Susan, Thank you so very much for such a complete explanation. I now know that I have to check the Western part of Virginia and Washington Co., PA. Thank you also for giving the dates. I know they ended up in the North Side of Pittsburgh but I now understand how they could have come from VA or W. VA. I will begin checking there. Thanks again, Clare in Fla. =========================== On Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:26:05 -0400 SUSAN MCFEATTERS <[email protected]> writes: > Deciding which state had the rights to southwestern > Pennsylvania was a contentious affair that lasted from the > end of the French & Indian war to the beginning of the new > republic. > > Once the French left, Virginians began to move into the area. > It was much easier for settlers to come up from Virginia via > Braddock's Road (Route 40)rather than over the Allegheny > Mountains from the eastern part of Pennsylvania. The > Pennsylvanians who came were interested in trading with the > Indians; the Virginians in taking their place. The British > government, not wanting to spend any more money on security > for the area, declared it Indian territory, effectively > annoying both Pennsylvanians and Virginians and giving them > yet another reason to unite against the British. > > After the Revolutionary War, it was up to the new government > to settle the dispute. The Mason-Dixon Line, which had > earlier determined the border between Pennsylvania and > William Penn's claim and Maryland and Lord Calvert's claim, > was extended to Pennsylvania's western border, giving the > territory to Pennsylvania. > > By 1788, there were enough settlers around the Pittsburgh > area to warrant the establishment of a new county and > Allegheny County was formed out of Washington and > Westmoreland Counties. > > > ==== PA-PITTSBURGH Mailing List ==== > How to unsubscribe. Send a message > to:[email protected] that contains ONLY the word, > 'unsubscribe' in the text area. > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > > >