Washington County And Township History
WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA. Opened for settlement in 1768. The evolution of Washington County is as follows: From 1750 to 1770 – Cumberland County; from 1771 to 1773 – Bedford County; from 1773 to 1781 – Westmoreland County; March 28, 1781 – Washington County. Prior to 1781, Virginia also claimed Southwestern Pennsylvania. Virginia created the District of West Augusta and divided what is known as Washington County in to three counties. Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio. Researchers looking for history prior to 1781 should consider Augusta County, Virginia records. Yohogania County, Virginia, records are in Washington Co., Pennsylvania, intermingled with Pennsylvania records in the earliest dockets; Monongalia County, Virginia, records (pre-1796 were lost in fire) are in Morgantown, West Virginia; Ohio County, Virginia, are in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia.
Originally, 13 townships were formed July 1, 1781 (p. 228 Crumrine; p. 459 Forrest, vol. 1). Amwell, Bethelhem, Cecil, Cumberland (to Greene County in 1796), Donegal, Fallowfield, Hopewell, Morgan (to Greene County in 1796), Nottingham, Peters, Robinson, Smith, Strabane.
TOWNSHIP FORMATION FROM ORIGINAL 13 WASHINGTON COUNTY TOWNSHIPS
Allen August 1852 from Fallowfield and E. Pike Run
Blaine November 4, 1894, from Buffalo
Buffalo May 8, 1799, from Donegal
Canton June 10, 1791, from Chartiers, Hopewell, Morris, Strabane
Carroll September 30, 1834, from Fallowfield, Nottingham
Chartiers March 23, 1790, from Cecil
Cross Creek December 10, 17889 from Hopewell
East Bethlehem January 8, 1790, from Bethlehem
East Finley December 24, 1828, from Finley
East Pike Run March 9, 1839-1843(?) from Pike Run
Finley May 6, 1788, from Donegal
Franklin August 13, 1855, from Canton, Morris
Hanover March 11, 1786 from Smith
Independence February 1856 from Hopewell
Jefferson June 16, 1853 from Cross Creek
Morris March 13, 1788, from Amwell
Mount Pleasant May 12, 1806 from Smith, Cecil, Hopewell, Canton
North Bethlehem 1921 from West Bethlehem
North Franklin February 8, 1892, from Franklin
North Strabane May 2, 1831, from Strabane
Pike Run April 1792
Somerset 1782 from Fallowfield
South Franklin February 8, 1892, from Franklin
South Strabane May 2, 1831, from Strabane
Union March 31, 1835, from Peters, Nottingham
West Bethlehem January 8, 1790, from Bethlehem
West Finley December 24, 1828 from Finley
West Pike Run March 9, 1839, from Pike Run
Compiled from McFarland 1910 and Crumrine 1882. The Genealogical Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania grants permission to photocopy this material only if photocopied in its entirety. ©1999 GSSWPA All Rights Reserved.
IMPORTANT EVENTS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY BEFORE 1800
by Raymond Martin Bell
1769
Land office opened for applications
1771
Bedford County formed
David Hoge bought town of Washington land
1773
Westmoreland County formed from Bedford
First Baptist ministers
1774
Dunmore's War against the Indians
1775
West Augusta District of Virginia formed, including present Washington County
1776
Yohogania, Monongalia and Ohio Counties formed from West Augusta
Pennsylvania land office closed.
1777
Council of War at Catfish Camp (Washington)
Militia organized - Oath of Allegiance required
Indian attacks begin
1778
First Presbyterian ministers
1779
Virginia issues land certificates
1780
Virginia makes land surveys
1781
Washington County formed from Westmoreland, includes present Washington, Greene and southern Allegheny
Virginia jurisdiction ends
Town of Washington laid out
1782
Last Indian attack at Rice's Fort
Registration of slaves required
Petition for new state circulated
First tax list: 2,914 taxables
1783
3,315 taxables; 2,217 houses; 16,399 inhabitants (402) black)
1784
Land office reopened
First Methodist ministers
Boundary of southwestern Pennsylvania made permanent
1785
First Society of Friends in county
1787
Washington Academy chartered
First courthouse built
1788
Allegheny County formed from Washington
First Lutheran-Reformed Church in county
Registration of slave children required
1789
First Episcopal Church in county
1790
Federal Census (including Greene) - 23,866 persons; 3,965 heads of families
1791
Second courthouse built
1793
3,917 taxables
1794
Canonsburg Academy chartered
Whiskey Insurrection
1795
Markethouse in Washington
First newspaper, Western Telegraph
1796
Greene County formed from Washington
First postmaster
1798
Federal window tax - 3,258 houses - 709 over $100
For more information, see Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, 1882
The Genealogical Society of Southwestern Pennsylvania thanks Raymond Martin Bell for permission to use his writing.
(c) 1999 GSSWPA All Rights Reserved.