USA > Pennsylvania > Early history of western Pennsylvania, and of the West, and of western expeditions and campaigns, from MDCCLIV to MDCCCXXXIII > Part 70
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[NO. XXVII. ] WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
On the presentation and mature consideration of a petition to the Leg- islature, from a great number of inhabitants of the county of Bedford, west of the Laurel Hill, setting forth the great hardships of being remote from the seat of judicature and the public offices, the county of West- moreland was erected by an act passed February 26, 1773, defining the boundaries as follows : "Beginning in the province line of Pennsylva- nia, where the most westerly branch, commonly called the south of Great Branch of Youghiogheny river crosses the same ; then down the easterly side of the said branch and river to Laurel Hill ; thence along the ridge of the said hill, northeastward, so far as it can be traced, or till it runs into the Allegheny hill ; thence along the ridge dividing the waters of Susquehanna and the Allegheny river, to the purchase line at the head of Susquehanna ; thence due west to the limits of the province, and by the same to the place of beginning."
By an act of 1785, Benjamin Davis, Michael Rough, John Shields, John Pomroy and Hugh Martin, were appointed commissioners to pur- chase a piece of ground, in trust for the inhabitants of the county ; with this proviso, "that the piece of land be not further east than the Nine Mile Run, nor further west than Bushy Run, nor further north than Loyalhanna, nor further south than five miles south of the Old Penn- [254]
APPENDIX -- NO. XXVII.
sylvania road leading to Pittsburg," and thereon to erect a court house and prison for the use of the county.
The ample limits of this county have been gradually reduced by erecting the following counties, wholly or in part out of Westmoreland ; Washington, 1781 ; Fayette, 1783 ; Allegheny, 1788 ; Butler, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren, Venango and Armstrong, 1800; Indiana, 1803.
This county is bounded on the north by Armstrong and Indiana; east by Cambria and Somerset ; south by Fayette ; and west by Washington and Allegheny. Its length is 37 miles, breadth 29, area 1,004 miles, and contains 662,560 acres of land. Central latitude, 40° 18', longitude 20° 32', west from Washington City. The population in 1790 was 16,018 ; in 1800, 22,726; in 1810, 26,492 ; in 1820, 30,540 ; in 1830, 38,500 ; in 1840, 42,699 ; at present about 45,000.
The following table exhibits at one view the population of each town- ship, according to census of 1810, '20, '30, and '40.
TOWNSHIPS, BOROUGHS.
POPULATION.
1810
1820
1830
1840
Greensburg borough,
685
770
810
800
Washington,
1695
1478
2153
2004
Allegheny,
1388
2058
2642
Loyalhannah,
1130
New Alexandria borough,
427
Salem,
1518
1965
2294
1892
Salem borough,
204
North Huntingdon,
2345
2217
3170
1878
Sewickly,
1573
Rostraver,
1786
1679
1721
1880
South Huntingdon,
1656
2004
2294
2793
Franklin,
1542
1757
2168
2320
East Huntingdon,
1267
1383
1516
1776
Mount Pleasant,
1780
2060
2381
2123
Unity,
2174
2436
2990
3003
Fairfield,
1973
2685
2422
2035
Donegal,
2147
2564
2052
2261
Youngstown borough,
415
Ligonier borough,
294
Hempfield, t
3444
3885
4565
4772
Total,
26,392 30,540 38,500 42,699
The adult male population was variously employed. In mining, 45; agriculture, 4,948; commerce, 182; manufactures and trades, 1,235; navigation of the ocean, 3; of canals and rivers, 83; learned profes- sions, 143.
This county, lying west of the main ridge of the Allegheny mountain, belongs to secondary formation; and its physical aspect is diversified
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554
Ligonier,
1916
2204
Mount Pleasant borough,
2380
2301
3890
3722
ed nt n, IS Derry,
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
with hills and dales. Laurel Hill and Chestnut Ridge are the two prin- cipal mountain ranges of this county ; the former constitutes its eastern boundary, separating it from Cambria and Somerset. Parallel to this, twelve miles further westward, is the Chestnut Ridge. The region of country between these two prominent and well defined ranges, is Ligo- nier Valley, named after an old Fort of that name, which was erected during the French and Indian wars, between 1757, and '63. 'The gene- ral character of the surface of this county is rolling and hilly ; in many places, "table land, scooped out into hills and valleys by the action of water." The soil, save in the mountainous regions, is generally fertile ; and under proper culture, highly productive. Limestone and bitumin- ous coal are accessible in nearly all parts of the county. Iron ore is found in Donegal, Ligonier, Fairfield, Derry and several other townships. Salt works are numerous. Wells have been bored along the Cone- maugh, Kiskiminetas, and on Sewickly creek; 120,000 bushels are annually manufactured.
Westmoreland produces wheat of superior quality, and all other cereal grains are successfully cultivated. 'The products in general, are abun- dant. The following summary of the census of 1840, afford the reader some idea of the amount of actual wealth in the county.
Mineral, Agricultural, Horticultural, Commercial, &c., Statistics of Westmoreland county, of 1840.
Bituminous coal raised, 572,630 bushels ; domestic salt produced, 117,073 bushels.
Live Stock, &c .-- Horses and mules, 12,600; neat cattle, 30,000; sheep, 45,632 ; swine, 27,969 ; value of poultry of all kinds, $15,625.
Cereal Grains, &c .-- Wheat, 466,382 bu. ; barley, 228 ; oats, 757,241 ; rye, 103,884 ; buckwheat, 56,141; corn, 422,512; pounds of wool, 62,876 ; hops, 637; wax, 437; potatoes, 116,052; tons of hay, 24,738: pounds of tobacco gathered, 18,400; pounds of sugar made, 32,536 ; value of the products of the dairy, $4,000; of the orchard, $9,072; of. home-made goods, $79,159 ; stores, 74 ; capital, $205,800. Fulling mills, 6; woollen manufactories, 2 ; value of manufactured goods, $4,000; capital, $9,800. Value of hats and caps manufactured, $1,670. Tanne- ries 36; tanned 4,355 sides of sole, and 5,180 of upper leather; capital, $95,980. Distilleries, 53 ; produced, 175,480 gallons. Value of car- riages and wagons manufactured, $6,260. Flouring mills 70, grist mills 6, saw mills 86, oil mills 3. Total amount of capital invested in all kinds of manufacture, $239,881.
The aggregate amount of property taxable was in 1845, $5,312,068; whereof $4,861,780 was real estate.
The county is abundantly watered by several large streams, and nu- merous small ones. The rivers are the Allegheny, Conemaugh, Kiski- minetas and Youghioghany.
The Allegheny bounds on the west for several miles. For a descrip- tion of it see Allegheny county. The Conemaugh, formed by the un- ion of Little Conemaugh creek with Stony creek, forms the northern boundary to the mouth of Loyalhanna, and thence to its junction with the Allegheny, having in this portion of its course the name of Kiski-
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
minetas. The Youghiogheny, rising in Maryland, passing into Penn- sylvania, dividing Fayette from Somerset, and Washington from West- moreland, for several miles, along Rostraver township, is a navigable stream as far as to Ohiopile falls, in Fayette county, sixty miles above its junction with the Monongahela river. Besides these there are num- bers of creeks, such as Loyalhanna, Big and Little Sewickly, Brush, Turtle, Jacob's, Beaver Dam, Shade, Chartier, Crabtree, Indian, Tub- mill, Poketos, Mill, and some others, besides several runs, viz : Pine, Stony, M'Gees, Two-mile, Four-mile, Nine-mile, Washington, Gavode, Hendrick's, Roaring, Long and others. In an old map of 1796, several names are given to runs, not noticed in maps of more recent date ; such as Poke run, a branch of Beaver Dam ; Bartholomew's run, a branch of Conemaugh; Twelve-mile and Fourteen-mile runs, branches of Loyal- hanna. The several streams afford abundant water power to about eighty grist mills, ninety saw mills, six or more fulling mills and several oil mills. Amongst the first mills of the county, were Irwin's, Craig's, Wallis', Mecklin's, Cherry's Carr's, Altman's, Amoss', &c.
Timber is very plenty. The most common forest trees are the seve- ral oaks ; as white oak. (Quercus alba,) black oak, (Q. Tinctora,) &c .; hickory of various kinds ; walnut, (Juglans); sugar maple, (Acer sach- arinum,) from which upwards of 30,000 pounds are annually manufac- tured, poplar, &c.
The improvements in general are onward. Several good turnpike roads pass through the county. The " pike by the northern route," from Harrisburg to Pittsburg, extends through this county from the Conemaugh at Blairsville to Murraysville, a distance of twenty-three miles. The central pike from Philadelphia via Chambersburg, Bedford to Pittsburg, passes through Laughlinstown, Ligonier, Youngstown and Greensburg. The turnpike from Somerset via Washington to Wheel- ing, passes through Mount Pleasant and West Newton, in the southern part of the county. Another one recently made from Jamestown in Cambria county to Ligonier, nineteen miles. Also a clay-pike through Ligonier Valley from Centreville, on the Conemaugh to Donegal, twenty-two miles in length.
The common roads are generally good-at least passable in every season of the year. All the important streams have been bridged. 'There is one across the Conemaugh at Blairsville and Saltzburg ; one on the Youghiogheny at West Newton, and several across Loyalhanna, at the most important " crossings."
Education receives considerable attention. An academy was incor- porated at Greensburg in 1810, to which the State made a donation of $2000. The Languages, Mathematics, and the usual branches are taught. If more liberally supported than it has been, its beneficial effects would be more generally felt and duly appreciated.
Common schools, it seems, receive due share of attention. There are 25 school districts, of which 21 have made reports to the Superin- tendent, stating that there were 168 schools in operation under the law : the average period taught is 52 months; in which 9,207 scholars were taught in 1845. The amount of tax raised for this purpose, was $9,326 78-the State appropriation $5,037 42.
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APPENDIX-NO. XXVII.
Presbyterians, Lutherans, German Reformed and Methodists, are the most numerous religious persuasions ; there are also Covenanters, Bap- tists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Mormonites, and some other minor sects.
GREENSBURG, the county town, on the Bedford and Pittsburg turn- pike, 30 miles east from the latter, in the midst of a fertile and well cultivated country, was laid out about the year 1784 or '85, and incor- porated as a borough February, 1799 ; and was made the seat of justice after the burning of Hannastown in 1782. It has a large, commodious brick court-house, county offices, and a stone prison ; a brick academy ; several churches, belonging to the German Reformed, Lutheran, Episco- pal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Covenanters. Population in 1840, 800. There is a steam mill in the borough, and several branches of domestic manufacture are carried on for the supply of the neighborhood.
Besides the county town, there are several other boroughs, towns and villages, viz : Mount Pleasant, New Alexandria, Youngstown, Stewarts- ville, Jacksonville, Adamsburg, Grapeville, Ligonier, Laughlinstown, Robstown, Port Royal, Salem Cross Roads, Murraysville, Pleasant Unity, Mansfield, Fairfield, Lockport, Randolph, Nolandsville, North Washington, Bridestown, New Derry.
This county was originally settled by Irish and German emigrants. William Findley, author of the History of the Western Insurrection, says : "The western and south-western portion of Westmoreland, and south-eastern part of Armstrong, were settled about the year 1769, the next year after the proprietary of Pennsylvania had purchased the country from the Indians, as far west as the Allegheny and Ohio rivers. In 1769, the land-office for the sale or location of the lately purchased land, was opened. Several thousands of locations were applied for on the first day. The settlement on the east side of the Monongahela and Allegheny, was very rapidly extended, from the Monongahela, forty miles northward, as far as to Crooked Creek, and the first settlers were generally a more sober, orderly people, than commonly happens in the first settlements of new countries. A great proportion of them were farmers' sons, who emigrated from the old countries, and who were generally acquainted with each other. The wave of emigration had rolled on so rapidly, and settlements established, that in a few years time, after the lands here were offered, a new county was organized ; (Westmoreland)."
,
Previous to 1758, this county was a vast wilderness. The first road opened through this region was in 1758, the time when General Forbes's army proceeded to Fort Du Quesne. See Forbes's Expedition.
The first settlers were much annoyed by the Indians for a long time ; and for some years it was not safe for them to live otherwise than under the protection of forts. They were greatly alarmed in 1774, appre- hending in consequence of the murder committed upon some Indians, some twenty miles above Wheeling, by Cressap and others ; of which an account has been given. They assembled ; petitioned Governor John Penn ; setting forth, " that there was great reason to apprehend that the country would again be immediately involved in all the horrors of an Indian war : that their circumstances, at that critical time, were truly alarming : deserted, said they, by the far greater part of our neigh-
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WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
bors and fellow-subjects, unprotected with places of strength to resort to with ammunition, provisions, and with almost every other necessary store. Our houses abandoned to pillage ; labor and industry entirely at a stand ; our crops destroyed by cattle ; our flocks dispersed ; the minds of our people distracted with the terrors of falling along with the help- less and unprotected families, the immediate victims of savage barbarity." In the midst of these scenes of desolation and ruin, next to the Almighty, we look to your Honor, hoping, from your known benevolence and humanity, such protection and relief as your Honor shall see meet."
A number of petitions of this kind were signed and sent to Governor Penn, one dated 1774, Fort Shippen, at Captain John Proctor's.
Signed by Lot Darling, Andrew Woolf, George Helbingbar, Samuel Sloan, William Caldwell, Robert Roulston, William Allison, William Cortny, John Patrick, Benjamin Cochran, David Maxwill, Wm. Hughs, Elias . Pellet, James Gammel, James Forsyth, Robert Taylor, John Leslie, William Anderson, Joseph Campbell, John McKee, George Moore, William Perry, Charles Mitchell, James Wallace, John Scott, Knight Scott, Robert Stevenson, Andrew Allison, John Cox, William Michel, Joseph Man, George Henry, James Campbell, Josias Camp- bell, Paul Wag, John Lam, Joseph Saphut, Isaac Paar, John Moore, Robert Beislein, John Lydick, Philip Couze, William McCall, George Smiele, Ferguson Moorhead, Richard Jarvis, David Killgour, John Proctor, Samuel Moorhead, William Lochry, James Hamilton, Arthur Harvey, Patrick Archbold, William Mount, John Davis, John Harry, John Pugan, Robert Marshal, John Campbell, Henry Zane, Robert Caldwell, George Leasure, James Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson, Robt. Cochran, John Taylor, William Slone, William Martin, Robert Cald- well, Andrew Mitchell, David Sloan, James Fulton, Francis McGinnis, James Carnahan, William Thompson, Allen Sloan, Moses Dickie, Na- thaniel Bryan.
Similar one headed Fort Allen, Hempfield township, between Wen- del Ourys and Chistopher Trubee, (no date.)
Wendel Oury, Christopher Trubee, Frantz Raupp, Nicholas Scheuer, John Lafferty, John Bendeary, Conrad Houck, James Waterms, John Redeck, Adam George, Nicholas Allimang, Adam Uhrig, Stofel Urich, John Golden, Peter Urich, Martin Hunts, Michael Konel, Hen- rich Kleyn, Conrad Hister, Hans Gunckee, Peter Kasner, Peter Uber, John Kransher, Henrich Schmit, Jacob Schmit, Jacob Kuemel, John Moffey, Adam Bricker, Peter Wannemacher, Philip Klingelschmit, Peter Klingelschmit, Peter Altman, Andoni Altman, Joseph Pankkek, Brent Reis, Baltzer Moyer, Jacob Hauser, Peter Altman, Christian Baum, George Crier, Peter Rosch. Joseph Kutz, Adam Meire, Daniel Wilers, Thomas Williams, Michel Hatz, George Mondarf, William Hanson, William Altman, Marx Breinig, Johannes Breinig, Samuel Lewisch, Andony Walter, Jacob Welcker, George Bender, Nicholas Junt, Michel Hann, David Marshal, Heinrich Sil, Richard Archbold, Conrad Linck, Friedrich Marschal, Hannes Breynig, Kasper Mick- endorf, Jacob Schraber, Daniel Matiss, Henrich Schram, Peter Schel- hammer, Jacob Meylin, Dewalt Macklin, Hannes Kostwitz, Jacob
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APPENDIX-NO. XXVII.
Schram, Lutwig Aterman, Hans Sil, Jacob Stroh, Christopher Herolt, Gerhart. Tames.
Similar one from the same county-signed :
Robert Hanna, Alex. Thomson, William Jack, Joseph Kinkead, Manuel Galloher, William Shaw, William Jenkins, William Dawson, J. Donne, Joshua Archer, John Gothery, Joseph McGarraugh, William McCutchin, James McCutchin, Jeremiah Lochrey, Joseph Brownlee, Robert Taylor, John Ould, Wm. Riddle, Hugh Brownlee, James Leech, David Crutchlow, James Crutchlow, Peter Castner, David Crutchlow, jr., John Cristy, Joseph Shaw, David Shaw, Win. Nelson, John Guth- ery, James Dunlap, Robert Riddle, John Riddle, William Guthery, Charles Wilson, Joseph Studybaker, Wm. Darraugh, James Darraugh, Wm. Thompson, David Dickie, Wm. Dickie, George Dickie, Moses Dickie, John Thompson, John Glass, John Holmes, Charles Foreman, Samuel Miller, John Shields, Thomas Paton, John Taylor, Samuel Parr, James Case, Adam Maxwell, Wm. Maxwell, Wm. Barnes, James Moore, John Moore, Thomas Burbridge, Martin Cavanagh, Arthur Denworthy, David Larrimor, Thomas Freeman, Wm. Freeman, James Blain, Alex. McClean, John Moore, John Nolder, Wm. Moore, Wm. Hamilton, Thomas Ellis, Mark Ellis, John Ellis, John Adam, Andrew McClain, Robert Bell, Wm. Bell, Wm. Kerr, Samuel Craig, John Craig, Alex. Craig, John Cochran, James Wills, Henry McBride, Isaac McBride, James Bently, Jacob Round, Barnabas Brant, Wm. Brant, Edward Brant, Samuel Whiteside, Samuel Leetch, Matthew Miller, Alex. Mers, George Kean, Charles McGinnes, Wm. Kindsey, Thomas Jack, John McAllister, Alex. Thomas, Samuel Couper, Jolin Gourla, Samuel Gourla, James Beatty, Samuel Henderson, John Bryson, Robt. Crawford, Alex. Simeall, James McClelland, James White, Thomas Dennis, John Shrimpley, Richard Jones, Wmn. Moore, Adam Oury, John Cunningham, John Muckmolon, Peter Stot, Wm. McCord, An- drew Gordin, John Muppin, John Christy, Patrick Colgan, P. Russell, James Neilson, Abraham Pyatt, B. McGeehan, Joseph Thorn, Robert Frier, William Powel, William Carr, Joseph Erwin, John Brownlee, Thomas Lyon.
A similar petition was sent to Governor Penn from a number of per- sons of Westmoreland county, who had assembled at the house of a certain John Shields near to, or within about five or six miles of Hanna's town, and on the Loyalhanna, where, as a defence for their wives and families, they erected a small fort, and by the direction of the gentle- men of the association took up arms for the general defence. Your petitioners, say they, thought themselves extremely happy and secure, when your honor and the Assembly were pleased to order a number of troops to be raised for our general assistance and protection ; but we are now rendered very uneasy by the removal of these troops, their arms and amunition, on which our greatest dependence lay, and which' we understand are ordered to Kittanning, a place at least twenty-five or thirty miles distant from any of the settlements. Your petitioner being left thus exposed without arms, amunition, or the protection of these removed troops, humbly conceive themselves to be in danger from the enemy, and are sorry to observe to your honor, that it is ours, as well [260 ]
WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
as the general opinion, that removing the troops to so distant and unin- habited a part of the province as Kittanning is, cannot answer the good purposes intended, but seems to serve the purposes of some who regard not the public welfare.
They then conclude by asking protection. The petition is signed by John Shields, John Nolder, William Moore, James Moore, John M'In- tire, David Henen, Henry Heathly, Manuel Gallahan, Isaac Parr, Jas. Parr, Samuel Parr, Arthur Denniston, Archibald Trimble, John Dennis- ton, Lorance Irwin, John Moore, Isaac Youngsee, Daniel McManame, Patrick Butler, Daniel McBride, James Blain, John Thompson, James Wills, Andrew Wills, Robert Bell, William Bell, Alexander McClain, Charles McClain, Andrew McClain, Thomas Burbridge, William Brant, Samuel Craig, John Craig, Alexander Craig, James Burns, John Coch- ran, David Shields, Thomas Freeman, Barnabas Brant, Edward Brant, James Bently, Jacob Round, John Moore, William Barns, William Cooper, William Hamilton, James Hall, David Loramer, John Lora- mer, Alexander Barr.
Another of a similar import, of persons who had assembled at Han- na's towns, where at their own expense they erected a small fortifica- tion, as a shelter for their wives and families during the troublesome times. The petition is signed by :
Willihm Danaugh, Samuel Beatty, James Walker, David Shield, Joseph McGanaugh, William Brown, William McGlaughen, John Brownlee, Joseph Brownlee, Samuel McKee, John McDowell, David McKee, Robert McKee, James Paul, William McKee, William Samson, John Brown, Adam Morrow, John Giffen, Isaac Keeth, Dennis McCon- nel, George Nelson, James King, John Canan, William Shaw, Archi- bald Leach, James Boveard, Robert Haslet, Joseph Shaw, James West- ley, John Gourla, Samuel Gourla, John Calhoun, John Lent, Stephen Groves, John Adams, John Hays, Charles Sterret, Robert Hays, John Gothery, jr., John Gothery, sen'r., Adam Soot, George Dickie, John Crisby, Andrew McIntire, Patrick Callan, Charles Foreman, John Holmes, Joseph Winlice, William Thomas, Joseph Caldwell, Wendel Oury, Philip Smith, Jacob Smith, Peter Hill, Frantz Rub, Jared Tho- mas, Samuel Lewis, Jacob Kimmel, John Moffly, Henrich Keyn, John Erolt, John Breinig, John Painter, George Painter, Michael Bayerlay, Christopher Kertruby, Adam Bury, Christopher Uhrig, Conrad Enck, Peter Uhrick, Abraham Dunkelberger, Jacob Hauser, Peter Halsumer, Adam George, Conrad Hack, George Hack, Johannes Gransher, Jo- seph Ras, Ernest Reis, Daniel Wilhelm, Nicholas Schaver, Henry Smith, Michael Doels, Michael Gundel, John Scott, Martin Onserle, Ludwig Miller, Andrew Walter, John Gonkel, James Waterson.
" During the whole time of the Revolutionary war, and for some time after it ceased," says Findley, " the country was cruelly wasted by per- petual savage depredations. The frontier was equally exposed on all sides, round the whole extent of the country, except, perhaps, a few miles on the east, near Youghiogeny river. The whole of what is now Westmoreland and Allegheny counties, except a very few townships, was either actually laid waste, or the inhabitants obliged to shelter them- selves in forts. The then county town (Hanna's town) was attacked in
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APPENDIX -- NO. XXVII.
the time of court, and though the records were preserved, yet the town, with most of the property it contained, was burnt; and a number were also killed and taken prisoners."
The following from the Greensburg Argus, of 1836, details the particulars of the burning of Hanna's town :
" About three miles from Greensburg, on the old road to New Alex- andria, there stand two modern built log tenements, to one of which a sign-post and a sign is appended, giving due notice that at the seven yellow stars, the wayfarer may partake of the good things of this world. Between the tavern and the Indian gallows hill on the west, once stood Hanna's town, the first place west of the Allegheny mountains where justice was dispensed according to the legal forms by the white man. The county of Westmoreland was established by the provincial legisla- ture on the 26th of Feb. 1773, and the courts directed to be held at Hanna's town. It consisted of about thirty habitations, some of them cabins, but most of them aspiring to the name of houses, having two stories, of hewed logs. There were a wooden court house and a jail of the like construction. A fort stockaded with logs, completed the civil and military arrangements of the town. The first prothonotary and clerk of the courts was Arthur St. Clair, Esq., afterwards general in the revolutionary army. Robert Hanna, Esq., was the first presiding jus- tice in the courts ; and the first Court of Common Pleas was held in April, 1773. Thomas Smith, Esq., afterwards one of the judges on the supreme bench, brought quarterly, from the east, the most abstruse learning of the profession, to puzzle the backwoods lawyers ; and it was here that Hugh Henry Breckenridge, afterwards also a judge on the supreme bench, made his debut, in the profession which he afterwards illustrated and adorned by his genius and learning. The road first opened to Fort Pitt by Gen. Forbes and his army, passed through the town. The periodical return of the court brought together a hardy, adventurous, frank, and open-hearted set of men from the Redstone, the Georges creek, the Youghiogheny, the Monongahela, and the Catfish settlements, as well as from the region, now in its circumscribed limits, still called " Old Westmoreland." It may well be supposed that on such occasions, there was many an uproarious merry-making. Such men, when they occasionally met at courts, met joyously. But the plough has long since gone over the place of merry-making ; and no log or mound of earth remains to tell where justice had her scales.
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