In 1762, James Hadsell Was one of the first settlers in the Wyoming Valley, PA.
He settled in Forty Fort. This fort was so named because it protected forty families.
James had a 600 acre tract of land along the Susquehanna River. His land started at Sutton Creek and included a large Island called , "Hadsell Island". He was a farmer and owned a tannery. In 1776, he and James Sutton built and operated the first sawmill and gristmill in Exeter Township.
James Hadsell was killed at the Wyoming Valley Massacre in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania in 1778. He was part of local militia fighting against British and Indians.
He is accepted by the DAR as a Patriot.
More on Jmaes Hadsell's descendants here.