|
a.
|
Note: Possibly a "United Irishman" who fled Ireland after the rebellion of 1798. Just a theory. Came to Erie and Venago Twp by way of Boston according to oral tradition.
History of Erie County, PA , Chicago, Warner, Beers & Co., 1884; Evansville, IN, Unigraphic 1976, V.1
P 420 - Appointed Erie County Treasurer in 1812 and 1817 by County Commissioners.
Venango Twp, Erie County
P 705 - County Treasurer, John Warren, 1817, elected from Erie, where he had moved.
P 705 - Listed as a taxable in 1800.
P 705 - John Warren, another of the earliest settlers, moved to Erie in 1810.
P 710 - The Middlebrook Church, the first house for religious worship in the county, stood about a mile and a half north of Lowville, along the Wattsburg and Northeast road, upon a tract of 2 acres deeded by John Warren to the congregation, to be held as long as used for church and cemetary purposes. The first services, held in 1801.
Erie History - Isaac Moorhead
P 196-197 Built the Duncan Tavern on the NE corner of Third & French. The original owner was George Buehler of Harrisburg. This is where Perry lived in 1812 war. Worked with John McElroy on this building. (Cummins lot?)
P 185 - speaks of John Warren's corner - northwest corner of the park and State St.
P 164 - Upon State was a brick dwelling house, sitting upon the seat at the door, with his lame foot crossed upon the other leg crutch in hand and white cravat about his neck, was Mr. John Warren, the owner of the house.
In the 1850 federal census, in addition to the surviving family members (Ann, William, John H., Josephine) are Jane, age 26 born PA, and William age 65 Born Ireland. In 1880 Federal census for John H. Warren indicates father born in Ireland.
Will Book B, #47, pages 192 - 194, Erie County, PA
Mentions wife Ann, Son William C, son John H., dau Josephine, brother William.
Executors: Wife Ann, James Hughs, David Kennedy
Recorded 21 Jun 1847
Estate #28946 vol 17 page 204 bk6? - extensive inventory and expense account (Jul 8 1851?) on microfilm
House & lot on 8th & Peach value $1,450
House & lot #1259 - 8th st value $2,500
Estate worth over $50,000 (CPI value of $1.5 M today)
$5 per month to go to brother William
VENANGO TOWNSHIP was one of the original 16 townships in the county, its name being derived from the name of the river as christened by the French, they striving thus to express the Indian word Innungah, which soon became Weningo, and then Venango. It lies in the Erie Triangle, its south line being a part of the old State Line. It is believed that William Miles and David Watts were the first white men to visit the township, when they came out in 1785 as surveyors; and returning in 1795 located 1,400 acres at the junction of the east and west branches of French Creek. Adam Reed came in 1796, who, with his son James, located 400 acres on the east branch, and a little later built the first grist mill in the township. Thomas Smith came the same year to Lowville, followed by Zalmon Tracy and Mr. Burrell. John and David Phillips took up 1,100 acres where Phillipsville is now, in 1797, and William Allison in 1798, came with his wife and son James to Lake Pleasant. Samuel Low with his brother-in-law, Dr. Wright, came in 1822 from Genesee County, N. Y. The Norcross and Davison families located west of the lake, later changed to Millcreek, as did John Warren who moved to Erie in 1810. In this township was built the first church building for Protestant worship in the county. It was a mile and a half north of Lowville on the Wattsburg and North East Road, on the top of a sightly hill. The services out of which it grew were held in August of 1801 in the woods on the east branch of French Creek on the Enos Mann farm. On the next Thursday all the able-bodied men and boys met, agreed upon a place which had been offered for a building site by John Warren, a young farmer of the neighborhood, and by night a sturdy log church had. been put up, which stood for a time when it was replaced by a larger and better log structure on the same site. Here grew up a burial ground which remains to this day. About 1828, when the Wattsburg Presbyterian Church had been built, services were discontinued here, most of the members going to Wattsburg. A replica of this old building was made from its old timbers, and was lately bequeathed to the Erie Public Museum by Laura G. Sanford, where it may be examined.
Land Sales Among those who took up large bodies of land at an early date were David Watts and William Miles, the first surveyors, who located 1,400 acres at Wattsburg, and 1,200 acres at Lake Pleasant, in 1796. Mr. Miles also purchased four tracts on the lake shore from the Population Company, on which he agreed to place settlers. Martin Strong, who came to the county in 1795, as a surveyor for the Holland Land Company, took up a large tract on the Ridge, in Waterford and Summit Townships. David McNair chose 800 acres of the Walnut Creek flats, at Kearsarge, besides other extensive tracts. He at one time owned some of the most valuable property in the county, including half of what is now South Erie. George Fisher, of Dauphin County, secured a vast body of land in Waterford and Washington Townships, and William Wallace, who was the first lawyer in the county, became possessor of numerous tracts in various townships. The inducement that caused the late Dr. W. A.Wallace to locate in Erie was to take charge of his father's estate. Many sales were made by the different companies between 1796 and 1799, and by 1800 a good share of the county had passed in to the hands of actual settlers, or persons who intended to become such.
The Speculation of 1836 The most extensive land speculation known in Erie County took place in 1836, being confined mainly to the borough of Erie and vicinity. It grew out of the important internal improvements conceived and set in operation about that time, added to a tremendous over-issue of paper money. The canal to Beaver had been surveyed, a charter had been granted for the railroad to Sunbury, and considerable work had been done by the United States Government in building piers and deepening the harbor. A widespread impression sprung up that Erie was speedily destined to become a great city. The charter of the United States Bank at Philadelphia expired in 1836. In the spring of that year, the State Legislature chartered the United States Bank of Pennsylvania with a capital of $35,000,000. This institution established a branch at Erie, erecting the present custom house and the Woodruff residence adjoining, for a banking office and cashier's residence. The stock of the Erie branch, amounting to $200,000, was announced as having been taken on the 27th of February, 1836. All of these matters combined gave an extraordinary impulse to real estate in the borough of Erie. On the receipt of tidings that the canal and bank bills had passed, the price of town lots jumped up 100 per cent. In a single week the sales of real estate amounted to over half a million dollars. Prices were still rising on the 1st of March, and the total sales during the week were reported as a million and a half in amount. One lot, purchased in February for $10,000, was resold in Buffalo within a month for $50,000. Every sort of wild enterprise was devised and found eager promoters. The speculation lasted until 1837, when the banks failed throughout the Union, causing a terrible revolution. As late as June 11 of that year, twelve water lots, of thirty-two feet front each, changed hands at $40,000. "The mania for speculation attacked all classes, and men bought and sold with almost wanton recklessness, finally bringing woe upon those in whose hands the property remained when the bubble burst. Some of the unfortunate persons never recovered from that catastrophe. Of course many profited by the speculation and got rich. On the whole, however, the general prosperity of the country, and of this county in particular, was severely retarded."
1836 - Quite a boom year until September when the banks failed. $20,000 is a tidy little sum, equal today to about $3,350,000. Many of the buyers were Eastern investors. He likely took a cash downpayment and a mortgage. Even if he was paid in full, the failure of the banks and depreciation of paper money wiped out many fortunes in a short space of time.
.
"at the time appointed nearly all were there, and Mr. Hunter then said: 'The Lord has been mindful of us in this wilderness and has sent us the pospel by the mouth of one of his servants, and we had no house to meet in, but heard it as you know, under the beech tree in the open air. Now if we wish to prosper while we build houses for ourselves, we must build one for God.' He had selected this spot as it was the center of the township. As the large hemlock tree which marked the center of the township stood in a swamp, a place entirely unsuitable for a church, a proposition was made by a young man whose name was John Warren, that if we would go a half or three quarters of a mile noth, he would give us a deed of two acres of land, upon which was a fine spring of water. This spot was selected, and that day brought forth the first log church in Venango Township, as well as the first church ediface in Erie County. This was the old Middlebrook Church, and an organization was affected there in 1802 with 18 members.
- Middlebrook (Upper Greenfield) Historical sketch by John Elmer Reed. Repository - Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, Pa
Deeds
NOTE: Erie Courthouse burned in 1823.
Vol C page 64 John Warren of Erie to Moses Brown dated 30 Aug 1814 recorded 28 Jan 1828
403 acres from Commonwealth of Pa to John Field, William Crammond, James Gibson in trust for the Pennsylvania Population Company on Aug 6, 1799
200 acres from the above to David Watts on May 3 1806
100 acres from David Watts to John Warren on 13 Dec 1806 in Venango Twp for $200
diagram of lot has keyhole excluded for Middle Brook church on center of west boundary
Vol C page 495 John Warren of Erie to James Janes (no date) recorded 8 Jul 1824
403 acres from Commonwealth of Pa to John Field, William Crammond, James Gibson in trust for the Pennsylvania Population Company on Aug 6, 1799
200 acres from the above to David Watts on May 23 1806
98 acres from David Watts to John Warren on 13 Dec 1806 in Venango Twp for $280
Vol 45 page 71 John Warren of Erie to John Phillips, James M. Reid on behalf of Middlebrook congregation recorded 28 Aug 1872 - 2 acres
403 acres from Commonwealth of Pa to John Field, William Crammond, James Gibson in trust for the Pennsylvania Population Company on Aug 6, 1799
200 acres from the above to David Watts on May 23 1806
200 acres from David Watts to John Warren on 13 Dec 1806 in Venango Twp for $280
Noted as being the 3rd tract west of the NY state line, #5 lot north of old state line, patent book 39 page 455
|
