USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Volume II > Part 30
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and settled on a farm three miles from Carlisle. In his application for a patent in 1734, Richard Parker stated that he had resided there "ye ten years past". Richard Parker died before 1750, his wife Janet survived him fifteen years. John Parker, his son, was born in 1716 and died prior to 1785. Margaret McClure, his wife, died in May, 1792. Children of William and Agnes (Parker) Denny; I. Ebenezer (who will have later mention). 2. Priscilla, born May 28, 1763, died at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, February 22, 1849. 3. William, born March 24, 1765, died in infancy. 4. Nancy Agnes, born August 31, 1768, died unmarried, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, January II, 1845. 5. Margaret, born June 25, 1773, married Samuel Sinnison. 6. Mary, March 13, 1775, died aged three years. 7. Mary, born March 5, 1778, (Mrs. George Murray). 8. Elizabeth, born April 22, 1782, died at Carlisle, March 27, 1848. 9. Boyd, born February 20, 1783, died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
MAJOR EBENEZER DENNY, eldest child of William and Agnes (Parker ) Den- ny, was born at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, March II, 1761, and after an unusually eventful and useful life died at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1822, and was buried in the First Presbyterian churchyard of that city. When the War of the Revolution began Ebenezer was but fifteen years of age, but notwith- standing his youth was a trusted messenger conveying important war messages as far west as Fort Pitt, going alone over the mountains and through the deep forests, lying on the ground at night and always on the alert for Indians, by whom he was often chased. He is described at this time as "a slender, fair, blue-eyed, red-headed boy". His mother was a devout Christian woman who attributed the preservation of her son, amid the perils of battle on land and sea, to "a gracious and watchful Providence", but her friends ascribed it to the fervent prayers of his godly mother. For a little while he was in the employ of his father, but he was of a different mettle. The times were too stirring to stay at home, and learning that a privateer carrying "letters of marque and reprisal" was fitting out at Philadelphia, enlisted as a volunteer and sailed for the West Indies. He saw plenty of fighting and was always so eager and courageous that he was promoted to a command on board. Returning after the first cruise, he was intending to ship for a second, when he received a commission as ensign of the First Regiment Pennsylvania Line. This was in 1778. In August, 1780, he was transferred to the Seventh Pennsylvania, and May 23, 1781, was promoted to lieutenant of the Fourth Pennsylvania. At the time the cords were tighten- ing around Cornwallis, Ensign Denny on the march kept a journal from which we quote. The first quotation is just after a sharp fight with the British near Williamsburg. He says:
"Here for the first time saw wounded men : the sight sickened". As the end approached he says: "Army encamped on the banks of the James River ; part of the French fleet in full view". On September 14, "General Washington arrived ; our brigade was paraded to receive him; officers all pay their respects. He stands in the door, takes every man by the hand, the officers all pass in, receiv- ing the salute and shake hands. This is the first time I have seen the general". On October 15; "Siege operations were at once commenced; the fighting became very warm on both sides and the siege works were pushed with great vigor. Easy digging, light, sandy soil. A shell from one of the French mortars, set fire to a British frigate; she burned to the waters edge and then blew up mak-
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ing an earthquake". On October 17: "Had the pleasure of seeing a drummer mount the enemy's parapet and beat a parley ; immediately an officer made his appearance holding up a white handkerchief. An officer from our line ran and met him and tied the handkerchief over his eyes, and thus was the great event of the surrender of Cornwallis accomplished." When the terms of the sur- render had been agreed upon, October 19, 1781, Ensign Denny was detailed by Colonel Butler to plant the American colors on the surrendered ramparts, but it is related that Baron Steuben dismounted, took them from his hands and planted them himself, a procedure that only the efforts of both Washington and La Fayette prevented from leading to a hostile encounter between Colonel But- ler and Baron Steuben. A little later he was with St. Clair in the Carolinas, and at Charleston during its investment and after the evacuation, but hostilities soon ceased, and the long bitter war was ended.
In the subsequent campaigns against the Indians in the west, he received his promotions, rising to the rank of major. He was with Generals Harmar, St. Clair, Clarke and Wm. Henry Harrison in their operations against the In- dians, and saw plenty of action, for he was adjutant to General Harmar and aide-de-camp to General St. Clair on November 4, 1794, when St. Clair was so overwhelmed and defeated by the Indians. Major Denny was everywhere in the midst of danger and death, but escaped unharmed. He was dispatched by General St. Clair after the battle to bear the news of defeat to President Wash- ington, who was giving a dinner at Philadelphia when the dispatch bearer ar- rived. At first the President asked to have the dispatches sent in to him, but Major Denny returned word that his orders were to deliver them to no one but the President, whereupon he was admitted. Washington read the entirely unex- pected sad tidings, and is said to have flown into a violent passion and used words, none too mild or well chosen. In 1794 he was commissioned a captain, in command of a detachment to protect the commissioners in laying out the town of Presque Isle (now Erie, Pennsylvania), but on arriving at Le Boeuf Point they were turned back by representative chiefs of the Six Nations who ob jected to having the Point occupied at that time. During the years of 1795-96 Major Denny resided upon a farm he had bought along the Monongahela river, six miles above Pittsburgh. At this time he was a candidate for the State Assembly, but was defeated. In 1796 he was elected a commissioner of Alle- gheny county. At this time he sold his farm, and removed to Pittsburgh. In 1803 he was elected treasurer of Allegheny county, and was again elected in 1808, In 1804 he was appointed a director of the Branch Bank of Pennsyl- vania at Pittsburgh, the first bank west of the Allegheny mountains. In the War with England, 1812-14, Major Denny was commissioner for the pur- chase of supplies for troops on the Erie and Niagara frontiers. He displayed his usual energy, and pushed the delivery of supplies, at a personal pecuniary loss, waived the thirty day clause in the contracts, and sent the goods forward. When Pittsburgh was incorporated a city in 1816, Major Denny was elected the first mayor. He was an earnest Presbyterian, and a trustee of the First Church of Pittsburgh, also the first president of the "Moral Society" formed in 1809. He was one of the potent forces in establishing the Western Theological School in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. He, with pioneer Johnson, seated themselves
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at the doorway of the church and received the contributions of the worshippers as was the old Scotch way.
Major Denny married, July 1, 1793, Nancy Wilkins, daughter of Captain John Wilkins, soldier of the Revolution, a former resident of Carlisle, but later of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Denny died May 1, 1806, in her thirty-first year. In the summer of 1822, while on a visit with his daughter Nancy, to Niagara Falls, Major Denny was taken ill and returned with difficulty to Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, where he died July 21, 1822, in his sixty-fifth year. Four children survived him, three sons and a daughter, the children of Nancy (Wil- kins) Denny. The sons all had distinguished careers and were worthy sons of the father. Of Harmar (see forward), the second one, William Henry Denny, was a physician of Pittsburgh, his first wife, Sophia Du Barry bore him : Ebenezer, graduated Annapolis, and served in the United States Navy ; Dupes- sis; Sophia (Mrs. Brady Wilkins), died September 25, 1892; Rebecca (Mrs. Dr. T. S. Verdi) and Juliette (Mrs. Thomas Gibson). His second wife, Maria Poe, bore him: Georgiana, William, Henry and George Talman. St. Clair Denny, the third son of Major Ebenezer Denny, entered the United States army, and rose to the rank of major. He married Caroline Hamilton, who bore him : Morgan Willoughby, Elizabeth O'Hara (Mrs. William Crogan Denny), James Hamilton (who died in childhood), St. Clair (who died in childhood), Annie Harding (Mrs. William Matthews Corcoran), Caroline St. Clair (Mrs. Joseph N. Du Barry), William Irwin (married Elizabeth Wellendorf), and George M. Brooke Denny. Nancy, the only daughter of Major Ebenezer Denny, married Edward Harding, who was born in Maryland, and became an officer in the regu- lar United States army. Their children were: Ebenezer Denny Harding, who was a captain in the regular army, he married Lavinia Morgan; Elizabeth ( Mrs. Oliver W. Barnes) ; William, and Van Buren Harding.
HARMAR DENNY, son of Major Ebenezer and Nancy (Wilkins) Denny, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1794. He was graduated from Dick- inson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1814, and was admitted to the Allegheny county bar, November 13, 1816. He was a born leader among men and whether in church or state was among the foremost. He was known as a most excellent lawyer. His first political office was as a member of the lower house of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, where he so arose in prominence that he was elected to represent the Allegheny district in the National Congress, serving as representative four terms from March 4, 1829, to March 4, 1837. In that year he was elected a member of the Convention called to revise and amend the State Constitution, where he was especially useful. In 1849 he was chosen president of the Pittsburgh Select Council. In 1850 he was presidential elector. In State development he early advocated the building of the Pennsyl- vania railroad, and urged upon the farmers the importance of improved breeds of live stock and better farm machinery. In educational circles he was well known and useful. He was a trustee of the Western University of Pennsyl- vania, and on the board of examiners. He was a director of the Western Theo- logical Seminary at Allegheny City. In 1848 he became a member of the Amer- ican Philosophical Society. His religious faith was Presbyterian, and early in life, under the ministry of Rev. Doctor Herron, he joined the First Church of Pittsburgh, where he thereafter was always a member. He was ruling elder
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from April 12, 1829, until his death. In the sessions and higher courts of the church he was often heard, and helpful to the brethren. A wealthy man, he was also liberal, and his church benefited. He was the first president of Alle- gheny County Auxiliary of the American Bible Society. While in Congress he was an active worker in the Congressional prayer meeting. In short, there were few lines of human endeavor in which he was not a worker. Among the many tributes to his memory, this from the "Presbyterian Encyclopedia" is per- haps the most fitting : "His character was well established and symmetrical. No one ever questioned his rigid integrity, his profound sense of honor and hon- esty, the moral purity of his life or the perfect sincerity of his religious profes- sion. He was a person too, of very prepossessing features, whose appearance had become preëminently venerable. He was erect and gentlemanly in his bear- ing, and though somewhat reserved and dignified, yet a man of genuine modesty and amiability, entirely free from all pretension and eminently kind and affable. In the several spheres of life-domestic, social, civic and ecclesiastical-he was truly and impressively, a good man and his life was without reproach." The wife of Hon. Harmar Denny, whom he married, November 25, 1817, was Elizabeth Febiger O'Hara, who was born December 31, 1796, died January 18, 1878, daughter of General James and Mary (Carson) O'Hara. There were twelve children born of this marriage: I. Ann, died young. 2. Mary O'Hara (Mrs. J. W. Spring). 3. James O'Hara, married (first) Catherine Dallas, (sec- ond) Margaret Stevenson. 4. William Croghan, married (first) Elizabeth Den- ny, (second) Nancy Tripp. 5. Elizabeth O'Hara, became the wife of Hon. Robert McKnight. 6. Catherine. 7. Agnes. 8. Caroline, became the second wife of Rev. William Paxton, D. D. 9. Amelia Mellezena (Mrs. Captain Thomas J. Brereton). 10. Harmar. II. Matilda Wilkins, now of Pittsburgh (north side). 12. Henry Baldwin. Harmar Denny died January 29, 1852, and was buried in the Allegheny Cemetery at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This is another line of Revolutionary descent leading to the Denny family -- that of Elizabeth T. (O'Hara) Denny. The O'Haras are an ancient family of Ireland. They are mentioned in Irish history as far back as 1348 in County Mayo, in the west of Ireland. In 1396, Bishop O'Hara is named, in 1409, Bishop Bryan O'Hara, in 1485, Archbishop O'Hara has mentioned. General Sir Charles O'Hara was created a Baron in 1706. He was of county Mayo, as was his son, General James O'Hara, who served and received a title from Queen Ann. General James O'Hara had hanging on the walls of his Pittsburgh home the coat-of-arms of the barony of Tyrawley, in recognition of his descent from the Baron O'Hara, of county Mayo-Vert on the pale radiant or, a lion ram- pant, sable. James O'Hara (afterward quartermaster-general in the American army) came to America in 1772. He landed in Philadelphia, but soon found his way to Western Pennsylvania, where he was an Indian trader for a firm in Philadelphia. He left them and for a time till March, 1774, was employed by Pittsburgh men as their Indian trader in (now) St. Lawrence county. His ac- counts were kept with the Indian in buck, doe and fawn skins. Here are a few of his entries: "Captain Pipe's account, pea, meat, chease, lives on the creek." "Captain Pipe promises to pay these accounts if the other would not". "Deer skins received of his wife, 10 shillings; I Buck skin", "paid Joseph
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Hamaltius, 6 shillings, I pence", "remainder of raccoon and foxes skins got at camp". "Account with White woman who lives in the smith's shop". "Dr. Pipe's brother-in-law". "Dr. the little Muncy man who bot gun at thr Muncy- town, I pint powder". From March, 1774, till the breaking out of the war, he was government agent among the Indians. As O'Hara had served three years in the British army and had ranked as ensign, he was thought capable of being captain. He raised and equipped a volunteer company, the equipment being a hunting shirt, buckskin breeches and the ever ready rifle. The company was first sent to Fort Canhawa (now Kanawha) which had been erected by the State of Virginia. Here Captain O'Hara and his men remained until 1779. The company having been reduced to twenty-nine men through losses from the Indian fighting, the fort was abandoned, the cattle and horses sent to Pitts- burgh, while the few men surviving were attached to the North Virginia regu- lars under General Broadhead, December 13, 1779. O'Hara, who spoke Frencli, the Indian dialects, and understood their sign writing, was of great benefit to Major Clark, whom he accompanied on his arduous march through the Wabash country. He was sent east with letters to General Washington, and remained at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, until 1780, when he was appointed commissary for the General Hospital and stationed at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1781 he was made assistant quartermaster. The winter of 1779-80 was one of unusual sever- ity. The means of transportation were closed and supplies could not be furn- ished the army in a great quantity, nor with regularity. The depreciation of the Continental currency also caused most serious difficulty. The distress conse- quent was responsible for the revolt of the Pennsylvania Line in 1781. Captain O'Hara, as assistant quartermaster, used every endeavor to provide for the southern campaign of 1781 under General Greene. Of the history of his efforts for this purpose there remains but one small memorandum book. In that can be traced his journey with the army and a record of provisions, procured by him- self and his assistant, Mr. Elliot. Names of places are given that correspond with the most noted places and battles of the southern campaign. South Caro- lina was in the hands of Cornwallis, and he was preparing to invade North Carolina. Morgan defeated the British Colonel Tarleton at "The Cowpens," January 17, 1781. There were various pursuits and retreats until March 15, when the battle of Guilford Court House was fought. This was one of the hottest fights of the war. The Americans were repulsed, but the British were too badly shattered to pursue. At Camden, General Greene had a hard battle with the British under Lord Rawdon, and was defeated. Again at Eutaw Springs the armies grappled and both claimed the victory. These and other places are mentioned in the book, showing that Captain O'Hara was giving ac- tive personal attention to the duties of his department (the commissary). He remained with the army until July, 1783, when having seen the last of the Penn- sylvania troops on board the transport, he traveled north to Philadelphia in com- pany with General Wayne.
After settling the affairs of his office he returned to Pittsburgh, accompanied by his newly wedded wife, in a wagon, the only means of travel. She was Mary, daughter of William Carson, a Scotch gentleman of means. The house to which Captain O'Hara brought his bride was built of logs. She however had brought with her all the luxuries of home life that could be transported. The
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carpets astonished the western country people, and they expressed their sur- prise, that Mrs. O'Hara should spread coverlets on the floor to walk on. The house stood near the Allegheny river, above Fort Pitt, in what was called the "Officers' Orchard". During his residence in Pittsburgh, General O'Hara was noted for his hospitality. To his home all were welcome, from the countryman who came for rest or refreshment, to his guests of honor, Louis Phillipe, Gen- eral Moreau, and his friends the French officers. Letters from officers high in rank in the army, prove their esteem and confidence in him. April 19, 1792, he was appointed quartermaster-general of the regular United States army, and served until May, 1796, being succeeded by General John Wilkins father of Nancy, the wife of Major Ebenezer Denny (See Denny). After the war ended, General O'Hara took a contract to furnish provisions for the western army under General Harmar, and did this satisfactorily, and was appointed quartermaster and treasurer for the payment of the soldiers. His accounts were kept with the most scrupulous exactness, as his reports to the Treasury Department show, and the following confirms:
Treasury Department, Registers Office, Mar. 6, 1792.
These are to certify that James O'Hara, late contractor for supplying the army with provisions, and who occasionally acted as Quartermaster of the troops and agent for the supply of Indian goods, is not charged with any moneys on the treasury books. That he has from time to time settled his accounts in a regular manner at the Treasury, and has given general satisfaction to the Treasury officers with whom he has settled said ac- counts.
(Signed) Joseph Nourse, Register.
April 19, 1792, Captain James O'Hara was appointed quartermaster-general in the United States army, and served until May, 1796.
War Department, April 19, 1792.
Sir :- The President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate has appointed you Quarter-Master General in the army of the United States. You will please immediately to signify your acceptance or non-acceptance of this appoint- ment. In order that you may judge of the pay, rations and emoluments of the commis- sioned and non-commissioned officers and privates in the service of the United States, I enclose you the act of Congress relating to the military establishment. I am, dear sir, Your humble servant, H. Knox, Secretary of War.
(James O'Hara).
In the spring of that year (1796) he built a saw mill in Allegheny City, and planned with Major Isaac Craig the erection of glass works. They spent thir- ty thousand dollars (a fortune in those days) before a single bottle was blown, but later it was a paying business. The glass industry of Pittsburgh owes its inception and infant life to those two men, O'Hara and Craig. The glass works of O'Hara and Craig made a common green grade of window glass, bottles and other hollow goods. They used an eight pot furnace and turned out three boxes of window glass daily, about three hundred square feet. A memorandum from General O'Hara's book, found after his death reads: "To-day we made the first bottle, at a cost of $30,000." He was a builder of ships at Pittsburgh. They were built at his ship yard, loaded, then floated down the rivers to New Orleans, where they were rigged and sent on their voyages.
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He built the "General Butler," which made several voyages across the ocean, but was captured by the Spanish, October 3, 1807. In 1811 he was a partner with John Henry Hopkins (after Bishop of Vermont) in the iron works at Ligonier, Westmoreland county, that failed. He made large purchases of land in Allegheny and other counties of western Pennsylvania. In 1804 he was appointed a director of the Pittsburgh Branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania. He ran for Congress in 1802 and in 1804, but failed of an election. He was a Presidential elector in 1789 when George Washington was chosen. He was an able assistant to General Wilkinson in raising the money to build the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, and donated a handsome chandelier which hung in the church for many years. He died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, De- cember 21, 1819, aged sixty-seven years. His wife, Mary Carson O'Hara, died April 8, 1834, aged seventy-three years. Their daughter, Elizabeth Febiger O'Hara married Hon. Harmar Denny (see Denny). Another daughter, Mary, inarried a son of Major Croghan. Three sons, William Carson, James and Charles, died before their father. A granddaughter of General James O'Hara was Mrs. Schenley, who is held in loving recollection by Pittsburghers for her many gifts of parks and other benefactions, amounting in all to ten millions of dollars. Her mother was Mary O'Hara, who married William, a son of Cap- tain Croghan. Her husband was Captain Schenley, a British officer. After her marriage Mrs. Schenley made her home in London, England, but never forgot her native city, where the news of her death was received with genuine sorrow.
Richard Butler O'Hara, son of Captain James and Mary (Carson) O'Hara, was born in Pittsburgh, where he died while still a young man. He was always of a delicate state of health and never actively engaged in business or public life. He married Mary Boyd. Their children were: James O'Hara, de- ceased ; Elizabeth O'Hara, unmarried ; Mary Carson O'Hara (Mrs. William M. Darlington).
Mary Carson, daughter of Richard Butler and Mary (Boyd) O'Hara, was born at "Guyasuta," Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where she has resided all her life. She was educated at Edgeworth (now Braddock) Seminary, and Miss McLeod's School for Young Ladies, Staten Island, New York. She is an accomplished linguist, speaking, reading and writing with fluency, French, German and Spanish. She married William M. Darlington, who was an au- thor of repute, to whom she was of the greatest assistance in translating and copying from original documents, which were largely French and Spanish in language. Mrs. Darlington has devoted a great deal of her life to genealogical research and historical writing. Her "Fort Pitt" (her only published volume) is a standard authority and widely quoted. She is a member of the Presby- terian church, and an honorary member of Pittsburgh Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. The children of William M. and Mary Carson (O'Hara) Darlington are: O'Hara Darlington, unmarried; Hilborn, died in 1862; Mary O'Hara Darlington, and Edith (Mrs. Samuel A. Ammon).
William McCullough Darlington was a son of Benjamin and Agnes (McCul- lough) Darlington, a grandson of Amos and Elizabeth (Powell) Darlington, and a descendant of the English emigrant Abraham Darlington, who came to Pennsylvania about 1711. His grandfather Amos was a farmer of Chester
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county, Pennsylvania ; his father, Benjamin, was a successful merchant of Pitts- burgh, where he died February 15, 1856. William M. Darlington was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May, 1815, and died at "Guyasuta," Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1889. He was by profession a lawyer but for several years before his death devoted himself exclusively to literary work and historical research. Owing to his knowledge of property and local history he was an authority often consulted by judges and leading attorneys of Allegheny county. In 1888, on the completion of the new court house, he received the keys from the county commissioners as being the oldest member of the county bar, though not the oldest man. His library, which he was collecting all through his life, number 11,000 volumes, being one of the best in quality and largest in quantity of any private collection in the State. He was a member of several historical societies,-a vice-president of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, and was considered an authority on American history, especially that of Western Pennsylvania, and the Ohio Valley. He compiled and published "Illustrative Notes to Journal of Colonel John May, of Boston, 1788-89"; "Christopher Gist's Journal, Notes and Biographies"; "An Appendix of Illustrative Notes to Colonel Smith's Narrative of Captivity with the Indians, 1755-59." He also prepared a great number of historical papers and genealogical sketches which were published by others in various publications.
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