Shippensburg Lots
Various lands indicated in John II’s will: House and lots in Shippensburg, Getting a Deed in Shippensburg: Edward Shippen was a land agent for the Proprietors (Penn Family). In the mid-1730’s he made a large purchase of land between Burd’s Run and Muddy Run; including Middle Spring. And he began to issue his personal leases to settlers. No deeds or leases were issued by Shippen, only buyer’s agreements. However, these settlers had no guarantee that they would receive warrants from the government to make these their permanent possessions. All Shippen leases were issued as valid until February 1763. Lots on the boro were laid out about the year 1749, but the renters could not purchase until 1763. So when the History of Cumberland County states that John Cessna was among the first buyers and purchased two lots, this would have been close to 1749. The town lots were laid out along both sides of the Old Indian Path, and it was renamed King Street. Fort Franklin was built by Edward Shippen near the town site in 1740 to provide protection to the settlers. As early as 1733 the village had 18 cabins. In 1763, the settlers began to turn in their buyer’s agreements in exchange for Warrant. These required an annual quit rent to the proprietor of $1.66 & 2/3 on each lot. From its earliest days, Shippensburg was a transportation Center. It was the last stop of civilization before the pack trains entered the wilderness which still belonged to the Indians. Merchants trading manufactured goods to the tribes for Furs and other valuables, passed down the Old Indian Path with regularity. In the 1750’s, the Pennsylvania government built a crude road from Harris’ Ferry, ending in Shippensburg. It was barely passable by wagons. From that time on, trade goods had to be transferred from wagon to horse or mule at this spot before they entered the wilderness. (A wagon could carry 1 ton of goods, but each horse could only carry 3-400 lbs.) The local people soon found they could make ready cash money by providing meals for the teamsters and fodder for the animals. Soon, leather makers, blacksmiths, brewers and other service providers appeared as well. Lot #22 & Lot 138 Probably occupied about 1749-50. History of Cumberland County, by: Warner Beers, 1886, Part 2, Chapter 34 Earliest Settlers of Cumberland County. In February of 1763 John Cessna received warrants on Lots #22 and #138 from Edward Shippen. These warrants were issued to persons already occupying these lots and having paid rent to Shippen since 1749. Lot #22 is just a hundred yards from Fort Franklin which Edward Shippen built in 1740 to protect the settlers. It is only few hundred feet from Ft. Morris which was built in 1755 to protect inhabitants from Indian raids. This would have been a great comfort and protection to the Cessna family. From the beginning, John Cessna operated a store at this location. The building serving as both their residence and business. (History of Cumberland Co.) To date, I have found no other references for lot #138. 1764 John Cisney paid tax on 1 lot in Hopewell twp 1767 Hopewell Twp. John Sisney, 1 Lot, 3 Sh Quit Rents; 1 Sh 16 P Rates; 0 to Province Rates; 0 to County 1 negro, 2 horses, 2 cows……….6 Sh Rates;7 sh, 16 p Province rates; 10 Sh County 1768 Hopewell Twp Cumberland County John Cesney 2 Lotts 1 horse, 1 cow, 6 Sheep 1 Negro 1775 Hopewell Twp, Cumberland County John Cisna, 1 negro, 1 horse, 1 cow 5 Sh 1 Lott 10 £ 6 Sh 4 April 1778. Stephen Cessna of Hopewell Twp., a tailor, stole one grey horse, 1 man’s riding saddle & 1 bridle from William Starret. Witness was Nicholas Burns. He also stole the same from Matthew Henderson. Carlisle Gazette. Stephen married Elizabeth Barnhill ca 1777-78. 1776 Wm. Barnhill paid tax on 1 lot and 1 cow. 1779 Hopewell Charles Sisney 1 Lot $100 1782 Hopewell Twp Taxes Stephen Cisna (occupation) $20 1 cow $4 total $24 1786 Shippensboro John Cisna 2 Lots $70 1787 Shippensboro Twp, Cumberland John Cisna 1 house & 2 Lots $70 1788 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County John Cisna 2 Lots $158 1789 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County John Cesna 2 house & 3 lotts $200 1793 Shippensboro James Sisna 2 houses & 2 lots $235 1 Lot $15 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 5th Division James Cissna 1 house, 22’x24’, tax 2.9.123 1795 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County James Sisna 2 lots $240 1 horse 1 cow $23 total $263 1798 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 6th Divisions James Cissna owner, Southampton House & lot, 22’x24’ wood, 850.00 value 1799 Shippensburgh James Cisney 2 houses 3 lots $350 1 horse 3 horned cattle $32 total $382 1799 Freemen in Shippensburgh John Cisney, Tanner 1802 Shippensburgh Twp Cumberland County James Cesney 1 house, 2 lots, 2 horses, 3 cows $783 1802 Shippensburg Freemen John Cisne Lot #17 Bought about 1766 NW corner of King and Queen Streets In the mid-1760’s, John Cessna purchased Lot #17 and moved his store to the stone building on that lot. Lot #17 only a few steps further from Fort Morris than the house at lot #22 but had the corner exposure on the central intersection of Shippensburg. This gave John Cessna 64 feet of frontage on King Street and 260 feet of frontage on Queen Street. Tax records hint that he had three business (store, kitchen & stable) all facing on Queen Street. In 1770, this stone building was destroyed by fire. (6) John Cessna rebuilt the store and continued to operate various business: stable, tannery, possible the tailor shop of Stephen Cissna. Throughout his tenure, he received promises from William Reynolds that he would be able to purchase lot #18 to expand his business. The book: Olde Shippensburg by Matt Miller describes that lot # 17 was located on the NW corner of King and Queen Streets. The lots ran in sequence uphill to #26, within 2 lots of Washington Street. The numbers continued across the street with #27 and rand down King back to #36 on the SW corner of King and Queen streets. Lot #36 is where the old Courthouse still stands. James sold lot #17 to John Simpson in 1799. Cumberland County Deeds 1 Book AA p 239. 1768 Hopewell Twp Cumberland County John Cesney 2 Lots 1 horse, 1 cow, 6 Sheep 1 Negro 1769 Hopewell Twp Cumberland County John Sisney, 1 lott 1 negro 2 horses, 1 cow, 9 sheep 1776 Hopewell Twp Cumberland County John Cissna 2 Negroes, 2 horses, 2 cows, 3 sheep 10£ 3 Sh 1778 First State Tax: Hopewell Twp John Cisney, 2 negroes; 0 horses; 1 cow; 2 sheep 3£ 6 Sh 8 p 1779 Hopewell John Sisney 4 horses, $182 3 cows, $32 2 negroes $330 1 Lot $500 total $1800 Charles Sisney 1 Lot $100 *Names of Negroes (8) Names and Age of my negurs 27 Oct 1780 Will, age 30; Rachael, age 32; Pomp; Hanna, going on “Toon”; Cayboll, (Cabel) going on four; Gregory going on five; Tina, nine months two weeks old Those with the boro , James Cessna John Cessna 1782 Hopewell Twp Taxes John Cessna 1 house & lott $269.10 3 horses $35 2 cows $8 1785 Shippensburgh John Cisney 0 acres, 4 horses, 4 cows, 3 negroes 3 negroes $150 Total: $599 1786 Shippensboro John Cisna 2 Lots $70 4 horses $40 2 negros $100 2 Cows $6 Total: $216 1787 Shippensboro Twp, Cumberland John Cisna 1 house & 2 Lots $70 3 negroes $130 3 horses & 2 cows $28.10 total $228.10 1788 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County John Cisna 2 Lots $158 2 Negroes $75 4 horses & 2 cows $46 total $279 1789 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County John Cesna 2 house & 3 lotts $200 1 Negro $30 4 horses & 1 cow $40 total $270 1790 Census Cumberland County James Scisney, 2 males over 16, 3 males under 16, 5 females, 2 slaves, 2 free blacks 1793 Shippensboro James Sisna 2 houses & 2 lots $235 1 Lot $15 3 horses & 2 cows $21 total $281 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 6th Division James Cissna, resident/owner, 1 Smith Shop 20’20’, on King Street, John Simpson neighbor James Cissna, resident/owner, 1 Smith Shop 20’20’, Sam Tate & Wm McKnight neighbors 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 5th Division James Cissna 1 Kitchen, 16’x16’ 1 Stable, 18’x20 Lot #18 Bought 1773 Just west of Lot #17 Cumberland County Deed Book K p 562, In 1773 John Cessna bought Town Lot #18 from Wm. Reynold’s heirs. 64’10” by 257’4”. Deed states that Wm Reynolds had promised this lot to Cessna during his lifetime. Deed Vol 1, book K page 562. Lot #18 seems to have continued as a vacant lot through out its tenure in the Cessna family. As such, it could be used as a stable, an open air kitchen or an open Black Smith Shop; all of which were common on the vacant lots of Shippensburg. The log gave John Cessna a vacant lot of 64’ by 267’ behind his business that fronted Queen Street. Many lots remained vacant for commercial purposes. The many freight trains coming through Shippensburg needed places to park their wagons and bed down their horses at night. They were able to “rent” these lots for overnight use, which included water and hay provided by the owners. So a vacant lot could generate cash income in several ways. James Cessna sold this lot on 6 March 1799 to John Simpson for 26£. Cessna retained the right to remove what stone there is on the lot provided he does so by April 20th. Deed states that the owner of lot #19 is Elizabeth Scott. Lot #18 is 64’4” (along King St.) x 157’4”. The stone mentioned may be the remains of the stone house which burned on lot #17. Cumberland County Deeds Bk Vol 1 book AA p 239 Lot 18 is now 13 West King Street, Shippensburg, PA 1789 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County John Cesna 2 house & 3 lotts $200 1793 Shippensboro James Sisna 2 houses & 2 lots $235 1 Lot $15 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 4th Division James Cisna, lot on King Street, neighbor is John Simpson 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 6th Division James Cissna, resident/owner, 1 Smith Shop 20’20’, on King Street, John Simpson neighbor James Cissna, resident/owner, 1 Smith Shop 20’20’, Sam Tate & Wm McKnight neighbors 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 5th Division James Cissna 1 house, 22’x24’, tax 2.9.123 1 Kitchen, 16’x16’ 1 Stable, 18’x20 1798 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 6th Divisions James Cissna owner, Southampton House & lot, 22’x24’ wood, 850.00 value James Cissna owner, Samuel Tate resident , kitchen 16’x16’, wood 2112.00 value James Cissna owner, William McKnight resident, stable 18’x20’ wood 1798 James Cissna paid tax on Lot King St. of 61p on value of 50£. John Simpson is his neighbor. 1799 Shippensburgh James Cisney 2 houses 3 lots $350 1802 Shippensburgh Twp Cumberland County James Cesney 1 house, 2 lots, 2 horses, 3 cows $783 LOT #12 417 E. King Bought in 1785. Cumberland County Deed Book O p 61 In 1785, James Cessna purchased Lot #12. Lot is 64’4” along King Street by 257’4” in length. It is bounded on the north by Kings Street and on the East by a four feet Alley; and on the south by a 14’ alley; and on the West by lot #11 granted to James Long The deed goes on to list Francis Campbell as the original owner; and then lists about 8 different owners until it becomes the property of James Cessna on 6 Jan. 1785, when he bought it from Reuben Gillespe. Based on the ages of their children in 1790, it is possible that James bought this house on the occasion of his marriage to Mary. On 7 Aug 1800, James Cessna and Mary his wife sold lot #12 to John Quigly. Deed states that James and Mary are residents of Shippensburg. Cumberland County Deed Book O p 61. 1793 Direct Tax 3rd Assessment District 5th Division Widow Miller, resident; James Cissna, owner; house 18’x20’ 1795 Shippensboro Twp Cumberland County James Sisna 2 lots $240 1 horse 1 cow $23 total $263 1798 tax James Cissna, owner, Widow Miller is tenant House and lot 18x20 wood value 120 £ tax is 61p 1799 Shippensburg James Cisney 2 houses 3 lots $350 1 horse 3 horned cattle $32 total $382 Lot #79….The Tavern Bought after 1770 According to the book: Cumberland County Taverns 1750-1890; Lot #79 was located on the SE corner of King Street and Earl Street. On November 15, 1797 James Cessna placed an ad in the Carlisle Gazette offering for sale the lot and house, stating “which has long been used as a tavern.” Earl street was the dividing line between East and West Shippensburg. King Street is division between North and South. I could find no deed on Lot #79, or any other document linking James to ownership. In the Original plan; Earl and King was to be the center of town. Due to prominence of Widow Piper’s Tavern on the SW corner of King and Queen, that intersection became the center of civic activities.
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June 2023
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