Individual Details
Henry Van Meter
(1720 - 1803)
"The Ten Mile Country & Its Pioneer Families," by Howard L. Leckey,
p.32-34. Waynesburg Republican Vol. 4, pp. 32-38, says: "There is some confusion concerning Henry Van Meter and his Martha, who purchased land on which he settled in 1769 when he brought his family to the Tenmile Country with the Swans, Hughs, Hillers, and O'Neils. This was the party led by Thomas Gist, which settled on lands sold by the Indian trader John Owens of Fort Pitt in 1757 to Abraham Teagarden of Frederick Co., MD. It was the land on which John Swan and Henry Van Meter each built a fort on separate branches of a run variously known as Enoch's Run, Swan's Run and Pumpkin Run.
"His family were members of the goshen Baptist Church which had been established at Garrard's Fort by Jacob's family. He took an active part in the affairs of his community. He became one of the first Commissioners of the new Washington County, served one term as an Associate Judge, and then when Greene County was formed, was serving as County Treasurer when he died in 1802. During the Revolution he maintained a fort at his residence on Swan's Run. He is buried on the hill above the house as is his wife and probably his son Jesse, but no markers remain." His will was probated in Greene County 2-10-1803, Book 1/35, but the file on the estate is missing. Martha who outlived her husband bysome 22 years is named in the will. There is a copyist's error in the will book where "Abraham" is named instead of "Abosolom."
(1) 1769: Brought his family to the Tenmile Country (Upper Monongahela Valley) with the SWANs, HUGHES, HILLERs, and O'NEILs. The party was led by Thomas GIST and settled on land sold by the Indian Trader, John OWENS of Fort Pitt, in 1757 to Abraham TEAGARDEN of Frederick Co., MD. On this land, John SWAN and Henry VANMETER each built a fort, on separate branches of a run variously known as Enoch's Run, Swan's Run and now Pumpkin Run. His son Joseph VANMETER took up land adjoining his father's. This area became Greene Co., PA. His home stood where the spring-house of the PRICE home "now" stands.
(1) Member of the Goshen Baptist Church, which had been established at Garards
Fort by Jacob VANMETER's family.
(1) 1772: Henry and Jacob, and John VANMETER and Jacob's older sons were
arrested together for riot, when the made a show of force to hold the territory
for VA in the border dispute with VA.
(1) Led a party of armed men to prevent the survey party from running the VA/Pennsylvania line when the border dispute was settled. This band appears to have been the Militia company of Capt. Jesse PIGMAN, in which Henry's sons Joseph and Jesse served as officers. As late as 1782, this company refused to furnish the state of PA a copy of their muster roll.
(1) Dureing the Revolution he maintained a fort at his residence on Swan's Run.
(1) After the boundary line had been run and the ownership of the territory was
no longer a question, Henry became resigned to it and took an active part in
the affairs of his community.
(1) Became one of the first Commissioners of the new Washington Co., PA.
(1) Served a term as an Associate Judge.
(1) When Greene Co. was formed, served as County Treasurer and was serving in
that capacity when he died.
(1) 1803, 10 Feb: His will probated, Greene Co., PA.
(1) Had 13 children.[alice-boyd.FTW]
p.32-34. Waynesburg Republican Vol. 4, pp. 32-38, says: "There is some confusion concerning Henry Van Meter and his Martha, who purchased land on which he settled in 1769 when he brought his family to the Tenmile Country with the Swans, Hughs, Hillers, and O'Neils. This was the party led by Thomas Gist, which settled on lands sold by the Indian trader John Owens of Fort Pitt in 1757 to Abraham Teagarden of Frederick Co., MD. It was the land on which John Swan and Henry Van Meter each built a fort on separate branches of a run variously known as Enoch's Run, Swan's Run and Pumpkin Run.
"His family were members of the goshen Baptist Church which had been established at Garrard's Fort by Jacob's family. He took an active part in the affairs of his community. He became one of the first Commissioners of the new Washington County, served one term as an Associate Judge, and then when Greene County was formed, was serving as County Treasurer when he died in 1802. During the Revolution he maintained a fort at his residence on Swan's Run. He is buried on the hill above the house as is his wife and probably his son Jesse, but no markers remain." His will was probated in Greene County 2-10-1803, Book 1/35, but the file on the estate is missing. Martha who outlived her husband bysome 22 years is named in the will. There is a copyist's error in the will book where "Abraham" is named instead of "Abosolom."
(1) 1769: Brought his family to the Tenmile Country (Upper Monongahela Valley) with the SWANs, HUGHES, HILLERs, and O'NEILs. The party was led by Thomas GIST and settled on land sold by the Indian Trader, John OWENS of Fort Pitt, in 1757 to Abraham TEAGARDEN of Frederick Co., MD. On this land, John SWAN and Henry VANMETER each built a fort, on separate branches of a run variously known as Enoch's Run, Swan's Run and now Pumpkin Run. His son Joseph VANMETER took up land adjoining his father's. This area became Greene Co., PA. His home stood where the spring-house of the PRICE home "now" stands.
(1) Member of the Goshen Baptist Church, which had been established at Garards
Fort by Jacob VANMETER's family.
(1) 1772: Henry and Jacob, and John VANMETER and Jacob's older sons were
arrested together for riot, when the made a show of force to hold the territory
for VA in the border dispute with VA.
(1) Led a party of armed men to prevent the survey party from running the VA/Pennsylvania line when the border dispute was settled. This band appears to have been the Militia company of Capt. Jesse PIGMAN, in which Henry's sons Joseph and Jesse served as officers. As late as 1782, this company refused to furnish the state of PA a copy of their muster roll.
(1) Dureing the Revolution he maintained a fort at his residence on Swan's Run.
(1) After the boundary line had been run and the ownership of the territory was
no longer a question, Henry became resigned to it and took an active part in
the affairs of his community.
(1) Became one of the first Commissioners of the new Washington Co., PA.
(1) Served a term as an Associate Judge.
(1) When Greene Co. was formed, served as County Treasurer and was serving in
that capacity when he died.
(1) 1803, 10 Feb: His will probated, Greene Co., PA.
(1) Had 13 children.[alice-boyd.FTW]
Events
| Birth | 1720 |  | |||
| Marriage | Bef 1744 | Martha Moore | | ||
| Death | 1803 | Swan's Run, Greene, Pennsylvania, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Martha Moore (1728 - 1825) |
| Child | Joseph Van Meter (1744 - ) |
| Child | Jesse Van Meter (1746 - 1814) |
| Child | Rachel Van Meter (1750 - ) |
| Child | Absolom Van Meter (1751 - 1803) |
| Child | Rebecca Van Meter ( - ) |
| Child | Martha Van Meter (1754 - 1836) |
| Child | Alice "Elise" Van Meter (1756 - 1800) |
| Child | Sarah Van Meter (1758 - 1825) |
| Child | Phoebe Van Meter (1760 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Van Meter (1762 - ) |
| Child | Henry Van Meter (1767 - ) |
| Child | John Van Meter (1769 - ) |
| Child | Mary "Patsie / Polly" Van Meter (1771 - ) |
Endnotes
1. Kemp, AnnaBelle, Lucas genealogy (Hollywood, Calif.: A. Kemp, 1964, 493 pgs.).
2. Kemp, AnnaBelle, Lucas genealogy (Hollywood, Calif.: A. Kemp, 1964, 493 pgs.).
3. Kemp, AnnaBelle, Lucas genealogy (Hollywood, Calif.: A. Kemp, 1964, 493 pgs.).