|
a.
|
Continued: 1768 - 1846 Amelia Foreman was born in 1768 in Pennsylvania. Her father operated a frontier inn in Hanna’s Town (sometimes Hannahstown), a collection of what had been described as 13 windowless, miserable log cabins a few miles south east of what is now Pittsburgh. In those days, the inns and taverns were the centers of civilization where travelers stopped and where people from outlying areas came to learn the news of the day. The inn was also the center seat of government and her father, who was the judge, held court there. The DAR lists Charles Forman (b. 1750, d.1806), whose wife was Sarah Early, as a Private in the Revolutionary War
We know a lot about how Amelia lived because archaeologists dug up the site and recorded what they found. In addition to cattle, goats, and fish that people eat today, the early settlers also ate geese, deer, squirrel, rabbits, and wolves. Yum!
The frontier in Pennsylvania was a dangerous place to live because of the fierce Indian tribes that lived in the area. The settlers formed military groups to protect themselves, called the militia. They held their meetings at the tavern and elected their leaders there.
Amelia most likely helped her father in the tavern and met her husband there. Her husband was elected a Lieutenant in the militia and helped protect the village. Amelia had to manage the family and the tavern business during the revolutionary war in 1776 while her husband fought the British and Indians.
Amelia's family constantly had to protect themselves from the Indians in the area. In 1782, a band of fierce Seneca Indians attacked the town and destroyed it. The women would pack up food for the militia to eat when they went out to search for the Indians who destroyed their village. It must have been frightening because the women and children like Amelia had to defend themselves while the militia was away.
Interesting glimpses of the everyday life of a frontier town are provided by Charles Forman’s will and an excavation of his tavern site by the Westmoreland Historical Society. Foreman gave his wife Sarah their home and garden for life, a saddle, two cows, five sheep, a bed and linen, curtains, a table and chest, chairs, cupboard, two pots, two brass candlesticks, a looking glass, two spinning wheels, firewood, hogs and grain. His daughters were given $300 cash.
Excavation of the two tavern refuse pits revealed ceramics from England, creamware by Wedgewood, Chinese porcelain (used as ballast in ships), wine glasses, liquor bottles, and bone handled knives. In addition, bone buttons, cuff links, buckles, pipes, bone combs for body lice, jack knives, flints for pistols and rifles and a lead seal with the impression of Queen Charlotte (1744-1818), the consort of King George III. The bones of cattle, pigs, chicken, sheep, goats, geese, deer, squirrel, birds, fish, rabbits, and wolf were also found.
Charles Foreman, like his neighbors, served in several sort term militia organizations during the Revolutionary War to protect themselves from Indians and the British. From February 8, 1778 to March 10, 1778, 362 men in the Westmoreland Militia, with Charles as the captain of a company of 28, left Fort Pitt under the command of Col. Alexander Barr to fight Indians in Ohio. In the spring of 1778, Foreman was a Coronet in Captain William Lochry’s light horse company of the Westmoreland County Militia and served on several defense committees.
On July 13, 1782, Hanna’s Town was attacked and destroyed by a force of 250 Seneca Indians, led by Chief Sayengraghta, destroying all but two houses so that the town returned to farmland. The following day, Foreman again joined the Westmoreland County Militia and served three months for 15 pounds retaliating against the Indians. He also furnished provisions to the militia.
James Cummins
Records indicate that a James Cummins whose wife was named Mary was in Erie, Pa. in the early 1800's. He may have been John Jr.’s brother or son. James had eight children, including two sons, George W. (b. June 1823, d. Feb. 24, 1899) and Samuel (b. April 5, 1819, m. Mary Hathaway, July 15, 1842). Thus it is likely that John Cummins Sr. had at least three sons: John Jr., Thomas, and James (too young).
******************
Amelia Davidson will #1478, Book B Pages 153-155, Erie County, PA
Dated Aug 18 18?? Probated 1846
Mentions children: Sarah, David, James Cummins, Ann Warren, John Cummins, Emily Wolverton, Eliza McClure, Eleanor Kennedy. Exec: William Beatty, James Hughes
|
