THE FAMILY OF JOHN FIFE AND MARGARET WRIGHT

of Scotland, Ireland, Winchester, Virginia, and Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

John Fife was born in Fifeshire Scotland in 1721 to unknown parents. He and two brothers, William and Matthew, immigrated to County Tyrone, Ireland and lived on a farm at Archill, about twenty-two miles from Londonderry. He married Margaret Wright in Ireland and they immigrated to America about 1756 and settled in Winchester, Virginia where he lived for ten years. In 1766 he removed to Upper St. Clair Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania where he was the first settler. “It is claimed he believed good soil would be found where white oak trees grew and he inquired of Indian traders. They told him about half way up the Chartiers Valley from the Ohio River.”

“He took up a tract of land at the head of McLaughlin’s Run containing 1000 acres for which he gave a friendly Indian a pair of leggings. Being a tailor by trade, it is supposed he followed that business while getting the land ready for farming. On March 13, 17 (?) he sold 376 acres of this tract (then being in Yohogania County, Virginia) to John Swearingen for 857 pounds, 4 shillings. Survey was made by Thomas (?) and witnesses were William Fife and Thomas Douglass.”

“He held his farm under Virginia claim but later in 1786, was granted a patent by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ‘in consideration of the Sum of Three pounds six shillings and three pence....for a Certain Tract of Land called Cremona situate on the waters of Chartiers Creek in the County of Washington....containing Three hundred ninety-seven Acres strict Measure...excepting a reserving only the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Ore for the Use of the Commonwealth to be delivered at the Pit’s mouth free of all charge.’”

During the American Revolution, John Fife served as a private in his brother, William Fife’s Company, 2nd Battalion, Washington County Militia and he also served with Robert Johnston’s Company, Westmoreland County Rangers fighting against the Indians.

John Fife died on November 19, 1800 in Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and is buried in Bethel Cemetery, Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Children of John Fife and Margaret Wright:

1. ELIZABETH FIFE died 1839 married her cousin JOHN FIFE, son of William and Jane Fife and removed to Madison Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.
2. William Fife born 1751 died July 25, 1808 married Margaret Boyd.
3. John Fife, Jr. born 1756 died July 30, 1814 married Isabel Thompson.
4. Margaret Fife born June 16, 1760 died November, 1825 married her cousin William Fife, Jr. born March 17, 1757 died May, 1838.
5. Mary Fife born 1762 died 1839 married Thomas Patterson.
6. Jane Fife married Thomas Thompson.

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