John Cochran and Jane Duffield

---

---

Husband John Cochran ^{1 2 3}

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt 1830 - ? Mercer Co, PA
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 1820 4

---

---

Wife Jane Duffield ^{1 2 3 4}

---

           Born: 23 Nov 1779 - Centre Co, PA 3 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 19 Aug 1850 - Wolf Creek Twp, Mercer Co, PA 1 5
         Buried: 

---

         Father: William Duffield (1743-1827) 2 3 6
         Mother: Elizabeth Hasson (1754-1838) 6 7

---

---

   Other Spouse: David Johnston (      -1812) 1 2 3 4 - 1802 3 4

---

Children

---

1 M Robert Armstrong Cochran ⁸

---

           Born: 27 Jan 1822 8
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Jan 1896 8
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Harriet Frances January (      -      ) 8
           Marr: 17 May 1853 8 9

---

---

General Notes: Wife - Jane Duffield

---

The following brief sketch is by her granddaughter, Miss Sarah Cochran, for many years past a resident of Pittsburg:
Jane Duffield, eldest child of William and Elizabeth Hasson Duffield, was born Nov. 23, 1779. She and her brother William, a lad of twelve years, were the first of the family to settle in Venango county, PA, she being then in her 20th year. When their father came over the mountains to locate a claim, they accompanied him, and remained upon it while he returned for the other mem­bers of the family. For many months these young pio­neers lived all alone in their new home. The midnight silence was often broken by the howl of the wolf or the cry of the panther. Sometimes it was necessary for the brother to go to a neighboring settlement to earn a little to replenish their scanty hoard, and during his absence she was obliged to stay alone for days, and even weeks.
She married David Johnston in 1802, and was left a widow in 1812. For more than seven years she supported herself and family by the aid of a loom, a cow, and what she could raise on a small farm.
In 1820 she married John Cochran, and removed with him to Cochranton, Crawford co., Pa., and in 1825 to Wolf Creek, Mercer co., where she resided until her death, August 19, 1850, in her 71st year. About five years after she was located in her new home her second husband was accidentally killed while assisting a neigh­bor in raising a barn.
Her children all founded homes near her except the son by her second marriage (Robert A. Cochran), who, having completed his education, located in Maysville, Ky., which was thenceforth his home. [Duffield Family, 61]

To the above we append the following extracts from a sketch by another granddaughter of Jane, Mrs. Han­nah W. McBride, daughter of John Johnston:
“When grandmother was alone that first winter in the wilderness she prevented the denizens of the forest from becoming too familiar or springing a surprise on her at her work. She would drag a large thorn-bush in front of the door, which served as a barrier during the day and a defense at night. She was then a girl of 19, but all her subsequent history is only additional proof of the indomitable will and firm purpose that sustained her and crowned her efforts with success. By the death of her first husband, David Johnston, with whom she lived happily for ten years, she was left with a family of four small children and smaller means of supporting it; but like a true pioneer she kept her family united and man­aged to supply their needs. Mindful of the importance of an education, she sought to give her children such ad­vantages as she had at her command. She supervised their instruction until their increasing necessities demand­ed all her time. Then she hit upon the idea of boarding the schoolmaster and accepting the tuition of the children at school as her compensation.
“The accidental death of her second husband, John Cochran, again called upon her to direct and control the complex affairs of her enlarged household. She was again equal to the charge placed in her capable hands, and lived to see her family all well established. Her children arose up to call her blessed, and their descend­ants honor and cherish her memory.” [Duffield Family, 61]

1 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 198.

2 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1010.

3 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 758.

4 —, The Duffield Family; A Sketch of William Duffield, of Venango County, PA, and His Descendents (PA: The William Duffield Association, 1905), Pg 11.

5 —, The Duffield Family; A Sketch of William Duffield, of Venango County, PA, and His Descendents (PA: The William Duffield Association, 1905), Pg 62.

6 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 197.

7 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1010, 1063.

8 —, The Duffield Family; A Sketch of William Duffield, of Venango County, PA, and His Descendents (PA: The William Duffield Association, 1905), Pg 12.

9 Joan S. Hanson & Kenneth L. Hanson, Marriages from Venango County Sources (Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1994), Pg 44.