USA > Pennsylvania > Bedford County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Fulton County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 12
USA > Pennsylvania > Somerset County > History of Bedford, Somerset, Fulton counties Pennsylvania > Part 12
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The Penns having now acquired the Indian title to this great tract, measures were immedi- ately taken to prepare the newly purchased lands for sale to settlers. On February 23, 1769, they published an advertisement for the general information of the public, to the effect that their land office in Philadelphia would be open on 3d April next following, at ten o'clock A. M., to receive applications from all persons inclined to take up lands in the new purchase, upon the terms of five pounds sterling per one hundred acres, and one penny per acre per an- num quit-rent.
It being known that great numbers of people would attend at the land office on the day of opening, ready to give in their locations at the same moment, it was the opinion of the Gover- nor and proprietary agents that the most unex- ceptionable method of receiving the locations would be to put them all together (after being received from the people) into a box or trunk, and after mixing them well together, to draw them out and number them in the order they should be drawn, thus determining the prefer- ence of those respecting vacant lands. Those
who had settled plantations, especially those who had located by permission of the command- ing officers, to the westward, were declared to have a preference. But those persons who had settled or made what they called improvements since the purchase should not thereby acquire any advantage.
Regarding the titles to land in Pennsylvania, we remark here that the charter dated March 4, 1681, granting the province to William Penn, is the foundation of all land titles in the state. Subsequently, and at various times, as we have shown, the aboriginal titles were extinguished by purchase from the chiefs of the Six Nations. Thereafter the vacant lands continued to be owned by the heirs of William Penn until dur- ing the revolutionary war, when an act usually called the "Divesting Act " was passed (Novem- ber 27, 1779), and the wild or unoccupied lands of the defunct province thereby became the property of the commonwealth. To that point all seems regular enough, and the narrative is one easily apprehended ; but there all regularity ceased, for instead of the lands being first sur- veyed and afterward sold, the very reverse was the fact. Hence, with the early settlers of Bedford and Somerset counties the first step necessary to be done was to establish a toma- hawk, location or improvement claim to the tract chosen by them, afterward followed the warrant or patent, and lastly the survey. In- deed, in many instances the patent was not issued, nor the survey made, until a score or more of years after the land had been occupied.
The manner in which the settler recorded his "tomahawk " claim was to deaden a few trees near a spring, and to cut the initials of his name in the bark of others, as indicative of his inten- tion to hold and occupy the lands adjacent to or surrounded by the blazed and deadened trees. These " claims " constituted no title, and were of no legal value, except so far as they were evidences of actual occupation. They were not sanctioned by any law, but were gen- erally - though not always -recognized and respected by the settlers ; and thus, in the ap- plications which were afterward made at the land office for the' various tracts, there were very few collisions between rival claimants for the same lands.
While upon the subject of land and land titles, we add, further, that under the heirs of William Penn, and under the commonwealth, the prices
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of land (per hundred acres) in that part of Penn- sylvania which comprehends the counties of Bedford and Somerset have been as here shown: From December 27, 1762, to August 5, 1763, £9 ; from August 5, 1763, to July 6, 1765, £15 108; locations and warrants from July 6, 1765, to July 1, 1784,* £5 ; from July 1, 1784, to April 3, 1792, £10 ; from April 3, 1792, to March 28, 1814, £2 108; from March 28, 1814, to the present time, lands within the purchase of 1768, and the previous purchases, have been sold by the state at the rate of £10 per hundred acres. A pound Pennsylvania currency was only about one-half the value of a pound sterling.
Having already shown who a few of the origi- nal settlers of the present counties of Bedford and Somerset were, the circumstances and anom- alous conditions under which their settlements were made, we now turn to the assessment rolls of Bedford county townships for the year 1772, the earliest authentic evidence in existence re- garding so many of the real pioneers of the two counties, and learn that their names, their landed possessions, acres improved, negro slaves, live stock, mills, etc., at that time, were as follows; yet first explaining that Bedford, Colerain and Cumberland Valley townships then included the whole of Bedford county as now formed and more, for Frankstown, now in Blair county, was organized from part of Bedford township in 1775, while Brother's Valley em- braced all that part of Somerset county lying west of the Alleghenies and northward to the Conemaugh river. That part of the latter county now found east of the Allegheny mountains then, most probably, belonged to Cumberland Valley township, which, when organized as a township in Cumberland county, was known simply as Cumberland township.
Bedford township taxables, etc., 1772 .- James Anderson, acres owned 50; acres imp. 5; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Elisha Adams, acres owned 50; acres imp. 10; horses 2; cows 1; Robert Adams, acres owned 50; acres imp. 2; horses 2 ; cows 2; Anthony Adams, owned 1 town lot ; 1 cow ; John Bowser, acres owned 100;
acres imp. 8 ; horses 2; cows 1 ; Israel Burket, acres owned 100; acres imp. 15; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; William Clark, acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 10 ; horses 2; cows 3; Carling & Case- beer, owners of one town lot and smith-shop ; Lewis Castleman, acres owned 488; acres imp. 50 ; horses 2; cows 1 ; Michael Dibert, acres owned 140; acres imp. 15; horses 2; cows 2; James Dunlap, acres owned 100; acres imp. 25; horses 2; cows 2; James Dal- ton rented 100 acres; horses 3; cows 1; Samuel Drenning, acres owned 150; acres imp. 10; horses 1; cows 1; Samuel Da- vidson, acres owned 25; acres imp. 25 ; horses 2 ; cows 1 ; Barnard Dougherty, acres owned 600 ; acres imp. 20; John Ewalt, acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 30 ; horses 2; cows 3 ; John Emlor (probably intended for Imler), acres owned 100; acres imp. 15 ; horses 1; cows 1 ; Thomas Eaton rented 100 acres ; horses 2 ; John Ellinger, acres owned 10; acres imp. 10 ; horses 2 ; cows 1 ; John Fraser, Esq., town lots owned 4 ; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; Michael Feather, acres owned 100; acres imp. 20 ; horses 2 ; cowx 3 ; George Funk, town lots owned 1; cows 1 ; John Gregg, acres owned 100; acres imp. 12; cows 3 ; Robert Galbraith, Esq., renter of one ·house and lot ; John Hite, town lots owned 7; cows 2 ; James Henry, renter of 300 acres ; 20 imp. ; owned horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Michael Huff, acres owned 112 ; acres imp. 8; horses 1; cows 1 ; Frederick Helm, acres owned 600; acres imp. 30 ; horses 2 ; cows 1; Patrick Harford, acres owned 200; acres imp. 30 ; Thomas Hays, acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 10; horses 1 ; cows 4 ; Thomas Kenton, acres owned 600; acres imp. 40 ; horses 2 ; cows ; George Keller, town lots owned 2; horses 3; cows 2; George Litenberger, renter of one town house and lot ; horses 1 ; cows 1; John Miller, acres owned 200 ; acres imp. 20 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Samuel McCashlin, renter of 1 town lot ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; James McCashlin, renter of 1 town lot ; horses 1; cows 1; indentured servants 1; Cor- nelius McCauley, renter of 1 town lot ; Matthew McAllister, town lots owned 1; cows 1 ; William McCall, town lots rented 1 ; Samuel Mckenzie, acres owned 100; acres imp. 15; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; John Montgomery, acres owned 300 ; acres imp. 10; Frederick Nawgel, town lots owned 1; indentured servants 2; horses 1; cows ; George Nixon, acres owned 500 ; acres imp. 20 ; horses 1; cows 1 ; William Nemyer,
*In 1784 the yearly quit-rents were ordered discontinued, but interest was demanded from date of first improvement. Further, in regard to the matter of quit-rents, etc , we find that in January, 1775, Gov. John Penn in answering a series of questions pro- pounded by the Earl of Dartmouth, respecting the extent, re- sources, etc., of the province, replied to the query, "Under what titles do the inhabitants hold their possessions ?" as follows : "The lands are held by the inhabitants under patents from the proprietaries, and yearly quit-rents of various denominations, the highest, one penny per acre, a great part only a halfpenny, and many of the old patents under a small acknowledgement in corn or wheat, etc."
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acres owned 200; acres imp. 20; horses 2 ; cowe 3; William Proctor, Esq., acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 15 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; David Rhinehart, acres owned 100; acres imp. 10; horses 2 ; cows ; Allen Rose, acres owned 120 ; acres imp. 15; horses 2; cows 1; Charles Ruby, town lots owned 1 ; cows 1 ; Frederick Rehart, acres owned 50; acres imp. 3 ; town lots 1 ; horses 1; cows 3; Conrad Samuel, acres owned 100; acres imp. 15; horses 2; cows 1; George Sill, acres owned 100; acres imp. 8 ; horses 1 ; cows 2 ; Michael Sill, acres owned 100; acres imp. 10; horses 2; cows ; Valentine Shadacre, acres owned 100; acres imp. 10 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Peter Stiffler, acres owned 50 ; acres imp. 15; horses 2; cows 1; Andrew Steel, owner of 1 sawmill ; 1 cow ; Adam Saam, owner of 1 town lot ; 1 out-lot ; 1 horse ; 1 cow ; Samuel Skinner rented 1 town lot; Jacob Saylor rented 1 house and lot; George Millegan, acres owned 200; acres imp. 10; town lots 2; horses 1; cows 3 ; George Sweigart, 1 out-lot of 15 acres ; 1 horse ; cows '2; Joseph Shenewolfe, acres owned 200; acres imp. 15; William Trent, acres owned 100; acres imp. 10; George Woods, Esq., acres owned 100; acres imp. 10; acres out-lots imp. 30 ; town lots 6 ; servants 3 ; horses 4; cows 5; George Wisegarver, acres owned 100; acres imp. 20; horses 2; cows 1 ; Reynard Wolfe, acres owned 50; acres imp. 10 ; horses 2; cows 2.
Freemen, each of whom were assessed to pay a provincial tax of fifteen shillings and a county tax of six shillings: James Beatty, John Case- beer, Adam Croyle, John Croyle, John Colvin, David Espy, Esq., Robert Galbraith, Esq., John Carlin, John Carling, John Keller, Cor- nelius McCauley, John Mckenzie, Andrew Nagle, Jacob Saylor, John Stey, David Sample, Esq., Nicholas Shoveler, Hugh Simpson, George Wolfe, Jacob Feather, John Dibert, Thomas Kenton, George Kauffman and William Elliott.
Inmates assessed to pay a provincial tax of one shilling and a county tax of threepence each: David Bell, Alexander Cook, Henry Creighton, Elias Davison, Frederick Ega, Joseph Ecord, Jacob Rhine, Adam Samuel, Peter Smith, John Steward, Henry Stagner, William Watson, James Henry, William Riddle, Robert Love, Peter Flynn and George Henry.
Colerain Township Taxables, etc., 1772. - Henry Ammerman, acres owned 100; acres imp.
20 ; horses 1; cows 5 ; Robert Bradshaw, acres owned 100; acres imp. 12; horses 2; cows 2; Joseph Bennett, acres owned 50; acres imp. 5 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Henry Brown, acres owned 100; acres imp. 6; William Buchanan, acres owned 400; acres imp. 11; Lawrence Coons, acres owned 50 ; acres imp. 8 ; horses 1 ; cows 2 ; John Cheek, acres owned 20 ; acres imp. 3 ; cows 2 ; Daniel Collins, acres owned 100; acres imp. 15 ; John Croyle, acres owned 150 ; acres imp. 9; horses 1; cows 1; Robert Culbertson, acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 15; horses 2; cows 4 ; Thomas Croyle, acres owned 200; acres imp. 20; cows 1; John Cessna, acres owned 200; acres imp. 30 ; horses 2; cows 2 ; negro slaves 1 ; John Cunningham, acres owned 200; acres imp. 10; Barnard Dougherty, Esq., acres owned 450; acres imp. 55; horses 2; cows 6; servants 1; Caspar Defebaugh, acres owned 150; acres imp. 15 ; horses 2; cows 1; Will- iam Duffield, acres owned 100; acres imp. 2 ; John Freehart, acres owned 50; acres imp. 10 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; John Friend, Jr., acres owned 180 ; acres imp. 18; horses 2 ; cows 1 : Joseph Friend, acres owned 180 ; acres imp. 15 ; horses 2; cows 2; Hugh Ferguson, acres owned 60; acres imp. 10; horses 2; cows 2; William Fredrigal, acres owned 150; acres imp. 15; horses 1 ; Jolin Fry, acres owned 100; acres imp. 5 ; Henry Hinish, acres owned 80; acres imp. 10 ; cows 1 ; John England, acres owned 50; acres imp. 2; horses 1; Thomas Johnston, acres owned 50; acres imp. 10; horses 2; cows 3; John Johnston, acres owned 90; acres imp. 12 ; horses 2; cows 1 ; William Levan, renter, acres 150; acres imp. 15 ; horses 1; cows 2 ; John Little, acres owned 100; Henderson Murphy, renter, acres 50; imp. 20; horses 1; cows 4; Robert Moore, acres owned 1,530; acres imp. 40; horses 2; cows 2 ; gristmill 1 ; Abraham Miley, acres owned 106 ; acres imp. 30; horses 4; cows 3; gristmill 1; sawmill 1; Chris- topher Miller, acres owned 150; acres imp. 18 ; horses 2; cows 2; William McCombs, acres owned 200; acres imp. 10; horses 2; cows 3 ; John Moore, acres owned 100; acres imp. 20; horses 2; cows 2 ; John Mortimore, acres 200; imp. 20; horses 2; cows 3; James Martin, acres 50 ; imp. 5 ; Joseph Morrison, acres 100 ; imp. 25; horses 2; cows 2; Samuel Moore, acres 170 ; imp. 20; horses 2; cows 2; Oliver Miller, acres 200; imp. 27; horses 2; cows 4 ; Robert McFerron, acres 100; imp. 2; James
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Newell, acres 100; imp. 12 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; John Ormsby, acres 300; James Patterson, acres 100 ; imp. 15; James Piper, acres 60 ; imp. 6; horses 1; cows 1; John Piper, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 2; William Parker, acres 100; imp. 20; horses 2; cows 3; John Perron, acres 176; imp. 16; horses 2; cows 2; William Rose, acres 100; imp. 20; negro slaves 1; horses 2; cows 3; Edward Rose, horses 1; cows 1; Gideon Ritchey, acres 246; imp. 20; horses 2; cows 3; George Romack, acres 50; imp. 6; horses 1; cows 1 ; George Sparks, acres 100; imp. 6; horses 1; cows 1; Ezekiel Spurgeon, acres 50; imp. 4 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; James Spurgeon, Jr., acres 50 ; imp. 6 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; John Spurgeon, acres 50; imp. 10; horses 1; cows 1; Samuel Spurgeon, acres 50; imp. 10; horses 1; cows 1; William Spurgeon, acres 100; imp. 15; horses 2; cows 2; Jacob Starcher, acres 142 ; imp. 6; William Smith, acres 50; imp. 7; Thomas Urie, acres 184; imp. 20; horses 3; COWS 2; Thomas Woods, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; servant 1 ; Archer Wooley, acres 200 ; imp. 21 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; George Woods, Esq., acres 130; imp. 2; Joseph Worley, acres 50; imp. 3 ; Anthony Worley, acres 50; imp. 5; Adam Young, acres 180; imp. 18; horses 2; cows 1; Joseph Johnston, Benjamin Jolley, Daniel M. Donnelly, John Morton, Jr., John Hulse, James Spurgeon and Henry Armstrong.
Cumberland Valley Taxables, etc., 1772 .- Ed- ward Askins, acres owned 100 ; acres imp. 10 ; Jonathan Bishop, acres 100; imp. 3 ; horses 2 ; COWB 2; Charles Cessna, acres 290; imp. 20 ; servant 1 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Thomas Coulter, acres 400 ; imp. 25 ; negro slaves 1 ; horses 2 ; cows 4 ; James Culbertson, acres 250 ; imp. 12 ; John Cessna, acres 250 ; imp. 12 ; Robert Cul- bertson, acres 200; imp. 12 ; Shadrack Casteel, acres 108 ; imp. 8 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Robert Campbell, acres 150 ; imp. 10 ; horses 2; cows 3 ; Evan Cessna, acres 200; imp. 12 ; Jonathan Cunningham, acres 150 ; imp. 30 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Thomas Davis, acres 100; imp. 40 ; horses 2; cows 2; Barnard Dougherty," acres 200; imp. 10; Daniel Durken, acres 200; imp. 10 ; Nathan Evans, acres 400 ; imp. 30; Samuel Fin- ley, acres 200 ; imp. 8; Jacob Fox, acres 150; imp. 25; John Farmer, acres 100; imp. 10;
horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Andrew Huston, acres 250 ; imp. 30 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Thomas Jones, acres 200 ; imp. 19 ; horses 2; Joseph Kelly, acres 600 ; imp. 40 ; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; John Lindsey, acres 100 ; imp. 10 ; cow 1 ; John Montgomery, acres 300 ; imp. 20 ; James McClannegan, acres 50; imp. +; John Ormsby, acres 100 ; imp. 2 ; Samuel Perry, acres 400; imp. 7; John Pollock, acres 100; imp. 2; Andrew Rice, Alexander Huston, Thomas Jones, Matthew Kelly, Jacob Wilhelm, Lawrence Lamb, William Davis, Thomas Bishop and Joshua Davis.
Brother's Valley Taxables, etc., 1772 .- Those whose names appear in italics were among the settlers at Turkey-Foot, who made so much trouble for the king and Gov. Penn in 1768. Henry Abrahams, acres 100 ; imp. 12 ; horses 2 ; cows 3; Frederick Ambrose, acres 200 ; imp. 8 ; horses 2 ; cows 2 ; Samuel Adams, acres 200 ; imp. 5 ; horses 2 ; Solomon Adams, acres 200 ; imp. 3; horses 1; cows 1; Richard Brown, acres 300 ; imp. 6 ; horses 1; cows 4; negro slave 1 ; John Bridges, acres 200 ; imp. 3; horses 2; cows 1; John Baxter, acres 200; imp. 8 ; horses 2 ; cows 1 ; Ludwick Boude, acres 100 ; imp. 2 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Christopher Benuch, acres 200 ; imp. 3 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Benjamin Riggs, acres 300; imp. 2; horses 2; cows 1 ; William Cracart, acres 200; imp. 4; James Claypole, acres 200 ; horses 1 ; Frederick Cefar, acres 100 ; imp. 3 ; horses 1; cows 1 ; James Campbell, acres 200 ; imp. 12 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Abraham Cable or Keble," Esq., acres 200 ; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 4; John Catta, acres 200 ; imp. 4; horses 2 ; cows 1 ; Michael Cefar, acres 100 ; imp. 6 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Joseph Death, acres 600 ; imp. 5 ; horses 1 ; cows 10; Oliver Drake, acres 100; imp. 2; horses 1; cows 2; James Dougherty, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 5 ; cows 2; William Dwyer, acres 150 ; imp. 10 ; horses 1 ; cows 4 ; John Dilliner, acres 100 ; imp. 2; cows 1; Henry Enslow, acres 100; imp. 8 ; horses 3; cows 4; John Enslow, acres 100; imp. 6; horses 1 .; cows 2; Robert Estep, acres
* He was the first justice of the peace commissioned in the territory now known as Somerset county. See Colonial Records, Vol. X, p. 8, for following: "The Secretary laid before the Board a Petition from a number of Germans, settled at the Glades, upon Stony Creek and Youghiagany, in the County of Bedford, representing the great inconvenience they are under for want of a Magistrate, there being none nearer to them than thirty miles, and praying the appointment of one residing in or near that Settlement.
"The Board, on considering the said Petition, advised the Gov- ernor to commissionate for that purpose, Mr. Abraham Keble, who is recommended as a man of Property and Reputation, and the best qualified of any person in that quarter to execute the duty of a Magistrate." A special commission was accord- ingly issued to Keble, November 23, 1771.
. Dougherty, it will be observed, owned land in this and the two townships before mentioned.
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100 ; imp. 3 ; horses 1; Adam Flick, acres 100 ; imp. 1; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Jacob Fisher, acres 200 ; imp. 12 ; horses 2; cows 3 ; John Fergu- son, acres 300; imp. 4; horses 2; cows 1; Andrew Friend, acres 50; imp. 10; horses 3 ; cows 2; Augustine Friend, acres 100 ; imp. 2; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; Paul Froman, acres 700 ; imp. 18 ; horses 2 ; cows 5 ; negro slaves 2 ; Michael Flick, acres 200; imp. 4; horses 1; Charles Friend, acres 200 : imp. 10; horses 2; John Friggs,* acres 200; imp. 1; horses 2; cows 1 ; John Fry, acres 100; imp. 1; cows 1; John Glassner, acres 200; imp. 8 ; horses 2 ; cows 3; Joseph Greenwalt, acres 100; imp. 7 ; horses 2 ; cows 2; William Greathouse, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 3; Thomas Green, acres 100; imp. 6 ; horses 2; cows 8; Walter Hite, acres 200; imp. 8; horses 2; cows 2; Michael Huff, acres 300; imp. 6; horses 3; cows 3; ser- vants 1 ; Richard Hoagland, acres 350 ; imp. 71 ; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; Andrew Hendrix, acres 200 ; imp. 10; horses 4 ; cows 6 ; Benjamin Jennings, acres 200 ; imp. 36 ; horses 4 ; cows 6 ; William Johnston, acres 200; imp. 8 ; horses 1; cows 1 ; Solomon Kessinger, acres 100; imp. 4; horses 2 ; cows 1 ; Philip Kemble, acres 300; imp. 8 ; horses 2 ; cows 4; George Kimball, acres 100; imp. 5; horses 2; cows 2; Valentine Lout, acres 100 ; imp. 2; horses 1; cows 1; Daniel Lout, acres 100; imp. 3; horses 1; cows 1; John Markley, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 4; cows 5; James McMullen, acres 45 ; imp. 9; horses 1; cows 1; William McClee, acres 300 ; imp. 7; horses 2; cows 1; John Miller, acres 300; imp. 10; horses 1 ; cows 2 ; Joseph Ogle, acres 200 ; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 2; Adam Polen, acres 100; imp. 5; horses 1; cows 1; Francis Polen, acres 200; imp. 3; horses 2; cows 1; Benjamin Pursley, acres 100; imp. 12; horses 3 ; cows 2 ; John Pursley, acres 60 ; imp. 7; horses 1; cows 1; Danes Pursley, acres 100; imp. 8 ; horses 2; cows 3; John Peters, acres 300 ; imp. 12 ; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; Henry Rhodes, Sr., acres 200; imp. 21; horses 3; cows 4; Jacob Rhodes, acres 100; imp. 5 ; horses 2; cows 3; Gabriel Rhodes, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 2; Henry Rhodes, Jr., acres 400; imp. 10; horses 1; cows 2; John Rhodes, acres 100; imp. 1; horses 1; cows 1; John Reed, acres 100; imp. 7; horses 2 ; cows 2; John Rice, acres 400 ; imp.
* Friggs was mentioned as a "Pilot " (meaning a woodsman or guide) by Rev. Capt. John Steel, in his letter to the governor of date April 11, 1768. See preceding pages of this chapter.
35; negro slaves 1; horses 7; cows 1; Cutlip* Rose, acres 100; imp. 8; horses 1; cows 1; Hugh Robinson, acres 100; imp. 8; horses 1; cows 2; Frederick Sheaf, acres 200; imp. 4; horses 2; cows 2; John Swiser, acres 100; imp. 5; horses 2; cows 3; John Sappinton, acres 200; imp. 6; horses 2; cows 2; Adam Small, acres 300; imp. 8; Bastion Shells, acres 100; imp. 1; horses 1; cows 1; James Spencer, acres 240; imp. 21; horses 2 ; cows 6; Nathaniel Skinner, acres 100; imp. 5 ; horses 1 ; William St. Clair, acres 100 ; imp. 6 ; Henry Smith, acres 200; imp. 3 ; horses 1; cows 1; Solomon Shute, acres 100; imp. 2 ; horses 1 ; cows 1; William Tyshoe, acres 300 ; imp. 12 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Abraham Vaughan, acres 100 ; imp. 4; horses 2; cows 2; Thomas Urie, acres 100 ; imp. 12 ; Philip Wagaly, acres 200; imp. 10; horses 2; cows 1; Frederick Weimer, acres 200; imp. 4; horses 2; cows 2 ; John Weimer, acres 100 ; imp. 2 ; horses 1 ; cows 1 ; Richard Wells, acres 300; imp. 10 ; horses 3 ; cows 2 ; George Wells, acres 50 ; imp. 4 ; horses 2; cows 1; Acquilla White, acres 200 ; imp. 3 ; horses 1; cows 2; John Winsel, acres 100 ; imp.'1 ; horses 2; cows 1 ; Peter Winard, acres 100; imp. 5 ; horses 2 ; cows 3 ; Thomas John Waller, acres 100; imp. 1; horses 2; cows 1; Samuel Wallis, acres 300. Then followed the names of those whom we presume were single men, viz .: Matthias Ditch, Thomas Stinton, John Penrod, Felix Morgan, Frederick Aker, James Winler, James Pursley, Nicholas Friend, Robert Pulclut, Ephraim Tassey, Martin Cefar, James Moore, Frederick Vandoux, Edward Grimes, Samuel Worrell, James Wells, Peter Booker, Lodowick Greenwalt, Gabriel Abra- hams, James Black, Henry Bruner, George Bruner, John Bowman, Casper Stoy, Joseph Jennings, Francis Hay, James Hogland, Edward Henderson, William Haskin, Edward Higgins, Matthew Judy, John St. Clair, George Shider, Henry Shidlet, Jacob Wingart, Atwell Wor- rell, Richard Wells, Thomas Ogle, Daniel Purs- ley and John Hinkbaugh.
The three hundred and fifty taxables above mentioned, representing a total population of about sixteen hundred, besides being the only taxpayers at the time of which we write, were, as before remarked, the first settlers of Bedford and Somerset counties. Some of them had been located here less than a year, and but very
: * Probably intended for Gotlieb or Godfrey ..
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few for more than five years. Among them were many who had served in the wars against the French and Indians. All were then subjects of King George the Third, and but three or four years later they were active participants in the war for freedom and national independ- ence. For these reasons has so much space been devoted to a mention of their names, location and possessions. By scanning the fore- going paragraphs it will also be observed that then there were but two gristmills" and two sawmills in all the wide region composing the two counties of the present-the sawmill of Andrew Steel in Bedford township, the grist- mill of Robert Moore, and the grist and saw mill of Abraham Miley, Sr., in Colerain township. Another queer fact is that when U. J. Jones wrote of the Colonial, or as he termed them, "Continental Mills" of the Juniata valley, he was not aware that the mills here referred to had ever existed.
Concerning the nationality of those who first settled in the two counties, it may be satisfactory to know that the very early settlers of Bedford were chiefly Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, with a few Germans of the Lutheran and Reformed denominations, the Brethren, or Dunkards, com- ing later ; while the earliest white inhabitants of Somerset were principally Germans of the Brethren sect, with a few Scotch-Irish, and some Jerseymen of English extraction.
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