Who settled here
The first European settlers were mostly Scots-Irish and German, with smaller numbers of Irish and English. Robert Hanna, born in Ireland, leased lots at Hanna's Town, the original county seat, mostly to Scots-Irish tenants, who built log homes and farmed. Germans also settled the area. The county seat moved to Greensburg in 1786.
On July 13, 1782, Senecas, aided by the British, attacked and burned Hanna's Town, which had about 30 houses.
Why families moved on
- War on the frontier. The 1782 destruction of Hanna's Town shows how dangerous this frontier was during the Revolution. Families who lost homes or farms may have moved on, in either direction.
- Whiskey Rebellion county. Westmoreland was one of the four counties at the center of the 1794 uprising. The sources used for this guide do not tie it to migration to Ohio.
Records that say exactly why a family left are rare. Treat these as leads, and look for evidence about your own ancestors in deeds, tax lists, court cases, and church records.
Clues to look for
- Check tax lists around 1782 and 1794 for families who disappear.
- Search Bedford County records for pre-1773 events.
