USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 18
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outrage, they were charged with many things they had not done, such as har- boring hostile Indians and stealing property. To this they answered that they had not refused shelter to either the white or the Indian race, and had never knowingly aided any one who was intent on committing depredations. To all charges they answered equally well, offering, by the way, to show all the property they had to prove that none of it was stolen. But they were told to prepare for death. They then asked for more time to sing and pray and this was granted. They asked forgiveness as they had been taught to do, and bade each other good-bye, but in the hope of a speedy reunion after death. Some of the murderers outside were impatient for the slaughter, and they moreover could not agree as to the manner in which they should be put to death. Many wanted to burn the houses in which they were imprisoned, and shoot all who would attempt to escape the flames. This was objectionable because it would destroy the scalps, from which they hoped to realize a handsome revenue. The eighteen members of the militia washed their hands of all complicity in the affair, and there is no evidence that any of them took any part in it. One of the murderers took a cooper's mallet and began killing them by breaking their skulls. He kept this up until he had killed fourteen, and then complained that his arm was tired and handed his mallet, wreaking with blood, to another. In this way all were put to death save two boys, one of whom had hidden in a cellar; the other, surviving the stroke of the mallet and the removal of his scalp, escaped that night. Thus, quotes one writer on the subject. "By the mouth of two witnesses shall these things be established." When all had been murdered the dead bodies were put in one house, which was fired. They then started home, and on their way met a body of friendly Delawares, all but a few of whom were killed.
Colonel Williamson was afterwards elected to office in Washington county, and, it is said, died in jail as a debtor, without a friend in the world. County ยท Lieutenant John Cannon was among them. It is said that the fiend who killed the fourteen with a mallet was at the time a county commissioner and justice of the county, and that he was subsequently elected sheriff of the county. John Cannon founded Cannonsburg, and from him the Academy so noted in the past took its name. Now this outrage, the blackest in Pennsylvania annals, was committed by a people who prided themselves on their advancement, wealth and culture, and who looked with scorn on the Dutch, who, in their dealings with the Indians, followed as far as possible the policy of William Penn. How the patriotic and justice-loving Washington must have blushed with shame when he learned that these murderers had sought to perpetuate his name by giving it to their newly formed country !
It must ever be remembered that the Indian's side of the long contest between the early settlers and his race, can never be truly known. Our knowl- edge of these events almost invariably comes from his enemies. Few nations.
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indeed, would be correctly portrayed if they were compelled to take the place in history given them by their enemies.
The Westmoreland reader is interested in another expedition to Ohio, made in 1782, from the fact that its leader, Colonel William Crawford, was the pre- siding judge of our first courts held at Hannastown, in 1773. In May he started out with an army of about five hundred horsemen, all mounted on their own animals. They were largely from Washington county. His objective point was the Indian strongholds in western Ohio. His force was repulsed, and he was in a fair way to escape had he not turned back to look after his son, son-in-law and two nephews, who were of his retreating party. He could not overtake the men because of the weariness of his horse. Crawford and a friend of his, Dr. Knight, and nine others, were taken prisoners on June Ioth. His cruel death has been written of a great deal, and is perhaps, of all outrages committed by the Indians, the one which will dwell longest in the memory of civilized people. He was tied to a tree and burning wood placed near him so as to lengthen his torture. The squaws cut his ears and nose off, and heaped burning coals on his head and back. For three hours he endured this agony, when at last the brave but exhausted Colonel sank into a most welcome death. Simon Girty superintended this barbarous affair. Dr. Knight witnessed it, and knew that he was to be saved for a similar exhibition in another locality a night or two following. When being taken there he escaped, and after twenty- two days of wandering reached Fort McIntosh, and thence returned to his home. A further reference to Crawford as our first judge will be found in the part of this work which treats of the judiciary.
By this time the resources of all kinds of our county were nearly exhausted. To illustrate : the business done in our courts had almost dwindled away. In January, 1780, they failed to get men in the county to form a grand jury, and the court adjourned without doing any business. In October, 1780, there was only one constable present, and he was from Pittsburgh. In January, 1781, a traverse jury was secured and their names are quite familiar to the reader. Though they doubtless have often been published, we are constrained to give them again. They were : William Love, John Guthrie, Joseph Brownlee, Will- iam Jack, William Guthrie, Adam Hatfield, Matthew Miller, Samuel Beatty, Lawrence Irwin, William Shaw, Conrad Houk and William Maxwell. There were, however, as is always the case in hard times, many (ninety-two) execu- tions issued. The enormity of this number may be better understood when it is known that in 1902, one hundred and twenty years after, there were only three hundred and seventy-four issued, and this when our population was verg- ing on 200,000.
. A transcript from the records is as follows: "The court having considered the application of David Rankin, he living on the frontiers, excuse him from paying license in the year 1781, and at the same time rule that the several people having sold or continue to sell spirituous liquors living on the frontiers,
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and may be entitled to the favor of the court, are discharged from paying license until July sessions last, agreeable to the directions of the Honorable, the Supreme Executive Council."
A law was passed on March 10, 1780, empowering the county commis- sioners to remit the taxes of those who had been driven from their homes by the Indians, and also of those who, though not driven away, had greatly suf- fered from the enemy. That year we were not even called on for troops, for it was known that our men able to perform military duty, and many who were not, were already enlisted. Colonel John Boynton, who was a commissioner in the western frontier, says in a letter to President Reed that in three years he was scarcely able to purchase such necessaries of life as decency required. Con- tinental money had also depreciated so greatly that the Pennsylvania council found it necessary to control the payment of debts by fixing a scale of paying power for the depreciated currency, and the same law enacted that the law limiting the time of bringing suits should not run when the courts were closed. In 1780 Broadhead wrote to President Reed, "For heaven's sake hurry up the promised forces, or Westmoreland county will be a wilderness." This year a flying company, or rather two of them, were introduced, and these were to pass rapidly back and forth between Fort Pitt and Fort Ligonier. Westmoreland county furnished sixty-five men for this purpose, and they were divided into two companies.
The following is a partial list of the Revolutionary soldiers who have lived and died in Westmoreland county. It is, of course, not complete, but it was mostly gathered by the editors of the Greensburg Democrat with great care, and published by them from time to time. Perhaps the list may contain errors, and we regret that it can never be completed, yet it is almost invaluable so far as it goes.
George Ament, of Franklin township, died December II, 1843, aged 85 years.
Christopher Aukerman, of Mt. Pleasant township, died July 17, 1845, in the 88th year of his age. He was a drummer and later a soldier in the war. His body was buried in the Aukerman graveyard, near Lycippus.
John Ansley was a native of New Jersey. Prior to 1798 he removed to the northern part of Westmoreland county, where he spent the balance of his life.
Thomas Anderson took up a large tract of land, known as the Richlands, in Derry township, near New Alexandria. He died there in 1826, aged 103 years, and was buried in the Salem Presbyterian churchyard, Derry township.
Joseph Brownlee was a lieutenant in Captain Joseph Erwin's company, Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment. He was murdered by the Indians near Miller's Station (or fort), two miles northeast of Greensburg, July 13, 1782, the same day that Hannastown was burned. A more extended no-
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tice of Captain Brownlee will be found in the chapter on the burning of Hannastown.
Sergeant Thomas Beatty, of Derry township, died April 4, 1822, in the 70th year of his age. He enlisted in June, 1776, in Captain James Cham- ter's company of musketry, Colonel Raelly's regiment, Pennsylvania Line, year. In June, 1777, he reenlisted for three years in the First Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. During nine months of that period he was a prisoner on board a British vessel. He served until the end of his term and was honorably discharged.
David Brown, of Fairfield township, died May 2, 1819, in the 70th year of his age.
John Brennen, of Hempfield township, died July 10, 1826, aged 77 years. He enlisted in 1777 at McCallistertown, Pennsylvania, in Captain McCallis- ter's company of musketry, Colonel Raelly's regiment, Pennsylvania Line, for the war, and served six years. He participated in the battles of Brandy- wine, Monmouth, Germantown and Paoli, being severely wounded by a bayonet in the latter engagement.
Hon. John Brandon died November 27, 1823, in Washington township. Indiana county, in the 70th year of his age. He was a soldier from the battle of Bunker Hill to the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. After the war Mr. Brandon settled in Westmoreland county, and was elected sheriff in 1792 and again in 1801 ; also a state senator, and held several minor positions.
Leonard Beck, of Hempfield township, died March 14, 1831, in the 72nd year of his age. His remains are buried in the graveyard at Seanor's Church, Hempfield township.
Jolin Barns, of Unity township, died December 10, 1836, in the 83rd year of his age.
Adam Brantuwer died in Westmoreland county, July 29, 1834, aged 84 years. He enlisted in Captain Thomas Craig's Company, Second Penn- sylvania Battalion, Colonel Arthur St. Clair, on January 13, 1776, as a private for one year. At the end of that term he re-enlisted in the Penn- sylvania Line for three years or during the war, and was honorably dis- charged in 1781.
James Black was sergeant in Captain Robert Orr's company in a battalion of Westmoreland militia, under command of Colonel Archibald Lochry. In 1781 the battalion was ordered on an expedition down the Ohio river, and August 24th of that year, while in service, Sergeant Black was tomahawked and killed by the Indians. A more extended notice of the Lochry Expedition is given in former pages.
Joseph Bullman was a son of Thomas Bullman and Anna Walling. He was married November 18, 1762, to Mary Baird, sister of Captain John and Major William Baird, and daughter of John and Avis Baird; all were
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of Monmouth county, New Jersey. Part of the time he was an ensign with Captain Carter and Colonel Hathaway. He removed to Westmoreland county and settled in Loyalhanna township at the woolen factory near Fennell church, where he spent the remainder of his life. His remains were probably interred at the Congruity Presbyterian cemetery, as his son, Rev. Samuel P. Bullman, was a member of that church during his youth.
Jacob Byerly died in North Huntington township, July 7, 1858, aged 99 years. He was born in Bedford Fort, and came with his father to the vicinity of Harrison City in 1762. He did valiant service on frontier and in a number of expeditions against the Indians, and during the war was at- tached to the Thirteenth Virginia regiment, part of which was stationed at Fort Pitt.
James Carnahan was a lieutenant in Captain Joseph Erwin's company of the Pennsylvania Rifle regiment. He was subsequently at various tinies a captain in the Second, Eighth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania regiments, Continental Line. He served from March, 1776, until 1781, and was ac- cidentally drowned in the Allegheny river in the winter of 1786. His father, John Carnahan, was one of the early settlers of Bell township, where he built a log house in 1774. Captain James Carnahan was the father of the late Dr. Carnalian, president of Princeton College. He is spoken of earlier in the chapter, and was, indeed, one of our best men in the Revolution.
Garret Covode, of Fairfield township, died February 21, 1826, in the 9Ist year of his age. His remains are interred in the old Fairfield Presbyterian churchyard. He was a native of Holland, and a resident of the Ligonier Valley for thirty six years.
Captain Daniel Carpenter, of Franklin township, died December 14, 1827, in the 79th year of his age. He was a captain in the war under Gen- eral Washington. He was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.
John Curry, Sr., died in Preble county, Ohio, August 27, 1835, aged 85 years. He was one of the first settlers on the Allegheny river in West- moreland county, located three miles southeast of Freeport. He served several years in the war, and at its close returned to his home on the river. Three times the Indians burned his house, and three times he was compelled to flee with his family { ast of the mountains to escape the sav- ages. In 1814 he removed to Preble county, Ohio.
The Craig family, father and three sons, rendered splendid service in the war. Samuel Craig, Sr., was a lieutenant in Colonel Jolin Proctor's battalion of militia. He was captured by the Indians. John Craig died in 1847, his re- mains resting at Freeport, Pennsylvania. Alexander Craig died October 29, 1832, in his 77th year, his body being buried at Congruity, and Samuel Craig, Jr., died in 1808.
Samuel Carson was buried in the cemetery at Long Run church, North Huntington township. He enlisted at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 25. 1776 as a private in Captain James Taylor's company, Fourth
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Pennsylvania Battalion, under Colonel Anthony Wayne, and served until the close of the war.
Zebulon Doty was born in New Jersey, in 1760. After the war he emi- grated to Derry township, and settled near the Salem Presbyterian Church. He died at Blairsville, Pennsylvania.
William Donald, of Franklin township, died March 31, 1842, in the 90th year of his age.
Philip Drum, of Franklin township, died June 10, 1845, in the 95th year of his age. He was a native of Northampton county. He participated in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandy- wine and Germantown. His remains were interred in the graveyard on his own farm with military honors. The Franklin Blues, under command of Captain Hugh Irwin, performed the last sad honors.
Francis Davidson, of Salem township, died October 8, 1845, at the age of 106 years.
George Dugan, of Westmoreland county, died August 16, 1834. He left no family.
Nathaniel De y died at his residence in Derry township, March 24, 1848, in his 86th year. He was a native of New Jersey, and served in Cap- tain Carter's company, Colonel Hathaway's regiment, New Jersey Line. His remains are interred in the Salem Presbyterian Churchyard, Derry township.
David Dickey's remains are interred at Congruity.
John Eggert (Eckert), of Unity township, died February 15, 1845, in his 86th year. He was one of the Hessians captured by Wshington. Sub- sequently he joined the American army and served during the remainder of the war with bravery and fidelity. He was ever a respected and ex- cellent citizen of his adopted country.
Robert Elder served five years in the war. In 1784 he emigrated from a section of Lancaster county that is now included in Dauphin, to West- moreland, and settled near New Alexandria, where he died many years afterwards, at the age of 86 years. His remains are interred in the Salem Presbyterian churchyard, Derry township.
John Finley was a lieutenant in Captain Moses Carson's company in 1776 to range the frontiers. He died on his farm in South Huntington township, September 9, 1813.
Hon. William Findley, of Unity township, died April 4, 1821, aged 80 years. His body was buried in the graveyard at Unity Church. He rose to the rank of captain in the war, and was a member of the council of censors, of the supreme executive council, of the convention that ratified the federal constitution, a member of the convention that framed the state constitution of 1790, a member of the general assembly, and for twenty-two years a representative in Congress. He was a prominent figure on the side of law and order during the latter part of the Whiskey Insurrection, and the
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author of a history of that notable affair, which was published in 1796. A more extended account of his life will be found elsewhere in these pages.
William Farrell died in Mt. Pleasant borough, June 20, 1828, aged 82 years. He enlisted in 1777 in the Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Line, under Col. William Butler (the Flying Camp), and participated in the battles of Brunswick, Trenton, Germantown, Monmouth, Brandywine and Paoli, and was wounded in the head at the latter place. He also served under Col. William Butler (the Flying Camp). At his funeral his remains were interred with the honors of war by the Mt. Pleasant Volun- teers, under command of Lieutenant A. Miller.
Lieutenant Andrew Finley, of South Huntingdon township, died July 5, 1829, aged about 80 years. Sixty years previously, when surrounded by difficulties and encountering danger at every step, he visited the state of Kentucky, at that time a trackless wilderness. He enlisted in the Con- tinental army as first lieutenant in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Aeneas Mackay, and after his death Colonel Daniel Broadhead. On various occasions Mr. Finley distinguished himself by his daring intrepidity in opposing the Indians and relieving the inhabitants of our frontier settlements.
Mathias Fisher, of Ligonier township, died February 17, 1834.
Lieutenant Ennos Grannis, of Hempfield township, died March 18, 1824, aged 69 years. He enlisted in Connecticut, August 25, 1777, in a company of artificers commanded by Captain Pendleton. In November, 1779, he was appointed a lieutenant in that company, which was attached to the regiment commanded by Colonel Baldwin, Connecticut Line. The regiment joined the southern army and marched to South Carolina. Lieu- tenant Grannis was honorably discharged at Philadelphia, November 3, 1783. Not long thereafter he became a citizen of Westmoreland county.
William Guthrie, of Washington township, died August 8, 1829, in the 95th year of his age. He was one of the pioneers. He enlisted in May, 1777, and continued in the service for four years, in the Seventh Pennsylvania Regi- ment, Continental Line. He participated in many engagements with the In- dians on the Westmoreland frontier and was noted for his great bravery.
James Gaghby, of Fairfield township, died May 23, 1834, in the 82nd year of his age. He immigrated to this country during the war, and joined the army. After the war he settled in Fairfield township, where he resided until his death.
Mathias H. Holston, of Derry township, died August 8, 1822.
William Hitchman, of Mt. Pleasant township, died February 10, 1834, aged about 75 years. He was a native of Cecil county, Maryland. At the age of sixteen he enlisted under Captain Maxwell in a corps attached to the Maryland Line. He emigrated to this country in an early day, and suffered the hardships and privations to which the pioneers of the western country were exposed.
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Robert Hamill was born in county Antrim, Ireland, and came with his parents, John Hamill and Elizabeth Gibson, to America, in 1761, and about 1785 moved to Ligonier Valley, two miles south of Palmer's Fort. The father, John Hamill, being drafted, Robert went in his place and served three years. He died in 1841, in the 83rd year of his age.
Hugh Hamill served in Captain Finley's company from 1776 to 1779. He resided in Ligonier Valley in 1809, and was one of the original first session of the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church of that section.
Jacob Himinger died in Mt. Pleasant borough, April 5, 1842, in the 86th year of his age, and his remains were interred with military honors by Captain Clark's volunteer corps of Jackson Greys.
Jacob Holtzer immigrated to America from Germany prior to the strug- gle for independence. He settled near Lewistown, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the army, and was promoted to sergeant. After the war he came to Westmoreland and settled in the southwestern section of Unity township. His remains were buried in Hempfield township, in what is known as Central Cemetery. Many of his descendants are well known residents of the country.
Colonel John Irwin, of Brush Hill (North Huntingdon township), died February 22, 1822, in the 83rd year of his age. He arrived in the country in 1762, and soon after was appointed a commissary in the British army. During the war he was quartermaster for the western department. He represented Westmoreland for several sessions in the general assembly. In 1794 he was appointed associate judge of the courts of this county by Governor Mifflin. Colonel Irwin was active in promoting the building of the Greensburg and Stoyestown turnpike.
Capt. Matthew Jack, of Salem township, died November 26, 1836, in the 82nd year of his age. His remains are interred at Congruity. He entered the service as first lieutenant in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. He lost the use of his left hand by the bursting of his gun at Bound Brook, New Jersey. He was promoted to captain April 13, 1777, and became supernumerary January 31, 1779. He also rendered ser- vice at times in defense of the frontiers. At the burning of Hannastown by the Indians in July, 1782, he was among the first to go out from the stock- ade to discover the intention of the savages and to alarm the settlers. His famous ride and rescue of Mrs. Love and her babe on that memorable day are now well known facts of history. Captain Jack likewise participated in the war of 1812, and among his effects, still to be seen, is a valuable relic made from the wood of a British vessel, and marked with a silver plate bearing this inscription, "Capt. Matthew Jack; Perry's Victory, Lake Erie, 1813."
John Johnston, of Allegheny township, died March 12, 1843, in the 103d year of his age. He served faithfully from the beginning to the close of the war, and was in General Anthony Wayne's command, and par-
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ticipated in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, Guilford Court House and York- town. At the storming of Stony Point he was. one of the gallant "forlorn hope." His body was escorted to the grave by the militia under command of Major George W. Martin and Captain Kipp, and buried with the honors of war, in presence of the largest concourse of people ever assembled in the neighborhood at an interment.
General William Jack died at his residence near Greensburg, February 18, 1821, in the 68th year of his age. He was born near Strabane, county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1751, and came to Westmoreland county with his elder brother. Matthew Jack, in 1772. General Jack was distinguished for zeal and activity in protecting the frontiers, and was one of the founders of Greensburg. With Christopher Truby and Ludwick Otterman he donated the ground upon which are erected our present public buildings. He was second lieutenant of the Pennsylvania independent company of which Samuel Moorehead was captain, his commission bearing date January I, 1777. He gained the title of General by virtue of appointment as brigadier- general of Westmoreland militia, his commission signed by Governor Thomas Mifflin, April 19, 1793. He was a justice of the court of common pleas during the Revolution. He donated to the burgesses and inhabitants of Greensburg lots of ground for a school building, house of worship and burial ground, now embraced within the old St. Clair Cemetery. His re- mains are interred there near the remains of the patriot and soldier, Gen- eral Arthur St. Clair.
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