Hancock County was formed in 1848 from Brooke and was named for John Hancock, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Iron furnaces established in the county as early as 1794 made the cannon balls that Commodore Perry used in the Battle of Lake Erie. Pennsylvania was named for William Penn, to whom it was granted in 1681 by Charles II. In 1682, Penn made his first settlement at Philadelphia. Earlier settlements had been made by the Swedes in 1638, and Pennsylvania was one of the thirteen original colonies.