“Our grandparents forged a history that our grandchildren will be proud of.” 1 The Contents A Brief History Of The Old~Greenfield Township Historical Society (Some Recollections By The Archivist, Larry D. Smith) 9 Articles From The FTHS & O~GTHS Newsletters 1988-2006 25 A Note From The Archivist 25 Dates To Keep In Mind When Researching People Who Lived In, And Events Which Occurred In The Area Now Encompassed By Freedom Township 26 A Summary Of The 1850 U. S. Census For Juniata Township, Blair County, PA. (Encompassing Those Residents Living In The Area Now Known As Freedom Township, Blair County) 27 The Early Residents Of Freedom Township 34 John S. Wertman (by Jim Snyder) 34 Leamersville Lore 35 1873 Map Of Freedom Township 35 Twenty-eight Attorneys Involved In Action Between Tavern Owners 35 Smith Corner 40 The Boundaries Of Greenfield Township, Bedford County 44 Becoming A DAR Or SAR Member 44 Wills 46 Company I, 55th Penna. Infantry 47 A Letter From Frederick Burket Just Before The Battle Of Drury’ Bluff 50 2 Genealogy ~ Some Definitions 52 (Masthead of O~GTHS Newsletter 1989) 53 A Newsletter’s Purpose 53 Indian Trails (by Jim Snyder) 55 Postscript (by Larry Smith) 56 Blair Burket ~ Purple Heart Recipient 57 Early Roads (by Jim Snyder) 58 (Complete Cover Page Of Newsletter #6) 60 Washington’s Birthday 61 The Conestoga Wagon (by Jim Snyder) 61 Deeds 62 Tracking Freedom Township Residents Through The Years 63 Child’s Rhyme Question 70 Martha 71 A Difficult Decision (by Bonnie Zinzey) 73 (Cover Page of Newsletter #9) 74 Johan Simon Clar ~ A Biographical Sketch 75 Juniata 77 Bedford County Militia ~ American Revolutionary War 80 From A Lad Across The Sea (by Roger ‘Tobe’ Dodson) 81 The 84th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment 82 3 Cumberland County Will Be A Frontier 84 Mother Bedford 86 The Class Tax Of 1782 89 Who Were The Pioneers Of Bedford County Who Became Americans In The Revolutionary War? 91 Yankee Doodle 93 Yingling’s Mill (by Autumn Helsel) 94 How Queen Has Progressed (by Kendra Harr) 95 The Ships Our Immigrant Ancestors Sailed In 95 Meal Time 96 The 3rd Of June 1781 ~ The Engagement Of Frankstown 99 The Historical Significance Of Holly 104 Freedom Township #1 104 The Shoemaker 109 Freedom Township #2 112 Union Township, Bedford County Becomes Pavia Township 117 The Collier 118 Freedom Township #3 120 An ACT for the better regulation of servants in this province and territories 125 An ACT to prevent the running of swine at large 125 An ACT to dissolve the marriage of Giles Hicks with his wife Hester Hicks, late Hester McDaniel 125 4 Freedom Township #4 126 Thanksgiving Proclamation 131 Claysburg Railroad Station 132 Deciphering All The Cousins 133 The Glass Tax Of 1798 134 Divorce… Early American Style (When it required an ACT of The Assembly) 137 The Blacksmith 139 Gravesite Dedication ~ John McChesney 143 The Whiskey Rebellion 143 The Chicken Raiders 147 Greenfield Township 148 Greenfield Township #2 155 The Indian Occupation Of This Region 161 Greenfield Township #3 165 A Celebration Of Christmas 166 The Log Cabin 175 The Ulster~Scots In Old~Greenfield Township 181 Kimmel Township 192 Kimmel Township #2 196 George Washington Slept (Near) Here 202 5 Kimmel Township #3 206 Kimmel Township #4 207 The Tanner 211 Discovering The Secrets In Estate Inventories 213 A Few Words Found In Old Deeds And What They Meant In 1789 221 Pavia Township 221 Our German Ancestors 225 Our German Ancestors #2 ~ The Frankish Kingdom 228 Our German Ancestors #3 ~ The Rise Of The Carolingian Dynasty 229 Our German Ancestors #4 ~ The Rise And Fall Of The Holy Roman Empire 231 Our German Ancestors #5 ~ The Thirty Years War And Its Effect On Germany 232 Our German Ancestors #6 ~ The German And Swiss Emigration Of The Eighteenth Century 234 Our German Ancestors #7 ~ A Flood Of Palatines Pours Into The British Isles 236 Regarding The Death Of The President Of The United States Of America 238 The 1910 Tax Assessment For Freedom Township 238 The Miller 240 Some Irish Words 243 The Constable 243 Did Santa Claus Hire A Sleymaker To build His Sleigh? 245 6 Court Records 246 The Hated Stamp Act 250 Controversy At The Meeting Of The Freedom Township School Board 250 Our German Ancestors #8 ~ The New Bern And Livingston Manor Settlements 251 Our German Ancestors #9 ~ The Schoharie Settlement 253 The Gentleman’s Miscellany 257 Did You Know… 257 Our German Ancestors #10 ~ The Journey To The Island Of Pennsylvania 258 Our German Ancestors #11 ~ The Germans Homestead In Bedford County 260 The Cooper 262 Superstitions 268 Old~Greenfield Township’s Link To The Sons Of Mill 271 The Thistle 286 The Irish, Scottish, Welsh And Ulster~Scot Patriots 287 The Rooms We Lost 291 Intestate Proceedings 295 Some Newspaper Articles From Yesteryear 296 The Scottish Clan 296 The Sowing & Reaping Of Grain 299 7 The Scottish Clan #2 303 The Scottish Clan #3 308 The Scottish Clan #4 316 The Niddy~Noddy 327 The Scottish Clan #5 327 Old~Greenfield Township ~ A Brief History Of The Formation Of Old~Greenfield Township 337 Old~Greenfield Township ~ The Early Settlers Of Old~Greenfield Township 338 Old~Greenfield Township ~ Yesterday And Today 341 Old~Greenfield Township ~ Some Facts About The Present-Day Townships That descend From Old~Greenfield 344 Old~Greenfield Townships ~ Legends And Tales Of Old~Greenfield 347 8 ~ A Brief History Of The Old~Greenfield Township Historical Society ~ (Some Recollections By The Archivist, Larry D. Smith) Two decades ago, on 25 July 1988, a group was a great idea, and one that would definitely be of twelve individuals met at the St. Paul’s a success. Larry was quite familiar with the books Lutheran Church in East Freedom to discuss the and projects produced prior to this time, which formation of a new historical society. East included, or were devoted to, the history of Freedom is located in the eastern portion of Freedom Township. He was bothered by the fact Freedom Township. Freedom Township is located that they tended to dwell primarily on a few in the southwestern portion of Blair County, families – who, in fact, were not the oldest Pennsylvania. families in the region. An historical society It wasn’t as if there weren’t any historical devoted to just Freedom Township might not gain societies in the region. Blair County’s official members on the same scale as the Blair County historical society, aptly titled: The Blair County Historical Society perhaps, but it would surely be Historical Society had its offices in the Baker able to draw enough interested people to Mansion in the city of Altoona. As the official effectively inject variety into a history of the historical society for the county, the BCHS was township. supposed to serve the needs of the entire county. Ken put an advertisement in the local Unfortunately, the general perception was that the newspaper asking anyone interested in forming an BCHS, being located within the city of Altoona, historical society in Freedom Township, to attend catered primarily to the history of the city, rather an organizational meeting on 25 July. The ad drew than of the county. In fact, the general perception in twelve residents of the township who discussed was that the BCHS was primarily concerned with the pros and cons of the project. Those twelve simply maintaining the Baker Mansion. Perhaps included: Margaret Claar, Elaine Delozier, that was not true; but be that as it may, it was the Dorothy Dick, Paul Hetrick, Bonnie Kinzey, Mary general perception. Therefore, various smaller, Lingenfelter, Kenneth and Diane McChessney, community-based historical societies began to be Larry Smith, Jackie and Jim Williams, and Anna formed. Historical societies popped up in the more Mary Zeth. rural areas, including Bellwood, Tyrone, The first issue of the Freedom Township Williamsburg and Roaring Spring. The Blair Historical Society’s newsletter included the County Genealogical Society was formed by a following synopsis of that first meeting and the number of members of the BCHS because they ‘mission statement’ that developed: wanted to concentrate on genealogical research, and they felt that the Historical Society simply could not provide the right atmosphere for that. The Freedom Township Historical Society, And so it came about that during the spring organized with the intent and purpose to research and of 1988, Kenneth W. McChessney began talking archive historical information primarily for the single to his cousin, Larry D. Smith about whether an township area noted in its title, held its first meeting on historical society devoted solely to the region in July 25, 1988 with twelve interested people attending. which they both were born and lived ~ Freedom During that meeting the intentions and desires of the Township ~ would be successful. Larry thought it various members were discussed and the basic 9 foundation of the society was laid. printed up (if more than one copyis desired, please In order to broaden the overall scope of let us know). The celebration will continue into the society's purposes, it was decided that the society next year in commemoration of the 150th would function as a genealogical as wellas historical anniversary of the actual laying out of a town plot research organization. Four knowledgeable by Edward McGraw (which was believed to have individuals in the area of genealogical research (all occurred in either 1839 or 18440). Along with of them members of the Blair County Genealogical activities planned for the summer in Society) were invitedto speak at the second meeting. conjunction with other Freedom Township The F.T.H.S.