Trail of History
Trail of History Week of April 17, 2008
Apr 18, 2008 - 11:10:41 AM

    Henry Piper, born about 1768 in possibly Northampton Co., Pa. died about 1812, present day Union Co., Pa. Possibly a Quaker, his wife was Susannah and they had the following children: 1. William, 2. Henry, Jr., 3. Philip, 4. Susannah b. Aug. 25, 1775, N.J., d. Sept. 20, 1865 in Knoxville, Ill., md. James Dempsey, 5. Sally, 6. Catherine, b. Sep. 20, 1765, md. George Anthony, 7. possibly John.
    Some research shows a William Piper born before 1755, died in 1812, was from Germany, had a sister, Susannah, b. 1775, in New Jersey, died Sept. 20, 1865, Knoxville, Illinois.
    William Piper had a brother, Henry. This Henry was in Allen Twp., Northampton Co., Pa., 1772. Henry and William Piper had a brother, Phillip. Henry had a daughter, Susannah, b. 1775 md. James Dempsey, b. 1775, d. 1859 in Knox Co., Ohio. His father was Cornelius Dempsey. The Dempseys may have been Quaker also. One such man by this name came from Ireland about 1755, when about three years of age. He was in the Revolutionary War when about 20 serving from Chester Co., Pa. and from N.J. In 1776 he was a prisoner in Quebec, (which papers say he was born in Ireland.) He died 1786 in Chester Co., Pa. age about 30 (or in Cumberland Co, Pa.). His father was probably Cornelius, Sr. While some may have been Quaker, the third generation was Methodist.
    Early tax records show a George Piper in Buffalo Valley in 1772 with a land warrantee, 100 acres, surveyed May 5, 1775. George Piper had a survey in Northumberland Co. of 100 acres, June 18,1785 in Buffalo Valley and one in Feb. 1793 of 100 acres.
    A John Piper had a survey March 26, 1773 in Buffalo Valley, 100 acres. A William Piper had 297-1/2 acres, March 5, 1774 in Buffalo Valley. Henry Piper is in Buffalo Township, 1786, in 1787, 250 acres. A William Piper is in East Buffalo Township in 1800 Census with one male over 45; three females under 10, one over 45.
    Searching for the parents of Henry and Susannah Piper has been fruitless. There are records which show the movement of a Henry Piper in 1768 in Amity Twp., Berks Co., Pa.; 1772 in Allen Twp., Northampton Co., Pa.; 1779 in Berks Co, Pa.; 1780 Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co, N.J.; 1786 in Allen Twp., Northampton Co., Pa.; 1787 in Buffalo Twp., Northumberland Co., Pa.; 1800 in West Buffalo Twp., Northumberland Co., Pa.
There is a Piper family in Shippensburg, Pa. (then in Lancaster Co. about 1735-1740.) James and William were property owners in 1765 there.
    The Henry Piper of Northumberland Co., Pa., while living in New Jersey, obtained 200 acres of the “Piper’s Retreat” tract in Buffalo Valley from John Thompson and Joseph Green, which deed is in the courthouse at Sunbury book E, page 519, which indicates the acreage previously had belonged to a John Lowden who granted it to Thompson and Green by warrant Sept. 20, 1785. Piper’s Retreat was a part of the Officers’ Tract in Buffalo Valley.
    A Captain William Piper was instrumental in getting the grant established and surveyed. He became possessor of two allotments. The first, No. 12, in the lottery, consisted of 553 acres in the Bald Eagle Valley near the mouth of Beech Creek. He transferred title to this land to James Irwin, March 11, 1795 when both he and Irwin were living in Montgomery County (Lycoming Co. deed book C, page 177). Title to the tract later became the property of Philip De Haas who entitled it “Henrietta” the name of his only daughter.
    The second allotment, no. 5, in the lottery, contained 609 acres on the west bank of the  Susquehanna including the mouth of the Delaware Run. He called this one, “Piper’s Parade” and after building a cabin settled there. He lived there when visited by Rev. Fithian in 1775. William was a son of James and Janet Piper. Janet was the “Widow Piper”, innkeeper in Shippensburg in 1735. Children of James and Janet are found in “Notes and Queries” by Eg1e: 1. John, 2. Joseph, 3. Samuel, 4. James, 5. unknown, 6. William, 7. Elizabeth, 8. Margaret.
    Captain William had but one child, a daughter. She was 10 years old at the time of Fithian’s visit. She married James Irwin and is buried in the old graveyard at Upper Conecocheque near Mercersburg.
    Captain William was not the father of Ensign William Piper or of Henry Piper. Their relationship, if any, is unknown.
    Nonetheless one seems to have existed between the Ensign and Henry. The purchase by Henry of a piece of “Piper’s Retreat” cannot have been by chance. Henry Piper’s name has not been found on any Oath of Allegiance lists or on any militia or continental army muster roles.
    I assume he was a Quaker and a reason for him leaving Berks County during the height of the Revolution. Perhaps only a coincidence Ensign William Piper sold “Piper’s Parade” to John Thompson and Joseph Green, and they sold the tract to Henry Piper.

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