The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Private / Patriotic Service
James Steele is buried in Row 21 ½ to left of the highway route #981 in lot 19
Author: Darrell Alvy Stoops
James Steel ( NSSAR #789468A845, America Revolution War Services, PA Archives 2nd Series Vol. 3, p. 32, Vol. 14, p. 676, 3rd Series Vol. 23, p. 228) was born about 1741 in Castle Blaney near Carrick Macross, Ulster, Ireland of Scotch ancestors who settled in Ireland. He came to America about 1771/1772 through Cumberland now Franklin County, PA then settled in “Sewickley Manor” in Hempfield and Mt. Pleasant townships, Westmoreland County, PA on 400 acres from William Penn. I am the great 4th grandson of James Steel. James Steel, Sr. took allegiance by (oath) to the colonial government before Hugh Martin, J.P. 29 March 1778. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Associators and was with the Revolutionary Army three years, seeing service in the Jerseys and elsewhere. During the Revolution he married Elizabeth McMasters and had two children, Jane and Joseph. After Elizabeth died, he married Elizabeth Donaldson about 1784 and had three more children, Elizabeth, James and John. He died 10 September 1823 and was buried with his two wives in the Middle Presbyterian Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmoreland CO, PA. James’ oldest son Joseph (my great 3rd grandfather) settled in Franklin Township now Murrysville, PA. Joseph was born in 1783 in Mt. Pleasant and died 24 June 1836. He was buried in the “old tent” cemetery on Roosevelt Ave., Export, PA. The marker is no longer there. Joseph and his wife, Barbara Blystone had nine children. Their youngest son, David R. Steel(e), ( my great 2nd grandfather) b. 2 May 1822, d.21 Sept 1880 was a Corporal in the Civil War under Captain D.M. Cook, Company F, 11th Regiment of PA Volunteers. He was discharged by a Surgeon’s Certificate of Disability. He married Margaret Wylie and they had nine children. Most of the descendants from this generation are buried in Poke Run Cemetery, Washington Township, Westmoreland CO, PA. David and Margaret’s oldest son, William Monroe (my great grandfather) b. 26 April 1859, d. 10 Aug 1948, married Luella Neff Rings and had five children. He was a farmer like the previous generations. Monroe and Luella’s daughter Anna Mary Steele married Thomas Alvin (Alvy) Stoops, a nearby neighbor. Alvy had moved from Dravosburg to work for the Equitable Gas Company and Annie taught school. They had four children one of whom was my father, Darrel Steele Stoops. The farm where David R. Steele and his family resided is still located in Murrysville, PA. Descendants of the children from James Steel and his second wife, Elizabeth Donaldson, have a history with the Hannastown settlement and present museum.
Author: John Renwick Steele, Jr.
My patriot ancestor James Steel was in the Mount Pleasant Associators at the beginning of the Revolution. Many of them were ordered to the east to form up into regiments. James Steel was only in America for five years having come from Ireland. Most of his relatives who came before him were in the Cumberland Valley to the east.
James joined the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment under Captain John Marshall. This was initially a militia regiment. He served for two years until his first enlistment ran out in January 1778. He went back to Mount Pleasant during that winter.
In the spring of 1778 he reenlisted for another year. He served with the regiment’s commander Colonel Walter Stewart. The Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment had become the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment.
Descriptions of his service can be found on the internet under the Honorable Judge John B. Steele, an SAR member. He described James’ service as undergoing “being half-starved, weary of forced marches, and the shock of battle.”
In 1954 while making hay on the farm, my father informed me that family historian James Finney Steele that James Steel, revolutionary soldier crossed the Delaware River on that brutal night in 1776 with his regiment. Most of the information I used for my play “Spirit of the Revolution” came from research my cousin, Howard Loucks Steele, gave me.
James was born about 1741 at Castle Blaney, Ireland. His spouse Elizabeth Donaldson and he had two children: Joseph and James. He lived in Washington County PA after the war. Upon his death 10 September 1823, he was buried in the Middle Presbyterian Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County, PA. My great Grandfather Hiram Steele put the final e on the end of Steel. Most relatives use this spelling today
It is interesting to note that there were two James Steels in the Continental Army. James Steel from Mount Pleasant, my ancestor, and James Steel from Lancaster who was in the 10th Pennsylvania Regiment. James from the 10th is not our relative.
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