This passage was written by John A. DeMay and published in his 1997 book "The Settlers' Forts of Western Pennsylvania..."
Please note that the locations listed in this passage are private property, and should not be visited without landowner permission.
The location of this fort has been accurately determined. It is in the village of Candor, Robinson Township, Washington County, about three miles north of the town of Midway and five miles east of Burgettstown.
To get to this location from Pittsburgh go out the Parkway West and swing onto US Rt. 22 W, and proceed for 7.4 miles to State Rt. 980 (McDonald-Midway). Take 980 S for 1.8 miles to Beech-Hollow Road. Tum right (west) and proceed on this road 1.4 miles to Candor Road. Turn left (south) and go .4 miles to Candor and the driveway of the Raccoon Presbyterian Church (established in 1778). The fort site is the small house 100 yards southwest of the church sitting on a plateau of land.
Captain Sam Beelor was the first white man into this area along Raccoon Creek, arriving here in 1774. He applied to Virginia for a Certificate on 400 acres with “preemption rights” on an additional 1000 acres. It was surveyed on March 17, 1782 and recorded in Virginia on July 17, 1782.
It is very interesting to note that this legal work was not good enough in the case of Sam Beelor - Virginia had given up its claim to this land by that time. He had to do it all over again according to Pennsylvania laws, but the authorities pretty much agreed with Virginia so Beelor received his patent (deed) for 400 acres which he called “Big Levels.”
Sam Jr. came with his father and secured an adjoining piece of land as did Alexander Dunlap and his son, John. These were the first four families to take up residence here.
The Beelor Fort was quickly constructed to protect these people, and it is described as a two-story structure “large and strong.” There was probably a stockade fence around it. It became a center for social and religious activities in the area. An early survey shows one trail running northeastwardly “To Turners Fort” and another trail labeled “To Dillow’s Fort.” In 1783 there was a petition filed asking for a road from Well’s Fort and Mill (near Avella) to Beelor’s Fort.
The Reverend John McMillan, a prominent minister of this time, notes in his journal that in December, 1778, he preached “at Raccoon” and in June, 1779, “at Beelor’s place on Raccoon.”
The private records of the Shane family reveal that in 1790 Timothy Shane and his wife, Hannah, outran an Indian raiding party to get to Beelor’s Fort, and that while the Indians were attacking it Hannah gave birth to their son, John.
The McDonalds tell the same kind of story - before they built McDonald’s Fort, and while her husband was gone, Martha McDonald was given the dreaded word that Indians were around and to get to a fort quickly. She rode five miles to Beelor’s and a few hours later give birth to twin boys - Andrew and William.
The place was practically a maternity hospital!
There were many sad stories too.
The McKinleys lived nearby and two boys were attacked and killed by Indians as they tended their horses.
In July, 1780, William Bailey, two sons of William McCandless, and a Mr. McNeely were helping Robert Shearer, Jr. harvest wheat. At one point they stopped to rest. Bailey sat on a stump while the others went to a nearby stream for a cool, refreshing drink of water. It was to be their last drink. Indians attacked and killed all four of them. Bailey ran, but in jumping a gully he slipped on the far bank and the Indians captured him and headed for the Ohio River. Word of the killings reached Beelor’s Fort where a party of men soon gathered and started following the trail. They reached the river just as the Indians were shoving off in their canoes. William Bailey was seated in a canoe, his wrists bound behind his back, with one Indian. The settlers opened fire and killed the Indian who was paddling Bailey’s canoe, but as that warrior fell into the water he tipped the canoe and over it went. The rescuers had to dive into the river and swim to Bailey, but they reached him and dragged him to shore safely.
These stories, of hair-breath rescue, are just amazing. Sadly, many times they were the exception, not the rule.
The Shearers were very unlucky. They had lost Robert, Jr. in that raid. Now, sometime later, Robert, Sr. and another son, Hugh, were working in a field and were attacked. Hugh was killed and Robert, Sr. was taken prisoner. He remained with the Indians for eleven months, then escaped and returned home.
Sam Brady and his Rangers followed a Wyandot war-party of 12 to 14 men headed for Beelor’s Fort. Brady set up an ambush to meet them on their return. The Indians attacked the fort shortly after dawn of September 30, 1779, and in the next two hours of fighting killed four people. They captured three men who had gone out into the fields to work. Then they broke off the attack and headed for the Ohio River with their prisoners. Brady and his Rangers were there to greet them, and in a sharp fight most of the Wyandots were killed and the three prisoners were re-taken safely.
There were many small fights around this fort. On August 2, 1780, Timothy Shane and Alexander Wright were patrolling about one-half mile from the fort when they heard shots fired nearby and, upon investigation, found evidence of a war-party. They killed one Indian then raced to the fort to give the alarm.
This was just another day on the western Pennsylvania frontier.
On April 27, 1781 , some 53 volunteers - called “six months men” for their term of service - arrived at the fort, and, there, were split up into small groups and sent to various forts in the area to help protect them and, most importantly, to patrol the neighborhoods.