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HARVARD
COLLEGE
LIBRARY
/••»
s^
ANNALS
OF
BUFFALO VALLEY,
PENNSYLVANIA.
1755--1855.
COLLATED BY
JOHN BLAIR LINN.
' HARRISBURG, PA.
LANE S. HART, PKINTER AND BINDER.
1877.
^^isi ^7<^^-^' ' ^
HARVARD C0LLE6E LIBRARY
/
2 ' v^ •-'
Entered accordini( to act of Congress, in the year 1877, by
JOHN BLAIR LINN,
in the otflcc or the Lilbrarian or Congress, at Wasliington. 1>. C
INTRODUCTION.
ISDIAS TrIB E3 Sn rKELLlMT — LoGA S A IIOR 10 1 NKS
Villages asd PATna— PfBcnASE of 1T54— Pkn:
SllCBCKS or EilWlBATrON TO TUB Val,let I'uBi
i Creek Maj>sal'
IA8E OF Ur-S.
■ N the year 1868. when 1 proposed to myself (he labor of
T collating these Annals, I supposed their commencement
mltl, in point of time, he with the dale uf the purchase
I made at Fort Stanwix, Novemlier 5, 1768. I thought,
too, the first sounds breaking the stillness of the Valley were the cheer-
ful ring of the surveyor's axe, and the merry shouts of advancing
settlers, let loose upon the " New Purchase," by the land office adver-
tisement of February 23, 1 769. But when I came to trace the
southern line of that purchase, I found it skirling the deserted clearings
and blackened hearth-stones of earlier white settlers, of whose s;id
fate I had never heard.
These annals, therefore, would not be complete, withoutaii account
of the Penn's Creek massacre of 1755, alihough it makes the history
of the early settlement of Buffalo Valley unpleasantly like that of
nearly all others in America, in the injustice of the settlers toward the
Indians, and the bloody retribution tliat followed ; and I have further
concluded to add all the reliable information I could obtain uf the
Valley prior to its settlement by the whites.
The localities of the Indian tribes prior to William Penn's arrival,
(October 24, 1682,) have l>een identified as follows: "The Five
Nations," as they were then called, (after 1714, "The Six Nations,";
occupied the territory north of the sources of the Sus(iuelianna and
Delaware rivers. After the partial settlement of the country, these
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
confederate tribes, were known among themselves by the name Aquan-
oschioni, united people; by the English they were called the Six
Nations; by the French, the Northern Iroquois; settlers called them
sometimes Mingoes and Maquais. This will explain the reason Shi-
kellimy, the first noted inhabitant of Buffalo Valley, is called, in let-
ters from Conrad Weiser and others, indifferently, an Iroquois chief,
a Mingo chief, and a chief of the Six Nations.
South of the mouth of the Hudson lived the Delewares ; otherwise
called Lenni-Lenape, or original people. They occupied the coun-
try to the Potomac, and were divided into three tribes : i , the Turkeys ;
2, the Turtles; 3, the Wolfs or Muncys. The Muncys occupied
Pennsylvania, from the Kittatinny or Blue mountains to the source of
the Susquehanna, and were the most active and warlike. At the time
of Penn's arrival, the Five Nations had brought under their dominion
the whole country of the Delawares. About the year 1 700, the Shaw-
anese, who came originally from Florida and Georgia, by permission
of Penn's government, settled in Cumberland valley, having their
council fire near Carlisle, and extending northerly into what is now
the territory of Snyder county, and as far as Chillisquaque creek, sub-
ject, of course, to the authority of the Five Nations.
In 1 714, the Five Nations became the Six Nations, by adopt-
ing the Tuscarora tribe which had been expelled from North Caro-
lina and Virginia; and subsequently Shikellimy, who was a chief of
the Oneida tribe, was sent down upon the Susquehanna as the gov-
erning chief of the conquered Delawares and their allies, the Shawa-
nese. In a letter of instruction to Smith and Pettys, written in 1 728,
Governor Patrick Gordon speaks of Shikellimy as being placed over
the Shawanese; adding **he is a good man, and I hope will give a
good account of them." Shikellimy fixed his residence at the old
Muncy town, in Buffalo Valley, and here he was visited by the first
white man who, as far as we know, ever set foot within it.
(^737-) 27th February, 1 737, Conrad Weiser records in his jour-
nal : ** Left home for Onondaga, ist March, left Tolheo,* which is the
last place in the inhabited part of Pennsylvania. On the 4th we
reached Shamokin' but did not find a living soul at home who could
assist us in crossing the Susquehanna river. On the 5th we lay still ;
1 At the ^ap in the Blue mountBins, where the Big Swatara breaks through into
Lebanon county. * Now Sunbnry..
INTRODUCTION,
we had now made about eighty miles. 6th, we observed a smoke on
the other side of the river, and an Indian trader came over and took
us across. We again lay still to-day. On the 7th we started along
one branch of the river,, going to the north-west. An old Shawano,
by name Jenoniawana, took us in his canoe across the creek at Zilly
Squachne.^ On the 8th we reached the village where Shikelimo
lives, who was appointed to be my companion and guide on the jour-
ney. He was, however, far from home on a hunt. Weather became
bad and the waters high, and no Indian could be induced to seek Shi-
kelimo until the 12th, when two young Indians agreed to go out in
search of him. On the i6th, they returned with word that Shikelimo
would be back next day, which so happened. The Indians were out
of provisions at this place. I saw a new blanket given for about one
third of a bushel of Indian corn.*'
The site of this village is, beyond doubt, on the farm of Hon.
George F. Miller, at the mouth of Sinking run, or Shikellimy's run,
as it was called formerly, at the old ferry, one half mile below Milton,
on the Union county side. It is a beautiful spot for a village; pro-
tected on the north by a range of hills, with the river much narrowed
in front, giving easy access to the Northumberland side.
When the land office was open for ** the new purchase," on the 3d
of April, 1769, there were very many applications made for this loca-
tion. In all of them it is called either old Muncy town, Shikellimy's
town, or Shikellimy's old town. It is referred to as a locality in hun-
dreds of applications for land in the Valley. I will only quote one:
''Samuel Huling applies for three hundred acres on the West Branch
of the Susquehanna, about one mile above Shikellimy's old town, in-
cluding a small run that empties into the river opposite an island."
The Huling location was secured by John Fisher, one of the oldest of
our settlers, and West Milton is now built upon it. Shikellimy's town
was on the ** Joseph Hutchinson" and '* Michael Weyland," warran-
tee tracts, from whom the title can be readily traced to the present
owner. Colonel James Moore, who lived there many years, told me
that thousands of Indian darts were plowed up there, and once, when
blasting at the quarry, they uncovered a grave hollowed in the solid
rock, in which they found the skeleton of an Indian.
Shikellimy, sometime after Weiser's visit, removed to Shamokin,
* Uhlllliquoque.
ANXALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
now Sunbury, as a more convenient point for intercourse with the
Proprietary Governors. On the 9th of October, 1747, Conrad
Weiser says he was at Shamokin, and that ** Shikellimy was very sick
with fever. He was hardly able to stretch forth his hand. His wife,
three sons, one daughter, and two or three grandchildren were all bad
with the fever. There were three buried out of the family a few days
before, one of whom was Cajadis, who had been married to his daugh-
ter above fifteen years, and was reckoned the best hunter among all the
Indians." He recovered, however, from this sickness, and, in March,
1748, we find him at Weiser's, in Tulpehocken, with his eldest son,
Tagheneghdourus. He died in April 1 749, at Sunbury, and the latter
succeeded him as chief and representative of the Six Nations.^
Loskiel thus notices this celebrated inhabitant of our Valley :
** Being the first magistrate and head chief of all the Iroquois living
on the banks of the Susquehanna as far as Onondaga, [now Syracuse,
New York,] he thought it incumbent upon him to be very circumspect
in his dealings with the white people. He mistrusted the brethren
[Moravians] at first, but upon discovering their sincerity, became
their firm and real friend. Being much engaged in political affairs,
he had learned the art of concealing his sentiments; and, therefore,
never contradicted those who endeavored to prejudice his mind
against the missionaries, though he always suspected their motives.
In the last years of his life he became less reserved, and received those
brethren that came to Shamokin into his house. He assisted them in
building and defended them against the insults of drunken Indians,
being himself never addicted to drinking, because, as he expressed it,
he never wished to make a fool of himself. He had built his house
upon pillars for safety, in which he always shut himself up when any
drunken frolic was going on in the village. In this house, Bishop
Johannes Von Watteville, and his company, visited and preached the
Gospel to him. It was then the Lord opened his heart. He listened
with great attention, and at last, with tears, respected the doctrine of
a crucified Jesus, and received it with faith. During his visit to Bethle-
hem, a remarkable change took place in his heart, which he could not
conceal. He found comfort, peace, and joy by faith in his Redeemer,
and the brethren considered him a candidate for baptism. But hear-
ing that he had been already baptized by a Roman Catholic priest
1 Ai such, signing the deed for the Indian purchase of 22d August, 1749.
INTRODUCTIOA,
in Canada,' they only endeavored to impress his mind with a proper
idea of the sacramental ordinance, upon which he destroyed a small
idol which he wore about his neck. After his return to Shamokin,
the grace of God bestowed upon him was truly manifest. In this
state of mind, he was taken ill, was attended by brother David Zeis-
berger, and in his {Presence fell asleep, happy in the Lord, in full
assurance of obtaining eternal life through the merits of Jesus
Christ."
The most celebrated of his sons was Logan, the Mingo chief.
By the journal of Mack and Grube, Moravian missionaries, it appears
he lived at the mouth of the Chillisquaque creek, August 26, 1753.
In 1 765 he lived in Raccoon valley, at the foot of the Tuscarora
mountain. Loudon, in his *' collections," says he could speak tol-
erable English, was a remarkably tall man — over six feet high —
and well proportioned ; of brave, open, and manly countenance, as
straight as an arrow, and apparently afraid of no one. In 1768 and
1769 he resided near Reedsville, in Mifflin county, and has given his
name to the spring near that place, to Logan's branch of Spring
creek, in Centre county, Logan's path, &c. See a notice of an
interview with him in the memoir of Samuel Maclay, postea, year
181 1. Heckewelder says he was introduced to Logan in 1772.
**I thought him a man of superior talents. He then intended set-
tling on the Ohio, below Big Beaver. In April, 1773, ^ called at
his settlement, and was received with great civility." In 1774 oc-
curred Lord Dunmore's expedition against the Shawanese towns, now
Point Pleasant, West Virginia, which wais the occasion of Logan's
celebrated speech, commencing **I appeal to any white man to say
if he ever entered Logan's cabin hungry, and he gave him not meat ;"
which will go down to all time, whether properly or not, as a splen-
did outburst of Indian eloquence.
Heckewelder says he afterwards became addicted to drinking, and
was murdered, between Detroit and his own home, in October, 1781 ,
and he was shown the place. **He was, at the time, sitting with
his blanket over his head, before a camp-fire, his elbows resting on
his knees, when an Indian, who had taken some offense, stole behind
him, and buried his tomahawk in his brains." Howe's Ohio Col-
lections, page 409, who quotes as his authority Good Hunter, an
aged Mingo chief.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Aborigines of the Valley.
Of the Indians who occupied Buffalo Valley, nothing can be posi-
tively ascertained, except that they belonged to the Muncy-Minsi
(or Wolf) tribe of the Lenni-Lenape, or original people. The
Valley was more a hunting ground than a residence. Some remains
have been found at prominent points along the river, as, for instance,
at Colonel Slifer*s house, on the river, above the mouth of Buffalo
creek, some skeletons, evidently of one family only, were uncovered.
The large mounds were on the other side of the river, on Joseph
Nesbit's place ; and the principal towns or villages, Chillisquaque,
at the mouth of that creek, south side, and Shamokin, on the island
and mainland, where Sunbury now stands.
In quite a number of applications of 1 769 mention is, however,
made of an old Indian town and fort, on the Dietrick Rees tract,
just above New Columbia; an Indian improvement at Laird How-
ard's spring, in Kelly ; one on the Craig tract, on the river, near
Winfield ; one below that yet, on the Andrew Culbertson, afterwards
known as the Merrill place; on the ** Richard Edward's," now
Stoltzfus' place, in Kelly, was an Indian field and plum orchard;
and there was an improvement at Strohecker's landing, south of
Lewisburg.
Indian Paths.
The great Indian path through the Valley left the river at the first
ravine, a few rods below the Northumberland bridge, passed up it,
following the main road, as it now is, for a few miles, then turning
towards the river, it came down the hill upon the Merrill place ;
thence followed the bank of the river, up through the old Mac-
pherson place, to Lees, Winfield ; thence passing up the present
road, it crossed directly through the fields from the Gundy road to
Fourth street, Lewisburg ; thence to Buffalo creek, where the iron
bridge now is, a very old fording place ; thence it curved towards
the river, passed up through Shikellimy's town, and along the river
road, around the rocks, into White Deer Hole valley. A. H. Mc-
Henry, the noted surveyor, told me it could be distinctly traced by
the calls of surveys; but as all traces of it are now obliterated within
the Valley, further identification is unnecessary.
INTRODUCTION.
The paths through the Valley westward are obliterated, historically
and topographically, except the small portion of the one passing
into Brush valley, which may still be traced in the woods west of
Solomon Heberling's.
Early Notices of Names of Creeks, dc.
Buffalo creek is mentioned by its name in the Indian deed of Octo-
ber 23, 1758. Penn*s is called John Penn*s creek in the same deed.
In the deed of July 6, 1 754, it is called Kaarondinhah. It was called
by the settlers, between 1754 and 1769, and marked on Scull's map
of 1759, Big Mahany, and is so recited in deeds as late as 1772.
Thus the ** Henry Christ" warrantee, (now in Monroe township,
Snyder county,) afterwards Herbster*s place, is described as in
** Buffalo township, formerly of the name of Shamokin, and bounded
by Big Mahany creek, lands of George Gabriel, Abraham Herr, and
others." — Deed of Herbster to George Haines, 26th May, 1772. In
a (feed from John Turner to John Harris, June, 1755, for an im-
provement, (now in Hartley township, owned by R. V. B. Lincoln,
Esquire,) the creek is called *'Mahanoy."
Turtle creek was so called before 1 769, and in the latter year I
found the stream below it, traversing Dry valley, called Lee's run,
after John Lee, the first settler of the site of Win field.
Switzer run had an alias in 1769 — Lick run, probably after Peter
Lick, who was carried off by the Indians in 1755 ; but the interest
felt in the mournful tragedy hereafter related substituted the name
of Switzer for the name given it by the surveyors in 1769.
White Deer creek is marked on Scull's map of 1 759 with the Indian
name of Opaghtanoten, or White Flint creek. The run entering
the river on the late Samuel Henderson's place, in White Deer town-
ship, was called by William Blythe, the first settler there, Red-Bank
run ; and the bottom above, between it and White Deer creek,
had, before 1769, the name Turkey bottom, from the immense num-
ber of wild turkeys haunting it.
Dog run came in by the old Indian fort, which stood near New
Columbia. Beaver run, in Buffalo township, had that name before
1 769, from a large beaver dam near its mouth. Wilson's run, enter-
ing at Lewisburg, had the name of Limestone run. White Springs
y ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
(at Barber's, in Limestone township) is so called in the return of
a survey made by Colonel John Armstrong, in 1755. Laurel run
had that name prior to 1 773 ; and Spruce run is so called on Colonel
Kelly's application for land upon it, dated nth June, 1769.
The hills bounding the Valley on the south were called Shamokin,
from the earliest times I find them mentioned ; of late years they
have had the name of Chestnut Ridge. Nittany mountain had its
name as early as 1 768. Buffalo and White Deer mountains took
their names from the respective creeks. Jack's mountain, extending
from Centreville, Snyder county, to Scottsville, Huntingdon county,
was so called from Jack Armstrong, an Indian trader, who was mur-
dered in the narrows, in 1744, near Mt. Union. Pennsylvania
Archives, second volume, 136.
(1755.) The Mahany or Pern's Creek Massacre.
Cumberland county was erected out of Lancaster, on the 27th of
January, 1750, and was to embrace all the lands within the Province
of Pennsylvania westward of the Susquehanna and north and west-
ward of York county. The country was then purchased from the
Indians as far north as the present southern line of Perry county.
Nevertheless, settlers pushed on north of the boundary — the Kitta-
tinny or Blue mountains. As early as 1753, at a council held at
Carlisle, the Indians protested against the occupation of the country
north of the line by the white settlers, and * * wished the people
called back from the * Juniata ' lands until matters were settled between
them and the French, lest damage should be done, and then the
English would think ill of them." Then came the treaty of the 6th
of July, 1754, at Albany, between the chiefs of the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Onondagos, Cayugas, Senecas, and Tuscaroras, known as
the Six Nations, and Thomas and Richard Penn, conveying that
part of the Province west and south of a line commencing at the
** Kittochtinny " or Blue hills, on the Susquehanna river, (a little
south of where the southern line of Perry county now strikes the
river ;) thence, by said river, to -a point one mile above the mouth
of a certain creek, called Kaarondinhah ; thence north-west and by
west as far as the Province of Pennsylvania extends, to its western
line or boundary, &c. On an old map I have, printed in 1771, this
INTRODUCTION,
line is marked running from a mile above Penn*s creek, N. 45^
W., crossing the river a little above the mouth of Sinnemahoning,
and striking Lake Erie a few miles north of Presqu'Isle, (now
Erie.) Within the Valley, it crossed Penn's creek, near New
Berlin, the turnpike, near Ray*s church, thence over Buffalo creek
and mountain.
The Indians alleged afterwards (see Weiser's journal of the con-
ference at Aughwick, September, 1754) that they did not under-
stand the points of the compass, and that if the line was so run as
to include the West Branch of the Susquehanna, they would never
agree to it.
Settlers, nevertheless, pushed their way up along Penn*9 creek.
George Gabriel had a house where Selinsgrove now stands as early
as 1754, and Godfrey Fryer, John Young, George Linn, George
Schnable, and others were in his immediate neighborhood. The
Proprietaries, with their understanding of the line, made surveys along
Penn's creek, in Buffalo Valley, as early as the 13th of February,
^755 > and William Doran had an improvement where Jacob Shively
now lives before that date. I have a copy of a survey General
John Armstrong, then deputy under Nicholas Scull, made for Henry
Nufer, adjoining Doran*s, dated 13th February, 1755.
The inhabitants along the creek in the Valley proper numbered
twenty-five. Their names and their places of residence, for the most
part, were obliterated with them. One John Turner had improved
Esquire Lincoln's place. It appears by John Harris' ledger, pub-
lished among "The Dauphin County Historical Contributions,**
that Turner sold his improvement to Harris, June 17, 1755. There
was a settlement near Kaufman's grist-mill. A man by the name of
Andrew Smith lived at White springs. Jacob LeRoy, or King, as
he was called by the settlers, lived at the spring on the late Hon. Isaac
Slenker*s place, in Limestone township. There was a settlement on
the New Berlin road, called for many years afterwards Breylinger's
improvement, after the German killed there. The late Philip Pon-
tius told me his grandfather had made an improvement at Cedar
spring, his late residence, in 1755.
(i 755.) Braddock's defeat (July 9) emboldened the Indians, and
they determined to clear out all these settlements ; and they did it
so effectually, that although, by the treaty of 1758, the western part
lo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
of the Valley became the Proprietaries, no settlers ventured upon
the bloody ground until after the surveys of 1 768.
In October, 1 755, the Indians came down upon the settlers. Two
men were murdered within five miles of George Gabriel's, and four
women carried off. The following cotemporary record tells the
whole story. It is a petition, addressed to Robert Hunter Morris,
then Governor under the Proprietaries :
** We, the subscribers, living near the mouth of Penn's creek, on
the west side of the Susquehanna, humbly show that, on or about
the 1 6th October, the enemy came down upon said creek, killed,
scalped, and carried away all the men. women, and children, amount-
ing to twenty-five in number, and wounded one man, who, fortu-
nately, made his escape, and brought us the news. Whereupon the
subscribers went out and buried the dead. We found thirteen, who
were men and elderly women, and one child, two weeks old ; the
rest being young women and children, we suppose to be carried
away. The house (where we suppose they finished their murder,) we
found burned up, the man of it, named Jacob King, a Swisser, lying
just by it. He lay on his back, barbarously burned, and two toma-
hawks sticking in his forehead ; one of them newly marked W. D.
We have sent them to your Honor. The terror of which has drove
away all the inhabitants except us. We are willing to stay, and
defend the land, but need arms, ammunition, and assistance. With-
out them, we must flee, and leave the country to the mercy of the
enemy.
George Glidwell, Jacob Simmons,
George Auchmudy, Conrad Craymer,
John McCahan, George Fry,
Abraham Sowerkill, George Schnable,
Edmund Matthews, George Aberhart,
Mark Curry, Daniel Braugh,
William Doran, George Linn,
Dennis Mucklehenny, Godfrey Fryer.
John Young,
Jacob King, alias John Jacob LeRoy, was killed at the spring on
the late Mr. Slenker's farm. He came over, in the ship Phoenix,
from Rotterdam, arriving at Philadelphia, November 22, 1752,
in the same vessel which brought over John Thomas Beck, grand-
INTRODUCTION. ii
father of Doctor S. L. Beck, of Lewisburg. Riipp*s Collection,
page 225.
In the third volume of the Pennsylvania Archives, on page 633,
will be found the '* Examination of Barbara Liningaree and Mary
Roy, 1759. They say they were both inhabitants of this Province,
and lived on John Penn's creek, near George Gabriel's; that on
the 1 6th October, 1755, a party of fourteen Indians fell upon the
inhabitants at that creek by surprise, and killed fifteen, and took and
carried off prisoners examinants and eight more, viz ; Jacob Roy,
brother of Mary Roy ; Rachel Liningaree, sister of Barbara ; Marian
Wheeler; Hannah, wife of Jacob Breylinger, and two of her child-
ren, (one of which died at Kittanin* of hunger;) Peter Lick and
two of his sons, named John and William.
'* The names of the Indians weft Kech Kinnyperlin, Joseph Com-
pass and young James Compass, young Thomas Hickman, one Kal-
asquay, Souchy, Machynego, Katoochquay. These examinants were
carried to the Indian town Kittanning, where they staid until Sep-
tember, 1756, and were in ye fort opposite thereto when Colonel
Armstrong burned it. Thence they were carried to Fort Duquesne,
and many other women and children, they think an hundred, who
were carried away from the several Provinces of Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Virginia. They staid two months, and were carried to
Saucang, twenty-five miles below, at the mouth of Big Beaver creek.
In the spring of 1757 they were carried to the Kuskusky, up Beaver
creek twenty-five miles, where they staid until they heard the Eng-
lish were marching against Duquesne, and then the Indians quitted
Kuskusky, and took'these examinants with them to Muskingham, as
they think, one hundred and fifty miles, On the i6th March made
their escape, and got to Pittsburgh on the 31st.** The date of this
deposition is about May 6, 1759.
There was a Catharine Smith among the prisoners re-captured by
General Armstrong, September 8, 1756, at Kittanning, and brought
back, said to have been taken from Shamokin ; but as her name is
not mentioned above, it may be doubtful whether she was of the
family of Andrew Smith, who lived at White springs. As the others
were captives over four years, possibly they had forgotten her.
Barbara Leiningerwas the name of the girl called Liningaree. The
next place west of David Oldt, and about two miles below New
12 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Berlin, is called, in the old survey, ** Breylinger's improvement,**
and was where Jacob Brey linger lived. Peter Lick, no doubt, lived
on Lick run, or Switzer run, a short distance above New Berlin.
A full narrative of Anne M. LeRoy and Barbara Leininger*s adven-
tures was published by Peter Miller, at Philadelphia, in 1759. I
have had diligent search made for it, but without success.
Anne M. LeRoy was living in Lancaster in 1 764, when she made
affidavit again in regard to her capture and the visits of the Cones-
toga Indians to Kittanning. The only further trace of the LeRoy
family that I can find is a recital in a deed, that on the 19th of
October, 1772, John James LeRoy, the son, of Prince George
county, Maryland, sold the LeRoy tract in Buffalo Valley to Andrew
Pontius, of Tulpehocken. The latter was an uncle of the late Philip
Pontius, of Buffalo, to whom I«am indebted for several reminis-
cences. He said, years afterward, when clearing up John Hoy's
place, adjoining, they found several gold eagles, dropped, no doubt,
by the Indians or their captives. This gave rise to rumors that money
had been buried on the place. Many expeditions were made by
night to dig for the treasure ; but, except a few sleeve buttons, noth-
ing was ever found. From conversation with people of the neigh-
borhood, I find the witch cloud still lingers about that fateful spring,
although the wintry winds of more than a century have swept above
it. Switzer run preserves the nationality of the first settler. It
empties into Penn's creek, a short distance above New Berlin.
Among the settlers on Middle creek, then called Christunn, I.
D. Rupp informed me, was John Zehring, a relative of the Rupp
family, who was driven off by this massacre. He is corroborated
by a recital I find upon Zehring's warrant, dated November 12,
^y^Si ** for two hundred acres, including his improvement made in
^755» from which he was driven off by the Indians, adjoining Chris-
tunn or Middle creek." The Zehrings have still descendants there.
Old Peter Decker married a Zehring, and Michael S. Decker, of
Paxtonville, Snyder county, is of the family.
(i 756.) A sequence of the Penn's creek massacre was the building
of Fort Augusta, (Sunbury,) at the then Indian town of Shamokin,
in July, 1756. This was done with the consent and at the request
of the Indians, from a well-grounded fear that the French meant to
take possession of the place, and build a fort there. Among the
INTRODUCTION. 13
officers of Colonel Clapham's regiment, by whom the fort was built,
I note the names of John Hambright and William Plupket, after-
wards prominent in the political affairs of Northumberland county.
George Gabriel and Joseph Greenwood, as appears by their auto-
graphs to an affidavit before James Burd, Esquire, dated 2d June,
1756, were sworn as gmdes to Colonel Clapham*s regiment.
Ensign Miles, afterward Colonel Samuel Miles, of the Revolution,
and proprietor of Milesburg, in Centre county, who belonged to
Colonel Clapham*s regiment, in his manuscript journal says, *' we
marched up the west side of the Susquehanna, until we came oppo-
site where the town of Sunbury now stands, where we crossed in
batteaux, and I had the honor of being the first man who put his
foot on shore at landing. In building the fort. Captain Levi Trump
and myself, had charge of the workmen ; and after it was finished,
our battalion remained there in garrison until the year 1758. In
the summer of 1757, I was nearly taken prisoner by the Indians.
At about one-half mile distance from the fort stood a large tree that
bore excellent plums, on an open piece of ground, near what is
now called the Bloody spring. Lieutenant Samuel Atlee and myself
one day took a walk to this tree, to gather plums. While we were
there, a party of Indians lay a short distance from us, concealed in
the thicket, and had nearly got between us and the fort, when a
soldier, belonging to the bullock guard not far from us, came to the
spring to drink. The Indians were thereby in danger of being dis-
covered; and, in consequence, fired at and killed the soldier, by
which means we got off, and returned to the fort in much less time
than we were in coming out.'* See Burd's journal, Pennsylvania
Archives, second series, 745, for an interesting account of difficul-
ties encountered in completing the fort.
As it will be of interest to many to trace their ancestry as far
backward in the history of the settlement of the Province as possible,
1 have collated from I. D. Rupp*s histories and other sources all I
could find in reference to the emigration and former settlement of
the families of the Valley.
(1723.) Among those who came from Albany, New York, with
Conrad Weiser, and settled in Tulpehocken, now in Berks county,
in the year 1723, occur the names of Henry Boyer, Philip Brown,
Simon Bogenreif, George Christ, John A. Diffenbach, Jacob Fisher,
14 ASSALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Jacob FoUmer, Jacob Huffman, Peter Kephart, John Pontius, Leon-
ard Rees, Henry Reidenbaugh, Adam Ream, John Spyker, Ulrich
Schwartz, Adam Stein, Peter Sarvey, Mathias Shafer, Christopher
Weiser.
In the same year, there were already settled in Donegal township,
Lancaster county, the Andersons, Campbells, Clarks, Cooks, Caro-
thers, .E wings, Fosters, Howards, Kerrs, Kellys, Lowreys, Littles,
Moores, McClellans, Pattersons, Semples, Scotts, Smiths, and
Walkers.
(1729, August.) Robert Barber, Esquire, ancestor of the Barber
family, was the first sheriff of Lancaster county. The Wrights came
from Lancastershire, England, in 1714. Settled at Columbia in
1726, and John Wright named Lancaster county from his old resi-
dence.
As early as 1735, the following families had settled in Lancaster
county: the Allisons, Adams*s, Alexanders, Bishops, Buchanans,
Barretts, Bears, Blythes, Blacks, Douglass's, Daughertys, Greenes,
Hustons, Hennings, Hendersons, Irwins, Ketlers, Keysers, Klings,
Lowdons, Lynks, McClenahans, Murrays, Mitchells, Meixells, Mc-
Phersons, McClures, Phillips's, Royers, Ramsays, Robinsons, Ranks,
Ross's, Steeles, Saunders's, Thomas's, Wolf's, Wise's, Webbs, Wat-
sons, Walters, and Walls.
(1749, September 27.) Wendell Baker, ancestor of the Baker
family, landed at Philadelphia. On the same vessel came John
George Schnable, John Henry Beck, John Simon Shreiner, and R.
Fries.
(1750.) Among the dwellers in West Derry, Lancaster county,
(now Dauphin,) were the Candors, Clarks, Chambers, Caldwells,
Lairds, Morrisons, Ramseys, Shaws, and Thompsons. In East Derry,
the Boyds, James Duncan, James Foster, John Foster, Hugh and
Patrick Hayes, William Huston, John Moore, Orrs, William Wilson.
In Paxton, West — Robert Correy, George Gabriel, George Gillespie,
James Harris, Samuel Hunter, Thomas McCormick, James Mc-
Knight, James Reed. South end — John Gray, John Johnston, Rich-
ard McClure, John Morrison, John Wilson. Of the Narrows — the
Armstrongs, Robert Clark, George Clark, William Foster, Thomas
McKee. In Hanover — ^John Brown, James Finney, William Irwin,
William Laird, Thomas McGuire, Robert Martin, George Miller,
INTRODUCTION. 15
Andrew Wallace, Samuel Young. In Hanover, East — John Craw-
ford, John Graham, Robert Haslett, Adam Harper, Jacob Musser,
Edward McMurray, and James Young.
In Middleton township, Cumberland county, we find the names of
William Armstrong, William Blythe, James Chambers, James Dun-
lap, William Fleming, Andrew Gregg, James Henderson, Jonathan
Holmes, William Jordan, John Kinkaid, Hugh I^ird, John Robb,
John Reed, Robert Reed, George Templeton. In Hopewell, Cum-
berland also, were John Beatty, Robert Chambers, John Nesbit,
Robert Simonton, William Thompson. In Logan township, now
in Franklin county, were Isaac Grier, William Greenlee, Samuel Jor-
dan, Samuel Laird, William Linn, senior, William Linn, junior. In
Peters township, same county, John Potter, (father of the General)
and Samuel Templeton.
(i 754.) In Bethel, the most remote north-west township in Berks
county, we find, in 1754, George Boeshor, George Emerick, Michael
Grove, George Grove, Nicholas Pontius, George Reninger, Jacob
Leininger, Jacob Seirer, Ulrich Seltzer, Baltzer Smith, Michael
We y land.
(1756.) In Cumru township, occur the names of George Engle-
hart, George Ream, Andrew Wolf, &c. In Exeter, the same year,
the names of John Aurand, William Boone, Peter Boechtel, Leonard
High, Fredrick Kunkle, Mordecai Lincoln, Michael Ludwig, Peter
Noll, Peter Smith, Jacob Yoder. In Greenwich, same year, John C.
Baum, Henry Faust, Michael Gotshall, Peter Leonard, Michael
Leiby, Michael Lesher, Michael Smith. In Heidelberg, same year,
George Aumiller, Peter Betz, Peter Bolender, Philip Bower, Henry
Christ, Ludwig Derr, Andrew Ruhl, George Rorabaugh, Frederick
Stump, Jacob Wetzel. In the docket of Peter Spyker, Esquire,
Tulpehocken, 1756, we find, among the names of referees, John
George Anspach, Henry Bogenreif, George Christ, Peter Gebhart,
John Heberling, Henry Hetzel, Peter Kaufman, Jacob Lutz, Jacob
Miller, Nicholas Pontius, Nicholas Reed, William Spotts, Adam
Smith, Martin Trester, Nicholas Wolf, Peter Winkleplecht, Jacob
Zerbe. He records that Adam Guyer was bound to learn the shoe-
maker's trade, (a trade the same family, to my knowledge, followed
a hundred years.) John George Wolfe also bound to Jacob Follmer,
for thirteen years, &c.
It ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
(i 75 7.) In Maiden Creek township, occur the names of the Dun-
kels and Hoys. In Maxatawney, John Bear, Andrew Boalich,
John Frederick, Joseph Gross, Samuel Guilden, Samuel High, Jacob
Kaufman, Henry Lutz. In Oley, John Yoder. In Rockland, John
Albright, George Angstadt, Lewis Bitting, Peter Keiffer, John Moll,
Henry Mertz. Windsor — Mathias Alspach, Killian Dunkel, Jacob
Hummel, John Hess, Conrad Heiser, Wendell Keiffer, Jacob Roush
Michael Rentchler, Leonard Reber. October 16, 1768, came over
in the same vessel Michael Beeber, Valentine Beeber, (grandfather of
John Beeber, late of Lewisburg, deceased, to whose accurate mem-
ory I am indebted for many dates and incidents,) Andrew Hauck,
and John Peter Frick. More than a century has elapsed, and their
descendants are still within an hour's ride of each other.
(i 758.) The south-western portion of Buffalo Valley was included
in the purchase from the Six Nations, made at Easton, Pennsylvania,
on the 23d of October, 1758, with the bounds of which they de-
clared themselves perfectly satisfied. I copy the boundary line from
the original deed in the Executive Chamber, at Harrisburg : ** Begin-
ning at the Kittachtinny or Blue hills, on the west bank of the river
Susquehannah, and running thence up the said river, binding there-
with, to a mile above the niouth of a creek called Kaarondinhah, (or
John Penn*s creek;) thence north-west and by west to a creek called
Buffalo creek ; thence west to the east side of the Allegany or Appa-
lachian hills; thence, along the east side of the said hills, binding
therewith, to the south line or boundary of the said Province ; thence,
by the said south line or boundary, to the south side of the Kit-
tachtinny hills; thence, by tlie south side of the said hills, to the
place of beginning."
The change of boundary from that of the deed of 1754, it will be
observed, excluded all the territory subsequently included in the
purchases of 1768 and 1784, or more than one half of the State as
now constituted. To localize and modernize the change and new
boundary, it excluded more than the one half of the territory of
Union county as at present constituted. The boundary, instead of
running north-west to Lake Erie, stopped at Buffalo creek, near
where Orwig's mill now stands, in Lewis township, and thence ran
directly west, or nearly so, to the junction of Spring creek with Bald
Eagle, now Milesburg; thence south-westerly to what is now the
INTRODUCTION.
north-east corner of Cambria ; thence along the west side of Blair and
Bedford, terminating at the Maryland line, between the boundaries
of Bedford and Somerset counties.
This line was never run, nor were there any official surveys made
quite near it until six years afterwards. So cautious were the Pro-
prietaries at this period of offending the Indians by making surveys
beyond the lines, that the most positive instructions were given on
this head, and the west end of Nittany mountains, Lamont now,
appeared to have been assumed as the most northerly and westerly
station. Its assumed locality, however, marked the boundary between
Cumberland and Berks counties, which can still be identified upon
the ground. As, for instance, a little distance north of Ray's church,
on the turnpike, on or near the boundary line of Benjamin and Abra-
ham Mench's, stood, and probably stands yet, a black oak, common
comer of the Little, Templeton, Mackamiss, and David Johnston's
surveys of 1769. The course of the south-western line of the latter
survey being N. 57° W., that of the county or Indian line N. 45^
W., left a little corner of the David Johnston, a Berks county survey,
in Cumberland county, and it was not cleared for many years, under
the supposition that it could not be held by the David Johnston
warrant, not being in Berks county.
The north-east corner of this purchase was, no doubt, made one
mile above the mouth of Penn's creek, in order to include Gabriel's
improvement, on the spot where Selinsgrove now stands. Other-
wise, what more natural course than to stop opposite the mouth of
Mahanoy creek, the north-western corner of the purchase of 1749,
now Port Trevorton.
A line of marked trees was made by George Gabriel and the
Indians, from a Spanish oak standing on the river bank, which, in
1766, when William Maclay ran the John Cox survey, stood two
hundred and ninety-two perches above the mouth of Penn's creek,
to a black oak on Penn's creek, about one mile up Penn's creek,
near App's grist-mill, (corner of Henry Christ and Adam Ewig sur-
veys.) Their line, being made without a compass, ran west, instead
of N. 45° W., or rather N. 49° VV., as Mr. Maclay made the bound-
ary line between the two purchases in 1 768. Gabriel settled on the
site of Selinsgrove in 1754. His location was surveyed to John
Cox, by Mr. Maclay, on the 15th of May, 1766; but Mr. Maclay
2
i8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
notes on his return to the Cox warrant that Gabriel had made a
settlement and improvement upon it at least ten years ago, and that
he then lived on and claimed the property, and his pretensions must
be satisfied by Mr. Cox before the return could be accepted. In
quite a number of surveys this line of marked trees is alluded to ;
and Its western terminus, on Penn*s creek, was identified, on the
25th of October, 1765, by William Maclay', when he surveyed the
"Henry Christ** tract, (lately owned by Leonard App,) at the
black oak, which, he says, ** was made a corner of the purchased
lands by Gabriel and the Indians, say both Weiser and Gabriel."
The line of this purchase of 1758 was the line between Cumber-
land and Berks counties, within Buffalo Valley, until the erection of
Northumberland county, out of Berks and other counties, in 1772,
(when Mahantango creek became the north line of Cumberland.)
This line, as stated, ran from a black oak that stood on the bank of
the West Branch of the Susquehanna river, one mile above the
mouth of Penn*s creek, N. 45° W., to Buffalo creek, near what is
now Orwig's mill, in Lewis township ; thence directly west. The
settlers north of this line were assessed in Berks county, and repaired
to Reading to attend court ; those south of that line were assessed
in Penn township, Cumberland county, and attended the sessions
at Carlisle. From 1772, Sunbury attracts attention as the seat of
justice for the people of the Valley, until the erection of Union
county, March 22, 181 3 — a period of forty-one years, to a day —
when New Berlin became the county seat, holding it for forty-two
years; when, (March 2, 1855,) by the erection of Snyder county
out of Union, Lewisburg became the political center of the terri-
tory within the immediate scope of these Annals.
( 1 7 60 . ) A letter from Governor James Hamilton , dated November
15, 1760, to Richard Peters, Esquire, incloses a rough draft, show-
ing the mountains north of the Valley, Buffalo creek, Penn's creek,
the North and West Branches, and main river down to GabriePs,
(whose place is marked at the mouth of Penn's creek,) Shamokin
creek, Shamokin marked between it and the North Branch and Chil-
lisquaque creek. The space included within a dotted line running
from the mouth of Buffalo creek down to a point opposite the mouth
of the Chillisquaque, thence in a semi-circle to a point on Buffalo
creek, six or eight miles above its mouth, is marked ** Manor."
INTRODUCTION, ig
The letter states : " Abel James and two others of the Friendly
Association have been with me, and delivered me the inclosed plot
of lands about Shamokin^ and particularly of the Manor, which, by
Job Chillaway's information and description, they suppose John
Armstrong to have lately surveyed, and at which they are in fear the
Indians will take offense. I told them I was entirely ignorant of it,
as I supposed you to be, from what you said to me yesterday, but
that I would order an inquiry to be made. I, therefore, desire that
you will immediately write to Mr. Armstrong, and know from him
what truth there is in all this, what it is he has actually been doing
in that part of the country, and by what authority, and require his
answer as soon as possible.
" I think it also advisable that you should see Teedyuscung before
he leaves town, apprise him of this report, and satisfy him that
nothing is intended to the prejudice of the Indians with respect to
lands, lest, hearing it from other hands on his return, it may make
impressions on him and other Indians to our disadvantage."
Mr. Peters wrote Mr. Armstrong, Philadelphia, 1 7th November,
1760:
** Sir : Inclosed is a letter I received from the Governor, with a
draught of a pretended survey delivered to him by the clerk of the
Association of Friends for Indian Affairs, who said that John Chilla-
way, the Indian, who was with you, complained that the lines run
into the land not yet granted by the Indians.
"Be pleased to send to the Governor a letter fully explaining
this affair, in order to obviate any complaints that may be made,
and make no delay.
" It is proposed that the west line, which is the boundary in the
proprietary release executed at Easton, shall be run by the surveyors
on behalf of the Proprietaries, and by a deputation of Indians, to be
appointed at the next public Indian treaty, to be held in this city,
in the spring."
The above allusion to Teedyuscung will be understood from the
following information, taken from ** The Memorials of the Moravian
Church," edited by the late Reverend William C. Reichel, a thorough
investigator and the best authority upon the history of the Indians
who resided within our state :*
* Rererend WlUiam O. Reiohel bom at Salem, North Carolina, died at Bethlehem,
20 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY
The Lenape or Delawares, although under the power of the Six
Nations, had their own king. Allummapees held this position as early
as 1718, and as the purchases of the Proprietaries forced the with-
drawal of the tribes from the Delaware, he removed, in 1728, from
on the Delaware to Shamokin, ** which is eighty miles from Tulpe-
hocken, and the residence of the king (Allummaix,»es) of the Dela-
wares, and of the Oneida (Shikellimy) viceroy. The latter virtually
maintains the balance of power between the different tribes and be-
tween the Indians and the whites, acting as agent for the Iroquois
confederacy in all affairs of state and war." — Zinzendorfs Narrative,
dated at Shamokin, September 29, 1742, Reichel, page 67. (The
year 1728 is, no doubt, the date of the withdrawal of the Muncys,
*' who were proverbially impatient of the white man's presence in
the Indian country," from Buffalo Valley, and their removal to the
head waters of the Allegheny, succeeded by the straggling Shaw-
anese.) In July, 1739, Richard Penn treated with deputies of ** the
Shawanese, scattered far abroad from the Great Island to the Alle-
gheny."
In June, 1746, AVeiser wTites that Allummapees has no successor
of his relatives, and will hear of none as long as he is alive. Shi-
kellimy advises that the Government should name a successor, and
set him up by their authority ; that he has lost his senses, and is in-
capable of doing anything. Allummapees is dead, writes Weiser to
Peters, in 1747. Lapappiton is allowed to be the fittest to succeed
him, but he declines. Finally, Teedyuscung was made king of the
Delawares, in the spring of 1756. He had his headquarters in
i757_8, at Teedyuscung's town, (a little below the site of Wilkes-
Barre,) marked Wioming on Scull's maj) of 1759. Here he was
burned in his lodge, on the night of the 19th of April, 1 763, and hence
the Delawares fled, in October of the same year, after having struck
the last blow for the possession of the ** Great Plains," on the 15th
of the month, when they fell upon the Connecticut settlers.
Reichel differs from Loskiel as to the date, before quote<l, of Shi-
kellimy's death, and places it on the 17th of December, 1748, and
adds, that his son Logan, returned home from a far off journey sev-
Pennsylvania, Wcilnesilay, October 25, 1876, Atat M. "Murmurluif of the Rock of
AgO!<. he paasod awuy (quietly as an Infant falls asleep." \\f^ wap professor In the
Moravian Theological Seminary, a ripe scholar, an indefatigable stutl^nt. and, in the
languago of John Jordan, junior, Esquire, his decease an irreparable loss.
INTRODUCTION. 21
eral days after his decease, to weep over the lifeless body of a parent
he so much esteeme^. The brethren, Zeisl)erger and Henry Fry,
made him a coffin, and the Indians having painted the corpse in gay
colors, and decked it with the choicest ornaments, carried the re-
mains of their honored chieftain to the burial place of his fathers,
on the banks of the ''winding river.*' He was succeeded in his
vicegerency by his eldest son, Tachnachdoarus, *' a spreading oak,**
alias John Shikellimy. His second son was James Logan, named
for Secretary Logan, of Germantown. Logan was lame. John
Petty was the youngest of the three brothers, and bore the name of
an Indian trader.
^^ ^.. ' .M
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
i^6§.
Penn Township Settlers — William Gill — Murdeu of White Mingo —
William Blytiie — Purchase of 1768.
|HE following list of inhabitants of Penn township, Cum-
berland county, is taken from the original assessments
at Carlisle, Penn township then embracing nearly all of
what is now Snyder county : John Aumiller, Philip Au-
miller, William Blythe, Jacob Carpenter, George Drowner, Adam
Ewig, George Gabriel, Jacob Hammersly, John Lee, Arthur Moody,
Michael Regar, George Rine, John Reighbough, junior and senior,
Michael Rodman, Casper Reed, Frederick Stump, (who is taxed
with one negro,) Peter Straub, Adam Stephen, and Andrew Shafer.
The freemen are John McCormick, William Gill, Edward Lee, and
Joseph Reynolds.
Of these early settlers I can fix the locality of but few. Wil-
liam Blythe lived at the mouth of Middle creek ; Adam Ewig on the
creek just above App's mill ; George Gabriel on the site of Selins-
grove; Frederick Stump where Middleburg now stands; Peter
Straub at Straubstown ; William Gill on Tuscarora creek, not far
from New Berlin. The latter came originally from Bucks county.
Belonging to a regiment in Forbes' campaign, he was wounded in
the leg in Grant's defeat, September 14, 1758, or in the attack on
'3
24 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [176a
Bouquet's camp, at Loyalhanna, and made for home, through the
woods, with a bullet in his leg. He lived mostly on wild grass on
the way. Reaching Penn's creek, he stopped, married a German
woman there, and settled. He served in Captain Clarke's company
the winter of 1776-7, and when, during the war of 181 2, one of
his sons was drafted, and for some reason could not go, the old
man went with him to Sunbury, and asked to be substituted for his
son. The board rewarded his patriotism by discharging his son.
He died in Beaver township, about the year 1820, leaving a large
family of boys. His grandson Jacob was a member of Captain
Middleswarth's company, in 181 4, and now resides about two miles
from Bellefonte, (1877.) I am indebted for these facts to William
Gill, nephew of William, senior, who at the advanced age of ninety
years, had a remarkable recollection of dates and events, which I
have frequently verified by old papers and assessments. He died
at Bellefonte, November 21, 1876.
Murder of Whife Mingo.
Sunday, loth of January, occurred the murder of White Mingo
and five other Indians, by Frederick Stump. The information of
William Blythe, made at 'Philadelphia, on the 19th of January,
is in substance, that, hearing of the murder, he went to George
Gabriel's, where he met Stump and several others, on the 12th, and
was then told by Stump himself that six Indians, White Mingo, Cor-
nelius, John Campbell, Jones, and two women, came to his house,
near the mouth of Middle creek. Being drunk and disorderly, he
endeavored to get them to leave, which they would not do. Fear-
ing injury to himself, he killed them all, dragged them to the
creek, and making a hole in the ice, threw in their bodies. Then
fearing the ne\\'S might be carried to the other Indians, he went the
next day to two cabins, fourteen miles up the creek, where he found
one woman and two girls, with one child. These he killed, and
putting their bodies into the cabin, he burned it. That he (Hlythe)
sent four men up the creek, who reported that they had found the
cabins burned, and the remains of the limbs of the Indians in the
ashes. The scene of the latter deed was on the run that enters the
creek at Middleburg, which goes by the name of Stump's run to this
1768.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 25
day. Stump and his companion, Iron-Cutter, were arrested at
Gabriel's, and taken to Carlisle jail. They were forcibly rescued on
the 29th, were concealed about Fort Augusta a few days, and then
fled the country. Tradition has it, that Stump died in Virginia,
many years afterwards.
For William Blythe*s services in this matter, he received the two
tracts of land which were surveyed on applications in the names of
his daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, containing, together, six
hundred and forty acres, lying immediately south of White Deer
creek, whither he removed during the year, and was, therefore, one
of the first settlers of Buffalo Valley after the purchase. He was an
Indian trader at Shippensburg in 1748, and a lieutenant in the
French war, 1758.
His cabin stood on Red-Bank run, near the river, on the Eliza-
beth Blythe tract, below the late Samuel Henderson's house. Her
application of 3d April, 1 769, describes it as including an old Indian
fort and a settlement begun by her. William Blythe lived to be a
very old man. Roley McCorley informed me he knew him well,
and that he was a tall, raw-boned man, and, in latter years, quite
blind.
His daughter Margaret married Captain John Reed, who had
commanded the " Paxton Boys." Her tract was patented to Cap-
tain Reed in 1774. Her children by Captain Reed were William,
(father of James Reed, who still resides near Hartleton, and grand-
father of Doctor Uriah Reed, of Jersey Shore, and of Robert Reed,
now of Clearfield, Pennsylvania,) James, who moved west, and
Elizabeth, who married John Armstrong. Captain Reed died before
1778, and, with *'the Runaway** of that year, the Reeds went to
Cumberland county. William Reed's family remained there until
some years after, when he came up and settled in Hartley township.
Captain Reed's widow married Captain Charles Gillespie, an officer
of the Revolution, and raised a second family — Edward Gillespie,
Susanna, (married to Arthur Thomas,) Eleanor, Charles, junior,
Thomas, and John. By a division of the place, the lower half, one
hundred and seventy-six acres, fell to Charles Gillespie and wife, the
upper to the Reeds, who conveyed it, on the 6th of May, 1796, to
Gillespie and wife. The Gillespies all went west, except Edward,
who hung himself, many years ago, at the old homestead, which
2t ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1768.
passed into the hands of the late Daniel Ludwig, Esquire. Marga-
ret Blythe survived the fortunes of her second family, and took
refuge with her first husband's children. She died at her son's, Wil-
liam Reed, in Hartley township, and her remains were interred in
the graveyard at Kester's school-house.
Elizabeth Blythe married Doctor Joseph Eakers, who had been a
surgeon in the revolutionary army.* In October, 1798, they sold
the place to James Hepburn, and went West, where she died. The
Doctor returned, resumed practice, and was drowned in Muddy
run, above Milton, many years ago.
5 th November. Thomas and Richard Penn purchased from the
Six Nations, at Fort Stanwix, (now Rome, New York,) the remain-
der of the Valley whose annals we are writing. As one of the
incentives to this purchase, I may state that, as early as the year
1764, the officers of the first and second battalions who served under
Colonel Bouquet, made an agreement with each other, in writing,
at Bedf6rd, ** that they would apply to the Proprietaries for a tract
of land sufficiently extensive and conveniently situated, whereon to
erect a comjpact and defensible town ; and, also, to accommodate
each of us with a reasonable and commodious plantation ; which
land and lots of ground, if obtained, we do agree shall be propor-
tionably divided, according to our several ranks and subscriptions,**
&c. Signed by Lieutenant Colonels Turbutt Francis and Asher
Clayton, Major John P. deHaas, Captains Jacob Kern, John Proc-
ter, James Hendricks, John Brady, William Piper, Timothy Green,
Samuel Hunter ; Henry Watson, adjutant first battalion ; Conrad
Bucher, adjutant second battalion; William Plunket and James
Irvine, captains ; Lieutenant Daniel Hunsicker \ Ensigns McMeen
and Piper, ^/tf/. They appointed Colonel Francis, Captain Irvine,
&c., commissioners to act for all the officers. These commissioners
made an application to the Proprietaries on the 30th of April, 1765,
in which they proposed to embody themselves in a compact settle-
ment, on some good land, at some distance from the inhabited part
of the Province, where, by their industry, they might procure a
comfortable subsistence for themselves, and by their arms, union,
and increase, become a powerful barrier to the Province. They
*In a petition to the Executive Connoilf dated February 15, 1779, he states that
he had been a long time 8urgeon*i mate in the hospital department.
1789.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO YALLEY, 27
further represented that the land already purchased did not afford
any situation convenient for their purpose ; but the confluence of
the two branches of the Susquehanna at Shamokin did, and they,
therefore, prayed the Proprietaries to make the purchase, and make
them a grant of forty thousand acres of arable land on the We^t
Branch of the Susquehanna. Lieutenant Thomas Wiggins and En-
sign J. Foster, who were absent from Bedford when the agreement
was signed, were subsequently admitted into the association. The
minutes of the association are published in full in the first volume
of the Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
-«••>
1769.
Officials — First Survets in the Valley — John Ewino, et al, — Officers'
Sl'rveys — Original Settlers.
|OVERNOR, JOHN PENN. Representative of Berks,
Edward Biddle; Sheriff, Jacob Shoemaker.
Representatives of Cumberland, William Allen and
John Montgomery; Sheriff, David Hoge; Prothono-
tary, Hermanns Alricks.
On the 3d of February, the commissioners of the officers of the
first and second battalions met at the Governor's, and obtained an
order allowing them to take up twenty-four thousand acres, to be
divided among them in distinct surveys, on the waters of the West
Branch of the Susquehanna, each three hundred acres to be seated
with a family within two years from the time of survey, paying jQ^
sterling per hundred, and one penny per acre, &c. The names of
the officers in whose favor the order of survey issued were Colonel
Francis, Major deHaas, Captains Irvine, Plunket, Hunter, Kern,
Green, Houssegger, Sems, Hendricks, Brady, Piper, Bucher, Lieu-
tenants, Stewart, Wiggins, Hays, Nice, Hunsicker, Askey, McAl-
28 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1769.
lister, Ensigns Piper, McMeen, Morrow, Steine. and Foster; and
the order signed by John Lukens, surveyor general, and directed to
William Scull and William Maclay.
By advertisement, dated the 23d of February, the land office was to
open to receive applications for lands in the ''New Purchase,*' on
the 3d of April. **So long a day was fixed to give the back in-
habitants time to repair to the office." Meanwhile surveys were
made on special orders for the Proprietaries or their friends.
On the 1 8th of February, William Maclay made the first survey
in person on the west side of the river. His field notes are yet pre-
served among the records of the deputy surveyor's office of Union
county. He began at a black oak on the river, afterwards the south-
east corner of the Richard Manning tract, and ran S. 60° W. 70,
W. 212, S. 45° W. 755, S. 49^ E. 295, to the black oak or Spanish
oak on the river, on the line of the purchase or Gabriel's land; thence
up the river N. 36° E. 51, N. 45° E. 233 J4, N. 39° E. 462, and N.
26^° E. 220, to the place of beginning. He says this survey is of
land above George Gabriel's, for which Andrew Allen has a warrant,
and on which Charles Willing intends an old right of five hun-
dred acres, ** neither of which are in my hands yet." The next day,
Sunday, the 19th, he says he received from Colonel Francis the
Charles Willing location. The caveat y AVilling vs, Allen, was de-
termined on the 2 1 St of December, 1772, by the board of property.
Present, Mr. Tilghman, Hockley, Physick, and Lukens. "That the
location on the warrant of Charles Willing (which bore date the 24th
December, 1768) is such an appropriation of five hundred acres
and allowance, that it was not liable to the Proprietaries' warrant,"
and they directed the surveyor general to divide the land by a line
N. 49^ W. from the river, so as to leave ^\q hundred acres of the
lower end to be returned for Willing. This division line is about
where the present road running west from Hettrick's store, in Mon-
roe township, Snyder county, is laid.
The distance of the river line of the John Cox survey, (which in-
cluded Gabriel's settlement,) from the mouth of Penn's creek to the
Indian line, was two hundred and ninty-two perches; of the Richard
Willing, from the black oak or Spanish oak, marked by Gabriel and
the Indians, to a white oak, which stood on the river bank near Het-
trick's store, was two hundred and ninty-five and one half jxTches.
I7fl9.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 2g
The Andrew Allen reached thence six hundred and seventy-one
perches, to a black oak which stood below the Sunbury ferry, nearly
opposite the old tavern. The Richard Manning survey (made in
1 7 70) extended up one hundred and fifty perches to a maple, where
began the John Galloway, which ran up three hundred and forty-
eight perches, to the confluence of the West Branch. I will here
add, as having interest upon the question of the location of Fort
Augusta, that a topographical survey found among the same papers
of this date, has a station on the mouth of the little stream that enters
the river below the preseqt bridge. The course to the main point is
N. 27O E. and S. 53)4 ° E. to the '* redoubt at Fort Augusta."
The survey next above the '* Galloway,'* is the Daniel Hoffman,
(181 4,) extending one hundred and eighteen perches; then comes
the Joshua McAfee, (the John Mason place,) surveyed in 1771,
extending up sixty-eight perches, and we are in Buffalo Valley.
2 2d February, the Reverend John Ewing's survey was made;
the first in the Valley. It extends from the mouth of Buffalo creek,
six hundred and seventy-five perches, to a walnut that formerly
stood on Doctor Dougal's line. Mr. Maclay's starting point for
this survey was sixty or seventy rods above the present site of the
iron bridge across Buffalo creek. This survey contained eleven hun-
dred and fifty acres.
24th February, Mr. Maclay surveyed the Bremmer tract for
John Penn. He notes in his field-book the fine spring at late An-
drew Wolfe's, the one on the Cameron farm, and the one at Ellis
Brown's, and leaves out '*the pine barrens," as he calls the present
Linn place. This tract contained one thousand four hundred and
thirty-four acres, and was called the '* fiddler's tract," tradition said,
because given a fiddler for one night's performance on the violin.
Bremmer was a music dealer in the Strand, London, and was, per-
haps, a fiddler by occupation.
28th February, the site of Lewisburg was surveyed for the Pro-
prietaries, by Mr. Maclay, commencing at a white oak, at the
present Strohecker's landing. At sixty-eight perches he notes the
spring now belonging to the University grounds. This line he makes
one mile long, to the mouth of Buffalo creek ; he then ran up the
creek to a hickory that stood where the present road reaches the
creek at the iron bridge ; thence he ran due south, two hundred and
JO ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17«9.
X . . .
eight perches, to a pine, the stump of which was dug up when the
railroad excavation was made north of the Eighth Street school-build-
ing ; (it stood some eight feet inside of Jacob Derr's fence ;) thence
he ran S. 50° E., two hundred and ninety-eight perches, to the river.
Several of the latter line trees stand near the cemetery. These lines
now mark the limits of the borough, with the exception of the Jacob
Spidler place, which was taken out of the borough many years ago
by act of the Legislatiu-e.
In the latter part of February many of the officers of the first and
second battalions met at Fort Augusta, and agreed to take the land
upon the terms proposed by the Proprietaries, and that one of the
tracts should be surveyed on the West Branch, adjoining Montour's
place, (Chillisquaque creek,) and one in Buffalo Valley. In order to
expedite business, it was agreed that Captains Plunket, Brady,
Piper, and Lieutenant Askey, should go along with Mr. Maclay to
Buffalo Valley, and Captains Hunter and Irvine with Mr. Scull, to
direct the survey in the Forks.
On the ist, 2d, and 3d of March, Samuel Maclay, for William, ran
out the officers* survey. He commenced at a white oak on now
William Spotts* land, at the east of the Limestone ridge, and ran
west and south-west to the east line of what is now William Young's
land, in Lewis township. The western line he ran N. 318 to Buffalo
creek ; thence he ran north of the present turnpike, until he crossed
its site a little east of Vicksburg, and came back to a white' oak, yet
standing, one hundred and twenty-five rods east of where Salem
church is now ; thence he ran south to an elm on Turtle creek, and
west and south-west to the place of beginning. This survey em-
braced the heart of Buffalo Valley, and, as their minutes say, ** was
made without opposition ;" and the officers returned to Fort Augusta,
held a meeting, and determined that the third tract of eight thou-
sand acres should be surveyed on Bald Eagle creek. Captains
Hunter, Brady, and Piper were appointed to over-see that survey,
to be made by Charles Lukens. The record says that Colonel
Francis, Doctor Plunket, and Major deHaas, furnished the stores
on the present occasion.
i6ih May, The officers met at Harris* Ferry. Messrs. Maclay,
Scull, and Lukens laid before them the drafts of their respective sur-
veys. Mr. Maclay reported the tract surveyed by him in Buffalo
I7fl9.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 31
Valley contained eight thousand acres ; Mr. Scull that in the Forks,
six thousand and ninety-six, which left nine thousand nine hundred
and four for Bald Eagle creek, and Mr. Lukens* survey was several
thousand acres short of the quantity. They agreed then that Colonel
Francis should receive his share, two thousand seven hundred and
seventy-five acres, surveyed to him in one tract, adjoining the tract
purchased by him of Montour. Colonel Francis* tract accordingly
extended from Chillisquaque creek down to and included Northum-
berland point. Boyd and Wilson purchased of him, and erected
the mill at the mouth of Chillisquaque creek, in 1791, and John
Lowdon bought the site of Northumberland town from Colonel
Francis, and it was patented to his wife, Sarah Lowdon, 7th July,
1770. Same day, i6th of May, lots were drawn for the choice of
lands. Captain Hendricks, having won the first choice, took the
eastern end of Buffalo Valley survey, now the Zellers, Aurands, &c.,
farms. Captain William Plunket then chose the Dreisbach place,
site of the church, &c. Captain Brady the Maclay place afterwards,
now Joseph Green's, William Cameron, Esquire's, &c. Captain
Kern next took the site of Vicksburg. Lieutenant Doctor Thomas
Wiggins got three hundred and thirty-nine acres. Doctor Wiggins
resided in Lower Paxton township, now Dauphin county. By his
will, proved August 31, 1798, he devised to his brother, John Wig-
gins, his land in Northumberland county ; and by the will of John
Wiggins, second, proved November 30, he devises it to John and
James Wiggins Simonton, each one hundred and ten acres. Hon-
orable John W. Simonton many years associate judge of Union
county, still owns this military fief. Reverend Captain Conrad
Bucher secured the tract now owned by the Pontius's; Captain
Timothy Green the site of the Rockey mill ; Lieutenant Askey the
site of Mifflinburg ; Captain Irvine the place so long owned by the
Kleckners ; Lieutenant Stewart the old Foster place ; and Lieuten-
ant McAllister the old John Hayes place. Captains Plunket and
Brady superintended the running of the division lines, which was
accomplished by Samuel Maclay, on the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th
of May.
The John Ewing survey was made on the 3d of March, extend-
ing from the east line of the officers' survey, down Turtle creek, to
32 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1769
the Gundy farm. These are the leading surveys, run with astonish-
ing accuracy, and well marked all around.
The John Harris surveys, from Jacob M. Shively*s, near White
spring, up to and including Esquire Lincoln's farm, were also upon
special warrants, before the opening of the land office. They were
made on the 23d of February. The walnut, the beginning point,
stood on Penn's creek, below the mouth of White Spring run.
John Harris had bought, as stated before, the improvement made
by Turner in 1755. He also owned the Edward Lee, the White
Spring tract, the improvement title of which also dated back to
1755 i ^^^^ re-surveyed, however, by Mr. Maclay, in February, 1 769.
He was the father-in-law of William Maclay, and was favored by
the Proprietaries in consequence of his services with the Indians.
On the 3d of April the land office was opened, and a great crowd
attended. Numerous applications or locations, as they were called,
were received for the same spots of land, from different* persons,
under various or similar descriptions. The method taken to decide
the preference was to put them all into a trunk, and after mixing them
well together, an indifferent person drew them out, and they were
numbered in the order of drawing, priority thus being determined
by lottery. To illustrate by example: there were numerous applica-
tions for the old Muncy town or Shikellimy's town tract. Michael
Weyland's was the thirty-second application drawn, and so numbered,
and put down on the list. Any subsequent application descriptive of
the same locality was, when opened and read, laid aside. Jacob
Weyland's application for land, '*on a run of water adjoining
Michael Weyland's at Shikellimy's town," was the sixth drawn. John
Grove now owns part of that warrantee tract. Dietrick Rees' appli-
cation for land, *'on a run below Dog run, adjoining land of Lud-
wig Derr, in Walnut bottom," came out the eighth. It embraces
New Columbia, and the land north and west of it. Derr seems to
have marked out a claim for himself, near New Columbia, before
the drawing, which he failed to get.
In August, the greater part of the surveys on the north side of Buf-
falo creek were made, from Colonel Slifer's place up to Farmersville,
together with most of the surveys in Buffalo and the Lowdon sur-
veys in West Buffalo. Those along the river, down to Turtle creek,
also in August. From thence to the county line below, in October.
17».] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 33
The surveys from Doctor Dougal's place up to the mouth of White
Deer creek, along the river, were made by Charles Lukens, in October.
He speaks in his field notes of Ludwig Derr being with him. Along
Penn's creek, above and including the mouth of Switzer run, the sur-
veys were made in August. In November, William Maclay made sur-
veys of some of the best land in the Valley, including Ray*s church,
John and Isaac Reish's land, in which he was interested. Colonel
Kelly's tracts were also surveyed in August. In December, Samuel
Maclay surveyed the lands in Dry valley, now owned by Isaac Eyer,
David Gross, &c.
The settlers this year, as far as I can ascertain them, were John Lee,
at the spring near the stone barn at Winfield; John Beatty, at the
spring near New Berlin; Jacob Grozean, near Hoffa*s mill; Barney
Parson, at the old Iddings place; John Wilson,* at Jenkin's mill;
Adam Haines, on the McCorley place. White Deer. William Blyth^'s
cabin is marked on a survey made 24th October, as standing twenty-
five rods from the river, on the little run above the Ard place. Joseph
Mc]^ughlin had an improvement on White Deer creek, west of
Blythe's, and one Bennett had a cabin on White Deer creek, about one
mile above the cotton factory, ^hn Fisher took up the place now
Imown as Datesman's, West Milton, and settled upon it. Michael
Weyland the George F. Miller place. William ^xdstrong lived
where the road comes out to the old ferry, below New Columbia.
James Parr commenced an improvement on the same tract, a .little
above, and they agreed to divide the land, Armstrong to fill up his
application by taking more land in the rear. In doing so,, he en-
croached on the Earnest Burke, a tract belonging to Hawkins Boone.
Hence a law suit reported in 2 Binn., 55.
* John Wilson died. In 1774. He was the father of Thomas Wilson, afterwards a
prominent eltlien of Erie county, and of Mrs. David Aiead, (of MeadTUle.) ^anford^a
Erie, page 220.
8
irro.
Early Scbvets — Settlers from Paxton — Scull's Map.
lOHN PENN. Governor. Officials the same as in 1769.
1 May 21, Turbutt Francis, Esquire, appointed Prothon-
otary of Cumberland county, vice H. Alricks, resigned.
The following notices of settlers are derived from old
conveyances and notes of surveyors :
.\s early as the 28th of March, John Buchanan and his father re-
sided on the Richard Edwards tract, where Stoltzfus now lives. By
a lease, dated that day, he agreed with Thomas Leramon and Sarah,
his wife, to build a log house, eighteen by twenty, thereon, clear and
fence ten acres of field, .two of meadow, plant ten apple and twenty
cherry trees, &c.
'Jacob :F«aught bought of C^tain Timothy Green two hundred
and sixteen acres at the mouth of Cedar run, including the forks of
Buffalo creek, the Rockey mill site, and moved there. 23d March,
James Wilson surveyed the George Palmer tract, embracing Win-
field, for John Lee. He speaks of commencing at Lee's spring,
and running S. 40°, E. 53, to an ash at the river, and thence, by
the back side of Lee's fields, N. 40° W. This explains the comer
left out of the Craig survey below, and shows that Lee had cleared
the fields where Thomas Pursel now lives as early as the 4th of
October, 1769, when Craig's survey was made. The first regular
clearing, perhaps, in the Valley, and its exact locality is thus iden-
tified. In May, Wilson surveyed the addition to David Moore,
along Buffalo creek, now A. J. Rishel's, and speaks of Hans Fleming
'3^€.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, jj
^i Aiding in there. On the 12th of May, he surveyed the Thomas
^i-itherland place in Dry valley, where Emerick's family was after-
"^^'srds captured. He says '' this land Robert King has bought,** indi-
^^-cating the residence of the first constable of Buffalo township. 1 7th
^lay he surveyed the John Umstead tract, on Stony run, which
Empties into Buffalo creek, east of the mouth of Rapid run. On
t:lie 1 8th, the Peter Horning, where Esquire Sheckler now lives.
TThis land was afterwards in litigation between Christopher Johnston
o.nd Matthew Irwin for over thirty years. His field notes explain
the origin of the trouble. He commenced at an ash, (which stood
in the road afterwards laid out, nearly in front of Esquire Sheckler*s
liouse,) in the line of the eight hundred tract made for Foster and
^ees; thence ran north 168, to a black oak of same, (this distance
ivas found by subsequent surveys to be one hundred and eighty-two
perches;) and thence, by an old Indian cabin, W. 74 to a maple;
and thence, by a ridge, crossing a run at seventy-two perches, N.
78 to a hickory, west 122 to a chestnut oak, and by a ridge S. 138
to a Spanish oak, E. 80 to a white oak, and by a ridge S. 122 to a
white oak, (subsequent surveys made this distance 135.) *' I had set
the course east from this white oak, and at 54 I intersected a line
of Doctor Plunket's, made by Samuel Maclay, which I found ran
north and south. The distance between two black oak corners was
between sixty and seventy perches, where, I made a halt, and left
open the line between white oak and ash beginning." Leaving this
line open, made the difficulty, the white oak having disappeared.
On 25th of September, he surveyed for John Lee the small thirty-
eight acre tract, at Strohecker's landing. He says he began at the
white oak of the survey Ludwig Derr /iv^s on ; thence ran N. 50°,
W. 56, &c., showing that Derr then lived on the site of Lewisburg.
I found Lee's receipt for the purchase money among Youngman and
Wallers* papers, who lately owned the place where Lee was killed
by the Indians.
Michael Pfoutz was Wilson's chain-carrier.
Colonel John Kelly at this time lived on the place where he died,
as appears by Mr. Wilson's notes.
In an assessment for the year 1 770, of Paxton township, now Dau-
phin county, occur the names of Robert Clark, Walter Clark, Robert
Fruit, William Maclay, Matthew Smith, William Plunket, George
j6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1771.
Overraeier, Michael Troy, William Clark, the four last named marked
inmates, indicating either a widower or unmarried man; and in
Middletown we find the name of Albright Swineford, all prominent
in the subsequent annals.
William Scull's map of date April 4, 1770, has Mahantango creek,
Middle creek, Penn*s creek. Turtle, Buffalo, and White Deer creeks
laid down, with their respective names. Reed's residence is marked
half-way between Mahantango and Penn's. Gabriel's, now Selins-
grove, is marked ** Cox's borough." Nittany and Jack's mountains
are on, with these respective names, but he has a range of mountains
running up the river from the mouth of Buffalo creek.
<4tt^
irri.
Great Flood — Penn Township Settlers — Georoe Gabriel — First
Mills Built — Dreisbach's Church — Michael Wkyland.
ICHARD PENN, Lieutenant Governor from October 16.
Exiward Biddle and Henry Christ, Representatives of
Berks county; Sheriff", George Nagle. William Allen
and John Montgomery, Representatives of Cumberland ;
Sheriff", Ephraim Blaine.
9th March, the Susquehanna river, Bald Eagle creek up to Spring
creek, and Penn's creek, for twenty miles above its mouth, were
declared public highways. John Lowdon was appointed one of the
commissioners for making them navigable, i Smith's Laws, 324.
On the same day, the officers of the first and second battalions
held another meeting. Charles Lukens reported that the whole
tract surveyed by him on Bald Eagle creek contained only eight
thousanil three hundred and eighty acres, which is fifteen hundred
and twenty-four acres less than the quantity allowed them. He
divided the Bald Eagle tract into twenty shares, the last of which
1771.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 37
Lieutenant Askey got ; so that Lieutenant McAllister, Ensign Piper,
Captain Sems, and Captain Kern yet lacked their shares. Colonel
Francis then said that a grant might be obtained for the tract of
land in Buffalo Valley formerly intended to be located by Captain
Plunket, and since surveyed for the Proprietaries, containing one
thousand and five acres. Piper was, therefore, given lot No. 6, on
Bald Eagle, surveyed for Ensign Morrow, who was excluded from
the grant ty the Penns, because he was of the party that rescued
Stump and Iron-Cutter, the murderers of the Indians on Middle
creek ; Captain Kern, two hundred and eighty-seven acres, late the
Chamberlain mill tract, in Kelly, now Hoffa's ; Lieutenant McAl-
lister, two hundred and ninety acres, late Howard farm, adjoining
the above ; and Colonel Francis, for Captain Sems, five hundred
and twenty-seven and one half acres, adjoining. Colonel Francis
sold the latter tract to William Linn, of Lurgan township, Franklin
county, who divided it among his children. His grandson, W. T.
Linn, still owns his father's share.
Loskiel mentions that in the spring of this year there was a great
flood in the Susquehanna, which compelled the Indians at Wyoming
to leave their houses, and take to the hills, where they remained
four days.
The assessment of Penn's township contains this year the names
of the following additional settlers : Frederick Albright, Thomas
Allen, Tobias Bickle, Henry Bower, Robert Boyd, Tobias Bickle,
junior, Michael Beidenbaugh, William Burchard, Abraham Billman,
George Bowerman, Peter Druckenmiller, Widow Dowd, Michael
Egulph, John Foutz, George Herrold, Joseph Jacobs, Michael Kers-
tetter, Bostian Kerstetter, Andrew Moor, Jacob Myer, Robert
Moody, Edward McConnell, William Nees, John Regenbach, junior,
Michael Stoke, Michael Swingle, Harman Snyder, Michael Weaver,
George Miller, Andrew Ulsh. Freemen : Casper Snyder, Conrad
Hayslick, and Michael Foutz.
George Gabriel, no doubt, died this year, as his name disappears
from the assessment list. His obituary, or the only one I can find,
at least, is not very complimentary. On the 13th November, 1772,
at a meeting of ** the officers," Mr. Lukens and Little had a claim,
they said, for a location of three hundred acres, presented to them
by Colonel John Armstrong, which was included in the officers* sur-
S8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1771.
vey, insisting that the place now called Cedar springs, Pontius's now,
was the same to which Colonel Armstrong gave the name of Snake
spring, in 1755 ; and Mr. Ewing read a paper, said to Ix? a copy of
George Gabriel's deposition, who was wuth Colonel Armstrong when
the name was given. ''We told them that their location was extremely
vague, being for land near John Penn's creek, twelve miles south-
ward of Fort Augusta, which did not affect our claim in the least.
As to Gabriel's deposition, it is but ex parte testimony. The man
is since dead, but is well known to have been a man of infamous
character. That Colonel Armstrong, the gentleman who gave the
location, is still living, and has declared that he cannot fix upon the
spot." This claim was, no doubt, founded upon the Manor survey
of 1760.
Jacob Fought built the first mill in West Buffalo township, and,
perhaps, the first in the Valley, unless, we except Derr's, at Lewis-
burg, the exact date of the building of which I cannot ascertain,
though, probably, in 1770. The date of Fought's is fixed by an
agreement, yet on record, with George Rote, dated 14th Noveml^r,
1776. It recites that Fought built the mill in 1771, and a dam on
the south branch of the creek. Finding that insufficient, he dug a
water-course, and erected a dam to take the water from the north
branch of Buffalo creek. George Rote had purchased the adjoining
tract of Colonel deHaas, who had purchased of Ensign Foster. By
this agreement, the yearly damage to Rote's land was fixed at ^i
5^, and Fought bound himself, his heirs, and successors to pay said
sum yearly; but if the mill-dam became *'extink" or the water
ceased to do damage, the agreement was to l>e void. Marks were
to be made on a big rock, on an iron-wood, and on a white oak.
When the water reached these marks, it was to be run over the dam.
The dam on the north branch was to be three feet, and no higher.
At Fought's mill the first elections in the Valley were held.
James Wilson made numerous surveys this year: 31st May, the
William Kelly tract, on Black's run, on which Stahl, the noted wagon-
maker, lived so long; 2 2d June, Peter HerroUl and John Flack-
inger, on White Deer creek; i6th August, the Thomas Mackemiss,
beginning at a black oak, he says, where Samuel Maclay stopjxid
with the officers' line, on the west line of Cumberland county, (north
of Ray's church;) 17th September, the Joseph Updegraff, the lead-
^771.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
39
ing survey on the north branch of Buffalo creek, (Kelly's mills.)
Thomas McGuire, the elder, was then a resident of the Valley.
Hawkins Boone made this year the John Musser surveys, in White
Deer Hole valley, four miles from the river.
From a short sketch of the Dreisbach church, compiled by the late
John Schrack, Esquire, it appears there were Lutheran and German
Reformed churches organized in the Valley at this date. He speaks
of a record of baptisms, extending from 1771 to 1775. The church
'was not built, however, and worship was held in private houses.
Among the names of parents, occur those of Henry Bolender, Henry
Pontius, Christian Storms, Simon Himrod. (The latter lived in
Turbutt township. Was afterwards member of Assembly. The
family removed to near Waterford, Erie county, in 1 798.) Leonard
AVelker, Philip Stover, Christian Biehl, Yost Derr, Christian Ewig,
Stephen Duchman, and Henry Bickel, afterwards killed by the
Indians.
During this year, Daniel Nargong made an improvement on Dog
run, near the site of New Columbia. He afterwards took up a tract
higher up the run. His daughters married Nicholas and Jacob
Welch, whose family owned the place within a few years back, and,
perhaps, do still.
In November, 1771, Walter Clark, of Paxton township, bought
the one thousand one hundred and fifty acres, surveyed to Reverend
John Ewing, in trust for himself, Robert Fruit, William Gray,
Robert Clark, and William Clark, all of the same township. They
divided it into six tracts, agreed each to take one sixth, and sell the
remaining tract, which they did to Ludwig Derr, 31st July, 1773.
Walter Clark settled on the place now owned by Honorable Eli
Slifer, William Gray where Major Paul Geddes now lives, Robert
Fruit on the Heinly place, William Clark on the place now owned
by M. H. Taggart, and Robert on what is now Judge Hummel's
farm. Walter Clark sold to Joseph Musser in 1802, and moved to
Mercer county, where his family became prominent. His son John
was a member of the Legislature from that county. Captain Gray,
afterwards an officer in the Revolution, lived and died on his place.
He was ancestor of Dunlaps's, Hayes, Hutchinsons, Hudsons, Wal-
laces, W. G. Williams, (of Bellefonte,) &c. Richard Fruit sold out
to Henry Hursh in 181 2, and moved to Derry, Northumberland
40 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1772.
county. Robert and William Clark died on their respective places.
Among the deaths this year occurred that of Michael Weyland,
leaving a widow, Magdalena, and nine children, Michael, junior,
Jacob, George, John, Samuel, Mary, (married to Peter Swartz,
junior,) Margaret, (to Christian Moyer,) Catherine, and Magdalena.
He was buried on the place, in an old grave-yard there. Colonel
James Moore told me it was still in existence when his father lived
there, a little piece up the road running from the river.
•<•»>
i^r^.
Northumberland County Erected — Officials — Boundaries of Town-
ships— SuNBURY Laid Out — First Roads — Connecticut Claim —
William Speddy — Ludwig Derr — Deaths.
ICHARD PENN, Lieutenant Governor. Representative
in Assembly, Samuel Hunter. George Nagel, Sheriff of
Berks and Northumberland.
Additional residents in Penn*s township: Abraham
Clements, Michael Hawn, Henry Miser, George Miller, John Swartz,
Melchior Stock, Adam StefTy, Simon Scouden, widow of Andrew
Moore, Benjamin Ewig, Conrad Hafflich, John Reber. The first
assessments of Penn's and Buffalo, from the organization of the
county down to 1 775, seem to have been lost when the records were
forwarded to Paxton, during the great runaway. List of settlers
cannot, therefore, be given for the three years intervening.
2 1st March, Northumberland county was erected out of parts of
Berks, Bedford, Lancaster, Cumberland, and Northampton, by the
following bounds: Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango creek,
up the south side, to the head of Robert Meteer's spring, (in West
Perry, near Mr. Winey's, sometimesL miscalled Montour's spring ;)
thence west by north, to the top of Tussey*s mountain ; thence along
iT72.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
summit to the little Juniata; thence up the east side of the main
l>Tanch, to the head thereof; thence north to the line of Berks
c^ounty ; thence north-west, along the same line, to the extremity of
tlie Province ; thence east, along the north boundary, to a point due
x^orth of the most northern part of Great swamp, (the numerous
ponds in the upper end of Luzerne county are here referred to ;)
thence south to the most southern point of said swamp ; thence, with
93L straight line, to the head of Lehigh ; thence down the creek so far
that a line run west south-west will strike the forks of- Mahantango
c:reek, where Pine creek falls into the same, at the place called
Spread Eagle, (now Klingerstown,) on the east side of the Susque-
lianna; thence down the south side of the creek to the river; thence
across the river to the beginning.
The county, therefore, extended as far west as Lake Erie, the
liead of Lehigh on the east, (Pike county,) New York State on the
north, and the mouth of Mahantango creek on the south. Fort
Augusta was fixed as the place of election, and the county to be en-
titled to one Representative. The Governor was to nominate a
competent number of justices, any three of whom could hold the
several courts on the fourth Tuesday of February, May, August, and
November, at Fort Augusta, until a court-house should be built.
William Maclay, John Lowdon, Samuel Hunter, Joseph Wallis, and
Robert Moodie were appointed trustees to purchase a piece of
ground on which the court-house was to be erected, subject to the
Governor's approval. Thomas Lemmon was made collector of
excise. Joshua Elder, James Potter, Jesse Lukens, and William
Scull were appointed to run the boundary line.
Officials.
William Plunket, Turbutt Francis, Samuel Hunter, James Potter,
William Maclay, John Lowdon, Thomas Lemmon, Ellis Hughes,
and Benjamin Weiser confirmed as justices in Council, and William
Maclay, prothonotary and clerk of the several courts, March 24.
The first county commissioners tvere William Gray, Thomas
Hewitt, and John Weitzel. November 23, Casi)er Reed, of Penn's,
was sworn in as county commissioner ; Alexander Hunter, county
treasurer; Walter Clark, Jonathan Lodge, Peter Hosterman, James
42 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \ 1772.
Harrison, Nicholas Miller, Jacob Heverling, and Samuel Weiser,
assessors.
9th April, the first court, which was a private sessions of the peace,
William Plunket presiding, James Potter and John Lowdon assist-
ing, was held. The county was divided into seven townships :
Penn*s, Augusta, Turbutt, Buffalo; Bald Eagle, Muncy, and Wyo-
ming. Our annals relate only to Buffalo and Penn's.
The boundary of Buffalo commenced at the mouth of Penn*s
creek, at thtf head of the Isle of Que ; thence up the same to the
forks, (a few miles south of Millheim, Centre county;) thence by a
north line to the West Branch, (this struck the river at the mouth of
Bald Eagle creek, a mile below Lock Haven ;) thence down the
river to the place of beginning. Thus embracing all of Union, a
large part of Snyder and Centre, and a great part of Lycoming
counties, as now constituted. Robert King was the first constable.
The boundary of Penn's, before that in Cuml)erland county, be-
gan at the mouth of Mahantango creek ; thence, by the county line,
to Meteer's spring; thence, with the same line, to the top of Tussey*s
mountain; thence, along the top thereof, easterly, to Penn*s creek;
thence down the creek to its mouth ; thence down the river to the
place of beginning. This boundary ran along the present line of
Snyder county; thence to the north line of Mifflin county, at the
corner of the present townships of Jackson and Brown, and em-
braced part of Brown, nearly all of Armagh and Decatur town-
ships, in Mifflin, the southern portions of Hartley and Ixivvis, and
all the present county of Snyder, except Monroe township.
The first court of common pleas was held on the fourth Tuesday
of May, before Justices William Plunket, Samuel Hunter, Caleb
Grayson, Thomas Lemmon, and Robert Moodie. The commission
of William Maclay, prothonotary, was read, and the following mem-
bers of the bar sworn in: James Wilson, of York, (a signer of the
Declaration of Independence and Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States,) then residing at York ; Robert Magaw,
of Carlisle, (afterwards colonel of the Sixth Pennsylvania and defender
of Fort Washington ;) Edward Burd, district attorney ; Christian
Hucks^ and George North. After examination, James Potts, Charles
*■ Afterwards the Tory, Captain Hncks, of Tarleton^s dragoons, killed In South
Carolina, In 1780-81.— Qraydon Memoirs, page 270.
^772.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 43
^tedman, and Andrew Robinson. Tavern keepers applying for
'^cense were George Wolf, (below the Northumberland bridge,) Mar-
gin Trester of Buffalo, and Martin Cost. The number of suits
brought to August term was thirty-three. No. i was James Patton
'^s, James Garley — Magaw for plaintiff, Wilson for defendant. Of
^he first grand jurors were Captain John Brady, foreman, George
Overmeier, John Rearick, Peter Leonard, William Gray, Ludwig
I>err, Andrew Hafer, Hawkins Boone, James Park, and John Walk-
er, all of Buffalo Valley.
Sunbury.
In a letter, dated June 2, 1772, Mr. Tilghman, Secretary of the
X^nd Office, writes to William Maclay : ** Mr. Lukens goes to lay out
the town, agreeably to instructions. You are joined with him in
the work. You are to treat with Mr. Lowdon, and if his title be
good, and he will take a sum named in the instructions, (^200,)
the town is to be laid out in the Forks ; otherwise on the fort side.
Wallis and Haines have said they had a right, and they must relin-
quish it. As Lowdon's application was in his wife's name, she must
convey. As putting the town in the forks is a concession against
the interest of the Proprietaries to accommodate the people, if the
place cannot be clear of claims, the town must be on the other side."
Some of the difficulties were insuperable, for the instructions to
treat with Lowdon for three hundred and thirty acres, or there-
abouts, situated near the point of the Forks, are stricken oiit of the
rough draft, and on the i6th of June, the Governor and his Coun-
cil issued an order to the Surveyor General, John Lukens, to repair
to Fort Augusta, and, with the assistance of William Maclay, lay out
a town for the county of Northumberland, to be called by the name
of Sunbury, at the most commodious place between the forks of the
river and the mouth of Shamokiti creek. Main street to be eighty
feet wide, the others sixty, the lanes and alleys twenty, &c. The
town was accordingly laid out in June, 1772. On the 31st of Au-
gust, William Maclay writes, that the noise about the point town is
already greatly quieted, and the people begin to think Sunbury the
best situation.
44 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1772.
The Ferry,
August 14th, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, by letters patent,
granted to Robert King, his executors and assigns, the privilege of
keeping a ferry, over the main branch of the Susquehanna at Sun-
bury. (King conveyed his right to Adam Heverling, November 30*
1773; Heverling to Christopher Gettig, April 17, 1775 ; Gettig to
Abraham Dewitt, October 8, 1779 ; Eleanor Dewitt, alias Coldern,
administratrix of Dewitt!, to John Lyon, October 25, 1787 ; and on
the 2d of November, 1787, John Lyon presented a petition to the
Assembly for the privilege for a term of years, which was granted.)
The first criminal case was tried at August sessions, King vs. John
Williams, for larceny — Robert Fruit and Robert Clark were on the
jury. He was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of ^,^5 , to
receive twenty-one lashes on his bare back, and to be committed Xo
the magazine of the fort until the sentence was complied with.
Thomas Hartley, (lieutenant colonel of Eleventh Pennsylvania
regiment,) Casper Weitzel, Andrew Ross, and James Whitehead
were sworn in as attorneys, at August term. Hawkins Boone and
Thomas Sutherland had suits at this term — Weitzel for Boone, Sted-
man for Sutherland ; also, Michael Regor vs. William Blythe. The
latter suit referred to Samuel Maclay, John Brady, and George
Wolfe, to settle. George Nagel, sheriff of Berks, acted as sheriff until
Colonel William Cooke was commissioned, in October, the first
sheriff of Northumberland county.
The first road up the river from Fort Augusta was reported by
the viewers, Richard Malone, Marcus Huling, John Robb, and
Alexander Stephens, in October :
** To begin at the end of the road lately laid out from the head
of the Schuylkill to Fort Augusta ; thence north-east, one hundred
and sixty perches, to the fording ; thence across the North Branch,
to a marked hickory, near the bank on the main point ; at two miles
eighty-six perches, they came to John Alexander's ; at one and a half
miles further, they crossed Chillisquaque creek ; at nearly one mile
further, they came to William Plunket's; at three miles further,
John Dougherty's ; at two miles further, Marcus Huling's ; at ten
miles, the gap in the Muncy hills ; at four miles, Muncy creek ; at
two hundred and seven rods, Wolfe's run \ four hundred and forty-
f
'772.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 43
^^o rods, crossed the run above Samuel Wallis' house ; three hundred
^n<j twenty-two rods, crossed next run above ; at four and a half
'^iles, Loyalsock creek ; at five and a half miles, Lycoming creek.*'
* otal, thirty-seven miles from Northumberland point to now New-
t>^rry, in the city of Williamsport. This road was confirmed, and
Ordered to be opened, thirty-three feet in width. The line of the
Itidian purchase was then assumed to be at Lycoming creek, after-
guards, admitted by the Indians to be at Pine creek. The order
specified the ** Indian line," as the terminus of the road.
Of the Connecticut Claim,
It will be recollected that the Connecticut people, or Yankees, as
t:hey were called by the Pennamites, claimed under their charter the
land as far south as the forty-first degree of latitude, which passes
t:hrough the county a mile or more north of Lewisburg. By the
Following memorandum^ furnished me by O. N. Worden, Esquire,
^which he found among the records of the Susquehanna Land Com-
pany, at Hartford, Connecticut, it appears that William Speddy
(the elder) was their authorized agent to take and hold possession
of land claimed by them in the Valley. '* 1771, William Speddy
voted one * selling right* in Wyoming, for previous efforts in hold-
ing possession in June, and for further intended efforts.**
The following affidavit, in the handwriting of William Maclay,
which I found among the papers of the deputy surveyor's office of
Union county, is the first notice I have of his appearance in Buffalo
Valley. It is worthy of note in this connection, that, in deeds of this
year (1772) for lands in our Valley, special warrants were common
"against the claim of the inhabitants of New England.*' It appears
(\^otes of Assembly, 1773, P^^ 49^) that in June a large band of
armed men from Connecticut appeared upon the West Branch, to
dispossess the inhabitants, and were prevented. Speddy was the
mere advanced skirmisher or picket :
''Northumberland County y ss :
'* John Scott, of Northampton county, being duly sworn on the
Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth that the night before
last, this deponent and his son and another man from Bucks
county, lay in the woods near Buffaloe creek, and in the morning a
/6 ,^\\ALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1772
certain William Speddy came to them and told them he supposed
they were travelers and looking for lands to buy; this deponent
and company answered in the affirmative. He then desired them
to take care how they purchased of Penn, unless they had likewise
New England rights ; this deponent answered that he would not
give a copper for New England rights. He said this deponent
might be mistaken in being too sure in depending on Penn's rights.
That the New England people had more right than we thought for ;
he owned that he stood by and saw Stuart shoot Ogden, and justi-
fied the action. Much more was said to nearly the same purpose
by the said Speddy, who spoke with great \-iolence, and would not
bear any contradiction to what he asserted. Sworn and subscribed
the 17 of June, 1772.'*
William Speddy 's name first appears in " a list of rioters in the
fort at Wyoming, 21st January, 1771, when Nathan Ogden was
murdered,'* to use the language of Governor John Penn. (John
Penn's proclamation offering a reward of ;i^5o for the arrest of
William Speddy, 9th February; 1771.) In Hugh Gaines' Ntuf
York Gazette of November 14, 1771, there is a piiragraphof Phila-
delphia news, dated November 4, 1771, as follows: **At the Su-
preme Court, held here on Tuesday last, William Speddy was
arraigned and tried for the murder of Lieutenant Nathan Ogden,
who was shot from the block-house at Wyoming, whilst it was in
the possession of Lazarus Stewart and company. After a long and
impartial hearing, the jury soon gave in their verdict ' not guilty.* '*
Doctor Peck, in his history of Wyoming, notices him thus: * 'An-
other of these rioters, as they were called, was William Speddy.
He was somewhat in years, and was called *Old Speddy,* but his
age could not abate the rigor of the Pennsylvania authorities, for
they kept him in close confinement in Philadelphia for more than
two years. How, where, or precisely when Speddy was captured
we are not able to say, but his final examination must have taken
place some time in the year 1771. Mrs. Myers says when her
sister Polly was two years old, and she was twelve, her mother was
desired to go to Philadelphia, as a witness in favor of Speddy, who
was to be tried for the murder of Nathan Ogden. This journey
Mrs. Bennett performed alone on horseback, a distance of one
hundred and twenty miles, most of the way through the wilderness.
iT72.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 47
When she reached Philadelphia, she found that the court had ad-
journed, and she then made a journey to Goshen, and attended to
some business. When the trial came on she was present, and her
t:estimony cleared Speddy. He was wasted away to a mere skele-
ton. When he was discharged his joy and gratitude overleaped all
lx>unds. He fell upon his knees before Mrs. Bennett, and almost
'worshiped her. * Get up, Speddy,* said she, * I have done no
more than any one ought to do for a fellow-creature.* He kissed
lier hand and bathed it with tears.** This story of ** Pennsylvania
rigor ** is reduced in dimensions from two years to probably eight
months, as no man was ever tried twice for the same murder in
Pennsylvania; and he was acquitted on the 4th of November, 1771.
Long enough, however, for this old war hawk of New England
rights, to be caged, to render him very grateful to Mrs. Bennett.
As it is said the honey bee precedes about fifty miles and heralds
the advance of the white man into the wilderness, Speddy was the
honey bee of New England civilization in Buffalo Valley.
He chose for his residence the prettiest little dale in Buffalo
Valley. It is on Turtle creek, near what is now Supplee*s (formerly
Treaster*s) mill. Jacob Brown now owns the place. In Decem-
ber, 1776, he volunteered in Captain John Clarke*s company of
Northuml:)erland county, and served during the campaign of Tren-
ton and Princeton. In 1778 he resided upon the same tract, which
was known as the George Gall tract of two hundred and sixty-two
acres. In 1780 he is taxed with the same tract, one horse, and
three cows. In 1782, in connection with John Lee and William
Storms, he was assessor of Buffalo township. His signature to the
assessment is in a full, round, beautiful hand. In 1785, his name is
dropped from the assessment books, and he disappears from our local
history. He had a son, William Speddy, junior.
J. W. Speddy, of Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, wrote me in 1870
that William Speddy, senior, was his great-grandfather, and that the
latter removed to Lost creek valley, Juniata county, and died at a
place called Speddy's Gap, near McAllisterville. H. Swartzell, Es-
quire, deputy surveyor of Mifflin county, allowed me to copy a draft
of the Speddy tract. It is the border one of the Valley surveys,
and the finger-board to the Shade mountain surveys, and, there-
fore, though dead, he yet speaks, and his name will, no doubt, be
48 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1772.
called over in court and out of court for hundreds of years yet to
come.
In April, James Wilson made a number of surveys for John Low-
don, in what is now the territory of West Buffalo. On the 15th of
May he made the leading survey in the lower end of what is now
Union township, for Daniel Rees, so many years owned by Joseph
Fearon, and now owned and occupied, in part, by Joseph Shannon.
In consequence of the suit between Bonham and William Gibbons,
referred to hereafter in connection with the capture of the Emerick
family, the Rees lines were often run and found well marked. On
his original field notes, Wilson says: **This land is situated about
two miles from John Lee's, on both sides of the path that leads to
Treaster*s.** Trester's was at the moi^th of Tuscarora creek, on
Penn*s, one mile above New Berlin, now in Jackson township, Sny-
der county.
' Ludwig Derr bought the tract on which Lewisburg now stands,
during the summer of this year, from the Reverend Richard Peters.
His mill, which is still standing,, being the front portion of Smith
& Fry*s, so many years John Brown's mill, was in existence in the
fall of this year. How long previous I cannot ascertain. Derr
bought the ** Joseph Hudnot tract," (still owned, except the part
belonging to Joseph W. Shriner, by his grand and great-grand-
children,) in June, 1772, of John Coxe, merchant, of Philadelphia,
On the 3d of October, John Aurand bought the ** Jenkin's mill "
property, on Turtle creek, and it went by the name of ** Aurand *s
mill," when he sold it to Morgan Jenkin. It is still owned by the
Jenkin's family. Doctor Harbaugh, in his ** Fathers of the German
Reformed Church," states, upon the authority of John Aurand, of
Yellow Springs, Blair county, a grandson of John Aurand, that the
latter built both flour and saw-mill at Turtle creek. Wilson, how-
ever, had some sort of a mill there as early as 1771. John Wilson
died during the year 1772, according to my researches — Miss Sand-
ford, antey says in 1774.
In the fall Robert Barber, Esquire, built the first house on the
White Springs tract of which we have any knowledge, as he recites
in a lease dated 9th August, 1773, ^^ John Scott, that he leases him
the house he had built last fall at the head of White springs for
^^a.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY?
49
'^V'en years. It was on the Exiward Lee warrantee, which Barber
^^<i purchased, in August, from Reuben Haines.
Christian Diehl (written Dale) lived on part of the Ewing tract,
X^ow Colonel SIifer*s upper farm, near the iron bridge.) The late
c>hn Beeber told me that his father's term of service was purchased
>5r Mr. Diehl fr6m the captain whose ship he came over in, and he
^^Iped Mr. Diehl clear that place in 1772, owned then by Ludwig
^^rr. Adam Beeber then returned to Philadelphia, served fiv^
rears in the army, after which he came up to Muncy, where he
J^ttled and died. Christian Diehl's grandson. Captain Christian
Oale, of Harris township. Centre county, aged sixty-six, confirms
:lie story, as a tradition of the family, in regard to Adam Beebcr's
iervice with his grandfather.
William Wilson bought of James Wilson, his father, the John
Moore warrantee. Settled there during this year. He was then
unmarried. Boarded at a house near Mortonville, whence he walked
over every day to clear his place, on which he died in 1824. His
mansion residence is now owned by Reverend Jacob Rodenbaugh.
Wendell Baker bought of Samuel Maclay the George Calhoun
tract, still owned by his descendants, in August, and moved into
the Valley from York county. Mrs. David H. Kelly and J. T.
Baker Esquire, are of his descendants.
John Lowdon settled on the Levi Shoemaker place, near MifHin-
burg, which he called ** Silver Spring," removing there from Nor-
thumberland point, where he subsequently laid out the present town
of Northumberland.
John McClung settled on the place known as **Hard Scrabble,"
in East Buffalo. In 1807 Matthias Macpherson bought that por-
tion of the McClung place, and sold off the lots.
In December occurred the first wedding in the Valley I find any
record of. Magdalena, widow of Michael Weyland, to Peter Swartz,
senior. The latter then moved upon the place described as containing
three hundred acres at Sinking spring — Shikellimy's old town. On
the 1 8th of December, Mrs. Swartz took out letters of adminiistration
upon her former husband's estate, the firet ever issued in Northum-
berland county. Her account was filed 8th September, 1774, in
which Peter Swartz joins. It has an item on the debtor side of deer
skins, accepted for a debt due the estate from Captain John Brady.
4
so yiNNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1773.
Peter Smith, who lived at White Deer Mills, (part of his old stone
house still stands, now occupied by Doctor Donowsky,) died this
fall. Jesse Lukens had the rightful tifle, and brought a suit, in
1772, against Peter, marked abated by the death of Smith, in 1773,
February. His widow held on the possession, (postea 1785.)
Thomas McKee, the Indian trader, from whom McKees* Half-
Falls gets its name, died in April, 1772.
Ml
1773
Skttlers — Roads — Buffalo Cross-Roads Church — Ejectment Ca8es.J
ICHARD PENN, acting Lieutenant Governor until
July 19. After August 30, John Penn, who was
confirmed Lieutenant Governor by the King, June 30,
i was awarded the title of Governor by the Provincial
Council.
Member of Assembly, Samuel Hunter ; Presiding Justice, William
Plunket; Prothonotary, William Maclay; Sheriff, William Cooke;
Coroner, James Murray ; County Commissioner, Casper Reed.
Officers of Buffalo: Constable, James Boveard; Supervisors,
Joseph Green and Martin Trester ; Overseers of the Poor, William
Irwin, late of Carlisle, and John Lee.
Settlers during this year : Abel Reese, on the place now owned
by John Gundy's heirs, in East Buffalo ; Joseph Sips, on the David
Henning place, in Buffalo; Philip Hoy purchased the place in
Limestone township, still owned by his descendants ; James Fleming
settled on Dale's place, opposite late Thomas Clingan's, erected a
cabin, and cleared four or five acres. He sold out to Samuel Dale.
See Gray vs. Dale, 4 Yeates, 494, for an account of their dispute
about the dividing line.
3.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
On the grand jury for May occur the names of William Irwin,
hn Foster, Peter Swartz, Abel Reese, John Gillespie, William
^>ster, William Leech, and John Thompson. Leonard Groninger
James Buchanan had a battle, which came before them. Joseph
reen became Buchanan's bail.
Christian Van Gundy recommended for license. He kept a
t stvern at the Strohecker landing, his house standing on Derr's land.
Kits remains were removed by excavation for the railroad in 1854.
William Irwin, John Kelly, Robert King, Jacob Grozean, (called
Trench Jacob,) and Ludwig Derr were appointed viewers to lay out
sa road " from the fording between Ludwig Derr*s and John Aurand's
inill through Buffalo Valley to the Narrows." They never reported,
and at May sessions, 1774, Samuel Maclay, William Irwin, Henry
Pontius, Christian Storms, and William Gray were appointed in
their stead. They reported in February, 1775. William Foster
and John Lee (first tavern at Winfield) were recommended for
license. Among the viewers to lay out the road from Great Plains
to Sunbury were James Potter, John Thompson, Joseph Green, et
aL Among the jurors were Thomas Sutherland, William Thompson,
Philip Cole, the first inhabitant of Hartleton. He was colonel of
the militia regiment of the Valley in 1776, went on a tour of duty
to Reading and Philadelphia; he left the Valley with the ''great
ranaway," 1778, and never returned. Peter Kester succeeded Cole
as tenant of Colonel Hartley, who purchased of Cole in 1 784. It
went by the name of Kester*s until Colonel Hartley laid out the
town. An indictment was found against Martin and Michael
Trester for assault and battery ; they were found guilty, and that
was all the sessions business of this year. «
Buffalo Cross-Roads Presbyterian Church.
According to Mr. Hood's account, this church was organized this
year, and James McClenachan and Samuel Allen were its first ruling
elders, the former ordained at Derry, now in Dauphin county, the
latter at Silver Spring, Cumberland county. Mr. McClenachan was
from Hanover township, Dauphin county, and came into the Valley
in April, 1773. These gentlemen continued to act as elders to
receive supplies until 1781, when the church was broken up in con-
S2 AhNALS OF BUFFALO V^iLLEY. [1778-
sequence of the country being overrun by the Indians. In 1 783
people returned, and in the same year Mr. McClenachan died, an*
as Mr. Allen had died while the people were away, it appears th
congregation were without elders until the year 1785, when Matthe
Laird, who had l)een an elder at Big Spring, came to reside in th
congregation. (Doctor Grier's manuscript sermon.)
Ejectment,
At May term, Adam Christ brought ejectment against Williai
Speddy, tenant in possession of the George Gall tract, now Sup -
plee*s mill, in East Buffalo. Speddy 's jx^ssession under his Connec-
ticut title did not avail, and he was oasted. Hartley and Burd for
Christ ; Stedman and Wilson for Sjx^ddy.
Japhet Morton also brought suit vs. Christian Storms, tenant in
possession of Captain John Brady's land, now Frederick's, adjoining
Mortonsville. Brady held it, and it was in possession of his widow
until 1783. The family lost it after her death, and Morton became
owner.
I copy, as a curiosity, a deed for a tract of land now owned by
David Heinly, in White Deer township, near New Columbia :
"I promise to deliver to Valentine Lees, his heirs or assi'gns, a
convience for fifty aciers of land adjoining Rees' grief and John
Cox, and to agine when surveyed to land belonging to Valentine
I^es, which warent was entered some time last Spring in My own
name, and for the performance I bind myself, my heirs, in the sum
of one hundred pounds, if in consecjuence of the said Lees pein me
5 pound 10 shillings of cash and one pair of lether britches to the
valy of one pound 1 1 shillings. Witness my hand this 26th day
of August, 1773.
Hawkins Boone.
Witness present : Samuel Young.
William McMurray, of Sunbury, made many surveys in the Valley
this year. The Leonard Welker, East Buffalo, nth May; Fred-
erick Deel, on Pcnn's creek, near Centreville bridge ; James Watson,
east of Wchr's tavern, on 13th; Thomas Procter, on Penn's creek,
Robert Jewel, Joseph Alston, Samuel Breck, James Barnes, ditto;
Philip Cole tract, McMurray and Grant, &c., in Hartley township.
^T74.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 53
William Black settled on Black's run, in Kelly township, and was
^ juror this year.
Extract from a manuscript journal of Richard Miles, (who died in
Centre county many years ago,) April 20, 1773 : ''Started for Sha-
xnokin, in company with James and Enos Miles, Abel Thomas, and
John Lewis," (from Radnor, Chester county.) They passed up the
river, stopping at Malone*s, Huling's, Muncy Hill, Wallis*s, Loyal-
sock, Lycoming, Pine creek, Great Island, and returned, by way of
the Narrows, down through Buffalo Valley, to Tarr*s Mill, where they
got a horse shod ; thence they went to Huling's, (Milton now ;)
thence down the river to the Fort, (Augusta.)
In June a large body of armed men from Connecticut attempted
to dispossess the inhabitants of the West Branch. This attempt was
successfully resisted by the posse of the neighborhood, only to be
renewed in 1774.
1774.
Potter Township Erected — Political Documents — Cross-Roads Church
Titzell's Mill — Ennion Williams' Journal.
|OHN PENN, Governor. Samuel Hunter, Member of
Assembly. 4th April, Robert Fruit and Thomas Hewitt
sworn as County Commissioners. William Gray elected
in October.
Officers of Buffalo : James Young, Constable ; James Park and
Michael Hessler, Supervisors, the latter lived where Crotzerville now
stands; Hawkins Boone and John Foster, Overseers. In February,
William Wilson, (grandfather of Doctor T. H.,) and Samuel Dale,
appear as jurors. Colonel Kelly was foreman in May. John
Clarke, William Hutchinson, grand jurors.
At May sessions Potter township was erected out of Penn's, Buf-
Si ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1774.
falo, and Bald Eagle. Bounded eastward by a north north-west
line from the top of Jack's mountain, by the four-mile tree on Reuben
Haines* road, in the Narrows, to the top of Nittany mountain ; thence
along the top to the end thereof, at Spring creek, on the old path ;
thence south south-east to the top of Tussey*s mountain ; thence along
the county line, to the top of Jack's mountain, and along the same
to the beginning.
To August term one hundred and forty suits were brought. The
ninety-ninth was Slough vs. Blythe. Margaret Blythe*s title was
confirmed. There was also an ejectment brought by Christian Van
Gundy vs. Ludwig Derr for the site of Lewisburg.
In May Daniel Christ settled and made the first clearing on the
place where C. Sheckler, Esquire, now resides, in West Buffalo. James
Anderson was then his neighbor, and had an improvement on the
Matthew Irwin place. Anderson left before the runaway of 1778.
Irwin took possession after the war. George Books also cleared a
part of the Sheckler place.
Political.
The following letter, found among the papers of Captain John
Lowdon, discloses the means taken to organize an opposition to the
encroachments of the mother country upon the liberties of the Amer-
ican people, which culminated in the Revolution and the Declara-
tion of Independence, on the 4th of July, 1776 :
Philadelphia, yi««^ 28, 1774.
'^To Wiiitam Mac lay, William Plunket, and Samuel Hunter^ Es-
quires y Northumberland :
" Gentlemen ; The committee of correspondence for this city beg
leave to inclose you printed copies of the resolves passed by a very
large and respectable meeting of the freeholders and freemen, in the
State House square, on Saturday, the i8th instant ; and by the fourth
of these resolves, you will observe that it was left for the committee
to determine on the most proper mode of collecting the sense of this
Province in the present critical situation of our affairs, and appoint-
ing Deputies to attend the proposed Congress. In pursuance of this
trust, we have, upon the maturest deliberation, determined upon the
mode contained in the following propositions, which we hoi^e may
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. SS
^et with the approbation and concurrence of your respectable
unty, viz :
** ist. That the Speaker of the House of Representatives be desired
write to the several members of Assembly, requesting them to
eet in this city as soon as possible, but not later than the ist of
ugust next, to take into consideration our very alarming situation.
'* 2d. That letters be written to proper persons in each county,
Recommending it to them to get committees appointed for their
x^^spective counties, and that the said committees or such number
of them as may be thought proper, may meet at Philadelphia at the
time the Representatives are convened, in order to consult and
advise on the most expedient mode of appointing Deputies for
the General Congress, and to give their weight to such as may be
appointed.
" The Speaker of the Assembly, in a very obliging and ready
manner, has agreed to comply with the request in the former of these
propositions ; but we are now informed that, on account of the
Indian disturbances, the Governor has found it necessary to call the
Assembly to meet in their legislative capacity, on Monday, July i8,
being abotit the same time the Speaker would probably have invited
them to a conference or convention in their private capacity.
*' What we have, therefore, to request is that, if you approve of
the mode expressed in the second proposition, the whole or apart of
the committee appointed, or to be appointed, for your county, will
meet the committees from the other counties at Philadelphia, on
Friday, the 15th day of July, in order to assist in framing instruc-
tions, and preparing such matters as may be proper to recommend
to our Representatives at their meeting the Monday following.
" We would not offer such an affront to the well-known public spirit
of Pennsylvania, as to question your zeal on the present occasion.
Our very existence in the rank of freemen, and the security of all that
ought to be dear to us, evidently depend upon our conducting this
great cause to its proper issue with firmness, wisdom, and unanimity.
We cannot, therefore, doubt your ready concurrence in every meas-
ure that may be conducive to the public good ; and it is with pleasure
that we can assure you that all the Colonies, from South Carolina
to New Hampshire, seem animated with one spirit in the common
cause, and consider this as the proper crisis for having our dif-
S6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1774.
ference with the mother country brought to some certain issue, and
our liberties fixed upon a permanent foundation. This desirable end
can only be accomplished by a free communion of sentiments and
a sincere, fervent regard to the interests of our common country.
** We beg to be favored with an answer to this, and whether the
committee from your county can attend at Philadelphia, at the time
proposed.
Thomas Willing, Chairman^
On this letter is indorsed, in Joseph Green's handwriting, the fol-
lowing ; **At a meeting of a number of the principal inhabitants of
the township of Buffalo, at Loudowick Derr*s, of Saturday, the ninth
of July, John Lowdon, Esquire, and Samuel Maclay were chosen
as committee-men to meet the other committee-men from the other
townships, on Monday, the nth instant, at Richard Malone's, in
order to choose proper persons out of the township committees to
go to Philadelphia to the general meeting of the committees chosen
by the respective counties of this Province ; and likewise to fix upon
some proper way and means to correspond with the other commit-
tees of this Province.
** By order of the meeting.
Joseph Green, Clark, ^^
The committees that met on the nth, at Richard Malone's,
selected William Scull and Samuel Hunter to represent Northumber-
land county, at the Provincial meeting, at Philadelphia. This meet-
ing convened in Carpenter's Hall, at Philadelphia, on Friday, the
15th day of July : Thomas Willing, chairman, and Charles Thomp-
son, secretary. William Scull was of the committee to draft
instructions to the Assembly. The resolutions were as follows,
(Some passed unanimously, indicated by '*U ;" in case of difference
of sentiment, the question being determined by the Deputies voting
by counties :)
**U. I. That we acknowledge ourselves and the inhabitants of
this Provmce liege subjects of His Majesty King George III, to
whom they and we owe and will bear true and faithful allegiance.
** U. 2. That as the idea of an unconstitutional independence of
th! parent state is utterly abhorrent to our principles, we view the
unhappy differences between Great Britain and the Colonies with
-•''3^4.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
57
e deepest distress and anxiety of mind, as fruitless to her, grievous
us, and destructive of the best interests of both.
" U. 3. That it is, therefore, our ardent desire that our ancient
rmony with the mother country should be restored, and a perpetual
t ove and union subsist between us, on the principles of the constitu-
"^ion and an interchange of good offices, without the least infraction
^Df our mutual rights.
** U. 4. That the inhabitants of these Colonies are entitled to the
'Same rights and liberties within these Colonies that the subjects
Ijorn in England are entitled to within that realm.
**U. 5. That the power assumed by the Parliament of Great Britain,
to bind the people of these Colonies, *by statutes in all cases what-
soever,' is unconstitutional, and, therefore, the source of these
unhappy differences.
**U. 6. That the act of Parliament for shutting up the port of
Boston is unconstitutional ; oppressive to the inhabitants of that
town ; dangerous to the liberties of the British Colonies ; and, there-
fore, that we consider our brethren at Boston as suffering in the
common cause of these Colonies.
*♦ U. 7. That the bill for altering the administration of justice, in
certain criminal cases, within the Province of Massachusetts Bay,
if passed into an act of Parliament, will be as unconstitutional,
oppressive, and dangerous as the act above mentioned.
'* U. 8. That the bill for changing the constitution of the Province
of Massachusetts Bay, established by charter, and enjoyed since the
grant of that charter, if passed into an act of Parliament, will be
unconstitutional, and dangerous in its consequences to the American
Colonies.
** U. 9. That there is an absolute necessity that a Congress of
deputies from the several colonies be immediately assembled, to
consult together and form a general plan of conduct to be observed
by all the Colonies, for the purpose of procuring relief for our suffer-
ing brethren, obtaining redress of our grievances, preventing future
dissensions, firmly establishing our rights, and restoring harmony
between Great Britain and her Colonies on a constitutional founda-
tion.
**U. 10. That although a suspension of the commerce of this
large trading Province with Great Britain would greatly distress
S8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1774.
multitudes of our industrious inhabitants, yet that sacrifice, and a
much greater, we are ready to offer for the preservation of our liber-
ties. But in tenderness to the people of Great Britain, as well as of
this country, and in hopes that our just remonstrances will at length
reach the ears of our gracious Sovereign, and be no longer treated
with contempt by any of our fellow-subjects in England, it is our
earnest desire that the Congress should first try the gentler mode
of stating our grievances, and making a firm and decent claim oF"
redress.
** II. Resolved by a great majority, That yet, notwithstanding, a&
an unanimity of counsels and measures is indispensably necessary
for the common welfare, if the Congress shall judge agreements of^
non-importation and non-exportation expedient, the people of this
Province will join with the other principal and neighboring Colonies
in such an association of non-importation from and non -exportation
to Great Britain, as shall be agreed on at the Congress.
'* 1 2. Resolved by a majority, That if any proceedings of the Par-
liament, of which notice shall be received on this continent, before
or at the General Congress, shall render it necessary, in the opinion
of that Congress, for the Colonies to take further steps than are men-
tioned in the eleventh resolve, in such case the inhabitants of this
Province shall adopt such further steps and do all in their power to
carry them into execution.
'*U. 13. That the venders of merchandise of every kind within the
Province, ought not to take advantage of the resolves relating to
non-importation in this Province or elsewhere, but they ought to
sell their merchandise which they now have, or may hereafter im-
port, at the same rates they have been accustomed to do within three
months last past.
*' U. 14. That the people of this Province will break off all trade,
commerce, and dealing, and will have no trade, commerce, or deal-
ing of any kind with any Colony on this continent, or with any city
or town in such Colony, or with any individual in any such Colony,
city, or town, which shall refuse, decline, or neglect to adopt and
carry into execution such general plan as shall be agreed to in Con-
gress.
"U. 15. That it is the duty of every member of this committee to
promote as much as he can the subscription set on foot in the sev-
r
^^•4.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 59
^^^ counties of this Province for the relief of the distressed inhab-
'^-E^tsof Boston.
" U. 1 6. That this committee give instructions on the present
^^'tuation of public affairs to their Representatives who are to meet
^xt week in Assembly, and request them to appoint a proper num-
r of persons to attend a congress of Deputies from the several
olonies, at such time and place as may be agreed upon, to effect
ne general plan of conduct, for attaining the great and important
Tids mentioned in the ninth resolve.**
The instructions are too long to be copied. They commence, how-
ever, with a recital that the dissensions between Great Britain and
Vier Colonies commenced some ten years since, and arose from the
j)ower claimed by Parliament to bind the people of the Colonies by
statutes, in all cases whatsoever^ when from local circumstances
they could not be represented in it. The object of the convention
of Deputies is stated to be to obtain a renunciation on the part of
Great Britain of all powers under the statute of 35 Henry 8th, cap.
2 — of all powers of internal legislation, of imposing taxes or duties,
internal or external, and of regulating trade, except with respect to
any new articles of commerce, such as silk, wine, &c., which the
Colonies may hereafter raise, reserving the right to carry these from
one Colony to another; to obtain a repeal of all statutes for quarter-
ing troops in the Colonies, or subjecting them to any expense on
account of such troops; of all statutes imposing duties* to be paid in
the Colonies, that were passed at the accession of his present
Majesty, or before this time, which-ever period shall be judged most
advisable ; of the statutes giving courts of admiralty in the Colonies
greater power that the courts of admiralty have in England ; of the
statutes shutting up the port of Boston and affecting the Province of
Massachusetts Bay. Offering, in case this was agreed to, to settle a
certain annual revenue on His Majesty, his heirs and successors, and
to satisfy all damages done to the East India Company — the execu-
tive powers of the crown to retain their present full force and oper-
ation, and we to receive all manufactures from Great Britain, and
in case of war, to contribute all aid in our power. In the event of
a refusal of these terms, agreements of non-importation and non-
exportation were recommended, **and a continual claim and asser-
tion of our rights."
6o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1774.
These proceedings being communicated to the General Assembly,
it took up and promptly (2 2d July) passed a resolution *' that there
is an absolute necessity that a Congress of Deputies from the several
Colonies be held as soon as conveniently may be, to consult upon
the unhappy state of the Colonies, and to form a plan for the pur-
pose of obtaining redress of American grievances, &c., and for
establishing that union and harmony between Great Britain and the
Colonies which is indispensably necessary to the welfare and happi-
ness of both."
During this year Catherine Smith, widow of Peter Smith, com-
menced building a grist and saw-mill near the mouth of White Deer
creek, which she completed in 1775. ^^ ^^^ statement, year 1 785-
5th July, Robert Fruit and Thomas Hewitt, county commissioners,
at the request of Ludwig Derr, who desired to borrow money from
the loan office, valued the land, three hundred and twenty acres^
(now the site of Lewisburg,) " on which said Derr now lives, having
a grist and saw-mill, dwelling-house and barn, clear upland and
meadow, at ;^i,ooo, Pennsylvania currency.** On 7th, their sworn
valuation of Robert Clark's, now Judge Hummel 's, two hundred
and fourteen acres, ^/ a/., dwelling-house, and barn, was ;^42g;
Walter Clark*s, (Slifer place,) one hundred and eighty-eight acres,
dwelling-house, and barn, j£s^4> Aurand mill tract, (now Jenkins,)
grist-mill, two pair stones, saw-mill, dwelling-house, and barn, two
hundred and twenty-eight acres, at ;^7oo.
Buffalo Cross-Roads Presbyterian Church.
We come now to the first record evidence in regard to Buffalo
Cross-Roads church. December 17, Edward Shippen and Joseph,
his brother, by a written agreement, on the application of some of
the inhabitants of Buffalo Valley, agreed to give a lot of five acres,
to be laid off at the north-east corner of the Edward Bonsall tract,
including a spring, for the purpose of erecting a meeting-house
thereon for the Presbyterian congregation. The building was
probably erected the ensuing year. The only clew I can find is a
receipt among my grandfather's papers dated December 23, 177S,
to William Rodman for ten pounds, being in full of a subscription
lodged in his hands for building a meeting-house in Buffalo Valley,
1774.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 6/
signed William Clark, Thomas Hutchinson, who were probably the
building committee. In 1797 the Shippens made a deed to Samuel
Dale and David Watson, trustees appointed by the congregation for
that purpose. The courses and distances are important, as the land
has been encroached upon. Beginning at a white oak; thence by
land then vacant, now (1797) said to belong to Francis Zellers, N.
51° E. 20 perches, to white oak; thence S. 39° E. 40; thence S.
51° W. 20; thence N. 39° W. 40; '*for the use of such person
or persons who now are, and from time to time hereafter shall be,
inhabitants of said Valley, members of and forming together a
Presbyterian congregation, to have a meeting-house for worship and
a place of burial thereon, and for no otJur purposed Deed book
"Cj" page 81, Union county.
It seems from Doctor Greer's statement that the church received
an additional grant of ^y^ acres adjoining, of the ** Isaiah Althouse"
^ct, either of Henry Vandyke or Francis Zeller, forriier owners.
The old church was accordingly built on both tracts and the one half
on land now claimed by Daniel Reugler, as an inspection of the old
foundation will show, and many persons were buried in Mr. Reugler*s
^cld. The Althouse tract was patented to Henry Vandyke, 1 4th of
^cember, 1774. On the same day he sold off to Captain John
^^ter nineteen acres and ninety-four perches, adjoining Foster's.
"enry Vandyke's will, dated i8th October, 1782, wills his mansion,
'^fin and tan-yard to John. John and Martha, his. wife, sell to
'^'^ncis Zeller two himdred and eighty-nine acres. This would,
^'^erefore, include the alleged five acres given to the church. It is
P^'obable, therefore, that Francis Zeller was the donor, and the
Edition made in 1 789 to the building was put on that part.
iHavel Clingan says "the old church had three doors and nine
Endows, one immediately behind the pulpit and two on each of
^^e ends and sides. Part of the church covered where the present
pulpit is, and extended out into the fields behind the present church,
^^^a.t it was put on the line of the two grants of fvwt acres each, and
the careless trustees lost five acres when Mr. Reugler bought."
Surveys^ dc.
Among the surveys made this year in ** Upper Moreland," as
^^^rtley township territory was then called, William McMurray, on
62 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1774.
the 31 St of May, surveyed the Jacob Young and Conrad Weiser
tracts; also Anthony Fricker and Daniel Levan ; June 2, Philip
Cole tract, adjoining Jacob Landis.
In this year William McCandlish, senior, and Samuel Martin
came from North Britain, and settled on the Billmyer place, after-
wards Gebhart's, and the place now owned by Joseph Meixell's
heirs ; which Martin sold to George May, who sold it to Thomas
Wilson, (grandfather of Francis Wilson,) 30th July, 1793.
James Young settled on the place now owned by David Gross, in
Union township. Isaac Hanna, a gunsmith, from Lancaster, bought
it in 1 780 for j£6oo. Three hundred and nine acres, et aL
The Weyland place, (now Geo^e F. Miller, Esquire,) in Kelly,
was valued at 40J. per acre by witnesses.
TitzeU's mil.
I St of December is the date of the deed from William Robb and
Ohve, his wife, to Henry Titzell, for fifty acres on Little Buffalo
creek, the mill tract now owned by Jonas Ranch, in White Deer
township. The mills were built during this winter, as he is assessed
in 1775 with grist and saw mill. Titzell's mill was a rendezvous
during the Revolution, and a station of the defenders of the fron-
tiers.
Titzell never returned from Cumberland county after the great
runaway of 1778, and we find Nagel Gray, of Northampton county,
in possession in 1783, and a conveyance from Titzell to Gray on
the 5th of May, 1 786. Gray died the same year, and his son John
took the tract, who, with Jane his wife, sold to George Reniger on
the 1 8th of April, 1796. Reniger failed, and it went by the name
of Kelly*s mills for a long time after, until Mr. Ranch's purchase.
Deaths,
Joseph Rotten, of Buffalo, died this year. His will is the first
one recorded at Sunbury, on 4th August. He left a widow, Mary,
children, Thomas, Roger, and Elizabeth, He lived up Penn's
creek, near White springs. Samuel Mathers and James McCoy
witnessed it.
Thomas McGuire also died in June. He left a son, Francis.
MTJi.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 63
Major Ennion Williams' Journal,
Ennion Williams, afterwards major of Colonel Miles' rifle regi-
xiaent, kept a journal of a trip to the frontiers. The original is in
X>ossession of Captain A. H. McHenry, the noted surveyor of Jersey
Shore, from which I extract :
** October 19, at Fort Augusta, Messrs. Scull, Maclay, Hunter,
HTroy, &c., entertained me in a very kind and friendly manner.
October 25 , started for Kishacoquillas valley, with William Foster ;
forded the river, and arrived at Wolfe's tavern, two miles from Sun-
l)ury, (this must have been at Shamokin dam,) where I took sud-
denly sick. A person in the next room played so pleasantly on a
violin, and with such an effect, I was soon able to get up. We
then passed through a level country to Michael Swingle's, eight
miles ; thence to Is. Dalton's, on Middle creek. The land here is
good. We lately sold it for ;£ioo per hundred acres. We passed
through Potter's tract, which is very fine land, and John Swift's
land, which is very good. Several friends settled above this. The
land is well timbered — walnut, black oak, and maple — and a very
pretty valley, called Beaver Dam valley. 27th, slept at Nathaniel
Hazen's on a chaff bed on the floor ; breakfast — elegant milk, butter,
pumpkin butter, Indian corn, and venison. (Snyder county fare in
the olden time.) Then rode nine miles through a valley between
Jack's mountain and Limestone ridge.
'* We crossed the run on which is our one hundred and fifty-nine
acres, with a mill seat. The stream is now pretty large. The land is
stony, but very well timbered. October 27, Hazen tells me that
Reed has got (within this twelve months) a warrant for the hundred
and fifty-nine acres, and that he intends to build a mill there, in
spite of any person. They say that he is a scheming fellow, and
that he has taken out warrants for ether person's lands, as well as
ours. We dined in the shade of a tree, screened from the remark-
able heat of the sun, and fed our horses on a blanket near a run,
and eat heartily of our hard cakes and solid venison. We continued
up this valley, and passed by some good bottoms, with poplar, wal-
nut, and shelbark, &c. ; but there are no large bodies together.
The road is very stony for several miles, yet level, and the land well
timbered.
64 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1775.
" Foster's, and the land near it, is very good wheat land, and but-
little meadow. W6 passed in sight of our two hundred acres on a—
branch of Jack's creek, in the name of D. Beveridge, and the land-
near is very good meadow ground." The D. Beveridge tract he:
describes as situate on Mitchel Springs, which empties into Jack'^
creek about two miles from Kishacoquillas, (probably now in Deca—
tur township, Mifflin county.)
On the 19th of July a petition was presented to the Assembly froni.
the inhabitants of Northumberland county, stating that the county
was but thinly inhabited, and had within the limits of its jurisdiction
a great body of intruders from the Colony of Connecticut, who
refused subjection to the government, and that they found them-
selves unable to enforce the laws, through the want of a proper goal ;
whereupon an act was promptly passed, on the 23d, granting ;^8oo
out of the treasury to build a goal.
MH^
ins-
Pennsylvania Convention — Assessment List of Buffalo— Revolution-
ary Struggle Inaugurated — Roll of Captain John Lowdon's and
Captain James Parr's Companies.
jOHN PENN, Governor. Samuel Hunter, member of
Assembly. On the 20th of May, James Potter was re-
turned, and took his seat as additional member of Assem-
bly. Samuel Hunter and William Plunket presided in
turn over the courts. 29th July, Samuel Maclay, Robert Robb,
John Weitzel, and Henry Antis, Justices of the Quarter Sessions,
&c. March 1 7, Alexander Hunter was appointed Collector of Excise,
vice Thomas Lemmon. 12th October, William Scull was commis-
sioned Sheriff; Samuel Harris, Coroner. County Commissioners,
Casper Reed, William Gray, Enquire; County Assessors, Paul Ged-
des, George Wolfe, Joseph Green, James McClure, John Weitzel,
1775.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 6$
and James McClenachan. Officers of Buffalo : Constable, Henry
Vandyke ; Overseers, John Thompson and John Aurand ; Supervi-
sors, Robert Clark and Henry Pontius.
On the 23d of January the convention for the Province of Penn-
sylvania assembled at Philadelphia, and continued until the 28th.
William Plunket, Esquire, and Casper Weitzel, Esquire, representing
the county of Northumberland.
This convention approved of the proceedings of the Continental
Congress, recommended a law prohibiting the future importation of
slaves into the Province ; resolved to afford all necessary assistance
and relief in case the trade of the city of Philadelphia should be sus-
pended in consequence of the struggle ; that it was the earnest wish
to see harmony restored between Great Britain and the Colonies,
but in the event the former should determine to effect a submission
by force to the late arbitrary acts of Parliament, it was our indis-
pensable duty to resist such force, and at every hazard to defend the
rights and liberties of America.
It was resolved to kill no sheep under four years old, or sell such
to the butchers, and the setting up of woolen manufactures, especi-
ally for coating, flannel, blankets, rugs, &c., was recommended;
^, the raising of madder and dye stuffs, flax and hemp, making of
salt and saltpeter, gunpowder, nails and wire, making of steel,
paper, setting up manufactures of glass, wool, combs, cards, copper
m sheets, bottoms and kettles. It was further recommended to the
inhabitants to use the manufactures of their own and neighbor-
•
iQg Colonies, in preference to all others ; and that a manufacturer or
vender of goods who should take advantage of the necessities of the
country to raise prices should be considered an enemy to his
country.
At February sessions, Samuel Maclay, Henry Pontius, William
Irwin, and William Gray reported the first public road ever laid out
"7 order of court through the Valley. Haines' road ran from
Northumberland, by way of Dry valley, crossing into Limestone
township now, and along Penn *s creek, and by way of the Narrows,
into Penn's valley, where he owned large tracts of land about
Aaronsburg ; but this was a private enterprise. His four mile tree is
^ferred to as a landmark ever since his day, standing in the center
of the Narrows. The road we now speak of commenced on Lud-
5
dd ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1775-
wig Derr's land, about fifteen perches above where Christian Het-
rick * now lives, at a hickory on the West Branch of the Susque-
hanna, and ran the following courses and distances: S. 85° W
742, to white oak, W. 156 post; N. 85° W. 80, pine; S. 85^ W,
300; S. 70° W. 550, pine; S. 82° W. 224, black oak; S. 67^ W.
174, white oak; S. 74° W. 138, pine; S. 49° W. 138; S. 62*^ W.
419; S. 750 W. 168; S. 850 W. 158, white oak; N. 87^ W. 98;
S. 71° W. 136; S. 850 W. 266; S. 75° W. 116, white oak:
twelve miles twenty-eight perches. After protracting, I found the
course to correspond with the site of the road as described by old
citizens, viz : Leaving the river at Strohecker's landing, it passed
up his lane and by an old house that formerly stood in the south-
west comer of Adam Gundy's field ; thence along the line between
John G. Brown and J. M. Linn, or near it, to and through Mortons-
ville, through or by the site of Ellis Brown's new house, to a white
oak about one hundred rods west of his house. Thus far one course.
Thence it curved about the hill, and ran in front of Frederick's, where
stood the pine ; and thence by Schrack*s it ran straight, crossing the
present turnpike beyond Biehl's tavern. It then ran north of the
turnpike a little distance ; thence along its site to another pine which
stood near where the Great Western hotel now stands ; thence it fol-
lowed the turnpike site until it reached its terminus, where the Orwig
mill road now comes out upon the turnpike, east line of Jane
Little warrantee, one hundred and twenty rods west of the offi-
cers* survey. It was ordered to be opened thirty- three feet.
Inhabitants in 1775.
It appears, from a memorandum made by Daniel Montgomery, in
1 781, that the county assessments were carried off to Paxton (Har-
risburg) in 1778, and those of 1773, ^774> ^"^ '77^ ^^st.
The following list is copied from that of 1775, which is in the
handwriting of Joseph Green, grandfather of Joseph Green, of
Lewisburg. I copy it in full. Matter in brackets I have added.
It enumerates the acres of cultivated land, of horses, cows, sheep,
slaves, and servants belonging to each settler :
*Ul8nsine is Bometimes written Esplg. Hetrlck resided near the site of John
Strohecker^B present resldenoe. He was afterwards killed by the Indians. (See
postea, 1781.)
^.■»75.]
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
^
1
1
1
J
'-Allen, Samuel
j\urand, Henry ...
-Albright, Jacob . . .
Aurand, Jacob ....
Aurand, Daniel.. . .
- Armstrong. William
45
4
18
I
3
3
1
1
Also grist and saw-
mill.
[LateA.McClure's,
nowStolzfus.]
A new settler.
Inmate to Thomas
Sutherland.
[Now Henry
Mertz's.]
Tenant on James
Bremmer's land.
Tenant of James
Bremmer.
[D. H. Kelly's.]
[N. W. of New
Columbia.]
[Hoffman's, above
D.itisiiun'b.,]
-Books, George ! la
•Buchanan, James.. 30
Bum, Peter 10
3
-Bolender, John. . .
ao
Bickel, Henry
10
4
[
I
Bninner, Jacob. . . .
Bolender, Henry..
'S
4
'I
50
-Baker, Wendell....
]fashor,John
3
2
2
...1...
Baker, Jacob
■ Brundage, Joseph, .
[n'r Union ch.]
Bower, Casper ....
Brosius, John
■Boone, Hawkins. . .
•Bennett, William..
10
10
20
'
\
6
7
Boveard.
■Blythe, William...
■ Bennett, WiUiam.jr.
12
17 I
60 I
land belonging
to Wm. Blythe.
On Wm. Blythe's
land.
•Blue, Frederick....
'BrowTij Matthew. . .
II. ■--..r.l !■ iiii.fki'.l* A«"«n, whioh, ander M
■ " -'No person ihall be oapabl
Ulng >emt«d or cleatad, or bs otharwlM worth £1
THUtDt wltbla tb« KorarnmeDt two jnu* twfare an
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1^ G
' Cornell, Abraham,
•Cbrk, William....
• Cole, Philip
• Clarke, John
• Crawfoi<i, Edward,
•Clark, Walter
•Clark. William...-.
• Cupples, David
■ Cooper, Robert . . .
'Cook, Henry
, Caldwell, Hugh...
. Clark, Robert . . .
• Carson, James
. Correy, Roltert
• Carter, William
• Coon, Nicholas.. , .
DiCelman, Peter .. .
Dnchman, Stephen,
Doudrick, John. .
IJerr, Ludwig. , .
* Dale, Samuel . . .
Doty, Levi
■ Davis, John
■ Deats, Morris. . .
■ Dale, Christian. . . .1
Derr, Yo:
■ Duncan, David !
•Daniel, Adam ' 3
' Emerick, David .
Evey, Adam
Etsweiler, George..,
[Coryell?]
[Hartleton.
[He lived 1
fiVst farm
Mifflinbui
name of h
was " Me
Lives with V
Bennett I
on the sh(
, Inmate to
Kelly.
, ! Poor ; [livec
j late Jno.SH
\ Esquire,
land.
[Adam Von
Grist and sa
Lives on
Wilson's
[now Jas
son, Esqi
Lives on L.
i Tenant on <
Francis',
Grove's,
1 W. T. Lii
I [Widow E
' tavern in
township,
On Simon Si
I land.
ms.]
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
'Eaken, John
'Elder, Thomas
Eyer, Abraham... .
■Evey, Christian ....
'Farren, James
Fought, Jonas
Fought, Michael. . . '
Frederick, George.. I
Frederick, Peter. . . |
'Foster, John, senior, , __
Fought, Jacob 40
I Foster, William
Foster, John, junior, 60
'F'leming, James,
fruit, Robert...
Wisher, John, . . .
Fisher, Chrbtian ....
Fought, Conrad...
Fisher, Samuel
'Fulton, John
'Fleming, Hans....
Filey, John
' Cireen, Joseph
'Glen, Andrew
' Greenlee, William. ,
Grochang, Jacob..
GuniJy. Christ., Van
, 'Gray, William
'Gibson, Andrew.. .
'Green, Ebenezer. . .
■ Graham, Edward . .
'Graham, Thomas . .
Gtoninger, Leonard
Grove, Michael
Huston, John
'Haines, George.. ..
Hessler, Michael...
Hesaler, John
'Hanter, Samuel, . .
■Hamilton, Robert..
'«oy, Philip.,
On Rob. Clark's.
Living on James
Fleming's, (late
James Dale's.)
[South Chap. Hoi
low.]
Lives with Jonas,
1 [These two lived
]■ at Cross Roads
on McCreight's.]
[Datisman's.]
[White Deerniills.]
Ferry.
Up Black's ;
[Afterwards Eraer-
ick's.]
[Heberling's]
[Paul Geddes.]
Ferry.
Grist and sawmill.
■1
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
-^ :^ C
Hiney, Hieronimus i
Hiltman, John I
Heckel, Andrew. . .
Hammond, David.. '
Hammond, James..
Hunte James,
Hutchinson Thos.. |
Hood, Elizabeth.
Harbster David..
ao
Huling, Marcus...
•S
Im'in, William... -
^4
Iterbum, Jacob
S
Johnston, Alex
Jordan, William...
20
KJinesmith, Baltzer,
IS
Kilday, John
10
Keen, Jacob
■;
Leonard Peter,
K?
Lee, John
Leech, William....
IS
Lewis, Daniel
Laughlin, Samuel. .
7fi
Links, Jacob
as
Low. Comdius...
Leas, Nicholas
Low, William
7
Luckens, Thomas . .
Low<]on, John
Miller, Benjamin.. .
McKetvey, James. .
Moore, James
McCashon, John.. .
Miller, Frederick..
Miller, Jacob
^■|
Capt Irwin^
[John Bcebe
Buffalo.]
[Doctor Doi
[Little Bi
creek.]
Lives on (
Cribble's
[William Sta
White De.
Lives on (
Shultz's U
On John T
[mouth of
Deer cree!
On Dr. W
land, [no^
jor Simon
Freeman.
Adjoining W
Clark's.
On John
land, on
Deer cree
New settler.
Lives on
Thom's 1:
On Joseph C
Lives on .
Cribble's
[de Haas'
tract.]
ANXALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
MacUy, Samuel . . .
Moor, William
Myers, Henry
McCoy, James....
Mathefs, Samuel . . .
Mitchell, John ....
McCandlish, Wra .
'5
U
6
i.S
'S
i6
'5
1
1
3
i
2
I
3
1
3
Slave aged 30.
[John Lesher lives
on site of Mc-
Candlish's resi-
dence.]
[Now farm-house
of Joseph Meix-
cU's heirs.]
On William Arm-
McClure Thomas.
9
9
So'
I
3
i
i
strong's land,
[south of New
Columbia.]
At Thos. Moore's.
.Moore, Henry ....
I
3
3
I.
I
3-
3
I
I
WcLaughlin, James,
JJcGitinet, Charles.
^Mahan, Patrick.
JJ«key, William..
"^son William
New settler.
M<^Con,b.John....
McGrady, Alex....
HcClung, John...
Marti n.Georjte....
McCloud, William.
McDonald, Randall
Lives with John
Nees, John
3
I
f^O'CToss. John. . .
^obel, Robert
Corley's land.
On J. Thompson's.
[Near New Colum-
bia.]
'!|'»-conk, Daniel...
Overmeier, George
^''ak, James
P«ton. Hugh
i^r^n, Benjamin..
^'>ntius. John
*^»otius, Henry....
3
40
40
10
^5
?o
IS
4
i.
i
4
4
6
1 '
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1
j
1
1
1
^
Pontius, Andrew. . .
Reed, William
Reese, Abel
Rearick Jo1in
liineliartJ, George..
Reed, John
Rote, George
•5
30
40
'5
15
3
30
3
2
I
3
:
3
5
,
2
9
1
i
Living at Li
Derr's.
[In Limestoni
gr'd childre
occupy tht
pi ace, near ^
Redmond, John...
Sutherland, Thomas
StoiTOS, Christian . .
Sierer, John
Smith, Adam
Snyder, Michael . . .
i
10
2
I
I
2
Scott, John
Shively, Christian..
8
7
'
'■■
springs.]
OnRob't.Bai
land.
[Tlie first n
at Barber'!
tie mill. <
Smith's mil
Shivcly, John
Seller. Peter
Sips, Joseph
Swartz, Peter
Siover, Philip
,1
20
3
25
2
2
3
I
many years
tured by th
dians,on Es
Lincoln's i
He never
back.]
[Lived on late
of D. Henn
[Hon. Geori
Miller's pL
[While Deer^
3 '■■■
Sutherland, Daniel. .
Smith, John
Steen. Alexander...
Speddy, William...
Shoemaker, Peter..
Shaw, Hamilton...
'
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEV.
!
Sample, John 23
Sample, Robert
Dreisbach, Martin.
Dreisbach, lacob . .
Dreisbach, Henry.
Townson, C
Templeton, Ann, . ,
Thompson, John..
Thomas, James. . . .
Thornbury, Thomas
Tate, John
Tale, Joseph
Titzell, Henry
Thom, James
Thorn pson , Robert
Tavler, Joseph
Vamer. Daniel , , .
Vandyke, Henry. .
Wilson, John
Wilson, Matthew.
Wilson, Peter
Wolfe, George...
Welker, Leonard. .
Wise, Jacob
Watson, Patrick. .
Wierbaugh, John .
Williams, George.
Watson, Hugh
Wolfe, Andrew. . .
Weyland, George.
Weeks, Joseph
Weriz, Dietrich. . .
Wilson, William..
Young, Matthew.
Young, James. . .
Young, Samuel. . . .
Kennedy, Samuel. .
Kennedy, John... .
Anderson .Thomas. .
Rodman, William, .
i6o
Living on JasMc-
Clenachan's.
On John Foster's
land.
On Ludwig Derr's.
William Clark's.
Grist and saw-mill.
Freeman on John
Lowdon's.
New settler.
[Now Jackson Ri-
shei's.]
On Robert Barber's
land.
LudwigDerr's land.
New settler.
[Now Rev. J. Ro-
denbaugh's.]
[Dry valley.]
On ■■■ "
Wm. Blythe's.
74
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[ITT
tf
•
30
8
4
5
•
I
I
I
2
•
CO
I
I
I
2
Sheep,
1
1
Servants,
1
Row, Joseph
Johnston, John
Wildgoose, Michael
Glover, John
Whole number of acres cultivated in the Valley, four thousand
three hundred and eighty-three ; total horses, three hundred and
forty ; cows, four hundred and fourteen ; sheep, one hundred anc
forty-one ; taxable inhabitants, two hundred and sixty ; six grist anc
saw-mills, and five slaves.
In the summer of 1873, Jo^^^ Lesher tore down the old house
known many years as Billmyer*s tavern, and afterwards as "Geb
hart's." On taking off the more modern weather-boards, a log build
ing, about forty-four feet square, was disclosed. In the logs wer
marks of arrows, and many bullet holes. Between the flooring h<
found a shingle, on which was written, *'James Taler ; built, 1775,*
the name, no doubt, of the carpenter, as William McCandlish wa
the owner. William McCandlish died in the fall of 1783, and it wa
sold, in 1784, to Andrew Billmyer, (grandfather of Philip Bill
myer, of Lewisburg,) who sold it on the 21st of May, 181 2, t<
Philip Gebhart. It was the place of rendezvous for the people ii
the lower end of the Valley during the subsequent Indian troubles
1776-1783.
In 1 81 5, Michael Shirtz*s deposition was taken, in a suit betweei
John Hoy and John Stees. He said he came to live in the neigh
borhood in 1775. That the land in dispute between them was thei
occupied by Michael Snyder, (east end of Peter Wolfe's warrantee.
He had cleared eight or nine acres and had grain in. It adjoins
what was called the " Switzer tract,** surveyed in the warranto
name of John James LeRoy, and between it and the Limeston
ridge. Snyder occupied it until the country was drove by the In
dian, 1778 and 1779. After that, Martin Rinehart bought the land
and sold part to Andrew Pontius and part to Christopher Boohave
(Bogenreif.) That the first year the settlers returned after the war
he saw Andrew Pontius in possession of it, inclosed in fence an<
^""^^^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
75
^^n growing upon it. The latter sold to John Stees. The
^^potient moved to the territory of Ohio in 1800.
In the spring of 1775, Yost Hoffman, of Lancaster county, black-
^^ith, bought of Jacob Baker, the place next above Datisman's.
His descendants still occupy it. John Forsyth, a deputy for Wil-
'iain Maclay, made quite a number of surveys this year. These
and other surveys are noted, because they show what lands were yet
Unsettled. The Richard Manning for John Lee, on the river next
above the Proprietaries, in Monroe township now. 25th March,
the addition to John Foster's order, in the name of John Umstead,
near Farmersville. 29th, Jacob Long's, a little north-east of Har-
tleton. 31st March, 1775, took Daniel Long's note for surveying
fee, jQ2 los. The William Kelly, on Buffalo mountain, ist April.
Jacob Haines, in Union, lately owned by Major Gibson, 6th May.
Aaron Levy on Buffalo mountain. **North line open," he says.
No wonder subsequent surveyors could not find it.
1 2th July, Nehemiah Breese, of Sunbury, surveyed the John
Sneagon tract, now Chappel's Hollow, then called Haverly's gap.
Whoever tabled his notes, (he died not long after,) and made the
return of survey, made the N. 20° W. line from the pine one hun-
dred perches, instead of sixty, to chestnut, which produced a great
dispute afterwards between Abraham Eyer and John Brown.
1 2th August, Breese surveyed the Thomas Smith tract for Joseph
Green, on which the latter built his mill, latterly known as Bellas',
on Penn's creek, below White spring. He says, not finding the ad-
joining surveyed line on the west of Craig's survey, to extend by the
supposed adjoining lands, to include the above quantity to post,
thence an open line by vacant land, to make the beginning. One
Nees lived on the west of this open line. When Green's land was sold
at sherifFs sale, in August, 1 784, it was supposed to include Nees'
improvement, and so sold by Mr. Awl, who bought at the sheriffs
sale, to Badger, so that twenty acres now owned by Miller, Smith,
and others, near White spring, has been occupied, bought and sold
over and over again for a century, without any title from the Com-
monwealth.
27th August, he surveyed a small island for Martin Trester,
nearly opposite his house, and another one half mile below his house.
7(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1775.
24th, the Joseph Green, south of Captain T. Green. 8th September^
Robert Martin, on north branch of Buffalo creek. 8th September,
the Thomas Graham, adjoining McClenachan, in White Deer, west^
of George Leiser's.
Philip Seebold informed me (1872) that George Ovenneier,
senior, John Rearick, Christian Shively, and Michael Focht were
brothers-in-law. Overmeier settled near where Mr. Seebold still
lives ; Shively, at the mouth of White Spring run ; Rearick, near
Wehr's tavern ; Focht, in Dry valley ; and added the singular fact,
that he, Seebold, owned at one time the Overmeier, Rearick, and
Focht homesteads. He is a grandson of George Overmeier. Con-
rad Sharp settled upon his tract, in Union township, west of Joseph
Shannon. — See case reported, 4 Yeates, 266.
Ihe Revolutionary Struggle Inaugurated.
SuNBURY, 20th Aprily 1775.
Gentlemen : The time is at hand when the spirit of Americans
that love liberty and constitutional principles will be put to the
trial. What has been by them in their different resolves avowed
must, perhaps, at last be put in execution. The late alarming news
just received from England (which we may depend upon) informs
that the British Parliament are determined by force to put in execu-
tion every of their supreme edicts, as they style them, together with
their late oppressive acts, which we have so long, and with so little
or no effect, hitherto complained of. We consider it absolutely neces-
sary to have a general meeting of the whole county, in order to form
some regular plan, in conjunction with our countrymen, to give
every opposition to impending tyranny and oppression, either by
force or otherwise. The time of meeting, we think, will be best on
the first day of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and the
place most convenient, at Vandyke's, near Beaver run, in Buffalo
Valley. We do, therefore, earnestly request that you will immedi-
ately, on the receipt hereof, in the most expeditious manner, notify
the inhabitants of your township of this matter, and insist on their
attendance without fail there on that day. The place of meeting is
such where we cannot expect much accommodation. It will be,
1776.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
77
therefore, necessary that every man should provide for himself. We
^ your humble servants.
Signed by order of the committee.
Cas. Weitzel.
Directed to John Lowdon, Esquire, and Mr. Samuel Maqlay, in
fiuffalo Valley.
Philadelphia, yi5/«^ 15, 1775.
Gentlemen: Inclosed are resolves of Congress which we have
transmitted to you, and request you will use your utmost diligence
Tto have as many of the best marksmen procured to enlist as fast as
Jossible. They are wanting for immediate service at Boston, and
"ve have not the least doubt but the spirit of our people of this Prov-
ince will induce them without delay to enter into so glorious a
service. You will please to consult with gentlemen of knowledge
and interest, as you can, (though not of your committee,) for the
more speedy raising of the men, and let us know your sentiments
relative to such gentlemen as may be proper for officers, and such
as may be agreeable to the men. We hope the counties will advance
any mone3rs necessary, as they shall shortly be repaid by Congress.
The honor of Pennsylvania is at stake, and we have not the least
doubt but that every nerve will be exerted, not only collectively
but individually, to carry this matter into instant execution. You
will see by the attestation to be signed by the men, they are to serve
one year, unless sooner discharged. This may seem inconvenient,
as the enlistments will be in one day. The intention is to discharge
on the first day of July, 1776, unless their service may not be want-
ing so long, according to the attestation,, which may possibly happen
to be the case, and they may be discharged this fall. Let the com-
mittees or officers give certificates for any moneys necessary for the
service which the Congress will discharge. It is expected that
Cumberland will raise two companies, York one, Lancaster one,
Northampton one, and Northumberland and Bedford one.
You will keep the resolves of Congress as secret as the nature of
the case will admit, that the arrival of the men at Boston may be the
first notice General Gage has of this matter.
The pay of the officers is on the establishment of the whole army ;
but we beg leave to assure the officers that our interest will be
78 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [IT'S
exerted with our Assembly to the utmost to have an addition
their pay, so as to be equal to the pay of officers of the same ra.a
in the Pennsylvania service last war.
We are, with esteem, gentlemen, your most humble servants,
Thomas Willing, John Dickinson,
James Wilson, Thomas Mifflin,
Charles Humphreys, George Ross.
John Morton,
In Congress, y««^ 14, 1775.
Resolved^ That six companies of expert riflemen be immediately
raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia.
That each company, as soon as conpleted, shall march and join the
army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry under the
command of the chief officer in that army. That the pay of the
officers and privates be as follows :
A captain, at 20 dollars per M.
A lieutenant, at 13 J^ dollars per M.
A sergeant, at 8 dollars per M.
A corporal, at 7j4 dollars per M.
A drummer, at 7 J^ dollars per M.
A private, at 6^ dollars per M.
To find their own arms and clothes.
That the form of enlistment be in the following words :
I have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the
American Continental army for one year, unless sooner discharged,
and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and
regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the
said army.
Charles Thompson, Secretary,
True copy: Cas. Weitzel, Secretary,
On this paper is indorsed the following: ** July i, 1775, Come
lius Daugherty enlisted, this day, Robert Tuft, Edward Masters
James Garson, George Saltsman, Robert Rickey, Thomas Gilston
Robert Liney, Robert Carothers, John Hamberton, Michael Hare,
in Joseph Green's handwriting.
I have a copy of Captain Lowdon's commission, which is still i
1775,] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 79
possession of Samuel Wright, at Columbia, furnished by the kind-
ness of Mr. Thomas Barber's son, who was at school there. It reads :
In Congress: The Delegates of the United Colonies of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of New Castle,
Kent, and Sussex, in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro-
lina, and South Carolina: -
To John LowdoHy Esquire :
We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism,
valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these present, constitute and
appoint you to be captain of a company of riflemen in the bat-
talion commanded by Colonel William Thompson, in the army of
the United Colonies, raised for the defense of American liberty,
and for repelling any hostile invasion thereof. You are, therefore,
carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of captain, by doing
and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And
^^ do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under
• your command to be obedient to your orders as captain; and you
^^ to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to
^'oe, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the Uni-
^^^ Colonies, or committee of Congress for that purpose appointed,
^^ commander-in-chief for the time being of the army of the United
^^lonies, or any other superior officer, according to the rules and
^^cipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This
^^^tomission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future
^^ngress.
5y order of Congress.
John Hancock, President,
Attest : Charles Thompson, Secretary,
Philadelphia, y««^ 25, 1775.
•^U of Captain John Lowdon^s Company, First Rifle Regiment,
Commanded by Colonel William Thompson,
Captain — ^Lowdon, John.
First Lieutenant — Parr, James.
Second Lieutenant — Wilson, James.
8o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1776.
Third Lieutenant — Wilson, William; promoted second lieu-
tenant January 4, 1776.
Third Lieutenant — Dougherty, John ; appointed January 4, 1776.
Sergeants — Hammond, David; McCormick, Alexander; Mc-
Murray, William ; Dougherty, Cornelius.
Corporals — Henry, Thomas; Edwards, William; Dougherty,
Cornelius; White, John, died January, 8, 1776; Carson, James >
Cochran, Charles.
Drummer — Grosvenor, Richard.
Privates — Adkins, William; All, Joseph, discharged July 31,
^775 i Bernickle, John, afterwards sergeant in the German regi-
ment ; Brady, Samuel, afterwards captain lieutenant Eighth Penn-
sylvania; Briggs, William; Butler, John, discharged January 25,
1776; Calhoun, William; Carothers, Robert; Carson, James,
advanced to corporal, January 4 ; Casaday, John ; Cealy, Samuel ;
Clements, David ; Cochran, Charles, advanced to corporal January
8, discharged July i, 1776, living in Crawford county in 1819;
Condon, Peter ; Davis, David ; Dean, John ; Eicholtz, John, residing
in Lancaster in 181 3; Evans, John; Finkboner, Jacob; Ford,
Charles ; Garson, James ; Ginter, Philip ; Gilston, Thomas ; Hamil-
ton, John ; Harris, David ; Hare, Michael ; Hempington, Thomas ;
Henning, Christopher; Humber, William; Jamison, William; Johns,
Samuel; Johnston, James; Jones, Lewis; Kilday, Thomas; Kline,
Nicholas ; Ladley, John ; Lowdon, Samuel ; Leek, William ; Lines,
Robert; Lobden, Thomas; Masseker, Reuben, deserted July 31,
1775 ; Madock, Moses ; Malone, John ; Maloy, Charles ; McMuUen,
Alexander; McGonigal, Patrick; McConnell, Cornelius; McCoy,
Martin ; McCleary, James ; McMasters, Exiward, residing in Ly-
coming county in 1823; Morgan, William; Murray, William;
Murphy, Timothy ; Murphy, John ; Neely, John, he was captured
at Fort Freeland, July^ 28, 1779, and taken to Canada; Oakes,
Daniel; Oliver, John; Parker, Michael; Peltson, Thomas, re-in-
listed in the First Pennsylvania, and was killed by Joseph Black-
bum in 1777; Pence, Peter; Ray, John; Richie, Robert; Roach,
Bartholomew; Robinson, John ; Sands, George; Saltzman, George;
Segar, George; Silverthorn, Henry; Shawnee, John, (wasaShaw-
anese Indian, died at Milesburg — see Jones' Juniata Valley, page
352 ;) Smith, John, (son of Widow Smith, of White Deer Mills;
1775.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 8i
^ never came back from the army;) Speddy, James, (lived and
died at New Berlin;) Sutton, Arad, (lived on Lycoming creek;
^ first Methodist society in northern Pennsylvania was formed at
his house, in 1791 ;) Sweeney, James, discharged July 20, 1775;
Teel, John; Tuft, Robert, discharged October 25, 1775; Valen-
f'^ie, Philip, discharged July 20, 1775 ; Ward, Peter; Ward, John;
^est, Charles, died January 4, 1776; Whiteneck, Joseph; Wright,
*^ron, (residing in Reading in 1840;) Youse, John; Young, Robert,
(died in Walker township. Centre county, in 1824.)
Quite a large number of this company re -enlisted for three years,
^^ during the war, in Captain James Parr*s company, first regi-
"^^tit, commanded by Colonel Edward Hand, who became colonel
'^'^en Colonel Thompson was made brigadier.
Of the company, Lieutenant Parr rose to the rank of major,
^*^ed brilliantly in command of riflemen under Morgan, at Sara-
^^ga and Stillwater, and under Sullivan, in 1 779. Second Lieutenant
^illiam Wilson was promoted captain, March 2, 1777, and con-
^^ued in the army until the close of the war in 1783. He died at
^Hillisquaque mills in 1813, while an associate judge of North-
umberland county. David Hammond rose to the rank of lieu-
^^tiant. He was severely wounded in Wayne's attack upon the
^lock-house at Bergen Point, now Jersey City. He died April 22,
^8oi, from the effects of his wound, and is buried in the Chillis-
^uaque graveyard. He was the father of the late General R. H.
llammond, of Milton. Peter Pence was celebrated in border war-
fare, and figures conspicuously in Van Campen*s narrative. Captain
McHenry informs me he died in Crawford township, Clinton
County, in 1827. He left a son, John, living in that neighborhood.
Captain Lowdon's company rendezvoused at Sunbury ; marched
thence to Reading and Easton ; thence through northern part of
New Jersey, crossed the Hudson at New Windsor, a few miles
north-west of West Point ; thence, through Hartford, to Cambridge,
'where it arrived about the 8th of August. McCabe, in his sketches
of Captain Samuel Brady, has preserved some few incidents of this
service. He says, on one occasion, Brady was sitting on a fence,
with the captain, when a cannon ball from a British battery struck the
fence, and leveled them both. Brady was the first up, saying '* we
are not hurt, Captain." I found in a contemporary newspaper an
82 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1776.
account of the island fight, to which McCabe alludes, when he
says: " Lowdon*s company was ordered to drive the British from an
island on which they had landed to forage. Brady was considered too
young to go along, and left behind ; but, to the astonishment of the
captain, he followed after, and was the second man on the island."
November 9, the British landed at Lechmere Point, one and a
half miles from Cambridge, under cover of a fire from their bat-
teries on Bunker, Breed, and Copp*s hills, as also from a frigate,
which lay three hundred yards off the point on which they landed.
The high tide prevented our people crossing the causeway for nearly
an hour. This lime they employed in shooting cows and horses.
The battalion of Colonel Thompson took to the water, although up
to their armpits, for a quarter of a mile, and, notwithstanding the
regular fire, reached the island. Although the enemy were lodged
behind stone walls and under cover, on Colonel Thompson's
approach they fled, and although the riflemen followed them to their
boats with all speed, they could not bring them to an engagement.
Our loss was one killed and three wounded ; English loss seventeen
killed and one wounded. — Philadelphia Evening Post ^ i775-
In *'The Letters of Mrs. Adams,** wife of John Adams, page 61,
under date 12th November, 1775, is also a notice of this incident:
"A number of cattle were kept at Lechmere Point, where two
sentinels were placed. In a high tide it is an island. About four
hundred men were sent to take the cattle off". As soon as the}r
were perceived, the cannon on Prospect hill were fired on them ancL
sunk one of their boats. A Colonel Thompson, of the riflemen,
marched instantly with his men, and though a very stormy day 9
they regarded not the tide nor waited for boats, but marched over
neck-high in water, when the regulars ran without waiting to ge*
off" their stock, and made the best of their way to the opposite
shore. The general sent his thanks in a public manner to the brav<
officer -and his men . "
Colonel Thompson's men are thus descril)ed in Thacher*s Mili--
tary Journal: ** Several companies of riflemen have arrived heir^
from Pennsylvania and Maryland, a distance of from ^\q hundre^i
to seven hundred miles. They are remarkably stout and harAy
men , many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dress^^^
in rifle shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for x)r^^
1775. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 83
accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certamty at two
hundred yards distance. At a review, a company of them, while
on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inch
diameter, at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are
now stationed on our lines, and their shot have frequently proved
^atal to British officers and soldiers.** Journal, pages 37 and 38.
Philadelphia, August 13, 1775.
Dear Sir : — We hope this letter will find you safe at the head
of your company, acting in support and defense of American liberty ;
^ glorious cause, which must stimulate the breast of every honest
and virtuous American, and force him, with undaunted courage and
^Xi&bated vigor, to oppose those ministerial robbers. We hope the
^^ntest will be ended where it began, and that the effusion of blood
'^^^y be providentially prevented, but, at the same time, we hope to
^^^ American liberty permanently established, to have the honor, ere
'^ng, to serve in her righteous cause ; and we are well convinced
^■^^t these sentiments prevail throughout this Province. You can*t
^^nceive what a martial spirit prevails here, and in what order we
^. Two battalions, with the light infantry companies, are very
Xpert in all the manoeuvres, and are generally well furnished with
Tcis. Several companies of riflemen are formed in this city and
^We adjacent counties, who are become expert in shooting ; besides
"^^e have sixteen row galleys, with latteen sails, now building. Some
^f them are already rigged and manned. These galleys are rowed
"W^ith from twenty-four to thirty oars, and carry each one gun, from
Eighteen to thirty-two pounds, besides swivel guns, fore and aft.
\Ve are told by experienced men that these galleys will prevent any
^Tiip of war from coming up this river. All the coast to Georgia is
farmed — prepared to oppose our ministerial enemies. Where,
"t-hen, can these British bastards, those servile engines of ministerial
power, go to steal a few sheep. God and nature has prescribed
^heir bounds. They can*t deluge our lands, nor float their wooden
\)atteries beyond the bounds prescribed, nor dare they to penetrate
so as from afar to view those high-topped mountains which separate
the lower plains from our Canaan, and from whence, should their
folly or madness prompt them to attempt it, would come forth our
thousands and tens of thousands, with gigantic strides, to wash the
84 A\NALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1775.
plains with the blood of those degenerate invaders of the liberties
of mankind.
We, in conjunction with many others, presented a memorial to
the Congress, representing the threatened encroachments of the
Connecticut invaders of our Province. It was well received, and
the Connecticut Delegates and those of this Province were desired
to write to their people respectively, and inclosed I send you a copy
of the Connecticut letter to Wyoming. Stansbury has in it charge,
and it seems to be all that honorable body could do in the affair.
Our partiality for the rifle battalion is so great that we are very
anxious to hear of their having distinguished themselves in some
great enterprise. This partiality is natural and allowable, when, from
one's personal acquaintance with many of their commanders, we can
and do with martial pride celebrate their distinguished abilities as
riflemen and soldiers.
We are, with great esteem, dear sir, your most humble servants,
RoBEkT Lkttis Hooper, junior,
Reuben Haines.
Captain John Lowdon.
P. S. — Present our compliments to Mr. Lukens and Mr. North.
Mr. Musser desires his compliments to you and them.
P. S. — August 17. Since the date of this letter Hawkins Boone
has been down, and says that the Connecticut people have not
attempted any encroachments lately, and, from circumstances, have
little reason to think they will.
Major Ennion Williams (journal before referred to) gives the
the details of a trip to the camp at Cambridge, under date October
17. He says : guns of one of our batteries, two miles from Boston,
firing. One bursted, and killed one man and wounded six. L
returned thence to the riflemen's camp, and stopped with Captain^
Lowdon over night. At daybreak I awoke, and a few minutes after"
the morning gun fired. All aroused directly; the men repaired-
with arms and accouterments to the forts and lines, and in about terw
minutes the captains, with their companies, were in the fort, draw»-
along the sides of the fort, and in two or three minutes they begar*.
their firing.
The capti.in stepped on the banket or step, inside at foot o^
1775-3 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 83
breastwork, and gave the word, V'Make ready !** The front rank step
on the banket, and second step forward. * 'Present !" He does not
give the word **Fire !** but makes a pause. Then they recover, and
face to right about, and march through the files. At the word *'Make
ready !*' again the next rank steps on the banket, and so on continu-
ually. Every man is to be sure of his object before he fires, as he
rests his piece on the parapet. In about a half an hour the flag was
hoisted. They ceased, and retired by regiments to their quarters,
and the orderly sergeant read the orders of the day and trials by
court martial, &c.
There are numerous notices of this company in the Hand papers
in the possession of Mrs. S. B. Rogers, of Lancaster, the grand-
daughter of General Edward Hand, who was lieutenant colonel,
aad afterwards colonel of the First Rifle Regiment. On the 24th of
Oetober he says : '* This morning at dawn Parr, from Northumber-
l>erland, with thirty men from us, marched for Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, to defend that place.'* On the 8th of March : '* I am
Stat ioned on Cobble Hill, with four companies of our regiment. Two
coriijianies, Cluggages' and Chambers', were ordered to Dorchester
on Monday ; Ross* and Lowdon's relieved them yesterday. Every^
regiment is to have a standard and colors. Our standard is to be
a deep green ground, the device a tiger, partly inclosed by toils,
a-ttempting the pass, defended by a hunter, armed with a spear, (in
wViite,) on crimson field. The motto, Domari Nolo.^''^
On the 14th of March, 1776, the company left Cambridge with
tVie battalion which was detached by General Washington, with five
other regiments, under General Sullivan, to prevent a landing of the
British at New York, when they evacuated Boston. Arrived at Hart-
ford on the 2ist, and at New York on the 28th. The company was
stationed on Long Island during May and until June 30th, when it
was mustered out of service.
'This lUndard Is still In possession of Thomas Robinson, Ksqalre, grandson of
LieutentDt Colonel Thomas Koblnson, of the First Pennsylvania, and was on exhibi-
tion at the Centennial, 1876. I Identified it by this description, found among the
Hand papers.
86 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. |
Roil of Captains James Parr's company y eniistedfor three yea
during the war^ from July i , 1776.
Captain — Parr, James, promoted major October 9, 1778.
First Lieutenant — JVilson, James.
Second Lieutenant — Wilson, William, promoted captain Mar
1777.
Third Lieutenant — Dougherty, John.
Sergeants — Hammond, David, (promoted second lieutenent,
teraber 14, 1777; first lieutenant, May 12, 1779,) McCorr
Alexander ; McMurray, William ; Dougherty, Cornelius.
Privates — Allen, David ; Bacher, Michael ; Bradley, John ; C
han, Daniel ; Campbell, Daniel ; Condon, Peter ; Conner, Ja
Coons, Mansfield; Davis, David; Dubois, Richard; Delling,
nelius; Donahue, Patrick; Edwards, William; Griffin, John; '.
erty, William; Hammond, John; Henry, Philip; Hinson, Aq
Hutchinson, John; Jones, Lewis; Leech, William; Lochry, Mic
Loughrey, James ; McCleary, James ; McConnell, Cornelius ;
Cormick, Henry ; McGaughey, Hugh ; Malone, John ; M
Charles; Moore, James; Moore, William; Morgan, Will
Murphy, John; Murray, Patrick; Noishen, John ; Norton, Gee
Oliver, John; Paine, Thomas; Peltson, Thomas; Peter, Ph
Rankin, John ; Ray, John ; Ryan, William ; Saltman, Gee
Scott, Samuel; Scott, William; Sprigg, James; Spcddy, Ja
Stewart, Thomas; Sullivan, Maurice; Thompson, Alexander; T<
John; Warren, George ; -Washburn, Jonathan; Wilson, Mattl
Willson, Samuel; Whiteneck, Joseph; Youse, John.
Road from Bald Eagle to Sunbury,
The viewers reported this road at November sessions. I co]
much as relates to our Valley, as it indicates the names and
dence of early settlers :
**Froma white oak in the Narrows, between White Deer
Buffalo Valleys, two miles ninety-nine perches, to Smith's r
(now Candor's;) thence to white oak, west side of Blythe's
(which was probably nearer the mouth of the creek;) thenc
McClures, (who Hved on Blythe's land ;) thence to a white oak c
site the lower end of Marcus Huling's island, (Milton bi
1T75.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 87
Island;) thence to a plumb at Peter Swartz's, (Miller's place;)
alienee to a stone at Clark's, (late John Khng's ;) thence to a post
^t Robert Fruit's, (Hinely's ;) thence to a post at William Gray's,
^now Paul Geddes' ;) thence to Buffalo creek, (where the iron bridge
:mow spans the creek ;) thence to a pine near the head of Derr's
<iam ; thence to a pine, corner of Abel Reese's, (/. e, through the
University grounds, to Adam Gundy and William Brown's corner ;)
thence to a post at Aurand's barn, (Jenkins' ;) thence to John Lee's,
(Winfield;) thence to Andrew Gibson's; thence to the gum near
Reuben Haines' road ; thence down the same to the black oak on
the west bank of the river, opposite Sunbury."
At the same sessions, the great road up the Valley was extended,
through the Narrows, to the Great Plains, now in Centre county.
25th December occurred Plunket's expedition to Wyoming.
Colonel Kelly and some others from the Valley were along. Jesse
Lukens, Surveyor General Lukens' son, was killed. The history of
this expedition, taken from the records at Harrisburg, I will give in
brief:
On the 23d of November, the Speaker laid before the Assembly
a letter from Samuel Hunter, and others, stating that two of the
magistrates and the sheriff of the county had an interview with
Zebulon Butler and some others of the principal men among the
Connecticut settlers at Wyoming, and read the resolves of the
Assembly to them, and inquired whether they would peaceably
submit to the laws of Pennsylvania. They answered that they
despised the laws of Pennsylvania, and never would submit to them
unless compelled by force. The magistrates received a great deal
of abuse, and returned a different road from that in which they had
gone, on account of the risk of their lives.
The Assembly, on the 25th, requested the Governor to issue
orders for a due execution of the laws of the Province in North-
umberland county, which the Governor did in a letter of that date
to the justices and sheriff. The report of the latter to the Gover-
nor is dated Sunbury, 30th December, 1775, and states that pursu-
ant to his orders, a number of warrants for the apprehension of a
number of persons residing at Wyoming, charged on oath with ille-
gal practices and crimes, were placed in the Sheriff's hands. He
judged it prudent to raise the posse of the county, and a body of
88 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1776.
near five hundred men ax:companied him to the neighborhood of
Wyoming. They were met by some of the people ; one of whom
was said to be an officer. The intentions of the sheriff and his posse
were explained, and that no violence or molestation would be
oflTered any one submitting to the laws. The sheriff had proceeded
but a little further when he was fired upon, and Hugh McWilliams
was killed and three others dangerously wounded. It was found
impossible to force a passage on that side of the river, as the Nar-
rows had been fortified with great care, and were lined with num-
bers of men, to which ours bore no reasonable proportion. An
attempt was then made to cross the river in the night, for greater
secrecy, to reach the settlements of the persons against whom the
process had issued. When the boats had nearly reached the oppo-
site shore, and were entangled in a margin of ice, too thin to bear
the weight of a man, they were, without previous challenge, repeat-
edly fired upon by a party on top of the bank. Jesse Lukens
received a mortal wound, of which he is since dead. As a landing
could not be effected, the boats returned. Baffled in the second
attempt, and the weather being intolerably severe, and receiving
information that the parties he desired to arrest were chief in com-
mand in the breastworks, it was deemed advisable to desist from
any further attempt. A constant fire was kept upon our men from
the opposite side, while they retreated through a long narrows.
One man only, however, was wounded in the arm, &c.
This report is signed by William Scull, sheriff; Samuel Harris,
coroner; and the justices, William Plunket, Samuel Hunter,
Michael Troy, and John Weitzel.
i'r^6
White Deer Township Erected — Associators — Second Battalion —
Colonel Potter — Inhabitants of Penn's — Chtrches of the Valley —
Constitutional Convention — Incident at Derr's Trading-House —
Minutes of the County Committee — Roll of Captain Weitzel's
Company — Fourth Battalion of Associators — Roll of Captain John
Clarke's Company — Roster of Twelfth Pennsylvania.
JOHN PENN, Governor, until September 28, when the
New Constitution went into effect. The surveys, made
under John Penn*s warrants, until December of this
year, were afterwards legalized. James Potter, addi-
tional Member of Assembly. Colonel Samuel Hunter, member of
the Committee of Safety, at Philadelphia. William Maclay, Prothon-
otary ; William Scull, Sheriff; County Commissioners, Thomas
Hewitt, William Gray. 2 2d January, John Weitzel sworn in as
County Commissioner. Attorneys admitted, William Price Gibbs,
and William Lawrence Blair.
Officers of Buffalo township : Constable, Christian Storms ; Over-
seers, John Clarke and John Pontius; Supervisors, Joseph Green
and Jacob Fought.
At February sessions, White Deer township was set off from Buf-
falo, by a line beginning at the upper side of Buffalo creek, at its
mouth ; thence up the same t© the mouth of Sj!>ruce run ; thence
up the same to the forks thereof ; thence up the north-east branch
to the head thereof; thence by a straight line to the four-mile tree,
on Reuben Haines* road, on the line of Potter township. Its first
officers were : Peter Swartz, constable ; Walter Clark and Matthew
S9
go ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1
Brown, overseers ; Hugh Caldwell and Robert Fruit, supervis
Henry Iddings bought the Parsons* place, adjoining Cole
Kelly's, and moved into the Valley. During the summer of
year Widow Smith added a boring-mill to her other mills, r
the mouth of White Deer creek. Here a great number of g
barrels were bored for the Continental army.
Northumberland, ya«i!^ry 24, 177^
I do hereby certify that at an election for field officers, belt
Ludwig Derr*s, on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, on T
day, the 12th day of September last, the following gentlemen v
regularly chosen for the upper division, of the county of Northi
berland, viz : James Potter, Esquire, colonel ; Robert Moo<
Esquire, lieutenant colonel ; Mr. John Kelly, first major ; Mr. J
Brady, second major.
William Scull,
Chairman of the CommitUi
A Return of the Names of the Captains and other Officers of
several Companies, in the Upper Division of the County
Northumberland, with the Ranks of said Companies and nun
of Men,
Arthur Taggart, first captain,
Cornelius Atkinson, first lieutenant,
James McClung, second lieutenant, ^ 85 privates.
James Wilson, ensign.
William Gray, second captain,
William Clark, first lieutenant,
James Murdoch, second lieutenant, \ 90 privates.
William Thompson, ensign.
David Berry, third captain,
William Hammond, first lieutenant,
Israel Parsels, second lieutenant, ^ 45 privates.
Benjamin Burt, ensign.
Samuel Dale, fourth captain,
William Bennet, first lieutenant, \
Hawkins Boone, second lieutenant, V 67 privates.
Jesse Weeks, ensign. )
-J
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
9'
Cookson Long, fifth captain,
William Mucklehatton, first lieutenant,
Robert Fleming, second lieutenant,
Robert Fleming, junior, ensign.
Samuel Wallis, sixth captain,
John Scudder, first lieutenant,
Peter Jones, second lieutenant,
James Hampton, ensign.
James Murray, seventh captain,
William Murray, first lieutenant,
Thomas Plunket, second lieutenant,
Andrew Robinson, ensign.
Henry Antes, eighth captain,
Thomas Brandon, first lieutenant,
Alexander Hamilton, second lieutenant ,
Simon Cole, ensign.
John McMillan, ninth" captain,
John McConnol, first lieutenant,
JohnMcCormick, second lieutenant,
Charles Wilson, ensign.
David Hayes, tenth captain,
Charles Clark, first lieutenant,
Thomas Gray, ensign.
Philip Davis, eleventh captain,
James Aspey, first lieutenant,
John Nelson, second lieutenant,
Jacob Fulmore, ensign.
59 privates.
91 privates.
60 privates.
58 privates.
43 privates.
\
41 privates.
74 privates.
NoRTHUMBELRAND, 2 ^h January j 1776.
^ do hereby certify the above to be a true return, of the several
^^^"ipanies, which, form the battalion in the upper division of the
^unty of Northumberland, as delivered in to me.
WiLUAM Scull,
^ Chairman of the Committee.
^ ^He Committee of Safety of the Province of Pennsylvania.
, . ^ he following imperfect list of the inhabitants of Penn*s town-
, .^ is taken from the duplicate of Christian Seecrist, collector for
^ year, duplicate being mutilated : Adams, George ; Albright,
9^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [177*J — ^
Jacob; Albright, Frederick ; Arnold, Casper; Arnold, Lawrence;
Augustine, Hieronimus; Ault, Michael; Bait, Adam; Bander,
Adam; Baker, William ; Berst, Peter; Bear, Jacob; Bickel, Tobias;
Bomberger, John ; Bower, Peter ; Bower, Henry ; Bright, John ;
Bressler, Nicholas ; Brouse, John ; Brau, Martin ; Bombach, George ;
Crean, John; Hassinger, Jacob; Hosterman, Peter; Hosterman,
Jacob, junior; Jacobs, Joseph; Jorday, Peter; Jordan, Philip;
Jost, Casper ; Kerstetter, Michael ; Kerstetter, Bastian ; Keller,
Michael; Kebler, John; Kline, Andrew; Kline, Jacob; Kline,
George ; Kline, Stophel ; Kroo, Godfrey ; Kremer, Pejer ; Kremer,
Daniel ; Graybill, (Krebill,) John ; Kreger, Henry; Krail, Michael;
Laudenslager, George ; Seiver, Adam, inmate ; Lewis, John, in-
mate ; Lepley, Michael ; Leist, David ; Lemley, Leonard ; Li\dn-
good, Jacob ; Lively, John ; Livengood, F. ; Livey, Peter ; Lowrey,
George ; Long, Christian ; Livengood, George ; Maurer, Law-
rence ; Maurer, Peter ; Manning Richard ; Markley, Peter ; Mark-
ley, Simeon; Martin, Frederick; Mensch, Charles; Menich,
Simeon ; Meiser, Michael ; Meiser, John ; Meiser, John ; Meese,
Thomas ; Miser, Henry ; Miller, Henry ; Miller, Christian ; Miller,
Frederick ; Miller, Dewalt ; Miller, George ; Moon, William ; Moon,
Casper, junior ; Motz, George, inmate ; Motz, John ; Moore, Andrew;
Moon, Casper, senior; Motz, Michael; Mull, Anthony; Murray,
Alexander; Myer, Charles; Myer, Jacob, junior; Myer, Jacob,
senior; Myer, Alexander; Myer, Stophel; McQueen, John; Mc-
Kean, William ; Newcomer, Francis ; Nees, William ; Newman,
Jacob; Neff, Jacob; O'Brien, Patrick; Puff, Dewall ; Pyle, Peter;
Reger, Michael ; Reed, John ; Reager, Adam, junior ; Reichen-
bach, John, senior; Reichenbach, John, junior; Reed, Casper;
Ream, John; Riddle, Yost; Richart, Henry; Righter, Christian;
Right, Ellis; Row, George; Row, George, junior; Row, John;
Row, Martin ; Roush, Casper ; Roush, George ; Robert, John ;
Rush, John ; Ryne, Henry ; Sense, Frederick ; Seccrist, Christian ;
Schrock, John ; Schrock, George ; Shaffer, Peter ; Shaffer, Andrew ;
Shaffer, Ludwig ; Sharrett, Jacob; Sherrick, John; Shedderly,
Andrew; Shallenberger, Lawrence; Shock, Mathias; Simeon,
Joseph ; Smith, John ; Smith, Nicholas ; Snyder, Harman ; Snyder,
Simon ; Snyder, Anthony ; Snider, John ; Snevely, Abraham ;
Swift, John; Spayd, Jacob; Spees, Jacob; Stees, Jacob; Steel,
3.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. ^
\n ; Stephen, Adam ; Stinley, Daniel ; Stigleman, Jacob ; Straup,
:er ; Strayer, Mathias ; Strump, Casper ; Stroam, Christian ;
K:k, Melchior; Summerouser, Henry; Sutton, Stephen; Swengle,
chael ; Swartz, John ; Swift, John ; Swoab, George ; Trester,
LTtin, junior; Trester, Michael; Truckenmiller, Peter; Trout-
', George ; Ulrich, George ; Wales, John ; Wallace, Samuel ;
Iter, Ludwig; Walter, Jacob ; Warfel, Henry; Weaver, Michael ;
iser, Peter, senior; Weiser, Benjamin, Esquire; Weirich, Peter;
irich, William; Whitmer, Peter; Whitmore, Michael; Witten-
2r, Andrew ; Wittenmyer, Ludwig ; Wing, Hugh ; Wise, George ;
rrah, or Woodrow, Ludwig; 2^11ar, John; 2^rbach, Bartel;
im^rman, Stophel; Zanzinger, Adam. Single men — Bickle,
ion ; Dellman, Andrew ; Dill, Leonard ; Dunkle, Charles ; Gar-
Henry; Havelock, Jacob; Isenhower, Frederick; Kremer,
liel ; Kerstetter, Martin ; List, Andrew ; Maxwell, James ; Me-
11, Daniel; Miller, Conrad; Myst, John; Rickert, John ; Stroup,
.n ; Snider, Stophel ; Stock, Peter ; Weaver, John ; Zeller,
nry.
The churches in what was called in general Shamokin, on both
is of the Susquehanna, about the junction of the North and West
inches, namely, Mahony, Sunbury, Middle Creek and Buffalo Vai-
, were in existence as early as 1776. In the minutes of CatuSy
d in Lancaster, May i, is a minute '* that different congregations
Shamokin having asked for such an arrangement as to have min-
ers visit them, it was resolved that ministers should visit them
:asionally during this year, and preach to them,*' &c. Harbaugh*s
thers of the German Reformed Church, 3d vol., 34th page. The
,'rman Reformed Church was under the supervision of the church
Holland until about the year 1791, and only such ministers were
:eived by the church as were either sent over by the Fathers in
olland, or had their indorsement. Ibid.y 2d vol.
Convenfion of 1776.
In consequence of a circular letter from the Committee of the City
id Liberties of Philadelphia, inclosing the resolution of the Con-
lental Congress of the 15th of May, recommending the adoption
the State Government in each of the Colonies, a provincial con-
g4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [*•-
ference was held at Philadelphia, on Tuesday, June i8. For the
committee of Northumberland county appeared Colonel William
Cooke, Alexander Hunter, Esquire, John Weitzel, Robert Martin
and Matthew Brown. This conference met at Carpenters' Hall,
and chose Colonel Thomas McKean, President. It was resolved
unanimously that a convention should be called to form a new
Government. Qualifications of an elector were fixed as follows : He
must be twenty-one years of age, have lived one year in the Province,
and paid either a provincial or county tax, and further, swear that
he would no longer bear allegiance to George III. To be a member
of the convention required like qualifications, and further, that he
must swear that he would oppose any measure that would interfere
with or obstruct the religious principles or practices of any of the
good people of the Province \ and still further, sign a declaration of
faith in the Trinity and in the Divine inspiration of the Old and
New Testament.
It was determined that each county should have eight Represent
atives or members, the election for whom should be held o
Monday, the 8th of July, and it passed resolutions to raise four thou
sand five hundred militia, to join a flying camp to consist of
thousand men in the middle Colonies, &c.
The election for Northumberland county was held at Georg
McCandlish*s,* (Turbutt.) Thomas Hewitt, William Shaw and/1-
Joseph Green were the judges. The members elected were : Williama*-
Cooke, James Potter, Robert Martin, Matthew Brown, Walter Clark^
John Kelly, James Crawford, John Weitzel. The convention mec::
on Monday, the 15th of July, in Philadelphia, and Doctor Frankliim
was chosen President. It continued, by adjournments, until the 28tlB.
of September, when the Constitution was adopted and signed.
A short statement of its salient points will be of interest, and serve
to explain the political statistics of these Annals. The law-making"
power was vested in a House of Representatives, the members of
which were to be chosen annually, by ballot, on the second Tuesday
of October, to meet on the fourth Monday of the same month. No
member could serve more than four years. It was to choose the
iMcOandllih llred In a log house just back of MiltoOf on the late Samuel Hepburn,
£sqntre*8f farm. In July, 1779, Marcus Hulings sold him his tavern stand on the
rirer, at the end of Broadway street, Milton, Hulings returning to his old home,
Dunoan*! Iiland.^J. F. Wolflnger, Esquire.
'^C] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, gs
^^te Treasurer and Delegates to Congress annually, of which no one
Ould be a member more than two years successively, nor be capable
r re-election for three years afterward. Each county was to be
Tititled to six members until a proper apportionment could be made.
^here was also a provision for the election of a council of censors
ci 1783, and every seven years thereafter, two persons from each
ity and county, whose duty it was to inquire whether the Constitu-
ion had been violated.
The execution of the laws devolved upon the President and
supreme Executive Council. This consisted of twelve persons, one
br the city of Philadelphia, and one from each of the eleven coun-
ies into which the Province was then divided. They were, however,
rhosen by districts. .Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland and
Westmoreland constituting one district, the embryo of the present
senatorial representation. Every member of Council was a justice
of the peace for the whole State. The President and Vice President
of the State were chosen of members of the Council in joint conven-
tion of the Assembly and Council. The President had the power of
appointing and commissioning judges, &c., and of sitting as judge
in impeachment cases, and could grant pardons, &c. The judges
of the Supreme Court held office for seven years. Two or more
persons were chosen in each township as justices, and the Council
commissioned one or more of them for seven years. These justices
held the several courts. It did not follow, as remarked by Judge
Duncan, in Albright's case, who was both associate and justice in
1 81 3, the legality of holding both offices at the same time being
then tested and affirmed, that the Council should appoint the justices
of the sessions from the justices elect, though they generally did.
Two persons were to be voted for for sheriff, one of whom was
commissioned by the Council. The county commissioners and
assessors of taxes were to be elected by the people, thus embodying
in the Constitution the principles for which the Revolution was
inaugurated, the right of the people to tax themselves.
The convention, by an ordinance dated September 3, created a
new Council of Safety, of which Samuel Hunter and John Weitzel
were the members for Northumberland county. It also appointed
the following justices : Samuel Hunter, James Potter, William Ma-
day, Robert Moodie, John Lowdon, Benjamin Weiser, Henry Antes,
and John Simpson.
qb ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [177
•
John Lowdon, of Silver Spring, near Mifflinburg, became memb<
of the Supreme Executive Council by choice of the Delegates froi
the district of Northampton, Bedford, Westmoreland, and No
thumberland counties.
Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter were in the third election di:
trict; and the first election under the constitution was held at Fought
mill, (near Mifflinburg,) on 3d of November. The Assembly met i
Philadelphia on the 28th of November, when Thomas Whartot
junior, was elected President of the Council and State ; John Jacol
Speaker of the House.
Copy of Certificate on file in the office of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth,
Northumberland County, November 7, 1776.
Agreable to an ordinance in Convention for the State or Con
monwealth of Pennsylvania, this is to certify that the following pei
sons were duly elected for the respective offices annexed to thei
names for the county aforesaid :
Council, John Lowdon; Assembly, Thomas Hewitt, Samu<
Dale, Jacob Fulmer, Robert Fniit, David Robb, and Samuel Wall is
Sheriff, Jonathan Lodge and James Murray ; Coroner, James M(
Mahan, John Murray ; Commissioners, William Gray, Philip Cole
Joseph Wallis; Assessors, David Mead, Andrew Moore, Jamc
Thompson, James McClure, William Watson, and William Shaw.
(Signed) John Brady,
James McClenachan,
John Gray,
Thomas Robinson,
Judges of the Different Districts,
Incideni at Den's Trading- House,
It is singular, after a careful search of contemporary documents
I can find no allusion to the treaty, said to have been held at For
Augusta, at the time this incident occurred. It appears by contera
porary evidence, that the Indians cut down their corn, and move(
off their families and effects, on the ist of July. Two Seneca In
.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 97
disLCis came to the Great Island, (just below Lock Haven,) the day
before, and the whole party moved off suddenly, to join the Six
\ actions in the war. That is the last we know of them as residents
or the West Branch valley, and our troubles with them then began.
In a letter, dated Paxton, August 27, 1776, John Harris says:
•'The Indians, to the northward, southward, and westward, are for
war against us, as I am informed by a letter from Northumberland
county, by their post, two days ago. The Susquehanna Indians
are only for peace with us. About twenty Indians, (enemies,) men,
women, and children, have been many days past at Sunbury, and
niake said report.** In all probability this was the party that stopped
at Derr*s trading-house, and the date of the incident, therefore,
August, 1776.
Christian Van Gundy (father of Captain Jacob Gundy, who is
"^y authority,) often related the incident. He said, his father.
Christian Van Gundy, senior, lived between John Strohecker*s and
^^€ late Jacob Spidler*s, and kept the ferry there. He thought he
^''^^ about thirteen years old at the time -, but it appears, by his tomb-
stone, that he was born about the 1st of March, 1766, and if thir-
^^n, it would throw the date beyond that of the death of Captain
John Brady, (nth April, 1779.) He could, therefore, have been
Only ten years of age. To resume his story : he said he saw the
*^nciians come up the river, until they arrived opposite where they
»ivecl. They stopped, carried some things ashore, and left the
^on^en there, then crossed over to Derr*s trading-house. He asked
"^s father for permission to go up to see the Indians. He said he
^^ Derr knock in the head of a whisky barrel, and give the In-
^i^^ns tin-cups to drink with. They drank and danced, and showed
"Ow they scalped by gestures. Most of them got beastly drunk ;
"^t one would not drink any. He then saw Brady approach, and
*^^k over the barrel, which put an end to the frolic. He said they
^'^Uld seize each other by the hair, and go through the form of
^^^Iping, tearing off the scalp with the teeth. (Derr's house stood
^y the cherry tree in the present garden, and the barrel was just in
""^tit. So John Brown, senior, said, who owned the mill property
'^^^ny years.)
^. B. McCabe, Esquire, of Blairsville, Indiana county, (whither
'^illiam P. Brady removed,) published, some forty years ago, in the
7
q8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [177(
Blairsville Record^ some sketches of the life of Captain Samu
Brady, written upon the dictation of one of the Brady family, (i
the late Jasper E. Brady informed me,) in which this incident is
alluded to. He says Captain John Brady lived on the West Branch,
opposite the site of Lewisburg, on the place owned by Honorable
George Kremer*s heirs. Derr had a small mill on the run that
empties into the river below the town, where he supplied the Indians
with powder, lead, rum, &c. Brady discovered that the Indians
were likely to be tampered with by the British, and proposed making
a treaty with the Seneca and Muncy tribes, who were up the West
Branch, and were at variance with the Delawares, who were on the
North Branch. Captain Brady and two others were selected by the
people at Fort Augusta to go after the Senecas and Muncys. The
Indians met them in a very friendly manner, and promised to attend
at Fort Augusta on the day appointed.
They came down about one hundred strong, and dressed in war
costume. The people at the Fort were too poor to give them any-
thing of value, and they did not succeed in making a treaty. They
left the fort, however, in a good humor, and taking their canoes,
proceeded homeward.
Late in the day, Brady thought of Derr's trading-house, and
mounting a small mare he had, crossed the North Branch, rode
• home with all speed. He saw the canoes of the Indians on the
bank of the river, near Derr's, and, when near enough, saw the
squaws working the canoes over to his side of the river, and when
they landed they made for the thickets of sumac which grew on his
land. They were conveying the rifles, tomahawks, and knives into
the thickets, and hiding them. Brady jumped into a canoe and
crossed to Derr's trading-house, where he found the Indians drunk,
and a barrel of rum standing on end before Derr's door, with the
head out. He instantly overset it and spilled the rum, saying to
Derr, " My God, Ludwig, what have you done?" Derr replied,
** Dey dells me you gif um no dreet down on de fort, so I dinks as
I give um one here, als he go home in bease." One of the Indians
told Brady he would one day rue the spilling of that barrel ; and
Brady, being well acquainted with the Indian character, was con-
stantly on his guard for several years.
On the 4th of July, there was a convention of the associators, at
^'^^.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 99
ncaster, to elect two brigadiers general. Colonel Hunter's bat-
Lion was represented by Captain Charles Gillespie, Lieutenant
»rge Calhoun, privates Frederick Stone and Laughlin McCart-
^^y. Colonel Plunket*s, by Major John Brady, Lieutenant Mor-
decai McKinney, privates Paul Geddes and Andrew Culbertson.
Colonel Weiser*s, by the colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel
Nlaclay, privates Seth Matlock and Jonas Yocum. Colonel Potter's,
t>y Lieutenant Colonel Robert Moodie, Captain William Gray, pri-
vates James McClenachan and Benjamin Starret. Daniel Roberdeau
3jid James Ewing were elected. Colonel Potter receiving a very
respectable vote.
July 29, Walter Clark and John Kelly, in attendance upon the
convention at Philadelphia, petition the Council of Safety that they
Iziad just grounds to believe that the county would be disturbed by
the Indians, and stated that there was not sufficient ammunition in
the county for the four battalions already raised.
The original of the following minutes were given to the late
Joseph G. Wallace, of Lewisburg, by his grandfather. Captain Wil-
liam Gray, of Buffalo Valley, and loaned by him to Sherman Day,
'who never returned them. I am indebted to John Jordan, junior.
£squire, of Philadelphia, for a printed copy of them, published by
the Historical Society among their proceedings in 1846 :
Minutes of the Committee of Safety of Northumberland county, Penn-
sylvania,
From February ^th, 1776, to April 17M, 1777.
IFrom the origloal MS. lately presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylyanta.]
On the 8tA of February ^ \ii(iy
The following gentlemen, being previously nominated by the
respective townships to serve in this committee, for the county of
Northumberland, for the space of six months, met at the house of
Richard Malone, viz. :
Augusta township. Mahoning township,
John Weitzel, Esquire, William Cook, Esquire,
Alexander Hunter, Esquire, Benjamin Allison, Esquire,
Thomond Ball. Mr. Thomas Hewet.
too
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
11776-
Turbut township.
Captain John Hambright,
William McKnight,
William Shaw.
Bald Eagle township,
Mr. William Dunn,
Thomas Hughes,
Alexander Hamilton.
Wioming township.
Mr. James Maclure,
Mr. Thomas Clayton,
Mr. Peter Melick.
Muncey township.
Robert Robb, Esquire,
William Watson,
John Buckalow.
Buff aloe township,
Mr. Weaker Claxk, removed
White Deer,
William Irwin,
Joseph Green.
Penn's toivnship.
to
Moughonoy township.
Potter tottmship.
John Livingston,
Maurice Davis,
John Hall.
White Deer township.
Walter Clark,
Matthew Brown,
Marcus Huling.
The committee proceeded to elect a chairman and clerk, when
Captain John Hambright was unanimously appointed chairman
during the continuance of this committee, and Thomond Ball
clerk.
A return was presented to this committee, signed by William
Scull, Esquire, chairman of a meeting of the officers and committee-
men of the lower division of this county, held at Northumberland,
the 7th instant, certifying that the following gentlemen were duly
elected field officers for the battalion of said division, viz :
Samuel Hunter, Esquire, colonel.
William Cook, Esquire, lieutenant colonel.
Casper Weitzel, Esquire, first major.
Mr. John Lee, second major.
8.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, jot
Hesohed, That we accept of the same as a true return, and that
i gentlemen therein mentioned be recommended to the Honorable
sembly or Committee of Safety to be commissioned accordingly.
Complaint being made that the battalion of the upper division of
IS county have not yet met, so as to have a fair election for field
fleers,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the officers, with three
►mmitteemen from each township in said division, to meet at the
>iise of John Scudder, on Saturday, 24th instant, to elect their
^ld officers, and return them to this committee on Monday, 26th
^tant, in order to be recommended to the Committee of Safety.
Resotved, That the absence of several gentlemen chosen captains
" companies in this county, (upon their several occasions,) and
ich as did appear (from the short notices they have had) not being
rovided with as regular returns of their officers and companies as
e think can authorize our recommendation of said captains or their
bal terns to the Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Province,
remedy this inconvenience it is recommended to the committee-
en of each township to advertise a meeting of the several compa-
es on Wednesday, 21st instant, at such places as the majority of
e committeemen shall think most convenient, where, under the
spection of two or more committeemen, each company shall
tablish their present, or elect other officers, as they shall think
oper, and the captains so established or elected shall make returns
their subalterns and companies to this committee on Monday,
ith instant. It is expected that no gentlemen will offer to return
company that does not consist of forty privates with the officers
id non-commissioned officers, agreeable to the regulations of our
onorable House of Assembly.
Resolved, That if a committeeman or committeemen be elected
ificers, one or more magistrate or magistrates present may certify
)r them ; and if no magistrate be present, then two or more reputa-
le men certifying for the justness of the election will be accepted of.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that a petition
e presented to the Honorable Assembly of this Province, setting
»rth the late murder of two of the sheriff's posse, near Wioming,
n attempting to act in conformity to the laws.
Resolved, That John Weitzel, Esquire, Alexander Hunter, Es-
J02 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [ITT ^^
quire, and Mr. Thomond Ball, be a committee to frame said petitio
and present it to this committee at their next meeting.
The committee then adjourned to Monday, 26th instant, at i
house of Laughlin McCartney, in Northumberland town.
Monday, February 26th y 1776.
The committee met, according to adjournment, at the house o
Laughlin McCartney, in Northumberland town, Captain John
Hambright in the chair.
Messrs. Weitzel, Hunter and Ball presented the form of a petitio
to the Honorable Assembly, relative to the Connecticut intruders-
which was approved of and ordered to be copied fair.
The following gentlemen appeared and produced certificates
their being regularly chosen captains of companies in Colon
Hunter's battalion, and produced lists of their subalterns, comp
nies, &c. , viz :
Captain, Nicholas Miller,
First Lieutenant, Christopher Gettig,
Second Lieutenant, Nehemiah Breese,
First Ensign, Gustavus Ross,
Second Ensign, William Sims.
Captain, Hugh White,
First Lieutenant, John Forster,
Second Lieutenant, Andrew Gibson,
Ensign, Samuel Young.
Captain, James McMahon,
First Lieutenant, John Murray,
Second Lieutenant, William Fisher,
Ensign, William Baily.
Captain, Charles Gillespie,
First Lieutenant, Robert King,
Second Lieutenant, Samuel Fulton,
First Ensign, William Boyd,
Second Ensign, John Woodside.
Captain, William Scull,
First Lieutenant, Jonathan Lodge,
Second Lieutenant, George Colhoun,
1TT6.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 103
First Ensign, William Sawyers,
Second Ensign, George Grant.
Captain, William Clarke,
First Lieutenant, John Teitson,
Second Lieutenant, William McDonald,
First Ensign, John Moll.
Resolved, That the above six companies appear to be full and
^^gularly officered, and that they, with the field officers of that bat-
^Hon, be recommended to the Committee of Safety to receive their
^^X>ective commissions ; which was done in a letter, of which the
Allowing is an abstract :
Northumberland, February 26, 1776.
Gentlemen : At a meeting of the committee for this county, held
^^is day, the following gentlemen were returned as duly elected field
officers, captains, and subalterns of a battalion raised in this county,
^iz : the officers mentioned above. The above returns of six com-
panies belonging to the battalion expected to be commanded by
^muel Hunter, Esquire, appear to be well and regularly certified
as complete companies. There are two or three companies more
intend to belong to said battalion, but their captains being at present
out of the county, we have received no returns of them. We further
have the pleasure to inform you there is another complete battalion
formed in this county, intended to be under the command of Wil-
liam Plunket, Esquire ; but he with his other field officers being so
lately promoted, their companies have not had sufficient time to elect
captains in their room, we, therefore, think we cannot at present, with
propriety recommend them, but hope in a few days to have the
honor of transmitting to you a proper return of said battalion. In
the meantime take the liberty to recommend the above named gen-
tlemen to be commissioned in the several stations annexed to their
names.
And are, gentlemen, with due esteem, your very humble servants.
By order of the committee,
John Hambright, Chairman,
To the Committee of Safety, Philadeiphia,
Resolved, That as several companies belonging to battalions in
this county have not yet brought in their returns, and it may be
104 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
,
inconvenient to call the whole committee ♦together to receive
returns, that the chairman, with four others of the committe
sufficient to receive such returns, and recommend the officers
Committee of Safety.
Resolved, That this committee be adjourned to Wednesday,
of March next, then to meet at the house of Frederick Stoi
Northumberland town.
Wednesday, March 13, 1776.
The committee met at the house of Frederick Stone, in P
umberland town, agreeable to adjournment. Captain John
bright in the chair, when the following gen tlemen made retui
their officers, captains, subalterns, &c., properly certified, viz
William Plunket, Esquire, Colonel,
James Murray, Esquire, Lieutenant Colonel,
Mr. John Brady, First Major,
Mr. Cookson Long, Second Major.
Captain, Henry Antis, Esquire,
First Lieutenant, Thomas Brandon,
Second Lieutenant, Alexander Hamilton,
First Ensign, John Morison,
Second Ensign, James Alexander.
Captain, Samuel Wallis,
First Lieutenant, John Scudder,
Second Lieutenant, Peter Jones,
Ensign, James Hampton.
Captain, John Robb,
First Lieutenant, William Watson,
Second Lieutenant, Robert Wilson,
Ensign, James White.
Captain, William McElhatton,
First Lieutenant, Andrew Boggs,
Second Lieutenant, Thomas Wilson,
Ensign, John McCormick.
Captain, William Murray,
First Lieutenant, Richard Irwin,
y
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, JOj
Second Lieut«iant, Thomas Plunkett,
First Ensign, Andrtw Robinson,
Second Ensign, Benjamin Jordon.
Captain, Simon Cool,
First Lieutenant, Thomas Camplen,
Second Lieutenant, James Brandon,
First Ensign, William King,
Second Ensign, James Hewes.
Captain, David Berry,
First Lieutenant, William Hammond,
Second Lieutenant, Joseph Bonser,
Ensign, Israel Pershel.
*/vetf, That the returns made of the above mentioned field
; and seven compxanies appear to be regular and wfeU certified
companies, and that [the] officers be recommended to the
ttee of Safety ; which [was] done by letter, of which the fol-
is a copy :
Northumberland, March 13, 1.776.
TLEMEN : Agreeable to the promise of our last of 26th ultimo,
J inform that at a meeting of the committee for this county,
is day, the following gentlemen were returned as fairly elected
ficers, captains, and subalterns of a battalion raised in this
, viz:
iam Plunket, Esquire, Colonel, and the rest as above.
above returns of officers for a battalion, consisting of seven
lies, appear to us to be regular and well certified to be com-
Dmpanies; we, therefore, take the liberty of recommending
ntlemen to the respectable Committee of Safety, appointed
: Province of Pennsylvania to receive commissions in the
stations annexed to their names. Being unwilling to trouble
nraittee, who, we apprehend, are already overburthened with
s, we have transmitted an enumeration of grievances, under
jve think this county labors, to Samuel Hunter, Esquire, our
entative, and one of your respectable body, who is well ac-
id with the circumstances of this county, requeuing he may,
lot ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [!'
if necessary, lay the same before you, and should be glad of yo«
opinion how to act in the different cases therein mentioned.
We are, gentlemen, &c.
Signed by order of the committee,
John Hambright, Chatrman,
To the Committee of Safety, Philadelphia,
[Copy of Liotter referred to in the above.]
Northumberland, March i^th, 1776.
Sir : We have this day wrote to the Committee of Safety, r«
commending officers of another battalion, to wit : Colonel Plu«
ket's. We had it \r\ contemplation to write to the Committee ■
Safety concerning the recruiting parties that have lately bee
amongst us and taken away some good men, when both office
and men could be sent from this, if any ought to be sent out -
tlie county. It is unnecessary for us to inform you of our situatioi
as you are so well acquainted with it. There have been differe 1
applications to us for recommendations as officers of companies '
be raised in this county, to go into immediate service. We aj
somewhat at a loss what to do ; but would be desirous, if men a-T
to be taken for the continental service out of this county, officei
should go with them. We, not considering it proper to trouble th
Committee of Safety with our sentiments on this occasion, havi
taken the liberty to write to you, with an intention to get you;
advice upon the matter, as we cannot prevent recruiting partie
from coming amongst us, or stop men from going into the arm]
out of this county. If more battalions should be raised, or mor
men wanted, would it not be proper, from our situation as a frontie
county, to have two or three companies raised, officered, and disci
plined, and put into immediate pay; and if not wanted neare
home, to be always in readiness to go upon any service on whic
the continent may have occasion for them. We have sufficien
information that Hawkins Boone has enlisted several men in thi
county, and has declared his having received his authority an*
money from the Congress for that purpose, and that he is to be
guard to the Congress. By this conduct he has drawn off som
men from the different companies of military associators. We have
as a committee of the county, taken liberty to cite him to appea
1776.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 107
before some of us, and show by what authority he has undertaken so
to do ; but he has not appeared. We think when men are enlisted
in this county, we have a right to know for what service they are
enlisted. It is from our zeal for the good cause now carrying on
that we are desirous to know the reason of such procedure. This,
if you think proper, you may communicate to the Committee of
Safety, and are requesting your advice how to act.
Wth due respect, your very humble servants.
Signed on behalf of the committee,
John Hambright, Chairman,
^o Samuel Hunter, Esquire, Philadelphia,
«
Information being given to the committee that a certain Haw-
*^ins Boone is now enlisting men in this county, without giving any
^tisfactory account for what purpose or service the said men are
unlisted,
Resolved, That the chairman of this committee call upon the
^cl Hawkins Boone, by letter or otherwise, to appear before him
^d two or more of said committee, as he, the chairman, shall think
^^pedient, on such day and at such place as he shall appoint, to
s/io^v cause why he, the said Boone, enlists men as aforesaid.
-^esolvedy That this committee be adjourned to Monday, 25th
^^ ^^^rch, instant, then to meet at the house of Thomond Ball, in
^^«^bury.
Monday, March 25M, 1776.
""iTie committee met pursuant to adjournment at the house of
^*^omond Ball, in Sunbury, Captain John Hambright in the chair.
'^esohedy That it appears to this committee that several recruit-
^^ fe officers belonging to the battalions of different counties in this
f^^Ciyince, have lately come to this infant frontier county and drained
^' ^^f a number of useful men, to the prejudice of the same.
-^esolvedy That for the future no officer or non-commissioned
^•^icer be allowed to recruit men in this county, except the officers
^*^o are or may be appointed therein.
John Simpson, Esquire, presented a return, wherein appears the
^^^^ lowing list of officers, the company belonging to Colonel Hun-
^^*"'s battalion, viz:
io8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [177
Captain, John Simpson, Esquire.
First Lieutenant, Robert Curry.
Second Lieutenant, John Ewart.
First Ensign, Thomas Gaskins.
Second Ensign, David Mead.
Resolved, That the same appears a full company, and that tk
gentlemen therein mentioned as officers, be recommended to the
Committee of Safety to receive their several commissions ; which
was done accordingly, by a letter, of which the following is a copy :
SuNBURY, 27M March, 1776.
Gentlemen ; Our last to you was of 13th instant, recommending
William Plunket, Esquire, colonel, with other officers of a battalioi
commanded by said colonel. At this meeting, John Simpson
Esquire, presents a return in which it appears that he is captain
Robert Curry, first, and John Ewart, second lieutenants, Thoma
Gaskins, first, and David Mead second ensign, which is well certi
fied to be a full company, belonging to Col. Hunter's battalion
we, therefore, take the liberty of recommending said gentlemen t
receive commissions agreeable to the ranks to which the peopl
have appointed them. We are now, gentlemen, to inform you c
what we think a grievance to this young and thinly inhabite
county, viz : a constant succession of recruiting officers from di
ferent counties in this Province. Our zeal for the cause of Amer:
can liberty has hitherto prevented our taking any steps to hindc
the raising of men for its service, but finding the evil increasing s
fast upon us as almost to threaten the depopulation of the count)
we cannot help appealing to the wisdom and justice of your con
mittee to know whether the quota of men that may be demande
from this county under their own officers is not as much as ca
reasonably be expected from it. Whether, at a time when we ai
uncertain of peace with the Indians, (well knowing that our en<
mies are tampering with them,) and a claim is set up to the greate;
part of this Province by a neighboring Colony who have their ho
tile abettors at our very breasts, as well as their emissaries among
us, is it prudent to drain an infant frontier county of its strength
men? and whether the safety of the interior parts of the Provin-
would not be better secured by adding strength to the frontiers
ITTe.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, log
Vhether our Hon. Assembly, by disposing of commissions to
gentlemen in different counties to raise companies which are to
form the number of battalions thought necessary for the defense of
the Province, did not intend that the respective captains should
raise their companies where they [were] appointed; and not dis-
tress our county by taking from it all the men necessary for the
l>usiness of agriculture, as well as the defense of the same ? From
our knowledge of the state of this county, we make free to give our
opinion of what would be most for its advantage, as well as that of
the Province, (between which we hope there never will be a dififer-
^^ce,) and first are to inform you [of] the poverty of the people,
^^^^ny of whom came bare and naked here, being plundered by a
^^nditti who call themselves Yankees, and those who brought some
F^'"operty with them, from the necessary delay of cultivating a wil-
*~*^Tness before they could have any produce to live upon, together
*^'ith the necessity of still continuing the closest application to labor,
^^d industry for their support, renders it morally improbable that a
^"^11 disciplined militia can be established here, as the distance
^*liich some men are obliged to go to muster is the loss of two days
^^^ them, which, not being paid for, they will not, nor indeed can
^V^ey, so often attend as is necessary to complete them even in the
^Vjanual exercise. We would recommend that two or more com-
l^nies be raised and put in pay for the use of the Province, to be
^'eady to march when and where the service may require them, and
'^hen not wanted for the service of the public at any particular
place, to be stationed in this county in order to be near and defend
our frontier, should they be attacked by our enemies of any denomi-
nation, the good effect of which, we imagine, would be consider-
able, as though they may be too few to repel, they may stop the
progress of an enemy until the militia could be raised to assist them.
Should this proposal appear eligible, please to inform us thereof,
and we will recommend such gentlemen for officers as we think will
be most suitable for the servipe and agreeable to the people.
We are, gentlemen, with due respect, your very humble servants.
Signed for and in behalf of the committee,
John Hambright, Chairman.
To the Committee of Safftv, Philadelphia,
110
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
[1
6.
August f 13, 1776.
The following gentlemen being unanimously chosen by th^?"^''
respective townships to serve in the committee for the county -^^f
Northumberland, for the space of six months, met at school-hou^^^
in the town of Northumberland, viz :
For Augusta township,
Mr. William McClay,
Mr. David McKinney,
Mr. John McClay.
Turbit township,
George McCandish,
Wm. Shaw,
Paul Geddis.
Mahoning township,
Laughlan McCartney,
Thomas Robinson,
John Boyd.
Muncy township,
Mordecai McKinney,
James Giles,
Andrew Culbertson.
Buff aloe township,
Martin Treaster,
William Speedy,
Philip Coal.
Penn's townsldp,
Simeon Woodrow,
Adam Bolinger,
Paul Gemberling.
Bald Eagle township,
Robert Fleming,
Thomas Campling,
John Section.
Wyoming township,
Samuel McClure,
Peter Meelick,
John Clingman.
Moughonoy township,
Bastian Brossius,
George Reitz,
Peter Almang.
White Deer township,
James McClanachan,
Robert Fruit,
Wm. Gray.
The committee proceeded to elect a chairman and clerk, wli^^^
Mr. Robert Fruit was unanimously appointed chairman during tb^
time of six months, and John Boyd, clerk.
Potter township.
17760 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, iii
I St. Resolved f That no complaint be received by this committee
that arises in any township and does not respect the county at large,
except upon an appeal from the township committee, and that such
appeal be delivered in writing, as well as all complaints that are re-
ceived, and that all complaints be signed by the persons aggrieved
or complaining.
2d. Resohed, That Andrew Culbertson, Mordecai McKinney,
and James Giles, call upon Colonel Wm. Plunket for the dividend of
ammunition belonging to the six companies of his battalion that lie
above Muncy, and in case it is inconvenient for him to make the
dividend, Laughlan McCartney, at whose house the ammunition is
lodged, is hereby desired to do it and deliver the quotas allotted
for the aforesaid six companies to the aforesaid Andrew Culbertson,
Mordecai McKinney, and James Giles, who are to deliver the same
to the respective captains, and by them kept in some convenient
dry place, ready to be delivered out when occasion requires.
3d. Resolved, That the committee, or any two of them, belonging
to the other three battalions of this county, call upon Laughlan
McCartney for their equal dividend of what ammunition is in hand,
and deliver to the respective captains in each battalion an equal
dividend of said ammunition according to their number of men, and
by them kept secure in some convenient dry place, ready to be de-
livered out when occasion requires.
4th. Resolved^ That each colonel recommend to their respective
captains to use all possible exertions to have any arms that are out
of repair put in as good order as soon as possible.
As this committee is informed of a quantity powder and lead at
Mr. John Harris's ferry, which belongs to the associators of this
county, we do recommend Major John Lee and Captain Charles
Gillespy as two suitable persons for to bring up the same, and we do
appoint Laughlan McCartney and John Boyd for to agree with them
for the bringing up of the said ammunition.
5th. Resolved, That this committee be adjourned to Tuesday,
^^e loth of September next, to meet in the town of Northumber-
land
112 AN^ALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [I
Tuesday y lo of September , 1776.
The committee met according to adjournment, in the town
Northumberland, Mr. Robert Fruit in the chair.
Complaint being made to this committee against Mr. Aaron L
and John Bullion, setting forth that the aforesaid Levy and Bull
have a quantity of salt on hand, which they refuse to sell for a
by a former resolve of the committee,
Resoivedy That the aforesaid salt that is in the hands of the af<
said Levy and Bullion, (as they have refused the same for sa
be put into the hands of Mr. William Sayers, and by him sold
the rate of fifteen shillings per bushel, and not to sell unto any fan
above half a bushel for the time that the said salt is selling, and
the said Sayers shall keep a particular account of every bushel
he sells, and when sold, he shall return the money arising from 1
salt to this committee, first deducting one shilling out of the po
for his trouble of selling said salt, and six shillings and four pe
for porterage.
A complaint being made to this committee against two cer
men, namely, William Chattim and James Parker, of not beha^
themselves as friends to our country in general, and had an
themselves with two pistols ; therefore, it was
Resoivedy That the aforesaid Chattim and Parker should be :
for and examined.
Being brought before the committee and examined, they <
fessed themselves to be two of his His Britannic Majesty's soldi
and both prisoners. Therefore, this committee thought it n
proper to convey the two aforesaid men into the care of Lanca
committee, where we understand there is a number of their fel
prisoners, and that the aforesaid arms should be sold at public s
and the money arising from the sale of said arms, should, as fa
it would admit of, be put to discharge of such expenses as wc
arise for the trouble of said prisoners.
And as there was a bill of expenses produced to this commi
by John Chattim, against the two aforesaid prisoners, and he re
ing to approve the same, it was Resoivedy that the aforesaid bill s
not be accepted of by this committee unless the aforesaid J«
Chattim do prove the same.
ITTe,] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, iij
September 12 thy 1776.
On examination of the two different quantities of ammunition
heretofore forwarded to the care of the committee of this county,
and on a careful examination of the number of associators in this
county, it appears that the quota of each associator is half a pound
of powder and one pound of lead.
And Whereas, the greater part of Col. Plunket's battalion are
sitiaated on the frontier, and the most exposed parts of this county ;
therefore, Resohedy that the further quantity of eighty-nine pounds
of powder and one hundred and seventy-eight pounds of lead be
delivered into the hands of Mr. Fleming, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Kemp-
ling, Mr. Culbertson, and Mr. Giles, and that the same be by them
delivered among the different captains of the said battalion, with
the strictest charge that the same be preserved for the purposes of the
'ense of this county. The same division to be made with a proper
gard to the different number in each company.
And it is further Resolved^ that the further quantity of eighty-six
pounds and three quarters of powder and the quantity of one hun-
dred and seventy-three pounds and one half of lead, be delivered
to Mr. Fruit, Mr. Gray, Mr. McClenachan, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Mc-
CJandles and Mr. Geddis, to be by them distributed among the cap-
ta.ins of Col. Potter's battalion, in such sort, that each private have
one quarter of powder, and half a pound of lead, Captain McMil-
lan's company excepted, who are to have each half a pound of pow-
der and one pound of lead.
And it is further Resolved, that the further quantity of fifty pounds
of powder and one hundred pounds of lead be delivered to Mr. Coal,
Mr. Treaster, Mr. Bolander, Mr. Brousers and Mr. Ritz, by them
^0 be divided among the captains of Col. Wiser*s battalion in the
same proportions as the former fifty weight of powder was directed
to be divided.
It is likewise further Resolved^ that the additional quantity of fifty
pounds of powder and one hundred weight of lead be delivered to
John Maclay, Laughlin McCartney, and James McClure, to be by
them divided among the captains of Col. Hunter*s battalion, in
^ue proportion to the number of privates in their respective com-
panies.
Whereas, This committee being informed by one of our members
8
114 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [m"
of convention, that there is a dividend of salt in Philadelphia, whic:
is allotted for this county, by a late resolve of convention, wherefore
this committee thought proper to appoint two suitable persons to g-
to Philadelphia and take charge of said salt, and [to] be by ther
conveyed to this county and delivered to the care of this committee
Therefore, William Maclay and Mordecai McKinney were unani
imously appointed by this committee for the purpose above men
tioned.
Resolved, That the salt belonging to this county is to be sold a
fifteen shillings per bushel.
A complaint being laid'unto this committee by Samuel Da
against Col. William Plunket, the same being read, was postpone
until our next meeting.
A record of Mr. Robert Fruit's letter to this committed, respectir
salt, &c. :
Philadelphia, November 23, 1776.
Gentlemen : I have received from the Council of Safety, in tt
city, seventy-seven bushels of salt for the use of the inhabitants «
the county of Northumberland, which I have delivered to Marcr
Hulings to forward up.
It is delivered to me on the express condition of being divide
amongst those of the inhabitants who did not get any part of tl
former quantity ; therefore, you will please to take notice to infor
the county of this exception, when you advertise for the distributic
of it. Mr. Hulings has advanced all the money for the salt, togeth<
with all costs, &c.
I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,
Robert Fruit.
To the Committee of Northumberland County.
77ie Committee of the County of Northumberlandy
To Marcus Hulings, Dr.
For cash paid the Council of Safety, in Philadelphia,
for seventy seven-bushels of salt, at 15X per bushel, ;;^ 57 15
For cash paid for casks, to pack said salt . . 3
Porterage and cooperage, 18
1m 6. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 115
Cash paid Hugh Cook for carriage of seventy-seven
bushels of salt, from Philadelphia to Middletown, ;£i3 9 6
Storage at Middletown, ..... 86
Carriage from Middletown to Northumberland, . 1 1 1 1
£^120
December 14, 1776.
The committee met, by express from Captain John Brady, upon
sundry charges, produced by said Brady, against a certain Robert
R-obb. Sundry evidences were referred to, to prove the several
cHarges against said Robb, which are as follows :
The evidence of Thomas Newman agcunst Robert Robb,
This deponent, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that said
Rcjbb had a paper, at a certain house, where they were erecting a
cV^imney, which paper was supposed to be from Lord Howe, con-
c^tixning conditions of peace, of which said Robb said this is the very
tl-iing I would be at; says further, Mr. Frankling was a rogue, he
^^'"^ll knew, and that he has led the Government into two or three
^crapes already known to him. Also, it was thought Frankling had
^ pension from home; likewise that it was thought the convention was
V>ribed. Also, said Robb says that Lord Howe used the members of
Clongress politely that were sent to treat with him, but that they used
Viim ill.
And that, as this deponent was one of the township committee,
he, the said Robb, thought it was proper he should call a few of the
tOH-nship together, to consult concerning these things. And further
saith not.
his
Thomas x Newman.
mark.
Joseph Newman^ s evidence against said Robb,
That Robert Robb read, at the aforesaid place, a paper, [which]
(as the deponent supposeth,) was a declaration of peace from Lord
Howe, and asked this deponent's father if he would call a few of
^^e neighbors to consult concerning it, and that his father refused
^o do it. And concerning the members of Congress, Mr. Robb
«
«<*•.,
ii6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [VT^^
said Lord Howe used them politely, and they used him ill. Amr»c
as for Mr. Frankling, there were very hard thoughts of him, arB-^
that it was thought he had a pension from home ; also that it w^^
thought there was bribery in the convention.
And further saith not.
Joseph Newman.
The substance of John Morris^ evidence against Robert Robb.
This deponent saith he heard Robert Robb read a paper concern -
ing terms of peace from Lord Howe. Said Robb was asked whi.^
this paper was not made public sooner. Robb said, because it wsi^
kept back by the Congress and committees below. Said Robb said
also, it is well known what Writtenhouse and Frankling was. Mir
Newman asked said Robb what was the reason there was such m^i
in Congress. Robb said it was thought there was bribery in ttkt
convention ; also said, it was a minority that held this new form <:>
government, and that the majority would not be ruled by tl"i<
minority.
And further saith not.
John Morris.
The substance of James Giles^ evidence.
This deponent saith, that he saw Mr. Robb pull out a paper a.i
the aforesaid building, read it, which he said was printed in ICei;*
York near three months ago. Mr. Newman asked said Robb ho"**'
it came to be kept back. This deponent saith, he understood Mr-
Robb said it was our rulers kept it back, and that the substance o'
the above paper was terms of peace from Lord Howe.
And further saith not.
James Giles.
The evidence of George Silverthorn for Robert Robb, viz :
This deponent, being at Mr. Robb's house, and from there went
together to a chimney raising in the neighborhood. After a while
said Robb pulled out a handbill which gave an account of General
Washington's army being in need of a reinforcement, and Mr. Robb
said in public, that it was necessary for every one to turn out that
would go. However, after a while, Mr. Robb pulled out another
177e.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 117
»
pa.j>er, which he said was a declaration of peace, from Lord Howe,
and read it in public. After reading the said paper, Mr. Robb said
he came on purpose to see Mr. Newman, and whether or not he
thought proper to call some of the neighbors together, in order to
see whether or not the said declaration was of any effect or not, as
fie was one of the town committee, or how they would take it, as he
vould not depend upon his own judgment on such an occasion, as
^ing but one person. And this deponent saith, that after the
papers came out which gave an account of what passed between
^neral Howe and them at Staten Island, this deponent was telling
said Robb that he had heard them read at Mr. McKinney's, and
^ha.t Mr. Robb said that he thought it would not be proper to lay
^ovn their arms till j)eace would be concluded on better terms than
^H^se for the benefit of the country.
-And further saith not.
George Silverthorn.
Xieutenant John Scudder, being duly sworn, saith that Robert
obb said that the King's troops are able to learn us to beat them-
Ives, as Peter the Great said of Charles, King of Sweden, and
^■^at the said Robb never did anything against the cause of
"'America, but always encouraged the same, to the best of his know-
^^^ge; and further saith, that Mr. Newman charged Robert Robb
^^^ith discouraging people going into the service, and that George
^^ilverthorn and his family were the people.
And further saith not.
John Scudder.
December 17M, 1776.
Northumberland County. — The committee of this county,
^-sking the proofs and allegations for and against Robert Robb
'^-^nder their serious consideration, do judge that the said Robb hath
Vr^haved in such manner as gives just grounds for this committee to
inspect him of being not only unfriendly, but inimical, to our com-
*TQon cause ; therefore,
^esohed, That said Robert Robb shall either take his gun and
march immediately with the militia of this county into actual ser-
vice, for the defense of the United States, in order to wipe off the
present evil suspicions, or otherwise to be committed to the care of
n8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [177%
Lieut. Col. James Murray, of the second battalion, to be by hia
sent to some proper place of confinement, until released by furtlw.
authority. Signed by order of the committee,
Paul Geddis, Chairman.
December i8M, 1776.
The above Robert Robb desires to app)eal to the Council of Safe 1
of this State :
Resolved, That said Robb may appeal to said council, under tl
care of the said Col. Murray.
Paul Geddis, Chairman^
Muster Roll of Captain Casper WeitzeVs Company, in the first ^^
talion of Pennsylvania Regiment of Rifi emen commamied by CTm
onel Samuel Miles. Camp near Kingsbridge, September i , 1 7 -3
Captain — Casper Weitzel, Esquire, of Sunbury appointed M:
9, 1776.
First Lieutenant — William Gray, appointed March 15 ; captiiK
August 27 ; exchanged December 8, 1776, for Lieutenant Thompsoi
Second Lieutenant — ^John Robb, appointed March 16, 1776
promoted captain 18th April, 1777.
Third Lieutenant — George Grant, appointed March 19, 1776,
captain in the 9th P. C. L. Died loth October, J 779.
Sergeant Major — John Gordon.
Sergeants — Jacob Snider, Thomas Price, William Orr, Thomas
Shanks.
Drummer — John Everard. Septeml^er i, sick at New York.
Privates — ^\llison, William ; Arthur, John \ Aumiller, John ^
Barr, William; ^Brady, Peter; Brinson, Stout; Burke, John; Car-
son, Samuel; Carson, William, junior; Carson, William, senior J
^Carter, Andrew ; Carter, Charles ; ^Caruthers, Robert ; Chisnellg
James; Clark, William; Clayton, James; Council, Jeffry; Cribs^
John; Curry, David; Davis, Peter; Doran, Edward; Durell, David;
Durell, Stephen; Elder, James; Ewig, Christian; 'Gass, Henry;
Gerhart, Henry; Glover, James; Hardy, John; Harper, William;
Hissom, Thomas; 'Huggins, Dennis; Hunt, Elijah; Irvine, James;
^Kerstetter, Martin ; Little, Thomas ; McCleane, Charles ; *McCor-
' Miinslng alter the battle of Long: Island, August 27.
1776.11 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, tig
°^i^lc, William ; McDonald, John ; Mclnnis, Patrick ; McManus,
^^trick; McMath, William; *McVey, Patrick; Madden, Joseph;
^^*Uler, Henry ; *Morehead, Robert : Newman, Richard ; Noland,
*ichael ; Ralston, Andrew ; Randolph, James ; *Rice, John ; Sands,
J ^hn ; Shaffer, John ; ^Spiess, Jacob ; Staples, Samuel ; Turner,
^^vid; *Watt, James; Wilson, Robert; Winters, Christian; Wolcot,
^ilas.
Lieutenant William Gray, afterwards Captain Gray, died at Sun-
t>^ry, July i8, 1804, aged fifty-four.
Sergeant Price ended his days in a small log house on Water
street, in Selinsgrove. It seems he was carried to Halifax, in Nova
Scotia. Made his escape traveling through the vast forests interven-
ing between that country and the nearest American settlements.
See History of West Branch, page 109. In a letter to Honorable
Samuel Maclay, member of Congress at Philadelphia, dated Penn*s
township, December 4, 1798, written in a very good hand, he com-
plains that he had been three times elected colonel, beating Charles
Drum twice and Frederick Evans once, and yet had not been com-
missioned, because, as he says, it was alleged that he was too poor
for such a post. He says, ** I settled in these parts before the war,
and have resided here ever since, except while I was out in the
army. I enlisted in Captain WeitzePs company, and was wounded
and taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island. I underwent many
hardships, but at last found means to escape, returned to the army,
and served my time out ; was honorably discharged, and never re-
ceived my pay. Soon after my return home I was elected adjutant,
and continued in that post many years. Afterwards was elected
major."
Associaion.
On the 31st of August the field officers for the battalion in Buffalo
and Penn's townships were chosen, and the 8th of October commis-
sions were issued to them as fourth battalion of Northumberland
county associators and to the company officers :
Colonel — Cole, Philip.
Lieutenant Colonel — Sutherland, Thomas.
First Major — Foster, Thomas.
I20 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [
Second Major — Yost, Casper.
Standard Bearer — Miller, Dewalt.
Adjutant — McCoy, James.
Company No, i.
Captain — Clarke, John.
First Lieutenant — Pontius, Henry.
Second Lieutenant — Moore, James.
Ensign — Watson, Patrick.
Four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer,
forty-six privates, certified by me, this 26th day of September,
John Clarke, captain.
Second Company,
Captain — Weaver, Michael.
Third Company,
Captain — Links, Jacob.
Fourth Company.
Captain — Weirick, William.
First Lieutenant — Sherred, Jacob.
Second Lieutenant — Gill, William.
Ensign — Moon, Nicholas.
Four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer,
privates. The whole of the above as associators testified by me
26th day of September, 1776. William Weirick, Captain.
Fifth Company.
Captain — Wolff, George.
First Lieutenant — Conrad, George.
Second Lieutenant — Wildgoose, Michael.
Ensign — Hessler, John.
Four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, i
one privates.
1776.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 121
Sixth Company.
Captain — Overnieier, George.
First Lieutenant — McCelvey, James.
Second Lieutenant — Weirick, Peter.
Ensign — Snyder, Michael.
Four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, forty
privates. The whole of the above as associators testified by me, this
26th day of September, 1776. Captain George Overmeier.
Tills battalion, or rather drafts from it, went into service in Decem-
^r, when Colonel Cole was with part of it at Reading. Colonel
Brodhead writes that he made use of a company from Buffalo Valley
to apprehend some of the disaffected and to compel some of the
"^JHtia of Berks to march.
It is probable that when the danger to Philadelphia became im-
roinent, officers and men volunteered to fill up Captain Clarke's
coTtipany, as we find their names on the following roll. I am in-
^^^ted to John C. Watson, of West Buffalo township, a grandson
0^ Captain Clarke, for an old account book which contained the
"^JTies. The company left the Valley on the 5th of December, and
^rved three months and eighteen days.
It appears from some memorandums in this book, that the com-
P^-ny did not leave Reading until the 3d of January, 1777, and
consequently did not participate at Trenton and Princeton, but was
^r^ the subsequent skirmishes. It was attached to Colonel Potter's
s^eond battalion. Lieutenant Colonel James Murray, Majors John
K.elly and Thomas Robinson. Joseph Green assigned as surgeon's
ttia.te to Doctor Benjamin Allison. Four companies, Clarke's, Lee's,
l^aggart's, Cookson Long's, had casualties during the campaign :
Roll of Captain John darkens Company,
Allen, Robert ; Augustine, Hieronimus ; Barnett, Joseph ; Beatty,
John; Bower, George; Cery, Thomas; Clark, George; Cogh,
^^niel; Colpetzer, Adam; Commer, Daniel; Conner, Jacob; Con-
^^» George ; Conrad, Henry ; Cousins, William ; Esterly, Jacob ;
Etzweiler, George ; Ewig, Philip; Fought, Michael; Foster, Thomas;
*^''y, John; Gill, William; Gilman, Henry; Green, Joseph; Green-
*^> William ; Groninger, Joseph ; Grove, Wendell ; Hain, John ;
i
122 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17"^^
Harpster, Jacob; Heny, Stophel; Hessler, William; Hessler, Jobn ^
Hessler, Michael; Kellahan, Patrick; Keeny, Jacob; Kishler,
Francis ; Kneedler, Frederick ; Kneedler, Conrad ; Lamb, Michac/ ^
Links, Jacob; Long, Jacob; Long, William; Lowdon, Richard^
McCashon, John; McCelvey, James; McClung, Matthew; Mc —
Donneld, Randal ; Macklin, Valentine ; Miller, Benjamin ; Moor^
William; Morrow, Andrew; Nees, Henry; Nees, Peter; Overmeiev
George; Pontius, Nicholas; Pontius, George; Rinehart, Frederick;
Rinehart, George ; Rith or Ritle, Yost ; Rote, Michael ; Row, Lud
wig ; Sierer, George ; Schneider, Michael ; Schock, John ; Schock,
Michael ; Schock, George ; Scott, Robert ; Smith, Michael ; Speddy,
William; Sj)eese, Jacob; Stevenson, James; Storm, David; Thomp- "
son, Robert; Ulrich, George; Weaver, John; Weaver, David;
Wenderbach, Henry ; Wilson, Robert ; Wolfe, George.
Captain Clarke lived on the first farm above Mifflinburg, south
of the turnpike; died February 22, 1809, aged seventy-three;
buried in the Lewis graveyard. Lieutenant Thomas Foster, grand-
father of Mrs. Mark Halfpenny, died June 4, 1804; buried in
Lewis graveyard. Augustine was a weaver ; lived near Selinsg rove-
as late as 1800. George Bower lived in Union township. Joseph
Barnett became the patriarch of Jefferson county, Pennsylvania.
See a full notice of him in Day's Historical Collections. Honorable
L G. Gordon, of Brookville, writes me, 1871, that some of his
grandchildren live near that place. John Beatty lived near New
Berlin. George Clark. was a prominent surveyor in the Valley
until 1800, and then removed West. He lived in a house near
Judge Hummers, now torn down. He was an exceedingly tall man,
and took delight in making his axe marks as surveyor beyond the
reach of other men. He once made a narrow escape from the
Indians by leaping Little Buffalo creek, from the high bank, near
late Jacob Moyer*s. It was attributed to Brady, but Brady's leap
was in the western part of the State, in Armstrong county. Jacob
Conner lived in Buffalo. Adam Colpetzer, in West Buffalo ; maxried
a daughter of George Rote, of Mifflinburg. George Etzweiler was
killed by the Indians in 1780, at Heberling's mill, then French
Jacob Grochong's. Michael Fought, in Union, on Seebold*s farm,
near Chappel Hollow, east of it. William Gill, in Penn's. Wendell
Grove, in Derrstown. Henry Gilman, in White Deer. Joseph
"Tie.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. . 123
!5roninger, in Kelly, on Clingan's place. Joseph Green near
Philip Pontius* ; he was grandfather of Joseph Green, of Lewis-
:>urg. Jacob Harpster, in Beaver township. John Hain, in Penn*s.
rhe Hesslers, near Crotzerville. The church there bears their name.
^Christopher Heny, on General James Irvine's, now, or lately,
K-leckner's, west of Mifflinburg. Patrick Kellahan, north-west of
Mifflinburg. Jacob Keeny, on John Aurand*s place. Turtle creek.
Richard Lowdon was a brother of Captain John, and lived with
him. Andrew Morrow was a tenant on Samuel Maclay's place.
Benjamin Miller, afterwards owned James Biehl's place. Matthew
McClung, late George Gundy*s heirs, near Turtle creek. Randal
McDonneld, on S. Maclay*s, just north of the Great Western, now
Mrs. Shoemaker's. Peter Nees died of wounds received February
I, 1777. George Overmeier lived near Seebold's, in Limestone.
Nicholas Pontius was the father of the late J. F. Pontius. George
was his brother, sons of John, who owned the Captain Bucher tract,
where his descendants still reside, or a few of them, as the name is
legion now. David Storm, where B. Lahr lives, on Esquire Came-
ron's farm. Robert Scott, on Barber's place. White Springs. Jacob
Speese lived, within our memory, in White Deer. William Speddy,
see 1772. The Schock's, about Mifflinburg. Michael Smith, in
East Buffalo, above Henry Mertz's. George Wolfe was the grand-
father of Jonathan, of Lewisburg.
Colonel William Cooke's regiment was directed to be raised in the
counties of Northampton and Northunjberland. Among the last
acts of the convention, on the 28th of September, was the election of
field officers of this regiment. Four companies, Miller's, Boone's,
Brady's, and Harris', were from Northumberland county. These
companies were nearly full on the 1 1 th of December, and left Sun-
bury about a week thereafter, as Marcus Huling claimed for loss of
a boat in taking them down the river at that time.
The regiment went immediately into active service. Being com-
posed mainly of good riflemen, large drafts were made upon it for
picket and skirmish duty. A portion, under Boone, was sent into
the northern army, and assisted in the capture of Burgoyne. At
Brandywine the regiment lost heavily in officers and men, and at
Germantown j so that, after wintering at Valley Forge, the field offi-
cers were mustered out, the supernumerary line officers discharged,
124 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. {111^.^
^ •
and what remained of officers and companies distributed into th^
third and sixth regiments.
Roster of Colonel William Cooke's Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment
of the Continental Line,
Colonel — Cooke, William, of Northumberland, commissioned Oc-
tober 2, 1776.
Lieutenant Colonel — Gray, Neigal, of Northampton county. He
moved to Buffalo Valley after the war.
Major — Crawford, James, commissioned October 8, 1776. After-
wards justice of the peace in Lycoming county, where he died.
Adjutant — Hanson, Thomas.
Paymasters — Levers, Robert; Dungan, Thomas; appointed April
Quartermaster — Vaughan, George.
Surgeon — Ledlie, Doctor Andrew, of Easton.
Surgeon's Mate — Woodruff, Aaron.
Captains — Withington, Peter, commissioned October i, 1776;
took sick, in Philadelphia, in December, 1776; sent home, to
Reading, where he died May 11, 1777; his widow. Eve, survived
him over fifty years, and died in Mifflinburg; Miller, Nicholas,
appointed October 4, 1776, from Northumberland county ; died, in
1 79-, in Northampton county ; Boone, Hawkins, appointed October
4, 1776; killed, at Fort Freeland, July 28, 1779; Brady, John,
appointed October 14, 1776; killed, by the Indians, April 11,
1779; Harris, John, appointed October 14, 1776; McKinley,
Reverend Henry, of Carlisle, appointed October 16, 1776; Pat-
terson, Alexander, of Northampton county; Work, William, ap-
pointed October 16, 1776.
Lieutenants — Brandon, Thomas, appointed October 4, 1776;
Lincoln, Hananiah, appointed October 4, 1776 ; he was a sergeant
in Captain George Nagel's company, Colonel William Thompson's
regiment, 1 775-1 776; resigned, after battle of Brandywine, and
went to Daniel Boone's settlement, in Kentucky ; he followed Boone
to Missouri, where he died ; Gettig, Christopher, appointed October
14, 1776, from Sunbury; wounded at Piscata way. New Jersey, May
II, 1777 ; taken prisoner, and had his leg amputated ; justice of the
peace many years afterward at Sunbury ; his descendants reside near
^^^} ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
'^
^llefonte; Reily, John, appointed October i6, 1776; promoted
-^ptain, May 20, 1777; mustered out of service November 3, 1 783 ;
-hambers, Stephen, Esquire, appointed October 16, 1 776 ; promoted
•*^ptain ; one of the council of censors, in 1 783 ; E^legate to the
*"^eral Convention, December 12, 1787; wounded in a duel with
doctor Jacob Rieger, on Monday, nth May, 1789 ; died on Satur-
Lay, i6th, at his house, in Lancaster; McElhatton, William,
ppointed October 16, 1776 ; wounded, atBonhamtown, New Jersey,
n right shoulder ; disabled, and transferred to the invalid corps July
, 1779; died April 26, 1807; Henderson, John, appointed Oc-
ober 16, 1776; Sayre, William, appointed October 16, 1776.
Second Lieutenants — King, Robert, October 4, 1776; promoted
ieutenant, third Pennsylvania, May 20, 1777; left out of service
une 23, 1779; Williamson, James, October 4, 1776; McCabe,
rxiward, October 16, 1776; Hays, John, October 16, 1776;
^uinn, Samuel, October 16, 1776 ; Boyd, John, of Northumberland,
>romoted lieutenant in third Pennsylvania, June 18, 1779; ^icd
February 13, 1832; Bard, William, October i, 1776; Carothers,
[ohn, October 16, 1776; killed, at Germantown, October 4, 1777;
Falconer, Robert.
Ensigns — Lodge, Benjamin, junior, October 16, 1776; promoted
lieutenant sixth Pennsylvania, October 11, 1777; Hamilton,
Thomas, October 16, 1776; Blackall, William Ball, October 16,
1776; promoted lieutenant third Pennsylvania, nth September,
1778 ; mustered out November 3, 1783 ; Boyd, William, appointed
October 16, 1776; killed at Brandywine, September 11, 1777;
Stone, John, October 16, 1776; resigned January 8, 1777; died
March, 1792; Herbert, Stewart, October 16, 1776; promoted
lieutenant sixth Pennsylvania, January 9, 1778; Engle, Andrew,
October 16, 1776; promoted lieutenant of third Pennsylvania,
December 20, 1778; retired January 1, 1781; Strieker, Henry,
October 16, 1776; Seeley, John, February 3, 1777; Armstrong,
John, formerly sergeant; served until the end of the war, and
promoted lieutenant in Captain James Moore's corps.
Philadelphia, December, ^11^*
I am commanded by the House to request your attendance in this
:ity, in order to take your seat in Council, that we may immediately
126 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1777—
carry all the powers of government into execution. As this . musta
appear absolutely necessary to every good man, we can have ncc
doubt, from your general character, but you are so well disposed \czl
the public, and so desirous of order and good government, that yoizL
will not neglect to take your seat in that important body. Com-
pliance will much oblige the State in -general, and in particular th)iM
real, though unknown, friend.
John Jacobs, Speaker,
John Lowdon, Esquire, Northumberland county.
24th December, Colonel Hunter writes that a company out of hm.
battalion had volunteered ; chosen Major John Lee, captain ; Hug^K
White, first lieutenant ; Thomas Gaskins, second lieutenant, an ^
marched that day ; and he had impressed guns and blankets for the
and had them appraised.
^0t^
im-
Officials — Minutes of the Committee of Safety, Continued — Majors
Kelly at Princeton — Roll of Captain B. Weiser's Company-
Matthew Brown— Paoli — General Potter's Letters.
|HOMAS WHARTON, President of the State. John
Lowdon member of Council until October, when he
was succeeded by Captain John Hambright, of Turbut
township. Members of Assembly elected in October :
Samuel Dale, Robert Fruit, James Murray, William L^in, Simon
Himrod, and Robert Fleming.
On the 9th of June the following justices were appointed under
the new constitution : Samuel Hunter, Thomas Hewitt, Robert
Crawford, John Weitzel, Robert Martin, Michael Troy, Samuel
Allen, John Aurand, William Shaw, and John Livingston. William
Maclay, Prothonotary until September 1 1 , when he was succeeded by
David Harris \ Jonathan Lodge, Sheriff, elected in October ; John
1777. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 127
Simpson, the first Register and Recorder of the county, appointed
M^arch 14.
March 2 1 , Samuel Hunter appointed lieutenant, and Walter Clark,
VVilliam Murray, George Wolfe, and William Wilson, sub-lieuten-
a.n.ts of Northumberland county.
Constable of Buffalo : Martin Trester ; White Deer, Henry Derr.
Elias Younkman's name appears on the grand jury. He resided
in Turbut before moving into Buffalo, in 1783.
Minutes of the Committee of Safety— Continued.
January is/, 1777.
77u complaint of Peter Smith against Robert Robb.
To THE Honorable Committee of Northumberland County :
That on the 20th of last month, at the house of Captain John
^^ady, said Robb did violently beat and very much abuse said Smith,
^^d further produceth James Brady and Jean Kennan as evidence
^f said charge, and also Patrick Murdock as evidence afterwards to
^^e wounds alleged to be received by said Smith from said Robb.
his
Peter X Smith.
mark.
The above named Peter Smith maketh oath that he received the
^bove-mentioned abuse, by the above-named Robert Robb, at the
time and place above-mentioned, and that he, this deponent, has
not been able, ever since receiving the above-mentioned abuse, to
follow his usual vocation, as formerly.
hlB
Peter X Smith.
mark.
James Bradjs Evidence between Peter Smith, complainant, and
Robert Robb, defendant.
This deponent saith, that on Friday, the 20th day of December
last, Robert Robb did, at the house of this deponent's father, and
in his presence, violently beat and abuse the above-said Smith, and
continued so to do until he, this deponent, rescued him out of
bis hands. This deponent further saith, that Robert Robb said he
128 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [177
believed the committee got very li«^tle satisfaction of him, and thiss
they were a set of rascals, some of them were robbers, some we^B
horse-thieves, and some of them were murderers.
And further saith not.
James Brady.
Jean CannotCs Evidence, •
This deponent saith, that she saw Peter Smith immediately aft^^
difference with Robert Robb, and that said Smith seemed to h^^
to have been very much abused - as she understood, by said Robe ir\
Robb. This deponent further saith, that said Robb said the conrx-
mittee was a set of rascals, some of them were horse-thieves, soiree
robbers, and some of them were murderers.
And further saith not.
her
Jean X Cannon.
mark.
January 4/A, 1777.
Resolved^ That this committee be adjourned until the 1 4th day o^
this instant, to meet at the house of George McCandlish.
January 14.
The committee met, by adjournment, at the house of Mr. George
McCandlish, and proceeded to hear the evidence of James Patten,
in behalf of Robert Robb.
James Patton, being duly sworn, deposeth and said, that he, this
deponent, with Peter Smith and some others, were drinking together
at the house of Captain John Brady, when said Smith asked Mr.
Robb what news. Mr. Robb answered that he desired none of his
discourse, and asked James Brady if there was any fire in the new
house. Brady said there was. Mr. Robb then got up and asked
this deponent if he would go into the said house and drink share of
half a pint. This deponent said he would. After sitting down,
the aforesaid Smith came in. Says Mr. Robb, you have followed
me here again, Peter. Mr. Robb further said, if you choose to sit
here, I will go into the other house, and if you follow me, I will
flog you, or turn you out. Mr. Robb then got up, and asked this
deponent to go with him to the other house. This deponent further
1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, I2g
saith, that Mr. Robb said that once in his day he never thought to
be tried by such men as some of the committee. Some of them
had been tried for murder and some for horse stealing.
And further saith not.
James Patton.
Whereas, A certain Robert Robb was brought before the com-
naittee of. this county, on account of sundry charges proven against
him, and a resolve of this committee entered thereon, bearing date
t>ecember 17th, 1776, by virtue whereof he was committed to the
custody of Colonel James Murray, to be by him sent to some proi>er
P'a.ce of confinement until released by a superior authority :
And whereas. The said Colonel Murray, out of lenity to said
^obb*s family, saw fit to appoint the mansion-house of the said
^obb as a prison for him, on a promise of his good behavior for
^^e future, but as said Robb hath since (as appears by sufficient tes-
^^^Tiony given before this committee) very ungratefully abused the
*^^nity shown him by said Colonel Murray, by barbarously beating
*^^d much abusing a certain Peter Smith, of this county, so as to
lender him unable, for a considerable time, to support himself and
His small family by his industry, as usual, as appears by the testi-
niony of said Smith, and other evidences produced before this com-
mittee :
And whereas. He did, at the same time, not only despise all
authority of this committee, but also charge them with horse steal-
ing, robbery, and murder, as appears by the testimony of said
evidences : therefore,
Resohedy Notified to take, or order to be taken, the aforesaid
Robert Robb before the Council of Safety, of this State, to whom
he hath appealed, in order to answer the several charges proven
against him before this committee, which we have inclosed in a
letter directed to the said Council of Safety, which you are desired
to deliver with said prisoner.
Signed by order of committee.
Paul Geddis, Chairman.
January 15, 1777.
Resolved, That notice be sent to Captain Murray, requesting his
attendance to-morrow morning, which was accordingly sent by Mr.
Johnson.
9
130 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17
January i6.
Upon Captain Murray's not appearing according to notice,
Resolved, That Thomas Combs be hired and sent with a seco
notice to Captain Murray, requesting his attendance immediate ^>
Upon Captain Murray's non-appearance upon second notice,
Resolved, That the aforesaid Thomas Combs be again sent with
a third notice to Captain Murray, and paid five shillings for Inis
trouble.
January 17.
Thomas Combs returned from Captain Murray's, and brought sl.
letter of which the following is a copy :
January 17, 1777.
Gentlemen : I sent you word by Mr. McKnight and Mr. John — '
son that I would not act any longer as an officer; and since you^
wont take my word, I now send you my commission, and I hope
you will believe me now.
William Murray.
Ta the committee.
Upon Captain Murray's non-compliance with the resolve of this
committee,
Resolved, That Simon Himrod and Buchanan Smith be ap-
pointed to conduct Robert Robb to. the Council of Safety of this
State, and that they be paid two pounds five shillings for their
trouble.
Resolved, That the sum of one pound ten shillings be paid to
Captain John Hambright, for this book found by him for the use of
this committee.
Resolved, That Mordecai McKinney be paid by the chairman
one pound two shillings and six pence, out of the balance received
by Mr. Clay, on account of expresses to the different officers of
Colonel Murray's battalion.
Job Jolloway applied to this committee for a letter to Thomas
Ferguson, to go with him to the Six Nations.
Resolved, That a letter be sent accordingly.
1777.1
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
A7/
Northumberland, February 13, 1777.
The following gentlemen being unanimously chosen by their re-
spective townships to serve in the contmittee of this county for the
^i^uing six months, met at the house of Laughlan McCartney, in
Northumberland, and gave in the following returns of their election,
viz:
Augusta township.
Potter's township.
S ohn Livingstone,
3^ohn McMillan.
Turbutt township,
"Trhomas Jordan,
John Nelson,
Josiah Espy.
Buffalo Township,
John Aurand,
Thomas Sutherland,
George Overmire.
Bald Eagle township,
John Fleming,
James Hughs,
John Walker.
Mochonoy township.
George Yeakle,
Henry Zartman,
Henry Krebs.
Penn's township,
Andrew Moore,
David Miller,
Jacob Hosterman.
White Deer township.
William Blyth,
James McCormick,
William Reed,
Muncy township.
John Coates,
James Hampton,
William Hammond.
Mahoning township.
Wyoming township.
James McClure,
Peter Milleck,
John Clingman.
The committee, according to order, proceeded to elect their
chairman and clerk, when Thomas Jordan was unanimously chosen
chairman, and John Coates, clerk.
132 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [171
Resohedy That this committee be adjourned till Tuesday, tl^l
nth day of March next, when they are to meet at the house -^
George McCandlish ; and as sundry of the townships have neglect«^
to send out their members at this meeting, the committee ha^ar
ordered the chairman to give notice to the said townships by publ^ii
advertisement to attend at next meeting.
March nth, 1777.
The committee met according to adjournment, Mr. Thomas Jor^
dan in the chair.
Upon complaints being made by a certain Allis Read, of Wyom-
ing township, that he, the said Read, had a horse strayed or stolen
from him some time ago, and was found in the custody of a certain
John Drake, when said Read replevied the horse and got him and
kept him in his possession for about six months, and then the widow
of said Drake came and took him forcibly out of said Read's stable,
he not being at home himself, and now keeps the horse, and abso-
lutely refuses to give him up again to the said Read.
Resolved, That Messrs. James McClure, Peter Milleck, and John
Clingman, with the assistance of the committee of Wyoming town-
ship be a joint committee to meet at the house of James McClure, in
said township, on Saturday, the 2 2d day of this instant, March, to
hear the complaint and defense of both parties concerning the said
horse, and that the chairman of this committee issue summons for
the evidences of the complainer to attend at said meeting, which
summons are to be ser\'ed by the complainer himself, as also a sum-
mons for the said Widow Drake to attend with the horse and her
evidences or reasons, if any she have, why the complainer should
not have his horse upon proper proofs being made of his being his
property, and the aforesaid persons are hereby authorized to judge
and determine betwixt both parties, and upon proper proofe being
made, give their final judgment in the matter.
A certain Captain Jacob Links, of Buffalo township, appealed to
this committee in consequence of a resolve of the comaiittee of said
township, a copy of which is as follows, viz :
'*Reso/r€d, That Jacob Links does return several sums of money,
which a number of the inhabitants of this township did deliver to
him for the use of purchasing salt, he, said Links, acknowledging he
\
^"^^O ANNALS OF BUFFALO yALLEY. 133
m
^^uld have had salt, but it being troublesome times, he was afraid
^^ should suffer loss if he would purchase the salt, and a certain
^'^dence did declare that he said he was going on his own business
^ Philadelphia, and he, said Links, did not bring salt.
December 21, 1776, by the committee of Buffalo township.
(Signed,) Will. Irwin, Chairman.''
In consequence of said appeal, Mr. Links was called in before
5^ l^is committee and asked if he had evidence to produce. He said
c had, but that he had them not then ready.
Resolved, That Mr. Links appeal be referred till the next meet-
^g of committee, and that his evidence be summoned to attend.
Whereas, Colonel or Captain Benjamin Weiser has made com-
ilaint to this committee that a number of persons who had been out
"^-:inder his command in the militia of this county, in order to join
the continental army, in New Jersey, and that the said persons were
^deserted from him and returned home to this county, as the same is
'fctiore fully expressed in a letter to this committee, bearing date
, craving their assistance.
Resolved J That a day of muster be assigned for the said persons to
meet and march off to camp, and serve out their time, allowing them
to elect new officers, if they had any objections to the old ones, cer-
tifying them also, that if they neglect to obey this resolve, they are
to be taken up and committed as deserters.
Whereas, Tliis committee have received a letter from the com-
mittee of the township of Bald Eagle, together with a resolve of
their committee anent the selling of grain, &c., in their township,
craving advice before they should carry their resolve into execution,
of which the following is a copy :
February 26M, 1776. We, the committee of the township of Bald
Eagle met, and as a complaint was made to us by a number of the
inhabitants that there is a quantity of rye that is going to be carried
out of the township, for stilling, and that there are some of the in-
habitants, which have not sold their grain as yet, nor will not sell
without they get eighteen pence or two shillings per bushel above
the highest market price that grain is giving in the county, but will
keep it up and carry it off; and as it appears to us that a great num-
ber of the inhabitants of the township will suffer if such a practice is
allowed to go on ; therefore, we
134 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [ITTSiZ'
Resoioe, That no stiller in this township shall buy any moiw—
grain this season for to still, or still any more than what he hatK^
already by him. And further, we resolve, that no grain be carriec^
out of this township till the necessity of the poor is supplied, or ti
the first day of May next ; and any person having grain of any kin
to dispose of, and will not take the market price at Sunbury, reduc
ing a reasonable carriage or the highest price that it will bq thei —
when the grain is wanted, we allow to seize on it and take it b
force, and pay them their money. Given under our hands the da__^
and year above mentioned.
(Signed,) John Dickson,
Robert Love,
James Erwin.
Resolved, That the committee of Bald Eagle is the most compe-
tent judges of the circumstances of the people in that township ;
that, therefore, the affair be referred back to them to act as they shall
see just cause, but, in the meantime, that they be cautioned against
using too much rigor in their measures, and that they keep by mod-
eration as much as possible, and study a sort of medium between
seizing of property and supplying the wants of the poor.
Whereas, Report has been made to this committee of a certain
Henry Sterratt profaning the Sabbath in an unchristian and scan-
dalous manner, causing his servants to maul rails, &c., on that day,
and beating and abusing them if they offered to disobey such his
unlawful commands.
Resolved, That the committee of Bald Eagle township, where he
now resides, be recommended to suppress such like practices to the
utmost of their power.
Resolved, That this committee be adjourned till Tuesday, the
15th of April next, when it is again to meet at the house of George
McCandlish.
April \<^th, 1777.
The committee met according to adjournment, Mr. Thomas Jor-
dan in the chair.
Whereas, A certain Jacob Dreisbach having disobeyed a sum-
mons issued by this committee at their last sitting, for him to have
compeared at this meeting of committee as evidence in the affair of
Jacob Links,
1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, tjs
4
/Resolved, That a special warrant be now granted for bringing
him before this committee to-morrow, at nine o'clock.
April I Tth.
Jacob Dreisbach was brought before the committee, and being
duly sworn, he saith that he asked Captain Links if he was the man
that was to go to Philadelphia for salt, and the said Links answered
that he was, and said that he had a sister in Philadelphia, and wanted
to see her, and said it would suit him better to go than another who
had no errand of their own ; but says, for his own part, he was will-
ing to allow Captain Links whatever came to his share of the ex-
jjenses, at the same rate that the rest of his employers allowed him,
and further saith not.
Jacob Dreisbach.
Mr. George Overmire, a member of this committee, declareth
that he was present when Captain Links agreed with his employers,
and says that he was to have his expenses allowed him, whether he
got salt or not.
Captain Links compeared and produced his account for traveling
expenses, which amounted to jQ$ 15, acknowledging the leceipt of
^1^39 from his employers, part of which he had yet in his hands,
and says he could have got salt, but it being salt that had been
already purchased or allotted for the use of this county, and was to
be distributed over the county at large, it was not answering his
purpose to bring it, and there was no other salt he could get to
purchase.
Resolved, That Captain Links be authorized to keep the sum of
two shillings and eleven pence half penny out of every pound of his
employer's money for payment of his expenses, as his account ap-
pears to this committee to be very moderate.
Whereas, A certain William Read, of Bald Eagle township, has
been taken into custody and carried before this committee to an-
swer for his conduct in refusing to associate and bear arms in behalf
of the States ; and being asked his reasons for so refusing, his an-
swers were as follows, viz :
That he was once concerned in a riot that happened in Ireland,
commonly known by the name of the Hearts of Steel, and was
taken prisoner, tried, and acquitted, upon his taking an oath of
ijt ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
allegiance to the King, and coming [under] solemn obligatio
never to lift arms against him for the future ; he, therefore, look(
upon it as a breach of his oath -to muster or bear arms in behalf
the States, as the arms of the States were now employed against t
King to whom he had sworn allegiance.
Being further asked if he had any objections to the cause
United States were now engaged in, he said he had not any, a
would be as forward and willing as any to join in it, could he do
without breach of his oath. Being asked if he would take an oa*'
of allegiance to the United States, he said he would if it did n
oblige him to take up arms.
Accordingly an oath was tendered to him, and he swore
follows :
I do swear to be true to the United States of America, and
renounce and disclaim all allegiance to the King of Great Britain,
and promise that I will not, either directly or indirectly, speak or act
any thing in prejudice to the cause or safety of the States, or lift
arms against them, or be any way assistant to their declared enemies
in any case whatsoever.
William Read.
Whereupon, the committee resolved to dismiss him, upon his pay-
ing the sum of seventeen shillings and one penny half penny, being
the costs of bringing him before the committee.
In consequence of sundry accounts, from different parts of the
county, of a dangerous plot being on foot by some of our enemies
to bring on an Indian war, and in particular by an intercepted letter,
wrote by a certain Nicholas Pickard, directed to a certain John
Pickard, at the house of Caspar Read, in Penn's township, with all
speed, a copy of which was transmitted to us by Nathaniel Landon,
of Wyoming, and is now before this committee, and is as follows :
Wyoming, March ^th, 1777.
Worthy Friend : I cannot omit but write you a few Hnes, that I
am in a good state of health, and, further, I let you know that, as
soon as the river is clear of ice, we shall march from every part -,
therefore, I would advise you, as a friend, to go out of the way, for
we then, as soon as the river is clear of ice, intend to cut all off;
therefore, I think it is better for you to go out of the way with the
rest, for against May it will go as you heard it should go. Perhaps
1777.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 137
against Elaster I will be with you ; then I shall tell you further, and
ffi^ve you a better account of it. No more at present, but I remain
your trusty friend. Give my compliments to them all a thousand
^irxjes; tell them all that I intend to see them soon. I have wrote
to you as much as I durst.
(Signed.) Nicholas Pickard.
In consequence of which letter, Colonel James Murray and Cap-
in James Espy were sent out, by order of this committee, in search
r the said Nicholas and John Pickard.
April 17M.
Captain Espy returned, and brought the body of John Pickard
fore this committee; and being legally sworn, upon the Holy
'^'angelist of Almighty God,
He saith, that he went up the river, some time about last Christ-
"KTias, from Middletown to Wyoming, in a boat, and at Wyoming he
^^c\et with the aforesaid Nicholas Pickard, his own cousin, and that
"^hey two went by land about twenty miles further up the river, to a
place called Tankhannock, to see some friends, and being in the
liouse of a certain Nicholas Phillips, he, the said Phillips, told his
cousin and him that the Indians had told him they would come
^own, and cut off all against this spring, or as soon as they got their
orders ; and that they would in particular strike upon the Mohawk
river and the waters of the Susquehannough ; and that when he
pa.rted with the said Nicholas, at that time, he promised to write to
the deponent as soon as he thought there was immediate danger, so
that he might go out of the way ; withal telling him that the Indians
<iid not want to kill any that did not take up arms against them, so
tliat if he would go out of the way, or lie still on one side, there
would be no danger of him. And further told him, about a fortnight
^0, that there were five hundred Indians at Shamung, waiting for their
orders from Niagara. Likewise, that he, the deponent, asked the
said Nicholas what his reason was for coming down to Caspar Read's
at that time, (being about a fortnight ago,) and he told him that the
Yankees were going to apprehend him for a Tory, and that a certain
^nnis Clark came to him about midnight, and gave him notice of
It, and accordingly he made his escape down the river to Caspar
^^d's, or that neighborhood. And he has told the deponent, that
ijS ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. (1777.
he has wrote him two letters, one of which was sent by a man of the
name of Clark, which the deponent thinks is the same Clark that
gave him notice to go off; and that Clark took sick upon the way,
and when he could not proceed forward with the letter, by reason
of his illness, he threw the letter in the fire and burnt it ; and that
the contents of the letter was, that the Indians were coming down,
and for the deponent to go out of the way, and further saith not.
John Pickaru.
An oath of allegiance to the United States being proposed to John
Pickard, and bail for his good behavior, he complied with both, and
produced Caspar Read as his bail, who bound himself in a bond of
an hundred pounds for the good and orderly behavior of John Pick-
ard, for a year and a day next to come after this date. Then the
oath of allegiance was tendered to him, and he swore as follows :
I do swear to be true to the United States of America, and do
renounce and disclaim all allegiance to the King of Great Britain,
and promise that I will not, either directly or indirectly, speak or act
anything in prejudice to the cause or safety of the States, or lift arms
against them, or be any way assistant to their declared enemies, in
any case whatsover. So help me God.
John Pickard.
Upon the satisfaction given to the committee by the said John
Pickard, it was unanimously agreed that he be dismissed.
April I ^th.
Colonel Murray returned, and brought the body of Nicholas Pick-
ard before this committee, and being [questioned] anent the aforesaid
letter, confesseth that he wrote it, and a copy of the letter being
read unto him, he ackowledged the same in every particular ; and
further confesseth, that he is in connection with the ministerial
troops at Niagara, and that he has taken an oath of allegiance to the
King of Britain, but says he was forced to it ; and further, concerning
the letter, he says that he wrote it in a kind of mysterious manner,
by reversing the letters, so that it might not be understood, in case
it should be intercepted ; and that he sent it by a person of the
name of Dennis Clark, and that he has seen said Clark since that
time, who told him that he took sick upon the way, and, seeing that
he could not get the letter forwarded, he had burnt it.
IT77.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, ijg
He likewise says that one Nicholas Philips, at Tankhannock, noti-
fied hiin and several others thereabouts to move away with their
families and connections to a place called Tiogo, in the Indian
country, as the English were coming down to cut off the inhabitants
upon the waters of the Mohawk river and the Suscjuehannough.
That there were fifteen thousand of the ministerial troops at Niagara,
^hich were to be divided ; four thousand of them were to come
<iown the North Branch and four thousand down the West Branch
of Susquehannough, and seven thousand down the Mohawk river,
^nd a number of Indians were to be along with them, and that the
Person who informed this Philips of it was one John DePeu, who is
gone off and joined the English at Niagara, and that he sent him
^his piece of information by an Indian, after he went off.
Opon due deliberation upon the examination of Nicholas Pick-
^"^ » the committee are unanimously of opinion that he is an enemy
^^ the States: therefore,
•^esohed^ That he be immediately sent from before this commit-
^^^ to the Supreme Executive Council of this State, to be dealt with
^^ tiheir superior judgments shall direct them in the case, and that
•'^V^n Coates be the person who shall carry him thither, and that he
^^^^1 as many to his assistance as may be needful.
•Resolved ^ That this committee be adjourned till the loth day of
■'^tie next, when they are to meet at the house of Mr. Laughlan
'McCartney, in Northumberland.
January 3, was fought the battle at Princeton, in which Colonel
^Otter's battalion took part. Washington, it will be recollected,
^Upped away from Comwallis at Trenton, made a forced march on
Princeton, and had already won the battle there, when Comwallis,
'^ving made a forced march, arrived near Stony Brook. Washing-
ton sent an order to Colonel Potter to destroy the bridge at Worth's
MillSy on Stony Brook, in sight of the advancing British. Colonel
I^otter ordered Major Kelly to make a detail for that purpose.
ICelly said he would not order another to do what some might say
he was afraid to do himself. He took a detail and went to work.
The British opened upon him a heavy fire of round shot. Before
a.11 the logs were cut off, several balls struck the log on which he
stocKl, and it broke down sooner than he expected, and he fell into
tlie stream. His party moved off, not expecting him to escape.
140 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \m
By great exertions he reached the shore through the high water an -■
floating timbers, and followed the troops. Incumbered, as he
with his wet and frozen clothes, he made prisoner of an
British scout, and took him into camp. (Lossing, in his Field
of the Revolution, says he was taken prisoner. This is a mistake.
Colonel Kelly used to tell that during this tour, for three days s
one time there was no service of provisions, and during the marc
before and after the battle, they were thirty-six hours under
without sleep.
Muster roll of Captain Benjamin IVeiser^s company^ at Philadelplm^,
January 2,0, 1777.
Captain — ^Weiser, B.
First Lieutenant — Snider, Christopher.
Second Lieutenant — Shaffer, Adam.
Third Lieutenant — ^Van Gundy, Joseph.
First Sergeant — Hain, Matthew.
Second Sergeant — Markle, George.
First Corporal — Moyer, Philip.
Second Corporal — Eisenhauer, Frederick, enlisted in the service
of the United States.
Privates — Brosius, George ; Brosius, Nicholas ; Faust, John ;
Furst, Christian, sick at present, (discharged at Reading, by Doctor
Potts;) Furst, Conrad; Groninger, Henry; Hauser, John; Heim,
John ; Herter, John ; Herrold, George ; Hosterman, Peter ; Kauf-
man, Henry ; Kerstetter, Adam ; Kerstetter, Martin ; Kerstetter,
Leonard ; Kitch, Thomas ; Leffler, Adam ; Livengood, John ; Mei-
ser, John; Moyer, George; Neitz, Philip; Newman, Michael; Pei-
fer, George; Pickel, Tobias; Reitz, Andrew; Shafer, Christian;
Shafer, Nicholas ; Snider, Jacob ; Spengle, Zacharias; Stroub, John ;
Troutner, George, (enlisted in the United States service;) Weis,
Peter; Witmer, Mathias.
28th January, the Assembly passed an act reviving all laws in
force on the 14th of May, 1776, and such of the common and stat-
ute laws of England as had been in force previously, except the act
of allegiance, or those that acknowledged the authority of the heirs
and devisees of William Penn, or were repugnant to the lately
formed constitution. The courts were directed to be held at the
ITn.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 141
times and places of old, and the President and Council should desig-
nate the presiding justice ; in his absence, the justices to chose one.
The election for justices was fixed for the 25th of April, two persons
from each township to be elected, one commissioned. Licenses for
taverns to be granted by the Executive Council, on recommend-
ation of the justices. 14th March, register and recorder's offices
tttablished in every county; and on the 14th of June, the county
'''as districted ; Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter placed in the third
district. The elections to be held at Fought*s mill.
February i, occurred the skirmish at Piscataway, New Jersey.
Patrick Kellahan, of Captain Clarke's company, was wounded by
a musket ball in the right thigh. He lay a long while under the
doctor's hands. The ball, however, was never extracted, at least in
^7^6, when Colonel James Murray certified to the facts, in order
^0 his drawing a pension. Peter Nees was wounded in the privates,
*^<i died from want of proper care. He left a widow, Mary Nees,
^^<1 three children. Henry Dougherty and John Fitzsimmons, of
Northumberland county, were wounded. Lieutenant Gustavus
^oss, of Lee's company, was killed. Captain Thomas Robinson,
''^V\o was second in command that day, said he was wounded in the
^wels, and died that night, at Ash Swamp, east New Jersey. Rob-
ert Wilson, who became ensign of Cookson Long's company, and
John Norcross, were wounded. Wilson in the left foot, Norcross
in the left shoulder.
The following receipt is a curiosity in its way. It bears date 27th
May: ** Received of Captain John Clarke the sum of five pounds
and twelve shillings and nine pence, together with three pounds
seven shillings and three pence, together with four pounds, seven
shillings bounty and subsistence, being the full pay for a private for
three months and eighteen days. I say received by me.
**Jos. Green."
During the summer Colonel Kelly was commanding on the fron-
tier. Van Campen, in his narrative, says he served a tour of three
months with'him at this time. Colonel Kelly's guide was Job Chil-
loway, a friendly Indian. They were stationed at the Big Island,
near Lock H%ven.
Job Chilloway, says Jones, in his history of Juniata valley, page
351, spent his latter days on Spruce creek, Huntingdon county,
t42 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1
where he was found dead in his cabin, by some hunters, about
close of the last century. He was a tall, muscular man, with his t\
cut so as to hang pendant, like a pair of ear-rings ; so said the la.e^
E. Bell, Esquire. He was of the Delaware tribe, and his naiKi^
occurs frequently in the Archives, from 1759 o^> ^s a spy, ancC-
always friendly to the whites.
April 5th, General James Potter appointed third brigadier generai.
April 22. ** Matthew Brown, whose remains lie buried in White
Deer Hole valley, was quite a prominent man in our history. He
was one of the first overseers of the poor for White Deer township ;
in February, 1776, one of the committee of safety for Northumber-
land county; in June 1776, a member of the Provincial Council
that met in Philadelphia to dissolve our political connection with
Great Britain, and in July, 1776, a member of the State Convention
that formed our State Constitution of 1776, which he signed on
the 28th day of September, in that year. In the autumn of 1776
he entered our provincial or United States army as a soldier, and
while serving thus contracted what was called * the camp fever,'
which compelled him to return home, and finally carried him to his
grave. He lies buried here in a field, about half a mile south of my
residence. His grave is surrounded with a rude unmortared stone
wall, put there by his wife, Eleanor Brown, the widow named in our
above list of names. After surviving him for a period of thirty-seven
years, she also died, and now lies buried at his side. The inclosure
is about ten or twelve feet square in the clear, inside, and contains
two upright, plain white marble tombstones, now much discolored
and blackened by time, leaving the following inscriptions and noth-
ing more, to wit :
* MATTHEW BROWN,
Died April iidy 1777.'
'ELEANOR BROWN,
Wife of Matthew Brown,
Died August 9,1814.*
**And inside of this stone inclosure there stands four living trees,
viz : a straight and handsome hickory tree of about sixteen inches
in diameter near the ground, and three other crooked and scraggy
trees, a wild cherry tree, and two elm trees of some seven or eight
^'^^.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO P'^LLEV. //J
^^ches in diameter near the ground. Mr. Brown seems to have
*^^^«n well off, and doubtless owned this land and lived somewhere
^^ar where he now lies buried."— y. F. Woljinger,
roth May, occurred the action at Piscataway, New Jersey. Chris-
pher Gettig, afterwards many years a justice at Sunbury, was
ting first lieutenant that day in Colonel Cooke's regiment. He
wounded in the leg and taken prisoner. His leg had to be
mnputated. Some of his descendants live near Bellefonte, Centre
«unty, (1877.)
nth September, battle of Brandy wine. Captain John Brady
as badly wounded. William Boyd,* his lieutenant was killed,
dam Christ, of Buffalo Valley, was wounded in the breast, a mus-
et ball passing clear through his body. Samuel Brady was also in
liis battle. The twelfth was under General Wayne, at Chadd's
ord. General Potter was with General Armstrong at Pyles' Ford,
hrist was in Lieutenant Colonel James Murray's battalion, under
otter.
20th, occurred the Paoli massacre. Samuel Brady was on guard,
•^nd laid down with his blanket buckled around him. The British
^ere nearly on them before the sentinel fired. Brady ran ; and as
he jumped a fence, a soldier struck at him with a musket and pinned
his blanket to a rail. He tore the blanket, and dashed on. A
horseman overtook him, and ordered him to stop. He wheeled and
shot the horseman dead, and got into a small swamp, supposing no
one in but himself. In the morning he found fifty-five men in it,
of whom he took command and conducted to camp.
I St November, Colonel Hunter writes that he had orders for the
third and fourth classes of militia to march, but he had neither arms
or blankets for them ; that the first and second classes were on the
frontiers, and had all the good arms that could be collected ; that
the people were in a bad way ; had not got in any crops. For the
state of the country, he referred President Wharton to Captain
John Hambright, who had been chosen of the Council. That the
1 WilUam Boyd wm the son ot Sarah Boyd, a widow, who resided at Northumber-
land, and a brother of Thomas, who shared in all the dangers and fatigues of the
Canada eampaign, (aee Judge Henry's Memoirs of Arnold's Expedition,) and fell
a saorlfloe to Indian twrlwrity in Sullivan's expedition. Another brother, Captain
Hoyd, lived at Northumberland many years afterwards. See Megl'nness, page 286,
for hlB adreniarei.
144 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [177;
county was the worst off of any in the State for salt. His next let
ter, nth November, Fort Augusta, is as follows:
Sir : This day the third and fourth classes of the third battalio
march to join the army of General Washington, under the com
mand of Colonel James Murray. The two classes of Colonel Cooli
son Long's battalion I have ordered to duty on the frontiers, as th
first class, that was commanded by Colonel John Kelly, has com
off from thence, after serving two months, to encourage the pooi
scattered inhabitants to return back to their habitations, which
hope will be approved by the Council. The militia that no
marches is badly off for blankets, and several go without any, an
but thinly clothed, which shows their attachment to the America
cause ; though poor, yet brave, and can be depended upon for the
integrity. The first class that did duty up the Bald Eagle looks t
me for pay. It has come home with the loss of two men, drowne
in the river.
Your obedient servant,
Samuel Hunter.
By way of appendix to the year 1777, I insert a letter to Gei
eral James Potter. His correspondence, embracing letters from a
the principal characters in the Revolution, from General Washing
ton to Lady Harriet Ackland, after being many years carefully pre
served on his garret, were scattered to the four winds, in the mis
fortune of some of his descendants, some twenty years ago. Hi
dark lantern is still in the possession of Colonel William P. Wilson
of Trenton, New Jersey, one of his descendants.
General Potter's positions are indicated as follows: July 22, ir
command at Billingsport \ 29th August, in command of the firs
brigade, Pennsylvania militia, at Chester ; September i , at Wilming
ton ; 2d and 5th moved up to Newport.
Head Quarters, 31 j/ October ^ 1777.
Sir : As soon as the Schuylkill is fordable, I shall send over \
large body of militia to you, for the purpose of executing some par
ticular matters. The principal one, to endeavor to break up tb
road by which the enemy have a communication with their shippinj
over the islands, if it is practicable; and to remove the runninj
stones from the mills in the neighborhood of Chester and Wilming
ton. This last I would have you undertake immediately, with you
1777.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 14s
present force, as I have information that the enemy are about making
a detachment to Wilmington, probably with an intent to take post
there, and secure the use of the mills. To execute this matter at
once, you should impress a sufficient number of wagons for the pur-
pose, without letting any person know what they are for, and send
tbeni under good officers, with sufficient parties, to the following
mills :
Lloyd's, about two miles on this side of Chester ; Robinson's, on
^aaman's creek ; Shaw's, about one mile back of Chester, and the
Brandywine mills. If there are any other that I have not men-
tioned, contiguous to the river, they are also to be dismounted.
The stones should be marked with tar and grease, or in some other
"banner, that it may be known to what mills they belong, that they
"™^y be returned, and made use of in the future, and they should be
'"oved to such distance that the enemy cannot easily recover them.
^^ there is any flour in the mills, it should be removed, if possible,
^^t^r the stones are secured. I am informed that there is consider-
ably quantity in Shaw's mill, particularly, which there is reason to
^lieve is intended for the enemy. It is very convenient to the
na.vigation of Chester creek, and should be first taken care of. I
^g you may instantly set about this work, for the reason above
"^^utioned. That no previous alarm may be given, let a certain
da.y and a certain hour be fixed upon for the execution of the whole
*^t cne time, and even the officers who are to do the business should
^<^t know their destination till just before they set out, lest it should
^ke wind.
1 have yours of yesterday afternoon, and am glad to hear that the
**o<xi has done so much damage to the meadows. Endeavor by all
'^^eans to keep the breakers open. When the party that I mentioned
^^ the former part of my letter gets down, I hope you will be able
^o break up the dyke effectually.
I am sir, your most obedient servant,
George \Vashin(;tox.
P. S. I have desired Captain Lee, of the light horse, to give you
any assistance that you may want.
General Potter.
From the camp at Mr. Lewes', November 12, 1777, after recom-
mending Thomas Jordan for paymaster, General Potter writes ;
10
I4(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [iTJT^
** As for news, I have not much. Yesterday came up the mtf
thirty-eight sail of the enemy. What number of troops were or^
hoard is a secret to me. I went to Chester in the evening, but could
not learn. There has been very heavy firing for three days past.
The first day they did no damage to the works or the men. I have
intelligence almost every day from the city. Howe is the best Whig-
maker in the United States. He has converted many from the evil
of their ways, and turned them unto the country. Distress and want
is likely to abound in the city. I am told the poor would have
suffered before this time, if General Washington had not allowed,
them to get flour at the Frankfort mills. Friend #Iowe is not a par-
tial man. He uses Whig and Tory alike, which is the best thing X
can say of him. The friends to the Government lent friend Howe
^100,000. I believe by this time they would not refuse security" ,
if offered . The enemy have made two floating batteries, but they ;
constructed so badly and sunk so deep in the water, they will do
little damage. My men brought in to-day five British soldiers pris-
oners. We catch them napping, sometimes. Firing has been heavy-
to-day, but we stand it as yet. I have tried to get a man to go to
Red Bank to-day, tnd to-morrow I hope I will get an account from
there. I have just received a letter from George Read, Esquire, Pres-
ident of Delaware State, informing that their militia had seized a
numl)er of people, who were supplying the enemy*s shipping with fresh
provisions, and destroyed six o( their vessels in Duck creek. Three
weeks ago I advised the taking and keeping of Province and Or-
penter's Islands. U this had l)een done, friend Howe would have
been hungry by this time. We have it reported that on Wednesday
last our people sank a sixty-four gun ship. On Monday our people
took twelve light horse and some foot prisoners. The soldiers in the
city say often that they look upon themselves as our prisoners. One
day one of the sentinels told Major Taylor so.
** With esteem, your Excellency's obedient, humble servant,
*' James Potter."
Directed, on public service. His Excellency, Thomas Wharton,
Esquire, Lancaster, favor of Mr. Thomas Jordan.
nth December oc'curred the action, at Guelph*s mills, (near
Philadelphia,) in which the enemy endeavored to surprise General
Potter. The second battalion, under Colonel Murray, was engaged.
1778 ] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 147
Timothy Lennington, of Northumberland county, was wounded ;
Robert McQuilliams was also wounded, and cut to pieces by the light
horse, the same evening ; Charles Clark, first lieutenant of Captain
Taggart*s company, was wounded in the left arm ; had his skull frac-
tured ; he remained in captivity three years.
December 15, General Potter writes home, that in an action a few
days previous his people behaved well, particularly the regiments of
Colonel Chambers and Colonel Murray.
December 31, the Council request General Potter to stay in the
field during the winter, or for some time yet at least. The year
closes gloomily enough, with the army encamped at Valley Forge.
A return, dated Camp, in Montgomery, Philadelphia county,
I^ecember 22, shows that Colonel Murray's regiment, of Northum-
berland county militia, was then in Major General John Armstrong's
division, and numbered two hundred and twenty-six men on the rolls.
<■>
irr§
List of Inhabitants — Indian Troubles — Great Runaway of 1778 —
Covenhoven's Narrative — John Basuor Killed — Incident of Quinn
Family — Monmouth Battle — James Brady's Death — Colonel Hart-
ley's Expedition.
IHOMAS WHARTON, President of the State until his
death at Lancaster, 23d May. Members of Congress,
Clingan, William ; Morris, Robert ; Roberdeau, Daniel ;
Reed, Joseph ; Smith, James ; and Smith, Jonathan B.
Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the county. John Hambright,
member of Council. Members of Assembly elected, October 2,
Chambers, Stephen ; Dale, Samuel ; Himrod, Simon ; McKnight,
James; Martin, Robert; and White, John. The candidates voted
for, having, according to the returns of the judges of the election,
received the following number of votes each: Samuel Dale, 251;
1^8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \Y^"yS.
Simon Himrod, 250; James McKnight, 247; Robert Martin, 246 ^
John White, 211; Stephen Chambers, 201; Robert Fruit; 175/
James Crawford, 170. Another return, signed by John Kelly,
Walter Clark, and Jacob Fulmer, judges, declared Robert Fruit and
James Crawford elected, instead of White and Chambers ; \>ut the
House declared, November 7, that the return of John Clingman,
William Fisher, and Michael Hessler, was the legal one. David Har-
ris, Prothonotary. Jonathan Lodge, Sheriff. January i, Bei^jamin
Weiser of Penn's, appointed a justice. County Commissioneis,
William Gray, John Nelson, and Thomas Sutherland ; John Lytle
elected in October. Officers of Buffalo : Constable, Martin Trester ;
Supervisors, John Pontius and George Williams ; Overseers, William
Speddy and Martin Dreisbach. White Deer: Constable, Henry
Derr ; Supervisors, James Hammond and William Rodman ; Over-
seers, Charles McGenet and William Wilson.
Inhabitants of Buffalo who came in after 1775. Books, Henry;
Barnhart, Martin ; Colpetzer, Adam ; Chambers, Robert ; Cox,
Samuel ; Divler, Joseph ; Dempsey, Cornelius ; Dugan, William ;
Frederick, Thomas; Ferguson, John; Gilliland, John; Haugha-
waut, Liflfard, tenant of Samuel McClay's place; Irvin, William,
(miller,) Mensch, Abraham, (who owned and lived on Abraham
Wolfe's place, in East Buffalo. His wife died in the Valley, and^
was buried at Jenkins mill. He left with the runaway of 1779^.
taking with him his boys, Christian and John, and one horse. H<
never returned. He married again, and the late Reverend J
Nicholas Mensch, was a son by the second wife. Christian wen*
to Ohio, John to New York ; the latter died, about the same
the Reverend J. Nicholas died, at Lewisburg, in 1854. The fathe
of Abraham and Benjamin, of Lewis township, was a nephew
the one here spoken of.) Mizener, Henry and Conrad; Prinklei
Charles; Shirtz, Michael; Struble, Richard; Stroh, Nicholas, o:
now Samuel Dunkel's place. (Mathias Allsi)ach made crocks
The latter killed, with a potter's stick, a wolf following the shee^- P
into the yard;) Henry Winkert.
Zisf of Inhabitants of White Deer.
Allen, Samuel; Ammon, George; Armstrong, William; Baker, J" .^-
cob; Blue, Frederick; Blue, William; Blythe, William; Boone, Ha
n78.3 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 149
^ins ; Brown, Eleanor ; Brundage, Joseph ; Buchanan, James ; Cald-
well, James ; Carnachan, William ; Campbell, John; Charters, Wil-
liam ; Clark, Robert; Clark, Walter; Clark, William; Cook, Henry ;
Cooper, Robert ; Correy, Robert ; Couples, David ; Crasher, Wil-
liam ; Croninger, Leonard ; Dale, Samuel ; Deal, Christian ; Dean,
Benjamin ; Derr, Joseph ; Derr, Henry ; Diffenderfer, Michael ; Dier-
raand, Thomas; Dilce, David; Dunbar, Samuel; Earl, Michael;
Elder, Thomas ; Ellis, Richard; Etterburn, Jacob; Ewing, Alex-
ander ; Fisher, Christian ; Fisher, John ; Fisher, Samuel, saw-mill ;
Fleming, Hans ; Fockler, George ; Foutz, Conrad ; Fruit, Robert ;
f'ulton, John; Gibson, Robert; Graham, Edward; Graham, John ;
^Hiham, Thomas ; Gray, William ; Green, Ebcnezer; Hammond,
I^vid; Hammond, James ; Hays, James; Hazlett, John; Heckle,
Andrew; Heckman, Andrew ; Hill, James; Hood, Elizabeth;
Houston, Doctor John ; Huling, Marcus, saw-mill ; Hunter, James ;
Hutchinson, Thomas; Iddings, Henry; Irwin, George; Irwin,
^chard ; James, Thomas ; Johnson, John ; Johnson, William ;
Jor^ian, William ; Kelly, John ; Kilday, George ; Kirkwood, John ;
^fterty, Isaac; Laird, Nicholas ; Leacock, John; Linn, John; Lob-
^^n, Thomas ; Low, Cornelius ; Low, Cornelius, junior ; Low, Wil-
liatxi; Lykens, Thomas ; McCard, James; McClenachan, James;
**^^Collum, John; McComb, Daniel; McClure, Thomas; McCord,
^•^rciuel ; McCormick, James ; McCormick, Thomas ; McGinnes,
^muel ; McLaughlin, James ; Mc Jan net, Charles ; Mackey, Wil-
^^tn ; Maffit, Joseph ; Martin, Robert ; Mason, William ; Mitchel-
^^ee, John ; Moodie, Robert ; Moore, Henry ; Moore, John ;
Moore, Thomas ; Nicholson, William ; Noraconk, Daniel ; Norcross,
John ; Orr, William ; Pearson, Widow ; Poak, James, saw-mill :
Poak, Joseph ; Reed, William ; Reed, Widow ; Reese, George ;
Robb, William ; Rodman, William ; Row, James ; Row, Joseph ;
Ridehower, Peter ; Semple, John ; Semple, Robert ; Shaw, Hamil-
ton ; Shearer, Samuel ; Shields, Archibald ; Smith, John, senior :
Smith, John, junior ; Smith, Widow; Stephen, Alexander ; Stephen,
Philip; Story, John; Stover, Philip; Sunderland, Daniel; Swartz,
Peter; Tate, John; Tate, Joseph; Titzell, Henry, grist and saw-
mill, (Rauch's now ;) Townsend, Codder ; Turner, Thomas; Weeks,
Jesse ; Weeks, Joseph ; Weitzell, John ; Wertz, Deidrich ; Wheeland,
'.>■'>
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1771
Ocorge ; White, Joseph ; Wilson, Peter ; Wilson, Peter, junior
Wilson, Wilham ; Yarnall, Jesse.
Doctor John Houston was the earliest physician in White Dec
township, that I have any knowledge of. He is said to haveresi(
at or near the present village of Hightown.
Additional List of Inhabitants, Fenn's Township,
Aumiller, Philip ; Bader, George ; Bartges, Christopher ; Bearslk ^
I^'ter ; Begel, Thomas ; Benford, George ; Billman, Abraham 5
Bickel, John; Bornson, Catharine; Bowerman, George; Bo?re«*-
man, John ; Borald, Adam ; Bowersox, Paul; Boreminginan, Peter -
Bollinger, Adam ; Braucht, Daniel ; Brenard, Francis ; BuchteY,
John ; Bumbach, George, senior ; Byerly, Anthony ; Carrol,
Hugh ; Clemens, Abraham ; Conrad, George ; Dauberman, Chris-
tian ; Deininger, Frederick ; Eberhart, Frederick ; Eckart, Jacol);
P'annery, Benjamin ; Fisher, Jacob ; Fisher, Adam ; Fiddler, Ste-
phen ; Foulke, Jacob ; Fry, John ; Gast, Christian ; Gay, Frederick;
Gcml)crling, Paul ; Geml)erling, Jacob ; Gill, William ; Giltner,
Jacob ; Gillan, Moses ; Gift, Adam ; Glass, George ; Gundy, Peter;
Hafer, Andrew ; Hains, John; Hampshire, John ; Harrain, Henry;
Hassinger, Herman ; Havelock, Conrad ; Hawn, Michael ; Hen-
dershot, Cas^^er : Herrold, Simon ; Herrold, George, a grist mill ;
Hess, Mathias : Hosterman, Jacob ; Houser, Mathias ; Kern, Yost;
Kiester, Martin ; Knippenl)erger, Paul ; Kline, David ; Krain,
Hugh: I«iudenslager, Ferdy ; Lepley, Jacob; Lever, Adam;
Lower, Peter ; McAteer, Rol)ert : McCabe, Edward ; Magill,
Valentine ; Manning, Simeon, senior and junior ^ Maris, William;
Miller, Conrad; Miller, Dewalt, saw-mill; Miller, Sigamund;
Mitchell, Daniel; Mockell, Nicholas; Molly, Anthony; Moon,
John, one grist mill ; Moon, Casi)er, junior ; Moore, Andrew, two
mills ; Mover. Jacob ; Mover, Charles ; Mower, Michael ; Musser,
John ; Nees, Thimias ; Netz, Ludwig ; Oatly, Edward ; Paul,
IVwalt ; Phillij^s, IWnjamin ; Reeti, John ; Reger, John; Reiber,
John ; Richler, Christena ; Rine, Henry ; Rorabaugh, Simon ;
Roush, J.n'ob ; Roush, John ; Seecrist, Christian, saw-mill ; Shark,
John; Shirt/. J.uob; Sh^vk, Jacob: Shoop, George; Snyder,
Christopher; Spongier, Andrew; Sjx*ngle, Zachariah; Stock, John;
Stock, IVter ; Sivnk, Michael; Stoke, George; Stum, Abraham,
1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. isi
junior ; Swineford, Albright, one grist and saw-mill ; Thomas,
John ; Trester, George ; Trester, Martin ; Trester, Jacob; Weirich,
^^illiam ; Weiser, Philip ; Weiser, John ; Welsh, John ; Willis,
John ; Wittenmyer, Andrew ; Woodrow, Simeon ; Yost, Casper ;
^irnmerman, Christopher.
January ist, (from minutes of Council,) Joseph Green presented his
^^^im for supplying the militia with provisions while on their expe-
"^tion up the West Branch, and an order was issued for /ri,6oo to
^^^lonel Hunter for the same.
January 9th, General Potter gets leave of absence, in consequence
^^ sickness of Mrs. Potter, and Brigadier General John Lacey ap-
P^^>inted to his command.
February 1 7th, General Wayne detached Captain William Wilson,
*—\eu tenant John Boyd, and Captain George Grant to recruit for the
Pennsylvania regiments in Northumberland county. At February
Sessions, Samuel Maplay presented a petition, stating that his ser-
vant had enlisted in the Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, and John
Thompson and William Irvine (Irish) were appointed to appraise
the time of said servant. February 20th, Samuel Dale, member
elect, took his seat in the Assembly, at Lancaster. March 9th,
James Murray appeared. Noth withstanding the Indian troubles,
courts were held in February and in May. At the latter, John
Clark, John Crider, George Overmeier, Martin Dreisbach, and
William Irwin were appointed viewers on a petition to diNade Buffalo
township, by a line commencing at the mouth of Beaver run, thence
a south-west course to Switzer run. This was never acted upon.
At August terra, Stephen Chambers was admitted to the bar. On
the grand jury, were Albright Swineford, Ellas Younkman, Henry
Richard, and Thomas Sutherland. At November term, Collinson
Read and John Vannost, were admitted to the bar. Abraham
Mensch, Peter Wicoflf, and William Clark, were jurors.
As early as Dececember, 1777, the Indians re-appeared up the
West Branch, and Colonel Hunter ordered out Colonel Cookson
Long's battalion, as he says he is an excellent good woodsman ; but
for all that, on the ist of January, one of the inhabitants was killed
and scalped, two miles above the Great Island, and eleven Indians
seen, who were pursued, and two killed. In consequence, the order
for the fifth class of militia to march to join the army was counter-
IS2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1778^
manded on the 19th. It will be recollected that the main ami" "
was in camp at Valley Forge, at this time. On the ist of May
General Lacey's militia command was surrounded at Crooked Billetz"
General Lacey says, the alarm was so sudden that I had scarcely
time to mount my horse, before the enemy were within musket sho t
of my quarters. He escaped, with the loss of his baggage, and thirty^
killed and wounded. Some were butchered in a manner the most
brutal savages could not equal. Even while living, some were thrown
into the buckwheat straw, and the straw set on fire. The clothes
were burned on others, and scarcely one without a dozen of wounds.
From the diary of James F. Linn under date, December 2, 1845,
I extract the following : *' Uncle David Linn told me some anec-
dotes of Abraham Smith, who was married to his sister Jane, and
who died in Ohio some years since. He was at Crooked Billet, and
was taken prisoner with some others. They lost four or five men by
shots. They knew not where they came from. At last Morrow
(grandfather of my brother William's widow) got sight of the man,
who was shooting from behind a tree. He told them to keep still,
and he would fix him. When the man stepped from behind the tree
to load. Morrow fired, and one of them saw him drop his hands
upon his belly, and fall forward. They lossed no more men in that
way. After they were taken, they were ordered to be shot as rebels.
The reason for shooting the prisoners was, that they were short of
provisions. They shot Maclay and Conner, and burned their
bodies in a pile of buckwheat straw. It was Smith's turn next. He
stood up, and kept his eye on the man who was to shoot him, until
he thought he was about to draw the trigger, when he dodged for-
ward, and the bullet took the depth of itself out of his back, op-
posite his breast. An officer then interfered, and stopped the shoot-
ing." Crooked Billet is now called Hatborough, in Montgomery
county, Pennsylvania.
John Dietrich Aurand (afterward Reverend) enlisted in Colonel
Stewart's Regiment, General Wayne's brigade. He had been learning
milling at his father's mill, on Turtle creek. His father sold the mill
this year, and, possibly, going down the country in search of employ-
ment, he fell in with the recruiting officer. Before his term expired
his father went to the army, and made an effort to secure his release,
on the ground of minority ; but he declined returning, and served
^^B. 1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. ijj
^^til the year 1781, when occurred the revolt of General Wayne's
*'cx)ps, when he was honorably discharged, and returned to his
Other's home on Turtle creek.
May 4, Colonel Cooke, twelfth regiment, under General Wayne,
^^ camp at Mount Joy. 5th May, Colonel John Kelly, with part of
^ is battalion, on duty in Penn*s valley. May 8, Jacob Standford
•^ illed at his own house, in Penn*s valley, with his wife and daughter,
-^Xnd his son, ten or eleven years old, missing.^
May 17, General Potter writes from upper Fort, Penn*s valley,
"^hat he was informed by Colonel Long that a few families coming
to Lycoming, escorted by a party under the command of Colonel
Hosterman, were attacked by twelve Indians, who killed six of them,
and six were missing. Three men were killed, at the same time, on
Loyal Sock ; twenty persons killed on the North Branch. One who
was taken prisoner made his escape, and says the Indians are determ-
ined to clear the two branches of the Susquehanna this moon. He
says we have two forts in the Valley, and are determined to stand as
long as we are supported. The people were poor, and bread very
high. May 30, Jacob Morgan writes, that he had just returned
from camp at Valley Forge. He saw fifteen regiments under arms,
as well disciplined as any of the British troops can be. They per-
formed several maneuvers, with the greatest exactness and dispatch,
under the direction of Baron Steuben. General Washington after-
wards reviewed them. The British were about evacuating Philadel-
phia, and our army would follow. One regiment, under Arnold,
was to go into Philadelphia for civil service, until the Executive
Council could get there.
31st May, Colonel Hunter writes, **we are in a melancholy con-
dition. The back inhabitants have left their homes. All above
Muncy are at Samuel Wallis*s. The people of Muncy are at Captain
Brady's. All above Lycoming are at Antes* mill and the mouth of
Bald E^le. The people of Penn*s valley are at one place in Potter
township. The inhabitants of White Deer are assembled at three
different places. The back settlers of Buffalo have come down to
the river. Penn's township people have, likewise, moved to the
river. All from Muncy hill to Chillisquaque have assembled at
three different places. Fishing creek and Mahoning settlements
> Tbeir grftves are on Ephraim Keller's farm, west of Potter's Fort, (1872.)
rs4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
have come to the river side. It is really distressing to see the piec^'
pie flying away, and leaving their all, especially the Jersey peopl^^
who came up here last winter and spring. Not one stays, but set^
off to Jersey again.** 2d June, he writes that the people have drawm
up a petition to Congress for relief, and Robert Fruit and Thomas
Jordan were set off to lay it before the Executive Council, for their
approval, before presenting it to Congress.
May 6, Colonel Kelly and Thomas Hewitt were appointed agents
of forfeited estates within the county.
June 13, Michael Campbell, of Colonel Hosterroan's battalion,
killed by the Indians.
June 14, Colonel Hunter writes that communication between
Antes' mill and Big Island was cut off.
June 17, General Potter writes that Captain Pealer's company, in
Nittany valley, had discovered a number of tracks, leading down
Logan's Gap, quite fresh ; thirty in number.
July I , army moved toward New York. The twelfth Pennsylva-
nia, in Wayne's brigade, left wing, under General Stirling.
The "Great Runaway."
July 3d occurred the massacre at Wyoming, the news of which,
received on the 5th, caused the general stampede of the settlers of
our Valley, called the ''Great Runaway.**
On the 9th, Colonel Hunter writes that both branches are nearly
evacuated, and Northumberland and Sunbury will be the frontier in
less than twenty-four hours. His letter evinces the agony of a strong
man, who, with all supports taken away, was determined to fall, if
need be, in defense of the charge committed to him. He says :
** Nothing but a firm reliance upon Divine Providence, and the
virtue of our neighbors, induces the few to stand that remain in the
two towns ; and if they are not speedily reinforced they must give
way ; but will have this consolation, that they have stood in defence
of their liberty and country as long as they could. In justice to this
county, I must bear testimony that the States never applied -to it for
men in vain. I am sure the State must know that we have reduced
ourselves to our present feeble condition by our readiness to turn
out, upon all occasions, when called for in defence of the common
cause. Should we now fall, for want of assistance, let the neighbor-
1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 155
ing counties reconcile to themselves, if they can, the breach of broth-
erly love, charity, and every other virtue which adorns and advances
the human species above the brute creation. I will not attempt to
point out the particular cruelties or barbarities that have been prac-
tised on our unhappy inhabitants, but assure you that, for the num-
^r, history affords no instance of more heathenish cruelty or savage
barbarity than has been exhibited in this county/'
July 12, Matthew Smith writes from Paxton, (Harrisburg,) that
^ had *' just arrived at Harris* Ferry, and beheld the greatest scenes
^^ distress I ever saw. It was crowded with people who had come
"^Mm the river, leaving everything.'*
Same day, Peter DeHaven writes, from Hummelstown : * * This day
^™^Te were twenty or thirty passed through this town from Buffalo
^^^lley and Sunbury, and the people inform me that there are two
"^r^dred wagons on the road coming down. I was at Mr. Elder's
^^^eting to-day, and Colonel Clark and Colonel Rodgers made an
^X^peal to the inhabitants to turn out one hundred volunteers,** &c.
A letter written by William Maclay, from Paxton, on the 12th,
^ives a very graphic picture of the distress. " I left Sunbury, and
^^Tnost my whole property, on Wednesday last. I will not trouble
you with a recital of the inconveniences I suffered while I brought
^y family, by water, to this place. I never in my life saw such
Scenes of distress. The river and the roads leading down it were
covered with men, women, and children, flying for their lives. In
short, Northumberland county is broken up. Colonel Hunter only
remained, using his utmost endeavors to rally the inhabitants to make
a stand. I left him with few. I cannot speak confidently as to
numbers, but he had not a hundred men on whom he could depend.
Mrs. Hunter came down with me. As he is now disencumbered of
his family, I am convinced that he will do everything that can be
expected from a brave and determined man. It was to no purpose.
Colonel Hunter issued orders for the assembling of the militia. The
whole county broke loose. Something, in the way of charity, ought
to be done for the many miserable objects that crowd the banks of
this river, especially those who fled from Wyoming. You know I
did not use to love them, but I now pity their distress."
(Plunket and Maclay were the leading land proprietors who were
affected by the Connecticut claim.)
j6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. i.
Colonel Hunter, in another letter, dated later in the day of t
1 2 th, says : * *The towns of Sunbury and Northumberland are the fro
tiers, where a few virtuous inhabitants and fugitives seem determin
to stand, though doubtful whether to-morrow's sun shall rise on t
freemen, captives, or in eternity !*'
A letter dated Lancaster, 14th July, from Bertram Galbraith^
says : *' On Sunday morning last, the banks of the Susquehanna,
from Middletown up to the Blue mountain, were entirely clad with
the inhabitants of Northumberland county, who had moved off, as
well as many in the river in boats, canoes, and on rafts. This I
had from Captain Abraham Scott, a man of veracity, who was up at
Garber*s mills for his sister, the wife of Colonel Samuel Hunter,
and spake with a lieutenant, who was in the action at Wyoming.
He also seen six of the wounded men brought down."
Robert Covenhoven, (Crownover,) describing the scene nearer
home, says : ** I took my own family safely to Sunbury, and came
back in a keel-boat to secure my furniture. Just as I rounded a
point above Derrstown, now Lewisburg, I met the whole convoy
from all the forts above. Such a sight I never saw in my life.
Boats, canoes, hog-troughs, rafts hastily made of dry sticks, every
sort of floating article, had been put in requisition, and were
crowded with women, children, and plunder. There were several
hundred people in all. Whenever any obstruction occurred at any
shoal or ripple, the women would leap out into the water and put
their shoulders to the boat or raft and launch it again into deep
water. The men of the settlement came down in single file, on
each side of the river, to guard the women and children. The
whole convoy arrived safely at Sunbury, leaving the entire range of"
farms along the West Branch to the ravages of the Indians."
At this time occurred the death of John Michael Bashor. Mi-
chael Weyland, who survived many years afterwards, often related
the story to my informant. He said it was at the time of the Great
Runaway ; and as Bashor*s name is dropped from the assessment of
1778, it, no doubt, occurred in the first week in July, 1778. I can
find no allusion in the Archives, or in any other written record, to
the event, which is to 1^ accounted for from the confusion occur-
ring at that time. Bashor came to the Valley in 1774, and in June
of that year purchased a part of the ** Jacob Rees* ** tract, near
^778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1S7
^e-w Columbia, of Hawkins Boone. In April, 1777, he sold it
^&a.in to Richard Irwin, and moved down upon the place of his
fa-tHer-in-law, Peter Swartz, senior, who owned the land from Doc-
^c>r DougaFs nearly up to John Datisman's. Weyland said, him-
^ir and another person pushed a boat over from the east side and
^c>ok up Bashor's goods, and then pushed out into the river. Bashor
^^nt to the stable and got a horse, and attempted to drive some
^^ttle down along the shore. When he got down to the bluff that
^Ornes out to the river, at the present limekiln of Honorable George
*^- Miller, just by a red oak, that was still standii^g a few years since,
"^^ was fired upon by some Indians in ambush and killed. Wey-
^^rid and his comrade, who were lying down in the boat, rose to
•^^e, and Weyland was struck on the lip with a spent ball, the mark
^f which he carried to his grave. He said Bashor was buried on
^He river bank. I. D. Rupp, who is a descendant of the Bashor
^^mily, wrote me that the bloody clothes of John Bashor were still
preserved in the garret of his grandfather's house, in Bethel town-
ship, Berks county, as late as 1820; and that he talked with a
l>rother of John Bashor, who said he recollected of his brother's
crorpjse being brought home. He said, also, his uncle, Martin
fiashor, who used to live near McKee's Half-Falls, told him that
John was killed near Georgetown, and a man named Reedy was in
company with him. This is certainly a mistake. It shows how
uncertain, as to dates and places, tradition is.
John Bashor's daughter, Catherine, married Jacob Wolfe, son of
George Wolfe, one of the first settlers of our Valley. Her children
were Samuel Wolfe, late of Lewisburg, Michael, Jacob, and Jona-
than, still living at Lewisburg.
Albert Pohlhemus and wife, driven off from Muncy, both died
at Northumberland. They left seven small children, who became
charges upon the public. One of them was bound to Elias Younk-
man ; some to William 'ITiompson. Court ordered them to be
brought up in the Presbyterian form of worship.
Paul Fisher (of Slifer) tells me that at the time Bashor was killed,
his grandfather, John Fisher, lived at Esquire Datisman's. The In-
dians burned Peter Swartz's house, and killed a man named Ayres,
near White Deer creek. His grandfather, with his two sisters, con-
cealed themselves in the straw in their barn, and expected every mo-
iS8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [m3^
ment to be burned up in it ; but the Indians went into Hoffman*!
house, just above, and carried out a good many articles, among the
a clock. They seated themselves to examine the clock, when Aaroiv-
Norcross, John Fisher, junior, and others who had gathered, hallooed^
and startled them off, leaving their plunder. This old clock is stilL
in the possession of Jacob Hoffman, living up near the Muncy hills.
David Quinn, Esquire, of Chicago, grandson of Terrence Quinn^
has furnished me with an interesting incident of this attack of the^
Indians in Dry valley. He says, '' my great grandfather Corinnius^
Michael, an old soldier of the days of Frederick the Great, emi —
grated to America, prior to the Revolution, and brought with hin^
two daughters. What became of the youngest, after her arrival, fo^
some time, is now unknown ; but the oldest, Mary, was sold for as.
term of years, as was the custom in those days, to pay her {>assagi^
over. While residing with the family that purchased her in Lancas-
ter, Pennsylvania, my grandfather, Terrence Quinn, formed her
acquaintance, purchased her unexpired time, and married her. In
1778, they had four little children, and the other sister, unmarried,
was living with them. The night the Indians entered the Valley,
the news was spread through a system of alarms previously arranged;
and those who received warning, fled precipitately. My grandfather
and family ran in one direction, and my grandaunt in another.
** They were thus separated, and continued separated for fifty-two
years, each one supposing the other had been tomahawked. At the
end of this long period, one of my grandmother's neighbors, whose
name I have forgotten, was traveling in the Mahanoy valley, at 2
time when the stream was so swollen that she was compelled to stOT
at a farm house for shelter. While here, she fell into conversatio
about friends and relatives with an old woman, who proved to 1
the grandmother of the house full of children, and the mother
John Lechman, the proprietor of the premises. The old lady
lated the story of her kindred, and among other things remark
that she once had a sister, but she had been killed by the Indi;
in a place called Dry valley, more than fifty years ago. A I
more conversation developed who she was, and the joyful info;
tion, that her visitor was a neighbor of her sister, and she wa*
alive, and lived on Turtle creek, near Lewisburg. The travel*
turned, and told her story. Before the sun had risen over Mon
n78.3 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
'59
Tidge the tiext morning, Mary Quinn, though in her ninetieth year,
^•as on her way to see her long lost sister. They met, but not as
they parted. Each frame, now bent with the weight of years, em-
braced its kindred, long mourned as dead. Such a meeting, who
can describe ? The sacred pensman of the history of Joseph, alone,
^t was their final meeting, too ; but they are now where there are
no partings.'*
(1872.) Philip Seebold told me he often heard old Mrs. Fought
tell of this raid. She said, they were threshing flax on their place,
^here the road through ChappeFs Hollow comes out into Dry val-
^^y> when the Indians came upon them suddenly. Her baby was
i^^ar her, and she picked it up and ran. Another child, that could
J^ist run about, was back of their little barn. She heard it call, *• O
"Mother, take me along, too.'* She looked around, and the Indians
^^re close upon her. She ran the whole way, two miles, to Penn's
^•"^ek, to a house where the neighbors had gathered. She never
'^^srd of her child again; but as there was no indication that it was
^^Xled, she hoped for its return some day. At night and in the quiet
^^^iirs of the day, the last words of her child, * * O mother, take me
^Ong, too," she said, rang in her ears, long years after.
She said the house they took refuge in, was surrounded by the
"•"^dians. They suffered from thirst, and a man named Peter
^^id he would have water, if be died for it. They allowed him to go
^ut, and as he turned the corner of the house, a rifle cracked, and
He fell dead. The next day the Indians withdrew, and they em-
\3arked in canoes, and went down Penn's creek. On the Isle of Que,
she said, she went into a house, and found no one about. A baby
sat propped up in a cradle. On close inspection, she found it was
dead, and the marks of the tomahawk.
Incidents of the Battle of Monmouth,
Captain William Wilson Potter, of Bellefonte, has the flag of the
Royal Grenadiers, captured on the field of Monmouth, by his (ma-
ternal) grandfather, the late Judge William Wilson, of Chilliscjuaque
Mills, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania.
The ground or main surface is lemon, or light yellow, heavy
corded silk ; five feet four inches by four feet eight ; corresponding.
i6o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [177*?
in proportions, with the flag of the seventh regiment, surrendered >
among others, by Comwallis, at Yorktown, and presented, byord^x
of Congress, to General Washington, lately in the museum at Ale?c>-
andria, Virginia, but eight inches less in size ; the latter being sL:»c
feet long, and five feet four inches wide.
The device at the upper right corner is twenty inches square- ,
and is that of the English Union, which distinguishes the RoycMU
standard of Great Britain. It is composed of the Cross of Saic:i.t
George, to denote England, and Saint Andrew's Cross, in the forixi
of an X, to denote Scotland. This device was placed in the corner
of the Royal flag, after the accession of James the Sixth of Scotland
to the throne of England, as James the First. The field of the device
is blue, the central stripes (Cross of Saint George) red, the marginai
ones white. It wants the Crown and Garter, and full blown rose in
the centre, of the Alexandria flag.
The flag has the appearance of having been wrenched from the
staff", and has a few old dust marks on the device ; otherwise it looks
as bright and new as if it had just come from the gentle fingers that
made it, although ninety-nine years have rolled away since its golden
folds drooped in the sultry air of that June-day battle.
The battle of Monmouth occurred on the 28th of June, 1778; a
fearfully hot day, evinced by the fact that fifty-nine of the British
soldiers died of heat, without receiving a wound. This flag was cap-
tured near the old parsonage of the Freehold, New Jersey, church,
where the hottest of the fighting was. A short description of that
portion of the engagement will interest many :
After General Lee*s retreat was checked by General Washington,
in person, the latter formed a new line for his advanced troops, and
put Lee again in command. General Washington then rode back to
the main body, and formed it on an eminence, with a road in the
rear and a morass in the front. The left was commanded by Lord
Stirling, with a detachment of artillery; Lafayette, with Wayne,
was posted in the center, partly in an orchard, and partly sheltered
by a barn ; General Greene was on the right, with his artillery, under
General Knox, posted on commanding ground. General Lee main-
tained his advanced position as long as he could, himself coming off
with his rear across a road, which traversed the morass in front of
Stirling's troops. The British followed sharp, and, meeting with a
^^»*] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, i6i
^^rm reception, endeavored to turn the left flank, but were driven
•^ck. They then tried the right, but were met by General Greene's
^^Tces, and heavy discharges from Knox*s artillery, which not only
^Vcked them, but raked the whole length of the columns in front
^f the left wing. Then came a determined effort to break the cen-
ter, maintained by General Wayne and the Pennsylvania regiments,
snd the Royal Grenadiers, the flower of the British army, were
ordered to do it. They advanced several times, crossing a hedge
row in front of the morass, and were driven back. Colonel Monck-
ton, their commander, then made a speech to his men, (the troops
at the parsonage and those in the orchard heard his ringing voice
above the storm of the battle,) and, forming the Grenadiers in solid
column, advanced to the charge like troops on parade, the men
marching with such precision that a ball from Comb's hill, enfilading
a platoon, disarmed every man.
Wayne ordered his men to reserve their fire, and the British came
on in silence within a few rods, when Monckton waived his sword
above his head, and ordered his Grenadiers to charge ; simultane-
ously, Wayne ordered his men to fire, and a terrible volley laid low
the front ranks, and most of the officers. The colors were in ad-
vance, to the right, with the colonel, and they went down with him.
Captain Wilson and his company, who were on the right of the
first Pennsylvania, made a rush for the colors and the body of the
colonel. The Grenadiers fought desperately, and a hand to hand
struggle ensued, but the Pennsylvanians secured his body and the
colors. The Grenadiers gave way, the whole British army fell back
to Lee's position in the morning, and decamped so quietly in the
night that General Poor, who laid near them, with orders to re-
cooimence the battle in the morning, was not aware of their de-
parture.
Colonel Monckton was a gallant officer. He had been lieuenant
colonel in the battle of Long Island, where he was shot through the
body, but recovered. He was buried, the day after the battle, in
the Freehold church- yard, about six feet from the west end of the
building. The only monument that marks his grave is a plain
board, painted red, upon which is painted in black letters, '*Hic
Jacet, Col. Monckton, killed 28th June, 1778. W. R. W." By a
note-worthy coincidence in name, this board was prepared and set
11
i62 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [YT^^B
up by a Scotch school-master, named Wilson, who taught %hc
young people in the school-house near the old meeting-house.
Chappers painting of this battle represents the scene as Mondb'
ton fell, and the fearful hand to hand fight over his body ; and the
little old-fashioned sword looks as if it might have been painted
from the original, now in the possession of Mrs. Abram S. Wilson,
of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. On the left is the old parsonage. Be-
yond it the morass, (now, 1872, good meadow land with a fine stream
of water running through it,) extending right and left. On the right
is the rising ground from which the Grenadiers made their charge.
The sword had many adventures, and never got back to its
captor in his life time. (Judge Wilson died in 181 3, and is buried
in the Presbyterian church -yard, in Northumberland. He was as-
sociate judge of Northumberland, from 1792 until his death, when
he was succeeded by the late Honorable Andrew Albright.) Captain
Wilson gave it to General Wayne, who presented it to General La-
fayette, who took it with him to Europe, retained it all through
the upheavals &nd riots of the French revolution, his captivity in a
dungeon at Olmutz, and brought it with him to America in 1824,
when he visited America, upon the invitation of the United States
Government. It is a remarkable instance of his thoughfulness that,
after the lapse of nearly half a century, he desired to restore it in
person to Captain Wilson. He made inquiries in Philadelphia for
him, and not being able to hear anything of him, he left it with,
old Captain Hunter, with express directions to restore it to Cap-
tain Wilson, or if dead, to some of his family. After some years
Captain Hunter, found out through Mrs. Billington, of Sunbury,
that Judge A. S. Wilson was a son of Captain Wilson, and had the
pleasure of delivering the sword to the judge, the next time he
went to Philadelphia.
The flag was always in the possession of Judge Wilson, senior,
and his family. I can recollect well, at least thirty-five years ago,
when his son William used to display it on the 4th of July, at
Lewisburg and Milton, make a speech about it, and then have a
salute fired from sheriff Brady's cannon, brought from Fort Free-
land.
Mrs. John B. Linn, of Bellefonte, has a very fine oil portrait of
her grandfather. Captain William Wilson, taken sixty or seventy
1778.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. i6j
years ago, pronounced by aged people about Northumberland an
excellent likeness.
On the 1 6th of July, Colonel Brodhead's regiment, on its way
to Fort Pitt, was ordered to the West Branch; part of Colonel
Hartley's regiment was on its way to Sunbury, and the militia
were ordered up from Lancaster and Berks, and the people came
back to reap their crops. July 24th, Colonel Brodhead, then at
Muncy, detached a captain and twenty-four men into Penn*s val-
ley to protect the reapers at General Potter's place. General Pot-
ter writes from Penn's valley, on the 25th, that ** the inhabitants of
the valley are returned, and were cutting their grain. He left Sun-
hury last Sunday afternoon, and the people were returning to all
parts of the county. Yesterday, two men of Captain Finiey's com-
pany, of Colonel Brodhead's regiment, went out from this place
on the plains a little below my fields, and met a party of Indians,
five in number, whom they engaged. One of the soldiers, Thomas
V'a.n Doran, was shot dead ; the other, Jacob Shedacre, ran about
^^yxi hundred yards, and was pursued by one of the Indians. They
^^tacked each other with their knives, and our excellent soldier
billed his antagonist. His fate was hard, for another Indian came
^F* and shot him. He and the Indian lay within a perch of each
^^Vier. These two soldiers served with Colonel Morgan in the last
^^^iTipaign." James Alexander, who, in after years, farmed the Old
^^rt farms, near Centre Hall, casually kicked up a hunting knife,
*^^ rusted as to indicate that it might have belonged either to the
^^ian or the soldier killed. Two stones were put up to mark the
^tK)l on William Henning's place, near Old Fort.
August I , Colonel Hartley was in command at Sunbury, with his
^^gulars and two hundred militia. On the 8th he was at Muncy,
tDlonel Brodhead's regiment having resumed its march to Fort
itt. Lieutenant Samuel Brady belonged to this regiment — the
Eighth — in which he was appointed Captain July 28, 1780.
Sunbury, August i. General Potter writes: **I came here last
"^'"eek to station the militia. I found General deHaas here, who
^^.id he commanded all the troops. The next day Colonel Hartley
^^^me and showed me his orders to command the troops, and po-
litely requested me to take the command, which I declined, as I
"J^ever was very fond of command, and this is a disagreeable one.
i64
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
[1778
I rather chose to act as a private gentleman, and do all the good ii
my power; but people will make observations.'*
August 8, James Brady was killed above Loyal Sock. Colons/
Hartley relates the circumstance as follows : A corporal and four
men of his regiment, with three militia, were ordered to guard four-
teen reapers and cradlers who went to cut the grain of Peter Smith,
who had his wife * and four children killed by the Indians. On
Friday they cut the greater part, and intended to complete the work
next morning. Four of the reapers improperly moved off that
night. The rest went to work — the cradlers, four in number, by
themselves, near the house ; the reapers somewhat distant. The
reapers, except Brady, placed their guns around a tree. Brady
thought this wrong, and put his at some distance from the rest.
The morning was very foggy, and an hour after sunrise the sentry
and reapers were surprised by a number of Indians, under cover of
the fog. The sentry retired towards the reapers, and they in turn
fell back. Brady ran towards his rifle, and was pursued by three
Indians, and, within a few rods of it, was wounded. He ran for
some distance, and then fell. He received another wound with a
spear, and was tomahawked and scalped in an instant. The sentry
fired, but was shot down, as also a militia-man. Young Brady,
who is an exceeding fine young fellow, soon after, rose and came
to the house. Jerome Vanncss ventured to remain with him ; the
others fled. There were thirty Indians, supposed to be Mingoes.
Brady wanted Vanness to leave him, but he would not do it. He
assisted him to the river, where he drank a great deal of water.
Captain Walker and a party came up from the fort at Muncy.
When they approached, Brady, supposing them to be Indians,
sprang to his feet and cocked his gun. They made a bier and car-
ried him to Sunbury, where his mother then was. Robert Coven-
hoven was one of the party. On the way he l)ecame delirious, and
drank large quantities of water. It was late at night when they got
there, and they did not intend to arouse his mother. But she had
fears that something had hapix,»ned, and met them at the river. He
was a fearful looking object, and the meeting with his mother was
heart-rending. He lived live days, the first four being delirious;
but on the fifth his reason returned, and he related the whole cir-
— -i
1 Peter Smith's farm was ud Turkey run, ucros» the river flrom WilliumBport.
\77^^
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 163
^^'^slance distinctly. He said Bald Eagle belonged to the party,
^^o was afterwards killed by Captain Samuel Brady, on the Alle-
S"^eny. James Brady was buried at Fort Augusta, but his grave
^^, with that of niany others, been long since plowed over.
August 8, the justices of the court, through Thomond Ball, deputy
prothonotary, notify the president of the State Council that busi-
ness is much impeded for want of an attorney to prosecute for the
Commonwealth; that it was the second court at which no State
attorney had appeared, and many persons had to be admitted to
bail; that the long suspension of justice, from February, 1776, to
November, 1777, had rendered the people licentious enough, and a
further delay of executing the laws must lead them to lengths too
difficult to be recalled ; tippling-house keepers, the notorious pro-
moters of vice and immorality, remained unpunished, though fre-
quently returned, for want of an indictment ; that there were two
prisoners for murder, one was admitted to bail and the other in
close confinement, who should be brought to trial. In August, bill
found against Isaac Webb for misprision of treason.
September i. Captain John Brady returned to the army.
2 1 St September. As some of our settlers took a very prominent
part in Colonel Hartley's expedition, it is worthy of a short sketch.
It left Muncy on the 21st, two hundred rank and file strong, at four,
A. M., with twelve days provisions. Great rains, swamps, mount-
ains, and defiles impeded the march. They waded or swam the
Lycoming creek twenty times. On the morning of the 26th, the
advance party of nineteen men met an equal number of Indians.
Our people had the first fire, and an important Indian chief was
killed and scalped ; the rest fled. A few miles further, they came
up)on a camp where seventy Indians lay the night before. These
also fled. They then pressed on to Tioga, now Athens, Bradford
county. They burned Tioga, Queen Esther's palace and town.
On the 28th, they crossed the river and marched towards Wyalu-
sing, where they arrived at eleven o'clock that night. Here seventy
of the men took to the canoes and the rest marched by land. Lieut.
Sweeney commanded the rear guard of thirty men, besides five
scouts under Captain Campleton. The advance guard consisted of
an officer and fifteen men. At two o'clock, a heavy attack was
made on the rear, which gave way. At this critical moment Cap-
i66
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Sy^^s.
tains Boone and Brady, and Lieutenant King, with a few brave f^l-
lows, landed from the canoes, joined Sweeney, and renewed tJj^
action. They advanced on the enemy on all sides, with great nols^
and shouting, when the Indians fled, leaving their dead, (ten.^
The expedition arrived at Sunbury on the 5 th of October, having'
performed a circuit of three hundred miles, and brought off fifty
head of cattle, twenty-eight canoes, &c.
November 9, Colonel Hartley writes from Sunbury that the
enemy had come down and invested Wyoming, and destroyed the
settlements on the North Branch as far as Nescopeck. About
seventy Indians were seen twenty-two miles from here yesterday,
advancing towards the forks of the Chillisquaque creek. They took
some prisoners yesterday.
14th, he writes from Fort Jenkins that he is advancing towards
Wyoming.
December 4, John Macpherson bought the Andrew Gibson place
and ferry, now Cauley's, Win field.
In the fall of 1778, as a party of settlers were leaving Fort Free-
land, they were fired at, and Mrs. Durham's infant was killed in her
arms. They scalped her, and when the men came there, she raised
up and asked for a drink of water. Elias Williams ran to the river
and brought his hat full. They put her in a canoe and took her to
Northumberland, where Dr. Plunket dressed her wounds, and she
lived for fifty years afterwards. She is buried in the Warrior Run
grave-yard.
The mill of Samuel Fisher, who resided on what is now Kaufman
furnace tract, was burned this tall, it was said, by some settlers, to
get nails, the place having been abandoned. In a letter, in Decem-
ber, Colonel Hunter expresses great regret at Colonel Hartley's
departure. He says he made the very best possible use of his troops.
He complains of the forestallers of grain, whom he looks uix>n as
worse than savages, for raising the price of grain upon the people.
December i , Joseph Reed elected President of the State, Cham-
bers, Dale, and Himrod voting for him.
i^'TQ-
^EATri OF Captain John Brady — Indian Outraqes in the Valley — John
Sample and Wife Killed — Captitre of Fort Freeland — Death of
Captain Hawkins Boone.
RESIDENT of the State, Joseph Reed. Councillor,
John Hambright. Members of Assenibly, Samuel Dale,
Robert Martin, and William Montgomery. Presiding
Justice, Thomas Hewitt. Prothonotary, David Harris.
Officers elected in October : SheriflT, Major James Crawford ; Cor-
oner, John Foster ; County Commissioners, Walter Clark and Wil-
liam Mackey ; Assessors, Albright Swine ford, Peter Kester, William
Clark, Ac.
Buffalo : Constable, Joseph Taveler ; Supervisors, Casper Bower
and Alexander McGrady ; Overseers, Ludwig Derr and James Mc-
Celvey.
White Deer: Constable, James Pollock; Supervisors, Thomas
Xicckey and James McCIenachan; Overseers, Thomas Hutchinson
and Philip Stover.
At February sessions, Jacob Links was licensed, the first tavern in
Derrstown.
25th March, Joseph McHarge made affidavit before the court,
that he, with others of Colonel Cooke's twelfth Pennsylvania regi-
ment, was taken prisoner at Piscataway, (loth May, 1777 ;) that he
was carried to New York, compelled to take the oath of allegiance,
and sent on board the vessel that carried General Howe's baggage to
Philadelphia, whence he made his escape in disguise ; that his sight
had failed him, and, on account of bodily infirmity, he could not go
16/
i68 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1T79. ^
back into service. The court discharged him. Some companies of
the twelfth were now in General St. Clair *s division, first brigade.
St. Clair complained to the Council, which ordered Justice Hewitt
to deliver him over to the military authorities.
nth April, Captain John Brady was killed. He was bom in the
State of Delaware, in 1733. His father, Hugh, an emigrant from
Ireland, first settled in Delaware, and then removed to within five
miles of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. John Brady married Mary
Quigley, and their eldest son, Samuel, was born in Shippensburg, in
1758. He was a surveyor and pioneer in the settlements, and lived
at Standing Stone, now Huntingdon, in 1768, when his son, Gen-
eral Hugh, and twin sister, Jennie, were born. In 1769 he came
over on the West Branch, and settled on what is still the property of
Honorable George Kremer*s heirs, opposite Strohecker's landing,
below Lewisburg, where he resided until the fall of 1776, when he
removed to a place a little above Muncy, and built upon it. Octo-
ber 14, 1776, he was appointed captain in the twelfth Pennsylvania,
and was wounded severely in the battle of Brandywine.
I copy McCabe's account, published many years ago in the Blairs-
ville (Indiana county) Record. For General Hugh Brady's account,
see 1783. McCabe, no doubt, received his version from William P.
Brady, senior:
'* It became necessary to go up the river some distance tc^^rocure-
supplies for the fort, and Captain John Brady, taking with him a—
wagon team and guard, went himself, and procured what could be
had. On his return in the afternoon, riding a fine mare, and within
a short distance of the fort, where the road forked, and being some
distance behind the team and guard, and in conversation with a man.
named Peter Smith, he recommended Smith not to take the road the
wagon had, but the other, as it was shorter. They traveled on to-
gether, until they came near a run where the same road joined.
Brady observed, * This would be a good place for Indians to secrete
themselves.* Smith said, * Yes.' That instant three rifles cracked,
and Brady fell. The mare ran past Smith, who threw himself on
her, and was carried in a few seconds to the fort. The people in the
fort heard the rifles, and, seeing Smith on the mare, coming at full
speed, all ran to ask for Captain Brady, his wife along, or rather
before the rest. Smith replied, ' In heaven or hell, or on his way
177».] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, i6g
to Tioga ;' meaning he was either dead or a prisoner to the Indians.
Those in the fort ran to the spot. They found the Captain lying in
the Toad, his scalp taken off, his rifle gone, but the Indians were in
sucVi haste that they had not taken either his watch or his shot pouch."
Jasper E. Brady, Esquire, told me, in 1870, that some thirty years
btfore, when General Hugh Brady visited him at Chambersburg,
some old citizen, in conversation with him, asked him whether he
ever knew John Montour. He became very much excited, and
said, " Yes, he is the damned scoundrel that killed my father." I
am unable to reconcile this with the fact that General Brady, in his
account of his father's death, (postea, 1783,) says nothing about it.
besides, Heckewelder's letter, the proper date of which is April 28,
(see Pennsylvania Archives, Appendix, 1 790, page in,) from Con-
shocking, which was in the lower part of Ohio, says that John Mon-
tour had come there from the Wyandotte town, (now Sandusky,
^^ io,)and from a council near Detroit, where the English commander
'^^ci ordered his arrest as a spy, and the men had followed him nine
^*^>s. The whole letter shows that he must have been about Detroit,
"^Mr hundred miles, as the crow flies, from where Captain Brady was
'^^ ^ led, on the 1 1 th of April. Further, on the first of July, as appears
V" Colonel Brodhead's letter, ibid,, page 134, Captain Samuel Brady
^*^d John Montour had left Fort Pitt with a party to capture Simon
/~^ irty and seven Mingoes, who were on a raid. He would hardly
^^^ve consorted with the murderer of his father. Heckewelder, in
7" letter of 30th of June, to Colonel Brodhead, says, *' John Montour
^^ to be looked upon as without deceit." Captain Brady's death is
^^t mentioned in any contemporary written record that I have been
^ble to find. It is possible it was the result of revenge, but most
Ukely it was an attack by one of the marauding parties that preceded
McDonald and his rangers.
Mishael Lincoln (grandfather of R. V. B. Lincoln, Esquire) said
he was in the fort when Captain Brady was killed, and assisted in
carr)dng in his body. Captain Brady made surveys in Buflalo and
White Deer vallejrs. I have, perhaps, the only autograph of him in
existence, attached to an old survey of date 1770.
The accounts of John Montour are conflicting. Meginness says
he was wounded at Fort Freeland, 29th July, and died and was
buried at Painted Post a few days after. Nevertheless, he was alive
no ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17TO
on the 1 2th of December, 1779. See Colonel Brodhead's letter^^
ibid,^ 197.
Colonel Kelly used to relate that one of the Montours releasee^
two American prisoners and conducted them safely to within a fe^
miles of Northumberland, and the ungrateful scoundrels killed hii
there ; and he pointed out where he was buried, near a clump o -^
trees that stood to the left of the road, a short distance below wha-^
is now known as ** Molly Bullion's spring/'
26th April, Michael Lepley, of Penn's township, aged 41, killed ai.r
Fort Freeland. Jacob Speese, in a certificate dated the 26th oF
June, 1786, states that he was stationed therewith a party of militia.
He was a lieutenant in command, and on the request of Mr. Mc-
Knight, he sent a guard of six men to go with him to his plantation,
a short distance from the fort.
Aaron K. Gift, Esquire, of Middleburg, furnished me with the
following narrative of this occurrence, as related by his grandfather,
Jeremiah Gift, who died at an advanced age, in 1843. The Gift,
Herrold, and Lepley families came to Middle Creek valley in the
year 1771. John Adam Gift, (great-grandfather of A. K.,) settled
on the left bank of Middle creek, three miles west of where Middle-
burg now stands; owned and occupied the farm now owned by
John H. Walter. His three sons were Jacob, Anthony, and Jere-
miah. The militia were then drawn in classes. Jacob had been
drawn, and served a tour in the eastern part of the State. The lot
in 1779 fell upon John Adam, the father. Jacob insisted on serving
in his stead. Michael Lepley and Herrold were drawn at the
same time. They were stationed at Fort Freeland, near which
lived a family named McKnight, father and son. They secured a
guard consisting of fourteen persons, among whom were Jacob Gift,
Michael Lepley, and Herrold, to go to milk their cows. The cows
were driven into a pen, and while milking, they were surprised by
a party of thirty Indians, who fired upon them. They were so
completely surprised, they could make very little resistance. Lep-
ley, with others, and old Mr. McKnight, were killed. Herrold ran
for the fort. As he ran along a field which sloped towards the fort,
the soldiers in the fort heard the report of a rifle, and saw him fall,
and an Indian scalp him. Jacob Gift also tried to make his escape,
but was overtaken. When the pursuing soldiers came up, they
177"^ .J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, n'
fo land evidence of a hard fight; the ground was bloody, his rifle
hrol'cn in pieces, and himself tomahawked and scalped. He had
sol<3 his life as dear as possible. Young McKnight was the only
one who escaped. He jumped Warrior run, and a tomahawk struck
the top rail of the fence just after he cleared it. He was the only
one left to tell the tale. Upon Jacob Gift's father the stroke fell
hea.vy. He said, ** It was my lot to go, but my son went and gave
his life for mine." Michael Lepley left a widow, Mary A., and
some children. She drew a pension for many years afterwards.
In May, John Sample and wife were killed. The inhabitants had
mostly left the Valley. The militia were out, under Colonel Kelly. —
^^^illiam LyotCs Utter , May 13. This marauding party consisted
of from fifteen to seventeen Indians. Christian Van Gundy, senior,
^3^ one of a party, with Henry Vandyke, who went up to bring
^H^se old people away. (They lived on a farm lately owned by
-'^Viram Leib, near Ramsay's school-house, in White Deer, where
^ "^^ir graves may still be seen.) Van Gundy was a sergeant, and
'^^-<i six men in his party. Six more were to follow them the next
^"^^y. After Van Gundy got there, he had slabs put up against the
^^^^r, and water carried upon the loft. After dark an Indian came
vund the house, barking like a dog, and rubbing against the door,
ley paid no attention, but lay down, and slept until about three,
- M., when Van Gundy got up, and lighted a fire. The Indians
len surrounded the house, and, mounting a log on their shoulders,
^^ied to beat in the door. Those inside then fired, wounding two,
^^hora they saw carried off. An Indian then came around behind
^Vie house, and set it on fire. Van Gundy mounted the loft, knocked
off some of the roof, and put out the fire. In this encounter he was
Struck on the leg by a spent ball, which marked him for some time.
Another of the party had his side whiskers shot off. When daylight
came they put it to vote, whether they should remain in the house or
try to get off. Two voted to stay, four to go. On opening the door
they found an Indian chief lying dead in front of it. Van Gundy
took the Indian's rifle, Vandyke his powder horn, (which was still
in the possession of John Vandyke, in Illinois, some years ago.)
The Indians came on suddenly, with loud yells, and the men sepa-
rated. Van Gundy, with his two guns, took into a ravine, and tried
to get the old people to follow him. They refused, and followed
M72 ANNALS OF B UFFAL O VALLE K [ \TTS
the young folks, one of whom, Adam Ranck used to say, was tlie/r
son. Van Gundy said he soon heard several shots. These killed
the old people, who were scalped, and left lie.
The Indians followed them several miles. Van Gundy said he
never expected to get out alive, but with his two guns he thought he
could kill two at least. He made a circuit of seven miles, and came
out at Derr*s mill. Colonel Kelly pursued this party ; he had a dog
that could follow an Indian trail, and, coming pretty close, would
immediately drop. On this occurring. Colonel Kelly separated his
party, and they made a circuit. As Kelly glided very quietly through
the wood, he suddenly stepped into a hole, made by an up-rooted
tree. Glancing along it, to his surprise, he saw five Indians sitting
like turkeys on the trunk. He made a hole through the root, and
leveled his rifle. Simultaneously there was the crack of rifles from
the opposite side. Four Indians fell, and, notwithstanding their
utmost exertions, the fifth escaped. This dog was of great service to
the colonel. During this summer, most of the inhabitants of the
Valley, or at least their families, had abandoned it. The men left
usually occupied their homes, had signals of alarm*, upon which they
assembled at some point agreed upon. Colonel Kelly's cabin stood
in front of the present building, near the spring, at the present road.
He was awakened one night by the growls of this dog. He had a
hole cut in the door for observation, and, as it was then getting day-
light, he could see something moving among the bushes, at the end
of an oak log, that laid across Spruce run. On closer inspection, he
discovered an Indian. He took aim at a spot above the log, and,
when the Indian raised his head, fired. The ball passed clear through
his head, killing him instantly. He buried him himself in the little
lot by the spring, marking the grave by a large stone, and kept the
secret many years, not telling even his nearest neighbor or friend,
knowing that there was no city of refuge to protect him from the ven-
geance of the next of kin, an Indian law that proves our common
origin. No time or distance overcame it. There occurred one case
in the Valley of the killing of an Indian, which was avenged many
years after, when the settler had removed to Kentucky. The Indian
was apprehended, and confessed that he had often sought the opportu-
nity to kill the man here, but was as often foiled, and he followed him
to Kentucky, and dogged him many years before it came. Colonel
^7^^.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 17S
^^lly's secret only leaked out a few years before his death, in 1832.
^^^ little patch by the spring he preserved undisturbed, but took a
"^^tiion about this time to have it cleared up. He had a boy, Isaac
^^^'wer, living with him at the time, to whom he promised a half
^^^llar to plow it. He superintended it, and when Isaac proposed
^^l«ing out a large stone with the grub hoe, he told him to let it
^^one, and plow around it. This aroused Isaac's curiosity, and the
^^xt time they had big meeting at Buffalo, and the colonel and all his
^mily were gone, Isaac got to work with a shovel, and had not pro-
^^eded far until he reached a huge skeleton. The skull was very
*^rge, and had the marks of the bullet in holes on the opposite sides.
I^e carefully covered up the place, and hid the skull under the porch,
^orae days after old Doctor Vanvalzah came along, and stopped to
^3.1k with the colonel on the porch. Something was said about large
Heads, and Isaac, who became interested, hauled the skull out from
^nder the porch, to show it to them. Doctor Vanvalzah was as-
tonished at its size, and Colonel Kelly then asked Isaac where he got
it, and when he heard, became very angry, and would have whaled
Isaac but for thef doctor's presence. He then told the doctor the
story as I have related it.
I St November, 1872, 1 visited William Allison, of Potter's Mills,
Oentre county, confined to his house by a paralytic stroke, (he died
on nth February, 1877, aged eighty-five,) who told me that his
father, Archibald Allison, was one of the party that had gone to
bring the Samples off. He related the story substantially as I have
given it, as related to me by Captain Jacob Gundy. He added
some i>articulars : that after they got there, they heard the pecu-
liar gobble of wild turkeys, and Gundy said he would go out and
shoot one. Vandyke said: "You'll catch turkey, if you go out
there." (Surmising a common trick of the Indians to imitate turkey
calls ; two soldiers at Potter's Fort were enticed out in that way
and killed.) That the man wounded through the thumb cried
and howled so they had to threaten him to keep him quiet. That
they drew the old chief inside the house and scalped him, and
divided his accouterments. His father got the string of wampum,
which was about the house for a long time. On leaving the house,
the two wounded men, with the old people, were placed in the
center. They had left the house about sixty rods in the rear, when
ty4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
the Indians sallied out from behind the barn, about thirty in num-
ber, according to Mr. Allison's account. Gundy and party held a.
hurried consultation and agreed to separate. Gundy taking the
left, with the old people, the rest of the party the right. Allison
concealed one of the wounded men under a log, and the Indians
crossed it without discovering him. In the race, Allison lost his^
moccasins, and when he arrived at the fort, (as the rendezvous was
called, on John Lesher*s place, formerly Billmyer's,) his feet were
bleeding so that he could have been tracked by the blood. Archi-
bald Allison was then only eighteen years of age. He was at John
Lee*s shortly after the massacre there, in 1782, and saw the bodies
of the murdered, and was one of the party that pursued the Indians.
He left the Valley in 1783 or 1784, and pushed on into Penn*s
valley, where he married a daughter of George McCormick, one of
the first settlers near Spring Mills, where he remained, and died in-
1844, aged eighty-four years. William Kelly, son of Colonel John,
married one of Archibald Allison's daughters.
19th May, General Potter, from Penn's valley, writes that th^-
greater number of the people of Buffalo Valley had left.
26th May, Colonel Hunter writes that he had come poor spee&
raising the company of rangers, owing to the number of people thaC::
had got appointments to recruit for the boat service, (convoying:
General Sullivan's commissary up the North Branch;) that he haci
appointed Thomas Campleton captain ; that the few people remain-
ing above were assembled in small bodies at the forts, and very
little farming going on ; that on the 25th, twelve large boats, loaded
with provisions, left for Wyoming.
June 7, General Sullivan writes from Easton that he has so great
desire for the services of General Potter, and so high an opinioD
of him, that he will give him a command equal to his wishes if he
will go along.
June 21, Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley, with part of his regi-
ment, occupied Fort Muncy, Fort Jenkins, and Sunbury.
26th, Colonel Hunter says Captain Campleton 's company is at Bos
ley's mill, Chillisquaque creek, and the country was quite draine
of men for the boat service. The few spirited men that remaim
were guarding the women and children at the different posts th
were assembled at, while the army marches from Wyoming. ?
ITT^.j ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 175
^<i only thirty men, exclusive of those at Fort Freeland, and with
General Potter, whom he would keep at Sunbury until the return of
^^ army to Wyoming. Colonel Hartley's regiment marches imme-
d*a.tely to join General Sullivan, which leaves Fort Muncy and Fort
Jenkins vacant.
June 24, Captain Samuel Brady killed Bald Eagle, a notorious
^'^trrior, of the Muncy tribe, near Kittanning. July 4, he, with John
M^ontour, went out with two or three other Indians to capture
Simon Girty. 9th, reports Simon at Conshocking. (Colonel Brod-
J^ead*s letter.)
July 8, Widow Smith's mills burned, and one man killed, in
^^hite Deer township.
July 16, General Wayne captures Stony Point.
July 17, Starrett*s mill and all the principal houses in Muncy
^^^'wnship burned. July 20, three men killed at Fort Freeland.
^ ^ , General Sullivan at Wyoming.
The depreciation of continental money was excessive at this timej
^attel's Law of Nations brought $400 ; one volume of Gibbon, $40.
^ ^ March, 1779, a ream of paper, J[^i^. George Read's Life, page,
330.
Capture of fori freeland.
July 26, William Maclay writes from Paxton (Harrisburg) that
*\e had just returned from Sunbury. That the whole of the troops
Had moved from Sunbury, a week before, to join General Sullivan.
^ 'Northumberland county is in a deplorable situation, without a single
tnan, except the militia of the county, and Captain Kamplen, with
fourteen men. Almost every young man on the frontier engaged
in the boat service. Everything above Muncy Hill is abandoned.
Forty savages had penetrated as far as Freeland's mills. Freeland
and sundry others had fallen victims. The stores at Sunbivry are
in my dwelling-house, which is large and conveniently situated for
defense. The back part of it was stockaded last year, by Colonel
Hartley."
28th July, Colonel Hunter writes ; **Thisday, about twelve o'clock,
an express arrived from Captain Boone's mill, informing us that
Freeland's fort was surrounded; and, immediately after, another
express came, informing us that it was burned, and all the garrison
176 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17
either killed or taken prisoners ; the party that went from Boone's
saw a number of Indians and some red-coats walking around the fort^
or where it had been. After that, firing was heard off towards
Chillisquaque. Parties are going off from this town, and from North
umberland, for the relief of the garrison. General Sullivan would
send us no assistance, and our neighboring counties have lost the
virtue they were once possessed of, otherwise we should have some
relief before this. I write in a confused manner. I am just march-
ing ofT, up the West Branch, with a party I have collected." A few
days before the capture Robert Covenhoven went up as far as Rals-
ton, (now,) where he discovered Colonel McDonald's party in camp.
He returned to Fort Muncy, (Port Penn,) and gave the alarm. The
women and children then were put in boats and sent down, under his
charge, to Fort Augusta. He took with him the families at Fort
Meminger, at the mouth of Warrior run ; but Freeland's fort being
four and a half miles distant, they had no time to wait for the fam-
ilies there, but sent a messenger to alarm them. Covenhoven (spelled
Crownover,) is buried in the Presbyterian grave-yard, in Northum-
berland. Born December 7, 1758; died October 29, 1846.
Mrs. Mary V. Derrickson (born loth February, 1779,) a daughter
of Cornelius Vincent, in a letter, dated Delaware run, December 17,
1855, gives the following account of the early settlers, and of Fort
Freeland : In 1772, Jacob Freeland, Samuel Gould, Peter Vincent^
and his son Cornelius cut their way through the wilderness and set-
tled within two miles of where the fort was afterwards built. In th^
summer of 1778, the year of the Great Runaway, they had to leav^
the country. They returned and picketed a large two-story house ^
which had been built by Jacob Freeland. During the winter all
the families lived in the fort. In the spring of 1 779 the men planted
corn, and were occasionally surprised by the Indians ; but nothing
serious occurred until the 21st of July, when a party at work in the
corn-field were attacked by Indians, about nine a. m. Isaac Vincent,
Elias Freeland, and Jacob Freeland, junior, were killed. Benjamin
Vincent and Michael Freeland taken prisoners. Daniel Vincent out-
ran the Indians, and leaping a high log fence, escaped. Benjamin
Vincent, then only ten years old, hid himself in a furrow ; he left it
to climb a tree, and was seen and captured. He knew nothing about
the fate of the others until in the afternoon, when an Indian thrust
1779.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 177
the bloody scalp of his brother Isaac into his face. At daybreak, on
the 28th Jacob Freeland, senior, was shot as he was going out of the
gate, and fell inside. The fort was surrounded. There were twenty-
one men in it, and very little ammunition. Mary Kirk and Phoebe
^'^incent commenced immediately and ran all their spoons and plates
into bullets. About nine a flag was raised, and John Lytle and
John Vincent went out to capitulate, but could not agree, and one
^if hour was given to consult those within. It was finally agreed
^t all who could bear arms should go as prisoners, the old men
'*^ith the women and children to be set free, and the fort given to
Plunder. The latter left the fort at twelve. Not one eat a bite that
^y, and not a child was heard to cry or ask for bread. They
^Cached Northumberland, eighteen miles distant, that night. Mrs.
^irk put girrs clothes on her son William, a lad of sixteen, and he
^Soaped with the women. Elizabeth Vincent was a cripple, and
cotild not walk. Her husband, John Vincent, went to Captain Mc-
^c>iiald and told him her situation, and asked for the horse the
Indians had taken from his son Peter a week before. He carried
*^is wife to the lower end of the meadow, where they lay and saw the
^^x^X burned. It rained hard that night, and she lay partly in the
*^^ter. In the morning the horse came to them. Vincent plaited a
^-^Iter out of the bark of a hickory tree, set his wife on, and led it
^^^ Northumberland, where wagons were pressed to take the people
^^^'wn the country. Colonel Hunter's account says: '*That the
^^ing at Freeland*s was heard at Boone's mill, about seven miles off.
(^T^his mill was on Muddy Run, six hundred yards from its mouth,
*^^site of what is now Kemmerer's Mill, two miles abore Milton.)
^— ^ptains Hawkins Boone, Kemplen, and Daugherty marched with
*^irty-four men, but were met before they reached the fort. Cap-
^^in Kemplen, who observed the first Indian, shot him dead. Our
«n behaved with great bravery, but were overpowered, and fifteen
^re killed and two wounded. Among the dead. Captain Boone
^*^d Captain Samuel Daugherty, two very good men."
This engagement took place at McClung's place, above Milton,
^^illiam Miles, who was taken prisoner at the fort, and afterwards
^^ided in Erie county, said that, in Canada, Captain McDonald
^I^ke in the highest terms of the desperate bravery of Hawkins
lyS ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \}779^
Boone. His scalp, with that of Daugherty, was brought into fort
Freeland.
Boone came originally from Exeter, Berks county, and was a.
cousin of the celebrated Daniel Boone, of Kentucky. His grand-
father, George Boone, had a large family of sons : William, Joseph,
Tames, Benjamin, John, Hezekiah, Squire, and Josiah Boone.
Hawkins was a son of Squire, who moved to North Carolina in
1752. Hawkins was a surveyor, and lived on the place just above
New Columbia now owned by Samuel Gemberling. He owned,
also, the Jacob Rees* place, north-west of the latter place, the
Earnest Book tract, &c. He was commissioned a captain in the
twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, and selected to accompany a detach-
ment of riflemen from the regiment, sent under Morgan to Saratoga.
In a return of Morgan's command, dated at Lowdon*s ferry, on the
Mohawk, September 3, 1777, he is marked absent; wounded. Ift.
February, 1779, the State Council allowed him clothes out of the
State stores, **in consideration of his situation and spirited intre-
pidity of his conduct in the campaign under Colonel Hartley, when,
his situation might have justified him in remaining at home." He
left a widow, Jane, and two daughters. Some years after his death,
his widow married a Mr. Fortenbaugh, and moved to Halifax, Dau-
phin county, where she resided many years.
Of Boone's party, Samuel Brady, (uncle of Captain Samuel,) James
Dougherty, and James Hammond made their escape. Daniel Vin-
cent, father of late Mr. Vincent, of McEwensville, had been recently
married, and after the capture, his wife returned to New Jersey. For
four years she heard nothing -of him. One evening, when she was
out with a sleighing party, a roughly dressed man stopped at the
tavern where they were, and inquired if a Mrs. Vincent lived near
there. She was pointed out to him, and he told her he had met
her husband in Canada. He rode home in the same sleigh, and was
disposed to take her upon his lap. She declined the favor until she
discovered the impertinent stranger was her husband. — Day's Col-
lections, 1843. [S^^ Meginness' West Branch Valley, page 257, &c.,
for an interesting notice of the return of the captives.]
In a letter from Sunbury, dated January 27, 1783, to General
James Potter, member of the Executive Council, Colonel Hunter
d
lTr\>. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, ijg
incloses a roll of the men taken prisoners at Fort Freeland, the
2Sth July, 1779. ** Captain's company, John Neely, sergeant;
George Bailey, George Armitage, Aaron Martin, (died at Fort
Chambly, January 8, 1780,) Thomas Smith, Isaac Wilson, and
John Forney. The following persons, being those of the militia
that enrolled themselves for the defense of the garrison : John Lytle,
adjutant ; Cornelius Vincent, quartermaster ; sergeant, Samuel
&ould ; Henry Townley, Peter Williams, Isaac Willidms, Elias Wil-
liams, Henry Gilfillan, James Durham, Daniel Vincent, John Watts,
^Villiam Miles, John Dough, Thomas Taggar^ (died i6th January,
1780;) Francis Watts, made his escape on the same day he was
taken; Peter Vincent, likewise made his escape the same day."
Colonel Hunter adds: *• I appointed Captain Thomas Kemplen to
recruit a company under a resolve of Congress authorizing the
Council to raise a company for each frontier county, and to ap-
point the officers thereof, in place of Captain John McElhatten,
vho was not in the county, or expected soon. Kemplen engaged
^^ the 7th of May, and was of as much service as any man could
^^^ with the small company of men he had during the time. A
^Umber of his men who were taken prisoners at Fort Freeland, have
^Ome home poor and naked."
Colonel Kelly went over with a party from Buffalo Valley, and
^xiried the dead at Fort Freeland.
November 27, the German regiment arrived at Sunbury, and
Colonel Hunter proposes to station a sergeant's guard at Titzell's
"^ill, in Buffalo Valley. Among the deaths this year are Samuel
A.llen, of White Deer, in May. In July, William McLaughlin, of the
Same township. Samuel Allen left a widow, Lavinia ; children,
Ruth Reynolds, Agnes, Mary Rippey, Elphina, Samuel, Joseph,
James, John, and Robert.
Joseph Weeks, (of now Gregg township,) left a widow, Rachel;
children, Jesse, Hannah, Frances, Jemima, Sutherland, Hyllothem,
Nacum, and Fronk.
John Foster, Elsquire, who died at Buffalo Cross-Roads some years
since, and who was a son of Captain John Foster, was wont to relate
an incident occurring at this time. One night the family were
alarmed by Indians, and fled to a rye patch adjoining the house,
where they passed the night. A small dog that was usually very
i8o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. |I7
noisy at night stayed with them and made no noise. The fami
always considered it a special act of Providence, as the next mo
ing plenty of Indian tracks were found around the house.
^•^
1^80.
INHABITANTS OF BlTKFALO, WlHTK DeER, AND PeNN'S — InDIAN TrOUBLE!
David Couples Killed — Attack at French Jacob's Mill — Geoiu
Etzweileu and others Killed — Roll of Captain Thompson's Coitf* -
PANY — Patrick Watson and Baltzer Klinesmith Killed — Petehb
Grove's Pursuit of" the Indians — Barber's Mill Built.
OUNCILLOR, General James Potter. Representatives
in the Assembly, William Montgomery, David Mc-
Kinney, and Major John Kelly. Prothonotary, Cap'
tain Matthew Smith, appointed February 4. County
Commissioners, Daniel Montgomery, William Clark, and John
White. Collector of Excise, Daniel Montgomery.
Names of the Inhabitants of Buffalo Township, in the beginning of
April y 1780.
Allison, Archibald; Auld, George; Aurand, Henry; Aurand,
Jacob; Laker, Wendel; Beatty, Hugh; Beatty, Alexander; Bemhard,
Mathias; Bickle, Henry; Bickle, Christopher; Bilby, John; Black,
Thomas ; Brady, Mary ; Braton, Caldwell ; Brindle, John ; Bolen-
der, Henry; Book, Conrad; Book, John ; Book, George; Boveard,
James; Bower, Casper ; Burn, Peter; Burger, Martin ; Chambers,
Robert; Charters, William; Clarke, John ; Crawford, Edward ; Cri-
der, John; Conner, Jacob; Coon, Nicholas; Cox, Tunis; Cox,
Widow; Davis, John; Derr, Ludwig ; Doudrick, John; Dreisbach,
Jacob; Duncan, David; Elder, Thomas; Emerick, David; Etzweiler,
George ; Ewig, Adam ; Ever, Abraham ; Fiddler, Stephen ; Filey,
John; Fleming, Robert; Fleming, James; Frederick, Peter; Fred-
1780.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. i8i
erick, George ; Foster, John ; Foster, William ; Foster, Captain
John; Gibson, Andrew; Gil^son, James; Gilman, Henry, senior;
Gilman, Henry, junior; Glen, Andrew; Green, Joseph; Greenlee,
VV'illiam ; Groshong, Jacob, grist-mill ; Grove, Michael ; he was
axed with a ferry, which was at the old Judge McPherson place,
lear Winfield ; Gothard, John ; Hains, George ; Hains, George,
unior; Hains, John ; Huntsman, Jaraes; Hamilton, Robert; Harb-
ter, David; Harbster, Jacob ; Hiltman, John; Henry, Christopher,
distillery; Hessler, John; Hessler, Michael; Hohnan, (diaries;
^one, Henry; Hoy, Philip; Hub, Daniel; Hunter, Samuel; taxed
•^ith servants, negro, horses, cows, spoonS; &c.; he resitled on
^iin's creek, on the tract he took up, now owned by the Messrs.
-^Idts, in Union township; Irvine, William, (Irish;) Irwin, James,
distillery; Jenkins, James; Jermony, Thomas; Johnston, William;
^hnston, John ; Kester, Peter ; King, Samuel ; Kishler, Francis ;
v^linesmith, Baltzer ; Links, Jacob ; Laughlin, Samuel ; Lee, John,
Vo stills; Leech, William; Leonard, Peter; Lewis, Daniel; Low-
Ion, John ; McCaley, Alexander ; McCandlish, William, senior ;
wIcCandlish, William, junior; McClung, John; McCoy, James;
McDonald, Randall ; McGee, James ; McGrady, Alexander ; Mc-
Celvey, James; Metzgar, Jacob; Miller, Benjamin; Milligan, John •
liitchell, John; Mizener, Henry; Mizener, Conrad; Mook, John;
rioore, William, saw mill; Morrow, Andrew; Nees, John, grist mill;
fterwards Green's and Bellas* ; Noble, Robert ; Overmeier, George,
enior; Overmeier, George, junior; Parkinson, Daniel; Price, Thom-
s ; Pontius, Andrew; Pontius, John, senior; Pontius, John, junior ;
'ontius, Nicholas; Pontius, George; Pontius, Henry; Quinn,
ferrence ; Ray, John ; Rees, Abel ; Richard, Henry ; Rinehard,
"rede rick; Rinehart, George; Rosabaugh, George; Rote, George;
>cott, John ; Sharp, Daniel ; Shirley, Charles ; Shively, John ;
Jhively, Christian ; Sierer, John ; Sips, Joseph ; Shaw, William ;
>lack, Henry; Smith, Adam; Smith, Ludwig; Smith, David;
myder, Peter ; Snyder, Michael ; Speddy, William ; Storms, Chris-
ian ; Storms, David; Stroh, Nicholas; Sutherland, William; Tate,
idward; Taveler, Joseph; Templeton, Samuel; Thom, James;
rhornbuig, Thomas ; Thompson, John ; Trester, Martin, senior ;
7rester, Martin, junior ; Trinkle, Charles ; Vandyke, Henry, tan-
ard; Vought, Michael; Walker, John; Watson, Hugh; Watson,
i82 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1780.
Patrick; Watson, David; Welker, Leonard, grist and saw-mill;
Weyland, Henry; Williams, William; Williams, James; Wilson,
Robert; Wise, Jacob; Wise, Frederick; Wolfe, Andrew; Wolfe,
George; Young, Samuel, distillery; Young, Matthew; Zeller,
Peter.
Of these the following returned money for taxation only : Bickle,
Christopher, ;i^ioo ; Chambers, Robert, ^60 ; Frederick, George,
;;^5oo ; Green, Joseph, jQi/^o ; McCandlish, William, jQ^o ; Stonns^
Christian, ;^45o.
Additional Residents or Taxables of White Deer in 1780.
Allen, Joseph; Allen, John; Auman, Philip; Barber, John;
Caldwell, John ; Campbell, Charles ; Cherry, John ; Clendenin^
John; Collins, Daniel; Couples, Sarah, widow; Crawford, Robert^
Daraugh, Ephralm ; Derr, Widow ; Eakins, John ; Heckle, Andrew^
distillery; Gibson, James; Glen, Joseph; Gray, Robert; HammeU
Charles; Hayes, David; Hill, Elizabeth; Hill, Jacob; Hoffman,
Joseph; Huling, Marcus, of the Island; Hood, Moses; Huston,
Samuel; Iddings, Jonathan; Kelly, Lawrence; King, William;
Love, Robert; McClenachan, William; McCracken, John; Mc-
Cord, Robert ; McCord, James ; McGowan, John ; McKinney*
James; McLaughlin, John; Marshall, William; Miller, Archibald;
Millwright, Mathias; Montgomery, Samuel; Murray, William;
Poak, John; Randels, Joseph; Randels, Hugh; Row, James;
Shields, Widow; Shearer, Widow; Turner, Thomas, distillery;
Swartz, Peter, junior; Tanahill, John; Vandyke, Lambert. Im-
provements, saw-mill at William Blythe's. Red Bank run.
Among the Residents of Penn's Township in 1 780.
Barnard, France ; Bart, Jacob ; Bartges, Stophel ; Beard, Wil-
liam; Berts, Benjamin ; Bickard, John ; Bickle, Thomas; Bickle,
Simon, distillery; Bickle, Tobias, distillery; Bickle, Jacob; Borald,
Adam ; Bolender, Adam, senior ; Bolender, Adam, junior ; Bom-
baugh, widow, still; Borer, Peter; Bower, Peter; Bunker, Abra-
ham ; Carstetter, Martin ; Cline, Jacob ; Cline, Andrew ; Coleman,
John ; Collins, Moses ; Copenberger, Paul ; Crow, Godfrey ; Dean-
er, George ; Deininger, Jacob ; Dowdle, widow, (widow of Cap-
tain Dowdle;) Dreese, Joseph; Eberhart, Bernard; Egeh, William ;
».] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 183
^ans, John ; Faucy, Benjamin ; Fisher, Abraham ; Freyburg, Lud-
g; Gan, Frederick; Gaws, Christian j Ginney, (weaver;) Gray-.
11, Christian ; Green, John ; Graybill, John ; Guyer, Valentine ;
ains, John ; Harman, John ; Heffling, Jacob ; HefRing, Conrad ;
erraon, Henry ; Hoan, Michael, senior ; Hornberger, Charles ;
ooks, Stephen; Horn, Samuel; Kemerer, Peter; Kemerer, Dan-
l; Kerstetter, Leonard; Kerstetter, widow; Kerel, Hugh; Ket-
'raan, David ; Kreek, Philip ; Kreek, Jacob ; Koch, Daniel ; La-
li Jacob ; Leist, David ; Liber, Adam ; McTaget, Billy ; Man-
Qg, John ; Manning, Richard ; Mateer, Robert ; Meikle, Simeon ;
attig, Daniel ; Merkley, George ; Motz, Michael ; Meyer, John ;
eyer, Charles, distillery; Mogel, Valentine; Moon, Thomas;
oon, James ; Moore, Andrew, four hundred and seventy-nine acres
land, oil-mill, two distilleries, one grist and one saw-mill ; Morton,
:ob ; Mull, Anthony ; Neyman, Jacob ; Newcomer, Peter ; Nitz,
ilip; Nitz, John ; Ogden, Joseph ; Oudly, Edward ; Peters, Michael ;
ybert, John, senior; Reger, Elias; Reger, Michael ; Reichenbaugh,
ob; Reed, Casper, saw-mill ; Reihm, Henry; Retzel, Youst ;
it, John ; Ritchie, Robert ; Rodgers, John ; Roush, Jacob ; Row,
rtin, junior; Row, Ludwig; Ryhart, John; Schock, George ;
lock, John ; Shaffer, George ; Sharrer, Michael ; Shoemaker, Pe-
; Smith, Stephen ; Snyder, Thomas ; Stees, Jacob, grist and saw-
1 ; Steffy, Adam ; Straub, John ; Styer, Henry ; Styers, Jacob ;
ton, Zachariah; Swineford, John; Swineford, Albright, six hun-
d and eighty acres, and grist-mill ; Tremgel, Peter ; Trenkle,
tthias; Truckenmi Her, Frederick; Ulrich, George, junior; Wood-
•d, Simon ; Zellner, John.
:d April, William Maclay writes to President Reed, from Sunbury :
* Sir : I will not trouble you with the distress of this county. It
I, no doubt, be painted to the Council in lively colors, and, in-
:d, the picture cannot be overcharged ; nor should I, at this time,
te to you, but for a strong belief and persuasion that a body of
lians are lodged about the head of Fishing and Muncy creek,
ey were with us to the very beginning of the deep snow last year ;
y are with us now before that snow is quite gone. Many of our
Iters, who went up late last fall into that country, (which is a fine
I for hunting,) were so alarmed with the constant reports of guns,
ich they could not believe to be those of white men, that they
i84 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780 —
returned suddenly back. We are not strong enough to spare men .
•to examine this country, and dislodge them. The German regiment
are under their own officers, and, for my part, I expect no service
from them. I cannot help uttering a wish that what troops we have
might be all Pennsylvanians. There is a certain love of country thatzr
really has weight. This is a strange divided quarter. Whig, Tory^
Yankee, Pennamite, Dutch, Irish, and English influence are strangely
blended. I must confess I begin to be national, too, and most sin-
cerely believe every public interest of America will be safer in the
hands of Americans than with any others. Eut I will not trouble
you with any more of my opinions. Help us if you can, and much
obHge a distressed country.*'
Colonel Samuel Hunter writes, on the same day : **The savages
have made their appearance on the frontiers in a hostile manner.
Day before yesterday they took seven or eight prisoners about two
miles above Fort Jenkins, and two days before they carried off
several people from about Wyoming. The German regiment that is
stationed here is no ways adequate to grant us the necessary relief.
The case is quite altered from this time twelve months ago. We then
had a pretty good garrison at Muncy, Brady's fort, Freeland's, with
our own inhabitants. Now we have but forty or fifty at Montgom-
ery's, and thirty at Fort Jenkins. The latter was not able to spare
men enough to pursue the enemy, that carried off the prisoners,
though there were but thirty Tories and Indians, and a pretty deep
snow had fallen the night before, by which they could be tracked.
I have seen the time within three years that we could turn out some
hundred of good woodsmen, but the country is quite drained of our
best men."
The rapid depreciation of money may be noted through an item
in the State Treasurer's account : May 17, order to Samuel Dale, ad-
ditional pay as Member, in consequence of the price of wheat raised
from ;^i5 to ^20 per bushel, nth March, cassimere was J300
per yard ; jean and habit cloth, ^60 per yard.
April 8, a party of Indians made a descent on White Deer creek.
At Redbank, one and one-half miles south of White Deer Mills, a
little below where Charley Ely's blacksmith shop used to be, toward
the river, lived David Couples, with his wife and two children. They
killed and scalped Couples and two of the children, and took his-wife
n»0.;j ASNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, iHS
prisoner. They camped for the night on the hills above the mills,
^•^^re she made her escape, although one of them had lain himself
"^^n upon her clothes, so that her moving would alarm him. The
'^^^t day, when the people came to the house, they found the chil-
"''^n had crawled under the bed, but their eyes were rent with in-
^^Hsity of suffering. One daughter survived, Margaret Couples,
^ne married a man named William Armstrong, a wagoner on Doctor
^ker's place, and they moved to Centre county. The widow mar-
^Wd a man named Elliot, of Chillisquaque. Some of the family
Uve about Northumberland. Captain John M. Huff, of Milton, is
a grandson.
In Doctor Harbaugh's Fathers of the German Reformed Church,
we find the following notice of the first stated Reformed minister
nearest to the region of our annals: As early as the i8th of May,
the Reverend Samuel DubbendorfiT labored as a minister at Lykens
valley. A letter of that date says : * * like John the Baptist, he at present
preaches to three congregations, bordering upon the Indians. The
people greatly love and honor him, yet owing to their poverty, can
give him only the most necessary articles of food, but not a cent of
money as salary." Mr. DubbendorfiT, no doubt, preached as a sup-
ply for the churches on Penn's creek, and, perhaps, in Buffalo Valley,
as we find that when he beame too feeble, from age, to labor any
longer in the ministry, he removed to a friend's, near Selinsgrove,
where he died. He is buried in Selinsgrove, but no memorial, we
believe, marks his grave.
Attack on French Jacob's Mill,
Northumberland Town, May i8, 1780.
I am unhappy enough to mform you the savage enemy have, on
the 1 6th inst., made a stroke on the inhabitants of this much dis-
tressed county, at Buffalo Valley. At French Jacob Grozong*s
mills four men killed, viz: Jno. Forster, jr., Eytzwiller,
James Chambers, and Samuel McLaughlen. The enemy got only
one of the scalps. The neighboring inhabitants, on hearing the
firing, briskly turned out, and pursued the enemy very brave, but
was not able to overtake them. The inhabitants have stood here,
indeeti, longer than could been expected, were it not desperation.
But, sir, unless some support can be instantly afforded, the State
i86 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, f 1780.
must shortly count one county less than formerly — which God
forbid. I refer you, D'r sir, to the bearer. Gen. Potter, for further
information, as he waits on horseback, whilst I write this imperfect,
distress'd acc't. Provisions none, cash none, nor can it be had
in this place. Gen. Potter's acc*ts from this place to the Hon'ble
the Assembly, which I doubt not you will see, will fully satisfy you
of the state of this place.
I am, D*r sir, your most obt. humble serv't,
Matthew Smith.
Gen. Jos. Reed.
Sometime between 1776 and 1779, Jacob Groshong, familiarly
known as French Jacob, built a little log mill, the site of which is
now familiarly known as Solomon Heberling*s, on what he supposed
was his own location. He was defeated in a suit at Sunbury, rode
home the same night, dismantled the mill, moved the wheels, &c.,
down to the site of what is now Dater & Reish*s mill. Here he
re-built his mill in 1782 and 1783, and added a saw-mill in 1785.
In 1793, Enoch Thomas got the property, and Groshong moved up
to the end of the Nittany mountain, in Centre county, and thence
West. From Thomas, it passed into the hands of Christopher
Johnson, in 1797, and into the hands of John Hofferd, in 1808,
and finally into the Reish's.
The old mill building, where this fight occurred, Mr. Philip Pon-
tius told me he took down when he owned the property, and that he
carefully preserved the timbers that had the bullet marks in them,
and placed them in another building there, where they could still
be seen.
This will explain the impression on the minds of some old peo-
ple I have talked with, who alleged the site of French Jacob's mill,
where the fight occurred, was at the old Hofferd or Reish mill ;
whereas, in truth, it occurred at the little old mill, the site of which
is on Solomon Heberling's place.
Groshong's name, or rather his nick-name, is still preserved in
connection with the large spring a little above the tavern, on the
Brush Valley road. I find in 1787 he was assessed by his nick-
name, ** Jacob, French." He is the hero of all the wild tales of
Indian troubles in that part of the Valley. The place where he hid
from the Indians, beside this spring, is still pointed out.
1780.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 187
The place became more noted in after years as the residence of
Captain John Bergstresser, who, as early as 181 1, had an oil, full-
ing-mill, saw-mill, and kept store upon the premises. Bergstresser
came in after Henry Snyder, who had some sort of mills there as
early as 1802.
Christian Shively told my informant, John Beeber, that he heard
the signal firing at this* time. He was threshing some grain at the
time. He had a hard, smooth place tramped on the ground, and
was throwing the wheat up in the air to allow the wind to blow the
chaff away. He immediately hid his wife and two children near
the mouth of White Spring run. He slipped silently about, rolleil
some togs into Penn*s creek, tied them with hickory withes into a
raft, put his wife and children on, and floated down to Beatty's,
where New Berlin now stands.
Philip Pontius told me his father also heard the signal. He un-
hitched his horses, and made a circuit through the woods, gun in
hand, and came to the mill. He said William Fisher made a nar-
row escape. He was running into the mill, when his foot slipped
on a board, and he fell into the door. The bullet intended for him
struck the building on a line where his head would have been had he
not fallen.
One tradition of the neighborhood is that this was a patrol of
five men which passed every day between Titzell's, late Kelly's, mill
and French Jacob's, and they were attacked by the Indians in sight
of the mills. Another has it that the soldiers were out washing
when they were fired on.
John Forster was an uncle of the late Captain John Forster, of
Mifflinburg, and a brother of the old Major Thomas Forster. James
Chambers was the son of Robert Chambers.
George Etzweiler, junior, left a widow named Mary. George
Etzweiler, a son of the one killed, kept hotel at McKee's Half-Falls,
as late as 181 2. William Fisher was the grandfather of James
Crossgrove and Sheriff John Crossgrove, and resided in Limestone,
where James Crossgrove lately resided. William Gill told me he
heard old Mrs. Overmeier say that the people who were killed,
were brought over to the place adjoining Philip Seebold's residence,
above New Berlin, and were buried in the old grave-yard on the
bluff at the creek, where Dry run comes in, nearly opposite where
i88 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1780.
Tuscarora run enters Penn's, on the Snyder county side.* Here old
John Trester and the first settlers were buried. This grave-yard,
probably the oldest in the county, was not used after 1791, when
the i)eople commenced burying in New Berlin. It belonged to
Thomas Barber, who was killed in 1792, by the timbers of an old
barn falling upon him. Some time during this year, one of the
" Mizener's, who resided where Daniel Pontius now resides, near
Reish's distillery, was captured, and carried off from that place by the
Indians. Esquire Sheckler informs me it was Adam Mizener, who
moved to Ohio, and died there some years ago. He remained in
captivity about eighteen months.
On the 14th of July, the Archives state that a man and three
children were killed, near the mouth of Buffalo creek. According
to the statement of William Wilson, (Doctor T. H*s. grandfather,)
this occurred at the old house where Thomas Ream now lives. The
woman escaped across the creek and, looking back, saw an Indian
dash the brains out of the small child against a tree. The name of
the family was Allen.
Copy of Roll found among Colonel John Kellfs papers.
A pay-roll of my company of the first battalion, Northumberland
county militia, commencing i6th of July, 1780. Enrolled, July 16,
1780. Discliarged, August 15.
Colonel — Kelly, John.
Captain — Thompson, James.
Lieutenant — Poak, Joseph.
Ensign — Ewing, Alexander.
Black, William; Black, Thomas; Brindage, Joseph; Fleming,
Hance; Green, Joseph; Hamersley, James; Iddings, Jonathan;
Poak, John ; Poak, Thomas ; Poak, James Smith ; Rodman, Hugh ;
Wilson, Peter; Wilson, John; Young, John.
Letters of administration on Patrick Watson's estate, were granted
on the 23d of July, of this year ; and his death, perhaps, occurred
during May, when the stroke on the Valley, spoken of in Captain
Matthew Smith's letter, was made. His cabin was on a slight eleva-
tion, a little east of the new school-house (1877) at White Springs,
^ Philip Seebold said, in 1872, that George Etzweiler was buried on John Oook'i
place, now Peter Slear^s, in Liimestone township.
^^*^.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, iSg
-Mnestone township. The site was pointed out to me, by Jacob
^I. Shively, whose grandfather, Christian Shively, showed him the
^Dot, and told the story. He said he heard the firing, and went to
^Vatson's cabin, and found Mrs. Watson, Patrick's mother, lying
On the floor, shot, and a dog licking her scalped head. She could
Only make motions in reply to his inquiry, intimating that Patrick
Had gone down the run. He went out after him, and found him
near the White spring. Watson did not know he was shot until,
"Stooping down by the spring to drink, the water ran out of his
-wound. He died within two hours. He and his mother were
a^mong the first buried in the Lewis grave-yard. He was an uncle
of David, William, and John C. Watson.
Friday, 14th July, Baltzer Klinesmith, who resided then on George
Sholtz's land, lately owned by John Byler, on the second road south
of Dreisbach's church leading to Jenkins' mills, and had a small
clearing upon it, was killed. The versions of this story are quite
numerous. The one in the ** History of the West Branch," was
furnished by George A. Snyder, Esquire, deceased. The dates I
get from the widow's pension papers, and an old certificate, in which
it is further stated that he was a private in Captain Joseph Green's
company. Lieutenant John Cryder, in Colonel Kelly's battalion.
My version is from one who often heard Mrs. Chambers tell it her-
self. She, with her father and sister, went out in the field to work.
He, seeing some squirrels, sent Baltzer, junior, back for his gun.
Meanwhile, the Indians came along and captured the old man and
the two girls, Elizabeth and Catherine.
Just where the road winds around the hill, above Heimbach's
blacksmith shop, on the road to New Berlin, they killed Klinesjnith.
Mrs. Dreisbach, the Judge's mother, pointed out the place. She
helped carry his body down, and they buried it in the Dreisbach
church-yard.
The Indians then made their way to the spring, north of New
Berlin, where they left the girls in charge of an old man of their
party, and went down Dry valley. After a little while it l>egan to
rain, and the Indian motioned the girls to gather brush to cover the
flour bag. He laid down under a tree, with the tomahawk under
his head. The girls, in passing with brush, worked it gradually
from under him as he dozed. Elizabeth picked up the tomahawk.
1^0 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
and made a motion to her sister to run. She then sank it into tT>^
old man's head. The old man yelled fearfully, and the girls rai?.
By this time the Indians were on their return, and heard the old
man yell. They pursued the girls and fired on Catherine, just as
she was springing over a fallen tree. The ball entered below the
right shoulder-blade and came out at her side. She had the scars
Until her dying day, as large as a half dollar. She rolled herself
under the tree, and the Indians passed over her, in pursuit of the
sister. Elizabeth, being active, reached Beatty's harvest field. The
men ran to their rifles and pursued the Indians. When they came
pretty near Catherine, one of the men, supposing an Indian in am-
bush, was about firing, when she pulled off her apron and waved it.
They found her much weakened from loss of blood, but she soon
recovered. Philip Pontius, still living, told me that the Indians
were going to Beatty's, and George Rote, who was a lame man, but
great on a halloo, frightened them back, by hallooing to an imagin-
ary company to surround the black rebels. Klinesmith*s widow
drew a pension as late as 1 819, at New Berlin. ** Elizabeth married
John Boal, moved to French creek, near Meadville first, and, in 1843,
was still living in Ohio or Indiana, her husband, being one of those
restless spirits, who fancy that the land is over-crowded, when the
population exceeds one to every ten square miles, and she, from her
courage and energy, being an excellent second to a man always ex-
posed to the perils of frontier life.'* — Manuscript of G. H, Snyder,
Katy, as she was called, first married Daniel Campbell, a revolu-
tionary soldier, and had, by him, two children, John, who died
near Mifilinburg, and Ann, who married Robert Barber. They
removed West, and are now both dead. Katy married next Robert
Chambers, by whom she had one child, the first wife of John A.
Vanvalzah, deceased. Notwithstanding her wound, she survived
two husbands. My informant, William M. Vanvalzah, tells me that
when a boy, many a night he heard her and old Captain Thompson
talk over the events of their early life. Klinesmith's land, in Lewis
township, was valued in 1810, Robert Chambers taking one jyortion,
and Baltzer Klinesmith, junior, the other. Baltzer, junior, sold his
land, some thirty years since., to Christian Mensch, and moved to a
lot owned by his wife, near Hartleton, where he died, and is buried
in the Laurelton grave-yard. His wife was a daughter of Melchior
ANNALS OF BUFFALO GALLEY. jgj
^^th, their children, David, Samuel, John Melchior, daughters Mary
^^n and Margaret, who married Messrs. Stover, in Centre county.
Catherine married Miller. Martin Trester, a few years after,
found a rifle near the spring, supposed to belong to the old Indian.
Traditions of the Valley have always connected the following
incident with the pursuit of the murderers of Klinesmith ; and the
date mentioned in the note below probably confirms that belief:
Van Campen, in his narrative, see Meginness, page 277, says that
*** in the summer of 1781*, a man was taken prisoner, in Buffalo
Valley, and made his escape. He reported there were about three
hundred Indians on the Sinnemahoning. I was then a lieutenant
in Captain Robinson's company. Colonel Hunter selected a com-
pany of five to reconnoitre. Captain Campbell, Peter and Michael
Grove, Lieutenant Cramer, and myself. We took with us three
days' provision, and went up the West Branch, with much caution
and care. We reached the Sinnemahoning, but found no tracks.
A little below it we discovered a smoke, and that there was a large
party, of them.
* * As soon as it was dark we new primed our rifles, sharpened our
flints, and examined our tomahawk handles ; and, all being ready, we
waited with great impatience until they all lay down. The night was
warm, and as we advanced upon them in the utmost silence, rifle in
one hand, tomahawk in the other, we found some of them rolled in
their blankets, a rod or two from the fire. Having got among them,
we first handled our tomahawks. They arose like a dark cloud.
We now fired on them and raised the war-yell. They took to 1 ight
in the utmost confusion. We remained masters of the ground and
of all their plunder. It was a party of twenty-five or thirty, which
had been down as low as Penn's creek, and had killed and scalped
two or three families. We found several scalps of different ages,
and a large quantity of domestic cloth, which we took to Northum-
berland, and distributed among the distressed who had escaped the
tomahawk."
> Van Campen made a mistake in the year, no doubt, and his desorlption would
lead one to believe more than two Indians were killed. Grove speaks only of two,
and the following item, in the State Treasurer's account, September 80, 1780, indi-
cates that Grove was correct : Cash paid Robert Martin, for Jacob Creamer, Peter
Grove, William Campbell, and Michael Grove, for two Indian soalps, Xl,876. The
same account September 29, ten head of cattle for the Commissioners of Pnrohases,
X10,400, shows the immense depreciation of currency at this time.
ig2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, fl780.
There were four of the Grove brothers, Wendell, Adam, who lived
where George Wolfe now lives, in Mortonsville, Michael, who lived
on the back road to Mifflinburg, and Peter. Peter disappears very
early from our Valley. The only notices I can find of him are the
mixture of truth and fiction, in the Appendix to Meginness' History.
Michael lived within the recollection of many of my readers. He
died in Nippenose, south of Jersey Shore, in September, 1827, aged
seventy, and was brought home, and buried in the Dreisbach grave-
yard. Meginness says he was attended by Doctor Davidson in his
last illness, and gave a vivid account of the engagement above spoken
of. Before they commenced the attack, an old Indian annoyed them
very much. He was troubled with a severe cough, and frequently
rose up, and looked carefully around, seeming to anticipate danger. *
At length the old man fell asleep, and they commenced creeping up,
intending to use their tomahawks first. One of them, unexpectedly,
crawled over an Indian, who lay some distance from the rest, and
the old man rose up at this moment. Michael, with a powerful blow
with his hatchet, clove the old man's skull, and, striking it into the
back of another, could not withdraw it, when the Indian drew him
over the bank into the creek, where, however, he succeeded in kill-
ing him. Some of the Indians got on to the other side of the creek,
and commenced firing, and they had to retire. They waded down
the creek, taking to the hills, and, thence over to the Bald Eagle
ridge. John Beeber describes Michael as having an eye like a hawk,
and being able to travel at night, even in his old age, nearly as well as
in day time. He told Beeber that Joseph Groninger, of White Deer,
was along, and going up, they slopped at James Ellis*, uncle of Wil-
liam Cox Ellis, and took their dinner with their rifles on their knees.
Michael left three children, John, Sarah, married to Samuel Lutz,
and to Jacob Smith. To the two girls he gave farms in
Nippenose, and he was there visiting when he died. His son John
is now dead. He left a son, Michael, and daughter, Esther. Mich-
ael also died on the old farm, where his grandfather lived. Esther
married Enoch Kauffman. Michael's son, Peter, still lives in West
Buffalo, and other descendants are in the same township.
Adam lived on the Nesbit property, which he sold to Thomas
Nesbit, in 1822. His son, Samuel, married a sister of the late Joseph
Glass, and is the father of Simon, Joseph, William, Mrs. Jacob Parks,
1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. igj
and Wesley, (who was starved to death in one of the rebel prisons.)
Samuel moved West, where his family has become wealthy, and in-
fluential at the bar and other pursuits.
In July, George Row, of Penn's township, was wounded in the
breast, at Fought's mill, (near Mifflinburg,) and died in eight
hours. He left a widow, Mary M., who drew a pension for many
years afterward.
The original Barber's mill, on Penn's creek, was built this year by
Adam Smith. It was long known as David Smith's mill. The latter
sold to Barber and Heise, who built the present structure.
8th September, General Potter marched a body of one hundred
and seventy men to Fort Swartz, and then went up to Colonel Kelly,
who lay at the mouth of White Deer creek. Fort Swartz was most
likely Peter Swartz's, who lived on the farm now owned by Honor-
able George F. Miller. Day's Historical Collections says this fort
was a mile above Milton ; but as General Potter says nothing of
crossing the river, it was no doubt the block-house at Peter Swartz's.
24th September, Henry McCracken, private in Captain William
Clark's company, killed. He left a widow, Mary, and five children.
1^81.
Narrative of Captain James Thompson — Captain Campleton Killed —
Letter from General Potter — Story of the Emerick Family — Roll
of Peter Grove's and McGrady's Companies — Christian Uetrick
AND David Storm Killed.
EMBER of Council, General James Potter. Assembly,
William Maclay, William Montgomery, and Colonel
William Cooke. Presiding Justice, Frederick Antes.
Sheriff, James Crawford. Treasurer, William Gray.
County Commissioners, William Antes, James Espy, and Daniel
Montgomery.
18
194 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1781.
On the nth of April, David Kennedy was appointed
of the Land Office, Colonel Francis Johnston, Receiver General*.
and John Lukens, Surveyor General.
Buffalo : Constable, Henry Oilman ; Supervisors, Abel Rees an A.
John Reighard ; Overseers, Michael Hessler and John Clark.
loth March, Saturday, at ten, a. m., Black Ann, for larceny froix^
Eleanor Green, was whipped at the public whipping-post, in Sua-
bury — twenty lashes on her bare back, well laid on.
March 31, Peter Grove, of Buffalo, commissioned lieutenant of
the rangers ; Samuel Quinn, ensign. In 1 788, the latter was deputy
surveyor, and Qu inn's run, in Clinton county, was called from hi
camping there during that year.
May 3, fast day, by order of Congress.
June 26, William Gray, Esquire, appointed paymaster of the
militia.
PenrCs Township Residents, &*c. : Anderson, William, tan-yard;
Arnold, Casper; Arnold, Widow; Campbell, Clary, (tenant on
Charles Gemberling's place,) he was from Bald Eagle settlement;
Cripps, John; Dillman, Andrew; Espert, Widow; Graybill, John,
non-juror; Gast, Christian; Grow, Godfrey; Gillen, William;
Hafflich, Jacob ; Heiner, Frederick ; Hauser, John ; Hessler, Wil
Ham; Hassinger, Frederick; Jordan, Benjamin; Jost, Widow;
Kester, Peter; Kerk, Michael; Kinney, Jacob; Kohler, Andrew;
I^pley, Jacob ; Miller, Adam ; Miller, Simon ; Maddox, Richard ;
Merkel, Peter; Meraby, Edward; Pickard, John: Potter, James,
two slaves; Repass, Jacob; Showers, Michael, tenant of Jacob Stees;
Stephen, Adam; Shaw, William; Shetterly, John; Witmer, Peter;
Woods, Joseph.
In Buffalo : Antes, Philip ; Baker, John ; Bickle, Widow ; Blair,
Samuel; Boatman, Claudius; Coon, John; Dean, David; Fergu-
son, James; Green, Joseph, two grist and one saw-mill; Holman,
Eli; Houghton, John, tenant of Samuel Maclay; Keen, Jacob,
tenant of John Aurand ; Knipper, Paul ; Klinesmith, Widow ;
Laughlin, Widow; McAdam, William; McDonald, Widow; Reem,
Nicholas; Rezner, John; Templeton, Widow; Trester, William;
Vandyke, John ; Watson, James, saw-mill, at Seebold's now.
White Deer — Single men: Amnion, Philip; Caldwell, James;
Clendenning, John ; Collins, Daniel ; Crawford, Robert ; Gamble,
\78\.;i ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
'95
Criarles ; Gibson, James ; Hamel, Charles ; Hayes, David ; Hood,
Moscs; Huston^ Samuel ; McCartney, Kobert ; McKinney, James ;
McLaughlin, John; Montgomery, Samuel; Murray, William; Poak,
John; Tannehill, John.
The ejectment for White Deer mills property was resumed. The
suit is brought by Vannost, and has this distorted title : ** Timothy
Macabees, lessee of James Claypooie, vs, Judias Iscariot, with notice
to Catherine Smith, widow in possession." To November term we
have the commencement of a series of buits between i.udwig Derr
and Christian Van Gundy, which, after many years, ended m the
pecuniary ruin of the latter. It was brought to November term,
lessee of Christian Van Gundy vs. Tnomas Troublesome, lessee of
Ludwig Derr, with notice to Christian Hettrick, tenant in possession-
It astonishes a lawyer of tiie present how our predecessors managed
to keep cases so long in court. Van Gundy' s application had not
t the shadow of chance against Derr's title ; yet the contest went on
f' for years, until Van Gundy's money gave out. This suit was for the
present site of Lewisburg.
t
L
Captain James Thompson s Narrative.
In the manuscript journal of the late James F. Linn, Elsquire,
under date of June 14, 1832, is the following entry : **Old Captain
James Thompson was with us last night. He told us a good part of
his adventures when with the Indians. He appeared not to wish
to tell the story. I got it out of him, only in answers to questions."
The narrative was entered in my father's journal. I have supple-
mented by the article of Elizabeth Gundaker, now Dale, niece of
Captain Thompson, in the Lancaster Intelligencer ^ 1842.
** In March, 1781, I was going from this town (Lewisburg) up
to my home^ on Spruce run, preparatory to following my wife and
family down to Penn's creek, whither, I had taken them for safety.
On the road, between John Linn's old place and Colonel Kelly's,
I was captured by four Indians. When we came to the hollow,
which is now cleared by Thomas Iddings, tney discovered a fresh
track in the mud, and one of them hallooed * squaw.' Two of them
set off on a run, the remaining two staid with me, one walking
before and the other behind. I soon heard the scream of a woman,
igb ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [ITSX^
whereupon, the one behind me gave me a punch in the back witfJ
the butt of his gun, and said 'waugh' — run. We all started off on a-
run, and when we got to the top of the hill, I saw the father of the
girl fall, and the Indians seize her. She had lost a shoe in the race.
She was Mary Young, the daughter" of Mathew Young, who lived
on Spruce run. William Hayes now owns the place ; he bought it
as James Black's property, a few years ago, (now, 1877, Gabriel
Huntingdon's.) We crossed the White Deer mountains, north of
the Valley, anti camped the second night on Lycoming creek. They
tied me, with my arms behind me, to two grubs. I managed to get
the cords off, after they got to sleep ; two of them laid on one side
of the fire, neai; me, and two on the other, with the girl. I tried to
get one of the tomahawks, but they were lying upon them. I then
got a stone, they had been using to pound corn with, got on my knees
near one of them, and prepared to give him a mortal stroke. I
intended striking him on the temple, but he had a blanket wrapped
around his head, and I struck too high. The Indian gave a yell and
awoke the rest. I started to run, but the cord stretched between
the two grubs, caught me about the middle, and in trying to get
around it, one of the Indians caught me by the coat collar, and
in the struggle, tore it clear down to the middle. He drew his
tomahawk to strike me, but stopped, and addressed the wounded
one in their language. Drew it the second and third time, when I
was sure I would get it; but I had made up my mind, to try to
catch it, and wrest it from him. They then got a gourd, put shot in
it, and tied it to my waist. This was my death warrant. I could
have readily escaped myself, but I was anxious to rescue Mar)'.
After that, they tied me so tight, I lossed all feeling in my arms
and hands. Before we got to Towanda, one of the Indians shot a
turkey, took out the entrails, and roasted them on a stick, and gave
them to us. It was very delicious, as we had but a few grains of
corn a day to eat. One of them shot a dipper-duck, and skinning
it, after making an opening at the belly, slipped it over the hurt
man's head for a, night-cap.
* * When we got to Towanda, the Indians became careless, supposing
there was no danger of my running away. They made me gather
wood for the fire, and as I returned each time I slipped a few grains
of corn out of the kettle, and every load I wandered further from
mX.^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
'97
camp. At last, seeing no one looking my way, I started with twenty-
two grains of corn for a provision for a journey of nearly two hun-
dred miles. I could have escaped before, but I could not bear the
idea of leaving the girl with them. Her hardships were fearful.
Often her clothes were frozen solid af»:er wading the creeks. We had
encamped that night at the foot of a hill by a stream of water. She
urged me to leave her, and finally I followed her advice. I carried
two loads, I think, still going further up the hill. I took a different
direction from home at first. I stepped upon a rotten stick, which
made a noise, and then, mistaking the sound of two trees rubbed
together by the wind, for the Indians, I ran with all my might, and
reached a pond, in which I buried myself up to the head. Finding
the Indians did not come that way, I proceeded, keeping upon
the tops of the mountains. One night I spent in a hollow tree. At
another time I came very near getting into an Indian encampment
fefore I was aware of it. I saw the Indians pass between me and the
fire. At another time, coming upon a camp, the Indians hallooed.
I felt certain I was discovered, but squatted down among the bushes,
and when they began to cut wood I made off. At one place I found
two walnuts, at another the bone of a deer, which I cracked, and
sucked the marrow. This, with the corn, was all the provision I had,
and, in crossing Lycoming creek, I nearly drowned from excessive
weakness. I struck the West Branch a few rods above where we
crossed going up, and found one of the canoes lying on the bank,
as the river had fallen. I was so weak I could not lift it in, but, by
means of a handspike and some rollers, I managed to get it in. After
I got it in, I discovered the other canoe sunk, which I ladled out,
and lashed to the other. When I got opposite Watsontown, I was so
weak I could only lay in the bottom of the canoe, and wave my
hands. Fortunately I was here noticed, and the people came to my
relief. They considerately fed me with sweet milk only, until I got
stronger, but it was some time before I could tell them about my
adventures."
Mary Young they carried with them to their town. They set her
to hoeing corn. An old negro, who was also a prisoner, told her to
dig up the beans planted with the corn, and they would sell her to
the English. She did as she was advised, and they thought her too
stupid to learn to work, and sold her. She said two of the Indians
jg8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17»1.
pursued Captain Thompson part of two days. The wounded Indiaoi
left them shortly after they got out. She supposed he died, as Y\t
was very much hurt. Mary was sent to Montreal, and sold. H^r
purchaser's name was Young, and, on tracing the relationship, th^y
found they were cousins. She remained there until after the w3.t,
and then returned lo her friends in Buffalo Valley. Tradition says
her health was very much undermined, and she died soon after. Slie
was still living in 1787, when her father died ; but I can trace her no
further. But for the entry in my father's journal, her history wo\ild
have been as evanescent as her foot-prints, which revealed her pres-
ence to the Indians.
Captain Thompson removed his family to Chester county, where
they remained until after the Indian troubles were all over. Tliey
then returned, and he purchased of the widow Dempsey the place
now owned by Jacob Ziebach, on Spruce run, in Buffalo, and resided
there until the year 1832, when he went to reside with his son-in-law,
Boyd Smith, (son of Gideon Smith, who lived at the mouth of Little
Buffalo,) near Jersey Shore, where he died, February 9, 1837, aged
ninety-three years nine months and nine days. When ten years of
age, he was with his father at Braddock*s defeat. He was a remark-
able man in old age, often walking from Jersey Shore down intoBuf-
alo Valley, a welcome guest in every house from Pine to Penn*s creek.
His son William married Susan Linn, in 1804, and removed to Sugar
Creek, Venango county. Their son James died from an explosion,
which took place in his store, in 1833. He was carrying out ashes
in an empty keg, as he supposed, but which had several pounds of
powder in it. Ann married John B. McCalmont, Esquire, nephew
of old Judge McCalmont. She died in 1849. Jo^^^ Linn ITiompson
died in Venango, leaving a family. William resides in New Brighton,
Beaver county.
In a letter to General Potter, Colonel Hunter states that Captain
Thomas Kempling, as he writes it, and his eldest son, were killed
by the Indians, at the mouth of Muncy creek, in March, 1781.
In the petition of his widow, who writes her name Mary Campleton,
presented to the Assembly, September 23, 1 784, she says : "My
husband and son, with others, went on a tour of duty up the West
Branch, early in the spring of 1781, and lying one night at the
mouth of Muncy creek, in the morning the savages came on them,
1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 199
^iien my unfortunate husband and son, with one William Campble,
^'i a sacrifice to all the cruelties and barbarities that savages could
'nflict, leaving your petitioner and six children. We were driven
frona house and home, and so reduced that I am unable to return to
f^e place we had improved upon/*
About this time, John Shively who lived on the place now owned
^y R. V. B. Lincoln, Esquire, was captured by the Indians, in the
°^^adow, in the rear of Esquire Lincoln's house. He was never
'^^^jd of afterwards. He left a widow and sons. Christian and
^ ^^erick, who owned the pkice until the year 1804. His widow
'^^xried Philip Mann, who lived in the Valley up to 1805.
George Rote and his sister Rody, aged about twelve and fourteen,
^'^re taken at Mifflinburg, where their father, George Rote (or
^Jiodes) lived. They were separated and carried into the Corn-
Planter's country. When peace was proclaimed they were liberated,
^nd met at a furnace, near Clarion, Pennsylvania, and came back
together. Rody married James Ben, and they moved to Centre
county. They were uncle and aunt to the late Captain John Rote,
who never could hxiar of an Indian in latter times without getting
into a passion. Jacob and Conrad Caderman were captured at the
same time. The former told my informant that Limestone hill
seemed full of Indians ; that he had a gun and fired into the ground,
to indicate that they surrendered. He said he liked Indian life
so well that he would have remained among them, but for his wife
and children. Conrad played stupid, and did all the mischief he
could. They soon got tired of him, and sold him to the English for
a five gallon keg of whisky. They both returned and lived long
in the Valley. James Ben lived on a place adjoining Philip Fish-
bum, now in Spring Creek, Centre county. His wife died many
yeaxs ago, and he subsequently married a widow Murphy.
In the life of Rev. John Dietrich Aurand, Harbaugh's ** Fathers,"
mention is made of his return from the army early this year ; that
his mother, Mrs. John Aurand, had died but a short time before his
return, and amid the tenderest longings to see her son once more
before her departure. A deep sadness took possession of the young
soldier's spirit when he found his mother no more among the living.
He often went to her grave to weep and pray. She was buried on
a gentle knoll on the west side of the present road, and on the south
200 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1781.
side of Turtle creek, near the mouth of the stream, under an aged
yellow pine, in the midst of a clump of white pines of smaller
growth.
Tradition has it that a number of people were buried here before
and during the Revolution. Bickle, who was killed at Henry Mertz's
place, is said to have been buried here. In my earliest recollection
it went by the name of the old Indian burying-ground. It is now,
however, a cleared field, (1872,) and all marks of its former use-
probably obliterated.
SuNBERY, April 12, 1781.
Sir : I arrived at my house on Sunday last, and on Monday
came to this pleace, and since, I have maid a visite to difrent
of the frunteers, who I find in great disstress, numbers of thencM
flying for their lives. At this early season of the year, the enemy
has maid five different strookes on our frunteers, since the 2 2d of
March. On the sixth instant, they fiered on an old man, his son, and
daughter. The boy was shott ded, and the Indians imedatly maid
a prisoner of the young woman. The old man had a stick in his
hand, with which he nobley defended himself against one of the
Indians, who had a tomhack and maid the fellow drope his wapon.
Col. Kelly, with a few of his neighbours, was in a house at a little
distance. On hearing the enemy guns go off, run to the pleace,
and obleged the enemy to retreat, leving the young woman there
prisner, and our brave old Irishman, and his stick behind them, and
all there blankets. They out run Col. Kelly and his party, and got
off as usile.
On Sabath day last, the eight instant, in the evening, they came
to the house of one Durmes, about five miles from this pleace.
Immedatly on there entring they house, they shot Dunn and tooke
one Capt. Solomons a prisoner. There was four weemen and a
number of children in the house. They plundered the house of
every thing that was vallibel. But what is surprising, they went off
with Captd. Solomon and there plunder, leving behind the weeman
and children. This hapened leat in the evening. The next day
they were persued but not come up with.
Capt. Robinson has got forty men enlisted for the war, but many
of them are so naked, for want of all kinds of clothing, that the can
not do duty. They have not a blanket among them all. I know
^78J.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 201
^r te not in the power of Council to provide for them at present, but
^ ^ope they will as soon as posable.
i most sincely wished for our Assembly to have been with me in
^y disagreeable visit along the much disstressed fruntiers. I have
not language to express their distresses.
With great esteem, your humble serv't,
J AS. Potter.
Jos. Reed, Pres't.
The Story of the Emerick Family.
On the farm now owned by Jacob Seebold, to the right of the
roa.ci going to New Berlin, after passing the road through Chapi)ers
"^ callow, lived David Emerick, with his wife and four children, his
°^Hcr daughter being down the country at that time. Emerick had
"**^t settled upon the tract where the Widow Brown's tavern is, or
^^^r it, before the revolutionary war, in 1773, where he built a
"^^use, cleared ten acres of land, planted apple trees, &c. He sold
^*^is place, by deed dated 21st June, 1780, to Daniel Rees. On the
^5th of November, 1779, he had purchased of Andrew Glen and
'^ife the tract of two hundred and eighty acres, (on which he subse-
quently removed, and was captured.) for jQi^gi^. Here he cleared
a piece and built a cabin, and was residing in April, 1781.
Here Henry Bickel, (who lived where Henry Mertz now does,) was
shot. He had come there to help roll logs. His family was not dis-
turbed. They plundered Emerick's house of everything, and loaded
him down with baggage. After proceeding a little way, they pulled
down a sapling, sharpened the end of it, impaled the babe, and let it
fly in the air. Emerick became so exhausted with his load that he sat
down upon a log, and refused to go any further. One of the In-
dians sank his tomahawk into his head, and killed him. One of the
daughters died from excessive bleeding at the nose, on the journey
through the wilderness. They were taken to Niagara,* and the wife
and daughters married Indians, their captors ; and many years ago
* Heekewelder says, that the Muneyg took refuge duriog the Revolution in
Canada, and remained there. It is reasonable, to conclude, that the party mak-
ing this descent upon the Valley were of its aboriginal inhabitants, familiar
with its localities, and, therefore, able to enter and withdraw with comparative
sAfety.
202 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1781.
Mrs. Emerick and her Indian husband came to Henry Myer*s, near'
Harrisburg, in order to draw some money coming to her from her
grandfather's estate. Thus far I had the story from Benjamin Shell,
(court crier,) of New Berlin. Emerick was an uncle of Mr. Shell's
mother, and the Emericks came from what is now Dauphin county,
and settled, as he heard the story, in the **Shamokin country."
My own researches among the records developed the dates and
the rest of the narrative. There is on record, in Sunbury, a letter of
attorney, dated the 12th of January, 1805, recorded in deed book
M, page 516, the parties to which are Archibald Thompson, of Stam-
ford, in the district of Niagara, province of Upper Canada, and
Catherine, his wife, formerly the widow of David Emerick, to James ,
Thompson, of the same place, authorizing him to collect their inter —
est in the rents, issues, and profits of lands, and all the goods andH
chattels, late of David Emerick ; and also from the heirs and execu —
tors of Conrad Sharp, of Berks county, their interest in his estate
It is dated at Willoughby, and acknowledged before Archibald Stew -
art. It is recorded on the 4th of March, 1805. It is followed b^?
a letter of attorney from James Thompson to George Schoch, to se7i
and convey their interest in a tract of land, in Buffalo townshi|;>,
adjoining lands of Hessler, Hugh Beatty, George Olds, and James
Jenkins, containing one hundred and seventy-one acres, ''which
they hold as tenants, in common with John Bickle," recited to be
conveyed by Andrew Glen and wife. On referring to deed book
C, page 378, it will appear that Andrew Glen and Sarah, his wife,
on the 1 6th of November, 1779, deeded to David Emerick, a war-
rant of the 15th of December, 1772, for two hundred and eighty
acres, consideration, ;^2,925. It describes the land as adjoining
Thomas Sutherland, James Hunter, and George Olds.
9th August, 1 786, John Aurand appointed guardian of Margaret
and Catherine Emerick, children of David Emerick, deceased. Fi-
nally there is a release recorded at Lewisburg, dated the 26th of Sep-
tember, 1 81 6, from James Thompson to George Schoch, which recites
that David Emerick left a widow, named Catherine, and two daugh-
ters, Margaret, intermarried with James Thompson, and the other
intermarried with George Bauder, and he, Thompson, releases his
wife's share of David Emerick's estate, amounting to I516 75. So
it seems that the wife, and at least one of the daughters, married
1781. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 203
their captors, who, many years after, came back and received their
share of the estate of the man they murdered. Mr. Shell said Mrs.
Emerick was infatuated with the Indian style of life, and endeavored
to persuade some of her female relatives to go off with them when
liere. The recollection of one of the old inhabitants of the Valley
vras, that they came here in grand style, on horseback, Mrs. Emer-
ick decorated with all the tinsel of Indian dress.
In 1825, Bonham's heirs brought an ejectment against William
Gibbons, for a tract of land, in the warrantee name of David Emer-
ick, and, to sustain their title, gave in evidence a deed, dated the
2ist of June, 1780, from David Emerick to Daniel Rees, under
whom Bonham claimed. The evidence on the trial is all lost, but
from some manuscript notes taken by the late James F. Linn, it
appears that the defense, who had no real defense, subpoenaed all
the old settlers in the country to prove that David Emerick was killed
in 1778 or 1779, from which the lawyers argued the deed a forgery,
though it purported to be acknowledged before Christopher Gettig,
Esquire. We are unable to say exactly, but think this was a dodge
of the lawyers, taken upon the second trial, the other side, Mr. Bellas
and Hepburn never dreaming of parol testimony thus affecting their
title. Among others called to prove that Emerick was killed prior
to the date of the deed, was Michael Smith, grandfather of A. W.
Smith, Esquire. He said ** I was living in the place where I am now
living (1830 *) during the revolutionary war. There was a massacre
by the Indians in Dry valley. Henry Bickle was killed ; the only
one, as far as we know. David Emerick and his family were taken
prisoners on the same day. His woman came in afterward, and
Said Emerick was killed on the road. David Emerick never appeared
again. It was three years afterward when his wife returned. She
\iras afterward married to Thompson, in York State. I was eight or
nine years of age at the time of the massacre. Bickle*s wife had a
son, about four months after his murder. He is now in court, and
his name is Henry Bickle. I .was born in 1769. I saw Henry
"Bickle after he was murdered. My father lived about two miles from
Bickle at that time. My wife's mother and Emerick's wife's mother
were sisters. I saw Thompson after he was married to Mrs. Emerick.
They were married about the last of the war, or in it.
Smith livod on Kunkle's place, west of Henry Mertz.
204 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1781.
^^ Lee's massacre was about a year after Emerick*s. It was in Dry
Valley, and about the time of the general runaway. I saw Lee*s fam-
ily all lying scalped. Emerick has some children. I never saw any
of them. There was one of the girls down below at the time, and
was at my house about a year ago. Emerick lived near the hill, n.ot ^
far from Hummel's tavern, in Dry Valley. Emerick*s children were=
all taken, except the one below. I saw Lees' killed in the house:^
where they were killed. They had their heads all scalped, and were=s
laid on a bundle of straw." Jacob Bower, of Union township, whos^^
deposition was read, stated that knew David Emerick, and, thre^^
years after he became acquainted with him, he was taken by the In
dians. ** They killed him on the hill, and we fled to Lee*s, and live^^
there until after hay-making. Lee was after the Indians when Trii
kle and Faught were killed. Lee was killed by the Indians aftei
wards. Emerick was not taken prisoner the same summer Lee
killed, but the year we lived at Lee's."
Henry Bickle, sworn : **I am fifty-one or fifty-two years of age, an J
was born in 1778 or 1779, one of the two. I have been always told
I was born about four months after my father was killed. I sair
Emerick's wife when she was in. My mother lives twenty miles from
here. Mrs. Emerick gave me a pen-knife when she was in. I can-
not recollect how long since. My mother is eighty-five the 7th of
next September. I was born in July, and my father was killed in
April, as I have always been told by my mother and others. Emer-
ick's wife and my mother were sisters. My mother was married to
old George Schoch, who is since dead. She has lost her mind, and
would not do any good if she were here."
The plaintiffs then gave in evidence the records of an ejectment,
No. 138, May Term, 1834. James Thompson and Margaret, his
wife, late Margaret Emerick, in right of said Margaret, George Ban-
der and Catherine, his wife, late Catherine Emerick, vs. David 2^1uff
and Robert Hilands, and called the late James Merrill, Esquire, who
said that he had brought **this suit at the instance of David Thorburn,
who showed me a power of attorney, which he took away with him
again. I never knew the man before. He said he lived in Canada."
They also offered letters from Thorburn from Canada, post-marked
Lewistown, which were rejected. This ejectment was non-prossed
under the rules.
1781.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 205
m
Defendants called Philip Hoyens, who swore he knew David Em-
erick and Henry Bickle. ** Emerick first lived on the Gibbons place.
He made an improvement, built a house, and cleared about ten acres.
Bickle and Emerick were killed by the Indians. I think they took
Emerick away a piece. Emerick moved to this place of Gibbons'
^before the war. It was two miles from Northumberland."
Instead of contending stoutly that such evidence could not contra-
dict a deed as to date, and could raise no presumption of death as
against a written document, Mr. Hepburn, for the plaintiff, seemed
to yield to the force of the old men's testimony, and said that Emer-
ick's name might be a fictitious one, which Bonham had used ; it
was the practice of the day to use fictitious names to obtain a warrant
of survey, and argued further, that there was no evidence that the
David Emerick killed by the Indians was the one who owned this
land.
The jury, in the former trial, had found for the defendants. It
H'as taken to the Supreme Court, and the case is reported in 2 Rawle,
45, reversed on error of the judge. At this, the second trial, they
ca.me in with a sealed verdict, finding for defendant again. On be-
irig polled, one dissented, and they were sent out, and, not being
^ble to agree, they were discharged.
At May Term, 1830, the cause was called again, and after the jury
Mp'ere in the box, the parties settled by an agreement that Gibbons
^liould hold the interference during life, after which it was to revert
"t:c) Bonham's heirs. Lashells and Greenough were for the defense, as
<:iould be guessed by any one reading the trial, and knowing their
{:>eculiar ability in ejectment cases.
An examination of the assessment books in the commissioners' office,
Xjvuuld have shown that John Lee was assessor on the 27th of March,
X782, wherefore, according to the testimony of all the witnesses, the
IBickle and Emerick massacre must have been in 1 78 1 . The dotd from
CiJlen and wife to Emerick, showed that Emerick was alive on the
15th of November, 1779, while Smith and Bickle's testimony would
make out that he was killed in 1 778 or 1 779. The assessment books
show that Emerick and Bickle were both alive on ist of November,
1780, and in the one made by John Lee himself, in March, 1782,
for the year 1781, Bickle's property is assessed to his widow, and the
lot ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [ 1781.
name and family of Emerick disappear forever from the assessment
lists after 1781.
Hummel's tavern, in Dry valley, was at the intersection of the
roads at Adam Miller's, beyond Samuel Guise's.
The Fought and Trinkle murders I can get no trace of, except
the allusion in this evidence. They both lived in Dry valley.
Henry Bickle, who was killed when Emerick's family was cap-
tured, left the following family : Christopher, the eldest, who took
the farm in 1792, at 40 shillings per acre; Maria C, married to
Benjamin Stroh; Elizabeth afterwards married Jacob Kamerlin.
Henry, as stated. The widow, Esther Regina, married George
Schoch. Christopher sold it to John Meyer in 1806, who sold t
Daniel Nyhart, who sold, 4th May, 1822, to Jacob Mertz,
son, Henry, resides at the old place.
John Wierbach's daughter, (sister of Nicholas and John,) o-
Buffalo, was carried off by the Indians. She married among them,
and after the war her father went West, and found her, but coul
never induce her to return, though he offered every inducement h.<
could. She preferred the wild life of the savages.
Pay-roll of Peter Grovels Detachment for Services on the Frontier
June I.
Lieutenant — Grove, Peter.
Sergeants — Clark, William; Wilson, Matthew.
Privates — -Trester, John; Lamberson, Nicholas; Rough, John;
Barber, Uriah ; Trester, Jacob ; Shock, John ; Fisher, Paul ; Bower,
George ; Bradley, Matthew ; Bower, Daniel ; Houser, Jacob ; Har-
riott, William; Grove, Michael.
Pay-roll of Lieutenant Samuel McGrculfs DetcLchment.
Lieutenant — McGrady, Samuel.
Sergeants — Montgomery, Samuel; Armstrong, Daniel.
Privates— Love, Robert; Daraugh, Ephraim ; Fleming,* Hans;
Fulton, Samuel; Marshall, William; Lykens, Joseph; Misener,
John; Clark, George; Rees, Daniel; Speddy, William; Pollock,
» His proper name was Archibald Fleming. He lived at Shlppensbarr in AnsvtL
17W, as appears by his receipt. '^•w*»
U.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 207
illiam ; Dougherty, William ; McClung, Charles j English, Wil-
,m ; Allen, Robert ; Parsons, Barnabas ; McGrady, Alexander.
In 1 781, the first battalion of Northumberland county militia,
mmanded by Colonel John Kelly, was composed of the following
mpanies :
aptain John Foster, numbering, officers and privates, 55 men.
'* James Thompson, '* " " 44 "
** George Overmeier, " " "51 "
u
" Samuel Fisher, " " "55
44
Samuel Young, " " *' 51
*' Abraham Piatt, " " '' 53
*' William Irvine, ^' " "53 "
" William Gray, " ^' " 44 "
Among the rangers commanded by Captain Thomas Robinson,
^^une I , occur the following from Buffalo Valley :* Claudius Boat-
"^nan, fifer, William Armstrong, Ludwig Rough, Conrad Kaiher-
Tnan, Jacob Links. •
The names of Thomas Perry, Hugh Rodman, John Linn, Wil-
liam Black, James Rodman, James Boyd, Thomas Black, John
Rhea, William Black, James Hamersly, appear among those who
received pay for seven months' services.
Indian Outrages in the Valley.
July 18, Colonel Hunter writes that the Indians have again made
their appearance, and that there were no stores of any kind, and
meat very scarce in the county.
August 3, Walter Clark and William Antes write : * * With pain and
«^ith the utmost truth we are obliged to declare that we cannot com-
ply with the law passed for supplies. The whole personal property
of the county, even if removed to a place where cash could be paid
fer it, would not pay the tax. The improvements are grown up,
burned, or destroyed, and the most of the personal property moved
into the lower counties."
September, Captain Robinson writes : ** The savages have been
cjuiet for some time. They made their appearance in harvest, but did
rio damage. Lieutenant Van Campen and six men have gone up into
the Indian country, to discover their moves." He recommends
Doctor Eaker, who was then in the county, and intended to settle
2o8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17S1.
there, for surgeon of his company, and refers to Doctor Shippen,
who knew him.
October 26, William Antes, James Espy, and Daniel Montgom-
ery, the county commissioners, write : ** That the county books alftd—
papers are yet in Paxton ; that it appeared by the treasurer's books^
that the residents paid their taxes, while the non-residents did not;
that they would now proceed with the tax business with dispatch."
6th October, Christian Hetrick, a private in Captain Samuel Mc —
Grady's seven-months men, was killed. He lived at Derr*s, and hi^
party was called out upon the appearance of some Indians on Buf-
falo creek. They did not come up with them, and on Hetrick*s re
turn home, a mile and a half above Gundy's mill, he was shot. Wher
found he had a bullet wound, and was scalped and tomahawked. Hi^
widow, whose name was Agnes, married Ephraim Morrison, in 1 787^
and from an affidavit made to get a pension for Hetrick's childrea 3
I got the facts. Her children were Andrew, bom May i, 1775 i
Catherine, 15th March, 1777; Elizabeth, 15th June, 1779; PoUjr,
i6th October, 1 781. He was one of the first residents upon the site
of Lewisburg, and is buried just above Andrew Wolfe's, where the
rocks jut out upon the road, in the corner of the woods. My father
often pointed out the place, but he did not know the man's name.
During this year David Storms was killed, on the place now owned
by Esquire Cameron, in Buffalo, (Benjamin Lahr tenant.) David
Storms, a son, married Elizabeth Baker, aunt of Mrs. John Beeber,
from whom I received the story. David Storms, the son, lived
awhile in Centre county, and laid out Stormstown, called after him.
David Storms, senior, was outside the house at work, and his two
daughters were engaged spinning. He saw the Indians, and ran
into the house. They knocked the door in, killed and scalped him.
The girls ran up stairs into different rooms. The one closed the
door ; the other got behind the open door. They killed the one, and
an Indian looked in the other room ; seeing no one, went down stairs.
She watched them from the window, and, thinking they noticed her,
she sank down in a fainting fit ; but they did not return.
19th October, Jane, widow of William McClung, killed at Fort
Freeland, married by the Reverend Hugh Magill, to David Martin.
She had three children, the youngest not born when their father was
killed.
1782.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 209
Among those deceased this year occur Casper Yost, of Penn's ;
^*^iliiam Rodman, of White Deer; (his widow, Martha, afterwards
raarried James Fleming.) Children : James, Thomas, Alexander,
/ohn, Samuel, Benjamin, and William.
i«a»
i^§^.
^^''>iAX IxcrRSioNS— Rezser Killkd — Major John Lke Killed — IIistorv
Of Lek's Family, and Walker's — Death of Captain Casper Wkitzel.
ILLIAM MOORE, President of the State. James Pot-
ter, Vice President. Frederick Antes, Presiding Judge.
At the general election held in October, William Mont-
gomery, William Cooke, and William Maclay were
elected members of the General Assembly. Thomas Grant received
^^e highest number of votes for Sheriff, but Henry Antes, the next
highest in number of votes, received the commission ; John Chat-
^^Un, Coroner ; and David Mead was elected County Commissioner.
The officers of Buffalo were : Constable, Peter Burns ; Supervisor,
Nicholas Reem ; Overseers, Michael Hessler and George Hains.
In Penn*s township, George Herrold is assessed with two mills
and a ferry ; Tobias Bickle, senior, with a tan-yard ; William An-
derson, tan-yard. Additional residents : Frederick Bubb, Frederick
Guy, (non-juror,) Andrew Gift, John Rush.
Captain Matthew Smith was a better warrior, no doubt, than
prothonotary, but answered for war times, when there was little to
do. I copy a specimen of his orphans' court records :
'*At an orphans' court held at Sunbury, January 11, 1782,
the court are of opinion, from information given, that Benj. Elliot
and Jean Irwin {alias Elliot) be and appear at Sunbury, on Mon-
day, the 14th inst., to answer said court on some complaint of
misdemeanour. Fail not under the penalty of ;^ioo. Note : the
14
2J0 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
complaint is that the estate of Richard Irwin is embezzlinj
that the above Benjamin and Jean is to be provided with se
to cloath, maintain, and educate the minor children; othe
other security will be given, that no expense will accrue to th
minor children.
Matthew Smit
The Indian outrages commenced early this year, and on t
of May Captain Joseph Green had a party out in defense <
frontier.
May 6, Edward Tate, a private in Captain George Ovem
company, was wounded by a ball through his foot, in an ei
ment with the Indians, which ocurred on a place then occup
Frederick Wise, (now in Limestone township, somewhere be
Mifflinburg and VVehr's tavern.) A number of the com pan]
on a scout, and were talking, at the time, of the merits ol
respective guns. One said he could shoot the drop from an In
nose. Just at that moment the Indians, who were in ambush
upon them, and several fell. Tate, who was wounded, rai
concealed himself. An Indian, in pursuit, came near to wh
lay, and looked over the fence, but did not discover him.
Seebold, whose authoritv was old Mrs. Overmeier, said the ]
of the two men killed were Lee and Rezner ; that their bodies
brought to Captain Overmeier's, and she washed them, and the;
buried in the grave-yard at Dry run, near late Philip Seebold*
dence.
Major Lee and others Killed by the Indians,
The attack on John Lee*s (now Winfield) was made in A
A letter directed to Colonel Magaw, at Carlisle, found amor
papers, from Colonel Butler, dated 25th August, says, a pa
Indians, supposed to be sixty or seventy in number, killed Mi
and family, a few miles above Sunbury. Letters of administ
were issued to Captain John Lowdon and Thomas Grant 0
31st of August. Ixe was assessor in April of this year.
I copy from Meginness his narration of the occurrence, as
find no contemporaneous account of it. Meginness, however
founds Major John Lee with Sergeant Lee, killed at Fort Ri
n8i« ] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 211
the 24th of October, and relates an incident occurring at Sergeant
^'s funeral as happening at Major Lee's funeral :
* * It was a summer evening, and his family were at supper. A
young woman named Katy Stoner escaped up stairs, and concealed
herself behind the chimney. Lee was tomahawked and scalped, and
a man named John Walker shared the same fate. A Mrs. Boatman
and daughter were also killed. Mrs. Lee, with a small child and a
boy named Thomas, were led away captives. They took the path
up the Valley, crossing White Deer mountain, and then the river.
One of Lee's sons, Robert, returning about the time, saw the In-
dians leaving. He fled to Northumberland, and gave the alarm.
A party was organized by Colonel Hunter, and started in pursuit.
Henry McHenry, father of A. H. McHenry, of Jersey Shore, was in
this party, and gave an account of it to his son. In crossing the
niountains, Mrs. Lee was bitten by a rattlesnake, and her leg became
so nauch swollen, she traveled with great difficuity. Tne Indians
finding themselves pursued, urged her on as rapidly as possible, but
^er strength failed her. When near the mouth of Pine run, four
nailes below Jersey Shore, she gave out and sat down. An Indian
slipped up behind her, placed the muzzle of his rifle to her ear, and
Wew off the whole upper portion of her head. One of them seized
^r little child by the heel and dashed it against a tree. They then
fl^, crossing the river at Smith's fording, and ran up Nippenose
^ttom. When Colonel Hunter came up with his men, the body of
^^rs. Lee was yet warm, and the child, but little injured, was moan-
^°g piteously. Near Antes* Gap the Indians separated, and ran up
^th sides of the mountain, and the party gave up the chase, as they
^^I'e nearly exhausted. They came back and buried Mrs. Lee where
she died, and brought the child back. They dug a hole alongside
of Walker's body and rolled him in. Mrs. Boatman's daughter sur-
^^ed and lived many years afterwards. Young Thomas Lee was
"^t recovered for many years afterwards. His brother made arrange-
ments with the Indians to bring him to Tioga Point, (Athens now,)
^here he was delivered to his friends. Such was his love of Indian
"fe that they were obliged to tie him and place him into a canoe to
"*^ng him home. When near Wilkesbarre they untied him, but as
^^^n as the canoe touched the shore, he was out and off like a deer.
Ihey caught him, however, and, on arriving at Northumberland, he
212 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17
evinced all the sullenness of a captive. Boys and girls played about
him for several days before he showed any disposition to join them.
At last he began to inquire the names of things. By degrees he
became civilized, and obtained a good education.'* — Meginness,
page 276.
John Van Buskirk told me when he came to the Valley, in 1816,
the old people thereabouts showed him the spot where Lee was
killed, by what is now (1877) ^ blasted pine, some little distance
in a westerly course from the furnace stone stable ; and he said Lee
was buried, with his family, near their residence, which Isaac Eyer,
senior, tells me, stood just where the furnace railroad crosses the
road to the river, and that his father lived in it until he built the
new house, within his own recollection.
I once had occasion to examine the title papers of Youngman's
and Walter's place. Among them is the release of Thomas Lee,
the eldest son, his signature, excellent hand-writing, dated ist April,
1797, to Robert Lee, of Point township. Release of Sarah, mar-
ried to William Beard, of Lycoming county, 24th April, 1797, to
Robert. Rebecca, married to Robert Hursh, of Lycoming county,
of same date ; and Eliza Lee. She was probably the infant spoken
of in the narrative. Robert Lee then sold to Abraham Eyerly,
(now Eyer,) 2d May, 1797.
The sequel to John Walker's murder, Mr. Meginness relates, as
follows: ** In the year 1790 his sons Benjamin, Joseph, and Hem
Walker were living on a farm not far from the mouth of Pine creek^
a few miles above Jersey Shore, when two Indians, one a youth anA.
the other a middle-aged, well-proportioned man, came into the-
neighborhood. At Stephenson's tavern, near the mouth of the^
creek, some people, and among them the Walkers, had gathered.
The Indians got drunk, and performed many antics ; and the old
Indian, putting on the most horrid grimaces, and twisting his face
into all sorts of shapes, said, * this is the way old Walker looked
when I killed and scalped him.* That evening the brothers per-
suaded one Samuel Doyle to accompany them, and murdered the
Indians, placing their bodies in the creek near where Phelps* mill
stands. The bodies were washed out by a freshet, and suspicion
pointed to the Walkers, who fled the country."
The county records show that letters upon the estate of John
1782.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 213
Walker were granted to his widow, Jane, and eldest son, Benjamin, in
August 1782, and the rest of his family consisted of William, who
died before 1790, (leaving a son, John,) Henry, Joseph, John,
Samuel, and Sarah, married to William Morrison.
During this year, a boy sent to Van Gundy's mill (now J. W.
Shriner*s, near Lewisburg,) was shot from his horse. This occurred
on the Meixell place, a short distance above Francis Wilson's. He
was only fourteen years of age, and his name has not been preserved,
but the spot, a marsh by the present road, was haunted, people said,
by his ghost riding a white horse.
Deaths,
Casper Weitzel, Esquire, was a lawyer, practicing at Sunbury,
^^en the war broke out, in 1775, and as secretary of the county
cornmittee, took a very active part in favor of independence. In
^776 he raised a company in and around Sunbury, which was at-
^^hed to Colonel Miles' regiment, and participated in the disastrous
^ttle of the 27th of August, on Long Island. He fought through
the British ranks, and made his way into camp, with Lieutenant
^^lonel Brodhead, with a loss of twenty, officers and men, of his
^^Xipany. His rolls, written in his own neat hand, are in the office
^^ the Secretary of the Commonwealth. He was a granduncle of
^' R. Weitzel, Esquire, of Scran ton, Pennsylvania.
John Smith, of Buffalo township ; his children were Mrs. Cath-
^^tie Norgang and Mrs. Christian Storms. Martin Trester and
^^am Smith, of Buffalo. James Poak, of White Deer, leaving a
^idow, Mary ; Sarah, married to Colonel John Kelly ; Deborah, to
^phraim Darrough, — ^James, Thomas, William, and David were his
children. He lived at the mouth of Little Buffalo creek. Fort Horn,
(Cameron's.)
i%(%^^
M*»k|»«(
5^«%.*
^ow\i<S
1^
3-
State Officials — Election Returns — Contested Election — Revekkk
CvRiAcrs Spangenberg — The Brady Family.
TATE OFFICIALS: His Excellency, John Dickinson
President. Judges of the High Court of Errors anc
Appeals, John Dickinson, Samuel Miles, and Henrj
Wyncoop. Edward Burd, Prothonotary.
Councillor, John Boyd. Members of Assembly, William Maclay »
James McClenachan, and William Cooke. President Justice, Wil-
liam Montgomery. Prothonotary, Major Lawrence Keene, appointed
September 25, vice Matthew Smith. (Among the applicants for thi^
appointment were Colonel Atlee and Daniel Montgomery.) Count^
Commissioner, John Clarke. County Treasurer, Frederick Antes- -*
appointed October 20. Collector of Excise, William Wilson, ap —
pointed October 20.
Officers of Buffalo : Constable, Ludwig Derr ; Supervisors, Jacot^
Dreisbach and John Dabellon ; Overseers, George Overmeier an(L
Alexander McGrady. Additional residents : Foster, Andrew ; Foster,
Thomas; Frederick, Thomas ; Garret, John; Greenhoe, Andrew;
Gibson, James ; Gray, John ; Grosvenor, Richard ; Gunner, Jacob;
Hart, John ; Harman, Samuel ; Hanna, Isaac; Kennedy, Alexander;
Knox, George ; Lincoln, Mishael ; May, George ; Macpherson,
John; Spangler, Christian; Thompson, John, junior; Troxell^
George. Improvement, Andrew Morrow, grist and saw-mill.
Residents of White Deer : Iddings, Samuel ; Potter, James, Es-
quire.
Penn's : Boop, George ; Moore, George ; Pyle, George ; Sherk
John ; Weaver, Michael. Widow Stees is taxed with grist and saw
mill.
214
AffNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
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2i6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, \ 1783.
Two returns were made of this election, one signed by Elias
Youngman, Anthony Geiger, and John Tschops, judges of the
Augusta or Sunbury district, and Jacob Dreisbach, for the Buffalo
district, certifying to the election of Samuel Hunter, junior, and
William Gray, of Buffalo, as members of the Council of Censors ;
John Boyd, as member of the Supreme Executive Council ; William
Maclay, William Cooke, and John Weitzel, as members of Assem-
bly; John Byers, Commissioner; Henry Antes, SheriflT, &c.; the
other return, signed by James Murray, James Espy, and Simon
Spaulding, of the Northumberland district, and Richard Manning,
of the Muncy district, certified to the election of William Mont-
gomery and Samuel Hunter as Censors, Robert Martin as Councillor,
James McClenachan, Daniel Montgomery, and Frederick Antes as
members of Assembly; Henry Antes, Sheriff; John Clarke, Com-
missioner, &c.
The former judges arrived at their result by throwing out the
Northumberland and Muncy boxes. They did this because in-
truders from Wyoming were allowed to vote at Northumberland,
' and residents upon the Indian lands were allowed to vote at Muncy.
On the 25 th of November, the House of Representatives arrived
at a little different result, by rejecting the Muncy box alone, thus
admitting William Maclay, William Cooke and James McClenachan
as members; Samuel Hunter and William Montgomery became—
members of the Council of Censors, on November 13, by countin
all the votes ; John Boyd, Councillor, and John Clarke, (Buffalo,
County Commissioner.
The deposition of Thomas Hamilton proved that, at the Munc
election, Richard Manning, who lived on Long Island, supposed tc
be Indian land, acted as judge, and David McKinney, who liveci I
opposite the Great Island, on Indian land, acted as inspector ; tha^»-t
John Price, John Hamilton, Britton Caldwell, one Thorp, an<^ i
others, who resided upon Indian land had voted at the Muncy dis=^-
trict election, hdd at Araariah Sutton*s. The Muncy district
composed of Bald Eagle and Muncy. Robert Fleming was the oxCM. y
one from Bald Eagle who voted. Manning testified that he acterc/
as judge; lived on Long Island; that Daugherty, who acted a5
inspector of the election, lived fifteen miles from the district, in
Turbut township, which was in the Northumberland district ; thaf
178a. 1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 217
^^e Indian land men voted generally in favor of Montgomery, Antes,
^nd McClenachan for Assembly, &c.
William Sims* testimony, with that of others, in regard to the
Northumberland box, was that he had been up at Wyoming, and
^w William Bonham there, in company with Colonel Zebulon But-
'^f, and Bonham acknowledged to him that it was his business there
^0 get the Wyoming people to go down to Northumberland and
^ofe ; that Bonham was exceedingly busy in inviting and persuading
^^e New England people to go down and vote ; that Colonel Butler
^old Captain Gaskins that there would be over one hundred down ;
/o^t many of them were in Northumberland and had voted, and
^c^x^ham kept an open house for them; heard Bonham tell Schott
^^ SO up to his house and get his dinner ; and further said the elec-
t^^^ »^ had cost him ^20. Captain Spaulding, one of the New Eng-
*ar^^ men, acted as judge, and Lord Butler, son of Colonel Zebulon,
^^"^^ as clerk.
^^imon Spaulding testified that he lived at Stoke ; had been seven
J^^^^rs captain in the army, &c. ; that the principle on which the
P^^^^ple came down to vote was to show their design of conforming
^^^ the laws of Pennsylvania, and that they took that as the first op-
^tunity of doing it, &c.
-A petition to the Assembly remonstrating against receiving the
-urns from Muncy and Northumberland was numerously signed
the inhabitants along Penn*s creek, and of Buffalo Valley, and
er parts of the county. Among the names of the Hesslers,
^-^Xrichs, Jacob Welker, &c., occurs that of Cyriacus Spangenberg,
-- D. M. The autograph is that of an elegant penman, and fixes
*>-« date of his residence on Penn*s creek two years earlier than
^^^x:tor Harbaugh supposed when he wrote the following notice of
^im: " In the latter part of the year, one Rev. Cyriacus Spangen-
^^^rg, who had come over with the Hessian mercenaries, and had
^^cured, irregularly, ordination by a frivolous preacher named Philip
J- Michael, thus, not by the door, but 'climbing up some other
"^ay,' was this wolf admitted into the fold ; located near Selinsgrove
^Tid began to preach there, at Row's Church, Mahantango, Middle
Creek, and other places.
**Such characters often found their way into the quiet and rural
settlements of Pennsylvania, as the serpent did into Eden, insinuate
2f8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17
themselves into the favor of the needy and unsuspecting, befcz^re
their old sins could follow them, or new ones could disclose th-^sir
true character. Hungry souls, who had been for years without fc_"he
ministry, would hope the best, even amid doubts and fears, and i\. — aus
were in a favorable position to be deceived. Like all others, '^the
German Reformed Church has not escaped these painful affliction- tis.
**Spangenberg was not long here before his true character .ap-
peared. He had represented himself as a single man, drew u^ziwn
himself the affections of a young female, obtained her promis^^ of
marriage, and the day was fixed for the wedding. But on the ^ziay
previous, a letter was discovered from his wife, still- living in Eurc^pe.
This at once arrested the whole business, and set the son of perdi-tion
bare before the community. He now left Selinsgrove, to the great
relief of the people. There are still (1857) aged persons along
Penn*s creek, who in youth heard the story of this vagabond's
doings, and much of it still floats, in half uncertain tradition, among
those of the present generation.
*' His fate will interest our readers. In 1795 he had succeeded ir»
introducing himself to congregations in (then) Bedford county, in^
eluding Berlin, now Somerset county, Pennsylvania. A division
had for some time been growing wider in the congregation at
Berlin — some anxious to be relieved of him, others as desirous of
retaining him. On a day appointed for a vote, the people assembled
in the church, Spangenberg being also present. Just before voting,
a pious and influential elder, named Jacob Glassmore, who sat in
the altar with Spangenberg, made some remarks favoring a change
of ministers, and expressed a hope that the result of the vote would
show that the congregation were inclined in that way. Whereupon
Spangenberg sprang to his feet in wrath, drew a dirk from his pocket
and plunged it into the elder*s heart. In a moment Elder Glassmore
lay in blood and death in the altar before the whole congregation.
** Spangenberg was seized immediately and placed in Bedford jail.
His trial ended on the 27th of April, and he was found guilty of
murder in the first degree. Eff'orts were made with the Governor
for a pardon, or to have the sentenced commuted. The Governor
submitted the records to the chief justice. The reply was unfavora-
ble, and on the loth of October, 1795, l>etween ten a. m. and two
p. M., Spangenberg was hanged at Bedford."
J 783. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 2ig
Reminiscences of the Brady Family,
October 20, died Mrs. Mary Brady, widowof Captain John Brady.
Her remains rest in the Lewisburg cemetery. She died on the Ja-
phet Morton place, a long tract, which extends from (and gives the
name to) Mortonsville, (better known as Smoketown,) up to the
place lately owned by John Schrack, Esquire. She was born in 1 735 ,
and her maiden name was Quigley. She died at the early age of
forty-eight years, and left the following family :
Captain Samuel Brady, born 1758, at Shippensburg. James
Brady, killed in 1778. John Brady, born 1761, and known as
Sheriff. Mary (married to Captain William Gray, of Sunbury,) died
December 13, 1850. William P. Brady, who removed to Indiana
county, Pennsylvania. He was deputy surveyor in Northumberland
county many years. His son, Hugh, was a noted attorney in the
western counties of the State. The latter married a daughter of
Evan Rice Evans, Esquire, and their son, the first Brady that ever
was killed in battle, fell at Antietam, in 1862. General Hugh Brady,
who died in Detroit, in 1 85 1 . Jennie Brady, a twin sister, born 29th
July, 1768. Robert, married afterwards to a daughter of Colonel
William Cooke. Hannah. Liberty, born August 9, 1778, so called
as she was the first child bom to them after the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. She married William Dewart, and died without issue,
July 25, 1851.
I copy here, in full. General Hugh Brady*s account of the family,
taken from an appendix to his funeral sermon by Reverend George
Dufiield, loaned me by Mrs. Nancy Eckert, of Lewisburg, grand-
daughter of Captain John Brady :
** I was born on the 29th day of July, 1 768, at the Standing Stone,
in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and was the fifth son (they had
six sons and four daughters) of John and Mary Brady. My brothers
all lived to be men, in every sense of the terra, and at a period
when the qualities of men were put to the most severe and enduring
tests. While I was yet a child, my father moved on to the West
Branch of the Susquehanna river, and pitched his tent about eight
miles above the town of Northumberland. At this time, (as well as
in later periods,) titles to wild lands could be obtained by erecting
a log-house, and by girdling a few trees, by way of improvement or
220 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [J78S.
cultivation. In this way, my father, John Brady, took up a vast
quantity of land ; and, had he not fallen in the war of 1776, would
have been one of the greatest land-holders in the State. But, owing
to the dishonesty and mismanagement of those connected with him,
his family received but little benefit from his exertions. Soon after
the commencement of the war of 1776, he was appointed a captain
in the twelfth Pennsylvania regiment ; and, in a few weeks having
recruited his company, he joined the army, with which he remained
until after the battle of Brandywine.
**At this time the Indians had become very troublesome in the set-
tlements on the Susquehanna; so much so, that application was
made to General Washington for regular troops to protect the fron-
tier. Not being in a condition to spare any troops at that moment,
he ordered home Captain John Brady, Captain Boone, and I^ieu ten-
ants John and Samuel Dougherty, to use their influence in inducing
the people to sustain themselves, until he could afford them other
relief. And nobly did they execute his design. All that brave and
experienced men could do, was done by them, even to sacrificing
their lives in the defense of their country; for, in less than two
years from that date. Captains Brady and Boone, and Lieutenant
Samuel Dougherty, had fallen by the hands of the savages. Ten
months before the death of Captain John Brady, his son James had
fallen (in 1778) by the Indians. Another son, Samuel, was then an
officer in the United States army. John was then at home, in charge
of the family, and in his sixteenth year.
'* After the fall of Captain Brady, my mother removed, with her
family, to her father's place in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania,
where she arrived in May, 1779, and where she remained till Octo-
ber of that year. She then removed to Buffalo Valley, about twenty
miles below our former residence, and settled on one of our^own
farms. We found the tenant had left our portion of the hay and
grain, which was a most fortunate circumstance. The winter fol-
lowing (1779 3.nd 1780) was a very severe one, and the depth of the
snow interdicted all traveling. Neighbors were few, and the settle-
ment scattered, so that the winter was solitary and dreary to a most
painful degree. But, while the depth of the snow kept us confined
at home, it had also the effect to protect us from the inroads of the
savages. But, with the opening of the spring, the Indians returned,
1783.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 221
and killed some people not very remote from our residence. This
induced Mrs. Brady to take shelter, with some ten or twelve families,
on the West Branch, about three miles from our home.* Pickets
^^T^ placed around the houses, and the old men, women, and child-
''cri , remained within during the day ; while all who could work and
carry arms, returned to their farms, for the purpose of raising some-
thing to subsist upon. Many a day have I walked by the side of
''*3'' brother John, while he was plowing, and carried my rifle in one
^r^d, and a forked stick in the other, to clear the ploughshare.
* * Sometimes my mother would go with us to prepare our dinner.
'^^ is was contrary to our wishes ; but she said that, while she shared
fh^ dangers that surrounded us, she was more contented than when
^^^t at the fort. Thus we continued till the end of the war, when
P^^^ce — ^happy peace — again invited the people to return to their
^<==>:«^iies.
■^ *In 1783, our mother was taken from us. In 1784, my brother
J^^^ Vin married, and, soon after, my eldest sister followed his example.
-^^ V the children younger than myself lived with them. I went to
^*^^^ western country with my brother Captain Samuel Brady. He
been recently disbanded, and had married a Miss Swearingen, in
•Washington county, Pennsylvania. He took me to his house at that
^ *■ "S^ce, and I made it my home until 1792, when I was appointed an
ign in General Wayne's army. Previous to this, my brother had
^Dved into Ohio county, Virginia, and settled a short distance above
iiarlestown. At that day, the Indians were continually committing
predations along the frontier. West of the Ohio the settlements
^re very sparse, and the people from the east side went frequently
pursuit of parties of marauding Indians who visited the neigh-
^rhood.
** \ joined with several parties in pursuit of Indians, but only met
^Viem once in action. This was, I think, on the 22d of May, 1791.
^Our spies in front had discovered a trail of Indians, about eight
^^iles up Indian Cross-cut, making for the settlements. The next
horning, ten citizens were met by Lieutenant Buskirk, with twelve
5State rangers, at the old Mingo town, and from there we went in
pursuit. After following their trail till near sunset, we were fired
on by the enemy, who lay concealed in a thicket. Lieutenant Bus-
' At Jenklni' mlU In East BalTalu.
222 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1785
kirk was killed, and three men wounded. After a fight of about ten
minutes, the Indians retreated, leaving one gun on the ground and
much blood on the bushes. We pursued the party then till dark,
but did not overtake them. The next day, we returned to the field
with a large party ; and, about one hundred yards up the strean
which had divided the combatants, we found twenty- two Indiax
packs, showing that our party of twenty- two men had fought tb
same number of Indians. It was afterwards ascertained that eigh
of them died of wounds received before they reached their towns,
had a fair shot at the bare back of one of them. I do not knov
whether I hit him or not. He did not fall, and I think I was some
what excited.
'* On the 5 th of March following, 1 792, 1 was appointed an ensigi
in a rifle company, commanded by Captain John Crawford, a sol
dier of '76. VVilham Clarke, of Kentucky, was the first lieutenant
I reported to my captain, and was put on the recruiting service
But, as the pay of a soldier was only J3 per month, I met with littli
success. Our clothing was also indifferent, and the feelings of thi
people generally averse to enlisting. They did not consider regu
lar soldiers the thing, exactly, to tight Indians. I then joined th«
headquarters of the army, at Legionville, the spot where Harmon;
now stands, twenty miles below Pittsburgh. The first duty I per
formed was on Christmas day, 1792, when I commanded a picke
guard. The officer of the day. Major Mills, saw, at guard-mount
ing, that I was very green, and when he visited my guard, at twelv
o'clock, he took much pains to instruct me. He also let me kno\
at what hour at night the grand rounds would visit me. I hai
Baron Steuben's Tactics, and a good old sergeant, and was prett;
well prepared to receive the rounds when they approached.
** The major complimented me, and remained with me for som*
time. His treatment had the effect to inspire me with that confi
dence which is indispensable in a young officer, to enable him i*
perform any duty in a suitable manner. I then thought Steube
had nothing with which I was not familiar, and the confidence i
gave me has uncjuestionably been of service to me up to the presen
day. The history and movements of that army are before the world,
but its sufferings and privations are only known to those who shared
them, of which I had my full proportion. Our campaign in Canada,
1783. 1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO yALLEY. 223
during the war of 1812, was by no means interesting, and its priva-
tions, &c., were the subject of much discussion. Compared with
the ciarapaign of General Wayne, it was all sunshine. At its close,
I vsts left under the command of Colonel Hamtramck, at Fort
Wayne. The force consisted of Captain Porter's company of artil-
lery. Captains Kingsbury's, Grattan's, and Reed's companies of
infantry, and Captain Preston's company of riflemen, to which I
was attached.
** During that winter, 1794-5, we lived very poorly. Our beef
came to us on the hoof, and poor, and we had little or nothing to
fatten them with. Having no salt to cure it, it was slaughtered,
*^^ hung up under a shed, where, by exposure, it became perfectly
^*^o.ther-beaten, and as tough as an old hide. Of course, it made a
miserable soup. At the same time, our men received but half xz.-
^iorxs of flour, and were working like beavers to complete our quar-
^^■~:s. Thus we lived until about the middle of February, when a
^^igade of pack-horses arrived, loaded with flour and salt, and with
^^^xn came a drove of hogs. From this time forward we considered
ourselves as living on the * fat of the land.* An early spring fol-
l^^^red, and with it came ducks, geese, and trout, to improve our
li v- i ng ; and the Indians, soon after, came in with their flags to sue
f^^X" peace; and our time passed away pleasantly. The treaty was
oi>ened at Greenville on the 4th of July, 1795, on which day I ar-
Ti'ved at that place. I had been ordered there as a witness in the
c-ase of Captain Preston, who was tried for disobeying the orders of
Colonel Hamtramck. The court sentenced him to be reprimanded,
a.nd the General laid it on pretty heavy.
" I remained at headquarters till the treaty was concluded, and
then returned to Fort Wayne. While at Fort Wayne, I received
™any letters from my brothers, urging me to resign. I had not
^^n them for ten years. Those letters held out the idea that
they would make my fortune. That, (and a desire to return to the
'^ci of my early habits, and to see my brothers and sisters, who
^ grown from children to be men and women, and most of them
^^^ried,) decided me to leave the service. I resigned my commis-
^'*^J>. and left Fort Wayne on the 20th of November, 1795, and
'^^^^^^ the next winter in Lexington, Kentucky. About the ist of
^-^ch following, I rode through to Limestone, (Maysville.) I there
224 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 1783-
got into a quartermaster's boat, and, in about three weeks, landed
at Wheeling, Virginia. I spent a few days with the widow oi my
brother Samuel, who had died on the Christmas previous. I then
purchased a horse, and reached home about the 20th of July. I
went first to Captain William Gray's, my brother-in-law. My sis-
ter, Mrs. Gray, came to the door, and, as I inquired for Mr. Gray,
she put on rather an important look, and replied : * I presume you
will find him at the store,' and turned into the parlor. I was about
turning on my heel, when I heard steps in the entry, and, turning
round, I saw my sister Hannah. She immediately raised her hands
and exclaimed : ' My brother Hugh !' and flew into my arms. This
was not a little surprising, as when she saw me last she could not
have been more than eight years old. She knew me by my resem-
blance to my twin sister, Jane. I found my connections all living
happily, and moving at the head of society. I passed a happy three
or four months with them, when I became weary of an idle life, and
began to look for my promised fortune ; but, up to this day, have
never been able to find it. I remained out of business till the win-
ter of 1798 and 1799, when I was appointed a captain in Adams'
army, and, in less than two years, was disbanded. My brother
William, who had been most urgent for me to resign, now requested
me to assist him to improve some wild lands he owned on the Ma-
honing river, about fifty miles from Pittsburgh. We commenced
this settlement in the spring of 1802, and, that summer, built a grist-
mill and a saw-mill. All our breadstuff had to be carried about
thirty miles on horseback. Meat I procured with my rifle, deer
being plenty, and I could kill them without much loss of time froi
other business.
**I married in 1805, and took my wife to our place in 1806-
where Sarah and Preston were born. During the time we wei
there, we were happy, and had a plenty of such things as the coun ^^m-
try aff'orded. All being on an equality, as regarded our rrrnnrrc^ -a — ^.
were not annoyed by the insolence of wealth. Still, I saw that m •^■[y
fortune could not be made there, and, in 1810, I returned, wit — rh
my family, to Northumberland, and got along as well as I coultfT i,
until 181 2, when the war again called me into service; since wbi^- ^
time the Government has provided for me. I have rendered h^"K?r
some service, and, with my brother officers, have kept my should— ^r
17830 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 225
to tlie wheel. This was no more than our duty to a country which
supports us, and of which we are justly proud.
* * Thus, I have given a sketch of ray life, containing nothing un-
usiia.1 or strange among those of my day and generation. But what
a iwonderful generation it has been — the most wonderful of any since
the days of our Saviour !
* * I have already stated that my brother James fell by the Indians,
in 1: 778. It was in this manner : With ten or twelve others he went
to lielp a neighbor harvest his wheat, about ten miles from the
ne3.rest station. On entering the field, they placed a sentinel at the
most exposed point, and their arms convenient to their work.
THey had worked but a short time when the sentinel gave an alarm.
THey all ran to their arms, but it proved to be a false alarm. After
'^F^rimanding the sentinel for his unsoldierly conduct, they returned
^^ t:heir work; but they had not long been reaping when they heard
^^^^ report of a rifle, and their sentinel was killed. Without noticing
^»^^ conduct of others, ray brother ran to his rifle^ and as he stooped
^^ pick it up, he received a shot which broke his arm. This caused
^^^ to fall forwards, and before he could recover, a stout Indian
^^^upon him, tomahawked him, scalped him, and left him for dead.
'^^^er the Indians left the field, my brother recovered and went to
^^ house, where he found the rest of the reapers who had run from
/^^ field without their arms, and without making any attempt to de-
^^^d or rescue him. They sent James to his parents, at Sunbury,
^^y miles from the spot where he received his wound, which was
^ Saturday. He lived till the Thursday following, retained his
^^uses, and related what is stated above.
''James Brady was a remarkable man. Nature had done much
^r him. His person was fine. He lacked but a quarter of an inch
^f six feet, and his mind was as well finished as his person. I have
^Ver placed him by the side of Jonathan, son of Saul, for beauty of
l^rson, and nobleness of soul, and like him, he fell by the hands of
^he Philistines.
** My father was killed on the nth of April, 1779, not more than
V^alf a mile from his own house. He had left that morning at the
V^ead of a party of men, to move in a family that had wintered at
'^heir farm, about ten miles from my father's place. Having seen
^o sign of Indians, my father stopped at Wallis's Fort, and let the
•XK.
226 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, (1783.
party go on with the family. He was the only person mounted,
and intended, soon, to overtake the party, but unfortunately for him,
his family, and the settlement, he overtook a man who had fallen
behind, and remained with him till the Indians shot him dead. The
man escaped by mounting my father's horse, after he had fallen.
It is a remarkable fact, that this man, Peter Smithy was in the field
where my brother was killed, and afterwards, his own family was
mostly destroyed by Indians, and he again escaped. After the war
he settled in the Genesee country, and became a wealthy man-
Some men are born to luck.
[Note. — It is worthy of notice, that although General Brady fre-
quently sought, he was never successful in finding, the spot where
his father was interred. One of his surviving daughters, Mrs-
Backus, wife of Major Backus, was providentially made acquainted
with the spot, during a visit (1851) to the place of her grand-
father's residence. An old revolutionary soldier,* who was with th^
father of General Brady when he fell, and hjid known and markeci-
the place of his interment, a short time before her visit, had, on hi^
death bed, requested to be buried beside his old captain, and desig-
nated the spot. His request was granted, and there lie together ii:»
the woods, the captain and the private of his company, in a plac<^
where the inhabitants of the neighborhood intend, it is said, to erect
an appropriate monument. — George Duffield^ D, D.'\
*'My brother John, in his fifteenth year, was in the battle o'^
Brandywine, and was wounded. On the retreat he would have been
captured had not his colonel, William Cooke, taken him up behind
him.
** John had gone to the army with my father, in order to take
home the horses ridden out, and was directed by my father to return.
But John heard from Ensign Boyd that a battle was expected to be
fought soon. He, therefore, remained to see the fun ; and when
my father took command of his company, on the morning of the
battle, he found John in the ranks, with a big rifle by his side. My
father was wounded in the battle, Ensign Boyd was killed, and John
received a wound during the retreat.
** As one good turn deserves another, two of my brothers, many
years after, married two of the colonel's daughters.
* Henry Lebo.
I7«3.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 227
** Captain Samuel Brady entered the army as a volunteer when
he was nineteen years of age, and joined General Washington at
Boston. A year after, he was appointed a lieutenant, and returned
home to recruit. He did not remain long. He belonged to Cap-
^n John Doyle's company, Wayne's brigade, and was with him at
the surprise of Paoli. In 1779, ^^^ regiment, the eighth Pennsyl-
vania, v/as ordered to Pittsburgh. It was then commanded by Col-
onel Brodhead. Soon after, my brother heard of his father's death ;
and he waited, with impatience, for an opportunity to avenge it, on
the Indians, Nor was the opportunity long delayed. The Indians
^d attacked a family and killed all in it, except a boy aged twelve,
and his sister, ten. These were taken prisoners, and their father
^^^as absent from home at the time it occurred.
' * The place was thirty miles east of Pittsburgh, and it so hap-
P^'"^ed Samuel was out in that direction, and, hearing of it, he
started in pursuit, having with him a friendly Indian, very useful as
^ ffuide. The second evening of the pursuit the party stopped on
^"^ top of a high hill, and the Indian guide pointed with his wiping
s^^k to the foot of the hill, and said, * The Red Bank runs there.'
^^ men sat down, while the captain consulted with the Indian
al>ovit his future movements. Suddenly, the Indian sprang to his
'^"^t, and said he smelt fire; and soon after they saw the smoke
^J'ling above the trees, on the opposite side of the Red Bank.
** The Indian said, * They will sleep by that fire to night.' ' And
^ will awake them in a voice of thunder in the morning,' replied
^e captain. The Indian also said, * After they smoke and eat, and
Ae sun has gone to sleep, they will give the scalp halloo.'
**With breathless impatience, the party watched the setting of
the sun, and, as its light disappeared from the tops of the trees in
i\\t east, they heard seven distinct scalp halloos, with the usual whoop
between each. After it was over. Cole, the Indian, observed,
'There are fourteen warriors, and they have five scalps and two
prisoners.' The night being clear and the weather mild, the cap-
tain remained in his position till near morning, when he forded the
stream above the Indians and posted his men, to await the crack of
his rifle as the signal of attack. As day broke an Indian rose up
and stirred the fire. The signal was given. The Indian standing
pitched into the fire. The attack continued, and resulted in eight
228 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1788.
of the warriors being deprived of the pleasure of ever again giving
the scalp halloo. When the captain got to the fire he found the
children much alarmed. After quieting their fears, the boy asked
for the captain's tomahawk, and commenced cutting off the head
of the Indian that fell in the fire, observing that this was the leader
of the party, and the man that killed and scalped his mother. The
boy was permitted to finish the job he had commenced.
** Three easy days* march brought the captain back to Pittsburgh.
The father of the children was sent for to receive his lost ones. He
showed much affection, on meeting his children, and thanked die
captain for having restored them ; and then asked the captain what
had become of his * big basin.* It appeared the Indians had carried
off, or destroyed, a big basin, from which Henry and his numerous
family ate their sourkrout. The honest Dutchman thought there
could be no impropriety in asking for it, of the man who had the
best chance to know.
'*In 1804, the writer met Henry (the boy) at a friend's house,
in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Henry had stopped, with a wagon,
before the door, and had a barrel of cider for my friend, who,
pointing to me, said, * This gentleman is a brother of Captain Brady,
who took you from the Indians.* Henry was assisting to remove
the cider, and he gave me a side look for a moment, and then con-
tinued his work. I felt hurt at the coldness he showed towards the
brother of a man who had risked his life to rescue him from death
or bondage, and to avenge the murder of his family. My friend
informed me that Henry owned the farm from which he was cap-
tured, and was as rich as any farmer in the county. I thought,
then, if his circumstances were as easy as his manners, he probably
had at home, in the old family chest, as many dollars as would fill
his father's big basin.
** At the retjuest of his colonel, Captain Brady visited the San-
dusky towns, at the head of four or five men, and lay concealed
over ten days, so that he could see all their movements. It was a
time for horse racing among the Indians, and men, women, children,
and dogs were all in attendance. A gray horse was the winner
until the evening of the second day, when they compelled him to
carry two riders, (a new way to handicap,) when he was finally
beaten. The Indians then retired from the field. That evening
i
1783.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 229
Captain Brady took two squaws prisoners, and started for home.
On the second day of their journey they were overtaken by a fright-
ful thunder storm, which destroyed their provisions, and destroyed
most of their powder, having but three or four loads of good pow-
der left in a priming horn. The stormy weather continued several
^ys. After it cleared away, the captain, just before night, went
ahead of his party, hoping to kill some game, as they were without
provisions. The party was then traveling on an Indian trail. He
^ not gone far when he met a party of Indians returning from the
settlements, with a woman and child, prisoners. The captain shot
the leader of the party, rescued the woman, and endeavored to ob-
^^ the child, that was strapped to the back of the Indian he had
shot. But he had not time to do so, as the Indians had ascertained
that he was alone, and had returned to their leader. He was, there-
'^^, compelled to fall back, and he took the woman with him. His
°^^n, seeing the Indians, and supposing the captain was killed, made
^^eir way to the nearest fort, and let the squaw run away. The
^^her squaw had escaped during the great thunder storm. The next
^y he met a party coming from Fort Mcintosh, to bury him, his
^en having reported him killed. A few days after, he returned
^th a party to the battle ground, and found the dead Indian.
"In 1835, the writer met, at the town of Detroit, a son of the
boy that was strapped to the back of the Indian. He informed me
that after Wayne's treaty, his father was delivered up, at Pittsburgh,
by the Indians. When the land west of the Ohio came into market,
his father bought the lot on which the affair took place, and built his
house, as near as he could ascertain, on the spot where the Indian
fell, and lived there till eighteen months prior to our conversation,
when he was killed by the falling of a tree. His name was Stupps,
and he was a fine looking man. I remember his grandmother's
name was Jane Stupps, and I have often heard my brother relate
the above story.
«* On the Beaver river is a place known as Brady's Bend, where
he had a hard fight, and killed many of the enemy, with small loss on
his own side. His enterprising disposition and his skill in stratagems,
in which he equaled any Indian, enabled him to do more towards
protecting the frontier than all his regiment besides. Indeed, he
looked upon by the whole country as their surest protector, and
2J0 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1783fc. ,
all the recompense he ever received was in a reward of $500, bein ^
offered by Governor McKean for his person, for having, in 179*^
killed a party of Indians on Brady's run, thirty miles below Pitt^.
burgh. He surrendered himself for trial, and was honorably acqui "t.
ted ; he having proved, to the satisfaction of the court and jur3r,
that those Indians had killed a family on the head of Wheeling-
creek, Ohio county, Virginia. That, on receiving notice of the
murder, he suspected those Indians had come out of Pennsylvania-
He, therefore, crossed the Ohio at the mouth of the Wheeling, and
by steering west, came on the trail, and pursued it to where he
attacked them.
*' When General Wayne arrived at Pittsburgh, in 1792, he sent for
Captain Brady, who lived in Ohio county, Virginia, and gave him
command of all the spies then in the employ of the Government,
amounting to sixty or seventy men. The captain so disposed of
them that not a depredation was coipmitted on the frontier. On ih^
contrary, three or four times the Indians were surprised in their owt>
country, thirty or forty miles in advance of the white settlements -
His plan of carrying the war into the Indian country put a stop to
all murders on that frontier. He continued in command of theses
rangers until the period of his death, which occurred on Christmas
day, 1795, ^^ ^is house, about two miles west of West Liberty, Vir—
ginia, (in the thirty-ninth year of his age.) His disease was pleu-
risy. He left a widow and two sons.
** Never was a man more devoted to his country, and few, ver/'
few, have rendered more important services, if we consider the
nature of the service, and the part performed by him personally.
He was five feet eleven and three fourths inches in heighth, with a
perfect form. He was rather light ; his weight exceeding at no time,
one hundred and sixty-eight pounds. As I have said before, there
were six brothers, viz: Samuel, James, John, William P., Hugh,
and Robert. There was but half an inch difference in our heights.
John was six feet and an inch, and I was the shortest of them all.
Is it not remarkable that I, who was considered the most feeble of
all, should outlive all my brothers, after having been exposed to
more dangers and vicissitudes than any, except Samuel ? Is it not a
proof that there is, from the beginning, * a day appointed for man
to die?* It is said, * the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the
1784.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 231
Strong, but safety is of the Lord.* That has ever been my belief."
Among the deaths this year, WilHara McCandlish, senior, of Buf-
falo. (Will dated nth September. Children : Peter, John, George,
Grizzelda, William, junior, Jennette, Alexander, and Martin. Mr.
McCandlish 'lived on the place now owned and occupied by John
Lesher, in Buffalo township.) William Greenlee, and in November,
Mathias Trinkle, (of Union now.)
In 1 783 the people generally returned to the Valley. Mr. Allen
having died, Mr. McClenachan became sole elder of the Buffalo
Cross-Roads church until his death, in June, 1784, when the con-
gregation was without an elder until 1787, when Matthew Laird,
who had been an elder in Big Spring, came to reside within the con-
gregation.— Doctor Grier's Sermon,
%m
1784-
Joe Disbury — Beards Mill (now Hoffa's) Erected — Flood of 1784 —
Captain Lowdon's Roll — Death of Colonel Samuel Hunter.
|OUNCIL of Censors, General James Potter, vice Samuel
Hunter, deceased. Members of Assembly, elected in
October, Frederick Antes, Daniel Montgomery, and Sam-
uel Dale. Henry Spyker, Esquire, was a Representative
for Berks county. Presiding Judge, John Buyers. Sheriff, Henry
Antes. Lieutenant of the county, WiUiam Wilson, vice Samuel
Hunter, deceased. Collector of Excise, Alexander Hunter, vice Wil-
liam Wilson, resigned. County Commissioner, VValter Clark, qual-
ified at November Term.
The celebrated thief, Joe Disbury, was tried. On his jury were
Adam Grove, Michael Grove, William Clark and Adam Christ. His
sentence was severe : That he should receive thirty-nine lashes, be-
tween the hours of eight and nine to-morrow, stand in the pillory
2S2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1784.
one hour, have his ears cut off and nailed to the post, that he be im-
prisoned three months, and pay a fine of jQ^o to the President of the
State, for the use of the Government. [See his history in Meginness.]
George Herrold this year opened the '* Herrold Tavern," on the
river below Selinsgrove, and Captain Anthony Selin the first hotel
in Selinsgrove. In September, John Bear, of Lancastei:, bought the
Hoffa Mills, (now) property of William Charters, and erected the first
grist-mill there. The saw-mill he added in 1 787 ; and in 1 790 he had
four mills (grist, clover, oil and saw-mill) there.
Additional Residents in White Deer Township in 1 784.
Allison, David; Ant, Jacob; Bennett, Justice; Bennett, Ephraim ;
Bennett, Thaddeus ; Bentley, Green ; Brown, John; Brown, Joseph;
Brown, widow, Elinor ; Buchanan, David ; Buchanan, James ; Bu-
chanan, James, junior ; Buchanan, William ; Campbell, Alexander;
Carnahan, Robert; Creal, Michael; Daugherty, Daniel; Davis, Wil-
liam ; Dodds, Andrew ; Dunlap, William ; Feager, widow ; Fisher,
Paul; Fisher, Paul, (single;) Fisher, Henry; Gillespie, Captain
Charles ; Gilman, Philip ; Gray, George ; Gray,^ Neigal, grist-mill,
formerly Titzel's ; Heany, Hieronymus; Heany, Frederick ; Heany,
Philip; Huston, Samuel; Iddings. Samuel; Iddings, Samuel,.
(single ;) Jordan, William; Jordan, Andrew; Judge, William; Kerk-
endale, Herman ; Landon, Nathaniel ; Lean, Abraham ; Lean, Han-
nah; Low, widow; McComb, John; McCracken, Mary; McLanahan,
David ; McLanahan, widow ; Moore, John ; Moore, John, junior ;
Moore, George ; Morrison, Samuel ; Montgomery, Samuel ; Perry „■
Thomas ; Plants, Jacob ; Poak, widow, Mary ; Potter, James, Es-
quire; Ramsey, John; Rodman, widow, Martha; Sheaffer, Nicho-
las : Tenbrooke, John ; Turner, Robert ; Vandyke, John ; Welsh^
Nicholas; Welsh, Ludwig. (William Wilson, William Gray, an(5
William Clark, assessors.)
In a memorial, on file at Harrisburg, signed by Robert Martin ancl
John Franklin, they state '* that on the 15th of March, 1784, the Sus-
quehanna rose into a flood, exceeding all degrees ever before known ;
that its rise was so sudden as to give no time to guard against its
mischief; that it swept away about one hundred and fifty houses,
^Neigal Gray was lioutenant colonel of twelfth PonnsylTanla, OontinenUtl I«tne,
appointed from Northampton county.
1784.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 233
with all the provision, house furniture, and farming tools and cattle
of the owners, and gave but just opportunity for the inhabitants to
fly for their lives ; that, by this dreadful calamity, one thousand per-
sons are left destitute of provisions, clothing, and every means of life.**
^t^jter-RoU of Captain John Lowdon's Company of Northumber-
land County Volunteers who marched to Suppress the Riot at
Wyoming^ by Orders of the Supreme Executive Council, August
<, 1784.
CDaptain — Lowdon, John.
I-.ieutenant — ^Vancampen, Moses.
£nsign — Grove, Michael.
Sergeants — Snyder, Frederick ; Vancampen, Garret.
X^rivates — Adams, John; Allen, John; Antes, William; Arm-
strong, Hamilton; Armstrong, John; Backinstow, John; Baker,
*^illiam ; Boo, George ; Busher, John ; Calhoon, Matthew ; Camp-
^1^, Andrew; Champ, John; Clark, William; Clin gman, Jacob ;
^^awford, Edward; Crawford, James; Bering, Stophel ; Doyle,
^^muel ; Drake, Samuel ; Emmons, Alexander ; Eply, Leonard ;
^Mring, Jasper : Ewing, John ; Fowler, Eshel ; Fowler, Nathan ;
^illespie, Charles; Gibbons, Alexander; Giles, Thomas; Good-
^^art, Henry ; Goodman, Daniel ; Gettig, Stophel ; Grant, Thomas;
^regg, Andrew; Gregg, John; Gregg, William ; Hamilton, Thomas;
-^^^mmond, David ; Hammond, James ; Harris, John ; Harris, Sam-
^^1 ; Hepburn, James ; Hessler, Michael ; Hilman, James ; Hunter,
A^lexander ; Jones, John ; Keel, John ; Keel, Philip ; Lamison, Ja-
^ob ; Lougan, David ; Ludwick, John ; Lyon, Benjamin ; Marshall,
John ; Martin, Benjamin ; Martin, Thomas ; McCoy, Neale ; Mc-
JCinney, Abraham ; Meads, Ely ; Moreland, Thomas ; Morrow,
James ; Ogdon, John ; Pearson, George ; Rees, Thomas ; Robins,
^ack ; Rope, Michael ; Rurer, Frederick ; Salomin, John ; Shaffer,
Adam ; Shaffer, Henry ; Smith, Jacob ; Steuart, William ; Stout,
John ; Teterly, George ; Vanderslice, Henry ; Volin, Leonard ;
Webb, William ; Weitgur, John ; Weitzel, Jacob ; Wheeler, John ;
Wilkeson, Joseph ; Wilkeson, William ; Wilson, James ; Young,
John.
One sergeant and twelve men, two days guarding the prisoners
at Sunbury.
234 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 11784.
I do hereby certify the above muster-roll to be just ; without fraud
to the State of Pennsylvania, or any individual, according to my
best knowledge.
John Lowdon, Captain,
Mustered the above company as specified in the above roll.
W. Wilson,
Lieutenant Northumberland County.
August 9, 1784.
Deaths.
April 10, Colonel Samuel Hunter died, aged fifty-two. His grave
is near the site of Fort Augusta, which he so heroically defended.
His will is dated the 29th of March, and proved the 21st of June.
His wife's name was Susanna Scott, sister of Abraham Scott,
formerly member from Lancaster. Colonel Hunter was from the
county of Donegal, Ireland, and when he died had a mother and
two brothers still living there. He left two daughters, Mary and
Nancy, minors, i. Mary, married Samuel Scott, who died before
her, leaving children, Samuel H. Scott, Sarah, Susanna. Samuel
Scott lived on what is now the Cake farm, and was drowned. He
was a son oi Abraham Scott, who lived on the island which he had
purchased of Mungo Reed, the original owner. Abraham Scott
died there in August, 1798, leaving a widow, Sarah, and children,
Samuel, (above,) Mary, wife of General William Wilson, after-
wards of Chillisquaque Mills, Susanna, and Sarah. Susanna mar-
ried Rose. Their daughter, Isal)ella, is the widow of Hon-
orable Robert C. Grier, late Justice of the United States Supreme
Court. 2. Nancy, married her cousin, Alexander Hunter, who
died in June, 18 10, leaving her also a widow, and children, Mary,
EHzabeth, Nancy, and Samuel.
Henry Vandyke, formerly of Hanover township, Lancaster
county, leaving a widow, Elizabeth ; children, Lambert, John,
Sarah, Hannah, Mary, and Elizal)eth. He resided on the second
farm east of Buffalo Cross-Roads, now Jackson RisheFs.
John Forster, of Buffalo, (will proved 24th October.) He left
a widow, Margaret ; eldest son, Thomas, grandfather of Mrs. Mark
Halfpenny ; second son, Andrew ; eldest daughter, Christena, mar-
ried to John Montgomery; Robert Forster was his youngest son;
1785.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 235
Jane, second wife of William Irvine; Elizabeth Gray, and Rebecca
McFarland. Robert was the father of the late Captain John Fors-
ter, of Mifflinburg.
Simon Himrod, elder in the Dreisbach church, and late member
of Assembly. He resided in Turbut. His descendants live near
VVaterford, Ene county, Pennsylvania.
James McClenachan, (in June.) Widow, Sarah; daughters, Mar-
garet, Elizabeth; sons, Robert, David, and Andrew.
<Mi
1^85.
Lewisbcro laid out by Ludwkj Dkrr — Bounds of — Fall Election —
Washington Township Erected — Widow Smith's Petition — Militia
Officers.
f ICE PRESIDENT, Charles Diddle. William Montgom-
ery, Presiding Justice. Justices, 24th January, Simon
Snyder, William Irwin ; Colonel John Kelly, in August,
and William Wilson. Sheriff, Thomas Grant, elected in
October. Walter Clark, John Clarke, and William Gray, all of
Buffalo, County Commissioners.
Representatives declared elected : Frederick Antes, Samuel Dale,
and William Maclay, over Daniel Montgomery, John Weitzel, and
Anthony Selin. General Potter, William Maclay, William Mont-
gomery, junior, William Gray, and Joseph J. Wallis, Deputy Sur-
veyors in the " old purchase." Lawyers admitted: John W. Kittera,
John Clark, and John Reily, all officers of the war of the Revolu-
tion. Vannost, suspended at February term, for treating the justices
with contempt, re-admitted at May term.
Of Buffalo officers : Constable, John Thompson ; quota of State
tax, £\<^A\ county, £/i,i.
Among the Buffalo taxables were : Armstrong, William, tan-yard ;
236 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1785.
Baldy, Christopher ; Barber, Robert, Esquire, who moved from near
Wrightsville ; Billmyer, Andrew ; Brown, John ; Burd, David, who
lived where Sherry now lives, in the same township ; Christ.. Adam ;
Colpetzer, Adam, who lived where Jacob Engle now lives, in Lime-
stone ; Douglass, William ; Evans, Daniel ; Everett, Abel ; Giles,
Isaac; Haughawaut, Leffard; Huston, Robert; Jenkins, Morgan:
Knox, George, tan-yard ; Laughlin, Adam ; Mucklehenny, John ;
Voneida, Philip, who purchased of John Crider part of the Cap-
tain Kern's tract, (late Peter Voneida place.)
Single Men in Buffalo Townships in 1785 — Allison, Archibald;
Bann, Lewis; Beatty, David; Black, William; Black, Thomas;
Books, George ; Clark, John ; Cosaith, George ; Cough, Adam ;
Cox, Tunis ; Dale Henry ; Dale, Christian ; Derr, George ; Dreis-
bach, Martin; Goodman, John ; Gilkeson, a tailor; Iddings, Wil-
liam ; Ingram, John ; Jenkins, Morgan ; Katherman, George ; Leon-
ard, Peter; Lewis, Paschall; Lowdon, Richard; McGahey, Neal -5,
McGrady, Captain Samuel ; Mook, John ; Rearick, John ; Reese :,
John ; Rees, Daniel ; Scott, William ; Shively, Henry ; Stewart ^
Archibald ; Taylor, Christopher ; Templeton, David ; Thompsoa :,
John; Vanvalzen, Levi; Waggoner, Christopher; Wilson, Samuel ;
Youngman, George. Joseph Green, John Aurand, and Thoma-S
Forster, assessors ; which list they returned the 4th of January, 178^-
Among the Residents in White Deer were — Allen, Robert; BeaT,
John ; Coulter, Nathaniel ; Eaker, Doctor Joseph ; Lacock, John ;
Leckey, John ; McAllister, Archibald ; McGinnes, James ; McCorley,
Robert, taxed with negro girl; Marshall, Widow; Potter, General
James, negro and one servant ; Vandyke, John, junior, (Widow Smith,
grist-mill.) In 1785, William Blythe's name disappears from the
assessment list, and the two tracts, taken up in his daughters' names,
are taxed to his sons-in-law. Captain Charles Gillespie and Doctor
Eakers. Daniel Lewis' name disappears, and Paschall Lewis ap-
pears in its place. His wife, who was Margaret Paschall, was a
relative of Thomas Paschall, a hatter, of Philadelphia, who owned a
great amount of wild lands, was married three times ; first to a man
named Watson, by whom she had Jesse, James, (who built Seebold*s
mill,) and John Watson, all settlers in the Valley. Second, to Ma-
thers, by whom she had Samuel Mathers and Thomas, also early
settlers; and third to Daniel Lewis, father of Paschall. One of the
irOS.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 237
M^ aethers once went to Philadelphia to get his share of the fortune.
Hl^ got as his share — a lot of hats — enough to hat the whole Valley,
n^^rly.
^mongthe Penn's Taxable s were — Arbogast, John ; Dreis, Jacob ;
H^rrold, Simon, ferry and grist-mill; Miller, Dewalt, saw-mill;
^oiitius, John ; Pontius, Peter ; Schoolmaster, Abel ; Shipton,
^Womas; Shisley, Jacob, Sinclair, Duncan; Smith, David; Selin
°^ Snyder, store, negro slave, and forty acres* of land ; Speakman,
J^-^nies; Stoll, Mathias; Swineford, John; Vanhorn, Daniel; Weiand,
J ^-^ob ; Witraer, JPeter, with ferry.
In March, 1785, Ludwig Derr laid out the town of Lewisburg. \
^^-inuel Weiser, of Mahanoy township, was the surveyor, and for his
^^^Yices received lot No. 5, on which is now erected the store of
^^alls. Smith & Co., 1870. His first donation of lots was for reli-
^>ous purposes. 26th March, he, with Catherine, his wife, conveyed
^^ts Nos. 42, 44, and 46 to Walter Clark, William Gray, and William
*Vilson, in trust for the Presbyterian congregation at or near Lewis-
*^Urg, for a meeting-house and burying-ground.
William Maclay made the survey of the tract the town stands on
^lie 28th of February, 1769. Ludwig Derr lived upon it as early as
^ 770. It was patented on the nth of August, 1772, to Reverend
l^ichard Peters, who conveyed, on the 17th of September, 1773, to
X^udwig Derr, by the following description, '* containing three hun-
dred and twenty acres, situated at the mouth of Spring run, below
^nd adjoining the mouth of Buffalo creek." Weiser's survey was as
follows:
The southern boundary commenced at a post at the river, at the
the corner of the tract on which the mill is erected; thence along
the land of the said Derr, S. 80 '-^^ W. 121 perches 2j4 feet, to a
stone; thence N. about ioj4° W. 164 perches, to a stone; thence
N. about 8oJ^° E. about 139 perches 2)^ feet, to a post or stake,
by the north-west side of Buffalo creek ; thence down the creek to its
mouth, and thence down the river to the place of beginning, and con-
tained about one hundred and twenty-eight acres, which was divided
into three hundred and fifty- five lots.
By the act of the 31st of March, 181 2, which incorporated ** the
president and directors ot the streets, lanes, and alleys of the town
of Lewisburg,*' the charter bounds commenced at the south side
238 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1785.
of the mouth of Lyman's (formerly called Derr's) run, and ran
thence up the south side of the run, including the said run in its
meanders, to the line of George Derr*s land ; thence along the same
to the fording of Buffalo creek ; thence down the south side thereof
to the river, and down the river to the place of beginning. And by
the act of the 21st of March, 1822, incorporating "the borough
of Lewisburg," the bounds were still further increased southerly, as
they commenced at the river, at a corner of Jacob Zentmeyer and
Margaret Spidler's land, and ran along the same N. 52° W. 62
perches, to a pine ; thence, the same course, by land then of Wil-
liam Shaw, James Bennet, James Geddes, George Berryman, and
William Hayes, 236 perches, to a pine on land of George Derr.
From this pine the line ran N. 2° W. 208 perches, to the creek;
thence down the creek and river to the beginning.
Ludwig Derr made a lottery the same year, and disposed of some
of the lots in this way, among the rest, lot No. 21, corner Fourtli
and Market, on which (1877) Doctor Howard Wilson is now resid-
ing, was drawn by John Brown, and for which he paid three pounds,
as appears by the deposition of John Hennig, taken before Colonel
John Kelly, on the 2d of May, 1791.
The very first lot sold was No. 351, corner of Water and Sf-
Lewis, to William Wilson, 26th March.
The first residents of Lewisburg were Bolinger, John ; Conser,.
Henry, (Reverend S. L. M. Conser is a grandson ;) Dering, God-
frey, (removed to Selinsgrove ; one of his descendants was post-
master there;) Evans, Joseph, cabinet-maker, (descendants still itt
Lewisburg;) Leonard, Peter, (descendants still in Lewisburg;)
Long, Edward ; Smith, Nicholas ; Welker, Jacob, tailor, (moved to
Mifflinburg, and died there.) [See 1 788, for a description of Lewis-
burg at that time. J In September, Ludwig Derr went to Philadel-
phia to sell lots. The date of his death there is not known. The
last deed he signed is dated October 18. December 9, George Derr,
Walter Clark , and John Weitzel, administered upon his estate. He
left a widow, Catherine, who survived him a very short time, and
only one heir, George Derr. September 13, Northumberland county
divided into four election districts, Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter in
the third, and held their elections at Fought's Mill, (near Mifflinburg.)
August sessions, Washington township, now partly in Lycoming,
1785.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 239
erected, the division line commencing a short distance above Widow
Smith's mills, thence west, along the south side of White Deer creek,
to where Spruce run commences. It was a mere sub-division of
White Deer township, calling the northern division Washington.
The following is a list of the inhabitants of Washington, as thus
erected :
Bennett, Ephraim ; Bennett, Justice ; Bennett, Thaddeus ; Ben-
nett, Abraham ; Bennett, William ; Bently, Green ; Brown, Charles;
Brown, Judson; Brown, William; Caldwell, William; Creal, Mi-
chael; Coats, widow; Eason, Robert; Emmons, John ; Enunons,
Jacob; Emmons, Jacob, (single;) Gray, William, junior; Green,
^benezer ; Harley, John ; Hendrick, Nathan ; Hickendoll, Her-
'nan; Hood, Moses; Ruling, Marcus; Hunter, widow; Landon,
Nathaniel; Layn, Abraham; Layn, Isaac; Low, Cornelius, senior
^'^ci junior; McCormick, Seth; McCormick, Thomas ; Mackey, Wil-
^^^rn; Mitchell, John ;. Ramsey, John; Reynolds, Joseph ; Shaffer,
^i^holas; Stephen, Adam ; Strieker, John ; Sunderland, Daniel ;
*^*^nbrooke, John; Towsend, Gradius; Towsend, Gamaliel ; Weeks,
•'^^se. Assessors: William Gray, Joseph Allen, and Thomas Mc-
^ CDrmick.
The fall election for members of the House was contested. Paul
^Idy, John Macpherson, and Samuel t^uinn, among others, went to
"^^Viiladelphia as witnesses. The officer reported Richard Sherer, a wit-
^^ss, absent, and John Gray, another, gone to Fort Pitt. It appears,
*^y the report of the committee, that Frederick Antes had 414 votes,
J^niel Montgomery 410, Samuel Dale 414, William Maclay 407,
John Weitzel 396, Anthony Selin 297. Daniel Montgomery was
Ousted, and William Maclay put in, upon a tie vote, the Speaker
cleciding. Twenty-five members signed a protest against these pro-
ceedings, which seem to have been dictated by party rancor, for the
protestants say the reason of the contest was, that in one district the
names of the electors on the poll-list were ten short of the number
of tickets received by the inspectors, and that the testimony ac-
counted for this defect. They contended that the whole election
should have been set aside ; that the vote of the House was destruct-
ive to the rights of the people, and an unwarrantable usurpation, -oi
a very dangerous character.
In a petition to the Assembly of this year by Catherine Smith,
Uo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1785.
indorsed, read December 8, 1785, she sets forth **that she was left
a widow, with ten children, with no estate to support this family,
except a location for three hundred acres of land, including the
mouth of White Deer creek, whereon is a good mill-seat ; and a grist
and saw-mill being much wanted in this new country, at that time,
she wast often solicited to erect said mills. At length, in 1774, she
borrowed money, and in June, 1775, completed the mills, which
were of great advantage to the country, and the following summer
built a boring-mill, where a great number of gun-barrels were bored
for the continent, and a hemp-mill. The Indian war soon after
coming on, (one of her sons, her greatest help, went into the army,
and, it is believed, was killed, as he never returned,) the said mills
soon became a frontier, and in July, 1779, ^^^ Indians burned the
whole works. She returned to the ruins in 1783, and was again
solicited to re-build the grist and saw-millS; which she has, with
much difficulty, accomplished, and now ejectments are brought
against her by Messrs. Claypool and Morris, and she, being now
reduced to such low circumstances as renders her unable to support
actions at law, and, therefore, prays relief," &c. The facts set forth
in this memorial are certified to by William Blythe, Charles Gilles-
pie, Colonel John Kelly, James Potter, the younger, and many
other citizens of Northumberfand county.
The Legislature, of course, could grant no relief, under the cir-
cumstances, and the petition was dismissed. How long the litiga-
tion went on I am unable to determine; but in 1801, Seth Iredell
took possession of the premises as tenant of Claypoole and Morris.
She is said to have walked to Philadelphia and back thirteen times
on this business. Her house was where Doctor Danousky now
(1874) lives, on the Henry High place, part of the old stone house
being still used as a kitchen. She was buried in the old settlers*
grave-yard, which was at the corner of the Dan Caldwell band.
Her bones were disturbed in Mr. Caldwell's time, in erecting a
sheep-pen, and were identified by old Mr. Huff, by her peculiar
projecting teeth. Some years since, an old man came to the place
and desired to look about the old dwelling. He spent several hours
about the place. When leaving, said he had come in from Ohio to
see it ; that he was a son of Catherine Smith, and that if justice had
been done her, they would still own the place. Roily McCorley,
1786.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 241
who recollects the mill last built by her, said it was a small, round
log mill.
Field Officers Elected in April,
First Battalion — Peter Hosterman, lieutenant colonel; Christo-
pher Gettig, major.
Fifth Battalion — John Kelly, lieutenant colonel; Thomas Forster,
major.
Company Officers of the Fifth,
Captains — Michael Andrews, William Clark, John Thompson,
Joseph Poak, Joseph Green, Samuel McGrady, James Potter, junior,
John Macpherson.
Lieutenants — Adam Harper, Joseph Eaker, James Irwin, Samuel
Iddings, Henry Pontius, Jacob Dreisbach, John Brown, M. Wild-
goose.
Ensigns — Joseph Price, George Clark, George Books, James
Moore, J. Hunter, James Templeton.
•<«^
1^86.
Slaves in the Valley — Pickering's Visit at General Potter's — Buf-
falo Valley Soldiers at Saratoga — First Fulling-Mill Erected.
RESIDENT of the State, Benjamin Franklin. Member
of Council, William Maclay. Members of Assembly,
Frederick Antes and Samuel Dale. Lawyers admitted :
on examination, John Andre Hanna and Charles Smith ;
on motion, John Joseph Henry and Jacob Hubley.
Buffalo, Officers — Collector, George May ; Constable, John Cri-
der; Supervisors, George Rote and Leonard Welker; Overseers,
John Aurand and Samuel Mathers.
Among the tctxables — Carney, Anthony ; Moore, James, tailor ;
16
242
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Ohrendorf, Henry ; Piper, Henry ; Potts, David ; Stephens, Wil-
liam ; Straub, Jacob ; Swartzcope, Anthony ; Pool, William, ferry
at Macpherson's. Single Men: Getz, Adam; Grove, Philip;
Holmes, Jonathan.
In Lewisburg, additional residents — Armor, Thomas; Hammersly,
John ; Roan, Flavel ; Snodgrass, David ; Steele, Alexander; Troxel,
George; Williams, William.
White Deer — Bear, Isaac; Coburn, John; High, Rudolph;
Sherer, Thomas; Sims, William.
Penn's — Auple, Jonas ; Bolender, Adam, junior ; Bossier, George;
Businger, Conrad ; Dauberman, Christian ; Devore, Abram ; Gar-
mon, John ; Gemberling, Jacob ; Giltner, Jacob ; Gross, Henry ;
Gruber, Christian ; Mertz, Philip ; Nerhood, Henry ; Winkelpleck,
Henry.
In the Valley, Eli Holman, Samuel Hunter, and John Linn are
each taxed with female slaves. From the bill of sale, it appears John
Linn purchased his slave, called ** Judy," of John McBeth, of Ches-
ter county, on the loth of April, 1786. After residing fifty-eight
years in the Valley, she removed with John Linn*s (second) family
to Knox county, Ohio, and died near Mount Vernon, in that county,
November 4, 1855, upward of one hundred years old.
In March, George Derr and his mother sold George Langs th^
ground between the railroad bridge and the site of the old wagon
bridge. It is not included in the town plan of Lewisburg, or laid
out in lots by number. At the same time, William Williams bought
No. 343, in Lewisburg, built a stone house, still standing, (Martin
Hahn*s,) and a frame store-room, adjoining it on the south, and .
opened the first regular store in the town.
At May sessions, C. Van Gundy was bound over for forcible entry,
&c., renewing the old controversy with George Derr, Ludwig'ssoD.
In the life of Colonel T. Pickering, volume 2, page 251, is a letter
from him, dated August 12, 1786, «*at Philip Francis*, about a mile
above the mouth of Muncy creek, and three miles below Mr. Wal-
lis',** in which he states Mr. Wallis was to go with him to make sur-
veys in Wyoming. ** As Mr. Wallis was not ready, we spent two
nights and one day at General Potter's, where we were kindly enter-
tained." On the 15 th he adds : ** We were to set off for Tioga, but
my horse has wounded himself. I am going down to General Pot-
1786.) ANNALS OF BUFFALO GALLEY. 243
ter's to borrow or purchase another.'* This proves clearly that Gen-
eral Potter then resided on the Ard farm; just above New Columbia.
At August sessions, Andrew Billmyer's tavern was licensed. He
^^^t. two miles up the Valley, where his grandson, John Lesher, now
^ives. Magdalena Pohlhemus, an indentured servant to E. Younk-
'^n, presented a petition to court to be allowed her freedom dues ;
^d after giving due notice, the court ordered Mr. Vounkman to
pay her five dollars down, and three dollars next May, as freedom
tiues for seven year's service.
23d September, an orphans' court was held at the house of Flavel
^oa.11, (at the mouth of Buffalo creek,) before William Irwin and
JoHn Kelly, justices, when the applications of George Martin and
>a-ixiuel McClurgan for pensions were considered. They belonged
•0 Colonel Cooke's twelfth regiment, but were drafted into Colonel
^3-r^iel Morgan's riflemen, sent to resist Burgoyne. They were
'^c^ianded at Saratoga, in October, 1777.
Xti September, George Derr sold Flavel Roan and Sankey Dixon
h^ ground between St. John's street and St. Anthony's, along the
•^^ek. Sankey and Ann, his wife, sold out to Roan, and went on
•^^^t. Sankey had been sergeant and ensign all through the war, in
''^th Pennsylvania regiment. He died at Nashville, Tennessee, in
'^^4. Roan then kept the ferry, two years before it had been leased
^*^ Henry Conser, who sold to Stepjien Duchman, the latter to Roan.
^V\ristopher Weiser built the first fulling-mill in the Valley, on Tur-
^^e creek, on what is now Peter Wolfe's place, and James Watson
^Viilt the first grist-mill, erected at Seebold's, above New Berlin.
Deaths.
Catharine, widow of Ludwig Derr.
Captain John Fbrster, often mentioned in Brady's adventures.
His old log house stood to the left of the road to Hoffa's mills, be-
yond Rishel's stone house. He left a widow, Jane. First son, James,
afterwards married to a daughter of William Clark, to whom he
willed the old place. James moved to Ohio. His son John, who lived
in Brush valley, was the father of Mrs. William C. Duncan, of
Lewisburg. Second son, William, a bachelor, said to be the first
white child born in the Valley. Third, John Forster, so long a part-
ner of James Duncan, at Aaronsburg. (Descendants : Sarah, mar-
244 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1787.
ried to William Vanvalzah ; Emeline, to S. S. Barber ; Margaret,
to Doctor Charles Wilson ; Jane, to R. B. Barber, Esquire.) Fourth,
daughters : Agnes, Margaret, and Dorcas.
James Jenkins, aged eighty-two, left widow, Phoebe, and sons
William and James.
Cornelius Dimpsey, left widow, and children, Mary, James, and
Jonathan. Captain James Thompson bought the place of his widow,
in 1 796, late Jacob Zeibach's, in Kelly.
Lietenant Colonel Neigal Gray, twelfth Pennsylvania, of White
Deer. Children : John ; Elizabeth, married John Auld ; Isabella,
and Robert.
^M^
irn-
Families in White Deer Hole Valley — Andrew Gregg's Wedding —
Call to Reverend Hugh Morrison — Members of his Conoreoation-
EMBERS of Assembly : Samuel Maclay and John White.
Sheriff, Thomas Grant. County Commissioners, John
Lytle, Walter Clark, and William Gray.
Buffalo township : Constable, John Clark ; Overseers,
David Watson and Michael Vought ; Supervisors, Thomas Forster
and Andrew Billmyer ; Assessor, William Irwin, Esquire ; Assist-
ants, William Moore and Flavel Roan; Collector, John Sierer.
Among residents — Anderson, William; Barber, Thomas ; Barber,
Samuel; Baum, Charles; Carothers, William; Dixon, Sankey;
Getz, Adam; Irwin, Matthew; Johnson, Christopher; Nevius,
Christian; Pickle, Jacob; Wales, Henry.
White Deer, additional residents — Falls, James; Farley, Caleb;
Farley, John ; Laird, Matthew ; Marshall, Richard.
Washington — Grub, Peter; Hagerman, James; Lawson, John;
Sips, Joseph; Swan, Samuel.
Fenn's, among residents, &*€. — Ball, George ; Bickle, Simon, dis-
tillery; Biegh, Frederick; Burkert, John; Bright, Michael; Ditzler,
1787] ANNALS OF BUFFALO GALLEY, 245
John; Grum, Jacob; Herrold, Simon, hemp-mill; Hertz, John;
Kremer, Daniel ; Lutz, John ; Manning, Nathan ; Miller, Widow,
saw-mill ; Motz, John, oil-mill ; Mumma, John ; Reedy, Peter ;
Ruch, John ; Snyder, John ; Stump, William, with distillery ;
Swineford, Albright, taxed with a slave ; Zieber, Adam.
Isle of Que : Weaver, Michael, junior ; Wayland, George.
Sketches by John F. Wolfnger, Esquire.
In 1787, White Deer Hole valley had fourteen families of white
settlers, whose names and places of residence were as follows :
1. Rachel Weeks, an old English widow woman, occupied a
small log hut or cabin, near the mouth of White Deer Hole creek,
between the bank of the river and where the fine brick mansion of
John S. Smith now stands. Rachel had six children, named Jeth,
Job, Hanna, Jemima, Naomi, and Annie.
2. Thomas Weisner, occupied a cabin on the river bank, near
where the bridge at Uniontown now crosses the river Susquehanna,
about half a mile north of Rachel Weeks'. Thomas, who had a wife
and six or seven children, afterwards moved away to parts unknown.
3. John Rumsey, occupied a cabin on the river bank, north of
Wiesner*s, and had a wife and nine children, and a small farm here.
He is supposed to have come here from the State of New York, and
soon after returned to that State. He talked English.
4. George Gray, occupied a cabin on the river bank, about three
quarters of a mile north of Rumsey 's, and had a wife and three chil-
dren. He talked English, and worked at little jobs around among
his neighbors, but moved away about two years afterward to parts
unknown.
5. Marcus Huling, occupied a cabin on the river bank, about
three hundred yards north of Gray's, and had a wife and five chil-
dren. He talked English, and worked at his trade, being a black-
smith. He afterwards moved higher up, or west, into the Valley, and
from thence to Newberry, and from thence again to Youngmans-
town, (Mifflinburg,) and finally into York State. He is supposed
to have been a cousin of the Marcus Huling, also a blacksmith,
who lived at the town of Milton at that day.
6. Cornelius Vanfleet, a New Jerseyman, occupied a cabin that
246 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1787-
Stood on the White Deer Hole creek, a little west, of the wido^
Weeks*. He acted as a justice of the peace for many years, an<
died here on the 7th of December, 1841, in the eighty-fifth year o
his age. His remains lie buried in the Presbyterian grave-yard.
7. Peter Dougherty, an Irishman, occupied a cabin on the Whiti
Deer Hole creek, about a mile and a quarter above the mouth of th
creek. He had a wife and children, and afterwards moved farth(
west into the Valley, and finally out to the State of Ohio.
8. Eleanor Brown, commonly called ** Nellie Brown." She
the widow of Matthew Brown, already noticed, and occupied a
cabin on the White Deer Hole creek, about two and a half miL_ -<s
west of its mouth. She died at her son's, William Brown's, cabi -31,
that stood about half a mile west of her own cabin, on the 9th of
August, 1 81 4, and her descendants are still found in this Valley a^nd
its adjacent parts.
9. Samuel Swan, occupied a cabin that stood about twoiiundr — ^A
and thirteen yards due west of Eleanor Brown's. Swan talked Er"^^-
lish, had a wife and children, and afterwards moved away to pa— "^ts
unknown.
10. Seth McCormick, an Irishman, occupied a cabin on Soi«-Jth
creek, a branch of White Deer Hole creek, about a mile west of
Swan's cabin. Seth died here on the 17th of January, 1835, ''^ "^^^
seventy-ninth year of his age. His remains lie buried in the ^cM
Presbyterian, (now Lutheran,) grave-yard, at the "stone churc'Sn,"
on the south-west side of Penny Hill. He left a wife and m ^ne
children, and his descendants are still living here, and occupy a f^^f
of their great ancestor's estate.
11. Thomas McCormick, an Irishman, and a brother of SetTi's,
occupied a cabin on South creek, about half a mile from Seth's. ^^
seems to have acted as a justice of the peace for some years. He
died on the 6th of October, 1826, aged seventy-two years, and \as
remains also lie buried in the old grave-yard, near the above "stone
church."
12. Jesse Weeks, a son of the widow Weeks, already noticed, oc-
cupied a cabin that stood on the north side of '* Spring creek," the
northern branch of White Deer Hole creek, and about four miles
west of its junction with " South creek." Jesse Weeks died here,
but his age and place of burial are unknown.
1787.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 247
13. Daniel Sunderland, an Englishman, occupied a cabin* that
stood about a mile further up on Spring creek, and he died there.
14- John Farley, a New Jerseyman, came here in 1787, from the
State of New Jersey, with a wife and seven children, named Jacob,
Barbara, Minard, John, David, Naomi, and Fanny. He immedi-
ately built himself a log cabin, and occupied it, on White Deer Hole
creek, about two hundred feet from where the dwelling house of the
late Charles Gudykunst now stands, and being an active and enter-
prising man, he soon afterwards built himself a log grist-mill here,
theyfr^/ one in the Valley, as already stated.
I have obtained all of the above facts relative to these fourteen
families, (excepting what relates to their times of death and places
of burial,) from Mr. John Farley, a son of the above John Farley,
and who is still living in our Valley, a venerable white haired old
gentleman, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, whose house I visited
for that purpose on Tuesday, the 17th of July, 1870.
He says: **I was born in Tewksbury township, Hunterdon
county. State of New Jersey," on the 9th of July, 1783, and came
here into this Valley with my father, John Farley, in 1787, when I
was four years old. And I have resided here ever since, for the
long space of eighty-three years, and knew and remember the names
of all the white settlers that lived in this Valley in the spring of 1 787,
when I came here, and where their log huts or cabins stood, and
how their cabins were made. My father built one of the same kind
of cabins here in 1 787, and four or five years afterwards he also built
a small log grist-mill here, with but one pair of grinding stones in
it ; the first grist-mill erected in this Valley. In the year 1800, my
father, after living here thirteen years, moved back to the State of
New Jersey. But he died here in this Valley in June, 1822, while he
was up here on a visit to me and my family. He was upwards of
seventy years of age when he died, and my brothers and sisters are all
dead, and I am now the only one left of all my father's family.
Very great changes have taken place in the appearance of this Val-
ley, its farms, houses, barns, &c., since I came here; changes far
greater than any I ever expected to see here, and all for the better."
John Swineford opened the first hotel at Middleburg, Snyder
county. loth June, George Derr sells George Knox as much water
248 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 11787.
as will run out of an inch hole at the bottom of the race, two poles
from Derr*s house.
29th January, Andrew Gregg was married by the Reverend John
Hoge to Martha Potter, daughter of General James Potter, at the
latter*s residence, the first farm above Jacob McCorley's, Elsquire.
Mr. Gregg rode up from Carlisle on horseback, and brought Mr.
Hoge with him. There were then no Presbyterian clergymen settled
in this part of the country, and some sixteen or seventeen couples
took advantage of Mr. Hoge*s presence, hurried up their matches, as
Mr. Hoge had to return to Carlisle within a limited time.
Andrew Gregg moved to Oldtown, now Lewistown, where his first
daughter, Mary, afterward Mrs. Mcl^nahan, of Greencastle, was
bom, November 3, 1 788. In 1 789 Mr. Gregg moved to Penn*s val-
ley, within two miles of Old Fort. In 1 790 he was elected member
of Congress, and by seven successive elections for several districts,
as they were arranged from time to time, including one by a general
vote over the whole State, was continued a member of that body for
sixteen successive years, and during the session of 1806— 1807 was
elected a member of the Senate of the United States. In December,
1820, Governor Hiester appointed him Secretary of the Common-
wealth. He died in Bellefonte, on the 20th of May, 1835, aged
eighty years. He had removed there some years previous, for the
purpose of educating his children. His wife died in 1 815. He was
born on the Conodoguinet creek, near Carlisle, July 10, 1755, ^"^
received a classical education ; was tutor for some years in the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania, and first settled at Middletown, Pennsylva-
nia, where he kept store. He had a fine library, containing all the
Greek and Latin classics, most of which are still in the possession of
his daughter, Mrs. Margery Tucker, of Lewisburg. His grandchil-
dren, Governor A. G. Curtin, General D. M. Gregg, and General
John I. Gregg, have flung far forward into the future the light of
their familv fame.
In May, 1787, a call was given to the Reverend Hugh Morrison/
by the Buffalo Cross-Roads congregation, in connection with the con-
*The Reverend Hugh Morrison, the first regular pastor of the Presbyterian
Church in this Valley, camo from Ireland, Presbytery or Hoot, in 1786. Among the
records of the Synod, under date May 18, 1786, ** the Presbytery of Donegal reported
that they had, since our last meeting, admitted Hugh Morrison, a licensed candidate
irom the Prasbytery of Root, in Ireland,*' &c.
1787.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 249
gregations of Northumberland and Sunbury, and among the records
of the Synod, May 22, 1788, is the following; Carlisle Presbytery
reports that it has, since our last meeting, ordained to the work of
the Gospel ministry Mr. Samuel W. Wilson, in the pastoral charge
of ** Big Spring" congregation, and Mr. Hugh Morrison, in the
pastoral charge of the Sunbury, Northumberland and Buffalo Valley
congregations. The following is a copy of the call, for which, with
other material in -reference to this church, I am indebted to Isaac
Orier, D. D., of Mifflinburg:
**Mr. Hugh Morrison, Preacher of th€ Gospel:
** Sir : We, the subscribers, members of the united congregations
of Buffalo, Sunbury, and Northumberland, having never in these
Pi^es had the stated administration of the Gospel Ordinances , yet
'^^ghly prizing the same, and having a view to the advancement of
^^e Kingdom of Christ, and the spiritual edification of ourselves and
'lilies, have set ourselves to obtain that blessing among us. And,
fnerefore, as we have had the opportunity of some of your labors in
^"^se places, and are satisfied with your soundness, piety, and minis-
^^^ial ability to break unto us the bread of life, we do most honestly
^^^ sincerely, in the name of the Great Shepherd of the flock, Jesus
^Hrist, call and invite you to come and take the pastoral charge and
^'^ersight of us in the Lord. And for your encouragement, we do
Promise, if God shall dispose your heart to embrace this our call,
^^t we will pay a dutiful attention to the word and ordinances of
God by you administered ; that we will be subject to your adminis-
trations and reproofe, should our falls and miscarriages expose us
thereto ; and will submit to the discipline of the Church, exercised
by you agreeably to the word of God. And, also, that we will treat
your person with friendship and respect, and behave in all things
towards you as becomes a christian society to behave towards their
pastor, who labors among them in word and doctrine. Further, we
are persuaded that those who serve at the altar, should live by the
altar. We do promise, in order that you may be as much as possible
freed from worldly incumbrances, to provide for you comfortable
and honorable maintenance, in the manner as set forth in our sub-
scription papers attending this our call, during your continuance
with us as our regular pastor. In witness of our hearty desire to have
2S0 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1787.
you settle among us, we hereunto set our names this 31st day of
May, 1787."
Signed by seventeen from Northumberland, eight from Sunbury,
and forty-eight from Buffalo. On it is the following deputation :
*< We, the undersigned, do nominate, appoint, and intrust the
Reverend Mr. Wilson with the annexed call for the Reverend Mr.
Morrison, to be by him presented to the moderator of the Carlisle
Presbytery, for the purpose mentioned. Signed : • William Gray and
Abram Scott, for Sunbury ; William Cooke and James Hepburn, for
Northumberland ; and William Clark, for Buffalo."
In October, Reverend Hugh Morrison became pastor of the Buf-
falo Cross-Roads Presbyterian church. The congregation engaged
to pay him ^75 per year. From a list of contributing members
found in the treasurer's book, I gather the following names : An-
derson, John; Allen, Joseph; Baldy, Christopher; Barrett, James
Black, Thomas ; ^Boyd, James ; *Brady, John ; ^Buchanan, James
^Charters, William ; Clarke, Captain John ; Clark, Robert ; *Clark
Walter ; *Clark, William ; Cox, Samuel ; Cox, Tunis ; Davis, David
* Davis, John ; Derr, George ; ^Douglass, William ; Dugan, William
Elder, Thomas ; Evans, Joseph ; Parley, John , Fleming, William
^Forster, Andrew ; ^Forster, James; ^ Fruit, Robert; Graham, Edward
^Gray, John ; Gray, Captain William ; Green, Joseph ; Grogan,
Charles; Hammersly, George; ^Holmes, Jonathan; Hudson, Jo-
seph; Huntsman, James; Hutchinson, Thomas; Irvine, William;
Irvine, Matthew; Urwin, William, Esquire; Johnston, Christopher;
Kennedy, Alexander ; ^Kelly, Colonel John ; Knox, George ; Laird,
Matthew ; Lewis, Paschall ; Links, George ; *Linn, John ; Lowdon,
Captain John; McClenachan, William and Andrew; McDouga!,
William; McGrady, Alexander; Maclay, Samuel ; Magee, James;
Marshall, William ; ^Miller, Benjamin ; Milligan, John ; Montgom-
ery, Samuel ; Moore, George ; Nichols, William ; Poak, Charles ;
^Poak, Joseph ; ^Poak, Thomas; Poak, Widow; Porter, Samuel;
^Ray, John ; Rees, Daniel ; Reznor, John ; Roan, Flavel ; Rodman,
Widow; Rorison, Alexander; Scroggs, Allen; Sherer, Richard
and Joseph; Sims, William; Snodgrass, David; Steele, Alexander;
^Thompson, Captain James; ^Thompson, John; Vanvolsan, Levi;
^Watson, David ; Williams, William ; and Wilson, William.
Shortly after Mr. Morrison's arrival, an election for elders re-
1787. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 251
suited in the choice of Walter Clark, John Linn, William Irwin,
David Watson, John Reznor, and Joseph Allen. The subscriptions
by the more wealthy attendants upon service were Andrew Forster,
^2 ; Samuel Maclay, John Lowdon, and William Irwin, each, £^1
JOS. ; William Irvine j£i 6s.: James Forster j£i 2s.
Those marked (*) were signers of Mr. Morrison's call, and as
such, in 1803, were sued for back stipends. The principal and in-
terest and costs, when they made the last payment, in December,
1810, was Ji,i79 30.
September 17, the Constitution of United States was adopted,
and on December 12, the State Convention ratified it. The dele-
gates to the latter from Northumberland county were Colonel
William Wilson and his partner, John Boyd. They then kept store
in the town of Northumberland. In 1791, Colonel Wilson built
the Chillisquaque mills, at the mouth of that creek, and moved to
that place.
At November sessions, the road commencing at the head of Penn*s
valley ; thence through Aaronsburg to the road at Richard Lowdon*s
barn ; thence down the same to John Davidson's ferry, was laid out.
Deaths.
Alexander Beatty, of New Berlin. Children : Jane, Agnes, Hugh,
John, Hannah, Sarah, James, and Alexander. The deceased car-
ried on the first tannery in the Valley, on site of present town of
New Berlin.
Matthew Young, of Buffalo. Children : Margaret, (see her cap-
ture, related 1781,) still living, in 1787, John, Sarah, and Agnes.
One of his daughters married Robert Dixon. Sarah was residing in
Westmoreland county, in March, 1796, when she gave Colonel
Kelly and Captain Thompson a letter of attorney to draw her share
under her father's will.
John Snyder, original owner of Selinsgrove, brother of Simon,
subsequently Governor.
John McClung, of Buffalo. Children : John, James, Matthew,
Charles, Rebecca, Esther, and Elizabeth.
Sebastian Kerstetter, of Beaver. Children : Martin, Lenhart,
Peter, Sebastian, Catharine, and Margaret.
James Thom, of Buffalo.
1^88.
—Roads — Housks
Hr StATTBKW LaIRo"
I'EMBER of Council, William Maclay. Members O f
Assembly, Samuel Maclay and John White. Coua'ty
nimissioners, William Gray, Peter Hosterinan, ar*<I
John Lytle. Treasurer, John Buyers.
: of 26th of September, the Buffalo election place wsa
changed from Fought's to Andrew Billmyer's tavern, on the roaul
menlioned below.
In August, Chrislian Van Gundy, William Irvine, John Thoir^p-
son, David Watson, and Andrew Billroyer reported that they Wad
laid out the road, beginning at Derrstown, on the West Brancli;
thence to the meeting-house, in Buffalo; thence to Thompson's
mill, on Buffalo creek; thence to the east side of George Rote's
lane, where it intersects the road leading from Davidson's ferry to I
the narrows; distance, nine and a half miles. (Thompson's mtJi
became Rockey's in 1 789.) This is the road leading past the kte
Francis Wilson's, (by old Billmyer place,) to Mifflinburg.
In November, John Clarke, John Lowdon, and Philip Voneida
reported a road from Michael Shirtz's, at the nartows of Penn's
creek, past Peter Kester's, on the Cole place, to a pine tree at the
end of Cobnel Clarke's lane. This is still the main road down
Penn's creek, through Laurelton, Hartleton, and then south of the
turnpike to Mifflinburg.
Additional Residents of Buffalo — Betz, Abraham ; Bogenreif,
Christopher; Caldwell, Samuel; Dobbins, Robert; Miller, Chris-
Be. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 253
in; Sims, William, weaver, at Alexander McGrady*s; Vanvalzah,
octor Robert ; Yentzer, Christian.
Lewisburg — Eaton, John; Grove, Wendell; Kendig, Jacob,
ilsle of Que;) McCracken, Widow; Scroggs, Allen; Wise, Fred-
rick.
Improvements in White Deer — John Bear's saw-mill.
Among Residents — Adams, Joseph ; Bennage, Samuel ; Denning,
>amuel; Derr, Frederick; Henning, Philip, distillery; Hoover,
ohn; Linn, William, on Joseph Brundage's place; McLanahan,
Andrew ; Perry, Thomas.
Single Men, taxed los, each — Black, Timothy; Hammersly,
anies; Iddings, Isaac; Iddings Henry; Laird, Moses; Scott,
^omas; Smith, Ludwig.
-f^enn^s Township — Bickle, Tobias, grist-mill ; Brownlee, William ;
^H^erman, Daniel ; Buchtell, John ; Carstetter, Bostian ; Eberhart,
ulip; Howell, Adam; Kay, Frederick; Koons, John; Meiser,
enry, saw-mill; Miller, Widow, saw-mill; Miller, Benjamin;
^testone, John; Neiman, Weiand; Pyle, George, distillery and
W'-mill ; Quinn, William ; Quinn, Thomas ; Rush, Daniel ; Ship-
n, Thomas, distillery; Shock, Jacob, grist and saw-mill; Snyder,
; Spade, David ; Spade, Jacob ; Swineford, George.
The following memorandum, relative to the Dreisbach church, is
-rived from the late John Schrack, Esquire :
* * In this year the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations
nited in building a log church, where the Dreisbach Church now
a.iids. John Pontius had set apart some land, on the south end of the
'Ucher tract, for a church and burying- ground, (the family burying-
round is still there,) but Martin Dreisbach, senior, offering to donate
-ven and a half acres for that purpose, it was judged best to accept
^^at. On the part of the Reformed, John Aurand and Elias Younk-
nan were trustees ; Martin Dreisbach and Jacob Grozean were elders ;
' eter Frederick and Henry Dreisbach, deacons. On the Lutheran
»ide, Herman J. Shellhart was pastor ; Christian Storms and Adam
^^irist were trustees ; Casper Bower and Henry Meizner, elders ;
Jacob Metzgar and John Sierer, deacons. The names of some of the
"^embers of the Reformed Church were : Aurand, George ; Aurand,
^^Hry; Barnhart, Matthias; Barnhard, Henry; Brown, John; Dreis-
"^h, John; Dreisbach, Jacob; Frederick, George; Fisher, George;
254 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1788.
Mook, Jacob ; Michael Vought, and John Pontius. Of the Lutheran,
John G. Buch, George Bower, John Uiltman, Stephen Duchraan,
Jacob Gebhart, John Meizner, Leonard Welker, Mathias Alsbaugh,
Adam Kreichbaum, William Rockey, Peter Fisher, Leonard Gron-
inger, George Smith, Christopher Wagner, Adam Meizner, George
Buch, Christopher Bickel, Jacob Welker, Christopher Baldy, Joha
Crider. In 1839 the log church was taken down, and a brick build-
ing erected. Among the pastors of this church were Dietrick Au-
rand, Gentzler, Pfriemer, Shellhart, Geisweit, William Ilgen, John
C. Walter, and Herbst, but the dates of their service are unknown."
In November, William Gray, Esquire, deputy surveyor, made a
re-survey of Lewisburg, and in his plan indicated the roads then ex-
isting, and the lots built upon, with their occupiers.
The road from Sunbury to Muncy is marked as along the bank, on.
the opposite side of the river, and Captain John Brady's house a&
immediately opposite Strohecker's landing. Thomas Rees is marked,
as the owner of the house at Strohecker's, and the road to Penn'^
valley, as running directly west from it. The road from Sunbury to
Buffalo and Penn's valley is marked as intersecting the last men-
tioned road, some distance from the river, and crossing Lime—
stone run, opposite Third street ; then entering Fourth street, and
running along it out to the creek, it crossed the creek at Colonel
Slifer's upper farm, the site of the new iron bridge built there,
then the site of High's saw-mill, the remains of which are yet visi-
ble, where it intersected a road leading up to Gundy's mill above,
and thence up the Valley. From High's mill at the creek it ran
over to William Gray's, (there was no road then crossing Buffalo
creek at its mouth;) thence by Robert Fruit's, &c. There were no
houses west ot Fourth street, and the first one on it is where John
Griffin built a fine house, (187 1.) Alexander Steele had a house
where John Beeber resided, and a tan-yard, on that square. Ed-
ward Long lived opposite, on the Charles Buyer lot, and next to him,
north, was Wendell Grove. John Bolinger had a house on the alley
behind William Nogel's present residence. John Hamersly lived
on the corner of Third and St. George, where Reverend Job Harvey"
now lives. There was also a small log house, burned down som^
thirty- five years ago on the same lot.
On Second, George Troxell lived, and owned the adjoining lot-
i
17SS.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEW 235
I^o<:tor Buyers built the present house, on the corner of St. Cathe-
ri n c's, where Troxell lived. There was a house also on Spyker's corner,
op>positc James S. Marsh's new residence. Jacob VVelker lived on
ttxti site of Marsh's new house. David Snodgrass lived on the Chroni-
cle lot, opposite where his widow afterwards kept a cake and beer
saloon. Nicholas Smith occupied the only house on Market, now
Jonathan Wolfe's lot, west of his residence. The two lots where the
depot now stands are marked ** Roman Chapel." On Front, Joseph
Evans, cabinet-maker, had the only house, on the lot now owned
l>y William Cameron, Esquire. Joseph Sherer lived on the corner
of" Water street, where Halfpenny's woolen store or warehouse now is.
AVilliam Williams had a store where Martin Hahn's stone house is
rkow. EUenckhuysen's ferry was opposite to it. Henry Conser, prob-
a.t>ly, lived where Spyker's heirs now live. He was the grandfather of
Reverend S. L. M. Conser, so James Kelly tells me. Thomas Armor,
probably, lived on the Griffin lot, and the only other inhabitant of
L-ewisburg, Flavel Roan, lived in Derr's tenant house. Where that
^w-35 I do not know. Roan owned three lots, James Walls, John
^esbit, and Henry Frick's, lying close together, and had the ferry
^^vcr Buffalo creek. George Derr, of course, lived at the mill. The
c>icl house stood in what is now the garden, just two rods north-east
<^r the place where Hull's tannery water-pipe taps the race. George
'^nox, father of Mrs. William Armstrong, probably, made his tan-
y^jd this year, where E. J. Hull now has his. In July of 1787,
^«orge Derr conveyed to Knox, for tan-yard purposes, as much
'^''ater as will run out of an inch hole, at the bottom of the race, two
poles from Derr's house.
October i, William Maclay and Robert Morris, first United States
^^nators from Pennsylvania, elected. A paper of the day says :
The landed and commercial interests of the State will be well rep-
resented."
ITie Congressmen were elected on a general ticket, and not from
districts.
Matthew Laird, who came to the Valley this year, is the ancestor
of a large generation. He came originally from Ireland, where his
^0 James was born. He was a wagoner with General Braddock's
^^^y, and was in Colonel Dunbar's camp when the news came back
of General Braddock's defeat, 9th July, 1 755. [See his statement in
2s6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. (1788-
the Colonial Records, volume 6, page 482.] He says, "a wounde<3.
officer was carried into camp on a sheet; then they beat to arras,
on which the wagoners and many common soldiers took to flight -,
in spite of the sentries, who forced many to return, but many got:
away, among them, this examinant." His daughter, Isabella Blacky
was twelve years old when he came to White Deer. Matthew Laird
died in August, 1821. His children were James, John, Isabella^
married to James Black, Moses, (father of R. H. Laird, Esquire,^
who died in Derry, in January, 1816, Margaret, married to Johr».
Blakeney, Matthew, who died in Tiffin, Ohio, Elizabeth, and Ann ^
Moses married Jane Hayes, and their son, Reverend Matthew, mar-
ried a Miss Myers, and went out as missionary to Africa, dyin^
there, May 4, 1834. Their other children were John, Mrs. Mc —
Calmont, Mrs. Joseph Milliken, of Clinton county, , married
William Caldwell.
Deaths.
Leonard Groninger, leaving widow, Elizabeth. Children : Leon-
ard, Daniel, Jacob, Susanna, Margaret, and Elizabeth.
Jacob Aurand.
John Rearick, senior. Children : Mary and John.
Margaret Green, wife of Joseph.
1^89.
BoroE Family — Residkkts of Beaver Township — First German Re-
formed Pastor — Manufactitrks, &c. — Deaths of Major Lawrence
Keene and General James Potter.
f! RESIDENT of the State, Thomas Mifflin. William
Wilson, member of the Supreme Executive Council.
Samuel Maclay and John White, members of Assembly.
William Montgomery, President Judge. Abraham Piatt,
William Shaw, &c.. Associates.
July 28th, Jasper Ewing, Esquire, appointed Prothonotary, vice
^^or Lawrence Keene, deceased. John Simpson, re-appointed
^^gister and Recorder ; Frederick Antes, Treasurer ; Martin With-
'"gton, elected Sheriff. County Commissioners, John Lytle, Peter
"osterman, and William Hepburn. Commissioner's Clerk, H.
^uty. Bernard Hubley, Lieutenant of the county.
On the 7th of January, the first election for presidential electors
'Suited in the choice of General Edward Hand, Colonel George
^^bson, John Arndt, Colinson Reed, Lawrence Keene, James Wil-
^n, James O'Hara, Colonel David Grier, Samuel Potts, and Alex-
^'^der Graydon.
November 19th, Daniel Brodhead, Surveyor General, appointed
^'^^ following deputy surveyors : Henry Vanderslice, for part of
^rks ; Joseph J. Wallis, for part of Northumberland ; James Harris,
^^r part of Mifflin ; William Gray, part east of the Susquehanna.
Officers of Buffalo : Constable, C. Baldy; Overseers, Isaac Hanna
and Wendell Baker ; Supervisors, William Williams and James Wat-
^n ; Fence Viewers, John Crider and Benjamin Miller.
17
2C7
2s8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 1789.
Additional Taxables of Buffalo — Mathias AlSbach ; Henry Fulton -,
merchant at Lewisburg; Philip Grove, Jacob Kephart, Josepti
Oldts, George Oldts, William Rockey, John Rengler, (grist and
saw-mill,) Henry Sassaman, John Shuck.
Officers of White Deer — Constable, Robert Clark ; Supervisors,
John Lackey and Samuel Dale ; Overseers, Thomas Hutchinson and
Richard Irwin. Additional resident, Roan McClure, (taxed with 3l
negro.)
Caleb Farley built the grist-mill on White Deer Hole creek, late
Charles Gudykunst's.
January ist, Paschall Lewis married to Elizabeth Boude by Colo-
nel John Kelly, justice. The Boudes were a highly respectable
family, from I^ncaster county, one of whom. Major Thomas Boude*
distinguished himself as an officer in the revolutionary war, and
stands connected with some of the largest and most respectable fatai -
lies in our Valley. Thomas Barber's wife, Mary, and Robert Bar-
ber, Esquire's wifsj, Sarah, were Boudes, sisters of Mrs. Lewis.
Names of the Residents of Beaver Township, taken from an Assess-
ment made by Daniel Has singer, in April, 1789.
Albright, Jacob ; Aupel, Peter ; Barnes, John ; Beak, Frederick ;
Beard, Jacob; Bell, George; Bopp, Conrad; Boutch, Anthony,
distillery; Breiner, Philip; Briesenger, Conrad ; Carrel, Hugh; Car-
rel, Frederick ; Christy, James ; Clark, James ; Deininger, Fred-
erick; Deward, Francis; Dido, Frantz; Diese, Michael; Dries,
John ; Dries, Jacob ; Dries, Peter ; Everhart, Barnard ; Everhart,
Frederick; Gift, Adam; Gooden, Moses; Gothers, Henry ; Grim,
Jacob; Hall, Matthew; Hartz, John; Hassinger, Jacob; Has-
singer, Daniel, sawmill; Hassinger, Frederick; Herbster, David 3
Houser, Jacob; Kern, Yost, (Joseph;) KHne, George; Kline,
Christopher ; Kline, Stophel ; Kricks, Jacob ; Krose, Henry ;
Krose, (Gross,) Henry, junior; Krose, Daniel; Laber, John ;
Lepley, Jacob ; Lewis, Thomas ; Manning, Nathan ; MattoJC,
Jacob; Maurer, Michael; Maurer, Michael, junior; Meek, AtJ'
drew; Meek, Peter; Meyer, John; Meyer, John, (weaver;)
Meyer, Mary; Michael, Jacob ; Mook, George; Moon, Nathaniel S
Moriarty, Francis ; Mumma, John ; Nerhood, Henry ; Newcomer-
1788.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 239
Peter ; Nyer, Nicholas, grist-mill ; Oatley, Edward ; Oatley, Asa ;
Philips, Benjamin ; Poe, Jacob ; Reger, Adam ; Reger, Elias ;
Reig^lderfer, Adam ; Roush, Jacob ; Royer, Stephen ; Royer, Bas-
tian; Sharred, Jacob; Snyther, John; Snyder, Peter; Stock,
George; Straub, Andrew, grist-mill and two distilleries; Strayer,
Mathias ; Stroub, Jacob ; Stull, Mathias ; Stump, William, distil-
lery J Thomas, John ; Thomas, George ; Treminer, Paul ; Van-
horn, Daniel ; Walter, Jacob ; Wannemacher, Casper ; Watts, John ;
Weiss, Stophel, grist-mill ; Wiant, Jacob ; Woods, John ; Yost,
Widow; Young, Matthew. Single men taxed ten shillings each:
Collins, Joseph; Gift, Anthony; Gross, John; Hassinger, John;
Hassinger, Henry ; Lewis, Stephen ; Lewis, Enos ; Manning,
Elisha ; Manning, Nathan ; Phillips, Benjamin ; Sherrard, George ;
Strayer, Mathias.
In March or April, the German Reformed Churches of Mahony,
Simbury, Middle Creek, and Buffalo Valley, united in a call to Rev-
erend Jonathan Rahauser, which he accepted, and accompanied by
^f. Jacob Meyer, he arrived in his new field September 22. He
only performed such duties as come within the province of a licen-
tiate until the 27th of June, 1791, when he was ordained, at Lancas-
ter, by the coetus of the church. It is well to observe here, that all
^gular ministers of the German Reformed Church in the United
States, although they had a coetus, or assemblage of ministers, of
their own, from the year 1748, were under the care, and received
tlieir authority from t^ Church of Holland until about the year 1 791 .
"^^- Rahauser was one of the first ordained without authority from
"^lland. His application having been transmitted thither, and no
'^Ply received. In October, 1 792, Mr. Rahauser removed to Hagers-
^own, Maryland, and took charge of the congregation there. He
"*^ci there September 25, 181 7. He was a very energetic and la-
"^I'ious pastor, and caught his last sickness, in crossing a swollen
^^'^ek, to fulfill one of his appointments. He was the first regular
^Unan Reformed clergyman who performed stated services in our
^^ley. He died at the early age of fifty-two. — Harbaugh's ''Fath-
At May Session, Samuel Mathers, Colonel John Clarke, John
*^^^pherson, Christian Shively, and William Moor make report that
^^y have laid out the road from the second hollow in the Big Blue
26o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [178>-
hill to Hartley's house, where Peter Kester now lives, on the roac:=^
from Davidson's ferry to Penn's valley.
On the 19th of October, a convention was held at Paxton, xc:^
take measures for the improvement of the river. Charles Smith
Anthony Selin, William Wilson, Frederick Antes, Aaron Levy ja
Andrew Straub, and others, were delegates. They resolved to dci:^
it by subscriptions, to be received in money, grain, or produce 0 '^
any kind. Boyd & Wilson's store, in Northumberland, Yentzer te^
Derr, at Lewisburg, Selin & Snyder, in Penn's township, &c. ^
were designated depositaries.
Review of manufacturers ^ d^c, in Buffalo Valley^ in 1 789 — ^Jona.—
than Holmes, tan-yard ; John Dreisbach, gunsmith ; James Watson ,
saw and grist-mill; William Jenkins, grist-mill; Christopher Wei —
ser, fulling-mill ; William Rockey, saw and grist-mill, formerly"
Fought's and John Rengler's grist and saw mill ; George Wolfe ,
saw-mill; Benjamin Miller, merchant; George Knox, tan-yard 5
George Derr, two grist and two saw-mills; Henry Fulton, mex"-
chant ; William & Alexander Steele, tan-yard ; Joseph Green, grisst
and saw-mill ; Wendell Baker, saw mill ; Jacob Groshong, saw-mill ;
David Smith, saw and grist-mills ; Benjamin Herr, merchant ; Ale>c-
ander Beatty, tan-yard.
Distilleries in White Deer — William Gray, Philip Hennin^,
Samuel Huston, Robert Carnahan, Matthew Laird, and Robert
McCorley.
The old log church at Buffalo Cross-Roads was repaired and
somewhat enlarged in October.
Deaths.
March 10, Dreisbach, Anne Eve, wife of Martin, aged sixty-sevea-
In July, Lawrence Keene, prothonotary. He served in the Revo-
lutionary war as captain, in the eleventh Pennsylvania, commissioned
February 3, 1777, and as aid-de-camp to General St. Clair: pro-
moted major, and mustered out November 3d, 1783. His wife
was Gainor Lukens, a daughter of John Lukens, Surveyor Genera.1-
He left three children, Samuel L., who died in Philadelphia, May
II, 1866; Lawrence, who married Maria Martin, daughter of tl»^
celebrated Luther Martin, and died August 13, 1813; and Jesse L^-
Keene, who died November 27, 1822.
f
17e9.j ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 261
David McClenachan, of White Deer.
Adam Smith, of Buffalo, whose children were Adam, Mary,
George, Catherine and Barbara.
Major General James Potter died in the latter part of November
or beginning of December. James Potter, junior's, letter to Chief
Justice McKean is dated Penn*s valley, December 10, 1789, in
which he states, ** doubtless before you receive this, you will have
heard of the death of my father Pennsylvania Archives^ volume
ii, page 661.
He was assisting in building the chimney of one of his tenant
houses, in Penn's valley, and, in turning about suddenly, injured
Wnaself internally. He went to Franklin county, to have the benefit
of Doctor McClelland's advice, and died at his daughter's, Mrs.
Poe, and is buried in a grave-yard at Brown's Mills, near the present
ra.ilroad station of Marion, in that county, with no tablet to mark his
grave. He was a son of John Potter, the first sheriff of Cumber-
^nd county, and in January, 1758, was a lieutenant, with William
Blythe, in Colonel John Armstrong's battalion. He next appears
itt command of a company in pursuit of the Indians, who had mur-
dered, that morning, July 26, 1764, a schoolmaster, named Brown,
and ten children, near where the town of Greencastle now stands.
He married a Miss Cathcart, sister of Mrs. George Latimer, of
Philadelphia, who died, leaving a son and daughter. He then
naarried Mrs. Chambers, sister of Captain William Patterson. He
resided principally on the Ard farm, in White Deer township, just
above New Columbia, though, no doubt, he changed his residence on
account of the Indian troubles. One year, 1781, he resided in the
M^iddle Creek settlement, now Snyder county, as the assessments
show, and family tradition has it, his eldest son, John Potter, died
there. In 1 786, Pickering visited him at the Ard farm, and in 1 787,
^^. Gregg, his daughter, was married there.
^n personnel he was short and stout, with a hop)eful disposition,
^•^ich no troubles could conquer. In a letter, dated May 28, 1781,
^ Says, " look where you will, our unfortunate country is disturbed,
"^^ the time will come when we shall get rid of all these troubles.
His eldest daughter married Captain James Poe. Mary married
^orge Riddles, who died March 14, 1796, and is buried at North-
umberland, in the Presbyterian church-yard. Their daughter, Mary
262
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
117».
A., married W. H. Patterson ; Eliza, Doctor Joseph B. Ard, whos^^
heirs still own the old place in White Deer; Martha, married Mr^
Gregg.
General Potter's son James married Mary Brown, daughter o ^
Judge Brown, of Mifflin county. Of their children: i, Genersu^
James Potter, (third,) married Maria, daughter of General Williair:^
Wilson, of Chillisquaque ; 2, William Potter, Esquire, late of Belle- —
fonte, attomey-at-law ; 3, Mary P., married Doctor W. I. Wilson^
of Potter's Mills; 4, John Potter; 5, Martha G., married to Abra —
ham Valentine ; 6, Peggy Crouch, married Doctor Charles Cobum^
of Aaronsburg ; 7, George L. Potter, Esquire, who practiced awhile
at Danville, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Andrew G. Curtin, who is a daugh —
ter of Doctor W. I. Wilson, of Potter's Mills, is a great-grand-
daughter of the revolutionary general, and the Governor is a great-
grandson, on the Gregg line of descent.
John Lukens, Surveyor General of the State, died in Octobec,
and was succeeded by Colonel Daniel Brodhead, on the 3d of No-
vember. John Lukens' estate, at this date, (1877,) is still before
an auditor for distribution. Charles Lukens Barnes, an heir, lived
and died in Lewisburg, making his living sawing wood, while wait-
ing for his share of this veritable Jarndyce vs. Jamdyce.
1790.
riC[AI-8- SVRVET OF THE SfSQl-EHANSA FOR IsLA^
COSSTITCTION, AND ELECTrOSB CSDER IT.
I HE following is a list of the county representatives and
officials during the year, under the Constitution of 1776,
which was superseded by the Constitution adopted Sep-
tember 2, 1790: William Wilson, Councilor; Samuel
aclay and John White, members of Assembly; William Mont-
■raery, Presiding Justice; Jasper Ewing, ProthonoCary ; Martin
ithington, Sheriff; Peter Hosterman, John Weitzel, and William
epburn, County Commissioners.
OtiScers of Buffalo : Constable, C- Baldy ; Supervisors, George
ay and Alexander McCaley; Overseers, Peter Zeller and John
acpherson.
Of White Deer : Constable, Robert Fruit ; Supervisors, Joseph
3ak and Alexander Stephens ; Overseers, William Clark and
obert Martin.
Additionai Taxable! in Bufalo—Betza, William ; Boveard, Wil-
im ; Cress, Conrad ; Carroll, William ; Catnpbell, John ; Cald-
■'1, William; Depuy, Hugh; Dunlap, William; Hempstead,
shua; Jones, Benjamin; Lourey, Samuel; McDaniel, Daniel;
■tley, Isaiah ; Porter, Samuel ; Shreiner, Nicholas ; Sherer, Joseph ;
'son, John; Clarke, Joseph; Mann, Philip: Wilson, Hugh,
'her of Francis.)
'Additional TaxabUs in Finn's — Evans, Frederick ; Metterling,
'tzer; Reiber, John; Stees, Frederick; Snyder, John S. ; Wei-
*£, Peter; Zerber, Peter; Snyder, Simon, (son of Henry.)
264 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1790 ^
At February Sessions of the quarter sessions of Northumberlanc^^
county, the name of Potter township (now in Centre) was changec::====^
to that of *' Haines." In May, Josiah Haines and John Thora
burg started a store in Lewisburg. Prices of grain at Philadelphia >
in July, were, wheat, px. td. \ rye, 6x. ; oats, 3^. 5^. ; Indian corn-, »
3X. 9^. ; buckwheat, at 2s,
Survey of the Susquehanna.
On the 6th of April, Timothy Matlack, John Adlum, and Saniue
Maclay were appointed commissioners to survey and examine th^=
Swatara, part of the Susquehanna, Sinnemahoning creek, and th^
Allegheny river, with a view to the promotion of inland navigation —
The commissioners started in May, and were engaged most of
summer in their work. Mr. Maclay*s journal of this expedition
in the possession of his grandson. Doctor Samuel Maclay, of Miffli
county.
On the 26th of April he started with James McLaughlin's boalc ,
him, Edward Sweney, and Mathew Gray taken into pay. They
went first down to the Swatara, which, it appears they were to exam.*
ine, to see whether it could be made navigable; got to Herrold's oxi
the 27th, where breakfast and a quart of whiskey cost him 5X. 2(f. ;
then to Harrisburg and Lebanon. The commissioners, however,
for some reason, failed to meet him. He, with the rest of the com-
missioners, came up on the 1 7th of May, and at Herrold's one of Er-
win*s boats came up, and they raced from that to Sunbury, McLaugh-
lin's boat coming out ahead. From there they came up to the point
at Northumberland, and dined with Colonel Wilson. Mr. Maclay
then went over to visit his family, in Buffalo Valley. May 19, he
says : Colonel Matlack detained the boat at Northumberland, to
carry Josiah Haines' goods up to Derrstown, where he and one
Thornburg are erecting a new store. The boat then came up to T-
Rees*, where Mr. Maclay wanted some things landed. At Derrs-
town they met with Captain Lowdon, who told Matlack that Rees
had sent for Mr. Maclay, but Matlack would not wait. So he had to
shoulder his baggage and follow on foot. He trudged through the
rain and bad roads, up to James McLaughlin's, opposite the moutl^
of Warrior run, where he arrived at ten o'clock, and found theboa.t
landed.
1T«0.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 263
Major Adlum was detained at Northumberland until the 23d,
'>^"hen he joined them at Loyal Sock. He speaks of leveling the race-
ground at Wallis*s Island, (near Muncy, I suppose.)
Sunday, 23d, they reached the mouth of Bald Eagle, at sunset, and
stayed there on Monday, baking bread and providing horses. There
they breakfasted with Mrs. Dunn. They leveled the Sinnemahon-
ing, and also made canoes there. From '*canoe place*' Mr. Adlum
and part of the men started and run a line to the Allegheny. The
object of the expedition was to determine what method of commu-
nication the country would admit of, between the eastern and west-
ern parts of the State. He speaks of catching beaver, and of the
^rge wolves that frequently crossed their track, in a very indifferent
manner. On the 14th, he surveyed the West Branch of the Sinne-
n^alioning, and got a Httle above Boyd*s whetstone quarry. 15th,
got to Bennett's cabin, three quarters of a mile above the forks.
Jvil y 2d, they reached the Ohio, athd went down it, having an In-
dia.n, named Doctor Thomas, for guide. At the State line, Con-ne-
SHangom, the chief, had gone to Venango, but Captain John makes
tHem a speech of welcome, which he inserts in full in the journal,
^^ear this place Mr. Maclay met a Dutchman, who had been taken
prisoner by the Indians in the last war, and chose to continue with
tHem, and was living among them. July 7th, they had an interview
>vith Cornplauter, at Jenoshawdego.
The Indians were very jealous of them, until they explained their
V:>usines^ Cornplanter then welconjed them in a speech, which
Mr. Maclay inserts. He says, we were addressed by an orator, on
^half of the women. The principal points were, that as they,
t^e women, had the hardest part of the labor of making a living,
^^ey had a right to speak, and be heard. They welcomed them,
^cause, they were the pioneers of the good roads that were to come,
^"^ make intercourse easy and merchandise cheaper, and they hoped
gooci correspondence would make them all one people in the future.
^^lonel Matlack responded to this speech. They then went down
^^ Captain John O. Beales' town, and "had the honor of his com-
^^^^ for supper." July 14, they struck the old French road to
. '^^. He says the ruts were quite plain yet. He says, Lake Erie
'^ ^ fresh water sea. '* You can see the horizon and water meet."
^^y arrived at Fort Franklin, on the 20th. The commanding offi-
2(>6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [179(>-
cer, Lieutenant Jeffries, was very polite to them. He speaks of kill
ing a cat-fish with Mr. Adlum*s Jacob, staff, which weighed ten am
one half pounds.
2d of September, the new constitution was adopted by a conven-
tion, convened at Philadelphia, 24th November, 1 789. Simon Sny-
der and Charles Smith,* Esquire, were the delegates from Northum-
berland county.
The first election under the new constitution took place on the
12 th of October. In Northumberland county, for Governor,
Thomas Mifflin received 865 votes, to 68 cast for General Arthur
St. Clair. William Montgomery, elected State Senator without op-
position, having 1,029 votes. Samuel Maclay and John White were
elected members of Assembly, over Samuel Wallis and Alexandeir
Hunter; Martin Withington, sheriff, over Charles Gobin, Joh
Boyd, and Flavel Roan; Joseph Lorentz, coroner; and Dani^X
Montgomery, county commissidtier. John Simpson was re-ai>—
pointed register and recorder.
It having been decided that the i>owers of the House of Assembi y
and State officers were superseded by the constitution, on the »cl
of September, the house in a paper filed, September 4, decline<l
acting longer. On the 20th of December, the Executive Council
ceased acting, and on the 21st, Governor Mifflin was inaugurated.
February 17, by Reverend Hugh Morrison, Hugh Wilson married
to Catherine, daughter of Captain William Irvine.
Deaths.
George Troxell, of Lewisburg.
Christopher Haney, of Haines township. He was a private in
Captain Clarke's company, in 1776. His children were Hieroni-
mus, Christopher, Adam, John, Eve, Elizabeth, and Frederick.
John Black, of Sunbury, (brother of James, of Lewisburg.)
Ulrlch Lotz. His children were John Jacob, Anna Maria, and
Catherine. In his will he recommends his children to adhere strictly
lOharleB Smith was the third son of Doctor WlUiam Smith, Prorost of the Col'
lege at Philadelphia. He was admitted to the Sunbury bar, in 17M, and marrleci*
In 1791, to a daughter of Jasper Teates, Esquire. He was the compiler of Smith*'
laws, and afterwards president judge of the Cumberland and Franklin diitrie^^
He died in Philadelphia, in 1840, aged seventy-fiye.
17^0.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 267
the advice which Tobias, in fourth chapter, gives, '* Keep God
fore your eyes," &c.
Peter Burns, senior, of Buffalo.
Jonas Fought. Children : Michael, Barbara, Ann Elizabeth.
John Wierbach, (who lived upon the place next above Weiden-
Lul's mill, in Hartley now.) He left a widow, Catherine, who died
1804, of cancer. Sons: John, Nicholas. One daughter, married
Frederick Wise, who moved to Brush valley. Centre county. One
-K-Knarried to John Hoover, and moved to Clearfield, and one married
*hilip Dale. One of his daughters was taken by the Indians. • (See
781.)
Charles Grogan, of Buffalo, was returning home, from a wood-
liopping, with a yoke of oxen, one cold night this winter, and,
^coming bewildered, was frozen to death. He left a widow, sister
of James Burney^ and two sons, Alexander and James, and two
<Jaughters. His widow, after some years, married Henry Van Gun-
<Jy, and removed to now Clinton county. James and Alexander
Crugan, as they now write their names, became the heads of quite
'••urge families. Grugan township derives its name from this family.
Honorable Coleman Grugan, late associate judge of Clinton county,
• _ _
B a. grandson of Charles Grogan. — Maynard's Clinton County^ page
^53.
1791-
List OF State ASD County Officials — Additional Taxableb — Deatdoi
Doctor William Pll'nket —Mrs. Saml'el Maclav'b Fahilt Liseaoe.
■ OVERNOR, Thomas Mifflin. Judges of the Supreme
n Court, Thomas McKean, Edward Shippen, Jasper Yeales.
Attorney General, Jared Ingersoll. State Treasurer,
1 Christian Febiger. ReceiverGeneral, Francis Johnston.
Secretary of the Land Office, David Kennedy. Surveyor General,
Daniel Brodhead. Secretary of the Commonwealth, A. J. Dallas-
Deputy Secretary, James Trimble. The Judges of the several Courts
were, Jacob Rush, President ; William Montgomery, Joseph Wallis,
Thomas Strawbridge, and John Macpherson, Associates, commis-
sioned August 1 7. Jasper Ewing, Esquire, Prothonotary, August ij-
Member of Congress, Andrew Gregg, representing Bedford, North-
umberland, Huntingdon, FrankUn, and Mifllin. Senator, William
Montgomery. Members of Assembly, Samuel Maclay and John
White.
September 3, Flavel Roan was commissioned a Notary Public ; he
was sole notary in the county until his death ; John Teitsworth suc-
ceeded him, April 26, 1815; Flavel Roan was commissioned Slieriff,
October 18; William Hepburn, John Weitzel, and Daniel Mont-
gomery were County Commissioners ; Bernard Hubley, Lieutenant
of the county ; Justices of the Peace commissioned, Colonel Kelly,
August 31 ; Simon Snyder, October 26 ; William Irwin, August 31 i
Captain William Gray, December 30 ; for Penn's and Beaver Dam,
John Bishop, August 31.
Frederick Evans was Deputy Surveyor of Peters, in Mifflin county,
Haines, Beaver Dam, Penn's, and that part of Buflalo south of the
^^^1.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 26g
*-^dian purchase of 1754; Christopher Bering appointed Collector
^^ Excise, September i.
Officers of Buffalo : Constable, Henry Pontius ; Supervisors, John
^ rider and Peter Kester: Overseers, John Reznor and William
I^win.
White Deer : Constable, John Bear ; Supervisors, Richard Fruit
^nd Thomas Hutchinson ; Overseers, Robert McCorley and John
Steel.
Martin Withington opened hotel in Mifflinburg.
Additional residents in Lewisburg — Black, James, (ferry;) Ellen-
huysen, Joseph ; Lewis, Alexander ; Metzgar, Jacob, innkeep)er ;
Moore, John, blacksmith ; Poak, William ; Stroh, Nicholas.
27th May, Andrew Kennedy, senior, commenced the publication
of the Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette ^ at Northumberland.
This paper was extensively circulated in the Valley, and continued
xip to 1813.
Among those assessed in Buffalo township — Barnhart, George ;
Bamhart, Henry; Black, William ; Book, George; Bower, Casp)er;
Bower, George ; Caldwell, Thomas ; Cox, Tunis ; Frantz, Lewis ;
Fox, Andrew; Gettig, Frederick; Getz, Peter; Getz, Andrew;
Gibbons, Edward; Glover, John; Gooden, Moses; Graff, (Grove,)
Philip; Grimes, Samuel ; Hixon, John ; Hudson, George; Kelly,
Hugh; Kemmerling, Jacob ; Leitzell, Anthony; Lowry, Andrew
Lowry, John; Lowry, Robert; Lowry, William; McElrath, Robert
McMurtrie, Hugh; Meizner, Adam; Metzgar, John; Patton, John
Richard, Henry, (name which disappears from the assessment after
1784, re-appears again with the supplement " thief,** which is carried
all through the assessments afterwards ;) Rees, Daniel ; Roan, Fla-
vel ; Sarvey, Jacob ; Struble, Adam ; Thornburg, John ; Thomp-
son, John, erects a mill to be driven by the water from Thomp-
son's spring ; Van Gundy, Christian ; Van Gundy, Henry ; Van
Gundy, John; Weeker, William; Wilson, Hugh; Yentzer, Chris-
tian ; Zimmerman, Christian ; Zimmerman, Jacob.
4th August, 1 791, Christopher Baldy, William Irwin, and Chris-
tian Yentzer, assessors. Robert Barber erects a saw-mill at White
springs.
Penn^s — Adam, Widow; Berry, Jacob; Bishop, Jacob; Grove,
Adam; Goy, Frederick, distillery; Gwynn, Hugh; Heimbach,
I _■•
SY. ICTL
> -r.v H .■ _ "- ? I •-. • 1 : 1* -. r .-.:■ i-^-w. crac and saw-mill to
-:•:.'-. -r: - ".--• ."■- '-Lz-}Lr'- S::tss- Frederick, grisit
-i k- L.i: . V. T •■: r: : . 1 ' . : : V\" .j^j^r. ?*:er- distillery, ferry,
,'.'jr.'-' — 1. :: L.:.-:.: '^~: =- T : ._.rs. luvjd : Edmunsoo*
.I.- : r: i.rt : - - • . ' 1 . . : . — - - • ..- 1 ' :r.iac or- . J ohn and James j
-•!-.• Hr-. • . ir.r: i:. . ii- ~ . M;«rr- 'i:::, lan-yard; Knepp,
V. •,- * -it Hi-- . f i: . - . ;r-r: -:. i siw-— ..1 . W^c:. John, grist and
-i V '1,
'.-. ',• :,.r:' -^t f.i: ::.z ^ca> .- :-je I res-: \^crlan Church at Buf-
'i -, '.:,-rf ?. ii? :i:r: i.r. i tzt.'.xtL :':r :l->c f.rs: lime. There were
:■ .r - i. irz'-z .: r.---. N; i. ::/:i: iv re«r\-ed for the minister's '
'iv, . .'• , :. ri:.- i i: ;^*3 5.* . TiKcr. :y Da\-:d Watson, Colonel
' . • -. ' . . i : .: ^ . A . -; xi:. :-; : K ;: r. :. r i > . ir. i J oseph Clark ; No. 3,
'1 •'.-:-:-. .' ','.'.z:. A'-::r^ Y.tzIz:. k/iier: Forster and Robert Cham-
-/:• ;•',. i- ^*J;. C:.r:?:.: r.c: jO.-.r.s-Tor. : No. 5, Captain James
T ',".>. ,:.. '»'•*. i-.. I ■.::.■.-<.:.. ^a:r.-e! Poner. and James Boyd;
\. 'l. /^2 15. . A:::.-: C^v'-.^r. : N:-. 7. Kol^rt Ciark, Richard
••y:rr:r. s.'. : J^'>*-; ■ A..v-r. ; N:. ?. >in^.:L^'. Da.e. Usquire. and Joseph
i..i'. N- '.. ' . .:. Kv/:.:r:L:-: l»u-. :: Tate; No. 10. Samuel Mac-
i . '*.- ■ ■•;-•. ..-- r-.i-ii'-r-i -:.:.! ;■..> ^.U-Jth, in iSii;'» No. ii,Jcha
••■•;■: ; w.: ;. H : > ■■.. IT. '. W..;.:i::i S:cx-'.c ; No. 12, Joseph Green,
/ ; '.; ''. / N >. 1 5. _I-:Tirs IrA::: :.n : Ma::hcw Irwin : No. 14, Wil-
..;;'.'. Jr*.:.. K-. .!:•:. jt^.2 : N.-. 15. J^-hn Thompson: No. 16, Benja-
::..•. '.'. •;: .\" >. j;. J :.:* K.iy. W:.;:.im and Thomas Black; No.
;;. ;' ^r. M'^J!.:':; N •. 1 '^. Mr. I-;nn.»!n ; No. 19, George Knox:
;.'. 1'.. 'A'.;.*:." <ji.ir'f. : No. 21. Wi.iiam Irvine: No. 22, Jonathan
Ho.-:.':. ;.',': J'-'-l'':. >':.crc-r : N.*. J3. James Poak, William Poak,
V» . ' ; '. V. j ' /J *,: . .i r, ' : 1.1'.' mas P< ".ik : N ^ » . j 4 . F.d ward G raham and John
I>. V. . S'j. 2-. \V:;!:j.m \V:".>«)n .ml la:nes H'.ack : No. 26, vacant:
.'.'. i'7, ]'j:.:i Li Ml. J/iin (ir.iy. .mtl Joseph Patterson: No. 2S,
V'i >-:r \-r i.r .1.1. '1 <')i<k«;n Smith : No. 29, William Gray and Thomas
H'/v/Ar'i .\'». 30.. William Clark. James Forster, and Widow Fors-
T'.-r N'^*. 51, I liumo.-* Kldcr. I )avi(l Hiuhanan, and Rol>ert Elder:
No. 32, rh;irl«.r» I'ullo* k. Thomas Hutchinson, and William Wil-
l.;xrjr->; .\o. 33, f<;l<;ncl John Kelly and Captain Joseph Poak: Nu«
mi] ANNALS OF BUFFALO GALLEY. 27/
34, Samuel Demraing, James Moore, (Widow Moore,) George
Moore, Widow Fleming, Thomas Rodman,* James Meginness ; No.
35, Adam Laughlin, Widow McGrady and James Clelland; No. 36,
Matthew Laird and Andrew McClenachan.
With the meeting of Congress, at Philadelphia, on the 14th of
October, we note the division of the people into two great parties,
the Federalists and Democrats, the funding of the public debt, char-
tering the United States Bank, and other measures, inflaming the
States Rights or Democratic party so much that, at this session, they,
for the first time, appeared in open and organized opposition to the
administration. — George Read's Life y page 536.
Notice of William Plunket.
William Plunket, the first presiding justice of Northumberland
county, died in the spring of this year. He resided, as early as
1772, a little above Chillisquaque creek, at his place called *'Sol-
iiers' Retreat,** now owned by Mr. Solomon Walters. He was the
ather of Mrs. Samuel Maclay, whose lineage is traceable to John
Harris, senior, whose grave is yet to be seen on the bank of the river
.t Harrisburg, in front of the residence of General Simon Cameron,
">Iear it are the remains of the mulberry to which he was tied by the
ndians, to be burned. I will only add to the story, that it was his
legro slave, Hercules, who crossed the river, and brought the neigh-
K)ring Indians to his rescue, while the drunken Indians were about
pplying the fire to him. For this he gave Hercules his freedom,
.nd directed his burial on the same spot. John Harris, senior, died
n 1 748. His wife, Esther Say, was a lady of rare endowments,
eho came from England, in the family of Judge Shippen. Among
heir children were John, the proprietor of Harrisburg ; Samuel, who
ettled at the outlet of Cayuga lake, New York, and a daughter, who
narried Doctor William Plunket.
Doctor Plunket, at the time of his marriage, resided at Carlisle, Penn-
ylvania, and his daughters, four in number, were born there. His
vife dying, he remained a widower, which fact gave rise to Meginness*
nistake in stating that he was a bachelor. His daughters were Eliz-
ibeth, born in 1755, married to Samuel Maclay ; Isabella, born Jan-
lary, 1760, married to William Bell, Esquire, of Elizabethtown, New
272 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1701
Jersey ; Margaret, married to Isaac Richardson, removed to Wayn
county. New York, thefi known as the Genesee country. She lei
four sons and two daughters. Israel J., in Delaware, Ohio, an*
David H., of Monroe county. New York, of her sons are still living
Hester Plunket, the youngest, married Colonel Robert Baxter, of th
British army, and died about a year after her marriage. Her daugh
ter, Margaret, married Doctor Samuel Maclay, of Mifflin count)
John Harris* wife, Elizabeth McClure, said to have been the moj
lovely woman of her day, died young, from fright and grief, at th
report, brought her by a neighbor, of her husband's death. He sa.
a man shot, and fall off his horse, in attempting to swim the rive
and supposed it was Mr. Harris. It proved to be a young physiciai
whom Mr. Harris had taken up behind him (25th October, 1755
Her daughter, Mary Harris, who inherited much of her mother'
beauty, married Senator William Maclay. A miniature likeness 0
her is now in the possession of her granddaughter, Mrs. Eleanor M.
Brinton, of West Chester, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Samuel Maclay and
Mrs. William Maclay were cousins, and married brothers.
The late William C. Plunket, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, was a
nephew of Doctor Plunket. A brother of Doctor Plunket came to
this country, bringing with him a daughter, Margaret, who married
Samuel Simmons, of Pine creek. His name was Robert. Another
brother, David Plunket, settled at Baltimore, and was lost at sea on a
voyage to the West Indies. Doctor Plunket served in the French war
as a lieutenant, and secured for his services six hundred acres of land,
part now owned by Judge Dreisbach. He owned large bodies ol
land, and was one of the leaders in the Pennamite war. He liv'ed
afterward and died in the office owned by Ebenezer Greenough, and
lately occupied by David Rockefeller, Esquire, at Sunbury. Hii
will is dated January 3, 1791, and proved May 25, 1791, in whid
he mentions his granddaughter, Margaret Baxter, one of the mos'
beautiful and accomplished ladies of the State, who died at Mil
roy, Mifflin county, July 6, 1863.
The three sisters, Mrs. Maclay, Mrs. Bell, and Mrs. Richardson
survived to a good old age, and resided together, in Mifflin county
Mrs. Maclay was a Presbyterian, Mrs. Bell an Episcopalian, and Mrs
Richardson a Quaker. They were all three remarkable ladies. Mrs
Bell was a very handsome and highly polished woman. She had
1792.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 273
boarding-school at Albany, New York, where Mrs. Catherine Sedg-
wick, and many of the celebrated ladies of the time, received their
education.
^m^
1^9^.
East and West Buffalo Townships Erf.cted — Mifflinbi'rg and New
Berlin Laid out — Notice of Reverend J. G. Phreemer — Simon Sny-
der's Dam Controversy — Death of Captain Anthony Selin and M. J.
Ellenkhusen.
EMBERS of Assembly, Samuel Dale and John White.
January 13, General William Wilson appointed Asso-
ciate Judge, vice Joseph Wallis, resigned. February 23,
Samuel Maclay appointed Associate, also. Flavel Roan,
Sheriff. John Weitzel, Daniel Montgomery, and Robert Fleming,
County Commissioners. i8th January, Joseph J. Wallis appointed
Deputy Surveyor of Charles Lukens* and William Scull's district,
(both of whom are deceased,) and of that part of William Maclay's
district north of Penn's creek, and of Upper Bald Eagle, in Mifflin
county.
Officers of Buffalo — Constable, C. Baldy ; Supervisors, Adam
Christ and John Sierer ; Overseers, William Irvine and Henry Dreis-
bach ; Fence Viewers, Philip Voneida and George Frederick ; Col-
lector, Christian Yentzer ;' November 29, Robert Barber commis-
sioned Justice of the Peace for Buffalo ; School-teachers in Buffalo,
Alexander Templeton and George Paget. The latter taught many
years at a school-house near Michael Grove's, the former in New
Berlin.
Officers of White Deer — Constable, William Robb ; Supervisors,
Andrew McClenachin and John Gray ; Overseers, Robert Finney
and Robert Clark.
18
274 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1792,
Additional TaxabUs of White Deer — Charles Nogel, Gideon
Smith.
East and West Buffalo Townships Erected.
At January Sessions, William Irwin, Samuel Dale, John Thomp-
son, Christopher Baldy, Benjamin Miller, and Henry Pontius were
appointed viewers to divide Buffalo township. They commenced
the line at two gum saplings, on the south bank of Spruce run, a-t:
the line of White Deer and Buffalo, a little west of Daniel Rengler's
old saw-mill, (Applegate's ;) thence south to the head of the
spring at Andrew Pontius' ; thence down Switzer run to its moutli ,
at Penn's creek, (Philip Seebold's,) and the townships were called
East and West Buffalo.^ The first officers of this township were,
Robert Forster, constable ; John Reznor and Thomas Forster, over-
seers; Elias Younkman, supervisor; Andrew Forster and Robert:
Chambers, fence viewers.
At January Sessions, the road from Brush valley, by way of Frencl^
Jacob's old mill, (now Heberling's,) to James Irwin's, was laid out-
George Langs, Henry Dreisbach, Matthew Irwin, were of tti^
viewers. It commenced at a black oak, near the gap of Buffal<^
mountain, by way of said mill to a corner of Wendell Baker's field 9
where it intersected **the meeting-house road." Distance, six miles
fourteen perches, (now road by way of Cowan.)
Improvements 0/ this year — Wendell Baker's saw-mill, (at Cowan^ )
Alexander Beatty's tan-yard, at New Berlin ; Christopher Weiser'^
fulling-mill, on Turtle creek, now Peter Wolfe's.
Lower ferry, at Lewisburg. kept by James Black.
At November Sessions, the road from Wolfe's tavern (afterwards
Lyon's, on the Cumberland road, leading to Sunbury) to Jenkins'
mill, thence to Derr's town, at the south end of Second street,
along Second to Market, to Front, by way of St. John's, to the mouth
of Buffalo creek, laid out. Mifflinburg, laid out by Elias Younk-
man, in the summer of this year; and New Berlin, laid out by
George Long, Frederick Evans, surveyor. The dates of the first
deeds for lots in these places I can find on record are 30th Noveni-
1 East Buflfalu always vront by the name of Buffalo among the people; is %oc»M^
In deeds and elsewhere, except on the assossment books, until the erection of tli^
present Buffalo.
1792.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 373
ber, 1792, lot No. 55, in Mifflinburg; i8th January, 1793, George
Long to Adam Snyder, for No. 53, in New Berlin.
John Hager built one of the first dams on Penn*s creek, about
one half mile below App's present mill, according to William Gill's
reeollection.
Samuel Dale, Esquire, moved from where New Columbia now
stands to his place, now in Kelly, owned by his grandchildren.
Reverend John 6. Phreemer.
The Reverend John G. Phreenier, who was connected with the
religious movement which resulted, at length, in the sect of the
United Brethren in Christ, and sometimes professing to be a min-
ister of the German Reformed Church, made frequent and extensive
lours through middle Pennsylvania. The aged Mrs. Fulmer says
that about this year, 1792, Andrew Straub and Michael Weyland
used to push their canoe, containii^ their families and others, across
the river, where Milton now is, in order to worship under a tree on
the opposite side. The tree stood at Hoffman's, (1854,) a short
distance above the bridge. On such occasions, the preaching and
service were conducted by Mr. Phreemer, and afterwards by Mr.
^Jireemer and Deitrick Aurand. Mrs. Fulmer often crossed herself
fo attend worship under this tree. Phteemer leute, or ** Phreemer
people," was a common expression in Buffalo Valley at an early day.
«e Was very fanatical. A very pious old man once told me he had
^"e people act the fool by his preaching. He is said once to have
remarked that he could preach the Devil out of hell. Abraham
^rown said he saw him in Ohio, in 181 4, where Phreemer was on ai
visit. He was then residing in Kentucky, and associate judge of
^»e court there. He died at his home in Harrison county^^ Indiana,,
in \^2i.—Harbaugh's Fathers.
Selin and Snyder's Uill'Dam.
^n the 28th of December, a petition was presented to. tEie Senate
^n the part of Simon Snyder and Anthony Selin's heirs^ ta enable
^nem to maintain a dam across Penn*s creek of the height o£ two
^"^ One half feet. This aroused the settlers along the creek and
2^6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 11782.
produced a remonstrance, read in the Senate, March 4, 1 793, which
is interesting from some statements it contains. It states ' ' that Simon
Snyder, and Anthony Selin, before his death, erected a dam across
the main current of Penn*s creek ; that there were no less than ten
mills within nine miles of Snyder's, some of whi<;ji grind the year
round unobstructed by ice, and they subjoin a list of the mills, ¥ntli
their distances from Snyder's: Lauterslager's and Pickle's, within
three miles; Moore's, three miles and a half; Shock's, four miles;
Rush's, five miles ; Hickadron's, six ; Maclay's, seven miles, Swine-
ford's, ditto ; Weitzel's, eight ; and Frederick Stees', nine miles.
This being the case, we consider it highly injurious to stop the
whole navigation of Penn's creek, in order to promote the indi-
vidual interest of Simon Snyder, Esquire," &c. This petition is
signed by James Beatty, George Long, Christian Miller, Alexandex"
Beatty, Samuel Templeton, William Fisher, Benjamin Griffith, Rob-
ert Tait, David Tate, Robert Barber, Thomas Barber, John Greeft.^
Paskel Lewis, John McMullen, James Davis, Peter Kester, WiiliacM:^
Douglass, Adam Laughlin, John Glover, John Thompson, junic^^
and senior, David Burd, Alexander Connel, Andrew Lowery, Jose[>l^
Green, Ludwig Schmidt, James McKelvey, Martin Trester, to.
Notwithstanding this remonstrance, the Legislature, April ic^y
1793, passed an act authorizing the dam. [See Dallas' Laws, voi-
ume 3, page 364.]
Deaths.
Alexander McGrady, died in May. His children were Alexat>'
der, William, Agnes, wife of Eli Holeman, Jane, wife of Jam^^
Johnston.
Samuel Barber, who lived at the mouth of Switzer run, was kill(
by the falling timber of an old barn he was taking down. One
his daughters married William McConnell, the other Swinehar'^
His widow, Martha, lived on the old place (now owned by Phil 5
Seebold) as late as 1812.
Captain Anthony Selin, founder of Selinsgrove. He was coi
missioned by Congress, December 10, 1776, captain in Ottendoi
corps, afterwards attached to Armand's legion, and was still in serv ^^
in 1 780, at Wyoming. His children were Anthony, Charles, 9^^
Agnes. His wife was a sister of Governor Snyder, and Selin p^^
1792.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 277
chased the ground on which the town now is, at the death of his
brother-in-law, John Snyder. Finding Snyder's plot would not fit,
he re-surveyed the ground, laid it out anew, and named it. His
son, Anthony Charles, was a major in the war of 1812. The widow
of the latter, Mrs. Catherine Selin, died at the residence of her son-
in-law, Robert Swineford, in Selinsgrove, November 3, 1868, aged
eighty-two, the last of the family name in the United States.
George Hudson, of White Deer.
James Fleming, of Buffalo. He left his property to his wife's
children, Samuel, Jane, and Benjamin Rodman.
Abel Reeis died, (at Strohecker's now.)
James Thom, of West Buffalo. His children were Robert,
Arthur, Annie, married to John Ik>ude, Sarah E., married to James
Robb, Elizabeth, and Mary.
At Lewisburg, July 17, 1792, Mathias Joseph Ellenkhusen. He
came to Lewisburg in 1790, was the son of Carl Ellenkhusen, who
bad purchased the principal part of the town, and was sent over by
his father from Amsterdam, Holland, to look after his interests, or
to found a family in the western world. The principal notice we
We of the son and his wife are from the recollections of Mrs. Mary
Brady Piatt, taken down by O. N. Worden, Esquire. Mrs. Ellenk-
husen was short in stature, considerably pock-marked, very lady-
like in manner, spoke the Low Dutch language, and astonished the
people by her elegance and passionate fondness for skating. She and
Mr. Ellenkhusen took that method of visiting the different towns on
the river. She married John Thornburg, who also soon died. She
afterward married Mr. Moore, and removed to Erie, Pennsylvania.
Ellenkhusen was a man of very genteel address, and fond of soci-
^^y* His father had given him the town site, and a good outfit of
clothing and money, hoping, no doubt, he would build up a fortune ;
but emigration suddenly declined, and the convivial habits he had
acquired, probably before leaving Europe, shortened his days. Per-
sonally^ he was much esteemed. He was quite an artist, and often
drew with pencil striking likenesses of his companions. Sheriff John
orady was a joker. He had found a cannon near Muddy run, and
"^ ^old Ellenkhusen that he would present it to him if he would take
^^^ of it. On cleaning out the mud which covered the muzzle, two
^^^^ black snakes came out, greatly to the horror of Mr. Ellenk-
27S ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [IT
husen. He told Brady the circumstance afterward. ** Why,".saic3
Brady, <* they were my ])ets; I would not have lost them for a.
$100," and Ellenkhusen, no doubt, died in the belief that he had
let loose some play-fellows of Brady's. Ellenkhusen and Thom-
burg were both buried beneath what is now the vestibule of tlie
Presbyterian church. The annalist recollects well the wild cherry
tree that stood near, and the brick wall inclosing these graves. The
tombstone of Ellenkhusen was preserved by the late James F. Linn,
Esquire, and is in the cellar of the church. Its inscription is:
*'Here lie the body of Mathias Joseph Ellenkhusen, who departed
this life July 17, 1792, age thirty-eight years and three months.'*
** since it Is 80 we all must die,
And death no one doth spare ;
So let us all to Jesas fly.
And seek for refuge there.**
^ •
1793
Additfonal Taxables — Yellow Fever in Philadelphia — Fall Elect ^
TioNS— Deaths ik the Valley.
NDREW GREGG, Member of Congress. Josiah Hainer^
and James Davidson, members of Assembly. Dani^*
Montgomery, Robert Fleming, and Richard Sheref
m^ftJI County Commissioners. John Brown was commission
a Justice of the Peace for Washington township March 13. Numb^''^
of taxable inhabitants in Northumberland county, three thousam^
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Additional Taxables, East Buffalo — Barber, Martha (Widow ^ 7
Baily, John ; Betz, William ; Brown, Christian; Carstetter, Martir* i
Covert, Luke; Dale, Samuel; Dunkle, Jacob; Doty, Ek)ctaf /
Gass, George; Gelitzler, William; Getz, Adam; Hayes, John;
(
^93. 3 ANNALS O^ BUI FALO VALLEY. 27^
Hummel, John ; Miller, Christian, (Berlintown ;) Morton, Thomas ;
Myer, George, (Berlintown ;) Ray, John ; Reedy, Conrad ; See-
bold, Christian, grist-mill, formerly James Watson's ; Sheckler, Dan-
iel; Sheckler, Tobias ; Speddy, Jeremiah; Stahl, Philip; Wilson,
ITioinas.
Ji.ist of Residents in Lewisburg — Black, James; Caldwell, Thomas ;
Deering, Francis ; Delong, Edward ; Donachy, John ; Dunlap,
John, (ferry;) Ellenckhuysen, Clara; Evans, Joseph; Groninger,
Leonard ; Grove, Adam ; Grove, Wendel ; Heineman, Samuel ;
Holdship, George ; Kemble, Lawrence ; Knox, George ; Links,
George ; Lewis, Alexander ; Metzgar, Daniel ; Poak, William ;
Kussell, David ; Sherer, Joseph ; Snodgrass, David ; Swinehart,
Le\v'is; Thornburg, John; Troxel, Abraham; Wells, Benjamin;
^^^ells, Joseph ; Yentzer, Christian.
CThristopher Baldy commenced the tan-yard at Buffalo Cross-
^oa.ds.
Doctor Charley Beyer practicing medicine in Lewisburg.
•Still-hauses — Andrew Billrayer*s, Andrew Blair's, John Beatty's,
George Gass', on John Aurand's place, Peter Leonard's, Henry
Pontius', Daniel Rees', Levi Vanvolsen's.
JVew Sawmills — ^John Hager, Michael Moyer.
-Additional Residents in White Deer — Adams, James ; Chamber-
'^^ , Colonel William, of Anvil township, Hunterdon county, New
J^T^ey, bought the mill known as Bear's, and moved into the Valley ;
'^^le, Henry ; Fruit, Richard ; Howard, Thomas, one slave ; How-
^^ci, David ; Miller, Samuel ; Marshall, Stephen, lived on George
Middle's place or General Potter's place, late Doctor Ard's ; Rose,
•Andrew ; Stillwell, D^iel ; Williams, William. Stephen Marshall
^^d James Adams, above, were grandparents of late Honorable
J^xnes Marshall. Philip Heany moved to Penn's valley.
J^irst Residents in Mifflinburg — Dreisbach, John ; Holmes, Rob-
^^ ; Holmes, Jonathan ; Longabaugh, Henry ; Longabaugh, Mi-
^Viael; Reedy, Nicholas; Sampsel, Nicholas; Youngman, George;
Waggoner, Christopher.
West Buffalo^ State of Improvements, &*c. — Thomas Barber, saw-
tnill ; Jacob Grozean, grist and saw-mill ; Joseph Green, grist and
sawmill ; William Rockey, grist and saw-mill ; Michael Shirtz,
grist and saw-mill at Penn's Valley narrows, finished this year ;
28o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \\1&3.
Christopher Seebold, grist, saw-mill, and still ; David Smith, grist
and saw-mill.
Stills — Robert Barber, John Boude, George Rote, Elias Younlc-
man. Slaves : One taxed to Colonel John Clarke, named Mel,
and one to David Watson, named Kate.
Additional Residents — McCreight, John ; Shriner, Henry ; Wil-
son, Hugh, on General Irvine's land, late Solomon Kleckner's ; Zi j>-
pernock, Frederick.
PenrCs Township — App, Mathias ; Aurand, Daniel ; Bastian,
Daniel, Michael, and George ; Blasser, ; Burchfield, Charles ;
Clements, Peter ; Dusing, Nicholas and John ; Gable, Frederick ;
Grogg, Peter, saw-mill ; Hager, John, saw-mill ; Hershey, John ;
Highlands, John ; Hoffer, Elizabeth ; Humrnel, George Adam j
Jasemsky, Reverend Frederick William ; Kem, Mathias ; Ken-
dig, Jacob ; Krebs, John ; McKinney, Abraham ; Nyhart, David ^
Pfiel, Henry, saw-mill on Middle creek ; Ram, Nicholas ; Rhoads^
Francis, junior ; Shatzburger, Christopher ; Shawber, Christopher^
junior; Silverwood, James; Snyder, John, tan-yard; Snyder^
Simon, junior ; Solt, David ; Strausser, John N. ; Sutherland and.
Vanvalzah, grist and saw-mill on Penn*s creek ; Trester, Michael^
saw-mill; Walter, John, Jacob, junior, David, and Philip; Weirick,
William, saw-mill ; Witmer, Peter, junior, saw-mill ; Wolfe, JohiL
and George, junior ; Young, George ; Zering, John.
March 28, petition presented to the House, asking Buffalo creeks
to be declared a public highway up as far as Rockey's mills.
In September, the yellow fever prevailed so badly, that the Supreme
Court held no session in Philadelphia. It broke out early in August,
and continued its ravages until Novembei^ Over four thousancS-
deaths in that period, out of a population of fifty thousand.
In October, Thomas Mifflin re-elected Governor. Vote in North.—
umberland county, Mifflin, 1 443 ; Muhlenberg, 514. The candidate's
for Senate were William Hepburn, Daniel Montgomery, Evan Ower»^ 9
Samuel Wallace, and Bernard Hubley, and William Hepburn wzis
elected. The candidates for Assembly were Josiah Haines, Jam^s
Davidson, William Cooke, Samuel Dale, John White, Jacob Fulmer,
and John Weitzel. The candidates for County Commissioner were
Chistopher Dering, John Buyers, David Ireland, Robert Clarke, John
Thornburg. Charles Gobin, and William Bonham.
^"^^.J ANNALS O^ BUFFALO VALLEY, 281
December 1 2 was observed in the churches as a day of humiliation
^-«d thanksgiving, for removing the plague from Philadelphia.
In I>ecember, the court-house and jail at Sunbury were in such
^^ uinous condition, that the president and associate judges threatened
fhe commissioners with prosecution, ''unless new buildings are com-
^ aenced next year."
Deaths.
' Nicholas Smith, White Deer.
George Barnhart, East Buffalo.
James Ferguson, Buffalo. His children were Mrs. William Thomp-
son, Mrs. Hugh McConnel, Mrs. Charles Hummel, and a son, John,
married to David Hanna*s daughter.
In West Buffalo, 2 2d April, Daniel Campbell, a soldier during the
whole war of the Revolution. He married Catherine Klinesmith,
who was wounded, as described anfe page 190, and had by her two
children, John and Ann. John died near Mifflinburg. Ann married
Samuel B. Barber. Campbell had received a land warrant for one
hundred acres, and, in order to locate it, Barber and wife had to
make proof of their identity. Catherine Chambers, the widow, and
Baltzer Klinesmith, junior's, depositions were taken ; on file at Lew-
isburg.
Robert McCorley, of White Deer, died in the fall. Left widow,
Anna, and children, Isabella, wife of William McLaughlin ; Mary
Seidel, Robert, James, Roley, (still living, 1877,) and Jacob, after-
wards member of Assembly.
Levi Vanvolsen lived in Dry valley, and had a distillery. A girl,
living with him, took one of his children into the still-house, and
placed it upon a barrel, and went to draw some beer. The child fell
off into a vessel of boiling mash, and was scalded to death. The girl,
Nancy Grimes, afterwards married Jeremiah Speddy.
1^94-
FfRST Baptist Settlers — Samplbof Mr. Moftmsoii's Sehmoss— Eeverksb
Georoe Geibtweit — Excitement Incident to the Wriskt Insciihec-
TioN— Counts Politics— Election Reti'rss— Flavbl Roan's PoEmr.
1HOMAS SMITH appointed Justice of the Supreme Court,
vice William Bradford, resigned. Senator, William Hep-
burn. Members of Assembly, Flavel Roan, George
Hughes and Jacob Fulmer. Henry VandersUce, Jailer.
County Commis-sioners, Robert Fleming, Richard Sherer, and Chris-
topher Dering.
On the 8th of January a special election was held for a Senator,
in the place of William Montgomery, resigned. William Hepburn
was elected by sixty-four majority over Rosewell Wells, for the un-
expired term.
Among the Officers of fVest Buffalo — John Reznor, Adam Laugh-
iin, and William Moore, assessors.
The additional Taxable! were — James Barklow, John Barton, John
Kleckner, Solomon Kleckiier, Benjamin Jones, Conrad Coons. The
name of Jacob Groshong disappears from the list, and his mill is
assessed to Enoch Thomas.
Additional Residents of Mifflinburg — John Irvin, store-keeper ;
Henry Neal, Ludwig Gettig, Jacob Welker, William Welker, Israel
Ritter, John Earnhart.
Of Lewisburg — Alexander McBeth, Matthias Shaffer, Hugh Mc-
Laughlin, William Stednnan, Esquire.
17$M.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 283
JFirst Residents of New Berlin — Hugh Beatty, George Moyer,
Christopher Miller, Zeba Smith, Philip Harmony, William Black,
John Mitchell, and Martin Carstetter.
Among the names of those who moved into the Valley this year,
I note particularly James McClellan, Esquire, and Gabriel Morrison,
soViool- teachers, both from Chester county; widow Mary Harris,
grandmother of William Laird Harris, of East Buffalo; John Betz,
a-nd Samuel Baum.
Improvements — The bridge across the Buffalo creek, at its mouth,
For this, the court of quarter sessions directed an allowance of ^50,
0^133 33.) It was without a roof. Travel now deserted the road
^y w-ay of the ferry, wh^e the iron bridge now (1877) stands, for
^^^ road on the river bank. Seventy-seven years elapse, and the
^"gines at the boat-yard of Frick, Billmyer & Co. frighten it back
^3.1 n. Stedman and Smith keep store at l>ewisburg. The court-
house at Sunbury was commenced. William Gray, of Sunbury,
•"^Jexander Hurtter, and John Weitzel were the trustees for build-
ing it.
O. N. Worden, in a short history of the Baptist churches, pub-
lisHed in Meginness' History of the West Branch, quotes from the
""^Outes of the Philadelphia Baptist Association, (1794:) *'A letter
^^^ received and read from the church in Buffalo Valley, Northum-
"^i*land county, requesting to be received into the association. Post-
P^tied, no messenger apf>earing to receive the right hand of fellow-
ship." Mr. Worden adds that there were a few Baptists and preach-
^^g stations in Buffalo Valley after the Revolution, but there is no
knowledge of any Baptist church in Buffalo Valley until the forma-
tion of the Lewisburg church, in 1844.
Colonel James Moore informs me that Colonel William Cham-
berlin was a Baptist ; and after his arrival in the Valley, with other
New Jersey people of the same persuasion, he probably made an
effort to establish a Baptist church, which was abandoned, on ac-
count of the distance the people lived from each other.
Additional Taxables, East Buffalo — Beatty, James; Bickle, Chris-
topher ; distillery, erected by Conrad Reedy ; Elliot, George ; Free-
man, Doctor ; Pfreemer, Reverend George ; Gray, Robert ; Harris,
Widow Mary ; Hoy, John ; Lytle, Anthony ; Lutz, Jacob ; Mc-
Clellan, James ; McConnel, William ; McLaughlin, John ; Schrack,
284 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17
Benjamin ; Smith, William, store-keeper, Lewisburg ; Steel, David ;
Stockman, Nathan; Thompson, Benjamin.
Additional Taxables^ White Deer — Armstrong, Andrew ; Awl,
Samuel ; Elder, James and John ; Fisher, Christian ; Goodlander,
Christian ; Henderson, William ; Hilliard, Guy ; Hoffman, John ;
Jordan, Widow; Luther, Andrew; McCorley, Widow; McGines,
Thomas; Martin, Hugh; Reninger, George; Riddle, George;
Woods, John.
PenrCs — Drum, Charles, grist and saw-mill ; Forey, Christian ;
Hendricks, Samuel ; Landis, George ; Menges, Adam, grist and
saw-mill ; Ott, George ; Page, Abraham, still ; Pawling, Joseph ;
Reish, Daniel, saw-mill; Ritter, Simon, *still ; Stober, William;
Tryon, Frederick, fiddle ; Wetzel, Philip.
Beaver — Aurand, Henry and George ; Cummings, James ; Ewing,
Thomas ; Ewing, John ; Gill, William ; Hendricks, Jacob, mill ;
Harman, Samuel ; Hileman, Adam, mill ; Romich, Joseph ; Ship-
ton, Thomas ; Shultz, John ; Troxell, John ; Wilson, Moore.
Dietrich Aurand, who had followed milling at different places
down the river, removed, with his family, into the Valley, and set-
tled on a farm on Turtle creek, midway between its source and out-
let, about five miles above Jenkins' mill. The farm he was on had
a reserved water right, and was given to him by his father, with the
design that he should build a merchant mill on it, and he intended,
so to do ; but the Hessian fly having proved very destructive to th&
wheat crops for upwards of ten years, he lost severely in purchases
of wheat for the French, and lost by bailing, so he could not build
the mill, and had to sell and remove to an adjoining farm, in 1801.
Mr. Morrison's Sermons,
The late James McClellan, Esquire, left his father's home, near
Fagg's Manor church, Chester county, on the 2d of April. He had
been in the habit for years of writing down a skeleton of the ser-
mons of Messrs. Sample, Latta, senior and junior. Smith, senior
and junior, Barr, Dayton, Mitchel, Findley, and others, who filled
the pulpit there. The last, by Mr. Sample, was March 15. Then
his manuscript is destroyed, and the next that can be made out is
1 8th of May, John xv, from the i6th to the end, by Mr. Morrison.
17»4.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 283
He says parsed by Mr. Morrison, and nothing but what is clearly
contained in the verses offered. From the few skeletons preserved by
^uire McClellan, Mr. Morrison seems to have fallen into the lazy
habits, still indulged in by some of our present preachers, of com-
Daenting on quite a number of verses, instead of delivering a logical
snd prepared discourse on one theme. For instance, his fast -day
*fmon, June 13, on Matthew v, ist to the 9th, is stenographed
thus : «*This is Christ's sermon on the mount. He went up on a
'Dountain, some of the commentators say, because the law was given
on a. mountain. However, he made choice of this place to deliver
his sermon. Verse 2 : He opened his mouth, expressive of deliber-
ation, judgment, and authority, and taught. Verse 3 : This cannot
™^^n poor in possession, as some allow, as some are poor and
^'^ Sliced; but it means those children of God who are broken under
^ S'^nse of guilt, whatever their external circumstances may be, but
"^^uently it is that of middle circumstances. Verse 5 : The * meek '
^^^^^^ not mean the external, affected polish which prevails ; it means
^ christian behavior, whereby he serves God as becometh Christians,'*
^<^,, to the end. Perhaps we do injustice to Mr. Morrison's mem-
^^y by putting on record this •* Cliatband" style of preaching, but
^^ is the only memorial, perhaps, in existence to throw any light on
'^is pulpit services, not abilities, may be, as he could make a flaming
political harangue.
At a meeting of the German Reformed Synod, held at Read-
^ng, in May, the Reverend George Geistweit was licensed as a
tninister, and a call immediately presented him from the Shamokin
churches. The congregations in all these regions had been vacant
since the Reverend J. Rahauser left them, in 1792. Mr. Geistweit
preached statedly at Selinsgrove, Sunbury, &c., and occasionally in
Buffalo Valley, in the newly-built town of New Berlin, at Penn's
creek, &c. He labored here until the year 1804, when he accepted
a call to York, Pennsylvania. He died there, November 11, 1831,
aged seventy years, and was buried in the Reformed grave-yard
there. There are still (1857) some people living in the Valley who
were confirmed and married by him, and speak of him with great
affection and gratitude. — Doctor Harbaugh,
Mr. Geistweit bears the enviable reputation of having been one
of the kindest and most benevolent of men. It is reported of him
286 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [179*.
that, on one occasion, he even took the hat from his own head an<l
gave it to a poor wanderer, whose destitute condition appealed iO
his charity. — Reverend D. V. Heisler^ Fathers German Reformtc/
Churchy volume 3, page 77.
Ihe Whisky Insurrection.
September 30. The summer and fall of this year are noted for
the excitement through the State, culminating in the whisky insur-
rection. Some of the whisky boys determined to erect a liberty
pole, at Northumberland ; Judge William Wilson, of Chillisquaque,
and Judge Macpherson, of Dry Valley, hearing of it, determined to
prevent it. They called upon Daniel Montgomery, also a justice,
to assist them. He told them he would pull at the rope if the
people required it. He, however, went with them, but rendered
them no assistance in suppressing the disturbance. A fight took
place ; Judge Wilson read the riot act, as he called it, to disperse
the crowd, but they paid no attention to it. One of them presented
his musket at the judge, but the old revolutionary captain cocked
his pistol and made him put down the musket, under the penalty oE
having his brains blown out. They arrested the judge. He wouh
not give bail, and they were afraid to put him to jail. In the me/ee,
Jasper Ewing, the prothonotary, drew his pistol and snapped it a
William Cooke. See the case reported in i Veates, 419. Kennedy'^
Gazette^ of 3d December, has General Henry Lee's proclamatioi
to the people of western Pennsylvania, dated at camp, at Parkinson" ss
ferry, November 8, in command of the troops of New Jersey, Mary~-
land, and Virginia. Also, an advertisement of Doctor Priestly ""s
works, he was then publishing.
Indictments were found versus Robert Irwin, Daniel Montgomery ,
John Frick, William Bonhara, John Mackey, senior, and Samuel
McKee. Mr. Meginness says they were tried in Philadelphia, cor^-
victed, and sentenced, and that General Washington pardoned them
at the end of twenty days. His account of the riot is, that tt^e
liberty pole was erected at the corner of Second and Market street:s,
in Northumberland. The arsenal was under care of Robert Irwin?
(grandfather of the Nesbit brothers of Lewisburg.) The rioters
took possession of the arsenal, and distributed the arms. The pole
was driven full of nails, and guarded day and night. John Brandy,
f 17W.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 287
junior, was deputy marshal, and a very determined man. A col-
lision was imminent, when Captain Robert Cooke's company, from
Lajicaster, arrived, and dispersed the rioters at the point of the bay-
onet. An axe was called for to cut the pole down. Mrs. Bernard
Hubley came running with one, her sister, Mrs. Jacob Welker, met
her and tried to take the axe. Mrs. Hubley got past her, and the
poie came down.
This company passed through Buffalo Valley. At Andrew Bill-
myer's, a little beyond Lewisburg, a pole had been erected, but the
report of the advancing troops got there before they did, and the pole
was cut down and hid. The soldiers could not find it, and took their
revenge in drinking up all the whisky, eating everything in the
house, leaving word that Uncle Sam would pay the bill.
Politics,
By an act of the 2d of April, Dauphin and Northumberland con-
5^*tuted our congressional district, and by the act of the 2 2d of
''^pril, Northumberland, Luzerne and Mifflin our senatorial district,
^^^cting two members for the term of four years, and Northumber-
^*J:id became entitled to three members of Assembly.
Elates were at that early day made at I'hiladelphia, but usually
sn^ashed by the people. George Green writes from Philadelphia to
'Robert Irwin, September 24:
* * Son Robert : 1 am at loss to know whether the county of North-
^Tkberland or the county of Mifflin, as 1 understand they are in
^^e district, is entitled to one or two Senators. If two, Mr. Mar-
^*i^, I hear, is to run in your county, and there is a certain Mr. John
^U.lbertson mentioned in the other county. I look upon him as a
SCKxi man, and if there are two for the district, I could wish the two
^t>c)ve-mentioned to run ; if but one for the district, you may act as
you think proper. I think they are both good men. There are
5*'^at preparations being made here for an army to go to the Fort
^itt country to subdue the rioters, as they are called. It appears to
"^^e to be a serious affair. How it will turn out only time can tell."
The following schedule of election returns is printed in full, so as
^c^ show the strength of party in each election district in the county.
^ found it among Flavel Roan's papers, kindly loaned me by his
^^phew, Flavel R. Clingan, of Kelly township.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
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4.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 2S9
Samuel Maclay*s large majority will be remarked ; also, the still
ater popularity of Flavel Roan, as he has a majority in every elec-
n district. It will be noticed that the Federalists ran three revolu-
oary officers. Surgeon Davidson, Colonel Cooke, and Major Abra-
n Scott, for Assembly, yet they were largely defeated by civilians;
publicans, as the opposition called themselves. This must be
ibuted to the personal influence of William and Samuel Maclay,
I the excitement caused by the whisky tax. William Maclay, I
ir from his private journal, differed with General Washington
y early in the first session of Congress. The Maclays, though
tocratically descended, their ancestor being Baron Fingal, were
insely democratic in sentiment. We notice William Maclay
tnbles at the state or ceremony of Washington's intercourse witn
tigress and the public; his objections to the President's pres-
:e while business was transacted, and his boldness in speaking
.inst the President's measures in open Senate, and the President
stener. These are matters more proper for a biography of Mr.
clay; but their reflex influence upon Northumberland county
ctions must be noted in these Annals.
X will be noticed that Robert Irwin has the highest vote for
riff. Nevertheless, Governor Mifllin appoints the next highest,
in Brady, a Federalist. The law then gave the Governor the
irilege of appointing from the two highest candidates. Henry
Adam was elected coroner over Henry Lebo, Paul Baldy, John
Ly, &c. Henry Vanderslice was elected county commissioner
r Charles Gobin, Thomas Forster, &c. Joseph Barnett, Hugh
tty, and Robert Clarke, each, had quite a number of votes lor
embly.
n the case of the sheriff", many depositions were filed by the
nds of Irwm and those of Brady. In one by John McGrath, he
>, having a store to build for Mr. Irwin, on the 29th of Septem-
, when the tree was liauled in to make the ** liberty pole/' he
ched the pole during the night, using the unfinished store-room
that purpose, without Mr. Irwin's knowledge or concurrence ;
t the night of the watch Mrs. Brady gave him a quart of whisky
reat the watch with ; that Lawrence Campbell brought a quart of
iidy, and said that Mr. Brady had sent it ; that John Brady said
brother had no more sense than Jimmy Logan, and while his
19
290 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, \Vm,
brother was cutting the pole down here, he was helping to raise one
in Milton, and that if they would raise another, he would put a silk
flag on it at his own expense.
John Tietsworth swore, a voter in Buffalo told him that when be
proposed the name of Brady for sheriff, in Buffalo, ** he liked to have
got his head broke for doing it," &c.
A memorial to the Governor, signed by William Wilson, William
Hepburn, Jasper Ewing, William Gray, Jonathan Walker, Thad-
deus Hamilton, Daniel Smith, John Kidd, Bernard Hubley, Joseph
J. Wallis, and B. W. Ball, sets forth, ** that since the commence-
ment of the insurrection to the westward, this county has furnished
daily proofs of a disposition inimical to the cause of Govemraenl,
by erecting what they call liberty poles. One attempt has been
made by the friends of Government to cut down these poles, which
was attended with imminent danger to the lives of some of our best
"citizens. The arrival of our friends, from Luzerne gave great ac-
tivity to the spirit of the county. They were a standard about
which the friends of order might rally, and an object of dread and
hatred to the party in opposition. After they had been here a few
days, General Wilson and Judge Macpherson issued warrants against
a number of persons who had been most active in opposition. The
sheriff served them, and reported that they willingly submitted and
entered into recognizances. But the moment they had done so,
we are informed, that they set out through the country with inflam-
matory falsehoods against some of our good citizens who were can-
didates. Of John Brady, a candidate for the sheriff's office, and a
sworn friend of Government, they reported that he had rode his
horse over a pole before it was raised, and that he or his brother
had assisted in cutting down a pole, and if he was elected, he would
summon juries friendly to the Government, and that by it they
would all be hung."
They allege that, but for these reports, Brady wOuld have been
elected. They further represent John Brady to be strongly in favor
of the Government ; that his father and brother were killed by the
Indians, and that he had two brothers in the United States service,
and allege that Irwin sympathized with the whisky insurrectionists,
and ask Governor Miflilin to appoint Brady, although they admit he
was two hundred votes behind Irwin.
171M.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 2gi
David Hammond testified that the report among the people was,
that William Perry Brady had cut down the liberty or whisky pole
at Northumberland, and that they would not vote for John Brady
on that account, ** as they believed he was against the pole. **
John Hayes (Esquire) testified **that he saw at Derrstown, in Buf-
fa.lo township, Robert Irwin, as active a person as there was there in
Helping to put up a pole that was erected there, with a large flag with
a. motto thereon, * Liberty ;' that the people said Brady was for the
Government, and, if he was elected, he would do everything in his
power against them, as they had been active in raising the pole."
Samuel Maus testified ** that he saw John Brady assist raising the
fint pole at Northumberland, and had heard him say that he had
^^Iped raise a pole in Buffalo, and another in Milton, and that he
^ould purchase a very genteel large flag for the next pole at North-
umberland, and that his brother was a damned rascal for cutting
^own the first pole ; that John Brady's girl brought the brandy to
t^e people who were watching the tree for the pole the night before
^t Was raised, and the girl told the people the brandy came from Mr.
^'"ady, upon which the people cried out huzzah ! for John Brady's
brandy ! "
William Spring certified that some time in October last John Mason,
0^ Northumberland town, came to James Tawar & Co.'s store and
o^Uered a sufficient piece of red Persian to make colors for the lib-
^^ty pole, and directed it to be charged to John Brady's account, or
^*s own, whichever I thought proper.
Henry I^bo testified that when the first pole was set up in North-
umberland, the people, on motion of Mr. Eddy, formed a circle, and
sat down, said Eddy in the chair ; that Robert Brady came into the
ting with two case bottles of whisky, and called upon him (Lebo)
to tell the people this was John Brady's treat, John Brady being in
the company; that this deponent, thinking his neighbor Irwin
should not be behind in treating the people, went to Irwin's store,
and not finding him at home, asked the clerk for a half gallon of
Hrhisky, who refused. Mrs. Irwin was then applied to, and she
refused; that he then got a half gallon on his own account, took it
out to the people, who, thereupon, drank his health.
James Faulkner testified he heard Irwin say that a friend of Brady's
told him, **that at a collection of a number of people in Younk-
2g2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \ 1794.
manstown, (a village in Buffalo,) at the raising of a liberty pole,
John Brady came along in his route electioneering, at which place
he expressed himself too freely against such unlawful measures,
which exasperated the people so much, that it had completely ruined
his election in the Buffalo district."
Jonathan Walker (afterwards Judge Walker,) testifies ** that John
Brady always was, and still is, opposed to liberty poles ; tliat Wil-
liam Bonham, John Mackey, and Daniel Montgomery, were the prin —
cipal persons concerned in raising the pole at Northumberland:^^
that Daniel Montgomery told him that he was determined to mr — ^
Irwin in his own defense, as a number of them might be indicte«iii3
for erecting liberty poles, and they had no favors to expect from Job:
Brady if he should succeed ; that Bonham said at first that he woul*
give all his interest to, and make all the Methodists in the count
vote for, John Brady, but he had changed around to Irwin, and m^
a dead ticket for him," &c., &c.
Governor Mifflin, in a note to James Trimble, Deputy Secretary^ 3
says that he has ** shown the depositions produced by the friends ^:^f
the Government in favor of Brady, the lowest on the return, to VL k".
Ingersoll, (the Attorney General,) and he conceives it proper th^t
Brady should be commissioned. Therefore, let the commission fo^tl^-
with issue.*'
A Specimen of Flavel Roan's Poetry, taken from Kennedy's Gazette
of May 14, 1794.
Mr. Kennedy,
Please to insert the following advertisement^ and oblige your^s,
^c, Flavel RoAN-
I am an old man, my case is quite common,
I want me a wife, a likely young woman.
I late had an old one, but three years ago.
She sickened and died, and left me in woe ;
I whin'd J. B. preached a sermon when she was buried,
Wore my old wig a fort'night, then long'd to be married.
If any one knows where a wife's to be had.
Such as seventy wishes when reason is dead :
A girl that will warm my old bones in the winter,
Let them leave the intelligence with Mr. Printer.
^^^1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
293
Deaths.
Thomas Taggert, at Northumberland. Children: Robert, David,
^iJJiam, James ; Elizabeth, married to William Bonham ; Catherine,
^0 John Painter ; Christina, to James Semple ; Mary, to Benjamin
Patterson.
I-ambert Vandyke, of White Deer. Children : John, Henry, James,
^^illiam, Archibald, and Alexander. Lambert's widow afterward
Diarried Benjamin Thompson.
George Smith, (of Hartley now.)
John Fisher, of White Deer. Children : Henry, Paul, John, Mi-
cli^^l, George, and three daughters. One married Thomas Perry,
aj^other Jacob Wertz, and another to Philip Haines. John Fisher
''^^^ one of the first settlers. Took up the land in his own name, on
P^^t of which West Milton now stands. He is buried in the corner
^^ ^he field above John Datisman, Esquire's, store, where the Valley
'^^^jd strikes the river. He was the grandfather of Paul and Daniel,
^^ Cjrregg township.
CDasper Bower, (East Buffalo.) Children: Henry, Margaret Hol-
^^*"» Susanna Dressier, Catherine Saunders, Maria Flickinger, Barbara
^*"*^ith, and Maria, unmarried then.
-Andrew Fox, (of Hartley now.)
^athias Barnhart, East Buffalo. Children : William H., Matthias,
rentz, Magdelena, married to Peter Getz.
^Edward Tate, a soldier of the Revolution. His children were,
ward, who moved to Rock Forge, Centre county, around which
"-^^ descendants reside, and William, who married a daughter of
^ivjgh Beatty, and whose children live in and near Bellefonte.
JCennedys Gazette says that ' ' Colonel Matthew Smith died at
^^ilton, aged fifty-four. He was captain of the rifle company that
^^ent through the wilderness with Arnold to Quebec. A company of
^&ht infantry, under Major Piatt and Captain James Boyd, marched
a.l>out six miles to Warrior Run burying-ground. Many tears were
sned over the old patriot's grave, and, after his remains were depos-
ited, three volleys were fired over his grave."
He was prothonotary in 1 780. His son, Wilson Smith, was sheriff
^^ Brie county in 1804, and Senator from that district in 181 2.
>cUartermaster General under Governor Snyder, in 1 8 1 4. His grand-
^'^f Matthew Smith, still resides in Waterford, in that county.
1^95-
HorcK — Politics — Tav's Tbkatt — (tkoroe Kesteii*!**'
■h's BEqcRSTS FOR Soiiooi.s — Death of William IrvinK'
jj EMBERS of Congress, Samuel Maclay, and Andrei
j Gregg. Senator, Samuel Dale, elected vice William Hep-
, who resigned on the loth of April. Members of
I the House, Flavel Roan, Hugh White, and Robert Mar-
tin. County Commissioners, Richard Sheret, C. iJering, and Henry
Vanderslice. John Brady, Sheriff.
In East Buffalo f the additional Taxables are — Joseph Phares, John
Hubler, Jacob Lutz, Job Thomas, Doctor Rosewell Doty.
John Pollock opened a store in Mr. Lewb' house, in I>ewisbiii^.
On 5th August, Henry Spyker commenced building the first bricli
house ever erected in Lewisburg, (still standing,} on the corner of
Front and St. Catherine streets, and owned by James S. Marsh.
John Meffert, of Tulpehocken, was the contractor. Most of the brick
were brought from some point down the river, and a few made on
Tliomas Wilson's place, now a part of George Wolfe's, near the fair
ground. Abraham Troxell did the hauling.
In White Deer : Archibald Hawthorne appears as a taxable.
In West Buffalo: John Wintelbieck, John Wilt, Joseph Will.
.'\dam Armor, and John Collins.
In Penris : George Benfer, Michael Beaver, Peter Hackenberg,
Samuel McClintock, Philip Vocum, (Big) John Kerstctter.
^94
1795.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 295
Saturday and Sunday, 24th and 25 th of January, fell the deepest
snow had for many winters — two feet on the level. From April loth
to the 19th, the weather was excessively warm, like in the middle of
summer.
Thursday, 19th February, was observed as a day of thanksgiving
and prayer, upon a proclamation of President Washington. ** Good
George, take care you do not fall," writes Republican Henry Spyker,
in his diary.
Xo April Session, 1795, Hugh Wilson, Henry Dreisbach, Leffard
Haughawaut, William P. Maclay, C. Baldy, and John Thompson,
junior, reported that they had laid out a public road from Dreisbach*s
cliiirch to the Presbyterian church at Buffalo Cross-Roads.
Poliiics.
Jay's treaty with Great Britain was signed on the 19th of Novem-
ber, 1794. General Washington received a copy on the 7th of
M^sLrch, of the present year. An extra session of the Senate was called
ork the 6th of June, and it advised the President to ratify it, except
one article in relation to the West India trade. While Washington
waiting, a little, the progress of events, one of the Virginia
riators, S. T. Mason, in violation of the obligation of secrecy,
s^rit a copy of it to the Aurora^ a violent, partisan Democratic (or
Republican, as was the party name then) paper, in Philadelphia. It
^as spread before the people without any of the accompanying
documents or letters, necessary for a fair appreciation of it by the
People. The treaty was the best that could be obtained at the time,
and public policy recommended its ratification. Nevertheless, the
^^rna feeling of our people towards the French gave the opportunity
^0 the politicians to raise a tremendous storm. Meetings were held
all Over the country, and the treaty denounced violently. Jay was
"Urned in effigy, the British minister insulted, and Hamilton stoned
at a public meeting. We can give no idea of the bitterness engen-
dered, except by large quotations from speeches and correspondence
^f the day. The clergy, at least many of the prominent ones, took
part, and some of their vituperations appal us. The upshot of the .
noattcr was, General Washington stood firm, and the treaty became
2()6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1796.
a law. Nevertheless, the party feeling it elicited increased until \i
ended in the overthrow of the Federal party, in the fall of 1800.
William and Samuel Maclay were the influential men of the middle
and western portions of Pennsylvania, and were decided Republi-
cans. Buffalo Valley, ever since a hot place about election times,
was doubly hot at this tirhe. Samuel Maclay *s influence, from his
good character and ability, was almost unbounded. Nevertheless,
Mr. Morrison led a determined few in opposition to the dominant
Republicans. The result was, pew rates ceased in the Buffalo church,
and we only find the names of William Sherer, John Allen, Joseph
Allen, John Reznor, George Knox, Walter Clark, Joseph Patterson,
William Gray, and Thomas Howard, marked as paying up their sti-
pends. In 1797, the foregoing and William Wilson and William
Irwin, Fsquire, only are marked as having paid up. In 1798, occur
the same names only paying up. In 1799 and 1800, the same
names. In 1801, only the names of George Knox, William Wilson,
William Gray, Esquire, and Walter Clark.
Mr. Morrison commenced preaching at Mr. Maclay from the pul-
pit, and Mr. Maclay refused to go any longer, and, of course, took
the larger body of the congregation with him. Mr. Morrison alleged
that the majority had conspired to shut him out of the church, and
he and l]is party went so far as to shut themselves out of the church,
one day, and then went over to the school-house to hear Mr. Mor-
rison preach, and endeavored to put the odium of it upon the ma-
jority.
Marriage.
December, 16, Tobias Sheckler to Catherine, daughter of George
Frederick.
Deaihs.
John Thornburg, of Lewisburg. Charles Pollock, White Deer.
Henry Bolender. Theobald Miller, of Penn's. His widow married
George May, of Buffalo. His children : Benjamin, who went down
the Ohio, and was killed by the Indians; Valentine, father of Car-
penter John, of Lewisburg; Margaret, married to John Metzgar;
Catherine, to John Adam; Mary, to Philip Moore, of Freeburg;
Valentine, married a daughter of Joseph Evans, of Lewisburg, served
in the war of 181 2 ; father of Reverend Theobald, of Ohio.
1795.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 2g-j
George Kester, (Hartley now.) In his will he provided for the
erection of a school-house on his place, which was to be furnished
^ith a good stove, at the expense of his estate. This is still known
^ the Kester school-house. A burying-ground is attached, in which
^re interred many of the old settlers. Kester*s children were Peter,
Elizabeth, Christina, and Henry.
Anna M. Smith, of East Buffalo. She left in her will ^£30, to
^rect a school-house for poor children on Turtle creek.
William Irvine, died November 18. His place was the ** Thomas
W^iVson" warrantee tract, about a mile above Rengler's mill, adjoining
^Aen John Beatty, Wendell Baker, James Magee and John Sierer, two
^iindred and sixty acres ; ninety cleared. It was sold by his execu-
^^'"s, on 4th May, 1798, to Peter Dunkle, for $1,500.
William Irvine came into the Valley, probably in the year 1774,
^^en he patented the tract. He is marked on the assessments
"William Irvine, (Irish,) to distinguish him from William Irwin, Es-
^^ixe, who is marked as **late of Carlisle.** His wife was an Arm-
^^^ong, connected with the family at Carlisle, and his eldest daughter,
^^therine, (afterwards Catherine Wilson,) was born November 16,
^758. He served during the French-Indian war, 1 754-1 763. I
^ve his powder horn, on which are etched the stations between
^Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, to Fort Stanwix and Crown Point, the
plan of Fort Duquesne, the English insignia ^^ Honi soit que mal''
Indians with scalping knives, &c. With the runaway of 1779, he
removed his family to* Cumberland county. The spring served as
a hiding place for many things, and a griddle, now in possession of
J. M. Linn, still shows some rust-holes gotten there. His wife died
near Carlisle, and he returned to his place in the Valley, accom-
panied by his daughter Catherine, and from her have come down
many incidents of the hardships endured by the early settlers.
When alarmed by incursions of the Indians, they rendezvoused at
McCandlish*s, (now John Lesher's.) Once, when on a flight, the
quick ear of the father caught the report of a bush cracking behind
. them. He pushed her behind a tree and cocked his rifle, but it was
only a deer running by. Once they were pursued so close they had
to leave a cow with a calf only a few days old. He pushed down
the fence so that she could get into the meadow, and they then fled
for their lives.
2g8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. |1716-
Later in life, he married Jane Forster, daughter of John. She died
in 1824, aged eighty-four, and is buried in the Lewis grave-yard.
His children were, i, Catherine, married to Hugh Wilson, father
of Doctor W. L Wilson, still living ; Francis, who died February
15, 1873, ^^' James F. Linn, Mrs. William Stedraan ; 2, Elizabeth,
married to William Love ; 3, Nancy, to William Milford. (The lat-
ter took a boat load of produce to New Orleans, in 1809, and was
never heard of afterward.) His wife survived him forty-one years ;
4, Mary, married to James McClellan, Esquire ; 5, Sarah, married
to Walter Charters. William Irvine's father*s name was Andrew, of
the county of Fermanagh, Ireland ; and John, Matthew, and Thomas,
of Philadelphia, frequently mentioned in the Pennsylvania Archives,
in connection with the purchase of ships for the navy and powder for^
the continental army, were William's cousins, as were also Genera"^.
William Irvine, of the Pennsylvania Line, Matthew, the celebrateci.
surgeon of Lee*s legion, and Andrew, who survived so many wouncL^
received at Paoli.
1^96.
Bishop Nkwcomer Visits the Vallkv — List of Ishabitants of East
BiFKALO. Le\visijur(j, New Berlin, West BrFFALO, White Deer, a.vi>
MAHANTASr.O.
ENATOR, Samuel Dale, re-elected in October. Mem-
bers of Assembly, Hugh White, John White, and Thomas
Grant. William Cooke, commissioned Associate Judg^
January 19th, vice Samuel Maclay, resigned December
7, 1795. County Commissioners, Joseph Dering, Henry Vander-
slice, and Nathan Stockman. Coroner, William McAdam. Briga-
dier General, William Wilson. Brigade Inspector, Bernard Hubley.
Peter Hosterman, Justice of the Peace, commissioned March 14 5
George Youngman, March 17 ; Frederick Stees, June 9.
I79S. 1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO GALLEY. 2gg
January i8, George Clark, Lazarus Finney, and Roan McClure
made a valuation of the real estate, &c., of White Deer township.
jlea.1 estate, $37,445 ; personal, $4,438 ; buildings, $6,448.
Nlarch 18, Conrad Weiser moved from Tulpehocken to his place
Oft the Isle of Que Spyker*s Journal.
M!ay 6, Bishop Christian Newcomer, of the United Brethren
Church, visited the Valley, and held meetings on the 6th, 7th, 8th,
and 9th. Many souls confessed their sins, among the rest a woman
canae forward leading her daughter. Blessed be God ! she, with
many others, found mercy Newcomer' s Journal.
James Jenkins sold his slave, Tom, to Colonel John Patton, of
Centre county. Tom was thirty years old when the emancipation
act of 1780 was passed, but was registered defectively, and lived in
the belief that he was still a slave. After living many years with
Colonel Patton, he came back to Buffalo Valley, and became a
cKarge. The overseers removed him to Ferguson, in Centre, and that
to^vnship had to keep him.
List of Inhabitants of East Buffalo.
The occupation, where not mentioned, is that of farmer ; improve-
inents, when not added to the name, are log-house and barn ; c, for
cabin: Alsbach, Mathias; Anderson, William, c; Aurand, John;
^^rand, Dietrich, c ; Aurand, Peter, c ;. Bailey, John ; Baker, Wcn-
^^'1 ; Baldy, Christopher ; Barber, Martha, c ; Barnhart, Henry ;
^''^on, John, on Jasper Ewing's place ; Baum, Charles ; Baum,
Samuel; Beatty, Alexander ; Beatty, John ; Betzer, William; Betz,
^^'"o.m; Betz, Solomon ; Bickel, Christopher ; Bickel, Jacob ; Bill-
/'•^^i', Andrew, tavern-keeper ; Boveard, James, c; Bower, Casper;
^^^^r, George; Bower, Jacob; Burd, David, c ; Campbell, John,
^ VVilliam Gray*s place ; Carothers, Samuel ; Cherry, Charles, on
■ -^aldy's place ; Christ, Adam ; Croninger, Joseph ; Colpetzer,
^-'tn, c; Conaly, John, distiller; Connell, William, c; Coryell,
^;am, joiner ; Coryell, George ; Covert, Luke, c ; Cox, Tunis ;
/^^^, Samuel, Esquire ; Davis, Robert ; Derr, George ; Dempsey,
^^ow, c ; Dennis, John ; Dersham, Christian ; Donnell, Andrew,
~^\iire ; Doughman, Stephen ; Dreisbach, Henry ; Dreisbach,
J^^^C)b; Dreisbach, Martin; Dunlap, William, c; Dunkle, Jacob;
Soo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17W-
Eaylor, Frederick, c ; Emrey, Jacob ; Emrey , William, a blacksmith ,
on John Sierer*s place ; Eyerly , Abram, stone barn ; Farley, John ,
c; Farley, Michael; Fisher, George ; Fisher, William ; Foster »
James ; Fought, Michael ; Frantz, Ludw^ig ; Frock, Henry, c; Free-
man, Reverend George ; Freeman, Nathaniel ; Frederick, Peter ^
Frederick, George ; Foster, William ; Gass, George ; Gass, Peter ;
Goodman, George, c ; Goodman, John ; Gray, Robert, c ; Grcea-
hoe, John ; Grogg, Peter, c ; Groninger, Joseph, c ; Grove, Mi-
chael, c ; Grunner, Jacob, c; Gundy, Christian, grist and saw-milJ
at George Derr's ; Harris, Widow; Hartley, John; Haughawaut,
Leffard, c ; Hayes, John, surveyor ; Hayes, David ; Holdship,
Thomas, shoe-maker; Holeman, Martin ; Housel, Peter ; Hoy, John;
Hoy, Philip ; Hubler, John ; Hummel, John ; Hummel, James,
-^house-joiner; Hunter, Samuel; Huntsman, John, junior; Hunts-
man, James, senior; Irwin, James, c; Jenkins, James, stone grist-
mill; Kemble, Joseph ; Kemberling, Jacob, c ; Knight, Isaac, c;
Lincoln, Mishael ; Long, George ; Lowrey, Hugh, c; Lowrey,
Widow; Lutz, Jacob ; McClellan, James; McConnel, William, c;
McGee, James; McLaughlin, John; Maclay, Samuel, Esquire;
Macpherson, John ; Maize, Michael ; Markle, John ; May, George;
Metzgar, Jacob ; Miller, Benjamin ; Miller, Christian ; Miller, Con
rad ; Miller, George, c ; Mizener, John ; Mook. Jacob, c ; Morrison,
Reverend Hugh; Morrison, Gabriel, c; Morton, Japhet; Meyer,
Michael, saw-mill ; Nichols, James, fuller ; Nickle, Samuel ; Over-
meier, George, senior ; Overmeier, George, junior; Overmeier, Peter;
Peters, Henry, c; Peters, Philip; Piper, William; Poak, William;
Poak, Thomas, malster; Pollock, John, store- keeper ; Pontius, Fred-
erick ; Pontius, Nicholas ; Pontius, Henry ; Porter, Samuel ; Ray,
John ; Reed, Robert, c ; Reedy, Conrad ; Reedy, Jacob ; Rengler,
John, saw and grist-mill ; Rees, Daniel, c ; Rees, Thomas ; Rich-
ard, Henry ; Rote, John ; Sailor, Henry, c ; Schrack, Benjamin ;
Scroggs, Allen, c; Seebold, Christopher, grist-mill ; Sheaffer, Henry,
(ferry;) Sheckler, Tobias ; Sheckler, Daniel ; Shipman, John, c ;
Shively, Henry, c ; Shuck, John ; Sierer, John ; Smith, Michael,
blacksmith ; Stadler, Valentine, c ; Stahl, Philip, saw-mill ; Steel,
David, blacksmith; Sterrett, Thomas; Struble, Conrad; Struble,
Adam ; Snoddy, James ; Tcrapleton, Samuel ; Thomas, Job ;
Thompson, William, c, school-master ; Thompson, James ; Thomp-
^75B^] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 301
son , Benjamin ; Thompson, John, senior ; Thompson, John, junior ;
Toner, Charles; Treasonrighter, Conrad; Ward, Thomas ; Weiser,
CHristopher, fulling-mill ; Wilson, Hugh ; Wilson, Thomas ; Wine-
garden, Widow; Wise, Peter; Wise, Fredericlc, blacksmith ; Wise,
Frederick; Wise, Jacob; Voneida, Philip.
^ewisburg — Armstrong, William, tailor; Beyer, Doctor Charles,
log house; Black, James, stone house, store-keeper; Caldwell,
T'Homas, log house, store-keeper ; Dunlap, John, ferry and tavern,
reckter to James Black, $120 ; Ensworth, Andrew, log house, peddler ;
^'v-ans, Joseph, log house and shop, cabinet-maker ; Fulton, Henry,
csi^lz)in ; Gray, John, tavern; Grove, Adam, carpenter; Grove, Wen-
^^11, carpenter; Henning, Frederick, tavern, log ; Hyndman, Sam-
^^X ; Kemble, Lawrence, log house, tinner ; Knox^ George, tanner ;
L-^ ngs, George, cooper ; Lewis, Alexander, stone house and kitchen,
^*^^ a frame house; McLaughlin. Hugh, tailor; Metzgar, John, two
'^<^^iises, store-keeper; Metzger, Daniel, saddler; Murphy, John ;
*^^^ak, William, log house and kitchen, tavern-keeper; Poak, Thomas,
^^^^^ house ; Poak, George ; Roan, Flavel ; Sherer, Richard, log
'^^^^^use; Stedman, William, stone house; Shaffer, Matthias, carpen-
^^^^; Troxell, John; Welker> Jacob, log house; Wells, Joseph,
*^"^ oe-maker ; Wells, Benjamin, shoe-maker ; Yentzer, Christian, log
^^^use.
New Berlin — Beatty, William ; Beatty, Hugh ; Black, William ;
00k, James; Gill, Isaac ; Henderson, James ; Miller, Christian,
lop-keeper; Mitchell, John ; Moyer, George, tailor; Overmeier,
-5^ ^hn ; Rerich, William, blacksmith; Seebold, Christian, tavern-
^«eper ; Smith, John, tavern-keeper ; Smith, Peter, tailor ; Specht,
-^dam, shoemaker ; Trester, Martin.
A List of all the Inhabitants of West Bujfalo Township, with a
Description of their Dwellings and Occupations.
Anthony, George, wheelwright, round log cabin ; Armstrong,
William, farmer; Adamson, William, cooper, log cabin; Ammer-
man, Daniel, jobber, cabin ; Allen, Obediah, farmer, round log
cabin ; Boerhave, Christopher, blacksmith, scutched log house,
stable, and cabin shop, one hundred and thirty-seven acres ; Beeb,
George, cropper; Bruner, Jacob, farmer, cabin, one hundred acres;
302 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1796
Bruner, John, jobber, cabin, one hundred acres; Brown, John
farmer, chip log house and barn, spring-house, shelj oi^z,^ new 1
house, one hundred and seventy-two acres ; Brown, Christian, job
ber, hewed log house', not lined ; Black, William, school-master, chi
log cabin ; Beigh, Frederick, cordwainer, round log cabin ; Bart
ges, Michael, nailor, frame nailor shop ; Ben, James, living
his father-in-law; Books, George, sawyer, log cabin; Banter^ John -^
farmer ; Bole, Henry, farmer, chip log house and bam ; Buckalew ^
Peter, farmer ; Bubb, George, farmer, cabin ; Boveard, William, jol> —
ber, log house and barn ; Buyers, John, farmer, log cabin ; Barton. ^
Kimber, a school-teacher; Clarke, Joseph, colonel's son, farm occul —
pied by John Conser, one hundred acres ; Carmany, John, cord^ —
wainer, small hewed log house ; Cox, William, jobber, hewed lo
house and kitchen; Christ, Conrad, cooper, round log cabin; Coo
Conrad, cordwainer, round log cabin ; Clay, David, fanner, rouA.
log cabin; Conser, John, stiller, log house; Clark, John, farmei
log house ; Coderman, George, farmer, hewed log house ; Clar
Joseph, farmer, round log cabin ; Carney, Anthony, blacksmit
round log cabin ; Crawford, Edward, farmer, log house ; Crawforcd,
William, farmer, log house ; Coderman, David, farmer, log hoLBse
and barn; Games, William, farmer; Coderman, Jacob, farmer,
log cabin : Chambers, Robert, farmer, log cabin ; Chambers, Max-y.
housekeeper, log cabin ; Chambers, Benjamin, single man ; T^gt-
sham, Ludwig, farmer, hewed log house and bam, one hundred
acres; Dreisbach, John, gunsmith, hewed log house, stable, brick
kitchen and frame shop;*Derr, Christian, house carpenter, smaii
chip log house; Duncan, James, weaver; Douglass, William, farmer,
log house ; Earnhart, John, blacksmith, hewed log house and black-
smith shop ; Emery, John, blacksmith, hewed log house and shop
on John Kleckner's place ; Evans, Nathan, saddler, round log
cabin ; Emery, Peter, farmer, log cabin ; Emery, John, farmer. Jog
cabin ; Everet, Abel, miller ; Fry, Jacob, farmer, hewed log house,
kitchen, barn, and cabin; Forster, Thomas, farmer, chipped log
house ; Forster, Robert, farmer, hewed log house ; Fough, Henry,
round log cabin; Ford, Thomas, farmer, chip log cabin; Fisher,
Peter, sawyer, cabin and saw-mill ; Fiddler, Stephen, blacksmith,
log house and shop ; Frederick, Thomas, farmer, log house ; Get-
gen, Ludwig, mason, hewed log house; Ghien, Nathan, farmer.
1796.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
JOS
chipped log cabin ; Gray, Henry, farmer, round log cabin ; Get-
chey, Adam, farmer, chipped log cabin ; Gast, Jacob, jobber, chip-
P^cl log cabin ; Glover, John, farmer, hewed log house and round
^c>g bam, very old ; Grim, Jacob, tavern-keeper, hewed log house,
^ist and saw-mill; Gray, George, tenant, log cabin; Hyman, John,
jol^ber, small cabin; Holmes, Jonathan, small hewed log house;
ttome, Robert, shop-keeper, hewed log house and chip log stable ;
rtousel, Jacob, farmer, log cabin; Housel, Martin, farmer, chip
^^K house and stable ; Hamilton, Francis, jobber, round log cabin ;
^ umler, Daniel, farmer, chipped log cabin; Helman, John, jobber,
^ dipped log cabin ; Hickson, John, farmer, hewed log house ; Hull,
*-^i^oraas, farmer, chipped log cabin ; Hoves, John, farmer, round
barn ; Hendricks, Henry, sawyer, cabin ; Humler, Adam,
'^Tner, round log cabin ; Iddings, James, farmer, shell of a cabin ;
hngs, William, farmer, chipped log cabin; Irwin, John, shop-
'^^^per, hewed log house and round log house ; Johnson, Christopher,
^^-^mer, grist and saw-mill ; Jones, Benjamin, farmer, chipped log
^^^use ; Kennedy, Alexander, farmer, chipped log cabin, old stable,
^ flipped log house and barn, shell, one hundred and forty acres ;
^<mple, John, farmer, hewed log house and barn ; Keney, David,
rmer, round log cabin, Kleckner, John, tavern-keeper, barn,
><able, and spring house ; Kester, Henry, farmer, log house and saw-
nil ; Kester, Peter, farmer, cabin ; Kester, John, farmer, log cabin ;
lester, John, sawyer, log house ; Kester, Peter, stiller, cabin ; Kleck-
ner, Solomon, clock-maker, chipped log cabin ; Lyman, Michael,
^:^arpenter, hewed log house; Langabaugh, Henry, weaver, hewed
^^g house; Leighty, John, tanner, round log house; Lowdon,
John, farmer, hewed log house, bam, spring-house, and saw-mill;
l^ughlin, Adam, farmer, log cabin ; Lewis, Paschal, farmer, log
house ; Mathias, Jacob, jobber, hewed log house and barn, one hun-
dred acres; Moor, James, hunter, hewed log cabin ; Moore, Henry,
cordwainer^ round log cabin, log still- house ; Mettlen, Patrick,
farmer, round log cabin ; Mizner, Adam, farmer, hewed log cabin ;
Midker, Conrad, farmer, round log cabin thatched ; Mitchell, John,
farmer, round log cabin ; Miller, Bastian, farmer, round log cabin,
thatched roofed barn; Mann, Philip, farmer, log house ; Metzger,
Henry, jobber, cabin ; Means, Andrew, millwright, log cabin ;
l^lathers, Samuel, farmer, chipped log cabin ; McLain, John, cord-
304 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [171
wainer, hewed log house; McCutchen, Hugh, schoolmaster; M
Grady, Alexander, farmer, round log cabin ; McCaley, Alexar^ '
der, farmer, round log cabin, barn shingled ; McMurtrie, Hugbp ^
farmer, cabin ; Noll, Henry, cropper, cabin building ; Neel, WiL —
liara, weaver, chipped log weaver shop ; Neel, Henry, tailor, hewec::3
log house ; Owens, Abel, farmer, chipped log house ; Pontius, Aa —
drew, farmer, house and cabin, barn, one hundred and fifty acres :S
Pontius, Andrew, junior, farmer, round log house ; Pontius, Henry ^
farmer, hewed log house and log cabin ; Peterson, Robert, hunter ,
chipped log house and cabin stable ; Piper, Henry, farmer, hewec 1
shell house ; Peters, Michael, round log cabin ; Rockey, Jacob, dot- "^
what he thinks best ; Rearick, John, farmer, hewed log house, spring
house and cabin barn ; Richey, Andrew, jobber, cabin ; Rockey, Wi
Ham, farmer, hewed log house, cabin barn , grist and saw-mill ; Rocke> "W,
John, tavern-keeper, hewed log house and kitchen, round log stable ' ;
Rote, George, tavern-keeper; Ray, George, tavern-keeper, hewc^ -==d
log house and barn ; Royer, Peter, farmer, hewed log house an^ -^d
barn ; Reed, Mary, Mifflinburg ; Reedy, Nicholas, jobber, lo;, -^g
house ; Ross, Charles, jobber, scutched house ; Rote, Peter, farmei^ic^ ',
round log cabin ; Ridabaugh, Michael, farmer, hewed log house an- -^^
barn; Reznor, John, junior, farmer, log house; Reznor, Johirr"^»
senior, farmer, round log cabin ; Reznor, George ; Rote, Johic -*»
Jacob, and George ; Reznor, Hugh, Moses Caruther*s miller; Rhin^^^^'
macker, Baltzer, farmer, round log cabin ; Spangler, Christ iaicr -*i»
farmer, log house and barn, one hundred and fifty acres ; Spangle^d r?
John, jobber, one hundred and twenty-one acres ; Shanke, Jacotr:^^'
blacksmith, hewed log kitchen and shop ; Skiles, James, jobber: '">
<^hipped log house, small ; Sample, Nicholas, carpenter, hewed Xo^^g
house ; Stotan, William, farmer, chipped cabin, barn and still-house^^" •
Shrock, John, farmer, round log cabin ; Smith, John, farmer, roun^ ^
cabin, house, and saw-mill, round log cabin ; Shriner, Nicholas, crop^-
per, hewed log cabin ; Shriner, Peter, jobber, hewed log cabin ; Smithm^
Melchior, farmer, chipped log house ; Shirtz, Michael, farmer, \og
house, cabin ; Snook, William, farmer, log house ; Smith, Ludwig,
farmer, log house, grist and saw-mill ; Smith, David, farmer ; Shri-
ner, Henry, jobber, log cabin; Spencer, Joshua, jobber, cabin;
Tate, David, farmer, cabin, house, scutched log barn ; Thonapson,
James, farmer, hewed log house, round log cabin; Thomas, Enoch;
1796.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, joj
Tittleman, Godfrey, farmer, round log cabin ; Tibbens, David, saw-
yer, cabin ; Trippy, George, weaver ; Wise, Jacob, farmer, hewed
^ house, spring-house, and cabin barn ; Wagner, Christopher, car-
Pinter, hewed log house ; Welker, William, jobber, hewed log house
^d kitchen; Welker, Jacob, tailor, hewed log house; Williams,
fenjamin, chipped log house; Wigdon, John, farmer, hewed log
^^11 of a house ; Wilson, Hugh, tavern-keeper, hewed log house, red
^^ barn, on Colonel Hartley's place ; Wilson, David, farmer, one
S'a.ve ; Wirebaugh, Catherine, house-keeper, log house ; Wirebaugh,
Nicholas, single man ; Winkelpleck, John, farmer, log house ; Ultz,
/oseph, farmer, hewed log house, xsd log stable ; Ultz, John, farmer,
^S cabin, round log stable ; Vorgan, John, farmer, round log cabin ;
^^Oungman, George, shop-keeper, hewed log house, shop, scutched
^g stable ; Youngman, Thomas, with his father, a shell of a scutched
'^g house; Youngman, Elias, hatter, chipped log house; Young,
^liristian, potter, hewed log house, round log stable ; Zellers, Peter,
'^rmer, hewed log house, round log barn ; Zipperneck, Frederick,
^imer, round log house and barn ; Metzgar, Jacob, farmer, round log
^^^bin.
Single Freemen — Barnes, Aaron ; Chambers, Joseph ; Caruthers,
^^oses ; Crotzer, John ; Duncan, James ; Emery, Joseph ; Hunter,
JfDhn ; Love, Alexander ; Moore, Jacob; Moore, John; McCalley,
XlDavid ; Rockey, Jacob.
--^ List of all the Inhabitants of White Deer Township^ Dwellings^
their Occupation^ &*c.
All whose occupations are not named were farmers. Adams,
Joseph, log house and barn ; Adams, James, square log house and dou-
ble bam; Allen, Joseph, cabin and still -house ; Allen, John, cabin,
stable; Anderson, Gailand, cabin, saddletree-maker; Awl, Samuel,
cabin, shoe-maker; Bennage, Simon, log house, one and a half stories,
double barn ; Bogender, Lemuel, Thomas Howard's place, carpen-
ter ; Bole, Samuel, log house, double barn ; Bower, John, cabin
and stable, shoe-maker; Boyl, William, tenant of Gideon Smith;
Buchanan, David, cabin and stable, millwright ; Carnahan, Robert,
cabin and still-house ; Chamberlin, William, frame house, log barn,
oil, grist, and saw-mill, log still-house; Clark, Walter, square log house
on
3o6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17!
and double barn ; Clark, Robert, square log house and double bar
Clark, William, stone house, log barn, still-house ; Clark, Georg
Cleland, Arthur, cabin and stable ; Clendening, William, cabi
weaver; Coburn, William, cabin and stable; Connelly, William, cabi
weaver; Coulter, Nathaniel, cabin, laborer; Darlington, Josep
cabin ; Davidson, Thomas, blacksmith, log house ; Dean, Samuel
cabin, no trade ; Dickey, George, saddler ; Dinning, Samuel, lo
house and barn ; Drielly, James, cabin, weaver ; Eaker, Joseph, cabk
and stable, doctor ; Elder, Thomas, school-master, cabin, stable, am. ^
corn-crib ; Elder, James ; Farley, Caleb, cabin and stable ; Finne^p-^ ,
Robert, log house and double barn ; Finney, Lazarus, no improv^^-
ment ; Fisher, Paul, log house and double barn; Fisher, Henr
cabin and stable ; Fisher, Michael, log house ; Fisher, George, no i
provement; Fisher, Elizabeth; Fisher, Christian, cabin; Fisher,
John, jobber; Freeman, Samuel, cabin, weaver; Fruit, Robe»-"t,
square log house and barn ; Fruit, Richard, log house, one ancd a
half stories, stable; Gilliland, Joseph, cabin, cooper; Gillespie
Charles, cabin ; Gilman, Henry, large cabin ; Gilman, Jacol>,
large cabin, weaver; Goodlander, Christian, cabin, tailor; Gott-
shall, John, carpenter ; Graham, Edward, cabin, tailor ; Gray, Wil-
liam, Esquire, log house, one and a half stories, double bam, and st il/-
house ; Groninger, Jacob, lived en William Wilson's place, caL>in,
weaver ; Heckle, Andrew, log house and double barn ; Henderson,
William, cabin, carpenter, on William Wilson's; Heriot, Samuci,
carpenter : Hies, George, cabin, blacksmith ; High, Peter, carpenter
and tavern-keeper ; Hill, John, cabin, shoe-maker ; Hill, James,
small cabin, shoe-maker; Hilliard, Guy, cabin, shoe-maker; How-
ard, Thomas, square log house and bam ; Hudson, William,
cabin, mason ; Huffman, George, log house ; Huffman, John.,
log house and double barn; Hunt, John, cabin, blacksmith;
Hunter, Agnes, cabin ; Hutchinson, Thomas, square log house,
(Patterson's place ;) Iddings, William, cabin, blacksmith ; Iddings.
Henry, log house ; Iddings, Jonathan, small cabin ; Iddings.
Isaac, small cabin; Irwin, Richard, log house and barn, weaver:
Irwin, William, cabin ; Johnson, Jean, cabin, and stable ; Jordon,
Jean, cabin and barn, clapboard roof; Jordon, William, cabin,
boatman ; Keller George, small cabin, wheelright ; Kelly, John,
Escjuire, log house and double barn ; Kiles, James, cabin, laborer;
A
1TSO.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO Valley. 307
L-SLird, Matthew, log house and barn ; Lantz, Arthur, log house
ar^ci kitchen ; Linn, John, log house, one and a half stories, double
b3.rn, and still-house ; Linn, Isaiah, cabin and stable ; Lukey,
Jolin, log house ; Luther, Andrew, cabin and stable, tailor ; Mc-
^eth, Robert, log house, blacksmith ; McClenachan, Finney, small
C3.t>in ; McClenachan, William, cabin and stable, carpenter ; Mc-
C^lcnachan, Andrew, square log house; McClure, Roan, cabin and
double barn ; McCorley, Widow, log house, still-house ; McCorley
J^xmes, small cabin, laborer ; McGaughey, Andrew, small cabin
*cliool-master ; McGinnes, James, weaver ; McKinley, Hugh, small
^^^^l)in, laborer ; McLaughlin, James, small cabin, laborer ; Mc
L.^ughlin, William, small cabin ; Mc Williams, James, small cabin
^-^^iDorer ; Marshall, William, still-house, distiller ; Marshall, Stephen
^"*^»nall cabin, laborer ; Martin, George, log house, old stable, shoe
'^^sker ; Martin, James, log house; Miller, Samuel, cabin and stable
^^^^^^jpenter ; Mool, Nicholas, weaver, (John Huffman's;) Moore
J'^.mes, cabin and stable ; Moore, Joseph, log house and double barn
core, George, cabin ; Nevius, Christian, log house and double
^rn; Nickles, Thomas, cabin, William Wilson's place; Nogel
^^-^harles, log house, carpenter ; Norcross, Abraham, laborer, cabin
^*^orcross, John, frame house, hatter, shop, ferry, and taveni ; Painter
Jacob; Pollock, Adam, stone house and double barn ; Pollock, Jo
^^ph, log house and double barn ; Rank, John, log house and stable
-^eed William, stepson of C. Gillespie ; Reninger, George, grist
^«w-mill, cabin, and stable ; Riddle, George, square log house
Rodman, Hugh, carpenter; Shannon, William, weaver; Shaw,
Hamilton, large cabin, stable ; Shaw, James, cabin ; Sherer, Rich-
ard, cabin, still-house, and barn ; Smith, Gideon, log house, double
V)arn, and still-house, joiner ; Smith, Catherine, grist and saw-mill ;
Smith, Peter, cabin; Smith, John, cabin; Smith, Ludwig ; Snook,
Philip, double cabin; Steel, John, log house; Steel, Alexander,
small cabin ; Steel, William, tanner, log house, stable, tan-yard ;
Stillwell, Daniel, square log house ; Sweesy, Daniel, cabin ; Thomp-
son, William, carpenter, cabin ; Thompson, William, school-master,
cabin ; Vandyke, John, cabin, barn ; Vandyke, Huston, shoe-maker ;
Vartz, Dietrick, large cabin ; Vogen, Robert, small cabin, cooper ;
Ward, Thomas, B-obert Clarke's place, old cabin, weaver ; Ward,
John, cabin, jobber ; Ward, George, cabin, jobber ; Walles, John,
jo8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [17!
weaver, cabin ; Watts, John, carpenter, cabin ; Welsh, Nichol
stable and cabin ] Welsh, Ludwig ; Wheeland, Michael, carpentefl
cabin; Whittemore, Peter, cabin, stable, and blacksmith shop*
Wilson, William, stone house, bank barn, and apple-mill, tailor
Woods, John, cabin and still-house, reed-maker ; Woodside, Davie
large cabin, stable, and blacksmith shop.
Single Men — Adams, James ; Adams, John ; Chamberlin, Enochs ,
miller; Clark, Charles; Clark, George; Foster, Hugh, weaver ;
Fisher, William, miller ; Huffman, George ; Hawthorne, Archibalds ;
Iddings, Samuel; Irwin, John, distiller; Irwin, Samuel, weaver" ;
Johnston, William; Lukey, William, joiner; Lukey, James; M^iz:-
Cluskey, Patrick, distiller ; Nicholas, John ; Painter, Henry ; Po^ 1-
lock, James ; Pollock, Thomas ; Ray, William ; Russell, Alexand^ iX",
distiller; Wheeland, Samuel.
Penris — Brause, Adam; Deal, John; Deitz, Jacob; Filma^x:!,
John; Gaughler, Nicholas; Gehr, Jacob; Hughes, Garret; Jam^t,
Jacob ; Kern, Widow ; Kratzer, Daniel ; Leckington, AbraharKU ;
Musselman, Jacob ; Price, Thomas; Schuyler, Nicholas; Weiriczilc,
John.
List of Residents, &*c., of Mahantango Township made in 179^ —
Territory, Chapman, Perry, West Perry, now in Snyder Couni^.
Albright, Frederick, senior and junior ; Albright, John ; A^xiJt,
George ; Anderson, William ; Arnold, Casper, saw-mill ; Barnha.rt,
Henry ; Bay, John ; Bickart, John ; Birchfield, Charles ; Blasser,
John ; Bower, Daniel ; Bower, Peter ; Bowman, Jacob ; Bright,
Michael ; Brumbach, George ; Burget or Burkhart, Philip, Esquire;
Eckhart, Jacob; Forrey, Christian; Garman, Henry, saw-miii;
Garman, John and Peter; Gaughler, George; Geltnitz, Casper;
Getherd, Henry, cooper; Goy, Frederick; Graybill, Jacob; Gray-
bill, Christian; Graybill, John; Gunckel, Jacob; Haflig, Jacob;
Hagerman, John; Hamilton, James; Hawn, Michael, saw-mill;
Hawn, Michael, junior ; Heem, Paul; Heffer, Jacob; Heimback,
Peter; Heintz, Doctor Christian; Heisler, Henry; Herrold, Simon,
grist and saw-mill; Herrold, George; Hershey, John; Hershey,
John, junior; Hetzel, Mathias ; Hoff, James, tailor; Hostemian,
Peter; Imhoff, Charles, two stills; Johnston, John, saw-mill; Jordoa,
170G.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, jog
John ; Keiser, Jacob ; Kerstetter, John ; Kerstetter, George ; Ker-
st^tter, Leonard ; Kerstetter, Martin ; Kerstetter, John, junior ; Ker-
stetter, Widow; Leiter, John; Livengood, Jacob; Livengood, John,
L^ivengood, Jacob, saw-mill ; McClintock, Samuel ; Martin, Jacob ;
M^eiser, George ; Meiser, Adam ; Meiser, Henry, junior ; Meiser,
Henry, senior, saw-mill ; Meiser, Michael ; Meiser, Philip ; Metter-
ling, Baltzer; Nieman, Wiant, saw-mill; Nitz, Jacob and Philip;
Patterson, Robert ; Pfeill, Henry; Reber, John ; Reed, Frederick ;
Reed, Casper ; Reichenbach, John ; Reichenbach, Jacob ; Reinerd,
George ; Richter, Christian ; Richter, John ; Rine Henry, two
stills; Roush, Jacob; Roush, Jacob, junior; Saddler, Stephen
^^ccrist, Christian, saw-mill and distillery ; Shaffer, John ; Shaffer
^^ichael, saw-mill; Shaffer, Peter; Shedde, Henry, saw-mill
^Vietterly, John, saw-mill ; Shetterly, Henry ; Shetterly, Catherine
^i^etterly, Andrew ; Shower, Adam and Michael : Shreiber, Philip
^^>iith, David, oil-mill ; Snyder, Herman ; Snyder, John, senior
^^lyder, Thomas ; Snyder, Herman, senior ; Snyder, George
'^^oe-maker; Snyder, John, tanner; Speese, Herman; Stahl, Fred
^^ck ; Stahl, John ; Stees, Frederick, grist and saw-mill and shop-
*^^eper; Stephenson, Earnest, weaver; Stephy, Adam and Leonard;
^^raub, Charles ; Straub, Charles, junior ; Straub, Peter ; Strausser,
^^icholas, horse jockey ; Swartz, Martin ; Swartz, John and Peter ;
^Tiomton, John ; Thorsby, William ; Troub, John ; Vance, Robert ;
^^hitmer, Widow; Whitmore, Jacob; Whitmore, Samuel, distillery;
^^iant, Jacob ; Wiant, John , Witmer, Abraham ; Witmer, Peter,
^aw-mill ; Woodrow, Simon ; Woomer, Adam and Godfrey ; Zel-
lers, John; Zimmerman, Stophel and William; Zually, John, weaver.
Single Freemen — Goy, Frederick; Haak, Jacob; Meiser, George,
joiner ; Nitz, Jacob ; Shaffer, Andrew ; Stephy, Frederick, carpen-
ter ; Whitmore, Samuel ; Wiant, Michael ; Zimmerman, Jacob.
Married.
Sunday evening, June 12, Simon Snyder, Esquire, of Selinsgrove,
to Catherine, daughter of Colonel Frederick Antes, of Northum-
Ixrland.
Deaths.
Henry Peters, East Buffalo. Children : Anna, Maria, Mary, and
jro ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Joseph Taveler, East Buffalo.
Abraham Piatt, of Haines. Children : Jane, Eleanor, John, an d
James.
March 14, George Riddle, son-in-law of General James Potte:
deceased.
• ♦ »
1797
White Deer Election District — Books', Fisher's, and Barber's Mic — ls
Built — Greenville Laid Out.
EMBERS of Assembly, Simon Snyder and Samuel N^Ka-
cl3,y. County Commissioners, Henry Vanderslice, >Ja-
than Stockman, and Charles Irwin. Justices of ^ie
Peace appointed : Thomas Shipton, January 6 ; Jc^ln
Hayes, February 2 ; James Parks, March 30 ; Thomas McCormi<::rl:,
Washington township, March 30; Frederick Evans, April 18; ajnd
Christian Espick, November 27.
March 21, by act of Assembly, all that part of Washington tliat
belongs to Northumberland county, and of White Deer to Little
Spruce run ; thence down the same to Matthew Laird's ; and thence
to the river, where Peter Swartz formerly lived, (now Mr. Miller's
place ;) thence down the river to the mouth of Buffalo creek, was
included in the eighth election district, which held its election at
William Gallagher's in Milton ; and, by the apportionment of this
year, Northumberland county became entitled to two members.
Additional Taxables of White Deer — Adams, John ; Adams, Wil-
liam ; Busser, Jacob ; Chamberlin, William, junior ; Kelly, John,
junior ; Shrock, Aaron ; Spotts, Jacob. Henry Gray, Thomas
Fredericks, and Michael Greenhoe, had saw-mills, and George
Books erected the Books' saw-mill, in West Buffalo. He was a po^""
erful man. In a fight at Rockey's mill, he caught two men, Bogerv -
1797.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jir
%
reif and Iddings, and butted their heads together. Books removed
to Ohio, and died there.
Peter Fisher built the grist-mill, lately Samuel Wfeidensaurs, on
Penn's creek, at the mouth of Laurel run. Fisher's successor at
the mill was John Williams, his son-in-law. George, Henry, and
John Weirick built Robert Barber's grist-mill, on White Spring run.
^Villiam Weirick, who was the head of the firm of Weiricks, mill-
wrights, lost his life about this time, at a mill on the Juniata. He
slept in the mill, arose in sleep, and fell through an opening to the
bottom of the mill.
Store-keepers in Lewis burg — James Black, who had William Hayes
^or his clerk, William McQuhae, and Henry Spyker. Christian Read
huilt the barn of the latter. He charges him with sixteen gallons
of whisky, used at the work from June 29 to September.
April 3, George Derr sold Tobias Lehman his Lewisburg mill
property and two hundred and eight acres of land.
May 18, Frederick Evans laid out the property, late of George
Rote, in lots, and called it Greenville. It adjoined Youngmanstown,
and is now within the limits of Mifflinburg.
At the election in October, Robert Irwin had eighteen hundred
md forty-six votes ; Robert Brady, the next highest, ten hundred
ind fifty-three. The majority for Irwin was so large, he could not
>e safely set aside, and was accordingly commissioned, October 18.
Married.
February 9, Thomas Howard married to Elizabeth, daughter of
^idow Mary Harris.
Deaths,
January 8, Mary, wife of Robert Chaml)ers, aged sixty-one years.
George Rote. Children : Peter, Jacob, George, Abraham, and
f^^n. Sons-in-law, John Kessler, Michael Shirtz, Adam Colpetzer,
'^eph Ultz, Frederick Bartges, and James Ben. The latter married
'1^^ daughter who was a prisoner with the Indians. They last re-
^^^ed on Spring creek. Centre county, where she died, and he
•^^Tied a Widow Murphy.
1798-
iVE-TARD AT LeW18BUR(1 FeHRI' LaKDCSG DlSPlTK
— Politics — Death of Captain John Lowdos.
BAMUEL DALE and Samuel Maclay, Senatora. Mem-
i liers of Assembly, Simon Snyder and Jacob Fulmer.
Sheriff, Robert Irwin. Register and Recorder, Jere-
I miah Simpson, commissioned July 24. Justice of the
Peace, Simon Snyder, junior, March 13. John Lawson, Mayj-
Seventh division. Major General William Montgomery. Second
brigade. Brigadier General William Wilson, commissioned March
24. Brigade Inspector, Bernard Hubley, commissioned June S-
Buffalo : Supervisors, Peter Frederick and John Beatty. Col-
lector, Hugh Beatty.
West Buffalo : Supervisors, David Smith and John Reznor. On
the 4th of April West Buffalo was erected into the fourth district r
and the election directed to be held at the house of James Forsler.
January 10, James Sherer appointed the first postmaster at Len'i^ -
burg.
In February, Walter Clark, William Gray, and William Wiboi* »
trustees of the Presbyterian grave-yard at Lewisburg, presented s^-
petition to the Legislature, setting forth that many had buried thei *"
friends in lot No. 48, (next Weidensaul's hotel lot,) and there wer«^
no persons buried in No. 42, (C. D. Cox's hotel lot,) and asking?
authority to sell No. 42, (which, with 44 and 46, were, on the 261 1^
of March, 1785, conveyed to them for the use and benefit of tt**^
Presbyterian congregation of Buffalo, for the purpose of a burying ~
9S.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO yALLEY, j/j
round, by Ludwig Derr, the proprietor,) and to buy No. 48. An
-t passed accordingly. — 3 Smith's Laws, 304.
uidditionai TaxabUs in Penn's township — John Binkomer, store-
^«per; Joseph Barger; saw-mill; Adam Brause, saw, grist-mill, and
Lstillery; John Dusing, shoe-maker and fiddler; Frederick Dreone,
irgeon and fiddler ; Michael Galer, saw-mill ; Adam Fisher, store-
o use and ferry; Henry Haus, saw-mill ; George Kessler, tanner;
3.1entine Laudenslager, grist-mill and store; Francis Rho^des,
tavern, ferry, and store-house ; John Swineford, tavern ; Neal St.
■lair, taxed with a negro; A. Swineford, two mulattoes.
During this year James Black, owner of lot No. 341, on which
esbit & Brother's store and house now stand, brought an eject-
lent to maintain their landing privilege on the river opposite that
>t:. William Stedman and John Smith had a store in the stone
lailding opposite, owned by Cowden & Hepburn, and the writ was
- rved upon them as tenants.
Francis Guise had bought No. 341 of George Derr, on the 5th of
October, 1785, and on his deed was recited the privilege of a land-
^g on the bank of the river, opposite to and of the same breadth
»r No. 341. The claim was for the ground between the eastern
K^undary of said lot and low water-mark, on part of which the stone
building was erected, but the landing was unobstructed. Black was
defeated on the ground that an ejectment will not lie for a mere
^i*ivilege or an incorporeal hereditament. — 2 Yeates, 331. Hugh
V'ilson bought No. 341 at the sheriff's sale of James Black's prop-
J^y, in 1800, and sold it 4th May, 1810, to Adam Grove, who
^Id it on the 8th of May, 1822, to the late Thomas Nesbit, de-
•^ased.
During the summer, politics ran high ; the Republicans attacking
He alien and sedition laws, and elevating to the rank of martyrs
^»ose who had been prosecuted under the sedition laws. At a meet-
rig held in Lewisburg, for the purpose of addressing the President,
John Adams, Reverend Hugh Morrison was one of the principal
Speakers, and in his public speech, indulged in abuse of Samuel
Maclay and his family.
Deaths.
Robert Clark, leaving a widow, Jane. Children : Eleanor Fruit,
314 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [17
Margaret Ayres, Robert, George, Charles, and John. His brothei^
Walter, and his son, John, executors.
John Murphy, Lewisburg. Children : Benjamin, John, Henryi^i^
Mary, Nancy, and Sally.
John Wales, New Berlin. Widow, Ann M. Children : Jam
John, Joseph, Jacob, and Sarah.
Christian Miller, distiller. New Berlin.
Captain John Lowdon died at his residence, near Mifflinburg, L
February. His parents were Richard Lowdon and Patience VVrighit
(married by Friends* ceremony, June 5, 1728,) of Hempfield, (no^^
Columbia, Pennsylvania.) He was born July 5, 1730; married
March 27, 1760, by Thomas Barton, missionary, at Lancaster.
As early as 1756, Mr. Shippen recommends him for a commission
as ensign. He was an inn-keeper at Lancaster in June, 1770, and
during this year took up a great deal of land in Buffalo Valley. The
land on which Northumberland now stands was patented to his wife,
Sarah, in 1770, and, in connection with William Patterson, he laid
out that town. Reuben Haines made an addition to it, January 19,
1 781 , of land sold him by Lowdon in 1 775. In the spring of 1772,
he moved into Buffalo Valley, residing at a place he called Silver
Spring, afterward sold by his executors to Roush, now owned by
Levi Shoemaker. His wife died previous to the year 1 7 75, as during
this year he signed deeds alone, and it appears by a letter dated the
18th of July, 1775, to Captain Lowdon, at that time in the field,
that his five children were with his mother's family, at Hempfield.
His prominence in political agitations prior to the Revolution, will
be seen by the correspondence of that period, published under those
years, and what he said in the cabinet he was not afraid to make
good on the field of battle. As soon as the news of the battle of
Bunker Hill reached theN:ounty, he enlisted a company of ninety-
seven men and set off for Cambridge. After his return, on Novem-
ber 7, 1776, he was elected a member of the Supreme Executive
Council of Northumberland county, serving for one year. He owned
an immense body of land during his life, embracing nearly the whole
of West Buffalo township, besides large quantities now lying in Cen-
tre and Northumberland. Philip Pontius told me he often visited
at his father's, 'Lieutenant Henry Pontius, and he recollects his ap-
pearance distinctly. He was a large, well-proportioned man, with
1798.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 315
a. very pleasant expression of countenance. Doctor W. I. Wilson
(of Potter's Mills) told me, when a boy he often saw Captain Low-
don at the Buffalo Cross-Roads church. He wore a cocked hat,
We coat, buff vest and breeches, silver knee and shoe buckles. He
was married the second time. His will, dated November 10, 1797,
tiamed his wife, Ann, and two daughters, Susanna, married to Samuel
bright, (grandfather of Samuel Wright, of Columbia, Pennsylvania,)
Catherine, unmarried, and three grandchildren, John Lowdon Stake,
Charlotte and Catherine Stake. He left an annuity to his brother,
Richard, who died unmarried. Captain Lowdon*s children by his
fct wife were, Margaret, Susan, J^mes, Patience, and Catherine.
Margaret married J. Stake ; Susan, Samuel Wright, above named ;
their child, the late John L. Wright. Margaret's children were
Charlotte and Catherine. Charlotte married J. Quest ; Catherine,
^' Chenowith. Lowdon Stake never married, and that name be-
anie extinct. Captain Lowdon's remains were conveyed down the
^ver to Columbia, and buried there in the old burying-ground.
^Irs. Wright, mother of William Wright, of Harlem, Stephenson
County, Illinois, and daughter of the late Paschal Lewis, of Buffalo
Valley, now in her eighty-first year, says her father and mother went
part of the way, the day of the funeral, from Lowdon's house to the
river, or possibly to Penn's creek; that after Captain Lowdon's
death, his slaves were brought over from his farm and left, part of
them at Robert Barber's and part at her father's, to stay until such
time as Robert Barber was ready to start down with a raft or ark.
He took them to Columbia in that way. They had been slaves pre-
vious to 1 780, and the young ones were still in their apprenticeship,
and as his estate was bound to take care of the older ones, Samuel
Wright, his son-in-law, set apart forty acres for their habitation
and maintenance, on the east side of Columbia, back of the river.
Among these were Chloe and Phillis. Chloe was a regular Congo.
Phillis died a few years ago, aged one hundred and five. This was
the beginning of the famous Tow Hill, so well known to Maryland
and Virginia slave hunters as the refuge of their slaves. [William
Wright's letter, 1871.] John C. Watson said, the day of Captain
Lowdon's funeral the creek rose very high, and they could nQ^t get
over with the coffin, when *• Mel," Colonel Clarke's sUve, shouldered
the coffin and went over the foot-log with it.
* ',Af^^ -J ^-
'^- (% f^. .
^(»**M"
^ifV^
1799.
Hartleton — Sketch of Colonel Thomas Hartley — Lists of Taxables
— Martin Dueisbach — Thomas Wilson.
NDREW GREGG, Memberv of Congress. Samuel Dale
and Samuel Maclay, Senators. Jacob Fulmer and Si-
mon Snyder, members of the House. Henry Spyker,
31 commissioned Justice of the Peace for East Buffalo,
March 9 ; John Cummings, Beaver, December 6.
Hartleton was laid out by Colonel Thomas Hartley, who owned
the site and a considerable body of land around it. His first deed
for a lot is dated March 28, 1799. There is no plan of the place
on record. Colonel Hartley was a distinguished lawyer, born near
Reading, September 7, 1748, admitted at York, July 25, 1769.
He was lieutenant colonel of sixth Pennsylvania battalion. Colo-
nel William Irvine, and commanded the battalion after Colonel
Irvine's capture at Three Rivers. The anonymous letters published
in Force's Archives, describing this campaign, were written by Col-
onel Hartley. This battalion served one year. There were two
additional regiments to the Pennsylvania line raised in the State in
1777, whose officers were to be appointed by General Washington.
Colonel Hartley was appointed to one, and commanded, tempora-
rily, a brigade at Brandy wine. In 1778, his regiment was ordered
into the West Branch valley. On the 13th of January, 1779, ^^
was combined with the other additional regiment. Colonel John
Patton's, under the name of eleventh, the old eleventh having been
broken up; whereupon, February 13, Colonel Hartley retired from
service, and Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hubley succeeded to the
j/6
17«^.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 3'7
^c>ttimand of the eleventh. In 1783 he was a member of the Coun-
cil of Censors; in 1787, of the State Convention. In 1788, he
^'^^s elected to Congress, and continued a member until his death,
^cember 21, 1800. He died at York, aged fifty- three, and is
^Uried in St. John's church- yard there. He left two children, Charles
William Hartley, some time prothonotary of York county, and
Eleanor, married to Doctor James Hall, afterward physician to the
*^^aretto, at Philadelphia.
Among TaxabUs in White Deer — Awl, John ; Bennage, George ;
^ughner, William ; Bellman, George ; Bennage, John ; Bower,
^oses ; Covert, Isaac; Covert, John; Gottshall, Michael; Linn,
Charles ; Nees, Henry ; Orr, John ; Oliphant, Andrew ; Rauthraff,
lienry ; Sheetz, Jacob.
Single men — Chamberlin, Tenbrooke ; Davis, Stephen ; Luther,
John ; Stahl, George ; and Rank, Adam.
In West Buffalo — Christopher Johnston is taxed with grist and
Saw-mill ; Peter Rote, grist and saw-mill ; Burrows, Aaron ; Betz,
A.dam, tavern-keeper ; McClelland, James, miller at Barber's White
Springs. He was a great joker, and his fun was still current among
the old people when I began these Annals. Saunders, Henry;
Shively, Christian, son of John ; Webb, George, hatter ; Wilt,
Adam ; Wilt, George.
In East Buffalo — Auple, Conrad ; Baker, Wendell, two mills ;
fiarber, Joseph, blacksmith ; Beatty, Ann, widow ; Betzer, Conrad,
cordwainer ; Betting, Joseph ; Boyles, William ; Breyvogel, Jacob ;
Christie, James ; Collin, John ; Cook, John, cabin ; Cornelius,
John ; Coser, Andrew ; Ewing, Joshua ; Eyer, John ; Frederick,
George, inn-keeper ; Gross, Jacob ; Hudson, William, mason ;
Kinney, Martin ; Lehman, Tobias, two mills ; McKinley, Hugh ;
Ness, Jonathan ; Nevel, Nicholas ; Oldt, John ; Poeth, Joseph ;
Sherer, William, weaver ; Shout, Adam, shoe-maker ; Strayhorn,
Nathaniel ; St. Clair, John ; Taylor, James Graham ; Taylor, Wil-
liam, tailor ; Truitt, Andrew ; Watkins, Joseph, weaver ; Wetzel,
Jacob ; Whitmer, Peter, blacksmith ; Wigton, John ; Wilson, Hugh,
(Ridge ;) Wright, John ; Wolfe, Michael ; Young, Jacob ; Zeih-
rung, John.
Philip Callahan was one of the principal school-teachers in the
3/8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
L-
Valley. He had a large account at Henry Spyker's store for whis
and tobacco.
The difficulty between Reverend Hugh Morrison and Honorable
Samuel Maclay terminated in a suit * for slander. Morrison sfx.
Maclay, loi August term; Evan R. Evans for plaintiff, Messrs:
Moore, Cooper, and Roberts for defendant. It was regularly con-
tinued until 1 817, when the clients and most of the lawyers had
appeared before another bar.
George Frederick started the first hotel at Buffalo Cross-Roads.
In 1799, Mifflinburg was the largest town in the Valley. Its resi-
dents were Ayers, James, shoe-maker; Bartges, Michael, nailor;
Barton, Kimber, tavern-keeper ; Black, William, shoe-maker ; Car-
mony, John, shoe -maker; Carothers, Moses; Clark, Daniel, tanner;
Clark, Adam, jobber; Collins, Michael, jobber; Crotzer, John,
carpenter; Crotzer, Jacob, tailor; Derr Christian, joiner; Dreis-
bach, John, gunsmith ; Earnhart, John, blacksmith ; Eilert, Chris-
topher, farmer; Ely, John, clock-maker; Evans, Nathan, saddler;
Forster, James, tavern-keeper; George, Simon, laborer; Getgcn,
Ludwig, mason; Gibbons, John, joiner; Hassenplug, Henry,
brewer ; Herring, Adam ; Herrington, Nathan, cooper ; Holmes,
Robert, store-keeper ; Holmes, Jonathan, jobber ; Irvine, John,
store- keeper ; Layman, Michael, joiner; Lighty, John, tanner;
Longabaugh, Henry, laborer; Moss, Patrick, jobber; Neel, Henry,
tailor ; Paget, George, school-teacher ; Patterson, John ; Patton,
Andrew, wheelwright; Peters, Philip, carter; Rockey, Jacob;
Rote, Widow; Rudy, Nicholas, tailor; Russ, Charles; Russ, George,
tailor; Sampsel, Nicholas, wheelwright; Shock, Michael, carpenter;
Shock, Jacob, blacksmith ; Skiles, James ; Van Buskirk, Richard,
tavern-keeper; Wagner, Christopher, farmer; Webb, John, hatter;
Welker, Jacob, tailor ; Welker, William, jobber ; Young, Peter,
shoemaker; Youngman, Elias; Youngman, George, post-master;
Youngman, Thomas, store-keeper.
Additional Taxable s in Penn's — Adams, John, weaver; Ander-
son, Jacob, inn-keeper; Auple, Peter, inn-keeper; Balliet, Nicholas,
tanner ; Bard, Jacob, skin-dresser ; Berger, Bostian, weaver ; Berry,
John, potter; Beyer, Christian, carpenter; Bleiler, David, mill-
wright; Bloom, Henry, weaver; Bowersox, George A., mason;
Bower, Philip, inn-keeper; Boyer, John, blacksmith; Bryan, George.
17^.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 319
tailor; Bucher, John, blacksmith; Bull, Nicholas, tailor; Bum,
^eter, saw-mill; Clymer, Isaac, shoemaker; Cooper, Martin, cooper ;
^auberman, John, carpenter; Deitz, Jacob, blacksmith; Engel,
George, weaver; Epler, John, nailor; Esterlin, Frederick, carpenter;
£tzweiler, George, potter ; Filman, John, weaver ; Fisher, Peter,
leaver; Frey, David, shoe- maker; Fuehrer, Joseph, tobacconist;
^ughler, Nicholas, gunsmith; Gemberling, Jacob, nailor; Gera-
^fiing, George, carpenter; Giltner, Christian, carpenter; Grove,
^chard, saddler; Grub, John, carpenter; Hackenberg, John, car-
Pinter; Hager, John, died ; Haines, John and George, wheelwrights;
^a.rland, Thomas, miller; Holtzapple, Henry, miller; Hummel,
Mcob, distiller ; Hummel, Frederick, shoe-maker ; Kelly, John,
^^penter ; Kratzer, Benjamin, shoe-maker ; Kreider, Isaac, car pen -
^^^ ; Kuhn, Jacob, weaver ; Leist, Andrew, mason ; Long, Peter,
shoe-maker; Maurer, John, nailor; Merkel, George, turner; Meyer,
3^\in, son of Stephen, shoe-maker; Meyer, Jacob, son of Stephen,
^ilor ; Miller, George, tailor ; Neaman, Peter, fiddler ; Nelson,
John, tailor; Oberdorf, Henry, mason; Oswald, John, tailor; Row,
John and Frederick, masons; Rupp, George, carpenter; Shearer,
Andrew, blacksmith ; Shock, Jacob, blacksmith ; Snyder, John,
tailor ; Snyder, George, shoe-maker ; Snyder, George, inn-keeper ;
Snyder, Simon, junior, inn-keeper ; Spade, George, mason ; Straw,
Andrew, hatter ; Stump, Jacob, shoe-maker ; Wales, James, mill-
wright; Weiser, Benjamin, tailor; Weikel, Christian, tailor; Werlin,
Michael, ferry and saw-mill; Westman, Jacob, carpenter; Witten-
moyer, Michael, clock-maker ; Wolf, Philip, millwright ; Yoder,
Henry, carpenter ; Yoder, Jacob, potter.
Beaver^ additional Residents^ &»c. — Aurand, Daniel ; Barlet, Ja-
cob ; Blompon, Conrad, mill ; Cummings, John ; Fry, Jacob and
Abraham ; Gilman, Henry ; Grosscope, Samuel ; Heil, Daniel ;
Howell, John, fulling-mill ; Lehr, William; Manning, Richard ; Mid-
dlesworth, John ; Miller, John ; Peters, Jacob ; Reigeldorf, Adam ;
Romig, Joseph, mills; Rote, Jacob and John; Smith, Adam; Steele,
Adam ; Sterninger, Dewalt ; Wise, John, miller; Zerns, Jacob, paper
mill.
Single Men — Hoyn, Henry, in a store with Henry Aurand ; Kern,
Adam ; Kern, Peter ; Mussina, Zacharias ; Weber, John.
At the October election, Thomas McKean received, in Northum-
S20 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [l^S^W.
berland county, 2,997 votes; James Ross, of Pittsburgh, 637 for
Governor. Jacob Fulmer and Simon Snyder were the two higViest
candidates for Assembly, Fulmer havmg 3,569 ; Snyder, 3,047.
Deaths.
On the 1 8th of February, Martin Dreisbach, senior, aged eighty-
two. He emigrated from Germany in 1752, and came into Buffalo
Valley in 1773, Having purchased from Doctor William Plunket the
tract still owned by the Dreisbachs. He left four sons, Henry, Jacob,
John, and Martin, junior. Henry went to Ohio in the year 1804,
and laid out the town of Circleville. Jacob died on John Dunkle's
farm. John lived and died at Mifflinburg. George, Ellis, and John
were his sons. Martin, junior, died at his place, near the church.
Martin, senior, was of the German Reformed faith, and donated seven
acres of his place for church and grave-yard purposes. ** The Dreis-
bach Church " will be his memorial in all future time. One of his
daughters married Henry Aurand j another, Peter Fisher. Honor-
able Martin Dreisbach, (third,) and Honorable John Dreisbach, for-
merly of the State Legislature, are of his grandchildren.
Philip Stahl, of White Deer. (He was a brother of Jacob.) His
children were John, Jacob, Philip, and Peter.
Thomas Wilson.
February 23, Thomas Wilson, of East Buffalo. He lived on the
Meixell place, (fair ground.) His grandfather was the first to pass
the Boyne, when William of Orange defeated the Irish Papists. For
his services he drew two hundred and sixty acres of land. He resided
within a mile of Coats' Hill, county town of Cavan, in the north of
Ireland. He owned a large body of land there, having sixty tenants.
His son Thomas had but one child, Hugh, to whom his estates de-
scended. The latter disliked living among the Papists so much, tliat
he sold his estates, and came to America, and finally settled in the
forks of the Delaware. Hugh bought twelve hundred acres of land
of the Aliens, but lost six hundred, a suj^erior title intervening. His
farm in Northampton was owned, in 1844, by a man named Levan,
had mills upon it, and is very valuable. In 1737, he, with Colonel
IW.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 321
Martin, laid out the town of Easton, and, with Judge Craig, organ-
ized and held the first court held in Northampton county, in 1752.
He left a large family.
I. William Wilson, a merchant, in Philadelphia. He went to the
West Indies, and died there. 2. Ann, married to Reverend Mc-
Reynolds, of Deep Run, Presbyterian preacher. 3. Elizabeth, mar-
ried to Captain William Craig. 4. Charles, father of Judge Hugh
Wilson, of the 'Ridge, some of whose grandchildren are still in
the Valley : Robert, a merchant at Mifflinburg ; Charles, a grand-
son, is baggage -master on the Pennsylvania road, at Altoona. 5.
Samuel. 6. Margaret, married to McNaif. 7. Francis, went back
to the old country, and returned an Episcopal minister ; settled near
Mount Vernon, taught in General Ixe*s family, and was intimate in
General Washington's family. His family called him *' Aun Boyne,"
^0 remind him that he had made too great concessions in becoming
an Episcopalian. 8. Thomas Wilson, whose death we are recording.
He was twelve or thirteen years of age, when his father, Hugh, moved
^Js family to America, making their emigration about 1730. He
spent a great deal of his means purchasing flour, and forwarding it
fo the revolutionary army. He was paid in Continental money, and
"'s loss on its depreciation was about seven thousand dollars, which
reduced his circumstances very materially. He sold out his place
^" -Northampton, moved to the Susquehanna, and bought the place
now owned (1877) by Joseph Meixell's heirs, about one half mile
"Onci Lewisburg, where he died. His grave is under the steps of
the I>resbyterian church. It was not disturbed by the building, but
^•^ tombstones of himself and his son Francis, were removed to the
*"*^son lot, in the Lewisburg cemetery. His widow, whose name
oerore marriage was Elizabeth Hayes, moved, in 1803, with her sons,
^'^iliam and Thomas, to Beaver county, where she died in 181 8.
^eir children were Hugh, father of Francis Wilson ; Sarah, mar-
^^^ to Richard Fruit, moved to Mercer county, died in the spring
oi^ 1844 ; Eliazbeth, married to James Duncan, of Aaronsburg ; she
died in 1797 ; Mary, married to Jonathan Coulter, sheriff of Beaver
county; William Wilson, died in Beaver, 1841; James Wilson, at-
tomey-at-law, died in New Orleans, 1800; Margaret Wilson, mar-
ried John Thomas, storekeeper, at Hartley, moved to Beaver ;
Thomas Wilson, of Beaver, who died 6th July, i860, aged eighty-
21
32i ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1800.
five years; Colonel Joseph H. Wilson, of the one hundred and to
Pennsylvania, who died near White House, Virginia, July ii, 1862,
was his son. He had been district attorney of Beaver county, and a
member of the Legislature. Thomas Wilson left ten children, reside
ing in Beaver county.
1§00.
Inhabitants of New Berlin and Lewishurg — Sketches of the NoRiHrM-
BKRLAND CoUNTY* BaR — DaNIEL SmITH, EvaN RiCE EvaNS, ChARLES HaU,
jOVERNOR, Thomas McKean. Members, Simon Snyder,
Jacob Fulmer. September 24, Daniel Levy, Esquire,
commissioned Prothonotary, &c., vice Jasper Ewing,
deceased. October 23, Henry Vanderslice commissioned
Sheriff. Brigade Inspector, Frederick Lazarus.
List of Inhabitants of New Berlin in 1800.
Beatty, William; Beatty, Hugh; Berger, Philip, potter; Clark,
John ; Cook, James ; Gill, Isaac ; Grove, George, saddler ; Hemian,
Philip, carpenter; Mycr, George, weaver; Myer, George, tailor;
Ovemiyer, Philip ; Parks, James, Esquire, store-keeper ; Rearid,
William; Rothrow, Jacob; Scebold, Christopher; Smith, Peter,
sailor ; Spaight, Adam ; Trester, Martin, carpenter ; Wagoner, An-
drew, inn-keeper.
List of Inhabitants of Lewis burg in 1800.
Albright, Andrew, inn-keeper ; Ikiatty, John ; Black, James; Bole,
Samuel, weaver; Byers, Charles; Clark, George, store-keeper;
Dreisbach Jacob; Endsworth, Andrew, saddler; Evans, Joseph,
1800.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, j2j
joiner; Fairchild, Caleb, blacksmith; Grove, Adam; Kemmel,
Lawrence, tinsmith ; Knox, George, tanner ; Lawshe, John, tavern ;
Leisenring, John, potter; McLaughlin, Hugh, tailor; Metzgar,
Daniel, saddler; Metzgar, George, hatter; Metzgar, John, store-
keeper ; Miller, Valentine ; Park, Thomas, tanner ; Pollock, John,
storekeeper; Pollock, WilHam, tailor; Reed, Christian, joiner;
Shaffer, Mathias, carpenter ; Shearer, Richard, store-keeper ; Spyker,
Henry, store-keeper; Stedman, William, inn-keeper, Strickland,
Timothy, carpenter; Troxel, Abraham; Wilson, Hugh, store-keeper.
Lis/ of Single Freemen in East Buffalo ^ in 1800.
Anderson, Samuel; Baker, Jacob, fullef; Betzer, Peter, weaver
Bolender, George ; Bracken, James ; Callahan, Patrick ; Callahan
Philip ; Dale, Samuel ; Deratt, Daniel ; Dreisbach, Martin ; Finess
John ; Forster John ; Forster, William ; Frantz, John, cordwainer
Frantz, Jacob, weaver; Frederick, George; Hafer, Lewis; Hartley
Thomas, carpenter ; Hays, Philip, junior ; Hayes, William ; Hayes
Patrick ; Keeth, Andrew ; McClay, William ; McClosky, William
McQuhae, William; Markle, John, blacksmith; Morton, John
Nickle, John ; Pollock, Edward ; Price, John, store-keeper ; Reedy
Conrad; Russell, Alexander; Slater, Peter; Smith, Benjamin
Spyker, Peter ; Stahl, John, wheelwright ; Thompson, James ; Ward
Thomas ; Ward, William ; Wise, John ; Wise, Daniel ; Wolf, John ;
Ventzer, Christian.
Sketches of the Northumberland Bar, by Charles Miner.
*' Daniel Smith, Esquire, a tall, delicate looking gentleman, always
elegantly dressed. He turns pale and actually trembles as he rises
to speak. You are interested by such exceeding modesty, and half
fear he will not be able to go on. His voice breaks sweetly on the
ear, and words of persuasive wisdom begin to flow, and now pour
along in a rapid torrent. Ah ! that is eloquence.'.* He graduated
at Princeton in 1787.
" Evan Rice Evans, a heavy, stout gentleman, with a large head
and florid complexion. His delivery rapid ; his words crowd upon
each other as sometimes to choke utterance. He talks good sense.
Why should he not ? His head has more law in it than half a mod-
324 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1800.
ern library. He is a powerful advocate, with a good fee and an
intricate case.'' He died in 1811. His daughter married Hugh
Brady, Esquire, son of William P., of Indiana county.
** Charles Hall, Esquire. A very handsome man. His dress is
rich, ruffles neatly plaited. Slow, distinct, and very pleasant in
si)eaking. He prepares with care, and argues his cause with excel-
lent skill." He came from Lancaster county. His wife was a Cole-
man, owning a great estate, still called the Hall farms, above Muncy.
** Honorable Thomas Cooper. Short round figure, stooping for-
ward ; has a florid, high, English countenance and complexion.
His forte is to seize two or three strong points, and present them
forcibly to the court and jury. He never wearies by long speeches;
never uses a word, or an illustration, or an argument that is not to
the purpose ; a man of extraordinary endowments and of most dis-
tinguished genius.** From John Binns* Autobiography I take some
notices: When I came first to Northumberland, September i, 1802,
there then resided Doctor Joseph Priestly, son, and family, and
Thomas Cooper, Esquire, afterwards president judge in that district,
and also president of the State College of South Carolina. He was
fined and imprisoned for libel on President John Adams. The fine,
with interest, was, on a petition of Doctor Cooper, refunded by a
vote of Congress, many years afterwards, I think when General
Jackson was President. The doctor wielded a powerful pen in favor
of the general's election, and he was a man who rarely forgot to
repay both partisans and opponents. Before Judge Cooper came
to this country, he accompanied Mr. Watt', of steam engine memory,
to Paris, and they took their seats in the French convention as rep-
resentatives of the Manchester Philosophical Society. In 1820,
Doctor Cooper resided in Philadelphia, as professor of chemistry
in the University of Pennsylvania, and was a member of a clnb,
with John Binns, which met every Monday evening at each other's
houses. While here, he published his '* Jurisprudence," and his
edition of the '''Institutes of Justinian.** Binns says the first breach
in their club was made by the removal of Doctor Cooper to South
Carolina. His extensive knowledge, wit, and good humor were
sufficient to instruct and enliven any society. His literary and
scientific knowledge were of world-wide fame. His reply to
** Burke's Invective" was inferior to no answer that was published.
1800.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 323
It took rank with those of Paine and Mackintosh. At the time he
was printing that book, William Y. Birch was apprentice to the pub-
lisher. He said, when Cooper stepped in to correct the proof, the
printer would say, "We want more copy, sir,*' and Cooper would
set down and write two or three sheets, and hand it to the printer
without reading, much less correcting. He had a heart as warm
and capacious as his mind was richly stored. He was my ardent
and faithful friend for a period of nearly half a century. I have
his portrait, taken when ninety years of age. He was a chemist of
no common caliber ; admirable in compounding sauces and gravies,
and enjoyed them very much. He was somewhat of a gourmand,
yet he was never idle, and lived to the very advanced age of ninety-
eight or ninety-nine, cheerful and polite to his last days.
Miner mentions Daniel Levy, Thomas Duncan, and Charles Hus-
ton, but makes no particular note of them. Daniel Levy was the
survivor of these old-style lawyers, who always dressed in broad-
cloth, wore queues, gold watch seals, and were eminently dignified
and respectful.
October 14. Bishop Newcomer again visits the Valley. ** Crossed
^t West Branch at Northumberland with a great deal of trouble,
and reached the house of Abraham Eyerly after dark. Next day
he went to Brother Aurand's, where a great many people had col-
lected and he and Brother David Snyder addressed them. On i6th,
preached at John Rank's, in White Deer. 17th, at John Baer's.
1 8th, sacrament ^t Martin Dreisbach's ; rode twenty miles through
the rain to get there. Held class meeting, and had a happy time.
Text on Sunday, 19th, **For the time is come when judgment must
begin at the house of God." Preached at Mr. Dreisbach's in the
evening ; next day, at Mr. Walter's, and at night at a poor man's
house, on Middle creek."
At the presidential election in 1800, parties were clearly defined
under the names of Federalists and Democrats.
Kimber Barton, who lived at Mifflinburg, was assessor of United
States taxes. The tax on window glass was very unpopular. The
assessor had to go to each house and count the panes. Before he
arrived, some people went to the trouble of taking out their glass
and putting in paper. John Bower, father of Thomas Bower, of
Middleburg, was married to a sister of Kimber Barton.
326 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [^^
Deaths.
Jasper Ewing, attorney-at-law, and late prothonotary of the
county, died. He was from Lancaster county. His library he left
to his four nieces, daughters of General Edward Hand, of Lao-
caster ; his fees to his nephews, John and Jesse Hand, together with
his gun, fishing rod, and gold watch; his cane to Charles Hall, Es-
quire.
He was adjutant of the first Pennsylvania, Colonel Hand, in
July, 1776. In April, 1777, when Hand was promoted brigadier,
and appointed to the command of the Western department, Ewing
went with him to Fort Pitt, as brigade major, and served as sudi
during the years 1 777-1778.
-«M-
i8oi.
Rfjoicing at Jefferson's Election — Condition of the Reformed CiirRcn
IN the Valley.
EMBERS of Congress, Andrew Gregg and John A.
Hanna. Senators, Samuel Maclay and James Harris.
Act of February 27, reduced the number to one. Mem-
bers, Jacob Fulmer, Jesse Moore, Samuel Dale, and
Simon Snyder. July 18, William Montgomery appointed Associate,
rue Thomas Strawbridge, resigned. County Contmissioners, John
Metzgar, John Frick, and Abram McKinney.
February 27, Apportionment bill allows Northumberland one
Senator and four members. Taxables, four thousand seven hundred
and forty -four.
Additional Residents of East Buffalo — Robinson, William, John
Lawshe, keeping the " Pennsylvania Arms," at Lewisburg.
Additions to White Deer Township — Clingan, William, Esquire;
1801.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 327
Cornelius, James; Espy, John, shoe-maker; Hafer, Lewis; Iredell,
Seth, miller at White Deer mills; Linn, David; Long, Joseph; Lutz,
Jacob : Lutz, Samuel ; McGinnes, John ; McGinnes, James ; Marr,
^avid; Sarvey, Christian; Shuck, Andrew; Stillwell, Joseph;
^eikel, George.
George Wilt, of Cumberland county, bought the Narrows property
^^ Michael Shirtz. His sons, Adam and George, came up and built
^ new mill, and jointly kept the hotel, afterwards kept by Roushs,
^titzers, &c. Adam Wilt and John Fisher, who formerly lived on
Esquire Lincoln's place, ran arks out of Penn's creek, from 1810 to
^ 818. Adam was the first man that ran Conewago falls with an ark,
Successfully. Products of the Valley then went down in the shape
of whisky, linseed oil, &c.
March 4, a meeting was held at Bethuel Vincent's, in Milton, to
Celebrate the inauguration of Thomas Jefferson. Colonel Kelly's
toast was : ** May this be the happy day to unite the hearts of all
true Americans in their duty to God and our illustrious President."
This year the road from Jenkins' mill to where it joins the Mifflin-
burg and Lewisburg road, was laid out by Abraham Eyerly and
Daniel Rees.
Richard Sherer, postmaster at Lewisburg, advertises that the Phila-
delphia mail arrived at Northumberland every Saturday at two, p. m. ,
and returned on Sunday at six, a. m.
The following sketch, taken from Doctor Harbaugh's Fathers, re-
lates, of course, to the Reformed portion of Dreisbach church :
The Buffalo church, now called Dreisbach, had, for some time,
been in a very distracted condition, having the irregular attention
of the irregular Pfruemer, called Frommer, but was, for the most
part, closed entirely. The young men were growing up without
adequate spiritual instruction, and the old members having passed
through scenes of strife, had grown, to a great degree, indifferent.
Seeing, however, at length, that religious matters were tending in a
bad way, they awoke and saw that something must be done. Re-
formed ministers being at that time few, and difficult to be secured,
they thought they saw in Deitrich Aurand, who was still on his
farm, a man who could be useful among them as a Reformed minis-
ter. About the beginning of the year 1801 they came together,
and unanimously and very cordially ..igxeed to call upon him to
J2S ANNALS OF BUFFALO FALLEY. [1_
preach a sermon in that church, which he consented to do. T/ie
appointment was made. The day arrived. The people assembled
in great numbers. The pews, the galleries, the isles, the doors, the
lower windows, and even the grove in front of the church were
crowded with listeners, anxious to hear the new preacher. Some,
no doubt, came from motives of curiosity, but the greater portion
were there with a true desire to hear the Gospel. *' Never,** says an
eye witness, **have I seen a multitude so eager to hear the words of
life.** The sermon ended, he came down from the pulpit, and
standing in the altar, he was soon surrounded by the ''ancient men"
of the church, who earnestly desired him to make another appoint-
ment. The congregation, having, in the meantime, stood still, he
announced that he would preach again as desired, appointing the
time.
The second sermon was attended by a still greater multitude of
people, some coming from a distance of ten and fifteen miles. The
day was pleasant. The organ, long silent, had been repaired by the
skillful hands of Mr. John Betz, the school-master, and was made to
accompany the hymns by Stophel Aupel. The theme of the preacher
was the astonishing love of Jesus Christ, in condescending to come
into the world to save sinners. The absolut.e necessity of timely
preparation to meet death was earnestly and pathetically urged upon
all present. Towards the conclusion, different classes were separately
addressed and exhorted. The young were asked how the hope for
a blissful eternity stood with them ? and they were entreated to seek
the Lord early, and remember their Creator in the days of their
youth. Then the preacher turned to those in middle life, and in
words of melting tenderness and burning zeal, were they warned
against delay, and urged to flee from the wrath to come. Finally
he turned to the aged, among whom sat his own venerable father,
crying with the deepest feeling, Oh ! you who are hoary-headed, how
stands the matter between you and your God ? You stand already
with one foot in the grave, and in a few more days will sink into it,
and have no more any portion forever in all that is done under the
sun. You have, through a long life, enjoyed the mercies and favors
of your kind Heavenly Father. Have you served Him with full sub-
mission to His will, and loved Him supremely? and have you the
assurance that you arc reconciled to Him, through His dear Son
i^I-l ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 32g
J^us Christ ? If so, oh ! then it will be well with you. But, if this has
not been done, oh ! then, I now entreat you, as you value the ever-
^ting rest and peace of your souls, do not delay, but accept the
offers of mercy in Christ, our dear Redeemer. ** Such,** says one
who was present, ** was the spirit and substance, and such, as near
3s I can recollect, even the closing wqrds of this never-to-be-forgotten
sermon. It made a deep impression upon me as a youth, and I re-
njernber distinctly of having seen his own father, and such men as
^^e Dreisbachs, the Dunkels, the Barnharts, the Betzs, the Good-
Dians, and others, bathed in tears. **
He was unanimously elected pastor, and the congregation of New
Berlin joined with them in the call, which he agreed to accept. He
^cd been licensed by the ** Brethren,'* but was not yet ordained or
even licensed by the Synod. He began, however, to catechise in
tH^ Dreisbach church, and large numbers attended, whom he con-
fir-rned, baptizing such as had not been. ** Never since that day, *'
sa.ys an aged eye-witness, ** have I witnessed such solemnity and
5t.T"ong feeling as on that day of the consecration of those youth, and
tVie next day at communion.**
On the 3d of May the Synod met at York, and a request was
made by the congregations of Buffalo Valley and New Berlin for the
e-xamination and ordination of Mr. Aurand. The matter, however,
was deferred, principally at his own request, until he might improve
biinself. He, however, continued to preach to the congregations of
Buffalo Valley and New Berlin, until his removal to* Huntingdon
county, in October, 1804, where he founded the congregation of
^^ater street. He died near there, on the 24th of April, 1 831, aged
^^enty years five months and sixteen days, and is buried in front
^^ ^ion*s church, at Water street.
November 11, Reverend Hugh Morrison regularly dismissed from
tte Presbyterian congregation at Buffalo Cross-Roads.
Marriages.
September 27, by. William Irwin, Esquire, Jacob D. Breyvogel,
printer, of Sunbury, to Susanna Baldy, daughter of Colonel Chris-
topher Baldy, of Buffalo.
November 19, by Reverend Bryson, William Kirk, of Turbut, to
SSO ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1
Miss Jane Knox, of Lewisburg, and Daniel Dreisbach, merchant^^ to
Katy Dreisbach, both of Lewisburg. ** Whosoever findeth a gc=:iz>od
wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord."
Deaths.
Sunday, September 20, Colonel Frederick Antes, of Northumfc^er-
land, died at Lancaster, buried in the German Reformed chur-<./j.
yard. John Thompson, of Buffalo, died. His children, Jaranes,
Benjamin, Rachel Lincoln, Susanna Patterson, and Sarah Pip>er.
John Reznor, West Buffalo, leaving a widow, Rebecca, and chil.
dren, John, George, Agnes, &c.
November 4, Mrs. Jean McClure, buried on the 5th, in the Pnes- j
byterian yard, Lewisburg. She left fourteen children, one hundred
and ten grandchildren, one hundred and forty-eight great-grand-
children, and four great-great-grandchildren; total, two hundred
•
and seventy-six. Thirty-six of them attended the funeral. She was
of an amiable, benevolent, and friendly disposition, and might be
called a true christian. — Kennedy's Gazette,
iSo;^.
RramENTS IS FREEocnn, McDDLKitirRO, Ac— St. Peter's Crdbcb, ik
Kei.ly. and Rat's CnuRcn Built — Tabular Statement of Electioh
Returns — ^Dkath or Joseph Green.
1ENAT0R: SAMUEL MACLAY ; elected Speaker of the
Senate, December 7, On the 1 4th of December he was
elected United States Senator. Members, Jesse Moore,
Jacob Fuimer, Daniel Montgomery, and Simon Snyder.
County Treasurer, Christopher Dering. County Commissioner
elect, Flavel Roan. Andrew Albright, Postmaster, Lewisburg.
Hotels: Adam Wilt, Narrows; Richard Van Buskirk, Youngmans-
town ; C. Baldy, Cross-Roads ; Isaac Latshaw, Lewisburg ; John
Metzgar, Andrew Albright, at the ferry.
Residtnts in Slraubstown, or Frteburg.
Atspice, Doctor Henry; Felmly, Jacob; Hackenberg, Michael,
oiner; Long, Peter; Moore, Andrew; Moore, Philip; Myer, Mi-
chael; Myer, Jacob, son of Stephen; Myer, George; Nagle, John;
^igert, Paul; Roush, John, tan->-ard ; Rupert, John; Schock,
Tacob; Smith, John, weaver; Straub, George, son of Peter; Stump,
Abraham ; Weaver, Michael.
Swinefardslown — Aurand, John, joiner; Epler, John; Fry,
David, shoe-maker ; Fry, Jacob, senior; Kennel, Mark ; Lechner,
lacob, inn-keeper; Leist, David; Mertz, Isaac; Mussina, Zacha-
Knas ; Nelson, John ; Smith, Martin, cooper ; Smith, Robert ; Spade,
JJ2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [
George ; Spade, David ; Swineford, George ; Weller, John ; Wiarc— za
Michael; Wittemyer, Michael, clock-maker.
Selinsgrove and Weisertaivn — Clyraer, Isaac; Drum, Charle s
Dusing, John ; Etzweiler, George ; Fisher, Peter ; Four, Josep^ h^
weaver; Gaughler, Nicholas; Gemberling, Charles; Gettig, Frc^.
erick ; Good, Adam ; Hegins, Charles, tavern ; Hughes, Widowv;
Kemerer, Christian ; Krider, Isaac ; Laudenslager, Valentine, tavern;
Meyer, Widow; Mewhorter, Henry, tanner; Myer, Jacob; New-
mauer, Michael ; Oberdorf, Henry ; Price, Thomas ; Rhoads, Fran-
cis; Rhoads, Henry; Rhoads, Daniel; Reim, Nicholas; Robins,
Alexander, tailor ; Roop, George ; Silverwood, James ; Snyder,
Simon ; Tryon, Frederick ; Ulrick, George.
Mahantango Township — Bergstresser, John, millwright; Christ,
Valentine; Derstein, Michael; Gordon, Willis; Hagerty, Robert;
Heimback, George and Jacob ; Holtzapple, Widow ; Light, Adam ;
Richter, Widow; Richter, John; Stees, Frederick, adds fulling-
mill and smith shop ; Walter, Conrad.
Additional Residents in East Buffalo — Barbin, Joseph ; Bellman,
Henry ; Benner, John ; Bickle, Leonard ; Billmyer, Jacob ; Bill-
myer, George ; Brouse, Peter ; Cummings, James ; Coser, Andrew ;
Dale, James ; Dale, Samuel, junior ; Dreisbach, John, gunsmith ;
Dreisbach, John, carpenter ; Elder, Robert, on John Kelly's place ;
Freeman, Widow, on John Wiggin's place; Hull, Thomas, on
Conrad Reedy *s place ; Irwin, Andrew ; Jodon, James, on Andrew
Struble's place ; Maclay, William P. ; Maclay, Charles ; Markley,
John, junior; Messinger, John ; Reedy, Andrew ; Shoemaker, Jacob;
Slough, Christian ; Tietsworth, Jacob, on Simington*s place ; Wolfe,
George Wendell ; Winegarden, Peter ; Young, Abraham.
Lewisburg — Brice, John ; Donachy, John, weaver ; Franklin,
Daniel; Hartley, Thomas, carpenter; McKinty, Barney; Russell,
David, mason.
Ne^v Berlin — Himmelreich, Peter; Mussina, 2^charias; Rem-
inger, Peter, shoe-maker ; Speddy, Jeremiah, shoe-maker.
White Deer — Armstrong, John, on Margaret Blythe's place ;
Bayard, Benjamin ; Blackeney, John ; Bowers, John ; Bowers, Bar-
bara, widow ; Criswell, Joseph ; Espy, John, shoe-maker ; Lawshe,
John, still-house, on George Derr*s place; Marr, David, on Riddle's
place ; Servey, Christian ; Weikel, George.
1802.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jjj
Improvements — ^John Hoffman, saw-mill; Seth Iredell, three -
story stone grist-mill, Anthony Morris having recovered the pro-
perty of the Widow Smith. The mill had two pair of overshot
wheels. A new saw-mill was added, stone dwelling-house and bam
were on the premises, and an excellent shad fishery.
West Buffalo — Baxter, Robert; Blunbaum, Conrad; Boop, John;
Boop, Davidson, George ; William ; Deal, Henry; Deering, Christo-
pher ; Englehart, George ; Gill, Isaac, on Robert Barber's place ;
Gutelius, Frederick, cooper; Heise, Solomon; Imhoof, John;
Leberick, George, tanner; Shultz, Daniel; Smith, Melchior, saw
and hemp-mill on Laurel run ; Spigelmoyer, John. The stone house
on Mather's place, in Limestone township, built.
St. Peter's Church.
The church known as St. Peter's Lutheran church, in Kelly, was
built upon land donated by Philip Stahl. Jacob Lotz, his executor,
by deed, dated August 13, 1802, recorded at Sunbury, in deed book
L, pages 712-713, conveys to Christian Zerbe and George Reininger
seven acres and ninety-one perches, in Kelly township, in trust to
and for the use of building or erecting a school-house and a German
Lutheran church on the same, and for a burying-ground, by the fol-
lowing bounds and measures : beginning at a line of Henry Neese ;
thence S. 88° W. 78, to a post; thence S. 2° E. 22, to a post;
thence N. 80° W. 80 perches, to a post; thence N. 2° W. 11, to
beginning.
Ray's Church.
Ray's church, in Lewis, was founded by a gift of one acre of land
by Mr. Ray. The first church was never finished. The timbers
furnished seats in the gallery up to the time of the building of the
new church.
September 24, Bishop Newcomer again visits the Valley, preached
in Youngmanstown and at Aurand's. 25th, quarterly meeting com-
menced at Martin Dreisbach's. Brother Kempt preached the first
discourse, and Brother Farley, a Methodist, spoke in English.
Republican standing committee. General William Montgomery,
ANAfALS OP BUFFALO VALLEY.
Henry Vanderslice, Simon Snyder, Robert Giffen, and Christopb ^c
Baldy. April 2, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Centre made^ «
congressional district. September 16, meeting of delegates at JoKr^n
Metzgar's, in Lewbburg, John Barber, chairman. Nominated A^ un-
drew Gregg for Congress.
Saturday, i8th. The following delegates met in convention at
Lewisburg, at Metzgar's hotel : Augusta, Charles Maus ; Shamok:±n,
Jesse Simpson ; Point, Robert Irwin ; Chillisquaque, James Stra.Tr-
bridge; Mahoning, MathewCoUum; Penn's, Charles Drum; Der»-y,
George Langs ; Turbut, Bethuel Vincent ; West Buffalo, John Dr^is-
bach ; East Buffalo, Andrew Albright ; White Deer, Andrew McL-^d-
achan. Thomas McKean nominated for Governor ; Samuel MacLay,
for Senator; Jesse Moore, Jacob Fulmer, John Bull, and Da.>niiel
Montgomery, junior, for Assembly i Solomon Markley and John
Wilson for Coiumissioneis.
ELECTION BETUHNS, 1802.
aav....];™
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„„.„.
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i -
^
^
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1 1
i
m
3
3
i
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i
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194
m]
lOfl
a fir
Morltiuiiiberlnnd, . . .
133 36,1 ISi
IW
m
13^
Kfi
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BuHalo
IMl
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14?
Wiist Bullftlo, ....
^Jl
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7^
Berlin
130 1
m
m
137 137, 1
m
vm
112 m 1
Sffl 21
\u
\\v.
112 », 10*
■M?
Seltussrave
231* U
lilW
«M
234 227 S(
217 is2^ a
Mahanoy,
lai 140l 7i
45 101 5£
Waaliingloii
IIHI
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Cutawiasa
50 63
lie 126 125
Mifflinburx
03....
Oil
Beaver
IM ...
IM
173 f
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134'. ...| 71
riahlne CrBek and Green-
wood,
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Wl
Sfill 106 loi 106
W 42!
Total,
2074, 221f:7i6J27fl0 2778J2656H7ie
iasa|i054,io«;
ISOa.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jjs
For this schedule, and other political statistics, I am indebted to
the papers of Flavel Roan, carefully preserved by the late Flavel
Clingan, of Kelly, his nephew. Flavel Roan was general scribe for
ttie Valley, clerked at the election meetings of return judges, wrote
tHe obituary and marriage notices, &c.
On settlement, Frederick Antes, late treasurer, allowed a credit of
^^5 3^t V^^ ^^^ hanging Edward Jones.
December 22, Samuel Maclay presides at the trial of Judge Alex-
ander Addison.
23d-24th, a fire in the night occurred at Nesbit's, on the east side
of the river. It was noticed by Andrew Albright. The night was
fearfully cold, and, observing no one stirring at the house, he
mounted his horse and swam him, through the floating ice, across the
river, awakened the family, and thus saved them from destruction.
Samaby McMaster, the weaver, lost his loom and all he had, barely
escaping with his life and family.
In November, Reverends Messrs. Graham and Moody preached
^s supplies at Bufifalo Cross-Roads church.
At November sessions, a road was laid out from Milton, by way
^^ the ferry at Orr's or John Boal's, (Miller's place now;) thence
through Boal's and Heckle's land, crossing Little Buffalo at William
^lingan's, Buffalo creek, near Chamberlin's mill; thence to the
■^rrstown and Mifflinburg road.
Deaths.
Oeorge Frederick. His daughter, Catherine, was Tobias Sheck-
^^r's wife.
George Ray, of West Buffalo. Children: the late John Ray,
'^t sheriff of Union county, George, William, Barbara, Margaret,
^^^, Nancy, and Catherine.
l^hoebe Jenkins, widow of James, the elder,
^^illiam Jordon, White Deer. Left widow, Jane, and twelve chil-
^^^ti: Thomas, Mary, married to James Hill, Margaret, Daniel,
^^^drew, William, Samuel, James, John, Elizabeth, George, Jane.
^xiward Tate, of West Buffalo. Children : Edward and Thomas.
^'^Ugh Beatty took the land at the appraisement.
Joseph Green died in the spring of this year. He was a promi-
jEjd ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [I*K
nent citizen of the Valley, and one of its first scttleis. He rcside^
first where Benjamin Thompson, junior, lives, east of Mifflinburg
then built the mill of late known as Bellas', which was sold fron
him. He then removed some distance up Penn's creek, and built ;
saw-mill, where he died. He was buried in the Lewis grave-yard.
His first wife's name was Margaret, and his second, Mary. He was
a surveyor, and dealt largely in lands. Was prominent in the rev-
olutionary struggle. His first wife died in 1783, and in 1784 he
married a widow, Mary Irvin. His children were : Elizabeth, mar-
ried to Henry Shively ; her daughters, Margaret, married Jesse Mat-
thews ; Elizabeth, Ephraim McMullan ; Sarah, EH Landis ; and one
was married to Robert Barber, Alice Green married James McCoy,
Joseph Green's sons were : John, Timothy, Joseph, William, Tho-
mas, George, and General Abbot. The sons all went West, except
General Abbot. John went to Louisiana, and one of his sons ml
in Congress from that State, some years ago. Joseph Green's widow
had a son, James Irvin.
i§03.
ins' Mill Road — Additional Residents — Flavel Roan's Journal.
AMUEL MACLAY, Speaker of the Senate. Simon Sny-
der, of the House. March i6, Honorable Samuel Maclay
resigned the office of Speaker of the Senate. County
Commissioners, Flavel Roan, David Taggert, and Solo-
Markley. John Frick, Clerk. Sheriff, Andrew Albright, com-
oned October 24. Thomas Youngman, Postmaster, Mifflinburg.
luary S. Andrew McClenachan, justice for White Deer and
lington.
»ad from Jenkins' mill to Michael Smith's, (first house east of
iy*s now,) in East Buffalo, laid out.
Iditional Residents of White Deer — Anderson, Samuel, (miller;)
r, Michael; Candor, Josiah; Hayes, John, justice; Mole,
stopher ; Musser, Joseph, from Strasburg, Lancaster county, in
i of Walter Clark, who moved to the western part of the State ;
ts, Peter ; Steens, Ephraim ; Wallace, William.
^est Buffalo — Bliler, Michael ; Brown, Christian ; Clark, Aaron ;
le, Jacob; Getgen, Adam; Larrabee, Doctor John; Roush,
•ge ; Rudy, Abraham ; Withington, Peter, junior.
iditional Residents^ East Buffalo — Cooper, Daniel; Epler,
I, (miller;) Grier, David, on Reverend H. Morrison's land;
sly, John ; Housel, Joshua ; Kaufman, John ; Kessler, George;
ser, Jacob, on Thomas Wilson's farm ; Nyhart, David ; Reber
I ; Ritter, Philip ; Simington, Thomas ; Slear, Charles ; Stearns,
1.
22 337
JjS ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [180^
Lewisburg — Ely, John ; Gucker, George ; Moore, John, blac^
smith.
New Berlin — Hackenberg, Peter ; Haughawaut, Leffard ; Luc^
Robert ; Solomon, John ; Spyker, Daniel.
Candidates for Assembly — Simon Snyder, Robert Giffen, Leon^^
Rupert, Jacob Fulmer, John Bull, M. Withington, James Forst^^^
Jacob Haller, Joseph Hutchinson, William Stedman, James Lairc/,
Richard Sherer. Simon Snyder, (who received 3,187 votes, near)/
every vote polled,) Robert Giffen, Leonard Rupert, and Colone/
John Bull were elected.
Flavel Roan's Journal.
In order to have a picture of the social enjoyments and domesKc
events, I will quote from Flavel Roan's diary, still extant, at Mr.
Flavel Clingan's. It is complete for the year 1803, commences
again with 1807, and extends to the close of 181 3. It is as beautiful
as copper -plate engraving, and the letters are so small it requires a
magnifying glass to read. He made accurate observations of the
weather three times a day. It is said he wrote with a crow-quill.
Monday, 3d. I taught school in Derrstown. Eighteen scholars.
Went in the evening with William Hayes and William Wallace to
Mrs. Williams', where we had a social hop. 4th. Spent the evening
at Andrew Albright's, where upwards of sixty children held a ball
About forty spectators. Some of the parents well pleased with the
acting of their children. 6th. Spent the evening at widow Mary Har-
ris* with the Wilson and Hayes families, and had a social hop. 7th.
Posting books for John Dreisbach's lottery. 1 1 th. Attended a social
hop at Hugh McLaughlin's. William Hayes, Miss Mussers, and Mr.
Black there. January 13. Ball at Colonel Baldy's, Cross-Roads.
26th. Spent evening at Musser's. Fifteen persons present.
February i . John Foster came down from Penn's valley, and
wanted a ball gotten up at the stone house ; spoke to Edward Morton
to be manager. 3d. The ball came off; over one hundred personi
attended. 6th, Sunday. Mr. Graham preached : text, Lukexviii: i-
N. B. — I make it an established rule to put up at Baldy's. 8th. M^^ ,
Mr. Graham, Billy Maclay, and others at Hugh Wilson's. 14^^.
Spent the evening socially, at Mrs. Harris', with twenty others.
\8<ft«l ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, jjg
iSth. Shearer, McClure, and Fruit returned with their wagons from
Philadelphia; away above three weeks. 21st. Mrs. Stedman died.
Sun eclipsed. Harris and Wilson's families had a social hop at
Hugh Wilson's. 25 th. Ball at Colonel Baldy's. 28th. Frolic at
Billy Poak's to-night.
Tuesday, i. March comes in like a lion. Thinking about Billy
Poak's. 3d. Breakfasted at George Clark's, with McCord, Dale,
James Dunlap, and Mrs. Young. Taggart called with a petition to
sell the old jail. 6th. Mrs. McLanachan buried. 8th. At L's in the
evening ; about twenty playing cards there. 9th. With Squire Kelly,
Hayes, Gray, Clarke, and Colonel Baldy, at Billy Poak's. loth.
Quit school-keeping, and moved my things to Caleb Fairchild's.
'ith. William Brady's barn burned; seven horses and two cows
turned. Spent the evening with Foster's girls, at Dunlap's. James
Thompson came there in the evening. 13th. Richard Sherer's wife
'^^ another daughter. Mr. Jackson preached at BufiFalo Cross-
roads, isth. John W. Clark very sick. I went down for the doc-
^^^ ; not at home ; he and Mr. Jackson at Stedman's. Stayed until
^** Was blue ; good company.
Deaths.
Jsimes Jenkins, of East Buffalo, aged forty, buried at Northumber-
^^ci, father of Miss Harriet, still living at Northumberland. He left
^ W-idow, Sarah. Children : Thomas S., Mary, Sarah, Harriet, and
^Uzabeth,
i804.
Contemporary Notices of the People of toe Vallky — Henrt Sptkeb'^
Form of Writing Their Wills — Doctor Joseph Priestly — CoLOSt^^
William Cooke.
ACOB FULMER, Senator; Speaker of the House, Simo^
Snyder. Sheriff, Andrew Albright. County Commit'
sioner, George Bright.
East Buffalo, Additional Residents — Brown, Joha *'
Bucher, John, ferry ; Dimpsey, James ; Frederick, Jacob ; Gibbon^^'
William ; Hill, Daniel ; Kremer, Frederick ; Lloyd, John ;
coast, William ; Reichly, Conrad ; Renner, Frederick ; Shocl
Peter; Swinehart, Henry; Wormly, George. Single men: Lii
coin, John ; Machamer, Daniel ; Morton, Edward.
White Deer — Gillespie, Edward ; High, Jacob ; Laird, Williain ;
Robb, Eleanor ; Robb, James, blacksmith ; Smith, Boyd.
West Buffalo — Gable, Jacob ; Glasgow, William ; Glover, JohiJ/
taxed with a slave ; Jones, Ezekiel ; Miller, John; Mingle, Andrew;
Reeser, William ; Roush, Jacob ; Roush, George ; Royer, John,
smith ; Spiegelmyer, John, junior ; Thomas, William. The David
Smith mill passed into the hands of Robert Barber, Esquire. Thomas
Frederick, who had been of the rangers, in the Revolution, and
whose name appears on the tax-list in 1782, settled originally on the
Thomas Paschall tract, (on Laurel run, lately owned by George Fees,)
where he built a saw-mill, and made considerable money farming
and rafting down Penn's creek. He sold out to Ezekiel Jones, and
moved to Ohio this year, where he founded the town of Fredericks-
burg, Wayne county, Ohio, and built the first mill there.
340
>*.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 341
Michael Brown* s Recollections, dc,
John Brown, father of Abraham, Michael, &c., came to the Valley
is spring from Pine Grove township, Berks county. He bought the
idrew Edge warrantee, (late Michael and Christian Brown, Getz,
-.,) of Henry Spyker, for jQ^ per acre. There was then an old log
bin on it, in which Peter Spyker, son of Henry, lived. Michael
own, late county commissioner, who was then seven years old,
Lted that he had eight children when he came, John, who went
Ohio ; Elizabeth, married to Simon Christ, moved to Ohio ;
iristena, married to Philip Frederick ; Peter, who went to Ohio ;
>raham, lately deceased ; William, Christian, Michael, and Jacob.
leir mother died in 1806, the father, 1838, and both are buried
the Dreisbach grave-yard. He was born in Pennsylvania,
ved in the Revolution, was in the battle of Brandywine. His
her came from Germany. Our neighbors were Lorentz Barn-
i"t, who lived where Peter Getz lives ; Kreighbaum, at David
tirack's ; Christopher Weiser had a fulling-mill where Peter Wolfe
w- lives ; Henry Poeth, father of old Henry, late of Lewisburg,
s the sole inhabitant of Smoketown, which was a part of Spyker's
^ci. He made there all the brick that were used in Lewisburg.
i>vard Morton lived where A. Frederick's barn now is ; Bailey on
Laird's place ; John Zellers, where Samuel lately lived ; John
irand, on the Aurand place, now owned by John Zellers ; Chris-
IX Gundy lived where John W. Brown now lives. From our
U:e to Derrstown only ten acres were cleared where George Wolfe
"W hves. The. road commenced at Spyker's, (now James S.
ajfsh's,) at the river, passed through part of the cemetery, the lane
Chamberlin's, came out at George Wolfe's, passed through Smoke -
Bi^n, skirted the ridge at Ellis Brown's and along by Morton's,
cihrack's now,) crossed the present pike above Beale's tavern ;
^t, with the road to the cross-roads and the one up along the river,
-Te the only three roads I recollect of. Jacob Musser lived on
tiixell's place. The streets in Lewisburg were laid out, but the
^ not fenced in. Black had a ferry near the dam. Valentine
filler was the undertaker of that day. John Beeber, lately living at
^wisburg, told me he came with his father this year to get a wagon
t Jacob Stahl's, near the Union church. He was the wagon-maker
342 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1804r
of the day. People came from Muncy and all around the countr
to get wagons made by him. He said, also, the locusts were
plenty, that while riding along with his father above Milton, the^
made so much noise he could not hear what his father said. A-^^
Miller's place they crossed the ferry ; were polled over by two c^- :
George Hoffman's daughters. Ernhart, at MifHinburg, ironed thei^i
wagon. John Stahl had one son, Enos, and a daughter, Salome,
married David Herbst. Charles Hall, Esquire, built the stone hou^MC
and bam now owned by Martin Rishel's heirs. Daniel ShappelJ
moved into the house as tenant.
June 22, fast day. Mr. Bryson lectured in the morning. Mr.
Dunham preached in the evening.
On 26th of July, Mr. Hood arrived. He introduced Watts' ver-
sion of the Psalms. Members were offended on that account, and
whether he would accept the call or not was doubtful. Reverend
Mr. Morrison died September 13, and in December Mr. Hood
again visited the congregation, and it was understood that he would
accept the call.
In December there was great rejoicing over the election of Presi-
dent Jefferson. Maclay's boys went to Derrstown, where they had
large bonfires, fired cannon, and burned up their hats. Old Judge
Wilson and Nathan Stockdon took the back road home by Baldy's,
at the cross-roads. Their dearborn was loaded with china and
crockery. Getting a little too much cider oil on, they upset at the
little bridge, a few rods east of the hotel. The broken china and
crockery laid there for years after.
Abel Owen lived near Rengler's. He was a lame man, but could
whip any man in the Valley, so it was said.
John Betz kept school at the Dreisbach church school-house. He
and wife were celebrated as a very handsome couple.
Marriages.
March 27, by Reverend John Patterson, William Thompson to
Susan, daughter of John Linn.
Deaths.
Knowing something by tradition of the prominent characters of these
1804.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 343
-
times, the highly pious strains in their dying testimonies somewhat
startled me. On examination, however, I found they were all writ-
ten by Henry Spyker, Elsquire, and from the mouths of all, saints
and sinners, flowed his churchly rhetoric: *' I commend my soul
into the hands of God, hoping, through the merits of my Saviour's
sacrifice, for the remission of my sins and a happy admission into
heaven."
February 6, Doctor Joseph Priestly, aged seventy-one. Epitaph :
** Return unto thy rest, oh my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bounti-
fully with thee. I will lay me down in peace, and sleep until I
-^wike in the morning of the resurrection." His remains were re-
'imoved to the new cemetery, near Northumberland, a few years
2^ince. Binns, in his Autobiography, says Doctor Priestly published
nearly one hundred moderate sized octavo volumes, on a great
"variety of subjects. He had an extensive library and chemical labo-
ratory. He rose early, retired at ten, p. m. He slept on a cot in his
library. (His wife died September 11, 1796, aged fifty-five.) He
played chess and back-gammon, a few games nearly every day. Some
time before his death, when he was very ill, I occasionally sat with
him during the night, in a large arm chair by his cot. He was then
writing and I was publishing his '* History of the Christian Church,"
in six volumes. The fourth or fifth volume was printed. " I
should," said he, ** have been gratified if it had pleased God to spare
me to finish my History of the Church. I should have nothing
more on earth to do or regret at leaving undone." He recovered
so far as to finish and correct the proof of his history. Some months
after, when very feeble, at the dead hour of the night, he asked me
if I had recollected what he said about the history. I said I did.
He said I wished to remind you of it, and to say that I have now
nothing unfinished — nothing that I feel uneasy about, and I am
ready to depart when I am called hence. Some hours after, sur-
rounded by his family, he departed. On his death bed he expressed
himself to me, in substance, as follows : *' Reflecting on the Divine
love of the Creator, and the felicities of a future state, I have thought
that when the immortal portion of the human frame should be called
hence, that it would be conveyed to a region of blissful enjoyment,
proportioned to its capacity and preparation, there to remain until,
from its superior opportunities and acquirements, it should become
344 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [180--
better prepared and more capable of yet sublimer and more spiritiL ^
enjoyments; whence, through Divine mercy and love, it woul^c
from time to time, be removed from one region of bliss to a high^i
and yet a higher, until it should attain the most sublime and perf(&^
state of felicity, of which our most improved nature should be rna^d
susceptible ; enjoyments becoming more and more blissful withou/
end/' It will be noticed that Binns wrote his Autobiography iu
1854, and asks for reasonable allowance for the errors of an octo-
genarian. He continues : ** Doctor Priestly told me he had written
four volumes of commentaries on the laws of England, which were
' burned by the **church-and-king" mob in Birmingham, 1791 and
1792."
February, Daniel Rees of Buffalo.
April 16. Died on Monday last, (April 16,) at his country seat,
adjoining Harrisburg, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, William
Maclay, Esquire, a member of the Legislature of this State.
April — Colonel William Cooke, twelfth Pennsylvania. His
children were John, (father of Jacob Cooke, of Muncy, Robert, of
Howard, Centre county;) Rebecca Stedman ; Jane, married to Wil-
liam P. Brady, son of Captain John; Mary, married to Robert
Brady, brother of the former; Sarah McClelland, and William,
father of William L. Cooke, of Northumberland.
May 8, Margaret, wife of Mathias Alsbaugh, born May 27, 1759.
June 5, Thomas Forster, aged fifty-eight. (Major in the Revolu-
tion.)
September 13, Reverend Hugh Morrison, aged forty-eight. His
wife died in April, aged forty-nine. They are both buried in the
old yard at Sunbury. They left five children : Mary Ann, who after-,
wards married Andrew Hutchinson, and who died in Lewisburg,
October 18, 1868, aged eighty-two; Isabella, married to Isaac B.
Jones; Eliza, John, and Jane. In 1822, these heirs sold their
father's place in Buffalo to Conrad Dunkle, whose descendants still
own it. Eliza willed her .all to the Presbyterian church, at Lewis-
burg. (I saw her broken tombstone lying about the church DOt
long since.)
September 27, Honorable Samuel Dale, aged sixty-three, and left
a widow, Eliza, who died April 23, 1835. Children : Judge Samuel
Dale, of Lancaster; William Dale, Chillisquaque ; j^ames Dale,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 34s
^M Hlsquire, late of Lewisburg ; Ann, afterwards married to John Ma-
^^ clay ; Elizabeth, afterwards married to Aaron Chamberlin ; Marga-
^^m ret Simonton^ late of Lewisburg, deceased. In his will, he speaks
^m of the black girl, ** Dinah,*' belonging to his wife. Dinah was liv-
V iBg within our recollection.
F October 16, Esther Laughlin, wife of Adam Laughlin, of West
r Buffalo.
Michael Buttorf, of White Deer.
Peter Swartz, of White Deer.
Eve Iddings, wife of William.
John Simpson, former register and recorder. His handwriting
ioolcs like copper-plate engraving. He was succeeded by his son,
Jeremiah, in 1798.
Jacob Dreisbach, of Buffalo.
Jacob Brunner, of West Buffalo, (now Limestone.)
IDeitrich Wertz, of White Deer.
^tu^
i8og.
^Ctdden Adjournment of the House of Representatives — Ordination of
Reverend Thomas Hood — First Acadamy built at Lewisburg — Duel
BETWEEN John Binns and Samuel Stewart — Political Parties in
1805.
NITED States Senator, Samuel Maclay. Member of
Congress, Andrew Gregg. Speaker of the House,
Simon Snyder. Members elected in October, Robert
Smith, Leonard Rupert, John Bull, and Abraham Mc-
Kinney. Register and Recorder, John Boyd, commissioned De-
cember 20.
Christopher Seebold, commissioned Justice of the Peace for East
Buffalo, January 7.
346 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1605.
Prices, February i8, flour, Jii 50 to $12 per barrel ; wheat, ijx.
6^/., and will keep up, as a war between England and Spain is almost
certain ; Rye is 5^. 6d. to 6s. ; flax seed, 9 to 9^ — Thomas Stubbs,
Middletown. May 28, flour very dull, selling from wagons on the
streets at ;Sio 50, at ^11 on credit ; but price is {11 50 to ^11 75 —
G. & W. G. Latimer, Philadelphia.
A road was laid out in April, from the west line of Andrew Bill-
myer's, by Mary Harris', to intersect the road from Derrstown to
Japhet Morton's. This is the road from Kephart's to the turnpike,
past W. L. Harris.' Hugh Wilson, Daniel Rees, and John Brice
were the viewers.
For a singular freak of a Buffalo Valley boy, I quote from Binns'
Autobiography : '* During the session of 1804-5 I was in the House
of Representatives of Pennsylvania, at Lancaster, when a well-dressed
young man, of a respectable family from Northumberland county,
about the dusk of the evening, threw open the inner door, and En-
tered the body of the House. In a loud, clear and distinct voice he
said : ' Mr. Speaker, I am charged by the Lord God with a message
to this House, to direct them forthwith to pass a law for the removal
of the seat of government from Lancaster to the top of the Blue Hill'
Many of the members called out, * Turn him out.' Instantly the
door-keeper and sergeant-at-arms, both elderly men, one at each side,
seized the intruder by the collar of his coat to eject him from the
House, upon which he tripped up their heels, and left them both
sprawling on the floor. A motion to adjourn was promptly made
and carried. The young man, who was laboring under insanity,
remained three days about Lancaster, then started for home on
horseback. It is said and believed that he never drew bit until he
arrived home, a distance of one hundred and fifteen miles. In a few
minutes after he arrived, the horse dropped dead." — See Roati^
Journal y May 20, 1809.
Mr. Hood at Buffalo.
Mr. Hood preached at Buffalo from the ist of April. He was
ordained on the 2d of October. Mr. Stewart preached the ordina-
tion sermon from i Corinthians ix: 16 : ** For though I preach the
Gospel, I have nothing to glory of," &c. Mr, Bryson gave the
1806.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 347
charge to the people. Mr. Hood's first sermon after was from Ro-
mans V, 5 : *' And hope maketh not ashamed." In which he showed
the nature and advantages of evangelical hope, and the amazing dif-
ference between the life of the believer and that of the hypocrite.
His salary was fixed at {220 per year. In May, a resolution was
passed to raise it to ^300, but not carried out, as in 1809-.1 0-11-12
he was still paid but $220.
September 5, trustees elect of Buffalo — ^George Knox, Gideon
Smith, Andrew McClanachan, James McClellan, Christopher John-
ston, Robert Forster, Adam Laughlin, and Hugh Wilson.
Removals out of the bounds — Tenbrooke Chamberlin, John
Clarke, junior, Joseph Gilliland, Thomas Sutherland, and William
Thompson, junior.
In 1805, among the names of members of Dreisbach's congrega-
tion, occur : Barnhart, Lorentz ; Heinly, John ; Reber, John ; Reedy,
Andrew ; Ream, George ; Spyker, Peter ; Wormley, George ; Zel-
ler, Benjamin ; Zeller, John.
The log cabin academy built by subscription. It occupied the pres-
ent site of the parsonage of the Presbyterian church in Lewisburg.
Doctor Charles Byers was the principal physician of Lewisburg and
vicinity.
Binns and Stewart Duel.
The duel between John Binns and Samuel Stewart is noteworthy
as being one of the last fought upon the soil of Pennsylvania, and
on account of the prominence of the actors, having special influence
in causing the passage of the act of 31st March, 1806. The duel
was fought on Sunday, the i6th of December. Tradition says
Stewart spent the night before at Andrew Albright's tavern, in
Lewisburg. I extract a circumstantial account of it from John
Binns' Autobiogaphy :
On Saturday, November 5, 1805, while I was in the public ball
alley, at Sunbury, with a bat in my hand, tossing a ball against the
wall, waiting for Major Charles Maclay to play a game, a very tall,
stout stranger came to me, and said, '*My name is Sam Stewart,
of Lycoming county ; your name, I understand, is John Binns, and
you are editor of the Republican Argus ^ I replied, ** I was." ** I
wish to know who is the author of the letters published in that paper
34S ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1805.
signed * one of the people.' " ''For what purpose," said I. He re-
plied, "There are remarks in one of them which reflect on my char-
acter, and I must know the author." I dechned to tell him, but
said if there was anything untrue it should be corrected. He was
standing on my left, and instantly threw his left arm across my breast,
and with it held both my arms tight above the elbows, and, at the
same time, threw his right arm across the back of my head, violently
pushing his forefinger into the corner of my right eye, evidently
with the intent to tear it out of my head. I struck him with the
bat with all my strength, when he left go his hold, seized me about
the waist, and endeavored to throw me down. We were separated
by Major Maclay and others, who came into the alley. In his effort
to gouge out my eye, he left a scar which will accompany me to my
grave. The ball alley was attached to Henry Shaffer's hotel. I
went into the hotel and wrote a note :
SuNBURV, November 2, 1805.
After threatening me like a bravo, you have attacked me like a
ruffian. Some satisfaction ought to be rendered for such conduct.
If you have the spirit and courage to meet me as a gentleman,
and will appoint time and place, and meet me with pistols, accom-
panied by a friend, what has passed shall be overlooked by
John Binns.
Samuel Stewart, Esquire.
To this note Mr. Stewart returned a verbal answer, "that he was
going to the city, but would be back in two or three weeks."
On the 13th of December, a note was handed me by Mr. Andrew
Kennedy, printer of the Northumberland Gazette :
Northumberland, December 13, 1805.
When I received your challenge I was on my way to the city, and
had it not in my power to meet you ; but now I am here, ready to
see you. You will, therefore, mention the time and place, and you
will have it in your power to try my spirits, that you so much
doubted. It must be immediately. Let me hear from you.
Samuel Stewart.
I replied that as soon as I could get Major Maclay here I would
be ready. That I had sent for him, expected him that evening, and
the meeting could be the next morning. On the evening of the
1805.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 349
13th, a friend informed me that application had been made to a
magistrate for a warrant of arrest, to bind me over to keep the
peace. I immediately wrote a note :
Saturday Morning.
Sir : — I have just heard that application has been made to a mag-
istrate to prevent our meeting. I write to request that you will
instantly appoint some other place, say Derrstown, Milton, or any
other place more convenient to you, where my friend and myself
wiH attend.
I then wrapped a pair of pistols in my overcoat pocket, walked
ibout half a mile to the house of William Bonham, where I directed
tny horse, and any note that came, should be forwarded. Major
Maclay soon arrived, and, after giving him a full statement of the
occurrences, he went to Northumberland to settle the time and place.
While we talked in the back room, the constable rapped and inquired
if I was in the house. He was told I had gone up the road. On
Mr. Maclay*s return, he told me the meeting was to be at seven
o'clock the next morning, at the end of a fence behind Lawshe*s
house, opposite Derrstown, where we agreed to sleep that night.
We were on the ground at seven o'clock, just in the gray of the
morning. In a few minutes we saw Mr. Stewart and Mr. Kennedy
coming down the lane. After mutual salutations, Mr. Maclay pro-
posed that we should cross the swamp, and retire to a more private
place, where the ground was perfectly clear. Mr. Kennedy proposed
that the parties should settle the distance. I objected, that being
the duty of the seconds. Mr. Maclay and Kennedy then retired,
and, after some conversation, stepped eight paces, and placed Mr.
Stewart and myself at the extreme ends of the line. Mr. Maclay
then said, **It is agreed between Mr. Kennedy and myself that
if either of th>; parties shall leave his ground before the affair is
entirely settled, such party shall be Regarded as disgraced." The
seconds then retired to load the pistols. Mr. Maclay told me after-
ivards that he at this time suggested to Mr. Kennedy the propriety
3f an effort at reconciliation. Mr. Kennedy said ** that was impos-
iible, unless Mr. Binns would apologize for the language used in his
message to Mr. Stewart. For my part, I think nothing should be
ittempted until the parties have at least interchanged a shot.'* Ma-
:lay and Kennedy drew near to us, and Maclay said: "When the
3S0 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, \
word * fire* is given you are to fire soon as you can. If either dela]
while one of us count three, and say 'stop,' that one shall, for tha^ '^
time, lose his fire. A snap to be considered a fire/*
The seconds tossed up to determine which should give the word.
Maclay won. The pistols were handed us, and discharged so simul- -
taneously that but one report was heard. Neither balls took effect.
The pistols were again handed to the seconds. They retired a few
paces, and Mr. Maclay assured me afterwards that he used every
honorable argument to move Mr. Kennedy to present a proposition
for settlement. This he did without effect. Maclay then raised his ^
voice and said, you had better consult your principal, and I will do ^
the same. Maclay*s first words to me were : ** Kennedy is a scoun —
drel; he is determined to have you shot.'* I said : *' you know th<
terms we agreed upon, and we will carry them out." The pistols wei
again handed to us. After a short pause, Mr. Maclay came betweei
us and said: ** Gentlemen, I think this business has gone far enoughs,
and may be amicably and honorably adjusted.** He proposed thj
Mr. Stewart should apologize for his attack, and that then Mr. Bina-> z
should declare that the publication was not made to wound the feeL -
ings of Mr. Stewart, or affect his character; but because Mr. BinniL^s
believed it to be true, and that it was matter proper for public ii^. -
formation. Mr. Stewart then said: **If God has given me mor^
strength than other men, I do not think I ought to abuse it. ^
never struck a man in my life that I was not sorry for it.** This
was not held sufficient apology. After a pause Mr. Stewart mad^
the required apology, and I made the declaration my friend pro-
posed. The parties shook hands, and at a tavern in the neiglx "
borhood, they and their friends breakfasted together. Mr. Stewar"!:
and I continued friends until his death, many years afterward-
When he was elected to the Assembly from Lycoming, some year^
after, he voted for me, then editor of the Democratic Press, as s*
director of the Pennsylvania Bank. Major Maclay was then about
twenty-eight years of age, and a man of much promise. Son of
Honorable Samuel Maclay, at that time a United States Senator.
He returned to Buffalo Valley ; I to Northumberland. He died
soon after this.
I found, on my return, that it was Joseph Priestly that had the wax-
rant issued for my arrest. He saw me leave with a small mahogar^y
laOo.l ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jj/
case, in which he knew Judge Cooper kept his pistols, and suspected
what was about to take place. The termination of this business put
an end to anything like personal rudeness by any member of the
Federal party, so long as I remained in Northumberland, and doubt-
less had its effect after my removal to Philadelphia.
This duel was fought beyond the marsh, near what was then called
Allen's. Andrew Kennedy was the father of the late Andrew Ken-
nedy, of Lewisburg. Lawshe*s hotel was below the dam, nearly
opposite Strohecker's, kept by John l^awshe, grandfather of A. M.
La^vshe. Flavel Roan, in his journal, carefully notes the fact, that
^e alwa)rs took a drink there before crossing the ferry to Derrstown.
The house was burned down some years ago. Sam Stewart, as he
^as called, was sheriff and treasurer of Lycoming county, and the
I^ederal candidate for Senator, in 1808, against General John Bur-
ro ^ws, the Democratic candidate.
Political.
July 10. Extract from a letter of James Cochran, of Mead town-
s^^ip, Crawford county, to Robert Irwin : ** On the call for a con-
volution to amend the constitution and on our new candidate for Gov-
^^Tior, the people are much divided ; but there will be a majority in
fji-'v-or of the convention and Simon Snyder in this county and rhany
0^ tht neighboring counties. From every appearance the majority
^^11 be considerable. From the insolent behavior of old Tom,
(Grovernor Thomas McKean,) in my opinion, he merits no longer
^ti^ approbation of the people, not only from his impertinent lan-
r^^iage, but for the last three years he has an undoubted right to be
cHarged with wasting his Lord's goods ; therefore, agreeably to St.
LiUke, xvi: 3 v., he has a right to either dig or beg, whichever he
^Hinks he can do best, for he will be no longer steward. The * * Feds "
a^nd ** Quids" are squealing like fell hyenas about it, and fear of
^ing drowned before they see the water ; but it will turn out like all
the rest of their hot-water injections— they will burst like the bubble,
^ith the weight of their own air, and leave them a blank in society,
^r rather, a vestige of contempt by all the true friends of the prin-
^*ples of seventy-six." A mingle of metaphors not often found in so
I short a composition.
JS2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALi^hm,
October 4, the Governor, by his secretary, William Thompson,
writes from Lancaster to Robert Irwin : *' The friends of Mr. Sny-
der have circulated in the counties of Northampton and Berks, that
Governor McKean has promised, after his re-election, to appoint Mr.
James Ross, of Pittsburg, Chief Justice of the Supreme court. lam
authorized to assure you that the tale is wholly a falsehood, fabri-
cated on the eve of the approaching political contest, for base elec-
tioneering purposes, an idea of the kind having never been suggestec^
to the Governor by any friend of Mr. Ross, or by the Governor t^:^
any person whatever ; nor, indeed, is it believed Mr. Ross woul^'
accept the appointment if offered to him."
In order that my readers may understand the allusions in tl:^i
Cochran letter, I will state, as part of the history of the time, thia.
Governor McKean had vetoed an act substituting referees for jur^
trials, and prohibiting the employment of counsel in reference cases ;
also, the act extending the jurisdiction of justices of the peace,
which, however, was passed over his veto. This, with the acquittai
of the judges who were impeached, incensed the ultra Democrats,
and they immediately started the project of remodeling the Consti-
tution. The moderate Democrats took the name of Constitution-
alists, and organized a constitutional society, and the other section
of Democrats a club called ** The Friends of the People,'* the Feder-
alists looking on, and enjoying the strife. The ultra Democrats
nominated Snyder for Governor, and the friends of the Constitu-
tion, McKean, who was elected Governor, and entered upon hit
third term on the 17 th of December.
Marriages, by Henry Spyker, Esquire,
Peter Epler to Eve Christ. Witnesses, Henry Fulmer, Chr
tian Van Gundy, John Smith and wife, &c., (April 4.)
September 8, John Lawshe with Polly Sites. Witnesses, Na
Robb, John Dreisbach, &c.
Deaths.
George Martin, White Deer. Children : Jane, Elizabeth,
Robert, and Matthew. January 15, John Swineford, of M
1806.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jjj
Wg; born April i6, 1755. Martin Housel, West Buffalo. Chil-
^^n : Jacob, Joshua, Catherine, Mary and Elizabeth. September
22) Catherine, wife of Abraham Eyer ; born, October 15, 1752;
^i^Urried, May, 1776. Peter Jodon, of West Buffalo. Captain
^orge Overmeier. Children : George, Peter, Philip, John, David,
Jacob, Catherine, (Margaret, then dead,) Elizabeth, Eve, Esther,
Wagdalena, and Barbara. To Jacob he left his rifle and shot-pouch
carried in the Revolution. Adam Shewel, of Centre. Jabel Fred-
^"ck, of Buffalo. George Motz, Penn*s. Children : John, Lo-
^^ntz. December 19, Catherine Dunkle. She was born February
'3» 1769; married October 24, 1784.
1806.
Additional Residents of East Buffalo, Lewisburg, White Deer, and
West Buffalo — First Methodist Camp-Meeting.
|HOMAS COOPER, President Judge, commissioned
March i. Members, Simon Snyder, Leonard Rupert,
Abraham McKinney, and Major Robert Smith, of 'I*ur-
but. David Taggert, Charles Maclay, and Samuel Awl,
County Commissioners. John Frick, Clerk. April i, John Thomp-
son, junior, commissioned Justice of the Peace. July 4, William
Poak. John Lynn, of Erie, was the principal School-Teacher of the
Valley.
Additional Residents , East Buffalo — Ammon, Andreas ; Badorf,
Michael, blacksmith ; Bostian, Andrew ; Brown, John, miller ; Culp,
Peter, shoe-maker ; Daugherty, James ; Geddes, James, single ; Gra-
ham, Alexander, merchant ; Haverling, Jacob, weaver ; Hafer, Lud-
wig ; Holmes, Jonathan, tanner; McClure, Richard, chair-maker;
Marriner, James; Mettlin, Patrick; Morrow, Alexander; Reem,
23
3S4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [180i
'(Tcorge, carpenter ; Reish, Daniel ; Renner, Jacob ; Renner, F^e^ ^
erick ; Strayhorn, Nathaniel ; Vaness, John ; Winter, Daniel, c^^i-
penter.
Lewis burg — Conser, John ; Crosgrove, Samuel ; Kremer, George -
Renfrew, Jacob; Wolfe, Christian, hatter.
Additional Residents of White Deer — Clark, John, William's son ;
Dersham, Jacob ; Farris, Dennis ; Lushbaugh, John ; Madden, NeaJ,
tailor; Marshall, James ; Monpeck, Nicholas; Reznor, David : Rora-
baugh, Philip; Schock, Andrew, wagon-maker.
West Buffalo — Aikey, Lewis ; Betzer, Peter ; Bohr, Michael,
miller; Eilert, John ; Green, Abbot; Hildebrand, Levi; Kaufmao-
David ; Kimple, Jacob, potter ; Kleckner, John, tavern and still-
house ; Maize, Jacob, tavern ; Mitchell, George, blacksmith ; Shri-
ner, Jacob ; Zeller, John ; Zeller, Henry.
In August, the first Methodist camp-meeting in this part of the
State was held on Chilliscjuaque creek, one and one half miles fipoto
the river.
Marriages.
January 2, Ludwig Coasin with Susanna Olifant, in presence of
both their parents, Joseph Stillwell, Thomas Nesbit, &c.
April 7, Frederick Renner with Magdalena Krause, daughter of
Christian Krause, deceased, in presence of his father, and step-
mother, and brothers, Jacob Renner and wife, Benjamin Renner,
Daniel Sheckler and wife.
May 15, George Troxel with Mary Hoffman, in presence of Wil-
Ham* Clark and wife, Doctor James Dougal, Andrew Heckle and
wife, George Derr and wife, John Betz and wife, Andrew EnswortH
and wife, Abraham Troxel 1 and wife.
June 12, John Sergeant with Catharine Beyer, in presence of her
parents, brother James, Peggy Evans, &c.
November 16, Michael Straub to Sarah Grove.
Deaths.
John Pollock, Lcwisburg. Michael Smith. John Graybill, Ma-
liantango. William Steele, Buffalo. Henry Richard, East Buffalo-
James Adams, White Deer, left a widow, Margaret ; children : Agnes,
Joseph, Sarah. James was his grandson, and son of Joseph. Mary
Green, widow of Captain Joseph Green. Henry Myer, West Buffalo-
i8o^.
^•vn's Creek Improvement Lottery — Extracts from Binns' Argus —
CousTY Convention — German High School in Buffalo Township —
Roan's Journal — John Aurand — Character of the Legal Business
AND Sketches of Leading Circuit Lawyers, dy late George A. Snyder.
Esquire.
NITED STATES SENATORS, Samuel Maclay and An-
drew Gregg, the latter elected January 13. Member of
Congress, Daniel Montgomery, junior. Senator, James
Laird. Speaker House of Representatives, Simon Sny-
er. Members elected in October, Simon Snyder, Leonard Rupert,
ibraham McKinney, and John Murray.
Commissioner elect, Samuel Bond. Total expenditures of the
ounty last year, §5,716. Sheriff, Jared Irwin. Treasurer, Simon
nyder. Postmaster at Lewisburg, C. Baldy.
Additional Residents of West Buffalo — Harris, Amos, shoe-
aker ; Lytle, Charles ; Peters, Philip, tinner ; Reed, Robert and
illiam ; Ruhl, Philip ; Stitzer, John, junior ; Stover, John and
-tnuel; Wilkert, Jacob.
Afifflinburg — Keener, William, tailor; Lemon, Thomas, school-
aster ; Miller, Doctor ; Smith, Doctor ; Swentzell, Jacob ; Year-
<, Simon. Andrew Ensworth sold his property and removed from
« Valley ', also, William Irwin, junior, Robert Harris, and Alex-
ider Steel.
In IVhite Deer nrw Names on the Assessment List — Anthony,
enry ; Anthony, Nicholas, shoe-maker ; Billman, John and Jo-
ih ; Chamberlin, Uriah ; Clingan, Thomas ; Heckle, George ;
untingdon, Simon ; McCorley, Robert ; Shaffer, John ; Shamp,
sse ; Pancoast, William, blacksmith ; Yocum, Jesse.
Additional Residents in East Buffalo — Beidlenian, Valentine,
355
jsd ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [II
Daniel, and Jacob ; Cochran, John ; Eagler, Conrad, shoe-make^ )
Forsythe, Samuel; Hight, Henry, shoe-maker; Hummel, ChristiaX^*
shoe-maker ; Jamison, John ; Linn, Daniel, miller ; Noll, Henry ;
Trester, George; Wagner and Kline, grist-mill; Wallace, Wil-
liam; Wilson, Charles; Wommer, Jacob.
Lewisburg — Bellman, George, clock-maker.
New Berlin — Berger, Jacob, millwright ; Miller, Philip ; Shrcf-
ler, Henry ; Stain or Stem, Doctor Jacob.
By act of March 31, Samuel Templeton, George Long, Robex't
Barber, Peter Fisher, and James Duncan, commissioners, were atJ--
thorized to raise by lottery $4,000, for the improvement of Penim's
creek, from the mouth of Green's saw-mill. Robert Barber was
appointed treasurer, and in October^ they advertised a scheme <^^
cash prizes, amounting to $30,000 ; nothing came of it.
April 10, the middle district of the supreme court was createci,
and Sunbury fixed for the place of holding the court, on the fix^t
Monday of July.
The Political Situation.
Argus, July 27, ''appointments by the Governor: William Wil-
son, major general of the ninth division ; William Hepburn, of the
tenth. Both these gentlemen are associate judges, and thorough-
paced Federalists. Elections by the people : Christopher Baldy,
brigadier general first brigade, a Democrat, by a large majority-
Colonel John Jones, Alexander Moore, George Weirick, and Thomas
Youngman^ all Democrats, by decided majorities. For brigade in-
spector, Frederick Evans, 435 to 80 for Charles Drum, Quid."
February 4, Binns' Argus has the message relative to Burr's con-
spiracy. The lot of ground on which the old jail stood, offered
for sale. Binns says, at the court of quarter sessions of Centra
county, held last week, there was no business for the grand juo't
save one bill for keeping a tippling-house. So much for the peace-
able demeanor of one of the most Democratic counties in Pennsyl'
vania. He thinks Rankin's vote for Gregg for United States Sena-'
tor will prevent his return as representative of that county. **Hug^
White and other Federalists" contested the election of Isaac Smitt^?
member for Lycoming; but Smith was declared the sitting member.
I80rr. ] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. js?
In. his valedictory he says he has sold his type, fixtures, and rented
liis house and office, in Northumberland, to Mathew Huston, by
whom the Argus will be conducted. Mr. Huston is clerk of the
House of Representatives, which will detain him at Lancaster, until
the ist of April. Mr. Huston is a man of good understanding, and
w^ill be an independent editor. In politics, he is a decided Demo-
cratic Republican. Has been a soldier in the Revolution, and served
"1 the Legislature. In bidding farewell to John Binns* paper, I
quote one of his saucy items: ** I do not know whether Rudolph
^P^ngler was or was not, as the Lancaster Journal says, at a cock-
fight, for a whole day. If he was, to the neglect of his public duty,
^^ was to blame ; but I do know most certainly that Timothy Mat>
'a-cik, the master of rolls of this State, was at a common cock-fight,
f*^^ cheek-by-jowl companion of negroes, vagabonds, and spoils-
June 3, Mathew Huston issued the first number of his Argus ^ and
*^^ his second number attacks Governor McKean for appointing a
^^viinber of Senators to lucrative offices before their terms expired.
^^ys it is morally certain he had no relatives in Pennsylvania or any
<lViarter of the globe, who might be imported to fill those offices.
The attack of the Leopard, on the Chespeake, on the 2 2d of June,
"ings forth a fearful editorial, in which Great Britian is styled an
'incurable old bawd," &c. I quote some of the toasts at the 4th
or July celebration, to show the drift of politics. At Selinsgrove :
*' Thomas McKean — alas, how art thou fallen.'* ** 2d Tuesday of
October, 1808 — may it*give us a farmer for Governor, who will care
^ore for the people than for the dust under his feet, and not a student
^^ morality, whose only care is for his family, lawyers, and sharpers."
''T'he besotted, card-playing general and the golden calf — may they
^^er be haunted with trout visions." ** The Democratic presses —
^"^ nurses of political virtue."
A.t Milton, Captain Thomas Pollock, president. Doctor James
^^gal, vice president: "Thomas McKean — political damnation
^ ^11 political hypocrites." "Aaron Burr, the treacherous apostate
*^ig — may the portion of eternal infamy be the fate of every trai-
^^ to virtue, liberty, and independence." "The American fair —
^'^^'i^ Columbia boast of a race of daughters, amiable and beautiful,
*^^ may Hymen join them to Republican merit." Kennedy's paper.
« «•
358 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1M7.
May 19, attacks an article in Binns* paper, as smelling strongly of
the committee-room at Derrstown, and says Enquire Laird, the
State Senator, is a favorite pupil of the professors at the political
college of Derrstown, and hints that Tilghman might be got out to
run against Simon Snyder for Governor. The Quids, he says, talk
of Judge Spade, who knows no more of politics than of Arabic, and
who may possess qualifications for the place, but nobody knows it.
Huston on Burr: '* Burr is to the bodf -politic like an emetic to
the physical body. Since he has got into operation, the body-poli-
tic has discharged and brought into view a huge mass of swindlers,
speculators, sharpers, jugglers, jockies, pettifoggers. These followers
of our Cataline, whom he collected from the harlot's stew, the gaining
table, and the wine-bibber*s shop, must appear truly pitiful when
. they slink home with their golden prospects blasted, and their leader
the subject of scorn and contempt.*'
James Boyd's toast at the Danville celebration is unique: **The
Quids — a jackass apiece to them, and a snail's horn for a spur, so
that each mule may ride his own ass.'* Daniel Montgomery pre-
sided at this meeting. James Laird was vice, and Andrew Russell
was secretary. The names are given, so that we may know on what
side in politics our antecedents were.
July 13, Governor McKean issued a general order for a draft of
the militia of the State, in prospect of a war with Great Britain, to
be divided into two grand divisions, of which Major General Thomas
Craig and General Joseph Heister were appointed commanders. The
(^uota for Northumberland division was ten hundred and forty. The
delegates from the different townships to the meeting held at Sunbury,
on the 1 8th of August, to express the sentiments of the county, in ref-
erence to the attack upon the Chesapeake, were : Sunbury, Andrew
Albright and John Boyd ; Buffalo, Samuel Maclay and Christopher
Baldy ; West Buffalo, George Youngman and Henry Gray ; Centre,
George Weirick and Michael Wittenmyer ; Penn's, Jacob Lechner
and Daniel Rhoads ; Point, Matthew Huston and Andrew Kennedy;
White Deer, Seth Iredell and William Clark ; Washington, William
Pollock, &c. Colonel Robert Clark, of Derry, was chosen presi-
dent. They resolved unanimously to support the Government in
such measures as may be necessary and proper to obtain satisfaction
for former injuries and insults committed by the British Govern-
1807. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 339
ment, and security against such aggressions in time to come. The
meeting at Selinsgrove to appoint delegates to this meeting, was
presided over by George Holstein. Committee on resolutions,
Frederick Evans, Christian Welker, and Daniel Rohrer.
By an order of Frederick Evans, it appears tliat the thirty-ninth
regiment (district Buffalo Valley) was to furnish one hundred and
:hirty-seven men, to rendezvous at General Baldy's, on the 24th of
September. Seventy-seventh regiment draft, one hundred and
wenty-seven men, to meet at Swinefordstown, on the 23d.
At a meeting of the Society of the Friends of the people of Sun-
bury, held at the public buildings, on Saturday, September 26, and
It a meeting of the same society of Point township, held at the house
Df David Taggert, on Monday, September 29, resolutions were
passed arraigning Michael Leib at the tribunal of public opinion, for
secretly and hypocritically laboring to defeat Simon Snyder in 1805 ;
'or intriguing with the Quids to bring forward Joseph Hiester for
governor. These proceedings are signed by Andrew Albright, presi-
lent of the society of Sunbury ; David Taggert, at Point.
June 27, John Sierer and wife, Susanna, Christopher Baldy and
rife, Susanna, conveyed two acres and one hundred and ten perches
•f the Henry Sees tract to John Kaufman and John Rengler, trustees
lect of a German high school, in Buffalo township, to be erected on
aid premises, and kept for that purpose forever.
Domestic Incidents taken chiefly from F lave I Roan's Journal.
He was teaching school at this time at Jimmy Wilson's school-
louse, near where Adam Stahl now lives.
January i. Citizen Kremer (afterward Honorable George) called
t Clingan's, (William Clingan, Esquire's.) A very great talker.
brought sweetmeats for the ladies. 5th. Roan McClure's youngsters
.nd Richards', from Derrstown, at Clingan's. Amusements, selling
awns, shaving, &c., until after twelve. loth. Citizen Kremer again
,t Clingan's. Has a great memory, and likes to hear himself dis-
ourse. 13th. CHngan's young people down at Roan McClure's
ntil after twelve. 24th. Went to Sunbury, crossing on the ice. Got
hard fall. Stopped at James Black's. Agreeably entertained by
^uire Buyers' daughters and Mr. Black's young people. 29th.
j6o ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18U ^ 7.
Young people at Derrstown singing-school. Thirty young peopl ^
at Baldy's singing.
February 8, Sunday. The ladies would not sing, because Tomm
raised an old tune, '* Isle of Wright." 9th. Six degrees colder tha
it has been for two years, by Doctor DougaPs thermometer, iitl*-
Visitors at Clingan*s, Doctor Dougal and lady, Mrs. Linn and rela^—
tives, Sister Clark, &c. 13th. Ice broke in Buffalo creek, and carrieci
off the bridge. 17th. Youngsters went to Esquire Kelly's. 22^.
Youngsters at Dale's. Returned at'three, a. m. 25th. Charles HalE ,
Esquire, and lady at Clingan's, and Mrs. David Linn, Elsquire KeE -
ly's youngsters, J. Thompson's youngsters, Charlotte Candor, an
Thomas Howard came. All went over to Aunt Dale's, to spend tl».
evening. Kelly's lads very sociable. 26th. Esquire McLanahan an
lady at C's. I think the Squire will run for Assembly. 27th. Thomf^'-
son's. Dale's, Charaberlin's youngsters, Boyd Smith, Bella Kell>^ 9
Charlotte Candor, spent an agreeable evening at C's. Went awa 3^
at one, a. m.
March 5. Clingan's youngsters, with Gideon Smith and J. Thomp^ -
son, went to visit at Chamberlin's. Returned at three a. m. Citizc "K^
Kremer here again. 7th. Roan Clarke at C's. He is making gre^i-^
progress at knowledge with citizen K. Has a learned book wit '^
him, puzzling Tommy and George. Roan's route to Sunbury — crocks
at Nesbit's ferry, drink at Lawshe's, stop to see Judge Wilson at Chi^ '
lisquaque, leave his horse at D. Taggert's, and walk over to Sunbur^^^'-
Return — stops at Dentler's, Lawshe's, Metzgar's, Derrstown, call s:^^
Roan McClure's, sleeps at Giddy Smith's. 17th. Wilson Smith cal ^^
to request Clingans to spend to-morrow evening at Doctor Vanva^^ *
zah's. 21st. Called at Poak's, Metzgar's, and went to see the rop^^ "
dancing at Rees'. 23d. Rope-dancing at Baldy's. 27th. Went t^ ^
Hoffman's. Had a talk with Tom Iddings about Steel being an office '^'•
31st. Snowed all day. Snow eighteen inches deep.
April 4. View on the bridge at Derrstown. Slept at Kremer" ^•
Called at Metzgar's. Went down to Franklin's. Saw some bos*- '•s
start down the river. Called at Doctor Byers'. Saw Franklin's le,
an ugly sight. 8th. Snow five feet deep in Jimmy Wilson's lam^
loth. Left Clingan's, stopped at Baldy's, then to Youngmanstow
where I stopped at Van Buskirk's. Met Esquire Robert Barber t^m:^^
Abbot Green, with whom I had business. Slept at Smelcher's, in
1807.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. j6i
a bed at the fire, and saw sparking going on. 13th. Came to
Baldy's; drank too much whisky; spent the evening with Sheriff
Jared Irwin there. 15th. Crossed at Black's, went to Lawshe's,
spent the evening there, and slept with old Sam Brady. ^
May 2. Went with Mrs. Hood to White Deer valley. They
sing new tunes and Watts* Psalms here. 4th. Went to Newbury,
where I met Billy Dougan, and went home with him. 5th. Heard
Mr. Siers preach from the text ''Come, for all things are ready.'*
He said the man should have brought his wife with him to the wed-
ding. [He was no doubt the ancestor of the sensational preachers
of our day.] Sunday, loth. Heard Mr. Smilie, Baptist, preach at
Jaysburg, on the fruitful vine. Crossed from Jaysburg to David
Mussel's, where Doctor Davidson prescribed for me. 13th. Crossed
^he mountain with Mr. Smilie. Stopped at Week's, [now Union-
^^wn.] He went to preach, and I to Esquire Brown's. His route
*^orae is marked by stops at G. Anderson's, Graham's, Hugh Don-
nelly's, [Uniontown,] Iredell's fishery, and John Hoffman's.
June 7. Hoffman's son and daughter jvent to the consecration
of the new church at Youngmanstown. 9th. The boys went fish-
ing with Mr. Hood. 14th. Reuben Davis, a student full of self-
importance, dined at Clingan's. 24th. At George Clark's, took tea
with the amiable Miss Becca, who displayed a gold ring on her
finger.
Wednesday, July i. Election at Baldy's for militia field-officers.
Cider oil plenty, which occasioned words and blows. 5th. Mr.
Hood preached at Buffalo, Psalm xxvii : 4. He gave me a rub, in
the last part of his sermon, for not attending church. 19th. A
great thunder storm, with hail. 20th. Reverend Mr. Hood with
us, cutting wheat. He is a great cradler. 24th. Mr. Clingan has
seven hundred dozen, and not two bottles of whisky drank at the
cutting. Sunday, 26th. Mr. Grier and Mr. Hood exchange. Buf-
falo people not used to such long sermons. He is not so able an
orator as Mr. Hood. 27th. Election at Derrstown. Fighting going
on in the evening. Citizen Kremer got marked. Miss Wilson and
Miss Craig, of Northampton, at Mr. Hayes*. They are great belles.
28th. Election for rifle company officers, at Clingan*s. 29th. Elec-
tion for company officers, at Richard Irwin's, [White Deer.] Ed-
' Unole of Oaptain Samuel Brady.— LJ/»/i.
362 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [18C— ^-^.
ward Morton and I attended and clerked. We had plenty of ta 2 k
and whisky. 30th. Went down to John Reber's. Clerked her^^*
too. Another election of officers. Plenty of drink here, also. 3is»C-
Went to Michael Fought*s, [near Chappell hollow.] Clerked ^mJt
another election.
August — . Captain Fought went along. Got to Baldy's befoK"'^
breakfast. Another election. Plenty of cider royal. 8th. At Mi i-
ton. The Flemings and Vincents there, raising a troop. 13th.
Mr. Huston's, his daughter, though small, a great belle, [afterwari
wife of John Tagger t. Esquire, of Northumberland. She is recent^ y
deceased, 1871.]
September 6. Mr. Clingan and George went to John Comeliua^s'
funeral. Mathew Laird says he will be very much missed in ha. is
family, as he was a very shifty man. Saturday, 19th. Over at tftrae
camp-meeting beyond Milton. Went to town. Called at D.^mD
Smith's, William Pollock's, and drank wine at Calhoun's, with tline
Barrs. Sunday night at camp. Sermon from Revelations, iii: 1 '^•
The moon shining througji the trees, the fire, candles in the cans. l)i
the large, quiet crowd of people, made the scene romantic a:M=i^
solemn. 20th. Great carrying on at camp. Criswell's boys ^ ^t
happy. 26th. Mr. Bryson preached on Psalm cxxxiii. Billy Poafcs's
wife fainted in meeting.
October 3. Drank a morning dram with Mr. , the Meth"*-©-
dist minister from Lycoming, and went home with Robert Ly(^ Ji-
He is very poor, but hospitable. 6th. At Franklin's. Albright 21 «^(i
wife there. Took dinner at Doctor Byer's. Called at Poaf s.
Much diverted with the girls and Donaldson's wife and daughter
Then called at Hayes' and Cramer's and went to George Clark's-
9th. Clingan brought home Mr. Hood and Reverend H. R. Wilson,
Bellefonte ; the latter a very facetious man. Comet still in vieir.
13th. Clerked at the election at Billmyer's. Tommy stole a hag
string to cure Trimmer's ancle. 20th. Review at Derrstown. Seve-
ral bottles in the evening. George stole a bag string for another
horse. 31st. My horse broke his bridle at Robert's tavern, Milton.
Staid and slept with old Peter Vincent.
Sunday, November i. Mr. Hood got a letter, stating that the
horse had ran away with his wife and Ann Dale, broke the chair,
and Mrs. Hood's leg. [This accident happened near Harrisburg.
1M>7 . J ANNALS OF B UFFAL O VALLE K. 363
THey were going to Chester county on a visit. Mrs. Hood was a Has-
let:, from that county.] 2d. Tommy took sixty-eight bushels corn to
d^Gruchy's, at Northumberland. 7th. Mr. Hood and James Dale set
ofif* in a boat to bring Mrs. Hood home. nth. Mrs. Hood arrived at
^-^rrstown. Mr. Wilson brought her home on a sled. Annie Dale
°^''-ich hurt, too. [My uncle, Doctor W. I. Wilson, says he recollects
^'^^ll of riding the horses attached to the sled which brought Mrs.
'^ Ciod to her home from the river.] 1 5th. Clingan*s youngsters, Aunt
'^^^le's youngsters went with Mr. Haslet to visit at Senator Maclay*s.
December 9. Clingan butchering. George Weikel assisting
:au Barber here. Mr. Haslet and Mr. Hood helping butcher.
^ ^^th. George at a tramping frolic at Uncle Clark's, nth. Beaux
^^remer, Haslet, Barber here. ** Where the carcase is, thither will
*^e eagles gather together.** 12th. Billy Thompson died. 20th.
^^r. Hood preached from 11 Timothy, i :io. The people seemed too
*^45y to leave the meeting-house. There is a stove in it now. 21st.
viirls up at Mrs. Linn*s last night. George, Nancy, Haslet, Sam
^laclay. Dale, &c. 24th. Shooting match at Zerbe*s, [now John
Orove's.] 31st. Billy Forsler and citizen Kremer at Clingan*s.
Oeorge fired off guns at midnight.
The Leading CircuU Lawyers, by George A. Snyder,
At this time, the courts of Northumberland, Lycoming, and Lu-
cerne were attended by the lawyers of Lancaster, York, Harrisburg,
a.nd Carlisle. From Lancaster came Charles Smith, one of the
a.blest jurists of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hopkins also came, but seldom.
Bowie* was the only one I can remember from York. Thomas
Duncan and David Watts, from Carlisle. From Harrisburg came
George Fisher, Thomas Elder, William Irwin, and others. Each
lawyer kept his saddle-horse. The Lancaster, York, and Carlisle
lawyers met at Harrisburg ; when that court terminated, they came
to Sunbury ; then to Williamsport and Wilkesbarre. As their num-
bers were recruited at each county town, they formed a considerable
troop of cavalry on entering the two last places.
The nature and character of the law business were then different
from what they are at present. Almost all the important actions
' BAlph Bowie, Esquire, died at York, PonnsylvaDia, October 22, 1816. Ho is said
to bare been ad elegant lawyer.— L/nn.
3^4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \\m.
were ejectments upon disputed original titles. The number of wit-
nesses was very great, the means of traveling scanty, the district
large, so that much allowance had to be made for failure of attend-
ance. The causes were, therefore, frequently continued, so that
they usually stood upon the trial list several years before they could
be acted upon. This, added to the dilatory habits always prevalent
in frontier settlements, produced that leisurely, time-wasting habit
of doing business which, until lately, characterized our county courts.
The lawyers of this district seldom undertook an important causs
without calling in the aid of Duncan, Watts, Fisher, or some other
able practitioner.
Duncan was a small man, with keen looking gray eyes, and a^
sharp, unmusical voice. His knowledge of law was more extensive
and accurate than that of any of his compeers, and he possessed
great tact in the trial of a cause, almost always managing to put hi^
opponents, though they were plaintiffs, on the defensive — an im-
mense advantage in law as well as in war. My father placed hiirm-
upon the Supreme Bench, where he was considered an important
acGuisition.
Mr. Watts was a large man, with a powerful voice. His seir—
reliance was great, and of great advantage to him, for his abilities
were considerable. He contemned authorities, preferring to argu^
his case from first principles, and this he did with much power. H^
was apt to be violent and overbearing, and was in the habit of heap-
ing abuse upon his opponents. He was a good classical scholar,
and on that score was susceptible to flattery. He maintained that
squinting was an infallible mark of dishonesty. He himself squinted,
though he was not aware of it, and could not be convinced of it by
others. He spent his money with careless profusion. He died oi
cancer, about the year 1821. He was the father of Judge Frederick
Watts, a man of talent and industry, and greatly esteemed for his
many excellent qualities.
George Fisher was a large man, of imposing exterior. Inferior
in ability either to Duncan or Watts, he was still able to make a
good figure at the bar. His practice was mostly confined to the
defensive side, as it was dangerous to allow him to collect money
He lived to a great age — eighty-four, I believe.
Charles Hall, of Sunbury, was a good lawyer, and highly esteem-
180T.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 365
as a man. He was shrewd, laborious, and very attentive to the
interests of his clients. He had not, however, the gift of a ready
speaker, being rather tedious.
XDaniel Smith was the only lawyer of the district who could be
called eloquent in a high sense.
IDaniel Levy, of Sunbury, outlived all the old lawyers, as they
W'^re popularly called, except Mr. Bellas. He was a conceited
n^^-ti, active as a cat, an insatiable dancer, and a hard fighter. He
^-ci considerable science as a boxer, and although not large or strong,
"^^ skill joined to his prodigious activity made him quite formidable.
^ is vanity and fondness for dress made him a capital butt, and sub-
j^^^t of jokes for his fellow-members of the bar. He lived to the age
^^ seventy, and a fop to the last.
(I have dropped Mr. Snyder*s strictures on the morals of these
^*^ legal giants. But that the truth may be told in a general way,
^ inking habits got the better of some of them.]
Hugh Bellas was the last survivor of the old lawyers. A man of
^^tigular energy, and the most elastic spirit, I ever knew. He came
^^^ this country from Ireland, when he was about ten years of age.
^^eorge Bellas, his father, was poor, and unable to educate his children,
^^ugh was bound to Robert Irwin, of Northumberland, to learn the
^^ercantile business. Here he found a congenial spirit in Robert
Christie, the senior clerk. Robert was the son of an English teacher,
^nd had been well educated. Store-keeping was not then conducted
^n the go-ahead style of the present, and our clerks, having consid-
erable leisure at certain periods, devoted themselves to reading and
^tudy. Mr. Bellas' father was a strict Presbyterian, and had brought
Up his family in the faith of that Church ; but the active and inde-
pendent mind of Hugh, let him into inquiries, which caused him to
reject Galvanism, and even to doubt seriously the entire christian
faith. About this time (1799) he heard much said of three re-
markable sermons of Doctor Priestly, on ** habitual devotion," the
** danger of bad habits," and the **duty of not living to ourselves."
Meeting the doctor one day, he expressed a desire to read these
sermons. *' My young friend," replied the doctor, ** I judge from
your opinions on the subject of revelation, that you would not be
able to appreciate these discourses. Before you undertake them, I
will, if you please, put a tract into your hands, the reading of which
3t6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, fIS07.
will, I hope, prepare you for the doctrine of my sermons." TTie
seed fell into good ground and brought forth an hundred fold.
While at Irwin's, Mr. Bellas commenced studying law with Jon-
athan Walker, afterward Judge Walker. It was about the year
1803, Mr. Bellas applied for admission, but he met a most forrai-
dable opposition. Every lawyer then at the bar in this district was
a decided Federalist, and as Mr. Bellas was not only an active and
influential Democrat, but of the plebeian stock, the aristocratic gen-
tlemen objected to his admission, on the ground of his not having
studied actually in the office of Mr. Walker, but in a store, and while
conducting a business of another character.
Whether the court decided against him, or he was induced by the
clamor of his opponents to suspend application, I am unable to say.
This happened during the session of the court at Bellefonte. Re-
turning to Northumberland, and stating the case to Mr. Walker, the
latter advised him to employ counsel in his behalf, and renew his
application at Sunbury. Mr. Bellas accordingly retained Daniel
Smith, who brought his case before the court, and advocated it so
ably that an examination was ordered, and Charles Hall, the most
determined of his opponents, appointed one of his examiners. ITie
examination was held in open court, and was most rigorous. Mr.
Hall came prepared with a sheet of written questions; many of them
mere trials of memory. Such as the date of certain statutes of Queen
Elizabeth. Mr. Bellas' memory was, however, never at fault. The
judge perceiving that he had no ordinary candidate before him, was
highly gratified. At one stage the judge asked him what is criminal
law? Mr. Bellas, after a moment's hesitation, commenced : Law is
a rule of action. Here the judge interrupted him in his quick,
nervous way, with ** I don't want a general definition of law, but of
criminal law." Criminal law, resumed Mr. Bellas, is a rule of action
defining and prohibiting crime, and prescribing due punishment.
That will do, remarked the judge, I only asked the question in order
to try your judgment. There is no definition of criminal law in the
books. The three hours' ordeal passed. Mr. Hall most grudgir^ly
admitted that the young man had passed a satisfactory examination,
and recommended his admission to the bar.
My father, [afterward Governor Snyder,] who was at the time
county treasurer, witnessed the whole proceedings, and resolved to
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 367
the young lawyer. He accordingly employed him in the
e Isle of Que case, which terminated in his favor, after
I twenty years litigation.
kllas. Esquire, died October 26, 1863, aged eighty-three
r years.
Marriages,
I, Peter Kreechbaum with Elizabeth Davis, in presence
ler Peter, and brother George.
I, Martin Billmyer with Margaret Himmelrich, in pres-
M parents, George Billmyer and wife, Stephen Frantz and
rge Withington, &c.
ber 13, George Kreechbaum with Polly Keller, daughter
: Keller, now in Sciota.
3er 10, By Reverend Henry R. Wilson, Thomas Burn-
lire, to Miss Mary Fleming, of Bellefonte.
3er 26, John. Brobst with Lydia Marriner. Witnesses,
xon, Thomas Poak, John Conser, &c.
Deaths.
ry 15, Adam Young.
30, John Aurand, of East Buffalo. He was bom in Dil-
Germany, February 5, 1725; was, therefore, eighty-two
months three weeks and four days old. His grave, in
bach yard, is unmarked, and possibly cannot be identi-
5 wife, Mary Elizabeth, died before him. His children
jnry, who lived and died in Snyder county; Peter and
ed in Reading ; Daniel, in Sunbury ; Reverend Dietrich,
in Huntingdon county ; George Aurand, Esquire, died
1850, buried in the Hassinger grave-yard, near Middle-
ther of Jacob Aurand, Esquire, of Middleburg;) Eliza-
rmarried with Francis Zeller ; John, who died soon after,
w Catherine married Henry Rhiem;) Abraham; Mary,
o John Wolfe. His descendants are, like the sands of the
merable, scattered all through New York, Ohio, Illinois;
amily Bible, written for by the agent in New York, which
e a large fortune to the family, can,'be produced by Jacob
Esquire, of Middleburg.
368 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1807. .
September t6, Florence, wife of Colonel John Clarke, aged sev-
enty-six.
William Thompson, of White Deer township, in the seventietlC
year of his age. His remains were interred in the Presbyteriar,
burial ground, in Derrstown, followed by a numerous assemblage
friends and relations. He left a widow, Jane, who died in l^wi
burg. Daughter, Ruth ; granddaughter, Nancy T. Reznor ; so
James.*
George Wilt, of West Buffalo, died in the spring. Widow, CatA-
erine. Children : Elizabeth, Adam, George, Barbara, and Mary.
Daniel Franklin, inn-keeper, died in September.
William McKim, of Buffalo. Robert McKim.
Reverend John Hoge. Children: Ebenezer, Samuel, David,
Jonathan D., Elizabeth Brice, Mary Redrick, Priscilla Bennett.
David Katherman, West Buffalo. Children: Barbara, George,
Jacob.
Lewis Frantz. Children : Stephen, John^ Jacob, Philip, Cathe-
rine, George, Margaret.
William Steele, of Buffalo.
' Keverend James Thompson studied theologry under Mr. Hood. Licensed, U17.
April 17, 1819, installed pastor of Shaver's Creek and Alexandria churches. Died
October 8, 1890. Left a xrldow, Eliza, (Stewart,) one son, and two daughters.— S«'
Qxhz-iit.'*» hititory of the Huntingdon Prtthytery.
^ ^.^(<^>r 'i ^^^^'^-^"^ -
.^ft%> ; r
L^'^ '^^
1808.
T*nE First Baptist CiirRcn Or(iaxizkd— Political Affairs — Simos Sny-
der Elkctf.d Governor — Death of John Brady, (Sheriff,) and No-
ticks OF HIS Family.
EMBER of Congress, George Smith. Members of As-
sembly, elected in October, John Murray, Leonard
Rupert, Frederick Evans, and Andrew Albright. Clerk
of the Middle District of the Supreme Court, John L.
Tinney. County Commissioner elect, Andrew McClenachan. Amos
Ellmaker, Deputy Attorney General for Dauphin and Northumber-
land. By the act of 21st March, Northumberland county was enti-
tled to four members of the House, and, with Luzerne, to two
niembers of the Senate.
January 23, the congressional caucus nominated James Madison
for President and George Clinton for Vice.
Under date March 16, the Argus notices a meeting of the Repifb-
^ican members of the Legislature, which declared unanimously for
Simon Snyder, for Governor. The Federalists, it says, favor James
Ross. The Quids, John Spayd. Democratic Presidential electors :
William Wilson, Robert Giffen, Jacob Hostetter.
29th March, Adam Wilt commissioned justice. May 15, Rev-
erend John Dietrich Adams, of the Reformed Church, called to the
Middle Creek, Beaver Dam, &c., churches. He accepted, and
seems to have served until 181 2, when he was excommunicated.
Tradition says love for strong drink was his ruin. Postmaster at
Mifflinburg, Thomas Youngman. During this vear and the next,
the Reverend Jacob Diffenbach, of the Reformed Church, lived in
24 s^9
370 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1808.
Mifflinburg, preached there, and at times in Brush valley and Selins-
grove. He married a Miss Lydia Hughes, of Selinsgrove, subse-
quently removed to Espytown, and died there in 1825. One of bis
children, Samuel Dieffenbach, resides near Selinsgrove, Sn)'der
county. 3otli September, George Clark commissioned justice.
White Deer. James McClellan, Esquire, taught school at Cham-
berlin*s mill.
Additional Residents in East Buffalo. — Baldy, Benjamin ; Beard,
Christian, blacksmith ; Brewer, John ; Bossier, John : Christ, Adam,
junior ; Christ, Henry ; Dentler, John ; Deratt, Daniel, both on
Mathias Macpherson's place; George, John; Heiser, Frederick;
Jackson, Robert, (colored;) Kitchen, John; Kline, Jacob; Mc-
Curdy, Daniel, at James Dale's ; Searfoss, George ; Shields, Wil-
liam ; Snook, Martin, (Jenkins ;) Snook, Peter, (Jenkins ;) Snyder,
Daniel, blacksmith ; Taylor, Robert.
Lewisburg — Billman, Henry ; Clark, George ; Friedly, John ; Guy,
Thomas ; Horning, Conrad ; Kremer, George, store in Chamberlin's
building ; Martin, John, carpenter ; Myers, Peter ; Rees, Daniel,
inn-keeper; Sergeant, John, nailor ; Sitgreaves, Charles, saddler;
Stillwell, Joseph, school-teacher ; Stroub, Michael, weaver ; Wagner,
Henry.
New Berlin — Estrich, Christian, merchant; Feather, Jacob, hat-
ter ; Frantz, William ; Fought, George ; Lehman, Thomas, school-
teacher ; McCullough, William ; Maurer, Adam ; Pontius, Henrj,
junior, carpenter ; Smith, Peter, gunsmith ; Springer, Henry, chair-
maker ; Winter, Daniel, inn-keeper.
White Deer — Awl, Samuel and John, junior; Ferris, Joseph, on
William Clingan's place ; Heckle, George : Heckle, Simon ; Hunt-
ingdon, Abraham ; Kline, Charles, on Ranck's place ; Thomas,
Arthur, miller.
West Buffalo — Charles, John; Elert, Widow; Elder, John:
Geddes, Samuel: Jodon, James; Komp, Adam; Kline, Jacob;
Miller, Peter ; Shaup, Henry.
Mifflinburg — Clark, Widow Sarah ; Cronmiller, Martin, black-
smith ; Grove, Andrew, blacksmith ; Hofferd, John, taxed with
grist and saw-mill, late Christopher Johnson's, on Rapid run, al'^c''
whose death it passed into the hands of John Reish; Lane, William,
hatter ; Yearick, Henry.
] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 371
Enumeration of the Taxable Inhabitants of the different Town-
ki^s of Buffalo Valley — Buffalo East, four hundred and forty-seven,
ad one slave ; Buffalo West, three hundred and seventy-four ; White
)eer, two hundred and five, and one slave ; Washington, eighty-one,
.nd one slave.
Firsi Baptist Church.
The first regular Baptist church in what is now Union county,
''2LS raised under the labors of Thomas Smiley, in Washington (now
ircgg) township, and was recognized by sister churches October 23,
S08. Elder Smiley remained its pastor until his death, in 1832.
^ewas succeeded by George Spratt, M. D., 1 833-1 834; his son,
^^^orge M. Spratt, D. D., 1835-1839 ; William S. Hall, 1840-1843;
Folin Edminster, 1843-1847; William T. Bunker, 1849-1853; Pro-
^ssor Robert Lowry, 1854; George Frear, D. D., 1855; Joshua
Kelly, 1 85 7-1 858 ; W. R. McNeal, 1859 ; Samuel W. Ziegler, i860;
J- Green Miles, 186 1-1865 ; George W. Snyder, 1867 ; and J. Green
M^iles since 1869. — O, N. Worden.
Political.
Northumberland and Luzerne composed the senatorial district,
f entre, Lycoming and Northumberland composed the congressional
district. General Daniel Montgomery declined a re-election. At the
^Democratic- Republican convention, held at Sunbury, on the 28th
of June, the delegates from Buffalo were Samuel Maclay and General
C. Baldy ; West Buffalo, John Wilson and Thomas Youngman ;
Penn's, Frederick Evans and Philip Moore ; White Deer, Andrew
McClenachan and William Chamberlin.
The nominating convention was held at Derrstown, on the 20th
of August. Thirty-seven delegates from twenty townships. General
Robert Giffen was elected president ; Matthew Huston, secretary.
Simon Snyder was unanimously nominated for Governor ; George
Smith, of Lycoming, for Congress ; Nathan Palmer, of Luzerne, for
State Senator; John Murray, Andrew Albright, Leonard Rupert,
and Frederick Evans, for Assembly.
The Federal leaders of that day were General William Wilson,
372 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [
Charles Hall, Esquire, Captain Christian Brobst, William Meai— ::
Samuel Miles, Esquire, John Buyers, &c. The canvass for Govem^i
this year was exceedingly bitter. Among other stories, was that tfc
Honorable Samuel Maclay had expressed himself in favor of Jam.e:
Ross for Governor, at William McAllister's, in Juniata county, wheo
he and the Honorable Daniel Montgomery were on their return from
Congress ; that Simon Snyder had said in the presence of one George
Church, who made affidavit to that effect, that no poor man ought to
have the right of voting at an election ; that he had voted for a biJJ
to fine Mennonists and Quakers $io for not attending militia train-
ings ; that he intended, or favored, dividing the property of the rich
among the poor. The Snyder men were accused of suing the Ross-
ites for debts. Jared Irwin, the sheriff, certifies that Simon Snyder
has not issued an execution for twelve months ; Judge Cooper, that
Simon Snyder did not behave improperly in handing a paper to the
judge, &c. James Ross was declared to be a man of mercenary and
avaricious disposition ; accused of blasphemy and mockery of religion;
said to be **the candidate of the nabobs and lawyers; that while
member of the United States Senate, he advocated the wresting of
New Orleans from the Spaniards by force, instead of acquiring it
by treaty. During the reign of terror, (Adams' administration,) his
violence for its measures secured him the Federal patronage." AH
manner of tricks were resorted to.
Andrew Albright and Robert Smith were nominated by the Fed-
eral meeting, at Milton, for Assembly, although known to be Dem-
ocrats, in favor of Jefferson and his embargo. Both came out in the
ArguSy disclaiming the nomination.
As early as this year, Andrew C. Huston, with John Frick and
others, issue an address, as representatives of the young men of North-
umberland county, in favor of Simon Snyder. Judge Thomas Cooper,
in a communication, vindicates the private character of Simon Sny-
der, although he did not feel at liberty to vote for either Simon
Snyder or James Ross.
i
^08.]
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
373
OCTOBER ELECTION.
Buffalo, . .
West Buffalo,
Berlin, . . .
Swineford's, .
Milton, . .
Selinsgrove, .
Mitninburg, .
Beaver, . .
8NTDER.
R088.
311
68
300
70
209
10
166
8
467
127
237
28
49
32
138
3
SPATD.
8
1
6
9
Snyder's majority in the county, over both, was 2,927. Colonel
John Bull was the Federal candidate against Colonel George Smith,
for Congress. Colonel John Kelly, against Nathan Palmer, for
Senate. For Assembly, the Federal candidates were Sol Markley,
Robert Barber, Enquire, Abraham Miller, and Thomas Wallace.
Henry Musser was elected commissioner, over Theodore Kiehl and
James Smith. For presidential electors on the Democratic-Repub-
lican and Whig side — for the party recognize all three names — were
William Montgomery and Robert Giffen. The Federalists are called
the Tories. John Boyd was the Federal candidate for elector.
Vote, 2,793 ^o 221.
Marriages.
March 22, John Freedly with Elizabeth Lehman, by H. Spyker,
in presence of Daniel Nyhart, her brother-in-law, &c.
May 4, Peter Myers to Sophia Nixon, by same, in the presence
of her step-father, James Marriner, and her mother, Peter Spyker,
George Graham, Thomas Poak, Margaret Graham, Betsy Smith,
Lydia Pross, &c.
May 17, by the same, Henry Zerbe with Susanna Heckel. Wit-
nesses : Adam Wertz, Peter Leonard, John Snyder, &c.
July St Peter Brown with Catherine Kantz, in presence of her
brother, Peter Kantz, brother-in-law, John Hartman.
March 24, by Reverend T. Hood, William Nesbit, of Chillisqua-
que, to Nancy Musser, of East Buffalo.
November 29, George Freedly with Catherine Frantz, by H. Spy-
ker, Esquire, in presence of Andrew Billmyer and wife, George
Billmyer and wife, John Frantz, Jacob Frantz, Peggy Librunen, &c.
374 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18iM
Deaths.
Samuel Dunning and James McCorley, White Deer.
Neal Madden, father of the late James Madden, Esquire, West
Buffalo.
17th May, Adam Christ, aged sixty-six. Left widow, Elizabeth.
Children : . Henry, Elizabeth, Eve, married to John Snook.
Elizabeth Earne, Buffalo. (Her daughter married Jacob Moore.)
Children : John, Anna M., Balisa, and Susanna.
Joseph Ultz, of West Buffalo.
John Aurand, junior, East Buffalo.
James Boveard, East Buffalo, soldier of the Revolution. Enlisted,
1776, as private in Captain David Kilgore*s company, eighth Penn-
sylvania, and served three years. His family as follows : Children:
Hannah, Robert, Alexander, Mary, married to Robert McBride,
Jane, to Doctor James Charleton, , to John Steans.
Daniel Metzgar, hotel-keeper at Lewisburg. His widow, E\'e,
afterwards married to Colonel Christopher Baldy.
Saturday, 30th January, Mrs. Annie McBeth, of White Deer,
formerly of Cumberland county, buried at Buffalo Cross-Roads.
Her ancestors fled from Scotland on account of religious persecution.
They were of the first settlers at Brandywine, in Chester county.
She was twice married, first to John Fleming, and afterwards to An-
drew McBeth ; had four children by her first, and five by her last
husband. One of her sons fell at Long Island. — Argus.
27th July, Susanna Baldy, consort of General C. Baldy, aged
fifty two. A faithful observance of all the relative duties of wife,
mother, and friend, marked the conduct of this truly excellent wo-
man.— Argus y 2,d August.
December 10, at Milton, John Brady, inn-keeper, and former
sheriff of Northumberland county, aged forty-eight. He is buried in
the cemetery at lewisburg. His wife, Jane, survived him twenty
years, and is buried in the same grave. A mural monument, covered
with a heavy marble slab, marks their grave and that of Mary Brady,
widow of Captain John Brady.
John Brady's children were : Lieutenant Samuel Brady, born 22d
February, 1793. At the commencement of the war of 1812, he
served as a volunteer, under Governor Edwards, in a caraiwign
^^.;\ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 37s
against the Indians. They had one battle, defeating the Indians.
Shortly afterwards, he received a commission as ensign in the twenty-
second United States regiment, commanded by his uncle, General
Hugh Brady, and served in the unfortunate campaign under Gen-
eral Wilkinson. In the summer of 181 4 he was attached to General
Brown's army, on the Niagara frontier. He was in the bloody battle
of Lundy*s Lane ; a second lieutenant in the sortie from Fort Erie.
He was the only platoon officer of his regiment that was not either
killed or wounded in the former battle, and Major Arrowsmith was
the only field-officer of General Scott's brigade that was left on
horseback. See his letter to Captain B. Vincent, under date of 1 81 4.
After peace was proclaimed, Lieutenant Brady entered into an
arrangement with Captain John Culbertson, a brother officer, to g#
on a trading expedition to the Rocky Mountains, supposing that,
upon the reduction of the army, he would not be retained in the
service. He was retained, however ; but thinking he could not, in
^onor, break his engagement with the captain, he resigned. The
Government declined to accept his resignation, and sent him an
^nliniited furlough. His health, however, failed him, and he was
advised to winter in the South. He went to New Orleans, accom-
panied by his friend. Lieutenant Colonel Trimble, of Ohio, and
died there on the 17th of February, 1816, not quite twenty-three
years of age. He was six feet fwQ, and a remarkably fine looking
man. His disease was hurried on by exposiwe in the Niagara cam-
paigns, when he should have been in the hospital, instead of the field.
In the Sunbury Times of that year, there is an eloquent obituar.y,
by his friend. Colonel Trimble, in which he says : ** In Lieutenant
Brady's death, the country has lost an intelligent and gallant officer,
and myself a firm and distinterested friend."
William Perry Brady, his brother, was born i6th February, 1795.
He worked for a while at his trade — cabinet making — in Aarons-
burg. In 1 81 3 he entered the army as private. His regiment was
at Erie when Perry was fitting out his fleet. The commodore, not
having a sufficient number of regular marines, called for volun-
teers. William was the first who volunteered. Before Perry sailed,
Colonel Hugh Brady came to Erie, and through his influence. Perry
appointed him a purser's steward. He was attached to one of the
small vessels, and was in the battle of the loth of September. His
37(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1808.
vessel had to be abandoned, and he was the last man to leave his
gun. His shirt sleeves were shot away. He took great pride in
the old shirt, and often showed it to his friends in after years. After
the battle, and the return of the fleet to Erie, William and two of
his Centre county friends, waited on the commodore. He granted
them their discharges, and advised them to return home and settle
in civil life, remarking that they had already rendered important
service to their country. William took his advice, returned to
Aaronsburg, and in a short time married Rachel Mussina, of that
place. In 1846, he was elected assistant sergeant-at-arms of the
Pennsylvania Senate, which place he retained until his death, at
Harrisburg, on the 4th of April, 1864. Every one having business
in Harrisburg in the last twenty years, will recollect the genial com-
panionship of William P. Brady. He survived all his children,
except one son, who died about one year after his father.
Jasper Ewing Brady, Esquire, the fourth son, was born March 4,
1 797. He first learned the trade of hatter, and, after traveling from
place to place for two or three years, he settled in Franklin county.
Pennsylvania. He there abandoned his trade, and taught school
several years, meanwhile studying law. He was admitted at Cham-
bersburg in 1826 or 1827, and there commenced practice. In 1843
he was elected to the Assembly, and re-elected in 1844. During the
first session, although he represented an anti-improvement county,
he offered an amendment to the bill to reduce the State tax pro\'i(i-
ing for the assessment of a three-mill tax, which redeemed the credit
of the State. He was treasurer of Franklin county for three veaR.
In 1846 he was elected to Congress, beating Honorable Samuel Hep-
burn some eight hundred votes. He was, however, defeated in 1848,
by Honorable James X. McLanahan. The Whig loss in the Carlisle
district was some two hundred votes. Mr. Brady was beaten only
one hundred and sixty-seven votes. In September, 1849, ^^ removed
to Pittsburgh, and practiced law very successfully until 1861, when
he was appointed to a responsible position in the paymasters* depart-
ment at Washington. He was removed in July, 1869, by General
Rawlings, then Secretary of War. He then resumed the practice of
law at Washington, where he died.
John Brady, the third, died several years ago. James, the young-
1808.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, S77
est, died in Franklin county, in 1829. He was a man of fine intel
lect, and was thought to be the most talented of the family.
Of the daughters of Sheriff John Brady, Mary married William
Piatt, uncle of Judge Piatt, of Brady township, Lycoming county;
Hannah married Judge Piatt ; Charlotte married H. C. Piatt ; Jane
married Roland Stoughton; her descendants, Mrs. Lyndall's chil-
dren, still live in Lewisburg ; Nancy married George B. Eckert, of
Lewisburg.
I am indebted to O. N. Worden, late of the lewisburg Chronicle^
for the following narrative he took down at the time. He says : In
June, 1857, I took the following notes of a conversation I had with
Mrs. Mary Brady Piatt, aged seventy-two, born in 1785 :
* * My father was a brother of Sam Brady, the Indian fighter. I
saw him once. He was then on a visit to my father's, at Sunbury.
I went with them over to Northumberland. On the way over, my
father asked Sam if he could jump as well as ever ? He said he could
not, but coming to a high fence in a few minutes, he sprung clear
over it, with but little effort. * I never could do that,' said my father.
* You could, if obliged to,* said Sam.
* * Sam killed three Indians after peace was declared, and a reward
of S300 was offered for his apprehension. Shortly after, he was sit-
ting with a tavern-keeper, in West Virginia, when two strangers,
Virginians, rode up, alighted, and asked for horse feed and dinner.
They laid their pistols upon a table, near which sat Sam, rolling his
rifle upon his knees. In the course of conversation with the land-
lord, they found out that he knew Brady, and that he lived in that
region, and was very popular. They told the landlord that they had
come to arrest him, and if he gave them assistance, they would share
the reward with him. The landlord said they could never take him,
nor could any one take him alive. They declared they could. * I
am Sam Brady,' said the man at the table. They were startled. They
looked at him for a minute, and, estimating his power, waived the
attempt. After dinner, they went to the table to get their pistols.
Brady said they could not have those pistols, nor could the landlord's
entreaty or their threats prevail. * Go back to your homes, and tell
them Sam Brady took your pistols,' was all the answer he made. He
afterwards gave their pistols to his sons.
** After awhile he delivered himself up for trial at Pittsburgh. He
378 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1
was defended by James Ross. Brady laid the scalps on the bar. * Thei
they are ; I killed them.' A great many wom2n attended this triaM.
or rather men in women's clothes, ready to rescue hitp, if convicted
but there was no occasion for their intervention."
Mrs. Piatt, like her brother, the late William Perry Brady, re^-
miinei a Federalist to the last. She said when Washington wa^
burned, through the inefficiency of a granny President, her blood
boiled, and she longed to go, that she might shoot at least oae
British invader.
1809.
Officials — Residents — Roan's Journal — Election Return — Marriages
AND Deaths.
OVERNOR, Simon Snyder. Surveyor General, Andrew
Porter, appointed April 4, vice Samuel Cochran. Dep-
uty Attorney General, E. G. Bradford, appointed Jan-
uary 19. Prothonotary, &c., Hugh Bellas, commissioned
January 3. Register and Recorder, John Frick, commissioned Jan-
uary 18. Sheriff, Daniel Lebo, commissioned October 24. Coro-
ner, Joseph Lorentz, re-commissioned October 24. County Com-
missioner elect, Henry Masser. Justices commissioned : Peon's,
Joseph Fiihrer, February 28 ; Mahantango, Michael Rathfon and
Philip Burchart, the same day. Postmaster at Lewisburg, William
Hayes.
Janiis Moore, senior, built the bridge at the mouth of Buffalo
creek.
Tobias Lehman's property divided. His children were : Henry,
Barbara, married to George Baily, Elizabeth, married to John
Freedly, Margaret Spidler, Catherine, married to Daniel Nyhart,
«
1809. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 379
Mary, married to John B.'own, Freedly took the mills and four
acres ; John Brown, one hundred and thirty-two acres one hundred
and one perches ; and Nyhart the tract next Derr*s, fifty-five acres
one hundred and twenty-six perches.
Reverend John G. Heira became pastor of the Lutherans, at Dreis-
bach's church, where he remained until 1831.
East Buffalo Additional Residents — Auraud, Abraham ; Badger,
Joseph, tailor ; Boveard, Robert ; Brown, Peter, stiller ; Clinger,
•Adam; Gross, Mathias; Hauck, Andrew; Herbst, Henry; Jar-
man, Jacob; Johnston, John, colored; Knittle, Adam, shoe-maker ;
Shamp, Jesse; Sheckler, Martin, miller; Thompson, Samuel;
Thompson, Moses; Updyke, Isaac ; Wise, Henry, shoe-maker; Ze-
luff, David.
Lewisburg — Baldwin, Doctor Ethan ; Espy, John ; Nyhart, Dan-
iel ; Smith, Robert.
White Deer — Bellas, Jam2s ; Davis, John, school-teacher ; Lan-
dis, Jacob, shoe-maker ; Smith, William Walker ; Sypher, Jacob.
West Buffalo — Anthony, Henry ; Bergstresser, John ; Bruner,
John ; Caldwell, William ; Hayes, John ; Keeply, John ; Koons,
Peter ; Linn, Isaac ; Yerger, John.
Mifflinburg — Auple, Conrad ; Haslet, John ; Larabee, Widow ;
Manly, John ; Millhouse, Nicholas ; Smelker, Godfrey, tavern ;
Staple, Conrad; Wolf, Andrew; Young, Christian.
Roan's Journal,
1 4th January. Scholars at Mr. Hood's had a public exhibition of
their speaking abilities. Elder Brown, Honorable George Kremer,
and others attended. Sunday 29th. Mr. Hood's text, John xiv : 6 v.
Thirty-six sleds and sleighs at meeting.
February 9. Roan, Sally, Becky, and Bob Clark, and John Eaker
came and staid all night. Sunday, 12th. Saw a woman putting a
hippen to her child during church. Read twenty-two chapters,
verse about, to-night. 15th. Maclays and their connections spent
the day at Clingan's. i6th. George and Davy Reznor went to
Easton, with grain, in sleds. They returned on the 2 2d. 27th.
Billy Clark, Uncle Giddy, Wilson's, &c., at Aunt Dale's, in all
seventeen, for supper. Had two turkeys.
SSo ANNALS OF BUFFALO FALLEY, [I
March i. The young folks at Roan McClure's. Turkey for sup-
per, and plenty of cider and apples. 3d. Debate at Mr. Hood's
school-house. Question: **Is a lawyer a promoter of justice.**"
1 2th, Sunday. No singing at meeting, as people cannot agree about
the psalms and music. 13th. Black Grace free to-day, and left us.
Seven Methodists dined at Clingan's to-day. 15 th. Met Doctor
Baldwin at Lewisburg to-day. He is a Democrat, full of ostenta-
tion. 1 8th. Mr. McClure's family, Richard Fruit and wife, Judge
Wilson and wife, came to my school to-day to hear the boys speak.
Wednesday, 2 2d. John Linn died last night. 23d. Went to John
Linn's funeral. Stopped at Baldy*s, and wrote a piece on his death
for both papers at Northumberland.
April 8. Saw a clegyman, a Congressman, six esquires, and a
constable at Billy Poak*s to-day. River very high. Congressman
Smith bought a silk shawl at Kremer's for Betsey Smith. i8th.
Planted the locusts at Clingan's ; got them down at Billy Clark's.
Eight ministers here, Mr. Wilson of Bellefonte, Mr. Bard, &c. 19th.
Planted some Lombard ys. Presbytery in session. 2 2d. At North-
umberland; called at Seidel's, Jones', Taggart's, Priestly's, Welker's,
Irwin's, Huston's, and Bonham's. Spent the evening at Reverend
Isaac Grier's. He is a very friendly man. I heard Isaiah Linn was
buried to-day.
May 7th. Clingan came home from Lancaster. He had news of
General Bright's trial, Snyder's ignorance, foreign decrees revoked.
He brought the girls fashionable ear-rings. Tommy got fifty shad,
at Hoffman's, sent down from Lawson's. nth. Went to the review
at Voneida's, [near Samuel Maclay's.] Five hundred and fifty men
in line, and a great many spectators. Any number of studs. 13th.
A good foot-way made over the creek, at my instigation. Got the
slabs in Derrstown. Doctor Beyer and Dan Rees each gave a
bottle of whisky. 17th. Jimmy Thompson building a barn on the
Hafer place, for Clingan. 20th. Josiah Gander called, with pro-
posals for an astronomical wheel. I called at Esquire Clark's,
Captain Gray's ; then went to Derrstown, at Rees', Hayes', Poak's,
Black's, and Stillwell's. Saw crazy John Maclay at Metzgar's. I
and Sam Awl went to look after him. Called at Baldy's, then at
Captain Robinson's for shirting, and at Anderson's for lasts. 25th.
John Cochran, [surveyor general,] wife, and two sons at Clingan's,
».] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. j8i
:h Mrs. Thompson. 29th. Violent storm last night ; blew down
s, and took the roof off several barns and houses.
|d June. Went to Centre county, for balm of Gilead for Roan
rk, who is sick. Fed at Wilt's, [Narrows.] Aaronsburg, at three.
t with Evans Miles, and came to George Wood's. Had psalm-
;ing, the old way, and prayers. He is a very religious man.
Called at Kern's. Stopped at Benner's, (old fort.) Then to
wig Reily's, on Hasting's place, where I got some leaves and
iches. Stopped at Barber's tavern, and back to E^ker's — twenty-
• miles — a good Sabbath-day's journey. 5th. Left Aaronsburg
L John Forster. At eleven fed at Wilt's, and at Youngman's at
Stopped at Baldy's, with Holmes and Kimmell. 7th. Raising
lafer's ; sixty-eight feet by thirty wide, forty-two rounds high.
re were seventy people there. Finished before night, and then
a sumptuous entertainment. 12 th. Called to see General Baldy
lady, (married last night to Eve Metzgar.) 13th. Long John
:lay called. He is from Genessee. 20th. Aifhe Roan Laird here
dght, getting a dress for her name. 23d. William Patterson
5 from Lewistown. A social man and great talker. 28th. Called
^wyer Hall's, with Billmyer. Dined at Lebo's, with Lawshe.
der lost his suit with Voneida. Judge Yeates called to-night.
;ed me how I could live honest, and be single,
uly I . Called at Grier's, Shannon's, and Irwin's. Sent a snuff-
to Mrs. Robert Lyon. Had business at Priestly's with Rees
Bon ham. Met John Hayes at Jones'. 6th. Flavel bit by a snake,
igo extracted the poison. 13th. Jacob Zerbe married to Miss
ris. Mr. Hood called on the way home, and craddled all after-
m. He is very jocose, and good company. 2 2d. Went to
dy Smith's, and read a play; then crossed the creek to Hudson's.
imeron's place now.] 30th. Ensign Seeley and others, from
bury, at meeting to-day. Clingan came home by Derrstown, to
nd christening of Graham's children. 3Kt. I am forty-nine
rs old to-day.
Lugust I. Clingan had six hundred dozen on the Hafer place,
thousand at home, and not a quart of whisky drank in all hay-
and harvesting. 2d. James Dougal commenced at. the Latin
Dol. 3d. Fishing with Mr. Hood. 8th. Mrs. Nevius had a young
. 9th. Mr. Potter's son came to the Latin school at Mr. Hood's.
SS2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[W. W. Potter, Esquire.] 14th. Mr. Hood gave us Caul Kail pet,
II Peter, i : 5, 6, 7. Commenced to rain as the sermon closed, and
we were kept there two hours. 15 th. Stahl had his bam burned
with lightning, yesterday. Two horses killed. i6th. At Dens-
town. Went with Cremer to Methodist meeting. Hamer squeezing
Nancy McDonald behind the stove. Returned and slept with Kre-
mer. 23d. Jamy Wilson hauled the stuff for the fence at my school-
house, and Cherry put it up. Sent Joseph Wallis for another bottle
of whisky for him. 27th. Tommy and sister, James McClellan,
Ruth Thompson, and others, went to church. At the river, men
rode over and the women were ferried at Milton. Met a great com-
pany, and went on to Warrior Run. Mr. Bryson preached in the fore-
noon. Two hundred and thirty -seven communicants. Mr. Hood
gave us C. K. p., 11 Peter, i : 5, 6, and 7. Mr. Nesbit asked my
advice about marrying. 30th. Referees sitting at Sunbury, on suit
Snyder and Drum. Sat up until midnight, talking with Esquire
Maus. 31st. Rod^out to see John Cooke. Drank cider royal at
Shriner's. Dined at Reverend Grier's. Gave Eliza a copy of an
enigma. Carried widow Allison on behind me part of the way
home. Took a drink at Lawshe*s.
September 2. Rode with McEwen to Alexander Griffey's, on
electioneering business. Went over the Muncy hills with Umbrella
Hayes, whom I met at Shannon's. Stopped at Frederick's, in
Pennsboro'. Met with Mrs. Pott's son-in-law, Fiester, and carried
him home with me on the horse, three miles. 3d. Went to Shoe-
maker's mills. Called on Robert Robb. He is eighty two ; his wife,
seventy. Went to Williamsport. Fed at Mrs. Moore's, then to
Jaysburg, to Mrs. Dunlag's. Called to see John Davis and wife.
She is a great Baptist. 4th. Went to James Stewart's, from that to
Esquire Salmon's ; then to Larry's creek, at John Thomas' ; to She-
rer's, at Jersey Shore. Called to see Lawshe, and then to Morri-
son's, at Pine creek.- 5th. Drank tea at Boyd Smith's. Great ball
at Wilson's. Judge Cooper and Mrs. deGruchy led off the dance.
Doctor Baldwin and wife there. 21st. The Governor's carriage in
Derrstown, with Fred Evans. They brought citizen Kremer home
in great pomp. 30th. Called on D. Smith, Esquire. He promised
to attend to my business, but got into company, and soon got past
business.
1900.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO FALLEV, 383
October 19. The Governor's son, Prince John of the Isle of
Que, commenced school with me. 29th. Colonel Chamberlin's wife
had a young son, his twenty-third. He is above seventy-three years,
I believe.
November 3. Clerked at Mrs. Hutchinson's vendue all day. Con-
tinued over until to-morrow. Went to bed with the cryer and Der-
rickson. Four ladies and a child slept in a bed in the same
room. 7th. D. Reasoner married to Miss Hamil. i6th. Clerked at
Lawshe's vendue. Spent a high old night. Four from Milton, three
from Northumberland, and the sheriff full of mischief, not drunk.
Markley cried the sale. 21st. Sunbury court. Peter Smith's wife
fined one dollar for flogging Miss Adams. Esquire Youngman one
cent for whipping Doctor Smith. 23d. At Shaffer's for breakfast
this morning. Billy Covert and two other shoe-makers working at
Clingan's. [By the custom of that day, shoe-makers and tailors went
to the houses of their employers.] The shoe-makers made thirteen
pairs shoes, at 4J. 6d. per pair. 30th. At Dale's. Met Colonel S.
Dale on his way to the Assembly. [He was a son of Samuel Dale,
deceased, and represented Mercer and Venango.]
2d December. Went with Roan Clark and James Forster's son,
John, to Billy Forster's. Met Captain John Wilson there. Had
eleven sorts of diet for supper. 5th. Got my shoes mended at Mr.
Espy's, in Derrstown. A dose of salts at Doctor Beyers'. loth. Mr.
Hood's text, Ecclesiastes, xi : 19-20. 13th. I gave one Meloner a
certificate that he was taken prisoner with me on shipboard. 17th.
At Derrstown, heard Kremer tell of arresting Langs for passing
counterfeit money at four taverns and two stores. i8th. Eight
strangers at supper. 19th. George, Tommy Scott, and Allison went
to Colonel Kelly's. A quilting party there. Plenty of rye there.
Mr. Allison, a spark of Betsey Kelly's. 25 th. Christmas — very quiet.
Met some Penn's valley folks, Billy Clark, and gentry, going to
George's to spend the evening. 27th. Walter Clark called, and
took George along to a '* kicking frolic ". [Old settlers well know
what that means.] 28th. Party at Mr. Hood's. McClures, How-
ards, &c., there. Two turkeys and twelve sorts of diet. 30th. At
Milton. Called at D. Smith's, McKisson's, Donaldson's, McCann's,
Calhoun's, on Hannah Rees. Dined at Doctor Dougal's, with Sam
Hood. 31st. General Baldy's wife has a young son.
j84 AAN^LS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1809.
Marriages.
January 4, Henry Grove with Hannah Leisenring, of Lewisburg,
(by Henry Spyker, Esquire,) in presence of his three brothers, John,
Samuel, and Frank, two sisters, Betsey and Sarah, &c.
January 8, by same, Philip Frederick with Christena Brown, in
presence of John Brown and wife, T. Sheckler and wife, Peter Brown
and wife, Abraham Brown, George Frederick.
April II, by A. McLanachan, Esquire, John Vandyke to Miss
Margaret Adams, both of White Deer.
April 13, by same, John Ranck to Miss Nancy Luther.
June 1 1 , by Henry Spyker, Esquire, General Christopher Baldy
with Eve Metzgar.
June 28, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, Joseph Bower with Susanna
Machamer.
July 25, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, Lawrence Martin with Polly
Juge.
August 31, Robert Montgomery with Nancy Knox, in presence
of her father, George Knox, her brother, James, and sister, Bell, (by
Henry Spyker, Esquire.)
On Tuesday, the 12th October, by the Reverend Mr. Deffen-
baugh, Mr. John Sierer, aged sixty-five, to the amiable Miss Louisa
McMillan, aged nineteen, both of Buffalo ; and on Thursday, the
2ist ultimo, by Esquire Hamilton, Mr. George Knox, of Derrstown.
to Miss Jane Mcllroy, near Pine Creek.
Deaths.
Tuesday, 21st March, in the fifty-seventh year of his age, John
Linn, of White Deer township, of pleurisy, on the tenth day of his
sickness. He was buried at Buffalo Cross-Roads, on the Thursday
following. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of people.
He was an inhabitant of this county upwards of thirty-six years, and
twenty-one years an elder of Buffalo church, and principal clerk,
conducting the music. He came into the Valley in 1772, and en-
dured the hardships incident to the early settlement of the country,
frequently sleeping on his cabin floor, with a bag of grain for a
pillow, and his rifle by his side. During the year 1779, while off
1809.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jSj
on a tour of service, his cabin was spoiled by the Indians. He was
married by his brother, Reverend Doctor William Linn, to Ann
Fleming, of Middleton township, near Carlisle. She was of the
Fleming family, of Chester county. Her ancestor, William Fleming,
oaine over before 17 14, and settled in Cain township, in Chester
county. From there, his descendants moved up to Cumberland
a.nd Northumberland counties. John Linn*s children were : Susan,
married to William Thompson, (son of Captain James,) in 1804,
and shortly after removed to Venango county; Ann, married to
Andrew McBeth, a son of John McBeth, of Aaronsburg, died at
Greencastle, Indiana, October 1873, ^.ged eighty-six; William
I^inn, who moved to Miami county, Ohio, died there, October 26,
1834. John Liim, married to Mary F., daughter of Colonel Wil-
liam Chamberlin. He resides at Mount Vernon, Ohio. Margaret
I^inn, married to Joseph McCalmont, of Venango county, died
^February 7, 1873. '^^^ ^^^^ James F. Linn, Esquire, of Lewisburg,
-who died October 8, 1869, aged sixty-seven, and Jemima Linn,
ivho died April 17, 1873.
Doctor William Kent Lathy, of Northumberland, July 28.
August 10, Mathew Huston, tdiior of Argus, aged fifty-one years.
He was an officer in the Revolution, participated in the battles of
White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandy wine, and Germantown.
Afterwards representative of the county of Philadelphia, and was six
times elected clerk of the House. Father of the late Mrs. Hannah
Taggert, of Northumberland, and of Andrew C. Huston, Esquire.
Albright Swineford died. His children were : Catherine Cum-
mings, (wife of John, senior, and mother of John J.,) George, Mi-
chael, Peter, and Jacob.
Adam Ranck, of White Deer. Children : Rachel, John, Daniel,
Noah, Mary, and Adam, junior.
Conrad Reedy, of Buffalo. Children : John and Jacob.
John Beatty.
October 22, Colonel John Clarke, aged seventy-three. He is
buried in the Lewis grave-yard. His children were : Jane, wife of
David Watson, (mother of John C, William, and David Watson;)
Joseph Clarke, who had two children, William and Grace.
October 6, Mary Hutchinson, of White Deer township, aged sixty-
seven, thirty-six years a resident of the Valley. Children : Sarah,
25
SS6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. \J.HU
wife of James Cornelius ; Mrs. Elizabeth Criswell, (mother of James,
of Lewisburg.)
John Swineford. Children : John, Mary, married to Jacob Folt^;
Margaret, with George Snyder ; Susanna, with Jacob Fryer ; Eliza-
beth, with John Smith ; Catherine, with John Aurand ; Jacob, and
Albright.
1810.
Counterfeiters Arrested — Langs' Suicide — Daxikl Doudle — Roas's
Journal — Notice of Nathan Evans.
ENATOR, James Laird. Representatives, John Murray,
Jared Irwin, Leonard Rupert, Frederick Evans, elected
in October. Treasurer, David Taggert. Commissioner
elect, Joseph Gaston. Commissioners* Clerk, Nathan
Patton. Postmaster at Mifflinburg, Thomas Youngman. Henry
Yearick commissioned Justice of the Peace, June 4.
Passing counterfeit money seems a very prevalent offense. Doctor
Thomas Barrett, of Danville, convicted. George Langs and Jared
Langs also. Barrett made his escape from jail at Sunbury. Sheriff
Lebo was complained of for his negligence with prisoners. At April
term (20th) George I^ngs received his sentence. He bowed to the
court, and retired. 'ITie next morning his daughter called on him.
He asked her to withdraw a little while, and about one hour after-
wards he was found hanging on an iron bed, near the door of his
room. He was convicted of passing a counterfeit S20 note upon
John Sargent, of I^ewisburg.
Additional Residents East Buffalo — Bird, John and William;
Brewer, Matthew ; Brewer, Thomas ) Clements, Michael ; Gross,
Jacob, carpenter; Hahn, Andrew; Kreisher, Henry ; Lilly, Peter;
Slear, Charles; Zellers, George.
^*^0.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 387
-Istwisburg — Bower, Joseph; Gordon, John B., dyer; Hutchin-
^^^, Alexander; McClure, Matthew; Pross, John. November 10,
^cQuhae and Hepburn opened a new store.
J^ew Berlin — Kessler, William ; Shout, John ; Sproul, James,
^^^rchant.
White Deer — Caldwell, Daniel ; Dieffenbach, Adam ; Eyer, Dan-
^^1 ; Guyer, John ; Haas, Peter ; Huff, Thomas ; McKisson, James,
single; Reed, Robert.
West Buffalo — Beidelman, Valentine ; Bilman, Dewalt ; Braucher,
Christian; Deal, John, carpenter; Wright, John.
Mifflinburg — Montelius, John. John Bergstresser bought Henry
Snyder's mill on Rapid run. The latter probably died this year.
Daniel Doudle,
Daniel Doudle was an acquaintance of Governor Snyder in his
l:K)yhood, and in maturer years he would sometimes pay the Gover-
nor a visit, at Selinsgrove, and thus formed acquaintance with George
Kremer. After George moved to Derrstown, and established him-
self in business and a bachelor's hall there, Daniel extended his visits
t^hither, and became so much pleased that he resolved to forsake York
altogether, and remain with George. Accordingly, he sent for his
money, a considerable stock of dollars, and took up his abode in
Derrstown. He and George agreed very well, for George humored
"him in all his whims, but he quarreled sadly with old Peggy Miller,
the housekeeper. Sometimes he would come in a towering passion
to George, with "Now, George, I can't live with the old devil any
longer. Just send me off to Selinsgrove, to Simon, and he will send
me to York.*' •'Well, well," said George, ''Roan- (Clark) or John
shall take you- and your money in the cart to Selinsgrove as soon as
you like." **Do you think," Daniel would reply, ** I would trust
myself with the damned rascals? They would murder me for my
money before we got half way to Selinsgrove." Then an argument
would commence on the honesty of Roan and John, which generally
lasted until Daniel, in his rage against these two, had forgotten his
wrath toward old Peggy. At length, Daniel fell into the hands of
an old Methodist woman, who, by her exhortations, made consider-
able impression on him. After spending an evening at Mother
388 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, fl810.
Grove's, Daniel came home with a face so solemn and important
that the whole family noticed it, and, knowing where he had been,
the clerks followed him on his retreat to bed, and peeped and listened
at his door. Daniel locked his door, looked carefully around,
undressed, (taking off his hat the last of all, as was his custom,)
kneeled by the bedside, and commenced thus: " O, Lord God;"
then ensued a long pause. Up rose Daniel, exclaiming "It is too
damned cold to pray here ! *' and jumped into bed. Whether Dan-
iel made another effort to pray is uncertain. He once acted god-
father for one of his friend's children. The clergyman asked the
name of the child. Daniel, understanding him to ask his name,
promptly replied : ** Daniel Doudle, to be sure. Don't you know
me any more?" Daniel, at this time eighty years of age, usually
dressed himself once a day in state, in a blue silk-velvet coat, white
vest, ruffled shirt, brown silk-velvet small-clothes, and tumed-up
shoes, and paraded himself down to the river bank and back, to
exhibit himself to the ladies. He lived to be one hundred and one
or one hundred and two years of age, dying in August, 1828, at
Mr. Kremer's, near Middleburg, where his bones rest with those of
his friends, Frederick Evans and George Kremer. Certainly three
more singular men were never so intimately associated in life and
rest so close together in the solemn silence of death.
Among other characters of this date, were Billy Nicholas, a ar-
penter of White Deer, and old Mr. Mook, the revolutionary soldier.
Saturday was the usual day to assemble in Lewisburg, and getting
pretty drunk, old Mook asserted he could ** hex a bullet" at an hun-
dred yards. Mook held a silver bullet in his hand and began pow-
wowing. Billy shot from the porch of Metzgar's tavern, knocked
the bullet out pf Mook's finger, skinning the latter considerably,
thus disabusing Mook's mind of the idea that he could **hex."
Roan's Journal.
January 23. T. Clingan had a water-smeller, to find where he
should put the well on his place. Grand ball at Baldy's. Poaks
and a number from Milton there. 24th. Rees' vendue at Derrs-
town.
April 8. T. Clingan, Wilson Smith, and I went to Daniel Smith's
1810.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jSg
funeral ; eighteen chairs and carriages ; one hundred and twenty on
horseback. 1 4th. Planted two Lombardys at the school-house. Met
Mr. Coryell at Poak's. He brought his family from Williamsport
in a canoe. 1 7th. Review day. Seven hundred on parade at Derrs-
town.
June 2. Hoffman sold his place to one Boal. 3d. At Chillis-
quaque grave-yard. Saw Dan Smith's grave. 4th. I dreamed
Dan Smith came to life, and exhorted us to " remember our Creator
in the days of our youth." Hail storm broke a great quantity of
glass at Derrstown. 5th. George Clark left for the State of Ohio,
nth. John Clark died. 12th. Fair at Sunbury.. i8th. General
Baldy's flitting in town. Moving to Cayuga lake. 2 2d. Fast day.
[Tlerked at the election of elders. 23d. Mr. Grier ordained four
ilders.
July 3. Rode with Adam Smith to Centre county. Stopped at
hVilt's and fed at Miles', at Aaronsburg. 4th. Met Esquire Woods,
Barbers, and a great company at Gregg's. 5 th. At Mrs. Van Horn's,
I, very fashionable old lady. Dined at James Potter's, with Doctor
Dobbins. 6th. Saw the grave Nuby was stolen from. 2 7th. Fair
at Derrstown. 29th. Buffalo creek higher than it has been for twenty
years. Mr. Hood could not attend church. Hudson's surrounded.
August 2d. Esquires Hall, Evans, Albright, and Maclay at an
audit, in Derrstown. 9th. Black Judy came to wash. 24th. Met
John Hayes and his brother, Patrick, at Esquire Gray's. 31st.
Thirty bills for bastardy before the grand jury.
September 6th. Robert Boveard married to Hugh Wilson's daugh-
ter, the amiable Miss Peggy.
October 4th. Mr. Priestly got Clingan's carriage to carry his
family to Philadelphia, on their way to England. 9th. Clerked at
the election, at Derrstown. One hundred and forty-eight votes
polled. George Smith candidate for Congress; no opposition.
James Laird vs. A. McKinney for Senate ; Laird elected. Candi-
dates for Assembly, John Murray, Fred Evans, Jarad Irwin, Leon-
ard Rupert, D. Montgomery, and Samuel Maclay. Commissioners,
George Holstein and Flavel Roan. 13th. I have seven hundred
and eighty-six majority for commissioner. 14th. Hugh McLaugh-
lin's wife buried. i6th. Battalion at Derrstown. Sergeant and
James Patterson had a box. Great dinner at Billmyer's.
390 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1810.
November nth. Esquire Harding here, on his way from Luzerne
county to Kentucky. His horse got lame ; they killed a cat and
put it to his foot.
December 3d. Doctor Dougal dissected black Tom, and made an
anatomy of him. i8th. Went to Esquire Gray*s to see Samuel
Hutchinson married to Jenny Wallace. Groom did not come. I
went up to Hoffman's to see what was the matter. He could not
cross for ice. Came down in a sleigh to Nesbit's, and crossed there.
Marriages.
March 13, Moses Bower with Catherine Moyer, daughter of Philip,
in presence of her brother, Peter, John Fulmer and wife. March 15,
Joel Ranck with Sarah Long, daughter of Joseph, in presence of his
father, John Ranck. May 27, George Bower with Polly Smith,
daughter of Michael, deceased. August 26, Sunday, Anthony Selin,
of Selinsgrove, to Miss Catherine Yoner, of Sunbury. Same day,
Conrad Weiser to Elizabeth Snyder, both of Penn township. Octo-
ber 7, Philip Stahl with Susanna Spotz. October 9, William High-
land with Mary Gann, widow of Christian. November 11, Michael
Meyer with Sarah Kelley. December 13, by Reverend T. Hood,
Washington Dunn, of Lycoming county, to Miss Betsy Musser, of
White Deer. December 18, by Reverend Mr. Patterson, Samuel
Hutchinson, of Derry, to Mrs. Jenny Wallace, daughter of Captain
William Gray, White Deer.
Deaths,
April 6, at his seat, at Milton, aged forty-five, Daniel Smith,
Esquire, attorney-at-law. Left a widow, Cassandra. Children:
Samuel, Jasper, and Grace. He was buried at Chillisquaque grave-
yard. July 7, Alexander Hunter, former treasurer of the county.
Joseph J. Wallis, deputy surveyor. Peter Getz, East Buffalo. July
4, John Weirick. Children : William, Sarah, and John. October
15, Albright Swineford, born February 16, 1728. Henry Myers,
West Buffalo. Children : Henry, Daniel, Valentine, William, John,
Elizabeth, wife of Royer, Mary, and Eve Maria. Joseph Ultz, West
Buffalo. November — , Thomas Forster, of West Buffalo. Left
1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 391
widow, Jane. Children : John, William, Thomas, Mary, and Eliz-
abeth Jane.
Nathan Evans died this year, and his widow removed to Bucks
county with his family. He was an active christian, and he and his
wife were Baptists. He was in the habit of preaching at Baptist
meetings, although not a clergyman. His granddaughter, Mrs.
Professor C. S. James, of Lewisburg, has in her possession many
abstracts of his sermons, preached in the Valley.
1811.
Hartley Township Erected — Presbytery of Northumberland Formed
— Impeachment of Judge Cooper — Reverend Yost Henry Fries —
Death of Honorable Samuel Maclay, and Notice of his Family.
EMBEIR of Congress, George Smith. Senator, James
Laird. Members elected in October, Samuel Bond, Ja-
red Irwin, Andrew McClenachan, and Frederick Evans.
President Judge, Seth Chapman, commissioned July 11.
Register and Recorder, John L. Finney, commissioned April 3.
County Commissioner elect, Flavel Roan.
April sessions, Robert Barber, John Wilson, and Peter Fisher
reported favorably to the erection of a new township, to be called
Hartley, by the following boundaries : Beginning on the Hne be-
tween West Buffalo and Washington townships ; thence along the
same to the four-mile tree, on Reuben Haines* road, on the line of
Centre county ; thence south along said line, across Penn's creek,
to the top of Jack*s mountain ; thence along the summit, to a point
south of where Adam Laughlin formerly lived \ thence north across
Penn*s creek, and by a line of marked trees, to the beginning.
By a resolution of the Synod of Philadelphia, May 16, the Pres-
bytery of Northumberland was set off from that of Huntingdon by
393 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1811.
the following line : Beginning at the mouth of Mahantango creek, a
north-west course to the west branch of the Centre and Lycoming
county lines, leaving eastward Reverends Asa Dunham, John Bryson,
Isaac Grier, John B. Patterson, Thomas Hood, and their respective
charges, and the vacant charges of Great Island, Pine Creek, and
Lycoming.
Additional Residents of West Buffalo — Aikey, Lewis ; Beaucher,
Jacob ; Orwig, Jacob ; Schnure, Christian ; John Bergstresser, taxed
with oil and fulling-mills.
Mifflinburg — Clark, Roan, merchant ; Wallis, Doctor Thomas.
White Deer — Boal, John; Covert, Isaac, ferry at Caldwell's;
Davis, Stephen, miller at Dan Caldwell's ; DeHaven, Jacob, shoe-
maker, on Roan McClure's place ; Heitzman, Jacob ; Leiser, Jacob;
Mervine, Samuel, brick-maker ; Sypher, Peter; Williman, Thomas.
Additional Residents in East Buffalo — Albertson, John, Jenkins'
place ; Betz, John ; Beaver, Peter ; Brown, Abraham ; Dieffenbach,
John ; Hafer, Michael, at Hugh Wilson's ; Hamilton, Francis :
Hentzleman, George ; Highlands, William ; Howard, George ;
Kreechbaum, Peter, junior ; Kremer, Charles ; Leiby, Jacob ; Lytle,
Samuel ; McCrea, Robert, shoe-maker ; McDonnel, John, weaver
at Jenkins' ; McFadden, John, tailor ; Newman, Michael ; Newnian,
John ; Phillips, George ; Shannon, Joseph ; Shirtz, William, weaver;
Smalley, Abraham.
Lewisburg — Collins, Joseph, tailor; Donaldson, Robert; Evans
& Kremer, store ; Kemerer, Charles, tailor ; Langs, Widow ; Mc-
Quhae, William ; Miller, Andrew ; Wilson, William, store-keeper.
New Berlin — Charleton, James; Dennis, Jacob, blacksmith;
Dennis, John, junior, cordwainer ; Hubler, Abraham, weaver; Yost,
Casper.
Improvements — Daniel Clarke, tan-yard in White Deer.
Domestic Incidenis.
Uriah Silsby commenced singing schools in the Valley.
January i6. An article appears in the Argus in favor of the
division of the county. The distance the people have to travel, the
expense of ferriage over the river, then an appeal to the pocket on
account of the expense of ornamenting the town of Sunbury. Ap-
propriation for a fire engine there. An appropriation that was
.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. jgs
ed for the building of fire-proof buildings for the records. This
the entering wedge of the erection of Union county. In the
needing paper was a strong argument, founded on increase of the
Jc of property in the new county. Nearer market for purchase.
:ility of reaching the county seat. Saving of expense of court
.Is.
From Diary of James McClellan, Esquire,
Vpril 9. Had my house and barn consumed by fire. Lost grain,
It, and everything but a little flour. Happened between ten and
'en, A. M. Received the same evening, of John Rangier, two
^es of bread, a shoulder, potatoes, cabbage, &c. James Thomp-
, a bag of corn and hay; Joshua Ewing, bag of corn, &c. Next
, of William Irwin, Esquire, bag corn, two bushels wheat, load
lay. Matthew Irwin, dry peaches, wheat, &c. William Clin-
, wheat and rye, and other articles from John Frantz, Jacob
dy, Jacob Dunkle, Martin Dreisbach, Jacob Hinely, John Stahl,
n Kelly, William Dunkle, Samuel Templeton, Mrs. Linn,
mel Sterret, John Baker, Jacob Baber, David Watson, Peter
ikle, John Kaufman, Thomas Howard, Hugh Wilson, William
y^'es, James Magee. Reverend Isaac Grier, Academy at North-
Jerland, the educational point. Latin and Greek languages
jht for $24 per annum.
The Impeachment of Judge Cooper.
The first charge against him was fining persons and immuring
1 in prison for whispering in court. Cooper's reply was, one
llister, a constable, was merely given in custody of the sheriff
hour, until the disposal of a case, and then fined $2, This was
fVilkesbarre, in 1807.
econd charge. Imprisoning a respectable citizen for wearing a
, in conformity with a religious habit. Cooper replies that he
not recollect the circumstances exactly, and presented the affi-
it of Doctor James Dougal, who says he was present in court,
on account of the confusion and deafening noise there was for-
•ly in court, he recollected the circumstances vividly. John
nna was standing close to the bar, with his hat on. A young
S94 ANNALS OF BUFFAL O VALLE Y, L 1^^ ^*
looking man stood behind him, with his hat on also. Judge Coop^''
arose and said: I will thank you, Mr. Hanna, to tell that youafi
man to take his hat off. The young man walked away. Jud^^
Cooper waited a little while, and then said to Mr. Hanna: I will
thank you to pull off your own. Hanna made no reply. Tl^^
judge repeated the request. Hanna replied in a coarse, low voice,
which I could not hear distinctly, but I thought he said, if youwaat
it off, take it off yourself. The judge then said, this is not a wor-
shiping assembly, nor a play-house, nor a dance-house. Is a court
of justice entitled to less respect than any of these places ? And
then requested him again. On Hanna making the same reply, I
believe, as above, the judge said : Sheriff, take this man to jail.
The sheriff took Mr. Hanna by the hand and they both walked off.
Judge Cooper then states that Hanna lived at Northumberland, and
was an old neighbor. He had never heard or suspected that he had
any scruples on the point; that he asked him when he came to fine
him, whether he was a Quaker, and he said not ; then whether he
had any religious scruples on the subject, he said yes. I then said,
if he had said so, that would have been sufficient to entitle him to
keep his hat on.^
Third charge. After sentencing a felon, calling him from prison,
and pronouncing a second sentence, increasing the penalty. This
referred to the case of young Gough, a horse-thief, convicted at
Wilkesbarre. The court sentenced him to twelve months, he having
plead guilty. The next morning, Judges Hollenbach and Fell in-
formed Judge Cooper they had understood he was an old offender.
I gave it as my opinion, says Judge Cooper, tliat during the ses-
sions, the judgments were in the power of the court, and subject to
revisal. He was re-sentenced to three years.
Fourth charge. That he has decided important causes in which
> It is not many years sinco the courts in Clearfield county were also hard to keep in
hand. The folks stood around, as Judge G. W. Woodward said, like people lata
auction-room. When the Honorable James Burnside held his first court there, Ibe
people crowded In among the lawyers, and in front of the bench. An indictment
was brought against one Pennington. The judge called out: '* Is Pennington in
court?*' A stalwart man standing In (Vont of the crowd, said : ^* Jedge, you better
call out the whole damn grist of the Penningtons.*' The Judge put on a setere
look, and commenced a lecture to the man for disturbing the ooort. After he pro*
ceeded awhile, the man said : "Hush up, jedge, you are making a damned sight
more disturbance than I did.^^
.-1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 395
Was interested. Judge Cooper's contradiction is too long for in-
tion.
Fifth. Setting aside the verdict of the jury in an intemperate and
ssionate manner. In the case of Albright and Cowden, Judge
)oper and his associates, Wilson and Macpherson, agreed in opin-
n. Judge General Montgomery differed. Judge Cooper charged
I jury, and General Montgomery also, and the jury went with the
ter. The verdict was set aside by Judge Cooper. The latter
aied intemperance of language.
Sixth. Browbeating counsel and witnesses. Judge Cooper admits
irimanding members of the bar, for unprofessional conduct, in
naging a cause ; for making statements not supported ; for per-
ering in objections/ after the court had decided ; for want of
nee, and keeping order; but denied anything further contained
the charge.
seventh. That he appeared armed. Judge Cooper says he never
Tied arms but once, and then on the road from Northumberland
Williamsport, as he had been warned that he would be attacked.
ter calling the jury at Williamsport, Judge Cooper went of the
ich, and made information against the party who had threatened
n. The party, a professional gentleman in the neighborhood, of
od character, came forward, and, finding himself mistaken, the
mplaint was dropped.
Eighth charge. That he refused to hear persons in their own de-
ise. This denied in toto.
Ninth. That he had issued a proclamation against horse-racing,
i then ordered a suppression of the proclamation. Judge Cooper
1% : This is true. Some of my friends, engaged in the said horse-
:e, applied to me, and stated that horses were expected from Phil-
elphia ; that the county was generally notified, and that there
)uld be a great assemblage of people ; that the tavern-keepers had
ide expensive preparations, and that it was too late to put a stop
the meeting. They said if I insisted in my opposition to the race,
vj would submit to the law ; but this should be the last race, and
*y would be individually responsible for keeping order, suppress-
l gambling, riot, &c. This was acceded to, and there has been
horse-racing since in Sunbury or in the county, that I know of.
Tenth charge. Fining and imprisoning a constable for neglecting
S9^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [i«JJ.
to execute a process issued contrary to the Constitution and Iaw«-
This referred to the case of Conner, who so misused the warrant
Judge Cooper had issued for arresting Jacob Langs, a counterfeiter,
that the latter escaped. Judge William Montgomery, of Danville,
although he frequently differed with Judge Cooper, came out in a
strong affidavit, in which he said Judge Cooper was a good lawyer,
earnest in preparing public business, prompt in his decisions, and
clear of partialities, and that he had, with manly firmness, opposed
further and unnecessary litigation, and disposed of the charges as
far as they referred to Judge Cooper's practice in Northumberland
county.
The committee to investigate the charges met on the yth of March,
(at Lancaster.) John B. Gibson, Samuel Dale, and Jared Irwin were
of the committee. Mr. Duncan, of Carlisle, appeared for Judge
Cooper; Mr. Greenough, for the petitioners. Jared Irwin com-
plained to the committee that Daniel Levy, Esquire, was interfering
outside in favor of Judge Cooper; whereupon, Mr. Duncan dis-
claimed having any connection with Mr. Levy, and added, that it
was this young man's folly that caused Judge Cooper to be here.
After an examination of Charles Hall, Esquire, Frederick Evans,
and many other witnesses, the committee reported that the Judge's
conduct had been arbitrary, unjust, and precipitate, and in favor of
an address to the Governor for his removal. ** More than two thirds
of the Legislature voted for his removal," says the Argus, of April 3.
The witnesses called on his side were Doctor Dougal, Joseph Priestly,
George Kremer, Colonel D. Montgomery, Charles Hegins, John
Cowden, E. G. Bradford, &c. * ' Judge Cooper spoke four and a half
hours, in a very eloquent and impressive manner.** — Ibid, In the
Argus of the 17th, the testimony of the witnesses is printed in full.
Judge William Wilson (of Chillisquaque) says: **The court was
very disorderly before Judge Cooper's time. I have seen Judge
Rush leave the bench. It is now very orderly. Judge Cooper can-
not see very well. John Dreisbach, of Mifflinburg, was one of the
parties Judge Cooper fined for talking to a witness. Dreisbach said
he was merely telling the witness that court had adjourned, as the
man was hard of hearing. Esquire Youngman came forward to
speak in my favor, and the judge told him he would fine him a
dollar if he did not keep still.*' The courts in May were held by
1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 397
ges Wilson, Montgomery, and Macpherson. A queer rule was
pted : ** No bills on the return of a constable, unless at the re-
st of the mother of the child, or the overseers of the poor, or by
:ial direction of the court, should be returned.**
eptember 17, convention met at Derrstown, and made the fol-
Ing nominations : Simon Snyder for Governor ; Jared Irwin,
derick Evans, Samuel Bond, and Andrew McClenachan for mem-
; Commissioner, Henry Vanderslice ; Auditors, Hugh Wilson,
ge,) Charles Gale, and Andrew Albright.
'he election returns gave Simon Snyder all the votes, except
ve, polled in Buffalo for Jacob Bumberger. Bond, Irwin, Mc-
aach^n, and F. Evans were elected to the Assembly, with Henry
iderslice for county commissioner. Auditors as above.
\rguSi of November 13, says : ** William Hayes, of Derrstown,
sd five pumpkins on one vine, largest weighing one hundred and
y pounds; least, fifty-four pounds."
Roan's Journal.
ebruary i . Judge Cooper a good deal annoyed about the peti-
5 to remove him. 2d. Stopped at Irely*s, (Winfield.) 4th.
rrilous poetry circulating among the neighbors about last hallow-
night. [The family feuds in the Valley may be traced to this
:tice. It will be all understood by the old residents.] Entry of
7th. James Dale and James McClure had a bout at Derrstown
ut hallow-een night stories. 1 4th. Mr. Barber married to Polly
ivalzah. 19th. Thomas Proctor and Polly Musser married,
larch 5. At Jimmy Wilson's: three Moores, of Lycoming, two
ivalzahs. Bob Fruit and Nancy, two of the Nevius girls, and
ly Darragh, at the spinning. March 8. Tailor McFadden work-
at Clingan's. James McClellan had his house and barn burned.
1. R. Mc and Aaron C would have fought at Rees' to-
il, but Long John Maclay prevented them. All about hallow-
night. 20th. Concert of the singing-school at Derrstown. Eat
5s and drank cider with a number of young ladies and gentle-
1 at Granny Phillips'. 29th. Firing of cannon and rejoicing at
thumberland, on account of the removal of Judge Cooper.
Lpril 5. Citizen Kremer has lost popularity by taking Judge
)per*s part.
S98 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1811.
May 1 8. Great horse-race at Derrstown.
August 19. The new Judge, Chapman, took his seat.
September 8. A blazing star, like a comet, appeared in the north
for some time. 17th. Nominating convention met at Derrstown.
McLanachan put on the legislative ticket, with Evans. i8th. Comet
still visible, going around the north star like the pointers in the
bear. 19th. Quilting at Mr. Laird's. Thirty ladies there. Hayes
says Fred Evans is a Burrite. 29th. Graham had a child baptized
Caroline.
October 8. Election at Derrstown. Two hundred and forty-six
votes polled. People pretty quiet. 15 th. William McQuhae mar-
ried to John Co wden*s daughter. 2 2d. Review at Derrstown. Fid-
dles going all day at the tavern. 26th. John Musser, with Thomas,
at Philadelphia. He had a horse stolen there. It takes two weeks
to make the. trip.
November 9. Called at Giddy Smith's, to get signers to the peti-
tion for a new county. Giddy says there are too many Federalists
on the petition, nth. Esquire Vincent, Esquire Brown, andMr-
Iredell here on a road view. They are very jocose, sociable, and
funny men.
December 11. James Clark took Flavel home with him to a kick: —
ing frolic. 17. T. Woodside here, surveying Mr. Lyons* land,sol^
to Frantz.
Governor Snyder's message, of December 3, is worthy of remark 9
as containing an emphatic protest against slavery, and also a strong"
recommendation of the canal system.
That noted divine, Yost Henry Fries, now enters the Valley, and
his wide-spread influence takes its start. The Reformed congrega-
tions had become vacant, by the resignation of the Reverend Jacob
Dieffenbach, in 1810, and Mr. Fries was induced to make a visit to
Buffalo Valley from his congregation in York county. He was born
in Westphalia, town of Gusterhain, 24th April, 1777. He landed
in Baltimore, 20th August, 1803. From early childhood he had a
strong inclination to the ministry, and, being poor, saw little hope
of entering the ministry at home, where so many strict formalities
were observed. He could not pay his passage, and was fopced to
become a ** redemptioner ;" that is, he was bound to serve out a cer-
tain length of time, generally three years, for the benefit of the man
!•! ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, jgg
_
^o paid his passage. When a ship arrived, farmers and others,
eding laborers, would go to the port, and buy the time for which
cy were to serve from the captain. Mr. Fries had his certificate of
^urch membership, and also a recommendation to a wealthy man
imed Hinckel, at Philadelphia. It seems he never presented the
tter, as Doctor Harbaugh found it among his papers, long preserved
ter his death by a daughter, near Mifflinburg. Mr. Fries fell into
e hands of a kind German farmer, in York county. He was honest,
iustrious, and trusty, and soon won the full confidence of his em-
jyer. He was fond of improving his mind in spare hours, and his
sire to be a minister stirred him strongly. He spoke in small assem-
es, when he got the opportunity. There was, however, nothing
latical about him, yet he went so far once as to preach a sermon,
a school-house, on the words, ''Much study is a weariness to the
ih,** Ecclesiastes, xii : i. A singular text certainly to begin with.
I commenced his preparatory studies with Reverend Daniel Wag-
r, in Frederick, Maryland, April 3, 1809, and, after being with
n a year, was licensed at Harrisburg, and on the 20th of June,
10, took charge of eight congregations in York county.
In June, 1811, he came up on a visit to Buffalo Valley, and on
5 2 2d preached in the Dreisbach church, on Acts, v: 31 ; on the
d in Mifflinburg, Acts, xxvi : 28 ; in the afternoon of the same day.
New Berlin, on 11 Peter, i : 19, and in the evening again at Mifflin-
rg, on I Corinthians, xvi : 1 3. In October, 1 8 1 1 , he made a second
iit to Buffalo Valley, from 1 7th to the 24th. He preached at Ans-
ch's school-house, DieflFenbach's, White Deer school-house, Dreis-
ch church, Mifflinburg, New Berlin, Aaronsburg, and in Brush
lley, and on the 28th was home again in his charge. A strong
brt was now made by the churches in Buffalo Valley and neigh-
rhood to secure his services. — Harbaugh,
The first meeting of the Northumberland Presbytery was held in
I Presbyterian church of Northumberland, on the first Tuesday of
:tober. Reverend Asa Dunning opened it with a sermon from
)hesians, ii : 14. The members composing it were Reverends Dun-
m, Bryson, Grier, Patterson, and Hood, with Elders James Shed-
n, James Hepburn, William Montgomery, and Thomas Howard.
400 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. |1811.
-■ I.I. ■ -■ ■!_ Ml ^.i . ^^^^^ ^K . - -
Marriages,
Evan Rice Evans was married, last Thursday evening, to Mrs.
Forrest. She was a widow of five months. (Roan's Diary, 12th
January.) September 8, Elijah Updike to Elizabeth Snook, daugh-
ter of Martin. Witnesses : John Brown, (miller,) Peter Snook,
Sarah Smith. October 7, William Davis to Catherine Derr, daughter
of George Derr. December 25, by Reverend Slater Clay, Samuel
Hepburn, Esquire, to Miss Ann Clay, of Montgomery county.
December 26, John Cochran, junior, with Anna M., daughter of
Adam Grove. James Kelly, George Kremer, John and Sarah
Montgomery, and Catharine Gordon.
Deaihs.
George Holstein, of Penn*s, father of George, of Lewisburg.
Joseph Evans, Lewisburg.
Evan Rice Evans, l^^quire, in December.
Henry Myer, of West Buffalo, left wife, Elizabeth. Children:
Henry, Daniel, Valentine, William, John, Elizabeth, Margaret,
Eve, and Maria. Daniel took his land at the appraisement, and in
1813 sold it to William Forster.
William Douglass, West Buffalo. John, James, Elizabeth.
George Cramer, (of now Union.) Children : Matthew, Howard,
Chatam.
Jacob Albright, Beaver. Children : Rachel, married to James
Moore ; Stephen, Peter, Jacob, Juliana, Catherine.
February 23, Mrs. Mary Bull, wife of General John Bull, of
Northumberland, in her eightieth year. She was buried in the
Quaker grave-yard. Previous to the grave being closed. General
Bull, although much reduced by sickness and old age, addressed the
audience as follows: **The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken
away, blessed be the name of the Lord. May we, who are soon to
follow her, be as well prepared as she was."
At Sunbury, on Sunday, March 1 1 , John Frick, Esquire, Regis-
ter and Recorder, aged fifty-one. Left widow and eleven children.
1811.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 401
X
Honorable Samuel Maclay
Die<i at his residence, in Buffalo Valley, October 5, 181 1. He
was born June 17, 1741, in Lurgan township, Franklin county. Of
his early education I can learn nothing. His field-note books, as
assistant deputy surveyor to William Maclay, in 1767 and 1768, are
before me, and indicate a cultivated hand. He next appears in
1769, as assistant to his brother on the surveys 01* the officers' tract,
in Buffalo Valley. He surveyed largely in what is now Mifflin
county, and took up a good deal of land there. R. P. Maclay, his
son, still living, related an anecdote which he had from the late
Judge Brown, of Mifflin county, which is worth transcribing. He
said : ** I was wandering out in the Valley, in search of good loca-
tions. I was traveling, looking about on the rising ground for a
bear, I had started, when 1 came suddenly upon the Big spring.
[This spring is four miles west from Reedsville, in the rear of a
blacksmith shop. Still called Logan's spring.] Being thirsty, I set
my rifle against a bush, and rushing down the bank, laid down to
drink. Upon putting my head down, I saw reflected in the water,
on the opposite side, the shadow of a tall Indian. I sprang to my
rifle, when the Indian gave a yell — whether for peace or war, I was
not, just then, sufficiently master of my faculties to tell ; but upon
my seizing my rifle and facing him, he knocked up the pan of his
gun, threw out the priming, and extended his open hand toward me
in token of friendship. After putting down our guns, we again met
at the spring and shook hands. This was Logan, the best specimen
of humanity I ever met with, either white or red. He could speak
a little English^ and told me there was another white hunter a little
way down the stream, and offered to guide me to his camp. There
I first met Samuel Maclay. We remained together in the Valley for
a week, looking for springs and selecting lands, and laid the founda-
tion of a friendship which never has had the slightest interruption.
« * We visited Logan at the camp, at Logan's spring, and he and Mr.
Maclay shot at a mark for a dollar a shot. Logan lost four or five
rounds, and acknowledged himself beaten. When we were about
to leave him, he went into his hut and brought out as many deer
skins as he had lost dollars, and handed them to Mr. Maclay, who
refused to take them, alleging that we had been his guests, and did
26
402 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18II.
not come to rob him ; that the shooting -had been only a trial of
skill, and the bet merely nominal. Logan drew himself up with
great dignity, and said : * Me bet to make you shoot your best ;
me gentleman, and me take your dollar if me beat.* So he was
obliged to take the skins, or affront our friend, whose nice sense of
honor would not permit him to receive a horn of powder in return,
even.**
Mr. Maclay was lieutenant colonel of a battalion of associators,
and as such, delegate with McLanachan, Geddes, and Brady, to the
convention at Lancaster, July 4, 1776, which elected two brigadiers
and organized the associators, the then militia of the State.
In 1 792, he was appointed one of the associate judges of thecounty,
and resigned December 17, 1795. ^^ October, 1794, he was a can-
didate for Congress, and carried the county by eleven hundred ma-
jority ; vote only two thousand eight hundred and fifty. In Buffalo,
he had four hundred and sixty-four, to fourteen for his opponent,
John Andre Hanna. Served for the year 1 795-96.
On the 2d of December, 1801, Mr. Maclay was elected Speaker
of the Senate, and re-elected December 7, 1802. On the 14th, he
was elected United States Senator, and, being Speaker, had to sign
his own certificate. In January, 1803, ^^ presided at the impeach-
ment trial of Judge Addison, and continued acting as Speaker
(against the protest of the opposition, however, after March 3)
until March 16, when he resigned that position, and, on the 2d of
September, his position as State Senator.
He resigned his seat in the United States Senate on the 4th of
January, 1809.
Mr. Maclay was very popular in his manners, a good scholar, and
efficient writer. He had an extensive library, containing many val-
uable books. He was always of the people and for the people,
plain and simple in his manner, disliking ostentation. On one occa-
sion he brought a handsome coach home from Lancaster, and the
family took it to Buffalo church the next Sabbath. Mr. Maclay
noticed the impression, and that coach never left the carriage-house
afterward ; it rotted down where it was left that Sunday evening.
He stopped once at the late Hugh Wilson's about tea time. They
had mush only, and Mrs. Wilson commenced getting something
better, as she thought. *<No," said he, '*mush is good enough for
^^ I. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
403
" king's dinner." He was a large man, resembling Henry Clay
'*^ry much, though much stouter in his latter years. Honorable
Martin Dreisbach, who still recollects him well, says his return home
Was always indicated by the hogs being driven out of the fields, the
repairing of the fences, and general activity over the whole place.
He was a good mechanic also, and often amused himself working
in the blacksmith shop. His servant, Titus, was a character. His
hair was white as the snow \ always dressed in a ruffled shirt. He
walked with a long staff, and on public days he came out in a many-
:olored coat, looking like the king of Africa. He lectured the
3oys somewhat after this style : ** Massa Dave a damn fool ; he no
ihoot a pheasant, he no shoot a coo ; cuss a damn fool ; he go into
the meadow and shoot a blackbo, (bird.)
Mr. Maclay's wife was Elizabeth Plunket, an account of whose
family appears ante year 1791. Their children were :
1. William Plunket Maclay, born in Buffalo Valley, 23d August,
1774. Married, in 1802, to Sally Brown, daughter of Judge Wil-
liam Brown, of Mifflin county, and was, therefore, brother-in-law to
General James Potter, second, and John Norris, many years cashier
of the old bank at Bellefonte. Mrs. Maclay died in 1810, leaving
three sons, Doctor Samuel, of Milroy, William P., and Charles J.,
and in 181 2, William P. married Jane Holmes, of Carlisle, who
died in 1844, leaving four sons, Holmes, David, Robert P., and
Joseph H. William P. Maclay died in Millroy, September 2, 1842.
2. Charles Maclay (John Binns' second in his duel with Sam
Stewart) died, unmarried, while on a visit in Wayne county, New
York, aged twenty-eight.
3. John Maclay, register and recorder of Union county, also
prothonotary for two terms. Married to Annie Dale, daughter of
Honorable Samuel Dale, and sister of the late James Dale, Esquire,
of Buffalo township. In 1833, John moved to Vandalia, Illinois,
md soon after died, leaving two sons and two daughters, Charles,
William P., Elizabeth, (afterwards Mrs. Armstrong,) Anne, all since
deceased. His eldest son, Samuel, died in Buffalo Valley.
4. Samuel Maclay, married first to Margaret and afterwards to
Elizabeth, daughters of Reverend James Johnston, of Mifflin county.
Samuel died February 1 7, 1836, leaving seven sons and three daugh-
404 ANNALS OF BUFFAL O VAi^i^s^ . .
ters, of whom only three are living , Robert P., in LouisiaiUL, an
Elizabeth and Jane, in Galesburg, Illinois.
5. David Maclay, married to Isabella, daughter of Galbraith F
terson, Esquire, died in 1818, leaving no issue. David was a ri
scholar, and would have made his mark in public life, if his healtZL I
had not failed. His widow married Honorable A. L. Hayes, la^r^
and for many years associate law judge of Lancaster coimty, Pen^z^ ■
sylvania.
6. Robert Plunket Maclay, born in April, 1799. Senator froxx3
Union, in 1842. Still living in Kishacoquillas valley, Mifflin county.
His wife was a Lashells, of Union county.
Samuel Maclay's daughters were :
1 . Eleanor, the eldest, married to her cousin, David Maclay, o(
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Herself and children dead.
2. Hester, who accompained Charles to Wayne county, New
York, and died there about the same time.
3. Jane E., married to Doctor Joseph Henderson, died without
issue, January, 1848. Doctor Henderson was a captain in the war
of 181 2, and in Congress four years, during General Jackson's ad-
ministration. He was a brother-in-law of Reverend James Linn,
D. D., of Bellefonte, now deceased.
Mr. Maclay is buried on the farm now owned by Joseph Green.
The brick wall inclosing the grave is within sight from the turnpike,
after passing the New Berlin road. It is immediately in front of his
old stone mansion. How few now know that within it rest the re-
mains of one of Pennsylvania's ablest statesmen. The disjecta mem-
bra of a fine monument, intended to be placed at the head of his
grave, still lie in one corner of the inclosure, as they were unloaded
forty years ago.
l8l!?.
Division of the Copstt Aoctateo — Lewisul'oo Ihcorporated — Roas's
Journal — Rolls of Captains Sons Dohaldbon'b and Ner M[D[iles-
n-AHTn's CovFANira — Rkvkrrnd Jest IIemhy Fbiks, Pastor at Mir-
BEMBERS of the House of Representatives elected in
October, Samuel Bond, Andrew McClenachan, Leon-
ard Rupert, and George Kremer. Treasurer, Andrew
Albright. Commissioner elect, Henry Vanderslice.
February 9, Frederick Evans writes to George Kremer : " Musser
save me petitions amounting, in signatures, to seven hundred and
;ighty-nine. Get the next sent forward as early as possible. I think
fohn Swineford and Seebold would interest themselves to get signa-
ures, as Buffalo has agreed to their proposals ; that is, to have the
•cat of justice fixed not more than three miles from the center of the
nhabitable part. By the time you receive this, no doubt you will hear
hat a resolution recommending the petitioners in the Forks to the
»rly attention of the next Legislature, on the subject. If it should
lishearten the favorers of a division, you can inform them that if
he west side only sends down five hundred signers more, the Forks
jetition will be re -considered, and things will go on fortunately yet.
JIad the west side petitions came in as early as the Forks, the county
vould, by this time, have been divided. However, there are still
lopes. If five hundred more signatures cannot be obtained, send on
IS many as can be got. Four hundred and fifty-one would be a
Tiajority of the taxables. I am glad you are willing to clear out of
!^rrstown. I will leave the place before long, at all events."
406 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1812.
May 25, Methodist church organized in Lewisburg. Sermon at
Gordon's house ; text : i John, iii : i.
June 18, President Madison's proclamation declaring war. The
first bridge was erected over the North Branch to Northumberland,
during this and the following year, by aid of a State appropriation.
The division question was the all-absorbing one. By combining
with Derry people, and others in favor of the erection of Columbia
county, the division ticket. Bond, Kemer, &c., was elected. It was,
however, bitterly opposed, and an able paper against the division
presented, which, among other things, urged that if the soldiers'
vote at Meadville had been counted, that ticket would not have
been elected.
Borough of Lewisburg.
March 31, the act incorporating the directors of streets, &c., of
Lewisburg was passed. The first election held under this act for
directors of streets, lanes, and alleys of the town of Lewisburg was
held at the house of Andrew Billmeyer, on Saturday, the 1 7th day
of October. Henry Spyker, John Martin, John Lawshe, John Gor-
don, and William McQuhae were elected.
October 23, the directors elected John Lawshe president, and
Henry Spyker secretary. James Geddes was appointed supervisor,
Andrew Sherrard constable, George Knox overseer of the poor.
The first ordinance passed was one requiring the opening of the
streets, the most of which were fenced in and cultivated at that time.
They were finally opened in 1813, except in the case of Doctor
Charles Beyer, who. May 5, 1813, represented that he had not rails
to fence with, and if he opened the streets he had inclosed in his
lots, it would be to the great damage of his grain ; and the directors
agreeing that this was so, let him off, upon his agreement to pay two
bushels of wheat and two of rye, immediately after harvest, for the
use of the corporation, after which they were to be opened.
Simon Wehr purchased his tavern stand, in Limestone township
now, and William Pancoast erected his blacksmith shop in Buffalo,
so long known as Ritter's.
181^2.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 40J
Incidents from Roan's Journal.
April 25. Christopher Johnson vs, Mathew Irvine, tried. Verdict
^^^ plaintiff, $150. 29th. Beyers for Sarah Wister vs, Clark tried.
^^^^ncan squealed a long time for Sarah. 30th. Dance in the court-
^c>Tiise to-night.
^ay 19. George Clingan went to Mr. Hood*s to see Mr. Wright
rx>-arried to Miss Lewis. Mr. Hood got $2 for the job. [Mrs. Wright
^JV^as a few years since living in Stevenson county, Illinois. She was
a« daughter of Paschal Lewis.] 21st. Billmyer executed a deed for
V^^is land to Gebhart.
June 4, Thursday. This is Nimrod Hughes* day, but he is mis-
talcen about tl^ dissolution of the world. Went to the meeting of
tVie regiment, at Reedy's, about drafting men for the war. 9th. Cap-
tain Patrick Hayes called. Went with him to Billy Clark's, and
then to Esquire Gray's. Met John and Robert Hayes there, and
Judge Macpherson. Thursday, 1 1 th. James Sanderson married, on
Tuesday, to Miss Griffen. He gave Mr. Hood $20. 12th. Libby
Robinson married to John Bell, of Chester.
July 7. Visited my father's grave, in Derry church-yard, Dauphin
county, with Captain P. Hayes. Tomb-stones are still good. 23d.
^^ off to James Moore's funeral, but was too late. 30th. Continental
^^^t:-day. Mr. Hood's text, Jeremiah, xiv : 7. Old Captain Kearsley
^P^^nt the evening here. [Captain Kearsley, of the Revolution, died
^*-^Tch 22, 1830, aged eighty-one, at Middle Spring, Cumberland
^^Vinty.] 31st. Went with Captain K. Called at Roan McClure's,
^^ Derrstown ; Judge Wilson's ; then at Jones' tavern, Northumber-
^^X\d. Went to see the new bridge building over the river.
August 20. President Madison's fast-day. Jared Irwin's rifle com-
pany paraded, and went to the German church. Drank wine at
Enoch Smith's, with Judge Cooper, Mr. Bradford, Gray, Brady, etal.
Took tea at Mr. Finney's.
September 7. Three hundred enlisted troops left Milton, to join
General Dearborn's volunteers and drafted men. Have orders to
march to Meadville. 8th. Great consternation in the Valley about
the volunteers going away. 9th. Volunteers from our neighborhood
went as far as Derrstown to-night. loth. Volunteers on their march.
A number of our neighbors among them. 1 6th. Delegates met at
4o8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18
Derrstown, and formed two tickets. 20th. Three hundred soldieri!'
passed through Milton.
October 10. Rob. Smith came from Meadville. Troops ha(
reached that place, and were in high spirits. 13th. Went to Derrs- -
town. Left my horse at James Geddes', and clerked the election.
Three, a. m., before we got through. 1 7th. Borough officers elected
in Derrstown. 25th. Five doctors tapping Davy Reasoner. 26th. D.
R. died. 30th. Clerked at presidential election at Derrstown. Gov-
ernor Snyder's daughter visiting at Kremer*s.
November i . A big bear made his appearance near Billy Clark's
to-day. 3d. Andy Steel shot at a bear in the meadow at Tommy's
place. 5th. Tommy returned from Philadelphia. Made trip in eleven^
days. 6th. Clerked at Esquire Gray's vendue. 8th. Mrs. ColoneS
Chamberlin had a young son. This is his twenty-third child. Fourth^
wife. 19th. Young Doctor Kennedy fined $4, for assaulting Doctor-
Martin. 2 2d. Roan Clarke came for Kremer. His wife has a youn^
daughter. 27th. Biddle & Dougal vs, Cochran, about some land,
below Milton. Cochran argued his own case, and spoke nearly alJ
day. [Surveyor General Cochran.] Hall, Duncan, and Watts
against him ; Fisher and Hepburn for him. Cochran got a verdict.
30th. Betsy Myers and Hetty Shaffer came here to spin.
December 8. Bill Morton went to hustling match at Myers'.
Flavel at Mr. Hood's chopping frolic. 13th. Three volunteers went
past, probably deserters from Canada. 14th. More volunteers went
by. John Forster, the widow's son, a volunteer from Canada, here
to-night. He says, General Smythe being a traitor, is the reason of
volunteers returning. i6th. Sam Lytle, another volunteer, break-
fasted here. 21st. Twenty volunteers passed Green's house. 25th.
Great quilting and ball at William Wilson's to-night. 31st. At
Shaffer's tavern, at Sunbury. Got little sleep. They were shooting
away the old year all night.
Roll of Captain John Donaldson' s Company ^ Pennsylvania Militia,
Colonel Snyder' s Regiment, September 2^ to November 24.
Captain — Donaldson, John.
Lieutenants — Chamberlin, Aaron ; Hall, John.
2.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 4og
Sergeants — McFadden, John ; Johnston, Abel ; Eilert, Jacob ;
mfort, Henry.
Corporals — Alsbach, Jacob ; Jones, Samuel.
Fifer — Dennis, Michael.
Drummer — Parks, Robert.
Privates — Auple, Christopher; Barbin, James; Barklow, Francis;
lack, Robert; Bower, Joseph; Chamberlin, Uriah; Clements,
^riah; Cornelius, William; Cosier, Jonathan; Culbertson, Jacob;
urtis, Thomas ; Frederick, Samuel ; Frederick, Peter ; Frederick,
icob; Frock, Jacob; Forster, John; Forster, William; Forster,
^illiam, junior ; Gibson, John ; Gile, John ; Glover, John ; Gray,
obert H. ; Harman, Benjamin ; Hoff, James ; Hollinshead, Fran-
s; Jodon, George; Johnston, William; Jones, Benjamin; Kelly,
)hn; Kimple, Philip; Kline Daniel; Klingaman, Jacob; Klinga-
an, John; Klingaman, George; Klingaman, Peter; Linn, David;
ytle, Samuel; Ly tie, William; McGinnes, John ; McKinley, John ;
LcKinley, James ; Magee, John ; Martin, Peter ; Meekert, Daniel ;
lies, Jonathan; Miller, Thomas; Miller, Henry; Nelson, Daniel;
orman, William; Parks, John; Pearson, John; Rearick, John;
eeder, Henry ; Reininger, Henry ; Renner, Michael ; Renner,
[enry ; Seebold, Christopher ; Shaw, Samuel ; Slear, John ; Snook,
eter ; Stine, Frederick ; Struble, Peter ; St ruble, Henry ; Stuttle-
ich, Jacob ; Thompson, Samuel ; Turner, John ; Vanhorn, Wil-
im ; Walker, John ; Wartz, George ; Weaver, Benjamin ; Weikel,
[enry ; Wise, John ; Wright, John ; Zimmerman, David.
It was to this company that Reverend J. H. Fries preached, Sep-
mber lo, in Elias church, from Joshua, xxiii : 6, ii. It marched
) Mead ville and Erie ; thence to Black Rock. **You will think
range to hear that all of our volunteers are returned home. They
ve different accounts of the proceedings at Black Rock, but all say
at they came off without being discharged, and all agree that
eneral Smythe has acted the part of a traitor.*' — I^oan Clarices
titer to George Kremer, December 14.
4iO ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1812.
Roll of Captain Ner MiddUswartK s Company^ Eighth Riflemen,
Colonel James Irwin's Regiment y September 2$ to November
24, 1812.
Captain — Middleswarth, Ner.
Lieutenants — Youngman, Thomas, and Kline, John.
Sergeants — Wise, George ; Zigler, George ; Devore, Daniel, and
Schwartz, Daniel.
Corporals — Nerhood, Adam; Bremenger, Henry; Heater, Adam,
and McNade, John.
Bugler — Huick, George.
Privates — Baker, George ; Bong, John ; Bristol, Peter ; Brunner,
Henry; Clements, John; Devore, Andrew; Devore, George;
Doebler, Daniel; Etzler, Benjamin; Fete, Simon; Frock, Henry;
Frock, Jacob ; Frock, Benjamin ; Harbster, David ; Hassinger,
David ; Hassinger, Jacob ; Heter, John ; Hammer, Andrew ;
Hummel, George; Kaler, John; Krebs, Samuel; Layer, Peter;
Layer, David; Love, William; Lowder, Peter; Lowder, Michael;
Mook, Henry ; Moyer, George ; Nerhood, Jacob ; Peter, Leonard;
Shay, Timothy; Stewart, Thomas; Stock, Peter; Stock, Mel-
choir.
Reverend J. H. Fries was called, 27 April, 181 2, to Buffalo Val-
ley. Early in June, Mr. John Reber an elder* in the Dreisbach
church, left home with his team, and proceeded to York county 10
bring up the new minister. Often have we seen this worthy man
in his old age, renew his youth, while he related, in the most circum-
stantial manner, the varied events of this eventful journey down into
a strange country, with much anxiety, and back again, with a pre-
cious load and a glad heart. Having arrived safely in Mifflinburg,
Mr. Fries entered upon his duties in his new field on the 1 7th of
June, 181 2. His field extended east and west from Brush valley,
and the lower end of Penn*s valley, to Bloomsburg, and up and
down the Susquehanna from Muncy to Selinsgrove. His first reg-
ular charge was composed of Mifflinburg, Dreisbach*s, New Berlin,
Aaronsburg, and Brush Valley. Besides these, he preached at many
'John Reber was a warm and staunch friend of t he church and her ministers, who»e
house was always open to God's servants ; and who for his generous hospitality and
piety, is held in g^rateful rememberanoe by all who knew him.
.2.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 41 f
ber points, in school-houses, gradually laying the foundations of
:ure congregations. — Harbaugh,
Marriages,
February 2, David Black with Catherine Berrey. February 11,
hn Maclay to Annie Dale. February 11, Aaron Chamberlin to
:tsy Dale. February 12, Michael Engleman with Barbara Oilman,
ughter of Jacob. February 25, by Mr. Hood, Robert Fruit to
aria Nevius. He was the youngest of eleven children, and Maria
i oldest of eleven. March i, James Kelly with Hannah Seitz,
ughter of George. ** March 19, James Lawson to Nancy Clingan.
if and two turkeys killed. Twenty-six strangers at the wedding,
irch 26, Thoilaas Barber to Betsy Clingan. Groom came with
irteen attendants; thirty-seven strangers, altogether. 27th,
inty strangers, beside the bride and groom, breakfasted at Clin-
ics ; twenty-two of us left Clingan's with the bride and groom ;
r joined us at Doctor Vanvalzah's; went to Esquire Barber's,
ire there was a very large party and much dancing, although
akers."* November i, John Grove with Sarah Montgomery,
ighter of John.
Deaihs,
fanuary 5, Colonel Thomas Youngman, aged forty. Left wife
i seven children. March 9, John Steel, of White Deer. July 7,
in Walter, born January 6, 1749. Charles Sechler, East Buffalo,
ildren : Jacob, John, George, Daniel, Catherine, wife of C.
ichly. Alexander McGrady, second, shoe-maker, of White Deer
mship. His widow, Elizabeth; died in Ohio, in 1861, aged
ety-six. Children: Polly, Margaret, Thomas, William, Eliza-
h, Nancy, and Isaac. They all moved to Ohio in 181 9. Thomas
1 in Lewisburg in 1863. Isaac was in the army, near Corinth,
1.
> From Flavel Roan's Journal.
I8i3.
Union CorsiT Erected— Off icialh — Efforts fob a Csiok of ths At-
BRIOtlt BBRTHRt::) WITH THE T'nITED BRETHREN ScnOOL-HoCU LM
IS UhIOS— LeWISBURG in 1813— RE-flLRVET OF THE ToWS.
iEMBER of Congress, Jared Irwin. Membera electedin
October, Samuel Bon<i, Leonard Rupert, Thomas Mur-
ray, junior, and George Kremer. President Judp,
Seth Chapman. Associate, Hugh Wilson, appoioted
October ii. First sheriff of Union county elected, John Ray-
Prothoootary, Clerk of the several Courts, Register and Recorder.
Simon Snyder, junior, commissioned October 14, 1813. Depuiy,
John Lashells, Esquire. District Attorney, William Irwin, Esquire-
November II, County Comraissioneis sworn, Daniel Caldnrell.
Frederick Outelius, and Philip Moore. Cletk, Flavel Roan. Coro-
ner, John Dreisbach.
March 22, the act erecting Union county out of Northumberlmd
passed. The territory^ was that part of Northumberland west of the
river ; the act to go into effect after the first of November. Courts
to be held at Mifflinburg until the commissioners appointed by the
Governor should determine the locality of the county seat. The
commissioners were directed in the act to select the most central
point.
March 13, Governor Snyder appointed James Banks and Henry
Haines commissioners to fix the site of the court-house, Ac.
March 29, election place for Buffalo, Sec, changed to Andrew
Reedy's, at Cross-Roads. Washington and White Deer, north of a
IS.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 413
ne from Spruce run, at Matthew Laird's, to John Boal's, at the
ver, to hold their election at Dan Caldwell's. As the tax-books are
t Lewisburgy it is unimportant to take further account of them in
lese Annals.
April 21, Bishop Newcomer reaches Martin Dreisbach's again,
"he Albright brethren had their conference here. Eighteen preach-
rs in attendance. He stayed with them until the 24th. They dis-
jssed the practicability and propriety of a union between the two
Kieties. He laid the discipline of the United Brethren before
lem for examination. They made no objection, but, on the con-
•ary, appeared to cordially approve of it. They delivered to him
written communication on the subject, addressed to the conference
f the United Brethren. On the loth of November, he was again
1 the Valley, held a meeting at John Walters', and preached at
It. Mack's, near New Berlin, from Psalm xxxiv, last four verses,
to the forenoon of the nth. Christian Crum, Joseph Hoffman,
icob Bowlus, and himself appeared for the United Brethren,
Ki Messrs. Miller, Walter, Dreisbach, and Mebel for the Albright
^thren. The consultation continued until the 13th, but they were
»t able to effect a union. The greatest stumbling-block appeared
be this: According to the United Brethren's discipline, their
^ preachers have a vote in the conference as well as the traveling
^achers. This was a sine qua non which the United Brethren
uld or would not accede to, so we parted and came to Young-
instown Newcomer's Journal,
October 25, John Snook and wife conveyed the school-house
t in Union township to Christian Gundy, et al, , trustees, bounded
r Macpherson, Jenkins, Epler, '&c.
November 12, die county commissioners met at Mifllinburg and
ected Flavel Roan clerk, at $1 33 per day while on duty. Hired
room of George Roush for the prothonotary. Standard of valua-
m of first-rate land : East Buffalo, $40 ; West Buffalo, $40 ; Bea-
r, ^30 ; Centre, $^0 ; Hartley, ^40 ; Penn's, I40 j Mahantango,
o ; White Deer, I40 ; Washington, $^0.
March 30, Henry Beck came to Lewisburg from Earl township,
rks county. Then Frederick Freedley owned Brown's mill ; George
ox had Hull's tan-yard ; Henry Spyker lived in the brick house
:he river ; Robert Smith, a boatman, where James S. Marsh lives;
414 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [18W.
Mathias Shaffer, in a two-story house, where M. Halfpenny now hVes;
Richard McClure, where his grandchildren do now ; William Evans,
where Joseph H ousel now lives ; on the opposite side lived Evaiis'
sister. These were all on Front street. Garman kept ferry at the
stone house, now Martin Hahn's ; John Sargent had a nail factory,
where F. Davis now lives; Andrew Shearer kept at Weidensaul's;
William McQuhae had a store^ where C. S. Wolfe now lives. George
Kremer's was the only store-house on the river ; James Black had a
distillery, and kept store just above the latter, and where Norton's
coal-yard now is ; White Roost, now M. Halfpenny's, was occupied
by Billman ; the old Albright tavern by William Poak. At the
mouth of Buffalo creek there were three houses, owned and occupied
by John Pross, Valentine Miller, &c. Leisenring, a potter, lived
opposite John A. Mertz's ; Mrs. Nicely's lot was occupied by John
Lawshe, senior ; J. B. Linn*s, by John Metzgar ; Esquire Cameron's,
the Black Horse, was kept by John Lawshe, junior ; George Kremer
had a store, where Jonathan Wolfe now lives. Second street was
then vacant down to Joseph Glass' lots, lying in common, and pine
trees growing on them. The brick house of Joseph Glass was built
by Henry Beck in 1823 ; Joseph Bennett lived where the Union Na-
tional Bank now is ; on part of Peter Beaver's lot, Henry Burget
kept a tavern ; George Metzgar lived where Captain Brooke has his
jewelry store, and had a hatter shop ; an old log house, in from the
street, next Jonathan Wolfe's, was occupied by John Montgomery;
old Mr. Kimmell kept store in the next house ; William Hayes kept
store where Peter Nevius' widow now lives. Doctor Beyers lived on
the corner of Third and St. Catherine. No house from there to Mar-
ket. Alexander Graham lived and kept store on Doctor Harrison's
corner. There were no houses on Third street north. On theBill-
myer lot, depot lot, &c., was a large pond, where they often shot
ducks. On Fourth and St. Louis, Betsy Ammon's house was built
this year. There was an old house at the race at St. George, anci-
one at the east end of Fourth, occupied by Strickland ; Doctor Wil —
son's lot was occupied by Mr. Espy, who kept tavern ; on Williar
Moore's, Thomas Poak kept bachelor's hall, and a brewery; Wil
Ham Shearer lived in the old house, lately standing on Cherry allev"
and followed weaving ; opposite C. Gemberling's, Caleb Fairchii-
had a blacksmith shop ; north was a stone hoase, occupied by Danie
1813.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 41s
Rees as a tavern ; C. Beyers' was occupied by a family named Sey-
del ; next was Sam Grove, a boatman \ Adam Grove lived on Thomas
Mesbit's, deceased, lot ; he was the youngest of the Grove brothers,
Indian fighters, and followed boating ; James Geddes lived on the
corner of Fourth and St. Anthony, and had a saddler shop ; next,
north, John Norton, and the next Burgets' house, which Henry
Beck moved into. On the opposite side lived John Moore, famous
many years as a blacksmith ; George Snider, father of widow Stro-
hecker, lived where John Bieber lately resided ; there was an old
tan-yard on the property.
The streejs were re-surveyed in the spring of 181 3, and a slight
angle made to suit the buildings. James Geddes and Thomas Fisher
carried on a tannery. Peter Nevius, Joseph McCool, and Andrew
Best were their apprentices. John Musser lived at the Slifer mansion
farm. High's mill, at the fording, was then abandoned. George
Derr had built another mill, where Joseph W. Shriner's now is. In
repairing it, some years ago, Mr. Shriner found an old stone, with
date of 1778 carved upon it, no doubt the date of Gundy's mill,
a few rods above it. On Derr's farm lived Abram Troxell and Wil-
liam C. Davis ; John Guyer, on the Shuck place ; Thomas McGuire
kept tavern at the old ferry, now George F. Miller, Esquire's ; Jonas
Butterfield kept school in the Market street school-house, now Pres-
byterian parsonage ; Breyvogel kept where the Lutheran parsonage
now stands ; Charles Cameron lived on Front and St. Mary's.
Among those who enlisted in the regular army. Doctor Beck recol-
lects of Valentine Miller, George Christ, Dennis O. Boyle, John
Buck, and Alexander Hutchinson. Abram Fry lived at the boat-
yard : Granny Phillips kept cakes and beer next the Revere House,
^o late Judge Schnable's lot ; John McFadden kept tavern where
Ci\arles Penny now lives. John Rees, John Beyers, and James For-
rest succeeded Jonas Butterfield, as school-teachers.
^lay 16, Justice Spyker fines Henry Burket, Edward Morton, and
VVilliam Keller each $20, for horse-racing on Market street, Lewis-
bixrg, on oath of Andrew Shearer, John McFadden, and Thomas
Fisher.
June I, The inhabitants of the town met and resolved that the
president, secretary, and directors should serve free gratis, and this
agreement was to remain in full force for ever. The same day, John
4i6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1813.
Hayes* account for surveying the town was examined and allowed.
One item was a gallon of Geneva whisky, one dollar.
The duplicate for 1813 and 181 4 amounted to ^96 88. Expen-
ditures on streets and survey, in full, I103 06.
November 2. George Sweeny commenced the publication of the
Columbia Gazette, at Northumberland, a strong war paper, and the
Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette of A. Kennedy was sus-
pended. Kennedy was a Federalist, and the war feeling was too
strong for that paper. Chillisquaque and Northumberland county
up to the Lycoming line had been erected into Columbia county,
accounting for the new name. In 181 5 this territory was put back
to Northumberland.
marriages.
January 24, Jacob Billman to Charity , daughter of Caleb.
February 4, Paul Goodlander with Rachael Heckel, daughter of
Andrew. February 1 1 , Jesse Dickson to Polly Merkel, daughter of
Christian. April i, Philip Lesher to Polly Billmyer, daughter of
Andrew. April 4, Alexander Donarchy with Fanny Seitz, daughter
of George. April 6, Daniel Keenly with Maria Richter, daughter of
John. May 16, Samuel Dersham with Susanna Shadel. August i,
Levi Burd with Eve Winegarden, daughter of Henry. August 12,
Francis Jodon with Elizabeth Cherry, daughter of Charles. August
26, Hugh McLaughlin with Elizabeth McClister.
Deaihs.
February i , John Sierrer, leaving a widow, Lucy, and the follow-
ing children : Jacob, Catherine, married to Jacob Reedy, John,
Elizabeth, married to John Frantz, and Sarah to George Smith.
William Irwin, Esquire, member of Assembly during the Revolu-
tion. He left all his property to William, son of John.
William Clark, an original settler, leaving widow, Elizabeth.
Children : George, Mary, (who married James Forster, and was
dead, leaving Jane, married to Thomas Smith, John, William, and
Ann, married to George Monroe,) Rebecca, Roan, Sarah, William,
Walter, Flavel, and James.
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 41 j
February 21, David Watson, father of late David, John C, and
William Watson, aged sixty-one.
March 27, Henry Deal. Family: Henry, junior, Elizabeth,
married to Jacob Maize ; Mary, to John Grossman ; Nancy, to Jona-
than Waters ; and three grand-daughters, children of John : Nancy
William, and Elizabeth.
Nicholas Egbert, West Buffalo.
May 18, John Bishop, aged seventy, buried at New Berlin.
Christopher Seebold.
September 13, Honorable Thomas Strawbridge, aged eighty-two.
John Walter, of Buffalo. Children : John, Benjamin, William,
George, Jonathan, Elizabeth, married to Focht; Catherine, with
George Reed; Margaret, with Adam Witmer; and Mary, with John
Rodman. His widow, Margaret.
'4a»i
1814.
Lewisburo Bbidoe Chartered — First Courts Held at Mifflimburo —
Battle of Chippewa — Captain Evans at Fobt McIIenry — Roster of
Lieutenant Colonel George Weirick's Regiment — Rolls of Captains
IIknry Miller, Jacob Hummel, Valentine Haas, John Berostresser,
AKD NeR MiDDLESWARTH's COMPANIES.
SENATOR, Thomas Murray, junior, elected in October.
Members, David E. Owen, Robert Willett, Joseph
Hutchinson, and Henry ShaefTer.
On the 2ist of March, the Houses passed, over Gov-
ernor Snyder's veto, the act regulating banks. One was allowed for
Northumberland, Union, and Columbia, to be called the Northum-
berland, Union, and Columbia Bank. It was located at Milton.
John Dreisbach was one of the commissioners for this bank.
On the 26th of March, the charter of the bridge over the Susque-
27
4i8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1814.
hanna at Lewisburg, was granted by the Assembly, under the corpo-
rate name of ** The President, Managers, and Company for erecting
a Bridge over the West Branch of Susquehanna, at the Town of Lew-
isburg," and John Dreisbach, Jacob Brobst, William Hayes, William
McQuhae, James Geddes, and Andrew Reedy, appointed commis-
sioners to open subscription books. On the 28th, the act transfer-
ing all suits, and all unsettled estates where the defendant or de-
cedent resided in the territory of Union to its courts, was passed.
Roads laid out — From Mortonsville, by Hugh Wilson's and Derr's
mill, &c., two and one half miles; from Rockey's mill to Reznor's
saw-mill, five miles; from Reznor's saw-mill to the Brush Valley aii'l
Mifflinburg road, four miles one hundred and forty-one perches.
The first court was held at Mifflinburg, on the 14th of February.
First grand jurors, John Boal, Adam Regar, Arthur Thomas, Jacob
Musser, John Fisher, James Madden, Robert Chambers, Valentine
Haas, Jacob Houseworth, John Nogel, James McClure, John Wil-
liams, Aaron Chamberlin, Levi Zimmerman, Philip Geraberling,
Frederick Wurtz, James Caldwell, Andrew Grove, David Simmons,
Abraham Tenbrooke, Henry Ramstone, John Aurand, John Seidel,
and John German. The commissions of Judges Chapman and Wil-
son were read.
On motion of Enoch Smith, for himself, E. G. Bradford, Samuel
Hepburn, Ebenezer Greenough, Charles Maus, William Irwin, and
John Lashells, were sworn in as attorneys. On motion of Mr. Lash-
ells, John Johnston, and Ethan Baldwin. William Irwin sworn as
deputy attorney general. On motion of Mr. Bradford, Charles
Hall, George A. Frick, Alem Marr, and Hugh Bellas were qualifietl
as attorneys. The survivor of this bar, George A. Frick, Esquire,
of Danville, died at Danville, June 10, 1872, aged eighty-five.
April 2\, Gideon Smith sold his farm on Buffalo creek to William
Young. Andrew Kennedy, junior, commenced a paper at Mifflin-
burg. He sold out to Henry Shaup, in 181 5, and the latter re-
moved the press to New Berlin. The month of May was remark-
able for the appearance in the Valley of locusts in vast numbers.
June 28, James Banks, of Mifflin county, Henry Haines, of Lan-
caster, (Edward Darlington not acting,) commissioners appointed
by Governor Snyder, met at Selinsgrove, and explored the county,
generally, and viewed a number of different situations which had
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 419
been in contemplation. After considering advantages of each, and
liaving due regard to territory and population, they reported the
village of New Berlin, alias Longstown, the most eligible and proper
situation in the county of Union for the seat of justice therein, and
fixed the site of buildings, of court-house and public offices, on a lot
"belonging to C. Seebold, Esquire, and the site for a prison on a lot
T)elonging to John Solomon.
Battle of Chippewa.
Camp at Fort Erie, West Canada, y^/p 28, 1814.
Dear Sir : Blood, carnage, death, and destruction of men are
the contents of this painful letter. On the 2 2d, we had orders to
reduce our baggage, allowing one tent to ten men, and two shirts
to each officer. The surplus was sent across the Niagara, at Queens-
town, where we then laid, to be sent to Buffalo. On the 24th, we
marched to Chippewa. On the 25th, the enemy appeared on the
heights, near the Falls of Niagara, two miles distant from our camp.
At three o'clock, we were ordered to parade. At five, our brigade,
under General Scott, marched out. At six, the action commenced,
when, great God ! to tell the details from that time till ten o'clock
at night, is impossible. Could I converse with you for the length
of time we were engaged, I could give some idea of it, but to make
an attempt will, doubtless, not be unsatisfactory to you. Our bri-
gade fought a much superior force, under great disadvantages, for
one hour and a half, and we were completely cut up, more than half
the officers and men being killed and wounded, when the second
brigade, commanded by General Ripley, came to our assistance.
The enemy, at the same time, received reinforcements, which made
the action again severe. General Ryall and a number of prisoners
were, previous to this, taken by our brigade. Colonel Brady was
wounded before we were fifteen minutes engaged, and commanded
the regiment till the action was nearly closed. I assisted him off
and on his horse during the engagement, when he was like to faint
from loss of blood. We got possession of the heights, and kept them
till we got off our wounded. The British made three different charges
to gain them, but they were as often beat back. Our brigade made
three charges, in the last of which we lost three officers of our (the
420 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [18U.
twenty-second) regiment, our brave General Scott heading eadi
charge. He was severely wounded in the shoulder near the close
of the action. General Brown was also wounded. When we re-
turned from the ground, there were, of our regiment. Major Arrow-
smith, myself, and thirty privates, that marched into camp. The
balance were killed, wounded^ missing, and in camp. Colonel
Brady can inform you that I was the only platoon officer of our
regiment that kept the ground to the last, and marched in with the
men. For the satisfaction of your friends and yourself, I inclose you
a copy of our report of the killed, wounded, and missing ; likewise,
the officers* names who were in the action. Our wounded are at
Buffalo, in good quarters. Let me hear from you.
I am yours, sincerely,
Samuel Brady,
Twenty-second Infantry .
Captain Bethuel Vincent.
N. B. Our total loss in killed, wounded, and missing on that day
must have been eight hundred. The British loss no doubt exceeded
that, as General Ryall acknowledged that they were whipped when
he was taken, and we fought two hours after that, and took nineteen
British officers.
You shall see the report in my next. I wish you to show it to my
friends, but it must not be published.
13th September, occurred the bombardment of Fort McHenry,
Baltimore. Frederick Evans was then a captain in the second regi-
ment of artillery. His commission is dated 23d July, 181 2, to rank
from the 6th. Mrs. George Kremer told me he assisted in building
the fort, and was one of its noble defenders. He often described
the scene inside as terrific. Three bomb-shells struck and exploded
inside of the fort, and he remarked one man shaking as if he had a
chill. He asked to sit under one of the cannon. Evans gave him
permission, when shortly another shell struck inside and killed him
instantly. Another man was killed within three feet of him. Their
coffee ran out, and they had very little to eat for three days. He
spoke of a woman who brought water for them. A bomb-shell hit-
ting her, exploded, and she was blown to atoms. He brought a
small piece of her dress home with him, the largest part of her
remains that he could find. The fourth shell that came in was
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 421
marked ^'a present from the King of England." This did not ex-
plode. It weighed within two pounds as much as an ordinary bar-
rel of flour. This he brought home with him, and it may still be
seen at Evans' mill, in Juniata county. He said only four shells
fell inside.
Muster Roll of the Field and Staff Officers belonging to the Regi-
ment, or Detachment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George
IVeirick, Brigadier GenercU H, Spearing, First Brigade, Second
Division, in the service of the United States.
Lieutenant Colonel — George Weirick, September 24, 181 4.
Majors — ^William Taggert and Jacob Lechner, September 24, 181 4.
Adjutant — George Coryell, September 24, 181 4.
Surgeon — ^John Y. Kennedy, September 24, 181 4.
Surgeon's Mate — ^Thomas Vanvalzah, September 24, 181 4.
Quartermaster — George Clingan, October 31, 181 4; Quarter-
master Sergeant, John Reehl, November 5.
Sergeant Major — Daniel Rohrer, October 5.
Aid-de-camp to General Spearing — Hugh Maxwell.
Camp Marcus Hook, November 14, 181 4.
Roll of Captain Henry Miller's Company.
Pay-roll of the company of infantry from Union county, under
the command of Captain Henry Miller, attached to the regiment
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Weirick, Marcus Hook,
November 10, 181 4:
Captain — Miller, Henry.
Lieutenant — McMillan , John .
Sergeants — Williams, Benjamin ; Rearick, John ; Ruble, Philip ;
Francis, William.
Corporals — Specht, Adam; Wilson, Foster; Spangler, George;
Robinson, Richard.
Privates — Baker, George ; Baker, Peter ; Barber, John ; Bitting,
Charles ; Bobb, Conrad ; Bobb, John ; Black, Robert ; Bossier,
George; Cooke, Andrew; Coryell, George, appointed sergeant ma-
jor, September 26, 181 4; Crossgrove, Samuel; Dar, Elias; Dreis-
422 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1814.
bach, John ; Dreisbach, Thomas ; Dunsipe, Daniel ; Egbert, Cyrus;
Eilert, William; Farres, Garrett; Forster, William; Fought, George;
Fought, Jacob ; Fox, Conrad ; Fry, John ; Gearig, Jacob ; Gear-
hart, Samuel ; Gill, John ; Gill, William, discharged October 26,
181 4, died at Bellefonte, November 21, 1876, aged eighty-nine;
Hanius, Peter, (called Panier;) Merger, Henry; Hasenplugh,
Henry ; Hasenplugh, Samuel ; Kleckner, Abraham ; Kleckner,
Anthony ; Kleckner, Isaac ; Maclay, John, appointed assistant quar-
termaster general, October 9, 1814 ; Mangel, David ; Mayer, John;
Moyer, John ; Moyer, William ; Myer, William ; Norman, John ;
Phelps, Francis ; Rearick, John ; Reichly, William ; Ritter, Henry;
Rote, John ; Royer, Henry ; Saunders, Michael ; Shaffer, William ;
Shaffer, Jacob ; Smith, John ; Snyder, Michael ; Sleer, George ;
Shaw, Samuel; Slough, Benjamin; Stitzer, David; Spangler, Chris-
tian ; Speer, David ; Spiegelmeyer, Daniel ; Solomon, Abraham ;
Thompson, James; Weight, John; Zimmerman, Jacob.
Roll of Captain Jacob HummeVs Company.
Pay-roll of the company of infantry under the command of Cap-
tain Jacob Hummel, attached to the regiment commanded by Lieu-
tenant Colonel George Weirick, Marcus Hook, November 10, 1814-
Captain — Hummel, Jacob.
Lieutenant — Brady, Walter.
Ensign — Swartz, Francis B.
Sergeants — Baldy, Stephen; Eisely, John; Hammer, John;
James, John S.
Corporals — Gordon, John B. ; Petery, John; Leisenring, Jacob:
Martin, James.
Privates — App, John ; Applegate, John ; Armstrong, John ; Barn-
hart, John ; Bear, William ; Bestler, Henry ; Born, John ; Buck-
ner, John; Burn, Henry; Buyers, John; Campbell, John; Ca-
rnthers, Andrew ; Conor, Daniel ; Crutchley, John ; Delany, Dan-
iel ; Espy, George ; Forly, George : Furman, Jona ; Gearhart,
Daniel; Haupt, Henry; Hedrick, Jacob; Housel, John; Hoy,
Lfxkwood G. ; Huff, Benjamin ; Hull, Isaac; Lowdon, Zachariah;
M(Cloughen, Joseph; Mahoney, William; Marsh, Griggs; Mettler,
William ; Mirely, Balser ; More, David ; Morgan, Joseph ; Morgan,
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 42 j
James ; Masteller, John ; Newcomer, Abraham ; Overdurf, Peter ;
Redline, John ; Renn, John W. ; Rinehart, Frederick ; Ringler,
Daniel ; Roadarmel, John ; Sterner, Henry ; Stroh, Jonathan ;
Wagner, Christian ; Warner, James ; Weaver, Frederick ; Willet,
William ; Willet, Samuel ; Woodruff, Elias ; Woldigan, William j
Zeluff, David.
Roll of Captain Valentine Haas" Company,
Roll of the company of infantry from Union county, under the
command of Captain Valentine Haas, seventy-seventh regiment
Pennsylvania militia, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George
Weirick, Marcus Hook, November 10, 181 4.
Captain — Haas, Valentine.
Lieutenant — Shedle, Samuel.
Sergeants — ^Ek:khart, Jacob C. ; Hosterman, George ; Boyer,
Henry ; Hendricks, Andrew.
Corporals — ^Johnston, John ; Kleckner, Jacob ; Richter, Freder-
ick ; Overmyer, David.
Privates — Alter, Joseph, discharged October 5 ; Bachman, Lo-
renzo; Bear, Isaac; Berger, Joseph; Berman, Anthony; Benfer,
George ; Binckly, Jacob ; Bous, Frederick ; Bosler, Jacob ; Brous,
Henry ; Buttenstine, Philip ; Clendinin, John ; Doebler, Ludwig ;
Derk, Jonathan ; Doffe, John ; Duke, Jacob ; Duke, George ; Ever-
hard, Barnes ; Everhard, Philip ; Fetter, Benjamin ; Folk, John
Foltz, Joseph; Gordon, Willis; Gaugher, Jonas; Grim, Henry
Haas, Henry ; Haas, Daniel ; Hentricks, E. ; Herrold, Philip
Hobb, Frederick; Hummel, John H. ; Jarrett, Jacob; Karstetter
George; Keely, John, discharged October 22; Kesler, Micliael
Kreisher, Henry ; Kreitzer, Frederick ; Kuns, John ; Miller, Dan
iel ; Mowrer, Jacob; Moyer, Philip; Ncitz, Jacob; Pontius, Henry
Rettig, William ; ^.ichenbach, John ; Rusher, John ; Shedler
Jacob; Shoemaker, Peter; Smith, Abraham; Smith, John; Smith
Joseph; Sold, Philip; Spaid, Henry; Stahl, Henry; Stimeling
George; Stock, Peter; Swartz, Peter; Swartzlender, George
Trester, John ; Wagner, George ; Weaver, John ; Weller, Isaac
Witmer, Samuel; Woodling, Henry; Wool, Daniel; Yeager, John
Yeager, Adam ; Yeisly, Henry : Verger, Philip ; Yordon, John
Voung, Ludwig.
424 ASNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1814.
Roll of Captain John Bergstresser's Company.
Pay-roll Union county company of militia, attached to the regi-
ment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Weirick, Marcus
Hook, November i8, 1814.
Captain — Bergstresser, John.
Lieutenant — Fisher, Thomas.
Ensign — Noll, Henry.
Sergeants — Silsby, Uriah ; Reedy, Philip ; Gillaspy, John ; Reng-
ler, Daniel; Merwine, Samuel; Sargint, John; Clingan, George.
Corporals — Nevyus, William ; Vartz, John ; McCorley, Jacob ;
Lutz, John.
Privates — Aikey, Lewis ; Anderson, James H. ; Baldy, Benjamin ;
Bellman, George; Bennage, Samuel; Bennett, John; Bidleman,
Abraham ; Bower, Williami ; Bower, George ; Bower, John ; Camp-
bell, William ; Campbell, John; Campbell, Joseph; Clarke, Joseph;
Clark, Flavel ; Clark, Francis; Clark, William ; Darraugh, John;
Dempsey, Jonathan ; Darsham, Ludwig ; Diefenderfer, Philip ; Eg-
burd, Jesse; Flickingner, Charles; Frederick, Peter; Frederick,
Jacob; Frederick, Samuel; Gilman, Jacob; Goodlander, Paul;
Hufford, John ; Heiser, Frederick, discharged October 2 ; Herren-
don, William ; Housel, Joshua ; Hubler, Jacob ; Irwin, John ; Irvin,
William ; Jamison, John ; Jodun, William ; Jodun, Benjamin ; John-
ston, Thomas ; Jones, John ; Kaufman, Jacob ; Kelly, Andrew, dis-
charged October 28; Kimmell, Adam; Kunts, Daniel; Kline,
Abram ; Kline, George ; Lilley, Peter, discharged October 3 ; Lutz,
Samuel ; McClure, Richard ; McGuire, Richard ; McKinley, Hugh,
McLaughlin, James ; Maughamer, Daniel ; Magee, James ; Mizener,
John ; Mengel, George ; Mowry, Peter ; Myers, Peter ; Meyer,
Henry ; Quinn, Michael ; Rees, John ; Ranck, Jonathan ; Rora-
bough, Christopher ; Rorabough, Philip ; Rose, Adam ; Shaffer,
Daniel ; Shaffer, Henry, substitute for John Hummel ; Sheckler,
Jonas; Sheckler, Simon ; Smith, Jonathan; Smith, Adam; Steel,
Richard ; Steel, David; Stoner, Daniel; Strickland, Samuel; Stni—
ble, Peter ; Sypher, Jacob ; Vanderhoof, Henry ; Vanderhoof, Wi^ -
Ham ; Vanhorn, William ; Vanhorn, Abram ; Wallace, James; Wai-
ters, John ; Welch, Nicholas; Williamson, Gideon; Wilson, Thoina£=*
Wilson, Samuel ; Young, Abraham ; Zearphus, George, (Sarphus—
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 425
In Captain Robert McGuigan's company, November 12 to 24,
we find the names of — Egbert, John ; Hafer, James ; Haslet, Joseph ;
Ranck, Adam ; Stadden, William ; Vanlew, Peter ; Whitacre, John ;
Wurtz, Daniel.
Roll of Captain William F, Buyers' Company,
Roll of the Northumberland County Blues, volunteer company,
attached to the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
George Weirick, Marcus Hook, November 10, 181 4.
Captain — Buyers, William F.
Lieutenants— Jenkins, Thomas S. ; Scott, Samuel H.
£nsign — Hepburn, John.
Sergeants— Wilson, Samuel H.; Wallis, Joseph T.; Sweeney, A. M.
Corporal — Reehl, John.
Fifer — Armor, William.
Drummer — DeLong, Samuel.
Privates — Armstrong, Jacob ; Black, David ; Bonham, Thomas
Buyers, George P. ; Cameron, William ; Campbell, Robert ; Chap
man, Edward ; Cooke, William ; Cook, Adam ; Cramer, Joseph B.
Cramer, Abram ; Dale, Henry ; Dieus, William ; Dougal, James S.
Frazier, Charles; Gale, William; Grant, Mact; Grant, Thomas
junior, discharged October 23 ; Grant, William M. ; Gray, William
Harris, Thomas ; Hendershot, Isaac ; Hopfer, Jacob ; Huffman
Joseph ; Jones, William ; Jones, Jeremiah ; Latherland, William
Layton, William ; Lebo, Daniel ; Lyon, Robert ; Lyon, Jeremiah
\fcCord, Isaac; McPherson, John; Martin, John; Maus, Charles
Oliphant, James ; Prune, George ; Quinn, John ; Reininger, Henry
R-ockele, Theodore J. ; Ross, John ; Watson, William ; Weisner,
John ; Weitzel, George ; Wilson, Samuel.
Jacob Armstrong, John Martin, Robert Campbell, and William
II>ieus, drafts in Captain Hummel's company, joined my company
o" 29th. They have been in service the same time our company has.
William F. Buyers,
Captain Northumberland County Blues.
e following memoranda are from Lieutenant Colonel Weirick's
-book, now in possession of M. L. Schoch, Esquire, of New
' ■!»% .
426 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1814.
General Order ^ dated at Headquarters, Fourth Militia District^
Philadelphia, October 19, 181 4.
The advance corps will consist of the light brigade, under Briga-
dier General Cadwalader, who will report directly to the command-
ing general, and act alone under his orders, and those of the War
Department. Colonel Irvine's regiment of regulars will support the
advance. The army of the center will consist of Brigadier General
Spearing's, Smith's, and Snyder's brigades, forming Major General
Worreirs division. The volunteers and recruits at Bush Hill will
form the reserve. The New Jersey troops, under General Elmer,
form the left wing. The officers and men of the fifth United States
infantry, at camp near New Castle, will form a detachment, under
the immediate command of the senior officer, and act under Colonel
Irvine.
By order of
Major General Edward P. Gaines.
Major General Isaac Worrell's headquarters were transferred to
Marcus Hook, on the 20th of October. Henry Sheets, major general,
second division ; Brigadier General Henry Spearing commanding
first brigade, second division, — drafted militia, Northampton, Mont-
gomery, Lehigh, Pike, Northumberland, &c. ; Hugh Maxwell, aid-
de-camp ; Thomas J. Rodgers and W. C. Rodgers, brigade majors.
November 13, Ensign Farnsworth transferred to Captain Miller's
company. November 15, Lieutenant Colonels Heister and Weirick,
and the field officers of their respective commands, ordered to report,
at twelve o'clock, at General's quarters, to decide their precedence
of rank by lot.
John Campbell, Griggs Marsh, and David Moore, who have been
absent without leave, have come this day, and joined their compa-
nies. I, therefore, order the same to be entered on the regimental book.
George Weirick,
Lieutenant Colonel Commandif^-
November 16. The above, who have been reported as deserters,
are to be tried as absentees.
George Weirick,
Lieutenant Colonel
1814.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 427
November 16, lot determined in favor of Lieutenant Colonel
Weirick, who is hereby announced first lieutenant colonel in first
brigade, second division, Pennsylvania militia, under the command
of Brigadier General Henry Spearing, and is to be obeyed and
respected accordingly. It was determined to mutual satisfaction
that Major Taggert was properly entitled to the first rank and Major
Lechner to the second rank in Colonel Weirick's regiment, and will
tiereafter take precedence accordingly.
November 17, the lot for rank of captain resulted: first captain,
Miller ; second, Hummel ; third, Haas ; fourth, Bergstresser. The
court-martial held at Adjutant Coryell's marquee, John Bergstresser,
president, Lieutenants John McMillan and Samuel Shedle members,
Thomas Jenkins, judge advocate, sentenced John Campbell, Griggs
Marsh, and David Moore to stand camp guard every other day, and
to be within the limits of the camp during the remainder of their
tour.
November 23. The German troops in Major General Sheetz's
division will be formed upon the parade to-morrow, at ten o'clock,
with their side arms, for divine worship in German.
The last orders in the book are dated at Marcus Hook, December
I : The sick troops are to be discharged on furlough to their res-
pective homes until further orders. Adjutant of the day, Coryell.
The discharge of Peter Myers, signed by Captain John Berg-
stresser, is dated Philadelphia, December 20, 181 4, and I presume
that is the date of the muster out of the regiment.
Pay-roll of the Union Rifle Volunteers^ commanded by Captain Ner
Middleswarth, attached to the Rifle Battalion, commanded by
Captain John Uhle, in the Light Brigade, commanded by Generdl
TTiomas Cadwalader, in actual service at Camp Dupont, Octo-
ber 27, 1 81 4.
Captain — Middleswarth, Ner.
Lieutenants — Mertz, Isaac ; Aurand, Jphn.
Ensign — Devore, Daniel.
Sergeants — Fryer, Jacob; Weiser, Daniel; Stees, Frederick, jun-
ior; Weikel, George.
Corporals — Frederick, Abraham ; Layer, Daniel ; Swineford,
Albright ; Long, Jacob.
428 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [WM.
Privates — Beitler, Jacob ; Bird, John; Bowersox, Daniel; Boyer,
Samuel; Campbell, Elias; Carroll, Henry W.; Clemence, George;
Dreese, Henry; Ely, Asher ; Freedley, Ludwig; Gilbert, Jacob;
Gill, Jacob ; Gilmore, Robert ; Grubb, Jacob ; Kaley, Abraham ;
Katherman, John ; Kratzer, Henry ; Kuhns, John ; Loehr, Joseph;
Loehr, Peter; Martz, Samuel; Miller, Daniel; Miller, Jacob;
Mitchell, John; Moyer, George; Moyer, Jacob; Shneb, Henry;
Smith, James; Stock, Melchior ; Troxell, Jacob; Thurston, Israel;
Wakey, John ; Wales, John ; Weirick, Henry ; Wient, George.
Marriages.
2 2d February, John Beeber married to Miss Anna Baker, byH.
Spyker, Esquire.
Deaths.
At Lewisburg, January i6, Charles Cameron, father of the late
John Cameron, William Cameron, Esquire, General Simon Cam-
eron, Mrs. A. B. Warford, of Harrisburg, Mrs. Boggs, of Indiana,
Colonel James Cameron, who was killed at Bull Run, and of Daniel,
who died in the naval service.
August 23, Reverend Isaac Grier, died at Northumberland. Bom
1763^ graduated at Dickinson college in 1788; licensed December
21, 1 79 1. He taught the academy, and was father of Honorable
R. C. Grier, Isaac Grier, D. D., &c.
John Turner, tailor, of Lewisburg. He left a widow, Elizabeth,
and daughters, Christena and Matilda.
Jacob Wolfe, of Buffalo, leaving a widow, Catherine, and chil-
dren, Catherine, Elizabeth, Jacob, John, Jonathan, and Samuel.
August 29, Adam Laughlin, of Hartley township, aged sixty-six.
Wendell Baker, of East Buffalo. Children : John, Jacob, Mrs.
Mathias Alsbach. Grandchildren : John and Ann Mizener.
October 14, Paul Collins, of West Buffalo, aged seventy-nine.
Adam Struble, of West Buffalo.
■'^f^^^M»l
^Oi}s^
i8lg.
Courts held in New Berlin — Union Township Erected— St. Peter's
Church, Kelly — Death of Captain William Gray, op Buffalo.
CT 8th March provided that after the first Monday of
May, the courts should be held at New Berlin, in the
court-house, provided a full and sufficient deed be made,
for the consideration of sixty-seven cents, to the com-
missioners, before the first Monday in April, for the court-house
and lot. The original receipt for sixty-seven cents may be seen in
the commissioner's office, at Lewisburg. nth March, Washington
township annexed to Lycoming. — P. L., 119. April i, Hugh Mc-
Laughlin's land, in Kelly, was sold to }ohn Gotshall for 1^36 per
acre, and the Japhet Martin place, East Buffalo, now Frederick's,
appraised at $48. 15th April, Reverend C. Newcomer arrived at
Michael Maize's. **0n i6th preached at Martin Dreisbach's, 17th
at George Miller's, and on the i8th had a long conversation with
Messrs. Miller and Niebel on the union of our respective societies,
but we could not bring it about."
Union Township Erected.
September sessions, upon the report of Andrew McLenachan, John
Hayes, and Adam Wilt, Union township was erected, with the fol-
lowing boundary: Beginning at a double walnut, on the West
Branch, (below Jenkins' mill,) S. 73° W. 3 miles 100 perches to
stones on the top of Shamokin ridge ; along same, S. 75° W. 3 miles
10 perches, to chestnut oak ; N. 150 W. i mile 200 perches to top of
429
4SO ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1815.
Limestone ridge; S. 75^ W. 2 miles 100 perches to line between
Buffalo and West Buffalo ; along same, S. 150 perches to head of John
Stees' spring ; thence down same and Switzer run to Penn's creek;
down Penn's creek to the line between Buffalo and Penn's ; thence
along the same to the river ; thence up the river to the mouth o(
West Branch ; thence up West Branch to beginning.
St Peter's Lutheran Church, in Kelly.
On the 4th of November, Christian Zerbe and George Reininger,
trustees in the conveyance made by Jacob Lotz, executor of Philip
Stahl, granted, permitted, allowed, and confirmed the full right,
liberty, and privilege unto the members of the Presbyterian con-
gregation (German Reformed) of White Deer township, in common
with the members of the Lutheran congregation of, in, and to the
aforesaid premises and church, when built, in consideration of the
German Reformed congregation contributing to the purchase of the
lot and building of the house, &c.
Marriages.
Daniel Shannon with Christena Pross, February 23. March 23,
Samuel Strickland with Elizabeth Turner. April 2 , Jonathan Ranck
with Catherine Long, daughter of Joseph. May 30, Jacob Wehr
with Margaret Sassaman. June 25, Jacob Rees and Elizabeth Wil-
hamson, in presence of her brother, Gideon. September 3, Elisha
Barry with Elizabeth Herbst, daughter of Henry. October n,
George Mook with Julia Fastnock, daughter of Adam. All by
Henry Spyker, Esquire.
Deaths.
4th April, Catherine, wife of John Dreisbach, bom nth March,
1785. Married i8th April, 181 1. nth April, Elizabeth, wife of
William Wilson, aged fifty-seven. June 27, John Freedly, (miller,)
*^ found this morning lying in a water sluice, in his meadow, dead.
George Knox, George Schnable, John Lawshe, senior, George
Metzgar, Henry Colway, Philip Lesher, Alexander Graham, George
] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 431
ner, Robert Smith, Alexander Morton, Jonathan Spyker, and
^ Knox, a jury empaneled, found he came to his death by acci-
, and not by violence." (He was the owner of Ludwig Derr's
iptain William Gray, one of the first settleis in the Valley,
His children were: Sally, Mra. Mary Dunlap; Susanna, mar-
first to William Hudson, after his death, to Andrew Forster ;
nor, to John Robinson ; Margaret, to John Hayes, Esquire ;
cy, widow of Hudson Williams ; Jane, widow of William Wal-
, married to Samuel Hutchinson.
ugh McLaughlin, White Deer. He lived, adjoining William
gan's, owning a farm of seventy acres. His children : James
nor, wife of William Cameron, Esquire; Hugh, who recently
r) died at Lewisburg, and Margaret, who died unmarried,
iphet Morton, East Buffalo. Children : Edward, William, John,
:ander, Isabella, married to Thomas McGuire, and Rachel and
grandchildren, sons of Thomas, deceased: Martha, Betsey,
y, and Japhet.
ovember 1, Christian Ncvius, aged fifty-six. He left a widow,
retia, who died January 19, 1841 , aged seventy-five. Children :
T, John, Ann, Ralph, Aaron, Elizabeth, Phoebe, and Sarah.
i8l6.
Henrt Shaup's Newspaper — Susquehanna Bible Society Formeiv-
Lewisburq Bridge Built — A New Church at Cross-Roads— Prm-
IDENTIAL Election — Simon Snyder's Letter to Qeorqe Krdier—
Judge Cooper Transfered to the University of Pennsylvania.
|TEMS taken from Henry Shaup's Urdon Newspaper^
Markets in Philadelphia: wheat, 1^2.20; rye, I1.45;
corn, if 1. 50; butter, 1 4 cents pound.
Proposals are published by Frederick Gutelius, James
Dale, and John Bower, county commissioners, for building the jail.
Israel Inman was the principal store-keeper in New Berlin. George
Spring notifies all persons having lots in the town of Springfield, to
come forward on the ist of April, and lift their deeds or give up
their tickets. James Merrill, practicing law at Mr. Maurer's, op-
posite the New Berlin hotel. William Poak kept hotel at Hartle-
ton. John Grove's vendue at New Berlin. James Monroe and
Daniel D. Tompkins nominated for President and Vice President,
by the Republican members of Congress. Simon Snyder had thirty
votes in caucus for Vice President. Aaron Chamberlin elected col-
onel, vice George Weirick, resigned. Philip Franck, watch-maker,
New Berlin. George Eisehhuth, merchant. William Dale and
John Leany, executors of Samuel Fisher, of White Deer, advertise
his land on White Deer creek for sale. A public market held in New
Berlin on the 20th of June, continuing three days, for the purpose
of selling horses, horned cattle. ** Here the weary peddler was in-
vited to repose a few days, with his pack, and at the same time vend
jewelry to his advantage ; the lovers of music and dancing, to spend
the careless hours in pleasure. Boxers and gamblers are not invited,
43»
1816.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 433
but may attend at their own risk.'* A bear beat is also advertised
as one of the attractions. An association formed to suppress horse-
racing. Abbot Green, treasurer. John Sargeant and Robert Smith
were brought before Henry Spyker, Esquire, who fined them iJ2o
each. He notes in his docket that ** the judges of Union county say
this is wrong, and have reversed my proceeding. After this, the
judges may fine the horse-racers themselves."
July 23, Ann Smith, alias Carson, arrested above Harrisburg,
Dvith two companions, who called themselves Owen Jones and Na-
thaniel B. Bard. She had formed plains to abduct the Governor,
and extort by violence a pardon of Richard Smith, convicted of the
murder of Captain Carson, or, failing in this, to seize some member
of his family.
Susquehanna Bible Society formed at Milton, John B. Patterson,
president; vice presidents. Reverend Thomas Hood and Judge An-
drew Albright. Shaup thus notices the demise of the The Advocate
of the Union, Hugh Maxwell's paper : ** Union county has lost an
Advocate y Saturday, 27th September, after a lingering illness of one
year and seven months. The remains, we understand, have been
removed to Bellefonte."
August 24. Adam Wilt made a plan of New Berlin, showing the
original as laid out by George Long, and the additions made by
Christopher Seebold, Christian Miller, Henry Gross, Alexander
and James Beatty. This plan was signed by the lot owners of New
Berlin, and recorded as the proper plan of the place. Deed book
**C," page 198.
Improvements.
15 th March, supplement to the Lewisburg bridge charter passed,
authorizing the Governor to subscribe four hundred shares for the
State. June 19, the company organized. July 4, contract made
with Reuben Fields for the erection of the bridge for ^52,600.
1^2,400 was afterwards allowed, in addition to the contract price.
The jail at New Berlin was erected this year by Frederick Hippie,
of Centre township. Contract price, §4,000. The stone furnished
by Henry Gross, at twelve and a half cents per perch, measured in
the wall. 23d February, Buffalo Cross-Roads congregation met,
William Clingan called to the chair, James McClellan, secretary,
28
434 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1816.
and resolved to build a stone meeting-house, sixty by thirty-five.
The trustees altered it to fifty-two by forty ; four rows of seats, and
pulpit in the end. Jacob Hartman contracted to do all the carpen-
ter work and painting for ^625. William McLaughlin to do tb^
mason work at seventy-five cents per perch. This stone churoH
stood within the limits of the present grave-yard, north-west comer -
The corner-stone was laid on the 23d day of July. It was com-
pleted by the 29th of December, when Mr. Dunham preached the
first sermon in the new church, from Nehemiah, iv : 6 : ** For the
people had a mind to build." 19th March, 181 7, Mr. Hood J
preached the first sermon in the new pulpit. Text, John, vi : 3^
and 39, showing the reasonableness of the doctrine of predestina-
tion. 27th April, Peter Burg conveyed to Conrad Philips and John
Walters, a lot on Walnut street and Apple Tree alley, in New Berlin,
for a grave-yard for the use of the Union County Evangelical Asso-
ciation.
At the October election, the candidates for Congress were George
Kremer, William Wilson, David Scott, Charles Maus, and Captain
William F. Buyers. William Wilson and David Scott were elected.
At this election, one thousand six hundred and twelve votes were
polled. Democratic majority nearly seven hundred and fifty. At
the November election, Monroe and Tompkins received six hundred
and one votes, against one hundred and two for the opposition or
Independent Republican ticket, on which were the the names of
Andrew Gregg, Christian Brobst, Daniel Montgomery, and others,
as electors.
October 11, Reverend C. Newcomer arrived again in the Valley;
preached at old Mr. Eyers'. 12th, at Mr. Dreisbach. Sunday, 13th,
had meeting in the forenoon and at night. 14th, conference of the
Albright brethren commenced. 15th, attended a funeral at Mr.
Gilmore's; at night preached»at Solomon Betz*s. i6th, preached at
Youngmanstown and lodged at Mr. Corl's. Mail arrives at New
Berlin once a week.
Extracts from a letter from Governor Snyder to George Kremer,
24th November : ''I should like much to see you pitted against that
arch fiend, Lieb, in the House of Representatives; but unless Brobst
resigns, I cannot see how the Speaker could constitutionally issue a
writ for the election of another. A writ of lunacy could be awarded
^•3 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 433
t:lie court of Union county, and thereupon a writ might issue for
»^w election. The people might memorialize the House, that,
ough mental derangement, the act of God, one of their Repre-
^tatives is disqualified to represent the wisdom of the county,
is, accompanied by certificates from regular-bred physicians —
actors Dougal, Vanvalzah, &c. — would undoubtedly bring the ques.
>n fairly before the House, and a precedent established in his case,
there is not one already, in this country or in England. But, if
e has any interval of sanity, this might be embraced to procure his
esignation. Thus all difficulty would be removed, and make room
or your election, which, I suppose, would be certain, if the Longs-
own interest does not oppose you. Whatever may be done, it will
e all- important to keep out of view his having been mad before his
lection, or that the people were so who elected him."
The letter refers to Jacob Brobst, who became insane. He lived
1st above Mifflinburg, where he died. The path the poor old man
•amped in his fearful spells and struggles was visible many years
fter his death.
December 6. Judge Thomas Cooper, late professor at Dickinson
College, Carlisle, was elected professor in the University of Penn-
yrlvania.
Marriages.
1 7th January, Daniel Shriner with Catherine Funston, daughter
f William. June 6, John Hayes with Jane McFadden, daughter
f John. June 23, Titus Kemp with Betsey Huntingdon, in pres-
nce of her cousin, Gabriel. Eo diCy William Francis, widower,
rith Catherine Gettig, widow. November 7, Henry Moyer wijh
*olly Strickland. December 19, John Walters with Susanna Moyer,
aughter of John, in presence of her brother, Peter. December 31 ,
•y Reverend J. H. Fries, Jacob Strayer to Rachel Harmony, of
Jew Berlin. In August, John Johnston, (painter,) of New Berlin,
0 Elizabeth Kress, by H. Yearick, Esquire.
Deaths.
9th March, Mrs. Elizabeth Weirick, wife of Colonel George Wei-
ick, aged thirty-six.
43(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1817.
•
Peter Bower, East Buffalo, aged sixty-eight.
Killian Dunkle, East Buffalo.
John Hoover, of West Buffalo. Children : George, Jacob, Ann,
Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Susan, and Christena.
Philip Gebhart. Widow : Mary. Children : Jonathan, George,
John, Henry, Michael, Elizabeth, Sally, and Mary.
Daniel Rees, of Buffalo, left widow, Catherine, and children,
Catherine and George W.
October 15, Thomas Sutherland, father of Mrs. Doctor Thomas
Vanvalzah, aged eighty-four. (His widow, Jane, died July 9, 1819,
aged eighty-two.)
•4»^
181T.
Political — Election Returns — Lewisburo Bridge — Henry Spyker,
Esquire — Colonel William Chamberlin.
[OHN SNYDER, United States Collector Internal Rev-
enue. . Postmasters : Lewisburg, A. Graham ; New Ber-
lin, James Merrill ; Mifflinburg, John Orwig ; Hartle-
ton, James Madden. Republican Standing Committee,
Henry Yearick, James Geddes, and P. F. Deering. 1 9th February,
Democratic Republican Convention held at New Berlin. John
Gross, president; Henry Yearick, secretary. Ner Middleswarth
and James Dale appointed delegates to the State Convention, and
William Findlay, of Franklin, recommended for Governor. 4th
March, William Findlay nominated at Harrisburg, and Joseph
Hiester by the Independent Republicans, at Carlisle. June 19,
Stephen Hughes, chairman, John Mauck and Lewis Bertram secre-
taries of the Hiester meeting, held at the house of John Solomon,
in New Berlin. July 12, Findlay meeting held at New Berlin;
John Wilson, president ; James Geddes and Christopher Seebold
secretaries. Vigilance committees : Hartley, Adam Wilt and Henry
1817.1
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLBY.
Roush ; West Buffalo, Michael Schoch, John Dreisbach, Christo-
pher Johnston, John Ray, and Robert Forster ; East Buffalo, James
Dale, John Reber, Andrew Reedy, and George Knox ; White Deer,
Colonel Aaron Chamberlin, A. McClenachan, Major John Ranck,
and Dan Caldwell ; Union, Alexander Boveard, Michael Wagoner,
Jacob Kline, and William Kessler. loth September, convention
at New Berlin ; John Orwig, chairman; Isaac Meru, secretary. Jo-
seph Hiester nominated for Governor. Assembly, Fred Stees and
Joseph Stillwell ; commissioner, Mishael Lincoln ; auditor, Samuel
Baum. Delegates : Union, George Eisenhuth ; Hartley, Abbot
Green and William Reed ; West BufTalo, John Orwig and Daniel
Reeser ; East BufTalo, Christian Sterner and William Hayes. 20th
September, General Adam Light nominated by ^e Independents
for Congress.
fiiE
OTI
OS
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DISTRICTS.
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, Frsebur^, ......
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Total
1507 1018
97212*18 1406!l390 lllG
IO!>ell32o'lUU
February 6, prices in Philadelphia: Wheat, S3 per bushel; rye,
ti.6o; corn, #1.70. Febftiary 13, Methodist church, at New Ber-
lin, dedicated. A great assemblage of people. Over two hundred
sleds and sleighs. March 13, ice broke on the river, and obstructed
the stages. 9th August, Limestone Run bridge, in the town of Mil-
43^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1817.
ton, swept out, with large portions of the road, by a sudden freshet
in that stream.
Lewisburg Bridge.
November i, superstructure up, and teams cross the Lewisburg
bridge. James Lee, the old tavern-keeper, at Northumberland, in
a suit, BuTTvs, McCay, 6 Barr, 149, about the ** Burr bridge patent,"
testified to the following facts, in regard to the building of this bridge
and others on the Susquehanna :
**In May, 181 6, Theodore Burr was at my house, in Northum-
berland, and I asked him whether he proposed attending the letting
of the Lewisburg bridge. He said he had enough bridges on hand,
and recommend^ Reuben Fields as a first-rate builder, who worked
with him on the Harrisburg bridge. I went to Harrisburg, got an
introduction to Mr. Fields, who came to Lewisburg the week fol-
lowing, to look at the points for material, contiguous to the site. A
few days before the letting, he brought up a plan and draft for the
bridge. Theodore Burr advised Fields and myself to build on that
plan. We presented the plan to the company on the 3d of July,
1816, together with our proposals. The day following, Mr. Hep-
burn drew the contract between the Lewisburg Bridge Company,
Fields, and myself, and on the 7th we commenced excavating the
foundation for stone -work. In September we had got up two piers,
and the two abutments half way. Mr. Fields came up that fall, and
commenced the wood-work. Early the next spring one of the
reaches was up, and another part raised on the east side," &c.
Theodore Burr commenced building the Northumberland bridge
in 181 2. Finished it in two years. In 181 4 he commenced the Har-
risburg bridge, and finished it in two or three years.
Marriages.
February 20, by Henry Spyker, Esquire, Peter Long to Sarah,
daughter of Jacob Moore. June 19, by Reverend J. H. Fries, Samuel
Roush, Esquire, to Miss Elizabeth Dunlcle. September 9, by Rev-
erend Peter Kessler, Jacob Alter to Miss Ann Kessler. October 24,
George Mitchel to Eliza Anderson. May 22, by Reverend John
Patterson, Andrew McBeth to Ann Linn.
1817.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 43^
Deaths.
February 6, Enoch Smith, Esquire, attorney-at-law, Sunbury,
Pennsylvania. February 19, Flavel Roan, Esquire, born July 31,
1 760. Son of the Reverend John Roan, and brother of Mrs. Clingan.
He was buried in the Presbyterian grave- yard, at Lewisburg, near
the pavement, a little east of the present church. The grave being
unmarked, it was lost sight of when the church was built. March 1 7,
Elizabeth, wife of Reverend J. G. Heim, born April 17, 1 776. April
1 7, Elias Youngman, born August 15,1 738. Married, January 11,
1 763, to Catherine Nagle. His children were : George, father of
£lias, of Jersey Shore ; Thomas, who died, (Thomas' widow married
Robert Forster,) and Catherine, married to John Dreisbach. Elias
Youngman was a hatter, in Sunbury, in 1 775. Moved into the Val-
ley in 1783. April 27, Jacob Dunkle, who bought the Heberling
mill at sherifTs sale, as the property of Captain John Bergstresser, was
Icilled near Bear Gap, as he was coming home with the team from
Philadelphia. His horses ran off, and the wagon wheels passed over
liis head, killing him instantly. He was the grandfather of Charles
C , of I-^wisburg. He left a family of seven sons and five daughters.
He was married, November 24, 1789, to Ann C. Shoemaker.
July I , Henry Spyker, Esquire. His children were : Mrs. Alex-
ander Graham, Jonathan Spyker, &c. He was a son of Peter Spy-
leer, who was president of the courts of Berks county in 1 780. The
Spykers, Christs, Kadermans, &c. , came over with Conrad Weiser to
New York, in 1710, from a place called Herrenburg, in Wurtemberg,
Germany. In 1729, they all removed together to Tulpehocken,
where Henry Spyker was born, 29th August, 1753. He was adju-
tant, in 1776, of a militia regiment on duty at Amboy, New Jersey,
where he heard the thunder of the battle on the 25th, 26th, and
27th. His manuscript journal is yet in the possession of his grand-
daughter, Mary Spyker, at Lewisburg, together with many valua-
ble papers, a complete file of almanacs from 1756 down. He was
paymaster of the militia from October i, 1777, to July 27, 1785,
during which he disbursed ^£122,847 1^- ^^-t ^"^ accounted satis-
factorily for every cent. He was afterwards member of Assembly for
Berks, 1788-90. In 1797, when Jonathan was twelve years old,
just the age of Lewisburg, he removed to Lewisburg, where he en-
440 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18
gaged in store-keeping for a few years ; was then appointed a justiczr-
which office he exercised until within a few days of his death. I — 3
used to tell of two Germans of the Valley, who came to his offi ^i
to make some sale, and have a note written, and when through, xYit
party who was to have the note told the other to keep it, and Ykt
could then know when it was due, and come and pay him.
August 21, Colonel William Chamberlin. He came from Hun-
terdon county, New Jersey, where he was born, September 25, 1736.
He served as lieutenant colonel in second regiment. Colonel David
Chambers, his commission bearing date 9th September, 1777, in
November of which year, by order of Governor Livingston, he
was directed to call on Messrs. Penn and Chew, at the Union iron-
works, to conduct them to Worcester, Massachusetts, and deliver them
to the Council of that State. He was also directed to purchase, in
Connecticut or Massachusetts Bay, twenty thousand flints for the
Council of New Jersey. He participated in the battle of Mon-
mouth, 28th June, 1778, where his eldest son Lewis was killed by a
cannon ball. He moved into our Valley in 1793, and on the i6th
of August, 1794, married his fourth wife, Mary Kemble. He was
the father of twenty-three children, fifteen of whom were bom in
New Jersey. Of his children, Nelly married John Lawshe, senior;
Ann, John Ross; Lucretia, Christian Nevius ; William, Enoch,
Tenbrooke ; Sarah, married to James Wilson ; Uriah ; Elizabeth,
married to William McCreery ; Aaron, came with him. His fourth
wife's children were : John, James, I>ewis, Mary Frances, married
to John Linn; Joseph P., James D., and Moses, the latter still resid-
ing at Milton.
James Marshall, of White Deer.
i8l8.
Delawares and Shawanese Remove West of the Mississippi.
ILLIAM FINDLAY, Governor.
February 8, prices current in Philadelphia : flour,
|io per barrel ; wheat, |i 80 ; rye, 95 cents. 9th, the
first toll was taken on the Lewisburg bridge. On the
th and 6th of May, David Yoder had the town of New Columbia
irveyed and laid out in streets and lots. During this summer, the
Ihristian chapel, a frame building on Fourth street, between St.
ohn and St. Anthony, in Lewisburg, was erected.
I note, September 17, the treaty by which the Delawares and
hawanese cede their lands in Ohio and Indiana, and agree to take
x:ations on the Arkansas river. The Delawares resided principally
n Stony creek, a branch of the Maumee ; the Shawanese on the
kuglaize river, where it empties into the Maumee, in north-western
)hio.
The election this fall did not manifest any material change in the
political situation of the State. Ex-Governor Simon Snyder was
lected Senator from Northumberland, Union, &c., without any
)pposition.
Marriages.
Among marriages are : February 24, James Dale to Eliza Bell, of
Hanover, Dauphin county. June 11, John Snyder, Esquire, to
liiss Mary Kittera, daughter of late Honorable John Wilkes Kit-
era, deceased. November 4, Lieutenant R. H. Hammond, fifth
J. S. infantry, to Miss Eliza C. Gloninger, of Lebanon.
44^
44^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, fW19.
Deaths.
Among deaths: March 30, Christopher Weiser, East Buffalo, aged
sixty-one. May 25, Sarah Barber, wife of Robert, aged sixty-five.
% m •
1819.
Difficulty in Mr. Fries' Church — Bank Suspensions.
|HIS year is noted in our religious history for Mr. Fries'
difficulty in his Mifflinburg congregation. It assumed
such proportions that the Synod recommended that he
should withdraw from MifHinburg and take chacge of
the eight congregations at Middle creek. He came home from
Synod, called a meeting of the elders of Penn*s, Brush Valley, New
Berlin, Dreisbach's and Mifflinburg, before whom he invited his
accusers to appear. It appears they had circulated a story that, on
Easter Sunday, he had conducted himself as if he were intoxicated.
The elders pronounced him innocent. Their report is signed, Adam
Harper, president ; Adam Neidig, secretary ; John Brown, Henry
Herbst, John Zeigler, John Philip Meyer, Frederick Gutelius, John
Ray, Sebastian Whitmer, Elias Youngman, and John Dreisbach,
elders.
In August, the Northumberland, Union, and Columbia Bank, at
Milton, stopped payment. Its notes in circulation were ^55,000,
and the debts due to the institution amounted to j 190,000. Manu-
factures having broken down in the country, bank notes necessarily
flowed in large quantities to Philadelphia and Baltimore for the pur-
chase of goods and the payment of debts. City banks had plenty
of their own paper, and, therefore, would not take them ; or, if they
did, forwarded them forthwith for redemption. The result followed,
19.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 443
.e country banks had to suspend. This was the case with the Read-
g Bank, Northampton Bank, &c.
Among the deaths this year were : Henry Iddings, aged ninety-
iTG, leaving ten children. John Boal, of White Deer ; his family
ere Elizabeth, married to Matthew Laird ; Mary, to John Reznor ;
jphia, to Samuel Woods ; Margaret ; Nancy, to J. Foster Wilson,
* Hartleton.
Domestic.
The use of the tomato, as an edible, is noted. Prior to this, the
ant was cultivated for ornament.
The large stone house in Lewisburg, now occupied by Mark Half-
mny, was built by William Hayes.
Governor Simon Snyder.
Governor Simon Snyder died at Selinsgrove, November 9, at
iree, a. m., aged seventy years and four days. His remains rest in
le old grave-yard, at Selinsgrove, under a marble slab, without any
iscription. His father was a mechanic, who had emigrated from
ermany to Lancaster, where the Governor was born. In July,
784, he removed to Northumberland county, and settled at Selins-
rove, where he opened a store, and became the owner of a mill.
[e soon became useful as a scrivener, and as a friend of the poor
id distressed. He was soon elected justice of the peace, in which
ipacity he officiated for twelve years. (Justices then presided in
le county court.) So universally were his decisions respected, that
lere never was any appeal from any judgment of his to the court,
nd but one writ of certiorari was served upon him during that time.
lis political record is spread forth on the foregoing pages of these
tonals. Mention will, therefore, be made here of only a few ind-
ents of his public life. With him originated the arbitration prin-
Iple, first incorporated, with other wholesome provisions, for the
jjustment of controversies brought before justices of the peace,
died the hundred-dollar act. After a few years' experience, this
ilutary principle was ingrafted upon our judiciary system. Gen-
•al Abner Lacock was his coadjutor in these measures. His con-
444 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1819.
duct during the war of 1812 was patriotic, and worthy of a Gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania. His son John, afterwards the Honorable
John Snyder, of the thirteenth district, then a boy of nineteen, raised
a company, and marched with them as captain to Baltimore. ITiey
arrived at Harrisburg before daylight, and were halted before the
Governor's door. He arose from his bed, and welcomed them, and
with stirring words complimented their bravery. He always said,
in speaking of the circumstance, he never before had felt so proud
of his son John.
During the session of 1813-14, a very large majority of both
Houses passed the bill to charter forty banks. The candidate for
Governor was at that time nominated by the members of the Leg-
islature. When they came into caucus, it was remarked that the
bank bill was then before the Governor, and that it would be
prudent to make no nomination till it was seen whether he would
sanction it. Within three days, Governor Snyder returned the bill,
with his objections, and it did not pass thac session. His independ-
ence was the theme of universal praise, and he was that year re-
elected by an immense majority. Having served out the consti-
tutional term, he returned to Selinsgrove, and at the next general
election was made State Senator, and served one session.
The crowning glory of Governor Snyder's career was his Chris-
tianity. In religious culture he was a Moravian, and in public station
he never forgot his vows or neglected his religious duties. His heart
went out at all times in deeds of kindness to the poor and unfortu-
nate. He was long mourned with sincere grief by them, and the
few old people still surviving, tell how tenderly it was manifested
when he was buried out of their sight.
His letters to his children are very affectionate, and full of good
advice. I quote from one to his daughter, Amelia, afterwards Mrs.
Jenks, dated the 30th of January, 1813 :
** I hope the practice I recommended, of reading by the boys in
the evening, has been adopted, and the reading of a chapter in the
New Testament or one of Blair's sermons on a Sunday, when there
is no worship in our church. When there is, and the weather is
tolerable, I trust you and all the boys attend. Your ensample may
influence them. I would advise you to set apart, say two hours
each day, for reading, and endeavor to store in your mind all that
1819.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 445
is -worth recollecting. Write to me when you have an opportunity,
or rather write when anything occurs to your mind worth com-
nivinicatingy and then you will be ready, and not hurried, when an
opportunity offers, lliis is my method, or I never could get through
ha.lf my business."
His parental tenderness and his earnest desire for the conversion
of" his children is the burden of many of his letters. From one,
Aated Harrisburg, 19th January, 181 3, I make the following ex-
tracts:
** Dear Child : I have but a few moments time, before the mail
s^^.rts, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th. I
fe^l much distressed by your relation of John's state of health. I
t^c^pe that no pains or expense will be spared to restore him. God
Lnt that he may recover, and become sensible of the necessity to
ter his mind, and prove thankful and grateful to God for his
jrcies. His God, from whose hand the thread of his life is sus-
inded, will hear him, if, with a contrite heart he calls for mercy
^-i:id forgiveness. I write under strong emotions of pain. God have
*^im and you all in His holy keeping, is the prayer of your father,
S. S."
The Governor's long residence at the seat of government, during
Mrhich he had not the leisure necessary for managing his extensive
states, and his liberality to his relatives and friends, had greatly
embarrassed his affairs. The death of his son Frederick taking place
at this time, broke his spirit. The powers of the other world soon
claimed him for its silent fellowship. He is now united with the
apostles and martyrs, the great and good of all ages, with those he
so tenderly loved in life, and more than all, with his Saviour.
Governor Snyder's first wife was Elizabeth Michael, of Lancaster,
by whom he had two children: Amelia, bom 21st June, 1791. She
was married March 28, 1820, by Doctor Dewitt to Doctor Phineas
Jenks, member of the House from Bucks county, at Harrisburg.
Mrs. Elsegood, wife of Reverend J. I. Elsegood, of East New York,
is the only daughter of Amelia. The Honorable John Snyder, who
married June 11, 181 8, Mary Louisa Kitlera, daughter of Honor-
able John Wilkes Kittera, of Lancaster, Congressman during the
administration of General Washington, and until the election of
L
44(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1819.
Thomas Jefferson, in 1801, when he died. John Snyder's children
by his first wife are Miss Mary K. Snyder, postmistress at Selios-
grove, Mrs. Vandyke, who now lives in Lewisburg, widow of James
C. Vandyke, Esquire, late United States district attorney for the east-
em district of Pennsylvania. Among his children by subsequent mar-
riage, is Mrs. G. W. Walls, of Lewisburg. Honorable John Snyder
died at Selinsgrove, August 15, 1850. The children by his second
marriage were Henry W. Snyder, born foth July, 1797. He was a
paymaster in the late war, and died at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Of his children, are Mrs. Joseph Musser, of Lewisburg, who has a
portrait of her grandmother, which is certainly complimentary to the
Governor's appreciation of beauty. George A. Snyder, a man oi
unmistakable genius, was the second son. His artist aspirations
were early developed, and he desired his father to send him to Italy ;
but he insisted upon making a lawyer of him. He never practiced,
I believe. Taught school for the most part, and died in Williams-
port on the 6th of July, 1865. During the war, being old and feeble,
he still insisted upon doing something, and gathered all the news-
papers that came in his way, cut out the interesting articles, and
pasting them into small scrap-books, sent them to the hospitals to
help the sick soldiers while away the tedious hours of sickness. His
children are Mrs. Mathias App, now of Michigan ; Mrs. Kate Crane;
Henry and George S., foundrymen of Williamsport, Pennsylvania;
Mrs. Riley, Antes and Jesse D., of the same place.
Antes Snyder,^ who died at Pottstown in December, 1861, where
his widow, Mrs. Mary B., still resides, (1871,) was the child Mrs.
Carson wished to kidnap, in order to obtain from the Governor
the pardon of Smith. He well remembered how carefully he was
guarded in door until after the execution of Smith. Antes was
educated at West Point, graduated with high honors, and was soon
afterwards sent by the Government to England on business con-
nected with the railway system, then in its infancy here.
The Governor said, should Mrs. Carson succeed in the abduction
of his child, the law should, nevertheless, have its course. He was
spared the trial, but all who knew his stern integrity, felt assureii
' Antes Snyder was the engineer vrho designed and built the large itone bridge!
over the Schuylkill, at the falls and Peacock's lock, above Beading, and one &t
Schuylkill Haven, and a number of small ones along the line of the Philadelphia
and Heading railroad.
1810 ] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 447
that the law would have been honored, even had he been put to so
severe a test.
Governor Snyder was married the third time to Mary Slough
Scott, a widow lady of Harrisburg, i6th October, 1814. She sur-
vived him, and died at Harrisburg October 8, 1823. She was a
member of the Episcopal church, and was the first person who com-
menced a Sabbath-school in Selinsgrove. She is spoken of as a bril-
liant woman in society.
I quote from her letter to Amelia, dated Philadelphia, June 11,
181 8, anticipating Honorable John Snyder's wedding. The gar-
lands have faded this many a day ; their perfume may still linger
in some households :
** My Dear Amelia : At length I have a moment to devote to
you, on the morning of the important day which is to connect us
with Mary. At nine o'clock this evening Doctor Wilson will tie the
knot. Mr. Peacock has stayed for the wedding. The fair brides-
maids are Mary Smith, Miss Houston, Hannah L. Orme. The
groomsmen, Shunk, T. Conrad, Thomas and John Kittera. All the
relatives will be here. The company will consist of about thirty per-
sons. To-morrow, early, we set out, and will rest at Lancaster on
Sunday, go to Harrisburg on Monday, and leave that on Thursday
or Friday for Selinsgrove. I am very anxious about your father.
Henry writes Mr. Peacock that he was unwell after I left him. I
hope in God he is now well. Mr. Hemphill gave a dinner for me
Tuesday. I had twelve of my particular friends to meet me last
J^ening. I took tea with Mrs. Watson. She sends much love. It
is so warm, I am obliged to ride everywhere, and Anthony is very
accommodating. I long to get home again, and shall enjoy our old
house more than ever, for this place is intolerably hot. Shunk
[afterwards Governor Shunk] goes by his father's house, so we shall
have no beaux. John Kittera cannot go home with us, but will be
up in a few weeks. Mrs. Hall is still here, but goes home with Mrs.
Humphrey and her daughter next week. Their new carriage is not
yet done, and she is almost homesick. Shunk has just come in, and
desires me to tell you he has tried to behave pretty, and is as polite
as possible."
i8i^o.
jHILIP MILLER was appointed court crier. He held
this office thirty-three years, and was succeeded by Ben-
jamin Shell, in 1853.
1 6th March, the. division line of Mifflin and Union
directed by act of Assembly, to be run by a surveyor appointed by
the commissioners of each county ; otherwise the line run by Peter
Hackenberg made the line. — I^. Z. 1S20, pagg 82.
28th March, James Dale, of Union, Jacob Cryder, of Centre, and
John Hanna, of Lycoming, appointed to run the division line be-
tween Union and Centre counties.
In 1 819 or 1820, Doctor Grier says, the Associate Reformed
church, of Mifflinburg, was organized of Buffalo Cross-Roads mem-
bers, a dissatisfaction having arisen on account of giving up Rouse's
version, and adopting Watt's version, of the Psalms. James McClel-
lan. Esquire, and Samuel Templeton were of the elders. James
McClellan gave up his pew in Buffalo in April, 1820. So it was pro-
bably in this year. This church was served by the late Doctors
George Junkin and Darid Kirkpatrick. In October, 1827, on ap-
plication of Mr. Kirkpatrick and his congregation, they were received
into and taken under the care of the Northumberland Presbytery.
(This congregation is still served by Doctor Grier, although there is
another Presbyterian church organized at Mifflinburg.)
Political.
At the October election for Governor, General Joseph Hiester
received 1,621 votes, and William Findlay, 1,040 in Union county.
448
1820.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 449
For Congress, Thonias Murray ran against William Cox Ellis.
4,341 tickets had the name of Thomas Murray on; 3,074 had
Thomas Murray, junior. Mr. Ellis* vote in the district was 6,526,
and he received the certificate, but not considering it fair, Mr. Ellis
resigned in June, 1821, and another election was held that fall. At
the Noveml)er election James Monroe carried every State, John
Quincy Adams receiving only one electoral vote, (in New Hamp-
ihire.)
Census 1820.
Penn*s, 2,099 Hartley, 1*239
Centre, 2,094 New Berlin, . . . . 515
Beaver, 2,036
Perry, 1,330
Washington, . i>427
Union, 1*369
White Deer, . . . . 1,677
Lewisburg, .... 579
Mifflinlmrg, .... 620 ! Buffalo, 2,376
West Buffalo, . . . . 1,183 i
Hartleton, 75 1 Total, .... 13,619
Value of leather manufactures, ;Si9,2oo; linseed oil, $2,790;
pottery, $1,050; whisky; corn and rye, used for, 16,000 bushels,
value, twenty- five to thirty-one cents per gallon. Twenty-two still-
houses. Wheat manufactured into flour, 23,300 bushels. Fourteen
mills in operation. For cotton yarn, one hundred and twenty spin-
dles, one carding machine, one spinning machine. '* The whole
establishment gone to ruin for want of a market. It formerly em-
ployed four men and diree boys."
Notices of Revolutionary Soldiers Residing in the County in 1820,
Brown, Jonathan, had served three years as a private in Captain
Elijah Humphrey's company, Colonel William Douglas' regiment,
and was sixty- two years old.
Britton, Joseph, enlisted at John Stetler's tavern, in Limerick
township, Montgomery county, in the spring of 1776, in Captain
Caleb North's company, of Colonel Anthony Wayne's regiment.
Captain Frederick Evans testified in his l)ehalf, that he had Hved
forty-three years before with David Evans, whose land joined hib
29
^SO ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, \\^\
father's, in Montgomery county; that he recollected of hearing
Britton had enlisted, and about a year afterwards he came back very
much emaciated ; that forty- four years had elapsed since he had
seen Britton, and he was so much altered he had no recollection of
his person ; but from conversation with him, he had no doubt he
was the same Joseph that had enlisted with Captain Caleb North's
company, and marched to Ticonderoga. Britton was, in 1820.
seventy-one years old, a farmer, and had a wife and two daughters.
Billman, Dewalt, aged sixty-seven, enlisted at Reading, in Captain
Jacob Bowers' company.
Burd, Daniel, seventy-five years old, enlisted at Amboy, Colonel
James 'Freddie's regiment ; served five years nine months, except
three months, when he was at home sick. He was wounded in the
left thigh at Battle Hill, with two musket balls. He had two sons
and four daughters, youngest named Anne.
Bower, George, of White Deer. Pressed in the fall of 1777 as
teamster ; had charge of an ammunition wagon at Valley Forge.
Drafted in June, 1778; arrived on the field of Monmouth as the
battle was closing. He received a sword cut on the knee from .1
British soldier who lay in ambush by the road. Recollected of see-
ing Lafayette at Monmouth.
Campbell, McDonald, served in Captain John Conway's com
pany, Colonel William Wind's New Jersey regiment, thirteen
months. Re-enlisted in Colonel John Conway's regiment ami
served nine months, and then was detailed by General Green as hi>
express rider, and remained such during the war. Was a fife: in
Captains Conway's and Furman's companies. He married a widow
Valentine, who had two children, Jesse, aged thirteen, Jane, aged
ten. His children by her were, Isaac Wilson Campbell, Sally Walls.
Almeda, Eleanor, and Elizabeth ; latter aged eight months.
Carney, Anthony, blacksmith, Hartley, enlisted in Orange county.
North Carolina, served three years. He was sixty-seven in 1820.
and had no family except his wife, Catherine.
Clemmens, Peter, private in Captain Stake's company. Colonel
Butler's regiment, and served two years. He left a daughter, Eliza-
beth. His wife, Elizabeth, died in 1820.
Campbell, John, (still living in West Buffalo, 1838, and then
eighty-three years old,) was drafted into the militia from Derry
820.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 431
ownship, Lancaster county, in 1776, served under Captain Robert
iicKee, arrived at Trenton the day after the capture of the Hessians,
.nd went thence to Morristown. Took oath of allegiance before Jacob
Jooke, E^uire, 2d August, 1777. In the latter part of 1 777, he was
Lgain drafted, and went to Trenton. Saw British horses and wagons
)rought into camp and sold at auction. His third tour was at the
:lose of the war, in a company commanded by Lieutenant James
^ird. They lay at Chestnut Hill awhile. General Potter and
tfajur Stewart had a quarrel there about the treatment of the militia,
ind were on the point of fighting it out with their swords. Camp-
)ell moved to Buffalo Valley in 1777, lived on Captain Gray's farm
)ne year, then moved to another farm of the captain's near James
)ale's. He lived there seven years, then moved near Buffalo mount-
in, then into West Buffalo, where he died.
Cook, John, private in Captain Herbert's company, from Wom-
Isdorf, who was taken prisoner at the surrender of Fort Washington,
xchanged, and appointed ensign in the twelfth, Colonel Cooke's.
le was unmarried and childless in 1820, seventy-eight years old.
Coryell, George, was a native of Hunterdon county. New Jersey,
/as l>orn at Coryell's ferry, on the Delaware river, now Lambertville,
m the 28th of April, 1 761 . He entered the army in Captain Craig's
ompany of dragoons, in 1776, just after the taking of the Hessians,
nd before the cannonade at Trenton, on the 2d of January, 1777.
lis company marched up the creek, and was in the battle at Prince -
on. He was a year with Captain Craig. He was afterwards drafted
nto a company of dragoons, under Lieutenant Reading, in which he
erved one year. He was afterwards drafted into the company of
]!aptain Palmer, in which he continued until the fall of \ 780. He
vas only sixteen years of age when he enlisted, and while in Captain
;;^raig's company, he was sent, as an express, to Boston, leaving or-
lers at Danbury and other places on the route. He said there were
jray-headed men and minors in Craig's company. At one time
^neral Washington had his headquarters at his father's house, at
he ferry, while the army encamped partly in his orchard. The
British and Hessians got possession of his father's premises at one
:ime, and cut the bedding, threw the feathers into the street, and
jurned all the fences on the farm, which lay in common a long time,
George Coryell was married, in 1790, to a sister of Richard Van
^S^ ANzVALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [182a
Buskirk, of Mifflinburg, and moved, in 1793, to the premises of
Samuel Maclay, in Buffalo township. He was a carpenter by trade,
and built many houses in Buffalo Valley, among others, the old
** Black Horse tavern," at Lewisburg ; of barns, he built the one
on Maclay's place, now owned by Joseph Green. In 1 799 he was
captain of the Buffalo Valley Republican troop, and always rode on
parade days a sorrel horse that had been wounded at St. Clair's de- •
feat. John Webb, a hatter, father of Colonel Webb, who, some
years ago, kept hotel in Philadelphia, was first lieutenant of the com-
pany. Webb lived in Mifflinburg, and moved to Ohio many years
ago. Coryell was adjutant of Colonel George Weirick's regiment, at
Marcus Hook, in 181 4. He removed to Lycoming county once;
then back to Buffalo valley ; then to White Deer valley ; thence to
Butler county, near Hamilton, where he died, 1837-38. His wife
soon followed him to the grave. He had four sons, Tunison, John,
Joseph R., and Abraham, of whom Tunison, the eldest, and Abra-
ham, the youngest, alone survive. There were several daughters,
most of whom ended their days in Ohio and Indiana. Tunison re-
sides in Williamsport, and occupies the house in which he was mar-
ried, in 1 815, and where his golden wedding was celebrated.
Derr, Christian, West Buffalo, aged, in 1820, seventy-two. En
listed at Reading, in Captain Nagle's company. Colonel Thompson's
regiment, and served one year ; re-enlisted in November, 1776, in
Captain Moore's company, Colonel Humpton's regiment, and served
in the battle of King's Bridge, 1 1 th January, 1777, Brandy wine, and
Germantown. In the last action he was wounded, had several ribs
broken, and was, therefore, discharged. He was a carpenter, and had
eleven children. He had three balls in his body, which he carried
to his grave. His children were Ellis Derr, Mifflinburg ; Samuel,
Uniontown; Henry, Schellsburg, Bedford county; Susan, married to
Jesse Egbert, afterwards David Kline, of Hartley; Polly, to — -
Jones, of Sugar valley ; Elizabeth, to William Kepner, moved to
Venango; John, Oley township, Berks; Catherine, to Henry Bar-
rich ; Christian, junior, who died in Spring township. Centre county,
in 18:52. His children live in and about Bellefonte : Daniel, Rachel,
married to William Young : William, in Benezet : Christian and
Solomon, in Bellefonte.
Ewig, Christian, aged sixty, enlisted at Sunbury, in Captain Weit-
^820.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 453
zel's company, Colonel Miles' regiment, in April, 1776, served one
year, nine months, then re-enlisted at Sunbury, in Captain James
W'ilson's First Pennsylvania, Colonel James Chambers, in which he
served until the close of the war. A wheelwright by trade.
K.erstetter, George, blacksmith, Washington to^mship, aged sixty-
four. Served four years in Captain Burkhart's company, Colonel
Hunsecker's regiment. Children : Jacob and Dorothy. Wife's
name was Elizabeth.
Linn, John, aged sixty-five, enlisted in the winter of 1778, at Lan-
caster, in third troop. Captain Erasmus Gill, fourth regiment Penn-
sylvania cavalry, Colonel Stephen Moylan. Discharged in Octo-
ber, 1783. Had five children ; Robert Bruce, born May 21, 1806 :
•^Itha, January 15, 1808; James Smith, Octol^r 20, 181 1 ; Eliza,
June 4, 1814; Mary Jane, November 23, i8£6. Weaver by trade.
I^ennox, George, private. Captain Bankson's company. Colonel
Stewart's regiment.
IReger, Elias, enlisted in May, 1775, Captain George Nagle's
cc>TTipany, Colonel Thompson, first rifle regiment. In the siege of
Boston. Discharged at Long Island, in June, 1776. Cooper by
^«i.de. Seventy-seven years old.
Horabaugh, Philip, Buffalo township, served three months in Penn-
sylvania line, Captain Slaymaker's company, Colonel Bull's regi-
^^ent, while the army lay at Valley Forge. Served also in the cam-
paign of- 1794, known as the whisky insurrection, and three months
^n Captain John Bergstrcsser's company, at Marcus Hook, in 181 4.
This hero of three wars died February 3, 1837, aged eighty-six, and
is buried in Lewisburg German grave-yard.
Swesey, Daniel, died in White Deer, 31st January, 1836, leaving
a widow, Mary.
Strickland, Timothy, carpenter, Lewisburg, enlisted in 1776, in
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Captain Bacon's company, Colo-
nel Porter's regiment, and served therein one year. Re-enlisted in
September, 1777, in Captain Mill's company. New York State line,
and was honorably discharged after three years' service. Aged in
May, 1824, seventy-three, but very much crippled. He had four
sons, (Samuel was a soldier of 181 4.) His grandchildren reside
still in Lewisburg ; Cyrus, a grandson, in Bellefonte.
Smith, Adam, was a teamster during the Revolution. He settled
454 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
upon the place now owned by Jacob Kunkle, above Henry Mertz's.
He died there and was buried at the Dreisbach grave-yard. His
sons were : Adam, George, Michael, and John, and a daughter,
married to Michael Maize, another to Steffy Touchman. Adam,
junior, moved to Beaver township, Snyder county. His descend-
ants are about Beaver town yet. George died in Union county,
John at Beaver town, and Michael in Union county, in 1841. He
had a blacksmith shop above Henry Mertz's, and that is the point so
often spoken of in old road views. Michael's children were Michael,
who moved to Michigan ; Daniel, who moved to Ohio ; Benjamin, to
Illinois; David, now, 1869, living near the old place. His daughters
married, one to Jonas Nyhart, one to John Wolfe, one to David
Oldt, near New Berlin. Michael had three wives: first was a Bower,
of Dry valley; second, Susanna Bartges, of Mifflinburg; third,
Sophia Bickle, whose father, Henry Bickle, was killed by the Indians.
Michael had also a son Jonathan, father of A. W. Sn>ith, Esquire,
late jury commissioner, who died in Hartley township, in 1870.
Yiesely, Michael, aged sixty-seven, enlisted in August, 1776, in
Captain B. Weiser's company, in Colonel Haussegger*s regiment.
Served during the war, and was discharged in 1 783. He had a wife
and five children, Henry, Catherine, George, Elizabeth, and Maria.
Deaths.
•
June 17, Paschal I^wis, aged sixty. His family: Elizabeth,
widow, who died August 26, 1828, aged seventy-one. Margaret,
married to Thomas Clingan ; Mary, married to Samuel Wright,
(she is still living in Stephenson county, Illinois;) Sarah, married
to James Merrill, Esquire; Elizabeth L., wife of Robert Candor.
Esquire ; Amelia B., married to Samuel Heise, of Columbia.
18:^1.
rHie
— Qenekal Item?,
JIPPOINTMENTS — Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Andrew Gregg. Auditor General, James Duncan, of
Carlisle. Samuel Cochran, Chester county. Surveyor
General. (He held ofiice nine years, under Governor
Snyder.) James Brady, of Westmoreland, Secretary of the Land
Office.
Prices current at Philadelphia, in April : wheat, seventy cents,
rye thirty-seven, corn thirty-two, butter ten cents per pound, bacon
seven per pound, whiskey twenty cents per gallon. In July wheat
advanced to eighty cents ; in October to ninety, and in November
to 5i 50. The other grains proportionably. February 19, "a comet
made its appearance in the western horizon. It was seen last even-
ing between seven and eight o'clock, considerably elevated, and
could be found by drawing a line due north from the planet Saturn.
It was but a few degrees from it." On June 8th the locusts made
their appearance in great numbers in Buffalo Valley.
The Union county Democratic nominations were Ner Middles-
warth and James Dale, for Assembly; commissioner, Joseph Fuehrer ;
auditor, John Maclay; all opposed to Hiester. The Federal party
had really gone under, and politics was now confined to tactions in
tlie Democratic ranks. Binns and Buchanan appear among the Hies-
ter men, who are called bank men, and aristocrats, and "Feds."
The Findlay papers style themselves indifferently Democrats, Demo-
cratic-Republicans, and Republicans.
456 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1822.
In Union county, Thomas Murray, (Findlay,) for Congress, had
ten hundred and forty- five ; William Cox Ellis, opposition, eight
hundred and thirty-six ; and Murray was elected in the district by a
small majority. The fall election resulted in the choice of a legis-
lature in opposition to Governor Hiester, which elected William
Findlay United States Senator.
m
Deaths,
Among deaths this year were, June 27, Captain William Y. BuyerS;
former editor of the Times, Sunbury, aged forty ; and December 7,
John Baker, of Buffalo, aged sixty-five.
<«•»-
18?^.
Ckrtain Laws — Nkwspapers Noticed — Death of William CuyGAX.
EsgriRE, Honorable Andrew Albright, and Henry Pontiis.
|HE act of February 18, Pamphlet Laws, 29, required all
the original lists of assessments for land situate in Union
county, to be transmitted to the commissioners of Union
county, and were made evidence in suits.
March 2 1 , Lewisburg incorporated as a borough. — {Pamphlet Laws,
68.) The election place was fixed at Randall Wilcox's, who kept
the Black Horse, and John Nesbit and Alexander Graham were ap-
pointed to superintend the first election.
March 25, Northumberland and Union placed in the ninth sena-
torial district, and entitled to two members.
April 2, Union, Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne, Susque
hanna, Bradford, Lycoming, Tioga, Potter, and McKean placed in
one congressional district, and entitled to three members, and on
1822.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 437
the same day the borough of Lewisburg was erected into a separate
election district.
In January, the prices current in Philadelphia for wheat was J i . 1 2 ;
rye, 60 cents; corn, 62 : oats, 30. In April wheat rose to $f.2o,
and in May it stood at J 1.48.
Nathaniel Henrie bought out the New Berlin Gazette, of Frederick
Wise, and started the Union Times. May 31, Simon Cameron
became the junior editor of the Intelligencer at Harrisburg. Hugh
Maxwell was editing the opposition paper at Lancaster.
In December, a special election, occasioned by the death of An-
drew Albright, resulted in the election of Lewis Dewart, Federal, as
he was called, over Ner Middleswarth and E. G. Bradford, Demo-
crats, to the State Senate. The vote was light, and stood in the
district: Dewart, 1192; Middleswarth, 1059; Bradford, 606.
marriages.
At Selinsgrove, March 28, George A. Snyder, Esquire, to Miss
Ann Ellen, daughter of the late Stephen Duncan. June 11, at Lew-
isburg, by John Nesbit, Esquire, Lewis Moore to Dorothy Smith.
Deaths.
January 23, Catherine, widow of Elias Youngman. She was born
•
in 1 745 , and was a daughter of George Nagel, sheriff of Berks county
in 1772. May 24, William Clingan, Esquire, of White Deer, aged
sixty-six. He left a widow, Jane. Children : Margaret, wife of
Thomas Scott ; Ann, wife of Joseph Lawson ; Thomas ; Elizabeth,
married to Thomas Barber; George, and Flavel. His wife was a
daughter of Reverend John Roan. They were married June 1 1 ,
1778, and resided on a farm, which is now within the borough
of Mount Joy, Lancaster county, until their removal to Buffalo Val-
ley, in 1800. William Clingan, member of Congress from Chester
county, during the Revolution, was his uncle. August 9, Mary,
wife of Peter Himmelreich, and daughter of Captain Peter Withing-
ton, deceased. Born July 18, 1765. Buried in the Dreisbach
church-yard.
Tuesday, November 26, Honorable Andrew Albright died at Sun-
4S^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1821
bury, after an illness of three months, in his fifty-third year. He
was born at Litiz, February 28, 1770. His father's name was An-
drew ; his mother, Elizabeth Orth, of Lebanon. His first wife was
a daughter of Melchoir Rahm, a very prominent man in Dauphin
county. Mr. Albright came to Lewisburg in i 798 and opened a
tavern where Halfpenny's factory now stands^ where he resided until
he was elected sheriff, when he removed to Sunbury. He was mem-
ber of Assembly in 1808. His wife died March 9, 1810, and he
subsequently married the mother of Mrs. John G. Youngman, of
Sunbury. He was appointed associate judge in 1813, in place of
General Wilson, deceased, and had just been elected to the State
Senate when he died. He was noted for his integrity, and was very
popular throughout our Valley. He owned Colonel Slifer's upper
farm on Buffalo creek when he died. . He left no children, but
brothers, Henry, Jacob, Godfrey, and a sister, Susanna, married to
Philip Backman. An obituary in the Sunbury Enquirer of that
date concludes: ** Society has been deprived of a valuable mem-
ber, and a wife of an amiable husband. In private life he sustained
the character of an honest man and christian, and was universally
beloved. He has held various public and responsible offices, with
honor to himself and advantage to his fellow-citizens."
December 13, Henry Pontius. He was born on the 25th of Feb
ruary, 1744, came into the Valley as a pioneer at the close of the
French war, and permanently in 1770. He was a son of John, and
his brothers were Andrew, Peter, Nicholas, John, junior, George,
and Frederick. Henry Pontius left a large family : Andrew, born
June 17, 1770; Frederick, June, 1772; Henry, December 22, 1773;
Nicholas, 19th April, 1775; Catherine, (King,) 19th May, 1777 ■
John, Octol)er 8, 1778; George, 13th December, 1780; Peter, 20th
Marcb, 1783 ; Christena, 12th June, 1785 ; Barbara, June 13, 1787;
Philip, August 15, 1789. The latter died upon the old place on
Cedar run, a mile east of Mifflinburg, in 1872. He was a fine old
gentleman, and his excellent memory preserved many incidents
related in these Annals. His remains now moulder with their ances-
tral dust, in the old burying-ground upon the place.
1823.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 4^1
The Times of Saturday, November i, says : ** On Friday morn-
ing last, as Mr. Jacob Yutten, son-in-law of Mr. Royer, of East Buf-
falo township, in this county, was engaged, with several others, in
tearing down a log house, to move it a short distance, he fell, and,
distressing to relate, hit his head again a joist, and mangled it in such
a manner that he expired immediately after."
Friday, December 4, the first snow of the season fell.
Kelly Township first called Pike.
At December sessions, 1823, Adam Wilt, Christian Miller, and
George Aurand reported a new township, to be erected from White
Deer, and called Pike. This report was set aside, at the instance of
Dan Caldwell, so Flavel Clingan informed me, and new viewers ap-
pointed, of whom Frederick Evans was one, who finally reported a
township, to be called Kelly, after Colonel Kelly.
Marriages,
m
1 8th March, John P. Gutelius, of Mifflinburg, to Miss Maria Au-
rand, of Lebanon. loth April, Conrad Grove, merchant, of New
Berlin, to Miss Mary Gingerich, of Juniata county. 31st July, by
Reverend Samuel Gutelius, Michael Hoffman to Lydia Wagner, both
of White Deer. September 25, by Reverend John Thomas, Jacob
Wagoner to Rachel, daughter of Thomas McGuire, of White Deer.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO I'ALLEY.
EhEVTION RETURNS-Oclober, 1823.
"--
»-«•
ABseUBLY.
CONH'RS.
DISTRICTS.
^
E
1
^
i
i
g
^
1
S
£
K
5
-'
3
^'antre
lOfl
UK,
112
111
sh"
94
lOS
lOi
Weirirk'a, .
20
74
2n
Chapman, .
01
7S
71)
7(1
62
4:i
fi!
Perrv, . . .
!»
W
3(1
as
ft-.
Beaver, . .
Ifti
IK)
US
i)S
1»>
I8.'>
t»7
IS
WanhlngWn,
82
7B
11)1
sa
73
B4
7(
Penn'e, . . .
1»2
■a-)
l»o
14.^
17.)
1.14
171
Lewffiborg, .
SI
62
.il
CA
.W
52
37
7.
Hnrllsy. . .
90
IM
AS
on
16a
1411
89
141
Wliile Deer, .
77
210
6(1
8«
2£i
211
41
2»
Baat HiiRulo,
m
60
71
•JOI
102
2li
West BqIThIo.
144
m
141
4.5
m
l.'^l
IW
17;
Union, . . .
141
181
i:(7
I3n
178
1211
171
11U3
17S5
HIT
IO.-.S
1752
1572
looa
1H2'
November 15, the stockholders in the German scliool-house
Lewisburg met, and elected Henry Hursh, Charles Beyers, and Jo'
Martin, trustees, and decided by vote thai the trustees should sel'
the school -master, instead of the stockholders. This school-ho
was situated on the lot now occupied by the Lutheran parsons
and was erected before 181 2, and kept in repair by subscription
14th September, Sabbath, the Christian chapel in Lewisburg
opened for worship. Reverend J.ames Kay delivered a scrmo-
the occasion. It ivill be gratifying to the friends of religious lil
and free inquiry to learn that this church has been built upo
most liberal principles, and is iutended to accommodate all
who acknowledge the divine mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. -
lenian. Elijah Bacon commenced a series of meetings in
which resulted in the formation of this congregation. Ther
10 be no flpws in the church, Init Elder Badger, who succeed
before the church was completed, had them put in. Georg
mond liecame the preacher in 18^5. Bacon's points were
against the discipline of the orllioi
all persons for free discussion of f\:
■Zl]
AXXALs or /ii'i.'.-L. : :.:.:.:
Tii'j Tim^s of Satiirl.iv. N a*. ..
^ ' X' ia>t. as Mr. l;U'i?l» Vutteii. - -.-.■
I ^z;.) ii)vvn>iiiji. in this ctumty. ■. ..-
* «-*a:iii^' (U>\vn a log hoiis.*. in :i. . :
• i KrLS>ing to relate, hit liisiiv i i .. .
■i ni.ini\er tliat he expireil iMi::i 1 '
I'Viday, Deeember .;, the l.'< -•.
^ >
- 1 »
. A . . . . ^ ;
..!:'! ;;..;
■L\i^ «:, :
• • ..
Kelly Towiship first calU'd Pike.
At I )eceinl)'jr se^hioiis. i-S::^^. Aiiaiii \N .ii. < "i.ri-r.a:. V.
^e«irgi.' Auran-l reporle*! a new tu\\i>i.:;«. i'» \'k: ere- 'v ^ •- ■
^ >eer. and called l*ike. Tiiis report \va> >u: L>ide. a: * - -•
1 *an ("aldweli, so Fiavel C'lin;:an informed nie.ar.d i. -••.%• . ■.
I^nnted, of whom l*'reileri( k Mvans was one. wlio :.:.i . -•
town-hip. to l>e called Kelly, after Colonel Kelly.
Marriages.
iSth March. John 1*. Ciuteliiss, of Miftlinhur^', • ..
r.iiid, of Lelumon. loil'. .\pril. Conrad <lrtive, --r-
^k;r;in, t(> Miss Mary (lin^'erit h. of Jnniata co- • ■
Kt. verend Samuel (Inlelins, Mi(hael llol'fnian U, "...
'>( White I)eer. SeptemlHi- 25. hy KL-vernv'. '
\\'aL'«»ner to Rachel, dan-^hter uf Thomas W> ( , ••
rv^
18^4.
Kelly Township Euf.ctkd — Statk Road from Bkllkfoxte to the Morni
OF White Deer Crkek — Political — The Clown and Rope Dancer at
New Berlin — Snyder's Heirs vs. Simon Snyder— Show of Wax Fm-
URES — Trial of Samuel Johnston.
REDE RICK E VANS to George Kr enter, at Washing-
ton, D. C, — ^*3d January. Duncan's wife, of Penn's
valley, died lately, and Thomas R. Lewis died about the
same time. Sick since November 8. Solomon Betz and
Wormly's trial came on last court. Verdict for Wormly, $195. Betz
cut scollops until he had the judges and jurors angry. [This is an allu-
sion to the celebrated trial between Betz and Wormly, about a piece
of stove-pipe, that lasted many years, and broke up Wormly.] 8th
February. Yesterday I was over at court, and find we shall send dele-
gates to Harrisburg, with instructions to vote for General Jackson.
If we cannot succeed, then to use a sound discretion. My opinion
would be, to say, if we cannot get Jackson nominated, our delegates
should withdraw. [He, with others, was getting the grist ready for
the county convention.] But 1 do not believe such a motion would
carry, if made. I spoke with Middleswarth. He says he is for Jack-
son, but will support the congressional caucus man. I think if a
caucus cannot be prevented, the friends of Jackson should attend,
but not pledge themselves to a foul nomination. I saw Dan Cald-
well. He says McClenachan is opposed to Jackson, and one Reed,
and they are all the opponents he has in the township, [White Deer.]
if Caldwell tells the truth."
Kelly township was erected during this year. After careful search, 1
462
1 ^=*a4 I ANNALS OF BUFFALO W ALLEY. 463
-%-
nld not find the record. The first constable, however, was Albright
wer, who attended at May sessions, 1825.
On the 29th of March, an act was passed to lay out the State road
■om Bellefonte, by way of Sugar valley, to the river, at the mouth
f White Deer creek.
Political.
September 17, the Democratic- Republican convention met at New
rlin, John Snyder, president ; William Linn, secretary. Kremer,
ontgomery, and McKean nominated for Congress; Aaron Cham-
rlin and F. P. Deering for Assembly.
5th October, Independent- Republican meeting, Joseph Musser,
crhairman ; Mathew Brewer, secretary. Peter Hackenburg and James
^cClellan nominated for Assembly ; George Weirick for commis-
ssioner. At the conferee meeting, on the 21st of September, Mc
Kean, Kremer, and Espy Van Home were nominated.
In November, Union county gave seven hundred majority for An-
drew Jackson, twenty-six votes for Crawford, two for Clay.
Social.
The following are the names of a dancing party at Mrs. Gross
*^an*s tavern, in New Berlin, on the evening of February 12 : John
Lashells, Esquire, and wife, James Merrill, Robert Forster, John
Mumma, Nathaniel Henrie, Henry M. W. Kirke, Elias P. Young-
**ian, Robert P. Maclay, Conrad Grove, John Maize, George Shock,
John Seebold, John Lotz, James F. Linn, Mrs. Henrie, Elizabeth
Jones, Sarah Messimer, Catherine Jones, Mrs. Grove, Elizabeth
Brooke, Margaret Kessler, Mary L. Duncan, Sarah Weikert, Mar-
garet C. Lashells, Eleanor C. Lashells, Elizabeth S. Stillwell, Eliza-
^th Winters, Sarah A. Ingram. John Mumma and James F. Linn
''^ere managers.
It was a Buffalo Valley custom, on wedding occasions, to welcome
the bride with a party composed of elderly folks. Here is a list,
Wednesday night, October 20 : Colonel John Kelly, Elizabeth
Xelly, Doctor Robert Vanvalzah, Elizabeth Vanvalzah, William
I^oak, Esquire, and wife, James Dale, Esquire, Mrs. Eliza Dale,
464 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1824.
Colonel Aaron Charaberlin and wife, Andrew McBeth and wife,
John Campbell, Maria Campbell, Thomas Sawyer, Elizatxth Saw-
yer, William Linn and wife, Charles Maclay, Elizabeth Vanvalzah.
The next evening, October 21st, at the same place, the festivities
were taken up by the young people, of whom were : William Kelly,
Andrew Kelly, Joseph Kelly, Robert P. Maclay, Samuel Gamble,
James Mathers, F. F. Linn, James Sawyer, Joseph Candor, John
Young, John Vanvalzah, Robert Forster, John Chamberlin, Mrs. S.
Kelly, Miss Sarah Dorrough, Sarah McClellan, Margaret and Cath-
erine McClellan, Sarah Forster, Hetty Forster, Catherine Hood,
Mary Hood^ Frances Chamberlin, Elizabeth Vanvalzah, Margaret
Vanvalzah, Harriet Candor, Matilda Sawyer, Eleanor Young, Jane
Davidson.
A Rope Dancer at New Berlin.
' ' This summer a rope-dancer and his clown visited New Berlin, and
put up at Seebold's, where he proposed to display his agility for the
amusement of the people and the replenishment of his pockets.
Before he mounted the slack rope, however, he must needs make an
equestrian display, in order to attract the attention of the public.
He applie .1 to me for my horse, but I declined giving it. Nat Hen-
rie, a waggish printer, happened to be present, volunteered to lend
him his, a handsome, young gray mare. The offer was accepted,
and Nat went away to bridle her. He soon came back to my olfice,
and notified me that there would be some fun presently. He said
he had put on the mare a broken bit, which he had mended with
twine. He said the mare was as wild as the devil, and if the clown
attempts to hold her in with that bridle, there will be a ride worth
seeing. Nat then walked over to Seebold's, and engaged the clown
in conversation, while the showman, dressed in red jacket, white
pants, white kid boots, and with his hair put up like a lady's, with
side combs and in puffs, mounted and set out. When Nat judged
that the showman had made sufficient headway, he let loose his hold
of the clown's stirrup. The clown followed his master at a full
giillcip, with a whoop and halloo ; the mare quickened her speed at
the sound. The showman drew bridle with all his strength, the bit
gave way, the rider fell on his back, with his heels in the air, and
then, rolling off, alighted on hands and knees upon the ground.
-824.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 465
Mat ran to his stable, whither the affrighted mare had fled,"put^ on
mother bridle, and, returning, condoled with the showman on his
nisfortune, and offered him the chance of another ride. This he
ieclined. The show was not good that night, on account of the
ivant of agility of the rope-dancer.*'
4th December, the first snow of the winter fell. 24th and 25th
December, show of wax figures at Christopher Seebold's, in New
Berlin : Macbeth Consulting the Witch ; General Butler and the
Indian ; Two Chinese Dwarfs ; An American Dwarf; Harriet Newell
presenting Tracts to Heathen Children ; Seven Boys Chiming Bells ;
hand organ. Admittance, twelve and a half cents.
If a man had a lion or leopard, a porcupine or the skin of a huge
snake, he wandered about the country, collecting the odd change of
idlers, children, and curiosity hunters. These were usually exhibited
in a stable or out- house. Theaters and rope dancing in the ball-
rooms of the tavern, rooms communicating with folding-doors, of
which the hotels of the olden times were never without. There was
exhibited a cat's skin, which excited considerable attention, and was,
indeed, a great curiosity. The skin was white, except a black spot
in the middle of the back, resembling the bust of a man in profile.
So perfect was the resemblance, that it required close examination
to satisfy the beholder that the picture was not a work of art. The
owner, on one occasion, refused three thousand dollars for it. I
cannot tell what has become of it, but believe the owner took it to
Europe, and disposed of it. This fact should induce us to be less
skeptical as to some of the stories of the ancient historians about the
lusus naturce, which so often alarmed the superstitious Greeks and
Romans. The outline of the head was as perfect and complete in
all its parts as if it had come from the hands of the most skillful pro-
file cutter. — G, A, S.
John Snyder's Heirs vs. Simon Snyder,
This hardly-contested case deserves especial mention from the
great interest it excited in the minds of our people at that time. It
was originally brought at Sunbury, and the claim was for ninety-
three acres of land on the Isle of Que. George A. Snyder's narra-
tive of it is as follows :
30
466 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1824.
John Snyder, brother of my father, purchased the property of
Peter Weiser, in 1785. John died from a fall from his horse, and
his widow removed to Lancaster, with her children. She afterwards
married Jacob Kendig, who lived a mile from Selinsgrove, up the
road to Sunbury.
Simon Snyder, John Miller, and Martin Kendig were appointed
administrators of John Snyder. The estate was incumbered largely,
and an order of sale was obtained. The property was offered for
sale at Selinsgrove, and adjourned, for want of bidders, to Sunbury,
and, on the 12th of November, 1790, was struck off to Anthoay
Selin, who married my father's sister. My father advised Selin
not to buy, thinking he would have trouble in paying for it. Just
as it was about being struck down, Jacob Kendig put in a bid, for
what reason he never explained, but as he and the whole party were
somewhat fuddled, he probably bid to vex Selin. The purchaser,
after some swearing at Kendig, treated all hands, and they got into
the ferry scow with unsteady steps and heated brains. On the water
Selin took occasion to call Kendig a damned rascal, and then to
lick him for not acknowledging the truth of the charge.
Selin entered into possession, and commenced farming the land.
He was then in partnership with my father in a mill, erected on a
tract of forty-two acres, part of the tract originally owned by John
Snyder, and which they had purchased of John, in 1787. Selin
died in 1 792, leaving two children, Anthony and Agnes. The latter
married James K. Davis, about the year 1808. My father was nom-
inated for Guvernor, and, among other slanderous reports started
against him, was one that he had been in league with Selin, and
cheated his brother's orphan children out of the land. Daniel Smith.
a lawyer and active politician, is supposed to have been the origina-
tor of the story. At all events, he was active in spreading it, and
persuaded the guardians of John Snyder's children to bring an eject-
ment for the land.
The plaintiff on the trial, before Judge Chapman, claimed on
three grounds: i. That the orphans' court proceedings were irregu-
lar. 2. That Selin's violent conduct at the sale prevented others
from bidding. 3. That Simon Snyder was in partnership with Selin
in the purchase, had come into possession after Selin's death, and
had spoken of the property as his own. The first ground, being
1824.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 467
matter of record, was decided by the court to be insufiicent. The
second and third grounds, if proved to the satisfaction of the jury,
were sufficent to justify a verdict for the plaintiff. The jury, however,
without much hesitation, gave a verdict for the defendant. The judg-
ment was reversed on some exceptions to the admission of testimony
being such as lawyers are wont to make in order to have the chance
of another trial.
Soon after the decision, Anthony Snyder (John's son) removed
to the Genessee country, (New York.) He became a pettifogger,
and met with great success in his vocation. Union county was
erected in 1813, and the cause removed thither. Anthony Snyder
and Daniel Rhoads came to Pennsylvania, as the representatives of
the plaintiffs, to attend to the trial. There being much delay in
coming to trial, on account of the difficulty of collecting the wit-
nesses, who were numerous and much scattered, and on account
of the indolence and dilatory temper of Judge Chapman, Anthony
and Daniel traversed the county, visiting the taverns and all kinds of
gatherings, and holding forth in piteous style on the subject of the
frauds, whereby the defendant had cheated his orphan nephews and
neices out of their inheritance. A general prejudice was thus ex-
cited, and an impartial trial became impossible. Had the judge
"^en a man of courage and firmness, in whose legal qualifications
tl^e bar and the public had confidence, he might have secured a
'^ghteous verdict. But the clamor terrified him. He continued
the cause from term to term, and from year to year, on almost any
Pt-etext; his fears and indolence making him unwilling to face the
'^ng and wearisome case.
The second trial came off, I think, in 18 16. The judge saw clearly
>rhere justice was, but, weak and timid, he shuffled in his decisions
and in his charge, and there was a verdict for the plaintiffs. The
partnership they endeavored to prove by general repute. Their only
Hritnesses were illiterate, and sometimes dishonest, laborers, who had,
more than twenty years before, worked for Selin and my father ;
while Kremer, Evans, Simon Snyder, junior, well acquainted with
the parties, testified to the real extent of the partnership.
The amount of perjury on the plaintiffs side was surprisingly great.
Xhe main witness to the allegation that Selin's threats had frightened
oS bidders was a man named Bower, from Dauphin county, who
4(>8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [182i
swore that but for Selin's threats he would have given ^400 or ;^5oo
more. The defendant proved that Bower said on his way home that
the land went too high, and no sane man would give so much for it
The oldest land-holders of the vicinity, Boyd, DeGruchy, Leisen-
ring, Taggert, Dentler, and others, unanimously testified the land
sold above its value, it being island land.
The defendant's counsel, apprehending the result from the violence
of the prejudice, presented numerous points, and upon a writ of er-
ror, the judgment was reversed. Soon after this my father died, and
Anthony Selin, the younger, and James K. Davis, were substituted
as defendants. An attempt was made to put the costs, thus far ac-
crued, upon Simon Snyder's estate ; but the court decided that Selin's
heirs had all the time been the real defendants, and that Simon Sny-
der had only been nominally defendant.
The cause was tried again in 1823; Lashells and Hepburn for
plaintiffs ; Bellas and Greenough for defendants. The clamors of the
plaintiffs and the weakness of the judge made it more than ever a
hopeless task for the defendants. A verdict was again had against
them, followed by a reversal by the Supreme Court. Another ver-
dict must have been, under our judicial system, final, provided it
should be for the plaintiffs, and this was almost certain to be the case.
The defendants resolved to refer the case to arbitrators. I was pro-
thonotary, and, on account of my consanguinity to defendants, liable
to be objected to. Mr. Maclay, the register, acted in my place. He
was an upright man, and performed his duty faithfully. The number
of referees was five. Joseph Rathfon was the only one that was not
objected to of the five nominated by each party. Mr. Maclay made
then a list of twenty names, and each party struck eight names.
The board thus formed, Dan Caldwell, Michael Rathfon, Valentine
Haas, John Reifsnyder, and Joseph Spotts, gave an award for thed^
fendants. Plaintiffs then resolved to appeal, and Doctor Atlee, of
Philadelphia, came with Mr. Lashells, the leading counsel on his
side, to enter the appeal. I was desired to take the necessary affi-
davit and bond, and lay them aside for the present, until the costs,
which were necessary to be paid, should be forwarded, and then I
was to file the affidavit and enter the appeal. The taxation of costs
was difficult and tedious. Many of the subpoenas had been lost,
and as no account had been kept of time, the defendants had to make
1824.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 469
their bill very low to avoid exceptions. The amount, however, after
all allowances, was upwards of $1 ,500. The twenty days elapsed, and
no costs were paid ; the defendants demanded judgment, which I
entered with good- will. So ended the Isle of Que case.
The reason why the costs were not forthcoming, we learned after-
wards. When Doctor Atlee got back to Philadelphia, he took coun-
sel of David Paul Brown, his attorney, who advised him not to pay
over the costs, as the mere taking of the affidavit and bond for
future costs constituted an appeal — that I would be liable to the de-
fendants for costs. When Mr. Lashells wrote to inquire why the
costs were not forthcoming, and was informed of Mr. Brown's
advice, he refused to be a party to any such unfair dealing, and
added that he felt sure the court would not allow an appeal to be
entered ; that it was ungenerous to throw Mr. Snyder into the costs
for an act of kindness to Doctor Atlee, to save him a journey from
Philadelphia, by taking the affidavit and bond while he was at New
Berlin.
The plaintiffs then brought a suit in the United States court, at
Philadelphia, for that part which lay west of Penn*s creek, and on
which Selinsgrove was built. The first attempts to bring on the suit
to trial failed, for the absence of witnesses, who were too old and in-
firm to go so far. A rule to take depositions was then entered.
Here David Paul once more proved their evil genius. The rule of
court required the depositions to be forwarded under the seal of the
justice or commissioner, to the clerk of the court, to be by him
opened. The justice did his part correctly, but the bearer, who was
a friend of the plaintiffs, handed them first to Mr. Brown, who igno-
raotly, or regardless of the rule, broke them open and perused them.
He then took them to the clerk, but the latter refused either to re-
ceive or file them. A few days afterward the case was called up,
the depositions were rejected by the court, and the plaintiffs suffered
a non-suit.
December 25, Samuel Johnston, aged twelve, tried for setting fire
to his uncle Jacob Johnston's barn, in West Buffalo. He was con-
victed, but obtaining a new trial, was acquitted at May sessions,
1825. Mumma, district attorney, and C. A. Bradford for Com-
monwealth ; Homing, Van Home, Packer, and W. Cox Ellis for
defendant.
470 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1824
Deaths.
April 9, William Wilson, of Kelly township, aged eighty-two. He
came into the Valley in 1772, and his eldest daughter, Martha, was
born in 1774. His children were : Thomas, born August 18, 1776,
died May 23, 1831 ; James, born August 3, 1778, died December 26,
1831; Mary, born April 14, 1783, married William Hayes, died
December 10, 1827; William, junior, many years a merchant at
Lewisburg, born August 10, 1787, died June 12, 1783; Samuel,
died January 16, 1843 J Effie, married to William Murray, die<i
January 23, 1853 ; Eliza, who married Peter Nevius, alone survives.
David Soult, born March 18, 1752, enlisted in Northampton
county, in Captain Marien Lamar's company, and served in Canada
in 1776, and afterwards enlisted in the second Pennsylvania. His
captain, who was major of the second, was killed at Paoli. Soult
was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and at
the storming of the block-house. He left five children : John, Jacob,
Philip, George, and Michael.
October 4, at New Berlin, Adam Specht, shoe-maker ; enlisted as
a private, (in Colonel Nicholas Haussegger*s German regiment,) at
Shafferstown, May, 1776; discharged at Northumberland by Lieu-
tenant Colonel Lewis Wiltner, in 1779.
Marriages.
2 2d July, Nathan Jordan, merchant, to Miss Hannah Smith, both
of White Deer. 24th August, by Reverend Heim, Conrad Pontius,
of Ohio, to Miss Mary Seebold, of New Berlin. 26th, by Reverend
Thomas Hood, Captain James Magee to Miss Elizabeth Strayhom,
of West Buffalo. 14th October. William Linn, of Kelly, to Miss
Jane Morrow, of Franklin county. 14th October, by Reverend
Jacob W. Smith, Martin Dreisbach, junior, to Miss Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Solomon Kleckner. 31st October, by Reverend Martin Dreis-
bach, Isaac Peters to Miss Susan Miller, of New Berlin. December
16, William C. Stedman to Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Wilson.
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■■ ■■ ^^r^^^^^Sc
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L— UL— U— UL— U P' *«
3S^3E
i8^g.
Georok Krkmer's Article in the "Columbian Observer," and Henry
Clav's Card — Reception of Mr. Kremer at Lewisburc; — Weather
Record — Peculiarities of the Bar — The Showman at Xew Berlin
— Witchcraft Farce in Beaver Township.
[From the Columbian Obneryer.]
Washington, January 25, 1825.
EAR SIR : I take up my pen to inform you of one of
the most disgraceful transactions that ever covered with
infamy the Republican ranks. Would you believe that
men professing Democracy could be found base enough
to lay the axe at the very root of the tree of Liberty? Yet, strange
as it is, it is not less true. To give you a full history of the trans-
action would far exceed the limits of a letter. I shall, therefore, at
once proceed to give you a brief account of such a bargain as can
only be equalled by the Famous Burr Conspiracy of 1801. For
some time past, the friends of Clay have hinted that they, like the
Swiss, ^ould fight for those who would pay best. Overtures were
said to have been made by the friends of Adams to the friends of
Clay, offering him the appointment of Secretary of State for his aid
to elect Adams. And the friends of Clay gave this information to
the friends of Jackson, and hinted that if the friends of Jackson
would offer the same price, they would close with them. But none
of the friends of Jackson would descend to such mean barter and
sale. It was not believed by any of the friends of Jackson that this
contract would be ratified by the members from the States who had
voted for Mr. Clay.
I was of opinion, when I .first heard of this transaction, that men,
professing any honorable principles, could not, nor would not, be
47'
472 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18K.
transferred like the planter does his negroes, or the farmer his team
and horses. No alarm was excited — we believed the Republic was
safe. The nation, having delivered Jackson into the hands of Con-
gress, backed by a large majority of their votes, there was on my
mind no doubt that Congress would respond to the will of the nation,
by electing the individual they had declared to be their choice. Con-
trary to this expectation, it is now ascertained to a certainty that
Henry Clay has transferred his interest to John Quincy Adams. As
a consideration for this abandonment of duty to his constituents, it
is said and believed, should this unholy coalition prevail, Clay is to
be appointed Secretary of State. I have no fears on my mind— I
am clearly of opinion we shall defeat every combination. The force
of public opinion must prevail, or there is an end of liberty.
[From the National Intelligencer.]
A Card I have seen, without any other emotion than that of
ineffable contempt, the abuse which has been poured upon me by a
scurrilous paper, issued in this city, and by other kindred prints and
persons, in regard to the presidential election. The editor of one
of those prints, ushered forth in Philadelphia, called the Columbian
Observer y for which I do not subscribe, and which I have not or-
dered, has had the impudence to transmit to me his vile paper of the
28th instant. In that number is inserted a letter, purporting to havt
been written from this city, on the 25th instant, by a member of the
House of Representatives, belonging to the Pennsylvania delegation.
I believe it to be ^forgery ; but, if it be genuine, I pronounce the
member, whoever he may be, a base and infamous calumniator^ a
DASTARD, and A LIAR, and if he dare unveil himself and avow his
name, I will hold him responsible, as I here admit myself to be, to
all THE LAWS which govern and regulate the conduct of MEN OF
HONOR.
H. Clay.
^ist January, 1825.
Another Card. — George Kremer, of the House of Representa-
tives, tenders his respects to the Honorable *' H. Clay," and informs
him that, by reference to the editor of the Columbian Observer^ he
may ascertain the name of the writer of a letter of the 25th ultimo,
which it seems has afforded so much concern to " H. Clay." In the
meantime, George Kremer holds himself responsible to prove, to the
1825.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 473
satisfaction of unprejudiced minds, enough to satisfy them of the ac-
curacy of the statements which are contained in that letter, to the
extent that they concern the course and conduct of " H. Clay.**
Being a representative of the people, he will not fear to ** cry aloud
and spare not,** when their rights and privileges are at stake.
On the return of Mr. Kremer, the citizens of Lewisburg assembled
at the house of Thomas R. Lewis. Alexander Graham was chosen
chairman, and John Sargeant, secretary. The object of the meeting
being stated from the chair, the following resolutions were unani-
mously adopted, viz :
Resohedy That James Geddes, Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, Daniel
C. Ambler, Jacob Bogar, and Doctor William Joyce, be a commit-
tee of arrangement to carry the object of the meeting into effect,
and that they draft an address to the Honorable George Kremer,
inviting him to a public dinner, at the house of T. R. Lewis, on
Saturday, the 26th instant.
Resolved, That a general invitation be given to the friends of the
Honorable George Kremer.
Committee* 5 Invitation.
Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, appointed a committee of
arrangement, present our compliments to you, and respectfully re-
quest the honor of your company, at the house of Thomas R. Lewis,
on Saturday, the 26th instant, to partake of a public dinner, with
your fellow-citizens of the borough of Lewisburg and its vicinity, to
be given as a manifestation of their respect and gratitude for your
firm, dignified, and patriotic conduct, as a member of the House of
Representatives of the United States ; but more especially for your
unremitted and vigorous efforts to stem the torrent of corruption,
which threatened to inundate the national Legislature.
With sentiments of esteem, we remain yours, dear sir, very re-
spectfully,
William Joyce,
James Geddes,
T. Vanvalzah,
D. C. Ambler,
Jacob Bogar.
The Honorable George Kremer.
474 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1825.
To which Mr. Kremer returned the following answer :
Lewisburg, Afarch 23, 1825.
Gentlemen : Your friendly invitation to me, to partake of a
public dinner at the house of T. R. l^wis, on the 26th instant, has
just been received. This new testimonial of regard and kindness
towards me is a sure pledge that the representative who discharges
his duty with good faith, will always be supported and sustained by
a virtuous and patriotic people. I need not say to you, that how-
ever averse I should feel on ordinary occasions, on the present I
shall waive all objections, and do myself the pleasure to dine with
my fellow-citizens. Accept the assurance of my sincere respect and
regard.
George Kremer.
Messrs. James Geddes, Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, D. C. Ambler,
Doctor William Joyce, Jacob Bogar.
On Saturday, the 26th, pursuant to previous arrangement, the
long room of Mr. Lewis was crowded to overflowing. Colonel
James Dale was called to the chair, and John Sargent appointed
Secretary.
The company sat down to a splendid entertainment provided for
the occasion. After the cloth was removed, the following toasts
were drunk with much hilarity and good glee. * * * *
9. Honorable George Kremer, our worthy guest, the intrepid
and watchful guardian of the people's rights — When corruption
reared its hydra head, he ** cried aloud, and spared not.'* [Here
Mr. Kremer rose, and delivered a short and very appropriate ad-
dress.]
Volunteers.
By Jonathan Smith : The intrepid Kremer — Like David of old. he
slew the modern Goliah, the giant of intrigue, made of Clay, daubed
with corruption.
William Kelly : The apostate BRECK — a meml)er of Congress,
belonging to the Pennsylvania delegation ; he was surely a bastard,
not a legitimate son of Pennsylvania.
John Sargent : Our worthy fellow-citizen and guest, George
1825.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 47s
Kremer — His patriotism and manly firmness, in exposing the corrupt
intrigues of a |X)litical gambler, claim our best plaudits and gratitude.
Henry Beck : Greece — The ancient seat of the muses, of science
and philosophy ; she was great ; she will be great again.
Alexander Morton : The government of the Union, like a pure
stream, may it have no foul Clay to pollute it.
John Machemer : The hero of New Orleans — the firm patriot and
statesman ; the second savior of his country ; the protector of beauty
and booty; if he is one of the ** military chieftans," may the
genius of liberty send us a great many of them.
Doctor Samuel Strphecker : The press — the grand engine of lib-
erty and civilization ; destined to illuminate, emancipate, and exalt
the world.
John Musser : The editors of the National Intelligencer, who de-
clined publishing the patriotic letter of Mr. Kremer, addressed to his
constituents — Fit tools, indeed, to execute the purposes of the Holy
Alliance.
Daniel Beyers : May Pennsylvania and our sister States be forever
blessed with such bright members as our worthy fellow-citizen, George
Kremer, who will unshield all intrigues, without respect to persons,
and that, too» at the risk of his popularity.
Alexander Graham : The people of Pennsylvania, and our worthy
countryman, George Kremer, Esquire.
John Reber : The press — On its freedom depends the happiness,
liberty, and independence of the world.
Jacob Reedy : General Jackson — As a soldier, statesman, and
patriot, unequaled ; may he be our next President.
John Hummel : The Government of the United States has been
seized by a Quincy, produced by the putrid exhalations of a tobacco
pipe, made of Clay, drenched in corruption — It will prove fatal in
less than four years.
George Schnabel : Our next Governor — A man of stern integrity
and undeviating republican principles.
Andrew Reedy : Thank Providence the freemen of the United
States made choice of a hero and statesman, in preference to a po-
liti<:al gambler.
John Brown : The corruptionists in Congress — may they meet
476 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1825.
with the same fate hereafter, as did Henry Clay in his late attempt
to disgrace the Pennsylvania farmer.
Clement Beckwith : Henry Clay and John Q. Adams — From every
consideration, there is nothing good they have said or can do ; may
they sink in their corruption, and the friends of freedom stand up in
their shoes.
Thomas R. Lewis : Henry Clay, who smuggled J. Q. Adams into
the presidential chair, as the serpent did original sin into Paradise
— May the flaming sword of the people thrust them both out in the
year 1829.
Jacob Musser : Adam, the first man, was made of clay — Adams
was made President by Clay and corruption.
George Kremer was the nephew of Governor Snyder, and came
to reside with him when a mere lad. He was very ill formed, but
not the least ashamed of his ugliness, and rather inclined to feel
proud of his distinction in this respect. He grew up to be stout,
and soon became able to fight his own battles, in an age and a dis-
trict where broils were of daily occurrence. This region, then
called by the general name of Shamokin, was in those days the fron-
tier, and looked upon by the dwellers on the sea-board, as we look
upon Iowa and Kansas at the present time. It served as a place of
refuge for all runaway and desperate characters from the south east-
ern counties. The sheriff and constable seldom ventured into the
wilds on this side of the river, which acquired the significant title of
RascaVs creek.
George was remarkable for shrewdness, no less than for courage
and bodily strength, and he became, in a short time, a person of
great influence among the hardy inhabitants of the new country. In
addition to his other good qualities, he was strictly honest, and his
word was his bond. Whatever he did, he did it with all his might.
With such qualifications and endowments, it is no matter of wonder
that he became a leading man so soon as he embarked in politics.
After serving several terms as a member of our State Legislature, he
was elected to Congress, and here acquired the distinction which he
enjoyed.
In 1825, it having been ascertained that neither of the candidates
for the Presidency had received the constitutional majority of votes,
the matter was referred to Congress. Mr. Adams, General Jackson,
1825.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 477
Mr. Clay, and Mr. Crawford were the candidates, and as the choice
of Congress lay between the two first, there was, of course, consid-
erable intriguing on the part of the two latter and their friends.
The friends of Jackson, finding that Mr. Clay and his friends were
decidedly hostile to their candidate, and, indeed, made no secret of
their aversion to him, resolved, after in vain trying the arts of per-
suasion, to resort to intimidation. They caused a letter to be writ-
ten and published in the Columbian Observer, of Philadelphia,
which stated that a corrupt bargain had been made between Messrs.
Adams and Clay, in pursuance of which, the latter was to transfer
his vote, and the vote of his friends to Mr. Adams, who was to
make him Secretary of State, as his reward.
On the day after the appearance of the letter, Mr. Clay, then
Speaker of the House of Representatives, moved that a committee
be appointed to inquire into the truth of this charge. Mr. Kremer
seconded the motion, stating that he was ready with the proofs, and
willing to meet the inquiry. The motion was opposed by Mr. Mc-
DuflSe and some others, friends to Jackson, on the ground that there
was not sufficient reason to consume the time of the House in inves-
tigating a frivolous newspaper charge — a charge which no one ac-
quainted with the parties concerned would believe. Mr. Clay had
even insisted on his right to clear his character from the stain thus
publicly attempted to be fixed on it, and Mr. Kremer eagerly sec-
onded him, exulting in the anticipated certain confounding of the
Clay and Adams party.
Not one, however, of those who had put him upon writing the
letter, supported him, or manifested any anxiety for the proj)osed
inquiry. The committee was appointed. On the evening of the
same day, Kremer discovered that his friends could funiish him with
no evidence to support his charge, and that he must get out of the
scrape as well as he could. On the succeeding day, the committee
notified him they were ready to proceed. In answer to which, he
wrote a long letter to the chairman, declining to appear, alleging
that as he had made no formal charges, the committee could have
no jurisdiction — that his charge was made for the public, Ac. This
special pleading was so nearly identified with the argument of Mr.
McEhiffie on the preceding day, in the motion for inquiry, as to lead
some to suspect that he, (Mr. McDuffie,) was its author ; but the
47S AANALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1825.
character of Mr. McDuffie forbids us to harbor any such suspicion.
It was probably the production of Mr. Ingham, who, as afterwards
appeared, was Kremer's chief prompter in this business. It was
natural for him to adopt Mr. McDuffie*s arguments, being the best
and, indeed, only mode of getting clear of the difficulty.
One might have supposed that this disgraceful retreat would have
convinced the whole public of the falsehood of Kremer*s charge,
but political faith covers mountains, and the charge was eagerly
entertained and reiterated by the partisans of Jackson. Kremer
himself, as appears from the testimony of Mr. Crowninshield, doubted,
at the last, and had a letter of apology ready for Mr. Clay, which
Mr. Ingham found means to suppress.
Such was the eagerness with which the Pennsylvanians received
the corruption story, and such the cloud of incense with which Kre-
mer was fumigated, that it is no wonder that his brain was affected,
and he really believed himself the savior of his country's liberty.
His vanity became excessive, and as Cicero of old continually rung
the charges in his later orations, on the names of Lentulus and
Cataline, so Kremer made corruption, and his famous letter, the
eternal burden of his song.
Finding that the corruption story was unsparingly used against
him by the Jacksonians, notwithstanding the way in which they had
backed out of the charge, and that even General Jackson had con-
descended to lend the authority of his name to this shameless cal-
umny, Mr. Clay took the trouble to collect the letters, certificates,
and affidavits of almost every one who could have any knowledge
of the matter in agitation, and published them in a pamphlet.
These testimonials, coming from upwards of fifty persons of all
parties, formed a most triumphant refutation of the corruption story.
But it was all in vain for Messrs. Adams and Clay. The popular
mind had been roused to phrensy, and was utterly inaccessible to
all reason. Jackson was elected, in 1828, by a decided majority,
and Kremer, having answered the purpose of his party, was for-
gotten at once. Too honest to take a part in the intrigues of his
fellow-partisans at Washington, he could not make himself of any
further use to them, and was pushed aside to make room for those
who knew how to make the best use, for selfish purposes, of his ser-
vices. For some years after he was left out of Congress, he con-
1825.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 479
tinued to make speeches at public meetings, the burden of which
was ** corruption" and ^^ My letter to the Columbia Observer y
His action, in speaking, was vehement and ungraceful, his voice
loud, and his accentuation false and ranting, such as school-boys are
apt to acquire under the tuition of an injudicious teacher. His
honesty and zeal no one doubted ; but designing demagogues con-
trived, by dexterous management, to keep him back, as he was too
straightforward for them, and if admitted to their councils, would
mar the harmony of their best laid plans by denouncing their selfish-
ness and unfair dealing. There was neither selfishness nor mean-
ness about him, and had he condescended to cringe to the party
leaders in 1 828-1 829, when his name was in the mouth of every one,
or had he intimated that his influence might possibly be turned
against Jackson, there is no donbt but that he could have obtained
highest reward in the form of political preferment. Indeed, it was
a matter of wonder and remark, among his unsophisticated constit-
uents, that he remained without office. They little thought that
their favorite was altogether thrust aside by the throng of hungry
office-hunters, who assailed the President with their importunate
cries for the spoils of victory. He was not blind to the intrigues
and foul play going on at the seat of Government, for on his way
home once, he met an acquaintance whom he mistook for one of
his own political caste, and to whom he said : '* Adams and Clay
were corrupt, but their corruption was child's play to what is going
on at Washington now." — G. A. S.
Weather Record.
The spring was early; peach trees in bloom on the loth of April;
plum trees on the i8th ; flowers in the garden on the i6th ; rye in
head on the 8th of May. July 13, the thermometer stood at ninety-
six degrees. Many springs in the Valley gave out, and the pasture
burned up. July 16, the crops in Union county were most extraor-
dinary. It was generally acknowledged that the yield was one
fourth more upon the same quantity of ground than ever has been
raised before. Jonathan Spyker, of I/Cwisburg, cut twenty-three
dozen of wheat off thirty-eight perches. October 4, a comet visible.
December 4, the first snow fell.
4So ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1825.
Various Items,
March 29, a dinner at Jacob Maize's, in Mifflinburg, to Honor-
able George Kremer. The latter sold out his stock of store goods
at Lewisburg to Samuel Roush, Esquire, who removed it to Mifflin-
burg. William Taggert kept the hotel at the Cross-Roads ; Valen-
tine Hahn and Roland Stoughton at Lewisburg ; John Hofifman,
** The Rising Sun," at New Berlin; and Thomas Crotzer, "The
Bull's Head,'* at Mifflinburg. May 18, George Kremer, James
Merrill, and Ner Middleswarth, appointed delegates to the internal
improvement convention, at Harrisburg. July 2, John Cummings,
junior, took charge of the Union Times, succeeded on the ist of
October by John A. Sterrett, Esquire. The candidates on the
Democratic ticket for Assembly were Ner Middleswarth and Wil-
liam Forster, junior. On the Independent ticket, James Madden
and J. Reifsnyder. For a convention, 1,715 ; against, 717. Novem-
ber I, Camp Calhoun held at McEwensville. The Lewisburg
Guards, commanded by Captain Jackson McFaddin, numbering
forty-five men, were in camp. David and James Templeton left
New Berlin to establish a store at Canonsburg. James to study di-
vinity there. David C. Ambler left Lewisburg. He finally landed in
Florida, where he died in 1867 or 1868. November 10, Mr. Still-
well commenced a survey of the turnpike, from Mifflinburg to Belle-
fonte, at Mifflinburg. James Wilson purchased Captain William
Gray's place.
In July, James Magee commenced boring for salt in West Buffalo,
at the place still known as the salt works. A stock company was
formed, Samuel Roush, Esquire, treasurer, and an assessment of one
dollar per share of ** The Union Salt Works" called in. The opera-
tors humbugged the share-holders until their patience was exhausted.
In December, according to the Times , ** they had reached the depth
of one hundred and fifty feet, striking on two veins of salt water of
considerable magnitude. Should the anticipations be realized, Union
county will, ere long, be able to supply its inhabitants and those of
the neighboring counties with the indispensable article of salt.** [A
barrel of salt conveyed in the night to the well saturated it well
enough to raise an assessment from the stockholders assembled the
1H25.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 481
next day.] One good result, however, was a stream of cold sulphur
water, which has refreshed and invigorated thousands of people.
** A man by the name of Ephraim Stephens, of White Deer town-
ship, was brought to the jail of this county. One rej)ort says that
he had formed the resolution of killing some part of his family, and
then putting an end to his own existence, and that he loaded his gun
for the purpose of putting this resolution in execution. Fortunately,
one of his sons caught him, and wrested the gun from his hands; but
in the struggle, the gun accidently went off, and its contents lodged
in the barn, which was filled with grain and hay, and which was
totally consumed." — Times,
July 22, James Young, of Kelly township, (near Ephraim Stean's,)
was found dead, his body in such a state of putrefaction, he was
buried where he was found. He had gone to the mountain with
some of his neighbors to cut cooper poles, and, complaining of being
sick, started home and, no doubt, died from excessive heat. His
neighbors searched for him all night and the succeeding day, before
finding his body. '*The German Reformed and Lutheran church,
known as 'Emanuel Church,' at New Berlin, was dedicated on Sun-
day, July 31, agreeably to the German ritual, in the presence of a vast
concourse of people. The Reverend Mr. Hendel, of Berks county,
officiated, assisted by Reverend Messrs. Shindel, Smith, and Fries.
The concourse of people was numerous, beyond all conception. The
building is a handsome piece of architecture. Christopher Seebold,
Esquire, was the contractor, and deserves much credit for the superb
manner in which this building is finished, particularly the pulpit,
which is said to be a correct model of the one in the German Re-
formed church at Harrisburg, and which has been pronounced to be
inferior to none in the State. On the subsequent Sunday, dedica-
tory services were held in the English language, by Reverend Martin
Bruner, of Sunbury, assisted by Reverend Thomas Hood." — Times,
Peculiarities of the Bar, from the Manuscript of the late James F.
Linn, Esquire.
<« I do think, and I do say, gentlemen of the jury." — Lashells.
** According to the perpendicular line of justice." — Bellas.
482 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1825.
** It is not in the power of mortal man to have a particle of doubt
about it." — Greenough,
** But this is of no earthly consequence, if the Court please." —
S. Hepburn.
'* Under the statoot of hoo and cry." — Bancroft.
'* The gentle, humane, and mild spirit which is diffused through
the penal code of Pennsylvania." — William Cox Ellis.
** Humph ! the gentlemen are marvelous witty." — R. C. Grier.
" Yes, stop — well, let us see — stop there — come, let us have it
down in writing." — Frick.
''There is no evidence in the wide world to support it." — Van
Horn.
'* It is no such matter." — Donnel.
•* 1 ^BXicy.''— Jordan.
*' Hum ! the big man gets up, and the little man gets up, and
they try to carry their cause by a kind of mechanical operation."—
Marr.
** The creditors of the time of this transaction had no existence."—
H D. Ellis.
Showman at New Berlin again.
The evil star of last year's showman brought him to New Berlin
again. The place seemed charged to the full with ill-luck for him.
My young friend, B , having ascertained that he was to perform
in a room on the ground floor of Grier's tavern, went to a window
of the room, soon after the performance commenced, and having
silently raised the sash about one inch, introduced the nose of a
large syringe filled with a most abominable compound of filth. He
had not waited long before the performer, standing upon the rope,
presented a full front, within point blank distance ; then the fra-
grant liquid was squirted over his magnificent person. Grier, who
sat, in the capacity of fiddler, in a line with the discharge, had his
hair perfumed by the falling of divers odoriferous drops from the
hissing current. Down leaped the rope-dancer, and up leaped
Grier ; the former ran out to plunge his head and body into a rain-
barrel ; the latter, foaming with wrath, to wreak his vengeance on
the offender, whom, however, he could not find. The showman
1825.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEy, 4B3
swore he never would set foot in New Berlin again, and he kept his
oath.
A very remarkable meteor appeared during this summer. I was
standing in the prothonotary's office in New Berlin, when I heard,
as I imagined, some one fall heavily upon the floor of the room above
me. Knowing that the room was unoccupied, I had the curiosity to
go and look in, but found no one there. On my return to my house,
I mentioned the matter to my wife, who said she had heard a simi-
lar sound, and I soon discovered that all my neighbors had been
deceived in a similar manner. Those who were in the open air
when they heard the sound, said the ground trembled under their
feet, and horses were observed to start and crouch as when a bridge
cracks under their feet. It appeared afterwards that the explosion
had accompanied the appearance of a meteor, and had been heard
at Bellefonte and Lewistown, on the Juniata, and at Sunbury and
Liverpool, on the Susquehanna. The flight of the fiery ball was dis-
tinctly seen by the workmen on the Juniata, and at Liverpool. I
was told a fiery body was seen to fall apparently on the north side
of Peter's mountain.
Temperance associations began to be formed in the Valley in this
year. Those connected therewith bound themselves to use no intox-
icating liquor, except in such cases as required their use as medicines,
and to discontinue the custom of ofl^ering strong drink to visitors.
The latter practice had been so common that to omit it was con-
sidered a breach of politeness. Every one knows with what a whirl-
wind force public opinion in America, when once excited, bears
down everything before it, and here was an illustration of its power.
After three or four years, it l)ecame rare to offer lic^uors to visitors,
and common to hear a person refuse to drink, on the ground that
he was a temperance man. A respectable inn-keeper in Sunbury
told me, about three years after this, that the sale of liquor at his
bar, to travelers, had been diminished by not less than one half,
under the influence of the temperance societies. The first temper-
ance societies allowed the use of wines, on the ground that those
who limited themselves to these would not get drunk on so expens-
ive an article.
484 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1825.
Witchcraft Farce.
During this year a remarkable farce of witchcraft was played in
the family of a man named Kern, in Beaver township. He had a
wife and two daughters, and followed the occupation of farming. In
his immediate vicinity lived a man named Romig, who, from some
unknown cause, became a hypochondriac, and the impression got
abroad that he was bewitched. Soon after this the milk in Kern's
spring-house became sour, within a few hours after it was placed
there. This occurred daily, until the farce was concluded, which was
in two or three weeks. The next act played was of a more remark-
able character. Kern's tables and kitchen furniture were to be seen
flying in all directions, thrown, it was supposed, by supernatural
means. Knives, forks, spoons, ladles, &c., never remained more
than five minutes on the dresser, after having been placed there, but
were thrown in various directions about the house ; and, as the more
BELIEVING portion of the neighbors asserted, it was no uncommon
thing to see them thrown through the solid wall of the house, with-
out leaving any mark of their passage in the wall ! . A peddler, who
stopped for the purpose of trading some of his notions to Kera, as-
serted that he had not been in the house ten minutes before his hat
and dog were thrown through the wall of the kitchen, into the adjoin-
ing yard. It is not to be presumed that he was influenced in propa-
gating this story by the hope of assembling a crowd around his wagon.
During these transactions, Kern had a numerous crowd daily at
his house, and on Sundays there was a gathering at his door, such as
the most eloquent divine would have failed to assemble. Of these,
the major part came prepared to believe all they saw, and all they
might hear. Of course, there was no lack of true stories. The un-
believing portion of the visitors — a very small number, for men of
SENSE generally staid at home — kept their eyes open, and readily
discovered that the old woman and the daughters were the witches,
and threw the knives, forks, &c. A witch doctor was called, who
proceeded, with great solemnity, to expel the evil spirit. Divers
magical and mysterious rites were performed, exorcisms were chanted,
and texts of Scripture nailed to every door and window in the house.
The witches, however, set the doctor at naught, and baffled all his
schemes. At length a party of young men, residing in New Berlin,
1885.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 485
resolved to try their skill at taking evil spirits. One of them, having
procured a mask, a huge flaxen- wig, a pair of furred gloves, and
other necessary apparatus, set out with the rest, in the afternoon,
and arrived at Kern's early in the evening. At their request, the
vitches performed, to their great satisfaction, until a late hour. At
length, when all the visitors, except the young witch doctors, had left
the house, it was resolved to commence operations. They desired
to see how the witches acted above stairs, and were accordingly con-
ducted up the ladder, accompanied by the whole family. In the
meantime, one of the party, who had a remarkably hoarse and deep-
toned voice, and who was to act the part of the devil, was notified
l)y a preconcerted signal — for he had not entered the house — to pre-
pare for action. He accordingly put on his wig and mask, which
he rubbed with phosphorus, and wrapped himself in a buffalo-skin.
The party up stairs were well provided with squibs. One of them
had a piece of phosphorus, with which he wrote on the wall such
Hrords as ** devil," ** hell," &:c., in a number of places. The sig-
nal being given, the candle was extinguished, the squibs distributed
most copiously, and the horrid words on the wall shone out in liquid
fire. The barrels and furniture in the room were trundled about the
floor, and an astounding uproar was kept up for some minutes. Pres-
ently a terrific roar was heard from below. All parties ran to the
stair-door, and saw, at the foot of the ladder, his grim majesty, in
aJl the terrors of flames, flax, fur, and horns. Satan made an appro-
F>iriate speech on the occasion, and then retired. His address was
followed by a most edifying exhortation, by the wag of the party, on
tVic sin of deceiving, and the danger of another visit from old Nick,
*^ the present practices should be persisted in. The terrified witches
^3aade a full confession, and so ended the enchantment. — G, A.
Marriages,
January 18, by Reverend J. W. Smith, Hezekiah Amberg, of
Nevir Berlin, to Miss Elizabeth Brooks. February 10, by Reverend
* • Hood, David Nesbit to Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob Musser.
-■February 24, by Reverend Patterson, Thomas Candor, of Kelly, to
"^^rgaret, daughter of John Montgomery. March 15, James Dun-
^^, of Aaronsburg, to Mrs. Sophia Maxwell, of New Berlin. April
y
486 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1825.
7, by Reverend Fries, John Orwig, of Mifflinburg, to Miss Maria
Bright. April 28, by Reverend T. Hood, John Linn to Mary F.
Chamberlin. May 5, by Reverend Heim, Daniel Ludwig to Miss
Sarah Hoffman. May 6, by Reverend John Dreisbach, Robert P.
Maclay, of East Buffalo, to Miss Margaret C. Lashells, of New Ber-
lin. May 20, Henry B. Mussena to Miss Elizabeth Winter, of New
Berlin. June 5, by Reverend Fries, Mathias Benner to Elizabeth
Overmyer, of New Berlin. October 6, by Reverend Fries, Daniel
Apple to Miss Susan Orwig, of Mifflinburg. October 9, John Maize
to Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Mifflinburg. October 13, Mr. Straw-
bridge, of Columbia county, to Miss Louisa, daughter of Charles
Maus, Esquire. November 2, by Reverend Heim, Jonathan Wetzel
to Miss Hettie Hoff, of Union. November 3, by Reverend J. H.
Fries, Jacob G. Chestney, of Mifflinburg, to Juliana, daughter of
John Curaraings, Esquire, of Hartley. November 3, by James Mc-
Clellan, Esquire, Daniel Mook to Miss Mary Dieffenbach. Novem-
ber 20, David Mauck to Miss Nancy Shriner. December 22, by
Reverend Stewart, William Kelly, of Union, to Miss Margaret Alli-
son, of Centre. December 26, John Row to Miss Rachel Kiinkle,
of Dry Valley.
1826.
Lottery Advertisements — Fourth of July Celebration — Murder of
Jacob Swineford — Weather Record — Bishop Newcomer's Death —
Political — Obituary.
[ANUARY 7, prices current in Philadelphia: Wheat,
ninety cents; rye, fifty-eight; com, sixty-two; whisky,
twenty-six. Samuel Baum, postmaster at New Berlin,
in April; Alexander Graham, at Lewisburg; Jacob
Maize, at Mifflinburg. February 13, the coldest day of the year.
The Democratic-Republican convention met at New Berlin. Robert
Taylor, president ; John Bossier, secretary ; William Forster and
Henry C. Eyer were appointed delegates to the State convention, with
instructions to support the re-nomination of Governor Shulze. Feb-
ruary 18, Judge Seth Chapman, who was impeached for misdemeanors
in office, was acquitted by the Senate, twenty-six Senators voting
not guilty, five voting guilty. March 13, James F. Linn admitted
to the bar. April 10, the turnpike company incorporated to make
a road from the end of the lewisburg bridge to Mifflinburg. Com-
missioners, William Hayes, James Geddes, Jacob Maize, Henry
Roush, and James Duncan.
Lottery advertisements fill the county papers this year. John A.
Sterrett was agent for the Union Canal lottery, at New Berlin, and
James Appleton, at Mifflinburg. New Berlin lottery, by Peter Smith.
In Mifflinburg, one by John and Henry Orwig ; James Cummings.
Samuel Roush, John Ray, James Appleton, George Bogar, and
Conrad Grove, managers. William Wolfinger advertises the Selins-
grove lottery. Andrew Reedy, one at William Taggert*s, Buffalo
487
488 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1^28.
Cross-Roads. Two prizes of $3,000, one of $2,000. Severe drouth
which continued until the 23d of June, when it rained so excessively
as to spoil much hay.* 28th, a great freshet on the river. The old
market house, on Market street, in Lewisburg, taken down. 4th of
July celebrated at New Berlin. Reverend J. H. Fries delivered a
discourse from Psalm Ixxxv: 10 and 11 verses; Charles A. Brad-
ford, Esquire, an oration. The singing was under the direction of '
Mr. Hickok. After which the company repaired to Gross* spring,
where Mr. Eilert had prepared a dinner. Abbot Green was then
made chairman, George A. Snyder, secretary, and a number of
toasts were read.
Murder of Jacob Swineford,
Jacob Swineford, Esquire, of Middleburg, in this county, was
murdered on the night of the 4th of July, in Lebanon. The facts,
as far as we can learn from a German paper published in that place,
are as follows : Swineford and his son had been, for some days pre-
vious to the 4th, in the vicinity of Lebanon, with a drove of sheep,
consisting of about three hundred and eighty, which he had disposed
of, except about fifty, with which he arrived in Lebanon on the
morning of the 4th, where he spent the day. In the evening he
met with a Mr. Greenawalt, an old acquaintance, at the tavern of a
Mr. Williams, where they drank together, after which Swineford
asked Greenawalt to walk with him. They went, and when they
came to an alley in Hill street, they were suddenly attacked by three
men, by one of whom Greenawalt was knocked down twice, but
succeeded in making a retreat, calling to Swineford to run also.
Immediately afterwards, some boys, while passing, discovered some
one lying on the ground. Light was immediately brought, and it
was found to be Swineford, who was then in the agonies of death,
and expired immediately afterwards. He had received two blows
on his head, which occasioned his death. The deceased is supposed
' At this timo a farmer in West Buffalo made several attempts to haul in his hay,
only to be disappointed by sudden showers. Finally he had a load within a short
aistanoe of his barn, when a terrible storm came on. In his wrath, he swore he woald
have f(om^ hay in dry at any rate, and grabbint^ from the wagon as much as he could
carry in his arms, he ran for the barn. Unfortunately for him, the creek intervened,
and as he was running with all his might, his foot slipped at the middle of the foot
log, and he plunged, with his hay, into the stream.
1826.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 489
to have had between S400 and $500, in a large pocket-book, which
was missing. About $80 in a small pocket-book was found about
his person. Two men were arrested on suspicion of having com-
mitted the crime, but were afterwards discharged. The deceased
has left a wife and six children to mourn his untimely end. — Times,
July 14.
In August it became very sultry, with no rain. Dust followed the
plow, and a great deal of sickness prevailed in the Valley. In Sep-
tember, fever and ague prevailed extensively. In December, there
was a great deal of snow and good sleighing, and the river was fro-
zen, and crossed by sleds. The first snow fell on the 4th of Novem-
ber.
September 28, Bishop Newcomer visited the Valley for the last
time, on his return from a trip into Canada, staying at Martin and
John Dreisbach's. He died at his own home, in Hagerstown, on
1 2th March, 1830, aged eighty-one. ** Long will he be remembered
by thousands. Many, very many, souls will, at the great day, own
him as the instrument, in the hand of God, by which they have been
turned from the error of their ways, and have been brought from
darkness to light.**
Utica for girl's name having become quite common, it is, perhaps,
proper to state its origin. In this year. Captain John Snyder went on
a visit to New York, taking with his newly- married wife, Margaret.
Having a race-horse with him, he was lucky enough to win a match
at Utica, in memory of which he named his daughter, born within
the year, Utica, and the name, through mere fancy or personal liking,
became quite the rage.
Political,
September, Democratic convention at New Berlin, Michael Ralh-
fon, chairman ; Samuel Aurand, secretary. William Forster, junior,
and George Aurand nominated for Assembly; Elias P. Youngman
for commissioner ; Andrew McClenachan and William Kessler, sen-
atorial conferees, with instructions to support Ner Middleswarth for
Senator, and indorsed the nomination of Governor Shulze.
At a county meeting, held on the 20th, Frederick Gutelius, chair-
man, Dan Caldwell and John Montelius, secretaries, John Ray was
4^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1826.
nominated for Senator ; James Madden and Robert Willet for As-
sembly : John Montelius, commissioner ; Conrad Grove, James K.
Davis, and Simon Shaffer, standing committee.
The congressional conference met at the house of William A. Pet-
riken, in Pennsborough. Henry Yearick and Jacob Hummel, con-
ferees. George Kremer, Samuel McKean, and Espy Van Horn
nominated for Congress.
25th September, a senatorial conference met at Randall Wilcox's,
in Lewisburg, and John Ray was nominated as a canal man.
Governor Shulze had no opposition in the county, receiving 1062
votes, nor had Van Horn, McKean, and Kremer. For Senate,
John Ray received 929 votes; Middleswarth, 785.
Marriages,
2d February, by Reverend T. Hood, John Chamberlin to Eliza-
beth, daughter of William Hayes, of Lewisburg. 2 ist February,
James Caldwell, of Lewisburg, to Isabella, daughter of James Dun-
can, of Centre county, nth April, Jonathan Reedy to Miss Amelia
Buchner. July 20, by Reverend T. Hood, James F. Linn, Esquire,
of Lewisburg, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Hugh Wilson, of Buf-
falo township. 17th August, by Reverend T. Hood, Thomas Grier
to Mrs. Rachel Stratton, of New Berlin. In New York, by Reverend
Doctor Roberts, John Snyder to Miss Margaret Hammond. 31st
October, John Devling to Mary Wilson, daughter of Judge Hugh
Wilson. 19th October, by Reverend T. Hood, James Merrill,
Esquire, of New Berlin, to Miss Sarah Hepburn, of Northumberkind.
2 2d October, by Reverend J. H. Fries, Jesse Mauck, of New Berlin,
to Miss Catherine Crotzer, of Mifflinburg. November 14, by John
Nesbit, Esquire, William Alsbach to Catherine Shively. December
26, by Reverend John Dreisbach, John Yost, of New Berlin, to Miss
Sarah Shaffer, of Buffalo.
Obituary.
Samuel Templeton died at his residence, near New Berlin, on Sat-
urday, February 18, aged seventy-two. He was born in Ireland,
and came to this country at the age of nineteen, and has since then
resided in this neighborhood. He has been for many years an elder
1827.1 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 491
in the Presbyterian church, and, by an exemplary life, gave evidence
that his profession of religion was sincere. He departed, after a long
and distressing illness, in full possession of his mental faculties, and
relying on the mercy of God, through the merits of our Redeemer,
for salvation. His children were : Alexander, David, Reverend
James, Ann, and Nancy, married to Doctor Charlton.
On Monday morning, February 20, after a lingering illness of
several months, John Mumma, Esquire, aged twenty-eight. His
remains were interred with masonic honors on Tuesday last.
At her residence, in Centre township, February 20, Mrs. Mary
Wales, consort of James Wales. — Times ^ February 25.
11
i8^r
Canal Meeting — Debating Societies — Mifflinbcro Academy Estab-
lished— Borough of Mifflinburo Incorporated.
LOUR in Philadelphia, in January, $6 per barrel. The
newspapers note the winter of 1826-27 as the coldest
since 1782. February 16, a public debate between the
Lewisburg Debating Society and the Mifflinburg Debat-
ing Society took place at William Taggert*s tavern, at the Cross-
Roads. George A. Snyder, the president, awarded the victory to the
Mifflinburg society. A little newspaper war between the societies
resulted. William Cameron, Esquire, president of the Lewisburg
society, and Doctor William Joyce, secretary, cudgel the Mifflinburg
society in a pretty lively way, in the Times.
February 20, a meeting in favor of canals was held at Lewisburg,
president, Andrew McClenachan ; secretary, James Dale; committee
on resolutions, Dan Caldwell, Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, and Wil-
liam Haves.
492 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1827.
April 2, Honorable George Kremer moved from Lewisburg to
the Stees place, adjoining Middleburg, and Joseph Hutchinson
opened store in the Kremer building. Under the act erecting cir-
cuit courts, Judge Molton C. Rogers held the first circuit court in
New Berlin, on the 9th of April. On the loth, Peter Gearhart
was put on trial for murder ; Bellas and Bradford for the Common-
wealth, Lashells and Maus for the defendant. (May 16, George A.
Snyder remarks : " Took Judge Chapman two and one half days to
try Henry Frock for stealing walnuts, while Judge Rogers, in April,
tried a murder case, two fornication and adultery cases, in three
days.'*)
14th April, act establishing the Mifflinburg academy. — Pamphlet
Laws, 322. Henry Yearick, James Appleton, Jacob Maize, James
Merrill, John Forster, Joseph Musser, Michael Roush, Thomas Van-
valzah, and John F. Wilson, trustees. Three trustees to be elected
annually by the people of the county.
April 13, the borough of Selinsgrove incorporated. — Pamphlet
Laws, 278. 14th April, the borough of Mifflinburg incorporated,
by the following boundaries : Beginning at a post on line of the
heirs of Jacob Brobst, N. 2° W. 362 ; thence along line of the
heirs of George Rote, deceased, N. 76° E. 118 ; by the same, S. 2°
E. 145 ; thence, N. 88^ E. 120, to a post in the center of the road
leading from George Rockey*s to Mifflinburg ; thence along the
center thereof, S. 2^ E., in a line between Michael Bartges, John
Charles, Conrad MuWy et ai., 210; thence along the north side of
Limestone hill, S. 88° W. 240, to beginning Pamphlet Laws, 305.
These boundaries embrace the whole of Ensign Meen's, the south
half of Ensign Forster's, and part of the Elias Younkman warrantees.
July 30, John Musser's (Kelly township) still bursted, and scalded
himself, James Wilson, and the stiller. They applied to Jonathan
Spyker to ** hex" the fire out of them.
August 2, William Hayes' store robbed of $ 100. The taker con-
fessed, and Mr. Hayes let him off. Some few years since a person
from Lewisburg stopped over night at a farm-house in Ohio, and
recognized in the owner of the fine farm the penitent subject of Mr.
Hayes' clemency.
August 25, Lafayette Lodge, New Berlin, appropriated J40 to the
Greek fund, ** to be applied in accelerating the cause of liberty in
1827.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 493
Greece,*' and James Aiken returned to Lewisburg, after an absence
of two years. "Doctor E. Appleton, of New Berlin, made a great
sensation about a recipe he had made for curing drunkenness. It
had a great run for awhile, but proved of no account.
loth September, Peter Nevius, constable, took charge of a party
of town boys convicted of an affray at Poak*s, to convey them to
jail at New Berlin. On the Shamokin hill he pretended something
was wrong with the harness, and got out to fix it. The boys saw
their opportunity, and ran off. As some of them became prominent
citizens, remarkable for good works, it is not worth while to say who
they were.
9th October, John Dreisbach, Ner Middleswarth, Jackson men,
elected to the Assembly, over James Madden and R. P. Maclay.
14th, masonic procession at New Berlin. Sixty-seven appeared in
regalia. Reverend Fries and James Merrill, Esquire, addressed
them, nth November, John Sheckler's barn burned; fired by his
aunt, who is deranged. 21st November, snow storm, ground cov-
ered. December 4, Ner Middleswarth chosen Speaker of the House.
Marriages,
February 13, John Yarger to Miss Margaret Kelly, of Hartley,
by Samuel Haupt, Esquire. April 19, Thomas Wilson, of Kelly,
to Mrs. Drake. May 10, John Housel to Margaret Musser, daugh-
ter of Jacob, Esquire. June 5, Saul McCormick to Catherine,
daughter of Reverend Thomas Hood. August 30, John Magee to
Susan Struble.
Deaths,
Thomas Shipton, Esquire, died in Middleburg, February 4, aged
seventy-four years. He officiated as justice of the peace for upwards
of thirty years, and was very highly esteemed.
Honorable John Macpherson died" on the 2d of August, at his
residence, near Winfield. He served in the navy of the Revolution,
was badly wounded, and, on that account, received a pension from
the State. He was associate judge of Northumberland county for
twenty-three years.
494 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1828.
September 26, Mrs. Conrad Foutz, aged eighty-eight, mother oi
Mrs. Charles Cameron, was buried at Lewisburg. Her husband was
one of the rangers who, with the Groves and Samuel Brady, were a
great terror to the Indians. Conrad Foutz's grandson, General
Simon Cameron, was Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln,
and his great-grandson, J. D. Cameron, Secretary of War under
General Grant.
1§!^§.
List of Attorneys — Canal Loijated — Lewisburg and MiFFLiNBrHO
Turnpike Located.
fANUARY 5, Frederick Evans and Robert P. Maclay,
delegates to the State convention which nominated An-
drew Jackson for President.
List of attorneys attending February court. Union
county : James Merrill, John Lashells, John A. Sterrett, John Wyeth,
Charles Maus, Jacob H. Horning, and James F. Linn ; from Northum-
berland county, Hugh Bellas, Ebenezer Greenough, Alexander Jor-
dan, Charles G. Donnel, Samuel J. Packer, and Samuel Hepburn;
Lycoming, William Cox Ellis, James Armstrong, and Robert Flem-
ing ; Schuylkill, Charles A. Bradford, Esquire.
There was not snow sufficient for sleighing during the entire win-
ter, and arks passed down the river as early as the loth of February.
2 2d March, public debate at Lewisburg on the question: **Will
the present Government of the United States decline and fall?"
Affirmative, Isaac Slenker, J. F. Linn, and Jackson McFadden;
negative, James Aiken, Doctor William Joyce, and William Nesbit,
Esquire; presiding judge. Reverend George Richmond; associates,
Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, John Vandyke, Frederick Pontius, T.
R. Lewis, John Machemer, and Johri H. Hickok. People from
1828.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 4gs
New Berlin, Milton, and all the Valley attended. A majority of the
judges decided for the negative, Vanvalzah and Lewis dissenting.
The debate was continued all the afternoon and evening. 26th,
news arrived that grain had fallen rapidly at Baltimore. All the
mercliants lost heavily. Worth only sixty-five cents. Hayes settled
with his customers at seventy-two cents per bushel.
Sunday, 13th April, north-east snow storm prevailed. Laird
Howard, Francis Wilson, and James F. Linn, only, put in appear-
ance at Buffalo church. Mr. Hood thought it not worth while to
preach to three men. This snow storm did a great deal of damage
to fruit. 30th, Judge Rawle, Robert Faries, and William Wilson,
engineers to locate the canal, arrived at Lewisburg ; Rothrock,
draftsman ; Paul Geddes and Joseph Green, chain-carriers.
^May 13, Isaac Slenker admitted to the bar. Judge Chapman
remarked that he passed the best examination had before him in
five years.
July 13, Elijah Bacon made his appearance, and preached in the
Union church.
August 28, Messrs. Hayes, Caldwell, Cameron, Joyce, and Van-
valzah, who were representing the interests of the west side, returned
from Harrisburg, and reported that the canal would be located on
the east side ; Rawle estimating that the west side would cost ^340,000
more. Our people, however, believed it the result of intrigue and
good management.
September 1 1 , James F. Linn surveyed a route for the turnpike be-
tween Lewisburg and Mifflinburg. Alexander Graham, James Ged-
des, William Wilson, William and Daniel Cameron, Jackson McFad-
din, Robert Hayes, John Reber and, Thomas McGuire, went along
all the way. Started at eight, and reached Mifflinburg half-past
four, where Joseph Musser and John Machemer met the party with
wagons, and took them back. Straight course between the two
places, S. 71° 39' W., distance, eight miles thirty-four perches.
12th, the mill, house, and barn, late Adam Wagoner's, on Rapid
run, (now Cowan,) belonging to Jacob Baker's heirs, burned at one
o'clock last night. Family escaped with difficulty. This was the
i Honorable Isaac Slenker studied layr with the late James F. Linn, Esqaire.
In 18(12 he was elected Auditor General, and served from May 4, 1803, to May 1, 18M.
He died at New Berlin, April 17, 1873, aged seventy-three years.
49^ Ai\NALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1828.
second time the mill was bumed in Wagoner's time, having been
burned once fourteen or fifteen years ago. Supposed to be the work
of an incendiary.
October i , West Branch division of the canal let at Milton ; and a
horse-race between Petriken*s gray and Doctor Getz's mare. The
gray led three or four lengths ; stakes, $400.
September 28, Isaac Bockener, who lived on Colonel RuhPs place,
died from the effects of an injury received at David Linn's clover-
mill. The water-wheel caught his leg, stripped the flesh off, and
gangrene set in. This mill was erected during this summer.
OctoT^er 31, presidential election. Jackson electors had eighty-
seven, Adams six votes, in Lewisburg.
November 4, Subscription to the turnpike completed. Wheat
rose to $1 25. 29th, the committee met to draft a petition for a
cross-cut canal to Lewisburg ; William Hayes, James Geddes, Wil-
Ham Wilson, Doctor Joyce, and James F. Linn.
Deceml^r 22, James F. Linn commenced surveying the turnpike.
29th, he commenced locating, and got as far as James Harris*. Fin-
ished on the 30th.
Marriages,
3d January, William Miller, of New Berlin, to Miss Elizabeth
Myers. January 16, by Mr. Hood, Jacob Derr to Isabella Hunter.
13th March, John Haus, late deputy sheriff, to Margaret Roush, of
Mifilinburg. April 8, Mrs. Abigail Iddings, widow of Isaac, married
to old Mr. Mackey, by James McClellan, Esquire. 28th May, by
Reverend Richmond, Abner Metzgar to Eleanor Lawshe. Novem-
ber 6, by Reverend T. Hood, Hugh McLaughlin to Frances, daugh-
ter of George Derr. nth, by same, John Forster, to Margaret,
youngest daughter of Doctor Robert Vanvalzah. 20th, Joseph Chara-
berlin to Nancy Deal. December 9, by Mr. Hood, David Duncan,
of Centre county, to Miss Susan Hayes, of New Berlin.
■r ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■ jj^i^j ■■ ■■ USE
1% ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ II ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ #i
18^9.
Union Hickort Newspaper — Scpreme Court Personnel — An Un-
published Opinion.
|HE winter of 1828-29 particularly unpleasant ; rain fell
daily for seventy days, and spring was fifteen days later
than usual, when the weather became suddenly warm.
June 17, most of the farmers commenced mowing.
Market price of wheat in May, $1 40.
January 27, the turnpike let to John Maclay for $3 90 per perch,
the whole distance from Lewisburg to Miffiinburg.
February 17, a large meeting held at New Berlin to appoint dele-
gates to 4th of March convention. George Weirick and William
Kessler, Esquire, appointed delegates, with instructions to support,
first, for Governor, George Kremer ; second, Ner Middleswarth ;
third, Samuel D. Ingham ; and, if neither succeeded, to unite in nom-
inating a Jackson man, no way connected with the present Adminis-
tration, by blood or otherwise.
3d March, an appropriation made by the Legislature for the im-
provement of Penn's creek.
May 5 , William Carothers moved the Union Hickory newspaper
press from New Berlin to Lewisburg, and continued its publication
till April 13, 1830. In May, James F. Linn surveyed and laid out
the river road from Lewisburg to Selinsgrove. Jacob K. Boyer, of
Reading, who had done a large mercantile business, and bought a
great deal of wheat through Buffalo Valley, was convicted of passing
counterfeit money. He was said, by the district attorney, to be
82 497
498 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1829.
guilty of the raost expert, extensive, and wholesale counterfeiting ever
known within the United States.
June 26, Supreme Couxi personnel : Gibson is a large, portly man.
somewhat corpulent, small eyes, black hair, clean shaven, noble
countenance. Rogers, small, thin-faced man, dark hair, no whisk-
ers, very intelligent countenance. Huston, tall, awkward, promi-
nent eyebrows, eyes deep set, large nose, iron gray hair, and short
whiskers. Tod, short, corpulent, red complexion, light hair, very
little of it, and that frizzled. Smith, short, fat, white headed, large
nose, large rolling eyes, stooping a little as he walks.
An Unpublished Opinion.
Sunbury, June 27, the news arrived of the nomination of Joseph
Ritner for Governor, by the Anti-Masonic convention, at Harrisburg,
yesterday. Justice Frederick Smith took his seat in the court-house
some time before the meeting of the court. Justice Rogers nextap
peared, to whom Smith said : *' Well, Mr. Rogers, whom think you
the Anti-Masons have nominated? *' Rogers: " I have not heard:
have you?" Smith: '* Yes, they have fixed on Joseph Ritner." "Why,
the damned fools, what do they think they can do with him. He
wont get ten thousand votes. Oh, the damned fools, ha! ha! ha!"
Justice Tod came in next, when Smith went on : *' Well, Mr. Tod,
have you heard whom the Anti-Masons have nominated for Gover-
nor?" Tod: "No; haveyou?" Smith: "Joseph Ritner." Tod:
"Joseph Ritner! Joseph Ritner! Joseph Ritner! Well, I'll vote
for any Anti-Mason, any Anti- Jackson, Anti-canal candidate; but
Joseph Ritner, I won't vote for him, by God ! " Then in sauntered
Chief Justice Gibson, and Smith began again : " Mr. Chief Justice,
have you heard whom the Anti-Masons have nominated for Gover-
nor?" Gibson: "No; who is it?" Smith: "Joseph Ritner."
Gibson : "Oh, hell ! " The chief justice whistled a slow march, and
took his seat without further remark. Justice Huston did not enter
until the court had proceeded to business, so that he delivered no
opinion on this momentous subject. — G. A. S.
This year is noted for its tremendous Anti-Masonic excitement.
Septeml^r 15, Reverend J. H. Fries delivered an address before the
Masonic Wolf meeting, in New Berlin, when George Kremer and
1829.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 499
John Dreisbach were nominated for Assembly. August 29, the
Anti-Masonic convention nominated Ner Middleswarth and Philip
Ruhl. George Bogar, president. Delegates were, Union, Charles
Maus and George Bogar ; East Buffalo, William L. Harris and Peter
Voneida ; Hartley, Michael Peters and Daniel Speigelmyer ; White
Deer, Jacob Sypher and Christian Reichly ; Kelly, Joseph Spotts
and George Moyer; Mifflinburg, John Montelius and John Van
Buskirk ; West Buffalo, Henry and David Jordan. Joseph Ritner
recommended for Governor; county commissioner, William Betz.
In October, the Ritner vote in Union county was 2,068 ; Wolf,
for Governor, had 764; Middleswarth and Ruhl had each 1,914;
Kremer, 810; Driesbach, 971. For Governor, Ritner had 61 votes
in Lewisburg, Wolf had 58 votes.
Horse races very common this year in and about Lewisburg.
August 20, occurred the one between Sargent's sorrel and **Tam-
any,'* of Milton. The Milton people came down and bet all the
money they had on their favorite ; watches, knives, and, in fact,
everything they had about them. Sargent's horse won by five to six
lengths. J. P. Ross used to relate the scenes of this day, and laugh
until the tears ran down his cheeks. He said the Lewisburg fellows
had to* lend the Milton men money to pay their toll going home.
October 3, race between John Forster's horse and Silverwood's.
Thomas Sawyer and family left the Valley for Ohio. Road
from Chamberlin's mill to Kelly's saw-mill laid out. Farm of Ben-
jamin Schrack, deceased, appraised at $15 p)er acre. General Green
bought the Stedman farm, opposite Lewisburg, one hundred and
forty-seven acres, at $36 per acre, cash. December 4, the first
snow fell. December 28, turnpike managers met, and the commis-
sioners appointed by the Governor reported it completed.
Marriages.
17th January, William Wilson (son of Judge Hugh) to Ruth Wad-
dell, of Centre county, by Reverend Mr. Todd, at Mifflinburg.
20th, Walter Devling to Eliza, daughter of Judge Hugh Wikon, by
Mr. Hood. February 17, Doctor Joseph F. Grier to Margaret,
daughter of A. Graham. February — , Peter Strayhorn to a daughter
of James Cornelius. Robert Forster to Miss Jane Rutherford, of
Soo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1850.
Harrisburg. February 27, Abraham Amberg to Charlotte Brookes,
of Chillicothe, Ohio, formerly of New Berlin. 28th April, Simon
Grove to Miss Mary Miller, of Reading. 20th May, C. H. Charles,
of Hartley, to Juliette Mann, of Tioga. 28th May, by Reverend
T. Hood, Robert Hayes to Emily Fields, (daughter of the l^ridge-
builder.) 31st, by Samuel Wilson, Esquire, Henry Benner to Miss
Moyer, of Union, nth June, George Aurand, Esquire, to Mrs.
Mary Royer. 23d, by J. F. Linn, Esquire, John Shaw to Margaret
Baker, at Jacob Musser's hotel. July 2, Daniel K. Hill to Barbara
A. Musser, Lewisburg. By Reverend James Kay, Christopher Woods,
junior, to Miss Maria Little, of Lewisburg. July 14, Israel Zent-
myer to Eve Snook, daughter of John, of West Buffalo. 4th Au-
gust, by James F. Linn, Esquire, Henry Myers to Hannah Walter,
nth August, L. B. Christ, Esquire, to Esther Bogar. September
22, by Reverend Nathaniel Todd, John A. Vanvalzah to Miss Re-
becca Chambers.
^M^
1830.
Weather Record — Johnny Morton — Census of 1830.
N the 1 6th of May, oak leaves made their appearance—
a very early spring — blossoms all off the trees by the
30th of April, except apple, which were in bloom two
or three weeks since. The month of July was excess-
ively hot. The 1 8th, 20th, and 2 2d, were the warmest da>'s. Sat-
urday morning, in shade, ninety-three degrees; Monday, ninety-five
degrees ; Wednesday, ninety-five degrees.
Officers of Lafayette Lodge : H. W. Snyder, W. M. ; George A.
Snyder, S. W. ; John Seebold, J. W. ; Doctor John Baskins, secre-
tary ; Henry C. Eyer, treasurer.
January 11, the New Berlin Anti-Horse-Race Association formed.
1880.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. Jo/
Peter Beaver, president, John Mauck, secretary. February 22,
James Sargent fell off Kremer*s boat, at the mouth of Brown's run,
and was drowned. March 2, a union agricultural association formed
at R. H. Hammond's, in Milton, embracing Columbia, Lycoming,
and Union counties. Dan Caldwell chosen president. March 12,
Samuel Reber opened hotel at Lochiel now. May i , Daniel Gott-
shall issued the first number of the Ltwisburg Journal. May 28, the
Mifflinburg Anti-Horse-Racing Association formed ; Henry Yearick,
president, Frederick Gutelius, secretary. The road between Lewis-
burg and Mortonsville vacated, and the Turtle Creek road, at the
latter place, extended to the turnpike. June 12, William Linn sold
his farm in Kelly to Adam Stahl, for J534 per acre. October 15,
farm of C. Nevius, deceased, sold to his son-in-law, Samuel Wilson,
at $40 per acre. October 21, George Ritter's farm, in Buffalo, sold
to Roan McClure for $^6 25 per acre. August 10, Anti-Masonic
ticket formed at New Berlin : E. Greenough for Congress, S. J.
Packer for Senator, Ner Middleswarth and Philip Ruhl for Assembly,
Peter Hackenburg for commissioner. Democratic ticket : Lewis
Dewart for Congress, Samuel Bloom for Senator,* John Dreisbach
and Jacob Wittenmeyer for Assembly. October 26, the first agri-
cultural fair was held at Milton. December 16, Abner C. Harding,
a student at law with James F. Linn, Esquire, was admitted to the bar. *
Johnny Morton,
Johnny is now dead. I wonder that he lasted so long. Although
everybody called him ** Johnny," he never suffered himself to be so
called, without displaying a sense of offended dignity. ** My name
is John,'* he used to say; *' Johnny is a boy's name." He disliked
also the name of beer ; beer was trash, only fit for hogs ; "a bier
was a thing for the dead."
* Gheneral Abner O. Harding was born in East Hampton, Oonneotloat, educated at
Hamilton, New York, studied law at Lewlsburg, and settled finally in the State of
Illinois. He was a member of the Illinois Constitutional Conyention of 1848, and
■erred in the State Legislature in 184S-9-^ ; and was for ten years engaged in man-
aging railroads. In 1802 he enlisted as a private in the eighty-third Illinois, and
liavlng been appointed colonel, served at Fort Donelson ; was made a brigadier gen-
eral, and had command at Mnrfreesboro' in 1803. In 1804 he was elected to the
Thirty-Ninth Congnress, scrying with Honorable George F. Miller, another student
of Mr. liinn, in that Congress. He died ac Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois
July 19, 1874, worth, it is said, over $1,000,000.
S02
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1830.
Johnny's love of whisky and his hatred of beer afforded abundance
of amusement to the idle boys of New Berlin and Mifflinburg, who
flocked around him as soon as he made his appearance in the streets,
as did the small birds around the owl, who happens to be overtaken
in the daylight. *' Johnny ! Johnny ! do you want any beer ?" was
shouted by the blackguards ; to which Johnny replied with curses,
and sometimes with stones. Johnny came to New Berlin one day,
and having drank, and run the gauntlet of the boys, laid himself
down upon the door-steps of the jail. The sheriff found him here,
and, with the assistance of two or three others, carried him into the
dungeon,^ and made all fast. A few hours afterward one of the
sheriff's family went to the door to make observations, and heard
Johnny beginning to stir, probably just waking. After muttering
something to himself, he was heard to say, ** I wonder where I am ?"
and after a brief pause, *' Well, I guess I am in hell,** and, seemingly
satisfied with this conjecture, quietly laid himself to rest until the
sheriff came to release him. — G. A. S,
Census, 1830.
White Deer, . .
Kelly, ....
Mifflinburg, .
West Buffalo, . .
Hartley township,
Washington, .
Perry, ....
Chapman, . . .
One male and two
i»295
739
663
1,404
1,730
1,097
1,050
1,094
female slaves.
Lewisburg, .... 924
Buffalo, 2,130
Centre, 1,952
Beaver, 2,280
Union, 2,085
Penn*s, . . . *. . . 2,304
Total,
20,747
' In all old jails was a room from whloh the light was altogether excladed, called
the dungeon, a rello of barbarism or popery now, happily abolished.
f
i§3i.
Cross-cut Canal — First Temperanck Society formed in the Valley —
Bethel Church Organized.
ARCH 22, news of the passage of the improvement act,
/and its signature by the Governor, which includes the
Lewisburg cross-cut, reached Lewisburg. The town
was illuminated, cannon fired, and toasts drank. North-
umberland Bank incorporated. — Pamphlet Laws^ 298.
April 12, A. Reedy's, deceased, stone house at Buffalo Cross-
Roads sold by his administrators to John A. Vanvalzah, for I586.
May 10, price of grain in Philadelphia, J5i 25. May 12, Messrs.
Cameron, Vanvalzah, and Joyce returned from Harrisburg, having
succeeded in getting the cross-cut canal under contract.
'^A Penny saved is a Penny made — Old Adage. — Canal boat *Mer-
,. chant's Choice,' Captain Blair, arrived here on Monday last, in
nine days from Philadelphia, with merchandize for Messrs. Comly
and Cadwallader. Her cargo was twenty tons.
12 for C. Comly, at iio, ..... I120
8 do. S. Cadwallader, ..... 80
j(200
** These twenty tons by wagons would come to 600 dollars, at 30
dollars per ton, or %\ 50 per cwt., the usual price. Now, what is
saved to us, the consumers, in this single trip? Why, only ^400.
Sugars we used to pay 12^ cts. per lb. is now sold for 10 cents.
'^is is what we call canal politics." — Prick's Miltonian^ May 14,
503
S04 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1831.
Mowing commenced in the Valley as early as the 8th of June.
4th July celebrated by the Lewisburg Guards and citizens, at
Brown's spring, below Lewisburg. James Aiken made an address.
28th September, the first temperance society formed at Lewis-
burg. Reverend Seiwers delivered an address. Only seven persons,
John Nesbit, Esquire, James Aiken, James F. Linn, Caroline Gra-
ham, Mary Irwin, Elizabeth Irwin, and Abner C. Harding joined.
. During this year, the Bethel church in White Deer was organized
from members of the Buffalo Cross-Roads church ; elders, Andrew
McClenachan and Matthew Laird.
Deaths.
Mrs. Sarah Kelly, wife of Colonel John Kelly, 2d January. She
went to bed in her usual health the night before ; got up in the
night and made herself a cup of tea ; was heard to groan, and com-
plained of pain in her stomach. By the time the family were
awakened she was dead. She was a daughter of James Peak, sister
of Mrs. Darraugh.
23d May, Thomas Wilson, of Kelly, died. He was injured on
Thursday, 19th, by a log falling from the top of a wagon-wheel
upon him.
i83^.
1 PREBR7TERtAN CpCRCn BuiLT LaURELTON CbURCR OrQAK-
izED — Seetco of Colonel John Kellt.
1ARCH 4, General Abbot Green, delegate to the State
convention to fomi an electoral ticket, sth, A. C.
Harding addressed the temperance society and sixty-
eight names were added, rjth March, over ^3,000
subscribed to build a Presbyterian church in Lewisburg, and Gen-
eral Green, Alexander Graliam, James Geddes, Thomas Clingan,
William L. Harris, Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, and William Nesbit
directed, as trustees, to go on with the building.
4th May, Samuel Oaks, Colonel Thomas Smith, and Abraham
Straub appointed to run the county line of Lycoming and Union :
Beginning at a marked red oak, 58 perches above Lafferty's run, S.
8g° W., until it intersects the original division line between North-
umberland and Lycoming; thence along the same to the Centre
county line. — Pamphlet Laws, 458.
July 4, thirty-seven survivors of the Revolution still living in
Union county. Twenty-six joined in the procession at the celebra-
tion in New Berlin to-day ; among them were John Linn, Frederick
Bingaman, Hugh Wilson, George Engle, Christopher Seebold, and
John Wilson. Isaac Sknker, Esquire, dehvered an oration, and
afterwards entertained the old soldiers at his house. Ice was then
just coming into use, and one old gentleman was observed picking
the pieces out of his brandy. He thought it was glass.
August 9 was observed as a day of fasting and prayer to avert the
So6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1832.
cholera. On the i6th Doctor Ezra Styles Ely preached at Lewisburg.
His delivery was rapid, but his discourse he seemed to make very
plain to every one. The Laurelton church was organized — an off-
shoot of the Buffalo Cross-Roads Presbyterian church.
Colonel John Kelly.
Colonel Kelly died on the 1 8th of February, aged eighty-eight.
The following sketch of him is taken from an address made by James
Merrill, Esquire, on the 8th of April, 1835, when the monument,
purchased by his relatives, was put in position with public ceremony.
Colonel John Kelly was born in Lancaster county, in this State,
in February, 1744. After the purchase from the Indians of 1768,
and before the opening of the land office in 1769, he came to Buf-
falo Valley, then a part of Berks county. Here he suffered all the
hardships and privations, which are inseparable upon the first settle-
ment of a new country. He was tall, about six feet two inches in
height, vigorous and muscular, with his body so inured to labor as
to be almost insensible to fatigue, and a mind so accustomed to dan-
gers, that dangers ceased to alarm. In the prime of manhood, and
in the vigor of health, with intelligence to understand correct prin-
ciples, and with firmness to adhere to them, it may well be supposed
that he took a commanding position among his fellows. He was a
captain, and a major at twenty-seven years of age, and when his
country called on her sons to save her from the fangs of a tyrant.
he was ready. At the very darkest period of the revolutionary ^'ar,
when all was lost, but honor and hope, and when hope was almost
buried in despair, in the fall of 1776, he volunteered to assist in the
protection of New Jersey. He was present at Trenton, when the
Hessians surrendered, and assisted in that most masterly movement
on Princeton, by which the chain of communications of the enemy
was broken, all their plans deranged, and their army compelled to
return to New York and its neighborhorhood, and to leave New Jersey
free to avenge her wrongs. When we consider the depression of public
spirit, how public confidence in the final success of our cause was shaken
by the battle of Long Island, and the losses of Fort Washington and
Lee, with most of our military stores ; when we consider that at one time
the American army numbered less than two thousand men, we would
1832.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 5(yr
not think it wonderful if all should have been given up for lost — and
so it would, if the stake had been less. But our people believed that
they had no right to abandon their cause of liberty. They were
bound to protect it for themselves, and upon their success depended
the freedom of their posterity. They must decide, whether or not,
their children should be slaves. They must decide whether all peo-
ple must bow their necks to the iron yoke of despotism, or whether
they might anticipate a time when free institutions should prevail
through the world. Our friend and his confederates of that day
might have retired into an ignoble and contemptible security. They
might have said, what is New Jersey to us? We have homes and
firesides, which may be endangered. But they argued better : if
we refuse to come to the rescue, we cannot expect security. We
cannot propitiate the monster tyranny, by shrinking from our duty.
Influenced by these considerations, our friends went to the rescue of
our sister State.
Our friend joined the army fully resolved to do his duty. Then
was the time to test his vigor of body, as well as the firmness of his
mind. For three days at one time, there was no regular service of
provisions, and for more than thirty-six hours, at another time, they
were constantly on the*march, or in action, without a moment's sleep
or giving up their arms. In the course of one of their retreats, the
commander-in-chief, through Colonel Potter, sent an order to Major
Kelly to have a certain bridge cut down to prevent the advance of
the British, who were then in sight. The major sent for an axe ;
but represented that the enterprise would be very hazardous. Still
the British advance must be stopped, and the order was not with-
drawn. He said he could not order another to do what some might
say he was afraid to do himself; he would cut down the bridge.
Before all the logs on which the bridge lay were cut off, he was
completely within the range of the British fire, and several balls
struck the log on which he stood. The last log broke down sooner
than he expected, and he fell with it into the swollen stream. Our
soldiers moved on, not believing it possible for him to escape. He,
however, by great exertions, reached the shore through the high
water and the floating timber, and followed the troops. Incumbered,
as he must have been, with his wet and frozen clothes, he, on his road,
made a prisoner of a British scout, an armed soldier, and took him
S08 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1832.
into camp. What did Curtius do more than this ? If such an in-
stance of devoted heroism had happened in Greece or Rome,. the day
would have been distinguished from all other days. A medal would
have been struck, and every means used to secure the everlasting re-
membrance of such a deed. In England such a man would have
been made a knight or a lord, with the thanks of Parliament. In
our poor devoted land such instances were too common to receive
especial notice. History mentions that our army was preserved by
the destruction of that bridge ; but the manner in which it was done,
or the name of the person who did it, is not mentioned. It was but
one of a series of heroic acts, which happened every day, and our
soldiers then were more familiar with the sword than with the pen.
As we have met to erect a marble tomb over the remains of that
individual, it is right for us to bring out this act into more bold
relief
Let it be borne in mind, that at this time no arrangement had been
made respecting prisoners ; that the British commanders only admit-
ted that they arrested rebels, and not that they took prisoners of war.
Thus all who fought on our side, in addition to the common dan-
gers of war, might expect, if taken, to suffer an ignominious death.
After his discharge. Major Kelly returned to Ws farm and his family,
and during the three succeeding years the Indians were troublesome
neighbors to this then frontier settlement. He became colonel of
the regiment, and it was his duty to keep watch and ward against
the incursions of hostile Indians, through our mountain passes. At
one time our people were too weak to resist, and our whole beautiful
country was abandoned. Colonel Kelly was among the first to re-
turn— for at least two harvests reapers took their rifles to the fields,
and some of the company watched while others wrought. Colonel
Kelly had the principal command of the scouting parties in this Val-
ley, and very often he was out in person. Many and many nights
has he lain among the limbs of a fallen tree to keep himself out of
the mud, without a fire, because a fire would indicate his f)osition to
the enemy. He had become well skilled in their mode of warfare.
One circumstance deserves particular notice. The Indians seem io
have resolved on his death, without choosing to attack him openly.
One night he had reason to apprehend that they were near. He rose
in the morning, and, by looking through the crevices of his log-house.
1832.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. sog
he ascertained that two, at least, if not more, were laying with their
arms, so as to shoot him when he should open his door. He fixed
his own rifle, and took his position, so that by a string he could, open
the door, and watch the Indians. The moment he pulled the door
open, two balls came into the house, and the Indians rose to advance.
He fired and wounded one, and both retreated. After waiting to
satisfy himself that no others remained, he followed them by the
blood ; but they escaped.
For many years Colonel Kelly held the office of a magistrate of
the county. In the administration of justice, he exhibited the same
anxiety to do right, and the same disregard of self gain, which had
characterized him in the military service of the country. He would at
any time forgive his own fees, and if the parties were poor, pay the
constable's costs, to procure a compromise. While, by industry and
economy, his own pecuniary circumstances were comfortable and
easy, he seemed to desire the prosperity of all men, and most anxi-
ously to desire, that all neighbors should be friends. No man ever
in vain sought his interposition to reconcile conflicting interests, to
soothe angry passions, to stand, as the defender and protector of
the poor man, the widow, and the orphan.
He obeyed the injunction, **be given to hospitality.'* There are
few middle aged men in this country, who have not experienced
the cordial welcome, which every friend received at his house. It
is true, that so general is the hospitality of his neighborhood that
the want of it would be considered a great vice \ but in him it was
a part of the same character, indicating a freedom from selfishness, an
inability to enjoy fully God's bounties alone ; a feeling that a good
thing is rendered far more valuable by participation ; and a convic-
tion that the diffusion of happiness is not merely right in itself, but
the source of great joy to every well-regulated mind.
Colonel Kelly was an affectionate husband, and a kind and judicious
father, as well as a friendly and hospitable neighbor.
Thus have we seen our venerable friend performed his domestic,
social, military, and political duties in such a manner as to entitle
himself to the love and esteem of his neighbors, and to the thanks
and honors of his countrymen and of posterity. It may be asked,
could a man so punctiliously perform all those duties, and leave out
of his regard his obligations to his Maker? No, indeed, my friends,
Sfo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [18S2.
he did not lack that crowning virtue. He was a sincere and an
exemplary Christian, and he adorned all his other virtues by exhibit-
ing a pattern of humility well worthy of imitation. Having no
anxieties who should be greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, he had
no striving who should be greatest in the Church on earth, his pro-
fession of religion was well sustained by his practice.
Towards the end of a long and active Hfe, Colonel Kelly became,
by disease, incapable of much motion, and seldom left his home. He
seemed to be retiring from public view, and preparing to leave this
world when he should be called. He had that true characteristic of
bravery, an indisposition to fight his battles over again, and that
feeling of humility, that where a man has only done his duty, boast-
ing has no place. It is in some measure owing to this reserve
that our notice of his life must be so brief and so imperfect. He
seemed not to know, that other men would have done differently from
him ; but to believe that whatever distinguished him from others,
arose mainly from the circumstances under which he acted. We
are of another generation, and his contemporaries have either gone
down to the grave, or through lapse of time and failing faculities,
are unable to give particular details. From himself, but a few glean-
ings from a life long and full of incidents, have been obtained.
His last end proved his character to be consistent. He met the
grim messenger calmly; '* for he knew in whom he had trusted;" and
he could ** walk through the valley and shadow of death, fearing no
evil." Age brought its weakness, no doubt. The frame was bent,
and the muscles relaxed; but the mind — the immortal mind — could
not be obscured. It brightened more and more **unto the perfect
day." He has passed beyond *'that bourne, whence no traveler re-
turns." He has gone, we humbly trust, to that Heaven where ** there
remaineth a rest for the righteous, and where the wicked cease from
troubling." Emphatically may it be said, that after a life well
spent, and in firm hope of a resurrection to immortal glory, at the
age of eighty-eight years, he departed, leaving his memory to our
care and his virtues for our imitation — -James Aferrill^ Esquire's,
Address.
Colonel Kelly's children were : James, who moved to Penn's v'ai-
ley, and died there. He was the father of Honorable James K.
Kelly, United States Senator, of Portland, Oregon ; John, who also
1833.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 511
m
moved to Perm's valley ; William, who married a daughter of Archi-
bald Allison, of Centre county, and died, January 27, 1830; An-
drew, a bachelor, who was born 1783, and died on the old place,
September 24, 1867, aged eighty- four ; Samuel Kelly, of Armstrong
county, Pennsylvania ; Elizabeth, married to Simeon Howe ; Maria,
married to John Campbell, of Lewisburg ; Robert, who died April
12, 1865, aged seventy-seven; Joseph, died March 2, i860, aged
sixty-six; David H. Kelly, Esquire, deceased, late county commis-
sioner of Union county.
I note, also, the death of Reverend Thomas Smiley, aged seventy-
three, bom (in Dauphin county now) in 1 759, of Scotch-Irish parent-
age. Served in Colonel Curtis Grubb*s battalion of militia. Ordained
in December, 1802. Settled in White Deer in 1808, where he estab-
lished the first regular Baptist church within the bounds of Union
county.
1833-
Methodist Church in Lewisburg Dedicated — The Presbyterian Church
Completed, and the German Church Commenced — Rain of Fire —
Court and Lawyers.
ANUARY 5, the new Methodist church, on Third street,
Lewisburg, consecrated. The weather was so warm that
the windows had to be opened. Sunday, 6th, Reverend
Mr. Steele preached in a. m., in the new church. Mr.
Hood in p. m. Weather still very warm. The iithof January was
probably the coldest day of the year.
January 30, David Myers, of East Buffalo, who was kicked in the
abdomen by a horse, on Monday, 28th, died to-day.
March 21, J. F. Quay, J. F. Murray, and David Rockefeller ap-
pointed to run the division line between Lycoming and Union
counties.
Sr2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1833.
" 9
•
May 31, Je$se Cornelius, miller, at Trester*s old mill, on Turtle
creek, was caught in the machinery. Ribs, breast bone, &c. , broken.
He died immediately.
July 26, Ephraim Darraugh's widow buried at Lewisburg. 31,
Presbyterian church building completed, and on the 4th of Au-
gust Mr. Hood preached the first sermon therein, on the text, ** Re-
member the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.** August 31, Thomas
Clingan, William Nesbit, Esquire, Robert H. Laird, and James F.
Linn were elected elders.
September 30, Reverend Mathew Laird married, at Mr. Hood's,
to Miss Harriet Myer, school-teacher at Lewisburg. They sailed,
on 15 th October, as missionaries to Africa.
October 15, Thomas Jones, inn-keeper, died. 18, Roan McClure,
after fifteen minutes* sickness.
November 4, a subscription was started, for the purpose of build-
ing a Union German Reformed and Lutheran church, on Third and
St. Lewis streets, in Lewisburg, to be called St. Lewis church, "in
honor of the original proprietor of the borough, and the benefactor,
(Ludwig Derr,) who gave three lots for religious use.'*
On 19th May, 1834, John Reber, John Snook, and Henry Noll,
elders ; Henry Noll and Ludwig Long, deacons of the German Pres-
byterian congregation, entered into an agreement with Jonatlian
Spyker and John Gundy, trustees of the Grerman Lutheran congre-
gation, giving the latter '* the same privilege of the German burying-
ground, which Ludwig Derr, in his liftetime, gave to the German
Presbyterian congregation, being on lots Nos. 121, 123, and 125,
as well as an equal privilege of the church built or building on said
ground, to be tenants in common," &c. See deed book K, pages
173 and 174, (at Lewisburg.) In the year 1851, the Lutheran con-
gregation bought out the interest of the German Reformed, the lat-
ter having built on the corner of St. John and Third streets.
November 13, from two o'clock until daylight occurred a fire-
storm, or the fall of small particles of fire, which app)eared to extin-
guish a few feet from the ground. It was observed all through Buf-
falo Valley.
December 7, the first boats passed through the Lewisburg cross-
cut. December 29, Lorenzo Dow preached at Lewisburg. 3oih,
John Clark, Esquire, of Beaver, a member of the Legislature, from
1884.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, sn
that county, visited Lewisburg. He is is a son 6f Walter Clark, de-
«ceased, one of the first settlers on Buffalo creek. 31st, Mrs. Hayes,
mother of William, (merchant formerly,) died suddenly.
Court and Lawyers,
At September term the grand jury of the county, William Forster,
foreman, petitioned the Governor for the appointment of William
W. Potter, Esquire, of Bellefonte, as president judge, vic^ Seth
Chapman, resigned. On the 16th of December Judge Ellis Lewis'
commission as president judge was read, who, with Hugh Wilson
and General Adam Light, associates, comprised the court. George
F. Miller and Samuel Weirick, Esquires, were admitted to the bar
on the 15 th of May.
i§34.
Eclipse of the Sun — Anti-School Meetings — Election Returns.
jlRICE of wheat in Philadelphia, in May, $1 10 ; in Sep*
tember, $1 04; corn, 64; rye, 65. There was no snow
during the month of February, and the weather was
as mild as it usually is in April. On the nights of the
31st of May and the ist of June occurred a black frost so severe as
to kill the leaves of almost every species of plants in this part of the
country. Even the locust, a hardy tree, did not escape. Cherries,
apples, peaches, and all orchard and garden fruits, except currants
and gooseberries, perished. Bears, missing their summer supply of
whortleberries, came down from the hills to feed upon the green
corn, and were killed in unusual numbers. It was interesting to see
robins, woodpeckers, and other birds now searching among the
limbs of the trees for caterpillars and other insects ; fortunately the
33
I
i
514 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1834.
caterpillars were prodigiously numerous. During the summer, bitu-
minous coal was received at Lewisburg from the western part of the
State, by the canal, and sold at twenty-five cents per bushel. At
Hartleton, R. H. Kerr was postmaster ; and J. H. Seiwers was prin-
cipal of the academy at Lewisburg.
February 2, Lorenzo Dow died at Georgetown, D. C. March
18, Charles Sargent (son of John, inn-keeper,) found drowned be-
low Brown's mill. Has been missing since the i6th. He was de-
deranged. 30th, Mr. Hood preached his last sermon as pastor.
April 10, John Moore, merchant, of Lewisburg, died. Reverends
Henry Tarring and Oliver Ega, Methodist ministers for this circuit
this year. April 21, Joseph Evans, of Lewisburg, found drowned
in the canal at Selinsgrove. Job Harvey, a young preacher of
the Christian church, preached his funeral sermon. May 19, cor-
ner-stone of German church in Lewisburg laid. J. H. Fries, pas-
tor. June 19, Howard Vanvalzah, son of Doctor Thomas, fell
from the steeple of the new German church to the ground, striking
the timbers as he fell, his thigh and leg broken. He fell forty-fi\*e
feet. (He is still living at Lewistown.) June 30, news arrived of
the death of Reverend Matthew Laird and his wife, missionaries in
Africa. He died on the 4th of May, his wife on the 3d. Wed-
nesday, 9th July, thermometer at ninety-nine degrees in shade.
July 28, John Geary, an apprentice of David Ginter, drowneii at
the upper landing in lewisburg, last night. November 13, Pres-
bytery met at Lewisburg, and ordained and installed Reverend P.
B. Marr, pastor of that church. Sunday, 30th November, eclipse
of the sun. Began quarter before one, went off twenty- five minutes
past three. During its greatest obscuration it became very cold, and
it seemed like a bright, moonlight night, and one star was visible.
Anti-School Meeting.
Agreeably to public notice, the citizens of Union county opposed
to the school law passed at the last session of the Legislature, met at
the court-house, in New Berlin, on Thursday, the iSth September,
when Henry Yearick, Esquire, was called to the chair; Robert Tay-
lor, Esquire, was appointed vice president ; and John Montelius and
John Snyder were appointed secretaries. On motion of the Honor-
1834.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. $'5
able George Kremer, a committee of fifteen were appointed to draft
a preamble and resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting ;
whereupon, the following persons were appointed, viz :
George Kremer, Peter Richter, Doctor John G. Piper, Frederick
Pontius, Abbot Green, John Boyer, Frederick Kremer, John S.
Ingram, George Schnable, John Zigler, James Madden, Henry
Roush, Henry C. Eyer, John Snyder, John Reber, junior.
After retiring a short time, returned and reported the following,
which were unanimously adopted :
Whereas, The Legislature of Pennsylvania, at their late session,
passed a law known as the common school law, the principles of
which we consider dangerous to our rights and destructive of our
interests; therefore, be it
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meeting, it behooves us to
use every honorable means in our power to procure a prompt repeal
of the law in question.
Resolved, That the chair appoint two persons from each town-
ship or borough in the county, as the case may be, whose duty it
shall be to act as delegates for their respective districts, and bring
with them the election returns, which will take place to-morrow, for
the adoption or rejection of the school law, and report the same to
this meeting.
Resolved, That should a school man, by mistake, be selected by
the chair, he shall be rejected by the anti-school delegate of that
district, &c., who shall have full power to supply his place with a
man opposed to the school law.
Resolved, That this meeting adjourn to meet again at the court-
house, in New Berlin, on Tuesday next, at one o'clock in the after-
noon, and that the present officers are again requested to preside, to
adopt further measures in relation to this oppressive law.
The following persons were appointed by the chair, as delegates
from the several townships, to meet in New Berlin, on Tuesday, the
23d instant, viz :
East Buffalo— ?h\\\^ Ruhl, Peter Voneida.
Lewisburg — William Hayes, Jacob Zentmire.
Kelly — Laird Howard, George Meixell.
Wliite Deer — John Rank, Jacob Sypher.
Union — ^John S. Ingram, Michael Benfer.
Si6 ASNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [!»*•
Chapman — Frederick Kremer, John Snyder.
Washington — John Boyer, Henry Hilbish.
Penn's — Peter Richter, George Miller.
Perry — George Shetterly, senior, Joseph Schnee.
Centre — George Kremer, Henry Bolender.
Beaver — John Highley, John Shipton.
Centreville — Stephen Bruce, George Weirick.
Hartleton — ^James Madden, George Ruhl.
West Buffalo — Robert Taylor, John Reber, junior.
Mifflinburg — Henry Yearick, John Montelius. — Times ^ Septem-
ber 19, 1834.
Anti-School Delegate Meeting.
At a meeting of the delegates appointed by the anti-school
meeting of the i8th instant, held at the court-house, in New Berlin,
on Tuesday last, Henry Yearick, Esquire, presided ; assisted by
John Montelius and Captain John Snyder, as secretaries.
The names of the delegates having been called, the following
gentlemen were present, representing the different townships, as fol-
lows:
Union — John S. Ingram, Michael Benfer.
Hartley — ^James Madden, Esquire, George Ruhl.
West Buffalo — Robert Taylor, John Stees, junior.
Mifflinburg — Henry Yearick, John Montelius.
East Buffalo— FhWip Ruhl, Peter Voneida.
Lewisburg — George Schnabel, Jacob Zentmire.
White Deer — Jacob Sypher, Samuel Baker.
Kelly — John Hummel, Joseph Spotts.
Chapman — John Snyder, Frederick Kremer.
Penn's — Peter Richter, George Miller.
Perry — George Shetterly, Joseph Schnee.
Centre — George Kremer, Henry Bolender.
Beaver — John Highley, John Shipton.
Washington — John Boyer, Henry Hilbish.
On motion of James Madden, Esquire, a committee of nine dele-
gates were appointed by the chair to draft a preamble and resolu-
tions, expressive of the sentiments of the delegation.
Whereupon, the chair appointed George Kremer, John S. Ingram,
1834.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 517 V._^
Peter Richter, Henry Hilbish, George Schnabel, James Madden,
Jacob Sypher, Philip Ruhl, and John Reber, junior.
The committee retired a short time and reported the following,
which were unanimously adopted :
Preamble and Resolutions,
Fellow-Citizens : Your committee view with deep interest the
law of our last Legislature, creating a system of education by com-
mon schools. They consider it as affecting the interests and en-
croaching upon the rights of the honest and industrious citizens of
the Commonwealth. They view the system as unwarranted by the
Constitution, and at war with the interests of every useful member
of the community ; as a system of education was only asked, and
not one of unjust and unequal taxation. For these reasons, and
others, we oppose the bill, urging our constitutional objections, and
will merely here state its local effects upon the county of Union.
The ;^75,ooo appropriated for common school purposes, of which
Union county will be entitled to about |i,roo, is a fund arising
from the unpatented lands in this Commonwealth. Owing to the
scarcity of money, the law has, from year to year, been extended ;
but as this amount is now appropriated, and will be drawn out of
the treasury, consequently, all those whose lands are unpatented,
will now be compelled to pay, as the finances of the Commonwealth
will not warrant a longer credit. All men know its enormous debt
and embarrassed condition.
By the law in question, Union county must raise $2,200, double
the amount of the appropriation, to entitle them to the proffer made
by the Legislature. To this add our already exhorbitant State tax,
of about $3,000, and we have upwards of $5,000 to pay by taxa-
tion, for merely receiving the bill.
Agreeable to the law, the six directors are to divide each town-
ship into as many school districts, and build as many school-houses
as they may think proper ; and this additional debt you will be
bound to pay by taxation, which will amount to at least $800 for
every township in the county, making a sum total of $1 7,000, adding
the other taxes imposed by this bill.
To this may be added the teachers. Suppose each township have
six teachers, who cannot be engaged at a less expense than $250
Sr8
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1834.
per annum, each, making a gross amount of |i,5oo per annum for
each township, the whole cost for this purpose in the county would
be $22,500. Deduct from this the ?i,ioo proffered by the Legis-
lature, and the people have $21,400 to pay for teachers, $17,000
for buildings, $2,200 for accepting the proffer — making a sum total
of $40,600, all to be paid by the people by various taxations.
Resolved, That five persons be appointed a committee to draw
petitions to be signed by the citizens of this county, praying the Le-
gislature to repeal the school law for Union county.
Resolved, That the chair appoint two persons in each township,
who shall have authority to appoint as many more as may be neces-
sary in each township to solicit subscribers to said petition.
Resolved, That the chair appoint a committee of five persons, a
corresponding committee to correspond with other committees in
this Commonwealth to procure a repeal of the school law in this
Commonwealth.
On motion George Kremer, John S. Ingram, and Philip Ruhl
were appointed a committee to prepare and publish a petition for
a repeal of the law in question.
The chair then appointed Peter Richter, John S. Ingram, George
Kremer, George Schnabel, and John Reber, junior, a committee
of correspondence, in accordance with a resolution of the committee
of nine.
On motion, it was then Resolved, That the delegates of this con-
vention act as township committees to circulate and procure signers
to the petitions praying for a repeal of the school law.
On motion of John S. Ingram, the secretary was called upon to
report the votes at the different township elections held on Friday,
the 19th instant; which was carried, and the following result ex-
hibited, viz:
Townships
Against For
School. School.
Against F'rr
Totcnships. School. School
irnion, . . ,
* . . 205 —
Perry, 63 -
Hnrtlev, . .
144 30
Centre, 170 —
West Hutfalo,.
187 7
Beaver, 192 —
Milflinbiirj?, .
67 41
Washington, ... 85 —
East Hiiiralo, .
87 3
liewisburg,
55 71
1620 267
White Deer, .
26 52
267
Kelly, . . ,
70 7
"'
Chapman, . .
71 I
Balance vs. school, 1353 votes.
Penn'B, . .
•
•
. 198 65
1
1834.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, sig
Political
Delegates to the 4th of March convention, ** to oppose executive
usurpation,** Simon Shaffer, William Cameron, Ner Middles warth,
William L. Harris, George Weirick, and R. P. Maclay.
Delegate Meeting, — On Tuesday last the delegates from the dif-
ferent townships of Union county, representing the An ti -Masons,
assembled at the court-house, in New Berlin. Samuel Paulding, of
Penn*s, was called to the chair, and Solomon Engle, Esquire, of
Centre, appointed secretary.
As soon as the meeting was thus organized, George Aurand,
Esquire, of Centre, rose, and moved that no delegate be received
in this convention, unless he be z,pure Anti-Mason. This motion,
however, was postponed until after the credentials had been pre-
sented.
The credentials were then presented, in regular order, which com-
prised the following delegation :
Centre — George Aurand, Solomon Engle.
Union — Henry Frock, George Schnee.
Mifflinburg — Jacob Haus, David Eckstein.
Lewisburg — Doctor I. S. Vorse, G. F. Miller.
East Buffalo — Peter Wise, Robert Laird.
West Buffalo — Samuel B. Barber, John Kutz.
Hartley — William Glover, Jacob Snyder.
Kelly — John Hummel, Joseph Lawson.
Penn's — Samuel Paulding, Philip Gemberling.
Beaver — Archibald Thomas, John Reger.
Washington — J. P. Hackenberg, Jacob Garman.
Perry — Michael Gougler, John Weimen.
Centreville — Jonathan Farnsworth, S. Bruce.
The credentials being thus presented in due order, when Lewis-
burg came in turn. Doctor Vorse rose and stated that a motion had
been made to expel any member of the convention who was not an
avowed Anti-Mason. He said he did not wish to act the hypocrite,
and consequently he would inform the convention that he was not
an Anti-Mason — that he was an anti-Jackson man — that he came
here to represent that portion of the borough of Lewisburg who
were opposed to Jackson, and that while he would perform such
520 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [18M.
incumbent duty, he wished it to be distinctly understood that he
had no claims to the character of an Anti-Mason.
Mr. Aurand then stated that as he was not a political Anti-mason,
he would move that he be not permitted to occupy a seat in the
convention.
Mr. Miller, his colleague, then rose, and hoped that the conven-
tion would not act rashly on this subject ; that Doctor Vorse was
not in an individual capacity, but serving as the representative of
the party in Lewisburg; that he had his instructions and would
conform to them. He hoped such a vote would not be taken.
Mr. Aurand, however, persisted in the vote, which was taken, and
resulted as follows :
For rejection, 23 votes.
For retention, 2 votes.
Doctor Vorse was, therefore, ejected from the convention. He
rose, and returned his thanks to the meeting for their kind treatment;
and while he expressed his regret at having put the gentlemen to so
much trouble, he retired from any participation in the proceedings,
considering the decision a very curious one.
Mr. Miller then moved that Lewisburg be entitled to a full repre-
sentation, by suffering the remaining delegate to have two votes;
but on the question, *' Shall Lewisburg have a full representation?"
it was decided in the negative.
The convention then proceeded to make nominations, which re-
sulted in the following ticket :
For Congress — Samuel J. Packer.
For Senate — Robert P. Maclay.
For Assembly — Simon Shaffer and Ner Middleswarth.
For Coroner — Jacob Aurand and Daniel Winter.
For Commissioner — James Harrison.
For Auditor — Jacob H. Hummel.
For Trustees — Israel Gutelius, John Kutz, and Samuel Wright.
Mr. Aurand then offered the following resolution ; which was
adopted :
Resolved^ That a committee be appointed to address James Mer-
rill, Esquire, on the subject of Masonry, and to request an explana-
tion on that subject, in terms which he may think most proper.
18S4.J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 521
Whereupon the chair appointed George Aurand, J. P. Hackenberg,
and J. H. Horning, Esquires.
On motion, William Glover and George F. Miller were appointed
conferees, to meet other congressional conferees at Milton.
On motion, David Eckstein and Solomon Engle, Esquire, were
appointed senatorial conferees, to meet similar conferees at Lewisburg.
The following persons were then appointed a standing committee
for the ensuing year, viz : Jacob Fryer, Jacob Haus, Joseph Lawson,
Matthew Brewer, S. Weirick, George Schnee, and Jacob Snyder.
It was then
Resolved^ That the convention adjourn, and that the proceedings
be published in all the papers. — Times , August 8.
Democratic Convention.
On Tuesday last, the following delegates, from the different town-
ships of Union county, met at the court-house, in New Berlin, to
form a ticket for support at the next general election, viz :
Union — Jacob Spangler, Jesse Beaver.
Buffalo — Hugh Wilson, junior, Samuel Reber.
West Buffalo— RobQTt Taylor, Thomas Forster.
Penn's — C. M. Straub, Isaac Hottenstein.
Chapman — ^John Snyder, Philip Herold.
Mifffinburg — Michael Schoch, Thomas McCurdy.
Lewisburg — John Nesbit, Joseph Hutchinson.
Centre — George Kremer, John Bower.
Hartley — George Roush, Andrew Cook.
Beaver — George Swartz, Thomas Youngman.
Perry — Philip Benner, George Shetterly.
Kelly — Alexander McClure, John Young.
White Deer — Samuel Baker, William Mackey.
The convention was organized by electing Captain Alexander Mc-
Clure, president; Robert Taylor, Esquire, vice president, and Joseph
Hutchinson, secretary.
On motion, it was unanimously
Resolved, That no candidate, for any office, should be considered
nominated, who had not a majority of all the votes of the delegates
present.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
The following nominations of candidates were then made, and re-
sulted as follows : Senator, Isaac Slenker. Assembly, Captain Jacob
Hummeland James McClure. Commissioner, Peter Beaver. Auditor,
Martin Dreisbach. Coroner, Jacob McCorley. Trustees of the Mif
ftinburg Academy, Philip Pontius, Samuel Barber, and William Ir-
win.— Times, August 15.
OFFICIAL ELEVTWN RETURNS.
OOKO'SS
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1745
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3:11
Honorable Joseph B. Anthony was elected to Congress in the
district composed of Union, Northumberland, and Lycoming, bya
majority of 2,218, and Mr, Slenker in the district composed of
Union and Northumberland, by a majority of 1602. September
12, John S. Ingram retires from the Times, and James M. Kuesier
took charge. He retired December 19, and Gabriel Yearick became
editor,
a n n^^i^^^B
1833-
Debate in the Lewisburo Temperance Society — Colonel Kelly's Monu-
ment Erected with Imposing Ceremonies — Fourth of July Celebra-
tions.
|HE winter of 1834 and 1835 was very severe. On Shade
mountain, a pack of twenty wolves were found frozen
after the melting of the snow. They appeared to have
huddled together, perhaps exhausted with a long march,
and perished of cold and hunger.
On Friday evening, the 13th of February, the Lewisburg Tem-
perance society again met, and resumed the discussion of the pro-
priety of adopting the resolution, '*that the distillation and vendi-
tion of ardent spirits, as a drink, is morally wrong,** which, it must
be known, had been discussed before by the society, and adopted
by a majority of four votes; but the opponents of the resolution,
not being satisfied with the proceedings, on account of illegal votes
having been taken, as they alleged, it was, therefore, agreed by both
parties to re-consider the resolution.
The debate was held in the Methodist church. Mr. Merrill, Mr.
Marr, and Mr. Aiken for affirmative. General Green, Doctor
Joyce, Mr. Barber, and James P. Ross in the negative.
The first resolution : Resolved, That the distilling and vending
of ardent spirits, as a drink, is morally wrong. Second, that it is
expedient that the temperance societies of Pennsylvania adopt the
above resolution.
The vote on the first, yeas, 70 ; nays, 36. Second, yeas, 58 ;
nays, 30.
5^3
^^"^^^^^
'^%('^7^7gf.
^n^
1836.
Political Appointments — Accidknt on the Fourth of Jclt.
INTER of 1835-6 was very severe; snow frequently
over twelve inches deep, and the river frozen to the
depth of two or three feet. Joseph Ritner having been
! elected Governor, appoints his friends to office. Robert
P. Maclay succeeding Joseph Stillwell as prothonotary, and George
Aurand succeeding Samuel Roush as register and recorder. Ner
Middleswarth was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
On the 1st of April, the Lewisburg, Penn's Valley, and Hollidays-
burg railroad was incorporated, and on the i6th of June an act was
passed re-districting the State. Juniata, Mifflin, and Union a dis-
trict, entitled to three members.
May 23, James Reasoner died. He had hitched his horse to a
post in Hartleton ; the horse frightened and pulled out the post,
and Mr. Reasoner, in trying to catch the horse, was struck with the
swinging post, and died from the effects. James McClune com-
menced his classical school in Lewisburg.
1 6th June, Charles de Haas, engineer, commenced surveying the
Lewisburg, Penn's Valley, and Hollidaysburg railroad. He ran his
line up Cherry alley, Lewisburg.
4th of July celebration terminated unfortunately. Towards even-
ing, a party were firing a cannon at the foot of St. John street.
They had fired twice, when, in the act of ramming the third charge,
it exploded. Joseph McCool had his right hand blown off, and his
arm had to be amputated below the elbow. John Bower lost his
two forefingers. Peter Bower had his thumb torn off.
August 24, Kirkham, the grammarian, delivered a lecture in
Lewisburg.
1837. J ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. s^
October 5, heavy snow-storm ; one and a half feet deep in Penn's
valley and on Buffalo and White Deer mountains.
November 4, James Merrill, Esquire, and William P. Maclay,
elected Senatorial delegates, and William L. Harris, Ephraim Banks,
and John Cummin, Representative delegates to the Convention to
propose amendments to the Constitution of the State.
^•^
183^.
First Abolition Lecture in the Valley — Snows — Report of the
Union County Agricultural Society.
EBRUARY 5th, Philip Rorabaugh buried in the German
grave-yard, at Lewisburg, with military honors, aged
eighty-five. He was a hero of three wars, the Revolu-
tion, the whisky insurrection, and the war of 181 2.
March 15, Mrs. Dunlap*s house, on Buffalo creek, a mile below
Chamberlin's mill, was burned last night ; Sally Gray and her son,
(both deranged,) John Young, about seventeen years old, and a son
of Joseph G. Wallace, eight years old, burned. There were eight
in the house ; four escaped.
April 17, Doctor Thomas Vanvalzah, and others, left the Valley
to settle in Illinois. This was the start of an emigration which has
made Stephenson county, Illinois, a counterpart of Buffalo Valley.
November 10, Miller McKim delivered his first lecture in Lewis-
burg on the aboruion of slavery. On the 14th there was a meeting
which, upon a motion made to determine whether McKim should
be allowed to speak, ended suddenly in a small riot.
Shows have changed in character with the increase of population.
Welsh & Purdy*s came through the county. They have collected
upwards of one hundred beasts, birds, and reptiles, in a great cara-
S28 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [VSSl,
van of wagons ; have an excellent band of musicians, and held their
exhibition under a huge pavilion, capable of containing five thousand
people. It is quite a grand spectacle to see them entering New Ber-
lin. In front marches the elephant, clad in red housings, with a
lofty saddle, on which are mounted two musicians ; next, came a
band of musicians, mounted upon gray horses, gaily caparisoned,
followed by a train of wagons, containing the animals. The whole
establishment embraced one hundred horses, all grays, and eighty
men. The hotels were open before daylight, and people gathered
in from the country as soon as it was light. The largest room in the
house was thrown open for dancing, and the fiddles only ceased with
the news of the entrance of the procession, to be resumed after the
procession, and continued until the call for dinner.
Union County Agricultural Society.
It is with regret that we notice so late the reports of three com-
mittees of this society, made on the 20th of October. They were
the reports of the committee on grain, on hogs, and on butter and
cheese. The way in which these reports came to be omitted in the
report published in the Union Times, of the 4th instant, was, that
they were handed to the former treasurer, who supposed that they
would be called for, and the present treasurer, not knowing that such
reports existed, they were omitted to be laid before the committee
on premiums. Consequently, the articles recommended in those
reports as worthy of premiums had no premiums awarded them out
of the funds appropriated for that purpose. These reports are now
noticed, because it is due to the producers of the articles noticed in
them. It is only to be regretted, that the funds of the society will
not afford them the premiums they merited. The following is an
abstract of the reports :
The committee on grain reported, that John Wilt, of Hartley town-
ship, produced evidence of the best yield of wheat per acre, accord-
ing to the quality of the S9il, having raised thirty-five bushels off an
acre, selected out of a field of about eight acres, the wheat having
been cultivated alike. They report the soil as being of second-rate
land — a gravel shale — adjacent to limestone soil.
That Colonel Samuel Barber, of West Buffalo township, exhibited
t
1837.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. s^
evidence of the next best specimen of wheat, having raised forty
bushels off an acre, selected out of a field containing eleven acres,
all cultivated alike. That the soil is of first rate limestone. Con-
sidering the quality of the soil, the committee awarded the first
premium to Mr. Wilt, and to Colonel Barber the second. The
committee also considered Colonel Barber worthy of a premium for
the best specimen of summer wheat. Francis Wilson's corn, being
seventy bushels of shelled corn to an acre, was also deemed worthy
of a premium. The committee also notice in terms of commenda-
tion Mr. Wilt's yield of corn; as also Philip Seebold's grapes; Sam-
uel Templeton's potatoes, having yielded eighty bushels per quarter
of an acre, (one single potato weighing four and three quarter
pounds;) Mrs. Merrill's sugar-beet, and Mrs. Shroyer's red-beet,
and Mrs. Schoch's cabbage. To some of these small premiums are
recommended, especially Mr. Seebold's grapes.
The committee on hogs awarded to John Clemmens a premium
for the best breed of hogs, considering their size and age.
The committee on butter and cheese recommended a specimen of
butter exhibited by Mrs. Margaret Pontius, as of a superior quality,
both in color and taste.
Joseph Stilwell, Recording Secretary,
Philadelphia Prices Current, October 21, 1837 — Grain: Wheat,
Pennsylvania, bushel, $1 55 ; Rye, 80 ; Corn, yellow, 93 ; Barley,
inferior, 2^^ ; Oats, 35 to ^2>. Spirits : Whisky, rye, 33 ; hogsheads,
31. Wool: American, full blood, lb. 50 to 63.
At the October election, Yearick, for Assembly, received 1,381
votes in Union county; Boyer, opposition, 1,666.
1838-
LocL'ST Year — Buckshot War.
I HIS is the " locust year." I saw and heard them for the
first time this year on the 17th of June, and the last of
them were heard in the last week of July. They were
very numerous, and most of the oak trees in this neigh-
borhood bear witness of their labors ; the present year's shoots of
the branches being killed by the punctures this creature makes in
laying its eggs. The common opinion is that they re-appear every
fourteen years, (some say seventeen,) but I incline to think they are
by no means regular in their visits. The first time I saw them was
in 1804, when they were very numerous about Selinsgrove. In the
year 181 7, I saw them at Princeton, N. J. ; in 1821, at Sunbury;
at Selinsgrove, in 1832 ; and, lastly, here, (Milton.) A gentlenun
who had a contract on the canal in 1827-28-29, informed me tliat the
laborers frequently dug up this insect in the aurelia state, in the tliis.
Their size diminished according to the depth beneath the surface.
Some were found at the depth of four feet, and were small, soft,
and entirely white. They do not make their appearance in all parts
of the country at the same period. — G. A. S.
To the Electors of the District composed of the counties of L'nion,
Juniata, ami Mifflin : *
Fellow-Citizens : I have been in a deplorable situation for eight
or ten days past. I was elected your representative. As such, I am
»Thla coniinunication was published as an extra of the Vnim Thn^Jt. WeilneMat.
December, 19, aii<i gives Mr. Montelias' reasuiis tor withdrawlDjj^ rrom hif iiarty
organization at that interesting epooh in Pennsylvania political history, knowoas
the " Huckshot War," ciiusing a collapse ol Thadiluus Stevens' " Kuinp Leglslt-
ture," as It was called. Mr. Montelius was commissioned associate ju<ige of (Dion
county, February '27, 1845, by (jovernor Shuuk, and died at Miflllnburg, MarcbU,
1864, aged eighty year^ two months and twenty-three days.
ia38.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO y ALLEY, sjr
bound faithfully to discharge my duty to you, to myself, to God,
and my country. You are already informed that there were two
Speakers elected on the 4th instant, in the House of Representatives.
With the information I had, and the advice of the friends in whom
I confided, I was induced to act here with the party who profess the
same principles with those of my constituents who nominated and
elected me. But full information, cool and deliberate reflection,
and warnings of my conscience, have convinced me that my party
friends here have mistaken their course, and that, as a faithful rep-
resentative, and an honest man, I was bound to retrace my steps,
do what I conscientiously believed to be right, and trust to the im-
partiality of your judgment, upon a full and fair examination of all
the facts. Finding my political friends had done wrong, according
to my judgment, I withdrew from them immediately, and have
waited for several days to give them time to retrace their steps, and
to allow all concerned to arrange, peaceably and justly, the unhappy
difference that had arisen ; but finding this has not been accom-
plished, I have nothing left for me but to do that which I believe to
be right, and leave to those who would destroy our beloved State
the consequence of their rashness. Do not think I have acted rashly.
The step I have taken was taken deliberately and coolly, and in
obedience to my understanding of the constitution and laws of our
dear country. I am for peace. ** Es wird meiner seeie bange zu
wohnen bey denen die den frieden hasseny And I hope the course
I have taken may help to save our beloved Pennsylvania from blood-
shed and the horrors of civil war. The great (juestion is whether
the majority shall rule, and upon this question I know you all think
with me. Now, all I have done has been done with an honest desire
to carry out this great principle in our free government, that the
minority must yield to the majority. And I am certain not one of
you, however strong a party man he may be, will blame me for
maintaining this principle. My constituents, particularly in Union
county, all know me, and I beg of them all, before they condemn
me, fully and coolly to examine the facts. I have not, in this in-
stance, acted as a party man, but I have acted honestly, and accord-
ing to my conscience.
In joining with my party friends in organizing the House of Rep-
resentatives, with the eight Philadelphia county members of the
S33 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1858.
Whig party, I thought these had been elected by the majority of the
votes of the county, and had been returned by a majority of the
judges, but I soon found that this was not true, and that the eight
members of the opposition party in the county of Philadelphia, had
been elected by a majority of about five hundred votes in the whole
county, and had been returned elected by a majority of the judges.
I am sorry to say that the Secretary of the State kept back these
returns, which I think was wrong. Under these circumstances, I
could not continue to act with men who had no right to their seats,
no more than my opponent had to mine. You would not, as honest
men, ask me to sanction so bad a principle, and it is that I know
your honesty that I have joined those who have been fairly elected
by the majority. My party opinions and principles have not
changed, and my future course will show that I am true to those
principles. On your calm judgment I rely. What I have done has
been done for what I believe to be your interest, and is approved
by my conscience.
I remain your friend,
John Montelius.
Hall of the House of Representatives, December 17, 1838.
On the 17 th of December, Messrs. Butler and Sturdevant, of
Luzerne, and Mr. Montelius, of Union, appeared in the House,
over which Mr. Hopkins was presiding, and, after some remarks by
Mr. Butler, explanatory of their course, were duly sworn as mem-
bers, thus ending the contest.
1839-
Aurand's Hotel Burned— Politics— Obituary Notice of Reverend J.
IT. Fries.
ANUARY 15, David R. Porter proclaimed Governor.
February 19, Samuel Aurand's hotel, at New Berlin,
burned. It was court week, and the house full of law-
yers, jurors, suitors, and witnesses. Some made narrow
escapes, with the loss of their clothing, as the fire broke out in the
night, when all were abed. April 5, John Egbert's stable, at Lewis-
burg, burned, with his horse and cow. This was followed by the
burning of Alexander Graham's and a number of others, caused by
incendiaries.
The Times ^ August 21, publishes the following as the ** Demo-
cratic-Republican Anti-Bank ticket : Assembly, Doctor Isaac Hot-
tenstine ; Prothonotary, Samuel Roush j Register and Recorder,
Robert Forster; Commissioner, George A. Snyder; Auditor, Jacob
Wittenmyer; Trustees of the Mifflinburg Academy, Colonel Samuel
Barber, John Hilbish, and Charles Pellman ; and the following as
the "Abolition United States Bank ticket:" Assembly, John A.
Vanvalzah; Prothonotary, Jacob H. Horning; Register and Re-
corder, John Glover ; Commissioner, Henry Hilbish ; Auditor,
Samuel Pawling; Trustees, Samuel B. Barber, James Simington, and
David Watson. Anti-Masonic candidate for Register and Recorder,
David Schwenck. At tlie October election, Vanvalzah's vote was
1,577. Average majority of his colleagues on the ticket in Union
county, 277.
In October, the banks in Philadelphia and Baltimore suspended
533
S34 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1889.
specie payment, and the Northumberland bank was compelled to
follow. The directors of the latter bank, John Walls, Alexander
Jordan, John Taggert, &c., however, published a card, in which
they pledged their individual responsibility that all its issues should
ultimately be made good.
October 3, grew on the farm of Samuel 2^11ers, in East Buffalo
township, two pumpkins on one vine, one measuring two feet three
inches in diameter, and two feet five inches in length, and weighs
one hundred and twenty pounds; the other measures six feet eleven
inches in circumference, and weighs one hundred and seventeen
pounds.
November 19, Absalom Swineford, Esquire, admitted to the bar.
On the 8th of December, the new Lutheran and Reformed church,
at the place of the old Dreisbach church, in Buffalo township, was
dedicated. The building committee were John Sheckler, Samuel
Reber, Peter Engel, and Jacob Ritter.
ObUuary,
Just Henry Fries died on Wednesday evening, the 9th of Octo-
ber, aged sixty-two years five months and sixteen days. For some
years before his death, he was deprived of his sight, but his astonish-
ing memory enabled him to give out the hymns in full, and preach
with a precision for which he was always noted. He refused to take
medicine in his last illness, saying he wished to die in the full pos-
session of his senses. His disease was of a very singular character.
In July he cut a corn on his toe, mortification took place, spreadini^
gradually, with intense pain, to his knee. Here it remained seatevi
in his knee, the pain having nearly ceased, when suddenly it com-
menced spreading, and affected his whole body. He is buried in
the Mifflinburg grave-yard. The grave-yard lies along a slope,
somewhat elevated above the town, which lies immediately in front:
Ixivond it, west and east, extends one of the finest valleys in Penn-
sylvania. To the west, in the distance, are the jutting knobs ; and
to the north, the broad, blue side of the mountains, with quiet
nooks between ; and as far as the eye can reach, in the north east,
are the breaks in the mountains, with the broad levels l>etween,
which indicate the course of the noble Susquehanna. Thus does
1839.] A\NALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, . S35
his quiet grave still overlook the wide scene of his labors, while he
has gone to await the final issues of his care, as they shall gather
around him in the resurrection of the just.
Mr. Fries was remarkably open, honest, and true. His word
could be depended upon. He hated all sham and hypocrisy to
such a degree that he was constantly in danger of falling into a
blunt frankness, without giving due attention to that suavity of
manner, which is to an open heart what the fragrance is to an open
flower. He was fearless in preaching.*
He was unnecessarily open and free with his political views. He
not only argued readily on this subject in private circles, but often
introduced political matters, with more or less plainness, into the
pulpit, referring even to candidates and parties. He also wrote
numerous articles for the papers during the heat of contests, anony-
mously, it is true, yet still so that their parentage was recognized by
many. This was one of his weaknesses, which his friends always
regretted, but which he was never able to see in its true light. He
was very kind hearted, which he manifested in great affection towards
his family and in kindnesses to his friends. His labors in the min-
istry were very extensive, and the complete statistics of his services
show an astonishing result, &c. — HarbaugK s Fathers.
He was twice married, first to Catherine Groff, by whom he had
two children ; second, to Susanna Groff, by whom he had eleven.
Judge Henry W. Fries, late of Lewisburg, now of Iowa, is his son.
* I hare often beard quoted a remark he made In a sermon In Brush Valley :
** Money rules the world, but Ignorance rules Brush valley.** — Linn.
i840.
Weather Reoobd — State Road from HEBERLmo'B to Euk Creek, C«s-
TBE CotNTY, Located — Census Of 1840,
8ANUARY — , the deep snows of this winter, followed by
intensely cold weather, drove the wolves down from
I Shade and Jack's mountain. A pack of thirteen attacked
I and destroyed an ox near Beavertown. Friday, January
i6, was called the "cold Friday," thermometer being seventeen
degrees below zero. On the loth of February the ice broke in the
river, and passed off, and on the 4th of December the first snow of
the succeeding winter fell.
The following is the result of the elections held on the 5Eh March,
in the borough and township, for and against the common school:
Borough of New Berlin.
For the school, 64
Against the school, 31
Majority in favor of the school, 33
Union Township.
Against the school, 154
For the school, 12
Majority against the school, 141
May 2(1, the commissioners, Anthony Wolfe, of Centre county,
Henry Noll, of Union, and Jacob Stitzel of Northumberland, com-
1840.]
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
537
menced locating the State road from Heberling's mill, in West
Buffalo township, to Elk creek, in Miles township, Centre county,
through the Brush Valley narrows. James F. Linn was the surveyor,
David Wolfe and Henry Peters, chain carriers, and Colonel Samuel
Reber, axeman. July 4, a monument to the memory of Captain
Samuel M. Patterson was erected in the Presbyterian grave-yard at
Lewisburg, with appropriate ceremonies, by the 'Wnion Hornets."
On the 19th of October, Reverend Thomas P. Hunt commenced
his series of temperance lectures, at I-«wisburg, which gave a very
remarkable impetus to the cause through Buffalo valley. On the
29th, Reverend Hugh Pollock, from Belfast, Ireland, arrived and
took charge of the Lewisburg academy, made vacant by the removal
of James McClune to Mifflinburg.
United States Pensioners Residing in Union County in 1840.
Centre, Conrad Swartzlander, aged 85. Union, George Miller,
81 ; Jacob Bickel, 85 ; John Derr, 86. Mifflinburg, Peter Lenhart,
85 ; John Linn, 84. West Buffalo, Robert Barber, 89. East Buf-
falo, Jacob Mook, 86 ; Adam Schout, 86. White Deer, Joseph Bit-
ting, 83. Hartley, Peter Klingaman, 85.
Census of 1840.
704jPenn's, 2,280
788 1 Middle Creek, . . . 562
1,348 Chapman, 1*297
1,252 Perry, 1,254
1,866 Union, 1,630
1,891 Washington, .... 1,135
679 Beaver, 2,609
1,220
1,460
812
Mifflinburg,
Kelly, . .
Buffalo, . .
White Deer,
Hartley,
Centre, . .
New Berlin,
I>ewisburg, .
West Buffalo,
East Buffalo,
Samuel Roush, Esquire, was the deputy marshal, who took the
census of the south side of the county. Captain John Forster, dep-
uty marshal for the north side.
Total, 22,787
m
1
K^S
tet^
s
^rsv;,^^
s
=iEr=
^
1841 to i§5g.
Death of James Merrill, Esquire — Development of Iron Ore in thk
Valley — Newspapers — Politics — Danville Encampment — Notice of
William Hayes— Millerism — Camp Potter — Liberty Party Formed
— Furnaces Built — Death of William L. Harris — Daguerreotypes
Introduced — Railroad Meetino — Accident at Turtle Creek — List or
Valley Soldiers in the Mexican War — Vote on License — Death of
John Lashells, Esquire, and General R. H. Hammond — Lewisbcrg
University Chartered — High's Mill Burned — The Last Battalios—
Taxables and Valuation — Census of 1850 — Susquehanna Railroad
Commenced — First Commencement atLewisburg — Railroad Excite-
ment— L'nion County Agricultural Society Formed — ^Lewisbcrg,
Centre, and Spruce Creek Railroad Company Chartered — Great Fibe
AT Lewisburg — Death of Honorable George Kremer — Union FrR-
nace at Winfield Erected — Erection of Snyder County — Vote in
Favor of Division — Vote on the Location of the County Seat.
[1841.] In the spring, J. & M. Halfpenny started the Laurel
woolen factory, at the mouth of Laurel run, in Hartley township.
They built the Winfield woolen factory, near Laurelton, and removed
thither in 1851. The Presbyterian church, at New Berlin, was or-
ganized. Elders, John Lashells, James Merrill, and Joseph Stillwell.
Mr. Hugh Pollock published his pamphlet, entitled *'The Present
State of America compared with England and Ireland." April 12,
the People's Advocate^ at Lewisburg, suspended publication . Septem-
ber 4, S. K. Sweetman and D. O. E. Maize commenced the publica-
tion of the Independent Press at Lewisburg. In October, the vote for
Governor, in Union county, was : For David R. Porter, 1,568 ; for
John Banks, 2,132. October 29, James Merrill, Esquire, died at New
Berlin, after a lingering illness, from cancer of the face. He was
born at Peacham, Vermont, May 8, 1790. Eldest son of Jesse and
Priscilla (Kimbell) Merrill. Graduated at Dartmouth College in
53^
1842.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 539
181 2, in the same class with Honorable John Blanchard, and came
with him to Pennsylvania. He studied law with David Cassat,
Esquire, at York, and settled in New Berlin in 1816. As a jurist,
he soon became prominent in every department of legal science. He
was always upright and candid in all his professional intercourse, and
was a faithful and efficient advocate. He was a member of the Con-
stitutional Convention of 183 7-1 838. In the fall, the iron ore below
the mouth of Turtle creek was found to be of a superior quality, and
its development was commenced by Napoleon Hughes, of Franklin
county, a short distance above the site of the present furnace of
Beaver, Marsh & Co., a few hundred yards from the river bank. On
the 25th of December, Nathan Mitchell and James S. Marsh com-
menced the manufacture of the ** Hathaway Cooking Stove," at the
Lewisburg foundry. Current prices of grain at Lewisburg, Septem-
ber 18: Wheat, $1.20; rye, 50 cents; corn, 56 cents; oats, ^^
cents; butter, 10 cents.
[1842.] Current prices at Lewisburg, June 11, wheat, Si.oo.
August 20, wheat. 80 cents. The military spirit of the Valley may
be inferred from the number of volunteer companies: Lafayette Troop,
Union Troop, Patriotic Blues, Union Rifle Rangers, Mifflinburg
Greens, and the Lewisburg Infantry. The Union Times, at New
Berlin, was published by Jacob Reichly & Co., John M. Baum, editor.
The Independent Press, at Lewisburg, by S. K. Sweetman and J. F.
Busch. February 10, twelve, p. m., distillery of R. M. Musser, in
Kelly township, burned down. March 2, the Northern temperance
convention met in the Methodist church at Lewisburg. March 14,
Elder William Lane commenced his labors at Lewisburg. March
21, Jonas Kelchner, editor of the People's Advocate, at Lewisburg,
died, aged thirty-five. June i , the encampment at Danville was held.
General Winfield Scott was the distinguished guest. Lewisburg In-
fantry, Captain McFadden, and the Union Troop, Captain Vanval-
zah, were in attendance. June 6, the election for field officers of
the forty- third regiment resulted as follows : Colonel, Levi B. Christ ;
Lieutenant Colonel, Jacob Ritter ; Major, Robert B. Green. Inde-
pendent Battalion — Lieutenant Colonel, S. H. Laird ;. Major, S. F.
Lyndall. July 4, General Abbot Green was elected major general
of the eighth division.
Union County Democratic Standing Committee — James Dale, Hon-
S40 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1843.
orable George Schnable, Jacob Reichly, Honorable John Baskins,
Thomas Bower, Colonel Samuel Reber, Captain John Forster, Major
George Roush, Major John Gundy, Valentine Haas, Esquire. Dem-
ocratic convention at New Berlin, August 29, was composed of the
following delegates: New Berlin, Samuel Wilson and Sem Schoch;
Union, Adam Miller and Jacob Wetzel ; West Buffalo, Elias Kleck-
ner and William Forster ; Mifflinburg, J. G. Chestney and Joseph
Eilert ; Buffalo, Jacob Ritter and Martin Dreisbach ; Kelly, David
Kelly and David Howard ; East Buffalo, James Reber and David
Herbst ; Lewisburg, John Walls and C. D. Kline ; White Deer, Sam-
uel Henderson and J. W. Drum ; Hartley, Henry Charles and
Charles D. Smith. Henry C. Eyer was nominated for Senator, and
Samuel Reber for Assembly. Samuel Wilson, president ; Thomas
Bower, secretary. The Whig convention also met in August, and
nominated the following ticket : Congress, William L. Harris ; Sen-
ate, Ner Middleswarth ; Assembly, John A. Vanvalzah ; Register
and Recorder, Michael H. Weaver ; Commissioner, Solomon Engel ;
Auditor, S. H. Laird ; Trustees, Robert Chambers, William A. Pi-
per, Charles Montelius. This ticket is called, in the choice language
of the Union Times ^ The Anti-Masonic, Anti-Suffrage, Peg Beatty,
Blue Light, Federal Whig ticket of Union county. Vote in October :
For John A. Vanvalzah, for Assembly, 1,562; for Samuel Reber,
1,405.
October 29, the church at Laurel run, in Hartley township, dedi-
cated. December term, George W. Graham, Esquire, admitted to
the bar. December 13, Reverend S. H. Reed installed pastor of
the German Reformed church at Lewisburg. December 23^ New
Berlin Artillerists organized by Colonel Jackson McFadden, brigade
inspector. Officers: Captain, J. J. Maclay; first lieutenant, Mi-
chael Kleckner; second lieutenant, Charles D. Roush, and the
event celebrated by a dinner at Michael Kleckner's hotel.
[1843.] In January, Honorable John Baskins resigned the office
of associate judge of Union county, preparatory to moving to Mer-
cer county, and on the 24th, B. F. Baskins was admitted to the bar.
February 17, William Hayes, merchant of Lewisburg, died, aged
sixty-one. His ancestors, John Hayes and Jane, his wife, with four
children, emigrated from Londonderry about the year 1 730 — settled
in Chester county, where his house burned. He then moved to
1»43.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VAlLeY, 34^
Northampton county, where he kept public house and store. During
the Indian troubles, he used to beat a drum on the hill-top, near
his house, to warn the settlers of approaching danger. He died in
1 788, aged eighty-three. His widow died at Derry, Northumber-
land county, aged ninety-four, in 1806. Of the four children born
in Ireland : i, William, moved to the State of Virginia at an early
period ; 2, Isabella, married to Patton, whose descendants live near
Bellefonte; 3, John, died near Meadville, Pennsylvania; 4, Mary,
married a Gray, afterwards a Steele. Of those born in Pennsylva-
nia : 5, Elizabeth, married Thomas Wilson, (grandfather of Francis
Wilson, of Buffalo;) 6, James;* 7, Robert, born in Northampton
county, in 1742; 8, Francis, who moved to Tennessee; 9, Jane,
married a Brown, settled first in Virginia and afterwards moved
back to Pennsylvania. Robert married Mary Allison, and moved to
Northumberland county in 1790. He lived nine years on a farm
near Warrior Run church, seven years at Derry, and in 1806 moved
to the farm in Delaware township, where his son Joseph lately lived.
He was a school-master, and at that time there were seven or eight
acres of the place cleared and two indifferent huts on the premises,
which he used as a dwelling and school -house. He died in 181 9,
and his children were: i, John, whose descendants live at Water-
ford, Erie county, Pennsylvania; 2, Jane, married to Moses Laird,
(father of Robert H. Laird, Esquire, of Lewisburg;) 3, William
Hayes, born in 1776; 4, James Hayes; 5, Joseph Hayes, who was
living a few years since, at the age of ninety ; 6, Mary Walker, who
died at eighty-four years of age ; 7, Sarah Shipman, descendants re-
siding in Michigan ; 8, Elizabeth, married her cousin Brown, living
near Franklin, Pennsylvania. William Hayes' wife was Mary,
daughter of William Wilson, of White Deer, now Kelly township.
Children : Robert and Thomas of Philadelphia, Mrs. Doctor Seiler
of Harrisburg, Mrs. John Chamberlin, Mrs. Doctor Thomas Mur-
ray, James Hayes, late of the Auditor General's office, at Harris-
burg, Doctor William Hayes of Muncy. Mr. Hayes was the second
postmaster of Lewisburg, and held the office a long time, in con-
' Lieutenant James Hayes served under Colonel Bouquet In the French and In-
dlan war, and received for his services a tract of land at the mouth of Beech creek,
In Clinton county, on which he settled, raised a large family, and died. He is buried
In the Hayes grave-yard, so called from him, at Beech creek. He Is the only one of
hlB brother officers who (ulfllled to the letter his contract with the JProprletarles by
settling upon his allotment.
542 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1843.
nection with his store, which was the principal one in the Valley for
many years. The late George A. Snyder relates the following inci-
dent of Mr. Hayes* early life in Lewisburg :
**Soon after I commenced business in Lewisburg, said my old
friend William Hayes, I was so unfortunate as to lose an entire
cargo of wheat at Conewago falls. I was indebted to several per-
sons for money borrowed, and much of the wheat had been pur-
chased from the farmers on credit, who, being in easy circum-
stances, were content to leave the money in my hands, receiving
interest after six months. So heavy a loss to so new a dealer created
alarm. It was feared I should not be able to answer my liabilities,
and every creditor discovered that he had just then need of his
money. I paid out to every one who came, though with each pay-
ment my heart grew heavy, for it felt that I must be crippled, if not
ruined, before all were paid. One of my creditors, however, on
the day after I had paid him ^400, came to my store and returned
me the money, saying, ' by taking the money, I have been only
making sure to you the ruin which I apprehended ; take it back, I
can trust it to your honesty, and it will help you get afloat again.'
From that time I took courage and worked with a good heart, and
was enabled to become what you see.'*
In April, 1843, Isaac G. Gordon,^ a student-at-law with James F.
Linn, Esq., was admitted to the bar.
Millerism.
The grand delusion of this year was Millerism. A clergyman
named Miller undertook the task of ascertaining when that hour
should come ** whereof no man knoweth ; no, not the angels of
God, neither the Son." Relying on the chronology of Rollin, and
seemingly not aware of the impossibility of verifying the dates of
the Old Testament writers, he confidently predicted that the visible
and personal reign of Christ would commence in the year 1843. ^^
preaching, vehement and fanatical in its tone, and the seeming
accuracy of his calculations, quickly gained him hearers and prose-
> In 1860-61 Honorable Isaac G. Qordon was elected member of ihe House from
Jefferson, &c., April 12, 1806, commissioned president jud{^e of the twenty-eighth
Judicial distridt, and in October, 1873, elected one of the justices of the Supreme
Court or Pennsylvania.
1844.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, S43
lytes. Miller was content to take the whole year for the fulfillment
of his prophecy, but some of his disciples had undertaken to fix the
precise day and hour. One preacher fixed on twelve, p. m., 14th
February. He and his little flock provided themselves with ascen-
sion robes, and repaired to the church-yard to await the resurrection
of their departed friends, and join them in their ascent. The clock
struck twelve, one, and two, but the graves gave not up their dead,
and the company gradually dispersed to their homes.
September 23, William B. Shriner commenced publishing the
Lewis burg Chronicle. October 28, some little boys collected some
shavings at the new Presbyterian church, in New Berlin, and kin-
dled a fire, which burned M. Kleckner's barn, with his poultry, hay,
and oats, and almost set the whole town on fire. John Robinson,
principal of the Lewisburg Academy. In Union county, in Octo-
ber, the vote on the State ticket for Canal Commissioner was. Whig,
2,034; Democratic, 1,393. General Henry Frick, Whig, was
elected Congressman in the district by a majority of 249 over Hon-
orable John Snyder. Lewisburg market prices in November : wheat,
75 cents; buckwheat, 40 cents; rye, 44 cents; corn, 37^ cents;
oats, 25 cents; butter, 10 cents. December 20, the revival services
under the charge of Reverend William D. Grant, were crowned
with success, in the baptism of a number of persons this day, which
culminated in the formation of the first Baptist meeting at Lewis-
burg. December 31, Reverend Henry Harbaugh preaching in
Lewisburg.
[1844.] January 3, the Baptist church at Lewisburg was recog-
nized as such, with Reverend C. A. Hewitt as temporary pastor.
January 8, the new Lutheran church at Selinsgrove was dedicated.
February 29, the Presbyterian church at New Berlin was dedicated.
March i, General Henry Frick, member of Congress from this dis-
trict, died at Washington, D. C, aged forty-eight. He was interred
at Milton on Monday, 4th. He established the Miltonian Septem-
ber 21, 1 816. March 18, Charles G. Donnel, president judge of
the eighth district, died at Sunbury, of paralysis, and on the ist
of April, Joseph B. Anthony, of Williamsport, held his first court
at Sunbury. On the 5th, a special election for Congressman, vice
General Frick, deceased, was held. In Union county, James Pol-
lock received 2,086; Honorable John Snyder, 1,289. Pollock had
544 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [l«o.
5 majority in Northumberland county, and 154 in Lycoming. Sny-
der had 89 in Clinton. May 16, John Hayes, deputy surveyor of
Union county, died. Of his children were R. G. H. Hayes, Nancy,
William, David, E^uire, and James Hayes. July 4 was celebrated
in Brown's woods, at Lewisburg, four schools from the town and
two from the country joining. There were seven hundred Sabbath-
school scholars in procession, who were addressed by Reverends
Crever, Harbaugh, Zeller, and Sutton. August 27, Camp Potter,
on the farm of James F. Linn, in East Buffalo township, organized,
by the arrival of two troops and three foot companies, General
James Potter in command. September 2, Methodist camp-meeting
on the farm of Jacob Ziebach. September 14, large Democratic
meeting on the island, at Milton. Honorable James Buchanan
spoke, and assured his auditors that James K. Polk was as good a
tariff man as Henry Clay. The summer was noted for great efforts
in the temperance cause — the burden of the speeches an appeal to
the ballot-box. Reverend W. H. H. Barnes, who afterwards be-
came a backslider, and was murdered by guerrillas during the Mexi-
can war, canvassed the county and made a fine impression from his
eloquence in advocating that appeal. General Reily, of Rochester,
New York, also lectured frequently during this period. October 8,
at the gubernatorial election, Francis R. Shunk and General Joseph
Markle were the opposing candidates. Markle (Whig) received
2,721 votes in Union county; Shunk (Democrat) received 1,777.
For the sale of the main line of canals, 1,289 votes were cast, against
2,113. F. J. Lemoyne was voted for by the Liberty party for Gov-
ernor. November i, presidential election. Henry Clay had 1,024
majority. James G. Birney (Liberty party) had 8 votes in Lewis-
burg. The names of those who voted for the latter were John K.
House 1, H. R. Noll, Augstadt, Poeth, Samuel Evans,
Dennis Phillips, and James F. Linn. December 18, a Native Ameri-
can meeting was held in the court-house, at New Berlin, which was
addressed by Absalom Swineford, Esquire.
[1845.] Market prices at Lewisburg, March : Wheat, 75 to 80
cents; rye, 50 cents; corn, 37 cents. In June, wheat, 80 cents.
In October, 85 to 95 cents. J. M. Kuester editing the Pittsburgh
Daily in January. February 4, occurred the first deep snow of the
winter. It was over twelve inches in depth. April 30, James Kelly.
1845.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 545
senior, opened a temperance house, on Market street, in Lewisburg.
July 7, the first metal made at the Berlin iron-works, operated by
Wilson, Green & Mitchell, was brought to Lewisburg. The Baptist
church at Lewisburg, that stood on the corner of Pine alley and Third
street, now the site of Music Hall, was built during the summer by
L, B. Christ, Esquire, contractor. August 9, John Wolfe's barn, in
East Buffalo township, was struck by lightning, and burned. Au-
gust 13, Honorable Hugh Wilson, late associate judge of Union
county, died, at three, p. m. , aged eighty-four. His wife, Sarah Craig,
was a daughter of Colonel Thomas Craig, of the third regiment,
Pennsylvania Line, afterward General Thomas Craig, of Northamp-
ton county. August 29, West Branch Division, No. 53, Sons of
Temperance, organized at I-«wisburg. September 3, barn of George
F. Miller, Esquire, in East Buffalo, burned by an incendiary. Sep-
tember 28, Reverend Joel E. Bradley preached the first sermon in
the lecture room of the Baptist church at lewisburg. September 13,
first frost. October 9, Hugh Wilson, of Buffalo township, died. He
moved to this Valley from Northampton county, and got here a few
days before Christmas, 1790. Lived the winter of 1790-91 in an
old cabin, on his father-in-law's, William Irvine, (Irish,) place, in Buf-
falo ; then kept tavern for two years, one mile above Mifflinburg,
(late John Kleckner's.) In the latter part of March, 1793, moved
to a place owned by Colonel Hartley, one fourth of a mile east of
Hartleton, on the old road, (late Yerger's,) where he lived five
years, and in the spring of 1798 moved to Lewisburg, where he kept
store in a log building, formerly Thomas Caldwell's, (which stood
where Doctor F. C. Harrison's house now is,) until 1804, when he
was succeeded by William Hayes, and then moved on to his farm,
one mile west of Lewisburg, where he died, lacking twelve days of
eighty-five years of age. His children were. Doctor William I. Wil-
son, of Potter's Mills, still living ; Mrs. William C. Steadman, Fran-
cis Wilson, and Mrs. James F. Linn. At the October election, S.
D. Karns, Whig candidate for Canal Commissioner, received 2,015
votes in Union county; James Burns, Democrat, 1,416. October
30, Frederick Bingaman died in Beaver township, aged ninety years.
He was in the militia, under General James Potter, at Brandywine.
In Noveml)er, Green, Howard it Green commenced erecting the
Forest iron-works, in White Deer township. November 1 1 , Honor-
35
54(> ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1846.
able William L. Harris died at four, p. m. , from the effect of an op-
eration, performed between twelve and one, p. m., for the removal
of a tumor. He was highly respected, and as it was not known that
he was the subject of a disease, his death caused a great shock to the
people of the Valley. He was a member of the House in i ^"^2^^ and of
the Constitutional Convention of 183 7-1 838. In December, an artist
named Felch took the first daguerreotypes in the Valley. He charged
$650 for a group of ^^t in a small four-inch glass case. December
16, Charles Merrill, Esquire, admitted to the bar.
[1846.] January 8, a large railroad meeting was held at Mifflin-
burg, Henry Yearick, president, to urge the incorporation of a
' company to make a railroad through the Valley. February 5, the
act to establish the University at Lewisburg was passed, (Pamphlet
Laws, 32,) and on the 5th of October, Professor Stephen W. Tay-
lor opened its high school in the lecture room of the Baptist church.
Friday evening, March 13, Thomas Follmer and his son Henry and
William Gundy, son of Major John Gundy, who were managing the
Farmers* company store at Turtle creek, were drowned at the mouth
of that creek. They were going in a boat, about ten, p. m., to visit
the store-house on the opposite side of the creek, and were on their
return, when the mill dam gave way, and the boat struck a timber
raft. William Gundy's body was found in the boat under the raft,
the next day; the others were carried down the river, and their
bodies were found three weeks afterward, some miles below. The
flood in the river at this time exceeded that of 1810, being six and
one half inches above the mark of that date on Kremer's store-hou>e.
The canal was broken, mails stopped, the Milton bridge badly in-
jured, the bridge on the North Branch, at Northumberland, carried
away, as well as the one at Duncan's island, and the Harrisburg
bridge in part. March 21, price of wheat at Lewisburg, eighty five
to ninety cents. April i, the last sermon preached in the old stone
church, at Buffalo Cross-Roads, by Reverend Isaac Grier, from Mat-
thew, xxviii : V. 5. The congregation worshipped twenty nine years
and three months in that building. In August, Reverend Samuel
Shaeffer had charge of the Lewisburg academy. At the Octokr
election, in Union county, James M. Power received 1,976 votes,
and William B. Foster, 905, for canal commissioner. November 15,
Baptist meeting-house at Lewisburg dedicated. November 27, John
1B47,] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 547
^rr, a revolutionary soldier, died in Centre township, aged ninety-
^Wee years. Monday, December 28, the Columbia Guards, after-
wards company C, second regiment, Captain John S. Wilson,
passed through Lewisburg on their way to the seat of war in Mexico,
fhey were provided with dinner by the citizens. Charles H. Shriner
cJeiivered an address, and Colonel Jackson McFadden presented
f^ern with a flag.
List of Soldiers in the Afexican War from Union county.
-App, Jacob, Selinsgrove, company C, second regiment, died at
S3.1-1 Francisco, California, in October, 1849, aged twenty-four;
^^■st, Francis R., Mifflinburg, company C, second regiment, died
at ^erote, June 30, 1847 J Bower, Doctor Charles, surgeon ; Bruner,
^^illiam, Hartleton ; Cronmiller, Henry, Mifflinburg, Independent
r^^c^ket and howitzer battery; Forster, R. H., Mifflinburg, company
^ > second regiment ; Leopard, Joseph, Kelly, company I, first reg-
^"^^^^nt ; Miller, George ; McFadden, Hugh, Lewisburg, company
second regiment, died at Perote, September 14, 1847 \ ^^c-
ughlin, William, Lewisburg, fifth United States infantry, died in
^^^'vice; Montgomery, John C, company M, second regiment;
^Vhart, Peter, died January 14, 1849; Oliphant George; Quid-
**^^gton, Thomas; Yarnell, Peter; Zentmyer, Enos, first regiment.
*^ ^e survivors of company C returned to Danville in August, 1848,
^^d shortly after Lieutenant Clarence G. Frick returned the flag,
^^ttered by the storms of war, and little left beside the stafl", to
^olonel McFadden, at Lewisburg.
[1847.] March 19, vote in Lewisburg against licensing taverns,
^lo; in favor of, 75. In April, price of wheat in Lewisburg was
St 30 to t\ 35. May 7, corner-stone of the German Reformed
church in Lewisburg laid. Reverend Doctor John W. Nevin
preached and performed the services. In April, the extreme dis-
tress in Ireland and Scotland, on account of failure of crops, caused
meetings to be held for their relief, and large contributions of money
and provisions were made by the people of Buff*alo Valley. May
18, John Lashells, Esquire, died at New Berlin. He came to this
county from Adams county, and his legal experience was contempo
rary with the county. He was buried at Buff*alo Cross-Roads, on
S4S ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1848.
the 2oth, the following members of the court and bar attending:
A. S. Wilson, president judge ; Joseph Still well and John Montelius,
associates; Hugh Bellas, Ebenezer Grenough, Alexander Jordan,
James F. Linn, Isaac Slenker, George F. Miller, Joseph Casey,
Samuel Weirick, D. W. Woods, R. B. Barber, William Van Gezer,
and Henry C. Hickok. June 2, General R. H. Hammond, who
was a paymaster in the United States army, died on board of a
vessel, between Vera Cruz and New Orleans, aged fifty-seven. He
served in Congress two terms. His body was interred with militar)'
honors at Milton, on Monday, August 2. Independent Grays, of
Selinsgrove, Lewisburg Infantry, Danville Rifles, Lycoming and
Northumberland troops. Masonic fraternity, in full regalia, were
in procession; General Green commanding the military. In all,
over six thousand people in attendance upon the ceremonies. In
August, Alexander McClure was appointed postmaster at Lewisburg,
vice William Murray. On Saturday, August 21, a meeting favor-
ing the nomination of General Zachary Taylor for President, was
held at New Berlin. Honorable George Kremer presided ; General
Abbot Green, William Cameron, Jacob Reedy, Henry Yearick,
vice presidents; John Walls, Thomas Bower, and John M. Baum,%c-
retaries. The meeting was addressed by Henry C. Hickok, Esquire,
and Charles H. Shriner. September 15, a Democratic meeting, pre-
sided over by John Cummings, junior, recommended General Taylor
for President. In October, the vote in Union county for Governor
was, for James Irvin, 2,463; Francis R. Shunk, 1,479. October 9,
river rose, very high, and the west half of the Buffalo creek bridge
was carried away, and lodged upon the river bridge. The river is
said to have been one foot higher at Lewisburg than it was in the
spring of 1846. October 20, Philadelphia synod met at Lewis-
burg, and was oj>ened by a sermon by Doctor Yeomans, of Danville.
December 25, O. N. Worden became editor and publisher of the
Lewisburg Chronicle.
[1848.] January 8, the German Reformed church at Lewis-
burg, was dedicated; the exercises were conducted by Reverend
H. Harbaugh, pastor, assisted by Reverend Messrs. Fishers and
Reverend Mr. Funk. It is situated on Third street, below Mar-
ket, and is sixty feet by forty — H. R. Noll, architect. In Feb-
ruary ground was broken for the academy building of the Univer-
1849.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, S49
sity. Noll and Crites had the carpenter work, L. B. Christ the
brick and plastering ; brick-work was let to Reed & Baker, paint-
ing to Metzgar & Munson. March 2, a meeting was held to
secure a suitable place for a cemetery at Lewisburg. The company
was incorporated April 10, (Pamphlet Laws, 446,) and in July they
purchased six acres from John Chamberlin, adjoining the western
limit of the borough. March 17, Reverend Thomas Hood died,
aged sixty-eight. He was born in Chester county, in July, 1781,
graduated at Dickinson college at the age of seventeen, studied the-
ology under Reverend Nathan Grier, of Brandywine, was licensed
in 1802, and was married April 16, 1803, to Miss Mary Haslet,
of Chester county. Mrs. Hood died November 10, 1840, and he
married Miss Hannah McClure, March 4, 1845. ^^^ children were
Mrs. Catherine McCormick, of Mill Hall, Clinton county, Mrs.
Mary Rutter, Mrs. Margaret Harvey, and Wilson Hood. June 6,
Charles L. Shoemaker, of West Buffalo, was kicked by a horse, and
died on the 7th, aged thirty-five years. June 14, J. S. Hawke sold
the Union Star to D. W. Woods, Esquire. The Union Democrat,
published at New Berlin, by J. Young. June 9, Lewisburg market :
wheat, ;^i 06; rye, 60 cents; corn, 35 cents; butter, 12 cents.
October 10, Ner Middleswarth*s vote for Canal Commissioner was
2,941 ; Israel Painter, 1,580. Joseph Casey had 1,333 majority for
Congress in Union county, and 223 in the district. In November
General Taylor had 1,473 majority in Union county. In Lewis-
burg, Taylor had 205 ; Cass, 124; Van Buren, 10. In New Berlin
Taylor, 79; Cass, 57; Van Buren, 5.
[ 1 849. ] January — , A. Kennedy appointed postmaster at Lew-
isburg, and R. P. Maclay appointed associate judge of Clarion
county. Doctor Thomas A. H. Thornton commenced the practice
of medicine at Lewisburg. The Berlin iron- works were blown out,
and Forest iron- works in the hands of the sheriff. The California
gold fever reached the Valley, and on the 26th of February, R. B.
Green, David Howard, Cyrus Fox, W. H. Chamberlin, Frederick
Schaffle and John D. Musser, set out for California, by the overland
route. James K. Kelly, James M. Duncan, and others, left Lewis-
town for the same destination. March 5, Peter Struble, of West
Buffalo, aged about fifty-eight, was found dead on the public road
near Buffalo Cross-Roads. He had accompanied a newly married
•550 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1850.
daughter to her home in Lycoming county, and was returning
on foot, when death met him with a paralytic stroke. April 25,
High's fiouring-mill, at White Deer, burned. Over $5,000 worth
of grain destroyed. Kaufman & Reber bought the Forest iron-
works for $7,000. May 21 was the last of the battalions, one com-
pany only, the Lewisburg infantry, paraded. A great crowd of boys
and people from the townships had come to Lewisburg. "The
meanest battalion I ever seed," was the general expression. Octo-
ber 9, H. M. Fuller, candidate for Canal Commissioner, received
2,431 votes in Union county; John A. Gamble, 1,820. Colonel Eli
Slifer's majority over John Cummings, junior, for Assembly, was
617. Against a poor-house, 2,537 votes were cast; for, 910. No-
vember 5, James McClellan, Esquire, died, aged eighty-two. He
had lived over fifty years in the Valley, and was nearly the last of those
worthies who settled our Valley. He came from Chester county,
and married Mary Irvine, daughter of Captain William Irvine, of
the Valley. He was a school-master and justice of the peace for
many years. He was considered by many, who could not appre-
ciate his worth, as an obstinate man, the true reason of which was,
that he was firm in his opinions, and in nine cases out of ten right.
I never knew a man who was more willing to acknowledge his error
when he discovered it. Among his last expressions was, ''when a
man came to die, this world and all its interests were of little ac-
count." He was a living encyclopedia of church history, and with
him passed away forever many interesting incidents of the early his-
tory of the Presbyterian church in Pennsylvania. — -J, F, Linn's
Diary.
[1850.] January 2, H. C. Hickok, Esquire, takes the editorial
chair of the Lewisburg Chronicle ^ O. N. Worden, publisher, and
Reverend Henry Harbaugh issues the first number of The Guardian.
February 26, report of James Marshall, John App, and Leonard
Wolfe confirmed, erecting a new township, which the court direct
shall be called Limestone.
1850.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 55^
T.^.KiA. Valuation of
Taxables. ^^^j Estate.
Buffalo, 251 ^5 73*260
Buffalo, East, 198 282,842
Buffalo, West, 294 391,144
Hartley, 384 403»495
Kelly, 209 299,007
Union, 346 44i»io5
White Deer, 315 233,575
Lewisburg, 428 168,782
Mifflinburg, 207 57jI47
New Berlin, 153 86,922
In April, Frick & Slifer removed their boat- yard to Lewisburg,
a pecuniary advantage both to the borough and the Valley, which
should be specially noted. April 18, Doctor Robert Vanvalzah died
at Buffalo Cross-Roads, aged eighty-five. He was born near Croton
river. New York, April 17, 1764, and when a boy of sixteen, he
served two tours in the militia with the Continental army. He
came to Buffalo Valley in 1786, so poor, that one of the Beattys
gave him a shilling to pay his ferriage over the river at Sunbury, a
favor he never forgot, and repaid with much interest in providing
for one of the family for many years. He settled on Penn's creek,
and in connection with his father-in-law. Colonel Sutherland, built
the mills, two miles below New Berlin, lately owned by the Maurers.
He located at Buffalo Cross-Roads, about the year 1796, and his his-
tory is intimately associated with that of the Valley for sixty-four
years. His practice extended into the present counties of Mifflin,
Centre, and Juniata. Two of his sons, Doctors Thomas and Robert,
became eminent practitioners in the Valley, and his grandsons, in
the same profession, have been and are numerous and skillful. In
May, Reverend D. Y. Heisler was installed pastor of the German
Reformed church at Lewisburg, and a post-office was established at
Forest Hill in West Buffalo township, on the Brush Valley road, A.
H. Lutz, postmaster. In April, wheat at Lewisburg was at 95 cents
to t\ 00, and in June, %\ 05 to $1 10. June 7, Captain William
Housel died in Lewisburg, aged sixty-one. He served five years in
the regular army, was captured in 181 3, taken to Quebec, and there
was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment. He was in the engage-
SS^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1851.
ments at Chippewa and Lundy*s Lane, and was in Fort Erie when
the magazine exploded. He was buried with military honors by the
Lewisburg infantry and the Cameron guards. Thursday and Fri-
day, July 18 and 19, a north-east storm raged for thirty-two hours.
Limestone run higher than ever known, and Chillisquaque creek
higher than known before in fifty-seven years. In October, Henry
W. Snyder had 2,172 votes for Auditor General ; Ephraim Banks,
1 ,443. For the judicial amendment, i ,45 1 votes were cast ; against,
1,424.
Census of 1850.
Mifflinburg, .... 783
New Berlin, .... 741
Union, 1,452
White Deer, .... 1,537
Total, 13,631
Buffalo, Ij346
Buffalo, East, .... 970
Buffalo, West, .... 1,007
Hartley, 2,142
Kelly, 834
Lewisburg, 2,042
Limestone, 807 j
[1851.] Honorable Ner Middleswarth was the Whig caucus nom-
inee for State Treasurer. The following post-offices were established
in January: Chestnut Ridge, Samuel R. Baum, postmaster; Dry
Valley, J. Mitman : Winfield, M. H. Taggert ; Crotzerville, H.
Heiser. In April, the old bridge at the mouth of Buffalo creek was
removed, and a new one commenced. The Sugar Valley and White
Deer turnpike received an appropriation from the State, and was
completed. Volksfreund, started at New Berlin, by F. & E. Smith.
April 26, Thomas Howard, in digging a ditch, near his residence, in
Kelly, dug up a tusk of a mammoth, ten feet long and nine inches
in diameter. It was found in a layer of blue clay, two feet below the
surface. In May wheat was 80 to 85 cents; rye, 50 cents; corn,
50 cents. May 26, the telegraphic wire was brought to lewisburg,
and before night a message dispatched to Philadelphia, and an
answer received ; and a meeting was held favoring the construction
of the Susquehanna railroad, on the west side of the river, from
Sunbury to Williamsport. August 20, the first commencement of
the University at Lewisburg was held, and its first class graduated as
follows : Salutatory, J. M. Linn, Washington Barnhurst of Philadel-
phia, R. M. Fish of Beaver, George O. Ide of Philadelphia, J. M-
1852.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 553
Lyons of Chester county, Henry Pomerene of Pittsburgh. Vale-
dictorian : J. H. Castle. The degrees were conferred by Professor
Taylor, and Professor George R. Bliss delivered his inaugural ad-
dress. Professor S. W. Taylor then took formal leave of the insti-
tution, having accepted the presidency of Madison university at
Hamilton, New York ; and Doctor Howard Malcolm was formally
installed president of the University by Thomas Watson, Esquire,
president of the board of trustees. October 14, vote in Union
county: For Governor, William F. Johnston, 2,817 ; William Big-
ler, 1,949. For president judge, Joseph Casey received 2,379, and
A. S. Wilson, 2,283.
[1 852.] March 13, a railroad convention was held at Baltimore,
attended largely by delegates from the Valley. April 15, Daniel L.
Miller, junior. Esquire, president of the Sunbury and Erie railroad,
visited Lewisburg and endeavored to interest the people in favor of
that road, but public sympathy was with the Susquehanna or Balti-
more company, and the railroad controversy was inaugurated, which
ended in 1855 with a division of Union county by a proposition
that the county commissioners should subscribe $200,000 to the stock
of the road. This was done by Captain John Wilt and George
Heimbach, county commissioners, on the 28th of April. The
borough authorities of Lewisburg subsequently subscribed $75,000.
In May the Union County mutual fire insurance company was or-
ganized ; John Gundy, president, J. A. Mertz, Esquire, secretary.
June 10, weather as cold as in December, a heavy frost on the morn-
ing of the nth. August 31, the largest meeting ever witnessed in
New Berlin assembled to take action on the railroad question. The
court-house being too small, the meeting convened in front of the
public buildings. John Swineford nominated R. B. Barber for presi-
dent, and took the ayes, but not the nays. He then read a list of
vice presidents and secretaries. The nays were again demanded,
and when put the whole organization was voted down. C. H.
Shriner attempted to offer a resolution, and Mr. Barber proceeded
.to state the object of the meeting, but his voice was drowned by a
shout that compelled him to desist. Mr. Casey then nominated Hon-
orable Ner Middleswarth for president, which motion was carried.
He was helped into the wagon, and proceeded to state the object of
the meeting. The repudiators of the bonds had retreated to the steps
S54 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1853.
of the jail to make another stand, when a delegation of them sallied
forth, seized the wagon, and carried off president Middleswarth and
his fellow officers around the comer towards Penn's creek. The
audience, however, kept its place, and the president returned and
mounted another wagon, when the meeting was addressed by Messrs.
Casey, S. C. Wilt, G. F. Miller, and resolutions passed approving
of the $200,000 subscription to the Susquehanna railroad.
The watchword of the Democratic pirty this fall in the county,
'*no more hay for Breyman's cow," arose from the fact that C.
Breyman farmed and pastured the public lots. October 12, for
Canal Commissioner, Jacob Hoffman received 2,555 ; William Hop-
kins, 1,807. Ner Middleswarth, for Congress, had 706 majority;
Adam Sheckler, for county commissioner, had 718 majority over
Philip Ruhl.
The Union County agricultural society was formed at the court-
house at New Berlin, Saturday, November 13; the East Buffalo
society, which had been in existence for a year, passed a resolution
calling the meeting for such organization. Martin Dreisbach presided
at this meeting, Samuel Weirick acting as secretary, and Jacob Gundy
presented a form of constitution, which, after several amendments,
was adopted. Jacob Gundy was elected president of the society;
Samuel Shedle, of Perry, and others, vice presidents: R. H. Laird,
treasurer; R. V. B. Lincoln, assistant secretary; O. N. Worden,
recording secretary; Samuel Weirick, librarian; executive commit-
tee, James P. Ross, Isaac Slenker, and Henry W. Snyder. In No-
vember, Nesbit Hayes and Fichthorn commenced erecting the first
steam flouring-mill, upon Water street, in Lewisburg. December
14, at a meeting held at New Berlin the Crawford county system of
voting directly for candidates was proposed. Joseph Casey, Esquire,
Israel Gutelius, anrl John Wilt favoring its introduction. Ner Mid-
dleswarth, D. A. Woods, Samuel Weirick, and James Marshall, op-
posing. It was finally agreed to try the system for one year.
[1853.] February 1 1 , a meeting was held at Potter's Fort tavern
favorable to building a railroad from Lewisburg to Spruce creek.-
and on the 12th of April, the Lewisburg, Centre, and Spruce Creek
railroad company was incorporated, and on the T6th of May Thomas
A. Emmett, with a corps of engineers, commenced the suney.
April 20, the Lewisburg saving institution was incorporated : books
1854.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. SSS
were opened on the 23d of June, and two hundred shares taken. It
commenced business September 19, with William Cameron as presi-
dent, H. P. Sheller, cashier. In October, the vote in Union county
'was, for Thomas A. Budd, judge of the Supreme Court, 2,616 ;
John C. Knox, 1,521. On 13th and 14th of October, '* The Union
County agricultural society" held its fair at New Berlin ; two hun-
cired and seventy five articles were entered for competition, and a
plowing match came off. October 15, Frick, Slifer & Co.'s steam
saiv-mill burned down, with the newly erected county bridge, three
l>oats, &c. Captain John Forster appointed postmaster at Mifflin-
t>urg, and Henry W. Crotzer, at Lewisburg. December 9, the
Mrorkmen on the Susquehanna railroad, about two and a half miles
^^>elow Lewisburg, on Major John Gundy 's farm, came upon the
skeleton of a full grown person covered with stones. The bones
crumbled on exposure. The site was on the side of a steep and
^Iniost impassible hill, and the body must have been deposited there
^th considerable effort.
[1854.] In April, price of wheat was $1 50; rye, 75 cents; corn,
55 cents. In June, wheat advanced to $1 87. At February term
Jackson township was formed, out of parts of Penn's, Middle Creek,
L>niestone, and Union townships. In June, Professor J. S. Whit-
''^^.n was elected the first superintendent of public schools for Union
County, with a salary of $300, and one hundred and fifty schools to
oversee. July 15, W. A. Patterson, of Kelly, died, in his eighty-
third year. He held a pen in his hand, preparatory to signing a
'^^te, when the '*grim messenger" came, and he died before mak-
^'^g a mark. Honorable George Kremer died, near Middleburg, on
^^nday, September to, aged seventy-nine. His last public appear-
^^ce was in July, 1847, when he presided over a public meeting,
'^^M at New Berlin, to advocate the election of General Taylor to
the presidency. He was buried in the family burying- ground, on
"*s own farm, on Wednesday, attended by a large concourse of peo-
P^^, The new Christian chapel, on Third street, below Market, in
^-^Mrisburg, was built this year. At the election, in October, James
bollock had 2,881, and William Bigler, 1,913, for Governor in
^t\ion county. The vote in the county for a prohibitory liquor law
^9s 1,440; against, 2,614. I^ October, the Union furnace at Win-
fte\d was built by Beaver, Marsh & Co. The University extension
SS^ ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, [1855.
of the town plan of Lewisburg laid out by Reverend A. K. Bell,
treasurer of the University, and James F. Linn, surveyor.
[1866.] Wheat, in March, $2 00 ; rye, $1 00 ; corn, 75 cents;
butter, 1 6 cents ; eggs, 1 2 cents. Chronicle published by O. N. Wor-
den and J. R. Cornelius, Henry C. Hickok having been appointed
Deputy Superintendent of Public Schools. Thursday evening,
January 18, Clinton Welch, Esquire, a lawyer from Lewisburg, was
drowned in the Delaware, at Philadelphia. March 2, the act creat-
ing a new county, to be called Snyder, out of Union, was approved.
The election provided for therein was held on the 14th of March.
The vote was as follows :
For. Agalnit.
Buffalo, 189 84
Buffalo, East, 175 4
Buffalo, West, 114 62
Hartley, 152 191
Kelly, 143 22
Lewisburg, 485 i
Limestone, 3 60
Mifflinburg, 69 92
White Deer, 254 21
In the county the vote stood, for division, 1,688 ; against, 1,643.
In May, Union seminary at New Berlin was established. Reverend
W. W. Orwig, president ; Reverend F. C. Hendricks and Hoffman,
professors. October 9, the election was held to determine the site
of the county seat, Lewisburg and Mifflinburg were the competing
towns, having each furnished a guarantied subscription, that the
county buildings should be erected by the successful town, without
any cost to the taxpayers. The vote was as follows :
1855.] ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, $57
For Lewlsburg. For Mlflflfnbur^.
Lewisburg, North Ward, 286 —
** South Ward, 233 —
East Buffalo, 174 8
Union, 79 26
Kelly, 145 21
White Deer, 255 26
Buffalo, 157 121
West Buffalo, 13 200
Hartley, 78 321
New Berlin, 7 139
Jackson, 4 39
Limestone, 5 129
Mifflinburg, i 196
1,436 1,226
For Canal Commissioner, Nicholson*s majority was 607.
Census Returns for 1860 and 1870.
1800. 1870.
Buffalo, 1,560 1. 521
Buffalo, East, 968 1,011
■^^ffalo. West, i>o75 1,046
^^rtley, 1,530 1,143
Hartleton, (incorporated 1858,*) .... 288 292
^^iiy, 779 942
^wisburg, 2,666 3>i2i
Lewis, (taken from Hartley 1856,) ... 658 1,007
Limestone, 913 880
^if!iinburg, 865 911
Ne^ Berlin, 672 646
^nion, 820 840
'^hite Deer, i>639 1,676
i4»433 i5'036
LIST OF OFFICIALS.
MEMBERS OF THE gEXATE.
Ditlriet compoaed of the Countie
NorlhHtnhf.rland, Union, Colam
Ilia, Sufiaehanna and Luzerne.
1814-in, Thomas Murray, Jnnlor.
I»<I6-1T, Chiu'leH Fraxor.
ISIH-IO, Hinvtn Snyder.
lS2l>-m, Re<lnioii(l Conyngluun.
Northumberliind and Union.
1823, Andrew Albright.
l«2»-ai, Lewis Dowart,
ISr-U-IN, iHHBisSlenker.
Perrg, Miinin, Jiiiiiala,
Uni
t/|| IMS, Ner Middleswarth-f
1- |: 1840-01, Jonathan J. Canningliaju.
,:imi~5i, EliSiifer.
I 1855-67, James M. Sellers.}
Clinton, Lyeotaing, Centre,aii'l
1 1 1858, Andrew Oregg.
1859-61, Andrew Gregg.
■ 1802-64, Henr>- Johnsun.
\\ Lycoming, Union, and Sngiltr,
I'lSnri-dT, John Walls.
IHnft-TO, John B. Bedk.
' 1871-73, Andrew H. DUl.
nd Huntingdon
IKnSK, Iwuic Sloukor.
183>UtO, Rohort P. Maclay.
1841-1'J, lt<ib*'rt P. Maclay.
IWS, I[enryC. Eyor.
^^illlil', Union, and Juniata.
1844, Honrv C. Ever.
IH45-4S, Jaoil) Wa);enscller,»
• DLeo, IMi. t '■'■'■■■■ Wagonpeller
,ndrew H. Dill.
lUleJ la Phllailelphls. Jii[i<;21,l!7I'
Distri'^tf'
.YorfAiii
lamhia.
MEMBERS OF AS.SEMBLY.
mitdo/tlieConnlicaof ; 18irj-lG, Jamli Brol>sl.
■'and. Union, and Co- 1816-17, N'er Middlcswnrth.
I .Tiio>ib Brobst.
1817-18, Frederiek Stees.
Josopli Sliltwell.
' 181S-10, John R:iy.
II Ner .Middles wnrth.
t 1S19-20, Ji>iin Itav.
' Nor MidtlleswaHh.
1 1830-21, Frederiek Wise.
I Don Caldwell.
sss
:, D.ivid E. Owen.
Robert Willptt.
Jiisiiph HutiihinHim.
Henry Sliairer,
Uiii-m County.
I, Nor NElddtettwurtli.
A.V/VACS OF BUFFALO GALLEY.
Xfttil^ Sot Mlddleswarth.
Jainea DhIo.
Ift-Ji-S, Mlmon Hiiydor.
JuiicH Diue.
lWi3-a4, Janies I)»lo.
. ^ Aimon Snydur.
lS«l-25, Nor MiddioHwanl..
.=.,. William Forater.
lt«1^28, Ner MiddlMwurth.
,_ James Madden.
l«»-27, Jsfiv^ ^luddeii.
,„^ Williuin Forster. iun
1827,28, Ser Midillfswortd.
..>^ Jolm rirei^biifli.
ISSUES, John llroi»l,:i.>li.
,_„ NerM!fl,U,««„rtli.
1829-30, XtT Middlt-nwartli.
,^ PhUiii Ituhl.
1S3*M1, Ner Sliddltwwarth.
,^ Philip Huhl.
'**t-«>, Jtanry Ktiimh.
It™.. Philip Ituhl.
1«-T3~34, iMlM^rtP. Mm^Uy.
,t,-. Million .Shuller.
It™. Jiiwjb Hummel.
ISa>_3fi. Nef MIddleswartli.
John Monteliua.
tjnU,
'a-»c,
Jnmon Hii|rhi'H.
Abnihnin S, Wilson.
James Hiii^hm.
Honty Yfarlok,
John Funk.
William Hamsov.
John MontelluHl
Abraham S. Wiison.
iBsao Hot te I lutein.
M'illtu.nC..x, senior.
Ser Mid'IlL-KwHJih.
Jolm *"ank.
JMpphA (lell.
John II. M<tC'nim.
Wlllinm KasR.
John A. Vanvalzah.
ThomaH J I^lslleth^vn
Dnvtd GleTin
Snniuol Reber
find Juniata.
John Hall.
Jolin Adams.
John Hall.
John Adams.
John MoCrum*
Jiioi)b MoOorley.
Jacob MoCorley.
Un\
ll(H7,
John MoMinii.
IH4S,
JohnMuMinn.
1
Mamiicl Wuirlck.
Iftifl,
SamuPl Welrick.
J<.im McLaughlin.
\m.
Kli SliftT.
John McJjiuKlilin.
1 iwi.
Kli .Slifor.
1M.W,
William .Sharon.
\m.
John llealo.
liKi*;
John \V- Simiinlon.
;i8S5,
J. W. Crawford.
; Tin
on, Junialn, anil finydf
IIRVI,
George W. Stroude.
1 IH.i7.
Tlioiiiiwllower.
'1«58,
'riioniiiallaycB.
D^uiel W'ilmer.
185ft,
John J Pflttersun.
WUllttm P. WogenMll
llHfiO,
ThomoaHttyeaT
A\-llUi«n F. VVagensell
■1861,
Thomas Hayua.
John J. PaCteraon.
1862,
11. K. Hitter.
J. Itoaver.
,1803,
.H. K. [{iiK'f.
1
1HG4,
^ '"■IH.;.r«i^.
Lyco
ning, r-«ion, and Nnyde
1865,
S. 11. Orwig.
Waiiniel AlTetnan.
CharlM Wilnii).
1806,
S. C. Wlngard.
D. A. Irwin.
Isaao Ifcithrock.
1887.
S. C. Wingard.
Cliarl(j» U. Roush.
J. 11. Wright.
1808,
K. II. La«%he.
C. 1). It.)nHh.
George (). Nl^sa.
W. V. I. I-ainler.
1860,
1
Thomai) (^hurcli.
William (i.llerrold.
1870,
Tlioodore HiJl
Tliomaa t'huroh.
Andrew H. Dill.
1S71,
Samnel Wilaon,
John CunimingH.
wiuiiim YounS.
Hiiyder anil Union.
1873,
William (J. Horrold.
1873,
Charles S. Wolfe.
1M74,
Charlea H. Wolfe.
1875-76
r'wioii.
Charles S. Wolfe.
1877-78
Alfred Ilayoa,
S^o
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Seth Chapman* . .
EULs Lewis, . . .
Abraham S. Wilson,
PRESIDENT JUDGES.
July 11, 1811
Oct. 14, 1833
Mar. 30, 1842
S. S. Woods, . .
Joseph C. Buoher, .
. Nov. 20, 1851
. Nov. 7, im
ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Hugh Wilson, .
John Bolender,f
Adam Light, . .
George Schnable,
John BiLskin,
Joseph StillwcU,
John Montelius,
Jacob Wittonmyer,
James Harrison,
James Marshall,
Jacob Wittenmyer,^ .
* Resigned, October 10,
Oct.
Aug.
Dec.
Mar.
Mar.
JiUl.
Feb.
Feb.
Mar.
Nov.
Nov.
11, 1813
2«, 1815
11, 1820
Philip Ruhl, . . .
John W. Simonton,
John Walls,
26, 1840 " John W. Simonton,
15, 1841 1 Martin Dreisbach, .
21, 1843
27, 1845
28, 1848
7, 1850
10, 1851
10, 1851
Martin Dreisbach,
John W. Simonton,
Jacob Hummel,
Cyrus Hoflfa, . . .
Jacob Hummel,
William F. Wilson,
1833. t KesiKned, December 11, 1820.
DEPUTY ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
. Nov. 17, lass
. Nov. 12, 18.T6
. Nov. 20, I'm
. Nov. 23, 1H61
. Feb. 3, 1865
. Nov. 6, lf«5
. Nov. 9, lHfi6
. Nov. 9, 1870
. Nov. 17, 1871
. Dec. 3, 1875
. Dec. 8, 1876
X Legif lated out.
William Irwin, 1814 Isaac Slenker 1830
John Lashells, 1815
M. McKinnoy, junior, . ^ . 1818
James Merrill, 1821
John Mumma, 1824
C. A. Bradford, 1826
John A. Stcrrett, . . . Feb. 1828
John Wveth, Sept. 1828
Samuel Weirick 1836
Robert B. Barber, 1839
John Porter, 1842
George W. Graham, . • . . 1843
Robert B. Barber, 1846
William Van G^zer, .... 1848
(roorjjo ITill, . . .
William Van Gezer,
James B. Hamlin, .
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
Dec. 1850
Dec. 1853
Dec. 1856
Joseph C. Buchcr, .
Alfred Hayes, . .
Andrew A. Leiser,
Dec 18=K<J
Dec. 1X62
Sept. 1876
PROTHONOT ARIES.
Simon Snyder, jr.,*
Josepii Still well, .
George A. Snyder,
Joseph Stillwell, .
Roljert P. Maclay, .
Sanniel Roush, . .
Jacob H. Horning,
♦Simon Snyder, junior
died at HarrisburK. May
Oct. 14, 1813
Feb. 7, 1821
Jan. 22, 1824
Jan. 28, 1830
John P. Gutelius, . . Oct. 13, 1S40
William Roshong, . Nov. 12, iJ^l
Jacob Hans, .... Nov. 11, 1S47
Joseph Evster, . . . Nov. 25, 1S50
Jan. 6, 1836 Samuel Roush, . . . Nov. 22, 1853
Jan. 31, 18:^9 James W. Sands, . . Nov. — , 18fi2
Nov. 14, 1839 I C. H. Haasenplug, . Nov. 18, 1S65
, Esquire, was born at Lancaster, Noyember 0, 176S, aixl
10, ISS-j.
REGISTERS AND RECORDERS.
Simon Snvder, junior, Oct. 14,1813
Peter Hackenberg, . Feb. 7, 1821
.John Maclay,
Samuel Roilsh,
George Aurand,
R<)i)ort Forster, .
.John Glover,
Samuel Aurand,
Jan. 22, 1824
Jan. 28, 1830
Jan. 6, 1836
Jan. 31, 1839
Nov. 14, 1839
Nov. 12, 1842
Henrj' Aurand, junior,
Daniel Bellman, . .
(Christian Breyman, .
J. VV. Pennington,
George Merrill, . .
Elisha H. Weikel, .
Reuben Kline, . . .
Aug.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
25,1845
17, 1845
22,1851
29,1854
27,1867
28, 1J«3
22,1869
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
56/
SHERIFFS.
JohnRav Peo. 13,1813
Frederick Wise, . . Oct. 30, 181(>
Isajio Mortz, .... Oct. 50, 1819
Jacjob Rlioads, . . . Oct. 21, 1822
Philip Hoebold, . . Oct. 20, 182;>
John Hjuls, .... Oct. 24, 1828
John Cunimings, . . Oct. 18, 18;^1
JohnCuunnings, jr., . Nov. 3, 18:J4
William Glover, . . Oct. 17, 1837
Isniel (Juteliiis, . . Oct;. 24, 1840
John M. Benfer, . . Oct. 17, 1843 :
Ilenrv S. Boyer, . . Oct. 24, 1846
ArchibiUd Thomas, . Oct. 24, 1849
John Kessler, . . . Oct. 27, 1852
Daniel I). Guldin, . . Oct. 24, 18;")o
I. alU vet te Albright, . Dec. 16, 1861
Thouijus Chnrch, . . Dec. 16, 18(>4
I>afayette Albright, . Dec. 17, 1867
Mi<;hael Kleckner, . Dec. 10, 1870
Lafavette Albright, . Xov. 31, 1873
'rhomiw P. Wagner, . Dec. 26, 1876
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
181.3,
1814,
1815,
1816,
1817,
1818,
1819,
1820,
1821,
1822,
1823,
1824,
182;'),
1826,
1827,
1828,
1829,
1830,
18.31,
18:J2,
183:3,
18;U,
18:ir»,
1836,
18:^7,
1838,
18:59,
1840,
1841,
1842,
1843,
1844,
Dan Ciddwell, Frederick Gut-
1845,
el ius, and Philip Moore. !
1846,
James Dale.
1847,
John Bower.
1848,
Henry Roush.
1849,
Mishael Lin(H)ln. j
18,>0,
.Jacob German. ;
1851,
William Kessler.
i 1852,
SebiUHtian Witmer.
1 18^53,
Joseph Fuehrer.
1854,
(Uiristian Miller.
18,-)5,
Uriah Silsbv.
(ieorge Wei rick.
18;")6,
Samuel Aurand.
1857,
.John Montelius.
i 18.")8,
Thomjus Youngman.
' 18;-)9,
John Ziegler.
William Betz.
18<)0,
: 18<51,
Peter Hackenburg.
18»;2,
Philip Franck.
18<i3,
.J. F. Wils(m.
18<J4,
.John Keller.
18(;5,
James Harrison.
18<W>,
Samuel B. Barber.
18()7,
John K. Snyder.
18l>8,
Archibald Thomas.
18<>9,
JacM)b Hummel.
1870,
Henry Hilbish.
:i871.
Samuel lioop.
,1«72,
Jacrob McCorley.
1873,
Solomon Engel.
1874,
Michael (Clemens.
1875,
Henry Saimders, junior. |
1
.Ta(X)b Martin.
R. H. Laird.
Joseph W' inters.
James Barbin.
John Wilt,
(ieorge Heimbach.
S. K. Ilorrold.
Adam Sheckler.
Sem Fjcitzt^l.
John 1). Romig.
R. V. B. Lincoln, Jacob Hum-
mel, (ieorge Schoch.
William Rule.
R. W B. Uin(X)ln.
James Pross.
D. H. Kellv.
F. Bolender.
J. M. Walters.
Robert Reed.
Samuel Marshall.
Michael Klei^kner.
Michael Brown.
T. V. Harbeson.
S. B. Holfman.
E. S. (iudvkimst.
T. V. Harbes<jn.
S. B. Hotl'man.
Willarn Steiuis.
J. W. Kauttman.
Joseph lk)op.
( ieorge Schoch.
Joseph B<xjp, (Jeorge Schoch
and John Yargor.
COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS.
1813, Flavel Roan.
1817, Frederick ( Jutelius.
1821, John Mauch.
18.31, J. H. Horning.
18.34, S. Weirich.
18:^>, M. H. Weaver.
1841, J. J. Miiclay.
36
1843, J. S. Dubois.
1851, C. Brevman.
1851, (Nov.,) David Schwenck.
1853, A. J. Peters.
1855, Andrew Kenned v.
1869, Peter Hursh.
s^^
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
1814, Michael Schoch.
1817, Joseph Stillwell.
1818, Thomas Shipton.
1820, Christopher Seehold.
182H, William Kessler.
1820, Sanmel Wilson.
1829, Samuel Auraiid.
1831, Jaw)b Mau(;k.
18.35, Tsjuio Peters.
1838, John I'. Seebold.
1841, Michael Kleckner.
1843, Philip Gross.
1^5, Ar(?hibald Thomas.
1847, Charles Seebold.
1849, Daniel Ilorlachor.
1851,
1853,
1855,
1857,
1859.
1801,
1863,
il8<35,
' 18<57,
! 1809,
; 1871,
1873,
1875,
Jac»b Mauck.
Henry Solomon.
R. IL Laird.
H. P. Sheller.
R. H. Laird.
John A. Mertz.
William Jones.
John Ha^'es.
William Jones.
William Hauck.
John Hertz, deceased. Wil-
liam Jones api>ointed to fill
vacancy.
James Pross.
B. F. Eaton.
DEPUTY SURVEYORS.
1813,
1818,
1821,
18:^3,
I8:i(*>,
1830,
18:^9,
1840,
Simon Snvder, junior.
1840,
Adam Wilt.
1850,
.John Hayes.
lr>>4, <
Robert G. H. Hayes.
1858,
Solomon Enj?le. '
18;59,
^^ichael H. Weaver.
1808,
Robert G. H. Hayes.
1874,
James >radden. *
'•
CORO:
SERS.
Philip HUbish.
Robert G. H. Hayes.
.T. Henrv Motz.
Wilson 1. Linn.
Conrad Shecikler.
Reuben F. Brown.
Conrad Slieckler.
1810, Isaac Mertz.
1810, Danio.l Winter.
1822, Ja(M)1) Swineford.
1825, ('hristian Shroyer.
1828, Robert Van varzah, junior.
18:U, John Bower.
18.34, Jacol) Aurand.
1837, Joseph Long.
1841, Matthew Brewer.
1842, Jacob Reit^ilev.
1845, Jghn D. Smith.
1858, William L. Harris.
NOTARIES PUBLIC.
( -hristian Miller, .
Henry C. Hickok,
Geor^:e A. F'rick, .
O. Norton Worden,
Jolm B. Miller,
Samuel Slifer, . .
William .Tones,
Andrew Kennedy,
Goorjje A. Frick," .
Samuel Slifer, . .
Andrew Kennedy,
.loseph J. R. Orwig,
Samuel Slifer, . .
Andrew Kennedy,
S. P. Myers, . . * .
Samuel Slifer, . .
Jan.
0,
1820
A pril
VI,
1853
Dec.
28.
18;">4
May
l-»,
1855
Aug.
1*2,
1850
De(\
^,
1857
.Tan.
12,
1858
.Tan.
15,
1858
Jan.
i^,
18f)l
.Tan.
12,
1801
.Tune
124,
1.801
.Tan.
14,
1804
Jan.
14,
18f)4
June
29,
18<M
April
7,
1805
Jan.
11,
1807
Andrew Kennedy, . Oct. 30, 1S»'
Simon P. Myers,' . . April 7, ISilS
Paul Geddes, . . . JiUv 15, lsi»
John Stitzer, . . . Nov. 12, 1*9
Sanuiel Slifer, . . . Jan. 0. KO
Mellville Reese Dill, Mav 5. 1<70
John S. Stitzer, . . Nov. 15, bTJ
Samuel Slifer, . . . Jan. 9, 1S7:J
William Rule, . . . April 3t), ^78
D. B. Miller, . . . Mav 0, In.*?
Samuel Slifer Jan*. 12, ISTrt
John Stitzer Jan. 22. W')
William Rule, . . . >rar. 2(», bTf?
I). B. Miller, . . . >rav 3. l>Tt)
G. N. LeFevre, . . Mar. 2i). l<r:
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
JL'STICKS OK THE PEACE BY APPOINTMENT.
Uolnndor, . . .
j^ Wtiiriok, ■ .
lUH Shiptun, . .
iiiH YuuiiRiiiun, .
Cuiiiiiiin^H, . .
■tO!ihHr!*!el)(jl(l, ,
A- Sjivker. , , .
.iWiit
■V Yimriok, . .
■Wil*.n, . . .
p itiiri'liurt, . .
ih Fuehrer, . .
'lluukenburs.ir.,
ITalilwcU, . . .
itlunML.er, , .
erlokGutelius, ■
haul AuTund, >
am Keislor,* ■ ■
^ inclinable, . .
I itnriiMn.t ■ ■
rt WlUett, . . .
-ew Mf^'lenuhun,
icl Wilwm, . .
ael Butlitiin, . .
Itellimydur, . .
Bawtlcr, . . .
tSi Aiirand, . .
^•<«l»it
■s >tiH:U'IIim, .
ii:I Hniiiit, . . .
(ilover, junior, .
I OeriiiHii, . . .
itltic Uiuut, . .
iSiSSi,: ;
)h Stillwcll, , ,
Mar. sr, HI3 ij Hcnrv Str)il>e1, . . .
.\Iar. a', Hl;ll HeiirvHorokl, . . .
Auk- T,. IHia I HrHtenBtine, Dr.Isuut,
Nuv. Ill, IHI.S I Micihael Wiltenmoyer,
]}ee. 10. 1813 , lame Snilih. . . .
Miir. ai, IS13 i .rumes Fleming Linn.
Mnr. .W, 1813.|.I.)liu7iliiplav - - -
Mar. ai, 1K13 il Kobert (5. H. Hayes, ,
Mar. at, 1S13 II Simon Snvder, . .
Nov, 1, 1M13 .liiliii K'iti'k, . .
Mar. ai, IM13r .1 .. !■ M. '■■::■:. . .
Mar. lM, \»\S . .
Mar. 26, IHlsJ . . .
Mar. at, isi;i ; - .i ., ,,,. . ,
Jan. %■>, IKH.i ^.uiiLi- 1 '...■..!.-,
Xiiv. 11, IBUl Jt.hii lU'ilsinvlt-r,
Jun«-J!t, inu! -laosb J. Mair, .
■lune 24, 1816 Jauul) Muss^r, .
May 13, 1816'IWflliHinKesslor,
William Roshung, . .
Jonatlian PWitawarlh,
John HJslily . . .
IsHseJonCK, . . . .
Hamiicl Itoiutli, . . .
Honrv Xoll
PttlorH. Hawk, ■ .
John Lonig, ....
Jolm Emtiilt, . . .
David Sohirenok, . .
James Uarrinon. • ■
Soiuuel B. Barber. .
Peter Hackenberii. %x,,
Philip Iluhl
Mar. la, !*«
Apr. a), isa*
Apr. 2U, l«il>
Jiui. ::, WIS
OW. M, 1817 '
Mny 30, 1817 I
June ,1, I8ii>
Mar. Ill, 1819
June 3, 1»1S.
May 17, ISIBl
Jan. 4.1820
Mar. 2il, 1821 1
June 4, 1821
l)ut. 4, 1»J1 1
Mar. 21, 1822 '
Mar. 20,1822!
Sept. 23, 1822 '
Mnr. 20. 1822
Dec. II, 1823 I
Ni>v. IS, 1823 1
Ot'i". 8, 1823 1
Dec. lU, 1823 I
June 22, 1825
, Apr, 25, 1831
. Mnv 31, 1831
. Mav 17, 1832
Mar. 27, 183,1
noo. I, 183.1
nec 9, 1;
Nov. 4, II
Apr, 20, 188J
Mar. 14, 183j
June ;, 18.3(1
Fob. 3, I33i!
June 7, iftSii
June 8, 1830
Mar. 27, 1837
i, 1837
Nov
iinfe! Bellman, .
nilrfiwlJlovor, .
>!i[i ("oilTlney . .
ewis Bertram, . .
evi B. Clirist, . .
.. __, . iciib F. Hunitnel,
Apr. 17, 1827 , Jaci)b Riblet, . .
Feb. in, 1827 1 1 Conrad Stock, ....
Nov. 23, 1827 | George N, Youngman, Apr. 10, 1839
1«. t RsslgDed, Dioemlwr 14, 1811.
I Resigned, September 87, 1SS8.
. Mar. 27, 1837
. Out. 24, 1838
. Dec. 25, 1836
. Jan. 3, 1838
. Nov. 14, 1838
. Dee. 20, 1838
^ W^^^ ^H"^ V" ^
NECROLOGY,
COMMENCED BT JAMES F. LINN, Esquire, in 1826.
Date of
Death.
Date op x
Death. :;
Ackcrinaii, Mrs. ('., .Jan. 10, 1874
Ad juris, .Joseph, Jan. — , 18*25
Adams, William, Ort. 18, 18«>S
Adams, Mrs. Marv, Got. <>, 1H72
Aikov, T.ewis, ' Apr. 22, lSrt2
Albert, .Jawb, July <>, 1S48
Albert, Henodict, May 20, 187.5
Alsbacii, Solomon, Jan. — , 1828
Alter, Mrs. Mary, Feb. 5, 1817
Alter, Abraham*, July 19, 1829
Ambers, Mrs. M., Sep't. H, 18(>1
Amnion, Andrew, Mar. 14, 1842
Ammon, Samuel, iSfpt. 14, 18")2
Anmion, Heyer, Feb. 21, 18iiii
Amnion, Kliz-ibeth, Feb. 14, ls«)8
Anderson, James, May — , 1847
Anderson, Jere., Jaii. 28,1804
Anderson Moses, I June H, 1874
Andrews, (Jeorj^e, I Jan. 10, 18«50
Anj^le, Mrs. L. T., loet. 9, 1871
Anj^stadt, Mrs., Apr. 2, 1858
Anp^tadt, (Jideon, — , 1854
Anj^Uidt, Henj., Feb. 15, 1803
Antiiony, llon..J. B. .Jan. 10, 1851
Arbeji:ast, Eye, Jan. 29, 1808
Ard, l)r. Joseph B., Fel). 24. 18(>1
Armstrong, Mrs. S., Feb. 20, 1829
Armstrong, Win., Aug. 20, 18.>4
Armstrong, James, Aug. 18, 18«)7
Armstrong, Marg't, July 20, 1809
Arnold, <;eorge. May 12,1.8^48
At\yood, Henry, A])!-. 27, 18:^>
Au))el, Mrs. Jiiirb., July 11, 184.8
Aurand, Samuel, Aug. 19, 1845
A u rand. Mrs. (too., Aug. 18, 1H48
Aurand, A))ram, Jan. 25, 1855
Aurand, Henry, Mar. 1, 1844
Ansi)a(^h,Susah'li., Sept. 19, 1842
Backliouse,Dr.S.T. Dee. 28,1848
70
50
85
73
80
71
740
88
52
82
70
75
88
20
90
00
/.>
75
82
71
02
29
44
Badger, Robert,
Baker, .John,
Baker, Peter,
Baker, Mrs. Sarah,
Baker, Jacrob,
Baker, Mi-s. Ann S.,
I>aker, John,
liak(;r, John, W. D.,
Barber, Robert,
Barb(»r, Afrs. Marv,
Barber, (Vd.Sam'I,
Barber, Thomsw,
liarber, Mrs. S. A.,
Barber, Key. D. M.,
liarber. Mrs. A. B.,
liarber, Mrs. Kliz.,
Barber, JOk>anor,
Barber, Mrs. Jane,
liarber, James W.,
Barkdoll, John H.,
Barnes, <'Iiarles L.,
Bran hart, Mrs. S.,
Barn hart, H(^y. W.,
Barr(»tt, Able C,
Barrett. Mrs. S. H.,
Barton, Es<i., S. S.,
Baskins, Hon. J.,
Baum, Mrs. Kliz.,
I^auni. Samuel,
liaum, John M.,
Beayer, Key. Peter,
B(»ayer, W. M.,
Jieayer, Mrs. E. G.,
Beatty, Jane,
Beeher, ('apt. 1). L.,
Iiec;htel, Peter,
Bechtel, Samuel,
Beck, Henry,
Beck, Isaac *L.,
(>et.
Oct.
Oct.
Apr.
Apr.
Sept.
Nov.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
Dee.
Oct.
De<'.
Apr.
Aug.
Feli.
May
May
Jail.
Feb.
A pr.
Sept.
Jan.
Sept.
Sejit.
Sept.
Oct.
June
Aug.
Xoy.
Oct.
>rar.
Mar.
Feb.
Apr.
.Tan.
Mav
10, 1837
— , 1821
— , 181:3
25, 1853.^
11,185512
9, 1«»!2S5
7, lS»>8o»
20 1874 Jt'
•-7, 1841 91
— , 1W«
2, l.S4rt
14. 18.Vi
20, INXiryJ
30, K^^»«
17, l.<7130
5, ISTl'HU
2;"). 1873 M
1,8, 1874 fill
30, 1877 1'
3. 18<»^
21, 18fiL'70
18, lsr.47M
19, 186i:»5
10, 1849
8, 187-J
14, 18fi465
i;^, 185163
2:^, lS3i»«l
3, 184*2
29, 18(1239
26, 1849 «T
13, 18.=>422
30, 18i>141
4, 1S2P62
17, 1858 S4
3, 18.V2
9, 1870 .=>8
2, 1>M»>
21, 185645
S^4
I- BVl-FALO VALL
[IBATH. '^ i DkATII. ^
K''**'«. -Vrtam, iIUht. 21, i.>«17fui|ll..«-..H,.I.iiin, | . in:u
■i«"k. MrH.Sosan'h, Mur. II, vr,»m Hi.vd. Jolni 11., Autt- 1, IN13
{«-'-klv, «r.. Kalilel, Jiilv -il, \m\ ll'ncr, >(™. Itjirl.'ru Mar. 1, INiM iKt
{"■"kiT, Joliii, S^iil. I«, l*43W H..v(T, Mrn.Siirali, Juii, 3, liClItW
!J^''-kiv, Ilenjniuiri, Mav ^, I«."nl H..Vi'r,-Siiiiiupl. 'Apr. 10, 1S7-1 09
S;'el,cV, J..lin, May II, l«raN3 tBtidBwd, E.O., Mm.v 17, IKWI
JJ^Wl, Mrs. Sunan, l-Vb. Lf*, imw « Bnirtv, chnrlnHP, .Iuiip II, IHIS
K*''l'T,Hr„.Iiihn, Miir. 3, ISdd (M , 11r;iir..|i.T. .Tjir-.b. Jiilv 7, IH7<ll«i
[f^ll, Bi^rrvliiU, N..v. l."). INiil m | i^, ,,,, .,, , , r^. , .Miiv II, IHr4 W
f;*"!!, \V. li., Jiine-.K', 1-^7.1 c,:) ,■, ■,.. .\rar. ll», IWl;l7.'i
IJ»^I],M™. M. R., Jiilv -iK, 1S7I1IM r .lim. 12, I.«i7(l7a
^»inor, Jolui, Mur. H, \XAT.\ , ; < SV.xx al, 1»«67
IJt'nm'r. (It-cirm, N.iv. lU, Ih.-,4 7S I i;,;^. ■]■„ .lu^-. 'M. 3), lS.Vtrh1
JJ^nner, Kll«ll>etll, ,I)uc. JO, l««7fl Itrirlae, Mm. Klia., Xi.v. £i, IH7:(na
P«MiiiiT. Jcihn It., Sunt. I, IM757U,| KriKliI, St'lirpver, Xnv. IS, I.s,VI 111
!**Mi[ietT. Klimlietb, Mnr. ^ ]HT2>IM llriiillt, (3i<i>ncu. Muv 18, Istt:it2
;*<3nm!tt, niurleH, Aug. .MH74 «;■ Bright. J8«)li, .Fef>. 13,1H(W7.-)
Jj^irklov. Ji>m.-pl«. "<■'■ 7,l*ill4j'!»riBlit,J^)«u|ili, M.ir. ti, 1m7L»!7
;;ert.iInUu. Jonn., Jiiii. 1, IW-llffl) BnilMt, Jw il), 'Mar. a.'. l>t:-,-3
:f«:<lz, Hibiiiimi, ttot. -JS, IKHy.Sl ii Hnxikn, Kiiok, Vuli. £1, l.-<7;iil'(
;*«^^.^, l>iinU-1, IVt. »1, IKit! I Itruwii, J.ihii, V.H\ .liilv Ti, ISll '!.*>
■, CliarleK, .July 19, IHiHtlzs Bniwi), Julin. !lKjc. IS, l.-<:l'<«:i
' 1, IKiwi, I Brown, Jiihri, Aug. 7, Ij*!-)'!-
. . :. IMim4'i3' Bnin-n, John, !>(«-. 3(1, IMHIHI
;»tinj:i.iui.. ,MrH.J., Mar. I. Imhi'.m,. Unm-n. ('Iiri<. <;., -liilv :». K-ill
«Mill.-. .I.lm, Aii'^. UO. 1Mf;7I(MI Unnvn, WilliHui, '.lulv l.=i, IHV.-W
*1iliin^li)n,Tluim:w. Mar. 10, lS.W-11 ' Bruwii, Mm. Miisiii, Sypl.'JH, IKJHM)
Hillmvor. I'lara. Junoai'i, W«. , Brown, CI iri»tiaii, Julv ao, IsiW
Killmver, Mikrliu. Apr. 3, l*a'40:] Bwwn, Miittlicw, ,Ane. ~, IWMifli
HiUmvcr. Mm. S., Nor. 14, lMT4i3 ' l)n>wn,MrM.I[an'h,'Jiiii. 7, l>)il.~i«I-J
Uiiiiis. .t.ilin, Junr in, l.iHi SH llnnvn, I,t. lltiiBin, May 10, ISiil
Dinl. Jonatluut. KpI>. 13, 1H7SG4 j> Bn>wii. Al>mhuin, Xiiv. 11,1»WK1
ItiiBlK>li, J»ba, Nor. -JI, lM.>ti II Unm-ii, .l.u''>I), JhKi. 3.1, lH7i)il
Blatrk, JamCH.. IMiir. 9, l«t7 llrown, I'nrlMlun, Oot. 2(4, 1)473 Ml
Blank. Mnt., liia-la,lA|>r. 3.-i,l>M7 7(1 Hnmn, lii'ii™, Apr. 4, 1M7.-.M(I
BlHck, lldiinuh, lAu^. 11, 1N.>^39 i Bniwn, WiUbim, Sttpl.'jn, WiTt^A
Blwik, Man-, Apr. 1H, 1M>U»7!1 llnmii, Midhaul, Miir. 9, |x7il79
RluL'vk. ThoinimS., Nnv. a), IKTil (il i Bri-x.in, ttohert, OvI. SIM^tS-J
Bl»rk, Mi-s. M. IJ., Fob. 7. IS72 70 .Hrv«m, Itev. Jolin,,Anf[. 8, 1H.«.1W
li(:,.k«il . Mrs. iXov. as, lfM9 Bncher, Miijwle.fJ.jMar. 2», IKfiO 7
\:\:\\v. .I^iiie, Nov, 17, l<«il -'rtl,, Buckniir, Iniao, Hopt.lH, 1H2R,
llivllir.. i:-«i., en!., .TuiieL7, IHI957 lluokiior, Witliniu, , 1H49I
l!«.l. <iq>t.I)aTlii, 0,it, 11. 1H::4 lliii^knor, Ainelin, Aug. IK. Win -W
Jl«il. i;-.,., (Jeo. F.,l.lBii. If^ 1S.-..14.-. iBmkner.Si.nih, Mav IH, IWH
l;..l>M, Ml<'hn«I, Mav 1, IHll I Itiidil, Mnt. Anna, .\ug. 4, imfijTI
R.t;k.>ni'r. iaaup, .Supi.art, IM-.»<I ' Biiov, Kdwnrd, iPeli. 3(1, lR74!7r>
BDgHr, Ja«ib, Xwx. \'\ IfJl : Burn, .Sitrnli, IX*. 5, 1H4J77
Btncur, John U., .\pr. 15, ism44 llliirr, HenrvH., Nov, 31, lAVllSS
HiigHr, lliwor. 'Ahie. 1(1, IMIB | Burrell, JoBBph, OiH. Ifi. 1S37|
RoKRH, Kwe I)., Aiifj. 4, IS72 49 HurriH, John L. Milr, 5, lR8n;H8
Bc»i>p, PWer. lAiiit. 14. iH7-27« : RuBalef Mm., ,Vullori«ii. I
Bi(np«lrp»iwr, Geo., May S, l>*.-|((7i; i, Huttwfleld, JOnas, Oct. 3, l«3l,
Botwler, John, Jiiiiu 4. l^t-iDHJ ll Brier, Samoal, Mav 3S, lMW|->'t
IVn-fwrd, Mrs., N<iv. 30, ISITDI (Iwlttdlailfr, Soth, Aug. 3«, IW3'(I7
n:>wer, Mrs. Sivnih, Mar. 1, 1S4(( llCaldwull Jnlin. Mav — , li«tl
KnwcT, Jiutoh, Sc|it.33, LH47 W Taldwell, Marv, Au;;. —, ISM^
Itower, Willlum, T)efi. 21, lrt-'>l : Culdwell, l>an, Deii. 10, fcMiUO
Ituwer, Georfje, lAug. 13, lAUlK I! Caldwell, .Tames D., Mar. U, 1.''47 IH
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
C'alciwell. JaneM., !l
Ciilviii MuaiMarj-, '.'
CiunHrnn, MKrthii^ }
I'aiutTon, Dunii'1, '
*'niiieroii, (.'ol. .l:i-. '
Cumer(in. jr., Wm '
Camiibell, John. '
I'snipbcll, Mariii, I
Cnmii>>ell, Wm.,
Cunipbell, ¥. C,
("anrtor, Harriet.
Cnnclnr, Mra. Ktfz.,
Cunilcir, J. ninvard,
Canil'jr, Joxiah,
Cnndiir, Joseph,
Cnndor, Jnhii M.,
Cttn(l<ir,Mi«sI<.vdlii,
Caniior, Fninkliii,
(rancirir, Kiimbeth,
CarHnn. John B.,
Carol ticrx, Willinin,
Parothtirs. Annie M.
(.'niil, John,
C'-Awlev, JiiiiiOR,
CawU-y, Mfiw Rliz.,
Cawlov, (.'harlwi,
Clianiticrlln, Ann,
Chnuiliprlin, Uriah,
riinnihcrlin. Col. A.
riiiuiiliGrlin, John,
('lianiliorlin.MntM.
t'lmmlierllii.n. A.,
ChaiulicrHn, Man',
rimniliorlin, M. E.,
Chainliera, Kiiburt,
( 'haitilH-ni, Itiib'n IC
ClwnilHtrH, IliHij,
Chanita'rH, Mrs. M.,
ChanitMTH, lt"ljert,
I'luimhiirH, Ki-nj.
(.'l)nnilii'rH, MrK. M.,
<'li)il>n<-ll, I.iiHiiilii,
(■liiippcll, Mm. M..
<'liapi>ell, jHHun T<.
1-hai>p(>11, Muiiril,
l.'linrliH, iSainuol,
Charlton, Dr. Jus.,
r lurry, Chart ch,
Clit-wnt-y, Jncijh G.,
Phtstnut, J.,
Chi'Hlniit, Rev. I>.,
Chexliiut, Ann,
Phrist, Juuob,
Clirist, Mfh. Path., I
CliilNi, Mra. Hradur,
Christ, Ixvi B..
ChriWie, Mrs. Mar.,
Sept.— , imui
Apr. 21, ISUtIsO
Jrtav — , I83ili
Dec. 14. IftStt'
Sept. 'a. 1H3U
Juno 2(1, 1640,70
Apr. 18, 18411:57
Nov. 13, IfUUZt
Mar.—, iwam
Mar, 13, IKft! iff
Apr. 12, imi^
Mar, 25, IlM!)
Jan. 7, II«175
Jim. 10, lallSD
Jim. t(, INllkt
Sept. i", l«10
Jan. Vi, IWW 68
iApr. IS. IKWdi
Mlir, — , IS5H;H!I
Apr. 13, lS(>«f«
Apr. ».lNnrKii
July 2S, IMim IT
. — . liSfi
Mar. 11, IS3(!]27
IX-c Ifl, 1H47'(H
.\UK. -i, wm 4S
Oi:t. Mi, Vtii At
ktt. 19, \^im
lut. at, 1X7.~> 41)
Se|it. a. wniii
Oft. — , 184!) IIH
lAi't-'- "
rinrlt, SarHh, Aug. 1.% 1854 It*
Chirk, Sarah, Mav 10, ia.i7tf7
I riiirjc, Flavel, Mar. 0. 185H44
'I'l ,r'i{, .lames. Oil. 22, IRM
I ■ i„„.ns, Miuh'I, Aur. 7. WW 77
■ . T.m. Wni. Esq.. Mav 24. ISti
■ !■. ..MrH., Mav 7, lt«M*>
i in ^Ji, Thomas, .\pr. 34, 18.i(*73
('IbiKiui.Jr., Flavel, Apr. 21, \Kffit
CliiiKHa,a<ionte, Jan. 14, 1NW72
Clinfjan, Mrs. M., !Dec 31. 1*5172
Clinunn, Flavel R., iOcl. 17, 1878 S2
C-tliuni, Dr. Chas., IApr. 23. la.W72
Cole. OeorRe. iMnr. 2, 1*WI!9
Collins, Mrs. .\Iarv, .\ug. 2, IWISJ
(^olsher, , May 26. 1.t.-i7 9fi
Conilv. Thonvis, Xrn. 13. isriii47
Connor, Davitl, ;Keb. 8. IMO
Conner, KI!nil>eth. [Sept.2R, liWi
Conner, John, iSept. 3, ii*W
Connid, Oeorge, |July ■% :
Oi-t.
-, 1M7^
Sopt.aB, 1K7
Cimk, .\ilani,
(VHik, Elintlioth,
Cook. An<lrow,
(hooper. Judjco J no.
Cornelius, Wllliaiu,
Com el his. Jesne.
Cornel iuH, Mra. J.,
f'ornelius. Jaiiieti,
(Vimplins, Mrs.,
Coriioliiis, John.
4\>melinK. Mm. F.,
ConioHns, Mrs. S.,
Come Unit, Jainoi,
(^)melliis, TlHiuins,
Corry, fico^^e,
<.NiHtentiaili-r, ITen.
(\>nrlnov. William.
C^iverlv, MiO- J- C,
c<n-ort. Mm. Mary,
C^iwden, Em.. Jno.,
<N>x, Mrx. Harah F.,
CnilK, Mrs. Anna,
Criiwlor.i,Ur.J.W.,
Cross, Conrud,
Juno
^Julv 27, in.*;
iFeli. 23, mil 71
AllK. 10, IHIGtm
<»ot. 4, |87li'7()
Oct. 27. ISWitM
.■ri:*«-<'ll, Mrs. E.,
'riswoll. Mm. Sar..
'roil 111 ilier, Martin.
.'roi^irovo. Saumcl,
'rotmrovo. .Iiinies.
AHB.21, IKT^
l.lan. 4, IKI9
Feb. 21, 1H73SI
Sciit.in, 1W73«
June 21, I*lia7»
Ahont 1814.
M»v 31, \m
Aug, 28, 1WS10
Nov. 19, l'*18
Ont. 1. \XA
Apr. 8. WHilS
Hfpt.23. i>»i7W
A.UK. 1(1, 1IW7U
Jan. 24. ]874(i[
Mar. lU,l'?Ui
AUtt. 1.1, l-artTll
Ao^. LT, 1S.B
Sept. S-ifOiiO
May l«,lf»i
Mar. 2», iJOHir
Jan. l»,I«77i'
(Vt. 13,1IM<47
Jan. ai. l*)!**
Apr. 17, 1'WHi
0.^t. 34.1*H
Apr. 2f., l*»^
Ci
Cuiuinintiii, John,
(-utnniiiiKH, ar., J.,
('iimniiiitja. JainM,
Cu minimis, .\lox.,
I Dale, Mrs. Ellsi,
Se|)i. 14.1«:2a
Aila.27. liO"
Fell. IS, IKtA
Jan. in,18.W7i
Mar. 80, l'«a.W
Apr. as, iKtiai
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
I title, Saniiiel,
Dale. William,
Dale, M»ry Ellen,
IiHle, Cul. JiinieH,
Dnle, MisH .VpieH,
Danowsky, \Vm. Y
D&vidsim* Ann,
DaviH, Jmiies K.,
Davitt. William,
Davi!!, Mm, Sarah,
Davis, y\\m Ann,
Dawwin, Rev. A.,
Dawmn, Mrs. R.,
Deck, God fray,
Dennius, Mni. H.,
Deibert, tlenry,
I)«ntler, Peter,
IienniH, John, W. B.
Den nix, Mrs. Mich.,
Dentler, John,
Dentler, Hon.J. F.,
Dentler, Mn.,
Deratt, Daniel,
Deratt, Nancy,
Derr, Oeoi^e,
Derr, Franijes,
Derr, tAnt. Fanny,
Derr, Elizahetli,
Derr, John H.,
Derr, I* wis,
Derr, Uenjainin,
Derr, Joneph Y.,
Derr, John,
Derr, Mni. t^linr.,
Derr, Jacob,
DerriiiK. ^Um M\\/~,
Demhtun, Alira. V.,
Domhiiin, Mra. II.,
Diclfbnderfcr, F.,
Ditn^nilerrbr. Plillip
DIelfbndcrfer, J.,
Dieflcnbiuih, Mnt.,
Diloomb, deaxm,
Dlllen, Mrs. K.,
Donaldson, Mr.,
Donaldson, Mm. A.,
Donnrohy, John,
Donarcliv, Beiij.,
Donarchy, Mrs.F.S.
Dunnel, Fnq., II.,
Dommn, Petpr,
Dornian, Mrti. C,
Dorougli, Surah,
DorouKh, JameH,
DouKnl, Pr. Jiilin,
Doiidle, Danifl,
Doiwal, Mrs, S. A.,
Dreutuich, Martin,
June 23, IftB
, Mar. 1, lM7.i 73
.Jiilv — , 1«27,
Miif. 10, 1847,
lAUfT. 11, 18fi»57
Mept.— , IKflO
Apr, 5, I»il IG
iNov, 4. 18.V.(»
Ijan. 27, 1KB3 77
JuneSU, lK7U,<lii
■Jan. 27, ISlSrtll
iSopt. 9, l^Tllll
Apr. ai, \K\:\
Mar. 'H, 1M7H S3
, Dreisbaeh, Charles, Apr.
Dreisbaeh, John, Feb.
DreUbaoh, Rev. J., Aug;.
DrclHbacb, Thoniaa, May
DreiMbiich, Mrs. E., Oct.
Duncan, James, Oct.
Dubois, James S., iJune
Duncan Martha, IFeb.
I>uncan, David, Sept.
Dunoan, Mre. D., '
Dunlin, TlioB, K.,
Dundore, llenrge,
Dunklr -■--
;July 37,
I Mar. 31,
Sept. ^,
), 1871:82
1, 187^,77
!, 1875,78
!, 1843 85
'. 1852 SO
t, 1817 dh
E, 1855 r>S
t, 181(5,
isit?:
.May IS, iS7H'ft.^. 1
Aug. 18, 1853|7«
Jan. 5, ISflO!54 1
M.ir. rt, lfl.lB
rr
Mar. 20, 18*8
73
Nov. £2, ISoO
Fob. r., 1R39
[!7
Out. n, 1832
Feb. 15, 1842
73
Nov. 17 1848
35
Auk. 14 18H1
21
June 17 1883
71
Nov. 11, IS63
50
July 21 18ft4
M
Feb. 1 ISfW
73
Feb. », I>.7S'77 '
Aug. -i lS7:!i7i.
Nov. :i; is7;i
^1
Nov. 8, 1«7.-
Aiit'.I7 l«d5
E-aj^
B
Fall of \fm.
Doe. IS, ISti
»
July 1.% 1887
44
. 1833
Au«. 4, ISin
(t7
Nov. A l*tl
Jan. :«(. 1845
Apr. 2(1, ia7J
80
Jan. 17, I82«
Feb. 13, 1874
S3
Dec. 11, 1875
74
Jan. 11, 1832
Fell. — . 18(10
<M. 28, 18S0
Auk.— ,1838
101
Apr. 17, 1802
ae
0,a. 20, ISJl
Dunkle, Conrad, Jan. 36, 184^>,8
Jan. 3, 1840
.... . , ..., .Feb. 18, 18«4ki
Diinlar, Mrs. Marv, Sept. 8,18371
Dunbip, John, li^ept. 2l>. 1842
Dunn. Jiisiah, — , 1823,
Dunn, James, Oct. 14, 184!l,9
Dunn, Mrs. Eli-.!., |june— . I8iil
Dunn, Mrs., Feb. IB, l8.13!o
DunHeif,IIIrunem'H, Julv 12, IN.W|
Hartley. MrH. Mitria, Nov. 13, 1842 4
Eaton, rvruB, (Mar. «, 1H73 7
Eckert, <<eor)(0, 'Jan. 23, IKKIj
Eckert, George B., July 31, 18i!85
... ... ■,. _ j^j^^ jij ijjjgi.
Aup;, 211, laW?
Apr. 7, 1874 7
Auk- T' 1**^ 6
June 1, iK70i;
kert, Mrs.7.'. B., A
EKbcrt,Jr., J<ihn,
Ellen, Mm. Ann,
Eililrt, Christopher,
Elder, Mrs. EUai,
Elliott, .Icihn W., Jan. 20, 18.17 4i
Klliol, lIoMrlottaC., Mav R, 187301
ElliH, E*.!., H. D., iJulv 21, W.l 4:
Ellis, Willi
Ely! Ricliard Har.,
RiiKle, Solomon,
Knglo, Samuel,
EnKleliart, Mn. H.
Ettttuin, John,
Evann, JoHoph,
Evaiw. Elimbotli,
Evans, Willlaii),
Evans, Dr. Chas. R.,
En-ing, JiHtiuM,
Eivln^, Atcnes,
Ewiii^, Sirs.,
Ewini;, James,
EwinK lU-v. James,
?:n-lng, raiaibetii.
Ever, .\brahain,
Ryer, Jan>b,
Eyor, .tauol),
Eyor. jr., Isaac,
Eyerly, Prof. Jaoob,
Sept. 10,
Apr. II,
lOet. 15,
Nov. HP,
Hept. 10|
Sept. 23,
&r
All«. 34,
Soi
Jul
'M.-JA, li
dy 23, D
18431
1840122
1852..''>.'i
I872:n3
I874|80
1827;
18.14
lN3»i
1841
bet. sitl
uly 14.
eirt. 19,
July 0,
Aug. — ,
1809^33
182:1.75
1837!
I8.>I28
ANNALS OF BUFFALO P'ALLEY.
^F,
Date of |a
Date of -j
Death. |^
Death. .5
Farlov, Abrahalil,
July 29, 1875 »4
GPHsner, Francis J., .Sept..
9. lAVl-W
Fari(«,Esq..I{nbt'rl
Nov. 12, 1«U 60
r.essner, Mrs. F. J..,Sept.
P, 1R.V. 35
Kettpr,Mr».AI>rarii
Get. 21, !«iW,78
fietJi, Mrs. Harlmra, Jan.
13. 1SB1B6
Fctler, Abrain,
M«y 4, IHTli'tH
Reyer, Adnni.
Dee.
13, i«32'
Fenner, Mary R.,
AiiK. 13, \imu
Gibbons, Hugh,
\pr.
7, IS7178
FesB, DHVkl,
.Iuly29, IWflTH
Gibson, Henry,
Atw.
22, I«71j83
Fesslor, Mn.. Marj
Septal, 1X54 A4
Qtlflllan, Dr. E<1., Apr.
12, 1S33M
FoHHlpr, Jws.b,
Sept. 25, 11^4138
Gintfir, Mrs. Ann, Sept.
i4, 1863W
Flertler. Fre.1. G.,
Jniie 0, isei'ai
Ginter, Charles,
Dee.
17, I83lt:
FlrhlH, Rinily.
Apr. 12, IRtO
Glaxi, .Imoph,
Gla»<,Mrs.M»ryA,
July
i.\ moTi
Fillnuui, Jiiuob,
;SBpt.22, IBZ7
A or.
30, IS7061
FiniiPV. JameR.
iSept. 7, 1S20
'Sept. 7, 182B
Glover, John, iMar.
-, ites^
Finney, Mrs. EHk.,
Glover, Vaq.. Win.,
Nov.
R, 18.5470
FiBlier, Rebecca.
j ,1823
Glover, Esq., John,'
Goddard, Aliner S.,
May,
17, INfGtW
FlHhcr, IJcut. Tlios
'Feb. 9, IH.H]08
^'■pl
1, W,i2 44
Fisher, >i4q., A. 0.
.May Ifi, IR.W'35
iJ. IftHSO
Fisher, Rev. A.,
Ijun. 27, lB.-i7,a3
Gordmi, Mf«. Har..
(111"'
IT 1H4B.33
Fleiiiiii)!. JniiitH,
\3v\\ m, IK24
Gordon, Mary,
S,.T>1
:!ii. 1R.'>5!
Kollmer. Daniel,
■Mar. 2!), lS7.i
Goltshall, David,
Iti'v
(.1*49 45
Fleini.m, Cen. Rob
Mav 31, 1«74
Graham, Alex.
j;l, 1«»
Folliiier, ■rii..m.»,
M^. 13, ma
Graham, T. W..
Tuh
-. IX.W.'iS
FolliiKT.Mrs. M..
Sc|>t. ti, lK,'i.l64
Graham, Mrs. M.M.,
Miir,
1-, IWB77
Forry, Xjithnn, »hi
.Ian. 4, lSffll43
Graliani, Thomas,
A"«.
-Ji 1, IMfil 12
FinMler, R<>l)ert,
:.run. 29, 1S34 7ii
Graham, Kosetta,
Aug.
4, lK-2. ■
Toniter, Jiweph,
Mar. 1], im-.
[Jrahain.H.Spyker,
^UK.
2S, li««|5fl
jPonrter, Jolm,
Allg. «.IWit75
Grant, Deborah,
Fob.
±>, 1S47!
rFontcr, wmiBiii,
,Mar. 2(1, l«.^<:(7li
Gray, John,
Mar.
23, 1S49M
FVirMer, -tiilm,
.Illlv a. IMfi47t!
Grav, RolKirt,
Oct.
17, L^MiW
Former, Marv Tjou.
■Mar. iii, l»i.V
iMar. 1», W!.-.
Rre»t, Mr«. C. H.,
14, isra a
Fomlor, John V.,
Grojw, Andrew.
Wav
14, ISfill|79
FoiWor. WilHinii,
Mar. 27 ixrviiTl
Green, Dr. Geo. W.,
Jan.
12, IftIS
Ff>r«ter, Mrs. .lane
Sept. 2ft, IWW71
Green, Rol«.rt H.,
Dee.
29, 1HW3
F..r»t«r, T. H. H.,
'.Ian. l(i, l*il2fi
Green, Abl>ol,
Mar.
2.'l.l*il«t
Fowler, MrH. A.,
ISppt.24, l«i(P:.W
Green, Mrs.. MarR.,
Sept
fi.mJ7
F..X. Peter,
Jail. 10, im\ K!
Orcoii, Mar^arut,
Slav
T, IfW lo
Fmin lie. Heiir^-,
Jnn. 4. IMUTU
Grxen. Thomat^
De^.
3. ISfH.^
Franlv,J.j|HiPi\iltp,l8eiit.25;i*'.H71
Green, Sirs, l-niit..
June
«. I«7«
FV-.ieri<rk, PhiUj.,
Feb. l!l. 1«.V_',IH
Gr.ien, Sirs, J. H„
Apr.
311, W061
Prwlerii*, MallI<la.'S.>i>l- fi. IxrMl-tT
GreenoHich, Rs(].,E.
D^.
2.i, ISt7
Friek, Sink KHic,
Svl'l. -J, irailw
Grier. Tiioinas.
Feb.
2,1(0151
Friek, Dr. C'liir. H
.Jan. 21. istlial
Grier, JiKteph F.,
Feb.
H(,1M8»
Fri<-k. F^..fi. A.
■JnneKl, l.s7'2 »<.>
Grier, ThoniaH 0,,
Oct.
(i,\«fmit
Frii-H.Rpv. JiiMt II
, (v-i. 9, im;i;i fW
Oner. StarUJnne,
Dec.
7 l«i»
Fries. John.
.M;iv l.l.-*.iftr-l
Grier, Mrs. MarK.,
June
1, i!t!iua
Fn«rk, llcnrv,
^m.\S;\m\Ti
Oroff, .\hraluiin..
o.-t.
«,ltl73«
FrvPr, .l,.o,i;,
Feb. 13. ]SIH SI
tJrove, Mrs, Calh.,
Feb.
29, I1MS3
KiilMiiT, Anilri'M-,
Aj.r. S, ItWiftV
(Jn»w, Henry,
Ann-
l.s;iMi»
Gal-I.-, .lohii.
Si-pt. 11, 1>7:t'(7
Grovi!, Mrs. Nun<->-,
Jnn«
12, ]XAS
fluarlinrl, -I.ihn h.
X.iv. 11, W.(l 4:i
Gntve, Slieiiael,
Sept
-,1«7
Xi>v. 3. IKtS
< J rove. Diiviii,
Mav
31). WHIM
Gebiiart. Oiiir^e.
D™. 13, lK7(i72
Grove, r:iiai.
NoV
3.1Hlift7S
Geililes. .Folni »..
'Jan. 7, IW
Grove Hamiiel.
Sept
I, 1k;373
G<'ihlL-s,M<»iMari
.(>et. 1, 1H--14:
Giidyknnst, ThaH..
Jan.
13. im«
Geniberlins.Mr!<.
:.i>t. 1:1. iw;u«
<iundrum, George,
Apr
29. 1*1340
nenil>iTimK'.Phili
1, Apr. 2(!. lWll7i>
Giindv, Klixn.
Sl'a>
1.), 1(H9
ticirge. Rev. J.ihn, I>w. 13. 1W17WI
(Jnndy, C'hrislaln,
Sep
!Mt, isai
(iwref. Siimli An
, Feb. IH, lAM MP
. (innrty, Gi-onie,
Nov
«,i!m
(roriiian, Jaoub,
Jan. II, IH4H6U
1 Gundy, Wllliani S.
Mar
i:(.lfM6
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
f.umlv. John.
<i(ll(-liiLi, Krcil..
Outi'liUM. >>((., I.,
ttiit.'liiis, Itov. S.,
Oliver, Rev, Jo I in,
Oiij-er, [itnu^l, Mur, I
niiverJiilin, 'Mnr. i
Hnnk. John, Mar. 1
IInnkfiiil>i<rit> Pcti?r,'l>iMi. '1
Hiift-r, Mra. RHk.. Unn. :■
Hiifcr, Mr-. KH?., 'A].r.
rill. ■ I Or-i.
Hi , |I'V1). 1
Hull. K*)., Cliiirli^s, Miir. -
Halll lii'v. Will'. SI.,'aiij^ -1
HrII, .lolin, Ih-t. I
Maniimni'l, JoHuph,
tlnmiiioiiil, MitrK.,
HiiiniiHmil, ffctfiar,
"" i..!.ii-,>,.
L .l.il
IIkiiei
Ili.nii
HiirLiiu.;!, Mr«.I,..
Iliirk.'ii... Jolin,
l!.rlvMl^-h Uuv H.,
IIiiritiUT, .MrM. M.,
Kfintiun, SuHiiii.
Ilnriii >iiv, ItonJ.,
HHm^ Siilly,
llHrrix, Mnt.' Sl:ir>'.
Ilnrriit, Mrs. Nlnry,
ItarrlM, runiUtiP D.,
HurHiiJiimra,
IIiirrH MiHHM.,
lIiu-riH'iii, .liiinON,
HiirrlHim, Him. Jiuu,
irarttiuui. <<<><ir|[0.
IIiu«i'ntihi)c. .1. 1{.
IIiu«ii-iii>Iil)(, ,
flHWH-lljlill);, Will.,
irKiiRk.iloiirKi-,
Hnnt>t, 1r., Siiiii'l.
IIilH)it, Km)., Kaiii'l,
Ilniiii, Jdlin.
IIiiuN, .Siimnnuh,
llaiiH, JiK-iili,
Ilawii. Mni. ICIlz..
I law II, Oitniol,
tinwn, Nniii->- .tiini<,
IltiVPK, Arrf. Miirv,
TIii.veM, Miw. Ktiiflv,
IIii.V(-M, Hiiruli,
llnyeH, Jobn,
0.<t. l.i,
Miir. 21,
Miir. 1-.',
Auk. ".
1>C('. :>,
I Hi', T,,
(M. \i.
Ml-I>t. ID,
July I"'.
Kel>. l:l,
Jiilv III,
Jiilv HI.
.Iiilv III,
»><!(. il,
St-jil. -M,
IliivcH, I'^fi., Dnvkl,
, ll.'r-kpl. Mra. Murv,
Ii.-ik..1.Mra.n.ui1i.
;Miiv 2, VCA .W
June \\ |s.-tft49
:Scpi. I,-., IKiM
[>oo. I«, ISJI H7
.V|ir. ^. 1HI14 41
Oi-t. 2a,lMtll.>-,9
IPeli. -27. I«W7S
D<H>. !«, lftH72
jMiir. lT, ~-
li-M.
, IW!l
■ lli'|>tiiirn, K«|., S.,
I IliTlisI, I!.-iirv,
I ' ITcrliMt, lli'iirv.
I Ili-rlisl, Mm. 'Ciidi.
II<Tl,!.t, StrH.M. M.
lIi-rliM, Jiislnli.
Hcrhsrt, Vit\„ !>.,
llfrr, Ilavkl,
ircrtz. -Iiilin,*
W-m. n<-iirv,
\ 1T.-M, ir., Il.-urv,
, H.'w, Mrs. KHk.,
Hi-w.. Mrs. I,. C,
I Ifpvi-rliiii;. John,
I lli'^ks, rhri»ti:in,
I J[|i-k«, Mrn.r.,
llickok, John II..
llii'k..k.Mrw..M.L.
I IllSshlM. (MlllH. W.,
Him lrc.iH..jr..P,
Iliimiifln'U'h. !>.,
; IlLtMon, MrH..)>in<^,
: iroiniiixi, Mi-H. I..,
Iloinnim, Mrx. <'.,
I lli>miiiiii, Mm-C,
I lli>;^iiil[>)>l<ir, J<>s.,
HikkI, June,
II<»>fl, Jiillii,
HihmI, WilMin II.,
M.hhI. nillii>rhi<>,
llr>..V.T, <(<-'iric<',
I lI<>rnh]|.'.Mr><.An
li"rl;i.hi'r. Ihinli'l
Il'iti-fhlon, .MrH. S
I, H..iittli!<m, M. A..
ItrMitcliKm. .r.ihn,
I I<>ll>[llt'>ll. JllH. M
I ll<>ii!u>l, William,
I IIOIIHI.-1, Mn^ Wni
. _ . I*WS0
Sept. 'JO, IMT.im
'JunolH, I—
Oiil.
I'l, 1
.-.w
UK- I'l, \^Si 7
Ai>r, aa, i-HMie
, Si-iit,34, IMTCtJl
. Aiii;. ». ISIUIIU
iNiiV. T,, IWI).iI
Ki>l>. Ill, \V,am
l-VI.. — , I«72lW
Junuin, \^-im
Apr, 7, K'lHiB
Mnr. fi, IsWIlaa
Miiv, H, ISIM «7
Apr, i'-, tX7lt4!)
Fell. |.% |siRl|fi9
iv-c. 'Si, \XiS.
Jim. Lf, IsiK'W
J:in, U, IKll
, Sept. 4, ImHk!
IJnn. -1, lsm,49
Lscpt. ■-•", iK.v>'iw
Jiin. — , is:i()
Ki'iil, 2, ISHdT.I
iJiinoi:!. inra.n?
IfVb. '.II, l«7(i;iM
■Nov. 17, l«7a
Apr. :;», l«7.-. fifl
Jiilv a*. ifCrtflo
Jiilv il, 1*54'
Fell, Li', IK-5I 17
Mnr, II. ivrni
Mnv a>, IKJii
■fil
! !1, IW
Jiiiv -ji, iwumn
. Mnr. in, i-o:;
Jiilv 3t, i'^;i73
, Jim. -Jl, I'M?
Kfjit. 1, iitwai
Oil, i*., Ii«t»,j7
, Apr. ai. 1M7340
Auit. n, iMa>oi
I Julv 7, IKSol
570
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Hoiisel, William L.,
HouHel, .Ta(H)b,
IIoiiscl, Caj)t. \Vm.,
Housel, Joshua,
Housel, Jac^b,
Housol, Mrs. Mary,
ITousel, Win. Esq.,
Housel, Mrs. Marv,
Howard, Eliaibeth,
Howard, Thoiiuis,
Howard, ^^rs. E.,
Howarfl Thomas,
Howard, David,
Howard, Laird,
Hoy, .Jolm,
Hublor, .John,
Hublor, Mrs. .lolm,
Hubler, Honry,
Huff, Mrs. MaVu;.,
Humes, SanuioT,
Hummel, Mrs. Chr.
Hummel, John,
Hununel, Oapt. J.,
Hummel, Daniel,
Hunsicker, Cath.,
Hunter, >rontjjf.
Hunter, Harbani H.
Huntinfrd<m, John,
Hursh, Henry,
Hursli, Mrs.
Hurslj, Ci (M)rge,
Hursli, Sanuiel,
Huston, Hon. Chas.,
Hutclieson, Mrs. P.,
Hutcrheson, John,
Huteheson, .Fames,
Hutehinson, M. A.,
Iddintrs, Henry,
Iddinirs, Sanmel,
Iddiii^, Isiiac,
Iddin^, Klizjibeth,
Iddinjtrs, Abi*rail,
Td<lln«r^, Mrs. Isab.,
Tddinirs, Thomas,
Iddinjxs. Tie wis,
Iddin^, Mrs. Mary,
Iddin^, Sarali Eu).
Injrram, .John S.,
Trehmd. John W.,
Irvine, Mrs. Naney,
Irvine, Susan,
Irvin, Saralj Harris,
Irwm, Mrs. Nancy,
.lames, Mrs. Marj^'t,
•Tenks, Mi-s. A.,
Jodon. rasper,
Jodon, .Joseph,
Johnson, Jac?ob,
1 .
Date of s
Death
1
'• i
1
Au«r.
3,]
1
1849'
IJuly
26,]
1850 19
!june
7,1
[a50
Sept.
17,1
1852 80
Aug.
4, J
ia-)9 r>o
July
30, ]
i8<w)r>fi
A pf.
21, 1
867 j77
Dee.
14,1
[868 82
Mar.
30, ]
1829'
'.Jan.
15,]
I842i
May
21,1
1842;
Julv
17,]
18.')9 22
Nov.
15, ]
L8;-,9
Mar.
19,1
1870 6;->
Aug.
27,]
18;">3 8(>
Mar.
14, ]
1845 82
:Mar.
27,1
1^5 80
iJulv
3, 1
1874 73
Sept.
18.32
Mar.
28, :
8;")9 57
Aug.
, -
847 61
Jiriv
11, 1
[853 72
Dee.
17, 1
860 80
Sept.
July
7,]
S6176
5, ]
872 80
Aug.
18, 1
[860 4f)
Apr.
7, 1
8(V2 (>9
Feb.
8,1
[873 (55
Aug.
15, ]
[82t)
.fan.
27,]
[848
Mav
♦> 1
I.S73 77
De(\
H,
1875 70
Nov.
10, J
1849
.Tune
10,1
825
Jan.
«>•> ■
828
0('t.
Tl
IS()0 43
Oct.
■^,
1868
'
,
IS20
1
»
1820
"~~t
[823
!
» '
SL'3
May
h), 1
S2S
Mar.
8, 1
1838
Aug.
24,1
S4S 73
Nov.
7, 1
[S57 37
Mar.
8, 1
1.S61 40
Jan.
4, 1
I8f;2 19
Apr.
[84S
Oct.
14, ]
1862 19
Jan.
25, ]
[8:^0
July
0, 1
834
Mar.
h 1
1857 9(5
Jan.
23,
ls;^o
,
182:5
Aug,
(J, ]
1859
Julv
31, ]
|8-J(5
Fel").
5, ]
[8()3 74
June
3, J
18:^5
Date of if
Death. Z
.Johnson, Abel,
.Johnson, Mrs. S. .!.,
.Jones, Thomas,
.Jones, Mrs. Eliz.,
.Tones, Mary A.,
Jordan, Mrs. M. H.,
Joyce, Isabel,
.Joyce, Dr. William,
Kaufman, Peter,
Kaufman, John,
Kaufman, David,
Kaufman, Mrs. L.,
Kaufman, >frs. D.,
Kaufman, Daniel,
Kaufman, Jas. B.,
Kaufman, Isaac,
Kaufman, Mrs.H. B.
Kay, James,
Keeler, .Jacob,
Keeler, Mrs. Barb.,
Keiser, .John,
Keiser, Jacob,
Kelly, William,
Kelly, Mi-s. S.,
K(?lly, James W.,
Kelly, Esq., Col. J.,
Kelly, .James S.,
Kellv, .Jos(»ph,
Kellv, Robert H.,
Kelly, Peter M.,
Ivelly, .Tames >r.,
Kellv, liev. Joshua,
Kellv, Ellen,
Kelly, Robert,
Kellv, Andrew,
KellV, Mrs.H.,
Kelly, David H.,
Kennedy, Mrs. N.,
Kennedy, Andrew,
Kerr, Hamlet A.,
Kessler, Catherine,
Kessler, lOscj., W.,
Ketchum, Mrs. ^F.,
Ketner, Catherine,
Kiehl, Trcorge W.,
Kieffer, >riss Sallie,
KietVer, Henry,
Kimbell, .John,
Kimjile, Adam,
Kim|)Ie, .Tohn,
Kimple, Miss Sarah,
King, sr., James,
King, Mrs. Marg.
Kingjin, Sarah,
Kinkead, .Joseph,
Kinkead, Eug. W.,
Kirkpatrick,l^ev.D.
Ivleckner, Solomon,
Nov.
Apr.
Oct.
.Tune
Mav
Folf>.
July
A pr.
I>ec.
Nov.
Sept.
Dec.
May,
Jan.
Julv
Julv
May
Apr.
Mar.
Dec.
Nov.
Feb,
Jan.
Man.
Dec.
Feb.
May
Mar.
Nov.
Aug.
Mar.
Apr.
.June
Apr.
Sept.
Feb.
Feb.
Feb.
Aug.
Sept.
Sept.
Fell.
Julv
Julv
July
Juiie
A us.
Mav
Dec.
Mar.
Jan.
Dec.
A pr.
Julv
Dec.
Jan.
Aug.
19,
14,
15,
15,
11,
3,
27,
18,
10,
30,
27,
•24,
1,
7,
1^
31,
8,
13,
23,
1*A
27,
2,
2»5,
18,
H,
•>
2»T,
19,
27,
10.
16,
24,
2(».
11,
24,
24.
3,
1,
21,
13.
13,
3.
11,
4.
19,
17,
12,
11.
15,
5,
•>
•-»
17,
1849
1862 29
18:«
1847 84
1863
ia-i7 62
18.-K)
l!<"d
1845 83
l?^9 8fi
1863
1859 73
1S«5125
186*5 (w
l^V» 30
187H'-(»
1872 '^^
1}<V>76
1870 90
18(>9M
1S.')0
1867 00
18:{0
18:^1
1831
18:t»S8
\m)
186UT
IsiiiMO
l,S(5L';i^
isiViTT
1S.57<4
1)V5.Vh
lS707.i
l?*4i»
1S27
lSi5| •*
1^70 *<1
1S>.">3
is7:5w
l,s7-|fV)
Is7'i74
18,
h7»>73
1S70W
1S74^)
1H.-,7W
lSi;i»74
1S3772
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Klo^ifener, Jnhn.
Klfeeluier, William,
Kloekner, Isiav,
KUne. Jacob.
Klowkiier. Elii,
f'leeknpr. MimM.,
Kline, riiarltq,
li-litie, JuhnH.,
^llllS-JeremUh.
l^llni);, .luiin,
Ji^'jiig, John,
J^-' inpiman, Peter,
!»-»MuT Anna Mary,
h- rinilo, Mrs.,
Jt»» kilt. Mrs. Rncli,,
J»*»iiler. AiinH,
Jtriner, JunultiHii,
~*»»ier, Joliii.
Kl-Btor, D«niel,
S »"»Biuner, Mrs-Alir.,
!* «"«»mer, Ahmhara,
^ToDier,H<m. Gai)., Sept.
^Teanier, Mluhuel, 'aor.
Kreider, Htm. Jan., iMay
^roilror, Fred., Weii.
Lnfev, M.ir|»iret, Apr.
Ijircv, iKiav. iMnr.
I«lr(l, Malthpw, Out.
Uird, Ruv. Matt. May
Uird, Mm, Mutt. Mar.
Liiird, June, Mav
Lnlrd. MrH. Maria, iJulv
UlHl, Cil. H. H.. Mar.
Luird, Mra. Jane, jApr.
LiUrd, Muttiien-, 'ChA.
Lantx, Sainupl, July
I^HhellK, Jolin, Pet>.
T^hollB, Mm. Opo., .lulv
LasliellH.fJtorifeR., Apr.
LaHlidlM, ^f[1t. Mart. 0<X.
Laalielli*, Mnrj;. I.'., {
IiaBhcIlK, (Jeorjfe, May
LaHliells, jr., John, Sojit.
LnaheilH, Tda, jMnr.
I.A>ih«ll)>, KleiLn. r.,'neR.
Love, Willlaiii,
I»vo, Mr». KliK.,
LawreiKw, Geonte, ;De<t.
1^wai>n, JoBoph, Feb.
LHWsho, sr., Jnhn, |p'ob.
LawMhe,Jr., John, Sept.
lawaoii, Mrs. N]iii.,.A|ir,
Lebkloker, MInh., iJan.
Lebldttker, Plillip, Sept.
IXildi^ker, Jiihn, jMar.
JJee, Ciitherino, 'Mar,
Leiitnan, Mrs. Han. Nov.
iMay-
IUSS'
ISflllTBi: r^lhv. Chrlatena,
1M.12,T7
1M7-177 Li-ibV. Jiiml..
Mh.\- J
IH-Vi SO
Apr.
4, I WIS
2:!, IMthlfW
1. IHtKlTO
— , ISil
4, 1834
I, 1«17,
20, IfMfl
7, IHOaTl
J4, IK7I)IH1
4, IHHSKn
30, tft'rf)
ai. iti4
14, IH4.'>
15, l»4fl
— , IHja
8, ]*!:i *l
■J^ l«4>»i*l
10, ltt>4 7U
18, lH7lt74
— , l«.Wl
15, 187rnT4
Aiip;. IM, l-miTH
'-|, Win ill
,187^ 77
I. imtiW
iMiiv 3t, 1
, |ArfK. 17, 1
JiookLT, John,
Ijiing, .Toiiatlian,
T^piW.Jiif-ib.
IiIihK, Mrs.,
I. ing, K[>hriHiii,
T,').iK. Mr«- Marj-.
I^K7, Mrs
I. Jim..' -J, IS.1K(U
, (VI. H, iwinn?
Mav 5, i»iai7»
'July H, lft'434
ruii. .11. ptis
iJuly 13, l»'47
<Jaii. 13, iR.-|il41
'Jan. 27, l*iaj
, ,Juno30, \mi\
., W la, 1S.-K1
Aug. H, 1S-J4
'Apr. «, 1H1.-1-4K
.t/. He
Lo[7, l»r. J.iMOph R.,
I.iidwij!. nr. W.H.,
Luilwiic, Daniel,
Ludwi«,Sanrl W.,
TiUker, John,
Lvmiall, Hi-nry,
l,ynilall, Steph. F.,
Mn.VLarni'v, John,
MrHctli, Eltx. A.,
McHetli, Andrew,
MfiUfilh.JohnA.H.
NC.'Cil John,
Mi'f'all, jr., Jolui,
M.-Carly. Williani,
Mi^<'']anH{:haii, And,
Mdf'laiiaiiban, Mrs,,
Miifliflirv, John, juneuj, i^-ii'
MeCliJirV. Dr.W., Dttc 4, Wu K
Mirfnollan, Ruth, , IPUOl
McTlellan, »ain'I, |>'eb. 7, lHr.4 7f
MnClPlInn, Mrs. M.,lMar. 2!t, \K,Km
MitClellan, Marg., Jan. 7, lsfi3 61
McClure, Jona., iNov. 10, lSi5i
■Aug. 17, lffcV.|
nitt. 2, ixno iKP
Jan. 2, INi-iO
Nov. 31, IHI10,46
Mav 12, lHrrfl{4»
IMav 1«, IK7fl,65
iDcc. ai, l«.iO
.fiilv 3, lrt.'i4 77
, Oel. VI, 18.-.i M
iMar 2K, IMkIiHI
Kov. 34, l«il4 :to
Apr, 8, l«il7.i
, Mar. in, IM.-)!'.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
McClurc. ItNiurd, Miir. it!. ISXl i Muclav, Dnvid, Jiuio— , ISIM
MH'liiro, K.«l.,, Oa. IM, iftKl llMm-laV, Ann. Julv «, 1K3.-.
MH'lure, Mrs. H., Aur. a), 1«W || MuHii'v, Mrit. Ann, Mnv 111, i*>l
Mi^'lliro, .riiliH>H, Allg. 30, 1H4(I MhvIiiv, Em;., Ju]iii,Juiie£>, 1H.V>
M«(?liirp, Jjiuc, July «, iS4» MatipfionKm, Johu. Auff. 2, I*.7
Mp<nurc, Kk-tuird, Allg. 7, IS.VP ; Miu^nhera.iii,Mni.J..S«l>t. «, 1MI»1«
Mii('liiro,Al.ix., »c[>t.25, Ift-kt Madden, l-icj., Jat, Nov. 19, lftv.«7
MffnuTO,Niinm-N.,S<ipt.24, lK->4i3 Macler, Oeorgo, Apr. 17, ItC-iii
Mct'luro, Mr».M., Out. iM. IKJS M^«e, Le'\-in[i, — , IKi!
MK'lurc, Itanniih. Oirt. '.il. ISTiOSI Mmiee, Juitiiit.
Manure, wnilHin,
Nov.
au, m-rfl3H|
AlH)(«w, LttviiiH,
I»e.!. tl, 1*«
Monuro,Mi>t<.)Hnu
, Fhfo.
21, IWlISSj
MuBW,Mr».An<lw
, Aii({. IH. IftS
MM'lim-, Slitet June, July
17. 1H73S5
MUKIH^ JUIIIPH,
May 4, ISSI
M<4'liirc. llobl. M.
, Jun.
;*,iKr(i6a'
Mi»){t*, .Iiiwpli,
•Sept-ao, lS.-.l.>i
MoC..rl..,v. Kta., It.
— , IHU
MuKOi-, Ani1r«w,
Sepl.23, 1H-.3
, Ihxr.
11, IWWW,
1 MiiKWs Ji>lin T..
OiTl. a*. 1H1B37
Mc<'<irl«v, rW., J..
Ai>r.
15, iwjsa
1 Mutpx, Km., JuK.,
Mur. 17, ItAB
MrCorni^c-k, W'. S.,
Dm.
7, iwwai'
! Muftce. Mrn. Kilt.
AiiR. i\ IK7.ini
Mi^Oiy. Witlh,!..,
\>w.
1. iR4i;
' MuK>'<'. Mro. .Sumii
.Feb. 17, l!C-i«!
N.iv.
11, IMtl!t7(>
Slu^i-p, -Mrs. Niuwn
.Jan. IT. VfihTi
.lUtld
■ Mil. iMta :
1 Mneec, KleanorS.,
i Midk', Jthu,
July 9, IrtTfiTO
.Sflpl,
, ±i, isiij --.:
Oa- 1»,1K»
>1- h ,■ ., jr..
Miiv A!. ISIH -tii .
! Mrti»', Mrs. l-yiJia,
May 7, lAiH3
MoKwinsT. Alox.,
Niiv.
ai, iitv) w 1
1 MiimiiriK. IK-ory,
Auji.2H,l»M
McFiulik'n. Jolin,
?-eb.
H, \KV,
1 Mrtiklc, <;i,leoii.
M»r. — . KM
MpFh<I<Imi, Mrs. c;.
, Ot-l.
1.-1, L-il.) 1
1 Marr. Ihivi.l.
I'-ob. i 1WM49
MoP-...W.-.i,Mi«.N.
, Miir.
:i, IWSBOJ
1 Miirr. Kuv. W it..
Jaw. 27, IiC4«!
Nfi^Ftiililoii. (N>1. J.,
June
1 1«, 1«.>1 i
'Marwli. I->..(I.C.,
Jan. i% lit,W»
Mp>VlilPn,J. A.,
I J Illy
Ti. IS-Vi 31
MaMlial,.Jikmes.
Miiv 14, DAiS;
MHtnulv, Alux.,
— . IKll)
Mar«!uil!..Iu<lgeJ.
, June-JJt.l>(73
MrfinutV, Ali'X.,
-, IHI-J
Mani.i. H.i;;lir
JuiieJa.lML.7
:kI<Kini<lv, \Vllli:ini
Miirliu. i;si|., J.M.
..Apr. 17, ISE
M.-lInulv, Mr». R,
;i, isiii !«-.
Martin, i'ls,,.. J.,
jApr. K.l'i>49
MWlri'Spir, Clmrlis,
M.tr.
:;, wiii 52
M:isin. Maria I).,
Si'iit. l.i, i-twai
Julv 4, 1.'C44J
Mi'iiulpiu. <-«l. K..
ai, 1S.VI
MaHi.ii. Ih-nrv.
MHinirc. Iliu-hcl,
Aug!
■i-, IS/H
M:illiiT!sM:.rv.
.Vui;. 2l). I'M.!
MKinirf, Mrs.,
— , 1AJ4
MiiHuTs, Mr>. Ann
,.l..n. M^-.l*
M«-iiiiir..,Tli..i.ms,
Mar.
— . IKI.-.
Mather*. Mt«. Krn
..Apr. 2a, l»W.»
MHliiin-, John.
l)i-c-.
H, IKTi^TS
MiilliiTs. IVl.T,
S..pt. 4, L-H-i
M<'Ki.:iri, U..II. S.,
.FllHC
■ :;:[. iKiii
MallK'r^ MrH..
May ix 1«»7*
JIcKinl.-.v. riilh.,
<M.
17. iN'iL;7;i
Mjillirrs, .lamcM,
Ahu. 4, Wlfii
M.'Kiiiii.'v. .I.in.l..
l.VI>.
-■>. iwii
MaiK'k. .Iaml>.
-VUft. --^ 1!W'«
M.^Ki(i(v;.li>liri,
^4. lS.-->ii4
M:ms. I>|., Clias..
May S,|!*t
M<'l.:Ln)cli)iti. \\m.
, Miir.
ai, i>;ii i>«
MmiH, Kn.ily,
Miiy 14, isat
Mrljiii|ililiil,l>r. It
. .hin.
12, iKti
Minis. lA'Wis,
Au|t.±!, IK.MM
Mi'I^iUKlilhi, Win.
, M»r.
— . 1*H
Max«.ll, .Mr«. ».,
..[line ll^ lffl7
>[i'|jmiclilhi, .l:iH.,
|).T.
V'. IM,-.'
MuxwII, IC»|.. ir..
Nov. I, m«
Mi-),iniKlillii,>f.irK.
.Apr.
19, 1S4H 1
.Maxw.'ll,Cai.l..l.iJ
.Julv lit, wira
Nf<-|jm)clilit>. .I.iix:.
.■'"'>■
«, IM(te!">7'
,M.ix..II,li™nP!.
,j..iyai,i.-«ws;
-- _ i.Mrs.KApr. Ill, imWiSl'i Mi'lspll, Jiweph. iJVb. IIVIW
.Mrlriiuxlilin. llniih. Fi;l>. », 1X71 1» I, Mcnwh, Itvv. Nl<!li..,rvt. 14. ts:4T4
MiiMiihoii. Sa ol, Jun<f II, IH.14 75 Mi'nM'h,Mn<.MHHH, .M«r. I:; Irn
Mi-Ni'll Tir. C. J.. Auk- — ' ^^'>*' ' AtciiwJi, MlsHSarah. Mar. 23. V^Af*
" ■ ■ l.li. Fell. 1«, 1W7I1M; Mcnwli, Mrx. S. J., Apr, Ik, I«7i1i«
'■-'■ • K. »,1S.tH74 ;M.^nl«■ll,B.T.A. 11., .Mav IB, WflW
Miu'lianicr, l>anii'l, Auk.
»iu^k('v, M: "'
, Ki'b. U, 18000:
ANNALS OF BUFFALO yALLEY
S7J
Date of
Death.
»
<
Date of a
Death, i^
Morrill, Esq., ChiLS.,
Merrill, Mrn. S. B.,
Mertz, Ctitherine,
Mertz, Jacob, '
Mertz, Mrs. Eliz., !
Mertz, Mrs. Naiitiy,
Mervine, Mrs. M.,
Metzgar, Marg. C, i
Met34r*ir, Mrs. Eliz.,
>retzjj^ar, Rebeocii,
Met/^ar, Mrs. C >[.,
M idol es wart h, Ner,
Miller, Samuel,
Mit<5hell, George,
Miller, V^alentine,
Miller, Mrs. Sarah,
Miller, Mrs. Isjib'a,
Miller, John F.,
MUler, George,
Miller, Hugh,
Miller, George,
Miller, Jeremiah,
Miller, Mrs. J. H.,
Miller, Mrs. Sarah,
Miller, Mrs, Mary,
Miller, John,
Miller, John F.,
Miller, Mrs. K. V.,
Miller, Isaac,
Miller, Joseph,
Miller, Margaret,
Miller, Mrs. S. II.,
Mitchell, John,
MillhoiLse, .laoob.
Mill house, .Ino. N.,
MillhouscJul'aW.
Mill house, Mrs. R.,
Mitchell, Nathan,
Motz, John,
Moll, Mrs.
Montague, Thonuus.
Montelius, Peter,
M<mtgomerv*, Eliz.,
Montgomery, John,
Montgomery, Thos.
Montgomery, D.,
Montgomery, Mary,
Montgomery, Ja.s.,
Mook, Jolni,
Mook, David,
Moon, jr., John,
Moore,* John,
Moore, .John,
Moore, James,
Moore, Mrs. NIary,
Moore, Mrs. M. A.,
Moore, Edward W..
M<x)re, Jane W.,
Deo. 25,
Aug. 4,
Sept. 2,
Apr. 5,
Mar. 8,
June 8,
Mar. 28,
Jan. 28,
Jiui. 27,
Jiui. 24,
May 13,
June 2,
Mar. 1,
Sept. 22,
Oct. 3,
Apr. 17,
Apr. 20,
Aug. 2,
Oct. 9,
May 28,
Jan. 23,
Dec. — ,
Mar. 28,
Mav 31,
Dec. 14,
Julv 2;>,
Feb. 22,
Feb. — ,
•Dec. I,
Mav 28,
Julv 24,
May 3,
Apr. 22,
Apr. 14,
Apr. 8,
{Dec. 3,
INov. 22,
Oct. (),
Oct. 24,
I July 2,
Mar. 23,
Apr. 20,
Nov. 23,
!Nov. 17,
Mar. 9,
May If),
lAi>r. — ,
Mar. 11,
A pr. 9,
iJulv 17,
Mar. 29,
Fel). ir>,
Oct. 1,
Sept 14,
Apr. 25,
1865 42
1876 82
1842 52
1859 78
1870 7(>
1873 ;3«
18r)2 36
184<i
1847,74
18,">2'39
1865155
18C)5 83
1826
1827
1828
1845,65
1849
185176
1851160
1856'()0
1859 70
18611
1862 36
1862 78
18(53
1871 86
1870 68
1874 28
1869
1873 66
1877 78
1876
1862 69
1870 ijH
1835
1845 m
1872 68
18»54
1849
18(39 90
1842 37
1859 68
1850
18."i3 93
lKi3
18;')9 93
18()4 63
1874 52
1867 83
1867
1829
18:i4
1840
isr>r^ 76
1858 80
1858 44
186129
1863 62
Moore, E. (^,
Moore, D.,(W. B.)
Moran, Mrs. Marv^,
Morrison, Mrs. }i.
Morrisim, Thomas,
Morrison, fjrabriel,
Morris(»n, Eliza,
Morri8(m, Rev.W.S.
Morrow, Jane,
Morrow, Alexander,
Morton, William,
Morton, Alexander,
Morton, Polly,
Morton, John,
Morton, Nancn^*,
Morton, Elizabeth,
Morton, Alexander,
Mowery, Cath.,
Mowref, Mrs.
Mowrer, Andrew,
Mowrer, James,
Moyer, John,
MoVcr, William P.
Moyer, Jacx^b,
Mover, Daniel,
MuVphy, Griflith,
Murray, Joseph M.,
Murray, Marg.,
Murray, Mrs. E. N.,
Murray, Mrs. C,
Murray, Mrs. E.,
Murniy, Esq.,J.F.,
Musser, John,
Mussor, Esq., J.,
Musser, Margaret,
Musser, Mary,
M u sse r, M rs." Sarah ,
Myers, Sanuiel,
Myers, Amanda,
Myer, Harriet,
Meyers, Peter,
Meyers, Mrs. Sarah,
Nees, >Iichael,
Neir, Peter,
Nelson, Joseph,
Nesbit, Alexander,
Nesl)it, Mrs. Isabel.
Nesbit, Mrs.
Nesbit, Sarah Ann,
Nesbit, Marv,
Nesbit, jr., .^ohn,
Nesbit, .lonathan,
Nesbit, Esq., Wm.,
Nesbit, Mrs. Sarah,
Nesbit, Alexander,
Nesbit, Mrs. Nancy,
Nesbit, James,
Nesbit, Thomas,
Apr. 21,
Dec. 28,
Sept. 8,
Apr. — ,
Mav 21,
July 19,
Mar. 18,
Mar. 15,
July 7,
Aug. 11,
July 30,
Jan. 2,
Feb. 2,
Apr. 16,
Mav 5,
July 30,
June 8,
Dec. 3,
Aug. 18,
Feb. 1,
Feb. 1,
Apr. 13,
Mav 8,
Dec. 20,
Oct. 14,
Nov. 27,
Sept. 24,
July 15,
June 21,
Jan. 24,
Mar. 17,
June 3,
V-'C/l'. aoJ,
Nov. 9,
Mar. — ,
Aug. 7,
Oct. 16,
Nov. 17,
I May 3,
'Apr. 2,
July 16,
Nov. 1,
Sept. 16,
Nov. 8,
Sept. 13,
Jan. 2(>,
Apr. 5,
Feb. 2:^,
Mar. 7,
May 19,
Jan. 22,
May 26,
June 18,
Aug. 24,
;Mar. 15,
18«]857
18741
1859 60
1804 49
182()
1830^
1832
1858
1848
18<>2 92
182;-) I
1826 45
1828
18:^0
i?^9 m
18<i051
187645
1875 75
1827;
1829"
1839;
1848 C)0
18«)3 35
1 870,70
1873 74
1868,.57
18.30!
184l':u
1845
18r)0 77
1853
1869
18;w
1837
18:^7 1
18<i3;
1872 81
182.->
1869 7(5
1834
1854|7:i
18(>557
18i'>6 00
1856
1823
1823 69
18271
I8;i2
1849
i8.")4r
18.J8 24
18;">9 62
186076
18<>167
180J 70
18(}2 84
18<')3
18t)374
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLE
Date op a 1
Date ok j
, Death. ^ '
iSept. ir>, 1S64T4'
Death. ^
Xosbil, K»ruh,
Pennj-, Jane K..
, Penny, Alexander,
.Feb. 18 186960
NcHbll, John,
Jan. 37, 1805 BO
, 'Nov. 6.1874 63
Nesbli, Kllmbeth,
:Mav 2:^18«7 70l
1 Peter*, Miohael,
June IJ 1854
NcBbil, Mrs. M»ry,
]Sov. 25, lBf>8 73
' PhiUipi. Mrs. «..
,Sept. 17, 18i7
Nosbii. H. I.,
■Aug. 31, 187847,
; PliillipB, Dennis,
iApr. 32. 1863 52
Xeupr, Hpnrv,
|»ept. 1, IHIM65
Feb. 1, 187-2 73'
! Phl<^r, Ludwig,
Mar. 15, HB874
Xem-r. Mrs. Kliza.
, Phlegor, John,
Sept. 25, 1880 71
Nevltts, Ralph,
,SBpt.22, 183^
' Piper, Dr. F. A.,
iApr. 23, 183J
Neviua, .Mr». Lucr,
. ijan. 19, IfW 73 '
Piper, Mrs. M.M.
IDec. 10, 187674
NeviuH, Auron C,
,Oot. 3, 1857 4S ,
1 Poak, William,
Aug. 13, 183088
Xpviiw. Fder,
IKob. 23, I8fi«74'
' Poath, Mrs. Elii.,
,Oct. 18. 1863 49
Sewiiiaii, Mrs. M.,
Jan. 4,185965:
1 Poath, Henry,
April B, 18S3 79
Xeyhurt, Uiiniol,
,Jan. 7, 1864.47 |
! Pollock. .VIra. I.,
Oct. 33, 1834,
Nicely, ^)aInllel,
Sept. 6, 1833' ,
Pollock, Mrs. Ell2S,iJuly 8, 1833
Noetflnjf, Llr. Wiu,
Nogpl, .liic.b,
^Ijan. 22, 18»1'84
1 Pollock, Margaret,
Oct. 13, 1842
'Apr. 18, 18nO,B4
1 Pollock, Thonias,
|Aug. 5,1861!
Nogel, Mrs. Miirv,
Kon.Mr«. .M«rvK,
iJan. 17, 18ft4 87
1 Pontius. Peter,
■Dec 34. 188279
Jjune'Jl, 184U86
Pontius. Eliabeth, May 2, 18633B
Koll, Col. Honi'y,
Nov. 0, 1847.
1 Pontius, John F.,
IJune 17, 1889 81
S..11, Williiiiii,
IMar. 13, t8,'il'
Pontius, Raohael,
I Mar. 16, 186863
NiJl, Joliii.
Mar. 4, 1858 77
Pontius, Philip,
1 Pontius, Mm. SI..
Sept. 7, 187283
Xoll, Mimiucl L.,
'May 5.1864 37
lApr. 18, 187673
N.ill. Siimuul,
Deo. 18, ISW M
Porter, Samuel,
:Jan. 10, 1825
S..11, 1'flpr,
,Oot. 2,1866 80
Porter, WlUiaiu,
,Aug. 19, 1873 8S
Null. Kllim.
Apr. 13, 1876,66
Potter, Mrs. Maria,
, Apr. 10, l«ai
Nyhan, Mlobael.
iJune— .18li9.lt7l
Potter, Jamee,
'Mar. 23. 186575
Oliphant, Charlotte, June 13. 18«? 70 1
Prstl, Charles,
1 Aug. 34, 18J9
Orwtg, J<)hii,
Aug. 10, 1828
Preistly.JouenhR.
Pross, HU-hnnl,
.Nov. 10. 186373
Orwiit. (It^trge,
Doc. 3, 1841' ■
Jan. 26.18715;
Or«lK, .iHWb,
Jan. 2.1, 18-'>H76|
Pursel, Daniel,
iMny 5.iail7S
Orwig. -•^umu-l.
Sept. 7,1872 73'
Pursel. Peter,
Aug. 11, iws:
()mi){. .Mr«. M. .\.,
June T, 1873 39
qulddingtim, Mrs.
' Quinn, Torrence,
Nov. 13, 187173
(.lt.lH.r.i,MrH. Mary,
, Apr. 7, 1-^74 71
Aug. 10 1831 le
I'=iliiI<T.J..lin.
Mhv 2-J, 18,-.4 iKi
;<(tiin.i. Miolmel,
Kelt. 20. littlfl
KilnLT, ,].>liii,
.Imio 0, \mz ;M)
1 I1;iiii-,'V,1:b-|.,Wui.
.Ott. -. IWl
IhiiiiUT. TKoiuhh,
Ffb. IJ, mi;{78
llMi.-kiiii.rl'.ara,
.Mar. 28, ItOuTi
l-HlllKT. I..«is,
Mhv ^4. IS00 4tl
, )!;nul,. I>aniel, H.,
Allg. 35. 1817
PBnlot', J'liiii,
April 1. 18.-,9 18
itanck, Daniel,
N-iv. 16, wwrs
Pardon-, i:>,i., 11.,
April 4, 18fl4 63 ,
KaiKk, Adam.
Mar. 8,18W^
P&i-k!>, ElltuibMli,
Aug. 23. 1839 24 .
i KaiKk, Mrs. Mary,
Aug. 1. I8MI>
Pftrr, Mrs. EIli.,
iMur. 27, 1838 !
Hanck, Joel,
Oct: 1.I86»«!
. Aug — , vm% 36
Itanolt, William,
Apr. 39, 187599
Maj- 38. IH75W
PiilllTW)n, Robert,
July -, I83rt
, RauL-k, MrB. Jane,
I'iitterwm. S. M.,
Jnn. 3SI, 1840
Haser Ihomas.
.IKJC
J*iitltT*iii, MrH. It.,
Jim. 30. 184J60
, Hiiwn Nathan,
Jan. 28, 186538
P,.tt.TS.lll. J. It.,
May 8,1843 70
1 Itav, Mrs. Jane,
Mar. 3.1«0H
I'lim-rs..!!, Will. ,\.
, Julv 15, 18.--183
' Ray. ti*..., .rnhn,
Sepl.10, IdW*
Paul, S;iiii|M»ii,
Mhv 4,184341
Recdv, Pliilip,
1 lt(«in, Miss Elean.,
— L -.1822
I'aut, Joliii,
June 6, 1870 O-i
, Mar. 38, iaw«
Pcirur, Uoorgp,
Aug. 7,186157,
Re.mi, .lohn N..
Jan. — , ISSSffl
Felfor, Mr». I.'alli.,
Sept. 37, 186107 1
Ream, Samuel,
Oct. 2, 1874SS
Pfllinaii, NaniuHl,
■July 35,1875 81'
1 Reber, Mrs.,
June 11. 1845
Itnni-, \^'iHl!Ul^,
■Nov. 2n, 1828 75,
Reber, John,
June33,l.V^e
PeiinV. 3mw.
July 21, 1850 !
Reber, James,
Sepl.20. 1853«
IViiiiv. Willinm,
Jan. 20, 1853
! Kober, Margaret,
Sept.24. 18B3.7(
Peiiiiv. Hii(jli,
Dec. 3, 1853 ,
j Reed, George.
Sept.30. 18M74
P,.n,iv. .b>lm,
.Aug. 6, 1868 781
Reed, John,
Mar. 22.1860 79
Penny, Tiioinas,
Aug. 28, 1868 65
1 Keed, Stewart,
Nov. 6,186163
AN.VALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Rped, Jofleph,
goed, Mrs. Rnrliel,
Rped, fieuive.
«e^. Mrs. Cath.,
"eed. Peter,
"eeJv. Audrew,
«e«(iv, John,
«««dV, Jacob,
5««lv, Mrs. Catli.,
S««lv, Jacob,
S^Wb, >tls9 Hannoh,
g****. MteH Nancy.
5<>hmel, i;eorge,
g-^^-hlv, ChrUtlftii,
g-eWeubai^h, Dan.,
Sy^iilenbfcunb. Jno.
^^■>'i< Daniel,
^J^ilniyer, George,
S«ltinyer, Mm. 8.,
^«ngler, John,
*<.en(£lifr, Catherine,
•tjinBlur, Mrs. M.I).
U.-nul>'r, J,i.'..l..
ttenaler, (ieorire,
Rengler, Mra.lioi
Rentier, Dftnlel,
Renner, Catherin.,
Senner, FVede^ck,
Reator, Ann,
Remnr, Mrs.
Itciaior, ar., John,
Reznor, James,
Rheem. fieorge,
Rhoadf, J»n>Ii,
Rhoadq, Mrs. Eliz.,
Khowls, John,
Richart, John F.,
Rlchnrt, Mrs. Marv,
Rioliter, Pet«r,
RIehl, John,
Rtehell, Mn<.
Rlshell, Martin,
Ristaell, John,
Bishell, John, .
BisbeU, Daniel,
Bitter, George,
Bitter, Elizabeth,
Ritt«r, Col. Jacob,
Bitter. WUIam H.,
RItter, John,
Robb, Jaroee,
Bobb, Nancy,
Bobins, Daniel,
Boblnson, Ann,
Bobinson, Samuel,
Roblmon, Mrs. 8.,
), IM74 (Mt i R
% 1874 73,1 ~
1, l«7,'i«7|
Robinnon, William,
RobinHuti, Adeline,
Robinwin, MrH. M..
Robinson, Wilson,
Rocki-fellcr, David,
.>vv. lu, 1(1.11 loii itcjc'kpv, .John,
Nov. 18, IW.5 KiK^ker, (ieiinre,
Nov. 22, IKMW,; RookeV, Eliaibeth,
Oct. 8, lAWW I R-Miearmet, Suni'l,
Feb. n, 1NH«*I , Rohland, Riohard,
Roland, Charles,
Roland, Jutui,
RorobHugh, Philip,
Roshona, Henry,
Rote, Mrs.Elean'a,
R-Jthermel!, Mrs. C.
Ross, James. P.,
Roiisli, fJeorne,
Dec, 1, \K-f2 fi".
Julv la, lM.y ■3\
Out; 13, WttA')
Nov. !9, tWrt.-jl
Auk, Si, 18711 Tli
Apr. ao, IW-'.-.y
Od, 3, IM-VITO
, 184:< ;
Apr. 7,
Julv IB,
Auk. 30,
Oct. 12,
,Sept. -IZ,
Feb. 3fl,
Feb. SO,
I8.>38N'I
IHtSSOSl
ItUSS.'i [
lflfi8 77!|
1N59(10J
1WI68
1847 48 II
ItHS
18110 70
1873 77 I
mam
1844 7^
May ■>, 1
I Auk- 29, I
June 5,1
Sept. 20, I
Nov, I, 1
I Oct. 2i, ]
Nov. -, 1
Oct. 31, 1
May 22, '
Sept. 18,
July 22,
Feb. IB,
I Feb. 2,
AUR. 17,
Sept. 17,
Apr. 14,'
[Apr. 11,
18.11 ;77 li
18.58 72 I!
187(1 78 1
18(to:»4''
187S6011
iMtiieo
1864 331,
Dec. — ,
Sept.—,
Dec. 30,
Nov. 8,
Sept. 17,
I Jan. IS,
July 28,
Mar. 11,
|Mar. 10,
Oct,
Jan, a», 1)
'Aug, 12, It
Sept. 16. II
Sept. 19, 11
18.59 79 ,
1808 36
183.5 70
184f13.il
1849:47 I
1861120'
, 1872.73
-.1839
Kousli, .Marv Ann,
RoUHh, Maria E.,
RouHh, Michael,
Rouah, Ftoq., Sam'l,
Itover, Joel,
]l.)yBr, Joel,
Rover, Jacob,
Itulil. (leonte P.,
Huhl. Mrs. Harah,
Siuidernon, Henry,
Snndi>ra,Hr., Henry,
Himders, Henrv,
SMnilH, David, ■
Hnnds, James W.,
SaHver, Mulilda.
S;i.vcrs, Ethan,
Schatllu,' Joseph,
Schallle,Cluir1cHD.
-ScliatHe, Franic S.;
Schnalde, jr., Geo.,
Sclinahle, 'Hon, G.,
Schook, Mrs. H..
Hchru(!k, llenjaniin,
.Hchrack, Susanah,
.S<' brack, Esq., Jno.,
.Scbrack. Eve.
KchracTk, Daniel,
Stihrauk, Mrs, B.,
Schroycr, C<mrad,
Mcbroyer, |r,, C,
Schroj-er. 'Csth.,
S.-li«pn'-k. Esq., D,
S-ud.lcr. E-K^D.,
; .Smr,.|i, V.\\\nV
IMeoTch, MrH.Snroh,
.Search, Tlioniaa,
I .Search, Stephen,
I .Seebold, Mrs. B.
! Secboid, Sarah,
Mar. 20, 18.i0
July 31, 181)5
Jan. 31, 18W
Julv 3, 1837:
Dec 29, WiOSd
Apr, 2«, 1873 70
Aug. 4, 187(194
July 31, 18110 .',2
Auk, 23, 183fl 84
Mar. 7, 1848 25
Oct. 11, 18.57 f»
,Apr, IB, 1859 77
Feb. 5, 1873 77
Oct, 1,5, 18.-13 75
,AUK. «. 1872 :ii
iMar. 311, 187il 77
Apr. 29, 1843 rt2
Auk. », 18li367
Fel). 8, iRi8
Feb. 17, lft5<J 82
Jan. 11, 187074
Apr. 13, 18^50
May, 10, I877I59
Fell. 8, 18271
I Dec 2A, 18451
iFeh. as, 1S4«'
,Jan. 11, l8li3 3S
, Fob. — , I*i3|
'Apr. 8. IK7(lft4
jAug. 5, 18J4 32
Dec. 13,1811374
IDcc. 9, l-ffAlfiO
Dec. 9, lH28fi7
IJune IB, l'M2|70
iJune 4, 18iio'58
Jan. 1,5, 181)1 m
IDec. 2.5, IH)!9.5fl
Sent. -in. lM7llLm
MBo
Dee. 23, 1
,,ran, 19,188175
iJan. 27, 1829,
lAug. 2.5, I848!T(!
iMnr. 21, 18.54 78
Sept. 2.5, 18112;
'Apr. 15, ]8fi4.55
: Aug. 22, 182.5182
IMar. 19, 182sl
^.WVALa OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Met'lM.ld, Pliilii),
S<Tici>uiit, Mrs.
Hliait'ur, Willinm,
KUitfTer, p>q., tlun.,
Sltiitl'cr, Vw\., Sim.,
Sba]I'Rr, Mrs. M«t.,
Wiiiflcir. DhvM.
HIlUIIIJ), jRHSe,
Mliiuup, Kzrn,
Khuniiiin, Mra. M.,
, Mar. 1, 1H33
, 0<;|. 2a, 1H3S
iXuv. 10. WW*
jOct. £a, WM
Isopt. 11, IWl fl
Muv 7, IWHf
Slirer, David C, lAug.
SJifer, .locob, Mur.
Stoiuikcr, Mrs. A., S«pt.
! SlDiiEh, Jaoub, Apr. '
. Sinaltvied, Giitlieb, Sept.
SuiUev, Rov. Thus.,
Siiiilli, KliaibctL, ' ' -
Sinitli, Dr. JoH. 1..
Smith, Dr. Jonas,
I Huiitli. Catherine,
I Smith, KlizubPtli,
; Snilih, (ildeon,
: Smith. Michael,
I Smith, Charles D.,
j Smith, Susanna, '
, I>eo.
Mur.
.July
:Mav
lApr.
18. IMMoU
3,IWi!tlS
.25, Irt-llff
Lil. ISWlS
a, iWiss;
— , 1H3J73
It IftL'.
5, Ubl
IT, ISili
3, DUD
Shoitkler, Mrs. M.,
Shwklur, Dniiiol,
Sliooklor, Tiibias,
SluM'klor, llonrv,
ShcM'klor, I'^Ho,, A.
Sli('ller,»r)i.MarBJ
Sliellor, niristinn,
SlielW, Mra-J. \V.,I
Kherurd, William,
Sliiiii.>ii, I'lwi., T.,
Slili'lilM, WillUiii).
Sliivi'ly, lleiilmiiin,
Sho<'iiuLl<or, ftcly.,
ShiM-iiuiki.>r, Sum..
iiiaiccT, Mrs.S.,
I Oct.
, 11, ISIHTt! Smilli, Rev, W, R., Sept. 9, ISWiH
" 1, IK-a
19, isai
1. ifnas
19, IHliariri
13, IHTUJI
Mar. 12,
Aug. 30,
Juno ID,
.Feb. 16,
Aug. 21,
Sopt. is!
Upr. as.
Sh<>\
ITS.-
Sh ruder, Frwli-riek,
Shrln<T.Mrs.M.E.,
SlirhLT, Kwi., ,Iiio„
Hliriii.r, \V. H.,
<-r, Mn*. Kll/.
n-1,
Shri;
Sliiic-k. 1V1.T.
Sii^ri-r, Siir;ili,
Silsbv, Vriali,
silsbv, Kittlier,
Slmcinton, J, \V.,
Simoiiton, .lunc C
Simon (Oil, .liimi-x,
SiiiKiiiKiii, .MrH. ^
.SUnr. Mrs. KliK
Deo. ,1,
Sept. 2«l,
. Mar. 11.
Apr. isl
Feb. 27.
Mnv 2(1,
IVo. 10.
Sept. lU,
Apr. fl.
1832
183774 !
1842 80
1850 85
1K7480
187R76
DKDTfl
iwi&r
I8BSr
18251
1827 T4
l«.=iSRO
1»7UI11|
iK.'>i) 7u ;
1W12 7!)
1*3 1
1830 «)
1878 H2
WW 37
18H»Tui
\mi «!
ifmu
18118 »9
184B7S
lS7.^fi2|
Sniitti, Mrs. Mari'
Smith, <jeoi^.
Smith, Esq., A. \\ ,
Smith, flcuree, jMnr.
Snook, Dimicl K., Sept.
Snydor, Mrs. Mury,'Oi4.
Snj'der, Simon, ' ?tlay
Siij'der, Hon. John, A»ig.
llSnrder, (ieorge A., June
i| Snj-der, Antiu.
'' Snyder, Mary M.,
Snyder, Renhen.
Snyder. Henry \V., Apr.
Soil iTOon Julin.
Simlt, David.
I StHltK, l^wlx, Aug.
Spalz, Josepli, Mav
tipwht Adam. CX-t.
Splitlcr, Datdel, AuK'
S[iidlcr, David, Mhv
jSpidler, Jarob, Apr.
Wpigelmyer, M, E., J»ily
Spoils, Samuel, Mav
Spotta, ftlichnel, Oct.
I SiHitin, Man-, (M.
SiKilts, Michael, Get.
' Spylter, Mrs. Maria, OtA.
Spyker, Jonathan, Dee.
Spykor, Solma, Jan.
Spyker Mrs. E.,
,1, 1871
U, 18iS
8,1X3
ID, ismV'
la, lK-*m
— ,1SB1
' 14, IMiS
24, VTif-m
IH. m'fi
—, liWfti
— . it:4?J
. 9, isaji
a^ i.<"73
4. li^iJO'
>, 182450
I, l(Mtl'K7
1, 1857 67
1, 1872 73
!, veam
I npvKer, na
' Siahl, John.
Stalil, Adam,
I Slulil, Lewlti, ■
Stahl, Jacob.
Stnhl, Kllmlieth,
Stahl, y\m. Cath.
I' Hliihl, (ieorge.
Staid, Mm. Cath.
I' StBbI, Jeremiah,
Dec
Apr. -
Oct. -
Sept.
May
7, ["HIH
17, IHfiH*
18, IWJW
£(, t.«.-.t;
— ,i(nsi
12, 1N37S
9, IBKW
2AIIWS1
,1, !*>«»
_i,:*w
2.1)^»
29, ItCifini
22,I»3S71
4, IWJ*
2, im SI
•X \m »
2,iee»
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Stdhl Jociib,
Stnlil, Peter,
Ht^sns, John,
Htainm, John,
St. CMr, John,
Rt. Cluir, Mrs. It.,
Hteodnuui. Eli&,
Hteoiluiaii, Marg.,
Stead man, MJirv.,
Steadmun, Win. C,
Stominiiin. Mre. R.,
Stouliiuin, David,
Steadmun, K. C,
^teiuis. Mm. N.,
Hteea, Jutin.
Sterner, Nuthan,
Mtemer, ("hristop'r
Sterner, Pttor,
Mterrott, John A.,
HtUlwell, Hon. Jos.,
HtU1we11,Mn. Ann,
HtineincI, Mr.,
SUtxel, Jtieub,
StAuk, Manln A.,
Htooghtuii, Roland
StaiuhCnn. Mrs. J.,
StnuKhton, J. a.
ntnuglibm, Fred.,
Stover, Mm. M. M.,
HtmhBil, Pet or,
StniltnQ, Ti-ler.
Strattoii, TAth. R.,
Stmub. AiKlrew,
Stmiib, .Ibmni,
Htniwh ridge, Marv,
StrawbrldKR, J.,
Strawbridt;e, Mm. C.
Htnivliom, Klizu,
HtreVhnni, Peter,
Btroltcheni, ]tut>ert,
Strlnkiaud, Samuel,
Strohoolcer, I>eiih,
Htroheckcr, Ur. S.,
Struble, Mm. M.,
Sullivan. Wni. B.,
Sutherland, Ciil. T.,
SntherUind, Jnno,
Kwarin, ht., Juhn,
Swarm, John,
Swttrtj,(;ei).(W.D.)
Swlner<ir<l, .lolin,
Swiiielurd, Mra. M.,
Svpher, JiUKib,
Doa. 29,1804 82
Apr. 38, 1^6 SI
■May 37, is,ii'78
iMar. ll,l«75 80
Jun. iJO, 1873
Apr, 30, iS75
Nov. 10. l&i?
Feb. 3, 1S3S
.July 27, 1834
'Deo, 17, 1840
Oct. 7,1813
iMur. 2!!, l^as
May 22, 18T6|13
Apr. 26, ISAl'eS
July 2B, IH55
— , 1839;
'. 1>M1
Apr. 2a 18(H67
April 4, 1W2 71
Aug. 22, 1»51 74
Jun. -a, imiTi
Sept. «, 18441
jDeo. 8,18(13 08
'Feb. IB, 18i7 7U
Sept. 3, 1832'
Sept. 2M, 1^12
— , 18.17
Apr. 3.5, INHOeS
Sapt. 38, l«7l!'7l
Sept. 2U, lS4.'i
Mar. S, V^a
Mar. 20, mw
Oct. 33, 1834 38
.\ug, 21, l*i4'-
Got, 11, I839i
Sept. 35, 18«il
Jun. 4, 187(1
■Deo. 11, 18!17 78
Sept.2U, 144.5
May 8, 18 KJ n7
Apr. 23. 1858 79
Feb. 19, 18j:i
Ang. 2(i, 18«976
Aug. Is, lHi;8 60
Sept. 1, 18.)U4J
on. m, 1811(84
Feb. 9, 1819 82
Sept. 21, 1827
Mar. 2.% 1841 W
Apr. 17, 1871 65
June 24, 181)7 43
AUB. 13, 1872
June H, 18r.4 74
Julv 10, iN->»:'i9
Sept. 19, 18fiN 7fl
June 9, 1X74 70
Feb. 18, 1830 73
Due. 3, 1813'
May
Tharp, Esq., James, Mar.
Thouipwiii, Win., Apr.
Thompsm, John, Aug.
Thoni|iBnn, BenJ., Oct.
Thompson. Mrx. J., Aug,
Thompson, Rev. O., Jan.
Tlionipson, Mis. M., Apr.
Thompson, Chaa.I», .lune
Thompsim, Mrs. B.,'Jnn.
Thornton. Dr. T. A., Feb.
Thornton, Mrs. A., Apr.
Thur^by, Margaret, Jan.
'l\)dd, Kev. Nath,, July
Treat e r, Reorge,
Tmut, John,
Trutt, Mm. Eve,
Tucker, Martha Q.
Tweed, David,
Tweed, Wllllanv
UIbIi, Andrew,
Videnllne, Hond,
Vuu HuNkirk, Thos.lSept.
Van Uuakirk, Rlch.|Oet.
Van Runkirk, John,l.\ug.
Van Ituskirk, John,|jan.
Vanhom. Esuy. lAug.
Van tJundy,CfirI«t., Sei«.
Vunvalaih, Mm. E., Mar.
VnnvalzahJr.,Dr.R. Mar.
\''HtiVBl>uh,jr.,Dr.T. "
Vonvalsih, John A.
Vniivnimli, Mrs. N.,
Vanviiimh, W. W.,
Yanva\2iih,noh.U.,
Vanvalxali, Mrs. H,.
Vanvalaih, m™. H.,
Vonelda, Peter,
Voneida, .loiin,
Voneidii, Esther,
Viiruundo, Mm.,
Vurse, Dr. Isiiue S.,
Vorse, Mrs. EHk.,
Wiiggonseller, Dr.,
Wajojenneller, Win.
Wagner, Andrew, 1.
Wagner. Mra, It. ^mg
Wagner, Michael, Deo.
Wagner, Daniel, |Aug.
Wagnctr, Mrs. S., ]Apr.
Widln>rn, .Martin, Sept,
Wuldruiii, Samuel, Aug.
Wales, Mary, N. R. :May
Wales, Marv, Feb.
Wiilker, Jiilm, |soi>t.
Walker, I-'ranols, June
WiUker, Mrs. Marv.Uuly
Walker, Thoniius" [Sept.
Waliavo, Polly. 'Mar.
27, IWfl
1, ifu-irj
22, 1823 70
28, 18tt4'43
m, i8«4|
29, lH»i>
— , 1889 00
8, l»rt7'Bl
34, 1873'
— , 1848 91
8, 18(17 88
28, imy
mm. IS, I8»2,
Aug. 19, 18ril<
Apr. 2U, 18H4'23
— , 1824'
Feb. 1, 18.57 68
Apr. 19. 18tt4 79
12, 1830!
fi, 183066
2,1838
28. 1874lgo
•a, 18391
30, 1836ni
30, 1810^4
14, 1851 fe
23, imt'si
an, 1854 S4
20, 18.17 ft7
13, Iflil7 U&
ai, i»mso
16, 18112 45
25, 1H7U 119
36, 183.1 73
20, lAi8|77
8, ]8lir>
— . I823I
17. 18;M1
17. 187342
38, 1847^
30,' 18311'
22, IKM
22, l«.)8'7i!
3U, I81I] H2
13, 1873,81
20. 18n.')M6
25, 18.>8',16
1.% 1830,68
20, 183«y
18. 1837 i
i), 1807 SO
10, 1807 BS
Aug. 1
Itee.. ~
'Aug.
;. 17, 1
17. 1829,
f/.VALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Walluuo, Willluin,
Wallace, Kliaibctk,
Wnllanv, Jiiwph,
WaIli«w,MM.V.,
WtJter, WlUiBiii,
Waller, Abritui,
WullH, MissS.Mc-C,
WnllH, JulinMiii.
Wiilere, TlHuiiufl,
Wiiten, Mr». Kllen,
Watson, Mm. M.,
Watsiiii, Huiiiucl,
Wat
Wat
Jan. 6, m4 I
■JhIv 34, IWW,
J<Uy 15. 1M,h77 I
•■ ,-. 26, I8ii0 41
mar. 22, 18112 HO
Out. 26, lHliHII9
Kfb, 10, 1874 BO
|Mar. IH, IRI19 57 ,
Afar. 14, IKOO W '.
■Apr. 18, l»W.Wh
■^*ep^. 0, imHBj!
Si-pt. lU, lM(lHB.i'
I, Ilolx
Weaver, Jaii)lj,
Weaver, M. H.,
WeldenHiiul, A. J.,
Weirick, Mit. M,
Woist, MiHB r...
Wehr, Simon,
Wuiriuk, Vfti: D.,
Wplriok, Km]., S.,
Welkor, Mm. L..
Weli:li, Vmi.. C.
WelBli, lli^nrt-.
Wetia>l, Iliiirv, '
Whltfi, .liiimii,
Wliilliin, Will. K., .
Whitnier, Ann, <
Whiliner, St-lHiH'ii, 'i
Wliitnii'r, IMiT,
Wlilii4tki-r Jiihu. ,
Wikolt. I'elcr
WHdlniQl, Frpd„ ,
Wllbclni MoKes,
WilliaiiiMHi, Kfv..l.
Wil»>n, KliwilK'lh, ■
Wilwin. Murv,
WilHoii, !4anlli.
WilHOIl, TIlOlllIlM,
WilMoii, .rnnii-M.
Wtlixiii, Kli»il)Ptli,
Wtlwin, Mr!i. ('nth.
Wilwin, Jiilin,
WIlHon, Saiiiiii'i,
Wlb!»n,Sa)mi(>lII..
Wil«.n, Mrn. Klk
Wllwm,Tli.iH.<'..
Wllwm, rliarlt^,
Wilwn, l-i"!., Sam.
Wilwm, M:ithiii)>.
Wilam, JoJin F..
W)lM>n, l.oul&'i.
Mar. 20, JH.-rft.-io
.\.pr. D, la^'iflee.
July 20, 1800 32 1
Date op sj
Death. ^
Wilson, WUiiam,
June 12, IWSTH
WllHon, } on. A. S
Dec. IB. ISWW
Wilson, 5 m. Ann,
Sepl.21, l^i«7
WUson, J m. Sarah
June 31, 187284
Wilsnn. 1 ugh.
July 3, IHTSM
Wilaun, Francis,
Feb. 15, 1W17S
WUson, Mrs. S.B.
Nov.—. 1((74«
Wilt, Adani,
Aug. 13, IS3U
Wilt, Em., Jho. C
Winegiirdner, P.,
Mav 24, 1)»8J0
Aug. 17, l«St
Juli- 13,I.'M7«
Jan. 1. IWJft'
Wlnegardner, Alb
Feb. 16, lt(7SM
Winters. Samh,
Apr. — , l«il
«' intern, Duvid.
Aug. 13, l«li
Winters, Mrs. C,
Mar. 19, isat
Winter*, Maraaret
Wintere, Daniel,
June 21, 1«>
Jan. 5, 1S37IU
WIntens Sarah,
Jan. 7, WH-M
Wint>-nt, Mrs. Reb
Oct. IM. 1N71T1
Wine, Mn*. Barbara, 0<it. 11. 1SH4I
Wise. .Mrs. Kleimor
Aug. 17. 1*737;
Witiiier, Sebastian
A Iff. 15, l«a7X
Wiliiier, Mra. 8.,
Julv 3.1S7Jn
Vlittenm.v«r,Jaaob, Juiieas, l*Xiil
Wiilfe, Jonatlisn,
■Nov. fl.l«M*l
Wulft-, Miuhael,
iSov. aSlMT-il
Wo fe, Samuel,
Sept. 15, imtu
Wo fe, Anlhriny,
Jan. 21, 1«17«
Wi. fe, ,
Mar. 17. IVilTS
Wo fe, Raiuuel,
Apr. 19, l«iiSl
Wc. fe, Mr<. Mar\-,
Keb. 17, l»K»i
Wo fe, Mrs. Ilnnh
Apr. 7, If-WiS
Wo fe, .lolm.
Nov. 11. Ifti-ai
Wolfe. Andrew,
.laii. ■-•1. ls;i!C
\V„lte, I'elcr.
Hw. 31. IST173
Wo fe, Jlrs. Eve.,
Fel). 4, ls7:;ffi
W.>lfe, Leonard.
fob. H ls7.-.>
Wo re, Mrs. K. M.
Ma.v «,]«■■«
Wo sev, Henrv,
iHii. livKliS
W-xri^ ChriBtbp-r
Aug.2:Li'<.vi.-K:
Wounier, Mra.,
si-pt.ai. i^r
Wonnan. V. S.,
.Sfpi.ai, i>i7<i
Wvkotr. Mm. S.,
J«n. Ifi, 1^7^.7fi
Yearlek, l->q., H.,
June2l. l?.^i:il
-i-iirnell, (George,
June (i. l^TSrtO
Ytirwer, Jaoob,
.Ian. 22, l-71t7i
Y«der, Jitiiib,
Apr. It, ISSiJ)
Yoder, Samuel,
Mar. 7, IsTi'tt
\-ohn, John.
Feb. 17. l-Tl^i
Yost, Kliaibcth.
OM. ;.. ivifiw
Yr)unK. .r antes.
Julv 2I», l«i">
Vou !!(,', Fre<lerick,
Aim. 2W, I'ii
Julv s, im«
Younj;. Maria,
Jan". 7, !-4:l
Auk. li. IfViiK
YouiiK, U a lei '
J.me 4. ISM
Young, Jacob,
June 7, ltt7S!
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Yonng, WllliBm, Nov. 20,
"Young, Mm. Miirg,,.May 3,
Young, Eleanor, . :Nov. 17,
Young, Mre.,
Young, Adam,
Young, Abra.,{B.,)IOot.
Young, Mrs. Ellen, Feb. IS,
Youngman, George, May "
ZtMU-tus, Mrt. ftl. A,, Dec.
SSelgler^Mni., '■
186676
1872 65
J«7S,78
1S7590
1866'4a
1867(47
IS1379
1860130
18261
Zellere, Peter,
Zelleis, John.
ZoUers. sr.. John,
Zellera, Mrs. Cath.,
Zellera, Dtuildl,
y«]lera, Mrs. Han.,
Zcllers, Daniel,
Zellora, Samuel,
Zentmyor, Jiioob,
Zentmver. Mrs. E.,
Zlebacb, Mm. Ann,
Zinunennan, John,
Jon. 5, 1822 37
Aug. 1, 1832
Nov. 12, 18*3 67
July 23, 1850!
Nov. 30, 18531
Feb. 21, 1856 79
Oot IS, 1866
Feb. 3, 187466
Mar. e, 1849|
Mar. 13, 1863 79
Sept, 2, 186770
Aug. 18, 18251
MILITARY RFXORD, 1861-5,
^•^
COMPANY E, FIFTY-FIRST PENNSYLVANIA.
Jaines Liiker,
Charles D. Kline, junior.
Musician.
Joseph A. IjOgan.
Captains.
(t. II. Ha-ssenplug,
Williaui R. Forater.
Mrst Lieutenants.
John A. Morris,
P'rancis R. Frey.
iSecond Lieutenants.
Martin L. Schooh,
James L. Seebold,
George C. Gutelius.
Sergeants.
John M. Wiernian,
Thomas D. iiecnl,
El bridge G. Mai7i<\
Charles Mills,
Cornelius Edelman,
iieorge Dielil, discharged, July 11,
1 ««>,■), lV>r w< )und8 received in action,
Lewis a. Titus, di(Hl, January 7,
l!S<>H, of wounds re(H»ived at Fred-
ericksburg, December 13, 18(>"2.
Corjnirals.
John IL Sortman,
Cvrus A. Eaton,
Peter Strubble,
Isiiiic Treat,
Daniel High,
Ebert Sj^rowles,
William Kleckner,
Isaac (r. Magee,
Adam Gluse,
Thonwis F. Search,
John C. Youngman,
GeorgtJ \V. F(H)te,
Levi 11. Anmum, ,
Thomas S. Mauck, died, June 20, Derkes, John I).,
1W)4, of wounds received at Peters- 1 Dersham, Henry,
burg, Virginia, buried in National Dewire, Alexander,
(U'lnetery, Arlington, Virginia, Diohl, Henry C,
(ftM>rge M. Aurand, killed at Wei- Dingman, Abraham,
don railroad, August 19, 18<)4, | Dolby, Isaac,
sSo
Privates.
Aikey, Jeremiah, captured, died at
Andersonville, Georgia,
Baker, Rjilston,
liarklow, Georj^ E., died at Browas-
ville, Mississippi, July 21, 18fi3.
Barnes, Albert E.,
Beers, David H.,
Bell, William H., ^
Benfer, Abraham,'
IJenner, Asher,
Benner, Lewis J.,
Black, James,
Blair, Simon S.,
liomgjirdner, John,
Boop, Ja<x)b,
liowers, (ieorge,
Brouse, Benjamin H., killed at Cam-
den, North Ciu^lina, April li*.
lSfi2,
lUirk, George P.,
Burkhart, Adolph,
I^urris, Samuel,
('hap pel, Ezra,
Chaml)ers, Jaiiu's M.,
Chambers, M. B.,
Clapham, Thonuis H., died, Murch
IH, lSi)4,
Cole, Luther G.,
Cornelius, James V.
Cornelius, George W.,
Curfman, Daniel,
Curtis, Jeremiah F.,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
sSf
Dolby, Abraham,
Donabhy, Thomaia,
Donnison, Aaron,
Dunkle, James M., killed at Cold
Harbor, June 3, 18G4,
Elidem, Henry,
Engie, Solomon,
Fetter, John,
Fletcher, Justice J.,
Fox, Henr>' D.,
Frederick, Jacob,
Cralloway, Greorge W.,
Geniger,' William,
Grordon, Jacob,
Hansen, David,
HanseLmtm, David,
Hanselman, Adam,
Harris, Berryhill B.,
Ha88enplug, John T.,
Hauley, Timothy,
Ueckman, Wm/R.,
Heinbach, Elias,
Hcitsman, Isaiah,
Heitsman, Jacob,
Heitsman, Heniy,
Honderscm, William,
Hendershot, Christ,
Hendricks, John,
Hickernell, Ilobert, died of wounds
received at Cold Harbor, June 3,
1864,
Hilhish, Ammon,
Hoffman, William R., killed at Cam-
den, North Carolina, April 19,
186'J,
Hoffman, Edward J.,
Hummel, John,
HuU?hin»(m, Henrj',
Irwin, Robert, H.,"
Kelly, James T.,
Kennedy, Itorton,
K idson, Francis,
Kline, Joel,
Kline, Reuben,
Kline, Daniel,
Kline, Charles,
Kline, Andrew T.,
Kline, Jacob li., died May 6, 1864,
buried in United States general
hospital cemetery, Annapolis,
Maryland,
Klingler, John,
Kunkel, Samuel,
Kunkel, Jonathan,
Laird, Sanmcl H.,
Laudenshiger, William,
Leinbacli, William F. N.,
Ijcntiart, John,
Licnhart, David, killed near Peters-
burg, Virginia, June 17, 1864,
Uoya, Charles,
Lloyd, John,
Long, Jacob,
Lotz, Galen x^.,
Lytle, Charles,
Mc(Tregor, Samuel,
McFadden, Jackson,
Marsh, Charles H.,
Masterson, Ed. J.,
Meckley, Alfred, kUled at Weldon
railroad, August 19, 1864,
Mertz, Jacob K.,
Middaugh, John T.,
Miller, Jacob,
Miller, Henry,
Miller, James,
Millhouse, John,
Moll, Joseph A.,
Mullen, Arthur,
Myers, Daniel,
Norton, Henrv M.,
Orwig, William P.,
Orwig, John W.,
Paul, Peter G.,
Post, Victor E.,
Radenbaugh, Jeremiah,
Rahback, John,
Reed, Martin G.,
Renner, Levi,
Reese, Jonathan,
Rote, Joel,
Rote, Samuel,
Rule, John v.,
Sassman, Emanuel,
Sassman, Noah W.,
Searles, Sebastian,
Seebold, George A.,
See bold. Castor, died at Philadel-
phia, Pennsvlvaniii, Mav 11, 1864,
Scliaffle, Fnmk S.,
Schnure, George,
Schnure, William,
Sliaffer, Anthony,
Sheckler, John W.,
Sheary, Samuel F.,
Slireftier, Joseph,
Sliriner, Josiah,
Sholley, William S.,
Simmons, Thomas,
Smith, Albert E.,
Snyder, Henry,
Snyder, Jcmathan,
Sj)eese, Daniel,
Stitaer, John T.,
Toland, Robert,
Trainer, Charles H.,
Tucker, Samuel,
Watson, WUliam S.,
Weaver, John D.,
Webb, WUliam,
Wilson, Charles,
Wirt, Andrew G.,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
'.'- jtitiimorman, WillLim,
COMPANY H, FIFTY-FIRST PENNSYLVANIA.
Captaina.
J. Merrill Linn,
George Shorkley,
JiKrtt Lievtlenantt.
3. OUben Iktiivur, kUled at i
tom, Sonteiiiber 17, 1862,
Hugh MoClure.
Second LieulenanU.
Aarnn ^niith,
Jaonb H. Santo.
David C. Brewer.
Serijeanta.
Matthew Vandine, killed at Antie-
tarn, September 17, 1862,
fleoriie Breiin,
Setli J. Ilciiuiel,
TIarrlsoTi TTauiie,
"Frederick Erwlne,
■Ueorgo W Brown,
JobnAIdan liivfer,
James Kluonld,
Daniel M. Wetiell,
Wnikm Allison, killoilatFrodricks-
burg, Deoeiiibcr 13, 186L!.
11. J. Lingeriiuui,
.fntin Grambllng,
Alfred Diinrt,
George H KaufT,
Henry Foglcman,
Michael I, c ploy,
Andrew Knepp,
H. A. M. Hamcr.
H. C. McOiraiiRk.
Henrj- B. WelitLI,
Reuben Hakor,
Peter KoHcr,
Nicholas Nichols,
Roljcrt ncnrv'i
H. Co'y M^Tporniiok,
John Q. Adainti,
Charles Merrill,
Jainns L. School v,
Doltrloh Beck man,
J. Bachenhainor,
Henry J. Warner,
Muaiciana.
Jaoob Moore,
Charles P. MoPadden,
Andrew Bemade,
AllshoiJse, Peter,
An)cstadt, Jonan,
AiiHsUdt, Mabury,
AnnprieMer, William,
Auehenbaufcb, Willlain,
Ayent, James,
Baldwin. Kleaner,
rtastian, Peter,
Rastian. Abmhani,
Hear. Eilward. killed at Antiquu
Itoebor, Henry,
Het'hn. llenrv A..
Beiik. iBHJic, kil!(«l al Antlelwv
Heniier. Ijewis J.,
Itennoll. Mi1en.
Berk evil Ic, Daniel,
Blunt. James.
Bren^njior, Levi,
Brit ton. Sliuon,
Brown, Ana,
Brown lie 111, John,
Bobst, David,
Boon, Daniel.
Bower. Hivrrison,
Bonigardner, Daniel,
Bordmel, Daniel C,
TinyeT, William,
Bnskirk. Jacob.
Parev, Geor((e W.,
CaHseck, North ell.
Chriesher, William F..
riiriatr. Jninas.
Olark. David,
Corl, J<ilin.
DuwftOn Jolin L.,
Debibfin. John S..
Delia ven. Reuben,
Dillaplaina. MaJiro,
Dopp. J. Peter,
Dougherty, John,
Dougherty, James,
Doutv, William H., killed at Kimv
vilte, Tennessee November Jft
IRIilt,
Doyle, Matthew-,
Doyle. Jariiea,
Dumholler, Abner,
A^NALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
ssj
I^.vsher, Mathias,
J?,ve, Richard,
Eardlv, John W., killed at North
Aniia, May 27, 1864,
g^lof^ Sanniel,
^rvine, Frederick,
^p€$nship, David,
^vorlv, Andrew F.,
gverett, William,
''^jrley, Samuel, died at Knoxville,
^ Tennessee, December 19, 1863,
^^Mr'Tin?, (ieorge,
:£,je^, Henry,
* >Ue. John,
i,^>ote, John W.,
£,^^, William II. R.,
^*'ocJerick, Ebenezer,
^,*'ynte, Geortse H.,
-^^^Uagher, William,
f^^rdner, William,
^etty. David H.,
.3*^S8, Simon,
'rier,. Thomas G., died at Moore-
head City, North Carolina, October
6, 1864,
[mw, William,
;5:^ain, Henry,
^lain, John,"
^^arding, Jarrett S.,
Harris, Joseph,
Hartline, Daniel,
>fartline, David,
Hefner, Jonathan,
Helllefinj^er, George,
Henry, Adam,
Hertw>g, Emanuel,
Hcitsman, Isaiah,
Hoffman, Thomas,
Hoi on, Thomas,
Holslander, George F.,
Humphrey, John,
Ingerstm, Hillman,
Jones, Thomas,
Ketfor, Henry J.,
Kelly, James S.,
Kelly, James A.,
Kneph, Simon,
Knode, Albion G.,
Kyseraski, Joseph,
Lattimer, William J.,
I^amcm, John E.,
Leinbach, Calvin L.,
Lenig, Jacob,
Leplev, William,
Lott, John W.,
Lvon, Conrad,
McMurtrie, Isaac,
McEwen, Samuel S.,
Marks, Levi,
Marr, Thomas P.,
Mease, George,
Miller, John,
Miller, Samuel S.,
Miller, Daniel I.,
Miller, Jeremiah,
Miller, William A.,
Miller, Henry,
Mocherman, John H.,
Moll, Joseph A.,
Moore, John,
Moyer, Daniel B.,
Moyer, Daniel,
Murphy, John,
Murphy, Joseph,
Myers, "William H.,
Nainan, John A.,
Oaks, William L.,
Parebv, Joseph,
Passell, Robert W.,
Phleger, Ja<!ob,
Phillips, Abraham F. C,
Purcell, George,
Roam, Jacob,
Rexford, Henrj' E.,
Rhoades, Jacol>,
Search, Thomas F.,
Seales, Edwin, (N. B.,)
Serwatznes, Joseph,
Shaffer, Lewis I.,
Shappee, Dwier,
Shallev, William,
Shriner, William H.,
Shreck, John V.,
Slottman, Daniel,
Smith, John F.,
Smith, John D.,
Smith, David,
Smith, John, H.,
Smith, Jacob,
Smith, Isaiah,
Smith, Frederick,
Smith, Peter, captured August 21,
1.S64, absent at muster out,
Snyder, Nathaniel,
Snvder, Samuel,
Steltz William,
Steward, Charles R.,
Sullivan, Patrick,
Swab, William,
Swaverly, Adam,
Taylor, Samuel,
Turner, James,
Wagore, George,
Watkins, lienjamin,
Weisenbach, Anthony,
Weisenbach, I^eo,
Wellings, William J.,
W(»ntzel, Jacob,
WMen, William,
William»)n, Aaron,
Williamson, James,
Williams, William,
SS4
ANX.iLS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Wittoa, Isaiic, killed at Antietam,
W(M>d, Aaron A.,
Uhl, Chriatian,
Uinsteml, John C,
Updegniph, Lewis,
Van-Gezer, George.
Yoder, David,
Young, David T.,
Youngnian, John C,
; Zechnow, Charles.
COMPANY K. FIFTY-FIRST PENNSYLVANIA.
{Including only those from Buffalo Valley and vicinity,)
Captain,
George P. Carman.
J^irst Lieutenants,
Josiali Kelly,
John B. Linn.
Second Lieutenant,
Franklin Beale,
Frank P. Sterner, promoted captain
A[)ril 10, 18fM,and killed in action
May 12, mM,
/Sergeants,
li. J. C^rossgrove,
ThomjLs C. Pierce, killed in action
front Petersburg, A^'irginia, June
17, ISiU,
James Gibson, killed at Petersburg,
July 30, 18*)4,
John Vanlew.
Corporals,
William Huoy, died of wounds re-
(Muvcd at Cold Harbor, Virginia, ^ |
Henry (i. Dentler, died at Andei-son- i
villo, (jeorgia, Mav 17, 18<)4 — grave '
l,bJl, ' ,
Edward Held, I
Thomas J. Arbuckle, died in cap-
tivity, .
Nathaii M. Hann.
Musician ,
M<mtgomery S. Adams.
Privates,
Aikey, Lewis,
Aikoy, Zochariah,
Allen, Benjamin,
Bastian, George W.,
liiibcooii, Joseph,
Biildwin, Absiilom, died at Ander-
son vi lie, Georgia, September 24,
isiu,
Barn hart, James,
Bontly, Franklin,
Bt^rryman, Richard,
B(^tz<^!r, John,
Benf(>r, David,
Bower, William D.,
Bratton, Philip H.,
Cole, Christopher E.,
Cox, John F.,
Crites, Kremer,
Croasgrove, Samuel,
Dejx), Thomas,
Doebler, Alexander, tiiken pris«)ner
May 27, 18r>4,
DucW, Franklin F., died in captivity,
Dull, George, died at Alexandria,
Virginia, September 19, LS(>4—
grave 2,(i83,
Fa'ngboncr, John,
Foster, Thomas, killed at Weldon
railroad, August 19, I8G4,
Garrett, James, captured, died at
Andersonville, Georgiii, August 19.
l.S(U— grave 0,140,
Geddes, John,
Gift, Jonathan J.,
Hansel man, Peter,
Harris, John, killed June 17, lS(>i
Henry, Isaiah,
Hoover, Daniel, died June 27, 1*^.
H<M)ver, Cluirlcs, died at New York
city, November 12, 18(>4,
Houtz, Henry,
Huffman, John,
Ludwig, Jarad,
McBrid(s Piiul M.,
i Macphers<jn, John,
■ Mann, Philip, J.,
Marr, James,
Meylert, William S.,
Mills, David,
Moore, Joseph G.,
Ocker, David G.,
Poeth, Joseph G.,
liank, Benjamin, wounded at Cold
Harbor,
Rank, Samuel,
Rank, John, died of wounds received
in battle at Spottsj'lvania,
Reese, John,
Reichly, David,
Reinhart, Nicholas,
Reish, Solomon, captured at Weldon
railroad,
Ri(!har(ls, Edward, died September
10, 1S«U, of wounds.
Rider, Benjamin,
Riefsnyder, William,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
5^5
Royer, Samuel,
Sarvis Joseph,
Soudere, Ephraim,
Searcli, Will mm,
Shaffer, Thomas,
Sherry, George II.,
Shiers, Michael,
Shilling, Alfred, wounded at WQ-
demess. May 6, 1864,
Shingle, Davici, killed at Cold Har-
l)or, Vii-ginia, June 3, 1864,
Showers, Henrj' C,
Stees, David C',
Stuttsman, William M.,
Summers, Oliver,
Royer, Samuel,
Rouah, Benjamin,
Terry, George W.,
Treaster, Henrv,
Truitt, Willianfi M.,
Turner, Lyman B.,
Watts, John,
Weidell, John, died, October 26, 1864,
of woimds received at Cold Harbor,
June 3, 1864, buried in National
cemetery, Arlington, Virginia,
Wertz, Robert,
Winogardner, John, wounded in
action, June 6, 1864.
Yearick, Tobias.
COMPANY D, FIFTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
Captains.
James Chamborlin, resigned Mav
11, 1S63,
Samuel Cuskaden.
First Lieut enavt,
J. P. S. Weidensaul.
Second Lieutenants.
Aaron StouQ^hton,
William Phillips.
Sergeants,
Get>rge W. Scott, died from wounds
received at James Island, South
Carol im^ July 3, 1864,
Edward Zechuian,
Ijoi Trate,
.Jacob Fetter,
William J. Evans,
Jacob Getter.
Joseph H. Pardoe,
Michael Flaherty,
Samuel Chalfant,
William Uichartlson,
W^illiam Connolly,
.loseph R. Housel,
B. ¥. Machamer,
.John McPherson,
William A. Sober,
James McBride, died at Washing-
ton, D. C.
Corporals.
Joseph McCracken,
Thomas Mackey,
Enoch Rice,
Martin Young,
John Tambler,
.James Campb(»ll,
.John Leidabeck,
Elias K. Foust,
Patrick Kearney,
i:
Peter Sheddel,
Abraham Kauffman,
Alexander J. Sober,
Samuel Herman,
Samuel Dolby,
I. Dunklebefger, died June 4, 1862,
of wounds,
Charles A. Pennv, died at Craney
Island, Virginia, Sept. 25, 1862,
(iotlieb Smaltzried, died at Morris
Island, South Carolina, Septem-
ber 6, 1863.
Musicians.
Henry Gallagher, died at White
House, Virginia, June 15, 1862,
Charles McGregor.
Privates.
Able, John, died at Annapolis, Ma^
r viand, December 21, 18(W,
l^ifeer, Peter,
Barker, Henry,
Balliett, John,
Bennett, William H.,
Berkhiser. Isaac,
Blake, Christopher,
Blake, Janjes,
Bower, WUson M.,
Bowers, James,
Brocius, Gideon,
Buck, Frederick,
Burris, Henry H.,
Callahan, Michael, died at Ander-
sonville, Georgia, September 27,
ISiU— 9,886,
Carey, Archibald, died at Florence,
South Carolina, November 26, 1864,
Chalfant, Samuel,
Chappell, Ira,
Chappell, George,
Cogin, John,
586
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Cornelison, John R.,
Cornelius, Jackson,
Collins, George,
Courtwright, P. W., died at Hilton
Head, South Carolina, June 13,
18«>4,
Danner, Samuel,
Dannev, William, died at Florence,
South Carolina, December 10, 1864,
Dailey, John,
Donachy, John,
Doyle, John,
Dovle, Thomas,
Duck, Daniel, killed at F«tir Oaks,
May 31, 18(52,
Duryea, James,
Eraerick, Pliilip,
Evans, Richarcf,
Fadden, James,
Fenstermacher, James,
Fertig, John,
Fisher, Peter,
Foulds, Richard,
Gahring, Cliarles, died at Florence,
South Can)lina, October 18, 1864,
Geiger, Lewis,
Gordon, George,
Greigor, Jacob,
Grey, William,
Gross, Joseph, died at Wasliington,
D. C, June 19, 1862,
Gunn, Jeremiah,
Goodcn, George,
Hall, Henry,
Han key, John,
Han key, Frank,
Heaton, John,
Heimbach, Benjamin F.,
HelhT, Jeremiah,
HeUvick, Andrew,
Hensyl, Lot,
Hout'A Austin S.,
llullord, Lewis,
Hunter, Jolm,
Irving, Abram A.,
Jameson, Henry,
Jarrett, Franklin,
Jones, Daniel,
Kinney, John,
K inter, Maurice,
Kirsch, Frederick,
Krider, Jacob,
K rider, Daniel,
KaulTman, Ab.,
Kearney, Patrick,
Lemereaux, O. H.,
Lenhart, Henry,
Tjcnnard, James,
Livengood, AVjraham,
Tjocii, Samuel,
Long, Zeptianiah,
Long, Charles,
Long, John F.,
Long, Isaac,
Lupoid, Jeremiah, killed at Fort
Henry, Tennessee, April 2, 1862,
McGannel, Edward, killed at Fair
Oaks, Mav 31, 1862,
Martin, William,
Martin, David,
Messersmith, Jeremiah,
Miller, William,
Miller, Amzi W., died at Anderson-
ville, Georgia, October 1, 18<>4,
Minnier, Sanmel,
Moran, Patrick,
Morrison, Michael.
Mover, Benjamin F., killed at Fair
daks. May 31, 18»)2,
Mussleman, John, died at Yorktowii,
Virginia, November 27, 18(i2,
Musser, John,
Nagle, Samuel,
Neifert, Henry,
0*Gara, Domihick,
Olby, William L.,
Ott, Samuel,
Owens, John H.,
Pell, Benjamin, died at Florence,
South Carolina, October 21, 1S64,
Poeth, Henrv C,
Poole, Josiah, died September 2^1,
1864, buried in Cypress Hill oenie^
try. Long Island^
Poole, Gilbert, captured, died in
Florence, South Carolinai, August
22, 18<>4,
Price, William,
Pifer, Elias F.,
Phillips, William,
Pardoe, Joseph H.,
Rahmer, Charles,
Rjinsom, Thomas D.,
Reed, Samuel, died July 1864, of
wounds rect^ived at Fort Johnson,
South Carolina,
R(?nney, James B., died atYorktoi^ii,
Virginia, December 17, 1862,
Richard, Charles,
Richley, Frederick,
llorabiich, Henry,
Rutlosfis, Moritz *C.,
Saunders, Samuel,
Shoibelhood, Joseph,
Smith, William IL,
Sj)pcht, Michael, died at Washing-
ton, D. C, June 24, 1862, of woumls
received at Fair Oaks, Virginia.
May 31, 1862,
Springer, Joseph,
Sober, Siilathiel, killed at Fair Oaks
May 31, 18(32,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
5S7
Sober, Aaron,
Staples, Nelson, captured, died at
Florence, South Carolina, October
20, 1864,
Stapleton, Franklin,
Stetler, Charles,
Souder, Henry J., died at Florence,
South Carolina, October 20, 1864,
Trutt, David,
Vertz, George W.,
Wagner, Josiah,
Warner, Gideon, died at Florence,
South Carolina, October 1, 1864,
Wertz, Thomas,
Wheat, John,
Wheeler, Walter,
Williams, Philip,
Willis, David, died at Morris Island,
South Carolina, August 81, 1864,
Wilson, John,
Womelsdorf, J.,
Woodward, G. W.,
Wright, Franklin,
Wright, Charles,
Zellers, John, died at Florence,
South Carolina, October 1, 1864.
COMPANY E, FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
{Including only those from Buffalo Valley and vicinity,)
Captains,
Thomas Church,
Beach C. Ammons,
Daniel Artman.
First Lieutenant,
Henry F. Menges.
Second Lieutenant,
Albert H. Hess.
First Sergeant,
John R. Smith.
Sergeants,
William Ulrich,
.Toseph Hartley,
David Davis,
John Milsom.
Corporals,
William Parry,
James Harvey,
Archibald McPherson,
William Byrne,
Ezekiel Gilham,
.Fohn McCollum,
William Tovy.
Musicians,
.Ia<?ob Bingaman,
Daniel Bingaman.
Teamster,
David Kohlen.
Privates,
Bingaman, Daniel J.,
Bingaman, Jamas, died at Annapo-
lis, Maryland, December 20, 1864,
Buoy, Sylvester,
Cushion'^ John,
Davis, Thomas,
Davis, Job,
Dickison, Samuel,
Drum, William,
Getz, George,
Hancock, Richard,
Hancock, William,
Hayden, James,
Heinback, George,
Hess, Isaac,
Hess, Francis,
Kaler, Jefferson,
McCollum, William,
McPherson, John,
Marsh, Charles P.,
Oldfield, John,
Price, John,
Rearick, Oliver, P.,
Sergeant, William,
Slayman, Russel,
Snyder, Samuel,
Stevens, William,
Thomas, William H.,
Tovy, Daniel,
Ulrich, Eisle,
Walters, Henrv, C,
Wiehr, David M. L.
COMPANY A, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
Captains,
.Jacob Moyer,
Joseph R.' Orwig.
First Lieutenant,
Joseph William Kepler.
Second Lieutenant,
William Fitchthom.
Sergeants,
Albert Barnes,
Forster Halfpenny,
588
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Isiiac Treat,
Josiah Shriner,
Henry Rotherinal.
Corporals*
Geori^e W. Fiester,
Charles Worman, .
Jjicob Howor,
Harrison Tlafer,
Samuel S. Smith,
William H. Weirick,
Joel Kline,
Henry Pliillips,
Nathaniel W. iStralian.
Musician,
James Forrest.
Privates,
Aikey. William Henry, killed at
Fredericksburg, Virginia, Decem-
ber 13, 1«''>2,
Burkholdor, William,
Burklioldor, Lewis,
Burkenstock, II.,
Brant, Henry,
Baldwin, Absjilom,
Broeius, Isaac, .
Bordner, William,
Cauliflower, William,
(•harlos, Sturger,
Collins, Peter,
(Cornelius, Wjishington,
Crisswell, William,
Dennis, Pliaros,
Devine, Peter,
Diehl, Ilenrv Calvin,
Dollard, Wiiliam,
Dreslier, William,
Fiester, John Uhl,
Foltz, Martin,
Foster, Andrew,
Glover, John W.,
Grove, G. Samuel,
Hansel man, David,
Harris, Jolm,
Hartley. I'^liiis,
Hayes* James C,
Hehrv, William G.,
Hufr,*George,
Huff, Jolm,
Hultsizer, Jesse, died at Washing-
ton, D. C, November 10. 1882.
Katherman, Joseph,
Katlierman, Isiiiah,
Kline, Charles,
Kline, George,
Kline, Henry Charles,
Laird, Samuel H.,
Ljishells, George W., killed at Fred-
ericksburg, Virginia, December
LS, 18r.2.
Lenhart, David,
Leib, Enmnuel,
Ludwig, George,
McPherson, Archibald,
Markle, .John,
Maxwell, Archibald,
Meyers, Daniel B.,
Mifler, Harry,
Moyer, George W.,
Newman, Tvewis,
Rarer, John,
HecHi, G. Thompson,
Reed, John,
Richards, Christian,
Rorabaugh, James A.,
Rossmani William,
Rote, Joseph,
Sanders, George L.,
Sclmee, Peter,
Schuck, Thomas L.,
Shaffer, Milton,
Siiowalter, Samuel,
Smith, Sylvester,
Snyder, "William A.,
Snyder, William W.,
Snyd<T, Emanuel, killed at Fretl-
eri(!ksburg, Virginiii, December
13, 18i>2,
Solomon, Henry C.,
Sonmiers, .Tererniah,
Sommers, Oliver,
Stees, Henry George, killed at Frwl-
ericksburg, Virgmia, Dec. 13, 1S61
Swartz, .Tohn,
Taylor, William A.,
Wbrtz, VV'il I iani,
Wilson, Frank,
Winegarden, J. A.,
Wise, Charles,
Zecliman, M. Calvin.
MISCELLANEOUS.
In Battrry K, First ^Wi7/f?ry— ; Second Lieutenant Henry E. Gu-
Forty-third Ticffiment,
Captain Thomas G. Orwig.
First Tjieutenant Benj. M. Orwig.
In Company F, One Hundred and
Thirteenth— Twelfth Cavalry.
First Lieutenant David A. Irwin.
telius.
Company Fy Fi/tystrth Pennjsyl-
vania.
Second Lieutenant George W. GuU-
dui.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
S8g
COMPANY E, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
Ca%tiains,
John A. Owens,
Cliarles R. V^vuns.
First Lieittenantn,
Andrew G. Tucker, died July 5, of
wounds received at (iettysburg,
July 1, 18<)3.
Isaac S. Kerstetter.
Sergeants,
Scott Clingan,
Alfred Hayes,
Samuel lifown,
John V. Miller,
Reuben B. Kessler,
ThomaH P. Wagner,
Thomjus R. Orwig, died at Washing-
ton, I). C, November :iO, 1862.
Corporals,
Isiuic J. Kerstetter,
Isaac F. Brown,
John (iellin^er,
Benjamin W . Minium,
Henry V. Penny,
Joiuill. Martin,
William K(?iler,
Nathaniel Straimn,
Henry M. Speclit,
.ra«>b n. Rank, died, June 1, of
wounds received at Spottsylvania
(■ourt House, Virginia, May 12,
1««)4.
Sanniel Moyer, killed at Fredericks-
burg, Virginia, December 15, 18()2.
Musicians,
William G(?ibel,
Hunter B. Biirton.
Privates,
Amnion, William L.,
Armagiust, Peter, killed at Freder-
i<;ksT)urg, Virginia, December 13,
1^52,
Baker, (Jeorge,
IJ<K)pe, (ieorge E.,
B<jyer, Solomon,
Caiupbell, Reuben,
Deibert, John P., killed at C^atlott's
Station. Virginia, November 30,
l«<i3,
Dellinger, John S., killed at Freder-
icksburg, Virginiji, December 13,
18«)2,
Donacliy, William L.,
Fangboner, Theodore,
Farley, John,
Fees, "David,
Fetter, David, died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Vir-
ginia, December 13, 18H2,
Fetter, Adiim,
Fullmer, William H.,
Gellinger, Jackson,
Gilb(mey, Jacob B.,
Gundy, James P.,
Hartman, Har'n R.,
Hott'man, Noah,
Hoffman, John,
Hoffman, Henry W.,
Holfman, Soloiiion B.,
Houghton, Thomas,
JanuHon, David, died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Vir-
ginia, December 13, lH<i2,
Kline, John, died of wounds receiv-
ed at Wilderness, Virginiii, Mav
(J, 18<V4,
Kling, John, died at Acquia creek,
Januarv 22, 1H<53,
Koser, \Villiam, died at Warren-
ton, Virginia, November, 18(32,
Koser, I'riah,
LeFevre, Frank P.,
Lenhart, Jacob,
1 McBride, Daniel,
I Marr, James,
l' Martin, Henry, died at Sharpsburg,
I; Maryland, N'ovember 21, 18(52,
buried in Naticmal cemetery, An-
tietam — se<!tion 'H\ lot B, grave 224,
Martin, Daniel, died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Vir-
ginia, Det^ember 13, 18()2,
Minium, John A.,
Morris, A. Judson,
Moser, Jacob, killed at Cold Harbor,
Virginiii, June 1, 1864,
Moser, Jeremiah, died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Vir-
ginia, D(Mrember 13, 18()2,
Moyer, John N.,
Moyer, Levi 11., died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Vir-
ginia, December 13, 18(>2,
Pontius, Henry B.,
RabosH, John,
Rjiboss, Henry, killed, March 24,
1W.3,
Rank, Samuel,
Rei ch 1 e v , ( »tH)rge,
Reish, ('Tef)ru:e,
Rentier, William, L.,
Rentier, Levi, died at Richmond,
Virginia, Febuar>' 23, 1863, of
wounds received at Fredericks-
, burg, Virginia, December 13, 1862,
510
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Root, David, died at Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, July 3, 1863,
Sechler, William R.,
Shatfer, Jeremiah,
Shields, William,
Sliowalter, John W.,
Smith, Henry M.,
Smith, Henry C,
Smith, Michael,
Sraham, James C,
Sortman, Daniel,
Stapleton, George, died, July 26, of
wounds received at Gettysburg,
PennsyUTinia, July 1, 1863*,
Stoinmetz, Pliilip,
Stettler, Henry, died at Washing-
ton, D. C, October 12, 1862, burial
record, October 7, 1864, buried in
Military Asylum ceuieterv,
Stitzer, Samuel, died at WasKin^n.
D. C, May 30, of wounds received
at North Anna river, Virginia, May
23, 18(Me, buried in National oeme-
terj", Arlington,
Stack, Henry, died of wounds re-
ceived at Fredericksburg, Virginia,
December 13, 1862,
Wilson, Robert M.,
Wolfe, Emanuel,
Wolfe, William H.,
Wvnn, Thomas.
COMPANY D, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT.
Captains,
Henrv W. Crotzer,
William P. Dougal,
Roland Stoughton, died May 27, of
wounds received at Wiltfemess,
Virginia, May 5, 1864,
John H. Harter,
S. H. Himmel Wright.
First Lieutenant,
John A. Hauck.
Second Lieutenants.
Samuel G. Gutelius,
James Cuuuuings.
Scrtjeants.
Samuel C Ranson,
Sanuiol Kerstetter,
Jamos W. Marshall,
Charles A. Frey,
John Stennort,
Elijis H. Woidensjiul, killed at Get-
tysburg, July 1, 1863.
Corjwrals,
Albert Forster,
Howard Ritter,
Samuel Ruiil,
Amos iJrowand,
William Eberhart, i
George \j. Murray, !
•John Donachy,
.John M. Hunt, '
<reorj5e W. BarkdoU,
William E. Hennings, killed at
Gettysburg, July 1, 1S<;3,
Joseph B. Uuhl,' killed at Gettys-
burg, July 1, 1863,
William Donachv, killed at laurel
Hill, Virginia, May 8, 18<M,
Ephraim Campbell, died at Wasb-
mgton. D. C, November 10, 1884.
Joseph J. Gutelius, killed at Get-
tysburg, July 1, 1863.
Musician,
Abraham Kuhn,died at Washington,
D. C, December 21, 1862.
Privates,
Ammon. Aaron,
Bird, John S.,
Breyman, Mahlon,
Browand, Henry,
Brian, Michael,*
Boyer, Jacob,
Buoy, Charles S.,
Chambers .Tames M.,
Deal, Adam,
Deal, Henry,
Deal, John, died of wounds received
at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, Feb-
ruary 5, 1860,
Eberhart, Abraham,
Eberhart, James,
Eisimhaur, Isaac,
Erdey, Simon,
P'ees, Henry A., killed at GettA-^-
burg, July 1, 1863.
Fillman, Jacob,
Foust, Simon E.,
Fox, John F.,
Garrett, Edward,
Grove, Peter,
Gutelius, Fisher,
Gutelius, Charles H.,
Hafer, John,
Hassenplug, S. F.,
HaiK^k, Ammon L.,
Hoffinastor, B.,
Hottenstein, D. R.,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
59'
Hursh, William,
Kaler, John,
Keifer, Henrj' M.,
Knittle, Jaines,
Lashells, Wilson,
Linn, Isaac,
Linn, Abraham, died at Washing-
ton, D. C, November 10, 1862,
Lucas, James, killed at Wilderness,
Virginia, May 7, 1864,
McFaddon, E. A., killed at Gettys-
burg, Pennsylvania, July 1, 1863,
Mader, Charles E.,
Malehom, Simon,
Master, Henry,
May, John, killed at Gettysburg,
July, 1, 1863,
Miller, William R., killed atGettvs-
burg, July 1, 1863,
Nagle, Samuel,
Neese, Jacob.
Oberdorf, Gebrge F.,
Paige, David,
Paul, Samuel W.,
Pick, Nathan,
Putzman, Jacob D.,
Reedy, Joel,
Sarba, John,
Seamen, Jonathan,
Sedam, John, died at Richmond, Vir-
ginia, January 2, 1864.
Shaffer, Edwin, died at Elmira,
New York, March, 22, 1865.
Shell, Jacob,
Smith, Hiram,
Stahl, Peter S.,
Stable, William,
Stitzer, William,
Stoutz, Milton J.,
Trout Frank F.,
Wirth, Calvin,
Wittennayer, Henrj',
Weiser, George W.,
Wolfe John,
Zellers, Isaac.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
Ijieut. Colonel Charles Kleckner, Corporal John L. Strong,
George W. Kleckner, Com. Sergt., Charles Crotzer.
Charles E. Haus, Sec. Lieut. Co. I, ;
TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT, EMERGENCY TROOPS.
Field and Staff,
Colonel James Chamberlin,
Lieut. Colonel John McCleery,
Ciuaternuister Thompson G. ^vans.
Surgeon George Lotz,
Quar. Sergeant Samuel H. Orwig,
Company A,
Captiiin Tliomas R. Jones,
First IJeutenant David M. Nesbit,
Second Lieut. Charles vS. James, »
First Sergeant Owen P. Eaches.
Sergeant Benjamin F. Cox,
*' John B. Hutton,
*♦ Ross Ward,
** Robert A. Townsend.
Corporal John G. Blair,
John Ritner,
David McDermond,
Joseph R. Frederick,
Henry H. Witmer,
Harrison B. Garner,
Joseph H. Shepperd,
Henry C. Wolf.
Musician Frederick E. Bower,
George D. Kincade,
it
i(
(t
(t
(»
Privates,
Bamhart, Daniel W.,
Bobb, Peter G.,
Brensinger, George J.,
Bowman, George,
Case, William W.,
Cook, jr., Asher,
Curtis, John W.,
Colvert, Edwin,
Donachy, John A.,
Derr, Frank C,
Fegley, George,
Gebhart, David,
Gessler, Theodore A. K.,
Giddings, Nathaniel,
Gill, Thomas A.,
Grier, Henry F.,
Hall, George C,
Hess, .lacob W.,
Hill, Eleazer E.,
Hutson, John S.,
Henderson, Henry J.,
James, Jacob D., *
Johnson, Jesse Z.,
Krape, Antis,
Leas, David P.,
Lotz, Galen H.,
59'
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Loouiis, Freoman,
Low, Clement B.,
Ijeiiibach, James C,
Martz, (xoorge O.,
Maul, Webster R.,
Mottler, Charles W.,
Munro, Henry C,
Overholt, John J.,
Phillips, ThomiLH E.,
Probasoo, John B.,
Read, David E.,
Read, Jesse J.,
Read, Oliver J.,
Ranney, Edwin H.,
Runyaii, William IL,
Spratt, Orlando W.,
Stephens, Lerov,
Shanafelt, Thomits W.,
Stone, Charles A.,
Schwartz, John J. W.,
Startzlo, Franklin P.,
Sliatfer, Edward H.,
Straw, Robert C,
Small, Thomas J.,
Smith, Joseph R.,
Truitt, jr., (ieorge W.,
Vanvalziih, Robert,
Winterbv>ttom, Williiim,
Wolf, JacDb C,
Wolverton, William J.,
Wynn, Isaac C,
Yeager, Peter.
Cotnjxiny I).
(.-aptain ('harlos C Shorkley.
First Lieutenant Josiah Kelly.
Second Lieut. Sanmel 1). Bates,
First Sergeant Samuel W. Murray.
Sergeant William L. Nesbit,
Jaob Xeyhart,
** Jacob K. Mertz,
** Syl van iLs G. Bennett.
Corporal ( Jeorge W. (-ornelius,
Daniel >reyers,
William T*. I>(;inba(Oi,
Daniel Brown,
TJioniiLs Shoemaker,
(ieorjjje B. Miller,
William Myers,
♦» , Isiuic Wagner.
Musician Edwartl McOregor.
Privates,
Brooks, David,
Bay, Franklin,
Bails, Sanmel,
Balliet, John W.,
Betzer, John II.,
Barton, Bright Henrv,
Crites, William K., '
Cornel iiLs, Edward,
44
i*
4.
»4
ii
C:)rnelius, ZacheiLS,
Cliappel, Zacheus,
Collins, Peter,
Cowley, William H.-,
Dull, GcDrge,
Dunkle, Charles C,
Donaohy, William O.,
Donahower, Franklin,
Ever, Jolm,
Ffain, John A.,
Fornwalt, John IL,
Goodman, Abraham H.,
Oussler, Isaiah,
OifTln, Samuel M.,
Heitsman, Henry,
Heitsman, Jacob,
Ilerr, James E.,
Howard, Tliomas,
Howard, John,
Hess, John R.,
Irwin, John F.,
Kelley, James W.,
Loom is, William A.,
Lokas, William,
Lilley, Alfred,
Murphy, Howard W.,
Murty, James,
Munson, Salman D.,
Mo wry, Abraham,
Meixell, P.,
Meixell, Ziba,
Mench, John,
McFadden, Theodore,
Penny, Hugh H.,
Paul, (reorge,
Pross, (ieorge.
Pierce, Amariah IL,
Reber, Sanmel,
Rossell, William R.,
Reber, Edward M.,
Rearick, Oliver P.,
Reed, Howard W.,
Straub, Elisha,
SI iter, Alfred,
Stuck, Sanmel,
Slear, Jonathan W.,
Stitzer, Jolm D.,
Solomon, Charles E.,
Winegarden, John A..
Wetzel, Conrad,
Wiuslu^liskei, William H..
Wjusheliskei, George,
Williams, Benjamin H.,
W.igner, Joseph IL.
Zechman, George W.,
Company F,
C-aptain George W. Forrest.
First Lieutenant Andrew IL Dill,
Second Lieutenant .lames Haves,
First Sergeant David B. Nesbit,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
593
Sergeant William Ginter,
Lorenzo D. Brewer,
AdolphusA. Kaufiiian,
William H. Nesbit.
Corporal J. Henrv Brown,
John W. Brown,
Kiohard Dye,
Theodore Taylor,
Joseph M. Housel,
Samuel F. Gundy,
Thomas Ritner,
Edward H. Richards.
Musician James Forrest,
Jacob H. Worth.
it
t(
(4
<(
(i
(i
t(
4(
4i
Privates,
Baldwin, Absalom,
Beck, Samuel,
Bell, Allen,
Bently, Frank,
Bow^er, William D.,
Brown, William F.,
Cathcart, Robert M.,
Derr, George P.,
Dotts, David H.,
Dill, M. Reese,
; Dolby, Abraham,
' Donachy, Thompson,
Hughesi CJeorge,
Imhoff, William H.,
Kennedy, William,
Lonff, Jacob,
Loudenslager, William,
Marsh, Charles,
Miller, J. Howard,
Murfjhy, Joseph,
Nesbit, Alvin,
Pardee, Samuel I.,
Paul, Peter G.,
Poeth, George M.,
Rank, Lemuel,
Reese, John S.,
Simonton, John W.,
Smithers, Benjamin F.,
Smith, Jacob 5f.,
Search, William,
Stoughton, Frank,
Vincent, John,
Walker Edward,
Wertz, C. C,
Wallace, John D.,
Zentmeyer, Peter.
TWO HUNDRED AND SECOND REGIMENT.
Lieutenant Colonel John A. Maus,
Surgeon S. Carson McCoriniok.
Cojnpany I.
Captain Jacob Neyhart,
First Ijieutenant Jacob H. Brown,
Sec. I^eut. George Y. McLaughlin,
First Sergeant John B. Ritner,
Sergeant William P. Allen,
James P. Gundy,
Samuel S. Rank^
George H. Gressinger.
Corjioral Enos Zentmever,
Joseph C. Dull,
John W. Brown,
Samuel S. Hess,
George Himmerdinger,
Henry S. Dewey,
John'^M. Brown,
Zacheus Cornelius.
Musician Cameron McGregor.
IVivatea.
Becher, Amos G.,
Becher, William,
Bently, John,
Bogart, Ilosea,
Bogart, Joseph,
Bower, Francis,
Brintzehoff, C. W.,
Brobst, John,
38
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
Brown, William W.,
Chappel, Sheller,
Chappel, Charles,
Chappel, Charles W.,
Cleaver, Jesse,
Cornelius, Jesse M.,
Cornelius, Andrew M.,
Dennis, Levi,
Dickey, I..esterP.,
Dittenderfer, D. A.,
Elco, Jonathan F.,
Ellis, James S.,
Engle, Jacob,
Engleman, Elias,
Eveland, James,
Everet, John,
Fahnestock, H. M.,
Fealer, John H.,
Fetter, Cyrus,
Fisher, Jared,
Fisher, John H.,
Fisher, Paul,
Flick, Charles W.,
Gebhart, Henry G.,
Good, Hiram,
Crossness, Joseph W.,
Ginter, William,
Gussier, Isaiah,
Hann, James R.,
Hann, David,
Hawkenberry, J. D.,
594
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Haines, John,
Heister, Jacob,
Hess, Joseph,
Hester, Henry,
Hoovenian, James,
Huff, Daniel,
Hulf, James,
Huff, John S.,
Huff, David,
Hummel, Benjamin,
Hummel, Frederick,
Irwin, Henry,
Jamison, senior, John,
Jamison, Augustus B.,
Keener, John,
Keyser, Jacob,
Kint, George W.,
Kupp, John S.,
Landaw, William,
Leonard, William,
Leonard, Benjamin,
Long, Peter,
Lynn, Charles,
Mathias, John A.,
Miller, Joseph P.,
Mowrer, Micha'el S.,
Nagle, Andrew,
Newman, Daniel,
Pierce, Amariah H.,
Platner, Lemuel J.,
Powers, Edward,
Hank, Martift J.,
Hank, David,
Rahrer, John,
Reichley, Benjamin F.,
Reichley, William A.,
Reitmeyer, George E.,
Reitmeyer, D. K.,
Rohrabach, James,
Sanders, Hiram,
Sanders, Charl^
Sanders, Henry W.,
Sanders, George L.,
Search, John fi.,
Sliannon, James,
Shannon, William,
Slear, David G.,
Smith, Jeremiah,
Speece, David,
Swartz, John,
Taylor, Henry O.,
Trester, Martin,
Wagner, Jesse H.,
Wertz, Henry,
Williams, George,
Young, Abraham,
Young, James A.
LIST OF SOLDIERS BURIED IN THE SEVERAL CEMETERIES
IN UNION COUNTY.
Mifflinburg, — Presbyterian Ceme-
tery.
Clapham, Thomas H.,
Rissel, David H.
Old Orave-yard,
Edleman, Ellas,
Mattis, Henry,
Musaer, Robert,
Oberdorf, George,
Sclireck, Jacob. ,
New Cemetery.
Durst, John H.,
Forster^ Wilson,
Montelius, W. P.,
Orwig, Benjamin M.,
Reish, Daniel K.,
Sniitli, Levi H.,
Smith, Hiram,
Steadman, Dr. H. C.
White Deer Church Cemetery,
Deibcrt, John P., Co. E, 142d,
Dersham, John S., Co. A, 199th,
Follmcr, William, H., Co. E, 142d.
Buffalo Cross-JRoads,
Lashells, Georee W., Co. A, 131st,
McGee, Isaac G., Co. E, 51st.
Union Church Cemetery.
Fetter, Jacob. Co. D, 52d,
Mover, John W., 142d,
Richard, Edward A., Co. K, olst.
Dreisbach Church.
Bowersox, Henry, 51st,
Dunkle, James M., Co. E, olst,
Eachus, Jolm F.,
Wolfe, William H., Co. E, 142d.
Lewisburg Cemetery.
Arey, William R., Orderlv Sergt.,
Co. F, 24th U. S. C. T. tied Feb-
ruarv 19, 1871.
Arey, Milton, Co. A, 43d U. S. C. T.
Died October 14, 1867.
Bennett, William A., Hospital Stew-
ard, 14th U. S. Infantrv. Died
November 28, 1869.
Brooks, John, Co. F, 49th Pa.
Cameron, James, Col. 79th N. Y.
Highlanders. Killed in battle of
Bull Run, July 21, 1861.
Chappel, Zachary, Co. B, 5th Pa.
Res. Cor. Died April 6, 1865.
Cornelius, Jackson, Co. D, 52d Pa.
Died June 5, 1867.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
595
Cox, William Franklin, Sorgt., Bat.
K, 2d Pa. Heavy Art. Died July
9, 18i)(>, from disease contnicted
while a prisoner at Anderson ville,
(ioorgia.
Dewire, Alexander, Co. E, olst.
Derr, John H., Co. G, 4th Pa. Vol.
Died August 15, 18<)1, from disease
contracted while in service.
Dickey, Lester P., Co. I, 202d Pa.
Vol. Died August 29, 1870.
Dodge, Edward K., Surgeon, U. S.
Navy. Promoted Surgeon, De-
cember 21, 18(59. Died Xiarch 29,
1871.
Eccleston, Charles, Mrst Lieutenant,
Heavj' Artillery.
Evans, ' Charles K., Captain, Co. E,
142d Pa, Vol. Died September 23,
18«w.
Graliam, Henrj' Spyker, Sergeant,
C:o. F, 2d Pa. Cav. Died August
28 1808
Gussler, John A., Co. C, 161st N. Y.
Vol. Died July 27, 1871.
Ireland, John W.\Co. D, 5th Pa. Res.
Cor. Died October 18, 1862.
Kennedy, William M., Co. E, 208th
Pa. Vol. Died at City Point, Va.,
April 15, 18<J5, from wounds re-
ceived before Petersburg, Virginia,
April 2, 180^3.
Knox, John H., Captain, Co. D, 11th
Pa. Vol. Died at Jersey Shore,
Pa., February 28, 1862.
Lenliart, Ht^nry, (;o. D, 52d Pa. Vol.
Died November 28, 1864.
I^enhart, Benjamin, Co. I, 202d.
McBride, James, Sergeant, (^o. D,
o2d Pa. Vol. Died at Washington,
December 1, 1861.
McFadden, Theodore H.,First Lieut.
Co. D, 5th Pa. Res. Cor. Wounded
in battle of New Market Cross-
Roads, June 30, 1862. Died Jan-
Uiiry 29, 1870.
McGregor, Charles, Musician, Co. D,
5l8t Pa. Vol. Died March 4, 18(>6.
Milsom, John, Sergeant, Co. E., 53d
Pa. Vol. Died at Annapolis, Md.,
December 30, 1864.
Murphy, Edward H., with construc-
tion tniin, 5th N. Y. Vol. Died
February 9, 1870.
Penny, Charles A., Corporal, Co.
D, 52d Pa. Vol. Died at Craney
Island, Va., September 25, 18()2.
Phillips, William L., Lieutenant,
Co. D, 52d Pa. Vol. Died at Cham-
bersburg, Pa., January 5, 1872.
Kohrabach, James II., Co. II, 131st.
Schaffle, Joseph J., Co. 11, 90th Pa.
Vol. Died at Washington, D. C.,
January 12, 18<>3, from a wound
received in battle of Fredericks-
burg, Va., December 13, 1862.
Schalhe, F. S., Co. E, 51st.
Stai)leton, George, Co. E, 142d Pa.
Vol. Died July 26, 18(>3, fn)m a
wound received at Gettysburg
July 1, 18(>3.
Stoughton, Roland, Captain, Co. D.
150th Pa. Vol. Died May 24, 18*)4.
Tucker, Andrew G., First Lieut. Co.
E, 142d Pa. Vol. Killed in battle
at Gettysburg, July 1, 18<)3.
; Van (ie/ibr, (f eorge, Co. H, 51st Pa.
: Vol. Died November 16, 1870.
Wertz, John II., Co. G, 4th Pa. Vol.
Died May 28, 1862.
Wetzel, Conrad. Died October 20,
18(i<), from disease contracted while
in service.
Wilkes, No'all, Co. D, 5th Pa. Res.
Cor. Died September 7, 1861.
Young, Peter, Co. I, 192d Pa, Vol.
Died January 6, 18<)9.
Zimmerman, William, Co. E, 51st
Pa. Vol. Died August 3, 18fk>.
Buried at Various Places,
Ammon, Levi H., Corporal, Co. E,
5l8t Pa. Vol. Killed in Wilder-
ness battle. May 6, 1864.
Arey, Barton, Co. A, 43d U. S. C. T.
Wounded before Petersburg, Va.,
and Uiken to hospital at David's
Island, where he died and was
buried.
Baldwin, Absalom, Co. K, 51st Pa.
Vol. Captured and died at Ander-
sonville, Ga., September 24, 1864.
Beaver, J. Gilbert, First Lieut., Co.
H, 51st Pa, Vol. Buried at Mil-
lerstown. Pa.
Dentler, Henry G., CorponU, Co. K,
51st Pa. Vol. Captured and died
at Anderson ville, Ga., May 17,
18(>4— grave 1,161.
Donachy, William, Corporal, Co. I),
150th Piu Vol. Killed in battle at
Ltmrel Hill, Va., May 8, 1864.
Dull, George N., Co. K, 5l8t Pa. Vol.
Died from disease, at Alexaudriii.
Va., September 19, 1864. Buried
there — grave 2,683.
Evans, Edwin A., Captain, Battery
D, 3d Pa. Heavy Art. Died, in
Philadelphia, April 30, 1872. Bu-
ried at New Britain, Bucks Co.,
Pa.
59^
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Fichthom, James, Sergeant, Co. D,
5th Pa. Kes. Cor. Mustered June
5, 1861. Died between the 11th
and 16th of February, 1865, at
Salisbury, North Cai-olma.
Gallagher, Henry, Musician, Co. D,
52d Pa, Vol. Died at White
House, Va., June 15, 1862.
Gibson, James, Sergeant, Co.K, 51st.
Killed in front ofPetersburg, Va.,
July 30, 1864.
Green, William Cameron, private,
Co. D, Fifth Pa. Res. Cor. Pro-
moted Second Lieutenant in First
United States Infantry, Septem-
ber 27, 1861. Afterward promoted
to Captain in First United States
Infantry. Died on board ship, Oc-
tober 3, 1867.
Grier, Thomas G., Co. H, 51st Pa.
Vol. Died with yellow fever, at
Morehead City, N. C, October 6,
1864. Buried there.
Kelly, James A., Co. H, 61st Pa.
Vol. Died at Roanoke Island, N.
C, March 27, 1862.
Ludwig, Jared R., Co. K, 61st Pa.
Vol. Absent at muster out ; sup-
p>osed to have been killed in bat-
tle or captured and died while a
prisoner.
McFadden, Edward A., Co. D, 150th
Pa. Vol. Killed at Gettysburg,
Pa., July 1, 1863.
Mensc^h, jTohn, Co. F, 49th Pa. Vol.
Killed at Spottsylvania Court-
House, Va., May 10, 1864.
Miller, Sanmel E., Go. I, Ist Pa.
Killed in battle at Fredericks-
burg, Va., December 13, 18(>2.
Musser, John D., Ueulenant Col-
onel. Mustered as Mi\ior of 143d
Pa. Vol., October 18, 1862. Pro-
moted to Lieutenant Colonel June
2, 1863. KUled in battle of WUd-
emess. May 6, 1864. Buried at
\Iuncy Pa
Piper, \Villiam, Co. H, 56th Pa. Vol.
Killed in battle of Spottsylvania,
Va., May — , 1864.
Potter, Thomas, Corporal, Batterv
A, 1st Pa. Art. Killed in battle at
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.
Reed, Daniel M., Corporal, Co. G,
60th Pa. Vol. Killed at ChanUlly,
Va., September 1, 1862.
SchaflQe, Charles D., Captain, Co.
D, 5th Pa. Res. Cor. Wounded
and taken prisoner in battle of
Frederioksburff, Va., December
13, 1862, and &ed in Riclmiond,
Va., January 31, 1863.
Sedam, John, Co. D, 150th Pa. Vol.
Taken prisoner, and died at Rich-
mond, Va., January 2, 1864.
Sraaltzried, Gotlieb, Corporal, Co.
D, 62d Pa. Died at Morris Island,
S. C, Seinember 6, 1863.
Sterner, Frank B., Captain, Co. K,
51st. Killed at Spottsylvania
Court-House, Va., May 12," 1864.
Weidensaul, Elias B., Second Lieu-
tenant, Co. D, 150th Pa. Vol.
Killed in battle of Gettysburg,
Pa., July 1, 1863.
Wertz, Harriscm, Co. D. 6th Pa. Res.
Cor. Killed in battle of Freder-
icksburg, Va., December 13, lisOi.
Wilson, Robert M., Died August 19,
1867. Buried at Norlblk, Va.
^r^ }^ ^^n
^^,
u*.-^,
MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.
ADDENDA.
COMPANY D, FII'TH RESERVES.
Cap t< tins.
Thomas Chainberl in, wounded June
3, 1802. Promoted Major of One
Hundred and Fiftieth.
W. H. H. McCalL
Charles D. Schaflfle.
First Lieutenants.
Jonathan E. Wolfe,
Theodore H. MeFaddeu,
Thomas B. Reed.
Sergeants,
George (.■• Kelly,
William Searles,
James Doran,
Richard H. Walk,
William W. Sohwenk,
.Tames Fichtliom,
.Tames M. Essington,
(reorge M. Slifer, ]|
H. J. Sehotield, die<l November 9, l
18«1, '
John (-. MeMichael, killed l)e<HMn-|,
her 13, IWW. |i
(^orporals.
Amos Ditsworth,
John B. Ha per,
<i€*<)rge W. S(?hoch,
(ieorge Eiclioltz,
.Tohn Babb,
JatM)b K. Mertz,
(ieoree ILirbeson,
.Jacob Reese,
Eflfinger L. Reber,
.Jacob Cam iibell, killed June 30, 1«<V2,
William Iiaskins, killed DecemlxT
13, 1802,
Jacob M, Barn hart.
Musiciaiis,
James I^mliart,
John Clymer.
Privates,
Beckly, WDliam,
Bonnell, John,
Boylan, Michael B.,
Barn hart, Joseph,
Bennett, Sylvester,
Crawford, Thomas,
Canfield, David,
Covert, Daniel,
Connell, John,
Doughertv, John,
Ennls, John F., killed April 29, 1864,
Fravel, William,
Fry, Benjamin,
(waskill, llumias,
Oilbert, Daniel,
(ireen, William C,
(oilman, Albert,
LI art man, John,
Huth, Nathaniel,
Harj)er, Isaac,
Irwine, Ueorge,
Jerns, I^ewis,
JoU, .Joseph
Johnson, Albert E.,
Johnson, William,
Kennedy, Thomas,
Knoll, ,/ohn,
Kyle, John, killed June 27, 1862,
Kessler, John, killed June 30, 1862,
Landis, Harry Ij.,
McMxly, Charles,
Monroe, Lawrence,
Markel, Levi,
Morrison, James A.,
Moyer, Charles,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Metier, William,
Myers, William, killed May % 1864,
Peeling, Cliarles^
Price, John D.,
Page, Elias,
Reed, Samuel A.,
Reeder, Cliarles W.,
Reber, John M.,
Ripple, John,
Showers^ William H.,
Sticker, Andrew H., killed Mav R,
18H4,
Taylor, Tliomas, died May 13, 1864,
Theis, Henry,
Ulrich, Henrv,
Walsh, Robert,
Wheeler, Luther,
Wertz, Isaac,
Recker, Darius L.., killed June 30, Wertz, Jackson,
18e)2, Wertz, Harrison, killed December 13,
Roberts,JohnE,, killed June30,1862. 18<>2,
Roberts, Patrick,
Reed, John,
Snyder, Charles E.,
Strbup, Josepli,
Smith, William H.,
Smith, Levi,
Smith, Peter,
Strahan, Harrison,
Saylor, George B.,
Wjushburn, Charles,
Woodward, York A.,
Wilson, Tliomas F.,
Wilkes, Newell, died September 17,
1861,
Welsli, John, died April 13, 18(J2,
VV^oodward, O, B., die<l December 6,
' 1862,
What more, William.
COMPANY B, FIFTH RESERVES.
Chappell, Zachariah,
Hawlc, David,
McFall, James,
McPherson, Milton.
Potter, John E.,
COMPANY C, FIFTH RESERVES.
1 1 Potter, Thos. I>.
COMPANY B, SIXTH RESERVES.
Charles D. RoiisJi,
Levi Epler.
FirM Lie at en ant.
William Harding.
Second Licutenarit.
E. D. Lobkicker.
tSerprrtnt.s.
John Eminctt,
R()l)ert P. Calvert, ditni at Anderson-
vill(N May 11, 18<>4.
Charles S. Swinet'oni,
Jam OS H. Bowman,
Chark's S. Bowman,
Honrv L. Stock.
(^jrpontfs.
(ieorgc Everett,
Henrv H. Bowcn,
Isjiac Fink,
Michael C^intwell.ciied at Anderson-
ville, July 2S, 1H<>4.
Beiijaniin T. Parks,
John Zergey,
Stmiuol Rittor,
Nevin P. frutolius,
Henry B. Mowry, mortally wounded
at South Mountain,
Thonijus liobinson, killinl June 5,
lS<i2.
Af nswiaii ,
Dimiel P. Rumberurer.
Prit'ffteM,
Auckey, .Tames,
Arnold, James,
Arnold, John,
Hotdorf Reuben,
Bowersox, David,
Bender Solomon,
Bobb, William, died August 8, ISfil,
Boran, .lacol) F., killcMl' September
14 J 862
Charles, William F.,
Campbell, Peter,
Cami)bell, Abraham,
Campbell, Adam,
Chul)b, Stephen, killed May S, ljy>4.
Duck, Wilson,
Decker, is:iac,
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Doney, John,
Daisey, Martin, killed December 13,
1862,
Eckert, Peter, killed December 13,
1862,
Emig, George,
Finicle, Edwin W.,
Fink, Henry,
Feeney, Patrick,
Gutsleber, Adam,
Gray, Michael, died at Anderson-
ville,
Gregory, Cyrus,
Gundrum, Samuel,
Grow, Daniel,
Haa.s, Levi,
Haines, George,
Hammond, Tnomas,
Keeler Nathaniel,
Keifer, Martin L.,
Kohler, John, killed September 17,
18r)2,
I>ong, Samuel,
Lov, John,
Leister, Franklin,
Miller Charles,
M(K)ney, Jacob E., prisoner,
Mowry, David C, prisoner,
Mackoy, Clinton,
MeCormick, John, prisoner,
Xorwood, Joseph,
Neitz, Emanuel,
Oswald, William,
Pepper, Michael,
Parker, David,
Peifer, William H.,
Portzline, Henry,
Rupp, John C.,'
Ressler, Levi C,
Reif, Franklin,
Rorick, John B.,
Reigle, John,
Rogers, Samuel,
Rathfon, Wilson,
Rathfon, Thomas,
Reichenbach, Joel,
Smith, John,
Seesholtz, Samuel,
Salada, Cyrus,
Sampsel. John,
Seller, William,
Snvder, John N.,
Sterick, Theodore S. F.,
Smith, Nicholas,
Shatter, Joel,
vSejwhrist, John H.,
Shultzbach, Henrv,
Stahl, William,
Swartz, Nathaniel, died August 10,
1861,
Spotts, Samuel, drowned Julv 7,
18(V2,
Stever, John, killed August 30, 1862,
Shell, David, died October 1, 1862,
Troup, Simon, killed September 14,
1862,
Trego, John, died October 3, 1862,
Walt, William,
Wilmore, Rudy,
Wei rick, Emanuel,
Zortman, John F.,
Zimmerman, Samuel, died Septem-
ber 14, 1861,
Zechmen, Jacob F., died September
16, 1862.
( OMPANY H, SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
I). B. Macfrreggor, .Tames H. Pross.
COMPANY C, ONE Hl'NDRED AND FIRST REGIMENT.
March IS, 1835 — lane ^5, 1865.
(Captain.
William Fichthorn.
First Lieutenant.
Samuel B. Reber.
Second Lieutenant.
Hubley D. Albright.
SvrgeantH.
Frank C. Stought<m,
John D. L. Bear,
Jacob L. Worlev,
David G. Alter,
Cliristian H. Kerr.
f^orporals.
William H. Cawlev,
William H. McCabe,
Jacob Sheafl'er,
David M. Sulofl;
David James,
Edward Stevens,
Jacob Machamer,
Jcmathan Miller.
ANNALS OI BUFFALO VALLEY.
Musicians,
Elias Yiesley,
Benjamin O. Rudy.
Privates^
Acker^ Moses,
Arnold, Enoch,
Barkey, Isaiah,
Boyle,' John,
Brackbill, Thomas*
Cassalt David A.,
Childs, David,
Chalfant, Brantley,
Chronister Adam,
Chronister, Anuon,
Derr, George P.,
Derr, Henry C,
Day, George,
Dewire Thomas,
Dewire William,
Erb Peter,
Fockler, Jacob L.,
Furman, Moses R.,
Getz, Adam,
Goodman, George F.,
Gougler, Frederick,
Gibbony, William S^
Group, William M.
Group, Howard W.,
Gardner, John A.,
Greistwite, Joseph,
Hosier, John,
Henck, Thomas J.,
Hertzlor, Ephram,
Harris, Mark H.,
Heffner, Samuel,
Hoffman, John C,
HoUinger, George,
Hildebrand, James A^
Henck, Cvrus M.,
Jacobs, Obediah,
Jenkins, Hiram,
Koons, Lehman L^
Klingman, William,
Logan, John E.,
Long, Joseph E^
Mack, Edward,
Mauck, John E.,
Martz, Peter A.,
Maister, John,
Myers, Washington S.,
Myers, Peter H.,
Miller, Howard,
Makin, William,
Mussina, H. B.,
McMeen, Hugh,
McElwee, John A.,
McGhee, Charles,
McKillip, Charles A.,
Nesbit, Alvin,
Peters, Amos,
Robinson, George W.,
Raum, John C,
Rudy, Jacob,
Renner, Elias,
Simmers, Isaac,
Sechler, John C.
Swartz, Jacob,
Stuart, Robert M.,
Spealman, Frank,
Slaybaugh, Isaac,
Snyder, Hoj^'ard,
Stitzel, Jacob,
Thompson, Charles M.,
Tayler, Samuel,
Troup, Sylvester S^,
Trimmer, Gibson,
Trimmer, John H.,
Vanada, Solomon,
Wilson, James,
Whitmer, Amos,
Wilkerson, William,
Wright, Morgan,
Wolf, SamuS,
Yeager, George,
Ziegier, Rlijah R.,
INDEX.
•4«»>
Abolition lecture, 527
Aboriginesof the Valley, 6
Academy, Ijcwisburg, 1 546
** ' building of University, ground broken for 548
Accidents, ' 439,492,496,512,514,525,526
Adanm, Reverend John Dietrich, ••.... 369
Agricultural, Union, a.«Bociation formed, 501
♦♦ fairs, 501,555
" society. Union county, 528,554
♦* ♦* ' *' " awards of committees, 528
Albright, Honorable Andrew, sketch of, 457
Allen family murdered, . ^ 188
Allison, Archibald, narratfve of, 173
Allununapees, King of the Delawares, 20
Anti-Mason ticket formed, 501
Anthony, Joseph B., holds court at Sunbury, 543
Armstrong, Colonel John, surveys of, . . / 9,19
Associators, list of companies of, 90
** olHcers chosen, 90,119
** briga<lier general elected, 99
Associate Reformed Church, 448
Attorneys admitted, 42,
44, 89, 151, 235,241, 418,49.-),501 ,513,524,534,540,542,546
*» list of 494
Aurand, Reverend Jolm Dietrich, 152,199,284
Aurand's hotel burned, 533
Ayers killed, 157
Bac(m, Elijah, visits Valley, 460,495
Bald Ragle creek declared a highway, 36
Bimks, act regulating, passed, . . / 417
" suspended, 442,534
*♦ cjird of directors of Northumberland, 534
Baptist settlers, 283
Bar, peculiarities of the 481
Bjirber, Robert, builds at White Spring, 48,269
Bjimes, Reverend W. H. H., 544
Bart<m, Kimber, 325
Baslior, John Michael, killed, 157
Biuskins, IIonoral)le John, resigns and removes, 540
l^ittalion drill at Ijcwisburg, 550
IVaiim, Sanuiel R., appointed postmaster, 552
Bear's mills erected, 232
Beaver run, 7
" township, residents of, 258,270,284,319
S97
SgS A-V.VALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Bellsus, E.sf|iiire, Hiijjh, .%)
Berlin inm- works, first metal niade at, i>45
*' ** »* ])lown out, r^P
Bickle, Henry, killed, 2^)1
Billnian, Dewalt, notice* of, 4o0
Billniyer, Andrew, tavern of, 243,2.i2
Bin^imm, Frederit'k, death of, 'HJ)
Black Ann. whipped, ItH
Blythe, William, notice of, 2-'>
B<>atman, Mrs. Claudius, killed, 211
Boat-vard removed to Lowisburg, oT^l
B<M)n*e, Cajjtain Hawkins, ^. . .52,107,123,166,178
Boude family, noti(re of, ' 2.V<
liower, George, noti(ie of, \^
Boy killed near Gundv's mill, 213
Boyd family, notice of, 143
Boyer, Jao<)b K., «)nvicted, 497
Brady, Captain John, 98,143, 165, IW
♦' *' killed, 168,220,225
»♦ James, killed, 164,225
Mrs. Marv', death of, 219
** familvreniiniscencesof, 219
'* Captain Samuel, 81,143,219
*♦ ♦* «» kills Bald Eagle, 175
** ♦» " adventuresof, 227
•* *' death of, 23i)
General Hugh, 219
»* John, (sheriff,) 22«
*' Lieutenant Sanuiel, at Chippewa, 419
** '* »* letter to Captain Vincent, 419
Bnmdvwine, battle of, 143
Bridge, Northumberland built, 406,43f<
*' " ciirried away, '>4*»
*' liOwisburg cliartered, 417
'* '* supplement to charter, 4:W
built 43'<
Ijimestone run, c:irried away, 4'r
** Harrisburg, .' 43S
•' ** ]K)rtionof, cjirriedaway, ')46
'* at mouth (if Buflalo cn»ek built :^^
*' ** ** ** ciirried away, 548
'* n(»w •» ♦* '* ** 5*v2
»» Milton, injured by flood, 54<>
at Dunwui's Island, <»irried away, 54*;
Brinton, Joseph, notice of, 449
Brobst, Jacob 4:V>
Bockenor, Isji^ic, accident to, 4W
Brodliead's regiment, Kighth Pennsylvania, two soldiers of, kilUni, . . 1'5;>
Brown, Jcmathan, 440
" Eleanor, 24i»
*' Matthew, dcmth of, 142
*' Michael, re(^)Uecti<ms of the people of the Valley, (141
Buchanan, H<nn>rabie James, speaks at Milton, .>44
Buffalo t'ret^k 7
'* *' V)ridge built at numth of, :TrS
Buffalo township enacted, 42
** ** attempt to divide, lol
" '* residents of, 50,
(]7,148,181,194,2l4,2:W,242,244,252,25Sl,2<>3,2i;9
Buffalo Cross-Koads church 51 jtU), 270, 433, 524
" '* first hotel at 3Ks
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 599
Buffalo, East and West, to^^Tiships erected, 274
** East, residents of, 278,
28:^ ,294 ,317 ,323 ,326 ,332 ,337 ,340 ,353 ,355 ,370 ,379 ,:^)
Buffalo, West, improvements, Ac, 279
♦» stills in, 280
*♦ ** residents of, 280,
282,294,301,317,333,337,340,354,355,870,379,387
Caderman, JacM)b and Connui, captured, 199
California gold fever reaches Valley, 549
" emigration to, 549
Canal meeting 491
** located, 495
" let, 496
** lA^wisburg cross-cut, 496,503
»* *» ** »* first boats through, 512
»* mtes of freight on, 503
Camp Potter orgiuii/iCd, 544
CamiMneeting, first Methodist, 354
*♦ »» 544
Campbell, CaptiUn, killed, 199
»* Daniel, noti<H) of, 281
** M<;Donald, notice of, 450
*» John, " *♦ 450
Campleton, CaptJiin Thomas, (Kemplin,) 165,174,179
** ** ** killed, 198
earner, Anthonv, notice of, 450
Celebration, Fourth of July, 488, 5(M, 505, 524, 544
*♦ *♦ ♦* toasts at, 526
*• " ** partisan toasts at, 524
»* »» " accidents at, 526
Cemeterv at Lewisburg, 549
Census 1820, 449
** IK'JO, 502
" 1840, 537
** 1850, 552
" 18«k), 557
" 1870 557
Cliamberlin, Colonel William, notice of, 440
Cliambers, James, killed, 185
Cliapman, Seth, acjquittod, 487
Chappel Hollow, a)iVM Haverly's Gap, 75
Chestnut Ridge, jxwt oflice esUiblisheii at, 552
Chillowav, Job. 141
CllippewJ^ battle of, 419
Churches, notices of, 93,253,448
Chiircli, HufndoCn)8s.RoadsPrasbyterian, 51,60,231,250,270
*• " ** ** new built 433
** ♦* »* " last sermon in 546
*' Methodist, organized at Lewisburg, 406
** ♦< new, at Lewisburg ccmsecrated, 511
** First Pastor German Reformed, 259
" IJjiptist, effort to esUiblish, 283
** Dreisbacli, condition of, 327
*' St. Peter's, in Kelly, built, 333,430
*♦ Ray's, built, 333
*' first Baptist, orgiinized, 371
*♦ " ** pastors of, 371
*♦ I^iptist, at Tjcwisburg, • • • 543,545
*' '* ** first sermon in new, . . . .' 546
** Emanuers, at Now Berlin, dedicated, 481
Associate Reformed, of Mifilinburg, organized 448
** i\
boo ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Church, Methodist, at New Berlin, dedicated, 437
" Christian Chapel at Lewisburg built, 441 ,555
«* " " «* opened, 460
" Bethel, or^nized, 504
" Presbyterian, at Lewisburg, built, 505
" " " first sermon in, 511
" Laurelton, organized, 506
" Union, German Reformed and Lutheran, subscription for
starting, 612
" Union, German Reformed and Lutheran, dedicated, .... 524
" Laurel run, dedicated, 540
" German Reformed, Pastor of, installed, -540
" Lutheran, at Selinsgrove, 543
" " and Reformed, in Buffalo township, dedicated, . . 534
" Presbyterian, at New Berlin, 638,543
" German Reformed, in Lewisburg, comer stone of, laid, ... 547
" " " " dedicated, 548
" *« «* " pastor of, 551
Clark, Esquire, John, visits Lewisburg, 512
Clark, George, surveyor, 122
Clark, Walter, Ac, moves to Valley, 39
Clarke, Captain John, roll of his company, 121
Clay, Henrj', card of, in National Intelligencer, 472
Clemens, Peter, 450
Clingan, William, notice of, . 457
Coal, bituminous, received, and price of, 514
Cochran, James, letter to Robert Irwin, 351
Cole, Colonel Philip, 51
ColdFridav, 526
Columbia Gazette, 416
Columbia guards en route to Mexico, flag presentation and return, . 547
Comet visible, 398,455,479
Committee of Safety, minutes of, 99,127
Committee men, lists of, 99,110,131
Condition of the Valley, 153
" ♦* ** court* business, 1**5
Conference, Albright and United Brethren 413
Connecticut claim, 45,53,87
Constitution of 1776, synopsis of 94
" United States, ratified, 251
" 1790 adopted, 2(56
Contributions for relief of distressed in Ireland and Scotland, . . . . M7
Controversy, railroad, 553
Convention, Carpenter's Hall, 56
" 1775, 65
♦♦ 1776, 93
" of associators, 99
" constitutional, delegates to, 94,266,527
" ia34, delegates to, 519
** Anti-Masonic, 519
** Democratic, 521,540
" temperance, at Lewisburg, 539
" Whig, 540
" railroad, at Baltimore, 5>3
Cook, John, notice of, 4ol
Cooke, Colonel William, roster of regiment, 124,243
Cooper, Honorable Thomas, 324,435
( ■oriielius, Jesse, accident to, 512
Corruption story, Adams and Clay, 478
Coryell, George, 451
Counterfeiters convicted, 497
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
6oi
44
44
44
44
44
County lines, 448,505,511
seat, 18
division of, agitated, 405
Union, erected, 412
seat, vote for and against, 556
division of, vote for and against, 556
Couples, David, killed, 184
Court crier appointed, 448
" business condition of, 165
to be held at New Berlin, 429
first circuit, at New Berlin, 492
** in Northumberland county, 42
" suitsin, 44
" atMifflinburg, 418
Supreme, middle district of, created, 356
" »6r«ownci of justices of, 498
** justices opinion of Joseph Ritner, 498
Covenhoven, Rooert, describes tlie Great Runaway, 156
»* " " also that of 1779, 176
Crawford county system introduced, 554
Creeks, early names of 7
('nx)ked Billet, Abraham Smith's story, 152
Crotzerville iK)St office established, . " 552
Crot/xjr, Ilenrv W., apjwinted postmaster, . . • 555
Dam built cm 'Penn's creek, 275
** at Selin and Snyder's mill, ^ 275
Dancing party at New Berlin, '...... 463
Daguerreotvpes first in the Valley, 546
Dav's Collections quoted, 143,193
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
Deaths —
AdauLS, James, 354
Albriglit, Jacob, 400
Albright, Andrew, 457
Allen, Samuel, 179
Allison, Archibald, 174
Alsbaugh. Margaret, .... 344
Antes, Colonel Frederick, . . 330
Aurand, Jacob, 256
Aurand, John, 367
Aurand, junior, John, . . . . 374
Baldv, Susanna, 374
Bake'r, Wendell, 428
Bilker, John, 456
Barber Samuel, 276
Barber, Thomas, 188
Barber, Sarah, 442
Barn hart, (rcorge, 281
Bam hart, Mathhw, 293
Bashor, Jolin Michael, . . . 156
Beattv, Alexander, 243
Bickel, Henry, 201
Bingaman, Frederick, .... 545
Bisliop, John, 417
Black, John, 266
Boal, John, 443
Bockener, Isaac, 496
Bolender, Henry, 296
liower, Casper, " 293
Bower, Peter 436
Boone, Cai)tiiin, 177
Boveard, James, 374
Deaths —
Brady, James, 164
Brady, Captain John, .... 169
Brady, John, 374
Brown, Mathew, 142
Brown, Eleanor, 142
Brunner, Jacob, 345
Bull, Mrs. Mary, 400
Bums, Peter, 267
Buttorf, Michael, 345
Buyers, Captain William F., 456
Cameron, Charles, 428
Campbell, Michael, 154
Campbell, Daniel, 281
Chambers, James, 185
Chambers. Mary, 311
Chamberlin, Colonel William, 440
Christ, Adam, 374
Clark, Robert, 313
Clark, William, 416
Clarke, Florence, 368
Clarke, Colonel John, . . . 385
Clemens, Elizabeth, 450
Clingan, WMlliam, 457
Collins, Paul, 428
Cornelius, Jesse, 512
Cooke, Colonel William, . . 344
Cook, John, 452
Couples, David, 184
Cramer, George, 400
Dale, Honorable Samuel, . . 344
Darraugh, Widow, 512
6o2
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Deaths —
Daugherty, Captain, ....
Deal, Henry,
Denipsey, (^.^ornelius, ....
Derr, Catherine,
Derr, John,
Douglass, William,
Dow, Tx^renzo,
Dreisbach, Anna Eve, . . .
Dreisbaeh, Martin,
Dreisbaeh, Jacob,
Dreisbach, Catherine, ....
Dunkle, Catlierine,
Dunklc, Killian,
Dunnin^r, Samuel,
Earne, Elizabeth,
Egbert, Niehobis,
Ellenkhusen, Mat bias Joseph,
Emeriok, David,
Etzweilor, Greorge,
Evans, Nathan,
Evans, Joseph,
Evans, Evan Rice,
Evans, Joseph, (Lewisburg,)
Ewing, Jasper,
Eyer, Catherine,
Ferguson, James,
Fisher John,
Fleming, James,
FoUmer, Thomas,
Follmer, Henrj',
Forster, junior^ John, ....
Forster, Thomas,
Forster, Thomas,
Forster, Capt^iin John, . . .
Fost(^r, John,
F'ought, Jonas,
P^^utz, Mi's. Conrad,
Fox, Andrew,
Franklin, Daniel,
Frantz, Lewis,
Frederick, George,
Frederick, Jabel, (should be
Jacob,)
Freedly, John,
Frec'laiid, Elias,
Freeland, junior, JatH)b, . . .
Freeland, senior, Ja(X)b, . . .
Frick, rjeneral TIenry, . . .
Fries, Rev. Just Ileiirj', . . .
Ciabriel, George, .......
Gearv, John,
Gebhart, Philip,
Getz, Petc^r,
Gift, Jacob,
Gray, TJeut. Colonel Xeigal,
Gray, Captain William, . . .
Gray, Sallie, and son, ....
Graybill, John,
Green, Margaret,
Green, Joseph,
177
417
244
243
547
401
314
260
320
345
430
353
436
374
374
417
277
201
18i')
391
400
400
514
326
353
281
293
277
546
546
239
344
390
243
2;u
267
494
293
.3»)H
368
3:^5
3r>3
4:^
176
176
17(»
543
534
37
514
436
390
170
244
431
527
354
256
335
Deaths —
Green, Mary, 3.>4
Greenlee, William, 231
Grier, Reverend Isaac, ... 428
Grogan, Charles, iifiT
Groninger, Leonard, .... 256
Gundv, William, ^
Harris, Honorable William L., 546
Hammond, General R. H., . 54S
Haney, Christopher, .... 266
Hayes, John, 544
Hayes, Mrs., 513
Haves, William, 540
Ilerrold, , 170
Hetrick, Christian 208
Himmelreich, Marj', .... 457
Himrod, Simon 235
Hoge, Reverend John, ... 368
Holstein, George, 400
Hood, Reverend, 549
Hood, Mrs. Mjury, 549
Hoover, .John, 436
Housel, Martin, 353
Housel, Captain William, . . 551
Hudson, George, 276
Hunter, Colonel Samuel, . . 234
Hunter, Alexander, 390
Husttmy Matthew, 3S5
Hutchinson, Marv, 385
Iddings, Eve, . ". 345
Iddings, Henrv, 443
Irvine, William, 297
Irwin, Escjuire, William, .416
Jenkins, James, 244
Jenkin.s, James, 339
Jenkins, Phoebe, 3:V)
Jodon, Peter, 353
Jones, Thomas, 512
Jordon, William Xi->
Katherman, David, 368
Keene, Lawrence, 2»iO
Kelchner, Jonas, 5:^
Kelly, Mrs. Sarah, 5<V4
Kelly, Colonel John 5<«
Kenipling, Captain Thoma.s, 19S
Kerstetter, Sebjistian, .... 251
Ke.ster, (George, 297
Klinesmith, lialtzer, . . . . ISi^
Kremer, Hononible George, . 555
Ijjiird, Matthew, 256
liangs, George, (suicide,) . . 3.S6
lijishells. Esquire, .Tohn, . . 547
I^ithy, William Kent :^M
Laughlin, Samuel, l^'5
I>aughlin, Esther, 345
I>iuighlin, Adam, 42S
Lee, John, and wife, .... 210
Lepley, Michael, 170
I^ewifs Pivs(^hal, 454
Linn, .John, :W
Lotz, Ulrich, 2C6
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Tj-iwdon, ('ik[iliiin John, ... 3
tjakenH,Jiiliii, Surveyor Gen., 2
McBcth, Mrs. Annie, .... 5
McCandliBh. senior, William, 2
McC]el1an, James, .... A
Mprjenaohan, James, .... 2
MoClenaohan, David, . , , , a
.MiH-luro, Mrs. Jean, .... 3
MoTLure, Koan, fi
Mof^lnnff, Juhn, 3
Mct-raoken, Henrv, 1'
Mrt^orley, Robert, 2
McCorlev, James, 3
Mcfirady. Alexander, , , . , 3
MoOulre, Thoiuaa,
MoKue, Thomas,
MnRim, William, 3
McKini, Robert, . . . . 3
MiiKnight. , 1
McLjiuehlln, Snmnel, .... >
MnLauiflilbi, William, , . . 1
Moljinghlin, Hugh, t-
Maclav, Esquire, William. :<
Maepfierson, Honorable, Juhn 4'
Maildon, Neal, 5
Mnrshnll, James, 4
Martin, Aaron, 1'
Martin, neorge, 3
■Merrill. 3ame«. ft
MctiBiir, Daniel, 3
MElier, Thetibald, a
Miller, Christian, 3
Moore, John, .1
Murrionn. Reverend Hugh, . 3
Morton, Japhet, *
MotE, George. .,...,... 3
Muuima, Juhn, 4
Murpliy, John, 3
Mypra, Henry, 3
Mveni, Pavid, . , S
Kevins, rhrixtian 4
Newoiimer, Bishop, 4
Overineier, Caiilain George, . 3
Pftttcraon, W. A., 5
Pelors, HRnr\', , 3
Piatt, Alinihain .-3
Polhemiis. .Albert and wife, . 1
Pi>Iloek, ChftrlBM. 'i
Pollopk, John. 3
Pontius, Henry, 4
Potter, Major rieneral James, %
Prii'Htly, iSodor Joseph, . . . 3
Kaiirk, HCiUor, John, .... 2
Ranok, Adiim, 3
Rav, (Jeorge, 3
liearlek. Juhn, %
Ke>i
r, Iteyy,
]teHS[>iier, JaineH, .
Reeilv, 0)nrad, . .
Kees, Abel, . . . .
Denlhx—
Rees, Daniel,
Reen, Daniel,
Rlohnnl, Henry,
Riddle, Geonte. . . . ■
Rodinan. William. .
Rorabaugh, Philip. . - .
"Rote. George.
Rotten. Joseph,
Row, George, ......
Sample, ,rohn and wife, .
Rai^nt, rharles, . . . .
Sanjent. Jnnies,
Si'chrjld, Christopher, . .
in. Captain Anthony,
Sherianre Jauob, ....
Shewel, Adam, . . . .
Shiploii, Tlioinas. .
Fohn,
n, John
Reverend Thomas, .
Mnilth, feter,
Smith, John, . .
Sniilh, Adam,
Hnilth, NinholHH,
Smith, Oeonie,
Rnilth, Colonel Matthew, . .
Smith, AnnaM.,
Smith, Michael, .......
Smith, Esquire, Daniel, , . .
Smith, Albright,
Smith, Enocii,
Snyder. John
Sonlt, David,
Spenlit, Adam.
, , Thomas, . 417
Slnihlp, Peter,
Struble, Adam.
Huthprlknd. Thonias, . . . .
Swju-lK, Peter,
Swesey. Daniel
S«-ineford. John,
Swincfiird, John,
Swinoford, Jaoob,
Tnggert. Thomas,
Tate. Edward
Tiiveler, Joseph,
Templeton, Samuel, . . . ,
Thompson, Captain James, .
Thompson, John
Thompson, William
Thon), James, .
Tboni. James.
Thonihurg, John,
Triiikle, Mathlafl,
Troxell, IJeoi^,
Turner, John
6o4
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Deaths —
Ultz, Joseph, 374
Van Doren, Thomas, .... 163
Vandyke, Henry, 234
Vandyke, Ijambert, 293
Vanvalzali, Doctor Robert, . 551
Vanvolaen, Levi, child of, . . 281
Vincent, Isaac, 176
Wales, John, 314
Wales, Mrs. Mary, 491
Walker, John, 211
Wallis, Joseph J., 390
Walter, John, 417
Watson, Patrick, 188
Wat^ion, David, 417
Weeks, Joseph, 179
Weirick, John, 390
Weirick, Mrs. Elizabeth, . . 435
Weiser, Christopher, .... 442
Weitzell, Esquire, Ca.sper, . . 213
Deaths —
Wertz, Deitrick, 345
Weyland, Michael, 40
Wierbach, John, 267
Wilson, John, 48
Wilson, Thomas, 320
Wilson, Hugh, (of Buf&lo,) . 545
Wilson, Elizabeth, 430
Wilson, Honorable Hugh, . . 545
Wilson, William, 470
Wilson, Thomas, (Kellv,) . . 504
Wilt, George, ....."... 3<>7
Wolfe, Jacob, 428
Yost, Casper, 209
Young, Matthew, 251
Young, Adam, 3fi7
Young, James, 481
Young, John, 527
Youngman, Ellas, 457
Yutten, Jacob, 461
it
u
Debate at Lewisl)urg, 492,523
Debating societies, 491
Deed, copy of Hawkins Boone's, 52
De Haven, Peter, letter of, 155
Depreciation, examples of, 175,184
Derr, Ludnig, • 33,48
mill, meeting at, 56
trading house, incident at, 9fi
mention of, 237
Derr, Christian, notice of, 452
Derr, John, death of, 547
Derrickson, Mrs. Mary, account of capture of Fort Freeland, .... 176
Dieft'onbach, Reverend Jacob, 3«10
Disbury, Joseph, 231
Dixon,' Sankey, 243
Dog run, . ." 7,32
Domestic incidents, ^ 392.463
Donnol, Cliarles G., * 543
Doudle, Daniel, 3K7
Dougherty, Peter, , 246
Dreisbacli's church, ^,253
Dreis!)ach, Martin, 320
Drouth, severe, 4SS
Dry Valley, post office established at, .'V>2
Dub))ondorff, Reverend Samuel, 1S5
Duel, Bin ns-Ste wart, 347
Duffield, George, D. D., quoted, 22B
Dunwin, K8C|uire, Thomas, 364
Eakcrs, Docitor Joseph, 26
Eclipses, 514
Egbert, John, stable burned, .533
Ejectment CJises, 33,35,52,54,74,195,203,313
Election, cortifiC4ite of first, 96
♦* contested, 148,216,239
" return of, 17a3, . 215
" returns, 288,334,373,437 ,448, 457, 4(W), 4(^*3, 522
*« first, under new constitution, 2»)6
'* districts, 310,312,456,5*26
" of militia officers, .5:19,540
" presidential, 496
Electors, choice of first presidential, 257
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 605
Kllenkhusen, Mathias Joseph, 277
Ely, Reverend Doctor Ezra Styles, 506
Eiuerick family captured, 201
Emigration, sources of, 13
to the West, 527
Encampments, ' . . 480,539,544,550
Etzu'eiler, George, killed, 185
Evans, Evan Rice, 323
** Captain Frederick, at Fort McHenry, 420
" ** " letters to George Kremer, 405,462
Ewing, Jasper, death of, 326
Ewig, Christian, notice of, 452
Factories, woolen, 538
Famine in Ireland and Scotland, 547
Farley, John, quoted, 247
Ferry at Sunbury, 44
** landing dispute, 313
** at Lewisburg, 274
Fires, 166,335,493,495,525,533,539,543,545,550,555
Fire storm, 512
Fisher's, Paul, statement, 157
Fisher, John, 157
Fislier's, Samuel, mill burned, 166
Fisher, Esquire, George, 364
Flag ctiptured at Monmouth, 166
Floods, great, . .• 232,488,513,546,548,552
Follmer, Thomas, drowned, 546
" Henry, drowned, 546
Forest iron-works, began building, 545
" ** ♦* in hands of sheriff, 549
" " " sold, 550
Forest Hill, post-office established at, 551
** ** postmiister at, 551
Forster, John, incident related by, 179
** " death of, 239
" killed, 187
" Lieutenant Thomas, 122
** Captain John, appointed postmaster, 555
Fort Augusta built, 13
** Freeland captured, 176
*♦ Swartz, 193
** McHenry, bombardment of, 420
** ** Captain Frederick Evans at, 420
Fought's, Jacob, mill, 34,38
Fought's, Mrs. Michael, narrative, 159
Fought and Trinkle murders, 206
Foutz, Mrs. Conrad, 494
Freeburg, residents o^ 331
Freeman, definition of, 67
Frederick, Thomas, 340
French Jacob's, mill attack on, 185
** ♦» »♦ locality of, 186
Frick <fe Slifer's boat-yard removed to Lewisburg, 551
Frick, Slifer <fe Co's steam saw-mill burned, 555
Frost, severe, 513
Frick, General Henry, death of, 543
Fries, Reverend, 398,410,442
" ** obituary of, 534
Furnace built, 555
Gabriel, George, 9,17,37
Galbraith, Bertram, letter of, 166
6o6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
(Jazette, Sunbury, Northumberland, publication of, commenced, . . 2f)9
Gassette, Columbia, publication of, oonimcnced, -UfJ
Geiaweit, Reverend (.T(H)rge, :fl»
German regiment at Sunbury, 179
German Reformed churches^ ., 'lifl
ti it ii
it
it
it
tirst pastor of, %^
Gift, Aaron K., account of Lepley, 170
Gill, William, notice of, .... " :i3
(iordon, Isiiac G., notice of, / ^2
Grant, Reverend William D., at Lewisburg, i>43
Grave-yards — Dry Run, Itw
Turtle Creek, m
White Deer, 240
Presl>3'terian, 3ii
Evangelical, 431
German and Lutheran, oli
Gray, Jjieutenant William, 119,224
Captain William, death of, 4;il
Lieutenant Colonel Neigal, 232
(Tcorge, 245
Green, .losepli, «>, 14 1,151 ,210
** death of, 335
" George, lettor from, 2^7
*♦ General Abl)Ot, elected major general, '^
Green's mill, 75
Greenville laid out, 311
Gregg, Andrew, marriage of, <fec., 24?*
Grier, 1). 1)., Reverend Isaac, 52,61,231, 024 ,.>4»J
GrcK^liong's, Jacob, Mill, 18;),1H6
Grove, Peter, pursuit of Indians, li*l
*' Michael, kills an Indian, l'*2
♦* family notice of, lit
Guel nil's mills, acticm near, ll**
Gundy, Van Christian, rect)llections of, 97,1*1
♦* * " '• notice of, 242
Gundy, William, drowned, ! •'^'
Haines township, formerly Potter, -W
Halfpenny, J. tC* M., woofen factories, •">-i**
Hall, Ksquire, Charles, 324 .iW
Hammond, Lieutenant David, ^l
" General R. II., death and burial of, Hs
Harbaugh's Fathers, quoted, lW,39(i
Harbnugh, Reverend Henrj', r)43,i>4?<,o5^'
Harding, General AbnerC, .XU
Harri.s, Jlonorable William L., death of, 54*»
Hartley township, formerly Upper Moreland, 61
" ' *' erected, $U
Colonel Thomas, 1<'3,3W
'* ** '* expedition of, I»i5
Hartleton, 316
Hayes, John, death of, 544
William, store robbed, 492
death of, and notice of family, .'rW
incident of early life, ..." .'>42
Heckewehler quoted, ' 2lU
lleim. Reverend John G., 379
Heiser, H., a])pointed postmaster, .V)2
Heisler, Reverend D. V., quoted, 2S«>
♦* " '* mstalled, WA
Herrold, killed 170
Herrold tavern opened, 'iti
ik >t
it it
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 6oj
Hetrick, Christian, 66
** killed, 208
Hickok, Ilonry C, appointed Deputy Superintendent Public Schools, 556
High's mill burned, 550
Hinirod, Simon, 39,235
Hotra's mills, 232
Hood, Reverend Thomas, ordination of, 346
** ** " last sermon, 524
** " " death of, 549
** Mrs. Mary, death of, 549
Horse races, . .' 496,499
** ** anti association formed, 500
Hotels mentioned, 480
Housel, Capttun William, death of, 551
Hucks, Captain, tory, killed, 42
Hughes, Jsapoleon,*develop8 iron ore, 539
Huling, Marcus, 114,245
Hunt, Reverend Thomas P., lectures on temperance, 5:57
Hunter, Colonel Samuel, letters from, 143,
144,153,154,156,174,175,179,184,207
" ♦* ** pursues the Indians, 211
♦* " " death of, 234
Improvement act passed, 503
Imnrovements, 39,283,3;i3,433
Indian tribes, localities of, 1
** paths, 6
" Muncy, leave the Valley, 20
♦* Dclawares, withdraw, \ 20
** Six Nations, 97
" re-appear as enemies, 151,153,154,171,184,201,207,210
" Muncy, in Canada, 201
** married to whites, 202
•* outrages, 208
Independent press of Lewisburg, 538,544
Inhabitants, 1775, 67
Insiuie lad in House of RepresentativeSj 346
Insurance company, mutual ftre, organized, 555$
Iron ore, development of, 539
** works, Berlin, first metal at, 545
»♦ *' ** blown out, * 549
** '* Forest, begjm building, 545
*' " " in hands of sheriff, 549
** ♦* ** sold 550
Irvine, William, 297
Irwin &. Johnston, 35
Isle of Que, 245
Jack's mountain, name how derived, 8
Jackson township erected, 555
Jail, ai)propriation for, 64
Jay's treaty, 295
Jeflerson's election, rejoicing over, 327,342
Jenkins' mill, 221
Johnson, Samuel, tried for firing a bam, 469
Jones, Esquire, Istiac G., 524
Journal, Conrad Weiser's, 2
*' Richard Miles', r)3
** Major Ennion Williams', 63,84
*♦ Flavel Roan's, 338,359,379,388,397,407
Jurors, grand, list of, 43,51,53,127,151
'* ** petition for appointment of judge, 513
traverse, list of, 51,53,151,231
ti
6o8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Keene, Major Lawrence, prothonotary, 214
Kellv, first settlers in, 34,53
Kelly, ColonelJohn, 86,141,144,153,179
*» " " at Princeton, 139
»* " ** pursues the Indians, 172
** ** " lulls one near his cabin, ' 172
" •* " toast of, 327
•* " " sketch of, 506
** " ** monument erected to, 524
Kelly, senior, James, opens temperence hotel in Lewisborg, .... 545
Kelly, Mrs. Sarah, 504
Kellv township reported as Pike, 4«1
»**^ *♦ erected, 462
Kemplingor Kemplon, Captain — See Campleton,
Kennedy's Gazette suspended temporarily, [finally in 1817,] .... 416
Kennedy, A., appointed postmaster, 549
Kerstetter, George, notice of, 453
Kester, (ieorge, bequest of, 297
Kleckner, M., barn burned, 543
Kelchner, Jonas, death of, 539
Klmesmith, Baltzer, killed, 189
" " notice of his daughters, 190
Kremer, Honorable George, death of, 555
Lafayette lodge, otticers of, 500
Laini, Matthew, notice of, and fiEmiily. 255
Laird, lloverend Matthew, sails for Africa, 512
Lane, Klder William, 539
Land office, new purchase, 28
** locations, drawing of, 33
" valuation of, 60
Lashells, Esquire, John, death of, 517
Ijaughlm, Samuel, killed, 185
Lawyers, skctclies of, 3^
*** pecniliaritiosof, 4S1
Lechmore Point, skirmish at, 82
Lee, Major John, 126,204
" »* '* and wife kUled, 210
" Thoniiis, 211
Lennox, Goorgo, 453
Lepley, Mii^hael, killed, 170
Lerov, Jacob, 9
»« ' Jolm, 9
** Anna M., aflidavit of, 12
Levy, K.s<iuire, Daniel, 365
Lewisburg laid out, 237
♦* residents of, 238,
242,253.269,279,282,301,322,332,337,354,356,370,379,387
** survey nmde of, 234
♦* merchants in, 311
** first postmaster at, 312
♦» incorporated, 406,456
•* sketch of, m 1787, 254
** University, act incorporating, passed, 546
** Awidomy^ 546
»* postmaster at, 548,549
** cemeterv at, 549
** Chronicle, publication of, began, 543
** Universitv, extension of, 556
sketch of,'in 1813, 413
*« explosion in drug store at, : . 525
lecture at, 526
t(
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 6og
Lewis, Judge Ellis, commission read, 513
License, applications for, 43,51,107
** vote for and against, 547
Lieutenants of the county appointed, and subs, ^ 127
Limestone township, original settlers of, * 76
" " erected, 550
Lincoln, Lieutenant Ilananiah, Iit4
** MLshael, ir>9
Line of Indian }>urchase, 17
Linn, John, notice of, 453
" J. F., diary of, 550
Locusts appear, "^ 418,455,530
Logan, son of Shikellimy, 5
*• death of, 5
Loskiel quoted, 4
Lottery, Derr's, 238
for improvement of Penn's creek, 356
advertisements, 487
Lowdon, Captain John, 49
** ** ** oopv of his commission, 79
" ** " roU of his company, 79
" " " letter to, fW)m Hooper* Haines, 83
" " ** company mustered out, 85
** letter to, fW)m Speaker Jacobs, 126
** sketch of, 314
Jjukens, John, death of, 262
Lutheran churches, 253,430,534,543
Lutz, A. IL, appointed postmaster, 551
Md^Jabe, Esquire, R. B., sketches, 97,168
McCandlish, George, 94
" William, house buUt, ! 74
" " 231
McClellan, Elsquire, James, 393
** ** " death of, 550
McClune's, James, school, 526
McClure, Alexander, appointed postmaster, 548
McCracken, Henrv, killed, 193
McCormick, Seth,*^ 246
" Thomas, 246
McHarge, Joseph, soldier, 167
McHenr>', Henry, 211
McKim,*Mlller, delivers abolition lecture, 527
Mack andGrube, ioumalof, 5
Maclay, Honorable Samuel, sketch of, 401
Maclay, William, letters of, 155,175
** " Native American letter, 184
" ** elected United States Senator, 255
** R. P., appointed associate Judge of Clarion county, 549
Macpherson, John, (Jud^e,) 166,493
Maliantango township, inhaoitantsof, 308,332
Mails, arrival and departure of, 327,4^
Manor, sun^ey in Valley, 18
Manufactures, Ac, review of, 269
Market quotations, 432,441,
455,457,459,497,503.513,529,539,543,544,546,647,549,551,552,555,566
" public at New Berlin, 432
Marr, Reverend P. B., ordained and Installed, 514
Marriages —
Alsbach, William, Catherine Shlvely, 490
Alter, Jacob, Ann Kessler, 438
Amberg, Hezekiah, Elizabeth Brooks, 486
39
6io ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Marriages —
AmbergAbraham, Charlotte Brooks, 500
Apple, Daniel, Susan Orwig, 486
Aurand, George, Mary Royer, 500
Baldy, Gener^ Christopher, Eve Met^ar, 384
Barber, Thomas. Betsy Clingan, 411
Barry, El isha, Elizabeth Herbst, 430
Beeber, John, Anna Baker, 428
Benner, Mathias, Elizabeth Overmeier, 486
Benner, Henrv, Marj^ Royer, 500
Billnian, Jacob, Charity , 416
Billmyer, Martin, Margaret Himmelreioh, 867
Black, David, Catherine Berry, 411
Bower, Joseph, Susanna Machamer, 384
Bower, Moses, Catherine Moyer, 390
Bower, George, Polly Smith, 890
Breyvogel. Jacob, Susanna Baldy, 829
Brobst, John, Lvdia Marriner, 867
Bro\^Ti, Peter, Catherine Kautz, 373
Burd, Levi, Eve Winegardner, 416
Burnside, Thomas. Mary Fleming, 367
Caldwell, James, Isabella Dunoan, 490
Candor, Thomas, Margaret Montgomery, 485
Chamberlin, Aaron, Betsy Dale, 411
Chamberlin, John, Elizaoeth Haves, 490
Chamberlin, Joseph, Nancy Deal, 495
Charles, C. H., Juliette Mann, 600
Chestney, Jacob G., Juliana Cummings, 486
Christ, Esquire, L. B., Esther Bogar, 600
Coasin, Ludwig, Susanna Oliphaut, 354
Cochran, junior, John, Anna M. Grove, 400
Dale, James, Eliza Bell^ 441
Davis, William, Catherme Derr, 400
Derr, Jacob, Isabella Hunter, ". 495
Dersham, Samuel, Susanna Sliadel, 416
Devling, John, Mary Wilson, 490
Devling Walter, Eliza W^ilson, 499
Dickson, Jesse, Polly Merkle, 416
Donachy, Alexander, Fanny Seitz, 416
Drelsbach, Daniel, Katy Dreisbach, 330
Droisbach, Martin, Elizabeth Kleckner, 470
Duncan, James, Sophia Maxwell, 485
Dunoan, David, Susan Hayes, 495
Dunn, Washinjrton, Betsy Musser, '<S^
Englcman, Micliael, Barbara Gilman, 411
Epler, Peter, Eve Christ, 352
Evans, Evan Rice, Mrs. Forrest, 400
Forster, Robert, Jane Rutherford, 499
Forster, John, Margaret Vanvalzah, 495
Francis, William, Catherine Gettig, 435
Frederick, Philip. Christena Brown, 384
Freodly, John, Elizabeth Lehman, 373
FreedlV, George, Catherine, Frantz, 373
P>uit, Robert, Maria Nevius, 411
Goodlander, Paul, Rachel Heckel, 416
Gregg, Andrew, Martha Potter, 248
Grier, Tlioraas, Rachel Stratton, ! 490
Grier, Doctor Joseph F., Margaret Graham, 499
Grove, Henry, Hannah Leisenring, . ; 384
Grove, Simon, Mary MUler, ! 1 500
Grove, John, Sarah Montgomery, ! ! ! 411
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
GutoUus, Jolin P., MurlH Aurand 4«1
Hammond, Lieutenant B. H., Ann Klim Dunoon, 457
UaoB, John, Margaret Runah, 495
Uuyes, Robert Eioilv Fields, BOO
Hayes, John, Juno KfuFudden, 4S5
Hepburn, Ssiniuel, Ann Clay, *00
Highland, WUliain, Mury Gann, 8W
Hill, Daniel K., linrbara Miiaser 600
HoUtnan, Miohuel, Lydia Wagner, 461
Housel, John, Mancaret MuHaar, 493
Howard, Thoniaa, Eliaabeth Hama, 811
HutohiuBon, Samuel, Jennie Wallaoe, 3W
Jodon, t'rancis, Elimbeth Cherry, 41B
Johnatoii, John, KlLmbeth Kreas, 433
Jordan, Nathan, Hiuinah Smith, 470
Keenly, Daniel, Murln Richter, . 418
Kelly, James, Hannah Seiti, 411
KeUy, William, Margaret AUlson 486
Kemp, Titus, Betay Huntingdon, 485
Kirk, WUli&m, Jane Knos, S30
Kreeuhbamn, Peter, Eliwbeth Davis, 867
Keeehbaum, Geoive, Polly Keller, 367
Laird, Reverend Matthew, Harriet Myer, 512
IjkWHhe, John, Polly Seitz, S52
liawson, JamijB, Naiioy Clinaiui, . 411
Lcshor, Philip, Polly Billmyor, 418
Lewis, PasoliaU, Ellmbeth Boude, 368
Linn, Willlaoi, Jane Morrow, 470
Linn, John, Marv V. Chamberlin, 488
Linn, Jamea P., Margaret Wilson, 490
Long, Peter, Sarah Moore, 438
Ludwig, Daniel, Sarah Homnan, *S«
Mackey, Mr,, Abigtullddings, 49.^
Maclav, John, Annie Dale, 411
Maclay, Robert P., Margaret C. Lashells, 4»a
Mat^ee, Captain James, RlizabethStraybom 170
Ma^e, John, Muaaa Stmble, 493
Muiai, John, El iwbeth Jones, 488
JUrtin. David, Jano McClung, 208
Mauok, David, Noni^ Shriner, 4a8
Mauek Jesse, CathoHne Crotzer, 460
Morrill, James, Sarah Hepburn, . . 490
Melzgar, Abner, Eleanor La wahe, 495
Mover, Miohael, Sarah Kelley, 390
Miner, William, Ellmbeth Myera, 495
Mitchel, George, EHbi Anderson, 438
Mook, Daniel, iiaxy Diett^nbaeh, 486
Mook, George, Julia Fastnuok, 430
Moore, Lewis, Dorothy Smith, 457
Montgotnerv, Robert, Nancy Knox, 384
Moyer, Henry, PoUyStrioUand 435
MiiBsenH, Henry B.,EliBibeth Winter, 486
Myers, Henry. Hannah Waller, . 500
Myers, Petor,S.i[>luuNi.M. II 378
MuHeth, Andrt'iv, \iiii (jil,i, 438
MoCormick, tSiiiil. CiLiliM-iiN. II | 493
Mur..aughlin, Hugh, trances Derr, 495
MoLat^bliD, Hugh, Blimbeth MoAUlster, 416
6i2 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Marriages —
Nesbit, William, Nancy MiLSser, . 373
Nesbit, David, Mary Musser, 4?^
Orwig, John, Maria" Britrht, 486
Peters, Ismic, Susan Miller, 470
Pontius, Conrad, Marv Seebold, 470
Ranck, John, Nancy Luther, 384
Ranck, Joel, Sarah Long, 3J*0
Ranck, Jonathan, Catherine Long, 430
Reody, Jonathan, Amelia Buokner, 490
Rees, Jacob, Elizabeth Williamson, 430
Renner, Frederick, Magdalena Krause, 354
Roush, Samuel, Elizabeth Dunkle, 438
Row, John, Rachael Kunkle, 4^^6
Selin, Anthony, Catherine Yoner, 390
Sergeant, John, Catherine Beyer, 3r>4
Shannon, Daniel, Christena P'ross, 430
Shaw, John, Margaret Baker, oOO
Sheckler, Tobias, Catherine Fredericks, 296
Shriner, Daniel, Catherine Funston, 435
Sierer, John, Louisa McMillan, 384
Snyder, John, Margaret Hammond, 490
Snyder, John, Mary Kittera, 441
Snyder, George, Anna Ellen Duncan, 437
Snvder, Simon, Catherine Antes, 309
Stahl, PhQip, Susanna Spotz, 390
Steadman, William C, Elizabeth W^Qson, 470
Straub, Michael, Sarah Grove, 354
Strawb ridge, Mr., Louisa Maus, 486
Strayer, Jacob, Rachael Harmony, 435
Strayhorn, Peter, Cornelius, 499
Strickland, Sanmel, Elizabeth Turner, 430
Swartz, Peter, Magdalena Weyland, 49
Thompson, William, Susan TJnn, ^
Troxoll, George, Mary IlolVman, 354
Updike, Elijah, Elizabeth Snook, 4(U»
Vandyke, J(»hn, Margaret Adams, 384
Vanviilzah, John A., Rebecca Chambers, 5*i0
Wagner, Jacob, Rachael McGuire, 461
Walters, John, Susanna Moyer, 435
Wehr Jacob, Margjiret Sassman, 430
Weiser, Connid, Elizabeth Snvder, 390
Wetze ., Jonathan, Hettie Holf, 486
Wilson, Hugh, Catherine Irvine, . . . 2ii6
Wilson, Thomas, Mrs. Drake, 493
Wilson, William, Ruth Waddell, 490
W<jods, junior, Christopher, Maria Little, 500
Yarger, John, Mjwgaret Kellv, 493
Yost, John, Sarah ShalFer, . ! 490
Zorbe, Henry, Susanna Heckel, 373
Zenimyer, Israel, Eve Snook, 5(W
Masonic procession, 493
** Anti, excitement, 498
** delegate meeting, 519
Maynard's Clinton o<iunty quoted, 267
Meeting, anti school, . * 514
»* '* '• resolutions adopted, 515
** ** ** delegates, list of, 516
♦' " Masonic delegate, 519
♦' native American^ 544
»* railroad, at Mitlhnburg, 546
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY, 613
Meeting, railroad, at I-iOwisburg, 552
** " New Berlin, 553
" ** Potters*8 fort, 554
Meginness' West Branch Quoted, 178,191,192,210,232,283
Merrill, Janies, address or, 5(K^
" *♦ death of, 538
Meteoric shower, 512
Meteor at New Berlin, 4a3
Mexican war, soldiers in, 547
Middleburg, residents of, 331
Middle creek, alias Christunn, 12
Mirtlinburg laid out, 274
" residents of, 279,282,318,355,370,379,387
" first court held at, 418
** Awidemy, act establishing, passed, 492
" incorporated, 492
Miles, Colonel Samuel 13
** Richard, journal, 53
Military' record, 1861-5, 580
Militia officers, 90,102,104,108,241
** elections, 525,539,540
** companies of Valley, 539
Miller, Philip, appointed oourt-orier, 448
Miller, George F., barn burned, 545
Millerism excitement, 542
Mills built— Fought's, 38
Smith's, 60
Titzell's, 62
Barber's, 193
Weiser's fulling, 243
Farley's, John, 247
Farley's, Caleb, 258
Chill fsquaque, 251
Penn's creek, 311
Barber's, Robert, 311
Wilt's, 327
steam flour, 554
Mingo, White, murder of, 24
Minutes of the Committee of Safety, 99,127
Mitman, J. M.. appointed postmaster, 548
Mizener, Adam, captured, 188
Monckton, Colonel, sword of, 162
Monmouth, battle of, 159
Montelius, Honorable John, address to electors, 530
Montour, John, 169
M(H)re, Colonel James, quoted, 3,283
Morgan, Jacob, letter from, 153
Morrison, Reverend Hugh, 248
♦* ** " his call, 249
" " " sermons of, 284
♦* " " difficulty with Maclay, 296,318
** " " dismissed, 329
Morton, Johnny, sketch of, 501
Mountains, mention of, 8
Mimnna, Esquire, John, death of, 491
MuMser's distillery burned, 539
Noon>logy of the Buffalo Valley, 504
Nosbit's, ftre at, 33.5
Nc'vni, Doctor John W., preaches in Lewisburg, 547
New Berlin, residents of, 283,301,322,332,337,356,370,387
** ♦» courts at, 429
6i4 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Xew Berlin, plan of, made, 433
" " showman at, 482
" " meteor at, 483
** ** incorporated, May 16, 1837.
Newcomer, Bishop, visits Valley, 290,325,4X3,429,4^,489
Newspapers — Kennedy's Grazette, suspended temporarily, 416
Columbia Grazette be^n publication, . .\ 416
Andrew Kennedy's, junior, 418
Union Hickory removed to Lewisburg, 497
Sunbury Northumberland Grazette begpan publication, 2fi9
** " " suspended, .... 416
Union Times, 4o7
" " editorsof, 480,522,5:^9
Lewisburg Journal published, .tOI
People's Advocate, at Lewisburg, suspended, .")38
Independent Press began publication, 538
" " editors of, .544
Lewisburg Chronicle began publication, 543
" " editor of, 543,548,550,556
Pittsburgh Daily, editor of, 544
Items from Heniy Shaup's Union, 432
Union Star sold, .519
Union Democrat, editor of, 549
The Guardian, 55<)
Northumberland county erected, 40
" " first officials of, 41
" " " courts held in, 42
♦* " " sheriff of, 44
" ** " suits m, 44
** " bar, sketches of, 323
** " recruiting in, \^\
** " divided into election districts, 23S
Officers, application for land, 26
** grant of land to, 27
" survey of land, 30.37
** " meeting, reference to, -^
lilit.in. ftl«nti»fL . 525.5J^
♦* militia, elected, 52.">,'
Officials, list of, 5,>S
Orders, jj^onenil, from Lieutenant Colonel Weirick's order book, . . 426
Ovormeier'a, Mrs., statement, ^"^^
Paoli ina.ssiUTO, 143
Parr, Major James, ^ 33.'51
" ** ♦' n>ll of liis company, •*^'»
Pjustors of Baptist church, ". 371
Patterson, Captain Samuel, monument erected to, 537
*♦ \V. A., death of, 5->3
Pealer, Captain, in Nittany valley, l'>4
Pence, Peter, " fj
Ponn, Thomas and Ricliard, purchase from Six Nations, '^'
Penii's creek massacre, '^
♦* residents on, 10
" pul>lic highway, 3i'
'* appropriations for improvements, 497
Penn's township, settlers of, 23,37 ,4«)
'* l)oundsof, 42
♦* listofinha))itants, 01.150,
182,194, 209,214, 237, 242,245,253,2r>3,2<i9,280,2H^4,2W,.'^l3
Ponsionors, Ignited States, residing in Union county in 1840, .... Tv^
Pi'nn.sylvaiiia convention ". <^'>
Phreeiner, Reverend Jolin G., 275
Pirkering's life, quoted, 242
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. bis
Pickhard, John, case of, 137
" Nicholiw, case of, 138
Piscatawav, skirmishes at, 141 , 143
Pittsburgh Daily, editor of, 544
Plunket, William, expedition to Wyoming, 87
•* " notice of, 271
Poak, James, family of, 213
Pohlhemus, Albert, family, 157
Pollock, John, opens store, 294
** Hugh, publishes pamphlet, 538
** Reverend Hugh, takes charge of Lewisburg Academy, . . . 537
Political notes, 54,76,147,257,
26fi,280,282,2«7,295,310, 312,319,325,334,351, 356,369,371,434,436,
448,455,456,459,463,487,489,493,497.499.501,505,519,525,526,527,
529, 533, 538,540,543,544,545,546,548,549,550,552,553,554,555,557
PontiiLs, Philip, statements, 187
" Henry, notice of, 458
Poor-house, vote for and against, 550
Post-offices established, 551 ,552
Potter township, erected, 53
" " name changed, 264
Potter, General James, 142,144,151,243
" " *♦ letters to and from, . . . .145,146,154,163,174,200
<« u ii death of 261
Presbyterian church, Cross-Roads, . .'.,..... 51,60,231,250,270,433
** " Lewisburg, 505,511
" " at New Berlin, 538,543
Presbytery of Northumberland, formed, 391
Pri(?es current, 432,441,455,
457,459,497,503,513,529,539,543,544,546,547,549,551,552,555,556
Price, Sergeant Thomtvs, 119
Priestly, Doctor Joseph, 343
Princeton, battle at, 139
Prohibitory liquor law, vote for and against, 555
Pumpkins', big, 534
PurclULSes, 1754, 8
1758, 16
nrxS, 26
Quinn, Ksfjuire, David, iTicident related by, 158
♦* Samuel, commissioned, " 194
Qui nn's run, origin of name, 194
Rahauser, Reverend Jonathan, 259
Railroad in(5or|)orated, 526
** survey began, 526
** Sunbury and Erie, subscription to, 526
" Lewisburg, Centre, and Spruce Creek, incorporated, .... 554
** " ** ** survey began, . . . 554
Read, William, case of, 135
Real estate, valuation of, by townships, 551
Roasoner, James, accident to, 526
Rober, Samuel, opens hotel, 501
Red Bank run, 25
RetMl family, 25
Roger, Elias, notice of, 453
Rei(;hel, Reverend W. C, notice of, 19
Reilv, General, 544
Revival at Lewisburg, 543
Revolutionary soldiers, notices of, 449
** " at fourth of July celebration, 505
♦' struggle inaugurated, 76
Rifle battalion, notice of, 82
6i6 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
Rifle battalion, standard of, described, 85
Riflemen, ordered to be raised, 78
** enlisted at Derr's mill, 78
River, improvement of the, 350
Road — Fort Augusta to Lyooming creek, 44
Derr's to Narrows, 51,fi5
Great Plains to Sunbury, 51
Reuben Haines, $5
Bald Ea«lejto Sunbury, 86
Head of Penn's valley' to J. Davidson's ferrj", .... 251,252,21)9
Lewisburg, by Cross-Romis, to Mifflinburg, 252,487 ,495,496,4»7,499
Shirtz, at Narrows, to Colonel Clarke's lane, 252
Jenkins' mill to M. and L. road, 327
Milton to Derrstown and Mifflinburg road, 335
Jenkins' mill to Michael Smith's, 337
Gephart's to turnpike, 346
Brush valley to James Irwin's, 274
Wolfe's tavern to Buffalo creek, 274
Rockey 's mills to Reznor's, 418
Reznof's saw-mill to Brush valley and Mifflinburg road, ... 418
Bellefonte to White Deer creek, 463
Lewisburg to Selinsgrove, 497
Mortonsvflle, by Hugh Wilson's and Derr's, 418,501
Chamberlin's mill to Kelly's saw-mill, 499
Turtle creek, 501
State, Heverling's mill to Elk creek, 537
Sugar Valley and W^hite Deer, 552
Roan, Flavel, 243
*» ** poetry of, 292
" »* journal of, 338,359,379,388,397,407
Robb's, Robert, case, 115,127
Robinson, John, 548
Roll of Captain John Lowdon's company, 79
** *' James Parr's company, 86
** twelfth Pennsylvania, . . . \ 124
'♦ Captain John Clarke's company, 1-i
*' soldiers captured at F'ort Freeland, 179
** Captain James Thompson's company, 188
Casper Weitssel's company, ' H^
♦* B. Weiser's company, l-*<j
Peter Grove's company, 2ft>
*♦ Sanmel McGrady's company, 306
*♦ Rangers, ii*?
** Captain Ix)wdon's company, 1784, 233
** ** Donaldson's compiinv, 1812, 408
" " Middleswarth's company, 1S12, 410
" Field and staff of I^ieutenant Colonel George Weirick's regi-
ment, 421
" Captain Henry Miller's company, 421
" ** Jacob Hum mel's company, 422
** ** Valentine Haas' company, 423
«* " John Bergstresser's compsmy, 424
** " William F. Buyers' company, 425
" " Ner Middleswiirth's company, 427
Rope dancer at New Berlin, 4»>4
Rorabaugh, Philip, notice of, 453
** *♦ buried 527
Rote, George, and his sister captured, 199
Row, George, killtjcl, 1«J
Royal Grenadiers' flag captured, ir)9
Rumsey, John, 245
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 617
Runaway, the Great, 1778, 154,176
Rupp, I. D., quoted, 13
Salt-works, 480
Sample, John, and wife killed, 171
Sargent, John, removes, 525
Sawyer, Thomas, 499
Schools, 297,359,413,400
School, anti, meeting of, 514
** " ** resolutions adopted at, 515
** ** delegate meeting, 510
** " delegates, list of; 516
" vote for and tigainst, 518,536
** first county superintendent of, 555
** Deputy Superintendent of Public, 550
Scull's map, 36
Seebold, Philip, 159
Selin, Captain Anthony, 276
Selinsgrove, residents of, 332
»* inooriK)rated, 492
" first hotel in, 232
Seminary, Union, at New Berlin, established, 556
Settlers, early, Penn town.ship, 23
""^ ofVallev, 33,39,49,50,53,54,62
first Baptist, \ 283
Shamokin. now Sunbury, 2
**^ original name of the country, 7
Shaeffer, Reverend Sanmel, 546
Shikellimy, Viceroy, 2
** " residents of, 2
" removes to Shamokin, 4
** death of, 20
Shikellimy's old town, 3,32
Shikellimy, lyxskiePs notice of, 4
Shively, Christian, statement of, 187,189
*» ' John, carrie<l away, 199
Shoemaker, Charles L., . *. 549
Showman at New Berlin, 482
Shows, cliaracter of, 527
Skeleton found, 555
Slaves, 74,242,299
Slenker, H(monible Isiiac, 495
Smith, Catherine, petition of, 240
•* Widow, mills, 60,175,240
*» »* petiticmof, 240
•* Anna M., bequest of, 297
** Escjuire, Charles, sketch of, 363
*« Enoch, sketch of, 439
** Ann, alias Carson, arrested, , 433
*♦ Adam, sketch of, 453
*' Michael, statement of, 203
♦' Matthew, letters of, 155,186
** ** specimen record of, 209
" John, of Buffalo, family of, 213
'* Daniel, 323,365
Snvder, Ciovemor Simon, letter from, to George Kremer, 434
''» " " sketch of, 443
Antes, 446
*' George A., extracts from manuscript, 190,
464,479,482,484,502,527,530,542
*' John, heirs of, law suit, va. Simon Snyder, 465
Snyder county, erected, 556
6i8 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
Snowstorms, 405,527,586,544
Social incidents, 392,463
Society, Union County agricultural, 528,5>'>4
" Susquotiunna Biole, formed, 433
" debiitini?, 4PI
Soldiers, rovolutionarv, notices of, 449
** list of, from union county in Mexican War, 547
Soult, David, 470
Spangenberg, Reverend Cyriacus, notice of, 217
*♦ " " executed for murder, 218
Spalding, Captain Simon, testimony, 217
Speddy, William, 4«
Spyker, Henrv, house built, 2W
" *' " notice of, 439
Stanford, Jacob, killed, 155
Starret's mill burned, 175
Steam flour-mill built, 554
Straubstown, rosidente of, 331
Stevens, Ephniim, 481
Still bursted 4fti
Stony Point captured, 175
Storms, David, killed, 208
Storm, heavy north-east, 552
Stove, Hathaway cooking, manufacture of begun, 539
Strickland, Tiniothy, 453
Strubblo, Peter, death of, b\Q
Stump, Frederick, murders by, 24
Suits, act passed transferring all unsettled, to Union county, 418
Sullivan, General, letter from, 1"4
Sunbury laid out, 43
" Northumberland Gazette, 2J^
Sunderland, Daniel, 24"
SupromeCourt justices opinion of Ritner, 498
** 7>rr.i07>w«/ of justices of, 498
*' middle district created, 35^
Surveys, flrst, 19»28
" officers, made, ^
" early, 34,38,48,52,61,75,237
Surveyors, deputy, appointed, 257
8us(][uchanna declared a highway, 36
'* survey of, . . . ' 2i>4
Swan, Sanmol, . / 24^
Swartz, Peter, marriage of, 49
H - - - -—
Swartz**
** house burned, l*"*!^
el, Esr|uire, II., 47
SwoHcy, Daniel, notice of, 4o3
Swinoford's hotel, 247
*' murder of, 488
Swiuefordstown, residents of, 331
Switzer run, 7
" tract 74
Synod, t^hiladelphia, met at LewLsburg, 548
Taggert, M. II., appointed postmaster, 552
Tannery burned, 525
Tan-vafd at Buffalo Cross-Roads, 279
Tato,* Edward 210
IVixables, enumeration of, by townships, .wl
Taylor, Thonuus, anecdote of, 4S8
Teodyuscung, king of the Delawares, 19
Telegraph brought to I^wisburg, 552
Temperance associations formed, 483
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. 6ig
Temperance society, 504
** efforts, 544
" sons of, organized, 545
Templeton, Samuel, deatli of, 490
Thompson, Captain James, narrative of^ 195
Thornton, Doctor Thomas A. H., 549
Times, Union, publication of, began, 467
" ** editors of, 522
Titzell'smill, : . 62
Tomato, as an edible, 443
Treaty at Fort Greenville, 223
Turtle creek, 7
Turnpikes, 495,496,497,552
Tusk, mammoth, dug up, 552
Union township, survevs, 34
" " erected, 429
" county, ** 412
" Hickory, (newspaper,) removed to Lewisburg, 497
" 'furnace built, 555
** seminary at New Berlin established, 556
" " " " " officers of, 556
Utica, origin of, for girl's name, 489
University, Lewisburg, act to establish, passed, 546
** " first oonmiencement, 552
" ** graduating class, 552
** " change of presidents, 552
" " Acaoemv building of, ground broken for, . 548
Van Campen's narrative referre(f to, 191
Van Fleet, Cornelius, 245
Van Gundy, Christian, licensed, 51
** " narratives of, 91,171
" " notice of, 242
Vanvalzah, Doctor Robert, 253
" " " death of, 551
" " Thomas, 527
" Howard, accident to, 514
Vincent, Daniel, incident of, 178
Wagoner, Adam, house and mill burnt, 495
Walker, John, sequel to his murder, 212
Washington township erected, 239
" " inhabitants of, 239
Watson, Patrick, killed, 189
Watts, Esquire, David, 364
Weather record, 479,497,500,511,513,523,526,530
Wedding, first in the Valley, 49
" party, 463
Weeks, Rachel, 245
** Jesse, 246
Woirick, Lieutenant Colonel, order book, 426
Weiser, Conrad, journal of, 2
** CaptainBenjamin, roll of his company, 140
Weisertown, residents of, 332
Weisner, Thomas, 245
Weitzel, Captain Casper, letter of, 77
♦* ** " roll of his company, 140
" " •* death of, 213
W(4ch, Clinton, drowned, 556
West Buffalo, early settlers in, 54
Wlieat, fall of, 405
Wliisky insurrection, incidents of, 286
White Deer creek— Opaghtanoten, 7
620 ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY,
White Deer mills built, 60
♦* " *• burned, 175
** " township erected, 89
" " " inhabitants of, 149,182,
194,214,232,236,242,244,253,258,274,279,2»4,294,
305,310, 3l7,326,332,337,340,354,3o5,370,379,3H7
" ** " valuation of, 299
" " distilleries in, 260
" *♦ election district, 310
*' " Hole valley, people of, 245
White Mingo, murder of, 24
Whitman, Professor, J. S., elected, county superintendent, o-w
Woirbach's, John, daughter captured, 20n
Williams', Major Ennion, journal, 63, HI
Wilson, John, 33
Wilson, Judi^o William, 81,159,162
.*' William, Doctor T. XL, grandfather, 49,188
" Thomas, 320
" *♦ ofKellv, doathof, % . 504
" William, of Kelly, 470
♦* Honorable Hugh, death of, 545
" Hugh, of Buffalo, notice of, 545
Winlield post-offce established, 552
Witchraft farce, 4H4
Withington, Captain Peter, 124
" Martin opens hotel, 2fi9
Wolfe's, John, barn burned, 545
Wolfinger, John F., quoted, 94,143,245
Wolves perish from cold, 523
Woolen factories, 538
Worden, O. N., quoted, 45,283,371,548
Wright, Jolm, (erratum for Weight, read Wright,) 422
Yellow fever, 280
Yeomans, Doctor, preaches at Lewisburg, M8
Yiesely, Michael, notice of, 4.>4
Yomig, Margaret, storj' of, 197 ,251
** James, death of, 481
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE.
AfVer these Annals had gone to press, John Jordan, junior. Es-
quire, of Philadelphia, Tound in the library of the Archives of the
Moravian Church, at Bethlehem, the Narrative of Anne LeRoyand
Barbara Leininger, referred to upon page ii. He writes: "it is
in the German language, Tourteen pages, and bound in one of the
five volumes entitled 'Faria,' in that library, of which Bishop Ed-
ward de Schweintz is custodian. It purports to be taken from the
lips of the parties, but does not give exact information of the precise
places where the girls were captured. They lived on adjoining farms,
some miles from Shamokin. They were taken in October, 1755,
and reached Philadelphia May 6, 1759."
I am glad the occasion for a note enables me to acknowledge my
obligations to William H. Egle, M. D., of Harrisburg, for many
valuable suggestions, and for his intelligent and laborious supervision
of the proofs ; but for which, in a book containing such an abund-
ance of names and dates, many errors other than those which may
possibly be found must have occurred.
John Blair Linn.
/u/y 18, 1877.
' i
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