Early
Pioneers
The First
Settlement
The first settlement in Derry Township
was almost the earliest in the Westmoreland County. Some of the soldiers who
came west with Forbes' army during the French-Indian War settled here as early
as 1762. Some were here as early as 1763 when Pontiac's War began. Among these
early settlers was John Pomroy. He was of Scotch Irish decent. As a farmer in
Cumberland Valley, he heard of this land from Forbes' soldiers. He left
Cumberland Valley traveling with the soldiers to Fort Ligonier, stopping to see
relatives in protection from Indian raids at the fort. He then crossed Chestnut
Ridge and selected land on which to build a crude log cabin. Shortly thereafter,
James Wilson claimed land adjacent to Pomroy's tract. These two parcels are near
what is New Derry today. The two men bartered with Indians and lived on corn,
potatoes, wheat, and rye. During this time, they met a fur trapper/trader named
Dunlap, as well as another settler named George Findley. Two years later, Pomroy
and Wilson went back east and returned with wives. Pomroy's wife, Isabel Barr,
was daughter of a neighbor in Cumberland Valley who also migrated to this area.
Wilson's and Pomroy's wife were the first women in the township. Others who
arrived in the Pomroy-Wilson-Barr party were James and Alexander Barr,William
Guthrie, and Richard Wallace.
The First Male
Child
William Hughes is said to have served
in Forbes' Army under General Washington at the opening of the Great Military or
Hannastown road. It is reported that when his enlistment expired, he married
Miss Dawson. They, along with her brother Jacob Dawson, came to the area in
1759, claiming land one mile northwest of Bradenville. This land is still owned
in part by his descendants. Hughes is said to have had the first male child born
in the township. His son, Isaac Hughes was born in 1771 and died in 1844.
Indian
Raid
The Mitchell family settled around
1756-1758 on the Loyalhanna creek, west of Kingston. In 1760, they were attacked
by Indians, and the father was killed. The daughter was in the barnyard at the
time and turned a large cow trough made from chestnut log over her and thus
escaped their capture. The mother and son were taken, but the mother was scalped
and killed near West Derry at Scalp Level. The son, Charles Mitchel, was taken
to New York State. After a few years, he came back, married and settled on the
old farm. Part of this land is still owned by his descendants.
The Craig
Settlement
Samuel, Craig settled about 1770 on a
large farm on the Loyalhanna where the Crabtree Run flows into it. He entered
the Revolutionary War and was with Washington in several incidents. He had three
sons in the Revolutionary War, Samuel, John, and Alexander. He was called to
duty at one point to Fort Ligonier and after heading out to the fort, was never
heard from again. His horse was found with 8 bullet holes in it at Chestnut
Ridge.
Alexander Craig, a General, was born
November 20, 1775. He married Jane Clark. His hair was shot from his head by the
enemy during the Revolution. He was a surveyor by trade, and once, an agent for
Governor Miflin. He was a fond of reading and had a good memory. He died October
20, 1832 and was buried in Congruity churchyard. During his lifetime, he along
with pioneers, the Wilson's, Wallace's, Sloan's and Shields' formed a very
strong group of fighting men and defended the settlers of Derry Township against
Indian attacks. Alexander's brother, John bought a farm near Freeport and died
at the age of 95.
As the Settlement
Grew
James Wilson was one of the foremost
men in Derry Township. He had a farm near New Derry of about 800 acres. He lived
there until his death in 1820. His remains, along with those of his wife and
married daughter, Mrs. Knott, were buried on a farm near their home. Pomroy, one
of the five commissioners appointed by the Act of Assembly in 1785, was an
associate judge and served for many years in that capacity. His brother, Francis
Pomroy, was also a prominent leader in civil life. Pomroy and Wallace were
involved in the location of a county seat, resulting in part in Greensburg as
the choice in this capacity.
William Guthrie made his application
for land when the office opened in 1769. His descendants kept this land almost
continually. He was made a militia officer in 1794. His son served in the War of
1812. in 1799, Guthrie built a house of stone on his farm. This house is still
standing and is in use today, owned by the Malone's. In the area, more
settlers's arrived, such as Joseph Pounds, William Smith, Alexander McCurdy,
Daniel McKison, Alexander Taylor, John Lytle, Daniel Elgin, and Conrad Rice.
Alexander Allison, another settler, lived near Loyalhanna. James Eaton took a
Tomahawk possession in 1769 near what is now the Bradenville/Peanut area. Thomas
Culvertson built the first stone house in this part of Derry Township. Hugh
Cannon was one of the first setters in Derry Station, living until 1818. Rev.
Daniel Pershing, from 3 miles south of Youngstown, purchased 180 acres of the
Eaton tract in 1801, situated 1 mile from the Kittanning Indian path and half a
mile from the Forbes Military Road. He was the gr-gr-grandfather of General John
J. Pershing. David Cleckhom took a possession at a spring near St. Rose's
Church, Bradenville. Snydertown is now part of this land. He made this purchase
about 1758?, then left for 7 years, only to return and sell it to a man named
McDowell in 1767.
The Braden
Brothers
Four Braden brothers arrived from County Derry, Ireland around 1790.John, James, William, and Edward owned about 1000 acres between them, purchasing parts of the Cleckhom, McDowell, Peter Knight , Dawson , and Pershing lands, including the village of Mechesneytown. These brothers are well recorded throughout Westmoreland County History. There are many descendants of the Braden bothers today, and of course, their hometown, Bradenville, bears their name.