AREA HISTORY:  Penn Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE TOWNSHIP OF PENN – Page 696

THIS township surrounds the borough of Hanover, and is bounded on the west by 
Adams County.  Originally much of its territory was included in “Digges’ Choice.”  
From 1750 to 1880 Penn was embraced in Heidelberg, except that a portion of it 
which was included in Manheim until the annexation of 1816.  Within its present 
territory there were many conflicting claims to land titles, during the time of 
the early settlement.  These difficulties are described in the front part of this 
work and in the history of Hanover.  There is some significance in the name Penn 
being applied to this township, as its territory was claimed by both Lord 
Baltimore and the heirs of William Penn, until the important question was finally 
settled by the King of England in council, which gave rise to the running of the 
Mason and Dixon’s line, deciding it to be within the boundaries of the Penn 
grant.

The township was formed by a division of Heidelberg, by action of the court in 
the year 1880.  The viewers were George W. Hoffacker, Jeremiah Brodbeck and Jesse 
K. Wentz.  The survey was made by Jesse D. Keller.

Penn is very densely populated, and contains some of the most fertile and most 
valuable land in York County.  Though not large in area, its population in 1880 
was 1,962, which has been considerably increased since.  In 1884, the number of 
taxables was 682, and real estate valuation $1,050,586.  A considerable portion 
of the town of Hanover, the villages of Pennville, New Baltimore and Blooming 
Grove are within its boundaries.  Iron ore has been obtained in this township 
south of Hanover.

Amos Rohrbach, a prosperous farmer and the largest man in York County, is a 
prominent citizen of this township.  His height is six feet four inches, his 
weight 428 pounds, and is about sixty years old.  

Dense forests of hickory, oak and chestnut existed around Hanover when this 
region was first settled.  On the farm of Karl Forney, one of these old land-
marks is still standing.  In 1850 it measured twenty-one feet in circumference.  
In 1885 it had exactly the same dimensions.  The two farms owned now by Karl 
Forney and A. W. Forney, adjoining Hanover, have been owned by the descendants of 
Adam and Nicholas Forney since they were first purchased in 1730.  On the former 
farm Philip Forney was shot by an Indian.