Hello everyone, Regarding early Mercer County History, Brown & Runk's 1888 History of Mercer County has a little bit of information. In Volume 1, History of Mercer County, Chapter 2, the purchase of the land from the natives is described, and the following relative to war bounty is found on p. 145: "By act of the Legislature in 1783, even before the Indian title to the lands in this section of the State was claimed to have been either negotiated for or extinguished, a strip of land along the north and west side of the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers, commencing at the place where the western boundary of the State crosses the Ohio River, and thence up said rivers to the 'mouth of Mogulbughtiton Creek, thence by a west line to the western boundary of the State, and thence south to the place of beginning,' was set apart for the purpose of being surveyed into numbered lots, each containing from 200 350 acres, to be sold for 'certificates of depreciation,' given in settlement to the soldiers of the Pennsylvania line in the Revolutionary army. These certificates were assumed to be the special value of all claims against the State for military service, and for these lands thus set apart were to be received as specie. In addition to this reservation, the same act sets apart all the remainder of the territory in the northwest part of the State, out of which tracts of 200 250, 300, and 500 acres were to be survyed, marked and numbered as 'Bounty Lands', to the officers, surgeons, chaplains, musicians and privates of the Pennsylvania line in the Revolutionary army. When surveyed these bounty lands were found to cover the greater portion of Mercer County. They are distinguished on the maps by being numbered. A very few of them were settled by the soldiers to whom they were donated, but [most?] were sold to others. In 1792, before the Indian difficulties were entirely settled, the Legislature of the State enacted that all lands north and west of the Ohio and Allegeheny Rivers and Conewango Creek, not heretofore reserved for public or charitable uses, should be offered for sale..." Tom Darby wrote: > Becky and all, > > I'm President of the Hermitage Historical Society (formerly > Hickory Twp.). Mercer County was formed in 1800 having been > taken from Crawford County on the north and Allegheny County > on the south. It is made of Revolutionary Land Grants and > donation lands. I haven't the info on the founding fathers > but the county historical under the direction of William > Philson would. They have a web page located > http://www.pathway.net/mchs > > The county is planning a big celebration for the year 2000 > to celebrate their 200the anniversary. It would be a great > time for anyone with an interest in Mercer County to visit. > Hope this helps. > > Tom Darby > > btgool@mail.swbell.net wrote: > > > > Perhaps we could get the ladies at the Historical Society to > > give us a brief description of how Mercer County was > > founded. We have speculated it was set up from land grants > > given to Rev War and War of 1812 vets. Is this true? Who > > were the founding fathers? Thanks all! This is just so > > fascinating! > > > > Becky Gool > > > > ==== PAMERCER Mailing List ==== > > > > Any questions/problems regarding the Mercer County, Pennsylvania list, > > contact the listowner, Michael L. Hebert mailto:mhebert@stlnet.com > > > > Visit the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Genealogy web site at: > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pamercer/ > > > > This list is sponsored by the RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative. > > Please help support Rootsweb: > > http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html > > ==== PAMERCER Mailing List ==== > > Any questions/problems regarding the Mercer County, Pennsylvania list, > contact the listowner, Michael L. Hebert mailto:mhebert@stlnet.com > > Visit the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Genealogy web site at: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~pamercer/ > > This list is sponsored by the RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative. > Please help support Rootsweb: > http://www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/how-to-subscribe.html