Area History: Fannett Township, Franklin Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Winkler.
 LEW1991@aol.com

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
               and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
               and submitter information is included. Any other use,
               including copying files to other sites requires
               permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
               any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
               county table of contents.
____________________________________________________________


>From History of Franklin County, Fannett - 1761  pages 578, 579, and 580

					FANNETT  1761

   The greater part of this township lies in what is known as Path Valley, in olden
times called "Tuscarora Path."  Originally the township included what is now Metal
Township.  Here, as in other parts of the county, came settlers prior to the time of
the extinguishment of the Indian title to the land.  The three valleys--Path,
Amberson's and Horse by their beauty and fertility attracted immigrants who, with
the consent of the Indians, with whom they maintained the most friendly relations
for some time, located and commenced their great life work.  But in a short time, so
strong was the stream of immigration, the Indians became alarmed for their
possessions, and in 1744 they notified the colonial authorities that they objected
to have their lands taken by the whites, especially where they were acting in
violation of express stipulations formerly entered into.  The government called upon
the authorities---the magistrates of Cumberland County--to expel the intruders.  In
May, 1750, Richard Peters, secretary of the governor, attended by Benjamin Chambers,
William Maxwell, William Allison, John Findlay, and other magistrates, went over to
Path Valley, where they found the settlers, Abraham Slack, James Blair, Moses Moore,
Arthur Dunlop, Alex McCartie, David Lewis, Adam McCartie, Felix Doyle, Reynold
Alexander, Samuel Patterson, John Armstrong, John Potts, Andrew Dunlop, Robert
Wilson, Jacob Pyatt, Wm. Ramage and others, and brought them before the magistrate's
court, tried and convicted each, and put them under bonds to remove at once with
their families out of the valley, "taking servants and effects" and to appear in
Carlisle and answer such charges as might be made against them.  Their houses and
other improvements were burned, by order of the court.  When the land was purchased
of the Indians, October 23, 1758, some of these settlers retruned and became
permanent residents of the valley.  

   The township was named after a place in County Donegal, Ireland, a promonotory
(sic.) called "*Fannett Point."  This name was suggested by the shape of the new
township, a long narrow point.

	Richard and John Coulter purchased a large body of land in the upper end of the
township in 1756, and Francis Amberson made an improvement in Amberson s Valley in
1763.  Then came Barnabas Clark, from whom Clark's Knob receives its name, and
John Ward and Cromwell McVitty.  These were the early and most prominent settlers of
the valley.

*The best authorities, however, give the spelling as  Fanod Head. 


EARLY LAND ENTRIES

In the early land entries we find the following names and dates:

Samuel Bechtel, January 24, 1737. (No neighbors.)

John Blair, June 3, 1762. Neighbors: Thomas Steel and R. Alexander

Charles Baxter, April 29, 1763.  Neighbors: Phil Hutchinson, Alexander McCormick, John Elder.

Alexander Blair, June 5, 1762.  Neighbors: William Elder, William Wallace, Robert Anderson.

Thomas Blair, June 3, 1762.  Neighbors: Thomas Askey, John McMichaels, Randall
Alexander, William Ramage, David Campbell.

John Coulter, December 30, 1762. Neighbors: Richard Coulter, James How, James Ross.

Thomas Doyle, November 29, 1737.  (Vacant on all sides)

Felix Doyle, June 14, 1762.  Neighbors:  John Elder, David Elder, Jr., John Parker,
James Elder, Robert Little. 

William Elliott, June 17, 1763.  Neighbors: James Gibson, Samuel Coulter, John Elliott,
Benjamin Elliott. (This land is between Round Top Mountain and Tuscarora Creek.)

David Elder, April 16 1763.  Neighbors: James Irvin, Robert Baker, Samuel Gamble,

James Moore. John Elder, March 13, 1767. Neighbors: Samuel Moore, James Urich, Felix Doyle. 

James Elder, April 16, 1763. Neighbors: Felix Doyle, Samuel Baker, Hugh Harron, Robert Little.

James Long and James Galbraith, June 8, 1762.  Neighbors: William Campbell, DavidElder,
Samuel and Mathew Coulter, John Holliday.

William McClellan, June 3, 1762.  Neighbors: William Ramage, Randall Alexander,
H.J. Moore, David Campbell.