The Fort Seybert Heritage Education Association (FSHEA) is a project oriented, nonprofit organization whose projects are designed to research, document, and preserve, in media or appropriate format, the history of Pendleton County dating back to 1747.  FSHEA is the only known organization in Pendleton County that is pro-active in documenting Pendleton County 's remaining structures, cemeteries and settlements before they are completely lost through neglect, destruction, or removal out of the county.  Our history is mostly on private land and subject to the landowners’ cooperation to document the history.

 

The organizing process began in November 2006; however, the first meeting took place in late April 2007.  Projects became obvious.  The pioneers followed “Indian trails and Wagon Roads” to enter what was then Augusta County, Virginia.  They formed settlements, such as the Dyer Settlement ( Fort Seybert ), Upper Tract, and Fort Hinkle and the surnames of these pioneers remain in the area today.

 

Communities developed and mills were established.  FSHEA captured many of the mills on a DVD entitled “Water Powered Mills of Pendleton County” which was released in November 2008 and shown on WVPBS in 2011.

 

Fort Seybert is the best documented fort today and was built by Jacob Seybert to protect the British colonists.  It is located on private property.  The mass grave containing the victims of the attack on April 28, 1757 was fenced with a stone wall by The Dyer Association in the 1930s.  The Blizzard family, who bought the property the year after the attack, is buried in an unidentified location around the base of a nearby tree.  Both burial sites are included in the Cemetery Identification and Preservation Project.  Settlers and their descendants are buried on family property or in established church yards.  These cemeteries, even those of some churches, have been abandoned, plowed under, houses built on top of the graves, and cows continue to graze over the burial sites.

 

These surveys are available free to view in the historical room at the Pendleton County Library.  A copy of each completed survey also is being sent to the State Historic Preservation Office.  The surveys are stored on CDs and each CD will be made available for purchase as it is completed.

 

FSHEA depends on volunteers to work on these projects.  Cash support is through memberships, grant funding and private donations.  Support will make it possible to bring these goals into reality for the benefit of the individual, communities, Pendleton County , and the State of WV .

 

Membership: All tax deductable donations in any amount are appreciated.

Project sponsor $50/ person/ year
Heritage sponsor $100/ person/ year

 

Checks payable to FSHEA: mail to Deborah Horst, HC 69, Box 47E, Brandywine, WV 26802

Fiscal/Membership - degifts@frontier.com   #304-249-5700.  Mailing address as above.

 

More info: Sandra Pope. Chairman/Project Manager, P.O Box 321, Franklin WV 26807, #304-249-5004, cell 903-570-5861, Lhpope@aol.com