1781 January 0
Hugh Henry Brackenridge arrived from Philadelphia to practice law. He soon became an important civic and political leader in western Pennsylvania.

1782 January 0
The German Evangelical Protestant (Congregational) Church, the first organized religious group in Pittsburgh, held services in a small block-house at the corner of present Wood and Diamond streets. Reverend John William Weber was pastor.

1784 June 0
In the first real estate sale on record, Isaac Craig and Samuel Bayard purchased three acres of land lying between Fort Pitt and the Allegheny River.

1784 June 0
Bouquet's Redoubt-the Blockhouse was converted into a dwelling and continued as such until April 1, 1894.

1784 June 0
The Penns' Pittsburgh Manor was laid out in lots by George Woods and Thomas Vickroy. The manor embraced the tongue of land between the two rivers as far as present Grant Street and Eleventh.

1785 August 15
The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania ordered John Ormsby to "take possession of Fort Pitt in behalf of the Commonwealth, upon its being relinquished" by the United States.

1785 August 15
Lodge No. 45, Ancient Order of York Masons, was organized.

1786 February 28
The State Legislature granted a charter for the Pittsburgh Academy "for the education of youth in useful arts, sciences and literature." Judge Hugh Henry Brackenridge was prime organizer.

1786 July 29
The Pittsburgh Gazette, first newspaper west of the Allegheny Mountains, was published as a weekly by John Scull and Joseph Hall, printers.

1786 July 29
In the columns of the newly launched gazette, Hugh H. Brackenridge wrote that, at the junction of the three rivers in the morning, "a light fog is usually incumbent." But, he observed, "in as much as it consists of vapor. . . Which the sun of the preceding day had extracted from trees and flowers and in the evening had sent back into dew it is experienced to be healthful."

1786 July 29
Niles Weekly Register reported that "36 log houses, one stone house, one frame house, and five small stores" extended along Chancery Lane and Market Street.

1786 September 24
The Penns donated two and one half lots each to the First Presbyterian, the German Evangelical Protestant, and the Trinity Protestant Episcopal churches.

1786 September 29
The First Presbyterian Church was incorporated by an act of the Legislature.

1786 September 29
David Redick was appointed by the Supreme Executive Council to lay Out the "Town Common and lots in the reserve tract opposite Pittsburgh." The reserved tract had been authorized by the Legislature in September 1787.

1786 September 29
The first market house was erected.