Notes on the Simeral Family Genealogy
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Notes on the Simeral Family Genealogy From material furnished by Bartley Russell Simeral dedication keystone dated 1832 (the present Erica By 1783, Alexander was beset by a chronic and Schunz House). The small flat stones of the house probably fatal infirmity and on September 6, 1783, walls are laid flat in the nature of a fieldstone Alexander and Jean conveyed all their possessions fence "Simeral's Tavern and Inn" may have been to their son William by two instruments, reserving a built in the same way. life estate to provide for their maintenance.20 There is no record of the aged couple in the first federal A traveler of that day reported that he and his census, 1790, of the 16,018 inhabitants of company enjoyed the inn's bill of fare on May 5, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.21 It is 1788; but, that complained in his daily journal of presumed they died in the care of William's family. his trip: "... I rose early ... dined at Simmerell's, on the They may have been buried from Rehoboth Yohogana [Youghiogheny River], and slept at Clarkes Presbyterian Church (established in 1778) by the [now Elizabeth, Pennsylvania], on the Monongahela Reverend Finley, or in the Sewickley Presbyterian [River]. While I was at Simmerers, they used every Church cemetery (established 1776), but no record stratagem to detain us all night, and perhaps as long as of their grave site exists. was General Putnam, who tarried at this place two months16 They said it was better boating from this river The Sewickley Church Congregation, mostly Scotch than from the Monongahela; but they are Irish immigrants, was founded in 1772 and for four palavers."17 years the congregation used a tent as its church. In 1776, a log building was erected on the north In 1775 and 1778, Alexander Simeral participated bank of Sewickley Creek as the first "permanent" in two grand juries held at Robert Hanna's at church."... [Patriot] volunteers buried at the Hannastown, Pennsylvania,18 before it was burned Sewickley Cemetery ... [Included]... members of by Indians and British soldiers in July, 1782 in one the Westmoreland County Militia: Alexander of the very last raids of the Revolutionary War. A Simerall, William Simerall, John Thompson, Robert sensational, but accurate, account of the event Fulton, Robert Hartley, Thomas Kerr, William from the Greensburg Argus newspaper of 1836 Martin, Maj. Hugh Mcguffey, George S. Plummer, read in part "...The summer of '82 was a sorrowful and James Robertson ..."22 one to the frontier inhabitants. The blood of many a family had sprinkled their own fields. The frontier northwest of the [Hanna's] town was almost deserted; the inhabitants had fled for safety and repose towards the Sewickly settlement..." 19 Historical Collections of the State of Pennsylvania, by Sherman Day, published by George W. Gordon Philadelphia (1843), Indiana Free Library, R974.8, 16 Annuals of Southwestern Pennsylvania by Lewis Indiana, Pennsylvania" on page 683 refers to Clark Walkinshaw, Volumes II and III, Lewis "Burning of Hannastown, Pennsylvania In 1782." Historical Publishing Co., New York, Ref. R Q74.88, 1, Greensburg Public Library, Greensburg, 20 Westmoreland County Recorder's Office, Deed Pennsylvania, page 291 Book A, Pages 337 and 341; grant and accompanying maintenance agreement dated 17 "Journal and Letters, Relative to Two Journeys to September, 1783; Recorder of Deeds Office, the Ohio Country," by Colonel John May (1748 Courthouse, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, 1812) Cincinnati, Ohio (1873), SimmeraPs Inn at Pennsylvania SimeraPs Ferry on page 99 Pen Pictures of Early Western Pennsylvania, edited 21 Return of the Whole Number of Persons within by John W. Harpster, published by University of the Several Districts of the United States, Pittsburgh Press (1938) page 99 according to the Second Census (1800), U.S. Census Office, Department of State, published 18 List of grand jurors found in quarter session December 8, 1801 by Duane, printer, Washington, dockets of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, D. C. The population of Westmoreland County in April term 1775 and October term 1778, held the 1800 Census; 22,726; N. Huntingdon before Robert Hanna, Esquire, King George III Township, 1484; Rostrover Township, 1337; S. Justice for that County and Court of Common Huntingdon Township, 2217. R 312 Un 25. 1., Pleas; Clerk of Courts, Westmoreland County, Stapleton Library, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Courthouse Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania, pages 6 7 19 Hannastown, the founding of a village on the 22 "Daily News" published in McKeesport, Pennsylvania Frontier, by Edward H. Hahn, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1974 edition (news Research Committee, Westmoreland County section). Historical Society, Greensburg, Pennsylvania Page 5 of 16 David Richard Rorer, 949 Nottingham Dr, Cincinnati, Ohio 452554768 5134748302; [email protected] Last printed 10/17/2016 6:07:00 PM .