Col. John Shields

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Husband Col. John Shields ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

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           Born: Abt 1739
     Christened: 
           Died: 3 Nov 1821 2 8
         Buried:  - Congruity (Presbyterian) Church, Salem Twp, Westmoreland Co, PA

       Marriage: 

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Wife

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           Born: 
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Children

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1 M James Shields ^{2 7}

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           Born:  - near New Alexandria, Westmoreland Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Isabella McKee (      -      ) 2

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2 M John Shields ⁹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 F Elizabeth Shields ⁹

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           Born: 
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         Buried: 

         Spouse: Lt. Samuel Craig, Jr. (Abt 1757-1808) 3 5 10
           Marr: Apr 1784 9

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4 M Joseph Shields ¹¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Rebecca Craig (      -      ) 5 12 13

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General Notes: Husband - Col. John Shields

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He came from Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1766, and settled on a farm west of the Loyalhanna in what is now Wesmoreland County, and was a prominent man in his community both before and after the Revolution.

He came from Adams County, Pennsylvania, in 1760 to Westmoreland County and in 1766 settled near the site of New Alexandria, where he purchased a large tract of land. "He was a tall, muscular man, well qualified to endure the hardships incident to the time and place in which he lived." He commanded a company in the Revolutionary war and was a brave and trusted soldier who served from Valley Forge to Yorktown. About 1774 a small fort was built on an eminence near his house. In honor of him it was named Shields' block-house and was intended as a protection against Indian attacks. Capt. Shields was a blacksmith, a justice of the peace and an elder in Congruity Presbyterian church. He was one of the five commissioners appointed in 1785 to purchase a court-house and jail site for Westmoreland County.

He removed to Westmoreland County from Adams County in 1766. He was a captain in the revolutionary army, and later rose to the rank of colonel. He was an active participant in many of the hard fought battles of that war, among which may be mentioned: Trenton and Princeton, and many minor skirmishes, and he endured the hardships of the New Jersey campaign. He was also engaged in the Indian war. When the troops were withdrawn to Kittanning during the war, there was much alarm felt among the settlers, and they held a meeting at Colonel Shields' house to consult as to the best means of protection. They decided upon the erection of a small fort near by, where they might repair for defense and protection in case of necessity.

He came from Adams County, Pennsylvania, settling on the site of the present New Alexandria, Westmoreland County, in 1765. This distinguished gentleman served in the Revolution under General Washington, as colonel, and was with that great general at Valley Forge. After the war, he came to New Alexandria and helped to lay out what is now Hannastown.

1 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 586.

2 Samuel T. Wiley, Biographical and Historical Cyclopedia of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: John M. Gresham & Co., 1890.), Pg 161.

3 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 409.

4 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. III (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 123.

5 —, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Her People Past and Present (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1914), Pg 315.

6 Jane Maria Craig, Samuel Craig, Senior, Pioneer to Western Pennsylvania, and His Descendants (Greensburg, PA: Privately printed, 1915), Pg 61, 140.

7 Fenwick Y. Hedley, Old and New Westmoreland, Vols. III & IV (New York, NY: The American Historical Society, Inc., 1918), Pg 477.

8 George Dallas Albert, History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 587.

9 Jane Maria Craig, Samuel Craig, Senior, Pioneer to Western Pennsylvania, and His Descendants (Greensburg, PA: Privately printed, 1915), Pg 59.

10 Jane Maria Craig, Samuel Craig, Senior, Pioneer to Western Pennsylvania, and His Descendants (Greensburg, PA: Privately printed, 1915), Pg 16, 59.

11 Jane Maria Craig, Samuel Craig, Senior, Pioneer to Western Pennsylvania, and His Descendants (Greensburg, PA: Privately printed, 1915), Pg 140.

12 John W. Jordan, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Genealogical Memoirs, Vol. II (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906), Pg 408.

13 Jane Maria Craig, Samuel Craig, Senior, Pioneer to Western Pennsylvania, and His Descendants (Greensburg, PA: Privately printed, 1915), Pg 16, 140.