Andrew Ellicott and the Surveys of Northwestern Pennsylvania

Abstract

Various articles have been written on the early history of the Erie Triangle and events leading up to the settlement of the four reserve tracts in the northwest part of Pennsylvania. Up to this point nothing has been written on the surveys of the four reserve tracts. This article will describe the actions and travels of Andrew Ellicott and his surveying party along with some of the events that caused delays in their survey. It will demonstrate how the original layout of two of the four towns differs from the way we see them today. What did Erie and the other towns look like in their infancy?