In old Records: Agnes B. Hood:
August 24, 1946 stated:
"In 1540 three Irish
tribes, Carnochan, Carnighan and Carnathan united for self-
protection and became known as Carnahan. They lived in the North
of Ireland and were seafaring men and very war-like. They were
also known for their large size. They came to Maryland in 1709
and became Calvanist in faith.
Amoung them were three brothers,
James, Hugh and John. We of this section of Western Pennsylvania
are interested only in John. It is from his family that most of
the Carnahans in this district originated.
This said John Carnahan
migrated from Maryland to Layton Station near what is now known
as Connellsville, Pennsylvania. From there he moved to
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1769, and settled near what
is now Salina. At this location he took upwards of one one
thousand acres of land. John Carnahan's children were Adam, David,
James, William, John and several minor girls. Joh, of the first
generation died before the building of the Carnahan Black House
near Salina, PA. Following his death, his wife, Sara, and her one
son, James and the daughters returned to Layton Station where
they remained until 1792. At that date they are recorded to have
returned to the Block House.
According to other records and
hearsay she did not leave until her son, John, and possibly James,
was killed by the Seneca Indians at the Block House in 1777. This
in itself is an interesting story and will bear telling here. On
a Friday afternoon about six miles from the block house. Nearby
14 Indianas were lurking and when their presence was noted both
Fort Carnahan and Fort Hand were notified. Most of the settlers
reached the Carnahan Fort but John was killed as he reached the
gates. His body was pulled inside and was later buried 200 feet
north of the fort along side the grave of one of Adam's children.
(It is also possible that James was killed during this period.)
David Carnahan, a brother of John, is said to have killed the
Indian that killed John. His body was also buried near the fort."
