Donated by Marta Burns, thank you Marta!
[Marta Burns]
Thomas Stokely who in 1781 was captain of a militia company in
Westmoreland county soon after came to this county (Washington county,
Penna) and purchased a large quantity of land especially in the
southwestern part of the county. He was frequently mentioned in the old
records as "Thomas Stokely, Land Jobber." He was elected a member of the
House of Representatives in 1792 and state senator in 1794. He was in the
War of 1812. During his residence in Washington, he lived in a house on
Wheeling Street on the lot now occupied by the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. He moved from Washington to Brownsville and later to
Coon Island, Washington county, where he died and was buried with
military honors, Col James Ruple with his company from Washington
attending. At his death he was in possession of all the lands he had
bought, and was one of the largest landowners in the country. His son,
Samuel Stokely, was educated at Washington College, studied law and
settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where his descendants live and own the
Wells' property. His daughter also married and settled there.
Alexander Addison came from Ireland to this country in 1784 or 1785 as a
licentiate of the presbytery of Aberlow, Scotland. The Presbyterian
church of Washington extended to him a call on the 20th of December,
1785, which he accepted and continued to reside here both as pastor and
judge of the courts, to the latter of which he was appointed in 1791, for
ten or twelve years. Later he resided in Pittsburgh. He purchased the
"Washington Lands" of Matthew Ritchie, sold a portion, and the remainder
was sold by his widow. Mrs Addison lived in Washington after her
husband's death many years. He died November 27, 1807.
His son Alexander Addison became an attorney of Washington County and
died from the results of an injury he received at the burning of Thomas M
T McKennan's office in February, 1822. More extended mention will be
found of Judge Addison in connection with the bench and bar of the
county.
History of Washington County, Pennsylvania: with biographical sketches
of many of its pioneers and prominent men / edited by Boyd Crumrine.
Illustrated. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts and Co., 1882. P485
Historic Pittsburgh
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