History of Washington County, Pennsylvania, Earll R. Forrest, S. J. Pub. Co., Chicago, 1926 pg. 3_370, 3_571 - Weller-Boyle-Forrest-McConnell Mrs. Mary Belle Forrest has the distinction of descent from both of these heroines of the Revolution, the intrepid Gilmore sisters, her paternal grandfather, William Boyle, father of Daniel Boyle, having been a son of Ann, the younger sister, and her maternal grandmother, Anne Berry McConnell, having been the daughter of the elder sister, Elizabeth, that fearless soldier of the Revolution who occupies so conspicuous and so romantic a position in the annals of the elder sister, Elizabeth, that fearless soldier of the Revolution who occupies so conspicuous and so romantic a position in the annals of the American war for independence. Mrs. Forrest is descended from 6 other soldiers of the Revolution, these including John Berry, the young irish soldier of fortune whose romantic marriage with Elizabeth Gilmore was so interesting an indident of their patriotic endeavors in behalf of the cause of the colonists; the two Wellers, Daniel and the latter's son Daniel, both soldiers of the Revolution; father of her maternal grandfather; and David McCrory, grandfather of her paternal great-grandmother, who m. Alexander McConnell. Elsewhere in this work, in the narrative relating to her husband, Joshua Rhodes Forrest, there is much interesting information relating to the Forrest family in Washington County. Mrs. Forrest was graduated from the old Xenia (OH) Female Seminary, a finishing school for young women that ranked high with such schools in the middle west. She was b. at Greensburg, IN, and is a daughter of Daniel and Jane (McConnell) Boyle, the former of whom, a millwright; d. at his home in Greensburg, July 11, 1857, when 36 years of age. He had been for some time studying law with the view to practicing that profession and had not death interrupted his plans would in a short time have been admitted to the bar. Daniel Boyle was b. in Washington Co., PA, Apr. 8, 1820, and was one of the 8 sons of William and Elizabeth (Weller) Boyle, the latter of whom was b. in N. Strabane township, this co., a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Mechie) Weller, who were among the pioneers of that part of the co., having a farm in the neighborhood of the Old Chartiers Presbyterian Church, long and better known in this generation as the Hill Church. They both spent their last days here and are buried in the Weller private burial ground on the summit of the hill just E. of the Church. Daniel Weller, who was a son of Daniel Weller (both soldiers of the Revolution), served as a private in the Co. of Capt. John Gingery in the 9th Batt. of the Lancaster Co. Militia, in 1778, and in Capt. Abraham Forey's Co. of the 3rd Batt. in 1779. William Boyle, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Forrest, was b. in Allegheny Co., this state, in 1794 and was a son of Hugh and Ann (Cilmore) Boyle, the latter of whom is the Ann Gilmore above referred to. Hugh Boyle, a native of Ireland, came to this country in the days of his young manhood and also was a soldier of the Revolution, a private in Capt. Thomas Craig's Co. of the 3rd Reg. of the Penn Line. Upon the completion of the military service he became a farmer and landowner in Lancaster Co. and there established his home, but later moved to Allegheny Co.. Mrs. Forrest's mother, Jane McConnell Boyle, was b. in this co. and was a daughter of Alexander and Anne (Berry) McConnell, the latter of whom also was b. here, Sep. 2, 1797, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gilmore) Berry, the couple of young Irish patriots who cast their lot with the American patriots of the War of the Revolution. Mrs. Anne Berry McConnell d. at her home here, on Sep. 5, 1855, and her husband survived her for nearly 20 years, his death occurring in 1874. Alexander McConnell was b. in Cecil township, this co., Feb. 2, 1790, and all his life was spent here as a farmer, becoming a substantial citizen of his neighborhood. During the War of 1812 Alexander McConnell enlisted as a soldier in this second war for American independence and on Oc.t 2, 1812, was assigned to Capt. Benjamin Anderson's Co. of rangers, attached to the 1st Reg., Penn Infantry, which under Col. Joel Ferree's command operated in NW OH in the decisive campaign there carried on by General William Henry Harrison, and it is through him that Mrs. Forrest holds membership in the society of the Daughters of 1812. Alexander McConnell was among the soldiers who erected Fort Ferree, at the point now occupied by the city of Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., OH, where 30 years before his father, Alexander McConnell, SR, had campaigned against the Indians in the expedition carried on by the ill-fated Col. Crawford, whose terrible torture and death at the hands of the Indians and in the presence of the renegade Simon Girty formed the theme of many a doleful tale and ballad in the days when the frontier gradually was being pushed westward. Alexander McConnell, JR, assisted in the erection of Fort Meigs on the Maumee, constructed as a key position in the Harrison campaign in 1812, and continued to render svc. until mustered out Apr. 2, 1813. His grandfather also bore the name of Alexander McConnell. The father was 1 of 2 brothers who came to the American colonies from Scotland and settled in Charlotte Co., VA, where he rendered svc. as a soldier of the Revolution, and about 1780 came to W. PA with his 2 sons, Alexander, JR., and Matthew, settling in Washington Co.. When in 1782 Col. William Crawford was commissioned to lead a band of troops against the marauding Indians in the Sandusky country both these sons, Alexander and Matthew, volunteered for that svc. and were thus with that expedition which in June of that year met with such distressing defeat and lost in so horrible a manner its commander. Of the 3 children b. to Mr. and Mrs. Forrest, 2 are living: Earle Robert Forrest, author of this present history of Washington Co.; and Alma, the wife of William P. Hiller of Crafton, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The elder son, Daniel Boyle Forrest, d. at Kenton, OH, some years ago.