History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1876 by Samuel Durant

p. 149

MOON TOWNSHIP

In 1769 (April 3), in pursuance of an application made by Henry Montour, order was granted for the survey of a tract of land now occupied by Middletown and some of the descendants of Robert Vance. ...

Joshua, John, and Jacob Meek were early residents on the property now owned by their descendants. They were of Welsh origin, but emigrated from Virginia to Western Pennsylvania. They were obliged to leave on account of the Indians some time after coming to the township, and flee to old Fort Redstone, where they remind far several years. The fact that they went to Fort Redstone would indicate that Vance's Fort was not then built, but other circumstances go to prove that Vance was then in the township. His block house may have been standing at the time, and Redstone offered far greater security.

The Meek patent was dated April 7, 1788, and the warrant for survey September15,1784. The "Tomahawk Claim" was no doubt taken up several years before, and it is not improbable that they were in the township previous to 1776.

Jacob Meek settled in Findlay Township, adjoining.

As Joshua Meek was riding home across his land, one night shortly after its settlement, he drew his reins at a little spring to let his hours, drink. He sat there in fancied security, when a gun snapped, and the horse wheeled suddenly and ran with him. An examination of the ground the next day revealed by the mocasin-tracks that an Indian had lain in ambush for him behind a tree near the spring. He had snapped his gun, but the powder had flashed in the pan, and to that accident the settler owed his life. Joshua Meek's old log house is still standing on land of his son's. The building is probably a Centennial relic.

Mrs. Meek also had a narrow escape font the Indiana on one occasion. The good woman had attained some fame as a midwife among the early settlers. One night she was called to Vance's Fort on professional business, and was accompanied by a man from the fort. They were both on horseback. During their journey it became apparent to them that they were followed by a band of Indians on Foot. They struck a faster gait and hurried on, but not until one of the savages had approached near enough to throw his tomahawk at Mrs. Meek, which passed so near her that the bark which it struck from a tree near the path hit her in the face. William Nesbit now, lives on the tract where the tree hit by the tomahawk stood. It was standing years afterwards, with the mark on it."

Page 150

"Jacob Meek settled in Findlay Township, adjoining the land of his brothers, in Moon Township, previous to 1787."

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