Historic Hanna's Town

The First County Seat West of the Allegheny's Hanna's Town, an 18th century, town named for Robert Hanna. was the first County Seat in Pennsylvania west of the Allegheny's. The legislative act which created Westmoreland County. stated that "until such times as a court house be built, the courts are to be held at the house of Robert Hanna." Westmoreland County at that time included all of southwestern Pennsylvania. Robert Hanna, who came from York County, Pennsylvania, served as a justice for Bedford County in 1771 and 1772. When Westmoreland County was formed out of Bedford. he was again named a justice. Robert Hanna laid out lots upon his tract of land and planned a county town. Each owner was instructed to erect a house eighteen feet square within two years of purchase. Unfortunately, all the deeds were not recorded and there is no accurate description of the town in existence.

A serious boundary dispute caused bitter feelings between Pennsylvania and Virginia during 1774 and 1775. Conflicts arose between Virginia constables and Pennsylvania officials at Hanna's Town and these confrontations nearly resulted in a border war. A permanent boundary, was finally agreed upon, April 1, 1784. Max, 16, 1775 was also an important date at Hanna's Town. A gathering was held to discuss England's violation of the rights of the American colonists. The "Hanna's Town Resolves", written at this meeting, stated that the people of Westmoreland, though loyal to King George III, would resist the tyrannical acts of the British Parliament. There is no copy of the Resolves to show the signatures on the original document or to point to its author. However, General Arthur St. Clair did have a hand in drawing up the Resolves. In a letter to a friend, St. Clair wrote, "I got a clause added to it by which they bind themselves to assist civil magistrates in the execution of the laws they have been accustomed to be governed by.

During the Revolutionary War, times were difficult at Hanna's Town. Many left their homes to fight for independence; those who did not were engaged in the protection of the frontiers. There were numerous Indian incursions causing forts and strongholds to be built for the safety of the inhabitants. A stockade had been erected at Hanna's Town during the troubled times of 1774, and another during the Revolutionary War period. This stockade protected the people and the surrounding countryside during the attack of 1782.

Hanna's Town was sacked and burned on Saturday, July 13, 1782 at approximately 2:00 PM. A large raiding party, consisting of Seneca Indians accompanied by some officers of the British Indian Department, came down from Fort Niagara. Fortunately for the inhabitants, a reaping party spotted the enemy and gave warning and those present fled into the fort. One fatality was a young girl named Peggy Shaw. She, as tradition has it, saw a child in danger and ran to rescue him. In so doing, she was wounded and died two weeks later. The raiding party went to Miller's Station about three miles south of Hanna's Town. There they tomahawked five people. Mrs. Robert Hanna and her eldest daughter, Jane, along with some others were taken prisoner to Montreal, Canada and not released until after the 1783 treaty of peace was signed.

Archaeological investigations at Hanna's Town began in the fall of 1969 to determine the locations of the structures if possible and to recover the artifacts which early settlers left behind them. To date, more than one million artifacts have been recovered from the site and the locations of approximately twelve areas of occupation determined. The exact site of one of Hanna's Town forts was located. Thus far, Robert Hanna's house, the one room jail, and the stockade fort have been reconstructed. Hanna's Town is open for guided tours. Greeting you at the door of the log building that served as home, tavern and courthouse will be a hostess or guide in colonial garb. Guides are well versed on the history and archaeology of the site.