Person:Matthew Ritchie (2)

Colonel Matthew Ritchie

• 28 Jan 1777 - Served in the 2nd Yohogania Battalion - Captain George Redman, 2nd Yohogania Battalion -

Lieutenant Charles Reed, Lieutenant Thomas Reed, Lieutenant Francis Reno, Ensign Lewis Reno, Private Abram Ritchey, Captain David Ritchey, Major Matthew Ritchie, Private William Ritchey, Lieutenant John Roadarmel, Captain John Robinson, Captain Philip Ross, Captain Samuel Semple, Captain James Scott, Lieutenant John Shannon, Private William Shaw, Private James Shearly, 13th Va., killed in service, Private Greenbury Shores, Private David Smith, Private Thomas Southwait, Samuel South, rank not stated, Walter Sparks, Oath of Allegiance, Captain Josiah Springer, Private Stewart, Colonel John Stephenson, Lieutenant James Stephenson, Ensign Marcus Stephenson, Captain Andrew Swearingen, Ensign David Steel, Lieutenant Michael Taggart, Major Henry Taylor, Lieutenant Levington Thomas, Lieutenant Andrew Tone, Colonel George Valandingham, Captain Joseph Vance, Ensign John Vanmeter, Captain Reason Virgin, Ensign Michael Vanbuskirk, first appointed by Gov. Horatio Sharpe to Cdl. Alexander Beall’s Corps, Maryland Militia, Ensign George Waddle (WeddIe), Private Richard Wade, Lieutenant Richard Waller, Ensign Thomas Warrin, Lieutenant James Wherry Acquila Whitaker, Oath of Allegiance, Lieutenant John White Aaron Williams, Oath of Allegiance, David Williams, Oath of Allegiance, Private John James Wood, Captain James Wright, Captain Joshua Wright, Captain Zadock Wright,

• 1779 - Counterfeit Money - The law authorized the court to appoint suitable persons to decide upon counterfeit money. Accordingly, we find that in 1779, Thomas Gist, Thomas Warren, and John Irwin, of Pittsburg, Matthew Ritchie and Dorsey Pentecost, of the then county of Westmoreland, but in 1781 were residents of Washington County, were appointed and sworn in as judges of counterfeit money.
• Pvt. Matthew Ritchie ? settled land in 1772 in Chartiers/Cecil Township; and Harmon; and in 1774 in Tomlinson.- in 1781 Matthew Richey Esquire living in Cecil Township with 1000 acres, was appointed 24 Dec, 1781 a Sub-lieutenant of Washington County so with Daniel Leet was the second highest ranking militia officer in this army listed as going as a private when he was in fact of higher rank, and one of the richer men on this expedition, Matthew Ritchie is listed on the rosters above as being a private in the 1st Class (or squad) of Captain Miller?s Company so he is a prime example of that phenomenon. CWCW- will listed for 1798.

Source - The 1782 Volunteer Militia from Washington County, Pa., And their Moravian Indian victims.

By George C. Williston

URL http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gwilli824/moravian.html

• The Masonic Lodge was constituted by Brother Matthew Ritchie, D.D.G.M., June 25, 1792, and was numbered 54.
• Matthew Ritchie's Will Written in Washington County, Pennsylvania on the 25th day of February 1798. Proved on the 1st day of March 1798. Executors are his brother John & Alexander Addison. Witnesses are John Culbertson, Parker Campbell.
• Washington. Wife Isabella. Bros:John & Craig. Alexander Addison also mentioned. Owned land in partnership with Presley Nevill on Saw Mill Run; land on Robinson's Run near Gabriel Walker with Presley Nevill & Charles Morgan; land on King's Creek adj." Old Blazier"; the following held in common with Wm Bruce: land at head of Kings Creek, at head of North Fork of Chartiers Creek, lots and store in Washington, lots and store in Burgettstown occupied by bro John & David Bruce. Owned land on Miller's Run that he bought from Gen. George Washington.
• In the month of March, 1802, Absalom Baird, then sheriff of Washington County, advertised the two thousand eight hundred and thirteen (2,813) acres of land for sale, they being "The Lands and tenements of Col. Matthew Ritchie, Deceased, in my Bailiwick." He was ordered to levy on the land, "as well as a certain debt of $6409.20., being the two last instalments due upon a mortgage which is held by Bushrod Washington, William Augusta Washington, Geroge Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Samuel Lewis, Executors, and Martha Washington, Executrix, of Gen. George Washington." In pursuance of this order, the premises were exposed at public vendue on the day advertised, and were sold to Alexander Addison for sixty dollars, he being the highest bidder. The sheriff's deed bears date May 4, 1802.

1.   Crumrine, Boyd; Franklin Ellis; and Austin N Hungerford. History of Washington County, Pennsylvania: with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Apollo, Pennsylvania: L. H. Everts & Co.; Closson Press, 1882; 1984)
   Page 220, 221, 1882.

   Colonel William Crawford came before the Court & made Oath that Burton Lucas was a Subaltern Officer in the service of Virginia in Colonel William Byrd’s Regiment in the year 1758 and 1759, in consequence of which he obtained a warrant from Lord Dunmore, while Governor of Virginia, for 2,000 acres of land, which was assigned by the said Lucas to Matthew Ritchie & William Bruce. Dated: 28 Sep 1779 Augusta County, VA

2.   Creigh, Alfred. History of Washington County from its first settlement to the present time, first under Virginia as Yohogania, Ohio, or Augusta County until 1781, and subsequently under Pennsylvania: with sketch of all the townships, boroughs, and villages, etc.; and to which is added a full account of the celebrated Mason and Dixon's line, the Whiskey Insurrection, Indian warfare, traditional and local historical events. (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: B. Singerly, 1871).

   General Washington's Land
   "From our county records we learn the history of this land. A patent was issued July 5, 1775, by John, Earl of Dunmore, Lieutenant and Governor-General of the colony of Virginia, to George Washington, for two thousand eight hundred and thirteen (2, 813 acres) of land, in Augusta County, in the State of Virginia, on the waters of Miller's Run, one of the branches of Shirtee Creek, which is a branch of the Ohio River. Gen. Washington held this land until June 1, 1796, when he conveyed the same to Matthew Richie, Esq., of this county, in consideration of the sum of twelve thousand dollars. Witnesses to the deed were James Ross, Esq., and Charles Lee, the deed being acknowledged in Philadelphia by the grantor, before James Biddle, President of the Court of Common Pleas of the first district. The payments on the land were $3180 cash, and the balance, $8820, in three equal annual payments with interest."
   
   "Matthew Richie, Esq., in his advertisement to sell the land after he had purchased it, says, there are thirteen farms cleared and cultivated on the land, which is of excellent quality, rich, level, well timbered, and well watered."
   
   "Gen. Washington came to visit his lands (which were, when patented, in Augusta County, Virginia), and brought ejectments for their recovery. During his stay, the mother of James Reed (silversmith formerly of this place) cooked a dinner on or near the lands for the General, and on his return stayed one night with Col. John Cannon, the proprietor of Canonsburg."
   
   "Before the sale to Matthew Richie, Esq., the record of the court shows that suit was instituted for the recovery of this land."

3.   Washington County Wills at Rootsweb
   http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~treasures/pa/washington/washingtoncowills.htm