During the Revolutionary War the western frontier was continually under pressure from the danger of Indian attacks. To help counteract this threat to the settlements, Ranging Companies were formed to patrol and defend the area. One of these companies was commanded by Captain Moses Carson. The battalion that this unit served with in the Westmoreland County Militia is not stated. However, it is significant to note that the date that this payroll is for, July--August 1776, is the period during which some western Pennsylvania units were recruited and organized .
It is probable that many of Captain Carson's men were absorbed into the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment when their service expired after one "month. However, the service for some of these men appears on no other surviving muster rolls.
The Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment was formed at this time (authorized by Congress on July 15, 1776) and was made up of seven companies from Westmoreland County and one from Bedford County. All of the officers of Carson's Ranging Company, and many of the men, show up on later rosters for the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment. The Regiment was formed for the purpose of manning Presqu' Isle, Le Boeuf and Kittanning. After it was recruited, it assembled at Kittanning and remained there until November 26, 1776. On December 4th, orders arrived from Congress ordering the unit to join with Washington's army in the east, then in New Jersey. The unit was commanded by Colonel Aeneas Mackay. These orders, dated November 26th, were the first that officially designated the regiment as the Eighth Pennsylvania. Some of the men are briefly described below:
*Patrick BURT may be the Patrick Burk buried in Washington County, Pa.
(Source: Washington County Frontier Rangers 1781-2, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1987, p. 42.)
*Francis BYERLEY (or Byerly) was born in 1754 and died in 1803. He was married to Magdalene Harmon and is buried in Dugan Cemetery, Plum Twp, Allegheny County.
(Source: Allegheny County, Pa. Revolutionary War Soldiers, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, p. 10.)
*Moses CARSON was a Captain in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment and left the service on April 21, 1777.
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 80).
Other records record that Moses Carson deserted on the same date.
(Source: The Pennsylvania Line, Organization and Operations, 1776-1783, John B. B. Trussell, Jr., Harrisburg, Pa. Historical and Museum Commission, 1977, p. 105.)
The term "deserted," however, may simply mean he went home to plant his crops. It was not uncommon to have men leave without authorization and return at a later date.
(Source: Westmoreland County in the American Revolution, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, page 32.)
*John CLARK may be the John Clark who served as a Captain in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment for February, March and April, 1783
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 84)
The John Clark in Captain Carson's unit was wounded in 1779 and applied for a pension. See Pension file no. S-41485.
(Source: Allegheny County, Pa. Revolutionary War Soldiers, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, p. 12-3.)
*Robert CRAWFORD is listed as a Sergeant in Captain Nehemiah Stokely's Company, Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, for 1778 and 1779. He is listed as serving from August 20, 1776 until September 15, 1779. He resided in Venango County in 1825.
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 81-2.)
*John FINLEY served in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment as a First Lieutenant and was promoted to Captain on October 22, 1777. He was transferred to the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment on January 17, 1781. He appears as a Captain on the rolls of Captain Samuel Brady's Company for February, March and April, 1783.
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 80, 84-5.)
He was born in Scotland June 2, 1759 and came from Maryland. He was married to Margaret Roland and died March 25, 1846. He is buried in Finley Family Cemetery, Snowden Township, Allegheny County
(Source: Allegheny County, Pa. Revolutionary War Soldiers, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, p. 24.)
*John HUTTON may be the John Hutton who was an early settler in Hanover Township, Beaver County, Pa.
(Source: History of Beaver Co., Pa., Chicago, A. Warner and Co., 1888, p. 95).
*Benjamin JONES served in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment and resided in Champaign County, Ohio in 1833 at the age of 71
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 83.)
He served with Captain John Clark's Company in February, March and April, 1783 (Ibid., page 84).
He may be the Benjamin Jones that took part in General Anthony Wayne's expedition and afterwards settled in "Allegheny Town" opposite Pittsburgh
(Source: History of Allegheny Co., Pa., Vol. II, Chicago, A. Warner and Co., 1889, page 193)
before moving to Champaign County.
*Joseph KERR is found listed as an Ensign in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 80.).
He may be the Joseph Kerr listed as a resident in 1802 in First Moon Township, Beaver County
(Source: History of Beaver Co., Pa., Chicago, A. Warner and Co., 1888, p. 96).
*Joseph LINDSEY appears in Yohogania County, Virginia civil records of August 27, 1777
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 215.).
*George LONG appears in Yohogania County, Virginia civil records of August 27, 1777
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 215.).
*Matthew LONG was born in Yorkshire, England on April 19, 1753 and died June 7, 1838. At the time of his enlistment in 1776, he was a resident of Turtle Creek, Powell's Station, Westmoreland County, Pa. He later served with other Eighth Pennsylvania units and applied for a pension. Refer to pension file no. S-7160. He served as an Indian spy and scout. He was married to Rebecca Maxwell and is buried in Beulah Church Cemetery, Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County
(Source: Allegheny County, Pa. Revolutionary War Soldiers, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, p. 46.)
He may be the Matthew Long listed as one of the original lot-owners of McKeesport, PA
(Source: History of Allegheny Co., Pa., Vol. I, Chicago, A. Warner and Co., 1889, page 729.)
*Matthew McAFEE served as a Corporal in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment.
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 83.).
*Henry McBRIDE was probably born in Scotland about 1733 and was one of the first permanent settlers on Montour Run in 1773 in the area that is today North Fayette Township, Allegheny County. He was married to Jane Alexander and they came from Maryland. They raised a family on their farm and were among the founders of Montours Church. Henry died in 1809.
(Source: The Henry McBride Family of Fayette Twp., Allegheny Co., Pa., 1749-1840, Dennis B. Ardinger, Bridgeville, Pa., 1988, pp. 15-7.)
*Thomas SAMPSON may be the Thomas Sampson buried at Beulah Church Cemetery in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County. Both Thomas Sampson
and Thomas Sampson, Jr. served in the Westmoreland County militia
(Source: Allegheny County, Pa. Revolutionary War Soldiers, Paul W. Myers, Apollo, Pa., Closson Press, 1988, p. 69.)
*Alexander SUMRALL, who is also found in military records as Alexander SIMRALL, SUMRAT and SUNRAD, appears in Yohogania County, Virginia civil records of August 27, 1777. Alexander Simrall is listed as a second lieutenant in the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment from August 9, 1776 until he left the service in 1777. He resided in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1834 at the age of eighty-eight.
(Source: History of Washington County, Pa. Boyd Crumrine, Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Co., 1882, page 80 and 215.).