Miscellaneous Newspaper Articles From the Past
Westmoreland County Pennsylvania

The Gazette, Gettysburg, PA
April 29, 1803

A Robbery

On the night of the 14th instant; the wagon of David Young, of Westmoreland county was plundered of two bags of silver, containing about six hundred dollars, the property of Mr. Joseph Taylor, of Greensburg. The wagon with several others, had halted for the night, at a tavern on the South Mountain, and whilt the waggoners were at supper, the thief entered the wagon and secured his prey. Immediate search was made, but no intelligence has yet been obtained from which the owner can expect to recover his property.

The Sprig of Liberty, Gettysburg, PA
July 13, 1804

Greensburg, June 23

On Wednesday last, at a court of Oyer and Terminer, held for this county, came on the trial of John Gibson, on the indictment for the murder of ____ Shannon.

It appeared from the testimony that but one blow had been given, which proved fatal to the deceased. Not the least sign of life could be discovered after the stroke had been given, which was on the head. A misunderstanding, it appeared, had long subsisted between the parties, and the the prisoner, at the time of giving the fatal stroke, had discovered an unfeeling if not revengeful disposition. The circumstance rendered it doubtful whether that offence did not amount to willful murder.

President Roberts in delivering the charge of the court to the jury, stated the testimony with much accuracy; and observed, that the court, in the course of the trial, had entertained considerable doubts as to the construction which ought to be put on the crime; but were of the opinion, that at least it amounted to manslaughter; and that the shade of difference between manslaughter and absolute murder in this case was so slight as not to be easily discernable. The jury brought the verdict of manslaughter only; upon which the court adjudged the prisoner to ten years imprisonment at hard labour in the penitentiary house, one year whereof in a solitary cell, and to pay all costs of the prosecution.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
September 8, 1819

Mrs. Kitty Hontsberger died in Westmoreland county, Pa., on the evening of the 13th ult. In consequence of having been bit by a rattlesnake on the morning of that day. She was bled - opiates, olive oil and volatile alkali were administered, but all without the desired effect.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
December 1, 1819

A Captive returns

Peter Klingensmith, a son of the late Philip Klingensmith of Hempfield township, returned Wednesday last to his friends in this country, after an absence of 38 years - 9 years of that time a captive among the Seneca Indians. He was taken at Fort Klingensmith, the residence of his father, four miles from this town (Greensburg), when a boy of eight years old, while employed in making hay, by a party of that nation, who at the same time massacred his father, mother and aunt. After many fruitless inquiries, he was given up for dead. His existence was accidentally discovered, by a Mr. Seikes, who met him in Canada, during the late war, and heard from him such of his recollections as induced a correspondence with Mr. Dunn, post master of this place, on the subject, and resulted in the conviction of his identity. He was then written for, to come home and receive a part of his father's estate, and has accordingly come home for that purpose. He married a Seneca woman, by whom he has five children, at his residence on the Canada shore of Lake Erie, where he cultivates a farm. In person and countenance he strongly resembles his brother Gasper Klingensmith. He intends to return and reside with his family in Canada. He talks good English and says he lives in a neighborhood of English people. - Greensburg, Gaz.

The Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA
November 24, 1819

Married on Thursday, the 28th ult., by the Rev. Mr. Speer, Mr. David Maclean, editor of the Greensburg Gazette, to Miss Jane Morrow, daughter of Paul Morrow, Esq., of Greensburgh.

January 12, 1820
Greensburg, Dec. 31

On Saturday evening last, a young man of the name of Jesse Beaumont, was frozen to death, in passing from one house to another, less than a mile in distance, in South Huntingdon township; he had drunk freely of ardent spirits during the day. About the middle of the next day his body was found. Republican

The Republican Compiler
May 17, 1820

Married on Thursday last, Mr. Thomas Johnston of Westmoreland county, Pa., to Miss Eliza Paxton, daughter of the Rev. William Paxton, of Fairfield, Adams county.

They Lycoming Gazette, Williamsport, Pennsylvania
May 1, 1821

Died at his seat in Unity township, Westmoreland county, on the 5th, William Findley Esq., aged 80 years.

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
November 6 Page 4

Accident

On Thursday, the 17th ultimo, a young man, named John Thompson, about 18 or 19 years of age, while employed at the cidar press of Mr. Christian Brenneman, in North Huntingdon township, was instantly killed, by the large beam of the press falling on his neck. Mr. Robert Fulton, with whom the young man lives, was severely injured at the same time. - Westmoreland Repub..

Gettysburg Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 25 1822 Page 3

Greenburgh, Dec. 13

Melancholy Occurrence

On Saturday evening last, Mr. James Crawford, who resided about three miles east of this borough, perished near Mr. Baldridge's Mill, on the Loyalhanna. His body was found in the morning following by his son, in the creek, the lower part covered with water. He was advanced in years, and was a harmless, inoffensive and honest citizen. - Republican.

Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
June 18 1823 Page 2

Greensburgh, Pa. June 13

Highway Robbery

We learn by the passengers who arrived on the eastern stage on Wednesday night that on the preceding evening as Mr. Patrick Beegly, who resides in the vicinity of this place, was crossing the Allegheny mountain, about two miles west of Stattler's Tavern, he was attacked by three armed ruffians, one of whom discharged a pistol at him, on which the other tow seized his horse, dragged Mr. Beegly into the woods, and robbed him of Forty-Nine Hundred Dollars. We did not understand that he sustained any personal injury. It is stated that Mr. B. called at Mr. Stattler's Tavern, where he intended to stop for the night, but the house being crowded, he was compelled to ride a few miles further to procure lodgings, and while pursuing his journey, was attacked by the villains. He was on his return from Baltimore, where he had disposed of a large quantity of bacon, lard, & c.; with which fact, no doubt, the robbers were acquainted. The neighbors, it is stated, collected and scoured the mountain, but without affect. Mr. Beegly, his brother Thomas and Mr. Daniel Turney, in company, have successfully pursued the business of droving for some time, with advantage to the country in which they reside.