Aug. 27, 1776, paroled December, 1776, resided in Bedford county in 1813; Patrick Fitzgerald, Samuel Evans, Thomas Johnston, Jacob Hirsh. Drummer: William Lever, missing since Aug. 27, 1776. Privates: Ephraim Allen, Richard Allen, Henry Armstrong, Hugh Barkley, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Hezekiah Biddle, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; George Biddleson, Thomas Bradley; William Bradley, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Solomon Brown; Peter Carmichael, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; James Clark, George Clements, John Conrey, Michael Corwin; Samuel Crossan, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; James Dailey, Jeremiah Dawson; Peter Devlin, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Dougherty; Timothy Dreiskel, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Alexander Duke, James Evans; Samuel Fox, promoted sergeant; William Fitzgerald, dis. Oct. 18, 1776; Adam Growss, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Hagerty, John Harris; Jacob Hirsh, promoted sergeant; Alexander Henderson, Hugh Henry; Alexander Holmes, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Robert Huston, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Thomas Johnston, promoted sergeant; Joshua Jones, James Kelly; James Lever, killed at Staten Island, July 26, 1776; Conrad Ludwick, Daniel Maguire; John Mallon, wounded by accident Aug. 12, 1776; Solomon Marshall, Daniel McIntire; John McGregor, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Michael McKittrick; Christy McMichael, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; John Mier, Aug. 4, 1776; William Moore, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; George Morris; Jonathan Nesbit, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Tobias Penrod, Job Riley; Richard Roberts, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Jacob Rush, Miles Ryan; Nathaniel Scott, missing since Aug. 27, 1776; Samuel Skinner, Philip Shaver; John Smith, Jr., dis. Sept. 1, 1776; John Smith, Sr.; Degory Sparks, missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776; Isaac Sparsell, Thomas Stanton; James Steed, dis. July 11, 1776, returned Aug. 23, 1776, re-enlisted at Hancock, Md., in the 13th Pa.; Thomas Stockton; Robert Stokes, missing since the battle, Aug. 27, 1776; Richard Tull, Isaac Vanasdale, Albert Vorris, Mark Welsh. The situation in the east was critical, and of this the Indians were taking advantage by committing all kinds of depredations among the pioneers and their families in the frontier counties. The pioneers became discouraged; they were not strong enough to repel their enemies and, the government seeming unable to give them the protection to which they were entitled, many of them left and took up their homes in more settled communities. Under these conditions on July 15, 1776, congress authorized the organization of the Eighth Regiment of the Pennsyl vania Line for the defense of the frontier, especially at Presque Isle, Le Boeuf and Kittanning. The regiment consisted of seven companies from Westmoreland county and Captain Mann's company from Bedford. The muster roll of this company cannot be found. However, the men did good service at Kittanning and then marched in midwinter to New Jersey, where they joined Washington's army, many of them having died on the way from exposure and lack of medical supplies. The company participated in the battles of Germantown and Brandywine, and was then ordered to march to Pittsburg, where it became a part of General McIntosh's command, and took an active part in the Indian warfare. In 1779 it was a part of General Brodhead's expedition up the Allegheny river, helping to defeat the Indians and destroy their villages, but at the expiration of its term of service, the company was discharged at Pittsburg. Robert Aiken and Abraham Faith, who were living in Somerset county as late as 1825, were members of Captain Mann's company, as were also Joseph Hancock, who resided in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1834; Jacob Justice in Bedford county, in 1820; Allen McComb in Indiana county, in 1810; James Mitchell in Somerset county, in 1810, and Philip Wolf in Bedford county, in 1790. CAPTAIN JACOB HENDERSHOT'S COMPANY, 1777. A Role of the officers and privates out of the 1st Battalion of Bedford County, who Marched to Camp under the command of Capt. Jacob Hendershot & Enroled 9th January & Discharged 10th March & Allowed pay untill the 25th March, 1777. Captain: Jacob Hendershot. Lieutenant: Frederick Storts. Sergeant: Francis Shives. Corporal: William Steed. Privates: William Andrews, Abraham Clavinger, John Coombs, George Enslow, Adam Hersler, Jacob Hart, Evan Jenkins, Nelson Jolly, Thomas Mitchell, John Peck, Richard Pittman, William Pittman, John Rush, John Slaughter, John Will- · iams. Officers who marched with the Company: Lieut. Col. John Graham; Major Edward Coombs, Major John Cessna; Captain Obadiah Stillwell; Lieut. Moses Reed, Lieut. John Stillwell; Ensign Stillwell Troax. Lieutenant Levi Linn with Capt. Paxton; Private Cornelius Troax with Capt. Paxton, and Private Joseph Troax, who died in the service, February 15, 1777, also with Capt. Paxton. These officers marched with the company as volunteers and as privates, receiving the same pay and subsistence as they. CAPTAIN JOHN BOYD'S RANGEING COMPANY, 1781. Recruited in Bedford County. John Boyd, captain, late of the Third Pennsylvania regiment; Richard Johnston, lieutenant. Sergeants: Robert Atkins, Henry Dugan, Florence Grimes, David Beates, William Ward. Privates: William Alligane, Stephen Archer, Isaac Arthur, John Arthur, Moses Bernan, Abraham Bodle, Joshua Burton, Daniel Covert, John Conrad, Richard Corps, Jacob Creviston, John Crossin, Ludwig Curtz, John Downey, Sr., John Downey, Jr, William Decker, Benjamin Frazier, Marshall Galloway, Daniel Glovert, James Grimes, John Grimes, James Hall, Samuel Haslett, George Jones, William Jones, Samuel Kennedy, Felix McKinney, Joseph Martin, Samuel Moore, Michael Nicholas, James Paxton, Henry Simons, Solomon Sparks, John Thomas, William Tucker and John Whiteacre. Captain Boyd's company were assigned to scout the forests and guard the settlements from surprise and attacks by hostile Indians. Captain Solomon Adams in 1781 had charge of a company of Rangers who were located somewhere in Brothers Valley, most likely in the vicinity of Johnstown, where he made his home. His company belonged to the Third Battalion of the Bedford County Militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Barnard Dougherty, and of which John Woods was major. The battalion was divided into eight companies thus: First company, commanded by Oliver Drake; second, by Christopher Bridgely; third, by George Hostadler; fourth, by Samuel Moore; fifth, by Peter Ankeny; sixth, by Solomon Adams; seventh, by William McCall; eighth, by Philip Cable. These assignments bear date of 20th April, Ano dom. 1781." There was another company of Bedford township of which Solomon Adams was chosen captain. On September 29, 1781, the sub-lieutenant for Bedford county directed that an election be held to select officers, the result of which was: Solomon Adams, captain; Allen McComb, lieutenant, and William Clark, Jr., ensign. The judges of the election were Arthur McCaughey and James Fletcher; inspector, John McCaughey. In addition to Felix Skelly, mentioned elsewhere, there were in 1840 several Revolutionary War soldiers residing in Cambria county, namely: Ludwig Wissinger, aged 84; George Lucas, aged 90; Plinn Hayes, aged 88; John Plott, aged 85; Gottfried Settlemyer, aged 88; and Samuel Cole, aged 79. Richard Nagle also resided in Allegheny township, and in 1844 a Martin Rager assisted in celebrating the Fourth of July in Johnstown. MASON AND DIXON'S LINE. In view of the importance of this line being the boundary line between the Free and Slave States, frequently cited prior to the Civil war, and occasionally at this time, it becomes a part of our local history, inasmuch as the territory through which the line was run in this locality was Cumberland county. The contention arose between the successors of William Penn and Cecilius Calvert, Lord of Baltimore, over the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. In 1732 they agreed upon the line to the western boundary line of what is now Franklin county. In 1760 the frontier border had so advanced that the dispute became important, and efforts were made to have it located by commissioners of the two provinces, but after a delay of three years Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, eminent surveyors of London, were employed to run the line. They immediately came to this country and commenced work, but it took almost two years to prepare the preliminary work. In the spring of 1766 they began again, and by June 4th had reached the top of the Allegheny mountains, at the point where Bedford and Somerset counties join, on the border line with Maryland. On account of the Indian troubles nothing more was done until June, 1767, when these eminent surveyors started again, accompanied by a party of Indians from the Six Nations to protect them from the hostile Delawares and Shawnees. The point where General Braddock crossed the Maryland line into what is now Somerset county was reached August 24th, 1767, but there the Iroquois escort left them. Mason and Dixon continued their survey to a point beyond the Monongahela river, when the actions of the Shawnees and Delawares became so vicious they were compelled to abandon the work and returned to Philadelphia, where they were honorably discharged on December 26, 1767, after four years' service. During that time the Penns paid them thirty-four thousand two hundred pounds for their share of the expenses. About 1782 the line was completed by other parties. The stone monuments used in marking this line bore the letter "P" on one side, and on the other "M," and were brought from England by Mason and Dixon. These stones were one foot square, with a height of four and a half feet, and the weight of each was five hundred pounds. In 1901 and 1903 the two states had the line re-surveyed, and finding many of the stone markers missing, a search was made. One was discovered doing duty as a door step; another in a bake oven, and two in the foundation for a church. Wherever it was possible the old markers were put back, even if broken, and, laid in cement, were made as permanent as possible. The new monuments are of marble. There have been two or three re-surveys of this famous line, but notwithstanding the great improvements in instruments and the progress of civilization from Indian warfare to peace, the line as originally run was found practically true at every point. The contention which caused this outbreak of the people of Washington county, and even extended mildly into Quemahoning township, was the excise tax on whiskey. The great Alexander Hamilton had suggested to congress the wisdom and justice of making a levy of four pence per gallon on all distilled liquors manufactured in the country, and on March 3, 1791, such an act was adopted. This tax was properly acknowledged as a just law everywhere except in southern Pennsylvania, where all distillers became violent and refused to pay it. Their neighbors seem to have sympathized with them, and to some extent joined the force of resistance. At that time there were several distilleries in Quemahoning township, of which the owners were: Christian Hipple, Philip Kimmel, Sr., Christian Levenstone, William McDermott and Michael Mowry. The government and state administration used all the conciliatory efforts which were possible to prevent an outbreak, and were very lenient with the offenders permitting the time to pass until 1794, when an army was sent to put it down. The resisting parties hoisted flags with such inscriptions as, "Death to Traitors," "Liberty and No Excise," "Equal Taxation and No Excise," and "No Asylum for Traitors and Cowards." President Washington and Governor Mifflin directed the enrollment of 5,200 soldiers from Pennsylvania, and 7,750 from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Washington appointed General Henry Lee, then governor of Virginia, commander-in |