The information about Armagh herein is from the Armagh Area Bicentennial 1792-1992
Armagh, Ireland 1792 - Mrs. Parker was married to William Parker, son of Lord Parker of Belfast, Ireland. William died leaving his wife with four children. Some time after the death of William, his widow fell in love with James Graham who was the caretaker of her estate. It was said that Graham was a fine man but not of noble blood. Feeling the pressure of the social status, Mrs. Parker sold her estate and married James Graham and made plans to set sail to the New World.
The eight families set sail from New Castle, Ireland on two ships the "Minerva" mastered by Charles Forrest (burthern 400 tons) and "Renown" mastered by William Loth (burthern 450 tons). It was said to be a long and frightful trip to their new homeland.
They landed in Philadelphia on July 21, 1792 by way of the North Atlantic Deleware Bay and onto the Market Street Wharf, Irish immigrnts were not well accepted on the Eastern seaboard and were often told to move west.
After obtaining the necessary provisions for the trip West, they were off to find a new area to call home. The exact date is not known when they left Philadelphia area, but we can be sure it took some time to prcure the necessary implements to start a new life in the new country.
It was noted as the group of Irish families were traveling West, the roads were terrible and crossing some streams was next to impossible. Wheel blocks had to be used coming down Chickoree Mountain. These were chain and wooden block devices used to keep the back wheels of wagons from turning.
On September 1, 1792, the Irish group had made their way to a place known as Plainfield. The group liked the lay of the land. It reminded them of Armagh, Ireland. It was decided by the group to travel west no further. Mr. Graham said he would try to find the owner of the land and get approval to stay as Fall was fast approaching adn shelters had to be built. It is recorded that Robert Douglas had obtained Patten from said Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being the area known as Plainfield. James Gibson bought this area of Plainfield in 1790 and sold the are to Jame and wife Margaret in 1798 for a total sum of $16.00. The area of Plainfield was now officially Armagh. The town was surveyed by Joseph McCarthy with lots layed out to the size of 66 feet front and 165 feet deep. First lots sold were to William Parker. The first child born in the new town was Jeannette Fee on August 22, 1793.
In the summer and fall of 1799, a subscription school was taught in the village by Robert Davis, an old Revolutionary soldier. The scholars who attended this first school were: Katie Tomb, Hugh Tomb, John Tomb, Elizabeth Fee, Jeannette Fee, Josias Fee and Elizabeth Carr. The only books were those of the teacher. Letters were pasted ona board with a handle on it in the shape of a paddle. A log building was used for the school house and was located south from the center of town enar where the Old Presbyterian Church now sits.
The first tavern was opened by James Graham in a rude log cabin. In 1800 the first blacksmith shop was opened by Peter Dyke, which reportedly did a good business.
Joseph Wipey
William Sylvis
George Findley
Former Farms located around Armagh Borough and East Wheatfield Township
John Hess
Charles McCachren
Frank Paul
Mont Ling
Ed Ling
Arch McCachren
Warren McFeaters
Carl Nagles
John Stephens
Charles Preall
Leslie Stutzman
Ben Stutzman
Oak Hill Farm - Dr W E Matthews
Lester Matthews
Herbert Matthews
Llewellyn Williams
Howard Faloon
Harry Stiles
Harry Tinkcom
William Fry
Chester Hunt
James Hutchison
Robert Hutchison
Charles Hutchison
Robert Cunningham
William Rhonchak
Jesse Wadsworth
Herbert Slaughterbeck
Stuart McClain
Flora McKelvey
Joe McKelvey
Harry Fox
Harry Mack
Thomas Mack
William Campbell
Bert Mack
Zoe Mack
Kurt Mack
Ves Mack
John Stiles
Sam Killen
John Tomb
Hugh Tomb
A E Johnston