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the Youngs, Simpsons, Bairds and Siggins emigrants were no laggards in the business of home making and citizen building. (The first to invade the lonely forests and prepare the way for civilization were in many instances the missionaries, sent out by different religious societies.)

The first of the Siggins family to come to America for permanent settlement was John, son of William Siggins who lived in Drumcliffe Parish County, Sligo, Ireland, on land probably granted him by the Crown for military services. His son, John, had the title of esquire, and an income of two hundred pounds a year.

Through the solicitation of the Holland Land Company, a number of the family went to America. On the journey, Alexander, son of John and Sarah Hood, was born,-this was in 1793.

The family first settled near Philadelphia and later went to Center County, Pennsylvania.

John had married Sarah Hood in Ireland. She was the sister of Admiral Hood. Among the choice possessions of Sarah Hood Siggins was a little book called "History of the Bible" written in story form, from which she read in the long evenings to her small children. She carried it with her carefully guarded on the journey to America. Her children and grandchildren never tired of listening to the sacred stories. When she no longer had need of it, her gr-daughter Mary became its custodian and read its stories to the children of the household. It is now in the possession of Harriet Howe of Kansas City, Missouri, a great grand daughter of Sarah Hood. It bears no date but must have been one of the very first books in which wood engravings were used. Sarah Hood Siggins died in Youngsville, Pennsylvania, in 1833, aged 85 years.

Some of the family went from Center County, Pa., to Stewart's Run. Here lived the Siggins, Dawsons, Allenders, Kinnears and Middletons. They were all Methodists and held meetings from house to house,-George Siggins being the class leader.

William, the father of George, and wife Mary, lived and died in the parish of Drumcliffe, Ireland, where his forefathers had dwelt before him. He was brought up in the Church of England but was most friendly with the Methodists and often went to hear John Wesley preach.

Frances (Siggins) Baird says of her grandfather, William Siggins; "He was a farmer in Drumcliffe where his ancestors had lived for many years; he was much esteemed by the nobility of the place; was a yeoman and always fought for his King and country and was brought up in the Church of England. He was a very pious man and would often 'pray loud in secret'". He was very friendly to the Methodists and frequently entertained them and often went to hear John Wesley preach.

Through John Siggins of Bena, Australia, we learn that the crest of the family in Scotland was a sheaf of wheat,this would accord with the traditions of the family that they were farmers.

Among the pious laymen who did so much for early Methodism, George Siggins was one of the foremost; he attended the Quarterly meetings and always assisted at the services.

His mother, Sarah Hood Siggins was a devout follower of John Wesley. She often went to hear him preach, taking her children with her. She was tall and handsome, with dark sparkling eyes-was an adept at story telling; of even temper and gentle manners. She spent the last days of her life at the home of her son Alexander in Youngsville.

John, the second son of John and Sarah H. Siggins left home when about twenty-five years old for a trip down the Alleghany River, fell a victim to yellow fever and died and was buried at Letart Island in the Ohio River.

She

Their eldest daughter, Frances, married Benjamin Baird of Center Co. Their home was in Lock Haven, Pa. died at the home of her daughter Mary, in Lock Haven, aged three score and ten years. She was a woman of ster

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