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Lieut James Barr

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Lieut James Barr

Birth
Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
11 May 1824 (aged 74–75)
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
New Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
Plot
# 2
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Born West Conococheague Creek, Peters Twp. Lancaster Co. (now Franklin Co.) PA. Married to Mary Wallace dau of Richard Wallace builder of Fort Wallace. Although still a child, James Barr was out with a party of Captain Crogan's company in the attempt to drive the Indians under Shingas and Jacobs from his father's house on March 1, 1756. In the retreat, young Barr was wounded and would have fallen by the tomahawk of an Indian had not the savage been killed by one of the men who saw the Indian running upon the boy with uplifted weapon. The Barr family moved before the Revolutionary War to Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co. PA., where James was earnest in promoting the Revolutionary War serving as Lt. Westmoreland Militia; 7th Company; 1st Battalion 1778-1783. He was a member of the Second Continental Congress Convention of 1776 in Philadelphia siding with the anti-Federalists and was active in the defense of the frontier. He was afterward one of the Justices of the Peace for Westmoreland Co., and was a member of the Assembly 1787-90. In the Assembly, he was opposed to the convention that framed the Constitution of 1790 but served as an Associate Judge of Westmoreland Co. under the new Constitution. When Armstrong Co. was formed, he was in the new Co.. He was one of the Commissioners who laid out Kittanning, the Co. seat. He served as Judge until his death.
Born West Conococheague Creek, Peters Twp. Lancaster Co. (now Franklin Co.) PA. Married to Mary Wallace dau of Richard Wallace builder of Fort Wallace. Although still a child, James Barr was out with a party of Captain Crogan's company in the attempt to drive the Indians under Shingas and Jacobs from his father's house on March 1, 1756. In the retreat, young Barr was wounded and would have fallen by the tomahawk of an Indian had not the savage been killed by one of the men who saw the Indian running upon the boy with uplifted weapon. The Barr family moved before the Revolutionary War to Derry Twp., Westmoreland Co. PA., where James was earnest in promoting the Revolutionary War serving as Lt. Westmoreland Militia; 7th Company; 1st Battalion 1778-1783. He was a member of the Second Continental Congress Convention of 1776 in Philadelphia siding with the anti-Federalists and was active in the defense of the frontier. He was afterward one of the Justices of the Peace for Westmoreland Co., and was a member of the Assembly 1787-90. In the Assembly, he was opposed to the convention that framed the Constitution of 1790 but served as an Associate Judge of Westmoreland Co. under the new Constitution. When Armstrong Co. was formed, he was in the new Co.. He was one of the Commissioners who laid out Kittanning, the Co. seat. He served as Judge until his death.

Inscription

Theleaders in this Derry settlement were Robert Barr, James Wilson, John Pomeroy,William Guthrie, John Shields, Samuel Craig and Richard Wallace. A few of theircompatriots, among them Charles Campbell and George Findley, ventured to settlenorth of the Conemaugh river, in the valley of Blacklick creek, where they werein the most exposed situation in all the border region.
Thecabins of the Derry men were of logs, and, being furnished with loop-holes forrifles, were capable of stout defense against the Indians. Richard Wallacebuilt on a hill near the Conemaugh, about a mile and a half south of the siteof Blairsville. He erected a grist mill which ground the grain of the entiresettlement. When Dunmore's war began, in the spring of 1774, he constructed astrong stockade around his house, which afforded a refuge. for theneighborhood. This stockade became known as Fort Wallace.
Aboutfive and a half miles to the southwest, on a tributary of the Loyalhanna,settled Robert Barr and his sons, and when the Revolution began a stockade wasconstructed there, known as Fort Barr. A mile farther south, immediatelyoverlooking the Loyalhanna, was the log house of John Shields, and it also wassurrounded by a stockade. These three stockades were the strong places of theDerry settlement, frequently assailed but never overcome by the savages. RobertBarr's two sons-in-law, James Wilson and John Pomeroy, dwelt in isolatedclearings between Fort Barr and Fort Wallace.

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  • Created by: Dr B
  • Added: May 18, 2009
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37225646/james-barr: accessed ), memorial page for Lieut James Barr (1749–11 May 1824), Find a Grave Memorial ID 37225646, citing Fort Barr Cemetery, New Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Dr B (contributor 46872215).