1768, Apr - Settlement of Turkeyfoot Valley Prior to Creation of Bedford County in 1771

Excerpts from History of Bedford and Somerset Counties - Volume II, Chapter II:

THE MISSION OF REV. JOHN STEELE TO THE REGION WEST OF THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN, IN 1768

The territory west of the Allegheny mountain was not open for settlement until after the Indian title had been extinguished, and this did not take place until the treaty of Fort Stanwix, which was made November 5, 1768. Up to that time there could no legal settlement be made on any lands in this part of Pennsylvania. After the French had been expelled from the country, something in the way of an agreement appears to have been made with the Indians, who were disposed to be peaceable that their hunting grounds should not be encroached on by settlers, some exceptions being in favor of a few persons along the military roads or about the several posts along these roads and whose locating there had been authorized.

But the fame of the fertile region around and about the Turkeyfoot and still further west had been spread east of the mountains, and a number of settlers came in and took up claims, although they must have known that they could only be trespassers and that they could obtain no legal title to their lands. Beyond the Laurel Hill, in what is now Fayette county, there was a large number of these settlers. These were chiefly located about Redstone (Brownsville) and in the neighborhood of Gist's plantation, now known as Mt. Braddock. There were also a few in the vicinity of Turkeyfoot.

As early as 1763 a royal proclamation had been issued, forbidding the granting of any warrants for surveys or patents for lands for settlement westward of the headwaters of the streams flowing into the Atlantic ocean. This certainly was an interdict of all settlement west of the Allegheny mountain. To this the governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia (the matter of jurisdiction being still unsettled) added their proclamations, but they were unheeded, probably were looked on as being merely perfunctory.

In the summer of 1766 a detachment of regulars was sent to Redstone under command of Captain Alexander Mackey. But his notice to the trespassers to leave the country had little or no effect. Even with a show of military force but few of the settlers removed, the greater number remaining. In the summer of 1767 soldiers were again sent out to expel these settlers, and quite a number of them were actually driven out. But as soon as the soldiers returned to Fort Pitt they would seem to have made haste to return, bringing with them at the same time others from the eastern settlements.

In 1767 there has been an extension of Mason and Dixon's line, which showed that most of these settlers were within the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. Therefore, in January, 1768, John Penn, lieutenant-governor of the province, called the attention of the assembly to the continual encroachments of the settlers within the forbidden territory, which, if persisted in, might bring on a bloody war, and at the same time advising the passing of a law stringent enough to bring about the desired result. As what is now Somerset county actually had some of these trespassing settlers, and was therefore affected by this law which was thus passed at the instance of Lieutenant-Governor Penn, we give it at length:

AN ACT to remove the people now settled ect. and to prevent others from settling on any lands in this province not purchased from the Indians, 1768.

L. S.
JOHN PENN.

Whereas, Many disorderly people in violation of His Majestie's proclamation have presumed to settled upon lands not yet purchased from the Indians to their damage and dissatisfaction, which may be attended with dangerous and fatal consequences to the peace and Safety of the Province.

Be it therefore enacted by the Honorable John Penn Esquire Lieutenant Governor under the Honourable Thomas and Richard Penn, true and absolute Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania and counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex upon the Delaware by and with the advice and consent of the representatives of the Freeman of the Said Province in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same.

That if any person or persons settled upon any lands within the boundaries of this Province not purchased of the Indians by the Proprietaries thereof shall neglect or refuse to remove themselves and Families off and from the same lands within the space of Thirty days after he or they shall be requested so to do, either by such persons as the Governor of this province shall appoint for that purpose, or by his proclamations to be set up in the most public places or the Settlements on such unpurchased lands or if any person or persons being so removed shall afterwards return to his or their settlement or the settlement of any other person with his family or their family or without any family to remain and settle on such lands, or if any person shall after the said notice to be given as aforesaid reside and settle on such lands, every such person and persons so neglecting or refusing to remove with his or their Family or returning to settle as aforesaid or that shall settle on any such lands after the Requisition or Notice Aforesaid being therefore legally convicted by their own confession or the verdict of a Jury shall suffer Death without benefit of clergy.

Provided always nevertheless, that nothing herein contained, shall be deemed or construed to extend to any person or persons who now are or hereafter may be settled on the Main Roads or communications leading through this Province to Fort Pitt under the approbation and permission of the Commander in Chief o His Majestie's forces in North America or the Chief Officer commanding in the Western District to the Ohio for the Time being for the more convenient accommodations of the Soldiery and others or to such person or persons as are or shall be settled in the neighborhood of Fort Pitt under the approbation and permission aforesaid or to a Settlement made by George Croghan Esqr. Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs under Sir William Johnson on the Ohio about said Fort, any thing herein to the contrary in any wise not withstanding.

This law was passed on February 3, 1768. It was certainly drastic enough, but, as with many other laws since passed, it was easier to pass than to enforce. That part of Somerset county west of the Allegheny mountain was affected by it, but the townships east of the mountain (which are Allegheny, Northampton, Southampton, Fair Hope, Larimer and Greenville) did not fall within the scope of this law, they being a part of the purchase of July 6, 1754, and which was confirmed October 23, 1758, and were, therefore, open to settlement.

The law having thus been passed, Governor Penn appointed Revs. John Steele, of the Presbyterian church at Carlisle, John Allison, Christopher Lemes and James Potter as a commission to go into the country west of the Allegheny mountain, make known and explain the law, and endeavor to prevail on the settlers to comply with it. Rev. John Steele, who headed this commission, apparently was equally at home whether the weapons to be used were spiritual or carnal. He bore a captain's commission in the French and Indian wars, and again in the Revolutionary was, gaining distinction in every field of duty.

The commission started on its errand March 2, 1768, proceeding to Fort Cumberland, in Maryland, and from thence traveled by the Braddock road. At Redstone (Brownsville), as well as at several other points, they met most of the settlers. With these the labored and endeavored to persuade them to comply with the law. It soon developed that at least a part of the Indians were not all averse to the settlers remaining, and had given them some encouragement to do so.

Reaching Fort Cumberland on their homeward journey on the 2nd of April, the commissioners prepared their report to Governor Penn. From its concluding part we quote: