History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton counties (PA) published originally 1884 by Waterman, Watkins Co., facsimile reprint 1976, p. 504
[from Chapter LXI, Jenner Twp. Somerset County, PA] [capital letters are mine, added for emphasis-ed.]
"The early settlers of this township were the Reeds, Boyds, Covers, Hoffmans, Duncans, Hanlines, Ankenys, HARES and others. Most of the pioneers of this locality came from Brother's Valley and other early settled portions of Somerset county.
The following is the assessor's list of taxable inhabitants of Jenner township, for the year 1817:
Edw. Hair, Matthew Hair, John Hair..."
p. 509: "Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church"
Moses Fream, who had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hagerstown, Maryland, settled within one mile of where the church now stands, in the year 1792, and built what was then considered a large log house. In the second story he taught the first school that was opened in the township, and the same room was used for preaching by the Methodist itinerants. As the Fream family of twelve children grew up they all became members of the church, AND WERE ALSO JOINED BY EDWARD, MATHEW AND JOHN HARE and Samuel Duncan and their families. They continued to worship in Fream's house until the year 1827, when the first Hopewell church was built, two miles north of Quemahoning. It was built of hewed logs and lined with boards, and had a shingle roof. THE LOT ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS AND THE BURYING GROUND ADJOINING WERE SOLD BY MATTHEW HARE AND WIFE to Samuel Duncan, John Hare and William Dalley, a son-in-law of Moses Fream, who were the first trustees. The deed bears the date May 31, 1827, and the price paid was five dollars.
________________________________
1820 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 148, line 20
Series M33, roll 111
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (26-45)
Females: 3 (1 engaged in agriculture
________________________________
1830 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 118, line 10
Series M19, roll 161
Matthew HAIR
Males: 2 (Females: 1 (________________________________
1840 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 117, line 17
Series M704, roll 494
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (Females: 1 (________________________________
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
Hair, Matthew, Farm - Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Section Number 8 - Pages 1 & 2
[excerpt]
It was during the early years of preindustrial period that John Hair came to the United States from Ireland and settled in what was then Bedford County. He worked initially as a shoemaker. According to an early township landowners map, Hair eventually purchased a 193 acre tract of land on the waters of Roaring Run. The map does not, however, list the exact date of warrant or survey of the land. The United States Direct Tax of 1798 lists Hair as owning 200 acres of land with a 20' x 18' cabin and a 56' x 20' barn erected on the land. By February of 1803, John Hair was granted U.S. citizenship in Somerset Naturalization Court. John Hair and his wife Isabella had three sons Edward, John, and Matthew. In May of 1810 John Hair purchased a 187 acre tract to the south of his farm, however this land was sold two years later in 1812 to Thomas McCullough.
Upon his father's death in February of 1812, Matthew Hair received a 173 1/2 acre tract of land in what subsequently became Jenner Township, Somerset County. Matthew Hair married Mary Roberts in 1815. They had eleven children born in Jenner Township between 1816 and 1839. Matthew Hair, according to the date stone in the east gable, built the present brick house on the property in 1817. The house appears to have been built in two sections, a common practice in the county. The eastern two-bay, two-story section was most likely built first, while the three-bay western section was built later. The eastern section, which contains the parlor, has intact early woodwork. Once the western section of the house was built with a kitchen stove, the parlor fireplace was closed off.
In 1827, Matthew Hair sold two acres of land to the trustees of the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church for five dollars. In the next decade the size of the farm decreased again with the Hair's sale of a forty acre tract to the west of the farm along the east side of the present SR 601.
In March of 1842, Matthew Hair sold the 151 acre farm to Hiram Griffith[1] for $2,750. Little is known about the crops the Hair family grew on the property during their ownership, however it can be assumed that they were those typical to the county during the preindustrial period such as those mentioned above. The Hair family moved to Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County where Matthew died in 1853. In turn, Hiram Griffith sold the 151 acre farm to James Elway[2] in April 1842 for $2,300.
[1] [Note: Hiram Griffith, Matthew's son-in-law, husband of his daughter Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[2] [Note: The 1850 Census for Jenner Twp lists a James Ellway, wife Sarah, (both born in England) and 8 children.
They don't appear to be related to Hiram & Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[Note: To state the obvious question: Why would Hiram and Rebecca turn around and sell the farm within a month of acquiring it, and at a $450 (16%) loss?
Speculation: The amounts may be in error, of course. If they are valid then perhaps Matthew's "sale" of the farm to the Griffith's was a cashless transaction, or discounted from the listed price (an early inheritance, possibly). It may have been a method that allowed Matthew to relocate and leave the farm in their hands to sell.-jh]
[I am grateful to Jim Hair (e.mail address on file) for sending me the above information - ed.]
________________________________
Matthew Hare in Fairfield Township Tax Assessments.
1842: Mathew HARE & the Heirs of Edward HARE, Farmer, 271 acres, 2 horses, 1 cow
________________________________
1843 PA Tax List: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp.
HAIR, Mathew: Farmer (40); 150 acres (4); saw mill (80); 2 horses (35); 2 cows (8)
HAIR, Jane: 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
HAIR, William: Farmer (40); 100 acres (4); 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
________________________________
1850 PA Census: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp. p. 138a, lines 40-42 & p. 138b, lines 1-4
Series M432, roll 836, dwelling 381, family 381, 13 November 1850
Matthew HARE, age 59, Farmer, $3,000 Real Estate, b. Penna.
Mary, age 56, b. Penna.
John, age 21, Farmer
Matthew, age 18, Farmer, attending school
James, age 15, Farmer, attending school
William, age 12, attending school
Sarah, age 11, attending school
________________________________
1851 Tax record: Fairfield Twp. Westm. Co. PA:
Matthew HAIR: $7.53
Henry HAIR: 2.76
Edward HAIR: .36
John HAIR: .36
________________________________
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, SCT.
In accordance with the requirements of the 4th section of an Act, passed 12th January, 1852, entitled "An Act to provide for a registration of Deaths, &c." I James Haney of Fairfield township hereby return to you the death of Mathew Hair late of same Township, deceased.
1. Full name of deceased, Mathew Hair
2. Color, white
3. Sex, male
4. Age, about 62 yrs 1 mo
5. Name of Father of deceased, Mathew [this is an error--should be John - ed.]
6. Name of Mother of deceased, [blank]
7. Occupation of deceased, Farmer
8. Place of birth, Somerset Co. Pa.
9. Name of wife of dec'd. if married, Mary Hair
10. Name of issue living, Edwd., Mathew, James, Wm and four daughters
11. Date of birth, [blank]
12. Date of death, about Thursday 1st Dec. 1853
13. Cause of death, disease of the stomach
14. Name of place in which the person died, Fairfield Tp.
15. Name and location of burial ground, Methodist. Fairfield Tp.
AND FURTHER, I do certify that the facts set forth in the above Return, are correct and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of December, A.D. 1853
James Haney {SEAL}
Sworn & subscribed before me,
Edward J. Keenan, Dp. Register of Wills, &c.
________________________________
Deed: Westmoreland County, PA [abstract]
Samuel Shannon et ux. et al.
To
Levi Griffith, et al.
25 June 1855
Between Samuel Shannon & Margaret his wife; Samuel Dewitt and Isabella his wife; Job Davis and Hester Ann his wife; John Hair and Margaret his wife, and Matthew Hair all of Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA of the First Part,
and
Levi Griffith of Conemaugh Twp. Somerset Co. PA and James Hair of Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland Co. PA of the Second Part.
Parties of the first part (for $1,250.00 paid by the parties of the second part), sell unto the parties of the second part three tracts of land, as follows:
1. Beginning at a post thence by land of Tobias Hull South 54 degrees west 90 perches to a post, South 20 degrees east 33 perches to stones, then by land of Edward Hair South 78 degrees west 40 perches to a post, North 35 degrees west 15 perches to a post, South 57 degrees west 68 perches to a Hickory, then by land of James Haney North 29 degrees west 22 perches to a post, North 55 degrees west 50 perches to a post, then by land of John Caldwell and John Hull North 26 degrees east 216 perches to a red oak and then by land of William Caldwell South 48 degrees east 174 perches to the beginning, containing 165 acres and 3 Roods. See Deed of 27 January 1847.
2. Beginning at a post, then by lands of E. Hoover and Company, South 38 degrees east 132 perches to stones, South 41 degrees west 323 perches to stones, then by lands of Matthiot and Paulls North 31 degrees west 112 perches to stones then by land of George Decker North 41 degrees east 123 perches to a Chestnut, North 38 degrees west 20 perches to a white oak, and then by lands of Samuel Shannon north 41 degrees east 200 perches to the Beginning containing 231 acres and 90 perches, and allowance being part of the William Coudy Tract. See Deed of 8 September 1851 from Jacob D. Mathiot and others to Matthew Hair.
3. Beginning at stones then by land of Matthew Hair South 19 degrees east 30 perches then by land of Tobias Hull, North 52 degrees east 20 perches then by the Johnstown road north 27 degrees east 56 perches to a locust and then by land of Matthew Hair South 55 degrees west 68 perches to the Beginning containing 8 acres 119 perches being part of the Robert Hice tract. See Deed of November 10th 1837* [smudged, might be 1851] from Tobias & Mary Hull to Matthew Hair.
Each of these tracts is located in Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland County, Pa.
Signed by the following in the presence of witnesses: E.W. McKelvey, William H. Hair.
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair, Margaret Elizabeth "her X mark" Hair
Mathew Hair
Received on the date above written, from Levi Griffith and James Hair, the sum of $1250.00.
Witness present at signing: William H. Hair.
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair
________________________________
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Orphans Court Docket 4, p. 291
August Term A.D. 1855.
#20 Mathew Hair decd.
The petition of William H. Hair & Sarah Jane Hair minor children of Mathew Hair decd. setting forth that they are minors above the age of 14 years that they have no Guardian to take charge of their persons & Estates Pray the Court to permit them to make choice of a Guardian & they will pray &c.
21 Aug. 1855. The Court appoint William Caldwell Guardian to give Bond in $500.00 as to each minor James Hair & Levi Griffith approved as Security.
Bonds Filed. By the Court.
________________________________
Westmoreland County, PA Probate Record
August Term, A.D. 1855
To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of Westmoreland County.
The petition of Levi Griffith and James Hair Respectfully represent,
That Mathew Hair late of Fairfield Township Westmoreland County died intestate seized in fee of in and to the following real estate to wit a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland County containing two hundred and thirty one acres more or less adjoining lands of Samuel Shannon, George Decker, William Decker & others.
Also a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland county containing one hundred Seventy acres more or less bounded by lands of William Hair, James Haney, John Caldwell, John Hall, William Caldwell, Tobias Hull & others.
That said intestate left a widow named Mary & the following children Viz: eleven as follows
Isabella, married to Samuel Dewitt
Mary, married to Levi Griffith
Edward
Margaret, married to Samuel Shannon
John
Hester Ann, married to Job Davis
Mathew
James
William
Sarah Jane
Rebecca, who was married to Hiram Griffith; the said Rebecca is now dead leaving her husband & seven children all minors to wit: George, Mathew, Nathan, William H., James L., Margaret Jane & Dorinda.
That your petitioners have purchased the interest of the following named heirs in both tracts to wit: Samuel Dewitt & Isabella his wife, Edward, John, Job Davis & Hester Ann his wife, Mathew, Samuel Shannon and Margaret his wife.
They therefore pray the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the said Real Estate amongst the Several heirs according to law. And they will pray &C
Levi Griffith
James C. Hair
21 August 1855 Inquest awarded personal notice to be given to all the heirs of full age and notice be served on William Caldwell guardian of Wm. H. Hair and Sarah Jane Hair & on William Caldwell appointed Guardian of Mathew, Nathan, William, James, Margaret Jane, Florinda [previously, this name read "Dorinda"-ed.] and George Griffith.
[following is an abstract of a longer section]
Inquisition was taken at the late dwelling house of Mathew Hair in the Twp. of Fairfield, Co. of Westmoreland on the 30th of October, 1855 before William Welsh, High Sheriff, annexed by the oaths and affirmations of twelve free honest and lawful men of this bailiwick, as follows: John Caldwell Esq., James Mathews, John M. Smith, Isaac Decker, Archabel Mathews, David B. Caldwell, William G. Hair, Tobias Hull, George S. Peoples, John Trimble, William Brown, George Mechling, Esq.
They there "did find that the same lands and tenements with their appurtenances could not be parted and divided to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole thereof." They then further found "that the said lands and tenements with their appurtenances will accommodate two of the children of the said deceased."
________________________________
[from Chapter LXI, Jenner Twp. Somerset County, PA] [capital letters are mine, added for emphasis-ed.]
"The early settlers of this township were the Reeds, Boyds, Covers, Hoffmans, Duncans, Hanlines, Ankenys, HARES and others. Most of the pioneers of this locality came from Brother's Valley and other early settled portions of Somerset county.
The following is the assessor's list of taxable inhabitants of Jenner township, for the year 1817:
Edw. Hair, Matthew Hair, John Hair..."
p. 509: "Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church"
Moses Fream, who had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hagerstown, Maryland, settled within one mile of where the church now stands, in the year 1792, and built what was then considered a large log house. In the second story he taught the first school that was opened in the township, and the same room was used for preaching by the Methodist itinerants. As the Fream family of twelve children grew up they all became members of the church, AND WERE ALSO JOINED BY EDWARD, MATHEW AND JOHN HARE and Samuel Duncan and their families. They continued to worship in Fream's house until the year 1827, when the first Hopewell church was built, two miles north of Quemahoning. It was built of hewed logs and lined with boards, and had a shingle roof. THE LOT ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS AND THE BURYING GROUND ADJOINING WERE SOLD BY MATTHEW HARE AND WIFE to Samuel Duncan, John Hare and William Dalley, a son-in-law of Moses Fream, who were the first trustees. The deed bears the date May 31, 1827, and the price paid was five dollars.
________________________________
1820 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 148, line 20
Series M33, roll 111
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (26-45)
Females: 3 (1 engaged in agriculture
________________________________
1830 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 118, line 10
Series M19, roll 161
Matthew HAIR
Males: 2 (Females: 1 (________________________________
1840 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 117, line 17
Series M704, roll 494
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (Females: 1 (________________________________
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
Hair, Matthew, Farm - Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Section Number 8 - Pages 1 & 2
[excerpt]
It was during the early years of preindustrial period that John Hair came to the United States from Ireland and settled in what was then Bedford County. He worked initially as a shoemaker. According to an early township landowners map, Hair eventually purchased a 193 acre tract of land on the waters of Roaring Run. The map does not, however, list the exact date of warrant or survey of the land. The United States Direct Tax of 1798 lists Hair as owning 200 acres of land with a 20' x 18' cabin and a 56' x 20' barn erected on the land. By February of 1803, John Hair was granted U.S. citizenship in Somerset Naturalization Court. John Hair and his wife Isabella had three sons Edward, John, and Matthew. In May of 1810 John Hair purchased a 187 acre tract to the south of his farm, however this land was sold two years later in 1812 to Thomas McCullough.
Upon his father's death in February of 1812, Matthew Hair received a 173 1/2 acre tract of land in what subsequently became Jenner Township, Somerset County. Matthew Hair married Mary Roberts in 1815. They had eleven children born in Jenner Township between 1816 and 1839. Matthew Hair, according to the date stone in the east gable, built the present brick house on the property in 1817. The house appears to have been built in two sections, a common practice in the county. The eastern two-bay, two-story section was most likely built first, while the three-bay western section was built later. The eastern section, which contains the parlor, has intact early woodwork. Once the western section of the house was built with a kitchen stove, the parlor fireplace was closed off.
In 1827, Matthew Hair sold two acres of land to the trustees of the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church for five dollars. In the next decade the size of the farm decreased again with the Hair's sale of a forty acre tract to the west of the farm along the east side of the present SR 601.
In March of 1842, Matthew Hair sold the 151 acre farm to Hiram Griffith[1] for $2,750. Little is known about the crops the Hair family grew on the property during their ownership, however it can be assumed that they were those typical to the county during the preindustrial period such as those mentioned above. The Hair family moved to Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County where Matthew died in 1853. In turn, Hiram Griffith sold the 151 acre farm to James Elway[2] in April 1842 for $2,300.
[1] [Note: Hiram Griffith, Matthew's son-in-law, husband of his daughter Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[2] [Note: The 1850 Census for Jenner Twp lists a James Ellway, wife Sarah, (both born in England) and 8 children.
They don't appear to be related to Hiram & Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[Note: To state the obvious question: Why would Hiram and Rebecca turn around and sell the farm within a month of acquiring it, and at a $450 (16%) loss?
Speculation: The amounts may be in error, of course. If they are valid then perhaps Matthew's "sale" of the farm to the Griffith's was a cashless transaction, or discounted from the listed price (an early inheritance, possibly). It may have been a method that allowed Matthew to relocate and leave the farm in their hands to sell.-jh]
[I am grateful to Jim Hair (e.mail address on file) for sending me the above information - ed.]
________________________________
Matthew Hare in Fairfield Township Tax Assessments.
1842: Mathew HARE & the Heirs of Edward HARE, Farmer, 271 acres, 2 horses, 1 cow
________________________________
1843 PA Tax List: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp.
HAIR, Mathew: Farmer (40); 150 acres (4); saw mill (80); 2 horses (35); 2 cows (8)
HAIR, Jane: 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
HAIR, William: Farmer (40); 100 acres (4); 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
________________________________
1850 PA Census: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp. p. 138a, lines 40-42 & p. 138b, lines 1-4
Series M432, roll 836, dwelling 381, family 381, 13 November 1850
Matthew HARE, age 59, Farmer, $3,000 Real Estate, b. Penna.
Mary, age 56, b. Penna.
John, age 21, Farmer
Matthew, age 18, Farmer, attending school
James, age 15, Farmer, attending school
William, age 12, attending school
Sarah, age 11, attending school
________________________________
1851 Tax record: Fairfield Twp. Westm. Co. PA:
Matthew HAIR: $7.53
Henry HAIR: 2.76
Edward HAIR: .36
John HAIR: .36
________________________________
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, SCT.
In accordance with the requirements of the 4th section of an Act, passed 12th January, 1852, entitled "An Act to provide for a registration of Deaths, &c." I James Haney of Fairfield township hereby return to you the death of Mathew Hair late of same Township, deceased.
1. Full name of deceased, Mathew Hair
2. Color, white
3. Sex, male
4. Age, about 62 yrs 1 mo
5. Name of Father of deceased, Mathew [this is an error--should be John - ed.]
6. Name of Mother of deceased, [blank]
7. Occupation of deceased, Farmer
8. Place of birth, Somerset Co. Pa.
9. Name of wife of dec'd. if married, Mary Hair
10. Name of issue living, Edwd., Mathew, James, Wm and four daughters
11. Date of birth, [blank]
12. Date of death, about Thursday 1st Dec. 1853
13. Cause of death, disease of the stomach
14. Name of place in which the person died, Fairfield Tp.
15. Name and location of burial ground, Methodist. Fairfield Tp.
AND FURTHER, I do certify that the facts set forth in the above Return, are correct and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of December, A.D. 1853
James Haney {SEAL}
Sworn & subscribed before me,
Edward J. Keenan, Dp. Register of Wills, &c.
________________________________
Deed: Westmoreland County, PA [abstract]
Samuel Shannon et ux. et al.
To
Levi Griffith, et al.
25 June 1855
Between Samuel Shannon & Margaret his wife; Samuel Dewitt and Isabella his wife; Job Davis and Hester Ann his wife; John Hair and Margaret his wife, and Matthew Hair all of Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA of the First Part,
and
Levi Griffith of Conemaugh Twp. Somerset Co. PA and James Hair of Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland Co. PA of the Second Part.
Parties of the first part (for $1,250.00 paid by the parties of the second part), sell unto the parties of the second part three tracts of land, as follows:
1. Beginning at a post thence by land of Tobias Hull South 54 degrees west 90 perches to a post, South 20 degrees east 33 perches to stones, then by land of Edward Hair South 78 degrees west 40 perches to a post, North 35 degrees west 15 perches to a post, South 57 degrees west 68 perches to a Hickory, then by land of James Haney North 29 degrees west 22 perches to a post, North 55 degrees west 50 perches to a post, then by land of John Caldwell and John Hull North 26 degrees east 216 perches to a red oak and then by land of William Caldwell South 48 degrees east 174 perches to the beginning, containing 165 acres and 3 Roods. See Deed of 27 January 1847.
2. Beginning at a post, then by lands of E. Hoover and Company, South 38 degrees east 132 perches to stones, South 41 degrees west 323 perches to stones, then by lands of Matthiot and Paulls North 31 degrees west 112 perches to stones then by land of George Decker North 41 degrees east 123 perches to a Chestnut, North 38 degrees west 20 perches to a white oak, and then by lands of Samuel Shannon north 41 degrees east 200 perches to the Beginning containing 231 acres and 90 perches, and allowance being part of the William Coudy Tract. See Deed of 8 September 1851 from Jacob D. Mathiot and others to Matthew Hair.
3. Beginning at stones then by land of Matthew Hair South 19 degrees east 30 perches then by land of Tobias Hull, North 52 degrees east 20 perches then by the Johnstown road north 27 degrees east 56 perches to a locust and then by land of Matthew Hair South 55 degrees west 68 perches to the Beginning containing 8 acres 119 perches being part of the Robert Hice tract. See Deed of November 10th 1837* [smudged, might be 1851] from Tobias & Mary Hull to Matthew Hair.
Each of these tracts is located in Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland County, Pa.
Signed by the following in the presence of witnesses: E.W. McKelvey, William H. Hair.
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair, Margaret Elizabeth "her X mark" Hair
Mathew Hair
Received on the date above written, from Levi Griffith and James Hair, the sum of $1250.00.
Witness present at signing: William H. Hair.
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair
________________________________
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Orphans Court Docket 4, p. 291
August Term A.D. 1855.
#20 Mathew Hair decd.
The petition of William H. Hair & Sarah Jane Hair minor children of Mathew Hair decd. setting forth that they are minors above the age of 14 years that they have no Guardian to take charge of their persons & Estates Pray the Court to permit them to make choice of a Guardian & they will pray &c.
21 Aug. 1855. The Court appoint William Caldwell Guardian to give Bond in $500.00 as to each minor James Hair & Levi Griffith approved as Security.
Bonds Filed. By the Court.
________________________________
Westmoreland County, PA Probate Record
August Term, A.D. 1855
To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of Westmoreland County.
The petition of Levi Griffith and James Hair Respectfully represent,
That Mathew Hair late of Fairfield Township Westmoreland County died intestate seized in fee of in and to the following real estate to wit a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland County containing two hundred and thirty one acres more or less adjoining lands of Samuel Shannon, George Decker, William Decker & others.
Also a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland county containing one hundred Seventy acres more or less bounded by lands of William Hair, James Haney, John Caldwell, John Hall, William Caldwell, Tobias Hull & others.
That said intestate left a widow named Mary & the following children Viz: eleven as follows
Isabella, married to Samuel Dewitt
Mary, married to Levi Griffith
Edward
Margaret, married to Samuel Shannon
John
Hester Ann, married to Job Davis
Mathew
James
William
Sarah Jane
Rebecca, who was married to Hiram Griffith; the said Rebecca is now dead leaving her husband & seven children all minors to wit: George, Mathew, Nathan, William H., James L., Margaret Jane & Dorinda.
That your petitioners have purchased the interest of the following named heirs in both tracts to wit: Samuel Dewitt & Isabella his wife, Edward, John, Job Davis & Hester Ann his wife, Mathew, Samuel Shannon and Margaret his wife.
They therefore pray the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the said Real Estate amongst the Several heirs according to law. And they will pray &C
Levi Griffith
James C. Hair
21 August 1855 Inquest awarded personal notice to be given to all the heirs of full age and notice be served on William Caldwell guardian of Wm. H. Hair and Sarah Jane Hair & on William Caldwell appointed Guardian of Mathew, Nathan, William, James, Margaret Jane, Florinda [previously, this name read "Dorinda"-ed.] and George Griffith.
[following is an abstract of a longer section]
Inquisition was taken at the late dwelling house of Mathew Hair in the Twp. of Fairfield, Co. of Westmoreland on the 30th of October, 1855 before William Welsh, High Sheriff, annexed by the oaths and affirmations of twelve free honest and lawful men of this bailiwick, as follows: John Caldwell Esq., James Mathews, John M. Smith, Isaac Decker, Archabel Mathews, David B. Caldwell, William G. Hair, Tobias Hull, George S. Peoples, John Trimble, William Brown, George Mechling, Esq.
They there "did find that the same lands and tenements with their appurtenances could not be parted and divided to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole thereof." They then further found "that the said lands and tenements with their appurtenances will accommodate two of the children of the said deceased."
________________________________
History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton counties (PA) published originally 1884 by Waterman, Watkins Co., facsimile reprint 1976, p. 504
[from Chapter LXI, Jenner Twp. Somerset County, PA] [capital letters are mine, added for emphasis-ed.]
"The early settlers of this township were the Reeds, Boyds, Covers, Hoffmans, Duncans, Hanlines, Ankenys, HARES and others. Most of the pioneers of this locality came from Brother's Valley and other early settled portions of Somerset county.
The following is the assessor's list of taxable inhabitants of Jenner township, for the year 1817:
Edw. Hair, Matthew Hair, John Hair..."
p. 509: "Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church"
Moses Fream, who had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hagerstown, Maryland, settled within one mile of where the church now stands, in the year 1792, and built what was then considered a large log house. In the second story he taught the first school that was opened in the township, and the same room was used for preaching by the Methodist itinerants. As the Fream family of twelve children grew up they all became members of the church, AND WERE ALSO JOINED BY EDWARD, MATHEW AND JOHN HARE and Samuel Duncan and their families. They continued to worship in Fream's house until the year 1827, when the first Hopewell church was built, two miles north of Quemahoning. It was built of hewed logs and lined with boards, and had a shingle roof. THE LOT ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS AND THE BURYING GROUND ADJOINING WERE SOLD BY MATTHEW HARE AND WIFE to Samuel Duncan, John Hare and William Dalley, a son-in-law of Moses Fream, who were the first trustees. The deed bears the date May 31, 1827, and the price paid was five dollars.
________________________________
1820 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 148, line 20
Series M33, roll 111
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (26-45)
Females: 3 (1 engaged in agriculture
________________________________
1830 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 118, line 10
Series M19, roll 161
Matthew HAIR
Males: 2 (Females: 1 (________________________________
1840 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 117, line 17
Series M704, roll 494
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (Females: 1 (________________________________
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
Hair, Matthew, Farm - Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Section Number 8 - Pages 1 & 2
[excerpt]
It was during the early years of preindustrial period that John Hair came to the United States from Ireland and settled in what was then Bedford County. He worked initially as a shoemaker. According to an early township landowners map, Hair eventually purchased a 193 acre tract of land on the waters of Roaring Run. The map does not, however, list the exact date of warrant or survey of the land. The United States Direct Tax of 1798 lists Hair as owning 200 acres of land with a 20' x 18' cabin and a 56' x 20' barn erected on the land. By February of 1803, John Hair was granted U.S. citizenship in Somerset Naturalization Court. John Hair and his wife Isabella had three sons Edward, John, and Matthew. In May of 1810 John Hair purchased a 187 acre tract to the south of his farm, however this land was sold two years later in 1812 to Thomas McCullough.
Upon his father's death in February of 1812, Matthew Hair received a 173 1/2 acre tract of land in what subsequently became Jenner Township, Somerset County. Matthew Hair married Mary Roberts in 1815. They had eleven children born in Jenner Township between 1816 and 1839. Matthew Hair, according to the date stone in the east gable, built the present brick house on the property in 1817. The house appears to have been built in two sections, a common practice in the county. The eastern two-bay, two-story section was most likely built first, while the three-bay western section was built later. The eastern section, which contains the parlor, has intact early woodwork. Once the western section of the house was built with a kitchen stove, the parlor fireplace was closed off.
In 1827, Matthew Hair sold two acres of land to the trustees of the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church for five dollars. In the next decade the size of the farm decreased again with the Hair's sale of a forty acre tract to the west of the farm along the east side of the present SR 601.
In March of 1842, Matthew Hair sold the 151 acre farm to Hiram Griffith[1] for $2,750. Little is known about the crops the Hair family grew on the property during their ownership, however it can be assumed that they were those typical to the county during the preindustrial period such as those mentioned above. The Hair family moved to Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County where Matthew died in 1853. In turn, Hiram Griffith sold the 151 acre farm to James Elway[2] in April 1842 for $2,300.
[1] [Note: Hiram Griffith, Matthew's son-in-law, husband of his daughter Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[2] [Note: The 1850 Census for Jenner Twp lists a James Ellway, wife Sarah, (both born in England) and 8 children.
They don't appear to be related to Hiram & Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[Note: To state the obvious question: Why would Hiram and Rebecca turn around and sell the farm within a month of acquiring it, and at a $450 (16%) loss?
Speculation: The amounts may be in error, of course. If they are valid then perhaps Matthew's "sale" of the farm to the Griffith's was a cashless transaction, or discounted from the listed price (an early inheritance, possibly). It may have been a method that allowed Matthew to relocate and leave the farm in their hands to sell.-jh]
[I am grateful to Jim Hair (e.mail address on file) for sending me the above information - ed.]
________________________________
Matthew Hare in Fairfield Township Tax Assessments.
1842: Mathew HARE & the Heirs of Edward HARE, Farmer, 271 acres, 2 horses, 1 cow
________________________________
1843 PA Tax List: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp.
HAIR, Mathew: Farmer (40); 150 acres (4); saw mill (80); 2 horses (35); 2 cows (8)
HAIR, Jane: 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
HAIR, William: Farmer (40); 100 acres (4); 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
________________________________
1850 PA Census: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp. p. 138a, lines 40-42 & p. 138b, lines 1-4
Series M432, roll 836, dwelling 381, family 381, 13 November 1850
Matthew HARE, age 59, Farmer, $3,000 Real Estate, b. Penna.
Mary, age 56, b. Penna.
John, age 21, Farmer
Matthew, age 18, Farmer, attending school
James, age 15, Farmer, attending school
William, age 12, attending school
Sarah, age 11, attending school
________________________________
1851 Tax record: Fairfield Twp. Westm. Co. PA:
Matthew HAIR: $7.53
Henry HAIR: 2.76
Edward HAIR: .36
John HAIR: .36
________________________________
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, SCT.
In accordance with the requirements of the 4th section of an Act, passed 12th January, 1852, entitled "An Act to provide for a registration of Deaths, &c." I James Haney of Fairfield township hereby return to you the death of Mathew Hair late of same Township, deceased.
1. Full name of deceased, Mathew Hair
2. Color, white
3. Sex, male
4. Age, about 62 yrs 1 mo
5. Name of Father of deceased, Mathew [this is an error--should be John - ed.]
6. Name of Mother of deceased, [blank]
7. Occupation of deceased, Farmer
8. Place of birth, Somerset Co. Pa.
9. Name of wife of dec'd. if married, Mary Hair
10. Name of issue living, Edwd., Mathew, James, Wm and four daughters
11. Date of birth, [blank]
12. Date of death, about Thursday 1st Dec. 1853
13. Cause of death, disease of the stomach
14. Name of place in which the person died, Fairfield Tp.
15. Name and location of burial ground, Methodist. Fairfield Tp.
AND FURTHER, I do certify that the facts set forth in the above Return, are correct and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of December, A.D. 1853
James Haney {SEAL}
Sworn & subscribed before me,
Edward J. Keenan, Dp. Register of Wills, &c.
________________________________
Deed: Westmoreland County, PA [abstract]
Samuel Shannon et ux. et al.
To
Levi Griffith, et al.
25 June 1855
Between Samuel Shannon & Margaret his wife; Samuel Dewitt and Isabella his wife; Job Davis and Hester Ann his wife; John Hair and Margaret his wife, and Matthew Hair all of Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA of the First Part,
and
Levi Griffith of Conemaugh Twp. Somerset Co. PA and James Hair of Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland Co. PA of the Second Part.
Parties of the first part (for $1,250.00 paid by the parties of the second part), sell unto the parties of the second part three tracts of land, as follows:
1. Beginning at a post thence by land of Tobias Hull South 54 degrees west 90 perches to a post, South 20 degrees east 33 perches to stones, then by land of Edward Hair South 78 degrees west 40 perches to a post, North 35 degrees west 15 perches to a post, South 57 degrees west 68 perches to a Hickory, then by land of James Haney North 29 degrees west 22 perches to a post, North 55 degrees west 50 perches to a post, then by land of John Caldwell and John Hull North 26 degrees east 216 perches to a red oak and then by land of William Caldwell South 48 degrees east 174 perches to the beginning, containing 165 acres and 3 Roods. See Deed of 27 January 1847.
2. Beginning at a post, then by lands of E. Hoover and Company, South 38 degrees east 132 perches to stones, South 41 degrees west 323 perches to stones, then by lands of Matthiot and Paulls North 31 degrees west 112 perches to stones then by land of George Decker North 41 degrees east 123 perches to a Chestnut, North 38 degrees west 20 perches to a white oak, and then by lands of Samuel Shannon north 41 degrees east 200 perches to the Beginning containing 231 acres and 90 perches, and allowance being part of the William Coudy Tract. See Deed of 8 September 1851 from Jacob D. Mathiot and others to Matthew Hair.
3. Beginning at stones then by land of Matthew Hair South 19 degrees east 30 perches then by land of Tobias Hull, North 52 degrees east 20 perches then by the Johnstown road north 27 degrees east 56 perches to a locust and then by land of Matthew Hair South 55 degrees west 68 perches to the Beginning containing 8 acres 119 perches being part of the Robert Hice tract. See Deed of November 10th 1837* [smudged, might be 1851] from Tobias & Mary Hull to Matthew Hair.
Each of these tracts is located in Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland County, Pa.
Signed by the following in the presence of witnesses: E.W. McKelvey, William H. Hair.
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair, Margaret Elizabeth "her X mark" Hair
Mathew Hair
Received on the date above written, from Levi Griffith and James Hair, the sum of $1250.00.
Witness present at signing: William H. Hair.
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair
________________________________
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Orphans Court Docket 4, p. 291
August Term A.D. 1855.
#20 Mathew Hair decd.
The petition of William H. Hair & Sarah Jane Hair minor children of Mathew Hair decd. setting forth that they are minors above the age of 14 years that they have no Guardian to take charge of their persons & Estates Pray the Court to permit them to make choice of a Guardian & they will pray &c.
21 Aug. 1855. The Court appoint William Caldwell Guardian to give Bond in $500.00 as to each minor James Hair & Levi Griffith approved as Security.
Bonds Filed. By the Court.
________________________________
Westmoreland County, PA Probate Record
August Term, A.D. 1855
To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of Westmoreland County.
The petition of Levi Griffith and James Hair Respectfully represent,
That Mathew Hair late of Fairfield Township Westmoreland County died intestate seized in fee of in and to the following real estate to wit a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland County containing two hundred and thirty one acres more or less adjoining lands of Samuel Shannon, George Decker, William Decker & others.
Also a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland county containing one hundred Seventy acres more or less bounded by lands of William Hair, James Haney, John Caldwell, John Hall, William Caldwell, Tobias Hull & others.
That said intestate left a widow named Mary & the following children Viz: eleven as follows
Isabella, married to Samuel Dewitt
Mary, married to Levi Griffith
Edward
Margaret, married to Samuel Shannon
John
Hester Ann, married to Job Davis
Mathew
James
William
Sarah Jane
Rebecca, who was married to Hiram Griffith; the said Rebecca is now dead leaving her husband & seven children all minors to wit: George, Mathew, Nathan, William H., James L., Margaret Jane & Dorinda.
That your petitioners have purchased the interest of the following named heirs in both tracts to wit: Samuel Dewitt & Isabella his wife, Edward, John, Job Davis & Hester Ann his wife, Mathew, Samuel Shannon and Margaret his wife.
They therefore pray the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the said Real Estate amongst the Several heirs according to law. And they will pray &C
Levi Griffith
James C. Hair
21 August 1855 Inquest awarded personal notice to be given to all the heirs of full age and notice be served on William Caldwell guardian of Wm. H. Hair and Sarah Jane Hair & on William Caldwell appointed Guardian of Mathew, Nathan, William, James, Margaret Jane, Florinda [previously, this name read "Dorinda"-ed.] and George Griffith.
[following is an abstract of a longer section]
Inquisition was taken at the late dwelling house of Mathew Hair in the Twp. of Fairfield, Co. of Westmoreland on the 30th of October, 1855 before William Welsh, High Sheriff, annexed by the oaths and affirmations of twelve free honest and lawful men of this bailiwick, as follows: John Caldwell Esq., James Mathews, John M. Smith, Isaac Decker, Archabel Mathews, David B. Caldwell, William G. Hair, Tobias Hull, George S. Peoples, John Trimble, William Brown, George Mechling, Esq.
They there "did find that the same lands and tenements with their appurtenances could not be parted and divided to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole thereof." They then further found "that the said lands and tenements with their appurtenances will accommodate two of the children of the said deceased."
________________________________
[from Chapter LXI, Jenner Twp. Somerset County, PA] [capital letters are mine, added for emphasis-ed.]
"The early settlers of this township were the Reeds, Boyds, Covers, Hoffmans, Duncans, Hanlines, Ankenys, HARES and others. Most of the pioneers of this locality came from Brother's Valley and other early settled portions of Somerset county.
The following is the assessor's list of taxable inhabitants of Jenner township, for the year 1817:
Edw. Hair, Matthew Hair, John Hair..."
p. 509: "Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church"
Moses Fream, who had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hagerstown, Maryland, settled within one mile of where the church now stands, in the year 1792, and built what was then considered a large log house. In the second story he taught the first school that was opened in the township, and the same room was used for preaching by the Methodist itinerants. As the Fream family of twelve children grew up they all became members of the church, AND WERE ALSO JOINED BY EDWARD, MATHEW AND JOHN HARE and Samuel Duncan and their families. They continued to worship in Fream's house until the year 1827, when the first Hopewell church was built, two miles north of Quemahoning. It was built of hewed logs and lined with boards, and had a shingle roof. THE LOT ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS AND THE BURYING GROUND ADJOINING WERE SOLD BY MATTHEW HARE AND WIFE to Samuel Duncan, John Hare and William Dalley, a son-in-law of Moses Fream, who were the first trustees. The deed bears the date May 31, 1827, and the price paid was five dollars.
________________________________
1820 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 148, line 20
Series M33, roll 111
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (26-45)
Females: 3 (1 engaged in agriculture
________________________________
1830 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 118, line 10
Series M19, roll 161
Matthew HAIR
Males: 2 (Females: 1 (________________________________
1840 PA Census: Somerset Co. Jenner Twp. p. 117, line 17
Series M704, roll 494
Mathew HARE
Males: 1 (Females: 1 (________________________________
United States Department of the Interior National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
Hair, Matthew, Farm - Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Section Number 8 - Pages 1 & 2
[excerpt]
It was during the early years of preindustrial period that John Hair came to the United States from Ireland and settled in what was then Bedford County. He worked initially as a shoemaker. According to an early township landowners map, Hair eventually purchased a 193 acre tract of land on the waters of Roaring Run. The map does not, however, list the exact date of warrant or survey of the land. The United States Direct Tax of 1798 lists Hair as owning 200 acres of land with a 20' x 18' cabin and a 56' x 20' barn erected on the land. By February of 1803, John Hair was granted U.S. citizenship in Somerset Naturalization Court. John Hair and his wife Isabella had three sons Edward, John, and Matthew. In May of 1810 John Hair purchased a 187 acre tract to the south of his farm, however this land was sold two years later in 1812 to Thomas McCullough.
Upon his father's death in February of 1812, Matthew Hair received a 173 1/2 acre tract of land in what subsequently became Jenner Township, Somerset County. Matthew Hair married Mary Roberts in 1815. They had eleven children born in Jenner Township between 1816 and 1839. Matthew Hair, according to the date stone in the east gable, built the present brick house on the property in 1817. The house appears to have been built in two sections, a common practice in the county. The eastern two-bay, two-story section was most likely built first, while the three-bay western section was built later. The eastern section, which contains the parlor, has intact early woodwork. Once the western section of the house was built with a kitchen stove, the parlor fireplace was closed off.
In 1827, Matthew Hair sold two acres of land to the trustees of the Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church for five dollars. In the next decade the size of the farm decreased again with the Hair's sale of a forty acre tract to the west of the farm along the east side of the present SR 601.
In March of 1842, Matthew Hair sold the 151 acre farm to Hiram Griffith[1] for $2,750. Little is known about the crops the Hair family grew on the property during their ownership, however it can be assumed that they were those typical to the county during the preindustrial period such as those mentioned above. The Hair family moved to Fairfield Township, Westmoreland County where Matthew died in 1853. In turn, Hiram Griffith sold the 151 acre farm to James Elway[2] in April 1842 for $2,300.
[1] [Note: Hiram Griffith, Matthew's son-in-law, husband of his daughter Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[2] [Note: The 1850 Census for Jenner Twp lists a James Ellway, wife Sarah, (both born in England) and 8 children.
They don't appear to be related to Hiram & Rebecca J. (Hair) Griffith.-jh]
[Note: To state the obvious question: Why would Hiram and Rebecca turn around and sell the farm within a month of acquiring it, and at a $450 (16%) loss?
Speculation: The amounts may be in error, of course. If they are valid then perhaps Matthew's "sale" of the farm to the Griffith's was a cashless transaction, or discounted from the listed price (an early inheritance, possibly). It may have been a method that allowed Matthew to relocate and leave the farm in their hands to sell.-jh]
[I am grateful to Jim Hair (e.mail address on file) for sending me the above information - ed.]
________________________________
Matthew Hare in Fairfield Township Tax Assessments.
1842: Mathew HARE & the Heirs of Edward HARE, Farmer, 271 acres, 2 horses, 1 cow
________________________________
1843 PA Tax List: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp.
HAIR, Mathew: Farmer (40); 150 acres (4); saw mill (80); 2 horses (35); 2 cows (8)
HAIR, Jane: 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
HAIR, William: Farmer (40); 100 acres (4); 1 horse (35); 1 cow (8)
________________________________
1850 PA Census: Westmoreland Co. Fairfield Twp. p. 138a, lines 40-42 & p. 138b, lines 1-4
Series M432, roll 836, dwelling 381, family 381, 13 November 1850
Matthew HARE, age 59, Farmer, $3,000 Real Estate, b. Penna.
Mary, age 56, b. Penna.
John, age 21, Farmer
Matthew, age 18, Farmer, attending school
James, age 15, Farmer, attending school
William, age 12, attending school
Sarah, age 11, attending school
________________________________
1851 Tax record: Fairfield Twp. Westm. Co. PA:
Matthew HAIR: $7.53
Henry HAIR: 2.76
Edward HAIR: .36
John HAIR: .36
________________________________
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH.
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, SCT.
In accordance with the requirements of the 4th section of an Act, passed 12th January, 1852, entitled "An Act to provide for a registration of Deaths, &c." I James Haney of Fairfield township hereby return to you the death of Mathew Hair late of same Township, deceased.
1. Full name of deceased, Mathew Hair
2. Color, white
3. Sex, male
4. Age, about 62 yrs 1 mo
5. Name of Father of deceased, Mathew [this is an error--should be John - ed.]
6. Name of Mother of deceased, [blank]
7. Occupation of deceased, Farmer
8. Place of birth, Somerset Co. Pa.
9. Name of wife of dec'd. if married, Mary Hair
10. Name of issue living, Edwd., Mathew, James, Wm and four daughters
11. Date of birth, [blank]
12. Date of death, about Thursday 1st Dec. 1853
13. Cause of death, disease of the stomach
14. Name of place in which the person died, Fairfield Tp.
15. Name and location of burial ground, Methodist. Fairfield Tp.
AND FURTHER, I do certify that the facts set forth in the above Return, are correct and true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of December, A.D. 1853
James Haney {SEAL}
Sworn & subscribed before me,
Edward J. Keenan, Dp. Register of Wills, &c.
________________________________
Deed: Westmoreland County, PA [abstract]
Samuel Shannon et ux. et al.
To
Levi Griffith, et al.
25 June 1855
Between Samuel Shannon & Margaret his wife; Samuel Dewitt and Isabella his wife; Job Davis and Hester Ann his wife; John Hair and Margaret his wife, and Matthew Hair all of Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA of the First Part,
and
Levi Griffith of Conemaugh Twp. Somerset Co. PA and James Hair of Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland Co. PA of the Second Part.
Parties of the first part (for $1,250.00 paid by the parties of the second part), sell unto the parties of the second part three tracts of land, as follows:
1. Beginning at a post thence by land of Tobias Hull South 54 degrees west 90 perches to a post, South 20 degrees east 33 perches to stones, then by land of Edward Hair South 78 degrees west 40 perches to a post, North 35 degrees west 15 perches to a post, South 57 degrees west 68 perches to a Hickory, then by land of James Haney North 29 degrees west 22 perches to a post, North 55 degrees west 50 perches to a post, then by land of John Caldwell and John Hull North 26 degrees east 216 perches to a red oak and then by land of William Caldwell South 48 degrees east 174 perches to the beginning, containing 165 acres and 3 Roods. See Deed of 27 January 1847.
2. Beginning at a post, then by lands of E. Hoover and Company, South 38 degrees east 132 perches to stones, South 41 degrees west 323 perches to stones, then by lands of Matthiot and Paulls North 31 degrees west 112 perches to stones then by land of George Decker North 41 degrees east 123 perches to a Chestnut, North 38 degrees west 20 perches to a white oak, and then by lands of Samuel Shannon north 41 degrees east 200 perches to the Beginning containing 231 acres and 90 perches, and allowance being part of the William Coudy Tract. See Deed of 8 September 1851 from Jacob D. Mathiot and others to Matthew Hair.
3. Beginning at stones then by land of Matthew Hair South 19 degrees east 30 perches then by land of Tobias Hull, North 52 degrees east 20 perches then by the Johnstown road north 27 degrees east 56 perches to a locust and then by land of Matthew Hair South 55 degrees west 68 perches to the Beginning containing 8 acres 119 perches being part of the Robert Hice tract. See Deed of November 10th 1837* [smudged, might be 1851] from Tobias & Mary Hull to Matthew Hair.
Each of these tracts is located in Fairfield Twp. Westmoreland County, Pa.
Signed by the following in the presence of witnesses: E.W. McKelvey, William H. Hair.
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair, Margaret Elizabeth "her X mark" Hair
Mathew Hair
Received on the date above written, from Levi Griffith and James Hair, the sum of $1250.00.
Witness present at signing: William H. Hair.
Samuel Dewitt, Isabella "her X mark" Dewitt
Samuel Shannon, Margaret Shannon
Job "his X mark" Davis, Hester Ann "her X mark" Davis
John Hair
________________________________
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Orphans Court Docket 4, p. 291
August Term A.D. 1855.
#20 Mathew Hair decd.
The petition of William H. Hair & Sarah Jane Hair minor children of Mathew Hair decd. setting forth that they are minors above the age of 14 years that they have no Guardian to take charge of their persons & Estates Pray the Court to permit them to make choice of a Guardian & they will pray &c.
21 Aug. 1855. The Court appoint William Caldwell Guardian to give Bond in $500.00 as to each minor James Hair & Levi Griffith approved as Security.
Bonds Filed. By the Court.
________________________________
Westmoreland County, PA Probate Record
August Term, A.D. 1855
To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of Westmoreland County.
The petition of Levi Griffith and James Hair Respectfully represent,
That Mathew Hair late of Fairfield Township Westmoreland County died intestate seized in fee of in and to the following real estate to wit a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland County containing two hundred and thirty one acres more or less adjoining lands of Samuel Shannon, George Decker, William Decker & others.
Also a certain tract of land situate in Fairfield Township Westmoreland county containing one hundred Seventy acres more or less bounded by lands of William Hair, James Haney, John Caldwell, John Hall, William Caldwell, Tobias Hull & others.
That said intestate left a widow named Mary & the following children Viz: eleven as follows
Isabella, married to Samuel Dewitt
Mary, married to Levi Griffith
Edward
Margaret, married to Samuel Shannon
John
Hester Ann, married to Job Davis
Mathew
James
William
Sarah Jane
Rebecca, who was married to Hiram Griffith; the said Rebecca is now dead leaving her husband & seven children all minors to wit: George, Mathew, Nathan, William H., James L., Margaret Jane & Dorinda.
That your petitioners have purchased the interest of the following named heirs in both tracts to wit: Samuel Dewitt & Isabella his wife, Edward, John, Job Davis & Hester Ann his wife, Mathew, Samuel Shannon and Margaret his wife.
They therefore pray the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the said Real Estate amongst the Several heirs according to law. And they will pray &C
Levi Griffith
James C. Hair
21 August 1855 Inquest awarded personal notice to be given to all the heirs of full age and notice be served on William Caldwell guardian of Wm. H. Hair and Sarah Jane Hair & on William Caldwell appointed Guardian of Mathew, Nathan, William, James, Margaret Jane, Florinda [previously, this name read "Dorinda"-ed.] and George Griffith.
[following is an abstract of a longer section]
Inquisition was taken at the late dwelling house of Mathew Hair in the Twp. of Fairfield, Co. of Westmoreland on the 30th of October, 1855 before William Welsh, High Sheriff, annexed by the oaths and affirmations of twelve free honest and lawful men of this bailiwick, as follows: John Caldwell Esq., James Mathews, John M. Smith, Isaac Decker, Archabel Mathews, David B. Caldwell, William G. Hair, Tobias Hull, George S. Peoples, John Trimble, William Brown, George Mechling, Esq.
They there "did find that the same lands and tenements with their appurtenances could not be parted and divided to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole thereof." They then further found "that the said lands and tenements with their appurtenances will accommodate two of the children of the said deceased."
________________________________
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