My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM GAMBLE was born in Londonderry, Ireland, about the year 1775. He came to America when seventeen years of age, and directly to Pittsburgh, where his friends were living. Pittsburgh being then in its infancy, he could count the houses, but he remained there until 1821. On Dec. 1, 1807, he was sent by Maj. Isaac Craig to carry money to the troops stationed at Detroit—the amount being sixty-five hundred dollars—which he carried safely, sewed up in a jacket worn under his clothing. December 30th Mr. Gamble returned to Pittsburgh, after a perilous journey through hostile Indian tribes. He had to employ a friendly Indian guide for a part of the distance, as there were no roads, not even a path to be found. He had to swim three rivers, and lay in the woods four cold nights. For this service he received $150. He afterward (assisted by another man) superintended the building of the garrison wall and had contracts for paving some of the old streets in Pittsburgh. Dec. 14, 1815 he married Mary Sherred. In 1821 he bought a farm in Buffalo township, Washington county. Pa., and moved there, but was dissatisfied with being so far from Pittsburgh. In 1829 he purchased a portion of “Bower Hill,” Allegheny county (noted as the scene of the whisky insurrection), where he passed the remainder of his life. He had eight sons and three daughters, only three of whom are now living, viz.: George K., Thomas L. and Mary. William Gamble, the subject of this sketch, was reared an Episcopalian, and was identified with and helped build the “stone church,” at Woodsville, Allegheny county and while able to attend was one of the vestry. He died July 13, 1865, at the age of ninety years; his widow survived him five years.