The Players:
John Cessna Sr (the Elder), born in Ireland 1699. Son of the Frenchman John Cessna Jr, son of John Cessna Sr. later known as Major John Cessna, bn 1726 Evan Cessna, son of John Cessna Sr., bn 1755 Charles Cessna, son of John Cessna Sr. bn 1744 Thomas Jones, son in law of John Cessna Sr. Husband of Elizabeth Cessna Robert Hall, son-in-law of John Cessna Sr. Husband of Margaret Cessna Steps to owning land in Bedford County.
4. Government Land Office issues a Patent. Some owners waited 100 years or more before applying for patent. 1763: At the end of the French and Indian War, Ottawa Chief, Pontiac, organized a multi tribe war on the English Settlers. On May 16, General Bouquet visited Shippensburg and reported that it was overrun with refugees fleeing the invading war parties. Reports that many of these settlers were ready to “sell-out” and head back East. In the next three weeks, the Cessna family will purchase FIVE large farms in Cumberland Valley Township (which will become Bedford County). The following land transactions were found in the Quarterly Series: “St. Clair’s Bedford: The History and Genealogy of Bedford County, PA. In some cases, micro film of the original Land Warrants we found on Ancestry.com. FARM ONE: 17 May 1763, Jonathan and Joseph Cessna (sons of John Cessna Sr) request a warrant for 300 acres, including some improvements, adjoining James Livingston, on the road to Fort Cumberland. Joseph is age 15 and Jonathan is 13. They pay 27 £ for the 300 acres, and pledge 12 shillings 6 pence in Quit Rents to the Government for every year there-after. Land is along Evitts Creek at the point where Rome Creek joins it. Livingston’s property is to the north of this farm. 17 March 1768, Christian Eversole files a Caveat against Jonathan and Joseph Cessna, stating that this farm is actually in the state of Maryland and he holds a patent on it. The Warrant issued to Cessnas was voided. FARM TWO: 17 May 1773; Robert Hall & Evans Cessna (age 17) of Cumberland Co, apply for Warrant on 300 acres, including improvements of Phillip Baltimore and Thos Jones, 13 miles from Bedford on Road to Fort Cumberland on Evitts Creek in Cumberland County. Another reference says Robert Hall bought this land from William Coulter in March 1763. For the Warrant, they paid 27£, and pledged 12 shillings 6 pence per year in Quit Rents to the government. 21 Nov 1766; Robert Hall sold his half of land 350 shared with Evan Cessna to John Cessna, Sr (his father in law.) Land bounds property of Thomas Jones and Charles Cessna. Sold for 40 pds. Joseph Cessna and Evan Cessna witness. 28 July 1783: John Cessna Sr grants (no sale price) his share of 350 acres to Evans Cessna, his son, for 1783, Tax roll for Bedford County. This land of Evan Cessna is listed under “Unseated Land” meaning it has yet to be surveyed and patented. It is most likely still unoccupied by Evan. State Tax: 1£/8sh/11p. County Tax: 0£/5sh/8p. Note: the records would indicate that Evan, son of John Cessna Sr, did not reside in Bedford County as of 1783, so he could not be the Evan Cessna who served Cumberland Valley as Constable in 1773. FARM THREE: 17 May 1763. Thomas Jones and Charles Cessna of the county of Cumberland warrant 300 acres, including improvements, adjoining Robert Hall and Evan Cessna, on the branch of Evitts, Creek, about two miles from the Block House in county of Cumberland. Thos Jones had already made some improvements on it. Price of Warrant was 27 £. And pledge of 12sh 6p per year in Quit Rents to the government. 1773 Charles Cessna paid taxes on personal property in Hopewell Twp of Cumberland County. His father, John Cessna Sr, paid the tax on the land, indicating he is living on farm his father owns. 11 July 1776, Charles and wife Elizabeth of Cumberland Valley, sell to Thos Faris of same place, price of 200 £s, 235 ½ A. in Cumberland Valley, bordered by Thos Jones and Cessna’s other land. 1783, Tax roll for Bedford County. This land of Charles Cessna is listed under “Unseated Land” meaning it has yet to be surveyed and patented. It is most likely still unoccupied by Charles. State Tax: 13/11sh/3p. County Tax: 0£/14sh/3p. FARM FOUR: 17 May 1763, John Cessna Jr, applies for warrant of 300 acres in Cumberland Valley, land of Wm Trent, known by names of the Block Houses. Warrant cost 27£, and pledge to pay 12sh 6p in Annual Quit Rents to the Government. (John Jr is 37 years old, married three years with a 2 year old and 6 month old daughter, and wife is pregnant). 4 Mar 1766, Samuel Finley bought 200 a from John Cesna Jr, adjoining land of Charles Cessna, the improvements of William Kirkpatrick, & land of Wm Trent, known by the name of The Block Houses on both sides of Evitts Creek in Cumberland Co. 2 August 1766, Daniel Duncan, 100 acres near John Casnay Jr and Charles Casney in Cumberland Valley. FARM FIVE: 3 June 1763 Charles Cessna Sr applies for a Warrant of 100 acres in Cumberland County. Land is next to John Cessna Jr, known by the name of the Block Houses. Warrant cost 9£. Annual Quit Rents were 4sh 2p. Nov 23, 1766 James Levinston sold 100 acres to Charles Cessna (Sr). Land near the block houses. July 14, 1774 David Jennings sold 100 acres to Charles Cessna (Jr.) 1784 Taxes show this farm as: Charles Cessna Jr. 300 acres, 1 house, 10 white souls, 1 slave 1783 Col. Charles Cessna (Jr) was prosecuted for forgery during his service as County Commissioner. As a result, the following add appeared in the paper. In 1786, Col. Charles and family, and his brother John moved to Green County, GA. At the same time, his brother Evan moved to Pittsburg. Abstracts from Carlisle Gazette: “29 Mar 1786, Sale of Plantation and late property of Charles Ceffna esq, in Cumberland Valley, on Great Road from Bedford to Cumberland. 300 acres: apply to Thomas Coulter, esq near premises; George Funk in Bedford, or Thos Smith, James Hamilton or Thos Duncan in Carlisle. Charles relocates to GA in 1786. (Notes in PA Archives list Hamilton and Duncan applying to the government for reimbursement of their services in selling this land). THE INDICATION IS: That at the beginning of an Indian War, when people are fleeing Western Pennsylvania, the Cessnas were investing. John Cessna (son of the Frenchman and born in Ireland) purchases four separate farms of 300 acres each, for the Warrant Price of 27£ each, or a total of 108£. The originals of these warrants indicate the names of people who had already made improvements on them. It would seem, that as people fled, John Cessna purchased Quit Claims from them, then went to the Land Office in Carlisle and applied for his own Warrants. Evan, Charles, Jonathan & Joseph were all under age. Robert Hall and Thomas Jones were his son-in-laws. There is further indication that these farms were not occupied during the war, and that after the war they were sold at a profit. Charles Cessna Sr. purchased a 100-acre farm, in June, a month after John made his purchases. It appears that he occupied his farm soon after, and in the coming years added two more 100-acre farms to his.
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AuthorBill Cissna Archives
June 2023
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