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Nathaniel Coburn |
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| NATHANIEL
COBURN was a soldier in the War for Independence. What military unit
he belonged to cannot be determined, but the Pennsylvania Archives list
him as a Revolutionary pensioner of Pennsylvania, enlistment in 1820. He
came to New Brighton at a very early period and was the first toll keeper
on the then newly erected Brighton bridge in 1835, at a salary of $100 per
year. He had one brother and three sisters. Two of the sisters died in the
west and the third became the wife of David McConnell of New Brighton.
Joseph, the brother, was killed by the bursting of a cannon at a
celebration following the election of Andrew Jackson to the Presidency. William Tanner was his stepson, with whom he made his home in a house owned and occupied by Mr. Tanner, which if now in existence would be 402 Third Avenue. It was a large frame dwelling, one of the earliest built in town, and said to have been the first on the west side of Third Avenue. Just when it was constructed is uncertain. Reader’s history of New Brighton exhibits a picture of the house stating it was built about 1820. He probably got his information from Mr. Tanner himself or from J. Webster Wilson who was raised in the old Wilson brick house that stood just across the street from the Tanner property, built by I. Wilson in 1817. On the other hand James Patterson’s history states that in 1829 the only houses in that part of town were the Wilson House (above) and a small one near the novelty works. A deed of the premises to William Tanner is dated December 14, 1835, though it is possible the dwelling may have been built a little before this time. In 1833 Mr. Tanner married Nancy Cunningham of New Castle, and the couple started housekeeping in that house and lived there continuously for 64 years. It was subsequently occupied by T. Fletcher Johnston, his son-in-law, until torn down about 1911 when Mr. Johnston built a new dwelling on the adjoining premises, now 406 Third Avenue. Nathaniel Coburn died in April, 1844, having served as toll keeper about nine years. His widow survived him several years. William Tanner was born in 1808 and died in 1897. He was a carpenter and pattern maker, with his shop on the same lot as the residence. He retired from active work several years before his demise, but remained active enough to go hunting at every opportunity, at which sport he was an enthusiast. He was survived by three children, Philip Tanner, who married Rebecca Covert, daughter of Rufus P. Covert of Fallston, both of whom are now dead; Elizabeth M., widow of James S. Keys of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Ann Coburn (Tanner), wife of T. Fletcher Johnston. T. Fletcher was one of eleven children of David and Maria (Covert) Johnston also of Fallston to reach maturity, the only one of which now living is Edwin L. Johnston of 412 Twelfth Street. A machinist and millwright by occupation, T. Fletcher was for many years master mechanic at the Penn Bridge Company of Beaver Falls. During the Civil. War he had served as a member of the 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, assigned to the drum section in the regimental band. He had the distinction of being the youngest soldier in the brigade. He was born in 1847 and died October 22, 1928. His wife was born in 1848 and passed away in 1900. They are still survived by the following children: Elizabeth and Mary Ida Johnston of 817 Seventh Street, Frank of Oklahoma and William of Butte, Montana. Another daughter Fanny is deceased. History of New Brighton 1838-1939, published by the Historical Committee of the Centennial, Butler, PA, pages 25-26. More Beaver County History Books Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors. View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file! Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.
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