Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society

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PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 1921

'' i|i0t0rg \\trBBlt a0 Bttn in \\tr tmn miirkB\\iip.**

PROVINCIAL, CONTINENTAL AND FEDERAL REVE-
NUES OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

By H. C. Martin
MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY MEETING.

VOL. XXV. NO. 2.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1921

N

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(28)

Distilleries were erected everywhere. I make note of this to show at what
eariy date distillation of whisky, which in later years required the registra-
tion of the stills and was the source of a great amount of Provincial and
Federal Revenues, began in Lancaster County.

Mombert, in his history of Lancaster County, states that the friendly
relations between England and the Colonies would doubtless have continued
had the former not seen fit to pursue a new policy towards the latter with
respect to revenue taxation (p. 196). He states the first Act of Parliament
aiming at drawing a revenue ftom the Colonies was passed Sept. 29, 1764.
Prior to this date the Colonies taxed themselves. The preamble of this
Act read — Whereas it is just and necessary that a Revenue be raised in
America for defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing
the same. We the Commons etc. — This Act imposed a duty on Clayed
sugar, indigo, coffee, etc., being the produce of a colony not under the do-
minion of His Majesty.

This statement of Mombert that the first Act to tax the Colonies was
passed Sept. 29, 1764, does not appear to be correct as will be seen ft*om
the following notice referring to an Act passed eight years earlier —

(Notice)

An Act passed in 1756 and since continued, for striking the sum of
30,000 pounds in bills of credit and giving the same to the King's use and
providing a fund to sink the bills so to be emitted, by laying an excise upon
wine, rum. brandy and other spirits — ^it is enacted that there shall be through-
out this Province raised, levied, collected and paid for all wine, brandy and
other spirits sold, drawn or bartered by any person or persons by any quan-
tity under 70 gals, and for all wine sold, drawn or bartered under quantity
of one hogshead and to be delivered at one time and to one person, at the
rate or sum of 4d. per gal., 15 percent allowed for leakage and wastage
and that every retailer of all or any of the said liquors, before he shall draw,
sell or barter any of the said liquors, shall enter his or her name and place
of abode with the Collector of the respective counties, or their deputies and
shall take or have from said Collector or Deputy a permit for drawing or
selling such liquors. Penalties will be inforced for non-compliance.

(Signed) John Stretch, Collector.

(Pa. Chron. Jan. 29, 1770)

Philadelphia.

I have been unable to determine whether Collector Stretch personally
supervised these matters in Lancaster Co. or through a Deputy, and through
a Deputy, have been unable to determine who he was. None of the his-
torians of Lancaster County make any reference to this Act and for this
reason I have quoted Collector Stretch's notice in full.

In the year 1765 the famous Stamp Act was passed, and repeated in
May. 1766. In 1767 a bill passed Parliament imposing duties on tea, glass,
paper, etc., imported into the Colonies ftom Great Britain. Associations
were formed to prevent the importation of British goods. By 1770 all these
Acts were repealed excepting 3d. a pound on tea. This resulted in the
Boston Tea Party and the closing of the Port of Boston. The following
action was taken in Lancaster in view of these happenings, June 19, 1770.
and since the historians of Lancaster Co. make no reference to this protest
meeting I quote the proceedings in toto.

Lancaster, June 19, 1770.
We, the inhabitants of Lancaster as well as Merchants and Traders,
as others, sensible of the great blessings and peculiar privileges we and the
other inhabitants of this Province have enjoyed under our Charter, and de-
sirous that we should contribute our mite to transmit the same pure to
posterity, cannot sit unmoved at the attempts made to deprive us of the
Liberty we and our ancestors have so highly esteemed and gloried in. The
cloud that once hung over our heads, by the ever detestable Stamp Act,
being dispelled by its repeal, filled us with love and gratitude for our mother
country and we fondly hoped that the motive for the repeal was founded in
the free spirit of Englishmen. But alas — we have reason to fear from the

m

late Revenue Acts passed in England, that the principles of freedom and
justice had no part or share in that repeal.

The same reasons which prompted the Merchants and Traders in Brit-
ish America to cease from importing the goods and manufactures of Britain,
when laboring under the odious Stamp Act, subsists, if possible, more strongly
at present, and plainly dictates the necessity of preserving in the same noble
resolutions at this juncture, of sacrificing our immediate gains or profits to
the public good. We should deem ourselves unworthy of the blessings of
ft>eedom, could we tamely view our situation as calm spectators when we
are threatened with the loss of freedom and property. And therefore, in
support of the same, we do unanimously enter into the following Declara-
tions and Resolutions, the whole people of this county fully concurring with
us —

We do declare and profess the most sincere loyalty and affection for
our lawful and rightful Sovereign King George 3rd and his most illustrious
house —

And we further declare, we look on all Constitutional Acts of the Brit-
ish Legislature as binding on us.

But we conceive that the Acts of Parliament made to tax us, or any
other of our fellow subjects in America for the' purpose of raising a Revenue,
to be unconstitutional and oppressive and therefore ought to use all lawful
and justifiable ways and means for procuring a repeal of such unconstitu-
tional Acts.

We apprehend it a duty we owe to the sacred shrine of freedom in this
time of danger (though we inhabit no seaport town) to testify our approba-
tion of the measures taken by the Colonies for procuring a repeal of those
Acts so destructive to that glorious liberty handed down to them and us
by our ancestors and which as freemen and descendents of Britons we have
a right to and cannot lawfully be disfranchised of, but with our own or the
consent of our legal representatives —

We smcerely and heartily approve of the conduct of the worthy patn^
otic inhabitants and merchants of the city of Phila. for their firm and steady
adherence to their Non-Importation agreement, and fully rely on their per-
severance.

And we do declare and are resolved that should any inhabitants of
this borough or county, attempt to purchase and brinp; into the same any
British goods, wares or merchandise (that cannot consistent with the Non-
Importation Agreement of the Merchants of Phila. be brought into that
Port) from any other port, Province or Government, we will take care to
store the same, until a general importation shall be made into the port of
Phila.

And we further declare and resolve, that if any person or persons among
us, shall be so inimical to the freedom of America, as to purchase and bring
any such goods, wares or merchandise into this borough county for sale,
we shall detest and abhor him and them as traitors to the true interests of
this country and never have any fellowship or correspondence with them
or any of them, and will publish his or their names to the world, to remain
as a lasting monument of Infamy.

Signed by the committee, by order of the inhabitants —

GEO. ROSS
GEO. ROSS
ROBT. BOYD
J. YE ATE S
LUD. LAUMAN
WM. HENRY

To John Cox Jr., John Gibson, Alex. Huston, Chas. Thompson, Daniel
Benezet, Wm. Fisher, Geo. Roberts, Samuel Howell, Thos. Mease and others.
Gentlemen and Merchants — the Comm ttee of Merchants of Ph la.

(Pa. Chron. also Pa. Gazette.)

A meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Lancaster was held at
the Court House on Wed. June 15, 1774. At this meeting it was agreed

(30)

that to f refierve the Constituted rights of the inhabitants of America, it Is
incumbent on every colony to unite and use the most effectusi means to
procure a re^al of the late Act of Parliament against the town of Boston.
At this meeting Edw. Shippen, Geo. Ross, Jasper Yeates, Matthias Slough,
James Webb, Wm. Atlee, Wm. Henry, Lud Lauman, Wm. Bausman and
Chas. Hall were appointed a committee to correspond with the general com-
mittee of Phila. and to forward sentiments expressed at this meeting. The
Committee accordingly forwarded a letter to tne committee of Phila. dated
June 15, 1774 givinp: account of Lancaster meeting and the sentiment of
the community. This letter can be found in full in Mombert's History of
Lancaster Co. Later meetings were held in sympathy of Boston, notably
the Committee meeting of July 2, 1774 at which Edw. Shippen was chosen
chairman, and a notice was prepared for a public meeting for the citizens
of Lancaster County Sat. July 9, 1774, at the Lancaster Court House. At
this meeting a committee was appointed to meet committees of other coun-
ties at Phila. July 15, 1774. .Subscriptions were taken for the relief of
Boston brethren. On Sept. 9, 1774 the committee reported the collections
of the borough of Lancaster amounted 153 pounds 15 S» and 2 d.

As a result of the action taken at the Lancaster meeting regarding
non-importation of articles upon which import duty has been imposed by
Britain developed the account given by several historians of Lancaster Co.
but none of them refer other than to 'the Committee' making no mention
when the committee was appointed nor the purpose, the account of which
I gave in full as taken from an original reference. The case referred to is
the information given the committee that Joshua and Robt. Lockharts of
the borough of Lancaster, shopkeepers, had received a quantity of tea that
had duty paid under the act of Parliament. Investigation was made of
their shop and with difficulty found a chest of Bohea Tea, 349 lbs. net,
which they bought from a Phila. merchant. The tea was removed from
the case and markings of the case taken and the committee in Phila. noti-
fied. It developed however that tlus tea was part of a lot seized by the
Custom House, no duty having been paid, and was purchased by Lockharts
at a public sale. The Lockharts were acquitted. (Mombert p. 211).

The period from 1776 the year of the Declaration of Independence to
1789, the year of Washington's inaugfuration were years of unrest and insta-
bility. No central or supreme government existed neither were financial
affairs in any better shape as will be seen from the following opinions ex-
pressed by Lancastrians pertaining to Continental taxes, Revenues, and
the funding of the public debt.

Col. Atlee in a letter dated July 1, 1780 addressed to Wm. Henry
quotes Jos. Reed's reference to the "deficiencies of Lancaster county taxes
as a most serious consideration. A melancholy situation presents itself
knowing that only three townships of Lancaster county paid off certain
taxes while other counties which were invaded and plundered have paid
off theirs." Mr. Reed was president of the Executive Council. Wm. Henry
in reply to Mr. Reed explains that the whole of the First Tax for 1779
except a balance in the hands of three collectors (who are sued) is paid
into my hands, and I have paid at sundry times about 163,000 pounds to
the Treasurer and have orders of Congress for more than the amount of
the First Tax. At the time I wrote to the State Treasurer there were but
three townships who had made their first payments on the Second Tax for
1779, since which time three others have made each a small payment but
there lays an order of the Treasurer in favor of Col. Blaine for 150,000
pounds in the hands of Mr. Slough, 30,000 pounds of which I have dis-
charged. He further states I beg leave to observe that there seems to be
more expected from Lancaster County than was in our power to perform.
To my knowledge the Commissioners began to lay the tax by the Act pub-
lished in the newspaper and as they received instructions from Council,
which differed from the method they had pursued, were obliged to order
the returns to be made over again. Weather set in so severe that there
was no traveling till April. The taxes were laid as soon as the returns

(31)

could be got in, and the appeals were held in May and CoUectors appointed.

(Signed) Wm. Heniy.
On Feb. 1, 1781 the Council of Penna. fixed the rate of Continental
money at $75.00 for one dollar specie, and on May 15, 1781 ordered that
after June 1st, next following, only specie or its equivalent should be re-
ceived for taxes. In the years 1776 to 1789 Continental taxes were in ef-
fect and the foregoin|: Act of Council and following letter are striking indi-
cations of the financial conditions at this time.

Lancaster, Pa., May 26, 1781.
To Pres. Reed-
Dear Sir: It is paying me a greater compliment than my poor abilities
have any claim to, to ask my opinion on* the present intricate state of our
affairs. I will however give it without further apology. The principal
reasons why our paper money is in so little repute with the people seems
to be the following; — Government has not specie to circulate with the paper,
nor can they at any time exchange a considerable part of it for specie.
The natural basis of all paper credit is specie, and the value we put on
paper is in proportion to the quantity of specie it will purchase. There-
fore some method should be taken to procure at least part of the revenue
in specie: this is not impracticable. Why cannot tavern licenses, marriage
licenses and licenses for distilling f^ain be paid in specie? The petitioner
has one whole year to provide the money and his private interest will stimu-
late him to it. It is true as the law now stands no man is obliged to take
a license for distilling ^sdn, but would it not be good policy to enact such
a law and thereby oblige the owners of stills above a certain size, to have
them registered in the counties where they live? This would enable the
government to form an estimation of the amount of this part of the revenue,
which I am persuaded they cannot at present. Under the late government
the excise on spirituous liquors was said to be worth 6,000 pounds per an-
num. If licenses aforesaid were raised 50 percent this would bring in a
handsome revenue without distressing the subjects and would be attended
with good consequences to the people at large in preventing a number of
dram shops being kept, which at present are a nuisance, and would be ample
security to any gentleman at home or abroad for the payinent of a sum of
money to answer the present exigencies of government. Might not all fines
and forfeitures in courts of justice be paid in specie, and the duties on for-
eign imports might be paid in specie, or merchandise suitable for the support
of the army.

The Government have put paper into the hands of people and ought
to receive it from them again in taxes, though not at a depreciated value.
To prevent this the taxes ought to be laid in specie made payable in wheat
at a certain value in proportion to the distance from the market or the
value in paper to be ascertained by Council weekly, and, to prevent fraud
in collectors etc., they ought to give printed receipts to the people and de-
liver in to the Commissioners of the Tax an account of all monies by them
received and the time when, which would enable the Commissioners often
to detect the CoUectors, and the same method would be of use in collecting
Militia Fines and prevent numerous abuses which have happened. Collec-
tors of taxes and Militia monies ought to be punishable by fine or imprison-
ment, or both, for extorting more money from the people than the law re-
quires, which there is every reason to believe is practised, especially among
the Germans. When I wrote in favor of the Tender Law as it is called,
I meant such a one as would in some degree have been adequate to the
purpose, which the present ^s not. It is too tedious in its operation to be
of any use. At present the best calculated would not answer any good
purpose, therefore it ought to be repealed, for it is big with a number of
evils, the money being so much depreciated. The fees of the Commissioners
of the taxes. Collectors, Township assessors. Appraisers etc., should be set
by the Assembly in specie value for they are all again disarranged by the
depreciation. If the Tender Act is repealed Government may then receive
the monies out standing for unpatented lands at specie value which they

(32)

ought, and it will not be necessary to leave these monies as a fund for the
500,000 pounds for that will depreciate to very little before it can be col-
lected in taxes. But I have perhaps said more than enough.

I have the honor to be,

I have the honor to be,

Sir, your real fiiend and very humble servant, Wm. Henry.

(Mombert 290)

The foregoing letter is the most comprehensive explanation of Revenue
conditions in Lancaster County at that period that has come to my atten-
tion. Mr. Heniy's suggestion that Government taxes may also be paid in
wheat, was carried out to some extent as certificates were given to certain
people for wheat delivered for that purpose.

Congress in the Act of Dec. 16, 1782 says that by the Confederation,
it has absolute discretion in determining the quantum of Revenue requisite
for the national expenditure. No state can dispute the obligation to pay
the sum demanded without a breach of the Confederation, and when the
money comes into the Treasury, the appropriation is the exclusive province
of the Federal Government. It was the intention of Congress to levy duties
in the U. S. for a period of 25 years on imports. There was great variance
in the laws of the various states as compared with the system planned by
Congress. Five points were cited in which the Penna. laws on Revenue
matters during these years differed with that planned by Congress, yet the
Resolutions of Congress were not to take effect until every one of the thir-
teen States had enacted laws conformably to these Resolutions. (See In-
dependent Gazette Apr. 18, 1783.)

That the Continental taxes or Revenues of Lancaster County were felt
to b6 heavy, in addition to what I have already referred to in this respect,
is shown by the lengthy petition and remonstrance of the Freeholders and
other inhabitants of Lancaster County, addresed to the public protesting
the proposed division of Lancaster County and setting forth among other
things — that the present state of the country at large, when the public de-
mands occasions the levying of heavy taxes, it would be grevious to many
that new assessments should be laid. This petition appeared Jan. 24th,
1784. (Supplement to Ind. Gazette Jan. 24, 1784.)

During the years 1782 to 1784 J. Swanwick of Phila. was Receiver ot
Continental Taxes for Penna. On Apr. 1, 1784 he filed a statement of
Penna. 's quota of Continental Taxes amounting to and received as follows —
Received in March 1784 for 1782 $14,962.00

" 1784 " 1783 5,720.00

June 1784 " 1782 6,012.00

Tuly 1784 " 1782 2,733.00

While I have been unable to determine what part of these receipts were
from Lancaster Co. the figures and facts are nevertheless interesting. (Pa
Gazette.)

Resolutions of Congress dated Sept. 27, 1785 showed the necessity of
$3,000,000. being paid into the Common Treasury on or before May 1,
1786 and Penna. was called upon to pay a quota of $410,378.00. In order
for Penna. to meet its quota as required by Congress proportions were as-
signed to the various counties. The proportion for Lancaster County was
placed at 10,953 pounds 9 S. and 7 d. This included that section of Lan-
caster County which was erected as Dauphin Co. as the county of Dauphin
was not separated from Lancaster County until this year (1785) but not as
early in the year as the time this quota was laid. Lancaster County's quota
was to be liquidated and apportioned by the Commissioners of the county
in proportion to the assessments made in the year 1783 and was to be paid
yearly for so long a time as necessary for the purposes declared and the first
payment for 1785 was to be made by June 1st and the second payment by
Dec. 1st of that year. (Ind. Gazette Oct. 6, 1784 & Pa. Gazette March
29, 1785.)

Following the inauguration of Washington in 1789, on advice of Alex-
ander Hamilton, Sec. of the Treasury, Congress agreed to assume the debts

(33)

contracted by the States during the Revolution and to pay the National
debt in full, including the Continental money, which was very greatly de-
preciated. To provide funds taxes were levied on Imports and the distil-
lation of spirits, thereby putting the' credit of the U. S. on a firm basis.
(Barnes History.)

The Act under which this tax on whisky was levied was approved by
President Washington Mar. 3, 1791. Early editions of newspapers show
this bill was debated pro and con prior to passage but with its becoming
law, authority was given to collect an excise on spirits distilled within the
U. S. On each gallon more than 10 percent below proof according to Dicas*
hydrometer the amount of tax was 9c. This portion of the Act was to
become effective June 30, 1791 and was the first act levying an excise on
spirits produced in the U. S. under authority of the Federal Government.
In Dunlap's American Daily Advertiser of Sept. 2, 1791 appears a lengthy
notice for the attention of distillers within the counties of Delaware, Chester,
Lancaster, Dauphin, York, Cumberland, Franklin, Huntingdon and Miff-
lin, which counties comprised the 3rd Survey District of Pa. — of certain
information so that parties concerned may not be ignorant of penalties in
certain cases imposed by this Act of Congress. Sections of the Act are
inserted so that those interested may be aware as to their requirements.
In conclusion of the notice the Inspector states — In justice to the char-
acters who are the objects of this publication, the Inspector thinks it his
duty to declare, that of the many distillers he has conversed with, he has
not found one unwilling to comply with the law, although few, if any, ap-
pear to understand it, for this reason, he thus publicly assures them that
so long as they continue to evince the same laudable disposition, no pains
shall be spared either by himself of the officers who act under his directions
to enable them to carry on their business with the greatest possible con-
venience to themselves without prejudice to the revenues of the United
States.

(Signed) Edw. Hand, Inspector of Revenue
for 3rd Survey in the Dist. of Penna.

(Dunlaps Amer. Daily Adv.)

President Washington sent a communication to the House of Repre-
sentatives Oct., 1791, as to the arrangements of Survey Districts of the
various states. Penna. was divided into four surveys. Lancaster with Dela-
ware, Chester, York, Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Mifflin and Hunt-
ingdon counties constituted Survey No. 3. Edw. Hand was appointed In-
spector; allowance being a salary of $450.00 and a commission of 1 percent,
commission bein^ computed upon net product of the duties on spirits dis-
tilled within junsdiction of the officer to whom it is allowed. Officers ap-
pointed under the 18th Section of the Act of Mar. 3, 1791, were denomin-
ated Collectors of .the Revenue. This communication and arrangement of
the President was published by Alex. Hamilton, Sec. of the Treas. Oct. 31,
1791.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the distillers of Lancaster coun-
ty were willing to comply with the Whisky tax. In Mr. Hand's notice he
refers to the fact that he has not found one unwilling to comply with the
law. This is quite a comparison with the attitude of the distillers of the
western part of the State of Pa., some references to which trouble, so far
as Lancaster County is concerned, are given later.

One signing himself "Sydney" wrote a series of articles which appear
in the American Daily Advertiser in Apr. 1792, opposing the Whisky tax
and finding fault with the Secretary of the Treasury in his statement in
vindication of the Excise Law, stating conditions in various parts of Penn-
sylvania. Quoting from these articles I find the following of interest to
Lancaster — "In old counties contiguous to the Susquehanna, storekeepers
generally purchased whisky from Is lOd to 2s 4d per gal., delivered by the
owner at the store and not paid till the money could be made of it, and,
even then part payable in goods. Some distillers claiming that in some
parts of Pennsylvania they did not annually receive as much per gallon on

(34)

the quantity distilled as the 9c. per gallon tax thereon.' These later condi-
tions existed mostly in western Pennsylvania. Lancaster county however,
being one of the counties 'contiguous' to the Susquehanna was one in which
the first named conditions and prices prevailed. The writer of these articles
traveled from Philadelphia to Pittsburg and reported conditions of the
trouble brought about by the imposition of the excise tax, as he found them
2Aong the route.

Great opposition arose especially in Western Penna., to the tax on whisky
resulting in an insurrection. The following is taken from the diary of one
citizen William Michael of Lancaster who volunteered to help quell the
insurrection which rose after the revenue tax had been placed on whisky
and I have made as a part of this paper, his diary entries, jotted down
until the company left the borders of Lancaster County. ,

"In 1794 an insurrection broke out in the western counties of the state
an open resistance against the excise laws. Gen. Washington called on the
eastern counties for to furnish a certain quota of militia. The spirit of
volunteering became prevalent in Lancaster, a great spirit existed and a
great number volunteered for the defense of the laws. I joined them and
on the first of Oct. 1794 marched to the westward." In another entry
appears the following — "In accordance with the call of the President for
volunteers, numbers of the most respectable characters turned out volun-
tarily, to the number of 44 from this town, to defend the Republican Con-
stitution. After being handsomely equipped and in uniform on Oct. 1,
1794 our company marched from this town (Lancaster) on our way to the
westward. It was a truly melancholy time in town upon the occasion as
at that time we expected to have a dangerous enemy to contend with. We
left Lancaster about 9 o'clock in the morning, the air cold, and traveled to
a small town called May town about 15 miles. In the evening it began to
rain but by morning it cleared up again. This was the first time I lay
upon the floor, wrapped in my blanket, however I slept well and was very
hearty iii the mormng. Oct. 2 — ^left Maytown and proceeded to Falmouth
and from thence to Middletown." It might be interrsting to make men-
tion of the fact that this company met President Washington at Harris-
burg and he accompanied the troops as far as Carlisle at which place all the
troops congregated there marched in review before the President. I have
not been able to ascertain who the other volunteers were that made up the
Lancaster company of 44 men but another Lancastrian who served in the
Whisky Insurrection was Gen. H. Miller. He served in the capacity of
Quarter-master. Later he was a supervisor of Revenue for Penna. of which
I shall make mention later. (Rupp 298).

President Washington's proclamation above referred to was issued Aug.
7, 1794, citing conditions existing in Western Penna. and calling out the
militia. Gov. Mifflin of Penna. issued a proclamation the same day, citing
certain breaches committed in Western Penna. and declaring that whatever
requisitions the President of the U. S. shall make, or what duty he shall
impose for executing the laws of the U. S. will on his part, be promptly
undertaken and faithfully discharged. Pres. Washing^ton accordingly requisi-
tioned 5,200 non-commissioned officers and privates, and due proportion of
commissioned officers, from Penna. The quota of Lancaster County was
568 men, 60 of which were cavalry and 30 artillerymen. (Dunlop & Craw-
ford Weekly Adv. Aug. 11 & Sept. 2, 1794.) Lancaster County's qhuot
exceeded the quota of every county in Penna. even Philadelphia. This
constituted the First Brigade of the Fourth Division. Later consolidation
was made and the Lancaster troops were assigned to the Third Brigade
under Brigg. Gen. James Chambers — Maj. Gen. Wm. Irvine commanding.
The Phila. and Chester county troops enroute to the westward camped at
Lancaster and on Sept. 27, 1794 Josiah Harmer, Adj. Gen. issued General
Orders and praised the Lancaster Militia for the spirit and alacrity with
which they prepare to engage in a service so honorable and so interesting
o every Freeman. (Do Oct. 2, 1794.) On Sept. 26, 1794 Gov. Miflflin
d dressed the Militia and citizens of Lancaster County at Lancaster, in

(35)

a masterful manner, on the Revenue Act imposing a tax on whisky and the
conditions in -Western Penna. and impressed them with the necessity of
obeying the laws even if irksome to some. On Sunday morning Sept. 28th
1794 Gov. Mifflin, Gen. James Ross, and Mr. Dallas, the Governor's secre-
tary, left for York, Harrisburg and Carlisle. (Do. Sept. 27, 1794.) The
Lancaster troops were under the command of Gen. Hand and left Sept.
29th. On Oct. 1st 1794 a company of volunteer infantry under command
of Capt. Mother followed, elegantly equipped and in high spirits. This was
the company, one of whose diary I quoted in preceeding paragraphs. The
Lancaster borough and county quota was filled. At the request of Pres.
Washing^ton Judge Yeates of Lancaster proceeded to Carlisle to make an
investigation into two homicides, lately happened. One case of these seemed
to be accidental but the other appeared just liable, bein^ occasioned in a
struggle between the deceased and one of the Jersey Militiamen, who was
opposed by him in the regular exercise of his duties. Judge Yeates thought
proper to bind them for appearance in court where their cases would be
regularly tried and discharged. (Do. Oct. 24, 1794.) Judge Yeates re-
turned to Lancaster Oct. 13, 1794 from this trip. He makes no further
reference to these cases but the "justifiable case" is evidently the one the
account of which I found in a letter written by a member of the Jersey
Militia, which on account of its happening in Myerstown, then a part of
Lancaster County I quote in full. I could not determine to whom the
letter was addressed however.

Carlisle Oct. 4, 1794.

We arrived at this place after a fatiguing march of 18 miles and gen-
erally speaking I cannot but say we have experienced a friendly disposition
from the inhabitants of most of the towns on our march, though some
places which we passed through appeared to be more hostile to the present
expidition than others. One man at a little Dutch village called Myer's
Town, between Lebanon and Reading behaved so imprudently in a tavern
where some of our officers had stopped, as to huzzas for the Whisky Boys,
and utter other indecent and seditious expressions. Our officers desired
him to go about his business, but he still persisted, till he was ordered to
be .taken under guard. He swore that he would not leave the room till he
had drunk his liquors. The guard insisted, and one of them seized him and
attempted to bring him forward but the fellow instantly caught hold of the
soldier's bayonet and used every effort to wrest it from Wm. A contest
ensued in which one soldier stabbed him in such a manner that he expired
in the course of half an hour. This circumstance as you may suppose soon
created the greatest consternation in the town. A villian immediately dis-
patched a message into the country, with what view we did not know,
but, apprehending that his intention was to give information to others of
the same sentiment, and that an attack might possibl^r ensue the Colonel
determined to secure him, and for that purpose had mm immediately put
under guard and we marched him on with us. A flanking party of 16 men
was forthwith ordered out and we being without ammunition, were directed
to be prepared for an instantaneous charge in case of an attack. The in-
habitants were extremely anxious that the soldier should be delivered up
to the civil authority and even sent on constables to Harrisburg for that
purpose but I believe under the circumstances of the case, our regiment
would have died to a man rather than that should have taken place. (Do
Oct. 17, 1794.)

The above letter notwithstanding the fact that the writer and addressee
of the letter have not been found, is highly interest' ng to Lancaster, wh ch
with other references shows what excitement occurred in Lancaster county
through the Revenue tax being placed on whisky and the quelling of the
trouble which broke out therefrom. All of the Eastern troops passed through
Lancaster county on their march to the westward either going through the
borough of Lancaster or through Lebanon which then was a part of Lan-
caster county.

After these tribulations were over the financial business of the Govern-

f<
tt

it

(36)

ment became more settled and other Acts were passed by Congress for
raising revenue one of which was in 1794. John Ewing was appointed Col-
lector 01 the Revenue for Lancaster County. He published notice to the
public July 29, 1795 — that attendance will be given during the whole of
the month of Sept. next, at the office of inspection in Lancaster, for the
purpose of receiving entries on carriages and of the payment of duties im
posed by the Act, being duties on carriages used for conveying persons an
tea rates were as follows, annually —

Every coach $10. J

" chariot 8.

phaeton and coachee 6.

other four wheel and every 2-

wheel top carriage 2.

other two wheel carriage 1.

(Lane. Journal July 29, 1795.)

On Sept. 9, 1795 Collector Ewing advised citizens of Lancaster County
of the Act concerning duties on spirits distilled within the U. S., notifying
retailers of wines etc. to secure licenses, and advising that spirits distilled
in stills not previously entered at some office of Inspection was subject to
seizure together with the stills. Colonel Ewing on Sept. 16, 1795 called
attention to the Act of June 9, 1794 levying a duty on property sold at
auction and called the attention of the auctioneers of the county in par-
ticular, to its requirements. The rate of this revenue or duty being one-
fourth dollar per $100.00 sale price of lands etc. and one-half dollar per
SI 00. 00 on sale price of goods, chattels etc. (Do)

In the issue of the Lancaster Journal of Oct. 21, 1796 appears the fol-
lowing — The subscriber being appointed Collector of the Revenue for the
2nd Div. of the 3rd survey in the District of Penna. which comprehends
the county of Lancaster thinks it necessary in this public manner to inform
the possessors of stills in said county thereof, and to call on such of them
as have not already entered their stills for the current year agreeably to
law, to come forward immediately for that purpose — also notifying persons
owning carriages, and, retailers of wine and foreign spirits to comply with
the law — at his office in S. Queen St., Lancaster — Jacob Graeff Collector.
It will be recalled that at this time Lancaster county comprised in addition
to its present area the greater part of present Lebanon county. Mr. Graeflf
was a Revolutionary soldier and the account of his services and death ap-
pears in this paper some few years after this year — 1796.

In the issue of Mar. 24, 1798 appears the account of the amount of
revenue arising in each district after deducting the expenses of collection,
arising from the following sources —

Stills

Domestic distilled spirits

Sales at Auction

Snuff mills and machinery

Snuff

Domestic refined sugar

Carriages and licenses
for the entire U. S. for the years 1795 and 1796. The amount collected by
Pennsylvania being $105,208.88, being exceeded only by the State of Massa-
chusetts.

Under date of June 11, 1800 a "notice was served upon all concerned
living within the First Dist. of Lancaster Co.,'* through the press, "who
had not called at the office of the subscriber in King St., opposite the Market
House in the borough of Lancaster, to make returns of the following prop
erty. (Lane. Intel. & Weekly Adv.)

All new houses returned by the Assessors unfinished from Oct. 1, 1798
and since completed and occupied —

All dwlg. houses built since that period and occupied

All lands, lots and houses disposed of since Oct. 1, 1798—-

All slaves that have been disposed of and to whom —

(37)

The public were also notified that in the future with respect to the
Direct Tax, assessments are not required. Congress opened offices in all
the counties within the state at which the sale of property is to be entered
so the sellers may be credited and the purchasers charged.

As the fair is near at hand such as are concerned and come to town
will please call at my office.

Paul Zantzinger, Surveyor of Revenue for Direct Tax

This District consisted of all of Lancaster county north and west of the
city as the notice following explains what townships of the county are in-
cluded with the Second Dist. of the county. Paul Zantzinger was promin-
ent in the life of Lancaster during the years 1781 to 1783 and some corre-
pondence is on record, with him, concerning conditions of the times of those
years. (Mombert & also Harris.)

Under date of Aug. 13, 1800 David Montgomery Jr., Collector of the
17th Collection District of Pennsylvania, consisting of the Townships of
Strasburg, Martic, Bart, Colerain, Drumore, Little Britain, Earl, Salisbury,
Caernarvon, Brecknock, Cocalico, Leacock and Sadsbury, Lancaster county
notified the residents of these townships as to the houses, and dates he will
be in these townships to receive tax assessed on dwellings, lands and slaves,
as listed by the Surveyor. Patterson Bell was surveyor of the Revenue for
this District, the 2nd Dist. of Lancaster county, and he advised the public
under date of Aug. 13, 1800, to make entries of dwellings, lands and slaves
at his office in Colerain Twp. This Mr. Bell settled a number of decedent's
estates and did other business during these years. He was a prominent man
in his community. I have recently been advised there is a road known as
Bell's road in Colerain Twp. and it evidently was named because of his
residence on the same. (Lancaster Journal.)

John Bausman was appointed Collector for the 2nd Div., 3rd Survey
of Pennsylvania (Lancaster County) in 1802 and advised the public to this
effect. He succeeded Jacob Graeff, Es5. His office was on N. Queen St.,
and he requested the distillers who had not yet entered their stills to do
BO and urged auctioneers, etc., to secure theis licenses speedily. (Lane.
Journal.)

In July, IpOl President Jefferson appointed Peter Muhlenberg Super-
visor of Revenue for the District of Penna., including of course, Lancaster
County. I make mention of this fact on account of the prominence some
of the Muhlenberg family in the life of Lancaster; and because of criticism
aroused by the appointment. An account appeared in one of the eastern
papers (Eastern Federal Prints, Boston?) as follows — We understand that
Gen. Henry Miller has been removed from the office of Supervisor of Rev-
enue of the District of Pennsylvania and one Muhlenberg, a Dutchman,
apuointed in his place." This was answered by the editor of the Aurora as
follows — "The blunders of the Boston Tory papers, are eternally plunging
them and their friends into difficulties and confusion. The attack upon Gen.
Muhlenberg and the objection to him as a Dutchman, while it is true, is in
the spirit of Gen. Hamilton's hatred, of Pennsylvania, which contains so
many frank Dutchman. But how much more must this objection appear
when it is known that Henry Miller himself is a Dutchman. It was his
knowledge of the Dutch language which enabled him to spread delusion in
York Co.'* As reply to this an article appeared over the title "A Dutch-
man" referring to the deplorable circumstances of the Federalists and it
cites Alex. Hamilton's statement that the state of Penna. chiefiy peopled
by Germans, is the most ignorant state in the union. The Boston papers
further criticised the removal of Miller and the appointment of Muhlenberg
by alleging that he is unfit for office because forsooth, he is a Dutchman.
Numerous papers published the fact that Muhlenberg has the Germans in
his favor, a numerous body, but ignorant, unsuspecting and credulous to a
proverb. This however smoothed over as Pres. Jefferson re-appointed Mr.
Muhlenberg in Aug. 1802. (Lane. Journal Sept. 30, 1801.)

Some differences arose, concerning the collections for the various years
which is shown by the notice Jacob Graeff made public, as follows* "After

(38)

consulting friends in particular Gen. Miller, late Supervisor of the 2nd Div.
3rd Survey Dist. of Pennsylvania, I agreed with Gen. Peter Muhlenberg,
that I should collect all the outstanding duties to Jan. 1, 1802. I did col-
lect till July 1802 and paid over to him $12,991.01 and afterwards paid to
Tench Coxe, his successor in office, the sum of $2,760.00, being charged with
outstanding duties prior to Dec. 31, 1801. I am determined strictly to
adhere to the contract with Muhlenberg. Those in arrears are requested
to pay at once." (Lane. Journal July 13, 1803.)

Tench Coxe, Supervisor of U. S. for Dist. of Penna. notified the public
of Lancaster County that arrearages are to be paid to John Bausman and
to him only, as he was commissioned Jan. 1802 as sole Collector in and for
said county by Mr. Muhlenberg and remains in office. Also, that citizens
were informed that Mr. Graeff, late Collector has been rec[uired to discon-
tinue all collections because, not being in office, cannot give valid receipt
and discharge for any money due. To this Mr. Graeff later made an ex-
planation to the public in defense of his position and attitude. (Lane.
Journal July 7 & Aug. 20, 1803.)

The matter of Int rnal R venues or taxes must have been considered
pretty onerous at this time and numerous citizens were hoping and looking
for their repeal. (Do Sept. 9, 1806.) A Lancastrian who kept a keen eye
for such proceedings was informed that Senator Ross of Penna. voted for
the repeal of the Direct tax law. It was found however, by referring to the
Journal of the Senate that Mr. Ross cast his vote in the negative Mar. 31.
1802. This party made reference to the taxes in effect at this time being
as follows —

Sales at Auction Loaf Sugar

Stamps Licenses to Retailers

Stills and whisky Carriages

The most obnoxious of these being considered that on stamps as the
experiences of 1776 were still fresh on the memory of many persons. Another
opinion expressed In a rather vitriolic manner appeared in the Lancaster
Journal of Feb. 15th, 1812, on Gallatin's suggestions to increase the internal
taxes. Albert Gallatin's plan was brought about and advanced following
President Madison's address to Congress on the threatened war with Great
Britain, calling attention to the fact that the imports had fallen off and
that funds had to be provided from other sources.

A public meeting was held in Lancaster opposing war and its resultant
increased taxation and a petition to this end was drawn up, signed by be-
tween 800 and 1,000 citizens. This petition was presented t Congress by
Mr. Milnor. Reference was made to the fact that in Georgia estates of
500 persons were advertised for sale through failure to pay their proportions
of the old Direct Tax of the U. S. and yet the representatives from the
state which is 9 years behind in paying the U. S. taxes, voted for war!
(Lane. Journal July 24, 1812.)

Facing an outbreak of the second war with Great Britain and concur-
rent expenses which had to be met by Internal Revenues, as the duties on
imports had fallen off, I will close my first paper on this subject.

Minutes of Meeting, 4 February, 1921 •

The Lancaster County Historical Society held its stated monthly meeting
in the auditorium of the A. Herr Smith Memorial Building this evening a
the regular hour, Mr. H. Frank Eshleman, Vice-President, presiding.

The minutes of the January meeting were read and approved.

Mr. A. K. Hostetter, Treasurer, presented the financial report.

The Librarian, Mr. Harry Stehman, Jr., reported the following gifts and
exchanges :

Report of the Pennsylvnia Department of mines; Vetoes By the Govern-
or of Pennsylvania, of Bills Passed by the Legislature During te Session of
1919; Wyoming Historial Socity Proceedings of 1919; Annals of Iowa, Oc-
tober, 1920; Washington University State Historical Society Quarterly; Wes-
tern Pennsylvania Historical Magazine.

These Reports received favorable action and the Secretary was in-
structed to incoirporate them in the minutes.
New applicants for membership include:

Mr. H. S. Witmer, Goodville, Lncaster County; Mr. Harry Baughey, Neffs-
ville; Mr. Isaac S. Fuld, Mrs. Isaac S. Fuld, 426 Chestnut Street, Columbia,
Pa.; Mr. Clayton H. Hertzler, 222 Clay St., City.

According to the Society's by-lws, these applications were laid over for
final action, until the next regular meeting. Miss Agnes Shand and Miss
Katharine Sharp were elected to active membership.

The executive committee held short meeting to consider the subject of
a home for the society and also to discuss an indoor social to be held soon.

Mr. H. Frank Eshleman gave an interesting report of the meeting of
the Federation of Societies at Harrisburg on 20 January, of which Associa-
tion Hon. Charles I. Landis, President of our local Society, was elected, First
Vice-President.

At the close of the business session the paper for the evening was an-
nounced, entitled "Provincial, Constitutional and Federal Revenues of Lan-
caster County" prepared and read by Mr. C. H. Martin.

This was one of the most valuable papers the Society has had presented
before it. A vote of thanks was extended the wrter, who promised a apaper
which should be a continuaton of the subject up to date, in the near future.

On motion the Society adjourned, the Executive Committee remain-
ing for an extended business meeting.

Adaline B. Spindler, Secretary.

(39)

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, MARCH, 4, 19;J1

•«

l^iHlarg lnttBflf, aa Bttn in t|rr ottin miirkBt|0{t/'

ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST FROM THE PENNSYL-
VANIA GAZETTE FROM 1771 TO 1775 INCLUSIVE.

By H. Frank Eshleman

A CHINESE SOLDIER IN THE CIVIL WAR.

By William Frederic Worner

MINUTES OF THE MARCH MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 3.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1921

,0V.'.

Items of Local Interest From the Pennsylvania Gazette From

1771 to 1775 Inclusive.

(By H. frank ESHLEMAN)

In our pamphlet of January 1920 may be found the last installment
of these "items" copied from the Gazette bringing the series down to 1770.

1771

Lancaster, Pa., Dec. 24, 1770.
Yesterday we had the pleasure of hearing for the first time the new
organ in the High Dutch Reformed church of this place, accompanied with
a variety of vocal music composed for the occasion, which I may venture
to say, not only proved my own experience; but the approbation of all
present was never equalled in any place of worship in the province, or
perhaps on the Continent. The organ was made by David Tanneberg
of Lititz, a Moravian town not far from this place, and I dare venture to
assert, is much superior in workmanship and sweetness of sound to any made
by the late celebrated Mr. Feyering, who was so generally taken notice
of for his ingenuity. It does great honor to the maker, and is worth the
attention and notice of the curios who may happen to pass this way.
It will undoubtedly recommend him to all who are desirous of having work
of that nature. Issue of Jan. 10, 1771. (Not signed)

•

A committee of grievance was appointed by the assembly of the Prov-
ince among whom were John Jacobs and Thomas Minshali, of our county.

Issue Jan. 24, 1771.

Fred Stone, the sheriff of Lancaster county advertised the Gillespie
property, where Robert Fulton's father formerly lived, for sale.

(Issue April 4, 1771)

The rotation of the circuit courts of Pennsylvania, is set out in the
issue of May 16 as follows: Reading, beginning May 17. Lancaster begin-
ning June 17 and Newtown (Bucks County) beginning the 24th.

The following interesting Lancaster item en the efficiency of hand
manufacture in this town is given.

"Lancaster, Pa., May 12, 1771

A gold medal to be given to the person who produces the best piece
of woven cloth sufficient for a suit of clothes of wool raised and spun in
Lancaster county — the cloth to be left with Henry Small in Lancaster
before the 25th of March next when the judges will attend and the medal
be given away. It is hoped that it will be agreeable to the public to
know that in consequence of last year's medal, a number of valuable pieces
of cloth were produced and it must give every lover of this country sincere
pleasure to see how attentive persons of every denomination are not only
to the woolen, but to other manufacturers that we stand most in need of
from foreign countries, and by the yearly increase of the quantities in this
country — and the advantages every family finds in manufacturing. There
is sufficient reason to conclude we shall persist in them until we arrive
at much of real perfection, especially as it is an understood fact that we
can and do increase our sheep and that our method of manufacturing
does not interfere with agriculture. The last medal contained an ounce of
gold neatly finished. On one side the bust of the Pennsylvania farmer
with this motto, "Take away the wicked from before the King and his
throne shall be established in righteousness." The reverse, a woman spin-
ning on a big wheel the motto, "Frugality and industry make mankind
rich, free and happy." Issue of May 30, 1771

(41)

(42)

Evidently home industry has been an ideal of our country from the
day of its infancy. The following item further illustrates this:

"Eight hundred weight of cocoons of good Quality have been brought
for sale to the public filature in this city (Philadelphia) and are now reel-
ing off by skillfiQ persons the silk produced from them, it being of great
beauty." (Issue July 4, 1771).

Emanuel Carpenter in an item in the Gazette informs the people of
Lancaster county that on account of his age and the cold weather in winter,
making it too hard for him to travel to Philadelphia he cannot longer
serve them in assembly and he respectfully asks them not to nominate
and elect him to the office any longer.

(Issue of Sept. 12, 1771).

Liberty was ever a dear subject in early days. The Gazette in its
issue of Sept. 26, 1771 notices an article in the Pennsylvania Chronicle No.
245 signed "A Friend of Liberty," which contained a reflection on Jos.
Galloway, speaker of assembly and that the writer was lodged in jail by
the assembly for the same. An article of like important dated German-
town, was also censured.

John Ashbridge of Lancaster county sets forth in an article in the
issue of October 3, why he is entitled to one of the prizes for producing
good silk.

The Lancaster county election returns appears in the issue of October 17.

The noted hotel "Crown and Boat" on Queen street in Lancaster is to
be sold and so it is announced by Henry Helm, apparently the owner. It is
stated as being a few doors "below" the Court House. (Issue of Nov. 21, 1771)

The Hopewell Forge in Lancaster County advertises for a clerk who
can be recommended as a bookkeepper in the Italian method and one of
experience. The call is made by Peter Grubb of Hopewell Forge. (Issue
of Dec. 26, 1771).

1772

Henfy Funk of Manor township, sent his wagon with flour to Newport
and gave the wagoner an order to bring 50 pounds of the price in cash back
with him, a neighbor Jacob Genter also gave him an order to bring a
hundred pounds cash from a Philadelphia banking house for him. He receiv-
ed the cash but bought a horse at Newport, left the wagon at Newport and
absconded. Ke was a 30 year old Dutch servant named Philip Jacobs. (Issue
Jan. 2, 1772.)

Michael Eertges advertises that he will sell his tan yard in the borough
of Lancaster. It is on the west side of Queen street adjoining the tan yard
of Henry Zanck. It is improved by a mill, bark houses etc. — (Same Issue.)

The poverty and hardship of poor German immigrants is shown in the
following article in the issue of January 23.

"Philadelphia, Jan. 20. 1772.
"There still remain several German families on board the ship Tyger
Geo. Johnson. Master, lying in the Bird in Hand wharf whose freight are to
le paid to Willing and Morris. These families are willing to serve a reason-
able time for their freight money and credit will be given to those that want
it on giving bonds bearing interest.

An item in the issue of Jan. 30 states that Adam Hubey, the merchant
married Polly Evans of PhiUdelphia on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1772.

In the issue of February 20. there is an article entitled "Observations
Upon the Improvement of Public Roads" occasioned by a petition for a turn
pike from Philadelphia to Wnghtstown on the Susquehanna, signed "Cleri-

t-'US.

(43)

He says among other things "a petition has been promoted in Lancaster
county setting forth the grievances arising from bad roads. Turnpikes are
rovel things in this country. There are many who think that the Chinese
Wall or the pyramids of Egypt were not more arduous than a turnpike to
Wrights Ferry would be. To disprove this we lay before the public the re-
marks of Mr. Homer, a commissioner of turnpike roads in England and the
lemarks of a few sensible neighbors. (Then follow two columns of dis-
cussion, etc.)

In the issue of March 5 various statistics of the proposed road project
are given. The length to Wrights Ferry is 76 miles and the Great Roman
Road is 350 miles long, 28 rnJles through swamps and the whole built of
equare free stone so well laid as to be good after 1800 years.

The cost ot the Pike will be less than 50,000 pounds. The country is so
well stored with materials that none need be hauled over half a mile. The
materials will cost only 322 pounds currency per mile; the labor, 2 shillings
and 3 pence a yard or 98 pounds a mile, a total of 520 pounds a mile or a
total of 36,440 pounds. Tlie road from Pequea to the Ship and through
Radnor will not need gravelling. Only 30 miles is low srround and if gravel
is scarce, wood may be had in the swamps and will last for a^es.

The products of three of the western counties of Pennsylvania are already
oi more value than those of all the other counties put together. Nine thousand
bushels of wheat have been brought down to Philadelphia this fall from the
settlements of Juniata above Harris Ferry. The "new purchase" is crowd-
ing with inhabitants.

Cet inland navigation be opened between Susquehanna and Schuylkill by
means of Swatara and Tulpchocken, which has lately been surveyed. Let a
road be made from Poach Bottom to Christiana creek. Let the Conestoga
Road oe repaired to the exteiA of at least 5,000 pounds and let a sum be used
in oj^ening and clearing the new road leading through Strasburg. Two roads
will divide travel and make the taxern keepers on both emulate each other
to the benefit of the public." "Clericus."

Dr. Jos. Warren will give an oration on the dangers of standing armies
in commemoration of the Boston Massacre. (Issue March 12, 1772. He
was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill.)

Five hundred dollars reward for the arrest of Isaac Jacobs and Emman-
uel Lyons, peivllers who left Philadelphia largely indebted to merchants there
and took wagon loads of their goods with them to Lancaster to defeat credi-
tors. (Issue July 29, 1772. 'i

Joseph Swift advertises the Gillespie place where Robert Fultoi lived,
for sale. (Same issue.)

Emanuel Carpenter again requests in the paper as he did last year that
ihe people do not re -elect him to assembly and hopes that they choose some
cne else. (Issue Sept. 9, 1772.)

In the issue of Sept. 30, 1772 appears this interesting advertisement:

"Lancaster, Sept. 17, 1772.

Francis Bailey has just published and sells at his printing office in King
street the Lancaster Almanac for 1773 containing besides the commoti astro-
nomical calculxtions, 'The Atheis'ts* Mistake,* 'Ode on the Morning.' 'On Wo-
roan and Wine,* 'The Looking Glass which Flatters Not,* 'An Effective Meth-
od of Destroying Wild Garlic* 'Mel hod of Preventing Flies from Damaging
Turnips, Cabbage etc., 'Apothegenus,' 'Prudential Maxims,* 'Tide Taniea,* in-
terest at 6 per cent and 7 per cent, courts, roads, meetings, fairs, etc.

Our future first congressman's father is given notice in the issu^ of Oc-
tober 14th when it is stated that "Mr. Thomas Kittera of Lancaster was pleas-
ed to present his premiums, the first to be given to a boy who should show
the best acquaintance with Latin Grammar and the second to the best stu-
dent in English grammar.

(44)

The compUmentarj' address by the corporation of Lancaster to Emanuel
Carpenter foi his faithful service in Assembly is published In the issud of Oct.
14, 1772. Tho text of this addreps appears in full in ihe paper on the career
of Carpenter in the Pennsylvar.i*v Assembly, read at the Emanuel Carpenter
memorial exercises of the sooic^ty ir June last.

Carpenter replied as foilows:
"To the Burso«ses etc. of Lancaster:

The approbation ynu expiess of my conduct both as a representative und
magristrate for this county grivcs ni« great satisfaction. I hope to continue to
deserve your i?ood opinion by endeavoring to discharge any trust reposed in
me with Impartiality and fidelity.

Emanu*3l Carpenter."

In the same issue appears a complimentary address to Georsre Ross as

follows:

"To George Ross Esq., lato one of the representatives in assembly for

Lancaster County — Sir:

At a meeting of the Buiges&es, assistants etc. of the borough of Lanoas-
tf-r, at the request of many of the reputable inhabitants of this borough, it
was resolved Ihat the thanks of tliis corporation should be tendered to you
for your services as one of the lepresentatives of this county in the General
Assembly of this Province, particularly for your late spirited behavior in op-
position to the unreasonable demands and artful attempts of the repr«5sen-
tatives of the city of PhiladolDliia for an additional number of members to
represent them in the House of AsEcmbly.

I am authorized to say that the inhabitants of this borough intended to
have shown their sense of your services and behavior by re-electing you but
as by the unexpected action of a part of the county whose deputies had
agreed with them is fixing in the late ticket (and thereby rendered them-
selves less active in supporting you) that hath been prevented; they there-
fore take this method of testifying^ their approbation of your conduct as one
of their representatives in assembly, and I am directed Sir, in this oublic man-
ner to communicate it to you with their thanks.

By order of Burgesses and Assistants,

Casper Shaflfner, Jr.,
Lancaster, Oct. 3, 1772. Town Clerk.

To which l^r. JRoss aAswered:

"To the Burgesses and As<?isiants of the Borough of Lancaster:

Gentlemen: Acf'ept my thanks for your kind and public approbation
of my conduct while I had the honor of representing you in Assembly. Per-
mit me also, with great sinc«^L-ity to assure you that my actions while I had
that honor was altogether governed by what I conceived in conscience would
tend to incre'ise the advantages and happiness of the Province — the trade
whereof I have always had in view and endeavored to promote. The snme
principles and motives induced me to oppose the unreasonable request mado
for additional members of representatives for the city of Philadelphia; as I
conceive a just balance in ?• presentation necessary for preserving the liber-
ties of the whole government, und that the city of Philadelphia is now fully
lepresented in Assembly.

I shall at all times when ii is in my power render every acceptable ser-
vice to the borough and county of Lancaster and shall always retain a proper
sense of this kind address being sincerely yours and my country's friend.

Oct. 3. 1772

Nelson's Perry later known as White's Ferry, now McCall's Ferry is ad-
vertised for sale in the same issue, together with boat landings on both sides
of the River. There r.ie on the West side a large square log dwelling house
two stories high, a store house and orchard and 20 acres of ground. On the
east side is a store hor.se and 20 acres of land. Sale to be held at the Ferry
house.

(46)

Sale of part of the Hat Tavern, late estate of Andrew Caldwell by order
cf Orphan's Court of Lancaster County in Leacock township being 130 acres,
part of 285 acres is advertised In the issue of December 16, 1772.

1773

A quarterly meeting of the members of the Juliana Library is called to
examine the affairs, books and effects of the company. It is also stated that
applications of memberships are numerous and those who are in arrear are
warned that if dropped they cannot be reinstated as the applications for ad-
mission keep the membership up to the full number allowed and provided
for. The item is signed by William Atlee, secretary — (Issue Jan. 6, 1773.)

An item mentions that a new fowling piece nearly six feet long with a
barrel four feet and two Inches long was stolen from a wagon containiniT a
load of hops hauled from the Susquehanna River to Philadelphia. It was a
gun made by John Newcomer the gun maker. Direction is given that it may
be returned to James Vandergrift of the Cross Keys Hotel, Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, Pa., or to Caleb Way of the Sign of theh Wagon Tavern, Phila-
delphia, or to Matthias Slough of the Sign of the Swan Tavern in Lancaster
or to James Wright of Hempfield near Susquehanna. (Issue of Jan. 6, 1773.)

The information that hops were grown on the Susquehanna and shipped
to Philadelphia by wagon loads, that guns of the description mentioned were
made by John Newcomer and the names and ownership of the taverns men-
tioned are facts of historical value in this item.

The interests in silk culture locally is shown by an item stating that
"the managers of the contributions for promotion of silk culture have de-
termined the premiums offered for the greatest number of cocoons and for
reeling the best silk for 1772 announce as follows:

Widow Stoner, Lancaster county, 72,800 cocoons, 15 pounds; James Mill-
house, Chester county, 41,820 cocoons, 10 pounds; William Hill, Philadelphia
county, 34,850 cocoons, 6 pounds; Phoebe Trimble, Chester county, 31,330 co-
coons, 3 pounds; Lewis Valeret, Philadelphia county, 25,000 cocoons, 3
pounds; Mary Parker, Chester county, 22,700 cocoons, 3 pounds; Catharine
Steiner, Lancaster county, 21,800, 3 pounds; May Bishop, Chester county,
21,479 cocoons, a silk reel; Lucia Huston, Bucks county, 20,000 cocoons, a
silk reel; James Wright, Lancaster county, 176,000 cocoons, a silk reel; Caleb
Harrison, Chester county, 16,500 cocoons, a silk. reel; Rebecca Park, Lancas-
ter county, the best sample of reeled silk, 3 pounds; Joseph Feree, Lancaster
county, second best sample, 2 pounds; Phoebe Corithwaite, Bucks county,
third best sample, 1 pound.

A list of the premiums with prices proposed for cocoons for 1773 will
soon be given." (Issue of March 17, 1773.)

Note: Lancaster county's standing in the general list is easily ascer-
tained from the above.

Information on the state of Baron Stiegel's operations and on the glass
industry is given in the following: "The proprietor of the American Flint
Glass Manufactory of Manheim, Lancaster county with the advice of many
^gentlemen of this (Phlla.) city has offered a scheme of lottery to the pa-
tronage of the public to enable him to carry on a manufactory of public ad-
vantage and to raise a sum of money for that and other beneficient purposes
in the scheme mentioned." (Issue of March 7, 1773.)

The proposed lottery was held as intended, for a list of prizes which is
given in the issue of Sept. 22. The Manheim glass was on sale in Philadel-
phia, as appears from an advertisement in the Gazette of March 24, inform-
ing the public that "an elegant assortment of Henry William Stiegel Flint
Glass it to be had at William Smith Beaker's.

The firm of Swan and Patrick of Lancaster announce their dissolution.
(Issue of March 31, 1773.)

(46)

trransporUttion was a live subject in early days as well as in our times.
A writer styling: himself "A Friend of Liberty" says: "There are many
anonymous hand bills of great complaints about the badness of Lancaster
road by reason of which we lose the Western trade. The inhabitants of Lan-
caster, York and Cumberland counties carry a great part of their produce to
the landingrs on Christiana creek. Elk River and Baltimore. Christiana, creek
has always been a safe way to transport the produce of the counties of Ches-
ter and Lancaster to the markets of Philadelphia, and always will be. This
route was early encouraged by some of the oldest and best merchants of the
Province. The people who are most alert in keeping c^ood roads to Christi-
ana landing deserve the hearty thanks of the public.

You will And that there is but one main road from the back counties to
Baltimore and thereby the inhabitants are able to keep it in good repair. The
new road ordered laid out by the governor and council from Lancaster to
Philadelphia will not be of great advantage. This new road is laid out in
sight of the old one and very erroneously by those who wish to improve their
estates to sell. It is laid out on the worst and swampiest ground all the way
to the Ship Tavern.

Our predecessors formerly Judged very right in laying out the public
roads to Lancaster. They looked for the highest and best ground and made
it central to the inhabitants whose interest it is to go to the landings and on
to Conestoga and Tulpehocken settlements. Let us repair the old road. It
will cost only one tenth as much as to make a new one.

(Issue of April 7. 1773)

Under the date of April 14» 1773, Lancaster county Red Clover seed of
"last year's growth'* is adverUsed to be sold by BenJ. Poultney at the Sign on
the Crown and Anvil in Market street above Fourth street and opposite the
Sign of the Conestoga Wagon. It will thus appear that Lancaster County had
a market for its clover seed among the lot owners and farmers in and about
Philadelphia. Why this should be so when several agricultural counties
were much closer to Philadelphia than Lancaster county, is hard to under-
stand, unless Lancaster county seeds and grains, the same as Susquehanna
hemp were a superior article raised with the Philadelphia trade in view.
The southern part of Lancaster county is especially adopted to production of
clover seeds and produces a crop of the same, year after year while, in the
northern section in the majority of seasons, it falls.

The death of Ann Ross, is noticed in the following eulogy: On Friday
28th ult. (May) died at Lancaster in the 40th year of her age, Ann Koss,
wife of George Ross, attorney at law, and one of the members of Assembly
for that county. She possessed the virtues that adorn human nature. (Then
follows a long narration of her good qualities). Her aged and infirm par-
ents survive her. Her remains were attended by the clergymen and the lar-
gest number of people ever known on such an occasion to St. James church
where a sermon was preached by Rev. Barton, on the text "Though I walk
Through the Valley" etc. Almost everyone wept over "one of the best wo-
men that could have died." (Issue June 9, 1773.)

Fred Hubley's business and location are announced aa follows: "Fred
Hubley, coppersmith in the borough of Lancaster makes all sorts of copper
and brass work in the neatest and best manner as his father, Bernard Hub-
ley's house next door to Christian Wertz in Queen street, Lancaster viz-
stills, brewers' heaters, mash and fruit kettles and bake pans which he is
determined to sell in Philadelphia, Lancaster or elsewhere."

(Issue of July 14, 1773.)

Dr. David Ramsey (one of the great figures in Revolutionary War Times
and the first great American historian, a native of Lancaster county in
whom we shall always be proud and will always claim as one of our son's
though he moved to South Carolina in early life and attained his chief fame

(47)

there) writes a humorous piece on the "Extravagrant Pretensions of Emyrics
to cure Disease." (Issue July 28, 1773.)

It would appear that vagrancy was a problem locally in early days. A
notice from the Lancaster County Jailor, George Eberly states that John Ed-
wards and Thomas Hutchison calling themselves silversmiths and Edwards
having a horse and a woman and a several weeks* old child with him; and
also Benj. Smith, Peter Grant and Elizabeth Grant and Margaret McDonald
are all held in said jail as suspicious persons and vagrants. All persons hav-
ing any claim on any of them shall give notice to any justice of the county.

(Issue of Sept. 1, 1773)

The influx of indigent Germans which began about 50 years before 1773
was still going on and many of them who reached Philadelphia joined their
kinsmen in Lancaster county. An advertisement (Issue of Sept. 22) an-
nounces that "German passengers are just arrived in the ship Britannia,
James Peters, master healthy chiefly young people whose frei^rht are to be
paid to Joshua Fisher and Sons, or to the master on board the ship lying off
the drawbridge. Persons interested in paying for any of the same are to
take notice of their presence. The passenger list of this ship may be found
page 508 of Volume 17 second series of Penna. Archives. It contains many
familiar local names.

The issue of Sept. 22, 1773 also contains an advertisement of Francis
Bailey's Almanac for 1774 at his printing place in King street, Lancaster
borough. It also contains instructions to make butter, how to fatten hogs,
etc.

The election returns of our county from the election of 1773 are an-
nounced in the issue of October 6. For sheriff were returned John Ferree
and George Hoofnagle; for coroner, Samuel Boyd and Paul Zantzinger; for
commissioner, Alexander Martin; for assessors, John Shearer, Val Brenisen,
Michael Withers, Everhart Michael, Thomas Clark and James Cunnini:ham;
for assembly, Jos. Forrie, James Webb, George Ross and Mathias Slough.

The lottery was of such universal use in early times, that it was ever re-
sorted to in order to create and build towns. An advertisement in the Ga-
zette (Dec. 22, 1773) informs us that the town of Port Royal was laid out
and lots sold by lottery tickets bought mainly by Lancaster county and Berks
county people.

1774

The firm of Harrsilton aiii Moore of Lancaster Borough is referred to
And a notice of their dissolution also appears and sets forth that Charles
Hamilton will settle v/ith all debtors and creditors of the firm. (Issue Feb.
2, 1774>.

Eulogistic notice is taken of the death of another prominent woman of
the county in the issue of March 9, 1774.

"On Wednesday 28rd uit. it Hopewell Forge in Lancaster County In the
21st year of her age, Mrs. M^ry Shippen Grubb, wife of Peter Grubb died.
Trained up in the paths of virtu •\ her conduct daily evinced the effects of a
good education. She was blessed with a large share of good sense which she
improved by the proper attention to books. The poor have lost in her a
sincere and liberal friend. Envy itself could not detect from her character.
Her remains were decently interred in St. James Church Yard at Lancaster
by a large concourse of people of all denominations." (Here follows a eulo-
gist poem on her virtues.)

The Boston Port bill clos^^ing up the port on June 1, 1774 is denounced
in many items appearing in the Gazette from all quarters. Many meetings
to protest are announced, from tljis date onward. On the Thursday follow-

(48)

ing June 1, over 1200 morchants and citizens of Philadelphia met at the State
House to hear letters and reports from other towns on the subject and to
discuss means to help Boston.

Notice is taken (i.ssue of June 29, 1774) of the death of a third promi-
nent woman of our county. "Early on Saturday morning the 18th, died at
Lancaster in the 43rd year of her age Mrs. Esther Barton, wife of Rev. Thom-
fis Barton of that placo and sister to Mr. David Rittenhouse of Philadelphia.
It is not easy \o do justice to the character of this amiable and excellent wo-
i:ian without incurring the suspicion of flattery, among those who did not
know her. Bleraed with a superior understanding, a sound judgment, a pe-
culiar sweetneiis of temper she always knew what was proper conduct on
any occasion and how to be agreeable in every company. But she considered
it to be her highest honor, as it was her chief desire to shine in her own fam-
ily as a dutlfull wift and tender mother; setting an example of virtue and
economy to her children, and preferring the calm walk of domestic happi-
ness to all thosv- fantastic and adventitious joys in the presence of which too
many waste their precious time.

On Sunday evening her remains were interred in the chancel of St. James
church, her pall having been supported to the grave by six magistrates. All
denominations of people seemed to follow as mourners and at the head of
these as a true picture of distress and sorrow were a bereaved husband and
eight weeping children. A pnthetic discourse well suited to the occasion was
delivered by P.ev. Mr. Helmuth, niinister of the German Lutheran church of
the place.*'

"A meeting of the inhabitants of the Borough of Lancaster was held at
the Court House on Wednesday evening. June 15, 1774, and it was agreed
that to preserve the Constitutional rights of the inhabitants of America, it is
incumbent on every colony to UNITE and use more effective means to pro-

f^rA^/^r^^ ?/ ^^^ l^}^ ^""^ ""^ Parliament against the town of Boston; that
the Act of Parliament for blocking up the harbor and port of Boston is an In-
vasion of the rights of the inhabitants of the said town as subjects of the

nro^r iJln^ r '"''*^' '''t' '^ '' '""^ ^^'^^^^^ ^' *^*« ^^^""^^ ^at the most
proper and effective means to be used to obtain a repeal of the said Act will

Briton untir^h^ofr '"'^ !f ^l' ^^"^^« ^'^^ exp^orts Vo 'i^ndTom Or^a
wm ^^1 ^, ""* ^^ repealed; that the trades and inhabitants of this town

Tnd f rieholderroTthe^CUv '""^ ^n"*""''" merchants, manufacturers, traders
fi/J; "^^'^oideis of the City and County of Philadelphia and other nart«» of

^me Ihlu be bv tLrt'i,'"^"^? ^^ ^*''«'"'' a^reemen? to tX purpose If the
Sr Yeates mSc «'^"^''i"T'=°'^^= ^^^^ ^^^""^^ Shlppen. George Ross.
iSg^Lma^ W nln^^'if ''• ^'^""^^ ^^^^- ""'""^ A"««. William Henry

oorrrsp^nrw'It^brjirrafr/rnXeT^t?^^^^^ ^ — '"- -

Signed by Order of the Committee.
(Issue of June 29. 177 J.) Eberhard Michael, Clerk.

from mos?oMhrot"er^'ounu:*^.fX^p"*' f ^"'=*^*^^- *°^«*^«^ ^"^ those
to protest against the c^S UP of L^tn^'^!,"", ^"'*^' -^"'y "■ ""• *»«'
the Assembly of Pennsy vante f or t> ^^ • *°^ *'^° ^^ '"^""^ *" address to
July 20. 1774.) ^«"n''y'''ania for their action upon the same." (See Issue of

PatuS^.Tl^ ?at%vSQeo;Le^Rr"* °' .^""^ "'^'^^ »'«>^ '° Lancaster.

passed and a "co.UoU^Tlco^'r.rror ^rw^ofB^r ''''"' '^''"'"'"'^^ ^^^^

An intercting item is that .ett.ng forth traction „f the Assembly of

(49)

Pennsylvania on July 22, 1774, appointing the delegates of the Province to
attend and be members of the First Continental Congress. They were Jo-
seph Galloway, Samuel Rhoads, Thomas Mifflin, Charles Humphreys, John
Martin, Edward Biddle and George Ross. (Issu» of July 27, 1774.) George
Ross was as we all know from our county.

Another interesting article is one of considei^ble length found in a sup-
plement or Post Script to No. 2379 (July 27) describing the Provincial meet-
ing of the Deputies chosen by the several counties of the Province, held in
Philadelphia, July 15, and continued from day to day. From this £trticle it
appears that Philadelphia City and County bad 34 delegates present, Bucks
County 6, Chester County 3, York County 3, Cumberland County 3, Berks
County 5, Northampton County 4, Northumberland County 2, Bedford Coun-
ty 1, Westmoreland County 2, and Lancaster County 8. The Lancaster Coun-
ty delegates were George Ross. James Webb, Joseph Ferree, Mathias Slaugh,
William Atlee, Alexander Lowry, Moses and Emanuel Carpenter. They dif-
fered considerably in personnel from the Committee on Correspondence select-
ed by the Lancaster Borough meeting of July 9, to correspond With the Central
Committee of Philadelphia on the subject of this general meeting or conven-
tion of the Province. Thomas Welling was chairman and Charles Thomp-
son, secretary. He was also secretary of the Continental Congress. This
meeting of July 15th passes sixteen patriotic and business resolutions.

At the meeting of the 16th resolution ordered that a list of instructions
be drawn up nnd presented to the General Assembly which was to meet the
following week. The Committee consisted of eleven members and William
Atlee of Lancaster County was one of the number. The instructions drawn
up and presented to the Assembly of the Province cover three columns in
the paper. . .

"The sheriff's sale of Win. Henry Stiegel's real estate, being one-third of
Elizabeth Furnace, and of two tracts of land containing 500 acres and about
thirty other tracts is advertised by John Ferree, Sheriff of Lancaster County
sale to be held Sept. 16, 1774."
(Issue of Augu&t 24, 1774.)

"On Friday, Sept. 15, 1774, the leading gentlemen of Philadelphia gave
a dinner to the members of Continental Congress. They met at Smith's New
City Tavern, near Fourth and Market Streets and then proceeded to the State
where they were received by over 500 of the citizens and such gentell strang-
f fL.LT''® "' ^?® m- ^I^""^ ^"'''^^ ^2 toasts were drunk. Great acclamation
^npn^ Vh'^'''*^^ ?^ ^^^ ^""^^ ^^^ ^^^ Congress received much encourage-
« ^Lh^'^ event concerns our County, only by reason of George Ross being
a member of the Congress." (Issue of Sept. 21, 1774 ) « "«* o

"Incidentally, I may add that several of the members of the Continental
^""^^n?.^ brought their families with them to Philadelphia. There was quite
Ln in.'T^hn^?"''^'^^^^^^ ^^'^ Congress. We learn that Christopher Gads!
fady and dau'^l^ters^^^^^ '"T ^°"'^ ^^'•°^^^^' ^^^ with them the

Nymnh Cant! n Mn^i '^^ ^^'''^^^' ^^^^^^ *" Philadelphia on the Brig, Sea
cJr^link wtt^b M« ^ ?' ^^^^^'*' ^""^ ^^^^ Edward Rutiedge, also of South
TS^'^'V^e'T^^u^^^^^^ -^^ ^^ ^- ^-^' -^^t-- they went

publired^rnd^lld'ln mf f s^ch^^^^^^^^ ^.^^^ T^'^ ^T^«^^^' ^^^

Bishon nf <Sf A»„^i, tvi \^, speecli intended to have been spoken by the

The^nouncet^nt .f^tl^!.,^'" i"."" ^"^''"^ *•»* ^^^'^^'^ °f MassachusettsBay.
H tht^rweeks ft L ^ ^^'^l ^'"^ excellent piece has so approved Itself that
wherL ft loTd at 2^y-fn"^ ^.'^"'Jf- "^« ^^"""'s besides several In England.
S to us that frL L,J^^^^^^^^^ ^^''T °/ ^*^P*- 28- I"!.) (It is a matter of
to UiTo^^\S:^,l^T^^lZSe^)''''' """^ "''''' ''^*^'°"'= publications

Of 177?we^"'^For SfT rT^"" '^*""'"^ *■•*»" t'^" ^•^'^"""s in the fall
weie. ror bheriff, John Ferree and George Haofnagle; for Coroner,

(60)

Samuel Boyd and Andrew Graeff; for Commissioners. Thos. Clark; for As-
sessors, Michael Withers, Val Breneisen. Edward Michael, Jos. Shearer, James
Conlngham and Thomas Partner. Also returned for Assembly: James
Webb, Joseph Ferree. Mathias Slaush and George Ross."
(Issue of Oct. 5, 1774.)

"On Thursday, Oct. 19, 1774, an elesrant entertainment was given by the
Assembly of Pennsylvania at the New City Tavern (Smith's) to the gentlemen
of the Continental Congress. Caesar Rodney, of New Castle, was the speak-
er to return the thanks of Congress." (Issue of Oct. 26, 1774.)

(George Ross was a member of the Assembly and of the Congress at
this time. This dinner was given just a week before the First Continental
Congress, adjourned, which occurred on Oct. 26.

The delegates appointed by the Assembly to attend the Second Continent-
al Congress, May 10, 1775, are announced in the issue of Dec. 28, 1774, as
follows: Edward Biddle, John Dickinson, Thomas Miftlin, Jos. Galloway,
Charles Humphreys, .John Martin, and George Ross. It is announced that
the Assembly ordered that these appointees or any four of them do meet
with said Congress, unless our grievances be remedied before that time.

The Act passed to relieve Henry Wm. Stiegel from imprisonment for debt
in Lancaster County jail is published in the issue of Dec. 28, 1774.

The death of Deborah Franklin, wife of Benjamin Franklin, on Monday,
Dec. 19, 1774, at an advanced age and her burial the following Thursday in
Christ Church yard, Ls also noted in the issue of Dec. 28, 1774.

1775

"Adam Simon Kuhns, James Clemson, Peter Grubb, Sebastian Graeff,
David Jenkins and Bertram Galbraith were present as members for Lan-
caster County in the convention of the Province held at the State House
from Jan. 23-28, 1775, for the furtherance of the general American cause.
The convention consisted of 110 members." (Issue of Feb. 1, 1775.)

An interesting view of the events which provoked the Battle of Liexxing-
ton and Concord Bridge is given in a series of affidavits of observers of the
same. This is valuable to the critical student of history and is contained
in the issue of May 17, 1775.

Equally interesting is the item describing Washington setting out to
Cambridge to take charge of the American Army, In the issue of June 28
1775.

"The farming outfit of Joseph Ferree In Strasburg Township is adver-
tised for sale. As we have seen above, he is a very able and valuable public
servant of the Province from our country." (Issue of Aug. 2, 1775.

"Francis Bailey in King street, Lancaster, published and sold a sermon
preached on the day of the Continential fast at Feidfryn, Chester County
before Captain Dewees and part of several other companies met on the
occasion, on Nehemlah IV-14. "Be ye not afraid of them, etc" by the Rev.
David Jones, A. M. The title of the sermon was "Defensive War in a Just
Cause, Sinless." It was published by request. (Issue of Aug. 16, 1775.)

"It appears that our Joseph Ferree after selling out as above noticed
moved to Germantown, for in a letter from that place dated Sept. 11, 1775'
addressed to the freeholders of Lancaster County he informs them: "As
you have been pleased to choose me for several years past to be one of your
representatives in General Assembly of the Province in which station I have
served you; but as I have moved out of that county and therefore can
serve you no longer, permit me to return to you my unfeigned thanks, with
my best wishes for the good esteem and honor you have conferred on your
most respectful friend and servant." Joseph Ferree

(51)

(Issue of Sept. 13, 1775.)

"The kind of apple trees grown for sale by Lancaster County nursery-
men in 1775 are set forth in a letter from George Nailor, nurseryman, living
on Charleston Road, Manor township, Lancaster County, to Rudolph and
Jacob Haines in Chester County, saying in answer to their inquiry as to
the kinds of apple trees he can furnish, that he has Romanites, Hoops,
Ramboes, Newton Pippin, English Russets, Hay Apple, English Golden, Tart
Early, Clamphonites, Justa-bites and Spitzenberg. He says that he can de-
liver from 200 to 500, not over 40 miles for 9 pence per tree." (Issue of
Sept. 27, 1775.) (Note; No mention is made of the now-famous "Smoke-
house" apple.)

"The persons who for some years have been elected assessors of Lan-
caster County join in a letter saying they are sensible that the electing of
themselves has proceeded from friendly regard for them and good opinion;
but that they have certain reasons against serving in the future which
appear weighty and they request that others be elected in their stead at the
coming election. It is signed by John Porter, Eberhard Michael, James
Cunningham, Michael Withers and Joseph Shearer." (Issue of Sept 27, 1775.)

"The election returns of the County for 1775 set out: Returned for
Sheriff, John Ferree and Adam Reigart; for Coroner, Samuel Boyd and
Jacob King; for <:!ommissioner, William Bausman; for Accessors, Thomas
Whiteside, Michael Withers, Val Berneisen, John Backentose, Matthew Hen-
derson and Jonothan Rowland. For Assembly are returned: George Ross,
James Webb, Mathas Slaugh and Curtis Grubb." (Issue of Oct. 11, 1775.)

Note is made that John Rowan, of Lancaster County, a minister of the
Gospel died on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 1775; that he was buried in the Presbyterian
burying ground of Derry Congregation where a sermon fit for the occasion
was delivered by Rev. John Woodhull, of Lancaster and Leacock Presby-
terian churches, from Rev. 21st Chapter and 7th Verse, in the issue of Oct.
18, 1775.

'Francis Bailey of Lancaster, announces the publication of his almanac
for the year 1776, containing motions of the sun, moon, eclipse, high water
at Philadelphia, method of calculating 6 per cent, and 7 per cent, interest,
etc., Quaker early meetings, new method of making hay, excellent maps,
remedies for human diseases, etc. Also at same place may be had German
calendars, blanks, primers, catechisms, etc." (Issue of Oct. 18, 1775.)

The death of Payton Randolph, of Virginia, president of the First
Continental Con^rress, is announced in the same issue of Oct. 25, 1775

THE END.

A CHINESE SOLDIER IN THE CIVIL WAR

BY WILLIAM FREDERIC WORNER

In these days when the restriction of immigration is a much-mooted
question, it is pleasing to record that some sixty odd years ago there came
to this country a poor Chinese youth who lived in our city for nine years,
during which time he acquired considerable knowledp^e of our habits, cus-
toms and language. On his return to his native land, he entered the minis-
try, rose to a position of distinction in the Church and became widely
known and honored by Christians and non-Christians alike. My only
apology for presenting a brief sketch of his life, especially that part spent
in Lancaster, Pa., is to correct the erroneous impressions prevalent con-
cerning this remarkable foreigner.

Hong Neok Woo was born August 7, 1834, in a little hamlet called
Antowtson, five miles outside the south gate of the city of Changchow,
in the district of Yanghuhsien, China. His people though poor were
industrious and independent farmers. His father frequently visited Shang-
hai for the purpose of selling farm products. On one of these visits he heard
of the boys' school, opened in 1845, by Bishop William J. Boone, of the
American Church Mission, and he determined to send his son to it to
prepare him for working in a foreign "hong". He entered the Mission
School at the age of thirteen. Two years later, he was baptized by Bishop
Boone in the school chapel and thus belonged to the first generation of Christians
in China. The following year he was confirmed by the same prelate.

When Commodore Perry made his expedition to Japan in 1852-1854,
for the purpose of concluding a treaty of commerce with that country,
several of his ships came in 1854 to Shanghai. One of the ships in the
expedition was the frigate "Susquehanna", another was the "Powhatan".
During their stay in port the officers were in the habit of visiting the Mis-
sion and attending the Sunday services there, it being the only American
Mission in Shanghai at that time.

From these officers young Woo learned of the Perry expedition and of
its speedy return to America. He formed a strong desire to visit that
country by working his way across the ocean aboard one of the ships.
The Rev. Mr. Points, an American missionary, negotiated with the officers
of the frigate "Susquehana" for Woo to be taken on board as cabin boy.
He was assigned to wait on Dr. John S. Messersmith, the surgeon of the
ship. After a voyage of eight months, during which time the ship touched
at all the important ports enroute, he landed in March, 1855, at the Phila-
delphia Navy Yard. A few days were spent in a hotel and then he proceeded,
by train, to Dr. Messersmith 's home in Lancaster, Penna.

Lancaster at that time contained about 20,000 inhabitants. Woo
lived with Dr, Messersmith at 40 North Lime street until the marriage of
the latter.

During the nine years Woo lived in Lancaster (1855-1864) it was his
custom on Sunday to attend the morning service in St. James' Episcopal
Church, of which the Rev. Samuel Bowman was then rector, and to spend
the afternoon calling on friends or taking walks in the country. Occas-
ionally, he attended the afternoon service. St. James' Church at that
time had a mixed choir of men and women and they sang from an upper

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gallery at the back of the church, above the two entrances. In the evening,
he visited the other churches in the city and some of the meeting-houses.
In his autobiography he says of the latter: (1)

"Sometimes Dr. Messersmith took me to one of those places just to
see how people would behave themselves in the name of Divine Worship.
One day we visited such a place. The people made lots of noise and did
much crying over their sins and confessions. They prayed in a loud voice
and sang lustily. Sometimes one would fall down on the floor and do other
tlidngs which would be described as indecent in any other place. We
felt very curious worshipping God not reverently".

Woo was invited to attend the parochial school founded and conducted
by Bishop Bowman. He declined, explaining that he was a poor student
at the Shanghai Mission School, that he forgot his lessons when the time
for recitation came, and that his desire was to become a mechanic. He
applied at the Lancaster Locomotive Works for a job, but owing to the
depression in business, he was not employed.

Mr. Joseph Clarkson, a neighbor of Dr. Messersmith and organist of
St. James' Church for many years, strongly advised Woo to learn the
trade of printer, stating that it would be useful wherever he went and
would give him a practical opportunity of learning the English language.
He accepted the advice - and became an apprentice in the office of the
"Lancaster Examiner and Herald", where he worked for seven years,
four as apprentice and three as journeyman. Later, he was employed in
the office of the "Daily Express", as pressman. While oiling a machine
in the latter office his right hand caught in a cogwheel and the flesh,
skin and nail were torn from the middle finger. He consulted Dr. Henry
Carpenter, who instead of amputating the finger advised him to let nature
heal it. This course, fortunately, was successful and the finger was saved.
Referring to this experience in his autobiography he says:

"Long afterward when I was enp:aged in hospital work in Shanghai,
dressing wounds and caring for the injured, the sight of a wound or injury
never failed to remind me of this incident and I was all the more happy
relieving others".

On September 22, 1860, he was naturalized as an American citizen
in the local court. (2) He was the only Chinese naturalized in Lancaster
county and was one of the few admitted to citizenship in this country. (3)

During the Civil War, when Pennsylvania was invaded by the Con-
federate army under General Lee, he responded to the call for 50,000
volunteers issued by Governor Curtin for protecting the State and strength-
ening the Northern Army. (4) In his autobiography he refers to his enlist-
ment in these words:

"I volunteered on June 29th, 1863, in spite of the advice of my Lanc-
aster friends against it, for I had felt that the North was right in opposing
slavery. My friends thought I should not join the militia and risk my Ife
in war, for my own people and family were in China and I had neither
property nor family in America whose defense might serve as an excuse
for my volunteering."

Hong Neok Woo, however, did not participate in any fighting. He
was enrolled as a private at Lancaster Pa., on June 29, 1863, in Company
I, 50th Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Volunteer Emergency Militia,
commanded by Captain John H. Druckemiller, which was immediately
sent to Safe Harbor where it camped on a hill at the mouth of the Con-
estoga creek. The people of Lancaster county at that time feared the
invasion of the Confederate forces, and volunteers were stationed at various
points along the Susquehanna river. On July 2, 1863, Woo returned to
Lancaster city and was mustered into the service of the State. The
Company was sent to Harrisburg, where it was equipped. From thi

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Elace it was transported by train through the Cumberland valley to Cham-
ersburg. After a short stay in the latter town it marched on through
Hagerstown to Williamsport, Maryland, and was stationed at Dam No. 5,
about five miles above that place, on the Potomac river, where it did
picket duty. (5)

Concerning his experience as a soldier there was nothing ususual.
His military duty consisted of taking turns at cooking, doing sentinel
work, practicing target shooting, etc., etc. "There was one march". Woo
says in his autobiography, "wMch impressed itself on my memory deeply.
For one afternoon and night we marched. It happened to be a very warm
summer day and I was so tired I could not go any further, and I had
to lie on the roadside and rest my sore feet." The Company subsequently
returned to Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pa., and Private Woo was mustered
out of the service at Lancaster, Pa., on August 15, 1863. So far as could
be learned he was the only Chinaman who served in the Civil War. (6)

The nine years spent in Lancaster, Pa., were uneventful, on the whole.
Among his friends he counted Dr. Messersmith and his sister Miss Harriet,
Bishop Bowman and Mr. Joseph Clarkson, the Rev. J. Isidor Mombert, Mr. Ed-
mond Kline, one of the editors and proprietors of the ^ ^Examiner and Herald
Weekly '^ Mr. Michael O. Kline, connected with the Lancaster Cotton Mills, and
Mr. George M. Kline, the lawyer.

In February of 1864, he decided to return to his native land. He
sailed from New York city on board the "Kiukiang", one of the Oliphant
Company's new boats built in New York for special service between
Hankow and Shanghai, on the Yangtse river. He worked on board ship
to earn his passage money, and reached Shanghai in May 1864. One
of the first acts on landing was to register his name in the American Con-
sulate. /

Shortly after his arrival in Shanghai, he was offered the position of
catechist in the American Mission, but he was obliged to decline the offer
as his nine years' residence in America had nearly robbed him of much of
his knowledge of the Chinese language. For eight months he was practic-
sdly like a foreigner in learning to speak his native dialect fluently. He sub-
sequently became Archdeacon Thomson's assistant; and in 1866, during
the first period of his work, he helped in establishing the first dispensary
of the Mission. Out of it eventually developed the present Saint Luke's
Hospital, Shanghai.

On May 1, 1867, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop Williams in the
Church of Our Savior, Shanghai; and on May 24, 1880, he was advanced
to the priesthood by Bishop Schereschewsky in St. John's Chapel, Jessfield.
The Rev. Dr. Mombert, who had been Woo's rector in Lancaster, Pa.,
sent him Dr. Henry's Commentaries and some theological books.

To describe in detail the many activities in which Woo was engaged
or to enumerate the humanitarian enterprises which he founded and helped
to support, would tax your patience and extend beyond the scope of this
article. He served successively as catechist, hospital assistant, physician
and chaplain; organizer of and teacher in boys' schools, and general mis-
sionary of the diocese. At the age of 72 he began a vigorous campaign
for raising money for the establishment of an Industrial Home for poor
widows. He was able to secure a large sum with which land was purchased
and buildings erected. This Home, which now accommodates more than
one hundred women, was the crowning achievement of his life and will
ever stand as a memorial of his philanthropy. (7)

He died on August 18, 1919, and was buried in Westgate Cemetery,
the oldest Christian burying ground in Shanghai.

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REFERENCES.

1. "Autobio^aphy of the Rev. H. N. Woo," published in Chinese and
transliterated into English, but not published, by the Rev. Andrew Yu
Yue Tsu, Ph. D., of St. John's University, Shanghai.

2. His name appears on record in the Prothonotary's Office in Lancaster,
Pa., as "W. Hoong Neok." He wrote it in this way for the reason that
in Chinese the family name comes first. While in Lancaster, Pa., he was
known as Hong Neok, pronounced "Hun Yock."

3. The Chinese anti-naturalization law (sec. 14, chap. 126) passed May
6, 1882, prohibited the naturalization of Chinese in America.

4. In the Adjutant General's Ofiice in Harrisburg, Pa., his name is re-
corded: "Ung Hong Neok". The family name Woo is "Ung." More
properly it should have been spelled "Ng" without the vowel "U", for
it then would be a correct trans-literation of the Chinese character in
pronunciation. The change in spelling made the pronunciation easier.

5. Ellis and Evans' History, page 193.

6. On the certificate of his military record his age is given as 24. This
is incorrect. He was 28 years old.

7. Vol. 6, No. 2, "Shanghai News Letter," edited by Dr. Pott.

Minutes

Lancaster, Pa.,
4 March, 1921.
The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster County Historical So-
ciety was held in their auditorium in the A. Herr Smith Memorial Building
at the regular hour this evening.

The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved.
The Treasurer's report showed a

Balance on hand February 4, of $207.8 6

Receipts 20.00

227.86
Expenses 37.00

Balance Mar. 4 $190.86

(Signed) A. K. Hostetter, Treasurer.

The Librarians report included the following exchanges and donations:

I. A list of Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress.

II. The Wyoming Historical Society Proceedin^rs.

III. The Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine.

IV. The Washington Historical Society Quarterly.

V. Iowa Historical Society Annals.

VI. Wisconsin Historical Society Magazine.

VII. Smithsonian Institution Bulletin.

VIII. American Catholic Historical Society Records.

IX. American Philosophical Society Proceedings.

X. Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings.

XI. A photograph of Spangler's Mill Dam in East Earl Township,
where fifty Mormon Converts were baptized before emigrating to the Middle
West, presented by J. Watson Ellmaker.

XII. A manuscript history of Donegal Chapter, D. A. R., which was
prepared and read by Miss Susan C. Frazer at the Twenty-fifth Anniversary
of the Society, in 1917. It was organized April 21, 1892, ranks as the fourth
Chapter in Pennsylvania and the fifteeflth in the United States. Presented
by Miss Susan C. Frazer.

XIII. Report of the New York Public Library.
XVI. Reprt of the Carnegie Library at Pittsburgh.
XV. Report of the Grand Rapids Public Library.

(Signed) Harry Stehman Jr., Librarian.

There were two other interesting and vluable donations, one a book en-
titled "Extempore on a Wagon" A metrical Narrative of a Journey from
Bethlhem, Pennsylvania to the Indian Town of Goshen, Ohio in the Autumn
of 1803, by George Henry Loskiel, translated into verse by J. Max Hark —
presented by Mr. A. K. Hostetter.

A covered glass jar with stem on which is etched "Michael Zahm Mora-
vian Minister, Lititz, 1754 to Judge Emanuel Carpenter."

This piece of glassware was handed down from family to family of des-
cendants of Emanuel Carpenter to the family of Benjamin Z. Shreiner whose
widow Mary Steven Carpenter Shreiner presented it to the Lancaster County
Historical Society. The jar has a crack in it of considerable length which
does not detract from its historical interest.

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A unanimous vote of appreciation and thanks was given to all donors.

Tliere was one new applicant for membership — Mr. W. C. Allwine, 410
John Street, City.

New members elected are:

Mr. Harry Baughey

Mr. H. S. Witmer.

Mr. Isaac A. Field.

Mrs. Isaac A. Field.

Mr. Clayton H. Hertzler.

The Committee appointed for the Indoor Social to be held at the Iris
Club early in May reported that an interestng and attractive program will be
offered to the Historical Society and its friends followed by supper and a
social hour.

The Treasurer, presented three bills from the New Era Publishing Com-
pany for $143.56. These bills were approved and ordered paid.

Mr. Magee outlied a most interesting itinerary for the Society's Sum-
mer Outig which he suggested should be to the Southern end of the county
in prumore Township. Three of the most important of Lancaster Coun-
ty's eminent sons lived here, Dr. David R. Ramsay, General John F. Steele
and the father of John C. Calhoun if not that famous statesman himself. A
motion was made to have a marker placed along the highway at some con-
venient place. A partial committee was appointed with Mr. Magee as
Chairman. Mr. A. K. Hostetter, Mr. I. C. Arnold, Professor Herbert H, Beck,
and Miss Daisy Grubb were mentioned as the nucelus of this committee. It
was decided to leave the matter with the Executive Committee for further
action.

Mr. Hostetter read a clipping from a Lebanon Evening paper giving an
interesting account of the Lebanon Historical Society's Annual Meeting, of
February 23.

There were two papers for the Society's consideration and entertainment
"A Chinese Soldier in the Civil War" by Mr. W. F. Worner and "Items of
Local Interest From the Pennsylvania Gazette 1770 to 1775 by Mr. H.
Frank Eshleman.

Both papers were most interesting and much appreciated by those pres-
ent. A meeting of the Executive Committee was called after the regular
meeting adjourned.

ADALINE B. SPINDLER, Secretary.

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, APRIL, 1, 1921

" IjtBtai^ tfttaM. as wra in tfet aam nunrkBlfiitt."

A SIDELIGHT OF THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

By Hon. C. I. Landis
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM MICHAEL (PART I.)

By George Erisman
MINUTES OF THE APRIL MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 4.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1921

NOV ; c

A Sidelight of the War of the Revolution.*

(By HON. C. I. LANDIS)

"With singular regret and concern we are compelled to address you. The
good order of the Borough and the very being of its government must de-
pend on the wise and prudent deliberations of the Congress upon an in-
cident of the most alarming nature which lately happened here. We beg
leave to offer you a candid and faithful narrative of the facts on which
your sentiments will be absolutely necessary.

On the 29th ulto. the late committee of this Borough met on a complaint
made to them that a Company formed in Rapho and Manheim Townships
had been insulted by a few persons. They thought proper on this applica-
tion to express their abhorrence of such conduct, and wrote to the mem-
bers of the Committeee of those two Townships to appear at the next mus-
tering of the Company, express their and our disapprobation of such im-
proper proceedings and behavior, and conciliate harmony and friend-
ship. We send you hereby a copy of our letter.

Just before the Committee broke up, they received a second applica-
tion from two of the chief persons of the Mennonists, complaining that vio-
lence and threats had been used by some people to members of that so-
ciety, because they did not form themselves into military associations, and
that some of that religious persuasion had desisted from their usual work by
reason thereof; that their members would cheerfully co-operate in the
Common Cause except in such Acts as were repugnant to their consciences,
and praying the protection of the Committee from any further outrage.
We observed to those Appliers probably such conduct had partly arose
from abusive or opprobrious language bestowed by some of their denomina-
tion against Bodies of people under arms and warmly pressed them to dis-
continue any such expressions; that while they looked to us for security,
we should expect they would take an active part in prevention of future
bickerings and animosities. They pledged themselves to the Committee
for the performance of those duties, disclaimed such wanton and rude
terms, and further went so far as to declare that they objected not to
any of their society taking uy arms, whose consciences were free in this particular.
Upon mature deliberation, it was unanimously resolved by the committee that a
number of Hand bills both in English and German (one of which we now
inclose to you) should be struck off and dispersed through the county.

We flatter ourselves. Gentlemen, we need use no arguments in vindi-
cation of the measure adopted. Our most excellent Charter of Privi-
leges in the very first paragraph was a plain directory for the conduct of
the committee. "No one shall be molested or prejudiced because of his
conscientious persuasion or practice, nor be compelled to do or suffer any-
thing contrary to his religious persuasion." The act of 2 and 13 Gul. 3
confirmed a doctrine so highly agreeable to the spirit of Christianity.
When one of the chief grounds of our opposition to the late arbitrary
Statutes was the impious destruction of the Charter of Massachusetts
Bay, could we sit tamely spectators of equal violence to our own country-
men? Or in the glorious struggle for Freedom, could we deny to others
their liberty of conscience?

* (Letter sent by the Committee of Safety in Lancaster to Continental Congress, June
1775.)

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(«Q)

But whilst we thoue:ht it just and reasonable to discourage licentious-
ness, we judge it equally right and proi>er to guard and protect those repu-
table inhabitants, who nobly appeared in arms in defense of America from
scoffs and insult. The bringing such imprudent persons to a proper sense
of their misconduct evidently pointed to the Directions of the last Congress
with respect to the violators of the Association.

We cheerfully submit the step we have taken to the Hon*ble Congress
for their re-examination and opinion. Conscious of having discharged the
duties of our fidelity and care, so far as our judgments or understandings
directed us, we shall rest satisfied and contented with their determination.

On the afternoon of the 5th Instant when the five companies in this
town were assembling, the printer called on a member of the committee
with the hand bills. He said an officer had threatened to take them from
out of his house with a body of men by force. In a few minutes after another
officer came in, who informed the same member that the Companies were
l^eatly dissatisfied with the committee's proceedings and would not muster
if any people whatever were excused from bearing arms and associating.
He was sincerely sorry for what had happened, and desired to know what
could be done to remove the public discontent. The member proposed
to him that these persons who excepted against the hand bill should meet
together peacebly and appoint a dozen of their body to confer with the
committee. If on such conference the committee were convinced of their
error, or that the publication of the hand bill would injure the conimon
cause, they would deem it honorable to recede, and perhaps on a free com-
munication of sentiments all matters might be set right. The officer took
his leave, having behaved throughout the whole interview with the g:reat-
est politeness and good manners.

Five minutes had not elapsed when one of the companies marched
towards the Court House. When they had arrived thither, the command-
ing officer ordered them to halt, but the soldier cried out, "March on! March
on!" The officer then left them and with their firelocks in their hands
they called at the house of another of the committee, grossly insulted him
and demanded that the hand bills should be delivered up to them. The
member answered he had them not in his possession. He received for reply
that the company would have them at all events. The first mentioned
member then came up and avowed his having the papers. The Soldiers,
who by this time were joined by many more, insisted repeatedly that they
would have the hand bills. They were answered that they should not be
delivered up to a body of armed men, who demanded them in that manner
that if one of their officers required a copy, it would be delivered to him
with pleasure. One of the officers came into the house, and having received
a hand bill upon his request went out and delivered it to his men, w^ho
immediately affixed it to the whipping post, and then several — of the
soldiers fired guns at and consumed it. By this time the town was in ^reat
ferment, and this commotion was increased by some persons who either
wickedly or ignorantly took pains to mislead the people. No hand bills
had been distributed by our committee and very few persons had seen
any of them. The tumult after a time subsided somewhat, and the com-
panies proceeded to their exercises, though they mustered but thinly. Some
other violence happened on their return after being dismissed by their officers,
but these things we hope to be spared the mortifying task of repeating.
It gives us exceeding pain to be under the neceessity of being thus far
particular. Many tlu-eats were thrown out against the committee, that burning
and some acts of outrage were apprehended. A second smaller party met
before the same house where the soldiers had assembled about 10 o'clock
at night and insulted the owner, and the door of his house was found
tarred and feathered next morning. Yesterday we fondly hoped the popular
clamour would have abated and reason resumed her seat in the minds of
many. We most ardently wished for this event, but we found on the most
minute inquiry that it was in vain to bear up any longer against the torrent.

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As we had unfortunately lost the public confidence and would no longer be
useful as a committee, we judged it most eligible and prudent to resign the
Trust delegated to us, and to request a new election. We accordingly met
and after serious consideration signed a paper, which was affixed to the
court house door, the copy of which follows:

"The members of the committee having taken into consideration their
situation with respect to many of the inhabitants of the Borough of Lan-
caster and that their well-meant endeavors to serve the public interests
have not proved satisfactory to divers people resident in the said borough,
and that should they continue to act any longer as a committee their pro-
ceedings may be productive of dis-union and destroy that Peace and good
order which they ardently wish to cultivate and maintain, do unanimously
resign the trust formerly reposed in them by the worthy inhabitants of
the Borough and decline serving as a committee for the future. And it is
recommended to the inhabitants of the Borough that they proceed to the
election of a new committee in their stead and room."
(Signed)
Edw. Shippen, Adam Simon Kuhn, J. Yeates, Will Atlee, William
Bowman, Sebastian Graff, Chas Hall, Christian Voght, Cas. Shaffner,
Adam Reigart, Eberhart Michael.

In consequence of the above advertisement we have the pleasure of in-
forming you that a new committee of the Borough has been elected thip af-
ternoon. We flatter ourselves the minds of those inhabitants who have
been so strongly irritated will now be made easy. Our chiefest views, gen-
tlemen, in now addressing you are, by your salutary counsels, to prevent
any future disturbance of the Peace of this opulent town, to strengthen
and support the hands of the new committee, and to avoid misconstruction
of our conduct. We profess ourselves warmly attached to the true interests
of our country, but we deprecate the fatal consequences of public anarchy
and confusion. We wish never to see the day when the patriotic spirit of
our countrymen shall be the source of our greatest misfortune, when the
vigor of government shall be relaxed, and the arms put into the hands of
people shall be preverted to instruments of ruin.. Your aid and weight in
the Continental Congress we are confident will not be wanting in securing
to each individual his liberty of conscience and in promoting peace, har-
mony and good order, so essentially necessary to the well being of the
community.

We are, Gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obed't and
very humble serv'ts.

EDW. SHIPPEN
ADAM SIMON KUHN
J. YEATES
WILL ATLEE
CHAS. HALL
SEBASTIAN GRAFF
CHRISTIAN VOGHT
CAS. SHAFFNER
ADAM REIGART
EBERHART MICHAEL
Late members of the committee for the Borough of Lancaster.

The controversy which caused all the trouble was, under the manage-
ment of the new committee, evidently satisfactorily solved. One of the old
members, insulted by the mob, as above stated, may have been Mr. Yeat-
es. It will be observed that, in the communication, care was taken not to
mention the names of any of the parties involved. The high state of feel-
ing arising out of the battle of Lexington gave rise no doubt to this dis-
pute.

Autobiography of William Michael (Part I.)

(By GEORGE ERISMAN)

I was born in Lancaster. State of Pennsylvania, in April 1768. My
father was an European, my mother was a native American. In the strug-
gle for Independence he bore a part. — he entered the American Army in the
rank of Captain, pay-master to the German Regriment. At that period the
Dayment to the Continental Army was made in paper money, and always
came considerable reduced into the hands of the soldiery. Having a family
which he left behind and his pay and emolument, not being sufficient to
support him and his family, induced him to relinquish a soldier's life and
return to his family. He had been but a short time at home when he was
attacked with the nervous fever which in a few days deprived him of his
life. The property he left to sustain his family was altogether in cash, which
he had put on interest. Payments were made to my mother at a great de-
preciation, and on the ending of the estate, a reduction of more than half
was ascertained, out of which the children were to be supported. I was
put as an apprentice to the hatting business, when I was not quite twelve
years old. On the day of the expiration of my apprenticeship. I had not a
Bangle dollar in my posse5<sion, neither had I any claim on my person. The
wide world was before me. The day after I was free I entered as a jour-
neyman. 1 worked hard for six months and was careful of my earnings.
My leisure hours were devoted to reading the best authors. I had now laid
by about one hundred dollars. The idea of travel entered my head. To see
the various parts of the United States was desirable, and a person of my
profession will find it not very difficult. My old master had a stepson who
at that time was and had been at his house for some time. He had been a
rambling unsteady being; he had travelled, not only through the United
States, but partly through the world. With him I agrreed to go. Powell
my fellow traveler had always been accustomed to play "least in sight"
whenever he had coin. The day was fixed, preparations made for starting.
My money that I had laid by was all in double-looms; I put it on interest;
put two guinies and silver pieces in my pocket, determined that should start
me. The evening before we started, my knapsack was filled, with a good
luncheon of bread and beef We started in the morning of 23rd of Nov.
1789 about 4 o'clock. The first day of our journey passed tolerably well
little occured worth noticing. In the evening it began to rain. The win-
lows in our room, was much broken, the rain was blown in over our clothes
and bedding; in the morning when we took our clothes they were wringing
wet. We felt very uncomfortable. I felt a sort of regret leaving home; but
I felt ashamed to intimate it.

(Here follow 3 or 4 pa^es of experiences of William Michael's farther
progress in this trip to Baltimore. He started home but retracirg his steps
to Baltimore to secure the extraction of a cancer. He then proceeds as fol-
lows) :

The next day I called to see my worthy kinsman Gen. Stlcher. The
kindness of attention I received from him and Mrs. Sticher is in accord
with the exalted opinion I ever had of him. During my stay at his house and
by his request and under his arrangement, the opportunity for the extrac-

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(63)

tion of my cancer was performed. After my consent, he consulted his family
physician, Dr. Reuben Gilden, who under the direction of eight of the prin-
cipal physicians of Baltimore, performed a complete cure, all which time
Mrs. Sticher attended me as a mother. Contrary to Mrs. Sticher's wish,
I took boarding at Mrs. Philips, a pious sensible lady. I began to work
/ourney-work with Jno and Samuel Gray in which shop there were about
40 hands chiefly Methodists. I continued about 6 months in Baltimore.
E then took passage on one of the Packets for Philadelphia; had many pass-
engers and had a very agreeable passage. As we were sailing up the Del-
aware the Captain observed the vessels in the harbor in mourning. We
were informed of the death of Dr. Franklin. About 3 o'clock he was bur-
ied. I continued about two weeks in Philadelphia, when I concluded going
to New York. I engaged my passage, but that very night I took very sick
and was laid up for ten or twelve days. The expenses being heavy, as soon
as I was able to stand ihe fatigue, took my passage for Lancaster. It was
in the month of May. I shall never forget the invigorating effect the scen-
ery had on my mind. The next day I arrived in my old place of my nativ-
ity. I soon recovered and joined journey-work. In order to be enabled to
get into business for myself, I worked hard and saved my earnings care-
fully. Two weeks after this. I went to Sunbury to visit my relations. Being
there three days I returned to Lancaster.

About midsummer 1790 I began, to make arrangements to commence business
for myself. I gathered in all I had earned by journey-work, went to Philadelphia
and bought furs. I laid out nearly all my money. I shall never forget the melan-
choly I was seized with on ray return to Lancaster. We stopped a considerable
time at one of the stages. I laid myself down on the grass under the shade of a tree.
The most disagreeable ideas entered my mind. My hard earnings laid out; the un-
certainty of my succeeding in business, that when the stage was going to start I was
in a height of deUrium. I soon got better and in the evening arrived in Lancaster.
My shop was fitted up in a few days. I took boarding with Mrs. Henry. After a
month I changed my boarding place to A. Weaver's house. I did this with a view
of becoming acquainted with the farmers. I soon became acquainted with A. Weaver's
daughter Susan. An attachment took place. In about two years after she became
my wife. During the greater part of the time I boarded at Mrs. Weaver's, I had my
shop next door, at B. Hubley's. He had a daughter named Barbara, who had taken
into her head to court me. Every attention was paid to me by her parents; when they
found that my liking was not on her they done me much injury. The workshop was
back. When a customer would come in they would tell them I was out, so that it
was thought I was almost always out. I was sustaining a heavy loss as well as repu-
tation. A friend told me of it, on which I immediately determined to give up the
shop. The old man and I quarreled about it and were on the eve of having a law
suit. His son was a apprentice. His indentures were given up. So we separated.
I now enlarged my stock in my new stand: took several apprentices and did very well.
In October 1793, I got married. The following year 1794 an insurrection broke out
in the western Counties of the State-an open resistence against the excise laws. Gen-
eral Washington called on the eastern Counties for to furnish a certain quota of
militia. The spirit of ' volunteering became prevalent in Lancaster; a great spirit
existed, a great number of men volunteered for the defence of the laws. I jomed
them and on the 1st of October 1794 marched to the westward.

When the Pennsylvania army arrived at Bedford and when we halted a Captain
Gamble of the United States Army came into our camp and called on Captain Mosher
my Captain, to know if a certain William Michael was in his company and whether I was
in camp. Mosher told him I was. Captain Gamble told him he had an order from
Colonel Alex Hamilton, to take me, if I were willing to a post for the forwarding and
issuing of Clothing and military stores for the four armies. Mosher opposed my
going; however his authority (C. Gamble's) was not to be resisted. I was called
and asked if I was willing. As the duties of the camp became tiresome, many of men
sick made the duty harder on the rest, and made me readily accept. Then I was
raised without application or solicitation from a private to a deputy issuing commissary.
There are four men at all times to wait on me, a hberal compensation, and a good

(64)

warm bed to sleep in every night. Who it was that recommended me to Col. Hamil-
ton I have never been able to learn.

On the 27th of Nov. I returned home to Lancaster. In two or three days after,
I returned to my business — I obtained from the apprentices what they Kad been
doing — examined my stock. About two weeks afterwards Captain Gamble the Con-
ductor General arrived in town and paid me $60 per month for my services. In Jan.
1795 a daughter was born in 1797 she died. My father-in-law suggested to me, the
advantage of moving to his tavern house near town. I accepted his offer. I aJso
erected a distillery by which I made very Httle profit.

In 1799 a great contest arose between the Federalists and Democrats respecting
the election of Governor. I took part with the Democrats. My friends generally
were on the other side. I became prosecuted. In the year 1808 the Democrats
elected Simon Snyder Governor, Mr. George Bryan Auditor General. He aooointed
me his chief clerk. I kept the books of the office for twelve years, the greater part
of the time I received $1100 per annum. In 1810 the Governor's Secretary took
lodgings with me. The compensation for boarding etc, was screwed down, so low
that I lost about S400 this year by them. I quit keeping a boarding house from that
day. The Governor showed a churlishness towards me. As soon as I perceived it
I showed an indifference to him; every time we met, a greater coolness was oracticed
until neither spoke. What the real cause was many attempted to ascertain; but all
failed. Mr. Snyder and I never had an explanation on the subject. By an act of
the Legislation the government moved to Harrisburg. I removed my family idso in
which place I lived with my fiunily nine years, during which period myself and family
were much regarded and lived very agreeable. The citizens of Harrisburg at least
such as we associated with, were intelligent and hospitable.

The election of 1820 caused a change of go\ernment. Joseph Heister was elected.
Although a general change was looked for, as far as regards myself none expected it
would effect me. I opposed the election of Heister because I was a Democrat and
knew him. Findlev was misrepresented, Jos. Duncan was appointed Auditor General.
Duncan told me tnere were gentlemen from every part of the State writing in my
favor. I observed it was unsjhcited. He answered yes. Duncan's character was
represented to me that he was a testy disposition. I therefore gave him notice of
my declining uniting in his office. The people of Harrisburg could not beheve it.

The gentlemen of the town assembled at my house some with saws, some with
hatchets, gimlets etc., to cut boards and make up boxes for packing my furniture, a
greater evidence of attention never was shown to any person.

On the day of leaving it crowds gathered to take leave of us and one and all
crying out, "You must come back in three years."

I moved my family off to Lancaster to a small farm I had bought, formerly the
property of my father-in-law, and turned farmer. My brother-in-law, I. H., had the
management of it from the year 1820. I soon found that it was high time that it
was taken out of his hands.

The summer of 1821 passed heavily on my hands. Having been accustomed to
a business life and now having nothing to do, heavy expenses and not earning, made
me feel very uncomfortable.

I advertised offering my services adjusting different accounts. None applied
to me, but to this I did not feel disappointed — so many persons out of business, others
failing, in those trying times, who were hunting and picking up all business that was
doing and me being somewhat a stranger, that truly I could not expect to fall into
business as soon or as early as might be supposed.

To save an inroad on my purse, I went httle into company and seldom to town,
unless business of the family called me there. All the work that could be done by
son and self did it.

In the fall of 1821 the Democratic principle prevaUed. A Democratic treasurer
was chosen. Before his election I addressed a letter to him, offering my services
This letter was not handed to him until the day before the election, although it wa
written three months before. Of course he had to make his arrangements and I was
disappointed. My principal desire to get that situation w^as more to thwart the new
Auditor General Duncan than otherwise. Being so well acquainted in settlement
of the public accounts of that department I presumed that there could be no doubt
respecting me. Mr. Clark provided for some of his friends who perhaps requested
it more than 1 did.

Minutes of Meeting, Friday, April 1 1921.

The April meeting of the Lancaster County Historical Society .was held this
evening in their room in the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library Building.

The reports of the officers included the reading of the minutes by the Secretary,
the financial statement by the Treasurer, and the Librarian's report, all of which
were approved.

The Librarian reported the following gifts and exchanges: Bulletin of the Grand
Rapids Library, Febniary, 1921; Transactions of the Western Reserve Historical
Society, October, 1920; National Catholic Welfare Council Bulletin, March, 1921;
Publications of the Kansas State Historical Society. 1920; Wisconsin Magazine of
History, March, 1921; Reports of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, 1911
to 1920; North Cfarolina Historical Society Proceedings, 1920; Annals of Iowa, January,
1921.

The thanks of the Society to all donors was expressed by vote.

There were five new appUcants for membership, whose names under the by-laws
lay over for action until the next stated meeting.

Mr. W. C. Allwein, 410 John Street, City, was elected to membership

Professor Herbert H. Beck, Chairman of the Committee for the Indoor Social
at the Iris Club, reported that all plans for the program were completed, the date to
be May sixth, the evening of the regular monthly meeting.

D. F. Magee, Esq., Chairman of the Committee for the Dnimore Celebration,
reported progress.

The President, in view of the fact that the Treasurer's work, in addition to his
new duties, is too onerous, presented a resolution that the assistant Recording Sec-
retary. Mr. John L. Summy, include in his office the work of Financial Secretary.

Tnere were two papers read. "A Sidelight of the War of the Revolution" being
a letter sent by the Committee of Safety in Lancaster to the Continental Congress
in June 1775. Edited and read by Hon. C. I. Landis.

The second was entitled "Autobiography of William Michael," (Part 1.) read
by Mr. George Erisman.

Upon the reminder that the Librarian had requested an additional book-case,
the Chair suggested that the book-case be secured. A vote favorable to this suggest-
ion was passed.

Adaline S. Spindler, Secretary.

(■65)

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1921

'' IfiBtorg If f rarit an ann in tf^r otttn ttt0rkBt|ott/'

LANCASTER COUNTY PETITIONS ETC., TO THE
SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 1784-1790.

H. H. Shenk
MINUTES OF THE MAY MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 5.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1921

(Lancaster County Petitions etc, to the Supreme Executive

Council-1784 1790)

By H. H. SHENK, State Library, Harrisburg Pa.

It ib not my purpose to entertain you this evening with anecdotes or
with interesting stories intended to please the ear for a moment, only to be
forgotten. It is my purpose rather to present a monograph that will be worth
publishing and that will form a permanent contribution to your very valu-
able publications. I have selected petitions and a few letters that I think
fairly well illustrate the varied activities of citizens of Lancaster County
during the period covered.

The period is an interesting one in our history, as you well know Mr.
Fisk saw fit to name it the Critical Period of American History. The period
is marked by many of the characteristics that follow in the wake of every
war. Added to this was the uncertainty as to the future of our national
government or perhaps better of the confederacy. In Pennsylvania we were
operating under the constitution of 1776 and one of the leading features of
our government was that of a single assembly instead of the senate and house
as provided for by the constitution of 1790. I have endeavored to select
documents that throw light not only upon different sections of the county
and that bring out prom.nent names but also such as will enable the student
of history to get an insight into the problems that faced the citizen of Lan-
caster County during this period.

It might be in order to mention here that Lancaster county was repre-
sented in the first general assembly which met at Philadelphia November
28th, 1776 by William Brown, Josiah Crawford, William Henry, Alexander
Lowrie, Philip Marsteller and Joseph Miller. That in the second assembly
which was held at Lancaster November 20th, 1777 the County was repre^
s?nted by James Anderson, William Brown, Ludwig Lauman, Alexander Low-
rey, John McMillan and Philip Marsteller and that in the assembly which
met at Philadelphia in 1778 Lancaster County was represented by James An-
derson, William Brown, John Gillchreest, Curtis Grubb, Alexander Lowrey,
and John Smiley. October 25th 1779 by James Anderson, William Brown
Junior, Emanuel Carpenter Junior James Cunningham, John Gillchreest,
James Jacks, Christopher Kucher, William Porter, John Smiley and John
Whitehill. 1780 — James Anderson, Emanuel Carpenter, Jacob Cook, James
Cowden, Philip Greenwalt, James Jacks, Christopher Kucher, Alexander
Lowrey, Adam Reigart, Mathias Slough and John Whitehill. 1781 — James
Anderson, Emanuel Carpenter, Jacob Cook, James Cowdien, Philip Green-
wait, James Hacks, Christopher Kucher, Alexander Lowrey, Adam Reigart,
Mathias Slough and John Whitehill. On November 12, 1784 the following
were declared elected from Lancaster County — Samuel Boyd, William Brown,
Emanuel Carpenter, Robert Clark, John Crai^, Robert Craig, Andrew Graff,
Peter Grubb Junior, John Hopkins, David Jenkins, Alexander Lowrey, James
Mercer, Joseph Montgomery, James Morrison, Adam Orth, William Parr,
James Porter, George Ross, Abraham Scott, William Stoey and Joseph Work.
October 27th, 1785, Dauphin havin^g now been separated from Lancaster the
Lancaster representatives were Samuel John Atlee, Emanuel Carpenter, Ed-
ward Hand, Adam Hubley, Alexander Lowrey, Abraham Scott, Joseph Work,
March 3rd 1786 William Parr took the place of Edward Hand resigned. The
members for Dauphin for this session were Daniel Bradley, Robert Clark,

(67)

(68)

David Krouse, Adam Orth. October 26, 1786 Samuel J. Atlee; who died
November 1786, Emanuel Carpenter, Adam Hubley, George Ross and Joseph
Work. Naveml>er 1, 1788, James Clanson, James Cunningham, Henry Der-
ing, Jacob Erb, John Hopkins, Alexander Lowrey. November 2nd.
1789 James Clanson, James Cunningham, Henry Dering, Jacob Erb, John
Hopkins, John Miller.

During this period the state was governed by the Supreme E3xecutive
Council a prominent member of which was Samuel J. Atlee who was also a
commissioner to the Indian Tribes of New York as the minutes of the Coun-
cil as well as a letter written by him will show. Among the petitions there
is one or more referring: to contested election cases in which it was charged
that men who were not qualified were permitted to vote. Under the con-
stitution of 1776 and the laws enacted in conformity therewith each district
selected two men to be justices of the peace only one of whom was commis-
sioned by the Supreme Executive Council. Bitter disputes arose at these
elections where only freeholders were permitted to vote and these contests
were frequently referred to the council.

With reference to the work of Samuel J. Atlee as one of the commis-
sioners to treat with the New York Indians at Fort Stanwix the writer res-
pectfully suggests that it will be quite worth while for some member of the
Historical Society to prepare a paper on this subject more particularly of
course in so far as it relates to the work of Mr. Atlee.

(Letter from Col. Hubley in Favour of Capt. Zeigler to His Excellency
John Dickenson Esq., President of Pennsylvania.)

Lancaster, June 22nd, 1784.
Sir:

We are Informed that a body of Troops are shortly to be raised, by the
United States, and that Pennsya. will have to furnish a part of them.

Permit me to solicite your Excellency's Interest in favour of Capt. David
Zeigler (late of the Penna. Line) for one of the Companies. He is a Gen-
tleman of an excellent character, and one whose zeal in our late glorious
struggle has been very conspicuous, he early entered the service, and Con-
tinued to the end of the War, in which he distinguished himself as an at-
tentive, brave and intelligent officer, and his general conduct has been
uniformly deserving of applause; any attention paid him will be most re-
spectfully acknowledged by

Your Excellenys most obt. and
very hum. Servt.
Adm. Hubley jr.

(To the Supreme Executive Council)

Lancaster August, 16th, 1784.
Sir:

The Council having appointed me to the Care of the Barracks, Public
store house and Powder magazine in this Town, I beg leave to inform them
that one of the Gable Ends has lately been broke down by the fall of a
Chimney from that part of the Barracks which was lately sold. This acci-
dent has laid open some of the rooms and will receive much injury by the
weather indeed the whole of the Barracks are in a ruinous situation and
unless a new roof is put on the whole Barracks will be destroyed in a short
time.

I am Sir your
Hble. Servt.

X John Shriber.

(e9)

In vol. 14, p. 186 of the Colonial Records under date of Aug, 28, 1784,
there appears a very interesting minute of the proceedings in council, In
-which the above named Samuel Jl Atlee and others were eriveit a largre
quantity of goods with which to make peace with the Indians. The powers
and duties of the said Atlee et al as commissioners also appear in the said
minute, as the whole Is already in print in the Colonial Records, reference
to it here is all that is necessary.

(Petition of Thomas Whiteside and others)

Sept. 10th., 1784.
To his Excellency the president and Council of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania The Petition and Remonstrance of a number of the Inhabitants
of the Townships of Bart and Colerain in the lower end of Lancaster County
humbly sheweth that on the 28th. Ult., a Petition was presented to his
^Excellency the President representing* an election held on the eighth of
June last in sd. district in order to choose two fit persons for the office of
magistrate, when by fraudulent and collusive means in admitting a number
of persons to a vote who were not entitled to that privilege by law together
w^ith mean and undue influence previous to sd. election, Joseph Miller was
first upon the return to support which complaint we can produce the testi-
mony of Paul Ralston, John Baird, John Anderson and others. And
whereas the prayer of said petition was rejected and a legal investigation
of the proceedings respecting said election refused we would once more
request your honorable body to grant us the privilege to which as Free-
holders and Freemen of the Commonwealth we are entitled by law as
the subversion of said election will not only redress a greivance which
must otherwise be borne by your petitioners with much reluctance but will
also give a check to rising corruption which if cherished may soon become
so prevalent as to pervert the very design of Elections and destroy the
privilege of elective power.

Thomas Whiteside
John Paxton
Alex Lewis
Andrew Work
Jacob Boil stone
(Petition of Christian Wirtz and Son)

Sept. 23rd., 1784
To the Supreme Executive Council, of the State of Pennsylvania, the
petition of Christian Wirtz and Son, respectfully sheweth that they have
imported eight pieces of superfine Broadcloths and two pieces of Coatings
in the Ship Commerce Captain Thomas Truxton from London, which are
considerably damaged, they therefore request of council an order of Survey,
to the wardens of the port, that the same may be examined, and the
necessary measures forwarded for sale of said goods, for the benefit of the
insurers, as they are now in a very perishable state.

(Letter from the Honorable S. Atlee)

Pequea, Lancaster County, Nov. 18th., 1784
Sir:

I take the first opportunity to inform council of my arrival last evening
at my own house, to take a few days rest and refreshment, after the most
fatiguing piece of business I ever undertook.

I have the great pleasure of reporting that, that part of our mission
which respected the Northern Tribes has been concluded to our utmost
wish, and I trust will be fully satisfactory to the State. The consequences
we must leave.

Col. Johnston has begged a few days to see his family, when we shall
sell off the remaining part of our tract which I fear will be much more

(70)

disagrreeable than the former, by reason of the advanced season of year, I
mean our western duty, we hope however, should we return safe to be able
to report upon that business with equal satisfaction to ourselves and
constituents.

The deed from the six nations for Its grreater security we thought
proper Col. Johnston should take with him, but upon second consideration,
I thought best .to have it with us and have apprised him thereof. Should
council be desirous of seeing it, he will have the pleasure of laying it before
them for their perusal.

Until my arrival I heard little of the contents subsisting respecting the
late election, particularly of this county, my unfortunate absence upon
publick business in October last prevented my declaring against an election
of CounciMers for this County, which had I been present I think should
have done, judging myself fully entitled to a seat in the Executive for three
years, from the preceding election. This, I think I have full authority for,
from the 19th. section of the form of government which says "for the
present (that is the year 1777) the supreme Executive Council shall consist
of twelve persons chosen in the following manner, and after the first
choice in 1777. The successive Councillers shall be chosen for three years
and no longer.

By this clause, I think myself entitled for two years longer to a seat li*
the Council. Nothing but the important public duty assigned me (could
prevent my attendance and demanding my seat but trusting in the wisdom
and impartial Justice of Council and determining shortly to proceed to the
westward must defer it, until our return to make our final report.

Granting a right of election for a Councillor, the last October which
I by no means do) I think any pretensions strengthened (if possible) by a
great majority of my Constituents having declared for me which I trust will
be found ( if the matter shall be thought worthy of cool and full investiga-
tion.)

The election of the district of Paxton returning about eight hundred
votes, I understand has been held without the Judges, etc., bein^ legally
qualified, and that not more than one hundred and fifty or at most two
hundred voters present.

Complaints are likewise made against the exorbitant numbers returned
from the district of Lebanon, the disproportion of the voters present being
nearly similar to that of Paxton.

Mere making of right and not of choice has induced me thus fully to
write to your Excellency and Council for be assured Sir, I find more real en-
joyment and satisfaction in one weeks residence with my Family and
Friends, than I have experienced in all the nine or ten years attendance up-
on the Duties of the public.

I have the Honour to be Sir

your Excellencys and the Councils most
obedient and most Hble. Servt.
Saml. J. Atlee.
His Excellency Jno. Dickinson Esqr. Presidt.

It will be interesting to note that the services of Mr. Atlee and his fel-
low commissioners were altogether successful in their efforts to negotiate
with the six nations at Fort Stanwix, as a message from President Dickinson
and the Supreme Executive Council to the General Assembly February 26,
1785 indicates. This message is published on page 159, of the Votes of As-
sembly of Pennsylvania of the years 1784-1785 and also in the Messages
etc. of the Governors in the Fourth Series of Pennsylvania Archives.

"Petitions Against Extending Market On High Street, Phila."
The following petitions from the inhabitants of the county of Lancaster

(71)

praying that the market house in High street within the city of Philadelphia
may not be extended farther westward are I believe the most valuable docu-
ments- of the kind in existence. They indicate the extent to which Lancaster
County farmers were interested in the Philadelphia markets and the lists of
names of signers including as they do those of residents of what are now the
counties of Lebanon and Dauphin constitute an unusually valuable contribu-
tion to the history of Lancaster County. After the publication of this paper
by the Historical Society the writer predicts that descendants of Lancaster
countians from all over the United States will express a desire to see the
original lists in the Division of Public Records in the State Library of Harris-
burg. These petitions are without date but in the Votes of Assembly of
Pennsylvania 1784-1785 there appears this minute. "Petitions from a con-
siderable number of the inhabitants of the county of Lancaster* were read,
praying the Market-house in High street, within the city of Philadelphia,
may not be further extended westward. Ordered to lie on the table."

It is needless to say that many of the names are difficult to trans -literate
but it is believed that as reasonable a degree of accuracy as is possible under
such circumstances has been attained.

(Petition Against Extending Market on High St.)

Read April 1, 1785.

To the General Assembly of Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsyl-
vania The Memorial and Petition of divers Freeman of the County of Lan-
caster Respectfully sheweth,

That your memorialists stand informed, that repeated applications have
been made to the honourable House, for a law to extend the Market House on
High Street, still farther westward.

That it is of great importance to the Farmer to have a ready access with
his wagon into the heart of the city; The price of his produce, and the readi-
ness of sale, greatly depend upon it; There he can most easily purchase such
goods as he may have occasion for, and best inform himself of the lowest
price at which they are sold. While, on the contrary, if he be obliged to re-
main at the outskirts of the city, there are fewer purchasers for his produce,
he is at greater difficulty to obtain what he wants to purchase, and more
liable to be imposed on by the few traders who may reside there.

That High Street, from its great width, is well calculated for accomodat-
ing wagons, while they remain in the city; but the other streets are too nar-
row as to be extremely inconvenient — That even that street, wide as it is,
has lately often been much crowded, and that increase of wagons is so great,
as must soon render a want of room for them a distressing circumstance —
That the farmer who brings his produce from a great distance, in wagons,
may as reasonably expect accomodations, while he remains in the city, as
those who bring their produce a smaller distance on horseback — That while
there is no other suitable place than High Street, yet provided for the re-
ception of great number of wagons, there are many other convenient places
for those who bring their produce on horseback, and which may be extended
to any degree of conveniency.

Your petitioners therefore pray, that until some large open square, near
the centre of the trading part of the city, can be obtained for the reception
of wagons, the entrance into the heart of the city by High Street, may not
be any further interrupted, or prevented, by any means whatever.

And your petitioners as in duty bound, will etc.

(72)

Petition Number One
Those marked * signed their names in German.

Paul Zantzingrer
John Offner
Charles Boyd
John Longanecre
Hannes lieb*
John Pfautz*
George Schwartz*
Robert Moore
Thomas Turner
Joseph Schenck
Jacob Shlofft*
Hannss Witmer*
Michael Zartman*
Jacob Zartman
Alexander Zartman*
Kmanuel artman*
Bentik Eschleman
John Hamaker
Johannes Koeller*
Christian Kauffman
John Pflieger
Johannes Langenecker*
Henrich Miller
Philib Rank*
Michael Rautz*
Andreas Herschey*
Jacob Herschy*
Christian Meyer*
Jost Brand*
Ulrich Weltmer*
Jacob Graeff*
Johannes Nichlaus*
Manuel Herr*
Daniel Lehman*
Peter Hege*
Christian Herr*
Philip Hess*
Abraham Gisch
William Huggins
Andreas Kauffman*
Andrew Shober

his
Marks X Na^el
merk
Christian Stauffer*
Johannesh War*
John Leaman
George Bard
Hans Frey*
Abraham Stauffer*
Jacob Kindrick
Abraham Doner*
George Webb
Gerg Illig*

Philip Beyer*
Christian Kagey* . .
John Brand
Abraham Mayer*
Martin Bar
Jacob Wihelm
Jaco Schneider*
Jacob Hostetter
Johannes Schwar*
Abraham Brubacher
John Kauffman
Peter Miller*
Christian ( )*

Christian Merckel*
Georg Rub*
Friedrich Schob*
Peter Maurer*
Johannes Lang*
Joseph Martin*
Haness Frantz*
Georg Dut* (Gut?)
John Shenk
Abraham Dohner*
Adam Weber*
Jacob Stahl*
Abraham Reiff*
Johannes Wendt*
Jonas Wittwer*
Jacob Brubacher
Jacob Ludwick*
Michael Vankennen
Johannes Mosser*
Christian Harschl*
Friedrich Schwartz*
Frantz Hopp*
Michal Cagee*
David Bender*
Christian Erb
John Johnsen
Abraham Wittmer
Henerrich German*
Vallentin Whitmeyer*
Conrad Schreck*
Stofel Winter*

Mich Wittmer*

his
Michael M. Witmer

mark
Daniel Baum*
Hanis ( )♦

Daniel Bard*
Isaac Neff*
Jacob Stehman*
Henrich Brubacher*
Jacob Greiner*

Isaac Long*
Chria Brubacher*
John Lapelhoun (?)
John Fisher
Isaac Baer*
Steffan Meyer*
Johannes Schumacer*
Abraham Peter*
Johannas Noackr*
Philip Becker*
Jacob Nye*
Peter Stauffer*
Abraham Huber*
Abraham Carpenter
Michael Forner
Adam Dambach*
Henry Van Vleck Jur.

his
Henry X Shopp
mark
Johannes Martin*
Leonhart Rickert*
Jacob Strobel*
Christian Schenk*
Henrich Kauffman*
Samuel Hege*
Michael Boghman
George Graff
Martin Speck*
Hannes Kuntz*
Jacob Gemberling*
Samuel Stemt*
John Graff
Jacob KrebieUl
Sebastian Nese
Abraham Huber*
Simon Schneider*
Christian Huber*
Samuel Stentz
Henrich Neff*
James Keyes
Gorg Seltrich*
Jacob Erhart*
Hannes Horst*
John Eby
Johannes Wittmer*
William Bischoff*
Sammuel Rihen*
Andreas Scholl*
David Neidig*
Georg Rath von*
Christian Staufar
Henry Rovan
Samuel Funck*

(73)

Abraham Cerpar*
Henry Breneman
Mardin Bard*
Matheis Dunckel*
Jacob Meyer*
Will Webb
Samuel Bar*
John Huber
Henrich Wilhelm*
Isaac Kauffman*
Henrich Vaug*
Samuel Huber*
William Evans
John Binkley
Jacob Steiner*
Christian Steiner*
Henrich Hiestand*
Christian Stauffer*

his
Henry O. Bletzer

mark
Ludwig Stotz*
John Gillard
Valledin Kress*
Adam Keller*
Samuel Mayer*
Christian Martin*
Ludwig Uhler*
Peter Allbright
Lanhart Klein*
Christian Loneneker*
Johannes Frey*
Martin Mayer*
Peter Leman*
Henrich Beh*
Johannes Bar*
John Pflineger*

his
Matthias X Wendnagel

mark
Andrew Hartman
Peter Maurer*
Philip Schaum*
Martin Huber*
Henrich Paulus*
Jacob Bamberger
Joseph Bamberger*
Jas. Patterson
his
Martin X Hambright

mark
Gerg. Hambrecht*
Abraham Kege*
Matteis Marret*
Isaac Horschii*
Michel Gerber*
Jacob Lang

his
David X Elgen
mark
Michael Funck*

his
Philip X Brenner

mark
David Kauffman*
Baltzer Schortzer*
John Hostetter
Christian Hostetter*
Joseb Schuerch*
Joseph Charles
Christian Brug*
Henrich Baer*
Jonathan Jones
Herman Long
Jacob Ebersol*
Abraham Buchwalter*
Jacob Landis*
George Messersmith
Frederick Sheaffer
Michael Gottschall*
Georg Illig*
Michael Gerber*
Jacob Mayer*
John Landes
Michael Pime
John Sponhower
Peter Resh
John Light
Michael Ruedner
John Newcomer
Abraham Stiberlry
Johan Schontz*
Jacob Johnson
Christian Zimmerman*
Hans Zimmerman*
Jacob Eberle*
Christian Miller *
Johannes Hun*
Jacob Messersmith
Anthon Beck*
Johannes Odenwalt*
Ludwig Urband*
Hanes Kurtz*
Jacob Rupp*
Abraham Garber*
Saml. Patterson
Jacob Reisht
Peter Gerber*
John Neidig*
Christian Herman*
Samuel Neudig*
Christian Herr*
John Ween
Isaac Miller*

Jacob Brubacher*
Jos. Wright
Willm Wright
Christian Weissler*
Jacob Mayer*
Abraham Zerfass*
Paul Traut*
Johannes Getz*
Gerg Schub*
Adam Dietz*
Christoff Stech*
Isaac Kuntz
Johanes Leman*
Michael Gerber*
Andres Bar*
Joseb Brubacher*
Andres Gerber*
Martin Mayer*
Henrich Ruth*
Jacob Geyer*
Henrich Ruth*
Henrich Beyer*
Jacob Rothenauer*
Georg Geyer*
Conrad Lantz
Johan Schultz*
Dewalt Schmidt*
Jacob Bassler*
Peter Stotz
Solomon Herman*
Ludwig Wohlfarth
George Rack*
Daniel Weber*
David Landres*
Benjamin Landes
John Shaefer
Henrich Kaslroth*
Jacob Martin*
Andreas Riem
Lorentz Herckelroth*
Michael Barr*
Henry Miller
John Miller
Stofel Drawinger*
Jacob Sontag*
John Knaeussle*
Henrich Geyer*
George Kappes
Abi'aham Baer*
Peter Fohrney*
Christian Fahrney
Martin Wohlfarth
Christian Oblinger*
George Feather
Johannes Kraus*
John Oblinger
Ludwig Bronner*

Adam Hirschberger*
Jacob Wolf*
John Snyder
Jonathan Rowland
Christian Knopp*
Stoffel Waltz*
William Heidler*
Sigmut Klein*

(74)

John Detweiler
Benjamin Bucher
Jacob Sponhauer*
Daniel Hintner*
JJohannes Gessler*
Jacob Stiben*
Frantz Lambert*
Johannes Kauffman*

Christian Stibely
Gottlieb Youngman
Jacob Youngman
Paul Weitzel*
Johannes Kneussli*
Samuel Huber*
John Gerber
Chrlstion Kroft*

(Note) Petition No. 2 is Missing

Fred Seeger
Jacob Huber*
Henrich Merkly*
David Diffenderfer
Earl MuUr*
Peter Eaker
George Stone
Johannes Stein*
Thos. Henderson
John Wilson
Jacob Beck
Georg Voltz*
James McConnall
Wm. Cloud
John Markly
Alexander Wilson
John Armor
John Gordan
John Wilson
John Sensenig
Hans Huber*
Joseph Huber*
John Devenderfer
George Devenderfer
Jacob Diefenderfer*
Jacob Diefendorfer*
Solomon Dietz
John Miller
John McMullen
Joseph' Beggs
Wm. Beggs
John Beggs
Henry Hambright
Ludwich Hanck or

Rauck*
Andw. Givan
Alexander Martin

Petition No. 3

Thomas Kittera
Wm. Smith
Amos Evan
William hand. senr.
Michael Steven
Daniel Gehr
David Witwer
Daniel Houston
John sinsinigh
Jacob Wldler
John Grey
John Jinkin, Jur.
John Gonter
Robert Laggaet
George Rione
Adam Rauck*
John Rees
Joseph Whitshill
Daniel Beck
Robert Good
Henry Hildebrand
John Davis
Hannes Voltz*
Harman Skiles
Jacob sintzenig
James Martin
Jacob Schaffner
Alexr. Mcilvain
John Zell
Christoph. Grosch*
Jacob Kautz*
Daniel Kouts
George Blumer
Joseph Zimmerman*
Georg Matter*
David Wishart
Isaac Eby

Adam Zimerman
John Huber, Senr.
Georg Martin*
Peter Smith
Daniel Witwer
Jacob Schafer*
Georg Leonhard*
Wm. Dietz
George Weaver
Jacob Glaster, Junr.*
Michael Hildebrand*
Henry Peter
Robert Wright
Andreas Kolb*
Mathias Shirk
Owen Bruner
Vallendin Petter*
James Watson, Juner
James Wallace
James Watson
William Hemons
John Davies
Samuel Merchal
Zacchs. Davis
Hanss Zentzen*
Marte Marten
Barger Schenck*
Marten Roth*
Henrich Rodacder*
Danl. McKee
Hugh Thomson
Henry Weever. Jur.
Jacob Roth
Gorg Lenroth*
Martz Zwinden (?)*
Peter Bentz*
Henry Zern*

(76)

Adam Miller
Jacob Andrew
Ludwick Andrew
Christian Bowman
John Bowman
Beniamin Gorges*
Thomas Davis
George Werner
John Hetter
Jocob Keller Junr.
Hans Jacob Keller*
Wendel Hupshman
Johannes Muller*
Adam Nees
Abraham Graeff*
Joseph Heffle
Thoms. Locquier
Abraham Klein*
Johannes Lutz*

Petition No. 4

Casper Schmidt*
Daniel Fahnestock*
Casper Fahnestock*
James Wright
Charles Fahnstock
Andreas Pifer
Marcus Montelius
Abraham Hirschberger*
Jacob Rehm*
Lenhard Keller*
John Sheafer
Adam Weitzel
Phillib Epprecht*
Adam Mosser*
Christian Waber*
Bernhard Reiger*
Joseph Groff*
Christian Frantz*
Jacob Bower

Andraw Ream Jun.
Fillib Dock*
Georg Dock*
Fillib Dock Yung*
John Norton
John Wolff
Edward Rehford
James McNeely
James Mcfaden
Anthony Ellmaker
Heinrich Steinbrick*
Georg Lenard*
Henrich Schmidt*
James Johnston
Emig Schneiter
Jacob Schowalter*
Gabriel Davis
Edward Good
David McKee

William Busch*
Melcher Rutisili*
John Borkholder
Michael Hess
John Groff
Henrich Muller*
John Nelan
Johan Sharff*
Henrich Mayer*
Martin Lauman*
Licwis Lauman, Jr.
Stephen Martin
Johannes Graff*
Hannes Barrens*
Wm. Sawyer Jr.
Robert McCallen
William Sawyer Senr.
Faldin Greinaer*
Fr. Denken Miller
Joel Ferree
Sam Lefever
Emanuel Ferree
Isaac Ferree
Johannes Mun
Conred Mann*
Michel Wenger*
Johannes Horst*
Gorg Deier*

his
John H. Frantz

mark
George Kugler
Archibald Steel
Samuel Eby
Hannas Herschi*
Joseph Jagi*
Jacob Bar*
Christian Brand*
Mar din Becker*
Johannes Neuhart*
Hans Schenck*
Christian Eschliman*
Lewis Peters

PeUtion No. 5

John Huber
Rudy Herr*
Henrich Landes*
Jacob Killheffer
Michael Diffenderfer*
Adam Fonderau
Michael Hock*
Robertus Waller*
Johannes Schmidt*
Petter Brown
Michael Siegrist*
Daniel Melone
Wm. Bausman
Matthias Young
Philip Gloninger. Jr.
Philip Leonard
Philip Difendafer
Filib Finck*
Philip Dietrich*
Christian Neaff
John Bausman
Andreas Bausman*
Frederick Bausman
William Crabb
Philip Schumacher*
Joshua Haines
Jno. Bowman
John McFarland
Jno. McKinnle
James Laird Snr.
Shem Grabeill*

Joseph Mischler*
liUdwig easier Junior
Hendrix Ruthy*
Christian Eby
Sebastian Keller
Jacob Schoneder*
(Illegible)
Martin Frey*
Michael Rahm

Daniel Hirschi*
Georg Wohlfarth*
Jacob Rahm
Hannes Frantz*
Robt. Templeton
Johannes Ebersohl*
Jas. Porter
Jas. McMillen
Tho. Wiggins
Andrew Berreyhill Senr.
James Caldwell
Andrew Moore
Everard Gruber
Frederick Rathvon
Jacob Eshleman
William Young
Daniel Bradley
Jas. McCreight
John Bnsworth
Josias Espy
Isaac Harrison
Jas. Dixon
David Witmer
Fredk. Snyder
Simon Snyder
John Graeff
John Boughman
Martin Baer*
Abraham Newcomer
Michael Schenck*
Christian Borrell*
Benjamin Lesle
Adam Weber*
Jacob Brubacher*
Henrich Dorr
Daniel Bollinger*
John Ward
Hans German*
Michael Bender*
Henrich Scheubly*
Christian Kauffman*
Johannes Rohrer*

(76)

Note: No. 6 is Missing

Christoph Ziblot»
Michael Miller*
Hannes Schee*
Harris Schnebli*
Jacob Vicks*
A.ndon Carmeni*
Leonhart Imel*
Peter Miller*
Jacob Bicher*
Hannes Daner*
Sebastan Wolf
Jno Philip Peck
Johanes Imel*

his
Jacob X Snee

mark
Christ. Peck
Philip deboi
A.brahani Diel
Johan Henner
Casper Jost (Yung)*
Henrich Schnatterly
A.braham Hell
Johannes Merckel

his
Joseph X Krause

mark
Philip Weiss
Leonard Toops
Facob Eichenberner Jung
A.dani Rine
John Macher
Henrich Seyler
Bartel Rickert
John Shultz
Peter Ambrosius
his

Petition No. 7

Thomas X Atkinson

mark
Hans Grof*
Daniel Stroh*
Adam Leobart*
Michael Uhler*
Elick Martin
John Rohr

sen!
Georg X Trung*

merck
Hans Licht Jung*
James Long
Peter Schmitt*
Jacob Weaver
Johannes Fischer*
Peter Fischer

( )

Casber Ellinger*

George Ellinger, Aid*
Casper Lob*
George Bacman

his
Abraham X Ramsey

mark
Abraham X Smut

his

mark
Wm. Rine
Andrew Krause
Lenhart Kohler*

his
John I. D. Dutweiler

mark
Michael Killinger
Necolous Strone
John Dups

Hans Lichtald*
Conradt Diel*
aenrich Durckes*
Henrich Schnatterley*
Jacob Snevely
George Strow
John Scully
Casper Jost*
Jacob ( )*

sein
Hanes X Richert*

merck
Michael Breidebach*
Nicalaus Bechler*
Hans Urich Schnebli*
Michel Thciss"
Georg Hock Aid*
Friedrich Stover*
Caspar Stover*
Peter Miller
John Krause
Christophel Ambrosius*
Phillip Fernsler*
Michel Miller*
Adam Rice
James McClane
Johannes Reuther*
Johannes Stein*
George Ellinger Jur
Jacob Weirich*
George Schnebly*
Casber Yung blut*
David Krause
John Stoehr
George Reinahl*
Philip Mies*

Peter Martin
Martin Mohler*
George Gotz*
Philip Beck
Jost Miller*
Henrich Miller*
John Smith
Michael Bitzer*
Baltzer Gotz*
Jacob Landes*
Solomon Mayer
Johannes Urig*

Petition No. 8

Hannes Schaffer*
Abraham Cerpar*
Mark Martin
Aberham Schefer*
Bearnhard Feather
George Rock
Jacob Carpenter
Peter Farni*
George Miller
Abraham Fahrny
Johannes Martin*
Jacob Heist*

John Kemyer*
Peter Schwartzmeler*
Leonhard Rotig
( ) Rohland*

Jacob Nagly
Jacob Neagly Jur.
Johannes Zoller*
George Lick*
Peter Sneider
Joseph Inebenet
Joseph Willis
Conrad Myer*

(77)

Mark Grove
Charles Hasaker
Christian Forney
John Sense ny
Andreas Heidler*
George Rap*
Michael Lehman*
Ludwig Lehman*
Frantz Brumbach*
Christian Meier
Duest Leman* (?)
Christian Reuckanet*
Christian Rorbach*
Salaman Hermann*
Frederick Ream
Johan Leinbach*
John Oblinger
Johannes Schillug*
George Stober*
John Meier
Joseph Flickin^er
Christoph Oberlen*
John Martin
Peter Swartz
Jacob Groff
Henrich Hackman*

George Rouy
Andreas Wiessler*
David Schurg*
Wendel Martin
Philib Buch*
Michael Oberlin*
Adam Oberlin*
Hannes Bucher*
Jacob Eunraht*
Georg German*
Johannes German*
Peter Banner*
Michael Groff*
Philib Hauck*
Stophel Schurb*
Henrich Bar*
Christoph Miller*
Benedict Bucher*
Conrad Holssinger*
Abraham Brubacher*
David Rolland
Martin Bar*
Michael Reuter*
John Sponhower Jur.
Jacob Sponhower
Mathias Drueckenbrod*

Martin Wohlfart

Daniel Carpar

(Illegible)

Bern ( ) ( )eutzer*

Michel Schreck*
Stofel Gessel*
Abraham Kneislie
Johan Kleunn*
Georg Hoh*
Philip Kreig
Henrich Bauer*
Samuel Nees
Martin Bentz*
Michael Kneisli*
William Willis
Cristian Holdner*
Henrich Dulban*
Cristian Webar*
Michael Fuchs*
John Gertner*
Wilhelm Schwunt*
Peder Feder
Henrich Feder*

Adam Brua
Wendel Traut*

Jonattan Mollor (?).*
Peter Diller
Michael Hildebrand
peter borckholter*
hannis brubacher*
Zacheus piersol
Antross bohr*
John Eaby
John Sense ny
Jacob Mumah*
Johannes roth*
John Greiss*
henrich Schneider*
bennet (?) Gorman*
Nicolaus Hand*
Georg hildebrand*
Peter Gut
Elijah Hudson
Johannes beitzer*
Michael Brauss*
Christian hoU
Joseb Groff*
Henry Zuber*
Aberham Groff*
Samuel Weber*
Jao ber*
John McCally
Peter Grim*
hans Weber*
Jorg Ihle*

Petition No. 9

Jacob Snavely
Michael ber*

Johannes Voraus*
Adam Braun*
David Graf*
Christian Rudt*
Georg Kayser*

Daniel schmitt*
David Reiff*
Daniel bosshor*
Peter Sharp
henrich guht*

Hiness Yortt*
Georg Weber*
John Goldin^
Chonrat Menser*
henrich Weber*
Martin huber*
John Yondt
Valintin Rank*
Michael Hauze
Petter Finney (?) or

Funey*
John Suck
Lodowick Reel*
herich steinbrick*

sein
Eelig X Gatt*

merg

Atam ramborger*
Jacob Jorter*

Robt. Cowan
filib schoffer*
Nicohaus Weber
henrich stouffer*
John Wilson
John Crawford
henrich Kintzer*
Christian burkolter*
Jacob hoU
Michel schnoter*
John Sheafer
Antross Meynno*
Robert Wallace, Junior

Cristian rutt* .
Jacob weber*
Jacob Hiefer*
John Rutter
Samuel Stoufer*
Joseph Haines
Conrad Falmstock

Samuel Crabil
Adam Swope
John Hinkle
Abraham Wolfe
Philip Killian*
Johannes Weber*
Andrew Yount

(78)

Abraham Carpenter
John Demlinger
Jacob Kerner*
Constantine Menaugh
William Connel
Charles McClung
Michael Meyer*
Benjn Williams
Martin Carpenter
John Venner
David Thomas
Abraham Lefever
Henry Hersh
John Harr
Poul trout
Nicolaus Seregus*
Benjamin Harr
Samuel Lefever, Jun.

Jacob Beck*
Joseph Lefever
Hugh McCalla
Edward Davies
Hugh McClung

Petition No. 10

Charles McCowen
Henry Carpenter
Christian Hartman
George Trout
Abraham Trout
John Rowe
Franciscus rawen (?)
John Smith
Saml. Stambaugh
James Quigly
Jacob Stambaugh
Rudolph Penenger
Adam Cremor
Peter Larche
Martin CocViesborger
Daniel Ferree
John Ferree
William Linvill
Peter Feree
John Sherts
Jacob Shertz
Martin Kendig
William Ferree
Jacob Bakers

Petition No. 11

Jacob Ferree
John Trober
Matthias Slay maker
John Shoafstall
Philip Ferree
ludwig roth*
John Foster
Philip Caplan
William Price
John Powell
William Foster
Matthew McClung, Sr.
William Patton
Mattw. McClung, Junr.
Mattw. Leetch
Wm. Reynolds
Fredirick White
Andw. Ferree
Adam Byerly
Daniel Shoefstall
John Shoefstall
Jacob Ferre
Isaac peck

(This is the only petition headed Lancaster & York Counties)

Saml. Wright
John Storm.
Ande Graphff (?)*
Henrich Steiner*
Thoma.s VNindlert
Adam Speck*
Petter Brubacher*
Philip Sprecher*
Charles Lorton
Michel Heller
Peter Yung*
David Dutt*

his
Matheas X Stauffer*

mark
Andrew Cox
John Mishy

John Shillen Jr.
Jacob Shillen
Jacob Sontag
David Land 03
Jaco!) Landes
John Landes
Abraham Landes
Samuel Kealler
David Herschl>t'rger*
Jacob Keller*

Conrad Handschu*
John Handschu*
Adam Lutz*
Hannes Lutz*
Stoffel Nagel*
Wilhelm Boz*

his
Chrn X Bamberg

mark
Johannes Held
Daniel Baker
Abraham Wittmer*
Abraham Wohlgemuth*
George Hommer
Henrich Schorck*
Benjamin Mayer
Daniel Nagle

Petition No. 12

Johannes Furman*
Jacob Scherb*
Jacob Oberlin*
Henrich Herschberger*
Lawrence Ludwick
George Sell?r
Christian Graf*
Hannes Schmidt*
John Bitzer
Joseph Wenger*
Christian Oblinger

John Becker
Titus England
Ernest Rafesnider
Abraham Vantros
Jacob Gerhart*
Petter Bricker*
God lib Hartman
John Arnstol
John Sheaf er
Fridrich Worntz*
Henry Pinkton
George Gresinger
Jacob Demeler
Joseph Seydenspinner
John Haldeman
Conrad Negla*

Adam Hiesner*
Henrich Heugal*
Adam Dreish
Adam Scheuner*
Daniel Rich
George Weaver
George Willard*
Hannes Koch*
Ludwig Weber*
Paul Fuhrman*

(79)

Note: Petition not numbered but indorsed as received in Council.

Michael Gundacker
Benjamin Beane
Joshua King
Ruti Funck*
Richd Henry
Mardin Jordan*
Johannes Berr*
Christian Abbel*
Christian Erb
Jacob Knoll
Nicolaus Schreiner*
Benjamin Imoberste^*
Isaac Peter
Henrery Woo If
John Brubaker
Adam Herr*
Frantz Hopp*
John Leman
Ffilip Wein*
William McKinly
Christian Tschantz*
Liorenz Borsch*
John Allen

Adam Messencope
Johannes Braun*
Michael Rudesili*
Michel Wengart*
David Miller*
Deobart Schunt*
Martin Weybert
Andreas Voltz
Conrad Wilth
John Hohrer
Philip Hockschleger
William Meyrs
Samuel Smith
John Mathiot
Nehemiah ( )

Willm. Hughes
Thom Huster
Johannes Ebersole
Jacob Enck*
Johannes Forrer*
Peter Wille
Nicolaus Kohl*
John Scherzer

April 1st, 1785.

Ditrick Cump
Tsazk Kendrick*
c) ohaiKies *? rerA man*
Martin Hollar*
Cunard Helvors
William Hay
David Braun*
John Miller
Jacob Kuchler*
John Ween

Fr ( . ) Hersch*
Jacob Bergh*
Michael Hook
Ferdinand Hook
John Kepple
John Grein
Ludwig Demy*
Frantz igi*
George Lodman
John Lodman
John Bare
George Gundocker

Jo>in Soites
John Good
Hugh Thompson
Hugh Hanna
Hanes Bochman*
•lanes Scherck*
Christian Meier*
Samuell Schenck

Petition not Numbered

Andreas Meixell*
Dewalt P^inffrock*
Jacob Aker
Filib Shnater*
Ernst Miller*
Abraham Wolff*
Jacob Roland*
Wilhelm Berly*

Jakob Steuhrin
Wantel Kramer*
Pr-ter Dantz*
Isaac Davis
Jacob Frey*
Isaac Reist*
Valentin Stower

The petitioners in all number about 1000 names, all Lancaster Countians
as the County th?n existed.

(Petition from Lancaster for Magistrate)

To his Excellency John Dickinson Esquire President of the Supreme Ex-
ecutive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.

The remonstrance of sundry inhabitants, freemen of the Townships of
iJont^i^al, Rapho and Mount Joy in the County of Lancaster humby sheweth

Whereas agreeable to the proclamation of your Honble body the Free-
men of the above Townships held an election for Magistrates on the ninth
day of Augu t last past, when James Bayley (who acted in that Commission
the by past seven years) was fairly and duly elected by a majority of votes, a
return made out, sent to Lancaster in order to be transmitted to your Honble

(80)

Body for choice and confirmation in his said election; as he, when last com-
missioned acted impartially and judiciously in his administration of Justice
betwixt man and man, do request him to be again commissioned; and should
there be any alienations alleged or laid in against him, before your Hon-
ours, that he may have due notice and a regular hearing appointed him, and
your remonstrance shall ever be in duty bound to pray.

May 9th, 1785.

Georg Gansz
John Becker
Philip Becker

his
Michael X Becker

mark
Waltei BeU
John Frederick •
Bart M. Galbraith
Jacob Sheerman
James Cook, Jnr.
John Watson
Danie. Stauffer
John Gomer

Nicklas Beck
George Vance
John Vance
Willeam Miller
Saml. Woods
Nathaniel McGirr
James Millar
Freidrich Maurer
Freidrich Bauer
Jacob Holzabffel
JohnEnnauk
John Winand
Robert Porter
Martin Siegler
Friederich Gellbach

(Petition of James Gamble)

Arthur Vance
John Defrance
David Cook
Hannes Swartz
Brice Clark
Robert Craig
John Groff
Hugh CalweU
Fiiedrich Stumpf
David Semple
William Thornton
Seimon Karbach
Eanack Haistins
Ulrich Danner

To the Honorable the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Penn-
sylvania.

The memorial of James Gamble of the County of Lancaster most hum-
bly Sheweth,

That your Memorialist early in the year one thousand seven hundred
and seventy-six entered into the service of the United States, as part of the
quota of this State, and continued therein until discharged in the city of
Philadelphia after the exoiration of the war-
That your Memorialist then went to Ireland to visit his family, who had
suffered many inconveniences from his long absence, and returned with
them to this country to enjoy that freedom and happiness which he for a
series of years, as far as an individual could, had used his utmost exertions
to procure and establish.

That the greatest part of your Memorialists property is in the hands
of the United States, who having it not yet in their power to discharge the
public deb's, prevents him from entering into business, or making any tol-
erable provision for his family.

That your Memorialist having procured a' temporary residence in the
County of T-.ancaster to wait some more favorable event, has been informed
the collection of excise for the said County is at present vacant.

May it therefore please your Honours to take your Memorialists situa-
fon into consideration and grant him the said collection as an immediate
relief for himself and family and your Memorialist begs leave to assure your
Honours that he will be indefatigable in the faithful discharge of his of-
fice and as in duty bound will ever pray.

12th Septr. 1785. JAMS. GAMBLE.

We the subscribers beg leave to recommend the within mentioned

(81)

James Gamble as a fit person and well qualified to discharge the duties of
the office alluded to, and highly meriting a compliance with the prayer of
the memorial.

12th Sept. 1785.
Abm Smith James Porter John Smilie George Wood« Joseph Lilly

(Petition of Jacob Mayer read in Council and the fine remitted)

To his Excellency the president and the Supreme Council of the State
of Pennsylvania.

The Petition of Jacob Mayer of the County of Lancaster

Most humbly sheweth
That at a Court of General Quarter Sessions of the peace held at Lancaster
on the first Tuesday in May instant your petitioner was indicted and con-
victed of keeping a Tippling House within the said County. That their Wor^
ships the Justices of the said Court adjudged that your petitioner should
pay a Fine of ten pounds into the public Treasury. That your petitioner has
four small children who are to be supported by his labor only and he is so
exceedingly poor as to be incapable to pay the said fine or any part of it.
And that if your petitioner is detained in jail his children must want even
the necessaries or depend on the community at large for subsistance.

Your petitioner therefore prays your honble Board to remit the said fine
and direct that he shall be liberated.

And your petitioner as in duty shall ever pray.

JACOB MAYER
Lancaster Gaol May 5th, 1785.

To his Excellency the president and the Supreme executive Council of
the State of Pennsylvania.

We the subscribers Justices of the Court of General Quarter sessions of
the peace within mentioned do humbly recommend the within petitioner to
the compassionate consideration of your Honble Board, as his circumstanc-
es and situation will put it out of his power to comply with the sentence of
the Court. Given under our hands at Lancaster May 5th, 1785.

We further beg leave to certify that the petitioner is really so poor that
he has been discharged under the insolvent Acts as to all debts due from him
to individuals.

J. Hubley Jos. Miller Jno. Gloninger Henry Sheffer Saml. Jones

(Petition of the Inhabitants of Lancaster County)
To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met.

The Memorial of the Inhabitants of Lancaster County humbly sheweth
that many of your memorialists have, during the late arduous and tedious con-
test, rendered repeated services, and granted supplies; for which the State,
or the United States, are still indebted. Our officers, and soldiers, are now
become citizens; to whom considerable sums are due for their hard earned
wages, Justice, Equity, and every type of honour, and good faith often pledg-
ed, call aloud for the speedy discharge of each of those in preference to all
others, to you we look for, and it's our desire you will adopt suitable means
for redress. Th3 scarcity of a circulating medium renders it extremely dif-
ficult to pay the heavy taxes that have been called for. And whereas a law
is passed, ordering payment of the oriiginal purchase, and the interest on all
the undeeded land, since the settlement; These lands in general are by far
the poorest, and of consequence unfittest to pay those large sums. There-

(82)

fore beg leave to anticipate, and request that you will allow the unpatented
lands to be pa^d for with the Certificates or Final settlements, belonging to
Citizens, and that are entitled to receive interest from this State; by which
means a considerable part of the public debts will be paid, and of course the
interest thereon ^ea.se; and it will be much easier for the inhabitants to pro-
cure, likewise request your attention to the enormous expenses of the Civil
list; lessen th? salaries of individuals, dismiss any you may think unneces-
sary, and by all means (as far as in your power) limit the expenses of our
principal officers, which we are well informed, are become enormous, and
oppressive, we request the accounts of our County Lieutenants, and sub-Lieu-
tenant-? as we are well assured there is occasion for some connections and
amendments and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Lancaster County, 20th November, 1785.

(Petition of the Inhabitants of Lancaster County)

John Paisley
Hugh Paisley
Robert Paisley
Wm. Kerr
John Berry
Ja. Baxter
William Downing
Alex. May
Arthur May
Alex. May Jun.
fohn Turner
Robert Gregory
Henry Noll
Mattw. Barthollemew
Hugh McConnell
John Coughey
Mattw. Scott
Richd. McKie
Hugh McCausling
Daniel McConnel

Alexr. Morrison
John Andrews
John Anderson
Samuel Entriken
Samuel McClellan
Richard Free
Joseph Wilson
Francis Caughey
John Crawford
Samuel Caughey
Christian Has
John White
Gilbert Anderson
Thomas Whiteside
Arthur Andrews
William Huston
Willm. Barckley
George Nelson
John Sweiger
John McConnel
.Wm. Anderson

James Finley
Isaac Walker
John Whiteside
John Rowe
John O'Neill
Walter Davies
John Stewart
Abraham Whiteside
Alexd. Lewis
Wm. Murray
Joseph Moore
John Cunningham
.Tames Whiteside
James Gamble
John ( )

Robert Cunningham
George Meason
John Patterson

( )

James Collans

(Letters from James Ross Esqr. Lieutenant of the County of Lancaster
Militia) Lancaster, Jany 20th. 1786.

Sir:

When you were last in Lancaster. I mentioned to you that the officers
of the Deferent Battalions of Lancaster County Militia had not received
any of their pay for the last three years, and some of them for some time
before, there is not a day but some of them are with me, for their pay, from
you saying you would send me an order from Council to draw in the
Treasurer for the money, I promised them their pay in a few days they in
General conceive the fault is in me, and your last letter desires the accounts
of my office to be settled by the first of February next, which time is not
far off and I would be glad to be as punctual as possible, if you think proper
should wish the order sent by the next post, I think if the order was for
seven hundred pounds it would in some measure satisfy them at present,
and am with respect your John Nicholson Comptroller Genl.

Memo. — I directed that the Militia fines should be paid by the Col-
lectors to the County Treasurer hence no money will come into Col. Ross'
hands but on order.

(83)

(From Samuel Turbett Bsqr. Collector of Excise in the County of
Lancaster to the Honorable John Whitehill, Esqr. Philadelphia).

Lancaster, October 4, 1787
John Whitehill Bsqr.
Sir:

I find that the Honorable Council in their wisdom and goodness hath
remitting the State part of Mr. Moors seizures and being duly sensible that
equal juutice and indulgence is due to every citizen in similar cases — I have
taken the liberty of recommending to the Honorable Council, the bearer Mr.
McCutchin from whom I seized a Hogshead of Rum, which was duly con-
demned — and which varied in circumstances from the seizure made of Mr.
Moore, not a little. I have the honor to be with great respect.

Sir your most obedient

hum servant

Sam. Turbett
P. S. — I also beg the Honorable Council to attend to the Case of George
Cooper, which is exactly similar to the above.

(Petition of Jacob Weitzel.)

To the Honorable the Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.
The petition of Jacob Weitzel late Lieutenant of First Regiment of Penn-
sylvania.
Most Humbly Sheweth:

That your Petitioner served as an officer until the conclusion of the
war in the Pennsylvania line. Understanding that a number of troops are to
be raised for defense of the Frontiers of the State of Pennsylvania and still
being desirous to support the rights of his country.

Praying your honorable body would be pleased to appoint him as Captain
in the Troops to be raised in which your petitioner will exert himself to
merit your Esteem and the trust reposed in him, by your honorable body.

And as in duty Bound, will ever Pray,

Lancaster, December 6, 1787. Jab. Weitzel

(Petition of Casper Shaffner)

To the Honourable the Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania.

The petition of Casper Shaffner late cornet of the First Partisan Legion.

Most Humbly Sheweth.

That your petitioner served as an officer until the conclusion of the
War in the said Legionary Corps. And understanding that a number of
troops, are to be raised for the defense of the Frontiers of the State of Penn-
sylvania, and still being desirous to support the rights of his Country.

Praying your honourable Body would be pleased to appoint him as Lieu-
tenant in the Troops to be raised, in which your petitioner will exert him-
self to merit your esteem and the trust reposed in him by your honourable
Body.

And in duty Bound

will ever Pray.

Lancaster December 6th, 1787. Chas. Shaffner Sen.

(Petition of Joshua Elder)

To the President and Executive Council for the State of Pennsylvania.

The remonstrance of Joshua Elder late a sub -lieutenant of Lancaster
County, humbly sheweth.

That your remonstrant was appointed to the office of sub-lieutenant in
April 1777 at th? first enforcing of the Militia law, that in August 1778 he
accounted and settled with Bartram Galbraith lieutenant of the County for
the time past, and in the fall of the year 1779, finding his situation very dis-
agreeable and holding that office injured his private Interest so much that

(84)

he resigned and endeavored to have a settlement with Mr. Galbraith as be-
fore, but he told him he could not settle for him, that every sub-lieutenant
must settle for himself. That sometime in the winter following about the
beginning of the year 1780, a certain William Swan assistant commissary of
purchases for Colo. Cox called on your remonstrant for the loan of some
money, saying that Colo. Cox had sent to Philadelphia for money but
was disappointed in getting; that the money was got so bad he could pur-
chase nothing unless for the ready money, and that he had borrowed a
thousand dollars from Parson Montgomery that morning; your remonstrant
told Mr. Swan that he had very little money but should be welcome to what
he had, and that there was some public money yet in his possession, he
thought he might venture to let him have that, and accordingly gave it to
him, that he had it at that time just as he received it from the people, each
man's money tied up separately and his name and sum endorsed, that the
who?e of the money so lent public and private amounted to 2500 dollars,
your remon.strant likewise supplied Colo. Cox with grain and forage of vari-
ous species to the amount of £1200 or thereabouts, and sometime afterward
received of Colo. Cox the whole amount of the money lent, grain and for-
age in three Certificates, one in the name of Robert Wallace another in the
name of James Wilson and a third in his own name that in the fall of the
year 1780 he was pent for by Messrs. Dean, Shee and Morris a board of
Auditors appointed in this City to settle all such Acts., that after looking
over his papers they told him they could not give him a final setlement, that
Colo. Orth was appointed to collect ail the outstanding fines in the County,
and that he should go home and make report to him of all the outstanding
fines and all delinquents in Colo. Rogers and Elder's battalions, accordingly
he did so and deposited all his papers in the hands of Colo. Orth, and in July
1783 your remonstrant received a severe letter from Mr. Nicholson the Comp-
troller Gen. desiring to appear at his office by the 15th of the same
month he wrote Mr. Nicholson that it would be very inconvenient for him
to attend at that season on account of his harvest, likewise what he had done
and that he expected no farther trouble about it Mr. Nicholson then wrote
him that he should come as soon as convenient, that his accts. could not be
finally settled until they would pass that office, he then got his papers from
Colo. Orth and came to Philadelphia in August 1783, the Comptroller on ex-
amining the papers found a balance of £530 in favor of the public, out of
which he insisted on your remonstrant to take his pay for fifteen months
service and pay sixty pounds specie into the Treasury, he thought this ex-
ceeding hard and told him he had lent that money and some of his own to
the amount of 2500 dollars and about £1200 worth of grain and forage and
had in liru therrof received unsettled certificates which were not worth fifty
pounds. Your remonstrant lay upon him three days for a moderation but
to no purp s^, at length being wearied out he told Mr. Nicholson to make
out his account, that he would pay into the Treasury what he though prop-
er as soon as convenient, accordin.:2:ly Mr. Nicholson settled it and ordered
him to pay £31, which he agrreed to rather than have trouble. In April
1785 Colo. Robert Elder came to settle his accounts and found himself
charged with tl50 by Colo. Galbraith and likewise by your remonstrant, he
being sensible that he had received that sum only once the delinquency fell
on your remonstrant, Colo. Galbraith having previously settled his accounts
and charged Colo. Elder with that sum by the hands of your remonstrant. In
August 1785 the Comptroller sent him a letter with a State of his Acot.
charging him with £150 at the value which he reed, it which was three for
one altho' your remonstrant had it not twelve hours in his possession, the
letter was directed to Paxton where he formerly lived and did not come to
hand until late in the fall by which time your remonstrant was laid up with
a sore knee, as soon as he was able to travel he came down and applied to

Ik

(85)

the Comptroller to have the matter settled by auditors which he refused al-
leging he did not enter his appeal in time.

This is a just and true state of facts which may be relied on. Your
remonstrant therefore thinks it exceeding hard that he should be prevented
from having the merits of his cause investigated. He is willing to enter or
to appear to an amicable suit, and to refer the matters in Controversy to
Arbitrators or auditors. He therefore prays that Council will give such
directions to the Attorney General as that this matter may be brought to a
speedy and impartial decision, and your remonstrant as in duty bound will
pray.

Joshua Elder

I have no objection to the merits of Mr. Elder's case coming before the
Supreme Court for any other reason than that it may form a precedent in
future for delay and is prohibited by law giving benefit, etc. The following
is an extract of my letter which he says he received in the fall 1785 which
was dated April 8th, 1785 and sent him by his brother immediately after it
was written viz: "You mentioned that you were dissatisfied with my last
settlement of your amount since that a law hath been passed which gives
benefit of jury trial, if you suppose I have wronged you, you can within
thirty days but not afterwards appeal to the Supreme Court. I mention
this that you may have every opportunity of redress if the payment of the
foregoing balance should by you be considered unjust. If you should not
appeal within the time limited by law I desire that the aforesaid balance of
£81 may be paid into the state Treasury within two months from this date or
X must take effectual measures for recovery there of Jno. Nicholson.

(Petition of Jacob Gorgas, Jacob Hage and Peter Martin)
To his Excellency the President and the supreme Executive Council
of the State of Pennsylvania.

The petition of Jacob Gorgas, Jacob Hage and Peter Martin all of Lan-
oaster County, most humbly sheweth,

That your petitioners through their ignorance of the excise laws have met
with a loss by the collectors having seized some liquors for not having been
duly entered, that your petitioners are poor and unable to sustain this loss,
which though inconsiderable with respect to the state at large would fall
heavy on them that they are encouraged thus to proceed and humbly pray
your honors to remit such part of the said forfeiture as the state may be en-
titled to, and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, etc.

We the subscribers beg leave to recommend the above petitioners to the
president and council and humbly to request that the prayer of their peti-
tion may be granted.

Frederich Kuhn Chris. Stake Jacob Bailey

David R. Barton Jacob Graeff Jacob Rupp

James Jacks Solomon Etting Robt. Reed

Joseph Hubley Adm. Reigart Jur.

His Excellency the President and the Supreme Executive Council.
I am satisfied that the petitioners were inadvertently led into the mistake
committed by them as stated in their petition. That they are much distressed
on that account, and humbly beg leave to recommend to your Honorable
House a remission of their forfeitures.

I have the Honor to be with great respect
your obedt. hum Servt.
14 Augst. 1790. Saml. Turbett Coll.

(86)

(Letter from James Ross Esquire Sheriff of the County of Lancaster
informing Council of the apprehending of Doyle who assisted in murdering
two friendly Indians on Pine Creek and of his being secured in Lancaster
jail to His Excellency Thomas Mifflin.)

Lancaster, September 25th, 1790.
Sir:

This day I received a letter from William Wilson one of the members of
the Council, by two persons of the name of Thomas Reese and Jacob Merc-
ley, by them he sends a certain Samuel Doyle to be left in the gaol of Lan-
caster County, for the murder of two Indians on Pine Creek, and requested
me to give the earliest information, to council,

and remain your Excellencys

most obt. Humble Servt.

James Ross, Sheriff of Lane. Co.
To His Excellency Thomas Mifflin,
President of the Supreme Executive Council
of the State of Pennsylvania.

(Recommendation in favor of Mr. Jacob Strickler for the office of Jus-
tice of the Peace to His Excellency Thomas Mifflin Governor of the State of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.)

Lancaster, December 18th, 1794.

Sir:

Mr. Boude being elected a Member of the State Legislature for this
County leaves a vacancy in the Magistracy in the district where he resides.

We beg leave to recommend to your Excellency Mr. Jacob Strickler of
that district to succeed Mr. Boude. He is an active intelligent person, and his
appointment as a Justice of the Peace, we flatter ourselves will give very
general satisfaction.

We are your Excellency's most obd. Servants,

Robt. Coleman
J. Yeates

G. Ross
•Tno. Jos. Henry

Edw. Hand

May Minutes 1921

The Lancaster County Historical Society met at the Iris Club com-
bining its regular session with the annual Indoor Social. The Business
Meeting was called at the usual hour 7:30. The President, irion. Charles
I. Liandis officiated.

The officers' reports, including the minutes of the Secretary, the Treasurer's
financial Statement, and the Librarian's report were approved as read.

The Librarian 's report included the following gifts and exchanges for the month :
Bulletin of the New York Public Libiary, Aorii, 1921; Bulletin of the Grand Raoids
Public Library, April, 1921; The Vocational Summary, April, 1921;Western Pennsyl-
vania Historical Magazine, April, 1921 ;American Catho ic Historical Society Records,
March^ 1921 ; Snyder County Historical Society Bulletin, February, 1921 ;The Penn-
sylvania Magazine of History and Biography, October, 1919 and the January,

April, and July 1920 numbers ;The Cadmus Book Shop 1921 Catalogue; The Aldine
Book Company Catalogue of Americana for 1921 ; Enoch Piatt Free Library Bulletin
January, 1921; Bulletin of Carnegie Library at Pittsburgh, December 1920; Wash-
ington State Historical Society Quarterly, April 1921 ; Annual Report of the American
Historical Association for 1908 in two volumes, presented by Mi. A. K. Hostetter; A
Volume of "The Aurora" Newspaper of Philadelphia for part of the year 1812 and
the year 1813, Presented by Squire J. Ross Hildebrand of Strasburg; An Autograph
copy cf a History of the World War Activities of Company D. 151st. Machine Gun
Battalion, Forty-Second Division A. E. F. formerly Company K. Compiled from the
Diary of Sergeant John C. Kiehl of Lancaster, and presented by him; A Letter, read
by Mr. Hostettei, from Miss Mary Haldeman Walters to Hon. H. E. Kennedy,
May^r of Lancaster, announced her presentation to the Historical Society of the poi-
trait of Hon. George Sanderson, early Mayor of Lancaster. The letter stated that
this was the request of the daughter of Mr. Sanderson who died three years ago.

There were three applications for membership, deferred as usual for action
one month. The following were elected to membership :H. C. Miller, Lititz, Penn-
sylvania; William P. Buchcr; George W. Hensel, Jr.; W. U. Hensei; all of Quarry-
ville; Rev. Daniel S. Kurtz, 140 East Walnut Street, City.

The Historical and Musical Program fdlowed the Business Meeting. The
President. Judge Landis, gave the Opening Address. As this was the evening cf the
twenty-filth anniversary of the reorganization of the Society he gave an outline of
its history with the possibilities for its future.

The main address of the evening was given by Mr. H. H. Shenk of the State
Library at Harrisburg.

A String Quartet, consisting of Miss Marguerite Herr, Mrs. Ellwood Giiest,
Mr. Herbert ftck, and Mr. Harold Pries gave several musical selections. Owing to
the sudden illness of Mr. Ray Hall who was to have been vocaUst, Community Sing-
ing was substituted, the Secretary, in the emergency, acting leader.

The entertainment closed with the Social Hour during which refreshments
were served.

Adaline B. Spindler, Secretary.

(87)

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 1921

" ^iBtotg IfttatU. aa sntt in iftt xmn wotkaifapS'

HISTORICAL NOTES FROM THE RECORDS OF

AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

By Charles E. Kemper

MINUTES OF THE JUNE MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 6.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER, PA.
1921

HISTORICAL NOTES FROM THE RECORDS OF AUGUSTA

COUNTY, VIRGINIA.-PART I.

(By CHARLES E. KEMPER)

The migration of families from Lancaster, Chester and adjoining coun-
ties in southeastern Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia
commenced actually in 1737, but from 1740 to 1745 it was in full tide, and
it can be stated with certainty that at least three fourths of the present
inhabitants of the Valley descend from Pennsylvania families. In many
respect, the Shenandoah Valley is a southwestern extension of southeast
Pennsylvania, and the descendants of the first settlers have made it the
most prosperous section of Virginia.

The following notes from the records above named show in part the
migration of Pennsylvania families from Lancaster, Chester and adjoining
counties to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and chiefly to the present
counties of Augusta.

Their names and places of residence in Pennsylvania appear in the
suit news and deeds cited as authorities.

The first white settler in the Valley of Virginia was Adam Muller. He
came to the colony in 1727, and settled on the Shenandoah river, in the
present County of Page, Virginia. He was naturalized in 1742 by Gov.
Gooch, and his papers in same) still owned by Miss Elizabeth B. Miller, his
great-great granddaughter state that he had settled and inhabited on the
Shenandoah for fifteen (15) years prior to his naturalization, which gives
1727 as the year of his settlement in Virginia. In 1742 he bought 820
acres of land, including the present Great Bear Lithia Spring, about three
(3) miles northeast of present Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia. He
died there in 1783, aged eighty years. His estate comprised 1170 acres, much
of which is among the most fertile land in the Valley of Virginia. A pe-
tition filed by him and other Germans, which appears in Palmer's Calendar
of Virginia, s>hows that Adam Muller and his associates had resided in Lan-
caster County, Pennsylvania, before removing to Virginia, and that county
can claim the credit of the first movement made to settle the Shenandoah
Valley.

The first explorer of the Shenandoah Valley was Louis Michell, a Swiss,
who ived in Chester Co., now Lancaster Co., Pa., in the period of 1706-7, as
shown by the Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, in the
month of February, 1707. See Vol. 3. He was acting on behalf of George
Ritter and others, of Berne, Switzerland, who were endeavoring to obtain
large grrants of land in the Shenandoah Valley, upon which they desired a
Swiss colony. In the year 1907, the writer of these notes received from the
British Public Record Office, London, England, copies of George Ritter's
petitions, addressed to Queen Anne, asking for lands in Virgrinia for the
purpose above stated, and among them a map was found, made by Louis
Michell in 1706 or 1707.

He started from Annapolis. Maryland, with one, Clark, of Maryland
and crossed the Potomac, about Point of Rocks, a few miles below Harper's

(89)

m

Ferry, West Virginia, in present Lowden County, Virginia. He crossed the
Blue Ridge through Snicker's Gap, into the Shenadoah Valley, and passed
over the Shenandoah River in the present County of Clark. His route was
then up the Valley to present Strasburg and Edinburg, in Shenandoah Coun-
ty. On his return, he crossed the Potomac at the point of his first pas-
sage of the stream and then turned to the left and went up the Valley of the
Monocacy, on his return to Pennsylvania.

B}dgree vs Alexander
The Augusta records also show that, in 1744, Alexander Crawford
was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and In 1745, he was a
resident of Augusta County. His brother, Patrick Crawford, came to Vir-
ginia in 1737, and by the year 1740, the four brothers, Alexander, Patrick
George and James Crawford, were living in Augusta County, Virginia, as
shown by the survey books and other records of the county. They are be-
lieved to have been the sons of William Crawford, named above.

In February, 1732, James Mcllwaine was a resident of Sussex County,
Delaware, and Hugh Matthews owed him an account. Matthews removed
to Augusta County, Virginia.

Mcllwane vs Matthews, file 387.

Francis Beaty was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Octo-
ber 16, 1735. Certainly until May 1, 1738. In 1752, he was certainly living
in Augusta County, Virginia.

Smith vs Beaty

John Allison, Francis Beaty and William Caldwell were, in 1738, resi-
dents of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Samuel Norwood was a resident of Donegal Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, October 1, 1738.

Edmonson vs. Norwood.

He was a Captain in Augusta County, Virginia, Militia, in the French
and Indian War.

Michell's explorations of the Valley antedate the visit of Governor
Alexander Spottswood of Virginia and the "Knights of the Golden Horse-
shoe" to the Valley by at least nine years. For the R^ter documents and
Michell's map, see the January Number, 1921, of the Virginia Magazine
of History and Biography.

In 1716, Governor Spottswood, then Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia,
came over the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Valley of Virginia, with a
company of about forty, on an expedition of discovery. They crossed the
Blue Ridge at Swift Run Gap, in the present County of Rockingham, Vir-
ginia, and reached the Shenandoah River in the vicinity of present Elkton
In that county. In commemoration of this expedition, he had a number of
small golden horse shoes made, which he gave to each one of the gentle-
men who accompanied him on the expedition, and they are known in Vir-
ginia history as the **Knights of the Horse Shoe" and the "Knights of the
Golden Horse Shoe."

On December 20, 1723, John Alexander, Samuel Crafford and William
Crafford (Crawford) lived at Octoraro, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
and were traders. James Alexander removed to Augusta County, Virginia,
prior to 1741, and was one of the Commissioners appointed to build the
Presbyterian Meeting House in that county at Tinkling Springs, in 1741,
the second oldest church in the county.

(91)

The deposition of Edward filed in Court Papers No. 1, Augusta County,
Virginia, shows tlhat John Hindman was in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on
January 5, 1739-40. He had a license to preach by Donegal Presbytery
in March. 1742, and was immediately sent to the Shenandoah Valley as a
missionary. In that year, he preached among other places in Virginia, "at
the Head of Shenandoah." This place is the present village of Cross Keys,
Rockingham County, Virginia. He there preached the first sermon ever de-
livered in the county, of wftiich there is known record. In 1745 or 1746,
he organized the Old Peaked Mountain Presbyterian Church, now called
the Massanutten, of Cross Keys, the oldest of all the churches in Rocking-
ham County. Mr. Hindman was a native of Londonderry, Chester County,
Pa., and died in October, 1748. He is buried in the cemetery at Cross
Keys. In the year 1747, he changed his churoh affiliations and was ap-
pointed the first Rector of Augusta Parish.

See, also, deposition of Providence Scott, in Fletcher vs. Hindman's Ad-
ministrators.

James Rutledge was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, No-
vember 5, 1741. As a trader (Indian), on February 28, 1744, he was still
in Lancaster. On the date first mentioned, he executed his deed to Robert
Dunning, of Pennsborough, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and to Samuel
Blunston, of Hempfield, of the same county. He died in Augusta County, Vir-
ginia, prior to November, 1750.

Dunning's Ex'or. vs. Parker

Members of this famly moved to South Carolina prior to 1751. In April
1753 he was dead.

George Lewis was, on April 10, 1742, a resident of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania.

Dickinson vs. Lewis

John Shry (or Story) and John Rutledge, in the County of Chester,
and Province of Pennsylvania, "traders," executed their bond to William
Blyth, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1743. They were still
living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, November 21, 1749.

Bryan McDonald was a resident of now Chester County, Pennsylvania

February 27, 1744-5.

Borden vs. McDonald.

Thomas Carson and Alexander Gibboney were residents of Lancaster
Borough, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1744.

Gibboney vs. Carson
William Lusk was, on November 24, 1744, a resident of Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. Paxton Township.

Arnxstrong vs. Lusk

Daniel Sink was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Julv 29
1752. , y o,

Francis Waser (Wuser?) was an Indian in Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1752.

See Cross vs. Sink, file 391.
John HartUas, of Augusta County, Virginia, executed his bond to John
Lindsay, of Gilford Township, Cumberland, October 1, 1752. Lindsay was
a "trader." Indian?

Lindsay vs. Hartlias, file 392
Nathaniel Wartsher was a resident of Paxton Township. Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, prior to November 25, 1752.

Morrison vs. Wartcher, file 394.
Michael Finney, of Augusta County, Virginia; gave bond to William
Hall, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, dated November 28, 1752.

(92)

Hall TS. Finney

Suits filed in the Augusta County Court (Va. November, 1754.)
John Shields was a resident of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and a
weaver by trade, December 25, 1745.

Borden vs. Shields
Joseph Love was a resident of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, September 22,
1746, and bought goods from Simon and Lazarus, Merchants, in Xjancaster,
Pennsylvania, on that date. Robert Thompson was a Justice of Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. In 1753.

Simon & Lazams vs. iLove
Joseph Love was a resident of Augusta County, Virginia, September 22,
1752.

See Love vs. Brown
Jacob Miller was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. May
16, 1747.

Bowman vs. Miller, file 387.
William Hamilton, living in Chester County, Pennsylvania, executed his
note to Aaron Hassert, on May 20, 1747. The note bears this endorsement:

"In Virginia, Augusta County,
•'Care Pastor EJyrich Track.**
The Pastor of the "Irich Tract'* In Virginia was the Rev. John Craig,
whose home in Pennsylvania was in Lancaster County. Mr. Craig came to
Virginia in the fall of 1740, and was the Pastor of the Augusta Church and
Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Congregation. He was the first regularly
settled Minister in the Shenandoah Valley.

George Croghan was a resident of Pennsborough, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, October 8, 1748.

Croghan vs. Strother's Admin.
John Caldwell, whose home in Pennsylvania had been at Chestnut Lev-
el, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was, on December 27, 1748, a member
of the County Court of Augusta County, Virginia.

See paper filed in Court File No. 1
Augusta, County, Virginia.
John Caldwell was the grandfather of John Caldwell Calhoun, of South
Carolina, who, in political effort, was the great leader of the movement
which lead to the secession of the South in 1861.

Chestnut Level is an early place (name) in Augusta County, Virginia.
It was evidently called after Chestnut Level, Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania.

See Robert Hamilton's Survey, October 12, 1766.

Entry Book p. 65.
John Lytner (Llghtner) a resident of Lancaster County on March 10,
1750-51, upon that date relinquished a power of attorney given to him by
his father-in-law, Christopher Francisco.

See Court Papers file No. 2
Members of the Lightner family are now residents of Augusta County, Vir-
ginia. The records of Orange County, Virginia, of which Augusta County
was a part until 1745, show that, in 1738, Christopher Francisco, Sr., bought
from Jacob Stover 3800 acres of land on the Shenandoah River, in what is
now Rockingham County, Virginia, five miles below Port Republic. Two of
his sons, Christopher Francisco Jr., and Ludwick Francisco, came to Virginia
and settled on their father's land.

James McRenald and John Scott resided in Cecil County, Maryland, and
on March 27, 1750, executed their bond to Peter Bayrad.

Ardry vs. McRenald & Scott

(93)

A LOCAL JURY'S LODGING, MEAT & DRINK IN 1805.

Note by Judge Landis:

The following was sent me by Justice Sylvester B. Saddler of the State Su-
preme Court. Where he found the original I do not know. Evidently it was secured
from our County Records.
Traverse Jury Bill During the Trial of Joseph Pursel at March Terml805 — (viz)

To 1 Bottle madaira wine 9Aj/2

2 quarts Beer 1.10>^

J4 pint Brandy 1.10>^

1 quart cider 0.6

1 Bottle madaira wine 9.4^

1 gill Brandy 0.11

13 Dinners at 2/4 1.10.4

1 Bottle mad 'a. wine 9.4 j/i

a pint Brandy 3.9

segars 0.8^

a pint Brandy 3.9

a Bottle mada. wine 9.4^

14 suppers at 1/10>^ 1.6.3

Lodgings 7.0

a Bottle mada. wine at 9.4^

a pint Brandy 3.9

12 eggs 0.9

a half pint Brandy 1.10^

a half ^ pint mada. wine 2.4

14 Breakfasts 1.6.3

7.19. 5}4

I remember the trial of Purcell was lengthy and there was a necessity for an
adjournment of the jury consequently if the prisoner was poor and unable to pay
costs — the county ought to be at the charge of the trial. This is agreeably to the
law.

Joseph Henry

Pres. 2 Dist. Penna.

The Court disapproved of several of the Items of this Bill, and the Associate

Judges recalled their request at the time, that the refreshment had not been limited,

but as Mr. Crever has furnished the within articles on the credit of the County; We

think on the whole it may be prudent in the Commissioners to satisfythe Demand.

By the Court
J. H.

Prohibition does not seem to have had any standing in those days.

C. 1. Landis.

Minutes of Meeting, Friday, June 3, 1921.

The regular monthly meeting of the Lancaster County Historical Society
was held this evening in their Auditorium in the A. Herr Smith Memorial Building,
the President, Hon. C. I. Landis, officiating.

The reading of the May minutes was omitted.

The Librarian reported the following gifts and exchanges during the month: —
The Bulletin of the Bureau of American Ethnology, from the Smithsonian Institu-
tion; Annual Report of the American Historical Association, 1918; A Stone Indian
hatchet, presented by Mr. John C. Kiehl of Lancaster; Silver Jubilee Souvenir and
Program of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Lancaster, 1921, presented by Rev. P.
George Sieger; Letter of Dr. David Ramsay written August 21, 1805, at Charleston,
South Carolina, to his cousin, James Patterson 2nd., of Little Britain Township;
and a letter written by David Ramsay's grandson, of the same name, on August 30,
1859, from Hot Springs, Bath County, Virginia, to James P. Adams, Esq. of
Oxford, Chester County; also a copy of Martha Laurens Ramsay's diary pubh'shed
by Dr. David Ramsay, her husband, at Charleston, South Carolina after her death,
he having edited and commented freely upon the same; all these Ramsay gifts were
presented by Mr. Edward B. Patterson of Oxford, Chester County; A copy of "The
Land We Love" October, 1868, edited by General D. H. Hill; A copy of The Vir-
ginia Magazine of History and Biography, January 1921, presented by Mr. Charles
E. Kemper, Staunton, Virginia; A pamphlet entitled "The Catonsville Lutheran
Church by George C. Keidel, author, presented by him; History of Lamberton
Lodge No. 476, presented by Dr. R. M. Bolenius, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Treasurer's Report was read and approved as read.

D. F. Magee, Esq. who was appointed to look up a bookcase reported that
there were available for the Society *s consideration about six bookcases of five sec-
tions each. The Society voted the purchase of three of these.

Mr. Magee, Chairman of the Conmiittee in charge of the Drumore Cele-
bration, gave an outline of what the Committee and the sub-Committees had done
up to the present time, describing the trip a number of members had taken over the
route of the intended Pilgrimage.

The applicants received at the May Meeting were elected to membership:

Mr. John G. Schaum, 108 South Prince Street; Miss Anna Schaum, 108
South Prince Street, City; Mr. H. H. Shenk, State Library, Harrisburg, Pennsyl-
vania.

A paper "Historical Notes from the Records of Augusta Coimty, Virginia,"
compiled by Mr. Charles E. Kemper, Staunton, Virginia, was edited and read by
Hon. Charles I. Landis. This was supplemented by a very short paper "Traverse
Jury Bill During the Trial of Joseph Pursel at March Term 1805" sent by Justice
Sylvester B. Sadler of the State Supreme Court, also read by His Honor, Judge
Landis.

After an interesting discussion, the meeting adjourned until September.

Adaline B. Spindler, Secretary.

(94)

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 1921

••

^iBtms if nrwlf . a« mm in Iftr mm ttiitrfcal)ii)t.'

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM MICHAEL (PART II.)

Bv H. Frank Eshleman

EXCITEMENT IN LANCASTER OVER THE RUMORED

INVASION OF A RAILROAD.

MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 7.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1»21

HC

\j* '

Autobiography of William Michael. Part II.

Read by H. Frank Eshleman.

The following is a transcript of the second part of William Michael's
diary or memornadum of notable experiences in his life. This he calls his
"Trip Westward". The first part of the manuscript, which was read at the
April meeting of our Society, by Mr. .George F. K. Erisman, the writer called
his "Trip Southward". William Michael was a Lancaster man, and
among other papers extant here concerning him, his will may be found. It
is in the Register of Wills Office in this county. He gives considerable fam-
ily history in the said will. He was a child of noble ancestry; and the head
of a more than ordinarily prominent line of descendants.

(Proclamation by the President of the United States, in i>art)

"Whereas combinations have arisen to defeat the execution of the laws
of the United States, laying duties on distilled spirits, etc., which he (the
president) is advised amounts to treason, viz: the said persons who on the
16 and 17 of July proceeded in arms amounting to several hundred to the
home of John Nevlin, Inspector of the Revenue, fired with arms thereon;
(to save his life he made his escape) laid soon, his property, etc., in ruin by
putting fire thereto; and whereas, entertaining a just sense of duty and hav-
ing a perfect conviction of the necessity of pursuing immediate means to
suppress the same insurrection, I do command all persons insurgents, on or
before, the 1st of September, next to disperse and return peacably to their
hotaes," etc.,

"The President next appointed commissioners to precede to the west-
ern countries, as did the governor of the state, to convince them of their de-
lusion, granting a free pardon, to all those who should in a specified time,
sign certain instruments of writing as becoming dutiful citizens. However,
the good disposition of the president was not accepted; and to appearances
seemed to threaten the shedding of blood. And according to an Act of
Congress, purporting, an Act for calling out the Militia to execute the laws
of the Union, suppress insurrections, etc., it shall be lawful to call forth the
Militia, to suppress the same; Therefore according to a requisition of the
president, such numbers of the most respectable characters turned out vol-
untarily that I, with the additional number of forty-four from this (Lan-
caster) town turned out voluntaries to defend our Republican Constitution,
after being handsomely equipped and in uniform. On October the first, our
company marched from this town westward. It was truly a melancholy
time in town upon the occasion, as at that time we expected to have a dan-
gerous enemy to contend with.

October 1st, we left Lanca^ster about nine o'clock in the morning, the
air cold and pure, and we traveled to a small town called Maytown, about
fifteen miles. In the evening it began to rain but the morning, it cleared
up again. This was the first time I lay upon the floor wrapped in my blan-
ket, however, I slept well and ate a very hearty meal, in the morning.

Second — ^This morning we left Maytown and proceeded to Falmouth and
then dined. From there to Middletown.

Third — We marched into Harrisburg, we had not been long in Harris-
burg until the Jersey army marched out of town to -meet the president, and

(^9)

t

shortly after his arrival was announced, by the discharge of cannon, the
town w^ more lively than ever before, I saw it. We crossed the nver in
thraftemoon. and marched about four or five miles farther and then en-
camped in a suitable field. We pitched our tents procured straw, cooked
our meat, made our broth, etc. , ^ ,. i j

Fourth— We marched this day within four or five miles of Carlisle and

encamped.

I^ive — ^This day lay still and rested ourselves.

Six—This morning we had orders to dress and powder ourselves com-
pletely and about 10 o'clock started for Carlisle, we marched im the great-
est order Much praise we recurred on our performance. The spectators
crowded so greatly upon us, we were greatly retarded in our maneuvers.

Seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth we lay in our encampment.

Eleventh — Our division of the army marched from this ground to the
westward, viewed by the President and marched out.

Twelfth — ^The remainder marched out in the same manner. Thus was
Carlisle, which was the rendezvous of so formidable an army, evacuated in
two days. We marched seven miles to a place called Mount Rock. After
this day, marching, I have neglected taking particular notice of circum-
stances only that campaigning began in a great measure to be disagreeable to
many; Irregular marches, scarcity of water, many commanders, dust, change
of water so many times, made it unhealthy and disagreeable and from this,
until the fourth of November, I have been prevented giving a daily relation
of what occurred, during the march. From Mount Rock to Bedford over
the mountains, Peters, Tuscarora, Sideling, etc., rendered it exceeding fa-
tiguing; and all was borne with the greatest fortitude, and could not be ex-
ceeded by the old veterans. During this period, the "Horse", brought in
many persons who have been proved to be unfavorable to the government. The
taking of one of them gave great satisfaction to the fatigued soldiery. Af-
ter being here a few days, I entered into the Commissary department.
Mosher, who marched out, as our captain was elected a Colonel Com-
mandant of a Regiment of Infantry, and used me very ill. Twenty acting
men out of forty-five, owing to sickness made it doubly hard upon the re-
mainder.

I therefore, exerted myself and procured the appointment of Issuing
Commissary of the Clothing and Military stores for the four armies. On
the 22nd of October I entered into my new station and on that day the
Army moved from Bedford to the westward. Mr. Maderwell, a young man
that marched as a volunteer from Lancaster in the same company, was ap-
pointed Issuing Commissary with me. On the 22nd we marched at our
ease; put our baggage, muskets, etc., in our wagons, which we had to the
number of fifty or sixty, loaded in with the stores. Could procure anything
we wanted on the way. October 23rd, we had another agreeable day for
marching, the last for a long time. On the 24th it began to rain for thir-
teen or fourteen days successively. Here followed a long- chain of incon-
veniences. Floundering of horses, others lame, sick, etc., wagons breaking
and that is beyond conception to any one but those who were witnesses
thereto. Our marches were greatly retarded by the seeking and pressing of
horses and wagons as the greatest part of the people here were either more
or less dissati€rfied to government and therefore rendered it considerably
more difficult to procure the means for conveying our stores. However the
gentleman, whom we acted under, the superintendent, Captain Gamble, be-
ing acquainted with the like, procured those necessaries, when perhaps
others would be at a loss.

November 5th — The army made a general halt at Carnagans, after a
long, tedious and disagreeable march through slush and rain and Ve fell
to, to take a genuine inventory of the stores on hand, a task both tedious,
and laborious. We took lodging one mile in front of the army at one,
Morton's,

10)

November 6th— Still proceeding on with taking of inventory.
November 7th— This day we were kept busier than any day preced-
ing It was appointed as a general issuing day of clothing for the army.
The returns we found very heavy, in shoes particularly, the wet weather
had proved very disastrous to this article, numbers had marched several
days without a shoe to their feet and in such severe weather, one would
have expected it would have been considerably more severe upon them
than it was. With all the handicaps they underwent, they still seemed to
be contented and In high spirits.

November 8th — Appropriated nearly as the 7th, however, this day was
more favorable and warmer than the preceding day. In the evening, after
our work being done, we rested by the fireside, in our little cabin, for
small it was; the top of the roof was but thirteen feet from the ground
and but one room and that extended over the house, one small window,
but no glass or frame to it. This house stands about one mile from the
river Yough and but a mile from Budd's Ferry on the Yough. The family
were truly hospitable one son and daughter both grown to the age of
maturity. This day our landlady entertained with the history of her life.
And it being singular and interpersed with trouble seldom met with or
heard of in the present period that induced me to give part of it an in-
sertion in the Journal.

(Here he inserts three or four pages of the experiences of the land-
lady endured with the Indians in early times endured by the good widow
lady with whose family he spent the night. In which she detailed to him
minutely, telling how the savages stole her small children and how -she
recovered them and the danger of slaughter, which they so narrowly es-
caped. The narration is quite valuable as a chapter in early Indian his-
tory, but of no value as a part of the experiences of the expedition which
was the subject of this diary.

November 9th — This day we had more rest than for many days past.
M. Sterret, Lieutenant in the Federal army and engaged in the same busi-
ness with me, left in the morning for Bedford. The day was pleasant, and
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Gov. Lee's (Commander of the Potomac
Army) arrived from the Virginia and Maryland lines, to that of ours
namely Jersey and Pennsylvania line, was announced with a discharge of
fifteen cannon. I now began to think or at least to wish to return home.
The weather began to grow severe, a great many of our men sick, and
we began to prepare for a march towards Pitt.

November 10th — This morning the army about 9 o'clock marched on
towards Pitt In these directions. We had orders to direct the stores to
Pitt. The roads were tolerably good, the land fertile but hilly. We moved
about 7 miles and left our worthy Morton family about 12 o'clock with
regret. Traveling about 2 miles we came to a creek called the Sewick-
ley. On the west side of it, it is remarkable for the construction of the
road, which is extended I imagine twenty yards above the walls seem-
ingly as if it were done by art. The bank is seemingly as one solid rock
into the top or to speak more comprehensively like a wall. The road is
about ten or twelve feet wide on the top and on the other side of the
road IS a valley equally as far down to as the water on this side and re-
quires great attention in the wagoner or perhaps he will throw his team
at a Zu\^ '''^' '" irretrievable. We lay about 1% mile^ from the Trmy
at a mill, the name of Hazels, on the Little Sewickley Creek This e™
nmg it begun to rain hard the road near the creek were very hiUy Thi^
evening we gave orders to the wagoners to be on the start by^reak of dav
together in advance of the army. oreaK or day,

November 11th — ^We started this morning: about day break. The road
being a grood deal wet and still raining a little, we traveled about three miles
through the fertile piece of country and then entered Braddock's Old Road
about six miles from where we started. I found unexpectedly a relative
of my wife. I was treated kindly by them and partook of nourishment
rarely to be met with. We took up our quarters about 1 % miles from
Thompson's Tavern, or as some call at Mayer's at one Powell's Turtle Creek.
We dined this day at Thompson's — an excellent dinner in camp P. with Col.
Biddle and several other officers. We had a good supper here the family
were kind, had a long discussion on the campaign, gave us an account of
the martial appearance of the Insurgents, about four months ago. Their
home lays about two miles from Braddock's field on the old Penna road.
The march of the latter part of the day was very bad, the roads a good
deal hilly and deep. We were presented some of the largest shellbarks
that I ever saw. They were nearly as large as walnuts but not so good
In quality as in size.

November 12th — ^Thls morning we started early before breakfast and It
began to snow; we traveled about 3% miles and stopped at a little cabin
where lived four fresh lively Irish girls. We located here besides a good
comfortable fire. The cabin was very small, not above twelve feet square
wherein dwelt content and hospitably with all the perfection of rosy health.
They had a pumpkin, the largest I saw, In circumference 7% feet. They
informed me It was a good deal larger when green. I waited here until
our stores came up with us, gave the wagoners directions to come on as
faart: as they could and then proceeded on for the long wished for Post, Fort
Pitt. I arrived In town about 2 o'clock. The first beauty I observed In
the situation was that of the rivers, which I viewed with the greatest de-
light. I then began to find out. Captain Gamble, the superintendent of the
stores, but sought him long. In vain. I went to the garrison to find him; he
had just left It. I then met with Mr. Tanaghe, an acquaintance and phy-
sician In the Federal Army. He conducted me through and several more,
the whole and every part of the grarrlson. I soon after met with Captain
Gamble and he conducted us to the outer quarters. Elegant house, 1 %
miles from the town, people of the best characters. Boarded with us, a Mr.
Sample, attorney of Law, with his lady. I was exceedingly surprised
with regard to society. I vainly anticipated a country awkward society.
Mr. Sample, I found an agreeable Informed character, that of his lady
handsome; was softness Itself, conversant and Informed, a daughter of Mr.
Tinier, Indeed I never expected so amiable a figure In so rugged a country,
together with six or eight more in all making an agreeable society. This
evening proved by far the coldest day of any. I now considered myself
happily landed In port, had all the necessaries to make me comfortable.

November 13th — A most beautiful morning, but cold and calm. The
river looked, this morning, like glass. Mr. Maderwell and I after eating a
good breakfast, walked down town, to view the rivers, the sight which was
truly pleasing. Along the water were lying boats in numbers, both loaded
and unloaded, ready to be wafted to the new world, down the Grand Ohio, a
majestic sight in Its demonstration of increasing power. From that we
walked down the banks to the junction of the Allegheny. The latter Is some-
thing larger than the former and much clearer and more beautiful. Just on
the point. Is the spot where stood the Old French Fort; but It has been erased
long ago and there remains nothing, but here and there, some part of
the foundation. Near to that, within fifty yards stand the remains of the
stockade, nearly all fallen away.

The ditches had been dug to for^i a canal from the Monongahela to the
Allegheny, and when It Is clear they can still be seen. The magazine is
still a good and strong building. Braddock's Fort Is not quite In so com-

^o3

mandingr a situation, as the Old French Fort. But the present garrison held,
is the most inconvenient situation of them all.

November 14th — ^This morning we found a snow of about an inch' — still
continuing. The greatest part of the day, we employed in unloading our
stores. We departed then into a new church, but newly under roof, the
inside make of which was just begun, but therein was erected a kind of pul-
pit which I suppose they made use of, occasionally.

November 15th — Still continuing snowing. I stood some time this
morning looking out of the window of our lodging room on the second
story. The home is situated on the heights but very pleasant. It over-
looks the whole of the town and commands a perfect view of both the
rivers together with an extensive view down the Ohio, all which looked dead
and drear. (Here a poem is inserted). In the evening, Mr. Maderwell and I
went downstairs with some of our acquaintances, passed away the houns
agreeably in company with a great number of gentlemen, of- and belonging
to different Volunteer camps, in singing all not withstanding the long
march before us to get home and the dreary winter already severely set
in. It is surprising the tranquility and cheerfulness^ of the company. They
were all seemingly as happy* as we could be at our respective homes.

November 16th — Still continuing snowing, the weather so hard and
severe that the rumors became nearly general of returning home or tarry-
ing all winter. Winter setting in so fast and provisions, being very scant
proportions to the demand, the commander thought proper to march home,
again. This evening I walked out to camp about Ave miles up the Alle-
gheny road to speak to Col. Mosher. It was near night when I started in
company with William Pathie. The roads were excessive bad; but we had
fortunately met with two men belonging to a volunteer camp from Harris-
burg on horseback and they seeing our disagreeable situation took both of
us behind them and jogged on quite comfortably. It was a considerable
while after night when we arrived at Camp. I there met with my old
mess-mates in so kind a manner that not withstanding their disagreeable
situation I found myself happy. I supped with them on a good cup of
chocolate, slept on a bed of wet straw, which they little noted, but which
gave me a violent cold. Thi» was the only night I slept in a bed covered
with rain and snow successively during the night, but sleep I had little, feel-
ing myself chilly the whole night.

November 17th — This morning at the firing of the signal guns, I arose
and began to make my way to Pitt again. The snow was several inches
deep and had slush at the bottom. I was a stranger to the road and which
made it both difficult to find and very disagreeable to walk. The snow covered
the watery places and often thinking of setting my foot safe I would plunge
into slush over my shoes. Not knowing it was necessary to have provided
a pass, I came off without one. I had' not proceeded one mile, before I was
stopped by a picket guard, who demanded my pass. I then perceived my
error in not procuring it and with difficulty, I could persuade the sergeant
of the guard that I did not belong to the army or the corps, that my busi-
ness was that of issuing commissary of the clothing, etc., but at length
he permitted me to pass on. I had not proceeded one mile further before 1
was stopped for the second time by another picket guard and had there
not fortunately been one of the company I belonged to before I received my
new appointment I made not the least doubt, but I should have been kept
there. His knowing me and the business I was in ended a further inquiry
and permitted me to pass on. I then proceeded on until I came to a coal
mine in a strange woodland, the phenomena of which I had several times
heard of. I went into the mouth thereof and called into it, if they would
admit me, which echoed and rolled for a minute, seemingly as one huge
hollow vessel and was answered, from within. I could jiot comprehend the

10+

(H)

reply but thought they had forbidden me entering. I waited a moment with
disappointment. At length there came one of them out of the cave and
then I asked him to take me in with him, which he seemed willing to comply
with. He then hollowed to some one within to bring him a candle to light
a stranger in — speaking in French — ^and soon one came out with the candle.
He was black as the devil and looked to resemble one. He then ordered me
to follow him. speaking in broken English. We passed through a long entry,
strongly smelling of sulphur. There was a yellow fatty-looking liquid run-
ning along the walls and under foot. They have laid planks to make it more
easy to wheel coal out. The workers then led me along gangways that in-
tersected or ran across the first. I was soon lost and with difficulty found
the way out again. The whole was well worth seeing, each of the gangways'
extending nearly 100 feet undei\ ground. They were all Frenchmen within
the mine and each appeared as so many beings from the bottomless pit.
They looked consumpted and emaciated.

November 18 th — ^This morning about 9 o'clock the Governor left Pitt,
escoried by the companies on horse, from the counties of LAncaster, Berks,
and I>auphin. Mr. Maderwell and I left at about 12:00. A hard frosty road
which about noon became mud, thawed and slippery. We traveled thirteen
miles this afternoon and came to a small hut and remained there all night
Though at another time we should have been sorry to accept of the like, it
seemed comfortable. The family were Irish, the name of Calhoun. They
entertained us kindly with what they had, as the country seemed over-run
with soldiers, pushing home as fast as they could. We thought ourselves
happy in the situation.

November 19th. — This morning about day-break, we got on our way
again. We felt a little stiff and fatigued, however, after marching up
French creek a few miles, and getting a little warmed up, we felt a little
more supple and walked along at a surprising rate. . Thinking we could
get to Lancaster in a few days, we moved rapidly and thought little of
fatigue. There was no getting over'Turile creek, but by wading it. It
was~very cold though not so very deep. By the time we got across, we made
many wiry faces . However, we laughed it over and after marching about
7 miles over a lonesome and desolate country, we came to a smal^ hut, the
landlord of which was an Irishman not long in this country. They gave
us food however, of mush and milk and venison, just killed the evening be-
fore. The Irishman would take no money for the food he gave ims. From
there we travelled to a place called Hannah's town. We ate our dinner
here although it was a very small place, consisting of about four or five
families. We then took a road from there, used by the packers and unfit for
any wheel carriages, in order to procure enteriainment. About dusk we
came to a creek calledthe Loyalhannah (signifying strong water). This
frightened us and ther^f was no way to cross it but to wade it and it was
some sixty yards wide where we crossed. It was very muddy and surpris-
ingly rapid, and we knew not how deep. The rapidity of the stream near-
ly brushed us down stream and the cold was so intense that before we had
gotten half way across we thought, we should not be able to survive. It
seemed as if every step we took, we were walking on hatches and yet we
endeavored to cross as fast as possible. Never was I more disappointed
with a journey in my life than as this present time. I was ready to curse
those who had caused us to be there. We took lodging at Cochrans about
forty miles from Pitt and travelled about 27 miles this day. They gave us
bread and butter, tea and sugar we had brought with us and on this we
made our supper. It thought we were unwelcome guests, for what reason,
[ know not. But they let us have a bed which we. did not expect. This
night it began to rain and continued to rain until morning.

108
(M)

November 20th — At break of day we left here, travelled a lonesome
road about four or five miles througrh a heavy rain to the foot of Chestnut
Hidge. We stopped at a new house built on a largror si^ale than common in
this country. The irood woman of the house was obliging. She had no
bret d baked and had no other meal in the house but buck-wheat. But we
being very hungry, requested her to make some cakes of the buck-wheat
flour, which she did and we ate heartily of it. We proceeded about eight
or ten miles further to Cliftord's farm, through a heavy rain and were wet
to the skin. Here we were entertained well. Clifford's farm bespoke them
a people of decency. The good woman urged us to stay that night, to dry
our clothes. They set the table with plenty, and it looked more like the pro-
ducts of Lancaster county, than that of a rugged country. We wished to
stay all night but we all knew that a great many soldiers were proceeding
rapidly on and those who were first, procured the best fare. Notwithstanding
the heaviness of the rain and the bad roads we were again on the way, and
marched to the foot of Laurel Hill. We came to Truman's, a private house,
and as it began to snow and blow, and became intensely cold, we stayed
here that night and slept on the floor, which was very hard and we felt the
effects the next morning.

November 21st — Not being able to sleep any during the night, the time
seemed long to us and about 2 o'clock in the morning we left Truman's and
marched to the top of laurel Hill. The rain the day before filled every hol-
low, then the snow and the cold froze over every bit of water within reach.
The snow covered the road and it was almost impossible to pick our way
before daybreak. One step would be on safe ground and the next would
plunge us into snow and water, sometimes up to our knees. The falling of
limbs of trees made the mountain shake and the descent was dreadful, as
we were uncertain when a limb would fall on us and crush us. We travelled
across the mountain and stopped at a small house at the foot of it expecting
to get some food. But the house was so full of one kind and another, that
we could get in, but not near the fire. We were nearly perished with cold
and were obliged to stay in that situation until dawn. Laurel Hill was about
five and a half miles across and we were hungry, but could get nothing to
eat. At break of day we again got under way and marched nine miles farth-
er before we could procure a bite to eat, of bread and potato. We now be-
gan to feel the pangs of hunger. The good woman was nearly tormented
out of her wits for food. As fast as she could bake the cakes the soldiers ate
them, and even her own children were weeping for want of food. I pro-
cured flour from her, made it up into a cake and baked it in the ashes,
while she made us a dish of coffee and venison. We ate a hearty meal here.
We were fortunate enough to meet with an empty wagon going to Belford
and bargained with' the driver for a ride there and so by kind fortune we
escaped a foot marching of many miles of bad road. The wagoner was
driving much slower than we expected him to and induced us to buy some
whiskey, we then got him in a good humor, and made him pace. We took
lodging this evening at Reigart's part way on the Allegheny, a most miser-
able place. We slept very little because of cold and dogs and cats, such as
I never saw before. We had exceedingly bad entertainment and were charged
double rate. W paid him his price and resolved never to stop at his house
again unless we could not help it,

November 22 — It snowed the greater part of the night, and in the morn-
ing we left our impossible landlord, about 7:00 o'clock without refreshments.
Finding myself somewhat indisposed this morning, I left the wagon and
walked about seven miles over a rough and lonesome road, up the Allegheny
mountains to Stettler's.

I received a good warm breakfast and it revived me somewhat, for
which I paid about twenty-five cents. Crossing the mountains to Stettler's

loC»
(«)

was about the worst roads that I ever travelled on, except Laurel Hill,
"Shades of Death," a place so called because of the dismal, swampy, dark as-
pect, about two miles from Stettler's and truly frlgrhtful. We travelled on
again and grained the summit. We travelled on to Mear's tavern near the
foot of the Allegheny mountains, where we were provided with supper, a
good potpie. It is nineteen miles across the mountain.

November 23rd — This morning when I attempted to walk my legs seemed
af if they were like sticks of wood. I could scarcely move one before tho
other, but after getting warm, I soon found myself getting pliable. We
walked nine miles and got a good breakfast at Bedford, after which we pro-
ceeded on and reached the foot of Sideling Hill. Nothing occurred on the
way worth narrating. The foot of the Sideling Hill is about two miles from
the crossing of the Juniata.

November 24 — ^About 4 o'clock this morning we began our march by
star light — clear and cold, but the roads tolerably good, and ascended the
mountain. It is nine and one-half miles across and by nine o'clock we had
crossed it. We marched five miles farther and breakfasted at Jordon's —
genteel and kind people. We then pushed forward expecting to go about
twenty miles this day. However, our rising so early did us good, and by
noon we found ourselves disposed to go farther, and we crossed the Tus-
caorora mountain arriving in Starsburg a little aft^er dark. We travelled
nearly forty miles this day over a rugged mountainous country. We had
little time to spare to make observations. However, whenever we came to
a town we could find no lodgings as we bore bearskins on our hats. A cer-
tain Mrs. Dever, a person of good property, gave us very bad limburger and
intimated a stable was good enough for a soldier. With utmost difficulty
I avoided prosecuting her as she deserved. However, I hope I shall one
day or other have the extreme pleasure of confounding her satisfactorily.
Her husband was more mild than she and said little, while she with her
unbridled tongue was unceasingly in agitation. Mr. A. Henry entertained
us at his home with a good supper and bed and Mr. Stone, another of our
acquaintances, invited us to breakfast in the morning with him.

November 25th — This morning we were very lazy and did not like to get
out of bed, because it was so comfortable and about seven o'clock we ate
breakfast and then bade our Friend good-bye. I found myself very un-
fit for travel, however, Maderwell urged me on as far as he could, J?ut he
soon after left me to travel alone, to urge myself on (a poor fatigued trav-
eler who was nearly dead with fatigue.) I considered it uncourteous, and
the world could not persuade me to the contrary. We travelled together
from Lancaster to Pitt, and so far back again, and now to forsake me in my
present situation and take to a stranger for the sake of riding on a very in-
different horse, and the owner far more so, to carry him to Lancaster was
absurd. Indeed I could not have thought it possible that he could have
thought of obliging himself to any such an ill -looking person to ride upon
so schrawny a beast without a saddle. I reconciled myself to the change. He
rode off and I solitarily jogged on. He told me he should not go farther
than Mount Rock, that night, and perhaps I could reach it. I know not how
I could get on as fatigued as I was, but I managed to get as far as Mount
Rock, seven miles from Carlisle. When I arrived there I received the un-
fortunate news he had proceeded to Carlisle. I felt myself deceived and
disappointed. I reconciled myself as well as I could and concluded to have
to walk home at my ease. I spoke for my bed and supper determined to
enjoy myself as well as possible. I had not been in the house half an hour
when there was a wagon just going to Carlisle that night with sundry kind
of marketing, and thereon were two young women and two men. It was
about 7 o'clock and I prevailed upon them to carry me on to Carlisle and
with difficulty they assented. They were a merry company, indeed, and
though so much fatigued I found myself at ease and agreeably entertained.
The roads were excessively bad and the wagon stalled in slush beyond de-

I0>

scription. It was necessary to unload the wagon, in the dark and lift it out
of the mud. We were entertained and employed about two hours, about
11:00 o'clock we got into Carlisle and the Public Houses were all shut and
the people gone to bed. I could not get into any genteel house, and was
therefore, obliged to take up with the first one I should find would enter-
tain me, which I found, God knows, bad enough.

November 26th — This morning I arose about seven o'clock discharged
my bill and preceded towards Middletown by the way of Sympson's Perry.
Along this there are no public houses, though the roads were tolerable, and
uncommonly direct and no public houses are required. I travelled about
twelve miles, and there, from a private family got some bread and milk.
Water I found excessively scarce in the course of about twelve miles. I saw
but a stream of water and every house I passed they all replied there was
none in the house. Some had to bring it more than a mile and some less.
After satisfying myself here, I proceeded solitarily along to the Ferry. Here
I met my friend from Franklin County, somewhat intoxicated. We were
detained but a few minutes at the Ferry. Huston and I drank freely of
wine, grew intimate and he took me behind him to Middletown. In the
evening there gathered a large number of different soldiers from the army
on horseback — spent the evening cheerfully and about 8 o'clock met Mr.
Maderwell with whom I unknowingly passed the evening.

November 27th — This day about 10 o'clock, we left Middletown and an-
ticipated the pleasure of the evening, of again coming among our friends
and relations and partaking of their hospitality. About 7 o'clock in the even-
ing we arrived in Lancaster.

(Note — The above narration furnishes adequate proof of the hardship
endured by our forefathers, for us. It also makes it clear that the Whiskey
Insurrection was quelled by the fear of the majesty of the United States,
without a real battle.)

am

Excitement In Ijancaster Over the Rnmored Invaskm

of a Railroad

The following item was printed in the New Jersey Journal of Augrust
15, 1921, in Jersey City, and was sent to the Society by C. L. Myers, one of
our members in business at 102 Chambers street. New York asldng the
Society whether there was any foundation in fact for the same.

THE CROAKER.
Nearly every city and town has its coterie of croakers who
protest against every public improvement that is sugrsrested. Jer-
sey City has not been without its share in the past — ^in fact, their
presence is sometimes manifested even at this late day. The acti-
vities of this tribe make the lives of municipal officials anything
but beds of roses, but fortunately, the improvements go on just the
same, the croakers being swept aside by the march of progress.
This element in the community reminds us of what happened
in the little town of Lancaster, Pa., ninety years ago, when a lit-
erary society asked the use of the schoolhouse for debating the
question: "Are Railroads Practical?" This is the answer the
School Board made:

"If the society wants the use of the schoolhouse to debate some
decent moral question we should cheerfully give the use of it,
but such a thing as a railroad is wicked as well as absurd. If God
had wanted human beings to travel at the fearful rate of seven
miles an hour. He would have clearly foretold it by His prophets,
but since nothing is said about it in his Holy Writ, it is plainly an
invention of the devil to lead immortal souls to hell. Hence, we
must refuse the use of the schoolhouse.' *
After taking up the matter and investigating it, we are convinced that

it is fancy and Action. The Minutes of the School Boards of Lancaster
have been examined from their beginning many years before the date fixed
by the above article as the time of the alleged incident and nothing appears
at all thereon. Mr. Wm. Riddle who has written up the School History of

Lancaster, and has gone through every bit of minutes and other volumin-
ous data, in which are preserved carefully the whole history of the schools
of Lancaster, declares that he found nothing at all in them referring to the
subject of the railroad; and surely nothing so uncommon as the supposed
action of the Board as set forth in the said item.

Besides this it is evident that when the project of a railroad from
Columbia to Philadelphia, passing to the north of Lancaster where the
"Cut Off* has since been built, became known the people of Lancaster re-
belled against the situation which would leave their town south of the line

of the road, and took prompt steps to bring the same into and through the
city and went to great expense to get it. The citizens generally and the

city government and its civil forces all worked for the railroad and it is
inconceivable that the advance guard of enlightenment, the school authori-
ties should have opposed it. The able article on the general subject, as to
how Lancaster secured the railroad, written by the late Hon. W. U. Hensel,

and appearing in Vol. II p. 75 of our proceedings, will convince any one
that the Jersey City article is pure fancy

H. PRANK ESHLBMAN.

Minutes of September Meeting, 1921

The Lancaster County Historical Society resumed its usual monthly meetings for
the Fall and Winter Seasons this evening in the Auditorium in the A. Herr Smith
Memorial Library Building. Mr. H. Frank Eshleman, Vice President, officiated.

The minutes of the Jime meeting, the last meeting before the Summer vacation,
the Treasurer's Report and the Librarian's Report were read and approved as read.

The Librarian reported the following gifts and exchanges:

A History of the Eighty Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry;
Records of the Ballston Spa. Saratoga County National Bank; New York Public
Library Bulletin, June, 1921; Wisconsin Magazine of History, June 1921; Annals
of Iowa, April, 1921; Philadelphia Weekly Times, June 15, 1889, containing an
account of the Johnstown flood; A sketch of the Life of Major General John W.
Geary; Speech of Hon. J. D. Cameron, January 18, 1882; New York Public Library
Bulletin, July, 1921; Report of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1919-1920;
Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, July, 1921; American Philosophical
Society Proceedings, 1921; Washington Historical Society Quarterly, July, 1921;
The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography October, 1920; Manuscript
Copy of the Genealogy of the Proudfoot-Vanscoy-Tedrow-Geist together with
allied famiUes^ presented by Miss M. R. Emberson, Los Angeles, California; Poems
by Miss Letitia W. Brosius. Presented by Mrs. I. C. Arnold; Communion Book,
German, 1732, presented by Mrs. Charles A. Sauber; A clipping entitled The
Croaker, presented by Mr. Charles Lee Meyers, .New York City.

There were fourteen new applications for membership whose election, according
to the by-laws was laid over until the next regular meeting.

The following were elected to membership: Edgar B. Maxwell, Esther Maxwell
(Mrs. Edgar B.),

A. S. Harkness, Mrs. A. S. Harkness, all of Quarryville, George W. Spier, 310
Ninth Street, N. W. Washington, D. C.

Mr. Magee gave a report of the work of the Committee for the Drumore Celebration
which had gone forward and was nearing completion, the Stone is in the hands of
the workmen ;and the five bronze tablets are ready, announced that all efforts to
connect the data on the Calhoun history failed. While it is very sure that John C.
Calhoun's ancestors hailed from Drumore, evidence to that effect is not sufficient
to satisfy the high demands which the Lancaster County Historical Society require.

The Paper for the evening was read by Mr. H. Frank Eshleman. It consisted of
The Diary of William Michael. After an interesting discussion the Society adjourned
at the usual hour.

Adaline B. Spindler

Secretary.

NOTE. The October Number wUl be the Report of the Committee having in
charge the Drumore Celebration, and it wUl constitute pages 81 to 108 inclusive
of the 1921 volume.

J

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

LANCASTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIEH

Saturday, September 17, 1921

AT THE

DRUMORE CELEBRATION

•• HISTORY HERSELF, AS SEEN IN HER OWN WORKSHOP."

Dedicatory Exercises and Programme

REV. GEORGE A. LEUKEL PROF. H. H. BECK PROF. WARD V. EVANS

GENERAL JOHN STEELE, Revolutionary Soldier

By Sutan C. Frater.

DAVID RAMSAY, Historian, Surgeon, Statesman

By H. Frank Ethleman, Esq.

COLONEL ARCHIBALD STEELE, Revolutionary Hero

By D. F. Magee, Esq.

COLONEL THOMAS PORTER, Patriot Leader, Soldier, '76

By Robert B. Risk, Esq.

REPORT OF CELEBRATION COMMITTEE,

MINUTES OF OCTOBER MEETING,

VOL. XXV. NO. 8.

Lancaster, Pa
1921.

HO. 1

Presentation of Monument

By PROF. H. H, BECK.

Friends of Drumore :

The Historical Society of LaiNcaster
County, which I have the honor to repre-
sent on this occasion, jointly with the
Historical Commission of Pennsylyania,
has erected on this commanding point
within her rolling uplands, this monu-
ment to four illustrious sons of Dru-
more. We have done this to perpetuate
the worthy memories of these men :

Dr. David Ramsay, Continental Army
surgeon, friend of Washington, leader of
constructive legistation in Congress,
brilliant man of letters, and "The Fath-
er of American History."

Col. Thomas Porter, pioneer organizer
of the spirit of independence and of
militant patriotism in Lantcaister County.

Gen. John Steele, wise man of affairs
in early American life and fighting leader
on important fields of the Revolutionary
W»r.

Col. Archibald Steele, picturesque in
his niggedness and ardor, who broke the
leash of his home ties at the shot of
Bunker Hill and bolted afoot for the
distant scene.

These four men, prominently within
their day, were master builders of this
our United States and it is eminently
fitting that purely for their memories'
sakes their names and deeds should be
spread upon enduring bronze.

But these four plates carry with them
something more immediate than mere
record and memorial. Their legends
fairly ring out with a challenge to the
imagination of Drumore youth. Who
were these men that they have thus
lived on? Who these three plodding
plowboys, turning this all too familiar
sod, that they should be thus impres-
sively outlined on the horizon of the
past; and who Indeed this barefoot driv-

ing home the cows in yonder meadow
that he should be waited upon by the
world of letters?

And, again, this monument, with its
sturdy foundation purposely taken from
the local rock and with its shaft four
square to all winds that blow, in its
larger meaning is an emblem of some-
thing that must persist, by the grace of
God, in American life. It is placed here
with the conviction that only by holding
fast to that spirit of intelligence,
courage, patriotism and faith which this
rugged memorial symbolizes, can future
generations successfully meet the appall-
ing problems and the desperate situa-
tions that must inevitably increase in a
world growing crowded and old. God
grant that the inspiring legends of these
four men may never be read by a pos-
terity to whom these messages shall have
become a reproach.

We dedicate this monument to the fair
memories of Ramsay, Porter, John
Steele and Archibald Steele. To the
lofty ideals these men stood for, we con-
secrate it.

In full appreciation therefore of what
these native sons have contributed to the
past, the present and the future of our
country, and in clear recognition of your
fitness — my friends of Drumore — ^to re-
ceive and cherish, I make this presenta-
tion. I turn this monument over to you
with entire confidence that its materials
and construction will withstand all
wdathers for many centuries. And I
present it to you — ^my friends of Dru-
more — ^in the bright hope that the sterl-
ing qualities of body and mind it symbol-
izes, by the token of granite and bronze,
may endure in fair Drumore as in ouir
beloved America.

In the name of the Lancaster County
Historical Society I cordially salute you.

in

Acceptance of Monument

By WARD V. EVANS, Ph, D,

The people of Dmmore accept and
thoroughly appreciate the honor con-
ferred on us throuirh the presentation of
this memorial to the heroism of our
ancestors. It is impossible, however, for
us to thank the Lancaster Ooonty His-
torical Society for this honor. Only by
deeds can our gratitude be shown. We
pledge ourselves, therefore, to cherish
and revere this tribute and through the
years to come inculcate its teachings iu
the hearts of our children.

Time will soon efface the names en-
graved here, but the sentiment that
prompted the gift and the lessons taught
by the achievements of these men remain
with us, — ^a lasting heritage. Our efforts
shall be to produce more blazers of

trails,- more makers of history who in
future years shall point proudly to the
southern end of the county and say,
"That is my birthplace."

In times of peace we shiall endeavor to
wrest even greater harvests from our
fertile soil, to train our youths to take
their place among the law-givers and
educators of our land, and in times of
strife and oppression — for wars may
come — take up the sword not only for
our own liberty, but for all oppressed
peoples.

We will be worthy of that heritage, so
that even though our luimes may never
be engraved on tablets of bronze, we may
live forever in the hearts of our country-
men.

Dr. David Ramsay

By H, FRANK ESHLEMAN, Esq.

David Ramsay was an immense figure
in America. He did not spend as much
of his time, for his country, on the pub-
lic platform, in our Revolutionary strug-
gle and early National Government, as
did many of his icontemporaries and thus
he was not as widely or nationally
known, as they, yet he was superior of
many a more famous man of his genera-
tion. He was one of the great fonces and
figures of the Revolutionary War period ;
he was one of the great patriots and
powers of our nation in its early days,
for a third of a century. He did not
rise to the eminence of Franklin, Wash-
ington, Adams or Jefferson ; but he was
the equal of Paine, Sherman, Livingston,
Morris, Wilson, Rodney, Harrison,
Rutledge and others. Our duty, to-day,
will be to set this son of ancient Lancas-
ter County in his true light and persi>ec-
tive before the modem Americans about
me in this audience and before the
splendid citizens of Lancaster County
and of Pennsylvania of this generation.
Our county is as rich in noble sons of
her ancient days and of more recent dec-
ades, as the sky is rich, in her beautiful
stars bending above us, at eventide. It
is our duty to discover them and to point
them out so that we may fully know and
be thankful for the glory that for ages
has surrounded ub and hung over us like
stars, from the days of old.

We can best study Ramsay by con-
sidering in order: (1.) his youth and
early manhood in and as a son of this
County; (2.) his adopted life work in
medicine; (3.) his patriotic life and ser-
vices during the Revolutionary war
period ; (4. ) his public services as a dele-
gate in our nation's Congress; (5.) his
achievements as a writer; (6.) the
quality of his manhood and religious life
and practice. When all of these are
discussed there will be other large fields
untouched, namely his long term of pub-
lic servicer in the offices of his adopted
State of South Carolina, his social and
domestic life, the able and extraordinary
family he reared and their descendants,
and other forms of dedication of his ac-
tive and energetic being. But as we are
considering Ramsay, our own, to-day, his
local life and history, and his service for
our common country and our common
fanimanity and its health and well-being,
will cover the purview of our contempla-
tions, upon this oiccasion.

1. David Ramsay was born in Dru-
more (now East Drumore) Township,
near where we meet, April 2, 1749; he
died a tragic death May 8, 1815, aged 66,
from a pistol shot fired by an insane man.
His father, James Ramsay, lived on the
now Leandrew Shoemaker farm, near
this spot. His mother died early. He-
was the youngest of three boys. His
mind was a marvel, in memory, imagina-
tion, judgment and reverence. His
intellect, sensibilities and will, all were
splendid. He read the Bible in tender
years, was taught at Chestnut Level
Academy ; he was ready and fit to enter
college, but too young to be admitted, he
tutored at the Carlisle Academy, at the
age of 12, graduated at Princeton when
16, taught select school in Cecil County
a year or two, graduated at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania in medicine at 23,
received from Yale a special honorary de-
gree a year later,and at age of 24,in 1773
left our County and State for South
Carolina with an Irish and Scotch-Irish
migratfon which went to that State.

In his youth and early manhood as our
own, he was called by one of his friends
and a writer, a youth abounding in wit
and humor. And in 1773, at the time
of his departing southward. Dr. Rush,
the greatest scientific figure in our
country, said he was far superior to any
person ever graduated at the now Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania; that his abilities
were not only good but great, his talents
and knowledge universal, that he never
saw so much strength of memory and
imagination united to so fine a judgment.

2. The profession of medicine which
he adopted may be considered germane
to the present event, only because the
work he did in developing the science of
medicine in America, was felt so gener-
ally throughout the land that, he was
thereby stiU serving us locally here, in
common with the rest of America. He
was to our local ancestors, still our Lan-
caster County boy, doing noble service
for us, with Dr. Bond and Dr. Rush and
others. He laid down the foundation for
an American system of medicine. Prior
to his day, physicians of standing had to
study the theory of medicine abroad. It
was a cumbrous system, and one which
classified diseases and remedies by hun-
dreds of names. Many of the treatments
were grotesque and some of them more or
less mixed with sorcery, exorcism, pow-
wows,signs,and outlandish potation of dis-
gusting substances not fit to be taken into

\\\^

mouth, in fact, undean. Bush, Bamsay
and others began to experiment on the
human system and to dificover the nature
of the fluids of our being and their func-
tions; instead of using the old system
based on reading and memory, they en-
tered the living experimental fidd of
judgment and observation. The basis
of the new system was that every morbid
condition needs stimulation or depletion.
They found in this new Agricultural
country, depletion was required, more
than stimulation. Bleeding and Cathar-
tics were the remedies adopted. Ten
conditions of the puise were discovered
which indicated ten several conditions of
the system and the necessity for bleed-
ing; and six conditions of blood when
tested were found also to indicate six
different causes of illness. Bamsay,
later in life, investigated and wrote up
the progress of medicine in the whole
18th Century. He investigated the ir-
ritations of the blood, the causes of
fevers, etc. He resorted to the pulse as
the great indicator of bodily abnormal
conditions, now so generally consulted
and which prior to his day was not
taken into account. He did much more
in many directions in the medical world.
3. Bamsay's patriotic services during
the Bevolutionary War period are also
our peculiar local concern, as well as the
concern of the nation at laige. His first
patriotic writing which commanded at-
tention was his "Sermon on Tea," en-
titled "Touch not, Taste not, Handle
not," in 1774. It was based on the tax
imposed by Great Britain on tea. It
was received with great commendation
and excited much attention at the time.
It abounded with satire. It was a
happy appeal to the feelings of a j>eople
who associated with the use of tea, the
idea of every evil. The burden of it was,
"touch not, taste not, handle not, for in
the day thou drinkest thereof thou shalt
surely die." This was as truthful as the
Bibl'ical warning quoted, for if America
had drunk the British imported tea, in-
stead of dumping it into the sea bcicause
it was polluted and infected with a tax,
not of our own imposition, America, the
Free, would liave died.

In 1778 South Carolina appointed Dr.
Bamsay, to write, deliver and publish an
oration on the "Fourth of July," the
first "4th of July" oration ever pro-
nounced. He did so; and it was a
marvelous i>erformance. The war was
not yet ended — ^its result was still in the
balance. Many people were fearful that
It would be a mistake to sever the old
tie with England. Bamsay used the
opportunity to make a powerful State
paper and to broad-cast it over the land.
Answering those who were fearful of the
issue, he boldly declared "our present
form of government is every way pr<^f-
erable to t!he royal one we have lately
renounced." In establishing this posi-
tion he lakes a glowing view of the
natural tendencies of republican forms of

into exercise the active enengiee of the
human soul, to bring forward modist
spirit, to destroy luxury and establish
simplicity in the manners and habits of
the people and finally to promote the
cause of virtue and religion.

As Bamsay was now a great man in
the domain of medicine known from Phil-
adelphia to Charlestown and a learned
man in many ways and well known in
the legislature of South Carolina, any-
thing that fell from his pen was noticed
and published. Therefore, these papers
of 1774 and 1778 made a profound im-
pression. But in every period of the
war he wrote and spoke boldly and was
serviceable in the cause. He was ap-
pointed by Congress in 1782, to conduct
an appropriate Fourth of July obser-
vance and he did so. These "4th of
July" orations at the beginning of our
nation had a very different function from
those delivered now, nearly 150 years
later. In those days, the patriotic
orators had to counsel, encouiage and
predict what America would mean and
what blessings it could create out of the
alchemy of just government for the peo-
ple.

4. As a delegate in the Congress of
our nation he served a year in 1782 and
nearly a year in 1785 and the last few
months of the second term he was presi-
dent of the Congress, that is, equivalent
to the president of the United States.
We must note that both his short terms
in Congress occurred in the important
formative years of our national govern-
ment, during the time the Articles of
Confederation were in force as the first
attempt to put our American States under
a federal government and out of which
the Constitution of the United States
evolved. Thus Bamsay's political
labors in Congress were, in great part,
of a constructive kind ; he helped to forge
out a real government for our country
out of what was then only a Confedera-
tion or League, entered into by the
States, which were only to become a real
nation when that embryo form had
served its purpose.

Bamsay's lines of activity in his first
term in Congress included his efforts up-
on, (a) Military Affairs, (b) The Post
Office Svstem, (c) United States Fi-
nances, Bevenues and Credit, (d) Or-
ganic Development of the Nation, and
(e) Constitutional Beform of the Frame
of Government. His second term claimed
his talents and attention on the same
lines, but particularly the last three
named.

When we turn to the Journals
of the Continental Congress we
find that in his first term, Bamaay
took a leading part in imnrovinp the
laws relating to and the condition of the
military department of the country. The
soldiers were poorly paid and clothed.
Such pay as they were entitled to, was
moatlv in arrears, the currencv deT>r«»ci-

government to promote knowledge, to call ' ated ; fraudulent contracts were forced on

the army; there was no adequate hos-
pital system and no system of medicine
or surgery, no post office system to
facilitate mail to the soldiers, etc. The
war was over; but a peace was not
signed as yet and a sufficient army was
kept and was considered permanently
necessary to defend the new weak nation.
Ramsay was placed on committees to
remedy these evils. He also worked and
voted for tb« remedial measures needed.
He was particularly fitted, as a famous
physician, to organize the hospital and
medical department of the Army.

He was appointed on the Committee to
amend the whole post office system. The
articles of Confedeiration provided for a
national i>ost office ; but only a few scat-
tered aicts had been passed to organize it.
Robberies and frauds existed in it, post
roads were not provided, and in general
the system functioned very badly. Our
Atlee and others were placed on a com-
mittee to draw a post office ordinance and
they did so. Then the ordinance was
found to neei amendment and amplifica-
tion. Ramsay was assigned, with
others, to that task.

Next we find that our country's
finances were in miserable condition, and
Ramsay, though not a financier, did very
valuable work in this respect. The
articles of Confederation provided three
means of federal revenue — requisitions
upon the states, loans and bills of
credit. Ramsay was selected on a com-
mittee first to finance and extend our
French loans. Then he was assigned as
a member of a committee to work out the
pioportions of requisitions to be called
from each state. Each state naturally
tried to have its share reduced and to
have an addition put upon other states.
In all the votes called, Ramsay stood
against this favoritism, as each state
d^^manded a vote and further, he did not
allow his state. South Carolina, to
complain against those put on her at all.
Ramsay also worked hard on thie plan to
actually collect the moneys, finally re-
quired from the various states, after
those shares were fixed. He labored for
the appointment of collectors by the na-
tional superintendent of finance ; and for
the method of collection to be the same
and with the same penalties as those
used in the states to collect their own
taxes. He voted against a clause by
which it was attempted to give the col-
lectors power to collect by "any other
method," because that would result in
irregularity and be inefficient and would
interfere with the rights of the several
states to require such methods to be
used as they decided on, for their own
taxes. He also took an active hand in
hpiping to build up or trying to build up
a "permanent adequate fund by taxes and
duties, general throughout the United
States, justly proportioned among the
states, as an absolute necessity to com-
plete justice to our public creditors to
restoring our credit and to provide for

our future defense" and he demanded
that by some means the states be com-
pelled to contribute their shares. Not
much headway was made in this. He
opposed an effort to base the shares of
each state, not upon the value of prop-
erty ; but upon population, counting in
three fifths of the slaves. This however
finally became the basis of representation
in Congress, fixed by the Constitution of
the United States until the abolition of
slavery changed it.

The requisitions were not heeded and
Ramsay next turned his attention to bills
of credit. A plan was taken up to call
in the depreciated continental money and
to issue specie certificates for it, like
our gold and silver certificates of to-day.
First 40 to 1 was voted on and then 75
to 1. Both failed.

Then in desi>eration the Government
turned its attention upon making lottery
tickets, a system of money and of the
taking of them as pay, etc. In such
questions of national fincmcing Ramsay
found himself a debater and participant.

Then, too, Ramsay found questions of
organio development clamoring for solu-
tion ; New York, Connecticut and Vir-
ginia claimed lands extending to the
Mississippi. How to make that great
domain available for settlement was the
question, without having money to buy
it from those states. The duty of those
states to cede the lands to the Congress,
became the leading issue. These states
were made all kinds of promises if they
would cede. They were afraM of rival
states. They were jealous of their vast
domains. Virginia and New York felt
they were rivals and, to lose their western
country might change the position of
their rivalry. What would become of
the new territory? What would Consfress
do with it and what make out of it?
Ramsay seemed to enter the opening
wedge by proposing that states 130 miles
square with townships six miles square,
republican in form of government, be
made out of the territory, that all the
war debts of the ceding states be first
paid out of the money raised by selling
the lands to settlers, that the ceding
states be consulted in the governments
to be set up and that all contracts made
and rights granted in such territory while
rart of the said states should not be
violated, etc. Finally it went through
and in due time the great ordinance of
1787 was complete.

The Vermont territory also was a
troublesome matter which Ramsay helped
to solve. Massachusetts and New Hamp-
shire both claimed Vermont and Vermont
claimed to be independent of both and of
the United States as well. Congress
took a strong stand and decided that
Vermont was territory belonging to it.

Then, too, Ramsay found serious ques-
tions of constitutional leform also clamor-
ing for solution. The Articles of Confed-
eration needed amendment by the States.
There was no power to regulate com-

merce, or to lay a tariff. For harmony
was needed the first and for revenue and
national safety the latter. Ramsay
worked hard to induce the states to vest
the power of laying duties on imports in
the Congress. He was on committees to
go over the action taken by the states ;
some acted, some did not ; some acted
with conditions attached to their
statutes; all was chaos. Congress
passed a 5 per cent, tariff law and tried
to get it adopted by all the states. Rhode
Island was very stubborn. Congress
sent a delegation to call on her legisla-
ture. New York and GJeorgia obstruct-
ed powerfully also. Sucicess was poor.

In his second term in Congress, the
same kind of questions were up. The
western lands had now been ceded and
there were thus resources at hand as
those lands were settled and sold. But
the difficult job of settling the accounts
between the TTnUed States and the
States was perplexing every one. Ramsay
voted to fix January 1. 1781, as the date
after which the federal government
should pay all federal bills and that all
bills for general defense before that date
be paid by the states. He worked for a
syjstpm of gradual linuidation.

The organic questions connected with
the western land still were numerous.
The manner and the restraints upon
developing those lands baffled solution.
Ramsay agreed to states 130 miles square
being formpd and townships six miles
square. The character of the govern-
ment of srich states also came up.
Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia
attempted to make a radical change in
the system. Ramsay with others voted
ag«inst it.

Reform of the Articles of Confedera-
tion, however, was the main question.
The first question Ramsay met was that
of the states vesting the United States,
through Congress, with the exclusive
power of laying tariff duties and to de-
velop an internal revenue system. The
plan was advancing but it had not fully
succeeded when Ramsay's term ended.

The next question was that of ex-
clusive regulation of foreign commerce by
the TTnited States. Britain, after she
lost the war, began in 1782 to destroy us
commercially. Congress ordered the
stat«* to oAa^e all trade with her. Again,
in 1784, Britain made the world believe
we were financially unreliable and that
trade with us was dangerous. In 1785
James Monroe resolved in Congress to
vest the Nation with whole power over
commerce and to have the states so act.
Ramsay worked on this question. He
helped to secure state action, examined
the degree of action the states took and
urged on all the necessity of the move if
the federal union was to be saved. He
was handicapped, however,, because his
own state would not accede.

Ramsay helped to develop another con-
stitutional reform. He voted to have
referred to a committee the proposition

that no one holding a federal office should
be a member or delegate of Congress.
Massachuasetts initiated the principle
and Ramsay with others made the re-
straint a reality. We now have as Sec.
6 of Art. 1 of the U. S. Constitution the
provision that "no person holding an of-
fice under the United States shall be a
member of either house during his con-
tinuance in office."

5. As a writer it is simply necessary
to say that Dr. Ramsay became famous
for his works on the science of medicine,
his patriotic pieces, his life of Washing-
ton, his history of South Carolina, his
history of the United States and his
Universal History, the last named, con-
sisting of many volumes. The merits in
his historical works lie in the fact that
he wrote from first hand knowledee and
bad the onportunity, esoeciallv whHe in
Congress, to get the first hand knowledge
from the great actors in the Revolution-
erv Wpr period.

6 His manhood and noble dedication
of his life can be summed up in the
opinions of a chronicler of his times, as
follows:

"If ever there was a man d«»8tUnte of
s<»lfishness that man was Dr. David
Ramsay. It was his habit to regard
himself only as a member of tlw great
human family; and his whole life was
d*»voted to the formation and nrosecution
of plans for the good of others. His ac-
tive mind was ever devising means for
the improvement of the moral, social and
intellectual state of his beloved country.
He was an enthusiast in everything
which tended to promote these darling
objects. To carrv the benefits of educa-
tion into every family, to introduce the
Bible and to extend the blessings of
Christianitv to the mosd: sequestered
narts of the American Continent and to
bring commerce bv means of canals to
every door, were his favorite obiects."

His view of national life as he says he
received it from Dr. Rush was that,
"Next to the duty which young men owe
to their Creator, a regard to their
country should be inculcated in them.
T/Pt each pupil be taught that he does not
belong to himself but that he is pubPc
propertv."

David Ramsay's fine spirit was
'summed up in the last hours of his life
in sentiments like those of McKinlev in
his similar extremity, "T know not if
these wounds be mortal, I am not afraid
to die ; but should that be my fate I call
on all here present to bear witness that
I consider the unfortunate perpetrator
of this deed a lunatic free from guilt."

This sentiment of Ramsay,just quoted,
that next to our duty to our Creator we
ought to regard our country and that
every pupil should be taught that he does
not belong to himself but that he is public
property — this sentiment as it echoes
across the hundred years and more since
he died ought to be made the great chal-
lenge of our attention to-day. Organized

8

selfishness has its grip on us to-day. It
is an ill omen. Individual selfishness is
directly opposed to the general welfare,
just as unlimited individual liberty wo aid
be destructive of tie real liberty of a
people. But when our selfishness is
organized into great camps or national
crafts, each group the avowed enemy of
another and aiming to profit at the ex-
pense of another craft or at the expense,
of the whole nation, we are in a more
dangerous situation than we think. The
grrm of disintegration is at the heart
of things, not the germ of cohesion — ^not
even of cla^s cohesion, but of chaos.

Thie awful gathering up into classes
bound together for their several special
interests, is directly opposed to the
theory of our government. It means
that the general welfare as a great ob-
ject of our government, so announced in
the preamble of our Constitution, is not
the wish nor purpose of great masses of
our people. It means that, honestly or
dishonestly, these groups feel that they
are not receiving their share of that
general welfare and that it is necessary
to organize their own welfare association,
as they say, for their • protection. And
as one class, or craft, or other group, so
organizes, others affected thereby or-
ganize against the various organizations
which affect them. Thus we have a
swarm of organizations and unions. We
have millions, living in devotion to these
unions rather than in true allegiance to
their own government. Thiey overlook
the fact that though there be unions and
unions, not one of them or all combined
can compare with "The Union, Our Na-
tion." It is the Union of all unions and
we will not allow any other force on
earth to harm nor hinder it. It pests
above all and all obey it. Forty-eight
sovereign states live in family harmony
under it. Why should these states, why
should the American people allow any
other kind of oi^ganization or union to
interfere with its majestic purposes?

Let us beware. At the close of the
Revolutionary War, 13 states held to-
gether, and in common purpose, by fear
during the war, suddenly developed a
phobia — a mania — of individual clashing
interests; and it required, by steps, the
articles of Confederation, the Constitu-
tion of the U. S. and hundreds of de-
cisions of the Supreme Court to teach
those states to live in harmony. They
were separate geographical sections.

organized one against the other, one
jeolous of the other and selfish against
the others; they were geographical
classes. Now we have discordant classes
geographically intermixed and divided
into fewer and greater groups againstrone
another than the members of States as
rnits in days past. We are one people,
we must be only one. We are near that
awful time predicted in Holy Writ when
the hand of brother shall be turned
against brother.*

V/e must also cut down both the
unmount of government and the cost of
:;ov(rum(nt. It is unthinkable that as
'Mople become civilized they should also
become over governed. Thirty or forty
thousand statutes buzzing like bees
around our heads in Pennsylvania alone
and the legislature turning our five
hundred new ones every two years. When
will it ever end, when will the turn
come ?

We must make our government a real
popular govemment instead of allowing
its electorate to continue to neglect the
franchise until only three men out of
five vote. We now have 103,000 electors
in Lancaster County according to the
recent return ; only 40,000 of them at the
most will vote this fall, two out of five.
Minority rule of the most vicious kind is
the result.

We must stop passing laws discourag-
ing people from voting and encouraging
them to stay home. We must face about
and pass laws to encourage every one to
come out, yea to compel it. The fool-
hardy and silly imposition of a poll tax,
contemptibly small, is a disgrace. It
fixes the price of a vote — that is all. It
is useless to classify citizens as those fit
and those not fit to vote. All who are
fit to live here are fit to vote, over proper
age. We must cut expenses. Let no
one say it cannot be done. As soon as
we get rid of the modem idea that we are
entitled to whatever we want; and re-
adopt the old rule that what we cannot
afford we must do without, we will at
once get rid of hundreds of thousands of
supernumerary clerks and boards and
commissions and swivel-chair and desk
statesmen, and we will not be bound and
tied and manacled by an infinite lot of
rules and regulations which crush a free
people on every hand. Tax bills will be
cut in half at once and true progress and
nat'onal happiness will go right on with-
out a check and without a tremor.

CoL Archibald Steele

By D. F. MAGEE, Esq,,

LANCASTBM. PA.

In Archibald Steele, the eldest son of
Oapt. William Steele, Dmmore Town-
^p furnished to the Ckmtinental Army
one of the hrayest and one of the most
loyal defenders of his country's liberties
that went forth from Pennsylvania. A
giant athlete, skilled and trained in all
the knowledge and art of a frontiersman,
■n expert rifleman and woodsman, he
made a splendid soldier in every sense of
the word.

His ardent love of country and liberty
impelled him to instant action when the
call from Bunker Hill told him that his
country needed the help of her soldier
son.

He literally left the plow in the fur-
row, the harvest unfathered, without
other clothing or equipment than the
clothing he wore he shouldered his trusty
rifle and hastily collecting a half dozen
of the young men of his neighborhood
started afoot on his journey of four
hundred miles to Boston to do battle for
his country, leaving behind his young
bride, whom he had married but three
months before.

At Lancaster they were joined by
others, principally from the northwestern
section of the county, and Matthew
Smith was selected as Captain with
Archibald Steele as First Lieutenant to
command the small company. Arriving in
Boston they were quickly enrolled and
formed the nuicleus of the "Penn-
sylvania Riflemen," under Col. Thomp-
son in Washington's army, and entered
the service at once in front of the British
who were then entrenched in and about
Boston. They were all expert riflemen
and skilled in a high degree in the use of
their own Lancaster County made rifles
and quicklv earned a reputation as
marksmen that tnade them the terror of
officers and picket-guards in the British
lines. A letter from a British officer
written at this time to friends in Eng-
land said of this Lancaster County com-
pany, "their fire is exiceedingly accurate
and they can hit within a six-inch ring at
a distance of three hundred yards."

Steele's soldierly qualities, personal
courage and indomitable determination
in action quickly impressed Washington
and his commanding officer; and when
Washington planned the expedition un-
der Montgomery and Arnold to attack
Quebec, out of the entire army then sur-
rounding Boston Archibald Steele was
chosen to head the pioneer corps wh'ch
was to seek the route and blaze the way

across the trackless forests of Maine for
this invading army under Arnold.

Steele was commissioned to select of
his own choice eight men from the army
to make up his party. He selected for
this hazardous and responsible work the
following: Jesse Wheeler, George Mer-
chant and James Clifton, from the com-
pany of Capt. Morgan, of Virginia, and
Robert Cunningham, Thomas Boyd, John
Todd, John McConkey and John Henry,
of his own company. On the manch
McConkey proved unworthy and James
Clifton, the oldest of the party, could not
stand the terrific strain of the hazardous
journey, so that at the end of a hundred
miles these two were left behind to re-
join Arnold's army when it came up and
but seven men composed Steele's com-
mand, including himself.

It took all of Steele's indomitable will,
courage and good fellowship to keep his
men to their work. They were without
map or chart and they 'had to depend
alone on SteeVs keen judgment and
long exi)erience to lead them true to the
line towards Quebec. They carried with
them two canoes and followed the general
course of the waters of the Kennebec
River through or around many lakes and
across the divide into the headwaters of
the Chaudiere River which flowed into
the St. Lawrence. They had mtoy miles
of portage, and often descended through
rapid falls in which thev were wreoked
a number of times and lost all of their
scanty supplies and finally wrecked their
canoes. At times they were almost
starved and ready to give ut> in (^esna'r
and more than once had divided the^'r
Ruppl^'es down to the last ounce eo^^allv
arrong the men, but Steele's coiir>»ee end
patience finallv won out and he led the
armv of invasion into the vallev of the
St. Lawreniee and to the walls of Quebec.

They had been six weeks in the track-
lete wilderness and in this time suffered
terrible hardships and two of them after
reaching civilization among the French
Canadians, their privations having re-
duced them by sickness and weakness,
they died from the effects, their labors
and exposure. Steele rejoined his com-
pany and was then selected by Arnold
on his staff.

At the final battle of Quebec, which
ended in defeat and disaster to the little
army of Americans, at the hand of the
Quebec garrison, Steele took command of
Ms company of riflemen again, as Capt.
Smith for some unaccountable reason was

lis

absent from the battle and final onslansbt
on the battlements of Quebec.

This battle was foo^ht in a blinding
snowstorm by an attadL which the
Americans made before daylight on morn-
ing of December 31, 1775. They hoped
to surprise the British garrison. They
were in two divisions and attached from
two opposite sides of the c:ty, the one
command under General Montgomery
and the other under Co!. Arnold.

The chron.'cler of the battle. John
Joseph Henry, afterwards a Judge froiii
Lancaster County, but then a pr vate in-
Steele's company, writes in his history
of the expedition the following account
of the fight before and over the walls of
Quebec :

**Col. Arnold, heading the for'om hope,
advanced perhaps one hundred yards in
advarce of the main body. After him
foFowed Lamb's Artillerists. Morgan's
company (Virginians) led in the srcond-
ary part of the column. Smith's followed,
Ip<i by Stpole. the Captain from par-
ticular cau.«es being absent."

Further on he says, "confined in a nar-
row street before the ramparts, hardly
more than twenty-five feet in width and
on the lower ground, scarcely a bail well-
aimed or otherwise but must take effect
upon us. Morgan, Hepdricks, Steele and
Humphreys and a crowd of their men at-
t<»mpting to surmount the barrier, which
was about twelve or more feet hfgh and
so strongly constructed that nothmg but
artillery could effectuate it,«« destruction ;
and cannon over top of this barrier as-
saiUd us by grape and shot in abund-
auce."

'*Again within the barrier and close to
it. were two ranks of musketeers armed
with musket and bayonet, ready to re-
ceive those who might venture the
dangerous leap to the top of the barrier."

"Humphreys upon a mound which was
hastily erected attempted to scale the
barr er. "Morgan brave to temerity
stormed and raved. Hendricks, Steele,
NV'kels and Humphreys, equally brave,
were calm and sedate under the tremend-
ous fire. Hendricks died of a wound
through the heart, Humphreys died by
a like kind of wound, many other brave
men fell among them ; Lieut, Cooper, of
Connecticut, and perhaps fifty or sixty
other non-commissioned oflBcers and pri-
vates, were killed. Capt. Lamb, of the
York Artfllerists, had nearly one-half of
h's face carried away by a grape shot.
My friend and commander Steele lost
three of his fingers as he presented his
gun to fire. Capt. Hubbard and Lieut.
Fisdle were dangerously wounded."
(W. Arnold, the commander in the at-
tack on this side of the cftadel, had been
earlier wounded and carried back through
the lines.

General Montgomery had been killed
in leading an attack upon the opposite
side of the fortress and his army was in
a disorderly retreat from the field.
Arnold's wing of the army was thus left

to sustain the entire force of a counter
attack by the enemy. With their com-
mander down and most of the captains
and officers of the line killed or wounded,
Steele withdrew the remnants of Amo.d's
command into the houses across the uar
row street, stiil fighting desperately.
Here, being sorronnded by the British
and cut off from further retreat, the en-
tire command was fonced to surrender as
prisoners of war to the British.

After three months or more of cap-
tivity Steele with a number of others
escaped and returned after a long and
trying march through the wilderness to
Washington's army which was then in
Xew Jersey.

Whilst crossing the icy waters of the
St. Lawrence in mid-winter in an over-
loaded canoe to save it from «itilring he
.sprang overboard and trailed behind till
they all reached shore safely. This feat of
self-sacrifice nearly cost him his life as he
became unconscious when lifted from' the
water and with great difficulty he was
revived in a near-by house. Finally reachr
ing the Patriot Army, th^i located
in New Jersey, he immediately
re-entered service with Washing-
ton's Army near Trenton but his ter-
rible privations and exposure throughout
the entire expedition, and while in
prison, had broken his health to such an
extent that Washington assigned him to
the commissary dei>artment. He served
as Deputy Quartermaster General from
May, 1777, to October in 1781. He was
military stor^eeper from that time on to
the end of the war. However at one
time he had been assigned by Washing-
ton to command an expedition against
the British and Indians in the then
northwest territory, but his broken health
would not aPow him to further lead an
army and another General was assigned
to the command. He remained in the
Quartermaster*s department as Quarter-
master in command of the U. S. Arsenal
at Philadelphia from the end of the war
until April 28. 1816, and was honorably
discharged from military service June 1,
1821. at the age of seventy-nine. He died
in Philadelphia where he had contin-
uously lived after the end of the war and
died October 29, 1832, having served his
country in the military service for fifty-
one years and was ninety years of age at
his death. He is buried in West Laurel
Hi'l Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Col. Steele married Jane Gibson, of
T^Dcaster, Pennsylvania, a first cousin
of Chief Justice Gil^on and General
George Gibson. They were married in
Hubley's Hotel at Lancaster in 1775,
this hotel being then owned by the father
of liis bride. There was bom to them
three sons— George, William and Ma-
thias — ^all of whom served with honors
and distinction in the war of 1812 in the
U. S. Navy.

They were all three captured aboard
their ship during the war and taken to
England and became for some time
prisoi^rs until after the war was over.

YF

Archibald Steele, the Minute Man

Poem hy WILL R McSPARRAN,

Attuned to pastoral themes, my lyre
Perchance may fail if it aspire
To reach the high heroic key
This day demands,— inspired should be
The one to speak in words that rhyme
Of those whose deeds have been sublime :
Of men who dare all great men* men may,
Whose strength is lent to cut away
The firalling chains, what'er they be
That shackle world democracy I

Such men were these that we have come
To honor in their land, their home—
What beauty hath their land today,—
What hills and vales and fields that lay
Their largess here, a glorified,
Beloved land, our t ountryside,
Where nature's finished works abound—
The smile of God 1 'tis holy ground !

Thes"^ lands of streams and fields and wood

Were made that here a motherhood

Should bear us sons ordained to be

Our minute-men of destiny I

Behold oar Steele ! No ties of home

Could hold him back when there had come

Unto his soul, as came it then,

His country's call for valiant men,

For patriot men. who held the love

Of native land all else above.

No time was there to trim and train

For war, nor pomp, nor show,— a plain.

High call for him,— no accolade,—

He went a warrior readymade !

There is no annaJ set apart

That tells that somewhere near his heart

He kept a sweetheart's favor, brought

With trembling hands to show she'd wrought

The simple thing her tear drops wet.

That he should wear and not forget ;

Nor how a mother's soul wa rent

At thought of warfare's banishment

For one she'd borne ; or her sweet blend

Of pain and joy, that she could send

0o much unselfish love, indeed,

To meet her country's vital need.

Long, long the miles for human feet

Fr(»m liriimore's hills to Boston's street,

But light the haversack and purse—

Ah roe, if I could catch in verse

And sound in rhyme the laugh, the jest,

The spoken word, the sigh repressed.

The banter, moods, the lilt of song,—

The things their hearts could take along,—

And make for us a clear account

Of how their patriot souls could mount,

And find the bitter hardships sweet.

From Drumore hills to Boston street,—

If I could tell in fitting words.

Of morning call of twittering birds,

The rise of sun, the scanty meal,

The march resumed, the high. wrought zeal.

The hearts as light as purse and sack,

The rifle slung acrotis the back.

The thirsty lip at way-side spring.

The firm, strong step, the body swing

That added traveled mile to mile.

And limped to bivouac wi'h a smile,

To find in gathered brush a bed,—

Earth's first night's stars still overhead I

If I could tell how came the rain
And wind and chill and muddy plain.
Of dragging steps and hearts that sank,
Of days so dull and nights so dank

And dark that ardor failed, of one
Who cheered and helped the lagging on,
With ready hand and winning will.
Imparting strength with valor's thrill,—
Our Steele, the brave, the strong, inspired,-
The stalwart youth that never tired
When duty asked for yeoman aid,—
The always true and unafraid !

How Arnold's soldier instinct knew
'Twas Steele could lead the chosen few
O'er stream and mountainside, to blaze
The untrod forest's chartless maze.
Through which that hapless army went
To storm at Quebec's battlement.
Four hundred miles the way, nor less,
By lake and stream, through wilderness,
With dangers strown on every hand
But scorned for love of native land.
From Boston town to old Quebec,
Who goes today, ye little reck.
In limousine or palace car.
Where wonderous landscape beauties are.
Of what I'd vision unto you,—
The road that Steele was sent to hew I
If I could show his woodcraft skill,
Or voice the great, exalted thrill
Of that tremendous fortitude
That filled his soul, 'twould be so good
For poet's ear, — the loud acclaim
You'd give the mention of his name.

When Watson failed 'twas Steele who led
The fighting at his Tompany's head-
Again his call to duty clear,
Down through his soul's rare atmosphere ;
Each time his rifle spoke, 'twas said,
A British coat bore newer red,
And when for him came deadlv brand
He turned it backward with his hand !
But vain the effort— lost the day,—
The gallant Steele in prison lay
With many more who fought with hun,
Their wounds undressed, and dim
In death grew eyes that shining bright
Came bravely to the losing fight.

But lived our Steele. Months later he

Could lead a little band to liberty.

But who shall venture to recite

The penis and hardships of that flight?

Their wasting wounds in prison pen.

And cruel fare, had made the men.

Unarmed, in rags, in sore distress,

Too spent to face the wilderness ;

But Steele inspired and led them on,—

He spoke of battles to be won.

Of homes and loves and better days.

Of happy lives down peaceful ways.

Of all the good that victory

Would bring their land forever free.

With his prescience he could give

Them new heart hope, desire to live.

And will to try the trackless way,

Where untold dangers ambushed lay.

So came thev to a river's flood.
Swift rushing through the solitude.
The icy waters must be crossed.
Or all their hopes of safety lost.
Their need was great— with ready hand
They gathered driftwood from the strand,
And quickly fashioned such a float
They noped would serve them as a boat,
The flotsam held in place and bound
By twigs and vines and tied around

n7

Y^J^^ *^®y^^ carried In their flight
Againat the need of sach a plight.

Thiir^Jfe.®^ reached mld-rtream they knew
^i«??/* could never take them thiugh-
Twould founder from the very weight.
The overload of human freteht ^ '
But Steele relieved the overload
By jumping in the freezhig flood.
A rope around hie body tied

Tn J2?o?*^5^i"® *»« hnyelj cried
To those aboard to steady stand
And row them quickly to the land
80 strongly to their pJles they bent
Siich effort to their paddles lenr '

i^iffS'^^^^y touched ihe landing shore.
Exhausted dropped the pole and o^r,
5^* ^tened to their leader's aid,-
Their brave of heart, the unafraid.

ml ^^f ^^^ ^eAth o'er taken him,—
The cl«ir of eye, the strong of limb?
Could he withstand that awful chill,

This bravest man of iron will?

A flery pillar built they then,

To guide his life to them again ; .

They made the place so warm and bright

No soul could miss it in the night ;

Such love, such tenderness they give

The warrior sighs, resigned to live

Thus came they back, and Steele again
Went out with Red Rose fighting men,—
He asked no leave to nurse his wound.
Nor any time to s<t around
And teil to those that stayed at home
of dangerous ways that he had come.

Such men could venture all that we
Might be their heirs to liberty ;
Such men could build a glorious state
For us to love and keep as great-
God grant that weforevcrmore
May fail them not in Old Drumore !

(Copyrighted, 1921, by W. F. McSparran ;

Col. Thomas Porter

By ROBERT B. RISK, Esq.

A nation without monuments is a
land without heroes, memories and in-
heritances. Without these, no people
can have an inspiration which develops
the individual, builds up national great-
ness and establishes a lofty patriotism.
The backward nations of to-day are
those without a history or ancestral in-
heritances, while the great, progressive
lands have the records of their race's
achievements by heart, and on every hill-
top, in lowly valley or the humble grave-
yard can be foimu a monument or me-
morial marking the graves of their
heroes or great men, silently inspiring the
resolve that what worthy sires had won
should not perish through a degenerate
posterity.

There is not a township scarcely in
the thirteen original colonies where does
not rest the dust of some of the brave
men who won our independence. Many
of the names of such heroes are unwrit-
ten in the pages of local or general his-
tory, and many more sleep the dreamless
sleep in unmarked graves. It is true
all communities cannot have a. Bunker
Hill and Yorktown where began and
ended the greatest Revolution of all
time ; nor can every spot have a shrine
like Mt. Vernon, MonticePo or the tomb
of a Lincoln, but, as has been stated,
every county has its heroes, who, if thev
played a minor role in a great contest
are none the less heroes and worthy of a
perpetual memento for the work thev
piecompli^hed according to t^^eir od-
PortunHies. The subject of this sketch
belongs to the clasps of almost ^orgott'^n
hero(>8 of the inconspiicuous order, be-
cause his career was cut short by dvinsr
at the eaily age of 88 in the vear 1777,
when the Declaration of Independence

was but a few months old and the Revolu-
tion but scarcely begun. But all he
had of energy and nearly all of his rather
moderate means, he gave to the cause of
Independence. He had at least a frac-
tion of that glorious and heroic life which
is better than an age without a name.
His heart became inflamed with the idea
of a free land, self governed and en-
during, when the news of Lexington and
Concord (battles fought in 1775 before
the Declaration was given the world)
reached the southern end of our county.
The spirit of the community was with
him as it was composed of the sturdy
Scotch-Irish ever ready for a fight, "who
knew their rights and knowing dared
maintain." There was never a Tory or
a slacker in the "lower end" of .^our
county. George III in order to belittle
the Revolution sneered at it as "a Pres-
byterian war." When we consider the
big part the Scotch-Irish played in the
contest, in field and cabinet, the king was
one-fourth right at leasts At any rate,
the spirit which animated Col. Porter
was common to all our section. This
general feeling of the community can be
illustrated by stating that when the news
of Lexington reached the academy near
to or in Liberty Square, this township,
taught by the Rev. James T^atta, a large
majority of the scholars, with or without
the consent of their parents, ioined the
Revolutionary army. Among them were
two sons of William Steele. In fact a}\
bis sons — four in number — fought und'^r
Washington except one who was still a
boy. Can their graves be found to-day?
It is to be feared not : as manv a hero
fell in battle or died of wounds in a fear-
ful camp like Valley Forge, whofte names
and dust are unknown and unmarked by

! b

the generations of to-day. It may not
be out of place now to say the Historical
Society of Lancaster is doing a noble
work in playing the part of Sir Walter
Scott's "Old Mortality," in visiting th«
graveyards of our county to brush away
the dust and moss on the crumbling
tombstones' of our Kevolutionary sires
and placing perpetual memorial tablets
on the birth spots of our noted dead in
civil and military life.

With these preliminary remarks now
let us look at the life of Col. Porter in
some detail. The records concerning
him are few and meagre. So far as I
know no direct member of his family
lives in this community. His children
went West and bore a good part in life
pither as prominent members of their
local communities or in the larger affairs
of their adopted States. So about all
we know of Col. Porter is what the
musty records of the Court House tell us
or what can be found in the slender ac-
counts ^ven in military achives. Such
information as I have been able to obtain
I will give you as briefly as possible. *

The father of Colonel Porter was John
Porter who came from Ireland to this
township of Dnimore in the early thir-
ties of the eighteenth century. He
bronsrht with him the courage of the
nioneer immigrant and that bravery an
Irishman has never lacked. He must
have brought with him also a certain
amount of money, for he took up under
the Proprietors a tract of land, of some
350 aieres, where we now stand and
whore his son. Col. Thomas Porter, was
born about 1738 or *39. John Porter's
wife apswprpd to the good oM Scriptural
pan>e of Rebecca and bore him five chil-
flrpn. two sons. Thomas (the subject of
tTi^*s sVetch) William and three daueh-
tAr«5. all the Matter being married at the
time of his death save Violet, who mar-
r'pd two vears later. He died on this
DniTTiore farm in 1765. Upon the death
of the elder Porter's wife, Thomas
PortPT. the eldest son, became the owner
of the homef^teed. He married Janet
^soTDPtimes named Jean) Mitchell,
''aufir^ter of John Mitchell, Jnnp 18, 1761.
HTrt thpm were horn nine childrpn, viz:
John. Willism, Thomas, Marv Rpbpcca.
Msrgaret, George, James and Violet,
onlv one of whom. John, was fourteen
vM*rti of agp upon the death of his father
in 1777. Col. Port-er dipd intestate and
T>rohahlv THvor. n-s he had spent most of^
his Tiossess^ons in ponipning tbe various*
companies of militia he raised and
drilled and for other expenses incurred
in the struggle for independence. But
such estate as he left was administered
rT>on by James Porter and Thomas
Whiti»sidp. a brother-in-law, who had
married his sister. Jean. Patrick Bwinfij
b4*came the guardian of all the minor
childrpn. By court proceeding beginning
in 1782 and ending m 1784, an in-
quisition was held on the Porter farm
and its 350 acres were appraised at 550

pounds and awarded to the Colonel's son.
Joihn, who had then become of age. In
the partition proceedings Hugh Long be-
came bondsman for John Porter, pur-
chaser of the estate. In the course of
years all of the Porter name moved from
this neighborhood and rose to prominence
in Kentucky and Indiana, one of the
descendants becoming Governor of the
latter state. Such is the brief record of
the civil or family side of Colonel Port-
er's life. Let us now turn to his military
career.

In common with all the leaders of the
day he foresaw that a conflict between
this country and George III was sure to
come and they uttered in their hearts if
not in words the sentiments of the fiery
Patrick Henry — "The war is inevitable
and let it come. I repeat it, sir, let it
come." Let me say in passing that it is
well we now know that the War of the
Revolution was not one between this
land and the English people but a con-
test betwepn ourselves and a bigoted
sovereign aid^ed and abetted by a sub-
servient court and aristocracy to over-
throw constitutional government and
make omnipotent the nrerogative of
Kings and "divine right" Liberty lov-
ing DnglisSmien were on our side, led by
such mighty champions as Chatham,
Pitt, Burke and Fox. Thesse men were
fighting the same battle for freedom at
home we were fighting for here, and they
rejoiced with us when Yorktown ended
the war and made the King subservient
to the people through a representative
Parliament and sounded the death knell
of "rotten boroughs." So Colonel Porter,
seeing the Revolution was inevitable,
keenly felt the necessity of preparation
in time of peace. Young as he was, l^e
had become a man of note in both hiq
home community and thronehout t^e
ponntry at laree. So in 1774. a vear
before "the pmbattlpd farmers" at Lex-
ington and Concord, "fired the shot heard
round the world," we find Col. Porter
splpcted by hallot, with his neighbor of
Drumore Township, John MoEnt^'re, as
one of "T^e Committee of Sixty" for
T/PPcastpr County, who««e duty it was to
'ook after the lovalty of all the in-
habitants of the district, to encourage the
timid, convince the wavering, keep burn-
ing brightly the ardor of the brave and
imonlsive and to have a watchful eye
on slacker, coward or Tory. We can
imasrine the labor and zeal of Colonel
Porter in riding by day or nfght through-
out this bailiwick in discharge of his
duties and on the then bridle naths for
roads, which, save in mere width, have
not improved greatly to this day. We
next find him Colonel of the eight asso-
ciatpd Battalions of the countv in 1775.
At that rank he was retained in the for-
mation of the Revolutionary army and
as commanding ofScer of the 3rd Battal-
ion. In the same year he was member
of the assembly from our county and a
leader therein, and also a member of the
convention to form the Constitution of

^5-

) ) ?

the state. Dxiriiig the yean of 1775
and 1776 he recruited, armed, equipped
(much of it at his own expense without
hope of reimbursement from a poor and
bankrupt government) and diiUed, no
less than ten companies of militia and
prepared them for the line. Impaired
health and fast waning strength rendered
Mm unfit and unable to endure the
fatigue of the march and rigors of camp
life, aud so far as we know from records,
he was not engaged in any battle with
the soldiers he had so strenuously pre-
pared- for duty. Aa we have noted, he
died in 1777, during the initial stages of
the Revolutionary conflict. He was a
faithful and trusted servant of the people
and his country to the full extent of his

physical powers and only death stopped
his promising great career and being as
near to Washington as our own General
Hand. What might have been had he
lived, is a matter for mere idle specula-
tion. But we can well conclude that as
he gave all he had of strength and means
to the cause of Independence, he is as
much one of our heroes as if he fell with
Warren at Bunker Hill, or as an early
victim of the conflict, a martyr worthy
to stand by the side of a Nathan Hale.
The tablet we now dedicate is a fitting
tribute to a man who was without re-
proach in dvil life, without fear as a
soldier and who showed the depth of his
patriotism by giving his all to his
country.

APPEN DIX

COL. THOMAS PORTER, OF DRUMORE TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY.
TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD IN CIVIL AND MIUTARY UFE.

1774. Elected from his township to the

Committee of Sixty.

Rupps History of Lanicaster

Co., 385.

Ellis & Watson of Lancaster

Co., 36.

1775. Colonels of the Associated Bat-

talions from Lancaster County

were as follows :

George Ross.

Mathias Slough.

Curtiss Grubb.

Thomas Porter.

John Ferree.

James Burd.

Peter Grubb.

Bartram Galbraith.

Penna. Archives, 2nd. Series,
Vol. XIII, p. 257.

1775. Member of State Assembly from

Lancaster County.

Reoord Penna. Assembly Sept.

24, 1776.

Rupp's History of Lancaster

County, page 404.

1776. Member of the Convention to

form the Constitution.

Rupp's History Lancaster Co.,

p. 408.

1776. Colonel of Third Battalion, Lan-

caster County Militia.

1777. OflSicers of Third Battalion, Lan-.

caster County Militia, were:
Colonel Alexander Lowery.
Lieut. Col. James Cunningham.
Major Jacob Cook. *
. OflScers of Second Battalion,
Lancaster County Militia, were :
Colonel James Watson, (Cap-
tain in 1776.)
Lieut. Col. James Porter.
Major Dorrington Wilson,
(Captain in 1776.)
Note men transferred from the

% old 3rd Battalion to the 2nd.

Penna. Archiyes, Series 2nd.
Vol. XIII, p. 353.
Colonel Thomas Porter' s name
is missing in the realignment
in 1777 and afterwards. (He
died in 1777.)

1776. The earliest minute made in the
minutes of the Council of Safety
in 1776 concerning this com-
mand of Col. Thomas Porter is
dated August 13th when Robert
Towers (OMnmiasary) is or-
dered to deliver arms "to Cap-
tain Ross of Col. Thomas Por-
ter's Battalion of Lancaster
County." "August 29th Mr.
Robert Towers, Commissary,
was ordered to deliver to Major
Ewing a hundred stand of
arms for the use of Col. Por-
ter's Battalion of Lancaster
County."

Minutes proceedings of Coun-
icil of Safety same date.

1776. Same date Capt. Thomaa Morri-
son (of Porter's Battallion) was
allowed $25, 2s 6d. for mileage
of sixtyHseven men ninety miles,
and $6, 10s. for a rifle to be
charged to Col. Thomas Por-
ter." The Council of Safety
allowed $2, 8s. dd. for dieting
sixty-five men of the Company
of Oapt. Ro{« in the Battalion
^^ Colonel Thomas Porter, and
$1, 2s. 6d. for dieting thirty-
nine men of Oapt. Boyd's
Company, Col. Thomas Porter's
Bflttali'^n."

"Mention is also made in same
minutes of Captain Boyd, Oapt.
John Eckman and Capt. Patton
of Col. Thomas Porter's Bat-
talion.

46-

EUis & Watson's History of
Lancaster County, p. 52. Same
facts also noted at several
points in Colonial Records, all
quoted from minutes of Council
of Safety.
1776. The following are the names of
the Captains -of the Companies
under the command of Col.
Thomas Porter, of Lancaster
County, as Commander of the
2nd Battalion.
Captain James Wilson.
Captain Thomas Whitman.
Captain John Boyer.
Captain James Morrison.
_Qaptain Dorrington Wilson.
Captain Robert Campbell.
Captain James Ross.

Captain Johnson.

Captain Paxton.

Peona. Archiyes, 2nd. Series,
Vol. Xni, p. 325, excepting
Capts. Ross, Johnson and Pax-
ton who are named in Ellis &
Watson History Lancaster
County, p. 52.

Note.

It is worthy of note here that Jean
Porter, sister of Col. Thomas Porter, be-
came the wife of Col. Thomas YThite-
side, of Colerain Township.

Three daughters of this union,by an odd
coincidence, married three brothers, sons
of Samuel McConm^ll, of Colendn, as
follows: Rebecca, married Hugh Mc-
Connell; Martha, married David MicOon-
nell, and Violet, married Samuel McCon-
nell. From this union of three sisters
with three brothers have sprung a rather
remarkable line of men, McOonnells:

Judge A. D. McConnell, Judge of the
Courts of Westmoreland County. Pa. ;
Judge James Man^hall, of Iowa; Judge
J. P. Smith, of Tennessee; Rev. S. D.
McConnell, D. D., Rector of St. Trinity
Church, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Rev. David
McConnell Steele, Rector of St. Luke's
Church and Church of Epiphany, New
York ; Joseph Mitchel, Chief Counsel of
Michigan Central R. R. Co. ; Jackson
E. Reynolds, Prof. Corporation Law,
Columbia University, N. Y., and Chief
Counsel of New Jersey Central R. R.
Co. All these men were lineal descend-
ants of first John Porter, of Drumore.

DESCENDANTS OF JOHN PORTER

John Porter
m. Bebecca

2 Thomas

2 WUliam

2 Violet

2 — Price

2 Mitchell

2 Whitedde

Thomas Porter

m. Jeannette Mitchell

3 John Pori»r

m. Bebecca Lonj?

daughter of Hugh Long,
ofDrumore Twp,, Lan-
caster Co,, Penna.

(«. Dec. 25. 1786)

3 John m. Rebecca Long
3 William m. Esther Price

3 Mary m. Luvaaaar (?) I James

' Thomas-

4
4

3 Bebecca m. John Neel

3 Marg:aret m. Moses Scott

Susan Perry
Bettie Horton
Mrs. Robt. Ellis
Lizzie Scott

Eliza
John P.
Milton

3 George m. Elizabeth Craig

3 James m. (1) Elizabeth Fight

3 Jeam m. Ck>i. Thom&s Whiteside

3 Violet

3 Thomas— ifn^abfy b. after his father's death

4

Mary m. John Stevenson

of Ripley Co., Ind,

Jane m. Stephen Ludlow, (Descendants)
of Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Elmer E. {Descendants)

Thomas nu (1) Mercy Tousey,
b,inPa, oSKy.

Capt. in U. S.
Army.

Andrew Oliphant (d)

m. (1) Nancy BicCoy (d)
Omer T. (d)

nu —

{Descendants
living?)

(2) Green

Don C. Porter

m.

[Descendants
living)

m. (21 Miranda Tousey,

1st cousin of Mercy T.
above,

(a) AlbPrt Gallatin (rf) See
m, Minerva Cong,

V. Brown, of Directory
Indianapolis, 1774-
Ind, id) 1911

1 Omer H. (rf)

2 George T.
m. Hattie Gofl.

i^fClarksburg,

3 Edward B. (d)
m. Carrie R*»y,

cf Indianapolis

(a) Kath Vamey

„ , ^{children)

(b) Eleanor m.

(c) Anne m.
ifihUdren)

4 Annie
m. Augustus L.

Mason, of

^ ^Indianapolis,

5 Albert B. (^

m. Therese Study,
of Richmond, Ind,

(b) Ann T. (<0
m. E. G. Burkam,

of Lawrenceburg, Ind, (d)

I (1) Caroline T.

I {the only childf)

(c) Plnckney J. {d)

(d) Caroline {d)
m. James M. Oliphant,

of Pa. {d) Two children
who d, in infamy,
Thompson {Descendants)

Eliza m. ——

Lucinda m. William Godley

ua-

' •

8 Wm. Porter

m. Esther Price

8. George Porter

3. James Porter
m. twice

4 WUliam

4 Angeline m. Jas. Kyle

4 Thomas

4 Esther P. m. Samuel Craig

4 Violet m. ThoB. Neal

4 David 8. m. Agnes Campbell

4 Bettie m. Adam Neal
4 Jane m. Henry Stephens

4 Jane Foster

4 Frances Youell

4 Eliza Butler

4 Isabel Morton

4 Margaret

4 Wm. Wesley

4 Geo. Robert

4 Thomas

4 Elijah

4 Mrs. Jane Kelly

4 Washington

4 Jefferson

David
Betty

Win (7)

Elijah

Polly

Mrs. D. D. Garmore
Mrs. Ashley

R. W. Neal 1 1 Pink Neal (?)
{Pric^Nealh

OmerT. |lJas. E. Mary

Omer
Lauis

Thomas 1 1 C. O. Porter

Hiram

Jane

Hettie

1 Sophie-

Buckner

I W. B. Kelly

Cyrus
Cynthia
Lizzie
Jack

*^3

General John Steele

By SUSAN C, FRAZER

The first Steele in this country of
whom the descendants of General Jolm
Steele have absolute knowledi^, proved
by history, wills, family Bibles, court
house records and the gravestones in the
old churchyard at Chestnut Level, was
Captain William Steele, Sr., bom 1707,
married Rachel Carr, of Maryland, who
was born 1726. 'He settled along Puddle
Duck Run, a small branch of Conowingo
Creek. Prior to 1727 the road commonly
called the Foundry Road, is described
as running past WUliam Steele's farm.
He took up 200 acres of land, established
a tannery as early as 1730. In 1756 he
was in the Provincial Service; com-
manded a company of associators. He
was a staunch Presbyterian patriot, but
on account of his advanced years he was
unable to endure the fatigues and hard-
ships of an active campaign during the
Revolution. His four stalwart sons
fought for independeuce. Captain Wil-
h'am Steele died at his home, Drumore
Township, (his home is still standing
about 2% miles from here,) October 23d,
1780. The widow. Rachel Carr Steele,
died April 18th, 1798. They are buried
in the old graveyard of the Presbyterian
Church at Chestnut Level. The eldest
pon, Archibald Steele, was born in 1742.
The second son, William, was bom July
30th, 1750; he married Elizabeth Bailey
who was born October 14th, 1754, and
they were married September 14th, 1775.
He commanded a Companv in the war of
the Revolution : fought gallantly on Long
Inland. He with his wife is buried in
the old graveyard of the Presbyterian
Church at Chestnut Level. Their
daughter, Ann, married first, William
Dickson ; her second marriage was to
Major Thomas Jordan, of Chanceford
Township, York County; be was an offi-
c«»r in Gen. Jas. Porter's regiment in the
Revolution. Their daughter, Rachel,
married Jaicob Bailey, son of Robert
Pailey, a prominent man in the county.
The fourth son of Captain WiMiam
Steele. James, the youngest son, married
Marv Hume«. He was too young to join
tVte Rpvolut'onarv army, but finally as a
bov enlisted, marched as far as Baltimore
with his companv when they heard of the
surrender of Comwallis at Yorktown.
Hp distinguished bimself during the war
of 1812; was made a General; died in
1847.and is buried in cemeterv at Harris-
Hnre: his wife died in St. Paul, Minn.,
in 18^^, and is there buried. The third
son, John Steele, the subject of this pa-
per, was bom June 5th, 1758; he was

sent to the Chestnut Level Select School
under the tuition of Rev. James Latta,
D. D. ; the elder brothers, Archibald and
William, were then fighting in war of the
Revolution, but on account of his youth
his parents refused to allow him to join
the army. He was being prepared for
Collie to become a clergyman of the
Presbyterian Church. He left school
without the iconsent of his parents, tell*
ing his venerable preceptor that until his
country was free he muat leave his
studies for the camp. He entered tbe
army as a volunteer, and though young,
soon attained the command of a veteran
company. Washington made him a
Colonel, appointed him on his staff. At
the age of 19 he commanded Mrs. Wash*
ington's bodyguard; when the General
was away he lived at her quarters at
Morristown, N. J. There was great
danger of an attack during the absence
of the General. He had 60 troopers
under him for her defense; so had no
fear of the outcome of an attack. (There
is a letter here to-day on exhibition
which he wrote in 1780, telling of his
lifo at the home of Mns. Washington.)
He was severely wounded at Brandy-
wine, so severely that he was thought
dead; six of his faithful soldiers carried
him after the battle on a blanket to
bury him in the woods to prevent the
British from mutilating his body; when
they reeiched the woods with his, body
they discovered signs of life in hdm ; they
carried him a long distance from danger
of capture, reaching the home of two
elderly ladies, who, thougib entire stran-
firera to him, nursed him assiduously and
were the means of his restoration. His
sense of obligation to them and his
gratitude were lasting as life. Before he
could return to active military duty his
father heard what had befallen him and
«fter much search found him in Bucks
County, whither he had been carried af-
ter many removals, with a view to his
safety.

Returning health and strength re-
stored the young soldier to arms, not at
an discouraged by what he had suffered.
He followed General Wa^ington
through many battles, partilcipated in
the capture of Comwallis at Yorktown,
wibiere he was field oflScer of the day when
Comwallis surrendered his sword to
Washington.

At the icondusion of the war he returned
home with an arm disabled, poor and
penniless. Abigail Bailey, daughter of
Robert Bailey and Margaret McDill his

\ :^;<

wife, the sweetheart of his youth, waited
eight years for his return and remained
true to her pledge and th«y were married

March 4th, 1784. ^ ,. ^ .^v. u

Before her mamage she hved with her
brother in Lancaster, Francis Bailey,
who printed the first almanac, and on the
title page was a picture of Washington,
Bailey calling him "Washington, the
father of his country," the first person
who did it. She often sat in his office
with her sewing and watched him setting
type. One day she said to him, "Francis,
I think I can help you," at once com-
menced operations and actually set up
the first pocket almanac which was
printed in this State. The knowledge of
printing she obtained was of great value
to her husband in later life. With firm-
ness, decision, enterprise and activity,
she united all the amiable attributes of
an accomplished lady; she was well
suited to be the wife of young Steele. It
was perhaps as much owing to her knowl-
edge of the business of a printer, as to
the versatility of the genius of her hus-
band that they went to Philadelphia and
engaged in that business wliich Franklin
immortalized and which has immortalized
Franklin, setting a praiseworthy example
of industry and independence of char-
acter when the arts were comparatively
new in this country. General Steele
with his own hands cast the type with
which he and his wife set up the first
American edition of Dillsworth's Spelling
Book and a copy of the New Testament,
publishing edition after edition. Subse-
quently General Steele removed to a pa-
per manufactory which he established an
the Octoraro at Steelville ; there
also he multiplied copies from his stand-
ing types and occasionally repaired them
by casting the defaced letter anew.
Agriculture was his favorite pursuit and
from bis paper manufactory and print-
ing he retired to hf® farm in Drumore,
at the Unicom. While cultivating his
native fields he frequently represented his
district in the House of Representatives
and in the Senate of Pennsylvania. He
was verv useful in settling difficulties be-
tween the diflFerent claimants of land in
Luzerne County which were long a source
of agitation and anxiety in the com-
munity whilst acting as Commissioner
fnr his Stnte. To him, Losfan. t^^p
Indian Chief, made his famous address
while chairman of a Commission which
was sent to make a treaty of peace with

the Indians who had been at war with
the whites of Western Pennsylvania and
Virginia.

In 1808 he was appointed Collector of
the revenue of the United States for the
Port of Philadelphia and filled this im-
portant office with exempla^^y ability and
fidelity until 1826, when he resigned on
accoimt of impaired health.

At the conclusion of the war when
Washington bade farewell to his officers
at Newburg, he with them formed the
Society of the Order of the Cincinnati,
which was to perpetuate their friend-
ship, hardships and memories of the war
as they returned to their homes and
avocations of life. The membership
in it was an inheritance to descend
to the eldest son of the eldest
won in each family for all time. General
Steele was one of the founders of this
Order. At his death his eldest son.
Captain John Steele, of the War of 1812,
of Harmony Hall, Lancaster County, in-
herited it; the insignia is of gold, the
American eagle with outstretched wings
holding the olive branch in the moutb.
Wi'liam Porter Steele, the eldest son of
the Capta^'n, inherited it; then his son,
Charles Stetson Steele. He had four
daughters but no son, so his eldest grand-
son, Hugh Hutchinson, of Herndon, Va.,
is the inheritor ; Charles S. Steele was
the last male Steele of the General's line ;
the inheritance now goes out of the Steele
name. Of his home life, the highest evi-
dence of the prudence, self-government
and equanimity, of himself and wife, is
that during their married life of 43 years
they are sa'd never exchanged an unkind
word. This was their testimony con-
reming each other which was cor-
roborated by their children and intimate
fripnds in their family. General Steele
was an e^dpr in the Presbyterian Churc^i
at Chestnut Level ; verv often officiated
'u that capacity in the Third Presby-
terian Church of Philadelphia, of which
he was a trustee and one of its valued
members. He died on the 22nd of Feb-
ruary, his wife two weeks later, on the
13th of IVIarch, 1827. They lived the
life of Christians, — entered into the rest
which remaineth for the people of God.
They are buried in the churchyard of the
Third Presbyterian Church of Philadel-
phia on Pine Street between Fourth and
Sixth, where a monument of simple
proportions is erected.

.^22^'

f .

BRIEF OF THE TITLE TO THE GENERAL JOHN STEELE
TRACT NEAR UNICORN. IN DRUMORE TOWNSHIP

Commonw>ealth of PeunsylyaQiA

To
John Steele.

John Steele's Heirs and Exors.

To
William Boyd.

William Boyd

To
Robert Steele.

Robert Steele

To
James N. Henderson.

James N. Henderson

To
James Bamee.

James Barnes

To
Robert J. and William Barnes.

Robert J. Barnes,
W^illiam Barnes,

To
John N. Haverstick.

John N. Haverstick's heirs

To
John L. Minndch.

John L. Minnieh*s Admrs.

To
I. C. Arnold.

I. C. Arnold

To
Jerries DeLong.

Clerk of Orphans' Court

To
Catherine DeLong.

Catherine Deljong's Exors.

To
Paul DeLong and Lewis E. Shoemaker.

Tract of land called "Trenton."
Patent Deed dated Nov. 21, 1809.
Record in Pat. Book H, Vol. 1, p. 62:5.
Cootaining 201 Acres.

Dated Oct 6, 1829.
Record Book N-5-370.
Will dated Dec. 4, 1823.

Dated Oct. 6, 1829.
Record N-5-374.

Dated April 30, 1838.

Not recorded. Now in possession of

Charles B. Evans.

Dated Mar. 11, 1839.
Record R-11-262.

Eighty-eight acres adjoining to the east-
ward had been bought to it.
Dated May 17, 1880,
Record R-11-265.
For 288 Acres.

Dated Manch 30, 1882.

Record S-11-485.

For 179 Acres, part of farm.

Dated April 1, 1896.
Record 0-15-349.
For 179 Acres.

Dated Mch. 27, 1905.
Rec. S-17-589.

Dated May 5, 1905.
Rec. S-17-589.

Dated April 30, 1914.
Rec. A-22-2. 179 Acres.

Dated Mich. 31, 1921.

Left for record but not yet recorded.

Chas. B, Evans' Title to Part of Steele Tract with New Buildings

on Which the Monument is Erected,

Referring back to deed from James Barnes to Robert J. and Wm. Barnes
for the whole tract, Record R-11-265 we find:

Robert J. Barnes died Sept. 3pd, 1891,
testate. Wm. J. Barnes, Exor.

Wm. J. Barnes peisonally and as Exor.
of Robert J. Barnes.

To
Charles B. Evans.

Will Robert J. Barnes, dated 1891,
Will Book J-2-198.

Gave Wm. J. Barnes authority to sell
his interest.

Dated Apr. 3, 1909.
Record W-19-433.
For 109 A. 40 P.

JX3-

Report of Celebration Committee

Read by Chairman D, R MAGEE,

Report of the Committee havioc
charge of the Drumore celebration, and
the erection of the Monument Satoiday.
Sept. 17. 1921.

Your Committee respectfully reports
that in pursuanioe of the purposes and
intent of the resolution under which it
was appointed it took up the work which
was assigned it and carried it to a suc-
cessful finish and herewith submits in
some detail the work done.

The Conmiittee' as finally filled and ap-
pointed consisted of the following mem-
bers: D. F. Magee, Chairman; Adallne
B. Spindler, Secretary; Profc H. H.
Beck, A. K. Hostetter, I. C. Arnold,
Miss Daisy E. B. Girubb, Miss Susan C.
Frazer, Mrs. John A. Nauman, Mrs.
Grace Collins Scott, H. Frank Bahle-
man, George W. Hensel, Jr., Mr. and
Mrs. Edgar B. Maxwell, Mr. and Mrs.
T. C. Evans.

The Chairman afterwards added to
this Committee a large number of per-
sons and assigned to them work on
speidal Committees, the following being
tlh-e names of the Committees and respec-
tive chairman :

Vocal and Instrumental Music, Prof.
H. H. Beck, Chairman; Invitations, H.
Frank Eshleman, Chairman; Foundation
and Stone, George W. Hensel, Chair-
man ; Tablets and Marker, Prof. H. H.
Beck, Chairman : Recept\>n and Social.
Mrs. John A. Nauman, Chairman; Old
Homes and Grounds, Edgar B. Maxwell,
Chairman; Exhibit of Relics, John L.
Summy, Chairman; Dinner and Refresh-
ments, Thos. C. Evans, Chairman;
Autos and Transportation, Levi Mc^
A Ulster, Chairman.

The Chairman herewith wishes to
aicknowledige with the thanks of the So-
c'ety the enthusiastic spirit and the will-
ingness to work shown by all chairmen
and their able assistants. Bach of them
filled their parts most willingly and ably
and to this united effort is the grand
success of the undertaking due; and
while he would detract nothing- from the
excellent work done by all, he feels that
justice demands that special mention
should be made of the exicellenoe and
generosity of the work done by Mr. and
Mrs. Edgar B. Maxwell and Prof. H. H.
Beck.

The MaxweJls literally took off all
gates, laid down all bars and threw open
all doors to their beautiful and hospitable
home and invited all the countryside to

come in and enjoy themselves to the limit
in any and every part of the farm and
buildings. They spared neither time,
labor or expense in preparing the stand
and tables for our entertainment; and
the result of their labor gave to us the
most beautiful and artistic staging and
setting for the celebration that any
of us have ever seen.

Prof. Beck rendered invaluable ser-
vices in the search for and selection of
the stone, and in the planning and de-
sign of the tablets and the composing of
the excellent legends that are found on
each.

It took many days of work and thought .
and much time spent, the story of whidi
is all told in the beautiful monument and
tablets thereon to show to the generations
to come, the noble patriots of our County,
sons of Drumore. Standing on firm
foundation far under ground t±iis perfect
shaft of trap rock and enduring bronze
will stand for years unnumbered to tell
its story of noble deeds, a reminder of
the good work of the Lancaster County
Historical Sdeiety.

Your Committee selected for the
authors of the four papers to the men to
be commemorated, the following: Doctor
David Ramsay, H. Frank E^leman,
Esq. ; Gen. John Stee'e, Miss Susan C.
Frazer; Col. Thomas Porter, Robert B.
Risk, Esq. ; and Archibald Steele, D. F.
Magee, Esq.

The papers prepared by each will
speak for themselves and are a valuable
accession to our historic archives; they
are herewith attached and made part of
this report.

It may be noted here that the original
intention to have Mr. Magee prepare a
paper upon the ancestry of John C. Cal-
houn was not carried out for the reason
that Mr. Megee after most exhaustive
search in all attainable sources and di-
rection, did not feel that it was pos-
sible to produce with the certainty and
accuracy that our Soteiety expects^ proof
that the direct Calhoim ancestry had
been resident in our Countv. The Oal-
houns who did live and reside for several
generations in Drumore, and of whom
descendants are still here ^*n the Pe^'n'^s.
were apparently connected with the John
C. ancestry, probably cousins, there was
available no record proof that Patrick
Calhoun, the fatb«er of John C. Calhoun,
was born or lived here.

But nothing was lost to our historic

^4r

records by the substitution of Archibald
Steele in his stead; for our Society has
letarued tihereby that in him she gave
tq our country one of the bravest and
most heroic men in all the Continental
Army.

The poem written by Will F. McSpar-
ran, a son of Drumore, upon the life of
Archibald Steele, was a most excellent
production and reflects as great an honor
upon the literary attainments and poetic
genius of another Drumore son as it does
upon the heroic valor of the revolution-
ary soldier. It is attached herewith and
made part of this report.

The tflireatening weather of the morn-
ing kept many away from the celebra-
tion ; nevertheless the gathering was a
very large and notable one and it was
estimated that there was present about
eight hundred people, many of them com-
ing from a long distance and quite a
number of the Steele descendants were
present.

Six hundred invitations were printed
and sent out to the members and their
friends,as also to a large number of others
whom it was thouglikt would be interested
in the celebration through old associa-
tions.

All of the surrounding historiical
Societies in other Counties were
R:)€cially inVitrd. Imvitations were sent
to the Governors of Pennsylvania and
other state oflBcials, as also Robert
Arthur Cooper, the governor of South
Carolina, and the Mayor, John P. Graiee,
of Charleston, S. C. AH replied, excusing
themselves on account of other more ur-
gent engagements; but all expressing
their appreciation and extending to our
Society their well wishes for our success.
Besides the number of Steeles present,
Hon. George T. Porter, a son of Governor
Porter, of Indiana, was present, as also
John McCardel, one of Indiana's bii;
men of the day, once a Martic boy, was
with us and gave us a fine address.

Hon. Cyrus T. Fox, Secretary of the
Berks County Historical Society, was
present and gave an address; also the
Rev. John B. Laird was present and
gave an address that wtas interesting and
timely.

A number of very interesting pictures,
relics of the Steele family, including a
picture of General John Steele, and Col.
Archibald Steele, as also a letter from
Dr. David Ramsay, the Bible of General
Steele, and also his sword used in ser-
vice, were among the most notable. The
pictures in oil, brought by Miss Sue C.
Frazer were much admired.

Good pictures of all of the present
homes on the sites of the old homesteads,
as also a picture of the monument, were
taken by D. B. Landis, the official
photographer, some of which were used
in illustrations. Mr. Landis has sets of
fives of these, pictures which he is fur-
nislhing at cost, one dollar for the five.

The country dinner furnished by
Caterers Eckman and Smith consisting
of chicken, roasting ears, sweet potatoes
and all the side dishes, topped out with
ice cream, was highly appreciated and
partaken of by upwards of three hundred
people.

Extra trolley cars were furnished by
the Traction Company and all were ac-
commodated and the service of automo-
biles to icarry the visitors on the tour
of the residences of the four heroes of the
day was fully adequate to all demands,
though owing to the threatening weather
many of them were late in arriving as
they believed they would not be wanted.

The whole programme from the start
in the morning to the final bugler's call
of reveille was carried out completely
and on time in every feature, and not
one number was even five minutes late.

Honorable George T. Porter, a lineal
descendant of Colonel Thomas Porter
and a son of Governor Albert G. Porter,
ot Indiana, was so well pleased with the
work of the Society throughout that he
volunteered a contribution of One Hun-
dred Dollars towards the expense of the
monument.

The legends on the monument are as
follows :

DR. DAVID RAMSAY

Historian — Surgeon — Patriot
Bom one mile southwest, 1749
Continental Army Surgeon
Friend of Washington
Constructive leader in Congress
Talented man in letters
The Father of American History
He is best known for his History
of the American Revolution, Life
of Washington,
History of America, and
TTniversal History Americanized
Practiced medicine and died 1815
in Charleston, S. C.

GENERAL JOHN STEELE

Born three miles north, 1753

Resident of this farm

Volunteer at 18. Captain at 19.

Colonel on Washington's staff at 21

Wounded at Brandywine and

at Germantown

Pennsylvania Legislature (House,) 1801

Speaker of Senate, 1806

Collector of Port Philadelphia,

1808—1825
As commissioner to treat with
warring tribes, to him was ad-
dressed the famous speech of
Logan, the Indian chief,
Died 1827.

COLONEL THOMAS PORTER

Bom three miles north, 1738

A pioneer spirit of American

Independence

Committee of Sixty, 1774

Organizer of ten Lancaster County

The old Maxwell homestead, near Unicorn: set arid staged for the Celebration.
A splendidly preserved mansion, built by Ri^rt Maxwell in 1754. now the home oj
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Maxwell and mother, Mrs. James MaxwelL Edgar B.
Maxwell is a lineal descendant in male line from the first builder.

companies whom failioi: health
prevented his leading into the

rield
Died 1777.

COLONEL ABGHIBALD STEELE

Bom three miles north, 1742
Picturesque in his ruggedness
and ardor
Walked to Boston at the call of
Bunker Hill
Leading six picked men, he broke
the trfdl for the Montgomery expe-
dition against Quebec, where he
fought with distinction. Travel-
ing on an overcrowded boat on
the retreat, he contracted a chron-
ic illness in the icy St. Lawrence.
Thereafter Commissary and final-
ly head of the Phila-
delphia Arsenal.
Died 1832

It is reported to your Committee that
from fifteen to twenty automobiles of
people stop every day to admire the
monument and study its story as told in
the tablets.

D. F. MAGBB, Chairman.

RESOLUTIONS

ON THK

Patting of Dr. F. R. Diffenderfer

By the Lancaster County Historical Society

Resolved, That fn the death of Frank
R. Diflfenderffer, Litt. D., the city and
county, as well as ourselves, have lost a
man of great worth and one whose place
will not easily be fiUed.

This Society was largely his creation.
For seven years he' aicted as its unpaid
Secretary; for two years he served as its
President ; and when death oame upon
him, be was its First V"ce President. No
name appears upon our records so fre-
quentV as that of our departed friend,
and no papers delve so deeply into the
early traditi'ons of this locality as tho*^e
which came from his fin en t pen. He
was easily the most valuable member this
Society ever had. We ne'er shall see
his like again.

He hated inaccuracy in papers relating
to our history. Often with great earn-
estness we ihave heard him on this floor
denouncing loose and incorrect state-
ments and then giving the correct version
of the alleged events. His knowledge
covered a wide range, and everything he
did showed clearly his marvelous memory
and extensive reading. As an author he
was known throughout the state. His
kindly face will be sadly missed at our
meetings and his efforts on behalf of the
Society cannot by others easily be sup-
plied.

LANCASTER COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Secretary, President,

Adaline B. Spindler. C. I. Landis.

Minutes of the October
Meeting.

Lancaster, Pa.,
7 October, 1921.

The Lancaster County Historical So-
ciety met in their room in the A. Herr
Smith Memorial Building this evening.
The President, Hon. Charles I. Landis,
presiding, opened the business meeting
by calling for the reports of the various
officers. The minutes of the September
meeting were read and approved.

The Treasurer's financial statement
was accepted and approved as follows:

Sept. 2, 1921, Date of last meet-

ii^, $194 12

Receipts, 8 00

$202 12
Expenses, $ 36 00

October 6, 1921, Am*t in Treas-
ury, $166 12

Respectfully submitted,

A. K. HOSTBTTBR,

Treasurer.

The Librarian's report, Mr. Harry
Stehmau, Jr., showed tibe following gifts
and exchanges :

A case of notebooks once belonging to
Charles A. Burrows, deceased, of Lan-
caster.

Annual Report of the American His-
torical Association, 1917.

New York State Local History Town
Records, 1921.

Grand Rapids Public Library Bulletin,
July-August, 1921.

New York Public Library Bulletin,
August, 1921.

Annual Report of the Bureau of
American Ethnology, 1913-1914, fropa the
Smithsonian Institution.

A bound manuscript volume of thte
Genealogy of the Proudfoot-Vanscoy-
T drow-Geist and allied Families, this
splendid gift being the work and donation
of Miss Myrtle R. Embersan, of Los
Angeles, California — second volume —
the first volume having been presented
last month.

Two manuscript copies, of pai)ers read
at the Kjelebration of the Berks County
Historical Society at Windsor Forges.
Presented by Mr. Walter C. Hager, of
Ijan caster.

Photograph of Colonel Archibald
Steele, Presented by Miss Susan C.
Frazer, of Lancaster.

A check for thtree hundred dollars pre-
sented, through Mrs. D. B. Landis, by
Mrs. Bemarda Hood Black as a memorial
to her father, Hon. Alexander H. Hood,
Lancaster lawyer, member of the Legis-
lature, and appointed by President Lin-
coln, first Revenue Collector for this dis-
trict. This memorial is for the Per-
manent Home Fund of the Lancaster
County Historical Society.

A check for one hundred dollars pre-,
s^ted by Mr. Geoi^re T. Porter, of
Washington, D. C.

A unanimous vote of most appr^ative
thanks was heartily extended to the kind
friends for these generous gifts.

There were several new applications
for membership presented :

Dr. Harry Bender, Lititz, Pa.

Dr. E. S. Snyder, 425 N. Queen St.,
Lancaster, Pa.

Mr. G. J. P. Raub, QuarryviUe, Pa.

Professor H. J. Taylor, 556 W. Chest-
nut St., Lancaster, Pa.

Miss Daisy Youngman, Lancaster, Pa.

Mrs. L. B. Herr, 604 W. James St.,
Lancaster, Pa.

Miss Amy Steele, 15 E. Lemon St.,
Lancaster, Pa.

Miss M. Agnes Martin, Strasburg, Pa.

The following new members were
elected, applications for which were re-
ceived at the September meeting :

A. H. Stubbs, M. D., R. F. D., Peach
Bottom, Pa.

Laura B. Stubbs, (Mrs. A. H.)
Peach Bottom, Pa.

Fred L. Oauflfman, R. F. D., Peach
Bottom, Pa.

Merde B. CaufiEman (Mrs. Fred L.)
Peach Bottom, Pa.

Miss Ida Ream, 32 S. Lime Street,
Lancaster, Pa.

Mrs. David W. Jackson, Bartville, Pa.

Mr. H. D. Weller, 913 Virginia Ave.,
Lancaster, Pa.

Dr. Ward V. Evans. Northwestern
University, Chicago, Illinois.

Miss Helen Hensel, Quarryville, Pa.

Josepbine Martin Hensel (Mrs. George
W., Jr.) Quarryville, Pa.

Mrs. Annie Scott, Quarryville, Pa.

Mrs. Anna Dickinson, Quarryville, Pa.

Kersey Carrigan, Quarryville, Pa.
Lillian Carrigan (Mrs. Kersey) Quar-
ryville, Pa.

Mr. and Mrs. George T. Porter, Wash-
ington, D. C, and Mrs. Bemarda Hood
Black were elected to Honorary Member-
ship in the Society for life.

At the suggestion of the Chair it was
decided to instruct the Treasurer to keep
separate the special funds which should
be given for the Permanent Home Fund
and that the three hundred dollar check
given for this purpose be deposited in
this way and used for no other purpose
and that others that may be donated
similarly be treated in the same way.

On motion of the Secretary the So-
ciety voted to rent the room on the third
floor, lately occupied by the Lancaster
Medical Society, and fit it up with some
of the growing donations of the museum.

The subject of papers was brought up
by Mr. Eshleman. He suggested that
the papers for the year be assigned early
in the year and announced in order to
obviate some of the uncertainty which
under the present system is a disadvant-
age.

D. F. Magee, Esq., Chairman of tb?
Committee for the Drumore Celebration,
read the full report of the Celebration.

Professor Herbert H. Beck, of Frank-
lin and Marshall College, read Resolu-
tions on the Passing of Dr. Frank R.
Diffenderflfer, First Vice President of the
Lancaster County Historical Society.

The Secretary was instructed to send
a copy of these Resolutions to the family
and to place them on the minutes.

The Society adjourned at the regular
hour.

' Respectfully submitted,

ADALINE B. SPINDLER,
October, 1921. Secretary.

NOV

J

ERRATA AND EXPLANATION

The September pamphlet should be paged 99 to 109; and the
Drumore Celebration pamphlet should be considered paged
111 to 132. It is indexed accordingly.

The November pamphlet, therefore, begins with page 133.
It and the December pamphlet are paged from 133 onward
and indexed accordingly.

H. FBA.NK ESHLEMAN.

THE STRASBURG SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY

by
William Frederic Worner

What cannot art and industry perform
When science plans the progress of their toll.

Beattie.

Not long since Miss Virginia B. Clark, presented the writer with a lit-
tle pamphlet, 4x6% inches in size, which was found among the papers of
her sister, the late Martha Bladen Clark, corresponding secretary of the
Lancaster County Historical Society for more than twenty years. It is a
thin volume of twenty-four closely printed pages, bound in paper and stained
on every page with the mysterious blotches which are the hallmarks of Time.
To him who would draw local history from the fountain-head, especially that
which pertains to Strasburg and its environs, it is worth more than its weight
in gold. It is one of three copies extant, of the other two, one is in the Library
of Congress, and the other is in the collection of the Pennsylvania Historical
Society.

On the flyleaf, Mr. John Shippen, has indited the following inscription:

"Gift of the Author

to
General Jas. Ross,
Lancaster."

The title-page reads:

"An
Oration

delivered on the

Anniversary

of the

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY

Eleventh November, 1793.
at
. Society Hall, Strasburg Village, Lancaster County,

Pennsylvania

At the request of the members

By John Shippen, A. B.

Where Liberty dwells, there is my Country.

Doctor Franklin.
For he that values Liberty, confines
His zeal for her predominance, within
No narrow bounds. Her cause engages him.
Wherever pleaded. 'Tis the cause of Man.

Cowpers' Winter Morning walk.

PHILADELPHIA
Printed by Francis Bailey, at Yorick's-Head
No. 116, High street,

M, DCC, XCIV."

On the last page appears a list of the officers elected at the meeting
which the Honorable John Shippen had the pleasure of addressing:

(133)

(134)

"Society-Hall, 11th Nov. 1793.
"The following gentlemen were today elected as officers of the society
for the ensuing year.

President
Rev. NATHANIEL. W. SAMPLE, D. D.
Committee of Correspondence
Rev. N. W. Sample, Mr. John Funck, Isaac Ferree, Esq.
Col. James Mercer, Mr. George Duffield, sen. Jacob
Carpenter, Esq and Dr. Everhard Gruber.

Treasurer
Mr. George Duffield, sen.
Librarian
Mr. John Funck
Assistant Librarian.
George Def field, (1) jun. Esq.
Secretary
Bernard Frazer."
On page three appears the following "extract of a letter" from the
President of the Scientific Society of Strasburg Village to John Shippen,
Chester county:

"I am requested by the society to inform you, that they have unanimous-
ly appointed you to deliver their Anniversary Oration for 1793. I hope you
will make it convenient to comply with their wishes.

"Nathaniel W. Sample."
Beneath this is printed an excerpt from the minutes of the society, fur-
nished by the secretary for publication and dated the day after the meeting:
"At the andual meeting of the society on the 2d Monday in November,
1793.

"On motion, unanimously resolved.

"That a committee be appointed to wait on Mr. John Shippen to return
him the thanlis of the society for the Oration delivered by him this day,
and to inform him that it is the request of the society that the same be pub-
lished.

"James Mercer, John Breckbill, and Jacob Carpenter, Esquires, were ac-
cordingly appointed a committee for that purpose.
"Extract from the Minutes.

"Bernard Frazer, Secretary.
"Nov. 12th, 1793."

On the next page appears this inscription:

"To the
Rev. Nathaniel W. Sample, D. D.
President
and to the
MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC
SOCIETY OF
Strasburg Village,
The following oration
is most respectfully
inscribed
by their sincere friend
and
humble servant,
JOHN SHIPPEN
West-Chester, November 19th, 1793."
Then follows John Shippen's oration on "The Blessings of Civil Society
and Government." The speaker in closing, addressed a few complimen-
tary remarks to the president and fellow-members of the organization. He

THE OLD WASHINGTON HOTEL IN STRASBURG. PA.

RE\*EItEXD HAN'S HERIt

Painted b^ John Funck

(135)

very briefly related how associations like the Scientific Society originated
and what purpose they served in a community such as Strasburg and in
society in general. He added '*that since a state of society is favorable to
the progress of learning, the improvement of the arts and sciences, and the
propagation of Christianity; so, my brethren, and from the same obvious
reasons too, but operating here with additional force, are Philosophy, Know-
ledge and Religion peculiarly indebted to particular associations of men,
entered into for the important purposes of promoting and advancing them.'

John Shippen, obviously, must have been a member of the Strasburg
Scientific Society from the time of its inception, or else he was elected at a
meeting held previous to the one which he addressed. Note the use of the
personal pronoun as he relates:

"Institutions, of the nature of which our institution partakes, were
formed upon social and liberal principals, animated by a zeal for knowledge
and virtue, and having in view a common benefit and improvement."

He continues:

"Two years have now elapsed since the origin of this society. It has
had many obstacles to combat — many wants to supply; these are however,
gradually decreasing; and we can now behold our institution, although yet
in its infancy, well organized and pretty firmly established.

He observes, with satisfaction, that the society has already been the
means of doing much good. To borrow again from his masterly address:

"Besides the desire of knowledge which it inspires, and which it at the
same time, I trust, in some measure gratifies, and the desire of knowledge
is increased by gratification like the flame is by fuel.

In defining further the scope and purpose of the society the speaker
diverges from the dusty road of details to give us a passage which is poetical
in spirit and graceful in wording:

"Besides the emulation which it excites among the members: and emu-
lation naturally leads to improvement. In short, besides the grand objects
sought for, and which were the principal motives for instituting our society,
one very essential and important good has resulted which reflects no less
honor on the institution,, that it has reflected happiness to the members;
not merely as members of our little society; but as citizens and as mem-
bers of the great society of mankind."

Strasburg in 1793 was not unlike other villages of its size and popula*
tion in America. Among its inhabitants it numbered those persons who
meddled with the wordly affairs of neighbors and friends. This often led
to disputes and quarrels of a nature in which the feelings of those who pro-
voked them were not spared. John Shippen was cognizant of the animosity
that existed among certain of the members. In recounting the good accom-
plished by the Strasburg Scientific Society, he did not hesitate to remind
them:

"It has been the happy mean of wearing off or eradicating certain
foolish dislikes and enmities, which had once existed between some of the
members and which might have otherwise increased and proved fatal to both
parties. It has substituted, in the place of these, a joint pursuit and inter-
est; and united as all in the bonds of amity and fraternal effection."

The speaker then cautioned them:

"As long as this institution shall be productive of these and similar ad-
vantages, which tend to advance the happiness of civil society; so long, my
brethren, will this institution be worthy of a zealous continuance."

He also admonished them that if the Strasburg Scientific Society should
"unhappily so degenerate from its original, pure and honorable principles
as to become an instrument of division and party spirit, it will cease to be
respectable, because it will cease to be useful. It will become a curse, in-
stead of a blessing.'

(136)

Mr. Shippen was, however, happy to add that the ''present glad pros-
pect of the Strasburg Scientific Society is not in the most distant degrree in-
terrupted by the fog of apprehension;'* and he further assured them that
"friendship eminently prevails; and friendship is the best security against
such a degeneracy."

That he entertained great expectations for the society's future welfare
and looked forward to the time when it would wield a potent influence for
good, not only in the village where it was located but in the state as well,
is evident from this prophetic utterance:

*'Our society on the contrary, bids fair to become in time a stately, useful
and respectable institution;'- and modestly added, "then shall some abler
pen prepare, some tongue, more eloquent, pronounce its merited eulogium."

He congratulated his brother members and "our worthy president on
the happy conclusion of a second year," and reminded them that "our meet-
ings have been attended with considerable improvement to ourselves, and
been uniformly remarkable for their harmony and brotherly love."

He felicitated the president in behalf of his brother members, and
assured him that his conduct in the discharge of the duties of his office had
given universal satisfaction, and justly entitled him to their highest appro-
bation, gratitude and esteem." He supplemented this with:

"A third time is the unanimous voice of the members about to place you
in that office. We hope you will freely accept of it, as a testimony of our
sentiments toward you, and because you can be eminently useful in that
capacity."

In justice to his own feelings and to those of the gentlemen who were
the original projectors of the organization, he felt that he must in a particu-
lar manner congratulate them. In terms of warmest flattery, which un-
doubtedly stirred the emotions of his auditors, he spoke as follows:

"You. must feel a sensible satisfaction in reflecting, that the sanguine
wishes and expectations which you had formed on the birthday of the insti-
tution, have not, during its two years' existence, been in the least disap-
pointed; but that, on the contrary, they have been amply fulfilled and an-
swered, and your exertions and anxiety are fully repaid. The recollection of
that day and an observation of the present reasonable prospects of the insti-
tution, must cause in your breasts, sensations of the pleasing and satisfactory
kind."

He closed his address by congratulating his audience on having such a
society in their midst.

The foregoing excerpts from John Shippen's oration indicate that the
strasburg Scientific Society was organized on November li, 1791. The
Reverend Nathaniel Welshard Sample, its first president, was serving his
third term when the pamphlet wais published. That the society was m a
rather flourishing condition during the first few years of its existence, and
was recognized as an institution of the highest culture and learning, is evi-
dent from a footnote appended to John Shippen's address, in which he stated
'besides the books, which the funds and stock of the society have, from time
to time enabled them to procure, many valuable donations have been made
them in books by gentlemen at a distance; and particularly by several of
the booksellers of Philadelphia."

It seems that the funds for organizing and carrying on the work of the
society, the purchase of books and scientific instruments, were obtained by
selling shares of stock in the association.

Strasburg in 1791, the year in which the Scientific Society was organ-
ized, was neither a large nor populous village. Bishop Asbury, under date
of July 28, 1799, wrote in his journal concerning it:

"This place I judge contains between sixty and seventy houses."

It occupied an important place on the "Great Conestoga Road," over
which passed much traffic from Newport to points in the then "far west'*

(137)

Strasburg was one of the chief stopping: places east of the Susquehanna. It
contained, at least, eight "publlck houses," and many private ones, which
offered ''entertainment for man and beast." One sees and hears in fancy,
the heavy Conestoga wagons with their proud and skilled teamsters, trailing
through the elongated village or stopping at the hostelries.

Thifi attracted to the village a class of people uncouth in manners and
speech. What could be more offensive than "Hell's Hole"? a name applied
to it in its infancy, later superseded by "Bettlehausen" (Beggarstown), indica-
tive of the pecuniary status of the inhab tants. In addition to this, the town
was without a church or meeting-house even though a clergyman had re-
sided within its boundaries since 1782. However, one must not suppose that
all the inhabitants were of the type here pictured. Strasburg had more
public-spirited citizens than other villages of a like size, and scholarly men
interested in literature, the arts and sciences, and the current topics of the
day. But a list of those who have borne well their part in church, com-
monwealth and nation would weary writer and reader.

The minutes of the Strasburg Scietific Society have become either lost
or were destroyed inadvertently by some careless housewife (2.) A diligent
search has been made amongst the mass or miscellaneous junk — ^the accumu-
lation of years — reposing under a mantle of dust in many a neglected gar-
ret in the village, without discovering them. Libraries and scientific institu-
tions have aided in the search, which thus far has proven unsuccessful. Were
we able to locate them, what a light they would shed upon the activities of
the society, and affairs in general in the staid old village a century and a
quarter ago.

Today, we can only conjecture where the meetings of the society were
held and where its possessions were kept. The correspondence is headed
"Society Hall." But where was Society Hall? It could not have been in
the old Methodist church on South Decatur street, as some have supposed,
for that little edifice was not erected until 1807. Possibly the society met in
the hostelry now known as the Washington House, or in that fine old Colonial
structure at the western end of the village — the Golden Swan hotel, John
Funck, who was very active in the affairs of the society, kept a tavern in
Strasburg as early as 1792. He lived in a house which stood where the
National bank now stands (3.) I am not prepared to state, positively, in
which place the meetings were held, but am inclined to think that the
"publick house" kept by John Funck sheltered the institution.

The society enjoyed about twelve years of uninterrupted existence. Its
condition at first was flourishing, and more than gratified the fondest ex-
pectations of the promoters. Eventually, however, some of the members
died, others moved to more distant localities, and during its later years the
institution suffered a general decline. In the early spring of 1803 the few
remaining members foresaw that dissolution was imminent and a meeting
was called to consider the situation.

The Intelligencer & Weekly Advertiser of Tuesday, March 22, 1803, con--
tains this information:

STRASBURG SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY TO BE DISSOLVED •.

"At a meeting of a number of members of the Scientific Society of
Strasburg, held at M. Jacob Bear's in Strasburg, the 5th of February last, it
was determined that a general meeting of the members should be requested;
that measures might be adopted to dispose of the Books and other Property'
of the said Society to the best advantage. In consequence thereof, all the
members are earnestly requested to meet at the House of Mr. Jacob Bear,
(4) in Strasburg on Saturday, the 2nd day of April next, at 10 o'clock in the
forenoon, for the above purpose.
"March 22.

"N. B. Any person having any books out will please to return them by the
day above mentioned."

(138)

A general meeting of the members of the society was held as requested,
at which time it was decided to disband, sell the books, scientific instru-
ments, and other possessions of the organization. That due and timely no-
tice of the action of the society was given to all the members is evident from
the following, which appeared in the Intelligencer & Weekly Advertiser of
Tuesday, April 26, 1803:

"PUBLIC NOTICE

"On Saturday, the 21st of May next, will be sold, at the House of Mr.
John Funck, the following, being the property of the Scientific Society of
Strasburg, viz. a large walnut bookcase, a barometer and thermometer,a large
Family Bible, Concordance, Doddridges Family Expositor, 6 vols. American
Museum, 12; Hume's England, 8; Smollet's Continuation, 5; Robertson's His-
tory of Charles the 5th., 4 vols. Ramsey's American Revolution, 2; Smith's
Wealth of Nations, 3; Robertson's Astronomy, with a variety of other books
and pamphlets.

"The Sale will begin at 10 o'clock, A. M. when attendance will be given,
and the conditions made known by

"John Breckbill.
"Thomas Burrows.
"April 26. 1803.

"N. B. Those who have books in their possession, belonging to the Society
are requested to return them to Mr. Funck, before the day of the Sale."

Some one of the many delvers in the strata of local post-Revolutionary
history may beguile the tedium of statistical labors by ascertaining how much
of the following, which appears in Harris's "Biographical History," is fiction
and how much is fact:

"When Dr. Joseph Priestly, the celebrated philosopher, first emigrated
from England to America, in 1794, he settled and lived for a short time in
Strasburg, Lancaster county. He lived in the house now owned by William
Spencer, ex-commissioner, for about six months. He removed thence to
Northumberland, Pa., where he lies buried."

The house, herein, referred to is a little one-story log structure, recently
weather-boarded, which stands on the west side of the second block on Deca-
tur street, three doors south of the Presbyterian church (6.) At the time Dr.
Priestley is supposed to have lived in it, the house was owned by John Mil-
ler and wife, Veronica. (7)

Tradition, "the elder sister of History," to which only such credit should
be given as is rightfully hers, says that Dr. Priestley not only lived in Stras-
burg, but that he took a keen interest in the affairs of the Scientific Society,
and on one occasion delivered an address before its august assemblage. Since
the records of the Society are lost, we have no means of knowing whether
this is correct or not.

I have examined carefully the Memoirs of Dr. Priestley and cannot find
in them the slightest reference to Strasburg or its immediate vicinity. If lie
ever lived in Strasburg no mention seems to be .made of the fact.

Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith — than whom we have no better authority on that
part of Priestley's life (8) spent in America — after describing his arrival,
and subsequent stay in New York says.

"Accordingly, on June 18, 1794, they left New York, after a fortnight's
visit."

The Advertiser of Philadelphia, June 21, 1794, contains these lines:

"Last Thursday evening arrived in town from New York the justly cele-
brated philosopher. Dr. Joseph Priestley."

It was about the middle of July, 1794, that the Priestleys left Phila-
delphia on their journey to Northumberland. (9) Priestley wrote of the
latter town under date of September 4, 1794:

"Nothing could be more delightful or more healthy than this place."

(139)

Harris states that he lived in Strasburg for about six months. If he
left Philadelphia the middle of July and was writing from Northumber-
land in September, he could not have tarried anywhere six months. Dr.
£]dgar Fahs Smith says:

"I have never seen any statement in any of Priestley's letters — and I
have examined many of them and own quite a number — to the effect of his
having lived anywhere but in Northumberland and in Philadelphia during
the period he was lecturing here."

Dr. Priestley attended meetings of the American Philosophical Society,
of which he was an illustrious member, in Philadelphia in 1796, 1797, 1801
and 1803. On April 17, 1801, he was stopping in Reading, Pa. A letter ad-
dressed to John Vaughan, Esq., written by Priestley in the latter town bears
testimony to this. It is a well established fact that in going from Philadel-
phia to Northumberland, he followed the Schuylkill. Ex-Mayor Getz, of
Reading, Pa., has sent me a drawing representing the course Priestley took
in going from Philadelphia to Reading and from Reading to Northumber-
land.

These are, apparently, well-established facts, so I do not see how the par-
agraph referred to on page 554 of Harris's history can be regarded as cor-
rect. Dr. Smith assures me that although he has worked so long in dig-
ging up early facts he is not prepared to brand the statement as absolutely un-
true. It would seem, however, that if Dr. Priesley ever resided In Stras-
burg, somewhere in the history of the county, or in its county records,
there would be definite evidence of the same. The little Preistley family —
the two sons and daughter-in-law constituted a pretty strong magnet to
draw the Doctor and his wife promptly to Northumberland. Some day the
minutes the the Scientific Society may be found and from them we. may
learn whether he ever attended a meeting or resided in Strasburg village.
Until such time, this will remain one of those interesting traditions that baf-
fle the historian and try his patience sorely.

The history of the Strasburg Scientific Society would not be complete
unless it contained brief biographical sketches of the men who were actively
engaged in the affairs of the organization.

The Ancestors of Rev. Nathaniel Welshand Sample emigrated from Ire-
land and settled in the southeastern part of what is now York county. Pa. (10)
The subject of this sketch first saw the light of day on April 16, 1752. He
attended the classical school founded and conducted by the Reverend Dr.
Robert Smith at Pequea, Lancaster county, Pa. (11) where he was prepared
for the College of New Jersey (Princeton University.) He was graduated
from the latter institution in 1776.

The Presbytery of New Castle held a meeting in Leacock church during
the first week in J-anuary, 1779, at which time it was unanimously agreed to
license Mr. Sample to preach the Gospel. At a meeting of the Synod of New
Tark and Philadelphia held in 1779. "New Castle Presbytery reported that
since the meeting of Synod (Synod of New York and Philadelphia) in 1777,
they have licensed Messrs. Matthew Tate, Nathaniel Sample and John Finley,
to preach the Gospel.* From the foregoing it is evident that he was li-
censed during the period that intervened between the meeting of New Castle
Presbytery in January, 1779 and the meeting of Synod which was held in
May of the same year. (9)

Whilst a licentiate, he supplied the church at St. George's, Delaware,
for six months, and at the expiration of that time he receiverd a call to be-
come the pastor, which he declined. He was still pursuing his theological
studies under the tutelage of the Rev. William Foster, (3) pastor of the Up-
per Octorara church, at the time of Mr. Foster's death, which occurred Sep-
tember 30, 1780.

(140)

Leacock church formed a union with Middle Octorara In 1780. On
October 30th of the same year, Leacock, Octorara and Lancaster churches
united in a call for Mr. Sample's pastoral services. He was at the time a li-
centiate of the Presbytery of New Castle. The Rev. Robert Smith, D. D.,
of Pequea. moderated the call at Leacock, and the Rev. James Latta, D. D.,
of Chestnut Level, officiated in the same capacity at Middle Octorara.

At a meeting of New Castle Presbytery held in West Nottingrham
church on October 24, 1781, the following entry was made upon the min-
utes:

"Commissioners from the congregations of Leacock and Middle Oct-
orara appeared before Presbytery requesting that Mr. Sample be ordained
and installed among them, and that as early a season may be appointed for
that purpose as may be; and the Presbytery accordingly agree that they
meet at Leacock the 2nd Tuesday of December, and that, if their way be
clear, he be accordingly ordained and installed the next day; and that Mr.
William R. Smith preach the sermon, Mr. James Finley preside, and that
Mr. Robert Smith give the charge. Ordered that Mr. Sample prepare a lec-
ture, on Rom. 8:1:9, and be ready for the usual examination."

Nathaniel W. Sample accepted the united calls (14) of Octorara, Lea-
cock and Lancaster churches on October 25. 1781. The calls from Octorara
and Leacock stipulated for 200 bushels of wheat each, annually. The con-
gregation at Lancaster was not nearly as large as those aforementioned,
hence the call from Lancaster stipulated only for 100 bushels of wheat an-
nually.

The Presbytery met at Leacock on the second Tuesday of December,
1781, but, unfortunately, the page of the record is marked "minutes want-
ing;" therefore we have no Presbyterial account of Mr. Sample's ordination
and installation.

Nathaniel Welshard Sample was nine and twenty when he was joined in
holy wedlock to Elizabeth Cowan. They took up their residence in the vil-
lage of Strasburg on April 10, 1782.

Mr. Sample attended the meeting of Synod which met in Philadelphia
in 1783. At a meeting of Synod held in the same city in 1786, which he
attended, his name appears upon the minutes in full for the first time —
Nathaniel Welshard Sample. The early records of the Presbyterian
Church spell the name Semple, but in the old family Bible the name is always
spelled Sample. (15)

About the year 1790 Mr. Sample opened a theological school in his home
in Strasburg. (16) The school was held in the room later occupied by Levi
Waidley as a tailor shop. The house at present is owned and occupied by
John Hagans. A number of young men who afterwards became eminent
and useful ministers, pursued their theological studies under Mr. Sample'**
direction. (17) From the History of Leacock Presbyterian church written
by the Rev. P. J. Timlow and published in 1854, I extract a partial list of
students who studied theology under Mr. Sample. (18)

"The Rev. Stuart Williams, who settled at Snow Hill; the Rev. James
McGraw, D. D., who settled at Nottingham; the Rev. Dr. Paxton, who set-
tled in Marsh Creek, Adams county; the Rev. John Coulter of Tuscarora,
Penna.; the Rev. John B. Slemmons, of Eastern Shore, Maryland; the Rev.
Robert Kennedy of Welsh Run, Franklin county; the Rev. Dr. Francis Her-
ron of Pittsburgh and the Rev. Charles Cummins, who settled first at Chest-
nut Level and afterwards in Florida, Orange county, New York."

On November 11, 1791, the Scientific Society of Strasburg, was organ-
ized and the Rev. Nathaniel Welshard Sample was elected president. His
ripe scholarship, vast erudition, equable disposition and innate love of man-
Icind united with a lively interest in all that concerned his adopted village
ranked him as a popular and promising citizen and eminently qualified him

(141)

for the presidency of the infant society. In the earlier days more deference
was paid to intellectual attainments because more rare; scholarly men were
such from the love of knowledge and were so absorbed in research that they
gave little thought to material affairs. They led precarious lives and often
died poor. Mr. Sample belonged to this class.

The Intelligencer and Weekly Advertised of October 27, 1802, contained
an announcement that Robert Elliott, M. A. late teacher in a classical school
at Easton, Maryland, would open an academy in the village of Strasburg on
January 1, 1803. Prospective students were requested to apply to the Rev.
Mr. Sample who would see that they were accomodated and carefully attended

to.

Elizabeth Cowan, (19) born June 16, 1761, became the first wife of
Dr. Sample on October 2, 1781. Nine children were the fruit of this union.
The first was born June 29, 1782, and the last on March 8, 1803. Mrs. Eliza-
beth Sample died July 3, 1818, aged 57 years and 17 days. Her remains
were interred in the old graveyard adjoining Leacock church.

Mr. Sample married the second time. In the Lancaster Intelligencer of
Tuesday, April 20, 1822, appeared a paragraph which would now figure
among society items:

"Married on Tuesday evening last (April 16, 1882) by F. A. Latta,
Minister of the Gospel, N. W. Sample, Minister of the Gospel, to Miss Sara
Evans, of Little Britain."

It is deliciously refreshing in this day of itching ears in the pews and
itineracy in the pulpit, to note that Mr. Sample as minister of Octorara, Lea-
cock and Lancaster churches had come into the congregations, as his people
to the land, "to stay". For forty years he labored in these three churches.
While Mr. Sample was pastor, the congregation of Leacock was incorporated,
March 10, 1787 by act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. (20). As
pastor of the congregation in Lancaster, he officiated at the funeral of John
Wilkes Kittera, Esq., representative from this county in the Congress of the
United States, from 1791 to 1801, and committed his body to the earth,
where it now lies under the Evans Memorial Chapel of the First Presbyter-
Ian church of Lancaster, Pa. (21) During the latter part of his pastorate
the church in Lancaster was enlarged and improved (22). In October,
1821, he resigned the charge of the three congregations.

Mr. Sample is said to have been a very interesting and popular preach-
er, with a strong, full and melodious voice. The Rev. Dr. Martin of Chance-
ford has paid him this just tribute:

"Sample was a popular preacher; corpulent; very few men appeared to
better advantage in the pulpit. His voice was voluminous, his fancy was
quite abundant, and the truth flowed from his lips in very winning forms.
He was not punctual in family visiting, but was much loved and was heard
by many with pleasure and profit."

Mr. Sample kept no sessional records of the three churches which he
served, consequently much data pertaining to the history of these churches
and which would be of great interest and value, has been lost.

The death of Mr. Sample is duly entered in the family Bible now in
possession of the Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia, thus:

"Nathaniel W. Sample, Senior, departed this life July 23, 18 34, aged
83 years." (In reality he was 82 years, 3 months and 7 days old.)

From his obituary which appeared in a local weekly, printed on paper
now falling to pieces with age, I quote the following:

"Died at his residence in Strasburg township, Lancaster county, on Thurs-
day, the 24th ult., the Rev. N. W. Sample, father of N. W. Sample, in the 8 3rd
year of his age.

"Mr. Sample discharged the duties of the pastorate in the three churches
for forty years. He was distinguished for great eminence in learning.

(142)

piety and patriotism and such gifts of heart and mind and person as en-
deared him indissolubly to his people."."

The inscription on his time-battered tombstone in the old Leacock bury-
Ingr-grround may still be deciphered:

REV. NATHANIEL W. SAMPLE
Died August 26. 1834
aged 83 years.
Dr. Timlow and other biographers of this learned divine, have copied
the date of his demise from the unpretending tombstone in Leacock church-
yard. In the Lancaster Journal of August 1, 1834, it is stated that he de-
parted this life on July 24th, 1834. In the old family Bible embrowned and
blotched by time, the date of Mr. Sample's death is entered July 23, 1834.
Thus three different dates are given. The one in the family Bible Is prob-
ably correct.

Mr. Sample died intestate (23) and letters of administration were granted
to his son, Nathaniel W. Sample, Jr., Joseph Lefever and Jacob Bowers on
August 6, 1834. Letters of administration are not usually granted until the
person is dead, hence the stone cutter with his date August 26, 1834 is
wrong. (24)

Since the personal estate of Mr. Sample was not sufficient to pay his
debts the court ordered the sale of his property by the administrators. The
house and half-acre lot in Strasburg, were purchased by Abram K. Witmer.
Later, they passed into the hands of John Waidley and at present are owned
by his son-in-law, John Hagans.

On an unpretentious tombstone in the old graveyard adjoining the Stras-
burg Mennonite church, appears the following tautological inscription:

JOHN FUNCK

March 5, 1755,

married to Ann, daughter of

CHRISTIAN HERR

Pequea, April 3, 1775,

Died May 31, 1831,

aged 76 years, 2 months and 26 days.

He was of German descent.

The subject of this sketch is a descendant ot John Funck, the original

patentee of five hundred acres of land in Strasburg and Lampeter townships.

In 1781 he purchased a tract of fifteen acres which he subsequently divided

into building lots. This parcel of land was situated in what is now the

cejiter of Strasburg borough extended eastward from Decatur street to the

Lutheran graveyard and southward from the "publick street of the said

village" (Main street) a distance of fourteen degrees. John Funck owned

considerable land in Strasburg township and other parts of the county. He

seems to have bought and sold much property. On the tax lists for 1790,

1792, 1796 and 1800, his name appears as "innkeeper for Strasburg township."

When the Strasburg Scientific Society was organized on November 11,
1791, he was chosen librarian. There is a tradition — apparently well au-
thenticated — that the society was not only founded in his tavern but that its
books, papers, scientific instruments and other possessions were lodged
under his hospitable roof. In fact many assume that "Society Hall" the
headquarters and meeting place of the organization was none other than
John Funck's "publick house."

John Funck lived at the southeast corner of Main and Decatur streets.
His naine is perpetuated in "Funck's lane" — a, narrow street two blookp in
length — in the southern part of the town. In 1807 he sold a lot of groUnd,
containing a small fraction over one-eighth of an acre, situated near the
south end of Decatur street to the "Society of Methodists". On it the de-
nomination had erected a small one-story building which evidently was used

BISHOP ASBURY

REVEREND NATHANIEL WELSHARD SAMPLE

Palntfd by John Fuiick

(143)

t)y them as a place of worship before the formal deed of transfer was made.
It is claimed to be one of the oldest Methodist churches in Pennsylvania.
Later, it was converted into Templars' Hall and was iised as a meeting place
of a temperance society known as the Good Templars. At present it is the
common property of all the religrious denominations in Strasburg and is used
by them as a parish hall for social gatherings.

John Funck was undoubtedly the most versatile man of his day and
generation. His interests were not confined solely to the village in which he
dwelt. He was one cf Strasburg's public spirited citizens and the foremost
business man of his bailiwick. In addition to being the keeper of a village
inn he was an extensive dealer In real estate. His trade was that of a mill-
wright. He was appointed by the court to serve as agent or Inspector lor
the 6th district at the gubernatorial election In 1802; and shortly after the
borough of Strasburg was erected by Act of Assembly of March 13, 1816.
he was elected a member of the council.

It was proposed In the spring of 1797 that a company be formed to work
the Gap copper mines. Fifty thousand dollars were required to finance the
project. Benjamin Henry, of Lancaster, was the author of a prospectus
setting forth the aims of such a company John Funck was associated with
Henry, and those living In the vicinity of Strasburg who were disposed to
become subscribers were requested to leave their names with him.

As proprietor of a public tavern, his time was .argely occupied In dis-
charging the duties of host. To his mill and real estate projects he was
obliged to devote much attention. Yet in spite of this, John Funck iound
some leisure in which to pursue his favorite tivocation. His one and only
contribution to science Is all the more remarkable when we consider tho
magnitude of the undertaking. In the latter part of the eighteenth century
he built a flying machine. His first and only trial with it was made from
the roof of his house and both man and machine landed in the street with
dire results.

John Funck was more than fifty years of age ^\hen ho began to study
art. He was a painter of no mean ability and js said to hav'3 been a pupil
of Sully. About the time that Eichoitz was entering the profession, Funck
had reached the acme of his artistic career. When the former carried his
portrait of Nicholas Biddle to Boston for the inspection of tho celebrated
Stuart, the latter had just completed what is considered by many as his
masterpiece.

There are few paintings from his brush In existence. The portrait of
a "Venetian Girl," in the possession of Mrs. Emily Bishop Musselman, of
Strasburg,. is very crude, and was, perhaps, one of his earliest attempts. The
portraits of the man and woman on the north wall of the room in which
you are now assembled (A. Herr Smith Memorial Building) were painted
by him. The one on a poplar board Is a likeness of his wife, while that
on canvass Is an auto portrait of the artist. These paintings belonged to
the late ESllza E. Smith, and hung for many years In her old home — the
Caleb Cope house — on North Lime street. They are now the property of
the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library and not of the Lancaster County His-
torical Society as some have supposed.

The Presbyterian Historical Society, In Philadelphia, has In its posses-
sion a portrait of the Rev. Nathaniel Welshard Sample which was painted
by John Funck — the neighbor and friend of Mr. Sample for more than forty
years.

Mrs. Charles B. Keller, o.f Lancaster, Pa., owns two miniatures of the
Rev. N. W. Sample and his first wife,. Elizabeth Cowan. These pictures are
painted on wood.

There Is an alleged portrait of the Rev. Hans Herr In the possession of
Mr. Martin B. Herr, a lineal descendent, which was painted by John
Funck. It was restored not long since by the late Wlliliam B. Delchler.

(144)

Whether the portrait Funck made is a copy of one which the Rev. Hans
Herr had painted in Europe, before he emigrrated to America, I am not able
to say. One fact is certain, the Rev. Hans Herr did not pose for Funck.
since the former died in 1725, while the latter was not born until thirty,
years later.

The portrait of the Rev. Hans Herr on the west wall of this room
(North parlor of A. Herr Smith Memorial Buildingr) is a copy of John
Funck's, and I am told, was painted by the late Leon von Osko. It, too, is
owned by the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library.

John Funck painted a portrait of Bishop Asbury, which is considered
to be his masterpiece. The story of how it came to be painted bears re-
peating at this time:

The pioneer bishop of the Methodist Church in America, the Right
Rev. Francis Asbury, visited Strasburg on several occasions during the per-
iod that intervened between 1791 and 1813. On April 6th of the latter year
he made his last official visitation to Strasburg village. It was about this
time that John Funck painted on a poplar board, the portrait of the bishop.
As an amateur, he was considered a good artist, and the portrait of Bishop
Asbury is conceded by many to be his best work. The Rev. Henry Boehm,
who had spent many years as the traveling companion of the bishop, pro-
nounced the picture a very striking and correct likeness. When John
Funck's effects were sold, the portrait was purchased by John Steacy, and
hung for many years in "The Sandstone" — ^the oldest house still standing
in Strasburg.

John Steacy emigrated from Wexford, Ireland, about the year 1815. He
was a staunch Methodist and a friend of the bishop, whom he had met in
Europe. Upon the death of Mr. Steacy, the portrait descended to his
daughter, Mrs. Sarah Attmore, who in turn, at her death, bequeathed it to
the American University at Washington, D. C. where it now hangs in As-
bury Memorial Hall.

When the loan exhibition of historical and contemporary portraits was
held in 1912, the committee appointed for the collection of oil paintings vis-
ited this room and inspected the portraits of John Funck and his wife, Ann.
The committee knew nothing about the subjects represented, had no know-
ledge of the artist, and recognized that the paintings possessed little merit.
Hence they were not exhibited. It is unfortunate, however, that the artist
was not given some recognition. His likeness of Bishop Asbury entitled him
to this, and even though his work was not exhibited, his name should, at
least, have appeared among the list of those who helped to establish Lan-
caster county's place in art.

A critical estimate of John Funck's paintings is scarcely within the
purpose of this sketch. There seems to be little evidence that he had any
actual instruction in art, even though tradition — ever an unsafe guide —
claims him a pupil of Sully. In the main, I believe he was self-taught.
His paintings, like those of many amateurs, are not always technically cor-
rect, and reveal much that is crude. Despite this, John Funck had a sub-
tle spark of genius, and had he cultivated painting at an earlier age and
with a different environment, he might have rivaled, if not excelled, the dis-
tinguished Jacob Eicholtz.

On April 3, 1775, he was married to Ann, daughter of Christian Herr
and Maria Bowman, and great-great-grand-daughter of Rev. Hans ±ierr.
She departed this life on August 13, 1836, and not 1837, the date carved on
her tombstone in the old Mennonite graveyard.

John Funck died on May 31, 1831. In his will, among other things, he
bequeathed the sum of five hundred dollars to his wife, to be given to the
"poor and needy." (33).

(145)

Jacob Smith, father of the late Eliza E. Smith who donated this build-
ing to the city of Lancaster, Pa., for a library, was a step-brother of John
Funck.

RCFCaiENCES

1. Copied verbatim. Obviously a typographical error; should havo
been spelled Duffield.

2. Ellis and Evans, page 659.

3. Original tax list in County Commissioners' office for year 1792.

4. Jacob Bear's name appars on tax lists for 1790, 1792 and 1802 ad
inn-keeper. He is also referred to as innkeeper in 1798 in deed-book E,
vol. 3, page 172.

Page 554.

6. Recorder's office, book K. K., page 421.

7. John Miller purchased the property from Jacob Hoober and wife
Susannah, May 20, 1793.

8. Priestley in America, 1794-1804, page 47.

9. Ibid, page 52.

10. Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, page 151, states he was
born in Scotland. This is undoubtedly incorrect.

11. Dr. Robert Smith's Academy at Pequea, page 8, by Prof. Jacob N.
Beam.

12 Presbyterian Encyclopaedia, page 801, states he was licensed in
1799. This is incorrect.

13. History of Upper Octorara Church, by J. Smith Futhey, Esq.,
pages 81-83.

14. Harris's Biographical History, page 510, states that he first lo-
cated in Strasburg and preached for the congregation of that place. This
is incorrect. The Strasburg congregation was not formed until 1832.

15. On the tax list for 1787 his name appears as "Nathan Sample, D,
D.'*; on the list for 1796 it is written "Nathaniel Sample, Minister" I have
been unable to learn whether any college ever conferred the degree of D.
D, upon him.

16. History of Education in Pennsylvania, by J. P. Wickersham, page
126.

17. Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, page 1-51.

18. Page 21.

19. Biographical Annals of Lancajster County, page 151, it is stated <»he
was born in Maryland. Cannot authenticate this.

20. Ellis and Evans, page 919.

21. Ibid., page 227.

22. Ibid., page 474.

23. Orphans' Court Records, book G., vol. 1, page 198.

24. Ellis and Evans, page 919.

25. Deed book L, Vol. 3, page 568.

26. Deed book, X, page 651.

27. Deed book Y, Vol. 3, page 494.

28. Ellis and Evans, page 659.

29. The Intelligencer and Weekly Advertiser, Sept. 8, 1802.
30. Ellis and Evans, page 661.

31. The Lancaster Journal, April. 28, 1797.

32. Registers' Office, Book P, Vol. 2, page 123.

33. Registers' Office, Book Q, page 61.

(146)

Minutes for Novemder 4, 1921

The Lancaster County Historical Society held its stated monthly meeting for
November in the Auditorium of the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library Building,
this evening.

Reports of officers were read and approved by the Society.

The Treasurer, Mr. A. K. Hostetter, in addition to his monthly statement, reported
that he had placed the three hundred dollar gift of Mrs Bemarda Hood Black on
interest in the Conestoga National Bank, for which he holds a certificate of deposit.

The Librarian, Mr. Harry L. Stehman, Jr. reported the following exchanges:

Records of the Catholic Histor'cal Society, June, 1921.

The Wisconsin Magazine of History, September, 1921.

The Washington State Historical Quarterly, October, 1921.

Minnesota History Bulletin, November, 1920.

Reports of the American Historical Association, 1918.

The apphcants presented at the October Meeting were elected to membership:

Mr. G. J. P. Raub, Quarryville, Pennsylvania; Dr. E. S. Snyder; 425 North Queen
Street; H. J. Taylor, 556 West Chestnut; Miss Daisy Youngman, 40 North Prince;
Mrs. L. B. Herr, 604 West James; Dr. Harry Bender, Lititz, Pennsylvania; Miss
Amy Steele, 15 East Lemon Street; Miss M. Agnes Martin, Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Agreements in dupUcate from the Intelligencer Publishing Company, setting forth
the terms by which the firm would publish the proceedings of the Society, were
presented for approval and signature. They were read by the President, Hon. C. I.
Landis, and upon vote of the Society were approved as read and the President was
authorized to sign and execute the same. The Treasurer was instructed to file the
one and return the other to the Publishers.

The paper for the evening was prepared and read by Mr. William Frederic Womer
entitled *'The Strasburg Scientific Society." Very interesting comments and dis-
cussion followed by Hon. C. I. Landis. Mrs. Mary Reigart Cowell, Mr. A. K. Hostetter,
Mr. I. C. Arnold and Mr. L. B. Herr.

Before the Society adjourned the President, Hon. C. I. Landis, requested the Sec-
retary to read a letter written by himself in which he expressed himself as desirous
of withdrawing from the Presidency, as the time for the annual election of officers
was at hand he requested that he should not be put up for nomination. Upon motion
of the Secretary, seconded by Mr. Hostetter he was asked to reconsider and withdraw^
the letter. After some deliberation he replied that it was necessary for him to be
relieved of some of his pressing responsibihties, and felt it best to retire at this time .
Mr. John L. Sunmay offered the motion that, in order to faciUtate the matter of
nomination of officers, a nominating committee be appointed by the President,
This was approved, the President appointed on this committee, Mr. I. C. Arnold,
Mr. J. H. Landis, and Mr. L. B Herr
The Society adjourned at the usual time.

PAPERS READ

BEFORE THE

Lancaster County Historical Society

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1921

*'l|iBt0rg ifrrBrlt aa Bnn in Ifrr mott tttnrkBliati/'

HISTORICAL NOTES FROM THE RECORDS OF AUGUS-
TA COUNTY, VIRGINIA, PART II (CONCLUDED)

By Chas. E. Kemper, Staunton, Va.
(Read by Hon. Chas. L Landis)

MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER MEETING

VOL. XXV. NO. 10.

PRICE TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER COPY

LANCASTER. PA.
1921

December Meeting 1021

mSTORICAIj NOTES FROM THE RECORDS OF AUGUSTA COUNTY,

VIRGINIA, Part II (Concluded)

By Charles E. Kemper, Staunton, Va.
Read by Charles I. Landis

On February 3, 17138-39, William Hartgrove executed his note to Hugh
McKown. The note contains this endorsement: "Lives at ye Forks of Octar-
aro." William Anderson, a witness. Note was signed to John Trimble.
April 3, 1742 William Hartgrove and John Trimble moved to Augusta
County, Virginia, prior to 1750. Court papers 385.

John and William Handly, weavers by trade, on March 14, 1746-7, execu-
ted their bond to "Charles Tennett of Mill Creek Hundred and County of New
Castle, Minister of the Gospel," for L. 26, 18 s.

Bond witnessed by Thomas Cochran, Margaret Cochran and William
McCue or McCord. In January 1748 Mr. Tenant assigned the note to
Thos. Boggss when he was still living at Mill Creek Hundred, and Thomaa
Boggs in turn assigned the note to Thomas Thompson of Augusta County,
Virginia. Thomas Thompson and certainly one of the Handlys moved to
Augusta County prior to 1755. See Thompson vs. Handly. Court Papers,
401.

Rev. Charles Tennett mentioned above was a brother to Rev. Gilbert
Tennett, who was prominent among the early Presbyterian Ministers in
Lancaster and Chester Counties, and in adjacent territory prior to 1750. This
note shows that in the period 1745-50, Rev. Charles Tennett lived at Mill
Creek Hundred in the present State of Delaware and probably purchased
at that point.

Petw Coughran (Cochran) was a resident of Lancaster County and
prior to 1750 removed to Augusta County, Virginia. Montgomery vs.
Cochran, Court Papers 390.

"I. James Craige, in London Grove and County of Chester and Province
of Pennsylvania" executed his bond to William Hartley, merchant, for 221b.,
dated 25 Feb. 1736-37, signed James Craig. (See Hartley vs. Craig, Court
Papers 391.)

James Craig was a second son of William Craig and Janet Craig. The
Craig family resided at or near Kennett Square, Chester County, and re-
moved to Augusta County, Virginia in 1740. James Craig was one of the
largest owners of land in Augusta County, Virginia, a member of the County
Court of Augusta County, Virginia, 1771 to 1779, and two of his sons,
George and William Craig, were soldiers of the Revolution.

John Francis patented 32 acres of land in Augusta County on Timber
Spring, a branch of the Long Glade, adjoining John Cathey's land, December
4, 1745. Survey Book p. 10.

A detached deposition of Margaret Anderson filed in the Augusta County,
Va., records, in 1751, states that she knew John Francis in Chester County,
Pa., before his removal to Virginia. This shows that both John Francis and
Margaret Anderson had lived in that county prior to 1751.

The settlement of Robert Coburn's Estate shows that, in 1749, buffalo
hides were appraised in Augusta County, Virginia, at 2 shillings (33%
cents Virginia currency.) This is important in the natural history of the
Valley, because it shows that certainly as late as 1749, buffalo still existed
or ranged in the Valley of Virginia in large numbers.

(Note: See first instalment in issue of June, 1921.)

(147)

(148)

The records of Orange County, Virgrinia, show in 1740, Robert Hook, a
native of the North of Ireland, was living in what is now Augusta County,
Virginia. He landed at Philadelphia, and settled either in Lancaster or
Chester County, Pennsylvania, before his removal to Virginia. He located
In what is now Rockingham County, Virginia, about 3% miles to the south
of Cross Keys. His descendants are still in that county and othter portions
of Virginia. In 1758 he was a Captain of Militia in the French and Indian
War, and at that period also a member of the County Court of Augusta.

Walter Drunning, trader (Indian) of Prince George County. Maryland,
executed his bond to Hugh Parker. Merchant, of Lancaster, Pa., dated De-
cember 18, 1740. Thomas Cresap qualified as administrator of Hugh Park-
er. Walter Drunning removed to Augusta County, Virginia, prior to 1763.
Cresap, Administrator, vs. Drunning, Court Papers 406.

On January 5, 1737-8, Michael Dougherty was a resident of New Lon-
donderry Township, Chester County, Pa., and executed his bond to Simon
Hadly, Yeoman, of Mill Creek Hundred (Delaware). In June, 1752, Mi-
chael Dougherty was a resident of Augusta County. Virginia, and lived on
the James River. Neile vs. Dougherty, Suit Records.

"John Caldwell, in the parish of Lifford and County of Donegal (Ire-
land), Chapman (Merchant) to William Hogg of the City of London Derry,
Merchant," gave his bond to William Hogg above named for lb. 21, 3 s.,
dated August 1, 1747. Witnesses, John McConnell and Robert Hamilton.
This bond was assigned by William Hogg to Robert Hamilton. Hamilton
vs. Caldwell, Court Papers 393.

This shows the settlement in Augusta County, Va., both of Robert Ham-
ilton and John Caldwell, and gives the place of their nativity in Ireland.
John Caldwell's first deed recorded in Augusta County, Va., is dated June
18,, 1757, and was made by William Caldwell and Ann, his wife, for 400
acres of land near Tinkling Spring Church. This John Caldwell was a son
of William Caldwell. Deed Book 7, p. 443.

There is also a bond filed in the same suit of John Caldwell and James
Hamilton for lb., 31, 12 s.. 3 p., payable in Pennsylvania currency. Bond
dated November 9, 1747. The Caldwells mentioned in this note were in all
probability relatives of John Caldwell, who was the ancestor of John C. Cal-
houn, and this John Caldwell was probably a native of Donegral, Ireland.

In 1751, Presbyterian marriages in Augusta County were solemnized
"according to the rules and discipline of the Church of Scotland." . See
Marriage Contract between James Young and Sarah McMarley, dated May
7, 1751. D. B. 7, p. 252.

Warwick, Lancaster County, Pa., was one of the marketing localities in
which the early settlers of Augusta County traded. In 1753 "salt and
rum" were brought to Augusta from that place. Salt was then worth 10 s.
a bushel, and rum 10 s. a gallon. See account of John Thompson filed in
Court Papers 393.

John Noble's will is dated June 10, 1752, and was probated Nov. 16.
1752. He names his wife, Mary and the following children, James, Alex-
ander, Patrick, Exekiel and a daughter named Jean. His wife Mary and
"my brother, James Calhoun" were named as executors. Some of his land
lay "on Cripple Creek in the Big Spring." The witnesses were William.
Patrick and Agnes Calhoun. See Will Rogers of Augusta County, Va.

Cripple Creek Is a tributary of New River In Southwestern Virginia,
but, as stated in a previous note, John Noble's home seems to have been in
the neighborhood of the Natural bridge In the present County of Rocking-
ham, Va. The records, therefore, show that the foregoing members of the
Calhoun family were living In Virginia In 1752.

Charles Gallaher made his will December 14, 1750, and gave legacies
of lb., 10 each to his friends, "The Rev. William Wappeler (or Wasseler), and

(149)

^lie Rev. Mr. Taylor." Ephraim L#ove. who came to Vlrgrinla from l«aii-
caster County, Pa., and William Hopkins, were the legatees and made the
escecutors of the will. Both lived in the western portion of present Rock-
tngham County, Va. It cannot be determined from the records which one
of the names was, Wappeler or Wasseler, but it was one or the other. The
ILiOve and Hopkins families were Presbyterians, and it is probable that both
of these ministers were of that faith and came to Virginia from Pennsyl-
vania, but Foote, Davidson and Johnson, the Virginia Church Historians,
xxiake no mention of them. They were early ministers in the Shenandoah
"Valley, and this note is written to preserve their names and something of
"their history.

John Hinton, a resident of Berks County, Pa., bought 400 acres of land
from Jeremiah Harrison on Linville's Creek, now in Rockingham County,
"Va., on October 14, 1765. Deed Book 12, pp. 391-394.

Casper Wister, of the City of Philadelphia, brass button maker, vs.
John Mayfis (Maphis), wheelwright, of Salem County (N. J.), Judgment for
lb., 1 and 11 s. See Order Book No. 1, Augusta Records.

John Frame was a resident of Lay cock Township, Lancaster County, Pa.,
and on March 16, 1750-51, gave his note to George Warfell, of Strasburg
Township, in the same county. Warfell vs. Frame, Court Papers 406. John
Frame removed to Augusta County, Virginia, prior to 1760, and settled on
Middle River near Augusta Church neighborhood.

On August 1, 1759, Archibald Cunningham, a peddler, of Drumor^
Township, Lancaster County, Pa. gave his bond to Philip Benezel of Phila-
delphia. Archibald Cunningham subsequently removed to Augusta County,
Virginia. The bond bears this endorsement, "Lives within 20 miles of the
C. T. House." Benezel vs. Cunningham, C. P. 405.

Samuel Gay and Robert Turk, probably resided In Lancaster, Pa., on
December 4, 1744. They gave their bond to James McCune, of Salisbury
Township in that county. The obligors of this bond removed to Augusta
County, Va., prior to 1750, and members of the McCune family also came
to Augusta. The bond also appears in the papers. (C. P. No. 1.)

In 1748, William Patterson was a resident of Derry Township, Lancas-
ter County, Pa. In 1749, he reomved to Augusta County, Va. (Patterson
vs. Wilson, Augusta Suit Records.)

William Patterson's descendants still live in Augusta County, Virginia,
some of them near Harriston.

Prior to 1747, Col. James Patton, one of the early settlers in Augusta
County, Va., .obtained a grant from the Virginia Council, for 1000 acres
of land in the county named, on the James. Roanoke and New Rivers,
chiefly in the present Counties of Botetourt, Roanoke and Montgomery.

In 1739, Benjamin Borden, a native of New Jersey, but then living near
present Winchester, Virginia, obtained a grant from the Virginia Council
for 1000 acres of land in Augusta County, Virginia, chiefly in the south-
western part of the present County of Augusta, and in present Rock-
bridge County, Va.

In 1736, Sir John Randolph and others secured a grant from the
Virginia Council, for 18,291 acres of land, embracing the site of present
Staunton, Va.. and surrounding country. This grant was almost im-
mediately transferred to William Beverly, of Essex County, Virginia Upon
these grants of lands most of the settlers from Lancaster and Chester
and adjacent counties In Pennsylvania settled.

o... '^^.l r^^^'^f °5 various suits brought in the Augusta County Court
s^ow that Benjamin Borden and William Beverly "employed aeenta and
set up advertisements" in Pennsylvania in the cLnti's named."^ In this

r/d wL soiTtn T'^ T.l'^ ^'"^" ^"^^^^'^^ ^« Virginia and most of the
land was sold to them at the rate of L.3 per hundredd acres. The great

(150)

period of migration from Pennsylvania to Virginia was from 1738 to 1754.
This migration was interrupted by the French and Indian War, but was
resumed to some extent after 1763, and continued until the commence-
ment of the Revolution.

The large Dunkard element in the present Counties of Rockingham,
Shenandoah and Page, came principally from the counties in the Cumber-
land Valley, Pennsylvania, and their migration began actually in 1783, and
continued until 1800.

Samuel Da vies was a resident of Derry Township, Lancaster County,
Pa., and on January 10, 1743-44, gave his bond to be auditor. (See Court
Paper 385.) He removed to Augusta County, Virginia, prior to 1750.

Richard Woods was a resident of Paxton, Lancaster County, Pa.,
November 10, 1738. (See his petition in Carson vs. Woods, Court Papers
385.) He came to Augusta County, Virginia, prior to 1745.

On January 8, 1746, James Sharp was a resident of Chester County,
Pa., and Andrew McClure executed his bond to him on that date, which
was assigned to Robert Turk on June 28, 1746, by James Sharp. Both
Robert Turk and James Sharp removed to Augusta County prior to 1750.
(C. P. 395.)

In 1751, John Ramsey drove cattle from Augusta County, Virginia, to
Pennsylvania, and sold them there. Davis vs. Ramsey.

On July 2, 1748, Rees Thomas, Carpenter, was a resident of Lancaster
County, Pa. He moved to Augusta County and died there in 1751. See
Ruddle vs. Thomas* Admr.

"Francis Hughes, late of Lancaster County, Pa.,** bought from John
Miller 200 acres of land on North River, in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 4,
1747. Deed Book 2, p. 11.

On July 28, 1747, Ephraim Love, a resident of Lancaster County, Pa.,
bought land on Muddy Creek, in Augusta County, Va., from Jacob Dye.
Deed Book 2, p. 16.

John Lorentz made his will November 6, 1750, and had children then
living in Pennsylvania. He was a native of Germany. His home was in
the vicinity of present McGaheysville, Rockingham County. Will Book
1, pp. 272-273.

On August 10, 1753, David Henderson, acting as Attorney in Fact for
William Henderson and John Cloyd, of Chester County, Pa., sold to William
Henderson land on James River, in Augusta County, Va., and title and
possession were passed by Liberty of Seizin, the old common law method
of transferring land. Deed Book 3, p. 458.

George Lewis was a resident of Lancaster County, Pa.,' and executed
his bond to Nicholas Robertson of Cumry Township, Chester County, Pa.
The date cannot be deciphered but the bond is filed among the suit records
of Augusta County, Virginia, for the year 1752.

There was a colony of Dunkards on New River in Augusta County, Va.,
in 1751. Christian Weaver and John Negley, who had been residents of
Cogalico (Sic) Lancaster County, Pa., on July 10, 1753. Gwyn vs. Negley,
Court Papers 390. Settled among them.

On September 27, 1740, James Calvin, James Trimble, William Trimble
and David Gamble were residents of "New Castle and Province of Pennsyl-
vania.** On that date they executed their bond to Valentine Henderson of
Belfast, Ireland.

The Trimbles moved to Augusta County, Va., prior to 1745, and James
Trimble was the grandfather of Allen Trimble, Governor of Ohio, from
1826-31, and of William A. Trimble who was elected to the United States
Senate in 1833, and died in 1835, as a member of the Senate. Court
Papers 400.

(151)

In 1768. Samuel Akerling filed a Chancery Suit In the County Court of
Augufta County, Va., in which it Is recited that in the year 1/51
Akerling sold to Garrett Zinn, for L. 150 In grold. a tract of land on New
River in said county, at a place commonly called Dunkard's Bottom. A
bond for L. 50 was taken in part payment, which was placed in the hands
of Akerlingr's brother who lived on the Yoghagrhanla River. The bill also
recites that, during the French and Indian War, Akerllng's brother was
captured and carried off by the Indians and his house destroyed by them,
and with it the bond. Garrett Zinn moved to South Carolina and died
there intestate. Court Papers 417.

Samuel Akerling was among those who fled from the Ephrata settle-
ment in Lancaster County, Pa., prior to 1750, and this suit shows that at
least one of them settled In present West Virginia, probably in Taylor
County. The remainder settled at Dunkard's Bottom, in the County of
Montgomery, Virginia. (Also written Eckerlin.)

"The Great Road from Yadkin River In North Carolina, to Philadel-
phia," Pennsylvania, passed through the City of Lancaster, Pa., on its way
to Philadelphia. It started in the south at the Yadkin River in North
Carolina, and entered the Valley of Virginia through the water gap of the
Roanoke River, a short distance east of the present City of Roanoke, Vir-
ginia. Through Virginia, its general course was on the eastern side of
the Valley, until the present County of Rockingham was reached, and
then the road was about in the center of the Valley. Staunton and Lexing-
ton in Virginia were eight or nine miles to the west of this road and
Harrisonburg about five miles to the west. A few miles southwest of New
Market, Va., the road took the line of the present Valley Turnpike and
I>assed through Winchester, Virginia. It crossed the Potomac River at
Williamsferry, now Williamsport, Md., and then defiecting to the north-
east, passed through Frederick, Maryland, and the City of Lancaster, Pa.,
until Philadelphia was reached.

The route of this road la clearly and accurately outlined on the map
of Virginia and Maryland made in 1751 by Col. Joshua Fry, Professor of
Mathematics at William and Mary College at Williamsburg, Va., and Col.
Peter Jefferson, father of Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States.
The road was about 430 miles long. A copy of the Fry and Jefferson map
is on file in the Library at Congrress, Washington, D. C. Col. Fry com-
manded the first Virginia regiment during the French and Indian War, and
George Washington served under him as Lieutenant Colonel. Col. Fry was
the only American officer who ever commanded George Washington in the
fi-eld. He died in the service and Washington succeeded him as colonel of
the regiment. The general route of this road was also the Indian road
of the Six Nations of Indians in New York in their visits to the Virginia
Valley, and in their forays against the Catawba Indians of Western North
Carolina. It is described with considerable accuracy by Morgan in his
"League of the Iroquois** and is referred to in the Treaty of Lancaster
<Pa.) made by Maryland, Pennsylvania and Vlrgrinla in 1744, with the
Indians mentioned above, for which see Vol. No. 3, Minutes of the Pro-
vincial Council of Pennsylvania, for the period.

"The Pennsylvania Road" is shown on the early survey of patented
lands in Augusta County, Virginia, commencing 1745. This route was that
of the Philadelphia — Yadkin River Road. See Survey Book No. 1, Augusta
County, Virginia, records. The Pennsylvania Ford is an old crossing of
Middle River, now called the Merlden.

Andreas Kline, Innkeeper of the Borough and County of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, executed his bond to Frederick Seagrir, of Lampeter Town-
ship, in the same county, yeoman, dated April 6, 1765. Seagir vs. Kline,

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Court Papers 411. Thla shows the removal of Andreas Kline to Augusta
County* Virginia, In or prior to 1765.

Mel choir Henneberger wag a resident of Lancaster Town on May 31.
1765. Henneberger vs. Kline, Court Papers 411. Members of tlie Hen-
neberger family reside at this date, 1921, In the City of Harrisonburg:. Rock-
Ingrham County. Virginia.

Alexander Brownlee was a resident of Donegal Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1739, and on that date bought 400 acres
of land from John Smith, cooper, on the Great Poplar Bottom of the
North River In Augusta County, Virginia. The records further shovir that
in 1776 he was living In th-e county and state last named. Court Papers
388.

George Hays was a resident of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Oc-
tober 16, 1746, and on that date executed his bond to Wllllanx N'ealson.
Hays died, and his widow, Sarah Hays, married secondly James Armstrong,
who removed to Augusta County, Va., prior to 1760. Nealson vs. Arm-
strong and wife, Augusta County, Virginia, Suit Records. See also M^evitt
vs. Armstrong, Administrator.

Thomas Nevitt was a Quaker, living In Lancaster County, Pa., in 1754.
Court Papers 388.

Jacob Neglee, of Lancaster County, Pa., bought from Mathias ESyler,
part of the Massanutting (Massanutten) Tract, by deed, dated July 23,
of Orange County, Virginia, In that part now Augusta, 200 acres of land,
1740. On August 6, 1755 his executors, John Neglee, of the Northern Lib-
erties of Philadelphia, Pa., yeoman, and Jacob Neglee, of the same place,
tanner, sold this land to Ludowick Haunsdone, of Lancaster County, Pa,
who was a tailor. Jacob Neglee, the elder, had been a shop keeper in
Philadelphia. Jacob Strickler was a witness to the deed. Augusta County,
Va., Deed Records.

The bond of Philip Charles Carson shows that he lived in the Town-
ship Tulpehocketn, Lancaster County Pa., on May 6, 1742, when he executed
his bond to Nicholas Doack, of the same place, who assigned It to Nicholas
Null, who removed from Lancaster County, Pa., to Augusta County, Va., In
1750, and settled on the Shenandoah River In what Is now Rockingham
County, Virginia. See Null vs. Carson and Null vs. Craig. Court Papers
418.

On April 11, 1743, Thomas Story and John Rutledge were traders (In-
Uam Blyth, of Lancaster County, Pa. Both Thomas Story and John Rut-
dlan) In Chester County. Pa., and on that date executed their bond to Wil-
ledge removed to Augusta County, Va., prior to 1750. John Patton was a
witness to the bond. Bljrth vs. Story etc. Court papers 390.

Patrick Hays of Derry Township, Lancaster County, Pa., sold to Wil-
liam Hays, of Augusta County, Va., 259 acres of land in Beverly Manoro In
the said County of Augusta on August 15. 1759, D. B. 15, page 253.

Samuel Anderson was a resident of Chester County, Pa., and on No-
vember 17, 1747, bought from John Moore 204 acres of land in Augusta
County, Va. D. B. 1, p. 440, et seq.

James Patterson came from Chester County, Pa, to Augusta County,
Va., about 1740, and patented two tracts of land on the Long Glade. Later
he returned o Chester County, Pa., and died there. His wife qualified as
administratrix and married secondly Andrew Irvine, and she and her hus-
band settled permanently in Augusta County, Va. Irvine vs. Patterson.
Augusta County, Va., Court Records.

On December 31, 1741, Thomas Renick and John Holmes 'were resi-
dents of Lancaster County, Pa., and still lived there in 1744. Alexander Craw-
!ord was a resident of Lancaster County, Pa., January 9, 1740. Prior lo

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17 48, all the parties removed to Augusta County, Va. See Crawford vs.
Renick, Augrusta Suit Records.

James Laird came to Augusta County, Va., from either LAncaster or
Cliester County, Pennsylvania, prioor to 1754. and in 1760, he bought 40 U
acres of land from William Downs in Augusta County, at the base of Liand's
Knob, about eight miles east of present Harrisonburg, Virginia, In 11754,
Mary Laird appears as a witness in the suit of Beard vs. Moore, brought in
tlie Oounty Court of Augusta in that year.

The family is still represented in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in Rlch-
inoxkci, and in other sections of Virginia, and many of them are in Kentucky
and states further west. In the south and west the family have been de-
voted Presbyterians and many of them have been Presbyterian Ministers.

I>avid Laird, a son of the immigrant from Pennsylvania, was a Cap-
tain in the Tenth Virginia Regiment, Continental Line, during the Revolu-
tion, and his brother, James Laird, saw active service in the militia of Rock-
ingham County, Va., during that war. He recovered a Judgment against
Mlicliael Garber in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, for lb 50, 10 s. in gold
or silver. The Judgment was rendered at the April and July Term of said
Court in 1788. (Deed Record of August Co., Va.)

In 1787, Michael Oarber was a resident of York County, Pa., and sub-
sequently removed to Staunton, prior to 1800. He was the ancestor of the
Oarbers and Harmns of Staunton and Augusta. (See Gish's Executors vs.
Oarber, District Court Records No. 1, pp. 347-364.)

In a sketch of John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, by Ex-Governor
Love," in 1869, the statement is made that Mr. Calhoun's ancestors, when
tliey removed from Pennsylvania, settled in Wythe County, Virginia, and
later removed to the Abbeville District, in South Carolina. Present Wythe
Oounty, Va., was then a part of Augusta County, Va,

Survey Book No. 1, of Augusta County, Va., contains the following
surveys for members of the Calhoun family:

William Calhoun, 335 acres on Reed Creek, March 25, 1748. p. 34.
"Surveyed for Patrick Calhoun, 159 acres near to where he lives on the
"waters of Reed Creek, part of James Patton's order of Council." March 6,
1759, p. 47.

Surveyed for James Calhoun, 619 acres in Augusta County, on Reed
Creek, and a branch thereof. April 3, 1749, p. 46.

John C. Calhoun was a great grandson of Patrick Calhoun, and 1748
probably marks the year of their removal from Pennsylvania to Virginia. In
1762, John Noble died and his will is recorded at Staunton, Virginia. He
names and made his brother-in-law. Patrick, and William Calhoun his exe-
cutors, and Mary was the name of his wife, thus we have our members of
the Calhoun family who settled in Virginia, Reed Creek, on which they
lived, in present Wythe County, Virginia, and which is a branch of the New
River.

The home of John Noble, who married Mary Calhoun, was on Buf-
falo Creek, a branch of James River, not far from the Natural Bridge, in
present County of Rockbridge, then Augusta County. Survey Book, 1, p. 77.
Ephraim Love came from Lancaster County, Pa., to Augusta County,
Va., prior to 1750, and settled at the head of Muddy Creek, in the present
County of Rockingham, about eight miles northwest of Harrisonburg. Dur-
ing the French and Indian War, he commanded a company of Augusta
County militia, and on September 2, 1760, Daniel Calhoun and James Cal-
houn were members of his company. (p. 24, Courts Martial Record,
Augusta County, ^a.)

The records of Augusta County, Virginia, show that, during the French
and Indian War, some of the settlers who lived on the New River fled from
their homes and came to Augusta, among them the Prince family, and it

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is highly probable that the Calhouns named in this note were ^T^^}^^^!! 1^
Patrick Calhoun. The records of Augusta also show that Hugrn ^°'
was a witness to a deed made to John Noble, who married Mary t^ainou ,

prior to 1750. Tr»^«r.,itoTa

On August 19. 1765, John Buchanan and William Thompson. *-x«^^^"
of James Patton. deceased, of the County of Augusta, in the Colony ot -
ginla. conveyed to Patrick Calhoun, late of the same place but now ^^ J_
Province of South Carolina (yeoman), 322 acres of land, the same P^^nra.-
tion whereon said Patrick Calhoun formerly lived. Deed Book 12. p. i » •

On October 16. 1765, Patrick Calhoun, of the Province of Soutn L,ar-
ollna and County of Granville and Settlement of Long Cane (Creek) ol tne
one part, and Hugh Montgomery of the other part, conveyed 610 acres oi
land situated on Reed Creek and a branch thereof. Deed Book 14. p. i-

Those conveyances show that Patrick Calhoun, the great grandfatner
of John C. Calhoun, removed from Augusta County, Virginia, to South Caro-
lina, in the year 1765.

James Patton vs. James Cohoon, Court Papers 393: ,

In 1750, Col. James Patton brought a slander suit for damages againsr
James Cohoon, whose name also appears in the records as James Calnoun.
He was undoubtedly the brother of Patrick Calhoun. The slanderous words
were uttered on March 26, 1750, and were in effect that Col. Patton* pre-
tended to offer and sell as his own, land on the Roanoke and New Rivers,
and by implication this land did not belong to Col. Patton. In Col. I»atton s
petition, it is expressly stated that he had obtained large grants in the sections
mentioned "in order to establish a Barrier against His Majesty's enemies.
— the Indians. Verdict for the plaintiff. . .

Four sons of Christopher Francisco settled in Augusta County, Vir&inia
— John, George, Ludwlck and Christopher Francisco, Jr. (Hurdman vs.
Francisco, Court Papers 407.) Ludwick Francisco was a Captain of the
Augusta County Militia for which fact see the Court-Martial Record of that
County.

John Moffet, mason of Augusta County, Va., sold to Matthew Robert-
son, of the Province of Pennsylvania, 4991 acres of land in Augusta County,
in Beverly Manor. Deed dated November 20. 1746. Deed Book 1. p. 17.
Alexander Robertson, son of Matthew Robertson, was a Major in the Re-
volutionary War, from Augusta County, Va. The record in the suit of
Moffet vs. Graham shows that John Graham had lived in West Nantmill.
Chester County, Pa., and removed to Augusta County, Va., prior to 1750.

John Megret lived in Lancaster County, Pa., and on August 11, 1749.
gave his bond to Abraham Force, of Strasburg Township in that county.
(Force vs. Megret, Augusta County Records.)

John Megret was living on the Shenandoah River near present Elk-
ton, in the present County of Rockingham, Virginia, as shown by a road
petition filed at the May Term of the Augusta County Court, 1749. (See
Court Papers 1.)

John. William and Andrew Pickens, natives of Ulster, Ireland, settled
in Lancaster County, Pa., prior to 1739. They removed to Augusta County.
Virginia, prior to 1745, and Andrew and William Pickens were members of
the First County Court in Augusta, which sat for the first time on Decem-
ber 9, 1745. William Pickens married Jane Scott, daughter of Sam who
lived on Cub Run, in the present county of Rockingham, and the writer
has no further information cocerning him or his descendants. General An-
drew Pickens was born in Paxtang township, Lancaster County, Pa., Septem-
ber 19, 1739. He was the son of either John or Andrew Pickens
named above, and it is believed of the latter. He was
removed to the Waxhaw Settlement in South Carolina. General Pickens
was highly distinguished in the Indian and the Revolutionary Wars, and con-

(166)

spicuous for bis valor in the Battles of the Cow Pens, Haw River, Augrusta,
Oeorsria* and Eutaw Springes. General Henry Liee, in his "Memoirs of th«
'WsLT in the South," (Revolution), states that General Pickens contributed
in an equal degree with Sumpter and Marion to the liberation of the
South, during the Revolution. After the Revolution, he served in the State
Leerislature of South Carolina, and in the United States Senate. General
Lee describes him as "a great and good military chiftain,* and says that he
"WSLS a sincere Christian. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He
-wsLS the founder of one of the most distinguished families in South Carolina
and the ancestor of many of the men prominent in the affairs of the South
since the Revolution.

The first deed admitted to record in Augusta County, Va., was on De-
cember 9, 1745, from Andrew Pickens to William McPheeters. (See Deed
Book, page 1. Will Book, page 1,) "Memoirs of the War in the South,"
by Gen. Henry Lee. — "Light Horse Harry" of the Revolution.

The records of Orange County, Va., of which Augusta was once a part,
show that John Anderson, a native of Ulster in the North of Ireland, landed
in Philadelphia, and settled first either in Lancaster or Chester County, Pa.,
most probable in the latter county. He removed to Augusta County, Va.,
in 1738, and was a member of the first County Court of Augusta, in 1746.
Among other children, he had a son, named Robert, who married Ann
Thompson, of Virginia, and shortly thereafter removed to the Long Cane
Settlement in the Abbeville District of South Carolina. During the Revo«
lution, he served as a Captain, then as a Colonel under General Andrew Pick-
ens. Subsequently, he commanded an expedition against the Cherokee In«
dians and reduced them to submission. Anderson County, and the City of
Anderson, S. C, were named for him, and he was the founder of a highly
respectable family in South Carolina and states farther south.

On December 18, 1740, Rev. John Craig baptized for William Calwall
(Caldwell) a son named John "at John Calwall's (Caldwell's) at Buck Moun-
tain." This place is just over the Blue Ridge from Augusta County, Va., in
the present County of Albemarle, Va. This shows that John Caldwell had
moved from Lancaster County, Pa., to Virginia, prior to 1741.

See Rev. John Craig's record of baptisms owned by Augusta Church, Va.

(156)

Minutes of December Meeting 1921

The regular monthly meet'ng of the Lancaster County Historical Society was held
this evening, December 2nd., in the Auditorum of the Society in the A. Herr Smith
Memorial Library Building. The Vice-President, Mr. H. Frank Eshleman, officiated
in the absence of the President, Hon. C. I Landis.

The Librarian's report included the following gifts and exchanges:

The Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, October, 1921; The Year Book of the
Pennsylvania Society of New York, 1921 ; History of the San Francisco Committee
of Vigilance of 1851, From the University of California; Annual Report of the Smithso-
nian Institution, 1919; The Coimty Court Not-Book, Montgomery County, Mary-
land, October 1921 ; The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, January,
1921; From the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Union League Club Art Exhibit
Catalogue, November, 1921, From Charles Lee Meyers, .New York, City; Papers of
the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1851, From the University of California;
Bulletin of the New York Public Library September, 1921; Bulletin of the Grand
Rapids Public Library October, 1921; Technical Book Review Index, June, 1921,
From the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; The Virginia Magazine — Copies of October,
1903; April, 1904; and January, 1906, Presented by Hon C. 1. Landis, from Mr.
Charles E. Kemper; The Anthology and Bibliography of Niagara Falls, From the
New York State Library.

Miss Minnie A. Steele, 306 C Street N. W. Washington, D. C, Miss Annie Hurford,
207 East Orange Street, City were electek to membership.

D. F. Magee, Esq. presented a financial report of the Drumore Celebration.

A letter was read from Dallas, Texas, which presented a request for information
regarding the proceedure in the organization of the Lancaster County Historical
Society with the view to the organization of such a society in Dallis. The Secretary-
reported that a copy of the by-laws with other addenda had been sent by herself
and Mr. Magee had supplemented this by pamphlets and other helpful material.

A letter was read from Mr. Postlethwaite of Keokuk, Kansas, in which he asked
for the loan of the half dozen cuts used to illustrate the reports of the Society's Cele-
bration of Postlethwaite Courthouse, as he wished to use them in illustration of a
pubUcation just being issued. The Society readily granted this request.

This being the time for the annual nomination of officers thereport of the dominat-
ing Committee, consisting of I. C. Arnold, John H. Landis, and L. B. Herr, was read
and resulted in the nomination of the following:

President, H. Frank Eshleman; Vice-Presidents, Hon, C. I. Landis, Professor
H. H. Beck; Recording Secretary, Miss Adaline B. Spindler; Assistant Secretary,
Mr. John L. Simimy; Corresponding Secretary, William F. Womer; Treasurer,
A. K. Hostetter; Librarian, Miss Lottie Bausman.

Executive Committee: L. B. Herr, D. F. Magee, Mrs. Sarah D. Carpenter, Miss
Virginia Clark, Miss Daisy E. B. Grubb, D. B. Landis, George F. K. Erisman, Mrs.
Ida L. Hostetter, I. C. Arnold, of Lancaster, and M. G. Weaver, New Holland

Mr. I. C. Arnold read the paper for the evening which was copied from the records
of Staimton, Virginia, by Mr. Charles E. Kemper, of Staunton and compiled by Hon.
C. I. Landis being a continuation of '* Historical Notes from the records of Augusta.
County, Virginia."

The meeting adjourned.

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