Early History of Franklin Township,
Greene County, PA
- Transcribed by Debbie Ovechka
As early as 1771, or before, this area was being cleared for habitation by the white man. It was entered by following Ten Mile Creek from the Monongahela River, at Millsboro, upstream by way of Clarksville, and by the south fork it was followed up through the present village of Jefferson to Waynesburg.
The earliest records would indicate that a man by the name of Hendricks was one of the first, if not the first, to clear a place in this immediate area. This fact is mentioned in our local history and further authenticated by a Bill of Sale found in Deed Book Vol. 1, page 25, at our local court house. This time bears the date of August 17, 1773, but was not recorded until years later. The bill of sale reveals that in the year 1771 Thomas Smith sent his son, Ralph Smith, from his home in Baltimore County, Maryland, to purchase for his father a tract, or tracts, of land on or near the Monongahela River. This son, Ralph, purchased a tract from Richard Jackson, on Jackson's Creek; this land was described as situated on the south side of William's Run and adjoining land known as Hendricks Place. The transaction from Jackson to Smith was dated December, 1772, and about the same time Ralph Smith had bought another tract from Winsor Pipes. The date from 1773, mentioned above, was when son Ralph Smith, returned the land to his father, who had in the meantime paid for the land and given it to him. Upon the death of Thomas Smith, Sr., in Harford County, Maryland, he had left the land here (above mentioned) to his sons, Hugh, John and Thomas Jr.
Traditionally one of the most fierce battles ever fought in this area was the Battle of Ten Mile Creek which took place just west of Waynesburg, near the old Adamson Place; the year was 1774. During this same year the settlers having previously sought refuge elsewhere, commenced erection of Jackson's Fort. The site of this fort was in the immediate area of the present Nazarene Church. Dates' history of Greene County states that it was near the bluff of Ten Mile Creek, just directly south of Hooks Town, now East Waynesburg. The remains were yet visible in 1888. At first this was a single cabin and later each family wishing to take refuge there had his own cabin. These cabins formed a hollow square and enclosed an acre, or more of ground. Between the cabins were palisades 10 or 12 feet high, supplied with post holes. The doors of the cabins opened within the enclosure and the center area was a place of common usage. The outside of the cabins had neither windows nor doors except some look-outs in the upper part; it had but on entrance.
There are many interesting stories connected with the use of this fort. One of the most notable was the death of Matthew Gray, whose son was born within the fort. Another concerned Thomas Slater who was friendly with the Indians and entertained them in his home at times. On one occasion when he found it advisable to take refuge at the fort he left his home, which was only a short distance east of the fort, and had almost entered the enclosure when he realized he had forgotten his gun. He called to his daughters, Sallie and Nellie, to bring it. This they did, entering the fort amid flights of arrows from Duvall's Hill. One of the girls later remarked that it seemed like she flew to the fort. Sallie Slater later married Israel White during one of the times they sought refuge in the fort. Nellie Slater married John Pipes, nephew of Winsor Pipes who was here much earlier as mentioned heretofore.
The Archer Family came here about 1774 and were residing in a home with the McClelland Family, below the old double bridge in Morrisville when most of both families were massacred by the Indians.
In the summer of 1774 Thomas Smith, Arthur Inghram, Thomas Kent, Billy Lafferty and others, probably including William Inghram and Robert Gorrell, came from their homes in Maryland and planted a crop of corn. This was the custom at that time, to show a claim to land. About 1776, or before, some, if not all, of them returned to this area as permanent residents. Thomas Smith made his home on what is yet known as Smith Creek; Robert Gorrell, his brother-in-law, lived just south of him, on a tract of land which he titled "Shadow of Death" he later removed to Tyler County, West Virginia. Arthur Inghram settled east of the Smith Family; Thomas Kent first took up residence in the West Waynesburg area, but soon moved over to the Smith Creek area where he built a large log house.
Franklin Township was formed in 1787, named for Benjamin Franklin; it is drained by South Ten Mile Creek and its tributaries. Smith Creek drains the south western section. Upon the formation of Greene County, the town of Waynesburg was selected as the county seat. On October 28, 1796 Thomas Slater and his wife sold 158 acres of land upon which the town was to be laid out and a court house and jail erected thereon. The original court house was log and was used for four years. The second was of brick and was in use some fifty years; the present one has been in use since.
Lots were sold to help defray the costs. The original layout of the town was bounded by the commons on the North; Water Street on the South; West Street on the West and East Street on the East. [Source: The Greene Hills Echo, Published by the Green County Historical Society, 1974]