To assist with genealogy tracing in Eastern PA, it may help with dates, surnames, locations, military involvement, and religions of our early ancestors by looking at records of early wars. What follows are some items at the time of the American Indian raids against the white PA settlers (French-Indian War). Sources: 1. FORTS ON THE PENNSYLVANIA FRONTIER by William A. Hunter, pub. Harrisburg, 1960 by the PA Historical and Museum Commission. 2. Elliott's BLUE BOOK OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, Pottsville, 1916. 3. PENNSYLVANIA "Colonial Records", Vol 6 and 7. 4. SOME EARLY LINEAGES OF BERKS COUNTY, PA by Beulah Blair, 1959. Originally, the Dutch and Swedes had fortified settlements along the lower Delaware River, but beginning in 1681, when Wm. PENN was granted his charter, until 1755, the time of the enemy-instigated Indian raids of the white settlements, PA neither erected or maintained a militia. In 1747, Benjamin FRANKLIN, a non-Quaker, made an attempt by founding the "Association", an organization of volunteer militia companies - this in the threatening days of King George's War. By December of 1755, four forts were being established, all north of the Blue Mountain, under FRANKLIN's supervision. Three of these were called Fort Hamilton, Fort Norris, and Fort Allen. They were evenly spaced between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, and all were in the county of Northampton. This line of defense had serious defects, the forts communicated poorly with the settled parts of the Province, the forts were poorly constructed, and these areas had lesser military significance on the frontier. About the same time, the First Troop of Light Horse, Philadelphia with many members from the Tulpehocken area of Berks Co. rode to the area of Lancaster and guarded that area while Fort Hunter was being built. This militia was known there as the Augusta Regiment, from May, 1756 until July, 1757 when it became known as the 1st. Battalion. Fort Lebanon, renamed Fort William, and Fort Swatara were evacuated in May, 1758. A new garrison was set up at Adam Reed's below Manada Gap providing a line of defense at twenty mile intervals. These were Fort Hunter, Reed's, Fort Henry, and Everett's. The frontier settlements east of the Susquehanna suffered less from Indian attacks, Berks and Lancaster counties situated more remotely from the French posts and being protected by Fort Augusta further up the Susquehanna River in the area now known as Sunbury, but then called Shamokin. In May, 1756, with the transfer of Fort Hunter to the Augusta Regiment, what had been Captain McKee's company was disbanded. After that, the Augusta Regiment plus the other companies east of the Susquehanna were known as the 1st. Battalion commanded by Lieut. Colonel WEISER of the Pennsylvania Regiment - a man then about age 60, but well-versed and respected in Indian negotiations. In Berks and Lancaster counties the 1st. Battalion included the companies of Col. WEISER and those of Capt. MORGAN, BUSSE, and SCHMITT. WEISER's company led by his son, Capt. Lieut. Samuel WEISER, was stationed normally at Reading. In December, 1756, Capt. James PATTERSON was recommissioned in this battalion, but actually served at Fort Augusta for a while before he was assigned to Fort Hunter. Col, WEISER's battalion had heavy demands made upon it to reinforce other posts. Fall, 1756, Capt, BUSSE took most of a company to Fort Augusta - serving one month. February, 1757, Capt. REYNOLDS, MORGAN, and SCHMITT with about two companies went to Cumberland Co., remaining there till April when they were sent to Fort Augusta - all these men returned home in Oct., 1757. By Nov., 1757, a company was sent to guard the party building a town for Teedyuscung at Wyoming. Also, WEISER's Batallion furnished the detachments which guarded Easton at the time of the Indian treaties of 1756-1757. Names of other PA forts were: Hydshaw's Fort, Dupui's, Oblinger's, Dietz's, Doll's, Lehigh, Trucker's Mill, Haliflax, McKee's Store, Fort Pomfret Castle, Patterson's, Fort Manada, and Dietrich Six. Some known locations: Fort Henry or Dietrich Six's - Bethel Twp., Berks, 3 miles north of Millersburg. Fort Northkill - built 1754, 2 miles east of Strausstown in Upper Tulpehocken Twp. on the Northkill which empties into the Tulpehocken Creek at Bernville. Dietrich Snyder's Fort (watch tower) - 2 miles east of Fort Northkill by the road leading from Strausstown to Pottsville. Twenty miles of countryside was visible from this tower. Any build. or crop set on fire could be seen and word sent to Fort Northkill to take measures against the Indians. Fort Lebanon - built 1754, on the fork of two branches of the Schuylkill about 1 and 1/2 mile east of Auburn, Schuylkill Co. (then Berks). Fort Franklin - east end of Albany Twp. Fort Hunter - near Harrisburg on the Susquehanna. Fort Harris - at Harrisburg. Fort Manada - Dauphin Co. Fort Swatara - Lebanon Co. Fort Everett - Lehigh Co. Fort Allen - Carbon Co. Fort Augusta - on the Susquehanna at Shamokin, Northumberland Co. (now know as Sunbury). Hope this is helpful! Ann Rickard, SC