Samuel Blunston and Blunston Licenses
By the early 1730s the proprietaries (Thomas, John, and Richard Penn) had decided to expand the colony’s western border across the Susquehanna River as far as the present day Kittochtinny Mountains.
By the early 1730s the proprietaries (Thomas, John, and Richard Penn) had decided to expand the colony’s western border across the Susquehanna River as far as the present day Kittochtinny Mountains.
The history of the Boiling Springs area is multi-layered and revolves around its water resources. Being located along the Ironstone Ridge that crosses the Cumberland Valley, a number of natural springs arise in the area and combine to form a stream that empties into the Yellow Breeches Creek just south of the village.
George Brandt’s elegant brick mansion house stood just across the Yellow Breeches Creek at a bend in the road to Dillsburg (present day Route 74). Mature trees were set against the backdrop of the mountain to the south and a covered bridge which crossed the creek to the north.
Cumberland county, which forms the eastern portion of the great Cumberland Valley, is made up, as we ordinarily know it, of three geological formations, viz: the slate on the north, the limestone in the center, and the sand or pinelands on the south. It is drained lengthwise by the Conodoguinet and the Yellow Breeches creeks.
The first known occupancy of the Central Pennsylvania area was by the Susquehannock Indians and predated the arrival of the white man from Europe. Some evidence has been found on the West Shore area to confirm their presence, but not enough to confirm specific locations or activities other than burials.
Penn Township, Cumberland County is located in the southwestern section of the county. The township was formed officially on October 23, 1860 by partitioning off the western half of Dickinson Township. In 1872, the southern portion of Penn Township was partitioned to form Cooke Township.
Upon ascending the throne in 1603, James I of England (James VI of Scotland) desired to “civilize the uncontrollable, autonomous Irish.” His plan was to displace English Protestants, Presbyterian Scots, French, and German Protestants from their homelands and into Ireland.
Newton Township first appeared in Cumberland county tax records in 1773 although it was organized by 1767.[1] In 1929, Newton divided into North Newton and South Newton Townships.[2] The early settlers in the area were Scots-Irish but German families began to move in toward the end of the 18th century.[3] By the time the township had formed, most of the land had been taken up and the area had a settled population.[4]
Harry Strickler was in possession of a relic from the battlefield at Gettysburg. It was a six-pound bombshell charged with powder and bullets.1 It nearly cost him his life.