The Colonial History to the War of the Revolution

In the summer of 1758, Brig.-Gen. John Forbes, as before stated, with three hundred and fifty Royal Americans, twelve hundred (thirteen companies) of Montgomery's Highlanders, twenty-six hundred Virginians, and twenty-seven hundred Pennsylvania Provincials, besides a thousand wagoners,¹ set out from Philadelphia intending the reduction of Fort Du Quesne. Capt. John Hasslet, of New Castle County, recruited a company on the Delaware River, and the roll shows that Chester County contributed at least the following persons to the ranks² of this organization:

² Penna. Archives, 2d series, vol. ii. p. 551.

Peter Allen, enlisted May 7, born in Chester Co., aged 22, and by occupation a saddler.
William Beggs, enlisted May 6, born in Chester Co., aged 40.
James Brieslin, enlisted May 12, born in Chester Co., aged 17.
Edward Gallagher, enlisted May 12, born in Chester Oo., aged 17.
Thomas Harvey, enlisted May 12, born in Chester Co., aged 17.
John McAfee, enlisted May 8, born in Chester Co., aged 21, and by occupation a laborer.
James Thomas, enlisted May 8, born in Chester Co., aged 22, and by occupation a laborer.
Samuel White, enlisted May 10, born in Chester Co., aged 26.

In the same month and year Capt. John Singleton enlisted a company of soldiers for Forbes' expedition. The list of that organization shows that the following men were certainly from Chester County, and probably the number from this locality was greater than here represented:³

William Henry, aged 22, resident of Chester, Pa., drummer.
Samuel Armitage, aged 27, resident of Chester, Pa.
William Bevard, aged 28, resident of Chester, Pa., weaver.
Thomas Callican, aged 20, resident of Chester, Pa.
Thomas Connolly, aged 17, resident of Chester, Pa.
John Cross, aged 25, resident in Chester, Pa., cordwainer, "pock-pitt'd," "stout made."
John Cruthers, aged 16, resident of Chester, Pa.
Hugh Davis, aged 20, resident of Chester, Pa., smith.
Willian Foster, aged 25, resident of Chester, Pa.
William Kennedy, aged 25, resident of Chester, Pa., weaver.
John Long, aged 24, resident of Chester, Pa.
Edward McSorley, aged 22, resident of Chester, Pa.
Terence Kealy, aged 35, residing in Chester, Pa., "pock-pitt'd."
John Richeson, aged 27, residing in Chester, Pa., "cocke nose and smooth faced."
Patrick Roe, aged 22, residing in Chester, Pa., "bold looking."
John Shannon, aged 23, residing in Chester, Pa., chandler, "Irishman."
Edward Sheppard, aged 21, residing in Chester, Pa., "red hair and thin visaged."
David Way, aged 24, residing in Chester, Pa., tanner.
Coupland David.

Besides these organizations there was a company of Pennsylvania Rifles under Capt. West, an elder brother of Benjamin West, the painter,⁴ who was present with his command when, on Nov. 25, 1758, the standard of Great Britain floated over the blackened and charred remains of the Fortress Du Quesne, and when the general, who had sworn the day previous to carry the works or leave his body beneath its walls, christened the heap of ruins Fort Pitt. The army having retraced its steps, the government the following year determined to rebuild the dismantled fortification, or to erect a new one on its site. Brig.-Gen. John Stanwick was placed in charge of this expedition, he having, on the death of Gen. Forbes, succeeded to the command. Troops were ordered to be enlisted, and on May 4, 1759, Gen. Stanwick gave notice that a number of wagons would be required, and in order to avoid the impressment of horses or wagons, a certain rate of compensation had been fixed by the authorities, which would be paid to those persons who would willingly furnish teams. From the county of Chester sixty-four wagons and four times as many horses were required.⁵ In the same locality a number of men enlisted, and doubtless the whole company recruited by Capt. John Mather, Jr.,⁶ was credited to Chester County, because Mather himself was a resident of the borough of Chester, and the following men certainly resided in that neighborhood:

⁶ Ib., 2d series, vol. ii. p. 588.

John Gorsel, aged 16, of Chester. Pa., enlisted June 8, 1759, laborer.
Evan Jones, aged 38, of Chester, Pa., enlisted May 27, 1759, laborer.
Jacob Kirgan, aged 19, of Chester, Pa., enlisted May 27, 1759, weaver.
Hugh Wallace, aged 17, of Chester, Pa., enlisted June 12, 1759, shoemaker.

In Capt. Robert Boyd's company appear the following persons who were undoubtedly residents of Chester County:

James Campbell, aged 22, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted June 13, laborer.
James Darragh, aged 20, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 11, laborer.
Samuel Fillson, aged 18, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted June 6, tailor.
James Hamilton, aged 21, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 21, laborer.
George Matthews, aged 18, resides in Cbester, Pa., enlisted June 2, laborer.
Robert Sandford, aged 23, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 25, laborer.
John Small, aged 22, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 1, laborer.
John Travers, aged 20, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 14, tailor.
John Willson, aged 20, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 7, tailor.

In Capt. James Armstrong's company from Chester County were:

William Moore, aged 17, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 9, hatter by trade.
James Parr, aged 16, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted May 9, laborer.

In Capt. Jacob Richardson's, company, Third Battalion provincial service, under command of Governor William Denny, appears the following:

William Cassiday, aged 21, resides in Chester, Pa., enlisted Aug. 20, carpenter.

These are all the persons which can absolutely be designated as belonging to Chester County, but the