Return to Milestones Vol. 3, No. 4
Montmorin was the first townsite to be surveyed in Beaver County. The lots were not sold, however, and the town never developed, probably due to the unsettled nature of the frontier in 1788. Bill Bowan's research places the townsite just south of Economy Village, in present day Ambridge.
Beavertown was laid out by Daniel Leet on the plain adjacent to Fort McIntosh in 1792, and the settlement of the north side of the Ohio had begun. The following description of Montmorin is from the Pennsylvania Gazette, March 12, 1788.
This town, laid out at the solicitation of several gentlemen is delightfully situated on the north bank of the Ohio River, on a beautiful plain that is not likely to be overflown, in a healthy and fertile country, about 18 miles below Fort Pitt, on the road to Ft. McIntosh in Westmoreland County, a city state of Pennsylvania and at the ancient settlement formerly called Logstown, which was abandoned previous to the peace of 1763, where an extra fine trade was carried on many years.
Montmorin commands an extra fine view of the river, the fall is equal to any on the Ohio, and abounds in coal; the navigation from thence down the river is superior to that from Ft. Pitt, as the water is at all seasons much deeper at this place and where provisions, boats etc. may in a little time be as well furnished. It is on the great communication route from the eastern and middle states to the Muskingum, Miami and Kentucky settlements; as well as the Illinois, Mississippi etc., and will probably become the new county seat. The great emigration to the western country render it a very central spot and afford a flattering prospect of its speedy establishment. The streets are spacious being all 66 feet wide; except Great George Washington, Hancock, and Clinton Streets, which are 99 feet in depth. The squares are divided into 20 lots from 44 to 47 feet and 220 feet in depth, and all the lots are accommodated with lanes five squares or 100 lots for public use and to accommodate schools and religious societies of every denomination. The town contains 740 lots, which will be numbered and arranged by draught to prevent any kind of preference, and to facilitate the settlement, they will be sold at the moderate price of TEN DOLLARS each, to be paid on the delivery of certificates of purchase. Those who buy ten town lots, will be entitled to a five acre out lot gratis. The appropriation of the lots will be made under the superintendance or direction of the honorable Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, General MuhJenbergh and Hickter (?) Matthew Clarkson and Richard Bache Esquires on or before the first of May; after which, on application, indisputable titles in fee simple, agreeably to the said appropriations, will be delivered gratis to the purchasers, their agents, or attorneys. Certificates for lots sold, and the plan of the town to be seen at the houses of Mr. Levy Hollingsworth, Mr. Mark Wilcox, Mr. Thomas Bradford and at the CoffeeHouse, Philadelphia. Mr. John Delafield, New York; General Heister Reading, John Hubley, Esq. Lancaster; Mr. Heckenwelder Bethlehem; Major - Craig, Fort Pitt; and Colonel Stephen Bayard, Elizabeth-town..
Isaac Melcher
Philadelphia, Sept. 1, 1787 --Colonel Bouquet's Expedition 1764 Friday, October 5. "In this day's march the army passed through Logstown situated seventeen and a half miles fifty seven perches, by the path from Fort Pitt. This place was noted before the last war, for the great trade carried on there by the English and French; but its inhabitants Shawanese and Delawares, abandoned it in the year 1750. The lower town extended about 60 perches over a rich bottom to the foot of a low steep ridge; on the summit of which, near the declivity stood the upper town, commanding amost agreeable prospect over the lower, and quite near the Ohio, which is about 500 yards wide here beyond Logstown we passed through a fine country etc."
Those who are desirous of further information respecting the soil and situation of Montmorin, are referred to Governor St. Clair, General Irvine, George Morgan and Matthew Clarkson, Esquires, or any other gentlemen acquainted in the western country.