Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
ALLEGHENY'S ORIGIN.
The Deed Of the City Site Found at
Bedford.
4 MEMORABLE MEETING In 1772.
Over Two Centuries of Local Growth
Tersely COntrasted.
REDSKINS AND PALgFACEs WERE in IT

The broad acres which faced the frowning
battlements of old Fort Pitt were, of course,
once a bowling wilderness. The three rivers
shone like lines of silver in the aforesaid
wilderness, before oil refuse, sewage, and
other incidents of the presence and occupa-
ton of the land by the then hated pale
faces, away back in the year 1772.
On the 10Th Of December a memorable
meeting took place somewhere on the land
which is now become Allegheny. The &C
quisitive paleface met the covetous rekskin
with promises, perhaps, of wampum. fire
water, skins, or whatever was the going cur
rency, and the formal dicker for Allegheny's
site was concluded amid halo Of smoke
from the kinnekinnick pipes of the restive
savages. That bargain was committed to
writing, and the savage was driven still fur
ther westward from the Allegheny Noun
tains. For years the deed has slept the
sleep of the just and the unjust, but it has
been brought to light by the Bedford cor
respondent of THE DISPATCH, and is fur
nished verbatim, as follows:
A GREAT OLD DEED.
Know all men. by these presents that
Whereas certain Garret Pendergrass Senior
of Bedford Settlement in the province of Penn
sylvanis and county of Cumberland was settled
some number of years past by leave Of the
chiefs or deputy's OF the Six Nations Of Indians
on Tract of Land where Bedfordis now situ-
ated while the said Land was yet the property
of us and our said chiefs and deputy's said
Pendergrass beind dispossessed of said land
In time of war between the French and En-
glish and before said Pendergrass could salty
return to live on said land it was entered upon
by people who have from time to time and yet
continues to keep said Pendergrass from the
Enjoyment Of said tract of land said Pender-
grass At the last Treaty Held at Fort Pitt with
the Representatives OF the said Six nations in
formed our said Chiefs or their Representa-
tiyes or deputys that he was deprived OF the
Above Tract Of land as above mentioned.
Whereupon us and our said deputy's did then
at the Said Treaty give him the said Pender-
grass our leave in writing under our hands to
settle on Tract of land called the Long Reach
near the mouth of Yaughyagain but the said
last mentioned Tract being at the time of the
said Treaty or before it was Improved by some
other person or persons Contrary to our Ex-
pectation for which reason he the said Pender-
grass has not obtained Possession Of the Latter
mentioned Tract, and can not Quiatly Enjoy
nither OF the two above mentioned Tracts
TERMS OF THE GRANT.
Now therefore that we the under or within
bound Subscribers who have hereunto caused
our names to be set and have put our marks
the first of us assigning being one of the Chiefs
and the other two deputys of the Said Six
Nations do give and grant to the Said Garret
Pendergrass his heirs and trustees forever our
full leave and liberty Of us and for and in be-
half of the Said Six Nations to settle on a
Tract of Land on the North Side of the Ali
gaina River oposate to Fort Pitt to joyn the
Said river on the one side and to Extend one
mile and half from the landing on the North |
Side of the Said Ahgania River opposite to
Fort Pitt in form Of a Cemi Circle from Said
landing hereby granting to him and his heirs |
Trustees and assigns full lllioerty to build houses
make improvements and Cultivate the said
Tract of Land or any part thereof and that the |
said Pendergass may the more Quiatly Enjoy |
the said Land and any benefit that him his |
heirs or assigns shall make or can make there |
by we do for ourselves and in behalf of the said
six nations discharge all people whatsoever |
from molesting or disturbing him the said PEN |
session OF quiat Enjoyment of the said land or |
any part thereof and we do by these presents |
firmly engage and promise TO answer all obiec- |
tions that any Indian Tribe or Tribes may have |
to the making of the above settlement
In witness whereof we have caused our
names hereunto to be subscribed and have |
hereunto set our marks In the Month Of Feb |
ruary in the year of our Lord God.
One thousand Seven hundred q Seventy.
Signed, Anouguit
Enishshera or Captn Henry MountaFe II NJ |
Counehraca hecat or the white Mingo
Signed and agreed to before James Elliot
GARRET PENDERGRAss
Bedford IS.
Came before me the subscriber one of his
Majesties Justices of the Peace for said County
the within named Indians viz: Anouguif |
Euishshera or Capt Henry Mintore Connehraca
hecat or the White Mingo, and acknowledged
the within Instrument of writing or bill of sale
TO be their Act & Deed & desired that the same
might Recorded as such Given under my hand
and seal in the Month Of February in the year
Of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
seventy JAMES ELLIOT
Recorded 18th September l7T2
A. ST. CLAIR, Recorder.
Although there are several old residents in
there are few, if any, who can boast
If 2 speaking &C luaintance with Methuselah.
md the personal remembrances belonging
% the above epoch in Allegheny City was
leld to be clearly without the pale of the
iotice of the most superlatively oldest in
labitant But to historians and antigua
'ians copy of such a deed will prove an
nestimsble treasure. The tracing out of the
leeded subdivisions OF the tract would prove
IN excellent mental antidote to diseases of
he mind and brain superinduced by holi-
lav pood cheer