HEPBURN, Col. William

HEPBURN, Col. William

Male 1755 - 1821  (66 years)

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  • Name HEPBURN, William 
    Prefix Col. 
    Birth 1755  Donegal, Ireland, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Biography
    • William Hepburn was born in north of Ireland in 1753 and with his father, Samuel Hepburn and brothers, John and James, came to this country about 1773 and settled for a time at Sunbury and Northumberland.

      He early became identified with the militia on account of the Indians. When the massacre occurred on the site of Williamsport June 10, 1778 Mr. Hepburn came up to the fort with a party of men immediately on receiving the terrible news, found the slain where the savages had left their bodies lying on the ground and assisted in administering the last sad rites to the little band of unfortunates.

      In 1778 he had command at Fort Muncy after the departure of Colonel Hartley and took an active part in protecting the frontiers from the inroads of the savages. On the restoration of peace Colonel Hepburn in 1784 took up a tract of land in what is now Williamsport and called it Deer Park. He was soon thereafter commissioned justice of the peace and held the office until 1794. He devoted his attention to farming. He built a log house which he occupied with his family until 1801 when he erected a two story brick house.

      In 1794 he was elected to represent the Northumberland district ln the State Senate, and soon after taking his seat introduced a bill for the erection of Lycoming County. Upon the organization of the new county he and James Davidson were among the four first appointed associate judges and Mr. Hepburn was elected President Judge.

      Mr. Hepburn was a merchant for some time and had extensive relations with Philadelphia merchants. On June 4, 1807 Governor Thomas McKean commissioned him to be major general of the tenth division of the Pennsylvania Militia, composed of the counties of Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, Jefferson, McKean and Clearfield for a term of four years from the 3d of August following. Judge Hepburn died June 25, 1821 and he lies buried in the same spot where he assisted in laying the bodies of those who were massacred on the evening of June 10, 1778, when he came up from Fort Muncy with his company. He was a brother of John Hepburn.
    Immigrat (desc) 1773  Sunbury, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Donegal, Ireland 
    • He and brother James sailed from Londonderry, Ireland in 1773.
    _UID 746F2FE7780047FA87DD73654E47DE2B8C20 
    Death 25 Jun 1821  Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I7028  Milton Families
    Last Modified 6 Mar 2014 

    Father HEPBURN, Samuel,   b. 1698, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1795, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 97 years) 
    Family ID F2204  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1755 - Donegal, Ireland, United Kingdom Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigrat (desc) - Donegal, Ireland - 1773 - Sunbury, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 25 Jun 1821 - Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S23] Milton Evening Standard, Milton PA, Bits of Area History column by William G. Murdock.

    2. [S128] Freemasonry in Northumberland & Snyder counties, Pennsylvania, Volume 1, 92.