Chestnut Ridge Historical Society
Trip to Branson, Missouri

Our Next Bus Trip will be Departing
on Monday April 16, 2018, and returning on April 21, 2018

A Great Bus Trip!
Departing on Monday April 16, 2018,
and returning on April 21, 2018

Bus Trip to Branson, Missouri!

The trip includes Bus fare and tip, all
breakfasts and dinners and 4 shows
while in Branson. The overnight
lodging in Illinois and Indiana, to and
from, are included, however, meals on
our way, to and from, are not included.

The trip includes a tour of the Gateway
Arch in St. Louis.

Cost is $955.00 per person for double-
occupancy. Call 724-423-3802 or
724-593-2497 for more information.   

ATTENTION!
TWO Bus Trips are scheduled to See "Jesus"
at Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA

The First Lancaster Bus Trip is July 10th and it is SOLD OUT!
So, because we have had such a large Waiting List, WE ADDED a Second Trip!
The Second Lancaster Bus Trip is August 7th! See information below!

Chestnut Ridge Historical Society
Trips to Sight and Sound Theater

Our Bus Trip for July 10th
is FULL, so we added
Another Bus Trip in August!

The Second Bus Trip to
Lancaster is on August 7th!

TWO Great Bus Trips!
to see "Jesus"
at Sight and Sound Theatre
in Lancaster, PA

Our July 10th Bus Trip is FULL

The Second Bus Trip to Lancaster
is on August 7th!
$125.00 Per Person

Second Trip is Same as First Trip:
Same Price, Location and Show

More Details to follow...

Captain Richard Williams was born in Chester County, PA. The family name may originally have been "Wilhelm". Richard moved to the Western Pennsylvania frontier sometime prior to 1770. He married Rose Ann Hartzell around 1770 and they had 10 children.
 During the Revolutionary War, Richard Williams served as a Captain in the 1st Battalion 4th Company, Westmoreland County Militia. Early in the Revolution, he built the "Williams Blockhouse" between Stahlstown and Donegal, on the hill overlooking Four Mile Run, near the old Warrior Trail (we know today as route 711) to protect the local settlers from attacks by the Indian allies of the British. The Warrior trail was used by the Iroquois and Cherokee tribes in the many wars they had and stretched from New York to the Carolinas.

In 1773, Donegal Township was formed in the region known as Westmoreland County. This township included most of present day Ligonier Township (including Fort Ligonier), all of Cook and Donegal and parts of Saltlick and Bullskin Townships  It was during the Revolutionary War that the majority of the Indian attacks occurred in Donegal Township. Folks around Donegal and Stahlstown are familiar with the story about the Harman, Campbell, Ulery and Nicely families being attacked, killed and captured during the war along the Warrior Trail and the Four Mile Run area that stretched from Donegal to Darlington. Four Mile Run got it’s name from the French and Indian War when the Forbes Expedition was building the road to capture Fort Duquesne from the French. The British/Colonial Army crossed the stream four miles from Fort Ligonier and headed over the ridge at present day Darlington to present day Youngstown.

In 1775, the colonist in Westmoreland County which included all the land west of Bedford, declared their Independence from Britain in a proclamation known as the Hannastown Pact. This Pact was the result of English failure to protect Western Pennsylvania from attack during Queen Anne’s War. Westmoreland County had been the site of engagements during the French and Indian War and the local settlers knew the dangers of living on the frontier and being the buffer expendables. When the British burned Hannastown at the end of the Revolutionary War, the Frontier Rangers chased them back into Ohio. The end result of this campaign led to the expansion of the North West Territory and 100 years of continuous warfare with the Native Americans.

Once the 13 Colonies Declared Independence in 1776, the British sent their Army to America to get their colonies back. They used Canada as a base of operations and also employed the Senaca, a fierce Iroquois war like tribe, in their efforts. The Continental Army was very small and relied on the militias of the 13 colonies to reinforce them in the war. Not all the colonist fought with the Continental line because the English used terror tactics on the frontier to scalp, burn and kill colonists in an effort to prevent the Militia from joining the battles taking place in the East. Pennsylvania Militia was organized and 2 Battalions of Frontier Rangers were formed in Westmoreland County. There were small companies of about 25 young men who were responsible for the defense of the towns and villages that dotted the region. The 4th Company, 1st Battalion Pa. Militia Frontier Rangers were known locally as the “Four Mile Run Rangers”. Their outpost or blockhouse was Fort William and the men came from the families who lived along the banks of the stream from Donegal to Darlington. There deeds and exploits are recorded in the History of Westmoreland County along with the description of the horrific acts committed by the Senaca and the revenge rendered the Rangers. The Rangers graves are in local cemeteries like Porch, Fairmont, Keltz and Pleasant Grove. There was also a company of Rangers at Fort Ligonier, Hannastown and Fort Palmer.