HENRY LARGE
Henry Large, distiller, West
Elizabeth, son of Jonathan and Easter (Finney) Large, was born July 4,
1836. His grandfather, John Large, a soldier in the Revolution, and a
native of New Jersey, came to this county about 1796, locating on the
Boggs farm in Upper St. Clair township; later moved to Jefferson township
and purchased the farm adjoining that owned by Henry Large and built a
distillery. His family consisted of seven children; Jonathan, Samuel,
Margaret, Henry, Isaac, Nancy and Thomas. Jonathan Large was born in New
Jersey and came here to this section when very young. He married Easter,
daughter of Andrew Finney of Mifflin township and he bought a farm near
Lebanon church, built a distillery and trampmill, which later he disposed
of and purchased the place that was owned by Henry Large, Jr. on Peters
Creek, Jefferson township which was known as the “Ferree” purchase.
The Ferrees were in the War of 1812 and Col. Ferree was identified in the
Whiskey Insurrection. Peters’ Creek derives its name from an old Indian
trapper called Peter. It was on this farm that a fort was built, in a
field known as “fort-field” only accessible from one point, being a
natural fortification and affording a view of nearly eight miles up and
down the creek. Jonathan Large’s children were: Jane, John, Andrew,
Levi, Samuel, Nancy, Harriet, Jonathan, James, Isaac and Llewellen (twins)
and Henry. In 1861, Henry, the subject of this memoir, married Anna H;
Greenly, and in 1863 he engaged in the manufacture of Monongahela rye
whiskey, the brand having been established by his grandfather, and had
the reputation for excellence.
THE PETERS’
CREEK RANGERS
The
Peters’ Creek Rangers were organized during the time of the
Revolutionary War for protection against the Indians and to keep order in
the area of the lower Peters Creek Valley. It was under the command of
Captain Henry Large. I do not have much information regarding this
organization, but I do know that the sword used by Captain Large is in the
possession of Homer Reed and it
bears the seal of the thirteen colonies.
HARVEY
FLOYD CARROLL
Harvey Floyd Carroll, tinsmith, post office Turtle Creek, comes of the same stock as Charles Carroll, the signer of the Declaration of Independence. His great-grandfather, Daniel, was a pioneer settler in what is now Jefferson township. Thomas, son of Daniel, died at the age of thirty-five years. His son, Salathiel J., married Charlotte Peterson, and now resides in Turtle Creek. Mrs. Carroll’s father, Harvey Heath Peterson, was for many years a justice of the peace in Jefferson. He was county commissioner, and was prothonotary three terms. He was born in 1796, and died at the age of fifty-three years. His parents, Gabriel and Margaret C., lived to the respective ages of ninety-four and ninety-six years. Gabriel Peterson commanded a company under Braddock, participating in the unfortunate battle at Braddock’s Field, and afterward joined Gen. Washington’s troops in the Revolution. S. J. Carroll began to learn the cooper’s trade when fifteen years old, and after working for some years at that took up carpenter work. In 1855 he went to Fulton, Iowa, where he remained six years, and then returned to Pennsylvania, spending most of the time since at Finleyville, Washington county. Since 1875 he has been here, and was engaged for eight years in repairing cars for the N. Y. & C. G. C. Co. The family is associated with the M. K Church. The second child, Walter Lowrey, is captain of an Ohio river coal boat, the “W. W. O’NeiI.” The oldest, Lavinia (deceased), was the wife of W. P. Montgomery, of Pittsburgh, and left a child, Bertha May. H. F. Carroll is the third child, and was born at Finleyyille in 1854. He attended the public schools, and when fifteen years old began his present trade, and served as journeyman at Braddock and McKeesport. In 1875 he established his present growing business at Turtle Creek.
THE CASTOR FAMILY
(This information was given to me by Rev. J. W. Dean of Jersey Shore, Pa.)
The
Benjamin Castor family came to Pennsylvania from Augusta and Rockingham
Counties in Virginia. When the Western corner of what is now
Pennsylvania was claimed by
the State of Virginia, it was known
as West Augusta County. There are numerous references to the Castor family
in
the
records of West Augusta County, Virginia.
When
the Castors came to Nottingham Township, or what was later known by that name, their name
was spelled Custard, Kusterd, Kuster or Custer. The first Benjamin spelled
it “Custard”
and that is the name on the land grant. One of his sons used the name
Kuster, but in an old History of Allegheny County that I saw in the
Pittsburgh Carnegie Library, it was spelt
Kusterd. In the 1790 census the
name is spelt Custard, and the land grant was called “Custard’s
Delight.”
Benjamin
Custard was granted 350 acres of land patented as “Custard’s
Delight.” The tax records of 1781 show this land as being in Nottingham
Township. He was also taxed with four horses, seven sheep, and two milk cows. His occupation is shown as
a woodcarver (he made fine hand-carved furniture and violins) and as a
“drover.” He bought and
sold cattle and in this same year, the Circuit Court granted him an
earmark and brand for cattle. The name of Benjamin Custard appears on the
roster of the 2nd Btln., Washington County Militia, March 18, 1782. (Penn.
Archives, Series 6, Volume 2) When Virginia gave up her claim of Pennsylvania
land, Benjamin filed his priority Virginia claim. On April 25, 1788,
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted him a patent for 333 acres of
the 350 acres granted to him by Virginia. (Pennsylvania Land Patents, Book
N.B., page 74.) The 1790 census lists Benjamin Custard, wife, and six sons as living in that
part of Allegheny County which was taken from Washington. His eldest son
Conrad and wife are also listed. The Last Will and Testament of
Benjamin, Sr. (he had a son, Benjamin) of Mifflin Twp., Allegheny is
recorded in the Allegheny Court House, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Will Book No. 3.,
page 119.) It was dated January 23, 1823 and signed Benjamin “Castor”.
It was witnessed by Samuel Heath, Samuel Lytle and Abraham Lytle. It was
filed for probate on January 25, 1826 by his widow, Ruth and Samuel Heath
who were the named executors. This will mentions that his eldest son,
Conrad, was deceased when the will was signed in 1823.
Benjamin Custard and Rebekah Robbins were appointed executors of the estate of Job Robbins by the court on August 25, 1777. Benjamin was appointed constable by the same court on September 29, 1778. The name here is spelled both Custard and Kastur, indicating that he was known by both names.
Conrad Custard married Hannah McDonald, daughter of John McDonald of Peters’ Township. McDonald’s Will was filed for probate at Pittsburgh in 1792. He was a well known early settler.
I do not know what relation Noah Custard was to Benjamin, Sr., but he came from Virginia with Benjamin. He is listed in the 1790 census as living in Mifflin Township and having a wife and one son. On August 16, 1774, the Circuit Court reported that Arnold and Noah Custard, brothers and orphans, were bound out to relatives until they were 21 years of age. Noah was bound out to a Paul Custard.
John Custard was appointed to serve on the Jury in 1778 by the Circuit Court. He was evidently not a land owner, but he was assessed with one horse and one cow in 1781. His place of residence is given as Peters’ Township, Washington County. (Pennsylvania Archives, Series 6, Volume 22, Page 755.) On September 6, 1781, his name appears on the roll of Captain John Wall’s Company of the 2nd. Btl., Penna. Inf. He also served in Lt. Ritchey’s Company of Washington County Militia. On Colonial Crawford’s ill-fated expedition against Sandusky, Ohio, John Custard was a member of Captain Hood’s Company. I am a bit hazy about my history of that expedition, but I remember that Jonathan Zane, the famous Indian fighter, was Crawford’s guide and that he warned Crawford that he was marching into a trap, but Crawford refused to listen. Zane and some of the experienced frontiersmen escaped but many of Crawford’s men were killed in what was a complete rout. The family tradition is that John Custard was killed on that expedition, but can find no proof of it. His name does not appear in the 1790 census nor is he listed on and other tax roll.
George Custard was listed as single in the 1790 census and there are no clues as to how he was related to the others, except an old Bible record that notes that he was a son of George Custard and the grandson of Conrad and Susannah Custard. The parents of Benjamin Castor, Sr. were Conrad and Susannah, but there is no proof that Benjamin had a brother George. Yet it is possible that this younger George was a nephew of Benjamin. The parents of Benjamin, Sr. are buried in Augusta County, Virginia. Benjamin, Sr., his wife Ruth and some of his children were buried at the Stone Church, Union Township. Lewis Huffman, Sr., his wife Catherine, and several of his children arc also buried there.