Introduction
Jacob Fought, blacksmith and tavern keeper of Cumberland County in the first third of the nineteenth century, became well-known in and around Carlisle at about the time of the War of 1812. He rose in prominence in the late 1810s through the 1820s and into the 1830s. He had business, legal, and social dealings with many professionals, businessmen, farmers, tradesmen, common folk, and even criminals.
Though he has been mentioned in passing in several books and articles, nothing has been published with him as its main subject, and almost nothing has appeared in print about his early years in the County. This article fills those gaps. It describes the first fourteen years of his Cumberland County life when he was establishing his dual careers, making rural moves, settling in Carlisle, making social connections, and beginning his long involvement with the civil and criminal justice system. This background will enable a better understanding of his subsequent life in the County.
Arrival in Cumberland County
The earliest documented date for Jacob Fought's presence in Cumberland County is 24 April 1798, when he purchased 78 acres and 27 perches from John and Catrina Cole. This land was the southeasterly part of a 407-acre piece of land a warrant for which was granted to Samuel Lucas in 1752. It was situated in Middleton Township, in present-day North Middleton Township, a little north northwest of where Waggoner's Gap Road crosses the Conodoguinet Creek. The western edge of his property was sliced by Meetinghouse Run. Jacob probably moved here to be close to his brother, Frederick, who was in the County by 1795, and also to his sister Christina and brother-in-law, Benjamin Crane, all of whom lived at the time in the same general area in Middleton Township.
A brief description of Jacob's house is found in the United States Direct Tax schedule of 1798, sometimes referred to as the Glass Tax because its levy was based partly on the number of windows in a dwelling. His house was a wood structure, 22 feet by 20 feet. It was a one-story dwelling with two windows and six lights. There were also a 50- by 20-foot barn, and a blacksmith shop that was 20 by 16 feet. His neighbor was widow Leonard, undoubtedly the widow of Daniel Lenhart who accidentally drowned in 1797. Jacob's dwelling was valued at $300 for tax purposes.
In 1799, Jacob was assessed at a rate of $280 for his real estate, and an additional $64 for one horse and three cows, for a total of $344. In 1800, he still lived on the same property, and in the same township as his brother, Frederick, his brother-in-law, Benjamin Crane, and another brother, John.
First Involvement With the Court
Although Jacob's first involvement with the Court was relatively minor, it is important because it was the first of several scores of other cases in which he was involved. His role in these later cases ranged from plaintiff to defendant, witness to bail bondsman, serving as tent, that is, providing surety for appearances, and jurist.
In this first case, he was a defendant. Hugh McFadin accused Jacob Fought of killing his ox. McFadin alleged that in the spring of 1800, Jacob shot his brown draught ox. The bond for court appearance was set at 40 pounds. The co-bondsmen for Jacob's court appearance were Jacob's brother, Frederick, and Philip Kinkle, also of Middleton Township. The capias was dated 11 April 1800, and the bond was signed 25 August 1800. The court date was set for 1 September 1800, and the original bond was assigned to Hugh McFadin, implying a finding of debt of Jacob to Hugh for the price of the bull, placed at $100.
Career as Blacksmith
Jacob Fought had a blacksmith shop in 1798 as recorded in the U. S. Direct Tax. Some time between 1 February 1807 and 1 February 1808, he did blacksmith work for the County. This included repairs to the Courthouse Bell and irons for prisoners. For the former, he provided a written account of work done. The work done in 1807 and 1808 at the jail included that associated with Edward Donnelly, a well-known convicted murderer of his wife. In late summer 1807, Jacob Fought put a pair of hobbles, or leg cuffs, and handcuffs on Donnelly. In the fall, he removed handcuffs, loosened hobbles, and made other similar adjustments during the fall and into the winter of early 1808. This included moving the prisoner and chaining him to a wall. On 5 February 1808, three days before Donnelly's date with the hangman, Jacob made a hook for the gallows.
This article is the third in a series of biographical sketches about Jacob Fought, a blacksmith and innkeeper who moved from Berks County to rural Cumberland County in 1798, and to Carlisle in 1806. In 1811, he became proprietor of the Sign of the Plough and Harrow, a tavern located one and one-half blocks east of the town square.