Despite the fact that most people have heard, or read, about John Wray and 'Raystown', very few have any factual knowledge of Garrett Pendergrass or James Dunning. They, like John Wray, were also 'Indian' traders who bartered with the Amerindians in this region and sometimes provided services to the provincial government of the Colony of Pennsylvania.
Before discussing what has been documented about Garrett Pendergrass, it should be mentioned that the image that most people have of the man upon whose land Henry Bouquet had Fort Bedford constructed was greatly influenced by Hervey Allen. Allen, a local author, wrote about Pendergrass in his book The Forest and the Fort, the first book in a three book series titled The City in the Dawn. The only problem with Hervey Allen's writing was that it was mostly fiction with a few historical facts sprinkled in. No documentation exists to describe Pendergrass, but Allen was able to ~ even to the point of describing the sound of his voice. Although the character portrayed in the books is interesting and enjoyable to read about, there is no evidence that the real Garrett Pendergrass actually resembled Hervey's literary character. Nor is there any evidence that the building in which Pendergrass was supposed to operate a tavern (at the foot of the bluff on which Fort Bedford would be built) had a log structure on top of a first floor of stone as described by Allen. But because Hervey Allen's colorful description was believed to be historical fact by early historians, a 'reconstruction' of the tavern stands in the Old Bedford Village living history museum.
Garret Pendergrass Sr was a notable entrepreneur from the period prior to and during the erection of Bedford County. Pendergrass is the first individual whose presence in this region was actually documented, although not by a warrant approved by the Pennsylvania Land Office. Rather, it was one between him and the Amerindians who previously inhabited the land. Pendergrass is believed to have built and operated a tavern circa 1752 adjacent to where Fort Bedford would be constructed on land bought from Amerindians with whom he was friends, and within the bounds of the village that would become the borough of Bedford.
Garrett Pendergrass was mentioned in a letter from Pennsylvania Governor James Hamilton to Maryland Governor Horatio Sharpe dated 07 January 1754. In his letter, Hamilton noted that: "The Pender Grass you mention, is known to Mr. Peters, who says he kept a Publick house at Raystown, is a little addicted to drink, but knows the Woods Extreamely well, and might Serve for want of a better, in the Capacity of a Guide" In a petition he submitted to the Governor of the province (transcribed below), Pendergrass stated that he had settled in the vicinity of present-day Bedford Borough in the year 1752. It might have taken him some time to build his dwelling and tavern, and so it might be assumed that Pendergrass operated his tavern at least as early as the year 1753.
The customers who frequented the tavern owned and operated by Garrett Pendergrass would only have been the few traders in the region and perhaps the Amerindians who traveled along the footpaths that they had created through years and years of use.
Garrett Pendergrass's claim to land in present-day Bedford County is noteworthy because of the existing documents proving that he legally obtained the land from the previous owners, the Amerindians who were inhabiting it. In exchange for gifts of rum, wampum and other things, members of the Iroquois Confederacy of the Six Nations granted to Garrett Pendergrass a tract of land prior to the outbreak of the French and Indian War. It amounted to approximately three hundred acres and encompassed a large portion of the present-day borough of Bedford and the site where the fort would be constructed. According to author and historian, Thomas Imler, Pendergrass built a three floor building, consisting of a stone first floor and log second and third floors. Imler claimed that it was forty feet wide and eighty feet long, with eighty foot walnut beams supporting the top two floors. The beams would have had to have been cut from black walnut trees, which is the only type of walnut that grows between eighty and one hundred feet tall. But according to a petition submitted to Governor John Penn by 'Gerard' and Anne Pendergrass in 1766, his dwelling had measured just 24 feet square:
PHILADa, Octobr 10th, 1766. To the Honorable John Penn, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c., &c.: The Petition of Gerard Pendergrass, of the Town of Bedford, in the County of Cumberland, in the said Province, Yeoman, humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioner, in the year 1752, settled on the very Tract of Land on which the aforesaid Town of Bedford is now, by virtue of your Honor's Warrant laid out. That your Petitioner, at his own proper Cost and expence, did erect and build, on the aforesd Premises, a good and substantial round Log house, of 24 ffeet square. well shingled, and had cleared and enfenced between 40 & 50 acres of Land, when in the year 1755, he was obliged to fly before the Indian ennemy, who laid waste all that Country, burnt your Petitioner's House, and destroyed all his Improvements. That the King's Generals made the Fort Bedford on your Petitioner's Improvements, and an Inclosure for pasturing Horses & Cattle. And that since the King's Troops evacuated that Fort, and the Avenues thereof, the Improvements of your Petitioner have been surveyed, under your Honor's Warrant afsd, for the use of the Honorable the Proprietaries. That your Petitioner humbly, and with submission to your Honor's own Judgment, conceives that by his Adventure of Building & Shingling a House, clearing & enfencing 40 or 50 acres of Land, he and his Heirs, under that ancient and well known Right of Occupancy & Improvement, (by which all colonies and establishments in the World have, and especially your Province of Pennsylvania has, increased and bettered,) and under the custom of the Province, are intituled to the quiet Possession of their Improvements, and a competent Quantity of Land to accommodate the said Improvements, paying to the Lords of the soil the Rents accustomed, &c. That your Petitioner is far from entring into any Contest with the Honorable the Proprietaries about their or his own Right to the said Improvements, & Land adjoining thereto; But that he puts his Confidence entirely into your Honor's sentiments of Justice and equity, so that you will make him a suitable Recompence for his Labour & Losses. And your Petitioner shall ever pray, as in Duty bound. GERARD PENDERGRASS. On his Behalf, signed By ANNE PENDERGRASS.
When Braddock met defeat at Fort Duquesne, many settlers fled from this region because of the increase in Amerindian attacks. Pendergrass took his family to Fort Littleton. Unfortunately, while there, one of his daughters was murdered by Amerindians. Pendergrass and his family returned to their Raystown home, to find it burned with the stone first floor only standing. As if that was not enough hardship for the Pendergrass family, the Pennsylvania provincial authorities surveyed the Proprietaries Manor of Bedford, in the process appropriating much of Pendergrass' tract. Pendergrass informed the representatives of the Iroquois Six Nations of his loss, and they, in compensation, granted to him a large tract of land on the north side of the Allegheny River opposite to Fort Pitt.
Endeavoring to help their friend, Pendergrass, prove his ownership and retrieve his land from the Proprietaries, three Iroquois sachems vouched that he had received the land as a gift:
Whereas a certain Garret Pendergrass, Senior of Bedford Settlement, in the Province of Pennsylvania, and County of Cumberland, was Settled some number of years past by leave of the Chiefs or deputy's of the six Nations of Indians, on a Tract of Land where Bedford is now situate, while the said Land was yet the property of us and our said Chiefs and deputy's said Pendergrass being dispossessed of said land In time of the war between the French and English and before the said Pendergrass could Saifly return to live on said Land it was Enter'd upon by people who have from time to time and yet Continues to keep said Pendergrass from the Enjoyment of said Tract of Land said Pendergrass at the last Treaty Held at Fort Pitt with the Representatives of the said six Nations informed our said Chiefs or their Representatives or deputy's that he was deprived of the above Tract of Land as above mentioned whereupon, us and our said deputy's did then at the said Treaty Give him, the said Pendergrass our leave in writing under our hands, to settle on a Tract of Land called the Long Reach, near the mouth of the Yaughyagain but the said last mentioned Tract being at the time of the said Treaty, or before it, Improved by some other person or persons Contrary to our Expectation, for which Reason he the said Pendergrass has not obtained Possession of the Latter mentioned Tract and can not Quiatly Enjoy neither of the two above mentioned Tracts. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have caused our names hereunto to be Subscribed and have hereunto set our marks In the Month of February in the year of our Lord God one thousand Seven hundred & Seventy.
Anonquit X [Mark] Enishshera, or Captn. Henry Mountare, H.M. Connehracahecat, or the White Mingo X [Mark]
Prior to 1747, a Scotsman by the name of James Dunning established a trading post north of the Raystown post. On a map of Fort Bedford, 'Dunnings House' is shown situated to the northwest of the island in the creek that was named for the trader, and to the west of the mountain that bears his name. Recalling what was noted above, regarding John/Robert Ray and the concept of the 'town' in the 1700's, it could be assumed that James Dunning built only a single structure in which he resided and from which he conducted his trading business, otherwise, his property might have been labeled, on contemporary maps, as Dunning's Town.
Conrad Weiser submitted a report of his journey to Shamokin to the Provincial Council on 09 July 1747. In the report Weiser noted:
I am sorry to add that there are great Complaints against two of our Traders; one is James Dunning, who is accused to have stolen 47 Dear Skins and three Horses (or Mares), upon the heads of Joniady River; the circumstance are very strong; the Indian from whom the Skins & Horses have been stollen is a Delaware Indian, a Sober, quiet, and good natur'd man; he was down at my House with his Complaint, a few days before I set out for Shamokin. I sent him back again till I had learned the particulars, being I could not talk with him sufficient to find out the Truth of the Story; he was now with Shikalamy and renewed his Complaint. James Dunning is gone down Ohio River, and will stay out long; the Indian was content that I should inform the Council of his misfortune; he not only lost his skins & Horses, but pursued James Dunning in vain to the place call'd Canayiahagen, on the South side of the Lake Erie, from thence back again to the Place where he left the Skins, and from thence again to Ohio, but all in vain, for he could not find or come up with James Dunning.
George McSwaine, stated in a deposition taken at Fort Loudoun on 27 December 1756: "That on Thursday the 23d Instant, he, the said Deponent with Thomas Blair and James McCay in Company, being at Bays Town, saw Sixteen Fire Places together, just at James Dunning, Senr House "
In this region, Dunnings Mountain, Dunnings Creek and Dunnings Cove were natural features named for James Dunning. In addition, there was a site approximately twenty-five miles east of Shanopin's Town (at present-day Pittsburgh) that was known as Dunning's Sleeping Place. Dunning and those who came before him did not obtain warrants for the lands upon which they settled.
