Following a series of attacks during the 1750s by Indians on German pioneers and other immigrants who had begun relocating to, and settling in, various parts of Pennsylvania, including west of the Susquehanna River, colonial government leaders began receiving petitions from hundreds of those settlers for protection. In response, the Province of Pennsylvania spent eighty-five thousand pounds to erect a chain of blockhouses and forts along the Kittanning Hills from the Delaware River to the province's border with Maryland. Those military installations were then manned with between 20 to 75 members of the provincial militia. With respect to Westmoreland County settlers who desired greater protection, those petitioning the colonial government from Hempfield Township were:
"Wendel Oury, Christopher Trubee , Frantz Raupp, Nicholas Scheuer, John Lafferty, John Bendeary, Conrad Houck, James Waterms, John Redeck, Adam George, Nicholas Allimang, Adam Uhreg, Stefel Urich, John Golden, Peter Urich, Martin Hunts, Michael Konel, Henrich Kleyn, Conrad Hister, Hans Gunckee, Peter Kasner, Peter Uber, John Kransher, Henrich Schmit, Jacob Schmit, Jacob Kuemel, John Moffey, Adam Bricker, Peter Wannemacher, Philip Klingelschmit, Peter Klingelschmit, Peter Altman, Andoni Altman, Joseph Pankkek, Brent Reis, Baltzer Moyer, Jacob Hauser, Peter Altman, Christian Baum, George Crier, Peter Rosch, Joseph Kutz, Adam Meire, Daniel Wilers, Thomas Williams, Michel Hatz, George Mondorf, William Hanson, William Altman, Marx Breinig, Johannes Breinig, Samuel Lewisch, Andeny Walter, Jacob Welcker, George Bender, Nicholas Junt, Michel Hann, David Marschal, Heinrich Sil, Richard Archbold, Conrad Linck, Friedrich Marschal, Hannes Breynig, Kasper Mickendorf, Jacob Schraber, Daniel Matiss, Heinrich Schram, Peter Schelhammer, Jacob Meylin, Dewalt Macklin, Hannes Kostwicz, Jacob Schram, Lutwig Aterman, Hans Sil, Jacob Stroh, Christopher Herolt, Gerhart Tames.
In response, Colonel Christopher Truby of Pennsylvania's colonial militia erected Fort Allen in Hempstead Township, Westmoreland County in 1774. It is believed that this fort was named for Andrew Allen of the state's then governing body, the Supreme Executive Council. Following its construction, Truby assumed command of the installation. Also known as "Truby's Blockhouse," Fort Allen subsequently became a frontier fort for Dunmore's War in 1774 and then the Revolutionary War. In modern times, the area surrounding the site of the fort has grown into an expansive neighborhood of Hempfield Township, with streets named after various Native American tribes. Fort Allen Elementary School, built in 1952 and part of the Hempfield Area School District, was also named after the fort.
