This township comprises territory originally included in McCandless, Indiana and West Deer. It is regular in outline, and nearly a perfect square, being in length about four miles and forty perches, and in breadth three miles and two hundred and eighteen perches. The movement for its erection began at the June term, 1860, when a petition with this end in view was referred to the consideration of John Dickey, James Taylor and C. Sniveley. They surveyed the boundaries of the proposed territory, and made return thereof to the court under date of November 13, 1860. June 19, 1861, the question was submitted to popular vote, when the action of the commissioners was ratified by a majority of one hundred and one, there being but twelve dissenting votes. The final decree of court erecting Hampton was issued February 16, 1861. The present eastern boundary was established at the April sessions, 1862, by the annexation of a narrow strip of territory from Indiana. Of Hon. Moses Hampton, LL. D., in whose honor the township is named, an account is given in the chapter on Bench and Bar, pages 259, 260.

John McCaslin is generally thought to have been the first settler. In 1794 he secured the title to land still in possession of his descendants, but as a hunter the region was well known to him some years before. His fondness for the chase did not cease as the country became more thickly settled, and he often made long excursions to the wilds of what are now known as the oil regions.

Alexander McDonald was the first settler near Hardie’s station. It is said of him that he was many years a farmer and never owned a wagon. Frank Black was a settler near Mr. McDonald. None of their descendants are here. Jacob Burkhardt and his son-in-law John McDonald were settlers in the southeast part of the township. Other early settlers (though the times of their settlement can not be learned) were Philip Mowry, Eobert McCurdy, George Whitesell, Eobert A. Sample, Eobert Hardie, Miller, Henry Weaver, Samuel Hutchman, Samuel Brown, David and William Williams, William and Henry McCully, Charles Anderson, Samuel McCaslin, James and John Herron, John McNeal, Joseph Hart, George Somerwell, William Green, David Patton, Ephraim Morrow.

The first mill was built in 1808, by Philip Mowry. It was in the southwestern part of the township, on Pine creek.

The population of Hampton in 1870 was 938; in 1880, 1,003. The principal streams of the township are Pine creek and its branches, Gourhead run, McCaslin’s run, Crouse’s run. Willow run and Montour’s run. "Gourhead Knob," at the confluence of the stream of that name and a smaller tributary, is a striking feature of the topography. The old Butler turnpike and the Allegheny and Butler plank-road were among the first highways opened through this section of country. The village of Talley Cavey is situated upon the latter, about the center of the township. The name is that of a locality in the north of Ireland, and was suggested by one of the early settlers from that place. The usual stores and local mechanics are represented, while a Reformed Presbyterian church adds to the attractiveness of the town. Its population is probably fifty or seventy-five persons. Unsuccessful search has been made in the township for oil. Some of the wells have yielded gas in considerable quantities.

The stations on the Pittsburgh & Western railroad in this township are Hardie’s, Wildwood, Semple, Bryant and Eberhardt. John Cress became postmaster at Herron March 31, 1880; Peter Heisel, November 2, 1882; Mary Heisel, December 10, 1883; Daniel K. Murray, at Wildwood, November 18, 1880, and James Kelley, September 27, 1887.

Pine Creek United Presbyterian Church originated about 1805 as a Reformed Presbyterian church, and as such was served by Rev. M. Williams as pastor until 1825; T. C. Guthrie, 1827-56, and T. Johnston, 1860-73. It became a United Presbyterian church in 1874, and Rev. N. E. Wade was pastor until 1884, when R. H. Park succeeded him. St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church is the second German congregation in the county, being the first formed from St. Philomena’s. A church-edifice was built in 1841. The cornerstone of its successor was laid April 22, 1867, and its dedication occurred November 28th of that year. There are two other churches. Pine Creek Presbyterian and a United Brethren, in the western part of the township.