USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > History of Washington County : from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania > Part 4
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Along the northern limits of Maryland,
203
66
In common with Virginia, from the northwest angle of
Maryland to the southwest angle of Green County, . Due north in common with Ohio and Brooke counties of West Virginia to the Ohio River,
64
Continuing the last noted limit in common with the Ohio to Lake Erie,
91
Along the southeast shore of Lake Erie to the Western limit of New York, .
39 66
Due south, along Chautauque County of New York, to north latitude, 42º . Thence due east in common with New York, to the right bank of the Delaware River,
19 66
230 66 Down the Delaware to the northeast angle of the State of Delaware, 230
Having an entire outline of 961
The greatest length of Pennsylvania is due west from Bristol, on the Delaware River, to the eastern border of Ohio County in West Virginia, through three hundred and fifty-six minutes of longitude along north latitude, 40° 09' This distance, on that line of latitude, is equal to two hundred and eighty American statute miles.
The greatest breadth is one hundred and seventy-six miles, from the West Virginia line to the extreme northern angle on Lake Erie, it being one hundred and seventy-five miles. It contains forty-four thou- sand three hundred and seventeen miles; ortwenty-eight million three hundred and sixty-two thousand eight hundred and eight acres of land.
The following table will exhibit the population of Pennsylvania, both as a Province and a State, from 1731, at periods of ten years.
1731- 10,000. 1780- 128,293. 1830-1,348,170.
1740- 14,325. 1790- 474,373. 1840-1,724,033.
1750- 21,000. 1800- 602,545. 1850-2,314,897. 1760- 31,667. 1810- 810,091. 1860-2,905,215.
1770- 39,665. 1820-1,049,313.
I shall now close this general history of the State of Pennsylvania, by giving the names of each county ; the date of its formation; the number of acres in each, with their respective population, premising the following tabular statements, with the remark, that Cameron County was not organized until after the census of 1860 had been taken, and the population is included in the counties of Clinton,
59 66
33
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Elk, MeKean, and Potter, from which it was taken; while with the part of Venango which was added to Forest by act of Assembly approved October 31st, 1866, the population was transferred but not ascertained.
Name. Date of Formation.
Acres. Populat'n.
1. Philadelphia
Mar. 10, 1682, ene ef Penn's original counties
80,640
565,529
2. Chester
Mar. 10, 1682,
472,320
74,578
3. Bucks Mar. 10, 1682,
387,200
63,578
4. Lancaster
May 10, 1729, frem a part of Chester ..
608,000
116,314
5. York Aug. 19, 1749,
Lancaster
576,000
68,200
6. Cumberland Jan. 27, 1750,
Lancaster.
348,160
40,098
7. Berks. Mar. 11, 1752, frem a part of Philadelphia, Chester, and Lancaster
588,800
93,818
9. Bedford.
Mar. 9, 1771, 66
Cumberland.
636,160
26,736
10. Northumberland .. Mar. 27, 1772, from a part of Cumberland, Berks, Bedford, and Northampton ..
292,480
28,922
11. Westmoreland ..
Teb. 26, 1773, from a part of Bedford, and in 1785
part of the Indian purchase of 1784 was added ..
672,000
53,736
12. Washington
Mar. 28, 1781, from a part of Westmoreland
573,440
46,805
14. Franklin
Sept. 9, 178+,
Cumberland.
480,000
42,126
16. Dauphin
Mar. 4, 1785,
66
Lancaster
357,760
46,756
17. Luzerne
Sept. 25, 17S2,
66
Northumberland.
896,000
90,244
19. Allegheny
Sept. 24, 17S8, from a part of Westmereland and
482,560
178,831
20. Mifflin
Sept. 19, 1789, from a part of Cumberland and North-
umberland
236,800
16,340
22. Somerset
April 17, 1795,
66 Bedford.
682,240
26,778
24. Wayne
Mar. 26, 1796,
Northampton
460,800
32,239
25. Lycoming.
April 13, 1796,
Northumberland
691,200
37,399
27. Centre
Feb. 13, 1800, frem a part of Mifflin, Northumber- land, Lycoming, and Huntingdon ..
688,000
27,000.
28. Armstrong.
Mar. 12, 1800, from a part of Alleghany, Westmore- land, and Lycoming ..
408,960
35,797
29. Beaver
Mar. 12, 1800, frem a part of Alleghany and Wash n. 298,240 66 Alleghany
502,400
35,594
31. Crawford
Mar. 12, 1800,
" Alleghany
629,760
48,755
32. Erie
Mar. 12, 1800,
Alleghany
480,000
49,432
33. Mercer
Mar. 12, 1800,
Alleghany
416,000
36,850
34. Warren
Mar. 12, 1800,
Alleg'y and Lyceming 551,040
19,190
35. Venango
Mar. 13, 1800,
" Alleg'y and Lycoming 330,240
25,043 .
36. Indiana
Mar. 30, 1803, from a part of Westmoreland and Ly-
492,800
33,687
37. M'Kean
Mar. 20, 1804, from a part of Lycoming
716,800
8,859 ·
39. Jefferson
Mar. 26, 1804, frem a part of Lycoming
412,800
- 18,270
40. Potter
Mar. 26, 1S04,
"
Lycoming
384,000
11,470
42. Tioga
Mar. 26, 1804, from a part of Lycoming 66
714,240
31,044
43. Bradford*
Feb. 21, 1810,
Luzerne and Lycoming
751,360
48,734
45. Schuylkill
Mar. 1, 1811,
.€
Berks and Northamp. 485,400
232,960
43,753
47. Lebanon
Feb. 16, 1813,
66
Dauphin and Lancast. 195,840
275,840
25,065
49. Union
Mar. 22, 1813,
66
Wayne
384,000
7,655
51. Perry
Mar. 22, 1820,
Cumberland 344,960
22,793
52. Juniata.
Mar. 2, 1831,
Mifflin.
224,640
16,986
53. Monroe
April 1, 1836,
Northampton and Pike 384,000
16,758 ,
66
Westmoreland
527,360
39,909
15. Montgomery
Sept. 10, 1784,
Philadelphia
303,080
70,500
18. Huntingdon
Sept. 20, 1787,
Bedford.
537,600
28,100
21. Delaware
Sept. 26, 1789, from a part of Chester.
113,280
30,597
23. Greene
Feb. 9, 1796,
Washington
389,120
21,343
26. Adams
Jan. 22, 1800,
York .
337,920
2S,006
30. Butler Mar. 12, 1800,
38. Clearfield.
Mar. 26, 1804, from a part of Lycoming and North- umberland .
761,600
18,759
41. Cambria
Mar. 26, 1804, from a part of Huntingdon, Somerset, and Bedford ..
428,800
29,155
44. Susquehanna.
Feb. 21, 1810,
Luzerne ...
510,080
36,267"
46. Lehigh
Mar. 6, 1812,
Northampton.
31,831
48. Columbia
Mar. 22, 1813,
Northumberland.
Northumberland ...
165,120
14,145
50. Pike
Mar. 26, 1814,
Previous to March 24, 1812, this county was called Ontario.
3
16
8. Northampton Mar. 11, 1752, from a part of Bucks
240,000
47,904
13. Fayette Sept. 26, 1783,
Washington
29,140 +
coming ..
89,510
34
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Name. Date of Formation.
Acres. Populat'n.
54. Clarion
Mar. 11, 1839, from a part of Venango and Arms'ng. 384,000
24,988
55. Clinton .. June 2], 1839, Lycoming and Centre 591,360
17,723
56. Wyoming April 4, 1842, from a part of Northumberland and Luzerne ..
261,760
12,540
57. Carbon
Mar. 13, 1843, from a part of Northampton and Mon- roe.
256,000
21,033
58. Elk
April 18, 1843, from a part of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Mckean ..
446,720
5,915
59. Blair
Feb. 26, 1846, from a part of Huntingdon and Bed- ford.
380,160
27,829
60. Sullivan
Mar. 15, 1847, from a part of Lycoming
275,200
5,637
61. Forest
April 11, 1848,
Jefferson and Venango
284,800
898
62. Lawrence
Mar. 25, 1850,
Beaver and Mercer.
229,120
22,993
63. Fultou April 19, 1850,
Bedford
26S,800
9,13]
64. Montour.
May 3, 1850, 66 66
Columbia.
94,720
13,053
65. Snyder Mar. 2, 1855,
Union
187,520
15,035
66. Cameron.
Mar. 29, 1860, from a part of Clinton, Elk, M'Kean,
Potter (not organized when census was taken.). 268,480
Pennsylvania has been called the KEYSTONE STATE from the fact of having six of the old original States on each side of her. It is not my province to speak of her majestic mountains, her beautiful rivers and lakes-the variety of her soil-the salubriousness of her climate-and her agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial inter- ests. Mine is a humbler sphere, confined henceforth in this volume exclusively to the history of WASHINGTON COUNTY-the first county formed by the legislature of Pennsylvania after the Declaration of Independence had been promulgated to all nations, and Pennsylvania had assumed her rank and place as a free and independent State ; and therefore named after the immortal WASHINGTON. With this remark, we can truthfully say that our citizens therefore will be pre-eminently proud of the character of Washington County, whether viewed in a moral, educational, political, or religious view.
In concluding this chapter I shall add a list of the chief magis- trates, or governors, from 1681 to the present time, as being more immediately connected with the general matters therein contained.
ACCESS. NAMES.
EXIT.
1 .- 1681. William Penn, Proprietor. August, 1684.
2 .- 1684. Thomas Lloyd, Pres't of Governor's Council. December, 1687.
3 .- 1687. Thomas Lloyd, Robert Turner, Arthur Cook, John Symcock, and John Eckley appointed Deputy Lieutenants by William Penn.
4 .- 1688. Capt. John Blackwell, Lieutenant-Governor. 1690.
5 .- 1690. Thomas Lloyd, Deputy and Lieutenant-Governor. 1693.
6 .- 1693. Benjamin Fletcher, Captain-General and Lieutenant Governor of New York, Pennsylvania, and the county of New Castle and territories. September, 1698.
7 .- 1698. William Markham, Lieutenant-Governor. 1700.
8 .- 1700. William Penn again acted as Governor to
November 1, 1701.
9 .- 1701. Andrew Hamilton, Deputy-Governor. February, 1703.
10 .- 1703. Edward Shippen, President of Council 1704.
11 .- 1704. John Evans, Deputy-Governor,
1709.
12 .- 1709. Charles Gookin,
May 31, 1717.
13 .- 1717. Sir William Keith,
June 22, 1726.
14 .- 1726. Patrick Gordon,
August 5, 1736.
35
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ACCESS. NAMES.
EXIT.
15 .- 1736. On the death of Governor Gordon, the Council con- sisted of James Logan, Samuel Preston, Anthony Palmer, Clement Plumstead, Thomas Lawrence, Ralph Asheton, Samuel Hasill, and Thomas Griffits, who elected James Lo- gan President of Council. June, 1738. 1747.
16 .- 1738. George Thomas, Lieutenant-Governor.
17 .- 1747. Anthony Palmer, President of Council.
November, 1748. October, 1754.
18 .- 1748. James Hamilton, Lieutenant-Governor.
19 .- 1754. Robert Hunter Morris August, 1756.
20-1756. William Denny
November, 1759.
21 .- 1759. James Hamilton October, 1763.
22 .- 1763. John Penn, son of Rich'd Penn, Deputy-Governor. May, 1771.
23 .- 1771. Richard Penn, Governor. August, 1773. 24 .- 1773. John Penn, July, 1775.
Under the Council of Safety.
25 .- 1775. Benjamin Franklin, President of the Council, August, 1776.
Under the Constitution of September 28, 1776.
26 .- 1776. Thomas Wharton, President of the Supreme Execu- October, 1777.
tive Council.
27 .- 1777. Joseph Read, President of the Supreme Executive Council.
November, 1781.
28 .- 1781. William Moore, President of the Supreme Executive Council.
November, 1782.
29 .- 1782. John Dickinson, President of the Supreme Executive Council. November, 1785.
30 .- 1785. Benjamin Franklin, President of the Supreme Ex- ecutive Council. November, 1788.
31 .- 1788. Thomas Mifflin, President of the Supreme Executive Council. September, 1790.
When the Constitution went into operation.
Popular Vote of Candidates for Governor under the Constitution of September 2, 1790.
MAJORITY,
32 .- 1790. Thomas Mifflin, 0
.
₱
· 27,725
Arthur St. Clair, .
. 2,803
24,522
Whole number,
30,528
32 .- 1793. Thomas Mifflin, .
19,590
F. A. Muhlenburg, .
· 10,700
8,890
Whole number, 30,290
32 .- 1796. Thomas Mifflin,
30,029
F. A. Muhlenburg,
. 10,011
20,018
Whole number, 40,040
33 .- 1799. Thomas McKean, James Ross,
37,244
·
. 22,643
14,601
Whole number, 59,887
.
·
ELECTION.
.
36
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ELECTION.
MAJORITY.
33 .- 1802. Thomas Mckean,
47,879
James Ross, .
· 17,037 2
Scattering, .
94 ) 30,748
Whole number, 57,472
33 .- 1805. Thomas Mckean,
43,644
Simon Snyder,
. 38,483 }
Samuel Snyder,
395 S 4,766
Whole number,
82,522
34 .- 1808. Simon Snyder, .
67,975
James Ross, .
39,575
John Spayd, .
4,006
Scattering,
8 5
24,386
Whole number, 111,564
34 .- 1811. Simon Snyder,
52,319
William Tilghman,
3,609 Į
Scattering,
1,675 }
47,035
Whole number, 57,603
34 .- 1814. Simon Snyder,
51,099
Isaac Wayne,
29,566
George Littimore,
910
Scattering, .
18
20,605
Whole number,
81,593
35 .- 1817. William Findley, ·
· 66,331
Joseph Hiester,
.
59,272 7 .
Scattering,
11 } 7,048
Whole number, 125,614
36 .- 1820. Joseph Hiester,
· 67,905
William Findley,
.
. 66,300 2
Scattering,
.
.
.
21
1,584
Whole number, 134,226
37 .- 1823. J. Andrew Shultz,
89,928
Andrew Gregg,
64,211 2
Scattering, .
8 )
25,709
Whole number, 154,147
37 .- 1826. J. Andrew Shultz,
72,710
John Sergeant, .
1,175 }
Scattering, ·
1,174
70,361
Whole number, 75,059
.
.
.
.
.
·
·
·
.
.
·
.
.
.
·
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
37
ELECTION.
MAJORITY.
38 .- 1829. George Wolf,
· 78,219
Joseph Ritner,
. 61,776 )
Scattering,
12 16,433
Whole number, 140,007
38 .- 1832. George Wolf,
. 91,335
Joseph Ritner,
· 88,165 3,170
Whole number, 179,500
39,-1835. Joseph Ritner,
· 94,023
George Wolf,
65,804 2
H. A. Muhlenberg,
· 40,586
Whole number, 200,413
Of these votes Messrs. Wolf and Muhlenberg had
· 106,390
Joseph Ritner,
. 94,023
Thus making Joseph Ritner a minority Governor by
. 12,377
Under the Constitution of October 9, 1838.
40 .- 1838. David R. Porter,
127,821
Joseph Ritner,
. 122,325
5,496
Whole number, 250,146
40 .- 1841. David R. Porter,
136,504
John Banks,
113,473
F. Julius Lemoyne,
763
Scattering, .
23
1 22,245
Whole number,
250,763
41 .- 1844. Francis R. Shuak,
160,322
Joseph Markle, .
.
.
·
2,566
1,716
Whole number, 318,928
146,081
James Irvin, .
128,148 )
E. C. Reigart,
11,247
F. Julius Lemoyne,
.
.
1,861
Scattering,
6
4,819
Whole number,
287,343
42 .- 1848. William F. Johnston,
168.522 .
Morris Longstreth,
168,225 )
E. D. Gazzam,
48
Scattering,
24
225
Whole number,
336,819
·
156,040 }
F. Julius Lemoyne,
.
41 .- 1847. Francis R. Shank,
·
.
·
.
.
·
·
·
.
.
38
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
ELECTION.
MAJORITY.
43 .- 1851. William Bigler, .
186,499 .
William F. Johnston,
178,034
Kimber Cleaver,
1,859
Scattering,
67 6,539
Whole number, 366,459
44 .- 1854. James Pollock,
203,822
William Bigler, .
166,991 )
B. Rush Bradford, Scattering,
33
34,604
Whole number, 373,040
45 .- 1857. William F. Packer, David Wilmot,
188,846
Isaac Hazelhurst,
28,168
Scattering,
12
14,527
46 .- 1860 .- Andrew G. Curtin, H. D. Foster,
262.349
32,110
Whole number, 492,588
46 .- 1863. Andrew G. Curtin,
269,506
George W. Woodward,
254,171 2
Scattering,
Whole number,
523,679
47 .- 1866. John W. Geary.
307,274 ·
Hiester Clymer,
290,096
17,178
Whole number,
597,370
48 .- 1869. John W. Geary,
290.552 .
Asa Packer,
285,956
4,596
Whole number, 576,508
Although the State of Pennsylvania has had but forty-eight governors, yet from the numbers attached to their names we learn some have filled the office two and even three terms.
We shall close this chapter by giving an extract from the 41st chapter of the acts of the first General Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed December 7th, 1682, from which it appears that the first set- tlers began the year in March, and repudiated the heathen names as now applied to the days of the week, evidently demonstrating that our forefathers were governed by a religious sentiment in our organi- zation as a colony. The following is a literal copy :-
" And bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that ye days of ye week and ye months of ye year shall be called as in Scrip- ture, and not by heathen names (as are vulgarly used), as ye first, second, third daies of ye week, and first second and third months of ye year, beginning with ye day called Sunday and ye month called March."
2,194
146,139 7 .
Whole number,
363,165
.
230.239
2
15,333
.
·
39
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
ORIGINAL ACT ESTABLISHING WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Divisions by the formation of townships-Its original and present townships and boroughs-Its present boundaries with topographical and geographical description and its streams-Its early religious element and the religious agreement of 1782-Marriage custom and ceremony-School-houses.
HAVING in the preceding chapters confined myself to the primi- tive history of what is now known as Washington County, originally belonging to Virginia, and also a general outline history of Penn- sylvania, and thereby laid the foundation stone upon which to erect the superstructure, I shall now proceed with the general history of Washington County.
On the 28th of March 1781, the legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act for erecting part of the county of Westmoreland into a sepa- rate county, and the reasons given in the preamble to said act are in these words: Whereas, the inhabitants of that part of Westmore- land County which lies west of the Monongahela River, have repre- sented to the Assembly of this State the great hardships they lie under, from being so far remote from the present seat of judicature and the public offices ; for to remedy these inconveniences they there- fore passed the act of separation. The act is in eighteen sections (the preamble being numbered the first), which we will refer to, either at length or by giving a summary of the contents of each sepa- rately.
Section second gives the boundaries of Washington County as follows : all that part of the State of Pennsylvania west of the Monongahela River, and south of the Ohio, beginning at the junc- tion of the said rivers, thence up the Monongahela River aforesaid, to the line run by Mason and Dixon ; thence by the said line due west to the end thereof; and from thence the same course, to end of five degrees of west longitude, to be computed from the River Dela- ware; thence by a meridian line, extended north, until the same shall intersect the Ohio River, and thence by the same to the place of beginning (the said lines from the end of Mason and Dixon's line to the Ohio River to be understood as to be hereafter ascertained by commissioners now appointed or to be appointed for that purpose), shall be and the same is hereby declared to be erected into a county, henceforth to be called Washington.
Section third gives the same rights and privileges to the inhabit- ants as enjoyed by other counties in the State.
40
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
Section fourth authorizes the trustees to take assurance of ground whereon to erect a court-house and prison, and divide the county into townships, before July 1st, 1781.
Section fifth empowers the inhabitants to eleet Inspectors, two Representatives for the Assembly, one member of the Supreme Exe- cutive Council, two persons for Sheriff, two for Coroner, and three Commissioners. The election was ordered to be held at the house of David Hoge, at the place called CATFISH CAMP, now Washington.
Section sixth. Justices of the Supreme Court to have like powers and authorities in Washington County.
Sections seventh and eighth provide for an election for justices of the peace, to be held on the 15th of July, 1781, for the various townships, after judges and inspectors have been elected.
Section ninth. Justices of the peace authorized to hold courts of General Quarter Sessions and Gaol Delivery.
Section tenth. James Edgar, Hugh Scott, Van Swearingen, Daniel Leet, and John Armstrong appointed commissioners to purchas. ground for a court-house, as provided for in section four.
Sections eleventh and twelfth provide for the mode of defraying the expenses of the public buildings.
Section thirteenth. For the continuance of suits commenced in the original county.
Sections fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth provide for the appoint- ment of a collector of the excise, his powers and fees.
Section seventeenth direets the Sheriff and Coroner of Westmore- land County to officiate until those officers could be chosen in the new county.
Section eighteenth directed the amount of the security to be given by the Sheriff and Treasurer.
DIVISION OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
The inhabitants of Washington County, with those of Westmore- land, considering their counties were too extensive, and that they were subject to many inconveniences from their being situated at so great a distance from the seat of justice, conceived that their inter- ests and happiness would be greatly promoted by being erected into a new and separate county ; the legislature, on the 24th of September, 1788, gratified their requests, and erected Alleghany County. We shall give the original boundaries of this new county, so that we can trace on the map, the territory which was struck off from Washing- ton County. Beginning at the mouth of Flagherty's Run, on the south side of the Ohio River, from thence, by a straight line, to the plantation on which. Joseph Scott, Esquire, now lives, on Mon- tour's Run, to include the same; from thence, by a straight line, to the mouth of Miller's Run, in Chartiers' Creek ; thence by a straight line, to the mouth of Perry's Mill Run, on the east side of Monon- gahela River ; thence up the said river to the mouth of Becket's
41
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Run ; thence by a straight line to the mouth of Sewickley Creek, on Youghiogheny River ; thence down the said river to the mouth of Crawford's Run; thence by a straight line to the mouth of Bush Creek, on Turtle Creek; thence up Turtle Creek to the main fork thereof; thence by a northerly line until it strikes Puckety's Creek ; thence down the said creek to the Allegheny River; thence up the Allegheny River to the northern boundary of the State; thence along the the same to the river Ohio, and thence up the same to the place of beginning. The above portion of the line italicized is the portion taken from Washington County.
But the inhabitants of Washington County still seemed desirous of having justice administered to them at their very doors, again petitioned the legislature to annex a certain part of this to Allegheny County; and on the 17th of September, 1789, the General Assembly believing their prayer to be just and reasonable, granted their re- quest. The boundaries of that part of Washington, annexed to Allegheny County, began at the river Ohio, where the boundary line of the State crosses the said river; from thence in a straight line, to White's mill, on Racoon Creek; from thence by a straight line, to Armstrong's mill, on Miller's Run, and from thence by a straight line, to the Monongahela River, opposite the mouth of Perry's Run, where it strikes the present line of Allegheny County.
By this act of annexation, the whole of Dickinson and part of Cecil township became part of Allegheny County; according to a decision of the Supreme Executive Council. Peter Kidd and John Beaver were authorized to have the boundary lines marked, each being allowed twenty-five shillings per day, out of the treasury of Allegheny County.
On the 9th of FEBRUARY, 1796, another portion of the territory of Washington County was erected into GREENE County. The boundary line began at the mouth of Tenmile Creek, on the Monongahela River ; thence up Tenmile Creek to the junction of the north and south forks of said creek ; thence up said north fork to Colonel William Wallace's mill; thence up a southwesterly direction to the nearest part of the dividing ridge between the north and south forks of Tenmile Creek ; thence along the top of the said ridge to the ridge which divides the waters of Tenmile and Wheeling creeks ; thence a straight line to the head of Enlow's branch of the Wheeling; thence down said branch to the western boundary of the State; thence south along the said line to the southern boundary line of the State ; thence east along said line to the river Monongahela, and thence down the said river to the place of beginning.
The words italicized form the southern line separating Washing- ton and Greene counties.
The officers of Washington County were authorized to exercise the duties of their office in the new county (except justices of peace) until similar officers were appointed. Washington and Greene were
42
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY.
to elect, jointly, four representatives ; while Washington, Allegheny, and Greene were to compose the congressional district.
On the 22d of January, 1802, by authority of the legislature of Pennsylvania, the following alteration took place in the line between the counties of Washington and Greene; beginning at the present line, on the ridge that divides thie waters of the Tenmile and Wheeling creeks, near Jacob Bobbett's ; thence a straight line, to the head-waters of Hunter's fork of Wheeling Creek, and thence down the same, to the mouth thereof, where it meets the present county line.
The act of the same date declares that so much of the county of Greene, which, by the act, is reunited to the county of Washing- ton, as lies west of the road called Ryerson's Road, is hereby an- nexed to Findley township, and shall hereafter be a part of the district called Stevenson's election district, and that part thereof, which lies cast of said road is hereby annexed to Morris township, and shall hereafter be a part of the Washington elected district.
The Governor was authorized to appoint two commissioners to run and mark the aforesaid line; the expense to be borne equally out of the treasury of both counties.
By the erection of Greene County, Morgan, Cumberland, Frank- lin, Greene, and Rich Hill townships became component parts of Greene County.
On the 12th of March, 1800, an act was passed by the General Assembly, erecting parts of Washington and Alleghany counties into a new county, to be called BEAVER. The boundary line began at the mouth of the Sewickley Creek on the Ohio River; thenee up the said creek to the west line of Alexander's district of deprecia- tion lands ; thence northerly along the said line, and continuing the same course to the north line of the first donation district; thence westerly along the said line to the western boundary of the State ; thence southerly along the said boundary, across the Ohio River to a point in the said boundary, from which a line to be run at right angles easterly will strike White's mill on Racoon Creek, and from such point along the said easterly line to the said mill ; thence on a straight line to the mouth of Big Sewickley Creek, the place of beginning. (The words italicized is the boundary line between Washington and Beaver counties). The expense of running the line was to be borne by Beaver County.
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