HISTORY: Historic Huntingdon, 1767-1909, Chapter 1, Charter, Huntingdon County, PA

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Historic Huntingdon, 1709-1907.  Huntingdon Old Home Week, September 
5-11, 1909.  Souvenir Edition.  Huntingdon, Pa.: Historical Committee 
of the Old Home Week Association, 1909.
_____________________________________________________________________ 

SELINA HASTINGS, COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.  [portrait]
Born Aug. 24th, 1707 - Married June 3rd, 1728 - Died June 17th, 1791.
Donington Park, Leicestershire, England.
In whose honor both borough and county are named.
Benefactress of the Rev. William Smith, D.D.

Historical Committee of the Old Home Week Association
Huntingdon, Penna.

James H. Nale, Chairman
Dr. M. C. Brumbaugh
Cap. John Brewster
Murray Africa, C.E.
Robert A. Orbison, Esq.
Prof. J. H. Brumbaugh
William H. Trude, Esq.
W. A. Maguire
George W. Garrettson

  The Historical Committee desires to express its thanks to J. Murray 
Africa and R. A. Orbison who have contributed to the subject matter of 
this booklet, and to the J. C. Blair Company and E. E. C. Gibbs for 
illustrations furnished.

ONOJUTTA - JUNIATA - ACHSINNIC.
STANDING STONE [photo]
Erected September 8th, 1896, as a Memorial to the 
ANCIENT STANDING STONE
Removed by the Indians in 1754.
{copy of inscription)

Officers and Chairmen of the Huntingdon Old Home Week Association

Honorary President, Hon. George B. Orlady.

Honorary Vice Presidents,
Hon. T. B. Patton.     Hon. P. M. Lytle,     E. S. McMurtrie, Esq.,
J. R. Simpson, Esq.,   J. C. Hazlett.

PRESIDENT - Gilbert Greenberg.
VICE PRESIDENTS - William Reed, Howard E. Butz, C. H. Miller,
George W. Trout, O. M. Brumbaugh.
GENERAL SECRETARY - R. A. Orbison, Esq.
RECORDING SECRETARY - J. I. Johnson.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY - F. Blair Isenberg.
FINANCIAL SECRETARY - E. E. C. Gibbs.
TREASURER - Oscar H. Irwin.

Executive Committee

E. M. C. Africa. 
B. F. Isenberg. 
L. R. Leister. 
John G. Simpson. 
J. C. Hazlett. 
R. J. Mattern. 
John B. Kunz. 
H. Dill Strickler. 
C. H. Glazier.
Wm. R. Wilson. 
Harry W. Koch. 
Arthur W. Reed. 
John Langdon.
D. M. Stewart. 
Harry Brown. 
T. Frank Bayer. 
G. W. Fisher. 
Kimber Cleaver.
Prof. I. H. Brumbaugh. 
Joseph H. Lang.
Harry E. Steel.
H. D. Reiners.
Hugo Mayer.
W. F. Hill.
P. H. Bergen.
John A. Port.
Rev. J. A. Souser.
George D. Bert.
F. Blair Isenberg

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  The Charter to William Penn for the Province of Pennsylvania - 
             Formation of the Three Original Colonies.

                               CHAPTER I

  WILLIAM PENN in 1674 became one of three trustees chosen to manage 
the affairs of West Jersey.  In the execution of this trust, he had 
good opportunity to become acquainted with the valuable tract of land 
lying on the opposite side of the river.  At the death of his father, 
Admiral William Penn, it was found that the British government was 
indebted to him for money loaned and services rendered about sixteen 
thousand (16,000) pounds.  Instead of money, William Penn suggested 
that he would prefer a grant of land on the western side of the 
Delaware north of Maryland.  A formal petition was presented to Chas. 
II. in June, 1680, and after many conferences with adjacent 
proprietors, on the 4th day of March, 1681, the king granted a charter.  
The boundaries were described, but serious differences occurred and 
many years passed before they were settled and defined.  Penn, his 
heirs, and assigns, were made and ordained true and absolute 
propietaries of all the lands within the bounds described in the 
charter, and upon him and his heirs, their deputies and lieutenants was 
conferred the executive authority of the province.  William Markham was 
commissioned Deputy Governor, and sent over from England clothed with 
full authority to inaugurate the new government, and in the fall of the 
year at Upland, now Chester, he took charge of the executive affairs.  
In October, 1682, Penn arrived in the "Welcome," and soon thereafter 
the lands of the province

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were divided into three counties, to wit:  Chester, Philadelphia, and 
Bucks.  The precise date of the erection of these counties does not 
appear, but it must have been before the 18th day of November, 1682, as 
on that day the propietary issued his writs to the sheriffs of the 
respective counties, requiring them "to summon all freeholders to meet 
on the 20th instant, and elect out of themselves seven persons of most 
note for wisdom, sobriety, and integrity, to serve as their deputies 
and representatives in General Assembly, to be held at Upland, in 
Pennsylvania, December 6th (4th?) next."

     Erection of Lancaster, Cumberland, and Bedford Counties - 
       Purchases of the Indian Title - Erection of Townships, 
              and Election Districts - Local Officers.

  LANCASTER, the fourth county of the province was erected from Chester 
by an act of the General Assembly passed the 10th day of May, 1729, and 
embraced all the land of the province to the northward of Octorara 
Creek, and to the westward of a line of marked trees running from the 
north branch of said creek to the river Schuylkill.  The sixth county, 
Cumberland, was erected by the act of the 27th day of January, 1750, 
and took from Lancaster all the lands lying within the province to the 
westward of Susquehanna and northward and westward of the county of 
York.
  The propietaries, having due regard to the rights of the Indians, 
would not permit any occupation of land, either by settlement or grant 
from the land office, until after the Indian title had become vested in 
them.  At the time of the organization of Cumberland County the natives 
were yet in possession of all the territory northwest of the Kittatinny 
Mountain (the northern barrier of the Cumberland Valley) and the 
Susquehanna River.  At a treaty held by order of the king at Albany in 
the summer of 1754, negotiations for the purchase of the Indian title 
resulted in the execution, on the 6th day of July in that year, of a 
deed from the chiefs of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, 

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Seneca, and Tuscarora nations, constituting the confederacy known as 
the Six Nations, conveying, for the consideration of four hundred (400) 
pounds lawful money of New York to Thomas and Richard Penn, "all the 
lands lying within the said province of Pennsylvania, bounded and 
limited as follows, namely:  Beginning at the Kittochtinny of Blue 
Hills, on the west branch of the Susquehanna River, and thence by the 
said, a mile above the mouth of a certain creek called Kayarondinhagh; 
thence northwest and by west as far as the said province of 
Pennsylvania extends to its western lines or boundaries; thence along 
the said western line to the south line or boundary to the south side 
of the said Kittochtinny hills; thence by the south side of the said 
hills to the place of beginning."
  Although a few warrants were issued during the year 1755 for lands in 
the upper part of the valley of the Juniata, and some surveys and 
improvements were made, there does not seem to have been any division 
of this territory into townships for some years thereafter.  At July 
sessions in 1767 the Cumberland County court fixed the boundaries of 
Derry township as follows:  "Beginning at the middle of the Long 
narrows; thence up the north side of the Juniata as far as Jack's 
Narrows; thence to include the valley of Kishacokulus and Jack's 
creek."  These boundaries included a part of the present township of 
Brady.
  At October sessions of the same year 1767, five additional townships 
were erected, and were named and bounded as follows:
  DUBLIN - "Bounded by Air and Fannet townships on the one side, and 
Coleraine and Barre townships on the top of Sideling Hill on the other 
side."
  COLERAINE - "Bounded by Dublin township, as above, by the provincial 
line, and the top of Dunning's Mountain (so as to join Cumberland and 
Bedford townships) to the gap of Morrison's Cove, from thence to the 
mouth of Yellow Creek (joining Barre township) to strike Sideling 
Hill."
  CUMBERLAND - "Bounded by Coleraine township (as above), the 
provincial line to the Allegheny Mountain,

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and along the top of the Allegeney Mountain to the top of the ridge 
that divides the waters of Wills Creek; from thence of Juniata to 
strike Dunning's Mountain through Lun's gap."
  BEDFORD - "Bounded by the above mentioned east line and Dunning's 
Mountain to the gap of Morrison's Cove, and from thence to the top of 
Tussey's Mountain (joining Barre township) so as to include Morrison's 
Cove, and from the end of Morrison's Cove cross by Frankstown to the 
Allegheny."
  BARRE - "Bounded by Dublin, Coleraine and Bedford townships, as 
already mentioned, and along the Allegheny until a line struck from 
thence to Jack's Mountain so as to include the waters of Little Juniata 
and Shaver's and Standing Stone Creeks."
  These townships of Derry, Dublin, Coleraine, Cumberland, Bedford, and 
Barre included all the area of Bedford, Blair, and Huntingdon, a large 
part of Fulton and Mifflin, and a part of Centre counties.  It is 
probable that as the eastern limits of Dublin were not clearly defined 
a part of what is now Tell township, Huntingdon county, may have been 
included in the previously erected township of Lack.
  ARMAGH township was created at January sessions, 1770, from a part of 
Derry, and included all the territory of that township northwest of 
Jack's Mountain.
  The officers of these townships were as follows:
1767. - John Ramsey (Dublin), William Parker (Coleraine), Thomas 
Coulter (Cumberland), John Cochran (Bedford), John Forsee (Barre), 
constables.
1768. - Charles Boyle (Dublin), Samuel Anderson (Barre), constables; 
John Brady, Jacob Hair (Barre), supervisors; George Jackson, Zebulon 
Moor (Barre), overseers of poor.
1769. - Robert Ramsey (Dublin), Samuel Anderson (Barre), constables; 
Zebulon Moor, Robert Caldwell (Barre), supervisors; Benjamin Elliot, 
Charles Boyle (Dublin), overseers of poor; James Little, Charles 
Caldwell (Barre), viewers of fences.

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1770. - James Watson (Dublin), John Wilson (Barre), William Brown  
(Armagh), constables; Samuel Thompson, Daniel Egoe (Barre), James Moor 
(Armagh), supervisors; Zebulon Moore, Robert Caldwell (Barre), James 
Reed (Armagh), overseers of poor; James Little, Charles Caldwell 
(Barre), viewers of fences.
  1771. - William Shirley (Barre), James Foley (Dublin), constables; 
Samuel Thompson, Daniel Ego. (Barre), supervisors; Zebulon Moor, Robert 
Caldwell (Barre), Charles Boyle, Benjamin Elliot (Dublin), overseers of 
poor.
  The Indians after fully realizing the immense stretch of country 
covered by the bounds set in the treaty of 1754, expressed 
disappointment and dissatisfaction.  They said they did not understand 
the points of the compass and were thereby deceived.  Some of them 
became allies of the French and commenced a series of depredations upon 
the frontier settlers.
  An accommodation of the differences between the proprietary 
government and the Indians was effected at a conference held at Easton, 
where on the 23rd day of October, 1758, a deed was executed limiting 
the boundaries of the purchase as follows:  "Beginning at the 
Kittochtinny or Blue Hills, on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, 
and running thence up the said river, and binding therewith, to a mile 
above the mouth of a creek called Kaarondinhah (or John Penn's Creek); 
thence west to the east side of the Allegheny or Appalachian Hills; 
thence along the east side of the said hills, binding therewith, to the 
south line or boundary of the said province; thence by the said south 
line or boundary to the south side of the Kittatinny Hill; thence by 
the south side of the same hill to the place of beginning."  This deed 
confirmed the title of the propietaries to all the lands within the 
boundaries above mentioned, including the present counties of Bedford, 
Fulton, Blair, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, and parts of 
Snyder, Union and Centre, and released

10

to the Six Nations the residue embraced in the deed of 1754.
  By an act passed on the 9th day of March, 1771, Bedford county was 
erected from Cumberland, and its boundaries fixed as follows:  
"Beginning where the province line crosses the Tuscarora Mountain, and 
running along the summit of that mountain to the gap near the head of 
Path Valley; thence with a north line to the Juniata; thence with the 
Juniata to Shaver's Creek; thence northeast to the line of Berks 
County; thence along the Berks County line northwestward to the western 
bounds of the province; thence southward, according to the several 
courses of the western boundary of the province, to the southwest 
corner of the province; and from thence eastward with the southern line 
of the province to the place of beginning."  This act authorized the 
Governor to commission a competent number of justices, who, or any 
three of whom, were empowered to hold courts in the months of January, 
April, July and October in every year.  With remarkable promptitude a 
Court of Quarter Sessions was opened at Bedford on the 16th day of 
April, 1771, by William Proctor, Robert Hanna, William Lockery, Robert 
Cluggage, George Wilson, and William McConnell.  The court then 
proceeded to divide the county into townships.  AIR, COLERAINE, and 
DUBLIN were to remain as fixed by the Cumberland court.  The lines of 
BEDFORD and CUMBERLAND were extended from the foot to the top of 
Allegheny Mountain.  BARRE to be cut off by Little Juniata and Tussey's 
Mountain.  Brother's Valley, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, Hemp Field, 
Pitt, Tyrone, Spring Hill, Ross Straver, Armstrong, and Tullileague 
follow, but as these townships embrace territory outside of the limits 
of Huntingdon and Blair they do not concern us now.
  At July sessions, 1773, "that part of Barre township including all 
the waters that empty into the Raystown Branch of Juniata below the 
mouth of Yellow Creek and up said creek to Tussey's mountain is hereby 
erected into a township by the name of Hopewell township."

11

  It will be noticed that the act creating Bedford county excluded from 
the boundaries therein described that portion of Huntingdon County 
lying northeast of the Juniata below the mouth of Shaver's Creek and 
according to the letter of the law that territory remained in 
Cumberland County.  The act of March 21, 1772, forming Northumberland, 
took from Bedford the territory lying west of Tussey's Mountain and 
northeast of the main branch of the Little Juniata to the head thereof.  
Another act passed the same day for the purpose of explaining and 
better ascertaining the boundary lines of the county of Bedford, after 
reciting the boundaries described in the act of the 9th day of March, 
1771, and that as "the Tuscarora Mountain does not extend to the 
province line and the southern boundaries aforesaid are not properly 
described, the lines of the county of Bedford cannot be known and run 
by the trustees appointed for that purpose, provided that the lines 
following, to wit:  "Beginning where the province line crosses the 
North or Blue Mountain, that runs between the Great and Little Coves 
and that part of Cumberland County called Connegocheague, and thence 
along the summit of the said mountain to the beginning of the Tuscarora 
Mountain, and running along the summit of the said Tuscarora Mountain 
to the gap near the head of the Path valley, from thence a north line 
to the Juniata River; thence up the Juniata to the mountain that 
divides the Kishicocolus Valley from the Standing Stone Valley, and 
along the summit of that mountain to the head of the Standing Stone 
Creek; from thence northeast to the line of Berks County; thence by 
Berks County line to the western bounds of the province; thence 
southward, according to the several courses of the western boundary of 
the province, to the south west corner thereof; and from thence with 
the other boundaries of the province to the place of beginning; shall 
be, and are hereby declared to be, the boundary lines of the said 
County of Bedford."
  By act of the 26th day of February, 1773, all the territory of 
Bedford lying west of the Laurel Hill and of the

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ridge dividing the waters of the Allegheny and Susquehanna to the head 
of the latter stream, and south of a line to be run thence due west to 
the limits of the province, was erected into a new county called 
Westmoreland.
  The geography of the valley of the Juniata was not well understood by 
the framers of the acts of Assembly above recited, and the indefinite 
and inconsistent descriptions of boundary lines were producing 
uncertainty and conflict of authority.  On the 30th day of September, 
1779, an act was passed reciting that, - 
  "Whereas the act of General Assembly of the province of Pennsylvania 
entitled an act for explaining and better ascertaining the boundary 
lines of the county of Bedford, passed the twenty-first day of March, 
one thousand seven hundred and seventy-two, and the act passed the same 
day entitled an act for erecting a part of the counties of Lancaster, 
Cumberland, Berks, Northampton, and Bedford into a separate county, are 
contradictory to each other, and assign different and inconsistent 
boundaries to the said county of Bedford and the county of 
Northumberland; and part of the boundary of the said county of 
Northumberland is, by reason of the Little Juniata, near the head 
thereof, impassable; and that strip of land on the northeast side of 
Juniata, between Jack's Narrows and Standing Stone Mountain, being 
separated by large mountains from the rest of Cumberland County, makes 
it inconvenient for the people residing on the said northeast side of 
Juniata at the place aforesaid; that the same should continue in the 
said county of Cumberland:  For remedy whereof, - 
  "BE IT ENACTED, ETC., That the lines following, viz:  Beginning where 
the line (dividing Pennsylvania and Maryland) crosses the North or Blue 
Mountain that runs between Great and Little Coves and that part of 
Cumberland County called Conecocheague, and thence along the summit of 
the said mountain to the beginning of the Tuscarora Mountain and 
running along the summit of the said Tuscarora Mountain to the gap near 
the head of Path Valley; from thence a north line to the Juniata River; 
then up the Juniata to 

13

Jack's Narrows; thence along the summit of the ridges and mountains 
which divide the waters falling into the said northeast side of the 
said Juniata above Jack's Narrows aforesaid, from the waters which fall 
into the said river below the said Narrows to Tussey's Mountain at the 
head of Standing Stone Creek; thence along the summit of Tussey's 
mountain to the ridge dividing the waters falling into Bald Eagle Creek 
from the waters of Little Juniata; thence along the said last mentioned 
ridge to the Chestnut Ridge; thence along the Chestnut Ridge to the 
head of the southwest branch of Bald Eagle Creek; from thence a 
straight line to the head of Moshannon Creek; thence down Moshannon 
Creek to the west branch of Susquehana; thence up said west branch to 
the purchase line run from Kittanning to the said West Branch, to the 
line of Westmoreland County; thence along the southeast boundary of the 
said county of Westmoreland, as the same is described in the act 
erecting the said conuty of Westmoreland, to the line dividing 
Pennsylvania from Maryland aforesaid; and thence along the said line 
last mentioned to the place of beginning."
  This act annexed that part of Kishacoquillas Valley now in Brady 
township, Huntingdon County, to Bedford County.  In 1773, two years 
after the erection of Bedford County, the lands along the river from 
Jack's Narrows to the mouth of Mill Creek, and those then taken up in 
the west end of Kishacoquillas Valley, were taxed in the assessment of 
Barre township, Cumberland County, and it is fair to presume that this 
district remained under the jurisdiction of that county until after the 
passage of the act of the 30th of September, 1779.
  FRANKSTOWN township was created at April sessions, 1775, from parts 
of Bedford and Barre, and the boundaries fixed as follows:  "Along the 
line dividing Bedford and Northumberland Counties from the West Branch 
of the Susquehanna to where Little Juniata runs through Tussey's 
Mountain; then along the said mountain to the ridge dividing Morrison's 
Cove from Croyle's Cove; then along the said ridge to Dunning's 
Mountain; then along

14

Dunning's Mountain to the dividing ridge between the waters of 
Dunnings's Creek and the southwest branch of the Frankstown Branch; 
then along the said ridge to the Allegheny Mountain; then cross the 
same and by the line Quemahoning township to the line dividing Bedford 
and Westmoreland Counties and by the said line and along the limits of 
this county to the place of the beginning."
  This township included the whole of Blair County and the present 
townships of Morris, Franklin and Warriors Mark, of Huntingdon county.
  HUNTINGDON township was formed from a part of Barre.  The records of 
the court do not contain any account of its erection.  At April 
sessions, 1780, a return of the township officers was made, from which 
it may be inferred that the township was formed about 1779.  Its 
territory is now divided into Brady, Walker, Porter an parts of 
Juniata, Logan, Henderson and Oneida.  It also included the present 
site of the Borough of Huntingdon.  The records also fail to give an 
account of the erection of SHIRLEY township, which was formed from 
Dublin about the date last mentioned.  The earliest assessment was made 
in 1780, and of Huntingdon in 1781.
  TYRONE township was erected from Frankstown, but neither the date nor 
boundaries appear among the records of the Bedford court.  In the 
proceedings at April sessions, 1787, the name occurs for the first 
time.
                  Elections and Election Districts.

  A law enacted June 14th, 1777, fixed the second Tuesday of October as 
the day for holding the annual general election.  Bedford County was 
divided into four districts and the places named at which the elections 
should be held, as follows:  "The freemen of the townships of Bedford, 
Coleraine and Cumberland Valley, being the First District, shall hold 
their elections at the court house of the said town of Bedford; the 
freemen of the townships of Bethel, Air, and Dublin, being the Second 
District, at the house of

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John Burd at Fort Littleton; the freemen of the townships of Barre, 
Hopewell and Frankstown, being the Third District, at the place called 
the Standing Stone; and the freemen of the townships of Brother's 
Valley, Turkey Foot and Quesmahoning, being the Fourth District, at the 
house of John Kemberline, near the junction of said three townships."  
Each voter was required to produce a certificate of his having taken 
and subscribed the oath of allegiance as prescribed by an act passed 
the preceeding day.
  By the act of the 13th day of September, 1785, dividing the several 
counties into election districts, Bedford county was separated into 
five districts, and the elections directed to be held as follows:  
First, the town of Bedford and townships of Bedford, Coleraine, 
Providence, and Cumberland Valley, at the court house in Bedford; 
Second, the townships of Bethel and Air, at the house of Ephraim 
Wallace in Bethel; Third, the townships of Barre, Hopewell, Frankstown, 
and Huntingdon, at the place called Standing Stone; Fourth, the 
townships of Brother's Valley, Quesmahoning, Turkey Foot, and Milford, 
at the house of James Black in Quesmahoning; Fifth, the townships of 
Dublin and Shirley, at the house of George Cluggage, in Shirley.  On 
the 19th day of September 1786, a sixth district was created, 
consisting of the "townships of Frankstown and Morrisson's"(?), and the 
elections directed to be held at the house of Lazarus Lowrey, at 
Frankstown.
  The act of September 27, 1786, fixed the number of representatives to 
the General Assembly to be elected in Bedford County at Three.
  The officers of the townships of Bedford County that covered the 
present territory of Huntingdon and Blair, appointed by the court of 
Quarter Sessions, were as follows:
1772. - Thomas Weston (Barre), James Foley, Jr. (Dublin), constables; 
Samuel Anderson and George Jackson (Barre), overseers of poor; John 
Wilson and James Little (Barre), supervisors.  
1773. - APRIL SESSIONS:  Charles Caldwell (Barre), John Bale (Dublin), 
constables; July sessions:  James Little

16

appointed in the room of Charles Caldwell.
1774. - MARCH SESSIONS:  Philip Stoner (Hopewell), constable; April 
Sessions:  James Little (Barre), John Bell (Dublin),     Philip Stoner 
(Hopewell), constables; July sessions:  Robert Caldwell, John Thorlton, 
deputy (Barre), John Latta (Dublin), Philip Stoner (Hopewell), 
constables; James Little, Michael Cryder (Barre), John Ramsey, James 
Foley (Dublin), Richard Long, Samuel Thompson (Hopewell), supervisors 
of the highways.
1775. - PRIVATE SESSIONS, March 25: John Mitchell (Barre), John Latta 
(Dublin), Phillip Stoner (Hopewell), constables;    Samuel Anderson, 
Thomas Johnston (Barre), overseers of the poor; James Little, Michael 
Cryder (Barre), supervisors,  GENERAL SESSIONS, second Tuesday in 
April:  James Dean (Barre), Samuel Daniel (Dublin), William Phillips 
(Frankstown), Walter Clark   (Hopewell), constables; Samuel Anderson, 
Thomas Johnston (Barre), Benjamin Sanders, Bastian Shoupe (Hopewell), 
overseers of the poor; James Little, Michael Cryder (Barre), Michael 
Whetstone, Peter Hartsock (Hopewell), supervisors.  
1776. - PRIVATE SESSIONS, March 25:  William Barrick (Frankstown), 
William Smart, Jr. (Hopewell), constables; Absalom Gray, Samuel Jack 
(Frankstown), Benjamin Saunders, Bastian Shoupe (Hopewell), overseers 
of the poor; Markem Coleman (Frankstown), Peter Hartsock (Hopewell), 
supervisors.  APRIL SESSIONS:  David Lewis Smart, Jr. (Hopewell), 
constables.
1777 - PETTY SESSIONS - September 27:  William Riddle (Barre), John 
Walker (Dublin), Joseph Cellar (Frankstown), Joshua Davis (Hopewell), 
constables.  GENERAL SESSIONS, October 14:  William Riddle, of Barre, 
fined; John Walker, of Dublin, fined thirty shillings; Thomas Anderson, 
Joshua

17

Davis (Hopewell), Felix Miller, appointed constables.
1778. - GENERAL SESSIONS, April 13:  William Wilson (Barre), William 
Winton (Dublin), constables.
1780. - GENERAL SESSIONS, April 11:  Robert Wasson (Barre), James 
Morton (Dublin), Jacob Rowler (Frankstown), Benjamin Sanders 
(Hopewell), George Reynolds, Isaac Worrill, deputy (Huntingdon), Giles 
Stevens (Shirley), constables; Alexander McCormick, John Glenn (Barre), 
Hugh Davison, John Walker (Dublin), Patrick Maguire, David Lowrey 
(Frankstown), William Sherley, Levi Moore (Hopewell), Archibald 
Fletcher, James Gibson (Huntingdon), James Galbraith, James Cluggage 
(Shirley), overseers of the poor; James Anderson, Jeremiah Rickets 
(Barre), James Coil, Esq., John Ramsey (Dublin), Jacob Rowler, Jr., 
Absalom Gray (Frankstown), Solomon Sell, Hugh Skelly (Hopewell), 
Ludwick Sells, Joshua Lewis (Huntingdon), Jacob Shara, James Carmichael 
(Shirley), supervisors of the highways.
1781. - APRIL SESSIONS:  David Ralston (Barre), James Burnet (Dublin), 
Absalom Gray (Frankstown), Ludwick Sells (Huntingdon), George Cluggage 
(Shirley), constables; Joseph Oburn, Benjamin McGuffey (Barre), Hugh 
Davidson, John Walker (Dublin), Samuel Rhea, James Johnston 
(Frankstown),  Henry Lloyd, Michael Cryder (Huntingdon), James 
Galbraith, James Cluggage (Shirley), overseers of the poor; William 
Nelson, Archibald Glen (Barre), James Coyle, Esq., John Ramsey 
(Dublin), Urick Heifheit, Edward Beatty (Frankstown), Joseph Prigmore, 
Moses Donaldson (Huntingdon), James Carmichael, Jacob Shara (Shirley), 
supervisors of the highways.
1782 - APRIL SESSIONS:  Chain Rickets (Barre), William Justice 
(Dublin), William Traviss (Huntingdon), Giles Stevens (Shirley), 
constables; Henry Fergu-

18

son, James Carswell (Barre), Hugh Davidson, John Walker (Dublin), 
Michael Cryder, Henry Lloyd (Huntingdon), overseers of the poor; 
William McLevy, Alexander McCormick (Barre), James Coil, John Ramsey 
(Dublin), Joseph Prigmore, Jacob Laird (Huntingdon), supervisors of the 
highways.
1783 - APRIL SESSEIONS:  William Long (Barre), James McKee (Dublin), 
George Jackson (Huntingdon), James Cluggage (Shirley), constables; 
Benjamin McGoffin (Barre), Hugh Davidson, John Walker (Dublin), Henry 
Lloyd, Michael Cryder (Huntingdon), James Galbraith, Matthew Patton 
(Shirley), overseers of the poor; David Ralston, Gilbert Cheny (Barre), 
John Burd, George Hudson (Dublin), George Reynolds, Samuel Donnel 
(Huntingdon), John Morgan, Francis Cluggage (Shirley), supervisors of 
the highways.
1786 - APRIL SESSIONS:  Abraham Nelson (Barre), Benjamin Burd (Dublin), 
Absalom Gray (Frankstown), Solomon Sill (Hopewell), John Biddle 
(Huntingdon), constables; John Ramsey, Hugh Orlton (Dublin), William 
Devinny, Thomas McCune (Frankstown), James Hale, Felix Miller 
(Hopewell), John Fee, Jacob Laird (Huntingdon), overseers of the poor; 
Robert Ramsey, George Hudson (Dublin), Samuel Davis, Michael Fetter 
(Frankstown), William Sherley, Hugh Skelly (Hopewell), William Sherley, 
Hugh Skelly (Hopewell), Henry Neff, George Reynolds (Huntingdon), 
supervisors of the highways.
1787 - APRIL SESSIONS:  William Nelson (Barre), John Ramsey (Dublin), 
John Bittle (Huntingdon), John Armstrong (Shirley), constables; James 
Anderson, John Dickey (Barre), James Barnet, Hugh Davison (Dublin), 
John Fee, George Reynolds Huntingdon), George Wilson, John Morgan 
(Shirley), overseers of the poor; John Wilson, James Hannam (Barre), 
Robert Ramsey, George

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Hudson (Dublin), Henry Neff, Nathaniel Jarrit (Huntingdon), James 
Galbraith, William Morris (Shirley), supervisors of the highways.
  Among the citizens of that portion of Bedford county, now composing 
Huntingdon and Blair, summoned as grand jurors, were:  1772, July 14th, 
Michael Cryder; 1780, April 11th, William Shirley; 1781, January 
sessions, William Simonton, James Foley, and Michael Cryder; 1782, 
April sessions, Samuel Anderson; July sessions, Samuel Anderson, James 
Foley and Moses Donaldson; October sessions, Alexander McConnell; 1786, 
January sessions, George Ashman and George Cluggage.
  The first Court of Quarter Sessions was held at Bedford, April 16, 
1771, before "William Proctor, Robert Cluggage, Robert Hanna, George 
Wilson, William Lockery, and William McConnell, Esqs., justices of our 
Lord the King, to hear and determine divers felonies and misdemeanors 
in the said county committed."  Twenty-three grand jurors were sworn.  
Robert Galbraith was enrolled as an attorney.  At April sessions, 1773, 
"John Freeharty, of the grand jury, is fined five shillings for being 
drunk and ten shillings for the contempt in doing so while on the duty 
of that office, and coming into court while in that condition."
  At July sessions, 1780, "The court proceeded to regulate the Price of 
Laborers, and are of opinion that the same shall be estimated and rated 
26 dollars each man per day."  October sessions, continued at the same 
rate.
  Unexplained this would appear extravagant but it must be borne in 
mind that the standard of value was the dollar in Continental currency, 
which had rapidly shrunk in worth as contrasted with specie.  When 
measured by the specie standard, the price of a day's labor was worth 
about forty cents.  The paper currency of the country depreciated so 
rapidly in value that it was necessary to establish some rate of 
exchange, and the General Assembly, by act of April 3, 1781, fixed a 
scale of depreciation for each month from the beginning of the year, 
1777, to the end of February, 1781.  In July, 1780, it required sixty-
four and

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one-half dollars in paper to equal one dollar in specie.
  Among the justices sworn, as appears by the records, were:
  1771, April 16, Robert Cluggage; 1773, April 13, Robert Cluggage; 
1774, April 13, Robert Cluggage; 1782, December 18, Robert Cluggage; 
1773, April 13 William McConnell; 1774, May 12, Henry Lloyd; 1777, 
September, Robert Galbraith, James Martin; 1779, January 13, James 
Carmichael, James Coyle; 1779, February 12, Matthew Dean; 1781, April 
28, John Canan (Commission dated February 3, 1781); 1786, July 20, 
Thomas Wilson, John Little; 1787, January 22, John Coyle; 1787, June 
22, James Coyle.  Persons were recommended for license to keep public 
houses as follows:
  1773, July sessions, Michael Cryder; 1773, October sessions, Michael 
Cryder; 1774, October sessions, Michael Cryder, Ludwick Sells; 1778, 
April sessions, Francis Cluggage; 1781, January sessions, Ludwick 
Sells.  Benjamin Elliot was commissioned high sheriff October 31, 1785 
and was sworn December 19, 1785.  George Ashman, Lietenant, was sworn 
December 26, 1780.