FORT SHIPPEN
"Among the petitions sent to the Governor in 1774, incident to the apprehension of an Indian war, was one from "Fort Shippen, at Capt. John Proctor's." (Arch. iv. 534.) The petition sets forth, in part, "That there is great reason to fear that this part of the country will soon be involved in an Indian war. That the consequences will most probably be very striking, as the country is in a very defenseless state, without any places of strength or any stock of ammunition or necessary stores. In these circumstances, next to the Almighty, they look to your Honour and hope you will take their case into consideration, and afford them such relief as your Honor will see meet." The structure was named doubtless in honor of Edward Shippen, Esq., one of the Council. John Proctor was a very conspicuous man in the early history of the county. He was commissioned to various offices by the Penns, which he held in Cumberland and Bedford counties, prior to the erection of Westmoreland. He was the first sheriff of Westmoreland county; took an active part in the affairs of 1775 at the outbreak of the Revolution; was Colonel of the First Battalion of Associators organized in pursuance of the Resolutions of 16th of May, 1775, at Hannastown. The flag of the battalion--a rattlesnake flag--is still in possession of Mrs. Margaret Craig of New Alexandria, Pa. He raised a company of riflemen in the early summer of 1776 with Van Swearigen, and joined the continental army with it where he served with Washington for a short campaign. He then returned to Westmoreland; was strong candidate for Colonel of the battalion authorized by Congress to be raised in Westmoreland and Bedford, but was unsuccessful, Col. Mackay being selected for that office; was appointed paymaster of the militia of Westmoreland county, Sept. 13, 1776, and, shortly after, with Thomas Galbraith, was appointed commissioner in pursuance of an ordinance passed by the Council of Safety, Oct. 21st, 1777, to seize upon the personal effects of those who had deserted to the King of Great Britain. General William Irvine, Commander of the Western Department, addressed a letter to Col. John Gibson from "Proctor's," Jan., 1782. (Wash. Irv. Cor., 349) Proctor was a neighbor of Col. Archibald Lochry, Lieutenant of the County; his place of residence was in Unity township near a stream called Twelve Mile Run, about three miles from Latrobe, and was seven miles from Hannastown. It was not far from the Forbes Road. The structure called Fort Shippen was erected probably in the early part of the summer of 1774, as on June 3d it is reported "many families (about Hannastown) returning to this (eastern) side of the mountains, others are about building of forts in order to make a stand," (Arch., iv., 505), and "a fort is to be built at Capt. John Proctor's" (Arch. iv., 507). By directions and authority of Arthur St. Clair, during that season, twenty men were stationed here. (Arch. iv., 504). It is probable the place was frequently resorted to during the Revolution in time of excitement and fear, although no public or other mention is made of the blockhouse or stronghold after the period of its erection; but "Proctor's is mentioned frequently. ------------------------ The Frontier Forts of Western Pennsylvania, vol. 2, Sec. Ed., pp. 375-6; Edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery, LITT. D.; Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, Harrisburg, PA, 1916.

FORT SHIPPEN

"Among the petitions sent to the Governor in 1774, incident to the apprehension of an Indian war, was one from "Fort Shippen, at Capt. John Proctor's." (Arch. iv. 534.) The petition sets forth, in part, "That there is great reason to fear that this part of the country will soon be involved in an Indian war. That the consequences will most probably be very striking, as the country is in a very defenseless state, without any places of strength or any stock of ammunition or necessary stores. In these circumstances, next to the Almighty, they look to your Honour and hope you will take their case into consideration, and afford them such relief as your Honor will see meet."
The structure was named doubtless in honor of Edward Shippen, Esq., one of the Council.
John Proctor was a very conspicuous man in the early history of the county. He was commissioned to various offices by the Penns, which he held in Cumberland and Bedford counties, prior to the erection of Westmoreland. He was the first sheriff of Westmoreland county; took an active part in the affairs of 1775 at the outbreak of the Revolution; was Colonel of the First Battalion of Associators organized in pursuance of the Resolutions of 16th of May, 1775, at Hannastown. The flag of the battalion--a rattlesnake flag--is still in possession of Mrs. Margaret Craig of New Alexandria, Pa. He raised a company of riflemen in the early summer of 1776 with Van Swearigen, and joined the continental army with it where he served with Washington for a short campaign. He then returned to Westmoreland; was strong candidate for Colonel of the battalion authorized by Congress to be raised in Westmoreland and Bedford, but was unsuccessful, Col. Mackay being selected for that office; was appointed paymaster of the militia of Westmoreland county, Sept. 13, 1776, and, shortly after, with Thomas Galbraith, was appointed commissioner in pursuance of an ordinance passed by the Council of Safety, Oct. 21st, 1777, to seize upon the personal effects of those who had deserted to the King of Great Britain. General William Irvine, Commander of the Western Department, addressed a letter to Col. John Gibson from "Proctor's," Jan., 1782. (Wash. Irv. Cor., 349)
Proctor was a neighbor of Col. Archibald Lochry, Lieutenant of the County; his place of residence was in Unity township near a stream called Twelve Mile Run, about three miles from Latrobe, and was seven miles from Hannastown. It was not far from the Forbes Road. The structure called Fort Shippen was erected probably in the early part of the summer of 1774, as on June 3d it is reported "many families (about Hannastown) returning to this (eastern) side of the mountains, others are about building of forts in order to make a stand," (Arch., iv., 505), and "a fort is to be built at Capt. John Proctor's" (Arch. iv., 507). By directions and authority of Arthur St. Clair, during that season, twenty men were stationed here. (Arch. iv., 504). It is probable the place was frequently resorted to during the Revolution in time of excitement and fear, although no public or other mention is made of the blockhouse or stronghold after the period of its erection; but "Proctor's is mentioned frequently.
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The Frontier Forts of Western Pennsylvania, vol. 2, Sec. Ed., pp. 375-6; Edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery, LITT. D.; Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer, Harrisburg, PA, 1916.

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