Biography:

Built by George Ross & Company in 1762, the company was comprised of Ross (1730-1779), George Stevenson (1718-1783), and William Thompson (1736-1781) and perhaps Ross’ brother-in-law, Mark Bird. Montgomery indicates there was another Mary Ann Furnace in Berks County that was erected by Jacob Lesher in 1797/8. In May 1763, Thomas Barr at the furnace put a notice of a runaway in the Gazette. Mary Ann Furnace was located in southwestern York County on Codorus Creek about three miles south of Hanover in West Manheim Township. It was initially run in conjunction with Spring Forge and apparently sent iron to nearby Hellam (later Codorus) Forge. The furnace had an overshot gristmill and sawmill associated with it and is listed on William Scull’s 1770 map. George Ross, who owned three undivided quarter parts, tried to sell it in 1773. At that time it contained 6,000 acres of land and had a grist and saw mill. George Ege was involved in 1774 and he appears to have run the furnace during the war. Ross died in 1779 and Thompson was captured during the war, badly treated, and died in 1781. Mary Ann Furnace was listed on the 1779 Manheim Township tax list with William Gwinn as having 5,000 acres; also listed by Hermelin in 1783 as active and producing 400 tons annually. In 1781, Ege contracted with the Pennsylvania Board of War to cast various size shot and shells there. In 1782, it was owned by John Steinmetz, a Philadelphia merchant, who advertised it in that year to be let for a “term of years.” Mercer indicates John Steinmetz and John Brinton of Philadel phia owned it in 1790.
“Maryan” Furnace is shown on Samuel Potts’ 1789 list as closed.