Author: Joe L Warne
Joseph Warne served as private in the Pennsylvania Rangers with Capt. Joseph Beckett, reference Pennsylvania Archives Fifth series Vol 4. Born abt 1743 New Jersey, Died 16 March 1788, Rostraver, Westmoreland, PA, and buried in an un-marked grave at Round Hill Cemetery, Allegheny County, PA. Wife was Dorcas Miller, Father was Stephen Warne, Mother was Mercy Stout, and Grandfather was Thomas Warne, one of the original 24 proprietors’ of East New Jersey. His Grandmother was Mary Lord Carhartt (widow) and descendent of Thomas Lord one of the founders of Hartford CT.

Joseph Warne, d. before 1790, quite an old man; m. Dorcas Miller. Born, reared, and married in New Jersey. He and his wife, with others from New Jersey, among them the Millers, the Aliens, the Parkisons, etc., in 1768-1770, went to Western Pennsylvania and formed in the S. E. part of what is now Allegheny Co., in Forward Township, but then Westmoreland Co., and Elizabeth Township, a settlement that was at that time, and has ever since been known, as "The Jersey Settlement."

The route taken from Carlisle was southwest down the valley into Maryland a few miles over the border, then west over the mountains, and north into Pennsylvania again, through what is now Bedford county to the county seat of the same name, and beyond it some distance, when the course was west and southwest to the point of destination,—a matter of perhaps one hundred and seventy-five miles, through the wilderness from Carlisle.

Mr. and Mrs. Warne located on 300, or as another authority says 278 1/2 acres of land near the present village of Sunnyside. This land was surveyed to him March 21, 1786, on a Virginia certificate, dated Apr. 21, 1780, for which a patent was issued to him from the State of Pennsylvania, under date of Jan.15, 1788, a property which was bounded by lands of Andrew Pearce on the north, Jonathan and Stephen Pearce on the east, Joseph Beckett, Esqr., on the south, and Peter Johnston on the west.

It was excellent land for farming and grazing purposes, well watered, and heavily covered with native timber; also under laid with valuable lime and building stone, as well as the celebrated Pittsburg coal vein, now being extensively mined for market.

On this property, this couple, with their family, passed the remainder of their days. Mr. Warne was a leading member and elder in the Round Hill Presbyterian church, organized about 1778 by Rev. James Finley, and in politics was affiliated with the Democratic Party.

He and his wife are buried in the beautiful "Old Round Hill Cemetery", although no stones mark their graves. Mrs. Warne, in her widowhood, made her home with her son Stephen in Elizabeth Township and died at his house. The census of Elizabeth Township in 1790, the first that was taken in the States, gave as the population 1,597 whites and 21 slaves,—in all 1,618. In the list of names of heads of families, Dorcas Warne's name alone among the Warnes is mentioned. In 1802, James Warne, in 1803, John Warne, in 1804, Stephen, Abraham, and Abijah Warne in some connection are mentioned. Abraham, Stephen, and James were evidently Joseph's and Dorcas's sons. But who were John and Abijah? Could they have been Joseph's sons, possibly by a former marriage?

Children of Joseph and Dorcas (Miller) Warne, not counting here the two doubtful ones just mentioned:

I. Stephen Warne, b. circ. March, 1769; m. Susanna Coleman.
II. Mary Jane Warne, b. Sept. 11, 1770; m. David Allen.
III. Frances Warne, b. Aug. 1, 1772; m. Solomon Johnson.
IV. Abraham Warne, b. July 5, 1776; m. Sarah Pearce or Pierce
V. James Warne, b. Dec. 6, 1779; m. Mary Parkison Lowring (Widow)

Bio From: Warne Genealogy by Rev. George Warne Labaw