FOWLER and GARCIA Family Trees:Information about John Sr CARNAHAN
Senior John Sr CARNAHAN (b. 16 Nov 1720, d. 14 May 1778)
Notes for John Sr CARNAHAN:
(According to www.worldconnect.com) John CARNAHAN, was one of the early settlers of Bell Township, where he built a log house in 1774.In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Kiski Valley was still the gateway to Indian Country and the north end of our river valley was the key Indian escape route for raids in the Greensburg area. John CARNAHAN was an early settler in what is now Bell Township, the central location where Indians would cross over the Kiski into the safety of the woodlands where settlers feared to trod. After many Indian attacks, CARNAHAN built a blockhouse that provided safety and protection from the various war-party raids.CARNAHAN's blockhouse was a shelter not only to he and his family, but also to many other families who lived then in modern-day Bell Township. Read more interesting history by clicking on “Our Local Heritage” at: http://www.kiskivalley.com.
http://alle-kiskitoday.com/newsletter/379
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION TO LOCATE THE SITE OF THE FRONTIER FORTS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
VOLUME TWO.
CLARENCE M. BUSCH.
STATE PRINTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1896.
THE FRONTIER FORTS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
Pages 332-357.
CARNAHAN'S BLOCKHOUSE.
Mention is frequently made of CARNAHAN's Blockhouse, especially during the latter part of the Revolution, although it was in existence much earlier. This blockhouse was erected on the land of Adam CARNAHAN and the tract of land is now known as the William MCCAULEY farm, from the name of its late owner, in Bell township, a short distance northeast of Perryville, about two miles from the Kiskiminetas river. This point was near eleven miles northwest of Hannastown.Not far from this locality is the place known as Old Town, otherwise Kiskiminetas Old Town, in ancient times an Indian village.
It was within the limits of what is now Westmoreland, and at that time on the frontier. The earliest mention of it indicates that it was a conspicuous place in the neighborhood. Dr. Lyman C. DRAPER, who collected much early history from personal interviews with those who could give him direct and positive information, devoted much time with the patience and persistency of a confirmed antiquary to the object of securing his material at first hands. His collection of facts and statements on the subject of the Indian wars of this frontier was made about the year 1846, he intending to use this data in a History of the Pioneers. His manuscripts, a voluminous bulk not yet properly arranged or indexed, are in the possession of the Wisconsin Historical Society, and are designated "The DRAPER MSS." From them, by the courtesy of the Hon. Reuben G. THWAITES, Librarian, we extract the following:
"Adam CARNAHAN's Blockhouse was located about a mile south of the Kiskiminetas, and about six miles below the mouth of the Conemaugh. A party of six or seven men, my informant [James CHAMBERS] one of the number, were in August, 1777, engaged in reaping oats six miles from CARNAHAN's, and one of the men had taken his gun and wounded a deer, and while hunting for it in the woods adjoining the oat held he discovered an Indian and signs of others. He immediately gave notice to the reapers, and they thought it prudent to leave and notify the people; took the guns which they had with them, and went to John MCKIBBEN'S where Fort Hand was made the ensuing winter and where several families had collected for safety in MCKIBBEN'S large log house. The intelligence was sent to CARNAHAN's. Next day, which was Saturday, a party went out from MCKIBBEN's to scout, and in the neighborhood of the oat field found the signs plenty, and the spot near the field where the Indians had the day before secreted themselves. That day the Indians plundered several cabins—Mr. CHAMBERS for one—which had been deserted by the occupant and property left behind. That afternoon Robert TAYLOR and David CARNAHAN went from CARNAHAN's Blockhouse to MCKIBBEN's to learn what intelligence they could of the Indians, and when they were returning and had nearly reached the blockhouse they espied several Indians some distance from them making for CARNAHAN's—and the two men dashed there in great haste, got there a few minutes before the Indians, and had the doors made fast, etc. It was now towards night. The Indians proved to be fourteen in number. There were but few men in the blockhouse, some being absent. John CARNAHAN opened the door and stepped out to get a good shot and was instantly shot and fell into the door. His body was dragged in and the door again fastened. The firing now briskly commenced and continued until dark, when the Indians decamped taking with them a couple of horses, probably to aid in carrying their wounded."
CARNAHAN's, as we have seen, became a regular station and a place of more importance after the garrison had been withdrawn from Fort Hand and placed along the line of the Allegheny river. Brodhead, Nov. 27th, 1779, (Archives XII, 193), ordering Lt. John JAMESON to evacuate Fort Armstrong, says that he can get some pack-horses to transport his stores if needed, from Captain [James] CARNAHAN's where these horses were under his care to recover flesh. James CARNAHAN—afterward called Colonel, and John CARNAHAN who was killed at the blockhouse, were sons of Adam CARNAHAN.
Col. Archibald LOCHRY's force, which was intended to join General CLARK and take part in his expedition against the Indians in the northwest, rendezvoused at CARNAHAN's Blockhouse 24 July 1781. From here, they left for Wheeling, but, on arriving there, they found that CLARK had gone twelve miles down the river, (from Wheeling the point at which they expected to join him,) leaving for them some provisions and a traveling boat, with directions to follow him thither. There were about 120 men of Westmoreland with LOCHRY. This force failing to join CLARK, who still continued to precede them, was decoyed into an ambush and cut off to a man—all being either killed or taken prisoners. Their terrible fate is one of the most distressing episodes in the history of Western Pennsylvania.
Col. Edward COOK, who had succeeded Col. LOCHRY as County Lieutenant, writes to General IRVINE, 08 Apr 1782, (Wash.-Irv. Cor, 323): "I must request you to furnish those militia with arms, such of them as want that article, likewise ammunition. It will be necessary to send those to CARNAHAN's blockhouse in order to scout toward LIGONIER, etc., where I expect they will be joined by a draft from the north side of the Youghiogheny."
On 18 Apr 1782, COOK writes to Irvine: "Last Thursday, the draft from the battalion in which I live (being the second) set out for their place of rendezvous at Widow Myres'. They consist of about fifty men. I cannot tell whether the other company at CARNAHAN's blockhouse is complete, but I have ordered Captain [Joseph] BECKETT, who commands this draft, to detach from his so as to make them complete. I have instructed him in the mode of defense agreeable to the arrangement. I furnished them with ammunition and expect they will obtain arms from those they relieve sufficient to equip them. Captain BECKETT will take the first opportunity to give you a return of those under his command. I was not at home when the drafts from the fourth or upper battalion went along being at court. I left orders for them to proceed to CARNAHAN's Blockhouse. Colonel [John] PUMROY of the first battalion [of Westmoreland county militia] is near Hannastown." (Id., 324.)
John CARNAHAN (said by the Carnahan family to have been a brother of James CARNAHAN and both sons of Adam CARNAHAN), "was killed just outside the blockhouse, and was buried not more than twenty rods from there, and the spot of ground has never been broken. The ground where he is buried is surrounded by timber." [MS. Mr. L. CARNAHAN, Sauna, Pa.]
Old Town:This was the site of an old Indian town, and was located on the banks of the Kiskiminetas opposite the present site of Saltsburg, Indiana, some distance below the junction of the Loyalhanna. It was on the path which was a fork of the Kittanning Path. In Conrad WEISER's Journal for 25 Aug 1778, is this entry—"Crossed Kiskeminetoes creek and came to Ohio [Allegheny] River that day." Mr. SMITH in his History of Armstrong, p. 157, commenting on this says: "The point where they crossed the Kiskiminetas must have been at the ford just below the mouth of CARNAHAN's (formerly Old Town) Run, having the latter name on Reading HOWELL's map, so called from Old Town, on the opposite or Westmoreland side of the river. That must have been the town mentioned in Post's Second Journal, for 11 Nov 1758. Traveling on the path from Loyalhanna he says: "Pisquetomen [a friendly Indian with him), led us upon a steep hill, that our horses could hardly get up; and Thomas HICKMAN's [another Indian with him] horse tumbled, and rolled down the hill like a wheel; on which he grew angry, and would go no further with us and said, he would go by himself. It happened we found a path on the top of the hill. At three o'clock we came to Kiskemeneco, an old Indian town, a rich bottom, well timbered, good fine English grass, well watered, and lays waste since the war began."
Mr. SMITH, thus, says further: "The writer infers that Kiskemeneco must have been Old Town, from which the first name of CARNAHAN's run was derived, and that Weiser and his party crossed the Kiskiminetas at the ford just below the mouth of that run. According to the recollection of Phillip MECHLING, who was, in his boyhood, familiar with the Kiskiminetas from Livermore to the Allegheny, that was the only ford between KELLY's, near Livermore, and the junction of those two rivers. In some old deeds, land about Leechburg is mentioned as being a mile or so below "Old Town."
On the meadow lands of this bottom the old and worn pack horses were sent to regain strength. This is sometimes mentioned in connection with CARNAHAN's Blockhouse and Old Town. (Arch. XII, 253, et seq.)
James CARNAHAN went out as second lieutenant with Captain Joseph ERWIN's Company, raised in Westmoreland, joined the PA Rifle Regiment, Col. Samuel MILES, at Marcus Hook. This company was subsequently included in the Thirteenth PA Regiment, then in the Second, and finally discharged at Valley Forge, 01 Jan 1778, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment. He was made first lieutenant, was missing since the battle, 27 Aug 1776.Upon release he reported to headquarters in Dec 1776 and served as a volunteer at Trenton and Princeton, promoted first lieutenant in Eighth PAon 15 Jan 1777. Was in command of the company 01 Mar 1777. His services on the frontier and at the various posts along the Allegheny river were continued until the end of the War.
More About John Sr CARNAHAN:
Immigration: 1731, Cape Henlopen, DE, USA.60
Children of John Sr CARNAHAN and Eleanor JACK are:
- +John Jr CARNAHAN, b. 1748, Armstrong, Westmoreland, PA, USA61, 61, d. 1809, Christian, KY, USA61, 61.
- James C CARNAHAN, b. 1753, Armstrong, Westmoreland, PA, USA61, d. 180061.
- Martha CARNAHAN, b. 175561.
- Elizabeth CARNAHAN, b. 14 Feb 1758, Lurgan, Cumberland, PA, USA61, d. 15 Jan 1792, Westmoreland, PA, USA61.
- Margaret Sophia CARNAHAN, b. 1762, Westmoreland, PA, USA61, d. 1804, Green, KY, USA61.
- Adam CARNAHAN, b. 1763, PA, USA61, d. 1801, Chillicothe, Ross, OH, USA61.
- William Thompson CARNAHAN, b. 01 Nov 1770, Dark, OH, USA61, d. 02 Feb 1838, Greenville, Darke, OH, USA61.
- Jane CARNAHAN, b. 1773, South Huntington, PA, USA61.
- Eleanor CARNAHAN, b. 11 Sep 1777, South Huntington, Westmoreland, PA, USA61, d. 24 Sep 1853, Utica, Vernango, PA, USA61.