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Franklin PA
In our line of Bleakley descendants the oldest known ancestor was James Bleakley who lived in Ireland. We have very little additional information about him. We do know that he had two sons named John and Joseph Bleakley. We are descendants of John Bleakley who was born October 27th 1788 and lived in Murley Cross Roads, Tyrone County, Ireland.
America Beckons (1819 A.D.)
Northern Irish Protestant families had been sailing from Ireland to America since the 1690's, but in the year 1717 the trickle of immigrants became a torrent. In a fifty year period in excess of 250,000 Scots-Irish Protestants had left Ireland to make a new home in America.
The reason so many left their homeland in Ireland was due both to religious persecution and economic hardship. In that atmosphere it was not surprising that over a quarter of the Northern Ireland Scots-Irish Protestant population opted for a new life in the New World.
John and Joseph Bleakley were no exception and they left Ireland for America in 1819, likely on one of the "Emigration Ships" provided by England and / or as part of a religious exodus. When England needed to reduce their surplus goods in order to remain vibrant, Ireland became the dumping ground, thus evicting ruined Irish craftsmen and farmers from their homes on the "Emigration Ships".
The transportation of emigrants in those early days was attended with such cruel conditions that, reviewing them now, it seems incredible that they should have been tolerated by any civilized nation. The ships employed in that service were only too often broken-down freight ships, in which merchants were unwilling to entrust valuable merchandise. The humane provisions of our modern times such as lighting, ventilation and cleanliness were wholly unknown on the Emigration ships. More often than not, the ships were undermanned, and in the case of a storm the passengers were required to perform the work of sailors. The provisions supplied were always uncooked, scanty in amount, and frequently unfit for consumption. In favorable weather, the voyage lasted from six to eight weeks. Against head-winds and storms, the journey frequently lasted a grueling twelve to fourteen weeks.
The Scots-Irish settlers made superb frontiersmen in early Colonial America. Their experiences over the previous few centuries, first in the Scottish Borders and then fighting the Irish Catholics in the north of Ireland, had created a race of hardy, unyielding people who were ideally suited to clearing the forests, building farms and thus pushed the borders further and further west. On account of its reputation for religious tolerance and wise administration, William Penn's Colony from which Pennsylvania (meaning Penn's woods) was named, attracted Irish settlers in unusual numbers. Penn's trusted agent and administrator of the affairs of the colony during the period 1701-1751, James Logan, distinguished for his high character and the ability with which he discharged his trust, was a native of Lurgan, Ireland; among the "first purchasers" who embarked with Penn on the "Welcome", arriving with Penn in 1682 in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
John arrived first in New York and then went on to Pennsylvania. He was a Presbyterian and a Mason, and came to the U.S. with his Parrish. He and his wife came to this country as young people and they settled in New York City but did not like it there. He and his family then traveled to Berks Co. in eastern PA where John was known as a frontiersman because he ventured to the little known frontier of Pennsylvania. The first known inhabitants of Pennsylvania were the Delaware, Susquehannock and Shawnee Indian tribes, and anyone venturing there were under the constant threat of attacks. Soon John and his wife were off again, this time by ox team to a location about three miles north of Cooperstown Pa. called Donation Hill. The land on this hill was donated by the State, free of charge, to the first who would occupy it. They farmed on the land, known as the Shay farm until 1831. In the summer of 1833 the family made what must have been an arduous journey to their new home in Franklin, Venango County, PA.
The Franklin Epoch (1833 - 1983)
From a historical perspective, no period in time impacted the Bleakleys as we know them more, nor did the Bleakleys impact history more, than in the 150 years from 1833 through 1983 while in Franklin. During that span of time many related Bleakleys lived in and around Franklin impacting its every day workings in City administrations, City services, charitable activities, businesses ventures, building sports complexes and general commerce.
Franklin was a unique area with the converging waters of the French Creek and the Allegheny River making an inviting location for early settlers. After the U.S. fort, Fort Franklin, was built in 1787, a large tract of land was reserved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Andrew Ellicott, who had surveyed for the site of Washington, D.C., had charge of the crew that laid out the city of Franklin. The first day in the creation of Franklin, June 22, 1795, was spent staking out the streets. Shortly after the war of 1812, the Village of Franklin consisted of a stone court house, a jail, 60 or 70 houses, four taverns and as many stores. One of the prime movers in the early development of Franklin's parks and streets was Dr. A. G. Egbert. Following his death in 1896, residents of the City built the Egbert Memorial Fountain, located in the City's West Park, which stands to this day. Franklin was, and still is, the Seat of Venango County and houses the historic Venango County Court House. On March 20, 1833, The Franklin Canal Company began the French Creek Division of the Pennsylvania Canal, which was designed to connect French Creek with Lake Erie. However, the railroad came through and the plans dissolved. Only remnants of the canal remain today. The completion of the French Creek Bridge in November of 1909 was hailed as one of the longest concrete spans, nearly 63 feet long, in the State. Franklin became a center for world-wide oil production following Colonel Edwin Drake's discovery of oil in nearby Titusville. Unique to this valley, "Franklin Heavy Crude" as it was called was sold at a premium price.
The importance of labor and the impact of the industry on the City and County were repeatedly given particular attention during the first decade of this century. One of the souvenirs of this era provided a book issued in Franklin by the Industries and Unions serving that era and it featured many advertisements to draw people in. Sadly, Franklin was never again able to reach that early success. However, Franklin gradually transformed itself and has become a picturesque small town, exhibiting a lot of its historic past in the many tourist venues. Bleakley fond memories will linger for ever!
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