For all of you--I do not have any documentation other than what I gleaned a
few years ago out of various librarys.  See below for an existing online
history url..

However here is an abbreviated timeline for SW PA

1.  There are two Westmoreland Counties today.  One in PA and one in VA.  The
Va one is the oldest.  They are physically very much separate Counties.  In
the early 1700's there were two Westmoreland Co's of VA  referred to but I
believe there was never really legally two.??????

2. Abbreviated timeline for SW PA

1669- French exploration of western PA
1748- Ohio company formed by Va gentlemen
1753  French build forts and begin  to assert their claim to area
1754  Spring   Col George Washington sent by Va to move out French.  Wash
loses battle at Fort Duquense
1755  Gen Braddock is ambushed and masssacreed before he gets to Fort
Duquense.
1755 to 1756  Settlement begin in area of present Washington Co
1756  Colony of Pa declares war on the Shawnees and Delawares. Pa builds
forts along the borderl
1758   Shawnees and Delawares sign peace with PA
1759  November  British gen Forges takes Ft Duquense and renames Ft Pitt
1762 British left in possession of all eastern america
1763 More indian wars
1765 Settlements made at Redstone (below Brownsville on th Monongahela) and
Turkey Foot.
1768   Pa purchases county from the indians as far west as the Allegheny and
Ohio Rivers
1769  The territory that formed Westmoreland County was purchased in 1768 by
the family of William Penn from the Six Nations and it was opened to settlers
in April 1769. PA opened a  land office in April 1769 and sold land.
1776 United States formed
1786 Region of SW  PA ( Ohio, Yohogania, and Monongalia)   previously under
the claim of Va is ceded to PA by a joint commission of two states.
1787  Pa becomes second state
1788  Allegheny Co established from Wash and Westmoreland Co

Initial settlers of SW PA came from Va and Maryland following Braddocks road
to Redstone Fort.  They were enticed by Ohio Company to settle and trade with
indians by early 1760's.  See "Virginia Certificates"


All of the above was found on the Westmoreland Co, Pa History website. Try
http://www.mcn.org/2/noel/Westmoreland/WestHistory.htm

Brock Robertson




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