Jane Hanna was the daughter of Judge Robert Hanna (1738-1786) and Elizabeth Kelly (1742-1829).
At the burning of Hannastown by the British and Indians on July 13, 1782, (a village of some 30 or 40 houses) Jane and her mother and sister were taken prisoners by the Indians. They were taken to Montreal, and there an Episcopal Rector by the same name became interested and had them exchanged for a keg of rum.
Birth
May 13, 1764
Marriage
Jane married David Hammond, Lieutenant, son of James Hammond and Grace. He was born April 22, 1749, and died April 01, 1801. He was badly wounded at The Black House and died from the wounds in Northumberland, PA.
Children
- Elizabeth Hanna Hammond. Born June 27, 1786. Died May 5, 1822, in Watsontown, PA. Married John Watson, Jr. (1779-1858), son of John Watson and Mary Correy on March 30, 1809, in Watsontown, PA.
- Grace Hammond. Married a Montgomery.
- Mary Hammond. Married John Montgomery.
- General Robert Hanna Hammond. Born 1790. Died June 2, 1847.
- Robert Hanna Hammond. Born 1791. Died January 13, 1858, in Chester County, PA. Married Elizabeth Clark Gloninger. Robert was a major and paymaster in the U.S. Army.
- Jane Hammond.
Death
Jane died on June 11, 1826, and is buried in Chillisquaque Cemetery, Montour County, PA.
Jane Hanna Gravestone
Inscription:
In Memory of Jane, wife of David Hammond, who departed this life 11 June 1816 in the 54th year of her age.
David was also buried there.
1749
Death: Apr. 27, 1804
Pennsylvania, USA
Inscription:
In memory of David Hammond who departed this life 27 April 1804, in the 55th year of his age.
He was a [S–] of the Revolution.
Hi Karen:
Austin Furst was my 2x Great Grandfather (I’m William Sanderson Furst’s line).
Thought I would supplement what you have done on Jane Hanna.
First, I think her sister was apocryphal. Jane was 16 when carried off by the Senecas (I think they were that tribe and that they took her to Canandaigua, their chief settlement in Western NY and now the seat of the Seneca Nation). From there, she went to Fort Niagara, which is worth visiting. There are no records – checked the local historical society too – but the idea that “friends in Montreal” helped them get back to PA is probably wrong. She was probably sold for whiskey or blankets to the keeper of the trading post at Fort N…. often referred to as the “Agent”
From there, she was likely taken to Carleton Island on a sloop, Brits had a naval base there. Other prisoners followed this route, which then involved open boats to Montreal, and then return to the states when ransomed or exchanged via Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, Albany and NYC.
Jane and Elizabeth may have been helped by the small Quaker population in Montreal (hence
“Friends” in Montreal.
The Donegal Presbytery may also have been involved. This was the missionary group for Scots Irish Presbyterians in Lancaster. Donegal Presbyterian Church still prospers there, and still is a part of the Donegal Presbytery.
Finally, the husband… Lt. David Hammond was an original member of the Cincinnati from the North Forks. Donegal presbytery established three missionary churches there, and the Potts Grove PC is the successor to one of them where David and Jane are buried.
My guess is that it was involved.