USA > Pennsylvania > Westmoreland County > History of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 19
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James Jones served in the war al out six years and six months. He was born November II, 1761, and died August 18, 1811. His remains rest in the burial ground at Congruity Church, Salem township. James Jones was the grandfather of ex-County Superintendent H. M. Jones, of that township.
Captain David Kilgore, of Mt. Pleasant township, died July 11, 1814, at an advanced age. He was an early settler in the county, and had been a captain in the war.
Joseph Kaylor, Sr., of Hempfield township, died April 1, 1833, in the 77th year of his age. At the commencement of the war he was snatched from his native country and widowed mother on the coast of Germany by a British press gang for enforced service against the Americans. On the first opportunity after his arrival in this country he escaped from the British and their unrighteous cause, and joined his fortunes to the standard of liberty under Washington. He distinguished himself as a brave soldier in three severe engagements. At the close of the war he settled in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Captain David Kilgore, of Mt. Pleasant township, died July 11, 1814, in the 70th year of his age. His remains were interred in the graveyard at
164
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
the Middle Church in the township named. He was captain of a company in a regiment enlisted in June, 1776, for the defense of the frontier, and which subsequently became . the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continen- tal Line.
Colonel Archibald Lochry was killed and scalped by the Indians, on August 24, 1781, below the mouth of the Big Maumee. He was lieutenant- colonel under Colonel John Proctor, First Battalion Westmoreland Associ- ators, 1776. He was county lieutenant for Westmoreland county, and com- manded a regiment of Westmoreland militia in General Clark's proposed expedition against the Indians.
David Logan, of Franklin township, died November 28, 1815, aged sixty years.
Jacob Peter Long, of Mt. Pleasant township, died January 19, 1842, in the 83d year of his age. He was a teamster in the war. His body rests in the Middle Church graveyard, in the township named.
Captain Jeremiah Lochrey died January 21, 1824, at the residence of Samuel Moorhead, in Salem township, in the 93d year of his age, and was interred at Congruity. He was a captain in the Sixth Pennsylvania Regi- ment, Continental Line.
John Leach, a private in Captain James Leech's company of militia of Westmoreland county during the war, was killed by the Indians while in service.
James Montgomery, of Unity township, died March 14, 1824, aged 72 years. He participated in the war, and subsequently in several tours against the Indians. He settled in Westmoreland in 1784, was elected a number of times to the state legislature, and appointed register and recorder by Governor Snyder in 1813.
Alexander McClain died at Youngstown, February 2, 1826, aged 84 years. He served his country during the war and received four wounds, one each at the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown and Paoli.
Mathias Marker, of Donegal township, died April 17, 1840, aged 91 years. He came from Maryland, enlisting perhaps from Virginia.
Edward McDonnell died February 5, 1836. He left no family.
Peter Martin, of North Huntingdon township, died May 20, 1822, aged' about 72 years. He enlisted for three years in the company commanded by Captain William Bratton, in the Seventh Pennsylvania Regiment, com- manded by Colonel William Irvine, and for a time by Colonel Josiah Har- mer. He served his full term, and was honorably discharged at Trenton, New Jersey, his discharge being signed by General Wayne.
Captain William Moore, of Salem township, died January 12, 1819, in- the 79th year of his age. He was one of the earliest settlers of that locality, and was an active and useful citizen during the trying frontier days of this. section, and was an officer in the Revolutionary war.
165
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Isaac McKissack was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1752, and im- migrated to America in 1772. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the army for seven years, was with Washington at Valley Forge, and en- dured all the trials of a soldier until peace was declared. He came west and was one of the soldiers on the frontiers, protecting the settlers from the at- tacks of the Indians. When Hannastown was burned he was in the field harvesting, near Latrobe. Hearing the report of the firearms he dropped his sickle, and with gun in hand started for the scene of action. He was one of the men who guarded the fort that night at Hannastown. After the raids of the Indians ceased, he settled on a farm in Unity township. He married Mary Cochran, of Salem township, and two daughters were born to them; one died when young, and the other, Eleanor, married William Barnes, of Unity township. They moved to a farm in North Huntingdon township, near Irwin. Isaac McKissack and his wife, in their declining years, made their home with William Barnes. He died of apoplexy, September 19, 1830, aged 78 years. The remains were interred in the Long Run Presbyterian Church graveyard, Circleville, Westmoreland county. Two grandchildren survive him, Miss Martha Barnes and Mrs. John Blair.
James McBride died December 21, 1837, aged 79 years, 9 months and 6 days. His remains rest in the family burial ground on the McBride farm, Loyalhanna township. He enlisted three times, first in August, 1777, and was granted a pension by the United States, August 10, 1833.
Peter McHarg died 1803, his remains being interred in the old Fairfield Presbyterian churchyard. He was in Captain Thomas Stokely's company with Lochrey's expedition, was taken a prisoner by the Indians and returned from captivity in 1782. A more extensive notice of his captivity is found in a former chapter.
Alexander McCurdy died at the residence of his son, Samuel, near Tun- nel Hill, Derry township, January 6, 1839, aged 86 years. He enlisted in 1776 in Captain William Peebles' company, Second Battalion, Regiment of Riflemen, Pennsylvania Line, commanded by Colonel Miles. He was a na- tive of Ireland, but removed when young to the Ligonier Valley. His body was buried in the Baptist churchyard, Loyalhanna township.
James Montgomery was appointed a captain in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line, and died in service, August 26, 1777.
Samuel Mehaffey resided on the line between Salem and Loyalhanna townships. He died in 1842, and was buried in the Congruity churchyard. but his grave is unmarked.
John McConnell, of Franklin township, died May 25, 1832, in the 78th year of his age. He enlisted in Captain Eli Myers' company, Eighth Penn- sylvania Regiment, in June, 1776. The regiment first did duty at Kittanning, and in the autumn was marched to New Jersey. He was in the battle of Bound Brook, and a number of skirmishes in that locality. About a year
166
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
and a half later the regiment returned to the western country to operate against the Indians. It marched by way of Pittsburgh to Beaver Creek, and assisted in building Fort McIntosh. It then joined in the campaign under General McIntosh against the Indians on the Tuscaroras, and later in the campaign against the Muncy Indians under command of Colonel Broadhead. After three years service Mr. McConnell was discharged at Pittsburgh by Colonel Bayard, who then commanded the regiment.
William Marshall, of Unity township, died November 17, 1828, in the 76th year of his age. He resided in this section of the country previous to the war, and encountered all the dangers to which the inhabitants of the frontier settlements were then exposed. He volunteered his services at an early period, and while on an expedition against the Indians was taken by them and carried to Detroit, where he was detained for a considerable time, during which time his sufferings were great. He at length succeeded in reaching home.
Samuel Miller, August 9, 1776, was appointed captain of a company in a battalion enlisted for the protection of the frontier on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains. It was afterwards called to New Jersey, and was known as the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. While at home on a furlough he, with others, was conveying grain to Fort Hand, Washington township, July 7, 1778, when they were surprised by a party of Indians and he and seven of the party were killed. He was the original owner of Miller's Sta- tion, two miles northeast of Greensburg, which was attacked and destroyed by the Indians and renegades who burned Hannastown, July 13, 1782.
Thomas Newill, of Mt. Pleasant township, died November 8, 1828, in the 86th year of his age. He participated in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and was distinguished for his gallantry and devotion.
Joseph Pound enlisted January 13, 1776, at Philadelphia, as Joseph Points, and served as sergeant in Captain Stephen Bayard's company of Arthur St. Clair's Second Pennsylvania Battalion. At the time of the outbreak of the war his parents resided at Bound Brook, New Jersey. Joseph Pound's father and three brothers also served in the war. He emigrated from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, to Westmoreland county in 1795, and finally located at Tunnel Hill, near Livermore. He died April 4, 1813, aged 63, his remains being interred in the Salem Presbyterian churchyard, Derry township.
Thomas Patterson, Sr., of Derry township, died August 1I, 1834, in the 78th year of his age. He was a resident of Derry township for more than sixty years prior to his death.
Zebulon Park, of Donegal township, died July 4, 1846, in his 90th year. He enlisted in Captain Thomas Patterson's company, Third New Jersey Regi- ment, Continental Line, January, 1776, and was in the service for four years and six months. He participated in the battles of Ticonderoga, Monmouth, Long Island, Elizabethtown, Brandywine, Trenton and others. He was
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
wounded at Brandywine. He resided on the farm where he died, in Donegal township, for over fifty years, and was buried in the Pleasant Grove church- yard, Cook township.
John Payne's remains are buried in the Pleasant Grove Church grave- yard, Cook township. His grave is not marked.
Major Andrew Ralston, of New Alexandria, died August 31, 1819, aged 66 years, and was buried at New Alexandria. He enlisted at the first call for troops, entered the service as a private in the Pennsylvania militia, and served throughout the entire war in various military stations.
General William Reed, of New Alexandria, died June 17, 1813, and was buried at that place. He took an active part in the war, and subsequently filled various public offices. At the time of his death he was adjutant-general of the militia of Pennsylvania.
Brintnell Robbins served as an officer under Washington during the Revolution. He subsequently became a tradesman, farmer and shipbuilder, distinguished in the last named occupation for building the boats that con- veyed Scott's troops across the Niagara and into Canada. In 1830 he moved to a farm near Greensburg. He died in a stone building where the Stark House now is, corner Pennsylvania avenue and West Otterman street, July 25, 1836, and is buried in Harrold's graveyard, three miles south of Greensburg.
John Rose served two terms in the war, and his remains rest in the Olive graveyard, Franklin township, three miles north of Murrysville.
Charles Richart, Sr., of Mt. Pleasant township, died August 17, 1852, aged 96 years, 10 months and 20 days. His body was interred in St. Paul's (or the Ridge Church) burial ground, near Trauger. He was a fifer in the war.
George Frederick Scheibeler, of Hempfield township, died February 28, at Frederickstown, Maryland, in the company commanded by Captain John Steth, in the dragoons commanded by Colonel William Washington. After near- ly two years service he was taken a prisoner at Santee River, and kept one year on board a prison ship at Charleston, from whence he was taken to the West Indies. He made his escape, but was unable to return to America until after the war. He was a resident of Westmoreland for fifty years. At the time of his death he was survived by two children, sixteen grandchildren and forty- six great-grandchildren.
Major Isaac Saddler, of Washington township, died June 20, 1843, in the 84th year of his age. He was born May 14, 1760, and enlisted in the army when quite young. 'He was reared when the country was yet wild and des- olate, and the savages frequented the borders.
Captain John Shields died near New Alexandria, November 3, 1821, in the 82nd year of his age. He was an early settler of the western country, having emigrated here in 1771, and resided there until his death. In 1776 he commanded a company that marched to Pittsburgh, to guard a number of
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
commissioners deputed to treat with certain Indian nations. For several years he was actively employed in guarding the frontiers against the sav- ages. When the war broke out he marched eastward as captain of a com- pany. He had been a member of the general assembly, was a magistrate for many years, and was one of the trustees for the erection of the first court house at Greensburg.
Daniel St. Clair died February 18, 1833, in Mifflin county, Pennsylva- nia, at an advanced age. He was an ensign in Captain John Reese's com- pany, Second Pennsylvania Battalion, and subsequently a first lieutenant in the Third Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. He was a son of Major General Arthur St. Clair.
Ezekiel Sample, of South Huntingdon township, died March 31, 1829, in the 80th year of his age. He lived in the township forty-two years, and was a justice of the peace for twenty-seven years.
Lieutenant David Sloan, of Captain Joseph Erwin's company, Pennsyl- vania Rifle Regiment, was killed in the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776.
Andrew Simpson, of Salem township, was an ensign in a company of foot commanded by Captain Samuel Moorhead, of the First Battalion of Westmoreland militia. The command had been at the Kittanning Fort. Re- turning home on March 16, 1777, and still in the service, Ensign Simpson was shot, killed and scalped by the Indians.
John Stewart, of Hannastown, a private in Captain Robert Orr's com- pany, Colonel Archibald Lochry's battalion of Westmoreland militia, was killed August 24, 1781, below the mouth of the Big Maumee, on the Ohio, in a battle with the Indians.
Nehemiah Stokely was a captain in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. He died in Westmoreland county in 18II.
John Topper, of Unity township, died February 16, 1839, in the 90th year of his age.
Balsar Trout, of Allegheny township, died July 5, 1837, in the 80th year of his age. He served throughout the entire war, and in 1777 marched from Winchester, Virginia, to Fort Pitt, and subsequently participated in the bat- tle of Yorktown, and witnessed the surrender of his sword by Lord Corn- wallis to General Washington.
Hugh Torrence, of Franklin township, died June 23, 1830, in the 85th year of his age. He was a member of the regiment commanded by Colonel Cadwallader, and was in the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, German- town and others. He resided in this county thirty-three years prior to his death.
Simon Taylor died at his home near New Alexandria, April 21, 1831. John Woods, of Salem township, died April 28, 1827.
169
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
Mott Wilkinson, of Bairdstown, Derry township, died December 4, 1856, aged ninety-six years. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and served in the war with his uncle, Captain Daniel Lawrence. After the war he re- moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and in 1820 to Blacklick township, In- diana county, and thence to Bairdstown. His remains are interred at Blairs- ville, Indiana county, Pennsylvania.
Adam Weaver died at Pleasant Unity, about the year 1831, aged about seventy-eight years. His remains were interred in a country burial ground on the old William T. Nicolls farm, Mt. Pleasant township, one-half mile from Lycippus. He enlisted in Captain David Kilgore's company, Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, in 1776, and was honorably discharged by Colonel Broadhead in 1779 at Pittsburgh. He participated in the battles of Brandy- wine, Germantown, Paoli and Bound Brook. His body was laid to rest with the honors of war.
Nathan Williams, of Greensburg, died November 2, 1830, aged 72 years. He was a private in the Second Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line. His remains were interred in the old St. Clair cemetery.
George Wagner died in 1820. His remains are buried in the graveyard at Seanor's Church, Hempfield township.
Captain John Young died at his home in Salem township, August 13, 1841, in the 87th year of his age. He enlisted in the army under Captain Abraham Smith, of Cumberland county, in 1775, and marched to lower Canada, where he served under Generals Schuyler and Sullivan. He was in several battles, one of them being the battle of Three Rivers. He moved to Salem township in 1775, where he resided for fifty-six years. For seven years after he settled there the Indians were troublesome in that locality, and Captain Young on a number of occasions raised men and rendered impor- tant service in guarding the frontier.
Captain Jeremiah Lochry died January 21, 1824, aged ninety-four years, and is buried at Congruity. He was in Braddock's army, and at the defeat. He was adjutant of the Eighth Regiment, and went with it from Westmoreland to New Jersey, under his brother, Colonel Archibald Lochry. As a captain he served during the remainder of the Revolution.
The state of Pennsylvania, by special acts of assembly, often granted pensions to her worthy and needy who had rendered service in the Revolu- tion, and also to their widows. The following is a list of the names of those to whom pensions were granted by special acts of the legislature; they are not published among the regular lists of Pennsylvania who were pen- sioned by the government. All these were pensioned as Westmoreland citi- zens. The date opposite the name denotes the year the pension was granted. This list was made from the "Pamphlet Laws of Pennsylvania," and we believe we have omitted none:
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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
John Brannon,
1820. Mary Geary,
1847.
Sam Marshall, Sr., 1845-
Wliliam Brown,
1825.
Mary Gray,
1847
Henry Mosher, 1849.
William Briney,
1836. Robert Hunter,
1808.
Hannah Mosher, 1855-
Eleanor Blair,
1836. Andrew Hazlet,
1826.
Catharine McIntyre, 1854.
Killian Briney,
1838. Robert Hunter,
1827.
Rebecca Moreland,
1857.
Margaret Barnet,
1844. J. W. Hollingsworth,
1835.
Jane Nixon,
1846
Nancy Blair,
1844.
Eleanor Hagerman,
1838.
James Payton,
1830.
William Beatty,
1845. Michael Huffman,
1835. Robert Pain,
1838.
Robert Crawford,
1822.
Catherine Huffnagle,
1838.
James Patrick,
1844.
Thomas Campbell,
1824. 1837.
John Harbison,
1838.
Sarah Patterson, Robert Piper,
1845-
Robert Cooper,
1837.
Christena Huffman,
1840.
Adam F. Roesser,
1824.
James Cowen,
1837.
Samuel Henderson,
1844.
George Reem,
1836.
John Campbell,
1838.
Jacob Houseman,
1854.
Samuel Robb,
1838
Henry Croushour,
1838.
Hugh Irvin,
1849.
Ann Reger,
1849.
Margaret Callahan,
1841.
John Johnston,
1825.
Simon Ruffner,
1838.
William Campbell,
1838.
Elizabeth Jamison,
1839.
Barbara Ruffner,
1851.
Mary Cowen,
1849.
Margaret Johnston, 1838.
Susanna Stokely,
1834-
William Donnel,
1825. Joseph Johnston,
1845.
Fred Septer,
1835.
Francis Davdison,
1829.
Ephraim Jellison,
1846.
Andrew Shaw,
1835-
Sarah Davis,
1836.
James Kean,
1826.
David Shaw,
1835.
James Denning,
1838.
Gerge Koehler,
1826.
Mary Snyder,
1839.
James Duncan,
1844.
Hannah M. Kimmel, 1827.
Alexander Scott,
1842.
Elizabeth Davidson,
1846.
(widow of Jacob Kimmel.)
Ann Smith,
1839.
Jane Duncan,
1848.
David Louther,
1838.
Catharine Shaw,
1844.
Rosanna Eager,
1842.
Margaret Libengood,
1860.
Barbara Snyder,
1844.
Robert Ewing,
1835.
Sarah Louther,
1854.
Reynold Stevens,
1845.
Jacob Freeman,
1838.
Capt. Jerry Lockry,
1807.
John A. Smith,
1844.
James Freeman,
1845.
Jane McGuire,
1824.
Catharine Septer,
1848.
Mary Frantz,
1856.
Jane Martin,
1827.
Elizabeth Shields,
1857.
James Flood,
1857.
James McSorley,
1834.
(widow of John Shields)
James Gageby,
1824.
Margaret McClain,
1827.
John Taylor,
1838.
Robert Gibb,
1825.
Nancy McConnel,
1834.
.Daniel Yarr,
1843.
Jacob Grist,
1838.
James McKensey,
1838
Adam Weaver,
1833.
Martin Gray,
1844.
John Mertz,
1834.
Robert Williams,
1838.
Eleanor Gilgore,
1846.
George McWilliams,
1838.
John G. Wilkins,
1838
Peter Gordon,
1844
William Moreland,
1839.
James Wilson,
1849.
Robert Gilchrist,
1846.
Robert McGuire,
1843-
Ananias Wisener,
1838.
Rachel George,
1859. Mary A. Mowry,
1845.
(widow of David George)
James McElroy,
18.45.
1857.
George Chambers,
1837.
Robert Hanna,
1841.
William Patrick,
1845.
Eanor Conner,
David Hossack,
1836.
George Singerly,
1843-
(widow of James Duncan)
Alexander Lyons,
1845.
Eve Oury was granted a special pension of forty dollars per year by Act of April I, 1846. The act itself recites that it was granted for heroic bravery and risking her life in defense of the garrison of Hannastown Fort, in 1778, when it was attacked by a large number of Indians, and that by her fortitude, she performed efficient service in driving away the Indians, and thus saved the inmates from a horrid butchery by the merciless and savage foe. (See P. L. 18.16, page 210). She was a daughter of Francis Oury, and died at Shieldsburg, in 1848, and is buried at Congruity.
CHAPTER XII
The Hannastown War .- Burning of the County Seat .- Destruction of Miller's Blockhouse.
The summer of 1782 was the gloomiest in our pioneer history. Many of our people did not pretend to do anything else than stand guard around the fields where others worked. The increased Indian hostility was due in part to the murder of the Moravian Indians the year before. The enemy was also emboldened by the unfortunate termination of Lochry's expe- dition.
Around Hannastown those who were looked up to as special defenders. were Colonel Campbell, Captain Matthew Jack, Captain Love, Lieutenant Guthrie, the Brownlees, the Brisons, the Shaws and the Wilsons. As the Indian troubles accumulated the pioneers became more and more united,. until in the summer of 1782 they nearly all lived in the forts and block- houses, or in close proximity with them. When a field of grain was to be harvested it was done not by the owner alone, but by the community, so that the reaping party might be more formidable in the event of an attack by the Indians. In addition to the forts at Hannastown, Fort Walthour and Miller's blockhouse, there was in the Hannastown community a strong- hold known as George's cabin, less than a mile southeast of Miller's, and Rugh's blockhouse, about one mile south of the present borough limits of Greensburg. Within these places of comparative safety were collected at all times in the summer of 1782 a large part of the population of the Hannastown settlement. The land surrounding these localities and be- tween them had nearly all been taken up by pioneer settlers. Hannas- town, it will be remembered, had been a county seat for more than nine years, and the country for several miles in each direction was pretty well cleared and, for that day, thickly populated. The farmers had fenced their land, some of it at least, with stake and rider fences to protect their crops against live stock. Each farmer had cattle, horses, sheep, etc., and the community bid fair to surpass all others in the county, if, indeed, it. had not already done so. Its only rival was the Pittsburgh settlement.
172
HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY.
There had been militia soldiers guarding the garrison at Hannastown, but they had deserted their post because they were not paid. Nor can they be blamed for this, for they are said to have been actually in rags when they left. The settlers were, therefore, left to take care of themselves. Farther north from Hannastown, and in many other parts of the county, farms were deserted, the owners and their families having gone to their original homes east of the mountains. The Hannastown community, be- cause of its prominence, had special fear that if a raid was made their settle- ment would be the objective point. They were, therefore, unusually vigi- lant, but they had had no particular warning to put them on their guard.
On Saturday, July 13, 1782, the men of Hannastown and the near com- munity were engaged in cutting a field of grain for Captain Michael Huff- nagle. The reader will recall him as the prothonotary who succeeded Ar- thur St. Clair, and also as a captain of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. He had sat on the bench as a justice, had acquired considerable property, and was a man of great strength of character. In the Revolutionary ser- vice he had been wounded in the leg, and this incapacitated him for fur- ther duty, in the main army, but it did not prevent him from taking a lead- ing part in the defense of the frontier. His fields of grain lay one and a half miles north of Hannastown, the land now being owned by Jacob Longsdorf. The grain of that day, whether wheat, rye or oats, was cut entirely by siekles, and the reapers, with their heads and bodies bent down, could be easily approached by the Indians. They had cut one field and eaten their cold dinners in the shade, and were about ready to begin on another field. One of the reapers crossed over to the side of the field bordering on the woods, and as he neared the woodland he detected Indians hiding behind the trees and stealthily awaiting till the reapers should resume their work. The reaper ran back and gave the alarm and immediately the entire party ran for their lives. Some of them secured their firearms, others ran to notify their neighbors, but the general trend was toward the fort at Hannastown. In a few minutes they reached the town, and then, in an instant almost, all was commotion. Our court min- utes show that court began on Tuesday, July 9, with Judge Edward Cook and his associates on the bench. It was held in the original log house built by Robert Hanna, which had been used as a court house since the for- mation of the county in 1773. The first thing the excited inhabitants did was to take the court records from the court room to the stockade. These are the records, heirlooms of the pioneer days, from which we have so fre- quently quoted, and which are yet in a good state of preservation. The door of the log jail was then broken open, and all the prisoners were set free. Able young people hurriedly assisted the children and deerepit old men and women from their houses to the stockade. The haste in which this was done may be imagined from the fact that they took with them
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