Person:William Maxwell (32)

Information on William Maxwell

From "New River Notes, Old Mercersburg" website:

The settlers of the West Conococheague, as early as 1748, found it necessary to organize themselves for the defense of life and property. The Indians had long forgotten that "the Indians and English must live in love as long as the sun gave light," and the Provincial Government was obliged to frequently renew the treaties when the "Chain of Friendship" would be polished by presents of English goods. This "brightening the chain" proved so profitable to the Indians and they became so skillful in drawing out "well piled up" presents that the system became a burden to the white men.

The Quaker Government had been slow to use anything like a display of force with the red men, and settlers had been obliged to protect themselves; this they had done by organizing a militia and building private stockades and block houses. In 1748 we find Major William Maxwell and Lieutenant William Smith and John Winton, of Peters township, guarding the west side. The names James and Joshua Patterson, Irvins, William Rankin, Matthew Shields, senior and junior, and Daniel Shields, who all belonged to the militia or rangers, sound like West Conococheague names.

Maxwell's Fort was a private fort built by William Maxwell. It stood between Welsh Run and Upton, on Judge Maxwell's farm, afterwards the Duffield farm. The fort was built of logs and was but a few rods distant from the old stone mansion which was built later by the Maxwells and is still standing. This was formerly the home of James Duffield, Esq., of Welsh Run, within whose recollection there were still standing some remnants of the old fort.

Source: http://www.newrivernotes.com/pa/mercer1.htm

From "History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Illustrated", 1887:

JOHN REYNOLDS had a warrant for land, in what is now LURGAN TOWNSHIP, dated October 6, 1738, and surveyed May 16,1743. His neighbors at the time were ROBERT EDMONSON, SAMUEL REYNOLDS and EDWARD SHIPPEN, ESQ. In what is now HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, warrants were issued in 1737 to MATTHEW PATTON and GEORGE LEONARD; in 1738 to DAVID BLACK and SAMUEL MOREHEAD. Their neighbors at the time were SAMUEL JONES, NATHANIEL NEWLINS, ROBERT PATTON, JAMES BROTHERTON, ADAM HOOPS, BENJAMIN GASS, JAMES YOUNG, THOMAS MOREHEAD and THOMAS PATTERSON. In MONTGOMERY, as it now exists, was PHILIP DAVIS in 1737; JAMES HARLAND and JOHN DAVYRICH were his neighbors; in 1749 THOMAS EVANS, with DAVID ALEXANDER, JOHN DAVIS and AARON ALEXANDER as neighbors; in 1743, WILLIAM MAXWELL, with JOHN McLELLAND and ROBERT McCOY as neighbors; and in same year, ROBERT CULBERSON, with WILLIAM and THOMAS DINWIDDY and JAMES GARDNER as neighbors. About the same time, also, ALEXANDER BROWN, THOMAS SELLERS, JOHN McCLELLAN, WALTER BEATTY, ALEX WHITE, WILSON HALLIDAY and MARTHA HOWRY were settlers. In the present SOUTHAMPTON, REV. JOHN BLAIN and THOMAS EDMUNDSON had warrants as early as 1743.

From Mercersburg Area Chamber of Commerce website:

(14) FORT MAXWELL - On the right is a ravine that drains south into the Conococheague Creek. In this area was a mill owned by William Maxwell who built a fort near the Conococheague in 1755. Fort Maxwell was part of the chain of forts patrolled by the militia. On April 23, 1757, the fort was attacked and John Martin and William Blair were killed. Patrick McClellan died later of shoulder wounds.

(15) WILLIAM MAXWELL HOUSE - The stone house on the right was built by the same William Maxwell after the war, when he had become a judge.

[Source: http://www.mercersburg.org/docs/brochures/ConococheagueTourMapBro.pdf]

From "John Brown, Pioneer of Broad Run", by David Armstrong:

One George Brown was the son-in-law of one William Maxwell and in 1754 they held land in partnership in Peters Township. This Maxwell had land at Aughwick (Burnt Cabins) as well as a plantation called Swanpons in Virginia. He also held land in Virginia on Sleepy Creek. [Source:http://www.arfhs.org/armstrong/BROWNJohnSr.pdf]

Early Land Acquisition in Frederick County, VA

• G-548: William Mackwell (Maxwell) of Pennsylvana, 358 acres in Frederick County. Surv. Mr. Guy Broadwater. Adj. his Old Patent. Richard Paris, Capt. Morgan. 13 June 1751. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 50].

Records of William Maxwell in Frederick County, VA

• H-677: Jacob Morgan of Frederick County, 357 acres in said County near Swan Ponds including his father's improvemnent which he purchased of James Langley. Surv. by Mr. Thomas Rutherford Jr. Adj. ____ Beale, Robert Stogdon, William Nealey, William Maxwell. 15 Sept. 1756. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 87].

• M-282: Richard Morgan & John Morgan sons of Jacob Morgan, 211 acres on Swan Ponds of Opeckon in said County. Surv. Mr. Thomas Rutherford. Adj. Jacob Morgan, William Maxwell, Lord Fairfax. 2 Aug. 1764. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 158].

• O-111: George Neely of Frederick County, 83 acres on Opeckon in said County. Surv. Thomas Rutherford. Adj. John Neelly, Jacob Morgan, William Maxwell, Richard Pearis. 8 Jan. 1768. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 194].

• O-112: Jacob Morgan of Frederick County, 82 acres on Opeckon near Swan Ponds in said County. Surv. Thomas Rutherford. Adj. William Maxwell, John Neelly, Richard Pearis. 9 Jan. 1768. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, pg. 194].