I Peter Vandolah of Washington Township, Fayette County, State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind and disposing memory, and being desirous of settling my outward affairs do therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following. First I devise and direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be duly and carefully paid. Second I give and devise unto my beloved wife Hester the dwelling house and garden of at least half an acre of ground where I now dwell, together with all my household and kitchen furniture, that I may own at my decease, and also one third of the rents, profits, perquisites and interest arising from my real and personal estate, during her natural life, and it is my mind and will, that my Executors shall settle my business as soon as convenient, and when the rents and profits are collected, they put and place the two thirds of the money at interest, and take good and sufficient security for the same, the other third together with the one third of the yearly interest as above is considered for the yearly support of my widow. Third, at the decease of my dear wife I request and order my executors, or the surviving of them to sell and dispose of all my real and personal estate, and collect all the rents-monies and profits then due my estate, and the amount thereof, after deducting the necessary lawful expenses there from. I devise and order the same to be equally divided share and share alike, between my six children, namely, Henry, Joseph, John, Peter, James and Jesse, to be enjoyed by them and their heirs forever. And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my trusty and beloved friends Robert Stevens and Lewis Lisley (?), both of the township, county and state aforesaid, my executors of this my last will and tesetiment hereby authorizing and impowering them, or the survivor or survivors of them to do all and everything needful for the due performance of this my last Will and Testiment, according to the true intent and meaning thereof. In witness whereof I hae herewith set my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord - One thousand eight hundred and four. by Peter (his X mark) Vandolah

Petition for a New State. (List alphabetized from "The Ten Mile Country and Its Pioneer Families"). Fayette, Washington & Greene Co PA and Ohio & Monongalia Co VA. (From an original petition for a new state located in the Library of Congress. No date on document. Papers of the Continental Congress No 48, Folios 251-6, pages 89-96). The names in this petition, which is not dated, seem at times to be taken from the militia rolls, and if circulated after 1780 contains names of persons deceased or moved from the district. There is no attempt to conceal the fact that the signatures were written by the prime agitators of the movement as many of those names which appear here could only make their mark.

One of the most interesting townships was Rostraver in the Forks of the Yough. Its area extended up to the mouth of Redstone Creek, and may of these early settlers crossed the Monongahela and joined with the Virginians from the southerly townships in the formation of the later West Augusta County, which caused more or less of legal confusion. The greater part of them gave allegiance to the Pennsylvania court during the Revolutionary period: (the list of names which follows includes: Peter Vandola

Purchased 207 3/4 acres on original land patent; property described as being at the junction of the Monongahela and the north bank of a creek, situated on the waters of Little Redstone Creek in Washington Township, Fayette County, PA. Tract was named "Smithfield". Bounded by lands of George Lewis, John Patterson, Levi Stephens, George Richards, Eli Allen, and John Seward. Record of Survey in Vol. 5, page 63. (The Horn Papers). Original survey on file in the Land Office of the Department of Community Affairs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA. Recorded in A Book, Volume 47, Page 9. Patent is described as the same as the 'Vandolah/Thompson' deed, recorded 16 Jun 1796, in Book P, Volume 29, page 110.

Purchased Lot #11, described as being Sixty feet front & one hundred & twenty back, part of an original tract called "Wisky Mount" assigned to Edward Cook by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via Patent on 14 Sep 1796. Wisky Mount is further described as "situate on the east side of Monongahela river in the Township of Washington aforesaid bounded by land of Andrew Linn and others. (Compiler's note: Freeport was located a few miles northwest of the earlier tract of land called Smithfield). Deed is signed by Edward Cook and his wife, Martha; and (by their marks), Peter Vandolah and his wife, Hester. Witnessed by James Cook and Isabella Cook. Vandolah purchase recorded in Book H, page 242. Original Patent recorded in Book 22, page 336, of Fayette County, PA.

Later a family by the name of Vandolah entered 400 acres of the same tract as Major John Stevenson. The father soon after making his entry became uneasy as to his claim being good. He discovered certain marks that someone had been there before, and meeting Major James Galloway one day he told him of his suspicions and asked Mr. Galloway's advice as to what to do under the circumstances. Mr. Galloway told him that he had recently discovered a law that anyone making an entry where someone had previously entered that the latter party could have his claim transferred to some other place. Mr. Vandolah thereupon authorized Mr. Galloway to do so with his entry. In the meantime, it appears the elder Vandolah, knowing the uncertainty of life, made a will, willing to his two sons, Peter and Jesse, the aforesaid 400 acres. In course of time Major Galloway made the requested entry of the Vandolah claim, three and a half miles northeast, and they immediately removed to their land. Some years after, the father died and it appears had failed in life to take his boys into his confidence as to his business relations. They remembered the claim where they first had lived; and the father had failed to destroy the will which he had made, and from these facts grew the trouble and the number of suits of ejectment that followed. (Compiler's note: the following excerpt, taken from a deposition of James Galloway, Jr. 10 June 1818, at Old Chillicothe or Oldtown, at the house of Abner Reid. may or may not refer to the same 400 acres discussed above). Some time in the winter of 1806, in a conversation with Joseph Vandolah respecting a survey of 400 acres of land which himself and brothers, James and Peter, claimed near the Old Chillicothe town on the little Miami River, said deponent informed said Joseph of that date and manner in which their said entry was made, and of the surveys which it interfered with, and he thinks, but is not certain, showed him copies of the said entries and surveys. The said Vandolah appeared convinced that their claim to the 400 acres aforesaid was such that they must lose the land, and talked of petitioning congress for leave to withdraw their entry and have it located elsewhere, requesting his aid in endeavoring to get their land secured to them and to make inquiry and do something for them, promising him a compensation if he could do anything to secure them their land, with their warrants that would be clear of dispute. On or about the 20th day of March, 1807, said deponent became acquainted with the law of the United States which authorized persons losing lands by interference with prior claims, although such claim might be patented, to withdraw the part of the claim so lost and enter the same elsewhere. Said deponent, upon asserting the proper method to proceed, did, on or about the 20th of May, 1807, withdraw the said Vandolah entry of 400 acres aforesaid, and entered the same elsewhere. Some time afterward this deponent, meeting with James Vandolah, informed him of what he had done with his said claim, who expressed himself satisfied therewith, and desired said deponent to give him notice when he would be going into the neighborhood of where his land had been entered, by said deponent, and he would accompany him and see it and have it surveyed. Said deponent did accordingly send word to said Vandolah a short time before he set out on a tour to the woods but he did not attend. Some time after, said deponent, returning from the woods, again met with said James Vandolah, who expressed some concern at his being disappointed. In going to see the land and upon inquiry finding that his land had not been surveyed, he wished again to have notice when it would be convenient for said deponent to survey it and he would accompany him. Notice was given him the second tie by said deponent that at such a time he might attend and accompany said deponent on another tour, when the land might be surveyed, but said Vandolah did not attend.

To All Whom These Presents Shall Come Greeting. Know Ye that Whereas I Peter Vandolah of Washington Townshhip Fayette County and State of [Pensylvania] was formerly seized of a certain Tract of Land in Right of my father [Henry] Vandolah situate in [Ambell] Township [Huntington] County State of New Jersey adjoining land of John Willson Abraham Hagaman Andrew Larrison & Daniel Butterforce now in the possession of Garret Vandolah Containing One hundred & seventy one Acres and three fourths. Know Therefore that I do hereby release and for ever Quit Claim and for myself my heirs do Release discharge and forever Quit Claim to the aforesaid Tract of Land now in the possession of Garret Vandolah that said Land is and ought to [bee] the property of the said Garret his heirs and Assigns forever and further I assign all right Interest Claim & Demand of & unto the said Tract of to [bee] for the [propper] Use and Behoof of the said Garret his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Twenty third day of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & Ninety three. Peter [his X mark] Vandolah.

Sold property to Hugh Thompson of [Minallior] Township, Fayette Co, PA for $1700. Deed recorded 23 May 1808.

He was listed on the official Assessment Rolls of 1772. Until that year, Bedford County encompassed all of southwestern Pennsylvania. In 1773 Westmoreland County was formed from part of Bedford. In 1781 Washington County was split off from Westmoreland, and in 1783 Fayette County was also taken from Westmoreland.

He was taxed on 200 acres; 3 horses, 3 cattle, 3 sheep, and 8 inhabitants.

3 males 16 & up, 1 female

Name of family head; "number of free white males of sixteen years and older, number of free white males under sixteen years, number of free white females, number of all other free persons, number of slaves; and sometimes town or district of residence.

He witnessed, with James Ashton and James Dalrymple, the Last Will and Testament of Johannes Johnson (believed to be his step-father).

• Married: ABT 1758 ¹

1. Henry VanDolah b: ABT 1760 in NJ, Hunterdon Co
2. Joseph VanDolah b: ABT 1763 in NJ, Hunterdon Co
3. John VanDolah b: ABT 1765 in NJ, Hunterdon Co
4. Peter VanDolah b: ABT 1767 in NJ, Hunterdon Co
5. James VanDolah b: ABT 1769 in NJ, Hunterdon Co
6. Jesse VanDolah b: ABT 1771 in NJ, Hunterdon Co

1. Title: Estimated/Assumed Date or Place
2. Title: Robinson, George F., History of Greene County, Ohio (Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1902)
3. Title: Last Will and Testament
4. Title: Robinson, George F., History of Greene County, Ohio (Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1902)
   Page: page 392
5. Title: Veech, James, The Monongahela of Old or Historical Sketches of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the Year 1800 (Pittsburgh : [s.n.], 1858-1892
   (Web Site)
6. Title: Leckey, Howard L. (Howard Louis), The Ten Mile Country and its Pioneer Families (Waynesburg, Pa. : Waynesburg Republican, c1950)
   Page: No 48, Folios 251-6, pages 89-96.
7. Title: Walkinshaw, Lewis Clark, Annals of southwestern Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co. , 1939)
   Page: page 402-404
8. Title: Recorder's Office, county of issue, Deed Records; Grantee/Grantor Indexes
   Page: Survey Map 21 Feb 1787, Book E, page 168.
9. Title: Horn, W. F., The Horn papers : early westward movement on the Monongahela and upper Ohio, 1765-1795 (Waynesburg, Pa. : Committee of the Greene County Historical Society, 1945)
   Page: Vol. III, page 26
10. Title: Recorder's Office, county of issue, Deed Records; Grantee/Grantor Indexes
    Page: Book H, page 242
11. Title: Robinson, George F., History of Greene County, Ohio (Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1902)
    Page: page 171, 189
12. Title: Recorder's Office, county of issue, Deed Records; Grantee/Grantor Indexes
    Page: Book 1, page 596.
13. Title: Recorder's Office, county of issue, Deed Records; Grantee/Grantor Indexes
    Page: Book H, page 113.
14. Title: Pennsylvania. General Assembly, Pennsylvania Archives: Return of State Taxables, 3rd series, v. 22 (Philadelphia : J. Severns, 1852-1856, 1874-1935)
    Page: page 586, 595
15. Title: Pennsylvania. General Assembly, Pennsylvania Archives: Return of State Taxables, 3rd series, v. 22 (Philadelphia : J. Severns, 1852-1856, 1874-1935)
    Page: page 38
16. Title: Veech, James, The Monongahela of Old or Historical Sketches of Southwestern Pennsylvania to the Year 1800 (Pittsburgh : [s.n.], 1858-1892
    (Web Site)
    Page: Appendix to Chapter 7
17. Title: Pennsylvania. General Assembly, Pennsylvania Archives: Return of State Taxables, 3rd series, v. 22 (Philadelphia : J. Severns, 1852-1856, 1874-1935)
    Page: page 586
18. Title: Ancestry.com, Online Census Images (Images Online)
    Page: Image #0587
19. Title: United States Census Office, Population Schedules of the Census
    Page: page 645
20. Title: New Jersey State Archives, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. First Series, Vol. XXXIII. (Newark, N.J. : The Daily Journal Establishment, 1880-1949)
    Page: page 221