Erie-area history: The American Revolutionary War and northwestern Pennsylvania

With the beginning of the colonization of America, England granted many of her colonies land ownership that extended “from sea to sea," which was — in their view — to the Mississippi River. This led to ownership problems between some colonies because they had differing land claims from their neighboring colonies. Most of these claims would not be resolved until after the American Revolution.

The colony of Pennsylvania began in 1681 when England’s King Charles granted land to William Penn. However, this grant did not extend as far west as the forks of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers. It did not take long to realize that Pennsylvania and Virginia claimed ownership of the land surrounding Fort Pitt. In 1786, an agreement was reached between the two states. Pennsylvania received ownership of the area of Fort Pitt, and Virginia received ownership west of the fork of the two rivers.

On Sept. 19, 1778, two years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress proposed that all states with western lands cede those lands to the new United States. It took until 1802 for all states to cede the disputed land. This ceded land would eventually become new western states.

Related: History as mystery: In search of a Revolutionary War battlefield

The rise of Erie

During the American Revolution, from 1774 until 1783, the Erie area remained sheltered within the great forests along the Lake Erie shoreline. The whole region was oblivious to the changes and events in the new world and country. This whole area was called Presque Isle and seemed to be forgotten.

In 1783, this land was given to the new country under a treaty between England and the United States. This should have meant that total control and ownership of this area were ceded to the new American nation. However, the English were slow to abandon the two forts at Presque Isle and Waterford areas, and no one except a few raiding Native American groups appeared to care if they continued to keep the forts. They had a notion that holding the two forts might lead to future control of some of western North America. Despite the treaty, they kept a small garrison at each fort.

More: Group formed to explore replica forts in Erie

It must be remembered that Canada was on the other side of Lake Erie, and the British controlled the Canadians. They went as far as recruiting friendly Native Americans to form raiding parties to discourage any colonial settlers from moving into this area. In the British plans, they believed that the harbor at Presque Isle gave them a jumping-off point to use Great Lakes water routes to claim western parts of the lake’s uncharted areas.

For subscribers: Revolutionary War site preserved with the help of Erie men

But it was not until late 1785, two years after the treaty and end of hostilities, that they finally surrendered the forts and withdrew the British soldiers. Fort Presque Isle, it turns out, was the last British possession in America.

The Erie Triangle

In Philadelphia, about the same time the British left the fort, talks began about the Erie Triangle becoming part of Pennsylvania. From Philadelphia, the state had access to the Atlantic Ocean. From Pittsburg (as it was spelled), the Ohio River gave the state access to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Acquiring the Erie Triangle from the federal government would give the state a port to access the Great Lakes and future ports on those lakes.

More: Here's where you can find Pennsylvania historical markers throughout Erie County

It took three years to happen, yet in late 1788, a deal was finally approved by the United States, Pennsylvania and the Six Nations of the Iroquois to have the state purchase the land. The state paid just over $151,000 to the federal government and $2,000 to the Iroquois. The federal government also paid the Iroquois $1,200.

In a future column, I will cover what happened after this purchase and how it changed northwestern Pennsylvania.

Gene Ware is the author of 10 books. He serves on the board of the Presque Isle Light Station and is past chairman of the boards of the Tom Ridge Center Foundation and the Presque Isle Partnership. Email him at ware906@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: How the American Revolution helped shape northwestern PA