  as  Campbellites." 

In  1807,  Rev.  Thomas  Campbell  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
(a  member  of  the  General  Associate  Synod  of  Scotland)  and  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Chartiers.  So  zealous  was  he  in  the 
advocacy  of  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  designed  ex- 
pressly for  the  edification  and  perfection  of  the  Christian  church, 
that  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  remonstrate  against  the  doctrines  and 
commandments  of  men  in  the  form  of  creeds,  confessions,  and  cate- 
chisms, arguing  therefrom  that  Protestant  denominations  had  usurped 
more  or  less  the  forms,  the  teachings,  and  the  preachings  of  the 
divinely  commissioned  apostles.  This  teaching  was  opposed  by  his 
co-presbyters,  and  on  the  17th  of  August,  1809,  a  meeting  was  held 
on  the  head  waters  of  Buffalo,  in  this  county,  in  which  a  declaration 
and  address  of  the  Christian  Association  of  Washington  was  adopted 
"for  the  sole  purpose  of  promoting  simple  evangelical  Christianity, 
free  from  all  mixture  of  human  opinions  and  inventions  of  men." 
In  its  declaration,  this  society  "  by  no  means  considers  itself  a  church, 
nor  does  it  at  all  assume  to  itself  the  powers  peculiar  to  such  a  society, 
nor  do  the  members  as  such  consider  themselves  as  standing  connected 
in  that  relation,  nor  as  at  all  associated  for  the  peculiar  purposes 
of  church  association,  but  merely  as  voluntary  advocates  for  church 
reformation.  Notwithstanding  these  principles  as  announced  in  the 
declaration  and  address,  we  find  here,  on  the  4th  day  of  May,  1811, 
organized  a  number  of  those  who  belonged  to  the  (Buffalo)  Christian 
Association,  into  a  church  with  no  other  creed  but  the  Bible. 

While  upon  this  sul)ject,  we  may  remark  that  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Synod  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  held  October  4,  1810,  Rev. 
Thomas  Campbell,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Associate  Synod,  but 
representing  himself  as  a  member  of  the  Christian  Association  of 
Washington,  applied  to  be  taken  into  Christian  ministerial  standing. 
The  records  show  that  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  was  heard  at  length,  but 
the  Synod  unanimously  resolved  that  however  specious  the  plan  of 
the  Christian  Association,  and  however  seducing  its  professions,  as 
experience  of  the  effects  of  similar  projects  in  other  parts  has  evinced 
their  baleful  tendency  and  destructive  operations  on  the  whole  in- 
terests of  religion  by  promoting  divisions  instead  of  union,  by  de- 
grading the  ministerial  character,  by  providing  free  admission  to  any 
errors  in  doctrine,  and  to  any  corruptions  in  discipline,  whilst  a 
nominal  approbation  of  the  Scriptures  as  the  only  standard  of  truth 
may  be  professed,  the  synod  arc  constrained  to  disapprove  the  plan 
and  its  natural  effects.  It  was  also  resolved  that  Rev.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's request  to  be  received  into  ministerial  and  Christian  communion 
cannot  be  granted.  The  Synod's  disapprobation  was  not  on  account 
of  moral  charnctcr,  but  on  account  of  his  peculiar  views,  as  being 
inconsistent  with  the  standards  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Afterwards  Rev.  Thomas  Caniplicll  sought  to  persuade  his  breth- 
ren to  a  stricter  observance  of  the   literal  teachings  of   the  New 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON  COUNTY.  195 

Testament.  Meeting,  therefore,  with  opposition,  and  being  driven  to 
a  closer  examination  of  the  Scriptures,  he  continued  to  impart  the 
light  which  dawned  upon  his  own  mind  to  his  hearers,  and  following 
out  their  own  convictions  they  soon  found  themselves  drifting  away, 
not  only  from  church  standard,  but  from  every  other  organization 
built  upon  what  they  styled  a  human  platform.  He  found  all  his 
proposals  to  his  Presbyterian  friends  as  embodied  in  the  Buffalo  de- 
claration and  address  rejected,  and  himself  and  friends  cut  off  fi'om 
all  church  privileges,  hence  they  sought  a  closer  union  to  Christ,  by 
announcing  that  they  believed  that  the  primitive  apostolic  mode  of 
worship  could  be  attained  without  the  embittered  feelings  of  selfish- 
ness engendered  by  sectarian  strife.  Consequently,  on  the  4th  of  May, 
1811,  a  number  of  those  who  had  belonged  to  the  Christian  associ- 
ation were  organized  into  a  church  with  no  other  creed  but  the  Bible. 

At  this  meeting  Thomas  Campbell  was  appointed  elder,  his  son 
Alexander  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  John  Dawson, 
George  Sharp,  William  Gilchrist,  and  James  Foster  were  chosen 
deacons. 

Upon  the  basis  of  the  declaration  and  address,  elder  Thomas 
Campbell  formed  two  congregations,  one  at  Cross  Roads,  six  miles 
northwest  of  Washington,  Penna.,  and  the  other  on  Brush  Run, 
eight  miles  southwest  of  the  same  place. 

This  denomination  has  the  following  churches  in  Washington 
County,  one  in  Washington,  formerly  at  Martinsburg,  two  miles  east 
of  the  borough,  one  at  Pigeon  Creek,  one  at  Maple  Creek,  one  at 
Peters  Creek,  one  at  West  Middleton,  one  at  the  Dutch  Fork,  one 
at  Independence,  and  one  at  West  Findley. 

Washington  Cumberland  Church. 

The  church  in  Washington  worships  regularly  in  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  having  leased  the  same  for  this  purpose.  It 
was  originally  organized  at  the  house  of  Richard  B.  Chaplin,  in 
Washington,  on  Thursday  evening,  the  12th  day  of  May,  1831. 
The  persons  present  on  that  occasion  were  Richard  B.  Chaplin,  Samuel 
Marshall,  Henry  Langley,  Frederick  Huffman,  and  Franklin  Dun- 
ham, Mrs.  Sophia  Chaplin,  Jane  McDermot,  Hannah  Acheson,  and 
Hannah  Marshall,  who,  after  mature  deliberation,  formed  themselves 
into  a  church,  having  for  their  rule  of  faith  and  practice  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  submitting  themselves  to  the  teachings  of  Jesus 
Christ  and  the  apostles.  They  also  appointed  R.  B.  Chaplin  and 
Samuel  Marshall  to  preside  at  their  meetings  for  worship  and  to  ad- 
minister the  ordinances. 

On  May  15,  1831,  the  church  met  at  R.  B.  Chaplin's  house  for  the 
first  time,  and  the  brethren  and  sisters  broke  the  loaf  and  partook  of 
the  wine,  in  commemoration  of  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ. 
Since  which  time  they  continued  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
Marshall,  and  the  school-house  on  the  farm  of  Henry  Vankirk,  Sr., 
four  miles  south  of  Washington,  until  the  fall  of  1836,  when  they 


196  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

removed  to  the  brick  meeting  house  in  Williamsburg,  where  the 
church  continued  to  meet  until  June,  1867,  when  they  removed  to 
Washington,  to  hold  their  meetings  in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church. 

The  ministers  who  have  regularly  officiated  were  Professor  Robert 
Milligau,  of  Washington  College,  and  Rev.  L.  P.  Streater,  when 
the  clunx'h  was  at  Williamsburg,  but  since  its  removal  to  Washing- 
ton, Rev.  J.  B.  Crane  took  charge  of  it  in  1867,  and  Rev.  T.  A. 
Crenshaw  in  1869. 

Baptist  Church. 

This  church  was  regularly  constituted  on  October  14,  1814,  in 
Washington,  by  delegates  previously  appointed  by  each  of  the  Bap- 
tist churches  of  Peters  Creek,  Tenmile,  and  Uniontown,  with  such 
others  as  should  meet  as  an  advisory  council.  Peters  Creek  church 
was  represented  by  Rev.  David  Phillips,  Charles  Daily,  and  Joseph 
Phillips;  Tenmile  Creek  by  Rev.  Matthias  Luse;  Uniontown  church 
by  Rev.  William  Brownfield. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1814,  the  Rev.  Charles  Wheeler  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  and  received  the  imposition  of  hands  by  Rev. 
D.  Phillips,  M.  Luce,  and  W.  Brownfield. 

This  church  adopted  the  covenant  and  constitution  as  expressed 
in  the  Confession  of  Faith  adopted  by  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  1811,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  to 
confirm  the  title  of  the  First  Baptist  church  to  lot  No.  77,  on  Belle 
Street,  in  the  town  of  Washington. 

The  members  of  the  (^iigrogation  met  at  the  brick  school-house  in 
the  rear  of  the  lot,  on  November  17,  1817,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  building  of  a  house  of  worship,  when  a  subscrii)tion  paper  was 
opened  and  a  coraniiltce  appointed  to  procure  subscriptions.  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1819,  the  subscril)ers  were  notified  to  pay  their  subscriptions 
without  delay  to  John  Barringtou  and  Hugh  Wilson,  as  the  church 
edifice  was  finished.  This  is  the  plain  substantial  brick  church  which 
stands  on  the  western  end  of  Belle  Street. 

Rev.  Charles  Wheeler  was  pastor  of  the  church  from  1S14  to  1839. 
Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  was  his  successor,  and  resigned  in  March,  1842. 
Rev.  C.  T.  Johnson  was  elected  October  15,  1842,  and  served  until 
September  9,  1843,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  B.  W.  Tisdell, 
who  preached  until  October  2,  1846.  His  immediate  successor  was 
the  Rev.  Thomas  Swain,  who  resigned  September,  1850.  Rev. 
George  W.  Young  took  charge  of  the  congregation  December  19, 
1850,  and  upon  his  resignation  he  was  followed  by  Rev.  Malachi 
Taylor,  who  was  installed  December  5,  1855  ;  he  resigned  and  Rev. 
John  Boyd  became  his  successor,  Ai)ril  16,  1858,  who  preached  until 
January,  1860,  when  the  Rev.  William  Wood  sup])licd  the  pulpit  un- 
til the  election  of  Rev.  Robert  Telford,  on  February  18,  18(;6,  but 
he  resigned  June  10,  1868,  since  which  time  the  church  has  had  no 
regular  minister,  but  is  occasionally  supplied. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON  COUNTY.  19T 

In  connection  with  the  Baptist  church,  we  might  add  that  a  meet- 
ing of  the  stockholders  of  the  brick  school-house  erected  upon  the 
Baptist  church  lot  was  held  on  the  27th  of  May,  1816,  to  establish  a 
Female  Baptist  Seminary,  when  a  constitution  was  adopted.  The 
seminary  was  subsequently  opened  by  Kev.  Charles  Wheeler,  assisted 
by  Miss  C.  Cairns. 

A.  M.  E.  Church 

Was  organized  in  the  year  1818.  Of  its  history  all  I  could  glean 
were  the  names  of  its  founders,  viz :  Benjamin  Dorsey,  George  Bol- 
den,  John  Clouby,  Caleb  Eddy,  Hark  Lives,  Margaret  Cramer, 
Hannah  Smith,  Terry  Robinson,  Maria  Conner,  Betsy  Phillips,  and 
Chloe  Warfield.  They  have  a  neat  frame  church  with  a  Sabbath 
school  connected. 

WrighVs  Chapel  (an  African  church)  has  a  small  building  near 
the  former,  with  a  Sunday  school. 

Branch  Bank  of  Philadelphia. 
Bank  op  Washington. 
Franklin  Bank  of  Washington,  and 
First  National  Bank  of  Washington, 

These  four  institutions  have  existed  in  our  town,  and  we  shall 
speak  of  them  separately. 

The  Bank  of  Philadelphia  was  chartered  March  5,  1804.  By 
additional  legislation  on  March  3,  1809,  it  was  permitted  to  establish 
eight  branches,  provided  the  people  of  the  place  in  which  it 
was  proposed  to  be  located  would  sanction  it.  Washington  was 
selected,  and  its  citizens  sanctioned  its  establishment.  Its  original 
charter  was  limited  to  1814,  but  afterwards  extended  to  May  1, 
1824. 

They  erected  a  banking-house  on  the  corner  of  Main  Street  and 
Strawberry  Alley  (now  owned  by  David  Aiken,  Esq.),  which  cost 
$11, TOO,  and  sold  it  when  the  bank  closed  to  the  Bank  of  Washing- 
ton. Parker  Campbell  was  President,  and  John  Neale  Cashier.  It 
existed  from  1810  to  1822. 

Bank  of  Washington. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  1814,  the  people  of  Washington  County, 
in  general  meeting  assembled,  considered  the  expediency  of  establish- 
ing an  original  bank,  with  a  capital  stock  of  five  hundi'ed  thousand 
dollars;  shares  to  be  valued  at  fifty  dollars  each.  The  people 
sanctioned  the  project,  and  the  grand  jury  indorsed  it  in  the  follow- 
ing words  :  "  We  conceive  it  to  be  our  duty  to  countenance  and  en- 
courage all  institutions,  companies,  or  associations  that  have  for  their 
end  the  genuine  interests  of  the  county.  They  conceive  the  contem- 
plated association  called  the  Bank  of  Washington,  is  of  that 
character.     They,  therefore,  earnestly  recommend  it  to  the  attention 


198  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY, 

of  the  legislature,  and  pray  that  a  charter  of  incorporation  be 
granted  to  said  bank."  Tliis  indorsement  was  siprned  b}^  Daniel 
Leet,  foreman,  and  eighteen  grand  jurors.  This  influence  had  the 
desired  effect  upon  the  legislature,  for  we  find  that  they  passed  a 
general  banking  law  on  the  24th  of  March,  1814,  dividing  the  State 
into  twenty-seven  districts,  limiting  its  charter  for  eleven  years,  or 
until  the  year  1825. 

Thomas  H.  Baird  was  elected  President,  and  John  Barrington 
Cashier ;  the  capital  stock  to  be  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  or  more  than  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand. 
The  Directors  named  to  sell  stock  on  May  4,  1814,  were  Thomas 
Patterson,  David  Sliields,  Thomas  McGiffin,  Thomas  Hoge,  Alex- 
ander Murdoch,  Daniel  Moore,  and  Parker  Campbell. 

In  January,  1818,  the  Bank  of  Washington  forfeited  its  charter, 
but  it  was  afterwards  revived,  February  2,  1818,  the  causes  having 
been  removed  ;  but  on  March  23,  1818,  it  was  rechartered  under  the 
name  of  the 

Franklin  Bank  of  "Washington. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  is  not  the  present  institution, 
of  which  we  shall  speak  presently.  On  account  of  the  mismanage- 
ment of  its  finances,  and  continued  lawsuits,  it  ceased  to  exist, 
although  the  legislature  was  required  from  time  to  time  to  extend  its 
charter. 

Franklin  Bank  of  Washington, 

On  March  9,  1836,  an  act  was  passed  incorporating  the  Franklin 
Bank  of  Washington,  and  appointed  as  Commissioners  Alexander 
Reed,  Daniel  Moore,  William  Hunter,  Robert  Officer,  Thomas 
McGiffin,  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  David  Eckert,  Jacob  Slagle,  Henry  Lang- 
ley,  John  K.  Wilson,  Tliomas  McCall,  William  BroAvnlee,  George 
Wilson,  Samuel  Murdoch,  Walter  Craig,  Samuel  McFarlaud,  James 
Stevens,  Tliomas  Morgan,  John  Cooke,  Enoch  Wright,  William 
Smith,  Joseph  Henderson,  Alexander  Sweeney,  Samuel  Mount,  C. 
M.  Reed,  Aaron  Fenton,  James  Ruple,  George  Black,  John  Morgan, 
James  Watson,  John  S.  Brady,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKcnnan.  These 
Commissioners  met,  and  on  April  30th,  appointed  Robert  Officer, 
David  Eckert,  and  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne  to  sell  eight  hundred  shares 
of  the  capital  stofk  of  the  Bank,  it  being  limited  to  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  TJie  amount  being  sold  on  May  19,  the  balance 
of  the  stock  was  disposed  of 

September  15,  1836,  the  stockholders  held  an  election  for  direc- 
tors, which  resulted  in  the  selection  of  Alexander  Reed,  Daniel 
Moore,  Daniel  Houston,  David  Eckert,  William  Hunter,  Samuel 
Murdoch,  Nathan  Pusey,  William  Brownlee,  Thomas  McCall,  Robert 
Wylie,  John  S.  Brady,  Aaron  Fenton,  and  George  Wilson. 

The  directors  elected  Alexander  Reed,  President,  and  John  Mar- 
shall, Cashier.     On  account  of  the  decease  of  Alexander  Keed,  the 


HISTORY  OF   WASHINGTON   CODNTY.  199 

directors,  on  September  22,  1842,  elected  Daniel  Houston,  who 
served  as  President  until  December  21,  1843,  when  T.  M.  T.  McKen- 
nan,  Esq.,  was  elected.  Mr.  McKennan  having  deceased,  Collin  M. 
Reed  was  elected  July  29,  1852,  and  filled  the  office  until  the  Bank 
became  the  First  National  Bank. 

John  Marshall  continued  as  Cashier  until  March  16,  1857,  when 
James  Mcllvaine,  the  present  incumbent,  was  elected.  On  April 
20,  1837,  Samuel  Cunningham  was  elected  Clerk. 

First  National  Bank. 

The  Franklin  Bank  of  Washington  was  reorganized  by  the  stock- 
holders as  the  First  National  Bank  of  Washington,  on  January  1, 
1865,  with  C.  M.  Reed  as  President,  James  Mcllvaine  as  Cashier, 
Samuel  Cunningham  as  Clerk.  On  May  1,  1865,  Andrew  S.  Ritchie, 
Esq.,  was  appointed  Teller.  The  capital  stock  of  the  Bank  is  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  with  a  surplus  fund  of  seventy 
thousand  dollars.  It  owns  a  fine  two-story  brick  banking-house,  on 
Main  Street  and  Bank  Alley,  valued  at  four  thousand  five  hundred 
and  sixty-eight  dollars.  The  first  Board  of  Directors  of  the  First 
National  Bank  were  C.  M.  Reed,  A.  W.  Acheson,  J.  S.  Brady,  M. 
H.  Clark,  William  Davis,  H.  H.  Clark,  John  H.  Ewing,  Joseph 
Henderson,  Thomas  McKean,  Jacob  Slagle,  Alexander  Seaman, 
John  Stewart,  and  James  Watson, 

Banking  Houses. 

There  are  two  banking  houses  also  in  Washington,  William 
Smith  and  Son,  and  Samuel  Hazlett,  both  of  which  are  extensively 
engaged  in  their  legitimate  business. 

Washington  Female  Seminary. 

The  origin  of  this  seminary  can  be  truthfully  dated  to  the  26th 
November,  1835,  when  the  following  citizens  met  at  the  house  of  T. 
M.  T.  McKennan,  Esq.,  to  take  the  initiatory  movement  to  organize 
a  female  seminary  in  this  borough.  The  citizens  referred  to  were 
Rev.  David  Elliott,  John  Harter,  John  Wilson,  James  Reed,  Wm. 
J.  Wilson,  William  Huntei',  Jacob  Slagle,  Robert  Officer,  William 
Smith,  David  Eckert,  John  Koontz,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan.  Rev. 
Dr.  D.  Elliott  appointed  Chairman,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  Sec- 
retary. Many  other  citizens  were,  from  business  and  professional 
duties,  prevented  from  attending  the  first  meeting,  but  their  devo- 
tion to  the  establishment  of  a  female  seminary  was  afterwards 
evinced  by  their  zeal  and  perseverance  in  advancing  its  interests. 
Their  names  are  Alexander  Reed,  Dr.  F.  J.  Leraoyne,  Thomas 
Morgan,  Samuel  Mount,  Samuel  McFarland,  John  Grayson,  John 
H.  Ewing,  James  Brice,  John  K.  Wilson,  Dr.  James  Stevens,  Alex- 
ander Ramsey,  James  Ruple,  Alex.  Sweeney,  Wm.  Sample,  James 


200  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

McCadden,  John  Marshall,  Andrew  Shearer,  Dr.  John  Wishart, 
Samuel  Hazlett,  George  Kuntz,  Robert  Wylie,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  McCon- 
aughy,  Janie.s  McCoy,  Joseph  Lawrence,  Dr.  Robert  R.  Reed,  John 
L.  Gow,  Samuel  Cunningham,  Collon  M.  Reed,  John  S.  Brady, 
Hugh  W.  Wilson,  D.  Houston,  Dr.  H.  Buchanan,  Sample  Sweeney, 
John  Bausinan,  Daniel  Moore,  James  G.  Strean,  Rev.  Thomas 
Hanna,  Dr.  R.  P.  Lane,  N.  F.  Brobst,  Joseph  Templeton,  Samuel 
Yance,  Hon.  Abraham  Wootring,  Wm.  Brownlee,  James  and  Henry 
Langley,  Wm.  McKennan,  George  Lonkert,  Samuel  Clokey,  Wm. 
Gabby,  Rev.  James  1.  Brownson,  Dr.  M.  H.  Clark,  Dr.  John  W. 
Wishart,  Dr.  Thomas  McKennan,  Thomas  McKean,  and  V.  Hard- 
ing, who  have  been  its  warm  and  steadfast  friends,  promoting  its 
interests  pecuniarily,  by  subscription  to  stock  and  otherwise,  as  -the 
records  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  constantly  show.  It  is  eminently 
due,  therefore,  that  their  names  should  be  perpetuated,  many  of  whom 
will  appear  in  its  history  as  its  trustees. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  26th  of  November,  referred  to,  and  after  a 
full  interchange  of  opinion,  Messrs.  Jacob  Slagle,John  Koontz,  and 
David  Eckert  were  appointed  to  ascertain  if  a  suitable  place  could 
>be  procured  for  opening  a  seminary  in  the  spring  of  1836,  while 
Messrs.  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  Wm.  Hunter,  John  Harter,  Dr.  F.  J. 
Lemoyne,  and  Thomas  Morgan  were  authorized  to  confer  with 
Alexander  Reed,  Esq.,  on  the  prospect  of  purchasing  lots  for  the 
erection  of  a  seminary  on  the  east  end  of  Maiden  Street. 

The  Committee  to  procure  a  suitable  place  reported  on  November 
30th  that  the  Masonic  Hall,  which  stood  on  the  eastern  end  of  the 
lot,  upon  which  was  the  residence  of  John  Grayson,  Esq.,  with  an 
entrance  from  Maiden  Street,  east  of  Main,  could  be  rented,  where- 
upon the  same  committee  were  instructed  to  rent  the  same,  based 
upon  the  encouraging  fact  that  Messrs.  David  Eckert,  James  Reed, 
and  Samuel  Mount  had  ascertained  that  between  thirty  and  forty 
scholars  would  be  obtained,  the  tuition  of  which  would  yield  between 
si.x  and  seven  hundred  dollars.  While  these  committees  were  making 
the  preliminary  arrangements  about  a  suitable  place  and  tuition,  the 
Committee  on  the  purchase  of  ground  upon  which  to  erect  seminary 
buildings  reported  that  Mr.  Alexander  Reed  would  sell  the  lots 
for  the  contemplated  purpose. 

The  friends  of  the  establishment  of  the  seminary  believing  that  its 
varied  interests  would  be  better  promoted  by  procuring  the  sale  of 
stock,  in  which  every  citizen  would  feel  a  deep  interest,  appointed 
Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  Alexander  Sweeney,  and  James  Reed  to  ascer- 
tain what  amount  could  be  procured,  who,  on  December  18,  1835, 
reported  the  sale  of  eighty-five  shares,  equivalent  to  $4250. 

With  such  encouraging  prospects  Messrs.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  T.  M. 
T.  McKennan,  Samuel  McFarland,  and  Thomas  Morgan  were  in- 
structed to  procure  two  suitable  persons  for  teachers.  This  com- 
mittee, at  a  subsequent  meeting,  reported  that  they  had  procured 
the  services  of  Mrs.  Francis  Biddle,  and  had  given  her  authority  to 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  201 

select  an  assistant.  Her  stipulated  salary  to  be  six  hundred  dollars, 
clear  of  rent,  fuel,  furniture,  and  incidental  expenses.  The  trustees 
also  resolved  that  all  excess  over  the  six  hundred  dollars,  derived 
from  tuition,  and  the  payment  of  all  incidental  expenses,  should  be 
paid  to  Mrs.  Biddle  in  addition  to  her  salary. 

T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  Esq.,  chairman  of  the  Committee  to  confer 
with  Alexander  Reed,  Esq.,  on  the  purchase  of  his  lots,  reported 
December  18,  1835,  that  Mr.  Reed  v/ould  sell  the  lots  for  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars,  and  the  price  of  the  fencing,  which  would  be 
about  fifty  dollars ;  which  report  was  accepted,  and  the  trustees  in- 
structed to  purchase  the  lots. 

The  lots  being  secured,  and  $4250  subscribed,  Messrs.  Alexander 
Sweeney,  James  Reed,  and  W.  J.  Wilson  were  appointed  to  obtain 
plans,  &c.,  for  the  contemplated  seminary  buildings;  and,  on  the 
14th  March,  1836,  the  stockholders  held  their  first  meeting  for  a 
permanent  organization,  under  the  articles  of  association  which  had 
ijeen  prepared  by  Rev.  Dr.  McConaughy,  Alexander  Reed,  and  Dr. 
F.  J.  Lemoyne.  The  building  committee  delayed  making  a  report 
until  March  14,  1836,  when  they  reported  and  recommended  that  a 
building  committee  be  elected,  with  full  power  to  adopt  a  plan,  ob- 
tain sealed  proposals  for  work  and  materials,  contract  for  sinking  a 
well  and  putting  a  pump  therein,  to  have  a  general  superintendence, 
and  draw  upon  the  treasurer  to  meet  the  necessary  expenses.  This 
well-matured  recommendation  met  the  unanimous  approval  of  the 
trustees,  and  the  following  persons  were  elected  said  committee,  viz : 
Dr  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  James  Reed,  James  Ruple,  Robert  Officer,  and 
James  Brice. 

John  Harter  was  appointed  treasurer,  instructed  to  collect  one- 
fifth  part  of  each  share  of  stock,  and  pay  the  same  out  to  the  order 
of  the  building  committee.  He  served  as  such  until  July  30,  1836, 
when  Alexander  Sweeney  was  appointed,  and  served  until  October 
26,  1837,  when  John  Grayson  was  elected.  Messrs.  John  Koontz, 
David  Eckert,  John  Grrayson,  R.  H.  Lee,  and  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Elliott  were 
instructed  to  provide  suitable  furniture,  and  act  as  a  board  of  trus- 
tees and  visitors  for  the  present  year.  The  trustees  directed  the 
building  committee,  on  July  30,  1836,  to  call  in  the  remaining  instal- 
ments in  such  proportions  as  may  be  necessary  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  the  new  buildings  and  premises. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1837,  the  stockholders  adopted  a  new 
constitution,  having  in  view  the  necessity  of  procuring  an  act  of  in- 
corporation from  the  legislature.  This  constitution  contained  fifteen 
articles,  vesting  certain  powers  in  the  board  of  trustees — to  consist 
of  nine  members,  elected  annually  by  the  stockliolders ;  to  fill 
vacancies,  to  provide  the  mode  of  election  on  shares  of  stock,  to 
employ  a  principal,  and  manage  the  preliminary  affairs  of  the  insti- 
tution, placing  the  edifice  and  appurtenances  under  the  care  of  the 
principal  and  trustees;  the  principal  to  have  charge  of  the  domestic 
affairs  of  the  seminary,  under  the  sanction  of  the  trustees  ;  the 
14 


202  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

principal  and  her  assistants  to  instruct  the  scholars  in  such  a  course 
of  studies  as  the  trustees  would  approve  ;  dividing  the  seminary 
into  three  classes,  and  requiring  three  years'  study  to  complete  the 
course  and  receive  a  diploma ;  the  trustees  to  establish  the  price  of 
tuition,  fees,  &c. ;  the  treasurer  to  be  elected  by  the  stockholders, 
and  dividends  to  be  declared  when  the  institution  is  free  of  debt,  and 
an  annual  report  to  be  made.  Such  were  its  provisions,  which  in- 
strument, after  discussion,  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Under  the  constitution  an  election  for  nine  trustees  was  held 
February  IT,  1837  :  the  Board  consisting  of  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne, 
John  Marshall,  Jacob  Slagle,  Dr.  John  Wishart,  Rev.  D.  McCo- 
naughy,  Joseph  Lawrence,  Dr.  Robert  R.  Reed,  John  L.  Gow,  and 
Alexander  Reed.  While  upon  the  subject  of  trustees  I  shall  at  this 
time  add  the  names  of  those  who  have  filled  and  are  now  filling  the 
office : — 

September  26,  1837,  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  Dr.  R.  R.  Reed,  Jacob 
Slagle,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  McConaughy,  were  re-elected,  and  John  H. 
Ewing,  James  Brice,  John  Grayson,  Samuel  Hazlett,  and  Samuel 
Cunningham  constituted  the  Board. 

December  11,  1850,  Dr.  Wilson  Addison  and  Mr.  Ross,  executors 
of  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Jane  Addison,  deceased,  executed  a  deed  for 
four  feet  of  ground  adjoining  the  seminary  lot,  which  enabled  the 
trustees  to  adopt  a  plan  for  the  building  so  as  to  occupy  the  ground 
up  to  the  Addison  grant. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1838,  the  legislature  incorporated  the 
Washington  Female  Seminary,  and  appointed  as  trustees  Rev.  Dr. 
D.  McConaughy,  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  Dr.  John  Wishart,  John 
Grayson,  Jacob  Slagle,  Dr.  R.  R.  Reed,  John  Marshall,  John  L. 
Gow,  and  Joseph  Lawrence. 

April  4,  1839,  John  Grayson  and  John  L.  Gow  were  instructed 
to  prepare  an  address  to  the  citizens  of  the  surrounding  counties  of 
Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  and  Ohio  in  reference  to  the  prospects  of 
the  seminary. 

November  18,  1839,  John  L.  Gow  resigned  the  office  of  trustee, 
and  Alexander  Sweeney  was  appointed. 

March  1,  1838,  the  trustees  signed  a  memorial  to  the  legislature 
asking  an  appropriation  of  $1000  per  annnm,  for  five  years,  which  was 
granted,  the  law  requiring  the  payment  to  be  made  quarterly,  and 
the  treasurer  was  authorized  from  time  to  time  to  receive  the  same. 

December  7,  1841,  Dr.  R.  II.  Reed  and  John  Marshall  tendered 
their  resignations  as  trustees,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan  and  Collin 
M.  Reed  were  appointed. 

July  14,  1846,  John  II.  Ewing  was  appointed  a  trustee  in  the 
room  of  Joseph  Lawrence,  Esq. 

December  13,  1849,  the  trustees  ordered  a  perpetual  insurance  of 
$6000  on  the  seminary  buildings. 

August  24,  1858,  on  account  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  D.  D. 
McConaughy  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  Esq.,  the  Board  proceeded 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON'    COUNTY.  203 

to  fill  the  vacancies  by  the  election  of  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson  and 
Dr.  M.  H.  Clark. 

December  17,  1858,  Dr.  John  Wishart  resigned  bis  trusteeship, 
and  on  January  19,  18o9,  Dr.  John  Wilson  Wishart  was  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy ;  at  the  same  time  Dr.  Thomas  McKennan  was 
elected  in  place  of  Hugh  W.  Wilson,  deceased. 

January  12,  18G6,  Alexander  Sweeney  having  died,  T.  Harding 
was  elected,  and  Dr.  John  Wilson  Wishart  having  resigned  Thomas 
AIcKean  was  elected. 

With  this  necessary  digression  we  shall  return  again  to  the  gene- 
ral history  of  the  seminary,  commencing  at  the  period  before  the 
charter  was  obtained,  and  when  arrangements  were  being  made  to 
complete  and  furnish  the  seminary.  At  the  meeting  of  June  8, 
1837.  it  was  stated  that  if  the  whole  amount  of  84250  were  paid  in, 
it  would  require  an  additional  one  thousand  dollars  ;  wliereupon 
Messrs.  James  Brice,  Alexander  Reed,  Samuel  McFarlaud.  T.  AT. 
T.  McKennan,  and  Samuel  Hazlett  were  appointed  to  sell  additional 
stock,  who,  on  the  22d  of  June  following,  reported  that  they  had 
obtained  seven  shares,  equal  to  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
Being  thus  encouraged  the  trustees  directed  the  building  committee 
to  have  the  buidin^  painted,  provide  suitable  furniture,  and  borrow 
$500,  and  to  pledge  the  new  stock  for  its  payment. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  held  December  18,  1840.  the  trus- 
tees taking  into  consideration  the  increase  of  pupils  and  the  liealthy 
state  of  the  Seminary,  determined  that  it  was  both  expedient  and 
necessary  to  erect  additional  buildings,  thev  therefore  appointed  Dr. 
R.  R.  Reed,  Dr.  John  Wishart,  and^T.  M.  T.  McKenuan,  to  sell 
new  stock  for  that  purpose.  So  successful  were  the  committee,  that 
on  January  28,  1841,  the  Board  appointed  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  John 
Grayson,  and  Dr.  R.  R.  Reed,  to  receive  plans  for  the  proposed 
building  and  issue  sealed  proposals  for  the  work  and  materials.  On 
the  8th  of  March,  1S41,  the  execution  of  the  work  was  awarded  to 
Messrs.  Wm.  Allen  and  Thos.  Cooper,  for  the  sum  of  83231.59, 
but  Mr.  Allen  removing  from  town,  Henry  Shearer  was  substituted 
in  his  place.  The  contractors  were  required  to  have  the  buildings 
finished  by  October  20,  1841.  An  insurance  was  placed  upon  the 
building  amounting  to  85000,  and  8200  appropriated  for  this  purpose. 
Dr.  Jno.  Wishart,  Alexander  Sweeney,  and  Jacob  Slagle,  appointed 
to  contract  for  the  furnishing  of  the  additional  building. 

January  28,  1846,  Messrs.  T.  M.  T.  McKennan'',  Dr.  F.  J. 
Lemoyne,  and  C.  M.  Reed  were  appointed  to  obtain  subscriptions 
of  new  stock  to  erect  an  cast  wing  to  the  building,  and  on  February 
28th  they  reported  the  sale  of  twenty-six  shares,  equal  to  81300. 
This  amount  not  being  considered  sufficient  to  justify  the  trustees, 
the  question  was  postponed  and  renewed  at  a  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders on  February  3,  1848,  when  various  plans  were  suggested 
and  the  whole  question  postponed  for  the  action  of  a  future  meet- 
ing.    While  the  trustees  and  stockholders  were  deliberating  upon 


204  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

the  necessity  of  crcetiiip^  additional  buildings;,  a  fire  occurred  on 
December  1,  1848,  destroying  tlie  new  building  wbicli  bad  been  pre- 
viously erected.  The  Franklin  Fire  Insurance  Company,  having 
been  notified  of  the  fact,  telegraphed  that  the  loss  would  bo  promptly 
met,  and  on  December  13th  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  T.  M.  T.  McKen- 
nan,  and  Sample  Sweeney  were  appointed  to  sell  additional  stock, 
who  reported  the  sale  of  forty-three  shares,  equal  to  $2150.  The 
trustees  met  on  February  17,  1849,  and  appointed  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne, 
John  II.  Ewing,  Sample  Sweeney,  James  Brice,  and  James  Iluple 
a  building  committee  to  borrow  money  and  make  a  contract  for  the 
erection  of  the  west  wing  to  the  Seminary  building.  On  the  ISth 
of  May  the  committee  report  that  they  have  contracted  with  Robert 
Pi.amsey  for  the  erection  of  the  west  wing  and  an  additional  story  on 
the  old  building,  for  the  sum  of  $4900,  to  be  completed  by  October 
1,  1849.  On  January  30,  1850,  the  building  committee  made  a. final 
report  and  received  a  vote  of  thanks  for  the  able  manner  in  which 
they  had  discharged  their  duties. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  the  erection  of  the  buildings 
and  purchase  of  the  lots  and  other  incidental  expenses,  I  might  add 
that  on  January  19,  1859,  John  Grayson,  Esq.,  treasurer,  reported 
the  institution  free  from  debt,  there  being  a  balance  in  his  hands 
of  $590.  Since  this  time  the  stockholders  have  been  receiving  a 
dividend  upon  their  shares  of  stock,  and  a  contingent  fund  has  been 
established. 

Principals  of  the  Seminary. 
1.     Mrs.  Frances  Biddlk. 

On  April  9,  1836,  Rev.  Dr.  D.  Elliott,  Prof.  Richard  H.  Lee, 
John  Grayson,  David  Eckert,  and  John  Koontz,  trustees  of  the 
Seminary,  published  an  address,  stating  that  some  time  during  the- 
present  month  a  female  seminary  for  the  education  of  young  ladies, 
under  the  direction  of  Mr'i^.  Frances  Biddle,  an  experienced  teacher, 
highly  recommended  by  competent  persons  as  a  lady  well  qualified 
for  the  superintendence  of  a  female  institute.  She  will  bo  aided 
by  a  well  educated  female  assistant.  The  course  of  education  will 
Ix!  extensive,  embracing  the  various  branches  taught  in  the  best  fe- 
male seminaries.  Mrs.  Riddle  opened  the  seminary  21st  of  April, 
1830,  assisted  by  Miss  Mary  Clark,  and  during  her  term  of  office 
had  also  as  assistants,  Miss  Henrietta  M.  Post  (afterwards  ^[rs.  U.  W. 
Wise),  and  Miss  Sarah  Chapman  (afterwards  Mrs.  Collin  M.  Reed). 

On  the  2d  day  of  January,  1840,  Rev.  Dr.  McConaughy,  Dr.  R. 
R.  Pvced,  and  John  Grayson  were  instructed  to  confer  with  Mr.s. 
Biddle  on  the  present  and  future  ])rospects  of  the  Seminary,  who 
reported  on  the  24th,  that  the  Principal  intended  to  resign  her  office 
at  the  close  of  the  present  session  in  March,  which  she  accordingly 
did,  and  her  resignation  was  accepted.     On  the  September  previous 


J 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  205 

of  1839,  three  years  having  elapsed  since  the  organization  of  the 
Seminary,  the  first  class  of  young  ladies  graduated,  consisting  of  six 
in  number. 

2.  Miss  Sarah  R.  Foster  (Mrs.  Sarah  R.  F.  Hanna). 

After  the  trustees  had  received  notice  of  the  resignation  of  Mrs. 
Biddle,  Rev.  Dr.  McConaughy,  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyue,  and  John  Mar- 
shall were  appointed  to  obtain  information  of  a  suitable  person  for 
Principal  of  the  Seminary.  This  committee,  on  the  14th  of  March, 
1840,  reported  that  they  had  procured  the  desired  information,  and 
would  recommend  Miss  Sarah  R.  Foster,  of  Cadiz,  Ohio,  as  pre-emi- 
nently possessing  all  the  qualifications  which  would  insure  thorough 
education  and  perpetuate  the  institution.  These  recommendations 
being  entirely  satisfactory.  Miss  Foster  was  unanimously  elected  on 
the  terras  embraced  in  the  existing  contract  with  Mrs.  Biddle.  Dr. 
F.  J.  Lemoyne,  Jacob  Slagle,  and  John  Marshall  were  appointed 
to  execute  the  contract  and  publish  the  election  and  acceptance  of  a 
Principal,  the  studies  and  terms  of  tuition. 

Miss  Henrietta  M.  Post  and  Miss  Laura  Simmons  were  appointed 
as  assistants,  with  the  consent  of  the  Principal.  During  the  period 
Miss  Foster  presided  over  the  Seminary  and  to  the  present  time,  as 
Mrs.  Hanna,  highly  educated  and  accomplished  assistant  teachers 
have  aided  her  in  the  discharge  of  her  arduous  duties. 

On  the  2nh  day  of  Sept.,  1848,  Miss  Sarah  R.  Foster  was  united 
in  marriage  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hanna,  pastor  of  Seceder  Congre- 
gation, and  on  the  11th  of  March  following  he  was  elected  by  the 
trustees  Superintendent  of  the  Seminar^-,  which  office  he  held  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  9,  1864.  Mrs.  Hanna,  however, 
has  always  filled  and  exercised  the  office  of  Principal  with  marked 
ability  and  pre-eminent  success,  which  is  owing  to  her  unwavering 
energy,  kindness,  and  efficiency,  joined  with  her  judicious  selection 
of  assistants. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  we  shall  add  the  whole  number  who 
have  graduated  yearly  since  the  first  class  graduated  in  September, 
1839,  which  numbered  six,  the  remainder  having  graduated  under 
Mrs.  Hanna,  numbering  in  all  five  hundred  and  ten  graduates,  whose 
parents  reside  in  fifteen  States  of  the  Union,  thereby  demonstrating 
that  the  fame  of  Washington  Female  Seminary  is  not  confined  to 
State  bounds. 

Officers  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Rev.  Dr.  David  McConaughy  was  the  firat  President,  and  served 
until  his  death.  His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  James  I.  Brown- 
son,  who  was  elected  August  30,  1858. 

The  Treasurers  were  elected  in  the  following  years:  1st.  John 
Harter,  March  14,  1836.  2d.  Alexander  Sweeney,  July  30,  1836. 
3d.  John  Grayson,  October  26, 1837.     4th.  James  Brice,  March  31, 


206  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY, 

1838.  5th.  John  Grayson  re-elected  May  12,  1838.  And  6th. 
Thomas  ^VIcKean,  January  8,  1807. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  filled  the  ofTioc  of  Secretary  by 
election,  viz:  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  at  the  organization.  2d.  Samuel 
Cunningham,  October  2G,  1837.  3d.  John  L.  Gow,  May  12.  1838. 
4th.  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne,  December  7,  1841.  5th.  Collin  M.  Reed, 
January  14.  1842.     6th.  Y.  Harding,  January  8,  1867. 

The  present  Board  of  Trustees  consists  of  Rev.  Dr.  James  I. 
Brownson,  President;  Thomas  McKean,  Treasurer ;  Y.  Harding, 
Secretary ;  and  John  Grayson,  Jacob  Slagle,  Collin  M.  Reed,  John 
H.  Ewing,  Dr.  M.  H.  Clarke,  and  Dr.  Thomas  McKennan. 

In  connection  with  the  name  of  Hon.  John  Grayson,  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  who  served  as  treasurer  for  thirty 
years,  the  Board  at  its  meeting  on  January  16,  1867,  presented  him 
with  an  elegant  family  Bible.  I  might  add  also  that  John  Grayson 
and  Jacob  Slagle,  Esquires,  are  the  only  two  trustees  who  have 
served  thirty  years  each  as  a  trustee,  and  their  devotion  to  the  inte- 
rests of  the  Seminary,  with  their  fellow  laborers,  the  Principal  and 
her  assistant  teachers,  continues  unabated. 

We  cannot  better  close  our  remarks  upon  the  origin,  progress,  and 
success  of  the  Washington  Female  Seminary,  both  as  regards  the  in- 
telligence of  its  teachers  and  the  acquirements  of  the  young  ladies, 
mentally  and  morally,  than  by  quoting  an  extract  from  the  address 
of  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  D.  D.,  at  the  Quarter  Centennial  Cele- 
bration held  on  the  27th  of  June,  1866,  who,  in  speaking  of  Mrs. 
Hanna,  the  efficient  and  beloved  Principal  of  the  Institute,  said  : — 

"But  especially  Mrs.  Hanna  is  here,  almost  as  you  last  saw  her; 
with  the  same  clear  voice,  firm  step,  commanding  presence,  kindly 
heart,  and  wise  and  firm  yet  tender  administration,  which,  in  your 
school  days,  brought  you  at  the  same  time  under  the  power  of  fear 
and  love ;  and,  as  you  can  see  for  yourselves,  she  is  after  all  not  much- 
older.  All  the  period  of  your  absence  she  has  borne  you  in  memory 
and  heart,  and  now  she  waits  to  tell  you  all  about  your  alma  mater, 
its  fluctuations  of  prosperity  and  trial,  its  struggles  and  triumphs, 
and  to  hear  your  full  history  from  your  own  month." 

ITnion  School  Building. 

This  building  is  placed  on  a  lot  two  hundred  and  forty  feet  square, 
on  the  west  end  of  Beau  Street,  and  west  of  the  college.  The  plan 
was  suljuiitted  by  John  Chislett,  Esq.,  of  Pittsburg.  It  is  seventy- 
four  by  eighty-four  feet,  three  stories  high,  the  first  and  second  four- 
teen feet  each,  and  the  third  fifteen  feet,  the  elevation  of  the  first  floor 
being  three  feet. 

Tlie  Jlrst  floor  has  four  rooms,  with  a  hall.  These  rooms  contain 
closets  for  books,  clothos-rooms,  broad  double  stairways,  and  the 
necessary  apparatus  fur  heating  and  ventilation.     The  aecond  floor 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  201 

is  divided  in  like  manner,  wliile  the  thii^d  floor  has  a  hall  of  forty  by- 
seventy  feet,  with  two  rooms. 

The  hall  is  used  for  public  examination,  declamation,  &c.  The 
building  cost  about  $16,000,  and  the  furniture  $2500. 

Since  the  erection  of  this  building  the  following  gentlemen  have 
filled  the  office  of  Principal,  viz  :  Alexander  M.  Gow,  Rev.  David  P. 
Lowary,  Alexander  Wishart,  Rev.  L.  P.  Streator,  D.  F.  Patterson, 
Rev.  W.  J.  Wilson. 

The  borough  of  Washington  contains  twelve  schools;  number  of 
months  taught  are  ten.  The  schools  employ  one  male  and  eight  female 
teachers,  male  teachers  receiving  $81.50,  the  females  $33  per  month. 
The  colored  children  are  taught  by  a  male  teacher  in  another  building. 
There  are  496  male  scholars,  and  506  females,  amounting  to  1002 
scholars  enrolled,  although  about  831  are  the  average  number  in 
attendance.  The  cost  of  tuition  per  month  is  58  cents;  amount 
levied  for  school  purposes,  $4740;  for  building  purposes,  $1600; 
total  amount,  $6685.  The  State  appropriation  was  $330.33;  the 
debt  remaining  on  school  is  $7087.90. 

Washington  Gas  Works, 

The  first  meeting  for  the  establishment  of  gas  works  in  the  borough 
of  Washington  was  held  on  the  26th  of  August,  1856.  The  citizens 
engaged  in  the  enterprise  ;  procured  a  charter,  which  designated 
as  its  managers  Collin  M.  Reed,  Jos.  Henderson,  Simon  Cort,  Jacob 
Slagle,  Charles  W.  Hays,  Freeman  Brady,  Jr.,  J.  L.  Judson,  Jas. 
W.  Koontz,  and  Alexander  Seaman.  This  Board  of  Managers  pro- 
cured the  sale  of  stock,  and  by  the  terms  of  the  charter,  a  new  Board 
was  elected  January  18,  1857,  consisting  of  Samuel  Hazlett,  C.  M. 
Reed,  Dr.  P.  J.  Lemoyne,  William  Smith,  Jacob  Miller,  Alexander 
Wilson,  and  Joseph  Henderson.  After  its  organization  Messrs.  Le- 
moyne, Hazlett,  and  Miller  were  appointed  to  purchase  a  suitable 
lot  of  ground,  erect  the  necessary  buildings,  and  contract  with  Mr. 
Stephenson  for  their  erection. 

The  company  has  a  capital  stock  of  twenty  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  dollars,  divided  into  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  shares  of  twenty-five  dollars  each. 

The  estimated  value  of  the  gas  works  is  thirty  thousand  dollars. 
The  officers  are  C.  M.  Reed,  President ;  John  C.  Hastings,  Secretary 
and  Treasurer. 

Washington  Cemetery. 

A  desire  among  the  people  of  Washington  and  its  vicinity  to 
have  an  appropriate  place  for  their  honored  dead  led  to  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Washington  Cemetery  Company.  An  apj^lication  was 
made  to  the  court,  and  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1853,  a  charter 
was  granted  to  the  following  corporators,  viz  :  Samuel  Cunningham, 


208  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Jaracs  Watson,  f  George  Lonkert,  John  D.  Chambers,  Hon.  Alex. 
W.  Achesou,  f  James  Brown,  Joseph  Henderson,  flv.  F.  Cooper, 
f James  Ewiiitr,  fJohn  L.  Gow,  John  H.  Ewing,  Dr.  John  AV. 
Wisliart,  Hon.  Wm.  JNlcKennan,  David  S.  Wilson,  O.  B.  McFadden, 
Alex.  Murdoch,  AVilliain  Hopkins,  S.  B.  Hays,  John  Hall,  Franklin 
Xichol,  and  Dr.  M.  H.  Clark. 

The  charter  pbtained,  named  the  following  persons  as  the  Board  of 
Managers  :  Rev.  Thos.  Hanna,  D.  D.,  John  L.  Gow,  Hon.  Alex.  W. 
Aeheson,  William  Hopkins,  James  AVatson,  Jas.  Brice,  and  D.  S. 
Wilson,  who  were  authorized  to  purchase  land,  fdl  vacancies,  and  per- 
form such  otiier  acts  as  would  ])romotc  the  interest  of  the  cemetery. 

The  legislature  passed  an  act  that  all  the  lots  should  be  forever 
exempt  from  taxation  and  free  from  seizure,  levy,  and  sale,  and  also 
provided  for  its  general  protection.  The  company  owns  fifty  acres 
of  land,  and  have  sold  lots  amounting  to  twenty-two  thousand  dol- 
lars, which  has  been  appropriated  to  the  erection  of  a  superintend- 
ent's house,  fencing  and  improving  the  grounds,  as  originally  laid 
out  by  Mr.  Cliislett.  So  devoted  have  the  lot-holders  been  to  beau- 
tif3Mng  and  adorning  the  resting-place  of  those  who  were  near  and  dear 
to  them,  that  the  estimated  value  of  the  improvements  is  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  While  the  larger  portion  of  the  lot-holders  reside 
in  the  borough,  yet  the  people  of  the  eount}^  feel  interested  in  this 
cemetery,  and  here  deposit  tlieir  friends  in  an  ap])ropriate  resting- 
place,  which  we  may  well  call  the  great  city  of  the  illustrious  and 
honored  dead. 

The  managers  of  the  company  have  generously  appropriated 
grounds  for  the  burial  of  the  soldiers  who  died  in  defence  of  the 
Constitution,  and  in  these  grounds  the  soldiers'  monument  is  to  be 
erected,  which  will  add  another  beautiful  structure  to  the  many 
whigh  already  can  be  seen,  calling  to  remembrance  the  virtues  of 
those  who  have  passed  into  the  spirit-land,  and  whose  names  are 
engraved  not  only  upon  marble,  but  upon  the  tablet  of  the  memory 
of  human  hearts. 

Washington  Coal  Company. 

This  company  is  situate  in  the  western  limits  of  the  borough,  the 
owners  of  wliich  arc  Messrs.  Parkin,  Marshall  &  Co.,  who  on  August 
24,  18()4,  commenced  sinking  a  sliaft  for  bituminous  coal,  with  which 
our  county  aljounds.  They  were  successful  on  the  12th  day  of  Au- 
gust, 18(i5,  being  one  year  engaged  in  the  enterprise  before  their 
wishes  were  both  realized  and  gratilied.  The  periiendicular  depth 
of  the  shaft  is  three  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  but  at  an  angle  of  forty- 
five  degrees,  which  is  the  descent  to  the  coal,  by  a  stationary  engine 
and  cars,  it  is  five  hundred  feet.  The  company  employ  thirty  hands, 
digging  daily  one  thousand  bushels,  and  the  improvements,  with  the 
coal  right,  are  estimated  as  worth  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

t  Those  to  whose  nnmes  a  cross  is  preCxed.  linve  since  died,  and  are  buried  in  the 
cenielerj',  except  11.  F.  Cooper,  who  died  on  the  buttle-field. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  209 

As  it  will  be  interesting  to  ray  geological  readers  to  know  the 
various  strata  through  which  the  workmen  passed,  I  shall  give  them 
as  detailed  to  me  by  Mr.  Parkin,  the  senior  partner.  Passing  down 
below  the  soil  and  clay  four  feet,  was  blue  clay,  then  five  feet  of 
gravel,  then  eighteen  inches  of  black  slate,  like  roofing  slate,  then  a 
four  feet  bed  of  limestone,  next  fifteen  feet  of  a  blue  clay  or  schale 
like  fire-proof  brick  is  made  of,  then  an  eight  inch  vein  of  coal,  next 
six  feet  of  gray  schale  like  fire-proof  clay,  then  five  feet  of  freestone, 
then  one  hundred  and  seyenty  feet  of  gray  limestone  between  beds 
varying  from  six  inches  to  three  feet.  In  this,  however,  is  twenty 
feet  of  white  limestone,  about  the  centre  of  the  foregoing  depth  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  feet.  In  this  white  limestone,  which  is  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  surface,  are  salt  springs.  Immedi- 
ately below  the  gray  limestone  is  twelve  feet  of  black  slate,  such  as 
is  found  at  Cook's  Mill,  two  miles  north  of  Washington,  then  eight 
feet  of  gray  limestone  of  a  soft  nature,  then  five  feet  of  gray  flinty 
limestone  (the  hardest  they  had  met  with),  fifty  feet  of  blue  schale, 
and  mixed  with  iron,  until  they  reached  sandstone,  which  was  fifteen 
feet  deep,  mixed  with  fossils  of  various  kinds,  then  three  feet  of  slate, 
under  which  was  a  vein  of  pure  bituminous  coal  of  five  feet  six 
inches, 

Hanover  Township. 

By  reference  to  the  history  of  Smith  township  we  learn  that  this 
township  was  a  part  thereof,  but  on  the  11th  day  of  March,  1786, 
after  application  had  been  made  to  and  certificate  granted  by  the 
court,  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  confirmed  the  action  of  the 
court.  When  formed  into  a  township  its  boundaries  were  the  Ohio 
Kiver  on  the  north  and  east.  Smith  township  on  the  south,  and  Vir- 
ginia on  the  west.  It  will  be  remembered  that  after  a  part  of  Beaver 
County  was  taken  off  Washington,  a  part  of  Hanover  township  was 
thereby  struck  off.  Yet  each  county  retained  the  original  name  of 
Hanover  for  one  of  its  townships. 

It  is  bounded  by  Beaver  County  on  the  north,  Robinson  and  Smith 
on  the  east,  Jefferson  and  Smith  on  the  south,  and  West  Virginia 
on  the  west. 

The  turnpike  road  from  Pittsburg  to  Steubenville  on  the  Ohio 
Kiver  runs  westerly  through  the  township,  and  upon  it  is  Florence, 
called  originally  Briceland's  Cross  Roads.  The  Pittsburg  and  Steu- 
benville Railroad  runs  through  its  southern  part.  This  township 
contains  several  valuable  grist  and  saw-mills,  also  ten  stores,  fourteen 
schools,  employing  six  male  and  eight  female  teachers,  with  494 
scholars  (274  males  and  220  females)  ;  the  male  teachers  receive 
$3t  50  per  month,  and  the  females  $26  25 ;  the  tuition  costing  per 
month  for  each  scholar  $1  16.  Amount  levied  for  school  purposes 
$2552  92  ;  from  State  appropriation  $182  91. 

Its  population  in  1860  was  2090,  of  which  38  were  colored.  Its 
greatest  length  is  11,  breadth  7  miles. 


210  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY 

In  this  township  resided  the  celebrated  Adam  Poe,  who  lived  in 
a  cabin  about  two  miles  west  of  Florence,  situate  on  a  little  knoll 
on  the  farm  of  the  late  John  Fulton,  deceased. 

Its  towns  are  Florence,  Paris,  Murdocksville. 

On  the  14th  day  of  August,  1814,  a  town  was  laid  out  by  James 
Briceluud  and  Moses  Proud  fit,  who  named  it  Floi'cnce.  It  was 
originally  named  Briceland's  Cross  Roads,  from  the  fact  of  the  Pitts- 
burg and  Stcubenville  pike  crossing  the  Washington  and  Georgetown 
road  at  this  point,  where  James  Briccland  kept  an  hotel.  It  is 
twenty-six  miles  from  Pittsburg,  sixteen  from  Washington,  and 
twelve  from  Steubenville. 

Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Cross-roads  Presbyterian  Church  is  located  at  Florence.  It 
was  organized  originally  at  a  place  called  King's  Creek,  in  178(5,  but 
the  location  was  changed  to  its  present  site  in  1798.  The  church 
has  had  as  its  pastors  Rev.  Elisha  McCurdy,  who  was  installed  in 
June,  1800;  Rev.  Daniel  Deruelle,  in  183G;  Rev.  Wm.  Burton,  in 
1838;  Rev.  James  W.  McKennan,  in  November,  1839;  Rev.  Joel 
Stoneroad,  in  1842  ;  Rev.  J.  S.  Wylie,  in  1850  ;  Rev.  Oliphant  M. 
Todd,  November  9,  1852;  Rev.  J.  P.  Caldwell,  in  18G0  ;  Rev. 
Andrew  W.  Boyd,  in  18G4;  and  Rev.  David  M.  Miller,  in  May, 
1867,  its  present  efficient  and  highly  esteemed  pastor,  who  informs 
me  that  the  numl)er  of  families  connected  therewith  numbers  eighty- 
nine,  with  a  Sabbath  school  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  children. 
This  was  one  of  the  churches  that  shared  in  the  great  revival  which 
took  place  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  which  was  accom- 
panied by  what  was  known  as  the  "  falling  exercises." 

The  United  Presbyterians  have  a  church  on  King's  Creek,  near 
Florence.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  James  L.  Purdy,  with  a 
membership  of  eighty. 

Paris  is  in  the  western  part  of  the  township,  and  contains  about 
thirty-five  dwellings,  a  Presbyterian  church  under  the  care  of  the 
Rev.  Fulton  jNIagill,  and  a  United  Presbyterian  church,  which  has 
had  the  ministerial  labors  of  Rev.  Mr.  Galloway,  Rev.  Mr.  Backus, 
Rev.  J.  Y.  Calhoon,  and  llev.  James  C.  Campbell,  with  a  membership 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty.  It  has  also  one  extensive  threshing- 
machine  maimfactory,  cabinet-makers,  blacksmiths,  shoemakers,  &c. 

Murdocksville  is  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township. 

August  20,  1811,  in  Pittsburg,  two  officers  had  a  dispute,  and 
they  resolved  to  settle  their  difficulties  by  fighting  a  duel.  Arrange- 
ments were  made  that  the  affair  should  I)e  settled  in  Virginia.  One 
of  the  parties  travelled  as  far  as  Briceland's  Cross-roads  (Florence) 
th«  first  day,  and  in  the  morning  rose  by  daylight  and  practised  with 
his  pistol.  One  of  the  shots  struck  the  headstone  of  Capt.  liaving- 
ton,  and  can  be  seen  at  this  day.  After  breakfast  he  left  for  the 
designated  spot.     The  same  day  his  antagonist  left  Pittsburg,  but 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  211 

when  he  came  neai'  to  the  place  called  the  old  IS'orth  Star,  formerly 
kept  by  Joseph  Crawford  as  a  tavern,  he  was  thrown  from  the 
sulky  and  had  his  leg  broken.  The  wounded  officer  was  taken  back 
on  a  litter  to  Pittsburg,  by  soldiers  sent  for  that  purpose.  Thus 
ended  this  duel. 

July  3,  1793.  We  give  the  substance  of  a  lease  between  George 
McCormick  and  Solomon  Hule  and  Sarah  his  wife  ;  the  former  convey- 
ing to  the  latter  on  lease,  one  hundred  acres  of  land,  on  the  waters  of 
King  (or  Indian)  Creek,  in  Hanover  township.  The  rent  required 
was  one  bushel  of  Indian  corn  yearly,  and  the  taxes  to  be  paid  on 
four  hundred  acres,  and  at  the  expiration  of  three  lives  the  land  to 
revert  to  George  McCormick  and  his  heirs. 

Franklin  Township. 

On  the  16th  of  July,  1*787,  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  upon 
the  proper  certificate  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  Washing- 
ton County,  formed  this  township,  adopting  as  its  boundaries  Am- 
well  township  on  the  north,  Cumberland  on  the  east,  Greene  on  the 
south,  and  Donegal  on  the  w^est. 

With  Cumberland,  Morgan,  Greene,  and  Rich  Hill,  this  township 
constituted  Greene  County  by  an  act  passed  February  9,  1796. 

FiNLEY  Township 

Was  formed  out  of  Donegal  on  the  6th  of  May,  1788.  Its  boun- 
daries were  Donegal  on  the  north,  Franklin,  Cumberland,  and  Greene 
'on  the  east,  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  on  the  south,  and  Virginia 
on  the  west. 

It  was  subdivided  into  East  and  West  Finley  December  24,  1828, 
by  a  decree  of  the  court.  The  history  of  each  we  shall  give  after 
referring  to  some  other  subjects. 

About  the  year  1S07  there  existed  in  this  township  several 
religious  sects,  of  which  we  shall  speak,  to  show  the  influence  which 
superstition  has  upon  the  human  mind.  The  leader  of  this  sect  was 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Sergeant.  He  professed  to  have  a  revelation 
direct  from  heaven,  through  the  ministry  of  an  angel,  in  which  was 
communicated  to  him  the  very  convenient  doctrine  that  there  was 
no  hell.  He  preached  in  that  and  the  adjoining  townships  for  about 
thi'ee  years,  and  had  many  followers.  Firmly  believing  in  this  doc- 
trine, and  concluding  that  there  was  no  punishment  hereafter,  he 
committed  forgery  and  was  imprisoned  in  Cumberland,  Maryland. 
However,  before  he  committed  this  crime  his  fame  as  a  minister  had 
preceded  him  to  Wheeling,  and  thither  he  went  and  preached.  His 
services  were  interrupted  by  a  lawyer,  and  Sergeant  instituted  suit 
against  him  for  disturbing  the  solemnity  of  the  sanctuary  and  the 
religious  services  in  which  he  and  his  followers  were  engaged.  The 
trial  came  off;  the  lawyer  was  acquitted  and  the  Halyconites  were 
declared  not  to  be  a  religious  sect.     It  was  immediately  after  this 


212  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

he  was  arrested  ajid  sent  to  Cumberland,  Maryland,  for  trial.  As 
soon  as  the  lawyer  heard  of  this,  he  composed  the  following  poetry, 
which  is  still  repeated  from  memory  by  some  of  the  old  inhabitants 
of  Finley  township.  The  lawyer  styles  himself  St.  DavicVs  son,  and 
Sergeant,  St.  Bones.     It  reads  as  follows : — 

1.  Saint  Bones,  to  show  that  all  his  ways 
Demand  the  most  unbounded  praise, 
Returned  St.  David's  son  to  court, 

Of  which  St.  Bones  became  the  sport, 
With  all  the  Halycon  union. 

2.  Saint  David's  son  did  prove  full  well, 
St.  Bones  did  preach  there  is  no  hell; 
It  was  thus  decided  Ijy  the  laws 
That  his  was  not  a  Christian  cause, 

AVith  all  the  Halycon  union. 

3.  Saint  David's  pon  to  Bacchus  bows. 
And  in  his  temple  pays  his  vows  ; 
Being  thus  inspired  he  moves  along, 
Amidst  the  enthusiastic  throng 

Who  compose  the  Halycon  union. 

4.  Now  adieu,  St.  Bones,  whene'er  you  die, 
Directly  to  heaven  you  will  fly. 

But  father  Abraham,  with  a  club. 
Will  beat  you  down  to  Belzebub, 
With  all  the  Halycon  union. 

This  lawyer,  whose  name  we  are  not  authorized  to  give,  wrote, 
another  piece  upon  this  man  Sergeant — upon  his  confinement — which 
we  also  give  as  a  relic  of  the  olden  times.  The  lawyer  represented 
the  devil  as  saying  : — 

1.  Now  I'll  away  to  Cumberland 
To  see  a  friend  in  iron  l)ands  ; 
To  see  a  friend  in  awful  dwell. 

Who  always  preached  there  was  no  hell. 

2.  He  took  his  leave,  away  did  gc. 

He  found  his  friend  both  mean  and  low, 
He  found  his  friend  in  iron  band. 
Which  put  the  Devil  to  a  stand. 

3.  Oh,  now,  dear  son,  what  brought  you  here  ? 
Oh,  father,  pray,  don't  be  severe; 

The  truth  to  you  I  won't  deny. 
They  put  me  here  for  forgery. 

4.  Oh,  now,  dear  father,  if  you  can. 
Release  me  from  these  iron  bands — 

'  Release  me  now — don't  let  me  swing, 

And  I'll  to  you  new  subjects  bring. 

5.  Oh,  yes.  dear  son.  that  I  can  do. 
And  soon  he  burst  the  bands  in  two. 
For  this  here  thing  you  shall  not  swing. 
This  day  I'll  crown  you  Halycon  King. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  213 

This  was  a  death-blow  to  the  Halyconites,  but  on  their  ruins 
arose  a  more  wonderful  sect.  Among  the  followers  of  Sergeant 
was  an  old  lady  by  the  name  of  Rhoda  Fordyce,  who,  in  addition 
to  the  doctrine  that  there  was  no  hell,  taught  that  it  were  possible 
for  persons  to  live  entirely  on  a  vegetable  diet,  such  as  parched  corn, 
sassafras  buds,  &c.  &c.,  for  a  certain  number  of  days  and  then  be 
bodily  translated  to  heaven.  This  sect  was  called  Rhodianites,  after 
their  founder. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Parker,  it  is  said,  in  attempting  to  carry 
out  this  doctrine,  was  absolutely  starved  to  death  in  the  house  of 
this  woman  Foixlyce.  She  kept  the  body  concealed  in  her  house  for 
three  days  and  three  nights,  and  as  he  did  not  make  the  ascension 
in  his  lifetime,  it  was  not  probable  that  he  would  after  death.  The 
neighbors,  missing  Parker,  and  knowing  the  influence  she  was  exer- 
cising upon  his  mind,  went  to  the  house  and  were  refused  admit- 
tance.    They  broke  the  door  open,  found  the  body  and  buried  it. 

To  the  doctrine  of  passing  bodily  to  heaven,  she  added  another 
point,  which  was  required  of  all  her  followers,  viz  :  That  of  form- 
ing a  chain.  To  perfect  this  chain  required  a  man  and  woman  to 
make  the  link.  The  way  it  was  formed  was  on  this  wise  :  Each  were 
sewed  up  in  separate  sacks,  with  their  head  out,  arms  tied  close  against 
the  body,  and  feet  tied  together;  they  were  then  put  to  bed  by  the 
old  lady.  In  the  morning  they  were  brought  before  the  old  woman 
as  Inspector-General,  and  if  they  stated  that  they  had  slept  inno- 
cently together,  they  became  a  link  in  the  chain  of  the  Rhodianite 
church.  Tradition  tells  us  that  many  husbands  were  separated  from 
their  wives  to  form  a  link  in  the  Rhodianite  church. 

After  this  sect  arose  a  new  sect,  called  New  Lights,  who  made 
converts  from  the  ranks  of  both  the  Halyconites  and  the  Rhodian- 
ites by  scores.  They  believed  in  immersion  as  the  true  mode  of 
baptism,  and  that  the  Saviour  was  not  equal  to  God,  the  Father,  and 
was  not  from  everlasting.  They  also  believed  in  washing  each  other's 
feet  at  their  communion.  They  wonld  strip  oif  their  feet,  get  a 
basin  of  water  and  a  towel,  and  go  amongst  all  the  brethren  and 
sisters  and  wash  their  feet.  These  New  Lights  increased  rapidly 
for  a  few  years  on  the  borders  of  Washington  and  Greene  County, 
Marshall  County,  Yirginia,  and  the  adjoining  counties  of  Ohio.  They 
held  both  camp  and  bush-meetings. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  we  might  say  that  "Mormonism" 
had  its  origin  in  Amity,  in  the  township  of  Amwell,  whose  history 
we  have  riven  under  that  township.  Thus  have  we  finished  the 
history  of  superstition,  which  exerts  so  baneful  an  influence  upon  the 
human  mind. 


214  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


School-House. 

Alexander  Frazer,  Esq.,  of  this  place,  informs  me  that  the  first 
school  taught  in  the  western  part  of  Fiuley  township  commenced  in 
the  spring  of  1799  and  continued  for  one  year.  The  teacher's  name 
was  McDonald,  who  could  read,  write,  and  cipher  to  the  double  rule 
of  three.  The  books  used  were  Dihvorth's  spelling  book,  the  Old 
and  New  Testament,  and  the  Shorter  Catechism. 

1801.  A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Carroll,  of  Fiuley  township, 
with  another  by  the  name  of  Richmond,  went  out  early  in  the  morn- 
ing to  hunt  wild  turkeys.  The  experienced  hunter  can  give  the 
turkey  call  so  exact  that  the  turkeys  themselves  are  deceived  by  it. 
This  unfortunately  was  the  result  of  this  case.  These  hunters  be- 
came separated,  and  after  a  time  Carroll,  who  was  hid  in  the  bushes, 
gave  the  turkey  call.  Richmond  being  a  long  distance  olf,  hearing 
the  call  and  seeing  something  dark  moving  in  the  brush,  shot,  and 
the  ball  passed  through  the  head  of  his  companion.  Richmond,  at 
the  accident,  became  almost  frantic,  took  up  Carroll's  gun,  shot  it  off 
and  laid  it  across  his  body  and  went  home.  He  revealed  the  secret 
to  his  sister,  who  advised  him  to  keep  the  secret,  fearing  he  might  be 
apprehended  for  murder,  they  being  ignorant  of  the  law.  Richmond 
and  his  sister  went  that  night  and  watched  the  corpse  lest  the  wolves 
might  devour  it.  The  next  day  Carroll  was  missing,  search  was 
made,  the  body  found,  and  the  opinion  was  he  had  shot  himself. 
This  remained  a  profound  secret  until  Richmond,  on  his  death-bed, 
revealed  the  secret. 

East  Finley  Township 

Was  formed  from  the  eastern  part  of  Finley  township,  on  the  24th 
day  of  December,  1828.  Its  boundaries  are — Donegal  and  Buffalo 
on  the  north,  Franklin  and  Morris  on  the  east,  Greene  County  on  the 
south,  and  Donegal  and  West  Finley  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally 
distant  from  Washington,  southwest,  ti{"teen  miles.  It  is  drained  by 
the  branches  of  Wheeling  Creek.  In  18G0  its,i)opulation  was  1201. 
It  has  eight  schools,  employing  five  male  and  three  female  teachers, 
the  former  receiving  §35.80,  the  latter  §33.50  per  month,  with  300 
scholars  (180  males  and  120  females).  Cost  of  tuition  per  month 
$1.0t  cents.  Total  anK)uut  of  taxes  levied  for  school  purposes 
$1557.04,  from  the  Stale  appropriation  §108.42.  It  has  five  stores. 
There  are  four  churches  in  this  township,  a  Bai)tist  church  near 
Pleasant  Grove  in  the  eastern  end,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
near  school-house  No.  4,  on  Mr.  Enslow's  farm,  in  the  centre,  a 
Presbyterian  church  near  Mrs.  Jordan's  in  the  west,  and  a  United 
Presbyterian  church  in  the  southeast  on  Lockhart's  Run  near  Dr. 
Simpson's.  East  Finley  has  several  valuable  steam  grist  and  saw- 
mills.    Its  greatest  length  is  nine  miles,  breadth  four  miles. 

The  Baptist  church  called  Pleasant  Grove,  in  this  township,  was 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  215 

constituted  November  14,  1840,  by  Elders  Isaac  Pettet,  Simeon  Sieg- 
fred,  and  Levi  Griffith,  with  fifty-three  members  who  had  been  mem- 
bers of  Mount  Herman  church,  the  old  Tenraile  Baptist  church. 

Those  who  have  officiated  as  pastors  are,  Elder  Levi  Griffith  from 
its  organization  to  October,  1847.  Rev.  Isaac  Winn  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  six  months,  when  Rev.  Eli  C.  Town  was  elected  and  served 
to  April,  1848.  Rev.  A.  J.  Davis  served  six  months,  when  Rev. 
John  Thomas  became  the  pastor  and  served  until  April,  1857.  His 
successor  was  Elder  John  Scott,  who  preached  until  July,  1857.  The 
church  had  occasional  supplies  until  February,  1858,  when  Rev.  Job 
Rossel  was  chosen  pastor  and  served  until  1861,  when  Rev.  John 
B.  Liusked  was  elected  and  served  until  April,  1866.  His  successor 
and  present  pastor  was  elected  May  5,  1866. 

The  following  persons  have  been  Deacons  of  this  church  at  various 
times  since  its  organization :  Messrs.  John  Tilton,  Samuel  Kelly, 
Elliott  Patterson,  Daniel  Tilton,  Thomas  MaKahan,  J.  Y.  Holmes, 
Josiah  Patterson,  William  McCleary,  Joseph  Ryan,  and  Manson 
Trussel. 

Church  Clerics  from  organization,  Edward  0.  Town,  Ezra  Town, 
Thomas  McKahan,  and  Robert  Kerr.  The  following  persons  have 
been  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  at  official  meetings  held  in  this 
church,  viz  :  Eli  C.  Town  in  1847,  Hugh  R.  Craig  and  AVni.  Scott 
in  1854,  and  J.  Y.  Holmes  in  18G1.  This  church  has  been  instru- 
mental in  establishing  churches  at  Buffalotown  and  North  Wheeling, 
West  Finley  township. 

Wheeling  U.  P.  Church  was  organized  August,  1836.  Rev. 
Joseph  Shaw  was  pastor  from  June  20,  1843,  to  April  20,  1852. 
Rev.  James  C.  Murch  from  September,  1853,  to  1859.  Rev.  James 
A.  McKce  from  August,  1860,  until  the  present  time,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  75. 

West  Finley  Township 

Was  organized  the  same  time  as  East  Finley,  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1828.  Its  boundaries  are  Donegal  on  the  north.  East  Finley 
on  the  east,  Greene  County  on  the  south,  and  West  Virginia  on  the 
east.  This  township  is  centrally  distant  southwest  of  Washington 
17  miles.  It  is  chiefly  drained  by  Templeton's  and  Robinson's  forks 
of  Wheeling  Creek.  The  population  in  1860  was  1453,  of  which  33 
are  colored,  with  four  stores.  It  has  ten  school-houses  employing 
five  male  and  five  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $27.19  and  the 
latter  $23  03  per  month,  with  468  scholars,  251  males  and  217  females, 
the  tuition  costing  per  month  65  cents ;  taxes  for  school  purposes 
$1468.70,  and  its  State  appropriation  $146.25  ;  levied  for  building  i 
purposes  $587.48. 

Its  towns  are  Good  Intent  and  Burnsville. 

Burnsville  is  in  the  southern  part. 

Good  Intent  and  Burnsville  are  small  thriving  villages. 


216  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

The  greatest  length  of  this  township  is  9  miles,  breadth  4-|  miles. 

There  is  a  Presbyterian  church  on  the  northwest  of  Burnsville, 
and  Disciple  church  north  of  the  same  town. 

In  this  township  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  is  under 
the  care  of  Rev.  J.  A.  McKee. 

Morris  Township 

Was  formed  by  an  order  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  March 
13,  l^SS.  Its  original  boundaries  were  Amwell  on  the  north,  Beth- 
lehem on  the  east,  Franklin  on  the  south,  and  Donegal  on  the  west. 
It  is  at  present  bounded  by  East  Fiuley,  Franklin,  and  Amwell  on 
the  north,  Amwell  on  the  east,  Greene  County  on  the  south,  and  East 
Finley  on  the  west.  Centrally  distant  from  the  borough  of  Wash- 
ington 9  miles  southwest.  Greatest  length  C^  miles  ;  breadth  4 
miles.  It  is  drained  by  the  north  fork  of  Tenraile  Creek  and  its 
branches.  The  population  in  1860  was  1148,  of  which  one  is  color- 
ed. It  has  three  stores,  seven  schools,  employing  four  males  and 
three  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $35.25,  and  the  latter  $31 
per  month,  with  288  scholars,  1*76  males  and  112  females  ;  the  cost 
of  tuition  is  94  cents  per  month  ;  amount  of  taxes  raised  for  school 
purposes  $1664.6*7  ;  from  the  State  appropriation  $95.94. 

Its  towns  are  Sparta,  Prosperity,  and  Lindley's  Mills. 

Sparta  and  Lindley's  Mills  are  small  villages,  but  Prosperity  has 
twenty-two  dwelling-houses,  two  stores,  grist-mill,  and  several  de- 
partments of  the  mechanical  arts,  and  is  ten  miles  from  Washington. 

Two  miles  west  of  Prosperity  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
called  Mount  Zion,  near  Robert  S.  Andrew's  farm. 

IJppER  Tenmile  Presbyterian  Church 

Is  located  in  Morris  township.  It»was  organized  August  15,  1*781, 
at  the  house  of  Jacob  Cook,  with  25  members,  Rev.  Thaddeus 
Dodd  being  elected  and  ordained  its  first  pastor.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark  that  he  was  the  second  minister  who  settled  west  of  the 
Monongahela  River,  the  Rev,  John  McMillen  having  preceded  him. 
Through  his  instrumentality  and  the  Upper  Tenmile  church,  the 
FIRST  classical  school  west  of  the  Alleghenies  was  established  as 
early  as  1*782,  of  which  he  was  its  first  principal.  Rev.  T.  Dodd 
occupied  the  pulpit  of  both  Upper  and  Lower  Tenmile  congrega- 
tions ;  the  Upper  was  at  Lindley's  settlement,  and  the  Ijower  at 
Cook's  settlement.  The  site  of  the  Upper  Tenmile  church  was  given 
by  Denias  Lindloy,  upon  which  they  built  a  ni(>eting-house  of  hewn 
logs,  while  in  1785  was  erected  the  same  kind  of  a  church  for  the 
people  of  Lower  Tenmile.  The  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd  taught  a 
classical  school  in  tlie  log  court-house  in  Washington  about  1*788  or 
1789.  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd  died  in  1793,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Thomas  Moore,  who  labored  until  1803.  On  the  14th  of  De- 
cember,  1803,  Rev.  Cephas  Dodd  (son  of  Rev.   Thaddeus  Dodd), 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  2 IT 

was  ordained  as  the  minister  of  both  Upper  and  Lower  Tenmile 
churches,  like  his  predecessors,  but  in  1817  they  separated,  each 
having  a  minister,  session,  &c.,  Rev.  Cephas  Dodd  remaining  with 
the  Lower  Tenmile  church. 

In  181*1,  or  immediately  after  the  separation,  Rev.  Thomas  Hoge 
served  this  congregation  as  a  stated  supply  for  three  years,  and 
during  his  labors  the  frame  meeting-house  was  erected.  From  1819 
to  1821  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  Rev.  Andrew  Wylie,  D.  D.,  President 
of  Washington  College,  as  a  stated  supply.  In  1821  and  22,  Rev. 
Boyd  Mercer  was  the  pastor.  Rev.  L.  Robbins  preached  for  one 
year.  After  this  the  church  was  vacant  for  several  years,  only  filled 
by  supplies  from  Presbytery.  However,  in  December  1821,  the 
Rev.  Cornelius  Laughran  was  elected  and  installed  and  served 
for  eighteen  months.  The  church  was  again  without  a  pastor  until 
1880,  when  Rev.  Jacob  Lindley  became  the  stated  supply.  From 
18.32  to  1838  this  congregation  had  the  occasional  labors  of  Rev. 
David  Elliott,  Rev.  John  Stockton,  and  Rev.  John  McCluskey.  In 
1838  the  Rev.  James  M.  Smith  was  ordained  and  served  until  1841. 
From  1841  to  1846  the  church  was  supplied  by  appointments  of 
Presbytery,  viz:  Rev.  Alfred  Paull,  Rev.  J.  Miller,  and  Rev.  John 
R.  Dundas,  but  in  the  spring  of  1846  Rev.  Nicholas  Murray  (a 
Professor  in  Washington  College)  accepted  a  call  as  the  stated  sup- 
ply; he  labored  until  1853,  when  he  "fell  asleep  in  Jesus."  His 
successor  was  Rev.  Cyrus  Braddock  for  one  year.  After  him  was 
the  Rev.  E.  C.  Wines,  D.  D.,  who  took  charge  of  the  church  in  1855, 
and  resigned  in  1859. 

The  successor  to  the  pastorate  of  the  church  after  Rev.  Dr. 
Wines  had  resigned  was  the  Rev.  N.  B.  Lyon,  who  faithfully  and 
zealously  discharged  his  ministerial  duties,  and  in  the  very  manhood 
of  his  ministry  was  called  away  to  his  eternal  rest,  to  receive  the 
crown  for  his  labors  of  love  on  eai'th.  His  remains  are  buried  in  the 
beautiful  Cemetery  at  Washington,  Washington  County.  Rev.  N. 
B.  Lyon,  deceased,  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Henry  Wood,  the  present 
pastor.  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  in  Washington  and"  Jefl'er- 
son  College,  and  is  doing  noble  and  efficient  service  in  the  cause  of 
his  Divine  Master. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church,  which  was 
organized  in  1825,  having  fifteen  teachers,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
scholars,  and  near  four  hundred  volumes  in  their  library. 

In  the  year  1854  the  congregation  erected  their  third  place  of 
worship.  The  present  one  occupies  the  same  site  where  its  two  pre- 
decessors stood. 

In  connection  with  the  Upper  Tenmile  Church  we  will  add  the 
history  of  the 

Lower  Tenmile  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  is  true  this  church  is  located  in  Amity,  Amwell  township,  and 
its  history  properly  belonged  to  that  township,  but  as  we  could  not 
15 


218  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

well  separate  their  history,  we  delayed  it  until  it  could  be  more  ap- 
propriately and  understaudinfrly  given,  for  it  must  be  remembered 
that  both  "Upper  and  Lower  Tenmile  Congregations"  were  but  one 
ecclesiastical  organization,  with  the  same  pastor  and  session,  from 
their  organization  in  1781  until  1817,  when  they  became  two  distinct 
bodies. 

The  ministers  who  officiated  from  1781  to  the  division  of  the 
church  were  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  Rev.  Thomas  Moore,  Rev.  Ce- 
phas Dodd  (who  at  the  separation  remained  with  the  Lower  Ten- 
mile  Church),  Rev.  James  W.  McKennan,  Rev.  W.  P.  Harvison, 
and  Rev.  J.  W.  Hamilton,  its  present  esteemed  pastor.  Several 
years  while  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  it  had  the  services  as 
stated  supplies  of  such  ministers  as  the  Rev.  James  Black,  D.  D., 
and  Rev.  W.  J.  Brugh. 

The  original  church  was  of  hewn  logs,  and  the  present  neat  and 
chaste  edifice  is  in  close  proximity  to  the  former,  while  in  the  rear 
is  the  rural  cemetery  of  Amity,  in  which  repose  the  honored  remains 
of  many  loved  ones,  loved  in  life  and  honored  in  death.  There  is  a 
Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church,  which  was  organized  in 
1826,  having  eleven  teachers,  eighty  scholars,  and  three  hundred 
and  twenty  volumes  in  the  library. 

Chartiers  Tow^nship 

Was  formed  out  of  Cecil  on  March  23,  1790.  Its  original  boun- 
daries w^ere  Robinson  on  the  north,  Strabane  on  the  east  and  south, 
and  Cecil  on  the  west.  Its  present  boundaries  are  Mount  Pleasant 
and  Cecil  on  the  north,  Cecil  north  and  south,  Strabane  on  the  east, 
South  Strabane  and  Canton  on  the  south,  and  Blount  Pleasant  and 
Canton  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  north  of  the  borough 
of  Washington  six  miles;  its  greatest  length,  seven  miles;  breadth, 
five  miles.  October  fi,  1831,  the  line  of  this  township  was  changed 
and  part  given  to  Mount  Pleasant  township,  and  at  the  August  term 
of  Court,  1863,  the  boundary  lines  between  Chartiers  and  Canton 
townshii)s  were  altered  and  confirmed  by  the  court. 

Chartiers  Creek  flows  on  the  southern  boundary. 

Population  in  1800  was  1795,  of  which  211  are  colored. 

Within  the  township  limits  are  two  stores,  eight  schools,  employ- 
ing one  male  and  seven  female  teachers,  their  monthly  pay  being 
$29.37  each.  The  schools  contain  337  scholars,  of  which  IG3  are 
males,  and  174  are  females,  the  tuition  for  each  costing  84  cents  per 
month;  amount  levied  for  school  purposes,  $1020;  and  the  fuud 
received  from  the  State  $141.57. 

Towns. 

Its  towns  are  Canonsburg  and  McConnellsville,  the  former  being 
a  borough ;  its  history  will  be  given  in  connection  with  and  after  the 
townsiiip  history. 

McConnellsville  is  a  small  village  near  the  ceutre  of  the  township, 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  219 

with  thirty  dwelling-houses  and  a  population  of  about  one  hundred 
and  forty. 

Incident. 

In  connection  with  the  early  history  of  this  township  we  mention 
the  following  incident  from  the  Pittsburg  Gazette  of  May  15,  1790, 
speaking  of  the  navigation  of  Chartiers'  Creek  : — 

"  About  five  or  six  days  since  a  number  of  men  to  the  amount  of  thirteen 
left  Canonsburg',  on  Chartiers'  Creek,  and,  with  the  advantage  of  a  rising 
flood,  conducted  two  boats  from  thence  in  about  twelve  hours  into  the  Ohio 
River.  One  was  large  and  heavy,  built  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  flour  to 
New  Orleans,  forty-seven  feet  in  length  and  twelve  in  breadth;  a  small  part 
of  the  cargo  to  the  amount  of  forty  barrels  on  board.  The  other,  a  barge 
25  feet  in  length,  built  for  the  genteel  reception  of  passengers.  The 
amazing  facility  with  which  these  boats  passed  down  the  creek  to  the  mouth, 
their  sate  crossing  of  two  mill-dams,  one  of  which  was  about  twelve  feet 
high,  with  the  rudeness  of  the  creek  in  its  natural  state,  especially  at  the 
falls,  sufficiently  show  what  immense  advantage  might  arise  to  thousands  of 
people  in  the  county  of  Washington  were  the  legislature  to  attend  to  the 
improvement  of  its  navigation.  'From  Canonsburg  and  nearer  Washington 
the  charge  of  carriage  to  Pittsburg,  on  account  of  hills  and  deep  roads,  is 
not  less  than  three  shillings  and  ninepence  per  barrel  for  flour;  j'et  were 
attention  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  this  excellent  stream  of  water,  one  boat 
of  the  afore-mentioned  size  would,  in  all  probability,  carry  two  hundred 
barrels  to  the  Ohio  without  detriment  thereto  or  a  farthing  of  expense." 

We  learn  from  old  residents  of  Canonsburg  that  Col.  Canon  headed 
this  flotilla,  while  about  the  same  time  a  load  of  flour  was  also  sent 
from  Bradford's  mill,  afterwards  owned  by  Dr.  Robert  R.  Reed,  and 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Wilson.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  truthful- 
ness of  these  facts,  because,  in  addition  to  the  evidence,  we  have 
legislative  action  on  the  subject,  wherein,  on  April  8,  1793,  Chartiers' 
Creek  from  its  mouth  to  David  Bradford's  mill  was  declared  to  be  a 
public  highway  for  boats  and  rafts,  and  all  natural  and  artificial  ob- 
structions were  required  to  be  removed 

Churches. 

On  December  26,  1797,  John  Canon  conveyed  to  Nicholas  Little, 
Samuel  Agnew,  Thomas  Menary,  David  Reed,  John  Hays,  John 
White,  and  Jeremiah  Simpson,  Trustees  of  the  Associate  Congrega- 
tion of  Chartiers  township,  four  acres,  two  rods,  and  fifteen  perches 
of  land  for  $45.  This  church  is  situated  about  one  mile  southwest 
of  Canonsburg,  and  is  generally  known  as  Rev.  Dr.  Ramsay's  Church, 
from  his  long,  faithful,  and  efiicient  services.  His  successors  were 
Rev.  John  B.  Clarke  and  Rev.  David  Huston  French.  The  old 
church  has  been  torn  down,  and  the  congregation  has  in  process  of 
erection  in  the  borough  a  beautiful  brick  edifice. 


220  history  of  washington  county. 

Chartiers  Cross  Road  Church. 

This  is  situated  on  the  Hickory  road,  and  south  of  McConnells- 
yille.  The  following  ministers  have  successively  filled  the  puli)it  as 
regular  pastors  :  Kev.  Dr.  Finley,  Rev.  Mr.  Graham,  Rev.  David 
Ferguson,  Rev.  A.  McCahan,  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Spears,  Rev.  Joseph 
Andrews,  Rev.  J.  C.  Herron,  from  June  19,  18fi0,  to  April  1,  1S6T. 
This  church  has  a  membership  of  140;  it  belongs  to  the  United 
Presbyterian  denomination,  and  is  built  of  brick. 

Spears'  Spring  Church 

Is  on  the  bank  of  Chartiers'  Creek,  one-half  mile  northwest  of  Ca- 
nonsburg,  and  belongs  to  the  United  Presbyterians,  and  is  a  plain, 
substantial  brick  edifice.     It  has  a  rural  and  beautiful  cemetery. 

Its  ordained  ministers  have  been  Rev.  Alexander  McCahan,  Rev. 
Thomas  Callohan,  Rev.  William  Wallace,  Rev.  David  Paull,  Rev, 
Wm.  H.  Andrew,  Rev.  John  W.  Bane,  and  Rev.  James  G.  Carson. 
This  church  has  a  membership  of  214. 

Chartiers  U.  P.  Church  has  been  removed  during  this  year,  1869, 
from  its  original  site  to  near  the  borough  limits.  It  ■vras  organized 
about  1180.  Rev.  Matthew  Henderson  was  ordained  in  1781,  and 
officiated  until  October  2,  1795,  when  Rev.  —  Smith  was  elected 
pastor;  his  successor  was  Rev.  James  Ramsey,  D.  I).,  who  served 
from  September  4,  1805,  to  June  12,  1849;  Rev.  John  B.  Clark, 
D.  D.,  from  May  12,  1853,  to  June  9,  1860;  Rev.  D.  H.  French, 
from  May  2,  1861,  to  June  20,  1866;  Rev.  H.  A.  McDonald  was 
ordained  pastor  October  14,  1869.     It  has  a  membership  of  175. 

Canonsburg. 

Canonsburg  was  laid  out  by  Col.  John  Canon,  of  Chartiers  town- 
ship, on  the  15th  of  April,  1788.  It  is  situated  on  Chartiers'  Creek, 
17  miles  from  Pittsburg,  7  miles  from  Washington,  and  40  miles 
from  Wheeling.  The  country  around  it  is  elevated,  beautiful, 
and  fertile.  A  daily  line  of  stages  pass  through  it,  and  on  the 
route  of  the  Chartiers  Valley  Railroad.  By  reference  to  the 
recorder's  office  I  fine  a  plot  of  the  town  recorded  in  volume  P., 
page  441,  on  January  24,  1800.  This  i)lot  has  twenty-eight  lots, 
with  the  names  of  the  purchasers,  viz:  Dr.  Thompson,  Daniel 
McCoy,  James  Morrison,  David  Garret,  Andrew  Munroe,  John 
Todd,  Robert  Rowland,  Craig  Pvitchie,  Col.  Matthew  Ritchie,  Wil- 
liam Marshall,  and  Abraham  De  Haven.  This  plot  contains  the  con- 
ditions of  purchase,  viz:  To  those  who  have  as  well  as  those  who 
may  become  purchasers  Col.  Canon  conveys  to  them,  their  heirs 
and  assigns,  their  respective  lots  of  ground  in  which  their  names 
are  in.serted.  The  inhal)itaiits  of  the  town  to  have  the  privilege  of 
cutting  and  using  underwood,  and  taking  coal  for  their  own  use  for- 
ever, gratis.     The   purchaser  to  pay  the  said  Canon  three  pounds 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  221 

purchase  money,  and  one  dollar  annuallj^  forever  afterwards  ;  and 
to  build  a  stoue,  frame,  or  hewed  log  house,  at  least  twenty  feet 
in  front,  with  a  stone  or  brick  chimney,  within  two  years  from  the 
date  of  their  purchase.  A  convenient  road  to  be  allowed  to  the 
coal  near  John  Laughlin's ;  the  road  to  be  only  as  laid  off  on  the 
plot,  and  the  bank  as  described  on  the  same. 

This  plot  also  designated  the  following  roads  :  to  Mr.  McMillan's 
meeting-house,  to  Washington,  to  Mr.  Smith's  meeting-house  on 
Buffalo,  to  Mr.  Henderson's  meeting-house,  to  the  coal  bank,  to 
Gamble's  mill,  to  Wells's  mill,  and  to  Devore's  ferry. 

This  town  became  a  borough  on  the  22d  of  February,  1802,  and 
is  the  oldest  borough  in  the  county.  In  1860  it  had  a  resident 
population  of  975,  but  the  number  of  students  attending  Jefferson 
College  increased  it  about  one-third.  It  has  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  dwelling-houses,  fifteen  retail  stores,  two  confectioneries,  one 
saving  fund  society,  one  furniture  manufactory,  one  woollen  manu- 
factory, one  broker.  It  has  four  schools,  employing  one  male  and 
three  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $52.03,  and  the  latter 
$31.28,  per  month  ;  having  314  scholars,  171  males  and  143  females; 
cost  of  tuition  per  month,  60  cts. ;  amount  levied  for  school  pur- 
poses, $1271.70;  from  State  appropriation,  $112.76.  One  female 
Seminary  and  Jefferson  College.  In  1829  thg  Associate  body  or  Se- 
ceders  established  a  Theological  Seminary  at  this  place,  and  erected 
the  requisite  buildings ;  but  a  few  years  since  it  was  removed  to 
Xenia,  Ohio, 

Jefferson  College. 

This  college  was  originally  chartered  by  the  legislature,  under  the 
name  of  the  "Academy  and  Library  Company  of  Canonsburg,"  in 
1794,  although  its  origin  may  be  dated  to  July,  1791,  when  David 
Johnston  became  the  first  teacher.  As  soon  as  a  convenient  house 
was  built  the  Rev.  Mr.  McMillan  transferred  a  Latin  school,  which 
he  had  been  teaching  at  his  own  house  for  six  or  seven  years,  to  the 
chartered  academy.  This  building  was  erected  on  a  lot  given  by 
Col.  Canon  as  a  present  to  the  academy. 

In  October,  1791,  the  Redstone  Presbytery  approved  of  the  ac- 
tion of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  to  appropriate  funds  to  the  Canons- 
burg Academy  as  a  Presbyterian  institution,  and  appointed  Dr. 
McMillan  to  receive  contributions  for  that  purpose,  the  Presbytery 
having  previously  determined  that  Canonsburg  should  be  the  seat 
of  learning;  and,  in  1793,  we  find  that  the  Presbytery  passed  a 
resolution  that  if  the  wants  of  the  church  demanded  another  institu- 
tion they  would  not  oppose  it. 

Col.  Canon  erected  a  stone  building  on  the  lot  presented  by  him 
for  college  purposes,  for  which  the  trustees  were  to  reimbui'se  him, 
and  on  December  1,  1796,  he  and  his  wife  made  a  deed  to  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Academy,  for  the  lot,  on  the  payment  of  three  hundred 


222  insTORY  OF  Washington  county. 

and  seventy  pounds,  the  balance  in  full  for  the  building.  This  lot 
contained  two  acres  and  thirty-two  perches ;  he  reserved,  however, 
cue  half  acre  of  said  lot  for  the  use  of  an  English  school,  with  a  free 
access  of  fifteen  feet  wide  from  Main  Street  to  the  English  school  lot. 

In  the  Pittsburg  Gazette  of  IV92,  it  is  mentioned  that  a  grammar 
school  was  in  successful  operation  at  Canonsburg,  under  Mr.  David 
Johnston,  while  Mr.  Miller  was  employed  as  professor  in  the  mathe- 
matical sciences. 

In  this  year,  1T96,  the  trustees  petitioned  the  legislature  that  in 
case  a  college  was  established  west  of  tlie  Allegheny  Mountains,  to 
make  Canonsburg  its  site,  as  their  Academy  w^as  a  perfect  success, 
dispensing  its  benefits  throughout  this  section  of  county.  The  trus- 
tees employed  David  Johnston  and  James  Mountain  as  teachers,  for 
one  year,  at  the  end  of  which  Mr.  Johnston  became  engaged  in 
other  business,  but  Mr.  Mountain  continued  teaching  until  April, 
1797. 

These  teachers  were  succeeded  by  Mr.  Jas.  Canahan  and  Joseph 
Stockton,  who  taught  until  November,  1797,  when  John  Watson 
was  employed  for  one  year,  with  authority  to  engage  the  services  of 
an  uslier.  In  1798,  for  the  eminent  services  rendered  to  the  Acade- 
my by  Dr.  McMillan,  he  was  elected  president,  as  an  honorary  office. 
In  1800,  the  Academy  received  a  grant  of  one  thousand  dollars  from 
the  legislature,  which  enabled  the  trustees  to  pay  off  all  outstanding 
debts,  and  in  October  of  this  year,  the  trustees  made  a  movement  to 
convert  the  Academy  into  a  college,  which  event  was  not  consum- 
mated until  January  15,  1802,  when  the  State  legislature  granted  a 
charter  for  Jefferson  College-. 

The  trustees  named  in  the  charter  met  on  the  27th  of  April,  1802, 
and  were  organized  by  Judge  Edgar,  who  administered  to  each  trus- 
tee an  oath  to  execute  the  duties  of  his  office.  Dr.  McMillan  was 
elected  President  of  the  Board,  and  Craig  Ritchie,  Clerk.  At  this 
meeting  they  arranged  the  number  of  professors  and  classes,  as  well 
as  the  studies  ai)pertaining  to  each  class.  They  elected  Kev.  John 
Watson  President  of  the  College,  and  Professor  of  Moral  Philoso- 
phy and  the  Languages  ;  Kev.  Dr.  John  McMillan  Professor  of 
Divinity;  Samuel  Miller  Professor  of  IVlathematics,  Natural  I'hiloso- 
phy,  and  Geography.  On  November  30,  1802,  the  Rev  John  Wat- 
sou,  the  fii'st  President  of  the  College,  died. 

In  the  spring  of  1803,  the  Rev.  James  Dunlap.was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  he  was  empowered  to  engage  his  own  tutors.  To  the 
duties  of  President,  he  added  the  Pastorate  of  Miller's  Run  church, 
five  miles  from  Canonsburg.  In  1805,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Mc.'\lillan 
was  elected  A'ice-President  of  Jefferson  College.  In  this  year  the 
college  received  a  second  donation  from  the  State  legislature  of 
$3000,  while  in  1807  Gen.  Hamilton,  who  was  the  representative  of 
this  district  in  Congress,  through  his  personal  exertion,  received  from 
his  friends  two  hundred  and  ten  dollars,  to  be  applied  to  the  building 
of  a  college  edifice. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  223 

In  September,  1807,  the  trustees  of  Jefferson  College  received  a 
communication  from  the  trustees  of  Washington  College,  asking  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  to  devise  a  plan  for  the  union  of  the 
two  colleges,  both  being  in  Washington  County,  and  but  seven  miles 
apart.  This  communieatiun  was  referred  to  a  committee,  who,  in 
April,  1808,  I'eported  that  the  committees  could  agree  on  no  terms, 
yet  regretting  that  it  could  not  be  accomplished  on  liberal  and  equit- 
able principles. 

On  25th  of  April,  1811,  Rev.  Dr.  Dunlap  resigned  the  Presidency 
of  the  College,  and  the  duties  of  the  office  devolved  upon  Dr.  Mc- 
Millan the  Vice-President,  who  was  authorized  to  employ  the  neces- 
sary professors. 

In  April,  1812,  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Wylie  was  elected  President, 
with  authorily  to  select  his  assistants.  The  College  prospering,  by 
the  accession  of  students,  the  trustees  deemed  it  expedient,  in  1815, 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  make  preparations  for  the  erection  of  a 
new  college  edifice,  but  while  this  committee  was  maturing  a  plan, 
the  trustees,  in  September  of  this  year,  received  a  communication 
from  the  trustees  of  Washingtoa  College,  respecting  a  union  of  the 
two  colleges.  The  committee  from  Washington  College  trustees  were 
Rev.  John  Anderson,  Rev.  Wm.  Spear,  Alexander  Murdoch,  and 
Parker  Campbell,  Esqs.;  those  from  Jefferson  College  were  Rev. 
Dr.  McMillan,  James  Kerr,  Mr.  McDonald,  and  Samuel  Murdoch, 
Esqs.  These  committees  met  on  the  25th  of  October,  when  the 
committee  from  Washington  College  proposed  that  they  would  place 
at  the  disposal  of  the  united  Board  all  the  present  funds  with  $5000, 
provided  that  Washington  was  made  the  permanent  site  of  the  united 
college ;  this  proposition  the  committee  of  Jefferson  College  declined, 
as  they  could  not  consent  that  the  college  should  be  removed  from 
Canonsburg,  unless  that  the  hand  of  Providence  should  be  clearly  dis- 
cernible in  such  measure,  either  by  casting  lots  or  leaving  it  to  the  de- 
cision of  the  legislature.  They  reported  their  action,  however,  to  the 
trustees  of  Jefferson  College,  who  passed  a  resolution  stating  that  if 
the  trustees  of  Washington  College  would  not  recede  from  their  posi- 
tion claiming  the  site  of  the  college  at  Washington,  but  would  give 
$5000  in  addition  to  their  funds,  half  the  trustees,  and  the  casting  vote 
in  the  choice  of  the  faculty,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Jeii'erson  College 
will  unite  in  petitioning  the  legislature  to  effect  the  object  in  view.  Final 
action  was  postponed  until  the  professors,  who  v^-ere  deeply  interested 
in  the  movement,  should  be  consulted.  President  Wylie  and  Prof. 
Miller  replied  that  if  the  trustees  of  Jefferson  College  did  not  accede 
to  the  proposition  from  Washington  College,  they  would  continue  as 
professors,  and  render  the  institution  respectable  ;  but  if  these  pro- 
posals should  give  the  Board  and  Faculty  of  Jefferson  College  the 
preponderancy  and  priority  they  should  accede  to  the  proposition. 
The  trustees,  after  hearing  these  views,  were  prepared  to  vote  on  the 
question  ;  the  question  being  taken  there  was  a  tie  vote,  the  Presi- 
dent not  voting.     On  4th  of  January,  1816,  an  adjourned  meeting 


224  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

of  the  trustees  was  held,  and  the  President  voted  afBrmativaly,  but 
the  students  remonstrated,  and  the  trustees  passed  another  resolution 
that  the  union  recommended  could  not  be  confirmed  and  ratified. 
This  brought  on  a  bitter  and  angry  discussion,  which  resulted  in  the 
two  colleges  remaining  separate  as  rival  institutions. 

In  the  spring  of  181G,  the  trustees  bought  the  grounds  upon  which 
the  present  college  buildings  are  erected  from  Mrs.  Canon,  and  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  sell  the  old  stone  college  and  lot. 

On  September  24,  1817,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Andrew  Wylie  resigned  the 
office  of  President,  and  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan  was  chosen  President.  In 
April,  1818,  Rev.  Abraham  Anderson  was  chosen  Professor  of  Lan- 
guages. The  trustees  resumed  the  subject  of  building  a  new  col- 
lege edifice,  and  in  the  spring  of  1819  Dr.  McMillan  had  permission 
to  travel  for  two  months  and  receive  contributions  for  this  purpose. 

In  1820  the  legislature  made  athircl  appropriation  of  $1000  to  the 
college.  In  September  of  this  year  Prof.  Anderson  resigned,  and 
Rev.  Wm.  Smith  was  elected  Professor  of  Languages. 

In  August,  1822,  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan  resigned,  and  Rev.  Wm. 
Smith  was  elected  President  pro  (em  ,  but  on  the  24th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1822,  Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D.  D.  was  elected  President. 

In  June,  182fi,  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  of  Philade]i)hia  was 
attached  as  a  portion  of  Jefferson  College  and  placed  under  its 
charter,  the  legislature  authorizing  the  election  of  ten  additional 
trustees  to  reside  in  Philadelphia.  This  act  provided  that  the 
medical  scliool  was  not  to  have  any  claims  on  the  funds  of  Jefferson 
College. 

In  1827  the  State  legislature  granted  a  fourth  appropriation  of 
$1000  for  tliree  successive  years,  and  in  1833  a  fifth  for  $2000. 

In  1829  the  President,  Dr.  Brown,  was  appointed  to  raise  the 
necessary  funds  for  the  erecting  of  new  buildings,  and  so  pre-emi- 
nently successful  was  Dr.  Brown,  that  the  trustees  held  a  meeting 
in  the  new  college  building  on  the  27th  of  INIarch,  1833,  and  from  this 
circumstance  the  building  was  named  Providence  Hall.  It  is 
si.xty  by  ninety  feet,  in  which  commencements  and  contests  are  held, 
and  the  T*resbylerian  churcli  of  Canonsburg  statedly  worship  therein. 

In  1830  the  trustees  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  the  town  to  in- 
corporate with  the  college  the  manual  labor  system,  but  the  enter- 
prise failed  without  loss  to  the  college. 

After  a  long  and  prosperous  Presidency,  Dr.  Brown  resigned  in 
1845,  who  was  the  instrument  in  raising  Jefferson  College  to  a  state 
of  unparalleled  prosperity.  His  successor  was  Rev.  Dr.  R.  J. 
Brackenridge,  who  filled  the  office  until  1847,  but  not  with  the  success 
of  his  predecessor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Dr.  A.  B.  Brown, 
who  filled  the  office  acceptal)ly  both  to  the  trustees,  and  the  people, 
and  the  students,  and  had  health  been  spared  him,  would  have 
rivalled  his  lionored  fiither  both  in  his  literary  attainments  and  his 
superior"  executive  and  administrative  abilities,  but  ill  health  com- 
pelled  him  to  resign  in  1857,  when  Rev.   Dr.  Aldeu  was  elected 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  225 

PresideHt,  and  a  permanent  endowment  fund  of  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars was  raised. 

In  March,  1854,  it  was  proposed  to  place  Jefferson  College  under 
the  care  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburg,  but  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  college  declined  the  proposed  ecclesiastical  connection  for  the 
following  reasons  :  1.  That  it  had  received  money  and  lands  from 
the  State.  2.  That  other  religious  denominations  were  alike  inter- 
ested in  its  prosperity.  3.  That  the  present  prosperity  did  not  call 
for  the  change.  4.  That  the  funds  of  the  college  could  be  as  well 
used  for  a  "  more  sanctified  education"  in  the  present  arrangement 
than  by  making  it  an  ecclesiastical  college.  The  college  quietly 
proceeded  to  accomplish  the  intention  of  its  founders,  until  the  union 
took  place  with  Washington  College,  for  the  history  of  which  see 
Washington  College,  page  153. 

With  this  history  I  shall  add  a  list  of  the  Principals  and  Profes- 
sors of  the  Jefferson  College  from  its  organization. 

1802,  April  27. — Rev.  John  Watson  was  elected  President  and  Professor 
of  Languages  and  Moral  Philosophy.    He  died  November  30, 1802. 
1802,  April  27. — Rev.  John  McMillan  was  elected  Professor  of  Divinity. 

1802,  April  27. — Samuel  Miller,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics 

and  Natural  Philosophy.'  Resigned  September,  1830.     Died  in 
1831. 

1803,  April  27. — Rev.  James  Dunlap,  A.  M.,  was  elected  President  and 

Professor  of  Languages  and  Moral  Philosophy.      Resigned  April 

25,  1811. 
1805,  Aprd  27. — Rev.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Vice  President. 

Died  November  16,  1833. 
1812,  April  29. — Rev.   Andrew  Wylie,  D.  D.,  was  elected  President. 

Resigned  April  24,  1816. 

1817,  September  24. — Rev.  William  McMillan,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Presi- 

dent.    Resigned  August  14,  1822. 

1818,  September  24. — Rev.  Abraham  Anderson,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Pro- 

fessor of  Languages.     Resigned  September,  1821. 

1821,  September  24. — Rev.  William  Smith,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Languages 

1822,  September  25. — Rev.  Matthew  Brown,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected 

President.     Resigned  September  27, 1845. 
1824,  April. — Rev.  James  Ramsey,  1).  D.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Hebrew. 

1826,  April. — Rev.  Richard   Campbell,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Languages  and  Mathematics.     Resigned  1827. 

1827,  February. — Alexander  T.  McGill,  A.  13.,  was  elected  Tutor. 

1829,  March. — Jacob  Coon,  A.  B.,  was  elected  Tutor. 

1830,  February. — Rev.  John  H.  Kennedy,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Mathematics.     Died  December  15,  1840. 

1832,  March. — Jacob  Green,  M.D.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Chemistry, 
Mineralogy,  and  Natural  History.     Died  February,  1841. 

1834,  March. — C.  J.  Haderraann,  Esq.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics and  Modern  Languages.     Resigned  in  1836. 

1836,  September. — Washington  McCartney,  Esq.,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Pro- 
fessor of  Mathematics  and  Modern  Languages.  Resigned  Sep- 
tember, 1837. 


226  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

1837,  September. — Rev.  Charles  S.  Dodd,  A.M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Mathcmiitics  and  Modern  Languages.    Resigned  September,  1839. 

1838,  March. — William  Darby,  Esq.,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  His- 

tory, Geography,  and  Astronomy.     Resis-ned  1839. 
1841,  February.— Richard  S.  McCulloh,  Esq.,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor 

of  Mathematics,  Natural  Philosophy,  and  Chemistry.     Resigned 

September,  1843. 
1841,  February. — Rev.  A.  B.  Brown,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Belles- 

Lottres  and  Adjunct  Professor  of  Languages.    Resigned  October, 

1847. 
1841,  March. — ITenry  Snyder,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Adjunct  Professor  of 

Mathematics. 
1841,  July. — Charles  ISfartin  was  elected  Tutor. 

1843,  July. — Rev.  Hcury  Snyder,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathe- 
matics. 

1843,  September. — S.R.Williams,  Esq.,  A.M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry. 

1844,  September. — Rev.  Roljert  AV.  Orr,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Civil  Engineering  and  Natural  Ilistorj-. 

1845,  January  2. — Rev.   Robert  J.   Brackkxridge,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was 

elected  President.     lie  resigned  June  9,  1847. 
1845,  December. — Rev.  A.  B.  Brown   was   elected  Professor  of  Belles- 
Letters,  Rhetoric.  Logic,  and  History. 

1845,  December. — Rev.  Robert  W.  Orr  was  elected   Professor  of  Latin 

Language  and  Literature. 

1846,  March. — Rev.  Thomas  Beveridge,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  Ex- 

traordinary of  Evidences  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Religion. 

1846,  March. — John  D.  Vowell,  M.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  Extraordinary 

of  Physiology  and  Comparative  Anatomy. 

1847,  October  14. — Rev.   A.  B.  Brow.v,  D.  1).,  was  elected  President. 

Resigned  July  31,  18.t5.     Died  September  8,  18G3. 

1848,  June.— Rev.  Robert  M.  White,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  Extra- 

ordinary of  Rhetoric.     Died  December,  1848. 

1849,  July. — Rev.  Josei)h  R.  Wilson,  A.M.,  was  elected  Professor  Extra- 

ordinary of  Rhetoric. 

1849,  July. — W.  W.  West,  A.  B.,  was  elected  Principal  of  the  Classical 

Department. 

1850,  August.— Robert  Patterson  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

Resigned  November,  18r)4. 
1850,  August. — Rev.    William    Wallace  was  elected  Professor  of  Moral 

Science.     Died  January,  18.")1. 
1852. — Rev.  Wm.  Ewing,  A.M.,  was  elected  Professor  Extraordinary  of 

History  and  Languages. 
1852. — Rev.  Samuel  R.  Williams,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  Extraordi- 
nary of  Natural  Sciences.     Resigned  1854. 
1852,  September. — Samuel  Jones,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Natural 

Philosophy  and  Chemistry. 
1852,  December. — Rev.  Aaron  NVilliams,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

Latin  Language  and  Literature.      Resigned  August  2,  1859. 
1852,  December. — Rev.  Abm.  Anderson.  D.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  E.x- 

traordinary  of  llelirew.     Died  May,  1855. 
1855,  February. — John  Frazer,  A.M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Mathematics. 

Resigned  April.  18G5. 
1855,  February.— John  B.  Stilley,  A.  M.,  was   elected   Professor  of  Civil 

Engineering. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  227 

1855,  July. — Rev.  John  B.  Clark  was  elected  Professor  Extraordinary  of 

Hebrew. 
1857,  January  7. — Rev.  Joseph  Alden,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  inaufij-urated  March  25,  1857.     Resigned  November  4, 

1862. 
1857,  March. — Rev.   Alexander  B.  Brown,  D.  I).,  was  elected  Professor 

Extraordinary   of    History   and   Political    Economy.      Resigned 

August  4,  1857. 
1857,  August. — Rev.  Alexander  B.  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  elected  Professor 

Extraordinary  of  English  Literature.     Resigned  July  31,  1860. 

Died  September  8,  1863. 
1857,  August. — Alouzo  Linn,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  History  and 

Political  Economy. 
1857,  August. — M.  B.  Riddle,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Adjunct  Professor  of  the 

Greek  Language. 

1860,  March. — Rev.  Isaac  N.  McKinney,  A,  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of 

the  Latin  Language.  Resigned  January  2,  1861.  Died  Novem- 
ber 20,  1864. 

1861,  February. — C.  M.  Dodd,  A.  M.,  was  elected  Professor  of  the  Latin 

Language.     Resigned  April,  1865. 
1861,  March.— I.  V.  Herriott,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Ana- 
tomy and  Physiology. 

1861,  August. — Alonzo  Linn  was  elected  Professor  of  the  Greek  Language. 

1862,  November  4. — Rev.  David  H.  Riddle,   D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  elected 

President  and  Professor  of  Intellectual  and  Moral  Philosophy,  inau- 
gurated March  25,  1863.  Resigned  April,  1864.  Rev.  Riddle  was 
President  at  the  union  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  Colleges. 

1864,  August. — W.  G.  Barnett,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  was  elected  Professor  of 
Anatomy  and  Physiology. 

1866,  March  6. — Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards  inaugurated  President  April  4, 
1866. 
For  list  of  Professors  under  act  of  March  4,  1865,  see  Washington  and 

Jefferson  College,  under  title  of  Washington  Borough.     See  page  170. 

Jefiferson  College  has  a  college  library  of  10,000  volumes,  and 
philosophical  and  astronomical  apparatus.  In  connection  with  Jef- 
ferson College  are  two  Societies,  viz  :  The  Philo  Literary  Society 
and  the  Franklin  Literary  Society,  each  of  which  has  a  valuable 
library  connected  therewith  of  3800  volumes. 

The  Philo  Literary  Society  was  founded  August  23,  1797.  Its 
founders  were  the  Rev.  John  Watson  (first  President  of  the  Col- 
lege), Rev.  Samuel  Tate,  Rev.  Robert  Johnston,  Rev.  James  Satter- 
Jield,  Rev.  John  M.  Lain,  Rev.  Elisha  McGurdy,  William  Fowler, 
Rev.  John  Boggs,  Rev.  liobert  Lee,  Rev.  W.  lloorehead.  Rev.  Wil- 
liam W.  3Iillan,  D.  D.,  and  Josejyh  Smith.  It  has  a  library  of  3700 
volumes. 

The  Franklin  Literary  Society  was  founded  November  14,  1797, 
by  James  Garnahan,  Gejohas  Dodd,  James  Galbraith,  Thomas 
Hughes,  David  Lnbrie,  Jacob  Lindly,  Stephen  Lindly,  William 
Wood,  and  William  Wick. 

The  object  of  these  societies  is,  mental  and  moral  improvemcAt, 
and  mutual  friendship.  The  Christian  Association  has  about  1200 
volumes. 


228  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

November  3,  1817,  a  female  academy  was  opened  in  Canonsburg, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Rev.  Matthew  Brown  and  J.  Williams. 

December  2!>,  ISIT,  first  Sabbath  school  established  in  Canonsburg. 

Tliis  township  in  1789  had  fourteen  distilleries,  in  1700  ten,  and 
in  1791  sixteen,  but  this  year  (18G9)  none  are  in  operation. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Canonsburg  was  organized  in 
1842.  Its  fird  class  was  composed  of  but  three  members,  viz  : 
John  Ramsey,  H.  N.  Capron,  and  Henry  Yerty.  By  perseverance 
and  zeal  they  were  enabled  to  purchase  a  lot  and  erect  a  brick  build- 
ing thereon  in  1845,  forty  by  sixty  feet.  Its  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
I.  Sutton;  his  successors  have  been  Rev.  I.  Callendei',  Rev.  H. 
Snyder,  Rev.  D.  A.  McCready,  Rev.  R.  A.  Cunningham,  Rev.  A. 
Jackson,  Rev.  R.  L.  Miller,  Rev.  Latshaw  McGuire,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Jones,  Rev.  Sylvester  Jones,  Rev.  Robert  Miller,  Rev.  Alexander 
Scott,  Rev.  D.  A.  Pierce,  Rev.  H.  Neff,  Rev.  I.  C.  Cassel,  Rev.  Mr. 
Iluddleston. 

There  is  a  Sunday  scnool  connected  with  this  church,  having 
twelve  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  scholars,  with  a  library 
of  900  volumes. 

Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Canonsburg  was  organized  October 
25,  1830.  Most  of  its  original  members  were  previously  connected 
with  the  Chartiers  congregation.  Presbytery  for  some  time  hesitated 
about  organizing  a  church  at  Canonsburg.  At  first  Chartiers  and 
Canonsburg  churches  formed  one  pastoral  charge.  The  congrega- 
tion since  their  organization  have  used  Providence  Hall  in  the  new 
college  building  as  a  place  of  worship.  Rev.  Matthew  Brown, 
D.  D.,  was  its  first  pastor.  On  the  12th  of  DecenAer,  1845,  the 
Rev.  Robert  J.  Brackcnridge,  D.  D.,  was  installed;  he  resigned  the 
pastorate  June  20,  1847.  Rev.  Alexander  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  elected 
pastor  December  23,  1847;  installed  in  February,  1848;  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  the  congregation  until  April  7,  1857.  Rev.  Aaron 
Williams,  D.  D.,  was  chosen  co-pastor  with  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Brown 
Septeinljcr  30,  1853;  he  served  about  six  years.  On  April  7,  1857, 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Alden,  President  of  Jellerson  College,  was  invited 
to  take  part  with  Dr.  AVilliams  in  Ihe  ministerial  labors  of  the  con- 
gregation. At  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Williams,  Dr.  Alden  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  D.  11.  Riddle,  D.  D.,  who  was  installed  January 
1803;  he  resigned  April  10,  18G8. 

His  immediate  successor  was  Rev.  Dr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  Presi- 
dent of  Washington  and  Jefferson  College.  He  became  the  stated 
supply  and  served  until  April,  1809.  In  March,  1870,  Rev.  Wm. 
F.  Brown,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  received  a  call,  and  is  now 
laboring  among  the  people ;  his  ordination  will  take  place  June  21, 
1870. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  members. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  229 

Reception  of  James  Monroe,  President  of  the  United  States,  at 
Ganonsburg,  September  1,  1817. 

A  committee  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Ganonsburg,  and  Capt. 
Miller's  company  of  light  infantry,  met  the  President  and  conducted 
him  to  Mr.  Emory's  inn,  where  the  Principal  of  Jefferson  College, 
Dr.  Matthew  Brown,  presented  him  the  address  of  the  Committee  in 
behalf  of  the  Corporation  and  College. 

Sir:  The  Faculty  of  Jefferson  Colle<^e,  together  with  the  citizens  of  this 
borough,  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  of  presenting  their  respectful  saluta- 
tions to  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  nation.  We,  with  our  fellow  citizens 
in  other  sections  of  the  Union,  view  your  tour  through  the  different  States 
as  a  favorable  indication  of  your  devoted  attachment  to  the  real  interests 
of  the  people  over  whom  you  preside.  Under  your  auspices  we  anticipate 
the  rising  splendor  of  our  literary  institutions,  and  of  all  those  establish- 
ments which  contribute  to  the  independence,  wealth,  and  general  prosperity 
of  our  country. 

"We  therefore  hail  you,  sir,  upon  your  arrival  a^  the  original  seat  of  lite- 
rature in  the  West,  with  sentiments  of  the  greatest  cordiality  and  respect. 
This  was  the  consecrated  spot  which  first  gave  birth  to  science  in  this 
western  region.  This  institution  as  a  college  was  founded  in  honor  of  your 
illustrious  predecessor,  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  1802,  and  has  since  been  the  prin- 
cipal nursery  of  literature  in  the  western  country. 

Besides  the  common  elementary  course  of  literature,  it  has  been  the  con- 
stant aim  in  this  institution  to  inspire  the  minds  of  youth  with  those  prin- 
ciples of  piety  and  virtue — with  those  ennobling  sentiments,  and  that  sin- 
cere love  of  truth  and  duty,  which  are  the  greatest  ornaments  of  human 
character,  and  which  are  best  calculated  to  form  the  man  and  the  citizen. 

It  has  been  the  object  of  this  seminary,  according  to  the  most  enlightened 
views  of  human  nature  and  the  interests  of  society  that  we  could  obtain,  to 
preserve  in  close  alliance  the  interests  of  religion  and  learning,  of  piety  and 
virtue,  as  essential  to  the  energy  and  effect  of  our  political  institutions,  and 
as  greatly  subservient  to  public  order,  harmony,  and  liberty.  We  have 
ever  viewed  souud  morality  and  intelligence  as  the  great  supports  of  free 
government,  and  the  principal  guarantee  of  our  rights  and  privileges,  both 
civil  and  religious. 

In  this  representation  of  our  views  of  the  general  object  of  public  educa- 
tion, and  the  influence  of  sound  morality  and  science  in  supporting  our 
republican  institutions,  we  are  persuaded  they  accord  with  your  own  senti- 
ments, and  refer  to  objects  which  you  judge  worthy  of  high  consideration. 

We  present  to  your  view,  sir,  that  portion  of  the  youth  of  our  country 
which  now  attend  this  institution,  and  we  are  happy  that  we  can  bear  testi- 
mony of  their  regard  to  the  interesting  objects  of  literary  pursuit,  and  to 
those  attainments  on  which  their  future  usefulness  depends.  We,  indeed, 
exhibit  an  emblem  of  the  simplicity  of  republican  manners,  which,  to  a  man 
of  your  discernment  and  intelligence,  cannot  operate  as  a  disparagement, 
provided  we  endeavor  to  cherish  those  generous  affections,  and  aid  at  those 
solid  accpiirements  which  shall  bind  us  to  our  countrj-,  and  render  us  instru- 
mental in  promoting  its  interests,  and  strengthening  and  protecting  its 
precious  institutions.      * 

Permit  us,  with  our  fellow  citizens,  to  congratulate  you,  sir,  upon  the 
auspicious  circumstances  which  attend  the  commencement  of  your  admin- 
istration— circumstances  which  cannot  fail  to  unite  you  and  the  people 


230  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

together,  find  impress  the  public  mind  with  the  belief  of  your  devoted 
attachment  to  the  best  interests  of  our  common  country.  Accept  our 
earnest  wishes  and  prayers  for  its  prosperous  course  and  happy  issue,  and 
indulg-e  us  with  expressiiijr  the  desire  that  when  you  are  engaged  in  the 
appropriate  functions  of  your  high  station,  you  may  enjoy  the  favor  and 
blessing  of  heaven,  and  that  it  may  be  our  privilege,  by  fidelity  and  perse- 
verance in  our  respective  spheres,  under  the  smiles  of  the  same  beneficent 
Providence,  to  cooperate  in  the  work  of  patriotism  by  diffusing  the  light  of 
knowledge  and  the  saving  influence  of  rcligicm  and  morals. 

Craig  Ritchie,  Samuel  ^Iiller, 

Wm.  McMillan,       Jas.  P.  Miller. 
Wm.  Gibson, 

President  Monroe's  Answer. 

I  thank  you.  Sir,  and  this  committee,  for  the  respect  and  friendship  with 
which  I  have  been  received  on  my  arrival  here.  It  is  with  sincere  gratifi- 
cation that  I  received  your  address.  Be  assured,  sir.  that  I  am  deeply 
affected  with  it. 

"When  I  first  meditated  this  tour,  which  was  some  time  before  I  left  the 
seat  of  government,  I  thought  it  would  be  practicable,  and  it  was  my  desire 
to  perform  it  in  the  character  of  a  private  citizen.  But  finding  my  fellow 
citizens  wished  otherwise,  and  everywhere  met  me  with  expressions  of 
respect  and  attachment,  I  yielded  to  their  wishes,  and  have  met  them  with 
the  same  feelings.  In  tliesc  expressions  of  public  regard,  which  my  humble 
services  could  not  inspire,  I  see  the  fixed  attachment  of  the  people  to  the 
principles  of  our  free  government. 

I  am  happy  in  meeting  with  this  Faculty,  and  these  young  men.  The 
views  of  the  nature  and  object  of  public  education  contained  in  your  address, 
agree  with  my  own.  During  my  tour  through  an  extensive  continent  I 
have  met  with  many  similar  institutions,  all  entertaining  nearly  the  same 
sentiments  respecting  the  instruction  of  youth.  And  I  ask  you,  sir.  in 
•what  more  noble  principles  could  they  be  instructed  than  those  of  virtue 
and  our  holy  religion  ?  I'hese  are  the  most  solid  basis  on  which  our  free 
government  can  rest,  and  that  they  should  be  instilled  into  the  rising  youth 
of  our  country,  to  whom  its  destinies  are  soon  to  be  consigned,  is  of  high 
importance.  The  aged  pass  away  in  rapid  succession,  and  give  place  to 
the  younger.  Those  who  are  now  the  hope  of  their  country  will  soon  l)ecome 
its  pride.  Educated  in  these  principles,  we  can  with  conlidence  repose  our 
free  government,  and  the  interests  of  our  beloved  country,  in  tlieir  care, 
assured  that  they  will  preserve,  protect,  and  cherish  them,  and  will  fill  the 
place  of  those  who  liave  gone  before  them  with  equal  honor  and  advantage. 
I  was  led  into  this  sut)ject  on  which  I  have  dwelt,  because  it  is  pleasing  to 
me  l)y  the  observations  contained  in  your  address. 

AVitli  respect  to  the  objects  of  ray  tour,  you  do  me  justice.  You  all 
know  how  necessary  it  is  that  a  person  in  my  station  should  be  acquainted 
with  the  circumstances  and  situation  of  the  country  over  which  he  jiresides. 
To  acquire  this  knowledge  I  liave  visited  our  marine  coasts  and  inland  fron- 
tiers, parts  most  exposed  to  invasion.  iFaving  accom])lished  the  objects  of 
my  tour  to  the  full  extent  I  at  first  contemi)lated,  to  me,  sir,  it  is  peculiarly 
gratifying,  now  on  my  return  to  the  seat  of  government,  to  be  hailed  with 
the  sentiments  of  approbati(m  contained  in  your  address. 

To  me  it  is  a  source  of  high  satisfaction  that,  in  all  the  places  which  I 
have  visited  in  this  tour,  I  have  f(uind  the  people  so  generally  united,  and 
80  strongly  attached  to  the  principles  of  our  excellent  Constitution.     In  the 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  231 

union  of  the  people  our  Government  is  sufficiently  strong,  and  on  this  union 
I  confidently  rely.  Our  Government  has  proved  its  strength.  We  have 
terminated  with  honor  a  war  carried  on  against  a  powerful  nation,  and  that 
nation  peculiarly  favored  by  fortunate  circumstances.  Our  army  gained 
glory — our  navy  acquired  renown — and  all  classes  of  citizens,  as  opportunity 
offered,  and  where  the  pressure  was  greatest,  acquitted  themselves  with 
honor. 

This  nation  is  now  respectable  for  numbers,  and  more  respectable  as  an 
enlightened  people.  That  its  future  auspices  and  glory  may  answer  to  its 
present  prosperity,  is  my  sincere  desire. 

Be  assured,  sir,  that  1  shall  always  take  a  deep  interest  in  the  prosperity 
of  this  institution.  It  is  known  at  a  distance  among  scientific  men.  You 
have  chosen  for  it  a  name  not  unknown  abroad  to  science,  and  which  to  me 
is  peculiarly  interesting.  I  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  of  bearing  my 
testimony  to  the  talents,  learning,  and  great  public  services  of  that  vene- 
rable statesman  and  philosopher  whose  name  you  have  prefixed  to  your 
institution. 

Accept,  gentlemen,  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  kindness  with 
which  I  have  been  received,  and  my  sincere  wishes  for  your  individual  hap- 
piness and  prosperity. 

Cross  Creek  Township. 

On  the  23cl  day  of  March,  1790,  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions 
erected  this  township  out  of  Hopewell.  Its  boundaries  are  Smith 
and  Jefferson  on  the  north,  Mount  Pleasant  and  Smith  on  the  east, 
Independence  and  Hopewell  on  the  south,  and  Jefferson  on  the  west. 
This  township  is  fifteen  miles  northwest  of  Washington.  The  creek, 
which  gives  the  name  to  the  township,  rises  on  the  borders  of  Hope- 
well and  Mount  Pleasant,  and  runs  northwest  to  the  Ohio  River. 
Harman's  Creek  pursues  the  same  course  to  the  same  river.  Several 
grist  and  saw-mills  are  located  on  these  waters.  Its  population  in 
1860  was  1110,  of  which  81  are  colored.  It  has  three  stores,  ten 
schools,  with  five  male  and  five  female  teachers,  the  former  receiv- 
ing $32  and  the  latter  $28.58  per  month,  having  two  hundred  and 
ninety-six  scholars,  of  which  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  are  males 
and  one  hundred  and  forty-three  females,  tuition  costing  per  month 
$1.28.  Amount  levied  for  school  purposes,  $19.16.10,  and  receiving 
from  the  State  appropriation  $101.40. 

Its  town  is  Cross  Creek  village,  having  fifty-eight  dwelling-houses, 
a  Presbyterian  church,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  a  cemetery, 
an  Academy,  stores,  bo(5t  and  shoe  establishments,  harness-maker, 
&c.  &c. 

1787,  Mr.  Park,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Marquis,  was  tomahawked  and 
scalped  near  his  own  dwelling-house,  near  where  Cross  Creek  vil- 
lage now  stands. 

1795,  September  5,  Mary  Patterson,  of  Cross  Creek  township, 
directed  her  executors  to  pay  into  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of  the 
fund  for  the  education  of  pious  youths  for  the  gospel  ministry,  the 
sum  of  £5,  under  the  direction  of  the  Ohio  Presbytery. 

1795,  November  30,  Henry  Graham  and  Mary  his  wife,  conveyed 


232  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

to  Samuel  Fleming,  Aavon  Lyle,  and  John  Wilkins,  trustees  of  the 
Cross  Creek  conjrrcgatioii,  in  consideration  of  £6,  and  now  under  the 
care  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Marquis,  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Presbytery 
and  Synod  of  Virginia,  both  under  the  care  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  to  the  only  use  of  said  congre- 
gation for  ever,  tlie  said  congregation  holding  to  Calvinistic  princi- 
ples, the  lot  to  contain  six  and  one-fourth  acres  and  thirty-four  and 
a  half  perches. 

This  congregation  has  erected  successively  ^lue  houses  of  worship, 
viz:  In  1779,  of  unhewed  logs,  twenty-six  by  twenty-two  feet; 
the  second  in  1784,  of  hewed  logs,  sixty  by  thirty  feet,  to  this, 
some  years  afterwards,  was  added  a  gallery;  the  third  in  1803,  of 
stone,  fifty-six  by  fifty-six  feet ;  the  fourth  in  1830,  of  brick,  seventy- 
six  by  fifty-six  feet,  with  a  gallery  on  three  sides,  and  the  fifth  in 
18G4,  of  brick,  eighty-two  by  forty-two  feet.  Th e\v  Jirst  pastor  was 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  who  received  a  call  on  June  21,  1779,  who 
was  succeeded  I)y  Rev.  Thomas  Marquis,  whose  election  bears  date 
October  18,  .1793.  The  third  and  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  John 
Stockton,  1).  D.,  who  accepted  a  call  in  April,  1827.  Thus  for 
ninety  years  has  this  church  been  signally  blessed  by  having  but  three 
stated  ministers,  whose  labors  were  acceptable  to  the  people  and 
blessed  by  the  Lord. 

Original  Settlers. 

From  James  Simpson,  Esq.,  I  learn  that  the  following  persons 
were  the  original  settlers  in  Cross  Creek  township  :  Samuel  John- 
son, John  Tcmell,  Alexander  Wells,  William  Patterson,  Ephraini 
Hart,  Jacob  Buxton,  Thomas  Beatty,  William  Renolds,  David 
Renolds,  Thomas  Bay,  Henry  Graham,  James  Jackson,  William 
Calvin,  Col.  James  Marshall,  George  Marquis,  David  Vance,  Thomas 
Crawford,  Col.  John  Marshall,  John  Marquis,  William  McCombs. 

Forts. 

Wilson's  Fort  was  at  Wells'  (now  Fullcrton's)  mill ;  it  was  a  regu- 
lar stockade  fort. 

There  was  a  blockhouse  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  William  M. 
Lee,  Esq.,  called  Renolds'  Fort,  from  the  owner  of  the  land,  Wm. 
Renolds,  Esq.  Another  blockhouse,  called  Marshall's  Fort  (after 
Col.  James  Marshall),  on  the  ])roperty  now  owned  by  Thomas 
McCorkle,  Esq.     Col.  Marshall  was  the  Jirst  sheriff  of  the  county. 

Canton  Township. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  1792,  Canton  township  was  formed  by  a  de- 
cree of  the  court,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Chartiers,  on  the  cast  by 
Chartiers,  AVashington,  and  Amwell,  on  the  south  by  Amwell,  and 
on  the  west  by  Hopewell. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  233 

As  present  boundaries  are  Mount  Pleasant  and  Chartiers  on  the 
north,  Chartiers,  South  Strabane,  and  Washington  on  the  east,  Frank- 
lin and  Washington  on  the  south,  Hopewell  and  Buffalo  on  the  west. 
The  National  turnpike  and  Hemptield  railroad  passes  westerly 
through  this  township.  It  is  drained  by  Chartiers'  Creek  and  its 
tributaries.  It  adjoins  the  borough  of  Washington.  The  popula- 
tion, in  1860,  was  587,  of  which  39  were  colored.  It  has  five  schools 
employing  two  male  aud  three  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving 
$30  and  the  latter  $29.29  per  month,  with  198  scholars,  108  males 
and  90  females,  the  tuition  costing  71  cents  per  month.  Amount 
raised  for  school  purposes  by  taxation  $875.20,  from  the  State  ap- 
propriation $63.98.  The  National  pike  and  Herapfield  railroad 
passes  through  this  township.  It  contains  one  fulling  mill,  one  wool- 
len factory,  one  flouring  mill,  one  grist-mill,  and  four  saw-mills. 
Greatest  length  of  this  township  is  6  miles,  breadth  3  miles. 

The  boundary  lines  between  this  and  Chartiers  changed  August 
term,  1863. 

Pike  Run  Township 

Was  formed  by  a  decree  of  the  court  April  23,  1792.  Its  bounda- 
ries were  Fallowfield  and  Somerset  on  the  north,  the  Monongahela 
River  on  the  east,  Bethlehem  township  on  the  south  and  west. 

On  the  9th  day  of  March,  1839,  it  was  divided  into  East  and  West 
Pike  Run.  Pike  Run  and  Little  Pike  Run  rise  in  the  township  and 
flow  east  to  the  Monongahela  River. 

1797,  December  26,  John  Samms  conveyed  to  David  Grave,  Jacob 
Griffith,  John  Head,  John  Almund,  Joseph  Pennock,  and  Alexander 
Peden,  trustees  on  behalf  of  the  people  called  Quakers,  appointed 
by  the  Westland  monthly  meeting  for  this  special  purpose,  four  and 
one-fourth  acres  of  land,  for  the  purpose  of  a  meeting-house  called 
"Pike  Run  Meeting."  Upon  this  ground  was  erected  a  meeting- 
house, but  subsequently  a  division  was  created,  one  party  being 
called  the  orthodox  and  the  other  Hicksite  church.  Both  churches  have 
been  abandoned,  aud  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  erected  within 
one  hundred  yards  in  West  Pike  Run  township.  This  church  was 
built  about  ten  years  since,  and  is  called  Clover  Hill  M.  E.  church, 
and  on  the  circuit  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  J.  B.  Yarnall. 

East  Pike  Run 

Constituted  the  eastern  portion  of  Pike  Run  township,  but  by  a  de- 
cree of  the  court  it  was  divided  into  two  townships,  East  and  West 
Pike  Run.  The  boundaries  of  East  Pike  Run  are  Fallowfield  town- 
ship on  the  north,  Allen  and  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  E. 
Bethlehem  and  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  south,  W.  Pike  Run 
and  E.  Bethlehem  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  Wash- 
ington 18  miles  southeast.  Greatest  length  6  miles,  breadth  3  miles. 
The  population  in  1860  was  1221.  It  has  five  schools  with  three 
male  and  two  female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $45,  and  the  lat- 
16 


234  HISTORY   OF   -WASniNGTON   COUNTY. 

ter  $40  per  month,  with  197  scholars,  113  males  and  84  females; 
cost  of  tuition  per  month  being  $1.47  ;  amount  levied  for  school  and 
building  purposes  being  $1270.54,  from  .the  State  $S3.46. 

August  29,  1850,  the  township  linos  between  East  and  West  Pike 
Run  changed  and  confirmed  by  the  court.  February  1,  1857,  the 
lines  between  East  and  West  Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield  were  changed 
by  a  decree  of  the  court.  Its  towns  are  West  Brownsville,  Green- 
field, California,  and  Granville,  the  three  former  of  which  being 
boroughs,  their  respectivp  history  will  be  inserted  after  that  of  Gran- 
ville. 

Granville  is  on  the  forks  of  Pike  Run.  It  contains  25  dwelling- 
houses,  a  population  of  130,  and  has  an  extensive  pottery  and  a 
woollen  factory.  In  the  township  is  one  woollen  factory,  one  distil- 
lery, two  grist-mills,  and  a  saw-mill.  There  are  also  two  excellent 
shipping  coal  works  in  this  township. 

West  Brownsville 

Was  erected  into  a  borough  April  2,  1852, 

This  town  was  laid  out  by  Ephraim  L.  Blaine,  Esq.,  in  1831,  but 
Mr.  J.  Bowman  added  the  addition  to  it  west  of  the  run.  The 
land  originally  belonged  to  Neal  Gillespie,  deceased.  The  original 
town  consists  of  103  lots,  GO  feet  front,  and  ranging  from  93  to  270 
feet,  on  account  of  the  abruptness  of  the  river  hill.  The  streets 
are  60  feet  wide  ;  Water,  Middle,  and  Main  streets  run  parallel 
with  the  Monongahela  River  ;  Bridge,  Broadway,  and  Liberty  cross 
these  streets  at  right  angles. 

In  Bowman's  addition  there  are  61  lots,  60  feet  in  front  and  151 
feet  deep,  with  two  streets,  viz.,  Pennsylvania  and  Vine  streets. 

This  place  is  connected  with  Brownsville,  Fayette  County,  by  a 
bridge  over  the  Monongahela  River,  630  feet  long,  which  cost 
$50,000,  and  was  erected  in  1832. 

West  Brownsville  has  a  population  of  540  ;  three  schools,  three 
teachers,  one  male  and  two  female,  the  former  at  $45  and  the  latter 
at  $26.50  per  month  ;  187  scholars,  97  males  and  90  females,  cost 
of  tuition  being  05  cts.  per  month;  amount  levied  for  school  pur- 
poses, $342.00;  for  building  purposes,  $400.00;  received  from  State 
appropriation,  $60.45.  It  contains  ten  stores,  two  confection- 
eries, and  four  distilleries,  one  stoneware  manufactory,  two  hotels, 
blacksmith  shop,  &c.,  two  boat  yards,  one  owned  by  John  S.  Prin- 
glc,  Esq.,  which  employs  200  hands,  the  other  by  the  Messrs.  Cocks. 
From  these  yards  have  been  launched  the  best  boats  on  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  Planing  mills  and  sash  factory  are  in  suc- 
cessful operation  l)y  Messrs.  Aubrey,  Cromlow  &  Coon. 

West  Brownsville  has  a  town  hall,  which  is  used  for  a  church, 
although  the  people  generally  have  pews  in  the  different  churches 
in  Brownsville.  The  national  road  passes  through  this  place,  and 
it  is  distant  from  Washington  23  miles.     The  town  is  supplied  with 


HISTORY   OP   -WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  235 

coal  from  a  vein  seven  feet  in  thickness.  There  are  the  remains  of 
an  old  Indian  graveyard  in  West  Brownsville,  immediately  above 
the  Monongahela  River. 

Greenfield. 

It  was  laid  out  as  a  town  at  the  confluence  of  Pike  Run  with  the 
Monongahela  River,  in  1819,  by  Robert  Jackman,  and  was  after- 
wards erected  into  a  borough  by  the  State  legislature  on  the  9th  day 
of  April,  1834. 

It  contains  82  dwelling-houses,  eight  stores,  one  confectionery, 
two  churches,  the  usual  number  of  mechanical  branches,  with  a  po- 
pulation of  465,  and  is  twenty-two  miles  distant  from  Washington. 

There  are  two  churches  in  this  borough,  one  under  the  control  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination,  and  the  other,  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians.  The  Methodist  church  was  erected  in  18.38, 
but  in  a  few  years  afterwards  was  enlarged.  The  pulpit  is  supplied 
by  Rev.  D.  A.  Pierce 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  is  a  new  edifice,  although 
the  first  was  built  about  1839.  It  has  also  a  large  school-house, 
containing  two  schools,  employing  two  female  teachers,  at  $30  per 
month,  with  lO'I  scholars,  63  males  and  44  females;  the  price  of» 
tuition  per  month  being  72  cents  ;  amount  levied  for  school  pur- 
poses being  $242.45,  and  received  from  the  State,  $46.48. 

As  a  portion  of  the  local  history  of  the  town  of  Greenfield  we 
may  state  tliat  on  the  18th  of  July,  1814,  an  association  was  formed 
called  the  Farmers^  and  Mechaincs'  Commercial  Store  of  Green- 
field, for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund  to  establish  a  store,  and  con- 
nect thereby  a  speedy  market  for  their  surplus  produce.  Capital 
stock,  $20,000,  in  shares  of  $10  each,  to  be  under  the  control  of  a 
president  and  nine  directors,  who  were  authorized  to  erect  a  store- 
house, and  purchase  keel-boats  to  carry  the  produce  to  Pittsburg. 

California, 

Situate  in  East  Pike  Run  township,  on  the  Monongahela  River,  be- 
came a  borough  on  the  26th  day  of  November,  1853.  It  was  laid 
out  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1849,  when  four  hundred  lots  were  offer- 
ed for  sale  by  the  proprietors.  Job  Johnston,  Abraham  Fry,  W.  W. 
Jackman,  George  W.  Hornbeck,  John  Wood,  and  Samuel  Ashniead, 
who  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  it  is  laid  out  from  John  Ring- 
land.  This  towm  is  55  miles  from  Pittsburg,  23  from  Washington, 
and  1  miles  from  Brownsville.  The  ground  upon  which  the  borough 
is  located  is  celebrated  in  the  annals  of  Youghiogheny  County  his- 
tory, when  Virginia  claimed  this  portion  of  our  State.  It  was  at 
this  point  the  Indians  met  in  1Y67,  when  the  Rev.  Dr.  Steele,  of  Car- 
lisle, was  sent  out  to  persuade  the  white  men  not  to  invade  the 
hunting  grounds  of  the  Indians.  This  land  was  known  as  belonging 
to  "  Indian  Peter,"  who  transferred  it  to  Samuel  Young,  w^ho  after- 


236  HISTORY   OF    ■WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

wards  sold  it  to  Robert  Jackman,  but  in  1784  Mr.  Jackman  obtained 
a  patent  for  the  same. 

The  town  is  beautifully  laid  out  upon  the  river  bank,  with  streets 
crossing  each  other  at  right  angles,  60  feet  wide,  alleys  20  feet, 
and  lots  are  50  by  150  feet,  with  a  resident  population  of  G40.  It 
is  separated  from  the  borough  of  Greenfield  by  Pike  Run,  which 
empties  into  the  Monongahela  River. 

It  contains  88  dwelling  houses  ;  the  Southwestern  Normal  Col- 
lege of  the  tenth  district,  v/hich  comprises  the  counties  of  W.ashing- 
ton,  Fayette,  Greene,  and  Somerset ;  one  large  hotel  conducted  on 
temperance  principles,  built  in  the  modern  style ;  one  boat-yard  em- 
ploying about  sixty  hands,  which  was  established  July  4,  1851  ;  one 
steam  tannery,  one  sash  and  door  factory,  five  stores,  one  confec- 
tionery, and  one  drug  store,  with  the  usual  number  of  mechanical 
branches,  two  grist-mills,  a  saw-mill,  and  two  churches. 

Southwestern  Normal  College. 

A  high  school  which  had  been  established  when  the  town  was  laid 
out,  was  the  nucleus  of  the  Normal  College.  In  its  infancy  so  pros- 
perous was  the  high  school  that  in  about  ten  years  it  became  an 
academy,  and  the  perseverance  and  zeal  which  had  characterized  the 
professors,  trustees,  and  the  citizens  in  their  laudable  efforts  to  pro- 
mote the  educational  interests  of  our  State  was  crowned  with  tri- 
umphant success  by  the  academy  being  changed  into  the  Normal 
College  on  the  16th  of  March,  1865. 

The  college  grounds  contain  ten  acres.  The  building  has  £l  cha- 
pel, lecture-rooms,  recitation-rooms,  society  hall,  dining-room,  dormi- 
tories. The  object  of  this  Normal  College  is  to  prepare  teachers  for 
the  promotion  and  dissemination  of  the  great  cause  of  education, 
and  thereby  elevating  the  profession  to  that  high  standard  of  moral 
and  mental  culture  which  the  interests  of  our  State  demand. 

The  faculty  consists  of — 

J.  C.  Gii-riiRisT,  Principal  and  Professor  of  Didactics,  Mental  and  Moral 
Science,  and  Languages. 

J.  G.  Good,  Professor  of  Higher  Mathematics  and  Natural  Science. 

G.  G.  Hcrtzog,  Professor  of  Arithmetic  and  Book-Kccping. 

Mrs.  H.  C.  Gilchrist,  Professor  of  English  Gramn\ar  and  Literature  and 
History. 

Miss  Annie  M.  Hurfort,  Professor  of  the  English  Branches,  Elocution, 
and  Penmanship. 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Hays  and  Miss  H.  N.  Riggs,  teachers  of  Model  School. 

Miss  Minnie  Beacom,  teacher  of  Instrumental  Music. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

Of  this  borough  is  under  the  care  of  Rev.  D.  A.  Pierce.  It  is  a 
large  fine  l)rick  edifice,  and  erected  near  the  centre  of  the  town. 

The  l)isciples  also  have  a  church  organization. 

There  are  literary  societies  coiinected  with  the  college,  w^hile  the 
town  sustains  Lodge  4i)l  of  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY,  237 

the  Temple  of  Honor  No.  11,  and  the  Social  Temple  No.  22,  these 
two  latter  being  temperance  organizations. 

Bituminous  coal  abounds  throughout  the  whole  region  of  country. 

California  has  four  schools  employing  one  male  and  three  female 
teachers,  the  former  receiving  $60  and  the  latter  $33  per  month,  with 
202  scholars,  108  males  and  94  females,  tuition  costing  per  month  71 
cents  ;  amount  levied  for  school  purposes  $427.15,  received  from  the 
State  appropriation  $70.98. 

West  Pike  Run 

Was  formed  into  a  separate  township  on  the  9th  day  of  March,  1839. 
Its  boundaries  are  Fallowfield  township  on  the  north  ;  E.  Pike  Run  on 
the  east ;  E.  Bethlehem  on  the  south  ;  Somerset  and  W.  Bethlehem 
on  the  west.  Greatest  length  six  miles,  breadth  four  miles.  This 
township  is  centrally  distant  from  the  borough  of  Washington  14 
miles.     Its  population  in  1860,  was  869,  of  which  73  are  colored. 

It  has  three  stores,  seven  schools,  with  three  male  and  four  female 
teachers  employed,  the  former  at  $31.19,  the  latter  at  $30,  with  322 
scholars,  167  males,  155  females,  tuition  costing  per  month  85  cents  ; 
tax  levied  for  school  purposes  $1044.32,  appropriation  from  the  State 
$90.00. 

At  the  February  term,  1858,  the  township  lines  between  West 
Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield  were  altered  and  confirmed  by  the  court. 

Centreville  and  BealUville  are  on  the  National  pike,  which  di- 
vides East  Bethlehem  and  West  Pike  Run,  as  also  the  two  towns. 
We  have  placed  Centreville  in  this  township,  but  Beallsville  being  a 
borough,  its  history  will  be  given  at  its  appropriate  place. 

On  the  farm  of  Mr.  West  stands  an  Episcopal  church  called  St. 
Thomas',  which  was  erected  in  1777,  when  this  territory  belonged  to 
Youghiogheny  County,  Virginia.  Its  first  minister  was  Rev.  Mr. 
Ayres ;  his  successors  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  Rev.  Mr.  Peiffer,  Rev.  Mr. 
Boston,  Rev.  Mr.  Freeman,  Rev.  Mr.  Temple,  Rev.  Mr.  Tenbrooke, 
and  others.  It  is  on  the  Brownsville  and  Pittsburg  road,  7  miles 
from  Brownsville,  26  miles  from  Pittsburg,  3|-  miles  from  Greenfield. 
It  is  built  of  logs,  and  weather-boarded,  30  feet  square,  two  stories, 
with  a  gallery  around  it.     It  is  the  oldest  church  in  the  county. 

At  the  time  of  the  whiskey  insurrection,  and  during  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Ayres,  and  while  the  insurgents  were  marching  towards 
Parkinson's  Ferry,  they  stopped  at  this  church,  in  which  Rev.  Mr. 
Ayres  was  then  preaching,  and  for  his  supposed  disloyal  sentiments, 
he  advocating  the  duty  of  the  citizen  towards  the  government,  these 
insurgents  took  him  from  the  pulpit,  determined  to  shoot  him,  but  by 
a  Providental  interference  the  wrath  of  man  was  restrained,  and  he 
returned  to  the  church  and  finished  his  sermon. 

Among  the  papers  of  Rev.  Joseph  Dodridge,  I  find  the  following 
memorandum : — 

"At  a  convention  held  at  St.  Thomas'  Church,  in  Washing-ton  County, 
Pa.,  September  25,  1803,  present,  Rev.  Robert  Ayres,  Rev.  Joseph  Dod 


238  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

ridge,  Rev.  Francis  Reno,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Seaton.  After  divine  service  Rev. 
R.  Ayres  was  appointed  chairman,  and  Stephen  John  Francis  secretary, 
when  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: — 

Resolved,  'J'hat  application  for  supplies  shall  be  made  to  the  convention 
in  writing,  with  the  names  annexed  of  those  who  wish  the  supply,  and  that 
they  shall  become  responsible  to  the  minister  for  a  sum  not  less  than  four 
dollars. 

This  convention  passed  another  resolution  that  an  adjourned  meeting 
thereof  should  be  held  in  six  months,  at  the  church  near  tjen.  Neville's  old 
place,  on  Chartiers'  Creek;  Rev.  R.  Ayres  to  preach  the  opening  sermon." 

In  1810,  a  meeting  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  clergymen  was 
held  in  Washington,  when  it  was  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Jos.  Dod- 
ridge  open  a  correspondence  with  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  AVhite,  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining,  through  him,  permission  from  the  General 
Convention  to  form  a  diocese  in  the  western  country  eml)racing  the 
western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  Western  Virginia,  and  tlie  State 
of  Ohio,  and  to  elect  a  bishop. 

There  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Ccntreville ;  also  two 
miles  from  this  place  is  a  brick  church  called  Taylor's  M.  E.  church, 
both  under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Mclntire. 

The  township  contains  two  grist-mills,  four  steam  saw-mills,  two 
sorghum  manufactories,  one  vineyard,  which  manufactures  about  600 
gallons  of  wine  annually,  and  one  distillery. 

Cenlreville  is  three  miles  east  of  Beallsville  on  the  National  pike, 
and  was  laid  out  by  Samuel  Rogers  in  1819.  It  derives  its  name 
from  being  midway  between  Ilillsboro  and  Brownsville.  It  contains 
fifty  dwellings,  four  stores,  and  the  usual  number  of  the  mechanical 
professions,  with  a  population  of  2G3.  It  is  distant  from  Washing- 
ton eighteen  miles.     There  is  an  Odd  Fellows'  Lodge  in  this  place. 

Beallsville 

Was  erected  into  a  borough  February  16,  1852.  This  town  was 
laid  out  by  Zephaniah  Bcall|,  George  Jackson,  Christian  Kreider, 
and  S.  W.  Blake,  on  the  2od  of  August,  1810,  on  the  National  pike. 
The  lots  (60  by  180  feet)  were  sold  on  tlie  12th  of  September  follow- 
ing. It  is  eight  miles  from  Brownsville,  and  fifteen  from  AVashing- 
ton,  on  the  boundary  line  between  Pike  Run  and  E.  Bethlehem, 
containing  seventy-eight  dwelling  houses,  two  hotels,  four  stores, 
two  groceries,  two  tailors,  saddle  and  harness  maker,  blacksmith, 
wagon-maker,  a  marble  manufactory,  shoe  makers,  &c.  &c.,  a]\[etho- 
dist  Episcopal  church,  a  Masonic  hall,  and  one  school-house,  with  a 
population  of  410. 

The  Presbyterian  denomination  some  time  since  had  an  organiza- 
tion and  a  brick  church,  Init  it  has  been  sold  to  the  Free  ]\Iasons. 

It  has  two  schools  with  two  teachers,  one  male  at  $55  and  one  fe- 
male at  $.'50  per  moiith,  having  95  scholars,  48  males,  47  females  ; 
cost  of  tuition  per  month  98  cents;  amount  of  tax  levied,  $219.08; 
received  from  the  State  appropriation  $39.78. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  239 

Main  Street,  on  the  National  road,  is  the  principal  street,  although 
Gay  Street  crosses  it  nearly  at  right  angles.  This  street  is  on  the 
State  road  leading  from  Pittsburg  to  Morgantovvn.  The  lots  are 
60  by  180  feet. 

There  is  a  Baptist  church  west  of  Beallsville,  near  the  township 
Mne  of  West  Bethlehem,  and  a  Methodist  Protestant  church  near  J. 
Baker,  Esq.,  in  the  centre  of  the  township. 

Rich  Hill  Township. 

The  Supreme  Executive  Council,  on  March  13,  1*793,  upon  the 
application  of  the  court  of  Washington  County,  established  this 
township,  assigning  as  its  boundaries  Finley  township  on  the  north, 
Franklin  and  Greene  on  the  east.  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  on  the 
south,  and  Virginia  on  the  west.  By  the  act  of  the  legislature  of 
February  9,  1796,  this  township,  with  Franklin,  Greene,  Morgan,  and 
Cumberland  townships,  comprised  Greene  County. 

Buffalo  Township 

Was  organized  by  a  decree  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  on 
8th  May,  1799.  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Hopewell,  on  the 
east  by  Canton,  on  the  south  by  Morris  and  Finley,  and  on  the  west 
by  Donegal. 

Its  present  boundaries  are  Hopewell  and  Independence  townships 
on  the  north.  Canton  and  Franklin  on  the  east.  East  Finley  and 
Franklin  on  the  south,  and  Donegal  on  the  west.  Greatest  length 
eight  miles,  breadth  seven  miles.  It  is  centrally  distant  from 
Washington  borough,  seven  miles.  It  is  drained  by  Buffalo  Creek 
and  its  branches,  which  flow  northwest  into  the  Ohio  River.  Upon 
this  creek  are  many  grist  and  saw-mills.  In  1860  its  population  was 
1578,  of  which  2  were  colored.  At  the  February  term  of  the  court, 
1866,  the  lines  between  Buffalo  and  Franklin  townships  were  con- 
firmed. 

It  has  two  stores,  one  distillery,  and  eight  schools,  employing 
three  male  and  five  female  teachers,  the  former  at  $36.66,  the  latter 
at  $35,  with  three  hundred  and  twenty  scholars,  one  hundred  and 
ninety  males,  one  hundred  and  forty  females  ;  cost  of  tuition,  $1.51 
per  month;  amount  of  taxes  for  school  purposes,  $1484.63,  and 
building  purposes,  $1487.63  ;   State  appropriation,  $127.92. 

Its  towns  are  Taylorstown  and  Buffalo  village.  Originally  Tay- 
lorstown  was  called  New  Brunswick,  and  in  1808  elections  were 
held  at  this  place  by  law.  Afterwards  it  became  changed  to  its 
present  name.  It  is  situate  on  Buffalo  Creek,  eight  miles  west  of 
Washington,  containing  forty-two  dwelling  houses  and  a  popylation 
of  two  hundred  and  sixty-five. 

Buffalo  village  is  on  a  fork  of  Buffalo  Creek,  seven  miles  south- 
west of  Washington. 


240  history  of  washington  county. 

Presbyterian  Church 

Is  situated  in  tliis  township,  on  the  head-waters  of  the  east  fork  of 
Buffalo  Creek,  one-half  mile  south  of  the  National  road. 

This  church  was  built  about  1830,  and  has  had  the  ministerial 
labors  of  Rev.  W.  P.  Alrich  until  18()4,  when  he  resigned.  Hffe 
immediate  successor  was  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander,  who  has  since  died. 
The  present  incumbent  is  the  Rev.  R.  W.  Morton.  There  is  a  Sab- 
bath school  connected  with  this  church. 

There  are  also  the  following  churches  in  this  township,  viz  :  A 
M.  E.  church,  near  Roney's  Point,  in  the  northern  part,  a  Baptist 
church,  southwest  of  the  Railroad  depot,  near  Mr.  Caldwell's,  and 
two  United  Presbyterian  churches. 

Norlh  Buffalo  U.  P.  church  was  organized  about  ITSO.  Rev. 
Matthew  Henderson  was  pastor  from  1781  until  October  2,1795; 
Rev.  Robert  Laing  from  1790  until  1805  ;  Rev.  David  French  from 
July  2,  1811,  until  June  14,  1853  ;  Rev.  W.  M.  C.  Gibson  from 
November  29,  1855,  until  November  12,  1861  ;  Rev.  R.  C.  Welch 
from  May  14,  1867,  to  December  22,  1868,  with  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  seventeen. 

South  Buffalo  U.  P.  church  was  organized  in  1810.  Rev.  David 
French  was  pastor  from  July  2,  1811,  until  November  22,  1852; 
Rev.  James  Gr.  Carson  from  November  13,  1856,  until  April  30, 
1867,  with  a  membership  of  eighty-one. 

Mount  Pleasant  Township, 

This  township,  by  a  decree  of  the  court,  was  erected  12th  May,  1806. 

Its  original  boundaries  were  Cecil  township  on  the  northeast, 
Chartiers  on  the  southeast.  Canton  and  Hopewell  on  the  soulli,  Cross 
Creek  on  the  west,  and  Smith  on  the  northwest :  greatest  length  9 
miles,  breadth  5^  miles. 

Its  boundaries  are  Smith  and  Robinson  townships  on  the  north; 
Cecil  and  Chartiers  on  the  cast;  Chartiers,  Canton,  and  Hopewell 
on  the  south ;  and  Smith,  Cross  Creek,  and  Hopewell  on  the  west. 
It  is  centrally  distant  from  Washington,  northwest,  10  miles.  In 
1860  its  population  was  1348,  of  which  20  were  colored.  It  is 
drained  north  by  Racoon  Creek,  south  and  east  l)y  Chartiers'  Creek 
and  branches  of  that  stream,  and  west  by  the  middle  fork  of  Cross 
Creek. 

It  has  four  stores,  ten  schools,  employing  three  male  and  seven 
female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  $32.26  and  the  latter  $30.57 
monthly,  with  366  scholars,  175  nniles  and  Ifll  females,  the  cost  of 
tuition  being  $1.04  per  month  ;  amount  levied  for  school  purposes, 
$1620.-63;   State  appropriation,  $129.48. 

Hickory  is  its  chief  town,  and,  from  its  position  in  the  township, 
roads  to  all  parts  radiate  from  it.  It  contains  52  dwellings — fair 
grounds,  beautifully  located — a  population  of  280,  and  the  neces- 
sary number  of  stores  and  mechanical  branches. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  241 

Adjoining  the  town  is  Mount  Pleasant  U.  P.  church,  a  hand- 
some brick  building.  It  was  organized  about  1809.  Its  pulpit 
has  been  filled  by  Rev.  W.  C.  Brownlee,  D.  D.,  from  May  3,  1809,  to 
September  1,  1812;  Rev.  Alexander  Donan  from  July  6,  1819,  to 
April  20,  1852;  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Thompson  from  April  28,  1853,  to 
December  16,  1861  ;  Rev.  W.  A.  McCounel  from  July  4,  1865,  to 
the  present  time,  with  a  membership  of  160. 

This  congregation  is  occupying  the  third  house  of  worship  ;  the 
present  was  erected  in  1868,  at  a  cost  of  $12,000,  built  of  brick,  60 
by  80  feet,  handsomely  frescoed,  and  finished  in  modern  style.  The 
Sabbath  school  has  one  hundred  scholars  under  competent  teachers, 
with  an  excellent  library. 

One  mile  west  of  Hickory  is  Mount  Prospect  Presbyterian 
church,  which  was  organized  in  the  year  1826.  This  congregation 
has  had  two  church  edifices,  the  first  of  frame,  built  immediately 
upon  its  organization,  the  second  of  brick,  built  two  years  since. 

The  ministers  who  have  officiated  as  pastors  since  its  organiza- 
tion were :  1,  Rev.  David  Hervey ;  2,  Rev.  John  Moore ;  3,  Rev. 
David  R.  Campbell;  4,  Rev.  W.  B.  Keeling;  5,  Rev.  J.  C.  Cald- 
well; 6,  Rev.  R.  T.  Price,  the  present  faithful  incumbent.  There 
is  a  Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church. 

Carroll  Township 

Was  formed  on  September  30,  1834,  from  Nottingham  and  Fal- 
lowfield.  It  was  originally  named  by  the  viewers  Knox  township, 
but  the  court  changed  it  to  Carroll. 

Its  boundaries  are  the  Monongahela  River  and  Union  township 
on  the  north,  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  Fallowfield  and 
Monongahela  River  on  the  south,  and  Nottingham  and  Fallowfield 
on  the  west.  It  is  centrally  distant  from  Washington  nineteen 
miles.  In  1860  its  population  was  190T,  of  which  74  were  colored. 
It  has  five  stores,  one  confectionery,  nine  schools,  with  two  male  and 
seven  female  teachers,  their  pay  being  $35  per  month,  with  486 
scholai-s,  267  males  and  219  females,  cost  of  tuition  per  month  being 
19  cents;  amount  levied  for  school  tax  purposes,  $1480.92 ;  State 
appropriation,  $132.60;  greatest  length  eight  miles,  breadth  three 
miles. 

Its  towns  are  Monongahela  City  (formerly  Parkinson's  Ferry,  but 
subsequently  called  Williamsport);  Columbia,  population  200,  on  the 
Monongahela  River.  Monongahela  City  being  a  borough,  its  his- 
tory will  be  given  after  the  villages. 

September  12,  1814.  Charles  DeHass  laid  out  the  town  of  Co- 
lumbia this  day,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Hoover,  four  miles  above  Wil- 
liamsport. The  proprietor,  to  induce  people  to  purchase  lots,  says, 
it  is  in  contemplation  to  form  a  new  county,  and  from  its  being  so 
very  central  in  the  contemplated  county,  he  has  laid  ofi"  the  town 
with  large  lots,  and  wide  streets  and  alleys,  with  public  grounds  for 
a  church,  academy,  burying-ground,  public  buildings,  &c.     Colum- 


242  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

bia  is  in  a  deep  bend  of  the  river,  twenty-one  miles  distant  from 
Washington. 

There  are  the  remains  of  an  old  Presbyterian  church  on  the  farm  of 
"William  Crawford,  now  owned  by  John  Wilson,  Esq.  It  was  built 
about  1^85,  and  additions  were  made  to  it  until  it  had  sixteen  cor- 
ners; the  Rev.  Mr.  Ralston  occupied  the  pulpit.  The  burying 
ground  is  used  by  the  old  citizens.  The  remains  of  this  church  are 
three  miles  from  Monongahela  City,  and  close  to  the  township  line 
which  separates  Carrol  and  Fallowtield. 

The  Horseshoe  Baptist  Church  is  two  miles  from  Monongahela 
City,  erected  in  1790.  The  first  church  was  built  of  logs,  but  the 
present  one  is  brick.     Rev.  Mr.  Hargrave  is  the  present  pastor. 

This  township  contains  two  grist-mills,  one  paper  mill,  and  five 
collieries. 

Ginger  Hill  Lutheran  Church  was  erected  in  184T;  built  of  brick; 
of  moclern  style;  Rev.  Mr.  Waters,  Rev.  Mr.  Emory,  Rev.  Mr.  Mel- 
hom,  Rev.  A.  Wylie,  Rev.  Mr.  Ryder  were  the  pastors. 

There  is  an  United  Brethren  Church  near  the  tollgate,  in  which 
the  difl'ercut  denominations  occasionally  preach,  with  no  settled 
pastor. 

Union  Township. 

This  township  was  organized  March  31,  1836,  from  Peters  and 
Nottingham  townships.  On  September  1,  184:6,  the  boundary  lines 
between  Union  and  Peters  were  confirmed  by  the  court,  and  another 
change  and  confirmation  took  place  at  the  November  term  1862. 

Its  boundaries  are  Allegheny  County  on  the  north,  Allegheny  Coun- 
ty and  the  Monongahela  River  on  the  east,  Carroll  township  on  the 
south,  and  Peters  and  Nottingham  on  the  west.  It  is  centrally 
distant  from  Washington  14  miles.  In  1860  its  population  was  1452, 
of  which  10  are  colored.  Greatest  length  6  miles,  breadth  3  miles.  It 
has  nine  stores,  seven  schools,  employing  four  male  and  three  female 
teachers,  at  $40  per  month,  with  435  scholars,  229  males  196  females; 
the  cost  of  tuition  l)eing  75  cents  per  month  ;  taxes  levied  for  school 
purposes  $1776.11  ;   State  appropriation  $141.96. 

Its  towns  are  Limetown  and  Finleyvillc. 

'Finleyville  is  on  the  road  from  AVashington  to  Pittsburg,  12 
miles  northeast  of  Washington.  It  was  laid  out  by  a  sea-captain 
who  purchased  the  land  and  named  the  place  Rogue  Alley,  after  the 
name  of  his  ship.  He  sold  it  to  James  Finley  and  Mr.  Mellinger, 
about  1790,  from  which  time  it  bears  the  name  of  Finleyville.  It 
has  a  population  of  about  eighty,  and  also  an  Odd  Fellows'  hall. 

Limetown  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Monongahela  River.  The 
town  is  chiefly  composed  of  miners,  there  being  many  large  and 
extensive  collieries  in  tlie  immediate  vicinity  of  the  ))lace.  The  town 
may  ])e  said  to  extend  about  four  miles,  the  houses  being  built  upon 
lots,  on  the  narrow  strip  of  land  between  the  Monongahela  River  and 
the  abrupt  hills,  under  which  lie  immense  strata  of  bituminous  coal. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  243 

There  are  about  650  inhabitants.  Several  extensive  stores  are  doing 
a  successful  business. 

In  connection  with  the  original  history  of  this  township,  we  may 
state  that  John  Wright,  father  of  Enoch  Wright,  Esq.,  N.  Powers, 
and  another  man  started  with  produce  to  New  Orleans,  and  below 
Wheeling  were  attacked  by  the  Indians  in  ambuscade  ;  after  wound- 
ing several  Indians,  Wright  and  Pomeroy  were  captured,  Powers 
being  wounded  was  killed,  but  Wright  was  burned  at  the  stake  after 
being  taken  to  Sandusky. 

Near  Findleyville  is  a  Seceder  church  which  was  organized  about 
1832  ;  the  last  minister  was  Rev.  Thomas  Callohan. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Mingo  was  organized  in  the  year  lt86. 
It  is  two  miles  south  of  Findleyville  on  a  branch  of  Mingo  Creek. 
From  the  records  of  the  Redstone  Presbytery,  I  find  that  Mingo 
Creek,  Horseshoebottom,  and  Pike  Run  churches  applied  to  Presby- 
tery for  a  minister  on  August,  15,  1786.  Rev.  Samuel  RalstOn,  D.D., 
was  its  first  regular  pastor.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  Nov- 
vember  30,  1Y96,  and  took  charge  of  this  congregation  and  the  one 
at  Monongahela  City,  formerly  Parkinson's  Ferry,  although  he  after- 
wards resigned  its  charge  in,  1836.  ife  officiated  in  Mingo  Creek 
for  forty  years.  His  successors  were  Rev.  Mr.  Shotwell,  Rev.  James 
M.  Smith,  Rev.  John  R.  Dunlap,  Rev.  Mr.  Rockwell,  Rev.  Mr. 
Grreenough,  and  Rev.  J.  J.  Beacom.  At  present  they  have  no  set- 
tled pastor. 

In  1828  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized.  In  1864  it  had  thirteen 
teachers  and  eighty -four  scholars,  with  a  library  of  three  hundred 
and  eighty-two  volumes. 

In  February,  1794,  the  Mingo  Creek  Society  was 'organized;  it 
consisted  of  Col.  Hamilton's  battalion,  and  was  governed  by  a  presi- 
dent and  council.  The  electors  were  those  subject  to  military  duty 
of  eighteen  years  of  age  and  upwards,  who  elected  their  respective 
captains  in  certain  districts,  and  these  captains  elected  the  council, 
who  by  the  constitution  were  required  to  be  not  less  than  twenty-five 
years  of  age.  One  councilman  was  chosen  for  each  district.  It 
met  monthly  at  Mingo  Creek  meeting-house  on  the  first  Friday  of 
each  month. 

This  society  had  power  to  hear  and  determine  all  matters  in  vari- 
ance and  dispute  between  parties,  encourage  teachers  of  schools, 
introduce  the  Bible  and  other  religious  books  into  schools,  encourage 
the  industrious  and  men  of  merit.  No  money  could  be  expended 
unless  by  vote  of  the  society. 

Monongahela  City. 

On  July  25th,  1796,  Joseph  Parkinson  laid  out  on  the  western 
banks  of  the  Monongahela  River  and  below  the  mouth  of  Pigeon 
Creek  at  Parkinson's  Ferry,  a  town  which  he  named  Williarasport, 
but  it  generally  took  the  name  of  Parkinson's  Ferry,  because  the 


244  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

post-office  was  so  called.  In  1833  the  name  of  the  post-office  was 
changed  to  Williamsport,  and  on  April  1,  1837,  it  was  changed  from 
Williiimsport  to  Monongahela  City. 

The  town  was  situated  on  the  main  road  leading  from  Philadelphia 
to  Washington,  being  twenty  miles  distant  from  this  latter  place.  It 
is  well  to  be  remembered  tliat  Mr.  Parkinson  reserved  the  Ferry  for 
himself  and  his  heirs,  but  sold  the  lots  in  three  equal  annual  pay- 
ments, donating,  however,  one  lot  for  a  market-house  and  another  for 
a  meeting-house.  All  lots  were  sixty  by  two  hundred  feet  with  the 
necessary  number  of  streets  (sixty  feet  wide),  and  alleys  (twenty  feet 
wide). 

An  addition  to  the  original  plan  of  the  town  was  made  by  Adam 
Wickerham,  who  laid  out  the  lots  west  of  Capt.  Harvey's  hotel,  and 
named  it  Georgetown,  but  when  the  act  of  incorporation  was  procured 
for  Monongahela  City,  the  charter  embraced  both  Williamsport, 
Georgetown,  and  some  additional  outlots. 

This  place  has  a  world-wide  fame  as  Parkinson's  Ferry,  as  it  was 
the  rallying  point  during  the  whiskey  insurrection,  full  particulars 
of  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix,  Chapter  lY. 

We  shall  mention  the  public  buildings  and  works  as  they  were 
kindly  pointed  to  us  by  several  of  the  citizens. 

HORSESHOEBOTTOM  PRESBYTERIAN  ChURCH. 

Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Ralston,  D.  D.,  received  a  call  from  this  and 
Mingo  Creek  congregations  in  November,  1*796,  which  he  accepted 
and  was  therefore  ordained.  In  the  latter  church  he  labored  forty 
years,  and  in  the  former  thirty-five  years.  This  Ilorseshoebottom 
congregation  was  originally  established  three  and  one-half  miles  from 
Parkinson's  Ferry,  on  the  ridge  road  leading  from  this  place  to 
Brownsville  on  Simon  Wilson's  farm.  It  was  a  log  church,  had  a 
graveyard  connected  with  it,  and  part  of  the  foundation  is  still 
visible.   (See  p.  240). 

Dr.  Ralston  preached  in  this  church  until  ISOt,  when  it  was 
removed  to  (Williamsport)  Monongahela  City.  Mr.  Moore,  says  : 
Dr.  Ralston  proaehed  his  first  sermon  in  a  little  school-house  near  the 
present  church  building,  preaching  two  years  in  the  winter  time  in 
this  school-house,  and  in  the  summer  time  in  a  tent  in  a  sugar  grove 
below  town.  Mr.  Lamb  and  his  wife  were  the  first  two  persons  who 
joined  the  church  in  Williamsport.  The  first  communion  was  held 
in  August,  1816,  when  Dr.  Ralston  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Matthew 
Brown,  D.  D.  The  whole  number  of  communicants  at  that  time 
were  forty-five. 

The  church  is  located  on  Chess  Street,  a  neat,  substantial  brick 
ouilding  ;  its  pulpit  has  been  filled  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ralston  until  1835. 
His  successors  have  been  Rev.  George  D.  Porter,  from  1835  to  1838, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Kerr  from  1839  to  1861,  Rev.  S.  G.  Dunlap  from  1862 
to  1867,  Rev.  J.  S.  Sutchell  from  1867  to  the  present  time,  but  I 
learn  he  has  sent  in  nis  resignation. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  245 

The  following  persons  have  been  ordained  ruling  elders  since  the 
pastorate  of  Dr.  Ralston,  viz :  James  Hair,  James  McGrew,  Jesse 
Martin,  Robert  McFarland,  Aaron  Kerr,  Isaac  Vanvoorhis,  James 
Gordon,  Henry  Fulton,  Joseph  Kiddoo,  John  Power,  James  Dickey, 
James  Curry,  E.  W.  Tower,  John  Wright,  Francis  J.  Gardner,  David 
Moore,  David  D.  Yohe,  Samuel  Hindman,  three  of  whom  have 
passed  into  the  spirit  laud,  each  upwards  of  eighty  years  of  age,  to 
receive  a  crown  of  righteousness. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church,  which  by  the 
last  report  numbers  17  teachers,  250  scholars,  and  has  a  library  of 
about  fifteen  hundred  volumes.  Its  organization  is  placed  at  various 
dates,  but  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlap  thinks  it  was  established  in  the  year 
1822. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Rev.  John  Morgan  and  Rev.  Alfred  Bryan  as  missionaries  insti- 
tuted the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  on  the  31st  of  Jan.  1833, 
in  this  place.  A  church  was  erected  and  ready  for  occupancy  by 
September  1,  1833.  The  following  ministers  were  ordained  as  pas- 
tors :  1833,  Rev.  Samuel  M.  Sparks ;  1834,  Rev.  Alexander  Robinson; 
1835,  Rev.  S.  M.  Sparks;  1836,  Rev.  John  Carev;  1837,  Rev.  Saml. 
E.  Hudson;  1840,  Rev.  Mr.  Dunlap;  1841,  Rev.  B.  Miller;  1842,  Rev. 
Mr.  Brice.  The  books  show  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  four 
members,  but  for  the  last  twenty  years  there  has  been  no  regular 
meetings  held,  the  members  having  joined  other  denominations. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

Was  organized  about  the  year  1812.  Two  local  preachers  by  the 
name  of  Riggs  (who  were  brothers)  held  the  first  meeting  on  the 
farm  of  Mrs.  Baxter,  now  owned  by  Ira  Butler.  In  1813  the  ^rs^ 
class-meeting  was  held  in  the  house  which  stood  at  the  corner  of 
Race  Street  and  Cherry  Alley,  which  was  owned  by  Wm.  Wicker- 
ham.  The  first  Methodist  preaching  was  held  in  the  log  school- 
house,  on  the  same  lot  on  which  the  Presbyterian  church  now  stands. 
In  1833,  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  Cook  being  stationed  preacher,  applied 
himself  diligently  to  the  work,  and  the  substantial  brick  edifice  on 
the  corner  of  Race  and  Chess  streets  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  dollars,  Wm.  Imsen  having  presented  the  lot.  The 
congregation  worshipped  in  this  edifice  until  1868,  when  they  erected 
a  new  building  on  Main  Street,  which  cost  forty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars, a  magnificent  structure,  and  does  honor  to  that  denomination. 
Rev.  Hiram  Miller  is  the  present  ofiiciating  clei'gyman.  We  regret 
exceedingly  our  inability  to  procure  the  records  of  a  church  which 
in  a  little  more  than  half  a  century  held  their  first  meeting  in  a  log 
school-house,  and  now  boasts  of  the  finest  architectural  church  in 
Monongahela  City. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  connected  with  the  church,  organized 


246  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

January  1,  1820,  of  which  Thomas  Collins,  Esq.,  was  chosen  first 
superintendent.  It  has  twenty  teachers,  and  a  library  of  three 
hundred  volumes. 

Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 
This  denomination  has  an  organization  in  Monongahela  City. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

The  parish  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
Bishop  Alonzo  Potter,  at  Monongahela  City,  November,  18,  1SG3, 
the  following  persons  being  elected  vestrymen  :  William  Manown, 
John  S.  Markle,  R.  T.  Robinson,  R.  M.  Gee,  Francis  Nelson,  James 
P.  Shepler,  and  E.  W.  Crittenden. 

The  corner-stone  of  their  beautiful  church  was  laid  in  1866.  It 
being  a  Gothic  stone  building  of  fifty  by  ninety  feet,  with  a  tower 
attached,  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  December  4,  1863, 
Rev.  H.  Mackay  took  charge  as  the  first  rector.  He  served  until 
March  1870,  when  Rev.  J.  B.  Linskea  was  elected. 

It  has  a  Sabbath  school  with  eight  teachers  and  eighty  scholars. 
It  was  organized  in  the  spring  of  1862,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Ten  Broeck, 
who  preached  as  a  missionary  one  year  before  the  church  was  esta- 
blished. 

Church  of  the  Transfiguration 

Have  a  church,  which  was  organized  as  early  as  1816,  and  has 
received  the  services  of  such  eminent  divines  as  father  !McGuire, 
O'Conncr,  &c.  The  Catholic  church  is  named  the  church  of  the 
Transfiguration.  It  was  built  in  1865,  and  is  situated  in  the  west 
end  of  the  city  ;  its  erection  cost  six  thousand  dollars.  The  build- 
ing was  commenced  under  the  Rev.  Dennis  Kearney.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  John  0.  G.  Scanlon,  who  was  followed  by  the  Rev. 
William  F.  Hayes,  the  present  pastor. 

There  are  one  hundred  and  seventeen  families  connected  with  the 
church. 

Lutheran  Church. 

This  congregation  has  recently  purchased  the  ^lethodist  Epi.'^co- 
pal  church  edifice,  on  the  corner  of  Race  and  Chess  Streets,  having 
paid  for  the  same  thirty-seven  hundred  dollars.  It  is  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Rider,  who,  by  his  zeal  in  his  master's 
cause,  bids  fair  to  add  another  auxiliary  to  the  propagation  of  the 
religion  of  Christ. 

First  Baptist  Church 

Was  organized  in  1860.  Rev.  R.  R.  Sutton  was  the  first  minister; 
his  successor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Hardgrave.     The  congregation  arc  erect- 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  247 

ing  a  church  thirty-seven  by  fifty  feet.  It  was  iucorporated  in 
1869.     There  is  a  Sabbath-school  attached. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

"Was  founded  in  1833.  The  ministers  who  have  officiated  as  regu- 
lar pastors  comprise  the  following  persons:  1833,  Rev.  Samuel 
Clingman  ;  1835,  Thomas  Lawrence  ;  1836,  Rev.  S.  Cliiigman  ; 
1838,  Rev.  Wm.  Newman;  1810,  Rev.  Fayette  Uavis  ;  1842,  Rev. 
James  Coleman ;  1844,  Rev.  George  Coleman  ;  1846,  Rev.  Augus- 
tus R.  Greer;  1848,  Rev.  Wm.  Morgan;  1849,  Rev.  James  Cole- 
man; 1850,  Rev.  Nelson  Carter;  1853,  Rev.  Levan  Gross;  1855, 
Rev.  John  W.  Jones  ;  1856,  Rev.  Shugart  T.  Jones;  1858,  Rev. 
Levan  Gross;  1860,  Rev.  S.  T.  Jones;  1861,  Rev.  Levan  Gross; 
1863,  Rev.  A.  Harwell;  1864,  Rev.  A.  Harwell ;  1865,  Rev.  L. 
Gross  ;  1866,  Rev.  Charles  Greene;  1867,  Rev.  Alfred  Newman  ; 
1868,  Rev.  L.  Gross;  1869,  Rev.  W.  C.  West;  1870,  Rev.  W. 
H.  Thomas. 

The  congregation  rented  different  houses  to  worship  in,  until  1842, 
when  it  made  arrangements  to  build  a  suitable  house.  In  1849  the 
basement  was  finished,  in  which  religious  services  were  held,  but 
the  church  was  finally  finished  in  1858.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  ninety-five,  and  a  Sabbath-school  connected,  with  the 
usual  number  of  teachers  and  scholars. 

Monongahela  Cemetery. 

This  beautiful  city  of  the  dead  attracts  universal  admiration,  not 
only  for  its  situation,  but  the  manner  in  which  it  is  laid  out.  Here 
the  sorrowing  son  and  daughter  of  sighing  humanity  can  quietly, 
peacefully,  and  with  Christian  resignation,  commit  the  remains  of 
their  loved  ones,  buoyed  up  by  the  message  of  our  Saviour,  who 
whispers  to  each  disconsolate  heart,  "What  I  do  thou  knowest  not 
now,  but  thou  shalt  know  hereafter." 

This  company  was  established  in  1863,  and  immediately  after  its 
organization  purchased  thirty-two  acres  for  the  purposes  contem- 
plated by  the  charter.  The  improvements  are  estimated  at'  sixty 
thousand  dollars.  Its  officers  are  James  Stockdale,  Esq.,  President, 
William  J.  Alexander,  Esq.,  Treasurer,  and  Dr.  R.  C.  King,  Sec- 
retary. 

Union  School-House 

Is  a  beautiful,  substantial,  and  plain  three-story  edifice,  built  in 
modern  style,  to  promote  the  educational  interests  of  the  pupils. 

Monongahela  City  has  eight  schools,  employing  two  male  and  six 
female  teachers,  the  former  receiving  §55  and  the  latter  §40  per 
mouth,  with  four  hundred  and  thirty  nine  scholars  (224  males  and 
215  females).     Cost  of  tuition  per  month,  ninety-three  cents  for 


248  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

each  scholar.  Amount  of  tax  levied  for  school  purposes,  $2903.88, 
and  receiving  from  the  State  appropriation,  $181.74. 

It  would  be  invidious  were  we  to  enter  into  a  full  account  of  the 
iron  foundries,  glass  works,  plauing-inills,  saw-mills,  and  others  of 
private  enterprise,  but  we  believe  in  doing  justice  to  the  banking- 
house  of  Alexander  &  Co.,  and  Union  Paper  Mills. 

Banking  House 

"Was  established  in  1861,  by  Alexander  &  Co.  The  firm  has  now 
in  process  of  erection  a  magnificent  banking  house  on  Main  Street, 
with  the  private  residence  of  W.  J.  Alexander,  Esq.,  attached.  The 
building  is  ornamented  with  a  ^lansard  roof.  Every  possible  pre- 
caution lias  been  taken  to  make  the  banking  departments  not  only 
fire  but  burglar  proof  The  establishment  of  this  house,  the  gentle- 
manly and  courteous  manner,  and  obliging  disposition  of  those  who 
regulate  it,  have  secured  the  entire  approbation  of  the  whole  com- 
munity. 

Union  Paper-Mills 

Were  originally  erected  by  S.  D.  Culbertson.  They  are  now  owned 
by  his  son,  Albert  Culbertson,  Esq.  They  employ  thirty  hands,  and 
manufacture  monthly  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  tons  of  paper 
straw  boards,  using  two  steam  engines,  one  forty  horse  power  and 
one  twelve  horse  power. 

A  description  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  we  will  reserve  for  Chapter 
VIII.,  as  it  more  appropriately  belongs  there. 

Allen  Township 

Was  erected  on  the  14th  day  of  June,  1853. 

It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  west  by  Fallowfield  township,  on 
the  east  and  south  by  the  Monongahela  River.  Its  greatest  length 
4  miles,  its  breadth  3  miles. 

The  lines  of  Allen  township  were  changed  by  the  court.  May, 
1859,  by  which  the  lands  of  T.  C.  Huggins,  H.'  S.  Chalfant,  and 
Lucinda  Chalfant  were  transferred  to  East  Pike  Run  township. 

Independence,  the  only  village  in  this  township,  is  opposite  Cooks- 
town.     The  post-office  is  named  Bellzane. 

There  are  two  INIethodist  p]piscopal  churches  in  this  township. 
Howe's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  one-half  mile  from  Green- 
field, on  the  road  from  Greenfield  to  Belle  Vernon.  The  laud  was 
deeded  to  the  cliurch  by  Mr.  IIowc  in  the  year  1818. 

The  other  church  is  called  Mount  Tabor  M.  E.  Church.  The 
land  was  formerly  owned  by  the  Quakers,  who  use  the  burying 
ground.  It  is  situate  half  way  between  Cookstown  and  Greenfield. 
Its  pastor  is  Kev.  C.  II.  Edwards. 

Speers'  Baptist  Church  is  on  the  banks  of  the  Monongahela 
River,  at  Speers'  Ferry.     The  church  was  organized  in  1795.     Its 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  249 

first  preacher  was  Rev.  Mr.  Speers.     His  successors  were  Rev.  Mr. 
Winnet,  Rev.  Mr.  Whitlack. 

This  township  contains  four  extensive  collieries,  two  stores,  and 
two  grist-mills.  Baldwin's  water-mill,  turned  by  water  power, 
was  among  the  oldest  mills  in  the  county,  to  which  persons  came  for 
many  miles.  In  1860  it  had  a  population  of  635,  of  which  14  were 
colored.  At  this  time  it  has  four  schools,  employing  two  male  and 
two  female  teachers,  the  former  at  $37.50,  the  latter  at  $36.25,  with 
185  scholars,  93  males  and  92  females,  the  cost  of  tuition  monthly  , 

being  99  cents  ;    tax  levied  for  school  purposes,  $58t.52  ;  amount 
received  from  State  appropriation,  $66. 69. 

X,   Jefferson  Township 

Was  erected  out  of  Hupp  w  oil  township  on  the  16th  day  of  June, 
1853. 

It  is  bounded  north  by  Hanover,  east  by  SriviHIi  aff^  Cross  Creek, y  y?^,,;^, 
south  by  Independence  aud   Croso  Cpeok,  and  Avest  by  West  Vir- 
ginia.    Greatest  length  Y^-  miles,  breadth  4  miles. 

Eldersville  is  the  only  town  in  the  township  in  its  northern  part, 
containing  40  dwellings  and  a  Methodist  Protestant  church,  with  a 
population  of  218.     It  is  19  miles  from  Washington. 

The  township  has  four  stores,  six  schools,  employing  three  male 
and  three  female  teachers,  at  $30  per  month,  with  303  scholars,  159 
males  and  144  females,  tuition  costing  per  month  77  cents;  tax 
levied  for  school  purposes,  $767.33;  for  building  pui'poses  $767.33, 
and  receiving  from  the  State  appropriation  $90.48. 

There  is  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church  near  Mr,  Gillespie's  farm, 
on  the  road  leading  from  Eldersville  to  Wellsburg,  and  a  Presby- 
terian church  near  Mr.  Weaver's;  also,  several  grist  and  saw-mills. 

The  Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  Railroad  passes  through  the  north- 
ern part  of  this  township. 

The  township  in  1860  had  a  population  of  984,  of  which  8  were 
colored. 

Independence  Township 

Was  formed  May  18,  1853,  fi'om -O^oS'^e^  township. 

It  is  bounded  noi'th  by  Hg&Mcr,  east  by  Smith  and  Cross  Creek/y /i^^/^^^.^^ 
south  by  Indopoodaaee  ^^d—Cross  ^eek,  and  west  by  West  Yir-       / 
ginia.     Greatest  length  7  miles,  breadth  4  miles. 

The  only  town  is  called  Independence,  16  miles  from  Washing- 
ton, and  7  miles  from  Wellsburg,  West  Virginia,  in  the  western  part 
of  the  township,  containing  40  dwellings,  a  Presbyterian  church, 
under  the  care  of  Rev.  J.  Fleming,  a  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  a  United  Presbyterian  church. 

This  township  contains  five  stores,  six  schools,  employing  three 
male  and  three  female  teachers,  at  $45  per  month,  with  29.5  scholars, 
166  males  and  129  females,  tuition  costing  $131  per  month ;  tax 

/ 


250  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

levied  for  school  purposes,  $1.S52  OT  ;  receiving  from  the  State  ap- 
propriation, §1)1.33;  bad  a  populatiun  in  18G0  of  1078,  of  which  97 
were  cohered. 

Mount  Hope  U.  P.  Church  was  organized  as  early  as  1800. 
The  l\cv.  Thomas  Allison  was  pastor  from  February  4,  1802,  to 
Kovcmbcr  28,  1837  ;  Rev.  David  Thompson  from  September  12, 
1888,  to  June  15,  1847  ;  Rev.  John  T.  Brownlee  from  June  12, 
1851,  until  the  present  time,  with  a  membership  of  100. 

Franklin  Township 

Was  erected  out  of  parts  of  Canton  and  Morris,  August  18,  1855. 

It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Bufi'alo,  Canton,  AVashington,  and 
S.  Strabane  ;  on  the  east  by  S.  Strabane,  Annvell,  and  AVashing- 
ton ;  on  the  south  by  Morris,  and  on  the  west  by  E.  Fiuley  and 
Buffalo.     Greatest  length  7^  miles,  breadth  4^  miles. 

This  township  has  seven  schools,  employing  three  male  and  four 
female  teachers,  at  $35  dollars  per  month,  with  252  scholars,  137 
males  and  115  females,  tuition  costing  $1.25  per  month  ;  amount 
levied  for  school  purposes,  $918.09  ;  for  building  purposes,  $088.54, 
and  receiving  from  State  appropriation  $102.57. 

Bethel  Church  is  located  near  Van  Buren,  under  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterians. 

Concord  Church  is  connected  with  the  same  denomination,  and 
is  situated  on  the  farm  of  Elias  Day. 


CHAPTER   YL 

ELECTED  OFFICERS  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY  FROM  1790. 

Members  of  Congress — Senators  and  Representatives — President  Judges — 
Associate  Judges  and  Deputy  Attorney-rienerals — .\ttorne_vs-at-T,aw — Pro- 
thonotaries — P>egisters — Recorders — Clerk  of  the  Courts — Sheriffs — Coro- 
ners— Commissioners — Clerks  to  Commissioners — Treasurers — Auditors — 
Notary  Public — Directors  of  the  Poor — Deputy  Surveyor-Generals — Justices 
of  the  Peace. 

Members  of  Congress 
Under  the   Constitution  of  September  2,   1790. 

1. — October,  1790.  lion.  Thomas  Scott,  for  Washington  County. 

2.  "  1797.      "     Albert  (iallalin  and  John   Woods,  for  AVash- 

inj^ton  and  Allegheny. 

3.  "  1798.      "     AllxTt  Gallatin,  for  Washington,   Alloghcny, 

and  Greene. 

4.  "  1801.      "    William   Uoge.   for   Washington,  Allegheny, 

Greene,  and  Crawford. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  251 

5. — Octobei,  1808.  Hon.  Aaron  Lyle. 

6.  "  1816.      "     Thomas  Patterson. 

7.  "  1824.      "    Joseph  Lawrence. 

8.  "  1828.      "     William  McCreary. 

9.  "  1830.      "    Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan.  for  Washington. 

10.  "  1838.      "     Isaac  Leet,  for  Washington. 

11.  "         1840.      "    Joseph   Lawrence   (died  April  17,  J842)  for 

Washington. 
12.— May,        1842.      "    Thomas  M.  T.  McKennan,  for  Washington. 
13. — October,  1843.      "     John  Dickey,  for  Washington  and  Beaver. 

14.  "  1844.      "    John  H.  Ewing,  for  Washington  and  Beaver. 

15.  "  1846.      "     John  Dickey, 

16.  "  1848.      "     Eobert  R.  Reed,  M.  D.,  for  Washington  and 

Beaver. 

17.  "         1850.      "    Thomas  J.  Power,  for  Washington  and  Beaver, 

18.  "         1852.      "    John  L.  Dawson,  for  Washington,  Fayette,  and 

Greene. 

19.  "  1854.      *'    Jonathan  Knight,  for  Washington,  Fayette, 

and  Greene. 

20.  "  1856.      "    William  Montgomery,  for  Washington,  Fayette, 

and  Greene. 

21.  "         1860.      "    Jesse  Lazear,  for  Washington,  Fayette,  and 

Greene. 

22.  "  1864.      "     George  Y.  Lawrence,  for  Washington,  Greene, 

Beaver,  and  Lawrence. 

23.  "         1868.      "    J.  B.  Donnelly,  for  Washington,  Greene,  Bea- 

ver,  and  Lawrence. 

Senators 

Who  have  been  elected  and  served  the  period  of  their  election, 
under  the   Constitution  of  1790  and  1838. 

1. — 1790,  October.  Hon.  John  Hoge,  for  Washington  and  Fayette  coun- 
ties. 

2.— 1792,        "  "    John  Hoge  and  John  Smilie,  for  Washington 

and  Fayette  counties. 

3.— 1794,*      "  "    Thomas  Stokely  and  Absalom  Baird,  for  Wash- 

ington and  Allegheny. 

4. — 1796,        "  "    John   Hamilton    and    Thomas    Moreton,    for 

Washington  and  Allegheny. 

5. — 1800,        "  "    John  Hamilton  and  John  Woods,  for  Wash- 

ington, Allegheny  and  Greene. 

6. — 1806,         "  "     Isaac  Weaver  and  James  Stevenson,  for  Wash- 

ington and  Greene. 

7.— 1810,        "  "    Abel  McFswland,  for  Washington  and  Greene. 

8.— 1812,         "  "     Isaac  Weaver, 

9.— 1814,         "  "     Abel  McFarland    " 

10.— 1816,         "  "     Isaac  Weaver,         " 

11.— 1818,         "  "     Thomas  McCall,     " 


*  The  Senate  declared  the  election  held  in  October,  1794,  as  unconstitutional  on 
account  of  the  four  western  counties  being  in  a  state  of  insurrection,  and  ordered  a 
special  election  in  February,  1795,  when  the  same  Senators  were  re-elected.  See 
History  of  Whiskey  Insurrection  (Appendix,  Chapter  4),  for  full  particulars. 


252  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

12. — 1820,  October,  Hon.  Isaac  Weaver,  for  Washington  #,n»l  Greene. 
13.— 1822,         "  "     Joshua  Dickerson,  "  "  "  " 

14. — 1824,         "  "     Jonathan  Kniijhtand  Wm.  G.  Hawkins,  for 

Washin<rton  and  Greene. 
15. — 1828,         "  "     Thomas  liiugland  and  Wra.  G.  Hawkins,  for 

Washington  and  Greene. 
16. — 1834,         "  "     Isaac  Leet,  for  Washington. 

17.— 1838,        "  "     John  H.  Ewing,  for  Washington. 

18.-1842,         "  "     Walter  Craig,       " 

19.— 1845,         "  "     E.  G.  Creacraft, " 

20.— 1848,        "  "     Geo.  V.  Lawrence,  for  Washington. 

21. — 1851,         "  "     M.  McCaslin,  for  W^ashington  and  Greene. 

22. — 1854,         "  "     John  C.  Flenniken.  for  Washington  and  Greene. 

23.— 1857,         "  "     George  W.  Miller,  " 

24. — 1860,        "  "     George  V.   Lawrence,   for  Washington    and 

Greene. 
25. — 1863,         "  "     William  Hopkins,  for  Washington  and  Greene. 

26. — 1866,        "  "     A.  W.  Taylor,  for  Washington  and  Beaver. 

27.— 1869,        "  "     James  S.  Rutan, 

Representatives  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

1781,  November  30. — Hon.  James  Edgar  and  John  Canon. 

1782,  December     4. —     "     Matthew  Ritchie  and  William  McCleary. 
1733,  November  10. —     "     ]\Iatthew  Ritchie  and  John  Stephenson. 
1784,  November    1. —     "     Matthew  Ritchie  and  John  Stephenson. 

Representatives  elected  to  the  House  op  Representatives. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1190  and  1838. 

1790,  October. — Hon.  Thomas  Ryerson. 

1791,  "  "    John  Minor,  Thomas  Scott,  Daniel  Leet,  and  Thomas 

Stokely. 

1792,  "  "    Thomas   Stokely,  Daniel   Leet,  John   Canon,   and 

David  Rradford. 

1793,  "  "     Thomas  Stokely,  Craig  Ritchie,  John  Minor,   and 

Benjamin  White. 
1794*      "  "     James  Brice,  William  Wallace,   Benjamin  White, 

and  Craig  Ritchie. 

1795,  "  "    John  Minor,  William  Wallace,  David  Acheson,  and 

Craig  Ritchie. 

1796,  "  "     David  Johnson,  William  Wallace,  David  Acheson, 

and  William  IToge. 

1797,  "  "     William  lloge.  William  Wallace,  David  Acheson, 

and  David  Johnson. 

1798,  "  "     John  McDowell,  Absalom  Baird,  and  Aaron  Lyle. 

1799,  "  "     John  McDowell,  Samuel  Urie,  and  Aaron  Lyle. 

1800,  "  "     John  McDowell,  Samuel  Urie,  and  Aaron  I^ylc. 

1801,  "  "     John   McDowell,   Samuel   Urie,  Aaron   Lyle,   and 

James  Kerr. 


*  January  h,  1795.  These  member.s,  with  those  of  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  and 
Allegheny  counties,  were  declared  unconstitutionally  elected,  on  account  of  the 
Whiskey  Insurrection,  and,  at  a  special  election  held  in  February,  1795,  were  re- 
elected. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  253 

1802,  October. — Hon.  Samuel  A^new,  Joseph  Vance,  John  Marshall,  and 

James  Kerr. 

1803,  "  "     Samuel  Ao^new,  Joseph  Yance,  John  Marshall,  and 

James  Kerr. 

1804,  "  "     Samuel  Agnew,  David  Acbeson,  John  Marshall,  and 

James  Stephenson. 

1805,  "  "     Samuel  Agnew,  Aaron  Lyle,  John  Marshall,  and 

James  Stephenson. 
i806,         "  "     James  Kerr,  Abel  McFarland,  Ebenezer  Jennings, 

and  James  Stephenson.  • 

1807,  "  "     James  Kerr,  Abel  McFarland,  Ebenezer  Jennings, 

and  James  Stephenson. 

1808,  "  "     Abel  McFarland,  John  Colmery,  Thomas  McCall, 

and  Robert  Mahon. 

1809,  "  "    James  Kerr,  John  Colmery,  Thomas  McCall,  and 

Andrew  Sutton. 

1810,  "  "     Thomas  Hopkins,  John  Colmery,  Joshua  Dickerson, 

and  Andrew  Sutton. 

1811,  "  "     Thomas  McCall,  Richard  Donaldson,  Robert  Ander- 

son, and  Joshua  Dickerson. 

1812,  "  "     Thomas    McCall,   James   Kerr,  Robert  Anderson, 

and  Joshua  Dickerson. 

1813,  "  "    Thomas  McCall,  James  Kerr,   James  Stephenson, 

and  Joshua  Dickerson. 

1814,  "  "     ThomasMorgan,  Andrew  Sutton,  James  Stephenson, 

and  Joshua  Dickerson. 

1815,  "  "     Thomas  Morgan,  John  Hamilton,  James  Stephenson, 

and  William  Vance. 

1816,  "  "     Joshua  Dickerson,  Jacob  Weirich,  James  Kerr,  and 

William  Vance. 

1817,  "  "    Joshua  Dickerson,  Jacob  Weirich,  James  Kerr,  and 

John  Reed. 

1818,  "  "     Joseph  Lawrence,  Walter  Craig,  James  Keys,  and 

John  Reed. 

1819,  "  "     Joseph  Lawrence,  Walter  Craig,  James  Keys,  and 

John  Reed. 
Ib20,        "  "    Joseph  Lawrence,  Thomas  McCall,  Dickerson  Rob- 

erts, and  John  Reed. 

1821,  "  "    Joseph  Lawrence,  Thomas  McCall,  Joseph  Ritner, 

and  John  Reed. 

1822,  "  "     Joseph  Lawrence,  Jonathan  Knight,  Joseph  Ritner, 

and  James  Keys. 

1823,  "  "    Joseph  Lawrence,  Jonathan  Knight,  Joseph  Ritner, 

and  James  Keys. 

1824,  "  "     William  McCreary,  Aaron  Kerr,  Joseph  Ritner,  and 

James  Keys. 

1825,  "  "     William  McCreary,  Aaron  Kerr,  Joseph  Ritner,  and 

Thomas  Ringland. 

1826,  "  "     William  McCreary,  Aaron  Kerr,  Thomas  Ringland, 

and  Joseph  Ritner. 

1827,  "  "     William  McCreary,  Aaron  Kerr,  Samuel  Workman, 

and  Thomas  Ringland. 

1828,  "  "     William  Waugh,    Aaron  Kerr,  Samuel  Workman, 

and  William  Patterson. 

1829,  "  "     William  Waugh,  Samuel  Workman,  and  William 

Patterson. 


254 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


1 830,  October. — Hon.  William  "Waugh,  Wallace  McWilliams,  and  William 

Patterson. 

1831,  "  "     William  Waugh,  Wallace  McWilliams,  and  William 

Patterson. 

1832,  "  "    William  Waugh,   Robert  Love,  and  Joseph  Hen- 

derson. 

1833,  "  "     William  McCreary,  Robert  Love,  and  William  Pat- 

terson. 

1834,  "  "    William   Hopkins,   Joseph   Lawrence,   and    David 

Frazier. 

1835,  "  "    John   H.   Ewing,  Joseph   Lawrence,  and  Edward 

McDonald. 

1836,  Feb'y  18. —    "     Thomas  McGifiBn  elected  at  a  special  election  in 

place  of  Jos.  Lawrence,  elected  State  Treasurer. 

1836,  October. —     "     Robert  Love,  William  Hopkins,  and  John  Parke. 

1837,  "  "     Robert  Love,  William  Hopkins,  and  John  Parke. 

1838,  "  "     Robert  Love,  William  Hopkins,  and  John  Parke. 

1839,  "  "     Robert  Love,  William  Hopkins,  and  John  Parke. 

1840,  "  "     Jonathan    Leatherman,    Samuel    Livingston,    and 

Aaron  Kerr. 

1841,  "  "    Wallace  McWilliams,  James  McFarren,  and  Jesse 

Martin. 

1842,  "  "     Samuel  Livingston,  William  McDaniel,  and  John 

Storer. 

1843,  "  "0.  B.  McFadden  and  George  V.  Lawrence. 

1844,  "  "     Daniel  Rider  and  John  IMeloy. 

1845,  "  "     Daniel  Rider  and  Richard  Donaldson. 

1846,  "  "     George  V.  Lawrence  and  Richard  Donaldson. 

1847,  "  "     Thomas  Watson  and  Jacob  Cort. 

1848,  "  "     John  McKee  and  Jacob  Cort. 

1849,  "  "    Jonathan  D.  Leet  and  Thomas  Watson. 

1850,  "  "    Jonathan  D.  Leet  and  David  Riddle. 

1851,  "  "     Hugh  Craig  and  John  Meloy. 

1852,  "  "    John  N.  McDonald  and  J.  W.  Alexander. 

1853,  "  "     Matthew  Linn  and  Jehu  Jackman. 

1854,  "  "     Samuel  J.  Krepps  and  James  McCulloch. 

1855,  "  "    John  W.  Miller  and  David  Riddle. 

1856,  '*  "     John  C.  Sloan  and  J.  S.  Vanvoorhis. 

1857,  "  "    John  N.  McDonald  and  James  Donehoo. 

1858,  "  "     George  V.  Lawrence  and  William  Graham. 

1859,  "  "     George  V.  Lawrence  and  William  Graham. 

1860,  "  "     John  A.  IFappcr  and  Robert  Anderson. 

1861,  "  "     John  A.  Happer  and  William  Hopkins. 

1862,  "  "     William  Glenn  and  William  Hopkins. 

1863,  "  "     Robert  R.  Rood  and  J.  R.  Kellcy. 

1864,  "  "     Robert  R.  Reed,  J.  R.  Kelley,  and  M.  S.  Quay, 

Washington  and  Deaver. 

1865,  "  "    Joseph  Welsh,  J.  R.  Kelley,  and  M.  S.  Quay,  Wash- 

ington and  Beaver. 

1866,  "  "    John  ICwing,  J.  R.  Day,  and  M.  S.  Quay,  Washing- 

ton and  JJeaver. 

1867,  "     •  "    John  Fiwing,  J.  R.  Day,  and  Thomas  Nicholson, 

Wa'^hington  and  IJeaver. 

1868,  "  "    A.   J.   Bufliugton,    II.   J.   Vankirk,    and   Thomas 

Nicholson,  Washington  and  Beaver. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY,  255 

1869,  October.— Hon.  A.  J.  Buffington,  H.  J.  Vankirk,  and  W.  Davidson, 
Washington  and  Beaver. 

President  Judges 

Of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Orphans'  Court,  Quarter  Sessions, 
and  Oyer  and  Terminer  since  1781. 

1781,  Oct.   2.  Hon.  Henry  Taylor.      1788,  Sept.  30.  Hon.  Henry  Taylor. 
1783,  Oct.  31.  Hon.  Dorsey  Pentecost. 

These  were  Presiding  Judges  of  the  County  Court,  composed  of 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  who  held  office  under  the  Constitution  of 
Pennsylvania  adopted  September  28,  1776. 

1791,  Sept.  22.  Hon.  Alexander  Addison  for  "Washington,  Fayette,  West- 
moreland, and  Allegheny  counties. 

1803,  June  2.  Hon.  Samuel  Roberts  for  Washington,  Fayette,  Greene,  and 
Beaver  counties. 

1818,  Oct.  19.  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Baird  for  Washington,  Fayette,  Greene, 
and  Somerset  counties. 

1838,  Feb.  28.  Hon.  Nathaniel  Ewing  for  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Greene 
counties. 

These  presided  over  the  various  courts  of  the  district  under  the 
Constitution  of  September  2,  1790.* 

Under  the  Constitution  of  1838 

the  following"  persons  distinguished  for  their  legal  abilities  have  been 
elected  in  this  district : — 

1848,  Feb.  28.  Hon.  Samuel  A.  Gilmore,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Greene 

counties. 
1851,  Oct.  11.  Hon.  Samuel  A.  Gilmore,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Greene 

counties. 
1861,  Oct.  11.  Hon.  James  Lindsey,  Washington,   Fayette,  and    Greene 

counties. 

1865,  Jan.    9.  Hon.  J.  Kennedy  Ewing,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Greene 

counties. 

1866,  Feb.  19.  Hon.  B.  B.  Chamberlin,  Washington  and  Beaver  counties. 
1866,  Nov.  15.  Hon.   Alexander  W.  Acheson,  Washington  and  Beaver 

counties. 

Associate  Judges 

were  first  appointed  under  the  Constitution  of  1790  during  good 
behavior.  The  law  of  March  21,  1806,  provided  that  no  vacancy 
in  the  office  of  Associate  Judge  could  be  supplied  in  any  county 
uuless  the  number  of  Associates  shall  be  reduced  to  less  than  two, 

*  The  Constitution  of  1838  provided  that  one  half  of  the  commissions  of  those 
Judges  who  held  office  for  ten  years  or  more  at  its  adoption,  should  expire  February 
27,  1839  ;  and  the  commissions  of  the  other  half  on  the  27th  of  February,  1842  ;  and  the 
commissions  of  the  remaining  Judges,  who  had  not  held  ofiSce  for  ten  years,  should 
expire  on  the  26th  of  February  next  after  the  end  of  ten  years  from  the  date  of  their 
commission  ;  under  this  provision  Judge  Ewing  held  his  of&ce  until  February,  1843. 


25G 


HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


when  that  number  shall  be  completed.  In  1838  by  the  Constitation 
the  life  tenure  of  office  was  abolished  and  Associate  Judges  were 
elected. 


1791,  April  16.  Hon.  Henry  Taylor. 
1791,  April  16.  Hon.  James  Edg-ar. 
1791,  April  16.  Hon.  James  Allison. 
1791,  April  IG.  Hon.   Matthew  Kit- 
chie. 


1798,  April    6.  William  Hoge. 
1802,  May    31.  John  McDowell. 
1802,  May    31.  John  Hamilton, 
1806,  Jan.      1.  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer. 


When  the  Constitution  of  1838  went  into  operation,  Hon.  John 
Hamilton  and  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer  were  on  the  bench,  and  the  follow- 
ing persons  were  elected : — * 


1838,  Oct.  Hon.  Boyd  Mercer. 

1838,  Oct.  Hon.  Thomas  McKeever. 

1840,  Mar.  26.  Hon.  Samuel  Hill. 

1843,  Mar.  18.  Hon.  John  Grayson. 

184;"),  Mar.    8.  Hon.  James  Gordon. 

1849,  Feb.  19.  Hon.  Isaac  Hodgens. 

1851,  Mar.  12.  Hon.  William  Van- 
kirk. 

1851,  Oct.  16.  Hon.  Abraham  Wo- 
tring. 

1851,  Oct.  16.  Hon.  John  Freeman. 


1856,  Oct.  12.  Hon.  James  G.  Hart. 
1856,  Oct.  12.  Hon.  Jacob  Slagle. 
1861,  Oct.  23.  Hon.  James  G.  Hart. 

1861,  Oct.  23.  Hon.  Wm.  Vankirk. 
(his  election  declared  illegal  and  his 
opponent  was  sworn  in.) 

1862,  June   3.  Hon.  Thomas  McCar- 

rol. 

1866,  Oct.     9.  Hon.  James  C.  Cham- 
bers. 

1866,  Oct.     9.  Hon.  John  Farrar. 


Prothonotaries 

Under  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

1.— 1781,  April  2.  Thomas  Scott.    |    2.— 1789,  Mar. 28.  Alexander  Scott. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  September  2,  1*790. 


3.— 1791,  Aug.  14 
4.— 1803,  Jan.  11 


David  Roddick. 
AV'm.     McKen- 
nan. 
5. — 1811,  Dec.  17.  Alexander  Mur- 
doch. 
6.— 1819,  May    6.  William  Sample. 
7.— 1821,  Feb.  12.  Thos.  Morgan. 


8— 1823.  Dec.  30.  William  Sample. 
9.— 1H30,  Feb.  10.  Thomas  Officer. 
10.— 1836,  Jan.    8.  George  W.  Ache- 
son. 
11.— 1837,  Oct.  25.  John  Uric. 
12.— 1839,  Feb.    5.  John     Grayson, 
Sr. 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1838,  elected  by  the  people  for  three  years 
Grayson, 


13.— 1839,  Oct.  14.  John 
Sr. 
U._1842,  Oct.  12 
15.— 1845,  Oct.  17 
16.-1848,  Oct.    5, 
17.— 1851,  Oct.  22 


Eph.  L.  Blaine. 
O.n.McFadden. 
James  Brown. 
James  Brown. 


18.-18.54,  Oct.  14.  Wm.  S.  Moore. 
19.— 1857,  Oct.  11.  James  B.  Ruide. 
20.-1860,  Oct.  10.  James  B.  Ruple. 
21.-1863,  Oct.    9.  John  E.  Bell. 
22.-1866,  Oct.    9.  John  L.  Gow. 
23.-1869,  Oct.  12.  D.  M.  Donehoo. 


*  By  the  Constitulion  the  Associate  Judges  were  thus  cla.isified  ;  they  were  divided 
into  four  classes  by  the  lefrislatiire.  The  commission  of  the  first  clnss  expired  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1840  ;  the  2d  class  on  February  27,  1841  ;  the  3d  class,  February  27,  1843. 
Their  commissions  were  arranged  according  to  seniority. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


25t 


Registers 

Under  the  Sui:)reme  Executive  Council. 

1.— 1781,  April  4.  James  Marshal.  |    2.— 1784,  Sept.  30.  Thos.  Stokely. 

Under  the  Constitution  of  September  2,  1790. 

3. — 1791,  Aug.  17,  James  Marshall. 
4. — 1795,  March  6.  Samuel  Clarke. 
5.— 1800,  Jan.  15.  John  Israel. 
6.— 1806,  Dec.  24.  Isaac  Kerr. 
7.— 1819,  May  21.  Robert  Colmery. 
8.— 1821,  Feb.  22.  Samuel  Lyon. 


9.— 1824,  Jan.  27.  Robert  Colmery. 

10.— 1830,  Mar.  19.  John  Grayson, 
Sr. 

11.— 1836,  Jan.  20.  Sam'l  Cunning- 
ham. 

12.-1839,  Mar.   3.  James  Gordon. 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1838. 


13.— 1839,  Oct.  14.  Geo.  Morrison. 
14.— 1842,  Oct.  12.  James  Sprigg. 
15._1845,  Oct.  17.  Wm.  Workman. 
16.— 1848,  Oct.    6.  Odel  Squier. 
17,-1851,  Oct.  22.  John     Grayson, 

Jr. 
18.-1854,  Oct.  14.  John  Meloy. 


19.— 1857,  Oct.  11.  Harvey  J.  Van- 
kirk. 
20.-1860,  Oct.  10.  Wm.  A.  Mickey. 
21.— 1863,  Oct.  9.  Wm.  A.  Mickey. 
22.— 1866,  Oct.  9.  Geo.  Buchanan. 
23.-1869,  Oct.  12.  I.  Y.  Hamilton. 


Recorder  of  Deeds 
Under  the  Sujoreme  Executive  Council. 
1. — 1781,  April  4.  James  Marshall. 
Under  the  Constitution  of  1790. 


2.— 1791,  Aug.  17.  Jas.  Marshall. 
3.-1795,  Mar.  6.  Samuel  Clark. 
15. 


4._1800,  Jan. 
5.-1806,  Dec. 
6.— 1819,  May 
7.— 1821,  Feb. 


John  Israel. 
1.  Isaac  Kerr. 
9.  Robt.  Colmery. 

Samuel  Lyon. 


12 


8.-1823,  Dec.  30.  Robert  Colmery. 

9._1880,  Feb.  19.  William  lloge. 
10.— 1836,  Jan.    8.  William  H.Corn- 
wall. 
12.-1839,  Feb.    5.  James  Brown. 


13.-1839,  Nov.  14.  James  Brown. 
14.— 1842,     "      12,  James  Brown. 
15.-1845,     "      17,  James  Brown. 
16.-1848,     "        5.  F.  Cooper  Mor- 
rison. 

17.-1851,     "      22,  F.  Cooper  Mor- 
rison. 
18. — 1854,  Nov.  14.  Cyrus  Underwood 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1838. 

19.-1857,  Nov,  13.  Freeman  Brady 

Jr. 
20.-1860,     "     23.  Wm.  H.  Horn. 
21.-1863,  Dec.     1.  Alvin  King. 
22.-1866,     "       3.  M 


23.— 1869,  Oct.  12. 


.    L.    A.   Mc- 
cracken. 
John  P.  Charl- 
ton. 


Clerk  op  the  Quarter  Sessions,  Orphans'  Court,  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  &c.  &c. 

Under  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 


1.-1781,  April      2. 
2.— 1789,  March  28. 


Thomas  Scott. 
Alexander  Scott. 


258 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1790. 


3.— 1792,  Sept.  2. 
4.— 1803,  Jan.  11. 
5.— 1811,  Dec.  17 

6.— 1819,  May    6, 


David  Reddick. 
AVm.  McKennan. 
Alexander  Mur- 
doch. 
Wm.  Sample. 


7.— 1821,  Feb.  12.  Robt.  Colmery. 

8.— 1823,  Dec.  30.  Jos.  Henderson. 

9.— 1830,  Feb.  19.  James  Ruplc. 
10.— 1836,  Jan.  8.  James  Blaine. 
11.— 1839,  Feb.    5.  James  Ruple. 


Under  the  Constitution  of  1838. 


17.— 18.54,  Nov.  14.  David  Aiken. 
18.— 18.07,     "      13.  David  Aiken. 
19.— 1860,     "      23.  David  Aiken. 
20.-1863,  Dec.     3.  Wm.  A.  Kidd. 
21.— 1869,     "       5.  Samuel  Ruth. 


12.— 1839,  Nov.  14.  James  Ruple. 
13.-1842,     "     12.  Alex.  G.  Marsh- 
man. 
14.-1845,     "      17.  William  Hays. 
15.— 1848,     "        5.  Robt.  F.  Cooper. 
16.— 1851,    "     22.  Geo.  Passmore. 

The  ofiBces  of  Prothonotary  and  Clerks  of  the  court  were  com- 
bined until  1821,  and  those  of  Register  and  Recorder  until  1S30;  at 
these  dates  they  became  separated  as  they  now  exist. 

Sheriffs 

Under  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

1.— Nov.  30,1781.  Van  Swearingen.  I  3.— Oct.  26, 1787.  David  Williamson. 
2.— Nov.    1,  1784.  James  Marshall,   |  4.— Nov.  9,  1790.  William  Wallace. 

Under  the  Constitution  o/  1T90,  elected  Second  Tuesday  of  October 
every  TJiird  Year. 


5. 

-1793, 

Oct. 

22. 

John  Hamilton. 

14.- 

-1820, 

Oct.  21 

Robert  Officer. 

6. 

-1796, 

Nov 

.  2. 

Thus.  Hamilton. 

15. 

—1823, 

11 

Sam'l  Workman. 

7. 

—1799. 

11 

'  2. 

Absalom  Baird. 

16. 

-1826, 

i( 

Robert    McClel- 

8. 

—18(12, 

11 

6. 

Geo.  Hamilton. 

land. 

9. 

—1805, 

Oct. 

21. 

•  John  McC'hiney. 

17. 

-1829, 

<< 

Jos.  Henderson. 

10. 

-1808. 

" 

Rob't  Anderson. 

18. 

—1832, 

i< 

Samuel  Cunning- 

11. 

-1811, 

(( 

George  Baird. 

ham. 

12. 

—1814, 

11 

Thomas  Officer. 

19. 

—1835, 

" 

John  Marshall. 

13. 

—1817, 

<i 

Dickcrson    Rob- 
erts. 

20. 
21. 

—1836, 
—1837, 

<t 

John  Wilson.* 
James  Spriggs. 

Under  Constitution  of  1838. 


22.— 1840, 0 ct.  Sheshbazzar  Bentley, 

Jr. 
23.-1843,     "    Jehu  Jackman. 
24.— 1846,     "    Alex.  (i.  Marshman. 
2.5.-1849,     "    Peter  Wolfe. 
26.— 1852,     "    Jno.  McAllister. 


27.— 1855,  Oct.  Andrew  Bruce. 
28.-18.58,     "      Norton  McGiffin. 


29.— 1861, 
30.-1864, 
31.— 1867, 


James  M.  layers. 
Edward  R.  Smith. 
Hugh  Keys. 


Coroners 

Under  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

1.-1781,  Nov.  30.  Wm.  McFarland.  I  3.-1787,  Oct.  26.  Robert  Benham. 
2.-1784,      "       1.  Wm.  McCombs.   14.-1789,  Nov.  G.Samuel  Clarke. 


*  Succeeded  as  coroner. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


259 


Under  Constitution  of  1*790. 


5.— 1790,  Samuel  Clark. 

6.— 1794,  Feb.  16.  James  Marshall. 

7.— 1799,  Nov.  18.  Wm.  Slemeus. 

8.— 1802,     "        6.  Dorsey  Pente- 
cost. 

9.— 1805,  Oct.  21.  Thos.  Hutchinson. 
10.— 1811,     "  Wm.  Marshall. 

11.— 1814,     "  William  Carter. 


12.-1817,  Oct. 
13.— 1820, 
14.— 1823, 
15.— 1826, 
16.-1829, 
17.— 1832, 
18.-1835, 
19.— 1837, 


20.-1840,  Oct. 
21.— 1843,     " 

22.-1846,     " 

23.-1849, 

24.-1852, 


Under  Constitution  of  1838. 
26.— 1858,  Oct. 


William  Tweed,  Jr. 
Wm.  J.  Wilson. 
Oliver  Lindsey. 
James  D.  Best. 
William  B.  Cundall. 


25.— 1855,    "      Moses  Little. 


27.-1861, 
28.— 1864, 
29.-1867, 
30.— 1868, 


James  Ruple. 
John  Johnston. 
George  Sowers. 
Alex.  Gordon. 
Moses  Linn. 
Jas.  McCadden. 
John  Wilson. 
John  R.  Griffith. 


Jonathan  Martin. 
John  E.  Black. 
Isaac  Vance. 
Chas.  W.  McDaniel. 
Lewis  Barker. 


Commissioners. 

The  Board  of  County  Commissioners  is  composed  of  three  electors, 
one  of  whom  is  elected  at  the  annual  October  election ;  consequently 
to  ascertain  who  constitutes  the  Board,  it  will  only  be  necessary  to 
compute  any  three  successive  years  and  the  Board  can  be  easily  as- 
certained. 


1. 

2.- 

3.- 

4.- 

5.- 

6.- 

7.- 

8.- 

9.- 

10.- 

11.- 

12.- 

13.- 

14.- 

15- 

16.- 

17.- 

18.- 

19.- 

20.- 

21.- 

22.- 


1781. 
178L 
1781. 

-1782. 

-1783. 

-1784. 

-1785. 

-1786. 

-1787. 

-1788. 

-1789. 

-1790. 

-1791. 

-1792. 

-1793. 

-1794. 

-1795. 

-1796. 

-1797. 

-1798. 

-1799. 

-1800. 

-1601. 

-1802. 


George  Vallandigham. 
Thomas  Crooks. 
John  McDowell. 
George  McOormick. 
Demas  Lindley. 
James  Allison. 
James  McCready. 
James  Bradford. 
Thomas  Marquis. 
Henry  Vanmetre. 
James  McCready. 
WilUam  Meetkirke. 
James  Brice. 
Zachariah  Gapen. 
Isaac  Leet,  Jr. 
Samuel  Clarke. 
William  Seaton. 
John  Colton. 
Robert  McCready. 
James  Brice. 
William  Campbell. 
Joshua  Anderson. 
Isaac  Leet,  Jr. 
Robert  Mahon. 


23.-1803. 
24.-1804. 
25.-1805. 
26.— 1806. 
27.-1807. 
28.— 1808. 
29.— 1809. 
30.-1810. 
31.— 1811. 
32.— 1812. 
33.— 1813. 
34.— 1814. 
35.— 1815. 
36.— 1816 
37 
37 

38.-1818 
39.-1819. 
40.-1820. 
41.— 182L 
42.-1822. 
43.— 1823. 
44.-1824. 
45.— 1825. 


1 1817. 


John  Lyle. 
Thomas  Hopkins. 
Edward  Todd. 
Joseph  Alexander. 
Aaron  Lyle. 
Joseph  Alexander. 
William  Marshall. 
Moses  McWhirtcr. 
Isaac  Leet,  Jr. 
Daniel  Kehr. 
William  Vance. 
John  Brownlee. 
John  Reed. 
Walter  Craig.* 
Jonathan  Knight- 
Moses  Lyle. 
John  Lacock. 
Alexander  Scott. 
Matthias  Luse. 
William  McCreary. 
John  Urie. 
John  Macoy. 
Robert  Moore. 
Robert  Patterson. 


*  Walter  Craig  resigned  and  two  Commissioners  elected  iu  1817,  James  Gordon 
appointed  to  serve  until  the  following  October,  1818. 


260 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


46.- 
47.- 
48.- 
49.- 
50.- 
51.- 


53.. 
54. 
55. 


66 


-1820.  Wallace  McWilliams. 
-1827.  Robert  Love. 
-1828.  Thomas  Axtell. 
-1829.  Isaac  Hodgens. 
-1830,  Samuel  Cunningham. 
-1831.  James  McBurney. 
1  Q-io     i  Jesse  Cooper.  2  years. 
'^^■^'^-    \  James  Miller.  3  years. 
-1833.  William  McElroy. 
-1834.  James  Lee. 
-1835.  S.  Bentley.  Jr.* 

I  B.  Anderson.     1  year. 

I  J.  Jackman.     3  years. 

Matthew  Linn. 
Andrew  Shearer. 
James  Pollock, 
Samuel  Linton. 
Hugh  Craig. 
Thomas  Byers. 
George  Passmore. 
James  Donehoo. 
Alexander  Frazier. 
Dutton  Shannon. 


56:— 1836. 

57.— 

58. 

59. 

60, 

61 

62, 

63 

64 

65, 


—1837. 
—1838. 
—1839. 
,—1840. 
—1841. 
.—1842. 
—1843. 
,—1844. 
(  1845. 
■  1 1846. 


67.- 

C8.- 
69.- 
70.- 
71.- 
72.- 
73.- 
74.- 
75.- 
7G.- 
77.- 
78.- 
79.- 
80.- 
81.- 
82.- 
83.- 
84.- 
85- 
86.- 
87.- 


89.— 


1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
1851. 
18.52. 
■1853. 
18.54. 
1855. 
1856. 
■1857. 
■1858. 
■1859. 
■1860. 
■1861. 
-1862. 
-1863. 
-1864. 
-1665. 
-1866. 
-1867. 
-1868. 
1869. 


John  McAlister. 
John  Birch. 
Andrew  Bruce. 
Samuel  Bccket. 
Isaac  Thompson. 
Thomas  McCarrol. 
Daniel  Swickard. 
John  Stewart. 
John  N.  Walker. 
Nathan  Cleaver. 
Joseph  Vankirk. 
O.  P.  Cook. 
George  Taylor, 
James  S.  Elliott. 
Abel  M.  Evans. 
Frank  Neilson. 
Joseph  W.  Cowan. 
T.  J.  Bell. 
James  Walker. 
Samuel  K.  Weirich, 
H.  B.  McLean. 
James  Kerr. 
S.  P.  Riddle. 


Clerks  to  the  Commissioners. 


1.— 1782. 

2.-1783. 

3.-1793. 

4.— 1796. 

5.-1800. 

6.-1801. 

7.-1803. 

8.-1804. 

9.-1805. 
10.— 1808. 
11.-1814. 
12.— 1819. 


Thomas  Byers. 
James  McCready. 
Thomas  Swearingen. 
John  Colerick. 
Isaac  Kerr. 
Robert  Moore. 
John  Gilmore. 
David  McKeehan. 
Alexander  Blair. 
William  Baird. 
John  Baird. 
Robert  Jackson. 


13.-1822.  Thomas  Good. 
14.-1834.  James  Palmer. 
15.— 1841.  William  Hughes. 
16.— 1843.  AVilliam  R.  Oliver. 
17.-1845.  Adam  Silvey. 
18.-1853.  David  P.  Lowary. 
19.— 18.54.  John  Gamble. 
20.-1857.  Ellas  McClelland. 
21.— 1858.  Samuel  Linton. 
22. — 1864.  Isaac  II.  Longdon, 
23.— 1869.  Joseph  A.  McKce. 
24. — 1870.  John  Grayson,  Jr. 


Deputy  Attorney-Generals. 


1.— 1781. 

2.-1783. 

3.— 1790. 

4.— 1796. 

5.— 1805. 

6.-1809. 

7.— 1829. 

8.-1824. 

9.-1830. 
10.-1835. 
11.— 18.36 
12.-1837. 


David  Sample. 
David  Bradford. 
John  Purviance. 
Parker  Campbell. 
James  Ashbrook. 
Thomas  H.  Baird. 
William  Baird. 
William  Waugh. 
Isaac  Leet. 
Alex.  W.  Acheson. 
R.  H.  Lee. 
AVilliam  McKennan. 


13.-1839.  Alex.  W.  Acheson. 
14. — 1845.  William  Montgomery. 
15.-1846.  Alex.  W.  Acheson. 
16.-1847.  George  S.  Hart. 
17.-1848.  Robert  H.  Koontz. 
18.-18.50.  George  S.  Hart. 
19.— 1853.  William  Lynn. 
20.-1856.  Alexander  Wilson. 
21.-1862.  James  R.  Ruth. 
22. — 1865.  Boyd  Crurarine. 
23.— 1808.  lanthus  Bentley. 


*  S.  Bentley  resigned  October  25. 
Cunningham. 


W.  V.  Leet  appointed  August  31,  in  place  of  S. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


261 


List  of  Attorneys 

Who  were  admitted  to  practise  law  in  the  courts  of  "Washington 
County,  from  its  organization  to  the  present  time,  with  the  term  in 
which  they  were  admitted.  Those  marked  thus  f  were  resident 
attorneys. 


Term. 
fAcheson,  Hon.  Alexander  AV. 

June,  1832. 
Acheson,  George  May,  1843. 

fAcheson,  George  W.  Dec,  1830. 
fAcheson  Marcus  Dec,  1868. 

Acheson  Marcus  W.  May,  18.52. 

f  Addison,  Hon.  Alex.  Mar.,  1787. 
f  Addison,  Alexander  Dec,  1820. 
f  Aiken,  John  Dec,  1869. 

Alden,  T.  J.  Fox  May,  1838. 

Allison,  Alexander  Sept.,  1835. 

Allison,  William  Dec,  1838. 

f  Alter,  Solomon  May,  1843. 

Andrews,  A.  June,  1819. 

Appleton,  George  Aug.,  1846. 

fAshbrook,  James  Nov.,  1798. 

Avery,  P.  J.  Mar.,  1838. 

Ayres,  William  Nov.,  1798. 


Bailey,  Isaac 
fBaird,  Hon.  Th.  H. 
fBaird,  Thomas  H.,  Jr. 
fBaird,  William 
Baird,  William 
Baldwin,  Henry 
Baldwin,  Henry 
Barr,  S.  Gailey 
f  Beall,  Thomas  B. 
Beckett,  J.  B. 
Beebe.  Walter  B. 
Bell,  D.  B. 
fBell,  Solomon 
fBentley,  lanthus 
Biddle,  Richard 
Big^am,  T.  J. 
Black,  Ross 
Black,  J.  L. 
Blair,  David 
Boice,  Ebenezer 
Bowman,  John 
Bowman,  J.  L. 
Bowman,  William 
fBoyd,  Thomas 
Brackenridge,  Alex. 
Brackenridge,  H.  H. 
Brackenridge,  H.  M. 
fBraden,  John  D. 


Aug.,  1862. 

Mar.,  1808. 

Feb.,  1846. 
June,  1812. 
Aug.,  1849. 
June,  1815. 

Mar.,  1838. 
Aug.,  1865. 

Oct.,  1834. 

Dec,  1812. 

Oct.,  1818. 

May,  1852. 

Dec,  1867. 

Feb.,  1866. 
Mar.,  1824. 
June,  18.37. 

Feb.,  1841. 
Aug.,  1869. 
June,  1838. 
Aug.,  1844. 
June,  1837. 

Jan.,  1817. 

Nov.,  18.52. 

"   1861. 

Mar.,  1818. 

Oct.,  1814. 
"   1781. 

Feb.,  1851. 


f Bradford,  David 
fBrady  Freeman,  Jr. 
Brady  Jasper  B. 
fBrady,  John  S. 
Brown,  D.  W. 
Buchanan,  Andrew 
Buchanan,  J.  A.  J. 
Buckingham,  S. 

Caldwell,  Alexander 
Caldwell,  George  W. 
Callender,  Robert 
Campbell,  Charles 
Campbell,  Francis  C. 
Campbell,  Henry  M. 
Campbell,  James 
fCampbell,  Parker 
Carson,  John 
Chapline,  John  H. 
f  Clarke,  J.  Murray 
Cleavinger,  Samuel 
Cloyd,  John 
Cochran,  A.  G. 
Cochran,  George  R. 
Cochran,  S.  N. 
Cole,  Samuel,  Jr. 
Coleman,  Charles 
Collins,  Thomas 
fCooper,  R.  F. 
Craft,  James  S. 
Craig,  David 
Craig,  I.  H. 
Crawford,  David 
f  Creacraft,  E.  G. 
fCreigh,  Samuel 
Creigh,  Thomas 
fCrumrine,  Bishop 
fCrumrine,  Boyd 
Cunningham,  Thomas 

Dawson,  John 
Denny,  Harmar 
Dodridge,  Philip 
tDonehoo,  John  R. 
fDonnan,  John  W. 
Donaldson.  John  W. 
Douglass.  John 


Teem. 
April,  1782. 

May,  1860. 

Feb.,  1857. 
June,  1817. 
Aug.,  1869, 

July,  1811. 
Aug.,  1848. 

May,  1863. 

June,  1817. 
Aug.,  1862. 
Aug.,  1799. 
Nov.,  1823. 
June.,  1830. 
June,  1818. 
Mar.,  1830. 
June,  1794. 
Mar.,  1786. 
July,  1810. 
Nov.,  1861. 
Oct.,  1832. 
Aug.,  1798. 
Feb.,  1868. 
May,  1868. 
May,  1855. 
May,  1855. 
June,  1826. 
Mar.,  1796. 
May,  1842. 
Oct.,  1818. 
Feb.,  1848. 
May,  1856. 
Feb.,  1862. 
Aug.,  1846. 
Dec,  1829. 
July,  1796. 
Aug.,  1867. 
Aug.,  1861. 
June,  1812. 

June,  1819. 
Oct.,  1818. 
July,  1811. 
May,  1858. 
Aug.,  1867. 
Dec,  1867. 
Aug.,  1805. 


2G2 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


fDugan,  Henry  M. 
Duncau,  lion.  Thomas 

Edging'ton,  Jesse 
Ej^e,  Peter  F. 
Ellmaker,  Ellis  E. 
Espy,  David 
fEwing.  John  H. 
JEwing,  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Ewing,  Thomas  L. 

Fanning.  N.  D. 
Ferero,  E. 
Fetterman,  N.  P. 
Fetterman,  W.  W. 
Fitzhngh.  S.  H. 
Fitzwilliaras.  F.  P. 
Flenniken,  John  0. 
Flcnuiken,  R.  P. 
Forrest,  Joshua  R. 
Forward,  AV alter 
Foster,  AV.  Alexander 
Fi'ew,  Samuel 

Galbraith,  Robert 
Gantz,  Henry 
Gapen,  AV.  A. 
Garret,  John  S. 
Gazzam,  Edward  D. 
tGibson,  R.  M. 
Gilmore,  John 
Glenn,  John 
Goodenow.  John  M. 
Gorraley,  Samuel 
Gow,  Alexander  M. 
Gow,  George  L. 
fGow,  John  L. 
fGow,  John  L..  Jr. 
Grayson,  ^^'illiam 
Gregg,  Ellis 

Haddcn,  Thomas 
fHainilton,  Isaac  Y. 
Ilamilton,  John 
fHart,  George  S. 
Ilarvey,  William 
Hawkins,  AVilliam  G. 
Hasbrouck.  Cicero 
Hays,  Charles  McClure 
Hays,  Joseph 
fllazzard, T.  R. 
ileaton,  Hiram 
fUenderson.  Joseph 
Hoffman,  R.  C. 


Term. 

Term. 

Mav, 

18G9. 

fHopkins,  Andrew 

Nov.,  1^ 

Dec., 

1782. 

Howell,  Alfred 

Feb..  1& 

Howell,  Joshua  B. 

June,  lb 

Oct., 

1810. 

Huffnaglc,  AVilliam 

Dec.  1' 

Aug., 

1840. 

Humbrickhouse,  T.  S. 

Oct.,ie 

Feb., 

1805. 

tHurd,  Seth  T. 

May,  It 

Jan., 

1782. 

June, 

1818. 

Ingall,  R.  C. 

Feb.,  If 

June 

1816. 

Irwin,  Samuel 

Oct.,  r 

Feb., 

1858. 

Israel,  Charles  H. 

Nov.,  li 

Aug., 

18,58. 

Jennings,  David 

June,  If 

Nov., 

1855. 

Jennings,  Obadiah 

Nov.,  li 

Jan., 

1831. 

Johnston,  B.  AV. 

Nov.,  U 

Mar., 

1824. 

fJohnston,  Job 

Feb.,  U 

Sept. 

1819. 

Johnston,  F.  AA''. 

Auir.,  U 

Aug., 

18.58. 

fJohnston,  Thomas  G. 

Nov.,  r 

Aug., 

1849. 

fJudson,  J.  Lawrence 

Aug.,  li 

Nov., 

1842. 

May, 

18G9. 

Kane,  Daniel 

Aug.,  If 

Dec., 

1812. 

fKelso,  Charles  AV. 

Oct..  U 

Feb., 

1802. 

tKeppelle.  George  H. 

Sept.,  1 

Mar. 

1839. 

Kennedy,  Hon.  John 

AUET.,  1 

Kerr,  Isaac 

Aug.,  If 

April, 

1782. 

King,  Sampson,  S. 

Feb..  If 

Mav, 

1SG5. 

tKing,  W.  AV. 

Jan.,  If 

Feb., 

1859. 

Kingston,  J. 

Aug.,  1 

Dec, 

1820. 

Koote,  Ephraim 

Sept.,  1 

Mar., 

1827. 

tKoontz,  Robert  H. 

Aug.,  If 

Aug., 

1853. 

K repps,  John  B. 

Aug.,  1 

Aug., 

1800. 

Kurtz,  \Vm.  K. 

Jan.,  1 

June, 

1829. 

June 

1817. 

Lacey,  B.  AV. 

Nov.,  1 

June 

1830. 

Lacock, Ira  J. 

Auij.,  1 

Feb. 

1857. 

Lane,  Richard  Carr 

July,  1 

May 

1867. 

tLee,  R.  II. 

Oct.,.l 

June 

1824. 

fLect,  Isaac 

June.  1 

Feb. 

1SG6. 

Lect,  Daniel  AV. 

May;  1 

Aug. 

1846. 

fLeet,  Jonathan,  D. 

Nov.,  1 

Nov. 

1850. 

Lewis,  R.  P. 

Feb.,  1 

Lindsey,  Hon.  James 

Nov.,  1 

Oct. 

1706. 

Lindsey,  AVilliam  C. 

May,  1 

Mav 

1861. 

fLittle,  Le  Roy  AVoods 

May,  1 

Mar 

1785. 

fLynn,  AVilliam 

May,  1 

Aug. 

1846. 

Lyon,  John 

July,  1 

Sept. 

1819. 

Lyon,  Samuel 

Oct.,  1 

Mar. 

1821. 

May 

1869. 

Mahon.  Samuel  S. 

Oct.,  1 

Aug. 

ISGO. 

Marsh,  RoswcU 

Nov.,  1 

Nov. 

,  1865. 

Marshall,  John 

Feb.,  1 

Nov. 

1840. 

Massey,  M.  B. 

Muy,  1 

Sept. 

,  LSI  9. 

Meason,  Thomas 

Aug.,  1 

Mav 

,  1S39. 

Meredith,  AVilliam 

Nov..  1 

Feb. 

,  18G8. 

fMt'ssinger,  John 

Aug.,  1 

HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


263 


Miller,  Alexander 
fMiller,  George  W. 
Milligan,  I.  M. 
Mills,  William 
Montgomery,  James 
fMontgoraery,  William 
Moody,  R.  S. 
Moore,  Robert 
Moore,  J. 

tMoore,  William  S. 
Moreland,  W.  0. 
Morrison,  A.  P. 
Morrison,  James 
Morrison,  Joseph  S. 
Morrison,  R.  L. 
fMorgan,  Thomas 
Morgan,  Thomas  Gibbs 
Moss,  J.  W. 
Mountain,  A.  S. 
Mountain,  James 
fMurdoch,  Alexander 

McBride,  Archibald 
McCarrel,  L. 
McComb,  John  H. 
McConnell.  R.  A. 
MoCook,  George  W. 
fMcCracken.  M.  L.  A. 
McDonald,  John 
tMcDonald.  Wm.  K. 
McDowell,  J.  W. 
McEddingvon,  Daniel 
tMcFadden,  0.  B. 
fMcFarlane,  Samuel 
McGiffin,  George  W. 
fMcGiffin,  Thomas,  Sr. 
fMcGiffin,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Mcllvaine,  G.  W. 
tMcIlvaine,  John  A. 
Mcllvaine,  R.  F. 
McMahon,  Peter  B. 
McKee,  John 
McKeehan,  David 
fMcKennan,  James  W. 
fMcKennan,  Th.  T.  M. 
fMcKennan,  William 
fMc Williams,  John  W. 

Nesbitt,  Thomas 
Neville,  Morgan 
Nicholls,  John 
Nickcrson,  Wm. 


Term. 

Mav,  1845. 

Feb.,  1851. 

Feb.,  1866. 
Aug.,  1855. 

Oct.,  1796. 
Nov.,  1841. 

May,  1848. 
Aug.,  1800. 

Mar.,  1809. 
Nov.,  1848. 
Aug.,  1867. 
Nov.,  1853. 
Sept.,  1795 
Nov.,  1847. 

Feb.,  1868. 

Mar.,  1813. 
June,  1821. 
Nov.,  1858. 
Mar.,  1823. 
Nov.,  1801. 
Aug.,  1843. 


Aug., 
Aug., 
May, 
Feb., 
May, 
May, 
Dec, 
June, 
Aug., 
Mar., 
Feb., 
Dec, 
Nov., 
Feb., 

Aug., 


May, 
Nov., 
Dec, 
June, 
Oct., 
June, 
Dec, 


1859. 
1869. 
1843. 
1862. 
1867. 
1867. 
1807. 
1831. 
1869. 
1839. 
1843. 
1827. 
1846. 
1807 
1841. 
1844. 
1867. 
1844. 
1855. 
1847. 
1792. 
1825. 
1814. 
1837. 
1867. 


July,  1797. 
Dec,  1806. 
May,  18.54. 
Aug.,  1868. 


Oliphant,  Ethelbert  P.      Dec,  1829. 


Oliver,  Addison 
Oliver,  George  M. 
Owens,  William,  Jr. 

Pane,  George  A. 
tPatterson,  David  F. 
Patterson,  R.  B. 
Patton,  Hon.  Benjamin 
Patton,  William  J. 
Paul,  George 
Paxton,  Wilson  N. 
Penny,  John  P. 
Pentecost,  Dorsey  B. 
fPentecost,  Joseph 
Pentecost,  J.  Ross 
Pepper,  Samuel  G. 
Pierson,  Hon.  John  J. 
Pollock,  H.  C.- 
Porter, John 
Pnrman,  Andrew  A. 
fPurviance,  John 
Purviance,  John,  Jr. 

Quail,  Huston 

Ralph,  John 
Rutan,  J.  S. 
tReddick.  David 
Reddick,  Jonathan 
Reed,  David 
Roberts,  Lewis 
Rodgers,  H.  Gould 
Rodgers,  Thomas  L. 
Ross,  Hugh 
Ross,  James 
fRuple,  Charles  M, 
fRuple,  John  G. 
fRuth.  James  R. 
Runyan,  Hill 

Sample,  Cunningham 
Sample,  David 
Sampson,  John  P.  0. 
Sayer,  James  P. 
fScott,  Thomas 
Selden,  George 
Seney,  Joshua 
Shaler,  Charles,  Hon. 
Shannon,  John 
Shields,  Thomas  L. 
Shiras,  George,  Jr. 
Simison,  James  C. 
Smith.  David  S. 
tSmith,  Jonathan  B. 


Term. 

Feb.,  1857. 

Nov.,  1848. 

May,  1867. 


Nov., 
May, 
Dec, 
Mar., 
Nov., 
May, 

Nov., 

July, 

Sept., 

Nov., 

May, 
Aug., 

Feb., 
Mar., 
Feb., 


1853. 

1865. 
1867. 
1833. 
1861. 
1805. 
1860. 
1846. 
1823. 
1792. 
1823. 
1850. 
1848. 
1867. 
1805. 
1860. 
1790. 
1805. 


Feb.,  1850. 


June, 

Feb., 

Dec, 

Nov., 

May, 

Feb., 

Nov., 

June, 

Sept., 

Oct., 

May, 

April, 

May, 

Feb., 

Nov., 
Oct, 

June, 
Dec, 

Sept., 

June, 

Mar., 
Oct., 

June, 

Jan., 
Aug., 
Nov., 


1790, 
1863. 
1782. 
1803. 

1846. 
1840. 
1860. 
1824. 
1792. 
1781. 
1866. 
1861. 
1861. 
1805. 

1798. 
1781. 
1815. 
1869. 
1791. 
1825. 
1822. 
1817. 
1808. 
1831. 
1867. 
1824. 
1865. 
1823. 


264 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


Smith,  Thomas 
Slagle,  Jacob,  Jr. 
St.  Clair,  Arthur 
St.  Clair,  David 
Stewart,  J. 

tStewart,  Benjamin  S. 
Stockdale,  John 
Stokely.  Samuel 
Stokes,  Will.  A. 
SwartzwoldcT,  Marshal 
Sweitzer,  Bowman 


Term. 

Jan.,  1782. 

Nov.,  1852. 

Sept.,  1794. 

"      1789. 

June,  1819. 

"      1829. 

May,  18.51. 

Oct.,  1816. 

May,  18r)8. 

Feb.,  1865. 

Nov.,  1845. 


Tarr,  John  Oct.,  1808. 

Taylor,  James  Sept.,  1806. 

Taylor,  Samuel  0.  Aug.,  1863. 
tTcmpleton,  William  F.  May,  1860. 

tTodd,  Alexander  M.  "      1868. 

Todd,  James  June,  1824. 

Tomlinson,  W.  F.  May,  1860. 

Vallandigham,  George  April,  1786. 

tVaukirk,  Harvey  J.  Feb.,  1851. 

Veech,  James  Jan.,  1834. 


Walker.  Stephen  D. 
AValkcr,  David 
t  Watson,  David  T. 
Watson,  George 


June,  1819. 
Dec,  1832. 
July,  1866. 
Jan.,  1842. 


fWatson,  James 
Watson,  John 
fWaugh,  John  11. 
fWaugh,  William 
Weiglev.  Joseph 
Weills,'john  S.  C. 
White,  John 
fWhite,  J.  W.  F. 
White,  S.  F. 
Whitohill,  Robert 
Wiley.  John  Wishart 
Wilkins,  William 
Williams,  E.,  Jr. 
Wilson,  Alexander 
fWilson,  Alexander 
fWilson,  A.  AViley 
t Wilson,  David  Shields 
AVinge,  Isaiah 
tWise,  Uriah  W. 
Withey,  Griffith,  Jr. 
tWolf,  Westley 
Woods,  Henry 
Woods,  John 
Woods,  J.  G. 
Woods,  Robert 
Wright,  John  C 

Young,  John 


Terh. 

Oct.,  1831. 
Aug.,  1^-41. 
Sept.,  1820. 
June,  1S18. 

Oct.,  1810. 

May,  1866. 
"  1806. 
"  1844. 
"      1864. 

Oct.,  1797. 
Aug.,  1867. 
Mar.,  1808. 

May,  1867. 
June,  1826. 
Nov.,  18.52. 
Aug.,  1863. 
"  1849. 
Sept.,  1820. 

Feb.,  1844. 
June,  1830. 
Aug.,  1863. 
June,  1794. 

Dec,  1783. 

Aug.,  1867. 

"      1840. 

Mar.,  1813. 

Nov.,  1789. 


Treasurers. 


1. — 1783.  Feb.  Andrew  Swearingen. 

2. — 1795.  June.  David  Reddick. 

3.— 1801.      "     Isaac  Kerr. 

4.— 1806.      "     Daniel  Kehr. 

5. — 1811.  Aug.  Robert  Colmery. 

6.— 1815.     "      William  Baird. 

7.— 1817.     "      Thomas  Good. 

8.— 1822.     "      Samuel  Workman. 

9. — 1823.  Nov.  James  Dougherty. 
10. — 1824.  Jan.  James  Allison. 
11.— 1826.     "     Isaac  Leet. 
12.— 1829.     "     Samuel  McFarland. 
13.— 18.32.     "     Samuel  Marshall. 
14._1833.     "     Benj.  S.  Stewart. 
15.-1834.     "     Saniuel  Marshall. 
16.-1835.  Feb.   Henry  Langlcy. 
17. — 1838.  Jan.  Zachariah  Reynolds. 


18.-1841.  Oct.  William  Workman. 
19._1843.     "     William  Hughes. 
20.— 1845.     "    James  D.  McGugin. 
21._lis47.     "     Robert  K.  Todd. 
22.— 1849.     "     Norton  McGiffin. 
23.— 1851.     "     John  Hall. 
24—1853.     "     Thaddeus  Stanton. 
25.— 18.55.     "     H.  B.  Elliott. 
26.-1857.     "     Thomas  Martindale. 
27.-1859.     "     John  E.  Bell. 
28.-1861.     "    James  Pollock. 
29.-1862.  Feb.  William  S.  Moore. 
30.-1863.  Oct.  J.  W.  Douds. 
31.-1865.     "      A.  W.  Pollock. 
32.— 1867.     "      James  P.  Hart. 
33. — 1869.     "     James  B.  Gibson. 


Auditors. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  1809,  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  was 
passed,  authorizing  the  election  of  Auditors  at  the  general  election 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


265 


as  a  more  effectual  mode  of  settling  the  public  accounts  of  the  Com- 
missioners and  Treasurer.     Prior  to  this  time  the  courts  appointed 


1809. 
1809. 
1809. 
1810. 
1811. 
1811. 
1812. 
1813. 
1813. 
1814. 
1814. 
1815. 
1816. 
1817. 
1818. 
1819. 
1820. 
1821. 
1822. 
1823. 
1824. 
1825. 
1826. 
1827. 
1828. 
1829. 
1830. 
1831. 
1832. 
1833. 
1834. 
1834. 
1835. 
1836. 
1837. 
1838. 


Thomas  Acheson. 
Isaac  Kerr. 
Joshua  Dickinson. 
Eleazer  Jenkins. 
Isaac  Kerr,  3  years. 
Thomas  Patterson,  1  year. 
John  Colmery. 
Dickinson  Roberts,  3  years. 
Samuel  Scott,  1  year. 
Isaac  Kerr,  3  years. 
Jacob  Crabbs,  2  years. 
James  McQuown. 
John  Wilson. 
William  Sample. 
Richard  Crooks. 
Isaac  Kerr. 
William  Colmery. 
Robert  Bowland. 
Joseph  Henderson. 
Joseph  Pattou.    • 
William  Welsh. 
James  Gordon. 
James  Orr. 
Robert  Officer. 
Samuel  HiU. 
Stephen  Wood. 
Robert  Officer. 
William  Hopkins. 
James  Pollock. 
Thomas  Enlow. 
Benjamin  Bubbett,  3  years. 
Jehu  Jackman,  2  years. 
Joseph  Henderson. 
James  McClelland. 
H.  J.  Rauhauser. 
Henry  Langley,  3  years. 


1838.  R.  Donaldson,  2  years. 

1839.  Dickinson  Roberts. 

1840.  John  K.  Wilson. 

1841.  Thomas  Watson. 

1842.  John  Macoy. 

1843.  E.  B.  Marsh. 

1844.  Abraham  Wotring. 

1845.  Jacob  Morgan. 

1846.  John  K.  Wilson. 

1847.  John  McCullough. 

1848.  Joseph  W.  Cowan. 

1849.  John  Stephenson. 

1850.  Adam  AVinnett. 

1851.  Jehu  P.  Smith,  1  year. 

1851.  J.  E.  Black,  3  years. 

1852.  James  Taggart. 

1853.  Isaac  J.  Newkirk. 

1854.  Robert  C.  Burns. 

1855.  W.  C  King  (appointed). 
1855.  J.  D.  Irwin,  3  years. 

1855.  J.  B.  Ringland,  1  year. 

1856.  Joseph  W.  Douds. 

1857.  Isaac  Newkirk. 

1857.  John  Murphy.  Jr. 

1858.  John  L.  Phillips. 

1859.  Samuel  Scott. 

1860.  David  Bradford. 

1861.  James  Ely. 

1862.  Thomas  D.  Ohara. 

1863.  James  P.  McCord. 

1864.  D.  M.  Leatherman, 

1865.  George  Buchanan. 

1866.  Grier  Mcllvaine,  Jr. 

1867.  Joseph  Linton. 

1868.  A.  E.  Walker. 

1869.  G.  W.  Morrison. 


Directors  of  the  Poor. 


The  act  of  incorporation  to  provide  for  the  erection  of  a  house  for 
the  employment  and  support  of  the  poor  in  the  county  of  Wash- 
ins^ton,  was  approved  bv  Governor  George  Wolf  on  the  sixth  day 
of' April,  1830. 

The  commissioners  appointed  by  the  said  act  to  determine  upon 
and  purchase  a  site  or  farm,  on  which  suitable  buildings  should  be 
erected,  were  James  Lee,  of  Cross  Creek ;  Alexander  Reed,  of 
"Washington  ;  Joseph  Barr,  of  Nottingham ;  Wallace  Mc Williams, 
of  Buffalo;  Zephaniah  Beall,  of  West  Bethlehem ;  William  Patterson, 
of  Tenmile  ;  and  David  Eckert,  Esqs.,  of  Washington. 

After  diligent  inquiry,  both  as  to  its  situation  and  locality,  they 
purchased  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  of  land  in  Chartiers 
18 


2G6  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

township,  one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  Washington,  from  Robert 
Colmery  and  Maria  his  wife,  for  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
fifty-two  dollars,  being  sixteen  dollars  per  acre. 

On  the  26th  April,  18C5,  John  Burns,  John  L.  Cooke,  and  Wil- 
liam Davis,  constituting  the  Board  of  Directors,  purchased  from  John 
Melone  and  Mary  his  wife,  six  acres  of  land,  contiguous  to  the 
poor-house  farm,  for  six  hundred  dollars. 

On  April  1,  1867,  William  Davis,  William  Dinsmore,  and  Wil- 
liam Wylie,  Esqs.,  the  Board  of  Directors,  purchased  from  Juhn  L. 
Cooke  and  Catharine  D.  his  wife,  twenty-eight  acres  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-one  perches,  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  acre.  This 
farm  now  contains,  by  recent  survey,  two  hundred  and  nine  acres. 

So  faithful,  so  diligent,  so  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  unfor- 
tunate poor  who  become  tenants  of  the  county  farm,  that  the  office 
of  superintendent  has  been  filled  during  this  entire  period  by  but 
three  persons,  viz  :  Dr.  John  Logan,  who  was  elected  the  first 
superintendent  in  1832,  and  continued  as  such  until  September, 
1851,  a  period  of  nineteen  years  ;  his  successor  was  Major  Wil- 
liam W.  Wilson,  who  served  seven  years,  or  until  Ai)ril  1,  1858, 
when  the  present  incumbent,  John  Gamble,  Esq.,  assumed  its  oner- 
ous duties,  and  for  the  last  eleven  years  has  been  discharging  his 
duties  satisfactorily  to  the  inmates,  the  directors,  and  the  citizens  of 
this  county. 

It  will  be  interesting  to  remark  that  during  the  first  twenty  years 
of  its  existence  the  entire  cost  of  the  i)urchase  of  land,  erection  of 
buildings,  support  of  the  inmates,  and  all  other  expenses  pertaining 
to  the  institution,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  seven  thousand 
one  hundred  and  four  dollars,  averaging  per  )^ear  $5289.  During 
the  next  seven  years  the  cost  was  fifty-two  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-five  dollars  and  twenty-eight  cents,  averaging  per  year 
$1570.15  ;  during  the  last  eleven  years  the  entire  cost  was  sixty- 
four  thousand  five  hundred  and  eighty-three  dollars  and  nineteen 
cents,  averaging  per  year  $5871.19.  This  last  item  includes  the 
purchase  of  two  parcels  of  laud,  amounting  to  thirty-five  hundred 
dollars. 


1830.  John  Watson. 

"      Williiim  Hunter. 
"      Stephen  AVoods. 

1831.  Enoch  Wright. 

1832.  Lewis  Hewitt. 

1833.  John  Cooke. 

1834.  Kobort  Moore. 
183.^.  Williiim  Wylie, 
183G.  John  Brownlee. 

1837.  .7(tlin  Morgan. 

1838.  John  Horn. 

1839.  John  IJower. 

1840.  AVilliiim  Lindley. 

1841.  John  Johnson. 


1842.  Joseph  Yanewan. 

1843.  James  McClaskey. 

1844.  Joseph  Wise. 
184.5.  John  Kenna. 

1846.  Daniel  Darragh. 

1847.  Joseph  Wier. 

1848.  Aaron  Miller. 

1849.  John  Holland. 

1850.  Joseph  Vankirk. 
l8riL  IJenjamin  Anderson. 
18.'')2.  James  Fife. 

]8.")3.  John  Sampson. 
1H.')4.  James  lirown. 
1855.  Thomas  Buchanan. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


267 


1856.  James  Stroud. 

1857.  William  Wjlie. 

1858.  Alexander  Sprowls. 

1859.  A.  B.  Scott. 

1860.  William  Wylie. 

1861.  William  Davis. 

1862.  Jehu  Burns. 


1863.  John  L.  Cooke. 

1864.  William  Davis. 

1865.  William  Dinsmore. 

1866.  William  Wylie. 

1867.  William  Davis. 

1868.  J.  Miller  Day. 

1869.  Workman  Hushes. 


Deputy  Surveyor-Generals. 


1.— July  15,  1769.  Jas.  Hendricks. 

2— April  17,  1776.  Daniel  Leet. 

3.— March  27, 1780.  Thos.   Stokely. 

4. — March  8,  1784.  John  Hoge. 

5.— Dec.  7,  1784.  David  Reddick. 

6. — Aug.  12, 1785.  Pressly  Neville. 

7.—     "      "      "      MatthewRitchie. 

g_     u      u      «      Alex.  McClean. 

9.— June  5,  1801.  Jonathan  Leet. 
lO.—Feb.  2,  1810.  Wm.  Hawkins. 
11.— Sept.  10,  1811.  Jonathan  Men- 

denhall. 
12.— Dec.  15,  1817.  James  Reed. 


13.— April  12, 1822.  Wm.  V.  Leet. 
14.— Feb.  8,  1825.  Stephen  Woods. 
15.— May  10,  1836.  James  McQuow- 

en. 
16.— Aug.  27,  1839.  E.  G.  Creacraft. 
17.— March  19,  1846.  T.  C.  Noble. 
18.— March  17,  1851.  H.J.Vankirk. 
19.— Dec.  10,  1854.  T.  C.  Noble. 
20.— Dec.  13,  1858.  Thos.  J.  Boyd. 
21.— Oct.  28,  1862.  Francis  Reader. 
22.— Dec.  1,  1865.  Demas   Benning- 
ton. 
23.— Oct.  1869.  Jacob  Gayman. 


Justices  of  the  Peace. 

The  organic  law  provided  that  the  trustees  should  divide  the 
county  into  the  necessary  number  of  townships,  in  each  of  which 
justices  should  be  elected.  Accordingly,  on  the  15th  July,  the  elec- 
tors of  the  thirteen  townships  met  in  their  respective  election  dis- 
tricts, and  elected  these  of3ficers.  The  justices  of  the  peace  were 
also  commissioned  to  be  justices  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
and  of  the  Orphans'  Court.  But  by  the  constitution  of  1790  the 
judiciary  system  was  changed,  and  their  powers  as  judges  of  the 
court  ceased  February,  1792.  This  constitution  provided  for  the 
appointment  of  justices  of  the  peace  by  the  governor  with  limited 
powers.*  In  1838  justices  were  elected  by  the  new  constitution, 
and  have  continued  so  until  the  present  time. 

In  the  following  table  the  Roman  numerals  refer  to  the  number  of  terms  to  which 
the  individual  was  elected. 

NAME.  DATE.  DISTRICT. 

Adams,  Alexander.     Nov.  18,  1811.     Cross  Creek  and  Hopewell. 
Ailes,  Isaac ;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     East  Pike  Run. 
Allen,  Thomas  G.     April  ]5,  1845.     Hopewell. 


*  By  an  act  of  legislature  of  May  4,  1803,  the  commissioners  divided  Washington 
County  into  eleven  districts  for  the  appointment  of  justices.  1st  district,  Washing- 
ton und  Strabane  townships  ;  2d,  Buffalo  and  Canton  ;  3d,  Hopewell  and  Cross  Creek  ; 
4th,  Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson  ;  5th,  Cecil  and  Chartiers  ;  6th,  Peters  and  Not- 
tingham ;  7th,  Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield  ;  8th,  Somerset ;  9th,  East  and  West  Beth- 
lehem ;  10th,  Morris  and  Amwell  ;  11th,  Finley  and  Donegal.  At  the  same  session 
of  the  legislature  the  Court  of  Quarter  Session  was  authorized  to  lay  off,  alter,  and 
divide  townships  by  appointing  three  impartial  men,  if  neeessarj',  to  inquire  into 
the  proprietj'  of  granting  the  petition  ;  and  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  make  a  plot  or 
draught  of  the  townships  proposed  to  be  divided. 


268  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

NAME.  DATK.  DISTRICT. 

Alexander,  Andrew  J.     April  10.  1849.     East  Bethlehem. 

Alexander,  Henry.     Dec.  10,  1817.     E.  Bethlehem. 

Alexander,  Joseph.     Feb.  *.),  1799.     Donegal. 

Alexander,  Joseph.     March  26,  1817.     Donegal  and  Finley. 

Alexander,  William  S.     May  19,  18r)7.     Donegal. 

Allison,  Adam.     Jan.  7,  180.5.     Canton  and  Buffalo. 

Allison,  Patrick.     April  16,  1792. 

Ammons.  Joshua  M.     April  I'i,  18.59.     Millsborough. 

Archer,  David  T.     Dec.  8,  1823.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  Mt.  Pleasant. 

Archer,  Ebenezer.     Aug.  6,  1845.     Peters. 

Archer,  James.     April  6,  1790.     Franklin. 

Armstrong,  Hugh.     Oct.  29,  1829.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Bailey,  Eli.     April  21, 1794.     Cumberland. 

Baird,  Absalom  ;  ii.     March  3,  1789.     Washington. 

Baird,  George.     April  11,  1848.     Washington. 

Barnett,  Samuel.     May  13,  1858.     AVest  Bethlehem. 

Baker,  Lewis  F.     April  10.  1860.     West  Pike  Eun. 

Barr,  John.     April  10, 1849.     Somerset. 

Barr,  John  A.     April  13,  1869.     Somerset. 

Beall,  Zephaniah  ;  ii.     Aug.  24,  1790.     Bethlehem. 

Bean,  Isaac.     April  16, 1792. 

Bearley,  Nicholas  ;  III.     April  14,  1839.     Claysville. 

Bebout,  Ira  C.     April  9,  1850.     North  Strabane. 

Bell,  James.     Jan.  11,  1790.     Morgan. 

Bentley,  Shazbazzar,  Sr.    Feb.  8,  1819.     Somerset. 

Bentley,  Shazbazzar,  Jr.  Feb.  18,  1830.  Peters,  Nottingham,  Mt.  Pleasant. 

Bentley,  Shazbazzar,  Jr.  April  10,  1860.     Monongahela  City. 

Bennington,  Moses  ;  ii.     Oct.  17,  1836.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Berry,  William.     Dec.  13,  1815.     Chartiers  and  Cecil. 

Bigger,  Thomas.    June  12,  1822.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 

Birch,  John  ;  II.     April  15,  1845.     Claysville. 

Blaine,  James  ;  in.     Jan.  1,  1817.     Washington. 

Blaine,  Eph.  L. ;  n.     April  12,  1827.     East  and  West  Bethlehem. 

Blackeny,  Gabriel.     Feb.  26.  1793.     Washington. 

Boggs,  Andrew.     Feb.  17,  1797.     Fallowfield. 

Bowers,  John ;  ii.     Jan.  16,  1819.     Peters  and  Nottingham. 

Bowers,  John,  Jr.     April  14,  1854.     Hanover. 

Bowers,  Andrew ;  n.     Aug.  13,  1836.     East  and  West  Bethlehem. 

Bower,  George.     April  10,  1849.     Peters. 

Bower,  Benj.  F.     April  10,  1860.     East  Bethlehem. 

Botkins,  G.  W.     March  9.  1861.     Claysville. 

Boyd,  John.    Nov.  17,  1837.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  Mt.  Pleasant,  and 

West  Middleton. 
Boyd,  John;  in.     April  14,  1840.     West  Middletown. 
Boyd,  Geo.  W.     April  15,  1845.     Canton. 
Brackcnridge,  John.     June  18,  1800.     Peters. 
Bramley,  William.     April  10.  1849.     Millsborough. 
Brenton,  Joseph.     April  U.  1854.     East  Pike  Run. 
Brice,  George  W. ;  iv.     April  14,  1839.     Washington. 
Brice,  Henry.     April  14,  1840.     Buffalo. 
Brownlee,  James.     July  24,  1821.     Canton  and  BuflFalo. 
Brownlec,  John.     April  14.  I.s40.     Canton. 
Brownlee.  John;  in.     April  16,  1856.     Franklin. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  269 


Brown,  Joseph  ;  ii.    April  9,  1850.      Canonsburg. 

Brown,  David.     April  14,  ISfiT.     Hopewell. 

Buchanan,  David.     April  18,  1870.     Independence. 

Buchanan,  John.     Dec.  9,  1799.     Hopewell. 

Buchanan,  John.     Dec.  13,  1824.     Smith,  Hanover,  Robinson,  and  Mount 

Pleasant. 
Buchanan,  James  S.     Nov.  6,  1869.     Mount  Pleasant. 
Buchanan,  Walter;  iii.     April  11,  1848.     Hanover. 
Buck,  Thomas.     April  10,  1860.     Buffalo. 
Bubbet,   Benjamin  T.     Dec.   8,    1823.     Smith,  Hanover,    Robinson,  and 

Mount  Pleasant. 
Buffington,  Seth,  Jan.  23,  1819.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 
Burgan,  Daniel.     April  14,  1839.     Somerset. 
Bumgarner,  Jesse.     Jan.  3,  1816.     East  and  West  Bethlehem. 
Bumgarner,  David.     April  9, 18.50.     Millsboro'. 
Burns,  John  ;  iv.     April  14,  1839.     AVest  Finley. 
Burns,  Alexander.     June  23, 1845.     West  Middletown. 
Butler,  Ira  R. ;  iv.     April  15,  1845.     Carroll. 
Butz,  David.     April  21,  1862.     Beallsville. 
Baker,  D.  G.  C.     April  11,  1865.     California. 
Boyd,  D.  M. ;  II.     April  11,  1865.     Hopewell. 
Baker,  L.  F.     April  11,  1865.     West  Pike  Run. 
Baker,  L.  J.     April  17,  1866.     Greenfield. 
Boyd,  Thomas.     April  14,  1868.     Independence. 

Caesber,  Jonathan.     April  11,  1865.    Nottingham. 

Caldwell,  John  ;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     Somerset. 

Caldwell,  Robert.     April  9,  1850.     Peters. 

Campbell,  John.     Feb.  8,  1799.     Peters. 

Campbell,  John.     April  14,  1840.     Smith. 

Canon,  John  ;  iii.     Oct.  6,  1784.     Chartiers. 

Carrol,  William  ;  ii.     April  11,  1854.     California. 

Carson,  Thomas.     Jan.  1,  1806.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Carson,  Washington.     April  11,  1865.     Fallowfield. 

Carter,  John.     Dec.  8,  1823.     Amwell  and  Morris. 

Castner,  Daniel.     April  11,  1865.     Carroll. 

Chalfant,  H.  S.     April  12,  1859.     Greenfield. 

Chalfant,  H.  S.     April  11,  1865.     East  Pike  Run. 

Chester,  Morrison.     April  15,  1845.     East  Pike  Run. 

Clark,  David.     July  15,  1781.     Smith. 

Clark,  David.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 

Clarke,  Andrew ;  IV.     August  25,  1845.     Nottingham. 

Clarke,  Harvey  H.     ApriflO,  1849.     Canton. 

Clarke,  William.     April  3,  1799.     Chartiers. 

Clarke,  J.  Murray.     April  15,  1851.     Robinson. 

Cleaver,  Isaac  N. ;  in.     April  9,  1850.     East  Bethlehem. 

Clemens,  William.     Feb.  5,  1801.     Donegal  and  Bufi"alo. 

Clemens,  John.     March  28,  1836.     Peters,  Nottingham,  and  Carrol. 

Clemens,  John ;  v.     April  14,  1839.     Monongahela  City. 

Clemens,  John  ;  ii.     April  10,  1860.     Buffalo. 

Cloakey,  John  S.     April  14,  1839.     Carroll. 

Cloakey,  John  S.     April  13,  1847.     Canton. 

Cole,  John;  ii.     April  15,  1845.     Cross  Creek. 

Colmery,  John.    April  1,  1811.     Washington  and  Strabane. 


270  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


Colmery,  William.     Jan.  5,  1825,     Chartiers,  Cecil,  and  Mount  Pleasant. 

Colinery.  Robert.     April  14,  1840.     South  Strabane. 

Collins,' Thomas ;  V.     April  14,  1839.     Carroll. 

Conklin,  AVilliam  ;  II.     March  9,  1860.     Morris. 

Cook,  Zeba.    April  2,  1802.     Amwell. 

Conn,  Jacob  ;  ii.     April  17,  1864.     Millsboro'. 

Cooper,  Jesse.     April  20,  1829.     East  and  West  Bethlehem. 

Cooper,  Robert  F.     April  10,  1860.     Monongahela  City. 

Cowen,  Joseph  W.     April  9,  1844.     West  Bethlehem. 

Cox,  Andrew;  III.     Jan.  18,  1838.     East  and  West  Bethlehem. 

Crabs,  Jacob.     June  5,  1801.     Fallowfield. 

Craig,  John.     July  1.5,  1781.     Amwell. 

Craig,  John.     July  If),  1781.     Strabane. 

Craig,  William.     Oct.  24,  1807.     Amwell  and  Morris. 

Craig,  Hugh  ;  III.     April  14,  1839.     Buffalo. 

Craighead,  George.     Jan.  19,  1799.     Strabane. 

Crawford,  William.     Nov.  12,  1838.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Creacratt,  William  ;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     Morris. 

Creighton,  Edward ;  iii.     April  9,  1850.     Fallowfield. 

Crooks,  Thomas.     July  15,  1781.     Bethlehem. 

Crooks,  Thomas.     Nov.  21,  1781.     Bethlehem. 

Crouch,  George.     April  14,  1840.     Nottingham. 

Crow,  Benjamin.     April  10,  1860.     Fallowfield. 

Crow,  Azariah  ;  iii.     April  10,  1855.     Allen. 

Curry,  Milton  B.     April  11,  1865.    Amwell. 

Darragh,  Daniel;  ii.    March  6,  1823.    Peters,  Nottingham,  and  Mount 

Pleasant. 
Day,  Luther.    April  15,  1836.     Amwell  and  Morris. 
De  France,  Hugh.     April  13,  1853. 
De  Pue,  Daniel.     March  12,  1793.     Fallowfield. 
Devore,  Samuel.     April  14,  1839.     Monongahela  City. 
Dolby,  Thomas.     April  11,  1848.     Millsboro'. 
Donaldson,  James.     April  14,  1839.     Greenfield. 
Donaldson,  Richard.     April  2,  1803.     Robinson. 
Donaldson,  Richard;  II.     April  14,  1840.     Robinson. 
Donahoo,  James;  v.     April  14,  1839.     Cross  Creek. 
Donnell,  Henry;  iii.     April  15,  1845.     Cecil. 
Dowler,  Thos.  H.     April  13.  1853. 
Douglass,  John.    July  15,  1781.     Peters. 
Douglass,  John.     March  3,  1789.     Washington. 
Dugan,  Robert.     April  11,  1848.     West  Bethlehem. 
Duncan,  John  S.     April  12, 1859.     Cross  Creek. 

Eddie,  Alexander.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 
Edgar,  James  ;  ii.     July  15,  1781.     Smith. 

Elliott,  George  ;  ii.    Nov.  IS,  1830.    Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  West  Middle- 
town,  and  Mount  Pleasant. 
Elliott,  James  S.     April  10,  1866.     Cecil. 
Elrod,  Johnston.     April  16,  1866.     Monongahela  City. 
Enlow,  Henry.     Dec.  10,  1816.     Finley  and  Donegal. 
England.  Samuel.     Oct.  24,  1807.     Canton  and  Buffalo. 
Ervins,  James.     July  15,  1781.     Robinson. 
Evans,  Abel  M.     April  10,  1867.     Amwell. 


HISTORY    or   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  211 


DISTRICT. 


Evans,  David  J.     April  10,  1840.     Amwell. 
Ewart,  John  ;  iii.     April  10,  1850.     Beallsville. 

Farley,  John.     April  9,  1850.     South  Strabane. 

Fee,  AVilliam  ;  ii.     April  14,  1840.     Chartiers. 

Fergus,  Hugh  ;  ii.     April  9,  1850.     Chartiers. 

Ferguson,  John  ;  iii.     April  15,  1845.     Smith. 

Finiey,  Henry  B.     April  12,  1842.     Union. 

Finley,  Levi.     March  ],  1836.     Peters,  Nottingham,  and  Union. 

Fleming,  Samuel.     Feb.  9,  1799.     Hanover. 

Fleming,  Robert  W.     Sept.  24,  1818.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Frazier,  Alexander ;  iv.     April  14.  1839.     West  Finley. 

Frazier,  David.     Dec.  10,  1816.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Frazier,  Thomas;  ii.     May  22,  1856.     West  Finley. 

Freeman,  John  ;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     B.  Bethlehem 

Galbraith,  William.     April  15, 1845.     Smith. 

Gardner,  David.     April  17,  1864.     Jefierson. 

Garret,  Robert.     May  25,  1815.     Cross  Creek  and  Hopewell. 

Garret,  Samuel.     April  17,  1866.     West  Bethlehem. 

Gaston,  Joseph  S.  ;  iv.     April  11,  1843.     Union 

Gaston,  W.  R.     April  14,  1868.     Union. 

Gaston,  Joseph  S.     April  13,  1869.     Union. 

Gillespie,  James,     June  5,  1801.    Hopewell. 

Gilmore,  James.     Jan.  1,  1807.     Canton  and  BufiFalo. 

Glassgow,  Samuel.     May  6,  1788.     Hanover. 

Goble,  Ebenezer.     Feb.  29,  1793.     Morris. 

Gordon.  James.     April  9,  1850.     Monongahela  City. 

Graham  Henry.     Aug.  24,  1790.     Cross  Creek. 

Gray,  David.     April,  1792.     Rich  Hill. 

Grayson,  John,  Jr.  ;  iii.     April  14,  1863.     Washington. 

Gregg,  Andrew;  iv.     April  20,  1829.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Gregg,  A.  T.     April  10,  1855.     Carroll. 

Gregg,  Henry.     Feb.  27,  1796.     Fallowfield. 

Griffith,  Elisha.     April  28,  1858.     West  Brownsville. 

Guthrey,  John.     April,  1792. 

Guy,  Shepherd  L.     May  19,  1857.     Donegal. 

Howell,  John.     July  15, 1781.     Amwell. 

Hair,  John.    Julv  4,  1806.     Peters  and  Nottingham. 

Hall,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Fallowfield. 

Hallam,  William.     Dec.  23,  1818.     A  mwell  and  Morris. 

Hamilton,  David.     Feb.  29,  1792.     Nottingham.    - 

Hanna,  Thomas  ;  ii.     April  16,  1856.     Morris. 

Hart,  David.     June  10,  1822.     Somerset. 

Hart,  James  G.     April  15,  1845.     East  Bethlehem. 

Harvey,  D.  W.  C.     April  10,  1855.     West  Brownsville. 

Hawthorne,  W.  W. ;  vi.     April  13,  1841.     Millsborough. 

Hay,  John  ;  iii.     April  14,  1840.     Chartiers. 

Hays,  John  B.     April  10, 1860.     Smith. 

Hays,  William.     April  3,  1799.     Chartiers. 

Hazzard,  T.  R.     April  15,  1845.     Monongahela  City. 

Hedge,  William  ;  ii.     May  18,  1858.     West  Bethlehem. 

Henderson,  Joseph.    Jan.  7, 1805.    Finley  and  Donegal. 


2T2  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

HAUE.  DATE.  DISTRICT. 

ITenderson,  John.     April  10,  1855.     Chartiers. 

Hcnkins,  Abm. ;  ii.     April  9,  1850.     Morris. 

Hormill,  John.     April  10,  185").     East  Bethlehem. 

ITorvey,  John  C.     April  10,  1860.     Donegal. 

Hill.  Joseph.     May  20,  1795.     IJethlehera. 

Hill,  Stephen.     April  (5,  1827.     Pike  Eun  and  Fallowfield. 

Hill,  Stephen.     April  10,  1849.     AVest  Bethlehem. 

Hilliard,  John  "Wilkes.     Feb.  24,  1798.     Chartiers. 

Hippie,  George.     May  30,  1831.     Somerset. 

Hodgens,  Isaac.     April  12,  1842.     Buffalo. 

Hodgens,  John  ;  ii.     April  10, 1860.     Chartiers. 

Hoge,  John.     Nov.  21,  1786.     "Washington. 

Hootman,  David,  Jr.     May  5,  18G6.     Nottingham. 

Hopkins,  "William.     April  12,  1827.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Hopkins,  White  F. ;  ii.     April  14,  1840.     "West  Pike  Run. 

Hornish,  "William  ;  ii.     Ajjril  24,  1857.     Canonsburg. 

Hornish,  William.     April,  1868.     Washington. 

Howe,  John.     April  10,  1860.     East  Fiiiley. 

Howell,  Abner.     July  15,  1781.     Amwell. 

Howell,  John  W. ;   ir.     May  16,  1862.     Chartiers. 

Hughes,  Ellis.     March  7,  1825.     Amwell  and  Morris. 

Hughes,  James;  v.     April  14,  1840.     Mount  Pleasant. 

Hughes,  Remembrance.     July  31,  1840.     Millsborough. 

Hughes,  Samuel  L. ;  vi.     April  14,  1839.     Amwell. 

Hughes  Thomas.     July  14,  1792.     Cumberland. 

Hughes,  William.     April  13,  1858.     Washington. 

Hughes,  Workman.     April  10, 1«60.     South  Strabane. 

Hunter,  Archibald.     Feb.  4,  1825.    Smith,  Hanover,  Robinson,  and  Mount 

Pleasant. 
Hyde,  Saml.     April,  1792. 

Irons,  Joseph.     April  2,  1803.     Canton. 
Irwin,  Thomas  S.     June  9,  1856.     Claysville. 
Irwin,  William.     June  5,  1801.     Fallowfield. 

Jackman,  Simeon.     April  14,  1839.     East  Pike  Run. 

Jackson,  George.     Dec.  8,  1823.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 

Jamison,  John.     April  11,  1865.     Donegal. 

Jeffry,  John.     April  10,  1860.     Independence. 

Jenkins,  Eleazer.     Feb.  28,  1789.     Bethlehem. 

Jenkinson,  Isaac.     May  26,  1795.     East  Bethlehem. 

Johnston,  Job  ;  ii.     April  10,  1860.     California. 

Johnston,  Richard.     March  22,  1819.     AVashington  and  Strabane. 

Johnston,  Samuel.     July  15,  1781.     Smith. 

Johnston,  AVilliam.     Feb.  6,  17S6.     Donegal. 

Judson,  J.  Lawrence  ;  in.     April  13, 1853.    Washington. 

Karrod,  Levi.     July  15,  1781.     Morgan. 

Kennedy,  John;  III.     April  14,  li">39.     Union. 

Kennedy,  John.     June  1,  1S36.     I'eters,  Nottingham,  Union,  and  Carrol. 

Kerr,  James;  iii.     Ai)ril  12,  1859.     N.  Strabane. 

Kerr,  Willison.     April  13,  1869.     Beiitleysville. 

Kerr,  AVilson.     June  2,  1857.     Unicm. 

Keys,  James.     May  16,  1818.    Smitli,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  273 

NAME.  DATE.  DISTRICT, 

Keys,  David.     April  16,  1856.     N.  Strabane. 
Kidd,  Alexander.     April  14,  1840.     Smith. 
Kidd,  William.     April  12,  1859.     Jefferson. 

Leech,  James.    Dec.  5,  1818.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 

Leet,  Daniel.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 

Leet,  Jonathan.     Jan.  12,  1802.     Canton. 

LefSer,  Jacob.     Jan.  7,  1805.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Leonard,  Isaac.     April  2,  1802.     Somerset. 

Little,  Nicholas.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 

Lindley,  AVilliam;  iv.     March  4,  1824.     Amwell  and  Morris. 

Liudley,  James  E.;  in.     April  10,  1849.     Hopewell  and  W.  Middletown. 

Linn,  James.     April  13,  1841.     S.  Strabane. 

Linn,  Matthew;  Vf     April  15,  1845.     N.  Strabane. 

Linnville,  George.     April  10,  1855.     Hopewell. 

Logan,  James.     Dec.  31,  1838.     Canton  and  Buffalo. 

Lytle,  Alexander.     April  6,  1805.     Washington  and  Strabane. 

Lyttle,  Isaac.    April  15,  1862.     Union. 

Mahon,  Robert.     Jan.  23,  1801.     Somerset. 
Marshall,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Fallowfield. 
Marshall,  John.     May  20,  1822.     Washington  and  Strabane. 
Marshman,  A.  G.     April  14  1868. 
Martin,  Jonathan;  ii.     April  14,  1846.     S.  Strabane. 
Mason,  Samuel.     July  15,  1781.     Donegal. 
Mayes,  Isaac.     April  14,  1839.     Donegal. 
Mayes,  Joseph  T.;  ii.     April  21,  1862.     Donegal. 
Meetkirke,  William.     Feb.  26,  1793.     Washington. 
Melchie,  E.  M.     April  9,  1850.     W.  Brownsville. 
Melchie,  E.  M.     April  9,  1867.     California. 
Melov,  John.     April  12,  1842.     Buffalo. 
Mickey,  William  A.;  ii.     April  9,  1850.     W.  Pike  Run, 
Miller,  David.     March  4,  1824.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 
Miller,  John  ;  ii.     April  15,  1845.     Donegal. 
ISliller,  Thomas.     April  4,  1822.     Finley  and  Donegal. 
Minor,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Cumberland. 
Minor,  John  ;  n.     April  15,  1782.     Cumberland. 
Minton,  Mathias.     April  14,  1868.     Morris. 
Mitchell,  David.     April  13,  1847.     Carroll. 
Mitchell,  David,  Jr.     April  13,  1869.     Bentleysville. 
]\[itchell,  James.     July  28,  1790.     Peters. 
Mitchell,  March;  II.'    April  15,  1845.     Fallowfield. 
Moffitt,  James,  Jr.;  iii.     April  11,  1843.     E.  Bethlehem. 
Moffitt,  Jumes.     April  13,  1858.     W.  Brownsville. 
Moore,  Andrew.     April  10,  1855.     Nottingham. 
Moore,  James.     April  14,  1819.     Chartiers  and  Cecil. 
Moore,  John.     April  11,  1848.     Buffalo. 

Moore,  W.  W.    June  7,  1836.    Smith,  Hanover,  Robinson,  and  Mt.  Plea- 
sant. 
Monroe,  Andrew.     April  6,  1798.     Chartiers. 
Monroe,  Joshua.     March  12,  1819.     Washington  and  Strabane. 
Montgomery,  William ;  n.     April  11,  1854.     E.  Finley. 
Morehead,  John.     April  14,  1840.     Cecil. 


274  HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY 

NAME.  DATB.  DISTRICT. 

Morgan,  John.     Oct.  25,  1832.   Chartiers,  Cecil,  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  Canons- 
burp. 
Morgan,  Thomas.     Dec.  3,  1823.     Washington  and  Strabane. 
Morrison,  J.  L.     July  21,  1839.     Pike  Run  ami  Fallowfield. 
Morrison,  Samuel.     April  15,  1845.     Nottin<jham. 
Murdoch,  Alexander.     April  2,  1804.     Chartiers  and  Cecil. 
Murphey,  John,  Jr.     July  12,  1860.     Canonsburg, 

McAfee,  Henry.     April  10,  1860.     Canonsburg. 

McAllister,  James.     April  10,  1855.     Monongahela  City. 

McBurney,  Ebenezer.     April  11,  1854.     S.  Strabane. 

McBurney,  James.     April  3,  1799.     Cecil. 

McBurney,  Robert.     April  14,  1846.     Robinson. 

McCalmont,  James;  ii.     April  11,  1854.     Robinson.      • 

McCarrol,  Thomas;  ii.     April  10,  1860.     Mt.  Pleasant. 

McClain,  William.     May  18, 1818.     Cross  Creek  and  Hopewell. 

McClaskey,  Hugh.     April  9,  1850.     Claysville. 

McClaskoy,  James.     April  13,  1853.     Mt.  Pleasant. 

McCleary,  Alex.     April  17, 1866.     AV.  Finley. 

McClces,  Alexander;  iii.     April  15,  1845.     Buffalo. 

McClure,  R.  B. ;  ii.     June  17,  1864.     W.  Middletown. 

McClelland,  Hugh.     April  15,  1845.     E.  Finley. 

McClelland,  James.     March  15,  1836.     Chartiers,  Cecil,  Canonsburg,  and 

Mt.  Pleasant. 
McClelland,  James ;  iv.     April  14,  1837.     Canonsburg. 
McConaughy,  James  K.     May  13,  1858.     Independence. 
McConaughy,  R.     April  14,  1863.     Independence.. 
McConneli,  Matthew.     July  15,  1781.     Cecil. 
McConncll,  Matthew.     July  15,  1781.     Smith. 
McCord,  John  A.;  iii.     April  9,  1850.     Cecil. 
McCoy,  0.  H.  P.     April  13,  18G9.     Buffalo. 

McCreary,  William.     Dec.  10,  1816.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 
McCullough,  James.     April  14,  1839.     Canonsburg. 
McCullouirh,  .lohn;  v.     April  15,  1845.     Hanover. 
McCullough,  Patrick.     July  15,  1781.     Fallowfield. 
McCullough.  Patrick.     July  15,  1781.     Fallowfield. 
McDonahl,  Edward.     Aug.  15, 1822.    Smith,  Hanover,  Robinson,  and  Mt. 

Pleasant. 
McDonough,  Henry;  v.     Feb.  23,  1801.     Somerset. 
McDowell,  James.     May  19,  1830.     Washington  and  Strabane. 
McElroy,  Jumos.     April  10,  1860.     Chartiers. 
McFadden,  James.     April  14,  1840.     West  Middletown. 
McFadden,  0.  J{.     June  21.  1839.     E.  and  W.  Bethlehem. 
McFadden,  Thomas.     May  25,  1857.     AVest  Aliddletown. 
McFarland,  AVilliam.     Sept.  30.  1788.     Amwell. 
McFarren,  James.     Aug.  29,  1821.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 
Mc(jibbony,  Ceorgc.     April  14,  1839.     Nottingham. 
McGaugh,  Samuel.     April  13,  1869.     Jefferson. 
Mc(;uire,  John  B.;  ii.     April  10,  1860.     AV.  Finley. 
Mcllvaine,  R.  F.     April  15,  1845.     Greenfield. 
Mcllvaine,  S.  B.     April  13,  1869.     Somerset. 
McJunkin.  John.     May  30,  1857.     Beallsville. 
McKce,  Robert.     April  9,  1850.     Hopewell. 
McKeen,  Matthew.     June  3,  1865.     Finley. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  275 


McKennan,  "William.     Jan.  2,  1804.     Washington. 

McKeever,  A.  B.     April  9,  18.50.     Mt.  Pleasant. 

McKeever,  Thomas.     July  2,  1824.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  Mt.  Pleasant, 

and  W.  Middletown, 
McKinley,  Robert;  ii.     April  14,  1863.     W.  Brownsville. 
McLoney,  John.     April  14,  18H9.     Peters. 
McMannis,  John.     June  3,  1865.     Buffalo. 
McNall,  Joseph.     June  3,  18G5.     Robinson. 
McNary,  James ;  iii.     April  9,  1850.     Nottingham. 
McNary,  Matthew.     Dec.  4.  1820.     Washington  and  Strabane. 
McNary,  Matthew;  II.     April  14,  1840.     N.  Strabaue. 
McNary,  Thomas.     Feb.  1,1799.     Strabane. 
McLean,  H.  B.     April  17,  1866.     W.  Pike  Run. 
McPherson,  Samuel;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     Cecil. 
McVay,  Jacob.     August  ^^  '827.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Nailor,  Wm.     April,  1792. 

Nelson,  Francis.     April  14,  1864.     Carroll. 

Nesbitt,  John  ;  ii.     April  .5,  1845.     S.  Strabane. 

Neely,  Robert ;  II.     April  14,  1863.     Hanover. 

Nicholls,  Atkinson.     April  19, 1851. 

Nicholls,  James.     April  9,  1850.     E.  Finley. 

Noble,  James ;  ii.     February  18,  1837.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Noble,  James  ;  iv.     April  14,  1839.     Claysville. 

Palmer,  Daniel.     May  7,  1819.     Washington  and  Strabane. 

Parker,  John.     July'lS,  1781.     Fallowfield. 

Parker,  Silas  ;  in.     April  11,  1848.     Amwell. 

Parker,  William.     April  3,  1782.     Somerset. 

Parkinson,  Benjamin.     July  15,  1781.     Nottingham. 

Parkinson,  Joseph.     July  15,  1781.     Nottingham. 

Parkinson,  Washington.     December  13,  1820. 

Parsons,  Abraham.     April  13,  1853.     W.  Pike  Run. 

Patterson,  Robert.     December  5,  1818.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinons. 

Patterson,  Thomas  M.     April  10,  1860.     Cross  Creek. 

Patterson,  James  L.     June  3,  1865.     Smith. 

Passmore,  George.     April  14,  1837.     Fallowfield. 

Peden,  David.     April  14,  1840.     E.  Finley. 

Pees,  James  B.     April  10,  1849.     N.  Strabane. 

Phillips,  David ;  ii.    April  10,  1855.     Peters. 

Plummer,  Geo.     June  13,  1822.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  and  Mt.  Pleasant. 

Plummer,  George.     April  14,  1837.     Hopewell. 

Pollock,  James,  Jr.     December  26,  1822.     Peters  and  Nottingham. 

Pollock,  James ;  v.     April  14,  1840.     Robinson. 

Powell,  James.     April  10.  1792. 

Proudfit,  John  L.    April  10,  1855.     Smith. 

Quail,  David ;  ii.     January  31,  1822.     Washington  and  N.  Strabane. 
Quail,  Robert;  ii.     March  6,  1823.     E.  and  W.  Bethlehem. 
Quail,  J.  W.    July  12,  1865.     E.  Bethlehem. 

Ramsey,  John.     October  29,  1829.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  Mt.  Pleasant 

and  W.  Middletown. 
Rankin,  James.     April  14,  1868.     Mt.  Pleasant. 


276  HISTORY    OF    WASrilNGTON    COUNTY. 

NAME.  DATE.  DISTRICT. 

Ray,  "William.     March  24,  1823.  Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  and  Mt.  Pleasant. 

Reader,  Francis.     April  14,  1839.     Union. 

Reader.  F.  Francis  ;  v.     June  11,  1844.     Greenfield. 

Reed,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Smith. 

Reed,  John.     November  8,  1788.     Cecil. 

Reed,  John;  iv.     April  14, 1800.     Mt.  Pleasant. 

Reed,  Joseph.     April  10,  18.55.     Cecil 

Reed,  Dr.  Robert  R.     April  15,  1845.     Canton. 

Reed,  Thomas  R.;  iii.     Jan.  26, 1853.     Allen. 

Reynolds,  D.  L.     April  10,  1866.     S.  Strabane. 

Riddle,  John.     March  4,  1796.     Smith. 

Riddle,  Hugh.     April  15,  1845.     Canonsburg. 

Riddle,  Samuel  P.;  ii.     April  10, 18G0.     Smith. 

Rider,  John.     April  15,  1845.     Fallowfield. 

Richardson,  Richard.     April  16,  1856.     Fallowfield. 

Ritchie,  Andrew  S.     April  10,  1860.     West  Middletown. 

Ritchie,  Craig.     Nov.  14,  1784.     Chartiers. 

Ritchie,  Matthew.     October  6,  1784.     Strabane. 

Robb,   Ebenezer.     March  28,   1837.     South  Hanover,  Robinson,  and  Mt. 

Pleasant. 
Robb,  William  L.     April  14,  1839.     Hanover. 
Roberts,  Dickinson.     April  14,  1839.     South  Strabane. 
Ross,  Timothy.     March  9,  1861.     Morris. 
Ryerson,  Thomas.     Aprils,  1789.     Greene. 

Samuels,  John.     Nov.  1, 1836.     Peters,  Nottingham,  Union,  Carroll,  and 

Mt.  Pleasant. 
Sanders,  Michael.     April  10,  1855.     Union. 
Sanders,  William.     June  23,  1856.     Morris. 
Schmidt,  Charles.     April  9,  1867.     South  Strabane. 
Scott,  Hugh.     Nov.  8,  1788.     Nottingham. 
Scott,  A.  D.;  III.     January  11, 1852.     Beallsville. 
Scott,  John;  III.     April  11,  1854.     Somerset. 
Scott,  Joseph.     Sept.  25,  1787.     Robinson. 
Scott,  Josiah  N.     April  10,  1855.     Jefferson. 
Scott,  Parker.     May  28,  1819.     Pike  Run  and  Fallowfield. 
Scott,  Samuel.     Feb.  8,  1799.     Robinson. 
Scott,  Thomas.     Nov.  21,  1786.     Washington. 
Scott,  William.     July  15,  1781.     Hopewell. 
Sedgwick,  Thomas.     April,  1792. 
Shannon,  Samuel.     May  26,  1795.    Washington. 
Sharp,  Isaac.     April  11,  1854. 
Simpson,  R.  L.     May  10,  1861.     Buffalo. 
Siemens,  William.     Nov.  1,  1799.     Hopewell  and  Canton. 
Smiley,  William.     Nov.  10, 1788.     Hopewell. 
Smith,  George  E.;  in.     May  13,  1858.     Peters. 
Smith,  Henry.     Jan.  18,  1838.     Cross  Creek,  Hopewell,  Mt.  Pleasant,  and 

W.  Middletown. 
Smith,  James.     April  3,  1821.     Canton  and  Buffalo. 
Smith,  James.     Dec.  13,  1820.     Somerset. 

Smith,  John.     Dec.  7,  1836.     Huuovcr,  Robinson,  and  Mt.  Pleasant. 
Smith,  John  H.;  111.     April  14,  1H39.     Hopewell. 
Smith,  Lewis  E.;  ii.     April  9,  1850.     Greenfield. 
Smith,  Robert.     April  11,  1854. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  2Yt 

NAUE.  DATE.  DISTEICT. 

Smith,  Samuel.     March  4,  1796.     Cross  Creek. 

Smith,  William.     Dec.  21,  1789.     Finley. 

Springer,  C.  J.;  ii.     April  21,  1862.    East  Pike  Eun. 

St.  Clair,  Jesse.     August  13,  1827.     Finley  and  Donegal. 

Stephenson,  Moses.     March  12,  1822.     Smith,  Hanover,  and  Robinson. 

Stevenson,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Fallowfield. 

Stevenson,  John.     April  3,  1783.     Somerset. 

Stevenson,  John.     March  12,  1793.     Donegal. 

Stevenson,  John.     April  9,  I860.     Smith. 

Stevenson,  Robert.     April  2, 1803.     Finley.  . 

Stockdale,  Robert.     April  14, 1866.     Amwell. 

Stokely,  Thomas.     Sept.  3,  1787.     Washington. 

Stewart,  James  A.;  ii.     April  10,  1860.     Jefferson, 

Stroud,  James  ;  ii.     April  14,  1839.     Fallowfield. 

Sutherland,  John  ;  iii.     April  11, 1843.     Donegal. 

Swabe,  Samuel.     April  10th,  185.5.     Fallowfield. 

Swearingen,  Andrew.    April  3,  1789.     Chartiers. 

Talbert,  Richard.     April,  1792. 

Taylor,  George ;  in.     April  13,  1853.     W.  Bethlehem. 

Taylor,  Henry  ;  ii.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 

Taylor,  Samuel.     August  29,  1797.     Donegal. 

Templeton,  Wm.  H.     April  11,  1854.     Cross  Creek. 

Thompson,  Robert.     July  15,  1781.     Peters. 

Townsend,  Elijah.     December  3,  1823.     Peters  and  Nottingham. 

Townsend,  Elijah.     April  14,  1840.     Peters. 

Urie,  Samuel.     April  21,  1794.     Hopewell. 

Yance,  Isaac.     April  10,  1860.     S.  Strabane. 

Vaneman,  Jos.     April  19, 1838.     Chartiers,  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  Canonsburg., 

Vanmetre,  Henry.     April  3,  1782.     Cumberland. 

Vansbinder,  John.     April  10,  1855.     Hopewell. 

Vanvoorhis,  Abm.     March  6, 1823.     Amwell  and  Morris. 

Vernon,  Persifor  F.     April  15,  1845.     Millsboro'. 

Yore,  Isaac  W.     April  15,  1851.     W.  Pike  Run. 

Walker,  Alexander  E.     April  13, 1869.     Cross  Creek. 

Wallace,  Oliver  M.     April  10,  1855.     Bufi"alo. 

Wallace,  William.     June  30,  1788.     Somerset. 

Wallace,  William.     October  14,  1807.     Somerset. 

Wells,  Jefferson.     April  16,  1856.     Independence. 

Wells,  William.     April  13,  1841.     Greenfield. 

Welsh,  William.     December  10,  1816.     E.  and  W.  Bethlehem. 

Welsh,  Joseph  B.     April  13,  1869.     East  Bethlehem. 

Weirich,  Samuel  K.     April  15,  1845.     Canton. 

Wherry,  James.     April,  1792. 

AVhite,  Alexander.     April  13,  1853.     Claysville. 

White,  Benjamin.     April  9.     1850.     W.  Pike  Run. 

White,  John.     July  15,  1781.     Strabane. 

White,  John.     July  1,  1817.     E.  and  W.  Bethlehem. 

White,  John.     January  23,  1819.     Chartiers  and  Cecil. 

White,  James.     April  14,  1839.     Canton. 


278  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


Wilkins,  John.     April  2,  1803.     Smith. 
"Williams,  Abraham  ;  ii.     April  9,  1850.     Buffalo. 
Williamson,  Hamucl.     July  15,  1781.     Donegal. 
Wilson,  John  ;  II.     February  1,  171)9.     Washington. 
Wilson,  John  V.     April  10,  18G0.     Franklin. 
Winter,  David.     September  20.  1819.     Finley  and  Donegal. 
Wise,  Freeman.     April  10.  18G7.     W.  Brownville. 
AVolfe,  Jacob.     June  7,  1793.     Donegal. 
Wood,  Israel.     April  10,  1855.     E.  Finley.  • 
AVorth,  John.     November  1,  1786.     Fallowfield. 
Wotring,  Abraham  ;  in.     April  14,  1857.     Hopewell. 
Wright,  Alexander.     July  15,  1781.     Robinson. 

Yoke,  Daniel ;  iv.     April  9,  1850.     Carroll. 

Young,  Abraham ;  ii.     April  15,  1845.     E.  and  W.  Bethlehem 

Zediker,  John.     April  10,  1855.     S.  Strabane. 


CHAPTER   YII. 

MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

Brig.-Gen.  Clark's  expedition  in  1781 — Col.  David  AVilliamson's  expedition  in 
1782 — Col.  ^VilIiam  Crawford's  expedition  iu  1782 — Whiskey  Insurrection 
in  1791-4 — Outrage  on  the  Chesapeake  Frig.ate,  1807 — War  of  1812 — 
Texas  Revolution,  in  183G — Mexican  AVar  iu  184(3 — Southern  Rebellion  in 
18G1. 

Brig.- Gen.  George  Clark's  History  and  Expeditions. 

Brio. -General  Clark  (formerly  Col.  Clark)  was  raised  to  the 
office  of  Brigadier-General  by  the  State  of  Vir^rinia  for  his  meri- 
torious services  against  the  Indians.  Col.  Daniel  Brodhcad,  under 
date  of  Fort  Pitt,  Sept.  5,  1780,  to  President  Keed,  of  Supreme 
E.xecutive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  says  :  "I  am  informed  that  Col. 
Clark  had  destroyed  two  of  the  Shawnee  towns,  killed  si.x  men  and 
one  woman,  and  is  returned  to  the  Falls  of  Ohio."  On  25th  Feb- 
ruary, 1781,  Col.  Clark  was  ordered  to  proceed  from  Fort  Pitt  (to 
which  place  he  had  returned)  to  the  Falls  of  Ohio,  and  from  thence 
to  Wabash.  His  instructions  were  from  General  Wasliington, 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  because  he  exercised  unbounded  induence 
over  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  western  country  by  his  military  skill  and 
indomitable  energy.  On  March  10th  of  the  same  year  we  find  him 
busily  engaged  in  purchasing  large  quantities  of  Hour  and  Indian 
corn  to  carry  on  an  expedition  against  the  Indians.  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son, Governor  of  Virginia,  writes  to  Col.  Brodhcad,  February  13, 
1781 :  "Gen.  Washington's  letter,  transmitted  by  you  to  Gen.  Clark, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  279 

will  no  doubt  have  satisfied  you  how  earnestly  he  espouses  the  service 
on  which  that  gentleman  is  ordered,  and  that  it  is  his  desire  he  should 
receive  from  you  every  aid  of  men  and  necessaries  which  you  can 
help  him  to.  I  rely,  for  your  cordial  execution  of  this  desire,  on 
your  zeal  for  the  common  cause,  as  well  as  your  respect  for  the 
wishes  of  the  Commander-in-Chief." 

On  the  2od  March,  ITSl,  Gen.  Clark  addressed  a  letter  to  Presi- 
dent Reed,  in  which  he  says:  "I  am  ordered  to  the  command  of  the 
greatest  consequence  to  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vii'ginia, 
if  our  resources  should  not  be  such  as  to  enable  us  to  remain  in  the 
Indian  country  during  the  fair  season.  I  am  in  hopes  tliat  they 
will  be  sufficient  to  visit  the  Shawnees,  Delaware,  and  Sandusky 
towns.  Defeating  the  enemy  and  laying  those  countries  waste  would 
give  great  ease  to  the  frontiers  of  both  States,  whom  I  think  equally 
interested.  lam  confident  from  the  nature  of  the  intended  expedition 
you  would  wish  to  give  it  every  aid  in  your  power.  I  hope,  sir,  that 
you  will  inform  the  inhabitants  on  this  side  of  the  mountain  that 
such  are  your  sentiments.  I  hope  that  you  will  honor  me  with  an 
Immediate  answer  per  express,  as  it  is  of  the  greatest  consequence 
to  us,  and  that  the  fate  of  the  Indians  at  present  appears  to  depend 
on  the  resolutions  you  may  take." 

President  Reed  replied  on  the  23d  of  March,  that  "the  enter- 
prise you  refer  to  has  never  been  officially  communicated  to  us,  but 
from  common  report  we  learn  that  an  expedition  under  your  command 
is  destined  against  Detroit.  We  are  very  sensible  of  its  importance 
to  this  State,  as  well  as  Yirginia,  and  there  is  no  gentleman  in  whose 
abilities  and  good  conduct  we  have  more  confidence  on  such  an  oc- 
casion. After  this  it  seems  unnecessary  to  add  that  it  will  give  us 
great  satisfaction  if  the  inhabitants  of  this  State  cheerfully  concur 
in  it,  and  we  authorize  you  to  declare  that  so  far  from  giving  off'ence 
to  their  government  we  shall  consider  their  service  with  you  as 
highly  meritorious.  At  the  same  time  we  must  add  that,  from  the 
exhausted  state  of  our  treasury,  we  are  in  no  condition  to  answer 
any  demands  of  a  pecuniary  kind,  and  therefore  do  not  mean  by 
anything  we  have  said  to  raise  an  expectation  we  cannot  answer." 

The  position  thus  taken  for  an  expedition  was,  therefore,  not  only 
approved  by  President  Reed,  but  urged  by  other  letters  to  Col. 
Brodhead  and  Governor  Thomas  Jefferson,  the  necessity  of  imme- 
diate and  energetic  action. 

Gen.  Clark,  under  these  influences,  on  the  3d  June,  1781  ad- 
dressed the  officers  of  Westmoreland  and  Washington  counties  to 
raise  an  expedition  against  the  Shawnees,  Delawares,  and  Sandusky 
towns.  The  people  assembled  on  the  18th  of  June,  1781,  and 
adopted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : — 

Whereas,  There  was  a  number  of  the  principal  people  met  on  said  day, 
and  unanimously  chose  John  Proctor,  John  Pomroy,  Charles  Campbell, 
Samuel  Moorbead,  James  Barr,  Charles  Foreman,  Isaac  Meason,  James 
Smith,  and  Hugh  Martin  a  committee  to  enter  into  resolves  for  the  defence 


280  HISTORY    OF    -WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

of  our  frontiers,  as  they  were  informed  by  Christ.  Hays,  Esq.,  that  their 
proceedings  would  be  approved  of  by  the  council — 

1.  Resolved,  That  a  campaign  be  carried  on  with  Gen.  Clark. 

2.  Resolved,  That  Gen.  Clark  be  furnished  with  300  men  out  of  Pomroy's, 
Beard's,  and  Davis's  battalions. 

3.  Resolved,  That  Col.  Archd.  Lochry  give  orders  to  said  Colonels  to 
raise  their  quota  by  volunteer  or  draft. 

4.  Resolved,  That  £6  be  advanced  to  every  volunteer  that  marches 
under  the  coiuniaud  of  Gen.  Clark  on  the  proposed  campaign. 

5.  And  for  the  i'lirther  encouragement  of  volunteers,  that  grain  be  raised 
by  subscription  by  the  different  companies. 

6.  That  Col.  I.ochry  counsel  with  the  officers  of  Virginia  respecting  the 
manner  of  drafting  those  that  associate  in  that  State  and  others. 

7.  Resolved,  That  Col.  Lochry  meet  (Jcn.  Clark  and  other  officers,  and 
Col.  Crawford,  on  the  23d  inst.,  to  confer  with  them  concerning  the  day 
of  rendezvous. 

On  the  5th  of  June  a  council  of  the  militia  officers  was  held  at 
the  court-house  of  Youghioghcny  County,  and  the  fifth  part  of  the 
militia  of  said  county  was  drafted  for  Gen.  Chxrk's  expedition  ;  but 
the  people,  generally  l)elieving  that  the  territory  of  Youghioghcny 
County  belonged  to  Pennsylvania,  denied  their  authority,  and  re- 
fused to  submit  until  the  State  line  was  finally  determined.  In  this 
state  of  affairs  Col.  Hays  gave  public  notice  to  the  inhabitants  of 
Washington  and  Westmoreland  counties  that  he  had  money  placed 
in  his  hands,  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  for  the  purpose  of 
protecting  the  frontiers.  The  people,  therefore,  resolved  to  raise  the 
requi.site  number  of  men  to  assist  Gen.  Clark  to  conquer  the  Dela- 
wares,  Shawnecs,  and  Wyandott  Indians,  especially  the  Sandusky 
towns.  The  militia  composing  Gen  Clark's  command  was  made  up 
of  drafted  men  of  the  counties  of  Youghioghcny,  Monongahela,  and 
Ohio  County  of  Virginia,  although  parts  of  each  were  claimed  as 
Washington  County  by  Pennsylvania.  This  expedition  was  sanc- 
tioned liy  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania.  Presi- 
dent Reed  sanctions  Gen.  Clark's  cause,  being  well  satisfied  that  if  the 
people  will  sustain  him  he  would  give  effectual  relief  to  the  frontiers, 
and  expect  very  shortly  to  congratulate  the  country  on  Gen.  Clark's 
success.  President  Reed  also  wrote  to  Col.  Lochry  advising  him  to 
encourage  the  people  to  assist  in  the  expedition,  as  some  aid  and 
support  would  give  effectual  relief  to  the  frontiers  from  the  distresses 
they  have  so  long  and  so  seriously  suffered.  The  influence  which 
was  brought  about  by  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  had  the 
desired  effect.  Comi)anies  and  battalions  were  organized  and  went 
into  camp,  as  will  ai)pear  from  the  following  letter  from  Dorsey  Pen- 
tecost, Esq.,  to  President  Reed,  dated  Washington  County,  July 
27,  1781. 

"  I  am  now  in  Gen.  Clark's  camp,  about  three  miles  below  Fort  Pitt,  and 
am  about  to  leave  this  county  on  the  expedition  under  that  gentleman's 
command." 


HISTORY  or  -Washington  county.  281 

Dorsey  Pentecost  was  Lieutenant  of  "Washington  County,  and 
through  his  zeal  and.  exertion  furnished  the  quota  of  the  county  and 
marched  the  militia  into  camp.  Notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  many 
patriotic  men  to  protect  the  frontiers,  yet  such  men  as  Thomas  Scott, 
Esq.,  thought  the  expedition  would  be  injurious  to  the  interests  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  oppressive  on  some  who  were  steadfast  friends  of 
the  government.  Gen.  Clark  condemned  all  such  would-be  patriots 
in  a  letter  to  President  Reed,  and  rebuked  such  as  unworthy  of  pri- 
vate or  public  confidence. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1181,  Col.  Lochry  wrote  to  President 
Reed  that  he  had  left  Westmoreland  County  with  Capt.  Stokely's 
company  of  Rangers,  and  about  fifty  volunteers,  to  join  Gen.  Clark 
at  Fort  Henry,  on  the  Ohio  River,  where  his  army  had  been  in 
rendezvous  for  some  weeks.  The  very  fact  of  these  men  going  into 
camp  and  placing  themselves  under  Gen.  Clark's  command,  caused 
new  difficulties  in  Washington  County.  James  Marshall  had  been 
appointed  Lieutenant  of  the  county,  and  was  opposed  to  the  expedi- 
tion. Many  statements  have  been  made  by  the  enemies  of  Gen. 
Clark,  charging  upon  him  and  his  friends  cruel  treatment  by  appre- 
hending those  who  were  drafted  and  did  not  obey.  But  the  promi- 
nent inhabitants  of  Washington  County  addressed  a  letter  to  Presi- 
dent Reed  on  the  15th  August,  1*781,  stating  that  as  Gen.  Clark 
had  an  expedition  carrying  on  for  the  salvation  of  the  country,  it 
was  improper  for  an  election  to  be  held  the  same  day,  and  the  result 
of  which  was  that  men  who  lived  in  comparative  security  were 
elected  to  office,  which  caused  more  dissatisfaction  than  the  drafting 
of  the  militia.  President  Reed  having  learned  all  the  questions  at 
issue,  wrote  to  the  people  of  Washington  County  that  he  could  not 
help  fearing  that  too  many,  in  consequence  of  the  unsettled  state 
of  boundaries,  avail  themselves  of  a  pretence  to  withhold  their  ser- 
vices from  the  public  at  a  time  they  are  most  wanted.  "  We  cannot," 
he  says,  "help  also  observing  that  by  letters  received  from  the  prin- 
cipal gentlemen  in  Westmoreland,  it  seems  evident  they  approve  of 
Gen.  Clark's  expedition,  and  that  the  lieutenants  of  both  counties 
united  on  the  plan  of  raising  three  hundred  men  for  that  service, 
and  even  now  I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  different  opinions 
entertained  on  the  point  by  the  people  of  Westmoreland  and  Wash- 
ington counties." 

It  appears  from  a  letter  of  Hon.  Christ.  Hays  to  President  Reed, 
dated  August  25,  1781,  that  every  obstacle  was  placed  in  the  way 
of  Gen.  Clark's  success — feelings  engendered  by  jealousy — as  the 
letter  of  Mr.  Hays  will  abundantly  show. 

"There  have  been  divers  meetings  for  devising  the  best  mode  for  the  pro- 
tection of  this  country,  and  there  has  been  a  majority  of  a  small  number  of 
men  at  said  meetings,  who  fell  on  a  plan  of  joining  Gen.  Clark  with  a  num- 
ber of  troops  from  this  county,  as  has  been  represented  to  you,  which  I 
by  no  means  could  consent  or  agree  to,  and  yet  has  been  forced  by  Col.. 
Lochry,  contrary  to  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  major  part  of  the  inhabit- 
19 


282  HISTORY   OF   WASniNGTON   COUNTY, 

ants  of  this  county,  and  to  the  great  disadvantage  of  the  distressed  fron- 
tiers aud  for  tlie  benefit  of  the  State  of  Virginia  alone,  as  has,  since  Gen. 
Clarlv's  departure,  been  made  known  to  me  by  Col.  Gibson  and  several 
otlier  Virginia  officers,  which  obliged  Col.  D.  Brodhead,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  militia  of  this  and  Washington  County,  to  carry  on  a  campaign  by 
the  5th  of  September  against  the  same  towns  that  Gen.  Clark  and  Col. 
Lochry  purposed  to  go  to.  Fifty-eight  good  men,  belonging  to  Captain 
Stokely's  and  Captain  Shearer's  companies  (in  a  manner  naked),  besides  a 
number  of  volunteers,  have  been  sent  with  Gen.  Clark  for  the  protection  of 
the  frontiers  of  Virginia. 

"  I  would  have  represented  all  matters  in  a  clear  light  to  you,  concerning 
this  affair,  before  Gen.  Clark's  departure  from  Washington  County,  could 
I  have  had  the  benefit  of  the  last  express  that  has  been  sent  to  you  from 
this  county,  which,  perhaps,  might  have  altered  the  whole  of  the  above 
mentioned  proceedings,  but,  contrary  to  all  promises,  it  was  sent  unknown 
to  me." 

President  Reed  replied  that  Gen.  Clark  had  no  other  authority 
than  to  take  such  volunteers  as  might  ofifer,  and  to  purchase  provi- 
sions. At  the  same  time,  he  says,  we  must  observe  that  at  a  general 
meeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  both  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania, the  expedition  appeared  so  beneficial  to  the  latter  that  the 
lieutenants  of  both  joined  to  promote  it,  and  agreed  that  three 
hundred  men  should  be  furnished.  "We  apprehend  that  parties  have 
taken  too  deep  root,  and  that  there  are  too  many  Avho  avail  them- 
selves of  the  dispute  of  State  boundary  to  withhold  their  services 
from  the  public,  a  disposition  which  ought  to  have  no  countenance 
whatever.  To  this  letter  I  would  add  that  in  a  subsequent  letter  of 
President  llccd  to  Mr.  tiays  he  throws  the  whole  weight  of  respon- 
sibility upon  the  latter  gentleman,  and  asserts  that  his  approbation 
of  furnishing  Gen.  Clark  with  men,  was  founded  upon  representa- 
tions made  by  himself  and  other  gentlemen,  which,  he  presumes,  was 
free  and  voluntary. 

While  a  war  of  words  was  progressing,  Gen,  Clark  and  his  officers 
and  soldiers  were  busily  engaged  in  preparing  for  conquering  the 
Indians;  but  on  the  24th  of  August  his  command  was  defeated,  as 
the  following  letter  from  Gen.  Irvine,  dated  Fort  Pitt,  Dec.  3,  1T81, 
will  show: — 

"  I  am  sorry  to  inform  your  excellency  that  this  connty  has  got  a  severe 
stroke  liy  the  loss  of  Col.  Lochry  and  about  one  hundred  of  the  best  men 
of  AVestmorcland  County,  including  Captain  Stokely  and  his  company  of 
Rangers.  They  were  going  down  the  Ohio  on  Gen.  Clark's  expedition. 
Many  accounts  agree  that  they  were  all  killed  or  taken  at  tlic  moutli  of  the 
Miami  River,  I  believe  chiefly  killed;  the  misfortune  added  to  the  failure 
of  Gen.  Clark's  expedition  has  filled  the  people  with  great  dismay.  Many 
talk  of  retiring  to  the  cast  side  of  the  mountain  early  in  the  spring." 

Col.  Lochry,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  held  the  office  of  Prothonotary 
and  of  Lieutenant  of  AVcstmoreland  County.  On  the  fact  being  made 
known  to  the  Executive  Council,  Michael  Huffnagle  was  appointed 
to  the  former  and  Edward  Cook  to  the  latter  office  in  December,  1T8I. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON  COUNTY.  283 

On  the  3cl  day  of  July,  1T82,  President  Moore  received  the  follow- 
ing memorial  from  the  prisoners,  taken  captives  by  the  Indians  : — 

"  We  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  the  county  of  Westmoreland,  beg 
leave  to  represent  to  your  excellency  and  the  council,  that  we  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  be  made  prisoners  of  by  the  Indians  on  the  24th  of  August  last, 
and  carried  to  Montreal,  and  there  kept  in  close  confinement  until  the  25th 
of  May,  1782,  when  we  were  so  fortunate  as  to  make  our  escape,  and  after 
a  long  and  fatiguing  march  through  the  wilderness,  we  got  to  this  city 
(Philadelphia)  yesterday  at  3  o'clock.  As  we  are  at  present  destitute  of 
both  money  and  clothes,  without  which  we  cannot  go  home,  we  pray  your 
excellency  and  council  to  take  our  case  into  consideration  and  order  us  pay 
from  the  time  we  were  made  prisoners  to  this. 

"We  were  under  the  command  of  Col.  Lochry  when  taken,  and  have  a 
list  of  all  those,  both  officers  and  privates,  who  are  now  prisoners  of  this 
party,  which  together  with  such  information  as  is  in  our  power  we  are  ready 
to  give  for  the  satisfaction  of  your  excellency  and  council. 

"  We  have  the  honor  to  be  your  excellency's  humble  servants, 

Isaac  Anderson. 
Lieutejiant  Capt.  Sherer^s  Compa^iy  Rangers. 

Richard  Wallace, 
Late  Quarter- Master  to  Col.  Lochry.'^ 

The  Council  immediately  granted  nine  pounds  seven  shillings  and 
sixpence  specie  to  Lieut.  Anderson,  and  seven  pounds  seventeen  shil- 
lings and  sixpence  specie  to  Richard  Wallace,  to  bear  their  expenses 
from  Philadelphia  to  Westmoreland  County. 

On  January  6,  1183,  a  representation  was  read  to  Council  signed 
by  John  Boyd,  Captain  of  the  Rangers,  and  Thomas  Stokely,  Captain 
of  the  Second  Company  of  Rangers,  representing  the  situations  of 
Henry  Dugan,  Sergeant  of  Captain  Boyd's  company,  and  Robert 
Watson,  John  Marus,  and  Michael  Hare,  of  Capt.  Stokely's  company, 
now  returned  from  captivity  among  the  Indians;  whereupon  the 
Council  ordered  two  months'  pay  to  be  advanced  to  each  soldier,  and 
that  each  also  be  furnished  with  a  hat,  two  shirts,  a  waistcoat,  a  pair  of 
overalls,  a  pair  of  stockings,  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  cloth  and  trimmings 
for  a  coat. 

CoL.  David  Williamson's  Expeditions, 

In  the  fall  of  1T81  the  militia  of  the  frontier  counties  of  Pennsyl- 
vania resolved  to  break  up  the  Moravian  towns  on  the  Muskingum, 
because  it  was  very  truthfully  stated  that  it  was  half  way  between 
this  county  and  the  Wyandotte  tribe  of  Indians.  Through  fear 
these  Moravian  settlements  sheltered,  protected,  and  procured  for 
these  hostile  Indians  provisions  to  carry  on  excursions  into  the  set- 
tlements ;  hence  it  was  that  the  first  campaign  was  undertaken. 
Col.  Williamson  marched  his  forces,  found  but  few  Indians  there,  the 
greater  part  having  gone  to  Sandusky,  and  took  them  as  hostages  to 
Fort  Pitt  and  delivered  them  to  General  Irvine.  After  their  libera- 
tion, Dodridge  says  they  crossed  the  river  and  killed  or  made  priso- 
ners of  a  family  of  the  name  of  Monteur,  on  Montour's  Island,  seven 


284  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

miles  below  Pittsburg.  This  island  at  that  time  was  a  part  of 
Washintrton  County.  Also  it  was  said  that  a  family  had  been  killed 
on  Bufl'ulo  Creek,  and  it  was  by  one  of  them,  who,  after  being  made 
prisoner,  made  his  escape,  and  that  the  leader  of  the  party  was  a 
Moravian.  Such  were  the  reports  prevalent  in  that  day,  and  upon 
these  reports  Colonel  "Williamson's  character  suflercd  severely  for 
not  killing  the  Indians  instead  of  sending  them  to  Fort  Pitt. 

This  gave  rise  to  the  second  expedition  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Williamson,  who  marched  out  with  his  command  in  March, 
1782,  his  soldiers  being  composed  of  the  frontier  settlers,  whose 
hatred  to  the  Indian  was  both  implacable  and  irreconcilable.  On 
their  w\ay  they  passed  through  the  settlement  of  the  Moravian  In- 
dians, who  had  the  reputation  of  being  both  peaceable  and  Christian 
in  character,  but  it  is  said  that  these  soldiers  found  among  the 
Moravian  Indians  many  memorials  of  their  families,  trinkets,  the 
gifts  of  love,  clothing  still  bloody,  and  worn  by  their  own  wives  and 
daughters,  who  had  been  tomahawked  and  killed.  Without  reflec- 
tion, and  believing  that  this  tribe  of  Indians  were  also  guilty  (being 
in  possession  of  these  articles),  they,  without  the  consent  of  their 
commander,  whose  orders  they  disregarded,  massacred  the  Indians 
indiscriminately,  because  revenge,  the  worst  passion  of  the  human 
heart,  had  taken  possession  of  every  soldier.  In  this  paroxysm  of 
revenge,  human  nature  forgot  itself,  and  the  blood  of  those  who  were 
near  and  dear  to  them  seemed  to  call  for  retaliation,  and  the  dying 
agonies  of  their  own  innocent  ones  all  seemed  to  urge  them  on  to 
complete  the  work  of  destruction. 

After  their  desires  had  been  gratified,  and  reason  had  resumed 
her  throne.  Col.  Williamson  determined  to  go  no  further  after  wit- 
nessing this  act  of  insubordination.  He  returned  to  Washington 
County  with  his  men,  having  resolved  to  submit  the  massacre  of  the 
Moravian  Indians  to  a  decision  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Hence,  at 
the  October  election  in  l^ST,  he  offered  himself  as  a  candidate  for 
Sheriff,  and  for  his  acknowledged  bravery,  and  devotion  to  their 
interests,  he  was  triumphantly  elected ;  nor  did  the  people  ever  hold 
him  accountable  for  the  insubordination  which  prevailed,  and  which 
no  human  power  could  prevent.  His  election  thereupon  to  that 
important  otfice  is  a  complete  refutation  of  the  charge  made  against 
him  by  the  historian  Loskiel,  who  charges  him  with  perpetrating 
the  most  inftimous  act  of  border  warfare,  viz:  the  destruction  of  the 
peaceable  Moravian  Christian  Indians.  Kev.  Jos.  Dodridgc  says  : 
'In  justice  to  the  memory  of  Col.  Williamson,  I  have  to  say  that 
although  at  that  time  very  young,  I  Avas  personally  acquainted  with 
him,  and  I  say  with  confidence  that  he  was  a  brave  man,  but  not 
cruel.  lie  would  meet  an  enemy  in  battle  and  fight  like  a  soldier, 
but  not  murder  a  prisoner.  His  only  fault  was  that  of  too  easy  a 
compliance  with  popular  opinion  and  popular  prejudice.  On  this 
account  his  memory  has  been  loaded  with  unmerited  reproach."  It 
is  eminently  due,  after  passion  and  prejudice  have  passed  away,  and 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  285 

the  third  generation  of  men  can  view  history  from  a  different  stand- 
point, that  the  memory  of  Col.  Williamson  should  be  vindicated, 
and  the  fame  of  the  brave  and  meritorious  not  blackened  with  un- 
founded charges.  He  has  gone  to  accomplish  his  destiny,  and  we 
leave  Col.  Williamson  in  the  hands  of  that  God  who  in  this  case  will 
"judge  righteous  judgment." 

In  order  to  place  this  affair  of  the  massacre  of  the  Moravian 
Indians  in  its  true  light,  I  shall  now  give  the  official  facts  and  the 
testimony  of  Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  who  corroborates  the  position  I 
have  taken. 

In  March,  1782,  Col.  Williamson  set  out  upon  his  expedition,  the 
result  of  which  I  have  already  stated,  but  in  a  letter  of  L.  Weiss,  to 
Charles  Thompson,  Secretary  of  Congress,  dated  April  T,  1782,  he 
says":  "  I  received  this  afternoon  a  letter  from  Rev.  Nathaniel, 
Bishop  of  the  united  churches  of  the  brethren  residing  at  Bethle- 
hem. He  informs  me  that  the  same  day  a  melancholy  report  was 
brought  to  him  by  one  Mr.  Leinbach,  relative  to  a  murder  committed 
by  white  men  upon  a  number  of  Christian  Indians,  at  a  place  called 
Muskingum." 

It  appears,  however,  that  Mr.  Leinbach  himself  was  not  at  the 
scene  of  action,  but  he  received  it  from  two  of  his  neighbors  living 
near  Easton,  who  had  returned  from  a  visit  to  their  friends  at  the 
Monongahela  River.     The  statement  made  was — 

"  That  some  time  in  February,  preceding,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
men,  living  upon  Monongahela,  set  off  on  horseback  to  the  Muskin- 
gum, in  order  to  destroy  three  Indian  settlements  of  which  they 
seemed  to  be  sure  of  being  the  towns  of  some  enemy  Indians.  After 
coming  nigh  to  one  of  the  towns,  they  discovered  some  Indians  on 
both  sides  of  the  river  Muskingum.  They  theu  concluded  to  divide 
themselves  into  two  parties,  the  one  to  cross  the  river  and  the  other 
to  attack  those  Indians  on  this  side.  When  the  party  got  over  the 
river  they  saw  one  of  the  Indians  coming  up  towards  them.  They 
laid  themselves  flat  on  the  ground  waiting  till  the  Indian  was  nigh 
enough,  then  one  of  them  shot  the  Indian  and  broke  his  arm,  then 
three  of  the  militia  ran  towards  him  with  tomahawks.  When  they 
were  yet  a  little  distance  from  him,  he  asked  them  why  they  fired  at 
him  ;  he  was  minister  Shebosh's  (John  Bull's)  son,  but  they  took  no 
notice  of  what  he  said,  but  killed  him  on  the  spot.  They  then  sur- 
rounded the  field  and  took  all  the  other  Indians  as  prisoners.  The 
Indians  told  them  that  they  were  Christians,  and  made  no  resistance. 
When  the  militia  gave  them  to  understand  that  they  must  bring  them 
as  prisoners  to  Fort  Pitt,  they  seemed  to  be  very  glad.  They  were 
ordered  to  prepare  themselves  for  the  journey,  and  to  take  all  their 
effects  along  with  them.  Accordingly,  they  did  so.  They  were 
asked  how  it  came  they  had  no  cattle.  They  answered  that  the  small 
stock  that  was  left  them  had  been  sent  to  Sandusky. 

In  the  evening  the  militia  held  a  council,  when  the  commander  of 
the  militia  told  his  men  that  he  would  leave  it  to  their  choice  either 


286  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY, 

to  carry  the  Indians  to  Fort  Pitt  as  prisoners  or  to  kill  them,  when 
they  agreed  that  they  should  be  killed.  Of  this  resolution  of  the 
council  they  gave  notice  to  the  Indians  by  two  messengers,  who  told 
them  that,  as  they  had  said  they  were  Christians,  they  would  give 
them  this  night  to  prepare  themselves  accordingly.  Whereupon  the 
women  met  together  and  sung  hymns  and  psalms  all  night,  and  so 
did  likewise  the  men,  and  kept  on  singing  as  long  as  there  were  three 
alive. 

In  the  morning  the  militia  chose  two  houses,  which  they  called  the 
slaughter-houses,  and  then  fetched  the  Indians,  two  or  three  at  a 
time,  with  ropes  about  their  necks,  and  dragged  them  into  the 
slaughter-houses  where  they  knocked  them  down.  They  then  set 
these  two  houses  on  fire,  as  likewise  all  the  other  houses.  This  done, 
they  went  to  the  other  towns  and  set  fire  to  the  houses,  took  their 
plunder  and  returned  to  the  Monongahcla,  where  they  kept  a  vendue 
among  themselves.  Before  these  informants  came  away  it  was  agreed 
that  six  hundred  men  should  meet  on  the  18th  of  March,  1182,  to  go 
to  Sandusky,  whicli  is  about  one  hundred  miles  from  the  Muskingum. 

John  I]tv/ine,  of  Litiz,  under  date  of  March  31st  of  the  same  year, 
pays  :  "  It  is  reported  from  Lancaster  that  one  hundred  militiamen 
from  the  Ohio  have  destroyed  two  Delaware  Indian  towns,  and  have 
killed  ninety-five  Indians." 

George  Niser,  of  York,  under  date  of  April  2,  says:  "I  have 
seen  a  letter  written  by  a  woman  at  Fort  Pitt,  dated  March  21,  1182, 
which  contains  these  particulars,  viz  :  The  militia  have  killed  ninety- 
nine  of  the  Moravian  Indians,  viz  :  thirty-three  men  and  sixty-six 
women  and  children." 

In  another  letter  by  the  same  person,  but  dated  April  5,  he  writes  : 
"  The  Moravian  Indian  congregation  at  Sandusky  is  butchered,  as  it 
is  reported  by  the  Scotch.  They  came  and  told  them  they  must 
prepare  directly  for  death.  The  Indians  requested  but  an  hour's 
time  for  this  purpose,  which  was  granted.  They  went  to  their 
meeting-house  to  join  in  prayers  to  the  Lord.  After  the  hour  had 
passed  they  fell  upon  them  and  butchered  all  of  them  in  cold  blood 
in  the  meeting-house  and  then  set  fire  to  the  house." 

These  various  rumors,  somewhat  contradictory  in  their  facts, 
reached  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  who  directed  Gen.  Wra. 
Irvine,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Pitt,  by  letter  dated  April  13,  1782, 
to  inquire  if  a  party  of  militia  had  killed  a  number  of  Indians  at  or 
near  Muskingum,  and  also  if  a  Mr.  Bull  was  killed  at  the  same  time, 
and  to  transmit  the  facts  relative  thereto,  authenticated  in  the 
clearest  manner.  To  this  charge  Col.  Williamson  and  Col.  Mar- 
shall both  replied,  and  by  order  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council 
was  laid  before  Congress. 

The  following  letter  of  Dorsey  Pentecost,  dated  at  Fort  Pitt, 
May  8,  1782,  throws  much  light  upon  this  question.     lie  says  : — 

"  I  arrived  at  home  last  Thursday ;  yesterday  I  came  to  this  place  and 
had  long  conferences  with  Gen.  Irvine  and  Col.  Gibson  respecting  the  ex- 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  28 1 

cursion  to  Muskingum.  That  affair  is  a  subject  of  great  speculation  here, 
some  condemning,  others  applauding  the  measure,  but  the  accounts  are  so 
various  that  it  is  not  only  difficult,  but  almost,  indeed  utterly  impossible  to 
ascertain  the  real  truth.  No  person  can  give  intelligence  but  those  that 
■were  along,  notwithstanding  there  seems  to  have  been  some  differences 
amongst  themselves  about  that  business,  yet  they  will  say  nothing. 

"  I  hear  there  is  great  preparation  making  for  a  descent  on  Sandusky,  to 
set  out  the  20th  of  this  month,  which  will  be  conducted  by  a  gentleman  of 
experience  and  veracity."  The  writer  speaks  of  Col.  Crawford's  expe- 
dition. He  then  adds  :  "It  is  said  here,  and  I  believe  with  truth,  that  sun- 
dry articles  were  found  amongst  the  Indians  that  were  taken  from  the 
inhabitants  of  Washington  County,  and  that  the  Indians  confessed  them- 
selves, that  when  they  set  out  from  Sandusky  ten  warriors  came  with  them 
who  hud  gone  into  the  settlements,  and  that  four  of  them  were  then  in  the 
towns  who  had  returned.  If  those  Indians  that  were  killed  were  really 
friends,  they  must  have  been  very  imprudent  to  return  to  settle  at  a  place 
they  knew  the  white  people  had  been  at  and  would  go  to  again,  without 
giving  us  notice,  and  besides  to  bring  warriors  with  them  who  had  come 
into  the  settlements  and  after  murdering  would  return  to  their  towns,  and  of 
course  draw  people  after  them  filled  with  revenge,  indignation,  and  sorrow 
for  the  loss  of  their  friends  their  wives  and  their  children."  He  also  writes 
that  "the  people  are  greatly  divided  in  sentiment  about  it  (the  Moravian 
affair) ,  and  an  investigation  may  produce  serious  effects,  and  at  least  leave 
us  as  ignorant  as  when  we  began,  and  instead  of  rendering  a  service  may 
produce  confusion  and  ill-will  amongst  the  people." 

lie  recommends  to  the  Supreme  Council  to  forbid  that,  in  future 
excursions,  women,  children,  and  infirm  persons  should  be  killed, 
being  contrary  to  the  la^s  of  man  as  well  as  Christianity. 

Thus  terminated  the  campaign  under  Col.  Williamson. 

CoL.  William  Crawford's  Expedition. 

In  the  summer  of  1182  a  third  expedition  was  commenced  after 
the  return  of  Col.  Williamson,  by  a  regiment  of  four  hundred  and 
eighty-two  men,  who  were  principally  from  east  of  the  Monougahela 
River,  in  Fayette  County,  except  one  company  from  the  Tenmile 
settlement,  in  Washington  County.  Hence  we  give  an  account  of 
this  expedition. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1782,  the  regiment  left  Beesontown  (now 
Uniontown)  under  the  temporary  command  of  Col.  William  Crawford, 
whose  residence  was  at  the  forks  of  Youghiogheny,  near  Connellsville. 
On  May  22,  they  reached  Catfish  (now  Washington),  where  they 
were  joined  by  a  company  from  Tenmile,  in  this  county.  On  the 
26th  of  May  they  encamped  at  old  Indian  Mingo  town,  where  an 
election  was  held  for  Colonel,  the  candidates  being  Col.  William 
Crawford  and  Col.  David  Williamson.  The  election  resulted  in 
favor  of  Col.  Crawford.  The  regiment  on  that  day  took  up  the  line 
of  march  by  the  same  Indian  trail  which  Col.  Williamson  had  passed 
over,  and  on  the  4th  of  June  they  encamped  on  the  Sandusky  plains. 
The  battle  was  fought  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  June,  1782. 

From  the  most  authentic  accounts  we  learn  that  the  Indians  were 


288  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY 

apprised  of  the  approach  of  Col.  Crawford,  and  were  prepared  for 
his  rej^iment  bj'^  being  concrealed  in  ambush.  At  a  preconcerted  signal 
the  Indians  commenced  firing,  which  was  returned  by  the  regiment. 
Both  parties  fought  with  great  fury  until  dark  (of  June  5th),  when 
the  Indians  retreated  and  the  soldiers  encamped  upon  the  battle- 
ground, sleeping  upon  their  arms. 

The  next  day  (June  6th)  skirmishing  began  and  fighting  ensued. 
Col.  Crawford  discovered  that  the  Indian  forces  through  the  night 
had  been  greatly  increased.  A  council  of  officers  was  held,  and  they 
determined  that  prudence  would  dictate  a  retreat,  because  many 
valuable  lives  were  lost  (about  one  hundred  soldiers  being  killed), 
and  that  their  ammunition  and  provisions  were  nearly  exhausted.  A 
little  before  midnight  the  remaining  members  of  the  regiment  were 
arranged  in  order,  and  the  retreat  began,  having  left  their  camp- 
fires  burning  so  as  to  deceive  the  Indians.*  They  had  not  proceeded 
far  when  shots  were  fired  by  the  Indians,  which  necessarily  caused 
great  confusion  and  disorder,  as  the  officers  and  soldiers  believed 
that  their  movements  had  been  discovered  by  their  wily  foe.  Each 
man,  therefore,  determined  to  seek  his  own  safety  in  flight ;  but  the 
savage  Indians,  thirsting  for  revenge  for  the  death  of  the  Moravian 
Indians,  and  with  that  sagacity  which  belongs  to  their  race,  overtook 
most  of  the  soldiers,  and  they  fell  victims  to  the  tomahawk.  The 
massacre  was  terrible. 

Among  the  captives  were  Col.  Crawford  and  his  nephew,  Dr. 
Knight.  These  they  retained  for  a  sadder  and  more  terrible  death. 
The  Indians,  failing  to  secure  Col.  Williamson,  visited  upon  Col. 
Crawford  the  death  of  the  Moravian  Indians,  although  he  had  not 
in  any  of  his  Indian  expeditions  harmed  a  Moravian  Indian.  Here 
I  may  add  that  Wingenund,  an  old  Indian  chief  who  had  known  Col. 
Crawford  for  many  years,  and  had  even  visited  his  (Crawford's) 
house,  said  to  him,  after  they  had  painted  him  black  (a  symbol  of 
the  horrible  death  he  was  to  undergo)  :  "  Had  we  Williamson  in 
your  place,  there  might  be  some  hope  for  you;  but  as  it  is,  there  is 
not."  From  the  intimacy  whicli  always  existed  between  this  old 
chief  and  Col.  Crawford,  he  said  to  him  :  "  Col.  Crawford,  your  fate 
is  fixed.  Meet  it  as  a  soldier  should.  Farewell.  Tliey  arc  coming, 
and  I  will  retire  wlierc  I  cannot  see  you."  These  two  brave  men, 
representing  entirely  different  interests,  parted,  each  shedding  tears. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  band  of  Indians  who  were  to  take  charge  of 
Col.  Crawford,  their  hellish  work  began.  While  Dr.  Knight,  his 
nephew,  was  seated  close  by  as  a  witness  of  the  torments  which  Col. 
Crawford  was  to  endure.  On  the  11th  of  June,  1182,  Col.  Crawford 
was  led  to  a  stake  driven  in  the  ground,  at  Sandlisky  Plains,  with 

*  The  retreat  of  Col.  Crawford's  men  was  condueterl  by  Major  Daniel  Leet,  who 
was  the  intimate  friend  of  Col.  Crawford.  Their  iiitiiiiaey  arose  from  the  fact  that 
Gen.  AViishinj^ton  had  .eelected  theiii  to  survey  and  locate  lands  in  Yirp;inia  and  Ken- 
tucky, hence  ho  was  selected  to  lake  c<Mnuian(i  of  the  rii;ht  wing  of  the  army,  in 
which  was  the  company  of  the  Tenmile  tiettlemeut  of  this  county. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  289 

his  bands  secured  firmly  behind  his  back  by  means  of  strong  thongs. 
A  rope  was  then  fastened  to  these  between  the  wrists,  and  the  other 
end  to  the  bottom  of  the  stake.  The  rope  was  long  enough  to  allow 
him  to  walk  backward  and  forward  several  times,  while  around  the 
stake,  and  within  the  circle  which  the  rope  would  allow  him  to  pass 
over,  were  heaped  dry  and  combustible  fagots.  When  these  were 
ignited  the  tortures  commenced.  The  Colonel  bad  previously  been 
stripped  naked,  and  after  an  Indian  speech,  about  seventy  loads  of  pow- 
der w^ere  discharged  upon  bis  naked  body.  His  ears  were  cut  off,  and 
burning  brands  and  fagots  applied  to  bis  body ;  he  was  scalped,  and 
squa-ws  threw  burning  coals  and  hot  embers  upon  his  head  and  body. 
Col.  Crawford,  having  committed  himself  to  the  Almighty,  bore  all 
his  torments  with  manly  fortitude.  It  seemed  as  if  God  in  mercy 
and  in  answer  to  his  prayer  had  so  benumbed  his  nerves  that  be  felt 
no  pain.  Dr.  Knight,  who  was  witness  of  it,  and  afterwards  made 
bis  escape,  said  that  he  seemed  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  his 
tormentors,  and  w-as  exclusively  engaged  in  close  communion  with 
bis  Saviour.  It  is  said  by  those  who  have  visited  the  spot,  about 
half  a  mile  from  Little  Sandusky/ that  nothing  will  grow  within  the 
circuit  which  Col.  Crawford  made  when  tied  to  the  stake,  and  God,. 
as  a  memorial  of  the  wickedness  of  the  crime,  thus  marks  the  spot 
where  an  innocent  man  suffered  a  cruel  death. 

/  It  may  be  well  to  remark  that  Col.  Crawford  emigrated  from 
Berkeley  County,  Virginia,  in  IT 68,  to  near  Connellsville,  Fayette 
County,  Pennsylvania.  He  served  as  captain  in  Forbes's  expedition 
in  1758.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Gen.  Washington,  who  bad 
been  an  inmate  of  his  hum]:)le  dwelling  during  bis  visit  to  this  county 
to  locate  lands.  At  the  commencement  of  the  American  Revolution 
he  raised  a  regiment  by  his  own  exertions,  and  held  a  commission  of 
Colonel  in  the  Continental  army.  Thus  perished,  at  the  age  of  fifty 
years.  Col.  William  Craw^ford,  who  held  many  positions  of  honor  and 
profit  under  both  Yirginia"and  Pennsylvania,  especially  when  Wash- 
ington County  was  considered  as  belonging  to  Virginia  by  the  name 
of  Youghiogheny  County.  Pennsylvania  has  honored  his  memory  by 
naming  one  of  the  northwestern  counties  after  him,  to  perpetuate  bis 
fame  and  bis  deeds. 

Since  writing  the  above,  my  friend,  J.  T.  F.  Wright,  sent  me  the 
narrative  of  Col.  James  Paul,  who  was  with  Crawford  at  his  defeat. 
Col.  Paul  died  in  1841,  aged  84  years.  Col.  Paul  corrects  an  error 
into  which  some  writers  have  fallen,  as  to  the  motives  of  Col.  Craw- 
ford and  bis  noble  band  of  volunteers  in  going  to  Upper  Sandusky, 
which  object  Avas  in  reality  to  conquer  the  Wyandottes  and  bands 
of  hostile  Indians,  and  to  burn  their  town,  and  not,  as  erroneously 
reported,  to  complete  the  slaughter  of  the  remainder  of  the  peace- 
able Christian  Moravian  Indians.  This  narrative  further  states  that 
a  scheme  was  formed  and  put  on  foot,  the.  object  of  which  was  to 
check  the  Sandusky  Indians,  principally  tliat  of  the  Wyandotte  tribe, 
which  tribe  was  at  that  time  the  most  bold,  daring,  and  ferocious 


290  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

of  any  of  the  other  hostile  tribes,  whose  depredations  on  the  frontier 
settlers  had  grown  hard  to  be  borne.  A  further  object  of  this 
scheme  was  the  destruction  of  the  Indian  town  at  Upper  Sandusky, 
and  thus  to  check  and  put  a  stop,  if  possible,  to  the  scalping,  mur- 
dering, and  plundering  which  were  continually  committed  on  the 
defenceless  frontiers  of  Western  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  Col. 
Paul  thus  nobly  repels  the  charge  made  by  Weems  and  some  few 
others,  who  have  misstated  the  object  of  these  brave,  noble-hearted 
volunteers  who  risked  their  lives  in  an  enemy's  country. 

To  preserve  the  history  of  that  memorable  event  with  which  Wash- 
ington County  is  so  intimately  connected,  I  shall  add  letters  Avritten 
at  the  time  by  our  own  citizens. 

Dorsey  Pentecost,  Esq.,  under  date  of  June  It,  1782,  to  Presi- 
dent Moore,  says : — 

"  I  have  just  time  to  tell  you  that  on  the  2r)th  of  May  four  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  (some  say  four  hundred  and  eighty-eight)  soldiers,  mounted 
on  horseback,  set  out,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Crawford,  for  St.  Dus- 
kie.  They  were  discovered  at  the  Muskingum  and  from  there  all  the  way 
out  spies  were  kept  on  them.  The  St.  Duskie  people  collected  the  Shaw- 
nees  and  the  light  dragoons  from  the  British  posts  between  St.  Duskie  and 
the  post  at  Detroit,  they  attacked  our  people  in  the  plains  of  St.  Duskie, 
near  the  St.  Duskie  River,  on  Tuesday  was  a  week  last.  The  battle  con- 
tinued two  daj-s,  the  first  day  was  very  close  and  hot  work,  the  second  day 
was  at  long  shot  only.  On  the  night  of  the  second  day  our  people  retreated, 
and  the  Indians  broke  in  on  them  in  the  retreat  and  routed  them.  How- 
ever, about  two  hundred  stuck  together  and  brought  off  all  the  wounded 
except  three,  which  were  left  on  the  ground.  The  next  day  the  Indians 
attacked  our  people  in  the  rear,  but  were  repulsed  with  considerable  loss 
on  their  side.  They  then  pursued  their  retreat  with  success  and  unmolested. 

'"There  are  about  twenty  wounded  (a few  dangerous)  and  about  half  that 
number  killed.  There  are  a  good  many  missing,  amongst  wliich  is  Colonel 
Crawford  and  a  number  of  other  valuable  men,  but  as  the  scattered  parties 
are  coming  in  daily,  I  have  hopes  of  them.  As  the  people  were  much  con- 
fused when  1  met  them  (at  the  Mingo  bottom),  I  could  not  get  the  informa- 
tion requisite.  What  little  I  got  was  from  M.ajor  Ross,  Aide-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Irvine,  and  who  went  aid  to  Col.  Crawford,  and  I  hope  the  General 
(Irvine)  will  give  you  a  particular  account,  as  he  will  receive  it  from  the 
Major.  I  am  told  that  the  Indians  were  much  superior  to  our  people,  and 
that  in  the  engagement  they  suffered  greatly,  and  also  that  Col.  Crawford 
strongly  recommended  to  return  before  they  got  to  the  town,  alleging  that 
our  people  were  too  weak,  as  the  Indians  had  early  intelligence  of  their 
coming,  but  he  was  overruled  by  the  rest  of  the  oflicers." 

July  5,  1782,  Gen.  Irvine  writes  from  Fort  Pitt,  stating  that 

"Dr.  Knight  has  this  moment  arrived — the  Surgeon  I  sent  with  the  vol- 
unteers to  Sandusky  ;  he  was  several  days  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  but 
fortunately  made  his  escape  from  his  keeper,  who  was  conducting  him  to 
another  settlement  to  be  burned.  He  brings  the  disagreeable  account  that 
Col.  Crawford  and  all  the  rest  (about  twelve  to  the  doctor's  knowledge) 
who  fell  into  their  hands,  were  burned  to  death  in  a  most  shocking  manner. 
The  unfortunate  Colonel  in  particular  was  upwards  of  four  hours  burning. 
The  reason  they  assign  for  this  uncommon  barbarity  is  retaUation  for  the 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  291 

Moravian  affair.  (I  have  given  an  account  of  this  affair  under  Col.  "William- 
son's expedition.)  The  doctor  adds  that  he  understood  those  people  had 
laid  aside  their  religious  principles  and  have  gone  to  war,  that  he  himself 
saw  two  of  them  bring  in  scalps  whom  he  formerly  knew." 

Whiskey  Insurrection. 

This  was  the  fourth  important  military  movement  in  this  county, 
and  which  extended  itself  to  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  Allegheny, 
and  Bedford  counties,  and  that  part  of  Western  Yirg-inia  on  the 
Ohio  River  and  borders  of  Pennsylvania.  To  subdue  this  rebellion, 
which  began  July  27,  1791,  and  was  ended  in  1794,  by  an  amnesty 
proclamation  and  an  oath  of  allegiance  subscribed  by  the  people,  it 
cost  the  government  six  hundred  and  sixty-nine  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-tivo  dollars  and  thirty-four  cents.  I  have  given 
full  particulars  of  this  insurrection  in  the  Appendix  to  this  work 
in  Chapter  IV.,  on  the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  to  which  I  would 
refer  my  readers. 

Outrage  on  the  Chesapeake  Frigate. 

The  people  of  Washington  County,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1807, 
jealous  of  their  rights,  their  liberties,  and  their  military  fame,  called 
a  meeting  to  take  measures  with  regard  to  the  outrages  committed 
on  the  Chesapeake  frigate  by  a  British  ship-of-war.  We  may  name 
this  as  the  jifth  military  movement.  Col.  William  McKennan 
was  chosen  Chairman,  and  Gen.  John  Morgan  Secretary.  The  pro- 
ceedings* of  citizens  of  Norfolk,  Hampton,  Philadelphia,  and  other 
cities,  were  read,  and  Parker  Campbell,  Gen.  John  Morgan,  Thomas 
Acheson,  Edward  Todd,  and  John  Simonson,  Esqs.,  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  report  resolutions,  who  reported  that  the  people  of 
Washington  County  sensibly  feel  the  outrageous  conduct  of  the 
tyrants  of  the  ocean,  and  pledged  themselves,  by  all  the  ties  most 
sacred  among  men,  to  support,  by  every  exertion  and  all  the  means 
in  their  power,  all  measures  of  defence  or  retaliation  best  adapted 
to  prevent  a  repetition  of  such  outrages,  and  enforce  proper  conces- 
sions for  the  past. 

The  meeting  also  tendered  their  services  to  government,  and 
promised  to  repair  to  the  posts  assigned  to  them  at  the  first  call, 
approving  and  applauding  the  executive  prohibition  of  the  entrance 
of  British  ships-of-war  into  the  ports  and  harbors  of  the  United 
States,  and  of  all  intercourse  with  them.  They  also  wisely  resolved 
that  hospitality  under  such  circumstances  ceases  to  be  a  duty,  and 
the  honor  and  independence  of  our  country  forbid  a  continuance 
of  it,  and  they  also  urge  the  necessity  of  a  prompt  attention  to 
arms,  equipments,  &c.,  to  defend  an  injured  country. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  1809,  Col.  Thomas  Acheson  issued  the 
following  military  address  in  connection  with  this  subject,  to  the  23d 
Regiment,  in  Washington  County : — 


292  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

"  Fellow  Soldiers :  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  consequence  of  the 
outrageous  attack  and  cowardly  murder  of  our  fellow- citizens  on  board  the 
Chesapeake  by  the  slaves  of  Britain  in  the  month  of  June,  1807,  that  the 
President  ordered  ten  thousand  militia  of  the  United  States  to  be  held  in 
readiness  for  actual  service.  That  on  the  10th  of  August  of  the  same  year 
you  were  called  together  for  the  same  purpose  of  furnishing  the  proper 
quota  of  men  from  this  regiment,  when  three  hundred  and  five  patriots 
tendered  their  services  to  the  President  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning  to 
any  part  of  the  Union  or  elsewhere.  But  the  law  under  which  that  tender 
was  made  having  expired,  you  once  more  have  an  opportunity  of  renewing 
that  tender. 

'■  It  appears  that  no  kind  of  satisfaction  was  ever  offered  by  the  British 
government  for  the  murder  of  our  fellow-citizens  on  board  the  Chesapeake, 
but  that  notwithstanding  the  forbearance  of  our  general  government,  in- 
sult was  added  to  injury,  hence  the  blood  of  your  brethren  still  cries  aloud 
for  vengeance.  While  we  are  informed  that  the  yeomanry  of  enslaved 
Europe  are  fighting  for  their  task-masters,  and  thereby  riveting  their  own 
chains,  shall  the  free  and  independent  citizens  of  this  happy  country  shrink 
from  the  defence  of  our  homes  ?  I  trust  not,  but  that  all  those  young 
patriots  who  voluntarily  tendered  their  services  on  the  former  occasion 
will  now  be  first  to  renew  that  tender,  and  evince  to  the  world  that  the 
honor,  dignity,  and  independence  of  this  injured  country,  so  dearly  pur- 
chased by  their  father's  blood,  is  nearer  to  them  than  life,  and  that  they 
will  rally  around  the  standard  of  liberty,  and  defend  and  support  the  go- 
vernment of  their  choice  against  insidious  and  domestic  traitors." 

War  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 

The  sixth  militaiy  event  in  the  history  of  Washington  County 
was  the  interest  she  evinced  in  the  Avar  of  1812,  commonly  called 
the  Second  War  for  Independence.  It  will  be  remembered  that  war 
was  declared  by  the  United  States  on  the  19th  day  of  June,  1812, 
because  England  claimed  the  right  to  search  all  neutral  vessels  for 
British  seamen,  and  all  were  claimed  as  such  who  could  not  exhibit 
official  papers  of  their  birth  and  regular  shipment  under  a  neutral 
government ;  hence  native  born  citizens  of  America  were  taken  from 
under  our  flag  and  impressed  into  service,  the  consequences  of  wdiich 
was  the  war  of  1812.  The  difficulties  were  hastened  by  the  attack 
on  the  Chesapeake.  On  the  22d  of  June  following,  a  public  meet- 
ing of  the  citizens  of  this  county  was  held  to  ascertain  the  public 
sentiment  with  respect  to  the  measures  of  the  general  government, 
of  which  David  Morris,  Esq.,  was  chairman.  A  committee  consist- 
ing of  Thomas  Acheson,  Robert  Anderson,  Alexander  IMurdoch, 
Thomas  II.  Baird,  and  Parker  Campbell,  were  aiipointed  to  prepare 
an  address  to  be  submitted  to  the  people,  at  an  adjourned  county 
meeting,  on  the  2lth  of  June,  at  which  meeting  llev.  Thomas  L. 
Bircli,  AVilliam  Iloge,  and  Parker  Campbell,  Esqs.,  made  patriotic 
addresses. 

On  tlie  24th  of  August,  1812,  Gen.  Thomas  Acheson,  as  chairman 
of  the  Committee,  issued  an  address,  in  the  following  w^ords,  to  the 
people  of  Washington  County  : — 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  293 

"They  owe  it  to  the  brave  volunteers  to  make  known  to  the  world  that 
the  spirit  of  the  Washington  County  militia  is  the  spirit  of  liberty,  of 
patriotism,  and  of  humanity,  and  that  when  any  emergency  requires  their 
exertions,  no  consideration  of  personal  danger  or  inconvenience  can  pre- 
vent them  from  rushing  to  the  scene  of  apprehended  attack." 

On  Wednesday,  the  26th  of  July,  news  arrived  in  Washington, 
by  express  from  Gen.  Wadsworth,  that  Gen.  Hull  and  his  army  had 
been  captured,  and  that  a  body  of  five  thousand  British  and  Indians 
were  advancing  with  barbarous  ferocity  upon  our  defenceless  frontiers. 
This  information  was  confirmed  by  several  other  express  messengers, 
who  arrived  in  Pittsburg  with  the  alarming  intelligence  that  they 
had  in  fact  marched  within  nine  miles  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

A  Committee  of  Safety  and  Arrangement  was  formed,  who  were 
directed  to  appeal  to  their  fellow-citizens  in  Washington  County, 
and  to  open  a  communication  so  as  to  secure  a  co-operation  in  their 
plans  and  organizations.  They  appealed,  and  they  appealed  not  in 
vain.  In  forty-eight  hours  from  the  first  call  a  company  of  young 
men  from  the  town  of  Washington  and  its  vicinity,  of  light  infantry, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  William  Sample,  volunteered  them- 
selves to  march  to  the  scene  of  savage  slaughter  and  devastation. 
By  the  amiable  and  spirited  assistance  of  the  Ladies  of  Washing- 
ton, they  were  completely  uniformed  and  equipped. 

Another  company  was  also  formed  within  the  bounds  of  the 
Washington  regiment,  and  the  "  Rifle  Rangers,"  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  (afterwards  Governor)  Joseph  Ritner,  volunteered  their 
services  as  a  body.  A  troop  of  horse  from  Col.  Dickerson's  regi- 
ment, under  Capt.  Lawrence,  turned  out  with  alacrity.  A  com- 
pany of  infantry,  under  Capt.  Buchanan,  of  Middletown,  also  offered 
their  services.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  brave  volunteers,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Dickerson,  informed  Gen.  Acheson  that  they  were 
ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning.  Capt.  Cartey  and  part  of 
his  troop,  and  the  troop  of  Capt.  Shouse,  from  Williamsport  (now 
Monongahela  City)  were  also  ready  to  march.  The  Williamsport 
Rangers,  and  Capt.  Thomas's  infantry  held  themselves  subject  to 
orders.  From  this  brigade  there  were  not  less  than  seven  hundred 
men,  exclusive  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  from  Burgettstown, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Thos.  Patterson,  Major  John  Vance,  and 
Capt.  McCready. 

By  the  liberal  contributions  of  spirited  individuals,  six  hundred 
dollars  were  subscribed  in  Washington  in  a  few  minutes ;  between 
three  and  four  hundred  dollars  in  Middletown  ;  four  hundred  dol- 
lars in  Burgettstown,  with  considerable  sums  from  other  places,  for 
the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  detachment. 

A  letter  from  Burgettstown,  dated  August  28th,  1812,  says: — 

"  I  will  inform  you  of  the  movement  at  this  place  for  the  last  ten  days. 
On  Monday  evening  an  express  came  who  brought  the  news  of  the  loss  of 
Gen.  Hull's  army,  and  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  by  rapid  marches 


294  HISTORY   OF   WASniNGTON    COUNTY. 

towards  Cleveland.*  Expresses  were  despatched  in  all  quarters,  and  on 
Tuesday  evening  the  greater  part  of  the  23d  regiment,  of  "Washington 
County,  met  at  this  place.  About  two  hundred  volunteers  volunteered  to 
repel  the  enemy.  On  Wednesday  evening  all  was  bustle.  A  committee 
of  arrangement  was  appointed  to  provide  wagons,  provisions,  &c.  The 
females,  young  and  old,  were  employed  in  making  knapsacks  and  hunting 
shirts.  Children  of  ten  years  were  engaged  in  scraping  lint  for  the  medi- 
cine chest.  All  were  busily  engaged  in  some  necessary  work  ;  blacksmiths 
making  tomahawks  and  knives,  carpenters  handling  them,  &c.  Yesterday 
Col.  Patterson's  detachment  marched,  consisting  of  about  three  hundred 
men,  part  of  which  were  cavalry,  and  encamped  nine  miles  from  this  place. 
The  detachment  is  furnished  with  five  baggage  wagons  and  eighteen  bul- 
locks, and  supplied  with  everything  for  comfort  and  accommodation." 

From  our  aged  and  honored  friend  James  McFarren,  Esq.,  now 
deceased,  we  received  the  following  letter  on  the  same  subject : — 

"  In  the  month  of  August,  1812,  an  express  arrived  in  the  northwest  part 
of  Washington  County  from  Gen.  Beal,  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  stating  that  the 
British  and  Indians  had  landed  in  large  numbers  at  the  mouth  of  Huron 
Eiver,  and  were  marching  on  Pittsburg.  A  number  of  riders  set  out  and 
alarmed  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  townships.  On  the  second  day 
a  large  meeting  was  held  in  Burgettstown  ;  a  battalion  formed  of  about 
three  hundred  volunteers.  Ladies  sat  up  the  whole  night  making  knapsacks, 
tents,  &c.  This  battalion  was  composed  of  four  companies  commanded 
respectively  by  Capt.  Thomas  Patterson,  Capt.  Wm.  Vance,  Capt.  Samuel 
Rankin,  and  Capt.  Robert  Withrew's  light  dragoons,  who  rendezvoused  at 
the  Brtcelnnd  Cross  Roads.  After  all  were  in  readiness,  the  first  day  they 
marched  to  the  edge  of  Beaver  County,  the  second  day  they  held  an  election, 
and  John  Vance  was  elected  major.  The  battalion  on  the  third  day  took 
up  the  line  of  march,  crossed  the  Ohio  River  at  Georgetown,  and  encamped 
on  the  bottom  at  the  mouth  of  Dry  Run.  On  the  fourth  day,  being  Satur- 
day, they  arrived  at  New  Lisbon  a  little  before  sunset.  During  this  day's 
march  they  met  a  number  of  Gen.  Hull's  soldiers,  and  among  the  rest  Gen. 
Lucas,  who  was  afterwards  Governor  of  Ohio,  who  informed  us  that  Hull 
had  surrendered  his  army  at  Detroit;  that  the  men  were  taken  to  Maiden, 
U.  C,  where  they  were  dismissed  on  parole  and  sent  to  the  mouth  of  Huron 
River,  and  it  was  from  this  fact  that  the  false  alarm  had  arisen. 

"  Major  Vance's  battalion,  however,  pitched  their  tents  half  a  mile  east  of 
Lisbon,  remained  until  Monday  morning,  when  they  struck  their  tents  and 
took  up  their  line  of  march  fur  home." 

"On  September  7, 1812,  tlie  citizens  of  AVashiilgton  County  assembled  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  a  fund  for  the  support  of  the  families  of  such  volun- 
teers as  should  ro(|uire  aid,  and  also  pledged  themselves  to  use  their  influence 
with  the  legislature  to  procure  the  passage  of  a  law  to  pay  each  volunteer 
a  stipulated  sum  in  addition  to  the  pay  allowed  by  the  United  States. 

"  September  14, 1812,  Gen.  Acheson  received  additional  orders  to  furnish 
a  further  quota  of  two  hundred  men,  to  assemble  at  AVashington  on  the  28th 
and  march  to  Pittsburg,  where  two  thousand  men  are  to  rendezvous  on 


*  Gen.  Hull  surrendered  on  16th  July,  1812,  fourteen  hundred  men  to  three  hun- 
dred Engli.>ih  soldiers,  four  hundred  Can.adinn  militia,  and  a  band  of  Indian  allies,  for 
which  disgraceful  conduct  he  was  tried  for  treason  and  cowardice  by  a  court-martial, 
convicted  of  the  latter  charge,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  but  pardoned  by  the 
President. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY,  295 

Friday,  October  2,  1812.  From  thence  they  will  be  required  to  march  and 
join  the  army  assembling  in  Ohio,  for  the  defence  of  the  western  frontiers. 

"  December  28,  1812,  Capt.  W.  Sample  returned  irom  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  the 
six  months  volunteers  having  been  furloughed  or  dismissed.  He  states 
that  all  are  on  their  road  home  except  Lieut.  James  Ruple,  who  was  left  at 
Buffalo,  but  is  now  convalescent. 

"  February  15, 1813,  Captain  William  Patterson,  who  had  command  of  the 
Tenniile  Rangers,  unitedly  and  unconditionally  volunteered  their  services, 
and  marched  to  the  beach  several  times  for  the  purpose  of  embarking  for 
Canada,  but  was  ordered  back  by  the  commanding  general.  We  need  but 
add  that  the  campaign  of  1812  closed  unsuccessfully,  and  the  soldiers 
returned  home  Feb.  22,  181.3.  The  officers  of  the  VVashington  Infantry 
composed  of  Capt.  William  Sample,  Lieut.  James  Ruple,  and  Lieut.  George 
Tayloi',  on  behelf  of  the  company,  tendered  their  sincere  thanks  to  Major 
James  Herriott,  for  his  conduct  after  their  organization  at  Buffalo  in 
December  last,  and  in  providing  for  the  men  on  their  way  home." 

After  the  disgraceful  surrender  of  Hull,  the  citizen  soldier  felt 
the  necessity  of  retrieving  the  honor  of  the  nation,  by  prosecuting  the 
war.  Yolunteer  companies  were  raised  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Ten- 
nessee, Virginia,  and  Western  Pennsylvania  furnished  her  quota  under 
Gen.  Richard  Crooks,  who  had  been  elected  brigadier-general  of  the 
detachment  rendezvousing  at  Pittsburg.  The  command  of  the 
army  was  given  to  Gen.  W.  H.  Harrison,  who  established  his  head- 
quarters in  January,  1813,  at  Franklinton,  to  recover  Detroit  and 
the  Michigan  territory.  Of  the  victories  of  the  American  arms  at 
Fort  Meigs,  Fort  Stevenson,  Lake  Erie,  and  the  Thames,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Harrison,  over  the  combined  British  and  Indian 
armies  under  Gen.  Proctor  and  Tecumseh,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me 
to  speak;  suffice  it  to  say  that  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  especi- 
ally the  soldiers  of  Washington  County,  fought  valiantly  in  these 
battles,  and  after  a  twelve  months'  tour  were  discharged  about  the 
middle  of  September,  1813. 

In  July,  1814,  Admiral  Cochrane's  British  fleet  arrived  for  the 
supposed  purpose  of  destroying  the  American  flotilla  which  had  been 
chased  some  weeks  before  up  the  Patuxent,  but  in  August  this  British 
squadron  landed  a  small  army  at  Benedict,  on  the  river  Patuxent, 
under  General  Ross,  to  make  an  attack  on  Washington  City,  which 
it  accomplished  on  the  24th  of  August,  1814,  by  the  destruction  of 
all  the  public  buildings,  library  of  Congress,  &c.,  which  vandal  act  so 
roused  the  spirit  of  the  nation  that  the  citizen  soldiers  volunteered 
their  services  to  retrieve  the  honor  of  the  nation. 

Emboldened  by  this  vandal  act.  General  Ross  determined  with  his 
five  thousand  British  soldiers  to  make  his  winter  quarters  in  Balti- 
more; was  met  on  September  12,  1814,  by  the  American  forces, 
when  he  was  killed,  with  forty-six  others,  two  hundred  wounded,  and 
many  taken  prisoners. 

While  Major  James  Dunlap  was  on  his  march  with  his  quota  of 
soldiers  from  Washington  County  on  November  24,  1814,  to  join 
the  encampment  at  that  place,  his  detachment  was  disbanded.  Gov. 


295  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY; 

Simon  Snyder  having  notified  him  that  the  services  of  the  four  thou- 
sand Pennsylvania  militia  were  for  the  present  dispensed  with. 
The  Governor  added  his  high  sense  of  the  honorable  feeling  and 
patriotic  spirit  manifested  by  those  who  were  ready  to  march  and 
willing  to  subject  themselves  at  this  inclement  season  to  the  priva- 
tions and  hardships  always  inseparable  from  military  service,  in  de- 
fence of  their  beloved  country,  and  to  avert  the  dangers  with  which 
it  was  threatened. 

The  soldiers  having  returned,  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Washington 
still  believed  that  the  duty  of  preparing  for  war  was  essentially 
necessary,  and  to  provide,  should  a  new  danger  occur,  for  the  supply 
of  any  force  which  may  be  required,  kept  up  military  organizations. 

The  Hon.  Alexander  W.  Acheson  handed  me  the  following  paper, 
which  throws  much  light  upon  the  foregoing  fact,  and  is  worthy  of 
being  recorded,  being  indorsed  in  these  words  :  Subscription  of  the 
citizens  of  Washington  to  equip  a  company  of  volunteers,  to  enable 
them  to  meet  the  enemy. 

AVe,  the  subscribers,  do  promise  to  pay  the  sums  annexed  to  our  respec- 
tive names  for  the  purpose  of  equipping  such  of  the  volunteers  now  about 
to  march  on  a  tour  of  duty  as  are  unprepared  for  the  expedition.  Witness 
our  hands  at  Washington,  October  31st,  1814. 

Thomas  and  David  Acheson,  SoO  ;  Alexander  Murdoch,  $20  ;  Thomas  H. 
Baird,  $20  ;  John  Wishart,  $5  ;  H.  Hagarty,  $5  ;  James  Dougherty.  $;> ; 
R.  Anderson,  $5  ;  Thomas  Mc(TifBn,  $.'> ;  David  ]\Iorris,  $5  ;  William  Hun- 
ter, $3;  James  Marshall,  .$2;  George  Jackson,  $1.50;  James  Orr,  $1.50; 
Thomas  Officer,  $5 ;  F.  Julius  Lcmoyne,  $5  ;  James  Duulap,  $5 ;  John 
Kuntz,  $5;  Parker  Campbell,  $10;  John  Barrington,  $10;  Isaac  Kerr, 
10  ;  John  Johnson,  $5  ;  John  Gregg,  $7  ;  Hugh  Wylie,  $5  ;  Robert  Hazlett, 
$5  ;  George  Baird,  $5  ;  Alexander  Reed,  $10  ;  John  Neal,  $5  ;  James  Blaine, 
$5  ;  Richard  Donaldson,  $5  ;  J.  Patton,  $1.50  ;  James  Reed,  $3  ;  William 
Baird,  $6 ;  James  Cummins,  $4 ;  Col.  Scott,  $5 ;  Thomas  Ramsey,  $4. 
Amounting  to  $253.50. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1815,  under  General  Andrew  Jackson, 
the  last  battle  was  fought  with  the  p]nglish  nation  at  Xew  Orleans, 
by  which  a  victory  of  the  most  unparalleled  brilliancy  and  import- 
ance was  achieved.  It  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  its  conse- 
quences; suffice  it  to  say,  however,  that  the  most  important  commer- 
cial portal  of  our  country  was  ]n'eservcd  from  the  rude  grasp  of  a 
foreign  power,  and  the  fruits  of  the  industry  of  the  soil  preserved  to 
its  owners  by  the  American  eagle,  the  ensign  of  liberty  triumphing 
over  the  British  lion. 

Time  would  fail  me,  as  well  as  the  patience  of  my  readers  would 
DBComc  exhausted,  were  I  to  recount  and  recapitulate  the  battles  in 
which  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  Washington  County  have  been 
engaged  since  the  organization  of  this  county ;  I  shall,  therefore, 
leave  this  interesting  question  to  the  student  of  history  to  consult 
other  general  historical  works,  and  give  the  names  and  present  ages 
of  the  survivors  of  the  war  of  1812  residing  in  Washington  County 
in  1870. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  297 

John  Conlin,  90  years  ;  George  Howe,  89  years  ;  James  McClelland,  86 
years  ;  Hon.  John  Grayson,  87  years  ;  John  Urie,  86  years;  Amos  Pratt, 
84  years  ;  James  Edgar,  83  years;  James  White,  83  years;  Benjamin  Ben- 
nett, 83  years  ;  Jonathan  Hixon,  83  years  ;  Jacob  Jordan,  83  years  ;  Allen 
Thompson,  80  years  ;  Alexander  McConnell,  80  years  ;  John  McCombs,  80 
years  ;  Joseph  Miller,  79  years ;  Samuel  Cole,  78  years ;  George  Spence,  78 
years;  James  Boon,  78  years;  John  Fitzwilliams,  76  years;  Horatio 
Molden,  76  years;  James  McDermot,  75  years;  John  Ritter,  75  years; 
Jacob  Dimit,  74  years  ;  Joseph  Henderson,  72  years. 

There  are  but  six  widows  in  Washington  County  drawing  pen- 
sions for  the  services  of  their  husbands  in  the  war  of  1812,  viz  : 
Mrs.  Catharine  A.  Wilson,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Wolf,  Mrs.  Hannah  Day, 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Porter,  Mrs.  Mary  Fowler,  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Black. 

Texas. 

The  Seventh  military  event  in  which  this  county  was  engaged  took 
place  on  September  6th,  1836,  when  Texas  struggled  to  be  free  and 
become  a  component  part  of  the  United  States.  The  address,  written 
on  the  occasion  by  Thomas  Jefferson  Morgan,  Esq.,  of  this  place,  and 
editor  of  a  paper  called  "  Our  Country,"  speaks  for  itself,  giving  all 
the  reasons  why  we  should  assist  Texas  to  gain  her  independence. 
It  is  in  these  words : — 

•To  ALL  Patriotic  and  Enterprising  Men. 

Emigrants  for  Texas. 
To  Rendezvous  at  Washington,  Pa.,  on  6th  September,  1836. 

The  descendants  of  the  Revolutionary  heroes  too  well  appreciate  the 
blessings  of  freedom  to  fail  in  sympathizing  with  nations  struggling  for  Inde- 
pendence. Greece  asserted  her  rights,  and  the  sons  and  daughters  of  our 
happy  republic  vied  with  one  another  in  sustaining  the  cause  of  liberty  upon 
the  classic  soil  of  Athens  and  of  Sparta.  Bleeding  Poland  sought  to  dis- 
enthral herself  from  the  servile  grasp  of  Russia's  autocrat,  and  whilst 
France  and  England  calmly  gazed  upon  the  scene  of  slaughter,  permitting 
interest  to  subvert  the  heaven-born  principles  of  justice  and  humanity,  the 
people  of  the  United  States  were  again  found  actively  engaged  in  contri- 
buting to  the  aid  and  succoring  the  cause  of  the  chivalric  and  patriotic  Pole. 
The  plains  upon  which  Sobieski  fought  and  Kosciusko  bled,  are  yet  the 
haunts  of  the  oppressor ;  but  do  not  their  exiled  heroes,  their  matrons,  and 
their  virgins,  supplicate  at  the  throne  of  the  Great  Eternal  for  the  preser- 
vation of  the  liberties  of  our  beloved  Columbia? 

Freedom's  call  once  more  summons  us  to  action.  Humanity  beckons, 
philanthropy  beseeches,  duty  commands  us  to  hasten  to  the  rescue  of  our 
fellow  countrymen  1  Not  to  go  beyond  seas  ;  not  to  rally  around  the  stand- 
ard of  strangers  in  a  distant  land,  but  we  are  called  upon  by  all  that  is 
honorable,  all  that  is  sacred,  all  that  is  noble,  to  fly  to  the  succor  of  our 
fellow-citizens  and  avenge  the  slaughter  of  our  butchered  brethren. 

The  causes  which  produced  the  present  Texan  struggle  for  independence 
are  too  familiar  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  to  require  a  recapitula- 
tion. Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  people  of  this  country  were  invited  to 
colonize  certain  districts  of  land  in  the  Republic  of  Mexico.  Our  citizens 
were  promised  laws  and  a  constitution  similar  to  our  own.  This  invitation 
20 


298  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

upon  the  part  of  the  Mexican  government  being  accepted,  thousands  of 
emigrants  from  the  United  States  poured  into  Texas.  The  Mexicans,  becom- 
ing jealous  of  their  rapidly  increasing  strength,  sought  to  circumscribe  the 
energies  of  the  Texans  by'  the  "lenaction  of  tyrannical  and  unwarrantable 
laws,  equally  incompatible  with  liberty,  justice,  and  humanity.  The  Texans, 
upon  demanding  a  redress  of  their  grievances,  were  treated  with  insult,  and 
their  commissioners  cast  into  a  dungeon.  But  it  is  unnecessary  to  follow 
the  course  of  events  which  have  enkindled  the  spark  of  freedom  in  the 
bosoms  of  the  colonists,  and  lit  the  flame  of  revolution  upon  the  hills  and 
upon  the  plains  of  Texas.  The  damning  treachery  and  demoniac  thirst  for 
blood  exhibited  by  Santa  Anna  and  his  coadjutors  in  deeds  of  hellish  cruelty, 
are  ample  evidence  of  their  utter  destitution  of  all  those  qualifications 
which  should  be  the  characteristics  of  the  governors  of  afreejieople. 

The  Texans  are  emphatically  "  blood  of  our  blood  and  bone  of  our  bone;" 
they  confidently  cast  their  eyes  to  the  United  States  for  assistance  in  their 
struggle  for  independence.  Shall  they  be  disappointed  ?  Shall  the  blood 
of  Fannin,  Travis,  Bowie,  Crockett,  and  a  host  of  other  martyrs  in  the 
cause  of  freedom  have  been  shed  in  vain  ?  Look  to  yon  fearful  pile  upon 
which  are  stretched  the  yet  struggling  forms  of  those  victims  of  Mexican 
duplicity  and  worse  than  savage  barbarity  !  See,  the  torch  is  applied,  and 
now  the  awful  deafening  shriek  ensues.  Anon,  the  curling  smoke  ascends 
towards  heaven,  and  bones  and  ashes  are  the  sad  remnants  of  our  country- 
men !  Who  does  not  cry  aloud  for  vengeance  ?  Who  does  not  burn  with 
impatience  to  chastise  these  Mexican  bloodhounds  ?  If  there  be  any  one, 
let  him  eschew  the  appellation  of  American  citizen  !  Let  him  flee  the  land 
where  liberty  dwells,  and  seek  a  more  congenial  asylum  within  the  walls  of 
Constantinople  or  St.  Petersburg. 

Countrymen !  I  know  full  well  it  is  unnecessary  to  mention  any  other 
inducement  which  is  extended  to  volunteers,  than  that  of  a  desire  to  estab- 
lish free  and  liberal  principles  upon  the  ruins  of  tyranny,  fanaticism,  and 
bloodshed,  but  for  the  sake  of  information  I  shall  subjoin 

TnE  Terms  upon  which  Volunteers  enter  the  Army  of  Texas. 

1st.  Each  volunteer  serving  three  months  shall  receive  320  acres  of  land. 

2d.  Each  volunteer  serving  for  six  months  shall  receive  G40  acres  of  land. 

3d.  Each  volunteer  serving  during  the  war  and  establishing  himself  in  the 
country,  shall  receive  2110  acres  of  land  if  a  single  man,  and  if  a  married 
man  he  shall  receive  5240  acres  of  land. 

In  addition  to  these  munificent  bounties  in  land,  emigrants  serving  in  the 
army,  both  privates  and  officers,  shall  receive  the  same  pay,  rations,  and 
clothing  allowed  by  the  United  States. 

History  does  not  furnish  so  wide  and  fertile  a  field  for  enterprise  as  ever 
having  been  presented  to  the  view  of  any  people.  Those  individuals  who 
have  no  other  aim  in  this  life  than  the  mere  accumulation  of  riches,  where 
Avill  they  have  so  favorable  an  opportunity  to  realize  their  hopes  as  is  now 
offered  upon  the  plains  of  Texas  ?  If  wealth  then  be  your  sole  desire,  go 
to  Texas,  the  fairest  of  a  ilioasaiul  la7ids. 

Countrymen  1  well  do  I  realize  the  motives  which  alone  will  impel  you  to 
vigorous  and  speedy  action.  Woll  do  I  know  that  the  men  whom  1  address 
set  a  higher  value  upon  one  moment  of  virtuous  liberty  than  upon  the 
massive  piles  of  Persia's  fabled  treasure. 

The  undersigned  has  been  authorized  to  recruit  280  volunteers,  and  in 
accordance  with  this  authority  I  now  call  upon  the  freemen  of  Western  Penn- 
sylvania, and  of  the  surrounding  districts  of  Ohio  and  Virginia,  and  upon 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINaTON   COUNTY.  299 

all  patriots  wherever  may  be  their  habitation  to  join  me  in  my  undertaking. 
It  is  my  desire  that  all  volunteers  should  rendezvous  at  Washington  upon 
the  6th  of  September,  or  as  speedily  afterwards  as  practicable.  Each  indi- 
vidual should  be  well  supplied  with  necessary  clothing  of  a  substantial  cha- 
racter, particularly  socArs  and  shoes  or  hoots  with  heavy  soles.  No  one  need 
be  under  the  least  apprehension  of  danger  owing  to  the  change  of  climate, 
the  season  of  the  year  at  which  we  shall  reach  Texas  will  be  peculiarly 
favorable  to  emigrants.  Any  further  information  upon  the  subject  can  be 
obtained  by  addressing  the  subscriber  (post  paid),  at  this  place. 

Rally!  fellow-countrymen,  rally!  Thousands  of  our  citizens  from  the 
south  and  from  the  west  are  pouring  into  Texas  ;  some  of  our  greatest  and 
best  men  are  to  be  found  among  the  number;  will  you  be  backward  when 
the  cause  of  Freedom  is  at  hazard?  No!  I  know  you  better!  You  will 
prove  true  to  your  ancestors,  true  to  yourselves,  and  true  to  posterity  ! 
Come  on,  come  on  !  Liberty  calls  you  to  her  standard,  the  spirits  of  our  de- 
parted heroes  beckon  you  onward  !  Come  on,  come  on  !  Riches,  honor, 
happiness  await  you  !  On !  on  ! !  The  free  of  every  clime  will  pour  forth 
to  the  god  of  battles  their  fervent  supplications  for  your  success,  and  un- 
born millions  will  bless  your  memories  !  T.  Jefferson  Morgan. 

Washington,  Pa. ,  Aug.  18,  1836. 

Meetings  were  held  through  different  parts  of  Washington  County,  and 
committees  appointed  to  solicit  contributions  in  aid  of  the  Texan  emi- 
grants. On  the  19th  of  Sept.,  the  Morgan  riflemen  of  Pennsylvania  took 
up  the  line  of  march,  under  the  command  of  Thomas  Jefferson  Morgan. 
who  left  Washington  with  thirty  men,  but  was  augmented  at  Wheeling.  I 
shall  add  the  list  of  names  who  composed  the  "  Morgan  Rifle  Company." 

Officers. — T.  Jefferson  Morgan,  Captain,  Pennsylvania;  John  L.  Gil- 
der, 1st  Lieutenant,  Philadelphia;  John  W.  Brown,  2d  Lieutenant,  Upper 
Canada. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Harrisou  Gregg,  1st  Sergeant,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Lewis  F.  Shuster,  2d  Sergeant,  France;  Thomas  Ralston,  3d  Ser- 
geant, Pennsylvania ;  Melancthon  Locke,  4th  Sergeant,  New  York  ;  Isaac 
B.  Noble,  1st  Corporal,  New  York ;  Wm.  Richardson,  2d  Corporal,  Vir- 
ginia ;  J.  A.  Henderson,  3d  Corporal,  Pennsylvania ;  Jackson  Proctor,  4th 
Corporal,  Virginia. 

Privates. — John  Adams,  Pennsylvania ;  J.  W.  Alexander,  Kentucky ; 
W.  Baker,  Pennsylvania ;  H.  Bundhart,  Germany ;  George  Barry,  Penn- 
sylvania; John  Breckle,  Germany ;  Jacob  Buchanan,  Germany;  J.  H.  Bauer, 
Fi'ance ;  John  Blair,  Tennessee ;  John  Collier,  Maryland ;  John  Curtz,  Ger- 
many; Fred.  Drehler,  Germany ;  Francis  Glenner,  New  York ;  Chs.  Garner. 
Germany  ;  W.  C.  Haymond,  Virginia ;  George  HufF,  Pennsylvania ;  Theo- 
dore Hamar,  France ;  Joseph  Hiller,  Germany  ;  Joshua  Hudson,  Pennsyl- 
vania; James  Hamilton,  Pennsylvania;  George  Hamilton,  Pennsylvania ; 
Fred.  Happel,  Germany;  J.  Holt,  Virginia;  G.  S.  Haas,  Germany;  Alex. 
Hunter,  Pennsylvania  ;  Chs.  Johnston,  New  York  ;  John  Kelsey,  Louisi- 
ana; Peter  Knole,  Germany ;  Samuel  Lint,  Pennsylvania ;  George  Meyer, 
Germany;  Henry  Miller,  Germany;  Anthony  Miller,  Germany;  W.  F. 
Nicholson,  Pennsylvania ;  C.  G.  W.  Nafiee,  New  Jersey ;  John  Rahn, 
Switzerland;  Egelbert  Reihl,  Germany;  J.  Sappington,  Pennsylvania; 
David  Stoelzle,  Germany ;  Henry  Smith,  Germany ;  Lewis  Stuntzner,  Penn- 
sylvania; Thomas  Sharpe,  Pennsylvania;  Louis  Thiner,  Germany;  R.  M, 
Williams,  Maryland;  Anthony  Weiss,  France;  Henry  B.  Ward,  Kentucky; 
David  Wyand,  New  York  ;  F.  Walbold,  Pennsylvania.  / 


;>00  iriSTv^RY  OF  washixoton  couxty. 

»Tuno  21.  \S;>".  C:»pt.  Thoniftj!  .1.  Morsr.ui.  promotoil  to  tho  office  of  Briga- 
dier iionoral,  with  tho  rauk  and  omolutiou  of  a  major  of  cavalry. 

Goorjio  W.  Morgau  was  promoted  from  2d  Lieuteuaut  to  Isl  Lioutenaut 
of  Artillery. 

The  Mexican,  or  Eighth  W\vr 
m  trhich  Washington  County  teas  efujaged. 

It  i?  an  oj^tablifshod  fact  that  tho  Mexican  war  was  brought  on 
bv  tho  annexation  of  Texas  to  tho  United  States,  as  its  minister  at 
that  time  protested  against  it  as  an  aet  of  aggression,  and  as  des- 
poiling her  of  a  considerable  portion  of  her  territory.  The  minister 
on  presenting  his  prvUest  demanded  his  passport. 

lu  March.  1S4(>.  Pn^sident  Polk  directed  Gen.  Z.  Taylor  to  con- 
ivntrato  his  forces  on  tho  loft  bank  of  tho  Del  Norte,  which  formed 
tho  southwestern  iKnindarv  of  Texas,  and  was  therefore  an  exposed 
froiuior.  The  Mexican  g^»ueral,  on  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  our 
anuy,  held  a  couference  with  the  United  States  officers,  which 
resulted  in  our  offieei's  refusing  to  abandon  tho  country  and  their 
position.  The  Mexican  General  issued  an  appeal  to  the  American 
army  to  abandon  tho  standard  of  their  t.\Hintry,  and  not  fight  in  so 
inglorious  a  cause.  The  appeal  had  no  otToct  either  upon  tho  officers 
or  soldiers,  and  from  this  time  we  may  date  the  commencement  of 
hostilities.  The  first  cause  happened  on  April  '21.  1840.  when  the 
body  of  Col.  Cross  was  found,  having  been  robbed  ami  murdered  by 
Mexican  soldiers. 

History  speaks  in  glowiug  terms  of  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto — of 
the  surrender  of  Monterey,  of  Buena  Yista  ;  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz,  Cerro  Gordo,  Controras,  Cherubuseo,  Molino  del  Rev.  Che- 
pultepec,  Tampico.  and  finally  the  surrender  of  the  city  of  Mexico 
to  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  and  his  soldiers,  on  September  14.  lS4o. 

Although  ^Yashiugton  County,  like  many  other  counties,  did  not 
pariioipato  larg-ely  by  sending  companies,  battalions,  or  regiments ; 
yet  tho  name  of  Col.  Norton  McGitVui,  who  loft  his  mother's  home 
to  risk  life.  fame,  and  fortune  by  doing  a  soldier's  duty,  will  bo  ever 
held  in  remembrance  by  our  citizens.  Ho  volunteered  his  services, 
was  accepted,  and  proved  himself  worthy  of  tho  position  tendered 
to  and  accepted  by  him. 

Col.  McGiffin  served  bi^th  as  captain  and  lieut.-oolonel  of  the  12th 
regiment  in  the  rebellion  of  ISGl. 

James  Phillips,  of  Washington,  went  to  the  Mexican  war.  and 
proved  himself  a  bravo  and  gallant  soldier,  as  also  did  James  Mac- 
key,  Henry  Woods,  and  Jack  Lowrey,  who  were  the  only  imme- 
diate representatives  of  Washington  County. 

The  Rebellion*  of  ISGl,  or  Ninth  War 
i'»  tchich  Washington  Count tf  teas  engaged. 

The  soldiers  of  Washington  County,  emulating  the  patriotic  deeds 
of  their  fathers,  resolved  to  battle  against  the  gigantic  rebellion 
which  attempted  to  destroy  the  best  of  governments.  The  history 
of  their  prowess  on  the  battle-field  is   fresh  in  the  hearts  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   WAKHINGTON   COUNTY.  301 

living,  wiiile  memory  siiods  a  tear  to  the  brave  ones  who  fell  in 
defence  of  the  Constitution.  To  preserve,  therefore,  the  names  of 
the  livinf^  and  the  dead — soldiers  of  Washingt^jn  County — who 
fought,  hied,  and  died,  I  shall  not  only  give  their  names,  but  the 
company  in  which  they  marched,  as  well  as  the  casualties  which 
happened  to  each  on  the  battle-field. 

iiefore  proceeding  to  this  personal  interesting  history,  it  were 
well  to  remark  that  thirteen  Southern  States  declared  them.selves 
absolved  from  the  government  of  the  United  States  by  each  passing 
ordinances  of  secession.  They  severally  proclaimed  themselves  as 
free  and  independent,  with  the  right  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace, 
negotiate  treaties,  and  to  do  all  acts  whatever,  that  rightly  apper- 
tain to  free  and  independent  States.  These  ordinances  of  secession 
were  passed  by  the  several  States  in  the  following  order  : — 

1.  South  Carolina,  on  December  20,  18fi0,  Vjy  a  unanimous  vote  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  members.  On  April  3,  18G1,  the  State 
Convention  ratified  the  Confederate  Constitution  by  a  vote  of  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  to  sixteen. 

2.  MisaiHHipfji,  on  January  9, 18G1,  passed  the  ordinance  with  fifteen 
dissenting  votes,  and  on  March  30,  18C1,  ratified  the  Confederate 
Constitution  by  a  vote  of  seventy-eight  to  seven. 

3.  Florida,  on  January  12,  1801,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-two  to  seven. 

4.  Alabama,  on  January  11,  1861,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-one  to  thirty- 
nine. 

5.  Georfjia,  on  January  19,  1861,  by  a  vote  of  two  hundred  and 
eight  to  eighty-nine. 

6.  Louiniana,  on  January  26,  1861,  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  to  seventeen. 

The  vote  of  the  people  was,  for  secession,  20,448,  against  IT, 296. 

7.  Texan,  on  February  1,  1861,  subject  to  a  vote  of  the  people,  to 
be  held  on  23d  day  of  February,  and  to  take  efifect  on  March  4,  1861, 
if  approved. 

8.  Virginia,  on  April  IT,  1861,  by  a  vote  of  sixty  to  fifty-three, 
repealed  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
subject  to  a  vote  of  the  people  in  the  following  May,  and  on  the.  6th 
of  May  Virginia  was  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy. 

9.  Arkansas,  on  May  6,  1861,  by  a  vote  of  .sixty-nine  to  one,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  Southern  Confederacy  May  18,  1861. 

10.  Tennessee,  on  February  19,  1861,  voted  against  secession,  but 
on  May  6,  1861,  it  was  proclaimed  out  of  the  Union  by  the  legislature, 
which,  however,  gave  the  people  the  liberty  to  vote  on  the  24th  of 
June  following;  the  vote  .stood  for  separation  from  the  Government 
of  the  United  States,  104,913;  again.st,  47.238. 

11.  North  Carolina,  on  May  20,  1861,  passed  an  ordinance  of 
secession,  also  ratifying  the  Constitution  of  the  Confederate  States. 

12.  Missouri,  on  August  5,  1861,  through  Gov.  C.  F.  Jack.son,  pub- 
lished a  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  on  the  2l8t  of  the  same 


302  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

month  tliis  State  was  admitted  into  the  Southern  Confederacy  on 
certain  conditions,  but  a  convention  emanating  from  the  people  was 
hold  on  July  31st,  and  Hamilton  R.  Gamble  was  inaugurated  as 
Governor  on  August  1,  18(5 1.  In  his  position  as  Governor  he  was 
promised  the  aid  and  co-operation  of  the  General  Government. 

13.  Kentucky,  on  November  20,  1861,  adopted  a  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence and  ordinance  of  separation,  and  on  Deceml)er  14,  1861, 
elected,  by  its  legislative  council,  delegates  to  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy, and  on  December  16,  1861,  the  Senators  from  Kentucky 
were  sworn  in,  the  State  having  been  admitted.  Kentucky  was 
entitled  to  twelve  representatives. 

The  following  seven  States,  by  their  representatives,  held  a  con- 
vention at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on  February  4, 1861,  and  adopted 
a  constitution  for  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  viz.,  Alabama, 
Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  North  Carolina,  and  South 
Carolina.  On  February  9,  Jefferson  Davis  was  elected  President, 
and  Alexander  II.  Stephens  Yice-Prosident,  who  were  inaugurated  on 
February  18th.  This  Congress  continued  in  session  until  May  21, 
and  adjourned  to  meet  at  Richmond  Juh'  20.  At  the  July  session 
Virginia  sent  thirteen  delegates,  who  were  admitted.  The  meeting 
of  the  first  session  under  its  constitution  was  held  February  18, 
1862,  the  following  States  being  represented  :  Alabama,  Arkansas, 
Florida,  Georgia,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Missouri,  North 
Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Yirginia.- 

In  connection  with  the  Virginia  question  I  may  add  that  on  June 
17,  1861,  the  convention  emanating  from  the  people  of  Western 
Virginia  unanimously  voted  that  by  the  action  of  the  State  of  Vir- 
ginia they  were  independent  of  and  declared  themselves  as  the  State 
of  West  Virginia.  On  June  20,  the  people  elected  a  governor, 
and  on  June  26  the  President  of  the  United  States  recognized  the 
State  of  West  Virginia. 

With  these  preliminary  remarks  we  shall  proceed  to  the  history 
of  the  rebellion.  The  firing  of  the  first  gun  was  on  April  12,  1861, 
at  4.30  A.  M.,  when  an  attack  was  made  upon  Fort  Sumter  from 
Fort  Moultrie,  the  batteries  on  Mount  Pleasant,  Cummings'  Point, 
and  the  floating  batteries,  numbering  seventeen  mortars  and  thirty 
large  guns  for  shot,  mostly  columbiads.  April  13,  1861,  at  12.55 
P.  M.,  the  (lag  of  Fort  Sumter  was  hauled  down  and  the  fort  was 
surrendered  on  honorable  terms  by  Major  Robert  Anderson,  although 
he  did  not  evacuate  it  until  the  15th.  President  Lincoln  on  this 
day  called  for  75,000  men  to  serve  for  three  months  to  suppress  the 
rebellion,  of  which  soldiers  Pennsylvania's  quota  was  fourteen  regi- 
ments, each  regiment  to  consist  of  seven  hundred  and  eighty  officers 
and  men;  yet  Pennsylvania  increased  her  quota  to  twenty-five  regi- 
ments, and  so  patriotic  were  the  feelings  of  the  people  that  thirty  addi- 
tional regiments  were  refused.  These  twenty-five  regiments,  consist- 
ing of  twenty-nine  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-nine  soldiers, 
after  honorably  serving  their  full  term,  were  mustered  out  of  service. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  303 

Under  this  call  Washington  County  responded  by  two  companies 
marching  to  Pittsburg  and  organizing  the  12th  Regiment,  under  the 
supervision  of  General  James  S.  Negely. 

On  the  25th  of  April,  1861,  these  two  companies,  with  eight 
others,  elected  their  field  officers — David  Campbell,  of  Pittsburg, 
Colonel ;  Norton  McGiffin,  of  Washington,  Lieutenant-Colonel  ; 
Alexander  Hays,  of  Pittsburg,  Major.  This  regiment  fulfilled  its 
mission,  and  the  term  of  enlistment,  three  months,  having  expired, 
it  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Harrisburg,  August  5,  1861.* 

Company  E  was  composed  of  the  following  officers  and  men,  and 
was  recruited  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  and  mustered  into  ser- 
vice April  25,  1861:— 

Officers. — Norton  McGiffin,  Captain ;  W.  F.  Templeton,  1st  Lieu- 
tenant ;  Samuel  T.  Griffith,  2d  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissTONED  OFFICERS. — Oliver  R.  McNary,  1st  Sergeant ;  David 
Brady,  2d  Sergeant;  John  Q.  A.  Boyd,  3d  Sergeant;  David  Acheson,  4th 
Sergeant ;  John  D.  McKahan,  1st  Corporal ;  Henry  Brown,  2d  Corporal; 
Eobert  B.  Elliott,  3d  Corporal ;  George  B.  Caldwell,  4th  Corporal. 

Musicians. — William  A.  McCoy  and  Simon  W.  Lewis. 

Privates. — John  W,  Achoson,  Henry  H.  Alter,  James  Barr,  Edwin  W. 
Bausman,  Peter  Blonberg,  Hugh  P.  Boon,  John  V.  Brobst,  John  A.  Byers, 
John  L.  Cooke,  Henry  M.  Dougan,  Horace  B.  Durant,  Tertius  A.  Durant, 
Henry  Erdman,  Hardman  Gantz,  John  L.  Gettys,  James  Grier,  John  M. 
Griffith,  Charles  Hallam,  Wra.  T.  Hamilton,  Alexander  C.  Hamilton,  Wm. 
Hart,  Eli  Hess,  Wm.  H,  Horn,  J.  W.  Hughes,  Robert  P.  Hughes,  Andrew 
J.  Hyde,  James  B.  Kennedy,  John  Kendall,  PhiUp  P.  Kuntz,  John  Law- 
ton,  Joseph  J.  Lane,  Matthew  P.  Linn,  Chas.  L.  Linton,  John  Loughman, 
John  Laughlin,  Taylor  McFarland,  Thomas  M.  McKeever,  John  McKeever, 
Caleb  J.  McNulty,  James  Munford,  Wm.  M.  Morris,  Henry  C.  Odenbaugh, 
George  A.  Perret,  Rollin  O.  Phillips,  Henry  A.  Purviance,  Alexander 
Rankin,  George  B.  Reed,  Samuel  B.  Rickey,  John  B.  Ritner,  Alexander  W. 
Scott,  (!ephasD.  Sharp,  David  Shepherd,  Jas.  Stocking,  Andrew  J.  Swartz, 
John  R.  Sweeney,  Samuel  M.  Templeton,  Joseph  H.  Templeton,  Robert 
Thompson,  Robert  L.  Thompson,  Wm.  H.  Underwood,  Isaac  Yance,  Geo. 
J.  Walker,  Andrew  W.  Wilson,  Jas.  B.  Wilson,  Robert  T.  Wishart,  Wes- 
ley Wolf. 

After  Capt.  Norton  McGiffin  was  elected  Lieut. -Col.  Capt.  James 
Armstrong,  of  Washington,  Pa.,  was  elected  and  served  as  Captain. 

Company  G  recruited  at  Monongahela  City,  Washington  County, 
and  mustered  into  service  April  25,  1861. 

Officers. — Robert  F.  Cooper,  Captain  ;  John  S.  McBride,  1st  Lieu- 
tenant; Jesse  C.  Taylor,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Non-Commissioned  Officers. — Wra.  W.  Thompson,  1st  Sergeant ;  John 
Myers,  2d  Sergeant ;  Owen  Bullard,  3d  Sergeant ;  John  S.  Slanger,  4th 

*  This  regiment,  although  impatient  to  be  in  the  advance,  yet  were  required  to  re- 
main to  the  end  of  their  service  preserving  and  protecting  the  Northern  Central  Rail- 
road, which  runs  from  Baltimore  to  Harrisburg,  it  being  on  the  main  line  of  com- 
munication with  Washington  City.     They  became  proficient  in  military  drill. 


304  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Serpeant ;  Eees  Boyd,  Ist  Corporal ;  Benjamin  F.  Scott,  2d  Corporal ;  John 
n.  Woodward,  3d  Corporal;  A.  0.  D.  O'Donavan,  4th  Corporal. 

Ml'sicians. — Frederick  Layman  and  James  S.  Scott. 

Fkivatks. — Francis  Allen,  Isaac  R.  Beazell,  Harrison  Benninjjton.  John 
Boyd,  Wm.  B.  Brooks,  John  Bellas,  Wm.  P)axter.  Jr.,  Samuel  Beazell,  Mi- 
chael Barry,  Patrick  Collins,  Sylvester  Collins,  Wm.  S.  Cooper,  Benjamin 
G.  iJickey,  John  C.  Dougherty,  Andrew  Elliott,  W.  H.  H.  Eberhart,  Andrew 
Grant,  Alexander  Gregg,  John  M.  Gibbs,  Jos.  D.  V.  Hazard,  S.  Bentley 
Howe,  Wm.  H.  Howe,  James  S.  Harris,  W.  H.  Heath,  Wm.  J.  Hofiman, 
Alexander  Haney,  David  Kearney,  II.  B.  King,  Wm.  G.  Kennedy,  James 
Long,  Andrew  Louderbeck,  Ellis  N.  Lilly.  George  C.  Leighty,  David  More- 
ton,  James  Mehaffey,  Charles  McCain,  Wm.  T.  Meredith,  Thomas  Morgan, 
Thomas  Mack,  Wm.  Mack,  Daniel  Mockbee,  Jacob  S.  Miller,  Augustus  J. 
Miller,  Hillery  Miller,  John  Merrick,  Wm.  Ong,  Charles  Oliver,  William 
Oliver,  George  W.  Fotts,  Samuel  B.  Paxton,  Samuel  Fritchard,  Joseph  G. 
Reager,  John  Rinard,  Reuben  Sutton,  Geo.  Stewart,  Alfred  ^1.  Sickman, 
Jefferson  G.  Vangilder,  Theophilus  Vankirk,  Robt.  S.  Wilson,  Win.  Wood- 
ward, W.  H.  H.  Wickersham,  James  S.  White,  Samuel  Young,  Daniel  D. 
Yates. 

On  April  30,  ISGl,  tbo  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  convened,  and 
passed  an  act  on  the  15th  of  May  following,  to  organize  fifteen 
regiments  for  the  defence  of  the  State,  which  should  be  called  the 
Reserve  Yolunteer  Corps  of  Pennsylvania,  and  w'hose  term  of  ser- 
vice should  continue  for  three  years.  These  fifteen  regiments  were 
composed  of  thirteen  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  one 
of  artillery.  This  Reserve  Corps  was  called  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  on  the  23d  of  Jul}^,  18G1,  the  day  succeeding  the  dis- 
aster at  Bull  Run.  The  whole  force  of  this  corps  comprised  fifteen 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-six  officers  and  men. 

It  will  be  our  province  at  this  time  to  speak  particularly  of  the 
37tli  Regiment  (numerically  numl)cred)  or  usually  called  the  eighth 
Reserve,  because  Company  K  of  this  regiment  was  recruited  in 
Washington.  This  regiment  numbered  eight  hundred  and  ninety 
men,  w-ell  equipped  and  well  drilled,  its  Colonel  being  Geo.  S.  Hays, 
of  Allegheny  County. 

3Tth  Regiment,  Sth  Reserve  Corps. 

Roll  of  Company  K,  commanded  by  Capt.  A.  Wisbart,  of  Washing- 
ton, Pennsylvania,  was  called  into  service  June  28,  1861,  to  serve 
for  three  years,  and  mustered  out  24th  of  May,  1864. 

The  battles  in  which  this  company  was  engaged  were  Dranesville, 
Mechanicsville,  Gaines'  Mill,  New  Market  Cross  Roads,  Malvern 
Hill,  Bull  Run,  South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Wil- 
derness, Spotlsylvania  Court  House,  Gettysburg,  Briscoe  Station, 
Mine  Run,  North  Anna,  and  Bethesda  Church. 

This  company  was  called  the  "Hopkins  Infantry,"  after  our 
esteemed  fellow-citizen  Col.  William  Hopkins,  who  was  tendered  tlie 
command  ;  but  on  account  of  physical  inability  to  endure  camp  life 
declined,  yet  at  all  times  he  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  promote 
its  interests. 


HISTORY    OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  305 

The  regiment  was  first  under  the  command  of  Col.  Geo.  S.  Hays, 
elected  Feb.  2.5,  1S62.  He  resigned  July  6,  1862.  Col.  Silas  M. 
Bailey  was  elected  Sept.  14,  1862. 

Earplanatioj).  of  Small  Capital  Letters. — "W.  Wounded,  r.  Resigned,  p.  Promoted. 
Dis.  l)ischarged  bj'  surgeon's  certiljcate  for  physical  disability.  D.  Died.  k.  Killed. 
T.  Transferred  to  another  regiment  to  fill  up  their  time. 

Officers. — Alexander  Wishart,  Captain,  w.  r.  ;  Samuel  S.  Bulford,  1st 
Lieutenant,  p. ;  Thos.  Foster,  2d  Lieutenant,  t. 

NoN-Co.\nnssioNED  Officers. — Peter  Kennedy,  1st  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  Geo. 
W.  Silvey,  2d  Sergeant;  John  Mcllvaine.  3d  Sergeant,  w.  dis.  ;  Alexander 
Hart,  4th  Sergeant,  p. ;  James  S.  Dennison,  5th  Sergeant ;  Boyce  Irvin  Mc- 
Clure,  1st  Corporal,  w. ;  And.  S.  Eagleson,  2d  Corporal,  p.;  M.  L.  A.  Mc- 
Cracken,  3d  Corporal;  Hugh  Moore,  4th  Corporal,  dis.;  A.  J.  Luellan,  5th 
Corporal,  d.;  L.  E.  Ozenbaugh,  6th  Corporal,  K. ;  Theodore  J.  Dye,  7th 
Corporal,  k.  ;  Hugh  Gettiens,  8th  Corporal. 

Musicians. — Francis  W.  Orr  and  Joseph  W.  Christy. 

Privates. — Alfred  W.  Anderson,  d.  ;  Dennis  Butler,  k.  ;  David  Bam- 
burger,  w. ;  James  D.  Brownlee,  w.  dis.  ;  James  L.  Boardman,  dis.  ;  Geo. 
W.  Brice,  by  order  of  C.  M. ;  William  Burke,  dis.;  Michael  Bell,  John  L. 
Butts,  Wm.  H.  Barnet,  k.  ;  Wm.  Burns,  t.  ;  William  Conley,  Ezekiel  Clark, 
Amos  P.  Cline,  k.  ;  Geo.  W.  Dye,  d.  ;  Geo.  M.  Davis,  t.  ;  Samuel  A.  Davis, 
dis.  ;  Andrew  Daily,  dis.  ;  Sylvester  S.  Durbin,  k.  ;  Daniel  Day.  dis.  ;  James 
M.  Evans,  dis.;  Samuel  Eckles,  d.;  Geo.  W.  Freeby,  d.  ;  And.  D.  French, 
K. ;  David  Gilmore,  w.  dis.  ;  John  W.  Greer,  Hugh  Gettiens,  John  M. 
Griffith,  T.  191st,  w. ;  Henry  Henderson,  William  Hart,  dis.  ;  Andrew  Harsh- 
man,  Christian  Hornish,  dis.  ;  Henry  A.  Herrick,  dis.  ;  William  Immel,  d.  ; 
Wm.  R.  King,  William  Loafman,  d.  ;  W.  H.  Harrison  Link,  t.  ;  Joseph  M. 
Lennom,  t. ;  George  Mallura,  D.;  George  V.  Miller,  dis.;  Antonio  Moriles, 
Wm.  M.  Middleton,  dis.  d.  ;  George  Martin.  Thomas  H.  Marshal,  k.;  Wil- 
Ham  Miles,  Edward  A.  Myers,  James  D.  McMillen,  k.  ;  Robert  McMillen, 
w.  DIS.;  Nelson  R.  McNeil,  James  McVehil,  dis.;  Joseph  McCreary,  dis.'; 
M.  Taylor  McFarland,  t. ;  Peter  McCreary,  J.  Warren  Oliver,  dis.;  John 
M.  Oliver.  James  Plymire,  Robert  M.  Poland,  dis.;  Cephas  A.  Ryan,  d. ; 
Michael  Rush,  dis.;  Randolph  Rush,  d.  ;  Robert  M.  Scott,  t.  ;  Leander 
Sinclair,  d.;  James  C.  Spriggs,  Arthur  W.  Sprouls,  w.  dis.  ;  Thomas  M. 
Steep,  Griffith  D.  Taylor,  k.;  H.  H.  B.  Thompson,  dis.;  Francis  L. 
Whcatley.  t.;  Theodore  S,  Webb,  John  B,  Wolf,  Geo.  W.  C.  Wilkins,  t.; 
William  Wiles,  w. 

The  loss  the  Company  sustained  in  battle  was  partially  filled  by 
the  following  recruits  : — 

Ephraim  Allen,  t.;  John  M.  Bane,  William  Barnes,  t.  ;  John  Brother- 
ton,  T. ;  John  Bulford,  t.  ;  Samuel  Cowen,  Samuel  Dickerson,  t.  ;  James 
Eckles,  K. ;  Caleb  H.  Golden,  Lieut.  Alexander  Hart,  w. ;  F.  A.  Lleisley,  t.  ; 
Peter  Hess,  Charles  W.  Hoffman,  t.  ;  Elias  B.  Polk,  t.  ;  George  A.  Porter, 
T. ;  George  A.  Quinn,  t.;  Henry  Pethel,  Henry  Sleighter,  Francis  J.  L. 
Steep,  T. ;  Henry  Taylor. 

This  company  wh'en  mustered  out  had  but  24  men — 26  discharged, 
19  transferred  to  191st  Regiment,  22  died  and  killed  in  action,  and 
7  deserters. 

The  8th  Regiment  had  a  regimental  band  attached,  part  of  the 
same  being  from  Washington  County,  whose  names  I  add  : — 


806  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

William  H.  Stoy,  Leader;  Alexander  Rankin,  W.  11.  Boardman,  James 
S.  Seaman,  and  George  A.  Perrett. 

The  band  was  discharged  by  General  Order  issued  Aug.  8,  1862. 

We  now  take  up  the  history  of  the  IOtii  Reserve  Corps  (39th 
Regiment)  so  far  as  Washington  County  is  concerned. 

The  companies  composing  this  regiment  rendezvoused  at  Camp 
Wilkins,  near  Pittsburg,  and  were  organized  June  30,  1861,  by  the 
election  of  John  S.  McCalraont  as  colonel,  James  T.  Kirk,  of 
Washington  County,  lieut.-coloncl,  and  Harrison  Allen  major.  On 
the  9th  of  May,  1862,  Col.  McCalmont  resigned,  and  Lieut. -Col. 
Kirk  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy.  Col.  Kirk  afterwards  resigned, 
and  Col.  A.  J.  Warner  was  elected  October  18,  1862:  he  resigned 
November  23,  1863. 

Jefferson  Light  Guards, 

Or  company  D  of  the  10th  Reserve  Corps,  was  recruited  at  Ca- 
nonsburg,  and  tendered  their  services  through  their  captain,  William 
S.  Callohan,  to  Governor  Curtin,  which  were  accepted  ;  but  the 
quota  being  filled  the  Light  Guards,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
James  T.  Kirk,  marched  to  Pittsburg  on  May  6,  1861,  and  enlisted 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  Capt.  Kirk  resigned  June  19, 
1861,  on  his  promotion  to  lieut.-colonel,  and  Charles  W,  McDaniel 
was  elected  captain  July  1,  1868.  After  Lieut.  Coleman  resigned, 
Charles  Davis  was  elected  2d  lieut.  August  1,  1862.  The  bat- 
tles in  which  Company  D  was  engaged  were  at  Dranesville,  Me- 
chanicsville,  Gaines'  Mill,  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  Bull  Run, 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Bristoe 
Station,  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  Bethesda  Church.  On 
the  11th  of  June,  1864,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service, 
but  many  of  this  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  formed  part 
of  the  190th  and  191st  regiments. 
Roll  of  the  Jefferson  Guards  : — 

Officers. — Charles  W.  McDaniel,  Captain;  John  H.  M'Nary,  1st 
Lieutenant;  Frank  Coleman,  '2d  Lieutenant,  r. 

Nox-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — C.  Frank  Ritchie,  Orderly  Sergeant; 
Charles  Davis,  1st  Sergeant,  p.  ;  Robert  Brady,  2d  Sergeant,  w. ;  John 
Gundy,  3d  Sergeant,  k.  ;  S.  Beck,  4th  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  B.  L.  Anderson. 
1st  Corporal,  w. ;  AVilliam  S.  ITouston,  2d  Corporal,  w. ;  Samuel  G.  Ilodgehs, 
3d  Corporal,  w.  nis. ;  W.  P.  M'Nary,  4th  Corporal ;  William  Glass,  5th 
Corporal,  k.  ;  James  S.  Hughes,  Gth  Corporal,  d.  ;  Thomas  Paxton,  7th 
Cor])oral,  k.  ;  William  Maggs,  8th  Corporal. 

MfsiciANs. — Josiah  R.  Chambers,  t.,  and  James  C.  Merriman,  dis. 

Privates. — Alfred  Ackcy,  dis.;  Samuel  Anderson,  W.  L.  Atlee,  t.  ; 
James  L.  151ack,  w. ;  Samuel  Brown,  dis.  ;  Garland  Briceland, T.  J.  Black,  w. ; 
Joshua  Brady,  t.  ;  George  Cain,  dis  ;  David  Crum,  d.  ;  William  Cain, 
Wilson  Cochran,  Hugh  Cochran,  dis.;  William  S.  Caldwell,  John  V.  11.  Cook, 
John  S.  Chambers,  dis.:  J.  W.  Cowan,  dis.  w.  ;  J.  Z.  Culver,  dis.  p.  ; 
Samuel  Cook,  k.  ;  J.  R.  Chambers,  William  Dcvall,  dis.  ;  J.  B.  Duff,  t.  ; 
Nathaniel  E.  Dickey,  William  Donaldson,  t.  ;  Benjamin  Evans,  Frank  B. 


HISTORY    OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  307 

Eaton,  w. ;  Luther  C.  Furst,  t.  ;  Thomas  Ford,  k.  ;  F.  W.  Fleming,  James 
Ferguson,  w.  t.  ;  P.  M.  Foreman.  G.  S.  Graham,  w. ;  MathewH.  Greer,  d.  ; 
William  J.  Hunter,  dis.  ;  M.  M.  Havlin,  dis.  ;  Daniel  Hallas  Hammond,  d.  ; 
Charles  Horn,  Alexander  Houston,  w.  t.  ;  George  Hallas,  w.  t.  ;  William 
Hallas,  T. ;  William  Havlin,  t.  ;  George  Hayden,T.  ;  William  Hollingshead, 
Daniel  Hallas,  t.  ;  William  Harsha,  t.  ;  George  Hiles,  t.  ;  A.  lughram, 
Joseph  Jackson,  t.  ;  William  Jackson,  dis.  ;  John  W.  Jackson,  John  Jeffers, 
K. ;  Thomas  Jackson,  w.  t.  ;  R.  N.  Lang,  d.  ;  J.  E.  Lang,  George  Lewellyn, 
Samuel  Mackcy,  w. ;  James  L.  Mackey,  Alexander  M.  Musser,  w. ;  J. 
McPeak.  R.  N.  I\[cPeak,  k.  ;  J.  0.  McPeak,  J.  H.  McPeak,  w.;  J.  McCul- 
lough,  William  Mc Williams,  James  McCahan,  w. ;  John  P.  McCord,  dis.  ; 
John  McClosky,  t.  ;  James  McFadden,  H.  Mc  James,  W.  Pollock  McNary, 
DIS.;  James  Perry,  James  R.  Patton,  t.;  Henry  H .  Petitt,  Alexander  Prowitt, 
William  P.  Penuell,  J.  F.  Phillips,  dis  ;  James  Quail,  dis.  ;  William  Rob- 
erts, J.  H.  Rhinehart,  w.  ;  B.  F.  Ryan,  dis.  ;  A.  J.  Strosnider,  John  Stor- 
meut,  John  Sutton,  dis.  w.  ;  W.  Wallace  Scott,  x. ;  James  M.  Scott,  w.  t.  ; 
John  Sarver,  H.  H.  Sheaff,  w. ;  Brown  Scott,  dis.  ;  George  Tibby,  J.  H. 
Thompson,  w.  t.  ;  Robert  Wilson,  w. ;  J.  E.  Wilson,  Joseph  Wallace,  dis.  ; 
AMlliam  Williams,  k.  ;  Anthony  Williams,  t.  ;  James  Young. 

Lieut.  Charles  Davis  was  promoted  to  Lieut.,  and  also  Lieut. 
R.  N.  McPeak.    Both  were  killed. 

First  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  (15th  P.  R.  R.  C.) 

This  is  also  numerically  called  the  44th  Regiment.  It  was  com- 
posed of  twelve  companies.  Company  I  was  recruited  in  Wash- 
ington County,  and  Company  K  in  Washington  and  Allegheny 
counties.  These  two  companies,  with  Company  H,  of  Fayette 
County,  were  mustered  into  the  State  service  during  the  month  of 
August,  and  soon  after  joined  the  regiment. 

Companies  I  and  K  participated  in  the  battle  at  Dranesville, 
Harrisonburg,  Cross  Keys,  Cedar  Mountain,  Gainesville,  Bull  Run, 
Fredericksburg,  Brandy  Station,  Aldie,  Gettysburg,  Shepherdstown, 
Culpepper,  Auburn,  Mine  Run,  Todd's  Tavern,  Fortifications  of 
Richmond,  Hawes'  Shop,  Coal  Harbor,  Trenham  Station,  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Beam's  Station,  Bellefield. 

The  campaign  of  1863  was  soon  ended,  and  the  army  withdrew 
across  the  Rappahannock.  Col.  Geo.  D.  Bayard  commanded  the 
First  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  Jacob  Higgins,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  Thos.  S.  Richards,  Major,  when  originally  organized. 

Roll  of  Company  I,  recruited  in  Washington  County,  and  was 
mustered  into  service  September  6,  1861  : — 

Officers. — W.  W.  McNulty,  Captain,  r.  p.  ;  Francis  S.  Morgan,  1st 
Lieutenant,  p. ;  George  W.  Seigrist,  2d  Lieutenant,  r. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Samuel  C.  Work,  1st  Sergeant,  p.  w.  m.  ; 
Samuel  W.  McKee,  2d  Major-Sergeant,  w. ;  P.  H.  McNulty,  Commissary- 
Sergeant,  w.  M. ;  A.  B.  Wythe,  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  Jno.  G.  Wells,  Sergeant, 
D. ;  Jno.  Richmond,  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  Wm.  Deiftiiston,  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  Jas. 
D.  Scott,  Sergeant,  m.  ;  Jno.  L.  Mustard,  Sergeant,  w.  ;  R.  D.  Wilkin,  Ser- 
geant, M. ;  D.  Pollock,  Sergeant,  m.  ;  A.  C.  Elliott,  Sergeant,  w.  t.  m.  ; 
Thos.  R.  Starer,  Corporal,  p. ;  Jno.  H.  Gaston,  Corporal,  p.  dis.  ;  Wm.  C. 
Richey,  Corporal,  dis.  ;   David  Ackleson,  Corporal,  k.  ;   Moses  Hastings, 


30.8  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Corporal,  k.  ;  ¥Ai  Lescallett,  Corporal,  k.  ;  James  Barry,  Corporal,  k.  ;  S. 
McConkey,  ('orporal.  k.  ;  Tbos.  Richmond,  Corporal,  k.  ;  Hilleary  Wilson, 
Corporal,  M. ;  John  McKinley,  Corporal,  p.;  l)avid  McGugin,  Corporal, 
w.  M. ;  Louis  Kramer,  Corporal,  p.  m.  ;  Thos.  II.  Cowan,  Corporal,  p.  m.  ; 
W.  J.  Rippey,  Corporal,  p.  m. 

Musicians. — Wm.  II.  Rose,  dis.  ;  Chester  P.  Murray,  m. 

Privates. — Samuel  F.  Pitts,  m.  ;  George  Becroft,  m.  ;  John  Becroft,  dis.; 
Alexander  Berwick,  dis.  ;  Frank  Berwick,  t.;  John  A.  Bingham,  w.  t.;  "VVm. 
Crider.  m.  ;  John  Clyde,  m.  ;  Andrew  Crouch,  dis.  ;  "William  A.  Curtis,  t.  ; 
Thos.  li.  Conan,  dis.  ;  John  Chester,  t.  ;  Thomas  Dunkle,  dis.  ;  Thomas  J. 
Bowling;  Robert  C.  Elliott,  t.  ;  Rudolph  Essick,  t.  ;  John  F.  Foust,  dis.  ; 
Samuel  A.  Garret,  .m.  ;  John  H.  Groff,  m.  ;  Moses  F.  Gaumer ;  John  Gib- 
son. T. ;  George  W.  Gist,  d.  ;  Jacob  George,  d.  ;  Joshua  J.  Hunter,  dis.  ; 
Walter  Johnson,  m.  ;  John  B.  Loughead,  t.  m.  ;  George  J.  Labarre,  t.  ; 
William  J.  Lowry,  m.  ;  William  McElroy.  m.  ;  AVilliam  McCall.  m.  ;  W.  S. 
McCormick,  m.  ;  H.  C.  McGregor,  p. ;  William  INIcCarrel,  >r.  ;  Peter  Mulli- 
gan, M. ;  And.  F.  McClure,  dis.;  James  Miller,  Jr.,  d.  ;  James  Miller,  Sr., 
dis.  ;  Isaac  McConkey,  t.  ;  Charles  Morrow,  t.  ;  James  W.  McKee,  k.  ; 
Hugh  McGowan,  m.  ;  Arch.  Newell,  m.  ;  Wm.  F.  Patton,  dis.;  Wra.  P. 
Patton.  M. ;  Thos.  Parkes,  d.  ;  Wm.  M.  Porter,  d.  ;  Thomas  Patterson,  d.  ; 
Elmore  Powelson  ;  Lewis  W.  Quilland,  dis.  ;  David  Richmond,  m.  ;  J.  B. 
Richie,  p.  ;  A.  B.  Roseuberger,  m.  ;  Lorenzo  A.  Rice,  dis.  ;  J.  L.  Robert- 
son, T.  ;  James  Smiley,  m.  ;  Juo.  G.  Sauppe,  m.  ;  Wm.  F.  Smith,  dis.  ;  John 
G.  Wells,  D. ;  A.  L.  Williams,  x. ;  Grafton  Wells,  t.  ;  Jacob  Wolf,  p. 

Remarks. 

Capt.  W.  TV.  McNuLTY  was  mustered  into  service  September  6, 
1861  ;  be  resigned  same  day  to  accept  promotion. 

John  Ross  was  promoted  from  1st  Lieutenant  to  tbe  Captaincy, 
September  24,  18G1,  and  resigned  November  23,  18G1. 

GrEORGE  T.  WoRK,  promoted  from  1st  Lieutenant  November  23, 
1861,  and  resigned  June  21,  1S62. 

James  M.  Gaston,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  August  24,  1861, 
to  1st  Lieutenant  November  23,  1861  ;  to  Captain  Jul}-  12,  1862; 
to  Major  March  1,  1863,  and  honorably  discharged  August  1,  1864. 

T.  C.  McGregor,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  May  10,  1862  ;  to 
1st  Lieutenant  July  12,  1862;  to  Captain  March  1,  1863;  trans- 
ferred to  battalion  September  1,  1864,  and  mustered  out  by  consoli- 
dation June  20,  1865. 

JosEi'H  B.  Richie  was  elected  2d  Lieutenant  July  12,  1862,  and 
discharged  February  18,  1863. 

Geo.  W.  IjYon,  elected  2d  Lieutenant  February  25,  1863,  and 
killed  September  6,  1863. 

Company  K,  recruited  in  Washington  and  Allegheny  Counties. 

This  company's  history  is  connected  with  the  foregoing  in  their 
marches  and  battles. 

Cai)tain  "\Vm.  Boyce  mustered  into  service  September  6,  1861, 
resigned  December  27,  1861 ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  H.  "Wil- 
liams, who  was  elected  January  1,  1862.     The  company  was  trans- 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  309 

ferred  to  a  battalion  September  1,  1864,  composed  of  five  companies ; 
mustered  out  September  21,  1864. 

Officers. — Wm.  A.  Kennedy,  1st  Lieutenant,  mustered  into  service  Sep- 
tember 6,1861,  wounded  atHawes'  Shop,  Va.,  and  mustered  out  September 
9, 1864  ;  Samuel  W.  Morgan,  2d  Lieutenant,  entered  service  September  6, 
1861,  wounded  and  mustered  out  September  9,  1864. 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — William  J.  McEweu,  1st  Sergeant,  dis.; 
John  T.  Kennedy,  Sergeant,  d.;  Arch.  D.  Darragh,  Sergeant,  p.  m.;  D.  W. 
Boyce,  Sergeant ;  John  A.  Lattimer,  Sergeant,  m.  ;  "Wm.  M.  Foster,  Ser- 
geant, p.  ;  Joseph  Wright,  Sergeant,  dis.  ;  John  W.  Gault,  Sergeant,  d.  ; 
Robert  Boyce,  Sergeant,  p.  m.;  John  W.  Boyce,  Sergeant,  p.  m.;  John  Pat- 
terson,  Sergeant,  p.  m.;  B.  Morgan,  Sergeant,  p.m.;  Jacob  Hanna,  Sergeant, 
p.  M.;  Joseph  Boyce,  Corporal,  dis.;  Andrew  G.  Happer,  Corporal,  t.;  Saml. 
Morton,  Corporal,  dis.  ;  Thomas  Conner,  Corporal,  dis.  ;  John  M.  Boyce, 
Corporal,  m.;  Samuel  N.  Ealston,  Corporal,  p.  m.  ;  Joshua  Connelly,  Corpo- 
ral, P.M. ;  Thomas  Westerman,  Corporal,  p.  m.  ;  Samuel  R.  Patton,  Corpo- 
ral, p.  M.  H.^ 

Musicians. — Samuel  Brown,  dis.  ;  John  C.  Keifer,  k. 

Privates. — John  A.  Anderson,  m.  ;  James  Beum out,  dis.;  Thomas  D. 
Boyce,  t.  d.;  Isaac  N.  Boyce,  Robert  Cain,  dis.;  Edward  Curran,T.;  Chas.  A. 
Calligan,  t.;  Abraham  Cox,  t.;  Geo.  W.  Coup,  t.  ;  Jacob  Coup,  t.  d.  ;  W.  F. 
Coup,  w.  D. ;  John  Douglass,  dis.  ;  John  M.  Duncan,  t.  ;  Charles  P.  Dilks, 
John  Dimler,  Jas.  F.  Dodd,  x.;  Wm.  Ewing,  dis.;  James  Ewing,  d.  ;  Hugh 
Flanigan,  Joseph  B.  Fitterer,  t.;  Joseph  Feather,  William  Gordon,  t.;  John 
Herriott,  m.;  Wilson  Herrill,  m.;  Samuel  Hopper,  t.;  Hamilton  Ingram,  dis.; 
John  Jamison,  Thomas  Jones,  m.;  Joseph  M.  Kennedy,  t.;  Samuel  Keifer,  k.; 
Richard  Lesnett,  m.  ;  John  H.  Morgan,  m.  ;  H.  R.  Moi-rison,  m.  ;  John  L. 
McAlister,  m.;  Mathew  McCombs,  m.;  Jacob  C.  McDowell,  m.;  John  McDon- 
ald, M.;  William  McDonald,  m.;  George  McFeely,  m.;  Jas.  M.  G.  Mouck,  dis.; 
Thomas  McCoombs,  t.;  John  Meredith,  t.;  M.  McBride,  t.;  William  McMur- 
ray,  t.  ;  William  H.  Meaner,  t.  ;  Joseph  Morrison,  D. ;  Joseph  McClan- 
ahan,  K.;  William  J.  McClure,  S.  C.  Obony,  dis.;  John  C.  Phillips,  t.  ;  Fred- 
erick Quigg,  m.  ;  John  M.  Reignaman,  dis.  ;  William  Roberts,  dis.  ;  George 
W.  Reed,  t.;  David  Schaffer,  m.;  William  Stewart,  dis.;  Joseph  M.  Sample, 
dis.  ;  B.  F.  Shield,  dis.  ;  Joseph  M.  Shaffer,  d.  ;  John  Trimble,  m.  ;  George 
Thompson,  Sr.,  dis.  ;  George  Thompson,  Jr.,  dis.  ;  Henry  Vance,  t.  ;  J.  H. 
Westerman,  m.  ;  Samuel  Wallace,  dis.  ;  James  Williams,  t.  ;  W.  S.  Wilson. 

6 2d  Regiment,  Col.  S.  W.  Black. 
Originally  Co.  B,  now  Co.  K. 

Al.  King,  1st  Lieutenant,  w. 

Corporals— T.  R.  Scott,  G.  T.  Deems.  G.  M.  Coulter. 

Privates. — M.  Arthur,  J.  B.  Baker,  H.  Koontz,  H.  S.  Koontz,  E.  Crall, 
Josiah  Fox,  k.  ;  Wm.  Gibbs,  Charles  Gibbs,  k.  ;  M.  Hayward,  w. ;  Wm. 
Henning,  James  Heines,  J.  Maloy,  J.  P.  Mouk,  k.  ;  T.  McKean,  Wm. 
McCormick,  Thomas  McElroy,  James  McGrew,  G.  W.  McKinley,  Jefferson 
McClain,  J.  T.  McMillan,  T.  Patterson,  R.  Simpkins,  k;  W.  H.  Stoop?.  W. 
C.  Todd,  K. ;  R.  Whittaker,  k.  ;  R.  Wilby,  k.;  S.  Workman,  k.;  M.  Work- 
man, Silas  Wright,  John  Young. 

Co.  G,  George  Watson  Buchanan,  d. 


310  history  op  washington  county. 

Company  D, 

Of  the  T9th  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Yolunteers,  was  organized  at 
Lancaster  September  19,  18G1;  its  term  of  service  was  three  years, 
and  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  organization.  It  was  mustered  out  of 
service  July  12,  1865,  near  Alexandria,  Virginia.  H.  A.  Hambright 
was  the  Colonel.  Major  Wm.  S.  Mcllinger  was  elected  Major  Oc- 
tober 18,  18C1,  and  resigned  November  8,  18G2.  Captain  John  S. 
McBride,  of  Company  I),  was  elected  Major  December  20,  1864, 
and  mustered  out  Avitli  Com])any  D  as  Captain  July  12,  1865.  Dr. 
Thomas  H.  Phillips  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  January  10, 
1865,  and  remained  until  mustered  out.  Captain  John  S.  McBride 
elected  September  21,  1861,  and  promoted  to  Major;  his  successor 
was  Joseph  D.  Y.  Ilazzard,  elected  December  20,  1864,  and  mus- 
tered out  with  Company  as  1st  Lieutenant  July  12,  1865. 

Brisben  Wall,  1st  Lieutenant,  elected  September  21, 1861,  resigned 
April  25,  1862;  J.  D.  Y.  Hazzard,  1st  Lieutenant,  elected  May  1, 
1862,  and  promoted  to  Captain;  Luke  P.  Beazell,  1st  Lieutenant, 
elected  December  20,  1864,  and  mustered  out  as  2d  Lieutenant  July 
12,  1865;  J.  D.  Y.  Hazzard,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected  September  21, 
1861,  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant;  Samuel  P.  Keller,  2d  Lieutenant, 
elected  May  1,  1862,  resigned  February  It,  1863;  Alexander  D.  0. 
Donavan,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected  March  29,  1863,  honorably  dis- 
charged October  14,  1863;  Luke  P.  Beazell,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected 
April  1,  1865,  and  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant. 

This  company  Avas  called  the  Mellenger  Guards,  Co.  B,  and  was 
organized  in  Monongahela  City,  September  16,  1861. 

NoN-CoMMissiONE0   OFFICERS. —  Kcllcr,    Ist  Sergeant; 


Myers,  2cl  Sergeant;  A.  0.  Donovan,  3d  Sergeant;  AVatson,  4lh 

Sergeant;  lantlius  IJcutlcy,  5th  Sergeant;  M.  Berry,  1st  Corporal;  II.  B. 
Hart,  2d  Corporal,  w.  ;  A.  Frye,  3d  Corporal;  AV'.  Woodward,  4th  Cor- 
poral, w. ;  J.  W.  Downer,  ath  Corporal ;  W.  Brooks,  Gth  Corporal ;  J.  Cibbs, 
7th  Corporal;  J.  S.  Miller,  8th  Corporal,  w. ;  H.  D.  Cooper,  Commis- 
sary, w. 

Musicians. — F.  Layman  and  Amzi  Eckles. 

Wagoner. — Wra.  Galbrailh. 

Privates. — Geo.  Allhonse,  Chr.  Anderson,  k.  ;  John  Anderson,  d.  ; 
Robert  Boyd,  n. ;  George  Barringcr,  John  Barriuger,  Wm.  l^arringer,  D. 
C.  Bitting.  K. ;  Fr.  Burgan,  k.  ;  Y.  Brooks,  w. ;  W.  Butler,  w. ;  AVm.  Brown, 
Michael  Bramin,  B.  Brubaker,  K.;  W.  Bennington,  k.  ;  Luke  Beazle,  L. 
Chester,  E.  Craven,  W.  S.  Cooper,  w. ;  S.  Collins,  k.  ;  J.  Cusworth.  Lafay- 
ette Culbcrtston,  W.  Devlin,  k.  ;  James  Dutton,  w. ;  M.  Dougherty,  w. ;  Al- 
fred Ktkles,  Simon  Fry,  n. ;  Thtjuuis  Fry,  d.  ;  J.  Flowers,  k.  ;  M.  Ferguson, 
K.;  Charles  (Jalloway,  w. ;  W.  Graham,  d.  ;  J.  Gundy,  k.  ;  G.  Gibson,  w. ; 
.f.  Gilmer,  W.  P.  (Jilmer,  S.  IFcndrifkson,  w. ;  J.  Hodge,  D.  Hobaugh,  S. 
Jester,  w. ;  A.  Johnson,  w. ;  11.  Kelly,  W.  S.  Mellinger,  J.  Merrick,  J.  H. 
Miller,  w. ;  W.  Miller,  W.  H.  .Mortimer,  H.  McCain,  w. ;  H.  McGrew,  w. ; 
F.  McGrecry,  J.  McLeod,  J.  Ostrander,  w. ;  I.  Purcil,  G.  W.  Potts,  I.  Par- 
kinson, II.  Pace,  w. ;  T.  Pritchard,  w. ;  J.  Reynerd,  J.  Rose,  B.  Rollison. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  311 

W.  Shield,  w. ;  J.  D.  Stewart,  W.  T.  Smith,  w. ;  G.  Swenger,  W.  Wallace, 
J.  W.  Wolf,  w. ;  John  AVarren,  k.  ;  J.  Wood,  J.  A.  Watson,  w. ;  J.  H.  Wat- 
son, Wm.  Young,  J.  M.  Yohe.    • 

85th  Regiment  Infantry 

Was  organized  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  Oct.  IG,  18 Gl,  to  serve  tlii'ee 
years,  and  mustered  out  of  service,  except  veterans  and  recruits,  Nov. 
22,  18G4.  The  veterans  and  recruits  were  transferred  to  the  188th 
regiment.  As  Washington  County  soldiers  were  attached  to  nearly 
every  company,  we  shall  give  the  names  of  the  officers  of  these  com- 
panies, and  the  full  companies  from  Washington  County ;  as  we 
have  no  means  of  designating  the  individual  soldiers  from  this  county, 
which  we  deeply  regret. 

This  regiment  was  under  the  command  of  the  following  officers : — 

Joshua  B.  Howell,  Colonel,  Fayette  County;  Norton  McGifSn,  Lieut. 
Colonel,  Washington  County;  Absalom  Guiler,  Major,  Fayette  County; 
John  Murphy,  Jr.,  Quartermaster,  Washington  County;  Boyd  Crumrine, 
Q.  M.  Sergeant,  Washington  County;  Andrew  Stewart,  Jr.,  Adjutant, 
Fayette  County  ;  James  Lindsay,  Sergeant-Maj or,  Greene  County;  John 
Laidley,  Surgeon,  Greene  County;  John  C.  Levis,  Assistant  Surgeon,  Bea- 
ver County  ;  Rev.  John  N.  Peirce,  Chaplain,  Greene  County ;  Rev.  J.  P. 
Caldwell,  appointed  Chaplain  Oct.  21,  18G2,  and  resigned  May  1,  18G3 ;  D. 
Ewing  Hook,  Drum  Major,  Fayette  County ;  Wm.  Beall,  Com.  Sergeant, 
Somerset  County ;  F.  H.  Anderson,  Sutler,  Alleghany  County  ;  Joseph  Rea- 
ger,  Color  Sergeant,  Fayette  County. 

Mountain  Rifles. — Hagan  Z.  Ludington,  Captain,  Fayette  County;  Rea- 
son Smurr,  1st  Lieutenant,  Fayette  County;  Stephen  K.  Brown,  2d  Lieu- 
tenant, Fayette  County. 

Hoioell  Fencibles. — John  R.  Weltner,  Captain,  Fayette  County ;  E.  H. 
Oliphant,  1st  Lieutenant,  Fayette  County  ;  Houston  Devan,  2d  Lieutenant, 
Fayette  County. 

Redstone  Blues. — John  C.  Wilkinson,  Captain,  Fayette  Cqunty  ;  Isaac 
R.  Beazell,  1st  Lieutenant,  Westmoreland  County;  George  J.  Vaugilder, 
2d  Lieutenant,  Washington  County. 

Monongahela  Guards. — Isaac  M.  Abraham,  Captain,  Fayette  County; 
John  A.  Gordon,  1st  Lieutenant,  Greene  County;  John  M.  Crawford,  2d 
Lieutenant  Greene  County. 

Washington  Guards. — Henry  A.  Purviance,  Captain,  Washington  Coun- 
ty ;  Lewis  Watkins,  1st  Lieutenant,  Washington  County ;  Richard  W. 
Dawson,  2d  Lieutenant,  Fayette  County. 

Union  Guards. — Harvey  J.  Yaukirk,  Captain,  Washington  County ; 
William  W.  Kerr,  1st  Lieutenant,  Washington  County ;  John  Rowley,  2d 
Lieutenant,  Washington  County. 

Lafayette  Guards. — William  H.  Horn,  Captain,  Washington  County ; 
RoUa  0.  Phillips,  1st  Lieutenant,  Greene  County  ;  John  E.  Michener,  2d 
Lieutenant,  Washington  County. 

Ellstvorth  Cadets. — Morgan  W.  ZoUars,  Captain,  Washington  County; 
Robert  P.  Hughes,  1st  Lieutenant,  Washington  County;  George  H.  Hooker, 
2d  Lieutenant,  Brooke  County,  Ya. 

Tenmile  Grays. — John  Morris,  Captain,  Greene  County ;  Edward  Camp- 
bell, 1st  Lieutenant,  Fayette  County ;  John  Remley,  2d  Lieutenant,  Fay- 
ette County. 


312  HISTORY    OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Independent  Blues. — James  B.Tredwell,  Captain,  Somerset  County;  Jas. 
Hamilton,  1st  Lieutenant,  Somerset  County  ;  Milton  O.  Black,  2d  Lieu- 
teuant,  Somerset  County.  • 

CoMPAXY  A  Union  Guards. 

Officers.— H.  J.  Yankirk,  Captain;  AV.  AV.  Kerr,  1st  Lieutenant;  John 
Rowley,  2d  Lieutenant;  S.  L.  McHenry,  1st  Serg-eant;  S.  McGregor,  2d 
Sergeant;  J.  M.  "Welch,  3d  Sergeant;  A.  W.  Pollock,  4th  Sergeant;  R. 
T.  Wishart,  5th  Sergeant;  R.  Vv.  Criswell,  1st  Corporal ;  Greer  Hair,  2d 
Corporal;  J.  I\L  S.  Crafty,  3d  Corporal ;  M.  Templeton,  4th  Corporal;  H. 
T.  Reynolds,  5th  Corporal;  J.  N.  Morrison,  6th  Corporal;  J.  N.  Brown, 
7th  Corporal;  W.  D.  Shaw,  8th  Corporal. 

Pkivatks. — James  Allison,  James  W.  Andrew.  J.  L.  Bebout.  S.  M.  IL 
Bebout,  Robert  H.  Byers,  J.  B.  Bell.  David  Baldwin.  Thomas  Briggs.  Ariel 
Brownlee,  Thomas  J.  Barr,  Collin  \V.  Barr,  John  S.  Butterfass.  Jonathan 
Beatty,  William  Crasson,  William  H.  Cheeks,  Samuel  L.  Coulter,  James 
Carothers,  Joseph  Campsey,  James  S.  Craig,  Charles  Caldwell,  Samuel  R. 
Caldwell,  Robert  Caldwell,  John  Carothers,  John  Curren,  Nathan  A.  Day, 
Walter  Donnel,  Frank  Dillon,  Dennis  Farrell,  Hugh  D.  Furgus,  Thomas  H. 
Fulton,  A,  Gilkisod,  Cyrus  Grieves,  Thomas  Griffith,  Robert  Greer,  W.  H. 
Hines,  Greer  Hair,  Samuel  Hendrickson,  Franklin  Henderson,  James 
Higby.  James  Hardy,  Andrew  J.  Hutchinson,  John  W.  Ingles,  Adam  John- 
ston, Patterson  Jobes,  d.  from  wounds,  Joseph  Kerr,  John  R.  Kline,  Ham- 
ilton Lyon,  Oscar  F.  Lyon,  Andrew  A.  Lovcjoy,  Matthew  Lynn,  John  Low, 
John  M.  Moore,  James  H.  McCune,  John  A.  McMillin,  Joseph  E.  McCabe, 
William  Milligan,  Philip  Martin,  Jr.,  William  Morrison,  John  A.  Mansfield, 
Henry  W.  Nickcrson,  John  Neil,  Walter  O'Donnel,  d.;  David  G.  Pascal, 
John  Patterson,  James  A.  Proudfit,  John  Park,  Joseph  Palmer,  A.  M.  Ross, 
W.  H.  Randolph,  Jacob  Richison,  Matthew  Ross,  Jr.,  Moses  Ross,  Henry 
T.  Reynolds,  William  Sires,  Joseph  Schell,  Joseph  Shaw,  AVilliam  Scott, 
Thomas  H.  Sawhill,  R.  B.  Thompson,  Jacob  L.  Thompson,  Thomas  Thomp- 
son, Andrew  Thompson,  Alexander  H.  Vance,  John  Waible,  William  Wai- 
ble,  Joseph  Welch,  W.  J.  Wilson,  Wm.  Weibley. 

Captain  II.  J.  Yankirk  elected  September  13,  1861,  resigned  Xo- 
vember  T,  18G2,  when  1st  Lieutenant  William  W.  Kerr  was  elected 
Captain  November  8,  1862,  and  served  until  mustered  out  Novem- 
ber 22,  1864.  • 

1st  Lieutenant  W^.  W.  Kerr  elected  September  23,  1861,  was  pro- 
moted to  Captain,  and  S.  M.  McGregor  elected  November  8,  1862, 
and  mustered  out  with  tlic  company. 

2d  Lieutenant  John  Rowley  elected  November  8,  1861,  honorably 
discharged  April  T,  1862,  at  which  time  John  AV.  Acheson  was 
elected  2d  Lieutenant;  he  was  transferred  and  promoted  to  1st  Lieu- 
tenant of  Company  C,  and  Robert  T.  Wishart  was  elected  August 
2,  1862  ;  he  resigned  November  20, 1862,  when  James  M.  AVelch  was 
elected  and  served  until  August  14,  1863. 

Company  B,  or  Ellsworth  Cadets. 

Captain  Morgan  W.  Zellars  elected  September  23,  1861,  and  re- 
signed May  19,  1864  ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Captain  Geo.  H.  Hooker, 
who  was  honorably  discharged  November  20,  1864 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  313 

First  Lieutenant  Robert  1?.  Hughes  elected  September  23,  18G1, 
afterwards  elected  Captain  of  Company  C,  or  Independent  Blues, 
May  19,  1862,  and  transferred  to  199th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Volunteers.  These  were  the  only  officers  in  this  company  from  Wash- 
ington County. 

Corporals. — Jackson  Crumrine.  w. ;  McCullough,  w. 
Privates. — J.  W.  Smith,  w. ;  W.  H.  Butler,  John  Watson. 

Company  C,  or.  Independent  Blues, 

Was  composed  of  soldiers  from  Washington  and  Somerset  counties. 
It  was  originally  organized  by  Captain  James  B.  Treadwell,  of  Somer- 
set, October  1,  1861,  but  he  being  promoted  to  Major  June  3,  1863, 
Lieutenant  Robert  P.  Hughes,  of  Company  B,  was  elected  Captain, 
and  transferred  to  199th  Regiment  as  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  appointed 
Brevet  Colonel  April  2,  1865,  and  mustered  out  with  regiment 
June  28,  1865. 

John  W.  Acheson,  1st  Lieutenant,  was  elected  August  2,  1862, 
from  Company  A,  and  promoted  to  Captain  and  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General  February  29,  1864. 

Wm.  R.  Davis,  1st  Lieutenant,  elected  April  13,  1864,  and  mus- 
tered out  with  company. 

D.  H.  Lancaster,  2d  Lieutenant,  was  elected  July  1,  1862,  and 
resigned  March  6,  1863. 

Corporal. — John  Wood,  w. 

Privates. — Lewis  Laclerc,  w. ;  G.  Blackly,  w. 

Company  D,  Lafayette  Guards, 

Was  organized  September  20,  1861 ;  it  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Wm.  H.  Horn,  of  Washington  County,  who  was  elected  at  that  time 
and  resigned  July  6,  1862  ;  he  was  succeeded  by  1st  Lieutenant 
Rollo  O.  Phillips,  of  Greene  County,  elected  July  6,  1862,  and  mus- 
tered out  Noveml3er  22,  1864. 

1st  Lieutenant  John  E.  Michener  elected  July  6,  1862,  and  trans- 
ferred to  the  Mountain  Rangers,  Company  K.  Lieut.  Michener 
had  entered  the  service  as  2d  Lieutenant  September  21,  1861 ;  he 
was  elected  1st  Lieutenant  Dec.  3,  1863,  and  afterwards  its  Cap- 
tain ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Myers,  on  July  6,  1862, 
and  honorably  discharged  April  29,  1864.  His  successor  was  George 
S.  Fulmer,  elected  June  20,  1864,  and  mustered  out  with  Company. 

In  connection  with  these  facts  we  give  one  or  two  items,  however. 
Prior  to  their  departure  from  Uniontown,  each  member  of  Captain 
Horn's  company  received  from  the  Pigeon  Creek  Presbyterian 
Church  (Rev.  Dr.  Sloan,  pastor)  a  neatly-bound  copy  of  the  New 
Testament.  These  books  were  received  by  Captain  Horn  in  a  neat 
and  appropriate  address.  J.  E.  Michener,  Second  Lieutenant  of  the 
company,  was  presented  with  an  elegant  sword  by  the  citizens  of 
21 


314  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Centerville,  the  present  being  accompanied  by  a  highly  complimen- 
tary address,  by  Colonel  Howell.  The  Lieutenant  responded  in  a 
felicitous  manner.  The  company,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  roll,  numbers 
eighty-five  men. 

Officers. — "William  H.  norn,  Captain  ;  R.  0.  Phillips,  1st  Lieutenant, 
J.  Pi.  Michener,  2d,  Lieutenant. 

Nox-Co.M>nssioNED  Officers. — W.  IT.  Myers,  1st  Sergeant,  Howard  Caar, 
Sergeant;  John  Horn,  Sergeant;  George  McGiffin,  Sergeant;  John  N. 
Donaghho,  Sergeant;  H.  S.  Spohn.  Corporal;  A.  C.  Morgan,  Corporal ;  H. 
S.  Myers,  Corporal ;  Thomas  M.  Harford,  Corporal  ;  Jacob  B.  Speers,  Cor- 
poral;  W.  W,  Garber,  Corporal;  G.  S.  Fulmer,  Corporal;  S.  O.  Thomas, 
Corporal. 

Musicians. — James  I.  Wells,  Isaiah  Jordon. 

Wagoner. — William  A.  Rider. 

Privates. — George  Aimes,  Joseph  Aimes,  Wm.  Allman,  Enoch  Brooks, 
Henry  Bush,  Joseph  Burson,  William  A.  Bell.  Josias  Bratton,  John  Brat- 
ton,  James  W.  Burgan,  S.  Clendaiiicl,  D.  W.  Crumrine,  Hiram  Crouch, 
Harvey  Cox,  Israel  Cumson,  M.  D.  Donaghho,  Henry  G.  Dales,  Geo.  Dales, 
Abraham  Finley,  William  H.  Fulmer,  George  W.  Fisher,  George  AV.  Garber, 
T.  J.  Gage,  Hezekiah  Horn,  Elias  Horn,  Jonas  Horn,  B.  F.  Hathway, 
Richard  Hathway,  T.  J.  Hathway,  Alexander  Hathway,  Hiram  Haver, 
Jacob  Haver,  Barnet  Johnson,  L.  F.  Jones,  W.  H.  Jackman,  George 
Ketchim,  William  B.  Lash,  A.  R.  Luker,  James  Meeks,  Jesse  S.  Moore, 
John  Milliken,  Jasper  Morgan,  Oliver  McVay,  Abraham  Miller,  W.  H. 
McGiffin,  MUton  McJunkin,  Alexander  McKay,  John  Mcllvaine,  Benjamin 
Marshall,  Wilson  Pryor,  Robert  Pryor,  James  M.  Roach,  Edward  Roberts, 
Boon  Reese,  John  Reese,  J.  Sunedecker,  Eli  Smith,  Adam  Staub,  William 
Stull,  W.  H.  Virgin,  Ames  Walton,  Henry  Walton,  Theophilus  Wilson, 
Henry  C.  Yorty. 

It  is  due  to  the  friends  of  Captain  Horn,  to  state  that  he  com- 
manded the  brigade  pickets  as  senior  captain  at  the  battle  of  Fair 
Oaks,  and  held  his  position  until  compelled  to  retreat  by  the  superior 
forces  of  Gen.  Stonewall  Jackson. 

Company  E,  Washington  Guards, 

Was  organized  in  Washington,  October  15,  1861,  and  elected  H.  A. 
Purviaiice,  Captain,  who  was  afterwards  promoted  to  Licut.-Colouel, 
May  15,  1802,  and  killed  Aug.  81,1863.  Ilis  successor  was  First 
Lieutenant  Edward  Campbell,  of  Payette  County,  who  had  pre- 
viously fdled  the  office  of  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt.  Campbell  was 
promoted  to  Major,  and  First  Lieutenant  Lewis  AVatkins  was  elected 
Captain,  Sept.  6,  1864.  He  died  Sept.  28,  1864,  from  wounds  re- 
ceived in  battle.  Ilis  successor  was  Lieut.  Jacob  Davis,  who  was 
elected  Sept.  28,  1864.  He  had  filled  the  offices  of  both  First  and 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  with  the  com- 
pany, Nov.  22,  1864.  Thomas  S.  Purviance  was  elected  Second 
Lieutenant  May  15,  1862,  and  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  May 
31,  1862.  His  successor  was  llol)ert  G.  Taylor,  elected  May  31, 
1862,  and  resigned  January  28,  186^. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  315 

Officers. — H.  A.  Purviance,  Captain;  Lewis  Watkins,  1st  Lieutenant; 
Edward  Campbell,  2d  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — OHver  P.  Henderson,  1st  Sergeant ;  Jacob 
D.  Moore,  2d  Sergeant ;  Thompson  S.  Purviance,  3d  Sergeant ;  Moses 
McKeag,  4th  Sergeant;  John  D.  Heckard,  .5th  Sergeant ;  Robert  G.  Taylor, 
1st  Corporal;  Jacob  Hanna,  2d  Corporal;  James  Peters,  3d  Corporal; 
William  J.  Graham,  4th  Corporal;  James  Watkins,  5th  Corporal;  Martin 
Pope,  6th  Corporal ;  Samuel  Marshall,  7th  Corporal ;  Davis  Kimmegar,  8th 
Corporal. 

Musicians. — Samuel  Wood  and  Henry  J.  Eigdon. 

Teamster. — Eli  Huston. 

Privates. — John  Adams,  Joseph  Andrews,  Matthew  Axton,  Thomas 
Byers,  Elbridge  Collins,  Greenbury  Crosland,  Clark  Chew,  Josiah  W.  Craw- 
ford, William  G.  Crow,  John  Clark,  Joseph  Chase,  Newton  Chase,  Andrew 
Devore,  John  Dean,  Jacob  Davis,  John  Dougan,  George  Downer,  Jeremiah 
Dawson,  w. ;  Jacob  Desellam,  Charles  Eckels,  Milton  Edingfield,  John 
Flinder,  John  Fordyce,  John  Finnegan,  Isaac  Fisher,  George  Fisher,  Henry 
Garrett,  Jacob  Grover,  Benjamin  Gill,  William  Hartman,  William  McC. 
Hill,  James  W.  Huff,  Andrew  J.  Huff,  William  B.  Hayes,  Henry  M.  Han- 
na, w. ;  William  Hanna,  Jeremiah  Hartzell,  Milton  S.  Hall,  Edward  M. 
Hall,  Thomas  Henesy,  Adolphus  J.  Inks,  Thomas  J.  Jenkins,  w.;  B.  Jenkins, 
w. ;  Michael  Keenan,  Gideon  Knight,  Frederick  Lowry,  William  Lynn,  w. ; 
John  Lynn,  Mordecai  Lincoln,  Jefferson  Lowe,  David  McKeag,  John  Means, 
Hugh  B.  McNeill,  John  F.  McCoy,  John  McLean,  Stephen  McDowell,  Ben- 
jamin McAllister,  Henry  J.  McAllister,  William  McCoon,  James  Mayhorn, 
George  Miller,  William  Mehaffy,  Robert  Mitchell,  Joseph  Neely,  David  R. 
Parker,  George  C.  Rocky,  Elijah  Rockwell,  Jacob  Rockwell,  William  Rim- 
mell,  Rudolph  Smith,  Henry  Smith,  Cyrus  Sprowls,  Henry  M.  Taylor, 
Charles  Varndell,  John  Woodward,  Christy  Welsh,  John  White. 

IOOth  Regiment  Infantry,  Penna.  Volunteers,  called  the 
Round  Head  Regiment. 

This  name  was  given  to  this  regiment  by  Hon.  Simon  Cameron, 
Secretary  of  War,  in  1861,  and  for  six  months  after  its  organization 
was  known  by  no  other  name.  It  was  organized  at  Pittsburg,  Aug. 
31,  1861,  the  term  of  service  being  three'years.  It  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran  organization  at  Blaine's  Cross  Roads,  Tennessee,  Dec.  28, 
1863,  and  was  mustered  out  of  service  July  24,  1865,  at  Harrisburg. 
It  participated  in  the  following  engagements,  viz  :  Port  Royal  Ferry, 
S.  C,  Port  Royal,  S.  C,  James  Island,  S.  C,  Bull  Run,  Chantilly, 
South  Mountain,  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jack- 
son, Blue  Springs,  Campbell  Station,  siege  of  Knoxville,  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  North  Anna  River,  Coal  Harbor,  Petersburg, 
Mine  Explosion,  Weldon  Railroad,  Poplar  Grove  Church,  and 
Hatcher's  Run,  Fort  Steadman,  and  final  assault  on  Petersburg,  Ya. 
It  joined  the  expedition  under  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman,  returned  to 
Virginia  and  joined  Gen.  Burnside's  forces.  It  was  originally 
commanded  by  Col.  Daniel  Leasure,  of  Lawrence,  and  subsequently 
by  Lieut.  Col.  N.  J.  Maxwell,  of  Mercer. 

The  following  field  and  staff  officers  with  company  A,  belonged  to 
Washington  County — 


316  HISTORY    OF    WASniNGTON   COUNTY. 

Lieut.  Col.  James  Armstrong,  elected  October  9,  1861,  resigned 
July  12,  1CS2. 

Lieut.  Col.  Joseph  II.  Pentecost,  elected  August  15,  18G4,  ap- 
pointed brevet  Colonel  March  25,  18G5.  He  died  from  wounds 
received  in  battle. 

Major  James  Armstrong,  elected  Juh'  12,  1862,  and  promoted  to 
Lieut.  Col. 

Adjutant  H.  M.  Dougan,  appointed  August  1,  1864,  and  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment. 

Assistant  Surgeon  H.  B.  Durant,  appointed  March  23,  1864,  and 
honorably  discharged  March  17,  1865. 

Roll  of  Comx)any  A. 

Capt.  James  Armstrong  elected  August  26,  1861,  and  promoted 
to  Major  and  afterwards  to  Lieut.-Col.  He  was  succeeded  by  Capt. 
TV.  F.  Templeton,  Sept.  11,  1861,  and  killed  at  Bull  Run,  Ya.,  Aug. 
29,  1862.  Joseph  H.  Pentecost,  elected  September  8,  1862,  and 
promoted  to  Lieut.-Col.  Both  his  successors  were  from  Alleghany 
County. 

1st  Lieut.  William  F.  Templeton  was  elected  August  26,  1861, 
and  promoted  to  captain,  his  successors  residing  in  "Washington 
County,  were  Joseph  H.  Pentecost,  elected  September  15,  1861, 
and  promoted  to  captain.  Lieut.  James  H.  Montford,  who  was 
elected  September  8,  1862,  and  resigned  Septembers,  1864.  Lieut. 
James  S.  Stocking  elected  August  15,  1864,  and  resigned  January 
10,  1865,  and  William  H.  Billings,  elected  March  6,  1865,  and  mus- 
tered out  with  the  company. 

The  2d  Lieutenants  of  this  company  residing  in  Washington 
County  were,  Lieut.  Joseph  H.  Pentecost,  elected  August  26,  1861, 
and  promoted  to  1st  Lieut.  Lieut.  William  Okcr,  elected  Sept. 
16,  1861,  and  resigned  November  26,  1862.  Lieut.  E.  W.  Bausman, 
fleeted  November  28,  1862,  and  resigned  March  16,  1864.  Lieut. 
James  S.  Stocking,  elected  September  22,  1864,  and  promoted  to  1st 
Lieut.  Lieut.  W.  H.  Billings,  elected  February  22,  1865,  and  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieut.     Lieut.  Geoi-ge  Metzner,  elected  May  12,  1865. 

Sergeants — John  Cooke,  Robert  B.  Elliott,  Eleven  Alvey,  William  A. 
Gabby,  Joseph  II.  Templeton,  w.;  Monterville  D.  l")ewire. 

Corporals — .lohn  B.  Ib-obst,  Morris  B.  McKeever,  Horace  B.  Durant, 
(Teor"-e  B.  Caldwell,  W.  II.  Horn,  Alexander  Adams,  w.;  Jame.s  Mcllvaine, 
w.;  I)avid  A.  Tomploton,  John  C.  Ralston,  John  W.  Kerr,  William  Claffey, 
w.;  Isaac  H.  Richmond. 

J/a.s/cmn.s— William  H.  Walker,  n.;  and  James  P.  Hays. 

Wagoner— \h\n\^\  B.  Mowry. 

Pkivatks. — Joseph  M.  Aiken,  w. ;  Thomas  Acton,  dis.  ;  James  Aiked, 
Charles  Abcrly,  Nelson  F.  Baker,  Jaincs  Barr,  w. ;  Stephen  Billings,  Peter 
A.  Blomberg,  n.;  Thomas  F.  IJoon,  John  G.  Brice,  dis.;  Martin  Burke,  Benj. 
U.  Best,  w.;  James  Brown,  w.;  Thomas  Baty,  Augustus  Bupp,  John  Blake, 
Moses  M.  Bell,  Castle  Brookins,  Cyrus' J.  Barker,  k.  ;  David  J.  Boynton, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  311 

John  C.  Caldwell,  Charles  D.  Chase,  dis.;  John  Clemens,  k.;  John  Clarke,  w.; 
Thomas  Couboy,  w.  ;  Michael  Curran,  w. ;  Patrick  Collins,  H.  M.  Dougan, 
DIS.;  Tertius  A.  Durant,  William  Durant,  dis.;  Samuel  M.  Decker,  Thomas 
Donley,  d.;  Michael  Daguin,  Patrick  Danford,  James  Dalton,  Andrew  David- 
son, James  C,  Eckles,  Samuel  P.  Ewing,  d.;  Samuel  M.  Fowler,  w.;  Sylves- 
tus  G.  Fowler,  John  D.  France,  w.;  Leonidas  A.  Fowler,  William  J.  Fenner- 
ty,  Isaac  R.  W.  Garretson,  k.  ;  William  Gray,  k.  ;  Thomas  Greer,  William 
Greer,  w.  ;  Robert  Gordon,  w. ;  Lewis  Haager,  w. ;  Daniel  Hall,  w. ;  James 
Hart,  DIS. ;  Jacob  Hartstein,  d.  ;  Charles  Heer,  k.  ;  Alexander  Howell,  d.  ; 
Thomas  Hutcheson,  dis.;  H.  T.  Hamilton,  d.;  Jeremiah  L.  Hannen,  w.;  John 
Hanney,  w. ;  Lemuel  Harris,  w. ;  James  Higgins,  John  S.  Johnson,  dis.  ; 
Robert  D.  Jobs,  d.  ;  George  0.  Jones,  w.  ;  John  S.  Jeffrey,  w. ;  Alexander 
Kerns,  w. ;  Ferdinand  Klcives,  dis.  ;  John  Klotzbarker,  dis.  ;  John  W. 
Koontz,  DIS.;  John  B.  Kendall,  w.;  William  Lange,  dis.;  John  W.  Langfitt, 
w.;  Fiiijah  Linsley,  dis.;  James  W.  Lowry,  d.;  Simon  W.  Lewis,  k.;  William 
H.  Lewis,  C.  0.  Lobinger,  dis.;  Henry  H.  Linley,  d.;  John  W.  Lanery,  w.; 
George  Leasure,  dis.;  Addison  Liggett,  George  W.  McClelland,  dis.;  Chas. 
B.  McCoUum,  dis.;  Jacob  L.  McCuUough,  k.  ;  John  L.  McCuUough,  w.; 
Nathaniel  McCuUough,  w.;  Joseph  E.  McCuUough,  w.;  Samuel  McCuUough, 
Joseph  McGill,  w. ;  W.  T.  McGill,  w. ;  John  B.  McKeever,  d.  ;  Thomas 
McKeever,  d.  drowned  ;  Alexander  C.  McKeever,  t.;  Andrew  McPeak,Dis.; 
Julius  P.  Miller,  dis.;  John  Moloney,  dis.;  Josiah  Mullen,  w.;  John  Marsh, 
K.;  JohnR.  McClure,  dis.;  Samuel  J.  Melvin,  George  W.  McFaiiane,  Ben- 
jamin F.  McClure,  w.;  Maxwell  McCausland,  w.;  Ebenezer  Mcllllroy,  Enoch 
Mouutz,  w. ;  Martin  Moore,  w. ;  Samuel  Mishner,  Thomas  Miller,  W.  B. 
McGarvy,  Daniel  McCann,  dis.  ;  Henry  C.  Obenbaugh,  k.  ;  Thomas  Orr, 
Jacob  C.  Pry,  w.;  Samuel  Potter,  Perry  Phillips,  w.;  John  Pier,  Curtus  R. 
Potter,  Frederick  Ran,  dis.;  Franklin  A.  Rose,  Simon  S.  Russel,  w.;  James 
Reardon,  George  Robertson,  d.;  Thomas  Russel,  w. ;  Theodore  Robertson, 
Simon  H.  Reed,  Thomas  Reichter,  d.  ;  Edward  Riley,  w.;  David  Shephard, 
DIS.;  William  S.  Simcox,  d.;  George  W.  Smith,  Isaac  N.  Stranger,  John  E. 
Stephenson,  dis.  ;  George  N.  Stephenson,  dis.  ;  Wm.  Saunders,  k.  ;  Henry 
Sloppy,  Joseph  E.  Shatter,  Wm.  Stork,  Robert  J.  Taggart,  dis.  ;  Aaron 
Templeton,  k.;  James  B.  Thompson,  d.;  Andrew  Thompson,  d.  ;  Samuel  F. 
Thompson,  w.;  George  W.  Thompson,  Thomas  B.  Templeton,  d.;  John  S. 
Weirich,  d.;  John  Wherry,  k.;  Jackson  Wimer,  John  Wonder,  Lorenzo  D, 
Wilgus,  Henry  Young,  James  Young. 

Company  M. 

Jesse  C.  Taylor,  1st  Lieutenant. 

John  Merrick,  2d  Sergeant,  k. 

B.  F.  Taylor,  Corporal. 

Privates. — J.  W.  Cocaine,  Sam'l  Grist,  J.  B.  Haley,  G.  W.  Haley,  J. 
Housen,  Isaac  Housen,  M.  Lape,  H.  Lennox,  J.  R.  Moss,  George  Rudge, 
Wm.  Rothrick,  Solomon  Stroop,  R.  H.  Sickles,  Samuel  Throp,  Wm.  Wad- 
dington,  John  West,  John  C.  White. 

140th  Regiment  Infantry 

Was  organized  at  Harrisburg,  from  August  26  to  September  2, 
1862  ;  term  of  service  for  three  years.  It  was  mustered  out  of  ser- 
vice May  28,  1865,  at  W^ashiugton  city,  except  new  recruits,  which 
were  transferred  to  the  57th  Volunteers. 

This  regiment  participated  in  the  following   engagements,  viz : 


318  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Antietam,  Kelly's 
Ford,  Mine  Run,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania,  North  Anna,  Talopo- 
tonecy,  Coal  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Strawberry  Plains,  Deep  Bottom, 
Bristow  Station,  Poplar  Spring  Church,  and  Boydton  Road.  Five 
companies  of  this  regiment  were  from  Washington  County.  Its 
tirst  field  officers  were.  Colonel,  llicliard  P.  Roberts,  of  Beaver, 
elected  September  8, 1862,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 1863 ;  Lieut- 
Colonel,  John  Fraser,  of  Washington  County,  at  date  of  service; 
he  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  September  8,  1862,  and  promoted 
to  Colonel  July  4,  1863,  afterwards  Brigadier-General,  and  honora- 
bly discharged ;  Major,  Thomas  B.  Rodgers,  of  Mercer,  elected 
September  8,  1862,  and  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  July  4, 
1863;  Adjutant,  John  M.  Ray,  appointed  October  20,  1864;  Quar- 
ter-Master, Samuel  B.  Bentley,  appointed  September  12, 1862;  Sur- 
geon, Dr.  John  Wilson  Wishart,  September  12,  1862;  Assistant 
Surgeons,  Dr.  W.  W.  Sharpe,  September  12,  1862,  Dr.  B.  F.  Hill, 
November  5,  1862;  these  officers  belonged  to  Washington  County. 

Roll  of  Company  C,  or  Beady  Artillery. 

Captain  David  Achesou  organized  the  company,  and  was  elected 
August  22, 1852,  and  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  July  2,  1863. 
His  successor  was  Captain  Isaac  N.  Vance,  elected  Septcml)er  14, 
1863,  and  honorably  discharged  January  12,  1864;  he  lost  his  left 
hand  at  Gettysburg  July  2,  1863.  He  was  succeeded  by  Captain 
Alexander  W.  Acheson  January  16,  1864,  who  was  honorably  dis- 
charged December  3,  1864.  Lieut.  John  Milton  Ray  was  elected 
Captain  January  30,  1864,  and  mustered  out  with  the  company  May 
31, 1865.  Isaac  N.  Yance,  1st  Lieutenant,  elected  August  22,  1862, 
and  was  promoted  to  Captain  ;  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  1st  Lieu- 
tenant, elected  September  14,  1863,  and  promoted  to  Captain  ;  John 
M.  Ray,  1st  Lieutenant,  elected  January  30,  1864,  and  appointed 
Adjutant;  W.  J.  Cunningham,  elected  December  4,  1864,  and 
killed  April  7,  1865;  Charles  L.  Linton,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected 
August  22,  1862,  and  promoted  to  Captain  in  Company  D .  Robert 
R.  Reed,  Jr.,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected  May  22,  1862,  died  July  19, 
1863;  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected  August  16, 
1863  ;  to  1st  Lieutenant ;  John  M.  Ray,  2d  Lieutenant,  elected 
August  20,  1863,  to  1st  Lieutenant ;  John  W.  Wiley,  2d  Lieutenant, 
elected  December  18,  1864,  transferred  to  53d  Regiment  May  30, 
1865. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  Officers. — Robert  R.  Reed,  Jr.,  0.  Sergeant;  Jas. 
D.  Campbell,  2d  Serffcant;  JL  J.  Boatman,  3d  Sergeant;  J.  Milton  Ray,  4th 
Sergeant;  W.J.  Cunningham,  r)th  Sergeant;  John  Cully,  1st  Corporal; 
James  Blako,  2d  Corporal;  K.  II.  Linton,  3d  Corporal;  James  P.  Sayer, 
4th  Corporal;  John  1).  Wishart,  Sth  Corporal,  transferred  to  Battery  B, 
1st  R.  1.  artillery;  J.  M.  Dye,  (Jth  Corporal,  transferred  to  same  artillery  ; 
Thomas  Ilardesty,  7th  Corporal,  also  transferred  to  same ;  John  S.  Martin, 
8th  Corporal. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  319 

Privates. — Sandie  Acheson,  w. ;  Wm.  Amon,  k;  Wm.  Armstrong,  d.; 
Jas.  Baird,  trans,  to  Battery  B,  R.  I.  artillery ;  Sam'l  Baird,  John  Billick,  J. 
K.  Bishop,  Dis.,  w. ;  Julius  Black,  w. ;  John  Blair,  w. ;  Jas.  Blake,  Henry  J. 
Boatman,  Ephraim  C.  Brown,  k.  ;  Samuel  Bunnell,  w. ;  J.  D.  Campbell, 
Lewis  M.  Cleaver,  w. ;  Isaac  J.  Cleaver,  David  W.  Cleaver,  James  B. 
Clemins,  Ellis  J.  Cole,  k.  ;  Philip  A.  Cooper,  John  P.  Cully,  J.  W.  Cun- 
ningham, Samuel  Curry,  N.  D.  Cutten,  w. ;  Benton  Devore,  w.,  d.  ;  John 

A.  Dickey,  w. ;  David  Dowling,  J.  W.  Dowling,  d.  ;  A.  S.  Duncan,  J.  W. 
Duncan,  J.  M.  Dye,  transferred  to  Battery  B,  R.  I.  artillery ;  Jas.  Eckert, 
w. ;  Samuel  Fergus,  w. ;  Nehemiah  Gilbert,  w. ;  Aaron  Gunn,  w. ;  Mason 
Hart,  A.  F.  Hartford,  Thomas  Hardesty,  Robert  Henderson,  Lewis  Henry, 
w.  and  T>. ;  William  Horton,  k.  ;  William  Howard,  deserted;  Clarke  Irey, 
w. ;  Richard  Jones,  w. ;  Thomas  Jones,  k.  ;  John  J.  Jordan,  w. ;  David 
Jones,  D.  L.  Keeney,  k.  ;  James  S.  Kelley,  k.  ;  Frederick  Kesner,  Robert 
Lindsey,  d.  ;  Thomas  Long,  w.;  John  Lowe,  Thomas  B.  Lucas,  k.  ;  James 
L.  Martin,  w.,  dis.;  John  S.  Martin,  Daniel  McClain,  John  McConn,  w. 
and  D. ;  Hugh  B.  McNeil,  David  McCoy,  John  E.  McCullough,  Thomas 
McCune,  w.  ;  James  H.  McFarland,  w. ;  Frank  B.  McNear,  w. ;  Samuel 
Mills,  Richard  Miller,  k.  ;  John  Moore,  Tellinghast  Monrie,  w. ;  Anthony 
Mull,  K. ;  Alvin  Newman,  d.  ;  George  Norris,  w.  ;  Hugh  Needham,  w. ; 
Robert  Patterson,  deserted  ;  John  Pattison,  Albertus  Pattison,  missing  ; 
Andrew  Plants,  William  Pollock,  William  H.  Pollock,  Esau  Powell,  John 
W.  Penney,  William  B.  Post,  w. ;  Jackson  Praul,  k.  ;  Charles  Quail, 
William  J.  Radcliffe,  J.  M.  Ray,  Robert  R.  Reed,  Jr.,  Charles  Rentz,  Sam'l 
Rettig,  Henry  Richards,  w. ;  M.  Austin  Richards,  Alexander  Robinson, 
w. ;  Sam'l  Roop,  w. ;  Gales  S.  Rose,  w. ;  David  Ruble,  w. ;  Silas  A.  Sanders, 
James  Sayers,  Presley  H.  Shipley,  k.  ;  John  Smalley,  w. ;  Wm.  Stockwell, 
K. ;  James  Stockwell,  w. ;  John  Stockwell,  Jonathan  Tucker,  Simeon  Van- 
kirk,  Wm.  Vankirk,  Isaac  Wall,  Colin  Waltz,  w. ;  James  Wise,  k.  ;  Samuel 
Wise,  J.  D.  Wishart,  t.  to  Battery  B,  R.  I.  artillery;  Jefferson  Younkin. 

Recapitulation. — Commissioned  officers,  3 ;  enlisted  men,  99 — 102. 
Killed,  11 ;  died,  5 ;  transferred,  7  ;  discharged,  3  ;  deserted,  2 — 28. 

Company  D,  Tenmile  Infantry. 

Captain  Silas  Parker,  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  and  was  honorably 
discharged,  April  16,  1863.  He  died  June,  1863,  and  was  buried 
at  Amity,  in  this  county.  He  was  succeeded  by  Charles  L.  Lin- 
ton, who  served  until  May  1,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. 

First  Lieutenant  James  Mannon,  elected  August  22,  1862,  honor- 
ably discharged  January  16,  1863.  His  successor  was  Matthias 
Minton,  elected  January  16, 1863,  and  served  until  August  19,  1863, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  On  the  25th  August  James  B. 
Yan  Dyke  was  elected,  and  honorably  discharged  May  31,  1864. 
His  successor  was  J.  Fulton  Bell,  elected  January  16,  1863,  who 
was  mustered  out  with  the  company.  May  31,  1865. 

Second  Lieutenant  Matthias  Minton,  elected  August  22,  1862, 
afterwards  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant.     Second  Lieutenant  James 

B.  Yan  Dyke,  elected  January  16,  1863,  afterwards  promoted  to 
1st  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — James  B.  Yan  Dyke,  1st  Sergeant ;  Henry 

C.  Swart,  2d  Sergeant ;  Moses  McCollum,  3d  Sergeant ;  Cephas  D.  Sharp, 


320  UISTOKY    OF    ■WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

4th  Sergeant ;  Leicester  Bebout,  5th  Sergeant ;  John  A.  Black,  1st  Cor- 
poral;  Calvin  Ramsey,  2d  Corporal ;  Leroy  W.  Day,  3d  Corporal;  Beden 
Bebout,  4th  Corporal ;  Isaac  Sharp,  5th  Corporal ;  James  A.  Bebout,  Gth 
Corporal;  James  M.  Hughes,  7th  Corporal;  Fulton  Bell,  8th  Corporal; 
Alpheus  Cunningham,  Drummer;  John  B.  McDonald.  Commissary. 

Privates. — Abner  Birch,  Samuel  Johnson,  L.  W.  Day,  A.  J.  Swart, 
Bedcn  Behout,  Amos  Kenstwick,  'J'homas  Doty,  H.  C.  Swart,  Enoch  Baker, 
John  Kelly,  Wilson  Doty,  Cephas  D.  Sharp,  Fulton  J.  Bell,  Cyrus  Liiulley, 
Lewis  Dille,  Emmor  Smalley,  Hazlett  M.  Bell,  Milton  Lindley,  Al)ner 
Enoch,  Isaac  Sharp,  Ira  Baldwin,  John  W.  Lewis,  Joseph  Evans,  John 
Sibert,  John  A.  Black,  John  Loaf'man,  Nathan  P.  Evans,  John  W.  Sanders, 
James  A.  Bebout,  William  Loyd,  Enoch  French,  Joseph  Sherrick,  John  L. 
Brannon,  Isaac  Lacock,  Jaco!)  Frazec,  James  Sibert,  Lester  Bebout,  George 
Moore,  Charles  Guttery,  William  H.  Teagarden,  Milton  Blachly,  James 
Montgomery.  James  Hathaway,  George  AV.  Teagarden,  Robert  Birch,  John 
B.  McDonald,  John  L.  Hathaway,  Jacob  McAfee,  Sample  F.  Bell,  James 
Van  Dyke,  James  Hilton,  Joseph  Meeks,  William  Bebout,  William  S.  Wal/- 
son,  Jacob  Hatfield,  James  Miles,  Zachariah  Baker,  Henry  Watson,  Jona- 
than W.  Hughes,  Moses  McCoUum,  Andrew  Curry,  Jacob  Yodcs,  James 
M.  Hughes,  Winder  McKinney,  Alpheus  Cunningham,  Andrew  J.  A^ankirk, 
Albert  G.  Parker,  Calvin  Ramsey,  Charles  Cunningham,  Christopher  C. 
AA^'elsh,  Hamilton  Parker,  Daniel  AA^  Sowers,  Charles  H.  Cane,  George 
Redd,  Philo  Paul,  Hiram  Tharp,  John  AY.  Cooper,  Isaac  Tucker,  Plarvey 
Pope,  James  Birch,  Milton  Clutter,  James  M.  Miller,  Judson  AV.  Paden, 
Joseph  Swihart,  Levi  Curry,  Joseph  Brannon,  Peter  Phillips,  James  Stans- 
berry,  Franklin  Ijams,  Simeon  S.  Sanders,  AVilliam  Rutan,  Samuel  Evans, 
James  A.  Jackson,  Thomas  Glenn,  Amos  Swart,  AV.  H.  AVilliams,  John 
Closser. 

James  Montgomery  d,  from  wounds. 

Killed.— V^mmor  Smalley,  Judson  W.  Paden,  James  Birch,  Amos  Swart, 
Philo  Paul.  John  L.  Brannon. 

Woimdcd. — Andrew  J.  A^'ankirk,   H.  C.  Swart,  James  AIcAfee.  Samuel 


Company  E 

AVas  organized  Aug.  22,  1862.  Its  first  captain  was  Aaron  T. 
(iregg,  elected  at  its  organization,  and  honorably  discharged  Juno 
5,  1803.  His  successor,  Irani  F.  Sansom,  was  elected  June  5, 
1863,  and  discharged  July  2G,  1864.  Capt.  Jesse  T.  Power  was 
elected  December  14,  1864,  and  mustered  out  with  company  May 
31,  1865. 

1st  Lieut.  Thomas  A.  Stone,  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  honorably 
discharged  June  5,  1863;  Irani  F.  Sansom  was  elected  his  suc- 
cessor Feb.  6,  1863,  and  afterwards  promoted  to  Captain.  John  F. 
Wilson,  elected  July  4,  1863,  and  promoted  to  Captain  of  Conii)any 
G.  James  A.  Russel,  elected  Sept.  28,  1863,  and  discharged  April 
13,  1864.  AVilliam  B.  Lank,  elected  Dec.  14,  1864,  and  killed  at 
Sailor's  Creek  April  6,  186.5. 

2d  Lieut.  Iram  F.  Sansom,  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  and  promoted 
to  1st  Lieut. ;  liis  successor  was  Francis  R.  Stover,  elected  Feb.  6, 
1863,  and  honorably  discharged  Dec.  14,  1863. 


history  op  washington  county.  321 

Company  G — Brown  Infantry, 

"Was  recruited  at  Canonsburg  by  Capt.  John  Fraser,  Professor  of 
Mathematics  at  Jefferson  College.  Under  his  command  the  follow- 
ing families  sent  forty-seven  sons  to  the  army:  John  Gaston,  4; 
Thomas  Jackson,  4  ;  James  Eyan,  4  ;  Harmon  M.  Peck,  4  ;  Sa- 
muel L.  Hughes,  3  ;  Samuel  Stewart,  3  ;  Kev.  Wm.  Smith,  3  ; 
John  Paxton,  3  ;  Dr.  Stewart,  3 ;  Mrs.  Hallas,  3  ;  James  Coleman, 
3  ;  John  Brady,  2 ;  Hugh  Huston,  2  ;  Samuel  R.  Cook,  2  ;  W.  H. 
McA^ary,  2  ;  Wm.  Black,  2. 

Capt.  John  Fraser  was  elected  Aug.  22,  1864 ;  promoted  to  Lieut.- 
Col.  July  4,  18G3.  He  was  succeeded  by  Capt.  W.  H.  H.  Bing- 
Jiam  the  same  day,  who  was  promoted  to  Major  of  U.  S.  Volunteers 
Aug.  1,  1864.  His  successor  was  Capt.  John  F.  Wilson,  elected 
Oct.  10,  1864,  and  died  April  14,  1865,  of  wounds  received  in' 
battle.  Capt  Wilson  N.  Paxton  was  elected  April  16,  1865,  and 
honorably  discharged  as  1st  Lieut.  May  15,  1865,  and  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Capt.  John  R.  Paxton  May  16,  1865,  who  was  mustered 
out  with  the  company  May  31,  1865. 

1st  Lieut.  W.  H.  H.  Bingham,  elected  May  22,  1864,  and  pro- 
moted to  Captain. 

1st  Lieutenant  Wilson  X.  Paxton,  elected  Aug.  22,  1864,  and 
promoted  to  Captain. 

1st  Lieut.  John  R.  Paxton,  elected  April  16,  1865,  and  promoted 
to  Captain. j 

2d  Lieutenant  Wilson  N.  Paxton,  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  and 
promoted  to  1st  Lieut. 

2d  Lieut.  Jos.  W.  McEwen,  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  killed  at 
Chancellorsville  May  3,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  Alex.  M.  Wilson,  elected  March  4,  1863,  killed  at  Get- 
tysburg July  2,  1863. 

2d  Lieut.  John  R.  Paxton,  elected  Oct.  14,  1864,  and  promoted 
to  1st  Lieut. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Alcx.  M.  Wllson,  Ist  Sergeant ;  Jasper 
E.  Brady,  Jr.,  2d  Sergeant;  T.  J.  Weaver,  3d  Sergeant;  Benjamin  Black, 
4th  Sergeant;  James  Voltenburg,  5th  Sergeant,  k.;  James  M.  Fatten,  1st 
Corporal;  David  L.  Taggart,  2d  Corporal;  E.  H.  Martin,  3d  Corporal; 
John  R.  Mitchell,  4th  Corporal;  Dunning  Hart.  5th  Corporal;  G.  Harold 
McGinuis,  6th  Corporal ;  John  F.  Wilson,  7th  Corporal ;  Bankhead  B. 
Barr,  8th  Corporal. 

Privates. — James  Allison,  Wm.  Armstrong,  James  Armstrong,  John 
Arnold,  Simon  Arnold,  Boyd  E.  Atkinson,  John  Barr,  James  L.  Berry,  w. ; 
John  M.  Berry,  David  Berry,  David  W.  Boyd,  David  Boyce,  Josiah  Car- 
roll, Stephen  Champ,  A.  A.  Coleman,  Eli  Crawford,  James  M.  Crawford, 
Vincent  Crawford,  James  S.  Daggs,  John  C.  Davis,  George  Davis,  Charles 
R.  Donaldson,  Wm.  G.  Donaldson,  E.  G.  Emery,  Alexander  Gaston,  k.  ; 
John  Gilkeson,  John  L.  Gow,  Levi  Griffith,  w.  ;  James  W.  Griffith,  Wm. 
I.  Greer,  George  Grier,  James  Hamilton,*  r>. ;    David  Havelin,  Wm.  A. 


*  Died  of  typhoid  fever,  September  23d. 


322  HISTORY    OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Helt.  Joseph  Hemphill.  James  Himmeger,  John  TV.  Hogdens,  Frank  Ijams, 
J.  B.  Johnson,  AVm.  H.  Jackson,  James  B.  Jackson,  Robert  S.  Jackson, 
Cornelius  D.  B.  Kirk.  James  P.  Kerr,  Wm.  A.  Kerr,  Joseph  Lawson.  Wm. 
H.  Lauum,  James  Lynn,  James  S.  McGlumphey,  w. ;  Samuel  B.  McBride, 
G.  W.  McGibbony,  RobertR,  McJunkin,  John  W.  McMeans.  T.  M.  McNary, 
John  McNutt,  John  R.  Mitchell,  Joseph  L.  Moore,  George  R.  Murray, 
Robert  B.  Parkinson,  John  R.  Paxton.  Wm.  J.  P.  Patton,  Thomas  A. 
Pcrrine,  David  B.  Phillips,  Wayne  J.  Phillips.  James  W.  Pollock,  William 
Pollock.  James  S.  Rankin,  James  G.  Sloan,  William  Sheets.  John  Speer. 
Robert  L.  Speer,  R.  L.  Stewart,  John  M.  Stewart,  Wm.  B.  Stewart,  John 
T.  Sumney,  David  Sumney,  James  Thomas,  Cyrus  Townsend,  John  M. 
Watson.  James  P.  Weaver.  Joshua  Weaver,  Thomas  Weaver,  Joseph 
Wilson,  Hugh  Wier,  David  White,  James  Young. 

Company  G  returned  to  Canonsburg,  June  8,  1865,  and  was» 
received  at  the  college  chapel  by  an  address  from  Rev.  Dr.  Riddle 
W.  McDaniel,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  F.   Collier.      The  original  roll  was 

called  by Pollock,  0.  S.,   and  as  the  roll-calling  proceeded 

the  absent  one  was  accounted  for  ;  but  of  the  one  hundred  and 
three  men  all  did  their  duty  nobly,  save  one  who  deserted.  They 
afterwards  adjourned  to  Briceland's  hotel,  and  partook  of  supper, 
and  also  were  refreshed  at  Capt.  Paxton's  house. 

Company  K. 

Capt.  William  A.  F.  Stockton  was  elected  Aug.  22,  1862,  appoint- 
ed Brigade  Major  April  9,  1805,  and  mustered  out  with  company 
May  31,  1805. 

First  Lieutenant  Alexander  Sweeney,  Jr.,  elected  April  22,  1862, 
and  served  until  mustered  out. 

Second  Lieutenant  William  B.  Cook,  elected  August  22, 1862,  and 
houorably  discharged  May  IT,  1865. 

Privates. — Edward  Alexander,  Jas.  B.  Allison,  Abraham  Andres,  Peter 
Andres,  James  Arthrus,  Jas.  S.  Berryhill,  Milton  R.  Boyd,  Benjamin  B. 
Buchanan.  1).  J.  Butterfoss,  Lazarus  Briggs,  George  W.  Carter,  Jesse 
Carter,  Thomas  J.  Carter,  Andrew  Chester,  w. ;  Isaac  W.  Chrisholm,  Silas 
Cooke.  James  Cochran,  Joseph  Corbin,  David  W.  Corbin,  Ezra  Conway, 
Benjamin  H.  Cummins,  Andrew  B.  Davis,  Michael  Daugherty,  John  Day, 
Henry  Dickson,  Isaac  Donaldson,  Robert  B.  Dungan,  Benjamin  F.  Earnest, 
John  Fulton,  James  H.  Fordyce,  Joseph  C.  Frazier,  John  F.  Gardner, 
William  M.  Geary,  J.  Smith  Graham,  Martin  Grim,  Joseph  Guess,  George 
A.  Hanlin,  William  Ilanlin,  Benjamin  F.  Hawthorn,  Thomas  C.  Hays,  John 
Henderson,  Robert  W.  Hull,  George  W.  Johnston,  Robert  Lyle,  James 
C.  Lyle,  James  K.  P.  Magill,  John  Makeowu,  John  Marshall,  John  Mar- 
shall, D.  ;  John  D.  McCabe,  John  A.  McCalmot,  Robert  McCIurg,  James 
K.  McCurdy,  Benjamin  McCuUough,  Harrison  McCouncll,  Owen  McElfish, 
Robert  A.  Meldoon,  John  Meloy,  N orris  Metcalfe,  William  H.  Miller,  Isaac 
Miller,  J.  J.  Morris,  George  Morrow,  Enoch  Mount z,  John  W.  Nickerson, 
Colin  R.  Nickerson,  James  L.  Noah,  Thomas  Ij.  Noble,  William  Porter, 
Wm.  R.  H.  Powelson,  Benjamin  F.  Powclson,  William  Lewis  Pry,  Robert 
A.  Pry,  David  McC.  Pry,  George  Ralston.  AVilliam  M.  Rea,  William  Ruff- 
ner.  William  Scott,  Henderson  Scott,  Nathaniel  Seese,  Samuel  K.  Shindies, 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  323 

George  Sprowls,  Jesse  M.  Sprowls,  Oliver  Staley,  George  Star,  William 
Stollard,  John  Toppin,  Robert  Virtue,  Ulysses  Wheeler,  Thomas  Wilkin, 
James  Worstell,  Marshall  Wright. 

15 2d  Regiment — 3d  Pennsylvania  Artillery, 

Was  organized  at  Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia  for  three  years'  ser- 
vice, October  8,  1862,  and  was  mustered  out  July  11,  1865. 

In  Company  K  of  this  regiment  were  J.  P.  Charlton,  Samuel  C. 
Wolf,  Edward  Mouck,  and  Robert  F.  Cooper,  of  Washington  County. 
R.  F.  Cooper  was  commissioned  '2d  Lieutenant,  but  died  shortly 
afterwards. 

159th  Regiment,  Company  H — 14th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry, 

Was  organized  by  Capt.  John  J.  Shutterly,  of  Canonsburg,  who  was 
elected  Captain  Nov.  24,  1862,  and  resigned  Oct.  2,  1863. 

Henry  McMurray,  of  Washington  County,  was  elected  1st  Lieu- 
tenant June  5,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged  Oct.  27,  1865  ;  he 
had  previously  been  elected  2d  Lieutenant  Oct.  2,  1863.  His  suc- 
cessor as  2d  Lieutenant  was  James  B.  Johnson,  who  was  honorably 
discharged  July  31,  1865. 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — Heury  McMurray,  0.  S. ;  Benj.  F.  Craig, 
Quartermaster;  Samuel  Ruth,  Commissary;  Colton  Donavan,  1st  Duty; 
Alfred  W.  Murray,  3d  ;  James  Chaney,  4th ;  James  Barker,  5th  ;  James  B. 
Johnston,  3d  Corporal ;  David  Orr,  4th  Corporal ;  James  McAdoo,  7th 
Corporal. 

Privates. — John  Brown,  James  Campsey,  Simon  Donovan,  Frank  C. 
Forbes,  Jonathan  Fox,  John  Gilmore,  Edward  McGlaughlin,  Thomas  J. 
McPeak,  Wilson  McMurray,  Sylvester  McElfish,  Sylvanus'McAdoo,  Andrew 
McPeak,  Thomas  Odey,  George  Ryan,  James  Sims,  James  Sees,  Georo-e  W. 
Trussel,  Jonathan  R.  Wilson,  .William  Wilson,  Thomas  White,  James  White. 

The  above  were  from  Washington  County;  the  remaining  officers 
and  soldiers  from  other  counties  and  Virginia.  The  regiment  was 
under  the  command  of  Col.  James  M.  Schoonmaker. 

This  regiment  was  in  the  following  battles:  Winchester,  Cedar 
Creek,  Fisher's  Hill,  Lynchburg. 

154th  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Drafted  Militia  Company. 

This  company  was  drafted  for  nine  months'  service  October  16, 
1862,  and  was  composed  of  one  hundred  and  nine  men.  We  give 
a  list  of  the  ofl&cers  and  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  who 
resided  in  Washington  County.  The  non-commissioned  officers  were 
appointed  December  1,  1862. 

Officers. — John  B.  Hays,  Captain;  Samuel  T.  Griffith,  1st  Lieutenant; 
Jos.  S.  McBribe,  2d  Lieutenant.  . 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Jam^s  Blythe,  Orderly  Sergeant;  John 
T.  Roberts,  2d  Sergeant;  John  Park,  3d  Sergeant;  Benjamin  K.  Kennedy, 
4th  Sergeant;   Samuel  M.  Decker,  5th  Sergeant;   Andrew  M.  Welch,  1st 


324  HISTORY   OF   WASUINGTON   COUNTY. 

Corporal;  Cyrua  A.  Foster,  2d  Corporal;  Samuel  Davidson,  3d  Corporal; 
Wm.  Boon,  4th  Corporal;  John  Bell,  5th  Corporal;  James  P.  Young,  6th 
Corporal;  Joel  England,  7th  Corporal;  Hagan  H.  Arnold,  8th  Corporal. 

Privates. — Benjamin  A.  Ayres,  Thomas  Baldwin,  James  Caldwell,  James 
Cavanaugh,  Isaac  B.  Coates,  Freegrift  C.  Cole,  Samuel  T.  Decker,  Nelson 
Ely,  Henry  A.  Foster,  Simon  R.  Hixenbaugh,  William  Hurley,  Frank  Ken- 
ner,  F.  Kalterlee.  David  Martin,  John  B.  Miller,  Carson  Malone,  Gilbert  C. 
Marshall,  Jonathan  Morris,  Hugh  B.  McKiiiley.  Edward  Mellon,  Hugh 
McCoy,  Davis  Olds,  Tyre  Robinson.  Thomas  W.  Ross,  Robert  C  Hheplar, 
J.  Taylor  Simpson,  Thomas  M.  Stewart,  F.  Scriber,  Thomas  Shanaieet, 
James  P.  Young. 

Company  K  of  the  161st  Regiment  (IGtii  Cavalry), 

This  company  we  referred  to  when  giving  the  history  of  Captain 
Work's  company. 

It  was  organized  under  the  command  of  Captain  R.  "W.  Par- 
kinson, October  25,  1SG2;  he  resigned  April  12,  1803,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Jonathan  R.  Day,  April  30,  18G3,  Lt. 
Day  having  filled  the  office  of  1st  Lieutenant  from  its  organization. 
Upon  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant  Day,  Henry  Granville  was  elect- 
ed Xovcmber  20,  1862,  who  served  until  February  20,  1863,  when 
Edmund  Dunn  was  elected  1st  Lieutenant  February  21,  1863,  and 
served  until  the  company  was  mustered  out  August  11,  1869.  2d 
Lieutenant  Alexander  A.  Gunn  served  as  such  from  its  organization 
until  February  27,  1863,  when  he  resigned,  when  Luther  Day  was 
elected  ;  but  he  being  killed  in  action  December  1,  1864,  J.  Newton 
Minton  was  elected  December  2,  1864,  and  regularly  mustered  out 
August  11,  1865.  Lieutenant  Jonathan  R.  Day  was  appointed  Ad- 
jutant of  this  regiment  October  l8,  1862;  Francis  J.  Lemoyne,  M. 
D.,  Surgeon. 

This  regiment  participated  in  tlio  following  engagements:  Kellys- 
ford,  Middlel)urg,  Ashby's  Gap,  Gettysburg,  Shepherdstown,  Sulphur 
Springs,  Bristoe's  Station,  Mine  Run,  Todd's  Tavern,  Hawes'  Shop, 
Fortifications  of  Richmond,  Trevillian  Station,  St.  Mary's  Church, 
Deep  Bottom,  Ream's  Station,  Boydton  Road,  and  Stony  Creek 
Station. 

Officers. — R.  W.  Parkinson,  Captain ;  J.  R.  Day,  1st  Lieutenant ;  A. 
A.  Gunn,  2d  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissioNKD  OFFICERS. — E.  Dunu,  Orderly  Sergeant;  L.  Day,  1st 
Sergeant;  C.  H.  McVay,  2d  Sergeant;  A.  H.  Miller,  3d  Sergeant;  M. 
Woods,  4th  Sergeant;  W.  S.  Craft,  oth  Sergeant;  S.  D.  Waddic,  Commis- 
sary Sergeant;  N.  I).  Chutter,  Quarter-Master  Sergeant;  J.  N.  Minton, 
1st  Corporal;  G.  F.  Sirajjson.  2d  Corporal;  T.  J.  Peun,  3d  Sergeant;  G. 
W.  McDavid,  4th  Corporal;  G.  W.  Conger,  5th  Corporal;  0.  L.  Garrett, 
Gth  Corporal;  J.  Dunn,  7th  Corproral;  J.  England,  8th  Corporal;  AVm.  D. 
Carroll,  1st  Bugler;  S.  Saunders.  2d  Bugler. 

Privatks. — D.  Archer.  J.  Ackley.  J.  Brooks,  S.  Birch,  G.  Baldwin,  J. 
Baldwin,  O.  G.  Boord,  AV.  Chester,  R.  Chester,  N.  Cheese.  D.  Cooper,  J. 
Craft,  H.  Cranville.  J.  Caldwell,  0.  Couklin,  J.  Cracraft,  S.  Carter,  J.  Car- 
ter, A.  Clutter,  G.  W.  Clutter.  J.  Dailey,  H.  P.  Day,  S.  Denny,  J.  Denny, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON  COUNTY.  325 

J.  M.  Dilley,  J.  Dickson,  H.  Dickson,  J.  Dewbery,  J.  Dougherty,  A.  Frazier, 
B.  Fry,  A.  H.  Hewit,  J.  Hazlett,  H.  Howell,  J.  Hanna,  M.  Jones,  E.  Low- 
ery,  W.  Lewis,  H.  Little,  N.  Little,  William  Lyon,  w.;  G.  W.  Hays,  Louis 
Kendall,  N.  Lightner,  S.  Lindley,  E.  Mattox,  J.  W.  Miller,  B.  Marsbmau, 
R.  Marshman,  T.J.  Marshal,  S.  IMcDaniel,  M.  Mc:Mahon,  Wm.  IMendlen,  C. 
Mears,  I.  Milligan  J.  W.  Milligan,  J.  Milligan,  S.  Pipes,  S.  Potter,  W.  Pot- 
ter, M.  Patterson,  S.  Porter,  J.  Post,  J.  Roney,  J.  Z.  Riley,  J.  Riley,  A. 
Stillwell,  J.  Saunders,  J.  B.  Sheets,  J.  P.  K.  Smith,  w.;  J.  Stewart,  J. 
Throgmorten,  A.  Teagarden,  S.  Winget,  F.  Wingct,  J.  Wright,  J.  Walker, 
J.  Wilson,  S.  Wilson. 

185th  Regiment,  22d  Cavalry  Regiment, 

Was  organized  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  February  22,  18G4  ;  its  history 
fully  given  after  the  roll  of  this  company. 

Ringgold  Cavalry. 

Roll  of  Ringgold  Cavalry,  Company  A,  of  the  Ringgold  Cavalry 
Battalion  of  Washington  County. — This  company  was  commanded 
by  Captain  John  Keys,  and  takes  rank  from  June  6,  1861.  Its 
term  of  service  was  three  years,  and  assigned  to  the  22d  Regiment 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  organized  February  25,  1864. 

Captain  John  Keys,  mustered  into  service  October  2,  1861,  died 
November  10,  1863.  1st  Lieutenant  Henry  A.  Myers  was  elected 
October  2,  1861,  and  promoted  to  Captain  November  12,  1863,  and 
afterwards  to  Major  1st  Lieutenant  James  P.  Hart  was  promoted 
November  12,  1863,  and  on  March  2T,  1864,  elected  Captain  and 
mustered  out  with  Company  A,  3d  Prov.  Cavalry  October  31,  1865. 
1st  Lieutenant  Henry  Anisansel,  who  resigned  and  was  commis- 
sioned by  Gov.  Pierrepont,  of  Virginia,  to  raise  a  regiment  of  cavalry, 
of  which  he  served  as  Colonel.  Captain  Farrabces'  company  was 
in  this  regiment.  2d  Lieutenant  James  P.  Hart  was  elected  Octo- 
ber 2,  1861,  and  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant.  2d  Lieutenant  John 
Holland  was  elected  November  12,  1863;  March  17,  1864,  elected 
1st  Lieutenant,  and  mustered  out  August  23,  1864.  2d  Lieutenant 
Geo.  Gass  was  elected  March  17,  1864,  and  1st  Lieutenant  August 
24, 1864.     2d  Lieutenant  Thomas  Nutt  was  elected  August  24,  1864. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Samucl  B.  Holland,  Quarter-Master  Ser- 
geant :  Joseph  E.  Abell,  Company  Commissary  Sergeant ;  John  Holland, 
1st  Sergeant;  Geo.  Gass,  2d  Sergeant;  Adam  Wickersham,  3d  Sergeant; 
Thomas  Nutt,  4th  Sergeant;  Hopkins  Moffitt,  5th  Sergeant;  Wm.  Par-  ■ 
shall,  1st  Corporal;  Joseph  Householder,  2d  Corporal;  Stephen  P.  Beatty, 
3d  Corporal;  Isaac  P.  Dawson,  4th  Corporal;  Hugh  P.  Hedge,  5th  Cor- 
poral; Chauncey  R.  Dover,  6th  Corporal;  James  Robinson,  7th  Corporal, 
John  Streiner,  8th  Corporal. 

Musicians. — Napoleon  B.  Rigden  and  William  M.  Morrison. 

Blacksmith. — Jacob  Dickson. 

Wagoner. — William  Harford. 

Privates. — Alexander  Artist,  Joseph  E.  Abell,  John  L.  Abell,  Lewis 
Arthur,  Thomas  C.  Buckingham,  George  W.  Brevard,  Madison  Blackburn, 


326  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

George  Baumgarnor,  Samuel  D.  Bane,  Sample  S.  Bane,  William  A.  Bane, 
Patrick  Baue,  William  Charlton,  Samuel  Conditt,  John  S.  Corbitt,  John 
Crouch,  James  Crouch,  Michael  H.  Core,  James  A.  Dudgeon,  Angier 
Dobbs,  Andrew  J.  Davis,  Chancey  R.  Dever,  John  Z.  Davis,  Jas.  Dorsey, 
John  W.  Elwood,  Andrew  S.  Frazer,  William  H.  French,  Andrew  J.  Floyd, 
David  W.  French,  Franklin  Fitzsimmons,  John  Gregg,  k.;  Ivin  Gregg,  k.; 
James  Gray,  John  W.  Gray,  Andrew  B.  Grant,  L.  Geo.  Grant,  Antuban 
Hill,  John  Hunter,  Jacob  Hoover,  Michael  Hemler,  David  A.  Huston, 
Francis  M.  Hirst,  David  Hart,  W.  W.  Holland,  Wm.  Hartranft,  k.  ;  James 
A.  Harrison,  Thomas  Kerns,  Samuel  Kerns,  Christian  Kinder,  Christian 
Krepps,  T. ;  John  S.  Lever,  Harrison  Linn,  Thomas  M.  Linn.  John  Linn, 
Jas.  H.  Lever,  Joseph  Lever,  William  Lafferty,  Thompson  McKinley,  John 
Mc(iovern,  Andrew  J.  Manning,  John  D.  Manning,  John  A.  Meeks,  Henry 
Mitchell,  William  Mason,  Joseph  B.  Morton,  James  McDow,  Thomas  P. 
Morton,  James  McBride,  John  M.  Myers,  Henry  C.  McJeukin,  Lewis  Noel, 
Ben.  S.  Province,  George  E.  Parshall,  James  Patterson,  Jacob  L.  Pierce, 
James  S.  Parshall,  Amos  Queen,  Daniel  Rhorer,  James  Robinson,  Leonard 
A.  Roberts,  Thomas  Reeves,  t.  ;  A.  B.  Richardson,  w. ;  James  Robinson,  k.  ; 
John  M.  Sinclair,  Christian  Snyder,  k.  ;  George  W.  Snyder,  k.  ;  Herman 
Sherholtz,  Frank  Smith,  Elliot,  F.  Weaver,  Francis  M.  White,  David  D. 
Williams,  L.  Williams,  Thos.  Williams,  Israel  Youmans,  Harvey  H.  Young. 

In  connection  with  this  and  the  six  succeeding  cavalry  companies 
we  will  state  that  the  Ringgold  Battalion,  under  the  command  of 
Major  John  Keys,  was  comprised  of  seven  companies,  viz:  Ringgold 
Cavalry,  commanded  by  Captain  John  Keys;  Keystone  Cavalry, 
commanded  by  Captain  George  T.  Work;  "Washington  Cavalry, 
by  Captain  A.  J.  Greenfield ;  Beallsville  Cavalry,  by  Captain  H. 
H.  Young ;  Patton  Cavalry,  by  Captain  A.  J.  Barr ;  La  Fayette 
Cavalry,  by  Captain  A.  V.  Smith  ;  and  Independent  Cavalry,  by 
Captain  M.  W.  Mitchener.  These  companies  were  a  part  of  the 
185th  Regiment  (22d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry  Regiment),  which  was 
organized  February  25,  1864,  with  the  following  officers :  Jacob  Ilig- 
gins,  Colonel;  A.  J.  Greenfield,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  Geo.  T.  Work, 
Elias  S.  Troxall,  Henry  A.  Myers,  Majors;  J.  G.  Iscnberg,  Adju- 
tant; W.  E.  Bailey,  Quartermaster;  S.  Webster  French,  Acting 
Commissary  Sergeant ;  W.  C.  Phelps,  Surgeon ;  W.  R.  Lynch  and 
S.  M.  Finley,  Assistant  Surgeons. 

On  June  10,  18G5,  the  Beallsville  Cavalry,  at  that  time  com- 
manded by  Captain  Hugh  Keys,  and  the  Independent  Cavalry,  by 
Captain  James  Y.  Chessround,  were  mustered  out  of  service  at  New 
Creek,  Virginia ;  the  remaining  companies  consolidated  with  the 
lG3d  Regiment  (18th  Pennsylvania  Cavalry)  June  24,  1865,  and 
designated  the  3d  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Provisional  Cavalry,  and 
were  finally  mustered  out  of  service  at  Cumberland,  Maryland,  Oc- 
tober 31,  1865. 

The  companies  in  the  185th  Regiment  were  numbered  as  follows: 
Capt  Keys,  A  ;  Captain  Greenfield,  B;  Captain  Work,  C  ;  Captain 
Young,  D;  Captain  Chessround,  E;  Captain  Barr,  F;  Captain 
Smith,  G. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  32t 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  Stafp  OFFICERS. — Robert  A.  Laird,  Sergeant-Major ; 
Samuel  T.  Dodd,  Hospital  Steward;  John  Reynolds,  Assistant;  David 
Hoyt,  Quarter-Master  Sergeant,  Levi  Scott,  Chief  Bugler ;  Wm.  Ritchey, 
R.  B. ;  Dr.  Z.  B.  Kent,  Veterinary  Surgeon ;  John  W.  Cook,  R.  S. 

Washington  Cavalry  Company 

Was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  Aug.  19,  1861, 
and  assigned  to  the  22d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  which 
was  organized  March,  1864,  its  term  of  service  being  three  years. 
It  was  Company  B  in  this  regiment. 

Officers. — A.  J.  Greenfield,  Captain  ;  John  Dabinett,  1st  Lieut. ;  G. 
W.  Jenkins,  2d  Lieut. 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — Jaoics  M.  Weavor,  Q.  M.  Sergeant ;  W. 
Brown,  Orderly  Sergeant ;  Armour  Thompson,  1st  Sergeant ;  Joseph  W. 
Hill,  2d  Sergeant;  Theodore  Day,  3d  Sergeant;  Samuel  Sinclair,  4th  Ser- 
geant; Ross  Adams,  1st  Corporal;  Eli  Moffit,  2d  Corporal;  Hardman 
Gantz,  3d  Corporal ;  Wm.  Worcester,  4th  Corporal ;  Wm.  Shaffer,  ,5th  Cor- 
poral ;  Harvey  Kinder,  6th  Corporal ;  Hiram  Sargent,  7th  Corporal ;  Tho- 
mas Sargent,  8th  Corporal. 

Privates. — Andrew  Axten,  John  Ashman,  Albert  Allen,  Harrison  Ben- 
nington, W.  F.  Booth,  D.  M.  Barnett,  Frederick  Bvanner,  James  P.  Brock, 
David  Claffey,  Theodore  Dwyer,  Samuel  Drumm,  Silas  Drumm,  Stephen 
A.  Day,  Harrison  Deems,  John  A.  Dage,  James  S.  French,  Benj.  Fitzen- 
burg,  Patrick  Grace,  Peter  Hickman,  Hugh  H.  Horn,  J.  W.  Hendricks, 
Jacob  Horn,  Henry  Haler,  Thomas  Jackson,  Joseph  Knight,  Jacob  Kline- 
felter, George  Lap,  Geo.  H.  Murray,  Nicholas  Miller,  Thomas  Mason, 
Samuel  Moore,  Henry  Myers,  Clark  Newcomer,  J.  A.  Nichols,  W.  H. 
Plymire,  Samuel  Potter,  Charles  Rogers,  Samuel  J.  Rogers,  Andrew  Smith, 
Henry  Storer,  John  H.  Smith,  Amos  Smith,  James  B.  Sinclair,  Charles 
Sinclair,  W.  H.  Statters,  Demas  S.  Snyder,  Edmund  Stone,  Lewis  Upper- 
man,  Abraham  Vanvoorhis,  Wm.  H.  Watkins,  William  Wright,  James 
White,  Thomas  Welsh,  John  West,  James  M.  Weaver,  w. 

Capt.  Greenfield,  being  promoted  to  Lieut.-Colonel  of  the  185th 
Regiment,  was  succeeded  by  2d  Lieut.  Geo.  W.  Jenkins,  who  was 
elected  Feb.  28,  1864,  and  mustered  out  with  the  company  Oct.  7, 
1864. 

Lieut.  Dabinett  remained  with  Company  B  from  its  organization 
to  its  mustering  out. 

Lieut.  Jenkins  being  promoted  to  the  captaincy  Feb.  25,  1864, 
Lieut.  Wm.  Brown  was  elected  2d  lieut.,  and  mustered  out  Oct.  7, 
1864. 

On  November  26,  1864,  the  Washington  Cavalry  was  reorga- 
nized by  the  election  of  the  following  officers  :  Captain,  W.  E. 
Griffith;  1st  Lieut.,  J.  B.  Henderson;  2d  Lieut.,  Joshua  B.  Deems. 
The  officers  served  until  mustered  out,  October  31,  1865. 

WiNFiELD  Hussars,  afterwards  called  Keystone  Cavalry. 

On  the  25th  July,  1862,  Capt.  George  T.  Work  was  authorized 
bj  Governor  Curtin  to  raise  a  company  of  cavalry  for  the  LTnited 


328  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

States'  service.  Capt.  "Work  applied  himself  diligently  to  the  re- 
cruiting of  men,  and  on  the  10th  of  August  following  so  successful 
was  he  in  the  undertaking  that  he  divided  the  company  by  giving 
Capt.  Parkinson  fifty  of  his  recruits,  and  again  filled  up  his  com- 
pany to  the  requisite  number ;  and  on  the  Oth  of  September  was 
mustered  into  service  by  Capt.  Ludiugton,  at  "Washington. 

This  company  was  attached  to  the  22d  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry  (term  of  service  for  three  years),  which  regiment  was  or- 
ganized March,  1804,  under  Col.  Geo.  D.  Bayard,  of.  McCall's 
division.  It  was  Company  I  in  this  regiment.  "When  the  Ringgold 
Battalion  was  organized  it  became  Company  C. 

Officers. — Georsre  T.  "Work,  Captain  ;  C.  J.  McNulty,  1st  Lieutenant ; 
Robert  C.  Welch,  2d  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissioxKD  OFFICERS. — Joscph  J.  Lanc,  1st  Sergeant;  Joseph 
Porter,  Quartermaster;  Joseph  C.  Hunter,  C.  S.;  S.  W.  French,  1st  Duty 
Sergeant,  Wm.  R.  Galbreath,  2d  Duty  Sergeant ;  AVm.  L.  Oliver,  3d  Duty 
Sergeant;  Wm.  Jamison,  4th  Duty  Sergeant;  David  Scott,  5th  Duty 
Sergeant;  Thomas  Stewart,  1st  Corporal;  Samuel  S.  Armstrong,  2d 
Corporal;  Samuel  C.  Brownlee.  3d  Corporal;  Abraham  H.  Wilkin,  4th 
Corporal;  James  C.  Smith,  5th  Corporal;  Milton  S.  Davis,  Gth  Corporal; 
Samuel  Donaldson,  7th  Corporal ;  Robert  G.  Rush,  8ih  Corporal ;  Samuel 
C.  Forester,  Blacksmith  ;  John  S.  Thornburg,  Farrier ;  Levi  Scott,  1st 
Bugler;  C.  B.  McKeever,  2d  Bugler;  Edward  Linton,  Wagoner. 

Privates. — Samuel  C.  Adams,  Thomas  Algeo,  Joseph  Armstrong,  Ab- 
salom Asbbrook,  n.  ;  Stephen  P.  Bane,  John  F.  Bell,  Charles  Black,  Fran- 
cis M.  Bolles,  Robert  Boon,  Joseph  W.  Brownlee,  Wm.  Burke,  dis.  ; 
William  Barnett,  Thomas  Campsey,  George  R.  Chambers,  John  S.  Clark. 
Daniel  L.  Crider,  p.;  Thomas  B.  Craig,  Wra.  H.  Cowan,  Charles  C. 
Colee,  John  L.  Cummins,  David  S.  Cummins,  Wra.  Delaney,  Thomas  E- 
Dowler,  Hawthorn  Dunkle,  Michael  Essick,  Richard  Fisher,  Joseph  Ful, 
ler,  Benjamin  Fuller,  John  Gardner,  David  Griffith,  Joseph  Guinea, 
Robert  Henderson,  William  Hair,  George  Hardee,  Hiram  Headley.  Peter 
Hoy,  John  W.  Huston,  J.  Joshua  Hunter,  Henry  Johnston,  Samuel  F. 
Kelly,  Frederick  Kitsner,  Lemuel  Laggett,  Edward  P.  Linn,  Jacob 
Loughman,  Robert  Loughman,  AVilliam  McCarty,  Alex.  W.  McConnel, 
Archibald  McClelland,  James  McFait,  Ebenezer  McGufifin,  John  McEwen, 
George  AV.  Mitchell,  John  F.  MiUigan,  Andrew  Means,  Edward  C.  Miller, 
Richard  Mountz,  John  H.  Murray,  Robert  D.  Nesbit,  Thomas  B.  O'Do- 
nald,  Warren  Joseph  Oliver,  John  Patterson,  Henry  Pense,  Hugh  Porter. 
Rol)ert  G.  Rush,  Wm.  H.  Rose,  David  H.  Ralston,  George  W.  Ramsej-, 
David  Rizer,  Washington  Ritchey,  AVm.  C.  Richards,  AVm.  Sears,  James 
Stewart,  James  15.  Semult.  Richard  P.  Shipley,  John  G.  Stewart,  Joseph 
Starr,  James  Smith,  k.  ;  Adam  A.  Thornburg,  Samuel  Turner,  Thomas  J. 
AVhite.  AVm.  T.  AVhite,  Daniel  11.  AVilsou,  Samuel  AVilliamson,  AVm.  AVood- 
burn,  James  R.  AVoodburu. 

Capt.  G.  T.  "Work,  promoted  to  Major  September  6,  1862  ;  his 
successor,  Lieut.  C.  J.  McNulty,  elected  Feb.  25,  1864,  and  hono- 
rably discharged  June  1,  1865  ;  his  successor,  Lieut.  Robert  C. 
"Welch,  elected  March  3,  1865,  and  honorably  discharged  May  18, 
1865. 

Lieut.  McNulty  having  been  elected  captain,  Lieut  "V\'elch  was 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  329 

elected  1st  Lieut.  Feb.  25,  1864,  and  his  successor  was  Joseph  J. 
Lane,  elected  Nov.  26,  1864 ;  he  was  succeeded  by  Lieut.  Wm.  R. 
Galbraith  March  3,  1865,  and  mustered  out  with  company  Oct.  31, 
1865. 

Lieut.  Welch  being  promoted  Joseph  J.  Lane  succeeded  him  as 
2d  Lieut.  Feb.  25,  1864,  and  served  until  Dec.  25,  1869,  when  Wm. 
R.  Galbraith  was  elected. 

Beallsville  Cavalry 

Was  organized  in  Washington,  September  2,  1862.  John  H.  Bu- 
chanan promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  and  took  charge  of  a  military 
school  in  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  officered  in  South  Carolina 
and  Florida.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
September  6,  1862,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Harvey  H. 
Young.  From  1862  to  the  organization  of  the  185th  Regiment  (22d 
Pennsylvania  Cavalry),  they  were  known  as  the  Ringgold  Cavalry 
Battalion. 

We  give  the  names  of  the  officers  and  men  of  Company  D. 

Officers. — H.  H.  Young,  Captain ;  Hugh  Keys,  1st  Lieutenant ;  Felix 
H.  Crago,  2d  Lieutenant. 

NoN-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — Isaac  M.  Regester,  1st  Sergeant;  Gideon 
H.  Hawkins,  Quartermaster,  d.  ;  David  M.  Snyder,  Commissary ;  Robert 
Galbraith,  1st  duty  Sergeant;  Wm.  H.  Wickersham,  2d  duty  Sergeant 
'John  N.  Horn,  3d  duty  Sergeant;  Emmer  H.  Hill,  4th  duty  Sergeant; 
James  M.  Quivey,  5th  duty  Sergeant,  p.;  James  A.  S.  White,  1st  Corporal; 
Thomas  W.  Lynch,  2d  Corporal ;  Joseph  Jennings,  3d  Corporal ;  Alex- 
ander C.  Powell,  4th  Corporal;  John  L.  Cock,  5th  Corporal;  Cyrus 
Hoffman,  6th  Corporal;  Benjamin  F.  Floyd,  7th  Corporal;  Ellis  B.  Gregg, 
8th  Corporal;  George  W.  Dougherty,  1st  Bugler,  d.  ;  Wm.  H.  Crago,  2d 
Bugler ;  William  Sheets  and  Christopher  Long,  Farriers ;  Adah  Crough, 
Wagoner. 

Privates. — Isaac  H.  AUfree,  Alexander  R.  Armstrong,  Jessie  A.  Arm- 
strong, James  Armstrong,  Joseph  E.  Baue,  Cyrus  Baxter,  k.  ;  Lawrence 
W.  Bower,  Jonathan  D.  Burk,  d.  ;  George  R.  Bower,  d.  ;  Alfred  Burkhart, 
Alonzo  Brightwell,  Jesse  Bcnner,  Francis  M.  Clark,  Simon  S.  Condit, 
Wm.  C.  Condit,  w. ;  Daniel  W.  Condit,  Jabez  Condit,  Philip  D.  Campbell, 
William  H.  Cragg,  dis.  ;  Thomas  J.  Crago,  Henry  C.  Crago,  Joseph  F. 
Craven,  Richard  Crawford,  Samuel  R.  Crawford,  Jas.  M.  Crawford,  Henry 
Dague,  James  N.  David,  Kennedy  Davis,  George  W,  Eagy,  v. ;  George 
I^icher,  Sebastian  B.  Elliott,  Elias  A.  Fleniken,  Lewis  Fry,  Wm.  Gardner, 
John  T.  (4ass,  d.  ;  James  B.  Groomes,  Jacob  Guseman,  Joseph  Hamilton, 
Andrew  Hamilton,  Jonah  Harris,  d.  ;  John  W.  Hawkins,  Isaac  Hill,  Andrew 
H.  Holmes,  p. ;  Levi  Horn,  Wm.  H.  Horner,  Wm.  S.  Hutchinson,  d.  ;  John 
C.  Jennings,  Joseph  S.  John,  John  Kann,  Geo.  Keihl,  Freeman  Kelly,  p.; 
George  Kerr,  Huston  Kerr,  Wm.  Lee,  Francis  I.  Luellen,  p.  ;  Charles 
Luellen,  Peter  Malone,  Jacob  R.  Maxwell,  p.;  Wm.  McCIellan,  Jas.  Mc- 
Cloud,  Samuel  B.  McLane,  p.  ;  Thomas  H.  McLane,  Emmor  H.  Miller,  n. ; 
Isaac  I.  Mitchell,  d.  ;  Adam  S.  Morton,  k.  ;  Wm.  H.  Mosier,  Jacob  Nedrow, 
D. ;  Thos.  Nefif,  dis.  ;  Wm.  C.  Nimon,  Stewart  Patterson,  Albert  G.  Powell, 
Taylor  Pyle,  Jas.  M.  Phillips,  p.  ;  John  S.  Reeves,  John  R.  Regester,  k.  ; 
Stephen  C.  Richardson,  Joseph  H.  Rogers,  Robert  E.  Ross,  John  B.  Shal- 
22 


330  HISTORY   OF   ■WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

lenberger,  "Wm.  Sheets,  d.  ;  "Win.  Shively.  John  Smith,  d.  ;  George  Sample, 
ilonrj-  Suj-dcr,  Wm.  B.  Sutton,  r. ;  Grifiith  Taylor,  John  B  Taylor,  Benj. 
L.  Taylor,  p.  ;  Wm.  H.  White,  David  A.  White,  Sam'l  H.  White,  AVm.  F. 
White,  James  N.  Wheeler,  James  S.  Wickersham,  Cephas  Wiley,  k,  ;  John 
M.  Young. 

Captain  Young  served  until  February  25,  1864,  when  Lieutenant 
Hugh  Keys  was  elected  March  1,  1864,  and  remained  Avitb  the 
company  until  it  was  mu.stered  out  of  service  October  31,  1865. 

Felix  H.  Crago  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Isaac  M. 
Regester  to  2d  Lieutenant  March  1,  1864. 

Independent  Cavalry,  Company  E, 

Was  mustered   into  service   at   Wheeling,   Virginia,    October    13, 

1862,  in  the  185th  Regiment  (22d  Pennsylvania  Cavalry),  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Milton  W.  Mitchcnor.  He  served  until  April 
1,  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discliarged,  and  James  Y.  Chess- 
round  was  elected  Captain,  who  served  until  March  19,  1865,  when 
Felix  Boyle  was  elected. 

1st  Lieutenant  J.  Y.  Chessround  was  elected  at  the  organization  and 
afterwards  promoted  to  the  captaincy;  his  successor  was  Felix  Boyle, 
elected  February  12,  1863,  and  upon  his  promotion  Lieutenant  Jas. 
Gibson  was  elected  1st  Lieutenant. 

2d  Lieutenant  R.  S.  H.  Keys  was  elected  2d  Lieutenant  at  the 
company's  organization;  he  was  honorably  discharged  February  12, 

1863,  and  Felix  Boyle  elected  February  12,  1863  ;  his  successor  was 
Lieutenant  James  Gibson,  who  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  first 
Lieutenancy.  Clinton  Tccple  was  elected  March  19,  1865.  The 
company  was  mustered  out  July  19,  1865. 

NoN-CoMMissioNKD  OFFICERS. — CHnton  Teeple,  Orderly  Sergeant;  J.  M. 
Teeple,  Quarter-Master ;  U.  11.  Williaxns,  Commissary;  George  Robson, 
1st  Sergeant;  John  McCrackcn,  2d  Sergeant,  w.;  John  Behanna,  3d  Ser- 
geant, w.;  John  K.  Rail,  4th  Sergeant;  Robert  White,  5th  Sergeant,  w.; 
I'eter  Stacker,  1st  Corporal ;  John  S.  Yohe,  2d  Corporal;  Samuel  Wright, 
3d  Corporal,  w.;  W.  W.  Hess,  4th  Corporal;  C.  Z.  Koechline,  r)th  Corpo- 
ral; And.  McDonell,  6th  Corporal;  Hiram  Myers.  7th  Corporal;  James 
Kearney,  8th  (,'orporal ;  Chs.  F.  Troesher  and  11.  llobson,  liuglers  ;  Joseph 
A.  Scott,  Saddler ;  John  Lutes  and  George  Lutes,  Blacksmiths. 

PuivATKS. — Andrew  Amos,  Vincent  Amos,  Abraham  Anderson,  John 
Atcheson,  Samuel  Atcheson.  w.;  Francis  Allen,  Jacob  Baker,  Jacob  AV. 
Beck,  Alexander  Behanna,  Samuel  Behanna,  Charles  Behanna.  John  Be- 
hanna, Jr.,  Samuel  Bhick,  John  Boyle,  Jr..  Richard  Burns,  David  Byers, 
James  Boyd,  James  W.  Baxter,  George  W.  Brown,  k.;  B.  F.  Bowen,  David 
Behanna,  Jerome  Byers,  Samuel  Caldwell.  David  Clarke,  r>.;  John  W.  Cra- 
ven, Abner  J.  Craven,  John  C/rouch,  James  Craven,  John  Dolen,  Iliram 
Degarmo,  d.;  W.  H.  H.  Degarmo,  Holliday  Donaldson,  Thomas  Flanagan, 
Noah  Henry,  James  F.  Henry,  Franklin  Hendrickson,  w.;  "Willis  Hendrick- 
eon,  Edward  Hendrickson,  Henry  Hillman,  B.  F.  Hclmick.  John  Hamilton, 
Robert  Jones,  John  P.  Jordan,  Cardona  Jordon,  John  M.  Kiehl,  James 
Kerns,  Andrew  Kimble,  John  Leyda,  Henry  Leaver,  k.;  B.  F.  Leonard, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  331 

Marcus  Mellinoer,  Jobn  S.  Mareowu,  Samuel  Marker,  Robert  Molden, 
Jacob  Molden,  "William  Mitchell,  Samuel  A.  Munn,  Jeremiah  Myers,  Thos. 
H.  Moffit,  Eli  W.  Mancha,  w.;  Eli  A.  ISIiller,  Joseph  A.  McClure,  George 
W.  McClair,  Thomas  McAllister,  Joseph  Marker,  Alexander  McKee,  Henry 
Minks,  Enoch  J.  Newkirk,  George  W.  Owen,  Elymas  Pettit,  Year  R.  Por- 
ter, Clark  Preston,  dis.;  Marshall  Robinson,  George  W.  Robb,  w.;  Charles 
E.  Rose,  D.;  John  M.  Sutman,  Aaron  Sutman.  Samuel  Sullivan,  John  Sny- 
der, Frederick  Surg,  w.;  John  Stacker,  W.  P.  Starr,  k.;  John  Saunders. 
K.;  James  B.  Smith,  k.;  Boyd  E.  Summey,  d.;  Thomas  W.  Teeple,  J.  C. 
Thompson,  John  Trussler,  w,;  James  M.  Williams,  William  White,  k.;  Peter 
Young. 

The  battles  and  skirmishes  in  which  this  regiment  were  engaged 
were  Stumps'  Mills,  Moorfield,  Winchester,  Pergetsville,  JST.  Moun- 
tain Depot,  Petersburg,  Williamsport,  Burlington,  Romne_y,  Lost 
River  Gap,  Piedmont,  Rockfish  Gap,  Lynchburg,  Lexington,  Salem, 
Dorcasville,  Pleasant  Yalley,  Monterey,  Taylorstown,  Snicker's  Gap, 
Ashley's  Gap,  Kearnstown,  Martinsburg,  Opequan  Creek,  Berry- 
ville,  Charlestown,  Martinsburg,  Stephenson  Depot,  Bunker  Hill, 
Strasburg,  Fisher's  Hill,  Mount  Jackson,  Brown's  Gap,  Mount  Ver- 
non Forge,  Cedar  Creek. 

Patton  Cavalry  Company 

Was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  October  14,  1862. 
This  company  was  raised  under  the  name  of  the  Patton  Cavalry. 
term  of  service  three  years,  and  assigned  to  the  22d  Regiment,  Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry,  and  subsequently  organized  in  the  Ringgold  Bat- 
talion of  Volunteer  Cavalry  as  Company  F. 

Captain  Barr  served  until  February  25,  1864,  when  Lieutenant 
Benjamin  W.  Denny  was  elected,  and  mustered  out  of  service  July 
19,  1865.  Lieutenant  Denny  had  served  as  1st  Lieutenant  from  tlie 
organization  of  the  companJ^  David  Wishart  was  elected  1st  Lieu- 
tenant Ma}"  11,  1864,  and  honorably  discharged  May  16,  1865.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Benjamin  F.  Hasson,  May  17,  1865, 
and  remained  with  the  company  until  mustered  out. 

Lieutenant  George  T.  Hammond  served  until  November  29,  1864, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieut. 
B.  F.  Hasson,  who  served  until  his  promotion  to  first  Lieutenancy, 
May  11,  1865,  when  William  Hedge  was  elected  second  Lieutenant, 
and  mustered  out  with  the  company. 

Officers. — A.  J.  Barr,  Captain ;  B.  W.  Denny,  1st  Lieutenant ;  George 
T.  Hammond,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Privates. — John  A.  Arnold,  David  Braden,  Samuel  Barr.  William  Burk, 
James  Bradley,  Sol.  S.  Bane,  Samuel  B.  Barnard,  Lindsey  Baker,  John  N. 
Braddock,  John  B.  Buckingham,  Silas  Cowen,  David  Campbell,  Alexander 
Crumrine,  Peter  Deems,  Samuel  H.  Doak,  Sylvester  F.  Dodd,  Samuel  T. 
Dodd,  Zoliver  Dotts,  Harvey  H.  Eller,  Andrew  Elliott,  Thomas  C.  Enochs, 
Martin  V.  Frazer,  John  Flowers,  Terrance  Farmer,  Samuel  Gayman,  Ste- 
phen J.  Guinea,  Christian  Garrett,  Benj.  Harden,  Charles  Hallam,  Samuel 
S.  Hallam,  Benj.  F.  Hasson,  William  Hedge,  W.  P.  Hayuer,  George  T. 


33-2      .  niSTORY  OF  Washington  county. 

Hammoud,  Jr.,  ITiram  A.  Holmes,  George  Johnston,  William  Jenkins,  George 
KaufTman,  Dallas  Link.  Atlas  Lacock,  Nathan  B.  Marsh,  Michael  Moore, 
Abel  Moore,  Lect  S.  Moore,  James  S.  Marsrenim.  George  W.  Moninger, 
Martin  ^Murphy,  John  W.  Manning,  James  A.  McDonald,  Levi  IL  Pope, 
Thomas  Patterson,  John  A.  Prall,  John  N.  Prall,  Henry  Prall,  John  W. 
Penny,  Jo.'^eph  R.  Province,  John  H.  Reynolds,  Josephiis  Ross,  AVm.  T. 
Rigg.  Joseph  Ritraan,  Thomas  Slasher,  Henry  Slusher,  Andrew  J.  Sowers, 
Andrew  Scott,  Samuel  Simons.  Eberhardt  'I'eagarden,  Hiram  Tharp,  Ro- 
bert Thompson,  Samuel  Trusler,  Jacob  Ulery,  William  Yankirk,  Samuel 
Wilson.  Samuel  J.  Wilson,  David  Wishart,  Samuel  K.  West,  Jacob  L. 
AVise,  James  Watson,  Richard  White. 

La  Fayette  Cavalry 

Was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  October  23,  1862. 
Its  term  of  service  was  three  years,  and  served  with  the  Riugold 
battalion  until  the  organization  of  the  22d  regiment  of  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  organized  March,  1864.  This  company  ranked  in  the  regi- 
ment as  Company  G. 

Captain  Alexander  Y.  Smith  was  elected  its  first  Captain  and 
served  until  September  5,  1SG3,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
and  his  successor  was  Captain  William  F.  Spear,  who  was  promoted 
from  2d  Lieut.,  and  who  with  the  company  was  mustered  out  Octo- 
ber 31,  1865. 

1st  Lieut.  Frank  B.  Smith  served  from  the  organization  until 
December  21,  1864,  when,  being  honorably  discharged  on  account  of 
a  severe  wound,  received  at  Charleston,  W.  Y.,  he  was  succeeded 
by  Lieut.  J.  G.  Yan  Gilder,  who  had  previously  filled  the  office  of  2d 
Lieut,  from  September  6,  1863.  Lieut.  James  C.  Hubbs,  who  was 
elected  December  22,  1864,  succeeded  2d  Lieut.  J.  G.  Yan  Gilder; 
his  successor  was  Lieut.  AV.  H.  Frost,  elected  May  31,  1865,  and 
mustered  out  with  the  company. 

McKennan  Infantry 

Was  organized  April  2T,  1861,  in  Washington  County.  This  com- 
pany tendered  their  services  to  the  general  government  but  were  not 
accepted,  the  quota  being  full.  They  were  invited  to  AYest  A'irginia, 
marched  to  AVheeling,  and  on  July  10,  1861,  were  received  by  author- 
ity of  Governor  Pierpont,  and  elected  oCQcers  who  were  duly  com- 
missioned by  him. 

Captain  Smith  was  taken  prisoner  at  Cattell's  Station  on  the 
Manassas  railroad,  and  after  liis  parole  and  exchange  November  23, 
1862,  resigned,  and  Lieut.  N.  Vi.  Truxal  was  elected  November  24, 
1862. 

Officers. — Lewis  E.  Smith,  Captain  ;  A.  A.  Devore,  1st  Lieut. ;  N.  W. 
Truxal,  2d.  Lieut. 

NoN-CoMMiRsioNKD  OFFICERS. — J.  K.  Rillingsly.  Sergeant ;  Thos.  Young. 
Sergeant ;  Jacob  Kent,  Sergeant,  p.  ;  J.  15.  Montgomery.  Sergeant ;  Jacob 
Qualk,  Sergeant;  X.  Ledbeater,  Corporal;  J.  Hornl)ake,  Corporal,!'.;  G. 
Underwood,  Corporal,  v.;  John  Lopp,  Corporal;  Samuel  Kent,   Corporal, 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  333 

P. ;  S.  Amalong,  Corporal ;  J.  "Weaver,  Corporal,  p.  ;  Robert  Jobes,  Cor- 
poral. 

Privates. — J.  F.  Ailes,  k.;  Jesse  Ammon,  Henry  Barnbart,  Jas.  F.  Bige- 
low,  p.;  Jac.  D.  Billingsly,  Thos.  Bee,  Geo.  D.  Boyd.  Wm.  Bunton,  Nathan- 
iel Balding,  James  W.  Blair,  Sidney  J.  Benedict.  Wm.  H.  H.  Billingsly,  N. 
Baldwin,  D.  0.  Carpenter,  Geo.  AV.  Clendennel,  John  Cunnard,  Jefferson 
Cleudennel,  John  N.  Crow,  Augustus  Clark,  Joseph  "W.  Chester,  Marion 
Crumrine,  Theophilus  V.  Devore,  p.  ;  Henry  E.  Devore,  Jehu  Dehaven, 
Michael  Bowling,  James  R.  Dowliug,  John  C.  Evans,  Hamilton  Fitzsim- 
mons,  Lewis  M.  Freeman,  d.;  William  Geho,  DeWitt  Clinton  Graham,  Jas. 
M.  II.  Gordon,  Wm.  Garton,  p.;  Andrew  J.  Harris,  Wm.  J.  Harris,  Wm.  H. 
Hornbake,  Osmond  Hutchison,  p.;  Charles  S.  Hi.xeiibaugh,  Robert  Herron, 
Noble  Houdon,  Samuel  J.  Howe,  Daniel  Howe,  k.;  Lemuel  B.  Howe,  Ewd. 
Jones,  Samuel  Jobes,  Andrew  N.  Jobes,  Jos.  Jobes,  Wm.  W.  Jobes,  Robt. 
Jobes,  Joseph  Johnson,  Jas.  M.  Johnson,  Alex.  S.  Latta,  p.;  Hugh  Lancas- 
ter, Elijah  Lichteberger,  p.;  Wm.  L.  Latta.  Allen  Moore,  Robt.  McDonald. 
Robt.  Mayhorn,  p.;  Jos.  Mayhorn,  Wm.  McCoy,  Robt.  McCoy,  Geo.  Mar- 
ker, Sanson  Miller,  James  P.  McCain,  Isaac  S.  McCain,  John  McLaughlin, 
William  Norcross,  Nathaniel  Patterson,  David  R.  Phillips,  Hiram  Qualk. 
Frank  S.  Reader,  Jas.  Reader,  Jr.,  John  Rimmel,  Frederick  Rimmel,  Felix 
Russell,  Augustus  Shaffer,  Cuthbert  Soulsby,  d.  ;  Wm.  Showalters,  Nehe- 
miah  Sikes,  Philip  Thomas,  John  W.  Truxal,  Poster  H.  Truxal,  d.;  Elihu 
Underwood,  Hiram  AVells,  Alfred  D.  Wolf,  Wm.  Worrell,  AVm.  AVilkin. 
Stephen  Ward,  Finley  Wise,  Thos.  AValker,  Abraham  Weaver,  John  Wea- 
ver, J.  R.  Williams,  Stephen  H.  Ward,  p.;  Robt.  Young,  Nathaniel  Young. 

November  24,  1862,  Lieut.  jS".  W.  Truxal  was  elected  Captain. 
Charles  H.  Day  elected  1st  Lieut.  December  3,  1863.  James  R. 
Billingsly  elected  2d  Lieut.  January  11,  1862,  and  promoted  from  2d 
Lieut,  to  Captain  March  5,  1863.  James  B.  Montgomery  elected 
2d  Lieut.  December  3,  1863.  Lieut.  A.  A.  Devore  resigned  Octo- 
ber 10,  1861. 

This  company  participated  in  the  following  battles,  viz  :  Allegheny 
Mountain,  Pluntersville,  Monterey,  McDowell,  Cross  Keys,  Cedar 
Mountain,  Kelley's  Ford,  Warterloo  Bridge,  Gainsville,  Sulphur 
Springs,  Bull  Run,  Beverly,  Rocky  Gap,  and  Drop  Mountain.  It 
was  mustered  out  of  service  July  28,  1864,  at  Wheeling,  Ya. 

6th  Regiment,  Pennsylyania  Militia. 

This  regiment  was  organized  September  15,  1862,  at  Harrisburg. 
by  the  election  of  Capt.  James  Armstrong  as  Colonel.  It  marched 
to  Camp  McClure,  two  miles  west  of  Chambersburg,  and  mustered 
out  September  28,  1862.  David  Aiken  was  appointed  Quarter- 
master Sept.  15,  1862;  James  E.  Smiley,  Assistant  Quartermaster; 
Boyd  Crumrine,  Quartermaster's  Clerk;  Rev.  Wm.  P.  Alrich, 
Chaplain  ;   Ordinance  Sergeant,  William  Ilart. 

The  Wayne  Infantry  left  Washington  Sept.  13,  1862,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  James  Armstrong,  numbering  one  hundred  and 
forty  men,  but  by  the  authority  of  the  Adjutant-General  it  was 
divided  into  tw^o  companies,  Capt.  Armstrong  being  re-elected 
captain  of  the  Wayne  Infantry,  and  Capt.  Norton  McGiffin  of  the 
McGiffin  Riflemen. 


334  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Roll  of  Company  A. 

Officers. — Norton  McGiffin,  Captain;  S.  M.  Templeton,  1st  Lieut.; 
H.  11.  Alter.  2il  Lieut. 

Nox-CoMMissioxF.n  Offickrs. — J.  B.  Wilson,  1st  Sergeant;  H.  B.  Mc- 
<Jollum,  2d  Sergeant;  David  Brady,  3d  Sergeant;  AVesley  "Wolf,  4th  Ser- 
geant; J.  C.  Acheson,  r)tb  Sergeant;  J.  M.  Spriggs,  1st  Corporal;  H  B. 
McCoUum.  2d  Corporal ;  J.  F.  Stcck,  3d  Corporal ;  John  Wylie,  4th  Cor- 
]ioral ;  T.  (i.  Wolf,  5th  Corporal;  J.  Ross  Thompson,  6th  Corporal;  H. 
M.  Aiken,  7th  Corporal ;  J.  W.  Dinsmore,  8th  Corporal. 

^lusiciAN. — Charles  White. 

PrjVATKS. — H.  11.  Arnold.  J.  C.  Alrich,  Wm.  Allen,  Norton  Braddock,  J. 
N.  Bane.  Wm.  Burk,  Wm.  T.  lieatty,  Samuel  Cook.  J.  L.  Cooke,  S.  A.  Clark, 
U.  W.  Driver,  G.  L.  Gow,  Wm.  Greer.  Charles  Glum,  John  llainer,  J.  N. 
Hainer,  George  Hammond.  John  Ilallams,  G.  0.  Jones,  T.  C.  Kerr,  J.  C. 
Kieser,  A.  H.  Little,  George  Lindsay,  Gust  Lonkert,  Wm.  McClaine.  James 
McCrearv,  J.  E.  McCullough.  J.  B.  McKeunan.  Jerry  Marshel,  G.  W.  Mur- 
phy. Wm'.  Paul),  S.  11.  Rial,  J.  G.  Ruple.  J.  G.  Rode,  J.  P.  Reimond,  A. 
D.  Rickey,  James  Seaman,  J.  W.  Seaman,  R.  F.  Strain,  J.  H.  Scott,  A.  M. 
Todd.  Theodore  Turner.  R.  L.  Thompson,  F.  P.  Varro.  Wm.  M.  Yance.  D. 

C.  Valentine,  T.  M.  Wylie,  J.  W.  AS^ylie.  F.  J.  L.  Wylie,  J.  C.  S.  Wiles, 
W.  M.  L.  Wiles,  J.  G.  Winsworth,  Samuel  Weirich,  J.  S.  Wolf,  F.  R. 
Wotring,  David  Watson. 

Commissioned  Officers,  3  ;  Non-Commissioued  Officers,  13 ;  Mu- 
sician, 1;  Privates,  5G;  total,  13. 

Roll  of  Company  F,  Qth  Regiment  Pa.  Volunteer  Militia. 

Officers. — John  H.  Ewing,  Capt. ;   Alfred  Creigh,  1st  Lieut. ;  Samuel 
O.  Williams,  2d  Lieut. 
Nox-CoMMissioNED  OFFICERS. — James  M.  Byers,  1st  Sergeant ;  Thomas 

D.  O'llara,  2d  Sergeant;  Wm.  Hart,  3d  Sergeant;  Geo.  Reed.  4th  Ser- 
geant; Wm.  T.  Fleming,  5th  Sergeant;  Samuel  T.  Griffith,  1st  Corporal; 
James  Brown,  2d  Corporal;  R.  B.  Patterson,  3d  Corporal;  Jas.  R.  Ruth. 
4th  Corporal ;  ]Mathew  Linn,  5th  Corporal ;  Wm.  Phillips,  Oth  Corporal ; 
Wm.  W.  Smith,  7th  Corporal ;  F.  Gabby,  8th  Corporal. 

Musician. — Moses  T.  Scott. 

Privates. — Rev.  Wm.  Alrich,  David  Aiken,  Wm.  Anion,  Agnew,  Alex- 
ander, R.  M.  Andrews,  A.  J.  BufEngton,  N.  B.  Brobst,  John  Baird,  Dr.  ^M. 
H.  Clark,  Boyd  Crumrine,  John  R.  Donchoo,  Richard  R.  Forest,  Samuel 
Foster,  Henry  Foster,  Charles  Grier,  David  Guinea.  I.  J.  Guinea,  John  H. 
Gregg,  AVm.  P.  Hart,  Joseph  Henderson,  Joseph  Holmes,  Samuel  Haz- 
lett,  Jr.,  George  S.  Hart,  Samuel  Hutson,  Joseph  Jones,  J.  E.  Lucas, 
John  Linn,  John  Lowe,  Wm.  J.  Mathews,  Jacob  Metzler,  Thomas  ^Ic- 
Kennan,  Thomas  McKean.  George  Mitchell,  John  McElroy,  J.  A.  Mar- 
chand,  Wm.  I'ost,  Collin  >L  Reed,  Thomas  Stewart,  Samuel  Shealer,  Rev. 
Jacob  Schaffer,  Rev.  John  W.  Scott,  Sample  Sweeney  John  Sweeney, 
James  E.  Smiley,  Scheller  Thompson,  John  Wilson,  Edward  Wilkins. 
NN'illiani  Wylie,  Wright  Tappan  "Wylie,  John  A.  Wills,  John  P.  AVestley. 
J.  S.  Young. 

Commissioned  Officers,  3;  Non-Commissioued  Officers,  13;  3Iu- 
sician,  1  ;   Privates,  52  ;  total,  69. 

Capt.  Armstrong  being  re-elected  Colonel,  John  H.  Ewing  was 
elected  Captain. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  335 


1st  Battalion,  100  Days' Artillery,  Pennsylvania  Volunteers, 

Under  command  of  Major  Joseph  M.  Knapp,  organized  June,  1864, 
and  mustered  out  the  following-  September. 

David  Watson,  Lieutenant. 

R.  T.  Hall,  Joseph  McK.  Aclieson,  Sandy  Clark,  James  Martin,  William 
McMeillin,  John  Monniger,  Privates. 

9th  Reserve,  Co.  A. 

C.  F.  Jackson,  Colonel. 

W.  K.Bailey,  M.  R.  Taggart,  M.  P.  Morrison  (Serg.-Maj.)  w. 

Gth  Heavy  Artillery,  212th  Regiment,  Co.  E. 

J.  W.  Downer,  2d  Jun.  Lieut..  William  Woodward,  0.  S.,  Abraham  Yan- 
Voorhis,  1st  Sergeant. 

Privates. — G.  L.  Bayhe,  James  Behanna.  Ebert  Newbold,  James  Flan- 
nigan,  d.  ;  James  Quigg,  J.  Rufner,  John  Ray. 

Provost  Guard. 

By  general  orders,  No.  172,  of  the  War  Department,  dated  June 

9,  1863,  this  State  was  divided  into  two  military  departments  :  1st, 
the  department  of  the  Monongahela;  and  2d,  the  department  of 
the  Susquehanna.  In  the  department  of  the  Monongahela,  besides 
the  54th,  55th,  56th,  57th,  and  58th  Regiments  of  ninety  days 
militia,  there  was  one  unattached  company  of  artillery,  and  one  of 
cavalry. 

There  was  also  organized,  August  8,  1864,  in  this  department, 
for  the  six  months  United  States  service,  the  Provost  Guard,  sta- 
tioned at  Pittsburg,  under  the  command  of  the  following  officers : 
Capt.  Samuel  T.  Griffith,  1st  Lieut.  Samuel  M.  Decker,  2d  Lieut. 
William  R.  Jamison. 

The  following  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  from 
Washington  County. 

NoN-CoMMissiONED  OFFICERS. — Benjamin  K.  Kennedy,  Orderly  Sergeant; 
Henry  H.  Arnold,  2d  Sergeant ;  Thomas  H.  Stewart,  3d  Sergeant ;  Sa- 
muel T.  Decker,  4th  Sergeant. 

Corporals. — Hugh  B.  McKinley,  Robert  0.  Shepler,  Charles  Boyd, 
Theodore  M.  Turner,  Wm.  T.  Decker. 

Privates. — Wm.  T.  Creigh,  Joseph  Day,  Theodore  Baches,  John  W. 
Frank,  James  S.  Harter,  Joseph  A.  Jones,  Frank  L.  Oliver,  Thaddeus 
Ryan,  Samuel  S.  Stewart,  J.  Taylor  Simpson,  William  Zelt. 

The  number  of  men  on  the  company-roll,  including  non-commis- 
sioned officers,  was  103;  all  except  the  above  were  from  adjoining 
counties.  The  company  was  discharged  on  the  expiration  of  term 
of  enlistment,  January  29,  1864. 

Frank  L.  Oliver  was  discharged,  by  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  Aug. 

10,  1863. 


336  history  op  washington  county. 

List  of  Officers  from  Washington  County 

Who  liave  been  connected  with  other  regiments  than  those  specified, 
with  the  rank  of  each  : — 

Wm.  S.  Mellinger,  Major  13th  Rep:iment,  elected  April  25, 1861.    Mustered 
out  August  G,  180 1. 
"  "        Major  79th  Ecgiment,  elected  October  18,  1861.     Re- 

signed November  8,  1802. 

A.  G.  Happer,  2d  Lieutenant  11th  Regiment,  Company  I,  elected  March 
21,  1804.     Honorably  discharged  October  20,  180;"). 

J.  W.  Alexander,  Assistant  Surgeon  26th  Regiment,  appointed  January  10, 
1862. 
"  "        Surgeon  85th  Regiment,  appointed  June  10,  1862.     Mus- 

tered out  October  13,  1802. 
"  "         Surgeon  160th  Regiment,  appointed  October  20,  1862. 

Mustered  out  June  21,  1865. 

Thomas  B.  Reed,  Surgeon  31st  Regiment,  appointed  June  6,  1861.  Trans- 
ferred to  U.  S.  volunteers  April  20,  1862. 

Rev.  Wm.  Aiken,  Chaplain  3Tth  Regiment,  appointed  June  24, 1861.  Mus- 
tered out  May  24,  1h64. 

Rev.  Thomas  Patterson,  Chaplain,  22d  Regiment,  Company  D,  appointed 
February,  1864.     Mustered  out. 

S.  B.  Bennington,  Captain  3Tth  Regiment,  Company  D,  elected  December 
28,  1862.     Resigned  December  25,  1863. 

Thomas  McGee,  1st  Lieutenant  37th  Regiment,  Company  D,  elected  De- 
cember 14,  1862.     Mustered  out  May  24,  1804. 

Solomon  G.  Krepps,  2d  Lieutenant,  37th  Regiment,  Company  D.  elected 
October  1,  1861.  Transierred  to  4tli  U.  S.  Infantry 
May  1,  1862. 

Frank  J.  Le  Moyne,  Assistant  Surgeon  38th  Regiment,  appointed  March  14, 
1863. 
'•  "  Surgeon  161st  Regiment,  appointed  January    9,  1864. 

Mustered  out  July  24,  1865. 

Chill  W.  Hazard,  1st  and  2d  Lieutenant  41st    Regiment,    Company  F, 

elected  September  1 0, 1 861 .  Transferred  to  Company  I. 

"  "  Captain  41st  Regiment,  Company  I,  elected  August  1, 

1862.     Mustered  out  June  11,  1864;  appointed  brevet 

Major. 

J.  B.  ^IcDonough,  Assistant  Surgeon  46th  Regiment,  appointed  January 
21,  1863.     ]\lustered  out  July  10,  1805. 

S.  J.  McFarren,  1st  Lieutenant  6()th  Regiment,  Company  I,  elected  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1805.     Mustered  out  August  7,  1805. 

Alvin  King,  1st  Lieutenant  02d  Regiment,  Company  K,  elected  July  4, 
1861.     H()noral)ly  discharged  March  19,  1863. 

Josiah  P.  Morrell,  2d  Lieutenant  62d  Regiment,  Companv  K,  elected  De- 
cember 17,  1862.     Killed  at  Gettysburg  July  2.  1863. 

Joshua  C.  Prall,  2d  Lieutenant  64th  Regiment,  Company  I,  elected  Decem- 
ber 24,  1861.     Resigned  December  25,  1862. 

Thomas  H.  Phillips,  Assistant  Surgeon  79th  Regiment,  appointed  January 
10,1865.  Mustered  out  July  12,  1865.  Dr.  P.  served 
as  Assistant  Surgeon  in  the  196th  Regiment,  being 
appointed  July  26, 1864,  aod  mustered  out  November 
17,  1864. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  33t 

Jonathan  'Wotring,  Assistant  Surj^eon  83d  Regiment,  appointed  Mai'ch  14, 

1863.  Resigned  May  13,  1863. 

T.  0.  M.  Stockton,  Assistant  Surgeon  83d  Regiment,  appointed  April  26, 

1864.  Mustered  out  June  28,  186;"). 

Rev.  J.  P.  Caldwell,  Chaplain  8oth  Regiment,  appointed  October  21,  1862. 

Resigned  May  1,  18G3. 
'S.  J.  Van  Gilder,  2d  Lieutenant  85th  Regiment,  Company  IT,  elected  Sep- 
tember 23,  1861.     Resigned  July  31,  1862. 

J.  E.  Michener,  1st  Lieutenant  85th  Regiment,  Company  D,  elected  July 
6,  1862.     Transferred  to  Company  K. 
"  "  Captain  85th  Regiment,  Company  K,  elected  December  3, 

1863.     Term  expired  November  22,  1864. 

Samuel  L.  McHenry,  1st  Lieutenant  85th  Regiment,  Company  K,  elected 
July  21,  1862.  Appointed  Adjutant  and  Assistant 
Adjutant  General  of  Brigade  June  1,  1863. 

Samuel  S.  Bulford,  Lieutenant-Colonel  87th  Regiment,  elected  June  15, 
1865.  Mustered  out  as  Captain  of  Company  H,  June, 
29,  1865.  Colonel  Bulford  ranked  as  Captain  of  Com- 
pany H  from  March  15,  1865. 

Jesse  C.  Taylor,  1st  Lieutenant  100th  Regiment,  Company  M,  elected 
August  26.  1861.     Discharged  March  8,  1862. 

Robert  F.  Cooper,  Adjutant  101st  Regiment,  appointed  Adjutant  October 
15,  1861.     Resigned  June  21,  1862. 

M.  P.  Morrison,  Assistant  Surgeon  102d  Regiment,  appointed  August  6, 
1861.     Promoted  to  Surgeon  September  15,  1862. 

George  S.  Ringland,  Captain  108th  Regiment  (11th  Cavalry),  Company  A, 
elected  October  1,  1862.  Served  as  1st  Lieutenant 
from  Auo-ust  15,  1861.  Mustered  out  at  expiration  of 
term  October  4,  1864. 

George  W.  Bassett,  1st  Lieutenant  108th  Regiment,  Company  A,  October 
1,  1862.     2d  Lieutenant  August  15,  1861. 

Thomas  Moreley,  1st  Lieutenant  113th  Regiment  (12th  Cavalry),  Company 
G,  July  22,  1863.  2d  Lieutenant  June  26,  1862.  He 
•was  promoted  to  Captain  of  Company  I,  January  20, 

1865.  and  honorably  discharged  April  8,  1865. 
Robert  J.  Taggart,  Major  116th  Regiment,  elected  June  4,  1865,  and  mus- 
tered out  as  Captain  of  Company  I  July  14,  1865, 
having  been  elected  Captain  May  13,  1865,  and  1st 
Lieutenant  February  18,  1865. 

Wm.  P.  McNary,  Adjutant  123d  Regiment,  November  28, 1862.    Mustered 
out  with  Regiment  May  13,  1863. 
"  "         Lieutenant-Colonel  58th  Regiment,  July  10, 1863.     Mus- 

tered out  August  15,  1863. 

Rev.  Thomas  Storer,  Chaplain  133d  Regiment,  August  20, 1862.  Mustered 
out  with  regiment  May  26,  1863. 

Jas.  R.  Patten,  Assistant  Surgeon  139th  Regiment,  April  13,  1863.  Mus- 
tered out  with  regiment  June  21,  1865. 

Selden  L.  Wilson,  2d  Lieutenant  160th  Regiment,  May  29, 1865.  Mustered 
out  with  regiment  June  21,  1865. 

James  K.  McCurdy,  Assistant  Surgeon  163d  Regiment,  December  29, 1864. 
Mustered  out  with  regiment  July  21,  1865. 

Wm.  A.  Young,  1st  Lieutenant  163d  Regiment,  Company  F,  October  3, 
1864  (2d  Lieutenant  June  25,  1863).  Mustered  out 
October  31,  1865,  as  2d  Lieutenant  of  Company  E,  3d 
Prov.  Cavalry,  October  31,  1865. 


338  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Vincent  Colvin,  2d  Lieutenant  163d  Regiment,  Company  F,  March  30, 

l;G3.     Died  June  24,  1863. 
John  Murphy,   Lieutenant-Colonel  168th    Regiment,  December  4,  1862. 

Mustered  out  July  25,  1863. 
Alexander  M.   Rea,  Assistant  Surgeon  168th  Regiment,  May  14,  1863. 

Mustered  out  July  25,  1863. 
Rev.  John  L.  Staples,  Chaplain  168th  Regiment,  March  12,  1863.     Mus 

tered  out  July  25,  1863. 
R.  P.  Hughes,  Lieutenant-Colonel  199th  Regipient,  November  28,  1864; 

appointed  brevet  Colonel  April  2,  1865.     Mustered 

out  June  28,  1865. 
James  R.  Clark,  2d  Lieutenant  204th  Regiment  (5th  artillery),  September 

16,  1864.     Mustered  out  June  30,  1865. 
A.  R.  Wyeth,   Assistant-Surgeon  208th  Regiment,  September  12,   1864. 

Honorably  discharged  March  3,  1865. 
J.  L.  Rea,  Assistant  Surgeon  212th  Regiment  (6th  artillery],  September 

13,  1864.     Mustered  out  June  13,  1865. 
James  L.  Downer,  2d  Lieutenant  212th  Regiment,  Company  E.  November 

■»    1864.     Mustered  out  June  13,  1865. 
Fra.  Eichelberger,  1st  Lieutenant  Battery  C,  Pennsylvania  artillery,  October 

11,  1864.     Resigned  June  IT,  1865.     He  had  served 

as  2d  Lieutenant  from  June  30, 1864,  to  his  promotion 

as  1st  Lieutenant. 

Militia  Mustered  into  State  Service,  90  days. 

H.  J.  Vankirk,  Major  58th  Regiment.  July  10, 1863.    Mustered  out  August 

15, 1863. 
Mat  Templeton  Captain,  |  -g^^^  Regiment,  Company  B,  July  10 .1860. 

Z  A.  W  lute   L.t  Lieutenant,       \      Mustered  out  August  14  1863. 
Thomas  Foster,  2d  Lieutenant,  j  "  ' 

AVm.  J.  Carey,  2d  Lieutenant  58th  Regiment,  Company  D,  July  4,  1863. 

Mustered  out  August  14,  1863. 
S.  S.  Rogers,  Surgeon  10th  Regiment,  September  16,  1862.     Mustered  out 

with  regiment. 

Wm.  S.  Calohan,  Captain,  1    i  )+i  r)     -^     j.  ri  t?  o     ^  ^r 

T  Ai    -M   -wir  ^  IT-     i         i       14th  Regiment.  Company  L,  Sept.  16, 

.).  M.  Alc\\  illKims.  1st  Lieutenant,  >       -.^...^      t\-    \  1      "li       ™ 

X  ,      AX-    IT       r     oi  T-     i         *       I        1802.     Discharged  with  company. 
John  v\ .  Havelin,  2d  Lieutenant,      j  °  ^      •' 

J»..iii  C.  Brown,  Major  18th  Regiment,  September  12,  1862.     Discharged 

with  regiment. 

W.  J.  Alexander  Captain,  |    18th  Regiment,  Company  G,  Sept.  12. 

Irwin  C.  Stump,  1st  Lieutenant.    >        to/>.i      i\-    i  i      Zi 

Wm.  II.  AVilson,  2d  Lieutenant,  J        l^*'^'     discharged  with  company. 
Jolin  Weaver,  Captain,  )  ion    t)     •        ,.  r\  tt    o     i      i 

Wm.  Quail.  1st  Lieutenant,         I  ^^  ^i  ?'^!™'?v  ^^mpany  H    September 
Wm.  McMillan,  2d  Lieutenant,  )       ^ ''  l^*^-     Discharged  with  company. 

Wc  close  this  chapter  of  tlic  military  history  of  Washington 
County  by  stating;  that  the  Icg-islatnre  passed  an  act  autliorizinsr 
the  cominissiouers  oT  each  county  to  assess  a  tax  for  the  relief  of 
tliosc  families  who  volunteered  in  the  service  of  their  country. 
Accordingly,  on  i\[ay  20,  18(11,  ^Icssrs.  Cook,  Taylor,  and  Elliott, 
the  commissioners,  assessed  one  mill  on  tlie  dollar,  which  was  directed 
to  be  added  to  the  duplicates  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  339 

On  the  subsequent  clay  the  commissioners  and  associate  judges, 
Jacob  Slagle  aud  James  G.  Hart,  Esqs.,  met  as  a  Board  of  Relief 
and  appointed  Job  Johnston,  of  California,  T.  R.  Hazzard,  of  Monon- 
gahela  City,  Wm.  MeDaniel,  of  Canonsburg,  Andrew  S.  Ritchie,  of 
West  Middletown,  and  Andrew  Brady,  of  Washington,  to  ascertain 
the  families  of  such  persons  as  are  entitled  to  relief,  and  report  the 
circumstances  of  each,  to  enable  the  Board  to  give  the  necessary 
relief. 

On  June  3,  1861,  disbursing  agents  were  appointed  to  carry  out 
the  provisions  of  the  law  in  the  several  localities  where  there  are 
persons  needing  relief.  The  Board  adopted,  as  a  general  rule,  to 
give  two  dollars  per  week  to  the  wife  and  fifty  cents  per  week  for 
each  child,  to  be  computed  from  the  time  the  soldier  entered  the 
service. 

September  25th  the  Board  reduced  the  appropriation  to  ten  dol- 
lars per  month,  as  the  maximum  for  each  family,  and  allowed  dis- 
crimination below  that  according  to  circumstances. 

October  14th  the  appropriation  was  reduced  to  eight  dollars  per 
month,  except  in  extreme  cases. 

Thus  the  Board  of  Relief  acted  promptly  and  energetically  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  citizens  of  the 
county  and  the  soldier  and  his  family. 

The  Soldier's  Monument. 

The  undersigned  have  been  appointed  a  committee  to  decide 
upon  a  plan  for  carrying  out  the  purpose  of  the  contributors.  This 
enterprise  has  been  delayed  for  the  want  of  adequate  funds.  The 
money  heretofore  collected  was  invested  securely,  and  the  accumu- 
lated fund,  together  with  uncollected  subscriptions  deemed  good, 
now  amount  to  from  five  to  six  thousand  dollars.  In  fulfilment  of 
the  wishes  of  the  contributors  it  is  now  proposed  to  go  fomvard  and 
expend  the  money  to  the  best  advantage.  The  committee  have 
two  designs  before  them  for  their  consideration. 

First :  A  Marble  Monument  of  as  large  dimensions  as  the  sum 
will  warrant.  It  was  originally  proposed  to  inscribe  on  this  monu- 
ment the  name  of  every  soldier  of  Washington  County  who  had 
died  in  the  service  from  disease  or  wounds  during  the  war.  On 
account  of  the  large  number  (over  eight  hundred)  this  may  be  imprac- 
ticable, but  some  other  method  in  connection  with  the  monument, 
like  that  hereafter  suggested,  might  be  resorted  to  for  perpetuating 
their  memory. 

Second :  A  Memorial  GhajJel,  built  out  of  our  common  red 
sandstone,  of  sufficient  dimensions  to  allow  the  insertion  of  marble 
tablets  in  the  wall,  and  between  the  openings,  on  which  the  soldiers' 
names  from  each  township  and  borough  would  be  inscribed,  together 
with  any  private  memorial  which  the  friends  of  any  particular  sol- 
dier might  desire  to  place  on  the  walls,  busts  of  distinguished  mill- 


340  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY, 

taiy  characters,  and  relics  and  trophies  of  the  war.  This  design 
contemplates  an  indestructible  book  containing  a  brief  historical 
account  of  each  soldier,  to  be  kept  within  the  chapel,  open  to  the 
inspection  of  visitors. 

These  are  the  two  plans  under  consideration.  To  accomplish 
either  of  them  satisfactorily,  and  in  such  manner  as  to  do  credit  to 
Washington  County,  would  require  larger  means  than  we  have  at 
command. 

The  Washington  Cemetery  is  to  be  the  location.  Its  central  posi- 
tion, easiness  of  access  and  marvellous  development  rendering  it  the 
largest,  as  it  is  certainly  the  most  attractive  and  beautiful  burial 
place  in  the  county,  point  it  out  as  the  most  suitable  site  for  the 
monument  or  memorial  chapel. 

The  committee  desire  to  obtain  the  following  information  at  as 
early  a  day  as  possible : — 

1.  The  name,  company,  and  regiment  of  each  soldier  who  volun- 
teered, enlisted  as  a  substitute,  or  was  drafted  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  during  the  late  war,  and  who  afterward^  died  in 
the  service,  or  after  his  discharge,  from  wounds  received,  or  disease 
contracted  whilst  in  the  service,  accompanied  with  a  statement  of 
his  birth,  age,  and  i)lacc  of  residence  when  he  entered  the  service. 

2.  The  cause  of  death,  and  if  from  wounds,  the  place  or  engage- 
ment where  received. 

3.  The  e.xactdate  of  death,  giving  the  day  of  the  month  and  year. 

4.  The  place  of  death. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  as  there  is  a  call  for  the  completion  of 
the  undertaking,  all  that  the  committee  can  do  is  to  adopt  some  plan 
within  the  compass  of  the  means  furnished.  Beyond  that  they  can- 
not go,  and  the  inadequacy  of  the  fund  is  the  great  source  of  per- 
plexity and  embarrassment.  If  the  soldiers'  memorial  should  not 
suit  the  public  expectation,  while  it  would  be  a  source  of  regret  to 
the  committee,  they  would  f(>el  that  they  had  performed  their  duty. 
But  before  final  action  is  taken,  we  would  solicit  immediate  volun- 
tary aiul  individual  sul)scription,  by  direct  communication  with  the 
committee,  from  every  citizen  who  feels  an  interest  in  the  enter- 
prise, and  desires  the  soldiers'  monument  to  be  worthy  of  the  patri- 
otic dead  who  in  the  late  war  so  nobly  represented  Washington 
County. 

a.  w.  aciieson, 
Boyd  Crumuine, 
Thus.  McKennan, 

Committee. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  341 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

HISTORY  OP  ASSOCIATIONS,  AND  EVENTS  WHICH  TRANSPIRED  IN 
WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

■  FREE  MASONRY. 

Lodge  54. 

The  oldest  organization  outside  of  the  church,  of  which  we  have 
any  knowledge,  is  the  Masonic  Order. 

Although  Bassetville,  or,  subsequently,  Washington,  was  laid  out  in 
1781,  yet  nine  years  afterwards  we  find  its  prominent  citizens  taking 
the  necessary  steps  to  organize  a  Masonic  lodge.  Six  of  the  origi- 
nal sfettlers  of  the  town  made  the  necessary  application  to  the  R.  W. 
Grand  Lodge,  and  a  charter  was  gi'anted  to  Brother  Jas.  Chambers 
as  Worshipful  Mas^ter,  Brother  Absalom  Baird  as  Senior  Warden, 
Brother  Cyrus  Beckwith  as  Junior  Warden,  Brother  Alex.  Roney 
as  Treasurer,  Brother  James  Whiteside  as  Secretary,  and  Brother 
James  Farchar  as  Tyler.  The  lodge  was  constituted  by  Brother 
Matthew  Patchie,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  June  25,  1792,  and  was  numbered  54. 
It  continued  in  existence  until  1812,  when  the  labors  of  masonry 
were  temporarily  interrupted  by  the  representatives  of  the  people 
declaring  war  against  Great  Britain. 

From  its  organization  until  1802,  it  met  in  several  places,  but 
afterwards  in  their  own  hall,  which  stood  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  Brother  John  Grayson. 

During  the  term  of  its  existence  eight  brethren  presided  as  Wor- 
shipful Masters,  viz  :  John  Chambers,  Dr.  Absalom  Baird,  John 
Hoge,  George  H.  Keppelle,  David  Cooke,  Samuel  Clark,  John  Wil- 
son, and  Alexander  Reed. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  written  records  of  this  lodge,  under 
date  of  January  6,  1800,  show  the  fact  that  the  members  were  re- 
quired to  wear  a  scarf  on  their  left  arm,  and  a  black  rose  on  their 
apron  for  one  year  as  a  memoi:al  of  the  death  of  their  brother  Gen. 
George  Washington. 

Washington  Lodge,  164. 

This  lodge  was  chartered  upon  the  petition  of  the  members  of  No. 
54,  which  had  been  in  abeyance  since  the  war.  It  was  constituted 
March  1,  1819,  by  Hon.  John  H.  Walker,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  and  met  in 
the  hall  of  No.  54  until  i825,  when  it  erected  a  hall  on  Maiden  St. 
(second  house  west  of  the  Round  Corner).     This  lodge  continued  in 


342  HISTORY    OF    WASIIIXOTON    COUNTY. 

€uccessful  operation  until  1832,  when  it  suspended  labor  until  the 
officers  should  again  summon  the  craftsmen  to  work.  They  suspended 
their  labor  on  account  of  the  wicked  and  persecuting  spirit  of  anti- 
Masonry,  which  blighted  church  and  State,  and  even  separated  fami- 
lies. 80  full  of  evil  was  this  destroying  spirit  that  good  men 
shuddered  at  its  wicked  and  iniquitous  demands.  But  the  fury  of 
the  storm  soon  passed  over;  ten  years  of  anti-Masonic  darkness,  from 
the  year  1826  to  1830,  was  sufficient  to  convince  the  people  of  its 
malignant  designs,  and  the  persecutors  of  the  order  were  universally 
consigned  to  the  tomb  of  oblivion. 

On  the  14th  of  April,  1845,  the  W.  M.  Brother  George  Baird 
summoned  the  craft  to  labor,  and  during  the  thirteen  years  of  its 
suspension,  death  had  not  robbed  the  Masonic  Temple  of  either  offi- 
cers or  members,  but  all  were  present  and  participated  in  erecting  an 
altar  to  God,  and  placing  thereon  its  first  great  light.  Since  1845,  the 
progress  of  this  lodge  has  been  onward,  her  membership  discharg- 
ing their  entire  duty,  beloved  and  respected  both  as  citizens  and  as 
Masons. 

From  its  organization  to  the  present  time  the  following  persons 
have  filled  the  office  of  Worshipful  Masters,  viz  :  George  Jackson, 
Thomas  H.  Baird,  George  Baird,  Alfred  Creigh,  William  Wolf,  Wil- 
liam Smith,  H.  H.  Frisbic,  William  Boardman,  W.  Hart,  Alexander 
Wishart,  James  C.  Acheson,  James  M.  Byers,  James  M.  House, 
David  Aiken,  and  Frederick  Whittlesey,  its  present  Worshipful 
Master. 

Hiram  Lodge,  No.  170, 

Was  instituted  at  Monongahela  City,  December  6,  1810,  and  con- 
tinued in  existence  until  1827.  Its  onlv  Worshipful  Master  was 
Dr.  Pollock. 

HiLLSBORO  Union  Lodge,  No.  209, 

Was  chartered  April  17,  1827,  and  located  at  Hillsboro,  but  its 
charter  was  vacated  March  Ifi,  1837.  Its  Past  Masters  were  Brother 
John  M.  Davis,  Hugh  Keys,  and  George  Morrison, 

Chandler  Lodge,  No.  237, 

Was  located  in  Washington,  and  chartered  March  5,  1849.  It  was 
subsequently  removed  to  BcnlhmJlc  in  this  county. 

Its  Past  Masters  are  Brother  James  T.  Dagg,  James  B.  Ruple, 
J.  B.  Musser,  Samuel  Thompson,  (Jeorge  Passmore,  J.  McDonough, 
Isaac  Register,  J.  Madison  Miller,  John  Evvart,  and  Ahira  Jones,  its 
present  Master. 

Chartters  Lodge,  No.  297, 

Was  chartered  May  15,  185G,  and  constituted  in  Canonsburg.  The 
following  brethren  have  filled  the  office  of  Worshipful  Master,  viz : 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  o43 

John  J.  Shutterly,  John  Murphy,  Jr.,  John  Brown,  William  Hor- 
nish,  J.  B.  Musser,  Henry  Sheaff,  Adam  Harbison,  Jr.,  and  Dr.  J. 
W.  Alexander,  its  present  Master. 

H.  M.  Phillips  Lodge,  337, 

Was  chartered  March  5,  1860,  and  located  in  Monongahela  City. 
The  following  brethren  have  filled  the  office  of  Worshipful  Master, 
viz  :  John  Witherow,  W.  L.  S.  Wilson,  S.  Bentle}',  Jr.,  Joel  Grable, 
R.  S.  H.  Keys,  D.  K.  Stevenson,  Edward  Creighton,  and  John  Hol- 
land. 

Tenmile  Lodge,  356, 

Is  situated  in  Tenmile  village,  and  was  chartered  March  1,  1865. 
Its  Worshipful  Masters  are  Dr.  J.  C.  Milliken,  William  H.  Horn, 
Washington  L.  Dunn,  and  Jacob  L.  Bricker. 

Clays viLLE  Lodge,  447, 

Was  chartered  by  the  R.  W.  Grand  Lodge,  September  1869,  and 
located  in  Claysville.  Its  Worshipful  Master  is  Isaac  Teal,  and  was 
constituted  October  4,  1869. 

Richard  Yaux  Lodge,  454, 

Is  located  in  Burgettstown,  and  received  a  charter  from  the  R.  W. 
Grand  Lodge,  December  5,  1869,  and  was  constitued  January  21, 
1870.     Its  Worshipful  Master  is  George  T.  McCord. 

Monongahela  Valley  Lodge,  461, 

Was  chartered  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania,  March  2,  1870, 
and  constituted  at  Greenfield,  April  17,  1870.  Its  Worshipful  Master 
is  N.  S.  Yeatch. 

ROYAL  ARCH  MASONRY. 
Washington  Chapter  150. 

In  addition  to  these  lodges,  Washington  Chapter  claims  an  exist- 
ence under  her  present  charter  since  Februar}^  4,  1828,  although  the 
Royal  Arch  Degree  was  conferred  under  the  charter  of  Lodge  164, 
as  early  as  1821.  The  companions  who  have  been  honored  with  the 
office  of  High  Priest,  were  David  Acheson,  George  Baird,  John 
Best,  Alfred  Creigh,  William  Broadman,  H.  H.  Frisbie,  William 
Wolf,  William  Smith,  J.  B.  Musser,  William  Hart,  James  M.  Byers, 
Alexander  Wishart,  James  C.  Acheson,  and  James  M.  House. 


344  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


CRYPTIC  MASONRY. 


Washington  Council,  No.  1, 

Of  Royal  Super-Excellent  and  Select  ]\[astcrs  was  instituted  by  the 
K.  P.  Grand  Council,  November  16,  1847.  The  following  illustrious 
companions  have  presided  as  Thrice  Illustrious  Grand  Masters,  viz: 
Alfred  Crcigh,  Andrew  Hopkins,  William  Wolf,  AVilliam  Broadman, 
J.  B.  Afusser,  H.  II.  Frisbie,  William  Hart,  Alexander  Wishart,  J. 
C.  Acheson,  J.  M.  Byers,  and  J.  M.  House. 

CHIVALRIC  ORDER  OF  MASONRY. 
Jacques  Be  Molay  Commander y,  No.  3. 

The  Masonic  fraternity  of  Washington  County,  desirous  of  having 
within  her  border  all  the  various  grades  of  Masonry,  made  applica- 
tion for  a  dispensation  to  open  a  Commandery.  This  was  granted 
by  Sir  W.  B.  Hubbard,  G.  G.  M.  of  Grand  Encampment  of  the  United 
States,  September  12,  1849.  Numerically  it  was  immbered  two,  but 
after  the  union  with  the  Grand  Encampment  of  Philadelphia,  it 
became  No.  3. 

The  following  Sir  Knights  have  filled  the  office  of  Eminent  Com- 
mander, viz :  Alfred  Creigh,  J.  B.  Musscr,  William  Wolf,  Alexander 
Wishart,  James  M.  Byers,  John  Hall,  Boyd  Crumrine,  and  John  C. 
McCoy. 

ODD  FELLOWSHTl'. 

AV^ashington  County  has  nine  lodges  of  this  benevolent  society 
within  her  limits.  We  give  the  location  of  each  and  the  names  of  the 
Past  Grands,  those  who  have  lionorably  filled  the  chair  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  brethren,  and  for  their  efficient  services  are  esteemed 
by  the  craft.  Bro.  G.  L.  Bayhe,  of  Lodge  371,  was  appointed  I).  D. 
a.  Master,  May,  18(19,  and  from  his  zeal  in  the  cause  and  devotion 
to  the  principles  of  Odd  Fellowship,  ranks  among  the  first  District 
Deputy  Grand  Masters  in  the  State. 

National  Lodge,  No.  81, 

Was  established  in  Washington,  February  13,  1843,  by  Joseph 
Browne,  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  I.  0.  0.  F.  The 
lodge  held  its  first  meetings  two  lots  south  of  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Maiden  streets.  In  three  years  it  was  removed  to  the  "  Bound 
Corner."  Subseciuently  to  Beau  Street,  on  ihe  property  of  William 
Smith,  and  in  1870  it  has  secured  a  permanent  hall  in  J.  S.  Young's 
extensive  buildings  adjoining  the  public  square. 

The  following  l)rethren  from  its  organization  have  filled  the  office 
of  Noble  Grand,  and  are  now  ranked  as  Past  Grands.  The  list  is 
made  out  as  they  each  presided. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  345 

1.  Geo.  Morrison ;  2.  James  W.  Smith ;  3.  Wm.  K.  Shannon ;  4.  Thos. 
S.  McKinley  ;  5.  Thos.  Logan  ;  6.  Jas.  M.  Hutchinson  ;  7.  Alfred  Creigh;8. 
Jas.  McKinley;  9.  Wm.  AVolf;  10.  Philip  Kuhn ;  11.  David  Orr ;  12.  Jona- 
than D.  Leet;  13.  John  Davis;  14.  Wm.  J.  Wilson;  1.5.  Huirh  H.  Rey- 
nolds; 16.  Wm.  Harter;  17.  Thomas  Walker;  18.  Peter  Griffin;  19.  O. 
B.  McFadden;  20.  Alfred  McGowen;  21.  Morgan  Hays;  22.  John  Thomp- 
son ;  23.  Thos.  M.  Hall;  24.  John  Allen ;  25.  James  F.  Sarrat;  26.  John 
Wilson;  27.  Marshal  H.  Hays;  28.  Saml.  M.  Decker;  29.  Wm.  R.  Terry; 
30.  C.  Z.  Koechline;  31.  Mathew  Griffin;  32.  George  T.  Hammond;  33. 
Freeman  Brndy,  Jr. ;  34.  H.  B.  McCollum ;  35.  Frank  Fitzwilliams  ;  36. 
David  Aiken ;  37.  John  Brady ;  38.  Jos.  M.  Spriggs  ;  39.  Chas.  Post ;  40. 
Thos.  L.  Birch;  41.  Jacob  Goldsmith;  42.  J.  Nick  Hainer;  43.  George  W. 
Driver;  44.  Thomas  D.  Ohara ;  45.  Robert  McBlheny  ;  46.  Wm.  Allen; 
47.  Henry  Schoenthal;  48.  John  Low  ;  49.  Chas.  H.  Ruple. 

Peters'  Creek  Lodge,  248, 

Was  instituted  at  Findleyville,  May  17,  1847.    The  following  breth- 
ren have  presided  as  N.  Gr.  since  its  organization  : — 

William  Gaston,  W.  B.  Lank,  Wm.  Gist,  Isaac  Lytle,  James  Angus. 
James  Morrison,  Joseph  M.  Curry,  Samuel  Atcheson,  R.  R.  Bell,  James 
McAlister,  W.  M.  Mouck,  John  Huston,  William  Feree,  Michael  Sanders. 
Joseph  Conlin,  John  Barclay,  Frederick  Snell,  A.  P.  Heath,  Isaiah  Brown, 
John  Stoeful,  Thos.  Snee,  A.  Y.  Crouch,  Josiah  Estep,  Abel  Buckingham, 
Louis  Welch,  Geo.  W.  Lyons,  E.  N.  Wright,  Samuel  P.  Hutchinson,  R. 
Campbell,  Robert  Cowen,  Samuel  Messner,  Geo.  Gibson,  Frank  R.  Storer, 
J.  M.  Snee. 

Nucleus  Lodge,  377, 

Was  organized  at  Monongahela  City  on  the  14th  day  of  September, 
1849.     The  following  is  a  list  of  its  Past  Grands. 

Robert  Coulter,  Raphael  Coulter,  J.  W.  Carraac,  Peter  S.  Griffin,  C 
Beach,  A.  T.  Gregg,  Shed.  Hiser,  T.  R.  Hazzard,  W.  S.  Mellinger,  D.  J. 
Hamilton,  Munson  Clark,  R.  H.  Young,  J.  W.  Downer,  F.  M.  Myers,  Isaac 
Lowman,  R.  M.  Gee,  John  GilfiUan,  M.  G.  Gibson,  Mark  Boreland,  David 
Lackey,  Michael  Bowman,  George  Callohan,  J.  B.  Williams,  Thos.  Wilson, 
G.  M.  Groves,  G.  W.  Frana,  Thomas  Coatsworth,  J.  L.  Gee,  Joseph  Coats- 
worth,  M.  Sanders,  G.  L.  Bayne,  and  H.  C.  Underwood. 

The  Oaa  Fellows  have  a  convenient  and  elegant  hall  under  the 
control  of  Nucleus  Association,  worth  seventeen  thousand  dollars, 
situate  on  Main  Street.  It  has  all  the  necessary  rooms  handsomely 
furnished,  also  a  room  for  public  meetings,  while  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Mutual  Co-operative  Association  has  a  large  and  extensive  store  on 
the  first  floor.  The  trustees  of  the  Nucleus  Association  are,  J.  S. 
Crall,  President ;  T.  R.  Hazzard,  Secretary  ;  R.  M.  Gee,  J.  B. 
Finley,  A.  C.  Sampson,  and  A.  T.  Gregg,  trustees. 

The  Odd  Felloivs'  Mutual  Go-operative  Association  has  a  capital 
of  forty  thousand  dollars,  and  was  organized  April  6,  1867.  Its 
trustees  are  J.  L.  Gee,  President;  R.  M.  Gee,  J.  B.  Finley,  Jas. 
23 


346  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

Louted,  H.  A.  Warran,  J.  W.  Downer.     Clerks  in  the  store — T. 
Wilson  and  L.  Shreckongost. 

Rebecca  Degree, 

Nucleus  Lodge  has  attached  Priscilla  Lodge  for  the  benefit  of 
females  whose  fathers,  husbands,  and  brothers  belong  to  the  lodge. 
Bro.  A.  T.  Gregg  is  the  presiding  officer,  and  Mrs.  J.  S.  Crall  is 
secretary.     It  was  organized  March  21,  1870. 

Pike  Run  Lodge,  No.  491, 

Is  located  in  California,  Washington  County.      Its   Past  Grands 
are 

John  S.  Van  Horn,  James  S.  Lewellen,  Jacob  G.  Huggins,  G.  Dowler, 
Jacob  Hornbake,  Samuel  Lewis,  John  Clendaniel,  Joseph  S.  Wilkins,  John 
W.  Paxlon,  D.  H.  Jacobs,  James  L.  Long,  James  Herron,  G.  G.  Hertzog, 
and  James  M.  Berkinsha. 

Tenmile  Lodge,  No.  552, 

Was  chartered  May  19,  1859,  and  is  located  at  Amity.     Its  Past 
Grands  are 

H.  C.  Swartz,  S.  M.  Walton,  James  A.  Bebout,  Dr.  W.  W.  Sharp,  M. 
McCollum,  A.  J.  McCollum,  J.  D.  Huston,  John  McAfee,  J.  W.  Denman, 
J.  B.  Vandyke,  Isaac  Sharp,  Wm.  Kelly,  F.  F.  Ijams,  W.  C.  Condit,  J.  B, 
McAfee,  A.  J.  Swartz. 

Cedar  Lodge,  No.  633, 

Was  chartered  August  1,  1868,  and  is  located  in  Centreville,  East 
Bethlehem  township.     Its  Past  Grands  are 

W.  N.  Hoskinson,  E.  S.  Yeho,  and  E.  H.  Griffith. 

Lone  Pine  Lodge,  No.  693, 

Is  located  at  Pin  Hook,  and  was  organized  March  26,  18T0,  by  D. 
D.  G.  M.,  G.  L.  Bayhe.     Its  Past  Grands  are 

J.  D.  Houston  and  John  Closser. 

Vesta  Lodge,  No.  696, 

Was  established  at  Greenfield,  March  3,  1870,  by  Geo.  L.  Bayhe. 
Its  Past  Grand  is  Thomas  Young. 

John  F.  Logan  Lodge,  No.  697, 

Was  instituted  at  Coal  Bluffs,  by  G.  L.  Bayhe,  D.  D.  G.  M.,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1870.     Its  Past  Grands  are 

Wm..  Wilson,  H.  McKinney,  R.  McMasters,  J.  Barclay,  A,  Fuller,  S. 
Messner,  and  James  Craig. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  341 

ENCAMPMENTS  OF  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Shakspeare  Encampment,  No.  20, 
Was  chartered  November  4,   1845.     Its  founders  were  James  B. 
Ruple,  William  Smith,  William  Garrity,  Thomas  S.  McKinley,  S.  B. 
Hayes,  and  William  Gaston.    It  is  located  in  Washington,  Pa. 

The  following  persons  have  presided  as  Chief  Patriarchs  in  the 
order  given  : — 

1.  James  B.  Ruple  ;  2.  James  M.  Hutchison  ;  3.  John  T.  Port ;  4.  John 
Davis;  5.  WiUiam  Wolf ;  6.  Thomas  Logan  ;  7.  Peter  Griffin  ;  8.  William 
Harter ;  9.  Thomas  W^alker;  10.  WiUiam  J.  Wilson;  11.  Wm.  Hamilton; 
12.  Morgan  Hayes ;  13.  James  F.  Sarratt ;  14.  Jacob  Goldsmith  ;  15.  Mi- 
chael G.  Kuntz ;  IG.  George  F.  Hammond. 

On  February  24,  1863,  it  suspended  meetings  on  account  of  the 
rebellion,  but  was  revived  February  25,  1870,  its  presiding  officer, 
17th,  is  Marshal  H.  Hayes. 

Parkinson's  Ferry  Encampment,  No.  175. 

Was  instituted  March  6, 1869,  in  Monongahela  City.     Its  Past  Chief 
Patriarchs  are 

R.  M.  Gee,  T.  R.  Hazzard,  and  J.  L.  Gee. 

EVENTS  AND  INCIDENTS. 

We  shall  advert  to  a  few  events  and  incidents  which  will  interest 
the  reader. 

1782.  March  27.  Jacob  Cook,  Jr.,  bequeathed  to  the  trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  the  middle  fork  of  Tenmile 
Creek,  fifty  pounds  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  congregation. 

Wood  Rangers. 

1788.  April  16.  The  court  ordered  that  William  Campbell,  An- 
drew McFarlane,  Isaac  Leet,  Henry  Dickson,  and  Henry  Van  Metre 
be  licensed  wood  rangers  for  Washington  County,  and  established 
the  following  fees  :  For  entering  each  horse  in  the  township  book, 
2s.  6c?.  ;  advertising  in  three  public  places,  5s.  ;  for  each  search  if 
found  Is.  Qd.  ;  if  not  found  Dd ;  for  an  order  to  the  owner  to  take 
his  horse  out  of  the  custody  of  him  who  has  him  in  keeping.  Is. 
For  casual  and  necessary  expenses  a  reasonable  allowance  was  made. 

U.  S.  Senator. 
James  Ross,  of  Washington,  elected  United  States  Senator. 

Locusts. 

1795.  The  summer  of  this  year  was  remarkable  for  swarms  of 
locusts  which  came  up  out  of  the  earth  until  it  was  fairly  covered. 
They  remained  about  six  weeks.  Locusts  have  also  made  their  ap- 
pearance in  1812,  1829,  1846,  and  1863. 


348  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Theatrical. 

1796.  February  9.  A  tragedy  called  Tlie  Revenge  was  performed 
at  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Fisher  (in  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  James 
Ross,  Esq.,)  composed  of  a  company  of  young  gentlemen  of  Wash- 
ington.    The  proceeds  were  devoted  to  benevolent  purposes. 

These  exhibitions  were  continued  to  ISIO. 

Royal  Family. 

1*797.  June  20.  The  three  sons  of  the  late  Duke  of  Orleans 
passed  through  Washington  Borough  on  their  way  to  Philadelphia, 
having  explored  a  great  part  of  the  western  country. 

Tavern  Signs. 

In  early  times  tavern  signs  were  more  significant  than  at  present. 
I  shall  enumerate  some  :  The  Harp  and  the  Crown  ;  The  Swan  ;  The 
Indian  Queen;  The  Globe;  The  Green  Tree;  The  Cross  Keys; 
(xcneral  Washington  ;  General  Wayne ;  The  Buck.  But  the  most 
conspicuous  and  which  attracted  most  attention  was  the  picture  of  a 
colored  boy  standing  in  a  tub  of  water  and  a  white  boy  endeavoring 
to  scrub  him  white  with  a  brush.  The  motto  above  the  painting  was 
"  Labor  in  vain." 

Fairs. 

1798.  Cattle  fairs  were  held  at  Morganza  in  May  and  October 
of  this  year  by  Dennis  Pursell.  He  advertised  to  supply  a  cold  cut 
for  6(Z.  ;  a  warm  meal  at  Is.  \0d. 

May  Pole. 

1798.  A  May  pole  was  put  up  in  Washington  upon  which  was 
placed  the  French  flag.  It  was  ordered  to  be  cut  down  by  the  au- 
thorities of  the  town,  as  it  excited  in  the  minds  of  some  fears  that 
it  might  be  metamorphosed  into  a  liberty  tree.  The  following 
lines  written  on  the  occasion  explain  themselves  : — 

1.  The  pole  stood  firm  with  flying  flag, 

And  stripes  sixteen  in  number, 
Columbia's  boust  and  all  her  brag 
Red  round  with  stripes  of  umber. 

2.  But  Dignity,  whose  eyes  were  foggy, 

Thought  this  the  flag  of  France, 
Around  wliich  those  who  were  so  groggy 
Began  to  hop  and  dance. 

3.  Up  thro'  the  town  he  bent  his  course 

To  hunt  some  honest  soul. 
Who  would  by  smih-s,  if  not  by  force, 
Cut  down  the  pretty  pole. 


HISTOBY   OP   WASHINGTON  COUNTY.  349 


Snow. 

1199.  In  the  winter  of  1199  the  greatest  snow  fell  at  one  time 
ever  known  in  this  county.  It  commenced  snowing  on  Friday  even- 
ing and  continued  to  snow  until  the  next  Monday  moiming.  The 
snow  was  three  feet  deep.  It  was  almost  impossible  for  cattle  and 
horses  to  go  to  their  watering  places.  One  woman  in  Finley 
township  (her  husband  being  absent)  went  to  a  neighbor's  house  for 
fire  (for  in  those  days  there  were  no  matches),  and  to  return  home 
she  was  required  to  borrow  a  horse.  Deer  and  other  wild  animals 
died  from  starvation. 

Phenomenon. 

1801.  January  12.  On  Wednesday  evening  last  about  eight 
o'clock,  the  atmosphere  being  cloudy  and  the  night  very  dark,  an 
extraordinary  glare  of  light  arose  near  the  southern  horizon  and 
illuminated  the  whole  atmosphere  for  about  five  seconds,  and 
in  about  four  minutes  and  a  half  was  succeeded  by  an  explo- 
sion similar  to  a  discharge  of  a  large  cannon  at  a  distance,  which 
considerably  shook  the  houses  in  Washington  and  kept  the  windows 
and  door-latches  in  continual  trepidation  for  the  space  of  about 
twenty  seconds 

New  County. 

On  the  14th  of  September,  1799,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Washington  and  the  adjoining  counties  met  at  Parkinson's  Ferry 
(now  Monongahela  city),  with  the  view  of  taking  the  necessary  steps 
towards  the  formation  of  a  new  count}^  the  principal  portion  of  the 
territory  to  be  taken  off  Washington  County.  Joseph  Beckett  was 
chosen  Chairman  and  John  Hoge,  Secretary. 

The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : — 

1.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  that  a  neiv  county  ought  to  be 
estabUshed  by  the  following  lines,  viz  :  Beginning  on  the  Monongahela 
River,  at  the  mouth  of  Peters'  Creek,  thence  up  the  said  creek  to  that 
branch  thereof  which  runs  from  the  Rev.  David  Philliios'  farm,  thence  by  a 
direct  line  to-inchide  the  place  on  which  James  Mitchell,  Esq.,  now  lives, 
thence  by  a  like  line  to  include  the  place  on  which  George  Myers,  Sen.,  now 
lives,  thence  to  Bentley's  upper  mill  on  Pigeon  Creek,  thence  to  the  Monon- 
gahela River  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  Little  Redstone  Creek,  thence  by 
a  direct  line  to  the  mouth  of  Washington's  Run  on  the  Youghiogheny 
River,  thence  down  the  same  to  F.  Moses'  place,  and  thence  by  a  direct  hne 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

2.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  new 
county  should  be  established  at  Parkinson's  Ferry  on  the  Monongahelu 
River. 

3.  That  John  Hoge,  Major  Devore,  and  Captain  Royall  be  appointed  a 
committee  to  draft  a  petition  to  the  next  legislature  praying  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  new  county. 

This  measure  was  defeated  by  a  remonstrance.  The  same  ques- 
tion was  successively  renewed  in  1820,  1822,  and  1835,  when  it  was 


550  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 

proposed  to  make  the  county  twenty  miles  square — 183T  and  in 
1S38 — but  the  attempt  to  divide  or  diminish  the  present  limits  of 
Washington  County  meets  with  a  prompt  rejection  by  the  people. 

Burners. 

About  the  year  1194,  and  immediately  after  the  Whiskey  Insur- 
rection, "Washington  County  was  thrown  into  consternation  by 
anonymous  notices  stuck  up  in  tlie  night  time  on  the  houses  and 
highways,  calling  upon  certain  individuals  to  pay  certain  suras  of 
money  by  a  certain  day  or  their  houses  and  barns  would  be  burned. 
Those  who  refused  to  satisfy  the  demand  sufiered  the  threatened 
penalty.  Many  meetings  were  held  at  Finleyville  and  other  points, 
to  detect  the  villains  engaged  in  this  nefarious  plot,  but  these  failed. 
At  length  Robert  James  took  a  determined  stand,  after  having  lost 
his  barn,  haystacks,  outhouses,  cattle,  &c.  &c.,  and  prosecuted  a 
man  whom  he  suspected  as  the  ring-leader.  Before  his  apprehension 
he  fled  the  country,  and  the  burning  operations  ceased  and  peace 
and  tranquillity  reigned. 

My  friend,  Di'.  W.  B.  Lank,  of  Finleyville,  has  furnished  me 
one  of  the  original  notices,  given  to  him  by  Samuel  Gaston,  Esq., 
who  lived  in  those  troublesome  times.  The  letter  is  directed  to  John 
Finlcy,  Henry  Hulee,  James  Cildoo,  with  this  notice  :  Jacobus 
Curkindale,  if  you  donH  car?y  this  to  John  Finley  your  ham  will 
he  hurnt.     The  letter  reads  thus : — 

John  Finley, 30  dollars. 

James  Cildoo 30       " 

Henry  Hulee, 30      " 

90  dollars. 

My  friend,  if  yon  don't  pay  this  demand  five  days  after  sight,  I  will  fall 
to  burning  yonr  property,  such  as  haystacks,  barns,  mills,  and  still-houses. 
If  you  pay  this  demand  no  more  will  he  asked  of  you — fail  not,  for  the  sake 
of  your  property.  The  undertakers  of  this  plot  are  sure  but  slow.  You 
may  pay  it  to  Thomas  McMulm.  Nothing  will  put  a  stop  to  this  business 
but  the  detection  of  the  authors. 

In  this  manner  farmers  and  others  were  blackmailed,  and  suflfered 
severely  if  they  did  not  comply  with  the  notice. 

Newspapers 
Published  in  Washington  County,  with  the  date  of  their  •publication. 

Western    Telegraph    and    Washington   Advertiser,  August   22,  179.").  by 
Messrs.  Colerick,  Hunter  &  Beaumont.   On  August  16,  1797,  John  Cole- 
rick  sold  out  his  interest  to  his  partners. 
Herald  of  Liberty,  May  21,  1798,  by  John  Israel. 
Western  Missionary  Magazine,  from  1803  tol806. 
Washington  Reporter,  August  If),  1808,  by  B.  Brown  and  Wm.  Sample. 
"  "  Feliruary  12.  1810,  by  William  Sample. 

"  "  May  31,  1819,  by  Samuel  Workman. 


HISTORY   OP  WASHIXGTON  COUNTY.  351 

Washington  Reporter,  May  28,  1821,  by  William  Sample. 

"  1833,  by  B.  S.  Stewart  and  Geo.  W.  Acheson. 

"  "  1835,  by  John  Ramsey  and  S.  B.  Robinson. 

1837,  by  Uriah  W.  Wise. 
"  "  November  9,  1839,  by  John  Bausman. 

"  "  April  22,  1848,  by  John  Bausman  and  J.  W.  F. 

White. 
"  "         February  16, 1852,  by  John  Bausman. 

"  "  February  16,  1856,  by  Jas.  G.  and  R.  F.  Strean. 

"  "  and  Commonwealth,  April  1,  1858,  by  Jas.  G.  and 

R.  F.  Strean. 
«  "         and  Tribune,  April  1,  1860,  by  Wm.  S.  Moore,  H. 

A.  Purviance,  and  Jas.  Armstrong-. 
"  "  "  "       August  30,  1863,  by  Wm.  S.  Moore 

and  Jas.  Armstrong. 
"  "  "  "       November20, 1867,  by  Wra.  S.Moore 

and  J.  W.  McWilliams. 
"  "  "  "       February  11,  1869,  by  Wm.  S.  Moore 

and  Jas.  W.  Kelly. 
Democratic  Eagle,  August  25,  1828,  by  Thomas  IVtorgan. 
Western  Register,  February  3,  1837,  by  Robert  Fee. 
Washington  Examiner,  May  28,  1817,  by  John  Grayson. 

"  "  1833,  by  John  Grayson  and Jack. 

"  "  John  and  T.  W.  Grayson. 

"  "  June  10,  1840,  by  T.  W.  Grayson  and  0.  0.  Kaine. 

"  "  November  9,   1844,  T.  W.   Grayson  and  Jas.  B. 

Ruple. 
«  "  November  16,  1846,  by  T.  W.  Grayson  and  An- 

drew Hopkins. 
«  «  May  12,  1853,  by  T.  W.  Grayson  and  George  S. 

Hart. 
"  «  1858,  by  T.  W.  Grayson  and  A.  H.  Ecker. 

"  "  A.  n.  Ecker  and  John  R.  Donehoo. 

"  "  A.  H.  Ecker  and  D.  F.  Patterson. 

"  "  and  Revieiv,  A.  H.  Ecker  and  Wm.  Swan. 

The  Phoenix  in  Monongahela  City,  May  7,  1821,  by  B.  Brown. 
TJie  Pennsylvanian,      "  "      June  25,  1828,  by  John  Bausmon. 

Our  Country  (Washington) ,  June  5,  1835,  by  Thomas  Jefferson  Morgan. 
Washington  Review,  by  Wm.  Swan. 
The  Commonioealth,  1848,  by  Seth  T.  Hurd. 
Tlie  Patriot,  1843,  by  Russel  Erret. 

Students'  Enterprise  (Oanonsburg),  1849,  by  Wm.  S.  Hamill. 
The  Florence  Enterprise,  1850,  by  James  Robb. 
The  Collegian,  1852,  by  B.  W.  Lacey. 
American  Union,  1855,  by  J.  B.  Musser. 

Monongahela   Valley  RepuUican,  July  7,  1848,  established  by  Solomon 
Alter ;  in  1851  it  was  purchased  by  David  Ramaley  and  P.  H.   Rhien- 
hardt ;  in  1855  they  sold  to  T.  R.  Hazzard  and  Chill  Hazzard. 
The  Tribune,  1856,  by  John  Bausman. 
Valley  Spirit  (California),  by  G.  W.  Hillier. 
Colleaguer,  1859,  by  J.  W.  Mosa. 


352  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Education. 

1795,  September  8,  Charles  Yisiiier  opened  a  school  in  Washing- 
ton, to  teach  the  French  language,  at  $4  per  quarter. 

1809,  February  16,  Mrs.  Good  opened  a  school  to  teach  young 
ladies  tambouring,  embroidery,  open  work,  painting,  and  drawing, 
together  with  plain  sewing  and  reading. 

1812,  November  12,  Mrs.  Baker's  j'oung  ladies'  seminary  held  its 
semi-annual  exhibition  at  Washington.  Premiums  were  presented 
in  the  first  class  to  Miss  .Collins,  of  Pittsburg;  Miss  Clark,  of 
Clarksville  ;  Miss  Buchanan,  of  Canonsburg  ;  and  Miss  McKennau, 
of  Washington.  In  the  second  class,  to  Miss  Campbell,  Miss  Cooke, 
and  Miss  Neal,  of  Washington.  In  the  third  class,  to  Miss  Cust, 
of  Greensburg,  and  Miss  Aclieson,  of  Washington.  Miss  Scott,  of 
Gettysburg,  on  presenting  the  premiums  delivered  an  appropriate 
address,  to  which  Miss  Collins,  of  Pittsburg,  replied.  Tlie  exhibi- 
tion concluded  with  a  ballet  dance,  exhibiting  in  the  rural  style  the 
young  ladies,  with  branches  of  roses  and  honeysuckles  in  their 
hands  during  the  dance. 

1825,  October  It,  Rev.  0.  Jennings,  assisted  by  Samuel  Mar- 
shall, opened  a  French  school. 

1834,  November  4,  in  pursuance  of  an  act  of  the  legislature,  to 
establish  the  common  school  system,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  county 
commissioners,  and  one  delegate  from  the  twenty-three  boards  of 
directors,  into  which  number  the  county  was  divided,,  met  at  the 
court-house,  and  determined  by  a  vote  of  twenty-one  to  five  to  es- 
tablish the  system,  and  levied  a  tax  of  four  thousand  eight  hundred 
dollars.  In  1835  the  common  school  convention  appropriated  six 
thousand  dollars.  In  1836,  twelve  thousand  dollars.  The  first 
tax  levied  for  the  education  of  children  in  Washington  County 
was  in  LSOo  ;  and  in  the  years  1805-6-7-8  respectively  it  was  one 
hundred  dollars;  in  1809,  eight  hundred  dollars;  1810-11-12-13-14 
it  was  two  hundred  dollars  in  each  of  these  years;  in  1815-16 
it  was  three  hundred  dollars  each;  in  1817-18  it  was  five  hundred 
dollars  each;  in  1819  it  was  one  thousand  dollars;  in  1820,  five 
hundred  dollars;  in  1821,  one  thousand  dollars;  in  1822-23-24-25 
it  was  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  each  year;  in  1826,  twelve  hundred 
dollars;  in  1827,  one  thousand  dollars;  in  1828,  twelve  hundred 
dollars;  in  1829,  sixteen  hundred  dollars;  in  1830-31,  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  in  each  year;  in  1832-33,  twenty-five  hundred  dollars 
each.  The  amount  of  taxes  paid  from  1805  to  1836  inclusive,  in 
Washington  County,  is  fifty-one  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  Since  1836  the  laws  have  been  changed.  In  1849  they 
were  all  collected  and  passed  in  one  act,  and  in  1857  the  normal 
school  was  adopted. 

Tiie  first  bill  providing  for  a  common  school  system  was  approved 
by  George  Wolf,  April  1,  1834. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  353 


Washington  Mechanical  Society. 

Was  organized  May  12,  1T92,  with  Jonathan  Morris  as  president, 
and  David  Ileddiek  as  secretary.  The  object  was  to  create  a  fund, 
and  loan  money,  not  exceeding  three  months,  for  charitable,  politi- 
cal, and  generous  purposes,  at  six  per  cent. 

March  1,  lT9i,  the  society  resolved  to  adopt  measures  to  procure 
an  accurate  account  of  the  various  machines  in  use  in  this  western 
country,  the  prices  of  labor  in  the  different  mechanical  employments 
in  use,  the  amount  of  moneys  expended  for  public  buildings,  the 
obstruction  in  the  navigation  of  our  creeks  and  rivers,  and  the 
mode  of  transporting  our  produce  to  market,  with  all  other  informa- 
tion connected  with  mechanics  which  may  be  useful  in  forming  the 
history  of  the  early  settlements  of  this  county. 

In  1795  the  secretary  was  directed  to  open  a  correspondence  with 
the  Philadelphia  Mechanical  Society  for  the  purpose  of  encourag- 
ing foreign  mechanics  to  emigrate  to  this  country. 

Hon.  David  Reddick  delivered  the  annual  oration  on  St.  Tam- 
many's Day. 

In  1798  a  committee,  consisting  of  Robert  Hamilton,  Samuel 
Clarke,  and  D.  Cook,  was  appointed  to  report  the  best  mode  of  pro- 
curing tin  for  a  tin  manufactory.  The  mode  and  manner  were 
approved,  and  a  quantity  brought  to  Washington  to  be  placed -and 
made  up. 

In  1800  Parker  Campbell  delivered  the  annual  oration. 

These  minutes  close  in  1801,  and  arc  very  interesting.  The 
names  of  the  old  citizens  of  this  town  show  that  they  were  members 
of  this  society. 

Monongahela  and  Williamsport  Manufacturing  Company. 

1814,  January  17,  articles  of  association  for  a  bank,  to  be  enti- 
tled the  Monongahela  and  Williamsport  Manufacturing  Company, 
was  formed  in  Williamsport  (now  Monongahela  City)  with  a  capital 
of  one  huudred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  in  shares  of  fifty 
dollars  each  ;  Samuel  Black  was  president.  Its  charter  was  to  ex- 
tend for  twenty  years. 

Extensive  Carriage  Manufactory. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1841  Sheldon  B.,  Charles,  and  Morgan 
Hays  erected  a  carriage  manufactory  in  the  rear  of  the  court-house, 
and  on  the  southern  part  of  the  lot  now  owned  by  Robert  Boyd, 
Esq.  The  factory  was  of  frame,  thirty  by  fifty  feet,  two  stories 
high.  The  business  of  the  firm  was  conducted  under  the  name 
of  S.  B.  Hays  &  Co.  The  wood-work,  trimming,  painting,  and 
smith-work  were  all  conducted  in  this  building,  the  demand  for  car- 
riages and  buggies  not  being  so  great  as  at  present. 

The  first  bugg}^  body  was  made  by  Morgan  Hays,  the  trimming 
and  painting  by  Wm.  Garrety  (one  of  the  founders  of  Lodge  81  of 


354  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

1. 0.  0.  F.  of  Washington),  the  smith-work  by  J.  Clark,  of  Kinder- 
hook,  N.  Y.,  and  the  first  paint  furnished  by  Dr.  Alfred  Creigh. 
The  first  apprentice  was  Henry  Layton,  whom  we  alt  remember  for 
his  steadfast  devotion  to  his  Sunday  school  and  church,  and  which 
he  ever  exemplified  through  his  Christian  life. 

Business  increasing,  a  brick  building  was  added,  with  horse- 
power attached  to  do  the  sawing  and  turning ;  yet  increased  busi- 
ness required  a  four-horse  engine,  and  three  days  in  each  week  of 
the  engine  however  being  sufficient  to  do  the  necessary  amount  of 
labor  to  occupy  the  hands  one  week.  About  this  time  Morgan 
Hays  sold  out  to  his  partners,  and  he  became  the  foreman.  Messrs. 
S.  B.  &  C.  Hays  added  another  story  to  the  main  building,  and  also 
an  additional  room  of  thirty  feet  to  the  first  floor. 

On  November  8th,  1851,  the  entire  factory,  with  nearly  all  its 
contents,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  which  occurred  on  Saturday.  On 
the  Monday  following,  Messrs.  S.  B.  and  C.  Hays  purchased  from 
John  H.  Ewing,  James  G.  Strean,  Thomas  McKean,  T.  M.  T. 
McKennan,  Alexander  W.  Acheson,  and  Collin  M.  Reed,  Trustees 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  their  church  edifice,  with  two  lots  situate 
on  First  and  Maiden  streets,  and  extending  to  Strawberry  Alley, 
the  congregation  having  removed  to  their  new  edifice,  corner  of 
Second  and  Belle  streets.  On  the  following  Tuesday,  the  day  after 
the  purchase,  the  seats  were  taken  out  and  all  hands  busily  engaged 
in  the  manufactory,  as  if  no  fire  had  ever  taken  place. 

To  this  brick  carriage  factory  (formerly  the  church)  they  added  a 
brick  smithshop  thirty  by  seventy  feet.  In  1852  they  erected  a 
machine  shop  with  an  engine  of  sufficient  power  for  sawing,  turning, 
making  vv^heels,  &c.  &c.  The  machinery,  shafting,  &c.,  was  put  up 
by  Martin  Luther,  Esq.,  of  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  and,  from  his 
I)ractical  knowledge  of  machinery  as  well  as  of  business,  he  has 
become  a  partner  in  the  establishment. 

To  these  improvements  a  planing  machine,  and  all  the  necessary 
machinery  for  planing,  manufacturing  flooring  boards,  making  doors, 
sash,  shutters,  &c.,  have  been  added,  with  a  seventy-horse  power 
engine,  while  to  the  buildings  have  been  added  a  boarding-house,  a 
carriage  repository,  with  two  rooms  thirty  by  sixty  feet  each,  used 
expressly  for  sales  room, 

January  1,  ISGT,  the  establishment  was  changed  to  S.  B.  and  C. 
W.  Hays  &  Co.,  consisting  of  Sheldon  B.  Hays,  Charles  W.  Hays, 
Martin  Luther,  and  Morgan  Hays.  Thirty-three  hands  are  employed 
in  the  manufactory. 

To  this  establishment  has  been  added  an  extensive  lumber  yard. 

House's  Carriage  Manufactory. 

On  the  first  of  January,  ISGS,  James  M.  House  and  Eobert  R. 
Forrest  established  a  carriage  factory  on  East  Belle  Street,  the 
buildings  being  brick,  two  stories  high  fronting  on  Belle  Street  sixty 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  355 

by  thirty  feet.  To  this  has  been  added  auother  brick  building  of 
the  same  height,  ninety  by  twenty-three  feet,  costing  six  thousand 
dollars.  The  annual  sales  amount  to  twelve  thousand  dollars. 
Fourteen  hands  are  employed,  but  no  engine  is  used. 

On  December  4,  1868,  James  M.  House  became  sole  proprietor, 
having  purchased  the  interest  of  R.  R.  Forrest. 

Manufactories. 

1807.  Several  wool-carding  establishments  and  other  useful 
manufactories  were  established  this  year  in  this  county.  In  1808 
David  and  Thomas  Acheson,  in  their  advertisement,  said  :  "  Conceiv- 
ing it  to  be  our  duty  to  lend  all  our  aid  in  order  to  promote  the 
interest  of  this  western  country,  and  to  encourage  manufacturing, 
whereby  we  may  become  truly  independent  of  foreign  nations,  assert 
that  the  v/estern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  being  well  adapted  for  the 
raising  of  flax  and  the  manufacturing  of  linen,  propose  to  purchase 
any  quantity  of  flax  and  tow  linen,  if  wove  forty-two  inches  wide, 
so  as  to  measure  forty  and  one-half  inches  when  bleached,  for  which 
we  will  pay  from  four  to  six  cents  per  yard  extra  above  the  common 
price." 

1815,  August  15.  The  wool  growers  of  Washington  County  were 
invited  to  meet  in  Washington  to  consider  the  propriety  of  establish- 
ing a  woollen  manufactory  to  be  erected  by  stock. 

HooN  &  McClain's  Woollen  Factory. 

In  1867  John  Hoon  established  on  the  west  end  of  Belle  Street  a 
woollen  factory  in  a  large  two-story  extensive  brick  building  ;  but 
on  April  16th,  1869,  he  received  as  a  partner  John  McClain.  The 
estimated  value  of  the  establishment  is  eight  thousand  dollars.  A 
twenty-horse  power  engine  is  used.  The  establishment  manufactures 
thirty  thousand  pounds  of  wool  by  spinning  it  into  yarn,  carding  and 
weaving  it.  They  manufacture  two  thousand  five  hundred  yards  of 
blankets  and  sixteen  hundred  yards  of  flannel  annually,  employing 
five  hands. 

Campbell's  Woollen  Factory. 

This  is  the  oldest  woollen  factory  in  and  about  Washington,  hav- 
ing been  established  by  Philip  Buckley  as  early  as  1843,  who  carried 
it  on  very  successfully  to  his  death.  In  1853  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  David  Campbell,  and  since  his  death,  who  died  in  the  Re- 
bellion in  defence  of  the  Constitution  of  his  adopted  country,  it  is 
now  carried  on  by  his  widow,  Mrs.  Amelia  Campbell.  It  is  situated 
on  West  Beau  Street  and  West  Alley,  has  all  the  necessary  improve- 
ments, and  a  fifteen-horse  power  engine.  It  manufactures  annually 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  pounds  of  wool,  and  about  twelve 
hundred  yards  of  flannel  and  blankets.  The  whole  property  is  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  six  thousand  dollars. 


356  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


Steam  Tannery. 

■When  the  steam  tannery,  which  is  situated  on  the  west  end  on 
Belle  Street,  was  established,  the  partners  were  Thomas  J.  Hodgens, 
John  M.  AYilson,  and  John  McElroy,  but  in  18C2  Mr.  Wilson  sold 
out  to  Messrs.  Hodgens  and  McElroy,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
under  their  control.  The  tannery  is  built  of  brick,  two  stories  high, 
with  a  twelve-horse  power  engine.  The  estimated  value  of  the 
establishment  is  ten  thousand  dollars. 

They  manufacture  annually  four  thousand  sides  of  leather,  and 
fifteen  hundred  calf  and  kip  skins,  using  three  hundred  cords  of  oak 
bark,  and  employing  eight  hands. 

Steam  Planing  Factory. 

In  18G7  Thomas  Walker  and  William  Fitzwilliaras  purchased  the 
lot  of  ground  on  West  Belle  Street,  which  formerly  belonged  to  the 
United  Presbyterian  congregation,  and  upon  which  was  erected  a 
brick  church,  in  which  the  congregation  worshipped  from  1834  until 
they  removed  to  their  present  edifice.  The  church  being  torn  down, 
Messrs.  Walker  and  Fitzwilliams  erected  a  two-story  frame  building 
fifty  by  twenty-six  feet,  two  stories  high,  as  a  planing  manufactory. 
It  contains  a  thirty-horse  power  engine,  employing  from  six  to  eight 
hands.  The  cost  of  machinery  in  the  estaljlishment  was  six  thou- 
sand dollars.  Being  practical  carpenters  and  builders  (which  busi- 
ness they  carry  on  in  connection  with  the  factory),  they  manufacture 
for  sale  everything  in  connection  with  the  finishing  of  buildings,  such 
as  flooring  boards,  doors,  sash,  shutters,  brackets,  &c. 

Steam  Grist  and  Flour  Mill. 

In  1844  Samuel  Ilazlett  and  Daniel  Dye  erected  on  the  west  end 
of  Belle  Street  a  four  story  mill,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  the  carpenter 
work  being  performed  by  Messrs.  John  Prigg  and  Daniel  Dye.  Af- 
terwards Daniel  Dye  purchased  the  interest  of  Samuel  Hazlett. 
After  the  death  of  Daniel  Dye  the  mill  was  sold  to  John  McElroy 
in  1850.  About  the  year  1858  John  McElroy  sold  to  A.  J.  Caton. 
On  February  15,  18(55,  Messrs.  Wilson  and  George  M.  and  ^V.  W. 
Warrick  l)ecame  the  purchasers.  The  estimated  value  of  the  pro- 
l)ertyis  seven  thousand  dollars;  a  thirty-horse  power  engine  is  used. 
The  mill  manufactures  annually  seven  thousand  five  hundred  barrels 
of  Hour;  grinds  five  thousand  bushels  of  corn  and  rve  ;  has  two 
pair  i)f  wlieat  burrs  and  one  pair  of  choppers,  and  employs  three 
hands. 

The  capacity  of  the  mill  on  wheat  is  thi*ee  barrels  per  hour;  the 
cost  of  toll,  three  cents  per  barrel  of  flour. 


history  or  "washington  county.  35y 

Inventions. 

1812,  December  14.  Colonel  John  G.  Chambers,  of  Amwell  town- 
ship has  invented  a  gun  which  he  can  charge  in  such  a  manner  that  by 
a  single  operation  on  the  trigger  it  will  discharge  six  or  eight  loads  in 
succession  with  space  between  each  sufficient  to  take  another  aim. 
The  gun  has  but  one  barrel,  and  does  not  exceed  a  common  gun  in 
size.  On  the  15th  of  January,  1815,  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania 
appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the  utility  of  Colonel  Chambers 
gun,  and  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  January  22,  1815,  an  experi- 
ment was  made  of  its  utility  on  the  State-house  hill,  in  the  presence 
of  the  legislature  and  other  citizens.  The  gun  was  considered  a 
very  extraordinary  piece  of  machinery,  and  a  powerful  instrument  in 
the  destruction  of  an  enemy. 

Freeman  Brady,  Jr.,  of  Washington,  and  John  Noble,  of  Clays- 
ville,  patented  a  repeating  or  magazine  gun.  It  fires  about  twenty 
effective  and  forty  random  shots  in  a  minute,  equalling  in  range  and 
far  excelling  in  faculty  of  loading  and  rapidity  of  firing  any  gun  of 
modern  improvement. 

Dr.  George  W.  Moffit  has  invented  a  self  car  coupler,  intended  to 
couple  cars  without  any  preliminary  preparations,  and  with  the  com- 
mon link  and  pin  now  in  use.  Both  for  coupling  and  uncoupling  it 
is  perfect,  because  by  the  very  act  of  uncoupling  itself  it  is  prepared 
for  coupling. 

James  S.  Wolf,  of  Washington,  has  made  an  important  discovery 
in  charging  bomb  shells.  Upon  exploding  it  unites  and  burns  a 
strong  flame,  setting  fire  to  any  combustible  material ;  thus  it  will 
be  seen  it  combines  not  only  the  terrible  explosive  power  of  a  shell, 
but  the  firing  power  of  a  hot  shot.  It  will  light  up  any  battery  or 
fort  into  which  it  is  thrown. 

Medical  Society. 

1813,  June  10.  The  Washington  County  Medical  Society  was 
organized  by  adopting  a  Constitution  and  electing  the  following  offi- 
cers: Dr.  Joseph  Dodridge,  President;  Dr.  D.  Gr.  Mitchell,  Secre- 
taiy.  Its  members  were,  Drs.  John  Wishart,  John  Warring,  John 
Julius  Le  Moyne,  Robert  Glenn,  Wm.  Warnock,  John  Byers,  Wm. 
Hamilton,  Benjamin  Carroll,  James  Mitchell,  Wm.  Quigley,  H.  H. 
Blachley,  John  Smith,  M.  L.  Todd,  Thomas  McGarrough,  James 
Hayden,  James  Patterson,  David  Staunton,  John  Baird,  Alexander 
Crawford,  Thomas  Hersey,  M.  Adams,  Shipley  Homes,  John  Mulli- 
ken,  Samuel  Murdoch. 

Dr.  Joseph  Dodridge  delivered  a  eulogium  upon  the  character  of 
Dr.  Benjamin  Rush. 

1835,  November  26.  Washington  and  Allegheny  Counties  es- 
tablished a  Medical  Society. 

The  third  County  Medical  Society  was  organized  April  2,  1855. 
Its  officers  were,  Dr.  John  Wishart,  President;  Dr.  James  Stevens 


358  HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

and  Dr.  Boyd  Emery,  Vice-Presidents ;  Dr.  J.  R.  Wilson,  Record- 
ing Secretary ;  Dr.  I.  S.  Van  Voorhis,  Corresponding  Secretary ;  and 
Dr.  Wray  Grayson,  Treasurer. 

Its  present  officers  are.  Dr.  S.  L.  Blachley,  President;  Dr.  J.  H. 
Little,  Vice  President ;  Dr.  G.  A.  Dougherty,  Secretary ;  Dr.  M.  H. 
Clark,  Treasurer.  The  following  are  the  list  of  members  scattered 
throughout  Washington  County:  J.  W.  Alexander,  J.  W.  Acheson, 
D.  Anderson,  S.  L.  Blachley,  E.  Carey,  H.  S.  Chalfant,  M.  H.  Clark, 
J.  G.  Dickson,  Thaddeus  Dodd,  G.  A.  Dougherty,  E.  F.  Dodd,  D. 
S.  Eagleson,  Boyd  Emery,  H.  D.  Enoch,  W.  Gillfillen,  S.  E.  Hill, 
W.  King,  J.  II.  Little,  George  A.  Linn,  I.  McDonough,  A.  S.  Mc- 
Elree,  Thomas  McKennan,  W.  Mitchell,  M.  P.  Morrison,  T.  H. 
Phillips,  W.  W.  Sharp,  T.  R.  Storer,  S.  S.  Strous,  W.  R.  Thomp- 
son, J.  R.  Wilson,  A.  M.  Rea,  David  Shaner. 

Washington  Library  Association 

Was  organized  December  22,  186T.  It  has  one  thousand  volumes 
and  one  hundred  and  eighty-six  subscribers,  who  each  pay  three 
dollars  per  annum  for  the  use  of  the  books.  Rev.  Dr.  W.  A.  Da- 
vidson is  President ;  Rev.  Henry  Wood,  Secretary ;  Miss  Martha 
Grayson,  Librarian. 

Benevolent  Society. 

1814,  February  14.  The  citizens  of  Washington  formed  a  humane 
and  benevolent  society  to  see  that  the  poor  laws  were  promptly 
administered  by  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  also  to  establish  a 
Sunday-school  for  the  education  of  indigent  children,  to  discourage 
the  use  of  spirituous  liquors,  and  the  suppression  of  vice  and  im- 
morality. 

Rev.  Dr.  M.  Brown,  Obadiah  Jennings,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  John  Wis- 
hart  reported  a  constitution  for  its  government. 

Bible  Society. 

1814,  September  2.  The  Washington  Bible  Society  was  formed 
to  supply  the  destitute  with  a  copy  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  This 
society  was  organized  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  governed 
by  the  following  persons  as  its  officers :  Rev.  John  Anderson,  Presi- 
dent; Rev.  M.  Brown,  Secretary;  Gen,  Thomas  Acheson,  Treasurer; 
Parker  Campbell,  Alexander  Murdock,  Geo.  Baird,  Thomas  Officer, 
Rev.  Joseph  Stephenson,  Rev.  Andrew  Gwin,  Rev.  Cephas  Dodd, 
Rev.  Henry  Kurtz,  Obadiah  Jennings,  Thomas  Hoge,  Alex.  Reed, 
Rev.  James  lirice,  and  John  Carniicliael  were  Directors. 

June  1, 1815,  Rev.  John  Anderson  preached  the  first  annual  sermon. 

From  its  formation  to  January  16,  1817,  the  Society  had  ex- 
pended $859.54,  in  the  purchase  of  Bibles.  In  one  township  fifty- 
nine  families  were  found  destitute  of  the  word  of  life.  The  Rev. 
Joseph  Stephenson  was  appointed  the  agent  of  the  Society. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  359 


Moral  Society. 

1815,  April  4.  The  Washingtou  Moral  Society  was  established 
to  discountenance  and  suppress  those  vices  and  immoralities  which 
are  cognizable  by  the  laws  of  the  commonwealth.  Each  member  was 
required  to  report  to  the  proper  officer  any  person  guilty  of  profane 
swearing,  Sabbath-breaking,  intoxication,  unlawful  gaming,  keeping 
a  disorderly  public  house  or  any  other  immoral  act. 

Alexander  Reed  was  President,  Thomas  H.  Baird,  Secretary; 
John  Neal,  Treasui*er,  and  Obadiah  Jennings,  Councillor. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Hoge  delivered  an  address  on  the  objects  of  the 
Society  at  its  organization.  The  dockets  of  the  justices  of  the  peace 
at  the  time,  abundantly  show  its  good  effects  by  the  prosecution  and 
fining  of  offenders. 

1816,  June  24.  The  moral  societies  of  the  various  townships  met 
in  Washington  and  consolidated  into  a  general  one  for  the  county. 

1815,  November  24.  Washington  Female  Mite  Society  organized 
in  the  court-house. 

Library  Company. 

February  19,  1816.  The  Washington  Library  Company  was 
established.  It  was  held  by  stockholders,  yet  the'public  had  access 
to  the  books  by  paying  a  small  pecuniary  recompense.  ]V[atthew 
Sample  was  appointed  librarian. 

October  5,  1818.     Washington  Museum  opened. 

October  26,  1821.  Washington  County  Agricultural  Society  or- 
ganized. 

January  15,  1829.  The  Mingo  Creek  Literary  Society  was  esta- 
blished with  a  library  attached.  Samuel  Morrison,  President ;  Jas. 
Love,  Secretary,  and  Edward  Webb,  David  Barr,  and  David  Moore 
were  elected  trustees. 

Steam  Mill. 

1814,  January  17.  David  Shields,  secretary  of  the  Washington 
Steam  Mill  and  Manufacturing  Company,  issued  proposals  for  the 
erection  of  a  mill  house  47  by  50  feet,  four  stories  high.  He  also 
notified  stockholders  to  pay  their  instalments  monthly,  commencing 
on  February  1st.  This  company  was  incorporated  January  31, 
1814. 

Cold  Day. 

January  19,  1810,  was  the  coldest  day  in  the  recollection  of  the 
oldest  inhabitant.     Many  cattle  were  frozen  to  death. 

Temperance  Society. 

1835,  September  28.  Washington  County  Temperance  Society 
organized,  and  the  county  divided  into  districts  in  which  addresses 


360 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


should  be  delivered.  Alexander  Read,  president;  Samuel  McFar- 
land,  secretary. 

1836,  May  20.  Independent  Blues  organized  as  an  infantry  com- 
pany. 

1836,  May  23.     Washington  Rifle  Company. 

General  Jackson. 

1836,  September  24.  A  public  meeting  held  to  make  arrange- 
ments to  receive  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson.  He  was  received  with 
appropriate  honors,  March  14,  1831. 

Commodore  Elliott. 

1838,  October  23.  The  trustees  of  "Washington  College  returned 
thanks  to  Commodore  Elliott  for  a  choice  selection  of  ancient  coins 
collected  in  Greece,  Italy,  and  Palestine. 

Hon.  Isaac  Leet. 

1840,  May  6.  Introduced  resolutions  in  the  Senate  on  the  im- 
provement of  the  Monongahela  River,  which  bounds  "Washington 
County  on  the  cast,  near  forty  miles. 

Post  Offices 'in  "Washington  County  in  1870,  with  the 
Names  of  Postmasters. 


Amity,  Mrs.  E.  J.  Bebout. 
Atchisou,  Miss  S.  A.  Johnson. 
Bavington,  James  McBride. 
Beallsville,  Arthur  Odilbert. 
Beck's  Mill,  Harvey  Lyon. 
Bellzane,  John  Fields. 
Bcntleysville,  0.  T.  McElheny. 
Bower  Hill,  John  Bower. 
Brush  Run,  Samuel  Merchant. 
Buffalo,  John  H.  Smith. 
Burgettstown,  Samuel  Wilson.  ^ 
Bulger,  James  Bussell. 
California,  David  11.  Lancaster. 
Candor,  H.  J.  Cook. 
Canousburg  (money  order),  Mrs.  Eli- 
zabeth A.  McGiunis. 
Cardville,  Mr.  Galbreath. 
Cherry  Valley,  Ebouezer  Smith. 
Clays ville,  W.  H.  Adams. 
Clokeysville,  Samuel  Clokey. 
Coal  Blufls,  James  K.  Logan. 
Commettsburg,  Wm.  Gilliland. 
Coon  Island,  George  Chancy. 
Cross  Creek  Village,  A.  McFarland. 
Dinsmore,  John  M.  Smith. 
Donley,  Samuel  Snodgrass. 
Dunniugaville,  John  T.  Sumney. 


Dunsport, 

East  Bethlehen,  Emmor  II.  Griffith. 
East  Finloy,  John  S.  Knox. 
Eldcrsville,  Robert  C.  Osburu. 
Finleyville,  Frank  R.  Storcr. 
Florence,  Samuel  Livingston. 
Frederictown,  S.  G.  Hill. 
Ginger  Hill,  Andrew  Clark. 
Good  Intent,  Isaac  S.  Blair, 
llanlin  Station,  Charles  Ilanlin 
Havclock,  James  Euwer. 
Herriottsville,  James  P.  Young. 
Hickory,  J.  M.  Campbell. 
Indeiiendence,  J.  K.  McConaughy. 
Kerr's  Station,  Wm.  Kerr. 
Lindley's  Mill,  S.  McVey. 
Lock  No.  4,  John  Lomas. 
Locust  Hill,  Wm.  A.  Hill 
Long  Pine,  J.  Huston. 
Meloy,  Miss  Catharine  Mc Wreath. 
Midway,  John  Kennedy. 
Millsboro,  Jesse  Phillips. 
Monongahela  City  (money  order),  C. 

Hazzard. 
Mount  Airy,  Thos.  Richardson. 
Muntown,  Joseph  Barkley. 
Murdocksville,  Joseph  McClaren. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


361 


Paris,  Martha  Bedoute. 
Patterson's  Mill,  J.  J.  Elliott. 
Pike  Run,  John  Barker. 
Prosperity,  Arvida  Day. 
Raccoon,  C.  H.  Bolek.  . 

Scenery  Hill,  Rachel  Standley. 
Simpson's  Store,  John  Fitzpatrick. 
Sparta,  Milton  Andrew. 
Strabane,  N.  Buchanan. 
Taylorstown,  Oliver  M.  Wallace. 
Tenmile,  Joseph  W.  Little. 
Thompsonville,  A.  Wilson  Pollock. 


Van  Buren,  Stephen  Pipes. 
Vanceville,  L.  Vaneman. 
Venice,  Joseph  L.  Scott. 
Washington  (money  order),  Wm.  C. 

Wiley. 
West  Alexander,  Miss  E.  A.  Ray. 
West  Brownsville,  John  W.  Ward. 
West  Finley,  Saml.  Grum. 
West  Middleton,  G.  McFadden. 
Woodrow,  John  Morgan. 
Yortysville,  Mrs.  J.  Yorty. 
ZoUarsville,  Ed.  R.  Smith. 


1833,  April  8.  The  theological  seminary  of  the  Associate  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Canonsburg  was  incorporated ;  and  on  April 
13,  1853,  an  act  was  passed  to  give  it  perpetual  succession.  It  was 
afterwards  removed  to  Xenia,  Ohio. 

1854,  April  29.     Canonsburg  Saving  Fund  was  incorporated. 

Agricultural  Societies. 

In  1869  there  were  four  agricultural  societies,  viz  : — 

1.  Washington  Agricultural  Society,  established  in  Washington. 
James  F.  Gabby,  president. 

2.  Union  Agricultural  Association,  at  Burgettstown.  John  B. 
Hays,  of  Smith  township,  president. 

3.  Mt.  Pleasant  Equitable  Agricultural  Association,  at  Hickory. 
Organized  in  1859. 

4.  Monongahela  Valley  Association. 

Fire  Department. 

The  first  authentic  account  of  a  fire  company  can  be  traced  to 
May  18,  1801,  when  the  Washington  Fire  Company  was  organized, 
which  was  placed  during  a  fire  under  the  control  of  four  managers. 
These  managers  placed  the  engine  under  two  directors  and  sixteen 
men,  the  ladder  party,  with  one  director  and  six  men,  the  water 
company  with  two  directors  and  the  remaining  members  of  the  com- 
pany. At  that  date  we  find  the  roll  of  members  to  consist  of  eighty- 
two  memberSw 

February  26,  1820,  a  fire  company  was  organized  and  a  new 
engine  was  purchased. 

February  22,  1822,  funds  were  appropriated  to  purchase  another 
engine  and  make  cisterns  for  water. 

September  7,  1831,  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of  hoso  ordered  to 
be  purchased,  with  suitable  carriage  for  the  same,  and  the  engines 
to  be  kept  in  different  parts  of  the  borough. 

February  11, 1837,  the  Hope  and  Good  Intent  fire  companies  were 
reorganized. 

December  4,  1844,  Good  Intent  Fire  Company  made  application 
for  the  erection  of  an  engine-house,  and  house  erected  on  Pine 
24 


362  HISTORY    OF    WASUINGTON    COUNTY. 

Alley  (Mrs.  Gregg's  lot).     December  12,  1845,  a  reel  and  hose  car- 
riage ordered  for  the  same  compauy. 

July  5,  1847,  Eagle  Engine  purchased  for  eight  hundred  dollars. 

October  9,  1848,  engine  and  council-house  ordered  to  be  erected. 

September  IT,  1859,  the  suction  engine  purchased. 

Semi-centennial  Toters. 

At  the  October  election  in  Washington,  in  1869,  the  following 
eleven  persons,  who  had  voted  in  the  year  1819,  deposited  their 
ballots  for  the  fiftieth  time,  viz  :  Samuel  Cunningham,  John  H. 
Ewing,  John  Grayson,  John  R.  Griffilh,  John  Harter,  Joseph  Hen- 
derson, Samuel  Hornish,  George  Kuutz,  Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyuc,  Jacob 
Slagle,  and  Simon  Wolf.  In  1819  there  were  three  hundred  and 
five  voters,  but  in  1869  six  hundred  and  ninety. 

Slavery. 

On  this  question  we  shall  mcnlion  a  few  facts  connected  with  the 
history  of  this  county. 

1781,  April  30,  the  estate  of  Alexander  McCandless  sold  a  negro 
girl  for  sixty  pounds. 

1781,  May  16,  Jacob  Johnston  bequeaths  unto  his  w'ife  Mary 
Johnson,  a  negro  woman  slave  named  Suke;  to  his  daughter  Eliza- 
beth Pierce,  a  negro  girl  named  Zelph,  and  her  future  increase  ;  to 
bis  (laughter  Eleanor  Decker,  the  first  child,  male  or  female,  of  Suke  ; 
to  his  daughter  Esther  Johnson,  at  the  death  of  her  mother,  the 
above-named  slave  Suke.  Should  the  said  Suke  have  no  childen, 
one  hundred  pounds,  in  the  hands  of  John  Buchanan,  is  to  be 
divided  equally  between  his  daughters ;  but  if  children  are  born  to 
the  slave  Suke,  the  money  is  to  be  divided  among  his  five  children. 

1795,  June  3,  Reason  Pumphrey  sells  his  slaves  at  the  following 
prices:  7>o/,  aged  18  years,  for  seventy  pounds;  Ben,  aged  14 
years,  for  one  hundred  pounds  ;  Dinah,  aged  10  years,  for  seventy- 
five  pounds, 

1795,  INIarch  20,  John  Moore  manumitted  two  slaves  named 
Abraham  and  Jonas. 

In  the  Reporter  of  March  8,  1813,  is  the  following  advertisement : 
For  sale,  a  negro  boy  who  has  thirteen  years  to  serve  ;  he  is  stout 
and  healthy.     Apply  at  the  office  of  the  Reporter. 

1823,  December  29,  the  first  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Washing- 
ton County  was  held  to  form  a  society  for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 
The  society  organized  January  26,  1824,  at  the  court-house. 

1834,  July  4,  Washington  County  Anti-slavery  Society  organized. 

1835,  ()ctol)cr  2,  the  citizens  of  this  county  met  to  express  their 
disapprobation  of  the  cause  of  the  abolitionists,  and  presided  over  by 
Judge  Baird.  Messrs.  R.  II.  Lee,  Pvev.  Tiiomas  Hoge,  Alexander 
Reed.  W.  K.  McDonald,  and  Dr.  John  Wishart  were  appointed  the 
committee  to  report  resolutions.     One  of  the  resolutions  states  that 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  363 

any  combination  of  citizens  of  one  State  oi\2:anized  for  the  purpose 
of  disturbing  the  civil  institutions  of  anotlier  State,  is  a  violation  of 
the  spirit  of  the  Union  and  of  the  enactments  of  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution, and  must  tend  to  dissolve  the  Union.  This,  with  other 
resolutions  of  the  same  spirit,  was  unanimously  adopted. 

1836,  June  23,  a  town  meeting  was.  held,  presided  over  by  John 
R.  Griffith,  Chief  Burgess,  to  make  arrangements  to  prevent  aboli- 
tionists from  holding  meetings,  as  the  citizens  of  this  place  deem 
it  uuwise  and  highly  inexpedient  for  abolitionists  to  intrude  upon 
the  people  of  this  county  and  borough  the  peculiar  and  offensive 
doctrines  maintained  and  urged  by  the  agents  of  the  Abolition 
Society. 

1836,  June  27,  a  meeting  was  held  at  West  Middletown  denounc- 
ing and  disapproving  of  the  meeting  at  Washington  on  the  23d,  as 
prescriptive  iu  their  nature  and  disorderly  in  their  tendency. 

Of  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  on  this  subject  since  this 
period,  I  need  not  explain;  they  are  patent  to  all  men;  the  unknown 
future  must  determine  this  question,  involving  not  only  the  future 
destiny  of  our  own  nation,  but  the  peculiar  relation  which  the  negro 
race  shall  maintain. 

Turnpikes. 

1817,  June  16,  books  were  opened  for  the  sale  of  stock  in  the 
Washington  and  Pittsburg  turnpike. 

1819,  August  16,  D.  H.  Blaine  and  James  Kincaid  established  a 
line  of  coaches  over  this  pike,  to  run  tri-weekly. 

National  Road. 

1818,  August  1,  the  U.  S.  mail  stage  commenced  ranning  from 
Washington  City  to  Wheeling,  over  the  national  road.  This  road 
was  located  by  Col.  Eli  Williams  (who  died  in  the  73d  year  of  his 
age,  January  29,  1822).  The  road  west  of  the  Monongahela  River 
through  Washington  County  was  given,  per  contract,  to  John 
Kincaid,  James  Beck,  Gabriel  Evans,  John  Kennedy  and  John 
Miller,  at  the  rate  of  $6400  per  mile. 

This  road,  passing  through  the  counties  of  Somerset,  Fayette, 
and  Washington,  was  transferred  by  the  general  government  to  the 
States  through  which  it  passed,  but  the  Governor  was  required  to 
appoint  a  commissioner  to  report  to  the  court  of  each  county  annu- 
ally its  condition.  Subsequently  the  court  appointed  the  commis- 
sioner. The  following  gentlemen  have  filled  this  important  office  : 
Robert  Quail,  Benj.  Leonard,  Col.  William  Hopkins,  William  Sea- 
right,  Joseph  Doak,  William  Cleary,  J.  D.  Roberts,  Mark  Mitchell, 
Samuel  Beatty,  Alexander  Frazer,  Geo.  W.  Botkins,  John  Long. 

1835,  June  8,  mail  stages  established  tri-weekly  by  John  Irons 
from  Washington  to  Lake  Erie,  connecting  with  the  National  Road 
Stage  Company  to  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia. 


364  ui8t0ry  of  washington  county. 

Wasiiinoton  and  Wellsburg. 

1819,  June  12,  Jonatbau  Knight,  Moses  Lyle  and  James  Leacock 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  lay  out  a  pike  from  Washington 
to  Wellsburg. 

1817,  June  23,  Washington  and  Williamsport  Turnpike  Company 
incorporated. 

Railroads. 

1837,  January  18,  a  hill  was  presented  to  Senate  to  incorporate 
the  Washington  Bailroad  Company  from  a  point  at  or  near  Allison's 
Run  to  Washington,  with  power  to  extend  it  north  to  ("aiionsburg. 
Shares  of  stock  $50  each.  The  commissioners  were  Daniel  Moore, 
William  Hunter,  Alexander  Reed,  James  Ruple,  John  K.  AVilson, 
John  H.  Ewing,  John  Cooke,  John  N.  Dagg,  and  Samuel  Hazlett. 

Hempfield  Railroad. 

1852,  March  23,  the  Commissioners  of  Washington  County  sub- 
scribed for  four  thousand  shares  of  stock  in  the  Hempfield  Railroad 
Company,  shares  valued  at  $50  each.     Act  passed  Feb.  24,  1852. 

1852,  May  14,  the  Burgesses  and  Council  subscribed  for  one  thou- 
sand shares  of  stock  in  the  Hempfield  Railroad. 

Chartiers  Valley  Railroad. 

1854,  January,  the  borough  of  Washington  subscribed  for  five 
hundred  shares  of  stock  in  the  Chartiers  Valley  Railroad,  amounting 
to  twenty  five  thousand  dollars.  Chartiers  Valley  Railroad  made 
application  to  the  court  for  a  subscription  of  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

Upper  Tenmile  Plank  Road. 

1853,  June  21,  the  Town  Council  of  the  borough  of  Washington, 
subscribed  for  two  hundred  shares  of  stock  at  twenty-five  dollars  per 
share,  to  the  Upptsr  TenmiU;  Dank  Road,  leading  from' Washington 
to  Prosperity,  which  subscription  was  referred  to  a  vote  of  the  peo- 
ple and  carried. 

TOWN  CLOCK. 

1852,  April  20,  town  clock  placed  on  cupola  of  court-house,  it 
having  been  purchased  from  John  13.  McFadden,  of  Pittsburg,  for 
the  sum  of  four  hundred  dollars. 

I).  R.  Cooper. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  cases  which  ever  transpired  in  the 
annals  of  juris])rudcnce,  hajipened  in  AVashington  County,  in  which 
personal  identity  was  lost,  and  the  father  and  his  neighbors  were 
unable  to  recognize  the  features  of  the  son   and  friend.     Yet  we 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  365 

shall  not  venture  an  opinion,  but  submit  the  facts,  because  there  is 
too  much  mystery  involved  in  the  case,  upon  which  hung  the  life  or 
death  of  an  innocent  man. 

On  the  8th  of  January,  1840,  D.  B.  Cooper,  who,  a  short  time 
previous,  had  resided  with  his  father,  Sylvanus  Cooper,  in  Morris 
township  in  this  county,  but  at  that  time  residing  in  Lowell,  Ohio, 
resolved  to  visit  his  home  and  former  friends.  He  was  accompanied 
as  far  as  Wheeling  in  a  jumper  by  William  Long,  and  put  up  at  a 
hotel  in  that  city.  Mr.  Cooper  left  the  hotel  they  were  stopping  at, 
and  Mr.  Long  was  unable  to  find  him  ;  accordingly  Mr.  Long  took 
Mr.  Cooper's  horse  and  jumper  to  his  father's  house,  Sylvanus  Coop- 
er, although,  before  doing  so,  he  remained  several  days  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, using  the  property  of  D.  B.  Cooper,  ^nd  without  delivering 
the  same  to  Sylvanus  Cooper.  Suspicions  arose  against  Mr.  Long, 
and  a  warrant  was  issued  by  Justice  Blaine,  of  Washington  ;  he  was 
arrested,  and  so  great  was  the  excitement  against  him,  that  he  could 
not  procure  bail,  and  was  remanded  to  prison  for  thirty  days  unless 
sooner  demanded  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia. 

Time  rolls  on  slowly  to  an  innocent  man  incarcerated  in  a  felon's 
cell.  Fuel  is  added  to  the  flame  when  the  intelligence  reaches 
Washington  that  on  Jan.  10th,  1840,  a  dead  body  is  found  below 
Wheeling,  supposed  to  be  that  of  D.  B.  Cooper.  The  father  and 
his  friends  make  immediate  arrangements  to  visit  the  place  of  inter- 
ment of  the  dead  body,  while  the  innocent  man  is  buoyed  up  with 
the  consciousness  that  his  own  innocency  will  be  proclaimed  in  due 
time.  But  not  so — the  father  of  D.  B.  Cooper  and  his  friends  sign 
and  publish  the  following  card  in  "  Our  Country,"  a  paper  published 
in  Washington. 

We,  the  undersigned,  having  seen  a  notice  in  the  Wheeling  Gazette  of 
the  10th  of  January,  of  an  account  given  Ijy  the  postmaster  of  Crauville 
Island,  giving  the  description  of  the  body  of  a  person  being  found  in  the 
river  at  that  place,  and  supposing  from  the  description  that  it  was  the  body 
of  D.  B.  Cooper  (who  was  missing  in  Wheeling  on  the  morning  of  the  Hth 
of  January  last),  we  repaired  to  the  place  and  opened  the  grave,  and  from 
a  PARTICULAR  EXAMINATION  OF  HIS  PERSON  and  clothing,  are  (■onvinced  be- 
yond a  doubt  that  it  was  the  identical  body  of  the  said  D.  B.  Cooper. 

Sylvanus  Cooper,     Joseph  Bryant,         Ezra  Dille, 

John  A.  Uille,  Samuel  Bay 

To  this  was  added  the  annexed  statement : — 

The  description  of  clothing  given  by  the  above-named  persons  are  the 
same  that  my  brother  had  on  when  he  left  me  at  Lowell,  in  Washington 
(bounty,  Ohio.  Zebulon  Cooper. 

On  the  21st  January,  1840,  William  Long  was  brought  before  Jus- 
tice Blaine  for  the  mtirder  of  D.  B.  Cooper  in  or  about  Wheeling. 
The  testimony  elicited  on  that  occasion  was  principally  the  honest 
confession  of  the  prisoner  to  every  witness,  viz  :  that  they  had  tra- 
velled from  Lowell  to  Wheeling  ;  had  put  up  at  a  hotel  on  the  Tth  of 
January  ;  ate  supper  together  ;  that   Cooper  went  out  and  attended 


3G6  HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 

to  some  business  ;  that  afterwards  both  parties  met  at  a  barbershop; 
that  they  returned,  slept  top-ether  in  the  same  bed,  and  in  tlie  morn- 
ing before  brealifast  botli  walked  to  the  market,  and  while  they  exami- 
ned a  sled  with  bear  and  deer  meat  upon  it,  Cooper  passed  on. 

Sylvanus  Cooper,  the  father,  stated  that  he  had  made  the  affidavit  on 
the  influence  of  the  report  that  the  body  of  his  son  had  been  found 
and  other  circumstances  ;  that  he  went  to  Wheeling  and  inquired  of 
the  landlord,  who  stated  that  both  had  left  his  house  in  the  morning 
to  go  to  market  about  7  o'clock  ;  that  Long  returned  without 
Cooper  and  wanted  his  breakfast  for  Cooper,  but  showed  no  signs 
of  uneasiness  about  the  matter,  and  that  Long  remained  in  the  house 
until  12  o'clock  before  he  left,  and  then  left  the  next  day. 

John  Morrow  testified  to  the  same  statements  of  Long,  with  the 
addition  that  Stuart,  a  tobacconist,  said  it  was  curious  that  Cooper 
had  gone  off  and  left  his  horse,  that  likely  he  had  got  on  a  sled  and 
went  out  to  his  father's,  Sylvanus  Cooper. 

Andrew  Means  testified  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Saunders  told 
him  that  Long  said  that  when  they  stopped  at  Fish  Creek,  Cooper 
went  to  pay  his  bill  and  pulled  out  a  roll  of  money,  but  did  not  know 
how  much  there  was. 

James  Stuart  testified  that  he  told  Long  that  Cooper  might 
have  gone  home  with  Saunders  (the  man  who  had  the  bear  and  deer 
meat),  who  was  from  Cooper's  neighborhood,  and  that  Long  told 
him  to  tell  Cooper  that  he  had  gone  home  to  his  father's  with  the 
horse  and  jumper. 

Wo  now  return  to  Mr.  D.  B.  Cooper,  whom  we  had  lost  in  Wheel- 
ing. Having  considerable  money*  with  him  and  without  giving  his 
friend  any  notice  of  his  intentions,  and  hearing  of  the  many  specu- 
lations which  were  transpiring  in  Illinois,  he  set  out  for  that  country; 
two  months  rolled  away,  and  poor  Long  is  still  incarcerated,  yet  his 
father  Sylvanus  Cooper  knew  that  he  was  still  alive,  but  on  account 
of  the  certificate  he  had  given,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  given  above, 
his  conscience,  or  some  other  unknown  cause,  operated  upon  his  mind, 
he  resolved  to  keep  the  location  of  his  son  a  profound  secret,  until 
the  secret  was  revealed  by  a  friend  of  Cooper's  to  whom  it  had  been 
communicated.  Public  indignation  burst  forth  against  S3'lvanus 
Cooper.  Long  was  liberated,  and  it  was  said  money  was  paid  to 
recompense  Long  for  his  incarceration.  The  causes  which  impelled 
Sylvanus  Cooper  to  take  so  iniquitous  a  course  is  so  mysterious,  that 
the  final  day  of  accounts  will  only  reveal  its  truthfulness.  We  give 
the  case  therefore,  as  among  the  most  extraordinary  instances  of  per- 
sonal identity  and  of  human  depravity  which  can  be  anywhere  found. 

Executions. 

The  first  person  executed  was  Thomas  Richardson,  on  October  2, 
1784.  He  was  tried  for  burglary  in  the  court,  where  it  was  held 
on  the   lot  now  owned  by  James  G.  Strean,  on  the  corner  of  Main 


HISTORY   OF    WASFIINGTON    COUNTY.  '    367 

Street  and  Strawberry  Alley.  The  following  letter  from  the  com- 
missioners of  the  county  (viz  :  Van  Swearingen,  James  Marshall, 
and  Thomas  Scott),  dated  Washington,  June  28,  1184,  explains 
itself: — 

To  his  Excellency  President  DicMnson : 

Sir :  _  This  county,  as  well  as  Fayette,  has  for  some  time  past  been 
greatly  infested  by  a  troop  of  robbers  from  the  lower  parts  of  the  State, 
namely,  Doanes  and  others,  who,  by  frequent  burglaries  and  robberies, 
under  the  countenance  and  protection  of  divers  evil  disposed  persons 
amongst  ourselves,  have  reduced  us  to  the  necessity  of  calling  out  parties 
of  militia  and  making  general  search  for  the  burglars  and  their  accom- 
plices, whereupon  the  said  burglars,  with  numbers  "of  horses,  negroes,  and 
other  valuable  property,  of  which  they  had  robbed  the  inhabitants  (in  the 
most  daring  and  insolent  manner),  set  off  for  Detroit,  our  party  pursued 
about  one  hundred  miles  from  this  place  before  they  overtook  them.  How- 
ever, we  have  now  got  of  the  said  party  lodged  in  the  gaol  of  this  county, 
the  following  persons,  viz.  :  Abraham  Doane,  one  who  calls  himself  Thomas 
Richason,  and  two  women  who  profess  themselves  wives  to  some  of  the 
party,  the  remainder  having  escaped  our  most  vigilant  pursuit,  although 
we  have  recovered  the  greatest  part  of  the  property.  We  have  also  divel-s 
others  in  confinement  and  under  recognizance  as  accomplices,  and  expect 
yet  to  make  further  discoveries,  but  our  gaol  being  insufiQcient,  and  this 
same  Abraham  Doane  having  been  rescued  from  it  once  before  by  an 
armed  party,  we  are  obliged  to  keep  a  strong  guard  constantly  over  them, 
and  not  having  seen  a  supplement  to  the  act  for  apprehending  these  vil- 
lians  (which  we  are  informed  exists),  are  at  a  loss  what  to  do  with  them, 
therefore  prays  the  direction  of  the  council  in  the  premises. 

Eph.  Douglass,  under  date  of  Uniontown,  May  29,  1784,  says: — 

The  banditti  have  established  themselves  in  some  part  of  this  country, 
not  certainly  known,  but  thought  to  be  in  the  deserted  part  of  Washing- 
ton County,  whence  they  make  frequent  incursions  into  the  settlements 
under  cover  of  the  night,  terrify  the  inhabitants,  sometimes  beat  them 
unmercifully,  and  always  rob  them  of  such  property  as  they  think  proper, 
and  then  retire  to  their  lurking  places. 

The  court  of  Washington  proceeded  .to  the  trial  of  Thomas  Rich- 
ardson for  burglary,  and  he  was  convicted  and  a  full  copy  of  the 
record  forwarded  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  and  from  the 
records  of  said  council,  under  date  of  September  10,  1784,  we  make 
the  following  extract  : — 

The  record  of  the  conviction  of  Thomas  Richardson  of  burglary  in  the 
county  of  Washington,  was  read  and  considered,  upon  which  it  was 

Ordered,  That  execution  of  the  sentence  of  the  court  be  made  and  done 
upon  him,  the  said  Thomas  Eichardson,  on  Saturday,  the  2d  day  of  Octo- 
ber next,  between  the  hours  of  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon  and  two  of 
the  clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  at  the  most  proper  and  public 
place  within  the  said  day. 

Kichardson  was  taken  from  the  jail  in  a  cart  to  Gallows  Hill  (and 
it  is  from  this  circumstance  that  that  locality  derives  its  name). 
Arriving  at  the  gallows.  Sheriff  Van  Swearingen  mounted  the  lad- 


368  HISTORY    OF    WASniNGTON    COUNTY. 

(Icr  and  fixed  the  rope  secure,  and  afterwards  around  the  neck  of 
the  culprit,  when  the  cart  was  driven  off  and  the  prisoner  launched 
into  eternity. 

Second  Execution — Wm.  Crawford. 

Thirty-nine  years  had  almost  elapsed  before  a  similar  scene  was 
enacted  on  Galloxos  Hill. 

William  Crawford,  an  aged  man,  was  tried  for  the  murder  of 
his  own  son  before  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  of  Washington, 
which  assembled  on  November  20,  1822,  before  the  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Baird,  President  Judge,  and  his  associates,  Boyd  Mercer  and 
John  Hamilton,  Esqs. 

A  true  bill  was  found  by  the  grand  jury,  to  which  the  prisoner 
plead,  not  guilhj.  By  direction  of  the  court  a  jury  was  empanelled 
of  the  prisoner's  own  selecting,  consisting  of  Nathan  Pyle,  Benja- 
min Linton,  James  Ruple,  Robert  Gregg,  Sr.,  William  Clark, 
Samuel  McDowell,  Ebenezer  Martin,  Caleb  Leonard,  Thomas 
Jones,  Ephraim  Estep,  Russel  Moore,  and  Ezra  Dille,  who,  being 
sworn  and  hearing  the  testimony,  pleadings,  and  the  charge  of  the 
court,  rendered  a  verdict  of  guilt ;/  of  murder  in  the  first  degree. 

November  23,  1822,  Judge  Baird  pronounced  the  following  sen- 
tence upon  the  prisoner  :  "  That  you  be  taken  from  hence  to  the  jail 
of  the  county  of  Washington,  from  whence  you  came,  and  from 
thence  to  the  place  of  execution,  and  there  be  hanged  hj  the  neck 
until  you  are  dead." 

On  the  25th  November,  1822,  exceptions  were  filed  by  his  attor- 
neys in  arrest  of  judgment,  but  were  overruled  by  the  court,  and  the 
prisoner  was  executed  on  the  21st  day  of  February,  1823,  on  Gal- 
lows Hill,  south  of  the  borough. 

William  Baird  (Deputy  Prosecuting  Attorney)  and  J.  Pentecost, 
represented  the  commonwealth  ;  and  James  Ross,  Parker  Campbell, 
John  Kennedy,  and  T.  M.  T.  McKennan,  were  the  counsel  for  the 
prisoner;  Robert  Officer,  Esq.,  being  high  sheriff  of  the  county. 

Third  Execution — Christopher  Sharp. 

On  the  2Gth  day  of  ^March,  1828,  a  court  of  oyer  and  terminer 
was  held  in  Washington,  presided  over  by  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Baird, 
and  ]3oyd  Mercer  and  John  Hamilton,  Esqs.,  his  associates.  A 
colored  man  (a  slave)  by  the  name  of  (hiRisxiAN  Sharp  (commoidy 
called  "  Kit")  was  tried  for  the  nmrder  of  his  master,  Robert  Car- 
lisle, of  Woodford,  Kentucky.  A  true  ))ill  was  found.  The  prisoner 
was  In'oughtinto  court  on  the  2Tth  March,  and  asked  a  continuance 
of  his  case  until  the  next  term  of  court. 

June  25,  1828,  the  i)risoner  was  brought  into  court  for  trial,  and 
the  following  persons  sworn  in  as  jurors,  viz  :  David  Clark,  Robert 
(Jraiit,  David  Hootman,  John  McLoney,  Reed  Doake,  Samuel 
Borchuid,    John    Bell,    Adam    Wicr,    Richard    B.    Cha])lan,    John 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  369 

McCoy,  Sr.,  Parker  Scott,  and  Cyrus  Huston.  After  hearing  the 
testimony,  the  argument  of  counsel,  and  the  charge  of  the  court, 
the  jury  found  the  said  Sharp  guilty  of  mn7-der  in  the  first  degree. 
On  the  28th  of  June,  1828,  his  Honor  Judge  Baird  sentenced  the 
prisoner  to  be  taken  to  the  jail,  from  thence  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion on  Gallows  Hill,  and  there  hanged  by  the  neck  until  he  be 
dead. 

He  was  executed  by  Robert  McClelland,  Esq.,  sheriif  of  the 
county,  on  the  22d  day  of  November,  1828,  on  Gallows  Hill.  Wil- 
liam Waugh,  Esq.  (Deputy  Prosecuting  Attorney),  counsel  on  behalf 
of  the  commonwealth,  assisted  by  John  S.  Brady,  Esq.  Counsel 
for  the  prisoner  were  Samuel  McFarland,  William  Baird,  and  John 
Kennedy,  Esqs. 

Fourth  Execution — Robert  Fogler. 

On  December  4,  1866,  Robert  W.  Dinsmore,  of  Hopewell  town- 
ship, was  murdered  about  ten  o'clock  at  night  by  Robert  Fogler. 
The  county  court  being  in  session,  the  commissioners  of  the  county 
by  direction  of  Judge  Acheson,  offered  a  reward  of  one  thousand 
■dollars  for  the  apprehension  of  the  murderer.  On  the  following  day 
Robert  Fogler  was  arrested,  one  remarkable  circumstance  clearly 
and  conclusively  pointing  to  his  guilt.  In  the  scuffle  which  ensued 
between  Mr.  Dinsmore  and  the  prisoner,  the  heel  of  Fogler's  boot 
was  knocked  off,  and  after  his  arrest  Sheriff  Smith,  having  procured 
the  boots  Fogler  wore,  found  the  heel  missing,  and  thereby  Circum- 
stantially pointing  to  the  murderer.  The  prisoner  was  asked  to 
explain  the  circumstance,  when  he  made  a  full  confession. 

On  the  20th  February,  1861,  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  of 
Washington  County  was  held,  Judge  Acheson  on  the  bench,  his 
associates  Hon,  John  C.  Chambers  and  John  Farrer.  Fogler  was 
arraigned  for  the  murder,  the  grand  jury  having  previously  found  a 
true  bill.  The  prisoner  was  defended  by  Messrs.  James  R.  Ruth, 
I.  Y.  Hamilton,  and  L.  R.  Woods  Little,  Esqs.,  while  the  com- 
monwealth was  represented  by  Boyd  Crumrine,  Esq.,  District  Attor- 
ney, assisted  by  H.  J.  Yankirk,  of  this  county,  and  N.  P.  Fetter- 
man,  Esq.,  of  Pittsburg. 

The  jurors  who  were  empanelled  to  try  the  case,  were  Alex.  B. 
Duval,  David  Bigler,  W.  Y.  McFarland,  James  B.  Wilson,  John 
Baker,  Alexander  McCalraant,  John  S.  Barr,  W.  R.  Sutherland, 
George  T.  Work,  Lewis  E.  Smith,  Edward  R.  McCready,  James 
Y.  Dorsey.  The  trial  commenced  on  Thursday  morning  and  the 
case  went  to  the  jury  at  half-past  four  o'clock  on  Saturday,  Febru- 
ary 23d,  and  at  six  o'clock  a  verdict  was  rendered  of  murder  in  the 
first  degree. 

On  Thursday  afternoon,  February  28,  Robert  Fogler  was  brought 
into  court  and  Judge  Acheson  pronounced  the  death  sentence  upon 
the  prisoner.     The  death  warrant  was  issued  April  4,  1867,  for  his 


310  HISTORY  OF  WASiriNGTOX  cot:\ty. 

execution,  which  took  place  May  15,  ISGT,  inside  of  the  jail  yard, 
about  seventy  persons  having  received  tickets  of  admission  from 
the  sheriff. 

Washington  County  Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

This  company  was  incorporated  April  1,  LS37,  for  the  purpose  of 
insuring  dwelling-houses,  stores,  shops,  and  other  buildings  and 
l)ropcrty  against  loss  or  damage  by  fire.  The  number  of  poli- 
cies which  it  has  issued  for  five  years  amounts  to  twenty-eight 
hundred.  The  present  efficient  directors  are  William  J.  Matthews, 
President;  Samuel  Hazlett,  John  Wylie,  John  McElroy,  A.  C.  Mor- 
row, Alexander  Murdoch,  George  W.  Warrick,  Y.  Harding,  David 
Aiken,  John  Hastings,  Lewis  Barker,  John  I).  Boyle,  and  Thomas 
Hodgens;  L.  M.  Marsh,  Secretary. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  during  the  whole  existence  of  this 
company,  the  directors  have  never  been  compelled  to  make  an  assess- 
ment on  their  deposit  notes.     We  add  their  financial  condition  : — 

Cash  on  deposit  with  Samuel  Hazlett,   .         .        .  $3,600 

Interest  unpaid, 3,400 

Bills  receivable, 750 

Deposit  notes, 130,000 

$137,750. 

General  Insurance  xVgency. 

Under  this  title  of  Fire  Insurance  Agency,  we  may  add  that  Da- 
vid Aiken,  Esq.,  many  years  since  established  a  General  Insurance 
Agency,  in  which  capital  to  the  amount  of  §17,093,055.87  is  repre- 
sented by  cash  assets  in  the  following  companies  : — 

Home,  of  New  York,           ....  $1,516,308.46 

^Etna,  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,          .         .  5,549,504.97 

Insurance  Comi)any  of  North  America,  Pliila.,  2,783,580.96 

Franklin,  of  Pliilaadpbia,    ....  2,825,731.67 

Security,  of  New  York,        ....  2,017,889.81 

In  these  companies  no  premium  notes  are  taken,  and  consequently 
no  assessments  can  be  made  on  their  policies.  Dwellings  and  other 
property  insured  for  five  years.  David  Aiken,  I]sq  ,  has  appointed 
as  solicitors  for  these  companies,  R,  II.  Morris  and  Joseph  A.  Mc- 
Kee.  Mr.  Aiken  is  also  special  agent  for  the  Home  Insurance 
Company,  of  New  York,  for  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 

Correspondence  between  Hon.  David  Reddick  and  Thomas 

Jefferson,  President  op  the  United  States. 

The  following  corres]iondence,  which  was  originally  intended  for 

no  other  person  than  Mr.  Reddick,  was  handed  me  by  a  particular 

friend,  to  insert  in  the  History  of  Washington  County  if  I  deemed 

it  of  important  interest.     I  have  done  so,  because  it  places  Mr.  Jef- 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  311 

ferson,  witli  regard  to  his  religious  opinions,  in  his  true  position, 
although  his  memory  has  been  the  subject  of  much  criticism.  I  may 
state  that  Mr.  Reddick  was  not  only  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Ex- 
ecutive Council  of  Pennsylvania,  from  Washington  County,  but 
held  many  important  offices  of  honor  and  trust,  and  was  also  elected 
an  honorary  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  on  Janu- 
ary 16,  1789,  his  diploma  bearing  the  signatures  of  Benj,  Franklin, 
President;  Rev.  Dr.  Ewing,  Bishop  White,  Vice-Presidents,  and 
other  distinguished  gentlemen.     The  letter  referred  to  reads  thus : — 

Washington,  Penna.,  June  10,  1802. 

Sir:  About  thres  weeks  ago  I  received  a  letter  from  a  respectable  gen- 
tleman, who  resides  amongst  the  Indians,  concerned  in  the  missionary 
affairs  of  the  United  Brethren  of  Bethlehem.  In  this  letter  he  has  stated 
resj^ecting  you  in  the  following  words :  "  One  act,  however,  if  true,  may 
operate  in  the  decree  of  heaven  much  against  him  in  the  long  run,  viz : 
That  he  should  have  told  the  Indian  chiefs,  who  lately  visited  him,  that  he 
stood  in  no  need  of  being  taught  in  Christianity,  that  they  were  a  separate 
nation  and  people  from  the  whites,  and  that  their  mode  of  living  (without 
the  religion  of  the  whites)  was  perfectly  right  and  conformable  to  the 
intention  of  their  Creator,  who  had  given  then  a  different  skin,  different 
ideas,  and  a  different  way  of  maintaining  themselves,  and  for  that  reason 
placed  them  on  a  separate  island  by  themselves."  This  is  reported  by  Capt. 
George  Whiteeyes,  one  of  the  Indian  chiefs.  He  has  it  from  the  mouth 
of  those  it  was  spoken  to  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  through  a  French  interpreter  at 
a  private  conference  ;  however,  please  mention  not  my  name  in  relating  the 
story. 

In  my  answer,  I  mentioned  ray  disbelief  of  the  story,  that  it  was  no 
doubt  propagated  by  political  enemies  to  injure  you,  and  thought  little  more 
about  it  for  some  time,  until  I  heard  that  a  letter  to  the  same  purpose  had 
been  read  in  Presbytery  in  the  State  of  Kentucky,  upon  which  I  began  to 
fear  that  the  story,  if  uncontradicted,  might  have  mischievous  effects.  I 
appear  alarmed,  and  it  is  pretty  plain  from  the  letter  in  my  hand,  the  Mora- 
vians were  likewise  so.  The  story,  after  a  continued  currency,  may  gain 
credit  enough  to  be  used  by  the  Indians,  who  may  be  averse  to  cultivation 
of  their  people,  and  at  the  same  time  operate  unfavorably  to  yourself  and 
your  friends  and  country.  Under  this  idea,  I  consulted  Mr.  Edgar  and  Mr. 
McDowell  of  this  county  on  the  subject,  who,  with  me,  were  much  uneasy 
about  it  and  of  opinion  that  you  ought  to  be  informed  before  the  mischief 
might  become  rooted.  As  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  name  the  gentleman  who 
writes  me  this  story,  I  assure  you  he  has  to  my  knowledge  given  evidence 
of  his  high  regard  for  your  character  at  a  time  not  long  past.  I  am.  with' 
due  respect,  yours,  David  Reddick. 

To  which  Thomas  Jefferson  replies: — 

Washington,  June  19,  1802. 
Sir  :  Your  letter  of  the  10th  inst.  has  been  received,  and  I  am  duly 
sensible  of  the  favor  of  your  attention  to  the  calumny  which  was  the  sub- 
ject of  it,  seeing  the  impossibility  that  special  vindications  should  ever  keep 
pace  with  the  endless  falsehoods  invented  and  disseminated  against  me.  I 
came  at  once  to  a  resolution  to  rest  on  the  justice  and  good  sense  of  my  fellow 
citizens,  to  consider  from  my  general  character  and  conduct  through  life, 
not  unknown  to  them,  whether  these  calumnies  were  probable,  and  I  have 


372  HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

made  it  an  invariable  rule  never  to  enter  the  lists  of  the  public  papers  with 
the  propagators  of  them.  In  private  communications  with  my  friends,  I 
have  contradicted  them  without  reserve.  In  this  light  you  will  be  pleased 
to  consider  the  present  letter  as  meant  for  your  own  satislUction,  and  to 
assure  you  that  the  falsehoods  may  be  contradicted  with  safety  by  yourself 
or  any  others,  but  not  that  this  letter  should  get  into  the  public  papers,  or 
itself  or  any  copy  of  it  go  out  of  your  hands. 

I  know  not  to  what  party  of  Indians  the  calumny  is  meant  to  allude,  as 
there  were  several  parties  on  visits  here  last  summer,  but  it  is  false  as  to 
every  party.  I  never  uttered  the  sentiments  there  stated,  nor  anything 
equivalent  or  like  to  them  to  any  Indian,  or,  to  any  other  person  here  or  any- 
where else.  I  had  but  one  private  conversation  the  last  summer  with  any 
Indian,  that  was  with  the  Little  Turtle  in  the  presence  of  Capt.  "Wells,  his 
interpreter.  I  remember  asking  from  him  the  opinions  of  the  Indians  with 
respect  to  a  Supreme  Being,  the  worship  of  Him,  and  a  future  state.  He 
answered  me  frankly,  but  I  carefully  avoided  the  impropriety  of  either  con- 
troverting or  concurring  in  these  opinions,  or  of  saying  one  syllable  on  the 
comparative  merits  of  any  religious  opinion.  The  story,  therefore,  is  a  mere 
fabrication,  liilse  in  its  substance  and  in  all  its  circumstances.  I  readily 
conjecture  the  missionary  who  wrote  to  you  on  the  subject,  and  know  his 
worth  and  candor  too  well  not  to  wish  that  his  mind  should  be  set  to  rights 
on  this  subject.  I  will  ask,  if  you  please,  tliat  addition  to  your  favors,  and 
pray  you  to  accept  my  esteem  and  best  wishes.  Thojias  Jefferson. 

David  Reddick,  Esq, 

Washington  County  Sabbath  School  Convention. 

Several  of  our  citizens  met  March  29,  18(>2,  at  the  house  of  Tho- 
mas McKean,  Esq.,  to  confer  about  the  propriety  of  organizing  a 
County  Sabbath  School  Convention,  and  after  an  interchange  of 
opinion  they  decided  unanimously  that  it  was  both  right  and  expe- 
dient, and  designated  the  2 1st  and  22d  days  of  April  as  the  time, 
and  the  Presbyterian  chuj'ch  of  Washington  as  the  place. 

Each  Sabbath  school  appointed  two  representatives,  who  met  and 
issued  a  call  for  the  convention,  addressed  to  all  tlie  pastors,  super- 
intendents, and  friends  of  Sabbath  scliools  in  Washington  County, 
and  also  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  and  direct  the  com- 
fort of  delegates. 

On  April  21,  18G2,  the  convention  assembled  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  elected  James  Donelioo  as  president;  Peter  Camp  and 
Wm  McClcary,  as  vic(!-prcsidcnts ;  and  Thomas  McKcan,  D.  M. 
Leatherman,  and  I.  N.  Itaincr  as  secretaries. 

Delegates  from  the  following  Sabbath  schools  were  admitted: — 

From  the  McUunlid  Epixvvpal  Churches  of  Canonsburg,  Monon- 
gahela  City,  Providence  Cliapel,  Hanover,  and  Washington. 

Prom  the  United  Preshntrrian  Churclies  of  ^s'orth  BulValo,  West 
Alexander,  Canonsburg,  Cluirtiers,  Pigeon  Creek,  Washington, 
Cliarticrs  Cross  Roads,  and  West  Middletou. 

From  the  Presbijterian  Churches  of  Canonsburg,  Lower  Tenraile, 
Mount  Prospect,  Claysville,  Florence,  Pigeon  Creek,  East  Bull'alo, 
Cross  Creek,  Upper  Teumile,  Racoon,   Chartiers,  Upper  Buflfalo, 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  31 B 

Monongahela  City,  Burgettstown,  Independence,  Pine  Grove,  and 
Washington. 

From  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Washington 

From  the  Union  Sabbath  School  of  South  Pigeon  Creek. 

From  the  Lutheran  Congregation  of  West  Bethlehem,  Carroll, 
Hillsborough,  and  Washington. 

From  the  Cumberland  Presbyte7'ian  Churches  of  Washington, 
Windy  Gap,  and  Concord  (at  Sparta). 

From  tlie  Baptist  Churches  of  Pleasant  Grove  and  Washington. 

From  the  Methodist  Protestant  Chu7'ches  of  Washington  and 
Amity. 

From  the  Disciples  Churches  of  Williamsburg,  West  Middletou, 
Washington,  and  Pleasant  Valley. 

A  constitution  was  adopted,  and  under  its  provisions  an  execu- 
tive committee  appointed. 

llaij  19,  1863. 

The  second  annual  Washington  County  Sabbath  School  convened 
in  the  Presbyterian  church;  Wra.  McDaniel,  of  Canonslmrg,  presi- 
dent, with  the  tionstitutional  officers.  In  addition  to  the  Sabbath 
schools  reported  last  year  the  following  additional  ones  became  mem- 
bers, viz  : — 

Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  of  Bentleysville,  Pigeon  Creek, 
Beallsville,  Taylor's  Church,  Centreville,  Prospect,  Clover  Hill,  and 
Zollarsville. 

United  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Peters  Creek,  Mount  Hope, 
and  South  Buffalo. 

PresbyteiHan  Churches  of  Fairview,  Centre,  and  West  Alexander. 

Baptist  Churches  of  Mount  Hermon  and  Pigeon  Creek. 

Methodist  Protestant  Church  of  Eldersville. 

Wesleyayi  Methodist  Church  of  West  Middleton. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  West  Brownsville  and  Monon- 
gahela City. 

Union  Sabbath  Schools  of  Windy  Gap,  Ridge  (East  Pike  Run), 
South  Strabane  Valley  Missionary  School. 

Lutheran  Churches  of  Bethel  and  Mount  Zion. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Churches  of  Pleasant  Hill,  Bethel 
(at  Vanburen),  Millsborough,  and  Greenfield. 

Discijoles — Peters  Creek,  California,  Burnsville,  Pigeon  Creek, 
Buffalo  (the  five  last  not  represented). 

May  24,  1864. 
The  third  annual  Sabbath  School  County  Convention  assembled 
in  the  college  chapel,  and  was  presided  over  by  Gen.  James  Lee,  of 
Cross  Creek,  with  the  customary  officers.      Fifty -four  delegates  in 
attendance,  representing  the  Sabbath  schools  of  the  county. 

June  14,  1865. 
The  fourth  annual   Sabbath  School  County  Convention  met  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  Monongahela  City,  and  was  presided 


374  HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 

orer  bj  Rev.  "Wm.  Ewing,  of  Cauonsburg,  and  other  officers.  Fifty- 
six  delegates  in  attendance. 

Tlie  questions  for  discussion  wliich  were  usually  discussed  by  the 
conventions  were  the  relation  of  pastor  to  the  Sabbath  school,  the 
plan  to  produce  the  best  results,  the  requisite  qualifications  of  super- 
intendents and  teachers,  the  relation  of  the  Sabbath  school  to  family 
religion,  the  best  method  of  teaching,  the  influence  of  Sabbath 
schools  upon  the  church,  how  to  retain  the  older  scholars,  the  best 
mode  of  distributing  books,  and  is  the  Sabbath  school  an  indispen- 
sable auxiliary  to  the  church.  These  and  similar  questions,  all 
tending  to  })roinote  Sabbath  school  instruction,  and  the  co-opera- 
tion of  Christians  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  our  common  country 
and  enlarging  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  were  discussed  with  the 
happiest  effects. 

From  the  records  of  the  County  Sabbath  School  Conventions  I 
learn  the  following  interesting  facts,  giving  each  denomination  the 
maximum  in  the  several  years  reported  : — 

No.  of  Vols,  in 

Name.  Schools.        Scholars.        Teachers.         Library. 

Presbyterian 17  'ill4  226  8487 

Methodist  Episcopal       ....  13  1380  147  3554 

United  Presbyteriau 9  719  82  2415 

Cumberland  Presbj'terian  ...  6  493  60  1025 

Lutheran 4  299  34  1325 

Protestant  Episcopal     ....  4  375  43  1042 

Baptist 4  202  29  775 

Disciples 4  180  25  250 

Union  Schools 3  245  38  775 

Methodist  Protestant     ....  3  310  26  900 

Wesleyan  Methodist 1  80  12  250 

Mission  .School 1  75  14 

Methodist  Episcopal  (Colored)    .  1  115  14  246 

70  6587  750         21,044 

Golden  Wedding. 

Wc  deem  it  of  sufficient  importance  to  place  upon  record,  from 
the  minutes  of  the  town  council  of  AVashington,  the  occurrence  of  a 
golden  wedding  which  was  celebrated  in  this  borough  on  Monday 
evening,  Ajjril  IS,  1870. 

The  council  adopted  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : — 

Whereas,  Joseph  ITcnderson,  Esq.,  and  his  wife  celebrate  the  50th  anni- 
versary of  tlu'ir  marriagi'  this  eveniiifr,  and  friends  and  acquaintances  have 
assembled  with  them  to  return  thauks  to  God  that  their  lives  have  been 
spared  for  the  eiijoynu'nt  of  fitly  years  of  connubial  felicity. 

A.ND  wiiKitEAs,  'I'his  is  the  liist  occasion  of  the  kind  which  has  transpired 
since  the  foumhvtion  of  our  town  eijihty  years  since  ;  the  burgesses  and 
council  of  the  borough  of  Washington  feel  it  to  be  their  duty  as  well  as 
their  individual  inclination  to  express  their  sentiments  on  so  interesting  an 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  3t5 

occasion,  believing  that  by  so  doing  they  are  representing  the  united  opinion 
of  every  citizen  of  your  ancient  borough  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  congratulate  Joseph  Henderson,  Esq.,  and  his  wife, 
upon  the  return  of  their  ,5(lth  marriage  anniversary — an  anniversary  which 
reminds  them  of  their  early  love — of  their  placing  upon  the  altar  of  Hymen 
two  willing,  devoted  hearts,  united  by  solemn  vows — of  their  preeminent 
attachment  to  each  other,  and  their  f^evotion  to  each  other's  interest,  and 
governed  during  their  entire  matrimonial  life  by  the  principles  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion. 

Resolved,  That  the  days  of  the  years  of  their  existence  having  been  pre- 
eminently crowned  by  Him  who  divinely  ordained  the  marriage  institution, 
it  is  our  heartfelt  wish  that  the  same  protecting  being  who  is  the  God  of 
all  the  families  of  the  earth,  will  sustain,  support,  and  keep  them  during 
the  remainder  of  their  earthly  existence,  giving  them  kind  friends,  obliging 
neighbors,  and  devoted  citizens,  and  tvben  life  shall  terminate,  and  theip 
souls  pass  into  the  spirit-land,  may  a  reunion  take  place,  which  shall  be 
measured,  not  by  the  years  of  time,  but  as  eternal  as  the  existence  of  God. 

The  preamble  and  resolutions  were  prepared  by  Alfred  Creigh, 
signed  by  all  the  members  of  the  council,  with  the  seal  attached,  and 
presented  by  John  D.  Boyle,  Chief  Burgess. 


ADDENDA. 


Additional  list  of  Attorneys  who  practice  at  the  Washington 

county  bar. 


Coj'le,  John, 
Downey,  R.  W., 
EAving,  Hon.  .1.  Kennedy, 
Hopkins,  James  H., 
JolinstoTi,  W.  F., 
Minor,  L., 


M'Neill,  J., 
Sayres,  Ezra, 
Strean,  Kobt.  F., 
Shutterly,  Lewis, 
Wills,  John  A. 


INDEX. 


(A.  prefixed  to  a  page  means  Appendix.) 


A. 


Act  establishing  Washington  County,  39 
Adams  County,  when  organized,  33 
Adams,  Pi-esident,  to  Fredericktown,  97 
Addison,  Judge,  his  affidavit,  a.  77 

his  addresses  to  jury,  a.  91 
African  M.  E.  Church  of  Washington, 

197 
Agricultural  societies,  361 
Aiken,  David,  insurance  agent,  370 
Allegiance  of  Kev.  E.  Hughey,  24 

of  Rev.  W.  Renno,  24 
Allen  township,  248 

churches,  248 
schools,  249 
Allegheny  County  organized,  33,  40 
Alumni   of  Washington  and   Jefferson 

College,  their  address,  154,  156 
American  patriotism,  95 
Amity,  88 

Lower  Tenmile  Presbyt.  Church, 

217 
origin  of  Mormonism  in,  89 
Amwell  township,  43,  88 

schools,  88 
Arguments  of  counsel  in  the  college 

case,  161 
Armstrong  County  organized,  33 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  of  1682,  30 
Attorneys  of  Ohio  County,  18 
Generals,  Deputy,  260 
of  AVashington  County,  261 
of  Youghiogheny  County,  22 
Auditors,  list  of,  264 
Augusta  County,  when  organized,  12 
West,  district  of,  12 


B. 

Bailey,  Wm.,  his  captivity,  a.  58 
Banks  in  Washington,  197 
25 


Bank,  Philadelphia  Branch,  197 

First  National,  199 

Franklin,  198 

of  Washington,  197 
Banking-houses,  198 
Baptist  Church  of  AVashington,  196 

North  Tenmile,  94 
Bassettown,  124,  129 
Bavington,  117 
Beallsville,  44,  237 

Baptist  Church,  239 

masonic  lodge,  238 

M.  E.  Church,  239 

schools,  238 
Beaver  County  organized,  33,  42 
Becket's  Fort,  a.  55 
Bedford  County  organized,  33 
Beeman's  Blockhouse,  a.  55 
Benevolence  of  Youghiogheny  County, 

26 
Benevolent  Society,  358 
Beutleysville,  44,  120 
Berks  County  organized,  33 
Bethlehem  township,  43,  95 

East,  43,  96 
schools,  96 

West,  43,  98 
schools,  98 
Bible  Society,  358 
Biddle,  Mrs.  Frances,  204 
Blair  County  organized,  33 
Boundaries  of  Pennsylvania,  31 
Bower  Hill,  110 

Braddock's  Field,  meeting,  a.  73 
Bradford  County  organized,  33 
Bradford,  Col.  David,  bis  address,  a.  72 
Brady,  F.  Jr.,  and  Noble,  John,  their 

invention,  357 
Brice,  Rev.  John,  his  church,  103 
Brown,  Rev.  M.,  address  to  President 

Monroe,  171 
Bruce,  David,  his  poems,  118 
Bucks  County  organized,  33 

(  377  ) 


3Y8 


INDEX. 


Buffalo  township,  43,  239 
schools,  239 
Creek,  47 

M.  E.  Church,  240 
U.  P.  Church,  North,  240 
U.  P.  Church,  South,  240 
village,  239 

Bulger,  117 

Burgesses  of  Washington,  132 

Burgettstown,  117 

Presbyterian  Church,  118 

Burners  of  1794,  350 

Burnsville,  215 

Butler  County  organized,  33 


California,  44,  235 

Disciples  Church,  236 
M.  E.  Church,  236 
Odd  Fellows'  Lodge,  236 
schools,  236 

S.  W.  Normal  College  in,  236 
Cambria  County  organized,  33 
Cameron  County  organized,  34 
Campbell's  woollen  factory,  355 
Candor,  112 
Canonsburg,  43,  220 
Church,  U.  P.,  220 
Jefferson  College  at,  221 
M.  E.  Church,  228 
Presbyterian  Church,  228 
Schools,  221 
Canton  township,  43,  232 

schools,  233 
Carbon  County  organized,  34 
Carriage  manufactories  in  Washington, 

353 
Carroll  township,  44,  241 

Horse-shoe     Baptist    Church, 

242 
Lu  t  h  eran  Church(Ginger  Hill) , 

242 
old    Presbyterian    Church    of 

1785,  242 
schools,  241 

United  Brethren  Church,  242 
Catfish,  his  speech  and  grave,  127 
Cecil  township,  43,  99 

part  given  to  Allegheny  County, 

100 
Presbyterian  Church,  100 
schools,  100 

Washington's  land  in,  100 
U.  P.  Church,  at  Miller's  Hun, 
101 
Cemetery,  Washington,  217 


Centre  County  organized,  33 
Centreville,  237 

M.  E.  Church,  238 

Odd  Fellows'  Lodge,  238 
Chambers,  J.  G.,  his  invention,  357 
Chartiers  township,  43,  218 

Associate  Church,  219 

Church  on  the  State  of  our  coun- 
try, 114 

Creek,  40,  219 

Cross  Roads  Church,  220 

distilleries  in,  226 

incident  in,  219 

Presbyterian  Church,  113 

schools,  218 

Speers'  U.  P.  Church  in,  218 

Valley  Railroad,  364 
Charles  I.,  10 

deposed  by  Cromwell,  10 
Charles  II.,  10 

Chartered  rights  of  Pennsylvania,  9 
Chester  County  organized,  32 
Circular  to  colonels  of  regiments,  a.  69 
Clarion  County  organized,  34 
Clark.  Gen.,  his  expedition,  278 
Clarktown  {See  Tenmile  Village),  93 
Claysville,  44,  103 

M.  E.  Church,  103 

Presbyterian  Church,  104 

schools,  103 
Clearfield  County  organized,  33 
Clerk  of  the  courts,  list  of,  257 
Clinton  County  organized,  34 
Cloakeyville, 

Coal  Shaft,  Washington,  208 
Coat  of  Arms  of  England  and  Virginia, 

11 
Cold  Day,  359 
College,  Washington,  150 

and    Jefferson,    consolidated, 

163 
and  Jefferson,  decision  of  Su- 
preme Court,  162 
a  synodical  college,  152 
before  Supreme  Court,  160 
lists  of  Presidents  and  Profes- 
sors, 169 
Columbia,  241 

Columbia  County  organized,  33 
Commissioners,  list  of,  259 

clerks  to,  260 
Congressmen,  list  of,  250 
Constitution  of  Pennsylvania,  Sept.  28, 
1776,  31 

Oct.  9,  1838,31 

Sept.  2,  1790,  31 
Continental  money,  21 
Cooper,  D.  B.,  a  singular  case,  364 


INDEX. 


3t9 


Corbly,  Rev.  John,  his  sufferings,  a.  59 
Corner-stone  of  town  hall  laid,  147 

articles  deposited,  148 
Coroners,  list  of,  258 
Correspondence    between    D.    Reddick 

and  Thos.  Jefferson,  870 
Cotton  and  wool  cards,  24 
Counterfeit  money,  24 
Court-houses  in  Washington,  64,  136 
Courts  and  court-houses  of   Youghio- 

gheny  County,  15 
Crawford,  Col.  Wm.,  his  expedition,  287 
Crawford  County  organized,  83 
Crawford,  William,  his  execution,  368 
Cross  Creek  township,  43,  46,  231 
forts  in,  232 
Presbyterian  Church,  231 

H.  Graham's  donation,  231 
Mrs.  Patterson's  donation, 
231 
schools,  231 

township,  original  settlers,  232 
Cumberland     Presbyterian  Church   of 
Washington,  192 
County  organized,  32 
township,  43,  101 

Fort  Jackson,  102 
Indian  murders  in,  102 


Darby,  Wm.,  his  description  of  Wash- 
ington 
Dauphin  County  organized,  33 
Delaware  annexed  to  Pennsylvania,  30 
Deputy  Attorney-Generals,  list  of,  260 
Dickinson  township,  123 
Directors  of  Poor,  list  of,  265 
Disciples  of  Christ  (Campbellites),  129, 
193 
Church  in  Washington,  195 
Dutch  Fork,  194 
Independence,  194 
Maple  Creek,  194 
Martinsburg,  194 
Peters  Creek,  194 
Pigeon  Creek,  194 
West  Finley,  194 
Division  of  Washington  County,  40,  42 
Donegal  township,  43,  102 

Associate  Church,  104 
Associate    Reformed  Church, 

104 
Morality,  104 
8chools,  102 

Three     Ridge     Presbyterian 
Church,  103 


Donegal  township  U.  P.  Church,  104 
Ducking-stool,  17 

Dutch   Presbyterian  Church   on   Bush 
Run,  95 


E. 


Early  religious  element  of  Washington 

County,  77 
Early  settlers  of  Tenmile  village,  93 
East  Bethlehem  township,  96 
Education,  352 
Egypt  or  Midway,  106 
Eldersville,  249 

M.  E.  Church,  249 
Election  of  October,  1792,  unconstitu- 
tional, A.  84 
Electors  of  Pennsylvania,  for  1st  Presi- 
dent, 77 
Elk  County  organized.  34 
Elliott,  Commodore,  360 
Episcopal  Church  of  Washington,  184 
bequest  to,  186 
Convention  of  1803,  237 
of  West  Pike  Bun,  237 
Parish  school-house,  186 
Sunday-school,  186 
Erie  County  organized,  33 
Events  and  incidents,  341 
Executions. — Thomas  Richardson,  366 
Wm.  Crawford,  868 
Chr.  Sharp  (Kit),  368 
Robert  Fogler,  369 


F. 


Fairs,  308 

Fallowfield  township,  43,  104 

Disciples  Church,  105 

M.   E.    Church    (Jonestown), 
105 

M.  E.  Church  (Pigeon  Creek), 
105 

Presbyterian  Church,  105 

schools,  105 
Fayette  County  organized,  33 
Female  Seminary,  Washington,  199 

Pleasant  Hill,  107 
Ferries  in  Youghiogheny  County,  22 
Finley  township,  43,  211 

Ancient  school-houses  of,  214 

East,  44,  214 

East  Pleasant  Grove   Baptist 
Church,  214 

Halyconites  of,  211 

New  lights  of,  213 


380 


INDEX. 


Finley  township,  Rhodeanites  of,  213 
Bchools,  214 
WheeliDg,  U.   P.  Church   of, 

215  * 

West,  44,  215 
schools,  215 

Presbyterian  Church,  216 
Disciple  Church,  216 
U.  P.  Church,  216 
Finleyville,  242 

Seceder  Church,  242 
Fire  department  of  Washington,  361 
Florence,  210 

a  contemplated  duel  at,  prevented, 

210 
Presbyterian  Church,  210 
Fogler  R.,  his  execution,  367 
Forest  County  organized,  34 
Fort  Pitt  claimed  by  Virginia,  13 
Forts  at  Cross  Creek,  230 

near  Tenmile  Village,  94 
Foster,  Miss  S.  R.  (Mrs.  S.  R.  Hanna), 

205 
Franklin,  Benj.,  plaintiff  in  Washington 
County,  101 
County  organized,  33 
Bethel  Church,  250 
Concord  Church,  250 
schools,  250 
township  of  1855,  44,  250 
of  1787,  43,  211 
Frederick  County,  12 
Fredericktown,  96 

John  Adams  to  the  people  of,  97 
panthers'  deu,  97 
public  library  at,  97 
temperance  restriction  of,  90 
Freemasons'  lodges,  chapters,  councils, 

and  commanderies,  341 
Froman's  Fort,  a.  56 
Fulton  County  organized,  34 
Fulton,  Robert,  108,  129 


G. 


Gas  works  of  Washington,  207 
Geological   description   of  Washington 

County,  45 
German  ('hurch  of  Washington,  187 
Ginger  Hill,  105 

Lutheran  Church,  242 
Golden  wedding  of  Joseph  Henderson, 

Esq.,  379 
Good  Intent,  216 

U.  P.  Church  (onKing'sCreek).  210 
Governors  of  l*ennsylvania  from   1681 
to  1870,  33 


Governors  of  Pennsylvania,  votes  for,  35 
Grant,  Gen.,  his  letter  to  lay  corner 

stone  of  town  hall,  146 
Granville,  234 

Green  County  organized,  33,  41 
Greenfield,  44,  235 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 

235 
farmers'  and  mechanics'  commer- 
cial store  of,  235 
M.  E.  Church,  235 
Greensburg,  123 
Green  township,  43,  123 
Grist-mills,  23 


H. 


Hall  town,  146 

Halycouites,  a  new  religious  sect,  210 

poetry  on,  212 
Hanna,  Mrs.  S.  R.,  of  Female  Semina- 
ry, 205 
Hanover  township,  43,  209 

schools,  209 
Hastings,  Mrs.  Sally,  her  book  of  po- 
ems, 119 
Havelock,  or  McDonald  Station,  112 
Hay's  carriage  factory,  353 
Ilempfield  railroad,  364 
Henderson,  Joseph,  his  golden  wedding, 

374 
Hickory,  240 

Presbyterian  Church,  241 
U.  P.  Church,  241 
Hieroglyphic  rock  near  Millsboro,  98 
Hillsborough  (now  Scenery  Hill),  98 
its  elevation  above  tide  water,  98 
M.  E.  Church,  98 
Presbyterian  Church,  98 
schools,  98 
Hodgen  &  McElroy's  tannery,  356 
Hoge,  David,  his  three  purchases,  125 
Hopewell  township,  43,  106 

Pleasant   Hill,  Female   Semi- 
nary of,  107 
Rev.  J.  Smith,  will  of,  106 
schools,  106 

Upper    Buffalo    Presbyterian 
Church,  107 
Horn  &  McClain's  woollen  factory,  355 
Horseshoe  Baptist  Church,  242 
Presbyterian  Church,  244 
House's  carriage  factory,  354 
Huntingdon  County  organized,  33 
Hupp,  Dr.  John  C,  his  letters  on  Mil- 
ler's block-house  and  the  Indians,  a. 
46. 


INDEX. 


381 


I. 


Incorporation  of  Washington,  130 

essays  on,  130 
Independence  township,  44,  246 
M.  E.  Church,  249 
Mount  Hope   U.    P.   Church, 

250 
Presbyterian  Church,  249 
schools,  249 
"      U.  P.  Church,  249 
Incidents  and  events,  841 
Indiana  County  organized,  33 
Indian  scalp,  price  of,  62 

null  and  void,  65 
history  of  Pennsylvania  and  West 
Virginia,  a.  38 
Finley  township,  a.  56 
Injunction     against    the     trustees    of 
Washington  and  Jefferson  Col- 
lege, 160 
arguments  on,  161 
Chief  Justice  Thompson's  opinion, 

162 
dissolved,  162 
Insurance,  Washington  County  Mutual, 
870 
agency,  Aikens,  general,  370 
Inventions  of,  357 

F.  Brady,  Jr.,   and  John   Noble, 
357 

G.  W.  Moffitt,  357 
James  S.  Wolf,  357 
J.  G.  Chambers,  357 


J. 


Jackson,  General,  360 
Jarrett's  Fort,  123 
JeflFersoQ  College,  221 

list  of  presidents  and  profes- 
sors, 225 
literary  societies,  227 
County  organized,  33 
township,  44,  249 

M.  E.  Church,  249 
Presbyterian  Church,  249 
schools,  249 
Jefferson's  reply  to  Reddick,  371 
Jonestown,  105 
Judges,  list  of  president  and  associates, 

255 
Judicial  view  of  whiskey  insurrection, 

A.  113 
Juniata  County  organized,  33 
Justices'  courts,  13 
Justices  of  the  peace,  list  of,  267 


K. 


Kammerrer  Brothers'  establishment,  109 
Keystone,  why  Pennsylvania  is  named, 

34 
Kit's  execution,  369 


Lancaster  County  organized,  83 
Lawrence  County  organized,  34 
Lebanon  County  organized,  33 
Lee,  Gen.,  116 

Leet,  Daniel,  produces  a  surveyor's  com- 
mission, 22 
Hon.  Isaac,  860 
Lehigh  County  organized,  83 
Lemoyne,  Dr.,  his  donation  for  public 

library  in  Washington,  145 
Library  association  of  Washington,  358 
Limetown,  242 
Lindley's  Fort,  a.  55 

mills,  216 
List  of  Wm.  Penn's  thirty-three  treaties 

with  the  Indians,  28 
Literary  company,  359 
Locusts,  347 

London  land  company,  3 
Lusus  Natur83,  110 
Luzerne  County  organized,  33 
Lycoming  County  organized,  33 


M. 

Manufactories,  carriage,  353 

woollen,  355 
March,  the  first  month  of  the  civil  year, 

38 
Market  houses,  141 
Marriage  custom  in  old  times,  50 

extraordinary  of  Isaac  Meason  and 
Catharine  Harrison,  26 
Martinsburg,  116 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  a.  24 
May  pole,  348 
McConnellsville,  218 
McFarland,  Maj.  James,  killed,  a.  68 
McKean  County  organized,  83 
Mechanical  Society  of  Washington,  353 
M.  E.  Church,  African,  197 
Medical  Society,  357 
Meetkirke's,  Wm.,  afiBdavit,  a.  70 
Mercer  County  organized,  33 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Wash- 
ington,   and  list   of   ministers; 
Sabbath  school,  178 


382 


INDEX. 


Methodist  Protestant  Church  of  Wash- 
ington, 182 
Mexican  War,  300 
Midway,  or  Egypt,  106 
Mifflin  County  organized,  33 
Military  officers,  23 

from  Washington  Co.,  336 
of  Washington  County  engaged  in 
rebellion  of  1861,  303 
Miller's  Block  house,  A.  40 
Millshorough,  44,  97 

schools,  98 
Mingo  Creek,  45 

Society,  243 
Presbyterian  Church,  243 
Ministers'  oath  of  allegiance,  24 
Monongahela  and  AVilliamsport  Manu- 
facturing Company,  353 
City,  44,  243 

African  M.  E.  Church,  247 
Banking  house,  248 
Cemetery,  247 
Church  of  the  Transfiguration, 

246 
Cumberland  Presbyt.  Church, 

245 
First  Baptist  Church,  246 
Lutheran  Church,  246 
M.  E.  Church,  245 
Presbyterian  Church,  244 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 

246 
Union  School  building,  247 
Union  paper  mills,  248 
Wesleyan  Meth.  Epis.  Church, 
240 
County,  &c.,  19 
River,  45 
Money,  continental,  21 

counterfeit,  24 
Monroe's,  James,  speech  at  Canonsburg, 
229 
at  Washington,  176 
Monroe  County  organized,  33 
Montgomery  County  organized,  33 
Montour  County  organized,  34 
Jloral  Societies,  359 
Morgan,  Col.  George,  116 
Gen.  Daniel,  110 
Gen.,  116 

T.  Jefferson,  his  circular  on  emi- 
grating to  Texas,  297 
Company  for  Texas,  299 
township,  43,  108 
Morgantown,  Virginia,  19 
Morality  of  Donegal,  104 
Mormonism,  its  rise,  89 
Morris  township,  48,  216 


Morris  township.  Lower  Tenmile  Pres- 
byterian Church,  217 
M.  E.  Church,  216 
schools,  216 

Upper   Tenmile    Presbyterian 
Church,  216 
Mount  Pleasant  township,  44,  240 

Prospect  Presbyterian  Church, 

241 
Schools,  240 
U.  P.  Church,  241 
Vernon  U.  P.  Church,  118 
Munntown,  116 
Murdochsville,  210 


N. 


Names  of  first  settlers  west  of  Allegheny 

Mountains,  a.  8 
Naturalization  a  religious  rite,  25 
Neville,  Gen.,  his  house  destroyed,  a.  38 
New  county  proposed,  349 
New  Lights,  a  new  sect,  211 
Newspapers  of  Washington  County  from 

1795  to  1870,  350 
New  State  proposed  in  1782,  a.  37 
Northampton  County  organized,  33 
North  Strabane  township,  115 

schools.  116 
Northumberland  CountjLorganized,  33 
Nottingham  township,  4S,  108 

Mount  Prospect  U.  P.  Church 
at  Munntown,  109 

Presbyterian  Church  at  Fair- 
view,  109 

schools,  108 
Number  of  stills,  a.  113 


Oath  of  allegiance,  13 

abjuration,  14 

supremacy,  14 

the  test,  14 
Odd  Fellows'  Lodges  and  Encampments 

in  Washington  County,  304 
Ohio  County  court  house,  137 

courts,  &c.,  14 
Old  Dominion,  11 
Orange  County,  12 

Original  lot  holders  in  Washington,  129 
Original  settlers  at  Cross  Creek,  230 
Original  township  of  Washington  Co., 

43,  58 
Orphan  children,  21 
Outrage  on  the  Chesapeake  frigate,  291 


INDEX. 


38c 


Pan-handle  of  West  Virginia,  a.  36 

Panther's  den,  97 

Paris,  210 

Parishes  to  pay  church  dues,  12 

Park,  Mr.,  killed  at  Cross  Creek,  229 

Parkinson's  ferry  resolution,  a.  82 

Passports,  their  form,  25 

Patterson,  D.  F.,  Esq.,  speech  to  Gen. 

Grant,  147 
Penn,  William,  his  charter,  28 

his   thirty-three  treaties  with  the 
Indians,  28 
Pennsylvania,  boundaries  of,  31 

date  of  formation  of  each  county, 
■with  number  of  acres,  and  popu- 
lation, 32 

a  general  outline  history,  27 

its  population  from  1730,  32 

western  line  of,  a.  35 

why  named  Keystone,  34 
Pennsylvania  and   Virginia   diflBculty, 

A.  3 

Perry  County  organized,  33 
Persons  indicted  in  whiskey  insurrec- 
tion, A.  113 
Peters  Creek,  46 
Peters  township,  43,  109 

Centre   Presbyterian  Church, 

110 
schools,  110 
U.  P.  Church,  110 
phenomenon,  349 
Philadelphia  County  organized,  33 
Pigeon  Creek,  45 

Presbyterian  Church,  121 
Pike  County  organized,  33 
Pike  Run  township,  43,  233 
*  East,  233 

schools,  233 
M.  E.  Church,  233 
Quaker  meeting-house,  233 
West,  44,  237 
schools,  237 

St.      Thomas     Episcopal 
Church,  237 
Pillory,  description  of,  17 
Pittsburg,   resolutions  on  Whiskey  In- 
surrection, A.  62 
Pittsburg  and  Steubenville  R.  R.,  117 
Plank  road,  upper  Tenmile,  361 
Pleasant  Hill  Female  Seminary,  107 
Plymouth  Company,  16 
Poe,  Adam,  62 

Poor,  directors  of,  list  of,  265 
Post-offices  and  Postmasters  of  Wash- 
ington County,  360 


Potter  County  organized,  33 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Burgettstown, 
118 

1st  of  Washington,  173 

2d  of  Washington,  188 

lower  Tenmile,  217 

upper  Tenmile,  216 
President  and  Associate  Judges,  list  of, 

255 
Presidents  of  Washington  College,  169 

of  Jefferson  College,  225 
Proclamation  of  President  Washington 

on  same  subject,  a.  77 
Professors  of  Washington  College,  169 

of  Jefferson  College,  225 
Prosperity,  215 
Prothonotaries,  list  of,  256 


Q. 


Quaker,  Westland  meeting-house,  95 


R. 


Railroads,  366 
Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  2 
Rawle's  letters,  113  to  121 
Razortown  court-house,  137 
Rebellion  of  1861,  301 
Recorders,  list  of,  257 
Reddick  to  Jeiferson,  370 
Reflections,  26 

Regiments  from  Washington  County 

1st  Battalion,  100  days  artillery, 

335 
6th  Regiment  Pennsylvania  Militia, 
Company  A,  334 
Pennsylvania  Militia,  Company 
F,  334 
9th  Reserve,  Company  A,  335 
12th  Regiment,  Company  E,  303 

Company  G,  803 
87th  Regiment,  8th  Reserve,  Com- 
pany K,  304 
S9th  Regiment,  10th  Reserve,  Com- 
pany D,  306 
44th  Regiment,  15th  Pennsylvania 
Reserve,    1st   Pennsylvania 
Cavalry,  307 
Pennsylvania    Reserve,   Com- 
pany I,  307 
Pennsylvania    Reserve,   Com- 
pany K,  303 
62d  Regiment,  Company  K,  309 
79th  Regiment,  Company  D,  310 
85th  Regiment,  Company  A,  312 


384 


INDEX. 


Regiment,  85th,  Company  B,  312 
Company  C,  313 
Company  D,  313 
Company  E,  314 
lOOth    Regiment,    Round     heads, 
316 
Round    heads.    Company    A, 

316 
Round    heads.   Company    M, 
317 
140th  Regiment,  317 
Company  C,  318 
Company  D,  319 
Company  E,  320 
Company  G,  321 
Company  K,  322 
152d   Regiment,  3d   Pennsylvania 

artillery.  Company  K,  323 
154th  Regiment,  Pennsylvania 

drafted  militia,  323 
159th    Regiment,    14th    Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry,  Company  H,  323 
161st  Regiment,  l(Jth  Pennsylvania 

Cavalry,  Company  K,  324 
185th  Regiment,  22d  Pennsylvania 
Cavalry  rejoined,  325 
Ringgold  Cavalry,  A,  325 
"Washington  Cavalry,  B,  327 
Keystone  Cavalry,  C,  327 
Beallsville  Cavalry,  D,  329 
Independent  Cavalry,  E,  330 
Patton  Cavalry,  F,  331 
Lafayette  Cavalry,  G,  331 
McKennan  Infantry,  332 
212th  Regiment,  6th  heavy  artil- 
lery, Company  E,  335 
Provost  Guard,  335 
Registers,  list  of,  257 
Religious  agreement  of  1782,  47 
Reports  on  boundary  line  between  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia,  a.  31 
Representatives,  list  of,  252 

to  Supreme  Executive  Council,  252 
Rhodianit'es,  a  new  sect,  211 
Rice's  fort,  A.  45 

Richardson's,    Thomas,    execution  or- 
dered, 68,  3G6 
Rich  hill  township,  43,  239 
Roads,  20 

Robinson  township,  43,  111 
schools.  111 
U.  P.  Church,  113 
Upper    Racoon    Presbyterian 
Church,  112 
Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Washington, 

196 
Roney's  block-house,  a.  56 
Royal  family,  848 


Sabbath  school  county  conventions,  372 

St.  George's  Parish,  12 

St.  Mark's  Parish,  12 

Salt  belonging  to  Youghiogheny  County, 

23 
School  houses,  53 
Schuylkill  County  organized,  33 
Seceding  States  in  1801,  301      - 
Semi-centennial  voters,  3G2 
Senate  declare  election  of  October,  1794, 

as  unconstitutional,  a,  87 
Senators,  list  of,  251 
Settlers  west  of  Allegheny  Mountain, 

A.  8. 
Sharp's  (Kit)  execution,  368 
Sheriffs,  list  of,  258 
Sheriffs  and  deputy  sheriffs  of  Virginia, 

22 
Slavery  meetings,  362 
Smith,  Rev.  Joseph,  his  will,  106 
Smith  township,  43,  117 

Centre  U.  P.  Church,  118 

Presbyterian  Church,  118 

poets,  118 

schools,  117 

towns,  117 

U.  P.  Church,  118 
Snyder  County  organized,  34 
Soldiers'  monument,  339 
rations  in  1781,  60 
Somerset  County  organized,  33 
Somerset  township,  43,  120 

Baptist  Church,  123 

Disciple  Church,  123 

M.  E.  Church,  123 

Pigeon  Creek  U.  P.  Church, 
123 

schools,  120 
Sparta,  215 

Spear's  U.  P.  Spring  Church,  211 
Spottsylvania  County,  11 
Steam  tannery,  336 

mill,  356,  357 
Still,  number  of,  113 
Strabane  township,  43,  113 

Chartiers  Presbyterian  Church, 
113 

North,  44,  115 
schools,  IIG 

South,  44,  116 
schools,  116 
Streams  of  Washington  County,  45 
Stool  ducking  described,  17 
Sullivan  County  organized,  84 


INDEX. 


385 


Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania  on  the 
consolidation  of  Washington  and 
JeflFerson  Colleges,  162 
appeal  from,  167 
Supreme  Executive  Council  proceedings 

from  1781  to  1791,  54 
Surveyor-General's  deputies,  267 
Surveyors  of  Virginia,  22 
Susquehanna  County  organized,  33 


Tavern  signs,  348 

Taverns  licensed,  and  bill  of  prices,  20 

Taylorstown,  239 

Presbyterian  Church,  240 

Temperance  society,  359 

Temperance,    stringent    provision     in 
Fredericktown,  96 

Tenmile  Creek  and  its  forks,  45 

Tenmile  Village  (Clarktown),  93 
churches,  94 
early  settlers,  93 
forts,  94 

Texas,  297 

Theatrical,  308 

Thompson,  Chief  Justice,  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, on  college  questions,  262 

Thompsonville,  110 

Three  Ridge  Presbyterian  Church,  133 

Tom  the  Tinker,  his  advertisement,  a. 
65 

Topographical  description  of  Washing- 
ton County,  44 

Town   council   of  Washington,  list   of, 
183 

Town  hall  of  Washington,  144 

Townships,  original,  42,  58 

Treasurers,  list  of,  264 

Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  183 

Turner,  Judge,  a.  113 

Turnpikes,  363 


U. 


Union  County  organized,  33 
township,  44,  242 

Presbyterian  Mingo   Church, 

243 
schools,  242 
Union  School  building  of  Washington, 

206 
United  Brethren  Church  in  Carrol  town- 
ship, 242 
U.  P.  Church  of  Smith  township,  118 
Centre,  118 
in  Hanover  township,  210 


U.  P.  Church  of  Washington,  181 
United  States  and  Great  Britain,  war 

of  1812,  292 
Upper  Tenmile  Presbyterian  Church, 

216 


Venango  County  organized,  33 
Venice,  U.  P.  Church  at,  101 
Virginia,  its  claim  to  Washington  Coun- 
ty, 9 

its  name,  9 

coat  of  arms, 

divided  into  counties,  11 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  controversy, 

A.  3. 
Votes  for  Governors  since  1790,  35 


W. 


Walker  &  Fitz  William's  planing  mill, 

356 
Warren  County  organized,  33 
Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  con- 
solidated, 153 
Alumni  recommend  it,  153 
College,  address  of  a  commit- 
tee of  trustees,  169 
and  Pittsburg  pike,  363 
Wellsburg,  364 
Williamsport,  364 
borough,  43,  125 

burgesses  from  1810  to  1870, 

132 
is  incorporated,  131 
its  original  name,  125 
its  public  grounds,  126 
lots    deeded    for    the    public 

buildings,  125 
original  plan,  125 
public  buildings,  136 
town  clerks,  135 
town  council  from  1810  to  1870, 

133 
treasurers,  135 
cemetery,  207 
coal  company,  208 
College,  150 

literary  societies,  170 
synodical,  152 
County  organized,  33 
established,  39,  57 
geological  description,  44 
its  boundaries,  44 
streams,  description,  45 
topographical  description,  44 


386 


INDEX. 


Washington  County  under  Virginia,  9 
Female  Seminary,  199 
gas  works,  207 
Washington,  Gen.,  his  lands,  100 
Geo.,  plaintiflF,  101 

his  surveyor's  commission,  20 
Washington's  proclamation  in  1794,  a. 
77 
letter  to  Judge  Addison,  a.  90 
Wayne  County  organized,  33 
West  Alexander,  102 

M.  E.  Church,  102 
Presbyterian  Church,  102 
Roman  Catholic  Church,  103 
U.  P.  Church,  104 
West  Augusta,  district  of,  12 
West  Bethlehem  township,  98 

schools,  98 
West  Brownsville,  44,  234 

schools,  234 
West  Liberty,  Va.,  19 
West  Middleton,  44,  107 

Disciple  Church,  107 
schools,  107 
U.  P.  Church,  107 
Wesleyan  M.  P.  Church,  107 
Westmoreland  County  organized,  33 
AVheeling,  and   Little  Wheeling   Creek, 

47 
Whipping-post,  17 


Whiskey  insurrection,  291,  a.  59 

AVhitetown  coal  works,  117 

AVilliamsburg,  Va.,  11 

Williamson,  Col.  D.,  expedition,  283 

Wilson  &  Warrick's  grist-mill,  356 

Wolf,  James  S.,  his  invention,  357 

Wolfe's  Fort,  a.  55 

AVood  rangers,  309 

Wright's  Chapel  (African),  Washington, 
197 

Wylie,  Rev.,  address  to  President  Mon- 
roe, 171 

Wyoming  County  organized,  34 


Year  (civil),  to  commence  with  March, 

38 
York  County  organized,  33 
Youghiogheny  County,  15,  18 
benevolence  of,  26 

Z. 

Zollarsville,  99 

Baptist  Church,  99 

Fort  at,  99 

M.  E.  Church,  99 


APPEKDIX 


HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNTY. 


BY 

Dr.  ALFKED  OREIGH, 

OF  WASHINGTON. 


APPENDIX. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE  VIRGINIA  AND  PENNSYLVANIA  CONTROVERSY,  FROM  1752  TO 

1783. 

The  date  of  the  earliest  settlements  by  Virginians  and  Pennsylvanians — The 
difficulties  between  the  Governors  of  both  States  arising  from  these  settle-" 
ments — The  names  of  the  first  settlers — The  various  aicts.  of  Captaid  Con- 
nolly as  the  representative  of  Virginia  in  claiming  Fort  Duquesne  (Pitts- 
burg) as  within  Virginia — His  treason — Commissioners  appointed  by  both 
States  to  run  a  temporary  line  until  the  Revolutionary  War  woul'd  terminate 
— The  action  of  both  States  approving  of  the  same,  and  the  necessity  of 
erecting  Washington  County. 

The  earliest  account  of  any  permanent  settlement  having  been 
made  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  may  be  traced  to  the  spring 
of  1765.  In  the  month  of  April  of  that  year  a  letter  is  on  record 
in  the  Pennsylvania  archives,  dated  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia, 
stating  that  the  frontier  inhabitants  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  as 
well  as  Maryland,  are  removing  fast  over  the  Allegheny  Mountains, 
in  order  to  settle  and  live  there. 

It  is.  also  true  that  in  addition  to  this  information  it  was  asserted 
that  it  was  wrong  for  settlements  to  be  made  west  of  the  mountains, 
because  a  controversy  between  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  about  their 
respective  boundary  lines,  had  been  commenced  as  early  as  1752; 
the  former  relying  upon  the  charter  of  James  the  First,  while  the 
Za^^er  claimed  under  Charles  the  Second,  in  1681,  which  assigns  the 
Delaware  River  as  the  eastern  boundary,  to  extend  five  degrees  in 
longitude,  to  be  computed  from  said  eastern  bounds.  The  Penns 
contended  that  Pennsylvania  extended  several  miles  beyond  Fort 
Duquesne  (Pittsburg),  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Virginia  claim 
may  be  more  satisfactorily  exhibited  in  the  language  of  B.  ]\Iayer, 
Esq.,  in  an  address  before  the  Maryland  Historical  Society,  in  1851. 

It  was  only  a  few  years  after  Pontiac's  war  that  small  settlements 
of  whites  had  crept  westwai'd  through  the  defiles  of  the  Alleghenies 
and  along  the  principal  paths,  the  northernmost  of  which  converged 
at  old  Fort  Duquesne  (Pittsburg).  A  town  was  laid  out  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Monongahela,  within  two  hundred  yards  of  Fort 

(  3  ) 


4  APPENDIX   TO 

Pitt,  :i:i(l  for  seventy  miles  above  it  a  route  had  been  cut  through  the 
wilderness  to  Redstone  old  Fort,  near  the  mouth  of  Dunlap's 
Creek,  now  the  site  of  Brownsville. 

About  the  year  1774,  Virginia  still  claimed,  by  virtue  of  her 
charter,  all  the  territory  between  the  parallels  of  30°  30'  and  39^ 
40'  north  latitude,  from  the  margin  of  the  Atlantic  due  west  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  thus  inclosed  within  her  assumed  limit,  not  only  the 
region  which  at  present  is  comprised  in  Kentucky,  but  also  the  north- 
ern half  of  Illinois,  one-third  of  Ohio,  and  an  extensive  part  of  Western 
Pennsylvania.  Settlements  had  been  planted  upon  most  of  the 
easteini  branches  of  the  Monongahela,  the  Youghiogheny,  and  on  the 
small  eastern  tributaries  of  the  upper  Ohio,  for  120  miles  below 
Pittsburg,  as  well  as  on  the  sources  of  the  Greenbrier,  the  Little 
Kanawha,  and  Elk  River,  west  of  the  mountains,  embracing  in  these 
districts,  the  northwestern  counties  of  Virginia,  and  the  southwestern 
of  Pennsylvania,  as  at  present  defined.  Pittsburg  was  claimed  as  a 
frontier  town  of  Virginia,  while  the  southern  settlements  on  the 
•tributaries  of  the  Monongahela  were  held  to  belong  to  the  same 
province. 

After  this  digression  we  again  return  to  demonstrate  the  fact  of 
the  early  settlement  of  the  lands  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains, 
notwithstanding  the  claim  of  Virginia.  On  the  24th  of  October, 
1765,  His  Majesty,  King  George  II.,  gives  the  following  instruction 
to  John  Penn,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Pennsylvania :  Whereas,  it 
hath  been  represented  unto  us  that  several  persons  from  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  back  settlements  of  Virginia  have  immigrated  to  tl\e 
westward  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  and  there  have  seated  them- 
selves on  lands  contiguous  to  the  river  Ohio,  in  express  disobedience 
to  our  royal  proclamation  of  October  7,  17(33,  it  is,  therefore,  our 
will  and  pleasure,  and  you  are  enjoined  and  required  to  put  a  stop 
to  all  these,  and  all  other  the  like  encroachments  for  the  future,  by 
causing  all  persons  who  have  irregularly  seated  themselves  on  lands 
to  the  westward  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  immediately  to  evacu- 
ate these  premises. 

On  December  11,  1766,  Francis  Fauquier,  Lientcnant-Governor 
of  Virginia,  addressed  a  letter  to  John  Penn,  Governor  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  which  he  says  :  "  No  regard  is  paid  to  the  proclamations 
of  7th  Octo))er,  1703,  and  10th  of  April,  1706  (by  you).  But  the 
commander-in-chief  has  taken  a  more  effectual  method  to  remove 
them,  by  giving  orders  to  an  officer  and  party  to  summon  the  settlers 
on  Red  Sandstone  Creek,  to  warn  them  to  quit  these  illegal  settle- 
ments, and  in  case  of  refusal  to  threaten  military  execution.  " 

On  this  subject  General  Gage,  under  date  of  July  2,  1766,  writes 
to  Governor  Penn  :  If  you  will  please  to  take  proper  and  legal 
methods,  as  I  presume  Redstone  Creek  (at  Brownsville)  is  within 
your  government,  the  garrison  of  Fort  Pitt  shall  assist  to  drive  away 
the  settlers. 

The  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  at  a  council  held  at  Fort  Pitt,  May 


4  HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  5 

24,  IT 66,  said  that  as  soon  as  the  peace  was  made  in  1765,  contrary 
to  our  engagements  with  them,  a  number  of  white  people  came  over 
the  great  mountain  and  settled  at  Redstone  Creek  and  upon  the 
Monongahela. 

George  Croghan,  Esq.,  the  Indian  agent,  in  addressing  General 
Gage,  said  :  If  some  effectual  measures  are  not  speedily  taken  to 
remove  those  people  settled  on  Redstone  Creek,  till  a  boundary  can 
be  properly  settled  as  proposed,  and  the  governors  pursue  vigorous 
measures,  the  consequences  may  be  dreadful,  and  we  be  involved  in 
all  the  calamities  of  another  general  war. 

In  consequence,  therefore,  of  all  the  difficulties  surrounding  the 
ease,  and  to  religiously  perform  every  engagement  entered  into  by 
Governor  Peuu  with  the  Indians,  Alexander  Mackay,'  commanding  a 
part  of  the  42d  regiment  issued  the  following  proclamation,  by 
authority  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  dated  at  Redstone  Creek, 
June  22,  1766.  This  proclamation  was  addressed:  To  all  people  now 
inhabiting  to  the  westward  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains :  In  conse- 
quence of  several  (Complaints  made  by  the  savages  against  the  people 
who  have  presumed  to  inhabit  some  parts  of  the  country  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  which,  by  treaty,  belong  to  them,  and  had 
never  been  purchased,  and  which  is  contrary  to  his  majesty's  royal 
proclamation.  His  excellency,  the  commander-in-chief,  out  of  com- 
passion to  your  ignorance,  before  he  proceeds  to  extremity,  have  been 
pleased  to  order  me,  with  a  detachment  from  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Pitt,  to  come  here  and  collect  you  together,  to  inform  you  of  the 
lawless  and  licentious  manner  in  which  you  behave,  and  to  order 
you  also  to  return  to  your  several  provinces  without  delay,  which  I 
am  to  do  in  the  presence  of  some  Indian  chiefs  now  along  with  me. 
I,  therefore,  desire  you  will  all  come  to  this  place  along  with  the 
bearer,  who  I  have  sent  on  purpose  to  collect  you  together. 

His  excellency,  the  commander-in-chief,  has  ordered,  in  case  you 
"should  remain  after  this  notice,  to  seize  and  make  prize  of  all  goods 
and  merchandise  brought  on  this  side  the  Allegheny  Mountains  or 
exposed  to  sale  to  Indians,  at  any  place  except  at  his  majesty's 
garrison  ;  that  goods  thus  seized  will  be  a  lawful  prize  and  become 
the  property  of  the  captors.  The  Indians  will  be  encouraged  in  this 
way  of  doing  themselves  justice,  and  if  accidents  should  happen,  you 
lawless  people  must  look  upon  yourselves  as  the  cause  of  whatever 
may  bo  the  consequence  hurtful  to  your  persons  and  estates,  and  if  this 
should  not  be  sufficient  to  make  you  return  to  your  several  provinces, 
his  excellency,  the  commander-in-chief,  will  order  an  armed  force  to 
drive  you  from  the  lands  j'ou  have  taken  possession  of  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  the  jyroperty  of  the  Indians,  till 
such  time  as  his  Majesty  may  be  pleased  to  fix  a  further  boundary. 

Such  people  as  won't  come  to  this  place  are  to  send  their  names 
and  the  province  they  belong  to,  and  what  they  are  to  do,  by  the 
bearer,  that  his  excellency,  the  commander-in-chief,  may  be  acquainted 
with  their  intentions. 


6  APPENDIX  TO  « 

On  the  81st  of  July,  1766,  Governor  Fauquier  issued  his  procla- 
mation to  those  people  of  Virginia  who  had  seated  themselves  on 
these  lands  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  contiguous  to  the 
river  Cheat,  in  disobedience  of  the  proclamations  of  1763  and  1766, 
requiring  all  persons  immediately  to  evacuate  the  same,  which,  if  they 
failed  to  do,  they  must  expect  no  protection  or  mercy  from  the  govern- 
ment, and  be  exposed  to  the  revenge  of  the  exasperated  Indians. 

The  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  also  feeling  the  necessity 
of  immediate  action  with  regard  to  these  settlements  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  addressed  a  message  to  Governor  Pcnn 
on  the  12th  of  September,  1766,  in  which  Joseph  Fox,  Speaker 
of  the  House,  said:  "But  as  we  apprehend  many  of  these  rash 
people  have  gone  from  Virginia,  between  which  province  and  this 
the  boundary  has  not  been  exactly  ascertained,  nor  is  it  distinctly 
known  on  which  side  of  the  supposed  boundary  these  people  are 
settled,  we  beg  leave  to  recommend  it  to  your  honor  to  take  the  ear- 
liest opportunity  to  communicate  to  Governor  Fauquier  the  neces- 
sity of  his  uniting  with  you  in  taking  the  most  expeditious,  as  well 
as  effectual  steps  to  remove  those  intruders  on  the  lands  to  the 
westw^ard  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  agreeably  to  his  majesty's 
proclamations." 

One  month  afterwards  Governor  Penn  addressed  Governor  Fau- 
quier on  this  subject,  in  which  he  stated  that  without  any  authority 
whatever  from  Pennsylvania,  settlements  had  been  made  near  Red- 
stone Creek  and  the  Monongahela,  and  he  presumed  also  without 
the  consent  of  the  government  of  Virginia,  and  in  violation  of  the 
rights  of  the  nations.  Governor  Pcnn  desired  Governor  Fauquier 
to  unite  with  him  in  removing  the  settlers  from  the  Monongahela 
lands,  and  if  necessary  promises  a  military  force  to  effect  the  object. 

To  which  Governor  Fauquier  replied,  that  he  had  already  issued 
three  proclamations  to  these  settlers,  but  that  the  commander-in-chief 
had  taken  a  more  effectual  method  to  remove  them,  by  ordering  an 
oflBcer  and  detachment  of  soldiers  to  summon  the  settlers  on  Redstone 
Creek,  the  Monongahela  Valley,  and  other  parts  westward  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains,  to  quit  these  illegal  settlements,  and  in  case 
of  a  refusal,  to  tlireaten  military  execution.  This  proclamation  it 
seems  had  the  desired  effect  with  some  few,  but  a  large  majority  of 
families  remained. 

Governor  Pcnn  wisely  said  that  as  the  boundary  line  between 
A'irginia  and  Pennsylvania  near  their  western  limits,  where  these 
settlements  were  chiefly  made,  had  not  been  made,  and  even  added 
that  the  settlers  no  doul)t  would  shelter  themselves  under  a  disputed 
jurisdiction,  which  subsequent  events  fairly  demonstrated.  In  his 
address,  however,  to  the  General  Assembly  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1708,  he  said:  "I  must  inform  you  that  those  settlements  upon 
the  Indian  lands  to  the  westward  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  now 
appear  b}-  the  line  lately  run  between  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland, 
to  be  within  the  bounds  of  this  province^ 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  7 

The  Assembly,  through  the  advice  of  the  Governor,  passed  a  law 
on  the  subject  of  the  removal  of  all  settlers  on  the  Indian  lands,  but 
deemed  it  most  prudent  to  issue  a  proclamation  on  this  important 
and  exciting  subject.  And  to  carry  the  purpose  of  the  Assembly 
into  full  effect,  they  commissioned  Rev.  John  Steele  (of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Carlisle),  John  Allison,  Christopher  Lemes,  and 
Capt.  James  Potter,  of  Cumberland  County,  to  visit  the  Monono-a- 
hela,  Youghiogheiiy,  and  other  places  west  of  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tains, where  any  settlements  were  made  in  Pennsylvania,  to  read  and 
explain  the  proclamation  and  the  law,  and  induce  them  to  pay  due 
obedience  thereto.  Sixty  pounds  in  cash  were  appropriated  to  each 
commissioner  to  defray  his  expenses.  The  proclamation  is  so  very 
important,  that  I  add  it  at  this  point  in  the  history. 

By  the  honorable  John  Penn,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania— 

Whereas,  By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Province, 
passed  in  the  present  year,  it  is  among  other  things  provided,  that  if 
any  person  or  persons  settle  upon  any  lands  within  the  boundaries  of 
this  Province  not  purchased  of  the  Indians  by  the  proprietors  thereof, 
shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  remove  themselves  and  families  ofli'  and  from 
the  said  laud,  within  the  space  of  thirty  days  after  he  or  they  shall  be 
required  so  to  do,  either  by  such  persons  as  the  Governor  of  this  Pro- 
vince shall  appoint  for  that  purpose,  or  by  his  proclamation  to  be  set 
up  in  the  most  public  places  of  the  settlements  on  such  unpurchased 
lands,  or  if  any  person  or  persons  being  so  removed  shall  afterwards  re- 
turn to  his  or  their  settlements,  or  the  settlement  of  any  other  person 
"W'ith  his  or  their  family,  or  without  any  family,  to  remain  and  settle  on 
any  such  lands,  or  if  any  person  shall,  after  the  said  notice  to  be  given 
as  aforesaid,  reside  and  settle  on  such  lands,  every  such  person  or  per- 
sons so  neglecting  or  refusing  to  move  with  his  or  their  family,  or  re- 
turning to  settle  as  aforesaid,  or  that  shall  settle  on  any  such  lands  after 
the  requisition  or  notice  aforesaid,  being  thereof  legally  convicted, 
by  their  own  confessions  or  the  verdict  of  a  jury  shall  suffer  death 
without  the  benefit  of  clergy. 

Provided  always,  nevertheless,  That  nothing  herein  contained  shall 
be  deemed  or  construed  to  extend  to  any  person  or  persons  who  now 
are,  or  hereafter  may  be  settled  on  the  main  roads  or  communications 
leading  through  this  Province  to  Fort  Pitt,  under  the  approbation 
and  permission  of  the  commander-in-chief  of  his  majesty's  forces  in 
North  America,  or  of  the  chief  officer  commanding  in  the  western 
district  to  the  Ohio,  for  the  time  being,  for  the  more  convenient  ac- 
commodation of  the  soldiers  and  others,  or  to  such  person  or  persons 
as  are  or  shall  be  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Pitt,  under  the 
approbation  and  permission,  or  to  a  settlement  made  by  Geo.  Crog- 
han.  Deputy  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  under  Sir  William 
Johnston,  on  the  Ohio  River  above  said  fort,  anything  herein  con- 
tained to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 


8  APPENDIX    TO 

In  pursuance  tliereof  of  the  said  act,  I  have  thought  proper  by 
the  advice  of  the  council,  to  issue  this  my  proclamation,  hereby  giving 
notice  to  all  persons  to  remove  themselves  and  families  off  and  from 
said  lands  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  May,  1768.  And  I  do  hereby 
strictly  charge  and  command  such  person  or  persons,  under  the  pains 
and  penalties  of  the  said  act  imposed,  that  they  do  not  on  any  pre- 
tence whatever  remain  or  continue  on  the  said  lands  longer  than 
thirty  doi/s  after  the  first  day  of  May  next. 

Governor  Penn,  in  addition  to  this  proclamation,  instructed  the  com- 
missioners whom  I  have  mentioned,  to  collect  together  as  many  peo- 
ple of  each  of  the  settlements  as  they  could,  to  read  the  proclamation, 
explain  its  nature,  expostulate  with  them  on  the  folly  and  injustice 
of  their  settling  upon  the  Indian  lands,  the  dangerous  tendency  of 
such  a  rash  step  both  to  themselves  and  other  settlers  upon  the 
•frontiers,  the  necessity  and  use  of  civil  government,  the  obligations 
we  owe  to  law  and  good  governments  and  the  consequences  of 
disobedience.  The  commissioners  were  also  instructed  to  procure 
the  names  of  all  the  settlers  and  report  the  same  to  the  governor. 

The  commissioners  reached  Redstone  settlement  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1768,  having  left  Carlisle  on  the  2d  of  March.  The  people 
met  on  the  24th  and  heard  the  proclamation  read  and  the  law  ex- 
pounded, after  which  the  business  was  postponed  until  the  27th. 
This  being  Sunday,  a  considerable  number  of  the  people  attended, 
and  after  a  sermon  by  the  Rev.  John  Steele  the  meeting  was  reor- 
ganized. Immediately  after  its  reorganization,  word  was  received 
that  a  number  of  Indians  had  arrived  at  Indian  Peters  (this  was  a 
point  on  the  west  side  of  the  Monongahela  and  directly  opposite 
Redstone's  old  fort),  and  the  commissioners  sent  for  them.  After 
their  arrival  and  the  business  fully  stated,  the  Indians  and  settlers 
agreed  that  nothing  would  be  done  until  the  treaty  between  George 
Croghan  and  the  Indians  was  concluded.  These  Indians  were  prin- 
cipally from  the  Mingo  towns.  The  settlers  concluded  that  as  the 
Indians  evinced  no  hostile  disposition  they  would  remain  and  wait 
the  issue  of  the  treaty,  while  some,  however,  declared  their  intention 
to  remove  to  their  former  province. 

The  commissioners,  pursuant  to  their  instructions,  sent  notice  to 
the  people  on  Cheat  River  and  to  Stewart's  Crossing  of  Youghio- 
gheny,  to  meet  them  at  Guesses',  the  most  central  place,  and  also  to 
a  place  called  Turke3'^foot. 

The  names  of  the  persons  who  settled  near  Redstone  were  John 
Wiseman,  Henry  Swartz,  Henry  Prisser,  Joseph  McClean,  William 
Linn,  Jesse  Martin,  William  Colvin,  Adam  iTatton,  John  Yervalson, 
Sr.,  .Fohn  Vervalson,  Jr.,  Abraham  Tygard,  James  Waller,  Thomas 
Brown,  Thomas  Douter,  Richard  Rodgers,  Captain  Coburn,  John 
Delo!ig,  Michael  Hooter,  Peter  Young,  Andrew  Linn,  George  Mar- 
tin, (jrahriel  Conn,  Thomas  Down,  John  Martin,  Andrew  Gudgeon, 
Hans  Cack,  Philip  Sute,  Daniel  McCay,  James  Crawford,  and  Josias 
Crawford. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  9 

Names  at  Guesses'  place. — John  Blooinfield,  Richard  Havrison, 
James  Lynn,  Ezekiel  Johnston,  J.  Johnston,  Thomas  Guesse,  Henry 
Barken,  Charles  Lindsey,  LawrencS  Harrison,  James  Wallace,  and 
Ralph  Hickenbottom. 

Names  at  Tin^keyfoot. — Henry  Abrahams,  Ezekiel  Heckman, 
Ezekiel  Dewitt,  John"Enslow,  James  Spencer,  Henry  Enslow,  Benja- 
min Jennings,  Benjamin  Parsley,  and  John  Cooper. 

Rev.  Mr.  Steele  gave  it  as  his  opinion  to  the  Governor  that,  from 
the  best  information  he  could  obtain,  there  were  only  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  families  in  the  different  settlements  of  Redstone, 
Youghiogheny,  and  Cheat  River. 

We  have  referred  to  the  treaty  of  George  Croghan,  John  Allen, 
and  Joseph  Shippen,  who  were  appointed  commissioners  to  meet 
the  chief  and  principal  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  which  met  at 
Pittsburg,  May  9,  1768.  The  result  of  the  conference  was  that  two 
messengers,  viz.,  John  Frazer  and  John  Thompson,  should  visit  the 
people  settled  at  Redstone,  Youghiogheny,  and  Monongahela,  and 
signify  to  them  the  great  displeasure  of  the  Six  Nations  at  their 
taking  possession  of  their  lands  and  making  settlements  on  tliem, 
and  that  it  is  expected  they  will,  with  their  families,  remove  without 
farther  notice.  These  two  deputies  were  to  be  accompanied  by  the 
white  Mingo  and  the  three  deputies  sent  from  the  Six  Nation  coun- 
try ;  but  when  the  time  of  their  departure  arrived  they  refused  to  go, 
saying  that  their  instructions  were  only  to  attend  to  making  a  treaty, 
and  that  the  driving  the  white  people  away  from  these  settlements 
was  a  matter  which  no  Indian  could  with  any  satisfaction  be  con- 
cerned in,  and  they  thought  it  most  proper  for  the  English  themselves 
to  compel  their  own  people  to  remove  them  from  the  Indian  lands. 

The  commissioners,  finding  all  efforts  fruitless  to  gain  over  the 
Indian  deputies,  determined  to  return  to  Philadelphia,  and,  while 
making  their  arrangements,  they  were  visited  at  their  lodgings  by 
one  of  the  principal  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  stated  that  he 
regretted  the  state  of  affairs,  only  fearing  the  ill-will  of  the  white 
people,  yet  pledging  his  Indian  faith  and  Indian  honor  that  the  Six 
Nations  had  good  hearts  to  all  their  English  brethren.  Thus  ended 
this  treaty  at  Fort  Pitt. 

From  this  period,  or  until  the  year  1*773,  the  country  west  of  the 
Allegheny  Mountains  began  to  fill  up  with  a  growing  population, 
the  inhabitants  feeling  that  they  were  well  protected  by  the  military 
forces  at  Fort  Pitt  in  case  of  an  Indian  attack.  Richard  Penn,  then 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  urged  the  Assembly  to  have  a  sufficient 
number  of  soldiers  at  that  post,  but  the  Assembly  differed  from  the 
Governor,  believing  that,  if  the  fort  was  heavily  garrisoned,  the 
Indians  would  naturally  become  alarmed  at  such  warlike  prepara- 
tions, and  the  worst  consequences  might  be  the  result — although  the 
Assembly  pledged  itself  that  whenever  called  upon  by  the  exigencies 
of  the  time,  they  would  afford  every  kind  of  protection  to  the  western 
inhabitants. 


10  APPENDIX    TO 

Tht  boundary  question  was  one  which  involved  not  only  the  extent 
of  Pennsylvania,  l)ut  the  title  of  lands.  James  Hendricks,  a  sur- 
veyor of  Cunal)erland  County,  being  written  to  on  the  subject  in 
September,  17G9,  replied  that  he  could  not  tell  precisely  where  the 
western  boundary  crossed  the  Monongahela,  but  he  inclined  to  the 
belief  that  Chartiers'  Creek  must  be  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania, 
as  its  junction  with  the  Ohio  is  but  four  miles  from  Fort  Pitt,  about 
northwest,  and  on  going  to  Redstone  old  fort  (Brownsville)  you 
cross  it  several  times,  and  Redstone  old  fort  is  several  degrees  to 
the  westward  of  south  from  Fort  Pitt. 

Col.  William  Crawford,  on  the  9th  of  August,  1771,  in  writing 
on  the  same  subject,  says,  it  was  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  best 
judges  that  the  line  of  the  province  would  not  extend  so  far  (as 
that  of  Mr.  Hendricks)  as  it  would  be  settled  at  forty-eight  miles  to 
a  degree  of  longitude,  which  was  the  distance  of  a  degree  of  longi- 
tude allowed  at  the  time  the  charter  was  granted  to  William  Peun. 

Among  the  persons  who  were  prominent  in  creating  disturbances 
with  regard  to  the  boundary  question  was  Michael  Cressap,  w'ho 
declared  that  the  'province  of  Pennsylvania  did  not  extend  beyond 
the  Allegheny  Mountains,  but  that  all  westivard  of  it  icas  the  king^s 
land.  This  assertion  easily  gained  credence  among  those  who 
settled  on  the  disputed  lands,  while  Mr.  Croghan,  in  a  letter  to 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  dated  June  4,  ll12,  asserted  that  it  was  not  a 
great  number  of  years  since  the  Assembly  refused  to  build  a  trading 
house  or  fort,  alleging  it  to  be  out  of  Mr.  Pcnn's  grant,  and  that 
even  afterwards  the  same  Assembly  refused  granting  money  for  the 
king's  use,  to  assist  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Duquesne  (Pittsburg). 
In  the  same  letter  he  says  the  people  are  fools  if  they  do  not  keep 
their  money  until  they  are  fully  satisfied  that  their  property  is  sure, 
and  that  they  arc  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  fact  need  not  bo  disguised  that  the  proprietaries  of  Pennsyl- 
vania not  only  claimed  all  the  country  about  Pittsburg,  but  the 
settlers  themselves  acquiesced  in  that  claim  until  January  1,  1774. 
Up  to  this  period  the  records  of  Cumberland,  Bedford,  and  West- 
moreland counties  all  establish  this  fact.  Whether  it  was  legally 
made  was4i  question  which  concerned  the  king,  and  not  the  Earl  of 
Punmore,  then  Governor  of  Virginia.  The  charters  of  Virginia  and 
Pennsylvania  were  derived  from  a  common  origin,  and  the  crown 
alone  could  settle  the  dispute.  In  the  midst  of  all  this  perplexity — 
and  to  add  additional  fuel  to  the  burning  embers.  Dr.  John  Connolly, 
a  citizen  of  Virginia  (but  formerly  a  native  of  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania),  appeared,  and  posted  up  the  following  significant 
notice: — 

Whrrkas  his  Excellency  John,  Earl  of  Dunmore.  Governor  of  the  colony 
of  Viririniii,  has  boon  pleased  to  nominate  and  appoint  me  Captain  Com- 
mandant of  the  militia  of  Pittsburg  and  its  dependencies,  with  instructions 
to  assure  bis  majesty's  subjects  settled  on  the  western  waters  that,  haviuii' 
the  greatest  regard  to  their  prosperity  and  interest — and  convinced  from  the 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  11 

reported  memorials  of  the  grievances  of  which  they  complain — that  he  pur- 
poses recommending  to  the  house  of  Burgesses  the  necessity  of  erecting  a 
new  county  to  include  Pittsburg,  for  the  redress  of  your  grievances,  and 
to  take  every  other  step  that  may  tend  to  afford  you  that  justice  which 
you  solicit.  In  order  to  facilitate  this  desirable  circumstance,  I  (John 
Connolly)  hereby  require  and  command  all  persons  in  the  dependency  of 
Pittsburg  to  assemble  themselves  there  as  militia  on  the  25th  inst.,  at  which 
time  I  shall  communicate  other  matters  for  the  promotion  of  public  utility. 

As  soon  as  Govei'nor  Penn  had  learned  of  the  above  circular,  and 
ascertained  the  wishes  of  the  western  people,  he  sent  an  express  in- 
forming them  that  he  had  forwarded  a  letter  to  Governor  Dunmore 
demanding  an  explanation  of  his  strange  and  unaccountable  conduct 
through  his  agent  Dr.  Connolly.  At  the  same  time,  he  urged  and 
required  the  magistrates  to  assert  the  right  of  Pennsylvania  and  pro- 
tect the  people  in  every  part  within  its  own  limits,  adding  that  Fort 
Pitt  was  most  certainly  within  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
Governor  also  directed  the  magistrates  to  apprehend  Dr.  Connolly 
and  some  of  his  partisans  and  magistrates,  at  the  expense  of  govern- 
ment. 

In  pursuance  of  these  directions,  Captain  Connolly  was  arrested 
and  committed  to  gaol  on  refusing  to  find  securities  for  his  good 
behavior  till  next  court.  It  seems,  however,  that  the  captain  pre- 
vailed with  the  sheriff,  and  obtained  his  leave  of  absence  for  a  few 
days,  and,  instead  of  returning  to  gaol  (which  was  then  at  Hannahs- 
town,  Westmoreland  County),  he  %vent  to  the  Redstone  settlement, 
and  from  thence  to  Virginia,  being  guavded  by  his  associates. 

While  Captain  Connolly  was  returning  to  Virginia,  Governor  Dun- 
more  sent  the  following  spicy  letter  to  Governor  Penn,  dated  at 
Williamsburg,  March  3,  11*74  : — 

Sir  :  I  have  been  favored  with  your  letter  of  the  31st  of  January.  From 
the  opinion  of  his  majesty's  council,  1  must  inform  you  that  I  cannot  pos- 
sibly, in  compliance  with  your  request,  either  revoke  the  commissions  and 
appointments  already  made,  or  defer  the  appointing  of  such  other  officers 
as  I  may  find  necessary  for  the  good  government  of  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try which  we  cannot  but  consider  to  be  within  the  dominion  of  Virginia, 
until  his  majesty  shall  declare  the  contrary.  And  I  flatter  myself  I  can 
rely  so  far  on  the  prudence  and  discretion  of  the  officers  whom  1  have  ap- 
pointed, that  the  measure  which  I  have  pursued  may  have  no  tendency  to 
raise  disturbances  in  your  province,  as  you  seem  to  appx'chend,  and  if  any 
should  ensue,  I  cannot  but  believe  they  will  be  occasioned,  on  the  contrary, 
by  the  violent  proceedings  of  your  officers,  in  which  opinion  I  am  justified 
by  what  has  already  taken  place,  in  the  irregular  committment  of  Captain 
John  Connolly  for  acting  under  my  authority,  which,  however,  as  I  must 
suppose,  was  entirely  without  your  participation.  I  conclude  he  is  before 
this  time  released,  but,  nevertheless,  the  act  being  of  so  outrageous  a  na- 
ture, and  of  a  tendency  so  detrimental  to  both  colonies  that,  with  the  ad- 
vice of  his  majesty's  council,  I  do  insist  upon  the  most  ample  reparation 
being  made  for 'so  great  an  insult  on  the  authority  of  his  majesty's  govern- 
ment of  Virginia,  and  no  less  can  possibly  be  admitted  than  the  dismissioa 
of  the  clerk  (Arthur  St.  Clair)  of  Westmoreland  County,  who  had  the  au- 


12  •  APPENDIX    TO 

dacity,  without  any  authority,  to  commit  a  magistrate  acting  in  the  legal 
discharge  of  his  trust,  unless  he  (St.  Clair)  can  prevail,  on  proper  submis- 
sion, on  Mr.  Connolly  to  demand  his  pardon  of  me.     I  am  yours, 

DuxMor.E. 

Governor  Penn  being-  highly  displeased  with  Dunmovc's  letter,  and 
unwilling  that  so  valuable  an  officer  as  St.  Clair  should  either  be  dis- 
missed or  make  an  apology,  immediately  forwarded  his  reply,  couched 
in  the  following  language,  dated  at  Philadelphia  on  the  31st  March, 

My  Lord:  ^  am  truly  concerned  that  you  should  think  the  commitment 
of  ]Mr.  Connolly  so  great  an  insult  on  the  authority  of  the  government  of 
Virginia,  as  nothing  less  than  Mr.  St.  Clair's  dismissal  from  his  ollice  can 
repair.  The  lands  in  the  neighborhood  were  surveyed  for  the  Proprie- 
taries of  Pennsylvania  early  in  the  year  17G9,  and  a  very  rapid  settlement 
under  this  government  soon  took  place,  and  magistrates  were  appointed  by 
this  government  to  act  there  in  the  beginning  of  1771,  who  have  ever  since 
administered  justice  without  any  interposition  of  the  government  of  Vir- 
ginia, till  the  present  affair.  It  could  not,  therefore,  fail  of  being  both  sur- 
prising and  alarming  that  Mr.  Connolly  should  appear  to  act  on  that  stage, 
under  a  commission  from  Virginia,  before  any  intimation  of  claim  or  right 
was  ever  notified  to  this  government.  The  proclamation  of  Mr.  Connolly 
had  a  strong  tendency  to  raise  disturbances  and  occasion  a  breach  of  the 
public  peace  in  a  part  of  the  country  where  the  jurisdiction  of  Pennsyl- 
vania hath  been  exercised  without  objection,  and,  therefore,  Mr.  St.  Clair 
thought  himself  bound,  as  a  good  magistrate,  to  take  legal  notice  of  Mr. 
Connolly.  You  must  excuse  my  not  complying  with  your  lordship's  requi- 
sition of  stripping  him  on  this  occasion  of  his  office  and  livelihood,  which 
you  will  allow  me  to  think  not  only  unreasonable  but  somewhat  dictatorial. 

I  should  be  extremely  concerned  that  any  misunderstanding  should  take 
place  between  this  government  and  that  of  Virginia.  1  shall  carefully  avoid 
every  occasion  of  it,  and  shall  be  always  ready  to  join  with  you  in  the 
proper  measures  to  prevent  so  disagreeable  an  incident,  yet  I  cannot  pre- 
vail on  myself  to  accede  in  the  manner  you  require,  to  a  claim  which  I 
esteem,  and  which  I  think  must  appear  to  everybody  else  to  be  altogether 
groundless.  I  am  your  lordship's  obd't  serv't. 

John  Penn. 

Mr.  Connolly,  finding  himself  supported  in  his  measures  by  Lord 
Dunmore,  returned  to  Pittsburg,  and  had  himself  surrounded  con- 
stantly with  an  armed  body  of  men  to  do  his  bidding  in  defence  of 
Virginia  laws.  Whenever  the  courts  of  Pennsylvania  would  issue  a 
process — or  even  a  magistrate — Mr.  Connolly,  under  his  authority 
from  Lord  Dunmore,  would  obstruct  its  execution.  It  appears  that 
he  was  determined  to  overawe  the  court  of  Westmoreland  County 
with  his  measures,  and  addressed  them  by  a  written  communication 
in  the  following  language  : — 

Gentlemen  :  I  am  come  here  to  be  the  occasion  of  no  disturbances,  but 
to  prevent  them.  As  I  am  countenanced  by  my  government,  w^iatever 
you  may  say  or  conceive,  some  of  the  justices  of  this  bench  are  the  cause 
of  this  appearance,  and  not  me.  1  have  done  this  to  prevent  myself  from 
being  illegally  taken  to  Philadelphia.     My  orders  from  the  government  of 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  13 

Virginia  not  being  explicit,  but  claiming  the  country  about  Pittsburg,  I 
have  raised  the  militia  to  support  the  civil  authority  of  that  colony  vested 
in  me. 

I  am  come  here  to  free  myself  of  a  promise  made  to  Captain  Proctor, 
but  have  not  conceived  myself  amenable  to  the  court  of  Westmoreland 
County  by  any  authority  from  Pennsylvania,  upon  which  account  I  cannot 
apprehend  that  you  have  any  right  to  remain  here  as  justices  of  the  peace, 
constituting  a  court  under  that  province.  But,  in  order  to  prevent  confu- 
sion, I  agree  that  you  may  continue  to  act  in  that  capacity  in  all  such  mat- 
ters as  may  be  submitted  to  your  determination  by  the  acquiescence  of  the 
people,  until  I  may  have  instructions  to  the  contrary  from  Virginia,  or 
until  his  majesty's  pleasure  shall  be  further  known  on  the  subject. 

The  Justices  ofWestmoreland  County  Conrt  immediately  returned 
the  following*  reply  :— 

The  jurisdiction  of  the  court  and  the  officers  of  the  County  of  Westmore- 
land rests  on  the  legislative  authority  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania, 
confirmed  by  his  majesty  in  council.  That  jurisdiction  has  been  regularly 
exercised,  and  the  court  and  officers  will  continue  to  exercise  it  in  the  same 
regular  manner.  It  is  far  from  their  intention  to  occasion  or  foment  dis- 
turbances, and  they  apprehend  that  no  such  intentions  can,  with  propriety, 
be  inferred  from  any  part  of  their  conduct.  On  the  contrary,  they  wish 
and  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  preserve  the  j^ublic  tranquillity.  In  order 
to  contribute  to  this  salutary  purpose,  they  give  information  that  every 
step  will  be  taken  on  the  part  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  to  accom- 
modate any  difierences  that  have  arisen  between  '  and  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia, by  fixing  a  temporary  line  between  them. 

The  effect  which  this  communication  had,  was  that  Devereaux 
Smith,  Aeneas  Mackay,  and  Andrew  McFarland,  magistrates,  as 
they  were  returning  from  court,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1774,  were  ar- 
rested by  the  king's  warrant  by  order  of  Captain  Connolly,  and  re- 
fusing to  give  bail,  under  the  Virginia  laws,  arrangements  were 
made  to  send  them  off  to  Staunton,  Virginia,  for  trial.  On  their 
way  to  Staunton,  Justice  Mackay  called  at  Williamsburg  to  visit 
Lord  Dunraore  in  person  and  make  a  statement  of  the  facts  of  the 
case,  but  he  replied  that  Captain  Connolly  was  authorized  by  him  to 
prosecute  the  claim  of  the  colony  of  Virginia  to  Pittsburg  and  its 
dependencies.  These  justices,  however,  after  their  arrival  at  Staun- 
ton, gave  security  and  returned  to  their  homes. 

Col.  William  Crawford,  however,  President  of  the  Court,  immedi- 
ately sent  an  express  to  Grovernor  Penn  at  Philadelphia,  giving  the 
facts  in  detail  and  at  the  same  time  stating  that  Captain  Connolly  a 
few  weeks  before  went  to  Staunton  and  was  sworn  in  as  a  justice  of 
the  peace  for  Augusta  County,  in  which  it  is  pretended  that  the 
country  about  Pittsburg  is  included,  that  under  that  authority  he  is 
constantly  surrounded  by  an  armed  body  of  about  one  hundred  and 
eighty  militia,  and  that  he  obstructs  the  execution  of  every  legal 
process,  whether  emanating  from  the  court  or  a  single  magistrate. 

The  Provincial  Council,  then  holding  its  deliberations  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  to  whom  the  communication  had  been  sent,  after  delibe- 


14  APPENDIX   TO 

rating  on  the  subject,  sent  two  letters  under  date  of  April  22,  17T4, 
one  to  the  justices  arrested  by  Captain  Connolly,  and  the  other  to 
Colonel  Crawford,  the  president  of  the  court.  In  the  former  Gov- 
ernor Penn  assures  the  justices  under  confinement  that  he  will  send 
commissioners  with  all  possible  expedition  to  Lord  Dunmore,  apply- 
ing for  their  discharge  and  give  instructions  to  procure  for  them  any 
security  or  credit  they  may  stand  in  need  of,  so  as  to  make  their 
disagreeable  situation  as  comfortable  as  may  be.  But  to  Col.  Craw- 
ford, Governor  Penn  wrote  deprecating  the  present  alarming  situa- 
tion of  affairs,  promising  that  the  commissioners  should  expostulate 
with  Lord  Dunmore  upon  the  behavior  of  the  officers  acting  under 
his  authority,  yet  at  the  same  time  assuring  Col.  Crawford  that  as 
Virginia  had  the  power  to  raise  a  much  larger  military  force  than 
Pennsylvania,  prudence  .would  dictate  the  propriety  of  not  attempt- 
ing to  contend  with  them  by  way  of  force,  neither  would  he  advise 
the  magistracy  of  Westmoreland  County  to  proceed  by  way  of 
criminal  prosecution  against  them  for  exercising  the  laws  of  tlie 
dominion  of  Virginia. 

The  commissioners  who  were  sent  to  Lord  Dunmore  were  James 
Tilghman  and  Andrew  Allen,  Esquires,  who  were  instructed  to  ne- 
gotiate with  the  Governor  of  Virginia  on  the  disturbances  of  AVest- 
morcland  County — then  embracing  all  the  territory  of  Pennsylvania 
west  of  the  mountains — the  question  of  jurisdiction  and  such  other 
matters  as  would  quiet  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  near  the  borders 
of  the  two  colonies.  These  commissioners  proceeded  on  their  mis- 
sion May  12,  1774,  and  arrived  at  Williamsburg,  and  immediately 
called  upon  Lord  Dunmore  in  his  official  capacity  as  Governor. 
They  informed  him  that  they,  as  the  representatives  of  Pennsylvania, 
wished  to  settle  upon  some  line  of  jurisdiction  to  remedy  the  incon- 
veniences of  the  present  clashing  jurisdiction  between  the  colonies  of 
Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and  also  to  apply  to  the  crown  to  fix 
the  boundaries  of  Pennsylvania.  Lord  Dunmore  partially  and  ver- 
bally consented  to  the  propositions,  but  insisted  upon  retaining  the 
jurisdiction  of  Fort  Filt  or  the  lands  to  the  eastward  of  the  ]\Ionon- 
gahela  Kiver.  In  his  letter  to  the  commissioners  after  reconsidering 
the  suly'ect,  he  uses  the  following  emphatic  language:  Your  pro- 
posals, amounting  in  reality  to  nothing,  could  not  possibly  be  com- 
plied with,  and  your  resolution  with  regard  to  Fort  Pitt,  the  juris- 
diction over  which  I  must  tell  you  at  all  events  will  not  be  relin- 
quished by  this  government  without  his  majesty's  order,  puts  an 
entire  stop  to  further  treaty.  The  commissioners  replied  by  re- 
gretting his  determination  to  hold  Fort  Pitt,  and  thereby  continuing 
the  inconveniences  arising  from  a  clashing  and  disputed  jurisdiction. 
Their  mission  being  accomplished,  however  unsatisfactory  to  them, 
they  left  for  Philadelphia. 

The  commissioners  having  departed,  Tjord  Dunmore,  as  Governor 
of  Virginia,  immediately  issued  the  following  proclamation,  on  the 
25th  of  May,  1774:— 


UlSTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  15 

VriiKREAs,  I  have  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  government  of  Penn- 
s\Ivania,  in  prosecution  of -their  claim  to  Pittsburg  and  its  dependencies, 
will  endeavor  to  obstruct  his  majesty's  government  thereof  under  my  ad- 
ministration by  illegal  and  unwarrantable  commitment  of  the  officers  I  have 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  that  that  settlement  is  in  some  danger  of 
annoyance  from  the  Indians  also,  and  it  being  necessary  to  support  the 
dignity  of  his  majesty's  government  and  protect  his  subjects  in  the  quiet 
and  peaceable  enjoyment  of  their  rights,  I  have  therefore  thought  proper, 
by  and  with  the,  consent  of  his  majesty's  council,  by  this  proclamation  in 
his  majesty's  name,  to  order  and  require  the  officers  of  the  militia  in  that 
district  to  embody  a  suQicient  number  of  men  to  repel  any  insult  whatever, 
and  all  his  majesty's  liege  subjects  within  this  colony  are  hereby  strictly 
required  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  therein,  as  they  shall  answer  the  con- 
trary at  their  peril.  And  I  do  further  enjoin  and  require  the  several  inha- 
bitants of  the  territory  aforesaid  to  pay  his  majesty's  quitrents  and  all 
public  dues  to  such  officers  as  are  or  shall  be  appointed  to  collect  the 
same  within  this  dominion,  until  his  majesty's  pleasure  shall  be  known. 

The  Indians,  uow  discovering  the  hostility  which  prevailed  between 
the  Virginians  and  Pennsylvanians,  and  considering  that  their  own 
rights  had  been  trampled  upon  by  both  colonies  taking  from  them 
/their  hunting  grounds,  and  these  lands  held  more  sacred  to  them  by 
containing  the  bones  of  their  ancestors,  resolved  to  avenge  them- 
Gelves  on  the  whites.  The  result  was,  that  as  soon  as  this  fact  be- 
came known,  a  great  part  of  the  settlers  fled  from  their  habitations, 
and  the  fear  was  that  there  would  be  a  total  desertion  of  the  whole 
country  and  a  general  Indian  war. 

To  meet  this  emergency.  Governor  Penn  convened  an  Assembly  in 
May,  1714,  at  Philadelphia,  and  informed  them  that  in  the  month  of 
April  previous,  eleven  Delaware  and  Shawnee  Indians  had  been 
barbarously  murdered  on  the  Ohio  River,  below  Pittsburg,  by  two 
parties  of  white  men,  said  to  be  Virginians  ;  that  the  Indians  in 
revenge  had  murdered  a  number  of  Virginians,  settled  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  Mouongahela  River ;  that  although  the  Indian  nations 
are  at  peace  with  the  Colony  of  Pennsylvania,  yet  that  Captain 
Connolly,  appointed  by  the  Virginia  government  at  Pittsburg,  and 
who  has  lately  taken  possession  of  that  place  under  pretence  of  its 
being  out  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  within  the  Colony  of  Vir- 
ginia, with  his  party  has  actually  attacked  the  Indians,  and  that  the 
inference  may  be  justly  arrived  at  that  this  Assembly  must  provide 
for  the  security  of  the  frontier  settlements  in  case  of  a  war  with  the 
Indians. 

Governor  Penn  sent  a  message  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the 
Shawuese  Indians,  in  which  he  says  to  them  that  if  any  of  the  wicked 
people  of  Virginia  have  murdered  any  of  your  people,  you  should 
make  complaint  to  the  Governor,  and  he  will  have  them  punished. 
You  should  not  in  such  case  take  revenge  upon  innocent  people  who 
have  never  injured  you.  A  similar  message  was  sent  to  the  Dela- 
wares,  and  in  these  messages  Governor  Penn  assures  them  that  he 
will  write  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia  on  the  subject.     In  pursuance 


16  APPENDIX    TO 

of  these  messages,  and  the  friendsliip  exhibited  by  Governor  Peun, 
the  Indians  held  a  council  at  Pittsljurg,  June  29,  1774,  and  all  the 
unhappy  diflerences  were  satisfactorily  settled,  the  Indians  having 
determined,  in  their  own  language,  "to  hold  fast  the  chain  of  friend- 
ship, and  make  their  young  men  sit  quiet." 

Captain  Connolly,  it  api)ears,  was  not  satisfied  with  this  peaceful 
termination  of  affairs,  for  in  the  month  of  July  following,  in  writing  to 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  he  says  :  "The  people  of  the  frontiers  want  nothing 
but  the  countenance  of  government  to  execute  every  desirable  pur- 
pose, and  your  province  (Pennsylvania)  appearing  l)ackward  at  this 
critical  juncture,  it  will  most  indubitably  be  highly  displeasing  to 
all  the  western  settlers.  I  am  determined  no  longer  to  be  a  dupe 
to  their  amiable  professions,  but,  on  the  contrary,  shall  pursue  every 
measure  to  offend  them  (the  Indians),  whether  I  may  have  the 
friendly  assistance  or  not  of  the  neighboring  country." 

While  Captain  Connolly  was  acting  in  this  domineering  manner,  a 
letter  arrived  from  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  dated  at  Whitehall,  Sep- 
tember 8, 1T74,  and  addressed  to  Lord  Dunmore,in  which  he  says : — 

"  My  intelligence  through  a  variety  of  other  channels  adds  further,  that  this 
Captain  Counolly,  using-  your  Lordship's  name,  and  pleading- your  authority, 
has  presumed  to  re-establish  the  fort  at  rittsl)urg,  which  was  demolished 
by  the  king's  express  orders.  The  duty  I  owe  the  king,  and  the  regard 
I  entertain  for  your  lordship,  induce  me  to  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of 
acquainting  your  lordship  with  this  information,  to  the  end  that  the  facts 
asserted,  it'  not  true,  may  be  contradicted  by  your  lordship's  authority; 
but  if  otherwise,  which  I  cannot  suppose  to  be  the  case,  such  steps  may  be 
taken  as  the  king's  dignity  and  justice  shall  dictate." 

Governor  Penn  justly  considering  that  neither  Virginia  nor  the 
Indians  would  give  his  province  any  further  trouble,  either  with 
regard  to  the  boundary  question,  or  an  incursion  by  the  Indians, 
was  surprised  to  find  that  the  question  of  jurisdiction  was  again  to 
be  thrust  upon  him  by  a  new  proclamation  issued  by  Lord  Dunmore. 
Upon  its  appearance,  Governor  Penn  issued  the  following  procla- 
mation on  October  12,  1774. 

Whkreas,  I  have  received  information  that  his  excellency,  the  Karl  of 
Dunmore,  governor-general  in  and  over  his  majesty's  colony  of  Virginia, 
hath  lately  issued  a  very  extraordinary  proclamation,  setting  forth  "  that 
the  rapid  settlement  made  on  the  west  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains  by  his 
majesty's  subjects,  within  the  course  of  these  few  years,  had  become  an 
object  of  real  concern  to  his  majesty's  interest  in  that  quarter,  that  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  had  unduly  laid  claim  to  a  very  valuable  and  ex- 
tensive quantity  of  his  majesty's  territory,  and  the  executive  part  of  that 
government,  in  consequence  thereof,  had  most  arbitrarily  and  unwarrantably 
proceeded  to  abuse  the  laudable  adventurers  in  that  part  of  his  majesty's 
dominions,  liy  many  oppressive  and  illegal  measures,  in  discharge  of  their 
imaginary  authority,  and  that  the  ancient  claim  laid  to  that  country  by  the 
Colony  of  Virginia, /ff/u/wZ  m  reason  h;/  pri-nccupaiici/,  and  tlie  general 
acquiescence  a/  all  persons,  together  with  the  instructions  he  had  lately  re- 
ceived from  his  majesty's  servants,  ordering  him  to  take  that  country  under 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  IT 

his  administration ;  and  as  the  evident  injustice  manifestly  offered  to  his 
majesty  by  the  immoderate  strides  taken  by  the  proprietaries  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  prosecution  of  their  wild  claim  to  country,  demand  an  immediate 
remedy,  he  (Lord  Dunmore)  did  thereby,  in  his  majesty's  name,  require  and 
command  all  his  majesty's  subjects  west  of  the  Laurel  Hill  to  pay  a  due 
respect  to  his  said  proclamation,  thereby  strictly  prohibiting  the  execu- 
tion of  any  act  of  authority  on  behalf  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  at 
their  peril,  in  that  country ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  a  due  regard  and 
obedience  to  the  laws  of  his  majesty's  Colony  of  Virginia,  under  his  ad- 
ministration, should  be  observed,  to  the  end  that  regularity  might  ensue, 
and  a  just  regard  to  the  interest  of  his  majesty  in  that  quarter,  as  well  as 
to  his  majesty's  subjects,  might  be  the  consequence." 

And  whereas,  although  the  western  limits  of  the  Province  of  Pennsj'l- 
vania  have  not  been  settled  by  any  authority  from  the  crown,  yet  it  has 
been  sufficiently  demonstrated  by  lines  accurately  run  by  the  most  skilful 
artists,  that  not  only  a  great  tract  of  country  west  of  the  Laurel  Hill,  but 
Fort  Pitt  also,  are  comprehended  within  the  charter  bounds  of  this  pro- 
vince, a  great  part  of  which  country  has  been  actually  settled,  and  is  now 
held  under  grants  from  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  this  government  has  been  peaceably  exercised  in  that  quarter  of  the 
country  till  the  late  strange  claim  set  up  by  the  Earl  of  Dunmore,  in  be- 
half of  his  majesty's  Colony  of  Virginia,  founded,  as  his  lordship  is  above 
pleased  to  say,  "  in  reason,  pre-occupanvy,  and  the  general  ac(|uiescence  of 
all  persons,"  which  clainft  to  lands  within  the  said  charter  limits  must  ap- 
pear still  the  more  extraordinary,  as  his  most  gracious  majesty,  in  an  act 
passed  the  very  last  session  of  Parliament,  "  for  making  more  effectual  pro- 
vision for  the  government  of  the  Province  of  Quebec,"  has  been  pleased 
in  the  fullest  manner  to  recognize  the  charter  of  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  expressly  referring  to  the  same,  and  binding  the  sAid  Province  of 
Quebec  by  the  noi'thern  and  western  bounds  thereof.  Wherefore  there  is 
the  greatest  reason  to  conclude  that  any  instructions  the  Governor  of  Vir- 
ginia may  have  received  from  his  majesty's  servants,  to  take  that  country 
under  his  administration,  must  be  founded  on  some  misrepresentation  to 
thera  respecting  the  western  extent  of  this  province.  Injustice,  therefore, 
to  the  proprietaries  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  who  are  only  desirous 
to  secure  their  own  undoubted  property  from  the  encroachment  of  others, 
I  have  thought  fit,  with  the  advice  of  the  Council,  to  issue  this,  my  procla- 
mation, hereby  requiring  all  persons  west  of  the  Laurel  Hill  to  retain  tbcir 
settlements,  as  aforesaid,  made  under  this  province,  and  to  pay  due  obedi- 
ence to  the  laws  of  this  government;  and  all  magistrates  and  other  officers 
who  hold  commissions  or  office  under  this  government,  to  proceed  as  usual 
in  the  administration  of  justice,  without  paying  the  least  regard  to  the  said 
recited  proclamation  (of  Lord  Dunmore)  until  his  majesty's  pleasure  (King 
George)  shall  be  known  in  the  premises,  at  the  same  time  strictly  charging 
and  enjoining  the  said  inhabitants  and  magistrates  to  use  their  utmost  en- 
deavors to  preserve  peace  and  good  order. 

This  proclamation  had  the  desired  effect  of  calming  the  public 
mind  for  some  mouths  ;  but  in  February,  lt75,  the  conflicting  juris- 
diction of  the  provinces  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  broke  out 
afresh,  and  the  magistrates  acting  under  Pennsylvania  laws  were 
threatened  with  imprisonment  if  they  continued  to  officiate  as  magis- 
trates. Even  Virginians,  who  were  incarcerated  in  jails  under  the 
Pennsylvania  laws,  were  turned  loose  by  an  armed  mob  pretending 

B 


18  APPENDIX   TO 

to  act  under  the  authority  of  Virginia  laws.  Confusion  reigned  in 
the  territory  west  of  the  Laurel  Hill,  lands  already  occupied  were 
given  to  friends  and  favorites  by  Virginia  officers,  the  courts  of  jus- 
tice under  Pennsylvania  laws  were  obstructed,  and  land  offices  were 
even  opened  by  direction  of  the  government  of  Virginia. 

These  outrages  being  certified  to  by  the  justices,  Governor  Penn, 
on  the  1st  of  March,  11*15,  dispatched  an  express  to  Lord  Dunmore, 
in  which  he  stated  that  the  justice  due  to  himself,  and  the  protection 
he  owes  to  the  people,  "  who  have  taken  up  lauds  in  this  province, 
and  settled  them  long  before  your  lordship  thought  fit  to  disturb  its 
peace  by  extending  the  government  of  A^irginia  within  our  chartered 
limits,  obliges  me  to  apply  to  your  lordship  to  know  if  these  violent 
proceedings  are  the  effect  of  your  orders,  or  have  your  countenance, 
that,  in  case  they  have,  I  may  take  the  proper  measures,  or,  if  they 
have  not,  that  they  may  receive  your  discouragement.  Your  lord- 
ship well  knows  that  a  petition  is  depending  before  the  crown  for 
settling  the  bounds  and  running  the  lines  of  this  province,  which, 
when  done,  will  put  an  end  to  the  unhappy  disputes  between  the 
two  governments.  You  will  consider  that  the  country  which  is  the 
seat  of  the  present  disturbances  was  j^r.s^  settled  under  this  province, 
and  that  our  jurisdiction  was  extended  there  in  the  term  of  your 
predecessor.  Lord  Botetourt,  and  recognized  by  his  lordship  in  his 
sending  hither  for  trial  a  person  who  had  committed  a  murder  at 
Stewart's  Crossings,  which  is  westward  of  the  Laurel  Hill."* 

This  murder  happened  in  17*70.  Jolm  Ingraan,  a  slave  of  Col. 
Crawford's,  killed  an  Indian  named  Stephen,  and  was  sent  by  Lieut. 
Inglis  to  Governor  Penn,  with  the  necessary  de})ositions,  proving 
his  guilt,  and  also  his  confession. 

While  such  was  the  state  of  feeling  in  the  western  part  of  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania,  the  court  of  the  district  of  West  Augusta 
was  also  engaged  in  promoting  the  interests  of  Virginia,  as  the  fol- 
lowing facts  will  abundantly  show  : — 

At  a  justices'  court  held  at  Fort  Dunmore  (Pittsburg),  February 
21,  1776,  the  case  of  William  Elliott  was  called  up,  for  disturl)ing 
the  minds  of  his  Majesty's  good  people  by  demanding  in  an  arbitrary 
and  illegal  manner  of' sundry  persons  what  personal  estate  they  arc 
possessed  of,  that  the  same  may  be  taxed  according  to  the  laws  of 
Pennsylvania.  lie  api)earcd,  and,  on  hearing  the  argument  of  the 
attorneys,  the  court  are  of  opinion  that  he  be  committed  to  the  gaol 
of  the  county,  there  to  remain  until  he  enter  into  recognizance  for 
his  good  behavior,  whei'eupon  John  Hervie  and  Charles  Sims  became 
his  securities. 

February  22,  1775.  James  Caveat  was  also  arraigned  before  the 
court  for  mal(>volently  upl)raiding  the  authority  of  his  Majesty's  offi- 
cers of  the  government  of  Virginia  at  sundry  times,  and  for  riotously 
opposing  the  legal  estaljlishnient  of  his  Majesty's  laws,  lie  offered 
as  a  plea  the  want  of  jurisdiction  of  the  court,  which  was  overruled, 
and  he  was  required  to  give  security  for  one  year  and  a  day,  and 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  19 

desist  from  acknowledging  as  a  magisti'ate  within  the  colony  of  Vir- 
ginia any  authority  derived  from  the  province  of  Pennsylvania. 

May  1,  I'ltS.  Thomas  Scott  was  also  bound  over  for  acting  and 
doing  business  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  under  Pennsylvania  laws,  in 
contempt  of  the  Earl  of  Dunmore's  proclamation,  and  also  other 
misdemeanors,  and  was  required  to  desist  from  acting  as  a  magistrate 
within  the  colony  of  Virginia. 

September  20,  1175.  George  Wilson,  gentleman,  was  bound  over 
for  aiding,  advising,  and  abetting  certain  disorderly  persons,  who, 
on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  June  last,  violently  seized  and  carried 
away  Captain  John  Connolly  from  Fort  Dunmore,  and  also  advising 
others  not  to  aid  the  ofl&cers  of  justice  when  called  upon  to  appre- 
hend the  aforesaid  disturbers  of  the  peace.  He  not  appearing,  his 
recognizance  was  forfeited. 

In  addition  to  these  illegal  arrests,  Robert  Hanna,  iEneas  Mackay, 
James  Smith,  and  others  were  tried  by  the  court  held  at  Fort  Dunmore, 
Pittsburg,  and  sent  to  the  gaol  of  the  county,  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  Captain  John  Connolly.  The  patience  of  the  people  at  length 
became  exhausted  by  the  best  of  their  citizens  being  wantonly  cast 
into  prison,  and  they  determined  to  redress  their  own  insupportable 
grievances.  The  Pennsylvanians  seized  Capt.  Connolly,  the  cause 
of  all  their  troubles,  and  took  him  to  Philadelphia,  while  the  Vir- 
ginia court  directed  that  Col.  George  Wilson,  Devereaux  Smith, 
and  Joseph  Spear  should  be  kept  as  hostages  for  the  safe  return  of 
Captain  Connolly  ;  and  to  provide  against  any  contingency  of  these 
hostages  being  rescued  from  their  power,  they  were  sent  off  imme- 
diately in  a  flat  boat  to  Wheeling,  to  be  detained  there  until  future 
events  would  secure  their  liberty,  w^hich  was  afterwards  accom- 
plished. 

The  people  of  the  colonies  p,t  this  date  (1YY5),  on  account  of  the 
encroachments  which  the  king  and  parliament  were  making  upon  all 
the  colonies,  felt  the  necessity  of  casting  aside  all  minor  difTerences, 
and  of  organizing  themselves  for  the  defence  of  their  lives,  their 
liberties,  and  their  propert}^  Every  thought,  every  feeling,  every 
aspiration  was  brought  to  bear  upon  the  all-absorbing  question  of 
the  freedom  of  America.  Conventions  were  called  in  every  colony, 
provincial  councils  were  dissolved,  committees  of  safety  were  substi- 
tuted, courts  of  justice  were  reorganized,  new  oaths  taken,  political 
offenders  were  pardoned,  and  all  united  in  the  heaven-born  design 
of  liberty  and  union. 

From  this  time  forward  Captain  Connolly  became  the  enemy  of  his 
country,  although  a  native-born  citizen  of  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  November,  1175  (after  his  reprieve),  he  was  arrested 
in  Fredericktown,  Maryland,  being  engaged  in  treasonable  projects, 
and  was  ordered  to  be  kept  in  close  and  safe  custody  until  the  orders 
of  Congress  should  be  known.  He  was  afterwards  removed  to  the 
gaol  of  Philadelphia,  and  remained  there  until  April  2,.  1777,  when 
the  Supreme  Executive  Council  directed  his  conditional  release  by 


20  APPENDIX   TO 

permitting  him  to  retire  to  the  pLantatiou  of  James  Ewing,  Esq., 
giving  security  himself  in  £2000,  and  two  freeholders  in  £1000  each, 
for  his  good  behavior,  and  that  he  will  not  write  to,  speak,  or  cor- 
respond with  any  person  employed  under  the  authority  of  the  king 
or  parliament,  nor  any  person  unfriendly  to  the  United  States  of 
America,  or  employ  or  procure  any  person  to  take  up  arms,  or  aid 
and  assist  the  enemies  of  the  said  States  in  any  sort  whatever,  and 
shall  appear  before  the  Council  whenever  called  for.  He  complied 
with  these  requirements  ;  but  what  was  his  after  fate — how  he  lived 
and  how  he  died — we  cannot  ascertain.  However,  such  was  the 
character  of  the  man  who  created  all  the  disturbances  in  the  western 
portion  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  gratify  the  jealousy  of 
Lord  Dunmore  and  his  own  selfish  passions. 

One  year  after  the  States  had  become  "free  and  independent"  (or 
on  July  5,  1T7T),  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania 
conceived  it  to  be  their  duty  to  have  the  boundary  line  between 
themselves  and  the  State  of  Virginia  peacefully  and  quietly  settled, 
as  questions  of  vital  importance  would  necessarily  arise,  in  which 
both  States  would  be  interested,  especially  in  waging  a  war  for  a 
common  cause.  The  Supreme  Council  therefore  directed  Thomas 
Wharton,  Jr.,  their  President,  to  forward  a  letter  to  the  delegates 
of  the  State  of  Virginia,  then  in  Congress.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  letter  dated. 

In  Council.  Philadelphia,  July  5,  1777. 

Gentlemen  :  Being  authorized  by  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  to 
propose  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  a  final  settlement  of  the  disputed 
boundary  line  between  the  two  States,  I  think  myself  happy  to  have  the 
opportunity  of  doing  it  through  you.  The  proposals  on  our  side,  taken 
together,  will,  I  conceive,  appear  so  reasonable,  that  I  flatter  myself  they 
lay  a  foundation  for  a  happy  adjustment  of  all  differences.  You  have  them 
in  the  enclosed  extract  from  the  minutes  of  Assembly,  to  which  I  beg  leave 
to  refer  you.  Being,  sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

Tho.\ias  Wharton,  Jr.,  President. 

On  December  10,  1777,  Francis  Lightfoot  Lee  informed  the  Exec- 
utive Council  of  Pennsylvania,  that  the  delegates  from  Virginia 
desired  another  copy  of  the  i)roposals,  as  they  feared  the  copy  to 
their  Assemljl}^  had  miscarried.  Affairs  remained  in  this  situation 
until  February  0,  1779,  when  Thomas  Adams,  Merri weather  Smith, 
and  Cyrus  Griffin,  delegates  in  Congress  from  Virginia,  wi'ote  a  letter 
to  Josejjh  Reed,  President  of  the  Executive  Council,  communicating 
the  resolutions  of  the  Assembly  of  A^irginia,  which  were  directed  to 
be  sent  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania. 

Patrick  Henry,  Governor  of  Virginia,  on  May  22,  1779,  commu- 
nicated to  President  Reed  that  the  resolutions  of  the  General  Assembly 
fully  expresses  their  sense  on  the  subject  of  negotiating  the  boundary 
line  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  which  was  afterwards 
adopted  in 'council,  on  the  following  5th  of  June. 

The  correspondence  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  and 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  21 

Virginia,  through  their  respective  officers,  Patrick  Henry,  Governor 
of  the  latter,  and  Joseph  Reed  of  the  former  State,  resulted  in  the 
appointment  of  George  Bryan,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Ewing,  and  David 
Rittenhouse,  commissioners  on  behalf  of  Pennsylvania,  and  James 
Madison  (Bishop),  and  Robert  Andrew,  on  behalf  of  Yirginia,  who 
met  at  Baltimore  on  the  31st  day  of  August,  I'T'TO,  and  entered  into 
the  following  agi'eement  after  four  days'  negotiation.  That  the  line 
commonly  called  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  be  extended  due  west  five 
degrees  of  longitude,  to  be  computed  from  the  river  Delaware  for 
the  southern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  and  that  a  meridian  drawn 
from  the  western  extremity  thereof,  to  the  Northern  limits  of  the 
said  States  respectively,  be  the  western  boundary  forever,  on  condi- 
tion that  the  private  property  and  rights  of  all  persons  acquired 
under,  founded  on,  or  recognized  by  the  laws  of  either  country,  pre- 
vious to  the  date  'hereof,  be  saved  and  confirmed  to  them,  although 
they  should  be  found  to  fall  within  the  other,  and  that  in  decision  of 
disputes  thereon,  preference  shall  be  given  {o  the  elder  (5r  prior  right, 
whichever  of  the  said  States  the  same  shall  have  been  acquired  under, 
such  persons  paying,  within  whose  boundary  their  laud  shall  be  inclu- 
ded, the  same  purchase  or  consideration  money  which  would  have 
been  due  from  them  to  the  State  under  which  they  claimed  the  rights, 
and  where  any  such  purchase  or  consideration  money  hath  since  the 
Declaration  of  American  Independence  been  received  by  either  State, 
for  lands,  which  according  to  the  before  recited  agreement,  shall  fall 
within  the  territory  of  the  other,  the  same  shall  be  reciprocally 
refunded  and  repaid,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  disputed  tei'ri- 
tory  now  ceded  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  shall  not,  before  the 
1st  day  of  December  in  the  present  year,  be  subject  to  the  payment 
of  any  tax,  nor  at  any  time  to  the  payment  of  arrears  of  taxes  or 
impositions  heretofore  laid  by  either  State. 

This  agreement,  with  conditions  annexed,  was  adopted  by  resolution 
of  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  September  23,  1780,  and  trans- 
mitted to  the  State  of  Virginia  for  their  confirmation,    v^ 

While  the  negotiations  were  pending.  Congress  passed  the  follow- 
ing preamble  and  resolution,  on  December  27,  1779. 

Whereas,  It  appears  to  Congress  from  the  representation  of  the  delegates 
from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  that  disputes  had  arisen  between  the  States 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  relative  to  the  extent  of  their  boundaries, 
which  may  probably  be  productive  of  serious  evils  to  both  States,  and  tend 
to  lesson  their  exertions  in  the  common  defence,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  contending  parties  not  to  grant 
any  part  of  the  disputed  lands  or  to  disturb  the  possession  of  any  person 
living  thereon,  and  to  avoid  every  appearance  of  force,  until  the  dispute  can 
be  amicably  adjusted  by  both  States,  or  brought  to  a  just  decision  by  the 
intervention  of  Congress.  That  possessions  forcibly  taken  be  restored  to 
the  original  possessors,  and  things  be  placed  in  the  situation  in  which  they 
were  at  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  without  prejudice  to  the 
claims  of  either  party. 


22  APPENDIX   TO 

In  March,  1780,  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania 
addressed  Congress  on  the  disputed  line  between  Virginia  and  itself, 
complimented  Congress  upon  the  foregoing  recommendatory  resolu- 
tions, but  claimed  that  Virginia  still  harasses  the  innocent  and  unfor- 
tunate settlers  of  Pennsylvania  ;  that  as  the  representatives  of  the 
people  they  will  not  consent  to  see  their  State  insulted,  and  that  if 
Pennsylvania  must  arm  for  her  internal  defence,  she  must  necessarily 
withdraw  her  forces  from  the  continental  line,  and  trust  they  shall 
stand  acquitted  before  them  and  the  world. 

This  earnest  protest  to  Congress  had  a  salutary  effect  upon  the 
State  of  Virginia,  for  on  the  Tth  day  of  August,  1784,  a  letter  was 
received  from  Patrick  Henry,  Governor  of  said  State,  inclosing  a 
resolution  confirming  the  line  agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners  in 
August,  1779,  as  above  recited. 

The  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  23d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1780,  authorized  the  President  and  Executive  Council  to  ap- 
point two  commissionei;:s  on  the  part  of  this  State,  in  conjunction 
with  the  commissioners  of  Virginia,  to  extend  the  line  commonly 
called  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  five  degrees  of  longitude  from  the 
Delaware  River,  and  from  the  western  termination  of  the  line  so 
extended  to  run  and  mark,  as  soon  as  may  be,  a  meridian  line  to  the 
Ohio  river,  the  remainder  of  the  line  to  be  run  as  soon  as  the  coun- 
cil, taking  into  consideration  the  disDOsition  of  the  Indians,  shall 
think  it  prudent. 

February  21,  1781,  Alexander  McClean,  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Jos.  Xcville,  of  Youghiogheny  County,  Virginia,  were  appointed  by 
their  respective  States  to  run  a  temporary  line.  They  met  on  the 
10th  of  May  following  and  proceeded  with  their  business,  to  mark 
a  temporary  boundary  line  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia, 
according  to  the  agreement  of  the  commissioners  at  Baltimore  on 
the  31st  of  August,  1780.  The  commissioners  in  marking  the  line 
were  instructed  to  have  cleared  out  at  least  fifteen  feet  in  width,  and 
on  large  trees,  or  other  suitable  objects,  cause  the  letters  P  and  V 
to  be  marked  on  the  different  sides.  Each  commissioner  was  allowed 
twenty  shillings  j)er  day,  exclusive  of  all  necessary  contingent  ex- 
l)enses. 

President  Heed  writes  to  Colonel  James  Marshall,  Lieutenant  of 
Washington  County,  in  1781 : — 

It  was  much  our  wish,  and  equally  our  intention,  to  run  the  line  tliis 
spring,  but  the  State  of  Virginia  being  invaded,  and  the  affairs  of  the  Go- 
vernment in  great  confusion,  there  has  not  been  the  time  or  opportunity  for 
tliat  ))urpose  which  was  nece.ssiiry.  Uesides  that,  upon  iutiuiry,  we  lonnd 
tlie  season  was  too  far  advanced  htr  those  astronomical  observations  which 
were  necessary  to  run  the  line  with  e.xactuess.  We  have  therefore  po.st- 
PONED  TiiR  OKAXD  oi'F.UATioN  to  ne.xt  Spring.  But  as  we  knew  it  was  hiphly 
necessary  to  have  a  partition  of  territory  and  jurisdiction,  we  proposed  to 
Virginia  to  run  a  tempouakv  mne,  beginning  at  the  end  of  Mason  and 
Dixon's  line,  and  measuring  twenty-three  miles,  what  is  by  common  eompu- 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  23 

tation  the  five  degrees  of  longitude  called  for  in  the  charter  of  King  Charles 
II.  This  has  b-een  agreed  to,  and  the  State  of  Virginia  has  sent  orders  to 
the  Surveyor  of  Youghiogheny  County  to  join  with  one  to  be  appointed 
by  us.  We  have  appointed  Alexander  McClean,  Esq.  Should  he  have  occa- 
sion for  a  guard,  or  any  other  assistance  from  you,  we  make  no  doubt  he 
will  receive  it.  As  soon  as  they  have  run  the  line  and  reported  their  pro- 
ceedings, we  shall  send  up  proclamations  calling  upon  all  those  who  fall 
into  this  State  to  conform  to  its  laws  and  government. 

The  temporary  boundary  line  run  by  Alexander  McClean,  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  Joseph  Neville,  of  Yirginia,  was  to  be  recognized 
as  such  until  the  end  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  or  until  the  States 
might  be  in  more  tranquillity.  A  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted  by  the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  2 2d  of  March, 
1783,  approving  of  the  line  lately  run  between  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  resolution  directed  to  be  sent  to  the  legislature  of 
Virginia.  This  being  accomplished,  it  only  became  necessary  for 
the  President  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  to  issue  a  procla- 
mation, to  quiet  the  minds  of  the  people,  which  he  did,  in  the  fol- 
lowing language: — 

Whereas,  The  General  Assembly  of  this  Commonwealth,  by  their  reso- 
lution of  the  twenty-second  day  of  the  present  month,  did  approve  and 
confirm  the  line  lately  run  by  Messrs.  McClean  and  Neville  as  the  boundary 
between  this  State  and  that  of  Virginia,  until  the  final  settlement  thereof 
be  obtained,  we  have  thought  fit  to  make  known  the  same,  and  we  do 
hereby  charge,  enjoin,  and  require  all  persons  whatsoever,  residing  within 
that  tract  of  country  situate  between  the  meridian  line  run  by  Messrs. 
Sinclair  and  McClean,  and  that  lately  run  by  Messrs.  Neville  and  Mc- 
Clean, bounded  southward  by  the  extension  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line, 
and  northward  by  the  Ohio  River,  and  also  all  others  residing  eastward  of 
the  said  line  run  by  Messrs.  Sinclair  and  McClean,  who  heretofore  may 
have  supposed  themselves  to  be  there  settled  within  the  State  of  Virginia, 
to  take  notice  of  the  proceedings  aforesaid,  and  to  pay  due  obedience  to 
the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Given  in  Council  at  Philadelphia,  this  26th  day  of  March,  1783. 

John  Dickinson,  President 

Attest :  John  Armstrong,  Jr.,  Secretary. 

Thus  was  temporarily  settled  the  boundary  line  between  .these 
two  States,  which  was  afterwards  finally  and  fully  adjusted  by  the 
adoption,  extension,  and  approval  of  the  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  a 
history  of  which  we  reserve  for  another  chapter.  But  the  student  of 
history  cannot  fail  tp  observe  that  when  Virginia  ceded  this  part  of 
Pennsylvania,  formerly  claimed  by  it,  to  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
there  was  a  necessity  for  erecting  a  new  county,  hence  Washington 
County  was  erected  in  17^1,  comprising  all  the  State  west  of  the 
Monongahela,  and  southwest  of  the  Ohio. 


S4  APPENDIX   TO 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  MASON  AND  DIXON'S  LINE. 

Its  full  history — the  line  run  by  Charles  Mason  and  Jeremiah  Dixon — the 
claim  of  Pennsylvania — the  claim  of  Lord  Baltimore — the  appointment 
of  commissioners — the  labors  of  Mason  and  Dixon  ended  in  17<)7 — new 
commissioners  appointed  in  1783  by  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania— letter  from  Joseph  Reed  on  the  scientific  apparatus  to  be  used — 
report  of  the  joint-commissioners — report  of  the  Pennsylvania  commis- 
sioners— cost  of  running  the  line-^the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania  run 
by  commissioners  appointed  by  both  States,  and  the  report  of  the  com- 
missioners thereupon — the  origin  of  the  Pan  Handle  in  West  Virginia. 

In  tracing  the  history  of  the  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  contro- 
versy in  the  preceding  chapter,  we  were  necessarily  required  to  ad- 
vert to  the  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  which  was  extended  twenty- 
three  miles,  and  finally  adjusted  by  the  commissiohers  of  the  two 
States.  We  propose  in  the  present  chapter  to  give  a  history  of  this 
celebrated  line,  which  is  the  southern  boundary  of  our  State,  and 
for  want  of  which  there  was  so  much  trouble,  perplexity,  and  con- 
troversial discussions,  until  its  final  adjustment  and  the  erection  of 
Washington  County,  Pennsylvania. 

This  line  was  fixed  by  the  distinguished  mathematicians  and  as- 
tronomers, Charles  Mason  and  Jeremiah  Dixon,  during  the  years 
1T63-4-5-G-T,  and  afterwards  extended,  by  authority  and  consent 
of  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  temporarily,  but  finally 
adjusted  in  1184.  We»  may  add,  the  line  properly  begins  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Maryland,  and  runs  due  west.  The  Indians  (as 
we  will  show)  were  troublesome  to  the  surveyors,  but  by  treaties 
they  permitted  them  to  proceed  as  far  west  as  the  old  war  path, 
within  thirty-six  miles  of  the  whole  distance  to  be  run,  when  the  Indian 
escort  informed  them  that  it  was  the  will  of  the  Six  Nations  the 
surveyors  should  cease  their  labors ;  there  was  no  alternative.  The 
surveyors  stopped,  and  hence  arose  the  difficulties  which  wo  have 
narrated  in  our  preceding  chajjter. 

By  reference  to  the  charter  granted  by  King  Charles  II.  to 
William  Penn,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1681, 
we  find  the  following  descril)ed  land:  "All  that  tract  or  part  of 
laud  in  America,  with  all  the  islands  therein  contained,  as  the 
same  is  bounded  on  {he  cast  by  Delaware  Kiver,  from  twelve 
miles  distant  northwards  of  New  (Castletown  unto  the  three  and 
fortieth  degree  of  northern  latitude,  if  the  Said  river  doth  extend  so 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY,  25 

far  northward ;  but  if  the  said  river  shall  not  extend  so  far  north- 
ward, then  by  the  said  river  so  far  as  it  doth  extend  ;  and  front  the 
head  of  the  said  river  the  eastern  bounds  are  to  be  determified  Tbj 
a  meridian  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  head  of  the  said  river  unto*  the 
said  three  and  fortieth  degree.  The  said  land  to  extend  westwards 
S.\^  degrees  in  longitude  to  be  coniiJUted  from  the  said  eastern 
bounds;  a\id  the"  said 'lands  to  be 'bounded  oh  the  north  by  the 
beginning -of  the  three  and  fortieth  degree  of  northern  latitude,,  anx] 
on  the  south  by  a  circle  drawit  at  twelve  miles  distance  from  New 
Castle  northwards,  and  westwards  unto  the  beginning  of  the  fortieth 
degree  of  northern  latitude,  and  then  by  a  straight  line  westwards 
to  the  limits  of  longitude  above  mentioned." 

It  is  evident  that  Penn's  ^'ant  of  land  from  King  Charles  was  to 
lie  west  of  the  Delawai'e  River,  and  north  of  Maryland,  because  the 
charter  by  Lord  Baltimore  for  Maryland  included  all  the  land  to 
the  Delaware  Bay,  "  which  lieth  under  the  fortieth  degree  'of  noVth 
latitude,  where  New  England  terminates;"  hence  the  only  mode  b}- 
which  the  form  and  extent  of  Pennsylvania  could  be  determined  Was 
by  the  two  natural  landmarks,  viz.,  New  Castletown  and  the  River 
Delaware.  This  river  being  her  eastern  boundary,  New  Castle  was 
to  be  used  as  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  twelle  miles  radius,  whose 
northwestern  segment  was  to  connect  the  river  with  the  beginning 
of  the  fortieth  degree,  while  the  province  was  to  extend  westward 
five  degrees  in  longitude,  to  be  computed  from  said  eastern  bounds. 

The  Penns  claimed  for  the  western  boundary  a  line  beginning  at 
thirty-nine  degrees,  at  the  distance  of  five  degrees  of  longitude  from 
the  Delaware  ;  "thence  at  the  same  distance  from  that  river  in  every 
point  to  north  latitude  forty-two  degrees,  which  would  take  into  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania  some  fifty  miles  square  of  Northwestern 
Virginia,  west  of  the  west  line  of  Maryland.  Lord  Dunmore,  how- 
ever, scouted  this  claim,  and  insisted  that  it  would  be  diflficult  to 
ascertain  such  a  line  with  mathematical  exactnes's',  and  that  the 
western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  should  be  a  meridian  line  run 
south  from  the  end  of  five  degrees  of  longitude  from  the  Delaware, 
on  the  line  of  forty-two  degrees.  This  claim,  on  the  other  hand, 
would  have  thrown  the  western  line  of  Pennsylvania  fifty  miles  east 
of  Pittsburg. 

The  foundation  of  the  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  was  based  upon 
an  agreement  entered  into  on' the  4th  of  July,  IT  GO,  between  Lord 
Baltimore,  of  the  province  of  Maryland,  and  Thomas  and  Richard 
Penn,  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the^thre'e  lower  coun- 
ties of  Newcastle,  Kent,  and  Sussex  on  the  T>elaware — on  account 
of  the  very  long  litigations  and  contests  which  had  subsisted  between 
these  provinces  from  the  year  1G83.  These  parties  mutually  agreed 
among  other  things  to  appoint"  a  sufficient  number  of  discreet  and 
proper  persons,  not  more  than  seven  on  each  side,  to  be  their  re- 
spective commissioners,  with  full  power  to  the  said  seven  persons, 
or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  for  the  actual  running,  markitig,  and 


26  APPENDIX    TO 

laying  out  the  said  part  of  the  circle  (as  mentioned  in  the  charter 
from  Charles  II.  to  William  Penn),  and  the  said  before-mentioned 
lines.  The  commissioners  were  to  fix  upon  their  time  of  commenc- 
ing said  line  not  later  than  ,tho  following-  October,  and  proceed  with 
all  fairness,  candor,  and  dispatch  ;  marking  said  line  with  stones  and 
posts  on  both,  sides,  and  complete  the  same  before  the  25th  of  I)e- 
ceniber,  17G3,  so  that  no  disputes  may  hereafter  arise  concerning 
the  same. 

James  Hamilton  (Governor),  Richard  Peters,  Rev.  Pr.  John  Ew- 
ing,  William  Allen  (Chief  Justice),  William  Coleman,  Thomas  Wil- 
ling, and  Benjamin  Chew  were  appointed  commissioners  on  the  part 
of  the  Penns. 

Horatio  Sharpe  (Governor),  J.  Ridout,  John  Leeds,  John  Barclay, 
George  Stewart,  Dan  of  St.  Thomas  Jenifer,  and  J.  Beale  Boardley 
on  behalf  of  Lord  Baltimore. 

The  Board  of  Commissioners  met  at  New  Castle,  in  November, 
1760,  and  each  province  selected  its  own  surveyors.  The  Penn- 
sylvania surveyors  were  John  Lukens  and  Archibald  McClain. 
Those  of  Maryland  were  John  P.  A.  Priggs  and  Jonathan  Hall. 

The  commissioners  and  surveyors  agreed  that  the  peninsular  lines 
from  Henlopen  to  the  Chesapeake,  made  under  a  decree  of  Lord 
Hardwicke  in  1150,  was  correct,  hence  they  fixed  the  court-house  at 
New  Castle  as  the  centre  of  the  circle,  and  the  surveyors  proceeded 
on  this  data  to  measure  and  mark  the  lines.  James  Veech,  Esq.,  in 
his  history  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  says: — 

"Three  years  were  diligently  devoted  to  finding  the  bearing  of  the  ■west- 
ern line  of  Delaware,  so  as  to  make  it  a  tangent  to  the  circle,  at  the  end  of 
a  twelve  mile  radius.  The  instruments  and  appliances  employed  seem  to 
have  been  those  commonly  used  by  slirveyors.  The  proprietors  residing  ia 
or  near  London,  grew  weary  of  this  slow  progress,  whitcfi  perhaps  they  set 
down  to  the  incompetency  of  the  artists.  To  this  groundless  suspicion 
we  owe  their  supersedurc  aud  the  introduction  of  the  men  Mnson  and 
Z'/u,-o>i,  who  have  immortalized  their  memory  in  the  name  of  the  principal 
line  which  had  yet  to  be  run." 

In  August,  1703,  Charles  Mason  and  Jeremiah  Dixon,  of  London, 
England,  were  selected  by  Lord  Baltimore  and  the  Penns,  to  com- 
plete their  lines,  as  per  agreement,  made  on  the  fourth  of  July,  1760, 
and  arrived  at  Philadeli)hia  in  November,  for  that  purpose,  furnish- 
ed, says  Mr.  Veech,  with  instructions  and  the  most  approved  instru- 
ments, among  them  a  four  foot  zenith  sector.  They  go  to  work  at 
once,  erect  an  observatory  on  Cedar  Street,  Philadelphia,  to  facili- 
tate the  ascertainment  of  its  latitude,  which  building  they  use  by 
January,  1764,  and  it  has  been  pronounced  the  first  building  erected 
in  America  for  astronomical  observations.  They  then  go  to  New 
Castle,  adopt  the  radius  as  measured  by  their  predecessors,  and  affer 
numerous  tracings  of  the  tangent  line,  adopt  also  their  tangent 
point,  from  which  they  say  tlicy  could  not  make  the  tangent  line  pass 
one  inch  to  the  eastward  or  westward.     They  therefore  cause  that 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  27 

line  and  point  to  be  marked,  and  adjourn  to  Philadelphia  to  find  its 
southern  limit  on  Cedar  or  South  Street.  This  they  make  to  be  39° 
56'  29",  while  the  latitude  of  the  State  has  been  marked  as  39°  56' 
29".  Thej  then  proceed  to  extend  that  latitude  suflBciently  far  to 
the  west  to  be  due  north  of  the  tangent  |loint.  Thence  they  mea&uTe 
down  south  frfteen  miles  to  the  latitude  of  the  great  due  west  line,  and 
run  its  parallel  for  a  short  distance.  Then  they  go  to  the  tangent 
points  and  run' due  north  to  that  latitude,  and  at  the  point  of  inter- 
section, in  a  deep  ravine,  near  a  spring,  they  cause  to  be  planted  the 
corner-stone,  at  which  begins  the  celebrated  "Mason  and  Dixon's 
line." 

We  shall  continue  the  graphic  description  of  our  learned  friend 
James  Veech/'Esq.  Having  ascertained  tJie  latitude  of  this  line  to 
be  39^  43'  32"  (althoug^h  more  accurate  observations  make  it  39° 
43'  26".8,  consequently  it  is  a  little  over  nineteen  miles  south  of  40° 
as  now  located)  they,  under  instructions,  run  it^  parallel  to'lho  Sus- 
quehanna, twenty-three  miles ;  and  having  verified  the  latitude  theVe,' 
they  return  to  the  tangent  point,  from  which  they  ran  'the  due 
north  line  to  the  fifteen  mile  corner  and  that  part  of  the  c'^'cle  which 
it  cuts  off  to  the  west*  and  which  by  agreement  was  to  go  to  New 
Castle  County.  (This  little  bow  or  arc  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
long  and  its  tniddle  width  one  hundred  and  sixteen  feet.  From  its 
upper  end  where  the  three  States  join,  to  the  fifteen  niile  point  where 
the  great  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  begins,  is  a  little  over  three  and  a 
half  miles,  and  from  the  fifteen  mile  corner  due  east  to  the  circle  is  a 
little  over  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  This  Avas  the  only  part  of  the 
circle  which  Mason  and  Dixon  run,  Lord  Baltimore  having  no  con- 
cern in  the  residue  ;  Penn,  however,  had  it  run  and  marked  with  "  fouv 
good  notches"  by  Isaac  Taylor  and  Thomas  Piersoh  in  1100-1.) 
Where  it  cuts  the  circle  is  the  corner  of  three  doininions,  an  im- 
portant point,"  and  therefore  they  cause  it  to  be  well  ascertained  dnd 
well  marked.     This  brings  them  to  the  end  of' 1764. 

They  resume  their  labors  in  June,  1765.  If  to  extend  this  parallel 
did  not  require  so  great  skill  as  did  the  nice  adjustments  of  the  other 
lines  and  intersections,  it  summoned  its  performers  to  greater  endur- 
ance. A  tented  army  penetrates  the  forest,  but  their  purposes  are 
peaceful  and  they  move  merrily.  Besides  the  surveyors  and  their 
assistants,  there  were  chain  bearers,  rod  men,  axe  men,  commission- 
ers, cooks,  and  baggage  carriers,  with  numerous  servants  and  labor- 
ers. By  the  27th  of  October,  they  come  to  the  North  (Cove  or 
Kittatinny)  Mountain,  ninety-five  miles  from  the  Susquehanna,  and 
where  the  temporary  line  of  1739  terminated.  After  taking  Captain 
Shelby  with  them  to  its  summit  to  show  them  the  course  of  the  Po- 
tomac, and  point  out  the  Allegheny  Mountain,  the  surveyors  and 
their  attendants  return  to  the  settlements  to  pass  the  winter  and  to 
get  their  appointment  renewed. 

Early  in  1766  they  are  again  at  their  posts,  and  by  the  4th  of 
June  they  are  on  the  top  of  the  little  Allegheny  Mountain ;  the  first 


28  APPENDIX   TO 

west  of  Wills'  Creek.  They  have  now  carried  the  line  about  on^ 
hundred  and  sixty  miles  from  its  beginning:.  The  Indians  into  whose 
ungrauted  territory  they  had  deeply  penetrated,  grow  restive  and 
threatening.  They  forbid  any  further  advance,  and  they  had  to  be 
obeyed.  The  agents  of  the  proprietors  now  find  that  there  are  other 
lords  of  the  soil  whose  favor  must  be  propitiated.  The  six  Indian 
nations  were  the  lords  paramount  of  the  territory  yet  to  be  traversed. 
To  obtain  their  consent  to  the  consummation  of  the  line,  the  Govern- 
ors of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  in  the  winter  of  ITGG-V,  at  an 
expense  of  more  than  £500,  procured,  under  the  agency  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Johnston,  a  grand  convocation  of  the  tribes  of  that  powerful 
confederacy.  The  application  was  successful,  and  early  in  June^ 
1767,  an  escort  of  fourteen  warriors,  with  an  interpreter  and  chief, 
deputed  by  the  Iroquois  council,  met  the  surveyors  and  their  camp 
at  the  summit  of  the  great  Allegheny  to  escort  them  down  into  the 
valley  of  the  Ohio,  whose  tributaries  they  were. soon  to  cross.   ' 

Safety  befng  thus  secured,  the  extension  of  the  liite  was  pushed 
on  vigorously  in  the  summer  of  1767.  Soon  the  host  of  red  and 
white  men  led  by  the  London  surveyors,  came  to  the  western  lixnit 
of  Maryland,  "the  meridian  of  the  first  fountain  of  the  Potemac," 
and  why  they  did  not  stop  there  is  a  mystery,  for  there  their  functions 
terminated.  But  they  pass  by  it  unheeded,  because  unknown, 
resolvecl  to  reach  the  utmost  \hia^  of  Penn's  "  StMfi  degrees  of 
longitflde"  from  the  Delaware,  for  so  were  they  instructed.  By  the 
24th  of  August  they  came  to  the  crossing  of  Braddock's  road.  The 
escort  now  became  restless,  JIhe  Mohawk  chief  and  his  nephew 
leave.  The  Shawnese  and  Delaware,  tenantsof  the  hunting  grounds, 
begin  to  grow  terrific.  On  the  27th  of  September,  wh-en  encamped 
on  the  Monongahela  River,  twp  hundred  and  thirty-three  miles  from 
the  Delaware  River,  twenty-six  of  the  laborers  desert,  and  but  fifteen 
axe-men  arc  left.  Being  so  near  the  goal,  'the  surveyors  (far  none 
of  the  commissioners  were  with  them)  evince  their  courage  by  coolly 
sending  back  to  Fort  Cumberland  for  aid,  ^nd  in  the  mean  timt  they 
push  on.  At  length  they  came  to  where  tlie  line  crosses  the  Warrior 
branch  of  the  old  Catawba  war  path,  at  th6  second  crossing  of 
Dunkard  Creek,  a  little  we%t  of  Mount  Morris,  in  Greene  County, 
and  there  the  Indian  eScort  say  to  th^m,  "that  they  ivcre  instructed 
by  their  chiefs  in  council,  not  to  let  the  line  be  run  westward  of  that 
pathy  Their  commands  are  peremptory,  and" there  for  fifteen  years 
Mason  and  Dixon's  line  is  stayed. 

Mason  and  Dixon,  with  their  i)ack-horse  train  and  attendants, 
return  to  the  east  without  molestation  and  report  to  the  commis- 
sioners, who  approved  their  conduct,  and  on  the  27tli  of  December, 
1767,  grant  to  them  an  honorable  discharge,  and  agreed  to  pay  them 
an  additional  price  for  a  map  or  plan  of  their  work. 

The  commissioners  caused  stones  to  be  erected  upon  the  lines  and 
at  the  corners  and  intersections  around  and  near  the  three  counties 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  29 

of  Delaware.     On  the  9th  day  of  ]Srovember,  lt68,  they  made  their 
final  report  to  the  proprietors. 

It  would  be  well  to  remark  that  along  the  line  and  at  the  end  of 
every  fifth  mile,  a  stone  was  planted  on  which  were  graven  the  arms 
of  the  proprietors  on  the  side  facing  their  possessipns  respectively, 
while  the  intermediate  miles  Were  noted  by  a  stone  bearing  the  initials 
of  the  respective  State  thereon.  The  line  opened  was  of  the  breadth 
of  twenty-four  feet,  made  by  felling  all  the  large  trees,  which  were  left 
to  I'ot  upon  the  ground  ;  the  stones  were  erected  along  the  middle 
of  this  pathway. 

The  instruments  used  by  Mason  and  Dixon  were  an  ordinary 
surveyor's  compass  to  fiikl  their  bearings  generally,  a  quadrant,  and 
the  four  feet  zenith  sector,  for  abs'olute  accuracy,  and  which  enabled 
them  to  be  guide'd  by  the  unerring  luminaries  of  the  heavens. 

The  measurements  were  made  with  a  four  pole  chain  of  one  hun- 
dred links  each,  except  that  on  hills  and  mountains,  one  of  two  poles 
and  sometimes  a  one  pole  measure  was  used.  -  These  were  frequent- 
ly tested  by  a  startute  chain  carried  along  for  that  purpose.  Great 
care  was  enjoined  as  to  thb  plumbings  on  uneven  ground,  and  so  far 
as  they  have  been  since  tested,  the  measurements  seem  to  have  been 
very  true. 

The  width  of  a  degree  of  longitude  varies  according  to  the  lati- 
tude it  traverses,  expanding  towards  the  equator,  and  contracting 
towards  •  the  pole.  In  the  latitude  of  our  line.  Mason  and  Dixon 
computed  it  at  fifty-three  miley-artfl'  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  and 
one-tenth  perches."  They  coliisequently  made  Penn's  five  degrees  of 
longitude  from  the  Delaware,  to_be  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
miles  and  one  hundred  and  ninety-feve  and  one-sixt(?enth  pe'i^hes.  To 
their  stopping  place  at  the  war-path  on  Dunkard,  they  say  was  two 
hundred  and  forty -four  raffes,  one  hundred  and  thirte"fin  perches  and 
seven  and  one  fourth  feet.  Hence  they  left,  as  they  computed  it, 
twenty-three  miles  and  eighty-three  perches  to  be  run.  It-was'  sub- 
sequently, ascertained  that  this  was  about'a  mile  and  a  half  too  much, 
as  the  surveyors  of  1784  made  it  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  miles, 
ninety-nine  and  one-fifth  perches. 

After  a  long  controversy  with  Yirgini^,  which  we  have  narrated 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  and  up  to  September  4, 1783,  and  after  the 
erection  of  Washington  County,' Pennsylvania,  the  General  Assem- 
bly resolved  that  as  many  of  the  objections  Vv^hich  have  hitherto 
prevented  the  determination  of  the  boundary  line  are  now  removed, 
it  becomes  necessary  to  close  that  business'^with  all  possible  accuracy 
and  dispatch,  whereupon  Pennsylvania^  and  Virginia  therefore  ap- 
pointed the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Ewing,  David  Rittenhouse,  John  Lukeus, 
and  Thomas  Hutchins,  on  behalf  of  Pennsylvania,  while  Virginia 
appointed  Right  Reverend  James  Madison,  Bishop. of  Virginia, 
Rev.  Robert  Andrews,  John  Page,  and  Andrew  Elliott,  of  Mary- 
land, their  respective  commissioners,  to  provide  the  necessary  instru- 
ments and  make  all  necessary  preparations  for  running  the  line. 


30  APPENDIX    TO 

At  this  point  of  our  history,  it  will  be  interesting  to  our  scientific 
readers  to  introduce  an  official  letter  written  Ijy  Joseph  Reed,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania,  to  Thomas 
Jefl'erson,  Governor  of  Virginia.  The  original  is  in  the  archives  of 
the  city  of  Richmond. 

Ix  CouxciL.  Philadelphia.  IMay  14,  1T81. 

Dkak  8ir  :  Since  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  your  Excellency  on  the 
Gtb  Inst.,  we  have  conferred  witli  the  cummissiouers,  who  settled  the  agree- 
ment entered  into  at  Baltimore  in  August,  1779,  and  we  fully  concur  in  the 
mt-thod  proposed  by  your  Kxcellency  of  settling*  the  extent  of  the  five  de- 
grees of  longitude  by  astronomical  observation,  not  only  as  deteripiuing 
the  present  question  with  more  certainty,  but  as  it  tends  to  solve  a  problem 
both  useful  and  curious  to  the  learned  world.  But  we  are  sorry  to  find 
that  it  is  the  opinion  of  our  gentlemen  of  science  that  the  season  will  be 
too  far  advanced  before  the  observations  can  be  commenced,  and  more 
especially  as  the  principal  astronomical  iustrunients  in  this  city  arc  so 
scattered  and  out  of  repair  as  to  require  a  considerable  time  to  put  them 
in  order. 

For  these  reasons,  though  w^th  great  reluctance,  we  have  thought  it  best, 
after  expressing  our  full  acciuic^encc  in  the  mode  suggested  l)y  your  Excel- 
lency, to  propose  the  1st  of  May  next  to  run  the  line  by  astronomical  ob- 
servations. l>ut  in  the  mean  time,  for  the  sake  of  settling  the  minds  of  the 
people,  and  preventing  disputes  among  the  borderers,  to  have  a  temporary 
line  run  by  common  surveyors  from  the  termination  of  jNIason  and  Dixon's 
line  to  the  Ohio  ;  or  if  that  should  not  be  agreeable,  to  extend  it  twenty- 
three  miles  from  the  end  of  IMasoii  and  I>ixon's  line,  that  being  the  extent  of 
five  degrees,  according  to  common  computation.  In  this  case  we  only  pro- 
pose to  mark  the  trees,  avoiding  as  much  as  possible  unnecessary  expense. 
AVe  hope  this  last  proposition,  in  which  we  have  no  other  intentions  than 
to  quiet  the  minds  of  tiie  people  and  compel  militia  services,  will  be  accept- 
able to  your  Excellency  as  the  best  and  indeed  the  only  expedient  which 
can  now  be  adopted. 

I  am,  with  great  consideration  and  respect,  your  Excellency's  obedient 
servant,  Joseph  Reed,  President. 

James  Yeech,  Esq.,  very  justly  observes  that  the  conuaissioners 
undertook  the  task  from  an  anxious  desire  to^ratTfy  the  astronomical 
world  in  the  performance  of  a'  problem  which  ha's  never  yet  been 
attempted  in  any  country,  and  to  prevent  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
from  the  chance  of  losing  many  hundred  thousands  of  acres  secured 
to  it  by  the  agreement  at  Baltimore.  To  solve  the  novel  problem, 
two  of  the  artists  of  each  State,  provided  with  the  'proper  astro- 
nomical iastrnmeuts  and  a  good  timepiece,  repaired  to  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  nearly  on  the  line,  where  they  erected  an  observatory. 
The  other  four  in  likg  manner  furnished,  and  with  commissary,  sol- 
diers, and  servants,  proceeded  to  the  west  encV  of  the  temporarxj 
line,  near  to  which,  on  one  of  the  highest  of  Vhe  Fish  Creek  hills, 
they  also  erected  a  rude  observatory.  At  these  stations  each  party, 
during  six  long  weeks  of  days  and  nights,  preceding  the  autumnal 
(■(juinox  of  1784,  continued  to,  make  observations  of  the  eclipses  of 
Jupiter's  moons,  and  other  celestial  phenomena,  for  the  purpose  of 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  31 

determining  their  respective  meridians  and  latitude,  and  adjusting 
their  timepieces.  This  done,  two  of  each  party  come  together,  and 
thej  find  their  stations  were  apart  ticenty  minutes  and  one  and  an 
eighth  seconds.  The  Wilmington  station  was  one  hundred  and 
fourteen  (four  poles)  chains  and  thirteen  links  west  of  tlie  Delaware. 
Knowing  that  twenty  minutes  of  time  were  equal  to  five  degrees  of 
longitude,  they  make  allowance  for  "said  one  hundred' a\id  fourteen 
chains  and  thirteen  links,  and  for  the  sai<i  one  and  an  eighth  seconds 
(equal,  they  say,  to  nineteen  chains  and  ninety-six  links),  and  upon 
these  data  they  shorten  bacl^on  the  line  to  twenty  minutes  from  the 
Delaware,  and  fix  thd  southwest  coruer  of*  the  State  by  setting  up  a 
square  unlettered  white  oak  post,  around  which  they  rear  a  conical 
pyramid  of  stones,  "and  they  ai-e  there  unto  this  day." 

As  but  very  few  persons  can  have  access  to  the  original  reports 
of  the  commissioners,  we  insert  them  for  future  reference. 

.* 

Joint  Report  of  Commissioners  on  Boundary  between 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia. 

Agreeably  to  the  commission  given  by  the  State  of  Virginia  to  James 
Madison,  Robert  Andrews,  John  Page,  and  Andrew  ElUott,  and  by  the 
State  of  Pennsj'lvania  to  John  Ewing,  David  Eittenbouse,  John  Lukens, 
and  Thomas  Hutchins,  to  determine  by  astronomical  observations  the  ex- 
tent of  five  degrees  of  longitude  west  from  the  river  Delaware  in  the  lati- 
tude of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  and  to  run  and  mark  the  boundaries  which 
are  common  to  both  States,  according  to  an  agreement  entered  into  by 
commissioners  from  the  said  two  States  at  Baltimore  in  1779  and  after- 
wards ratified  by  their  respective  AssembHes,  we,  the  underwritten  com- 
missioners, together  with  the  gentlemen  with  whom  we  are  joined  in  com- 
mission, have,  by  corresponding  astrtlnomicftl  observations,  made  near  the 
Delaware  and  in  the  western  country,  ascertained  the  extent  of  the  said 
five  degrees  of  longitude;  and  the  "underwritten  commissioners  have  con- 
tinned  "Mason  and  Dixon's  line  to  the  termination  of  the  said  five  degrees 
of  longitude,  by  which  work  the  southern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania  is 
completed.  The  continuation  we  have  marked  by  opening  vistas  over  the 
most  remarkable  heights  which  lie  in  its  course,  an*  by  pknting  on  many 
of  these  heights,  in  the  parallel  of  latitude,  the  true  boundary,  posts  marked 
with  the  letters  P.  and  Y.,  each  letter  facing  the  State  of  which  it  is  the 
initial.  At  the  extremity  of  this  line,  which  is  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  we  have  planted  a  squared  unlettered  white  oak 
post,  around  whose  base  we  have  raised  a  pile  of  stones.  The  corner  is  in 
the  last  vista  we  'cut,  on  the  east  side  of  a  hill,  one  hundred  and  thirty-four 
chains  and  nine  links  east  of  the  meridian  of  the  western  observatory,  and 
two  chains  and  fifty-four  Uiiks  west  of  a  deep  narrow  valley,  through  which 
the  said  last  vista  is  cut.  At  the  distance  of  fifty-one  links,  and  hearing 
from  it  north  twenty-three  degrees  east,  stands  a  white  oak  marked  on  the 
south  side  with  three  notches,  and  bearing  south  twelve  degrees  west,  and 
at  the  distance  of  twenty-nine  links,  stands  a  black  oak  on  the  north  side 
with  four  notches.  The  advanced  season  of  the  year,  and  the  inclemency 
of  the  weather,  have  obliged  us  to  suspend  our  operations,  but  we  have 
agreed  to  meet  again  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Pennsylvania  on  the  IGth 
day  of  May  next  to  complete  the  object  of  our  commission. 


32  APPENDIX    TO 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  in  the  County  of  Washington,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, this  18th  day  of  November,  1784. 

Robert  Andrews,  □  Andrew  Elliott,       □ 

John  Ewing,  □  David  Rittenuouse,  □ 

Tho.  Hutchins.  □ 

To  this  report  I  add  the  report  of  the  Pennsylvania  Commissioners 
on  the  boundary  with  Virginia,  which  was  received  by  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  December  23,  1784; 

To  his  Excellency  John  Dickinson,  Esq.,  President  of  the  State,  and  to 

the  Honorable  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the  Commonioealth  of 

Pennsylvania  : — 

The  commissioners  appointed  for  ascertaininj;  the  length  of  five  degrees 
of  longitude,  and  for  determining  and  fixing  the  boundary  lines  between 
this  State  and  Virginia  by  astronomical  observations,  beg  leave  to  report 

That  after  procuring  the  necessary  instruments,  according  to  the  direc- 
tions of  council  in  the  preceding  spring,  we  set  off  for  our  respective 
places  of  observation  about  the  beginning  of  June,  Messrs.  Ritteuhouse 
and  Lukens  to  Wilmington,  and  Ewing  and  Ilutchins  to  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  State. 

The  observers  at  Wilmington  completed  their  observatory  and  furnished 
it  with  the  necessary  instruments,  so  as  to  begin  their  astronomical  opera- 
tions in  conjunction  with  Messrs.  Page  and  Andrews,  commissioners  from 
Virginia,  about  the  beginning  of  July,  where  they  continued  observing  the 
eclipses  of  Jupiter's  satellites  till  the  20th  of  September,  that  they  might 
have  a  sufficient  number  of  them,  both  before  and  after  his  opposition  to 
the  sun  ;  and  although  the  summer  proved  very  unfavorable  for  astronomi- 
cal purposes,  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  make,  amongst  them,  near 
sixty  observations  of  these  eclipses,  besides  many  other  observations  of  the 
other  heavenly  bodies  for  the  regulation  of  their  clock  and  fixing  their 
meridian  Hue,  so  that  they  were  well  ascertained  of  their  time  to  a  single 
secoud. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  other  observers,  setting  out  from  Philadelphia, 
pursued  their  rout  to  the  southwestern  extremity  of  the  State,  where  they 
arrived  about  the  middle  of  July,  having  been  greatly  retarded  by  the  bad- 
ness of  the  roads  through  that  mountainous  country.  There  they  met  with 
Messrs.  Madison  and  Elliott,  the  commissioners  from  the  State  of  Virginia, 
who  had  arrived  about  the  same  time.  With  all  possible  dispatch  they 
erected  their  observatory  on  a  very  high  hill  at  the  place  where  the  con- 
tinuation of  Messrs.  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  by  IMessrs.  Neville  and 
McClcan,  ended,  supposing  that  this  place  would  prove  to  be  near  to  the 
western  extremity  of  five  degrees  of  longitude  from  the  river  Delaware. 
After  erecting  their  instruments,  which  had  not  sustained  the  least  damage 
by  the  carriage  through  so  long  a  journey,  and  the  most  unfavorable  roads, 
they  began  their  astronomical  observations  about  tlie  middle  of  July,  and 
they  continued  them  night  and  day  till  the  20th  of  September  following. 
Although  tliey  were  fre(|uently  interrupted  and  disappointed  by  an  uncom- 
mon quantity  of  rain  and  foggy  weather,  which  seems  peculiar  to  that  hilly 
country,  yet  by  their  attention  to  the  business  of  their  mission,  they  made 
between  forty  and  fifty  observations  of  the  eclipses  of  Jupiter's  satellites, 
many  of  which  were  correspondent  with  the  observations  made  by  the  other 
astronomers  at  Wilmington,  besides  innumerable  observations  of  the  sun 
and  stars  for  the  regulation  of  their  timepieces  and  the  marking  of  their 
meridian  with  the  greatest  precision. 


HISTORY    OF    V^'ASIIINGTON   COUNTY  33 

In  this  part  of  their  work,  situated  nearly  thirty  miles  beyond  any  of  the 
inhabitants,  the  commissioners  were  greatly  assisted  by  the  diligence  and 
indefatigable  activity  of  Col.  Porter,  their  commissary,  to  whose  industry 
in  providing  everything  necessary,  and  prudence  in  managing  the  business 
in  his  department  with  the  utmost  economy,  the  State  is  greatly  indebted. 

The  astronomical  observations  being  completed  on  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber, the  eastern  astronomers  set  out  to  meet  the  other  commissioners  in 
the  west,  in  order  to  compare  them  together.  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and 
Andrews  carried  with  them  the  observations  made  at  Wilmington,  while 
Messrs.  Lukens  and  Page  returned  home,  not  being  able  to  endure  the 
fatigues  of  so  long  a  journey,  nor  the  subsequent  labor  of  running  and 
marking  the  boundary  line.  Mr.  Madison  continued  with  the  western 
astronomers  till  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Rittenhouse  and  Andrews,  when  the 
affairs  of  his  family  and  public  station  obliged  him  to  relinquish  the  busi- 
ness at  this  stage  and  return  home,  after  concurring  with  the  other  com- 
missioners as  to  the  principles  on  which  the  matter  was  fully  determined. 

Upon  comparison  of  the  observations  made  at  both  extremities  of  our 
southern  boundary,  your  commissioners  have  the  pleasure  of  assuring  you 
that  no  discouragements,  arising  from  the  unfavorable  state  of  the  weather 
or  the  unavoidable  fatigues  of  constant  application  by  day  and  frequent 
watchings  by  night,  have  prevented  them  from  embracing  every  opportu- 
nity and  making  a  sufficient  number  of  astronomical  observations,  to  deter- 
mine the  length  of  five  degrees  of  longitude  with  greater  precision  than 
could  be  attained  by  terrestrial  measures  of  a  degree  of  latitude  in  different 
places  of  the  earth  ;  and  further,  that  they  have  completed  their  observa- 
tions with  so  much  accuracy  and  certainty  as  to  remove  from  their  minds 
every  degree  of  doubt  concerning  their  iinal  determination  of  the  south- 
western corner  of  the  State. 

In  the  result  of  the  calculations  they  found  that  their  observatories  were 
distant  from  each  other  twenty  minutes  and  one  second  and  an  eighth  part 
of  a  second  of  time.  But  as  the  observatory  at  AVihnington  was  fixed  at 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  chains  and  thirteen  linlis  west  of  the  intersec- 
tion of  the  boundary  line  of  this  State  with  the  river  Delaware  ;  and  as 
twenty  minutes  of  time  are  equivalent  to  five  degrees  of  longitude,  they 
made  the  necessary  correction  for  the  said  one  hundred  and  fourteen  chains 
and  thirteen  links,  and  also  for  the  said  one  second  and  one-eighth  part  of 
a  second,  which  is  equal  to  nineteen  chains  and  ninety-six  links,  and  accord- 
ingly fixed  and  marked  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  State  in  the  manner 
mentioned  in  the  joint  agreement  and  report  of  the  commissioners  of  both 
States  under  their  hands  and  seals,  which  we  have  the  honor  of  laying 
before  the  council. 

After  these  calculations  were  made,  the  commissioners  proceeded  with 
all  convenient  dispatch  to  the  place  where  Mason  and  Dixon  formerly 
were  interrupted  by  the  Indian  nation  in  running  the  southern  boundary  of 
this  State,  in  order  to  extend  the  said  boundary  westward  to  the  length  of 
five  degrees  from  the  river  Delaware.  Being  prevented  by  rainy  weather 
for  near  a  week  from  making  any  astronomical  observations  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  direction  of  the  parallel  of  latitude,  which  we  were  to  extend, 
we  concluded,  to  save  time  and  expense,  that  it  would  be  eligible  to  take 
the  last  direction  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  and  to  correct  it,  if  necessary, 
when  we  should  have  an  opportunity  of  a  serene  sky.  Upon  extending  the 
line  in  this  manner  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  chains  from  the  place 
where  they  ended  their  work,  we  found,  by  astronomical  observations,  that 
we  were  thirty-tioo  feet  and  five  inches  north  of  the  true  parallel,  and  we 
accordingly  made  the  necessary  correction  here  and  marked  a  tree  with  the 

c 


34  APPENDIX   TO 

letters  P  on  the  north  side  and  Y  on  the  south.  From  thence  we  assumed 
a  new  direction,  which  we  again  corrected  in  like  manner  at  the  distance  of 
jiva  Jmndred  and  seventy-five  chains,  where  wo  found  our  line  to  be  seventy- 
three  feet  and  six  inches  north  of  the  parallel  of  latitude.  We  made  the 
offset  acoordingly  and  planted  a  large  post  in  the  true  parallel  marked  as 
above,  From  thence  we  found  another  direction  by  calculation,  which, 
beginning  at  the  said  post,  should,  at  the  distance  of  eight  miles  from  it, 
intersect  the  said  parallel,  making  offsets  at  convenient  distances  and  plant- 
ing posts  in  the  true  parallel.  This  direction  being  continued  thirty-three 
chains  farther  than  the  eight  miles  above  mentioned,  fell  tiventy-lhree  inches 
south  of  the  parallel,  where  we  also  planted  a  post  in  the  true  boundary, 
marked  as  before,  and  from  thence  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State  we 
assumed  a  new  direction  which,  being  continued,  fell  iivn  feet  and  eight 
incites  south  of  the  said  corner.  This  correction,  therefore,  being  made, 
we  planted  a  scpiared  white  oak  post  in  the  said  point  and  marked  its  bear- 
ing from  different  objects,  as  mentioned  in  our  joint  report.  Besides  the 
marking  of  this  boundary  line  by  the  posts  and  stones  above  mentioned, 
your  commissioners  took  good  care  to  have  a  vista  oi'  tiuenty  or  thirty  feet 
wide  cut  over  all  the  most  remarkable  ridges  which  were  in  the  direction 
of  the  parallels. 

For  a  more  full  description  of  this  part  of  our  work  we  beg  leave  to  refer 
to  the  annexed  ])lau  (this  plan  has  never  yet  been  found  among  the  State 
papers)  and  sketch  of  the  country  through  which  the  line  passes.  The 
season  being  now  far  advanced,  we  were  obliged  to  desist  from  any  further 
prosecution  of  the  work,  and  agreed  with  the  Virginia  commissioners  to 
meet  them  at  the  southwestern  corner  of  our  State  on  the  17th  of  May 
next,  to  proceed  in  running  and  marking  the  western  boundary  of  this 
State. 

Agreeably  to  our  commission  we  were  required  to  report  the  situation  of 
the  country  and  the  best  means  of  preserving  the  communication  and  con- 
nection between  the  eastern  and  western  parts  of  the  State.  "We  beg  leave 
to  observe  that  the  natural  obstructions  to  so  desirable  a  purpose  may  be 
in  a  great  measure  removed  by  a  few  easy  instances  of  attention,  paid  by 
the  legislature  of  this  State  to  the  situation  and  exhausted  condition  of  the 
western  citizens.  Their  public  roads  are  numerous,  extensive,  and  in  bad 
order;  while  the  citizens  being  few  in  number,  scattered  at  a  distance  from 
each  other,  and  being  harassed  and  exhausted  by  an  Indian  war,  are  unable 
to  repair  their  roads  or  to  open  them  through  more  easy  and  convenient, 
passes,  over  the  hills  and  mountains.  A  few  hundred  pounds,  not  exceed- 
ing one  thousand,  judiciously  and  frugally  applied,  would,  in  our  opinion, 
make  a  tolerable  good  wagon  road  from  York  County  to  the  Monongahela; 
and  therel)y  facilitate  the  exjiortation  of  goods  from  this  city  to  that 
western  country  and  secure  their  trade  with  us,  especially  if  the  ferry  over 
the  Susquehanna  was  made  free  to  all  the  citizens  of  the  State.  It  ap])ear3 
probable  to  us  that  otherwise  the  exertions  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  to 
repair  their  roads  to  that  country  will  frustrate  the  expectation  which  we 
are  entitled  to  entertain  of  enjoying  the  advantages  of  the  trade  with  the 
western  ))arts  of  our  own  State.  AVc  beg  leave  further  to  observe  that  the 
natural  attachment  of  the  western  citizens  to  this  State  might  be  increased 
and  fixed  by  an  indulgence  to  their  distressed  situation  in  the  price  of  their 
lands  and  the  terms  of  payment;  and  jiarticularly  in  the  remission  of  the 
interest  due  on  the  purcliase  money  during  the  time  they  have  been  obliged 
to  evacuate  their  possessions  by  the  savages  and  fly  to  forts  for  the  security 
of  their  lives  and  families.        Jomi  Ewing,  David  Ritttknhousk, 

JouN  Likens,  Thomas  Hutchins. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  35 

The  twenty-three  miles  from  the  war  path  to  the  southwest  corner 
cost  the  State  £14:55  specie,  equivalent  to  about  four  thousand  dol- 
lars, besides  six  dollars  per  day  to  each  of  the  astronomers.  From 
the  accounts  of  the  commissary,  Col.  Andrew  Porter — the  father  of 
ex-Governor  Porter — we  copy  the  following  bill,  to  show  how  well 
the  commissioners  lived  ;  yet  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  there  was  a 
necessity  for  procuring  a  great  variety  of  ai'ticles,  as  they  were  labor- 
ing about  thirty  miles  from  the  settlements.     The  bill  calls  for 

120  gallons  of  spirits,  40  gallons  of  brandy,  80  gallons  of  Madeira  wine, 
200  pounds  of  loaf  sugar,  a  small  keg  of  lemon  juice,  6  pounds  of  tea,  100 
pounds  of  coffee,  60  pounds  of  chocolate,  and  40  pounds  of  Scotch  barley, 
pepper,  6  bushels  of  salt,  4  tin  mugs,  1  coffee-mill,  1  pewter  teapot,  1  tin 
coffee-pot,  1  frying  pan,  1  gridiron,  6  boiling  kettles,  1  Dutch  oven,  1  tea- 
kettle, 2  pair  of  snuflers,  4  candlesticks,  2  funnels,  100  lbs.  candles,  2  hand 
saws,  1  cross-cut  saw,  6  files,  2  hammers,  12  gimlets,  50  lbs.  nails,  1  set  of 
knives  and  forks,  teacups,  saucers,  glasses,  tumblers,  bowls,  dishes,  plates, 
tin  spoons,  and  basins,  6  large  camp  stools  and  six  small  ones,  2  marquees 
or  4  horsemen's  tents,  60  felling  a.xes,  100  lbs.  steel,  6  shovels,  6  pickaxes, 
6  spades,  12  pair  of  H  L  hinges,  3  four-horse  wagons  and  one  light  wagon 
with  4  horses,  20  fathom  of  half-inch  rope,  2  crowbars,  2  planes,  2  augers,  4 
mattresses,  4  blankets,  4  pillows,  1  frower,  2  mauls  and  rings,  2  wedges,  1 
broadaxe,  2  drawing  knives,  ^  box  of  window  glass,  1  ream  of  paper,  100 
quills,  6  sticks  of  wax,  2  doz.  pencils,  1  box  wafers,  2  inkstands,  2  large 
camp  tables,  1  doz.  memorandum  books,  cheese,  2  doz.  hams,  1  doz.  kegs 
white  biscuit.  , 

Thus  ends  the  history  of  all  the  difficulties  which  are  embraced  in 
this  and  the  preceding  chapter,  and  including  the  rise,  progress,  and 
settlement  of  the  celebrated  'Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  from  the  year 
1752  to  the  23d  of  December,  1784,  when  the  commissioners  made 
their  final  report,  which  was  "adoptcfd  by  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
through  her  legally  constituted  representatives. 

Western  Line  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  and  for  the  benefit  of  our  readers, 
we  add  that  on  the  9th  of  April,  1785,  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  appointed  David  Ritteuhouse  and  Andrew  Porter,  Esqs. , 
on  behalf  of  this  State,  to  meet  Joseph  Neville  and  Andrew  Elliott, 
who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  to  run  and 
mark  the  boundary  lines  from  the  southern  corner  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  State,  between  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  The 
Pennsylvania  commissioners  were  instructed  to  act  in  conjunction 
with  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  the"  State  of  Virginia,  as  far 
as  they  may  choose  to  proceed.  The  reason  assigned  for  this  was 
that  the  Virginia  pretensions  ended  at  a  given  point  by  reason  of 
her  cession  of  the  northwest  territory  to  the  United  States  in  1784. 
Our  commissioners  were  also  instructed  that  if  any  commissioners 
on  behalf  of  the  United  "States  should  appear  to  join  with  them,  to 
co-operate  with  them  cheerfully. 


36  APPENDIX   TO 

On  the  29th  of  July,  nS5,  President  Dickinson  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  commissioners  urging  the  prosecution  of  the  important  business 
intrusted  to  them  with  the  utmost  diligence  and  with  all  the  dis- 
patch that  is  compatible  with  accuracy  in  their  proceedings.  About 
one  month  afterwards  the  commissioners  finished  their  labors,  as  we 
find  from  the  following  report : — 

"We,  the  subscribers,  commissioners  appointed  by  the  States  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia,  to  ascertain  the  boundary  between  the  said  States — 

Do  certify  that  wo  have  carried  on  a  meridian  line  from  the  southwest 
corner  of  Pennsylvania  northward  to  the  river  Ohio,  and  marked  it  by  cut- 
ting a  wide  vista  over  all  the  principal  hills  intersected  by  the  said  line,  and 
by  falling  or  deadening  a  line  of  trees  gcnerallythrough  all  the  lower  grounds, 
and  we  have  likewise  placed  stones  marked  on  the  east  side  P,  and  on  the 
west  side  V,  on  most  of  the  principal  hills  and  where  the  line  strikes  the 
Ohio,  which  stones  are  accurately  placed  in  the  true  meridian  boiinding 
the  States  as  aforesaid.  Witness  our  hands'and  seals  this  23d  day  of  August, 

1785.  David  Rittexiiouse,  □  Andrew  Porter,  □ 
Andew  Elliott,         □  Joseph  Neville,  □ 

The  Supreme  Executive  Council  appointed  Andrew  Porter  and 
Alexander  McClean  on  the  lOtTi  of  June,  1*186,  to  extend  the  line 
of  the, western  boundary  of  the  State,  and  on  the  4th  of  October, 

1786,  they  made  the  following  report: — 

We,  the  commissioners  ap^iointed  to  ascertain  and  complete  the  line  of 
the  western  boundary  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  beg  leave  to  report 
that  we  have  ascertained  and  completed  said  line  by  astronomical  observa- 
tions as  far  as  Lake  Erie,  having  opened  a  vista  and  planted  stones  in  the 
proper  direction,  marked  on  the  east  side  P,  and  that  said  line  extends 
some  distance  in  the  lake.  Andrew  Porter. 

Alexander  McClean. 

We  may  add  that  the  length  of  this  line  is  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  miles. 

Pan-Handle  of  West  Virginia, 

From  the  date  of  the  report  of  Rev.  Dr.  ]Madison  and  Robert 
Andrews,  Escp,  of  Virginia,  to  the  legislature  of  that  State  made  on 
the  8th  day  of  October,  1785,  may  be  considered  as  the  legal  ex- 
istence of  what  is  now  known  as  the  Pau-IIandlc. 

J.  G.  Jacob,  Esq.,  in  his  life  of  Patrick  Gass,  thus  describes  the 
Pan-llandle  i)revious  to  October  8,  1785:  Ohio  County  had,  been 
formed  from  Youghiogheny,  by  the  line  of  Cross  Greek,  a-nd  says 
the  record,  on  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  question  in  1789,  that 
portion  of  Voughiugheny  lying  north  of  tlris  creek  Vf-as  added  to 
Ohio,  being  too  (gmall  fur  a  separate  county,  and  the  county  of  You- 
ghiogheny became  thereupon  extinct,  '(See  page  15  for'history  of 
Youghioglicny  County.)  Hancock,  then  and  so  much  of  Brooke  as 
lies  north  of  Cross  Creek  was  the  last  of  the  ancient  Youghiogheny. 

Tradition,  in  accounting  fur  the  strip  of  land  driven  in  wedge- 


HISTORY   OP   "WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  37 

like  between  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania,  constituting  what  is  called  the 
Pan-handle,  states  that  it  was  owing  to  an  error  in  reckoning  that 
the  five  degrees  of  west  longitude  reached  so  far  to  the  west,  and 
that  much  dissatisfaction  Vas  excited  when  the  result  was  definitely 
settled ;  as  great  importance  was  attached  to  the  command  of  the 
Ohio  River  by  the  authorities  of  either  State. 

When  the  State  of  Ohio  was  formed,  in  1802,  the  Pan-handle  first 
showed  its  beautiful  proportions  on  the  map  of  the  United  States. 
It  received  its  name  in  legislative  debate,  from  Hon.  John  McMillan, 
delegate  from  Brooke  County,  to  match  the  Accomac  projection,  which 
he  dubbed  the  Spoon-handle. 

New  State. 

On  October  19,  1182,  Brigadier-General  Irvine,  then  stationed  at 
Fort  Pitt,  officially  informed*' -the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of 
Pennsylvania,  that  many  deluded  men,  governed  by  ambition,  se- 
riously contemplated  the  formation  of  a  new  State  on  the  frontiers 
of  this  State;  whereupon  the  Council,  on  the  19th  of  November  fol- 
lowing, adopted  a  resolution  appointing  the  Rev.  Jameg  Finley,  of 
Chester  County,  to  travel  through  the  counties  of  Washington  and 
Westmoreland,  and  by  moral  persuasion  endeavor  to  bring  over  the 
deluded  citizens  to  a  proper  sense  of  their  duty.  Rev.  Finley  was 
specially  selected  because  he  was  not  only  well  acquainted  with  the 
people  generally,  but  because  he  had  preached  amongst  them. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  1183,  Rev.  James  Finley  reported  to  Hon. 
John  Dickinson,  President  of  Council,  that  as  the  honorable  council 
had  appointed  him  to  fulfil  the  intentions  of  the  legislature,  by  en- 
deavoring to  bring  these  deluded  citizens  in  the  western  counties  to 
a  proper  sense  of  their  duty,  who  seemed  disposed  to  separate  from 
the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  and  erect  a  new  and  independent 
State  and  to  act  as  prudence  might  dietate,  he  therefore  would  give 
the  following  account  of  his  commission : — 

Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  the  appointment  and  the  instruc- 
tions, he  set  off  to  gain  all  the  knowledge  he  could  of  the  sentiments 
of  the  people  in  the  different  parts  of  the  settlement.  He  found  that 
the  inhabitants  on  the  east  side  of  Youghiogheny  River  were  mostly 
opposed  to  a  new  State,  that  a  considerable  number  of  people  be- 
tween the  Youghiogheny  and  the  Monongahela  River,  and  a  great 
part  of  Washington  County  was  in  favor  of  it,  being  misled  by  a  few 
aspiring  and  ill-designing  men,  or  men  who  had  not  thoroughly  con- 
sidei'ed  the  whole  matter,  which  latter  was  the  case  of  some  of  the 
clergy. 

Rev.  Finley  also  reported  that  he  found  that  the  act  to  prevent 
the  erecting  any  new  and  independent  State,  and  likewise  the  act 
for  the  sale  of  certain  lands  therein  mentioned,  of  December  3,  1182, 
quite  intimidated  and  discouraged  the  populace,  who  had  been  buoyed 
up  with  the  hopes  of  easily  obtaining,  and  prospects  of  great  advan- 


38  APPENDIX   TO 

tage  of,  a  new  State ;  he  therefore  called  upon  a  number  of  the 
ministers  and  other  gentlemen,  conversed  with  some  and  wrote  to 
others,  as  well  as  cautioned  the  people,  after  sermon,  against  the  forma- 
tion of  a  new  State. 

Rev.  Finley  resided  six  weeks  among  and  visiting  the  people,  and 
wrote  a  letter  upon  the  subject  of  the  formation  of  a  new  State,  iu 
which  he  used  the  following  arguments  :  That  its  formation  would 
be  premature  and  unjust  and  dangerous  to  tha  settlement,  that  the 
expenses  incurred  in  its  formation  and  support  would  be  greater  thau 
the  people  could  bear;  that  Pennsylvania  has  a  clear  title  to  all  the 
lands  within  her  boundary;  that  Congress  treated  an  application  for 
a  new  State  with  the  greatest  displeasure;  that  as  Christians  it  be- 
comes the  people  to  be  honest,  peaceful,  and  submissive,  and  that 
they  should  pay  their  taxes  and  quidtly  submit  to  the  laws  of  the 
State. 

Rev.  Finley,  at  the  termination  of  his  labors,  assured  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council  that  he  was  satisfied  in  his  owh  mind  tliat  the 
new  State  affair  was  finally  and  forever  settled,  which  proved  to  be 
the  case,  and  the  act  of  the  Council,  passed  in  December,  1T82,  de- 
claring it  treason  to  attempt  the  formation  of  a  new  State,  assisted 
the  well-disposed  citizens  to  urge  upon  all  immediate  and  uncondi- 
tional submission,  and  the  abandonment  of  so  wicked  a  project. 

The  contemplated  limits  of  the  new  State,  says  James  Yeech,  Esq., 
was  to  include  Western  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  easl'of  tTfc  Muskingum, 
and  Virginia  northeast  of  the  Kana.tfha,  with  PiftsBURG  as  the  seat 
of  empire. 


CHAPTER  III. 

INDIAN  HISTORY  OF  WESTERN  PENNSYLVANIA  AND  VIRGINIA. 

Names  of  all  tl»e  tribes  of  North  America  in  17(J4 — Those  inhabiting  Western 
Pennsylvania  and  adjoining  territory — Letters  on  the  Indian  wroiigs  from 
17G5  to  1780 — Rice's  fort— Letters  from  Dr.  J.  C.  Hupp  on  Miller's  block- 
house— Captivity  and  escape  of  Jacob  Miller,  and  the  cruel  murder  of  five 
of  Miller's  friends — Vance's  fort — Wells's  fort — Lindley's  fort. 

In  1704,  John  Stuart,  Esq.,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs, 
received  from  his  majesty  a  ])lan  for  the  future  management  of  Indian 
affairs  in  America.  This  plan  was  sulnnitted  on  the  10th  of  July, 
1704,  by  the  commissioners  of  trade,  consisting  of  Lord  llillsljorough, 
George  Rice,  R.  Gascoygne,  and  J.  Dyson,  and  approved  by  his 
majesty.  This  plan  consists  of  forty-three  articles,  regulating  all 
matters  connected  with  the  several  tribes  of  Indians.     The  second 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  39 

article  divides  the  whole  British  dominion  into  two  districts,  making 
the  river  Ohio  the  boundary  line,  but  shortly  afterwards  these  same 
commissioners,  finding  that  several  of  the  northern  nations  had  not 
only  claims  and  interest,  but  possibly  actual  possession  and  residence 
to  the  south  of  some  parts  of  the  Ohio  River,  they  had  recourse  to 
distinguishing  each  district  by  naming  the  several  tribes  to  be  com- 
prehended within  each.  It  will  also  be  observed  that  the  Piankishaws, 
Wawiaghtonos,  and  other  tribes  which  resided  upon  the  Wabash  and 
other  rivers  to  the  north  of  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  with  the 
Mississippi,  they  placed  in  the  northern  district. 

I  shall  enumerate  first  the  names  of  the  tribes  of  the  northern 
district  of  North  America,  in  alphabetical  order — 

Arundacks,  Algonkins,  Abiuaquis,  Arsigunticooks,  Cayugas, 
Conoys,  Caghnawagas,  Canassadagas,  Ghippewaghs  (or  Missisagais), 
Delawares,  Folsavoins,  Foxes,  Hurons,  Illinois,  Keskesias,  Kicka- 
pous,  Mohocks,  Meynomenis,  Masconteus,  Mickmacks,  Nanticokes, 
TsTorvvidgewalks,  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Oswegatchies,  Ottawas,  Paw- 
tiwatamais,  Puano,  Piankashaws,  Penobscots,  Senecas,  Saponeys, 
Skaghquanoghronos,  Shawnese,  Saxes,  Sioux,  St.  Johns,  Tuscaroras, 
Tuteeres,  Twightiveas,  Wawiaghtonos,  Wyandotts,  amounting  to  42. 

Second,  the  Indian  tribes  in  the  souther'n  district — 

Attacapas,  Bayuglas,  Beluxis,  Cherokees,  Creeks,  Chickasaws, 
Chactaws,  Catawabas,  Humas,  Ofulgas,  Peluches,  Querphas,  Tuni- 
cas, amounting  to  13. 

Before  writing  •of  the  Indian  wars  which  took  place  in  Western 
Pennsylvania  and  the  territory  adjoining,  it  will  be  well  to  state  the 
residence  of  some  of  these  tribes  for  the  benefit  of  the  general  read- 
er, who  desires  to  investigate  the  subject  and  read  Indian  history 
understandingly. 

Those  tribes  of  Indians  who  inhabited  Pennsylvania  and  the 
adjoining  colonies,  were  the  "  Six  Nations,"  known  originally  as  the 
Five  Nations,  called  by  the  French,  Iroquois.  These  five  tribes 
consisted  of  the  Mohawks  and  Oneidas  (which  were  the  oldest), 
Senegas,  Onondagos,  and  Cayugas.  In  1112,  the  Tuscaroras, 
who  had  resided  in  North  Carolina,  were  driven  off  from  their  hunt- 
ing grounds  in  the  southern  district,  and  became  the  sixth  of  this 
powerful  Indian  confederacy.  They  were  called  the  Six  Indian 
Nations,  because  they  all  spoke  the  same  language. 

In  describing  the  settlement  of  these  Six  Nations,  it  cannot  be 
done  in  more  appropriate  language  than  in  the  words  of  an  Oneida 
Chief,  at  a  conference  with  the  Indians  held  in  1T62.  In  addressing 
the  Governor,  James  Hamilton,  he  says  : — 

"  It  was  we  of  the  Mohawks,  Oneidas,  Senecas,  Onondagos,  Cayugas,  and 
Tuscaroras.  that  first  brought  about  the  good  work  of  peace.  The  Mohawks 
and  Oneidas  are  the  eldest  of  the  Six  Nations,  both  of  a  height.  I  will  let  you 
know  the  Mohawks  are  the  eldest,  yet  they  are  the  furthest  off  to  the  eastward. 
When  they  hear  anything,  they  pass  through  the  Oneidas  to  the  Onondagos, 
where  the  council  fire  burns.    Likewise  when  the  Senecas  hear  anything,  they 


40         '■  APPENDIX    TO 

come  to  the  Cayug-as,  because  they  are  next  to  the  Onondago  council,  so  that 
whenever  they  hear  anything  to  the  east  or  west,  it  is  carried  to  the  Onon- 
dago council." 

In  other  words,  there  are  only  two  doors  to  the  Onondago  council 
fire,  either  through  the  Mohocks  in  the  east,  or  the  Scnecas  in  the 
west.  This  Indian  confederacy  of  the  Six  Nations  embraced  what 
now  comprises  the  States  of  Western  New  York,  Northwestern  Penn- 
sylvania, West  Virginia,  Ohio,  and  their  influence  was  felt  even  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  in  fact  all  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  northern  jurisdic- 
tion, more  particularly  the  six  western  Indian  tribes  called  the  Dela- 
wares,  Shawnese,  Twightecs,  Wiwaghtamics,  Kickapocs,  and  Tusca- 
roras.  The  remains  of  these  Six  Indian  Nations  still  exist,  but  in 
very  small  numbers,  by  reservations  secured  to  them  by  the  States 
of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  On  the  25th  of  January,  1866, 
the  legislature  of  Pennsylvania  directed  a  monument  to  be  erected 
to  the  memory  of  Cornplanter,  of  the  Seneca  tribe,  and  a  principal 
chief  of  the  Six  Nations,  for  his  distinguished  services  in  behalf  of 
the  Revolutionary  war.  The  monument  was  erected  at  Jennesadaga, 
Warren  County,  Pa.,  and  dedicated  Avith  appropriate  honors.  Leaving 
Gy-ant-wa-chia,  or  Cornplanter,  the  last  chief  of  the  Senccas  and  of 
the  Iroquois  or  Six  Nations,  buried  in  his  last  home,  the  old  home- 
stead in  which  he  lived  and  died  at  the  age  of  one  hundred  years, 
we  trace  our  steps  to  speak  of  Indian  war,  Indian  cruelty,  and  Indian 
barbarity,  made  upon  the  early  pioneers  of  the  land  upon  which  we 
dwell. 

The  first  Indian  war  with  which  Ave  as  a  county  are  immediately 
interested,  was  that  of  1763,  wiien  all  the  Indian  nations  of  the 
western  country  united  against  the  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Virginia  and  other  colonies.  We  have  already,  in  our 
first  chajtter,  exhibited  the  authority  of  the  colonies  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia  to  restrain  their  citizens  from  making  settlements  west 
of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  because  the  lands  were  claimed  by  the 
Indians.  The  indomitable  courage  of  our  people  was  neither  daunted 
by  government  or  fear,  but  gradually  they  made  settlement  after  set- 
tlement, erected  forts  and  block-houses,  until  the  Indians  resolved 
to  take  up  arms  in  their  own  d(!fence.  They  therefore  resolved  on 
a  general  massacre  of  all  the  white  people  not  only  in  the  western 
country,  but  along  the  Susquehanna,  where  many  of  their  tribes  were 
settled. 

History  tells  us  that  their  first  attack  was  against  the  English 
traders  settled  at  different  points,  and  out  of  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty,  but  two  or  three  escaped  ;  that  the  garrisons  of  Presque  Isle, 
St.  Joseph,  and  Michilimakinae,  were  taken  and  a  general  slaughter 
ensued,  and  tliat  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  the  forts  at  Bedford, 
Ligonier,  Niagara,  Detroit,  and  Pittsburg,  were  preserved.  Fort 
Pitt  being  far  from  the  settlements,  the  Indians  resolved  to  reduce 
it  by  famine,  but  failed  in  the  attempt. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTy.  41 

That  the  Indians  were  exasperated  to  this  course  of  conduct,  we 
can  readily  imagine  from  the  tenor  of  the  following  letters  : — 

Winchester,  30th  April,  1765. 
The  frontier  inhabitants  of  this  colony  (Virginia)  and  Maryland  are  re- 
moving fast  over  the  Allegheny  Mountains  in  order  to  settle  and  live  there. 
The  two  hunters  who  killed  the  two  Indians  near  Pittsburg,  some  time  ago, 
are  so  audacious  as  to  boast  of  the  fact  and  show  the  scalps  publicly — 
what  may  not  such  proceedings  produce?  One  of  these  hunters  lives  in 
Maryland,  the  other,  named  AValker,  lives  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Carlisle,  1765. 

A  number  of  men  from  this  settlement  went  up  to  Shamokin  (Fort  Au- 
gusta) to  kill  the  Indians  there,  which  caused  them  all  to  fly  from  that 
place. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Fort  Loudon,  1768. 

The  last  news  we  have  had  here,  and  which  is  very  certain,  is  the  killing 
of  nine  Shawnese  Indians,  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  who  were  passing 
this  way  to  the  Cherokee  nation,  to  war  against  them,  and  had  obtained  a 
pass  from  one  Coh  Lewis  of  that  county.  Yet,  notwithstanding,  a  number 
of  the  county  people  met  them  a  few  miles  from  Col  Lewis'  and  killed  nine 
of  them,  there  being  but  ten  in  the  company. 

From  Lord  Botetourt,  Governor  of  Virginia,  1770. 

I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  two  depositions,  together  with  an  answer  to 
a  letter  wrote  by  the  Attorney-General,  and  have  sent  to  your  Excellency, 
by  Lieutenant  Inglis,  the  body  of  John  Ingman,  he  having  confessed  him- 
self concerned  in  the  murder  of  Indian  Stephen,  which  was  committed  on 
ground  claimed  by  your  government.  You  will  find  that  there  never  was 
an  act  of  villany  more  unprovoked  or  more  deliberately  undertaken.  It  is 
therefore  extremely  my  wish  that  the  laws  may  enable  you  to  do  justice, 
and  appease,  by  rigid  punishment,  a  nation  of  offended  Indians.  Mr.  Wm. 
Crawford,  who  is  master  of  John  Ingham,  has  engaged  to  do  his  utmost  to 
procure  any  evidence  which  you  may  think  material  to  examine. 

Letter  from  Charles  Edmonstone,  Fort  Pitt,!!!!. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  inclose  for  your  perusal  the  copy  of  an  affidavit  taken 
here,  relative  to  the  murder  of  two  Seneca  Indians.  I  have  the  supposed 
perpetrator  of  the  crime  in  custody,  and  intend  sending  him  to  Bedford  jail. 
I  have  had  several  meetings  with  the  chiefs  of  the  different  tribes,  who  seem 
all  pleased  with  the  steps  taken  in  this  affair. 

Letter  from  Arthur  St.  Clair,  1774  (Ligonier). 

The  murder  of  a  Delaware  Indian  chief  was  perpetrated  eighteen  miles 
from  this  place.  It  is  the  most  astonishing  thing  in  the  world,  the  dispo- 
sition of  the  common  people  of  this  county  ;  actuated  by  the  most  savage 
cruelty,  they  wantonly  perpetrate  crimes  that  are  a  disgrace  to  humanity, 
and  seem  at  the  same  time  to  be  under  a  kind  of  religious  enthusiasm,  . 
whilst  they  want  the  daring  spirit  that  usually  inspires.  *  *  *  *  Xhe 
Delawares  are  still  friendly  and  it  may  perhaps  prevent  a  general  war  if 
they  can  be  kept  in  temper  (by  making  them  presents  or  to  cover  his  bones 
as  they  express  it).     I  shall  go  to  Fort  Pitt  and  will  consider  well  of  it. 


42  APPENDIX    TO 

Extract  from  a  Letter  of  Alexander  McKea,  Fort  Pitt,  1774, 

You  must  ere  this  be  acquainted  with  the  critical  situation  of  this  country, 
the  unhappy  disturbances  which  have  hitcly  rose  between  the  Virgfinians 
and  the  natives,  the  event  of  which  still  continues  doubtful  whether  matters 
will  be  brought  to  a  general  rupture  or  accommodation.  Hostilities,  how- 
ever, have  been  committed  on  both  sides,  but  at  present  there  seems  to  be 
a  cessation.  Some  wise  interposition  of  government  is  truly  necessary,  and 
would  undoubtedly  restore  peace  ;  without  it,  impossible,  and  thousands  of 
the  inhabitants  must  be  involved  in  misery  and  distress.  But  to  do  the 
Indians  justice,  they  have  given  more  proof  of  their  pacific  disposition  and 
have  acted  with  more  moderation  than  those  who  ought  to  have  been  more 
rational,  a  few  Mingoes  and  Shawnese  excepted,  who  have  long  been  re- 
fractory. There  are  more  effectual  means  of  chastising  them  for  their 
insolence  and  perjury  than  by  involving  the  defenceless  country  in  a  war, 
which  there  is  too  much  reason  to  fear  at  this  time  will  become  gfeneral,  and 
which  must  inevitably  be  the  destruction  of  this  country. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  D.  Smith,  Pittsburg,  1774. 

The  Indians  were  surprised  to  sec  a  number  of  armed  men  at  this  place 
with  their  colors  at  different  times,  making  a  warlike  appearance,  and  said 
that  some  of  the  militia  fired  on  them  at  their  camps  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Sawmill  Run. 

Letterfrom  Aeneas  Maclcay,  1774,  Pittsbwg. 

"We  don't  know  what  day  or  hour  we  will  be  attacked  by  our  savage  and 
provoked  enemy,  the  Indians,  who  have  already  massacred  sixteen  persons 
to  our  certain  knowledge,  about  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Tenmile  Creek. 
A  party  of  the  militia,  consisting  of  Captain  McClurc,  Lieutenant  Kincaid, 
and  forty  privates,  were  on  their  march  to  join  (Jonnolly  at  the  mouth  of 
Wheeling,  where  he  intended  to  erect  a  stockade  fort,  when  on  a  sudden 
they  were  attacked  by  only  i'our  Indians,  who  killed  the  captain  on  the  spot, 
wounded  the  lieutenant,  and  made  their  escape. 

On  the  14th  June,  1774,  a  petition  was  signed  ai  Pittsburg  by  the  promi- 
nent citizens  of  "Westmoreland  County  (which  then  embraced  Washington 
County),  representing  to  Covernor  Penu  that  there  is  the  greatest  reason 
to  apprehend  that  this  part  of  the  county  will  be  immediately  involved  in 
all  the  horrors  of  an  Indian  war;  that  in  the  midst  of  these  scenes  of  deso- 
lation and  ruin,  next  to  the  Almighty,  they  look  up  to  his  honor  for  pro- 
tection and  relief. 

Extract  of  a  Letterfrom  John  Montgomery,  1774,  Carlisle. 

The  Shawnees  seem  well  disposed  and  inclinable  for  peace,  and  will  con- 
tinue so  unless  provoked  by  the  "Virginians.  The  Delawares  are  all  for 
peace.  Logan's  party  had  returned  and  had  thirteen  scalps  and  one  pri- 
soner. Logan  says  he  is  now  satisfied  for  the  loss  of  his  relatives,  and  will 
sit  still  unless  he  hears  what  the  Long  Knife  (the  Virginians)  will  say.  I 
am  in  hopes  the  storm  will  blow  over,  and  that  peace  and  tranquillity  will 
be  restored  to  the  back  inhabitants. 

Extract  from  Richard  Butler's  Letter  of\lH,  Pittsburg. 

*  *  *  These  facts  (as  above  enumerated)  were  sufficient  to  bring  on  a 
war  with  a  Christian  instead  of  a  savage  people,  and  I  declare  it  as  ray 


HISTORY    OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  43 

opinion  tliat  the  Sliawnese  did  not  intend  a  war  this  season,  let  their  future 
inteutions  be  what  they  might.  I  likewise  declare,  that  I  am  afraid  from  the 
proceedings  of  the  chiefs  of  the  white  people  here,  that  they  will  bring  on  a 
general  war,  as  there  is  so  little  pains  taken  to  restrain  the  common  people, 
whose  prejudices  lead  them  to  greater  lengths  than  ought  to  be  shown  by 
civilized  people;  and  their  superiors  take  too  little,  if  any  pains,  and  I  do 
really  think  are  much  to  blame  themselves  in  the  whole  aiTair. 

The  Council  of  the  Colony  of  Yirginia  met  on  the  12tb  of  March, 
I'I'I'I,  to  consider  the  situation  of  Indian  affairs;  appointed  George 
Morgan,  agent  for  Indian  atfairs  at  Pittsburg,  and  John  Neville, 
Esqs.,  to  confer  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Delaware  and  Shawnee  In- 
dians, and  procure  their  good  will  and  favor  in  chastising  those 
tribes  who  have  been  annoying  their  citizens  ;  and  in  case  of  their 
refusal,  a  battalion  of  three  hundred  men,  with  the  necessary  ofiScers, 
was  ordered  to  be  raised  to  make  the  contemplated  expedition  to 
Pluggystowu,  and  punish  that  tribe  for  their  unprovoked  cruelties 
committed  on  the  inhabitants  of  Yirginia. 

Col.  David  Shephard,  of  Ohio  County,  was  appointed  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  expedition  ;  Major  Henry  Taylor,  of  Youghiogheny 
(now  Washington)  County,  to  be  Major ;  and  the  other  officers  were 
appointed  from  the  counties  of  Monongahela,  Youghiogheny,  and 
Ohio,  of  which  I  have  spoken  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

In  consequence  of  these  preparations  the  friendly  Indians  (the 
Delawares  and  Shawnese)  exercised  their  influence  to  prevent  a 
war,  and  I  find  from  a  letter  of  Samuel  Mason  to  Brigadier-General 
Hand,  dated  June  8,  IT't'I,  at  Fort  Henry,  in  which  he  says:  "I 
set  off  at  eight  this  morning  and  flatter  myself  that  you  will  not  dis- 
approve our  proceeding,  but  call  on  me,  if  any  occasion  should 
require,  and  as  I  may  not  return  to  the  ensuing  council  at  Catfish 
(Washington),  I  take  this  opportunity  of  returning  to  you  the 
strength  of  my  company,  which  consists  of  fifty  men,  furnished  for 
going  on  any  emergency. 

The  distressed  situation  of  the  frontier  inhabitants  at  this  time 
required  active  and  energetic  measures,  and  the  people  erected  two 
stockade  forts  at  Ligonier  and  Ilannahstown,  Westmoreland  County. 
I  find  Thomas  Scott  (whose  name,  subsequently,  appears  as  the  first 
Prothonotary  of  Washington  County),  under  date  of  August  1, 
ItTS,  writes  :  "  The  Indians  have  made  several  breaches  on  the 
inhabitants,  of  late,  in  different  parts  of  this  country.  Captain  Mil- 
ler, of  the  8th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  with  a  party  of  nine  men, 
chiefly  continental  soldiers,  were  bringing  grain  from  the  neighbor- 
hood to  a  fort  called  Fort  Hand,  about  fourteen  miles  north  of  Han- 
nahstown,  and  on  their  return  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  Indians, 
who  killed  the  captain  and  seven  others." 

On  account  of  this  sad  state  of  affairs.  Congress  deemed  it  advis- 
able to  appoint  commissioners  to  hold  a  treaty  with  the  Delaware, 
Shawnese,  and  other  Indians,  and  appointed  Fort  Pitt  as  the  place 
of  meeting,  two  commissioners  to  be  appointed  from  Pennsylvania 


44  APPENDIX   TO 

and  one  from  Virginia.  Col.  Lewis,  from  Virginia,  attended,  but 
the  record  does  not  give  the  names  of  the  Pennsylvania  commis- 
sioners. 

Gen.  Mcintosh  writes  under  date  of  January  29,  It "7 9,  from  Fort 
Pitt,  that  Capt.  Clark,  of  the  8th  Pennsylvania  Regiment,  as  lur 
was  returning  from  Fort  Lawrence  with  a  sergeant  and  fourteen 
men,  on  three  miles  of  this  side  of  that  fort  he  was  attacked  by  Simon 
(xirty  and  a  party  of  Mingoes,  who  killed  two  of  our  men,  wounded 
four,  and  took  one  prisoner.  This  is  the  same  Girty  who  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance  at  Pittsburg  and  was  afterwards  engaged  in  the 
murderous  treatment  of  Col.  William  Crawford,  in  IT 82. 

On  24th  June,  1719,  Col.  Broadhead  writes  from  Pittsburg  that 
the  Indians  proceeded  to  the  Sewickley  settlement,  where  they  killed 
a  woman  and  her  four  children  and  took  two  children  prisoners. 
These  children  were  afterwards  recovered  ;  one  resided  in  Westmore- 
land County  and  the  other  in  Butler. 

March  18,  1780,  at  a  sugar  camp  on  Racoon  Creek,  near  Fort 
Pitt,  five  men  were  killed  and  three  boys  and  three  girls  taken  pri- 
soners.     This  nuirder  was  committed  by  the  Wyandotts. 

April  17,  1780,  Northumberland  County  was  authorized  by  the 
Supreme  E.xecutive  Council  to  offer  the  following  premiums  for  every 
male  prisoner,  whether  white  or  Indian  (if  the  former  is  acting  with 
the  latter),  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  and  one  thousand  dollars  for 
every  Indian  scalp.  The  Council  were  actixated  to  this  course 
because  they  believed  it  more  effectual  than  any  sort  of  defensive 
operations. 

Seiylcmher  5,  1780,  the  Indians  killed  two  men  on  Robinson's 
Run,  in  Avhat  is  called  Youghioghcny  County. 

Washington  County,  April  5,  1783,  the  Indians  took  one  Mrs, 
Walker  prisoner  on  the  27th,  on  Buft'alo  Creek,  but  she  made  her 
escape.  The  1st  of  April  they  took  Boice  and  family,  consisting  of 
eight  persons,  and  a  m-an  was  killed  the  day  following  near  Wash- 
ington County  court-house. 

May  12,  1784,  two  men  killed  at  or  near  Cro.ss  Creek  by  the 
Indians. 

The  above  history  and  extracts  from  letters  contain  all  the  Indian 
murders  which  were  committed  in  this  part  of  the  country,  whether 
known  as  Westmoreland,  Youghioghcny,  ^Nlonongahela,  and  Ohio 
I'ounties,  or,  since  Virginia  relinquished  her  claim,  in  Washington 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Since  its  erection  as  a  county,  in  1781,  no 
Indian  murders  have  been  perpetrated,  yet  it  would  bo  proper  to 
state  that  all  the  Indian  campaigns,  commencing  with  Pontiac's 
wai',  in  1703,  Lord  Dunmore's  war  of  1774,  Gen.  Mcintosh's  cam- 
paign in  1778,  the  Coshocton  campaign  in  1780,  the  Moravian 
campaign,  in  17i^2,  liad  an  influence  and  eftect  upon  the  settlement 
and  jirospects  of  Washington  County,  because  farms  could  not  be 
cultivated  and  the  peoi)le  were  in  constant  dread  of  an  Indian  attack, 
and  hence    forts  were  erected   here  and  there,  to  which,  in  case  of 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  45 

danger,  the  people  fled  for  protectiou.     While  the  farmer  was  culti- 
vating his  ground  he  had  his  trusty  rifle  by  his  side  for  defence. 

Of  these  forts  I  now  speak.  Tt  appears  that  Rice's  Fort  fur- 
nishes the  most  satisfactory  history  of  those  times,  which  I  have 
been  able  to  procure. 

Rice's  Fort. 

This  fort  is  situated  on  Buffalo  Creek,  about  twelve  miles  from  its 
junction  with  the  Ohio  River. 

Rev.  Dr.  Dodridge  gives  the  following  description  of  a  fort, 
which  is  worthy  of  being  inserted  as  tending  to  throw  much  light 
upon  the  distinctions  which  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  the  reader. 

The  fort  consisted  of  cabins,  block-houses,  and  stockades.  A  range  of 
cabins  commonly  formed  one  side,  at  least,  of  the  fort.  Divisions  or  parti- 
tions of  logs  separated  the  cabins  from  each  other.  The  walls  on  the  out- 
side were  ten  or  twelve  feet  high,  the  slope  of  the  roof  being  turned  wholly 
inward.  A  very  few  of  these  cabins  had  puncheon  floors,  the  greater  part 
were  earthen.  The  block-houses  were  built  at  the  angles  of  the  I'ort.  They 
projected  about  two  feet  beyond  the  outer  walls  of  the  cabin  and  stockade. 
Their  upper  stories  were  about  eighteen  inches  every  way  larger  in  dimen- 
sion than  the  under  one,  leaving  an  opening  at  the  commencement  of  the 
second  story  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  making  a  lodgment  under  their 
walls.  In  some  forts,  instead  of  block-houses,  the  angles  of  the  fort  were 
furnished  with  bastions.  A  large  folding  gate,  made  of  thick  slabs,  nearest 
the  spring,  closed  the  fort.  The  stockades,  bastions,  cabins,  and  block- 
house walls,  were  furnished  with  portholes  at  proper  heights  and  distances. 
The  whole  of  the  outside  was  made  completely  bullet-proof  In  some 
places  less  exposed,  a  single  block-house,  with  a  cabin  or  two,  constituted 
the  whole  fort.  These  forts  answered  the  purpose  for  what  they  were 
intended,  as  the  Indians  had  no  artillery;  they  seldom  attacked  and  scarcely 
ever  took  one  of  them. 

The  Indians,  being  defeated  at  Wheeling,  resolved  to  strike  a 
severe  blow  in  the  country,  and  hence  about  one  hundred  warriors 
marched  to  Rice's  Fort,  but  the  inhabitants  being  made  aware  of 
their  approach,  each  ran  to  his  cabin  for  his  gun,  and  all  took  refuge 
in  the  block-house  or  fort.  Although  they  intended  to  take  it  by 
assault,'  yet  they  failed,  as  the  sequel  will  show,  and  they  continued 
their  depredations,  destroying  barns,  fences,  cattle,  &c.,  but  finally 
retreated.     Rev.  Dr.  Dodridge,  in_his  account  of  this  fort,  says: — 

This  place  was  defended  by  a  Spartan  band  of  men,  against  one  hundred 
chosen  warriors,  exasperated  to  madness  by  their  failure  at  Wheeling  Fort. 
Their  names  shall  be  inscribed  in  the  list  of  the  heroes  of  our  early  times. 
They  were  Jacob  Miller,  George  Leffer,  Peter  FuUenweider,  Daniel  Rice, 
George  Felebaum,  and  Jacob  Leffer,  Jr.  George  Felebaum  was  shot  in 
the  forehead  through  a  porthole  at  the  second  fire  of  the  Indians,  and  in- 
stantly expired,  so  that  in  reality  the  defence  of  the  place  was  made  by  only 
five  men.  Four  of  the  Indians  were  killed.  The  next  morning  sixty  men 
collected  and  pursued  the  Indians,  but  discovered  they  had  separated  into 
small  parties,  and  the  pursuit  was  given  up. 


46  APPENDIX   TO 


Miller's  Block-House. 

After  I  had  consented  to  write  the  history  of  Washinj^ton  County, 
I  learned  that  my  friend  John  C.  Ilnpp,  M.  D.,  of  Wheeling:,  Vir- 
ginia, had  in  his  possession  notes  of  the  attack  on  Miller's  block- 
house ;  also  of  the  capture,  escape,  and  trials  of  Captain  Jacob 
Miller  in  It 81,  as  well  as  the  murder  of  five  of  Miller's  friends, 
which  he  procured  from  the  lips  of  his  aged  and  venerable  father. 
I  accordingly  addressed  Dr.  Hupp  a  letter,  and  he  kindly  furnished 
to  me  the  following  communication  on  the  subject  of  Miller's  block- 
house. 

Wheeling,  Va.,  March  31,  18G1 
Dr.  Alfped  Creigh  : — 

Dear  Sir :  I  have,  at  your  request,  elicited  the  following  facts  in  rela- 
tion to  the  siege  of  Miller's  block-house,  from  the  lips  of  my  aged  father. 
He  received  them  from  those  who,  on  this  day  seventy-nine  years  ago,  were 
its  courageous  and  heroic  defenders. 

They  are  are  as  follows :  In  the  spring  of  1782  Indian  hostilities  com- 
menced much  earlier  than  usual  aloug  the  western  frontier.  As  early  as 
the  month  of  March  hordes  of  savages  were  ascertained  to  have  crossed 
the  Ohio,  and  were  making  their  way  into  the  settlements. 

The  settlers  thus  threatened  with  the  massacres,  plunderings,  burnings, 
and  captivities,  with  which  they  had  already  become  so  familiar,  were  filled 
with  spirit-stirring  excitement,  commingled  with  alarm. 

Ih  this  predicament  of  apprehension  and  danger,  the  settlers  along  the 
Buffalo  Valley  betook  themselves  with  their  families  to  the  forts  and  block- 
houses. 

About  three  miles  northeast  of  West  Alexandria,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  "Dutch  Fork  of  Buffalo,"  is  a  peninsula  formed  by  the  meandering  creek 
on  the  one  side  and  "  Miller's  Run"  on  the  other.  The  isthmus  next  to 
the  run  is  skirted  by  a  narrow  strip  of  bottom  land,  which  expands  to  many 
acres  towards  the  creek  and  its  confluence  with  the  run.  'I'he  side  of  the 
isthmus  washed  by  the  creek  has  a  bold  and  precipitous  bluff.  On  this 
isthmus  was  located  "Miller's  block-house,"*  which  was  besieged  by  a 
])arty  of  about  seventy  Shawanese  on  Easter  Sunday,  1782. 

^^■ith  their  characteristic  cunning  and  caution,  the  savages  arrived  in  the 
vicinity  the  night  previous,  distributing  themselves  in  ambush  around  the 
block-house  and  along  the  paths  leading  thereto.  Thus  lying  concealed 
among  the  bushes  or  "  pea  vines,"  behind  trees  or  fallen  timber,  they  awaited 
the  ojieration  of  circumstances. 

The  most  of  the  men  were  absent  from  the  block-house  on  this  occasion, 
some  of  them  being  at  Rice's  Fort,  which  was  about  two  miles  further  down 
the  creek.  Of  this  fact  the  Indians  most  likely  were  apprised,  and  on  this 
account  the  attack  on  the  block-house  is  supposed  to  have  lieen  deferred, 
and  the  ambush  protracted,  in  order  to  destroy  the  men  on  their  return  to 
the  block-house. 

Of  those  who  were  in  this  rude  shelter  on  that  fatal  Sabbath  morning  were 
John  Hupp,  Sr.,  wife  and  four  children,  Margaret,  Mary,  John,  and  Eliza- 

*  The  block-house  was  located  about  midway  between  Willinm  Miller's  .spring 
and  the  graveyard — from  tbis  limpid  fount  tlio  block-Louse  received  its  supply  of 
water. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  47 

beth ;  Jacob  Miller,  Sr.,  and  several  of  his  family ;  the  family  of  Edward 
Gaither,  and  an  old  man  named  Matthias  Ault. 

The  sun  had  appeared  above  the  eastern  hills,  tinging  with  his  feeble 
rays  the  summits  of  the  lofty  trees  of  the  dense  forest  that  surrounded  this 
primitive  place  of  defence.  The  quietude  of  the  woods  was  undisturbed 
save  by  the  ocasional  chirp  of  the  wooded  songster,  carolling  his  morning 
anthem. 

One  of  the  matrons  of  the  block-house  had  fearful  forebodings  that  some 
awful  calamity  was  about  to  befall  her  husband,  and  followed  him  to  the 
door,  entreating  him  not  to  carry  into  execution  his  determination  to  ac- 
company his  friend  on  that  morning  in  search  of  a  colt  that  had  estrayed. 
The  night  previous  she  had  dreamed  that  a  "coppersnake"  struck  its  fangs 
into  the  palm  of  her  husband's  hand,  and  that  all  her  efforts  to  detach  the 
venomous  reptile  were  unavailing.  This  vision  she  interpreted  as  ominous 
of  evil  to  her  husband.  But  despite  the  entreaties  and  importunities  of 
his  wife,  John  Hupp,  Sr.,  set  out  in  company  with  his  friend,  Jacob  Miller, 
Sr.,  in  search  of  the  estray. 

They  entered  the  path  leading  across  the  run  and  through  the  woods  in 
a  northeasterly  direction  from  the  block-house,  and  were  soon  out  of  view. 
Soon  the  quietude  of  the  woods  was  disturbed  by  the  crack  of  a  rifle, 
quickly  followed  by  a  savage  warwhoop  issuing  from  that  poi'tion  of  the 
forest  into  which  Hupp  and  Miller  had  just  entered. 

This  alarm  filled  the  minds  of  the  women  with  consternation  and  appre- 
hensions as  to  their  fate.  But  Hupp  being  in  the  prime  and  vigor  of  man- 
hood, fleet  and  athletic  (if  not  merely  overpowered  with  numbers),  his 
quick  return  to  the  block-house  was  confidently  expected  by  the  inmates. 
But  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  foe  that  lay  concealed  patiently  awaiting 
the  approach  of  some  ill-fated  person. 

The  two  unsuspecting  men  had  been  allowed  to  follow  the  ambushed 
path  as  far  as  the  second  little  ravine  on  land,  now  owned  by  William  Miller. 
Here,  from  his  concealment  behind  fallen  timber,  a  savage  fired  upon  Hupp, 
wounding  him  mortally ;  he,  however,  after  he  was  shot,  ran  some  sixty  or 
seventy  yards  and  sank  to  rise  no  more.  Miller,  being  an  elderly  man,  was 
boldly  rushed  upon  by  the  merciless  wretches,  with  loud  and  exultant  yells, 
and  tomahawked  on  the  spot. 

Flushed  with  success,  the  savages  now  left  their  hapless  victims,  scalped 
and  pilfered  of  all  clothing,  to  join  in  the  beleaguerment  of  the  block-house.- 

While  this  tragic  scene  was  being  enacted,  the  wild  excitement  and  con- 
fusion among  the  women  and  children  at  the  block-house,  with  no  male 
defender  but  the  old  man  Ault.  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 

But  at  this  trying  moment  Providence  panoplied  a  female  hero  with  a 
courage  sufficiently  unfaltering  for  the  dire  emergency,  in  the  person  of 
Ann  Hupp.  Having  now  realized  the  dread  forebodings  of  her  vision,  and 
shaking  off  the  shackles  of  despondency,  she  now  turned  to  calm  the  moral 
whirlwind  that  was  raging  amongst  the  frantic  women  and  children— to 
inspire  them  with  hope,  and  to  rally  the  only  and  infirm  male  defender. 

She  in  the  mean  time  had  deputed  Frederick  Miller,  an  active  lad  aged 
about  eleven  years,  as  messenger  to  Rice's  fort  for  aid.  But  in  this  strategy 
she  was  foiled  ;  for  the  lad  had  gone  willingly  and  hei'oically  only  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  down  the  peninsula  on  his  dangerous  embassy,  when  he  was 
intercepted  by  the  Indians.  Retracing  his  steps,  he  was  pursued  by  two 
savages  with  hideous  yells  and  uplifted  tomahawks.  This  frightful  race 
for  life  was  witnessed  from  the  block-house  with  anxiety  the  most  intense. 
Every  moment  it  seemed  as  though  the  lad  would  certainly  fall  beneath  the 


48  APPENDIX   TO 

deadly  stroke  of  one  of  the  two  bloodthirsty  pursuers,  each  vieing  with  the 
other  which  should  strike  the  first  uud  fatal  blow. 

A  fence  was  to  be  scaled  by  the  boy  without  a  blunder,  or  death — cer- 
tain, instant  death — was  his  doom.  Summoning  all  his  boyhood  and  failing 
strength  he  leaped  the  barrier  fence,  touching  it  merely  with  his  hand  as 
the  foremost  Indian's  tomahawk  struck  the  rail,  accompanied  with  a  yell 
of  disappointment,  when  lioth  savages  fired  at  him. 

In  his  struggle  to  escape,  his  arm  being  fle.xed,  one  of  the  balls  took 
effect,  passing  through  his  flexed  arm  both  above  the  elbow  and  between 
that  joint  and  the  wrist,  whirling  him  around  several  times. 

Now  subdued  shrieks,  commingled  with  joy  and  terror,  were  heard  in  the 
block-house  as  the  female  hero  who  sent  out  the  boy  ambassador  received 
him  in  her  arms  as  he  bounded  to  the  door  exhausted  from  the  race  and 
loss  of  blood. 

At  this  moment  the  Indians,  leaping  from  their  concealment,  appeared  in 
every  direction  around  the  block-house,  and  a  hot  and  continuous  firing 
commenced.  The  female  band,  with  Ault  as  their  counsellor,  in  despair 
and  anguish  were  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  the  block-house  would  now 
soon  be  taken  by  storm,  or  envelop  them  in  its  flames,  and  with  no  hope 
of  a  successful  resistance  were  about  to  "  give  up." 

Again,  in  this  crisis  of  terrible  trial,  Ann  Hupp  proved  equal  to  the 
emergency.  Encouraging  the  trembling  Ault  and  the  weeping  women  with 
the  consoling  language  of  hope — nerving  her  arm  and  steeling  her  heart  to 
the  severe  duties  of  the  moment,  she,  with  true  Spartanism,  snatching  up  a 
riRe fired  at  the  appruaching  savagefi,  and  then  ''  ran  from  porthole  to  port- 
hole," protruding  its  muzzle  in  different  directions — to  convey  the  idea  of 
great  forces  in  the  house — at  each  presentation  cau.-;iug  the  savages  to  cower 
behind  trees  or  other  objects  for  protection.  This  happily  conceived  and 
promptly  executed  strategy  of  this  pioneer  heroine,  without  doubt,  saved  the 
inmates  from  what  was  otherwise  inevitable— an  immediate  and  horrible 
death. 

A  number  of  Indians  had  taken  shelter  behind  a  stable  that  stood  not 
far  from  the  block-liouse  ;  emboldened  by  their  firing  not  being  ])romptly 
returned  from  the  block-house,  one  of  them  would  occasionally  step  out  to 
view,  holding  up  before  himself  as  a  shield  a  "  clap-board,"  and  then  quickly 
retreat  again  to  his  shelter.  He  at  length  stepped  out  l)oldIy  into  an  open 
space,  dcitiantly  stretching  his  savage  frame  higli  in  air,  at  which  Ault  was 
prevailed  upon  to  fire;  but  pal{)ably  without  doing  any  harm.  This  exas- 
perated the  savages,  causing  the  assault  to  become  still  more  terrible. 

At  this  stage  of  the  siege  the  women  saw  and  recognized  three  of  their 
men  approaching  in  great  haste  from  the  direction  of  Rice's  Fort,  when  they 
commenced  screaming  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  and  beckoning  the  men  in 
the  direction  they  su])posed  to  bo  the  safest  point  to  pass  the  Indians  in 
gaining  the  block-house. 

Wliile  the  Indians  stood  in  confusion  and  wonderment,  not  comprehend- 
ing the  meaning  of  the  screams,  the  men  rushed  forward,  passing  very  near 
to  where  some  of  the  savages  stood,  and  before  the  Indians  sufQciently 
recovered  from  their  surprise  to  fire  u])on  them,  they,  with  faces  red  and 
turgid  from  the  race,  bounded  into  the  block-house  unscathed. 

Tlie  names  of  these  three  daring  s])irits,  who  thus  perilled  their  lives  to 
save  their  helpless  mothers,  brothers,  and  sisters  from  savage  fury,  or  perish 
with  them,  were  Jacob  Rowe,  .hicob  Miller,  Jr.,  and  Pliilip  Hupj).  One 
of  these,  Jacob  Rowc;,  being  about  ten  years  old,  in  the  fall  of  ITTti,  when 
in  company  with  his  mother  and  three  brothers,  and  his  father,  Adam- 
Ilowe,  on.their  way  to  Kentucky,  made  a  hair-breadth  escape  from  the  In 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  49 

dians  at  a  point  not  far  from  the  month  of  Grave  Creek.  Here  the  little 
caravan  was  attacked  by  a  party  of  mnraiuliiio-  savages,  who  killed  Mrs. 
Howe  and  her  oldest  son.  and  took  captive  Daniel,  the  youngest  child,  aged 
about  seven  years*.  Jacob  escaped  by  running-  into  a  thicket  of  willows 
near  at  hand,  when  closely  pursued  by  a  laige  muscular  Indian,  who  had  his 
little  brother  Daniel  a  captive  on  his  back,  and  this  is  the  last  account 
ever  heard  of  the  captive  boy.  Alter  his  escape  Jacob,  trembling  with 
fear,  travelled  all  the  day  stealthily  through  the  wild  and  dense  woods, 
along  the  deep  and  dark  hollows  and  over  the  precipitous  hills  lying  in 
his  way,  back  to  Buffalo,  and  when  nightfall  overtodk  him  with  all  its 
hideousness.  in  the  midst  of  the  deep  woods,  he,  overcome  with  fright, 
fatigue,  and  hunger,  nestled  himself  down  amongst* the  leaves  at  the  root 
of  a  fallen  tree  for  the  night.  (He  died  with  a  throat  affection  which 
doubtless  was  founded  on  that,  to  him.  cold,  dread,  and  dreary  >>'ovember 
night.)  'I'he  ne.\t  day  he  arrived  at  Buffalo  and  was  received  into  the  arms 
of  his  sister,  Ann  Hupp,  to  whom  the  weeping  lad  related  the  tragic  scenes 
he  had  M'itnessed  on  the  previous  morning. 

Adam  Kowe  and  his  son  Adam  also  returned  to  the  neighborhood  and 
afterwards  went  to  Kentucky;  but  Jacob  remained  with  his  sister,  and  was 
her  survivor  some  three  or  four  years. 

After  the  arrival  of  these  men  in  the  block-house,  the  fury  and  boldness 
of  the  savages  somewhat  abated,  and  during  the  rest  of  the  day  the  firing 
was  less  fri>qneut  and  finally  ceased. 

Evidently  filled  with  chagrin  and  disappointment,  they  skulked  about  the 
neighborhood  till  nightfall,  and  nothing  more  was  heard  of  them,  they,  no 
doubt,  fearing  a  reinforcement,  left  during  the  night,  bearing  away  with 
them  only  the  scalps  of  Hupp  and  Miller.  After  the  loss  of  her  husband, 
Mrs.  Hupp  and  her  children,  in  accordance  with  her  own  wish,  were  taken 
by  her  brother-in-law,  P.  Hupp,  to  his  cabin,  near  where  the  village  of 
Millsborough  now  stands,  where  they  remained  four  years,  and  again 
returned  to  Buffalo,  where,  subsequently,  she  married  John  May,  whom  she 
survived  several  years,  and  on  the  28d  day  of  June,  1823,  died  in  the  sixty- 
sixth  year  of  her  age.  Two  of  her  children,  John  Hupp  and  Elizabeth 
Rodgers,  still  survive,  and  are  living  on  Buffalo  Creek,  having  seen  the 
pioneer  heroes  and  heroines  of  their  youth  one  by  one  gathered  to  their 
fathers,  they  now  stand  the  last  of  a  race  who  learned  from  their  lips  those 
thrilling  incidents  of  pioneer  life. 

The  loss  of  these  two  men  to  the  neighborhood  was  severely  felt  at  a 
time  when  men  were  so  much  needed;  but  all  hearts  in  that  block-house 
were  overflowing  with  thanks  and  gratitude  to  a  kind  and  merciful  Pre- 
server for  vouchsafing  to  them  his  aid  and  protection  when  their  great  and 
terror-filling  peril  was  impending,  and  for  saving  them  from  the  ruthless 
hands  of  the  merciless  savages. 

About  noon  on  Monday  the  men  ventured  out  from  the  block-house,  going 
sadly  and  cautiously  in  search  of  Hupp  and  Miller,  with  the  purpose  of 
performing  for  them  the  last  sad  rites  of  the  dear  departed.  About  three 
hundred  yards  from  the  block-house  they  found  the  body  of  Miller,  lying 
near  the  bloody  path,  and  following  the  traces  of  blood  on  the  leaves  and 
other  objects  over  which  Hupp  had  run,  his  body  was  promptly  discovered. 

Their  mutilated  and  frozen  bodies  were  borne  to  the  peninsula  and  laid 
side  by  side  a  few  yards  from  the  block-house,  in  the  same  grave,  with 
"puncheons"  for  their  coffin,  and  to-day  are  lying  clustered  around  the 
grave  of  these  two  pioneers  the  remains  of  Jacob  Kowe,  Jacob  Miller,  Jr. 
(Capt.),  Frederick  Miller,  the  heroine  Ann  Hupp,  and  her  daughter  Marga- 
ret Titus.     When  living,  the  cement  and  panoply  of  affection  and  good 

D 


50  APPENDIX    TO 

\?ill  bound  tbcm  together  at  once  in  the  tender  natal,  social,  and  moral  ties 
of  domestic  kindness,  friendship,  and  love,  and  the  union  for  defence,  and 
when  dead  they  are  not  separated.  « 

Frederick  and  Capt.  Jacob  were  sons  of  the  unfortunate  Jacob  Miller, 
Sr.  Frederick  died  on  the  27th  day  of  March,  1814,  aged  forty-three  years, 
and  Captain  Jacob  Miller  died  August  20,  1830,  aged  nearly  sixty-eight 
years. 

Obediently  and  truly  yours, 

John  C.  Hupp,  M.  D. 

^  Wheeling,  Va.,  December  20,  1862. 

Dr.  Alfred  Creigh  : — 

Dear  Sir :  I  have  at  length  l^ecn  able  to  comply  with  the  wish  ex- 
pressed in  your  last  letter. 

I  give  substantially  the  statement  of  one  of  the  captains,*  as  received  of 
him  by  my  father, t  namely: — 

At  tlie'dawn  of  a  fine  September  morning,  in  the  year  1781,  Jacob  Mil- 
ler. Frank  Hupp,  and  Jacob  Fisher  set  out  from  ^Miller's  block-house,  on 
BuiLilo  Creek,  with  the  double  purpose  of  perlorming  the  dangerous  duties 
of  spies  and  looking  after  estray  horses.  Each  had  with  him  his  trusty 
rifle,  and  e(|uipmeuts  well  supplied  with  powder  and  ball. 

"With  alert  and  vigorous  steps  they  pursued  a  westerly  course,  which 
soon  led  them  beyond  the  reach  of  the  most  distant  view  of  their  homes 
and  into  the  nearly  unbroken  forest  lying  between  "  The  Three  Ridges" 
(now  West  Alexander)  and  the  Ohio. 

Having  spent  the  day  in  unsuccessful  search  and  scouting,  returning, 
they  were  overtaken  by  nightfall  near  the  cabin^  of  Jonathan  Link,  on 
Middle  AVhceling  Creek. 

Here  they  turned  in  and  were  greeted  with  that  hearty  kind  of  welcome 
peculiar  to  backwoodsmen. 

They  were  cordially  invited  to  share  the  comforts  of  his  fireside  for  the 
night,  which  was  cheerfully  accepted.  "What,  in  these  perilous  times,  were 
their  subjects  of  conversation  during  the  evening,  need  no  exercise  of  fancy 
to  conjecture. 

Having  made  their  supper  on  Indian  Johnny  cake  and  water,  with  some 
"jerked  venison,"  which  hajjpened  to  be  in  the  cabin,  they  retired  to  their 
beds  on  the  loft. 

It  was  a  bright  starlight  night,  and  all  nature  seemed  propitious  for 
security  and  rejiose,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  fierce  barking  of  their 
dogs,  no  danger  would  \\ii\ii  been  apprehended.  The  men  conjectured  that 
the  disturbance  kept  up  by  the  dogs  augured  more  than  merely  the  prox- 
imity of  wolves,  or  the  hooling  of  owls,  which  could  be  heard  occasionally  in 
different  parts  of  the  deep  woods  that  surrounded  the  cabin. 

Link,  iu  his  anxiety  to  render  his  guests  contented  in  the  enjoyment  of 


*  Cnpt.  Jacob  Miller,  who,  in  1782,  distinguished  himself  at  the  sieges  of  Rice's 
fort  iind  Miller's  block-liouse. 

t  John  Hupp,  wlio,  when  about  two  years  of  age,  was  in  Miller's  block-house  dur- 
ing its  siege. 

J  Aliout  three  miles  south  of  West  Alexander,  on  the  right  bank  of  Middle  Whee- 
ling Creek,  and  on  l:ind  now  owned  by  Kobert  Er.>'kine,  Estj.,  was  the  site  of  Link's 
cabin.  We  were  recently  piloted,  liy  S.  M.  Bell,  Esq.,  and  the  veneriible  William 
Porter,  Sr.,  to  the  spot  where,  eighty-one  years  ago,  this  rude  cabin  stood.  Traces 
of  its  ruins  are  still  to  be  seen.  It  stood  just  a  few  feet  east  of  the  West  Virginia 
line 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  51 

his  hospitality,  afifected  indifference,  hoping  to  allay  their  apprehensions  of 
danger. 

But  notwithstanding  one  or  other  of  the  party  seemed  to  employ  his  time 
alternately  in  disturbed  rest,  and  then,  with  anxious  solicitude  for  their 
safety,  casting  watchful  glances  around  the  cabin,  or  gazing  around  the 
opening,  and  on  the  warlike  masses  of  forest  which  loomed  up  dimly  against 
the  skylight,  seeming  to  inclose  it  in  far-stretching  mountain  ramparts. 
But  no  visible  danger  could  be  discovered. 

At  length  the  chirping  of  the  wood  birds  and  the  peculiar  chill  and 
ruffling  of  the  air,  which  are  always  the  precursors  of  approaching  day, 
announced  that  the  dawn  was  close  at  hand.  The  hooting  of  the  owls  had 
ceased,  and  the  dogs  lay  in  slumber  curled  down  near  the  cabin  door. 

During  the  night  a  band  of  savages  had  crept  cautiously  and  inaudibly 
to  places  of  concealment  near  the  cabin.  Here  they  lay,  ambushing  the 
door  and  the  path  leading  to  the  spring  near  by. 

The  men  arose  from  their  restless  beds,  each  cheerfully  acknowledging  to 
the  other  that  his  fears  of  danger  had  been  unfounded.  But,  alas  !  how 
versatile  and  fleeting  are  human  hopes  and  joys. 

Hupp  and  Fisher,  unsuspectedly  opening  the  door,  stepped  down  to  the 
limpid,  gurgling  spring,  which  was  but  a  few  paces  below,  for  the  purpose 
of  performing  their  morning  ablutions. 

Immediately  a  discharge  of  rifles  issued  from  the  covert  of  weeds  and 
bushes  near  by,  killing  Fisher  and  mortally  wounding  Hupp,  who  ran  into 
the  cabin  and  up  on  to  the  loft,  and  while  exhorting  his  companions  not  to 
give  up,  sank  down  into  the  embrace  of  death. 

The  bloodthirsty  savages  now  rushed  frantically  into  the  cabin,  demanding 
of  the  men  to  surrender  immediately  and  hand  down  their  guns,  or  they 
would  fire  the  house  and  envelop  them  in  flames. 

In  this  awful  crisis  of  trepidation  and  alarm,  being  overpowered  by  num- 
bers. Miller  and  Link  had  no  alternative  but  unconditional  compliance. 

While  their  hands  and  arms  were  being  firmly  bound.  Hupp  was  precipi- 
tated from  the  loft,  dragged  beyond  the  threshold,  and  scalped. 

Pickets  having  been  detached,  the  front  Indians  of  the  file  facing  a 
northeasterly  direction,  the  noiseless  march  commenced,  leaving  the  muti- 
lated remains  of  their  victims  to  the  mercy  of  the  wild  beasts. 

The  prisoners,  with  painful  anxiety  for  their  relatives  and  friends,  now 
knew  with  certainty  that  the  Dutch  Fork  settlement  was  doomed  to  speedy 
scalpings,  captivities,  and  murders.  A  rapid  march  was  thus  continued, 
in  profound  silence,  till  they  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  now  owned 
by  Charles  Rodgers,  Esq.,  and  immediately  east  of  his  present  residence. 

Here  they  were  met  by  the  returning  pickets,  and  a  halt  ensued.  At  this 
place  leaving  a  guard  with  the  prisoners,  the  march  was  promptly  resumed. 

The  grand  object  now  was  to  make  a  descent  on  the  cabin  of  Presley 
Peak,  which  stratagetic  move  was  carried  into  successful  operation,  and 
resulted  in  the  capture  of  Peak,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Burnet,  and  William 
Hawkins.  As  the  relentless  savages  rushed  with  exultant  yells  around  the 
cabin.  Peak  essayed  to  make  his  escape  through  a  hemp  patch  in  the  rear 
of  his  cabin,  amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  which  literally  mowed  down  the  hemp 
stalks  around  him  in  his  speedy  flight.  But  bounding  over  the  rude  fence 
unharmed  by  the  leaden  missiles,  and  alighting  amongst  the  bushes  that 
fringed  the  dense  woods,  he  was  intercepted  and  surrounded  by  the  ubiqui- 
tous savage  warriors  at  that  moment  springing  from  their  covert,  and  he  was 
a  captive. 

These  three  prisoners,  having  been  securely  bound,  were  left  in  charge  of 
a  guard,  when  a  detachment  of  Indians  started  forthwith  down  the  creek, 


62  APPENDIX    TO 

while  another  partj'  hastened  to  the  cabin*  of  AVilliam  Hawkins,  which  was 
about  half  a  mile  furlher  up  the  ci-eek. 

Here  they  captured  Miss  Elizabeth  Hawkins.  She  being  sick  at  the 
time  prevented  her  from  making  good  her  escape  with  the  rest  of  the  family, 
who  had  fled  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  surrounding  woods. 

Mrs.  Hawkins  lay  concealed  amongst  the  leaves  and  branches  of  a  fallen 
tree  with  an  infant  f  in  her  arms,  which  she  gagged  well  nigh  to  strangula- 
tion with  her  apron,  lest  its  cries  should  betray  her,  whilst  the  bloodthirsty 
captors  of  her  husband  and  daughter  passed  within  a  few  feet  of  where  she 
lay,  undiscovered,  in  agonizing  terror  and  trepidation. 

And  what  is  a  remarkable  fact,  her  little  dog  that  had  followed  her  to 
her  place  of  concealment,  crouched  quietly  quivering  by  her  side  while  the 
Indians  were  passing  I 

The  party  going  down  the  creek  were  less  successful  in  their  predatory 
incursion  upon  the  cabin  of  Edward  Gaither,  which  stood  at  the  forks  of  the 
creek,  near  the  spot  where  now  stands  the  residence  of  John  Cain,  Esq. 

With  their  accustomed  caution,  they  approached  the  cabin  in  all  direc- 
tions, with  an  a])parent  certainty  of  again  having  an  opportunity  of  carry- 
ing into  successful  execution  their  murderous  and  marauding  purposes ; 
but  in  this  instance  they  were  foiled. 

At  the  moment  of  the  attack  on  Peak  and  his  comrades,  it  being  less 
than  a  mile  up  the  bottom  from  the  confluence  of  the  streams  and  in  hear- 
ing of  the  guns,  the  Gaither's  family  was  about  to  be  seated  for  dinner  when, 
alarmed  by  the  rapid  firing,  they  immediately  betook  themselves  to  the 
Miller  block-house. 

The  Indians,  however,  did  ample  justice  to  the  untouched  and  still 
smoking  edibles  left  on  the  table,  which  to  them  was  an  acceptable  and 
bounteous  repast.  And  having  pillaged  the  house  of  such  articles  as  they 
wished  to  carry  along  with  them,  set  lire  to  it,  and  hastened  with  their  plun- 
der to  the  rendezvous  on  the  ridge,  where  they  were  soon  joined  by  the 
other  party  and  its  prisoners. 

The  feelings  of  the  prisoners,  father,  daughter,  and  neighbors,  brought 
thus  in  their  distressing  helplessness  face  to  face,  in  the  deep  and  wild 
woods  under  such  trying  circumstances  of  terror  and  apprehension,  can  be 
much  more  readily  imagined  than  described. 

Borne  of  the  exultant  savages  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  by  grotesque 
contortions  of  countenance  and  gyrations  of  body.  They  whooped,  and 
danced,  and  sung — now  chiming  the  warvvhoop  in  concert,  and  then  utter- 
ing yells  of  triumph.  Whilst  others  gave  evidence  of  hatred  and  malignity 
of  purpose,  by  derisive  looks  and  gestures  towards  some  of  the  prisoners, 
and  by  jerking  from  their  roots  the  hairs  of  their  heads. 

Hawkins  and  J^urnett  were  the  special  sufferers  from  these  demonstra- 
tions, the  former  having  red  hair  and  the  latter  having  a  superabundance 
of  hair  about  his  person,  which  characteristics  are  notoriously  repulsive  to 
savage  taste. 

'J'hese  demonstrations  were  interpreted  by  the  prisoners  as  the  precursors 
of  untold  horrors  yet  in  reservation. 

Contrary  to  savage  custom  as  to  the  treatment  of  the  generality  of  pri- 


*  Hawkins'  cabin  stood  a  few  feet  south  of  where  the  Natiounl  Road  ii?  now  located, 
near  the  foot  of  what  is  known  as  "Hawkins"  Hill,"  on  land  now  owned  by  John 
Conner,  Esq.  The  .stuble  on  the  north  of  the  road,  here,  was  constructed  of  the  logs 
Iroin  the  ancient  cabin. 

t  This  infant  was  William  Hawkins,  who  was  County  Surveyor  of  Wabhington 
County  about  the  year  1820. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  53 

soners  in  such  an  emergency,  though  being  faint  and  feeble  from  fright  and 
sickness,  and  unable  to  keep  pace  with  the  Indians  in  their  hurriedmarcb, 
the  fair  Miss  Hawkins  was  retained  a  prisoner  and  treated  with  the  utmost 
indulgence  and  decorum.  Such  was  her  feebleness  and  trepidation  for  the 
moment,  that  she  fell  from  the  horse  on  which  the  Indians  had  seated  her; 
bntwith  their  characteristic  indulgence  and  decorous  forbearance,  with  which 
"  they  are  universally  seen  to  treat  captive  women,"  she  was  kindly  reseated 
on  the  animal,  and  hurried  forward  far  in  advance  of  the  other  prisoners. 

An  Indian  council  was  held.  The  scene  which  quickly  followed,  and 
which  was  the  consummation  of  the  purposes  of  the  council,  was  sufficient 
to  chill  the  heart's  blood  of  even  savage  barbarity. 

The  five  prisoners,  firmly  bound,  sat  side  by  side  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen 
tree.  They  were  approached  from  the  rear  by  five  large  and  powerful 
Indians,  each  with  uplifted  tomahawk  in  hand,  three  of  whom  dealt  simul- 
taneous blows,  and  Hawkins,  Peak,  and  Burnett  lay  with  cloven  skulls, 
weltering  in  their  life's  blood. 

The  other  two  savages  seemed  to  recoil  from  the  work  of  atrocity  that 
had  been  assigned  them  ;  but  each  stood  with  uplifted  tomahawk  over  the 
head  of  his  intended  victim. 

In  this  awful  moment  of  suspense,  Miller  and  Link,  fortunately  for  them- 
selves, gave  no  evidence  of  terror  or  trepidation. 

At  that  moment  a  warbling  songster  of  the  wood  struck  up  its  mournful 
song  from  the  pendent  branches  of  an  ancient  monarch  of  the  forest  over- 
hanging the  scene  of  this  awful  tragedy. 

Two  of  the  intended  executioners,  immediately  cowering  back  from  their 
intrepid  and  indomitably  courageous  prisoners,  quickly  returned  their  toma- 
hawks to  their  belts ;  and  the  whole  of  the  savages,  palpably  overwhelmed 
with  consternation  and  dismay,  hastened  to  form  in  line  with  the  front  In- 
dians of  the  file  facing  toward  the  Ohio.  Miller  and  Link  led,  like  dogs,  by 
long  strips  of  raw-hide,  had  a  place  assigned  to  them  about  the  middle  of 
the  file. 

Thus  with  light,  silent,  and  cat-like  tread  they  advanced  on  their  retreat 
rapidly  till  they  neared  the  banks  of  Big  Wheeling  Creek,  where,  nightfall 
coming  on.  a  halt  was  made,  a  fire  was  kindled  some  distance  away  from 
the  place  selected  for  an  encampment,  which  was  quickly  extinguished  as 
soon  as  it  had  served  the  purpose  of  cooking  their  scanty  evening  meal. 

Here,  for  the  first  time  since  a  few  minutes  before  the  enactment  of  the 
tragic  scenes  first  related,  was  Miss  Hawkins  cheered  with  the  sight  of  any 
of  the  other  prisoners. 

In  agonizing  filial  apprehensions  she  strained  her  eyes  in  anxious  search 
along  the  approaching  file  for  a  sight  of  her  father ;  but  when  she  saw  onlv 
Miller  and  Link  she  instinctively  divined  what  had  happened. 

Being  now  composed,  reason  and  judgment  were  measurably  under  her 
control,  and  her  familiarity  with  the  Indian  character  and  peculiarities,  ad- 
monished her  that  she  should  not  betray  to  the  keen  perceptions  of  the 
savages  the  real  state  of  her  feelings.  With  a  resolute  endurance  and  a 
heroism  befitting  the  occasion,  she  succeeded  in  stifling  the  better  feelings 
of  her  nature;  and,  aff'ecting  indifference  to  what  had  transpired  within  the 
last  fifteen  hours,  she  partook  with  apparent  cheerfulness  of  the  parsimo- 
nious and  frugal  entertainment  v.'hich  the  Indians  served  up  to  her  and  the 
other  prisoners. 

From  the  indistinguishable  jabbering  among  the  Indians,  it  was  evident 
they  were  arranging  to  get  that  sleep  of  which  they  had  been  so  long  de- 
prived, and  to  make  a  judicious  and  safe  disposition  of  the  prisoners  for 
the  night. 


54  APPENDIX    TO 

At  length  they  stretched  themselves  out  upon  the  ground,  with  such  an 
arrangement,  that  on  either  side  of  each  prisoner  was  an  Indian.  As  a 
further  precaution  to  security,  the  end  of  the  lltong  by  which  each  prisoner 
had  been  led  in  the  march  was  securely  fastened  around  the  body  of  an 
Indian.  Doubly  bound,  as  they  were,  the  prisoners  gave  up  all  hope  of 
escape. 

The  Indians  soon  fell  asleep.  Their  minds  were  too  busy,  their  nerves 
too  e.x'cited,  and  their  torture  from  their  bonds  too  intense,  to  allow  the 
prisoners  any  iucliuation  to  close  their  eyes. 

Pinioned  and  distributed  as  they  were  among  the  Indians,  they  were  pre- 
cluded the  possibility  of  any  commuuication  with  one  another,  by  word,  or 
even  gesture. 

Miller,  notwithstanding  his  anxiety  of  mind  and  distress  of  body,  had 
matured  a  ])lau  for  his  escape :  which  was  to  sunder,  by  means  of  his  teeth, 
the  tough  thongs  which  served  to  bind  him  so  securely. 

He  '■  im))atii'utly  waited  for  midnight,  when  the  sleep  of  the  Indians 
would  be  most  likely  to  be  profound."  Time  passed  away,  and  at  last  even 
Link*  and  Miss  Hawkinsf  sank  into  a  fitful  slumber. 

Miller,  imploring  divine  assistance,  embraced  this  as  the  auspicious  mo- 
ment to  begin  the  diflicult  and  dangerous  work  he  had  in  contemplation. 

With  an  unconquentble  will  and  unfaltering  determination,  he  labored 
for  some  time,  accomplishing  but  little. 

Though  having  a  set  of  good  teeth,  he  at  times  almost  despaired  of  suc- 
cess, on  account  of  the  toughness  of  the  material  on  which  he  was  operating. 

But  at  length  one  of  the  sundered  letters  dropped  slowly  from  its  deep 
track,  where  it  was  imbedded  in  the  muscles  of  his  arms.  One  of  the 
savages  turned  in  his  sleep.  Miller  lay  in  the  semblance  of  sleep.  'J'en 
minutes  elapsed,  and,  no  further  movement  being  observed,  he  resumed  his 
efForts  to  unfetter  himself. 

At  length  his  success  was  complete.  He  stole  forth  cautiously  from  the 
circle  of  his  captors,  and-was  soon  on  his  way  back  to  Buffalo,  where  he 
arrived  about  the  break  of  day. 

As  soon  as  he  entered  the  block-house  alone,  and  without  his  gun,  the 
inmates  knew  that  some  awful  calamity  had  befallen  himself  and  his  com- 
panions. 

When  inquired  of  as  to  Hupp  and  Fisher,  the  great  deep  of  his  manly 
soul  was  broken  up,  and  the  awfully  harrowing  scenes  of  the  last  twenty- 
four  hours  rushing  through  his  mind,  rendered  him  speechless. 

And  his  only  response  was  to  point  to  the  deep  and  purple  marks  still 

*  Link  was  not  so  successful  as  Miller  in  his  endeavors  to  escape.  He  was  dragged 
along  with  the  Indians  to  their  villagos  beyond  the  Oliio.  And  trailition  says,  that 
some  two  weeks  after  his  capture  he  was  brought  back  into  the  neighborhood,  and 
taken  up  on  the  hill  north  of  his  own  cabin  and  in  full  view  of  it,  where  he  was  sot 
up  as  a  target  and  shot  at  by  the  Indians.  He,  no  doubt,  was  buried  by  the  side  of 
Hupp  and  Fi-^hor,  about  midway  between  his  cabin  and  the  creek.  Tlie  cut  through 
the  bank  for  tlio  county  road  bus  disturbed  the  sepulchre  of  these  prisoner  martyrs. 
Here,  at  the  road-side,  the  venerable  William  Porter,  Sr.,  has  frequently  picked  por- 
tions'of  human  bones  out  of  the  crumbling  bank. 

t  Miss  Hawkins  was  carried  by  the  Indians  to  their  villages  in  the  interior  of  Ohio. 
Hero  she  was  led  in  triumph  to  the  wigwam,  and  with  due  form  and  ceremony  adopted 
into  the  tribe.  She  soon  learned  to  reciprocate  that  disinterested  tenderness  with 
which  she  was  so  affectionately  loved  by  the  mother  of  her  adoption.  Many  yeara 
after  she  had  been  wedded  to  a  Shawnese  Chief  she  returned  to  the  neighborhood  on 
a  visit  to  her  pale-faced  relatives.  15ut  she  soon  returned  to  her  wild  Indian  home, 
the  dull  monotony  of  civilized  life  having  no  charms  for  her. 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  55 

remaining  in  his  arms,  and  amid  the  emotional  throbbings  of  his  heart  and 
the  heaving  of  his  herculean  chest,  burst  into  a  flood  of  unbidden  tears. 

The  abundant  tribute  of  tears,  from  those  collecting  around  him,  con- 
vinced Miller  that  true  sympathy  is  natural  to  the  human  heart. 

The  sad  events  of  the  day  previous  having  been  learned,  it  was  desirable 
to  extend  the  rite  of  sepulture  to  those  -who  had  fallen. 

Amongst  those  who  shouldered  their  rifles*  and  set  out,  headed  by  Capt. 
Miller,  to  perform  these  last  sad  rites,  were  John  Miller,  Andrew  Deeds, 
and  Jacob  Rowe. 

In  after  years  Miller  seldom  related  this,  to  him,  painful  narrative ;  and 
when  he  did,  it  was  always  with  tears  streaming  down  his  manly  cheeks. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  obediently  yours. 

John  C.  Hupp. 

Scattered  throughout  Youghiogheny,  but  now  Washington  County, 
were  many  forts,  some  of  which  we  shall  particularize :  Vance's 
fort,  one  mile  north  of  Cross  Creek  village,  situate  on  Cross  Creek, 
which  empties  into  the  Ohio  River,  and  now  in  the  possession  of  Alli- 
son Yance,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Major  William  Yance.  Wells's 
fort,  five  miles  west  of  Cross  Creek  village.  The  Rev.  Dr.  John 
Stockton,  of  Cross  Creek,  says  : — 

"In  these  forts,  social  and  afterwards  public  worship  was  kept  up  for 
seven  years,  especially  in  summer  and  autumn,  the  seasons  when  the  Indians 
were  wont  to  make  their  raids ;  and  it  was  a  common  thing  for  men  to  go  to 
these  meetings  armed  with  their  trusty  rifles,  and  to  stand  guard  during 
the  services.  The  first  gospel  sermon  ever  preached  in  that  region  was 
under  an  oak  tree,  just  outside  tl\e  gate  of  Vance's  fort,  on  the  18th  Sep- 
tember, 1778,  by  the  Rev.  James  Powers." 

Lindley's  fort,  near  the  present  village  pf  Prosperity,  was  one  of 
the  strongest  forts  in  the  western  country,  because  it  was  the  most 
exposed  to  the  hostile  incursions  of  the  savage  inhabitants. 

Beemati's  block-house  was  situated  on  Beeman's  Run,  which  emp- 
ties into  the  north  fork  of  Wheeling  Creek.  In  front  of  this  block- 
house was  a  long,  narrow  field,  on  which  horses  were  pastured.  At 
the  extremity  of  the  field  the  fence  was  down,  and  two  boys  passed 
through  into  the  woods  in  search  of  the  horses  which  had  strayed  off. 
The  Indians  had  thrown  down  the  fence  as  a  ruse,  and  taken  the 
horses  into  the  woods,  and  thither  the  boys  ignorantly  went.  The 
Indians  seized  them  and  carried  them  off.  That  night  the  boys  were 
tomahawked,  scalped,  and  left  for  dead.  In  the  morning,  on  awak- 
ening, one  of  the  boys  found  the  Indians  had  left  and  his  brother 
dead,  went  to  the  river  and  pursued  its  course  until  evening,  when 
he  arrived  at  Wheeling. 

Wolfe's  fort,  or  block-house  and  stockade,  stood  about  five  miles 
west  of  Catfish  and  inclosed  Jacob  Wolfe's  house.  The  National 
road  now  passes  over  the  ground  occupied  by  the  fort.  William 
Darby  thus  describef  the  situation  of  affairs  : — 

*  The  rifle  and  the  remnants  of  the  equipments  carried  by  Jacob  Rowe  on  this 
occasion  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  writer  of  this  letter. 


56  APPENDIX   TO 

"  We  remained  in  Mr.  Wolfe's  house  until  February,  1782,  •while  my  father 
was  preparing-  his  cabin,  into  which  we  finally  entered,  but  not  to  rest.  In 
fifteen  or  twenty  days  after  entrance  into  our  log  cabin,  Martin  Jolly  came 
running  breathless  to  tell  us  that  a  savage  murder  Jiad  been  committed  but 
ten  miles  distant.  In  two  hours  we  were  in  Wolfe's  fort.  From  the  fort 
my  parents  removed  to  Catfish  (Washington),  and  spent  the  residue  of  1782 
and  to  April,  178B,  on  the  farm  of  Alexander  lleynolds,  recently  owned  by 
Dr.  F.  J.  Lemoyne.  On  this  farm  we  were  living  when  the  Moravian  In- 
dians were  massacred,  and  when  the  militia  army  were  defeated  under  Col. 
William  Cr.awford.  and  he  captured  and  burned  by  a  slow  torture  to  leath. 
James  and  Hugh  Workman  were  both  in  that  expedition,  and  I  fancy  I  see 
the  two  women  now,  when  James  Reynolds  came  running  to  my  mother 
exclaiming,  '  Jamy  Workman  is  killed!'  James  Workman,  who  was  a 
married  man,  was  not  killed,  but  returned  to  his  family  and  lived  many 
years  afterwards.  A  like  report  came  in  regard  to  llugh,  and  happily 
proved  untrue,  to  the  great  joy  of  his  betrothed  wife,  Peggy  Bryson.  living 
then  with  her  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Nichol.  John  Campbell,  of  Pigeon 
Creek,  was  killed  in  the  action.  The  fate  of  William  Huston,  son  of  John 
Huston,  William  Johnston,  and  William  Nimmons,  was  never  accounted  for. 
The  two  latter  were  both  married  men,  and  left  children." 

Froman's  fort  was  on  Chartiers'  Creek. 

There  was  a  block-house  in  Mount  Pleasant  township  on  Wilson's 
farm,  which  is  now  owned  by  Andrew  Kussel,  Esq. 

Becket's  fort  was  near  the  Monongahela  River. 

There  was  also  a  fort  in  West  Bethlehem  township,  at  the  village 
of  Zollarsville,  and  directly  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling-house  and  store 
of  Edward  R.  Smith,  Esq.,  on  the  high  blufi"  which  overlooks  the 
creek. 

Another  at  Taylorstown ;  this  place,  however,  was  originally  called 
New  Brunswick. 

Jackson's  fort  was  near  Waynesburg. 

FiNLEY  Township. 

The  following  interesting  facts  I  received  from  our  esteemed  fel- 
low citizen,  Alexander  Frazier,  Esq.,  concerning  the  first  settlement 
of  the  ^vestern  part  of  Washington  County,  known  as  Fiuley  town- 
ship. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  township  was  about  1785 — the  first 
fort  was  Honey's  block-house.  In  tills  year  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Mcintosh,  with  his  wife  and  eight  children,  settled  on  what  is  now 
called  the  Jilockhouse  Run  (from  the  fact  that  Campbell's  block- 
house was  erected  there).  Some  time  in  August,  as  the  Mclntoshes 
were  engaged  in  stacking  hay,  they  were  fired  upon  by  the  Indians; 
he  himself  was  shot  off  the  stack,  while  his  wile,  who  was  pitching 
hay,  fled  towards  the  iiousc,  but  was  overtaken,  tomahawked,  and 
scalped,  while  the  children  were  treated  in  the  same  manner.  The 
Indians,  before  they  left  the  house,  placed  one  of  the  dead  boys 
before  the  door,  with  a  knife  in  one  hand  and  a  corn-stalk  in  the 
other,  while  in  the  house  they  took  the  infant  out  of  the  cradle,  and, 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  57 

after  scalping  it,  beat  its  brains  out  against  the  wall,  holding  it  by 
its  heels. 

The  neighbors  found  one  of  the  girls  fifty  yards  from  the  house,' 
scalped,  while  the  eldest  made  her  escape  and  rode  to  Rouey's  fort 
and  communicated  the  sad  intelligence.  Hercules  Roncy,  with  a 
party  of  men  from  the  fort,  repaired  to  the  scene  of  action,  prepared 
a  grave,  and  deposited  all  the  bodies  therein. 

The  Indians,  after  this  cruel  murder,  remained  quiet  until  about 
1790,  when  they  again  broke  out  and  continued  troublesome  until 
Wayne's  treaty.  In  the  year  1792  they  killed  an  old  lady,  Mrs. 
Nancy  Ross,  near  where  West  Alexander  now  stands.  She  went 
out  of  her  cabin  to  look  for  her  cow,  when  she  was  overtaken  by 
Indians  who  lay  in  ambush,  tomahawked,  and  scalped.  The 
Indians  then  went  to  Beekman's  Bun,  in  West  Finley  township, 
where  they  captured  two  boys  by  the  name  of  Beekman,  who  were 
in  the  woods  hunting  their  horses.  They  took  them  some  distance 
with  the  horses,  when  they  halted  and  put  them  under  the  care  of 
one  of  the  Indians,  while  the  other  two  went  to  seek  a  camping 
ground.  It  appears  a  dog  had  been  following  the  boys,  which, 
when  the  Indians  discovered,  they  took  alarm — fearing  they  w^ere 
pursued — tomahawked  and  scalped  the  boys,  and  left  them  for  dead. 
The  elder  boy  received  a  gash  on  the  forehead  above  his  left  eye, 
which  did  not  penetrate  the  skull,  but  glanced  into  the  eje,  cutting 
the  eyebaU.  As  soon  as  they  came  to,  the  elder  boy  put  his  brother 
on  the  horse,  but  he  was  too  weak  to  ride.  He  himself  mounted  the 
horse  and  started  for  home,  but,  after  riding  some  distance,  became 
weak  and  faint  from  the  loss  of  blood,  dismounted,  hitched  the  horse, 
went  some  distance  down  into  a  gully  at  the  head  of  the  run,  and 
crept  under  a  rock  to  rest.  Fortunately  the  colt,  which  had  followed, 
chewed  the  bridle,  and  let  the  mare  go.  In  a  short  time  the  Indians 
came  on  the  trail  of  the  horses.  He  saw  them  from  his  hiding  place 
pass  by,  and,  after  waiting  some  considerable  time,  he  set  off,  and 
by  a  different  route  reached  home.  I  have  seen  this  boy  when 
grown  up  to  manhood,  with  his  scalp  off  and  his  eye  closed  up,  with 
a  large  scar  above  it. 

About  this  time  two  young  girls  on  Wheeling  Creek,  by  the  name 
of  Crow,  were  in  the  woods  hunting  their  cows.  They  were  captured 
b}^  some  Indians,  and,  after  some  consultation,  the  elder  w^as  toma- 
hawked and  scalped  ;  but  the  younger  being  twelve  years  of  age, 
they  reserved  her  for  another  death,  but  providentially  they  were 
doomed  to  disappointment.  They  stripped  her  of  her  clothing,  gave 
her  some  yards  start,  and  a  young  Indian  larger  than  herself  was 
ordei-ed  to  pursue,  tomahawk,  and  scalp  her.  In  running  the  chase 
for  life  or  death  the  foot  of  the  Indian  was  caught  by  the  root  of  a 
tree  and  he  fell.  Before  he  recovered  himself  she  was  too  far  off  to 
be  taken,  notwithstanding  the  Indians  fired  their  rifles  after  her. 

The  lands  in  West  Finley  township  were  chiefly  owned  by  Messrs. 
Shields  and  Hollingsworth,  of  Philadelphia,  part  of  which  was  pur- 


58  APPENDIX    TO 

chased  from  them  in  1V90  by  Scotch  Presbyterian  emigrants  direct 
from  Scotland — hence  it  was  often  known  by  tlic  name  of  the  "  Scotch 
Settlement."  On  this  land  they  built  GamphclVs  block-house  in 
the  summer  of  that  year.  It  was  situate  about  one  mile  and  a  half 
west  of  the  village  of  Good  Intent.  These  settlers  had  exceedingly 
hard  times.  During  part  of  the  summer  months  they  were  shut  up 
in  the  block-house,  and  it  was  with  the  greatest  diihculty  and  peril 
they  could  raise  corn  sufficient  for  their  families  and  their  stock. 
Another  great  inconvenience  was,  they  had  no  mill  within  fifteen  or 
twenty  miles,  hence  they  had  to  manufacture  their  corn  for  family 
use  ;  and,  as  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,  they  made  graters 
upon  which  to  rub  the  corn,  which  answered  for  meal.  They  also 
pounded  it  in  a  mortar,  with  a  pestle  made  about  three  feet  long, 
with  an  iron  wedge  made  fast  to  one  end.  They  would  pound  awhile, 
then  sift  the  fine  part  out,  with  which  they  would  make  their  bread, 
as  also  their  mush.  The  coarser  part  they  would  make  into  hominy. 
Some,  however,  made  hand-mills,  while  an  ingenious  man  by  the 
name  of  Elliott  invented  a  kind  of  hand-mill  with  some  gearing 
attached,  which  two  men  could  work  with  a  windlass,  similar  to  a 
draw-well.  Some  years  afterwards  the  same  man  erected  a  horse 
mill,  and  by  perseverance  and  patience  became  a  self-made  practical 
millwright. 

While  on  this  subject  we  may  add  that  Peter  Wolf  erected  a  small 
mill  on  Robinson's  fork  of  Wheeling  Creek.  In  a  year  or  two  after- 
wards John  Richmond  built  another  mill  where  Good  Intent  village 
now  stands. 

William  Bailey's  Captivity. 

In  early  times  there  resided  near  Candor,  Washington  County 
(then  Westmoreland  County),  four  brothers  by  the  name  of  Bailey. 
It  was  harvest  time,  and  the}'  were  in  the  harvest  field,  assisted  by 
Josiah  Scott  and  others.  When  Scott  had  finished  his  row  he 
mounted  the  fence  to  rest  himself  until  the  remainder  of  the  reapers 
would  come  up.  When  Scott  was  seated  on  the  fence  he  was  shot 
by  the  Indians,  ivho  were  in  ambush,  and  William  Bailey  was  cap- 
tured, while  the  rest  made  their  escape,  and  he  was  tied  fast  with  a 
rope.  Word  was  immediately  sent  to  Fort  JNIcIntosh  (Beaver) 
and  to  Pittsburg,  and  soldiers  were  sent  out  to  intercept  thera. 
When  the  officers  and  soldiers  discovered  the  Indians  they  lay  in 
ambush  to  surprise  and  capture  the  whole  party,  but  one  of  their 
numl)er,  being  very  much  excited,  fired  his  gun,  which  defeated  the 
desired  object.  However,  the  Indian  who  had  Mr.  Bailey  in  a  bark 
canoe  with  him  was  killed,  and  the  boat  turned  upside  down,  while 
the  other  Indians  who  were  in  the  bark  canoes  made  their  escape. 
Mr.  Bailey  not  being  an  experienced  swimmer,  with  the  assistance 
of  the  soldiers  was  brought  to  the  shore  perfectly  exhausted.  After 
recovery  he  was  sent  to  Pittsburg,  and  afterwards  reached  home  iu 
safety. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  59 


Rev.  John  Corbley 

Was  an  eminent  Baptist  preacher  who  had  settled  at  Muddy  Creek 
(Washington),  now  Greene  County.  He  details  his  sufferinjjs,  and 
those  of  his  family,  in  a  letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  of  Philadelphia, 
in  the  following  language  : — 

Muddy  Creek,  Washington  County,  July  8,  1788. 
On  the  second  Sabbath  of  May,  1782,  being  by  appointment  at  one  of 
my  meeting-houses,  about  a  mile  from  my  dwelling-house,  I  set  out  with 
my  dear  wife  and  five  children  for  pubUc  worship.  Not  suspecting  any 
danger,  I  walked  beliind  two  hundred  yards,  with  my  Bible  in  my  hand, 
meditating  ;  as  I  was  tlius  employed,  all  on  a  sudden  I  was  greatly  alarmed 
with  the  frightful  shrieks  of  my  dear  family  before  me.  I  immediately  rau 
with  all  the  speed  I  could,  vainly  hunting  a  club  as  I  ran,  till  I  got  within 
forty  yards  of  them.  My  poor  wife  seeing  me,  cried  to  me  to  make  my 
escape.  An  Indian  ran  up  to  shoot  me.  I  then  fled,  and,  by  so  doing, 
outran  him.  My  wife  had  a  sucking  child  in  her  arms.  This  little  infant 
they  killed  and  scalped.  They  then  struck  my  wife  several  times,  but,  not 
getting  her  down,  the  Indian  who  aimed  to  shoot  me  ran  to  her,  shot  her 
through  the  body,  and  scalped  her.  My  little  boy,  an  only  son  about  six 
years  old,  they  sunk  the  hatchet  into  his  brains,  and  thus  despatched  him. 
A  daughter,  besides  the  infant,  they  also  killed  and  scalped.  My  eldest 
daughter,  who  is  yet  aUve,  was  hid  in  a  tree  about  twenty  yards  from  the 
place  where  the  rest  were  killed,  and  saw  the  whole  proceedings.  She, 
seeing  the  Indians  all  go  off,  as  she  thought,  got  up  and  dehberately  crept 
out  of  the  hollow  trunk ;  but  one  of  them  espying  her,  ran  hastily  up, 
knocked  her  down,  and  scalped  her,  also  her  only  sister,  on  whose  head 
they  did  not  leave  more  than  an  inch  round  either  of  flesh  or  of  skin,  besides 
taking  a  piece  of  her  skull.  They  still  retain  their  senses,  notwithstandiag 
the  painful  operations  they  have  already,  and  must  yet  pass  through. 


CHAPTER   lY. 

WHISKEY  INSURRECTION. 


Washington  County  was  settled  by  pioneers  from  Cumberland 
Valley  and  Virginia,  after  the  close  of  the  war  with  Pontiac,  which 
occurred  on  the  30th  day  of  October,  1763.  The  settlements  were 
made  along  the  Monougahela.  It  is  an  historical  fact,  however,  that 
on  the  27th  of  January,  1750,  the  Assembly  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania erected  the  county  of  Cumberland  by  au  act  of  that  date, 
which  necessarily  embraced  all  the  counties  west  of  the  Susquehanna. 
The  act  referred  to  recites  the  boundaries  as  follows:  "  That  all  and 
singular  the  land  lying  within  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  the 
westward  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  northward  and  westward  of  the 
county  of  York,  be  erected  into  a  county  to  be  called  Cumberland, 
bounded  northward  and  westward  with  the  line  of  the  Province ; 


60  APPENDIX   TO 

eastward,  partly  with  the  river  Susquehanna  and  partly  with  the  said 
county  of  York,  and  southward  iu  part  by  the  said  county  of  York,  and 
part  hy  the  line  dividing  the  said  Province  from  that  of  Maryland." 

The  seat  of  justice  being  located  at  Carlisle,  the  people  were  re- 
quired to  travel  hundreds  of  miles  on  account  of  the  extensive  limits 
of  the  county,  at  great  expense  and  loss  of  time.  To  remedy  this 
evil,  the  boundaries  of  Cumberland  County  were  reduced  by  the 
erection  of  new  counties,  some  of  which  I  shall  enumerate,  as  they 
constitute  a  part  of  the  present  history. 

Bedford  County  was  erected  into  a  county  March  9,  1771; 
Westmoreland  County,  February  26,  1773;  Washington  County, 
March  28,  1781 ;  Fayette  County,  September  20,  1783,  and  Alle- 
gheny County,  September  24,  1788.  Cumberland  County  having 
brought  into  civil  existence  these  and  ether  counties,  has  always 
been  known  politically  and  otherwise  as  '^Mother  Cumberland,^'  and 
the  sobriquet  has  been  as  justly  bestowed  and  as  equally  merited. 

From  the  census  table  of  1790,  we  learn  that  iha&Q  five  counties, 
which  then  composed  Wedern  Pennsylvania,  had  a  population  of 
70,642  inhabitants,  which  were  distributed  as  follows :  Bedford  County 
bad  a  population  of  13,124;  Westmoreland  County,  10,018;  Wash- 
ington County,  23,866;  Fayette  County,  13,325,  and  Allegheny 
County,  10,309,  while  in  1800  the  population  had  increased  in  these 
live  counties  to  the  number  of  98,304,  showing  an  increase  of  21,162 
in  ten  years.  Taking  these  statistical  tables  as  a  correct  data,  we 
are  safe  in  asserting  that  at  the  period  when  the  whiskey  insurrec- 
tion was  at  its  zenith,  the  population  was  not  less  than  87,473. 

This  population  was  composed  of  men  who  devoted  their  time 
chiefly  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  virgin  soil  yielded  its  fruits 
prolifically  as  a  reward  to  the  husbandman.  So  productive  were  the 
cereals,  that  there  was  neither  market  nor  purchasers  for  the  surplus 
quantity,  the  only  mode  of  consequence  being  to  send  the  products 
of  the  soil  across  the  mountains  on  pack-horses,  and  in  return  bring 
salt,  iron,  groceries,  &c.  &c.  This  remarkably  slow  mode  of  send- 
ing their  articles  to  market,  and  the  necessity  of  receiving  in  return 
the  comforts  of  life,  caused  deep  thought  and  anxious  solicitude 
among  a  population  of  upwards  of  87,000  people.  The  question, 
therefore,  was  discussed  among  the  people  how  their  crops  could  be 
made  more  available.  Many  plans  were  devised,  suggested,  and 
discussed,  but,  as  necessiti/  ?s  (he  mother  of  invention,  the  idea  was 
happily  conceived  that  the  grain  could  be  converted  intd  distilled 
Ivjuor,  and  instead  of  a  horse  carrying  hni  four  bushels  of.  rye  over 
the  mountains,  it  could  transport  the  prodiact  of  twenty-four  bushels 
manufactured  into  whiskey,  lience  whiskey  became  the  medium  of 
exchange  between  the  east  and  the  west;  the  "old  Monongahela" 
bt'came  renowned  for  its  purity,  and  the  agriculturists  bent  all  the 
energies  of  their  mind  to  increase  the  cereal  products  of  the  earth, 
beea\ise  a  new  waij  was  opi'iied  up,  which  promised  to  the  frugal 
and  industrious,  the  rewards  consequent  upon  well-bestowed  labor. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  61 

In  the  midst  of  this  unexampled  prosperity,  the  people  were  re- 
minded that  the  Assembly  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  as  early 
as  175G,  had  passed  an  Excise  Law  by  which  a  tax  was  placed  upon 
every  article  supposed  not  to  bo  necessary,  or,  in  other  words,  on  the 
luxuries  of  life.  This  law,  however,  had  always  been  imperative, 
and  as  no  tax  was  ever  collected  under  that  excise  law  in  any  of  the 
counties  east  of  the  mountains,  the  people  of  Western  Pennsylvania 
regarded  it  as  merely  nominal  so  far  as  related  to  domestic  distilled 
liquors. 

But  the  first  Congress  in  January,  1791,  on  the  report  of  Alex. 
Hamilton,  then  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  passed  an  excise  law  im- 
posing a  tax  of  from  ten  to  twenty-five  cents  payable  upon  every 
gallon  of  domestic  distilled  liquor,  which  he  calculated  would  yield 
$820,000  to  meet  the  charges  growing  out  of  the  assumption  of 
State  debts,  and  in  connection  therewith,  placed  a  tax  upon  stills, 
according  to  their  capacity,  with  which  it  was  manufactured.  The 
people  of  Western  Pennsylvania  felt  that  this  law  was  wrong  and' 
unjust  and  an  encroachment  on  their  rights  and  privileges,  and  all 
agreed  upon  the  principle  enunciated  by  the  Congress  of  17H,  that  an 
excise  law  "was  the  horror  of  all  free  States."  They  felt,  too,  that 
this  law  would  operate  peculiarly  severe  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
Western  Pennsylvania  from  the  fact  that  they  had  no  direct  commu- 
nication with  the  east,  except  by  transporting  their  productions  in 
the  form  of  distilled  liquor  upon  pack-horses,  and  that  the  blow 
would,  if  carried  out,  prostrate  their  trade,  their  business,  and  their 
future  prospects,  and  they  boldly  contended  that  the  fact  need  not 
be  disguised  or  concealed,  that  nowhere  in  the  United  States  could 
a  population  of  87,000.  persons  be  found  where  there  were  as  many 
stills,  and  consequently  as  much  domestic  liquor  distilled  as  in  West- 
ern Pennsylvania.  But  the  reason  was  self-evident.  There  were 
neither  large  distilleries  nor  commission  warehouses  to  purchase  the 
grain,  and  had  such  been  the  case,  there  was  no  mode  of  transporta- 
tion, except  upon  pack-horses,  each  horse  carrying  but  four  bushels 
of  grain.  Hence  in  every  neighborhood  some  farmer  became  a  d\s,- 
i\\\QX  from  necessity ,  and  he  not  only  manufactured  his  own  grain 
into  whiskey,  but  that  of  five  or  six  of  his  immediate  neighbors.  Upon 
a  fair  calculation,  therefore,  every  sixth  man  became  a  distiller,  but  all 
equally  bound  to  resist  the  excise  law,  which  would  fall  heavily  upon 
every  farmer,  as  the  money  which  they  would  procure  in  the  east 
from  the  sale  of  their  liquor  would,  on  their  return,  be  demanded  by 
the  excise  officer,  to  keep  up  the  expenses  of  the  government. 

The  excise  law  provided  for  the  erection  of  inspection  districts,  in 
each  of  which  an  inspector  was  appointed  whose  duty  it  was  to  ex- 
amine all  distilleries,  the  capacity  of  the  stills,  gauge  their  barrels, 
brand  their  casks,  and  note  in  his  book  the  result,  and  to  crown  the 
iniquity  of  the  law  with  its  most  odious  feature — the  "  duty  imposed 
on  each  was  required  to  be  paid  on  the  liquors  before  they  were 


62  APPENDIX    TO 

even  removed  from  the  distilleries."  Yet  notwithstanding  the  ap- 
pointment of  collectors,  the  people  held  meetings  and  passed  resolu- 
tions condemning  every  man  who  would  accept  the  oflSce  in  the 
following  words : — 

That  whereas,  Some  men  may  be  found  among  us,  so  far  lost  to  every 
sense  of  virtue  and  all  feeling  for  the  distresses  of  their  country  as  to  accept 
the  oflice  of  collector,  therefore, 

Eciiolvcd,  That  in  future  we  shall  consider  such  persons  as  unworthy  of 
our  friendship,  luive  no  intercourse  or  dealing  with  them,  withdraw  from 
them  every  assistance,  withhold  all  the  comforts  of  life  which  depend  upon 
those  duties  that  as  men  and  fellow-citizens  we  owe  to  each  other,  and 
upon  all  occasioDS  treat  them  with  that  contempt  they  deserve,  and  that  it 
be  and  it  is  hereby  most  earnestly  recommended  to  the  people  at  large  to 
follow  the  same  line  of  conduct  towards  them. 

The  men  composing  the  counties  of  Western  Pennsylvania  were 
genoralTy  from  the  north  of  Ireland,,  or  were  the  immediate  descend- 
cnts  of  Scotch-Irish.  They  personally,  or  by  tradition,  remembered 
the  scenes  of  their  fatherland,  a.nd  the  roquiremeiits  which  tlie  officers 
of  the  crown  demanded.  They  contemplated  the  Stamp  Act,  and 
the  princii)le  involved  in  the  tea  question — acts^ind  principles  which 
gave  birth  to  American  liberty — and  while  contem})]ating  these  things, 
they  resolved  peaceably  to  memorialize  Congress  to  repeal  this  un- 
just and  iniquitous  act.  Public  meetings  were  held  throughout  the 
western  counties  of  the  State  with  the  same  objects  in  view,  but 
with  no  eifect.  At  length,  in  1791,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Washing- 
ton, and  Mr.  Gallatin  says  "that  the  persons  assembled  not  only 
agreed  to  remonstrate,  but  they  expressed  a  determination  to  hold 
no  communication  with,  and  to  treat  with  contempt  such  inhabitants 
of  the  western  country  as  would  accept  offices  under  the  law;  and 
they  recommended  the  same  line  of  conduct  to  the  people  at  large," 
as  the  following  statement  will  show: — 

Pittsburg  Resolutions. 

Delegates  convened  in  the  city  of  Pittsburg  on  the  Tth  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1T91,  from  the  following  counties,  viz:^ 

Westmoreland  County  was  represented  by  Nehemiah  Stokely  and 
John  Young;  Washington  County  by  Col.  James  Marshall,  Rev. 
David  IMiillips,  and  David  Bradford;  Fayette  County  by  Edward 
Cook,  Nathaniel  Bradley,  and  John  Oliphant,  and  Allegheny 
County  by  Thomas  Morton,  John  AV\)ods,  ami  William  Plumer. 

Edward  Cook  was  elected  Chairman,  and  John  Young  appointed 
Secretary. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  resolutions  were  passed  — 

Resolved,  That  having  considered  the  laws  of  the  late  Congress,  it  is 
our  opinion  that  in  a  very  short  time  hasty  strides  have  been  made  to  all 
that  is  unjust  aud  oppressive.  We  note  particularly  the  exorbitant  salaries 
of  officers,  the  unreasonable  interest  of  the  public  debt,  and  the  making  no 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  63 

discrimination  between  the  original  holders  of  public  securities  and  the 
transferees,  contrary  to  the  ideas  of  natural  justice  in  sanctioning  an  advan- 
tage which  was  not  in  the  contemplation  of  the  party  himself  to  receive, 
and  contrary  to  the  municipal  law  of  most  nations  and  ours  particularly  ;  the 
carrying  into  effect  an  unconscionable  bargain  where  an  undue  advantage 
has  been  taken  of  the  ignorance  or  necessities  of  another,  and  also  con- 
trary to  the  interest  and  happiness  of  these  States,  being  subversive  of  in- 
terest by  common  meaus,  where  men  seem  to  maUe  fortunes  by  the  fortuitous 
concurrence  of  circun)stances,  rather  than  by  economic,  virtuous,  and  use- 
ful employment.  AVhat  is  an  evil  still  greater,  the  constituting  a  capital  of 
nearly  eighty  millions  of  dollars  in  the  hands  of  a  iew  persons  who  may 
influence  those  occasionally  in  power  to  evade  the  constitution.  As  an 
instance  of  this  has  already  taken  place,  we  note  the  act  establishing  a 
national  bank  on  the  doctrine  of  implication,  but  more  especially  we  bear 
testimony  to  what  is  a  base  offspring  of  the  funding  system,  the  excise  law 
of  Congiess,  entitled  "An  act  laying  duties  upon  distilled  spirits  in  the 
United  States,"  passed  the  3d  day  of  March,  1791. 

Resolved,  That  the  said  law  is  deservedly  obnoxious  to  the  feelings  and 
interests  of  the  people  in  general  as  being  attended  with  infringements  on 
liberty,  partial  in  its  operations,  attended  with  great  expense  in  the  collec- 
tion, and  liable  to  much  abuse.  It  operates  on  a  domestic  manufacture,  a 
manufacture  not  equal  throughout  the  States.  It  is  insulting  to  the  feel- 
ings of  the  people  to  have  their  vessels  marked,  houses  painted  and  ran- 
sacked, to  be  subject  to  informers  gaining  by  the  occasional  delinquency 
of  others.  It  is  a  bad  precedent,  tending  to  introduce  the  excise  laws  of 
Great  Britain  and  of  countries  where  the  liberty,  property,  and  even  the 
morals  of  the  people  are  sported  with  to  gratily  particular  men  in  their 
ambitious  and  interested  measures. 

Eesolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  the  duties  imposed  by 
the  said  act  on  spirits  distilled  from  the  produce  of  the  soil  of  the  United 
States,  will  eventually  discourage  agriculture  and  a  manufacture  highly 
beneficial  in  the  present  state  of  the  country.  That  those  duties  will  fall 
heavily  especially  upon  the  western  parts  of  the  United  States,  which  are 
for  the  most  part  newly  settled  and  where  the  aggregate  of  the  citizens  is 
of  the  laborious  and  poorer  class,  who  have  not  the  means  of  procuring  the 
wines,  spirituous  liquors,  etc.,  imported  from  foreign  countries. 

Eesolved,  That  there  appears  to  be  no  substantial  difference  between  a 
duty  on  what  is  manufactured  from  the  produce  of  a  country  and  the  pro- 
duce in  its  natural  state,  except,  perhaps,  that  in  the  first  instance  the 
article  is  more  deserving  of  the  encouragement  of  wise  legislation,  as  pro- 
motive of  industry,  the  population,  and  strength  of  the  country  at  large. 
The  excise  on  homemade  spirituous  liquors  affects  particularly  the  raising 
of  grain,  especially  rye,  and  there  can  be  no  solid  reason  for  taxing  it  more 
than  any  other  article  of  the  growth  of  the  United  States. 

Eesolved,  That  the  foregoing  representations  be  presented  to  the  legis- 
lature of  the  United  States. 

Eesolved,  That  the  following  remonstrance  be  presented  to  the  legisla- 
ture of  Pennsylvania. 

Eesolved,  That  the  following  address,  together  with  the  whole  proceedings 
of  this  committee,  which  were  unanimously  adopted,  be  printed  in  the 
Pittsburg  Gazette. 

Other  places  held  meetings  and  reiterated  the  same  sentiments, 
and  this  hardy  race  of  men,  inured  to  hardships  and  privations, 
without  preconcerted  action,  conceived  that  they  were  necessitated 


(54  APPENDIX    TO 

to  tlefend  their  inalienable  rights,  Congress  having  refused  to  grant 
their  petitions.  The  result  was  that  on  the  Gth  of  Sei)teniber,  1791, 
Robert  Jolinson,  Collector  for  Washington  and  Allegheny  counties, 
was  waylaid  near  Pigeon  Creek,  in  Washington  County,  and  was 
tarred  and  feathered  and  his  hair  cut  off,  and  required  to  j^^omitie 
not  to  show  Ji  is  face  again  icest  of  the  mountains.  lie  resigned  his 
oifice  July  20,  17*)4.  The  persons  engaged  in  this  bold  and  unlaw- 
ful act  were  not  punished,  because  the  whole  communit}',  from  a  com- 
mon interest,  while  they  pitied  the  oflScer,  despised  the  law;  while  it 
was  generally  believed  that  the  Governor  of  the  State  would  not  insist 
upon  the  collection  of  the  excise  tax,  as  he  considered  it  onerous  and 
unjust. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1192,  material  modifications  were  made  in  the 
law  by  lightening  the  duty  and  allowing  monthly  payments. 

The  President  issued  a  proclamation  September  15th,  1792,  en- 
joining all  persons  to  submit  to  the  law — Government  determined  to 
prosecute  delinquents,  to  seize  unexcised  spirits  on  their  way  to 
market,  and  to  make  no  purchases  for  the  army  except  of  such  spirits 
as  had  paid  duty. 

Kev.  Dr.  James  Carnahan,  in  his  address  before  the  New  Jersey 
Historical  Society,  in  I8n3,  in  referring  to  the  subject  of  the  treat- 
ment of  deputy  inspectors,  says  : — 

"I  shall  mention  one  which  foil  under  my  notice  about  the  last  of  June 
or  first  of  July,  1794.  John  Lynn,  a  deputy  inspector,  residin<^in  Canons- 
burg,  Washington  County,  was  taken  from  his  bed,  carried  into  the  woods, 
and  received  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers,  and  he  was  left  tied  to  a  tree  so 
loosely  that  he  could  easily  extricate  himself.  He  returned  to  his  house, 
and  after  undergoing  an  ablution  with  gn>ase  and  soap  and  sand  and  water, 
he  exhibited  himself  to  the  boys  in  the  academy  (afterwards  Jefl'crson  Col- 
lege) and  others,  and  laughed  and  made  sport  of  the  whole  matter." 

It  is  true  there  were  a  few  law  abiding  men  who  registered  their 
stills,  gave  the  amount  of  gallons  distilled,  and  had  their  casks 
gauged  and  branded,  but  even  these  were  required  to  succumb  to 
pu])lic  opinio.n,  as  a  neglect  or  refusal  was  followed  by  not  only  the 
destruction  of  the  stills,  but  sometimes  their  real  estate.  The 
magistrates  at  that  time  truthfully  asserted  that  the  laics  could  not 
be  executed  so  as  to  afford  protection,  owing  to  the  too  general  com- 
bination of  the  j^eople  in  Western  Pennsylvania  to  oppose  the  revenue 
laws. 

This  "  combination  of  the  people"  to  which  the  magistrates  referred, 
related  to  a  powerful,  secret,  and  indiscoverable  organization,  which 
had  uidimited  control  and  universal  influence  over  every  man — secret, 
exce])t  the  name  of  the  pretended  leader — powerful  to  avenge  and 
jiuiiish  imaginary  wrongs — and  i»(//scoi'frat/e,  because  an  investiga- 
tion as  to  the  ])lace  of  meeting  only  mystified,  embarrassed,  and  be- 
wildered, and  the  investigator  sulfered  by  the  loss  of  his  property. 

In  April,  1793,  the  house  of  Benj.  Wells,  of  Counelsville,  Fayette, 
was    broken    open,    himself  and   family   threatened,    terrified,  and 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  05 

abused.  Warrants  were  issued,  but  the  sheriff  refused  to  serve 
them.  On  the  22d  of  Noveaibcr,  1793,  the  house  of  Wells  was 
again  broken  open — he  was  compelled  to  surrender  his  commission 
and  books,  and  resign  his  office. 

In  January,  1194,  Robert  Strawhan  had  his  barn  burned,  James 
Kiddoo  his  stills  injured,  and  Wni.  Conghbran  his  still  and  grist-mill 
damaged.  In  Juno,  1794,  John  Wells,  collector  of  Westmoreland, 
opened  an  office  at  the  house  of  P.  Regan.  They  burnt  the  barn  of 
Regan  and  the  house  of  Wells. 

The  name  of  the  leader  of  this  combination  was  called  Tom  the 
Tinker,  and  whenever  he  gave  notice  of  his  intention  to  strike  a 
blow  it  was  always  followed  with  the  worst  consequences.  Through 
the  instrumentality  of  Tom  the  Tinker's  boys,  the  whiskey  insurrec- 
tion was  brought  into  existence,  and  by  which  it  was  fostered  and 
cherished,  until  the  strong  arm  of  the  law  crushed  out  this  first  rebel- 
lion against  government.  The  modus  operandi  of  Tom  the  Tinker 
was  to  place  a  letter  on  the  house  of  a  suspected  person,  and  if  he 
did  not  publish  the  letter  in  a  Pittsl)urg  paper  and  attend  the  meet- 
ings of  the  combination,  the  threatened  consequences  were  visited 
upon  the  person  notified. 

We  give  two  of  the  letters  which  accidentally  came  into  our  pos- 
session, and  which  fully  explain  themselves. 

ADVERTISEMENT. 

In  taking  a  survey  of  the  troops  under  my  direction  in  the  late  expedition 
against  that  insolent  excise  man,  John  Ncvillo,  I  find  there  were  a  great 
many  delinquents  even  among  those  who  carry  on  distilling  ;  it  will  therefore 
be  observed  that  I,  Tom  the  'J'ixkkr,  will  not  suffer  any  certain  class  or  set 
of  men  to  be  excluded  from  the  service  of  this  my  district  when  notified  to 
attend,  on  any  expedition  carried  on  in  order  to  obstruct  the  execution  of 
the  excise  law  and  obtain  a  repeal  thereof. 

And  1  do  declare  on  my  solemn  word,  that  if  such  delinquents  do  not 
come  forth  at  the  next  alarm  with  equipments  and  to  their  assistance  as 
much  as  in  them  lies,  in  opposing  the  execution  and  obtaining  a  repeal  of 
the  excise  law,  he  or  they  shall  be  deemed  as  enemies  and  stand  opposed  to 
virtuous  principles  of  republican  liberty,  and  shall  receive  punishment  ac- 
'  cording  to  the  nature  of  the  offence. 

And  whereas,  A  certain  John  Reed,  now  resident  in  Washington,  and 
being  at  his  place  near  Pittsburg,  called  Reedsburgh,  and  having  a  set  of 
stills  employed  at  said  Reedsburgh,  entered  on  the  excise  docket  contrary 
to  the  will  and  good  pleasure  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  came  not  forth  to  assist 
in  the  suppression  of  the  execution  of  the  said  law  by  aiding  and  assisting 
in  the  expedition,  has,  by  delinquency,  manifested  his  approbation  to  the 
execution  of  the  aforesaid  law,  is  hereby  chargcd/or/'/iw;i'(!/i.  to  cause  the  con- 
tents of  this  notice,  without  adding  or  diminishing,  to  be  published  in  the 
Pittsburg  Ga'Mte  the  ensuing  week,  under  the  no  less  penalty  than  the 
consuraation  of  his  distillery.  Given  under  my  hand  this  19th  day  of  July, 
1794,  Tom  the  Tinker. 

Accordingly  in  the  Pittshurq  Gazette  of  July  23, 1794,  it  appeared 
as  an  advertisement  with  the  following  note  : — 

£ 


CG  APPENDIX    TO 

Mn.  Sri'i.i, :  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  requesting  you  to  publish  the 
following  in  your  next  paper.  It  was  found  pasted  on  a  tree  near  my  distil- 
lery. John  Reed. 

Feb.  23,  1794. 

From  Pittsburg  Gazette,  Aug.  31,  1Y94. 

To  John  Gaston — 

Sir  :  You  will  have  this  printed  in  the  Pittsburg  paper  this  week,  or  you 
may  abide  by  the  consequence. 

Poor  Tom  takes  this  opportunity  to  inform  his  friends  throughout  all  the 
country  that  he  is  ol)liged  to  take  up  his  commission  once  more  though 
disagreeable  to  his  inclination.  I  thought  when  I  laid  down  my  commission 
before,  that  we  had  got  the  country  so  well  united  that  there  would  have 
been  no  more  for  me  in  that  line,  but  my  friends  see  more  need  for  me  now 
than  ever— they  chose  a  set  of  men  whom  they  thought  they  could  confide 
in,  but  find  themselves  much  mistaken,  fur  the  majority  of  them  has  proved 
traitors.  Four  or  five  big  men  below  has  scared  a  great  many,  but  few  is 
killed  yet,  but  I  hope  none  of  those  are  any  that  ever  pretended  to  be  a 
friend  to  Poor  Tom,  so  1  would  have  all  my  friends  keep  up  their  spirits  and 
stand  to  their  integrity  for  their  rights  and  liberty,  and  you  will  find  Poor 
Tom  to  be  your  friend.  This  is  fair  warning.  Traitors !  take  care,  for  my 
hammer  is  up  and  my  ladle  is  hot,  1  cannot  travel  the  country  for  nothing. 
From  your  old  friend,  Tom  the  Tinker. 

Judge  Lobingier,  in  an  address  before  the  Mount  Pleasant  (West- 
moreland County)  Temperance  Society,  gives  his  recollections  and 
impressions  of  the  whiskey  insurrection,  and  among  other  things  in 
speaking  of  Tom  the  'Tinker  he  says  : — 

"This  Tom  the  Tinker  was  a  new  god  added  to  mythology  at  this  time, 
and  was  supposed  to  preside  over  whiskej-'Stills  and  still-liouses.  Whoever 
hurrahed  stoutly  for  Tom  the  Tinker  was  of  unquestionable  loyalty  with 
the  whiskev  bovs.  while  those  who  would  not  were  branded  as  traitors  to 
this  new  deity  and  their  country." 

The  effect  and  influence  of  tliesc  inflanimatory  letters  or  handbills 
prevented  some  from  complying  with  the  law  through  fear  of  loss  ot 
property  and  probably  life,  while  it  emboldened  others  to  deeds  of 
daring  and  unfiinchiiig  hardihood.  The  excitement  consequent  upon 
this  open  r(d)ellion  was  of  such  a  magnitude  that  it  required  the 
presence  of  the  United  States  Marshal  to  visit  oflicially  the  delin- 
quent distillers  in  Washington  and  other  counties,  and  serve  warrants 
upon  them  to  appear  before  the  United  States  Court  east  of  the 
mountain.  This  official  visit  of  the  U.  S.  Marshal  was  made  in 
conse(|uence  of  the  following  notice  which  had  been  published  in  the 
newspapers, 

PuBi.ic  Notice. 

Whereas,  A  number  of  distillers  have  not  entered  their  stills  according 
to  law,  those  who  are  distillers  or  dealers  in  spirits  will  take  notice  that 
suits  will  be  brought  and  seizures  made  against  those  who  do  not  comply 
therewith.  "  Robert  Johnson. 

Dec.  G,  1793.  Collector  /or  Was}nngto7i  and  Allegheny  Counties. 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  67 

The  same  notice  was  also  published  in  the  remaining  three  conn- 
ties  by  Benjamin  Wells,  Collector  of  Westmoreland  and  Faj-ette 
counties,  and  John  Webster,  Collector  of  Bedford  County. 

Offices  of  inspection  were  opened  to  receive  entries  of  stills,  at  the 
house  of  Benjamin  Wells,  in  Fayette  County;  at  Philip  Regan's,  iu 
Westmoreland  County;  at  Robert  Johnston's,  in  Allegheny  County; 
at  John  Lynn's,  in  Washington  County  ;  and  John  Webster's,  iu 
Bedford  County,  while  Gen.  John  Neville  was  Chief  Inspector  of 
the  4th  survey  district  of  Pennsylvania.  Here  I  may  remark  that 
subsequently  in  the  4th  district,  Washington  County  was  the  only 
county  in  which  no  office  of  inspection  existed,  which  was  occasioned 
by  the  tarring  and  feathering  of  John  Lynn,  of  Canonsburg,  whose 
case  I  have  narrated,  and  the  attending  circumstances. 

In  the  service  of  these  writs  for  not  complying  with  the  law,  after 
receiving  the  public  notice,  the  U.  S.  Marshal  was  surprised  as  he 
passed  from  distiller  to  distiller  to  find  that  no  opposition  was  made, 
but  the  sequel  of  the  affair  revealed  a  different  state  of  affairs.  Thos. 
McKean,  Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Gen.  Wm.  Irvine,  who 
Were  appointed  commissioners  by  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  to 
confer  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  counties,  iu  their  official 
report  say : — 

Pittfihurg,  Aug.  22,  1794. 

The  marshal  for  the  district  of  Pennsylvania  had  processes  to  serve  upon 
divers  persons  residing  in  the  counties  of  Fayette  and  Allegheny,  and  had 
executed  them  all  (above  thirty)  without  molestation  or  difficulty,  except- 
ing one,  which  was  against  a  Mr.  Miller;  he,  or  some  other  person,  went  to 
the  place  where  Doctor  Absalom  Baird,  the  Brigade  Inspector  of  Wash- 
ington County,  was  hearing  appeals  made  by  some  of  the  militia  of  a 
battalion,  who  had  been  called  upon  for  a  proportion  of  the  quota  of  this 
State  of  the  eighty  thousand  men  to  be  in  readiness  agreeably  to  an  act 
of  Congress.  There  were  upwards  of  fifty  men  there  with  their  fire-arms, 
to  whom  it  was  related  that  the  Federal  Shkriff,  as  they  styled  tlie 
marshal,  had  been  serving  writs  iu  Allegheny  County,  and  carrying  the 
people  to  Philadelphia,  for  not  complying  with  the  excise  laws,  and  that  he 
was  at  Gen.  Neville's  house." 

The  United  States  Marshal  called  upon  Gen.  Neville,  as  Chief  In- 
spector of  the  Revenue,  to  accompany  him  to  the  dwelling  of  Mr. 
Miller,  one  of  his  neighbors  near  Peters  Creek  to  serve  the  last  writ. 
This  occurrence  took  place  on  the  15th  of  July,  1*194,  the  day  previous 
to  the  military  training  before  mentioned.*  As  soon  as  the  fact  was 
communicated,  between  thirty  and  forty  of  "Tom  the  Tinker's  boys" 
flew  to  arms  and  marched  tliat  night  towards  Gen.  Neville's,  the 
distance  being  about  seven  miles,  where  they  appeared  early  in  the 
morning  of  the  16th.  This  party  demanded  from  Gen.  Neville  his 
commission  as  Inspector  of  Revenue  and  all  his  offi  dcialocuments  and 

*  Mr.  Miller,  upon  whom  the  writ  was  served,  afterwards  told  Mr.  Brackenridge 
that  he  was  mad  with  passion,  when  he  reflected  that  being  obliged  to  pay  $260  and 
the  expense  of  going  to  Philadelphia  would  ruin  him,  and  his  blood  boiled  at  seeing 
Gen.  Neville  along,  to  pilot  the  oflicer  to  his  very  door. 


C8  APPENDIX    TO 

papers.  These  were  as  peremptorily  refused — the  door  was  shut — 
the  Gring  commenced,  and  five  or  six  of  the  insurgents  were  wounded 
by  Neville  and  his  friends,  who  had  anticipated  an  attack  and  had 
thereupon  prepared  themselves  for  the  emergency. 

The  military  meeting  at  Mingo  Creek  meeting-house  to  which  I 
have  referred,  hearing  of  the  sad  occurrence  and  that  blood  had  been 
shed,  an  immediate  call  was  made  upon  every  man  who  valued  life, 
liberty,  and  happiness,  ybr//ru'/7/i.  to  march  and  avenge  the  outrage. 

At  that  meeting,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke,  near  eighty  years  of  age, 
besought  and  counselled  the  people  not  to  proceed  in  such  an  unholy 
and  unlawful  business,  but  the  worst  passion  of  the  human  heart 
triumphed.  Revenge  was  their  Battle  Cry.  The  military  force 
raised  at  Mingo  Creek  meeting-house  marched  under  the  command 
of  Major  James  McFarland,  who  had  served  as  an  oflBcer  of  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  the  forces  under  Major  James  McFarland, 
when  they  came  within  half  a  mile  of  Gen.  Neville's  house,  halted, 
and  those  who  liad  arms  advanced  and  demanded  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Neville.  They  were  informed  by  Major  Abraham  Kirkpatrick 
(who  had  also  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war)  that  Gen.  Neville 
liad  left  the  house,  and  that  he  was  there  with  a  detachment  of  United 
States  soldiers  to  defend  it.  Gen.  Neville's  commission  and  official 
papers  were  demanded,  but  again  refused.  The  women  and  children 
were  notified  to  leave  the  house  under  a  white  flag,  which  they  ac- 
cordingly did,  when  an  attack  was  made,  and  after  a  continuous  fire 
of  one  hour,  the  house  (estimated  to  be  worth  ten  thousand  dollars) 
was  set  on  fire  and  consumed  to  ashes,  and  Major  Kirkpatrick  and 
his  soldiers  surrendered  themselves  as  prisoners,  and  were  permitted 
to  leave  uninjured,  while  the  marshal  was  reauired  to  ))roraise  not  to 
serve  another  writ  under  penalty  of  death. 

During  the  attack  Major  McFarland  was  killed  and  several 
wounded,  but  the  insurgents  temporarily  triumphed  and  the  ])opu- 
lar  frenzy  was  at  its  height.  Before  them  lay  their  military  leader 
in  the  repose  of  death,  who  fell  battling  for  their  rights  ;  but  what 
had  been  gained  ?  A  meeting  was  proposed  should  take  place  at 
Mingo  Creek  meeting-house,  and  that  there  the  death  of  A[ajor 
McFarland  would  speak  in  unmistakable  accents  to  the  halting  and 
wavering,  while  tears  of  sorrow  and  sympathy  would  flow  at  Ids 
funeral,  and  these  united  would  prove  the  germ  of  their  principles, 
and  would  awaken  in  every  man's  breast  those  latent  and  inesti- 
mable principles  of  civil  liberty  for  which  they  and  their  fathers  had 
fought,  bled,  and  died.* 

*  In  the  ftravcynril  jit  Minfijo  Creek  meeting-house  repose  the  remains  of  Major 
Jnines  McFiirliiiul.     Tlic  opitniih  on  his  (oinlisloiie  tells  tlie  cause  of  l)is  death  : — 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  (^Mpt.  Jiunes  MoFarliind,  of  Washington  County,  Pa.,  who 
de[)arted  thi.'!  life  the  17th  July,  IT'.'l,  iigod  -l.}  years. 

"  He  served  during  the  war  with  undaunted  coi/rage,  in  defence  of  American  inde- 
pendence, against  the  lawless  and  despotic  encroacbuients  of  Great  Britain.     He  fell 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  09 

At  this  period  there  resided  in  the  town  of  Washington  David 
Bradford,  Esq.,  a  lawyer,  and  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature of  Yirginia,  when  parts  of  Washington  and  Fayette  counties 
were  considered  as  belonging  to  Virginia.  His  residence  was  on 
Main  Street,  having  erected  the  two-story  stone  house  a  few  doors 
north  of  the  property  of  Adam  C.  Morrow,  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Maiden  streets.  Col.  Marshall  also  resided  in  this  place — was 
the  intimate  and  confidential  friend  of  David  Bradford — and  had 
not  only  filled  the  office  of  sheriff  of  this  county,  but  several  other 
important  offices.  These  men,  on  account  of  their  commanding  influ- 
ence, were  sent  for  to  attend  the  Mingo  Creek  meeting,  and  after 
the  messenger  had  used  all  his  arguments  they  consented  to  attend 
the  meeting,  heard  the  facts  of  the  case,  and  through  the  impetuosity 
of  their  feelings  they  avowed  their  determination,  at  all  hazards,  to 
resist  the  tyranny  of  the  government. 

This  meeting  was  organized  at  Mingo  Creek  on  the  23d  July, 
1794.  Inflammatory  speeches  were  made  and  the  meeting  resolved 
to  call  another  general  meeting  on  the  14th  of  August,  at  Parkin- 
son's Ferry,  now  Monongahela  City.  Prior  to  this  meeting  the 
principal  actors  were  busily  engaged  not  only  in  issuing  incendiary 
documents  and  making  exciting  speeches  to  the  people,  because  they 
felt  that  if  the  steps  taken  would  prove  abortive,  the  death  penalty 
would  be  inflicted,  hence  their  determination  to  involve  the  whole 
western  country  in  one  common  fate — either  for  weal  or  for  woe. 
Accordingly,  orders  were  issued  by  the  Coun'cil  of  Safety  (which 
the  meeting  had  appointed),  consisting  of  Col.  John  Marshall,  John 
Canon,  L.  Lockny,  T.  Spears,  B.  Parkinson,  D.  Bradford,  and  A.  Ful- 
ton, to  issue  an  order  to  all  the  colonels  commanding  regiments  in  the 
counties  of  Washington,  Westmoreland,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  to 
march  with  their  respective  commands  to  Braddock's  Field  on  the 
1st  of  August,  1794,  with  four  days'  rations,  to  deliberate  upon  the 
unhappy  crisis  of  their  affairs. 

The  letter  or  circular"  which  was  dispatched  to  the  colonels  of  the 
various  regiments  read  thus  : — 

July  28,  1794. 
Sir  :  Havinj^  had  suspicions  that  the  Pittsburg  post  would  carry  with 
him  the  sentiments  of  some  of  the  people  of  the  county  respecting  our 
present  situation,  and  the  letters  by  the  post  being  now  in  our  possession, 
hy  which  certain  secrets  are  discovered,  hostile  to  our  interests,  it  is,  there- 
fore, now  come  to  that  crisis  that  every  citizen  must  express  his  senti- 
ments, not  by  his  word,  but  by  his  actions.  You  are  then  called  upon, 
as  a  citizen  of  the  western  country,  to  render  your  personal  service,  with 
as  many  volunteers  as  you  can  raise,  to  rendezvous  at  your  usual  place 
of  meeting  on  Wednesday  next,  and  t  jence  you  will  march  to  the  usual 
places  of  rendezvous  at  Braddock's  Field,  on  the  Monongahela,  on  Friday, 


at  last  by  the  bands  of  an  unprincipled  vill'fiin,  in  the  support  of  what  he  supposed  to 
be  the  rights  of  his  country,  much  lamented  by  a  numerous  and  respectable  circle  of 
acquaintances." 


70  APPENDIX   TO 

the  1st  day  of  August  next,  to  be  there  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
with  arms  and  accoutrements  in  good  order.  If  any  volunteers  shall  want 
arms  and  ammunition,  bring  them  forward  and  they  shall  be  supplied  as 
well  as  possible.  Here,  sir,  is  an  expedition  proposed  in  which  you  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  displaying  your  military  talents  and  of  rendering 
services  to  your  country.  Four  days'  provisions  will  be  wanted — let  the 
men  be  thus  supplied. 

John  Canon,     T.  Spears,         13.  Parkinson, 
L.  LocKNY,        1).  Bradford,  J.  Maushall, 
A.  Fulton. 

The  letters  taken  from  the  mail  were  addressed  to  Gen.  Morgan 
by  Col.  Neville  ;  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  by  Gen.  John 
Gibson  ;  also  one  by  James  Brison  to  the  Secretary  of  tlie  Trea- 
sury by  Edward  Day  ;  and  to  the  Secretary  of  War  by  Major  Butler. 

Among  the  number  of  regiments  which  were  ordered  to  the  place 
of  rendezvous  was  one  commanded  by  Col.  John  Hamilton,  then 
Sheriff  of  Washington  County,  who  resided  at  Mingo  Creek.  LTjjon 
the  rece[)tion  of  the  order  ho  immediately  rode  to  Washington  to 
endeavor  to  prevail  on  Col.  ^Marshall  to  countermand  the  orders, 
requiring  Iiis  regiment  to  march  to  Braddock's  Field.  But  it  was 
useless ;  Col.  Marshall  was  firm  in  his  purpose,  and  the  officers 
and  men  of  Col.  Hamilton  had  participated  in  the  riots,  and  he  con- 
cluded he  would  go  to  prevent  ultra  measures. 

While  these  measures  were  progressing,  and  the  eyes  of  the  insur- 
gents were  directed  to  the  contemplated  meeting  at  Braddock's 
Field,  a  delegation  from  Washington  visited  Pittsburg,  and  the 
following  proceedings  of  a  town  meeting  give  all  the  particulars, 
which  proceedings  are  prefixed  b}^  the 

AJJidavit  of  Wm.  Meetkirke,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  Wash- 
ington to  the  toxon  of  Pillsburg. 

We  accordingly  went  to  Pittsburg.  When  we  arrived  there  a  number 
of  people  came  to  the  house  where  we  put  up  to  inquire  of  us  if  we  knew 
what  object  the  people  had  in  view  that  were  to  assemble  at  Braddock's 
Field.  We  informed  them  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  letters  that  had 
l)cen  found  in  the  mail,  written  by  several  persons  in  that  place  to  govern- 
ment, misstating  their  conduct  (as  they  termed  it),  and  that  the  people 
conceived  them  to  be  very  obnoxious  characters,  particularly  Major  Kirk- 
patrick,  Mr.  I'rison,  and  ^Ir.  Day.  And  it  was  our  opinion  that  if  some 
of  those  who  had  written  the  letters  did  not  leave  the  town,  that  it  was  in 
danger  of  being  destroyed  from  the  apparent  rage  of  the  people.  The 
same  evening  there  was  a  town  meeting  of  the  inhal)itants  of  the  place,  as 
we  understood,  to  take  into  consideration  what  was  best  to  be  done  for 
their  own  safety. 

On  hearing  that  we  had  come  to  town,  tluy  appointed  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Mr.  lireckenridge,  Gen.  Wilkius,  aud  J  adge  Wallace,  to  con- 
fer with  us  and  to  have  our  opinion  on  the  subject.  We  produced  to  them 
the  letters  that  had  been  taken  out  of  the  mail,  viz:  Major  J^uller  to 
(ien.  Knox,  (Jen.  (iihsou  to  Gov.  ^}i(Bin,  Mr.  Brison,  to  the  same.  Col. 
Neville  to  Gen.  Morgan,  and  one  without  signature  to  the   Secretary  of 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  tl 

the  Treasury,  in  the  handwriting  of  Edward  Day,  which  were  read  in  their 
presence.  They  asked  us  what  we  thought  were  the  intentions  of  the  peo- 
ple that  were  to  assemble  at  Braddock's  Field  the  next  day.  We  gave  it 
as  our  opinion  that  the  town  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  destroyed 
if  some  of  the  obnoxious  characters  were  not  sent  away,  for  that  we  our- 
selves had  been  insulted  on  the  road  coming  there  by  some  people,  when 
they  understood  we  were  going  to  Pittsburg,  for  they  said  we  were  going 
there  as  spies,  to  tell  the  people  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  that  we  ought 
to  be  taken  prisoners.  And  they  actually  raised  a  party  to  follow  us  for 
that  purpose,  as  we  were  afterwards  informed,  after  which  they  returned 
to  the  meeting  and  gave  the  information  from  us,  in  consequence  of  which 
they  entered  into  resolutions  to  expel  certain  persons,  and  which  was  after- 
wards published  in  handbills. 

Resolutions  of  the  Town  Meeting  of  Pittsburg. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Pittsburg,  on  Thursday  evening,  July 
31,  1794,  to  take  into  consideration  the  present  situation  of  affairs  and  de- 
clare their  sentiments  on  this  delicate  crisis,  Gen.  John  Gibson  in  the  chair 
and  Matthew  Ernest  secretary,  a  great  majority,  almost  the  whole  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town  assembled.  It  being  announced  to  the  meeting  that 
certain  gentlemen  from  the  town  of  Washington  (viz.  A.  Baird,  Wm.  Meet- 
kirke,  Henry  Purviance,  Col.  Blakeny)  had  arrived  and  had  signified  that 
they  were  intrusted  with  a  message  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  relative 
to  present  affairs,  a  committee  of  three  persons  was  appointed  to  confer 
with  them  and  report  the  message  to  the  meeting.  The  persons  appointed 
were  George  Wallace,  H.  H.  Brackenridge,  and  John  Wilkins,  Jr.  These 
gentlemen  made  a  report  to  the  meeting,  to  wit,  that  in  consequence  of 
certain  letters  sent  by  the  last  mail,  certain  persons  were  discovered  as 
advocates  of  the  excise  law  and  enemies  to  the  interest  of  the  country,  and 
that  a  certain  Edward  Day,  James  Brison,  and  Abraham  Kirkpatrick  were 
particularly  obnoxious,  and  that  it  was  expected  by  the  country  that  they 
should  be  dismissed  without  delay ;  whereupon,  it  was  resolved  it  should 
be  so  done,  and  a  committee  of  twenty-one  was  appointed  to  see  this  reso- 
lution carried  into  effect. 

Also,  that  whereas  it  is  a  part  of  the  message  from  the  gentlemen  of 
Washington,  that  a  great  body  of  the  people  of  the  county  will  meet 
to-morrow  at  Braddock's  Field,  in  order  to  carry  into  effect  measures  that 
may  seem  to  them  advisable,  with  respect  to  the  excise  law  and  the  advo- 
cates of  it. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  committee  shall,  at  an  early  hour,  wait  upon  the 
people  on  the  ground,  and  assure  the  people  that  the  above  resolution,  with 
respect  to  the  proscribed  persons,  has  been  carried  into  effect. 

Resolved,  also.  That  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  shall  march  out  and  join 
the  people  on  Braddock's  Field,  as  brethren,  to  carry  into  effect  with  them, 
any  measures  that  may  seem  to  them  advisable  for  the  common  cause. 

Resolved,  also,  That  we  shall  be  watchful  among  ourselves  of  all  char- 
acters that  by  word  or  act  may  be  unfriendly  to  the  common  cause,  and 
when  discovered,  will  not  suffer  them  to  live  amongst  us,  but  they  shall 
instantly  depart  the  town. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  committee  shall  exist  as  a  committee  of  infor- 
mation and  correspondence,  as  an  organ  of  our  sentiments,  until  our  next 
town  meeting.  And  that  whereas,  a  general  meeting  of  delegates  froiBi 
the  townships  of  the  county  on  the  west  of  the  mountains  will  be  held  at 
Parkinson's  Ferry,  on  the  Monongahela,  on  the  14th  of  August  next. 


72  APPENDIX    TO 

Resolved,  That  the  delegates  shall  be  appointed  to  that  meeting,  and  that 
the  9th  of  August  next  be  appointed  for  a  town  meeting  to  elect  such  dele- 
gates. 

Resolved  also,  That  a  number  of  handbills  be  struck  off  at  the  expense 
of  the  committee  and  distributed  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  that 
they  may  conduct  themselves  accordingly. 

The  committee  of  twenty-one  above  referred  to,  was  composed  of 
George  Robinson,  IT.  H.  Brackenridge,  Peter  Audrain,  John  Scull, 
John  Mc]\Iastcrs,  John  Wilklns,  Andrew  Mclntyre,  George  Wallace, 
John  Irwin,  Andrew  Watson,  George  Adams,  David  Evans,  Josiah 
Tannehill,  Matthew  Ernest,  William  Earl,  Andrew  McNickle,  Col. 
John  Irwin,  James  Clow,  William  Gormley,  and  Nathaniel  Irish. 

Not  less  tlian  from  1500  to  2000  men  were  assembled  on  Braddock's 
Field,  which  is  about  nine  miles  from  Pittsburg  and  immediately  on 
the  north  bank  of  the  Monongahela  River  in  Allegheny  County.  It 
is  the  celebrated  battle-ground  famed  for  the  destruction  of  an  army 
intended  to  capture  Fort  Duquesne  (now  Pittsburg).  Here  Braddock 
fell,  and  Washington  displayed  his  first  military  genius,  and  here 
too  the  insui-gents  met  to  devise  some  plan  by  which  they  would  free 
themselves  from  imaginary  wrongs.  Many  plans  were  suggested,  but 
no  definite  action  taken  upon  any  of  the  proposed  measures,  except 
to  visit  Pittsburg  with  a  military  parade  under  the  command  of  Maj.- 
Gcn.  David  Bradford  and  Edward  Cook  as  Marshal,  and  Col.  Blake- 
ney,  as  officer  of  the  day,  in  order  to  exhibit  their  strength  and 
power  and  control  public  feeling.  On  their  arrival,  fear  caused  the 
people  of  Pittsliurg  to  receive  this  army  of  Bradford's  as  the  guests 
of  the  city.  Prior  to  their  march,  however,  David  Bradford  issued 
the  following  circular : — 

To  the  Inliahitants  of  Monongahela,  Virginia: — 

Washington,  Aug.  6,  1794. 

Gentlemen  :  I  presume  you  have  heard  of  the  spirited  opposition  given 
to*  the  excise  law  in  this  State.  Matters  have  been  sobrought  to  pass  here, 
that  all  are  under  the  necessity  of  bringing  their  minds  to  a  final  conclusion. 
This  has  been  the  question  amongst  us  some  days:  ''Shall  we  disapprove 
of  the  conduct  of  those  engaged  against  Neville,  the  excise  officer,  or 
approve  ?"  Or  in  other  words,  "  Shall  we  suffer  them  to  fall  a  sacrifice  to 
federal  prosecution,  or  shall  we  support  them  ?"  On  the  result  of  this  busi- 
ness we  have  fully  deUlterated.  and  have  determined  with  hcad,heart,hand, 
and  voire,  that  we  will  support  the  opposition  to  the  excise  law.  The  crisis 
is  now  come,  submi.ts/nii  or  ojrposit/'on  ;  we  are  determined  in  the  opposition. 
We  are  determined  in  future  to  act  agreeably  to  system ;  to  form  arrange- 
ments guided  by  reason,  prudence,  fortitude,  and  spirited  conduct.  'We 
have  proiiosed  a  general  meeting  of  the  four  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
have  invited  our  brethren  in  the  neighboring  counties  in  Virginia  to  come 
forward  and  join  us  in  council  and  deliberation  on  this  important  crisis,  and 
conclude  upon  measures  interesting  to  the  western  counties  of  rennsylvuuia 
and  Virginia.  A  notification  of  this  kind  may  be  seen  in  the  Pittsburg 
paper.  Parkinson's  Ferry  is  the  place  proposed  as  the  most. central,  and 
the  14th  of  August  the  time. 

\Vc  solicit  you  by  all  the  ties  that  an  union  of  interests  can  suggest  to 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  78 

come  forward  and  join  us  in  our  deliberations.  The  cause  is  common  to  us 
all— we  invite  you  to  come  even  should  you  difTer  with  us  in  opinion.  We 
wish  you  to  hear  our  reasons  influencing  our  conduct. 

Yours  with  esteem,  David  Bradford. 

Before  this  meeting  at  Braddock's  Field  dispersed,  however,  the 
barn  of  Major  Abraham  Kirkpatrick  was  burned,  the  grain  and  hay 
of  the  tenant  consumed,  and  unsuccessful  attempts  were  made  to  set 
fire  to  his  house  to  avenge  the  death  of  Major  McFarland.  Some  of 
that  army,  however,  disclaimed  the  course  pursued,  and  published  the 
following  card  : — 

"We,  the  undersigned,  on  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the  great  body  of  the 
column  that  marched  from  Braddock's  Field  on  the  3d  of  Aug.  1794,  think  it 
necessary  to  express  our  disapprobation  of  the  disorderly  proceeding  of 
those  of  the  troops  who  were  concerned  in  setting  fire  to  the  house  of 
Abraham  Kirkpatrick,  on  the  hill  opposite  the  town  of  Pittsburg,  also  of 
the  attempt  made  by  others  of  burning  his  house  in  the  town,  as  these  acts 
was  not  within  the  sentence  of  the  committee  of  volunteers  in  Braddock's 
Field,  and  therefore  there  could  be  no  authority  for  carrying  them  into  effect. 
We  consider  it  as  a  blemish  on  the  good  order  of  the  march  of  the  column 
through  the  town  of  Pittsburg,  and  their  cantonment  in  the  neighborhood 
of  it.  It  has  been  endeavored  to  be  removed  as  much  as  possible  by  repay- 
ing the  tenant  of  Kirkpatrick  his  damages. 

Edward  Cook,         Francis  McFarland,     Thomas  Stokeley, 
Dixon  Huston,        James  Terry,  Thomas  Sedgwick. 

Hamilton  Huston,  Wm.  McClure,  David  Hamilton, 

Wm.  Meeteirke,      Wm.  Nailor,  John  Hamilton, 

James  Marshall,   John  Hughes,  Absalom  Bated. 

From  this  period  to  the  14th  of  August,  Tom.  the  Tinker's  boys 
were  busily  engaged  in  erecting  liberty  poles,  and  had  flags  floating 
therefrom  with  the  significant  words,  "Liberty;  No  Excise;  Death 
TO  Traitors."  Any  man  who  refused  to  assist  in  erecting  a  liberty 
pole  was  deemed  an  enemy  to  the  common  cause,  and  Tom  the  Tinker 
gave  him  the  significant  notice. 

The  eventful  14th  of  August  arrived,  and  the  first  movement  was 
to  erect  a  liberty  pole  with  the  following  inscription  thereon :  "  Equal 
Taxation  and  no  Excise  ;  No  Asylum  for  Traitors  and 
Cowards."  After  the  meeting  was  organized  by  appointing  Col. 
Edward  Cook,  chairman,  and  Albert  Gallatin,  secretary,  two  hundred 
and  twenty-six  delegates  were  accredited  as  representatives  from  the 
various  townships,  besides  a  large  concourse  of  spectators.  Speeches 
were  made  by  Bradford,  Marshall,  Brackenridge,  Edgar,  Gallatin, 
Parkinson,  and  Husband,  upon  the  following  resolutions  proposed 
by  Col,  John  Marshal. 

1.  Resolved,  That  taking  citizens  of  the  United  States  from  their  respective 
abodes  or  vicinage,  to  be  tried  for  real  or  supposed  offences,  is  a  violation 
of  the  rights  of  the  citizens;  is  a  forced  and  dangerous  construction  of  the 
constitution,  and  ought  not  under  any  pretence  whatever  to  be  exercised 
by  the  judicial  authority. 


14  APPENDIX   TO 

2.  Rcaolued,  That  a  standing  committee  be  appointed  to  consist  of 
members  from  each  county,  to  be  denominated  a  committee  of  public  safety, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  call  forth  the  resources  of  the  western  country,  to 
repel  any  hostile  attempts  that  may  be  made  against  the  rights  of  the  citi- 
zens or  of  the  body  of  the  people. 

3.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  members  be  appointed  to  draft  a 
remonstrance  to  Congress  praying  a  repeal  of  the  excise  law,  and  that  a 
more  equal  and  less  odious  tax  may  be  laid,  and  at  the  same  time  giving 
assurance  to  the  representatives  of  the  people  that  such  tax  will  be  cheer- 
fully paid  by  the  people  of  these  counties,  and  that  the  said  remonstrance 
be  signed  by  the  chairman  of  this  meeting  in  behalf  of  the  people  whom 
we  represent. 

4.  Whereas,  The  motives  by  which  the  people  of  the  western  country 
have  been  actuated  in  the  late  unhappy  disturbances  at  Neville's  house, 
and  in  the  great  and  general  rendezvous  of  the  people  at  Braddock's  Field, 
ko,.  (fcc.,are  liable  to  be  misconstrued,  as  well  by  our  fellow-citizens  through- 
out the  United  States,  as  by  their  and  our  public  servants,  to  whom  is  con- 
signed the  administration  of  the  Federal  Government,  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  be  appointed  to  make  a  fair  and  can- 
did statement  of  the  whole  transaction  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  the  Governors  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  and  if  it  should 
become  necessary  that  the  said  committee  do  publish  to  the  world  a  mani- 
fest or  declaration,  whereby  the  true  motives  and  principles  in  this  country 
shall  be  fairly  and  fully  stated. 

.5.  That  we  will,  with  the  rest  of  our  fellow-citizens,  support  the  laws  and 
government  of  the  respective  States  in  which  we  live,  and  the  laws  and 
government  of  the  United  States  (the  excise  law  and  the  taking  citizens 
out  of  their  respective  counties  only  excepted),  and  therefore  we  will  aid 
and  as.sist  all  civil  officers  in  the  execution  of  their  respective  functions, 
and  endeavor  by  every  proper  means  in  our  power  to  bring  to  justice  all 
offenders  in  the  premises. 

These  resolutions  were  amended  by  the  meeting,  and  adopted 
after  much  discussion  in  the  following  words,  which  we  trust  every 
reader  will  carefully  compare.  To  the  Ji7't>t  resolution  there  was  no 
objection,  but  the  remaining  resolutions  adopted  read  as  follows: — 

2.  Resolved,  That  a  standing  committee  to  consist  of  one  member  from 
each  township  be  appointed  for  the  purposes  hereinafter  mentioned,  viz : — 

To  draft  a  remonstrance  to  Congress  praying  a  repeal  of  the  excise  law, 
at  the  same  time  requesting  that  a  more  equal  and  less  odious  tax  may  be 
laid,  and  giving  assurances  to  the  representatives  of  the  people  that  such 
tax  will  be  cheerfully  paid  by  the  people  of  these  counties. 

To  make  and  publish  a  statement  of  the  transactions  which  have  lately 
taken  place  in  this  country  relative  to  the  excise  law.  and  of  the  causes 
which  gave  rise  thereto,  and  to  make  a  representation  to  the  President  on 
the  subject. 

To  have  power  to  call  together  a  meeting  either  of  a  new  representation 
of  the  people,  or  of  the  deputies  here  convened,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
such  further  measures  as  the  future  situation  of  affairs  may  require,  and  in 
case  of  any  sudden  emergency,  to  take  such  temporary  measures  as  they 
may  think  necessary. 

;i  Resolved,  That  we  will  exert  ourselves,  and  that  it  be  earnestly  recom- 
mended .to  our  fellow-citizens  to  exert  themselves,  in  support  of  the  munici- 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  iO 

pal  laws  of  the  respective  States,  and  especially  in  preventing  any  violence 
or  outrage  against  the  property  and  person  of  any  individual. 

4.  Resolved,  That  a  committee  to  consist  of  three  members  from  each 
county  be  appointed  to  meet  any  commissioners  that  have  or  may  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Government,  and  to  report  the  result  of  this  conference  to 
the  standing  committee. 

The  standing  committee  under  the  2d  resolution  consisted  of 
sixty  members,  while  that  under  the  4th  resolution  was  composed  of 
fifteen  members. 

The  standing  committee  of  sixty  met  and  appointed  the  2d  day 
of  September,  1194,  and  designated  Brownsville  as  the  place  of 
meeting.  Tliey  chose  the  Committee  of  Conference  of  twelve, 
three  from  each  county,  and  these  fixed  their  meeting  at  Pittsburg, 
on  the  20th  of  August.  This  committee  consisted  of  twelve  dele- 
gates from  the  four  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania,  and  three 
from  Yirginia.  Their  names  were  John  Kirkpatrick,  George  Smith, 
and  John  Powers,  for  Westmoreland  County;  David  Bradford,  Jas. 
Marshall,  and  James  Edgar,  for  Washington  County  ;  Edward  Cook 
Albert  G-allatin,  and  James  Lang,  for  Fayette  County;  Thos.  Mor- 
ton, John  B.  C.  Lucas,  and  H.  H.  Brackenridge,  for  Allegheny 
County;  and  Bobert  Stevenson,  Wm.  McKinley,  and  Wm.  Souther- 
land,  for  Ohio  County,  Virginia.     Col.  Cook  chosen  chairman. 

The  delegates  from  Virginia  did  not  participate  in  the  delibera- 
tions of  the  Committee  of  Conference,  hence  the  number  was  reduced 
to  twelve  commissioners. 

While  this  meeting  of  the  14th  of  August  was  in  session  at  Par- 
kinson's Ferry,  it  was  notified  of  the  approach  of  three  commission- 
ers on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  and  two  on  behalf  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania.  Wm.  Bradford,  Attorney-General  of  the  United 
States,  and  Jasper  Yates,  and  James  Ross,  represented  the  United 
States;  and  Thomas  McKean  and  General  William  Irvine,  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania. 

The  twelve  commissioners  under  the  4th  resolution  met  the  Na- 
tional and  State  commissioners  on  the  20th  of  August  in  the  city  of 
Pittsburg.  The  prominent  actors  on  that  committee  were  Messrs. 
Marshall,  Bradford,  Brackenridge,  Cook,  and  Gallatin,  wdio  were 
all  favorable  to  acceding  to  the  propositions  of  the  commissioners 
except  Mr.  Bradford.  The  propositions  were  an  unconditional  sub- 
mission to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  by  all  the  citizens,  to  ab- 
stain from  all  violence  towards  the  officers  in  the  execution  of  the 
laws,  not  to  injure  or  allow  others  to  injure  the  personal  or  real 
estate  of  any  citizen,  and  that  in  case  of  compliance  therewith,  full 
and  free  pardon  was  offered  to  all. 

The  committee  of  twelve  who  had  met  consented  to  these  terms, 
but  they  had  no  authority  to  act  further  than  to  report  the  result 
of  their  conference  to  the  standing  committee  appointed  under  the 
second  resolution,  which  was  composed  of  sixty  persons.  To  this 
committee  was  delegated  the  power  to  call  together  a  meeting  either 


76  APPENDIX    TO  • 

of  a  new  representative  of  the  people  or  of  the  deputies  here  con- 
vened for  the  purpose  of  taking  such  further  measures  as  the  future 
situation  of  affairs  may  require,  and  in  case  of  any  sudden  emergency 
to  take  such  temporary  measures  as  they  may  think  necessary.  Under 
these  delegated  instructions,  the  committee  of  fifteen  called  a  meeting 
of  the  standing  committee  of  sixty  to  meet  at  old  Fort  Redstone, 
(Brownsville)  on  the  2d  day  of  September. 

The  National  and  State  commissioners  from  their  intercourse  with 
the  citizens  and  tlie  excitement  prevailing,  believed  that  the  interests 
of  the  people  themselves  as  well  as  the  government  demanded  imnw- 
diate  action,  they,  therefore,  had  the  meeting  changed  to  the  28th  of 
August,  five  days  sooner  than  the  time  appointed.  This  fact  aroused 
Bradford  and  his  associates,  and  the  charge  of  bribery  and  corrup- 
tion was  publicly  made  against  not  only  the  commissioners,  but  the 
committee  themselves,  and  Tom  the  Tinker,  by  his  inflammatory  bills, 
overawed  the  people  and  those  who  desired  to  submit.  From  this  time 
to  the  meeting  the  wildest  excitement  prevailed ;  some  proposed  the 
formation  of  a  new  state,  others,  resistance  to  government,  while 
another  class  favored  reconciliation.  In  the  midst  of  this  anarchy 
and  confusion  throughout  the  rebellious  counties,  the  day  of  the 
appointed  meeting  had  arrived  (the  28th  of  August).  Gallatin  in 
speaking  of  that  meeting  says  : — 

"Fifty-seven  members  attended,  tioenty-three  ol  whom  were  sent  by  the 
county  of  Washington  alone,  and  tlitrty  by  the  three  counties  of  West- 
moreland, Fayette,  and  Allegheny  ;  one  came  from  Bedford  County,  and 
three  from  the  county  of  Ohio,  in  Virginia.  All  that  could  be  obtained  was 
a  resolve  that,  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  it  was  the  interest  of 
the  people  of  this  country  to  accede  to  the  proposals  made  by  the  commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  the  United  States  ;  the  question  upon  it  being  taken 
by  ballot,  th/rtt/-four  voting  for  the  resolution  and  tiuentt/4hree  against  it. 
Bradford,  as  soon  as  he  heard  the  vote,  retired  in  disgust," 

This  meeting,  however,  appointed  another  committee  of  conference, 
to  oI)tain  further  time  from  the  National  and  State  commissioners,  in 
order  that  the  people  might  have  time  for  reflection.  The  commis- 
sioners and  the  committee  agreed  that  instead  of  any  further  action 
by  the  committee,  that  the  people  themselves  should  vote  directly 
on  the  question  of  submission,  and  the  11th  of  September  was 
designated.     The  following  is  the  result  of  that  election : — 

"  In  the  county  of  Fayette,  which  contains  two  thousand  and  eifjht 
hundred  ta.xable  inliabitants,  eight  hundred  and  si.xty  attended,  five  hundred 
and  eighty  of  whom  voted  for  submission  and  two  hundred  and  eighty 
against  it.  In  tlie  coiuities  of  Wa.shington,  AVestraoreland,  and  Allegheny, 
which  contains  eleven  thousand  ta.xable  inhabitants,  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  signed  the  declarations  of  submission." — Oallatin. 

These  facts  convinced  the  commissioners  that  there  was  no  general 
submission,  and  they  returned  to  the  seat  of  government,  and  re- 
ported their  proceedings,  as  well  as  those  of  the  rebellious  counties 
to  President  Washington. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  77 

The  following  deposition,  explanatory  of  the  committee  meeting  at 
old  Fort  Redstone,  by  Judge  Alexander  Addison,  will  throw  much 
light  upon  the  subject. 

United  States — Pennsylvania  District,  ss. 

Before  me,  Eichard  Peters,  Judge  of  the  District  Court  in  the  United 
States,  in  the  Pennsylvania  District,  appeared  Alexander  Addison,  of  the 
town  of  Washing-ton,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  made  oath  that  he 
was  present  at  Brownsville,  or  Redstone  old  fort,  in  the  county  of  Fayette 
and  State  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  28th  and  29th  of  August  last,  when  what 
was  called  the  Standing  Committee  met  to  receive  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee appointed  to  confer  with  the  commissioners  on  the  part  of  govern- 
ment— that  the  minds  of  all  men  appeared  to  be  strongly  impressed  with  a 
sense  of  the  critical  situation  of  this  country  and  the  minds  of  almost  all  with 
a  fear  of  opposing  the  current  of  the  popular  opinion  ;  and  this  deponent  be- 
lieves these  impressions  were  greatly  increased  by  the  appearance  of  a  body 
of  armed  men  assembled  there  from  IMuddy  Creek,  in  Washington  County, 
to  punish  Samuel  Jackson  as  an  enemy  to  what  they  called  their  cause. 

This  deponent  further  made  oath  that,  on  the  29th,  Mr.  Gallatin  opened 
the  business  of  the  meeting  by  proposing  a  resolution  that  in  the  opinion 
of  that  committee  it  was  the  interest  of  this  country  to  acce])t  of  the  terms 
offered  by  the  commissioners,  and,  by  a  speech  of  great  length,  staling  the 
impolicy  and  danger  of  force  in  resistance  of  law,  the  incompetency  of 
these  western  counties  to  contend  with  the  United  vStates,  and  the  necessity 
of  submission.  That  Mr.  Brackenridge  followed  him  also  at  great  length 
and  to  the  same  effect. 

This  deponent  further  made  oath  that  then  Mr.  Bradford  rose  and  an- 
swered and  opposed  the  various  arguments  used  by  Mr.  Brackenridge  and 
Mr.  Gallatin,  alluded  to  the  revolutions  in  America  and  in  France  as  models 
of  imitation,  and  inducements  to  hope  of  success  in  the  opposition  of  these 
counties  to  government;  stated  the  capacity  of  these  western  counties, 
from  their  situation  as  separted  from  the  eastern  country  by  mountains  and 
from  other  circumstances,  to  maintain  a  successful  war  against  the  United 
States,  and  in  a  state  of  separation  to  attain  and  secure  all  the  essential  ob- 
jects and  protection,  safety,  and  trade. 

This  deponent  cannot  undertake  to  repeat  the  expressions  of  Mr.  Brad- 
ford, but  is  certain  that  he  has  stated  the  ideas  which  they  communicated 
to  him,  and  his  whole  speech  seemed  manifestly  calculated  to  keep  up  the 
opposition  to  government  and  prevent  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions  pro- 
posed by  Mr.  Gallatin. 

This  deponent  further  made  oath  that  Mr.  Bradford,  in  a  conversation 
with  this  deponent  on  the  27th  of  September  last,  told  this  deponent  that 
he  made  the  speech  before  alluded  to  with  a  view  to  maintain  his  influence 
with  the  people  under  an  opinion  that  unless  some  show  of  resistance  was 
made  to  the  terms  of  accommodation,  the  people  would  reject  them  and 
consider  themselves  as  betrayed. 

Under  this  state  of  affairs,  and  with  additional  ofiBcial  evidence  furnished 
President  Washington  in  regard  to  the  insurrection,  he,  on  the  7th  day  of 
August,  1794,  issued  the  following 

Proclamation. 

Whereas,  Combinations  to  defeat  the  execution  of  the  laws  levyino- 
duties  upon  spirits  distilled  in  the  United  States  and  upon  stills,  have  from 
the  time  of  the  commencement  of  those  laws,  existed  in  some  of  the 


78  APPENDIX   TO 

■western  parts  of  Pennsylvania.  And  whereas,  the  said  combinations,  pro- 
ceeding in  a  manner  subversive  equally  of  the  just  authority  of  the  govern- 
ment, and  of  the  rights  of  individuals,  have  hiflierto  eflected  their  dangerous 
and  criminal  purpose  by  the  influence  of  certain  irregular  meetings,  whose 
proceedings  have  tended  to  encourage  and  uphold  the  spirit  of  opposition; 
by  representations  of  the  laws  calculated  to  render  them  obnoxious  ;  by 
endeavors  to  deter  those  who  might  be  so  disposed  from  accepting  offices 
under  them,  through  fear  of  public  resentment  and  injury  to  person  and 
property,  and  to  compel  those  who  had  accepted  such  offices,  by  actual 
violence,  to  surrender  or  forbear  the  execution  of  them  ;  by  circulating 
vindictive  menaces  against  all  those  who  should  otherwise  directly  or  indi- 
rectly aid  in  the  execution  of  said  laws,  or,  who  yielding  to  the  dictates  of 
conscience  and  to  a  sense  of  obligation,  should  themselves  comply  there- 
with by  actually  injuring  and  destroying  the  property  of  persons  who  were 
understood  to  have  so  complied,  by  inflicting  cruel  and  humiliating  punish- 
ment upon  private  citizens  for  no  other  cause  than  that  of  appiiaring  to  be 
the  friends  of  the  laws  ;  by  intercepting  the  public  officers  on  the  highways, 
abusing,  assaulting,  or  otherwise  ill-treating  them  ;  by  going  to  their  houses 
in  the  night,  gaining  admittance  by  force,  taking  away  their  papers,  and 
committing  other  outrages  ;  employing  for  their  unwarrantable  purposes  the 
agency  of  armed  banditti,  disguised  in  such  a  manner  as  for  the  most  part 
to  escape  discovery.  And  whereas,  the  endeavors  of  the  legislature  to 
obviate  objections  to  the  said  laws,  by  lowering  the  duties  and  other  altera- 
tions, conducive  to  the  convenience  of  those  whom  they  immediately  affect 
(though  they  have  given  satisfaction  in  other  quarters)  and  the  endeavors 
of  the  executive  officers  to  conciliate  a  compliance  with  the  laws,  by  ex- 
planations, by  forbearance,  and  even  by  particular  accommodations  founded 
on  the  suggestion  of  local  considerations,  have  been  disappointed  of  their 
effect  by  the  machinations  of  persons  whose  industry  to  excite  resistance 
has  increased  with  every  appearance  of  a  disposition  among  the  people  to 
relax  in  their  opposition  and  to  acquiesce  in  the  laws — insomuch  that  many 
persons  in  the  said  western  parts  of  Pennsylvania  have  at  length  been 
hardy  enough  to  ])erpetrate  acts  which  I  am  advised  amount  to  treason, 
being  overt  acts  of  levying  war  against  the  United  States ;  the  said  persons 
having  on  the  Kith  and  17th  of  July  last,  proceeded  in  arms  (on  the  second 
day  amountiug  to  several  hundreds)  to  the  house  of  John  Neville,  Inspector 
of  the  Revenue  for  the  fourth  survey  of  the  District  of  I'ennsylvania, 
having  repeatedly  attacked  the  said  house  with  the  persons  therein,  wound- 
ing some  of  them;  having  seized  David  Lennox,  Marshal  of  the  District  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  previously  thereto  had  been  lired  upon  while  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  duty  by  a  jiarty  of  armed  men,  detaining  him  lor  some  time 
j)risoner,  till  for  the  preservation  of  his  life  and  liberty  he  found  it  necessary 
to  enter  into  stipulations  to  forbear  the  execution  of  certain  official  duties 
touching  processes  issuing  out  of  a  court  of  the  United  States,  and  having 
finally  obliged  the  said  inspector  of  the  revenue  and  the  said  marshal,  from 
considcraticiiis  of  ])ersonal  sal'ety,  to  ily  from  that  part  of  the  country  ia 
order,  liy  a  circuitous  route,  to  proceed  to  the  seat  of  government,  avowing 
as  the  motive  of  these  outrageous  proceedings  an  intention  to  prevent  by 
force  of  arms  the  execution  of  the  said  laws,  to  oblige  the  said  inspector  of 
the  revenue  to  renounce  his  said  office,  to  withstand  by  open  violence  the 
lawful  authority  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  to  compel 
tiicreby  an  alteration  of  the  measures  of  the  legislature,  and  a  repeal  of  the 
laws  aforesaid. 

And  whereas,  by  a  law  of  the  United  States  entitled  "  An  act  to  provide 
for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  execute  the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  in- 


HISTOR¥  OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  19 

snrrections,  and  repel  invasions,  it  is  enacted  that, -whenever  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  shall  be  opposed,  or  the  execution  thereof  obstructed  in  any 
State,  by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by 
that  act.  the  same  being  notified  by  an  associate  justice,  or  the  district 
judge,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  President  of  the  United  States  to  call  forth 
the  militia  of  such  State  to  suppress  such  combinations,  and  to  cause  the 
laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

And  if  the  militia  of  a  State  where  such  combinations  may  happen  shall 
refuse,  or  be  insufficient  to  suppress  the  same,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the 
President,  if  the  legislature  of  the  United  States  be  not  in  session,  to  call 
forth  and  employ  such  members  of  the  militia  of  any  State  or  States  most 
convenient  thereto,  as  may  be  necessary,  and  the  use  of  the  militia  so  to 
be  called  forth  may  be  continued,  if  necessary,  until  the  expiration  of  thirty 
days  after  the  commencement  of  the  ensuing  session  ;  provided  always, 
that  whenever  it  may  be  necessary  in  the  judgment  of  the  President  to  use 
the  military  force  hereby  directed  to  be  called  forth,  the  President  shall 
forthwith,  and  previous  thereto,  by  proclamation,  command  such  insurgents 
"  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective  abodes  within  a  limited 
time." 

And  whereas,  James  Wilson,  an  associate  justice,  on  the  4th  inst.,  by 
writing  under  his  hand,  did,  from  evidence  which  had  been  laid  before  him, 
notify  to  me  "  that  in  the  counties  of  Washington  and  Allegheny,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, laws  of  the  United  States  are  opposed,  and  the  execution  thereof 
obstructed  by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  marshal  of 
that  district." 

And  whereas  it  is  in  my  judgment  necessary,  under  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  to  take  measures  for  calling  forth  the  militia,  in  order  to  sup- 
press the  combinations  afor^aid,  and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  exe- 
cuted, and  I  have  accordingly  determined  to  do  so,  feeling  the  deepest 
regret  for  the  occasion,  but  withal  the  most  solemn  conviction  that  the 
essential  interests  of  the  Union  demand  it;  that  the  very  existence  of  go- 
vernment, and  the  fundamental  principles  of  social  order  are  materially  in- 
volved in  the  issue  ;  and  that  the  patriotism  and  firmness  of  all  good  citi- 
zens seriously  called  upon,  as  occasion  may  require,  to  aid  in  the  effectual 
suppression  of  so  fatal  a  spirit. 

Wherefore,  and  in  pursuance  of  the  proviso  above  recited,  I,  George 
Washington.  President  of  the  United  States,  do  hereby  comniand  all  per- 
sons being  insurgents  as  aforesaid,  and  all  others  whom  it  may  concern,  on 
or  before  the  1st  day  of  September  next  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to 
their  respective  abodes.  And  I  do,  moreover,  warn  all  persons  whomso- 
ever against  aiding,  abetting,  or  comforting  the  perpetrators  of  the  albre- 
said  treasonable  acts.  And  I  do  require  all  officers  and  other  citizens,  ac- 
cording to  their  respective  duties  and  the  laws  of  the  land,  to  exert  their 
utmost  endeavors  to  prevent  and  suppress  such  dangerous  proceedings. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  of 
America  to  be  affixed  to  these  presents,  and  signed  the  same  with  my 
hand. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  the  seventh  day  of  August,  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  ninety-four,  and  of  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America  the  nineteenth. 

By  the  President :  George  Washington. 

Edm.  Randolph. 


80  APPENDIX   TO     » 

Washington,  after  he  had  learned  that  his  proclamation  of  the  Tth 
of  August,  1794,  was  rejected,  and  after  he  had  heard  the  report  of 
the  commissioners,  determined  to  crush  out  the  rebellion,  and  on 
the  25th  of  September,  1194,  issued  the  following  proclamation  : — 

By  the  PREsiDENr  OF  THE  United  States  : 

WiiKREAs,  From  a  hope  that  the  combinations  against  the  constitution 
iitid  laws  of  the  United  States  in  certain  of  the  western  counties  of  Penn- 
sylvania would  yield  to  time  and  reflection,  I  thought  it  suiTicicnt,  in  the 
first  instance,  rather  to  take  measures  for  the  calling  forth  of  the  militia, 
than  immediately  to  embody  them,  but  the  moment  has  now  come  when 
the  overtures  of  forgiveness,  with  no  other  condition  than  a  submission  to 
law,  have  been  only  partially  accepted;  when  every  form  of  conciliation 
not  inconsistent  with  the  well-being  of  government  has  been  adopted  with- 
out effect ;  when  tlie  well-disposed  in  those  counties  are  unable  by  their 
influence  and  example  to  reclaim  the  wicked  from  their  fury,  and  are  com- 
pelled to  associate  in  their  own  defence;  when  the  proper  lenity  has  been 
misinterpreted  into  an  apprehension  that  the  citizens  will  march  with  reluc- 
tance ;  when  the  opportunity  of  examining  the  serious  consequences  of  a 
treasonable  opposition  has  been  employed  in  propagating  principles  of 
anarchy,  endeavoring  through  emissaries  to  alienate  the  friends  of  order 
from  its  support,  and  inviting  its  enemies  to  perpetrate  similar  acts  of  insur- 
rection ;  when  it  is  manifest  that  violence  would  continue  to  be  exercised  , 
upon  every  attempt  to  enforce  the  laws ;  when,  therefore,  government  is 
set  at  defiance,  the  contest  being  whether  a  small  portion  of  the  United 
States  shall  dictate  to  the  whole  Union,  and,  at  the  expense  of  those  who 
desire  peace,  indulge  a  desperate  ambition. 

Now,  therefore,  I,  George  Washington,  President  of  the  United  States, 
in  obedience  to  that  high  and  irresistible  duty  consigned  to  me  by  the 
constitution,  "  to  take  care  that  the  laws  be  faithfully  executed,"  deploring 
that  the  American  name  should  be  sullied  by  the  outrages  of  citizens  on 
their  own  government,  cojumiserating  such  as  remain  obstinate  from  delu- 
sion, but  resolved  in  perfect  reliance  on  that  gracious  providence  which  so 
signally  displays  its  goodness  toward  this  country,  to  reduce  the  refractory 
to  a  due  subordination  to  the  laws,  do  hereby  make  known  that,  with  a 
satisfaction  which  can  be  equalled  only  by  the  merits  of  the  militia,  sur- 
rounded with  the  service  from  the  States  of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania, 
Maryland,  and  Virginia,  I  have  received  intelligence  of  their  patriotic  ala- 
crity in  obeying  the  call  of  the  present,  though  painful,  yet  commanding  ne- 
cessity :  that  a  force  which,  according  to  every  reasonable  expectation,  is 
adequate  to  the  exigency,  is  already  in  motion  to  the  scene  of  disaffection ; 
that  those  who  have  confided  or  shall  confide  in  the  protection  of  govern- 
ment shall  meet  full  succor  under  the  standard  and  arms  of  the  United 
States ;  that  those  who,  having  oflended  against  the  law,  have  since  enti- 
tled themselves  to  indemnity,  will  be  treated  with  the  most  liberal  and 
good  faith,  if  they  shall  not  have  forfeited  their  claim  by  any  subsequent 
conduct,  and  that  instructions  arc  given  accordingly.  And  I  do,  moreover, 
expect  all  individuals  and  bodies  of  men  to  contemplate  with  abhorrence 
the  measures  leading  directly  or  indirectly  to  those  crimes  which  produce 
this  military  coercion;  to  check  in  their  respective  spheres  the  effort  of 
misguided  or  designing  men  to  substitute  their  misrepresentations  in  the 
place  of  truth,  and  their  discontents  in  the  place  of  stable  government ; 
and  so  call  to  mind  that,  as  the  people  of  the  United  States  have  been  per- 
mitted under  the  divine  favor,  in  perfect  freedom,  after  solemn  deliberation, 


1 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  81 

and  in  an  enlightened  age,  to  elect  their  own  government,  so  will  their 
gratitude  for  this  inestimable  blessing  be  best  distinguished  by  firm  exer- 
tions to  maintain  the  constitution  and  laws.  And  lastly,  I  again  warn  all 
persons  whomsoever  and  wheresoever,  not  to  abet,  aid,  or  comfort  the  in- 
surgents aforesaid,  as  they  will  answer  the  country  at  their  peril ;  and  T 
do  also  require  all  officers  and  other  citizens,  according  to  their  several 
duties,  as  far  as  may  be  in  their  power,  to  bring  under  the  cognizance  of 
law  all  offenders  in  the  premises. 

In  witness  whereof,  I  have  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  of 
America  to  be  affixed  to  these  presents,  and  signed  the  same  with  my  hand. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  September,  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four,  and  of  the  independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  nineteenth. 

By  the  President :  George  Washington. 

Edm.  Randolph. 

In  accordance  with  this  proclamation,  troops  from  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and  Virginia  amounting  to  about 
fourteen  thousand  militia,  consisting  of  artillery,  cavalry,  and  infantry, 
were  ordered  to  advance  to  quell  the  rebellion,  under  the  command 
of  Governor  Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia.  Gen.  Morgan  led  the  Virginia 
troops;  Gen.  Smith,  of  Baltimore,  the  Maryland  troops;  Governor 
Howell  the  New  Jersey  troops,  and  Gov.  Miffliu  the  Eastern  Penn- 
sylvania troops.  The  Virginia  and  Maryland  troops  composed  the 
left  wing  of  the  army,  their  place  of  rendezvous  was  Cumberland, 
and  their  orders  were  to  march  across  the  mountains  by  Braddock's 
Road,  through  Uniontown. 

The  troops  of  New  Jersey  and  Eastern  Pennsylvania  constituted 
the  ricjM  wing  ;  their  place  of  rendezvous  was  Carlisle  ;  their  orders 
were  to  march  to  Bedford  and  take  the  northern  route  through  Somer- 
set. Judge  Lobiugier  says  the  right  wing  halted  in  three  divisions 
on  this  side  of  the  Chesnut  Ridge.  The  advance  division  encamped 
on  the  spot  where  Mount  Pleasant,  Westmoreland  County,  is  built, 
the  second  division  on  Col.  Bonnett's  farm,  and  the  rear  division 
remained  at  Lobingier's  Mills.  They  remained  in  their  encampments 
about  eight  days  ;  they  then  struck  their  tents  and  marched  to  the 
forks  of  Yough,  in  Washington  County,  where  they  were  met  by  the 
left  wing  of  the  army,  composed  of  the  Maryland  and  Virginia 
troops,  who  had  come  through  Cumberland  and  Uniontown.  This 
occurrence  took  place  early  in  October,  1794. 

Let  us  now  retrace  our  steps  to  inquire  what  the  insurgents  were 
engaged  in  from  the  departure  of  the  National  and  State  commission- 
ers, to  the  arrival  of  the  army  in  the  forks  of  Yough,  in  October. 

When  the  people  of  the  four  rebellious  counties  found  so  powerful 
an  army  advancing,  a  proposition  w^as  made  b}'  the  members  who 
called  the  first  meeting  at  Parkinson's  Ferry,  to  again  assemble  on 
the  2d  of  October,  with  the  view  to  submit  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States.  The  notice  was  published  in  the  Pittsburg  Gazette,  and  at 
the  time  designated  the  delegates  assembled,  and  the  following  is  the 
result  of  their  deliberations: — 


82  APPENDIX   TO 

Parkinson's  Ferry,  Thursday,  Oct.  2d,  1794. 

A  mcetinfT  of  the  delegates  of  townships  of  the  14th  of  August,  at 
Parkinson's  Ferry,  having  been  advertised  in  the  Pittsburg  Gazette  of  last 
Saturday,  to  be  held  here  this  day  for  the  purpose  of  taking  under  con- 
sideration whether  it  be  necessary  that  any  armed  force  should  advance  on 
the  part  of  government,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  civil  authority  in 
suppressing  insurrection  and  preserving  peace, 

John  Cannon  was  appointed  Chairman  ; 

Alexander  Addison  was  appointed  Secretary. 

Agreeably  to  the  recommendation  in  the  advertisement  in  the  Pittsburg 
Gazette,  several  of  the  subscription  papers  with  a  number  of  names  annexed 
in  the  form  of  submission  prescribed  by  the  commissioners,  were  produced 
by  members  and  laid  on  the  table. 

The  meeting  having  taken  these  papers  into  their  consideration  and  com- 
municated their  respective  knowledge  of  the  sentiment  of  the  people  in 
their  townships, 

1.  Kesulved,  That  it  is  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  meeting  that  if  the 
signature  of  the  submission  is  not  universal,  it  is  not  so  much  owing  to  any 
existing  disposition  to  oppose  the  laws  as  to  a  want  of  time  or  information 
to  operate  a  correspondent  sentiment,  and  with  respect  to  the  greatest 
number,  a  prevailing  consciousness  of  their  having  had  no  concern  in  any 
outrage,  aud  an  idea  that  their  signature  would  imply  a  sense  of  guilt. 

2.  Resolved,  Unanimously,  that  we  will  submit  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  that  we  will  not  directly  or  indirectly  oppose  the  execution  of  the 
acts  for  raising  a  revenue  on  distilled  spirits  and  stills,  and  that  we  will 
support  as  far  as  the  law  requires,  the  civil  authority  in  afiPording  the  pro- 
tection due  to  all  officers  and  other  citizens,  reserving  at  the  same  time  our 
constitutional  rights  of  petition  and  remonstrance. 

3.  Renulved,  Unanimously,  that  in  our  opinion  in  the  four  counties  of  Penn- 
sylvania, westward  of  the  Allegheny  Mountains,  there  is  a  general  disposi- 
tion to  sulimit  to  all  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  a  determination  to 
support  the  civil  authority  in  their  execution. 

4.  Resolved,  Unanimously,  that  "Wni.  Findley,  of  "Westmoreland  County, 
and  David  lU'ddick,  of  "Washington  ('ounty,  be  appointed  commissioners 
to  wait  on  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  the  Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania, with  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  and  to  explain  to  the  government 
the  present  state  of  this  country,  and  detail  such  circumstances  as  may  enable 
the  President  to  judge  whether  an  armed  force  be  now  necessary  to  support 
the  civil  authority  in  these  counties. 

6.  Resolved,  Unanimously,  that  the  secretary  of  the  meeting  transmit  a 
copy  of  these  resolutions  by  post  to  the  President  of  the  United  States 
and  to  the  (Jovernor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  have  a  copy  printed  in  the  Pitts- 
burg Gazette. 

Tlie  people  through  their  delegates  liaving  thus  triumphed  by  the 
foregoing  resolutions,  a  new  state  of  afluirs  was  about  being  inangn- 
rated.  Loyal  men  were  emboldened  in  publicly  declaring  their 
attachment  to  the  Constitution,  the  laws,  and  their  country;  while 
tlie  disloyal  cowered  before  the  gaze  of  public  indignation.  "Wilke- 
son,  in  his  Recollections,  says,  in  speaking  of  this  subject,  that  Brad- 
ford and  a  few  others  who  had  the  worst  to  fear,  fled  to  the  Spanish 
country  on  the  Mississippi.  Others  equally  guilty,  but  less  notorious 
offenders,  sought  security  in  secjuestcred  settloments. 

According  to  the  instructions  of  the  meeting  contained  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  83 

fourth  resolution,  Messrs.  Findley  and  Reddick  went  to  Carlisle  to 
meet  Gen.  Washington  and  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  who  had  accompanied  the  right  wing  of  the  army  thus  far. 
After  hearing  the  committee,  their  protestations  and  asseverations, 
declaring  eternal  fidelity  to  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  and  that 
the  people  had  been  misled  by  designing,  ambitious,  and  unprincipled 
men.  General  Washington  remarked  (says  Gallatin)  that  he  had  two 
great  objects  in  view  in  calling  out  the  militia:  first,  to  show  not 
only  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  country,  but  to  the  Union  at 
large,  and  indeed  to  foreign  nations,  both  the  possibility  of  a  repub- 
lican government  exerting  its  physical  strength  in  order  to  enforce 
the  execution  of  the  laws  when  opposed,  and  the  readiness  of  the 
American  citizens  to  make  every  sacrifice  and  to  encounter  every 
difficulty  and  danger  for  the  sake  of  supporting  that  fundamental 
principle  of  government.  Second,  to  procure  a  full  and  complete 
restoration  of  order  and  submission  to  the  laws,  amongst  the  insur- 
gents. The  first  object,  the  President  said,  was  fully  attained,  and 
no  doubt  could  remain,  from  the  success  of  the  experiment,  of  the 
practicability  of  a  republican  govei'nment,  although  extending  over 
a  large  territory,  supporting  itself,  even  in  the  case  of  a  disobedience 
of  any  part  of  the  body  politic.  On  the  second  head  he  observed 
that  although  the  meeting  of  October  2,  which  they  represented,  had 
given  it  as  their  opinion  that  thei'e  was  a  unanimous  disposition  to 
submit  to  and  support  the  laws,  there  was  no  positive,  unequivocal, 
and  explicit  declaration  that  offices  of  inspection  would  be  imme- 
diately and  safely  established.  In  the  next  place,  that  whatever 
might  be  the  grounds  of  the  opinion  of  the  meeting,  until  the  law 
was  actually  carried  into  operation,  it  was  only  an  opinion,  and  that 
the  general  expenses  of  the  campaign  being  already  incurred,  and 
the  great  sacrifices  of  individuals  being  already  made,  there  remained 
no  motive  sufficiently  strong  to  induce  the  magistrate,  whose  duty  it 
was  to  enforce  the  execution  of  the  laws,  to  run  any  unnecessary 
risk  by  intrusting  that  care  to  the  exertions  of  the  country  itself,  as 
long  as  any  doubt  might  remain  of  their  sincerity  or  power,  the 
force  embodied  being  fully  competent  to  that  object,  and  so  far  on 
the  march  to  the  intended  spot.  The  President  concluded  by  adding 
that  as  the  amnesty  which  he  had  once  offered  through  the  commis- 
sioners had  not  been  universally  embraced  by  the  offenders,  some 
atonement  for  past  offences  had  become  necessary. 

Thus  ended  the  negotiation,  and  Messrs.  Findley  and  Reddick  re- 
turned and  called  another  meeting  of  the  committees  of  the  town- 
ships of  the  four  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  sundry 
other  citizens  at  Parkinson's  Ferry,  the  24:th  of  October,  1794,  when 
the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : — 

1.  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion,  the  civil  authority  is  now  fully  compe- 
tent to  enforce  the  laws  and  to  punish  both  past  and  future  offences,  inas- 
much as  the  people  at  large  are  determined  to  support  every  description  of 
civil  officers  in  the  legal  discharge  of  their  duty. 


84  APPENDIX    TO 

2.  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion  all  persons  who  may  be  charged  or  sus- 
pected with  havinc^  committed  any  oflcnce  ag-ainst  the  United  States  or  the 
State  during  the  late  disturbances  (and  who  have  not  entitled  themselves  to 
the  act  of  oblivion),  ought  immediately  to  surrender  themselves  to  the  civil 
authority  in  order  to  stand  their  trial ;  that  if  there  be  any  such  persons 
amongst  us,  they  are  ready  to  surrender  themselves  accordingly,  and  that 
we  will  unite  in  giving  our  assistance  to  bring  to  justice  such  offenders  as 
shall  not  surrender. 

3.  Besolved,  That  in  our  opinion  offices  of  inspection  may  be  immediately 
opened  in  the  respective  counties  of  this  survey  without  any  danger  of  vio- 
lence being  offered  to  any  of  the  officers,  and  that  the  distillers  are  ready 
and  willing  to  enter  their  stills. 

Messrs.  William  Fiudlcy,  David  Reddick,  Ephraim  Douglass,  and  Thos. 
Morion  were  then  appointed  to  wait  on  the  President  of  the  United  States 
with  the  foregoing  resolutions.  JAMES  EDGAR,  Chairman. 

Attest — Albert  Gallatin,  Secretary. 

Messrs.  Findley  and  Reddick  again  recrossed  the  mountains  and 
made  fuller  and  stronger  professions  of  loyalty  and  obedience  to 
General  Alexander  Hamilton,  tlie  President  having  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  leaving  him  as  his  deputy.  A  proclamation  of  am- 
nesty was  afterwards  issued,  and  the  re-establishment  of  law  and  order 
was  perfected  by  the  citizens  renewing  their  oath  of  allegiance  and 
fealty  to  government.* 

General  Morgan,  however,  remained  during  the  winter  with  the 
twenty-five  hundred  soldiers  under  his  command.  In  the  spring 
they  were  discharged  and  all  returned  to  their  homes. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  IT 06,  Congress  passed  an  act  providing 
for  citizens  who  had  suffered  in  their  property  by  the  insurgents  of 
Western  Pennsylvania,  thereby  demonstrating  both  the  justice  and 
mercy  of  our  government  in  upholding  the  government  and  pro- 
viding for  the  sufferer. 

We  shall  now  examine  into  the  political  status  of  Washington 
County  during  the  i)ending  of  this  insurrection. 

As  the  inhabitants  of  the  four  western  counties  were  in  a  state  of 
insurrection  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,  ItOi,  the  day  of  the 
general  election,  the  question  arose  in  the  legislature,  ui)ou  its 
assembling,  whether  the  members  elect  were  entitled  to  represent 
said  counties.  The  case  was  referred  to  the  consideration  of  a 
committee  of  the  whole  house.  The  following  extracts  from  tke 
minutes  of  the  House  of  Representatives  will  explain  themselves. 

1794,  Dec.  IG.  A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Kelly,  seconded  by  Mr.  Bar- 
♦,on,  and  read  as  follows,  viz  : — 

Whkheas,  It  is  declared  by  the  5th  section  of  the  9th  article  of  the 
constitution  of  this  commonwealth,  as  one  of  the  great  and  essential  prin- 
ciples of  liberty  and  free  gnveriimeut,  that  elections  shall  be  free  and  e(|ual; 

And  wukkkas,  A  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  counties  of  West- 

*  Upon  the  trinl  of  the  arrested  persons  two  only  were  found  guilty,  one  for  arson 
for  burning  the  collector's  lion.>;e,  and  the  other  for  rolihing  the  United  States  mail, 
who  was  .senleiicc'd  to  be  hung,  but  the  Tresident  pardoued  Ihem. 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  85 

moreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  were  in  a  state  of  insur- 
rection and  opposition  to  the  government  and  laws  of  this  commonwealth 
on  the  second  Tuesday  in  October  last,  the  time  appointed  by  the  consti- 
tution for  choosing  representatives  to  the  General  Assenilily  of  this  State,  to 
the  terror  of  those  who  were  friends  to  government  and  good  order  residing 
in  the  counties  aforesaid  ; 

And  whereas.  It  is  directed  by  the  constitution  that  each  House  shall 
judge  of  the  qualifications  of  its  members,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  persons  chosen  at  the  last  general  election  held  for 
the  counties  of  Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  to 
represent  said  counties  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  this  State,  are 
not  duly  qualified  for  said  office. 

1794:.  Dec.  20.  Agreeably  to  the  order  of  the  day  the  motion  made  by 
Mr.  Kelly  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Barton,  December  16,  relative  to  the  ineli- 
gibility of  the  persons  elected  to  represent  the  counties  of  Westmoreland, 
Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  in  the  House  of  Representatives  was 
read  the  second  time. 

And  the  resolution  contained  therein  being  under  consideration,  viz: — 
RcNolved,  That  the  persons  chosen  at  the  last  general  election  held  for  the 
counties  of  Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  to  repre- 
sent the  aforesaid  counties  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  this  State, 
are  not  duly  qualified  for  said  office. 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Kelly,  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Barton,  to  post- 
pone the  consideration  of  said  resolution  in  order  to  introduce  the  following 
in  lieu  thereof. 

Resolved,  That  the  elections  held  during ,  the  late  insurrection  in  the 
counties  of  Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  for  taem- 
bers  to  represent  said  counties  in  this  House,  were  unconstitutional  and 
they  are  hereby  declared  void. 

On  the  question,  "Will  the  House  agree  to  postpone  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid  ?"  it  was  determined  in  the  affirmative. 

1795.  January  9.  On  the  question  "  Will  the  House  agree  to  the  fol- 
lowing resolution,"  viz : — 

Resolved,  That  the  legislature  of  this  commonwealth  will  adjourn  on 
Thursday  next  to  meet  again  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  February  next. 
It  was  determined  in  the  negative — yeas  37,  nays  38. 
The  House  proceeded  to  consider  the  resolution  on  the  subject  of  the 
elections  held  during  the  late  insurrection  in  the  counties  of  Westmoreland, 
Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  reported  by  the  committee  of  the 
whole  yesterday. 

A  motion  was  made  by  Mr.  Gallatin,  seconded  by  Mr.  Nagle,  to  post- 
pone the  consideration  of  said  resolution  in  order  to  introduce  the  following 
in  lieu  thereof: — 

Wherkas,  it  appears  to  this  house,  that  during  the  month  of  July  last 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  were  opposed  in  the  counties  of  Washington 
and  Allegheny,  in  this  State,  and  the  execution  of  said  laws  obstructed  by 
combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary  course  of  law 
proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  the  Marshal  of  that  district;  inas- 
much as  several  bodies  of  armed  men  did,  at  sundry  times,  assemble  in  the 
county  of  Allegheny  aforesaid,  and  commit  various  acts  of  riot  and  arson, 
and  more  particularly  attacked  the  house  of  John  Neville,  Esq.,  Inspector 
of  the  Revenue  for  the  fourth  survey  of  the  district  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
after  firing  upon  and  wounding  sundry  persons  employed  in  protecting  and 
defending  the  said  house,  set  fire  to  it  and  totally  destroyed  the  same. 
That  the  spirit  of  opposition  to  the  revenue  law  of  the  United  States 


86  APPENDIX    TO 

soon  after  pervaded  other  parts  of  the  fourth  survey  of  Pennsylvania 
(which  consists  of  the  counties  of  Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette, 
Allegheny,  and  Bedford),  inasmuch  as  all  the  officers  of  inspection  estab- 
lished therein  were  violently  suppressed. 

That  commissioners,  having  been  appointed  respectively  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  and  by  the  Governor  of  this  State,  in  order  to  induce 
the  inhabitants  of  the  fourth  survey  aforesaid  to  submit  peaceably  to  the 
laws,  the  assurance  of  submission  required  of  the  inhabitants  aforesaid 
by  said  commissioners  were  not  so  general  as  to  justify  an  opinion  that 
offices  of  inspection  could  have  been  safely  established  there  on  the  llth 
of  September  last  past.  And  the  said  commissioners  of  the  United  States 
did  give  it  as  their  opinion,  that  on  the  IGth  of  September  last  past  there 
was  a  considerable  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  fourth  survey  afore- 
said who  were  disposed  to  submit  to  the  execution  of  the  laws;  but  that 
such  was  the  state  of  things  in  the  survey,  that  there  was  no  probability 
that  the  revenue  laws  of  Congress  could  at  that  time  be  enforced  by  the 
usual  course  of  law  ;  so  that  a  more  competent  force  was  necessary  to  cause 
the  laws  to  be  duly  executed,  and  to  insure  protection  to  the  officers  and 
well-disposed  citizens. 

And  that  in  consequence  of  that  information  it  became  necessary  for  the 
President  of  the  United  States  to  cause  to  be  embodied  a  large  number  of 
the  militia  of  the  United  States,  and  to  order  the  same  to  march  into 
the  fourth  survey  aforesaid,  in  order  to  aid  the  civil  authority  in  causing 
the  laws  to  be  duly  executed,  in  re-establishing  order  and  peace,  and  in 
affording  protection  to  the  ofiBcers  and  citizens. 

And  wiikreas  it  also  appeqirs  to  this  house  that  a  majority  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  fourth  district  survey  aforesaid  did  not  at  any  time  enter  into 
a  general  combination  against  the  execution  of  the  laws  of  the  United 
States ; 

That  the  meeting  composed  of  delegates  of  the  respective  townships 
of  the  said  survey  never  entered  into  any  criminal  resolution  or  combi- 
nation, but,  on  the  contrary,  contributed  by  degrees  to  restore  peace  and 
order ; 

That  no  acts  of  violence  were  committed  in  the  said  survey  after  the 
llth  of  September,  1704,  nor  did  any  combinations,  meetings,  or  prepara- 
tions take  place  tending  to  oppose  future  resistance  to  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  to  the  militia  then  on  their  march  to  the  said  survey; 

That  from  and  after  the  14th  day  of  August  last  there  was  a  gradual 
restoration  and  order  of  submission  expressed  by  individual  signatures  or 
otherwise  previous  to  the  IGth  of  September  aforesaid  ;  by  the  answer  of 
the  grand  jury  of  the  county  of  Washington  to  the  charge  of  the  judge  of 
the  court  for  the  said  county,  delivered  at  the  September  court,  and  by 
resolutions  adopted  by  the  committee  of  townships  for  the  county  of 
Fayette,  on  the  10th  and  ITth  days  of  September,  and  by  the  resolutions 
adopted  by  the  committee  of  townships  for  the  counties  of  Westmoreland, 
Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  on  the  2d  October  last  past,  which 
resolutions  expressed  their  disposition  to  submit  to  the  laws  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  support  the  civil  authority  ;  and  their  opinion  that  the  peo- 
ple at  large  were  disposed  to  do  the  same,  as  also  by  resolutions,  adopted 
by  the  people  of  the  county  of  Fayette,  on  the  day  of  the  date  of  the  late 
general  election,  the  object  of  which  was  to  provide  for  the  accommodation 
of  the  militia  of  the  United  States,  then  on  their  march  to  the  fourth  sur- 
vey aforesaid. 

And  whkkeas  there  are  no  proofs  whatever  before  the  house,  either  that 
the  people  of  the  fourth  survey,  or  any  of  them,  were  in  a  state  of  insur- 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  8t 

rection  on  the  day  of  the  late  general  election,  nor  that  any  nndue  influ- 
ence was  used,  or  acts  of  violence  committed  on  said  day  in  any  of  the 
counties  composing  the  said  survey,  nor  that  the  late  insurrection,  riots, 
and  opposition  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  had  any  effect  upon  the 
said  late  general  election. 

AxD  WHEREAS  it  is  represented  to  this  house,  by  the  representatives  of  the 
counties  composing  the  fourth  survey  aforesaid,  that  they  are  able  to  prove 
by  evidence  that  the  late  general  elections  held  in  the  said  counties  were 
fairly  conducted,  uninfluenced  by  fear  or  violence,  and  perfectly  free  and 
equal. 

And  whereas  the  house  wish  to  have  full  information  upon  the  facts,  in 
order  that  they  may  thereupon  take  such  constitutional  measures  as  to  them 
will  appear  best — ■ 

Resolved,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  house  it  is  proper  for  them  to  in- 
stitute an  inquiry  on  the  subject  of  late  general  elections,  held  in  the 
counties  of  Westmoreland.  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  in  order 
to  ascertain  whether  the  inhabitants  of  said  counties,  or  any  of  them,  were 
in  a  state  of  insurrection  at  the  time  of  holding  the  said  elections,  and 
whether  the  late  insurrection  in  the  fourth  survey  of  Pennsylvania  had 
any  effect  on  the  said  elections  in  the  said  counties. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  devise  and  report  to  this  house 
a  plan  of  the  manner  in  which  the  said  inquiry  should  be  conducted,  with 
power  to  summon  evidences  on  the  subject. 

On  the  question  "Will  the  house  agree  to  postpone  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid  ?"  it  was  determined  in  the  negative. 

The  original  question  recurring,  the  previous  question  thereon  was 
called  for,  and  on  the  question  being  put,  viz.,  "Shall  the  main  question 
be  now  put,"  it  was  determined  in  the  affirmative — yeas,  44  ;  nays,  20. 

Whereupon  the  eleven  members  of  the  counties  of  Westmoreland, 
Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny  withdrew,  and  the  main  question, 
viz : — 

"Resolved,  That  the  elections,  held  during  the  late  insurrection  in  the 
counties  of  Westmoreland,  Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  to  repre- 
sent said  counties  in  this  house,  were  unconstitutional,  and  they  are  hereby 
declared  void,"  being  put,  it  was  determined  in  the  afiBrmative — yeas,  43; 
nays,  20.  « 

As  I  have  given  extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, I  will  now  add  those  of  the  Senate  on  the  same  subject. 

1795,  January  2.  Moved  that  the  consideration  of  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  is  the  order  of  the  day,  viz  i-^- 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  will  proceed  to  consider  and  determine 
whether  the  elections  held  in  the  districts  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Allegheny,  W^ashington,  Westmoreland,  and  Fayette,  during  the  insur- 
rection in  those  counties,  ought  to  be  admitted  as  constitutional  and  valid, 
be  postponed,  in  order  to  talie  into  consideration  the  following  resolution, 
to  wit : — 

Resolved,  That  it  is  necessary  for  the  Senate  to  inquire 

1st.  AVhether  the  Senate  have  any  jurisdiction  in  the  case  of  elections, 
and  in  what  manner  it  can  be  exercised. 

2d.  Whether  the  inhabitants  of  the  counties  of  Westmoreland,  Wash- 
ington, Fayette,  and  Allegheny,  or  a  majority  of  them,  were  in  a  state  of 
insurrection  at  the  time  of  holding  the  late  general  election  (and  if  so), 
what  was  the  nature  of  the  same  and  its  eflFects  upon  the  said  election  ? 


88  APPENDIX    TO 

And  that  be  assigned  to  hear  evidence  on  the  subject 

of  said  iusiirrection. 

The  question  on  postponing  for  said  purpose  was  put  and  carried  in  the 
negative. 

1795,  January  3.  The  following  resolution,  as  reported  by  the  committee 
of  the  whole,  viz  : — 

Resolvfd,  That  the  elections  of  Senators  held  in  the  counties  of  Wash- 
ington, Allegheny,  Westmoreland,  and  Fayette,  during  the  late  insurrec- 
tion, were  not  constitutional  and,  therefore,  not  valid,  beiug  under  consi- 
deration— 

It  was  moved  the  further  consideration  of  the  resolution  be  postponed 
in  order  to  take  the  evidence  of  the  State  Commissioners,  and  to  bring 
forward  testimony  of  persons  who  were  present  at  the  election  in  West- 
moreland County.  And  the  question  on  postponing  for  said  purpose 
being  put,  was  carried  in  the  negative. 

It  was  then  moved  that 

Whkrea.s,  a  resolution  is  now  before  the  Senate  which,  if  carried,  will 
deprive  the  counties  of  Washington,  Allegheny,  Fayette,  and  Westmore- 
land, of  any  representation  in  the  Senate  of  this  Commonwealth  ;  and 
whereas,  it  would  be  highly  improper  that  a  partial  representation  should 
legistate  for  the  whole  State,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  will,  so  soon  as  the  said  resolution  is  carried, 
adjourn  to  such  time  as  will  give  the  said  four  western  counties  an  oppor- 
tunity of  holding  elections  and  returning  members  in  the  stead  of  those 
now  deprived  of  their  seats,  if  the  House  of  Representatives  shall  con- 
cur in  sueli  adjourument. 

The  question  being  put,  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

The  question  being  afterwards  put  on  the  following  motion,  viz  : — 

Resolved,  That  in  taking  the  votes  of  the  Senate  on  the  resolution  rela- 
tive to  the  validity  of  the  elections  from  the  four  western  counties,  the 
clerk  be  directed  not  to  call  the  names  of  the  members  of  those  counties, 
as  their  representative  characters  are  involved  in  said  resolution. 

It  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

And  the  original  (|uestion,  viz: — 

Resolved,  That  the  election  of  Senators  held  in  the  counties  of  Wash- 
ington, Allegheny,  Westmoreland,  and  Fayette,  during  the  late  insurrec- 
tion, were  not  constitutional  and,  therefore,  not  valid,  again  recurring, 

It  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Reasons  of  the  vote  of  the  subscribers  on  the  quostion  of  the 
validity  of  the  elections  hold  in  the  counties  of  Westmoreland, 
Washington,  Fayette,  and  Allegheny. 

We  are  of  opinion  that  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Senate  are  unjast, 
unconstitutional,  and  impolitic. 

Unjust. 

Because  the  documents,  npon  which  the  decision  is  grounded,  were 
not  legal  evidence,  inasmuch  as  they  consisted  only  of  written,  vague, 
hearsay  and  newspaper  information,  and  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  Senate 
to  procure  oral,  direct,  and  positive  evidence. 

Because  the  documents  produced  to  support  the  resolutions  do  not  con- 
tain any  facts,  sul)sequent  to  the  loth  day  of  Septcnil)er,  which  was  near 
one  month  previous  to  the  election  ;  nor  docs  it  ap])ear  by  tiie  said  docu- 
ments, or  by  any  of  the  alleged  facts  therein  contained,  either  that  all 
the  four  western  counties  ever  were  declared  to  be  in  a  state  of  insurrec- 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  89 

tion,  or  that  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  thereof,  ever  were  concerned 
in  any  insurrection,  criminal  combination,  or  illegal  opposition,  against 
the  laws  of  the  Union. 

Because  every  act  of  the  people,  or  any  part  of  the  people  of  the  west^ 
ern  counties,  subsequent  to  the  15th  day  of  September,  evinces  a  restor- 
ation of  order  and  an  universal  determination  to  submit  to  the  laws  and 
to  support  the  civil  authority. 

Because  no  testimony  was  adduced  to  prove  that  the  spirit  of  the  late 
insurrection  had  any  effect  on  the  elections,  but  on  the  contrary,  the  Sena- 
tors representing  those  counties  offered  to  prove,  by  evidence,  that  the 
said  elections  were  fairly  conducted  and  perfectly  free  and  equal. 

Because  the  Senate,  by  a  positive  vote,  refused  to  hear  the  evidence  of 
the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  State,  to  confer  with  citizens  of  the 
western  country,  and  also  the  evidence  of  persons  (known  friends  to  order 
and  good  government)  who  were  present  at  the  election  of  one  of  the  said 
counties.     And 

Because  there  was  not  a  single  act  (that  might  be  considered  as  a  sign 
of  insurrection,  opposition,  or  combination)  committed  in  two  of  the  west- 
ern counties,  which  did  not  also  take  place  in  other  counties  of  this  State, 
and  yet  the  counties  of  Westmoreland  and  Fayette  are  included  in  the 
decision  of  the  Senate,  while  those  others  were  not  even  hinted  at. 

Unconstitutional. 

Because  the  Constitution  expressly  declares  that  contested  elections  shall 
be  tried  by  a  select  committee,  and  not  by  the  Senate,  and  expressly 
restrains  the  jurisdiction  of  either  branch  of  the  legislature,  to  judging 
the  qualifications  of  their  members.     And 

Because  if  this  was  not  to  be  considered  as  a  case  of  contested  elections, 
it  could  only  be  a  retrospective  disfranchising  act,  an  act  which  was 
expressly  forbidden  by  that  clause  of  the  Constitution  which  declares  that 
no  ex  post  facto  law  shall  be  made,  and  which,  if  it  could  be  enacted  by 
any  authority  whatever,  should  have  been  the  act  of  the  legislature,  and 
not  of  a  single  branch. 

Impolitic. 

Because  there  was  no  apparent  necessity  for,  or  advantage  resulting 
from  the  measure,  but  on  the  contrary,  at  a  time  when  the  inhabitants  of 
the  western  country,  who  might  have  been  deluded  into  criminal  excesses, 
were  brought  to  a  sense  of  their  duty,  and  when  the  whole  body  of  the 
people  of  Pennsylvania  had  manifested  their  determination  to  support  the 
laws  and  C'onstitution  of  the  United  States,  we  conceived  it  the  duty  of 
the  legislature  to  conciliate  and  not  ivflame  the  minds  of  the  citizens. 

Because,  by  ordering  special  elections,  in  the  middle  of  winter,  and  at 
a  short  notice,  in  a  country  the  population  of  which  is  widely  scattered, 
any  change  that  may  take  place  in  the  representation  can  only  be  the 
effect  of  a  particular  party,  ever  watchful  to  their  own  interest,  and  there 
is,  therefore,  a  danger  that  the  good  citizens  of  the  western  counties  may, 
for  the  term  of  four  years,  be  unfairly  and*  partially  represented.     And 

Because  the  Senate,  having  refused  to  adjourn  until  new  elections  shall 
have  take  place,  laws  passed  whilst  one-sixth  part  of  the  State  is  unrepre- 
sented, may  not  be  thought  binding  by  those  citizens  who  had  no  share  in 
the  enacting  of  the  same,  and  the  measure  will,  at  least,  tend  to  diminish 
that  respect  and  obedience  to  the  laws  and  government  which  is  so  essen- 
tially necessary  under  the  present  circumstances,  to  encourage  and 
inculcate. 

These,  with  many  other,  reasons  have  influenced  onr  vote,  and  we  trust 


90  APPENDIX   TO 

we  have  discharged  that  duty  which  we  owe  to  our  country  and  our  con- 
acienccs,  by  voting  and  protesting  against  a  measure  which  we  think  may 
be  ot  the  most  pernicious  and  destructive  consequences. 

William  IIefburne,      Thomas  Johnston, 
John  Kean,  George  Wilson. 

In  a  Philadelphia  paper  of  February  IG,  1795,  is  pnblished  a  let- 
ler  in  which  it  is  stated  that  the  eleven  members  of  the  House,  and 
the  /o?<r  Senators,  who  were  deprived  of  their  seats,  have  all  been 
re-elected,  except  one  Senator  (Mr.  Moore),  who  declined  serving. 

The  members  elected  in  pursuance  of  special  writs  of  election 
held  in  February,  1795,  for  members  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  caused  by  the  expulsion  of  the  members  elected 
at  the  stated  election  held  in  October,  1794,  were  as  follows,  viz: 
Westmoreland  County,  Benjamin  Lodge,  George  Smith,  and  Mi- 
chael Iluch;  Washington  County,  William  Wallace,  Craig  Ritchie, 
James  Bricc,  and  Benjamin  White  ;  Fayette  County,  Albert  Galla- 
tin, John  Cunningham ;  Allegheny  County,  Pressley  Neville  and 
Dunning  McNair. 

Senators :  Westmoreland  and  Fayette,  William  Todd  and  Pressley 
Carr  Lane;  Washington  and  Allegheny,  Thomas  Stokely  and  Absa- 
lom Baird  (re-elected). 

Pertinent  to  this  whole  subject  is  the  legal  opinion  of  Judge  Ad- 
dison, of  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  delivered  to  the  grand  jury  of 
Washington  County  on  the  necessity  of  submission  to  the  excise 
law.  In  his  preface  the  Judge  says  they  were  written  at  the  time 
specified,  and  the  man  must  be  wise  or  insensible  indeed,  of  whom 
the  experience  of  seven  years,  in  a  period  of  most  interesting  novelty, 
varies  no  sentiment  and  corrects  no  judgment. 

Judge  Addison  forwarded  a  cop}"  of  all  his  charges,  published  in 
Washington  by  John  Colerick  in  1800,  to  General  Washington,  and 
received  in  reply  the  following  complimentary  letter: — 

Mount  Vernon,  March  4,  1799.    "^ 
Sir:   Your  favor  of  the  30th  of  January,  inclosing  your  charge  to  the 
grand  juries  of  the  county  courts  of  the  5th  Circuit  of  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, has  been  duly  received,  and  for  the  inclosure  I  thank  you. 

I  wish  sincerely  that  your  good  example,  in  endeavoring  to  bring  the 
people  of  these  United  States  more  acquainted  with  the  laws  and  principles 
of  their  government  was  followed.  They  only  require  a  proper  understand- 
ing of  these  to  judge  rightly  on  all  great  national  questions,  but  unfortu- 
nately, infinite  more  pains  is  taken  to  blind  them  by  one  description  of  men 
than  there  is  to  open  their  eyes  by  the  other,  which,  in  ray  opinion,  is  the 
source  of  most  of  the  evils  we  labor  under. 

With  very  great  respect  I  am,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

George  Washington. 
Alexander  AomsoN,  Esq. 

At  the  September  session  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for 
Washington  County  in  the  year  1794,  Hon.  Alexander  Addison  de- 


HISTORY   OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  91 

livered  the  following  charge  on  the  necessity  of  submission  to  the 
excise  law: — 

Gentlemen  op  the  Grand  Jury  : 

The  alarming  and  awful  situation  of  this  country  at  this  time  is  too  well 
known  to  require  a  statement.  On  the  part  of  government  we  are  now 
offered  a  forgiveness  of  all  that  is  past,  on  condition  that  we  sincerely  sub- 
mit to  the  excise  law  and  all  other  laws.  The  question  now  is,  whether 
we  will  submit  to  the  terms  proposed  or  not. 

The  decision  of  this  question  is  of  such  importance  that  T  am  sure  it  will 
receive  a  solemn  consideration  from  every  citizen  of  a  sober  mind.  If  we 
accept  the  terms  we  shall  have  peace;  if  we  reject  them,  we  shall  have 
war.  There  is  no  medium  between  these  extremes,  for,  in  the  present  state 
of  this  country,  it  is  impossible  to  expect  from  government  a  repeal  of  the 
excise  law.  Government  is  the  whole  people,  acting  by  their  representa- 
tives. The  will  of  those  representatives  must  not  be  extorted  by  force  or 
fear;  otherwise  those  who  thus  constrain  them  exercise  a  tyranny  over  the 
rest  of  the  people.  We  are  a  little  more  than  the  seventieth  part  of  the 
United  States.  We  ought  not,  therefore,  to  pretend  to  dictate  laws  to  the 
whole.  But  whatever  portion  we  may  be  of  the  people,  if  one  law  is  re- 
pealed, at  the  call  of  armed  men,  ^government  is  destroyed;  no  law  will 
have  any  force;  every  law  will  be  disobeyed  in  some  part  of  the  union. 
Government  is  therefore  now  compelled  to  enforce  submission  to  this  law 
or  to  none.  The  whole  force  of  the  United  States  must  be  exerted  to  sup- 
port its  authority  now,  or  the  government  of  the  United  States  must  cease 
to  exist.     ^Submission  or  ivar,  therefore,  is  the  alternative. 

War  is  so  dreadful  a  calamity  that  nothing  can  justify  its  admission,  but 
an  evil  against  which  no  other  remedy  remains.  That  the  colonies  to  re- 
lieve themselves  from  the  tyranny  of  Britain  should  have  roused  to  war,  no 
man  will  wonder.  They  had  to  acquire  the  first  principles  of  liberty,  an 
equal  voice  in  framing  their  laws.  The  same  was  the  case  of  France.  Its 
constitution  was  overthrown  and  one  man  had,  by  inheritance,  acquired  a 
power  which  he  could  transmit  to  his  successor,  of  making  laws  for  the 
whole  nation.  But  our  Constitution  has  already  secured  the  most  demo- 
cratic principles  of  representation.  Our  complaint  is  against  the  ordinary 
exercise  of  legislation.  We  have  now  more  than  a  just  proportion  of  repre- 
sentation— one  Senator  and  three  Representatives  in  Congress.  To  fill  our 
just  proportion  we  may  choose  whom  we  please.  And  we  ought  npt  yet  to 
despair  that  in  a  legal  manner  we  shall  receive  redress  for  every  just  com- 
plaint. The  principles  of  liberty  are  completely  established  in  our  Consti- 
tution. Those  principles  are,  that  the  will  of  a  majority  should  control  the 
few.  We  wish  now  for  a  liberty  destructive  of  those  principles  which  we 
formerly  sought,  and  the  French  now  fight  to  establish.  Our  complaint  is, 
that  the  many  have  not  yet  repealed  a  law  at  the  request  of  the  few,  and 
therefore  we  rashly  propose  war. 

If  we  determine  on  war,  look  forward  to  the  consequences.  Either  we 
shall  defeat  the  United  States,  or  the  United  States  will  subdue  us.  If  the 
United  States  subdue  us  we  shall  at  the  end  of  the  war  be  certainly  not  in 
a  better  situation  than  we  are  in  at  present.  For  the  same  necessity,  the 
preservation  of  the  authority  of  government,  will  exi?t  for  enforcing  the 
law  then  which  exists  for  enforcing  it  now.  We  shall  be  in  a  worse  situation, 
for  government  will  then  be  under  no  obligation  to  grant  us  the  favorable 
terms  which  are  now  offered,  but  may  exact  punishment  for  past  offences, 
penalties  for  past  delinquencies,  compensation  fur  past  damages,  and  reim- 
bursement of  the  expenses  of  the  war.    To  these  I  might  add  the  miseriea 


92  APPENDIX   TO 

attending  the  war;  but  as  these  will  attend  the  war  in  either  event,  Ishallpar- 
ticiiliirly  allude  to  them  in  the  supposition  of  our  defeating  the  United  States. 

To  me  this  event  appears  improbable  in  the  last  degree.  A  train  of 
unfortunate  delusions  (for  such  I  deem  them)  seems  to  occupy  the  minds  of 
many  in  ihis  country.  It  is  said  that  no  militia  will  come  out  against  us; 
that  if  they  do,  we  are  so  much  superior  in  arms  that  we  shall  easily  defeat 
them;  that  we  can  intercept  them  in  the  mountains  and  prevent  their 
passage;  that  if  they  should  come  they  will  march  peaceably  along  and  not 
disturb  the  citizen  engaged  in  the  lawful  occupations  of  life;  and  that,  at 
the  worst,  we  can  throw  ourselves  under  the  protection  of  Britain. 

On  such  notions,  these  are  my  remarks  :  From  all  that  I  have  heard  or 
seen  there  is  a  resentment  in  the  people  of  the  other  side  of  the  mountains 
against  our  conduct  on  two  grounds — as  being  contradictory  to  the  princi- 
ples of  democracy,  which  reciuire  obedience  to  a  constitutional  law;  and  as 
refusing  to  bear  any  part  of  a  burden,  to  which  they  have  submitted.  This 
resentment  will  not  only  carry  vast  numbers  to  them,  to  comply  with  the 
regular  call  of  the  militia,  but  to  step  forward  as  volunteers.  Supposing 
(which  may  yet  be  doubted)  that  they  may  at  first  be  inferior  to  us  in  the 
art  of  fighting,  the  interests  of  the  United  States  are  so  deeply  involved  in 
our  submission,  that  no  expense  will  be  spared  to  accomplish  it.  And 
should  the  draught  of  the  militia  be  insufficient,  certainly  the  legislature 
will  enable  the  Executive  to  raise  and  maintain  a  standing  body  of  forces 
to  accomplish  the  object  of  government.  They  will  come  at  difl'erent  times 
and  in  dillbrcnt  directions  and  accumulated  numbers;  for  the  '•  whole  force" 
of  the  United  States  will  be  directed  against  us :  so  has  the  President,  who 
never  speaks  until  he  has  determined,  declared  by  his  proclamation.  If 
this  county  rejects  the  conditions  offered,  the  whole  country  will  be  con- 
sidered as  in  a  state  of  rebellion  ;  every  man  must  be  considered  either  as  a 
citizen  or  an  enemy.  If  he  says  he  is  a  citizen,  he  may  be  called  upon  by 
the  authority  of  the  government  to  assist  its  force  in  subduing  its  enemies. 
If  he  refuse,  he  becomes  an  enemy  and  may  be  treated  as  such.  The  arm 
of  government  may  live  among  us  at  free  quarters,  and  reduce  us  to  obe- 
dience by  plunder,  fire,  and  sword.  AVill  the  British  receive  us?  The 
government  of  Canada  dare  not,  without  authority  from  London.  And  it  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  Britain  will  risk  the  loss  of  the  friendship  and  trade 
of  the  United  States  for  so  poor  an  object  as  our  becoming  her  subjects. 
If  she  did,  might  we  not  expect  that  the  United  States  would  seize  her 
dominions  on  the  eastern  part  of  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia  and  intercept  our 
communication  with  her  ?  Against  the  "  whole  force"  of  the  United  States, 
exerted  as  we  have  reason  to  fear,  what  have  we  to  rest  on  ?  Where  are 
our  arms?  Where  are  our  magazines  of  military  stores?  Or  where  can 
we  obtain  a  supply  of  these  articles,  but  from  the  United  States,  with  whom 
we  shall  be  at  war?  All  communication  between  us  and  our  fellow  citizens 
on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains  will  be  cut  off.  Even  the  supplies  of  the 
common  articles  of  life,  which  we  receive  from  them,  will  be  prevented;  and 
not  a  single  article  of  food  or  clothing,  much  less  of  arms  or  ammunition,  will 
be  furnished  to  us  from  that  quarter.  Army  after  army  will  be  sent  against 
us.  In  a  state  of  open  war,  we  shall  be  considered  as  any  other  enemy,  with 
the  additional  rancor  attached  to  a  civil  war.  Our  agriculture  will  be  de- 
stroyed ;  our  fields  laid  waste;  our  houses  burnt ;  and  while  we  are  fighting 
our  fellow-citizens  on  one  side,  the  Indians  (and  God  knows  how  soon)  will 
attack  us  on  the  other.  The  consciences  of  many  among  ourselves  will  shrink 
back  with  horror  at  the  idea  of  drawing  a  sword  against  our  brethren  !  They 
will  call  for  neutrality.  They  will  enter  into  associations  for  mutual  defence. 
Many,  who  now  from  fear  of  danger  or  insult,  put  on  the  appearance  of  zeal 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  93 

and  violence,  will,  when  it  comes  to  decisive  exertion,  draw  back.  But  those 
who  are  tor  war  will  strive  by  force  to  draw  in  those  who  are  for  peace.  We 
shall  attack  and  destroy  each  other,  and  fall  by  our  own  hands.  Our  corn- 
fields ■will  be  converted  into  fields  of  battle.  No  man  will  sow,  for  no  man 
will  be  sure  that  he  will  reap.  Poverty,  distress,  and  famine  will  extinguish 
us.  All  mutual  confidence  will  be  at  an  end,  and  all  the  bonds  of  society 
will  be  dissolved.  Every  man  will  be  afraid  to  speak  to  his  neighbor. 
There  will  be  no  power  of  government  to  control  the  violence  of  the  wicked. 
No  man's  life,  no  man's  house,  no  man's  goods,  no  man's  wife,  no  man's 
daughter  will  be  safe.  A  scene  of  general  destruction  will  take  place. 
And  should  government  weary  of  chastising  us,  at  last  leave  us  to  our- 
selves, we  shall  be  a  miserable  remnant,  without  wealth,  commerce,  or  vir- 
tue— a  prey  to  the  savages,  or  slaves  to  Britain. 

Are  we  prepared  for  a  separation  from  the  United  States,  and  to  exist  as 
an  independent  people  ?  This  is  a  question  which  ought  to  be  settled  pre- 
viously to  our  taking  up  arms  against  government.  For,  to  disobey  govern- 
ment, while  by  remaining  in  it  we  admit  its  authority  to  command,  is  too 
absurd,  and  too  contrary  to  the  duty  of  citizens,  for  any  man  of  reason  and 
virtue  to  maintain ;  especially  when  that  government,  like  ours,  is  created 
and  changeable  by  the  people  themselves — that  is,  by  the  w/io/e  people,  or  a 
majority  of  the  whole  people.  Our  appeal  to  arms  is,  therefore,  a  declara- 
tion of  independence,  and  must  issue  either  in  separation  or  submission. 
Government  cannot  recede  farther  than  it  has  done.  It  has  already  made 
sacrifices  which  entitle  it  to  grateful  returns.  It  offers  to  forgive  past 
offences  and  consider  us  as  having  never  erred.  It  cannot,  without  a  total 
extinction  of  all  authority,  repeal  this  law  while  we  resist  it.  Government 
must  either  subdue  us  or  cast  us  off.  For,  however  we  may  flatter  our- 
selves with  the  destructive  hope  of  defeating  government,  we  can  have  no 
prospect  of  subdutng  it,  and  compelling  the  United  States  to  retain  us  in 
the  Union.  Suppose  us,  then,  a  separate  people,  what  prospect  have  we 
of  being  able  to  secure  those  objects  which  are  essential  to  the  prosperity 
of  this  country,  and  of  far  more  consequence  than  the  repeal  of  the  excise 
law  ?  Shall  we,  at  our  own  expense,  subdue  the  Indians,  seize  the  western 
posts,  and  open  the  Mississippi?  Or  will  not  the  British,  countenanced  by 
the  United  States,  retain  the  posts,  and  arm  and  protect  the  Indians  against 
us  ?  And  will  not  the  Spaniards,  under  the  same  countenance,  block  up 
the  Mississippi,  and  refuse,  perhaps,  all  trade  with  us  ?  At  present,  there 
is  a  fair  prospect  of  an  accommodation  with  Bi-itain,  and,  by  the  influence 
of  the  United  States,  we  have  reason  to  hope  for  a  surrender  of  the  western 
posts,  and  of  consequence  a  peace  with  the  Indians.  There  is  also  a  nego- 
tiation industriously  and  not  unpromisingly  conducted  with  Spain,  for  the 
free  navigation  of  the  Mississippi.  The  continuance  of  our  union  with  the 
United  States  may,  therefore,  in  a  short  time  secure  us  all  our  favorite 
objects.  And  there  must  be  time ;  for  we  have  to  deal  with  sovereign  and 
powerful  nations,  whose  rights  we  cannot  infringe  :  we  must  therefore 
solicit,  and  not  extort.  But  separated,  from  the  United  States,  and  of 
course  from  the  friendship  of  France  and  the  world,  what  hope  have  we  to 
bend  the  haughty  nations  of  Britain  and  Spain  ?  We  should  be  their  sport 
or  their  slaves. 

In  rejecting  the  conditions  nowofifered  us  by  government,  we  cannot  hope 
to  extort  a  repeal  of  the  excise  law.  If  we  would  remove  it  by  force,  we 
must  be  able  to  cut  ourselves  oS"  from  the  United  States,  with  the  loss  of 
our  prosperity,  our  happiness,  and  perhaps  our  existence.  A  rejection  of 
the  conditions  is  a  declaration  of  war,  and  war  is  the  sure  road  to  ruin. 

Let  us  next  consider  what  will  be  the  consequence  of  our  submission  to 


94  APPENDIX    TO 

the  government  on  the  terms  offered  :  We  are  restored  to  the  peace  and 
protection  ofg-overnniont.  We  shall  be  tried  for  our  ofienccs  or  delinquen- 
cies by  courts  and  juries  in  our  neighborhood.  But  with  these  favorable 
terms  we  must  submit  to  the  excise  law. 

The  jieculiar  objection  which  lay  in  the  mouths  of  the  people  on  this  side 
of  the  mountains  to  this  law  was  this:  that  from  our  local  circumstances  it 
drew  from  us  a  sum  of  money  which  was  disproportioned  to  our  wealth, 
and  would  soon  exhaust  our  circulating  medium.  However  necessary  on 
these  grounds  an  opposition  to  the  excise  law  might  be  three  years  ago,  it 
is  lesfi  necessary  now.  Since  that  period,  the  progress  of  this  country  to 
weiilth  has  been  amazingly  rapid.  There  have  been  more  public  and  pri- 
vate buikliufis  raised  within  this  period,  than  for  nine  years  preceding;  and 
fewer  sheriff's  sales  for  debt  in  the  whole  three,  than  in  any  one  of  the 
nine.  Three  years  ago,  I  believe,  there  was  not  a  Inirr  mill-stone  in  this 
county ;  now  there  are  many.  The  quantity  of  money  circulating  among  us 
is,  since,  greatly  increased,  and  the  value  of  all  property  is  thereby  greatly 
increased :  in  other  words,  the  value  of  money  is  greatly  lessened,  and 
thereby  the  value  of  the  excise  to  be  paid  by  us  is  greatly  lessened.  Then 
there  was  hardly  any  trade  to  the  Spanish  settlements  on  the  ^Mississippi; 
it  was,  at  any  rate,  small,  and  confined  to  a  few  adventurers ;  the  quantity 
of  grain  exported  was  but  little- — of  course  but  little  was  withdrawn  from 
our  own  consumption,  and  this  little  was  generally  bought  wiih  goods. 
Now  a  very  respectable  trade  is  carried  on  to  the  Spanish  settlements;  our 
traders  arc  treated  with  great  civility  by  the  Spaniards  ;  the  duty  on  our 
trade  is  reduced  to  a  mere  trifle,  and  there  is  very  little  difliculty  in  bringing 
away  dollars  in  return.  We  shall  soon  have  the  whole  supply  of  that  mar- 
ket to  ourselves.  Ijast  spring  our  best  flour  was  sold  there  for  a  dollar 
each  barrel  dearer  than  flour  liom  New  York.  None  of  the  traders  mno 
depend  on  goods  for  the  purchase  of  wheat,  but  must  purchase  at  a  reason- 
able price  in  money.  From  this  increased  exportation  of  our  grain,  the 
necessity  of  distillation  is  greatly  lessened  in  degree,  and  will  every  day 
lessen.  Government  does  not  tuno,  as  formerly,  supply  the  army  with 
whiskey,  through  contractors  purchasing  with  goods,  but  employs  agents  to 
purchase  it  with  money.  Last  year  ten  thousand  dollars  were  laid  out  in 
this  way  by  one  agent  in  this  county,  and  the  execution  of  an  order  for  ten 
thousand  more  was  stopped  only  by  the  present  troubles.  The  contractors 
themselves  have,  these  two  last  years,  purchased  their  supplies  with  cash. 
From  these  circumstances,  and  the  pay  and  other  expenses  of  the  army, 
government  sends/f/r  more  money  to  this  side  of  the  mountains  than  it  can 
draw  back  by  the  excise.  At  the  commencement  of  this  law  a  very  great 
quantity  of  foreign  spirits  was  consumed  in  this  country;  but  so  heavy  is  the 
duty  which  this  law  lays  on  foreign  spirits,  that  the  people  on  the  east  side 
of  the  mountains  drink  such  spirits  at  a  very  increased  price,  and  our  store- 
keepers cannot  afford  to  bring  foreign  spirits  in  any  considerable  quantity 
over  the  mountains. 

As  our  circumstances  are  thus  materially  changed,  so  the  law  itself  is 
changed  also.  Originally,  the  duty  on  a  still  was  sixty  cents  per  gallon, 
now  it  is  fifty-four;  originally,  the  duty  on  a  gallon  of  whiskey  was  nine 
cents,  now  it  is  seven  cents.  Another  material  alteration  is,  granting  a 
license  by  tiie  month,  at  ten  cents  i)er  gallon  on  the  still — a  provision  pecu- 
liarly suited  to  a  country  where  few  distillers  work  in  summer. 

1  do  not  say  that  by  these  alterations  in  our  circumstances,  and  in  the 
law,  our  objections  to  the  excise  law  are  rcniuvcd,  but  they  are  surely  les- 
sened. We  have  reason  also  to  believe,  that  our  remonstrance  would  be 
listened  to  more  effectually,  if,  by  obedience,  we  put  ourselves  in  a  capacity 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  95 

of  being  heard ;  but  it  is  natural  to  answer,  "  Why  complain  of  a  law  which 
you  have  never  obeyed?"  I  will  go  yet  further,  and  state  an  opinion,  that 
the  easiest,  the  speediest,  and  1  believe  the  only  way  to  accomplish  our 
object,  a  total  repeal  of  this  law,  is  instantly  to  accept  the  conditions  offered 
by  government,  honestly  comply  with  them,  and  come  fairly  before  the 
legislature  with  our  remonstrance. 

1  have  before  stated  the  impossibility  that  the  legislature  should  repeal 
this  law,  so  long  as  we  resist  it.  I  will  now  explain  to  you  on  what  grounds 
I  form  the  opinion,  that  they  will  repeal  it  as  soon  as  possible  after,  by  our 
submission,  we  have  restored  them  to  their  authority,  and  you  may  judge 
of  yourselves  of  the  probability  of  this  opinion. 

The  present  prospect  of  French  affairs,  and  the  favorable  reception  which 
Mr.  Jay,  our  ambassador,  has  met  with  in  England,,  give  reason  to  hope 
for  a  good  understanding  between  us  and  Britain,  and  a  consequent  termi- 
nation of  the  Indian  war.  I  estimate  two  years  as  a  reasonable  period  for 
these  causes  to  operate  and  these  effects  to  be  produced.  If  the  extraordi- 
nary expenses  of  the  Indian  war  ceased,  there  is  reason  to  expect — such  is 
the  increasing  trade  of  America — that  the  imposts  would  suffice  for  the 
ordinary  expenses  of  government.  If  this  be  true,  so  generally  is  the 
excise  on  domestic  produce  disliked,  and  so  imperfectly  paid,  that  we  have 
no  reason  to  presume  that  the  legislature  will  keep  it  up  longer  than  it  is 
necessary.  You  have  now  the  grounds  on  which  I  state  the  opinion  that 
it  may  be  repealed  in  two  years.  If  repealed  then,  it  will  hare  lasted  five 
years ;  of  these  five,  we  shall,  perhaps,  if  we  comply  now,  be  compelled  to 
pay  for  only  two  years  ;  and  supposing  the  tax  so  unequal,  paying  but  two 
years  out  of  five  may  correct  the  inequality;  and  while  we  pay  a  far  greater 
sum  for  the  expenses  of  the  war  is  circulated  among  us.  Thus  tiie  Indian 
war,  occasioning  the  excise,  bears  with  it  a  remedy;  and  when  this  remedy 
fails,  there  is  reuson  to  expect  the  evil  may  also  fail. 

Whether,  therefore,  we  could  avoid  ruin,  or  whether  we  could  obtain  a 
repeal  of  the  excise  law,  it  appears  evident  to  me  that  we  have  no  way  to 
gain  our  point  but  by  immediately  accepting  and  faithfully  performing  the 
conditions  proposed. 

If  we  do  not,  we  shall  get  no  more  cash  for  our  whiskey.  The  army  will 
be  supplied  with  whiskey  from  Kentucky,  and  regulations  will  doubtless  be 
made  and  exerted,  to  seize  and  forfeit  our  whiskey,  if  carried  anywhere  out 
of  this  county.  We  shall  therefore  become  its  only  consumers,  and  it  will 
again  cease  to  be  a  cash  article  and  again  become  a  mere  drug. 

But  it  is  said,  if  we  submit  now,  we  have  nothing  to  expect  from  a  re- 
monstrance ;  for  our  past  remonstrances  have  been  ineffectual.  I  say,  it  is 
too  hasty  to  draw  this  conclusion.  Besides  what  I  have  formerly  observed, 
that  we  have  never  by  obedience  entitled  ourselves  to  relief,  I  request  your 
attention  to  the  situation  of  the  United  States  hitherto  :  The  imposts  have 
not  been  sufficient  for  the  expenses  of  government,  including  those  of  the 
Indian  war.  The  excise  law,  therefore,  could  not  be  repealed,  unless  some 
new  fund  were  substituted  in  its  stead.  Now  it  is  impossible  to  impose 
any  tax  whatever  that  will  operate  equally'on  all  men.  Suppose,  therefore, 
some  other  tax  imposed  in  lieu  of  this,  while  we  continue  to  resist  this, 
what  would  be  the  consequence?  It  might  be  as  unpopular /lere,  or  in 
some  other  place,  as  this  excise;  the  consequence  would  be,  that  from  an 
experience  of  the  weakness  of  government  in  failing  to  enforce  the  excise, 
the  new  tax  would  be  resisted  also,  and  no  tax  would  ever  be  enforced. 
[A  direct  tax,  imposed  by  a  law  of  Congress,  produced  in  1799  an  insur- 
rection in  Northampton  County,  Pennsylvania.] 

Suppose  a  direct  tax,  on  a  general  Yaluation  of  property,  there  would  be 


96  APPENDIX   TO 

great  frauds.  Suppose  a  direct  tax  on  lands.  The  amount  of  all  direct 
taxes  in  each  Slate  must  be  in  proportion  to  its  number  of  inhabitants  (U. 
S.  Court,  i.  2) ;  now  unless  lands  or  other  property  in  quantity  and  value 
bear  the  same  proportion  in  each  State  with  the  number  of  inhabitants  to 
the  whole,  the  direct  tax  would  in  some  States  be  unconstitutional,  and  of 
course  resisted.  I  am  informed  that  in  New  England  a  direct  tax  would 
be  as  unpopular  as  the  excise  is  here.  Government,  therefore,  could  not 
with  safety  substitute  any  other  tax,  instead  of  the  excise,  till  it  had  first 
shown  that  its  authority  was  sufficient  to  enforce  the  excise. 

Attend,  especially,  to  the  situation  of  the  United  States  during  the  last 
session  of  Congress  and  judge  for  yourselves  :  Was  that  a  time  to  release 
any  established  subject  of  taxation  and  try  a  new  experiment?  The  whole 
world  seemed  to  loA^er  upon  us.  The  Indians  attacked  our  back  settle- 
ments. The  Algerines  plundered  and  the  British  captured  our  ships  at 
sea.  It  was  judged  necessary,  for  safety  and  justice,  to  equip  a  fleet,  to 
fortify  our  harbors,  and  to  send  out  against  the  Indians  two  thousand 
volunteers  from  Kentucky.  For  all  these  purposes,  the  imposts  (diminished 
by  the  sj)oliations  and  the  embargo)  would  come  too  slowly  in,  and  it  was 
found  necessary  to  anticipate  the  revenue  by  enabling  the  President  to 
borrow  a  million  of  dollars.  Was  this  a  time  to  press  a  repeal  of  the 
excise  law?  From  all  these  circumstances,  the  failure  of  our  past  remon- 
strances is  no  sufficient  reason  to  conclude  that  after  we  have  submitted  to 
the  authority  of  government,  and  after  its  embarrassments  are  removed,  our 
future  remonstrances  will  fail  of  a  just  effect. 

On  all  these  grounds  I  do  most  earnestly  exhort  to  an  immediate  accept- 
ance of  the  conditions  offered  by  the  commissioners,  and  a  faithful  per- 
formance of  them  on  our  part,  as  the  only  way  in  which  we  can  hope  for 
redress  or  escape  ruin. 

I  have  thus  expressed  my  sentiments  honestly  and  freely,  as  at  this  crisis 
it  becomes  every  man  who  has  any  regard  to  the  welfare  of  this  country  to 
take  every  occasion  to  do.  'J'his  is  not  a  time  for  concealment  or  dissimu- 
lation. Let  every  man  speak  out,  and  let  us  not  by  silence  or  falsehood 
deceive  one  another.  Let  a  fre«  currency  of  opinions  restore  mutual  confi- 
dence and  mutual  safety,  that  the  dagger  of  the  assassin,  the  torch  of  the 
incendiary,  and  the  tongue  of  the  slanderer  be  not  feared.  Let  the  energy 
of  government  be  restored;  let  the  public  peace  and  the  rights  of  persons 
and  property  be  preserved  sacred;  and  let  every  individual  repose  with 
confidence  and  safety  on  the  protection  of  the  law.  Let  the  power  of 
punishment  be  exerted  only  as  our  principles  prescribe  by  courts  and 
juries;  let  offences  be  ascertained  only  by  the  volumes  of  our  laws  ;  while 
a  man's  words  and  actions  are  lawful,  let  his  safety  be  untouched,  and  let 
not  individuals  assume  the  public  duty  of  repaying  vengeance. 

Do  you,  gentlemen,  who  by  your  station  can  do  it  so  effectually,  unite 
■with  me  in  expressing,  propagating,  and  supporting  these  sentiments;  and 
through  you,  both  now  and  hereafter,  let  them  be  felt  to  be  the  voice  of 
your  country. 

They  are  mine ;  and  were  an  angel  from  heaven  to  charge  me  to  make  to 
you,  as  I  should  answer  it  at  the  tribunal  of  God,  a  faithful  declaration  of 
my  opinion  of  the  interest  of  this  country  at  this  important  period,  I  would, 
were  it  the  last  moment  of  my  life,  address  you  as  1  have  now  done.  And 
oh.  may  the  (Jod  of  Wisdom  and  Peace  inspire  this  people  with  discernment 
and  virtue;  remove  from  their  minds  blindness  and  passion,  and  save  this 
country  from  becoming  a  field  of  blood  ! 

[I*,  y.- — The  mectin<jat  Redstone  not  having  given  the  assurances  required 
by  the  commissioners,  but  appointed  a  committee  to  obtain  better  terms 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  9Y 

the  commissioners  changed  the  terms,  to  individual  subscriptions  of  assurance 
by  every  man  in  these  counties.  When  these  terms  were  declared,  I  exhorted 
to  a  compliance  with  them  in  the  delivery  of  this  charge  in  the  several 
counties,  adapting  the  expressions  to  the  circumstances.  The  following 
paragraphs  are  as  delivered  at  AVashington,  Sept.  22,  1794.] 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  suggest  that,  notwithstanding  the  limited  time 
is  expired,  it  may  still  be  proper,  for  those  who  have  not  signed  the  form 
of  aclinowledgment  of  submission,  yet  to  sign  it  before  some  magistrate. 
Signing  it  is  no  admission  of  past  offence,  nor  any  additional  obligation  of 
duty  in  any  particular  person.  It  is  merely  that  criterion  of  civil  duty, 
which  our  fellow-citizens  have  thought  proper  to  require  after  a  general 
appearance  of  departure  from  it.  And  to  this  duty  we  are  equally  iDound, 
whether  we  sign  or  not. 

You,  gentlemen,  are  guardians  of  the  public  peace  of  this  county.  At 
this  time,  it  is  peculiarly  incumbent  on  us  to  watch  over  the  preservation 
of  the  peace.  Notwithstanding  the  assembling  of  an  army,  under  the  dis- 
couraging view  of  our  reluctance  to  return  to  our  duty,  and  of  our  persist- 
ing in  the  acts  of  violence,  we  may  yet,  perhaps,  save  ourselves  from  the 
disgrace  and  injury  of  its  entering  among  us,  by  manifesting  to  government 
plain  proofs  of  our  submission  to  its  authority,  and  our  firm  determination 
to  preserve  the  peace.  Let  us  not  have  it  said  that  our  reformation  has  been 
accomplished  by  fear  of  an  armed  force,  but  from  a  generous  reflection  on 
past  error,  a  sincere  sense  of  duty  and  an  honorable  purpose  of  receiving 
the  estimable  character  of  good  citizens.  The  people  of  this  country,  I 
always  hoped,  and  still  trust  more  and  more  to  be  convinced,  have  good 
sense  and  virtue  sufficient  to  entitle  them  to  the  respect  and  good  will  of 
their  fellow-citizens  of  the  United  States.  One  rash  step  may  be  obliterated 
by  an  uniform  tenor  of  regular  demeanor,  and  our  name  may  be  restored  to 
its  due  credit.  But  if  we  would  arrest  the  threatening  hand  of  government, 
if  we  would  honorably  deserve  the  character  of  good  citizens,  let  us  now, 
at  this  critical  moment,  watch  with  peculiar  care  against  the  least  symptoms 
of  violence,  outrage,  or  breach  of  the  peace.  Let  all  tumults,  tumultuous 
assemblies,  appearances,  or  words  of  sedition  be  instantly  discouraged, 
suppressed,  and  if  necessary  brought  under  the  coercion  and  punishment 
of  the  civil  authority.  This  alone  can  secure  to  us  that  peace  which  we 
had  lately  lost,  and  preserve  us  from  that  fatal  anarchy  in  which  we  were 
lately  plunged  ;  for  if  civil  authority  be  not  supported  by  ourselves,  it  must 
be  supported  by  some  other  force.  This  alone  can  prevent  an  armed  force 
from  entering  our  country  and  exposing  our  peaceable  citizens  to  the  private 
plunder  of  troops  not  inured  to  discipline  and  irritated  by  our  misconduct. 
This  alone  can  secure  to  us  that  pardon  and  indemnity  which  the  generosity 
of  government  has  held  out  to  our  former  offences,  and  of  which  another 
outrage  would  certainly  deprive  us.  And  this  alone  can  restore  to  every 
man  among  us,  that  shield  of  protection  against  fear  and  danger,  which 
law  and  government  only  can  furnish,  and  make  us  sit  securely  in  our  houses 
and  sleep  soundly  in  our  beds. 

In  the  neighboring  counties,  resolutions  have  been  entered  into  for  pre- 
serving the  public  peace  and  supporting  the  civil  authority.  In  two  of  the 
counties,  persons  uttering  inflammatory  and  threatening  expressions  have 
been  put  in  gaol.  I  trust  the  county  of  Washington  will  be  behind  none 
in  duty  and  love  of  peace,  and  will  show  itself  as  respectable  in  the  virtue, 
as  it  is  in  the  number  of  inhabitants.  We  may  especially  expect  from  all 
peace  officers,  justices,  sheriffs,  and  constables,  watchful  and  earnest  exer- 
tions of  their  duty  and  power,  for  the  establishment  of  peace  and  tranquillity, 
and  from  all  the  well-disposed  citizens  ready  aid  and  concurrence,  in  eup- 

O 


98  APPENDIX   TO 

port  of  the  anthority  of  officers  and  the  maintenance  of  the  happiness, 
honor,  and  virtue  of  this  country. 

At  the  December  Sessions  of  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  for 
Washing^ton  County,  in  the  year  lYOi,  Judge  Addison  delivered  the 
following  charge  to  the  grand  jury  : — 

Gentlemen  :  The  late  insurrection  in  this  country,  from  the  numbers  con- 
cerned in  it,  the  manner  in  which  it  was  conducted,  the  object  it  proposed 
to  accomplish,  the  fatal  effects  which  it  produced,  and  the  melancholy  pros- 
pects which  it  exhibited,  may  be  considered  as  the  most  alarming  event 
that  has  occurred  in  America  for  many  years.  When  authority  has  been 
encountered  with  tumult,  and  laws  have  been  suspended  by  armed  men, 
when  the  raffc  of  some  citizens  has  attacked  the  lives  of  other  citizens  and 
destroyed  their  houses  and  property  by  fire;  every  man  of  a  sober  mind 
must  be  impressed  with  concern,  and  seriously  consider  to  what  these  thing's 
tend. 

That  a  people  struggling  against  usurped  powers  should  oppose  oppres- 
sion by  violence,  or  that,  in  the  state  of  inflammation  which  is  produced  by 
a  revolution,  occasional  outbreaks  should  break  forth,  no  man  will  wonder. 
But  that  a  people  living  under  a  settled  and  free  government  of  laws,  esta- 
blished by  their  own  will,  and  changeable  when  and  to  what  they  please, 
should  have  recourse  to  force  to  repeal  or  alter  their  laws,  or  to  anything 
but  authority  to  redress  their  grievances,  is  not  less  absurd  in  itself  than 
destructive  to  liberty,  and  will  more  eflcctually  promote  arbitrary  power, 
discredit  democracy,  and  show  the  inefficacy  of  a  free  representative 
government,  than  all  the  arts  and  arguments  which  its  enemies  have  ever 
invented. 

All  governments  are  liable  to  change,  all  have  had  their  changes,  for  no 
human  art  or  invention  is  perpetual.  The  freedom  of  the  savage  state  is 
by  degrees  restrained  by  the  rules  which  are  necessary  to  preserve  one  man 
from  the  force  or  fraud  of  another.  As  wickedness  becomes  ingenious  or 
daring  restraints  are  multiplied,  or  in  other  words,  the  powers  of  government 
are  enlarged.  Every  new  act  of  violence  in  the  people  becomes  an  argu- 
ment for  a  new  accession  of  force  to  the  government,  till  arbitrary  power  is 
gradually  invested  in  one  man.  as  the  only  remedy  for  preserving  every  man 
from  the  injustice  of  every  other.  Such  has  been  the  progress  of  govern- 
ments, and  such  by  the  violence  of  passion  may  be  the  progress  of  ours. 

We  profess  to  admire  liberty  and  to  respect  the  principles  of  a  demon- 
strative republic  as  the  best  source  of  government,  and  we  consider  our 
own  government  as  founded  on  those  principles.  Will  we  be  honest  in  our 
profession  and  act  on  the  principles  which  we  admire?  The  principles  of 
a  democracy  are  that  the  whole  people,  either  personally  or  by  their  represen- 
tatives, should  have  the  power  of  making  laws.  But  what  law  is  it  in  which 
the  whole  people  would  concur?  So  various  are  the  faculties  and  interests 
of  men,  that  unanimity  of  many  in  any  measure  is  seldom  to  be  expected 
of  a  whole  people,  almost  never.  If  no  law  were  to  be  made,  therefore,  till 
the  whole  people  should  assent  to  it,  no  law  would  almost  ever  be  made. 
But  as  laws  must  be  made,  there  is  a  necessity  that  the  will  of  some  of  the 
people  should  be  constrained,  and  reason  re(iuires  that  the  greater  number 
should  bind  the  less.  In  our  government,  therefore,  the  will  of  the  majority 
is  equivalent  to  the  will  of  the  whole,  and  as  such  must  be  obeyed,  unless 
we  will  avow  that  we  mean  to  change  or  destroy  the  principles  of  our  govern- 
ment by  violence  and  terror,  and  abandoning  reason,  the  principle  of  action 
in  man,  degrade  ourselves  to  the  rank  of  brutes. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  99 

To  permit  or  assume  a  power  in  any  particular  part  of  a  State,  to 
defeat  or  evade  a  law,  is  to  establish  a  principle  that  every  part  of  a  State 
may  make  laws  for  itself,  or  in  other  words,  that  there  shall  be  no  law,  no 
State,  and  no  duty,  but  a  complication  of  separate  societies,  acting  each 
according  to  its  pleasure.  These  societies  will  again  be  subdivided,  for  a 
majority  of  the  whole  of  any  society  will  have  no  authority  to  control  any 
one  refractory  member.  Each  man  in  the  State  will  be  free  from  all  law 
but  his  own  will.  Government  and  society  are  then  destroyed,  anarchy  is 
established,  and  the  wicked  and  the  strong,  like  savages  and  wild  beasts, 
prey  on  the  whole  and  on  one  another. 

Such  are  the  natural  and  necessary  consequences  of  opposing  a  law  by 
force.  This  opposition  persisted  in,  must  terminate,  either  in  anarchy,  in 
the  people,  or  tyranny  in  the  government,  and  in  either  case  must  terminate 
in  the  destruction  of  those  republican  principles  which  we  profess  to  admire 
and  are  bound  to  support.  If  the  government  yield,  one  example  of  suc- 
cessful violence  will  excite  some  other  part  of  the  people,  for  some  other 
cause,  to  pursue  the  same  unwarrantable  means  for  the  attainment  of  a 
favorite  object.  Every  law  will  be  opposed  in  some  quarter  by  interested 
men.  Indulgenqe  to  some  will  necessarily  beget  indulgence  to  all.  There 
will  be  no  law,  the  wicked  will  have  no  restraint,  happiness  will  no  longer 
exist ;  mutual  jealousy,  distrust,  and  terror  will  pervade  all ;  thefts,  robberies, 
and  murders  will  spread  over  the  country,  and  every  man  will  be  the  enemy 
of  every  other.  If  the  government  exert  its  force,  the  resistance  which  it 
will  experience,  and  the  difQculty  with  which  it  will  overcome  it,  will  convince 
the  whole  people  or  the  well-disposed,  and  the  greater  number,  that  there 
is  a  necessity  of  abridging  the  privileges  of  the  citizens  and  arming  the 
government  with  greater  power.  To  repress  improper  violence  in  the  peo- 
ple, powers,  otherwise  unnecessary,  will  be  given  to  the  government,  and 
those  powers  will  be  increased  by  every  new  occasion  of  violence  till  a  ty- 
ranny is  established.  And  this  is  the  most  probable  result  of  tumults,  riots, 
and  insurrections.  For  all  good  men  are  instantly  impressed  with  indigna- 
tion and  resentment  against  them,  and  disposed  to  lend  their  aid  to  govern- 
ment to  punish  and  restrain  them.  And  in  the  choice  of  anarchy  to  tyranny 
the  last  as  the  least  evil  will  be  preferred. 

I  hold,  therefore,  that  a  forcible  opposition  to  law,  instead  of  favoring 
liberty,  is  the  surest  way  to  destroy  it.  Is  then  forcible  resistance  to  law 
never  justifiable?  Never,  if  the  law  be  consistent  with  the  constitution. 
If  a  law  be  not  contradictory  to  the  principles  of  the  constitution,  however 
erroneous  these  principles  be,  it  is  entitled  to  obedience.  If  a  law  be  bad,  let 
those  who  dislike  it  apply,  by  petition  to  the  legislature,  for  its  repeal.  If 
the  legislature  refuse,  let  the  petitioners  change  their  representatives.  If  a 
law  be  repugnant  to  the  constitution,  the  constitution,  being  the  paramount 
authority,  silences  the  law  and  makes  it  void.  To  an  unconstitutional  law, 
therefore,  forcible  resistance  may  be  justifiable,  but  even  in  this  case  it  is  not 
prudent,  but  highly  dangerous,  because  the  resister  makes  it  at  his  peril, 
and  has  no  other  rule  but  his  own  opinion,  which  may  be  erroneous.  For 
individuals  to  exercise  the  right  of  determining  that  a  law  is  unconstitu- 
tional is  dangerous  to  themselves  and  to  the  peace  of  the  State.  And  even 
the  exercise  of  this  right  by  the  judiciary  (to  whom  it  certainly  belongs) 
may  sometimes  be  insidious  and  occasion  jealousies  and  resentments  between 
them  and  the  legislature.  In  the  case  of  an  unconstitutional  law,  an  appeal 
to  the  judiciary  ought  not  to  be  made  without  necessity,  and  to  individual 
force  never,  till  all  other  remedies  are  exhausted.  Thus,  according  to  the 
genius  of  our  government,  opposition  even  to  an  unconstitutional  law  ought 
to  begin,  as  opposition  to  a  bad  law,  by  petition  to  the  legislature  for  its 


100  APPENDIX  TO 

repeal,  or  by  a  change  of  representatives.  If  those  measures  fail,  the  validity 
of  the  law  must  be  questioned  and  established  or  annulled  in  a  court  of 
justice.  In  this  manner  it  becomes  us,  as  friends  to  liberty,  to  seek  for 
every  amendment  either  of  a  law  or  of  the  constitution,  in  a  peaceable 
manner;  for  to  attempt  it  by  force  implies  an  apprehension  that  the  alterar 
tion  attempted  will  not  bear  the  test  of  reason,  nor  receive  the  approbation 
of  a  majority.  If  either  the  law  or  the  constitution  displease  a  majority, 
the  majority  can  alter  either.  If  either  the  law  or  the  constitution  displease 
a  minority,  the  minority  must  submit,  or  retire  from  the  territory  of  the 
State.  U  hese  are  the  principles  of  democratic  republics.  By  these  princi- 
ples, if  we  examine  our  resistance  to  the  excise  law,  we  shall  And  it  as 
unjustifiable  in  its  nature  as  it  is  outrageous  in  its  degree.  A  power  to  lay 
and  collect  excises  was  explicitly  vested  in  Congress  by  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States.  This  power  received  a  very  full  discussion  and  delibe- 
rate sanction  from  all  the  States  in  their  conventions.  And  four  of  the 
States  (Massachusetts,  South  Carolina,  New  Hampshire,  and  New  York) 
to  the  ratification  of  the  constitution,  annexed  declarations  of  their  opinions 
that  Congress  should  not  impose  direct  taxes,  unless  the  amount  of  the  im- 
posts and  excises  should  be  insufficient  for  the  public  exigencies.  Accord- 
ing to  the  opinions  of  those  States,  therefore.  Congress  instead  of  being 
censurable  for  not  preferring  a  direct  tax  to  an  excise,  would  have  been 
censurable  if  they  hud  not  imposed  a  direct  tax  till  the  last  extremity. 

All  our  benefits  are  mingled  with  some  degree  of  inconvenience.  The 
union  of  the  States  under  a  general  government,  which,  by  combining  the 
whole  strength,  renders  the  States  respectable  and  prosperous,  may  be 
truly  considered  as  essential  to  our  safety  and  happiness,  and  as  one  of  the 
greatest  political  benefits  which  we  can  possess.  But  it  is  necessarily 
attended  with  this  inconvenience,  that  the  laws,  which  from  their  nature 
must  be  general,  will  often  be  less  adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  some 
States  than  of  others.  The  suffering  States  must  seek  consolation  under 
this  evil  from  the  principles  of  mutual  concession,  and  remedy  for  it  from 
time,  experience,  and  reciprocal  inequality  of  taxation.  If  this  tax  bear 
peculiarly  hard  on  this  country,  there  may  be  other  taxes  which  bear 
peculiarly  hard  on  other  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  atfect  us  but  little. 
I  kiiownotwhother  1  oughtto  reckon  of  this  number  the  taxation  on  property 
sold  at  auction;  the  tax  on  the  manufacture  of  snuff  and  refined  sugar,  or 
the  tax  on  licenses  for  selling  wine  or  foreign  fruits  by  retail;  but  of  this 
number  I  surely  may  reckon,  so  far  as  it  goes,  the  tax  on  carriages  for  the 
conveyance  of  persons.  If  all  these  taxes  do  not,  the  last  certainly  does 
affect  others  chiefly  and  us  but  little;  the  last,  1  may  rather  say,  affects  us 
not  at  all.  They  were  all  imposed  in  the  last  session  of  Congress,  and  if  the 
progress  be  persisted  in,  all  may  correct  the  inequality  of  each,  or  the  inte- 
rests of  all  combining,  for  mutual  protection,  and  instructed  by  observation 
and  experience,  may  in  time  produce  the  repeal  of  all,  if  a  new  system  more 
acceptable  in  its  nature  and  more  easy  in  practice  can  be  introduced.  In  the 
mean  time,  while  we  murmur  at  the  inconvenience  of  any  law,  let  us  seriously 
reflect  on  the  dilficully  of  making  laws  equal  and  acceptable  to  so  extended 
and  varying  a  territory  as  that  of  the  United  States.  And  considering  the 
fraternal  band  which  ties  us  together  and  the  source  of  our  laws,  from  the 
appointment  of  the  whole  people,  ought  we  rashly  to  abandon  a  confidence, 
that  as  soon  as  a  law  is  plainly  proved  by  experience  to  be  oppressive  to  us, 
our  brethren  will  relieve  us?  Would  not  we  do  so  to  others?  And  have 
others  less  virtue  than  we? 

Together  with  these  general  principles,  the  particular  circumstances  of 
this  country  press  upon  us  a  faithful  submission  to  this  law  as  a  point  of 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  101 

conscience,  honor,  and  safety.  If  we  do  not  yield,  an  armed  force  will 
compel  a  punctual  obedience.  The  law  will  be  executed,  and  let  us  not 
render  it  impossible  for  government  to  execute  it  by  proper  persons.  As 
a  public  office  becomes  necessary  for  our  honor  and  safety,  let  us  render  its 
execution  respectable  and  encourage  and  protect  honest  and  respectable 
men  in  it.  We  may  thus  in  some  degree  lessen  the  burden  of  the  law,  and 
render  our  obedience  more  pleasant  to  ourselves. 

God  forbid  that  any  man  among  us  should  entertain  the  horrid  idea  that 
secret  association  should  accomplish  the  work  which  it  is  found  no  longer 
safe  for  open  insurrection  to  attempt.  When  danger  to  its  very  existence 
has  once  roused  the  power  of  government,  no  art  of  machination,  nothing 
but  implicit  submission,  can  restore  safety  to  the  aggressor.  Even  for  our 
own  security  from  each  other,  such  an  idea  is  one  of  the  most  dreadful  that 
can  be  conceived.  Vices  the  most  daring  and  destable  need  only  a  plausi- 
ble introduction  to  render  them  familiar  and  general.  One  instance  of  assas- 
sination of  the  most  odious  person  among  us,  would  render  the  life  of  the 
most  respectable  altogether  unsafe.  For  assassination  is  the  work  of  a 
rufiQan,  and  is  there  any  person  whom  a  ruffian  will  respect?  Cast  a  mo- 
ment's reflection  on  our  late  troubles,  and  tell  me  what  kind  of  villany  there 
is  which  all  at  once  did  not  become  fashionable.  Chopping  off  heads  was 
spoken  of  as  easily  as  slicing  a  cucumber,  and  burning  houses  became  as 
trivial  as  tearing  waste  paper.  Introduce  assassination  or  any  other  species 
of  crime  under  a  plausible  pretence,  and  it  will  soon  spread  over  the  coun- 
try and  extend  to  every  object. 

The  late  troubles  exhibit  an  awful  lesson  which  it  would  be  inexcusable  to 
pass  over  without  attention  and  improvement.  During  their  existence  the 
passions  were  too  much  excited  and  the  mind  too  little  at  leisure  to  examine 
thoroughly  their  nature  or  effects,  and  terror  debarred  the  exercise  of  free- 
dom of  opinion  and  expression.  But  now  when  the  storm  is  over,  it  becomes 
our  duty  to  look  back  on  the  past  scenes  to  contemplate  the  ruins  it  made 
and  speaking  of  the  leading  transactions  freely  and  without  disguise,  to 
bestow  some  serious  reflections  on  their  nature  and  tendency.  These  reflec- 
tions, while  they  afford  us  an  opportunity  of  remarking  how  fatal  to  happi- 
ness is  a  resistance  to  lawful  authority,  will  show  us  also  how  opposite  to 
liberty  anarchy  is. 

Some  of  the  plainest  dictates  of  personal  liberty,  if  not  its  most  essential 
principles,  are  that  every  man  be  free  to  think,  to  speak,  and  to  act,  as  his 
inclination  and  judgment  may  lead  him,  provided  he  offend  not  against  any 
law ;  that  no  man  shall  be  tried  or  punished  according  to  the  arbitrary  will 
of  any  individual,  but  according  to  the  established  forms  and  rules  of  the 
law,  and  that  the  enjoyment  of  every  man's  property  shall  be  secured  to 
him  until  he  forfeit  it  by  the  sentence  of  the  law,  and  that  sentence  be  exe- 
cuted by  the  proper  officer.  With  these  maxims  compare  the  effects  of 
anarchy  as  we  have  experienced  it.  Because  the  interest  or  inclination  of 
some  men  led  them  to  accept  and  execute  certain  offices  established  by 
public  authority,  lawless  bodies  of  men  assembled  for  the  purpose  of  riot 
and  violence,  seized,  insulted,  and  abused  their  persons,  entered  their  houses 
by  force  and  destroyed  both  their  houses  and  property  by  fire.  If  anything 
can  place  such  transactions  in  a  more  detestable  light  than  at  first  sight  they 
must  appear,  it  may  be  this,  that  if  these  things  may  be  done  for  any  cause, 
however  guod,  there  need  no  more  for  their  execution  for  every  cause,  than 
that  the  party  to  execute  them  be  of  opinion  that  the  cause  is  good. 
Let  but  a  mob  assemble,  however  small  it  be,  if  sufficient  to  accomplish  its 
purpose,  let  them  agree  in  opinion  that  such  a  man  is  dangerous,  and  there- 
fore, that  his  property  ought  to  be  destroyed,  and  it  is  instantly  done.     Let 


102  APPENDIX    TO 

but  one  man  hrito  anotlior  and  resolve  to  destroy  him.  he  has  only  to  assem- 
ble a  few  of  similar  sentiments,  or  over  whom  he  has  influence ;  they  instantly 
pretend  to  be  tlic  people,  and  the  work  of  malice  is  accomplished  under  the 
semblance  of  zeal  for  the  public  good. 

The  outrages  of  anarchy  were  not  confined  to  public  officers.  They  ex- 
tended  also  to  private  citizens  of  respectable  character  and  inoffensive 
manners.  Variety  of  opinion  seems  to  be  as  natural  to  the  human  mind  as 
variety  in  shape,  features,  and  complexion,  is  to  the  human  body.  Both 
seem  to  be  the  work  of  our  Creator ;  neither  can  be  a  proper  cause  of  pun- 
ishment, and  to  punisli  for  either  is  the  grossest  tyranny.  Actions  which 
some  may  think  meritorious,  others  may  think  detestable,  and  a  law  which 
some  may  think  bad,  others  may  think  good.  But  surely  no  man  of  sense 
and  virtue  will  think  that  any  man  ought  to  be  punished  for  entertaining  or 
expressing  either  of  these  opinions,  or  for  acting  as  if  he  thought  a  law 
good.  Yet  for  such  causes  were  men,  who  had  offended  against  no  law, 
severed  from  all  the  attachments  of  domestic  life,  driven  from  their  families 
and  homes,  it  might  have  been  to  wander  they  knew  not  where,  and  to  sub- 
sist they  knew  not  how,  under  the  fear  and  peril  of  death  if  they  should 
return.     Is  this  liberty?     Such  is  the  liberty  of  anarchy. 

To  a  private  letter,  a  sacred  respect,  somewhat  resembling  the  ancient 
mysteries  of  religion,  has  been  usually  annexed,  and  to  violate  its  secrecy 
requires  the  suspicion  of  a  coward  and  the  villany  of  a  traitor.-  Yctfor 
no  object  that  I  can  perceive  of  any  public  nature,  but  only  to  gratify  the 
little  revenge  of  a  malignant  mind,  or  to  show  that  there  was  no  crime  which 
we  were  not  ready  to  perpetrate,  the  public  post  was  robbed  and  the  letters 
in  the  mail  were  opened  by  a  set  of  self-created  inquisitors,  who,  advancing 
from  one  degree  of  guilt  to  a  greater,  assumed  the  authority  of  government, 
and  called  out  the  militia  of  the  country  to  share  and  cover  their  crimes. 

These  transactions  furnish  us  with  this  melancholy  instruction,  that  when 
men  have  once  transgressed  the  bounds  of  civil  obligation  and  violated 
public  authority,  there  is  afterwards  no  restraint  to  their  excess.  'J'hey 
will  do  deeds  which  they  never  before  intended,  and  from  which,  had  they 
been  suggested,  they  would  have  shrunk  back  with  horror,  and  they  will  do 
them  from  no  motive  and  to  no  end  of  interest  to  themselves  or  others,  but 
merely  from  the  rashness  of  the  moment,  a  sally  of  wantonness,  or  an  impulse 
of  malice.  Let  us  learn,  therefore,  to  confine  our  conduct  within  the  strict 
line  of  duty,  and  remember  that  the  first  transgression  renders  easy  every 
subsequent  one,  however  enormous. 

I  will  state  one  or  two  causes,  founded  in  ignorance  and  error,  which 
contributed  to  the  late  unhappy  insurrection  or  facilitated  its  progress. 

I  shall  mention,  first,  an  opinion  lliat  riots  and  (error,  banishing  the 
officers  of  excise,  loould  produce  a  repeal  of  the  excise  law,  or  its  inactivity 
tvilh  regard  to  us  ;  but  I  have  said  so  much  on  this,  on  other  occasions, 
that  I  shall  but  maintain  it  now,  and  pass  it  by  without  further  notice.  I 
shall  next  mention  a  desire  to  cover  the  gnilt  of  those  who  first  attacked 
Gen.  Neville's  house.  As  it  seems  an  opinion  generally  prevailed  that  riots 
in  this  cause  were  proper,  it  appeared  hard  that  those  who  engaged  in  them 
should  suffer  for  their  services  in  the  public  cause,  and  it  seems  to  have 
l)ccn  believed  that  the  best  way  to  protect  them  was  by  multi])]ying  the 
number  of  offenders  to  make  the  punishment  of  any  appear  dangerous. 
Perhaps  here  one  might  find  matter  for  questioning  whether  it  be  not 
desirable  that  wickedness  should  be  accompanied  with  understanding,  and 
whether  folly  be  not  the  most  mischievous  of  all  qualities.  Had  the  men 
who  incited  the  second  attack  on  Gen.  Neville's  house,  and  the  subsequent 
transactions  in  the  insurrection,  been  men  of  sound  well-informed  judgment, 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  103 

they  would  have  reasoned  in  this  manner:  "The  rioters  have  erred,  but  we 
have  countenanced  and  shared  the  opinion  from  which  their  error  proceeded, 
and  we  ought  to  endeavor  to  save  them.  Let  the  -whole  county  npw  rise 
and  seize  and  secure  them  for  public  justice.  When  this  is  done,  let  us  go 
forward  to  f^overnmeiit,  with  solemn  and  sincere  assurances  that  we  will 
submit  to  this  law  honestly  and  punctually,  and  that  if  required,  we  will 
pay  for  all  past  damages  and  delinquencies,  and  with  these  assurances,  let 
us  request  that  government  forgive  our  offending  brethren."  If  measures 
of  this  nature  had  been  pursued,  the  issue  would  have  been  more  fortunate 
to  the  offenders,  to  these  counties  and  to  the  United  States. 

Another  cause  which  I  shall  mention  is  a  mistaken  use  of  the  word  peo- 
ple. As,  in  a  democracy,  the  people  is  the  source  of  all  authority,  and  as 
the  people  on  this  side  of  the  mountains  seemed  all  to  agree  in  reprobating 
the  excise  law,  declaimers  never  extending  their  views  beyond  their  own 
neighborhood,  but  considering  the  people  here  as  the  whole  people,  took 
occasion  to  represent  that  the  people  here  might  lawfully  correct  any  errors 
of  their  public  servants.  On  these  principles  every  neighborhood,  consider- 
ing itself  as  the  people,  thought  it  had  a  right  to  do  as  it  pleased.  Assum- 
ing as  what  needs  no  proof,  that  the  union  of  all  the  States  is  necessary 
for  the  prosperity  of  each,  and  that  separate  from  the  union  we  should  be 
insignificant  and  dependent;  I  would  observe  that  it  is  the  whole  people  of 
the  union  that  is  the  source  of  all  power,  to  argue  that  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  people  is  the  source  of  all  power  is  absurd.  If  every  small  portion 
of  the  people  were  to  assume  the  power  of  the  whole,  instead  of  a  govern- 
ment, we  should  have  a  chaos  of  jarring  authorities  and  conflicting  wills. 
While  the  constitution  subsists,  even  the  whole  people  can  speak  only  in  the 
constitutional  manner  by  their  representatives.  So  that  the  only  voice  of 
the  people  is  the  laws.  And  the  laws  must  be  presumed  to  be  the  will  of 
the  people  until  the  repeal  of  them  declare  that  the  people  have  changed 
their  minds. 

I  shall  mention  but  another  cause  which  facilitated  the  progress  of  the 
late  insurrection.  The  danger  of  this  country  from  Indian  incursions  had 
rendered  it  often  necessary  to  assemble  the  militia  without  waiting  for  the 
orders  of  government,  which  would  come  too  late  for  the  danger.  From 
experience  it  was  found  that  attack  was  the  best  defence.  Hence  voluntary 
expeditions  into  the  Indian  country  were  frequently  undertaken,  and  govern- 
ment, from  a  sense  of  their  utility,  afterwards  sanctioned  them  by  defraying 
their  expenses.  In  this  manner  it  had  become  habitual  %oith  the  militia  of 
these  counties  to  assemble  at  the  call  of  their  officers  without  inquiring  into 
the  authority  or  object  of  the  call.  This  habit,  well  known  to  the  contrivers 
of  the  rendezvous  at  Braddock's  Field,  rendered  the  execution  of  their  plaa 
an  easy  matter.  They  issued  their  orders  to  the  oSicers  of  the  militia, 
who  assembled  their  men,  accustomed  to  obey  orders  of  this  kind  given  on 
the  sudden  and  without  authority.  The  militia  came  together  without 
knowing  from  whom  the  orders  originated  or  for  what  purpose  they  met. 
And  when  met,  it  was  easy  to  communicate  from  breast  to  breast,  more  or 
less  of  the  popular  frenzy,  till  all  felt  it  or  found  it  prudent  to  dissemble 
and  feign  that  they  felt  it.  This  gave  appearance  at  length  of  strength  and 
unanimity  to  the  insurrection,  silenced  the  well-disposed,  and  emboldened 
rufiBans  to  proceed  with  audacity  to  subsequent  outrages,  which  there  was 
no  energy  to  restrain  nor  force  to  punish. 

In  these  reflections  we  find  nothing  consolatory ;  all  is  sorrow  and  dis- 
grace. Let  us  turn  then  to  the  other  side  of  the  picture,  and  consider  the 
conduct  of  government  and  of  our  fellow-citizens  in  other  parts  of  the 
Union.     A  measure  no  less  prudent  than  generous  was  adopted  by  the 


104  APPENDIX    TO 

government.  Commissioners  were  sent  to  offer  us  a  full  pardon  of  all  past 
offences  on  the  simple  condition  of  future  obedience.  Lest  these  terras 
offered  generously  at  once,  and  the  best  that  could  be  offered  slionld  fail  in 
reclaiming  us  to  duty,  the  president  ordered  that  a  competent  uuml)er  of 
our  fellow-citizens  should  be  ready  in  arms  to  compel  that  obedience  which 
reason  and  mercy  could  not  produce.  "While  the  terms  were  under  our  con- 
sideration, there  appeared  a  manifest  reluctance  in  our  fellow-citizens  to 
draw  their  swords  against  their  brethren.  But  no  sooner  was  it  known  that 
we  rejected  those  terms  and  threatened  the  government  with  war  and  disso- 
lution, than  the  contest  among  thera  was  who  should  be  foremost  in  the 
tield.  It  was  then  no  longer  a  doubt  whether  a  sufficient  number  could  be 
procured  to  go;  but  whether  multitudes,  beyond  this  number,  could  be  per- 
suaded to  stay.  The  merchant  abandoned  his  warehouse,  the  lawyer  his 
ofiBce,  the  mechanic  his  shop,  the  gentleman  his  pleasures,  and  every  man 
the  gains  and  enjoyments  of  domestic  life,  to  endure  hardships  which  they 
had  never  experienced  before,  and  hazard  their  lives  in  defence  of  the  laws. 
At  the  call,  "  Your  country  is  in  danger,"  the  rich  and  the  poor  met  together, 
forgetting  all  distinctions  of  stations  and  circumstances,  and  blended  in 
one  common  class  of  patriots.  Even  the  pacific  Quaker,  whose  principles 
restrain  him  from  shedding  blood,  now  assumed  the  garb  and  weapons  of 
war,  and  marched  in  arras  to  maintain  the  peace  and  government  of  his 
country. 

In  this  we  receive  a  lesson  of  the  power  of  government,  and  are  taught 
that,  however  riot  and  anarchy  raay  triuraph  for  a  while,  there  is  an  energy 
and  struggle  to  crush  thera  ;  that  reason  and  the  law  are  the  only  protection 
of  free  citizens  ;  that  violence  only  brings  ruin  on  its  authors  ;  that,  in  times 
of  sedition,  it  is  the  interest  of  all  to  be  not  lukewarm  and  indiiferent,  but 
firm  and  persevering  on  the  side  of  public  authority;  and  tliat  the  faithful 
friends  of  law  and  order,  however  borne  down  for  a  time,  will  in  the  end  be 
protected  and  rise  above  oppression. 

Even  at  this  bright  prospect  of  the  generous  and  spirited  conduct  of  our 
patriotic  fellow  citizens,  a  cloud  intervenes,  though  none  of  them  fell  by  our 
arms,  yet  some  have  fallen  victims  to  a  change  of  climate  and  manner  of 
living,  an  inclement  season,  and  severity  of  fatigue,  over  swamps  and  moun- 
tains. Some  gallant  youths  will  never  return  to  their  anxious  parents. 
Some  parents  will  never  return  to  bless  their  children  in  their  dying  mo- 
ments. And  some  husbands  have  expired  without  a  wife  to  close  their  eyes. 
(>an  we  think  of  this  without  suspicion  that  theii"  blood  may  be  upon  our 
heads  ? 

But,  gentlemen,  the  past  cannot  be  recalled  ;  let  us  only  study  to  improve 
it,  and  strive  to  make  some  compensation  by  our  future  conduct.  For  that 
purpose  let  us  suppress  the  first  seed  of  sedition  and  not  allow  it  to  grow 
up,  as  before,  to  a  strength  not  to  be  resisted.  Let  even  words  tending  to 
any  violence  or  a  breach  of  the  peace  be  held  criminal ;  lot  every  witness  of 
such  things  carry  the  offender  before  a  magistrate,  that  justice  may  be  exe- 
cuted. And  lot  every  magistrate  take  heed  that  he  hear  not  the  sound  in 
vain.  To  permit  criminals  to  escape  from  i)uni.shracnt  is  to  encourage 
crimes.  Impunity  begets  offences  as  corruption  begets  maggots.  A  few 
examples  of  punishment  of  the  late  disorderly  conduct  given  among  ourselves 
in  each  county,  will  perhaps  secure  our  place  for  many  years  and  i)revent 
the  existence  of  many  crimes  and  the  necessity  of  many  and  severe  punish- 
ments. 

To  your  particular  and  serious  consideration,  gentlemen,  do  I  address 
these  sentiments.  You  arc  the  door,  by  which  only  justice  may  be  come 
at.     By  you,  a  way  may  be  opened  up  to  justice.     By  you  justice  may  be 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  105 

shut  up.  In  your  hands  the  laws  of  your  country  have  placed  this  authority, 
and  for  the  exercise  of  it  strictly,  accordinji:  to  law  and  truth,  you  are  bound 
by  your  oaths,  and  answerable  to  your  God.  You  have  no  discretion  to  do 
as  you  please — your  opinion  must  be  governed  by  the  laws — your  belief 
must  be  guided  by  testimony — and  so  you  have  seen.  It  is  not  for  you  to 
determine  whether  it  be  expected  that  punishment  should  be  inflicted  on 
any  particular  offender,  but  only  whether  it  be  true  that  any  particular 
person  is  an  offender. 

There  are  reasons  which  ought,  particularly  at  this  time,  to  induce  juries 
and  all  other  officers  concerned  in  the  administration  of  justice,  and  all  citi- 
zens to  discharge  their  respective  duties  with  precision,  and  carry  the  laws 
into  execution  with  perfect  exactness.  An  armed  force  is  now  in  our 
country,  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  submission  to  the  laws.  The  sooner 
we  give  satisfactory  evidence  of  our  voluntary  and  exact  conformity  to  the 
laws,  the  sooner  will  our  country  be  cleared  of  the  stain  on  its  character. 
Further,  a  law  has  lately  been  passed  directing  that  certain  cases,  which 
formerly  were  tried  in  the  federal  courts,  may  now  be  tried  in  the  State 
courts,  and  experiments  under  this  law  are  about  to  be  made.  We  have 
now  in  many  cases  an  opportunity  of  being  tried  in  our  own  counties,  in- 
stead of  being  carried  for  trial  to  York  or  Philadelphia.  But  if  we  show  any 
baclvwardness  or  bias  in  doing  justice,  we  cannot  expect  that  we  should  be 
trusted  with  its  administration  in  those  cases.  Government  must  require 
strict  justice,  and  if  this  cannot  be  obtained  in  our  own  courts  they  will  be 
shunned  as  corrupt,  and  we  shall  be  taken  for  trial  to  a  distance  and  have 
our  cases  decided  by  others.  If  we  wish,  therefore,  to  be  delivered  from  a 
standing  army,  or  if  we  wish  to  have  trials  in  the  cases  offered  to  us  in 
our  counties — let  us  now  at  this  critical  time  give  specimens  of  our  being 
ruled  by  law.  If  we  do  so  now  perhaps  after  some  experience  of  our  virtue, 
the  federal  government  may  trust  us  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  with  trials  in 
our  own  counties. 

I  therefore  solemnly  adjure  you  to  deal  faithfully  and  make  presentment 
in  all  cases  of  any  breach  of  the  peace  or  other  offence,  especially  respecting 
the  late  troubles.  This  will  be  the  true  test  of  our  integrity,  and  will  deter- 
mine how  far  government  ought  to  trust  us  with  the  management  of  ourselves. 
Whenever  a  bill  is  sent  up  to  you,  if  it  be  proved  true,  I  call  upon  you,  as 
you  regard  your  oaths  and  the  interest  of  your  county,  to  find  it  so.  Where 
any  offence  is  within  the  knowledge  of  any  of  you,  I  call  upon  you,  by  the 
same  regard  to  your  oaths  and  your  country,  that  you  present  the  facts  to  us 
or  give  information  of  them  to  the  prosecutor  for  the  State,  that  he  may 
draw  up  a  bill  to  hQ  found  on  your  knowledge. 

One  offence  to  which  I  would  recommend  your  particular  consideration 
is  the  raising  of  liberty  poles.  What  is  the  liberty  which  those  pole  raisers 
wanted  ?  A  liberty  to  be  governed  by  no  law — a  liberty  to  destroy  every 
man  who  differed  from  them  in  opinion,  or  whom  they  hated — a  liberty  to 
do  what  mischief  they  pleased.  It  is  not  acts  of  violence  alone  which  con- 
stitute offences.  Offences  may  be  commenced  by  writing,  by  words,  or  by 
other  signs  of  an  evil  purpose.  The  mere  act  of  raising  a  pole  is  in  itself 
a  harmless  thing  ;  the  question  is,  what  is  the  meaning  of  it  ?  Those  poles 
were  evidently  standards  of  rebeUion,  and  signs  of  war  against  the  govern- 
ment. They  were  raised  by  the  seditious  with  an  avowed  intent  to  hold 
under  fear  all  the  well-disposed  and  peaceable  part  of  the  community;  to 
keep  alive  the  spirit  of  riot  and  confusion  in  the  country,  and  to  prevent 
the  return  of  law,  peace,  and  safety.  And  they  produced  all  the  ill-effects 
which  were  intended.  They  gave  an  opportunity  to  the  violent  to  know 
their  strength,  and  one  another.    What  was  it  bat  these  pole  raising's  and 


106  APPENDIX    TO 

their  attendant  circomstances  that  prevented  our  return  to  submission  and 
duty  and  a  general  acquiescence  with  the  terms  offered  by  the  commis- 
sioners, and  made  it  necessary  for  n^overnment  to  march  an  army  into  this 
country  to  sabdue  that  spirit  of  sedition  and  riot  which  blind  madness  first 
excited,  and  those  pole  raisings  kept  alive  ?  Will  any  man  doubt,  there- 
fore, that  raising  those  poles  was  criminal — that  those  were  especially 
criminal  who  raised  them  after  the  arrival  of  the  commissioners  of  govern- 
ment in  this  country  ?  And  those,  above  all,  who  raised  them  after  the 
generous  terms  offered  by  government  were  made  known. 

Another  class  of  offenders,  perhaps  yet  more  atrocious,  consists  of  those 
who,  by  violence  or  threats,  prevented,  or  endeavored  to  prevent,  the  sign- 
ing of  the  acknowledgment  of  submission  required  by  government  as  the 
condition  of  our  pardon  and  peace.  Besides  the  fatal  effects  of  this  violence 
to  the  country,  it  was  a  restraint  on  that  freedom  of  will  which  every  man  has  • 
a  right  to  exercise.  Was  it  not  a  plain  breach  of  the  peace  ?  Was  it  not  a 
plain  declaration  of  war  against  government?  Need  I,  gentlemen,  use 
words  to  convince  you  that  it  was  a  crime  ?     I  know  I  need  not. 

Neither  need  I  tell  you  that  those  men  are  criminal,  and  ought  to  be  sub- 
jected to  prosecution,  who  took  upon  them  to  burn  houses  or  abuse  pro- 
perty or  persons  for  supposed  misconduct.  Those  also  are  criminal  in  a 
high  degree,  who  assembled  in  parties  for  the  purpose  of  doing  such  things, 
though  they  never  did  them.  This  is  a  clear  offence,  and  a  breach  of  the 
peace.  It  tended  also  to  keep  up  the  terrors  against  returning  duty,  and 
rendered  an  army  necessary  to  remove  those  terrors,  and  restore  the  minds 
of  the  people  to  freedom  and  ease,  and  the  country  to  peace. 

Let  me  in  the  words  of  Scripture  point  out  the  certain  difference  between 
liberty  and  licentiousness.  So  is  the  will  of  God,  that  you  submit  to  every 
ordinance  of  man;  as  free,  and  not  using  your  liberty  for  a  cloak  of  mali- 
ciousness, but  as  the  servants  of  God.  For,  brethren,  ye  have  been  called 
unto  liberty,  only  use  not  your  liberty  for  an  occasion  to  the  flesh,  but  by 
love  serve  one  another.  (1  Peter  ii.  13,  16;  Gal.  v.  13.)  True  liberty, 
like  true  religion,  is  known  by  its  fruits.  Liberty,  the  daughter  of  heaven, 
and  the  best  gift  of  God  to  a  favored  people,  a  generous  principle,  whose 
object  is  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  human  race,  must  produce  fruits 
worthy  of  its  divine  origin.  Licentiousness,  the  offspring  of  hell  and  the 
scourge  of  an  offending  nation,  selfish  in  its  nature,  and  seeking  the  degra- 
dation of  all  but  itself,  bears  fruits  of  an  opposite  kind  :  sedition,  fury,  hatred, 
malice,  and  mischief.  By  its  fruits  judge  whether  our  insurrection  pro- 
ceeded from  a  spirit  of  liberty  or  of  licentiousness.  Whether  it  was  the 
work  of  God  or  of  the  devil. 

Do  your  duty,  gentlemen,  and  satisfy  your  own  consciences.  Present  all 
offenders  whatever,  to  the  justice  of  your  country.  This  you  are  bound  by 
your  oaths  to  do  ;  whether  those  offenders  shall  be  considered  as  proper 
objects  of  mercy  or  of  punishment,  it  is  not  for  you  to  decide.  That  ques- 
tion lies  with  others,  and  you  cannot  take  it  up  without  violating  your 
oaths,  and  prostrating  the  principles  of  our  laws  and  government. 

I  shall  conclude  with  exhorting  to  a  speedy  and  faithful  compliance  with 
the  propositions  made  to  us  by  the  agents  of  government.  One  is,  of  taking 
an  oath  of  fidelity  and  of  submission  to  the  laws,  and  the  other  is,  entering 
into  an  aseociation  for  supporting  their  authority,  and  protecting  their 
oflBcers. 

It  may  be  asked  why  should  we  do  so?  I  will  give  two  reasons.  First. 
We  have  been  great  offenders,  and  we  cannot  give  too  strong  assurances  of 
our  return  to  duty.  The  assurances  required  seem  due  to  our  own  character, 
and  to  the  Batisfaction  of  our  fellow  citizens.     Second,  A  temporary  army 


HISTORY   OP   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  107 

is  now,  and  a  standing  army  will  be  established  among  ua  unless  we  can 
convince  government  and  our  fellow  citizens  by  unequivocal  proofs  of  our 
regular  and  sincere  habits  of  submission  to  law,  and  of  our  exertions  to 
enforce  obedience  to  all  authority.  If  we  refuse  compliance,  government 
and  our  fellow  citizens  may  suspect  that  there  is  a  change  only  in  our  con- 
duct, not  in  our  hearts,  that  our  submission  is  temporary  and  not  dissem- 
bled, and  that  if  we  believed  it  safe  we  would  again  break  out  into  riots. 
Let  us  prevent  such  suspicions  by  our  conduct,  and  as  we  have  rendered  it 
necessary  for  government  to  establish  a  force  to  restrain  us,  let  us  render  it 
proper  to  withdraw  this  force.  Let  us  begin  by  taking  this  oath  and  enter- 
ing into  this  association,  and  continue  in  a  faithful  adherence  to  both.  We 
may  thus  repair  our  character,  and  relieve  ourselves  from  the  disgrace  of 
being  governed  by  force  and  a  standing  army. 

I  shall  now  add  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  citizens  of  Washington 
County,  in  their  respective  townships,  which  I  have  been  enabled  to 
procure  from  a  variety  of  sources,  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
which  was  in  these  words : — 

I  do  solemnly,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God,  swear  and  declare  that 
I  will  faithfully  and  sincerely  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  obey  all  laws  thereof,  and  will  discontinue  opposition  thereto, 
except  by  way  of  petition  and  remonstrance,  and  all  attempts  to  resist, 
obstruct,  or  illtreat  the  officers  of  the  United  States  in  the  execution  of 
their  respective  duties,  so  help  me  God. 

Each  person,  in  taking  this  oath,  was  required  to  subscribe  his  name 
thereto,  as  well  as  sign  the  following  pledge  : — 

In  pursuance  of  the  oath  hereto  annexed,  I  do  hereby  engage  and  asso- 
ciate to  and  with  all  others  who  may  subscribe  these  presents  to  counte- 
nance and  protect  the  officers  of  the  United  States  in  the  execution  of  their 
duties  according  to  law,  and  to  discover  and  bring  to  justice  all  persons 
who  may  be  concerned,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  illegally  hindering  or 
obstructing  the  said  officers,  or  any  of  them,  in  the  execution  of  their  duty, 
or  in  doing  any  manner  of  violence  to  them,  or  either  of  them.  In  witness 
of  all  which  I  have  hereunto  subscribed  my  hand  the  day  and  year  opposite 
my  name. 

Sworn  and  subscribed  before  me,  Eleazbb  Jenkins. 

Dec.  29,  1794.  Bethlehem  Township. 

David  Enoch,  John  Smiley,  Nathan  Meek,  David  Sutton,  James  Braden, 
Abel  McFarland,  Samuel  Meek,  Daniel  McFarland,  Jr.,  Jamea  Gillespie, 
John  James,  Lemuel  Cooper,  David  Evans,  John  Bockius,  James  Evans, 
Christopher  Horn,  Thomas  Ijams,  Daniel  Cory,  Valentine  Kender,  Bazel 
Barnet,  Christopher  Cox,  John  Horn,  George  Horn,  James  Graham,  Aaron 
Davis,  Caleb  Ball,  Jacob  Young,  John  Meek,  Jr.,  Isaac  Pettit,  Sampson 
NichoUs. 

Dec.  30,  1794.  Somerset  Township. 

James  Dawson,  Samuel  Ferguson,  John  Greenleas,  Thomas  Gill,  Archi- 
bald Blue,  John  Huffman. 

Dec.  30,  1794.  Bethlehem  Township. 

Wm.  Guthrey,  John  Fusten,  Christian  Cockier,  John  Meek  Johnson, 
Gabriel  Nave. 


108  APPENDIX   TO 

Dec.  30,  1794.  Strahane  Township. 

Samuel  Fitch,  James  Collins,  John  Fitch. 

Dec.  31,  1794.  Somerset  Township. 

James  Collams,  Allen  OlTer,  Andrew  Ault,  Jacob  Swaglcr,  Henry 
McDonongh,  Samuel  Crawford,  George  Mcllwaine,  Jno.  Mcliwaine,  James 
Miller,  Grier  Mcliwaine,  Samuel  Wier,  Francis  Keely,  Jacob  Myers,  Henry 
Hewitt,  James  Cochran,  AVm.  McCombe,  Patrick  McCuUoch,  Robert 
McComb,  Peter  Black,  Samuel  Shuster,  Samuel  Moser,  Michael  Paker, 
James  Leydy,  John  Leydy,  Benjamin  I^eydy,  Wm.  Smith,  David  Huffman, 
Martin  Huffman,  Andrew  Smith,  John  Stevenson,  Martin  Smith,  William 
Thompson,  Robert  McParland,  John  (Jhapman,  Mathias  Luse,  Frederick 
Leydy,  John  Vance,  John  Kinney,  James  Dickson,  Alex.  Porter,  Andrew 
Simons. 

Bethlehem  Toiunship. 

Thomas  Wier,  James  Hill,  Peter  Drake,  Joshua  Drake,  Jonathan  Drake, 
James  Beatty,  Joseph  Hill,  Jr.,  Leonard  Roberts,  Dickinson  Roberts,  Dan- 
iel Driskel,  Thomas  Richardson,  Wm.  Campbell,  Richard  Richardson,  John 
Weston,  Sr.,  Fred.  Dage,  Sr.,  Frederic  Dage,  Jr.,  Adam  Smith,  Pat 
McDowell,  Robert  Ferguson,  David  Sutton,  Sr.,  John  Dage,  Michael 
Lethcrman,  John  Weston,  Jr.,  Jolin  Conkle,  Jacob  Conkle,  Kzekier  Bra- 
don,  Mich.  Dage,  And.  Rogers,  Thomas  Caton,  Mathias  Dage,  Gasper 
Pilts,  George  Dawson,  Peter  Hewitt,  George  Drister,  Abm.  Barber. 

Fallowfield  Township. 
John  Sutherland,  Jr.,   George  Young,  Alex.  Moore,  Thomas  Chambers, 
Joseph  Weir. 

Dec.  20,  1794.  Hanover  Township. 

Taken  before  Samuel  Glasgow,  J.  P. 
Miles  Wilson,  Thomas  Moss,  Adam  Vinnage,  John  Moor,   Augustus 
Moor,  James  Proudfoot,  Lewis  Sadler,  Daniel  McConnell,  John  Thompson, 
Thomas  Dornan,  John  White,  Christopher  W^ alters,  Elijah  Devner,  Patrick 
McDonald. 

Dec.  29,  1794.  Taken  before  Wm.  Parker. 

Jacob  Book,  Andrew  Kintner,  George  Kintuer,  Daniel  Hamilton,  Geo. 
Parker,  John  Parkeson,  Wm.  Parker,  Jr.,  James  Parker,  Wm.  McEard, 
Christopher  Elliott,  George  Stooday,  Martin  Zuzidant,  Daniel  Zuzidant, 
[saac  Lash,  George  McMillan,  Jacob  Zug,  George  Frend. 

Dec.  9,  1794.  Sworn  before  Ebn.  Goble,  of  Morris  Township. 

Dcnias  Lindsly.  Zeba  Lindsly,  David  Johnson,  Leonard  Colman,  Charles 
Kinlan,  Cyrus  Riggs,  Mathias  Roll,  Abijah  Leveridge,  Joseph  Riggs, 
Samuel  Parkhurst,  Caleb  Liudsley,  Jr.,  John  Archer,  Caleb  Edy,  Joseph 
Coe,  Chr.  McAlrath,  Nathan  Axtell,  Samuel  Ratan,  Jno.  Lindsly,  Price 
Dille,  Constant  Rowlee,  Caleb  AVinget,  Alex.  Scott,  Darling  Day,  Thomas 
l*almer,  Peter  Rush,  David  Conduit,  Archer  Scott. 

Nov.  2,  1794.  Before  Joseph  Vance,  of  Smith  Township. 

Robert  Marquis,  James  Campbell,  Hugh  Lee,  Thos.  Pray,  Robert  Lyle, 
Adam  Hayes,  Charles  Campbell,  James  Best,  George  Day,  John  Hamilton, 
John  Dodds,  James  Edgar,  Samuel  AVhitaker,  John  Coper,  Nathan  Kini- 
bcr,  Wm.  llanon,  Samuel  Marquis,  John  Wilkins,  Wm.  lluse,  Hugh  Mont- 


HISTORY   OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  109 

gomery,  James  Miller,  William  Johnston,  James  Gaston,  David  McOreery, 
Hugh  Dobbins,  John  McKibler,  John  Coners,  Henry  FuUerton,  Robert 
Kennedy,  George  Meeaner,  Geo.  Miller,  Samuel  Marchant,  William  Lee, 
James  Boggs,  James  Wiley,  James  D.  Barr,  Joseph  Scott,  Gorsham  Hull, 
Thomas  Elder,  John  Cook,  Charles  Murray,  James  Hammond,  James  Leech, 
Philip  Burget,  Rowland  Rogers,  James  Allison,  David  Thompson,  George 
Lee,  George  Barget,  Wm.  McGee,  John  McMillin,  James  Rankin,  James 
Caldwell,  John  Riddle,  Wm.  Bay,  Alex.  McJBride,  Samuel  Barr,  Thomas 
Brice,  James  Ravenscraft,  Moses  Hays,  John  Marquis,  Hugh  Bays,  John 
Bar,  John  Montgomery,  Wm.  McBride,  Wm.  Jackson,  Philip  Jackson, 
William  AVallace,  Thomas  Hays,  John  Coventry,  John  Lyle,  James  Hayes, 
Robert  Magee,  James  Moore,  Thomas  Phillips,  Adam  Glass,  David  Hays, 
John  Bavington,  James  Cavert,  And.  Elliott,  James  Maxwell,  William 
Leech,  James  Leech,  Robert  Stuart,  Henry  Cooper,  Robert  Pattridge, 
Joseph  Hays,  John  McCuoy,  Richard  McKibben,  David  Marquer,  William 
Campbell,  Joseph  Phillis,  Robert  Wallace,  Samuel  Sli-ain,Wm.  Thompson, 
Wm.  Wilkin,  Thomas  Thompson,  Robert  Thompson,  John  Eakin,  Sr.,  John 
Eakin,  Jr.,  Samuel  Eakin,  Joseph  Eakins,  John  Colter,  John  Duncan,  James 
Moore,  William  Ferguson,  Thomas  Rogers,  Edward  Hatfield,  John  Shilber, 
Andw.  McClean,  James  Dunbar,  Abraham  Russel,  John  Thinkerd,  Sr., 
James  Thinkerd,  John  Thinkerd,  Jr.,  Wm.  Wallace,  Sr.,  John  Strain,  A 
Alex  Robertson,  Henry  Rankin,  John  Bell,  Robert  Holmes. 

From  the  18th  of  November  to  29th  of  December,  1794,  before  Daniel 
Dkfue,  in  Falloivfielcl  Township — 

Joseph  Depue,  Samuel  Cole,  Samuel  Gunsalis,  Joseph  Parkinson,  Thomas 
Nichols,  John  Rolston,  Adam  Wickersham,  Jr.,  Thomas  Beaty,  Christian 
Stout,  Jacob  Stilwagon,  Jacob  Resasher,  Peter  Wickersham,  Peter  Way- 
ant,  Peter  Erigh,  Cornelius -Wayant,  Andrew  Platter,  James  Coulter,  Ham- 
mond Cole,  Vincent .Colvin,  Thomas  Shaver,  Wm.  Beemur,  Isaac  Cole, 
John  Tannehill,  Jr.,  Samuel  Coulter,  Nicholas  Johnson,  Robert  Galloway, 
Jacob  Rape,  Jr.,  John  Ammon,  Andrew  Cole,  Wm.  Jewell  Benjamin  Mor- 
row, Thomas  Legg,  William  Vanhorn,  Edward  Loder,  Joseph  Hall,  Peter 
Bellefelt,  Thomas  Case,  Geo.  Grant,  John  Muller,  Nicholas  Depue,  Samuel 
Moody,  Jacob  Rope,  Symonds  Bandwell,  Christopher  Reading,  William 
Nitheri'reed,  Samuel  Baxter,  Massal  Case,  Martin  Wirt,  Samuel  Quimby, 
Daniel  McGuire,  Thomas  Fenton,  Wm.  Storer,  James  Baxter,  John  Lane, 
Henry  Lane,  John  Johnston,  Samuel  Baxter,  Jr.,  John  Fenton,  S.  Storer, 
Richard  Storer,  Jonathan  Hamilton,  Nicholas  Contey,  Isaac  Teeple,  Richard 
Jackson,  David  Grant,  Daniel  Hickey,  Lewis  Chattield,  Robert  George, 
Alexander  George,  Thomas  Coulter,  John  Ruth,  Benjamin  Gunsalis,  James 
Hill,  Conrad  Ammon,  John  Bind,  Alex.  Stelle,  Daniel  Hamilton,  Jonathan 
Coulter,  Nathan  Woodbury,  Peter  Casner,  Daniel  Rice,  Abraham  Crabs, 
Philip  Crabs,  Robert  Croskeny,  Jas.  Rice,  Robert  W^illiams,  John  Shouse, 
Jacob  Ammon,  Peter  Jesseroon,  Abraham  Hickman,  Samuel  Lewis,  Abra- 
ham Frj^e,  Sr.,  Abraham  Frye,  Jr.,  Frederick  Cooper,  Samuel  Willey, 
Samuel  Frye,  John  Amlin,  Jr.,  James  Carson,  Abraham  Seevers,  Abraham 
Brokow,  Thos.  Rape,  John  Slette,  Sheddrack  Hyatt,  Robert  Latta  Robert 
Speers,  Henry  Falconer,  William  Ringland,  John  Cooper,  John  Stockton, 
Michael  Power,  Jacob  Crabs,  Daniel  McComus,  Henry  Crabs,  Jas.  David- 
son, James  Rush,  Samuel  Vanvoorhis,  Daniel  Vanvoorhis,  Wm.  Guilleford, 
Daniel  Brent. 

Sworn  before  Eleazer  Jenkins,  January  5,  179.5.    Strabane  Torvjiship — 
Pals.  Frank,  Wm.  Nivin,  John  Chambers,  John  Whitehill,  Jas.  Duncan, 
N.  Simons,  Joshua  Davis,  John  Munel,  Jonathan  Williams. 


110  APPENDIX    TO 

Sworn  before  Wm.  Nailer,  from  15th  of  November  to  30th  of  December, 
1794.  lie  says,  "  I  do  certify  that  these  persons  have  taken  the  oath  and 
subscribed  the  association  prescribed  by  his  excellency  Gen.  Henry  Lee, 
to  the  iuhabitauts  of  the  four  western  counties  of  Pennsylvania." 

Thomas  Cannon,  "Wm.  Nailer,  Shebazzar  Beutley,  James  Chambers,  John 
Cox,  Ijcnjamin  Cox,  John  Hoven,  Shadrack  Hyatt,  Thomas  Thompson, 
Elisha  Teeters,  JohnMcCaran,  V.  Ferguson,  James  GcUy,  Gilbert  Samuels, 
John  Riddle,  Jos.  Blackburn,  John  Thompson,  Edward  Dufficld,  Jonathan 
Thompson,  Abraham  Finsby,  J.  Ferguson,  John  Ilapper,  "Wm.  Ramage, 
Math.  Hartford,  John  Kennedy,  Charles  Dailcy.  Isaac  Dailey,  Richard^ 
Sutton,  Samuel  Gallohar,  Wm.  Mitchell,  John  Cormy,  Wm.  Corn,  Henry 
Newkiik,  David  Milender,  Jacob  Auld,  A.  Miller,  Neil  Murray,  Abraham 
'  Southard,  Jonas  Segby,  Jacob  Fcgley,  Sr.,  Jacob  Fegley,  Jr.,  Jas.  McCall, 
James  Nailor,  Alexander  Armstrong,  John  Anderson,  James  Parkinson, 
Arthur  Latimer,  Henry  Harsh,  Abraham  Frider,  Abriiliam  McNitt,  Simon 
Waugh,  Joseph  Barkley,  Christopher  Fletcher,  Lewis  Stacher,  J.  Clotter, 
Jacob  Ropsher,  Leonard  Englar,  Daniel  Robbins,  Robert  Wallace,  Matthew 
Myers,  John  McCormic,  John  Welch,  John  Baldwin,  Henry  Magner,  Wm. 
Rodgers,  Ralph  Nnylor,  Jolm  Chambers,  Samuel  Gaston,  John  Crague, 
Moses  Rodgers,  Edmund  Thomas,  John  Munn,  Jr.,  Liverton  Thomas, 
Thomas  Thornley,  Joseph  Hagcrty,  Samuel  Ogdcn,  Andrew  Crawford,  Geo. 
Onstatt,  Lewis  Oustatt,  John  Todd,  Wm.  Armstrong,  Benjamin  Crawford, 
Samuel  ^[cGornaway,  James  Huston,  Joseph  Lcwcston,  Joseph  Barr,  John 
Moore,  William  Fought,  Josejih  Fowler,  Samuel  Barr,  Benjamin  Merriner, 
Andrew  Regan.  John  Shaw.  Samuel  Johnson,  Benjamin  Bebast.  William 
Byers,  Thomas  Frazer,  Benjamin  Lyons,  Joseph  Gladden,  David  Munn, 
Benjamin  Price,  Andrew  ^V'adell,  William  Dunshee,  Robert  Crouch,  John 
Croucli,  John  Young,  Wm.  Keuuey,  Ilenry  Morrison,  Charles  Fox,  John 
Morrison,  John  Johnston,  Amazariah  Johnston,  Abraham  Johnston,  Lemuel 
Sayers,  Sr.,  Lemuel  Sayers,  Jr.,  Robert  Mc(Jee,  Andrew  Devorc,  Shadrack 
Ruark,  John  Clark,  Wm.  Jolly,  James  Meleuey,  Thomas  Patterson,  John 
Patterson,  Abraham  Stevens,  Joseph  Calwell,  Peter  Sharp,  James  Glass, 
Lemuel  (Connolly,  Eph.  Sayers,  James  Price,  Thomas  Deusher,  Peter  Den- 
burn,  John  Ijcedom,  Samuel  Bebout,  William  Stuart,  Edward  Magner,  Sr., 
James  Archby,  Enoch  McFanold,  Thomas  Bounds,  Thomas  Pollock,  Wm. 
Pollock,  John  Pollock.  Andrew  Sullivan.  Isaac  Wilson,  AVilliam  Ayres, 
Matthew  Logan,  James  Logan,  John  Mitchel,  Joseph  Scoficld,  John  Holl- 
craft,  A.  McFarlane. 

Persons  sworn  by  David  Hamilton,  from  November  24,  to  December  30, 
1794— 

Wm.  Hannah,  Hugh  Hannah,  Samuel  Scott,  Abner  Biddle,  Oliver  Bron- 
uen,  James  O.  Donnell,  James  Kobyon,  John  Scott,  John  Small,  Arthur 
Gardner,  Benjamin  Shune,  Michael  Study,  George  Branan,  Josejih  AV'att, 
James  Parkinson,  John  Funo.  Maxwell  Earicson,  James  Taylor,  Sr..  Jas. 
Taylor,  Jr.,  Daniel  Welch,  AVilliam  Parkinson,  Joseph  Phillips,  Abner 
Lash,  Allen  Means,  Reuben  Rennyon,  Jacob  Shuster,  Isaac  Rose,  Joseph 
Tuelleg. 

Cross  Creek,  September  11,  1794. 

William  Rannalls,  Henry  Graham,  Samuel  McKibben,  Thomas  Patterson, 
Thomas  Marshall,  Gideon  Gibson,  John  Morrison,  15enjamin  liay.  Jolm  Mar- 
Bhall,  William  McCaskey,  Samuel  Johnston,  Robert  Walker,  Elijah  Heuwood, 
John  Marshall,  Robert  Forsythe.  Joseph  Scott,  William  Campbell,  Richard 
Wells,  of  James,  William  Rca,  Elijah  Robertson,  Peter  Coe,  James  Davison, 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY. 


Ill 


James  Marshall,  James  How,  John  Leeper,  Robert  Marshall,  Thomas 
Wiley,  Alexander  AVells,  John  Stevenson,  George  Wells,  Wm.  McKibben, 
Elisha  Robertson,  Robert  Moore,  James  Jackson,  Hush  Rogers,  William 
Wells,  Thomas  Beaty,  Isaac  Cowan,  John  McClurg,  James  l^inn,  Joseph 
Riley,  Thomas  McKibben,  William  (Jaldwell,  Nathaniel  Pettit,  Samuel 
Robertson,  John  Graham,  Philemon  Davis,  William  Young,  James  Todd, 
James  Leeper,  Thomas  Graham,  Samuel  Davis,  Robert  McComb,  Joseph 
Carter,  John  Scott,  John  Beaty,  Adam  Glass,  William  Smith,  James  Dun- 
bar, Samuel  Leeper,  Thomas  Ward,  Alexander  Johnson,  James  Clark, 
Ebenezer  Smith,  John  Cowen,  John  Stevenson,  William  Hughs,  James 
Smith,  David  Haj^s,  John  Moore,  Samuel  Carson,  Ephraim  Hart,  Isaac 
Johnson,  Joseph  Reed,  Daniel  Cameron,  Isaac  Shannon,  Daniel  Johnson, 
Samuel  Futhey,  James  Weaver,  William  Watson,  Samuel  Gilmore,  Samuel 
Robb,  Stephen  Johnson,  James  Colville,  Andrew  Ferguson,  Andrew  McKin- 
ney,  Richard  Davis,  Henry  Wells,  Bobert  Colville,  Hugh  Newell,  Timothy 
Spencer,  James  Riley,  Robert  Robb,  John  Tennille,  William  Vance,  John 
Stevenson,  John  Morrison,  John  Criss,  Robert  Glass,  John  Robb,  William 
McClurg,  Nicholas  Brown,  Robert  Armstrong,  John  Brown,  John  Camp- 
bell, John  Marquis,  John  Wagoner,  Sen.,  James  Taylor,  John  Harriman, 
Jacob  Romans,  Jahn_Robinson,  Samuel  McMillan,  John  AVilken,  Sen.,  James 
Patterson,  Thomas  Bay,  ~  John'  Lawther,  Samuel  Smith,  James  Watson, 
Sen.,  James  Kirk,  William  Ayrs,  Edward  Brown,  Cornelius  Boyles,  Wm. 
McGarrah,  Alexander  Ayrs,  George  Coffman,  James  Ward,  Wm.  Shearer, 
Robert  McCready,  Joseph  Caldwell,  John  Gardner,  William  Caldwell, 
James  Doudle,  Hugh  McClurg,  James  Satterfield,  James  Robinson,  Joseph 
Colville,  Bosten  Burgett,  Richard  Wells,  George  Tennille,  Daniel  Tennille, 
Peter  Linville,  John  Robb,  Tarry  McGarry,  George  Moore,  Jacob  Buxton, 
John  Poagcn. 

Done  in  presence  of 

William  Rea,  l 

Aaron  Lyle,  >■  Commissioners. 

Thomas  Patterson,  ] 

List  of  Stills  seized  by  Robert  Johnston,  and  left  at  William 
McAllister's,  Peter  Chessround's,  Shesbazzar  Bentley's,  and  John 
Baldwin's,  Washington  County,  and  Nathan  Couch's,  of  Allegheny 
County. 
Time  of  seizure. 
1794,  Nov.  14. 


15. 


Possessor. 

Stills. 

Capacity  op  Stills. 

Vincent  Colvin,     . 

2 

80  and  65. 

David  Hamilton,    . 

1 

stole  afterwards. 

Christopher  Stacker,     . 
Benjamin  Parkinson,     . 

1 

1 

.      76 
.    100 

James  Parkinson, 

2 

.      80 

John  Reed.    . 

1 

.      68 

John  Baldwin, 

1 

John  Hamilton,     . 

1 

Samuel  Scott, 

2 

Wm.  Parker, 

1 

Peter  Chessround, 

2 

Wm.  Armstrong,  . 
James  Stuart 

1 

2 

Peter  Lyle,    . 
Shezbazzar  Bentley, 

1 
2 

21 


112 


APPENDIX   TO 


List  of  stills   and  liquor  seized  by  Benjamin  "Wells,  and  left  at 
Canonsburg,  except  those  taken  away  by  Gen.  Neville. 


Time  of  seizure.     Person's  Name. 

Liquor. 

Stills 

1794,  Nov.  14.  Abraham  Singhorsc, 

.      3 

David  Ralston,     . 

2 

James  Dohings,  . 

75  gals. 

1 

Joseph  Bceler,    . 

1 

William  Wallace, 

2 

Thomas  McCeanel, 

2 

James  McElroy, 

2 

Robert  Thompson, 

2 

Andrew  Ritchie, 

1 

Thomas  Menary, 

1 

William  Cambell, 

2 

John  Sutherliug, 

2 

Samuel  McBride, 

25     " 

1 

James  Woodhen, 

7     " 

1 

107  gals. 


23 


The  duty  imposed  on  stills  by  the  act  of  Congress  was  not  paid 
in  these  counties,  and  the  attempts  to  enforce  its  jiaynient  here 
having  excited  the  insurrection,  and  been  rendered  elTectmil  by  the 
expedition  of  1794,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  on  the  17th 
November,  1794,  considering  the  hardship  of  enforcing  the  pay- 
ment of  all  the  arrears  of  duty  in  these  counties,  from  30th  June, 
1791,  instructed  the  collectors  to  receive  entries  of  stills  for  the 
year  beginning  with  the  1st  July,  1794,  and  ending  with  the  30th 
June,  1795,  without  exacting  the  payment  of  any  arrears  of  duty 
except  for  the  year  immediately  preceding,  that  is,  from  the  30th 
June,  1793,  to  1st  July,  1794,  ascertaining  these  arrears  by  the 
capacity  of  the  stills  ;  hence  an  inspection  office  was  opened  in 
Washington  June,  1794. 

To  exhibit  the  number  of  stills  which  were  in  operation  in  the 
several  townships  of  Washington  County  before  the  whiskey  insur- 
rection, I  have  prepared  the  following  information  from  the  original 
records.  Thus,  in  1791,  were  272  licensed  stills,  while  in  1869 
there  are  but  18  distilleries. 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON   COUNTY. 


113 


Townships 

1.  Amwell,     . 

2.  Bethlehem, 

3.  Cecil, 

4.  Cumberland, 

5.  Donegal,  . 

6.  Fallowfield, 

7.  Hopewell, 

8.  Morgan,    . 

9.  Peters,      . 

10.  Robinson, 

11.  Smith,       . 

12.  Strabane, . 

13.  Nottingham, 

14.  Somerset, 

15.  Green, 

16.  Dickinson, 

17.  Washington, 

18.  Hanover, 

19.  Franklin, 

20.  Finley,      . 

21.  Morris, 

22.  East  Bethlehem, 

23.  West  Bethlehem 

24.  Cross  Creek,     . 

25.  Chartiers, 


1787. 

1788. 

1790. 

1791. 

STILLS. 

STILLS. 

STILLS. 

STILLS 

11 

8 

3 

5 

22 

12 

9 

16 

17 

27 

14 

10 

13 

28 

26 

25 

9 

11 

14 

13 

22 

24 

25 

14 

16 

21 

28 

27 

4 

8 

6 

7 

13 

23 

6 

5 

9 

8 

9 

12 

9 

11 

4 

14 

3 

8 

4 

22 

15 

14 

18 

16 

17 

12 

18 

18 

16 

13 

19 

14 

22 

3 

2 

6 

2 

5 

5 

9 

21 

6 

6 

5 

1 

1 

2 

6 

10 

13 

12 

9 

9 

12 

' 

14 

16 

228       280       262       272 


We  shall  now  proceed  with  the  judicial  view  of  the  insurrection, 
by  the  publication  of  important  letters : — 

Pittsburg,  November  24, 1794. 

Sir  :  The  judge  of  the  district  having  spent  several  days  in  this  town  for 
the  purpose  of  examining  into  the  cases  of  persons  accused,  and  taking  the 
examination  of  witnesses  relative  to  oifences  committed  within  the  district 
against  the  United  States,  and  his  public  business  requiring  his  attendance 
in  another  part  of  the  district,  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  requesting  your 
attention  to  the  continuance  of  that  inquiry,  which  public  justice  requires, 
relative  to  the  offences  committed  as  above  mentioned. 

The  list  inclosed,  and  the  excepted  cases  in  Governor  Lee'a  proclama- 
tion, will  indicate  the  persons  in  regard  to  whose  conduct  during  the  late 
convulsion  it  is  desirable  to  establish  the  truth. 

I  will  be  obliged  to  you,  sir,  to  reduce  their  testimony  to  writing,  and  to 
furnish  me  with  the  depositions,  and  to  bind  the  witnesses  over  in  a  reason- 
able sum  expressed  in  dollars  to  appear  and  testify  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States,  at  the  next  circuit  court  of  the  United  States,  stated  or  special,  to 
be  hoi  den  within  the  district  aforesaid. 

The  following  cases  I  desire  you  to  notice  particularly : — 

1.  To  bind  over  a  certain  Matthew  Logan  as  a  witness  against  Ebenezer 
Gallagher. 

2.  To  take  the  recognizance  of  Thomas  Hughes,  Esq.,  if  he  shall  offer 
bail  and  good  securities  in  no  less  sum  in  the  whole  than  3000  dollars 
for  his  appearance  to  answer. 


114  APPENDIX  TO 

The  charge  against  him  is  his  having  been  one  of  the  blackened  party 
■who  attacked  the  house  of  Capt.  Faulkner,  and  his  having  signed  a  con- 
temptuous and  improper  paper  on  the  11th  of  September  last.  His  offence, 
therefore,  is  of  a  bailable  nature. 

3.  To  send  for  and  bind  over  as  ■witnesses  Major  Richard  Talbot  and  Rev. 
Philip  Dodridge,  of  Hope-well  township,  and  John  Tennell  of  Cross  Creek. 

These  instances  are  not  mentioned  as  the  exclusive  cases  in  -which  your 
assistance  is  requested.  To  your  judgment  every  other  case  is  ■with  great 
confidence  committed.  Truth  -will  gradually  reveal  itself  and  testimony  of 
which  we  are  ignorant. 

With  great  consideration  and  respect, 

I  have  the  honor  to  be 

To  Judge  Addison.  W.  Rawlk. 

The  endorsement  is  as  follows :  Bound  R.  Talbot  22d  Dec.  1794.     Mr. 
Talbot  says  Rev.  Dodridge's  name  is  Joseph.     Philip  is  a  brother. 
Bound  John  Tennell  and  A.  Wells. 
Bound  Joseph  Dodridge  and  John  Buchanan. 

Recognizances  for  appearance  at  Pittsburg  and  Washington. 

Pennsylvania  1  Defendant  turned  over  for  bail  by  Gen.  Lee,  Commander- 

vs.  y  in-Chief. 

Moses  Devorc.  ] 

Moses  Devore,  of  Elizabeth  township,  Allegheny  County,  tent  in  £200, 
Joseph  Becket,  "  "  "        100, 

John  Dailey,  of  Rostraver  township,  Westmoreland  County,    "       100. 
Conditioned  for  appearance  at  next  court  of  quarter  sessions  for  county 
of  Allegheny,  to  answer,  &c.,  25th  Nov.  1794.  / 

CoR.  Alex.  Addison. 

Recognized  in  court  of  Allegheny  County  to  keep  peace  and  good  be- 
havior for  twelve  moaths,  no  bill  having  been  found  by  grand  jury. 

Pennsylvania     ] 

vs.  >  Turned  over  ui  supra. 

Henry  McKinney.  ] 

Joseph  Becket  and  John  Dailey  each  held  in  £100  for  appearance  of 
Henry  McKinney,  who  is  bound  in  the  sum  of  £200. 

No  bill  found,  and  bound  by  recognizance  to  keep  the  peace  and  good 
behavior  for  twelve  months  by  Gen.  Gibson. 

Pennsylvania    "l 

vs.  [■  Turned  over  ut  supra. 

Andrew  Holmes.  ] 

Andrew  Holmes,  of  Nottingham  township,  Washington  Co.,  tent  £200, 
John  Gaston,  of  Peters  township,  Washington  County,  tent  £100, 
Samuel  McClean,  of  Nottingham  township,  Washington  Co.,  tent  £100. 
Conditioned  for  appearance  of  Andrew  Holmes  at  next  court  of  quarter 
Bcssions  for  county  of  Allegheny  and  county  of  Washington,  25th  Novem- 
ber, 1794.  CoB.  Alex.  Addison. 

Recognized  by  Gen.  Gibson  to  appear  at  circuit  court.  Dismissed  by 
him  till  Washington  court.  No  bill  found  by  grand  jury.  Bound  in  recog- 
nizance to  keep  the  peace  and  good  behavior  twelve  months. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  115 

The  same  proceedings  were  held  against  John  Gaston,  of  Peters  town- 
ship (Joseph  Becket  and  John  Dailey,  securities). 

David  Donaldson,  of  Nottingham  township  (Robert  Barr  and  John  Gas- 
ton securities). 

John  Love,  of  Nottingham  township  (Robert  Barr  and  Andrew  Mclntire, 
securities). 

John  McGill,  of  Canonsburg  (with  John  Gaston  and  W.  McMillan,  se- 
curities). 

Samuel  Ewing, 

Norris  Morrison, 

Against  whom  no  bills  were  found,  but  each  bound  over  for  twelve 
months  to  keep  peace  and  good  behavior,  on  25th  Nov.  1794. 

Fifth  Circuit  of  Pennsylvania. 

r       I       Alexander  Addison,  President  of  the  courts  of  common  pleas 

•-  ■  ■-'  of  the  fifth  circuit,  Pennsylvania, 

To  Michael  Mount  and  Richard  Longstreet. 

Whereas,  Oath  hath  been  made  before  me  that  Edward  Wagner,  of 
Peters  township,  the  younger,  did  excite  a  number  of  riotous  persons  in  the 
month  of  July  last,  to  proceed  with  force  and  arms  to  the  house  of  Gen. 
Neville  in  Allegheny  County,  there  to  commit  sundry  acts  of  violence  and 
unlawful  force,  and  did  also,  by  menace  and  force  in  the  month  of  Septem- 
ber last,  prevent  the  signing  of  the  submission  required  by  government. 
These  are,  therefore,  to  require  you  and  each  of  you  to  take  the  said  Edward 
Wagner  the  younger  and  bring  him  forthwith  before  me  at  the  house  of 
Wm.  Amberson  in  the  town  of  Pittsburg,  county  of  Allegheny,  to  answer 
to  the  premises,  and  be  dealt  with  according  to  law.  Given  under  my 
hand  and  seal  at  Pittsburg,  November  21,  1794. 

Alexander  Addison. 

The  warrant  is  indorsed  :  Edward  Wagner,  Jr.,  lives  with  his  father  at 
Wagner's  Mills,  on  Peters  Creek,  Washington  County,  fifteen  miles  from 
Pittsburg.  Go  up  the  road  to  Redstone,  turning  to  the  left  on  the  top  of 
the  coal  hill  over  Monongahela,  about  fourteen  miles  off,  inquire  for  James 
Barclay,  who  lives  near  Wagner.     Non  est  inventus. 

Michael  Mount. 

List  of  Prisoners  sent  to  Philadelphia,  November  24,  1794. 

James  Kerr,  John  Hamilton,  James  Stuart,  John  Lockray,  John  Corbely, 
John  Black,  Marmaduke  Curtis,  Robert  Porter,  Thomas  Burney,  David 
Bolton,  Joseph  Scott,  Caleb  Mountz,  John  Barnet,  Thomas  Miller,  Isaac 
Walker,  Thomas  Sedgwick,  and  William  Crawford. 

Greenshurg,  November  26,  1794. 
Judge  Addison  :  Permit  me  to  request  you  will  be  good  enough  to  send 
for  a  Doctor  Robinson,  Wm.  Parker,  Esq.,  Daniel  Depuy,  and  Wm.  Irwin, 
and  endeavor  to  ascertain  from  their  examinations/rom  whom  they  received 
instructions  to  harangue  Col.  John  Hamilton's  battalion  on  the  4th  of 
July  last,  in  opposition  to  excise  law  (as  it  is  called),  for  it  appears,  on  in- 
quiry, that  a  regular  plan  has  been  formed  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the 
law  by  the  extirpation  of  all  the  ofiRcers,  and  that  the  attack  upon  Gen. 
Neville's  was  an  execution  of  their  system. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  servant, 

W.  Rawle. 
It  appears  that  the  depositions  were  sent  January  1,  1795. 


IIG  APPENDIX   TO 

Head  Quarters,  Pittsburg,  November  2G,  1794. 
Hon.  Alkxandkr  Addison  : 

Silt  :  Major-General  Morgan,  who  will  command  the  troops  destined  to 
continue  in  this  district,  will  be  always  ready  to  support  the  civil  authority 
when  required. 

To  you,  as  the  head  of  the  judiciary,  belongs  the  right  of  demanding  this 
aid  whenever  in  your  judgment  it  shall  be  necessary.  I  am  persuaded  the 
wisdom  and  vigor  which  will  be  displayed  by  the  officers  of  justice  in  their 
several  stations  will  probably  be  found  equal  to  all  future  exigencies. 
Should  my  hopes  prove  fallacious,  the  power  of  the  protection  established 
by  me  cannot  fail  in  the  immediate  suppression  of  every  irregularity,  and 
will,  I  trust,  be  instantly  resorted  to. 

Praying  that  this  district  may  long  enjoy  peace  and  tranquillity,  I  return 
home  with  pleasing  anticipations  of  their  growing  prospects  and  happiness, 
in  which  I  cannot  but  feel  myself  deeply  interested. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  great  respect. 

Your  obedient,  servant, 

Henry  Lee. 

1794,  Nov.  30.  Gen.  Henry  Lee,  in  general  orders,  directed  the  books 
containing  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States  to  return  the  same 
to  the  following  persons  : — 

In  Washington,  to  Judge  Addison. 

In  Allegheny,  to  Judge  Wallace. 

In  Westmoreland,  to  Judge  Jack. 

In  Fayette,  to  Judge  Breading. 

Head  Quarters,  December,  15,  1794. 
Judge  Addison,  Washington : — 

Sir  :  I  am  at  a  loss  to  know  how  to  act  with  respect  to  the  people 
charged  with  treasonable  practices  against  the  United  States,  who  have 
come  under  my  notice. 

Since  Judge  Peters  left  this  country  he  wrote  to  me  that  they  were  to 
come  under  your  notice.  I  will  thank  you  to  inform  me  in  what  way  I  am 
to  act.  The  inclosed  petition  from  Shields  and  Lapsley  with  some  depo- 
sitions I  think  comes  more  under  your  notice  than  mine.  A  number  of 
characters  mentioned  in  Governor  Lee's  proclamation  have  delivered  them- 
selves to  me,  who  1  have  parolled  at  my  own  risk  upon  their  giving  me  their 
words  to  come  in  whenever  called  on.  If  Shields  and  Lapsley  had  given 
themselves  up  to  me,  1  should  have  used  the  same  lenity  with  them,  as  I  be- 
lieve the  people  of  this  county  wish  to  come  to  order,  and  my  intention  is 
to  encourage  it  as  much  as  it  lies  in  my  power.  Your  immediate  answer 
will  particularly  oblige  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

Daniki,  Morgan. 

About  the  10th  or  12th  of  November  last  I  left  home  to  visit  a  friend 
in  Westmoreland  County.  I  had  no  apprehension  that  I  (a  person  who 
had  signed  the  assurances  of  government)  would  be  called  for;  but  when 
hearing  they  were  called  for  as  well  as  others,  ]  immediately  came  home,  and 
finding  the  judges  removed  from  Pittsburg,  I  gave  myself  up  to  Adamson 
Tannihill.  Esq.     This  I  certify  in  truth.  John  Shields. 

December  4,  1796. 

I  do  certify  that  I  went  abroad  about  the  10th  or  12th  day  of  November 
last  to  visit  some  friends,  not  knowing  at  the  time  of  my  departure  that 
there  was  any  charge  against  myself,  as  I  had  the  submissive  paper  as  pre- 


HISTORY    OF    WASHINGTON    COUNTY.  lit 

scribed  by  government;  bat  hearing  on  my  return  that  there  had  been  a 
guard  after  me,  I  then  proceeded  as  fast  as  possible  and  immediately  deliv- 
ered myself  to'justice  before  Adamson  Tannihill,  Esq.,  December  ye  4th, 
1794.  Thomas  Lapsley. 

To  WHOM  CONCERNED  : 

I  do  certify  that  I  heard  Jacob  Ferree  say  he  was  willing  to  give  testi- 
mony that  he  saw  John  Shield  sign  a  submission  to  the  laws  as  directed  by 
commissioners  on  behalf  of  the  United  States  on  the  11th  of  September 
last.  I  do  also  certify  that  I  saw  the  names  of  John  Shields  and  Thomas 
Lapsley  written  on  the  paper  of  submission  taken  on  that  day,  and  that  the 
name  of  Thomas  Lapsley  I  believe  to  be  in  his  own  hand  writing 

A.  Tannihhll. 

Pennsylvania  District: — 

Before  me  came  William  McMillan,  of  Peters  township,  "Washington 
County,  and  declared  on  oath  that  Edward  Wagner,  Jr.,  of  the  said  town- 
ship, came  to  the  deponent  on  the  16th  of  July  last,  and  called  on  deponent 
to  go  to  Gen.  Neville's  house  on  the  day  following,  intimating  that  unless 
he  went  his  property  would  be  in  danger — that  on  the  day  of  signing  the 
submission  the  deponent  was  deterred  from  signing  it  by  the  threats  of  the 
said  Edward  Wagner.  William  McMillan. 

Sworn  the  21st  of  November,  11^4,  before  Alexander  Addison. 

Hon.  a.  Addison  : —  PhiladelpMa  December,  24, 1794. 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  just  now  the  pleasure  of  receiving  yours  of  the  5th 
inst.  Agreeably  to  your  request  I  proceed  to  make  as  full  a  statement  of 
the  reasons  for  excepting  the  persons  specified  in  the  proclamation  as  the 
present  opportunity  will  admit. 

The  oft'euces  of  fB.  Parkinson,  f  John  Holcross,  fDaniel  Hamilton,  and 
David  Bradford  are  too  generally  known  to  require  a  particular  enumeration. 

IArthur  Gardner,  one  of  those  who  on  the  4th  of  July,  at  the  meeting 
of  Colonel  Hamilton's  battalion,  agreed  to  oppose  excise  law  by  arms,  etc., 
met  at  Couch's,  united  in  the  attack  on  Gen.  Neville's,  issued  orders  for 
the  meeting  at  Braddock's  Field,  of  assisting  at  Catfish  the  14th  of  August 
in  raising  liberty  pole. 

Thomas  Lapsley,  active  at  Neville's. 

William  Miller,  active  at  Neville's  and  opposed  to  signing  the  paper, 
very  contemptuous  of  the  laws  and  processes  of  the  United  States. 

Edward  Weight,  at  Neville's,  at  Braddock's  Field,  opposed  to  signing 
submission. 

Richard  Nolcroft,  set  Neville's  house  on  fire,  active  and  acrimonious 
at  Braddock's  Field. 

fJoHN  Mitchell,  at  Neville's  and  robbed  the  mail. 

Alexander  Fulton,  at  Neville's,  privy  to  robbing  the  mail,  signed  circu- 
lar letter  to  convene  the  meeting  at  Braddock's  Field. 

Thomas  Spiers,  same  as  Fulton  except  being  at  Neville's. 

William  Bradford,  robbing  the  mail. 

tGEORGE  Parker,  at  Couch's  fort,  Neville's,  Braddock's,  and  Militia 
meeting  July  4,  at  Col.  John  Hamilton's. 

William  Hanna,  atrocious  conduct  at  Neville's  house,  shot  at  General 
Neville. 

Edward  Wagnkb,  at  Neville's  and  menaces  against  those  who  signed  the 
paper. 

Thomas  Hughes,  one  of  the  men  with  blackened  faces  who  attacked 
Faulkner,  etc. 


118  APPENDIX    TO 

John  Siiiklds,  a  principal  in  the  affair  at  Neville's. 

William  Hay,  went  to  Couch's,  and  thence  to  Neville's,  and  menaced 
one  man  if  he  would  not  go,  also  at  Braddock's. 

William  iMclLiiEXNy,  at  Neville's. 

fTiioMAS  Patton  is,  I  fear,  a  mistake  either  of  the  clerk  or  the  press,  at 
least  I  do  not  at  present  recollect,  nor  can  I  lay  my  hands  relative  to  such 
a  person. 

fPATRicK  Jack,  S.  Jack  and  A.  Hilauds  concerned  in  the  outrage  on 
Regan  and  the  destruction  of  Wells'. 

(Those  marked  with  a  f  delivered  themselves  to  General  Morgan  under 
the  direction  of  Judge  Peters.) 

The  others  are  the  three  fugitives  already  examined  by  Judge  Peters. 
and  ordered  for  trial,  and  the  Virginians  who  will  probably  be  apprehended 
in  the  State  where  they  reside. 

The  youth  of  George  Parker  was  not  known  when  his  name  was  inserted. 
In  respect  to  his  resignation  it  is  understood  not  to  avail  those  who  fly  from 
home.  It  cannot  be  a  bona  fide  submission  in  such  cases.  This  also 
applies  to  Shields  and  Lapsley,  yet  it  is  open  to  them  all  to  explain  the 
reasons  of  their  absence;  if  proved  to  be  of  a  justifiable  nature,  their  right 
to  present  immunity  will  be  restored. 

I  am  with  sincere  respect,  yours,  etc. 

W.  Rawle. 

January  18,  1795. 
H.  H.  Brackknridge,  Esq. 

Sir:  I  have  been  pursuing  the  plan  for  robbing  the  mail,  and  can  trace 
it  no  higher  than  Bradford.  It  was  proposed  by  him  to  Marshall  on  their 
way  to  the  Mingo  meeting-house.  Baldwin  and  David  Hamilton  were  in 
company,  and  it  was  put  on  them  to  execute  it.  The  object  to  be  obtained, 
was  to  know  the  opinions  of  the  people  on  the  business  carried  on.  The 
post  to  be  robbed  was  the  post  from  AVashington  to  Pittsburg,  and  it  was 
only  when  Baldwin  and  Hamilton  sent  word  that  they  could  not  perform 
their  part,  and  when  it  was  then  too  late  to  intercept  the  mail  to  Pittsburg, 
that  the  plan  was  changed  to  what  was  really  executed.  Bradford  sent  his 
cousin  William,  and  David  Hamilton,  I  believe,  sent  John  Mitchel,  who 
executed  the  business.  My  information  is  from  a  good  source  and  may  be 
depended  on.  The  matter  I  believe  was  not  talked  of  at  the  Mingo  Creek 
meeting-house,  nor  did  Edward  Cook  know  anything  of  it. 

Alexander  Addison. 

April  10,  1795. 
Sir  :  In  respect  to  the  recognizances,  I  apprehend  that  pursuant  to  the 
33d  section  of  the  judiciary  bill, the  recognizances  themselves,  and  not  copies, 
should  be  produced,  but  although  Judge  Peters  preferred  the  mode  you 
state,  during  the  western  expedition  from  several  motives,  and  I  believe  has 
continued  the  practice  (whether  he  did  so  before  I  cannot  tell),  yet  as  the 
signature  of  the  party  is  not  eSs'^ential  to  the  effect  of  the  recognizance,  and 
is  not  generally  practised  by  the  State  magistrates,  I  cannot  suppose  it 
would  1)0  deemed  necessary  in  the  courts  of  the  United  States. 

While  the  law  stands  as  it  is,  my  duty  (whatever  may  be  my  opinions)  is 
to  conform  to  it,  and  that  duty  being  to  prosecute  every  legal  stf  p  conducive 
to  a  proper  termination  of  such  prosecution  is  to  be  pursued  by  me. 

Yours,  W.  Rawle. 

Judge  Addison. 


HISTORY   OF   WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  119 


Judge  Turner  to  Judge  Addison. 

Cincinnati,  May  17,  1795. 

Sir  :  After  an  absence  of  fifty-three  weeks  on  the  western  circuit  I  landed 
yesterday  at  this  place,  and  found  here  your  two  letters  of  the  3d  of  Jan.  and 
22d  of  April.  This  must  be  my  apology  for  not  having  answered  the  former 
at  least  before  this  time. 

I  have  made  some  inquiries  into  the  case  of  C.  Cunningham,  who  is  recog- 
nized it  seems,  to  appear  before  our  general  court  on  the  charge  you  last 
mention.  The  offence  being  committed  against  the  United  States  alone  (of 
which  this  territory  is  no  part  but  only  a  dependency),  our  inferior  court 
was  wrong  in  binding  Cunningham's  appearance  to  the  general  court 
where  the  offence  is  not  triable.  It  was  imposing  upon  the  accused  a  hard- 
ship not  admissible  in  law,  since  his  appearance  could  answer  no  other  end 
than  to  extend  his  recognizance  to  the  proper  court  within  the  United 
States,  and  to  which  the  inferior  court  was  competent  in  the  first  instance. 

If,  therefore,  you  will  forward  hither  a  certificate  that  Cunningham  has 
entered  into  a  fresh  recognizance  for  that  purpose,  I  shall  take  care  to  lay 
it  before  the  general  court  whenever  his  case  shall  come  up  officially  before 
it,  so  that  he  may  be  discharged  from  his  present  recognizance. 

I  am  with  respect,  yours,  G.  Turner. 

Indorsed,  took  recognizance  June  19,  1795,  and  transmitted  to  Judge 
Turner. 

Letter  of  William  Ratole  to  Hon.  Alexander  Addison. 

Dear  Sir:  PhiladelpJiia,  July  17, 1795. 

In  the  expectation  of  seeing  you  at  the  court  of  errors  and  appeal 
this  week  I  postponed  answering  your  letter  longer  than  I  should  other- 
wise have  done. 

Gen.  Morgan  was  not  very  correct  in  the  names  he  furnished;  only  the  three 
last  in  the  list  came  within  the  request,  viz.,  Ewing,  Paton,  and  McCall. 

Arthur  Gardner,  George  Parker,  John  Holcroft,  having  proved  their 
signatures  to  submission,  and  accounted  for  their  absence,  are  bound  over 
as  witnesses. 

John  Mitchell  is  under  sentence. 

Patrick  Jack  appeared,  upon  inquiry,  not  a  fit  object  of  prosecution, 
and  no  bill  has  been  sent  against  him. 

Ebenezer  Gallagher  and  Daniel  Hamilton  are  indicted. 

Benjamin  Parkinson  surrendered  himself;  he  continued  however  to  avoid 
confinement,  and  the  marshal  has  not  yet  been  able  to  apprehend  him — 
he  is  also  indicted. 

The  marshal's  officer,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this,  has  instructions  to 
apply  to  you  and  to  the  magistrates  where  recourse  cannot  be  had  to  you 
for  advice,  if  necessary,  in  the  execution  of  the  duties  he  is  going  to 
perform. 

Your  active  and  able  exertions  in  support  of  the  laws  (which  have 
received  so  much  public  appi'obation)  give  me  reason  to  hope  you  will 
not  think  this  trouble  too  much.  The  event  of  Cunningham's  case  is,  1 
flatter  myself,  conformable  to  your  wishes. 

I  am,  with  great  respect  and  esteem. 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

W.  Bawle. 

See  letter  of  December  24,  1794,  on  the  same  subject. 


120  APPENDIX   TO 


Judge  Twner  to  Judge  Addison. 

Sir  :  Cincinatti,  July  24,  1795. 

I  was  honorecl  a  few  days  ago  with  yonr  letter,  inclosing  proper  cer- 
tificate concerning  Cunningham's  recognizance,  and  shall  in  consequence 
take  care  by  placing  it  on  the  files  of  the  general  court  that  no  incon- 
venience shall  arise  to  him  in  this  quarter. 

Either  you  have  mistaken  my  meaning,  or,  what  is  more  probable, 
I  have  not  expressed  myself  clearly  in  my  answer  to  your  former  com- 
munications. My  letter-files  are  not  this  moment  at  hand.  It  was  cer- 
tainly not  my  intention  to  have  the  matter  open  to  the  general  court, 
because  it  was,  and  yet  is,  my  decided  opinion  that  the  offence  is  not 
properly  triable  here. 

We  have  lately  had  some  expresses  from  head  quarters.  It  appears 
that  a  treaty  of  some  sort  will  at  length  be  the  result ;  but  how  long  this 
will  last  may  easily  be  conjectured.  It  assuredly  cannot  be  founded  upon 
any  decisive  battle ;  for  notwithstanding  accounts  respecting  the  last  action 
wore  a  very  florid  complexion,  that  doubtless  was  little  if  any  more  than  a 
skirmish  in  which  the  enemy  lost  seven  and  twenty  men. 

I  beg  you  to  believe  me  to  be,  with  perfect  and  respectful  esteem, 
Your  very,  very  obedient  servant, 

G.  Turner. 

Win.  Raivle,  Esq.,  to  Hon.  Alexander  Addison. 

Dear  Sir  :  Philadelphia,  Aug.  15,  1795, 

I  must  take  the  liberty  of  intruding  once  more  upon  a  portion  of  your 
time  on  account  of  the  trials,  yet  to  take  place,  of  persons  charged  with 
treasonable  practice  from  your  part  of  the  State. 

At  the  last  sitting  of  the  circuit  court  it  was  discovered  that  a  great 
unwillingness  in  witnesses  to  say  too  much  against  their  fellow-citizens,  a  re- 
luctance in  the  jury  to  convict  the  smaller  engine  on  the  testimony  of  their 
ringleaders,  and  a  natural  repugnance  to  capital  convictions,  occasioned 
some  unexpected  acquittals,  and,  in  some  instances,  bills  were  returned 
ignoramus  equally  contrary  to  what  appeared  a  grounded  expectation. 
Something  particularly  on  the  latter  score  must,  I  think,  be  attributed  to  the 
difficult  distinctions  necessary  to  be  made  between  the  different  jurisdic- 
tions. There  now  remain  to  be  tried,  upon  bills  found,  Edward  Wright, 
James  Stuart,  and  David  Bolton,  whose  presence  is  not  doubtful ;  and  bills 
are  found  against  David  Bradford,  Daniel  Hamilton,  William  Miller,  Ben- 
jamin Parkinson,  Ebenezer  Gallagher,  William  Hanna,  Richard  Ifolcroft, 
David  Lock,  Alexander  Fulton,  Teter  Lisle,  Thomas  Spiers,  and  Samuel 
Uanna,  some  of  whom  may  perhaps  surrender  themselves. 

After  the  pains  already  taken  to  discover  and  produce  testimony  estab- 
lishing the  offence  charged,  I  do  not  know  that  it  would  be  reasonable  to 
expect  greater  success  from  further  inquiry. 

But  if,  in  the  course  of  your  judicial  proceedings,  any  matters  relative 
to  and  explanatory  of  the  conduct  of  the  persons  before  mentioned  should 
occur,  you  will  oblige  mo  much  by  forwarding  such  information  thereon 
as  may  appear  to  you  likely  to  be  useful.  A  circumstance  not  very  pleasing 
occurred  during  the  trial  of  Robert  Porter.  James  Parker,  when  before 
you  at  Washington,  stating  in  his  affidavit  the  persons  who  had  been  at 
the  destruction  of  Gen.  Neville's  house,  included  the  name  of  Robert 
Porter,  yet  on  the  trial  he  denied  that  he  saw  him  elsewhere  than  at 
Couch's  before,  and  at  Col.  D.  Phillips's  after  the  attack.     It  appeared 


HISTORY    OP    WASHINGTON   COUNTY.  121 

improper  to  avoid  taking  notice  of  tliis  variance,  as  in  one  or  the  other 
case  he  must  be  forsworn.  I  was  under  the  necessity  of  having  him  bound 
over  to  be  prosecuted  for  perjury,  to  wit,  on  the  false  oath  taken  before 
you,  and  this,  I  fear,  will  render  j-our  attendance  at  Yorktown  necessary, 
unless  you  can  point  out  any  means  to  do  the  business  otherwise.  I  ear- 
nestly wish  to  terminate  the  whole  of  this  business  before  next  October, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  so  remote  a  place  may  not  again  suffer  the  incon- 
venience of  attending  the  federal  court. 

I  am,  with  great  respect  and  esteem, 

Your  obedient  humble  servant, 

W.  Rawlk. 

Philadelphia,  Aug.  31,  1795. 
Wm.  Rawle  to  Hon.  A.  Addison  concludes  his  letter  with  these  words : 
"This,  I  believe,  sir,  is  all  the  trouble  I  am  likely  to  give  you  con- 
cerning this  unhappy  business,  equally  disadvantageous  to  the  county  in 
its  immediate  existence  and  its  inevitable  consequences.  To  murmur  and 
to  obey  the  laws  is  the  full  extent  of  political  dissatisfaction  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  State ;  to  murmur  and  to  resist  it  will  not  again  T  hope  be  the 
characteristic  of  any  part  of  it." 

Dear  Sir  :  Philadelphia,  Oct.  29,  1795. 

Joseph  Dorsey  may  rest  easy  as  to  his  recognizance.  The  event  of  the 
trials  at  York  fully  verified  your  observation  as  to  the  impediments  to  con- 
viction created  by  distance. 

You  have  doubtless  by  this  time  been  informed  of  the  material  circum- 
stances, which  I,  therefore,  will  not  encroach  upon  your  time  by  repeating. 

I  consider  the  business  as  now  nearly  ended.  It  is  not  probable  that 
many,  if  any,  of  those  who  have  fled  will  return.  My  information  in  re- 
spect to  Bradford  was  I  find  erroneous.  The  witnesses  are,  however,  gene- 
rally held  under  recognizance,  and  to  be  ready  in  any  case  of  surrender. 

I  am,  with  respect  and  esteem. 

W.  Rawlk. 

JCDGE  AdDISOX. 


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