It is not taught very well in our history classes, but parts of Pennsylvania had to wait for agreements with the Native Americans. William Penn signed his initial treaties in the 1680s, but some tribes held onto their lands for most of the ensuing century. The Commonwealth government bought the Six Nations' claims to the western lands in 1784 and 1789, and the claims of the Delawares and Wyandots in 1785. While a few settlers moved into those territories before the treaties had been negotiated, the mass migrations didn't start until after that time. Some settlers in the areas around Mifflin and Juniata counties in the 1770s were forced to move back to Berks and Dauphin counties when the Indian attacks got too fierce. Ohio didn't open up for mass settlement until around 1800, with the major push coming after the War of 1812. That's why it seems as if everyone moved at once: They all made their moves when the territories opened up. Richard Aurand Sherer Daniel E Weinhold <deweinhold@juno.com> wrote: What is so interesting to me is just WHY did a Number of Mennonite,s leave Eastern PA. "around" the same time for Juniata Co, PA.

The migration to Ohio began after the Revolutionary War. The Federal Government allowed 100 acres of bounty land to soldiers of the Continental line. The land was located in the "military district" in Ohio. Soldiers from all of the states were eligible for federal bounty land if they served the required length of time in the Continental Line. This is not to be confused with the bounty land that was issued by the individual states. Many states, including PA, awarded their own bounty land in the western reaches of the state in order to encourage enlistment in their particular state. Some soldiers were eventually eligible for both. Folks sometimes presume that the Mennonites, Quakers, and other pacifists who didn't believe in going to war would not have gotten land in the Military District in Ohio or in the Military District in PA. It must be remembered, though, that soldiers who received bounty land often did not wish to move and settle a new area, and they would sell their warrants to third parties--including pacifists--who then went on to patent land with the soldiers' warrants. Peggy Reeves ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Sherer" <richard.a.sherer@gmail.com> To: <PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 4:33 PM Subject: Re: [PALANCAS] Landis > It is not taught very well in our history classes, but parts of > Pennsylvania > had to wait for agreements with the Native Americans. William Penn signed > his initial treaties in the 1680s, but some tribes held onto their lands > for > most of the ensuing century. The Commonwealth government bought the Six > Nations' claims to the western lands in 1784 and 1789, and the claims of > the > Delawares and Wyandots in 1785. While a few settlers moved into those > territories before the treaties had been negotiated, the mass migrations > didn't start until after that time. Some settlers in the areas around > Mifflin and Juniata counties in the 1770s were forced to move back to > Berks > and Dauphin counties when the Indian attacks got too fierce. > Ohio didn't open up for mass settlement until around 1800, with the major > push coming after the War of 1812. That's why it seems as if everyone > moved > at once: They all made their moves when the territories opened up. > Richard Aurand Sherer > > > > Daniel E Weinhold <deweinhold@juno.com> wrote: > > What is so interesting to me is just WHY did a Number of Mennonite,s > leave Eastern PA. "around" the same time for Juniata Co, PA. > > ______________________________

My husband's ancestor was a patriot in the Revolutionary War. Did that make him eligible to receive land? If so, where do I find this information? I know his ancestor relocated from Lancaster County to Franklin County after the war and he died in Franklin County PA but was there land available in Franklin County? Appreciatively, Barbara