This manuscript and the accompanying introduction was submitted by Margaret Amberson (56 Lakeside Dr., Shrewsbury, MA 01545) in October 1988. The numbers in brackets along the left hand margin refer to the page numbers of the manuscript as Margaret found it. Due to its length this will be the first of two parts. - Ed.
With an introduction by Margaret Amberson
On a recent trip to Franklin County, Pennsylvania I found xeroxed copies of an untitled manuscript, in the Pettit folder, filed with other surnames in the Kittochtinny Historical Society Library, 175 E. King St., Box 733, Chambersburg, PA 17201. The manuscript must have been copied from a notebook, since the curved corners of the notebook pages could be seen on the copies.
There was nothing to indicate from where it had come. No one there, not even Mrs. Lillian Colletta, knew who put it in the folder. The only clue was written in pencil on the back of a page:
Joseph Forsythe
Col. 1st Md. Cal., 1842 - 1924, Dunkard Cem. near Welsh Run
I was told the cemetery was on Route 416. Welsh Run is southwest of Greencastle in Franklin County.
I had copies made on the library copier which were none too good, but I spent some time comparing, and filling in words onto my copies.
My time at the library was limited, but I was able to turn up some information about this Pettit family. This is not my line of Pettit. My Pettit ancestors were from Monmouth Co., New Jersey.
From typed abstracts of wills and estates of Franklin Co.:
o Vol. A, p.330: Mar. 14, 1795; letter of administration. Estate of Nathaniel
Petit, granted to Catherine Pettit and George Paul.
o Vol. B, p.101: John Pettit, witness to the will of David Scott, Washington Twp.,
dated ........., Proved Nov. 14, 1800
In the book, "American Revolutionary Soldiers of Franklin Co. Pa." compiled by Virginia Shannon Frederick. Chambersburg, Pa., Historical Committee of Franklin Co. Chapt. (DAR); 2nd edition, 1969, I found the following paragraph under the name of Samuel Kerr.
Moved to Bedford Co. Penna., near McConnellsburg, mar. probably, Margaret Rebecca McDowell. Samuel and Margaret Kerr had issue: Isabella mar. Charles Pettitt, May 7, 1818; Rebecca mar. James Irwin; Margaret mar. Nathaniel Pettitt, Apr. 18, 1815; George; Martha mar. Michael Downs; Jane mar. Wm. McClean Scott, a cousin; Elizabeth, unmar.; Mary mar. Thomas Douglass; Thomas mar. Maria Fleming; Samuel Jr. mar. Mary H. Blair.
When I got home I contacted Ms. Juaneva Stahl who had sent me information about this family previously. She knew some of the information given in the manuscript but did not know the whereabouts of a copy. She is my source as to the name of the writer, who did not identify himself in the manuscript.
In my transcription of the manuscript I have used the spelling, capitalization and punctuation that Samuel Pettitt used, yet I know my copies surely do not show all his punctuation. If I could not figure out, or even guess at a word, I have left it blank, indicating it with (_?_).
If anyone wants a copy of the manuscript pages, please contact me.
Transcribed from copy found in Kittochtinny Historical Society, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Starts on page two.
[2] John Pettitt my father was the son of Nathaniel Pettitt a millright (sic) and also a
major in the revolution when what is now called the United States secured their
independence from England.
Father was born in about 1762 in Maryland was keeper of his fathers horse in the war of
the revolution. at the time Washington captured the British troops at Trenton on the
(eve?) of the 25 December 1776. These troops were mostly Hessians.
Often I have heard him tell how fright(en?)ed he was when he found out the attack at
that place was to be made. He was a farmer. maried (sic) Miss Ann Riley (_?_) the
State of Jersey and lived there till his two oldest children were born Nathaniel and
Charles. I should have put Charles first for he was the oldest. Grandfather lived
with him. they came to Pennsylvania to a farm called the Scott farm. Near Greencastle
and also near the line of the state in Franklin County. There Grandfather died.
Father lived on that farm from six to eight years. In which time he had four
[3] more children born Elizabeth, Rebecca, John and William. From there he removed to
Bedford County same state two mile North of McConnellstown where his family increased
by having two more sons David and Noah. he lived there about five years.
From there he removed about three miles south of McConnellstown. This town was
situated in the east and south corner of the county (Bedford) in what was called
McConnells cove or the great cove. He went onto a farm which had a mill on it and
lived there about three years.
There another one was added to his increasing family Ann
from there he removed about four mile further south onto a large farm belonging to Mrs
Ann Hunter. There he lived ten years at the beginning of which term of years the
writer was brought into being and also a nother (sic) little stranger who was named
Susanna.
The last born of the family but of her it may well be said the last shall be the first.
[4] Having tasted of lifes bitter cup
Refused to drink the potion up
Then turned her little head aside
Disgusted with the taste and died
The saviour sayes (sic) suffer the little children to come unto me: forbid them not for
such is the kingdom of heaven.
In these ten years two more no three more left the family.
I will name them as the (sic) left not according to age Nathaniel was maried (sic)
about the third year after we went to the Hunter farm. He died there at the age of
eighty years.
Elizabeth or Betsy as we called her was maried (sic) to Mr. John Forsythe. He followed
the same occupation. They lived in that vacinity (sic) til her death having had ten
children she died of cancer when about fifty years old.
[5] Charles was married to Miss Isabella Kerr while living at the same farm.
He lived about fifty years in the same county Bedford then removed to Ohio where he
bought a farm. He had six children and died in Summit County Ohio when he was seventy
five years old. After Father lived ten years on the Hunter farm he took a trip to Ohio
to see the country but came back and bought a farm north of McConnellstown four miles;
there he lived eighteen years.
Shortly after that Noah died about nineteen years old he died of dropsy after suffering
severely for seven years.
While living on that farm John began studiing (sic) for the ministry of whom I will say
more afterwards. William was afflicted with disease of the liver near unto death. He
quit farming and went to merchandizing and became much healthier, and married Miss Ruth
Caldwell. They had three children: and about 1840. Removed to Ohio where he bought a
farm. His wife died shortly after, and he followed in about five years after, being
brought to the brink of the grave a year or two before he died. A chronic affection of
the liver
[6] was his constant trouble and what I think took him away. He lived about forty five
years.
At the same time William moved to Ohio Father and family came to the same place
(Crawford County) consisting of Father, Mother, Rebecca, David, and Ann. That was in
1840. Father bought a farm but only lived on it a few years; moved to town, bought a
property there, (Bucyrus) about that time David maried (sic) Miss Rebecca Caldwell.
About this time mother died, about seventy five years old. She had struggled hard
(_?_) of them died in infancy.
The spring we left the Hunter farm she was near death's door, having a severe attack of
paralysis: yet she recovered and for a while was pretty well. For some years befor
(sic) she left Pa. she was greatly afflicted with her stomach from which she never
recovered.
About three years after Mother's departure Father followed at the age of eighty two.
[7] With the exception of stiff knees he was quite smart. Riding out one day to his farm
it was in the fall of the year, he came home chilled; took a chill and afterwards a
fever from which he never recovered.
A few years after this William died, leaving his children orphans, in care of sisters
Rebecca and Ann.
Three or four years after W's death Rebecca died. Sister Ann being the only
representative of Father's family, all the others having died or having families of
their own.
Brother David bought Father's farm in Ohio. In about sixteen years after he sold it,
and moved with his family to Oskaloosa Iowa, and quit farming. He had four children
two boys and two girls one of the boys he adopted. The boys both died in infancy.
He lived only about two years after he came to Oskaloosa. He died of Typhoid fever a
very severe yet a most tryumphant (sic) death.
His wife followed him in a few years 1874.
[8] These jottings are put in a seperate (sic) place because of more recent date to the
time of writing and because the person was (_?_) more conspicously (sic) his life.
Brother John was born in Franklin County Pa July 26, 1799.
(Near?) Greencastle on what was called the Scott farm. From there he went with Father
and family to Bedford County Pa, now Fulton County near McConnelstown on the Baltimore
and Pittsburgh McAdamized road in a valley called the great cove.
He lived in that valley till about 182(1?) being a steady farm for his father, at which
time He began to study with the expectation of preaching the Gospel. Mr Jewett
(Jewett?) of McConnellstown was his tut(or?)
January 1831 he married Miss Elisabeth Agnew. 1832 he was ordained to preach the
gospel in Baltimore Maryland by John McDun(can?) and Charles G. McClean. From Bedford
Co. Pa. he and his wife removed to Ashtabula Co. Ohio in 1833 preached there two years:
from there he removed to Akron Ohio and preached there and in Copley centre till 1840.
[9] About which time his wife died. From which place Summit Co. Ohio he removed to
Crawford Co. Ohio Bucyrus, where he took charge of an Independent Congregational
church.
In 1842 he married Miss Marshall.
By this marriage he had two children, a son and a daughter. In 1845 his second wife
and daughter died.
In 1846 he married Miss A.E. Boy(n?) (d?) (ce?) by whom he had four children, three
sons and a daughter.
While he labored in Crawford Co. O. he received a little support from the church; the
most of his support came from his own resources.
In 1862 or about that time he preached in Wood Co. O. for about two years: having left
Crawford Co.
But returned again. In 1867 he went to Benzonia Benzie Co. Mich. Although changing
his residence he ab(a?)ted none of his labors. He exchanged a well improved country
for a new one in its infancy covered with dense forest, and like the Apostle made the
gospel without charge.
In 1879 his oldest son Charles, a young man of about twenty four years old, went down
the Mississippi on business and was seen for the last time about Memphis on the river.
It is supposed he was assassinated. In 1875 his only daughter came to Mahaska Co. to
visit her friends
[10] about the time she expected to return home she felt somewhat unwell took (_?_) medicine
by the doctors prescription and in a few days she went to the unseen land without any
of her fathers family with her.
In 1879 May: as usual, on the Lords day he went to fill his appointment, about five
miles f(rom?) (_?_), when he came to the place, he did not feel quite well, yet he
preached and taught his (??ss) in S. S. and came home.
He was not in his house more than half an hour til his triumphant spirit went to be
found with the lord. He has left a wife and three sons.
Forever with the Lord
So Jesus let it be.
Life from the dead, is in that word
Its immortality
Knowing, as I am known;
How shall I love that word.
And oft repeat before the throne
Forever with the Lord
Blessed are the (_?_) who die in the Lord yea with the spirit for they rest from their
labors and th(eir?) works do follow them.