Robert Hanna was born in 1738 to parents Captain Patrick Hanna and an unidentified wife.

Robert Hanna came to America and settled in Cumberland County, Pa. He later moved to Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, where he died. We find them settled in Hempfield Twp., 1769-1770. Along with his cousin, John Hanna (1740-1800) and a number of other kinsmen, he founded Hannastown. The county seat of Westmoreland County was established at Robert Hanna’s little settlement and it was there that the first Pennsylvania Court west of the mountains was held April 13, 1773. Unfortunately Hannastown was burnt by the Indians and their British Allies, July 13, 1782. A number of the inhabitants were slain and others carried to British Canada as prisoners; among them being Robert’s wife Elisabeth, and their daughter Jane. They were released by the British in Montreal, Canada, December 1792 and returned home. Church Presbyterian.

Biography

Robert Hanna
by an unidentified researcher commissioned by James C. Furst for his Sons of the Revolution application

Subsequent to the Treat of Fort Stanwix, when the lands of the “New Purchase” were thrown open for settlement on April 3, 1769, Robert Hanna of Scotch-Irish descent, came to what is now Westmoreland County, Pa., and made application for a “Tract of land containing 300 acres on the Great Road (Forbes Road) leading from Ligonier to Pittsburgh, eighteen miles west of Fort Ligonier, including Miers’ Spring. Soon after the land had been warranted to him, probably about 1770, Robert Hanna moved to his purchase and established a settlement, which was called Hannastown. The deeds issued by Hanna were not in Fee Simple but were in the nature of a ground rent. At the time Hannastown was burned, it probably consisted of about thirty to forty log cabins, a court house, jail, and a fort, all of which were surrounded by a crude stockade.

Bedford County, erected Saturday, March 9, 1771, embraced the entire western section of Pennsylvania. Bedford was the county seat. On Monday, March 11, the justices were appointed. Later Robert Hanna was appointed one of the three county commissioners. The first Court of Quarter Sessions for Bedford County was held April 16, 1771, “Before William Proctor, Robert Hanna, George Wilson, William Lochrey and William McConnell, Esquires, Justices of our Lord the King, to hear and determine divers felonies and misdemeanors committed in said county.”

At the Court of Quarter Sessions, held July 16, 1771, Robert Hanna, Esq. and others petitioned for a road through Fairfield Township from John Kingston’s plantation at Squirrel Hill on the Conemaugh via the mill of Arthur St. Clair to Ligonier, and viewers appointed reported in favor of the road.
In 1771 and 1772 a number of settlers crossed the Alleghenies. On account of the great distance from Bedford, it became necessary that Court should be held west of the mountains for the proper government of that section. Accordingly in the fall of 1772, the Penns appointed Robert Hanna, Joseph Erwin, John Cavet, Samuel Sloan and George Wilson, five commissioners to locate a new county seat for the country west of the mountains. Of these commissioners Robert Hanna was the most influential. He rented his tavern and grog shop to Joseph Erwin, which would make it to the interest of Mr. Erwin to have Hannastown chosen as the county seat. Samuel Sloan, who was with Hanna, was a member of the Unity Presbyterian Church, was also controlled by him. These three commissioners formed a majority in their recommendation of Hannastown as the county seat. John Cavet and George Wilson with Arthur St. Clair, were in favor of Pittsburgh. Westmoreland County, erected out of Bedford County, was legislatively established by an act passed February 26, 1773. Robert Hanna was one of the first Justices of the Peace for Westmoreland County, commissioned on February 27, 1773, and re-commissioned on January 11, 1774. (Laws of Pa. Vol. I, page 663-8, by A. J. Dallas. Pa. Archives 1760-76, Series 1, Vol. IV, page 461-2. Pa. Colonial records 1771-5, Vol. X, pages 77-78 & 142.)

Section II of the act erecting Westmoreland County provided that, until a suitable Court House could be built, the Courts should be held at the house of Robert Hanna. Section VI enacted that Robert Hanna should be one of five men to purchase a suitable piece of land whereon to build a court house and a prison. Hannastown enjoyed the unique position of being the first town west of the Allegheny Mountains where Justice was judicially administered according to the recognized forms and principles of the English law. (Pa. Archives, Series I, Vol. IV, page 579.)

In May, 1774, the Boston authorities called on the Colonies to unite with them to stop all importations from Great Britain and the West Indies. In Pennsylvania a meeting of representatives from the various counties who called for July 15th at Philadelphia. By special election, Robert Hanna and James Cavet were elected delegates to represent Westmoreland County.

The dispute between Virginia and Pennsylvania over the western territory was being agitated by Dr. John Connelly. He took exception to the Pennsylvania magistrates acting in disputed territory and in February, 1775, he made a raid upon Hannastown, broke open the jail and released all the prisoners. Robert Hanna and James Cavet remonstrated. On February 22nd they were arrested on the charge of acting as magistrates under the Penns and they were taken to prison in Pittsburgh where they remained for three months. The Penns did not seem to be greatly interested for they took no notice of the arrests, although they were duly notified. Indeed, during all the Indian warfare upon the frontiers, the inhabitants suffered cruelly through the neglect of the government. (Pa. Archives, Series I, Vol. IV, page 605-6. Am. Archives, Vol. I, 1774-75, page 1271-76.)

During the border troubles, Robert Hanna and General Arthur St. Clair seem to have had some personal troubles. A letter under date of Aug. 8, 1774 sets forth one dispute in regard to Hanna having been appointed Senior captain of the troops, – just what position Hanna held is not stated. At the meeting of the Council of Safety, held on June 1776, it was Resolved, That the said committee be authorized to receive from Robert Hanna, Esq., all the Ammunition belonging to the Public that he has in his care, which ammunition they are to dispose of in such way as will best conduce to the safety of the said County and the said Robert Hanna, Esq. is hereby required to deliver it to the said Committee or their order.

While Hanna probably was still in prison in Pittsburgh, the inhabitants of Westmoreland County held a general meeting at Hannastown, May 16, 1775, at which the Hannastown Declaration of Independence was adopted.

It is interesting to note that the Mecklenburg, N.C. Declaration was not adopted until May 31.
In 1782 Hannastown was attacked and burned by the British and Indians. From a letter written by George Washington, Connelly is given credit for directing the attack against Fort Pitt and adjacent posts. In this attack Mrs. Hanna and two of her daughters were captured by the Indians and carried prisoners into Canada. They were released and returned home the following spring. The destruction of Hannastown was one of the last incidents of the Revolutionary War. (Bryants’ Popular History of U.S. Vol. III, page 470.)

On August 23, 1783, John Cavet, Joseph Erwin and Robert Hanna again recommended Hannastown as the County seat for Westmoreland County.

Robert Hanna died April-May 1786.

Robert Hanna, one of the Scotch Irish pioneers who pursued his course westward during the latter part of the eighteenth century, figured in the annals of Western Pennsylvania at the close of the Colonial Period. Then the province was a primeval wilderness. From the settlements in the East the courageous Indian Traders purchased their goods and set forth to establish their posts in remote districts. As early as 1732, a trading post had been established at Allegheny and among those who bartered their goods at this place was John Kelly of Donegh, who emigrated from the north of Ireland about 1732. (P.A. I. Vol. I, page 425.)

John Kelly had four children – (I) Andrew; (II) William, Sheriff of Lancaster Co., 1777-1778; (III) Elizabeth, born 1738, died 1829; and (IV) John, born February 11, 1744, died Feb. 18, 1832, served as a Major in the Revolutionary War.

Elizabeth Kelly married Robert Hanna. Their children are: (I) Jane, b. May 13, 1764, died June 11, 1816, married Lieut. David Hammond b. about 1749, died April 27, 1801. (2) Elizabeth, born about 1773, married her cousin James Kelly. (3) Susanna married William Robinson (4) Margaret who died young. (Ohio Valley Genealogies by C.A. Hanna page 55-56.)

Robert Hanna was one of a very ancient Scottish family of Norse descent which for ages held their seat, Sorbie Castle, near the Village of Sorbie, Wigtonshire, Scotland. The name variously spelled Hann, Hanny, Hannay, Hane, Henne, Achany and Ashannay, means a leader of chieftain, and signifies a cock, the male of all birds, but especially that of the hen. (British Family Names by H. Barber, page 161.)

Marriage

Robert married Elizabeth Kelly (1742-1829), daughter of John Kelly.

Children

1. Susanna Hanna. Married William Robinson.
2. Elizabeth Hanna. Born about 1773. Married her cousin James Kelly, son of Colonel John Kelly.
3. Margaret Hanna. Died young.
4. Jane Hanna. Born May 13, 1764. Married Lieut. David Hammond about 1749. Died June 11, 1826 (or 1816). (She is my husband’s 4th great grandmother.)

Occupation

Judge

Death

Robert died in April or May of 1786.

Will

Sources

The Hanna Family by Jane Baum, 2002.
Robert Hanna by an unidentified researcher, commissioned by James C. Furst, 1945.