Person:Joel Ferree (5)

From DAR Lineage Books Vol 15, page 145.
He had a powder mill on Pequea Creek and furnished ammunition to the army.

From DAR Lineage Books Vol 21, page 246.
He assisted (in the American Revolution) by furnishing arms to the militia .

Heisterkamp's Annotated Landis Ferree Tree (as of 30 April 2004)

Joel's children were all born of his first marriage.

Joel was noted as a gunsmith. Some people believe that Joel might have learned his gunsmithing from his cousin, Philip LeFevre (1710-1761). A second theory is that one of the original Ferree men or Isaac LeFevre (1669-17 56), learned gunsmithing when they resided in Germany. The presumption is that they knew they were going to live in the wild wilderness of the new world infested with wild animals and Indians. Also, they "knew" that their safety and life might depend upon the gun, as well as that guns occasionally need repair. Then this knowledge was then passed along to Joel Ferree. The second theory suggests that in the flight from France, the family anticipated that they would emigrate to America.

In 1752, on reaching maturity, Joel received land from his father, and set up a rifle making shop. In a deed dated July 2, 1752, Joel is referred to as "Joel Ferree gunsmith of Leacock Township." In 1758 Joel is recorded in the tax assessment records of Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. According to a map drawn by Mrs. Charles I. Landis, about 1900, Joel Ferree's gun shop was located on the west side of Paradise, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on the north side of Pequea Creek.

Joel made gun barrels and/or guns or during the American Revolution. This fact is documented by two letters from and to the Council of Safety in 1775.

From Pennsylvania Colonial Records Vol. X, p. 290.
Council of Safety
Minutes of the Council of Safety

July 22, 1775--At a meeting of the Committee of Safety.
Present. - Benjamin Franklin, - Daniel Roberdeau, - Robert Morris, - Robert White, John Cadwalader, - Samuel Morris Jr. - George Ross, - George Gray, - Owen Biddle.

Resolved, that a messenger be sent to Joel Ferree, of Lancaster County, with a letter from this Committee, requesting him immediately to complete the Guns wrote for as patterns and to know how many he can furnish of the same kind and at what price.

From Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 1, p. 543.

Letter from Joel Ferree to Benjamin Poultney
Leacock Township, August 7th 1775.

Friend Poultney: I take this opportunity of informing you that some time ago as I had a letter from George Ross, Esqr., by order of the Committee, Making enquiry what Qt. or number of Barrels I could supply em with, to which I return'd answer in the Particulars he demanded. I was of opinion then to have been able to provide 15 or perhaps 20 per week, but as I am determined to use my endeavors to promote the Business and to serve my Country in the common Cause, I am about to enlarge my works in so extensive a Manner as to turn Out between 30 & 40 weekly. My Diligence in the Affair shall be as quick as possible. It will not require much time to complete my works in order for such Dispatch of Business; I hope a few days will do.

The Patterns were sent to Stewart's store the same day you was there. I intend you shou'd let the Committee what I am about doing to supply 'em as punctual as in my Power. You may let them see this, by which they judge whether or not it will tend greatly to further the Dispatch of the finishing off the Arms so needed.

This from your friend,
Joel Ferree

History of the Peter's Creek Valley and The First Settlers". Compiled by Noah Thompson 1973.
Yohogania County, History of Clariton, PA

The portion of the whole allotted to Lancaster County was 600 and the price fixed for the gun complete with 18-inch bayonet was four pounds.

The manufacture of muskets proceeded, but not without some unexpected delays, due to demands of the workers for higher wages. Later Ferree joined the colors and took part in a number of engagements. At the close of the war, he migrated westward, following the Glades Trail to Robb's Ferry, now West Baden. From there he followed what was then a well-marked road that brought him to the Monongahela River opposite where Clairton is now located. Ferree, however finding a few settlers, decided to remain among them and took up a tract of land now traversed by Route 51 at Large, Pennsylvania where he again began the manufacture of guns. He built a house, a shop, and powder factory for he also engaged in the manufacture of gun powder. His neighbor, Kuykendall, had nine daughters, and one of these daughters (Christiana), his son Joel Ferree, Jr. chose for his wife.

MyFamily.com, Linda Worstell, 14 March 2005
Fort Ligonier and Its Times by C. Hale Sipe, published 1932, page 556

Soldiers Slain at Fort McIntosh - Letters from the Harried Frontier

"About this time, Andrew Vaughn and Joel Ferree were killed south of the Ohio in Allegheny County. Ferree and son had gone out in the morning to hunt deer. Having killed one, Ferree sent his son back home for a horse. When the boy returned, he found his father dead, having been shot and scalped."

In Joel's "will," made November 3, 1797, probated July 13, 1801, and recorded in Lancaster County Courthouse, he bequeathed an Air Gun to his grandson , Joel Ferree (1771-1813), later Colonel Joel of the War of 1812. The will stated the gun was in the possession of Joel's father, Jacob Ferree (1750-1807). This Air Gun was evidently highly prized by Joel to mention it in his will. Joel's will also provided for the freeing of his Negro slaves, three in number.

Joel was killed in 1801 The following, as reported by Major George Bennett Ferree, was taken from a letter dated January 22, 1902, from Weber Lindsay of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to George Ferree's uncle, Simpson E. Ferree, who was then practicing law in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. They were trying to trace a Joel Ferree who died in 1801. "This Joel went to visit Jacob Ferree, his son-in-law and nephew, (cousins marrying cousins), who lived in Moon Township, now Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1801. Joel came to the house to get his rifle and said that he was going back in the woods to shoot a deer he had seen there on this bright spring day.

"It was so close to the house that two shots were heard being fired. Some time elapsed after this and as Joel did not return to the house, a search was instituted and he was found lying behind a log, quite dead and scalped, and footprints in the light snow, showed Indians had committed the crime after he had shot the deer."

Joel was reportedly shot about 300 yards south and west of Jacob's house.

Joel is buried at the Ferree Cemetery in Paradise, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. At least this is presumed based on a headstone inscribed "In memory of Joel Ferree who died June 19, 1801." Probably his body was transported back to Paradise by his brother-in-law, Peter Baker, who drove a Conestoga wagon between Pittsburgh and Lancaster at that time.

Abstracts of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Wills - 1786-1820, page 64.

His will names his wife Sarah Ferree and children: Isaac, Leah wife of Adam Lightner, Rachel wife of Jacob Ferree. Grandchildren: Joel, Isaac, Elijah, Uriah, and Reuben (Children of Isaac); Joel, Rebecca, Jane, and Elizabeth (children of Jacob).
Executor: Isaac Ferree. Leacock Township.

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Estates & Probates, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Will Book H, page 95

Joel Ferree, deceased - Joel of Leacock township

To beloved wife, Sarah, - mulatto girl Peggy, until she turns 21 and then freed.

son Isaac - plantation and tract of land in Leacock and Strasburg townships containing 140 acres, also 1clock and 1 wild cherry desk.

5 grandsons - Joel, Isaac, Elijah, Uriah and Reuben, all sons of Isaac - all wearing apparel

7 grand-daughters - Rachel, Susanna, Mary, Jane, Leah, Elizabeth, Rebecca - daughters of my son Isaac - household and kitchen furniture

daughter Leah, wife of Adam Lightner - 5 schillings - she had been advanced her share

Jacob Ferree, late the husband of my daughter Rachel, deceased - all my tract of land now in his tenure on Peters Creek in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania containing 300 acres. After Jacob's death - land to go to grandchildren - Joel, Rebecca, Jane and Elizabeth, the 4 children of Jacob by my daughter Rachel.

West Jefferson Hills Historical Society - Internet - 3 May 2005

Feree (Ferree), Joel: He was born 8 August 1731 and died 19 June 1801. A brother of Jacob Feree, Joel assisted the American cause by serving as a member of the Safety Committee of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

His wives were (1) Mary Copeland, (2) Jane Johnson, (3) Susan Green, and (4) Mrs. Sally Davis.

On 6 September 1785, Joel Ferree acquired an original land patent of 323 acres which was bordered by the land of John Barclay, Zadock Wright, William Wright, William McMullen, William Carrell, and John Large. He called the land "Ferree's Purchase." In 1801 Ferree was murdered by Indians near Coraopolis and is buried at the Feree Family Cemetery in Coraopolis, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
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(This is an error. It is probable that he was returned to Lancaster for burial. See comments above.)