The family tradition [This is the story as told for the most part by Isa
ac Hazen, son of Nathaniel, to Aaron L. Hazen about 1857 is that Nathani
el Hazen, soon after his marriage, joined the other Connecticut colonis
ts in the Wyoming settlement on the Susquehanna River, but was driven o
ut by the Indians at the time of the massacre in 1778. He, together with t
wo or three brothers of his father, returned to New Jersey. [The recor
ds of Sussex Co., N. J., show that he was named an executor of the esta
te of his brother-in-law James Bell in 1778 and that "Nathaniel Hazen la
te of Newton, Sussex Co." sold land in Newton in 1793.] He is said to ha
ve served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, and at i
ts close to have moved with his brothers Joseph and Samuel to Fort Pitt (n
ow Pittsburgh, Pa.). Not satisfied with Fort Pitt, they located in Washing
ton County on Chartiers Creek in the Monongahela valley. They were veryl p
oor, having lost all when driven from the Wyoming valley, and here in t
he west, without convenient markets, their life was full of hardships. Th
ey took to making their grain into high wines, which they transported on p
ack saddles to Philadelphia, where they traded it for necessaries. Then Co
ngress passed the Act levying an excise tax on high wines payable in coi
n, but the settlers had no coin and considered the tax unjust. In the ensu
ing Whiskey Rebellion, the Hazens were among the insurgents and at its clo
se, rather than ask pardon for wrong which they did not admit they committ
ed, the family in council decided to seek refuge in the wilderness. They w
ent north of the Ohio River and opened up the tract where North Sewickle
y, Beaver Co., is now located. Nathaniel Hazen's farm was still in the pos
session of his grandson Smith McDaniel Hazen in the 1850;s.\
On 28 Jan. 1797 Charles Morgan of Allegheny Co., Pa., for 91 poun
ds 10 s. conveyed to Nathaniel Hazen of Allegheny Co. 182 acres 143 perch
es called "Harcourt," [also read "Mancourt"], situated on the waters of Mo
ntours Run in Allegheny Co. [Allegheny Co. Deeds, 18:463.]
On 9 Sept. 1807 Benjamin Chew, Jr., conveyed to Nathaniel Hazen of Beav
er Co., Pa., 200 acres, part of a tract called "Hatfield," situated on t
he Conequenessing Creek. [Beaver Co. Deeds, B:83.]
In Jan. 1821 Nathaniel Hazen and wife Mary of Beaver Co. for $1000 convey
ed to Samuel Hazen land in North Sewickley township, Beaver Co., Conequene
ssing Creek, containing 115 acres, being part of Hazen's Delight which con
tained 393 acres 32 perches, of which 208 acres 50 perches were convey
ed by Isaac Hazen to Nathaniel Hazen on 24 Mar. 1806. Witnesses: Stephen R
lunyan, Johannah Runyan. [Beaver Co. Deeds, H:182.]
Wikll of Nathaniel Hazen, dated 13 Oct. 1830, proved 6 June 183
6, farmer of North Sewickley township, Beaver Co., Pa., left to his wife M
ary the house where he resided and certain sums contained in an article be
tween him and his son Samuel; to son James $10 and his blacksmith's too
ls which he already had; to son John $10 and to John's son John $5; to s
on Isaac $5; to son Nathaniel $1; to son Nathan $1; to son Samuel all t
he land he possessed, he to pay $10 an acre; to James, Lemuel, Amos, and N
athaniel Hazen [sons of his deceased son Jeremiah] $45 equally divided. Jo
hn Merrick and son John Hazen to be executors. Witnesses: Abraham McDanie
l, Sarah Eberhart, Elizabeth McDaniel, John Eberhart. [Beaver Co., Will
s, B:130.]