At the October term, 1780, of the court of quarter sessions of Cumberland County, was presented a petition asking for the division of Peters Township, and the creation of a new township to be called Montgomery.  Thereupon James Maxwell, John McClellan, John Work, James Campbell, Adam Holliday and Thomas Campbell were appointed to examine and report on the petition.  They reported at the January term, 1781; report confirmed and the new township erected, with boundary lines as they are now.  It was named in honor of Gen. Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the attack upon Quebec, Dec. 31, 1775.  The earliest settlers came between 1730 and 1735.

EARLY LAND ENTRIES.

     Of the early land entries were the following:

     John Craig, May 24, 1753.  Neighbor: Daniel Davis.
     Robert Culbertson, Mar. 31, 1743.  Neighbors:  William Dinwiddy, Thomas Dinwiddy, James Gardner.
     Philip Davis, June 21, 1737.  Neighbors:  James Harland, John Davyrich.
     William Duffield, Mar. 4, 1767.  Neighbors:  Samuel McCune, William Patton, James Davison, Isaac Darbre.
     Thomas Evans, Aug. 7, 1740.  Neighbors:  David Alexander, John Davis, Aaron Alexander.
     Richard Gabriel, May 13, 1752.  (No neighbors.)
     Martha Henry, Oct. 15, 1744.  Neighbor:  Alexander Brown.
     Thomas Johnston, Nov. 20, 1753.  Neighbors:  Jonathan Smith, John Black, John Huston, John McMath.
     William Milliken, May 28, 1745.  (No neighbors.)
     William Maxwell, Mar. 31, 1743.  Neighbors:  John McLelland, Robert McCoy.
     James Wilkins (in right of James McMahon), Feb. 18, 1744.  Neighbors:  Archibald Scott, James Wilkey.
     Francis Johnston (in right of James Alexander), May 31, 1742.
     Alexander Johnston, Mar. 18, 1750.
     Thomas Orbison, Oct. 2, 1755.  Neighbors:  Thomas Dougherty, John Davie Richard, William Duffield, Thomas Davis.
     Richard Peters sold to William Duffield.  (No dates given.)
     Alexander Brown, Nov. 18, 1741.  Neighbors:  Thomas Sellers, John
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     * For Borough of Mercersburg, see page 505.

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McClellan, Walter Beatty, Alex White, Wilson Holliday, William Dunwoody, Martha Henry.

LIST OF TAXABLES - 1786.

     The present boundary of Montgomery Township, in 1786, contained the following taxables:

VILLAGES.

     Welsh Run is a beautiful little village on the road from Mercersburg to Hagerstown, six miles from the former place.  David Davis purchased the

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land in 1736.  He was a Welshman, and, joined by some countrymen, gave it the name it bears.  It is, among  other things, noted as being where the Kennedy Academy is located.
     Interments in Welsh Run Cemetery:
     Rev. Thomas McPherrin, died Feb. 3, 1802, aged fifty-one years.  (He was an early pastor at Welsh Run).
     John Work, Sr., son of Col. J. Work, born Feb. 12, 1768, died Apr. 14, 1842.
     George Eaker, died Jan. 10, 1818, aged about seventy-five years.  (He was a Revolutionary hero, and on his tombstone is the following appropriate inscription:  "He fought for liberty, and lived to enjoy it").
     Mary of David Kennedy and an aunt of Lazarus Kennedy.
     The "Robert Kennedy Memorial Presbyterian Church," at Welsh Run, was dedicated Sept. 30, 1871.  The dedication sermon was preached by Reverend Thomas Creigh, D. D., of Mercersburg.  A historical sketch of the church and of the Reverend Robert Kennedy, who for many years was pastor of this church, was then read.  This was one of the first churches organized in the Cumberland Valley west of Harrisburg, and there is much of historic interest connected with it.  The cost of the new building, erected on the site of the old one, was paid by E. D. Kennedy  The first building was of logs, and was erected probably in 1741, at the first organization of the church, near Mr. Elliott's  This continued to be their place of worship till the Indian war, when it was burned by the Indians about 1760.  According to Rev. R. Kennedy's testimony, they continued without any house or worship some fourteen years, till the Rev. T. McPherrin was called at the close of the Indian war in 1774, when another house was erected upon the site of ground now owned by the church, and on the same spot where the present edifice stands.  The ground now held and occupied by the church as graveyard and church lot, was originally given to the church by one Robert Smith in 1774, or about that time.  Said Robert Smith, dying in 1787, willed to the church three acres of ground.  In 1788 Samuel, Oliver and Isaac Smith, sons and heirs of Robert Smith having obtained the patent or deed for the same, by virtue of said will, in 1795, deeded it in fee simple to the trustees of this church, viz.: John Rhea, Joseph Price and Robert Chambers.  The building erected upon this ground in 1774, originally log, afterward weather-boarded, having undergone various repairs, served its day and three generations, or a century of years.  It was of the ancient model, with high pulpit, elaborately ornamented sounding-board and seats having backs "as High as the shoulders."  The early pastors were Revs. James Campbell, Dunlap, McPherrin, Robert Kennedy.  This brought the work down to 1843, the time of his death.

     Clay Lick was laid out in 1831, by Jacob Negley.  It is situated at the base of Clay Lick Mountain, from which it receives its name.  It has one store, the usual shops and a schoolhouse.

     Shimpstown is three miles from Mercersburg on the road to Clay Lick; population between thirty and forty.

     Camphill is at the base of Casey's Knob, six miles south of Mercersburg.  It was founded by William Auld in 1830, and was called Camphill from the fact that near it was a camp-meeting ground.

END OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

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