Donegal
Early colonial records show that Peter Hairston and his family lived in Donegal, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania about 1730 and that they received a "Blunston License" for land in 1737. Other than these two references, I am not aware of any other documents relating to their stay in America prior to 1743.
In the book A History of Lancaster County, by H.M.J. Klein, Ph.d., 1926, the following people were listed as having settled in Donegal area in 1730; James Buey, James Cook, Peter Hairston, James Hutchison, John Kelley, William and Alexander Mitchell, Thomas and John Scott.
Survey for Peter Hairston dated 8 April 1736 by Samuel Blunston.
Peter Hairston's survey of land as it appears today.
Blunston Licenses
Samuel Blunston issued 282 licenses for land west of the Susquehanna River from January24, 1734 to October 31, 1737. Samuel Blunston was the Deputy Surveyor and Justice of the Peace living in Lancaster. These licenses were for remote land were ownership was being disputed by Maryland, Pennsylvania, Germans, Scotch-Irish and the Indians.
Two Blunston Licenses were issued on June 6, 1737 to Peter Hairstons and Andrew Hairstons. These licenses were issued for a total of 400 acres on the west side of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. This land is currently in Franklin County, about 3 miles southwest of Greencastle, and just north of Hagerstown, Maryland.
"June 6, 1737 Peter Hairstons 200 acres
On the South side of the South East Branch of the Conegochege."
"June 6, 1737 Andrew Hairstons 200 acres
On the South side of the North East Branch of the Conegochege in the fork."
Conecochheague - Indian word for "indeed a long way."..... "seems to refer to some occasion when a party of Indians became impatient of travel"*
It is not clear if Peter and Andrew ever settled this land. They are not listed on any tax records.
* "Indian Local Names with Their Interpretations" by Stephen G. Boyd, York, PA Published by the author 1835