Early Rostraver & Elizabeth Township

Strolling Along the Youghiogheny and Monogahela Rivers and nearby communities.

Information taken from the Bi-Centennial Book - Between Two Rivers

Rostraver Township, one of the original townships of Westmoreland County, was established on April 6, 1773. The first boundary began at the mouth of Jacob's creek and ran down the Youghiogheny River to where it joins the Monongahela; then up the Monongahela River to the mouth of Red Stone Creek, and then by a straight line to the place of the beginning. Alexander Mitchel and Samuel Biggard were the first elected overseers of the poor of the township and Eysham Barnes was elected supervisor.

Early families of the township were: Howell, Findley, Weddell, Poser, Fullerton, Pinkerton, Houseman, Robertson, Caldwell, Steel, Wilson, Hutchinson and McClure.

Some believe that the first real settler in what was called Rostraver Township was Joseph Hill who came from Cairall County, Maryland in 1754. When he was about 18 years old he had made considerable improvement on lands which he occupied near where Braddock's Army passed through the township in the following summer. His lands were near the Rehobeth Church.

The territory that is known as Elizabeth Township was part of Rostraver Township and the county seat was at Hanna's Town, three miles from Greensburg. In fact, in early years Elizabeth Township formed a part of the three counties of Bedford, Westmoreland and Allegheny. This area was included in the large tract of land that was granted to the Penn Family by the King of England, "in appreciation for services rendered."

Under the terms of a treaty of November 5, 1768, all territory from a point where the Susquehanna passed the New York line, down to the southwest corner of Pennsylvania including the Allegheny, Conemaugh, Monongahela and Youghiogheny river valleys was called "The New Purchase" and embraced Westmoreland County. By an act of September 24, 1788 Allegheny County was organized from Westmoreland with the following townships: Moon, St. Clair, Mifflin, Versailles, Plum, Pitt and Elizabeth (named for Elizabeth Bayard).

(Reference - Pg. 22)

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