Nicklaus Fast, The Land Owner

Johann Nicklaus Fast (1727-1818) is given credit for owning a considerable number of land parcels in what is now Fayette Co., and Green Co., Pennsylvania. Three of the most interesting are located in what is now Dunkard Township., Green Co., Pennsylvania. They are situated west of the Monongahela River, south west of the village of Dilliner, Pennsylvania. The tracks were entitled "Pleasure", "Pleasant", and "Hard to Find". They are contiguous to each other.

The property "Pleasure" consists of 394 acres of land, and was purchased by Nicklaus Fast on February 17, 1785. It is located on the open front slope of a small mountain, giving a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. It is easy to see where its name came from, due to the very pleasant view.
The property "Pleasant" consisted of 203 acres of land, and was purchased by Nicklaus Fast on November 1, 1785. It is located next to "Pleasure" on top of the same mountain. It consists of beautiful pastures surrounded by forest. Adjacent to the pasture is the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. It is not difficult to see where its name came from. It is a very pleasant place to be.

    The third parcel is entitled "Hard To Find". This property consisted of 394.5 acres of land. It was purchased by Nicklaus Fast on February 3, 1787. He paid 12 pounds and 8 shillings for it. Notice the left-hand side of the land patent image, shown below. It is the signature of Benjamin Franklin, then the Supreme Executive Council of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
    It is not difficult to see where "Hard to Find" received its name. As is shown below right, much of it is located in a very steep and forested gully on the side of the mountain.
    The Nicklaus Fast family was lucky to have such beautiful place to call home.

    Jacob Fast, son of Nicklaus, owned a piece of property entitled "Eminence", also in Dunkard Twp., located 9 miles northwest of his father's land. Jacob's father-in-law, Michael Rudisil, own land close by. Next to Jacob was land entitled "Mount Joy", purchased by a Nicklaus Fast on April 23, 1793. Many assume this to be Jacob's father. However, I believe it, and perhaps other parcels, belonged to Jacob's brother, Nicklaus Fast Jr., son of Nicklaus Fast.
    We have evidence that Nicklaus had a son of the same name from the Evangelical and Reformed Church record of Frederick, Maryland. There is a record dated February 6, 1771, itemizing a "list of young people", according to the record, who had begun instruction in the "truths of religion". Among those listed are two daughters of Nicklaus - Elisabeth and Barbara Fast. Also listed is a Nicolaus Fast. Nicklaus Fast, the father, would have been 44 years old. Certainly, he would not have qualified as a young person, nor have need of religious instruction. This Nicolaus Fast has to be a son.
    In "The Horn Papers", Vol. 2, is an interesting note. The John Ross Family was a neighbor of Nicklaus Fast. In 1767 he tomahawked 240 acres on Dunkard Creek. He cleared 18 acres and built a log cabin, naming the place "The Baptist". John had 4 sons and 3 daughters. One of his daughters was named Martha. On page 562 it states ...

"Martha was married to Jacob Fast, a brother of Nicholas Fast, who warranted and patented
his homestead in Dunkard Township. These two families moved to Kentucky in 1779."

If they did move to Kentucky in 1779, they did not stay. Nicolaus Fast Jr. apparently never married and died before his father drafted his will in 1816. Neither he a wife or any offspring are listed in his father's will.