Originally published Sept. 17, 2021]
In Part 1, we covered how the English Company’s settlers got from Philadelphia to Jersey Shore. Now let’s take them the rest of the way to the land Rev. Hey purchased for them in Pine & Morris Townships.
If you look at the map below, from Meginness’1892 History of Lycoming County, you will see the West Branch of the Susquehanna River entering from Norhumberland Co. in the south and if you follow it upstream, on its left bank will be Brady, Clinton, Armstrong, Susquehanna, and Nippenose Townships, then it goes into Clinton Co. Which brings us to Jersey Shore, in Porter Twp. (Next to that is Piatt Twp., where Enoch & Sarah Lugg Blackwell’s daughter, Mary (Blackwell) Campbell was born.)
If you follow the tracks of the future Fallbrook RR along Pine Creek to the site of the future Waterville, take the right hand fork and go north along Little Pine Creek. Their land was in PIne Twp. (shown in green) — and just to the north, over the county line into Tioga Co.’s Morris Twp. (not shown).
I don’t know where the original “English Settlement” was located, but I suspect it was between the future communities of Oregon Hill and English Center, both of which were formed by those leaving the failed “English Settlement.” (spoiler alert)
Enoch Blackwell’s land purchase was on Oregon Hill. Either by superb luck or by shrewd scouting, he purchased the best farmland in their Pine Twp. tract. He seems to have been a pragmatic man. and since he arrived at Jersey Shore a year before most of the settlers, he had lots of opportunity to scout out the land to try to pick a good site. Even with that advantage, he later sold and moved to Pine Creek in Morris Twp.
COMMENTS:
Judy Costley = Thanks for sharing some History. Enjoy it very much.
Clayton Simonds Great research. Thank you.
Betty Phillips Thank you Bill.