Cherry Hill Manor

Gibsons in PA

Cherry Hill Manor was "situate on the waters of Two Lick Creek about seven miles easterly of the Two Licks and on the path leading from Frankstown to the Kittanning . . ." (-from History of Indiana Co., PA, by Stephenson, pg 344)

This manor was reserved for the Proprietors (heirs of William Penn) by a warrant dated, October 13, 1760. It was surveyed by Joshua Elder, July 23, 1773, and contained 1202-1/4acres of land. Later, the manor, called "Cherry Hill, was sold to Thomas Duncan in 1803. After several changes of ownership, it was subdivided into smaller parcels and sold during 1830 to 1832.

I've tried to locate the manor within Cherryhill Twp., Indiana Co., PA, and to my best guesses, using Stephenson's book, and the 1871 Beers map, so here is it's approximate position:

Cherry Hill Manor

There were many families, who are know to have settled in the manor. The following it taken from "Recollections of the Past 80 years", by Thomas W. Stephens, 1888:

• "A tract of land laying near the center of Green Twp., called Penn's Manor in 1823. It contained 1300 acres. It was divided into small tracts and sold. I will name the original settlers, as far as I can recollect them. Cornelius McManaman lived where Robert Simpson now lives. Lorenz Fox lived where Andrew Lydick lives. John lived where Daniel Wolfe lives. William Coleman and Robert Gordon lived where Henry Golden lives. John Coleman died near where Wm. Hadden lives. Samuel Gibson lived in a little house near the line between George Coy and George Brown. Last two named now own that part of Penn's Manor. Robert Gordon, an old Rev. War soldier, lived on one tract of Penn's Manor. Henry Coleman married his daughter, Catherine, and lived close by. Gordon family are all dead.. Coleman family all dead, but one son, Wm. Coleman. He lives in Indiana (Co.) and is almost 80 years old. Next family on this place was Samuel Patterson and Polly, his wife. They are all dead. Then Mathias Bartlebaugh and Ann, his wife, who was the daughter of Wm. Fowler, are all dead. Then Thomas Barr, Jr., sold out and moved to Iowa. He is now dead. Henry Golden is the present owner of this place, and has been there for 30 years. He has one son who lives with them. A peaceful, quiet, and industrious family. " (more to follow)

-more from "Recollections of the Past 80 Years":

• Charles Gibson, and brother Samuel Gibson, settled on land adjoining my father's land. Samuel of west, his sister, Margaret, kept house for him. Before long, Gibson, and a man named Stewart, got acquainted with each other's sisters, and made an exchange. Gibson and his wife are dead, and his children and grandchildren are helping improve and populate the country.
• Charles Gibson settled on a large tract of land joining my father's place on the south (it is now divided into 5 farms) . . . James Gibson, a grandson, lives on the southwest part of it, and Martin Hoover on the old homestead part. Jacob Darr, and his son, Steele, on the next piece, then Alexander Glassford (another grandson of said Charles Gibson) on another part, that his mother, Elizabeth Gibson, inherited as a heir of Charles Gibson, then John Getty on the northeast part. 'This was a beautiful piece of woodland, when I first walked throught it with a rifle.' It was sold by Charles Gibson to Robert Johnston, who came from Ireland in 1815, married Jane Huston, built a house, raised his family there, and he and Jane died there. The farm was sold to John Getty.