USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 121
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Under the act of March 6, 1820, for the promotion of agriculture and domestic manufactures, William Colmery and Joseph Henderson, two of the audi- tors of the county, were sworn to execute the duties enjoined upon them by the act. These auditors met on the 18th of March, 1823, and adjusted the account of the treasurer and made report. In the premiums awarded for the year 1823, there was granted to James Gilmore, Esq., $16 for "the best Merino Ram and Two best Merino Ewes and Best Brood Sow." To
William Brownlee, $10 for the second-best merino rams and best ewes.3 Enoch Wright, for the best cul- tivated farm and second-best wheat, $25. Isaac Man- chester, second-best cultivated farm, $10. Three hun- dred and one dollars was paid out in premiums in that year, and on the 31st of December there was in the treasurer's hands $39.40.
In the year 1824 the society received $610.40, in- cluding $200 from the county. $595.25 was paid in premiums and expenses. Alexander Scott received a premium for the best merino buck, James Moore for second best, and John Flock, Jr., third best.
On the 20th of October, 1825, an address was de- livered before the society at the court-house by the Hon. Joseph Lawrence, and was published by order of the board of directors in the Examiner of Novem- ber 12th in that year. In May, 1826, Samuel Cun- ningham, treasurer of the society, advertised that the society, through Mr. Joseph Lawrence, had procured a quantity of white mulberry-seeds, and eggs of the silk-worm for distribution to members.
The first fair of the society was held in the fall of 1822 on a lot owned by John Ruth, east of where the female seminary now stands. That being found too small, the next year (1823) it was held on the farm of John Sample, now owned by William Workman. Later it was held on a lot owned by Samuel McFar- land, on the south side of Wheeling road, east of the depot. Here it was held for several years. At these different places the exhibition of stock only was held, and the manufactured articles, fruits, and grains were exhibited on the grounds of the public square. These fairs were held with considerable success till about 1833 and declined; no reports or minutes are found until 1847. On the 10th of September in that year the offi- cers of the society met at the house of S. B. Hays, when it was ordered that the secretary procure some suitable person to arrange the papers of the society, to purchase a minute-book, and that he be authorized to select some person to collect outstanding subscrip- tions. A constitution was drawn up, in which the first article declares "That this association shall be called 'The Washington Society' for the Promotion of Ag- riculture and Domestic Manufactures in Washington County. Any person signing the constitution and paying one dollar shall be a member." To this was appended two hundred and seventy-three names. A meeting was held the next day, September 11th, and committees were appointed to examine stock and ar- ticles exhibited at the fall fair. A premium-list was made out amounting to $323. The fair in that year was held on the 15th of October.
The premium-list for 1848 amounted to two hun- dred and seven dollars. The "Cattle-Show" was held October 5th and 6th. The fair of 1849 was held Octo-
1 A list of the names of the persons (two hundred and fourteen in number) who subscribed to the constitution of the society is contained in the Washington Examiner, of date Oct. 23, 1824, which is in the posses- Bion of Dr. Wray Grayson, of Washington.
2 Afterwards sold for $16.
8 In a note in the minutes of the society for this year is the following: " The Merino Ewes exhibited by Mr. Alexander Reed were considered the best, but not being a competitor for the premium it was given as stated."
11. Katharine D. Morgan, best piece of domestic flannel
10.00
5.00
5.00
2.5L
2.00
474
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ber 17th and 18th. An address was delivered on the 17th by John L. Gow, Esq.
At a meeting of the society on the 21st of May, 1850, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Thomas Buchanan, John Bausman, James G. Strean, and Samuel Me- Farland were appointed a committee "to ascertain whether a suitable piece of ground adjacent to the borough can be rented or purchased for the use of the society." The committee reported in 1852 that they had procured a lot of ground adjacent to the borough for the use of the society, upon which buildings were soon after erected. At a meeting, Aug. 8, 1853, John Bausman, Robert R. Reed, and William S. Moore were appointed to procure an act of incorporation of the society. A committee was also appointed to erect additional buildings for the better accommodation of manufactured articles, and to erect suitable pens for stock. At the fair of 1854, held September 20th, 21st, and 22d, the last day of the fair was devoted to the exhibition of agricultural implements, plowing match, and trial by experiment of various agricul- tural implements, such as reaping- and mowing- machines.
The committee on incorporation appointed in 1853 for some reason did not accomplish that end. On the 20th of February, 1855, David Clark, John H. Ewing, R. F. Strean, and Wallace MeWilliams were appointed to obtain a charter, which was granted by the court on the 24th of May in that year. The ground where the exhibition was held from 1852 to this time was that on which the Chartiers depot now stands, but in this year (1855) a change was made to the present site, a part of which they purchased, and the fair was held upon the new grounds in the fall of that year.
On the 22d of May, 1856, a committee reported that they had leased the old fair grounds to Thomas and Alexander McKean for forty dollars. In May, 1859, the society purchased two lots, containing one and three-quarter acres of land, of George Adams and John Wylie.' In 1861 a new hall was erected at a cost of four hundred dollars. The following are the receipts and expenses of the years given :
The following is a list of presidents, secretaries, and treasurers of the society as nearly as can be as- certained :
1822, March 27 .- Pres., James Kerr; Vice-Prests., Thomas McGiffin, John Cook, John Hamilton ; Judges, James Kerr, Jonathan Knight, Robert Colmery ; Directors, Lewis Hewit, James Clokey, Andrew Vaneman, Andrew Sutton, Jonathan Knight, James Patterson,
John McConnell, Joseph Barr, William Hawkins, Daniel Moore; Treas., Alexander Reed; Sec., William Sample.
1823. March 26 -Pres., James Kerr; Vice-Prests., Gen. John Hamilton, Gen. Thomas Patterson, Thomas McGiffin; Directors, Lewis Hewitt, James Clokey, Daniel Moore, Andrew Vanemen, Joseph Barr, David Hart, George Baird, John Carter, William Patterson (Ten Mile), and William Brownlee; Treas., Alexander Reed; Sec., William Sample. 1824 .- Sec., John H. Ewing; Treas., Alexander Reed.
1825 .- Pres , Gen. Thomas Patterson ; Vice-Presta., Gen. John Hamilton, Thomas MeGiffin, Joseph Lawrence; Treas., Robert Colmery; Sec., F. Julius Le Moyne.
1826 .- Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Thomas McGiffin, Joseph Lawrence, William Sample ; Treas., Samuel Cunningham ; Sec., F. Julius Le Moyne.
1827 .- Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Joseph Lawrence, Joseph Rupert, William McCreery ; Treas., Samuel Cunningham; Sec., F. Julius Le Moyne.
1828,-Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Pres., William McCreery ; Treas., Samnel Cunningham; Sec., F. Julius Le Moyne.
1829,-Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., William Brownlee, Thomas McGiffin, Joseph Ritner; Treas., Isaac Leet; Sec., Joseph Hender- son.
1830 .- Treas., Isaac Leet.
1833 .- Pres., Alexander Reed; Vice-Prests., Joseph Lawrence, Joseph Ritner ; Treas., Isaac Leet; Sec., B. S. Stewart.
1847 .- Pres., John H. Ewing ; Rec. Sec., Joseph Henderson.
1848 .- Pres., Col. James Lee, Cross Creek ; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed; Rec. Sec., Joseph Henderson, Esq .; Treas., George Baird.
1849 .- Pres., Gen. James Lee; Rec. Sec., Joseph Henderson; Cor. Sec, Hon. R. R. Reed; Treas., George Baird.
1850 .- Pres., Gen. James Lee (Cross Creek) ; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore, Esq .; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1851 .- Pres, James Lee; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore, Esq .; Cor. Sec,, Robert R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1852 .- Pres., James Lee; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1853 .- Pres,, James Lee ; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed ; Treas,, George Baird.
1854 .- Pres., James McCloskey; Rec. Sec., William S. Moore; Cor. Sec., Robert R. Reed; Treas , George Baird.
1855 .- Pres., David Clark : Rec. Sec., R. F. Strean; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1856 .- Pres., David Clark; Rec. Sec., John Grayson, Jr .; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1857 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby ; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed ; Treas., George Baird.
1858 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby; Treas., George Baird.
1859,-Pres., John H. Ewing; Cor. Sec., R. R. Reed; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby ; Treas., Jackson Spriggs.
1860 .- Pres., John H. Ewing ; Treas., Jackson Spriggs; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.
1861-62 .- Pres., John H. Ewing ; Treas., James C. Acheson ; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.
1863 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Cor. Sec., Dr. E. Hoffman ; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.
1864 .- Pres., John H. Ewing : Treas., James C. Acheson; Cor. Sec., Sam- uel McFarland ; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.
1865,-Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby ; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright.
1866 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson; Rec. Sec., David C. Aiken ; Cor. Sec., Joshua Wright.
1867 .- Pres., John H. Ewing : Treas., James C. Acheson ; Rec. Sec., Da- vid Aiken; Cor. Sec., George W. Reed.
1868-69 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., James C. Acheson ; Rec. Sec., David Aiken ; Cor. Sec., James B. Wilson.
1870 .- Pres., James F. Gabby ; Treas., James C. Acheson ; Rec. Sec., Ju- lius Le Moyne; Cor. Sec., Dr. F. J. Le Moyne.
1871 .- Pres., Col. Asa Manchester; Treas., John McElroy ; Cor. Sec., John McDowell; Rec. Sec., Joshua Wright.
1872-74 .- Pres. John H. Ewing ; Treas., John McElroy : Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby; Cor. Sec., John McDowell.
1875-77 .- Pres., John H. Ewing; Treas., A. G. Happer; Cor. Sec., John McDowell ; Rec. Sec., James F. Gabby.
1878 .- Pres., John McDowell: Sec., James B. Wilson; Treas., A. G. Наррег.
1879-82,-Pres., John McDowell ; Sec. and Treas., A. G. Happer.
1861
Receipts. $1909.00
$1903.38
1863.
1773.13
1665.46
1865
1789.43
1797.76
1867 1
1546.78
2066.94
1868
1546.84
1541.92
1869.
1296,92
1264.57
1870.
1740.82
1913.00
1874
3435.07
3246.74
1881
Expenditures.
1556.04
1479.42
1 Unpaid premium, $325.50.
475
POPULATION.
Population .- In the year 1790 Washington County contained 23,866 inhabitants, and in 1800, 28,298. The population of the county at the end of each de- cade from 1810 to 1880, inclusive, is given below, by
townships and boroughs, as shown by the reports of the several United States censuses taken within the period indicated :
1810.
1820.
1830.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Allen
815
1,236
Amwell
1,673
1,825
1,733
1,536
1,754
2,042
1,879
1,898
Bentleysville *
'277
Buffalo
1,416
1,130
1,519
1,116
1,212
1,578
1,189
1,260
California *
Canonsburg*
641
704
Canton.
1,345
1,276
1,218
1,132
1,281
587
591
650
Cecil
1,167
1,154
1,056
1,027
1,008
959
1,102
1,596
Chartiers.
1,747
1,330
1,566
1,616
1,677
1,795
1,870
2,188
Claysville *
297
284
Cross Creek.
1,847
1,908
2,147
2,006
1,921
1,186
1,168
1,136
East Bethlehem
1,806
2,239
2,602
2,312
2.266
1,862
1,621
1,967
East Pike Run
1,994
2,020
2,142
1,203
1,132
897
834
811
Franklin
1,049 2,193
1,329
1,572
2,002
2,439
2,090
1,898
1,895
Hopewell
881
804
1.110
Independence.
1,078
1,121
1,012
Jefferson.
984
889
979
Monongahela City
752
977
099
1,078
2,904
Morris
1,679
1,713 1,254
2,049
1,683
1,688
1,148
1,050
1,161
North Strabane.
1,207
1,210
1,213
1,273
· 1,328
Nottinghanı.
2,037
2,098
2,118
983
1,008
916
924
868
Pike Run.
1,693
1,967
2,081
Peters.
1,054
1,265
1,196
1,024
924
943
943
95G
Robinson ..
770
925
924
860
843
840
937
1,798
Strabane ...
2,395
2,571
2,599
Smith
1,646
1,848
2,089
1,345
1.462
1.427
2.067
2.449
Washington *
1,301
1,687
1,816
2,062
2,662
3,587
3,571
4,292
West Alexander *
1,849
2,187
2,048
1,743
2,114
1,9GL
1,964
2,123
West Brownsville *
1,218
1,187
1,213
1,453
1,471
1,524
West Middletown
302
260
326
331
346
West Pike Run ..
917
1,166
869
1,252
1,261
Total
.......
36,289
40,038
42,784
41,279
44,939
40,805
48,483
57,329
* Boroughs : all others townships except Monongahela City.
t Included in population of West Pike Run.
¿ Population included with California borough,
[ Population included in Hopewell township.
1
1.566
Carroll
1,235
1,469
1,907
3,178
2,00₺
Donegal
1,327
1,879
2,092
1,747
1,954
1,697
2,068
1,375
East Finley
1,282
1,221
1,186
1,332
Finley
1,636
1,967
1,240
1,358
715
817
1,227
Fallowfield
Greenfield *
264
380
370
380
Hanover.
Millsboro' *
312
333
292
324
Mount Pleasant.
1,165
1,308
1.203
1,254
1,348
1,321
1,577
Somerset ..
1,500
1,540
1,573
1,020
1,512
1,723
1,325
1,247
South Strabane.
1,075
1,391
1,063
1,159
1,602
Union.
858
1,192
1,452
1,418
1.913
400
West Bethlehem ...
477
613
547
570
West Finley
2,186
1,925
1,596
1,748
357
297
+
Beallsville *
476
659
440
673
687
6:27
650
1
292
275
1,219
1,147
1,109
1,074
1,144
637
# Included in population of Somerset township.
HISTORY OF THE BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS.
WASHINGTON BOROUGH.
THE original owners of the site occupied by the borough of Washington were Abraham Hunter, Mar- tha Hunter, and Joseph Hunter, Jr., who were among the host of applicants who thronged the land-office of the proprietaries immediataly after its opening in the spring of 1769 for the sale of the lands which had been ceded by the Indians a few months previously by the treaty of Fort Stanwix. The warrants (one to each of the persons mentioned) were dated June 19, 1769, and were surveyed by James Hendricks on the 11th of November in the same year. The tract of Abraham Hunter (warrant No. 3517) was named " Catfish Camp,"1 and contained three hundred and thirty-one acres and twenty-one perches, lying on Catfish Run, a small tributary of Chartiers Creek. On the north of this tract was the land of Joseph Hunter, Jr. (warrant No. 3516), named in the survey "Grand Cairo," and containing three hundred and thirty-one acres and twenty-one perches. On the north of the . last named, and adjoining it, was the tract of Martha Hunter (warrant No. 3518), named in the survey " Matha's Bottom," containing three hundred and thirty-nine acres, sixty-nine perches, but the borough, when it became such by incorporation, included no part of this tract.
No information whatever can be obtained of these original purchasers beyond the facts already given. There is no evidence-and very little probability- that they ever resided upon these lands. William Huston was a resident on a tract of land adjoining "Catfish Camp," and on the branch of Chartiers | which flows near the original borough line. On that
tract (at the place where Mrs. Swartz now resides) Huston lived as early as 1774, as is shown by his own affidavit (given in the account of Dunmore's war in the general history of the county), in which he said that in April of the year named Capt. Michael Cresap and others stopped overnight at his house at Catfish Camp while traveling from the Ohio to Redstone Old Fort. He (Huston) was the earliest white inhabi- tant of the vicinity of whom any information can be gained.
On the 26th of April, 1771, Abraham, Martha, and Joseph Hunter sold their tracts, "Catfish Camp," Martha's Bottom, and "Grand Cairo" (in all about one thousand and sixty acres), to David Hoge, a native of Cumberland County. In 1780, when the erection of the new county of Washington was being agitated, Hoge determined to lay out a town on the lands purchased from the Hunters, doubtless with the expectation that it would become the seat of justice of the proposed county, of which the site of the new town would be within a mile of the territorial centre. He built a log house (on the site of Strean's hardware- store) in the early spring of 1781, and the act erecting Washington County, passed March 28, 1781, directed the courts to be held "at the house of David Hoge, Esq.," and in his log house the first court was so held on the 2d of October in that year. On the 13th of the same month a town-plat was laid out on a part of the tracts Catfish Camp and Grand Cairo by David Redick, surveyor, for David Hoge, and was named " Bassett Town."
It will be noticed that among the names of the grand jury at the first court of the county not a name occurs of any person who was a resident of Catfish Camp or its vicinity. It is not known or believed that David Hoge ever resided here. All traditions of what became in the town-plat lot No. 58, which was sold soon after' the town was laid out to Charles Dodd, on certificate No. 15, dated Bassett Town, Oc-
I This name, which was given not only to the tract but also the settle- ment which afterwards became the town of Washingtown (and clung to it for many years), was derived from an old Delaware Indian named Tingooqua-in English, Catfish-who lived there, and of whom mention is made in the history of the Indian occupation in this volume. His , unite in locating the cabin of David Hoge in the rear wigwam or "camp" was on the stream, northeast of Trinity Hall, but it is said that he occupied several different locations in the immediate vicinity at different times. He lived here for some years, but finally removed to the Scioto country and died there.
476
..
a small Branch
BY JOHN G.RUPLE G. E.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
FOR THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF
REDUCED AND DRAWN EXPRESSLY
FACSIMILEOF THE EDWARD
WASHINGTON
PLAN
on that next the young~
Bine bottom ground on both sides of the Greek especially
CT.
Chartiers
Camp
1
x
bank
2
7/
3
70
4
69
5
6
47
7
46
79
130
Street
Beau
129
65
9
6 4
Gay
128
146
19ł
10
water
6 3
8 3
62
12
84
125
OHIO
144
193
208
Coal Spring .
Made out October 3",
to His Grelh fin Washington &.
Lott 45 $ 102 presented by . W.
BC&D reserved bylo Hoge
and School house -Afor a to
.
Catfish
73
136
74
+36
/38
199
202
271
Jongard
270
75
13%
189
198
201
1.04
76
133
140
177
141
196
132
77
78
131
142
195
20€
207
Race
200
128
145
192
middle
190
200
2.62
126
148
183
212
26,
about To or 80 acres
for a Common go:
gearon by Mr Hoge
CA great Plain
branch
of
·37
200
272
for a
Coal
Cathsh
and Prison
Lots Nº 17 18 172 for a place of
B
261
210
268
194
143
Main br of Chartiers Cr.
OF
LYNCH COPY.
85
124
60
86
123
14
15
10
17
18
57
56
53
A
D
STREET
MONONGAHELA
8
22 28 20
SI $2
63
94 93 92 91
-
122
151
22.3
250
23
50
24
43
96
121
120
153 5
176
225
248
25%
48
97
4
119
151
173
216
247
&6
47
98
-
227
246
27
46
99
45
100
44
161
Chartiers
Street
158
171
30
43
102
114
170
31
42
103
41
104
133
160
16 9
2,32
241
32
33
34
39
35
38
107
110
163
/66
215
236
337
State of Pennsylvania
Washington in the Cour
A Plan of the town
a true Copy of the Plan remaining on the hands of In Lukens
81
Washington ~
of house givery
b&c are springs note where the Springs run is parked
The your large Lotto in the Center are 240 feet Squar
The two principal Streets viz Monongahela &
David Hoge Edg Proprietor
C
B
199 120 181 182
222 226220 219
257 152 253251
OM of Nov 1784 Edw Lynch
the water sinks under ground
2 is a spring given for the use of the Town
The Lotts are 60 feet front and 2.40 ft deep -
Ohio are 66 feet wide- The others are so feet each-
3 6
37 108
STREET
153
174
228
117
156
229
244
157
/72
--
259
150
1,
186/185 184 123
258 258 356 255
dick En.
Gratis ( c OSpring
taken the 4th
22.4
8 249
17
alex
Street
$30
243
240
40
105
112
161
/62
167
234
239
230
10)
164
115
242
233
28
Street
477
WASHINGTON BOROUGH.
tober, 1781. In this house Mr. Dodd evidently lived when the court was held here, for rent was paid him "for use of a room to hold court in."' a quit-rent. These certificates passed from one to another, and in most cases deeds were not made till four or five years later. Forty-seven certificates were issued to purchasers of lots dated at Bassett Town, and - what are now Maiden and Walnut Streets, Lincoln | all were issued in the early part of October, 1781.
The original plat of Bassett Town was bounded by Avenue, and Ruple's Alley. The two principal streets were Monongahela (now Main) and Ohio (now Beau), each sixty-six feet wide, running through the centre of the town at right angles with each other. The other streets were sixty feet in width. The width of the alley is not given. The streets and alleys north from Maiden Street and running parallel with it were named as follows: Water Alley (now Straw- berry), Gay Street (later Belle, now Wheeling), Johnson's Alley (now Cherry), Ohio Street (now Beau), Middle Alley (now Pine), Race Street (now Chestnut), North Alley (now Spruce). Walnut Street was the north line and not then named. From what is now Lincoln Avenue (but not then named, that being the eastern boundary line) westward the streets were named as follows : Chartiers Street (now College), Monongahela Street (later Market, now Main), Beau Street (later Front, now Franklin).
Four lots marked A, forming a plot two hundred and forty feet square, and lying in the southwest angle of Ohio and Monongahela Streets, were donated by Mr. Hoge for a court-house and prison. Lots 43 and 102 were presented by Mr. Hoge to Gen. George Washington, and were on the corner of Chartiers and Gay Streets. No. 43 is now owned by the Presbyte- rian Society, and No. 102 forms a part of the college campus. Lots Nos. 171 and 172 were set apart for a place of public worship and a school-house. These lots were fronting on Race Street, and extended along Chartiers Street to Pine Alley, each being a corner lot. They were never used for the purpose designated. In addition to the plot a "Great Plain" was given by Mr. Hoge "for a common," containing seventy or eighty acres. Later it was occupied by William Hoge, and on it he lived and died. It is now owned by Harry Shirls, and his residence is upon it.
The new town was named Bassett Town, in honor of the Hon. Richard Bassett, who was a kinsman of Mr. Hoge. Mr. Bassett was a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States in 1787, and was the first who voted to locate the capital of the nation on the Potomac. He was a member of the Delaware Convention which met at Dover on the 7th of December, 1787, and ratified the constitution of that State, of which he was Governor from 1798 to 1801. He was also United States dis- trict judge in 1801-2. His death occurred in 1815.
After the laying out of the town Mr. Hoge imme- diately commenced the sale of lots by certificates which bore the number of the lot sold, and a proviso that a "house at least eighteen feet square with a stone or brick chimney shall be built thereon on or before the 13th day of October, 1784;" and also con- tained an amount specified to be paid annually as
The name of the town was changed to Washington in that month, as the following certificate shows :
" WASHINGTON Tows, October, 1781.
" This will intitle Dorsey Pentecost to receive a sufficient title, subject to one dollar in specie rent per annum per Lott, for the lot marked in the Original plan of said Town 154, provided there shall be erected on each lott a house of eighteen feet square at least with a stone or brick chim- ney on or before the thirteenth day of October in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
"Signed DAVID HOCE."
After the sale of the property by David Hoge to his sons, John and William, the quit-rents were paid to them. In the year 1803, John Hoge received on 120 quit-rents $1500, and in 1809 on 136 he received $2000. In the same year William Hoge received on 130 quit-rents the sum of $1600, and in 1809 on 147 he received $2180. These rents were bought off from time to time, and mostly ceased about 1860. Demands are still occasionally made, but no attention is paid to them.
The first property to which title by deed was given was the public square sold for a site for the court- house and prison of Washington County. This deed describes the property as "lying in the town of Bassett Town," and is the only one ever made containing such description. The next deed that appears of record was made by David Hoge to James Marshel, and con- veyed lot No. 90 (now ocaupied by Morgan and Har- graves' store). This lot was sold by Marshel to Hugh Wilson on the 4th of January, 1786. With the ex- ception of the deed conveying the property to his sons, the two deeds above mentioned are the only ones given by David Hoge. The deeds for the certificates were given by John and William Hoge after their purchase Nov. 7, 1785.
In the year 1784 an incident occurred in the town, which is here related as given by one who was the leader of the party. The facts are given in the min- utes of the Supreme Executive Council, of date Phila- delphia, Oct. 29, 1790.
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