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Fort McIntosh was the place where Pennsylvania arranged with the Indians for the last payment of land. It was the end of a long story starting with William Penn's first settlement on the Delaware and ending in the present town of Beaver near the western boundary William Penn had been given title by the king of England but it was his policy to buy the land from the Indians, as settlements spread in successive waves westward. After his death, his policy was continued by the proprietary government. Whether value was given for value received will always be a moot question. Much can be said on both sides. One consideration is whether the Indians doing the selling were themselves the owners.
The last purchase by the proprietary government was in 1768. It included that part of Beaver County which lies south of the Ohio River. The part north of the river was sometimes called Indian Lands, but more frequently Northwest Territory. At that time Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania all considered that they had claims which must eventually be honored. So did, for that matter other eastern colonies, who said that their rights were from sea to sea. After the Revolutionary War, it became imperative to settle boundary lines once and for all if possible.
At that time the new state of Pennsylvania had more than its share of problems. There was the matter of the lands still claimed by the Penns. That was eventually settled after tedious negotiation. Money was at an all time low. And what passed for money fluctuated in value every day. Somehow, though, the certificates given the soldiers, instead of money, must be redeemed.
A happy thought was to extend the western
boundary beyond the Ohio and let the soldiers have this new land
in redemption of their certificates. It was in time divided into
two parcels: Depreciation Lands
(so-called because the certificates depreciated in value) and
the Donation Lands (given outright for service especially to officers).
If this area were settled mostly by men who had seen military
service and became a buffer against the Indians, the British,
the French, the Spanish, it would be so much the better.
Consistently all purchases of land had been negotiated with the Six Nations of northeastern Pennsylvania and New York. So was what was intended to be the final one at Fort Stanwix, in New York State, in 1784? This purchase, for $5,000.00, was to establish the new boundary as it stands today.
But they reckoned without the Indians on the Ohio, who were an assortment of young blades from the Six Nations, from the lake areas to the north, and from the south. They were not one cohesive group; they had little semblance of permanent loyalties; in fact, as time went on, they became more and more troublesome. But in this matter of land sale of what they considered "their land", they united in protest that they had not even been present at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, nor had they received any of the money.
Therefore, the representatives of Pennsylvania, and of the United States government, who had negotiated the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, including the sale of the land to the present western boundary of Pennsylvania, decided it would be the least troublesome in the long run to negotiate another buying of the same land. Accordingly, a meeting was held with the Indians at Fort McIntosh, on January 21, 1785. The same land was again bought, this time for the sum of $2,000.00. A most interesting feature of this "Treaty" is the signature of the Indians, which could constitute a study in itself, of who they were, and from where they came.
In the midst of establishing the new boundary and surveying Depreciation and Donation lands, the state reserved 3000 acres "on the Ohio and on both sides of the mouth of the Beaver Creek, including Fort McIntosh ... to the use of the state".
In the later laying out of the town of Beaver, four squares were reserved in the center for public use. At the same time four other squares on the four corners of the outside boundary lines around the town were marked off for the same purpose.
The four center squares were named: the GIBSON SQUARE in honor of John Gibson, for a time a commandant at Fort McIntosh; HARMAR SQUARE, for Josiah Harmar, also at Fort McIntosh; IRVINE SQUARE, for General William Irvine in command of the Western Department, including Fort McIntosh; and McINTOSH SQUARE, for General Lachlin McIntosh, for whom the fort was named. The court house is situated on one of these squares.
The outlying squares were named: BRODHEAD, WAYNE, BOUQUET, and CLARK, whose names should certainly be familiar to Western Pennsylvania. The story of these 3000 acres, if it could be followed from the original grant to the present day, would run into more than one volume, but it would at the same time encompass or weave through much of the early colorful history of BeaverTown and of the surrounding country.
BEAVER Town was colorful, from the earliest days. In 1807, Mr. F. Cummings made a trip by small boat down the Ohio to Beaver Town. The following is part of his description as of that time:
It stands ... on the top of a high cliff, which concealed it from the river, and contains about thirty ... houses, much scattered on three parallel streets. There is a stone gaol not quite finished ... The inhabitants not finding water at a convenient depth, have, in preference to digging very deep wells, led it by wooded pipes from a hill near a mile from town, and have placed fountains in the streets at convenient distances.
We were shown the site of Fort McIntosh, of which no vestige remains except the hearth of the officers' fireplace. It is on the edge of the cliff, commanding the river ... The neighboring high situation ... was probably preferred on account of the salubrity of the air.
On entering Beaver, we refreshed ourselves with six cents worth of whiskey and water at General Lacock's tavern. He is one of the representatives of the assembly of the state, and has considerable influence and abilities.
I had heard him in the house of representatives when I was in Lancaster in the winter, and was much entertained by his wit and humor. We had not the pleasure of seeing the general now, and proceeded from his house to Mr. Wilsons, one of the best in the place...
Mrs. Wilson, a very pretty woman, told us that her husband was absent in Philadelphia. We left our names, walked across the street to Hemphill's tavern, got some information respecting the country, then returned by boat.
In the year 1808, a Pittsburgh newspaper published by General Lacock's son-in-law, carried the following account of a Fourth of July celebration in Beaver. Notice particularly, very particularly, the wording of the various toasts.
The Fourth of July, the anniversary of our independence,. was celebrated by a large number of the democratic republicans of Beaver Town and its vicinity ... The Declaration of Independence was read and an appropriate address delivered by Gen. Abner Lacock, when the company sat down to a neat and sumptous dinner provided for the occasion, after which they were honored with the presence of Captain Boon's rifle company, and Captain Davidson's militia. The following toasts were drunk with unanimity and glee accompanied with discharges of small arms.
By Thomas Henry-"The mechanics of the United States: may they ever possess our democratic principles."
By Robert Moore-"Neutral commerce, unrestricted by British orders of council or French decrees."
By John Lawrence-"May the miscreant who espouses the British government, or the administration of it, in preference to that of the United States, be despised by all honest democrats and honoured with a cost of tar and feathers."
By John Wolfe Sr.-"May the standard of liberty and equality flourish in every clime."
By Robert Darragh-"May the despotic arm extended to molest the flag of neutrals, be forever blasted."
By William Smith-(After Gen. Lacock retired) "General Abner Lacock, the orator of the day: "May his talents long be employed in the cause of liberty and the rights of man, to confusion of federalists, tories, and apostate wings."
Today the location of the county seat at Beaver Town is a happy one: It is convenient to all parts of the county. It is rich in history. It is apart from the spreading manufacturing areas. The lovely old buildings may be used for cultural activities as they become available. One hopes that very soon historical markers will identify many of them and that an effort will be made to retain and enhance the natural charm, as well as the historical significance, of this century and a half old county seat on the western boundary of Pennsylvania.