This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: kangal3632
Surnames: Caldwell
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.caldwell/230.242.1.1.3.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
I am a Caldwell from Hickory, Mt. Pleasant Twp, Washington, PA. Do you have an more
details? There was at least one other Caldwell family in Hickory that my father said
wasn't part of our family. Here is some history on the area.
On May 10, 1788, a tract of land containing 236 acres plus allowances and situated about
one mile east of the present town of Hickory was patented to one Matthew Hillis, and the
patent name given to the tract was "Mount Pleasant". At that time, the area
comprised within the present Township of Mt. Pleasant was an almost unbroken wilderness.
Quite a number of white people had already located here, but the clearing of the forests
had only begun. However, the elevation of the land, the richness of the soil and the
excellent drainage provided by Chartiers Creek, Raccoon Creek and Cross Creek had
attracted a good class of settlers. Mt.Pleasant was not one of the original thirteen
townships of Washington County. The territory included within the Township was formerly a
part of the now surrounding townships of Smith, Cecil, Hopewell and Canton, all of which
were "original" townships, which were set up at the time Washington County was
established in 1781. On January 6, 1806, a peti!
tion signed by citizens of this section of the County was presented to the Grand Jury of
the Court of Quarter Sessions of the County, praying for the erection of a new township
whose territory was to be taken from the four above-mentioned townships. The Grand Jury
acted favorably on this petition, and in the May term of Court in that year of 1806, the
action of the Grand Jury was confirmed and a decree ordered for the erection of a new
Township to be called "Mount Pleasant". Therefore, in 2006, Mt. Pleasant
Township celebrated its 200th Anniversary of corporate existence. An addition was made to
the area of Mt. Pleasant in 1831 when a small strip of land was taken from Chartiers
Township and annexed to Mt. Pleasant Township.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA. Opened for settlement in 1768. The evolution of Washington County
is as follows: From 1750 to 1770 - Cumberland County; from 1771 to 1773 - Bedford County;
from 1773 to 1781 - Westmoreland County; March 28, 1781 - Washington County. Prior to
1781, Virginia also claimed Southwestern Pennsylvania. Virginia created the District of
West Augusta and divided what is known as Washington County in to three counties.
Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio. Researchers looking for history prior to 1781 should
consider Augusta County, Virginia records. Yohogania County, Virginia, records are in
Washington Co., Pennsylvania, intermingled with Pennsylvania records in the earliest
dockets; Monongalia County, Virginia, records (pre-1796 were lost in fire) are in
Morgantown, West Virginia; Ohio County, Virginia, are in Wheeling, Ohio County, West
Virginia.
Originally, 13 townships were formed July 1, 1781 (p. 228 Crumrine; p. 459 Forrest, vol.
1). Amwell, Bethelhem, Cecil, Cumberland (to Greene County in 1796), Donegal, Fallowfield,
Hopewell, Morgan (to Greene County in 1796), Nottingham, Peters, Robinson, Smith,
Strabane.
Important Note:
The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply
to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.