Henry VAN METER

                   Van Metre Esq. Males: 2 age 16+, 3 age <16. Females:6.

Van Metre. Males: 1 age 10-15; 1 age 26-44, 1 age ³45; Females: 1 age 16-25, 1 age ³45.


ÒIt is known that Henry built a fort on Muddy Creek in 1769 and was a member of the Goshen Baptist Church at Garrard's Fort, PA. He became one of the Commissioners of the New Washington Co.; he was serving as County Treasurer where he died in 1802/03. Marth Van Meter outlived her husband by some 22 years and is named in the will along with thier 13 children.

ÒUntil 1792 Henry believed the Ten Mile Country a part of Virginia and until that year held no allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania. He became one of the first Commissioners of Washington Co., served a term as Associate Judge and then when Greene County was formed he served as County Treasurer until he died in 1802. His will was filed for probate on 10 Feb 1808 and is in Greene County Will Book #1 page 35 but the file on the estate is missing.

ÒAccording to Florence S. McIlvaine of the Washington Co., PA Historical Society of which she was Secretary states the Henry VanMeter's Tract was called "Margiline" and contained 393 acres, warranted 25 May 1785, surveyed 26 Aug 1785; patented to him 26 Oct 1787.Ó

Leckey's "Tenmile country & its Pioneer Families", Waynewburg Republican Vol. 4, pp. 32-38, says: "There is some confusion concerning Henry VanMeter and his Martha, who purchased land on which he settled in 1769 when he brought his family to the Tenmile Country with the Swans, Hughs, Hillers, and O'Neils. This was the party led by Thomas Gist, which settled on lands sold by the Indian trader John Owens of Fort Pitt in 1757 to Abraham Teagarden of Frederick Co., MD.It was the land on which John Swan and Henry VanMeter each built a fort on separate branches of a run variously known as Enoch's Run, Swan's Run and Pumpkin Run.

"His family were members of the goshen Baptist Church which had been established at Garrard's Fort by Jacob's family. He took an active part in the affairs of his community. He became one of the first Commissioners of the new Washington County, served one term as an Associate Judge, and then when Greene County was formed, was servingas County Treasurer when he died in 1802. During the Revolution he maintained a fort at his residence on Swan's Run. He is buried on the hill above the house as is his wife and probably his son Jesse, but no markers remain."
                  

                   or 1753


During the period of his residence on the Pennsylvania frontier John VanMetre was very active in the military movements against the Indians. He was appointed ensign of militia of Yohogania Co. (Va.), 28 June, 1779 (Yohogania Court Journal). He commanded a company of Westmoreland Rangers and is variously mentioned in connection with the militia on the western waters between the years 1778-1783. Also a John Van Metre, Jr.,was a member of the Stokeley Rangers during the same period (Penna. Arch., 3d Ser.; Draper's Notes; Wither's Chronicles, and Kercheval's History of the Valley, 2d ed., p. 204).
                  

                   Isaac Van Meter, who appears to have remained in Virginia, where he married Hattie Beck, a daughter of Lydia Burden (Borden), whose father was Benjamin Burden (Borden) Sr., a very noted land developer in early Virginia. (See Kegley's 'Virginia Frontier, with reference to Borden's Grant). On November 6, 1739, for diverse good causes but more especially in consideration that Benjamin Borden, late of the Province of East Jersey, now of the county of Orange in Virginia hath lately caused to be imported and settled on the land hereinafter mentioned one family for every thousand acres,' there was granted the said Benjamin Borden one certain tract or parcel of land containing 92,100 acres."

Most of the Borden grant was located in present Rockbridge County, Virginia. Perrin's 'History states that Henry Van Meter had, before George Washington's day, surveyed the Fairfax estate, an immense tract of land granted by George III.
                  

                   Captain Jacob Van Meter, born 1752 in Virginia, died 1838 in Hardin County, Kentucky, who served as an ensign in Clark's Illinois Regiment, later as captain of Kentucky militia, who married (1) in Virginia a Miss Covenhaven, married (2) Rebecca Rawlings, in Kentucky