What a fantastic letter. Thank you. I think we all needed a reminder that just because it's in a book doesn't make it true. This also goes with the biographical books so popular at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. The "facts" were told by family members, and while a lot might be accurate, an equal amount is probably not quite right. It's best to always check and double check and try to find as many supporting documents as you can find. If you can't provide proof, then at least label your research as "possible, probable, and conjecture". Barbara [email protected] wrote: >Thanks for challenging my remarks about Shippensburg. It gives me >an opportunity to defend the historical research done by my mentor, >Rev. William T. Swaim. But first, let me say this is not an attack on >the writer, Thera. She repeats what she has read from other >sources, as we all do. One of the most important statements Swaim >directed to me, was,”do not believe everything you read in 19th >century history books. Especially the one by Rev. Conway Wing!” >Wing is the person who fabricated the story about 1730 >Shippensburg in his 1879 history.. Swaim found more than 2000 >historical errors during his 20 years of research, I know of none that >have been challenged and corrected! >#1- Carlisle was the county seat selected in 1750, Shippensburg >was not selected because, “As to Shippensburgh I have no occasion >to say any Thing, the Lands being granted.. ...that the lands about it >are unsettled for Want of Water...” PA Archives, S1. II, pg 43. >(Surveyor Cookson’s report to the Governor when he recommened >Carlisle). >#2. There were only 7,598 inhabitants in all of western Cumberland >County (Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn, West Pennsborough) when the >1790 census was taken, My estimate would be ca50-75 citizens in >Shippensburg in 1750, certainly not 5000, which probably was not >obtained until the late 1800s. You should also take into account that >Samuel Blunston issued just 249 licenses from Jan, 1734 to July, >1736 for all of Cumberland and Franklin Counties. None to the >immediate Shippensburg area in 1734, and just 16 licenses to the >Middle Spring Presby. Church area, which is several miles north of >Shippensburg. The log church was not built until 1737/38. It >appears as if Thomas Wilson got the first license (1735) for >200 acres which might have included the Shippensburg area. >Edward Shippen obtained this property 2 years later (1737) >and it was located on the “Potomac Road at the half-way spring >(meaning Middle Spring). >#3. Widow Piper’s: Tavern Since the Great Road (current day >Route 11) was not surveyed until 1743/44 and approved by >Lancaster Court in May 1744. Piper’s Tavern did not exist in >the 1730s. It, and two other stone mansions in Shippensburg, >set exactly on the corners of Route 11 and some cross streets. >The street layout came before the buildings. In addition, the >surveyor’s map showed no town, even in 1744. >#4. Edward Shippen was mayor of Philadelphia in 1744 and he >owned land all over central Pennsylvania, he got some ground >in the Hopewell Twp area but did not “develop” any of it in >1737. Stone houses were not being built in 1735 in >Cumberland County, Piper’s Tavern was probably log until >much later. It is unlikely that there were any Indian Tribes in >the area after 1730. “Pexton Manor” (Camp Hill, Lemoyne area) >was established prior to 1734 to “coax” the Indians to come >back to Cumberland County. >In my possession is a 75 page document by Swaim which >literally demolishes the existence of Shippensburg before >1744. >My apologies for such a looooong letter!......Wilmer Maxwell, >Carlisle > > >==== PACUMBER Mailing List ==== > A quick link to the complete list of PA USGenWeb County sites. > http://www.pagenweb.org/ > >============================== >Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the >last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > > > > >