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HISTORY  AND  TOPOGRAPHY 


Northumberland,  Huntingdon,  Mifflin,  Centre,  Union, 
Columbia,  Juniata  and  Clinton  counties,  Pa. 


EMBRACING    LOCAL    AND    GENERAL    EVENTS,    LEADING 
INCIDENTS,  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE    PRINCIPAL    BOR- 
OUGHS,   TOWNS,    VILLAGES,    ETC.,    ETC. 


A  COPIOUS  APPENDIX 


EMBELLISHED    BY    ENGRAVINGS. 


COMPILED  FROM  AUTHENTIC  SOURCES  BY  I.  D.  RUPP. 


PUBLISHED  BY  G.  HILLS,  LANCASTER,  PA 


'93/ 


^ 


Entered  according  to  an  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1 846,  by  Gil- 
bert Hills,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Eastern  District  Court  of 
Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE 


In  the  spring  of  1845,  Mr.  G.  Hills,  the  Publisher,  em- 
ployed the  compiler  to  collect  and  arrange  the  materials  of 
the  present  compilation. 

In  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  matter,  the  compiler 
aimed  at  what  the  Publisher  had  proposed  should  be  em- 
braced in  the  work,  viz :  A  brief  sketch  of  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  aborigines  who  once  inhabited  the  region  of" 
country  within  the  several  counties  named — Notices  of  the 
earliest  settlements  by  the  whites — of  the  Germans  and  Ir- 
ish— Indian  massacres — accounts  of  the  several  forts;  and 
such  other  facts  as  are  deemed  necessary  to  understand  the 
early  history  of  this  portion  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  topographical  description  of  these  counties,  it  was 
proposed  to  arrange  under  the  following  heads,  viz : 

I.  Organization  of  the  county ;  former  and  present  boun- 
dary; length,  breadth,  &c;  area  in  square  miles  and  acres; 
population;  variety  of  geological  features;  streams;  geolo- 
gy, and  natural  curiosities;  general  statistics  from  public 
documents;  amount  of  property  taxable;  synopsis  of  census 
of  each  township;  public  improvements. 

II.  Towns,  boroughs,  villages,  interspersed  remarks,  and 
biographical  notices. 

III.  Original  population;  sufferings  and  incidents;  general 
remarks;  education;  support  of  the  poor;  with  additional 
biographical  sketches  of  distinguished  persons  who  visited 
these  counties  at  an  early  period,  or  resided  therein,  &c.,and 
a  copious  Appendix — all  of  which  was  to  be  comprised  in 
little  more  than  five  hundred  medium  duodecimo  pages.  But 
it  was  soon  found  that  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  embrace 


what  the  compiler  deemed  essential,  to  enlarge  the  size  ot 
the  page  from  a  medium  to  a  very  large  duodecimo ;  and,  by 
the  consent  of  the  Publisher,  the  compiler  was  permitted  to 
add  about  thirty  pages  more  to  the  work  than  had  been  first 
contemplated. 

It  will  be  readily  perceived  by  the  reader  that  the  compiler 
has  made  no  attempt  at  embellishment  of  style.  He  has  stu- 
diously avoided  every  thing  of  a  merely  speculative  character. 
The  plan  pursued  in  general,  is  that  of  making  authentic 
documents  speak  for  themselves ;  and,  as  far  as  practicable, 
when  exhibiting  the  sufferings  and  adventures  of  frontier  or 
first  settlers,  letters  and  narratives  written  by  themselves  or 
their  contemporaries,  have  been  preferred  to  historical  de- 
tails ;  for  they  express,  in  their  own  words,  with  all  the 
freshness  of  novelty,  their  trials  and  difficulties,  better  than 
others  are  able  to  do. 

That  this  compilation  may  be  very  deficient,  is  readily 
admitted.  A  full  and  minute  history  of  these  counties,  can 
only  be  expected  after  a  greater  accumulation  of  historical 
facts  is  extant  for  that  purpose.  It  has  been  the  aim  of  the 
compiler  to  collect  and  embody  as  many  original  documents, 
and  letters,  as  possible,  towards  such  a  collection  of  facts. 
Many  of  the  letters  given,  have  been  preserved  in  the  ar- 
chives of  the  State,  which,  by  the  permission  of  the  Hon. 
Jesse  Miller,  have  been  copied  expressly  for  this  work. 

Any  defects,  or  inaccuracies,  that  may  be  discovered  or 
noticed  by  the  reader,  and  pointed  out  in  a  proper  spirit,  will 
be  considered  as  a  great  favor,  and  the  services  thus  ren- 
dered, be  duly  appreciated  by  the  Publisher  or  compiler.  By 
the  aid  of  the  critical  and  friendly  reader,  a  history  of  a 
strictly  local  character  may  ultimately  be  presented,  as  near- 
ly perfect  as  possible.     Such  aid  is  solicited. 

Since  the  above  work  has  been  prepared  for  press,  several 
changes  have  taken  place,  which  it  is  deemed  necessary  to 
notice  here.  The  county  seat  of  Columbia  has  been  changed. 
Blair  county  has  been  organized  ;  and  by  reference  to  the 
Act  establishing  the  new  county,  of  which  the  following  is 
an  extract,  Holidaysburg  has  become  the  seat  of  justice. 

By  an  act  passed  February  26,  1846,  the  extent  of  the 
county  is  thus  defined,  "  That  the  territory  within  theto.wn- 
"  ships  of  North  Woodbury  and  Greenfield,  in  the  county  of 
"  Bedford  ;  and  the  territory  within  the  townships  of  A  lie- 


"  gheny,  Antis,  Snyder,  Tyrone,  Frankstown,  Blair,  Huston 
"and  Woodbury,  and  within  that  part  of  Morris  township, 
"  lying  westward  of  the  line  lately  run  by  William  Reid  and 
"  other  viewers,  under  an  order  of  court,  for  the  purpose  of 
"dividing  the  same  in  Huntingdon,  are  hereby  erected,  ac- 
"  cording  to  said  boundaries,  into  a  new  and  separate  coun- 
"  ty,  to  be  called  Blair." 

In  the  absence  of  the  compiler,  as  the  work  progressed 
through  press,  several  errors  occurred,  which  the  reader  will 
not  fail  to  perceive  in  perusing  it.  It  is  almost  impossible  to 
insure  thorough  accuracy  from  a  hastily  written  Mss. 

The  compiler  takes  this  occasion  to  tender  his  unfeigned 
acknowledgments  to  all  who  contributed  materials  for  the 
present  compilation. 

Compiler. 

January,  1846. 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE    ABORIGINES    OR     INDIANS- 

The  Lenni  Lenape,  or  confederates — Their  customs  and  habits — 
Treatment  of  strangers — Treatment  of  enemies — Their  vices — Mar- 
riages— Indian  huts  or  wigwams — Their  dress — Treatment  of  chil- 
dren— Religious  ceremonies  and  sacrificial  feasts — Hunting,  their 
chief  employment — Travelling  or  going  on  a  journey — Their  favor- 
ite amusements,  viz  :  several  kinds  of  dances — The  calumet,  &c. — 
Diseases ;  and  doctors  among  tnem  who  practiced  various  ceremo- 
nies— An  incident  related  by  a  Moravian  missionary— Their  Materia 
Medica — Death  and  burials — The  languages  of  the  Delawares  and 
Iroquois — Printed  specimens  of  the  languages;  viz:  Lord's  prayer, 
&c. — Their  language  highly  figurative;  specimens  thereof — Wars 
among  the  Indians—  Mode  of  declaring  war — Fasting  and  dreaming 
deemed  necessary  preliminaries  to  war — Before  an  attack,  recon- 
noiler  the  country — Localities  of  Indian  nations,  &c.  in  1763.     p.  12 


CHAPTER  I. 

Pennsylvania  settled,  purchase  made  from  the  In- 
dians, &c. 


Pennsylvania  named  in  honor  of  Sir  William  Penn — William  Penn 
receives  a  charter  from  King  Charles  II.— Boundary  of  the  province 
—  Penn's  policy  towards  the  aborigines— Similar  policy  had  been 
pursued,  in  some  measure,  by  others — Markham,  in  obedience   to 

^    Penn's  instructions,  purchases  lands  from  the  Indians— Repeated 


CONTENTS. 

purchases  made — Deeds  to  John  Penn,  Thomas  Penn  and  Richary 
Penn— Deeds  of  1749  and  1754,  and  of  1768— William  Penn's  stad 
in,  and  departure  from,  the  Province — His  return  to  the  Province  : 
return  to  England:  his  death — Influx  of  immigrants — Settlements 
extend  up  along  the  Susquehanna  river — Settlements  commencet 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  in  York  county—  Settlements 
west  of  the  Susquehanna  in  North,  or  Kittochtinny  valley — Earlies 
settlements  first  among  the  Indians— Settlements  in  Huntingdon, 
Union,  Northumberland,  Centre  and  other  counties — Indians'  friend- 
ship towards  the  first  settlers.  p  34 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE     GERMANS. 

General  character  of  Germans — First  immigrants  and  settlers — Ger- 
mantown  settled — Frankford  land  company — Immigrants  of  170* 
and  1709 — Their  sufferings  in  England — Dickinson's  remarks  con- 
cerning them — Settlements  in  Tulpehocken—  Redemption  servants — 
Numerous  immigrants — Settlements  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susque- 
hanna—Neulaender  deceive  many— Great  sufferings  experienced  by 
many — C.  Sauer's  representation  of  their  condition — Society  formed 
to  relieve  German  sufferers — Muhlenberg's  letter,  maltreatment,  &c. 
Political  influence  of  the  Germans — Number  of  Germans  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1755— Catholic  Germans — Scheme  to  educate  the  Ger- 
mans, p  49 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE    IRISH   OR    SCOTCH-IRISH. 


Time  of  their  first  immigration— Settle  first  near  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween Maryland  and  Pennsylvania— James  Logan's  statement  con- 
cerning them — First  settlers  in  Donegal  :  in  Peshtank — Richard 
peters'  complaint  of  them — They  oppose  a  survey  in  Adams  county 
Settle  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  in  Cumberland  county — Disagree- 
ment between  the  Irish  and  Germans  at  Lancaster  and  York  —Immi- 
gration of,  to  Cumberland  county,  encouraged— Settle  on  the  Juni- 
ata, &c— Lord's  prayer  in  Irish— General  settlements.  p  73 


CHAPTER  IV. 

INDIAN    MASSACRES    IN    1744. 
J  ,»un  "Armstrong,  Jame«  Smith  &  Woodward  Arnold,  killed  by  Muse- 


CONTENTS. 


9 


j.-eelin,  in  1744— Alexander  Armstrong's  letter  to  Allumoppies  and 
Shicalemy— Search  made  for  the  bodies  of  the  deceased;  found  and 
buried  them — Weiser's  letter — Provincial  council  held — Conrad 
Weiser  makes  a  demand  for  the  murderer  at  Shamokin — Weiser's 
transactions,  &c.  at  Shamokin — Shicalemy's  statement  touching  the 
murder  of  Armstrong.  P  80 


CHAPTER  V. 


INDIAN    MASSACRES    IN  1754. 


Abductions  in  1753;  viz.  of  Evans,  Devoy,  Nicholson,  Magenty,  Burns, 
Hutchinson  of  Cumberland  county— Frontier  inhabitants  fear  the 
Indians,  and  petition  Governor  Hamilton,  from  Cumberland  and  Lan- 
caster counties — Governor  Hamilton  urges  the  Assembly  to  afford 
the  frontier  settlers  aid— The  government  solicitous  to  retain  the 
friendship  and  aid  of  the  Indians — Weiser  sent  to  Aughwick — Israel, 
an  Indian  of  the  Six  Nations,  kided  Joseph  Cample  in  Cumberland 
(Franklin)  county— Croghan's  letter  touching  this  murder,  &c.    p  92 


CHAPTER  VI. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES    IN    1755-'80. 


Ardent  hostilities  between  the  French  and  English— Braddock's  defeat 
encourages  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies— Frontier  settlers 
again  petition  government  for  protection — Plans  for  defence  of  the 
frontiers — Governor  Morris's  language  in  relation  to  Braddock's 
defeat — Twenty-five  persons  carried  off  at  Penn's  creek;  buildings 
burnt ;  several  persons  killed  and  scalped,  viz  :  Jacques  Le  Roy,  or 
Jacob  King  and  others — Four  men  killed  by  the  Indians,  who  were 
returning  from  Shamokin  to  Harris's  ferry — Extensive  settlements 
deserted —Harris's  letters  touching  the  above  massacre — Weiser's 
Letters — Harris's  letter — Anecdote  from  Heckewelder's  narrative — 
Frontier  settlers  abandon  their  homes— Harris's  letter — Bingham's 
fort  in  Tuscarora  valley  destroyed — Fort  Granville  taken,  &c.  &c. — 
Hamilton's  letters,  &c— Col.  Armstrong's  letters — Numerous  massa- 
cres in  several  places  :  In  southwestern  part  of  Huntingdon  county  : 
In  W7oodcock  valley,  &c. — Settlers  killed  at  Sinnemahoning,  &c.  in 
1778.  p  100 


1Q 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 


Northumberland  county  erected— Streams— Geological  features  of  the 
county — Census  of  1840— Public  improvements — Towns:  Sunbury, 
early  incidents  at,  &c. ;  Northumberland,  Milton,  McEwensville, 
Watsonburg,  Fort  Freeland,  Pottsgrove,  Sodom,  Snyderstown,  Dal- 
matia,  Shamokin — Popular  education.  p  146 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

Huntingdon  county  erected— Streams  of  the  county— Geological  fea- 
tures—Census of  1840— Public  improvements— Towns;  Hunting- 
don, Holidaysburg,  Gaysport,  FranWstown,  Newry,  Williamsburg, 
Alexandria,  McConnellsburg,  Ennisville,  Antestown,  Davidsburg, 
Yellow  Spring,  Graysville^or  Graysport,  Smithfield,  Warriors,  Mark- 
Town,  Petersburg,  Water  street,  Birmingham,  Shirleysburg,  Orbiso- 
nia,  &c— Education.  p  192 


CHAPTER  IX. 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 

Mifflin  county  erected — Streams  and  geological  features  of  the  coun- 
ty— Statistics  of  1840 — Public  improvements — Towns  :  Lewistown, 
McVeytovn  or  Waynesburg,  Hamiltonvilie  or  Newton  Hamilton, 
Belleville,  Horreltown,  &c.  &c. — Education,  &c—  Riots  in  Mifflin 
county.  p  223 


CHAPTER  X. 

CENTRE    COUNT  V. 
Centre  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features— Statistics  of 


CONTENTS. 


11 


1840 — Public  improvements — Towns  :  Bellefont,  Philipsburg,  Miles- 
boro,  Bualsburg,  Potter's  Bank,  Potter's  Old  Fort,  Aaronsburg,  Mill- 
heim,  Earleysburg,  Pattonsviile,  Walkersville,  New  Providence, 
White  Hall,  Rabersburg,  Jacobsburg,  &c— Education — Indian  vil- 
lages, p  249 


CHAPTER  XI. 


UNION    COUNTY. 

Union  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features — Census  of 
1840 — Public  improvements— Frederick  Stump  and  Ironcutter  killed 
ten  Indians,  &c. — Capt.  Brady — Towns:  New  Berlin,  Lewisburg, 
Miffiinburg,  Middleburg,  Hartley  ton,  Freeburg,  Selinsgrove,  Charles- 
town,  Beavertown,  Adamstown,  Centreville,  New  Columbus,  Swifts- 
town — Education,  &c.  p  266 


CHAPTER  XII. 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

Columbia  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features— Statistics 
of  1840 — Public  improvements — Towns:  Danville,  Catawissa,  Ber- 
wick, Bloomsburg,  Mifflinsburg,  Washingtonvill  %  Freicstown,  Jer- 
seytown,  Williamsburg,  Orangeville,  White  Hall,  Espytown,  Moors- 
town,  &c— Education,  &c. — Narrative  of  Van  Camp.  p  310 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


JUNIATA    COUNTY. 

Juniata  county  erected — Streams  and  geological  features — Public  im- 
provements— Towns:  Mifflin,  Thompsonstown,  Mexico,  Perrysville, 
Tammany,  Waterford  or  Waterloo,  Calhoonsville,  or  McAUister- 
ville,  Ridgesville,  Greenwood,  &c. — Education — Case  of  law  suit, 
&c.  &c  p  338 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


CLINTON    COUNTY. 

Clinton  county  erected— Geological  features  ana  streams— Public  im- 
provements—Towns :  Lock  Haven,  Farrandsville,  Dannstown,  Lock- 


12 


CONTENTS. 


port,  Mill  Hall,  New  Liberty,  Youngwomanstown,  Salona — Educa- 
tion—Religious denominations— Indians  visited  by  Count  Zinzen- 
dorf  in  1742;  by  David  Brainerd,  1746;  by  Conrad  Weiser,  1755— 
Weiser's  letters  to  Gov.  Morris  and  Richard  Peters,  touching  the 
Indians  here,  and  his  visit  to  them — Moses  Van  Camp.  p  354 


CHAPTER  XV. 

MAINTENANCE    OF    THE    POOR. 

General  remarks — Poorhouse  in  Centre  county;  in  Mifflin  county ;  in 
Huntingdon  county;  in  Columbia  county;  in  Union  county.       p  371 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

CLEARING    LANDS. 


Grubbing,  the  first  operation— Belting,  a  common  practice — Clearing 
the  land — Log  rollings — Stag  dance — Buildings  erected — Time  of 
labor — Sugar  boiling — Value  of  sugar.  p  374 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

Conrad  Weiser ;  Rev.  Nicholas  Louis  Zinzendorf,  Count ;  Rev.  David 
Brainerd;  Rev.  David  Zeisberger;  Governor  Simon  Snyder;  John 
Harris,  proprietor  of  Harrisburg;  Colonel  Hartley;  George  Crog- 
han  ;  Colonel  John  Kelly ;  David  R.  Porter.  p  382 


APPENDIX,  P408 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE    ABORIGINES    OR    INDIANS. 

The  Lenni  Lenape,  or  confederates — Their  customs  and  habits — 
Treatment  of  strangers — Treatment  of  enemies — Their  vices — Mar- 
riages— Indian  huts  or  wigwams — Their  dress — Treatment  of  chil- 
dren- Religious  ceremonies  and  sacrificial  feasts— Hunting,  their 
chief  employment — Travelling  or  going  on  a  journey — Their  favor- 
ite amusements;  viz:  several  kinds  of  dances — The  calumet,  &c. — 
Diseases  ;  and  doctors  among  them,  who  practiced  various  ceremo- 
nies— An  incident  related  by  a  Moravian  missionary — Their  Materia 
Medica— Death  and  burials— The  languages  of  the  Delawares  and 
Iroquois— Printed  specimens  of  the  languages  ;  viz  :  Lord's  prayer, 
&c. — Their  language  highly  figurative  ;  specimens  thereof— Wars 
among  the  Indians — Mode  of  declaring  war — Fasting  and  dreaming 
deemed  necessary  preliminaries  to  war- — Before  an  attack,  recon- 
noiter  the  country — Localities  of  Indian  nations,  &c.  in  1763. 

When  the  Europeans  first  came  to  this  country,  they  found 
the  western  continent  inhabited  by  numerous  nations,  to 
whom  they  applied  the  name,  though  erroneously,  Indians. 
This  name  was  given  to  the  aborigines  of  this  continent,  un- 
der a  mistaken  notion,  of  having  arrived,  as  Columbus  sup- 
posed, at  the  eastern  shore  of  India. 

Touching  the  origin  of  the  Indians,  or  by  what  means  they 
got  from  the  Old  World  to  the  New,  has  never  been  satis- 
factorily answered,  notwithstanding  that  voluminous  disquis- 
itions have  been  written  on  this  subject. 

A  majority,  who  have  investigated  this  subject,  seems  to 
agree  with  Dr.  Robertson,  that  Tartary,  in  Asia,  is  the  na- 
tive country  of  all  the  American  Indians.  But,  as  the  re- 
gion of  country  of  which  a  history  is  briefly  given  in  the 
sequel,  was  inhabited  by  the  Delawares  and  Iroquois,  or  Six 
Nations,  no  notice  will  be  taken  of  any  others. — [See  the 
close  of  this  Introduction]. 
2 


u 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Dela wares ;  or,  as  they  called  themselves,  Lenni  Le- 
nape,  or  Linape,  emphatically,  "  the  original  people,"  were 
divided  into  three  tribes ;  viz :  the  Unami,  the  Wunalach- 
tikos,  and  the  Monsys. 

The  Iroquois,  as  they  were  named  by  the  French,  called  - 
themselves  Aquanuschioni  ;  that  is,  "  United  people."  They 
were  called  Mengwe,  by  the  Dela  wares;  Maquas,  by  the 
Dutch;  Mingoes,  by  the  English  and  Americans.  They 
were  a  confederate  nation,  consisting  of  Mohawks,  Oneida, 
Onondago,  Cajugu,  Senecca  and  Tuscarora;  the  latter 
joined  them  about  1714. 

Other  nations  were  connected,  or  in  league,  with  the  Iro- 
quois and  Delawares ;  these  were  the  Mahikons,  Shawanese, 
Cherokees,  T  wight  wees,  Kickapoos,  Moshkos,  Wawiachta- 
nos,  Tukashas,  Chipawas,  Ottawas,  Nanticokes,  Putewoat- 
amen,  Creeks,  Choctaws,  Chickasaws,  Wyondots,  or  Hurons. 
These  lived  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  Del- 
awares lived  in  Pennsylvania,  and  in  New  York,  half  way 
between  Lake  Erie  and  the  river  Ohio.  The  Iroquois  pos- 
sessed the  country  north  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland,  about  the  Lakes  Erie,  Ontario,  extending  west- 
ward to  the  Mississippi,  and  southward  to  the  Ohio. 

The  Delawares  and  Iroquois  resembled  each  other,  as  to 
their  bodily  and  mental  qualifications.  In  person,  slender, 
middle-sized,  handsome  and  straight.  The  women,  however, 
were  short,  not  so  handsome,  and  clumsy  in  appearance.  The 
skin  of  a  reddish  brown,  or  yellowish  brown — hair  straight, 
and  jet  black. 

"  In  common  life,"  says  Loskiel,  who  knew  them  well — 
"  and  conversation,  the  Indians  observed  great  decency. 
They  usually  treated  one  another,  and  strangers,  with  kind- 
ness and  civility,  and  without  empty  compliments.  In  the 
converse  of  both  sexes,  the  greatest  decency  and  propriety 
were  observed.  They  were  sociable  and  friendly — Difference 
of  rank,  with  all  its  consequences,  was  not  to  be  found  among 
the  Indians.  They  were  equally  noble  and  free.  The  only 
difference  consisted  in  wealth,  age,  dexterity,  courage,  and 
office." 

The  Indians  were  hospitable  to  strangers.  To  refuse  the 
act  or  kind  office  of  hospitality  was  looked  upon  as  a  fla- 
grant violation  of  a  laudable  practice  in  vogue  among  the 
tawny  sons  of  the  forest.     Hospitality,  they  counted  a  most 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


sacred  duty,  from  which  none  was  exempt.  "Whoever," 
said  they,  "  refuses  relief  to  any  one,  commits  a  grievous  of- 
fence, and  not  only  makes  himself  detested  and  abhorred  by 
all,  but  liable  to  revenge  from  the  injured  person." 

In  their  conduct  towards  their  enemies,  as  will  be  seen 
from  thejsequel,  they  were  "  bloody  cruel,"  and  when  exas- 
perated, nothing  but  the  blood  of  their  enemy  could  assuage, 
or  allay  anger,  which  rankled  concealed  in  their  bosom,  wait- 
ing only  for  a  convenient  opportunity  to  strike  the  fearful 
blow,  inflicted  with  fury  that  knew  no  bounds.  So  deter- 
mined on  revenge  upon  their  enemies  were  they,  that  they 
would  solemnly  enjoin  it  upon  their  friends  and  posterity  to 
resent  injuries  done  them.  The  longest  space  of  time,  the 
most  remote  place  of  refuge,  afforded  nt)  security  to  an  In- 
dian's enemy. 

Drunkenness,  after  the  whites  were  dealing  with  them,  was 
a  common  vice.  It  was  not  confined,  as  it  is  at  this  day, 
among  the  whites,  principally  to  the  " strong-minded"  the 
male  sex  ;  but  the  Indian  female,  as  well  as  the  male,  was 
infatuated  alike  with  the  love  of  strong  drink ;  for  neither  of 
them  knew  bounds  to  their  desire :  they  drank  while  they 
had  whiskey,  or  could  swallow  it  down.  Drunkenness  was 
a  vice,  though  attended  with  many  serious  consequences, 
nay,  murder  and  death,  that  was  not  punishable  among  them. 
It  was  a  fashionable  vice.  Fornication,  adultery,  stealing, 
lying  and  cheating,  principally  the  offspring  of  drunkenness, 
were  considered  as  heinous  and  scandalous  offences,  and  were 
punished  in  various  ways. 

The  Delawares  and  Iroquois  married  early  in  life;  the  men 
usually  at  eighteen,  and  the  women  at  fourteen ;  but  they 
never  married  near  relations.  If  an  Indian  man  wished  to 
marry,  he  sent  a  present,  consisting  of  blankets,  cloth,  linen, 
and  occasionally  a  few  belts  of  wampum,  to  the  nearest  re- 
lations of  the  person  he  had  fixed  upon.  If  he  that  made 
the  present,  and  the  present  pleased,  the  matter  was  formally 
proposed  to  the  girl,  and  if  the  answer  was  affirmatively 
given,  the  bride  was  conducted  to  the  bridegroom's  dwelling 
without  any  further  ceremony ;  but  if  the  other  party  chose 
to  decline  the  proposal,  they  returned  the  present,  by  way 
of  a  friendly  negative. 

"After  the  marriage,  the  present  made  by  the  suitor,  was 
divided  among  the  friends  of  the  young  wife.  These  returned 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

the  civility  by  a  present  of  Indian  corn,  beans,  kettles,  bas- 
kets, hatchets,  &c,  brought  in  solemn  procession  into  the 
hut  of  the  new  married  couple.  The  latter  commonly  lodged 
in  a  friend's  house,  till  they  could  erect  a  dwelling  of  their 
own." 

An  Indian  hut  was  built  in  the  following  manner :  They 
peeled  the  trees,  abounding  in  sap;  then  cutting  the  bark 
into  pieces  of  six  or  eight  feet  in  length,  they  laid  heavy 
stones  upon  them,  that  they  become  flat  and  even  in  drying. 
The  frame  of  the  hut  was  made  by  driving  poles  into  the 
ground,  and  strengthening  them  by  cross  beams.  This  frame 
was  covered  both  inside  and  outside  with  the  pieces  of  bark 
that  had  been  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  fastened  tight 
with  the  bast  or  withes  of  hickory.  The  roof  ran  upon  a 
ridge,  and  was  covered  the  same  way.  An  opening  was  left 
in  the  roof  to  let  the  smoke  pass  through ;  and  one  in  the 
side  as  a  door,  which  was  fastened  with  neither  lock  nor 
bolt — a  stick  leaning  against  it  on  the  outside,  as  a  token 
that  no  one  was  at  home,  was  the  only  bolt  to  prevent  in- 
truders.    A  lesson  to  whites ! 

There  was  some  difference  in  the  huts  of  the  Delawares 
and  Iroquois;  the  roofs  of  the  former  being  angular,  and  the 
latter  round  or  arched, — the  Delaware  families  preferring  to 
live  separately,  their  huts  were  small ;  the  Iroquois  preferred 
living  together,  they  built  their  houses  long,  with  several 
fire  places,  and  corresponding  openings  in  the  roof  and  sides. 
In  their  dress,  they  displayed  more  singularity  than  art.  The 
men  wore  a  blanket,  which  hung  loose  over  the  shoulders, 
and  generally  went  bare-headed.  The  dress  which  distin- 
guished the  women,  was  a  petticoat,  fastened  tight  about  the 
hips,  and  hanging  down  a  little  below  the  knees.  A  longer 
one  would  have  proved  an  incumbrance  in. walking  through 
the  woods,  or  working  in  the  fields. 

As  soon  as  a  child  was  born,  it  was  laid  upon  a  board  or 
straight  piece  of  bark,  covered  with  moss,  and  wrapped  up 
in  a  skin  or  piece  of  cloth;  and  when  the  mother  was  en- 
gaged in  her  housework,  this  rude  cradle,  or  bed,  was  hung 
to  a  peg  or  branch  of  a  tree.  Their  children  they  educated 
to  fit  them  to  get  through  the  world,  as  did  their  fathers. 
They  instructed  them  in  religion,  &c.  They  believed  that 
Manitto,  their  God,  "the  good  spirit,"  could  be  propitiated 
by  sacrifices,  hence  they  observed  a  great  many  superstitious 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

and  idolatrous  ceremonies.  At  their  general  and  solemn 
sacrifices,  the  oldest  men  performed  the  offices  of  priests ;  but 
in  private  parties,  each  man  brought  a  sacrifice,  and  offered 
it  himself  as  priest.  Instead  of  a  temple,  they  fitted  up  a 
large  dwelling  house  for  the  purpose. 

Polytheism,  or  the  grossest  kind  of  idolatry,  did  not  exist 
among  them,  although  they  had  their  images,  representing 
the  "  Manitto."  The  images  were  of  wood,  the  head  of  a 
man  in  miniature,  which  they  always  carried  about  them, 
either  on  a  string  round  the  neck,  or  in  a  bag.  They  also 
suspended  images  of  the  kind  about  the  necks  of  their  chil- 
dren, to  preserve  them  from  illness  and  to  ensure  them  suc- 
cess. 

The  Dela wares,  in* their  feasts  and  sacrifices,  held  five  as 
being  the  cardinal  ones — each  was  accompanied  by  its  ap- 
propriate ceremonies. 

The  first  was  a  sacrificial  feast,  held  biennially  by  a  whole 
family,  or  their  friends — usually  in  the  fall ;  occasionally  in 
the  winter.  Besides  the  members  of  the  family,  they  some- 
times invited  their  neighbors  from  the  surrounding  villages. 
The  head  of  the  family  was  obliged  to  provide  every  thing. 
After  estimating  the  requisite  number  of  bears  and  deer  on 
such  an  occasion,  the  young  hunters  were  despatched  to 
procure  them.  After  securing  them,  they  were  carried  in 
solemn  procession  to  the  house  of  sacrifice,  and  there  depos- 
ited. The  women,  in  the  meantime,  had  prepared  wood  for 
roasting  and  1  oiling.  They  also  prepared  seats  of  long  dry 
grass.  When  the  invited  guests  had  assembled  and  seated 
themselves,  the  boiled  meat  was  served  up  in  large  kettles, 
with  bread  made  of  Indian  corn,  and  distributed  by  persons 
appointed  for  that  purpose.  A  uniform  rule,  strictly  ob- 
served, was  "  that  whatever  was  thus  served  up,  as  a  sac- 
rifice, must  be  wholly  eaten,  and  nothing  left."  A  small 
quantity  of  melted  fat  only,  was  poured  by  the  oldest  man 
into  the  fire,  and  in  this  the  main  part  of  the  offering  consist- 
ed. The  bones  were  burnt,  to  prevent  the  dogs  from  getting 
any  of  them.  After  meal,  the  men  and  women  struck  up  a 
dance.  One  singer  performed  during  the  dance,  who  walked 
up  and  down,  and  rattled  a  small  tortoise  shell,  with  some 
pebbles  in  it.  The  principal  part  of  the  song  consisted  of 
dreams,  and  a  recital  of  all  the  names  of  the  "Manittos,"  and 
such  things  as  were  esteemed  most  useful  to  the  Indians. 
2* 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

After  the  first  singer  was  weary  he  sat  down,  and  another 
sang.  This  kind  of  feast  usually  began  in  the  afternoon,  and 
lasted  till  next  morning.  Sometimes  it  continued  for  several 
nights  in  succession. 

The  second  feast  was  similar  to  the  first,  with  this  differ- 
ence, that  the  men  danced  almost  in  a  state  of  nudity,  and 
their  bodies  were  besmeared  with  white  clay. 

At  the  third  feast,  a  dozen  or  fifteen  tanned  deer  skins 
were  given  to  as  many  old  men  and  women ;  who  wrapped 
themselves  in  them,  and  stood  before  the  house,  with  their 
face  towards  the  east ;  and  in  this  position,  prayed  God  with 
a  loud  voice  to  reward  their  benefactors. 

The  fourth  feast  was  made  to  a  certain  voracious  spirit, 
who,  according  to  their  notions,  was  never  satisfied.  The 
guests  were  therefore  obliged  to  eat  all  the  bears'  flesh,  and 
drink  the  melted  fat,  without  leaving  any  thing,  which  was 
frequently  followed  by  indigestion  and  violent  vomiting. 

The  fifth  festival  was  celebrated  in  honor  of  fire,  which 
they  held  in  veneration,  considered  it  as  the  first  parent  of 
all  Indian  nations-  They  said  that  twelve  "Manittos"  at- 
tended this  parent  as  subordinate  deities,  being  partly  animals 
and  partly  vegetables.  The  principal  ceremony,  in  celebrat- 
ing this  festival,  was,  that  a  large  oven  was  built  in  the 
midst  of  the  house  of  sacrifice,  that  consisted  of  twelve  poles, 
each  of  a  different  species  of  wood.  These  they  ran  into  the 
ground,  fastened  them  together  at  the  top,  and  covered  them 
entirely  with  blankets,  so  that  the  whole  appeared  like  a 
baker's  oven,  high  enough  nearly  to  admit  a  man,  standing 
upright.  After  meal,  the  oven  was  heated  with  twelve  large 
stones  made  red  hot :  then  twelve  men  crept  into  it,  and  re- 
mained there  as  long  as  they  could  bear  the  heat.  In  the 
mean  while  an  old  woman  threw  twelve  pipes  full  of  tobacco 
upon  the  hot  stones,  which  occasioned  a  smoke  almost  pow- 
erful enough  to  suffocate  the  persons  that  were  confined ;  so 
that  on  being  taken  out,  they  generally  fell  in  a  swoon ! 
During  this  feast,  a  whole  deer-skin,  with  the  head  and  an- 
tlers remaining,  was  raised  upon  a  pole,  to  which  they  sang 
and  prayed;  though  they  always  denied  that  by  this  act 
they  paid  any  adoration  to  the  buck:  they  declared  that  God 
alone  was  worshipped  through  this  medium. 

To  amuse  the  young  people,  quantities  of  wampum  were 
scattered  upon  the  ground,  for  which  they  scrambled,  and  he 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

that  got  the  most  was  considered  the  best  fellow.  At  these 
feasts,  four  persons,  who  were  styled  servants,  had  been  ap- 
pointed, whose  business  it  was  to  wait,  or  serve,  day  and 
night ;  who  were  paid  in  wampum,  with  the  privilege  to  take 
the  choice  provisions,  such  as  sugar,  eggs,  butter,  bilberries, 
&c,  and  dispose  of  them  to  the  guests,  and  appropriate  the 
proceeds  to  their  own  benefit.  The  festivals  were  always 
closed,  after  the  whites  had  been  trafficking  with  the  Indi- 
ans, with  a  general  drinking-about  of  him!  Besides  these 
principal  feasts,  they  had  many  others  of  minor  importance. 

Depending,  as  they  did,  for  a  supply  of  food,  principally 
taken  in  the  chase  ;  hunting  constituted  their  chief  employ- 
ment, and  next  to  war,  was  considered  the  most  honorable  : 
they  were  experienced  hunters ;  their  boys  were  trained  to 
this  business,  whom  they  taught  when  quite  young  to  climb 
trees,  "  both  to  catch  birds  and  to  exercise  their  sight,  which 
by  this  method  was  rendered  so  quick,  that  in  hunting,  they 
saw  objects  at  an  amazing  distance.  In  detecting  and  pur- 
suing game,  they  almost  exceeded  the  best  trained  dog,  in 
following  its  course."  Their  principal  weapons  used  by  the 
Indian  hunters,  were  bows  and  arrows  ;  some  had  rifles. 
Their  hunting  excursions  continued  for  months,  sometimes. 
Before  they  entered  a  long  hunt,  they  would  usually  shoot 
one  or  more  deer,  and  kept  a  feast  of  sacrifice,  and  invited 
the  old  men  to  assist  in  praying  for  success.  Some  of  the 
more  credulous  bathed  and  painted  before  they  set  off;  and 
the  more  superstitious  kept  a  fast  before,  and  during  the  sea- 
son. They  assigned  as  a  reason  for  fasting,  that  it  helped 
them  to  dream,  and  in  their  dreams  they  said  they  were  in- 
formed of  the  haunts  of  the  game,  and  of  the  most  success- 
ful method  of  propitiating  the  ire  of  evil  spirits,  during  the 
hunting  season.  If  the  dreamer  fancied  that  he  saw  an  In- 
dian, who  had  left  this  stage  of  action  for  years,  and  heard 
him  say,  "  If  thou  wilt  sacrifice  to  me,  thou  shalt  shoot  deer 
at  pleasure,"  they  instantly  prepared  a  sacrifice,  burnt  the 
whole,  or  part  of  a  deer,  in  honor  of  the  apparition.  They 
observed  other  ceremonies,  and  made  use  of  charms  to  pro- 
mote their  success. 

When  they  travelled  or  went  on  a  journey,  they  manifest- 
ed much  carelessness  about  the  weather ;  yet,  in  their  pray- 
ers, they  usually  begged  "  for  a  clear  and  pleasant  sky." 
They  generally  provided  themselves  with  Indian  meal,  which 


20  INTHODUCTION. 

they  either  ate  dry,  mixed  with  sugar  and  water,  or  boiled 
into  a  kind  of  mush ;  for  they  never  took  bread  made  of  In- 
dian corn,  for  a  long  journey,  because  in  summer,  it  would 
spoil  in  three  or  four  days,  and  be  unfit  for  use.  As  to  meat, 
that  they  took  as  they  went. 

If,  in  their  travels,  they  had  occasion  to  pass  a  deep  river, 
on  arriving  at  it,  they  set  about  it  immediately  and  built  a 
canoe,  by  taking  a  long  piece  of  bark,  of  proportionate 
breadth,  to  which  they  gave  the  proper  form,  by  fastening 
it  to  ribs  of  light  wood,  bent  so  as  to  suit  the  occasion.  If 
a  large  canoe  was  required,  several  pieces  of  bark  were  care- 
fully sowed  together.  "  If  the  voyage  was  expected  to  be 
long,  many  Indians  carried  every  thing  they  wanted  for  their 
night's  lodging  with  them ;  namely,  some  slender  poles,  and 
rush-mats,  or  birch  bark." 

When  at  home,  they  had  their  amusements.  Their  favor- 
ite one  was  dancing.  An  amusement  that  is  excusable  even 
at  this  day,  among  those  whose  "taste  and  education,"  like 
the  simple  sons  of  the  forest,  preponderate  that  way.  The 
Indians,  like  some  whites  of  this  day  have,  had  several  kinds 
of  dances. 

"  The  common  dance  was  held  either  in  a  large  house,  or 
in  an  open  field  around  a  fire.  In  dancing,  they  formed  a 
circle,  and  always  had  a  leader,  to  whom  the  whole  compa- 
ny attended.  The  men  went  before,  and  the  women  closed 
the  circle.  The  latter  danced  with  great  decency,  and  as 
if  they  had  engaged  in  the  most  serious  business ;  while  thus 
engaged,  they  never  spoke  a  word  to  the  men,  much  less 
joked  with  them,  which  would  have  injured  their  character- 
They  neither  jumped  nor  skipped ;  but  placed  one  foot  light- 
ly forward,  and  then  backward;  yet  so  as  to  advance  grad- 
ually, till  they  reached  a  certain  spot,  and  then  retired  in 
the  same  manner.  They  kept  their  bodies  straight,  and  their 
arms  hanging  down  close  to  their  sides.  But  the  men  shout- 
ed, leapt,  and  stampt  with  such  violence  that  the  ground 
trembled  under  their  feet.  Their  extreme  agility  and  light- 
ness of  foot  was  never  shown  to  -more  advantage  than  in 
dancing.  Their  whole  music  consisted  in  a  single  drum ; 
which  was  made  of  an  old  barrel  or  kettle,  or  the  lower  end 
of  a  hollow  tree,  covered  with  a  thin  deer-skin,  and  beaten 
with  one  stick.  Its  sound,  however,  was  not  very  agreea- 
ble, and  served  only  to  mark  the  time,  which  the  Indians, 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

when  dancing  even  in  large  numbers,  kept  with  due  exact- 
ness. When  they  had  finished  one  round,  they  took  some 
rest ;  but  during  this  time  the  drummer  continued  to  sing 
till  another  dance  commenced.  These  dances,  in  keeping 
with  that  spirit,  lasted  till  midnight." 

"Another  kind  of  dance  was  only  attended  by  men.  Each 
rose  in  his  turn,  and  danced  with  great  agility  and  boldness, 
extolling  their  own,  or  their  forefathers'  great  deeds  in  a 
song,  to  which  all  beat  time,  by  a  monotonous,  rough  note, 
which  was  given  out  with  great  vehemence  at  the  commence- 
ment of  each  bar." 

"  Some  dances,  held  upon  different  occasions,  differed 
much  from  the  above.  Of  these,  the  chief  was  the  dance  of 
peace,  called  also  the  Calumet,  or  pipe  dance ;  because  the 
Calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace,  was  handed  about  during  the 
dance.  This  was  the  most  pleasing  to  strangers,  who  at- 
tended as  spectators ;  its  appearance  was  peaceable,  and  not 
so  dreadful  as  the  former.  The  dancers  joined  hands,  and 
leapt  in  a  ring  for  some  time.  On  a  sudden,  the  leader  let 
the  hand  of  one  of  his  partners  go,  and  kept  hold  of  the 
other.  He  then  sprang  forward,  and  turned  round  several 
times,  by  which  he  drew  the  company  round,  so  that  he  was 
enclosed  by  them,  when  they  stood  close  together.  They 
then  disengaged  themselves  as  suddenly,  yet  they  kept  hold 
of  each  others  hands  during  all  the  different  revolutions  and 
changes  in  the  dance ;  which,  as  they  explained  it,  represen- 
ted the  chain  of  friendship.  A  song  made  especially  for  this 
solemnity,  was  sung  by  all." 

"  The  war  dance,  which  was  always  held  either  before  or 
after  a  campaign,  was  dreadful  to  behold.  None  took  part 
in  it,  but  the  warriors  themselves.  They  appeared  armed, 
as  if  going  to  battle.  One  carried  his  gun  or  hatchet. ;  an- 
other a  long  knife,  the  third  a  tomahawk,  the  fourth  a  large 
club;  or,  they  all  appeared  armed  with  tomahawks.  These 
they  brandished  in  the  air,  to  show  how  they  intended  to 
treat  their  enemies.  They  affected  such  an  air  of  anger  and 
fury  on  this  occasion,  that  it  made  a  spectator  shudder  to 
behold  them.  A  chief  led  the  dance,  and  sang  the  warlike 
deeds  of  himself  or  his  ancestors.  At  the  end  of  every  cele- 
brated feat  of  valor,  he  wielded  his  tomahawk  with  all  his 
might  against  a  post  fixed  in  the  ground.  He  was  then  fol- 
lowed by  the  rest,  each  finished  his  round  by  a  blow  against 


AA  INTRODUCTION-. 

the  post.  Then  they  danced  all  together;  and  this  was  the 
most  frightful  scene.  They  affected  the  most  horrible  and 
dreadful  gestures;  threatened  to  beat,  cut-,  and  stab  each 
other.  They  were,  however,  amazingly  dexterous  in  avoid- 
ing the  threatened  danger.  To  complete  the  horror  of  the 
scene,  they  howled  as  dreadiully  as  if  in  actual  fight,  so  that 
they  appeared  as  raving  madmen.  During  the  dance 
they  sometimes  sounded  a  kind  of  fife,  made  of  reed,  which 
had  a  shrill  and  disagreeable  note.  The  Iroquois  used 
the  war  dance  even  in  times  of  peace,  with  a  view  to  cel- 
ebrate the  deeds  of  their  heroic  chiefs  in  a  solemn  man- 
ner." 

"  The  sacrificial  dance  was  held  at  the  solemnization  of 
their  sacrifices." 

"The  Indians,  as  well  as  c all  human  flesh/  were  heirs  of 
disease.  The  most  common  were  pleurisy,  weakness  and 
pains  in  the  stomach  and  breast,  consumption,  diarrhoea, 
rheumatism,  bloody  flux,  agues,  inflammatory  fevers — and, 
occasionally  the  small  pox  made  dreadful  ravages  among 
them.  Their  general  remedy  for  all  disorders,  small  or  great, 
was  a  sweat.  For  this  purpose  they  had  in  every  town  an 
oven,  situated  at  some  distance  from  the  dwellings,  built  of 
stakes  and  boards,  covered  with  sods,  or  were  dug  in  the 
side  of  a  hill,  and  heated  with  some  red-hot  stones.  Into  this 
the  patient  crept  naked,  and  in  a  short  time  was  thrown  into 
profuse  perspiration.  As  soon  as  the  patient  felt  himself  too 
hot,  he  crept  out,  and  immediately  plunged  himself  into  a 
river,  or  some  cold  water,  where  he  continued  about  thirty 
seconds,  and  then  went  again  into  the  oven.  After  having 
performed  this  operation  three  times  successively,  he  smoked 
his  pipe  with  composure,  and  in  many  cases  a  cure  was  com- 
pletely effected." 

"In  some  places  they -had  ovens  constructed  large  enough 
to  receive  several  persons.  Some  chose  to  pour  water  now 
and  then  upon  the  heated  stones,  to  increase  the  steam,  and 
promote  more  profuse  perspiration.  Many  Indians,  in  per- 
fect health,  made  it  a  practice  of  going  into  the  oven  once  or 
twice  a  week,  to  renew  their  strength  and  spirits.  Some  pre- 
tended by  this  operation  to  prepare  themselves  for  a  business 
which  requires  mature  deliberation  and  artifice.  If  the  sweat- 
ing did  not  remove  the  disorder,  other  means  were  applied. 
Many  of  the  Indians  believed  that  medicines  had  no  efficacy, 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

unless  administered  by  a  professed  physician — enough  of  pro- 
fessed doctors  could  be  found — many  of  both  sexes  professed 
to  be  doctors. 

Indian  doctors  never  applied  medicines  without  accom- 
panying them  with  mysterious  ceremonies,  to  make  their  ef- 
fect appear  supernatural.  The  ceremonies  were  various. 
Many  breathed  upon  the  sick — they  averred  their  breath  was 
wholesome.  In  addition  to  this  they  spirted  a  certain  liquor 
made  of  herbs,  out  of  their  mouth,  over  the  patient's  whole 
body,  distorting  their  features,  and  roaring  dreadfully.  In 
some  instances  physicians  crept  into  the  oven,  where  they 
sweat,  howled,  roared,  and  now  and  then  grinned  horribly 
at  their  patients,  who  had  been  laid  before  the  opening,  and 
frequently  felt  the  pulse  of  the  patient.  Then  pronounced 
sentence,  and  foretold  either  their  recovery  or  death.  On 
one  occasion,  a  Moravian  missionary  was  present,  who  says, 
"An  Indian  physician  had  put  on  a  large  bear-skin,  so  that 
his  arms  were  covered  with  the  fore  legs,  his  feet  with  the 
hind  legs,  and  his  head  was  entirely  concealed  in  the  bear's 
head,  with  the  addition  of  glass  eyes.  He  came  in  this  at- 
tire with  a  calabash  in  his  hand,  accompanied  by  a  great 
crowd  of  people  into  the  patient's  hut,  singing  and  dancing, 
when  he  grasped  a  handful  of  hot  ashes,  and  scattering  them 
into  the  air,  with  a  horrid  noise,  approached  the  patient,  and 
began  to  play  several  legerdemain  tricks  with  small  bits  of 
wood,  by  which  he  pretended  to  be  able  to  restore  him  to 
health." 

The  common  people  believed  that  by  rattling  the  calabash, 
the  physician  had  power  to  make  the  spirits  discover  the 
cause  of  the  disease,  and  even  evade  the  malice  of  the  evil 
spirit  who  occasioned  it. 

Their  Materia  Medica,  or  the  remedies  used  in  curing  dis- 
eases were,  such  as  rattle  snake  root,  the  skins  of  rattle 
snakes,  dried  and  pulverized,  thorny  ash,  toothache  tree, 
tulip  tree,  dogwood,  wild  laurel,  sassafras,  Canada  shrubby 
elder,  poison  ash,  wintergreen,  liverwort,  Virginia  poke,  ja- 
lap, sarsaparilla,  Canadian  sanicle,  scabians  or  devil's  bir, 
bloodwort,  cuckowpint,  ginseng,  and  a  few  others. 

Death  and  burials  among  them,  are  described  by  one  who 
spent  years  among  them,  as  follows  :  Immediately  after  the 
death  of  an  Indian,  the  corpse  is  dressed  in  a  new  suit,  with 
the  face  and  shirt  painted  red,  and  laid  upon  a  mat  or  skin, 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

in  the  middle  of  the  hut  or  cottage.  The  arms  and  effects 
of  the  deceased  are  then  piled  up  near  the  body.  In  the 
evening,  soon  after  sunset,  and  in  the  morning,  before  day- 
break, the  female  relations  and  friends  assemble  around  the 
corpse  and  mourn  over  it.  Their  lamentations  are  loud,  in 
proportion  to  the  love  and  esteem  they  bore  to  the  deceased, 
or  to  his  rank,  or  the  pains  he  suffered  in  dying ;  and  they 
are  daily  repeated,  till  his  interment. 

The  burying  places  were  at  some  distance  from  the  dwell- 
ings. The  graves  were  generally  dug  by  old  women,  as  the 
young  people  abhorred  this  kind  of  work.  Before  they  had 
hatchets  and  other  tools,  they  used  to  line  the  inside  of  the 
grave  with  the  bark  of  trees,  and  when  the  corpse  was  let 
down,  they  placed  some  pieces  of  wood  across,  which  were 
again  covered  with  bark,  and  then  the  earth  thrown  in,  to 
fill  up  the  grave.  But  afterwards,  they  usually  placed  three 
boards,  not  nailed  together,  over  the  grave,  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  corpse  lay  between  them.  A  fourth  board  was' 
placed  as  a  cover,  and  then  the  grave  was  filled  up  with 
earth.     Now  and  then  a  proper  coffin  was  procured. 

At  an  early  period,  they  used  to  put  a  tobacco-pouch, 
knife,  tinder-box,  tobacco  and  pipe,  bow  and  arrows,  gun, 
powder  and  shot,  skins,  and  cloth  for  clothes,  paint,  a  small 
bag  of  Indian  corn  or  dried  bilberries,  sometimes  the  kettle, 
hatchet,  and  other  furniture  of  the  deceased,  into  the  grave, 
supposing  that  the  departed  spirits  would  have  the  same 
wants  and  occupation  in  the  land  of  souls.  But  this  custom 
was  nearly  wholly  abolished  among  the  Delawares  and  Iro- 
quois about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.  At  the  burial, 
not  a  man  shed  a  tear ;  they  deemed  it  a  shame  for  a  man 
to  weep.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  women  set  up  a 
dreadful  howl. 

The  language  of  the  Delawares  and  Iroquois  has  an  agree- 
able sound,  both  in  conversation  and  public  delivery,  accord- 
ing to  the  testimony  of  Loskiel  and  others,  who  understood 
it.  Though  there  is  a  great  difference  between  that  of  the 
former  and  latter.  The  pronunciation,  say  those  skilled  in 
the  Delaware  tongue,  is  quite  easy.  Whether  the  languages 
of  these  nations  have  not  been  greatly  changed  in  process  of 
time,  is  a  question  that  cannot  here  be  discussed.  No 
doubt  these  languages,  like  all  others,  were  subject  to  mu- 
tation. 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

The  following  is  the  Lord's  prayer  in  these  languages ; 
viz  :  Delaware  and  Iroquois. 

Ki  wetochemelenk  talli  epian  awossagame.  Mach  elend- 
asutch  ktellewunsowoagan  ksakimawoagan  pejewigetsch. 
Knelite  hewoagan  legetsch  talli  achquidhackamike  elgiqui 
leek  talli  awossagame.  Milineen  el^ischquik  gunigischuk 
achpoan.  Woak  mirvelen-dammauwineen  'n  tschannauch- 
sowoagannena  elgiqui  niluna  miweleden-dammauwenk  nik 
tschetschanilawequergik.  Woak  katschi'npawuneen  li  ach- 
quetschiechtowoaganueng.  Alod  knihillatamen  ksakimawoa- 
gan, woak  ktalbewussowoagan,  woak  ktallowiluessowoagan, 
ne  wuntschi  hallemiwi  li  hallamagamik.     Amen. 

Soungwauncha  caurounkyauga  lehseetaroan  saulwoney- 
ousta,  es  a>  sawaneyou  okettauhsela  ehneawoung,  na,  cau- 
rounkyauga nugh  wonshauga,  neattewehnesalauga  taugwau- 
nautoronoantoughsick  toantangweleewheyoustaung  cheneey- 
ent  chaquatautaleywheyoustaunna  toughsan  langwassareneh 
tawantottenaugaloughtoungga,  nasawne  sascheautaugwass 
contehsalohaunzaikaw,  esa  sawauneyou,  esa  sashantzta,  esa 
soungwasoung  chenneauhaungwaj  anwen. 

William  Penn,  the  founder  of  the  province,  says,  "  their 
language  is  lofty,  yet  narrow;  but,  like  the  Hebrew,  in  sig- 
nification, full ;  like  short  hand,  in  writing,  one  word  serveth 
in  place  of  three,  and  the  rest  are  supplied  by  the  understand- 
ing of  the  hearer." 

To  the  eye,  the  words  of  the  Delaware  and  Iroquois  ap- 
pear very  long — longer  than  Hebrew  words.  The  following 
is  copied  from  a  work,  printed  at  Leipsic,  1740.  It  is  the 
Lord's  prayer  in  Hebrew,  and  is  here  introduced,  to  show 
by  comparison,  that  there  is  a  difference  in  the  length  of 
words. 

Abbinu  schebbuschschamajim,  jikkadesch  schemecha,  tab- 
ho  malchutecha,  jehi  rezonecha  caascher  baschschamajim 
vechen  baarez,  lachmenu  dhebhar  jom  bejomo  then  lanu 
hajjom,  vselach  lanu  eth  chobhoththenu,  veal  tebhienu 
lenissajou,  ki-im  hazzilenu  mera,  ki  lecha  hamalchuth  ugheb- 
hura  vechabodh  leolam  olamim,  Amen. 

Their  language  is  highly  figurative.  The  following  spe- 
cimens may  afford  an  idea  of  their  metaphors  : — 

"  The  sky  is  overcast  with  dark,  blustering  clouds ;" 
meaning,  We  shall  have  troublesome  times — we  shall  have 
war.  "  We  shall  lift  up  the  hatchet ;"  We  shall  have  war. 
3 


26 


INTRODUCTION. 


"The  path  is  already  shut  up ;"  War  has  begun.  "The 
rivers  run  with  blood ;"  War  rages  in  the  country-  "  To 
bury  the  hatchet ;"  To  conclude  peace.  "  To  lay  down  the 
hatchet — to  slip  the  hatchet  under  the  bed  ;"  To  cease  fight- 
ing for  a  while,  during  a  truce.  "You  did  not  make  me  strong;'3 
You  gave  me  nothing.  "Don't  listen  to  birds  which  fly  by, 
singing  ;"  Don't  believe  what  stragglers  tell  you.  "  Look 
this  way;"  Join  our  party.  "Suffer  no  grass  to  grow  on 
this  war  path;"  Carry  on  the  war  with  vigor.  "One  night's 
encampment ;"  A  halt  of  one  year  at  a  place.  "  You  have 
spoken  good  words;"  I  am  pleased  with  what  you  say.  "I 
will  pass  one  night  yet  at  this  place ;"  I  will  stay  one  year 
at  this  place. 

-Wars,  among  the  Indians,  were  always  carried  on  with 
the  greatest  fury,  and  lasted  much  longer  than  they  do  now 
among  them.  The  offensive  weapons  were,  before  the  whites 
came  among  them,  bows,  arrows  and  clubs.  The  latter  were 
made  of  the  hardest  kind  of  wood  ;  from  two  to  three  feet 
long,  and  very  heavy,  with  a  large  round  knob  at  one  end. 
Their  weapon  of  defence  was  a  shield,  made  of  the  tough 
hide  of  a  buffalo,  on  the  concave  side  of  which  they  received 
the  arrows  and  darts  of  the  enemy;  but  about  the  middle  of 
the  last  century  this  was  all  laid  aside  by  the  Delawares  and 
Iroquois,  though  they  used  to  a  later  period,  bows,  arrows, 
and  clubs  of  war  :  the  clubs  they  used,  were  pointed,  with 
nails  and  pieces  of  iron,  when  used  at  all — guns  were  mea- 
surably substituted  for  all  these.  The  hatchet  and  long- 
knife  was  used,  as  well  as  the  gun.  The  army  of  these  na- 
tions consisted  of  all  their  young  men,  including  boys  of  fifteen 
years  old.  They  had  their  captains  and  subordinate  officers. 
Their  captains,  would  be  called  amongst  them,  commanders 
or  generals.  The  requisite  qualifications  for  this  station, 
were  prudence,  cunning,  resolution,  bravery,  undauntedness, 
and  previous  good  fortune  in  some  fight  or  battle. 

"To  lift  the  hatchet;"  or,  to  begin  a  war,  was  always, 
as  they  declared,  not  till  just  and  important  causes  prompted 
them  to  it.  Then  they  assigned  as  motives,  that  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  revenge  the  injuries  done  to  the  nation.  Perhaps, 
the  honor  of  being  distinguished  as  great  warriors,  may  have 
been  an  "  ingredient  in  the  cup." 

"  But,  before  they  entered  upon  so  hazardous  an  underta- 
king, they  carefully  weighed  all  the  proposals   made,  com- 


INTRODUCTION.  *' 

pared  the  probable  advantages  or  disadvantages  that  might 
accrue.  A  chief  could  not  begin  a  war  without  the  consent 
of  his  captains ;  nor  could  he  accept  of  a  war-belt,  only  on 
the  condition  of  its  being  considered  by  the  captains.  The 
chief  was  bound  to  preserve  peace  to  the  utmost  of  his  pow- 
er. But,  if  several  captains  were  unanimous  in  declaring 
war,  the  chief  was  then  obliged  to  deliver  the  care  of  his 
people,  for  a  time,  into  the  hands  of  the  captains,  and  to  lay 
down  his  office.  Yet  his  influence  tended  greatly  either  to 
prevent,  or  encourage  the  commencement  of  war ;  for  the 
Indians  believed  that  a  war  could  not  be  successful  without 
the  consent  of  the  chief;  and  the  captains,  on  that  account, 
strove  to  be  in  harmony  with  him.  After  war  was  agreed 
on,  and  they  wished  to  secure  the  assistance  of  a  nation  in 
league  with  them,  they  notified  that  nation  by  sending  a 
piece  of  tobacco,  or  by  an  embassy.  By  the  first,  they^  in- 
tended that  the  captains  were  to  smoke  pipes  and  consider 
seriously  whether  they  would  take  part  in  the  war  or  not. 
The  embassy  was  entrusted  to  a  captain,  who  carried  a  belt 
of  wampum,  upon  which  the  object  of  the  embassy  was  des- 
cribed by  certain  figures,  and  a  hatchet  with  a  red  handle. 
After  the  chief  had  been  informed  of  his  commission,  it  was 
laid  before  a  council. — The  hatchet  having  been  laid  on  the 
ground,  he  delivered  a  long  speech,  while  holding  the  war- 
belt  in  his  hand.  Always  closing  the  address  with  the  re- 
quest, to  take  up  the  hatchet ;  and  then  delivering  the  war- 
belt.  If  this  was  complied  with,  no  more  was  said ;  and  this 
act  was  considered  as  a  solemn  promise  to  lend  every  assist- 
ance :  but,  if  neither  the  hatchet  was  taken  up,  nor  the  belt 
accepted,  the  ambassador  drew  the  just  conclusion,  that  the 
nation  preferred  to  remain  neutral,  and  without  any  further 
ceremony,  returned  home. 

The  Delawares  and  Iroquois  were  very  informal  in  declar- 
ing war ;  they  often  sent  out  small  parties,  seized  the  first 
man  they  met,  belonging  to  the  nation  they  had  intended  to 
engage,  killed  and  scalped  him,  then  cleaved  his  head  with 
a  hatchet,  which  they  left  stick  in  it,  or  laid  a  war  club, 
painted  red,  upon  the  body  of  the  victim.  This  was  a  for- 
mal challenge;  in  consequence  of  which,  a  captain  ot  an  in- 
sulted party  would  take  up  the  weapons  ot  the  murderers, 
and  hasten  into  their  country,  to  be  revenged  upon  them ;  if 


23  INTRODUCTION. 

he  returned  with  a  scalp,  he  thought  he  had  avenged  the 
rights  of  his  own  nation. 

Among  the  Delawares  and  Iroquois,  it  required  but 
little  time  to  make  preparations  for  war.  One  of  the  most 
necessary  preparations,  was  to  paint  themselves  red  and 
black ;  for  they  held  it,  that  the  most  horrid  appearance  ot 
war,  was  the  greatest  ornament.  Some  captains  fasted  and 
attended  to  their  dreams,  with  the  view  to  gain  intelligence 
of  the  issue  of  the  war.  The  night  previous  to  the  march  of 
the  army  was  spent  in  feasting,  at  which  the  chiefs  were 
present ;  when  either  a  hog  or  some  dogs  were  killed.  Dog's 
flesh,  said  they,  inspired  them  with  the  genuine  martial  spi- 
rit ;  even  women,  in  some  instances,  partook  of  this  feast, 
and  ate  dogs'  flesh  greedily.  Now  and  then  when  a  warrior 
was  induced  to  make  a  solemn  declaration  of  his  war  incli- 
nation, he  held  up  a  piece  of  dog's  flesh  in  sight  of  all  pres- 
ent, and  devoured  it,  and  pronounced  these  words :  "  Thus 
will  I  devour  my  enemies !"  After  the  feast,  the  captain 
and  all  his  people  began  the  war-dance,  and  continued  till 
daybreak — till  they  had  become  quite  hoarse  and  weary. 
They  generally  danced  all  together,  and  each  in  his  turn 
took  the  head  of  a  hog  in  his  hand.  As  both  their  friends 
and  the  women  generally,  accompanied  them  to  the  first 
night's  encampment,  they  halted  about  two  or  three  miles 
from  the  town,  danced  the  war  dance  once  more,  and  the  day 
following,  began  their  march.  Before  they  made  an  attack, 
they  reconnoitered  every  part  of  the  country.  To  this  end, 
they  dug  holes  in  the  ground  ;  if  practicable,  in  a  hillock, 
covered  with  wood,  in  which  they  kept  a  small  charcoal  fire, 
from  which  they  discovered  the  motions  oi  the  enemy  undis- 
covered. When  they  sought  a  prisoner  or  a  scalp,  they  ven- 
tured, in  many  instances,  even  in  day  time,  to  execute  their 
designs.  Effectually  to  accomplish  this,  they  skulked  behind 
a  bulky  tree,  and  crept  slyly  around  the  trunk,  as  not  to  be 
observed  by  the  person  or  persons  for  whom  they  lay  in  am- 
bush. In  this  way  they  slew  many.  But  if  they  had  a  fa- 
mily or  town  in  view,  they  always  preferred  the  night,  when 
their  enemies  were  wrapt  in  profound  sleep;  and  in  this  way 
killed,  scalpt,  and  made  prisoners,  many  of  their  enemies — 
set  fire  to  the  houses,  and  retired  with  all  possible  haste  to 
the  woods,  or  some  place  of  safe  retreat,  To  avoid  pursuit, 
they  disguised  their  footmarks  as  much  as  possible.     They 


INTRODUCTION.  29 

depended  much  ^n  stratagem  for  their  success  ;  even  in  war 
they  thought  it  more  honorable  to  distress  their  enemy  more 
by  stratagem  than  combat.  The  English,  not  aware  of  the 
artifice  of  the  Indians,  lost  an  army  when  Braddock  was 
defeated . 

The  Indians'  cruelty,  when  victorious,  was  without  bounds: 
their  thirst  for  blood  was  almost  unquenchable.  They  never 
made  peace  till  compelled  by  necessity.  No  sooner  were 
terms  of  peace  proposed,  than  the  captains  laid  down  their 
office,  and  delivered  the  government  of  the  state  into  the 
hands  of  the  chiefs.  A  captain  had  no  more  right  to  con- 
clude a  peace,  than  a  chief  to  begin  war.  When  peace  had 
been  offered  to  a  captain,  he  could  give  no  other  answer 
than  to  mention  the  proposal  to  the  chief;  for  as  a  warrior,  he 
could  not  make  peace.  If  the  chief  inclined  to  peace,  he  used 
all  his  influence  to  effect  that  end ;  and  all  hostility  ceased. 
And  in  conclusion,  the  Calumet,  or  peace-pipe  was  smoked, 
and  belts  of  wampum  exchanged  ;  and  a  concluding  speech 
made,  with  the  assurance,  "  that  their  friendship  should  last 
as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  give  light,  rise  and  set;  as  long 
as  the  stars  shine  in  the  firmament,  and  the  rivers  flow  with 
water." 

The  following  wili  afford  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  dif- 
ferent Indian  nations,  and  principal  tribes,  and  their  locali- 
ties, at  the  time  when  Europeans  first  attempted  to  colonise 
this  country;  and  at  the  time  when  the  French  concluded 
peace  with  the  English. 

When  the  Europeans  first  commenced  colonizing  this  coun- 
try, there  were  eight  races,  or  grand  families  of  Indian  tribes, 
each  consisting  of  a  number  of  minor  tribes  or  nations.  The 
grand  tribes  were  each  of  a  different  language.  These  eight 
tribes  lived  east  and  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and  within  the 
bounds  of  what  now  constitutes  the  United  States. 

The  largest  of  their  families  or  tribes,  were  the  Algon- 
quins,  consisting  of  many  tribes,  scattered  over  the  whole  of 
the  eastern  States,  the  southern  part  of  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan.  The  principal  tribes  belong- 
ing to  the  Algonquins,  were  the  Abenakis,  Pequods,  Mohe- 
gans,  east  of  the  Hudson  river :  Lenni  Lmape,  Nanticokes, 
and  Powhattan  confederacy,  north  of  James  and  Tennessee 
rivers,  and  east  of  the  Ohio;  and  Corees  south  of  James  riv- 
3* 


UO  INTRODUCTION. 

er:  the  Shawnees  on  the  Cumberland  river:  the  Chippewas, 
Sac  and  Foxes,  Menoraonies,  Ottawas,  Miamis,  about  the 
lakes  Superior,  Michigan,  on  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  ri- 
vers, north  of  37,  north  latitude. 

The  Dahcotas  or  Sioux,  lived  between  Lake  Superior 
and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  west  of  the  Mississippi.  They  were  a 
small  branch  of  the  great  tribe  of  the  same  name,  to  be  found 
about  the  higher  streams  of  that  river,  and  between  them  and 
the  Oregon  mountains. 

The  Iroquois  or  Huron  nation,  composed  of  the  Senecas, 
Cayugas,  Onondagos,  Oneidas,  Mohawks,  long  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Five  Nations  ;  and  of  the  Eries  and  Andas- 
tes,  who  occupied  all  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  and  part  of  upper  Canada.  The  Five 
Nations  were  afterwards  (1713  '14)  joined  by  the  Tusca- 
roras  from  Carolina,  and  were  thereafter  called  the  Six  Na- 
tions. 

The  Catawbas  who  lived  principally  in  South  Carolina. 
The  Cherokees  who  inhabited  the  mountainous  parts  of  the 
Carolinas,  Georgia  and  Alabama.  The  Uchees  who  resided 
in  Georgia,  near  where  Augusta  now  stands.  The  Natchez, 
who  lived  on  the  Mississippi ;  only  a  small  tribe.  The  Mo- 
bilian  tribes,  or  as  they  are  called  by  some  writers,  the 
Muskhogee-Chocta,  composed  of  Chickasas,  Choctas,  Mus- 
hogees  or  Creeks ;  Yamasees,  and  Seminoles  of  Florida  in 
the  southern  states.  The  languages  of  these  eight  families 
are  all  very  different.  These  were  the  nations  and  their  lo- 
calities at  the  close  of  the  xvi.  and  early  part  of  the  xvii. 
century.  Their  habitations  have  been  changed,  as  the  tide 
of  European  immigration  rolled  westward. 

Names  and  localities  of  the  numerous  Indian  nations,  tribes, 
fyc,  in  the  middle  of  the  xvii.  century,  according  to  "  A 
map  of  the  British  dominions  in  North  America,  within 
the  limits  of  the  governments  annexed  thereto,  by  the  late 
treaty  of  peace,  and  settled  by  proclamation  October  1th, 
1763." 

In  this  arrangement  I  commenced  at  west,  95  w.  long,  and 
arranged  them  eastward  in  spaces  of  5  degrees  of  latitude. 
After  the  name  of  each  nation  or  tribe,  the  longitude  and 
latitude  are  given. 


INTRODUCTION.  31 

I.  Nations,  &c.  between  50  and  55  parallels  of  N.  lat. 

1.  Christinaux  or  Kilistinos,  51,  n.  1.  and  95  and  80, 
w.  Ion.  between  Lake  Christinaux,  on  the  north  and  Lake 
Alemipigon,  on  the  south. 

2.  Abitibis,  50  n.  1.  80  and  75  w.  Ion.  south  of  Hudson's 
Bay. 

II.  Nations,  &c.  between  45  and  50  w.  1. 

1.  Algonkins,  or  Adirondaks,  47  n.  1.  and  85  and  80  w. 
Ion.  east  of  Lake  Superior. 

2.  Messesagues,  46  n.  I.  &  80  w.  Ion.  northeast  of  Lake 
Huron. 

3.  Outaoncas,  45  n.  1.  &  90  w.  Ion.  south  of  Lake  Su- 
perior. 

III.  Nations,  &c.  between  40  &  45  n.  1. 

1.  Outagamis,  44  n.  1.  &  90  w.  Ion.  west  of  Lake  Mich- 
igan. 

2.  Niariages,  44  n.  1.  &  85  w.  Ion.  between  Lake  Mich- 
igan &  Lake  Huron. 

3.  The  Ancient  Hurons,  43  n.  1.  &  80  w.  Ion.  southeast 
of  Lake  Huron. 

4.  Northern  Iroquois,  (1)  42  n.  1.  &  77  w.  Ion.  north- 
west of  Lake  Ontario. 

5.  Mascoutens,  42  n.  1.  86  w.  Ion.  south  of  the  Outaga- 
mis Indians. 

6.  Miamies,  42  n.  1.  85  w.  Ion.  south  of  Lake  Michigan. 

7.  Senecas,  42  n.  1.  77  w.  Ion.  southeast  of  Lake  Erie. 
S.  Onondagos,  43  n.  1.  75  w.  Ion.  southeast  of  Lake  On- 
tario. 

9.  Cayugaes,  contiguous,  and  immediately  south  of  the 
Onondagos. 

10.  Illinois,  40  n.  1.  90  w.  Ion.  in  the  forks  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Illinois  rivers,  around  Fort  des  Miamis. 

11.  Twightwees,  (2)  40  n.  1.  85  w.  Ion.  on  the  Wabache 
river. 

12.  Shauwanoes,  41  n.  I.  80  w.  Ion.  on  the  Alleghany 
river  and  Ohio. 

IV.  Nations,  &c.  between  35  &  40,  n.  latitude. 

Note.  The  Illinois  &  Twightwees  extended  south  of 
40  n.  lat. 


32  INTRODUCTION, 

1.  Osages,  38  n.  1.  94  n.  Ion.  south  of  the  Missouri  river. 

2.  Delawares,  (3)  40  n.  1.  &  83  w.  Ion.  southwest  of 
Logstown. 

3.  Arkansas,  36  n.  I.  &  92  w.  Ion.  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

4.  Cherokees,  (4)  36  n.  1.  &  85  w.  Ion.  west  of  the  Apa- 
tachian  mountains. 

V.  Nations,  &c.  between  30  &  35  n.  latitude. 

1.  Chicasaws,  36  n.  1.  &  88  w.  Ion.  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river. 

2.  Catawbas,  (5)  37  n.  1.  &  82  w.  Ion.  on  the  head  wa- 
ters ot  the  Congaree  river. 

3.  Chactaws,  32  n.  1.  &  90  w.  Ion.  on  the  west  &  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi. 

Notes. — These  have  been  added  from  Loskiel's  History  of 
Moravian  Missions.  Loskiel  wrote  in  1788,  twenty-five 
years  after  the  appearance  of  the  Map,  from  which  the  above 
list  of  Indian  nations,  &c,  has  been  compiled. 

(1).  This  name  they  received  from  the  French.  The  En- 
glish called  them  the  Six  Nations ;  they  called  themselves 
Jquanuschioni,  i.  e.  United  People.  Others  called  them 
Mingos,  and  some  Maquais.  These  confederate  nations  are 
the  Mohawks,  Oneida,  Onondago,  Cajuga,  Senneka  &  Tus- 
caroras:  the  latter  joined  the  confederacy  about  1713  or 
1714. 

The  rest  of  the  nations  in  league  with  the  Delawares  & 
Iroquois,  were  Mahikans,  Shawanese,  Cherokees,  Twitch- 
wees,  Wawiachtanos,  Putewoatamen,  Nantikoks,  Wyondots 
or  Hurons,  Chaktawas,  Chickasaws.  All  these  nations  live 
to  the  west  of  New  England,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Penn- 
sylvania, Maryland,  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina  & 
Georgia.  But  it  is  difficult  to  determine  the  boundaries  of 
the  different  countries  they  inhabit. 

(2).  The  Twightwees  reside  chiefly  between  the  rivers 
Sioto  Sr  Wabash. 

(3).  The  Delawares  live  above  the  Shawanese. 

(4).  The  Cherokees  inhabit  the  mountains  behind  North 
Carolina,  between  the  river  Cherokee,  which  flows  into  the 
Ohio,  and  South  Carolina;  eastward  of  the  Mississippi. 


INTRODUCTION.  .         33 

(5).  The  Catawbas  live  behind  Georgia,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  Creeks  are  neighbors  of  the  Chero- 
kees  &  Choctaws.  Between  the  Creeks"  and  Cherokees  more 
to  the  westward  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  are  Chio 
asaws,  who  inhabit  both  sides  of  the  river  Chicasaw  or 
Jason  river, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Pennsylvania    settled,  purchase  made  from  the  In- 
dians, &c. 

Pennsylvania  named  in  honor  of  Sir  William  Penn— William  Penn 
receives  a  charter  from  King  Charles  II. — Boundary  of  the  Province 
— Penn's  policy  towards  the  aborigines — Similar  policy  had  been 
pursued,  in  some  measure,  by  others — Markham,  in  obedience  to 
Penn's  instructions,  purchases  lands  from  the  Indians — Repeated 
purchases  made- Deeds  to  John  Penn,  Thomas  Penn  and  Richard 
Penn-Deeds  of  1749  and  1754,  and  of  1768— William  Penn's  stay 
in,  and  departure  from,  the  Province— His  return  to  the  Province  : 
return  to  England:  his  death — Influx  of  immigrants — Settlements 
extend  up  along  the  Susquehanna  river — Settlements  commenced 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehannah,  in  York  county — Settlements 
west  of  the  Susquehanna  in  North,  or  Kittochtinny  Valley — Earliest 
settlements  first  among  the  Indians — Settlements  in  Huntingdon, 
Union,  Northumberland,  Centre  and  other  counties — Indians'  friend- 
shn  towards  the  first  settlers. 

The  Province  of  Pennsylvania  was  named  by  King  Charles 
II-,  in  honor  of  the  son  of  Giles  Penn,  Sir  William  Penn,  an 
Admiral  of  the  English  Navy,  who  commanded  the  British 
fleet  in  Oliver  Cromwell's  time;  and  in  the  beginning  of 
Charles  II. 

In  a  letter  to  Robert  Turner,  William  Penn  says,  that 
the  King  would  have  it  called  "  by  the  name  of  Pennsilva- 
nia"  in  honor  of  his  (William  Penn's)  father.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy  of  the  letter : 

5th  of  1st  Mo.  1681. 
"  To  Robert  Turner: 
Dear  Friend — My  true  love  in  the  Lord  salutes  thee,  and 
dear  friends  that  love  the  Lord's  precious  truth  in  those  parts. 
Thine  I  have,  and  for  my  business  here,  know  that  after 
many  waitings,  watchings,  solicitings  and  disputes  in  council, 
this  day  my  country  was  confirmed  to  me  under  the  great 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS,  &C.  35 

seal  of  England,  with  large  powers  and  privileges,  by  the 
name  of  Pennsilvania,  a  name  the  king  would  give  it  in  ho- 
nor of  my  father.  I  chose  New  Wales,  being  as  this,  a 
pretty  hilly  country,  but  Penn  being  Welsh  for  a  head,  as 
Pennamoire  in  Wales,  and  Penrith  in  Cumberland,  and  Penn 
in  Buckinghamshire,  the  highest  land  in  England,  called  this 
Pennsilvania,  which  is  the  high  or  head  woodlands ;  for  I 
proposed  when  the  Secretary — a  Welshman — refused  to  have 
it  called  New  Wales,  Sylvania,  and  they  added  Penn  to  it ; 
and  though  I  much  opposed  it,  and  went  to  the  king  to  have 
it  struck  out  and  altered,  he  said  'twas  past,  and  would  take 
it  upon  him;  nor  could  twenty  guineas  move  the  under  sec- 
retarys  to  vary  the  name,  for  I  feared  least  it  should  be  lookt 
on  as  a  vanity  in  me,  and  not  as  a  respect  in  the  king,  as  it 
truly  was  to  my  father,  whom  he  often  mentions  with  praise. 
Thou  mayst  communicate  my  graunt  to  friends,  and  expect 
shortly  my  proposals :  tis  a  clear  and  just  thing,  and  my  God 
that  has  given  it  me  through  many  difficultys  will,  I  believe, 
bless  and  make  it  the  seed  of  a  nation.  I  shall  have  a  ten- 
der care  to  the  government,  that  it  will  be  well  laid  at  first: 
no  more  now,  but  dear  love  in  truth. 

Thy  true  friend, 

W.  Penn. 

Sir  William  Penn,  the  Admiral,  for  services  rendered,  and 
in  consideration  of  sundry  debts  due  him  from  the  crown,  had 
a  promise  made  him,  from  King  Charles  II.,  of  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  America ;  but  he  died  before  he  obtained  it. 

William  Penn,  son  of  Sir  V\  illiam,  while  at  Oxford,  pur- 
suing his  studies,  hearing  the  distinguished  Thomas  Loe,  a 
Quaker,  preach,  imbibed  religious  sentiments  of  the  Friends; 
and  seemed  for  some  time  to  care  little  about  the  promised 
grant  which  the  King  had  made  his  father ;  he,  therefore, 
did  not  urgently  press  his  claims  upon  the  crown ;  till  at  last 
finding  that  those,  whose  sentiments  he  had  imbibed,  and 
whose  cause,  in  common  with  the  cause  of  all  the  oppressed, 
he  espoused,  were  harassed  every  where  in  England  by  spi- 
ritual courts,  resolved  to  put  himself  at  the  head  of  as  many 
as  would  go  with  him,  and  remove  to  this  country;  of  which 
he  had  obtained  a  grant  from  Charles  II.* 

"There  were  several  acts  passed  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth 
century  that  were  oppressive  to  non-conformists.  The  Oxford  act  of  1655 


36  EARLY    SETTLEMENTS,  &C. 

The  Province,  or  the  lower  part  of  it,  had  been  called 
New  Netherlands,  and  was  begun  to  be  planted  by  some 
Dutchmen  and  others.  It  is  called  Pennsylvania  in  the  orig- 
inal Patent,  bearing  date  March  4th,  1681.  It  contained  all 
that  tract  of  land  in  America,  with  all  the  Islands  belonging 
to  it,  from  the  beginning  of  the  40th  to  the  43d  degree  of 
north  latitude,  whose  eastern  bounds,  from  twelve  miles  above 
New  Castle,  otherwise  Delaware  town,  run  all  along  upon 
the  side  of  the  Delaware  river — these  bounds  and  extent  were 
set  down  in  the  original  grant ;  but  Mr.  Penn  having  after- 
wards obtained  part  of  Nova  Belgia  from  the  Duke  of  York, 
it  was  added  to  the  country  given  in  the  first  grant,  so  that 
it  extends  now  to  the  38th  degree  and  55  minutes  north  lat- 
itude."* 

Soon  after  Penn  had  obtained  a  charter,  he  made  sales  to 
adventurers,  called  first  settlers,  who  embarked  the  same  year, 
and  arrived  in  America,  in  Upland,  now  Chester,  December 
11,  1681.  Penn,  with  many  of  his  oppressed  friends,  sailed 
next  year,  landed  at  New  Castle,  October  27,  1682. 

Penn,  who  was  wholly  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his 
colony,  did  all  that  lay  in  his  power  to  secure  the  continued 
friendship  of  the  aborigines,  or  Indians,  to  whom,  of  tight) 
belonged  the  soil — "  the  woods  and  the  streams" — though, 
according  to  the  custom  of  conquest,  and  in  conformity  to  the 
practices  of  the  whites  of  Europe,  a  contrary  principle  had 
generally,  if  not  universally  obtained  ;  and,  in  conformity  to 
that  principle,  and  by  virtue  of  his  charter,  Penn  might  le- 
gally have  claimed  an  indisputable,  or  an  undoubted  right  to 
the  soil  granted  him  by  Charles  II.;  but  he  "was  influenced 
by  a  purer  morality,  and  sounder  policy,  than  that  prevailing 
principle  which  actuated  the  more  sordid.  His  religious  prin- 
ciples did  not  permit  him  to  wrest  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania 
by  force  from  the  people  to  whom  God  and  nature  gave  it, 

banished  non-conforming  ministers  five  miles  from  any  corporate  town 
sending  members  to  Parliament,  and  prohibited  them  from  keeping  or 
teaching  schools.  The  Test  Act  of  the  same  year  was  still  more  se- 
vere. The  dreadful  consequences  of  this  intolerant  spirit  was,  that 
not  less  than  from  six  to  eight  thousand  died  in  prison  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Jeremiah  White  had  carefully  collected 
a  list  of  those  who  had  suffered  between  Charles  II.  and  the  revolution, 
■which  amounted  to  sixty  thousaiad. — Dc  Lawn's  Plea,  Srr. 

*  See  Emanuel  Bowman's  Geography,  vol.2,  p.  655;  printed  at 
London,  1747— Bowman  was  Geographer  to  his  Majesty,  King  of 
England. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C.  37 

nor  to  establish  his  title  in  blood ;  but  under  the  shade  of  the 
Jofty  trees  of  the  forest,  his  right  was  fixed  by  treaties  with 
the  natives,  and  sanctified,  as  it  were,  by  smoking  from  the 
calumet  of  peace."* 

The  enlightened  founder  of  Pennsylvania,  was  governed, 
in  his  intercourse  with  the  Indians,  "  by  immutable  principles 
of  justice,  which  every  where,  and  for  all  purposes,  must  be 
regarded  as  fundamental,  if  human  exertions  are  to  be  crown- 
ed with  noble  and  permanent  results."  In  the  constitution 
of  this  colony  it  was  provided,  that  "  no  man  shall,  by  any 
ways  or  means,  in  word  or  deed,  affront  or  wrong  an  Indian, 
but  he  shall  incur  the  same  penalty  of  the  law  as  if  he  had 
committed  it  against  his  jellow  planter,  and  if  any  Indian 
shall  abuse,  in  word  or  deed,  any  planter  of  the  province,  he 
shall  not  be  his  own  judge  upon  the  Indian,  but  he  shall  make 
his  complaint  to  the  governor,  or  some  inferior  magistrate 
near  him,  who  shall,  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  take  cart 
with  thinking  of  the  said  Indian,  that  all  reasonable  satisfac- 
tion be  made  to  the  injured  planter.  All  differences  between 
the  planters  and  the  natives  shall  be  ended  by  twelve  men  ; 
that  is,  six  planters  and  six  natives ;  that  so  we  may  live 
friendly  together  as  much  as  in  us.  lieth,  preventing  all  occa- 
sions of  heart-burnings  and  mischiefs — the  Indians  shall  have 
liberty  to  do  all  things  relative  to  the  improvement  of  then 
ground,  and  providing  sustenance  for  their  families,  that  any 
of  their  planters  shall  enjoy." 

Prior  to  Penn's  arrival,  he  had  instructed  William  Mark- 
ham,  the  deputy  Governor,  who  arrived  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1681,  to  hold  treaties  with  the  Indians,  to  procure  their  lands 
peaceably.  Markham,  a  short  time  previous  to  Penn's  arri- 
val, held  such  a  treaty,  July  15,  1682,  for  some  lands  on  the 
Delaware  river.  Penn  held  similar  treaties  ;  afid  before  his 
return  to  England,  in  1684,  adopted  measures  "  to  purchase 
the  lands  on  the  Susquehanna  from  the  Five  Nations,  who 
pretended  a  right  to  them,  having  conquered  the  people  for- 
merly settled  there.  The  Five  Nations  resided  principally 
in  New  York ;  and  Penn's  time  being  too  much  engrossed  to 
visit  them  personally,  he  engaged  Thomas  Dongan,  Gov.  of 
New  York,  to  purchase  from  the  Indians,  "  all  that  tract  of 
land  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Susquehanna,  and  the 

*  Smith's  Laws  of  Pa.,  ii.,  105. 
4 


38  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C. 

lakes  adjacent  in  or  near  the  province  of  Pennsylvania/' 
Dongan  affected  a  purchase,  and  conveyed  the  same  to  Wil- 
liam Penn,  January  13,  1696,  "  in  consideration  of  one  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling."* 

It  was  Penn's  object  to  secure  the  river  through  the  whole 
extent  of  the  province ;  and  subsequent  transactions  with  the 
Indians  show  how  careful  he  was  to  have  this  purchase  "well 
confirmed. 

"  September  13, 1700 ;  Widagh  and  Jindaggy-junkquagh, 
Kings  or  Sachems  of  the  Susquehanna  Indians,  and  of  the 
river  under  that  name,  and  lands  lying  on  both  sides  thereof. 
Deed  to  W.  Penn  for  all  the  said  river  Susquehannagh,  and 
all  the  islands  therein,  and  all  the  lands  situate,  lying  and 
being  upon  both  sides  of  the  said  river,  and  next  adjoining 
the  same,  to  the  utmost  confines  of  the  lands  wMch  are,  or 
formerly  were,  the  right  of  the  people  or  nation  called  the 
Susquehannagh  Indians,  or  by  what  name  soever  they  were 
called,  as  fully  and  amply  as  we  or  any  of  our  ancestors,  have, 
could,  might  or  ought  to  have  had,  held  or  enjoyed,  and  also 
ran  firm  the  bargain  and  sale  of  the  said  lands,  made  unto 
Col.  Thomas  Dongan,  now  Earl  of  Limerick,  and  formerly 
Governor  of  New  York,  whose  deed  of  sale  to  said  Governor 
Penn  we  have  seen."f 

The  sale  to  William  Penn  from  the  Five  Nations  was  thus 
well  confirmed  ;  The  Conestoga  Indians,  however,  would  not 
recognize  the  validity  of  this  sale,  believing  that  the  Five 
Nations  had  no  proper  authority  to  transfer  their  possessions, 
to  secure  the  lands  conveyed  to  him  by  Dongan.  Penn  en- 
tered into  articles  of  agreement,  shortly  after  his  second  visit 
to  Pennsylvania,  with  the  Susquehanna,  Potomac  and  Con- 
estoga Indians.  The  agreement  is  dated  April  23,  1701. 
In  this  agreement  the  Indians  ratified  and  confiirmed  Gover- 
nor Dongan's  deed  of  January,  1696,  and  the  deed  by  Widagh 
and  Andaggy-junkquagh,  of  September  13,  1700.1 

Notwithstanding  all  these  sales  and  transfers,  the  lands 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna  were  still  claimed  by 
the  Indians ;  for  the  words  in  the  deed  of  Sept.  13,  1700, 
"  next  adjoining  the  sa?ne,"  were  considered  inconsistent 
with  an  extensive  western  purchase ;  and  the  Indians  of  the 

•Smith's  Laws,  Pa.,  ii.,  111. 
fBookF.  vol.  viii.,  p.  242. 
^Smith's  Laws,  Pa.,  ii..  112. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &.C  89 

Five  Nations  still  continued  to  claim  a  right  to  the  river  and 
the  adjoining  lands.  The  sachems  or  chiefs,  with  all  the 
others  of  the  Five  Nations,  met  in  the  summer  of  1736,  at 
a  great  council  held  in  the  country  of  the  Onondagoes,  in 
the  State  of  New  York ;  and  as  the  old  claims  had  not  as 
yet  been  adjusted,  they  resolved*  that  an  end  should  be  put 
to  all  disputes  connected  with  it.  They  accordingly  ap- 
pointed their  sachems  or  chiefs  with  plenary  powers  to  repair 
to  Philadelphia,  and  there  among  other  things,  settle  and 
adjust  all  demands  and  claims,  connected  with  the  Susque- 
hanna and  the  adjoining  lands.  On  their  arrival  at  Phila- 
delphia, they  renewed  old  treaties  of  friendship,  and  on  the 
11th  of  October,  1736,  made  a  deed  to  John  Penn,  Thomas 
Penn,  and  Richard  Penn,  their  heirs,  successors  and  assigns. 
The  deed  was  signed  by  twenty-three  Indian  chiefs  of  the 
Onondaga,  Seneca,  Oneida,  and  Tuscarora  nations,  granted 
the  Penn's  "  all  the  said  river  Susquehanna,  with  the  lands 
lying  on  both  sides  thereof,  to  extend  eastward  as  far  as  the 
heads  of  the  branches  or  springs  which  run  into  the  said  Sus- 
quehanna, ahd  all  the  lands  lying  on  the  west  side  of  the  said 
river  to  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  to  extend  from  the  mouth 
of  the  said  river,  northward,  up  the  same  to  the  hills  or  moun- 
tains, called  in  the  language  of  said  nations,  Tayamcniasachta, 
and  by  the  Delaware  Indians  the  Kekachtannin  hills."  Thus 
were  the  claims  of  the  Indians  upon  the  lands  of  this  part  of 
Pennsylvania  relinquished  to  the  proprietors  ;  nevertheless 
surveys  had  been  authorized  to  be  made,  and  had  actually 
*  been  made  west  of  the  Susquehanna  prior  to  1736,  by  both 
the  Governor  of  Maryland  and  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  last  recited  deed  comprised  nearly  (besides  much  more 
territory)  all  that  lay  within  the  limits  of  the  counties,  of 
which  a  history  is  here  given,  except  that  portion  north  of 
the  Kittatinny,  or  Blue  Mountain,  constituting  the  northern 
part  of  Dauphin,  and  the  whole  of  Perry,  Bedford,  &c.  That 
portion  in  Dauphin,  north  of  the  Kittatinny  mountain  was 
purchased,  including  a  larger  tract  of  country,  in  1749 ;  the 
deeds  were  executed  on  the  22d  day  of  August,  and  may  be 
found  at  large  in  Smith's  Laws  of  Pennsylvania.  That  por- 
tion within  Perry,  and  some  contiguous  counties  west  of  the 
Susquehanna,  and  north  of  Perry,  was  purchased  in  1754 — 
the  deed  was  executed  at  Albany,  July  6th. 

The  deed  of  August  22d,  1749,  is  as  follows ; 


40  EARLV  SETTLEMENTS,  &C. 

We,  Canasatago*  Sataganachly,  Kanalshyiacaycm  and 
Canechwadeeron,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation, 
called  Onontagers,  Cayanockea,  Kanatsany-Jlgash  Tass, 
Caruchianachaqui,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation, 
called  the  Sinickers.  Peter  Ontachsax  and  Christian  Di- 
ary hogon,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation,  called  the 
Mohocks :  Saristagnoah,  Watshatuhon  and  jlnuchnaxqua, 
sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation,  called  the  Oneyders. 
Tawis-Tawis,  Kachnoaraaseha,  and  Takachquontas,  sachems 
or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation,  called  Cayiakers.  Tyierox, 
Bal/chwanonach-shy,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation, 
called  the  Tuscororow,  lachnechdorus,  Sago gu khiathon,  and 
Cachnaora-katack-ke,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation, 
called  the  Shomokon  Indians.  Nutimns  and  Qualpaghach, 
sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Indian  nation,  called  the  Delawares; 
and  Bachsinosa,  sachem  or  chief  of  the  Indian  nation,  called 
the  Shawanese,  in  consideration  of  £500,  grant,  sell,  &c, 
ail  that  tract  or  parcel  of  land  lying  and  being  within  the 
following  limits  and  bounds,  and  thus  described — 

Beginning  at  the  hills  or  mountains  called  in  the  language 
n  ^he  Five  Nation  Indians  Tyanuntasachta,  or  Endless  Hills, 

{    *(\;vasatago  soon  afterwards  died  as  appears  from  the  following: 
Bethlehem,  in  Bucks  county,  September  30th  1750. 

Sir, 

By  these  few  lines  I  let  you  know  that  I  am  safely  returned  on  my 
journey  from  Onondago  to  this  place  last  night,  and  hope  to  find  my 
family  in  perfect  health  by  to-morrow.  I  wish  I  could  inform  you  by 
these  lines  of  a  great  deal  of  agreeable  news,  but  I  cannot ;  our  friend 
Cinasa'ago  was  buried  the  day  before  I  came  to  Onondago  and  Solcon- 
wanaghly  our  other  good  friend  died  sometime  before. 

He  that  is  at  the  head  of  affairs  now  is  a  professed  Roman  Catholic, 
and  altogether  devoted  to  the  French.  The  French  priests  have  made 
a  hundred  converts  of  the  Onondagos,  that  is  to  say,  men,  women  and 
children,  and  they  are  all  well  clothed,  and  walk  in  the  finest  clothes. 
dressed  with  silver  and  gold ;  and  I  believe  that  the  English  interest 
among  the  Six  Nations  can  be  of  no  consideration  any  more;  the  In- 
dians speak  with  contempt  of  the  New  Yorkers  and  Albany  people. 
and  much  the  same  of  the  rest  of  the  English  colonies. 

I  conclude  and  desire  you  will  mention  my  humble  respects  to  his 
Honor,  the  Governor. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  very  obedient  servant. 

Conrad  Weiseb. 

To  Richard  Peters, 

P.  S.  Within  a  few  days  I  will  send  you  a  copy  of  my  journal  when 
you  will  see  my  proceedings. 

Prm.  Rec.  M.  p.  82. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C.  41 

and  by  the  Delaware  Indians  Kekachtany  Hills,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  river  Susquehanna,  being  in  the  northwest  line  or 
boundary  of  the  tract  of  land  formerly  purchased  by  the  said 
proprietaries  from  the  said  Indian  nations,  by  their  deed  of 
the  11th  of  October,  1736  ;  and  from  thence  running  up  the 
said  river  by  the  several  courses  thereof  to  the  first  of  the 
nearest  mountains  to  the  north  side  or  mouth  of  the  creek 
called  in  the  language  of  the  said  Five  Nation  Indians  Can- 
tagug,  and  in  the  language  of  the  Delaware  Indians  Magho- 
nioy,  and  from  thence  extending  by  a  direct  or  straight  line 
to  be  run  from  the  said  mountain  on  the  north  side  of  said 
creek  to  the  main  branch  of  Delaware  river  at  the  north  side 
of  the  creek  called  Lechawachsein,  and  from  thence  across 
Lechawaclisein  creek  aforesaid  down  the  river  Delaware  by 
the  several  courses  thereof  to  the  Kekachtany  Hills  aforesaid, 
and  from  thence  by  the  range  of  said  hills  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning, as  more  fully  appears  by  a  map  annexed ;  and  also 
all  the  parts  of  the  rivers  Susquehanna  and  Delaware  from 
shore  to  shore  which  are  opposite  said  lands,  and  all  the  Isl- 
ands in  said  rivers,  &c. — Book  H,  vol.  2,  p.  204;  recorded 
May  C,  1752. 

The  deed  executed  at  Albany,  July  6,  1754,  is  as  follows : 
Henry  Peters,  Abraham  Peters,  Blandt,  Johannes  Satfy- 
howano,  Johannes  Kanadakayon,  Abraham  Sastagrhedohy, 
sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Mohawk  nation.  Aneeghnaxqua 
Tar-aghorus,  Tohaghdaghquyserry,  alias  Kachneghdackon, 
sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Oneydo  nation.  Otsinughyada, 
alias  Blunt,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  all  the  sachems  and  chiefs 
of  the  Onondago  nation.  Scanuraty,  Tannaghdorus,  To- 
kaaiyon,  Kaghradodon,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Cayuga  na- 
tion. Kahichdonon,  alias  Groote  Younge,  Takeghsatu,  Ti- 
yonenkokaraw,  sachems  or  chiefs  of  the  Seneca  nation. 
Suntrughwackon,  Sagochsidodagon,  Tohashuwangarus  Or- 
ontakayon,  alias  John  Nixon,  Tistoaghton,  sachems  or  chiefs 
of  the  Tuscarora  nation  in  consideration  of  £400  lawful  mo- 
ney of  N.  Y.,  grant,  &c  ,  to  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  all 
the  lands  lying  within  the  said  province  of  Pennsylvania, 
bounded  and  limited  as  iollows,  namely,  beginning  at  the 
Kittochtinny  or  Blue  Hills,  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  and  thence  by  the  said,  a  mile  above  the 
mouth  of  a  certain  creek  called  Kayarondinhagh ;  thence 
northwest  and  by  west  as  far  as  the  province  of  Pennsylva- 


42  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C 

ma  extends  to  its  western  lines  or  boundaries  ;  thence  along 
the  said  western  line  to  the  south  line  or  boundary  to  the 
south  side  of  the  said  Kittochtinny  hills ;  thence  by  the  south 
side  of  said  hills,  to  the  place  of  beginning — Recorded  in 
Book  H,  vol.  5,  p.  392,  Feb.  3d,  1755. 

Another  deed  was  executed  at  Easton,  October  22,  See 
Smith's  Laws  ii.  p.  121  &  122.  The  last  purchase  of  the 
proprietaries  from  the  Indians,  was  made  at  Fort  Stanwix,* 
November  5,  1768.     The  deed  is  as  follows  : 

We  Tya?ihasare}  alias  Abraham  sachem,  or  chief  of  the 
Indian  nation  called  the  Mohocks;  Senug  lists — of  the  On- 
eydas  ;  Chenughiata — of  the  Onondagas  ;  Gaustarax — of 
the  Senecas ;  Sequarisera — of  the  Tuscaroras ;  Tagaaia — 
of  the  Cayugas,  in  general  council  of  the  Six  Nations,  and 
their  confederates  and  dependant  tribes,  and  his  Majesty's 
middle  colonies,  send  greeting,  &c. 

In  consideration  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  they  grant  to 
Thomas  Perm  and  Richard  Penn,  all  that  part  of  the  province 
of  Pennsylvania,  not  heretofore  purchased  of  the  Indians, 
within  the  said  general  boundary  line,  and  beginning  in  the 
sud  boundary  line,  on  the  east  side  of  the  east  branch  of  the 
river  Susquehanna,  at  a  place  called  Owegy,  and  running 
with  the  said  boundary  line,  down  the  said  branch  on  the 
east  side  thereof  till  it  comes  opposite  the  mouth  of  a  creek 
called  by  the  Indians  Jlwandac  (Tawandee),  and  across  the 
river  and  up  the  said  creek  on  the  south  sine  thereof,  and 
along  the  range  of  hills  called  Burnett's  hills  by  the  English 

and  by  the  Indians f  on  the  north  side  of  them,  to  the 

head  of  a  creek  which  runs  into  the  west  branch  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, then  crossing  the  said  river,  and  running  up  the 
same  on  the  south  side  thereof,  the  several  courses  thereof 
to  the  forks  of  the  same  river  which  lies  nearest  to  a  place 

« Fort  Stanwix,  in  Rome  N.  Y.  This  fort  was  built  in  175S,  by  the 
English  at  the  enormous  expense  of  $256,400.  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  Fort  Schuyler  was  built  from  the  ruins  of  Stanwix.  Its 
rums  are  now  to  be  seen  near  the  village  of  Rome,  Oneido  county,  be- 
tween the  waters  of  the  Mohawk  and  Wood  creek — Compiler. 

-j-At  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  in  October,  1734,  the  Pennsylvania 
commissioners  were  instructed  to  enquire  what  creek  was  meant  by 
Tiadaghton,  and  also  the  name  Burnett's  hills,  which  was  left  blank  in 
the  deed  of  1768.  The  Indians  told  them  Tiadaghton  is  the  same  we 
call  Pine  creek,  being  the  largest  emptying  into  the  west  branch  of  Sus- 
quehanna. As  to  BurnelCs  hills,  they  called  them  the  Lmg  Mountains, 
and  know  them  by  no  other  name— Smith's  Laws  Pa.  ii.  p.  123. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C  43 

on  the  river  Ohio,  (Allegheny)  called  Kittanning,  and  from 
the  said  fork  by  a  straight  line  to  Kittanning  aforesaid,  and 
then  down  the  said  Ohio  (Allegheny  and  Ohio)  by  the  sev- 
eral courses  thereof  to  where  the  western  bounds  of  the  said 
province  of  Pennsylvania  crosses  the  same  river,  and  then 
with  the  said  western  bounds  to  the  south  boundary  thereof, 
and  with  the  south  boundary  aforesaid  to  the  east  side  of  the 
Allegheny  hills  on  the  east  side  of  them  to  the  west  line  of 
a  tract  of  land  purchased  by  the  said  proprietors  from  the 
Six  Nations,  and  confirmed  October  23d  1758,  and  then  with 
the  northern  bounds  of  that  tract  to  the  river  Susquehanna, 
and  crossing  the  river  Susquehanna  to  the  northern  bound- 
ary line  of  another  tract  of  land  purchased  of  the  Indians 
by  deed  (August  22d  1749)  and  then  with  that  northern 
line  to  the  river  Delaware  at  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of 
a  creek  called  Lechawachsein,  then  of  the  said  river  Dela- 
ware on  the  west  side  thereof  to  the  intersection  of  it,  by  an 
east  line  to  be  drawn  from  Owegy  aforesaid  to  the  said  river 
Delaware,  and  then  with  that  east  line  to  the  beginning  at 
Owegy  aforesaid.  This  covered  all  the  territory  of  which 
a  history  is  attempted  in  this  Compilation. 

The  whites  had,  in  several  instances,  encroached  upon  the 
rights  of  the  Indians  by  settling  on  their  lands  before  those 
were  purchased,  which  occasioned  much  complaint  on  the 
part  of  the  Indians.  The  intruders  were,  however,  removed 
by  force  and  arms,*  others  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Au- 
gusta, were  noticed  by  proclamation  to  remove  immediately  .f 

So  much  was  Penn  concerned  to  have  every  cause  settled 
that  might  give  rise  to  disputes  touching  his  own  rights,  and 
of  his  colonists,  that  after  transacting  some  business  in  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  he  hastened  to  Maryland,  to  see  Lord  Balti- 
more, who  had  set  up  claims,  arising  from  indistinctness  of 

*See  Appendix  A.  Richard  Peter's  Report  to  the  Governor  and 
Council. 

-fAnd  whereas  it  has  been  reported  that  a  certain  Frederick  Stump,  a 
German,  settled  beyond  the  Indian  purchase,  near  Fort  Augusta,  had 
my  warrant  or  authority  for  making  such  settlement ;  I  do  hereby  de- 
clare, that  the  said  report  is  utterly  false  and  groundless  ;  and  that 
neither  the  said  Siutup,  nor  any  other  person,  ever  had  the  least  en- 
couragement from  me  to  settle  on  lands  unpurchased  of  the  Indians  ; 
but,  that,  on  the  contrary,  I  have  constantly  denied  every  application 
>f  the  kind. 

JOHX  PEJfX. 

Phil.  Sept.  23,  1766. 


44  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS-  &C. 

grant,  touching  the  boundary  line  between  the  province  of 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  A  failure,  however,  of  adjust- 
ing the  difficulties  at  this  time,  caused  the  border  settlers 
much  disquietude  for  a  period  of  nearly  eighty  years. 

Penn  on  his  arrival,  remained  only  one  year  and  ten  months 
in  the  Province  ;  during  that  time  he  caused  the  city  of  Phil- 
adelphia to  be  laid  out,  and  three  counties,  namely,  Phila- 
delphia, Bucks  and  Chester,  to  be  erected  in  Pennsylvania. 
The  organization  of  these  counties  was  completed  by  the 
appointment  of  sheriffs  and  other  officers.  Before  Penn  sail- 
ed for  Europe,  August  16,  1681,  there  had  been  about  three 
thousand  inhabitants  in  Pennsylvania. 

In  1699,  William  Penn  and  his  family  once  more  visited 
the  province,  and  remained  till  November  1st,  1701,  when 
he  sailed  for  England,  never  to  return  again.  In  1712  he 
was  seized  by  apoplectic  fits,  which  so  afflicted  his  mind  as 
to  render  him  unfit  for  business  for  the  last  six  years  of  his 
life.  He  died  July  30,  1718,  at  Rushcomb,  near  Twyford, 
in  Buckinghamshire,  England,  aged  about  seventy-four  years. 

From  the  time  Penn  first  arrived,  the  influx  of  immigrants 
was  constantly  on  the  increase.  English,  Welsh,  Germans, 
Irish,  French,  and  others  sought  a  home  in  the  new  province. 
Settlements  were  gradually  extended  north,  northwest,  and 
west  from  Philadelphia,  towards  the  Susquehanna  river — 
many  settled  in  the  midst  of  the  Indians.  Among  others,  as 
pioneer  settlers,  a  considerable  distance  from  Philadelphia, 
were  Vincent  Caldwell,  Thomas  Wickersham,  Joel  Bailey, 
Thomas  Hope  and  Guyan  Miller,  Quakers,  who  settled  in 
Kennet,  Chester  county,  1706  or  7.  Prior  to  that,  however, 
some  adventurers  had  been  among  the  Indians  at  Conestoga. 
Of  this  number  was  one  Lewis  Michelle,  who  had  been  sent 
out,  in  the  year  1703  or  4,  by  individuals  from  the  Canton 
of  Bern,  in  Switzerland,  to  search  for  vacant  lands  in  Penn- 
sylvania, Virginia  and  Carolina.*  About  the  same  time 
there  were  some  Indian  traders  among  the  traders  on  the 
Susquehanna,  viz :  Joseph  Jessop,  James  Le  Tort,  Peter 
Bazalion,  Martin  Chartier,  Nicole  Goden,  and  others — all 
Frenchmen.  Le  Tort  afterwards  (1720)  fixed  his  cabin  at 
Carlisle. 

The  first  permanent  and  extensive  settlement  made  near 

*  For  a  fuller  account  of  this  adventure,  see  His.  Lan.  co.,  pp.  53.  55. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C  45 

the  Susquehanna,  was  commenced  by  some  Swiss  immigrants 
— they  were  persecuted  Mennonites,  who  had  fled  from  the 
Cantons  of  Zurich,  Bern,  Schaffhausen,  in  Switzerland,  to 
Aisace,  above  Strasburg,  where  they  had  remained  some 
time  before  they  immigrated  to  America,  in  1707  or  1708, 
and  settled  in  the  western  part  of  Chester,  now  Lancaster 
county,  near  Pequea  creek,  within  the  present  limits  of  West 
Lampeter  township,  where  they  purchased  ten  thousand  acres 
of  land. 

These  settled  in  the  midst  of  Ming oe,  Conestoga,  Pequea 
and  Shawanese  Indians,  from  whom  they  had  nothing  to  fear. 
They  mingled  with  i\\em  in  fishing  and  hunting. 

In  1708  or  9,  some  French  Huguenots  sailed  for  America  ; 
arrived  at  New  York  in  August,  1709 — after  spending  a 
year  or  two  at  Esopus,  in  that  State,  some  of  them  settled 
in  1712,  on  Pequea  creek,  near  Paradise — these  were  the 
Ferees,  Le  Fever's,  Dubois  and  others.  Shortly  after  these, 
settlements  were  made  in  various  parts,  within  the  present 
limits  of  Lancaster  county,  by  English,  Swiss,  Germans,  Scotch 
and  Irish,  principally  immigrants — See  Articles  German,  and 
Irish. 

Passing,  it  might  be  remarked,  that  the  Huguenots  were 
numerous  in  the  colonies  at  that  time  and  at  a  later  period. 
Oppression  brought  them  to  this  country:  those  who  escaped 
Iroin  the  persecutions  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  after  the  re- 
vocation of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  sought  refuge  in  all  the 
Protestant  countries  of  Europe,  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
and  in  America — Some  settled  in  Massachusetts  ;  others  in 
New  York  ;  but  South  Carolina  became  the  chief  resort  of 
the  Huguenots. 

Those  who  first  came  to  Massachusetts  arrived  there  prior 
to  1662.  As  early  as  1666,  the  Legislature  of  Maryland 
passed  an  act  for  the  naturalization  of  Huguenots.  Virginia 
passed  a  like  act  in  1671 ;  and  the  Carolinas  in  1696,  and 
New  York  in  1703.  Though  the  last  named  State  had  be- 
come an  asylum  for  the  Huguenots  as  early  as  1656. 

In  1679,  Charles  II.  sent,  at  his  own  expense,  in  two 
ships,  a  company  of  Huguenots  to  South  Carolina,  in  order 
that  they  might  thre  cultivate  the  vine,  &c.  In  1690,  Wil- 
liam III.  sent  a  large  colony  of  them  to  Virginia,  in  addition 
to  which,  that  colony  received  three  hundred  families  in  1699. 
In  1752,  a  large  body  of  them  arrived  and  settled  in  South 
Carolina. 


4(3  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C 

Before  1720,  settlements  had  been  extended  northward, 
beyond  the  Chickasalunga  creek.  Donegal  township,  Lan- 
acster  county,  which  was  organized  in  1722,  had  been  prin- 
cipally settled  by  Irish,  or  Scotch  immigrants. 

Settlements  were  now  made  northward,  and  along  the 
Susquehanna  river.  John  Harris,  a  native  of  Yorkshire, 
England,  had  made  an  attempt,  prior  to  1725,  to  settle  near 
the  mouth  of  Conoy  creek,  not  far  from  the  present  site  of 
Bainbridge;  but  it  seems  he  preferred  to  settle  higher  up  the 
^Susquehanna,  near  an  Indian  village  called  Peixtan,  at  or 
near  the  present  site  of  Harrisburg.  Harris  was  in  a  few 
years  followed  by  others,  principally  emigrants  direct  from 
the  north  of  Ireland,  and  some  from  Donegal  township. 

At  this  time  settlements  were  also  made  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Susquehanna,  within  the  present  limits  of  York  coun- 
ty, by  Germans;  and  some  English,  intruders  from  Mary- 
land, and  some  Irish  on  Marsh  creek.  Samuel  Blunston, 
agent  for  the  proprietors,  had  received  a  commission  dated 
January  11,  1733-34. 

The  settlements  having  become  considerably  extended,  and 
the  population  augmented  by  an  influx  of  a  mixed  popula- 
tion— immigrants  from  abroad,  and  natives  of  the  province, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  upper  parts  of  Chester  county  deemed 
it  necessary  as  early  as  1728,  to  avoid  inconveniences  aris- 
ing daily  from  the  want  of  "justice  at  every  man's  door,"  to 
petition  the  proper  authorities  to  erect,  and  establish  a  new 
county — a  county  out  of  the  upper  parts  of  Chester,  was 
erected  in  1729,  in  a  separate  county,  called  "  Lancaster 
county."  Lancaster  then,  and  till  1749,  embraced  York, 
Cumberland,  part  of  Berks,  and  all  the  contiguous  counties 
— Dauphin  was  a  part  of  Lancaster  county  till  March  4th, 
17S5.  Cumberland  was  erected  in  1750,  and  then  embraced 
all  the  territory  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  except  what  is 
now  within  the  limits  of  York  and  Adams ;  consequently,  all 
the  country  now  within  the  counties  of  which  a  history  is  at- 
tempted, except  Columbia  and  part  of  Northumberland, 
which  when  first  erected  was  constituted  of  part  of  Lancas- 
ter, Cumberland,  Berks,  Northampton  &  Bedford.  Columbia 
was  taken  from  Northumberland. 

The  tide  of  emigration  was  still  westward.  Some  Irish 
and  Scotch  adventurers  crossed  the  Susquehanna  at  Peixtan, 
Peshtank,  or  Paxton,  and  commenced  settlements  about  the 


early  settlements,  &e.  47 

years  1730-31,  in  the  Kittochtinny  Valley,  or  "  North  Val- 
ley," west  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  Falling  Springs  and  other 
places,  till  they  extended  from  the  "Long,  Crooked  River"* 
to  the  Maryland  Province,  about  the  year  1736.  Several 
hundred  names  of  the  first  settlers  in  this  valley  will  be 
given  when  speaking  of  the  several  counties.  Passing, 
it  might  be  remarked,  that  all  the  earliest  settlements 
made  in  Lancaster,  York  and  Cumberland,  were  commenced 
when  the  Indians  were  still  numerous:  when  they,  and  the 
white  settlers  chased,  in  common,  the  deer,  the  bear,  and 
other  game,  and  angled  in  the  same  stream  teeming  with  the 
finny  race — when  they  greeted  each  other  with  the  endear- 
ing appellation,  "  brothers."  When  the  young  Indian  and 
white  lad  cheerily  tried  their  skill  as  wrestlers  and  archers; 
each  striving  to  gain  the  mastery,  without  any  grudge  to- 
ward each  other. 

After  1 745  settlements  were  extended  up  the  west  side 
oC  Susquehannah,  by  the  more  adventurous,  as  far  as  Ma- 
hahany,  or  Penn's  creek.  Among  these,  Jacob  Le  Roy, 
or  King,  George  Auchmudy,  Abraham  Sourkill,  George 
Snabble,  George  Gliwell,  John  McCahon,  Edmund  Mat- 
thews, John  Young,  Mark  Curry,  William  Doran,  John 
Simmons,  George  Aberheart,  Daniel  Braugh,  Gotfried 
Fryer,  Dennis  Mucklehenny,  George  Linn,  and  others. 

Westward,  along  the  Juniata  and  Tuscarora  valley, 
were  Hagg,  Bingham,  Grey,  Scott,  Grimes,  Patterson, 
Casner,  Wilson,  Sterret,  Law,  Kepler.  About  Lewistown, 
some  from  Conococheague,  settled  there.  Among  the  most 
conspicuous,  was  Col.  Buchanan.  In  Kishicoquillas  val- 
ley, Millikens,  Browns,  McClays,  McNitts,  and  in  the 
southwest  of  Mifflin  county,^vere  the  Brattons,  Rosses, 
Hollidays,  Junkinses,  Wilsons,  Stackpoles — these  settled 
here  at  1765  or  1770.  Still  higher  up  the  Juniata  were 
the  Moores,  Hollidays,  and  on  the  Raystown  branch,  the 
Martins,  Morrisons,  Neffs,  and  others.  On  the  West 
Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  through  that  region,  pri- 
or to.  the  Revolution,  or  immediately  thereafter — among 
these  were  Fleming,  M'Cormic, Reed,  Long,  Dunn,  He wes, 
Hamilton,  Jones,  Covenhoven,  Saltzburn,  Manning,  Ster- 
ret, Hall,  Horn,  Caldwell  and  otruers.     Passing,  it  may  be 

*  According  to  Heckewelder,  Susquehanna,  is  derived  from  the  In- 
dian word,-Sa-os-q,ue-ha-an-unk ;  meaning,  "Long-crooked-Rivet." 


48  EARLY  SETTLEMENTS,  &C. 

here  remarked  that  the  valley  of  the  West  Branch  had 
been  occasionally  visited,  eighty  years  ago,  by  Scotch-Ir- 
ish rangers  of  the  Kittatinny  valley.  Their  excursions 
extended  as  far  up  at  least  as  Big  Island. 

Passing  by  numerous  other  cases,  of  the  Indian's  friend- 
ship towards  the  first  settlers,  one  is  only  given.  Madame 
Feree,  her  sons  and  a  son-in-law,  left  Europe  in  170S,  ar- 
rived at  New  York  1709,  came  to  Pennsylvania  about  1711 
or  1712*  and  commenced  a  settlement  on  the  Pequea,  Ches- 
ter county,  (now  Lancaster).  They  were  Huguenots — "It 
was  on  the  evening  of  a  Summer's  clay  when  the  Huguenots 
reached  the  verge  of  a  hill  commanding  a  view  of  the  Valley 
of  the  Pequea ;  it  was  a  woodland  scene,  a  forest  inhabited 
by  wild  beasts,  for  no  indication  of  civilized  man  was  very 
near;  scattered  along  the  Pequea,  amidst  the  dark  green 
hazel,  could  be  discovered  the  Indian  wigwams,  the  smoke 
issuing  therefrom  in  its  spiral  form  :  no  sound  was  heard 
but  the  songs  of  the  birds  :  in  silence  they  contemplated  the 
beautiful  prospect  which  nature  presented  to  their  view. 
Suddenly  a  number  of  Indians  darted  from  the  woods — the 
females  shrieked — when  an  Indian  advanced,  and  in  broken 
English  said  to  Madame  Feree,  "Indian  no  harm  white — 
white  good  to  Indian — go  to  Beaver — our  chief  come  to 
Beaver."  Few  were  the  words  of  the  Indian.  They  wen: 
with  him  to  Beaver's  cabin;  and  Beaver,  wTith  the  humanity 
that  distinguished  the  Indian  of  that  period,  gave  up  to  the 
immigrants  his  wigwam.  Next  day  he  introduced  them  to 
Tawana,  who  lived  on  the  great  flats  of  Pequea. 

Having  thus  briefly  traced  the  early  and  progressive  set- 
tlements of  Pennsylvania,  before  entering  upon  the  local 
history  of  the  several  counties,  a  succinct  sketch  of  the  first 
settlers,  namely,  German  and  Irish,  will  be  given. 

.  *Some  Swiss  Mennonites  had  commenced  a  settlement  shortly  be- 
fore, sis  or  eight  miles  below,  on  the  same  stream. — His.  Lac  co.,  p.  74. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE     GERMANS. 


General  charaoter  of  Germans — First  immigrants  and  settlers — Ger- 
mantown  settled — Frankford  land  company — Immigrants  of  1708 
and  1709 — Their  sufferings  in  England — Dickinson's  remarks  con- 
cerning them — Settlements  in  Tulpehocken — Redemption  servants- 
Numerous  immigrants — Settlements  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susque- 
hanna— Nculaender  deceive  many. — Great  sufferings  experienced  by 
many — C.  Sauer's  representation  of  their  condition — Society  formed 
to  relieve  German  sufferers— Muhlenberg's  letter,  maltreatment,  &c. 
— Political  influencejof  the  Germans — Number  of  Germans  in  Penn<- 
sylvania  in  1755— Catholic  Germans— Scheme  to  educate  the  Ger- 
mans. . ..  ,Z 

The  Germans  of  Pennsylvania,  a  hardy,  frugal,  and  nv 
dustrious  people,  who  have  preserved,  in  a  great  measure 
their  manners  and  language,  immigrated  into  this  Pro- 
vince, for  conscience  sake,  and  to  improve  both  their  <?pjT 
ritual  and  temporal  condition.  Perhaps  there  is  no  peopio 
who  were  more  frequently  the  subject  of  remark  in  'the 
early  history  of  Pennsylvania,  and  during  the  last  centu- 
ry, than  the  Germans,  whose  numerous  descendants-  ara 
to  be  found  not  only  in  this  State,  but  in  nearly  every 
western  and  southwestern  State  of  the  Union.  ;  ■•  ■  • 

Though  more  than  twenty-five  thousand  names  of  Geiv 
man  immigrants  are  recorded  in  the  Provincial  Records 
from,  and  after  1725,  few  of  those  are  recorded,  who. ar- 
rived in  Pennsylvania  prior  to  1700.  Among  the  first 
whose  name  has  been  handed  down,  is  that  of  Henry  Fry, 
who  arrived  two  years  before  William  Penn ;  and  tine 
Platenbach,  who  came  a  few  years  later. 

In  1682  some  Germans  arrived,  and  commenced  a. set- 
tlement called  Germantown ;  among  these  were  Pastorius, 
Hartsfelder,  Schietz,  Spehagel,  Vandewalle,  Uberfeld, 
Strauss,  Lorentz,  Tellner,  Strepers,Lipman,  Renkes,  Arets, 
Isaacs.  About  the  year  16S4  or  'S5  a  company,  consist- 
5 


50 


THE    GERMANS. 


ing  at  first  of  ten  persons,  was  formed  in  Germany,  called 
the  Frankford  Land  Company,  on  the  Mayne  ;  their  arti- 
cles were  executed  in  that  city  on  the  24th  of  November, 
1686.  They  seem  to  have  been  men  of  note  by  the  use 
of  each,  of  his  separate  seal.  Their  names  were  G.  Van 
Mastrick,  Thomas  V.  Wylick,  John  Le  Bran,  F.  Dan. 
Pastorius,  John  J.  Schuetz,  Daniel  Behagel,  Jacobus  Van 
Dewaller,  John  W.  Peterson,  Johannes  Kimber,  Balthasur 
Jowest.  They  bought  25,000  acres  of  land  from  Penn. 
The  Germantovvn  patent  for  5350,  and  the  Manatauney 
patent  for  22,377  acres.  F.  D.  Pastorius  was  appointed 
the  attorney  for  the  company,  and  after  his  resignation, 
Dan.  Faulkner  was,  in  1708,  made  attorney. 

Those  who  left  their  Vaterl-and  after  1700,  endured  many 
hardships  on  their  way  to  their  future,  new  home  ;  some 
suffered  much  before,  while  others,  after  their  arrival  here. 
Passing  over  a  period  of  twenty  years,  from  1680  to  1700, 
ifr&y  suffered  comparatively  little  more  than  was  the  com- 
mon lot  of  all  the  colonists  of  that  period ;  but  from  1700 
to,  1720,  the  Palatines,  so  called,  because  they  principally 
came  from  Palatinate,  whither  many  had  been  forced  to 
flee  from  their  homes  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  endured 
ma'u'y  privations  before  they  reached  the  western  continent. 
.In  1706  the  following  named  Germans  presented  a  pe- 
tition to  the  council,  asking  the  privileges  ofcitizens.  They 
set  forth  that  by  the  encouragement  of  the  Proprietary, 
William  Penn,  they  had  transported  themselves  into  this 
province,  and  by  their  industry  had  changed  the  unculti- 
vated lands  they  had  purchased,  into  good  settlements,  and 
for  twenty-two  years  past  had  behaved  themselves  as  liege 
and  loyal  subjects  of  England,  that  above  sixty  of  the  pe- 
titioners at  one  time,  viz:  the  7th  of  the  3d  month,  1691, 
had  promised,  in  open  court,  allegiance  to  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary,  and  fidelity  to  the  proprietary. — Prov. 
Rec.  it.  250. 

The  petitions  were  naturalized  Sept.  29, 1709.  Ibid,  514. 

Ffrancis  Pastorius,  John  Javert,  Caspar  Hoodt,  Dennis 
KiVn.rads  and  his  three  sons,  Conrad,  Matthis  and  John  ; 
Dirk  Keyserand  his  son  Peter  ;  John  Lurhen,  Wm.  Stre- 
pers,  Abraham  Tunnis,  Lenhart  Arrets,  Reiner  Tysen, 
Jno.  Lenson,  Isaac  Dilbeck  and  his  son  Jacobus  ;  John 
Deeden,  Cornelius  Siorts,  Henry  Sellen,  Walter  Simons, 


THE    GERMANS.  51 

Dirk  Jansen,  jr.  Richard  Vanderwerf  and  his  son  Roclofs ; 
John  Strepers,  sen.  Peter  Shoemaker,  Jacob  Shoemaker, 
George  Shoemaker,  Isaac  Shoemaker,  Matthis  Van  Beb- 
ber,  Cornelius  Vangergach,  ^Peter  Clever,  George  Gatt- 
schik,  Paul  Engell  and  his  son  Jacob ;  Hans  Neus  Reiner, 
Vandersluys  and  his  son  Adrian  ;  Jacob  Gaetshalck,  Van- 
der  Heggen  and  his  son  Gaetshalck  Vander  Heggen;  Cas- 
per Kleinhoof,  Henry  Buchaltz,  Herman  Tuyman,  Paul 
Klumpges  and  his  son  John  ;  John  Neus  and  his  sons  Mat- 
this and  Cornelius ;  Claus  Ruttingheysen,  Caspar  Stalls, 
Henry  Tubben,  Wm.  Hendricks  and  his  sons  Hendrick 
and  Lawrence  ;  Henry  Hessleberry,  Johannes  Rebanstock, 
Peter  Verbymen,  John  Henry  Kersten,  John  Radwitzer, 
John  Cunrads,  sen.  John  Gorgaes,  Senwes  Bartells  and 
his  son  Henry ;  Jno.  Krey  and  his  son  William;  Cunrad 
Jansen,  Claus  Jansen  and  his  sons  John  and  William ; 
Evert  in  Hoffee  and  his  sons  Gerhard,  Herman,  Peter ; 
Peter  Jansen,  John  Smith,  Thos.  Echlewich,  Johannes 
Scholl,  Peter  Scholl,  Gabriel  Senter,  William  Puts,  Matthis 
Tysen  and  Johannes  Bleikers. 

In  1708  and  1709  upwards  often  thousand,  and  many 
of  them  very  poor,  arrived  in  England,  and  were  there 
for  some  time  in  a  starving,  miserable,  sickly  condition, 
lodged  in  warehouses;  who  had  no  subsistence  but  what 
they  could  get  by  their  wives  begging  for  them  in  the 
streets  till  some  sort  of  provision  was  made  for  them  by 
Queen  Anne;  and  then  some  were  shipped  to  Ireland, 
others  to  America.  In  the  month  of  August,  1709,  pur- 
suant to  an  address  to  her  Majesty,  Queen  Anne,  from  the 
Lord  Lieutenant  and  Council  in  Ireland,  desiring  as  many 
as  her  Majesty  should  think  fit  to  send  thither,  three  thou- 
sand were  sent  to  Ireland;  many  of  whom  returned  again 
to  England,  on  account  of  the  hard  usage  they  received 
from  the  Commissary,  who  did  not  pay  them  their  sub- 
sistence.* In  the  summer  of  1710,  several  thousand  Pal- 
atines, who  had  been  maintained  at  the  Queen's  expense 
in  England,  and  for  some  time  afterwards  in  America, 
were  shipped  to  New  York ;  some  of  whom,  afterwards, 
came  to  Pennsylvania. 

While  investigating  the  history  of  the  Germans,  especi- 

*  Journal,  House  of  Commons,  England,  vol.  xvi.  594-98. 


52  THE     GERMANS. 

ally  enquiring  into  the  sufferings  of  those  who  lived  for 
some  time  upon  the  bounty  of  Queen  Anne,  I  find  that 
the  whole  charge,  occasioned  by  the  Palatines,  to  the 
Queen,  for  a  space  of  two  years,  is  £135,775  and  18  shil- 
lings.— Finch's  Report  to  the  House  of  Commons,  England, 
April  14,  1711. 

Hundreds  of  those,  transported  and  sustained  for  some 
time  by  Queen  Anne,  were  gratuitously  furnished  with 
religious  and  useful  books,  before  their  departure,  by  the 
Rev.  Anton  Wilhelm  Boehm,  Court  Chaplain  of  St.  James. 
The  principal  book  was  "  Arndt's  Wahres  Christenthum." 
Among  these  German  emigrants  were  Mennonites,  Dunk- 
ards,  German  Reformed,  and  Lutherans.  Their  number 
was  so  great,  as  to  draw  the  remarks  from  James  Logan, 
Secretary  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  in  1717 — "We 
have,"  said  he,  "  of  late,  a  great  number  of  Palatines 
poured  in  upon  us  without  any  recommendation  or  notice, 
which  gives  the  country  some  uneasinesss,  for  foreigners 
do  not  so  well  among  us  as  our  own  English  people." 

Those  who  arrived  between  1700  and  1720,  settled  in 
the  lower  parts  of  Montgomery,  Bucks,  Berks  and  Lan- 
caster county.  Several  German  families  settled  within  the 
present  limits  of  the  last  named  county,  between  1708  and 
1711 — the  number  was  considerable  before  1718. 

In  1719,  Jonathan  Dickinson  remarks,  "  We  are  daily 
expeecting  ships  from  London  which  bring  over  Palatines, 
in  number  about  six  or  seven  thousand.  We  had  a  parcel 
who  came  out  about  five  years  ago,  who  purchased  land 
about  60  miles  west  of  Philadelphia,  and  prove  quiet  and 
industrious.*  Some  few  came  from  Ireland  lately,  and 
more  are  expected  thence. 

From  1720  to  1730,  several  thousands  landed  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  others  came  by  land  from  the  province  of 
New  York ;  the  latter  settled  in  Tulpehocken.  These  left 
New  York,  because  they  had  been  illy  treated  by  the  au- 
thorities of  that  province.  The  influx  was  so  great  as  to 
cause  some  alarm.  It  was  feared  by  some,  that  the  num- 
bers.from  Germany,  at  the  rate  they  were  coming  in  about 
1725  and  1727,  will  soon,  as  Jonathan  Dickinson  expressed 
himself  at  the  time,  produce  a  German  colony  here,  and 
perhaps  such  an  one  as  Britain  once  received  from  Saxony 
*  Pequea  Settlement,  Lancaster  county. 


THE     GERMANS.  53 

in  the  fifth  century.  He  even  states  as  among  the  appre- 
hended schemes  of  Sir  William  Keith,  (who,  it  is  said, 
favored  the  Germans  for  purposes  of  strengthening  his 
political  influence)  the  former  Governor,  that  he,  Harland 
and  Gould,  have  had  sinister  projects  of  forming  an  indepen- 
dent province  in  the  west,  to  the  westward  of  the  Germans, 
towards  the  Ohio — probably  west  of  the  mountains,  and  to  be 
supplied  by  his  friends  among  the  Palatines,  &c.  To  arrest 
in  some  degree  the  influx  of  Germans,  the  Assembly  assessed 
a  tax  of  twenty  shillings  a  head  on  newly  arrived  servants ; 
for  as  early  as  1722  there  were  a  number  of  Palatine  servants 
or  Redemptioners,  who  were  sold  to  serve  for  a  term  of  three 
or  four  years,  at  .£10  each,  to  pay  their  freight. 

English,  Welsh,  Scotch,  and  Irish,  who  were  unable  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  crossing  the  Atlantic,  were  sold  as 
servants.  In  1729  there  arrived  in  New  Castle  government, 
says  the  Gazette,  forty-five  hundred  persons,  chiefly'  from 
Ireland  ;  and  at  Philadelphia,  in  one  year,  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  English  and  Welsh,  forty-three  Scotch — all  ser- 
vants." 

In  1727  six  vessels  arrived  at  Philadelphia  with  Germans, 
three  in  1728 ;  three  in  1729  and  three  in  1730. 

From  1730  to  1740  about  sixty-five  vessels,  well  filled 
with  Germans,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  bringing  with  them 
ministers  of  the  gospel  and  schoolmasters,  to  instruct  their 
children.  A  large  number  of  these  remained  in  Philadelphia, 
others  went  seventy  to  eighty  miles  from  Philadelphia — some 
settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lebanon,  others  west  of  the 
Susquehanna,  in  York  county. 

Some  of  the  Germans  who  had  settled  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Susquehanna,  were  constantly  annoyed  by  one  Cressap, 
a  Maryland  intruder.  In  1736,  Cressap  publicly  declared, 
that  in  the  winter  next  coming,  when  the  ice  was  on  the  ri- 
ver, a  great  number  of  armed  men  would  come  up  from  Ma- 
ryland, and  be  in  the  woods,  near  the  German  inhabitants, 
and  that  he,  with  ten  armed  men,  would  go  from  house  to 
house,  and  take  the  masters  of  the  families  prisoners,  and 
when  they  had  as  many  as  they  could  manage,  they  would 
carry  them  to  the  armed  forces  in  the  woods,  and  return 
again  till  he  had  all  taken  who  would  not  submit  to  Mary- 
land. Several  of  the  Germans  were  subsequently  abdaeted; 
5* 


'>\  THE    GERMANS. 

others  were  constantly  harassed ;  in  many  instances  driven 
from  their  farms. 

From  1740  to  1755  upwards  of  one  hundred  vessels  ar- 
rived with  Germans;  in  some  ot  them,  though  small,  there 
were  between  five  and  six  hundred  passengers.  In  the  sum- 
mer and  autumn  of  1749,  not  less  than  twenty  vessels,  with 
German  passengers,  to  the  number  of  twelve  thousand,  ar- 
rived. 

Omitting  the  names  of  the  vessels,  the  arrivals  are  given 

from  August  2  1th   1749,  to  November  9;  Aug.  24th,  840 

:  Aug.  30th 500;  Sept  2d  340;  9th  400;  11th 

I  Uli  333 ;  15th  930  ;  Huh  372  :  25th  240 ;  26th  840; 

27th  206;  28th  242;  Oct.  2d  249;  7th  450;  10th  250; 

17th  480;  Nov.  9th  77. 

November  22,  1741) — a  petition  from  sundry  inhabitants 
of  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  was  presented  to  the  House  and 
read,  setting  forth  what  has  been  the  frequent  practice  of 
the  merchants  concerned  in  the  importation  of  Germans  and 
other  foreigners  into  the  province,  for  the  sake  of  lucre,  to 
receive  into  their  vessels  a  much  greater  number  than  could 
be  fitly  accommodated  ;  whereby  epidemic  diseases  have  been 
produced  amongst  them,  and  a  great  mortality  hath  ensued, 
to  the  loss  of  some  hundreds  in  one  vessel,  and  the  great  af- 
fliction of  their  surviving  relations,  some  of  which  have  been 
obliged  by  their  own  labor,  to  defray  the  freight,  or  passage 
money,  of  the  dead  ;  that  sundry  other  inconveniences  have 
arisen  to  these  poor  strangers,  from  this  practice,  and  partic- 
ularly their  being  obliged  to  leave  their  chests,  clothes,  and 
other  furniture  behind  them,  to  their  perplexity  afterwards, 
if  not  entire  loss  of  them  :  that  besides  the  injury  done  to  the 
Germans  by  this  iniquitous  and  infamous  practice,  the  inhab- 
itants become  greatly  endangered  by  the  importation  of  mor- 
tal distempers,  which  are  found  by  sorrowful  experience  to 
be  easily  propagated  in  this  climate ;  that  the  want  of  suit- 
able buildings  and  other  conveniences,  for  the  comfortable 
reception  and  accommodation  of  such  distempered  strangers, 
has  probably  forwarded,  and  perhaps  occasioned  the  death 
of  many,  as  it  has  made  it  difficult  and  almost  impossible  to 
procure  faithful  persons  to  take  the  necessary  care  of  them ; 
by  which  neglect  the  sick  have  been  induced  to  leave  places 
appointed  for  them,  and  to  wander  from  one  place  to  another, 
to  the  manifest  danger  of  the  inhabitants,  by  spreading  the 


THE    GERMANS.  55 

distempers  they  were  infected  with,  over  this  and  the  neigh- 
boring provinces ;  and  praying,  that  the  House  would  take 
the  premises  into  consideration,  and  make  provision  for  the 
prevention  of  such  practices,  the  relief  of  those  strangers,  and 
the  safety  of  the  inhabitants,  as  to  their  wisdom  shall  seem 
meet. — [Votes  Assem.  iv.  121. 

Thousands  of  those  who  immigrated  to  Pennsylvania  be- 
tween 1740  and  1?.jo,  lamented  bitterly  that  they  had  for- 
saken their  "Vaterland"  for  the  new  world.  It  was  a  sad 
exchange  !  There  was  within  this  period  a  certain  class  of 
Germans,  who  had  resided  some  time  in  Pennsylvania,  well 
known  by  the  name  of  A*cul<icndvr,  who  lived  at  theexp*  ns<  . 
pains  and  sufferings  of  the  more  credulous  abroad.  They 
made  it  their  business  to  go  to  Germany,  and  there,  by  mis- 
representations and  tl  '  fraudulent  practices,  pre- 
vailed on  their  countrymen  to  dispose  of,  nay,  in  many  in- 
es  to  sacrifice  their  property,  abandon  their  comfortable 
firesides,  schools  and  churches,  and  come  to  the  New  World, 
which  these  Neulaender  never  tailed  to  represent  as  a  per- 
fect paradise,  where  the  mountains  were  solid  masses  oi  gold, 
and  fountains  gushed  milk  and  honey.  Thus  they  did  not 
only  prevail  upon  persons  of  wealth,  but  upon  those  in  mod- 
erate  circumstances;  and  those  generally  ran  short  of  means 
alter  paying  their  debts  before  leaving,  "  to  come  over"  to 
better  their  condition;  in  four  instances  out  of  five,  their 
condition  was  rendered  none  the  better,  bat  made  infinitely 
worse:  for  those  who  had  not  wherewith  to  pay  their  pas- 
sage— and  of  this  class  there  were  not  a  few — were,  on  their 
arrival,  sold  for  a  series  of  \ ears,  as  servants,  to  pay  the  ex  - 
of  their  passage.  Those  disposed  of,  were  termed 
Redemptioners,  or  Palatine  servants. 

Christopher  Skoiers,  of  Germantown,  who  for  many  years 

f Minted  a  German  paper,  in  which  he  spoke  freely  of  the  re- 
igious  and  civil  liberty,  and  prosperity  of  the  province  of 
Pennsylvania  ;  and,  as  he  believed,  many  Germans  hail  been 
thereby  induced  to  come  over;  but  seeing  their  miserable 
condition,  felt  constrained  to  address  Gov.  Denny  to  use  his 
influence  in  their  behalf.  In  a  letter,  dated  Germantown, 
March  L5,  1755,  says,  "It  is  thirty  years  since  I  came  to 
this  Province,  from  a  country  where  we  had  no  liberty  of  con- 
science— when  I  came  to  this  Province,  I  wrote  largely  to 
my  friends  and  acquaintances  of  the  civil  and  religious  liber- 


56  THE  GERMANS. 

ty,  privileges,  &c. ;  my  letters  were  printed  and  reprinted, 
whereby  thousands  were  provoked  to  come  to  this  Province, 
and  they  desired  their  Iriends  to  come.  Some  years  ago  the 
price  was  five  pistoles  freight,  and  the  merchants  crowded 
with  passengers,  finding  the  carrying  of  them  more  profita- 
ble than  merchandise.  But  the  love  of  gain  caused  that 
Stedman  lodged  the  poor  passengers  like  herrings,  and  as  too 
many  had  not  room  between  the  decks,  many  were  kept 
upon  deck — sailing  to  the  southward,  and  these  unaccustom- 
ed to  the  climate;  and  for  want  of  water  and  room,  took 
sick  and  died  very  fast,  so  that  in  less  than  one  year,  two 
thousand  were  buried  in  the  seas  and  Philadelphia.  Stedman, 
at  that  time,  bought  a  license  in  Holland,  that  no  captain 
or  merchant  could  load  any  as  long  as  he  had  not  two  thou- 
sand. This  murdering  trade  made  my  heart  ache,  especially 
when  I  heard  that  there  was  more  profit  by  their  deaths  than 
carrying  them  alive.  I  thought  my  provoking  letters  were 
partly  the  cause  of  so  many  deaths.  I  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
Magistrate  at  Amsterdam,  and  immediately  the  monopoly 
was  taken  from  John  Stedman.  Our  Legislature  was  also 
petitioned,  and  a  law  was  passed,  and  good  as  it  is,  never 
was  executed.  Mr.  Spaffort,  an  old,  poor  captain,  was  made 
overseer  of  the  vessels  loaded  with  passengers,  whose  salary 
amounted  to  from  $200  to  $300  a  year,  for  concealing  that 
the  people  had  but  twelve  inches  space,  and  not  half  bread 
nor  water.  Spaffort  died — the  Assembly  chose  Mr.  Trotter, 
who  let  every  ship  slip,  although  a  great  many  people  had 
no  room  at  all,  except  in  the  Long  Boat,  where  every  man 
perished.  Among  other  grievances  the  poor  Germans  suffer, 
is  one,  viz :  that  when  the  ignorant  Germans  agree  fairly 
with  merchants  at  Holland  for  seven  pistoles  and  a  half, 
when  they  come  to  Philadelphia,  the  merchants  make  them 
pay  whatever  they  please,  and  take  at  least  nine  pistoles. 
The  poor  people  on  board  are  prisoners ;  they  must  not  go 
ashore  or  have  their  chests  delivered,  except  they  pay  what 
they  owe  not ;  and  when  they  go  into  the  country,  they  corn- 
plainly  loudly  there,  that  no  justice  is  to  be  had  for  poor 
strangers — they  show  their  agreements,  in  which  it  is  fairly 
mentioned,  that  they  are  to  pay  seven  pistoles  and  a  half  to 
Isaac  and  Zachary  Hope,  at  Rotterdam,  or  their  order,  at 
Philadelphia,  &c. — and  this  is  much  practiced,  the  country 
is  wronged  £2000  or  £3000  a  year.     It  was  much  desired, 


THE  GERMANS.  57 

that  a  law  might  be  passed  that  a  Commissioner  might  be 
appointed  to  inspect,  on  the  arrival  of  vessels  with  passen- 
gers, their  agreements,  and  judge  if  1\  pistoles  makes  not 
seven  and  a  half.  Some  asked,  "Is  there  no  remedy?"  They 
were  answered,  "The  law  is,  what  is  above  forty  shillings 
must  be  decided  at  Court ;  and  each  must  make  his  own 
cause  appear  good  and  stand  a  trial.  A  poor  comfort  in- 
deed !  Two  or  three  thousand  wronged  persons  to  depend 
upon  the  discretion  of  the  merchants.  They  are  anxious  to 
come  on  shore  to  satisfy  hunger — they  pay  what  is  demand- 
ed— some  are  sighing,  some  cursing ;  some  believe  their  case 
differs  little  from  such  as  fall  into  the  hands  of  a  highway- 
man, who  presents  a  pistol  and  demands  according  to  his 
own  terms.  They  also  complain  that  the  captains  often  hurry 
them  away  without  any  agreement,  or  the  agreement  is  not 
signed ;  or,  if  a  fair  agreement  is  written,  signed  and  sealed, 
it  will  not  be  performed,  and  they  must  pay  whatever  is  de- 
manded. And  when  their  chests  are  put  into  stores,  and  by 
the  time  they  have  procured  money  from  their  friends  to  pay 
for  what  they  agreed,  and  more  too,  and  demand  their  chests, 
they  find  them  opened  and  plundered  of  their  contents ;  or 
sometimes  the  chests  are*  no,t  to  be  found  for  which  they  had 
paid." 

In  another  letter  to  the  Governor,  dated  Germantown, 
May  12,  1755,  C.  Sauers  says,  "  The  merchants  and  impor- 
ters filled  the  vessels  with  passengers,  and  as  much  merchan- 
dise as  they  thought  fit,  and  left  the  passengers'  chests  be- 
hind— sometimes  they  loaded  vessels  with  the  Palatine's 
chests  only.  The  poor  people  depended  upon  their  chests, 
in  which  they  had  some  provisions,  such  as  thev  were  used 
to,  viz  :  dried  apples,  pears,  plums,  mustard,  medicines,  vin- 
egar, brandy,  gammons,  butter,  clothing,  such  as  shirts  and 
other  necessary  linens,  and  some  of  them  had  money  and 
what  they  brought  with  them,  and  when  their  chests  were 
left  behind,  or  shipped  in  other  vessels,  they  suffered  for 
want  of  food — and  when  there  was  not  a  sufficiency  of  pro- 
vision laid  in  for  passengers,  they  famished  and  died — when 
they  arrived  alive,  they  had  no  money  to  buy  bread,  or  any 
thing  to  sell  of  their  spare  clothes— neither  had  they  clothes 
so  as  to  change  linens,  &c;  they  were  not  able  to  keep 
themselves  clean,  and  free  of  vermin. 

If  they  were  taken  into  houses,  and  trusting  on  their  ef* 


58  THE  GERMANS. 

fects  and  money,  when  they  come,  these  effects  and  moneys 
were  either  left  behind,  or  their  chests  were  either  plunder- 
ed by  the  sailors  on  the  vessels,  or  if  the  vessels  arrived  be- 
fore the  sailors  broke  open  the  chests,  they  were  searched 
by  the  merchant's  boys,  and  their  best  effects,  all  taken — 
and  there  was  no  remedy  for  all  this.  And  this  last  men- 
tioned practice,  that  their  chests  were  broken  open  and  effects 
stolen,  has  not  only  been  common  these  25,  20,  10,  5  years, 
but  it  is  a  common  custom,  and  the  complaints  are  daily. 

I  was  ordered  to  print  advertisements,  at  the  request 
of  those  who  lost  their  chests  by  leaving  them  behind  them 
against  their  will,  or  were  opened  and  plundered  at  sea  when 
they  were  sent  after  them,  in  other  vessels,  or  were  broken 
open  and  plundered  in  the  stores  at  Philadelphia.  If  these 
chests  had  been  sold  at  half  their  value,  it  would  amount  to 
a  large  sum. — Your  Honor  would  be  astonished  to  hear  the 
complaints  of  more  than  2000  to  3000  people." 

The  Rev.  Muhlenburg  says,  speaking  of  Redemptioners  : 

Denn  wenn  die  Teutschen  von  den  Schiffen  hier  ankommen 
so  muessen  diejenigen,  welche  die  Fracht  nicht  aus  ihren  eig- 
nen  Mitteln  bezahlen  koennen,  sich  mit  ihren  Familien 
gleichsam  verkaufen,  da  sie  denn'so  lange  dienen  muessen 
bis  sie  ihre  Fracht  abverdient  haben  ;  solche  werden  servants 
oder  Knechte  genannt.  Wenn  denn  dieselben  ihre  Fracht  be- 
zahlt  und  noch  etwas  verdient  haben,  so  ziehen  sie  nach  und 
nach  ins  Land  hinauf,  und  kaufen  was  eigenes. 

On  another  occasion,  he  says : 

Weil  viele  von  den  nach  Pennsylvanien  eilenden  Teutschen 
ihre  Fracht  zu  bezahlen  nicht  ira  Stande  sind,  so  werden  sie, 
zu  deren  Verguetung,  auf  einige  Jahre  an  die  reichsten  Ein- 
wohner  als*leibeigene  Knechte  verkauft.  Es  kommen  solcher 
zur  Verlassung  ihres  Vaterlandes  verfuehrten,  und  dadurch 
oefters  in  leibliches  und  geistliches  Elend  gestuertzten  Teut- 
schen Leute  von  Zeit  zu  Zeit  noch  immer  sehr  viele  in  Penn- 
sylvanien an.  Im  Herbst  1749  sind  25  schiffe  voll  Teut- 
schen neuen  Colonisten  nach  und  nach  vor  Philadelphia  ein- 
gelaufen  und  ausser  denen,  die  der  Tod  unterwegs  aufgerie- 
ben,  haben  sich  darauf  7049  Personen  befunden.  Es  ist 
leicht  zu  erachten,  da  dir  Begierde,  das  Vaterland  mit  der 
neuen  Welt  zu  verwechseln,  schon  so  viele  Jahre  her  unter 
denen  niemals  weniger,  als  mit  den  gegenwaertigen  Umstaen- 
den,vergnuegten  Teutschen  herrschet,  das  Land  bereits  ueber- 


THE  GERMANS. 


59 


fluessig  mit  Leuten  besetzt  sey.  Und  so  ists.  Es  wimmelt 
von  Leuten,  so  dass  auch  die  Lebensmitterl  theurer  wer- 
der.  Eben  dieses  aber  ist  Ursaeh,  warum  die  in  dieses  Land 
komearden  nicht  so  viele  Vortheile  geniesinsen  koennen,  als 
die  ersten  genossen  haben. 

To  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  these  strangers,  a  society 
was  formed  among  the  more  wealthy  and  benevolent ;  but 
their  means  were  not  adequate  to  the  wants  of  suffering  thou- 
sands. 

Their  sufferings  were  confined  to  the  period  mentioned,  as 
may  be  seen  from  the  following  letter  from  Dr.  Muhlen- 
burg— 

"  Januar  7ten,  1768. 

"  Im  vergangenen  Spaetjahr,  sind  wieder  fuenf  bis  sechs 
Schiffe  voll  mit  Teutschen  Emigranten  vor  Philadelphia  an- 
gekommen,  davon  noch  ein  grosser  Theil  auf  dem  Wasser 
liegen,  weil  nicht  allein  ihre  Frachten  sehr  hoch  gestiegen, 
sondern  auch  ein  allgemeiner  Geldmangel  vorwaltet,  so  dass 
sie  nicht  wie  in  vorigen  Zeiten,  verkauft  werden  koennen, 
und,  so  zu  sagen,  in  ihrem  Elend  unkoramen  muessen.  Die 
mit  solehem  Menschenhandel  interessirte  Herren  wollen 
das  Gel  J  fuer  ihre  Fracht  haben.  Wenn  aber  keine  Kaeufer 
sind,  so  behalten  sie  ihre  Waare,  und  lassen  sie  lieber  ver- 
derben,  als  dass  sie  solche  verschenken  sollen.  Es  ist  ein 
grosser  Jammer,  wenn  man  seine  arrae  betrogene  Mitge- 
schoepfe  so  im  Elend  siehet,  und  nicht  helfen  kann." 

The  Palatine  Redemption  servants  were  sold  for,  from 
from  two  to  five  years.  Many  of  them  often  serving  out 
their  time  faithfully,  became,  by  frugality  and  industry,  some 
of  the  most  wealthy  and  influential  citizens  of  the  State. 

"  In  later  times,  say  about  the  year  1753  to  1756,  the 
Germans  having  become  numerous,  and  therefore  powerful 
as  make-weights  in  the  political  balance,  were  much  noticed 
in  the  publications  of  the  day.  They  were  at  that  period 
of  time,  in  general,  very  hearty  co-operators  with  the  Qua- 
kers or  Friends,  then  in  considerable  rule  in  the  Assembly. 
A  MSS.  pamphlet  in  the  Franklin  Library  at  Philadelphia, 
supposed  to  have  been  written  by  Samuel  Wharton,  in  1755, 
shows  his  ideas  of  the  passing  events,  saying,  that  the  party 
on  the  side  of  the  Friends  derived  much  of  their  influence 
over  the  Germans,  through  the  aid  of  C.  Sauers,  who  pub- 
lished a  German  paper  in  Germantown,  from  the  time  of  1729, 


60 


THE  GERMANS. 


and  which,  being  much  read  by  that  people,  influenced  them 
to  the  side  of  the  Friends,  and  hostile  to  the  Governor  and 
council.  Through  this  means,  says  he,  they  have  persuaded 
them  that  there  was  a  design  to  enslave  them ;  to  enforce 
their  young  men,  by  a  contemplated  militia  law,  to  become 
soldiers,  and  to  load  them  down  with  taxes,  &c.  From  such 
causes,  he  adds,  have  they  come  down  in  shoals  to  vote,  (of 
course,  many  from  Northampton,)  and  carrying  all  before 
them.  To  this  I  may,  says  Watson,  add,  that  I  have  heard 
from  the  Norris  family,  that  their  ancestors  in  the  Assembly 
were  warmly  patronized  by  the  Germans,in  union  with  Friends. 
His  alarms  at  this  German  influence  at  the  polls,  and  his  pro- 
posed remedies  for  the  then  dreaded  evils,  as  they  show  the 
prevalent  feelings  of  his  associates  in  politics,  may  serve  to 
amuse  the  present  generation-  He  says  the  best  effects  of 
these  successes  of  the  Germans  will  probably  be  felt  through 
many  generations  !  Instead  of  a  peaceable,  industrious  peo- 
ple, as  before,  they  are  now  insolent,  sullen,  and  turbulent ; 
in  some  counties  threatening  even  the  lives  of  all  those  who 
opposed  their  views,  because  they  are  taught  to  regard  gov- 
ernment and  slavery  as  one  and  the  same  thing.  All  who 
are  not  of  their  party,  they  call  "  Governor's  men,"  and  them- 
selves, they  deem  strong  enough  to  make  the  country  their 
own  !  Indeed,  they  come  in,  in  such  force,  say  upwards  of 
5000  in  the  last  year,  I  see  not  but  they  may  soon  be  able 
to  give  us  law  and  language  too,  or  else,  by  joining  the 
French,  eject  all  the  English.  That  this  may  be  the  case, 
is  too  much  to  be  feared,  for  almost  to  a  man  they  refused  to 
bear  arms  in  the  time  of  the  late  war,  and  they  say,  it  is 
all  one  to  them  which  king  gets  the  country,  as  their  estates 
will  be  equally  secure.  Indeed  it  is  clear  that  the  French 
have  turned  their  hopes  upon  this  great  body  of  Germans. 
They  hope  to  allure  them,  by  grants  of  Ohio  lands.  To  this 
end,  they  send  their  Jesuitical  emissaries  among  them,  to 
persuade  them  over  to  the  Popish  religion.  In  concert  with 
this,  the  French  for  so  many  years  have  encroached  on  our 
province,  and  are  now  so  near  their  scheme  as  to  be  within 
two  days'  march  of  some  of  our  back  settlements" — alluding 
of  course  to  the  state  of  the  western  wilds,  overrun  by  French 
and  Indians,  just  before  the  arrival  of  Braddock's  forces  in 
Virginia,  in  1755. 

The  writer  (Wharton)  imputes  their  wrong  bias  in  gene- 


THE  GERMANS.  61 

ral  to  their  "stubborn  genius  and  ignorance,"  which  he  pro- 
poses to  soften  by  education — a  scheme  still  suggested  as  ne- 
cessary to  give  the  general  mass  of  the  inland  country  Ger- 
mans right  views  of  public  individual  interests.  To  this  end, 
he  proposes  that  faithful  Protestant  ministers  and  schoolmas- 
ters should  be  supported  among  them.  That  their  children 
should  be  taught  the  English  tongue:  the  government  in  the 
mean  time  should  suspend  their  right  of  voting  for  members 
of  Assembly ;  and  to  incline  them  the  sooner  to  become  En- 
glish in  education  and  feeling,  we  should  compel  them  to 
make  all  bonds  and  other  legal  writings  in  English,  and  no 
newspaper  or  almanac  be  circulated  among  them,  also  ac- 
companied by  the  English  thereof.  [See  close  of  this  Chap- 
ter. 

Finally,  the  writer  concludes,  that  "without  some  such 
measure,  I  see  nothing  to  prevent  this  Province  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  French."  A  scheme  to  educate  the  Ger- 
mans, as  alluded  to,  was  started  in  1755,  and  carried  on  for 
several  years. 

The  number  of  Germans  about  the  year  1755,  was  not 
short  of  sixty  or  seventy  thousand  in  Pennsylvania;  nearly 
all  of  them  Protestants;  whereof,  according* to  the  Rev. 
Schlotter's  statement,  at  the  time,  there  were  thirty  thous- 
and German  Reformsd — the  Lutherans  were  more  numerous. 
Besides  these,  there  were  other  Germans,  viz :  Mennonites, 
German  Baptists,  (Dunkards,)  Moravians,  some  few  German 
Quakers,  Seventh-day  Baptists,  Catholics,  and  Schwenkfeld- 
ers. 

Muhlenberg  says : 

"  Herr  Schlatter  rechnet  die  Anzahl  der  Reformirten 
Teutschen  in  Pensylvanien  auf  30,000 — Herr  Schlatter 
glaubt,  dass  die  Reformirten  nur  den  dritten  Theilder  Teut- 
schen in  Pensylvanien  ausmachen." 

The  number  of  German  Catholics  did  not  exceed  (1755) 
seven  hundred.  In  the  autumn  of  1754,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  Catholics  arrived' at  Philadelphia. 

The  number  of  Catholics  in  1757,  beginning  from  twelve 
years  of  age,  including  German,  English  and  Irish,  about 
1400,  according  to  a  statement  by  Mr.  Warden,  April  29, 
1757.  There  were  then  in  and  about  Philadelphia  and 
in  Chester  county ,- -under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Har- 
ding, 90  males  and  100  females,  all  Irish  and  English.     In 


62  THE  GERMANS. 

Philadelphia  city  and  county,  Berks  and  Northampton, 
under  the  care  of  Theodore  Schneider,  252  males  and  248 
females,  all  Germans ;  in  Berks  and  Chester,  92,  whereof 
15  were  Irish.  In  Lancaster,  Berks,  Chester  and  Cum- 
berland, under  the  care  of  Ferdinand  Farmer,  394,  where- 
of 97  were  Irish.  In  York  county,  under  the  care  of  Ma- 
thias  Manners,  54  German  males,  68  females ;  35  Irish 
males,  and  38  females. 

Note.  The  Germans  immigrated  into  the  North  American 
colonies,  at  an  early  period.  At  the  close  of  the  xvii.  and 
beginning  of  the  xviii.  century  the  influx  of  Germans  was 
great.  As  we  have  already  seen,  a  respectable  number 
arrived  a  year  or  two  after  William  Penn  first  landed  in 
this,  country.  A  number  of  them  settled  in  the  State  of 
New  York  between  1709  and  1714.  In  1709  above  600 
Germans  arrived,  and  settled  in  North  Carolina.  From 
1730  to  1750,  many  Germans  settled  in  South  Carolina. 
In  1733  a  large  number  settled  in  Georgia.  A  band  of 
them  was  led  to  Georgia  by  Colonel  Oglethorpe.  In  1735 
there  was  a  German  settlement  formed  at  Spottsylvania, 
Virginia.  In  1739,  a  respectable  number  of  them  settled 
at  Waldoborough,  in  the  state  of  Maine  ;  who  numbered 
in  the  course  of  thirteen  years  about  1500  souls.  The 
greatest  immigration  was  however  to  Pennsylvania.  The 
descendants  of  the  Germans  in  Pennsylvania  were  esti- 
mated in  1772,  to  exceed  75,000  souls.  At  present,  the 
descendants  of  German  settlers  are  very  numerous  in 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  New 
York,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Missouri,  Wiscon- 
sin, Iowa.  They  are  the  most  numerous  of  all  the  immi- 
grants to  America  that  are  not  of  British  stock — including 
those  who  immigrated  with  the  present  century  and  their 
descendants,  their  number  is  not  short  of  five  millions. 
For  a  fuller  account  of  the  Germans,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  a  forthcoming  work,  entitled  "  The  Germans  in  Ameri- 
ca, and  their  influence  upon  national  character,  &c. 

"  A  brief  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  charit- 
able society,  carrying  on  by  a  society  of  noblemen  and  gen- 
tlemen in  London,  for  the  relief  and  instruction  of  poor 
Germans  and  their  descendants,  settled  in  Pennsylvania, 
&c.,  published  for  the  information  of  those  whom  it  may 
concern,  by  James  Hamilton,  William  Allen,  Richard  Pe- 


THE    GERMANS.  63 

ters,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  Conrad  Weiser,  Esquires, 
and  the  Rev.  William  Smith,  Trustees  General,  appointed 
for  the  management  of  the  said  charitable  scheme. 

"  For  several  years  past,  the  small  number  of  Reformed 
Protestant  ministers,  settled  among  the  German  emigrants 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  finding  the  harvest  great,  but  the 
laborers  few,  have  been  deeply  affected  with  a  true  chris- 
tian concern,  for  the  welfare  of  their  distressed  countrymen, 
and  the  salvation  of  their  precious  souls.  In  consequence 
of  this,  they  have  from  time  to  time,  in  the  most  solemn 
and  moving  manner,  entreated  the  churches  of  Holland, 
to  commiserate  their  unhappy  fellow  christians,  who 
mourn  under  the  deepest  affliction,  being  settled  in  a  re- 
mote corner  of  the  world,  where  the  light  of  the  gospel  has 
but  lately  reached,  and  where  they  are  very  much  destitute 
of  the  means  of  knowledge  and  salvation. 

"  The  churches  of  Holland,  being  accordingly  moved 
with  friendly  compassion,  did  from  time  to  time,  contribute 
to -the  support  of  religion  in  these  remote  parts.  But  in 
the  year  1751,  a  very  moving  representation  of  their  state 
having  been  made  by  a  person,  whose  unwearied  labors 
for  the  benefit  of  his  dear  countrymen,  have  been  for  some 
years  conspicuous,  the  states  of  Holland  and  West  Fris- 
land,  granted  2,000  gilders  per  annum,  for  five  years  from 
that  time,  to  be  applied  towards  the  instruction  of  the  said 
Germans  and  their  children,  in  Pennsylvania.  A  consid- 
erable sum  was  also  collected  in  the  city  of  Amsterdam, 
and  elsewhere,  and  upon  a  motion  made  by  the  same  zeal- 
ous person,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomson*  was  commissioned 
by  the  Synod  of  Holland,  and  Classis  of  Amsterdam,  to 
solicit  the  friendly  assistance  of  the  churches  of  England 
and  Scotland. 

'•When  Mr.  Thomson  arrived  in  Great  Britain,  he  found 
the  readiest  encouragement  among  persons  of  the  first  rank, 
both  in  church  and  state.  In  this  peculiar  glory  of  the 
British  government,  equally  to  consult  the  happiness  of  all 
who  live  under  it,  however  remote,  wherever  born,  or  of 
whatsoever  denomination,  wicked  and  inhuman  tyrants, 
whose  ambition  is  to  rule  over  slaves,  find  it  their  interest 

*  Mr.  T.  is  a  minister  of  one  of  the  English  churches  in  Amsterdam, 
and  a  member  of  one  of  said  Synod  and  Classis. 


64  THE;    GERMANS. 

to  keep  the  people  ignorant.  But,  in  a  virtuous  and  free 
government,  like  that  of  Great  Britain,  the  case  is  far  oth- 
erwise. By  its  very  nature  and  spirit,  it  desires  every 
member  of  die  community  enlightened  with  useful  know- 
ledge, and  especially  the  knowledge  of  the  blessed  gospel, 
which  contains  the  best  and  most  powerful  motives  for 
making  good  subjects,  as  well  as  good  men.  Considered 
in  this  light,  Mr.  Thomson's  design  could  not  fail  to  be 
encouraged  in  our  mother  country,  since  it  was  evidently 
calculated  to  save  a  multitude  of  most  industrious  people 
from  the  gloom  of  ignorance,  and  qualify  them  for  the  en- 
joyment, of  all  those  privileges,  to  which  it  is  now  their 
good  fortune  to  be  admitted,  in  common  with  the  happy 
subjects  of  a  free  Protestant  government. 

"  Mr.  Thomson  having  thus  made  his  business  known 
in  England,  and  prepared  the  way  for  encouragement 
there,  he,  in  the  meantime,  went  down  to  Scotland  ;  and, 
himself  being  known  in  that  country,  he  represented  the 
case  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  church,  then  sitting 
at  Edinburg,  upon  which  a  national  collection  was  made, 
amounting  to  upwards  of  £1,200  sterling.  Such  an  in- 
stance of  generosity,  is  one  out  of  many,  to  show  how  rea- 
dy that  church  has  always  been  to  contribute  towards  the 
advancement  of  Truth,  Virtue  and  Freedom. 

"  Mr.  Thomson,  upon  his  return  from  Scotland,  found 
that  his  pastoral  duty  called  him  back  to  Holland.  He 
saw,  likewise,  that  it  would  be  absolutely  necessary  to 
have  some  person  in  London,  not  only  to  manage  the  mo- 
neys already  collected,  but  also  to  solicit  and  receive  the 
contributions  of  the  rich  and  the  benevolent  in  England, 
where  nothing  had  yet  been  collected,  and  where  much 
might  be  hoped  for.  With  this  view,  lie  begged  a  certain 
number  of  noblemen*  and  gentlemen  of  the  first  rank,  to 

*  The  first  members  of  this  society  were  as  follows,  though  we  be- 
lieve several  are  added  this  winter,  (1775)  whose  names  have  not  yet 
been  transmitted  to  us: 

The  Right  Hon.  Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  Earl  of  Morton,  Earl  qf  Finla- 
ter,  and  Lord  Willoughby,  of  Parham.  Sir  Luke  Schaub,  and  Sir  Josh- 
ua Van  Neck,  Baronets.  Mr.  Commissioner  Vernon,  Mr.  Chitly,  and 
Mr.  Fluddyer,  Aldermen  of  London.  John  Bance,  Robert  Furguson, 
and  Nath.  Paice,  Esqs.  of  London.  Rev.  Benjamin  Avory,  L.  L.  D.  Rev. 
Thomas  Birch,  D.  D.  Rev.  Caspar  Wetstein,  Rev.  Mr.  David  Thomson 
and  Rev.  Samuel  Chandler,  Secretary. 


THE     GERMANS.  65 

take  the  management  of  the  design  upon  themselves,  col- 
lectively. 

"  This  proposal  was  readily  agreed  to  by  those  noble  and 
worthy  persons.  They  were  truly  concerned  to  find  that 
there  were  any  of  their  fellow  subjects,  in  any  part  of  the 
British  dominions,  not  fully  provided  with  the  means  of 
knowledge  and  salvation.  They  considered  it  a  matter  of 
the  greatest  importance  to  the  cause  of  Christianity,  in  ge- 
neral, and  the  protestant  interest  in  particular,  not  to  ne- 
glect such  a  vast  body  of  useful  people,  situated  in  a  dark 
and  barren  region,  with  almost  none  to  instruct  them,  or 
their  helpless  children,  who  are  coming  forward  in  the 
world  in  multitudes,  and  exposed  an  easy  prey  to  the  to- 
tal ignorance  of  their  savage  neighbors  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  corruption  of  our  Jesuitical  enemies,  on  whom  they 
border,  on  the  other  hand  ;  and  of  whom  there  are  always, 
perhaps,  too  many  mixed  among  them.  Moved  by  these 
mteresting€onsiderations,the said  noblemen  and  gentlemen, 
with  a  consideration  peculiar  to  great  and  generous  souls, 
did  accordingly  take  the  good  design  into  their  immediate 
protection,  and  formed  themselves  into  a  society  for  the 
effectual  management  of  it. 

"  The  first  thing  said  society  did,  was  to  agree  to  a  libe- 
ral subscription  among  themselves;  and,  upon  laying  the 
case  before  the  King,  His  Majesty,  like  a  true  father  of  his 
people,  granted  £1000  towards  it.  Her  Royal  Highness, 
the  Princess  Dowager  of  Wales,  granted  £100;  and  the 
honorable  proprietors  of  this  province,  willing  to  concur 
in  every  design  for  the  ease  and  welfare  of  their  people, 
generously  engaged  to  give  a  considerable  sum  yearly  for 
promoting  the  most  essential  part  of  the  undertaking.  From 
such  a  fair  beginning,  and  from  some  hopes  they  reasona- 
bly entertain  of  a  more  public  nature,  the  honorable  soci- 
ety doubt  not  of  their  being  able  to  complete  such  a  fund 
as  may  effectually  answer  their  pious  design,  in  time  com- 
ing. In  the  meantime  they  have  come  to  the  following 
general  resolutions,  with  regard  to  the  management  of  the 
whole : 

"  I.  To  assist  the  people  in  the  encouragement  of  pious 

and  industrious  protestant  ministers  that  are,  or  shall  be 

regularly  ordained  and  settled  among  the  said  Germans, 

or  their  descendants,  in  America ;  beginning  first  in  Peon- 

6* 


66  THE     GERMANS. 

sylvania,  where  the  want  of  ministers  is  greatest,  and  pro- 
ceeding to  the  neighboring  British  colonies,  as  they  shall 
be  enabled  by  an  increase  of  their  funds. 

"  II.  To  establish  some  charitable  schools  for  the  pious 
education  of  German  youths  of  all  denominations,  as  well 
as  those  English  youths  who  may  reside  among  them. 
Now,  as  a  religious  education  of  youth,  while  the  tender 
mind  is  yet  open  to  every  impression,  is  the  most  effectual 
means  of  making  a  people  wise,  virtuous  and  happy,  the 
honorable  society  have  declared  that  they  have  this  part 
of  their  design,  in  a  particular  manner,  at  heart;  it  being 
chiefly  from  the  care  that  shall  be  taken  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration, that  they  expect  the  success  of  their  whole  under- 
taking. 

"  III.  The  said  honorable  society,  considering  that  they 
reside  at  too  great  a  distance,  either  to  know  what  minis- 
ters deserve  their  encouragement,  or  what  places  are  most 
convenient  to  fix  the  schools  in — and  as  they  would  nei- 
their  bestow  their  bounty  on  any  who  do  not  deserve  it ; 
therefore  they  have  devolved  the  general  execution  of  the 
whole  upon  us,  under  the  name  of  "  Trustees  General,"  for 
the  management  of  their  charity  among  the  German  emi- 
grans  in  America.  And  as  our  residence  is  in  this  province, 
where  the  chief  body  is  settled,  under  whom  we  may  ac- 
quaint them  with  the  circumstances  of  the  people,  the  gener- 
ous society  hope  that  we  cannot  be  imposed"  upon,  or 
deceived,  in  the  direction  or  application  of  their  excellent 
charity. 

"  IV.  And  lastly,  considering  that  our  engagements  in 
other  matters,  would  not  permit  us  personally  to  consult  with 
the  people  in  the  country,  nor  to  visit  the  schools  as  often  as 
it  might  be  necessary  for  their  success,  the  honorable  society 
have,  out  of  their  true  fatherly  care,  appointed  the  Rev.  Mi*. 
Schlatter,  to  act  under  our  direction,  as  Visitor  or  Supervi- 
sor of  the  schools,  knowing  that  he  has  already  taken  incre- 
dible pains  in  this  whole  affair,  and  being  acquainted  with 
the  people  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  can  converse  with 
them  on  the  spot,  and  bring  us  the  best  advices  from  time 
to  time,  concerning  the  measures  fit  to  be  taken. 

"  This  is  a  brief  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  this 
noble  charity,  till  it  was  committed  to  our  management,  un- 
der which  we  hope  it  shall  be  so  conducted,  as  fully  to  an- 


THE  GERMANS.  67 

swer  the  expectation  of  the  worthy  society,  and  give  all  rea- 
sonable satisfaction  to  the  parties  for  whose  benefit  it  is 
intended.  We  shall  spare  no  pains  to  inform  ourselves  of 
the  wants  and  circumstances  of  the  people  ;  as  will  appear 
'by  the  following  plan  which  we  have  concerted  for  the  gen- 
eral examination  of  our  trust,  leaving  room  to  alter  or  amend 
it,  as  circumstances  shall  require,  and  time  discover  defects 
in  it. 

"  With  regard  to  that  part  of  the  society's  design  which 
proposes  the  encouragement  of  pious  protestant  ministers,  we 
shall  impartially  proportion  the  monies  set  apart  for  this  pur- 
pose according  to  the  instruction  of  the  said  society  ;  as  soon 
as  such  ministers  shall  put  it  in  our  power  so  to  do,  by  mak- 
ing their  labors  and  circumstances  known  to  us,  either  by 
their  own  personal  application,  or  by  means  of  Mr.  Schlat- 
ter, or  any  other  creditable  person. 

"  As  to  the  important  article  of  establishing  schools,  the 
following  general  plan  is  proposed  which  may,  be  from  time 
to  time  improved  or  perfected. 

"  1st-  It  is  intended  that  every  school  to  be  opened  upon 
this  charity,  shall  be  equally  to  the  benefit  of  protestant 
youth  of  all  denominations  ;  and  therefore  the  education  will 
be  in  such  things  as  are  generally  useful  to  advance  industry 
and  true  godliness.  The  youth  will  be  instructed  in  both  the 
English  and  German  languages ;  likewise  in  writing,  keep- 
ing of  common  accounts,  singing  of  Psalms,  and  the  true 
principles  of  the  holy  protestant  religion,  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  fathers  of  those  Germans  were  instructed,  at  the 
schools  in  those  countries  from  which  they  came. 

"  2dly.  As  it  may  be  of  great  service  to  religion  and  in- 
dustry, to  have  some  schools  for  girls,  also,  we  shall  use  our 
endeavors  with  the  honorable  society,  and  have  some  few 
school  mistresses  encouraged,  to  teach  reading  and  the  use  of 
the  needle.  And  though  this  was  no  part  of  the  original 
design,  yet  as  the  society  have  nothing  but  the  general  good 
of  all  at  heart,  we  doubt  not  they  will  extend  their  benefac- 
tion for  this  charitable  purpose  also. 

"  3dly.  That  all  may  be  induced,  in  their  early  youth,  te> 
seek  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  in  that  manner  which 
is  most  agreeable  to  their  own  consciences,  the  children  of  all 
protestant  denominations,  English  and  Dutch,  (German)  shall 
be  instructed  in  catechism  of  sound  doctrine,  which  is  appro- 


68  THE  GERMANS. 

ved  of  and  used  by  their  own  parents  and  ministers.  All  un- 
reasonable sort  of  compulsion  and  partiality  is  directly  oppo- 
site to  the  design  and  spirit  of  this  charity,  which  is  gener- 
ously undertaken  to  promote  useful  knowledge,  true  religion, 
public  peace,  and  Christian  love,  among  all  ranks  and  deno- 
minations. 

4thly.  For  the  use  of  schools,  the  several  catechisms  that 
are  now  taught  among  the  Calvinists,  Lutherans,  aud  other 
protestant  denominations,  will  be  printed  in  English  &  Dutch, 
(German)  and  distributed  among  the  poor,  together  with 
some  other  good  books,  at  the  expense  of  the  society. 

•'  5thly.  In  order  that  all  parents  may  be  certain  of  hav- 
ing justice  done  to  their  children,  the  immediate  care  and 
inspection  of  every  school  will  be  committed  to  a  certain 
number  of  sober  and  respectable  persons,  living  near  the 
place  where  such  school  shall  be  fixed.  These  persons  will 
be  denominated  Assistant  or  Deputy  Trustees ;  and  it  will 
be  their  business,  monthly  or  quarterly,  to  visit  that  particu- 
lar school  for  which  they  are  appointed,  and  see  that  both 
master  and  scholars  do  their  duty.  It  will  also  be  their  busi- 
ness to  send  an  account  of  the  state  and  progress  of  the 
schools,  at  every  such  visitation,  to  us  as  Trustees  General. 
These  accounts  we  shall  transmit  from  Philadelphia  to  the 
society  in  London ;  and  the  society  will  from  time  to  time, 
be  enabled,  by  these  means,  to  lay  the  state  of  the  whole 
school  before  the  public  ;  and  thus  charitable  and  well  dispo- 
sed people,  both  in  Great  Britain  and  Holland,  seeing  the 
good  use  that  has  been  made  of  their  former  contributions, 
will  be  inclined  to  give  still  more  and  more  for  so  glorious 
and  benevolent  an  undertaking. 

"  This  method  cannot  fail  to  be  of  great  advantage  to  the 
schools,  since  the  Deputy  Trustees,  being  part  of  the  very 
people  for  whom  the  work  is  undertaken,  and  having  their 
own  children  at  the  same  schools,  they  must  have  an  interest 
in  the  reputation  of  them,  and  do  all  in  their  power  to  ad- 
vance good  education  in  them.  Besides  this,  being  always 
near  at  hand,  they  can  advise  and  encourage  the  master, 
and  help  him  over  any  difficulties  he  may  meet  with. 

"  But,  6thly.  As  the  keeping  up  a  spirit  of  emulation 
among  the  youth  is  the  life  of  schools,  therefore,  that  we 
may  leave  as  little  room  as  possible  for  that  remissness,  which 
sometimes  hurts  charities  of  this  nature,  we  shall,  as  far  as 


THE  GERMANS.  69 

our  situation  will  permit,  have  a  personal  regard  to  the  exe- 
cution of  the  whole.  As  the  Assistant  Trustees  may  often 
want  our  advice  in  removing  difficulties  and  making  new 
regulations,  we  shall  so  contrive  it,  that  Mr.  Schlatter  shall 
be  present  at  their  quarterly  meetings,  to  consult  with  them, 
and  concert  the  proper  measures  to  be  taken.  Besides  this, 
we  shall  have  one  general  visitation  of  the  schools  every 
year,  at  which  one  or  more  of  us  shall  endeavor  to  be  pres- 
ent- On  these  occasions,  such  regulations  shall  be  made, 
as  may  be  wanted  ;  and  careful  inquiry  will  be  made  wheth- 
er any  parents  think  themselves  injured  by  any  unjust  exclu- 
sion of  their  children  from  an  equal  benefit  of  the  common 
charity,  or  by  the  partiality  of  the  masters  or  otherwise. — 
At  such  visitations,  books  will  be  given  as  rewards  and  en- 
couragement to  the  diligent  and  deserving  scholars.  The 
masters  will  likewise  have  proper  marks  of  esteem  shown 
them  in  proportion  to  their  fidelity  and  industry  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  office. 

"  7thly.  With  regard  to  the  number  of  schools  to  be  open- 
ed, that  will  depend  partly  on  the  encouragement  given  by 
the  people  themselves,  and  partly  on  the  increase  of  the  so- 
ciety's funds.  A  considerable  number  of  places  are  propos- 
ed to  fix  schools  in;  but  none  are  yet  absolutely  determined 
upon,  but  New  Hanover,  New  Providence,  and  Reading* — 
These  places  were  first  fixed  upon  because  the  people  of  all 
persuasions,  Lutherans,  Calvinists,  and  other  protestants, 
moved  with  a  pious  and  fatherly  concern  for  the  illiterate 
state  of  their  helpless  children,  did,  with  true  Christain  har- 
mony, present  their  petitions,  praying  that  their  numerous 
children  of  all  denominations  in  these  parts,  might  be  made 
the  common  object  of  the  intended  charity.  And  for  this 
benevolent  purpose,  they  did  further  agree  to  offer  school 
houses  in  which  their  children  might  be  instrusted  together, 
as  dear  fellow  Christians,  redeemed  by  the  same  Lord  and 
Savior,  and  travelling  to  the  same  heavenly  country,  through 

*  Since  the  original  publication,  petitions  have  been  sent  to  the 
Trustees  General,  from  Upper  Solfort,  from  Vincent  township  in  Ches- 
ter county,  from  the  borough  of  Lancaster,  from  Tulpehocken,  and  se- 
veral other  places,  all  of  which  will  be  considered  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble.    Feb.  25,  1755.— [Penna.  Gazette. 

Note:  Schools  were  also  established  in  1756,  besides  the  places 
mentioned,  at  Lancaster,  York,  Easton,  and  several  other  places, 


70  THE  GERMANS. 

this  valley  of  tears,  notwithstanding  they  may  sometimes 
take  roads  a  little  different   in  points  of  smaller  moment. 

"  This  striking  example  of  unanimity  and  good  agreement 
among  all  denominations,  we  hope,  will  be  imitated  by  those 
who  shall  afterwards  apply  to  us  for  fixing  schools  among 
them  ;  since  it  is  only  upon  the  aforesaid  generous  plan  for 
the  common  benefit  of  all,  that  we  find  ourselves  empowered 
to  institute  such  schools.  But  while  petitions  are  agreeable 
to  this,  our  plan,  as  now  explained,  they  will  not  be  over- 
looked, as  long  as  the  funds  continue.  And  if  the  petition- 
ers shall  recommend  school  masters,  as  was  the  case  at  New 
Hanover,  New  Providence,  and  Reading,  such  school  mas- 
ters will  have  the  preference,  provided  they  are  men  of  suffi- 
cient probity  and  knowledge,  agreeable  to  all  parties,  and 
acquainted  with  both  the  English  and  Dutch  (German)  lan- 
guages, or  willing  to  learn  either  of  these  languages  which 
they  may  not  then  be  perfectly  acquainted  with. 

"  These  are  essential  qualifications ;  and  unless  the  gener- 
ous society  had  made  provision  for  teaching  English  as  well 
as  Dutch,  (German)  it  would  not  have  answered  their  be- 
nevolent design,  which  is  to  qualify  the  Germans  for  all  the 
advantages  of  native  English  subjects.  But  this  could  not 
have  been  done,  without  giving  them  an  opportunity  of  learn- 
ing English,  by  speaking  of  which  they  may  expect  to  rise  to 
places  of  profit  and  honor  in  the  country.  They  will  likewise 
be  thereby  enabled  to  buy  or  sell  to  the  greater  advantage  in 
our  markets,  to  understand  their  own  causes  in  courts  of  jus- 
tice, where  pleadings  are  in  English,  to  know  what  is  doing 
in  the  country  around  them,  and,  in  a  word,  to  judge  and  act 
entirely  for  themselves,  without  being  obliged  to  take  things 
upon  the  word  of  others,  whose  interest  it  may  be  to  deceive 
and  mislead  them. 

"  We  have  only  further  to  add,  that  having  thus  publish- 
ed, in  our  names,  a  true  and  faithful  account  of  the  rise  and 
progress  of  this  excellent  charity,  down  to  the  present  time, 
we  hope  it  will  candidly  be  received  as  such,  and  prevent 
many  wrong  conjectures  and  insinuations,  that  might  other- 
wise have  been  made,  if  we  had  not  given  this  genuine  and 
necessary  information  concerning  it.  From  the  foregoing 
plan,  it  plainly  appears,  that  as  the  chief  management  is  in 
the  people  themselves,  it  must  be  entirely  their  own  faults, 
if  these  schools  do  not  become  the  greatest  blessing  to  many 


THE   GERMANS.  71 

generations,  that  ever  was  proposed  in  this  couutry.  Such, 
and  so  benevolent  are  the  designs  of  the  new  society ! 

"And  surely,  now,  we  may  be  permitted  in  their  name,  to 
address  you,  countrymen  and  fellow  Christians,  for  whose 
benefit  the  great  work  is  undertaken  !  We  cannot  but  en- 
treat you  to  consider,  of  what  importance  such  a  scheme 
must  be  to  you,  and  your  children  after  you.  We  are  unwil- 
ling to  believe  that  there  are  any  persons,  who  do  not  hear- 
tily wish  success  to  a  design  so  pious  aud  benevolent.  But, 
if,  unhappily  for  themselves,  there  should  be  any  such  among 
us,  we  are  bound  in  charity  to  suppose  they  have  never  yet 
reflected  that,  whilst  they  indulge  such  wishes,  they  are  in 
fact  acting  a  part,  plainly  repugnant  to  the  interests  of  lib- 
erty, true  religion,  and  even  of  human  nature. 

u  Mankind  in  general  are,  perhaps,  scarcely  raised  more, 
by  their  nature,  above  the  brutes,  than  a  man  well  instructed 
above  the  man  of  no  knowledge  or  education ;  and  whoever 
strives  to  keep  a  people  in  ignorance,  must  certainly  harbor 
notions  or  designs  that  are  unfavorable,  either  to  their  civil 
or  religious  liberty.  For  whilst  a  people  are  incapable  of 
knowing  their  own  interests,  or  judging  for  themselves,  they 
cannot  be  governed  by  free  principles,  or  by  their  own  choice; 
and  though  they  should  not  be  immediate  slaves  of  the  gov- 
ernment under  which  they  live,  yet  they  must  be  slaves  or 
dupes  to  those  whose  councils  they  are  obliged  to  have  re- 
course to,  and  follow  blindly  on  all  occasions,  which  is  the 
most  dishonorable  species  of  slavery. 

"  But  on  the  other  hand,  a  design  for  instructing  a  people. 
and  adorning  the  minds  of  the  children  with  useful  knowl- 
edge, can  carry  nothing  in  it  but  what  is  friendly  to  liberty, 
auspicious  to  all  the  most  sacred  interests  of  mankind. 

"  Were  it  otherwise,  why  are  so  many  of  the  greatest  and 
best  men,  both  of  the  British  and  German  nations,  engaged 
in  the  undertaking  ?  Why  have  they,  as  it  were,  stooped 
from  their  high  spheres,  and  even  condescended  to  beg  from 
house  to  house,  in  order  to  promote  it !  Is  not  all  this  done 
with  the  glorious  intention  of  relieving  from  distressful  igno- 
rance that  was  like  to  fall  upon  you  ?  Is  it  not  done  with 
a  view  to  call  you  up  to  all  the  advantages  of  free  and  en- 
lightened subjects,  capable  of  thinking  and  acting  for  your- 
self? And  shall  they  call  you  in  vain?  God  forbid!  If 
by  any  infatuation,  you  should  neglect  the  means  of  knowl- 


?2  THE    GERMANS. 

edge  and  eternal  happiness,  now  offered  you,  think  seriously 
what  must  be  the  consequence.  You  will  be  accountable  in 
the  sight  of  Almighty  God,  not  only  for  your  own  sad  neg- 
ligence, but  for  all  that  misery  and  slavery,  which  you  may 
thereby  entail  upon  your  hapless  offspring  to  the  latest  gen- 
erations. Your  very  names  will  be  held  in  abhorrence  by 
your  own  children,  if,  for  the  want  of  instruction,  their  priv- 
ileges should  either  be  abridged  here,  or  they  should  fall  a 
prey  to  the  error  and  slavery  of  our  restless  enemies. 

"  But  on  the  contrary,  if  proper  instructions  are  begun 
now,  and  constantly  carried  on  among  you,  no  design  can 
ever  be  hatched  against  your  religion  or  liberties,  but  what 
you  shall  quickly  be  able  to  discover  and  defeat.  All  the 
arts  of  your  enemies  will  be  of  no  avail  to  sever  you  from 
your  true  interests,  as  men  and  as  protestants.  You  shall 
know  how  to  make  the  true  use  of  all  your  noble  privileges, 
and  instead  of  moving  in  a  dry  and  barren  land,  where  no 
water  is,  you  and  your  posterity  shall  flourish  from  age  to 
age,  in  all  that  is  valuable  in  human  life.  A  barren  region 
shall  be  turned  into  a  fruitful  country,  and  a  thirsty  land  into 
pools  of  water.  The  wilderness  and  solitary  place  shall  be 
glad  through  you,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
as  the  rose. — Isa.  35." 

The  society  under  whose  directions  the  schools  were  con- 
ducted, established  as  early  as  1755,  a  press  for  the  German 
language.  School  books  and  religious  tracts  in  the  German 
language  were  printed  at  this  press;  and,  in  order  to  convey, 
with  the  greater  facility,  political  and  other  information  to 
the  German  citizens,  a  newspaper  was  published  at  this  es- 
tablishment. The  Revd.  William  Smith,  D.  D.  provost  of 
the  college  at  Philadelphia,  was  agent  for  the  English  socie- 
ty, and  had  the  direction  of  the  press,  and  of  the  newspaper. 

Several  German  papers  had  been  published  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, prior  to  the  one  spoken  of.  In  1739,  C.  Sauer,  com- 
menced one — issued  it  at  first  once  a  quarter,  then  monthly; 
after  1744,  weekly.  It  was  published  at  Germantown.  Jo- 
seph Crellius  commenced  a  weekly  paper  in  Philadelphia, 
1743.  Another,  it  would  appear  from  the  Pennsylvania  Ga- 
zette, was  started  in  1751,  in  English  and  German.  The  ed- 
itor was,  it  is  supposed,  Gotthan  Armbruster. 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  IRISH  OR  SCOTCH  IRISH. 


Time  of  their  first  immigration — Settle  first  near  the  boundary  line  be- 
tween Maryland  and  Pennsylvania— James  Logan's  statement  con- 
cerning them — First  settlers  in  Donegal— In  Peshtank — Richard 
Peters  complains  of  them — They  oppose  a  survey  in  Adams  county 
— Settle  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  in  Cumberland  county — Disagree- 
ment between  the  Irish  and  Germans,  at  Lancaster  and  York — Im- 
migration of,  to  Cumberland  county,  encouraged — Settle  on  the  Ju- 
niata, &c. — Lord's  prayer  in  Irish — General  settlements. 

According  to  Mr.  Watson's  statement,  Irish  immigrants 
did  not  begin  to  come  to  Pennsylvania  as  soon  as  the  Ger- 
mans. It  appears  few,  if  any,  arrived  in  the  Province,  prior 
to  1719.  Those  that  did  then  arrive,  came  principally  from 
the  north  of  Ireland. 

Irish  or  Scotch  Irish.  The  name  was  used  to  designate 
a  numerous  and  honorable  people,  who  immigrated  to  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  date.  Whence  this 
term  is  derived,  the  following  historical  notice,  will  serve  to 
explain.  During  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  in  the  year  1641, 
October  27,  the  massacre  of  the  Irish  Protestants  occurred, 
in  Ireland,  where,  in  a  few  days,  fifty  thousand  were  inhumar  - 
ly,  without  regard  to  sex,  age  or  quality,  butchered ;  and 
many  fled  to  the  North  of  Scotland,  from  which  country  the 
North  of  Ireland  had  been  colonized  by  Protestants. 

An  act  was  passed  by  Parliament,  (the  act  of  uniformity) 
1662,  requiring  all  ministers  and  churches  rigidly  to  conform 
to  the  rites  of  the  established  church,  which  occasioned  two 
thousand  ministers  (called  Non-contormists)  to  dissent  and 
abandon  their  pulpits.  This  act  affected  Scotland  with  equal 
severity.  In  1691,  the  Toleration  act  was  passed,  under 
which  the  dissenters  enjoyed  greater  privileges ;  but,  in  the 
reign  of  Queen  Ann,  (1704—1714)  the  Schism  Bill,  which 
had  actually  obtained  the  royal  assent,  alarmed  the  disrenters 

7 


74  THE  IRISH. 

much — the  provisions  of  that  bill  were,  that  dissenters  were 
not  to  be  suffered  to  educate  their  own  children,  but  required 
them  to  be  put  into  the  hands  of  Conformists,  and  which  for- 
bade all  tutors  and  school  masters  being  present  at  any  con- 
venticle or  disserting  plan  of  worship. 

These  difficulties  and  the  unsettled  state  of  affairs  in  Eu- 
rope, drove  many  of  the  more  quiet  citizens  from  their  native 
home,  and  of  this  number  were  those,  and  descendants  of 
those  who  had  fled  from  the  north  of  Ireland  to  Scotland, 
as  well  as  genuine  Scotch. 

Such  as  came  first,  generally  settled  near  or  about  the  dis- 
puted line  between  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  if  we  ex- 
cept those  who  settled  in  Donegal  township,  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, and  those  of  Craig's  and  Martin's  settlements  in  North- 
ampton county. 

James  Logan,  writing  of  them  to  the  Proprietaries,  in 
1724,  says,  they  have  generally  taken  up  the  southern  lands, 
(meaning  in  Lancaster,  towards  the  Maryland  line,)  and  as 
they  rarely  approached  him  to  propose  to  purchase,  he  calls 
them  bold  and  indigent  strangers,  saying  as  their  excuse, 
when  challenged  for  titles,  that  we  had  solicited  for  colonists, 
and  they  had  come  accordingly.  They  were,  however,  un- 
derstood to  be  a  tolerated  class,  exempt  from  rents  by  an  or- 
dinance of  1720,  in  consideration  of  their  being  a  frontier 
people,  forming  a  kind  of  cordon  of  defence,  if  needful.  They 
were  soon  called  bad  neighbors,  by  the  Indians,  treating 
them  disdainfully,  and  finally  were  the  same  race  who  com- 
mitted the  outrages,  called  Paxtang  Massacre.  The  general 
ideas  are  found  in  the  Logan  MSS.  collection.  Some  of  the 
data  are  as  follows : 

"  In  1725,  James  Logan  states,  that  there  are  so  many  as 
one  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land,  possessed  by  persons,, 
(including  Germans,)  who  resolutely  set  down  and  improved 
it  without  having  any  right  to  it,  and  he  is  much  at  a  loss  to 
determine  how  to  dispossess  them. 

"  In  New  Castle  government  there  arrived  last  year  (1728) 
says  the  Gazette  of  1729,  forty-five  hundred  persons,  chiefly 
from  Ireland. 

"  In  1729,  Logan  expresses  himself  glad  to  find  that  the 
Parliament  is  about  to  take  measures  to  prevent  the  too  free 
emigration  to  this  country.  In  the  meantime  the  Assembly 
had  laid  a  restraining  tax  of  twenty  shillings  a  head  for  eve- 


THE    IRISH.  75 

ry  servant  arriving;  but  even  this  was  evaded  in  the  case  of 
the  arrival  of  a  ship  from  Dublin,  with  one  hundred  Catholics 
and  convicts,  by  landing  them  at  Burlington.  It  looks,  says 
he,  as  if  Ireland  is  to  send  all  her  inhabitants  hither,  for  last 
week,  not  less  than  six  ships  arrived,  and  every  day  two  or 
three  arrive  also.  The  common  fear  is,  that  if  they  continue 
to  come,  they  will  make  themselves  proprietors  of  the  pro* 
vince.  It  is  strange,  says  he,  that  they  thus  crowd  where 
they  are  not  wanteds  But  besides  these,  convicts  are  impor- 
ted hither.*  The  Indians  themselves  are  alarmed  at  the 
swarms  of  strangers,  and  we  are  afraid  of  a  breach  between 
them — for  the  Irish  are  very  rough  to  them." 

'fin  1730,  he  writes  and  complains  of  the  Scotch  Irish, 
in  an  audacious  and  disorderly  manner,  possessing  themselves 
oi  the  whole  of  Conestoga  manor,  of  fifteen  thousand  acres, 
being  the  best  land  4$l  the  country.  In  doing  this  by  force, 
they  alleged  that  it  was  against  the  laws  of  God  and  nature, 
that  so  much  land  should  be  idle,  while  so  many  Christians 
wanted  it  to  labor  on,  and  to  raise  their  bread,  &c.  The 
Paxtang  boys  were  great  sticklers  for  religion  and  scripture 
quotations  against  "  the  heathen."  They  were,  however, 
dispossessed  by  the  Sheriff  and  his  posse,  and  their  cabins, 
to  the  number  of  thirty,  were  burnt.  This  necessary  vio- 
lence was,  perhaps,  remembered  with  indignation ;  for  only 
twenty-five  years  afterwards,  the  Paxtang  massacre  began 
by  killing  the  Christian  unoffending  Indians  found  in  Cones- 
toga.     The  Irish  were  generally  settled  at  Donegal." 

From  Donegal,  the  settlements  by  the  Irish  and  Scotch 
were  extended  into  Paxton,  Derry,  Londonderry  and  Hano- 
ver townships,  Lancaster  county,  (now  Dauphin,  and  part 
of  Lebanon)  Paxton  (Peshtank)  and  Derry  townships  were 
organized  prior  to  1730. 

Mr.  Logan,  says  Watson,  writes  in  another  letter,  "I  must 
■own,  from  my  own  experience  in  the  Land  Office,  that  the 
settlement  of  five  families  from  Ireland  gives  me  more  trouble 
than  fifty  of  any  other  people.  Befoie  we  were  broke  in 
upon,  ancient  Friends  and  first  settlers  lived  happily,  but  now 
the  case  is  quite  altered,  by  strangers  and  debauched  morals, 
&c.     All  this  seems  like  hard  measure  dealt  upon  those  spe- 

*  Augustus  Gun,  of  Cork,  advertisei  in  the  Philadelphia  papers, 
that  he  had  power  from  the  Mayor  of  Cork,  for  many  years,  to  procure 
servants  for  America— 174 L 


76  THE  IRISH. 

cimens  of  "  the  land  of  generous  natures,"  but  we  may  be 
excused  for  letting  him  speak  out,  who  was  himself  from  the 
Emerald  Isle,  where  he  had  of  course  seen  a  better  race. 

"  Logan's  successor,  Richard  Peters,  Esq.  as  Secretary  to 
the  Proprietaries,  falls  into  a  similar  dissatisfaction  with  thtm; 
for  in  his  letter  to  the  proprietaries,  of  1743,  he  says,  he  went 
to  Marsh  creek  (Adams  county, — then  Lancaster)  to  warn 
off  and  dispossess  the  squatters,  and  to  measure  the  Manor 
land. 

"  On  that  occasion,  the  people  there,  to  about  the  number 
of  seventy,  assembled  and  forbade  them  to  proceed,  and  on 
their  persisting,  broke  the  chain  and  compelled  thtm  to  retire. 
He  had  with  him  a  sheriff  and  a  magistrate.  They  were  af- 
terwards indicted — became  subdued,  and  made  their  engage- 
ment for  leases.  Iu  most  cases  the  leases  were  so  easy,  that 
they  were  enabled  to  buy  the  lands  ere  they  expired." 

Settlements  were  commenced  in  Cumberland,  (then  Lan- 
caster) by  the  descendants  of  Irish  and  Scotch  immigrants, 
and  some  recently  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  Highlands  of 
Scotia,  and  some  few  English,  about  1730  and  1731.  Alter 
1736,  when  Pennsborough  and  Hopewell  townships  had  been 
erected,  the  influx  of  emigrants  from  Europe,  and  from  Lan- 
caster county,  into  Kittochtinny  valley,  west  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, increased  rapidly ;  for  in  1748,  the  number  of  taxa- 
bles  in  this  valley  (Cumberland  and  Franklin  counties)  was 
about  eight  hundred  ;  of  whom  there  were  not  fifty  Germans 
— those  few  were  in  the  Conococheague  settlement. 

Shortly  after  Cumberland  county  had  been  erected  (1750) 
the  proprietaries,  "  in  consequence  of  the  frequent  disturban- 
ces between  the  governor  and  Irish  settlers,  gave  orders  to 
their  agents  to  sell  no  land  either  in  York  and  Lancaster 
counties  to  the  Irish;  and  also  to  make  advantageous  offers 
of  removal  to  the  Irish  settlers  (as  the  mingling  of  the  two 
nations  in  Lancaster  and  York  had  produced  serious  riots  at 
elections)  in  Paxton  and  Swatara,  and  Donegal  townships, 
to  remove  to  Cumberland  county,  which  offers  being  liberal, 
were  accepted  by  many. 

We  soon  find  the  more  intrepid  as  pioneer  settlers  in  Hun- 
tingdon, Juniata,  Mifflin,  and  farther  west  and  northwest,  as 
will  appear  from  the  sequel. 

As  early  as  1732,  there  was  a  violent  contest  between  An- 
drew Galbraith  and  John  Wright,  both  candidates  for  the 


THE  IRISH.  77 

Assembly.  Wright  was  an  English  Quaker,  Galbraith  an 
Irishman ;  but  in  1743,  the  Irish  strove  more  effectually  for 
ascendancy  at  the  polls.  This  year  an  election  was  held  to 
supply  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Thomas  Lin- 
sey.  The  Irish  compelled  the  sheriff  to  receive  such  tickets 
as  they  approved,  and  make  a  return  accordingly. 

The  matter  was  afterwards  investigated,  and  the  following 
resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Assembly — 

Resolved,  That  the  sheriff  having  assumed  upon  himself 
the  power  of  being  sole  judge  at  the  late  election,  exclusive 
of  the  inspectors  chosen  by  the  farmers  of  the  said  county  of 
Lancaster,  is  illegal,  unwarrantable  and  an  infringement  of 
the  liberties  of  the  people  of  the  Province;  that  it  gave  just 
cause  for  discontentment  to  the  inhabitants  of  said  county ; 
that  if  any  disturbances  followed  thereupon,  it  is  justly  im- 
puted to  his  own  misconduct. 

Resolved,  that  the  Sheriff  of  Lancaster  county  be  admon- 
ished by  the  speaker.  The  sheriff  attended,  and  being  ad- 
monished, promised  he  would  take  care  and  keep  the  law  in 
future.  He  also  altered  the  return,  as  Samuel  Blunston  was 
entitled  to  take  his  seat. 

In  1749  an  election  was  held  at  York.  There  were  two 
prominent  candidates  for  sheriff,  Hans  Hamilion,  from  Marsh 
creek,  (Adams county)  the  Irish  candidate;  Richard  McAl- 
lister, the  favorite  of  the  Dutch.  The  Germans,  as  they  are 
wont,  without  much  ado,  worked  well  for  their  candidate, 
evidently  gaining  on  their  competitors;  this  vexed  the  ireful 
friends  of  Hamilton.  Two  or  three  stout,  blustering  Hiber- 
nians— boxers,  as  they  were  called — took  possession  of  the 
place,"  where  to  poll;"  determined  that  none  but  their  candi- 
dates' friends  should  vote,  A  stout  German,  equally  deter- 
mined to  enjoy,  what  he  considered  his  rights,  without  yield- 
ing any  the  least,  stepped  up  to  vote — tripped  up  the  heels  of 
one  of  the  swaggering  Irishmen,  which  eventuated  in  an  af- 
fray. The  standing  saplings,  near  at  hand,  wTere  soon  torn 
down,  and  sticks  cut,  which  were  used  as  defensive  and  offen- 
sive weapons.  Blows  were  promiscuously  dealt  out — the  Irish 
were  routed — driven  beyond  Codorus  creek ;  and  at  the  risk 
of  bloody  heads,  dared  not  to  appear,  all  day,  east  of  the  Co- 
dorus, The  Germans  voted,  and  elected  M'Allister,  by  an 
overwhelming  majority,  But,  in  this  instance,  Gov.  James; 
Hamilton  disregarded  the  expressed  will  of  the  majority  of 


/n  THE  IRISH. 

voters,  and  commissioned  Hans  Hamilton  for  one  yean  Illy 
considered  policy,  as  the  sequel  proved. 

At  the  second  election  held  at  York,  Oct.  1750,  for  repre- 
sentatives, a  large  party  of  Germans  drove  the  Irish  from  the 
polls.  It  was  set  forth  in  a  petition  to  the  Assembly,  touch- 
ing this  affray,  that  Hans  Hamilton  did  not  open  4he  election 
till  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  which  caused  not  a  little 
uneasiness  among  the  people.  That  the  Marsh  creek  people 
gathered  about  the  election  house  to  give  in  their  tickets  and 
would  not  suffer  the  Dutch  people  and  others  to  come  near 
the  house,  but  did  all  they  could  to  keep  them  off  with  clubs, 
so  that  the  Germans  were  obliged  to  do  the  best  they  could, 
or  else  go  home  without  voting ;  and  being  the  most  in 
number  they  drove  the  people  from  the  house,  and  when 
they  had  done  so,  they  came  in  a  peaceable  manner  to  give 
in  their  votes ;  but  when  the  sheriff  saw  his  party  was 
mastered,  he  locked  up  the  box,  and  would  not  suffer  the 
inspectors  to  take  any  more  tickets,  which  made  the  Dutch 
people  angry,  and  they  strove  to  break  into  the  house — and 
then  the  sober  people  desired  the  sheriff  to  continue  the 
election ;  but  he  would  not,  and  went  away  out  of  the 
back  window,  several  of  the  inspectors  going  with  him — and 
then  the  freeholders  desired  the  coroner  to  carry  on  the  elec- 
tion— which  having  done  carefully  and  justly ;  and,  after- 
wards, the  sheriff  was  asked  to  come  and  see  the  votes  read, 
and  an  account  taken  of  them,  but  he  refused,  &c. 

The  whole  matter  was  investigated — the  sheriff  was  called 
before  the  Assembly,  pojitely  admonished  by  the  speaker, 
and  advised  to  preserve  better  order  in  future. 

Though  the  Germans  occupy  the  greater  portion  of  the 
farms,  first  setled  by  the  Irish,  in  Dauphin  and  Cumberland 
counties,  there  are  still  a  respectable  number  of  the  descen- 
dants of  this  generous  and  hospitable  people,  occupying  the 
homestead  of  their  ancestors.  Unlike  the  German,  the  de- 
scendants of  the  Irish,  no  longer  speak  the  language  of  their 
valorous  fathers. 

The  following  is  the  Lord's  prayer  in  Irish,  copied  from 
Gr.  Daniel's  edition  of  an  Irish  Bible,  printed  1602. 

Air  nathir  ataigh  air  nin.  Nabz  fat  hanimti.  Tighuh  da 
riathiate.  Deantur  da  hoilamhuoil  Air  nimh  agis  air  thal- 
ambi.  Air  naran  laidthnil  tabhair  dhuin  a  niomb.  Agis 
math  duin  dairf  hiacha  ammnil.  Agis  mathum  vid  dar  feu- 
thunuim.  Agis  na  trilaie  astoch  sin  anau  sen.  Ac  sar  sina 
ole. — Amen. 


THE  IRISH.  79 

Note.  Emigrants  from  Scotland  and  Ireland,  settled  at  an 
early  period  in  the  New  England,  Middle  and  Southern 
States.  Previous  to  1640,  a  large  body  from  Scotland  and 
Ireland  settled  in  the  eastern  states.  Between  400  and  500 
emigrants  from  Scotland,  alone,  arrived  in  New  York  in 
1737  ;  and  twenty  years  later,  Scotch  and  Irish  colonists 
established  themselves  in  Ulster  county;  also  at  Orange  and 
Albany,  N.  York.  As  early  as  1685,  some  Scotch  and  Irish 
settled  in  New  Jersey.  But  it  was  to  Pennsylvania  that  the 
largest  emigration  of  Scotch  and  Irish,  particularly  the  lat- 
ter, though  at  a  later  period,  took  place.  From  Pennsylva- 
nia, many  of  the  Scotch  Irish  went  into  the  western  parts  of 
Maryland,  the  central  portions  of  Virginia,  and  the  western 
counties  of  North  Carolina.  A  thousand  left  the  northern 
and  middle  colonies,  for  North  Carolina,  in  1764,  where  their 
descendants  now  constitute  a  dense  homogeneous  population. 
Five  or  six  hundred  Scotch  settled  near  Fayetteville,  North 
Carolina,  in  1749,  and  there  was  a  second  arrival  from  the 
same  country  in  1754.  In  1684,  a  small  colony  of  persecu- 
ted Scotch  settled  under  Lord  Cardross  in  South  Carolina. 
In  1737,  multitudes  of  husbands  and  laborers,  from  Ireland, 
embarked  for  South  Carolina ;  and  within  three  years,  before 
1773,  no  less  than  1600  hundred  emigrants  from  the  north 
of  Ireland  settled  there.  Georgia,  too,  was  partly  colonized 
by  Scotch  and  Irish,  who  emigrated  south  from  Pennsylva- 
nia (from  Lancaster  and  Cumberland  counties)  across  Mary- 
land, Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  besides  receiving  no  small 
proportion  of  its  first  settlers,  directly  from  Scotland.  The 
descendants  of  these  two  classes,  are  settled  in  various  parts 
of  the  middle,  southern  and  western  states.  Previous  to  the 
revolution  of  '76,  the  immigration  of  them  was  not  only  ex- 
tensive, but  of  a  better  sort ;  especially  when  contrasted  with 
those  who,  for  the  last  25  or  30  years,  have  arrived  in  this 
country. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

John  Armstrong,  James  Smith  and  Woodward  Arnold  killed  by  Muse- 
meelin,  in  1744 — Alexander  Armstrong's  letter  to  Allumoppies  and 
Shicalemy— Search  made  for  the  bodies  of  the  deceased  ;  fcund  and 
buried  them — Weiser's  letter — Provincial  council  held — Conrad 
Weiser  makes  a  demand  for  the  murderer  at  Shamokin — Weiser's 
transactions,  &c.  at  Shamokin — Shicalemy's  statement  touching  the 
murder  of  Armstrong. 

The  principal,  of  the  numerous  murders  committed  by  the 
Indians  upon  the  whites,  within  the  limits  then  embraced  by 
the  upper  part  of  Lancaster  county,  and  of  Cumteiland. 
forms  the  subject  of  several  chapters  of  this  part  of  this  com- 
pilation. 

As  settlements  became  somewhat  extended,  the  white 
people,  especially  Indian  traders  came  in  closer  contact  with 
the  Indians;  and  despite  of  the  efforts  of  the  government 
serious  conflicts  ensued,  and,  in  some  instances,  blood  was 
shed.  This  was,  however,  owing  as  much  to  the  imprudence 
of  the  whites  as  to  the  temerity  of  the  Indians. 

Sometime  in  the  year  1744,  John  Armstrong,  a  Trader, 
among  the  Indians,  west  of  the  Susquehanra,*with  two  of 
his  servants  or  men,  namely,  James  Smith  and  Wood  worth 
Arnold,  was  murdered  by  an  Indian  of  the  Delaware  tribe, 
named  Musemeelin,  on  the  Juniata  river.  Seven  white  men 
and  five  Indians  went  in  search  of  the  bodies  of  those  mur- 
dered ;  after  some  search,  found  and  buried  them.  The 
murderer  was  afterwards  apprehended,  and  delivered  up  by 
his  own  nation,  and  imprisoned  at  Lancaster,  whence  he  was 
removed  to  Philadelphia,  lest  he  should  escape,  or  his  trial 
and  execution  prodnce  an  unfavorable  impression  on  his  coun- 
trymen about  to  assemble,  for  a  conference  with  the  whites 
at  Lancaster.  The  Governor  directed  or  required  that  the 
property  of  Armstrong  should  be  returned  to  his  family.  He 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  81 

also  invited  a  deputation  to  attend  the  trial  of  Musemeelin, 
and  his  execution,  if  found  guilty. 

Alexander  Armstrong,  of  Lancaster  county,  a  brother  of 
the  deceased,  addressed  a  letter  to  Allumoppies,  King  of  the 
Delawares,  at  Shamokin,  touching  the  death  of  his  brother, 
and  some  threats  made  by  some  Delaware  Indians  upon  his 
life. 

April  25,  1744. 

To  Allumoppies,  King  of  the  Delawares :  Great  Sir,  as 
a  parcel  of  your  men  have  murdered  my  brother,  and  two  of 
his  men,  I  wrote  you,  knowing  you  to  be  a  king  of  justice, 
that  you  will  send  us  in  all  the  murderers  and  the  men  that 
were  with  them.  As  I  looked  for  the  corpse  of  my  murder- 
ed brother ;  for  that  reason  your  men  threaten  my  life ;  and 
I  cannot  leave  my  house.  Now  as  we  have  no  inclination 
or  mind  to  go  to  war  with  you,  our  fiiends  ;  as  a  friend,  I 
desire  that  you  will  keep  your  men  from  doing  me  harm,  and 
also  to  send  the  murderers  and  their  companions. 

I  expect  an  answer ;  and  am  your  much  hurt  friend  and 
brother, 

Alexander  Armstrong. 

April  the  25th,  1744. 
To  Sicalamus,  the  King's  Great  Councellor. 
My  Great  Friend  : 
I  write  to  you,  as  you  are  a  man  that  I  hope  will  do  your 
friends  good.     Now  my  brother   is  murdered,  and  his  men, 
by  the  Delawares.     I  desire   that  you  will  send   us  all  the 
murderers,  and  the  men  that  joined  with  them ;  and  as  we 
do  not  want  to  fall  out,  or  quarrel  with   you,  without  you 
make  us  do  it. 

I  desire  that  you  will  endeavor  to  send  us  all  your  men 
that  are  guilty  of  the  murder,  and  the  men  that  joined  with 
them. 

I  am  your  hurt  friend  and  brother, 

Alexander  Armstrong. 
N.  B.  We  have  sent  John  Mushamelon  to  jail,  and  he 
says  that   Nishalenordy's  son  killed  Smith,  and   he  is  not 
willing  to  die  till  the  rest  are  brought  in  to  him. 

A  party  of  men  had  made  search  for,  and  found  the  bodies 


82  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

of  the  murdered,  as  appears  from   Armstrong's  letter  above, 
and  the  following  deposition:: 

Paxton,  April  19,  1744. 

The  deposition  of  the  subscribers  testifieth  and  saith,  that 
the  subscribers  having  a  Suspicion  that  John  Armstrong,  tra- 
der, together  with  his  men,  James  Smith  and  Woodward  Ar- 
nold, were  murdered  by  the  Indians.  They  met  at  the  house 
of  Joseph  Chambers,  in  Paxton,*  and  there  consulted  to  go 
to  Shamokin,  to  consult  with  the  Delaware  King  and  Shick- 
calimy,  and  there  council  wThat  they  should  do  concerning 
the  affair,  whereupon  the  King  and  Council  ordered  eight  of 
their  men  to  go  writh  the  deponents  to  the  house  of  James 
Berry,  in  order  to  go  in  quest  of  the  murdered  persons,  but 
that  night  they  came  to  the  said  Berry's  house,  three  of  the 
eight  Indians  ran  away,  and  the  next  morning  these  depon- 
ents, with  the  five  Indians  that  remained,  set  out  on  their 
journey  peaceably,  to  the  last  supposed  sleeping  place  of  the 
deceased,  and  upon  their  arrival  these  deponents  dispersed 
themselves  in  order  to  find  out  the  corpse  of  the  deceased, 
and  one  of  the  deponents,  named  James  Berry,  a  small  dis- 
tance from  the  aforesaid  sleeping  place,  came  to  a  white  oak 
tree,  which  had  three  notches  on  it,  and  close  by  said  tree 
he  found  a  shoulder  bone,  which  the  deponent  does  suppose 
to  be  John  Armstrong's,  and  that  he  himself  was  eating  by 
the  Indians,  which  he  carried  to  the  aforesaid  sleeping  place 
and  showed  it  to  his  companions,  one  of  whom  handed  it  to 
the  said  five  Indians  to  know  what  bone  it  was,  and  they, 
after  passing  different  sentiments  upon  it,  handed  it  to  a  Del- 
aware Indian,  who  was  suspected  by  the  deponents,  and  they 
testify  and  say,  that  as  soon  as  the  Indian  took  the  bone  in 
his  hand,  his  nose  gushed  out  with  blood,  and  directly  hand- 
ed it  to  another.  From  whence  these  deponents  steered  along  a 
path  about  three  or  four  miles  to  the  narrows  of  Juniata,  where 
they  suspected  the  murder  to  have  been  committed,  and  where 
the  Allegheny  road  crosses  the  creek,  these  deponents  sat 
down  in  order  to  consult  on  what  measures  to  take  to  pro- 
ceed on  a  discovery.  Whereupon  most  of  the  white  men, 
these  deponents,  crossed  the  creek  again,  and  went  down  the 

*  Mr.  McCallister's,  or  formerly  Fort  Hunter. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  83 

creek,  and  crossed  into  an  island,  where  these  deponents  had 
intelligence  the  corpse  had  been  thrown;  and  there  they  met 
the  rest  of  the  white  men  and  Indians,  who  were  in  company, 
and  there  consulted  to  go  further  down  the  creek  in  quest  of 
the  corpse,  and  these  deponents  further  say,  they  ordered  the 
Indians  to  go  down  the  creek  on  the  other  side,  but  they  all 
followed  these  deponents,  at  a  small  distance,  except  one 
Indian,  who  crossed  the  creek  again ;  and  soon  after,  these 
deponents  seen  some  Bald  eagles  and  other  fowls,  suspected 
the  corpse  to  be  thereabouts ;  and  then  lost  sight  of  the  In- 
dians, and  immediately  found  one  of  the  corpse,  which  these 
deponents  say,  was  the  corpse  of  James  Smith,  one  of  said 
Armstrong's  men;  and  directly  upon  finding  the  corpse,  these 
deponents  heard  three  shots  of  guns,  which  they  had  great 
reason  to  think  were  the  Indians,  their  companions,  who  had 
deserted  from  them;  and  in  order  to  let  them  know  that  they 
had  found  the  corpse,  these  deponents  fired  three  guns,  but 
to  no  purpose,  for  they  never  saw  the  Indians  any  more.  And 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  down  the  creek,  they  saw  more 
Bald  eagles,  whereupon  they  made  down  towards  the  place, 
where  they  found  another  corpse  (being  the  corpse  of  Wood- 
woith  Arnold,  the  other  servant  of  said  Armstrong)  lying  on 
a  rock,  and  then  went  to  the  former  sleeping  place,  where 
they  had  appointed  to  meet  the  Indians  ;  but  saw  no  Indians, 
only  that  the  Indians  had  been  there  and  cooked  seme  vic- 
tuals for  themselves,  and  bad  gone  off. 

And  that  night,  the  deponents  further  say,  they  had  great 
reason  to  suspect  that  the  Indians  were  then  thereabouts, 
and  intended  to  do  them  some  damage  ;  for  a  dog  these  de- 
ponents had  with  them,  barked  that  night,  which  was  re- 
markable, for  the  said  dog  bad  not  barked  all  the  time  they 
were  out,  till  that  night,  nor  ever  since,  which  occasioned 
these  deponents  to  stand  upon  their  guard  behind  the  trees, 
with  their  guns  cocked  that  night.  Next  morning  these  de- 
ponents went  back  to  the  corpses  which  they  found  to  be 
barbarously  and  inhumanly  murdered,  by  very  gashed,  deep 
cuts  on  their  hands  with  a  tomahawk  or  such  like  weapon, 
which  had  sunk  into  their  sculls  and  brains ;  and  in  one  of 
the  corpses  there  appeared  a  hole  in  his  scull  near  the  cut, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  with  a  tomahawk,  which  hole, 
these  deponents  do  believe  to  be  a  bullet  hole.  And  these 
deponents,  after  taking  a  particular  view  of  the  corpses,  a? 


84  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

their  melancholy  condition  would  admit,  they  buried  them 
as  decently  as  their  circumstances  would  allow,  and  returned 
home  to  Paxton,  the  Allegheny  road  to  John  Harris',  think- 
ing it  dangerous  to  return  the  same  way  they  went.  And 
further  these  deponents  say  not. 

These  same  deponents  being  legally  qualified,  before  me, 
James  Armstrong,  one  of  his  Majesty's  justices  of  the  peace 
for  the  county  of  Lancaster,  have  hereunto  set  their  hands 
in  testimony  t  hereof. 

James  Armstrong. 

Alexander  Armstrong,  Thomas  M'Kee,  Francis  Ellis, 
John  Florster,  William  Baskins,  James  Berry,  John  Watt, 
James  Armstrong,  David  Denny. 

The  atrocity  of  this  murder  was  so  aggravating,  that  a 
Provincial  Council  was  held,  and  it  was  resolved  that  Con- 
rad Weiser,  the  Provincial  interpreter  and  Indian  agent, 
should  be  sent  to  Shamokin,  to  make  demands,  in  the  name 
of  the  governor,  for  some  others  concerned  in  the  murder 

The  following  extracts  give  a  detailed  account  of  all  the 
circumstances : 

Tulpehocken,  April  26,  1744. 

Sir,  Here  I  send  the  copy  of  my  transaction  at  Onontago  last 
year.  By  overlooking  the  same  again,  I  find  it  is  just  so  as 
I  put  things  down  in  Onontago,  partly  from  for  my  own  memo- 
randums and  satisfaction.  I  should  have  made  it  shorter  before 
I  laid  it  before  the  governor.  There  are  several  things  men- 
tioned which  are  only  ceremonies  and  mere  trifling  to  a  Eu- 
ropean idea;  but  the  Indians  always  observe  such  things. 

Just  now  I  heard  that  Ollumapies  and  Shickelaray  had 
sent  a  Delaware  Indian  to  prison  for  having  killed  an  Indian 
trader.  John  Harris's  wife  told  my  son  so,  who  came  from 
there  just  now.  I  think  it  happened  well  I  was  not  at  home 
when  the  aforesaid  chiefs  sent  for  me ;  they  would  perhaps 
have  loaded  me  with  a  commission  to  settle  the  thing  with 
the  government ;  but  now  the  burthen  remained  upon  their 
shoulder  and  had  no  other  way  to  unload  it,  than  to  deliver 
up  the  transgressor. 

The  particulars  I  have  not ;  only  as  it  has  been  said,  for 
some  time  ago  that  John  Armstrong  was  killed  ;  of  which  I 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  85 

heard  before  I  came  to  Philadelphia  the  last  time  I  patiently 
expected  Shickelamy,  with  news  of  the  Six  Nations.  I  think 
if  nothing  happened  to  prevent  their  coming,  they  would  have 
sent  before  now  to  let  us  know. 

I  remain  with  my  humble  respects, 

Sir,  your  very  obliged, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

P.  S.  April  28th.  Last  night  I  received  yours  of  the 
26th,  with  the  Governor's  commands :  I  am  always  willing 
to  comply  with  his  Honor's  command  ;  but  could  have  wish- 
ed they  might  have  been  delayed  till  after  Court,  where  my 
presence,  by  many,  is  required,  on  some  particular  occasions; 
but,  as  the  demand  is  pressing,  and  cannot  be  delayed,  I  am 
preparing  to  set  out  to-morrow  morning  for  Shamokin.  I 
will  use  the  best  of  my  endeavors  to  have  the  governor's  and 
council's  requests  answered  to  satisfaction,  by  delivering  up 
the  two  Indians  and  the  goods. 

I  wish  you  had  sent  me  a  belt  of  wampum :  on  such  occa- 
sions it  is  customary  to  use  black  wampum,  or  at  least  half. 
I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  get  some  of  Shickelam^  to  make 
use  of  to  the  Delawares. 

I  am  afraid  the  two  Indians  have  made  their  escape  far 
enough  before  now.  I  desire  the  favor  of  you  to  write  a  few 
lines  to  me,  against  my  return  from  Shamokin,  to  let  me 
know  whether  my  presence  in  Philadelphia,  is  expected,  or 
whether  I  can  send  down  in  writing  the  accounts  of  my  suc- 
cess ;  if  it  should  happen  that  the  Indian  could  be  got  to  be 
delivered  to  me. 

Farewell,  I  am, 

Sir,  yours, 

C.  W. 

Upon  a  second  thought,  I  intend  to  come  to  Philadelphia, 
God  willing,  as  soon  as  I  return  from  Shamokin  ;  because,  I 
understand  Mr.  Colloway  wants  to  see  me. 

At  a  council,  April  25,  1744 — "  The  Governor,  George 
Thomas,  laid  before  the  Board  a  letter,  dated  April  22nd, 
1744,  from  Mr.  Cookson,  at  Lancaster,  purporting  that  John 
Armstrong,  an  Indian  trader,  with  his  two  servants,  Wood- 
worth  Arnold  and  James  Smith,  had  been  murdered  at  Ju- 
S 


86  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

niata,  by  three  Delawares,  and  that  John  Musemeelin  and 
Johnson  of  Neshalleeny,  two  of  the  Indians  concerned  in  the 
murder,  had  been  seized  by  the  order  of  Shickcalamy,  and 
the  other  Indian  chiefs  at  Shamokin,  and  sent  under  a  guard 
of  Indians  to  be  delivered  up  to  justice  ;  that  one  was  actu- 
ally delivered  up  in  jail  at  Lancaster ;  but  the  other  had 
made  his  escape  from  the  persons  to  whose  care  he  was  com- 
mitted. 

His  honor  then  sent  to  the  Chief  Justice  to  consult  him 
about  the  steps  proper  to  be  taken  to  bring  the  Indian  to  his 
trial,  but  as  he  was  absent  at  a  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer 
in  Bucks  county,  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  Board  that  the 
Indian,  Musemeelin,  should  be  immediately  removed  to  Phi- 
ladelphia jail,  and  that  Conrad  Weiser  should  be  immediately 
despatched  to  the  chiefs  of  the  Delaware  Indians  at  Shamo- 
kin to  make  a  peremptory  demand  in  his  honor's  name  of  the 
other  murderers  concerned,  and  that  Shickcalamy  and  the 
other  Indians  there  do  order  immediate  search  to  be  made  for 
the  goods  of  which  the  deceased  was  robbed,  in  order  to 
their  being  put  into  the  hands  of  his  creditors,  or  the  support 
of  his  family.  And  at  the  same  time  to  inform  them  that  the 
chiefs  of  the  Indians  which  shall  meet  at  Lancaster  on  the 
treaty  with  our  neighboring  governments,  will  be  desired  to 
depute  some  of  their  number  to  be  present  at  the  trial  and  at 
the  execution  of  such  as  shall  be  found  guilty. 

Conrad  Weiser  was  accordingly  sent  to  Shamokin.  He 
writes,  in  his  Journal,  Shamokin,  May  2d,  3744:  This  day 
I  delivered  the  Governor's  message  to  Allumoppies,  the  Del- 
aware chief,  and  the  rest  of  the  Delaware  Indians,  in  the 
presence  of  Shickcalamy  and  a  few  more  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions. The  purport  of  which  was,  that  I  was  sent  express 
by  the  Governor  and  Council  to  demand  those  that  had  been 
concerned  with  Musemeelin  in  murdering  John  Armstrong, 
Wood  worth  and  James  Smith;  that  their  bodies  might  be 
searched  for,  and  decently  buried  ;  that  the  goods  be  like- 
wise found  and  restored  without  fraud.  It  was  delivered 
them  by  me  in  the  Mohawk  language,  and  interpreted  into 
Delaware  by  Andrew,  Madame  Montour's  son. 

In  the  afternoon  Allumoppies,  in  the  presence  of  the  afore- 
said Indians,  made  the  following  answers  : 
Brother,  the  Governor : 

It  is  true  that  we,  the  Delaware  Indians,  by  the  inves- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  87 

ligation  of  the  evil  spirit,  have  murdered  Jas.  Armstrong 
and  his  men  ;  we  have  transgressed,  and  we  are  ashamed 
to  look  up.  We  have  taken  the  murderer  and  delivered 
him  to  the  relations  of  the  deceased,  to  be  dealt  with  ac- 
cording to  his  works. 

Brother,  the  Governor : 

Your  demand  for  the  guard  is  very  just ;  we  have  gath- 
ered some  of  them;  we  will  do  the  utmost  of  what  Ave 
can  to  find  them  all.  We  do  not  doubt  but  we  can  find 
out  the  most  part,  and  whatever  is  wanting,  we  will  make 
up  with  skins,  which  is  what  the  guard  are  sent  for  to  the 
woods. 

Brother,  the  Governor : 

The  dead  bodies  are  buried.  It-  is  certain  that  John 
Armstrong  was  buried  by  the  murderer,  and  the  other  two 
by  those  that  searched  for  them.  Our  hearts  are  in  mourn- 
ing, and  we  are  in  a  dismal  condition,  and  cannot  say  any 
thing  at  present. 

Then  Shickcalamy,  with  the  rest  of  the  Indians  of  the 
Six  Nations  then  present,  said  : 
Brother,  the  Governor : 

We  have  been  all  misinformed  on  both  sides  about  the 
unhappy  accident.  Musemeelin  has  certainly  murdered 
the  three  white  men  himself,  and  upon  his  bare  accusation 
of  Neshaleeny's  son,  was  seized  and  made  a  prisoner.  Our 
cousins,  the  Delaware  Indians,  being  then  drunk,  in  par- 
ticular Allumoppies,  never  examined  things,  but  made  an 
innocent  person  prisoner,  which  gave  a  great  deal  of  dis- 
turbance amongst  us.  However,  the  two  prisoners  were 
sent,  and  by  the  way,  in  going  down  the  river,  they  stop- 
ped at  the  house  of  James  Berry  ;  James  told  the  young 
man,  "  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  in  such  a  condition,  I  have 
known  you  from  a  boy,  and  always  loved  you."  Then 
the  young  man  seemed  to  be  very  much  struck  to  the 
heart,  and  said,  "  I  have  said  nothing  yet,  but  I  will  tell 
all,  let  all  the  Indians  come  up,  and  the  white  people  also, 
they  shall  hear  it."  And  then  told  Musemeelin,  in  the 
presence  of  the  people :  Now  I  am  going  to  die  for  your 
wickedness ;  you  have  killed  all  the  three  white  men.  I 
never  did  intend  to  kill  any  of  them.  The  Musemeelin  in 
anger,  said :  It  is  true,  I  have  killed  them ;  I  am  a  man, 
vou  are  a  coward  :  it  is  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  have 


88  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

killed  them ;  I  will  die  for  joy  for  having  killed  a  great 
rogue  and  his  companions.  Upon  which  the  young  man 
was  set  at  liberty  by  the  Indians. 

We  desire  therefore  our  brother,  the  Governor,  will  not 
insist  to  have  either  of  the  two  young  men  in  prison,  or 
condemned  to  die ;  it  is  not  with  Indians  as  with  white 
people,  to  put  people  in  prison  on  suspicion  or  trifles.  In- 
dians must  first  be  found  guilty  of  a  cause,  then  judgment 
is  given  and  immediately  executed.  We  will  give  you 
faithfully  all  the  particulars ;  and  at  the  ensuing  treaty  en- 
tirely satisfy  you ;  in  the  meantime,  we  desire  that  good 
friendship  and  harmony  continue ;  and  that  we  may  live 
long  together,  is  the  hearty  desire  of  your  brethren,  the 
Indians  of  the  United  Six  Nations  present  at  Shamokin. 

The  following  is  what  Shickcalamy  declared  to  be  the 
truth  of  the  story  concerning  the  murder  of  John  Arm- 
strong, Woodworth  Arnold  and  James  Smith,  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end,  to  wit : 

That  Musemeelin  owing  some  skins  to  John  Armstrong, 
the  said  Armstrong  seized  a  horse  of  the  said  Musemeelin 
and  a  rifled  gun  ;  the  gun  was  taken  by  James  Smith,  de- 
ceased. Sometime  last  winter  Musemeelin  met  Armstrong 
on  the  river  Juniata,  and  paid  all  but  twenty  shillings,  for 
which  he  offered  a  neck-belt  in  pawn  to  Armstrong,  and 
demanded  his  horse,  and  James  Armstrong  refused  it,  and 
would  not  deliver  up  the  horse,  but  enlarged  the  debt,  as 
his  usual  custom  was,  and  after  some  quarrel,  the  Indian 
went  away  in  great  anger,  without  his  horse,  to  his  hunt- 
ing cabin.  Sometime  after  this,  Armstrong,  with  his  two 
companions,  on  their  way  to  Ohio,  passed  by  the  said  Mu- 
semeelin's  hunting  cabin;  his  wife,  only  being  at  home,  de- 
manded the  horse  of  Armstrong,  because  he  was  her  pro- 
per goods,  but  did  not  get  him.  Armstrong  had  by  this 
time  sold  or  lent  the  horse  to  James  Berry ;  after  Muse- 
meelin came  from  hunting,  his  wife  told  him  that  Arm- 
strong wis  gone  by,  and  that  she  had  demanded  the  horse 
of  him,  but  did  not  get  him — and,  as  is  thought,  pressed 
him  to  pursue  and  take  revenge  of  Armstrong.  The  third 
day  in  the  morning,  after  James  Armstrong  was  gone  by, 
Musemeelin  said  to  the  two  young  men  that  hunted  with 
him,  come  let  us  go  towards  the  Great  Hills  to  hunt  bears: 
accordingly  they  went  all  three  in  company;  after  they  had 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  89 

gone  a  good  way,  Musemeelin,  who  was  foremost,  was 
told  by  the  two  young  men  that  they  were  out  of  their 
course.  Come  you  along,  said  Musemeelin,  and  they  ac- 
cordingly followed  him  till  they  came  to  the  path  that  leads 
to  the  Ohio.  Then  Musemeelin  told  them  he  had  a  good 
mind  to  go  and  fetch  nis  horse  back  from  Armstrong,  and 
desired  the  two  young  men  to  come  along ;  accordingly 
they  went.  It  was  then  almost  night,  and  they  travelled 
till  next  morning.  Musemeelin  said,  now  they  are  not  far 
off.  We  will  make  ourselves  black,  then  they  will  be 
frightened,  and  will  deliver  up  the  horse  immediately;  and 
I  will  tell  Jack,  that  if  he  don't  give  me  the  horse,  I  will 
kill  him;  and  when  he  said  so,  he  laughed.  The  young  men 
thought  he  joked,  as  he  used  to  do.  They  did  not  blacken 
themselves,  but  he  did.  When  the  sun  was  above  the  trees 
or  about  an  hour  high,  they  all  came  to  the  fire,  where  they 
found  James  Smith  sitting,  and  they  also  sat  down.  Mu- 
semeelin asked  where  Jack  was  ?  Smith  told  him  that  he 
was  gone  to  clear  the  road  a  little.  Musemeelin  said  he 
wanted  to  speak  with  him,  and  went  that  way,  and  after 
he  had  gone  a  little  distance  from  the  fire,  he  said  some- 
thing, and  looked  back  laughing,  but  he  having  a  thick 
throat,  and  his  speech  being  very  bad,  and  their  talking 
with  Smith,  hindered  them  from  understanding  what  he  said, 
they  did  not  mind  it.  They  being  hungry,  Smith  told  them 
to  kill  some  turtles,  of  which  there  were  plenty,  and  we  would 
make  some  bread,  by  and  by,  and  they  would  all  eat  toge- 
ther. While  they  were  talking,  they  heard  a  gun  gooff  not 
far  off,  at  which  time  Woodworth  Arnold  was  killed,  as  they 
learned  afterwards.  Soon  after,  Musemeelin  came  back  and 
said,  why  did  you  not  kill  that  white  man,  according  as  I  bid 
you  ?  I  have  laid  the  other  two  down.  At  this  they  were 
surprised  ;  and  one  of  the  young  men,  commonly  called  Jim- 
my, ran  away  to  the  river  side.  Musemeelin  said  to  the 
other,  how  will  you  do  to  kill  Catawbas,  if  you  cannot  kill 
white  men  ?  You  cowards  ;  I'll  show  you  how  you  must 
do ;  and  then  taking  up  the  English  axe  that  lay  there,  he 
struck  it  three  times  into  Smith's  head  before  he  died.  Smith 
never  stirred.  Then  he  told  the  young  Indian  to  call  the 
other,  but  he  was  so  terrified  he  could  not  call.  Musemeelin 
then  went  and  fetched  him,  and  said  that  two  of  the  white 
aaen  were  killed,  he  must  nkw  go  and  kill  the  third  ;  then 


90  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

each  of  them  would  have  killed  one.  But  neither  of  them 
dare  venture  to  talk  any  thing  about  it.  Then  he  pressed 
them  to  go  along  with  him — he  went  foremost ;  then  one  of 
the  young  men  told  the  other,  as  they  went  along,  my  friend 
don't  you  kill  any  of  the  white  people,  let  him  do  what  he 
will ;  I  have  not  killed  Smith,  he  has  done  it  himself,  we 
have  no  need  to  do  such  a  barbarous  thing.  Musemeelin  be- 
ing being  then  a  good  way  before  them,  in  a  hurry,  they 
soon  saw  John  Armstrong,  sitting  upon  an  old  log.  Muse- 
meelin spoke  to  him  and  said,  where  is  my  horse?  Armstrong 
made  answer  and  said,  he  will  come  by  and  by  ;  you  shall 
have  him.  I  want  him  now,  said  Musemeelin.  Armstrong 
answered,  you  shall  have  him.  Come,  let  us  go  to  that  fire 
— which  was  at  some  distance  from  the  place  where  Arm- 
strong sat — and  let  us  talk  and  smoke  together.  Go  along, 
then,  said  Musemeelin.  I  am  coming,  said  Armstrong,  do  you 
go  before ;  Musemeelin,  do  you  go  foremost.  Armstrong 
looked  then  like  a  dead  man,  and  went  towards  the  fire,  and 
was  immediately  shot  in  his  back  by  Musemeelin,  and  fell. 
Musemeelin  then  took  his  hatchet  and  struck  it  into  Arm- 
strong's head,  and  said,  give  me  my  horse,  I  tell  you.  By* 
this  time  one  of  the  young  men  had  fled  again  that  had  gone 
away  before,  but  he  returned  in  a  short  time.  Musemeelin 
then  told  the  young  men  they  must  not  offer  to  discover  or 
tell  a  word  about  what  had  been  done,  for  their  lives ;  but 
they  must  help  him  to  bury  Jack,  and  the  other  two  were  to 
be  thrown  into  the  river.  After  that  was  done,  Musemeelin 
ordered  them  to  load  the  horses  and  follow  towards  the  hill, 
where  they  intended  to  hide  the  goods;  accordingly  they  did, 
and  as  they  were  going,  Musemeelin  told  them  that  as  there 
were  a  great  many  Indians  hunting  about  that  place,  if  they 
should  happen  to  meet  with  any,  they  must  be  killed  to  pre- 
vent betraying  them.  As  they  went  along,  Musemeelin  go- 
ing before,  the  two  young  men  agreed  to  run  away  as  soon 
as  they  could  meet  with  any  Indians,  and  not  to  hurt  any 
body.  They  came  to  the  desired  place,  the  Lorses  were  un- 
loaded, and  Musemeelin  opened  the  bundles,  and  offered  the 
two  young  men  each,  a  parcel  of  goods.  They  told  him  that 
as  they  had  already  sold  their  skins,  and  every  body  knew 
they  had  nothing,  they  would  certainly  be  charged  with  a 
black  action,  were  they  to  bring  any  goods  to  the  town,  and 
therefore  would  not  accept  of  any,  but  promised  nevertheless 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  91 

not  to  betray  him.     Now,  says  Musemeelin,  I  know  what 
you  were  talking  about  when  you  staid  so  far  behind. 

The  two  young  men  being  in  great  danger  of  losing  their 
lives — of  which  they  had  been  much  afraid  all  that  day — 
accepted  of  what  he  offered  to  them,  and  the  rest  of  the 
goods  they  put  in  a  heap,  and  covered  them  from  the  rain, 
and  then  went  to  their  hunting  cabin.  Musemeelin  unexpec- 
tedly finding  two  or  three  more  Indians  there,  laid  down  his 
goods,  and  said  he  had  killed  Jack  Armstrong  and  taken  pay 
for  his  horse,  and  should  any  of  them  discover  it,  that  person 
he  would  likewise  kill ;  but  otherwise  they  might  all  take  a 
part  of  the  goods.  The  young  man,  called  Jimmy,  went  to 
Shamokin,  after  Musemeelin  was  gone  to  bury  the  goods, 
with  three  more  Indians,  with  whom  he  had  prevailed  ;  one 
of  them  was  Neshaleeny's  son,  whom  he  had  ordered  to  kill 
James  Smith,  but  these  Indians  would  not  have  any  of  the 
goods.  Sometime  after  the  young  Indian  had  been  in  Sha- 
mokin, it  was  whispered  about  that  some  of  the  Delaware 
Indians  had  killed  Armstrong  and  his  men.  A  drunken 
Indian  came  to  one  of  the  Tudolous  houses  at  night  and  told 
'the  man  of  the  house  that  he  could  tell  him  a  piece  of  bad 
news.  What  is  that  ?  said  the  other.  The  drunken  man 
said,  some  of  our  Delaware  Indians  have  killed  Armstrong 
and  his  men,  which,  if  our  chie£  should  not  resent,  and  take 
them  up,  I  will  kill  them  myself,  to  prevent  a  disturbance 
between  us  and  the  white  people,  our  brother.  Next  morn- 
ing, Shickcalamy  and  some  other  Indians  of  the  Delawares, 
were  called  to  assist  Allumoppies  in  Council.  When  Shick- 
calamy and  Allumoppies  got  one  of  the  Tudolous  Indians  to 
write  a  letter  to  me,  to  desire  me  to  come  to  Shamokin  in  all 
haste,  that  the  Indians  were  very  much  dissatisfied  in  mind. 
This  letter  was  brought  to  my  house  by  four  Delaware  In- 
dians, sent  express ;  but  I  was  then  in  Philadelphia,  and 
when  I  came  home  and  found  all  particulars  mentioned  in 
this  letter,  and  that  none  of  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations 
had  been  down,  I  did  not  care  to  meddle  with  Delaware  In- 
dian affairs,  and  staid  at  home  till  I  received  the  governor's 
orders  to  go,  wThich  was  about  two  weeks  after.  Allumoppias 
was  advised  by  his  Council  to  employ  a  conjuror,  or  as  they 
call  it,  to  find  out  the  murderer  ;  accordingly,  he  did,  and  the 
Indians  met,  the  Seer  being  busy  all  night,  told  them  in  the 
morning  to  examine  such  and  such  an  one,  that  was  present, 


92  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744. 

when  Armstrong  was  killed,  naming  the  two  young  men : 
Musemeelin  was  present.  Accordingly,  Allumoppies,  Quith- 
eyquent,  and  Thomas  Green,  an  Indian,  went  to  him  that 
had  fled  first  and  examined  him ;  he  told  the  whole  story  very 
freely ;  then  they  went  to  the  other,  but  he  would  not  say  a 
word,  and  went  away  and  left  him.  The  three  Indians  re- 
turned to  Shickcalamy  and  informed  them  of  what  discovery 
they  had  made*  When  it  was  agreed  to  secure  the  murder- 
ers, and  deliver  them  up  to  the  white  people.  Then  a  great 
noise  arose  among  the  Delaware  Indians,  and  some  were 
afraid  of  their  lives  and  went  into  the  woods ;  not  one  cared 
to  meddle  with  Musemeelin,  and  the  other  that  could  not  be 
prevailed  on  to  discover  any  thing,  because  of  the  resent- 
ment of  their  families  ;  but  they  being  pressed  by  Shickcala- 
my's  son  to  secure  the  murderers,  otherwise  they  would  be 
cut  off  from  the  chain  of  friendship.  Four  or  five  of  the  De- 
lawares  made  Musemeelin  and  the  other  young  man  prison- 
ers, and  tied  them  both.  They  lay  twenty-four  hours,  and 
none  would  venture  to  conduct  them  down,  because  of  the 
great  division  among  the  Delaware  Indians ;  and  Allumop- 
pies, in  danger  of  being  killed,  fled  to  Shickcalamy  and  beg- 
ged his  protection.  At  last  Shickalamy's  son,  Jack,  went  to 
to  the  Delawares,  most  of  them  being  drunk,  as  they  had 
been  for  several  days,  and  told  them  to  deliver  the  prisoners 
to  Alexander  Armstrong,  and  they  were  afraid  to  do  it;  they 
might  separate  their  heads  from  their  bodies,  and  lay  them  in 
the  canoe,  and  carry  them  to  Alexander  to  roast  and  eat 
them,  that  would  satisfy  his  revenge,  as  he  wants  to  eat  In- 
dians. They  prevailed  with  the  said  Jack  to  assist  them  ; 
and  accordingly  he  and  his  brother,  and  some  of  the  Dela- 
wares, went  with  two  canoes  and  carried  them  off. 

Conrad  Weiser,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  Heidelberg, 
1746,  adverts  to  an  interesting  incident  which  occurred  at 
the  conclusion  of  this  interview  at  Shamokin.  He  says,  "  two 
years  ago  I  was  sent  by  the  Governor  to  Shamokin,  on  ac- 
count of  the  unhappy  death  of  Joh/i  Armstrong,  the  Indian 
trader,  (1774.)  After  I  had  performed  my  errand,  there  was 
a  feast  prepared,  to  which  the  Governor's  messengers  were 
invited.  There  were  about  one  hundred  persons  present,  to 
whom,  after  we  had  in  great  silence,  devoured  a  fat  bear,  the 
eldest  of  the  chiefs  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  said  :  "That, 
by  a  great  misfortune,  three  of  the  brethren,  the  white  men. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1744.  93 

had  been  killed  by  an  Indian ;  that  nevertheless,  the  sun  was 
not  set,  (meaning  there  was  no  war,)  it  had  only  been  some- 
what darkened  by  a  small  cloud,  which  was  now  done  away; 
he  that  had  done  evil  was  like  to  be  punished,  and  the  land 
remain  in  peace;  therefore  he  exhorted  his  people  to  thank- 
fulness to  God,  and  therefore  he  began  to  sing  with  an  aw- 
ful solemnity,  but  without  expressing  any  words ;  the  others 
accompanied  him  with  great  earnestness  of  fervor,  spoke 
these  words :  "  Thanks,  thanks  be  to  thee,  thou  great  Lord 
of  the  world,  in  that  thou  hast  again  caused  the  sun  to  shine, 
and  hast  dispersed  the  dark  cloud — the  Indians  are  thine." 


CHAPTER  V. 

INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754.. 

Abductions  in  1753;  viz:  of  Evans,  Devoy,  Nicholson,  Magenty,  Burns, 
Hutchinson  of  Cumberland  county — Frontier  inhabitants  fear  the 
Indians,  and  petition  Governor  Hamilton,  fronf  Cumberland  &  Lan- 
caster counties — Governor  Hamilton  urges  the  Assembly  to  afford 
the  frontier  settlers  aid — The  government  solicitous  to  retain  the 
friendship  and  aid  of  the  Indians — Weiser  sent  to  Aughwick — Israelf 
an  Indian  of  the  Six  Nations,  killed  Joseph  Cample  in  Cumberland 
(Franklin)  county — Croghan's  letter  touching  this  murder,  &c. 

Though  we  find  only  occasionally  a  murder  committed 
upon  the  whites  by  the  Indians,  betore  Braddock's  defeat, 
nevertheless  the  number  of  abductions  was  considerable  be- 
fore that  time.  Among  others,  inhabitants  of  Cumberland 
county,  that  were  taken  captive,  were  John  Evans,  Henry 
Devoy,  Owen  Nicholson,  Alexander  Magenty,  Patrick  Burns, 
and  George  Hutchinson,  all  of  whom  returned  again  to  Cum- 
berland— these  were  captured  in  1752,  '53,  and  '54 ;  and 
some  of  them  endnred  great  hardships. 

A  number  of  French  Indians,  headed  by  a  Frenchman, 
took  George  Henry,  John  Evans,  James  Devoy  and  Owen 
Nicholson,  prior  to  1753.  They  were  carried  to  Quebec, 
and  from  thence  sent  to  Rochelle,  in  France,  where  they 
were  released  by  the  English  ambassador,  and  by  him  sent 
to  London ;  from  there  they  got  a  passage  to  Philadelphia  ; 
and  on  presenting  a  petition  to  the  Assembly,  May  22, 1753, 
and  the  House  having  considered  the  petitioners  unhappy 
case  were  granted  them  as  much  money  as  bore  their  expen- 
ses to  Cumberland  county,  their  place  of  residence.  Sixteen 
pounds  were  allowed  them. 

While  one  Alexander  Magenty  was  trading  with  the  Cut- 
taica  Indians,  who  were  in  alliance  with  the  Crown  of  Great 
Britain,  and  on  returning  home,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1753,  by  a  party  of  French  Indians  of  the  Cagna- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754.  95 

waga  Nation,  near  the  river  Kantucqui,  a  western  branch  of 
the  Ohio.  The  Indians  beat  and  abused  Magenty  in  the 
most  barbarous  and  cruel  manner,  then  sent  him  to  Montreal. 
From  that  place  the  prisoner  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Mayor  of 
Albany,  requesting  him  to  obtain  his  release,  which  was  ul- 
timately effected,  by  paying  a  considerable  sum  of  money  to 
the  Indians  who  had  taken  him.  Magenty  returned  to  Phil- 
adelphia in  the  autumn  of  1753,  destitute  of  clothes  and  other 
necessaries ;  the  Assembly  granted  i,im  six  pounds,  to  bear 
his  expenses  to  Cumberland  county,  the  place  of  his  resi- 
dence. 

In  November,  1755,  the  Assembly  granted  ten  pounds  to 
Patrick  Burns  and  George  Hutchinson,  who  had  been  taken 
prisoners  by  the  Indians,  and  made  their  escape,  to  furnish 
them  necessaries  in  their  distressed  circumstances,  to  return 
from  Philadelphia  to  Cumberland  county,  their  place  of  res- 
idence.— [Votes  of  Assembly,  vol.  iv. 

A  strict  amity  had  existed  between  the  Indians  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania,  with  occasional  personal  or  in- 
dividual disputes,  for  a  space  of  about  seventy  years;  but 
now,  1753  and  '54,  a  different  spirit  manifested  itself  in  the 
conduct  of  some  of  the  Indians  in  the  northwestern  parts  of 
the  State,  and  along  the  frontier  settlements  of  the  province 
— they  joined  with  the  French  against  the  English,  and  made 
havoc  of  their  former  friends,  the  English  ;  many  of  whom, 
at  the  instigation  of  their  new  allies,  the  French,  they  mur- 
dered most  cruelly,  as  will  be  apparent  from  the  following 
detailed  accounts  of  the  massacres.  A  dark  cloud  obscured 
the  hitherto  existing  friendly  relations,  and  consternation 
seized  hold  of  those  who  seemed  to  have  nothing  to  fear 
from  the  aborigines.  A  panic  spread  through  the  frontier 
^settlers. 

*  The  inhabitants  of  Cumberland  now  began  to  fear  greatly 
that  the  enemy,  who  had  recently  made  incursions  into  Vir- 
ginia would,  before  long,  fall  upon  them  too,  and  they  peti- 
tioned Governor  Hamilton  to  aid  them  in  their  critical  condi- 
tion. The  inhabitants  of  the  upper  part  of  Lancaster  (now 
Dauphin)  county,  sent  a  similar  petition  to  the  Governor  and 
council — as  follows  : — 

The  humble  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  townships  of 
Paxton,  Derry  and  Hanover,  Lancaster  county,  humbly 
sheweth  that  your  petitioners  being  settled  on  and  near  the 


96  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754. 

river  Susquehanna,  apprehend  themselves  in  great  danger 
from  the  French  and  French  Indians,  as  it  is  in  their  power 
several  times  in  the  year  to  transport  themselves  with  am- 
munition, artillery,  and  every  necessary,  down  the  said  river 
— and  their  conduct  of  late  to  the  neighboring  Provinces,  in- 
creases our  dread  of  a  speedy  visit  from  them,  as  we  are  as 
near  and  convenient  as  the  Provinces  attacked,  and  are  less 
capable  of  defending  ourselves,  as  we  are  unprovided  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  and  unable  to  purchase  them.  A  great 
number  are  warm  and  active  in  these  parts  for  the  defence  of 
themselves  and  country,  were  they  enabled  so  to  do,  (al- 
though aot  such  a  number  as  would  be  able  to  withstand  the 
enemy)  we,  your  petitioners,  therefore  humbly  pray  that 
your  Honor  would  take  our  distressed  condition  into  consid- 
eration, and  make  such  provision  for  us  as  may  prevent  our- 
selves and  families  from  being  destroyed  and  ruined  by  such 
a  cruel  enemy;  and  your  petitioners,  as  in  duty,  will  ever 
pray.— July  22,  1754. 

Fear,  ever  of  a  contagious  nature,  seized  hold  of  those 
more  remotely  settled  from  the  frontier.  The  inhabitants  of 
Donegal  township,  Lancaster  county,  also  felt  that  they,  as 
well  as  their  fellow  inhabitants,  were  in  great  danger  of  be- 
ing murdered  by  the  savages  and  their  French  allies;  in  view 
of  the  impending  dangers,  joined  in  petitioning  the  Governor 
to  take  their  distressed  condition  into  consideration. 

The  Governor,  on  maturely  considering  the  condition  of 
the  frontier  settlers,  sent  a  message  to  the  Assembly,  then 
in  session,  urging  in  strong  terms  that  immediate  aid  should 
be  afforded  the  petitioners.  In  his  message  (August,  1754) 
he  says,  "The  people  of  Cumberland  and  the  upper  parts  of 
Lancaster  county,  are  so  apprehensive  of  danger,  at  this  crit- 
ical juncture,  from  the  nearness  of  French,  and  savages  urjr 
der  their  influence,  that  the  principal  inhabitants  have,  in 
the  most  earnest  manner,  petitioned  me  to  provide  for  their 
protection  ;  representing  withal,  that  a  great  number  would 
be  warm  and  active  in  defence  of  themselves  and  their  coun- 
try, were  they  enabled  so  to  be,  by  being  supplied  with  arms 
and  ammunition,  which  many  of  them  are  nnable  to  purchase 
at  their  own  private  expense.  The  substance  of  three  several 
petitions,  which  I  shall  likewise  order  to  be  laid  before  you, 
appears  to  me,  gentlemen,  to  be  of  the  greatest  importance, 
and  well  worthy  of  your  most  serious  attention.     You  may 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754-  97 

be  assured,  that  nothing  which  depends  on  me  shall  be 
wanting  towards  affording  them  the  protection  they  de- 
sire ;  but  you  cannot  at  the  same  time  but  be  sensible  how 
little  it  is  in  my  power  to  answer  their  expectations  with- 
out the  aid  of  your  House.  It  becomes  then  my  indispen- 
sable duty,  and  I  cannot  on  any  account  whatever  excuse 
myself  from  pressing  you  to  turn  your  thoughts  on  the  de- 
fenceless state  of  the  Province  in  general,  as  well  as  of  our 
back  inhabitants  in  particular';  and  to  provide  such  means 
for  the  security  of  the  whole,  as  shall  be  thought  at  once 
both  reasonable  and  effectual  to  the  ends  proposed ;  in 
which,  as  in  every  other  matter,  consistent  with  my  honor, 
and  the  trust  reposed  in  me,  I  promise  you  my  hearty  con- 
currence.— [Votes  of  Assembly,  iv.  319,  Aug.  1754. 

These  abductions  were  mere  preludes  of  more  sanguin- 
ary sequences.  Many  of  the  Indians  heretofore  known  as 
"  friendly  Indians"  became  disaffected,  and  favored  the 
French  interests  in  the  west — ready  to  aid  the  French  in 
their  schemes.  The  government  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  Virginia,  were  anxious  to  not  only  have  the 
continued  friendship  of  those  who  still  professed  to  be 
friendly,  but,  if  possible,  to  regain  the  friendship  of  the  dis- 
affected ;  for  that  purpose  Conrad  Weiser  was  sent,  in  the 
month  of  September,  1754,  to  Aughwick,  where  George 
Croghan,  the  Indian  agent,  had  quite  a  number  of  differ- 
ent tribes  under  his  care.  Notwithstanding  that  Mr.  Wei- 
ser, as  the  agent  of  the  government,  did  all  in  his  power, 
aided  by  liberal  donations  of  money,  to  secure  the  friendlv 
assistance  of  the  Indians,  murders  were  committed  by  some 
unknown  Indian.  For  a  few  days  after  Mr.  Weiser  had 
left  Croghan,  an  Indian  of  the  Six  Nations,  named  Israel, 
penetrated  into  the  frontier  settlements,  and  killed  an  In- 
dian trader,  Joseph  Cample,  at  the  house  of  Anthony 
Thompson,  near  Parnall's  Knob,  Cumberland  county  (now 
Franklin,)  as  the  following  letter  shows: 

Aughwick,  September  27th,  1754. 
May  it  please  your  Honor  : 

Since  Mr.  Weiser  left  this,  an  Indian  of  the  Six  Nations, 

named  Israel,  killed  one  Joseph  Cample,  an  Indian  trader, 

at  the  house  of  one  Anthony  Thompson,  at  the  foot  of  the 

Tuscarora  valley,  near  Parnall's  Knob.     As  soon  as  I 

9 


98  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754. 

heard  it,  I  went  down  to  Thompson's  and  took  several  of 
the  chiefs  of  the  Indians  with  me,  when  I  met  William 
Maxwell,  Esq.  The  Indian  made  his  escape  before  I  got 
there.  I  took  the  qualification  of  the  persons  who  were 
present  at  the  murder,  and  delivered  them  to  Mr.  Max- 
well to  be  sent  to  your  Honor,  with  the  speech  made  by 
the  chiefs  of  the  Indians  on  that  occasion,  which,  I  suppose 
your  Honor  has  received. 

I  have  heard  many  accounts  from  Ohio  since  Mr.  Wei- 
ser  left  this,  all  of  which  agree  that  the  French  have  re- 
ceived a  reinforcement  of  men  and  provision  from  Canada, 
to  the  fort.  An  Indian  returned  yesterday  to  this  place, 
whom  I  had  sent  to  the  fort  for  intelligence  ;  he  confirms 
the  above  accounts,  and  further  says,  there  were  about 
sixty  French  Indians  had  come  while  he  staid  there,  and 
that  they  expected  better  than  two  hundred  more  every 
day;  he  says  that  tbe  French  design  to  send  those  Indians 
with  some  French,  in  several  parties,  to  annoy  the  back 
settlements,  which  the  French  say  will  put  a  stop  to  any 
English  forces  marching  out  this  fall  to  attack  them.  This 
Indian  likewise  says  that  the  French  will  do  their  endea- 
vor to  have  the  Half-King,  Scarrayooday,  Capt.  Montour 
and  myself,  killed  this  fall.  This  Indian,  I  think  is  to  be  be- 
lieved, if  there  can  be  any  credit  given  to  what  an  Indian 
says.  He  presses  me  strongly  to  leave  this  place,  and  not 
live  in  any  of  the  back  parts.  The  scheme  of  sending  seve- 
ral parties  to  annoy  the  back  settlements  seems  so  much  like 
French  policy,  that  I  can't  help  thinking  it  true. 

I  hear  from  Colonel  Innes  that  there  certainly  have  been 
some  French  Indians  at  the  Camp  at  Wills'  creek,  and  fired 
on  the  sentry  in  the  dead  of  the  night.  If  the  French  prose- 
cute this  scheme,  I  don't  know  what  will  become  of  the  back 
parts  of  Cumberland  county,  which  is  much  exposed.  The 
back  parts  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  are  covered  by  the 
English  camp,  so  that  most  of  the  inhabitants  are  safe. 

I  would  have  written  to  your  Honor  before  now,  on  this 
head,  I  only  waited  the  return  of  this  Indian  messenger, 
whose  account  I  really  think  is  to  be  depended  on.  The  In- 
dians here  seem  very  uneasy  at  their  long  stay,  as  they  have 
heard  nothing  from  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  nor  of  your 
Honor  since  Mr.  Weiser  went  away ;  nor  do  they  see  the 
English  making  any  preparations  to  attack  the  French,  which 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1754.  99 

seems  to  give  them  a  great  deal  of  concern.  I  believe  seve- 
ral of  the  Indians  will  soon  go  to  the  Six  Nation  country ; 
and  then  I  suppose  the  rest  will  be  obliged  to  fall  in  with 
the  French.  If  this  happens,  then  all  the  back  settlements 
will  be  left  to  the  mercy  of  an  outrageous  enemy. 

I  beg  your  Honor's  pardon  for  mentioning  the  consequen- 
ces which  most  certainly  attend  the  slow  motion  of  the  Eng- 
lish government,  as  they  are  well  known  to  your  Honor ; 
and  fchat  I  am  sensible  your  Honor  had  done  all  in  your 
power  for  the  security  of  those  parts.  I  hope  as  soon  as  his 
Honor,  Governor  Morris,  is  arrived,  I  shall  hear  what  is  to 
be  done  with  those  Indians.  I  assure  your  Honor  it  will  not 
be  in  my  power  to  keep  them  together  much  longer. 
I  am  your  Honor's  most  humble 
and  most  obedient  servant, 

Geo.  Croghan. 

Aughwick,  Old  Town. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755 '80. 

Ardent  hostilities  between  the  French  and  English — Braddock's  defeat 
encourages  the  French  and  their  Indian  allies — Frontier  settlers 
again  petition  government  for  protection — Plans  for  defence  of  the 
Frontiers — Governor  Morris's  language  in  relation  to  Braddock's 
defeat — Twenty-five  persons  carried  off  at  Penn's  creek  ;  buildings 
burnt;  several  persons  killed  and  scalped,  viz  :  Jacques  Le  Roy,  or 
Jacob  King  and  others — Four  men  killed  by  the  Indians,  who  were 
returning  from  Shamokin  to  Harris's  ferry— Extensive  settlements 
deserted — Harris's  letters  touching  the  above  massacre— Weiser's 
letters — Harris's  letter— Anecdote  from  Heckewelder's  narrative*— 
Frontier  settlers  abandon  their  homes — Harris's  letter — Bingham's 
fort  in  Tuscarora  valley  destroyed — Fort  Granville  taken,  &c.  &c. — 
Hamilton's  letters,  &c. — Col.  Armstrong's  letter — Numerous  massa- 
cres in  several  places — In  southwestern  part  of  Huntingdon  county 
In  Woodcock  valley,  &c. — Settlers  killed  at  Sinnemahoning,  &c.  in 

|    1778 

Clouds  of  portentous  indication  were  fast  gathering,  and 
excited  great  alarm;  for  actual  hostilities  between  the 
French,  aided  dy  their  Indian  allies,  and  the  English  in  Ame- 
rica, had  commenced.  Reinforcements,  by  both  parties,  to 
strike  the  decisive  blow,  most  fatally,  were  effected.  The  cri- 
sis was  an  eventful  one.  The  inhabitants  of  the  frontiers 
were  all  in  a  panic ;  the  Indians,  true  to  their  character,  when 
enemies,  struck  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself — 
neither  sex  nor  age  was  spared. 

The  French,  and  their  Indian  allies,  encouraged  by  their 
success,  pushed  their  incursions  into  the  interior  parts  of  the 
frontier  settlements, — into  York,  Cumberland,  Lancaster, 
Berks  and  Northampton  counties.  These  counties  were 
scenes  of  murder,  burning  of  houses,  &c,  for  a  period  of 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  101 

about  10  years.  The  apprehensions  of  those  who  feared  the 
direful  consequences  of  Braddock's  defeat,  were  sadly  re- 
alized. 

The  massacres  which  followed  this  defeat  were  horrible 
beyond  description.  Shingas  and  Captain  Jacobs  were  sup- 
posed to  have  been  the  principal  instigators  of  them,  and  a 
reward  of  seven  hundred  dollars  was  offered  for  their  heads. 
It  was  at  this  period,  that  the  dead  bodies  of  some  of  the 
murdered  and  mangled  were  sent  from  the  frontiers  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  hauled  about  the  streets,  to  inflame  the  people 
against  the  Indians,  and  also  against  the  Quakers,  to  whose 
mild  forbearance  was  attributed  a  laxity  in  sending  out  troops. 
The  mob  surrounded  the  House  of  Assembly,  having  placed 
the  dead  bodies  at  its  entrance,  and  demanded  immediate  suc- 
cor. At  this  time  the  above  reward  was  offered. — [Drake's 
Ind.His. 

King  Shingas,  as  he  was  called  by  the  whites,  (who  is 
noticed  in  the  preceding  paragraph,)  but  whose  proper  name 
was  Shingask,  which  is  interpreted  Bogmeadow,  was  the 
greatest  Delaware  warrior  at  that  time.  Heckewelder,  who 
knew  him  personally,  says,  Were  his  war  exploits  all  on  re- 
cord, they  would  form  an  interesting  document,  though  a 
shocking  one.  Conococheague,  Big  Cove,  Shearman's  val- 
ley, and  other  settlements  along  the  frontier,  felt  his  strong 
arm  sufficiently,  that  he  was  a  "  bloody  warrior" — cruel  his 
treatment,  relentless  his  fury.  His  person  was  small,  but  in 
point  of  courage  and  activity,  savage  prowess,  he  was  said 
to  have  never  been  exceeded  by  any  one.  In  1753,  when 
Washington  was  on  his  expedition  to  the  French  on  the  Ohio 
(Allegheny),  Shingas  had  his  house  at  Kittaning — where 
Pittsburg  now  stands. 

The  inhabitants,  as  they  had  done  the  previous  years, 
again  renewed  their  petitions  to  government,  and  also  united 
to  resist,  if  possible,  the  French  and  their  savage  allies. 

Plans  were  now  devised  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers. 
The  following  was  one,  which  the  compiler  copied  from  the 
original,  found  among  some  letters  and  papers  in  the  Secre- 
tary's Office  at  Harrisburg.  The  paper  is  without  date.  It 
is  headed  "A  plan  for  the  defence  of  the  Frontier  of  Cum- 
berland county,  from  Philip  Davies'  to  Shippensburg. 

Let  one  company  cover  from  Philip  Davies  to  John  Wad- 
del's,     And  as  John  McDowell's  mill  is  at  the  most  impor- 


102  „       INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

taut  pass,  most  exposed  to  danger,  has  a  fort  already  made 
about  it,  and  there  provisions  may  be  most  easily  had  ;  for 
these  reasons  let  the  chief  quarters  be  there.  Let  five  men 
be  constantly  at  Philip  Davies',  William  Marshall's  and  Tho- 
dle's,  who  shall  be-  relieved  every  day  by  the  patrolling 
guards.  Let  ten  men  be  sent  early  every  morning  from  the 
chief  quarters  to  Thomas  Waddle's,  and  ten  return  from 
thence  in  the  evening.  Likewise  ten  men  sent  from  Ihe  chief 
quarters  to  the  other  extremity  daily,  to  go  by  William  Mar- 
shall's to  Philip  Davies',  and  return  the  same  way  in  the 
afternoon.  By  this  plan  the-whole  bounds  will  be  patrolled 
twice  every  day — a  watch  will  be  constantly  kept  at  four 
most  important  places,  and  there  will  be  every  night  forty- 
five  men,  at  the  chief  quarters,  ready  for  any  exigency. 

Another  company  may  cover  as  much  more  of  the  Fron- 
tier, beginning  where  the  first  ends,  and  reach  towards,  and 
back  of  Shippensburg,  by  fixing  a  chief  quarter  in  some  con- 
venient place,  about  the  middle  of  said  bounds,  and  from 
thence  patrolling  the  ground  twice  a  day,  and  keeping  watch- 
es at  the  most  proper  places  as  above;  one  of  which  watches 
may  be  constantly  at  Mr.  Armstrong's,  and  another  at  a 
proper  place,  at  the  other  extremity. 

This  plan  supposes  each  of  the  companies  to  consist  of  60 
men  in  all,  as  fewer  cannot  so  patrol,  keep  watch,  and  have 
any  force  together  to  answer  such  exigencies  as  may  oecur. 
These  may  be  furnished  by  deducting  seventeen  out  of  each 
of  the  four  Forts  back  of  our  frontier :  this  leaves  sixty  in 
each  Fort,  and  makes  up  a  new  company  of  sixty  men,  and 
eight  to  be  added  to  Captain  Potter's  company. 

Governor  Robert  Morris,  in  his  message  of  July  24, 1755, 
to  the  Assembly,  has  the  following  language  in  relation  to 
Braddock's  defeat : — "  This  unfortunate  and  unexpected 
change  in  our  affairs  deeply  affect  every  one  of  his  majesty's 
colonies,  but  none  of  them  in  so  sensible  a  manner  as  this 
province,  while  having  no  militia,  is  thereby  left  exposed  to 
the  cruel  incursion  of  the  French  and  barbarous  Indians,  who 
delight  in  shedding  human  blood,  and  who  make  no  distinc- 
tion as  to  age  or  sex — as  to  those  that  are  armed  against 
them,  or  such  as  they  can  surprise  in  their  peaceful  habita- 
tions— are  all  alike  the  objects  of  their  cruelty — slaughter- 
ing the  tender  infant,  and  frightened  mother,  with  equal  joy 
and  fierceness.    To  such  enemies,  spurred  by  the  native  cru- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  103 

eity  of  their  tempers,  encouraged  by  their  late  success,  and 
having  now  no  army  to  fear,  are  the  inhabitants  of  this  pro- 
vince exposed;  and  by  such  must  we  now  expect  tabe  over- 
run, if  we  do  not  immediately  prepare  for  our  own  defence  ; 
nor  ought  we  to  content  ourselves  with  this,  but  resolve  to 
drive  to,  and  confine  the  French  to  their  own  just  limits.— 
[Votes  of  Assembly. 

Scarce  three  months  after  this  disastrous  defeat,  we  find 
the  barbarous  savages  engaged  in  murdering  the  whites  and 
setting  fire  to  their  houses,  on  the  west  side  of  Susquehanna, 
in  Cumberland  county,  now  Union;  for,  on  the  fifteenth  of 
October,  1755,  a  party  of  Indians  fell  upon  the  inhabitants 
on  Mahahany  (or  Penn's)  creek,  that  runs  into  the  river  Sus- 
quehannah,  about  five  miles  lower  than  the  Great  Fork  made 
by  the  juncture  of  the  two  main  branches  of  the  Susquehan- 
nah,  killed  and  carried  off  about  twenty-five  persons,  and 
burnt  and  destroyed  their  buildings  and  improvements,  and 
the  whole  settlement  was  deserted. 

The  inhabitants  on  Penn's  creek  sent  in  the  following  peti- 
tion to  Governor  Morris  : — 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  near  the  mouth  of  Penn's  creek,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  humbly  show,  that  on  or 
about  the  16th  October,  1755,  the  enemy  came  down  upon 
said  creek,  killed,  scalped,  and  carried  away  all  the  men, 
women  and  children,  amounting  to  twenty-five  in  number, 
and  wounded  one  man,  who  fortunately  made  his  escape  and 
brought  us  the  news,  whereupon  the  subscribers  went  out 
and  buried  the  dead,  whom  we  found  most  barbarously  mur- 
dered and  scalped. 

"  We  found  but  thirteen,  who  were  men  and  elderly  wo- 
men. The  children,  we  suppose  to  be  carried  away,  pris- 
oners. The  house  where  we  suppose  they  finished  their  mur- 
der, we  found  burnt  up ;  the  man  of  it,  named  Jacob  King, 
a  Swisser,  lying  just  by  it.  He  lay  on  his  back,  barbarously 
burnt,  and  two  tomahawks  sticking  in  his  forehead ;  one  of 
those  marked  newly  with  W.  D.  We  have  sent  them  to 
your  Honor.  The  terror  of  which,  has  driven  away  almost 
all  the  back  inhabitants,  except  the  subscribers,  with  a  few 
more,  who  are  willing  to  stay  and  defend  the  land  ;  but  as 
we  are  not  at  all  able  to  defend  it  for  the  want  of  guns  and 
ammunition,  and  few  in  numbers,  so  that  without  assistance, 


104  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

we  must  flee,  and  leave  the  country  to  the  mercy  of  the 
enemy. 

Y\  e,  therefore,  desire  it,  that  your  Honor  would  take  the 
same  into  consideration,  and  order  some  speedy  relief  for  the 
safety  of  these  back  settlements,  and  be  pleased  to  give  us 
speedy  orders  what  to  do. 

George  Gliwell,  George  Achmudy,  John  McCahon,  Abra- 
ham Souerkill,  Edmund  Matthews,  Mark  Curry,  William 
Doran,  Dennis  Mucklehenny,  John  Young,  John  Simmons, 
George  Snabble,  George  Aberheart,  Daniel  Braugh,  George 
Lynn,  and  Gotfried  Fryer. — [Prov.  Records. 

Jacob  King  alias  Jacob  Le  Roy,  mentioned  in  the  above 
petition,  had  only  lately  arrived  in  the  country.  At  the  time 
he  was  murdered,  his  daughter,  Anne  Mary  Le  Roy,  and 
some  others,  were  made  prisoners,  and  taken  to  Kittaning, 
where  she  was  kept  a  captive  for  about  four  years.  She  ar- 
rived at  Philadelphia,  May  6th,  1759.  A  narrative  of  her 
abduction  and  captivity,  and  that  of  Barbara  Leininger,  was 
published  by  Peter  Miller,  in  1759. — [Sauer's  Zeitung. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  1755,  forty-six  of  the  inhabitants 
on  Susquehanna,  about  Harris'  Ferry,  went  to  Shamokin,  to 
enquire  of  the  Indians  there,  who  they  were  that  had  so  cru- 
elly fallen  upon  and  ruined  the  settlement  on  Mahahony 
creek ;  on  their  return  from  Shamokin,  they  were  fired  upon 
by  some  Indians  who  lay  in  ambush,  and  four  were  killed, 
four  drowned,  and  the  rest  put  to  flight ;  on  which,  all  the 
settlements  between  Shamokin  and  Hunter's  mill  (formerly 
Chambers')  for  the  space  of  fifty  miles,  were  deserted. — 
[Prov.  Records. 

The  following  letters  from  John  Harris,  and  other  gentle^ 
men,  give  all  the  particulars,  touching  the  above : 

Paxton,  October  20,  1755. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

I  was  informed,  last  night,  by  a  person  that  came  down 
our  river,  that  there  was  a  Dutch  (German)  woman,  who 
made  her  escape  to  George  Gabriel's,  and  informs  us,  that 
last  Friday  evening,  on  her  way  home  from  this  settlement, 
on  Mahahony,  or  Penn's  creek,  where  her  family  lived,  she 
called  at  a  neighbor's  house,  and  saw  two  persons  lying  by 
the  door  of  said  house,  murdered  and  scalped  ;    and  there 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  105 

were  some  Dutch  (German)  families  that  lived  near  their 
places,  immediately  left,  not  thinking  it  safe  to  stay  any  lon- 
ger. It  is  the  opinion  of  the  people  up  the  river,  that  the 
families  on  Penn's  creek  being  scattered,  that  but  few  in 
number  are  killed  or  carried  off,  except  the  above  said  wo- 
man, the  certainty  of  which  will  soon  be  known,  as  there 
are  some  men  gone  out  to  bury  the  dead. 

By  report,  this  evening,  I  was  likewise  informed  by  the 
belt  of  wampum,  and  these  Indians  here,  there  were  seen, 
near  Shamokin,  about  six  days  ago,  two  French  Indians  of 
the  Canawago  tribe.  I,  a  little  doubted  the  truth  of  the  re- 
port at  first ;  but  the  Indians  have  seemed  so  afraid,  that  they 
despatched  messengers,  immediately,  to  the  mountains,  above 
my  house,  to  bring  in  some  of  their  women  that  were  gath- 
ering chestnuts,  for  fear  of  their  being  killed. 

By  a  person  just  arrived  down  our  river,  brought  informa- 
tion of  two  men  being  murdered  within  five  miles  of  George 
Gabriel's,  four  women  carried  off,  and  there  is  one  man  woun- 
ded in  three  places,  who  escaped  to  Gabriel's,  and  it  is  ima- 
gined that  all  the  inhabitants  on  Penn's  creek  and  Little 
Mahaiiony,  are  killed  or  carried  off,  as  most  of  them  live 
much  higher  up  where  the  first  murder  was  discovered.  The 
Indian  warriors  here  send  you  these  two  strings  of  white 
wampum,  and  the  women  the  black  one,  both  requesting  that 
you  would  lay  by  all  your  council  pipes,  immediately,  and 
open  all  your  eyes  and  ears,  and  view  your  slain  people  in 
this  land,  and  to  put  a  stop  to  it  immediately,  and  come  to 
this  place  to  our  assistance  without  any  delay ;  and  the  belt 
of  wampum  particularly  mentions  that  the  proprietors  and 
your  Honor  would  immediately  act  in  defence  of  their  coun- 
try, as  the  old  chain  of  friendship  now  is  broken  by  several 
nations  of  Indians,  and  it  seems  to  be  such  as  they  never  ex- 
pected to  see  or  hear  of.  Any  delay  on  our  acting  vigor- 
ously now  at  this  time,  would  be  the  loss  of  all  Indian  inte- 
rest, and  perhaps  our  ruin  in  these  parts. 
I  am  your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  servant, 

John  Harris. 

P.  S.  I  shall  endeavor  to  get  a  number  of  my  neighbors 
to  go  out  as  far  as  the  murder  has  been  committed ;  and  per- 
haps to  Shamokin,  to  know  the  minds  of  the  Indians,  and 


106  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

their  opinions  of  these  times,  and  to  get  what  intelligence  I 
can  from  them,  and  to  encourage  some  of  their  young  men 
to  scout  about,  back  of  the  frontiers,  to  give  us  notice  of  the 
enemy's  approach,  if  possible,  at  any  time  hereafter.  I  hear- 
tily wish  your  Honor  and  the  Assembly,  would  please  to 
agree  on  some  method  at  this  time  towards  protecting  this 
province,  as  this  part  of  it  seems  actually  in  danger  now;  for 
should  but  a  company  of  Indians  come  and  murder,  but  a  few 
families  hereabouts,  which  is  daily  expected,  the  situation 
we  are  in  would  oblige  numbers  to  abandon  their  plantations, 
and  our  cattle  and  provisions,  which  we  have  a  plenty  of, 
must  then  fall  a  prey  to  the  enemy. 

Our  Indians  here  seem  much  discouraged  at  the  large  num- 
ber of  families  passing  here,  every  day,  on  account  of  the 
late  murders  on  the  Potomack,  and  will  be  much  more  so,  if 
it  should  happen  to  be  our  case.  There  were  two  Indian 
women  set  out  from  here  two  days  ago,  for  the  Ohio,  to  bring 
some  of  their  relations  (as  they  say)  down  here ;  and  should 
the  French,  or  their  Indians  hear  by  them,  as  they  will  be 
enquiring  for  news,  the  effect  that  their  late  murders  has  had 
among  our  inhabitants,  it  will  be  a  matter  of  encouragement 
to  them. 

I  conclude,  your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  and  most 
Humble  servant, 

John  Harris. 

Paxton,  October  28,  1775. 
May  it  please  your  Honor  (Gov.  Morris.) 

This  is  to  acquaint  you,  that  on  the  24th  of  October,  I 
arrived  at  Shamokin,  in  order  to  protect  our  frontiers  up  that 
way,  till  they  might  make  their  escape  from  their  cruel  ene- 
mies, and  learn  the  best  intelligence  I  could. 

The  Indians  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  cer- 
tainly killed  our  inhabitants  on  Penn's  creek  ;  and  there  are 
a  hatchet  and  two  English  scalps  sent  by  them  up  the  north 
branch,  to  desire  them  to  strike  with  them,  if  they  are  men. 

The  Indians  are  all  assembling  themselves  at  Shamokin, 
to  counsel ;  a  large  body  of  them  was  there  four  days  ago.  I 
cannot  learn  their  intentions ;  but  seems  Andrew  Montour 
and  Mona-ca-too-tha  are  to  bring  down  the  news  from  them. 
There  is  not  a  sufficient  number  of  them  to  oppose  the  ene- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  107 

my ;  and,  perhaps,  they  will  join  the  enemy  against  us.  There 
is  no  dependance  on  Indians ;  and  we  are  in  imminent  dan- 
ger. 

I  got  certain  information  from  Andrew  Montour  and  oth- 
ers, that  there  is  a  body  of  French  with  fifteen  hundred  In- 
dians coming  upon  us,  Picks,  Ottaways,  Orandox,  Dela wares, 
Shawanese,  and  a  number  of  the  Six  Nations ;  and  are  now, 
not  many  days  march  from  this  Province  and  Virginia,  which 
are  appointed  to  be  attacked ;  at  the  same  time,  some  of  the 
Shamokin  Indians  seem  friendly,  and  others  appear  like  ene- 
mies 

Montour  knew,  many  days  ago,  of  the  enemy  being  on 
their  march  against  us,  before  he  informed ;  for  which  I  said 
as  much  to  him,  as  I  thought  prudent,  considering  the  place 
I  was  in. 

On  the  25th  inst,  on  my  return  with  about  forty  more,  we 
were  attacked  by  about  twenty  or  thirty  Indians — received 
their  fire,  and  about  fifteen  of  our  men  and  myself  took  to 
the  trees,  attacked  the  villains,  killed  four  of  them  on  the 
spot,  and  lost  but  three  more — retreating  about  half  a  mile 
through  woods,  and  crossing  the  Susquehanna,  one  of  whom 
was  shot  off  an  horse  riding  behind  myself,  through  the  riv- 
er. My  horse  was  wounded,  and  failing  in  the  river,  I  was 
obliged  to  quit  him  and  swim  part  of  the  way. 

Four  or  five  of  our  men  were  drowned,  crossing  the  river. 
I  hope  our  journey,  though  with  fatigue  and  loss  of  substance, 
and  some  of  our  lives,  will  be  of  service  to  our  country,  by 
discovering  our  enemy,  who  will  be  our  ruin,  if  not  timely 
prevented. 

I  just  now  received  information  that  there  was  a  French 
officer,  supposed  captain,  with  a  party  of  Shawanese,  Dela- 
wares,  &c,  within  six  miles  of  Shamokin,  ten  days  ago ;  and 
no  doubt  intends  to  take  possession  of  it,  which  will  be  a 
dreadful  consequence  to  us,  if  suffered.  Therefore,  I  thought 
proper  to  despatch  this  message  to  inform  your  Honor.  The 
Indians  here  I  hope,  your  Honor,  will  be  pleased  to  cause 
them  to  remove  to  some  place,  as  I  do  not  like  their  compa- 
ny; and  as  the  men  of  those  here  were  not  against  us,  yet 
did  them  no  harm,  or  else  I  would  have  them  all  cut  off. 
Belt  (Indian  so  called)  promised,  at  Shamokin,  to  send  out 
spies  to  view  the  enemy,  and  upon  hearing  of  our  skirmishes, 
Old  Belt  was  in  a  rage — gathered  up  thirty  Indians  immedi- 


108  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

ately,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  as  I  am  this  day 
informed. 

I  expect  Montour  and  Mona-ca-thoo-tha  down  here  this 
week,  with  the  determination  of  their  Shamokin  council.  The 
inhabitants  are  abandoning  their  plantations,  and  we  are  in 
a  dreadful  situation. 

I  am,  &c. 

John  Harris. 

P.  S.  The  night  ensuing  our  attack,  the  Indians  burnt  all 
George  Gabriel's  houses — danced  around  them. 

Heidelberg,  Nov.  the  2d,  at  night,  1755. 
Honored  Sir : 

I  am  going  out  early  next  morning  with  a  company  of 
men — how  many  I  cannot  tell,  as  yet — to  bring  away  the 
few,  and  dispersed  families,  on  the  north  side  of  Kittatinny 
hills,  yet  alive :  they  cry  aloud  for  assistance,  and  shall  give 
it  my  opinion  to-morrow,  in  a  public  meeting  of  the  town- 
ships of  Heidelberg  and  Tulpehocken  ; — but  the  few  that  are 
alive,  and  remaining  there,  (the  greater  part  has  come  away) 
shall  be  forwarded  to  the  south  side  of  the  hills  ;  and  we  will 
convey  them  to  this  side.  I  don't  go  over  the  hills  myself; 
I  will  see  the  men  so  far  as  the  hills,  and  give  such  advice 
as  I  am  able  to  do.  There  can  be  no  force  used  ;  we  are 
contiually  alarmed ;  and  last  night  I  received  the  account 
from  Andrew  Montour  that  Belt,  Scarrooyady,  and  others, 
wanted  me  to  come  up  with  my  men  to  John  Harris'  Ferry, 
and  to  consult  with  them.  I  sent  an  account  for  my  not 
coming,  with  my  son,  Sammy,  who  set  off  by  break  of  day, 
this  morning,  with  an  invitation  to  the  Indians  to  come  down 
to  my  house  for  consultation.  The  same  message  I  had  ven- 
tured to  send  by  George  Gabriel,  I  sent  by  Sammy,  a  copy 
of  which,  I  sent  by  George  Gabriel,  is  here  inclosed.  Wh(n 
I  received  the  letter  from  Harris's  Ferry,  signed  by  several, 
among  whom  were  Mr.  James  Galbieath  and  Mr.  Allison — 
it  was  late  in  the  night.  I  dispatched  a  messenger  after 
George,  and  he  came  back  this  morning ;  here  inclosed,  as 
said  before,  is  his  errand.  I  hope  to  see  my  son  back  again 
to-morrow  night  with  intelligence ;  that  is  one  reason  why  I 
can't  go  over  the  hills.  My  son,  Peter,  came  up  this  even- 
ing, from  Reading,  at  the  head  of  about  fifteen  men,  in  order 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  109 

to  accompany  me  over  the  hills.  I  shall  let  him  go  with  the 
rest.  Had  we  but  good  regulations,  with  God's  help  we 
could  stand  at  our  places  ot  abode;  but  if  the  people  fail, 
which  I  am  afraid  they  will,  because  only  some  go,  other's 
won't.  Some  plead  religion,  and  a  great  many  are  cowards. 
I  shall  think  of  my,  and  my  family's  preservation,  and  quit 
my  place.  I  can  get  none  to  stand  by  me,  to  defend  my  own 
house.  I  hope  you  will  excuse  this — I  have  no  clerk  now, 
and  had  no  sleep  for  several  days  and  nights. 
I  am,  sir, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

I,  and  Thomas  Foster,  Esq.,  Mrs.  Harris,  and  Mr.  Mc- 
Kee,  with  upwards  of  forty  men,  went  up,  the  2nd  inst.  (Oc- 
tober, 1755)  to  Captain  McKee,  at  New  Providence,  in  or- 
der to  bury  the  dead,  lately  murdered  on  Mahahany  creek ; 
but  understanding  the  corpse  were  buried,  we  then  determin- 
ed to  return  immediately  home.  But  being  urged  by  John 
Sekalamy,  and  the  Old  Belt,  to  go  up  to  see  the  Indians  at 
Shamokin,  and  know  their  minds,  we  went  on  the  24th,  and 
staid  all  night — and  in  the  night  I  heard  some  Delawares 
talking — about  twelve  in  number — to  this  purpose  :  "  What 
are  the  English  come  here  for?"  Says  another:  "To  kill  us 
I  suppose ;  can  we  then  send  off  some  of  our  nimble  young 
men  to  give  our  friends  notice,  that  can  soon  be  here?"  They 
soon  after  sang  the  war  song,  and  four  Indians  went  off,  in 
two  canoes,  well  armed — the  one  canoe  went  down  the  river, 
and  the  other  across. 

On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  we  took  our  leave  of  the  In- 
dians, and  set  off  homewards,  and  were  advised  to  go  down 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  but  fearing  that  a  snare  might  be 
laid  on  that  side,  we  marched  off  peaceably,  on  the  west  side, 
having  behaved  in  the  most  civil  and  friendly  manner  towards 
them  while  with  them ;  and  when  we  came  to  the  mouth  oi 
the  Mahahany  creek,  we  were  fired  on  by  a  good  number  of 
Indians  that  lay  among  the  bushes ;  on  which,  we  were  obli- 
ged to  retreat,  with  the  loss  of  several  men ;  the  particular 
number  I  cannot  exactly  mention ;  but  I  am  positive  that  I 
saw  four  fall,  and  one  struck  with  a  tomahawk  on  the  head, 
in  his  flight  across  the  river.  As  I  understand  the  Delaware 
tongue,  I  heard  several  of  the  Indians  that  were  engaged 
10 


110  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

against  us,  speak  a  good  many  words  in  that  tongue,  during 
the  action. 

Adam  Terrance. 

The  above  declaration  was  attested  by  the  author's  vol- 
untary qualification,  no  magistrate  being  present — at  Paxton, 
this  26th  October,  1755,  before  us : 

John  Elder,  Thomas  McArthur,  Michael  Graham,  Alex. 
McClure,  Michael  Teass,  William  Harris,  Thomas  Black, 
Samuel  Lenes,  Samuel  Pearson,  William  McClure. 

N.  B.  Of  all  our  people  that  were  in  the  action,  there  are 
but  nine  that  have  yet  returned. 

Reading,  October  22, 1755. 
Honored  Sir : 

I  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  you  that  I  received  news 
from  Shamokin,  and  that  six  families  have  been  murdered  on 
John  Penn's  creek,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Susquehannah ; 
about  four  miles  Irom  the  river,  several  people  have  been 
been  found  scalped,  and  twenty-eight  or  more  missing.  The 
people  are  in  great  consternation,  and  are  coming  down,  leav- 
ing their  plantations  and  corn  behind  them.  Two  of  my  sons 
are  gone  up  to  help  down  one  of  their  cousins  with  his  fam- 
ily. 

I  hear  of  more  that  will  defend  themselves ;  but  George 

Gabriel the  people  down  here  seem  to  be  for  ourselves, 

and  says:  The  Indians  will  never  come  this  side  the  Susque- 
hanna river ;  but  I  fear  they  will,  since  they  meet  with  no 
opposition  any  where.  I  do  not  doubt  your  Honor  has  heard 
of  this  melancholy  affair  before  now,  by  the  way  of  Lancas- 
ter, perhaps  more  particularly;  yet,  I  thought  it  my  duty  to 
inform  you  of  it ;  and  when  my  sons'  come  back,  I  will 
write  again,  if  they  bring  any  thing  particular. 

I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  Indians  that  have  gone  up  to 
fight  against  the  French  on  the  Ohio ;  their  going,  I  fear, 
has  been  occasion  of  this  murder.  I  have  nothing  more  to 
add,  but  am,  Honored  sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  Ill 

Bethlehem,  Nov.  2,  1755. 

Mr.  Christian  Seidel  and  Mr.  David  Zeisberger,  being  ex- 
amined on  their  solemn  affirmation,  before  me,  Timothy 
Horsefield,  one  of  his  Majesty's  justice  of  the  peace  for  the 
county  of  Northampton,  at  their  return  from  their  journey  to 
the  Susquehanna,  affirmed  as  follows : 

Q.  When  came  you  to  the  Susquehanna  ? 

A.  The  twenty-sixth  of  October  last. 

Q.  What  places  were  you  at  there  ? 

A.  Waioming,  the  Shawanos  Town,  and  at  Lechaweke, 
the  Minesink  Town. 

Q.  What  stay  did  you  make  there  ? 

A.  Six  days. 

Q.  What  was  your  proper  business  there  ? 

A.  Being  invited  by  the  Indians,  we  went  there  to  preach 
the  gospel,  which  we  did  twice  at  Lechaweke. 

Q.  What  knowledge  have  you  of  the  disturbances  which 
iately  happened  in  those  parts? 

A.  All  we  know  is,  what  the  Shawonas  chief,  named 
Packstanos  told  us,  viz :  that  he  and  some  other  chiefs  of 
the  Indians  being  on  the  Susquehanna,  were  called  down  by 
the  Shamokin  Indians,  and  accordingly  they  went,  and  Sat- 
urday the  25th  of  last  month,  as  they  sat  together  in  consul- 
tation, then  came  forty-nine  white  people  to  them,  and  told 
them  the  French  Indians  were  near  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river — the  Indians  advised  them  to  stay  on  that  side  and  not 
to  go  over  the  river  ;  but  they  would  needs  go  over  ;  and  hav- 
ing crossed  over,  about  six  miles  below  Shamokin,  near  George 
Gabriel's,  they  were  attacked  by  some  Indians ;  and,  that 
the  aforesaid  chief,  with  others,  and  some  of  his  young  men, 
went  the  next  day  over,  and  going  down  the  river,  they  came 
to  the  place  where  the  engagement  had  been  the  day  before; 
where  they  found  three  white  men  had  been  killed ;  and,  a 
little  further,  on  the  river  side,  they  found  another  dead;  not 
shot,  but  supposed  to  have  been  drowned  trying  to  escape ; 
at  some  distance  further  they  found  a  suit  of  women's  clothes, 
with  a  pair  of  new  shoes  lying  near  the  river,  which  they 
thought  must  have  belonged  to  some  one  who  endeavored  to 
escape  by  crossing  the  river.  They  then  followed  the  track 
further  into  the  woods,  where  the  said  chief  espied  a  sapling 
cut  down,  and  near  by  a  grub  twisted  \  then  he  called  to 
the  company,  and  said,  These  marks  betokened  something ; 


112  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

and  upon  search  they  found  a  parcel  of  leaves  raked  togeth- 
er, upon  removing  which,  they  found  a  fresh  grave,  in  which 
lay  an  Indian,  who  had  been  shot,  and  well  dressed  ;  by  the 
hairs  of  his  head  being  pulled  out,  except  a  tuft  on  his  crown, 
they  discovered  him  to  be  a  French  Mohawk  Indian — they 
stripped  and  scalped  him. 

They  also  found  a  glove,  all  bloody,  lying  by  a  tree,  which 
had  been  very  much  shot,  which  they  imagined  to  have  be- 
longed to  Thomas  McKee,  an  Indian  trader.  Then  they 
next  went  to  George  Gabriel's  plantation,  where  they  saw 
Indian  tracks  on  the  plowed  ground — and  that  his  corn  was 
burnt,  but  what  was  become  of  him  and  his  family,  they 
Igiew  not. 

Q.  What  situation  did  you  find  the  Indians  in  ? 

A.  They  are  in  great  favor  of  the  French  Indians,  and  are 
also  much  concerned,  but  the  white  people  should  think  that 
they  had  a  hand  in  the  late  disturbance,  viz :  the  Indians  at 
Wayoming.  At  Lechaweke  they  were  entirely  ignorant  of 
the  whole  affair ;  for  as  we  came  there,  they  were  all  toge- 
ther at  their  thanksgiving  harvest  feast.  As  far  as  we  could 
observe,  they  are  all  well  affected  towards  the  English.  And 
the  aforementioned  chief  fully  intends  to  come  here  to  Beth- 
lehem on  a  visit  shortly. 

Q.  What  do  you  know  of  the  disturbance  said  to  have 
happened  lately  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gnodenhuetten  ? 

A.  When  we  came  to  Gnodenhuetten  yesterday,  the  first 
inst.,  we  found  all  in  peace  and  quietness ;  but  as  we  came 
to-day  through  the  Gap,  we  found  above  a  hundred  people 
in  a  great  fight,  who  told  us  that  George  Custard  was  mur- 
dered. We  made  answer,  that  he  was  alive  that  night,  and 
was  seen  and  spoken  with  by  two  of  our  people  from  Knod- 
?nhuetten  ;  viz:  Schweigart  and  Presser — Presser  being  thea 
in  company  with  us.  And  further  we  know  not. 
Taken  before  me, 

Tim.  Horsefield. 

Bethlehem,  Novem.  2d,  1755. 

Note. — Heckewelder,  in  his  Historical  Account  of  the 
Indians,  when  speaking  of  the  Indians'  manner  of  surprising 
their  enemies,  relates  a  striking  anecdote,  by  way  of  exem- 
plification, of  the  Indians'  sagacity,  as  well  as  veracity;  the 
subject  of  which,  has  some  relation  to  massacre,  mentioned 
above. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  113 

In  the  beginning,  says  he,  of  the  summer  of  the  year  1755, 
a  most  atrocious  and  shocking  murder  was  unexpectedly  com- 
mitted by  a  party  of  Indians,  on  fourteen  white  settlers, 
within  five  or  six  miles  of  Shamokin.  The  surviving  whites, 
in  their  rage,  determined  to  take  their  revenge  by  murdering 
a  Delaware  Indian,  who  happened  to  be  in  those  parts,  and 
was  far  from  thinking  himself  in  danger.  He  was  a  great 
friend  to  the  wrhites,  wTas  loved  and  esteemed  by  them,  and 
in  testimony  of  their  regard,  had  received  from  them  the 
name  of  Luke  Holland,  by  which  he  was  generally  known. 
This  Indian,  satisfied  that  his  nature  was  incapable  of  com- 
mitting such  a  foul  murder  in  a  time  of  profound  peace,  told 
the  enraged  settlers  that  he  was  sure  that  the  Delawares 
were  not  in  any  manner  concerned  in  it,  and  that  it  was  the 
act  of  some  wicked  Mingoes  or  Iroquois,  whose  custom  it  was 
to  involve  other  nations  in  wars  writh  each  other  by  clandes- 
tinely committing  murders,  so  that  they  might  be  laid  to  the 
charge  of  others  than  themselves.  But  all  his  representations 
were  vain ;  he  could  not  convince  exasperated  men,  whose 
minds  were  fully  bent  upon  revenge.  At  last,  he  offered 
that  if  they  would  give  him  a  party  to  accompany  him,  he 
would  go  with  them  in  quest  of  the  murderers,  and  was  sure 
he  could  discover  them  by  the  prints  of  their  feet  and  other 
marks  well  known  to  him,  by  which  he  would  convince  them 
that  the  real  perpetrators  of  the  crime  belonged  to  the  Six 
Nations.  His  proposal  was  accepted ;  he  marched  at  the 
head  of  a  party  of  whites  and  led  them  into  the  tracks.  They 
soon  found  themselves  in  the  most  rocky  parts  of  the  moun- 
tain, where  not  one  of  those  who  accompanied  him  was  able 
to  discover  a  single  track,  nor  would  they  believe  that  ever 
a  man  had  trodden  on  this  ground,  as  they  had  to  jump  over 
a  number  of  crevices  between  the  rocks,  and  in  some  instan- 
ces to  crawl  over  them.  Now  they  began  to  believe  that 
the  Indian  had  led  thern  across  those  rugged  mountains  in 
order  to  give  the  enemy  time  to  escape,  and  threatened  him 
with  instant  death  the  moment  they  should  be  fully  convinced 
of  the  fraud.  The  Indian,  true  to  his  promise,  would  take 
pains  to  make  them  perceive  that  an  enemy  had  passed  along 
the  places  through  which  he  was  leading  them ;  here  he 
would  show  them  that  the  moss  on  the  rock  had  been  trod- 
den down  by  the  weight  of  a  human  foot ,  then  that  it  had 
been  torn  and  dragged  forward  from  its  place  ;  further,  he 
10* 


114  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

would  point  out  to  them  that  pebbles  or  small  stones  on  the 
rocks  had  been  removed  from  their  beds  by  the  foot  hitting 
against  them,  that  dry  sticks  by  being  trodden  upon  were 
broken,  and  even  that  in  a  particular  place,  an  Indian's  blank- 
et had  dragged  over  the  rocks,  and  removed  or  loosened  the 
leaves  lying  there,  so  that  they  lay  no  more  flat,  as  in  other 
places ;  all  which  the  Indian  could  perceive  as  he  walked 
along,  without  ever  stopping. — At  last  arriving  at  the  toot 
of  the  mountain  on  soft  ground,  where  the  tracks  were  deep, 
be  found  out  the  enemy  were  eight  in  number,  and  from  the 
ireshness  of  the  foot  prints,  he  concluded  that  they  must  be 
encamped  at  no  great  distance.  This  proved  to  be  the  ex- 
act truth  ;  for,  after  gaining  the  eminence  on  the  other  side 
of  the  valley,  the  Indians  were  seen  encamped,  some  having 
already  lain  down  to  sleep,  while  others  were  drawing  off 
their  leggings  for  the  same  purpose,  and  the  scalps  they  had 
taken  were  hanged  up  to  dry.  "  See  !"  said  Luke  Holland 
to  his  astonished  companions,  "  there  is  the  enemy !  not  of 
any  nation,  but  Mingoes,  as  I  truly  tell  you.  They  are  in 
our  power ;  in  less  than  half  an  hour  they  will  all  be  fast 
asleep.  We  need  not  fire  a  gun,  but  go  up  and  tomahawk 
them.  We  are  nearly  two  to  one  and  need  apprehend  no 
danger.  Come  on,  and  you  will  now  have  your  full  revenge  ! " 
But  the  whites,  overcome  with  fear,  did  not  choose  to  follow 
the  Indian's  advice,  and  urged  him  to  take  them  back  by  the 
nearest  and  best  way,  which  he  did,  and  when  they  arrived 
art  home  late  at  night,  they  reported  the  number  of  the  Iro- 
quois to  have  been  so  great,  that  they  durst  not  venture  to 
attack  them. 

"  This  account,  says  Heckewelder,  is  faithfully  given  as  I 
received  it  from  Luke  Holland  himself,  and  took  it  down  in 
writing  at  the  time." — [Heckewelder's  His.  Ace.  of  Ind. 
Nations ;  p.  168-70. 

The  near  approach  of  the  enemy  threw  all,  in  the  outer 
settlements,  into  consternation.  Their  only  safety  was  to 
flee  and  leave  all  to  the  enemy.  They  had  in  vain  looked, 
for  some  time,  for  effectual  relief  from  Government.  Houses 
that  had  been  occupied  ;  barns  that  had  been  filled  with  the 
fruits  of  a  rich  and  plenteous  harvest ;  and  newly  sowed 
fields,  and  standing  corn ;  and  some  cattle,  were  all  aban- 
doned, by  the  hardy  and  industrious  frontier  settlers,  expect- 
ing as  they  did,  daily  the  enemy  upon  them.     They  were 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  115 

constantly  in  fear  of  being  cut  off.  Even  John  Harris  and 
his  family  were  threatened  with  death,  as  stated  by  Mr. 
Harris  himself  in  the  following  letter  : 

Paxton,  October  29,  1755. 
Edward  Shippen,  Esq. 

Sir :  We  expect  the  enemy  upon  us  every  day,  and  the 
inhabitants  are  abandoning  their  plantations,  being  greatly 
discouraged  at  the  approach  of  such  a  number  of  cruel  sav- 
ages, and  no  present  sign  of  assistance.  I  had  a  certain  ac- 
count of  fifteen  hundred  French  and  Indians  being  on  their 
march  against  us  and  Virginia,  and  now  close  upon  our  bor- 
ders ;  their  scouts  scalping  our  families  on  our  frontiers  daily. 
Andrew  Montour  and  others  at  Shamokin,  desired  me  to 
take  care,  that  there  was  a  party  of  forty  Indians  out  many 
days,  and  intended  to  burn  my  house  and  destroy  myself  and 
family.  I  have  this  day  cut  loop  holes  in  my  house,  and  am 
determined  to  hold  out  to  the  last  extremity  if  I  can  get  some 
men  to  stand  by  me.  But  few  can  be  had  at  present,  as 
every  one  is  in  fear  of  his  own  family  being  cut  off  every 
hour. — Great  part  of  the  Susquehanna  Indians  are  no  doubt 
actually  in  the  French  interest,  and  I  am  informed  that  a 
French  officer  is  expected  at  Shamokin  this  week  with  a 
party  of  Delawares  and  Shawanese,  no  doubt  to  take  pos- 
session of  our  river.  We  should  raise  men  immediately  to 
build  a  fort  up  the  river  to  take  possession,  and  to  induce 
some  Indians  to  join  us.  We  ought  also  to  insist  on  the  In- 
dians to  declare  for  or  against  us,  and  as  soon  as  we  are  pre- 
pared for  them,  we  should  bid  up  the  scalps,  and  keep  our 
woods  full  of  our  people  upon  the  scout,  else  they  will  ruin 
our  province ;  for  they  are  a  dreadful  enemy.  I  have  sent 
out  two  Indian  spies  to  Shamokin  ;  they  are  Mohawks. 
Sir,  yours  &c., 

John  Harris. 

In  the  latter  part  of  October  1755,  the  enemy  again  ap- 
peared in  the  neighborhood  of  Shamokin  ;  and  in  November 
they  committed  several  murders  upon  the  whites  under  cir- 
cumstances of  cruelty  and  barbarity.  Not  only  those  on  the 
immediate  frontier  settlers,  but  those  residing  towards  the 
interior  were  kept  in  constant  alarm,  as  will  be  seen  from 
an  address  or  appeal  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province.     ' 


116  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

Paxton,  Oct.  31,  1753.  From  John  Harris'  at  12,  P.  M. 

To  all  his  majesty's  subjects  in  the  Province  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, or  elsewhere  :  Whereas,  Andrew  Montour,  Belt  of 
Wampum,  two  Mohawks,  and  other  Indians  came  down  this 
day  from  Shamokin,  who  say  the  whole  body  of  Indians  or 
the  greatest  part  of  them  in  the  French  interest,  is  actually 
encamped  on  this  side  George  Gabriel's,  near  Susquehanna  ; 
and  that  we  may  expect  an  attack  in  three  days  at  farthest ; 
and  a  French  fort  to  be  begun  at  Shamokin  in  ten  days  hence. 
Tho'  this  be  the  Indian  report ;  we  the  subscribers,  do  give 
it  as  our  advice  to  repair  immediately  to  the  frontiers  with 
all  our  forces  to  intercept  thtir  passage  into  our  country,  and 
to  be  prepared  in  the  best  manner  possible  ^for  the  worst 
event. 

Witness  our  hands. 

James  Galbreath,  John  Allison,  Barney  Hughes,  Robert 
Wallace,  John  Harris,  James  Pollock,  James  Anderson, 
William  Work,  Patrick  Henry. 

P.  S.  They  positively  affirm  that  the  above  named  Indians 
discovered  a  party  of  the  enemy  at  Thos.  McKee's  upper 
place  on  the  30th  of  October  last. 

Mona-ca-too-tha,  the  Belt,  and  other  Indians,  here  insist 
upon  Mr.  Weiser's  coming  immediately  to  John  Harris'  with 
his  men,  and  to  council  with  the  Indians. 

Before  me,        James  Galbreath. 

On  the  20  Feb.  1756,  says  Gordon,  Captain  Patterson 
with  a  scouting  party,  fell  in  with  some  Indians  at  Middle 
creek,  in  Cumberland  county  (Union)  one  of  whom  they 
scalped  and  put  the  others  to  flight,  having  one  of  his  own 
men  wounded.  He  reported  the  woods,  from  the  Juniata  to 
Shamokin,  to  be  filled  with  Indians,  seeking  plunder  and 
scalps,  and  burning  all  the  houses,  and  destroying  the  grain 
in  that  vicinity. 

The  Indian  whom  they  scalped  was  probably  Shecalemy's 
sister's  son,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  letter  from 
Thomas  McKee,  dated  "  Fort  at  Hunter's  mill,  (six  or  seven 
miles  above  Harrisburg,)  April  5,  1756,"  and  addressed  to 
Ed.  Shippen,  Esq.,  at  Lancaster. 

I  desire  to  Jet  you  know  that  John  Shecalemy,  Indian,  is 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  117 

come  here  in  the  afternoon,  and  gives  me  an  account  that 
there  is  great  confusion  amongst  the  Indians  up  the  North 
Branch  of  Susquehanna  ;  the  Delawares  are  moving  all  from 
thence  to  Ohio,  and  want  to  persuade  the  Shanoies  along 
with  them,  but  they  decline  going  with  them  that  course 
as  they  still  incline  to  join  with  us.  The  Shanoies  are  going 
up  to  the  town  called  Teaoga  (Diahoga)  where  there  is  a 
body  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  there  they  intend  to  remain. 
He  has  brought  two  more  men,  some  women  and  some  child- 
ren along  with  him,  and  says  that  he  intends  to  live  and  die 
with  us,  and  insist  upon  my  conducting  him  down  to  where 
his  sister  and  children  are  at  Canestogo,  and  I  am  loath  to 
leave  my  post  as  his  Honor  was  offended  at  the  last  time  I 
did,  but  can't  help  it.  He  desires  me  to  acquaint  you  that 
his  sister's  son  was  killed  at  Penn's  creek  in  the  scrimage 
with  Capt.  Patterson.     This  with  due  respect  from  yours,  &c . 

February  1756,  a  party  of  Indians  from  Shamokin  came 
to  Juniata.  They  first  came  to  Hugh  Mitcheltrees,  being 
on  the  river,  who  had  gone  to  Carlisle,  and  had  got  a  young 
man,  named  Edward  Nicholass  to  stay  with  his  wife  until  he 
would  return — the  Indians  killed  them  both.  The  same 
party  of  Indians  went  up  the  river  where  the  Lukens  now 
live — William  Wilcox  lived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
whose  wife  and  eldest  son  had  come  over  the  river  on  some 
business — the  Indians  came  while  they  were  there  and  killed 
old  Edward  Nicholass  and  his  wife,  and  took  Joseph,  Thomas 
and  Catharine  Nicholass,  John  Wilcox,  James  Armstrong's 
wife  and  two  children  prisoners. 

Some  time  in  June,  Fort  Bighim,  in  Tuscarora  valley, 
about  twelve  miles  from  Mifflin,  was  destroyed  by  the  In- 
dians. A  number  were  carried  off  and^ome  killed.  Geo. 
Woods,  Nathaniel  Bigham,  Robert  Taylo-,  his  wife,  and 
one  child,  and  John  McDonnel  were  missing.  Some  of 
these,  it  was  supposed,  were  burnt,  as  a  number  of  bones 
were  found.  Susan  Giles  was  found  dead  and  scalped  ; 
Alexander  McAllister  and  his  wife,  James  Adams,  Jane 
Cochran,  and  two  children  wera  missed.  McAllister's 
house  had  been  burnt,  and  a  number  of  cattle  and  horses 
had  been  driven  off.  The  enemy  was  supposed  to  be  nu- 
merous, as  they  did  eat  and  carry  off  a  great  deal  of  beef 
they  had  killed.^Pa.  Gazette. 


118  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

George  Woods  was  the  father-in-law  of  James  Ross, 
who  ran  for  Governor,  and  resided  some  fifteen  years  ago 
in  Bedford. 

Hance,  or  John  Gray,  afterwards  joined  a  volunteer 
company,  and  went  against  the  Indians  in  Kittaning,  with 
the  hopes  of  finding  his  wife  and  child.  Shortly  after  the 
Kittaning  expedition,  he  died  in  Bucks  county. 

Francis  Innis  remained  a  prisoner  or  captive,  till  the  In- 
dian treaty. 

It  appears  from  the  following  communications  that  Fore 
Granville  was  erected  at  the  close  of  1755,  or  in  the  spring 
of  1756. 

Sir — You  are  desired  to  proceed  to  Cumberland  county, 
and  fix  on  proper  places  for  erecting  three  stockades,  viz  : 
One  back  of  Patterson's,  one  upon  "  Kishecoquillas,,'  and 
one  near  Sideling  Hill ;  each  of  them  fifty  fe"et  square,  with 
a  block-house  on  two  of  the  corners,  and  a  barracks  with- 
in, capable  of  lodging  fifty  men.  You  are  also  desired  to 
agree  with  some  proper  person,  or  persons,  to  oversee  the 
workmen  at  each  place,  who  shall  be  allowed  such  wages 
as  you  shall  agree  to  give,  not  exceeding  one  dollar  per 
day;  and  the  workmen  shall  be  allowed  at  the  rate  of  six 
dollars  per  month,  and  their  provisions,  till  the  work  is 
finished. 

B.  Franklin, 
Jos.  Fox, 
Jos.  Hughs, 
Evan  Morgan. 
To  Capt.  Geo.  Croghan, 
Philadelphia,  Dec.  17,  1755. 

Carlisle,  Apiil  4th,  2  o'clock,  1756. 

Dear  Sir : 

I  arrived  at  this  place  at  12,  wheie  I  found  fresh  alarms 
from  the  frontiers,  viz  :  On  the  29th  March,  Pomfrett  Cas- 
tle was  fired  on  by  a  party  of  Indians,  who  took  one  Hugh 
Mitcheltree  prisoner,  and  they  are  very  scarce  of  provis- 
ions and  ammunition. 

From  Fort  Granville,  31st  of  March,  there  was  a  party 
of  Indians,  four  in  number,  within  one  mile  of  the  fort, 
which  fort  is  so  badly  stored  with  ammunition,  not  having 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755.  119 

three  rounds  per  man,  they  thought  it  not  prudent  to  ven- 
ture after  them.  I  am  further  informed  there  were  two 
parties  of  Indians  seen  within  one  mile  of  Shippensburg 
town,  but  dont  hear  of  any  mischief  done  yet,  I  think  it 
highly  necessary,  and  shall,  if  possible,  get  an  escort  at 
Adam  Hoops'  to  go  the  rounds  with  me,  as  I  am  very 
sensible  that  a  great  part  of  the  soldiers  have  left  their 
posts  and  come  to  the  inhabitants,  particularly  from  Fort 
Granville.  If  I  hear  no  more  of  them,  I  shall  proceed, 
whether  I  get  an  escort  or  not,  and  if  I  get  certain  intelli- 
gence of  their  being  abroad,  I  will  wait  till  the  charge  I 
have  made  on  me  can  be  conducted  with  safety. 

The  above  account  is  matter  of  fact,  and  may  be  de- 
pended on. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Elisha  Saltar. 

P.  S,  All  their  cry  is,  money  and  ammunition. 

The  place  where  Fort  Granville  had  been  erected,  was 
called  "  Old  Town,"  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Juniata  river, 
near  Lewistown,  Mifflin  county,  where  a  company  of  en- 
listed soldiers  were  kept,  under  the  command  of  Lieuten- 
ant Armstrong.  The  position  of  the  fort  was  the  most  fa- 
vorable. The  Indians  who  had  been  lurking  about  there 
for  some  time,  and  knowing  that  Armstrong's  men  were 
few  in  number,  sixty  of  them  appeared,  July  22,  before 
the  fort,  and  challenged  the  garrison  to  combat ;  but  this 
was  declined  by  the  commander,  in  consequence  of  the 
weakness  of  his  force.  The  Indians  fired  at  and  wounded 
one  man  belonging  to  the  fort,  who  had  been  a  short  way 
from  it — yet,  he  got  in  safe ;  after  which  they  divided 
themselves  into  small  parties,  one  of  which  attacked  the 
plantation  of  one  Baskins,  near  Juniata,  whom  they  mur- 
dered, burnt  his  house  and  carried  off  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren ;  and  another  made  Hugh  Carroll  and  his  family 
prisoners. 

On  the  30th  of  July,  Captain  Ward  left  the  fort  with  all 
his  men,  except  twenty-four  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Armstrong,  to  guard  some  reapers  in  Shearman's  valley. 
Soon  after  the  Captain's  departure,  the  fort  was  attacked 
by  about  one  hundred  Indians  and  French,  who  having 


120  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

assailed  it  in  vain  during  the  afternoon  and  night  of  that 
day,  took  to  the  Juniata  creek,  and,  protected  by  its  bank, 
attained  a  deep  ravine,  by  which  they  were  enabled  to  ap- 
proach, without  fear  of  injury,  to  within  ten  or  twelve  yards 
oi  the  fort,  to  which  they  succeeded  in  setting  it  on  fire. 
Through  a  hole  thus  made  they  killed  the  Lieutenant  and 
private,  and  wounded  three  others  while  endeavoring  to  ex- 
tinguish the  fire- 

The  enemy  then  offering  quarters  to  the  besieged,  if  they 
would  surrender,  one  Turner  immediately  opened  the  gate  to 
them.  They  took  prisoners,  twenty-two  soldiers,  three  wo- 
men, and  seven  children,  whom  they  loaded  with  burdens 
and  drove  them  off.  The  fort  was  burnt  by  Captain  Jacobs, 
pursuant  to  the  order  of  the  French  commander.  When  the 
Indians  reached  Kittaning,  they  put  Turner  to  death  with 
the  most  horrid  toitures.  They  tied  him  to  a  post,  danced 
around  him,  made  a  great  fire,  and  having  healed  gun-barrels 
red-hot,  ran  them  through  his  body.  Having  tormented 
him  for  three  hours,  they  scalped  him  alive,  and  at  last  held 
up  a  boy  with  a  hatchet  in  his  hand,  to  give  him  the  finish- 
ing stroke. 

The  following  casts  some  additional  light  on  this  : 

Cumberland  county. 

The  first  day  of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1757, 
before  me  John  Armstrong,  Esq.,  one  of  his  Majesty's 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  for  the  county  of  Cumberland  afore- 
said, came  John  Hogan,  late  a  soldier  belonging  to  Capt. 
Edward  Ward's  company  of  foot,  in  the  pay  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Pennsylvania,  and  upon  his  solemn  oath,  did  de- 
pose and  declare,  that  on  or  about  the  first  day  of  August 
last  past,  (1756,)  he,  this  deponent,  with  several  others, 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Fort  Granville,  by  a  party  of  French 
and  Indians — consisting  of  one  hundred  Indians  and  fifty 
French — who  Jook  this  deponent,  and  the  rest  of  the  pris- 
oners, to  the  Kittaning,  where  they  continued  about  three 
hours,  in  which  time  John  Turner,  one  of  the  prisoners, 
was  then  burnt.  That  they  were  then  taken  down  the 
river  to  Fort  Da  Quesne,  where  they  staid  but  a  few 
hours — the  French  and  Indians  not  agreeing — they  then 
proceeded  to  Logstown,  where  this  deponent  mostly  con- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756.  121 

tinued  until  he  made  his  escape,  which  was  about  nine 
weeks  ago.  And  this  deponent  further  saith,  that  during 
the  time  of  his  captivity,  he  was  several  times  at  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  and  was  fully  satisfied  that  the  garrison  consisted 
of  about  three  hundred  French,  had  six  guns,  five  or  six 
pounders  mounted,  and  seven  swivels.  That  there  were  no 
Indians  in  the  Fort ;  but  at  about  two  miles  distant  from  the 
Fort,  was  an  Indian  town  wherein  were  about  fifty  or  sixty 
of  the  natives.  Twenty  whereof  were  able  to  bear  arms. 
That  the  walls  of  the  bastions  of  said  Fort  were  about  four- 
teen feet  thick.  The  curtain  about  four  or  five  feet  thick, 
except  that  next  the  river  which  is  built  as  a  common  stock- 
ade, that  between  the  two  bastions  in  the  Pennsylvania  side 
there  is  a  ditch  about  six  feet  wide,  and  about  seven  or  eight 
feet  deep.  That  about  four  days  before  this  deponent  made 
his  escape,  there  were  twenty  battoes  arrived  at  Fort  Du 
Quesne  for  Canada  loaded  with  ammunition  and  provisions, 
and  that  it  was  reported  that  they  also  expected  a  large  re- 
inforcement of  French  and  Indians  from  Canada  and  Missis- 
sippi, and  that  they  would  then  endeavor  to  cut  off  the  back 
inhabitants ;  and  also  said  that  if  the  English  did  not  go  out 
this  summer  they  would  come  to  them.  And  this  deponent 
turther  saith  that  the  Indians  having  sold  a  prisoner  to  the 
French,  received  a  nine  gallon  keg  of  brandy.  This  depo- 
nent and  George  Hily,  another  prisoner,  thought  that  would 
be  a  good  time  for  them  to  escape  as  it  was  customary  for 
the  Indians  on  such  occasions  to  make  a  frolic  and  get  drunk, 
whereupon  they  set  off  and  brought  Martin  Borrowelly, 
another  prisoner  along  with  them,  and  arrived  at  the  South 
Branch  of  the  Potomac  in  three  weeks  from  the  time  of  their 
escape. 

Sworn  at  Carlisle  the  1st  of  June  1757, 
before 

John  Armstrong. 

Before  leaving  Fort  Granville,  they  posted  up  a  paper, 
which  was  afterwards  found  there,  and  was  sent  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  council ;  and  has  sine  been  carefully  kept  among 
other  papers  and  letters  in  the  Secretary's  office.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  literal  transcript  of  the  original,  copied  by  the 
writer  in  December,  1844. 

11 


122  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756. 

The  paper  appears  to  be  a  mere  fragment  of  a  letter.  It 
is  incoherent — has  many  omissions,  which  are  not  easily  sup- 
plied, without  knowing  the  particular  circumstances  under 
which  it  was  written. 

II  nece  poin  duxe  peu  ne  pase  pas  que  Jamay  je  nous  Re- 
garde  de  bon  Coeur  Et  nesperce  jamay  auqueune  grase  de 
mapare  Car  jene  auqueune  an  vie  de  vous  voyr  apre  le  Chag- 
rien  que  vous  mave  Causez  ain  si  Char  Cher  allteur  pour 
moy  nefaitte  poin  defou  non  plus  sur  un  in  Conseten  qui  ne 
panse  Cason  pie  sir  Croye  moy  Char  Che  fore  tune  allieurs 
pour  moy  je  ri  ne  panse  arien  moy  Case  la  il  nez  rien  qui 
puise  me  De  tou  ne  de  nest  santi  man  adie  bon  soir  el  nes  pa 
tar  je  par  de  mein  vous  mouve  toujours  dixetros  vous  il  nes 
pa  Convenable  que  vous  Restier  isci  Cela  ne  vous  Convenien 
pas  Cinon  je  prandre  plu  vous  prandre  des  Mesure  pour  y 
me  ditour  ner  plu  je  serai  rustique  ne  panse  pa  que  serve  de- 
vous  percequittee  vous  panserie  malle  Car  je  sivous  voulle 
netre  poin  tenu  retire  vousdemoy  Car  jene  sourois  re  sis  ter. 
j  Vostre  Servette 

Pinella  Ciere 

The  following  is  also  copied  from  the  same  paper  of  the 
original.  It  is  an  interlineal,  rotho graphical  correction  of 
the  original  spelling. 

It  nest  point  d'aussi  pen.  Ne  passer  pas  que  jamais  je 
vous.  Reg-arderai  den  bon  coeur  it  n'esperez  jamais  ancune 
grace  de  ma  parte  car  je  nai  ancune  envie  de  vous  voir  apres 
le  chagren  que  vous  m'avez  cause  ainsi  chercher  aillieurs 
pour  moi  ne  faitez  point  de  Fou  non  plus  sur  un  Inconstant 
qui  ne  pense  qua  son  plaisir  croyer  moy  chercher  Fortune 
aillieurs  pour  moy  je  ris  ne  pense  a  rien  moy  qua  cele  il  nest 
rien  qui  puisse  me  detourner  de  unest  sentiment  adieu  bon 
soer  il  nest  pas  tard  je  pars  Demain  vous  monvez  toujours 
(ja)  dis  retirez  vous  il  nest  pas  convenable  que  vous  Restioz 
ici  cela  ne  vous  convenient  pas  sinon  je  prendrai  plus  vous 
prendroz  des  mesures  pour  y  me  ditourner  plus  je  sui  Rus- 
tique ne  pensor  pas  que  sur  se  de  vous  perse  cater  vous  pen- 
serier  mal  ear  je  se  vous  vonlez  netre  point  tenu  retiroz  vous 
de  moy  car  je  ne  sourois  resister. 

Vostre  Serviteur. 


INDIAN    MASSACRES  IN  1756.  123 

A  professor  of  Modern  Languages,  to  whom  I  showed 
this  curious  morceau,  and,  who,  after  examining  it  closely, 
made,  in  writing  the  following  reply. 

"f  As  the  upper  part  of  the  letter  has  been  cut  off,  no  sense 
can  be  gathered  from  the  first  five  words,  which  are  the  con- 
clusion of  a  sentence  ;  nor,  for  the  same  reason,  is  the  relation 
between  the  first  and  second  pages  altogether  apparent. 

Interlinear  Interpretation  Revised,  J.  R. 

II  nest  point  dausse  peu  (1) 

Ne  palsez  pas  que  jamais  je  vous  Regarde  de  bon  coeur 
et  n'espereg  aucune  grace  de  ma  parte  car  (2)  je  n'ai  aucune 
enrie  de  vous  voir  apres  le  chagrin  que  vous  m'avez  cause 
ainse  chercheg  aillieurs  pour  moi  ne  faitez  (3)  point  de  fou  non 
plus  sur  un  inconstant  qui  ne  pense  qu'a  son  plaiser  Toyez 
moi  chercher  fortune  aillieurs  pour  moi  je  ne  ris  ne  pense  (4)  a 
rien  moi  qu'a  cela  il  n'est  rien  qui  puisse  me  detourne  de  (5) 
sentiment  6)  adieu  bon  soir  il  n'est  pas  tard  je  pars  demain  vous 
mouvez  (7)  toujours  je  dis  (8)  retirey  vous  il  n'est  pas  convena- 
ble  que  vous  restiez  ici  ala  ne  vous  convient  pas  si  non  je  pren 
drai  plus  vous  prendrez  des  mesures  pour  y  one  detourner 
plus  je  serai  (9)  Rustique  ne  pensez  pas  que  sur  (10)  ce  de  vous 
persecuter  vous  penseriez  mal  car  je  si  vous  vouley  n'etre 
point  tenu  retirez  vous  de  moi  car  je  ne  saurais  resister. 

(1)  Perhaps  d'ici  pres  or  de  si  pres  (2)  Pait  (3)  faites 
(4)  je  ne  pense  (5)  mes,  ommitted  (6)  sentiments  (7)  m'avez 
(3)  dit  without  je  (9)  suis  (10)  cesse  (a)  fond. 

The  2nd  Correction  punctuated. 

il  n'est  point  d'aussi  pres  (pen) 

Ae  passey  pas,  que  jamais  je  vous  regarde  ae  bon  coeur, 
et  n'erperez  jamais  aucune  grace  de  ma  part,  car  je  n'ai  au- 
cune envee  de  vous  voir,  apres  le  chagrin  que  vous  m'avez 
cause.  Ainsi  cherchez  aillieurs.  Pour  moi  ne  failer  point 
de  fond  non  plus  eur  un  inconstant,  qui  ne  pense  qu  a'son 
plaiser.  Croyez  moi  cherchez  fortune  aillieurs.  Pour  moi 
je  ne  pense  a'nier  moi  qua  ala,  il  n'est  rien  qui  puisse  me 
detourne  de  mes  sentimentss.  Adieu,  bon  soir ;  il  n'est  pas 
tard  je  pars  demain. 

vous  m'avez  toujours  dit.     Retirez  vous  ;  il  n'est 

pas  convenable  que  vous  restiez  ici ;  cela  ne  vous  convient 


124  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756. 

pas ;  sinon  je  prendrai  plus  vous  prendrez  des  mesures  pour 
y  me  detourne.  Plus  je  suis  rustique  ne  plensez  pas  que  je 
cessse  de  vous  persecuter  vous  penseriez  mal  car  je  (si  vous 
voulez  n'etre  point  tenu,  reterez  vous  de  moi)  car  je  ne 
saurais  resister 

Vostre  Serviteur 

Pinella  Ciere 

The  concluding  words  of  the  sentence  in  the  part  cut 

off— 

A  Literal  Translation.      I.  E. 

Do  not  call  on  me,  for  never  do  I  look  upon  you  with 
pleasure,  and  never  hope  for  any  favor  from  me,  for  I  have 
no  desire  to  see  you,  after  the  trouble  you  have  caused  me. 
Seek  elsewhere.  As  for  me,  no  longer  rely  on  one  incon- 
stant, who  thinks  only  of  his  pleasure.  Believe  me,  seek 
fortune  elsewhere.  For  my  part,  I  think  only  of  this,  there 
is  nothing  which  can  divert  me  from  my  sentiments.  Adieu, 
good  evening,  it  is  not  late.  I  set  out  to-morrow.  *  * 
you  have  always  told  me.  (1)  Go  away,  it  is  not  expedient 
that  you  should  remain  here.  It  is  not  proper  for  you,  else 
the  more  1  shall  take  the  more  you  take  them  to  divert  me 
from  it.  Although  I  am  simple,  think  not  that  I  shall  cease 
to  persecute  you  ;  you  will  think  erroneously  ;  for  I  (if  you 
wish  not  to  be  distanced,  go  away  from  me)  could  not  (2) 
resist. 

Your  Servant 
Pinella  Ciere. 

(1)  The  conclusion  of  a  sentence  above. 

(2)  I  should  not  be  able  to  resist. 

August  the  18th,  1756. 
To  Hance  Hamilton :  , 

Sir— 
I  have  sent  express  to  you  with  the  French  letter,  and 
one  from  Lieutenant  Thompson,  and  a  copy  of  that  I  have 
sent  per  Captain  Hamilton  and  Ensign  Scott,  and  the  remain- 
der I  will  send  by  Potter  and  Steel's  men.  Lieutenant  Hol- 
iday sent  to  me  last  night  for  blankets,  and  says  that  his 
men  are  all  going  to  leave  him  for  want  of  tlie  same,  as  the 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756,  125 

inhabitants  have  ail  left  the  fort.  Capt.  Potter  has  forty- 
seven  men  ;  and  how  many  Captain  Steel  has  I  cannot  tell ; 
1  believe  about  thirty  or  upwards. 

If  you  have  any  blankets  send  them  by  the  bearer.  I  be- 
lieve I  will  make  up  near  twenty  strays,  and  the  remainder 
I  sent  by  Potter  and  Steel's  men,  which  I  hope  you  will  re- 
ceive at  your  arrival  there. 

I  have  nothing  more,  that  I  remember,  but  my  compliments 
to  Mrs.  Armstrong,  and  my  earnest  desire  of  yonr  welfare 
and  success, 

I  am,  with  much  esteem, 

your  most  humble  servant, 

Adam  Hoops". 

N.  B.  I  have  got  39  pair  of  horse  shoes,  and  15  pair 
which  are  put  on  the  horses. 

Since  I  wrote,  the  Courier  (carrier)  has  come  to  me  to 
let  me  know  that  near  John  Lindsay's,  five  or  six  Indian.- 
were  seen,  and  that  one  was  shot  down  at  the  Grindstone 
Hill ;  and  he  says  that  they  cannot  carry  out  the  flour 
which  they  had  agreed  for  with  them  ;  there  are  not  five 
families  in  all  those  parts,  but  what  are  now  fled  ;  the  set- 
tlement is  full  of  Indians,  and  are  seen  in  many  places. 

A.  H. 

Wednesday  Morning,  5  o'clock,  August  19,  1756 
Dear  Sir — 

I  have  last  night  received  a  letter  by  express  from  my 
Lieutenant  which  I  have  enclosed,  with  the  original  of  tht 
French  letter,  left  at  Fort  Granville  (hear  Lewistown,  Mu- 
ffin county).  We  are  all  scarce  of  powder  and  lead  at  our 
forts.  I  am  obliged  to  get  a  little  from  Mr*  Hoops,  and  to 
give  my  receipt  as  for  the  expedition. 

There  is  a  party  of  Captain  Mercer's  company  here  ;  and 
on  our  receiving  this  letter  we  marched  directly,  taking  with 
us  twelve  beef  cattle,  and  the  packhorses  which  belong  to 
the  two  forts.  The  rest  are  to  be  brought  up  by  Captain 
Potter's  and  Steel's  men. 

Sir,  there  were  five  of  my  men  who  were  free,  about  the 
7th  of  July,  and  they  continued  in  the  service,   until  they 
heard  of  Fort  Granville  being  taken  (and  not  be  qualified 
IV 


126  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756. 

they  went  off)  as  it  is  reported  for  want  of  ammunition  ; 
and  we  being  so  scarce,  they  openly  refused  to  serve  longer 
under  such  circumstances. 

Sir,  I  am  your  affectionate, 

humble  servant, 

Hance  Hamilton. 
To  Col.  John  Armstrong, 
at  Carlisle. 

Shortly  after  Fort  Granville  had  been  destroyed,  Colonel 
Armstrong  entered  upon  what  is  well  known  as  the  Kittaning 
expedition.  He  advanced  with  three  hundred  men,  till  he 
reached  the  Beaver  Dams,  near  Frankstown,  where  he  was 
joined  by  an  advanced  party,  on  Sept.  2.  On  the  7th  in  the 
evening  he  reached  Kittaning,  and  routed  the  enemy.  (Par- 
ticulars oi  the  expedition  will  be  noticed  in  the  sequel.) 

Letter  from  Col.  Armstrong  to  the  Hon.  R.  H.  Morris, 
Esq.  late  Governor. 

Carlisle,  20th  August,  1756. 

May  it  please  your  Honor — 

To-morrow,  God  willing,  the  men  march  from  McDowell's 
for  Fort  Shirely,  and  this  afternoon  some  part  of  my  own 
company,  with  the  provisions  here,  set  out  for  Shearmen's 
valley,  there  to  halt  till  the  residue  come  up.  This  night 
I  expected  to  have  been  at  Fort  Shirely,  but  am  much  dis- 
appointed in  getting  in  the  strays,  for  collecting  whereof  we 
shall  not  wait  longer  than  this  day.  Hunter  has  got  about 
half  a  score,  and  commissary  Hoops  about  a  dozen.  The 
commissioners  (for  which  your  Honor  will  please  to  make 
them  my  sincere  compliments)  have  sent  everything  necessary 
except  the  canteens  wrote  for  by  Mr.  Buchanan,  which  I 
am  persuaded  they  have  forgot,  and  which  we  must  supply 
by  tin  quarts.  They  were  probably  right  in  keeping  back 
the  tents,  as  they  might  have  proven  an  incumbrance,  and 
there  is  not  one  shilling  laid  out  on  this  occasion  that  does 
not  give  me  sensible  uneasiness,  but  through  the  want  of  ex- 
perience, and  fewness  of  our  numbers,  the  good  end  proposed 
should  fail  of  being  obtained*. 

I  am  not  yet  determined  whether  to  wait  twenty-four  hours 
longer  on  the  answer  of  a  letter  sent  to  Colonel  Clapham 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1256.  127 

for  the.  intelligence  of  John  Cox,  who  has  been  sometime 
with,  and  now  made  his  escape  from  the  Indians,  which  I 
think  would  be  very  material,  and  which,  if  waited  for  until 
to-morrow,  or  Sunday  night,  will  make  it  Tuesday  before 
we  can  reach  Fort  Shirely.  I  dare  not  venture  any  thing 
of  consequence  now  with  a  single  messenger,  so  many  Indians 
being  in  the  woods. 

The  harvest  season,  with  the  two  attacks  on  Fort  Gran- 
ville (Lewistown)  has  left  us  bare  of  ammunition,  that  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  apply  to  the  stores  here  for  some  quantity,  for 
the  expedition.  The  Captains,  Hamilton  and  Mercer,  hav- 
ing broken  open  the  part  I  sent  to  McDowell's  for  Fort 
Shirely,  and  given  them  receipts  as  for  the  expedition,  though 
I  know  it  for  the  particular  defence  of  these  two  posts :  nor 
will  it  be  in  my  power  to  prevail  with  double  the  number  of 
men,  and  a  double  quantity  of  ammunition  to  keep  a  Fort 
that  would  have  done  it  before  the  taking  of  Fort  Granville. 
I  hope  the  first  opportunity  of  conveying  ammunition  to  this 
town  will  be  taken.  For  farther  proofs  of  the  numbers  of 
Indians  among  us  and  waste  of  this  country,  I  shall  enclose 
your  Honor  some  letters  lately  received. 

Since  the  escape  of  the  Dutchman,  whose  deposition  I  sent 
your  Honor,  is  also  escaped  a  certain  Peter  Walker  taken 
from  Granville,  and  saith,  that  of  the  enemy  no  less  than  one 
hundred  and  twenty  returned  all  in  health,  except  one  French- 
man shot  through  the  shoulder  by  Lieutenant  Armstrong  a 
little  before  his  death,  as  the  Frenchman  was  erecting  his 
body  out  of  the  hollow  to  see  through  the  pine  knots  on  the 
fire  made  against  the  Fort ;  and  of  this  number  there  wei  e 
about  a  dozen  of  French,  who  had  for  their  interpreter  one 
McDowell,  a  Scotchman.  This  McDowell  told  Walker 
they  designed  very  soon  to  attack  Fort  Shirely,  with  four 
hundred  men.  Captain  Jacobs  said  he  could  take  any  Fort 
that  would  catch  fire,  and  would  make  peace  with  the  Eng- 
lish when  they  had  learned  him  to  make  gunpowder.  Mc- 
Dowell told  Walker  they  had  two  Indians  killed  in  the  en- 
gagement, but  the  Captains,  Armstrong  and  Ward,  whom  I 
ordered  on  their  march  to  Fort  Shirely  to  examine  every 
thing  at  Granville,  and  send  a  list  of  whom  remained  among 
the  ruins,  assure  me  they  found  some  parts  of  eight  of  the 
enemy  burnt  in  two  different  places,  the  joints  of  them  being 
scarcely  separated,  and  parts  of  their  shirts  found,  through 


128  INDPAN  MASSACRES  IN  1755. 

which  there  were  bullet  holes.  To  secrete  these  from  our 
prisoners  was  doubtless  the  reason  why  the  French  officer 
marched  our  people  some  distance  from  the  Fort  before  they 
gave  orders  to  burn  the  barracks,  &c.  Walker  says  that 
some  of  the  Germans  flagged  very  much  on  the  second  day, 
and  that  the  Lieutenant  behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery 
to  the  last,  despising  all  the  terrors  and  threats  of  the  enemy, 
whereby  they  often  urged  him  to  surrender,  though  he  had 
been  near  two  days  without  water,  but  a  little  ammunition 
left,  the  fort  on  fire,  and  the  enemy  situated  within  twelve 
or  fourteen  yards  of  the  fort,  under  the  natural  bank,  he  was 
as  far  from  yielding  as  when  at  first  attacked  ;  a  Frenchman 
in  our  service  fearful  of  being  burnt,  asked  leave  of  the  Lieu- 
tenant to  treat  with  his  countrymen,  in  the  French  language; 
the  Lieutenant  answered,  "  The  first  word  of  French  you 
speak  in  this  engagement,  I'll  blow  your  brains  out,"  telling 
his  men  to  hold  out  bravely,  for  the  flame  was  falling  and  he 
would  soon  have  it  extinguished,  but  soon  after  received  the 
fatal  ball. 

The  French  officer  refused  the  soldiers  the  liberty  of  in- 
terring his  corpse,  though  it  was  to  be  done  in  an  instant 
when  they  raised  the  clay  to  quench  the  fire. 

One  Brandon,  a  soldier  who  had  been  shot  through  the 
knee,  on  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  called  out,  "I  am  a 
Roman  Catholic,  and  will  go  with  you,"  but  the  Indians  re- 
gardless of  his  faith,  observing  he  could  not  march,  soon  de- 
spatched him  with  a  tomahawk. 

As  Fort  Shirely  is  not  easily  defended,  and  their  water 
may  be  taken  possession  of  by  the  enemy,  it  running  at  the 
foot  of  a  high  bank  eastward  of  the  fort,  and  no  well  dug,  I 
am  of  opinion,  from  its  remote  situation,  that  it  cannot  serve 
the  country  in  the  present  circumstances,  and  if  attacked,  I 
doubt  will  be  taken  if  not  strongly  garrisoned,  but  (extremi- 
ties excepted)  I  cannot  evacuate  this  without  your  Honor's 
orders. 

Lyttleton,  Shippensburg  and  Carlisle  (the  two  last  not  fin- 
ished) are  the  only  forts  now  built  that  will,  in  my  opinion, 
be  serviceable  to  the  public.  McDowell's,  or  thereabouts, 
is  a  necessary  post,  but  the  present  fort  not  defencible.  The 
duties  of  the  harvest  have  not  admitted  me  to  finish  Carlisle 
Fort  with  the  soldiers,  it  should  be  done,  and  a  barracks 
erected  within  the  fort,  otherwise  the  soldiers  cannot  be  so 


INDIAN    MASSACRES  IN  1756.  129 

well  governed,  and  may  be  absent  or  without  the  gates,  at  a 
time  of  the  greatest  necessity. 

I  am  honored  sir, 

your  Honor's  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

John  Armstrong. 

The  distress  of  the  frontier  settlers  had  nearly  reached 
its  acme.  An  attempt  to  depict  their  sufferings,  alarms,  and 
fears,  would  prove  a  failure.  In  the  fall  of  1755,  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Susquehanna  possessed  three  thousand  men 
fit  to  bear  arms ;  and  in  August  1756,  exclusive  of  the  Pro- 
vincial forces,  there  were  not  one  hundred  ;  fear  having  dri- 
ven the  greater  part  from  their  homes  into  the  interior  of 
the  province. — Gordon's  Pa.  430. 

Governor  Morris,  in  his  message  to  the  Assembly,  August 
16,  1756,  says,  "  The  people  to  the  west  of  the  Susquehan- 
na, distressed  by  the  frequent  incursions  of  the  enemy,  and 
weakened  by  their  great  losses,  are  moving  into  the  interior 
parts  of  the  Province,  and  I  am  fearful  that  the  whole  coun- 
ty will  be  evacuated,  if  timely  and  vigorous  measures  are 
not  taken  to  prevent  it." — Votes  of  Assembly. 

The  few  who  had  not  fled  petitioned  the  Governor,  Coun- 
cil and  Assembly,  for  aid  to  protect  them  against  the  ravages 
of  a  restless,  barbarous  and  merciless  enemy.  Their  several 
petitions  are  given  below. 

To  the  Honorable  Robert  Hunter  Morris,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Gov, 
of  Province  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  address  of  part  of  the  remaining  inhabitants  of  Cum- 
berland county,  most  humbly  showeth,  that  the  French  and 
their  savage  allies  have  from  time  to  time  made  several  in- 
cursions into  this  county,  have  in  the  most  inhuman  and  bar- 
barous manner  murdered  great  numbers  of  our  people  and 
carried  others  into  captivity,  and  being  greatly  emboldened 
by  a  series  of  success,  not  only  attempted,  but  also  took  Fort 
Granville  on  the  30th  July  last,  then  commanded  by  the  late 
Lieutenant  Edward  Armstrong,  and  carried  off  the  greatest 
part  of  the  garrison,  prisoners,  from  whom  doubtless  the 
enemy  will  be  informed  of  the  weakness  of  this  frontier,  and 
how  incapable  we  are  of  defending  ourselves  against  their 
incursions,  which  will  be  a  great  inducement  for  them  to  re- 
double their  attacks,  and  in  all  probability  force  the  remain- 


130  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756. 

ing  inhabitants  of  this  county  to  evacuate  it.  Great  numbers 
of  the  inhabitants  are  already  fled,  and  others  preparing  to 
go  off;  finding  that  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  the  troops  in 
pay  of  the  government  (were  we  certain  of  their  being  con- 
tinued) to  prevent  the  ravages  of  our  restless,  barbarous  and 
merciless  enemy.  It  is  therefore  greatly  to  be  doubted  that 
(without  a  further  protection)  the  inhabitants  of  this  qpunty 
will  shortly  endeavor  to  save  themselves  and  their  effects, 
by  flight,  which  must  consequently  be  productive  of  consid- 
erable inconveniencies  to  his  Majesty's  interest  in  general, 
and  to  the  welfare  of  the  people  of  this' Province  in  particular. 

Your  petitioners  being  fully  convinced  of  your  Honor's 
concern  for  a  strict  attachment  to  his  Majesty's  interest, 
have  presumed  to  request  that  your  Honor  would  be  pleased 
to  take  our  case  into  consideration,  and,  if  agreeable  to  your 
Honor's  judgment,  to  make  application  to  his  Excellency, 
General  Loudon,  that  part  of  the  troops  now  raising  for  his 
Excellency's  regiment  may  be  sent  to,  and  for  some  time, 
continued  in  some  of  the  most  important  and  advantageous 
posts  in  this  county,  by  whose  assistance  we  may  be  enabled 
ta  continue  a  frontier  if  possible,  and  thereby  induce  the  re- 
maining inhabitants,  to  secure,  at  least,  a  part  of  the  immense 
quantity  of  grain  which  now  lies  exposed  to  the  enemy  and 
subject  to  be  destroyed  or  taken  away  by  them  ;  and  also 
enable  the  Provincial  troops  to  make  incursions  into  the 
enemy's  country,  which  would  contribute  greatly  to  the  safe- 
ty and  satisfaction  of  your  Honor's  petitioners — And  your 
petitioners,  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  &c. 

Francis  West,  John  Welsh,  James  Dickson,  Robert  Erwin, 
Samuel  Smith,  Wm.  Buchanan,  Daniel  W  illiams,  John  Mont- 
gomery, Thos.  Barker,  John  Lindsay,  Jas.  Lindsay,  Thos. 
Uric,  Jas.  Buchanan,  Wra.  Spear,  Jas.  Polock,  And.  Mcln- 
tyre,  Robert  Gibson,  Garret  McDaniel,  Arthur  Foster,  Jas. 
Brandon,  John  Houston,  Patrick  McCollom,  James  Reed, 
Thos.  Lockertt,  And.  Dalton,  John  Irwin,  W  m.  Blyth, 
Robt.  Miller,  Wra.  Miller,  Jas.  Young,  Jno.  Davis,  John 
Mitchell,  John  Pattison,  Samuel  Stevens,  John  Fox,  Chas. 
Pattison,  John  Foster,  Win.  McCaskry,  And.  Calhoun,  Jas. 
Stackpole,  Wm.  Sebbe,  Jas.  Robb,  Samuel  Anderson,  Rob- 
ert Robb,  Samuel  Hunter,  A.  Forster,  Nath.  Smyth. 

Read  in  council  August  21,  1756. 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756.  131 

Not  only  was  the  country  west  of  the  Susquehanna  left 
nearly  desolate  and  deserted,  but  also  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  numerous  murders  were  committed,  and  plantations 
abandoned.  When  imagination  fails  to  conceive  the  peril 
and  distress  of  the  settlers  of  Paxton,  Hanover,  Derry,  and 
•other  townships,  then  in  Lancaster  (now  Dauphin  and  Leb- 
anon counties)  vain  would  it  be  to  attempt  to  portray  the 
scenes  of  horror.  Some  idea,  however,  may  be  formed  of 
their  condition  from  the  subjoined  letters  : 

Derry  Township,  9th  Aug.  1756. 
Dear  Sir : 

There  is  nothing  but  bad  news  every  day.  Last  week 
there  were  two  soldiers  killed  and  one  wounded  about  two 
miles  from  Manady  fort ;  and  two  of  the  guards  that  escort- 
ed the  batteaux  were  killed ;  and  we  may  expect  nothing 
else  daily,  if  no  stop  be  put  to  these  savages.  We  shall  all 
be  broken  in  upon  in  these  parts — the  people  are  going  off 
daily,  leaving  almost  their  all  behind  them ;  and  as  for  my 
part,  I  think  a  little  time  will  lay  the  country  waste  by  flight, 
so  that  the  enemy  will  have  nothing  to  do  but  take  what  we 
have  worked  for. 

Sir,  your  most 

Humble  servant, 

James  Galbreath, 
Ed.  shippen,  Esq. 

Derry  Township,  10th  Aug.  1756. 
Honored  Sir  : 

There  is  nothing  here  almost  every  day  but  murder  com- 
mitted by  the  Indians  in  some  part  or  other.  About  five 
miles  above  me,  at  Manady  gap,  there  were  two  of  the  Prov- 
ince soldiers  killed,  one  wounded.  There  were  but  three 
Indians,  and  they  came  in  among  ten  of  our  men  and  com- 
mitted the  murder,  and  went  off  safe.  The  name  or  sight 
of  an  Indian  makes  almost  all,  in  these  parts,  tremble — their 
barbarity  is  so  cruel  where  they  are  masters  ;  for  by  all  ap- 
pearances, the  devil  communicates,  God  permits,  and  the 
French  pay,  and  by  that  the  back  parts,  by  all  appearances, 
will  be  laid  waste  by  flight  with  those  who  are  gone  and 
going,  more  especially  Cumberland  county. 


132  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756. 

Pardon  my  freedom  in  this,  wherein  I  have  done  amiss. 
Sir,  your  most 

Humble  servant, 

James  Galbreath. 

P.  S.  I  am  in  want  of  pistols. 

The  above  is  fully  corroborated  by  the  following  : 

Hanover  Aug.  7,  1756. 

To  Edward  Shippen,  Esq. 

Sir :  Yesterday,  Jacob  Ellis,  a  soldier  of  Captain  Smith's, 
at  Brown's  about  two  miles  and  a  half  over  the  first  moun- 
tain, just  within  the  gap,  having  some  wheat  growing  at  that 
place,  prevailed  with  his  officers  for  some  of  the  men,  to  help 
him  to  cut  some  of  the  grain  ;  accordingly  ten  of  them  went, 
set  guards,  and  fell  to  work;  at  about  ten, o'clock,  they  had 
reapt  down,  and  went  to  the  head  to  begin  again,  and  before 
they  had  all  well  begun,  three  Indians  having  crept  up  to 
the  fence  just  behind  them,  fired  upon  them  and  killed  the 
corporal,  and  another  who  was  standing  wilh  a  gun  in  one 
hand  and  a  bottle  in  the  other  was  wounded — his  left  arm 
is  broken  in  two  places ;  so  that  his  gun  fell,  he  being  a  lit- 
tle more  down  the  field  than  the  rest ;  those  who  were  reap- 
ing had  their  fire  arms  about  halfway  down  the  field,  stand- 
ing at  a  large  tree  ;  as  soon  as  the  Indians  had  fired  and 
without  loading  their  guns,  leaped  over  the  fence  right  in 
amongst  the  reapers — one  of  them  had  left  his  gun  behind 
on  the  outside  of  the  field — they  all  ran  promiscuously,  while 
the  Indians  were  making  a  terrible  halloo,  and  looked  more 
like  the  devil  than  Indians.  The  soldiers  made  for  their 
fire  arms,  and  as  three  of  them  stood  behind  the  tree  with 
their  arms,  the  Indian  that  came  wanting  his  gun,  came  with- 
in a  few  yards  of  them,  and  took  up  the  wounded  soldier's 
gun,  and  would  have  killed  another,  had  not  one  who  per- 
ceived him,  fired  at  him,  so  that  he  dropped  the  gun.  The 
Indians  fled,  and  in  going  off,  two  soldiers  standing  about  a 
rod  apart,  an  Indian  ran  through  between  them,  they  both 
fired  at  him,  yet  he  escaped  ;  when  the  Indians  were  over 
the  fence,  a  soldier  fired  at  one  of  them ;  upon  which  be 
stopped  a  little — the  three  Indians  escaped.  Immediately 
after  leaving  the  field,  they  fired  one  gun,  and  gave  a  halloo. 
The  soldiers  hid  the  one  that  was  killed,  went  home  to  the 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1756.  133 

fort,  found  James  Brown,  who  lives  in  the  fort,  and  one  of 
the  soldiers,  missing. 

The  Lieutenant,  accompanied  by  some  more,  went  out 
and  brought  in  the  dead  man ;  but  still  Brown  was  miss- 
ing. Notice  was  given  on  that  night,  I  went  up  next 
morning  with  some  hands — Captain  Smith  had  sent  up 
more  men  from  the  other  fort ;  these  went  out  next  morn- 
ing, against  I  got  there  word  was  come  in  that  they  had 
found  James  Brown,  killed  and  scalped,  I  went  over  with 
them  to  bring  him  home  ;  he  was  killed  with  the  last  shot, 
about  twenty  rods  from  the  field — his  gun,  his  shoes  and 
jacket  carried  off.  The  soldiers  who  found  him,  said  that 
they  tracked  the  three  Indians  to  the  second  mountain, 
and  they  found  one  of  the  Indian's  guns  a  short  distance 
from  Brown's  corpse,  as  it  had  been  not  worth  much. 
They  showed  me  the  place  where  the  Indians  fired  through 
the  fence;  and  it  was  just  eleven  yards  from  the  place 
where  the  dead  man  lay.  The  rising  ground,  above  the 
field,  was  clear  of  standing  timber  and  the  grubs  low,  so 
that  they  had  kept  a  look  out. 

The  above  account,  you  may  depend  upon.     We  have 
almost  lost  all  hopes  of  every  thing,  but  to  move  off  and 
lose  our  crops  that  we  have  cut  with  so  much  difficulty. 
I  am  your 

Honor's  servant, 

Adam  Reed. 

John  Harris,  in  the  following  letter,  addressed  to  Richard 
Peters,  Secretary  to  the  Provincial  Council,  mentions  the 
state  of  affairs  on  the  frontiers. — 

Paxton,  Nov.  5th  1756. 
Sir:  Here  is  at  my  fort  two  prisoners  that  came  from 
Shamokin  about  one  month  ago,  be  pleased  to  inform  his 
Honor,our  governor,  that  direction  may  be  given  how  they 
are  to  be  disposed  of.  They  have  been  this  long  time  con- 
fined. I  hope  that  his  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  continue 
some  men  during  these  calamitous  times  in  our  frontiers — 
as  this  place  and  the  conveniences  here  may  be  of  service 
if  defended.  We  had  a  town  meeting  since  the  murder 
committed  in  Hanover  township,  and  have  unanimously 
agreed  to  support  twenty  men  in  our  own  township  at  the 
12 


134  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1758. 

mountain,  there  to  range  and  keep  guard  or  watch  day 
and  night  for  one  month,  commencing  from  the  3d  of  this 
inst ;  when  it  is  hoped  we  shall  be  relieved  by  a  strict 
militia  law  that  will  oblige  us  all  to  do  our  duty. 

Paxton  township  has  kept  up  a  strong  guard  at  our 
mountain  near  these  twelve  months  past  which  has  been 
expensive  and  fatiguing ;  but  it  is  much  better  for  us  to  do 
so  than  to  move  off  our  families  and  effects,  and  ruin  our- 
selves whether  the  enemy  comes  or  not.  We  have  heard 
bad  accounts  from  Conegojego ;  but  if  Lord  Loudon  is  vic- 
torious, it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  proper  spirit  will  prevail 
among  us  in  America,  I  conclude. 

Sir,  your  most  obt.  and  humble  servant, 

John  Harris. 

Stimulated,  and  abetted  by  the  French,  both  Shawanese 
and  Delaware  Indians  kept  up  their  hostilities  till  1757, 
when  negotiations  for  peace  commenced  with  Teedyuscung, 
the  chief  of  the  Delaware  and  Shawanese  tribes,  on  the 
Susquehanna,  when  their  fury  abated  somewhat.  But 
the  French  and  Western  Indians  still  roamed  in  small  par- 
ties over  the  country,  committing  many  sanguinary  mur- 
ders, and  taking  captives  all  whom  they  could  surprise. 
The  frontier  settlers  were  kept  in  continual  alarm. 

After  the  treaty  of  1758  with  the  Indians,  at  Easton, 
peace  and  friendship  had  been  established  between  the 
English  and  Indians  ;  all  fear  of  Indian  barbarities  van- 
ished, and  the  minds  of  the  people  had  been  at  rest  for 
some  time  j  but  the  French  war  still  continued,  and  cruel 
murders  were  occasionally  committed  upon  the  frontier 
settlers,  by  the  Indians,  till  near  the  close  of  the  war  be- 
tween the  English  and  the  French,  in  1762 — for  there  had 
been  a  secret  confederacy  formed  among  the  Shawanese, 
the  tribes  on  the  Ohio  and  its  tributary  waters,  and  about 
Detroit,  to  attack  simultaneously,  all  the  English  posts 
and  settlements  on  the  frontiers.  Their  plan  was  deliber- 
ately and  skilfully  projected.  The  border  settlements 
were  to  be  invaded  during  harvest ;  the  men,  corn,  and 
cattie  to  be  destroyed,  and  the  outposts  to  be  reduced  by 
famine,  by  cutting  off  their  supplies — Pursuant  to  this 
plan,  the  Indians  fell  suddenly  upon  the  traders,  whom 
they  had  invited  among  them ;  murdered  many,  and  plun- 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1763.  135 

dered  the  effects  of  a  great  number  to  an  immense  value. 
The  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania,  &c,  were  overrun  by  scalp- 
ing parties,  marking  in  their  hostile  incursions,  the  way 
with  blood  and  devastation. 

The  upper  part  of  Cumberland  was  overrun  by  the  sav- 
ages, in  1763,  who  set  fire  to  houses,  barns,  corn,  hay  and 
every  thing  that  was  combustible  ;  the  inhabitants  were 
surprised  and  murdered  with  the  utmost  cruelty  and  bar- 
barity. Those  who  could,  escaped — some  to  Bedford, 
where  Captain  Ourry  commanded  a  garrison  at  the  same 
time,  some  went  to  Sh:ppensburg,  others  to  Carlisle,  where 
houses  and  stables  were  crowded. 

The  refugees,  who  had  resorted  to  Carlisle,  &c,  were 
relieved,  in  part,  in  their  distressses,  by  the  munificence 
of  the  Episcopal  churches  of  Philadelphia,  as  appears  from 
the  following  : 

"  July  26, 1763,  the  rector,  (Richard  Peters)  representing 
to  the  Vestry,  that  the  back  inhabitants  of  this  province 
are  reduced  to  great  distress  and  necessity,  by  the  present 
invasion,  proposed  that  some  method  be  considered  for 
collecting  charity  for  their  relief,  from  the  congregation 
of  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peters,  (Philadelphia,)  and  it 
was  unanimously  resolved,  that  a  preamble  to  a  subscrip- 
tion paper  for  that  purpose,  be  immediately  drawn  up^ 
which  was  accordingly  done. 

"  At  their  next  meeting,  the  church  wardens  reported 
to  the  Vestry,  that  they  had  carried  about  a  subscription 
paper,  and  made  a  collection  from  the  congregations  of 
Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's,  for  the  relief  of  the  distress- 
ed frontier  inhabitants,  amounting  to  ^662,  3s.  The  rec- 
tor and  church  wardens  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
correspond  with  certain  persons  in  Cumberland  county, 
in  order  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  distress,  that  the 
above  contributions  might  be  judiciously  distributed." 

Some  idea  of  the  greatness  of  this  calamity  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  Pennsylvania,  brought  about  by  Indian  hostili- 
ties, may  be  found  from  the  following  letter,  addressed  to 
the  rector  and  wardens  of  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's : 

Carlisle,  August  24,  1763. 
Gentlemen : 
We  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  answering  your  let- 


136  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1763. 

ter  on  the  12th  inst.,  in  which  you  inform  us,  that  there  is 
at  your  disposal  a  sum  of  money  to  be  distributed  amongst 
the  poor  unhappy  people  on  our  frontiers,  who  have  been 
obliged  to  fly  their  habitations,  and  take  shelter  in  this 
town,  Shippensburg,  Littletown,  Bedford,  &c.  We  assure 
you,  that  we  shall  now,  and  all  other  times,  be  ready  to 
give  you  as  full  and  true  information  of  every  thing  mate- 
rial relating  to  the  sufferers  of  our  frontiers,  as  we  shall 
be  able,  and  we  shall  also  be  ready  to  give  our  assistance 
in  the  distribution  of  such  sums  of  money,  as  you  shall 
think  proper  to  send  up,  from  time  to  time,  for  the  relief 
of  those  in  distress.  We  have  taken  pains  to  get  the  num- 
ber of  the  distressed,  and  upon  strict  inquiry,  we  find  sev- 
en hundred  and  fifty  families  have  abandoned  their  plan- 
tations, the  greatest  number  of  which  have  lost  their  crops, 
some  their  stock  and  furniture,  and' besides,  we  are  in- 
formed that  there  are  about  two  hundred  women  and  child- 
ren coming  down  from  Fort  Pitt.  We  also  find  that  the 
sums  of  money  already  sent  up  are  almost  expended,  and 
that  each  family  has  not  received  twenty  shillings  upon  an 
average;  although  the  greatest  care  has  been  taken  to 
distribute  it  to  those  who  appeared  the  greatest  object  of 
distress. — The  unhappy  sufferers  are  dispersed  through 
every  part  oi  this  county,  and  many  have  passed  through 
into  York.  Their  exact  number  we  cannot  possibly  as- 
certain ;  we  can  only  inform  you,  that  in  this  town  and 
its  neighborhood,  there  are  upwards  of  two  hundred  fam- 
ilies, many  of  which  are  in  the  greatest  exigence ;  the 
small  pox  and  flux  raging  much  among  them  ;  and  from 
hence  you  may  form  a  judgment  of  the  numbers  distressed 
through  the  other  parts  of  this  county,  as  well  as  at  York. 
The  other  sums  being  almost  expended,  we  conceived  that 
immediate  relief  should  be  sent  up,  that  those  poor  people 
may  be  enabled  to  employ  a  physician  for  the  recovery  of 
the  sick,  as  well  as  to  purchase  bread  for  their  families  ; 
and  this  alone  is  what  their  present  necessities  call  for. 
We  are,  &c., 

William  Thomson, 
Itinerant  missionary  for  the  counties  of  York  &  Cumberland. 

Francis  West, 
Thomas  Donnellon, 
Wardens  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  Carlisle, 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1777.  137 

In  consequence  of  this  information,  a  large  supply  of 
flour,  rice,  medicine,  and  other  necessaries,  were  immedi- 
ately forwarded  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers.  And  to  en- 
able those,  who  chose  to  return  to  their  plantations,  to  de- 
fend themselves  against  future  attacks  of  the  Indians,  the 
Vestry  of  Christ  Church  and  St.  Peter's  were  of  opinion 
that  the  refugees  should  be  furnished  with  two  chests  of 
arms,  and  half  a  barrel  of  powder,  four  hundred  pounds 
of  lead,  two  hundred  of  swan  shot,  and  one  thousand 
flints.  These  were  accordingly  sent,  with  instructions  to 
sell  them  to  such  prudent  and  good  people  as  are  in  want 
of  them,  and  will  use  them  for  their  defence,  for  the  prices 
charged  in  the  invoice. — Revd.  B.  Dorr's  His.  Ace.  of 
Christ  and  St.  Peter's  Church,  Phila.  p.  139-142. 

About  December,  1777,  a  number  of  families  came  into 
the  fort  from  the  neighborhood  of  Johnstown.  Amongst 
them  were  Samuel  Adams,  one  Thornton  and  Bridges. 
After  the  alarm  had  somewhat  subsided,  they  agreed  to 
return  to  their  property.  A  party  started  with  pack-horses, 
reached  the  place,  and  not  seeing  any  Indians,  collected 
their  property  and  commenced  their  return.  After  pro- 
ceeding some  distance,  a  dog  belonging  to  one  of  the  parly, 
showed  signs  of  uneasiness,  and  ran  back.  Bridges  and 
Thornton  desired  the  others  to  wait  whilst  they  would  go 
back  for  him.  They  went  back,  and  had  proceeded  but 
two  or  three  hundred  yards,  when  a  body  of  Indians,  who 
had  been  lying  in  wait  on  each  side  of  the  way,  but  who 
had  been  afraid  to  fire  on  account  of  the  number  of  the 
whites,  suddenly  rose  up  and  took  them  prisoners.  The 
others,  not  knowing  what  detained  their  companions,  went 
back  after  them ;  when  they  arrived  near  the  spot,  the 
Indians  fired  on  them,  but  without  doing  any  injury. 
The  whites  instantly  turned  and  fled,  excepting  Samuel 
Adams,  who  took  a  tree  and  began  to  fight  in  the  Indian 
style.  In  a  few  minutes,  however,  he  was  killed,  but  not 
without  doing  the  same  fearful  service  foi  his  adversary. 
He  and  one  of  the  Indians  shot  at,  and  killed  each  other, 
at  the  same  moment.  When  the  news  reached  the  fort,  a 
party  volunteered  to  visit  the  ground.  When  they  reach- 
ed it,  although  the  snow  had  fallen  ankle  deep,  they  read- 
ily found  the  bodies  of  Adams  and  tho  Indian,  the  face  of 
12* 


138  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780. 

the  latter  having  been  covered  by  his  companions  with 
Adams'  hunting  shirt. 

A  singular  circumstance  also  occurred  about  that  time 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Allegheny  mountain.  A  man 
named  Wells,  had  made  a  very  considerable  improvement, 
and  was  esteemed  rather  wealthy  for  that  region.  He, 
like  others,  had  been  forced  with  his  family  from  his  house, 
and  had  gone  for  protection  to  the  fort.  In  the  fall  of  the 
year  he  concluded  to  return  to  his  place  and  dig  his  crop 
of  potatoes.  For  that  purpose  he  took  with  him  six  or 
seven  men,  an  Irish  servant  girl  to  cook,  and  an  old  plough 
horse.  After  they  had  finished  their  job,  they  made  pre- 
parations to  return  to  the  fort  the  next  day.  During  the 
night,  Wells  dreamed  that  on  his  way  to  his  family  he 
had  been  attacked  and  gored  by  a  bull ;  and  so  strong  an 
impression  did  the  dream  make,  1  hat  he  mentioned  it  to 
his  companions,  and  told  them  that  he  was  sure  some  danger 
awaited  them.  He  slept  again  and  dreamed  that  he  was 
about  to  shoot  a  deer,  and  when  cocking  his  gun,  the  main- 
spring broke.  In  his  dream  he  thought  he  heard  distinctly 
the  crack  of  the  spring  when  it  broke.  He  again  awoke 
and  his  fears  wrere  confirmed  ;  and  he  immediately  urged  his 
friends  to  rise  and  get  ready  to  start.  Directly  after  he  arose 
he  went  to  his  gun  to  examine  it,  and  in  cocking  it  the  main- 
spring snapped  off.  This  circumstance  alaimed  them,  and 
they  soon  had  breakfast  and  were  ready  to  leave.  To  pre- 
vent delay,  the  girl  was  put  on  the  horse  and  started  off, 
and  as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough,  the  rest  followed.  Be- 
fore they  had  gone  far,  a  young  dog  belonging  to  Wells, 
manifested  much  alarm,  and  ran  back  to  the  house.  Wells 
called  him,  but  after  going  a  short  distance,  he  invariabl) 
ran  back. 

Not  wishing  to  leave  him,  as  he  was  valuable,  he  went 
after  him,  but  had  gone  only  a  short  distance  towards  the 
house,  when  five  Indians  rose  from  behind  a  large  tree  that 
had  fallen,  and  approached  him  with  extended  hands.  The 
men  who  were  with  him,  fled  instantly ;  and  he  would  have 
followed,  but  the  Indians  were  so  close  that  he  thought  it 
useless.  As  they  approached  him,  however,  he  fancied  the 
looks  of  a  very  powerful  Indian,  who  was  nearest  him,  boded 
no  good  ;  and  being  a  swift  runner,  and  thinking  it  "  neck 
or  nothing,'7  at  any  rate  determined  to  attempt  an  escape. 
As  the  Indian  approached,  he  threw  at  him  his  useless  rifle, 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780.  139 

and  dashed  off  towards  the  woods,  in  the  direction  his  com- 
panions had  gone.  Instead  of  tiring,  the  Indians  commenced 
a  pursi  it,  for  the  purpose  of  making  him  a  prisoner,  but  he 
outran  ihem.  After  running  some  distance,  and  when  they 
thought  he  would  escape,  they  all  stopped  and  fired  at  once, 
and  every  bullet  struck  him,  but  without  doing  him  much  in- 
jury or  retarding  his  flight.  Soon  ,after  this  he  saw  where 
his  companions  concealed  themselves;  and  as  he  passed,  he 
begged  them  to  fire  on  the  Indians  and  save  him;  but  they 
were  afraid,  and  kept  quiet.  He  continued  his  flight,  and  af- 
ter a  short  time  overtook  the  girl  with  the  horse.  She  quickly 
understood  his  danger  and  dismounted  instantly,  urging  him 
to  take  her  place,  while  she  would  save  herst  If  by  conceal- 
ment. He  mounted,  but  without  a  whip,  and  for  want  of 
one  could  not  get  the  old  horse  out  of  a  trot.  This  delay 
brought  the  Indians  upon  him  again  directly,  and  as  soon  as 
they  were  near  enough,  they  fired  ;  and  this  time  with  more 
effect,  as  one  of  the  balls  struck  him  in  the  hip  and  lodged  in 
his  groin.  But  this  saved  his  life ;  it  frightened  the  horse 
into  a  gallop,  and  he  escaped,  although  he  suffered  severeb 
for  several  months  afterwards. 

The  Indians  were  afterwards  pursued,  and  surprised  at 
their  morning  meal ;  and  when  fired  on,  four  of  them  were 
killed,  but  the  other,  though  wounded,  made  his  escape. 
Bridges,  who  was  taken  prisoner  near  Johnstown,  when  Ad- 
ams was  murdered,  saw  him  come  to  his  people,  and  describes 
him  as  having  been  shot  through  the  chest,  with  leaves  stuf- 
fed in  the  bullet  holes  to  stop  the  bleeding. 

In  1780,  the  inhabitants  of  Woodcock  valley  Huntingdon 
co.  were  again  surprised  and  a  number  of  them  killed,  sft 
stated  in  the  subjoined  letter. 

Cumberland  county,  August  7,  17S0. 
To  his  Excellency  Joseph  Reid,  Esq. 

Sir  : — I  received  the  orders  of  council  for  the  volunteers  to 
be  put  in  motion,  in  order  to  join  the  main  army  and  for  those 
classes  of  the  militia  to  be  in  readiness — And  was  unfortunately 
long  coming  to  my  hand.  I  have  sent  agreeable  to  said  order? 
to  put  the  volunteers  into  motion  that  were  raised  on  the 
north  side  of  the  mountain  ;  but  unfortunately  I  have  sent 
one  company  to  the  frontiers  of  Northumberland  county,  and 
the  other  to  the  frontiers  of  Bedford,  which  was  in  a  very 


140  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780. 

distressed  situation:  about  three  weeks  ago,  the  Indians  came 
on  a  scout,  a  Captain  and  twelve  men  in  a  place  called  Wood- 
rock  Valley,  and  not  one  of  the  party  escaped  ;  they  lay,  I 
believe  ten  days  without  being  buried  ;  I  went  with  a  party 
from  this  county  and  covered  them  the  best  way  we  could, 
which  was  a  very  disagreeable  task. 

I  am  apt  to  think  it  will  be  a  very  distressing  and  disagree- 
able circumstance  to  the  frontiers  to  have  the  volunteers  taken 
from  them. — My  reason  for  sending  them  then  as  soon  as  they 
were  ready,  was  to  support  and  assist  the  inhabitants  in  sav- 
ing their  harvest.  I  am  afraid  the  militia  of  this  county  will 
not  turn  out  so  well  as  I  could  wish ;  but  your  excellency 
may  depend  upon  it  that  every  exertion  in  my  power  shall 
be  used  on  the  occasion,  as  I  am  fully  convinced  of  the  neces- 
sity of  our  utmost  efforts  this  year  in  order  to  save  the  coun- 
try. This  county  is  now  very  scarce 'of  ammunition,  and  I 
have  not  been  able  to  find  any  trusty  hand  and  wagon  to 
send  for,  but  expect  one  before  long,  when,  I  flatter  myself, 
that  council  will  supply  us  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pow- 
der, lead  and  flints. 

I  doubt  if  the  number  required  of  the  militia,  turn  out,  we 
will  not  be  able  to  arm  them  in  this  county,  as  we  have  al- 
ready furnished  the  volunteers  out  of  what  state  arms  were 
here,  but  we  have  got  a  few  muskets,  but  they  all  want  bay- 
onets. I  am  happy  to  inform  you  we  have  this  year  had  a 
very  plentiful  harvest  in  this  county,  and  appearances  of  fine 
corn  and  plenty  of  fruit,  and  also  a  good  disposition  in  a 
number  of  the  people  to  receive  and  give  credit  to  the  state 
money  (if  they  could  get  it)  but  very  little  of  it  has  come  to 
this  part  of  the  county  yet.  But  if  ready  money  of  any  kind 
could  be  had  there  could  be  plenty  of  supplies  purchased. 
There  may  difficulty  arise  about  procuring  wagons,  as  I  be- 
lieve there  is  no  wagon-maker  that  acts  for  this  county. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be 

your  Excellency's  most  obedient 

and  humble  servant, 

Abm.  Smith. 

Late  in  the  fall  of  1777,  some  marauding  Indians  disturbed 
the  frontier  settlers  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Susquehanna  ; 
and  all  the  frontier  settlements  along  the  West  Branch,  and 
westward  to  the  Allegheny  river.     Families  were  murdered 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780.  141 

or  carried  into  captivity — dwellings  reduced  to  ashes — crops 
destroyed — the  settlers  exposed  to  the  most  unheard  of  In- 
dian cruelties.  None  dared  venture  forth,  without  a  loaded 
rifle  as  his  constant  companion ;  for  it  was  a  time  when  they 
had  reason  to  expect  to  meet  a  savage  concealed  in  every  bush 
and  thicket — fire  arms  were  carried  to  both  field  and  church  ; 
and  their  lives  were  only  secure  by  untiring  and  constant 
vigilance  ;  and  even  then,  at  an  unwary  hour,  some  fell  vic- 
tims to  the  blood-thirsty  Indian.  Blockhouses  were  built 
along  the  West  Branch,  under  the  protection  of  which,  the 
first  settlers  alone  were  in  safety  against  the  prowling,  lawny 
foe.  With  all  these  necessary  precautions,  several  persons 
were  surprised,  through  this  region  of  country,  by  the  enemy. 
A  man  named  Saltzburn,  on  the  Sinnemahoning,  and  Dan 
Jones,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tangascootac,  were  cruelly  mur- 
dered late  in  1777. 

"  In  the  spring  of  1778  Col-  Hepburn,  afterwards  Judge 
Hepburn,  was  stationed  with  a  small  force  at  Fort  Muncy 
at  the  mouth  of  Wallis'  run,  near  which  several  murders 
had  been  committed.  The  Indians  had  killed  Brown's  and 
Benjamin's  families,  and  had  taken  Cook  and  his  wife  pris- 
oners on  Loyalsock  cr.  Col.  Hunter  of  Fort  Augusta, 
alarmed  by  these  murders,  sent  orders  to  Fort  Muncy  that 
all  the  settlers  in  that  vicinity  should  evacuate,  and  taKe 
refuge  at  Sunbury.  Col.  Hepburn  was  ordered  to  pass  on 
the  orders  to  Antis'  and  Horn's  forts  above.  To  carry  this 
message  none  would  volunteer  except  Covenhoven  and  a 
young  Yankee  millwright,  an  apprentice  to  Andrew  Culbert- 
son.  Purposely  avoiding  all  roads,  they  took  their  route 
along  the  top  of  Bald  Eagle  ridge  until  they  reached  Antis' 
gap,  where  they  descended  towards  the  fort  at  the  head  of 
Nippenose  bottom.  At  the  bottom  of  the  hill  they  were 
startled  by  the  report  of  a  rifle  near  the  fort,  which  had  been 
fired  by  an  Indian  at  a  girl.  The  girl  had  just  stooped  to 
milk  a  cow — the  harmless  bullet  passed  through  her  clothes 
between  her  limbs  and  the  ground.  Milking  cows  in  those 
days  was  dangerous  work.  The  Indians  had  just  killed  in 
the  woods  Abel  Cady  and  Zephaniah  Miller,  and  mortally 
wounded  young  Armstrong,  who  died  that  night.  The  mes- 
sengers delivered  their  orders  that  all  persons  should  evacuate 
within  a  week,  and  they  were  also  to  send  word  up  to  Horn's 
fort. 


142  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780. 

"On  his  way  up  Covenhoven  had  staid  all  night  with  An- 
drew Armstrong,  who  then  lived  at  the  head  of  the  long 
reach,  where  Esq.  Seward  now  lives  Covenhoven  warned 
him  to  quit,  but  he  did  not  like  to  abandon  his  crops,  and 
gave  no  heed  to  the  warning.  The  Indians  came  upon  him 
suddenly  and  took  him  prisoner  with  his  oldest  child  and 
Nancy  Bunday :  his  wife,  who  was  enciente,  concealed  her- 
self under  the  bed  and  escaped. 

"Covenhoven  hastened  down  to  his  own  family,  and  hav- 
ing taken  them  safely  to  Sunbury,  returned  in  a  keel-boat  to 
secure  his  household  furniture.  As  he  was  rounding  a  point 
above  Derrstown  (now  Lewisburg,)  he  met  the  whole  con- 
voy from  all  the  forts  above ;  such  a  sight  he  never  saw  in 
his  life.  Boats,  canoes,  hog-troughs,  rafts  hastily  made  of 
dry  sticks — every  sort  of  floating  article  had  been  put  in  re- 
quisition, and  were  crowded  with  women,  children,  and 
'plunder' — there  were  several  hundred  people  in  all.  When- 
ever any  obstruction  occurred  at  a  shoal  or  ripple,  the  women 
would  leap  out  and  put  their  shoulders,  not  indeed  to  the 
wheel,  but  to  the  flat  boat  or  raft,  and  launch  it  again  into 
deep  water.  The  men  of  the  settlement  came  down  in  sin- 
gle file  on  each  side  of  the  river  to  guard  the  women  and 
children.  The  whole  convoy  arrived  safely  at  Snnbury,  leav- 
ing the  entire  line  of  farms  along  the  West  Branch,  to  the 
lavages  of  the  Indians.  They  destroyed  Fort  Muncy,  but 
did  not  penetrate  in  any  force  near  Sunbury;  their  attention 
having  soon  been  diverted  to  the  memorable  descent  upon 
Wyoming. 

"After  Covenhoven  had  got  his  bedding,  &c,  in  his  boat, 
and  was  proceeding  down  the  river,  just  below  Fort  Men- 
ninger,  he  saw  a  woman  on  she  shore  fleeing  from  an  Indian. 
She  jumped  down  the  river  bank  and  fell,  perhaps  wounded 
by  his  gun.  The  Indian'scalped  her,  but  in  his  haste  neglected 
to  strike  her  down.  She  survived  the  scalping,  was  picked 
up  by  the  men  from  the  fort,  and  lived  near  Warrior's  run 
until  about  the  year  1840.     Her  name  was  Mrs.  Durham. 

"  Shortly  after  the  big  runaway,  Col.  Broadhead  was  or- 
dered up  with  his  forces  of  100  or  150  men  to  rebuild  Fort 
Muncy,  and  guard  the  settlers  while  gathering  their  crops. 
After  performing  the  service  he  left  Fort  Pitt,  and  Col.  Hart- 
ley with  a  battalion  succeeded  him.  Capt  Spalding  from 
Stroudsburg,  also  came  down  with  a  detachment  by  way  of 


INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780.  143 

the  Wyoming  valley.  Having  built  the  barracks  at  Fort 
Muncy,  they  went  up  on  an  expedition  to  burn  the  Indian 
towns  at  Wyalusing,  Sheshequin,  and  Tioga.  This  was  just 
after  the  great  battle  at  Wyoming,  and  before  the  British 
and  Indians  had  finished  getting  their  plunder  up  the  river. 
After  burning  the  Indian  towns,  the  detachment  had  a  sharp 
skirmish  with  the  Indians  from  Wyoming,  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Susquehanna  at  the  narrows  north  of  the  Wyalusing 
mountain.  Mr.  Covenhoven  distinguished  himself  in  that 
affair  by  his  personal  bravery.  He  was  holding  on  by  the 
roots  of  a  tree  on  the  steep  precipice,  when  an  Indian  ap- 
proached him  and  called  on  him  to  surrender.  Mr.  C,  in 
reply,  presented  his  gun  and  shot  the  Indian  through  the 
bowels." 

To  conclude  this  Chapter,  the  following  notice  of  the  well 
known  Covenhoven  is  inserted. 

"About  four  miles  below  Jersey  shore,  a  little  south  of  the 
road  to  Williamsport,  lives  the  venerable  Robert  Covenho- 
ven (commonly  known  as  Mr.  Crownover)  at  the  advanced 
age  of  88.  His  venerable  lady  is  still  living  with  him,  with 
her  faculties  bright  and  unimpaired.  Mr.  Covenhoven  was 
born  of  Low  Dutch  parents  in  Monmouth  co.,  New  Jersey. 
He  was  much  employed  during  his  youth  as  a  'hunter  and 
axeman  to  the  surveyors  of  land  in  the  valleys  tributary  to 
the  North  and  West  branches  of  the  Susquehanna.  The  fa- 
miliarity thus  acquired  with  all  the  paths  of  that  vast  wil- 
derness, rendered  his  services  eminently  useful  as  a  scout  and 
guide  to  the  military  parties  of  the  revolution,  which  com- 
menced about  the  time  of  his  arriving  at  manhood.  It  is  un- 
necessary to  say,  that  the  graduate  of  such  a  school  was 
fearless  and  intrepid — that  he  was  skilful  in  the  wiles  of  In- 
dian warfare — and  that  he  possessed  an  iron  constitution. 
With  these  qualifications,  at  the  call  of  his  country  in  1776, 
he  joined  the  campaigns  under  Gen.  Washington.  He  was 
at  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton.  His  younger  bro- 
ther had  also  enlisted  ;  but  his  father  took  his  place,  and  the 
general,  with  his  characteristic  kindness,  permitted  the  boy 
to  return  and  protect  his  mother.  In  the  spring  of  1777 
Robert  returned  to  his  home  on  the  West  Branch,  where  his 
services  were  more  needed  by  the  defenceless  frontier,  than 
on  the  seacoast.  Mr.  Covenhoven  was  one  of  those  men 
who  were  always  put  forward  when  danger  and  hard  work 


144  INDIAN  MASSACRES  IN  1780. 

were  to  be  encountered,  but  forgotten  when  honors  and  emo- 
luments were  to  be  distributed.  Nevertheless,  he  cheerfully 
sought  the  post  of  danger,  and  never  shrunk  from  duty,  al- 
though it  might  be  in  an  humble  station.  Few  men  have 
passed  through  more  hair-breadth  escapes;  few  have  encoun- 
tered more  personal  perils  in  deadly  encounters  with  savages 
than  Mr.  C.  His  services  at  the  big  runaway  have  been 
mentioned  above ;  he  was  eminently  useful  in  obtaining  in- 
telligence at  Fort  Freeland,  the  day  before  its  capture  ;  he 
was  the  guide  to  Col.  Hartley's  expedition  up  the  North 
Branch  after  the  battle  of  Wyoming  ;  and  he  was  in  several 
bloody  skirmishes  with  Indians  on  Loyalsock  and  Pine  creeks. 
On  one  occasion,  (I  think  it  was  after  the  return  of  Col. 
Hepburn  to  Fort  Muncy,)  a  detachment  was  started  out 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Berry,  to  recover  some  horses 
stolen  by  the  Indians,  reported  to  be  up  on  Loyalsock. 
Covenhoven  for  some  reason  was  sent  out  to  advise  Berry  to 
return,  but  the  latter  would  not  acknowledge  the  colonel's 
authority,  and  persisted  in  going  forward.  Several  of  Co- 
venhoven's  brothers,  and  his  uncle  WyckofF,  were  in  Berry's 
detachment,  and  a  friendly  Indian  by  the  name  of  Capt. 
Sharpshins.  As  so  many  of  his  own  family  were  in  this  ex- 
pedition, Robert  Covenhoven  determined  to  go  along  as  a 
guide ;  but  he  could  not  persuade  Berry  to  keep  the  woods, 
and  before  long  they  found  themselves  ambuscaded.  A 
bloody  struggle  commenced,  in  which  a  brother  of  Mr.  C. 
was  killed,  another  brother  was  taken  prisoner,  with  several 
of  his  cousins,  and  his  uncle  WyckofF.  The  latter  had  been 
previously  bald,  but  strangely  enough,  after  the  hardships  of 
imprisonment,  he  returned  with  a  fine  head  of  hair.  Robert 
Covenhoven,  after  hard  fighting,  was  chased  some  distance 
along  the  bank  of  the  creek,  dodging  up  and  down  the  bank 
alternately  that  his  pursuer  might  get  no  aim  at  him.  He 
escaped  and  returned  to  the  fort.  Brave  as  he  was,  the  old 
man  speaks  of  the  flutteiing  of  his  heart  often  during  this 
chase.  The  skirmish  occurred  on  Loyalsock,  just  above 
Scott's,  one  mile  above  the  bridge.  The  old  man  tells  a 
queer  story  about  his  "surrounding,"  in  company  with 
Rob't  King,  a  party  of  Indians  and  refugees  who  were  work- 
ing a  loaded  boat  up  the  N.  Branch  from  the  depredations 
of  Wyoming.  The  party  in  the  boat  greatly  outnumbered 
them,  but  the  prize  was  too  tempting  to  be  resisted.     King, 


INDIAN    MASSACRES  IN  1780.  145 

remaining  in  the  bushes,  kept  up  a  prodigious  hullaboloo, 
whooping  and  shouting  to  his  imaginary  comrades  to  come 
on.  Covenhoven  rushed  out  with  gun  in  hand,  and  ordered 
the  fellows  in  the  boat  to  surrender,  which  they  did,  and  per- 
mitted themselves  to  be  secured.  King  made  his  appearance, 
and  the  two,  forcing  the  prisoners  by  threats  to  assist  them, 
arrived  with  their  prize  at  Wyoming — where,  says  Mr.  Co- 
venhoven, the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  continental  army 
cheated  the  poor  provincials  out  of  their  share  of  the  plunder. 


13 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Northumberland  County. 

Northumberland  County  erected — Streams — Geological  features  of  :he 
County — Census  of  1840 — Public  Improvements — Towns :  Sunbury  ; 
early  incidents  at,  &c— Northumberland,  Milton,  McEwensville, 
Watsonsburg,  Fort  Freeland,  Pottsgrove,  Sodom,  Snyderstown,  Dal- 
matia,  Shamokin,  Popular  Education. 

Northumberland  county  was  erected  March  12,  1772, 
out  of  Lancaster,  Cumberland,  Berks,  Northampton  and 
Bedford. 

§  I.  That  all  and  singular  the  lands  lying  and  being  with- 
in the  boundaries  following,  that  is  to  say,  beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  Mahontongo  creek,  on  the  west  side  of  the  river 
Susquehanna,  thence  up  the  south  side  of  said  creek,  by  the 
several  courses  thereof,  to  the  head  of  Robert  Meteer's  spring ; 
thence  west  by  north  to  the  top  of  Tussey's  mountain  ;  thence 
south  westerly,  along  the  summit  of  the  mountain  to  Little 
Juniata]  thence  up  the  north-easterly  side  of  the  main  branch 
of  Little  Juniata,  to  the  head  thereof;  thence  north  to  the 
line  of  Berks  county  ;  thence  east  along  the  said  line,  to  the 
extremity  of  the  Province  ;  thence  east  along  the  northern 
boundary,  to  that  part  thereof  of  the  Great  Swamp;  thence 
south  to  the  most  northern  part  of  the  Swamp  aforesaid  ; 
thence  with  a  straight  line  to  the  head  of  the  Lehigh,  or 
Middle  Creek ;  thence  down  the  said  creek  so  far,  that  a 
line  run  west  south-west  will  strike  the  forks  of  Mahontongo 
creek  where  Pine  creek  falls  into  the  same,  at  the  place  call- 
ed the  Spread  Eagle,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna  ; 
thence  down  the  southerly  side  of  said  creek  to  the  river 
aforesaid ;  thence  down  and  across  the  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

§  V.  Directs  that  courts  be  held  at  Fort  Jlugusta  until  a 
court  house  shall  be  built. 

§  VI.  That  William  Maclay,  Samuel  Hunter,  John  Lou- 
don, Joseph  Wallis  and  Robert  Moody,  or  any  three  of  them, 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  147 

to  purchase  and  take  assurance  a  piece  of  land  in  some  con- 
venient place  in  the  county,  to  be  approved  by  the  governor, 
to  erect  a  court  house  and  prison  on. 

§  XIV.  Appoints  Joshua  Elden,  James  Patten,  Jesse  Lu- 
kens  and  William,  or  any  two,  to  run,  mark  out  and  distin- 
guish the  boundary  lines  between  Lancaster,  Cumberland, 
Berks,  Northampton,  Bedford  and  Northumberland  counties. 
W  ith  its  original  boundary  Northumberland  extended  to 
the  north  boundaries  of  the  province  ;  its  very  ample  limits 
have  since  been  successfully  reduced  by  the  erection  of  Sep- 
tember 25,  1786  ;  Mifflin,  September  19,  1789  ;  Lvcommg, 
April  13,  1795  ;  Centre,  February  13, 1800  ;  Columbia  and 
Union,  March  22,  1813.  It  is  ot  an  irregular  shape,  and  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Lycoming  ;  north  east  and  east  by 
Columbia  ;  southeast  by  Schuylkill ;  south  by  Dauphin  coun- 
ty, and  west  by  the  Susquehanna  river  and  West  Branch 
which  separate  it  from  Union.  Its  greatest  length  is  35 
miles  ;  breadth  13 ;  area  in  square  miles  457,  containing 
292,480  acres  of  land.  Population  in  1790,  17,161 ;  in 
1800,  (Lycoming  off,)  27,796  ;  in  1810  (part  of  Centre  off) 
36,327;  in  1820,  (Columbia  and  Union  off)  15,424;  in 
1830,  18,133  ;  in  1840, 20,027.  The  aggregate  amount  of. 
property  taxable  in  18 15,  was  $4,035,605.  The  population 
of  the  several  townships  in  1840  was  as  follows: 

Augusta  2,409 ;  Shamokin  1,983;  Rush  1,022;  Turbut 
3,872 ;  Chillisquaque  1,399  ;  Point  746 ;  Little  Mahonoy; 
213;  Upper  Mahonoy  1,131;  Lower  Mahonoy  1,199 
Cools919  ;  Jackson  1,584.  Boroughs,  viz  :  Sunbury  1,608 : 
Milton  1,508  ;  Northumberland  928.  [See  the  table  in  the 
opposite  page.] 

This  county  lies,  like  the  others,  with  a  great  central  tran- 
sition limestone  formation  and  like  them  is  mountainous,  es- 
pecially the  southern  part ;  the  middle  portion  is  hilly,  and 
the  northern  portion  along  the  West  Branch,  is  more  level. 
The  principal  mountains  are  Lime,  Mahonoy  and  Little,  the 
Shamokin  hills  and  Montour  Ridge  and  Muncy  hills. 

Lime  mountain  in  the  south  part  of  the  County,  is  a  re- 
markable, straight  range  of  hills  which  extend  from  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  about  seventeen  miles,  to  the  east  boundary 
of  the  county.  The  Mahonoy  is  a  large  and  wide  range  of 
hills,  extending  from  the  Susquehanna  river  about  eight  miles 
below  Sunbury,  in  a  north  eastern  direction,  through  the 


148  NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 

southern  part  of  this,  and  Columbia  counties  into  Luzerne.  ! 
Little  mountain  rises  in  this  county.  The  Shamokin  Hills 
run  east  and  west  across  the  county,  north  of  the  Shamokin 
creek:  Montour's  ridge,  is  a  mountain  range  extending  across 
the  county  and  forms  in  part  the  boundary  between  this  and 
Columbia  county,  and  extending  about  twelve  miles  from  the 
west  to  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  The  Muncy 
Hills  form  the  north  boundary. 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 


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13, 


150  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

The  county  has  an  abundant  supply  of  water.  Its  prin- 
cipal streams  are  the  North  Branch,  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna,  Mahantango,  Mahonoy,  Great  and  Little  Sha- 
rnokin,  Chillisquaque,  Limestone,  Warrior  creek,  with  others 
of  less  importance,  such  as  Big  Roaring,  Little  Roaring, 
Schwaben,  Coal  creeks  and  smaller  tributaries,  or  runs,  viz : 
Gravel,  Lodgis'  run  and  others. 

The  West  Branch  as  the  main  stream  of  the  Susquehanna 
was  the  western  boundary  of  the  county  for  a  distance  of 
about  forty  miles.  The  North  Branch  flows  about  ten  miles 
across  the  centre,  and  then  unites  with  tfce  West  Branch  at 
Northumberland,  then  united  roll  majestically  southward, 
till  they  reach  Chesapeak  Bay  and  unite  with  the  thousand 
of  ocean  streams,  to  return  their  waters  to  the  great  reser- 
voir of  equatic  fluid.  Mahantango  creek  rises  in  Schuylkill 
county,  flows  in  a  south  western  direction,  forming  the  boun- 
dary line  between  Dauphin  and  Northumberland  for  about 
12  miles  and  falls  in  the  Susquehanna.  Mahonoy  rises  in 
Schuylkill  co.  and  flows  south  westward  through  the  south- 
ern paft  oi  the  county.  Great  and  Little  Shamokin — the 
former  rises  in  Shamokin  township  flows  a  north  west  course 
by  Snyderstown  and  empties  into  the  Susquehanna  about 
two  miles  below  Sunbury.  It  receives,  in  its  course,  the 
Little  Shamokin,  nearly  opposite  Sunbury.  Chillisquaque 
creek  rises  in  the  Muncy  hi  ills,  on  the  border  of  Lycoming 
and  Columbia  waters,  flows  a  south  western  direction, 
through  this  county  into  the  Susquehanna,  on  the  north  side 
of  Montour's  ridge. 

The  mountains,  hills,  streams  and  valleys,  all  taken  toge- 
ther, present  a  highly  beautiful,  varied  and  picturesque  sce- 
nery. It  is,  says  Trego,  a  pleasant  region  in  which  to  spend 
the  summer  months.  The  view  from  the  hills  around  the 
town  of  Northumberland,  embraces  more  pleasing  objects 
than  are  usually  met  with  in  a  single  prospect.  ^Mountains, 
hills,  farms,  towns,  canals  and  rivers  are  blended  in  one  wide 
and  harmonious  landscape,  over  which  the  eye  may  rove  for 
hours  and  still  discover  new  beauties.  As  additional  attrac- 
tions may  be  mentioned,  pure  and  wholesome  water,  a  cool 
and  refreshing  atmosphere,  and  a  climate  remarkable  for  its 
salubrity,  except  in  the  low  grounds  along  the  river,  where 
bilious  complaints  sometimes  occur  in  the  autumnal  months. 

The  geological  features  of  the  county  are  alike  various  and 


m  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  .     151 

interesting  ;  and  are  geographically  and  briefly  described  by 
Mr.  Trego.     "  South  of  the  olive  slate  of  the  Muncy  Hills, 
the  country  to  the  north  base  of  Montour's  ridge  is  occupi- 
ed by  limestone,  and  red  and  various  colored  slates  and  shales, 
having  a  rich  soil,  and  being  the  most   productive  agricultu- 
ral part  of  the  county.     In  Montour's  ridge  is  a  hard  gray 
and  reddish  sandstone,  overlaid  by  greenish   and   red  slates 
and  slates  with  their  thin  strata  of  limestone  and  the  valua- 
ble band  of  fossiliferous  iron  ore.     This  formation  is  found 
on  both  sides  of  the  ridge,  and  sometimes  saddles  over  its  top. 
Overlying  the  red  shale  is  a  belt  of  limestone  extending  also 
on  both  sides  of  the  ridge  ;  that  on  the  south  side  appearing 
near  the  West  Branch,  about  four  miles  above  the  town  of 
Northumberland,  and  extending  towards  the  North  Branch 
below  Danville.     South  of  this  are  hills  containing  olive 
slate  and  gray  sandstone,  which  extend  over    the  country 
above  Northumberland,  southward  and  southeastward  to  the 
range  called  Shamokin  Hills,  and  also  in  and  beyond  the  val- 
ley of  Shamokin  creek.     These  rocks  are  overlaid  by  a  nar- 
row belt  of   red   shale  and  sandstone,  of  the  most  superior 
formation,  extending  over  the  high  grounds  from  the  "  Blue 
Hill"  at  Northumberland,  eastward  to  Roaring  creek.     An- 
other range  of  this  red  shale  and  sandstone  is  also  seen  ex- 
tending from  the  Susquehanna   along  the  north  side  of  the 
Little  mountain  to  the  valley  of  Roaring  creek.     The  lower 
beds  of  the  olive   slate  series  are  finely  exposed  in  the  cliffs 
along  the  east  side  of  the  river  below  Sunbury,  where  some 
of  the  strata  aie  sufficiently  calcareous  to  be  used  for  burn- 
ing lime.     In  the  interstices  of  this  limestone  is  found  an  ore 
containing  sulphuret  of  lead  and  silicate  of  zinc ;    but  it  is 
doubtful  whether  its  quantity  or  quality  is  sufficient  to  ren- 
der it  an  object  of  much  consequence.     Other  layers  of  this 
formation  appear  to  be  adapted   to  the  manufacture  of  hy- 
draulic cement,  and  may  be  seen  abundantly  along  the  shore 
of  the  river  nearly  opposite  Selinsgrove.    At  Georgetown  or 
Dalmatia,  on  the  Susquehanna,  in  the   southern  part  of  the 
county,  an  axis  of  elevation  brings  up  a  limestone  to  the  sur- 
face ;  this  however  extends  but  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
river,  being  overlaid  and  surmounted  by  the  older  slate,  and 
the  red  shale  and    sandstone,  which  occupy   the  region  be- 
tween the  Line  mountain  on  the  north  and  the  Mahantango 
en  the- south.  In  the  Line  and  Little  mountains,  which  unite 


152  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  • 

in  a  bold  knob  on  the  Susquehanna  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Mahanoy  creek,  we  have  a  hard  compact  sandstone  which, 
though  it  sometimes  contains  thin  layers  of  black  carbonace- 
ous matter,  is  yet  several  hundred  feet  below  the  coal  mea- 
sures. Enclosed  by  these  mountains,  and  extending  along 
the  valley  of  Mahanoy  creek,  between  Line  and  Mahanoy 
mountains,  and  along  Little  Mahanoy  creek  between  the 
Little  and  Big  mountains,  is  red  shale,  which  overlies  the 
sandstone  last  mentioned  ;  all  these  rocks  dipping  towards 
the  middle  of  the  basin  and  passing  beneath  the  coal.  The 
coarse  conglomerate  next  below  the  coal  series,  appears  in 
the  Mahanoy  and  Big  mountains,  which  unite  on  the  west 
between  the  Great  and  Little  Mahanoy  creeks,  enclosing 
the  western  point  of  Shamokin  and  Mahanoy  coal  field. 

Mining  operations  in  this  region  are  principally  confined 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  new  town  of  Shamokin,  at  the  eastern 
termination  of  the  railroad  from  Sunbury,  which  affords  a 
ready  means  of  transporting  the  coal  to  the  river.  Here  in 
the  gap  by  which  the  Shamokin  creek  passes  through  the 
Big  mountain,  5  or  6  beds  of  coal,  from  3  to  9  feet  thick, 
have  been  opened  on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  and  farther  up 
the  stream,  in  the  smaller  hills  along  its  banks.,  are  numerous 
other  beds,  a  number  of  which  are  productively  worked.  On 
Coal  creek,  between  one  and  two  miles  east  of  the  railroad, 
is  an  enormous  deposit  of  this  valuable  article,  contained  in 
a  bed  not  yet  completely  exposed,  but  which  appears  to  be 
about  sixty  feet  thick. 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  12,130  tons 
of  coal  raised,  employed  46  hands,  capital  $15,000.  Horses 
and  mules  in  the  county  4,511,  neat  cattle  11,623,  sheep 
17,409,  swine  18,865,  the  value  of  poultry  of  all  kinds  $6.- 
233,  bushels  of  wheat  raised  $227,227,  barley  558,  oats 
160,190,  rye  141,016,  buckwheat  54,542,  corn  165,799, 
pounds  of  wool  26,019,  hops  591,  wax  258,  bushels  of  po- 
tatoes 115,985,  tors  of  hay  9,926,  flax  15  tons,  pounds  of 
tobacco  gathered  27,305,  cords  of  wood  sold  2,736.  Value 
of  the  products  of  the  dairy  $20,538,  value  of  the  products 
of  the  orchard  $8,130,  value  of  family  or  home  made  goods 
814,213.  Fifty-three  retail  dry  goods  and  other  stores, 
with  a  capital  of  $199,800  ;  three  lumber  yards.  Value  of 
machinery  manufactured  $3,500,  employed  three  hands.  Va- 
lue of  bricks  and  lime  manufactured  $12,500,  employed  39 


NORTHUKBERLAND    COUNTY, 


153 


hands,  capital  $5,115.  Value  of  hats  and  caps  manufac- 
tured $6,900,  thirteen  persons  employed,  capital  $2,825. 
Seventeen  tanneries  tanned  3,010  sides  of  sole  leather,  and 
3,790  of  upper,  and  employed  28  hands,  capital  $24,300— 
all  other  manufactories  of  leather,  saddleries,  &c,  23,  with 
a  capital  of  $10,405;  value  of  manufactured  articles  $29,414. 
Fourteen  distilleries  produced  101,256  gallons,  one  brewery 
produced  11,520  gallons  of  beer,  22  men  employed  in  man- 
ufacturing distilled  and  fermented  liquors,  capital  invested 
$19,350.  Three  printing  offices,  employed  8  hands,  capital 
$4,500.  Two  rope-walks,  value  produced  $2,500;  employ- 
ed 4  men,  capital  invested  $650.  Value  of  the  manufactures 
of  wagon  and  carriages  $15,200,  employed  35  men,  capital 
$6,850.  Grist  mills  29,  saw  mills  28,  one  oil  mill,  value  of 
manufactures  of  mills  $144,625,  employed  77  men,  capital 
$118,350.  Value  of  furniture  manufactured  $4,400,  thir- 
teen hands  employed,  capital  $2,150.  Total  amount  of  ca- 
pital invested  in  manufactures  $223,660  00.  Aggregate 
value  of  all  kinds  of  property  taxable  in  1844,  $4,035,- 
605  00. 

Public  bnprovements. — The  public  improvements  in  this 
county  are  the  North  and  West  Branches  of  the  Pennsylva- 
nia canal.  These  two  Branches  unite  at  Northumberland, 
and  pass  down  the  Susquehanna  on  the  right  bank  of  it. 

The  western  portion  of  the  Pottsville  and  Danville  rail 
road,  of  which  about  twenty  miles  are  completed  from  Sun- 
bury  to  the  coal  mines  at  Sharaokin.  There  is  a  dam  across 
the  Susquehanna  called  the  Shamokin  dam,  seven  hundred 
and  eighty  feet  long,  constructed  by  the  state  for  the  purpose 
of  supplying  water  to  the  Susquehanna  division  of  the  canal. 

There  is  also  a  turnpike  road  from  Northumberland  by 
way  of  Sunbury,  Pottsville  and  Reading  to  Philadelphia. 

Sunbury,  the  seat  of  justice,  is  beautifully  situated  on  a 
level  plain  on  the  east  side  of  the  Susquehanna,  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Shamokin  creek,  and  two  miles  below  the  town 
of  Northumberland.  It  has  been  described  by  a  visiter,  as 
a  beautiful  site — near  the  town,  above  and  below,  are  ranges 
of  high  hills,  affording  a  magnificent  prospect  of  the  scenery 
of  the  valley  ;  in  front  of  the  town  Susquehanna,  backed  up 
by  the  Shamokin  dam,  spreads  out  into  a  basin  nearly  a  mile 


154  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

wide,  which  receives  the  united  streams  of  the  North  and 
West  Branches. 

One  of  the  hills  called  Mount  Pleasant,  I  ascended  this 
morning  just  as  the  sun  was  rising — The  scene  was  enchant- 
ing— at  my  feet  as  it  were,  lay  the  borough  in  quiet  repose, 
embowered  in  shade  and  foliage,  and  surrounded  on  three 
sides  with  rich  fields,  pastures  and  herds.  In  front  of  the 
town  was  the  river,  which  being  raised  by  the  Shamokin  dam, 
looked  like  an  immense  mirror,  or  a  glassy  lake,  more  than 
like  a  river.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  the  land  rose 
abruptly  into  a  craggy  mountain  :  looking  further  up  the 
stream,  I  saw  two  branches  gradually  approach  each  other, 
till  they  met  and  mingled  their  waters.  Over  each  of  these 
were  long  bridges  leading  to  and  from  the  village  of  North- 
umberland, back  of  which  and  between  the  two  branches, 
the  country  rose  gradually  from  the  plain,  till  it  became  al- 
most mountainous,  yet  covered  to  the  very  tops  with  fields, 
pastures,  flocks  and  herds.  Turning  again  to  the  left,  and 
looking  down  the  Susquehanna,  a  sort  of  vista  was  presented, 
bounded  on  each  side  with  romantic  hills,  and  finally  appear- 
ing to  end  in  the  blue  top  of  the  mountains.  Never  have  I 
beheld  a  more  varied  or  beautiful  landscape  than  was  here 
presented." 

Sunbury  is  an  old  town,  it  was  laid  out  by  the  Surveyor 
General,  John  Lukens,  1772.  The  streets  cross  each  other 
at  right  angles,  and  are  wide  enough  for  cleanliness,  comfort 
and  beauty.  It  contains  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  dwell- 
ings, a  court  house,  jail,  market  house,  Lutheran,  German 
Reformed,  Presbyterian,  Episcopal,  Baptist  and  Methodist 
churches. 

A  number  of  the  Wyoming  intruders  were  incarcerated 
in  the  jail,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following — 

From  Col.  Franklin's  Journal,  August  19,  1784. 

Forty-two  others  were  bound  together  with  ropes,  in  a 
team,  and  sent  under  a  military  guard  to  Sunbury  goal. 
The  sheriff  of  the  county  proposed  to  take  charge  of  the 
whole  that  were  to  be  sent  to  Sunbury,  before  they  left  Wy- 
oming, and  to  be  accountable  for  them  all,  but  could  not  be 
permitted.  In  a  word,  during  the  confinement  of  the  pris- 
oners at  Wyoming,  they  were  treated  in  a  most  cruel  and 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  153 

barbarous  manner — suffered  with  hunger — and  suffocated  in 
a  nauseous  prison,  for  the  want  of  fresh  air  ;  and  insulted  by 
a  bandilti  of  ruffians — the  prisoners  were  not  even  suffered 
to  go  out  of  their  house  to  perform  their  most  necessary  oc- 
casions for  the  case  of  nature,  for  the  term  of  nine  days. 

It  is  a  place  of  considerable  business.  The  soil  of  the 
surrounding  country  is  rich  and  productive.  Should  the  rail 
road  to  Pottsville  be  finished  it  will  become  a  place  of  im- 
portance, especially  in  shipments  of  coal  &c. 

A  bridge  about  a  mile  above  town  connects  it  with  North- 
umberland. It  was  built  by  a  joint  stock  company  in  1814. 
It  is  in  two  parts  separated  by  the  Shamokin  Island  and 
cost  $90,000,  of  which  the  state  subscribed  $50,000. 

The  population  of  1840,  was  1,108,  of  these  there  were — 

White  Males,  under  5,  86;  5  and  under  10,  80;  10 
and  under  15,  70 ;  15  and  under  20,  60 ;  20  and  under  30, 
85 ;  30  and  under  40,  56 ;  40  and  under  50,  43 ;  50  and 
under  60,  27 ;  60  and  under  70,  9 ;  70  and  under  80,  8. 

White  Females,  under  5,  102 ;  5  and  under  10,  69 ; 
10  and  under  15,  65 ;  15  and  under  20,  63 ;  20  and  under 
30,  106 ;  30  and  under  10,  64 ;  40  and  under  50,  49 ;  50 
and  under  60,  26 ;  60  and  under  70,  12 ;  70  and  under  80, 
16;  80  and  under  90,  1. 

Colored  Males,  7 ;  Colored  Females,  2. 

Of  these  42  were  engaged  in  agriculture,  16  in  commerce, 
150  in  manufactures  and  trades,  11  in  navigation ;  22  in 
land  professions.  It  contained  nine  stores,  three  tanneries, 
one  distillery,  one  pottery,  one  printing  office ;  four  schools, 
257  scholars. 

In  the  autumn  of  1786,  this  place  suffered  some  loss  in 
consequence  of  a  great  freshet.  The  following,  dipt  from  an 
old  paper  published  at  Carlisle,  gives  some  account  of  the 
high  water,  &c. 

Carlisle,  October  18,  1786. 

The  accounts  from  all  parts  of  this  and  the  neighbouring 
counties  of  the  effects  of  the  late  heavy  rains  are  as  innumer- 
able as  they  are  distressing  to  our  suffering  brethren  ; — every 


156  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNT** 

hour  furnishes  us  with  lamentable  tales  of  having  mills  of  dif- 
ferent kinds,  forges  and  other  works  carried  away  or  mate- 
rially injured  ;  almost  every  farmer's  dwelling  on  the  borders 
of  the  Susquehanna  and  the  surrounding  waters,  are  in  the 
catalogue  of  sufferers,  by  their  loss  of  horses,  cows,  hay,  and 
other  effects  of  industry  in  a  greater  or  less  degree. 

By  the  last  accounts  from  Northumberland  town,  in  North- 
umberland county,  we  are  informed  of  the  great  destruction 
occasioned  by  the  rain,  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  the  fifth 
and  sixth  instant.  The  storm  grew  violent  on  Thursday, 
some  hours  before  day,  accompanied  with  heavy  blasts  of 
wind,  and  rained  more  heavily  and  incessantly  than  has  been 
known  by  the  oldest  on  the  banks  of  Susquehannah.  In  the 
course  of  Thursday  night  the  river  forced  itself  over  its  banks, 
carrying  everything  down  before  it.  No  person  can  imagine 
the  situation  of  many  of  our  fellow  creatures  who  were  sur- 
rounded in  their  beds  by  an  irresistible  flood,  and  threatened 
with  the  extremest  danger.  The  only  loss  we  are  yet  able 
to  ascertain,  is  that  of  a  man  and  his  wife,  and  one  son,  a 
little  below  Fishing  creek,  their  daughter,  a  girl  about  17 
years  old,  terrified  at  the  approach  of  danger,  fled  to  the  hills 
with  three  young  children,  and  escaped  the  fate  of  her  un- 
happy parents  and  her  brother :  another  old  man  of  the  name 
of  Campbell  also  perished  in  the  same  neighborhood,  The 
waters  rose  with  the  greatest  rapidity  all  Friday,  making  in 
the  fore-part  of  the  day,  nearly  twelve  inches  perpendicular 
in  the  space  of  an  hour — the  rain  continued,  but  not  with 
the  same  violence.  The  situation  of  the  town  of  Sunbury 
was  truly  alarming,  its  situation,  an  island  occasioned  by  a 
gut  from  the  main  branch,  emptying  into  Shamokin  creek 
below  the  town,  rendered  an  escape  impossible. — In  the  low- 
er part  of  the  town,  the  Water  was  up  to  the  first  story  of 
many  of  the  houses,  so  that  the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to 
land  with  their  canoes  on  their  stairs,  or  at  the  upper  win- 
dow— a  few  acres  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  on  which  were 
three  or  four  houses,  being  situated  higher  than  the  rest, 
shewed  above  the  water.  Had  not  good  Providence  stayed 
the  rise  of  the  waters,  we  perhaps  might  have  given  the 
melancholy  information  of  the  loss  of  the  records  of  the 
ccunty,  which  would  have  created  the  utmost  confusion ; 
the  recorder,  and  register  especially  was  obliged  to  leave  his 
house.     The  loss  of  the  town  of  Northumberland  is  inconsid- 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  157 

crable,  save  an  unfinished  ferry-house  at  the  point  of  the 
confluence  of  the  two  rivers,  the  situation  of  that  town  at 
the  foot  of  Montour's  [hill  being  too  high  for  floods  ever  to 
reach.  The  sufferings  of  the  farmers  on  the  creeks  and 
rivers  are  very  great,  having  lost  much  of  their  grain.  We 
have  not  yet  heard  from  Wyoming,  but  suppose  the  floods 
have  occasioned  much  damage  there. 

The  numerous  incidents  and  events  that  transpired,  at  an 
early  day,  are  interesting.  Some  of  them  are  given  in  the 
Appendix  (See  C.  Shamokin) — Some  are  presented  in  this 
connection,  in  their  "  original  freshness,"  as  related  by  those 
engaged  in  the  conflicts  of  the  day. 

Shamokin,  Fort  Augusta,  or  Sunlury. 

On  the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  below  the  north 
branch  of  Susquehanna,  was  a  place  of  some  notoriety  in  the 
early  history  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  It  wTas  not 
only  used  as  a  convenient  tarrying  place  of  the  Six  Nations 
for  their  war  parties  against  the  southern  Indians ;  but  as  a 
Moravian  missionary  station,  and  where  Fort  Augusta  was 
erected,  and  garrisoned  during  the  French  and  Indian  war. 
Several  important  conferences  were  held  here  with  the  In- 
dians by  Conrad  Weiser  and  others. 

As  early  as  1742,  Count  Zinzendorff  accompanied  by 
Conrad  Weiser,  Esq.,  Br.  Martin  Mack  and  his  wife,  and 
the  two  Indians,  Joshua  and  David,  after  a  tedious  journey 
through  the  wilderness,  arrived  at  Shamokin.  Shikellimus 
stepped  out  and  gave  them  a  hearty  welcome.  "  A  savage 
presented  the  Count  with  a  fine  melon,  for  which  the  latter 
gave  him  his  fur  cap."  The  Count  announced  himself  as  a 
messenger  of  the  living  God,  come  to  preach  grace  and  mer- 
cy. Shikellimus  said  he  was  glad  to  receive  such  a  messen- 
ger, and  promised  to  forward  his  designs.  One  day,  when 
the  Brethren  were  about  going  to  prayers,  and  the  Indians, 
then  at  a  feast,  were  making  a  prodigious  noise,  with  drums 
and  singing,  the  Count  sent  word  to  Shikellimus,  who  order- 
ed silence  immediately.  *   , 

The  Count,  with  a  part  of  his  company,  forded  the  Sus- 
quehanna, and  went  to  Ostonwackin,  on  the  West  Branch. 
This  place  was  then  inhabited,  not  only  by  Indians  of  differ- 
ent tribes,  but  by  Europeans,  who  had  adopted  the  Indian 
14 


158  NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 

manner  of  life.  Among  the  latter  was  a  French-woman, 
Madame  Montour,  who  had  mairied  an  Indian  warrior,  (Car- 
ondowana,  alias  Robert  Hunter ;)  but  lost  him  in  a  war 
against  the  Catawbas.  She  kindly  entertained  the  Count 
for  two  days.  The  Count  went  soon  after  to  Wyoming.* 
Loskiel,  P.  ii.  p.  30-32. 

The  Revd.  D.  Brainerd  visited  Shamokin  in  1745  and  46. 
In  his  Journal,  p.  176,  he  says :  "  In  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober last  (1744)  with  the  advice  and  direction  of  the  cor- 
respondents for  the  Indian  mission,  I  undertook  a  journey  to 
Susquehannah.  And  after  three  days  tedious  travel,  two  of 
them  through  the  wilderness  almost  impassable,  by  reason  of 
mountains  and  rocks,  and  two  nights  lodging  in  the  open 
wilderness,  I  came  to  an  Indian  settlement  on  the  side  of  the 
Susquehanna  river,  called  Opeholhamping ;  where  were 
twelve  Indian  houses,  and,  as  nigh  as  I  could  learn,  about 
seventy  souls,  old  and  young,  belonging  to  them. 

Here  also,  soon  after  my  arrival,  I  visited  the  King,  ad- 
dressing him  with  expressions  of  kindness;  and  after  a  few 
words  of  friendship,  informed  him  of  my  design  to  teach  them 
the  knowledge  of  Christianity.  He  hesitated  not  long  before 
he  told  me,  that  he  was  willing  to  hear.  I  then  preached  ; 
and  continued  there  several  days,  preaching  every  day,  as 
long  as  the  Indians  were  at  home.  And  they,  in  order  to 
hear  me,  deferred  the  design  of  their  general  hunting,  which 
they  were  just  then  entering  upon,  for  the  space  of  three  or 
four  days. 

The  men,  I  think  universally  except  one  attended  my 
preaching.  Only  the  women,  supposing  the  affair  we  were 
upon  was  of  a  public  nature,  belonging  only  to  the  men, 
and  not  what  every  individual  person  should  concern  him- 
self with,  could  not  readily  be  persuaded  to  come  and  hear; 

•Fort  Augusta  stands  at  about  forty  yards  distance  from  the  river  on 
a  bank  twenty-four  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  side  which 
fronts  the  river  is  a  strong  pallisade,  the  bases  of  the  logs  being  sunk 
four  feet  into  the  earth,  the  tops  hollowed  and  spiked  into  strong  rib- 
bond  which  run  transversly  and  are  morticed  into  several  logs  at 
twelve  feet  distance  from  each  other,  which  are  larger  and  higher  than 
the  rest,  the  joints  between  each  pallisade  with  five  logs  well  fitted  on 
the  inside  and  supported  by  the  platform — the  other  three  sides  are 
composed  of  logs  laid  horizontally  neatly  dovetailed  and  trunnelled 
down,  they  are  squared,  some  of  (the  lower  end  three  feet  diameter, 
the  least  from  two  feet  and  a  half  to  eighteen  inches  diameter,  and  are 
mostly  Whiteoak. 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  159 

but,  after  much  pains  used  with  them  for  that  purpose,  some 
few  ventured  to  come,  and  stand  at  a  distance. 

When  I  had  preached  to  the  Indians  several  times,  some 
of  them  very  frankly  proposed  what  they  had  to  object 
against  Christianity ;  and  so  gave  me  a  fair  opportunity  for 
using  my  best  endeavors  to  remove  from  their  minds  those 
scruples  and  jealousies  they  labored  under :  and  when  I  had 
endeavored  to  answer  their  objections,  some  appeared  much 
satisfied.  I  then  asked  the  King,  if  he  was  willing  I  should 
visit  and  preach  to  them  again,  if  I  should  live  to  the  next 
spring  ?  He  replied,  he  should  be  heartily  willing  for  his 
own  part,  and  added,  he  wished  the  young  people  would 
learn  &c.  I  then  put  the  question  to  the  rest ;  some  answer- 
ed that  he  would  be  very  glad,  and  none  manifested  any  dis- 
like to  it. 

There  were  sundry  other  things  in  their  behavior,  which 
appeared  with  a  comfortable  and  encouraging  aspect ;  that, 
upon  the  whole,  I  could  not  but  rejoice  I  had  taken  that 
journey  among  them,  although  it  was  attended  with  many 
difficulties  and  hardships.  The  method  I  used  with  them, 
and  the  instruments  I  gave  them,  I  am  persuaded  were  means, 
in  some  measure,  to  remove  their  heathenish  jealousies  and 
prejudices  against  Christianity  ;  and  I  could  not  but  hope, 
the  God  of  all  grace  was  preparing  their  minds  to  receive 
the  "  Truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus."  If  this  may  be  the  happy 
consequence,  I  shall  not  only  rejoice  in  my  past  labours  and 
fatigues  ;  but  shall,  I  trust  also  "  be  willing  to  spend  and 
be  spent,"  if  I  may  thereby  be  instrumental  to  turn  them 
from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan.to  God. 

I  shall  now  only  add  a  word  or  two  respecting  the  diffi- 
culties that  attend  the  Christianizing  these  poor  pagans. 

In  the  first  place,  their  minds  are  filled  with  prejudices 
against  Christianity,  on  account  of  the  vicious  and  unchristian 
behavior  of  some  that  are  called  christians.  These  not  only 
set  before  them  the  worst  examples  ;  but  some  of  them  take 
pains,  expressly  in  words,  to  dissuade  them  from  becoming 
christians ;  foreseeing,  that  if  those  should  be  converted  to 
God,  **  the  hope  of  their  unlawful  gain,"  would  thereby  be 
lost. 

Again,  these  poor  heathens  are  extremely  attached  to  the 
customs,  traditions,  and  fabulous  notions  of  their  fathers, 
And  this  one  seems  to  be  the  foundation  of  all  their  notions. 


160  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

viz  :  that  "  it  was  not  the  same  God  made  them,  who  made 
the  white  people  "  but  another,  who  commanded  them  to  live 
by  hunting,  &c,  and  not  to  conform  to  the  customs  of  the 
white  people.  Hence,  when  they  are  desired  to  become 
christians,  they  frequently  reply,  that  "  they  will  live  as 
their  fathers  lived,  and  go  to  their  fathers  when  they  die." 
And,  if  the  miracles  of  Christ  and  his  apostles  be  mentioned*, 
to  prove  the  truth  of  Christianity,  they  also  mention  sundry 
miracles,  which  their  fathers  have  told  them  were  anciently 
wrought  among  the  Indians,  and  which  Satan  makes  them 
believe  were  so.  They  are  much  attached  to  idolatry  ;  fre- 
quently making  feasts,  which  they  eat  in  honor  to  some 
unknown  beings,  who  they  suppose,  speak  to  them  in  dreams; 
promising  them  success  in  hunting,  and  other  affairs,  in  case 
they  will  sacrifice  to  them.  They  oftentimes  also  offer  their 
sacrifices  to  the  spirits  of  the  dead  ;  who,  they  suppose,  stand 
in  need  of  favours  from  the  living,  and  yet  are  in  such  a  state 
as  that  they  can  well  reward  all  the  offices  of  kindness  that 
are  shown  them.  And  they  impute  all  their  calamities  to 
the  neglect  of  these  sacrifices. 

Furthermore,  they  are  much  awed  by  those  among  them- 
selves, who  are  called  pow-woivs,  who  are  supposed  to  have 
a  power  of  enchanting,  or  poisoning  them  to  death,  or  at 
least  in  a  very  distressing  manner.  And  they  apprehend  it 
would  be  their  sad  fate  to  be  thus  enchanted,  in  case  they 
should  become  Christians. 

Lastly,  the  manner  of  their  living  is  likewise  a  great  dis- 
advantage to  the  design  of  their  being  christianized.  They 
are  almost  continually  roving  from  place  to  place ;  and  it  is 
but  rare,  that  an  opportunity  can  be  had  with  some  of  them 
for  their  instruction.  There  is  scarce  any  time  of  the  year, 
wherein  the  men  can  be  found  generally  at  home,  except 
about  six  weeks  before,  and  in  the  season  of  planting  their 
corn,  and  about  two  months  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer, 
from  the  time  they  begin  to  roast  their  corn,  until  it  is  fit 
to  gather  in." — [Memoirs  of  Brainerd. 

The  Six  Nations  were  very  desirous  of  having  a  black- 
smith there,  to  save  them  the  trouble  of  long  journeys  to 
Tulpehocken,  or  to  Philadelphia.  The  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania granted  the  request,  on  condition  that  he  should 
remain  no  longer  than  while  the  Indians  continued  friendly 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  161 

to  the  English.  The  blacksmith,  Anthony  Schmidt,  was 
from  the  Moravian  mission  at  Belhlehem;  and  this  opened 
the  way  for  the  establishment  of  a  mission  at  Shamokin, 
which  was  done  in  the  spring  of  1747,  by  Br.  Mack,  who, 
with  his  wife,  had  previously  visited  the  place.  John  Hagin 
and  Joseph  Powel,  of  the  mission,  had  built  a  house  there. 
Bishop  Camerhoff,  and  the  pious  Zeisberger,  visited  there  in 
1748.  The  brethren  speak  of  going  to  Long  Island,  and 
Great  Island,  on  the  West  Branch,  above  Ostonwackin ;" 
and  in  1755  "  Brother  Grube  went  to  West  Branch,  and  to 
Quenis hacks hachlti,  where  some  baptized  Indians  lived." 

Shikellimus  died  in  1749.     Loskiel  thus  describes  his  cha- 
racter : — 

Being  the  first  magistrate  and  head  chief  of  all  the  Iro- 
quois living  on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  as  far  as  Onon- 
daga, he  thought  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  be  very  circum- 
spect in  his  dealings  with  the  white  people.  He  mistrusted 
the  Brethren  at  first,  but  upon  discovering  their  sincerity, 
became  their  firm  and  real  friend.  Being  much  engaged  in 
political  affairs,  he  had  learned  the  art  of  concealing  his  sen- 
timents ;  and  therefore  never  contradicted  those  who  endea- 
vored to  prejudice  his  mind  against  the  missionaries,  though 
he  always  suspected  their  motives.  In  the  last  years  of  his 
life  he  became  less  reserved,  and  received  those  brethren  who 
came  to  Shamokin  into  his  house.  He  assisted  them  in  build- 
ing, and  defended  them  against  the  insults  of  the  drunken 
Indians ;  being  himself  never  addicted  to  drinking,  because, 
as  he  expressed  it,  he  never  wished  to  become  a  fool.  He 
had  built  his  house  upon  pillars  for  safety,  in  which  he  al- 
ways shut  himself  up  when  any  drunken  frolic  was  going  in 
in  the  village.  In  this  house  Bishop  Johannes  Von  Watte- 
ville  and  his  company  visited  and  preached  the  gospel  to  him. 
It  was  then  that  the  Lord  opened  his  heart :  he  listened  with 
great  attention ;  and  at  last,  with  tears,  respected  the  doc- 
trine of  a  crucified  Jesus,  and  received  it  in  faith  During 
his  visit  in  Bethlehem,  a  remarkable  change  took  place  in 
his  heart,  which  he  could  not  conceal.  He  found  comfort, 
peace,  and  joy,  by  faith  in  his  Redeemer,  and  the  Brethren 
considered  him  as  a  candidate  for  baptism ;  but  hearing  that 
he  had  already  been  baptized,  by  a  Roman  Catholic  priest, 
in  Canada,  they  only  endeavored  to  impress  his  mind  with  a 
14* 


162  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

proper  idea  of  this  sacramental  ordinance,  upon  which  he 
destroyed  a  small  idol,  which  he  wore  about  his  neck.  After 
his  return  to  Shamokin,  the  grace  of  God  bestowed  upon  him 
was  truly  manifest,  and  his  behavior  was  remarkably  peace- 
able and  contented.  In  this  state  of  mind  he  was  taken  ill, 
was  attended  by  Br.  David  Zeisberger,  and  in  his  presence 
fell  happily  asleep  in  the  Lord,  in  full  assurance  of  obtaining 
eternal  life  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"After  the  defeat  of  Braddock,  in  1755,  the  whole  wil- 
derness from  Juniata  to  Shamokin  was  filled  with  parties  of 
hostile  Indians,  murdering,  scalping,  and  burning.  These 
alarms  broke  up  the  mission  at  Shamokin,  and  the  Brethren 
fled  to  Bethlehem.  In  October  of  that  year  fourteen  per- 
sons were  killed  by  the  savages  in  the  Penn's  creek  settle- 
ment, and  their  bodies  were  horribly  mangled.  A  party  of 
46  persons,  led  by  John  Harris,  came  up  to  bury  the  dead, 
and  afterwards  came  to  Shamokin,  where  they  were  received 
civilly  but  coldly,  and  remained  all  night.  Andrew  Montour, 
the  Indian  interpreter,  warned  them  against  returning  by  a 
certain  road.  They  disregarded  his  advice,  and  were  attack- 
ed by  a  party  of  Delawares  in  ambush  at  Mahanoy  creek. 
Four  of  Harris's  party  were  killed,  four  were  drowned  in 
crossing  the  Susquehanna,  and  the  others  barely  escaped. 
Previous  to  this,  on  the  18th  October,  a  party  of  Indians 
had  attacked  the  inhabitants  at  Mahanoy  creek,  carried  off 
25  persons,  and  burnt  and  destroyed  their  buildings  and  im- 
provements. There  were  rumors  that  the  French  had  in- 
tended to  build  a  Fort  at  Shamokin  ;  but  in  January,  1756, 
the  Indians  had  entirely  abandoned  their  village  and  gone  up 
the  Susquehanna  and  to  the  Ohio.  The  provincial  govern- 
ment in  April  erected  Fort  Augusta  at  Shamokin. 

While  Col.  Clapham  was  at  Fort  Halifax,  he  received 
the  following  orders  to  proceed  to  erect  a  fort  at  Shamokin. 

Orders  and  Instructions  to  Col-  W.  Clapham. 

1.  With  these  instructions  you  will  receive  a  number  of 
blank  commissions  under  my  hand  and  seal,  for  subaltern  of- 
ficers in  your  regiment,  which  you  are  hereby  empowered  to 
fill  up,  with  the  names  of  such  men  as  you  judge  most  fit  for 
the  service,  having  regard  to  the  meiit  and  services  of  those 
already  employed  ;  taking  care  that  they  be  of  the  Protestant 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  163 

religion,  and  well  affected  to  his  Majesty's  government,  as 
your  name  is  inserted  in  the  General  Dedimus  for  this  Pro- 
vince, under  the  Great  Seal,  or  cause  Major  Burd  to  do  it. 

2.  Herewith  you  will  also  receive  two  plans  of  Forts;  the 
one  a  Pentagon,  the  other  a  square,  with  one  Ravelin  to  pro- 
tect the  curtain  where  the  gate  is,  with  a  ditch  covered  way 
and  glacis ;  but  as  it  is  impossible  to  give  any  explicit  direc- 
tions to  the  particular  form  of  a  fort  without  viewing  and 
considering  the  ground  on  which  it  is  to  stand,  I  must  leave 
it  to  you  to  build  it  in  such  form  as  will  best  answer  for  its 
own  defence,  the  command  of  the  river,  and  of  the  country  in 
its  neighborhood ;  and  the  plans  herewith  will  serve  to  show 
the  proportion  that  the  different  parts  of  the  works  should 
bear  to  each  other. 

3.  As  to  the  place  upon  which  this  fort  is  to  be  erected, 
that  must  be  in  a  great  measure  left  to  your  judgment;  but 
it  is  necessary  to  inform  you  it  must  be  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Susquehanna  ;  the  lands  on  the  west,  at  the  Forks,  be- 
tween the  branches,  not  being  purchased  from  the  Indians ; 
besides  it  would  be  impossible  to  relieve  and  support  a  gar- 
rison on  that  side  in  the  winter  time:  from  all  the  information 
I  have  been  able  to  collect,  the  land  on  the  south  side  of  the 
east  branch,  opposite  to  the  middle  of  the  island,  is  the  high- 
est of  any  of  the  lowland  thereabout,  and  the  best  place  for 
a  fort.  The  guns  you  have  with  you  will  form  a  rampart  of 
a  moderate  height,  commanding  the  main  river.  But  as  this 
information  comes  from  persons  not  acquainted  with  the  na- 
ture of  such  things,  I  am  fearful  they  are  not  much  to  be 
depended  on,  and  your  own  judgment  must  therefore  direct 
you. 

4.  When  you  have  completed  the  fort,  you  will  cause  the 
ground  to  be  cleared  about  it,  to  a  convenient  distance,  and 
openings  to  be  made  to  the  river,  and  you  will  erect  such 
buildings  within  the  fort,  and  place  there  in  such  a  manner 
as  you  shall  judge  best. 

5.  Without  the  fort,  at  a  convenient  distance,  under  the 
command  of  the  guns,  it  will  be  necessary  to  build  some  log 
houses  for  Indians,  that  they  may  have  places  to  lodge  in, 
without  being  in  the  fort,  where  numbers  of  them,  however 
friendly,  should  not  be  admitted,  but  in  a  formal  manner,  and 
the  guard  turned  out ;  this  will  be  esteemed  a  compliment  by 
our  friends,  and  if  enemies  should  at  any  time  be  concealed 


164  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

under  that  name,  it  will  give  them  proper  notions  of  our  vi- 
gilance, and  prevent  them  from  attempting  to  surprise  it. 

6.  In  your  march  up  the  river  you  will  take  care  not  to  be 
surprised,  and  always  to  have  your  forces  in  such  a  disposi- 
tion that  you  may  retreat  with  safety. 

7.  You  will  make  the  best  observations  you  can  of  the  ri- 
ver and  the  most  difficult  passes  you  meet  with  in  your  way 
as  well  by  land  as  water,  which  you  will  note  upon  the  map 
I  gave  you,  that  it  may  be  thereby  amended,  and  furnish  me 
with  your  opinion  of  the  best  manner  of  removing  or  sur- 
mounting those  difficulties. 

8.  If  you  should  be  opposed  in  your  march,  or  gain  any  in- 
telligence of  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  for  that  or  any  other 
purpose,  you  will  inform  me  by  express  of  such  intelligence 
or  opposition,  the  situation  you  are  in,  and  every  thing  else 
material,  that  I  may  send  you  proper  assistance,  and  be  pre- 
pared for  any  thing  that  may  happen,  and  in  the  meantime 
you  are  to  use  your  best  endeavors  to  oppose  the  enemy  and 
to  secure  yourself. 

9.  As  soon  as  you  are  in  possession  of  the  ground  at  Sha- 
mokin,  you  will  secure  yourself  a  breastwork  in  the  best 
manner  you  can,  so  that  your  men  may  work  in  safety,  and 
you  will  inform  me  of  your  arrival  there,  and  let  me  know 
what  you  will  have  occasion  for,  that  I  may  apply  to  the 
commissioners  to  supply  it. 

10.  You  will  order  the  company  and  others  in  whose 
hands  you  may  trust  any  of  the  public  provisions,  or  stores, 
to  be  careful  and  exact  in  the  distribution  thereof,  and  to 
keep  exact  accounts  of  every  thing  committed  to  their  care. 

11.  Having  suspected  hostilities  against  the  Delaware  In- 
dians on  the  east  side  of  the  Northeast  Branch  of  Susque- 
hanna, in  order  to  enter  into  a  treaty  with  them,  I  send  you 
herewith  a  Proclamation  for  that  purpose  to  which  you  will 
conform,  and  any  friendly  Indians  that  may  join  you  in  your 
march  or  at  Shamokin,  you  will  treat  with  kindness  and  su{  - 
ply  them  oi:t  of  the  Province  stores  with  such  things  as  they 
want  and  you  are  able  to  spare. 

12.  Having  sent  the  Indians,  New  Castle  and  Jagree,  again 
to  the  town  of  Diahoga,  accompanied  with  some  of  the  Jer- 
sey Delawares,  all  our  friends  who  may,  and  probably  will 
return  by  the  Susquehanna,  you  will,  in  about  a  fortnight 
after  this,  cause  a  look  out  to  be  kept  for  them,  and  if  they 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY 


165 


return  that  way,  you  will  receive  and  assist  them  in  their 
journey.  Their  signal  will  be  a  red  flag  with  "  union"  in 
the  corner,  or  if  that  should  be  lost,  they  will  carry  "  green 
boughs"  or  "  Club'd  muskets,"  will  appear  open  and  erect, 
and  not  approach  you  in  the  night. 

R.  II.  Morris. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Arms,  Philadelphia,  this 
12th  day  of  June,  1756. 

Camp,  at  Armstrong's,  June  20,  1756. 
To  Gov.  Morris : 

Sir — I  received  your  Honor's  of  the  12th  insl.,  together 
with  your  Honor's  instructions,  your  Honor's  answer  to  the 
Indian  Sachem,  six  blank  commissions,  and  two  plans  ot  for- 
tification. Your  instructions  I  shall  obey  with  the  utmost 
pleasure  and  punctuality.  Your  answer  I  delivered  with 
due  solemnity.  In  filling  up  the  commissions  I  shall  be  par- 
ticularly careful  to  regard  your  Honor's  directions ;  when 
arrived  at  the  ground  I  shall  conform  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  plans,  and  hope  I  shall  find  no  difficulty  in  the  execution 
which  industry  and  application  may  not  surmount,  and  shall 
rely  on  your  Honor  for  the  supplies  necessary  during  that 
time.  The  progress  already  made  in  this  Fort  renders  it  im- 
practicable for  me  to  comply  with  the  commissioners  desire 
to  contract  it,  at  which  I  am  more  surprised,  as  I  expected 
every  day  orders  to  enlarge  it,  it  being  as  yet,  in  my  opinion, 
too  small.  I  shall  leave  an  officer  and  thiity  men,  with  or- 
ders to  finish  it  when  I  march  from  hence,  which  will  be 
with  all  possible  expedition  after  the  arrival  of  the  blankets, 
the  rum  and  the  money  for  payment  of  Battoe-men,  for  want 
of  which,  I  am  obliged  to  detain  them  here  in  idleness,  not 
thinking  it  prudent  to  trust  them  on  another  trip,  for  fear  of 
their  desertion,  which  may  totally  impede  the  service.  I 
could  wish  the  commissioners  would  invent  some  expedient  to 
pay  these  men  without  money,  or  at  least  without  the  dan- 
ger of  trusting  me  with  their  money,  the  charge  of  which  I 
am  not  ambitious  of,  or  the  much  envied  honor  and  trouble 
of  expending  it — this  far  is  certain,  that  without  such  expe- 
dient, or  the  money,  we  cannot  stir. 

I  have,  pursuant  to  your  Honor's  command,  sent  down  two 
Indian  Sachems  properly  escorted,  and  committed  particu- 


166  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

larly  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Shippen,  and  hope  his  coming  will 
fully  answer  the  ends  proposed  by  your  Honor  and  your 
council.  I  have  found  Capt.  McKee  extremely  useful,  and 
have  sent  him  also,  at  the  Sachem's  particular  request. 

The  carpenters  are  still  employed  in  building  Battoes  and 
carriages  for  the  canoes,  and  every  body  seems  disposed 
cheerfully  to  contribute  their  services  towards  the  public 
good,  if  there  ever  was  any  prospect  or  assurance  of  being 
paid  for  it.  From  your  Honor's  character  of  Capt.  Busse,  I 
am  extremely  sorry  the  Commissioners  have  not  thought  pro- 
per to  comply  with  your  Honor's  proposal.  I  assure  my- 
self, your  Honor,  will  omit  no  opportunity  of  extricating  me 
from  embarrassments  arising  from  the  want  of  money,  both 
for  tKe  Battoe  men  and  the  soldiers;  twenty-six  of  whom 
being  Dutch  (German)  are  now  in  confinement  for  mutiny  on 
that  very  account.  I  am  with  all  respect,  your  Honor's 
obedient  humble  servant. 

William  Clapham. 

Edward  Shippen,  of  Lancaster,  makes  mention  of  this 
place,  in  a  letter  dated  April  17,  1756 ;  and  Fort  Augusta, 
at  Shamokin. 

Lancaster,  April  19,  1756. 
Hon.  Gov.  Morris : 

I  have  been  at  Captain  McKee's  Fort,  where  I  found  10 
Indians,  men,  women  and  children ;  3  of  the  women  lying 
very  ill  in  bed.  The  Captain  tells  me  that  Johnny  Shekalli- 
Tny  is  greatly  dissatisfied  with  being  there ;  and  has  several 
times  been  much  out  of  temper,  which  he  would  hope  was 
owing  to  nothing  but  the  sickness  of  the  Indians,  and  to  their 
being  insulted  by  the  fearful  ignorant  people  who  have  some- 
times told  ShekaJlimy  to  his  face,  that  they  had  a  good  mind 
to  scalp  him.  Shekallimy  let  me  know  that  he  wished  the 
Indians  would  be  moved  down  to  Barney  Hughes',  where 
Capt.  McKee's  woman  and  children  live;  and  afterwards,  if 
the  Governor  thought  proper,  he  would  go  to  Wyoming,  and 
endeavor  to  bring  down  Buckshenoath,  a  great  man,  a  Shaw- 
anese  Captain,  who  would  have  come  with  him,  but  the  Del- 
awares  would  not  permit  it ;  he  says,  that  at  the  council  of 
Wyoming,  whither  your  Honor  sent  Silver  Heels  and  the 
Belt,  to  know  why  the  Indians  struck  their  brethren,  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  167 

English;  this  Shawanese  Captain  observed,  that  it  was  not 
more  than  one  night  and  a  half  (meaning  a  year  and  a  half) 
since  he  had  taken  the  Governor  by  the  hand,  and  heard 
every  thing  that  he  said,  which  was  very  kind  and  loving, 
and  why  should  he  forget  him  so  soon  ?  That  he  was  then 
sitting  between  the  Six  Nations,  and  the  Governor,  takes 
one  in  each  hand. — That  council  consisted  of  Shawanese, 
Chickasaws,  Mohickans,  and  some  of  the  Six  Nations,  and 
Shekallimy  was  appointed  to  give  the  answer,  who  spoke 
and  said  :  You,  our  young  brothers,  the  Shawanese  it  may 
be,  know  the  reason  of  striking  the  English,  as  you  are  al- 
ways in  council  with  the  Delawares.  No,  answered  the 
Shawanese,  directing  their  discourse  to  the  Six  Nations, 
saying :  Old  brothers,  we  cannot  tell  why  the  hatchet  was 
taken  up  against  the  English,  but  you  know  the  reason  of 
it,  who  were  always  with  them  at  Gen.  Braddock's  battle. 

Shekallimy  says  there  are  about  400  Indian  warriors  at 
Tiaogo  of  the  Six  Nations,  Delawares,  Munsees  and  Shaw- 
anese, and  about  40  more  at  Wyoming,  viz :  ten  Mohickans, 
ten  Mingoes,  and  20  Shawanese  ;  he  says  if  we  attempt  to 
go  up  to  Shamokin  to  build  a  fort,  we  may  expect  to  be  at- 
tacked by  a  body  of  500  Indians  in  our  march. 

According  to  your  Honor's  instructions  to  Mr.  Burd,  1 
have  prevailed  with  Shekallimy  to  stay  where  he  is  till  we 
can  hear  again  from  your  Honor.  I  pity  the  sick  Indians 
much,  because  there  is  neither  sheep,  calves  or  poultry  to  be 
got  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  tho'  game  is  very  plen- 
ty, yet  the  Indians  dare  not  venture  out  of  the  Fort  for  fear 
of  being  murdered ;  and  the  Captain  informs  me  that  the 
garrison  has  been  but  poorly  served  ;  the  provisions  having 
been  very  ordinary  ;  but  they  are  now  a  little  better  used  ; 
yet  he  would  fain  believe,  the  persons  employed  about  them 
did  their  best ;  he  finds  that  one  pound  of  Burlington  pork 
will  go  as  far  as  two  pounds  made  in  that  country. 

John  Harris  has  built  an  excellent  stoccade  around  his 
house,  which  is  the  only  place  of  security  that  way,  ior  the 
provisions  for  the  army,  he  having  much  good  cellar  room, 
and  as  he  has  but  six  or  seven  men  to  guard  it,  if  the  gov- 
ernment would  order  six  men  more  there  to  strengthen  it,  it 
would  in  my  opinion,  be  of  great  use  to  the  cause,  even 
were  no  provision  to  be  stored  there  at  all,  though  there  is 
no  room  for  any  scarce  in  Capt.  McKee's  fort :  Hunter's 


168  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

house  indeed  would  answer  such  a  purpose  were  it  stoc- 
caded,  but  as  it  is  quite  naked,  and  stands  five  or  six  hun- 
dred feet  from  the  Fort,  the  enemy  may  surround  it  in  the 
night  and  kill  the  people,  and  set  the  roof  on  fire  in  three 
or  four  places  at  once ;  and  if  the  sentry  should  discern 
the  fire  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  blaze,  it  might  be  too  diffi- 
cult a  task  for  them  to  quench  it  without  buckets  or  pails. 
I  speak  with  submission;  but  this  stoccacle  at  Harris'  ought 
by  all  means  to  be  supported,  for  if  for  want  of  this  small 
addition  of  men  above  mentioned,  the  Indians  should  de- 
stroy it,  the  consequence  would  be  the  most  of  the  inhab- 
itants within  twenty  miles  of  his  house  would  immediately 
leave  their  plantations.  The  enemy  can  come  "over  the 
hills,  at  five  miles  distance  from  McKee's  fort.  But  not- 
withstanding all  I  have  said  on  this  head,  I  am  convinced 
that  the  number  of  stoccades  set  up  and  down  the  country 
do  more  hurt  than  good. 

By  the  best  intelligence  I  can  get,  it  will  be  best  for 
Colonel  Clapham  to  march  his  regiment  on  the  west  side 
of  Susquehanna,  after  first  marching  8  or  9  miles  on  this 
side ;  the  only  difficulty  will  be  in  crossing  the  river.  I 
know  there  are  several  bad  passes,  asfarasCapt.  McKee's 
plantation  where  I  have  been  ;  it  is  but  twenty-five  miles 
from  Hunter's  mill. 

I  ought  to  have  acquainted  your  Honor  before,  that  1 
have  cautioned  Capt.  McKee  against  suffering  any  body 
to  abuse  the  Indians  for  the  future ;  and  by  all  means  ad- 
vised him  to  keep  a  strict  watch  over  the  young  French- 
man whom  he  has  under  his  care. 

Inclosed  is  a  letter  from  Mr.  Harris,  and  also  a  memor- 
andum. At  the  request  of  a  poor  neighbor  of  his,  who 
has  but  one  hand  to  work  with  for  his  living,  I  send  an 
account  of  some  losses  which  he  assures  me  he  has  sus- 
tained by  the  Indians,  whom  Mr.  Harris  maintained  at  the 
charge  of  the  government. 

Please  pardon  my  prolixity,  and  permit  me  to  say,  that 
I  am,  your  Honor's  &c. 

Edward  Shippen. 

In  1749,  Conrad  Weiser,  on  his  way  to  Shamokin  with 
a  messenger  from  the  government  to  the  Indians  there, 
met  the  sons  of  Shickalimy  at  the  Trading  House  of  Thomas 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  169 

McKee  and  delivered  them  the  messages  there ;  because . 
he  had  been  informed  that  all  the  Indians  were  absent 
from  Shamokin. — In  a  letter  addressed  to  Richard  Peters 
he  mentions  these  facts : 

Sir — By  these  lines  I  let  you  know  that  I  returned  from 
Shamokin  on  the  18th  inst.  I  happened  to  meet  the  eldest 
and  the  youngest  son  of  Shickelimy  at  the  Trading  house 
of  Thomas  McKee,  about  twenty  miles  this  side  Shamokin, 
by  whom  I  was  informed  that  all  the  Indians  had  left  Sha- 
mokin for  this  present  time,  for  want  of  provisions ;  so  I 
thought  best  to  deliver  my  message  there  to  the  sons  of 
Shickelimy.  There  were  also  present  three  more  of  the 
Six  Nations  Indians ;  one  of  them  was  Toyanogow,  a 
noted  man  among  the  Cayukers.  All  what  I  had  to  do 
was  to  let  the  children  and  grand-children  of  our  deceased 
friend  Shickelimy  know  that  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania 
and  his  council  condoled  with  them,  for  the  death  of  their 
father;  which  I  did  accordingly,  and  gave  them  a  small 
present,  in  order  to  wipe  off  their  tears,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  Indians.  The  present  consisted  of  six  stroud 
match  coats,  seven  shirts,  with  a  string  of  wampum  to 
Taghnegdoarus,  Shickelimy's  eldest  son,  and  desired  him 
to  take  upon  him  the  care  of  a  chief,  in  the  stead  of  his 
deceased  father,  and  to  be  our  true  correspondent,  until 
there  should  be  a  meeting  between  the  governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  some  of  the  Six  Nation  chiefs,  and  then  he 
should  be  recommended  by  the  governor,  to  the  Six  Na- 
tion chiefs,  and  continued  if  he  would  follow  the  footsteps 
of  his  father.  He  accepted  thereof,  and  I  sent  a  string  of 
wampum  by  Toganogan  (who  was  then  setting  out  for 
Caynikgno)  to  Onondago  to  let  the  council  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions know  of  Shikelimy's  death,  and  my  transaction,  by 
order  of  the  governor.  There  was  a  necessity  for  my  so 
doing. 

The  Indians  are  very  uneasy  about  the  white  people 
settling  beyond  the  Endless  mountains,  on  Joniady,  (Ju- 
niata) on  Sherman's  creek  and  elsewhere.  They  tell  me 
that  about  thirty  families  are  settled  upon  the  Indian  lands 
this  Spring,  and  daily  more  go  to  settle  thereon.  Some 
have  settled  almost  to  the  head  of  Joniady  river,  along  the 
Path  that  leads  to  Ohio.  The  Indians  say  that  (and  that 
15 


170  NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 

with  truth)  that  country  is  their  only  hunting  ground  for 
deer,  because  farther  to  the  north,  there  was  nothing  but 
spruce  woods  and  the  ground  with  Kalmia  bushes  (laurel) 
not  a  single  deer  could  be  found  or  killed  there.  They 
asked  very  seriously  whether  their  brother  Onas  had  given 
the  people  leave  to  settle  there.  I  informed  them  of  the 
contrary,  and  told  them  that  I  believed  some  of  the  Indi- 
ans from  Ohio,  that  were  down  last  summer,  had  given 
liberty  (with  what  right  I  could  not  tell)  to  settle.  I  told 
them  of  what  passed  on  the  Tuscarora  Path  last  summer, 
when  the  sheriff  and  three  magistrates  were  sent  to  turn 
off  the  people  there  settled  ;  and,  that  I  then  perceived  < hat 
the  people  were  favored  by  some  of  the  Indians  above 
mentioned ;  by  which  means  the  orders  of  the  governor 
came  to  no  effect.  So  far  they  were  content,  and  said  the 
thing  must  be  as  it  is,  till  the  Six  Nation  chiefs  would  be 
down,  and  converse  with  the  Governor  ,of  Pennsylvania, 
about  the  affair. 

I  have  nothing  else  to  add  ;  but  remain,  sir,  your  very 
obedient,  % 

Conrad  Weiser. 

Heidelberg,  April  22,  1749. 

The  provincial  government  erected  a  fort  at  Shamokin 
in  1756,  called  Fort  Augusta,  and  was  garrisoned  during 
the  French  and  Indian  war.  James  Young,  commissary 
general,  visited  this  place  in  July,  1756,  and  speaks  with 
much  doubt  of  the  success  of  building  a  Fort  at  that  im- 
portant place  under  the  easiness  of  the  officers  and  men 
that  prevailed.  A  fort,  however,  was  erected,  and  in  1756, 
'57,  and  at  a  later  period  several  companies  were  stationed 
here,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  letters. 

Carlisle,  July  18, 1756. 
To  the  Hon.  Gov.  Morris  : 

Sir — I  did  myself  the  honor  to  write  to  you  on  my  ar- 
rival at  Shamokin.  I  staid  there  four  days,  in  which  time 
I  was  greatly  perplexed  to  know  how  to  act,  there  being 
a  general  dissatisfaction  among  the  officers  concerning  my 
instructions  from  the  commissioners  to  pay  them,  for  there- 
in I  am  commanded  to  pay  Lieut's  5s.  Gd.  and  the  Ensigns 
4s.  per  day,  whereas  they  expected  7s.  6d.  and  5s.  6d.    I 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  171 

am  likewise  ordered  to  pay  384  private  men  and  16  ser- 
geants. I  find  seven  more  in  the  camp  besides  Ensign 
Meyers,  with  20  men  at  McKee's  store ;  Ensign  John- 
ston with  23  men  at  Hunter's  mill ;  and  a  Sergeant  with 
13  men  at  Harris's,  all  ordered  there  by  Col.  Clapham, 
and  above  his  number  of  400;  I  therefore  did  not  pay, 
neither  could  muster  them,  the  certificates  of  enlistment 
being  disposed  among  the  officers.  At  Shamokin  the 
people  are  extremely  uneasy  for  their  pay.  The  Colonel 
is  highly  displeased  I  had  not  orders  to  pay  him  for  his 
Captain's  commission,  likewise  that  I  brought  him  no 
money  to  pay  the  Battoe  men ;  he  talks  loudly  of  his  ill 
usage,  and  threatens  to  leave  the  service ;  that  he  will 
go  and  join  the  Six  Nations,  whether  they  side  with  the 
English  or  French.  This  I  thought  my  duty  to  acquaint 
you  with.  I  was  informed  that  he  is  to  charge  the  Pro- 
vince with  116  Battoe  men  at  2s.  6d.  per  day;  at  the  same 
time,  I  was  credibly  informed  that  the  greater  part  of  them 
are  soldiers  in  his  regiment,  and  are  now  daily  employed 
ill  the  Battoes,  and  are  very  capable  to  work  them. 

The  officers  in  general  seem  not  at  all  pleased  under  their 
colonel's  command  :  all  of  them,  but  three  cr  four,  have  been 
confined  by  him,  and  continued  so  during  his  pleasure,  and 
released  without  trial  by  the  same  authority. 

I  am  sorry  to  say,  I  much  doubt  the  success  of  building  a 
fort  at  that  important  place,  Shamokin,  under  the  present  un- 
easiness of  the  officers  and  men.  I  was  ordered  by  the  com- 
missioners to  pay  all  the  men  up  to  the  1st  of  July,  deducting 
half  their  pay  for  their  clothing ;  but  the  captain  refused  to 
receive  it  on  such  terms,  and  presented  me  a  paper,  setting 
forth  their  reasons,  of  which  I  sent  you  a  copy.  I  being  ap- 
prehensive of  a  general  desertion,  and  considering  that  the 
Province  had  the  same  security  for  the  clothing,  complied 
with  their  demands,  and  thereby  have  broken  my  orders 
from  the  commissioners.  I  shall  be  extremely  sorry  if  I  am 
blamed  for  so  doing ;  for  nothing  but  the  good  of  the  service 
(and  so  I  judged  it  to  be)  would  have  induced  me  to  act  con- 
trary to  my  instructions.  The  subalterns  would  not  grant 
me  receipts  for  their  full  pay,  but  in  part.  If  I  have  done 
wrong,  I  beg  your  pardon,  and  that  you  will  continue  that 
friendship  to  me,  I  have  already  so  largely  experienced,  and 
shall  ever  gratefully  acknowledge. 


172  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

Capt.  Loyd  was  to  set  out  soon  after  me  for  Philadelphia, 
to  lay  their  grievances  before  your  Honor. 

I  left  Shamokin  early  on  Friday  morning  in  a  battoe;  we 
rowed  her  down  to  Harris's  before  night,  with  four  oars. 
There  is  but  one  fall  above  those  you  saw,  not  so  bad  as 
those  at  Hunter's ;  it  is  about  4  miles  irom  Fort  Halifax.  I 
came  here  yesterday  noon,  hoping  to  find  money  sent  by  the 
commissioners,  to  pay  the  forces  on  this  side  the  river,  as 
they  promised  ;  but  as  yet  none  is  come,  neither  is  Colonel 
Armstrong  come,  and  I  find  but  16  of  his  men  here,  the  rest 
are  gone  to  Shearman's  valley,  to  protect  the  farmers  at 
their  harvest ;  so  when  the  money  comes,  I  shall  be  at  a  loss 
for  an  escort.  I  am  informed  that  a  number  of  men  at  the 
Forts,  whose  time  of  three  months  is  expired,  agreeable  to 
their  enlistments,  have  left  their  posts,  and  expect  their  pay 
when  I  go  there,  this  may  be  of  bad  consequence,  and  I  hear- 
tily wish  there  were  none  enlisted  for  less  than  twelve  months. 
I  am  persuaded  the  officers  would  find  men  enough  for  that 
time. 

I  am  with  great  respect,  sir, 
Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

James  Young. 

The  following  instructions  from  Colonel  Clapham  to  Capt. 
Hambright,  commander  of  a  detachment  from  Col.  Clapham's 
regiment,  given  at  Fort  Augusta,  November  4,  1756,  are 
given,  as  it  is  believed  they  will  be  read  with  interest. 

Sir — You  are  to  march  with  a  party  of  two  sergeants,  2 
corporals,  and  38  private  men  under  your  command,  to  at- 
tack, burn  and  destroy  an  Indian  town  or  towns,  with  their 
inhabitants  on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  to 
which  Monsieur  Montour  will  conduct  you,  whose  advice 
you  are  directed  to  pursue.  In  every  case  you  are  to  attack 
the  town  agreeable  to  the  plan  and  disposition  herewith  giv- 
en you,  observing  to  intermix  the  men  with  bayonets  equally 
among  the  three  parties  in  the  attnck  ;  and  if  any  Indians 
are  found  there,  you  are  to  kill,  scalp  and  captivate  as  many 
as  you  can  ;  and  if  no  Indians  are  there,  you  are  to  endeavor 
to  act  in  such  a  manner  and  with  such  caution,  as  to  prevent 
the  discovery  of  your  having  been  there,  by  any  party  that 
may  shortly  arrive  after  you,  for  which  reason  you  are  strict* 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  173 

ly  forbidden  to  burn,  take  away,  destroy  or  meddle  with  any 
thing  found  at  such  places ;  and  immediately  despatch  Mon- 
sieur Montour,  with  one  or  two  more  to  me,. with  intelli- 
gence. When  you  come  near  a  place  of  action,  you  are  to 
detach  Monsieur  Montour  with  as  many  men  as  he  shall 
judge  necessary  to  reconnoitre  the  parts,  and  to  wait  in  con- 
cealment in  the  meantime  with  your  whole  party  till  his  re- 
turn ;  then  to  form  your  measures  accordingly.  After  hav- 
ing burnt  and  destroyed  the  town,  you  are  in  your  retreat  to 
post  an  officer  and  15  men  in  ambush,  close  by  the  wood  side, 
at  the  most  convenient  place  for  such  purpose  which  may  of- 
fer, at  about  12  miles  distance  from  the  place  of  action,  who 
are  to  surprise  and  cut  off  any  party  who  may  attempt  to 
pursue,  or  happen  to  be  engaged  in  hunting  thereabouts,  and 
at  the  same  time,  secure  the  retreat  of  your  main  body. 

It  is  very  probable  on  these  moonlight  nights  you  will  find 
them  engaged  in  dancing,  in  which  case,  embrace  that  oppor- 
tunity by  all  means,  of  attacking  them,  which  you  are  not 
to  attempt  at  a  greater  distance  than  20  or  25  yards ;  and 
be  particularly  careful  to  prevent  the  escape  of  women  and 
children,  whose  lives,  humanity  will  direct  to  preserve  as 
much  as  possible.  If  it  does  not  happen  that  you  find  them 
dancing,  the  attack  is  to  be  made  in  the  morning,  just  at  such 
a  season  when  you  have  light  enough  to  execute  it,  in  which 
attempt  your  party  is  to  march  to  the  several  houses,  and 
bursting  open  the  doors,  to  rush  in  at  once.  Let  the  signal 
for  the  general  attack,  be  the  discharge  of  one  firelock,  in 
the  centre  division. 

If  there  are  no  Indians  at  the  several  towns,  you  are,  in 
such  a  case,  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  caution  and  vigi- 
lance, to  the  road  which  leads  to  Fort  Du  Quesne,  there  to 
lie  in  ambush,  and  to  intercept  their  march  to,  or  from  the 
English  settlements;  and  there  to  lemain,  with  that  design, 
till  the  want  of  provisions  obliges  you  to  return. 

I  wish  you  all  imaginable  success,  of  which,  the  opinion  I 
have  of  yourself,  the  party  and  officers  under  your  command, 
leaves  me  no  room  to  write. 

I  am  sir,  &c 

William  Clapham. 

P.  S*  You  will  not  omit  to  post  the  sergeant  with  a  party 
cm  the  opposite  side  o£  the  river  during  the  attack,  according 

15* 


174  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

to  direction,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  escaping  that  way, 
and  reserve  one  half  of  your  force. 

From  the  following,  furnished  by  John  Carson,  a  great- 
grandson  of  the  writer  of  the  letter,  it  appears  that  John 
Carson  was  sent  by  the  Governor,  in  the  year  of  1757,  to 
open  a  trade  with  the  Indians  at  Fort  Augusta. 

Fort  Augusta,  December  17th,  1757. 
May  it  please  your  Honor : 

I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  your  Honor  that  I  arrived  at 
Fort  Augusta  on  the  30th  of  November,  and  on  the  8th  cur- 
rent opened  a  trade  with  the  Indians,  the  store  not  being  fit 
to  receive  the  goods  sooner,  and  I  have  disposed  of  some  of 
the  goods  and  received  a  small  parcel  of  skins,  the  amonnt 
of  which  I  now  enclose  for  your  Honor's  perusal.  Accord- 
ing to  the  best  of  my  judgment  I  have  calculated  the  prices 
of  the  goods  that  the  profits  may  defray  the  charges  of  the 
Trade.  I  have  not  been  able  to  put  an  equal  profit  on  all 
the  goods,  the  Indians  having  heretofore  had  stroud  blankets 
and  match  coats  at  a  very  low  rate,  therefore  I  have  charg- 
ed the  other  goods  something  higher.  If  it  appears  to  your 
Honor  that  I  have  overcharged  any  of  the  goods,  or  sold  at 
too  low  a  rate,  please  to  favor  me  with  your  sentiments  for 
my  future  direction,  and  I  shall  act  agreeably  thereto. 
I  am  your  Honor's  most  humble  servant, 

John  Carson. 

The  following  letters,  written  at  Fort  Augusta,  are  here 
introduced  in  connection  with  the  preceding,  as  having  rela- 
tion to  the  same  subject,  and  containing  some  important  fact?. 

Fort  Augusta,  July  1st,  1758. 
May  it  please  your  Honor : 

Your  favor  of  the  21st  past,  was  delivered  me  by  Mr. 
Holland,  agent  for  the  Indian  affairs,  who  arrived  here  last 
"Wednesday  evening,  and  observe  what  your  Honor  says 
with  respect  to  supplying  such  Indians  as  Tedyuscung  shall 
direct  with  provisions,  Indian  corn,  powder  and  lead,  and 
conforming  to  the  orders  you  gave  to  the  commandant  offi- 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  175 

cer  respecting  the  friendly  Indians  that  came  to  trade  with 
provisions,  all  which  I  shall  punctually  observe. 

Capt.  Trump  has  received  no  orders  from  Col.  Bouquet  or 
any  other  person  concerning  a  flag  to  be  used  by  our  friend- 
ly Indians  or  our  own  people ;  neither  have  any  such  flags 
been  sent  here.  Agreeable  to  your  Honor's  orders,  I  wrote 
down  to  George  Allen,  master  of  the  batteaux,  by  a  man 
that  went  down  yesterday  morning,  and  acquainted  him  that 
you  had  ordered  me  to  take  all  the  batteaux  men  into  the 
service  again,  and  that  they  were  to  be  paid  by  the  general, 
and  ordered  him  immediately  to  set  about  collecting  them 
together;  but  I  understand  as  soon  as  they  were  discharged, 
a  great  many  of  them  engaged  with  Sir  John  St.  Clair  to  go 
upon  the  expedition,  some  as  horse  drivers,  and  others  with 
wagons,  &c. 

I  do  not  doubt  but  Capt.  Allen  will  pick  up  a  sufficient 
number  of  them.  It  is  not  every  man  that  is  fit  for  that  ser- 
vice :  they  ought  to  be  well  acquainted  with  the  river  pok- 
ing. I  understand  Croston  is  expected  this  night  at  Harris's 
with  a  drove  of  cattle ;  a  party  goes  down  from  here  to-mor- 
row to  escort  them  and  the  batteaux  up ;  if  the  latter  should 
be  ready  and  not  wanted  below  to  ferry  over  troops,  &c — if 
that  should  be  the  case,  I  have  desired  Capt.  Allen  to  get  as 
many  of  them  as  can  be  spared,  to  bring  up  the  cannon,  pow- 
der, ball,  and  sundry  other  necessaries,  which  are  much  want- 
ed here,  and  have  lain  there  a  long  while.  When  I  was  com- 
ing up,  I  asked  Sir  Allen  McClain,  who  was  then  at  Harris's, 
if  he  could  not  spare  four  of  the  batteaux  to  bring  up  some 
necessaries  that  were  much  wanted  at  Fort  Augusta,  he  said, 
by  no  means,  as  there  were  troops,  baggage,  &c,  coming 
daily,  and  that  they  must  not  be  detained.  If  the  batteaux 
can't  come  up  at  present,  the  party  is  ordered  immediately  to 
escort  up  the  bullocks,  as  so  many  men  cannot  be  spared  long 
from  this  weak  garrison. 

We  have  now  about  two  hundred  men  here ;  seventy  of 
them  came  up  with  me,  and  are  part  of  Captain  Eastburn's 
and  Capt.  Jackson's  companies;  thirty  of  their  men  were  left 
at  Hunter's  fort,  and  what  were  here  before  we  came — one 
hundred  and  twenty  odd  are  the  callings  of  the  whole  battal- 
ion, and  several  of  them  sick  and  lame ;  so  that  we  have  but 
a  very  weak  garrison. 

Your  Honor  has  doubtless  heard  of  the  French  building  a 


176 


NORTHUMBERLAND  COUNTY. 


fort  upon  the  West  Branch  of  this  river,  at  a  place  called 
Shingelaclamoos.  And  by  a  letter  Capt.  Trump  has  receiv- 
ed from  Col.  Burd,  wherein  he  acquainted  him  that  from  the 
intelligence  he  has  had,  he  has  great  reason  to  believe  the 
French  intend  to  attack  this  Fort.  I  desired  Capt.  Young 
to  acquaint  your  Honor  that  there  was  neither  surgeon  nor 
doctor  here;  since  which  he  informs  me  there  is  one  appoint- 
ed for  us :  I  hope  he  will  be  here  soon,  as  several  of  our 
men  are  suffering  for  want  of  one.  I  believe  Doctor  Morgan 
left  us  but  few  drugs,  as  the  shop  looks  very  thin. 

Agreeable  to  your  Honor's  orders  by  Mr.  Peters,  con- 
cerning a  flag  that  Teydyuscung  took  from  Bille  Sock,  I 
enquired  of  Capt.  Trump,  whether  he  knew  how  he  came 
by  it ;  he  said  he  did  not ;  that  he  came  here  with  his 
brother  and  a  Mohawk  Indian  man  and  a  squaw  on  the 
26  th  of  May,  and  brought  with  him  cags  of  rum  which  he 
said  he  got  from  the  inhabitants-,  but  would  not  say  from 
whom ;  he  went  away  the  next  day  and  said  he  was  go 
ing  to  Tyahogah  to  see  his  friends  and  sell  his  rum ;  that 
he  should  return  here  in  the  fall  to  hunt — that  is  all  the 
conversation  passed  between  Capt.  Trump  and  him;  but 
upon  inquiring  of  Lieut.  Broadhead,  if  he  new  any  thing 
about  it,  he  informed  me,  that  he  was  down  at  Hunter's 
fort  and  saw  Indian  Jegra  have  such  a  flag  as  Mr.  Peters, 
in  his  letter  to  me,  describes,  and  he  thinks  the  word 
"■  union"  was  written  with  ink  in  the  middle  of  it ;  and 
Capt.  Patterson,  the  commander  of  the  fort,  informed  him 
he  gave  them  to  Jegra;  Bill  Sock,  his  brother,  and  another 
Indian  were  there  at  that  time  and  they  all  that  evening 
went  away,  and  the  next  morning  Jegra  leturned  to  the 
fort,  beaten  in  a  most  cruel  manner,  of  which  he  died  the 
next  day.  Lieut.  Broadhead  saw  no  more  of  the  flag. — 
Your  Honor's  most  obedient  humble  servant. 

Peter  Bard. 

P.  S.  Just  as  I  had  finished  my  letter,  nine  Indians 
came  here  in  two  canoes  from  Wyoming,  for  Iudian  corn 
— there  is  none  yet  come  up — they  desire  to  have  some 
flour  for  the  present :  which  shall  we  give  them? 

.    To  Hon.  Wm.  Denny,  Esq. 
For  additional  particulars,  see  Appendix,  C. 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  177 

Paxton,  July  26,  1779. 
To  Timothy  Matlock,  Esq. 
Sir: 

I  am  just  returned  from  Sunbury.  The  whole  of  the 
troops  have  left  the  place  a  week  ago,  and  I  am  satisfied 
that  General  Sullivan  will  move  forward  with  the  expedition 
this  very  day.  A  more  happy  incident  could  not  have  hap- 
pened than  the  rise  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  this  critical  and 
unexpected  time  ;  notwithstanding  some  unlucky  delays,  my 
hopes  are  now  high,  with  respect  to  the  northern  expedition. 
I  must,  however,  leave  this  pleasing  expectation,  and  say  a 
word  or  two  of  the  deplorable  situation  of  Northumberland 
county — stript  of  the  whole  standing  army,  and  without  a 
single  man,  save  the  militia  of  the  county  and  14  men  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Kemplin,  and  almost  every  young  man 
on  the  frontier  engaged  in  the  Boat  Service  ; — they  suffer 
more  than  ever  from  the  savage  depredations  of  an  horrid 
enemy;  every  thing  above  Muncy  Hill  is  abandoned  ;  a  large 
body  of  above  40  savages  had  penetrated  as  far  as  Freeland's 
Mills ;  Freeland  and  sundry  others  have  fallen  victims  to 
them.  They  were  still  hovering  about  the  settlement  when 
I  came  away.  In  short,  nothing  seems  wanting  on  their 
part  but  a  proper  degree  of  spirit  (and  upon  some  occasions 
they  have  manifested  enough  of  it)  for  to  make  one  bold  push 
for  Sunbury,  and  destroy  the  magazine  which  is  now  collect- 
ing there  for  the  support  of  the  army.  I  have  spoken  to 
Col.  Hunter  for  a  guard  for  the  magazine,  but  in  vain.  He 
is  not  able  to  protect  the  flying  inhabitants. 

The  stores  at  Sunbury  are  deposited  in  my  dwelling  house, 
which  is  large  and  conveniently  situated  for  defence  and  the 
reception  and  delivery  of  stores :  the .  back  part  of  it  was 
stoccaded  last  year  by  Col.  Hartley — a  small  expense  would 
complete  the  stoccade,  and  mount  a  few  swivels  (several  of 
which  lie  there  dismounted).  This,  and  a  very  small  guard 
of  militia  from  Lancaster  county,  would  render  the  mag-azine 
secure. 

Now,  my  dear  sir,  let  me  not  receive  for  an  answer,  "This 
or  much  of  this,  is  the  business  of  the  Board  of  War,  or 
ought  to  engage  the  attention  of  Congress."  It  is  an  object 
of  consequence  ;  between  three  and  four  hundred  barrels  of 
flour,  sixty  odd  barrels  of  pork,  and  a  large  quantity  of  li- 
quors are  now  forwarding,  and  at  this  place  to  be  forwarded 
to  Sunbury. 


178 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 


It  is  expected  that  the  march  of  our  army  will  recall  the 
savages  to  their  own  country.  Were  they  left  to  their  own 
natural  feelings  there  is  little  room  to  doubt  this  would  be 
the  case ;  but  at  present  they  are  directed  by  British  coun- 
sels, and  in  many  of  their  expeditions  commanded  by  British 
officers ;  a  different  line  of  conduct  may  therefore  be  ex- 
pected. 

I  will  stay  at  this  place  until  I  hear  from  you ;  and  what- 
ever is  to  be  done  at  Sunbury,  for  the  defence  of  the  maga- 
zine, I  am  ready  to  engage  in.  I  wish  not  to  complain  of 
any  one,  nor  would  be  understood  so ;  I  however  know  the 
wretched  slothfulness  of  many  who  are  engaged  in  the  pub- 
lic departments,  and  would  rather  do  a  piece  of  business  my- 
self, than  have  the  trouble  of  calling  on  them. 

My  present  application,  however,  cannot  be  considered 
either  as  impertinent  or  extra-official,  as   I   have  had  the 
charge  of  the  magazine  at  Sunbury  for  some  time  past. 
I  am,  sir,  with  great  respect, 
Your  most  obedient 

and  humble  servant, 

Wm.  Ma  clay. 

Sunbury,  July  28,  1779. 
To  Col.  Joshua  Elon — Sub-Lieut. 
Dear  Sir : 

At  the  particular  request  of  Col.  Hunter,  I  inform  you 
that  Freeland's  Fort,  the  most  advanced  post  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  the  West  Branch,  had  on  Monday  last  three  of  the 
garrison  killed  and  scalped  (one  only  shot)  within  50  yards 
of  the  Fort,  and  two  made  prisoners;  the  number  of  Indians 
appeared  to  be  upwards  of  30,  in  the  open  view  of  the  gar- 
rison. Relief  was  sent  in  immediately  from  Boon's  Fort  and 
the  two  towns,  and  additional  force  was  left  behind  to  their 
assistance,  notwithstanding  which,  they  attacked  them  this 
morning,  and  by  intelligence  received  from  persons  of  credit, 
sent  out  as  spies,  they  had  surrounded  the  Fort,  were  walk- 
,  irig  carelessly  around  them,  and  the  gates  were  thrown  open. 
This  account  arrived  by  Express  from  Major  Smith,  at  12 
o'clock,  since  when  Mr.  Frigg,  sent  by  Capt.  Nelson,  in- 
forms, the  other  spies  had  seen  the  Forts  and  barns  in  ashes, 
the  mill  still  standing,  and  the  Indians  appeared  very  numer- 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  179 

ous,  among  whom  were  sOme  Red-coats,  supposed  to  be  reg- 
ulars— that  34  men  had  turned  out  from  Boon's  fort  to  re- 
lieve Freeland  fort,  of  whom  there  is  not  the  least  intelli- 
gence. 

The  garrison  of  Freeland  fort  consisted  of  32  men,  14  ol 
whom  were  nine  months  men,  and  had  in  it  upwards  of  40 
women  and  children.  The  situation  of  this  country  is  truly 
alarming  and  deplorable  to  the  last  degree. 

The  continental  garrisons,  formerly  posted  here,  are  all 
drawn  off,  except  a  sergeant's  guard  ;  and  by  accounts  re- 
ceived very  late  last  night  from  Wioming,  they  need  not 
expect  any  protection  from  Gen.  Sullivan — "  he  seems  quite 
regardless  of  the  melancholy  situation  of  those  unhappy  peo- 
ple." If  any  relief  can  possibly  be  afforded,  it  should  be 
given  instantly,  otherwise  the  town  of  Northumberland  and 
Sunbury  must  be  the  barriers. 
I  am,  in  great  esteem, 

Your  very  humble  servant, 

Francis  Allison,  jr, 

Articles  of  capitulation  entered  into  between  Captain  John 
McDonald,  on  his  Majesty's  part,  and  John  Little  on  that 
of  the  Congress : 

Article  1  st.  The  men  in  the  garrison  to  march  out  and 
ground  their  arms  on  the  green,  in  front  of  the  fort,  which  is 
to  be  taken  in  possession  of,  immediately,  by  his  Majesty's 
troops. 

Agreed  to. 

2dly.  All  men  bearing  arms  are  to  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  of  war,  and  to  be  sent  to  Niagara. 
Agreed  to. 

3d.  The  women  and  children   not  to  be  stript  of  their 
clothing,  nor  molested  by  the  Indians,  and  to  be  at  liberty  to 
move  down  the  country  where  they  please. 
Agreed  to. 

John  McDonal,  Capt.  of  Rangers. 
John  Little. 

Those  killed  at  Freeland  Fort  in  Capt.  Boon's  party. 
Captain  Boon,  Jeremiah  McGlaghglen,  Nathaniel  Smith, 


180  NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 

John  Jones,  Edwd.  Costikan,  Ezra  Green,  Samuel  Neei, 
Mathw.  McClintock,  Hugh  McGill,  Andrew  Woods,  James 
Watt,  John  McClintock,  Wm.  McClung,  James  Miles,  Hen- 
ry Gilfillen. 


Si  i 


Head  Quarters,  Wioming,  July  38,  1779. 


Your  letter,  dated  the  28th  instant,  I  received  this  day, 
with  the  disagreeable  intelligence  of  the  loss  of  Fort  Free- 
land.  Your  situation  in  consequence,  must  be  unhappy.  I 
feel  for  you,  and  could  wish  to  assist  you,  but  the  good  of 
the  service  will  not  admit  of  it.  The  object  of  this  expedi- 
tion is  of  such  a  nature,  and  its  consequences  so  extensive,  to 
turn  the  course  of  this  army  would  be  unwise,  unsafe,  and 
impolitic. 

Nothing  can  so  effectually  draw  the  Indians  out  of  your 
county  as  carrying  the  war  into  theirs.  To-morrow  morn- 
ing I  shall  march  with  the  whole  army  to  Tioga,  and  must 
have  you  to  call  upon  the  council  of  your  State  for  such  as- 
sistance as  may  serve  to  relieve  you  from  your  present  per- 
ilous situation.  As  Pennsylvania  has  neglected  to  furnish 
me  with  troops,  promised  for  this  expedition,  she  certainly 
will  be  enabled  to  defend  her  frontiers  without  much  incon- 
venience. 

I  am,  sir, 
Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Jno.  Sullivan. 

Col.  Samuel  Hunter. 

The  above  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  to  Col.  Hunter,  in  answer 
to  one  of  the  28th,  but  nothing  would  be  done.  Indeed  the 
General  seems  to  have  had  it  in  view  from  his  first  arrival  at 
Wioming,  to  have  the  county  reduced  to  what  it  now  is.  It 
appears,  however,  in  several  instances,  he  is  no  friend  to  this 
State.  The  evacuation  of  Fort  Wallace,  and  drawing  all 
the  men  from  the  frontier,  five  or  six  weeks  before  he  march- 
ed, in  my  opinion,  speaks  very  plain — the  people  of  this 
county  are  petitioning  in  very  strong  terms,  and  will  request 
a  hearing  against  the  General. 

I  am,  sir, 

Yours,  &c. 

Mathw.  Smith. 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  181 

Sunbury,  28th  July,  1779. 
To  Col.  Matbw.  Smith. 
Dear  Sir : 
This  day  about  12  o'clock,  an  express  arrived  from 
Capt.  Boon's  mill,  informing  us  that  Freeland's  Fort  was 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  Indians,  and  immediately  after 
another  express  came,  informing  that  it  was  burned,  and 
all  the  garrison  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  The  party 
that  went  from  Boons  saw  a  number  of  Indians  and  some 
Red-coats  walking  around  the  Fort,  (or  where  it  had  been) 
— after  that  there  was  a  firing  heard  off  towards  Chilis- 
quake,  which  makes  us  believe  that  the  savages  are  nu- 
merous, and  parties  are  going  off  from  this  town  and  Nor- 
thumberland, to  the  relief  of  the  garrison  at  Boon's,  as 
there  is  a  number  of  women  and  children.  There  were 
at  Freeland's  Fort,  50  women  and  children,  and  about  30 
men,  and  God  knows  what  has  become  of  them.  By  this 
you  may  know  our  distressed  situation  at  this  present 
time.  General  Sullivan  would  send  us  no  assistance,  and 
our  neighboring  counties  have  lost  the  virtue  they  once 
possessed  of,  or  otherwise  we  would  have  had  some  relief 
before  this  time.  This  I  write  in  a  confused  manner,  as  I 
am  just  marching  off  up  the  West  Branch  with  the  party 
we  have  collected. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Samuel  Hunter. 

N.  B.  Rouse  the  inhabitants  there,  (at  Paxton)  or  we 
are  all  ruined  here.  S.  H. 

Sunbury,  July  29,  1779. 
To  Col.  Joshua  Elder. 
Sir: 
Since  mine  of  the  2Sth,  we  have  received  particular  in- 
structions from  Fort  Freeland,  by  women  who  had  been 
in  the  Fort.     They  say  the  garrison  surrendered,  after 
making  a  noble  but  short  resistance ;  after  being  thrice 
summoned ;  they  capitulated  in  form ;  the  copy  of  it  has 
not  yet  come  to  hand.     Of  the  garrison  four  were  killed, 
and  13  scalps  were  brought  into  the  Fort  in  a  pocket 
handkerchief;   amongsl   whom  were  Capt.  Boon's  and 
16 


182  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

Dougherty's,  supposed  to  belong  to  the  party  from  Boon's 
Fort  which  attacked  the  British,  Indians,  &c.  &c,  even  got 
in  among  them  the  people  who  were  prisoners  with  them ; 
but  were  obliged  to  fly  on  account  of  superiority  of  num- 
bers— 13  or  14  of  the  party  have  come  in.  The  women 
of  Fort  Freeland  estimate  the  number  of  the  enemy  at  be- 
tween 3  and  4  hundred,  one  third  of  whom  are  regular 
troops. 

Boon's  Fort  is  evacuated  and  Northumberland  town  is 
already  the  frontier.  Hurry,  if  possible,  all  the  assistance, 
with  utmost  haste,  or  else  the  consequence  on  our  side  will 
be  dreadful. 

I  am,  yours,  &e. 

Francis  Allison,  jr. 

The  commanding  officer  is  said  to  be  a  Captain  McDon- 
ald ;  he  intimated  to  the  women  that  a  party  was  still  in  the 
rear. 

Sunbury,  29th  July,  1797. 

To  William  Maclay,  per  William  Harris'  express,  Paxton. 

Dear  Sir : 

Yesterday  morning  early,  there  was  a  party  of  Indians 
and  regular  troops  attacked  Fort  Freeland ;  the  firing  was 
heard  at  Boon's  place,  when  a  party  of  30  men  turned  out 
under  the  command  of  Capt.  Boon  ;  but  before  he  arrived  at 
Fort  Freeland  the  garrison  had  surrendered,  and  the  British 
troops  were  paraded  round  the  prisoners,  and  the  fort  and 
houses  adjacent  set  on  fire.  Capt.  Boon  and  his  party  fired 
briskly  on  the  enemy,  but  were  soon  surrounded  by  a  large 
party  of  Indians — there  were  13  killed  of  our  people,  and 
Capt.  Boon  himself  among  the  slain.  The  regular  officer 
that  commanded  was  the  name  of  McDonald ;  he  let  the 
women  and  children  go,  after  having  them  a  considerable 
time  in  custody.  The  town  of  Northumberland  was  the  fron- 
tier last  night,  and  I  am  afraid  Sunbury  will  be  this  night. 
Is  there  any  possibility  of  getting  some  assistance  from  your 
county,  if  it  was  but  to  meet  the  poor  women  and  children 
on  their  road  down  the  country.  You  may  easily  form  an 
idea  of  our  distress,  by  what  you  saw  last  year ;  but  this  is 
a  great  deal  worse;  as  there  is  no  relief  from  any  quarter. 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  183 

There  were  about  three  hundred  of  the  enemy,  and  the  one- 
third  of  them  were  white  men,  as  the  prisoners  inform  us 
that  made  their  escape. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
Samuel  Hunter. 

P.  S.  Please  to  write  Council,  by  express,  on  the  receipt 
of  this,  as  it  may  be  depended  upon,  and  do  all  you  can  for 
your  poor,  distressed  country.  S.  H. 

Paxtang,  July  31,  7  o'clock,  A.  M.  1779. 
Joseph  Reed,  Esq.,  Pres  of  Pa. 
Sir: 

I  take  the  opportunity  of  conveying  a  few  lines  by  the 
bearer,  John  Gillcriest,  Esq.  (a  member  of  the  honorable 
House  of  Assembly)  who,  I  think,  was  pitched  upon,  think- 
ing he  might  have  more  influence  with  council,  than  another, 
that  might  as  quickly  deliver  the  despatches  :  for  my  part,  I 
think  the  distresses  of  Northumberland  county  people  equal, 
if  not  superior  to  any  thing  that  has  happened  to  any  part  of 
the  continent,  since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war. 
You  will  see  the  late  accounts,  in  some  measure,  by  the  let- 
ters inclosed,  by  Mr.  Maclay.  I  believe  only  in  some  mea- 
sure, as  the  accounts  are  almost  every  minute  arriving  by 
people  who  have  escaped  the  enemy,  that,  if  true,  are  indeed 
alarming.  The  accounts  this  moment  is,  that  the  town  of 
Northumberland  is  evacuated  ;  if  so,  then  Sunbury  will  soon 
follow  the  example — and  the  same  frontier  will  be  where  it 
was  20  years  past. 

This  day  the  township  of  Paxtang  met  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee to  act  in  conjunction  with  other  parts  of  the  State:  as 
soon  as  the  letters  came  to  hand,  Messrs.  Elder,  McClay, 
and  myself,  attended,  had  the  whole  matter  laid  before  the 
people,  that  was  no  inconsiderable  number ;  and  proposed  a 
scheme  for  volunteers  to  turn  out  immediately  for  the  relief 
of  the  distressed  people.  We  have  fixed  Sunday  morning, 
6  o'clock,  to  march  ;  when,  I  doubt  not,  at  least  50  men  will 
go  that  way,  as  the  distress  was  so  great.  Every  thing  has 
been  done  to  encourage,  but  no  promise  of  reward  absolutely 
given. 


184  NORTHUMBERLAND   COUNTY. 

I  know  the  difficulty  in  getting  the  militia  out.  This  me- 
thod in  the  mean  time,  in  hopes  to  stop  the  progress  of  the 
enemy,  if  the  volunteers  can  be  allowed  wages,  or  even  their 
expenses,  it  will  be  acceptable ;  if  it  cannot  be  done,  a  few 
lines  from  your  excellency,  or  your  excellency  and  council, 
will  be  truly  acceptable  to  me ;  and  I  will  make  the  best  use 
of  it  in  my  power.  As  I  assure  you,  I  have  made  every 
proposal  in  my  power,  and  perhaps  more.  But  as  the  great- 
est number  were  going  from  this  battalion,  are  officers,  I 
hope  to  make  the  matter  more  easy  than  if  they  were  gener- 
ally privates.  If  you  write  by  the  bearer,  direct  to  North- 
umberland county,  as  I  shall  be  there  two  or  three  weeks,  if 
the  county  is  not  entirely  broken  up. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  with  esteem, 

Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Mathw.  Smith. 

Sunbury,  August  3d,  1779. 
To  Joseph  Reed,  Esq.  President. 
Sir: 

I  have  arrived  at  Sunbury  with  60  Paxtang  boys ;  the 
neighboring  townships  turnout  a  number  of  volunteers.  Cum- 
berland county  will  give  a  considerable  assistance.  To-mor- 
row, at  12  o'clock,  is  fixed  for  the  time  of  march ;  provision 
is  scarce ;  but  we  intend  to  follow  the  savages :  we  hope  to 
come  at  them,  as  the  number  of  cattle  is  great  they  have  ta- 
ken from  the  country,  and  must  make  a  slow  progress  on 
their  return  home.  I  hope  to  see  them  on  their  return,  and 
doubt  not  if  we  do,  to  give  a  good  account. 

I  inclose  a  copy  of  the  capitulation  of  Fort  Freeland.  The 
Captain,  McDonald  of  the  Rangers,  was  formerly  a  sergeant 
in  Col.  Montgomery's  regiment  of  Highlanders  :  his  human- 
ity has  appeared  in  this  one  instance — perhaps  the  first  in 
this  war :  52  women  and  children  came  safe  to  this  place, 
being  the  number  taken.  Four  old  men  were  also  admitted 
to  come  back — the  enemy  supposed  them  not  fit  to  march  to 
Niagara. 

Inclosed  is  a  list  of  the  number  of  Captain  Boon's  party 
killed-— also  the  names  of  persons  belonging  to  the  garrison. 
This  account  I  believe  is  the  fact,  as  the  party  out  yesterday 
have  buried  the  dead— gave  me  the  list,   The  distress  of  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  185 

people  here  is  great ;  you  may  have  some  conception ;  but  it 
can  scarcely  be  told.  The  town  now  composes  Northumber- 
land county.  The  enemy  have  burnt  every  where  you  have 
been,  houses,  barns,  rye,  wheat  in  the  fields,  stacks  of  hay, 
-&c,  &c,  is  all  consumed.  Such  devastation  I  have  never 
vet  seen.     I  write  this  in  haste,  and 

Am,  sir,  your  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

Mathew  Smith. 


NORTHUMBERLAND,  * 

Nearly  opposite  Sunbury,  built  on  the  point  of  land  between 
the  North  and  West  Branches  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  theii 
junction.  The  town  was  laid  out  about  the  year  1775,  by 
Reuben  Haynes,  originally  from  Philadelphia.  At  first  its 
progress  was  slow,  as  all  the  inhabitants  during  the  revolu- 
tion were  obliged  to  escape  being  murdered  by  a  cruel  enemy, 
to  flee  and  seek  refuge  at  Fort  Augusta.  It  was  not  ti\l 
1784  or  '85,  that  Northumberland  was  again  re-occupied  : 
and  in  10  or  12  years  afterwards  it  numbered  nearly  100 
houses ;  at  present  it  contains  about  160.  The  town  was 
incorporated  as  a  borough  April  14,  1828.  It  contains  four 
churches — Old  and  New  School  Presbyterian,  German  Re- 
tt >rmed  .and  Methodist — an  academy,  a  market  house,  a  bank. 
*  town  house  of  brick,  and  in  1840  contained  6  stores,  seve- 
ral taverns,  3  scholars,  190  scholars,  and  a  number  of  me- 
chanics jsbops. 

Its  locality  is  inviting  to  the  recluse.  The  country  ex- 
pands behind  the  town  in  a  semi-circular  form,  rising  in  gen- 
tle swells  towards  Montour's  ridge,  which  crosses  between 
'he  two  rivers  at  a  distance  of  about  3  miles.  Opposite  the 
town,  in  the  North  Branch,  is  a  long  and  beautiful  island, 
called  Lyon's  Island.  Two  splendid  bridges  connect  this 
sland  with  the  main  land  on  either  shore.  Another  splendid 
bridge,  which  also  answers  as  a  towing  path,  crosses  the 
West  Branch  at  its  mouth,  At  the  southern  end  of  this 
latter  bridge,  rises  the  high  and  precipitous  sandstone  of 
-c  Blue  Hill,"  from  which  a  magnificent  prospect  is  enjoyed 
oi  the  valleys  of  both  rivers."  The  town  is  well  laid  out, 
16* 


186  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 

with  spacious  streets,  and  to  those  who  love  quiet,  is  a  plea- 
sant spot  to  reside. 

At  the  time  Fort  Freeland  was  captured,  a  party  went 
from  Northumberland  to  succor  the  garrison  at  Fort  Free- 
land,  and  were  brought  to  action  with  a  superior  force,  when 
Captain  Hawkins  and  Boon,  and  14  men  were  killed  and 
scalped.  The  enemy  then  advanced  towards  Northumber- 
land, with  the  addition  of  100  men,  whom  they  kept  in  re- 
serve, creating  great  alarm  at  Fort  Augusta. 

Some  years  after  the  war,  Capt.  McDonald,  having  busi- 
ness with  the  American  government,  on  his  way  from  Cana- 
da ventured,  from  pride  or  curiosity,  to  visit  the  ground  of 
of  his  victory,  and  tarried  part  of  a  night  at  Northumberland. 
Alarmed  at  certain  movements,  indicating  hostility,  he  hired 
a  servant  to  take  him  down  the  stream  in  a  canoe,  before 
daylight  should  expose  him  to  his  (as  he  had  reason  to  sup- 
pose) excited  enemies.  His  horse,  after  remaining  nearly  a 
year  with  the  innkeeper,  unclaimed,  was  sold  for  keeping  — 
[Miner's  His.  Wyoming. 

"Dr.  Joseph  Priestley,  the  distinguished  philosopher  and 
theologian,  spent  the  latter  years  of  his  life  in  Northumber- 
land. The  large  mansion  erected  by  him  is  still  standing  in 
a  lovely,  shaded  spot,  a  little  apart  from  the  village,  and  is 
in  the  occupation  of  his  family.  His  sons  had  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  here  with  the  view  of  making  it  the  asy- 
lum of  English  dissenters,  and  other  intelligent  emigrants  from 
Europe.  Many  Englishmen,  friends  of  Dr.  Priestly,  remov- 
ed here  about  the  same  time,  among  whom  was  Dr.  Thomas 
Cooper,  who  subsequently  removed  to  the  southern  states, 
where  he  became  distinguished  as  a  politician,  philosopher, 
and  professor  of  political  economy.  Mr.  Russell  was  another 
Englishman  who  resided  here,  and  purchased,  in  connection 
with  the  land  speculators  at  Philadelphia,  large  tracts  of  land 
in  Bradford,  Susquehanna  and  Luzerne  counties. 

"  Dr.  Joseph  Priestly  was  born  at  Fieldhead,  near  Leeds, 
in  England,  in  March,  1773.  His  father  was  a  clothier  of 
the  Calvinistic  persuasion,  in  which  he  was  also  hnr.self 
brought  up.  After  he  had  attained  a  respectable  degree  of 
classical  acquirement,  he  was  finally  placed  at  the  dissenters' 
academy  at  Daventry,  with  a  view  to  the  ministry.  He  spent 
3  years  at  this  school,  where  he  became  acquainted  with  the 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  187 

writings  of  Dr.  Hartley,  and  was  gradually  led  into  a  par- 
tiality for  the  Arian  hypothesis.  He  became  minister  of 
Needham  market,  in  Suffolk,  but  falling  under  the  suspicion 
of  Arianism,  he  left  there  and  took  charge  of  a  congregation 
at  Nantwich,  to  which  he  joined  a  school.  In  1761  he  was 
appointed  tutor  in  the  languages  at  Warrington  academy. 
Here  he  published  his  essay  on  government,  and  several  other 
useful  works  on  education  and  history.  His  History  of  Elec- 
tricity, published  in  1767,  procured  him  an  admission  into 
the  Royal  Society;  he  had  previously  obtained  the  title  of 
doctor  of  laws  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  In  the 
same  year  he  took  charge  of  a  church  at  Leeds,  where  his 
opinions  became  decidedly  Socinian.  Here  his  attention  was 
first  drawn  to  the  properties  of  fixed  air,  and  he  also  com- 
posed his  work  on  Vision,  Light,  and  Colors.  In  1773  he 
went  to  live  with  the  Marquis  of  Landsdowne,  as  librarian, 
or  literary  companion.  He  travelled  over  Europe  with  this 
nobleman,  and  also  occupied  himself  with  scientific  pursuits. 
In  1773  he  furnished  a  paper  in  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions, on  the  different  kinds  of  air,  which  obtained  for  him  a 
gold  medal.  This  was  followed  by  three  volumes,  the  pub- 
lication of  which  forms  an  era  in  the  history  of  triform  fluids. 
He  published  several  metaphysical  works,  and  an  edition  of 
Hartley's  Observations  on  Man,  to  which  he  annexed  a  dis- 
sertation savoring  strongly  of  Materialism.  This  doctrine 
he  still  more  forcibly  supported  in  his  Disquisitions  on  Matter 
and  Spirit,  in  1777.  These  works  resulted  in  a  dissolution 
of  the  connection  between  himself  and  his  patron,  and  he 
took  charge  of  a  dissenting  congregation  at  Birmingham.  At 
length,  when  several  of  his  friends  at  Birmingham  were  cel- 
ebrating the  destruction  of  the  Bastile,  a  mob  assembled  and 
set  fire  to  the  dissenting  meeting-houses  and  to  several  dis- 
senters' houses,  among  which  was  that  of  Dr.  Priestley,  al- 
though he  was  not  present  at  the  celebration.*  He  lost  his 
valuable  library  and  apparatus,  and  although  he  obtained  a 
legal  compensation,  it  fell  far  short  of  his  loss.  On  quitting 
Birmingham  he  succeeded  his  friend  Dr.  Price  as  lecturer  in 
the  dissenting  college  at  Hackney,  where  he  remained  some 
time  in  the  cultivation  of  scientific  pursuits,  until  he  was  goa- 
ded by  party  enmity  to  seek  an  asylum  in  the  United  States. 

_        *  See  Appendix  G,  for  detailed  account  of  this  riot,  &c. 


183  NOETHUMBEELAND    COUNTY. 

His  sons  had  already  preceded  him,  and  taken  up  or  purcha- 
sed a  large  body  of  land  near  Northumberland,  where  the 
doctor  arrived  and  fixed  his  residence  in  1794.  Here  he  ded- 
icated himself  for  10  years  to  his  accustomed  pursuits,  until 
his  death  on  the  6th  Feb.  1804,  in  his  71st  year. 

"  Doct.  Priestley  was  an  ardent  controversialist,  chiefly  in 
consequence  of  extreme  simplicity  and  openness  of  character: 
but  no  man  felt  less  animosity  towards  his  opponents,  and 
many,  who  entertained  the  strongest  antipathy  .to  his  opin- 
ions, were  converted  into  friends  by  his  urbanity  in  personal 
intercourse.  As  a  man  of  science,  he  stands  high  in  the  walk 
of  invention  and  discovery  :  he  discovered  the  existence  of 
oxygen  gas,  and  other  triform  fluids.  As  a  theologian,  he 
followed  his  own  convictions  wherever  they  led  him,  and 
passed  through  all  changes,  from  Calvinism  to  a  Unitarian 
or  Socinian  system,  in  some  measure  his  own  ;  but  to  the  last 
remained  a  zealous  opposer  of  infidelity.  In  his  family  he 
ever  maintained  the  worship  of  God.  His  works  amount  to 
about  70  volumes,  or  tracts;  and  embrace  essays  on  history, 
politics,  divinity,  (practical  and  controversial,)  metaphysics, 
and  natural  philosophy.  His  Life,  edited  by  his  son,  wa* 
published  in  1806.  The  memoirs  are  written  by  the  doctor 
himself,  down  to  the  year  1795. 


MILTON, 

Is  a  flourishing  borough,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  West  Branch 
of  the  Susquehanna  river,  at  the  mouth  of  Limestone  Run, 
12  miles  above  Northumberland.  It  was  started  as  a  town 
about  the  year  1794  or  '95.  Being  situated  on  the  canal, 
surrounded  by  a  fertile  and  highly  productive  region,  and 
also  the  seat  of  considerable  manufacturing  establishments. 
and  of  much  importance.  In  1840  it  contained  o  churches — 
a  Presbyterian,  Associate  Reformed,  and  German  Reformed: 
in  addition  to  these,  it  now  also  contains  a  Baptist  and  Epis- 
copalian— an  academy,  13  stores,  2  grist  mills,  1  saw  mih. 
1  tannery,  4  distilleries,  several  foundries,  1  brewery,  1  pot- 
tery, 2  printing  offices,  4  schools.  Population  in  18o0, 1,279: 
in  1840,  1,508.  The  town  was  incorporated  Fehruary  26. 
1816.     There  is  a  stone  bridge  across  Limestone  Run,  an; 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  189 

a  frame  bridge  across  the  West  Branch,  which  extends  to 
the  Union  county  side. 


McEWENSVILLE, 

Named  after  Alexander  McEwen,  is  a  flourishing  little  town, 
grown  up  within  the  last  20  years,  about  3  miles  north  of 
Milton,  on  the  road  to  Williamsport.  It  contains  about  25 
or  30  houses,  several  stores  and  taverns,  and  a  number  of 
mechanics'  shops. 


WATSONBURG, 

Four  miles  above  Milton,  a  short  distance  above  Warrior's 
Run,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna ;  it  contains  about  30  dwellings,  several  stores  and 
taverns — and  one  or  two  mills  on  Warrior's  Run,  near  the 
village. 


FORT  FREELAND, 

Or  Freeland  Fort,  was  situated  on  Warrior's  run,  which  was 
destroyed  by  the  enemy  in  July,  1779. 


POTTSGROVE, 

A  post  village,  near  the  Chilisquaque  creek,  five  miles  north- 
east of  Milton,  and  eight  miles  northwest  of  Sunbury,  con- 
tains 15  or  18  houses,  a  store  and  tavern. 


SODOM, 

A  post  village,  on  Chilisquaque  creek,  seven  miles  north  of 
Sunbury.  It  contains  twelve  or  fifteen  houses,  a  store  and 
tavern. 


190  NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY. 


SNYDERSTOWN, 


A  post  village  of  Shamokin  township,  on  the  Shamokin  crk. 
8  miles  southeast  of  Sunbury — contains  between  50  and  60 
dwellings  ;  a  store  and  tavern  ;  also  a  German  Reformed  & 
Baptist  Church.     It  is  on  the  turnpike  and  railroad. 


SNYDERSTOWN, 

A  hamlet  of  Turbut  township,  about  six  miles  northeast  of 
Milton. 


DALMATIA, 

Or  Georgetown,  is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  riv- 
er, 15  miles  south  of  Sunbury.  It  contains  about  80  dwell- 
ings, several  taverns  and  stores. 


SHAMOKIN, 

At  the  eastern  termination  of  the  railroad,  19  miles  from 
Sunbury,  surrounded  by  coal  mines.  It  has  sprung  up  with- 
in the  last  11  or  12  years.     It  is  a  coal  creation. 

The  Shamokin  Coal  and  Iron  Company  own  large  tracts 
of  Coal  lands  near  Shamokin.  This  company  was  incorpor- 
ated in  1836,  and  was  fully  organized  in  1839 ;  and  in  1840 
they  got  a  charter,  under  the  general  act  for  the  manufacture 
of  iron,  proceeded  to  erect  a  furnace,  which  was  soon  in  suc- 
cessful operation,  making  iron  of  the  first  quality,  from  ore 
procured  at  Montour's  Ridge.  Anthracite  coal  is  used  in 
smelting  ore.  Large  quantities  of  iron  and  coal  are  trans- 
ported from  this  place  to  the  Baltimore  market. 

Popular  education  is  only  partially  encouraged.  In  some 
portions  of  the  county  it  is  much  neglected,  and  where  it 
does  receive  some  attention,  schools  are  not  so  conducted  as 
to  impart  the  greatest  benefit  to  the  rising  generation.  The 
townships  of  South  Coal,  Jackson,  Little  Mahahany,  Lower 
Mahanoy  and  Upper  Mahanoy,  have  not  adopted  the  com- 


NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY.  191 

mon  school  system  as  yet ;  of  fifteen  school  districts  only 
eight  have  reported  59  schools  in  operation,  which  were 
open  five  months ;  engaged  51  male  and  26  female  teachers  ; 
the  former  receiving  $18,90  per  month;  the  latter  $10,11. 
In  these  schools  1,931  males  and  1,422  females  weie  taught. 
A  district  tax  raised  of  $3,083,32 ;  state  appropriation 
$2,691,00.  Cost  of  instruction  $4,122,86 ;  fuel  and  con- 
tiguous $614,17.     Cost  of  school  houses  $1,987,55. 

In  several  of  the  larger  towns  schools  of  advanced  stand- 
ing are  opened.  There  are  academies  at  Milton,  Northum- 
berland and  Sunbury,  and  at  the  latter  place  is  a  Female 
Seminary,  pretty  liberally  patronized. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Huntingdon  County. 

Huntingdon  county  erected— Streams  of  the  county — Geological  fea* 
tures — Census  of  1840— Public  improvements — Towns — Hunting* 
don,  Holidaysbuig,  Gaysport,  Frankstown,  Newry,  Williamsburg, 
Alexandria,  McConnellsburg,  Ennisville,  Antastown,  Davidsburg, 
Yellow  Spring,  Graysville  or  Graysport,  Smithfield,  Warriors,  Mark 
Town,  Petersburg,  Water  Street,  Birmingham,  Shirleysburg,  Orbiso- 
nia,  &c. — Education. 

Huntingdon  county,  formerly  included  by  Bedford  was 
established  by  separating  it  from  Bedford  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature,  September  20,  1787;  said  provided  "  That  all 
and  singular  the  lands  lying  within  the  bounds  and  limits, 
hereinafter  described,  should  be  erected  into  a  separate  coun- 
ty by  the  name  of  Huntingdon ;  namely,  beginning  in  the 
line  of  Bedford  and  Franklin  counties  where  the  new  state 
road,  (by  some  called  Skinner* 's  road)  leading  from  Shippens- 
burg  to  Littleton  crosses  the  Tuscarora  mountain  ;  thence  in 
a  straight  course  or  line  to  the  Gap  in  the  Shade  mountain, 
where  the  road  formerly  called  Pott's  road  crossed  the  same, 
about  2  miles  north  of  Littleton;  thence  by  a  straight  line  to 
the  Old  Gap,  in  Sideling  Hill,  where  Sideling  Hill  creek 
crosses  the  mountain  ;  thence  in  a  straight  line  by  the  nor- 
therly side  of  Sebastian  Shoub's  mill,  or  Raystown  branch 
of  Juniata ;  thence  on  a  straight  line  to  the  Elk  Gap,  in 
Tussey's  mountain  ;  computed  to  be  about  19  miles  above, 
or  southwesterly  of  the  town  of  Huntingdon,  (formerly  call- 
ed the  Standing  Stone)  and  from  the  said  Elk  Gap,  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  Gap  of  Jacob  Stevens'  mill,  a  little  be- 
low were  Woolery's  mill  formerly  stood,  in  Morrison's  eove; 
thence  in  a  straight  line  by  the  southerly  side  of  Blair's  mill, 
at  the  foot  of  the  Allegheny  mountain ;  thence  across  the 
said  mountain,  in  a  straight  line  to,  and  along  the  ridges  di- 
viding the  waters  of  Conemaugh  from  the  waters  of  Clear- 
field and  Chest  creeks,  to  the  line  of  Westmoreland  county; 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 


193 


thence  by  the  same  to  the  old  purchase  line,  which  was  run 
from  Kittaning  to  the  West  Branch  of  Susquehanna  river ; 
and  along  said  line  to  the  said  West  Branch,  and  down  the 
same  to  the  mouth  of  Moshannon  creek,  and  along  the  re- 
maining lines  or  boundaries  which  divide  the  county  of  Bed- 
ford from  Northumberland,  Cumberland  and  Franklin,  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  Trustees  for  the 
county,  viz :  Benjamin  Elliot,  Thomas  Duncan  Smith,  Lud- 
wig  Sell,  George  Ashman  and  William  McElvey  to  take  as- 
surances of  a  certain  spot  of  ground  in  Huntingdon  county, 
thereon  to  erect  a  court  house  and  prison  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  public  service  of  the  county. 

After  Mifflin  county  had  been  erected  (1789)  out  of  parts 
of  Cumberland  and  Northumberland,  some  differences  of  opi- 
nion arose  touching  the  boundary  line  between  Huntingdon 
and  Mifflin,  producing  some  excitement — to  be  noticed  in 
the  sequel — commissioners  were  appointed  by  an  act  passed 
April  1st,  1791,  for  running  the  boundaries  between  Hun- 
tingdon and  Mifflin — described  as  follows  :  Beginning  where 
the  province  line  crosses  the  Tuscarora  mountain,  and  run- 
ning along  the  summit  of  the  mountain  to  the  Gap,  near  the 
head  of  Path  Valley;  thence  with  a  north  line  to  the  Juni- 
ata ;  and  the  said  line,  from  the  said  Gap  to  the  Juniata,  to 
be  the  line  between  Huntingdon  and  Mifflin,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Juniata. 

In  September,  1791,  other  commissioners  were  appointed, 
and  again  March  29,  1792,  an  act  was  passed,  directing 
some  alterations  to  be  made  in  the  boundary,  viz :  "  That  a 
straight  line,  beginning  in  the  middle  of  the  Water  Gap  in 
the  Tuscarora  mountain ;  and  from  thence  to  the  river  Ju- 
niata, in  such  direction  as  to  include  Joseph  Galloway's  farm, 
within  Huntingdon  county,  at  the  mouth  of  Galloway's  run, 
shall  be  the  line  between  Huntingdon  and  Mifflin.  And  by 
an  act  of  March  29,  1798,  other  commissioners  were  appoin- 
ted to  run  the  lines  between  Bedford  and  Huntingdon,  ac- 
cording to  the  following  boundaries  :  Beginning  at  the  Old 
Gap  at  Sideling  Hill,  where  Sideling  Hill  creek  crosses  the 
same,  thence  in  a  straight  line,  by  the  northerly  side  of  Se- 
bastian Shoup's  mill,  on  the  Ra>stown  Branch  of  Juniata, 
thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  Elk  Gap  in  Tussey's  Moun- 
tain ;  and  between  Huntingdon  and  Somerset,  beginning  on 
17 


194  HUNTINGDON   COUNTY. 

that  part  of  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Bedford  and 
Huntingdon,  near  the  southerly  side  of  Blair's  Mills,  at  the 
foot  of  the  Allegheny  Mountain ;  thence  across  the  said 
Mountain,  in  a  straight  line,  to  and  along  the  ridges  divid- 
ing the  waters  of  Conemaugh,  from  the  waters  of  Clearfield 
and  Chest  creeks,  to  the  line  of  Westmoreland  county;  thence 
bv  the  same  to  the  old  purchase  line,  which  was  run  irom 
the  Kittaning  to  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna. 

The  extended  limits  of  the  county  were  reduced  by  erect- 
ing Centre,  Feb.  13,  1800 — formed'  from  Mifflin,  Northum- 
berland, Lycoming  and  Huntingdon,  and  by  erecting  Cam- 
bria county,  March  26,  1804,  which  was  formed  from  Hun- 
ting and  Somerset,  so  that  its  present  length  is  about  thirty- 
eight  miles,  and  breadth  thirty-one,  with  an  area  of  about 
1,185  square  miles,  containing  758,400  acres  of  land.  Pop- 
ulation in  1790,  7,568;  in  1800,  13,008;  in  1810,  14,778; 
in  1820,  20,142  ;  in  1830,  27,145  ;  in  1840,  35,484. 

The  aggregate  amount  of  property  taxable  in  1845,  was 
$8,168,226  00. 

The  population  of  the  several  townships  in  1840,  was  as 
follows : 

Allegheny  2,225;  Antis  5,154;  Barre  2,225;  Dublin 
622 ;  Franklin  1,376  ;  Frankstown  1,499 ;  Hopewell  1,238; 
Henderson  1,555 ;  Morris  1,516 ;  Porter  879 ;  Shirley  1,- 
174 ;  Springfield  984 ;  Fell  911 ;  Tyrone  1,226 ;  Union 
817 ;  Warrior  Mark  1,689  ;  West  1,629 ;  Woodberry  2,- 
102;  Walker  1,055;  Todd  780;  Cromwell  1,140;  Blair 
1,370. 

The  population  of  the  boroughs,  were  as  follows  : 

Huntingdon  1,154;  Alexandria  574;  Petersburg  196; 
Holidaysburg  1,896 ;  Shirleysburg  247  ;  Williamsburg  637; 
Birmingham  235  ;  Frankstown  357. 

See  Table  on  following  page. 


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196  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

The  county  is  now  bounded  on  the  north  by  Centre,  east 
by  Mifflin  and  Juniata  ;  southeast  by  Franklin,  southwest  by 
Bedford,  and  west  by  Cambria ;  lying  entirely  within  the 
great  central  mountainous  district ;  and  its  features,  as  one 
of  days  past  expressed  himself,  "  rough  and  strong,"  like  the 
features  of  its  pioneer  settlers.  The  traveller  cannot  but  be 
struck  with  the  grandeur  of  the  scenery.  It  is  truly  a  moun- 
tanic  region  of  the  Keystone  State ;  for  this  part  of  Penn- 
sylvania, comprising  Huntingdon  and  adjacent  counties,  is 
composed  oi  long  and  parallel  ranges  of  lofty  rupic  eleva- 
tions, separated,  or  "  grandly  serrated"  by  deep  and  narrow 
valleys. 

Entering  the  county  from  the  southeast,  and  continuing  a 
northwestern  direction,  you  pass  Tuscarora  mountain,  the 
line  of  strong  demarcation  between  Franklin  and  Hunting- 
don, then  the  shade  and  Black  log  extending  southward 
from  Juniata ;  then  Jack's  Mountain,  a  branch  of  which, 
called  Stone  Mountain,  folds  round  on  the  west  of  Kishico- 
quillas  valley;  the  Sideling  Hill  and  Terrace  Mountain,  en- 
closing Trough  creek  valley,  from  which  rises  the  amorphous 
and  rugged  Broad  Top,  who,  as  poets  would  have,  like  a 
mighty  Colossus,  lifting  his  platonic  shoulders,  surmounted 
by  a  huge  head,  with  eyes  proportionate,  watching  over  the 
two  counties,  in  each  of  which  he  has  placed  a  foot  immova- 
bly planted — his  monstrous  head,  in  unison  with  his  sombre 
aspect,  blacked  by  the  smut  of  countless  coal  beds — and  like 
a  miser,  concealing  a  treasure  not  of  his  own  begetting. 

Next,  west  of  the  borough  of  Huntingdon,  is  Warrior 
Ridge,  and  then  Tussey's,  Lock,  Canoe,  Brush,  Bald  Ea- 
gle, and  then  old  Allegheny,  as  firm  as  his  proud  Broad  Top. 
Besides  these  named,  there  are  minor  elevations  or  moun- 
tains in  this  county,  such  as  Allegripus,  Drakes  Hill,  Dock- 
Mountain,  Rocky  Ridge.  These  Mountains,  as  already  said, 
are  separated  by  valleys ;  the  principal  of  which  are  Augh- 
wick,  Sinking,  Woodcock,  Canoe,  Scotch,  Tuscarora,  Trough 
creek,  Hares,  Plank  Cabbin,  and  others. 

The  county  is  well  watered,  though  it  has  no  large  rivers. 
The  Juniata,  with  Raystown  Branch,  Aughwick,  and  nu- 
merous minor  streams,  such  as  Black-log,  Clover,  Piney, 
West  Branch  of  Little  Juniata,  Beaver  Dam,  Standing  Stone, 
Shaver's,  Shade,  Canoe,  Three  Springs,  Tuscarora,  Vine- 
yard creek,  with  a  number  of  runs,  such  as  Warrior,  Spruce, 
and  others. 


HUNTINGDON   COUNTY-  197 

Warm  Spring  is  a  place  of  considerable  resort,  during  the 
watering  season. 

Sinking  Run,  given  name  to  sinking  valley,*  is  a  consid- 
erable stream.  It  rises  in  the  southern  boundary  of  Tyrone 
township,  and  flows  north  a  few  miles  to  sink  into  the  earth, 
as  do  also  some  smaller  streams  of  the  same  valley.  During 
the  revolutionary  war  this  valley  became  remarkable  on  ac- 
count of  the  lead  mines  which  were  wrought  here,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  state.  The  following  description  of  this  val- 
ley, and  of  the  mining  operations  once  carried  on  in  it,  we 
are  assured  merits  full  credit.  In  the  prosecution  of  the  min- 
ing scheme,  some  miners  from  Europe  were  employed  ;  a 
large  log  fort  was  erected  for  their  protection,  and  consider- 
able quantities  of  valuable  ore  were  obtained.  Several  reg- 
ular shafts  were  sunk  to  a  considerable  depth.  Lead  enough 
was  made  to  give  a  favorable  idea  of  the  value  ot  the  mines. 
The  work,  however,  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  dan- 
gers from  Indian  incursions,  and  the  disqualification  of  Eu- 
ropean nature  for  a  forest  life.  Iron  ore  is  also  found  in  the 
valley  of  every  species,  and  in  the  greatest  abundance.  The 
surrounding  hills  abound  with  white  flint,  and  from  their  ab- 
rubt  forms  and  thick  covering  of  pines,  have  a  very  sombre 
appearance. 

"  Among  the  swallows  which  absorb  several  of  the  larg- 
est streams  of  the  valley,  and  after  conveying  them  for  sev- 
eral miles  under  the  ground,  return  them  to  the  surface,  that 
called  the  Arch  spring  is  the  most  remarkable.  It  is  a  deep 
hollow  in  the  limestone  rock,  about  30  feet  in  width, with  a 

*  The  following  incident,  though  given  here  in  the  form  of  a  foot- 
note, is  worthy  of  a  place  here.     The  incident  occured  in  1763. 

Mr.  Porter,  residing  in  Sinking  valley,  having  gone  to  Mill,  and  left 
Mrs.  Porter  alone,  while  in  this  situation  she  espied  an  Indian  coming 
towards  the  house.  Mr*  Porter  being  a  militia  captain,  had.  a  sword 
and  rifle  in  the  house,iiis  wife  with  great  intrepidity  took  the  sword, 
and  having  set  the  door  about  half  open,  waited  behind  it  until  the  In- 
dian entered,  when  she  split  his  head  with  the  sword,  another  entered 
and  met  the  same  fate  :  the  third  seeing  the  fate  of  his  companions, 
did  not  attempt  to  enter.  She  then  took  the  gun  and  went  up  stairs 
with  the  expectation  of  having  an  opportunity  of  shooting  him  from 
■  hence,  as  there  was  port  holes  for  the  purpose;  but  he  came  in  and 
followed  her  up  stairs,  where  she  shot  him  dead.  She  then  came  down, 
and  fled  with  all  possible  haste,  and  met  her  husband  coming;  they 
immediately  rode  to  a  place  of  security.  The  next  morning  a  party  of 
men  went  to  the  place  of  action,  and  found  that  there  had  been  other 
Indians  there,  who  had  burnt  the  house  and  barn. 

17* 


198  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

rude  arch  of  stone  hanging  over  it,  forming  a  passage  for  the 
water,  which  gushes  forth  with  some  violence  and  in  such 
quantity  as  to  form  a  fine  stream,  which  after  a  short  course 
buries  itself  again  in  the  bosom  of  the  earth.  Many  pits 
nearly  300  feet  deep  open  into  this  subterraneous  river,  at 
the  bottom  of  which  the  water  appears  ot  the  color  of  ink, 
though  as  pure  as  that  which  sparkles  from  the  rocky  foun- 
tain. 

"  The  stream  again  emerges  to  day  and  runs  along  the 
surface  for  a  few  rods  among  rocky  hills,  when  it  enters  the 
mouth  of  a  large  cave,  whose  aperture  is  sufficient  to  admit 
a  sloop  with  her  sails  spread.  Within,  the  cave  is  about  20 
feet  high  declining  somewhat  as  it  proceeds,  along  which 
runs  a  ledge  of  loose  rocks,  affording  a  tolerable  safe  pas- 
sage. In  the  middle  of  the  cave  the  bodies  and  branches  of 
trees  are  seen  lodged  quite  up  to  the  roof,  whence  it  may  be 
inferred  that  the  water  swells  to  the  very  top  during  fresh- 
ets, when  the  surrounding  mountains  pour  into  this  channel 
the  clouds  which  break  on  their  sides,  and  marks  on  the  ex- 
ternal sides  of  the  cave  show  that  the  waters  escape  thence 
into  the  lower  country.  Having  continued  about  400  yards 
into  the  hill,  the  cave  widens  at  a  sudden  turn,  which  pre- 
vents discovery  until  you  are  within  it,  into  a  spacious  sa- 
loon, at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  precipitous  fall,  and  a  vor- 
tex of  amazing  force,  by  which  large  pieces  of  timber  are 
immediately  absorbed,  and  carried  out  of  sight.  The  water 
boils  up  with  great  violence  when  such  substances  are  thrown 
into  it,  but  it  soon  after  subsides.  The  stream  is  supposed 
to  continue  its  subterraneous  course  for  several  miles  beneath 
the  Brush  and  Canoe  mountains,  and  to  reappear  by  two 
branches  in  Canoe  valley,  and  to  fall  into  the  Frankstown 
branch  of  the  Susquehanna  at  the  point  where  it  breaks 
through  Tussey's  mountain." 

The  soil  is  no  less  diversified  than  the  surface  ot  the  coun- 
ty. From  the  best  of  limestone  to  the  most  ordinary  gravel 
is  to  be  found  in  this  county  ;  much  of  it  is  adapted  to  agri- 
cultural purposes.  Its  mineral  wealth,  however,  will  ever 
surpass  its  agricultural  products  in  value. 

"  Its  geological  features,  as  we  have  seen,  are  of  the  most 
varied  kind  and  interesting  character.  It  contains  all  the 
old  secondary  rock  formations,  from  the  lower  limestone  up 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  199 

to  the  carboriferous  series,  in  regular  succession  ;  but  so  in- 
tricately involved  by  multiplied  lines  of  elevation  and  depres= 
sion,  and  such  numerous  foldings  and  windings,  that  a  minute 
and  detailed  description  shall  not  be  here  attempted.  The 
local  positions  of  the  principal  formations  only  will  be  no- 
ticed. 

"The  blue  limestone,  lowest  in  the  series,  occurs  in  Kishi- 
coquillas  Valley,  Morrison's  Cove,  and  Sinking  Valley,  hav- 
ing associated  with  it  the  cellular  and  stalactitic  brown  iron 
ore  usually  found  in  limestone  districts.  It  commonly  occurs 
in  irregular  layers  in  the  ferruginous  earth  overlying  the 
limestone,  and  appears  to  be  subject  to  no  regular  or  fixed 
law  of  deposition.  It  is  extensively  used  tor  the  supply  of 
furnaces  in  its  neighborhood. 

"Around  the  borders  of  the  valleys  where  this  limestone 
occurs,  and  near  the  base  of  the  mountain  ridges  inclosing 
them,  is  a  belt  of  dark  slate,  which  is  next  in  order  above 
the  limestone.  The  hard  gray  and  reddish  sandstone  of  the 
next  formation  are  to  be  seen  in  Tuscarora,  Shade,  Black- 
Log,  Jack's,  Tussey's,  Lock,  Canoe  and  Brush  mountains — 
iron  ore  is  found  connected  with  this  sandstone  at  some  pla- 
ces on  Black-Log  and  Jack's  mountains.  Next  is  the  se- 
ries of  olive,  yellowish  and  red  shales,  containing  some  thin 
bands  of  sandstone  and  limestone,  with  abundance  of  shells 
and  other  fossil  remains  in  some  of  the  strata.  In  this  for- 
mation is  included  the  valuable  fossiliferous  iron  ore,  from 
which  a  number  of  furnaces  are  supplied.  The  position  of 
the  ore  bands  is  usually  indicated  by  a  dirty  white  and  yel- 
lowish sandstone,  breaking  in  rhomboidal  fragments,  con- 
taining fossil  impressions,  and  is  below  the  thin  limestone 
strata  beneath  the  rei\  shale.  The  rocks  of  this  formation 
may  be  seen  along  the  west  side  of  the  Tuscarora  mountain, 
southeast  of  Shade,  folding  round  on  the  south,  passing  west 
of  Black-Log  Mountain  and  spreading  out  in  the  valley  be- 
tween this  and  Blue  Ridge-  It  next  appears  on  the  east 
side  of  Jack's  Mountain,  passing  south  of  its  southern  end, 
and  ranging  along  the  west  side  of  the  same  ridge  to  the 
Juniata,  whence  it  passes  northward  on  the  west  of  Stone 
Mountain,  and  then  turns  in  a  broad  belt  southwestward 
along  the  southeast  of  Tussey's  Mountain,  between  that  and 
Warrior  ridge.  It  is  also  met  with  on  the  west  ot  Canoe 
Mountain,  passing  around  Scotch  valley,  and  spreading  out. 


200  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

southward  to  Holidaysburg ;  whence  it  ranges  again  to  the 
north  along  the  west  side  of  the  Bald  Eagle  or  Muncy  Moun- 
tain, east  of  Bald  Eagle  creek.  The  fossiliferous  iron  ore 
generally  accompanies  this  formation,  though  the  strata  are 
frequently  too  thin  to  be  productive.  It  is  mined  for  the 
supply  of  Matilda  furnace,  east  of  Jack's  Mountain,  near  the 
Juniata  ;  also  east  of  Tussey's  Mountain  near  the  Little  Ju- 
niata, and  in  several  other  places. 

"Accompanying  the  last  mentioned  formation,  and  over- 
lying the  red  shale,  is  a  belt  of  limestone,  frequently  contain- 
ing fossil  impressions,  in  contact  with  which  is  the  next  suc- 
ceeding member  of  the  series,  a  coarse  fossiliferous  sandstone, 
generally  forming  a  range  of  sharp,  irregular  hills,  and  some- 
times rising  into  a  ridge  of  considerable  magnitude.  These 
adjunct  formations  maybe  seen  on  both  sides  of  Tuscarora 
valley,  between  Black-Log  Mountain  and  Aughwick  creek, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Shirleysburg ;  in  Chestnut  ridge  east 
of  Jack's  mountain,  and  then  folding  round  its  southern  end 
and  passing  on  the  west  of  it  in  a  direction  across  the  Juni- 
ata, extending  in  Rocky  ridge  on  the  west  of  Stone  Moun- 
tain to  the  head  of  Stone  valley.  From  this,  southwestward, 
are  found  fossiliferous  sandstone  in  Warrior  ridge,  with  the 
limestone  along  its  northwest  side.  These  formations  again 
occur  on  the  west  of  Lock  and  Canoe  Mountains,  sweeping 
around  Scotch  valley,  and  appearing  on  the  Juniata  near 
Frankstown.  Hence  they  curve  round  south  of  Holidays- 
burg, passing  in  a  northeast  direction  on  the  west  of  Brush 
and  Bald  Eagle  or  Muncy  Mountain.  Iron  ore  is  occasion- 
ally found  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  fossiliferous  sandstone, 
near  its  contact  with  the  limestone.  It  is  mined  near  the 
Juniata,  southeast  of  Newton  Hamilton,  in  Chestnut  ridge, 
near  Chester  furnace,  west  of  Brush  Mountain,  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Allegheny  furnace  and  others. 

"  Overlying  the  sandstone  last  mentioned,  is  a  series  of 
dark  colored  and  olive  slates,  with  bands  of  gray  and  green- 
ish sandstone,  containing,  among  its  lower  beds,  calcareous 
strata,  which  in  some  places  yield  a  good  hydraulic  cement. 
This  formation  may  be  seen  on  both  sides  of  the  Tuscarora 
valley  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  in  the  valley 
of  Aughwick  creek,  where  it  occupies  a'considerable  breadth 
— thence  folding  southward  round  Jack's  Mountain,  it  pass- 
es down  Hare's  valley  to  the  Juniata,  and  crosses  northward 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 


201 


to  the  head  of  Stone  valley.  From  tliis  it  ranges  along  the 
southeast  side  of  Warrior  ridge  by  the  town  of  Huntingdon, 
and  across  the  Juniata  to  the  Bedford  county  line.  The  same 
formation  occupies  the  middle  part  of  the  basin  east  of  Franks- 
town  and  south  of  Scotch  valley.  We  must  find  it  ranging 
in  a  broad  belt  from  a  little  west  of  Holidaysburg,  nearly  to 
the  base  of  Allegheny  Mountain,  extending  northeastward 
into  Centre  county,  and  southward  into  Bedford.  A  valua- 
ble iron  ore  is  sometimes  found  in  the  lower-  layers  of  this 
formation ;  being  mined  for  the  supply  of  Chester  furnace, 
and  at  several  other  places  in  the  neighborhood  of  A  ugh  wick 
valley. 

The  red  shales  and  sandstone  of  the  next  overlying  form- 
ation occupy  the  middle  of  that  part  of  Tuscarora  valley 
which  is  in  Huntingdon  county,  and  «re  seen  along  the  east- 
ern base  of  Sideling  Hill,  crossing  to  the  north  of  the  Junia- 
ta, below  the  town  of  Huntingdon,  and  then  passing  up  the 
Raystown  Branch,  west  of  Terrace  Mountain.  The  same 
rocks  also  appear  along  the  base  of  Allegheny  Mountain, 
and  for  some  distance  up  the  ascent.  A  hard  coarse  sand- 
stone succeeds,  which  is  seen  on  Sideling  Hill,  in  Terrace 
Mountain,  and  towards  the  summit  of  Allegheny.  Overly- 
ing the  last  is  a  series  of  red  and  greenish  soft  orgillaceous 
shales,  with  some  layers  of  sandstone,  and  containing,  in  its 
lower  portion,  a  bed  of  gray  and  reddish  silicious  limestone, 
seldom  of  sufficient  purity 'to  be  burned  into  lime.  The  rocks 
of  this  formation  occur  in  Trough  creek  valley,  and  encircle 
Broad  Top  Mountain.  They  are  also  seen  well  exposed  in 
the  Alleghany  Mountain,  on  the  ascent  of  Plane  No.  7,  of 
the  Portage  railroad.  Iron  ore  is  sometimes  found  near  the 
contact  of  this  formation  with  the  underlying  sandstone— it 
is  mined  near  Hopewell  and  Trough  Creek  furnaces.  The 
conglomerate  of  sandstone  immediately  below  the  coal,  as 
well  as  some  of  the  lower  coal  beds  themselves,  are  found  on 
Bread  Top  Mountain;  but  the  limits  of  Huntingdon  county 
do  not  extend  far  enough  westward  to  include  any  consider- 
able portion  of  the  coal  measures  on  the  Allegheny." — 
[Trego. 

According  to  the  census  of  18 10,  there  were  in  this  coun- 
ty 20  furnaces,  producing  13,855  tons  of  cast  iron,  27  bloo- 
meries,  forges  and  rolling  mills,  which  produced  14,093  tons 


202 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 


of  bar  iron ;  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  39,367  tons  of  fuel 
were  consumed,  giving  employment  to  1,357  hands  engaged 
in  the  iron  works,  including  mining  operations  ;  employing  a 
capital  of  $780,100.  There  were  58,500  bushels  of  bitu- 
minous coal  dug,  employing  ten  hands ;  capital  $1,690. 
There  were  in  the  county  9,219  horses  and  mules ;  neat  cat- 
tle 2  4,747,  sheep  26,598,  swine  23,003  ;  poultry  of  all  kinds 
estimated  at  $8,038  ;  wheat  raised  521,816,  barley  4,937, 
oats  548,959,  rye  175,457,  buckwheat  29,952,  corn  345,- 
795,  pounds  of  wool  46,433,  pounds  of  hops  1,375,  pounds 
of  wax  885,  bushels  of  potatoes  141,046,  tons  of  hay  22,- 
414,  flax  55  tons;  sugar  made  of  maple  1,134  pounds,  29,- 
119  cords  of  wood  sold  ;  the  value  of  the  products  of  the 
dairy  were  valued  at  $17,215,  of  the  orchard  $18,120,  gal- 
lons of  wine  made  341,  value  of  homemade  or  family  goods 
$9,652  ;  number  of  commercial  warehouses  28,  with  a  cap- 
ital of  $144,600,  retail  dry  good  stores,  groceries,  &c.  119; 
with  a  capital  of  $581,600;  13  lumber  yards,  employing 
213  hands ;  value  of  machinery  manufactured  3,800,  7  men 
men  employed  ;  value  of  various' metals  manufactured  $8,100, 
employed  16  hands ;  value  oi  bricks  and  lime  manufactured 
$15,280,  employed  117  hands;  capital  invested  in  manufac- 
turing of  machinery,  various  metals,  &c,  brick,  lime,  &c, 
$7,169 :  6  fulling  mills,  9  woollen  factories,  value  of  manu- 
factored  goods  $13,790,  and  employed  55  hands,  capital 
$9,015 ;  value  of  manufactured  flax  $5,338  ;  34  tanneries 
tanned  12,951  sides  of  sole  leather,  8,344  upper  leather,  and 
employed  131  hands,  capital  $52,550 ;  all  other  manufacto- 
ries of  leather,  saddleries,  &c,  112,  value  of  articles  manu- 
factured $53,000,  capital  invested  $27,245 ;  15  distilleries 
produced  57,335  gallons,  two  breweries  produced  35,600 
gallons  of  beer,  distilleries  and  breweries  employed  26  hands, 
capital  invested  $16,420 ;  7  potteries  manufactured  articles 
to  the  value  of  $3,800,  employed  10  hands,  and  a  capital 
of  $1,530  ;  4  printing  offices,  issued  4  weekly  newspapers, 
and  employed  14  hands,  capital  $4,600 ;  the  value  of  manu- 
facture of  carriages  and  wagons  $14,565,  employed  53  hands 
and  a  capital  of  $6,787 ;  4  flouring  mills  manufactured  10,- 
430  barrels,  65  grist  mills,  182  saw  mills,  value  of  manufac- 
tures $103,897,  employed  262  hands,  capital  $149,047 ;  51 
brick  and  stone  houses  built,  207  wooden,  employed  863 
hands,  value  of  constructing  the  buildings  $163,275 ;  value 


HUNTINGDON  COUNTY.  203 

of  all  other  manufactures  §131,171,  capital  invested  $52,* 
002.  Total  capital  invested  in  manufactures  $331,427.  The 
aggregate  amount  of  personal  and  real  estate  subject  to  tax 
in  1844,  was  $8,168,226  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  Juniata  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Canal,  passes 
mostly  along  the  banks  of  the  Juniata,  from  the  eastern  limit 
of  the  county  of  Holidaysburg,  a  distance  of  nearly  60  miles, 
where  the  Portage  railroad  over  the  Allegheny  mountain 
commences.  These  public  works  were  finished  about  12 
years  ago,  and  since  their  completion,  have  completely  changed 
the  mode  of  carrying  the  surplus  produce  of  the  country  and 
other  articles  of  commerce.  Arks  and  keel-bottomed  boats, 
were  then  used  in  carrying  the  produce  down  the  Juniata. 
River  pilots  then  found  profitable  employment — now  that 
occupation  is  not  wanted,  since  these  public  facilities  are  at 
hand.  Not  only  has  the  river  men  felt  the  change  of  busi- 
ness, but  towns  that  once  commanded  a  handsome  share  of 
business,  find  it  diverted  from  them,  and  into  a  different 
course,  where  now  new  villages  are  sprung  up,  and  are  vie- 
ing  with  each  other. 

When  the  first  Canal  Boat  was  launched  at  Huntingdon, 
the  citizens  of  that  town  and  vicinity  were  much  delighted, 
and  created  with  them  a  new  era  in  trade. 

"On  last  Saturday,"  says  the  Gazette  of  July  15,  1831, 
"  hundreds  of  our  citizens  witnessed  the  launching  of  the 
'  James  Clarke,'  a  new  and  very  handsome  canal  boat,  into 
the  basin  at  the  west  end  of  the  borough — owned  by  Messrs. 
Williams  &  Miller.  When  safely  launched  into  the  basin, 
she  was  greeted  by  the  hearty  acclamations  of  those  who  wit- 
nessed the  pleasing  and  interesting  sight !  What !  a  Canal 
Boat  launched  in  the  vicinity  of  Huntingdon  !  Had  any  one 
predicted  an  event  of  this  kind,  some  years  back,  he,  in  all 
probability,  would  have  been  'yclept  a  Wizard,  or  set  down 
as  beside  himself.  When  the  mail  stage  commenced  running 
once  a  week,  from  Philadelphia  to  this  place,  our  older  citi- 
zens considered  it  a  marvellous  affair.  What  will  they  say 
now  ?" 

The  northern  turnpike  road  to  Pittsburg  enters  the  county 


204  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

through  Jack's  mountain,  and  keeping  the  direction  of  the 
river,  but  not  following  its  valley,  passes  through  this  county 
and  its  principal  towns,  viz :  Huntingdon,  Petersburg,  Alex- 
andria, Frankstown  and  Holidaysburg,  and  thence  over  the 
Juniata  river  at  Huntingdon,  Alexandria  and  Holidaysburg, 
as  well  as  over  other  large  streams  when  crossed  by  main 
roads. 


HUNTINGDON, 

The  seat  of  Justice,  is  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Juni- 
ata river,  immediately  above  the  mouth  of  Standing  Stone 
creek  ;  by  the  name  of  which,  this  place  was  known  nearly, 
if  not  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago.  Conrad  Weiser, 
Esq.,  Indian  Agent  and  Provincial  Interpreter,  on  his  way 
to  Logstown,  14  miles  below  the  forks  of  the  Muskingum  & 
Allegheny,  in  1748,  notices  Standing  Stone,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  extract  from  his  Journal : 

"August  11th,  1748 — Set  out  from  my  house  (Heidelberg 
township,  Lancaster,  now  Berks  county)  and  came  to  James 
Galbreath's  that  day,  30  miles. 

"  12th — Came  to  George  Croghan's  (Pennsboro  township, 
Lancaster,  now  Cumberland  county) — 15  miles. 

"  13th— To  Robert  Dunning's,  20  miles. 

"  14th— To  Tuscarora  Path,  30  miles. 

"loth  and  16th — Lay  by  on  account  of  the  men  coming 
back  sick,  and  some  other  affairs  hindering  us. 

"  17th — Crossed  the  Tuscarora  Hill,  and  came  to  the 
sleeping  place  called  Black  Log,  20  miles. 

"  18th — Had  a  great  rain  in  the  afternoon — came  within 
two  miles  of  the  Standing  Stone,  24  miles. 

"  19th — We  travelled  but  12  miles — were  obliged  to  dry 
our  things  in  the  afternoon. 

"20th— Came  to  Frankstown,  but  saw  no  houses  or  cab- 
ins, &c.  &c." 

The  Stone  Standing  here,  having  been  erected  by  the 
Aborigines,  was,  according  to  John  Harris's  statement,  14 
feet  high  and  6  inches  square;  on  hlcb,  as  tradition  has  it, 
that  hieroglyphics  were  engr;        ,  n       ated   to  those  who 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  205 

frequented  the  spot,  the  course  which  the  party  of  hunters 
preceding  them,  had  taken,  their  success  in  the  chase,  &c. 
It  is  said  the  original  stone  was  destroyed,  or  concealed  by 
the  Indians,  at  the  time  of  their  expulsion  by  the  whites. 
Fragments  of  the  stone,  erected  in  imitation  of  the  "  first 
Standing  Stone,"  by  the  whites,  are  yet  in  the  possession  of 
some  of  the  inhabitants,  on  which  are  inscribed  the  names  of 
visiters,  with  date  as  early  as  1760. 

The  town  was  laid  out  a  short  time  before  the  war  of  '76, 
by  the  Rev.  William  Smith,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  named  it  in  honor  of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon, 
in  commemoration  of  her  liberal  donations  made  to  Dr.  Smith 
to  aid  the  Pennsyylvania  University.  The  town  was  inju- 
diciously laid  out ;  no  street  or  avenue  along  the  river,  nar- 
row streets  and  no  alleys.  The  town  is  built  upon  an  ele- 
vated bank,  sloping  gently  up  from  the  river,  and  behind  the 
town,  rising  into  a  hill,  upon  which,  in  a  beautiful  shaded 
cemetery,  rest  the  remains  of  the  departed. 

Mr.  Day  thus  speaks  of  Huntingdon : 

"  The  town  of  Huntingdon  was  laid  out  a  short  time  pre- 
vious to  the  revolutionary  war  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Smith, 
Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  The  doctor  had 
been  over  to  England  soliciting  funds  in  aid  of  the  Universi- 
ty. The  countess  of  Huntingdon  had  been  a  munificient 
donor:  and  in  return  for  her  liberality  he  perpetuated  her 
memory  by  giving  her  name  to  this  town.  The  county  in 
1787  took  the  same  name.  Previous  to  that  time  the  place 
had  been  noted  as  the  site  of  an  ancient  Indian  village  cal- 
led Standing  Stone.  A  tall  slim  pillar  of  stone — four  inch- 
es thick  by  eight  inches  wide — had  been  erected  here  by  the 
resident  tribe  many  years  since — perhaps  as  a  sort  of  "  Eben- 
ezer."  It  then  stood  at  the  lower  end  of  the  town,  near  the 
river  bank. 

"The  tribe  regarded  the  stone  w-ith  superstitious  venera- 
tion, and  a  tradition  is  said  to  ^ave  existed  among  them, 
that  if  the  stone  should  be  taken  away,  the  tribe  would  be 
dispersed ;  but  that  so  long  as  it  should  stand  they  would 
prosper.  A  hostile  tribe  once  came  up  from  the  Tuscaro- 
ra  valley,  and  carried  it  off  during  the  absence  of  the  war- 
riors ;  but  the  latter  fell  upon  them,  recovered  the  stone, 
and  replaced  it.  It  is  said  that  Dr.  Barton,  of  Philadelphia, 
18 


206  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

learned,  in  some  of  his  researches,  that  Oneida  meant  Stand- 
ing Stone ;  and  that  nation,  while  living  in  New  York,  is 
said  to  have  had  a  tradition  that  their  ancestors  came  origi- 
nally from  the  south.  It  is  generally  understood  about  Hun- 
tingdon that  the  original  stone  had  been  destroyed  or  taken 
away  by  the  Indians,  but  that  the  whites  erected  a  similar 
one,  a  part  of  which  remains.  It  is  certain  that  the  whites 
removed  it  from  its  original  position  into  the  centre  of  the 
town.  When  Mr.  McMurtrie  came  here  in  1776-'77,it  was 
about  8  feet  high,  and  had  on  it  the  names  of  John  Lukens, 
the  surveyor-general,  with  the  date  of  1768 ;  Charles  Luk- 
ens, his  assistant ;  and  Thomas  Smith,  brother  of  the  founder 
of  the  town,  and  afterwards  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court.  It 
stood  thus  for  many  years,  until  some  fool,  in  a  drunken  fro- 
lic, demolished  it.  A  part  of  it  is  now  built  into  the  wall  of 
Dr.  Henderson's  house,  and  a  part  is  in  his  office.  It  is  ev- 
idently a  stone  from  the  bed  of  the  creek,  bearing  marks  of 
being  worn  by  water. 

"  The  venerable  Mr.  McMurtrie,  still  living  in  the  place, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  He  was  a  young  man  in 
Philadelphia  at  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  independence  ; 
and  his  father,  a  prudent  old  Scotchman,  immediately  after 
that  event,  started  his  son  into  the  interior,  ostensibly  to  look 
after  his  wild  lands ;  but  probably  with  a  view  to  remove 
him  from  any  temptation  to  join  the  rebel  army. 

"  When  Mr.  McMurtrie  came  to  this  place  in  1776  or 
'77,  there  were  only  five  or  six  houses  here,  one  of  which 
was  the  tavern  by  Ludwig  Sills.  On  his  way  up,  he  had 
stopped  at  the  solitary  tavern  of  old  Mr.  Buchanan,  where 
Lewistown  now  is,  and  at  another  cabin  at  Waynesburg. 
The  first  settlers  at  Huntingdon,  were  his  father-in-law, 
Benjamin  Elliot,  Abraham  Haynes,  Frank  Cluggage,  Mr. 
Ashbough,  and  Mr.  Sills.  The  early  settlers  here  were 
chiefly  from  Maryland,  probably  from  the  Potomac  valley, 
near  the  mouth  of  Conococheague.  People  from  the  same 
quarter  settled  Wells'  valley.  One  of  the  Brady's,  the  un- 
cle or  father  of  the  famous  Capt.  Samuel  Brady,  had  previ- 
ously resided  across  the  river,  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  Crook- 
ed creek ;  but  he  removed  to  the  West  Branch  of  Susque- 
hanna before  the  year  1776.  For  some  years  after  the  year 
1776,  hostile  Indians  annoyed,  and  frequently  murdered  the 
unprotected  settlers.     There  was  a  fort  built  during  the  re- 


.*t 


Oh  J^v-(l   ,*■-  li-jV j±^  1 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  207 

volution  just  at  the  lower  end  of  the  main  street.  The  town 
was  once  alarmed  at  the  appearance  of  lurking  Indians  on 
the  neighboring  hills ;  and  within  a  day  or  two  afterwards 
the  unfortunate  scout,  from  the  Bedford  gairison,  was  mur- 
dered near  where  Holidaysburg  now  stands." 

Viator,  a  traveller  and  correspondent  of  the  Commercial 
Herald,  visiting  this  place  some  twelve  or  fifteen  years  ago, 
says — "  There  is  nothing  there  to  interest  the  traveller,  until 
you  get  nearer  to  Huntingdon,  the  county  town,  except  an 
occasional  peepat  the  river  and  canal,  and  some  fine  moun- 
tain scenery.  In  approaching  the  town  the  prospect  is  pe- 
culiarly beautiful.  At  about  half  a  mile  distance,  the  road 
cut  through  a  valuable  quarry  of  solid  rock,  acquires  an  el- 
evation of  some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  above  the  Canal,  from 
which  it  is  separated  by  a  railing  placed  on  a  nearly  perpen- 
dicular wall.  On  rounding  the  hill,  the  aqueduct  across  the 
mouth  of  Stone  creek — the  town  beyond,  with  its  spires, 
gardens,  and  adjacent  highly  cultivated  fields—  the  canal,  ri- 
ver, and  variegated  "  leafy  world,"  on  the  surrounding  hills 
burst  at  once  on  the  enraptured  vision  !  The  "  Grave-yard 
Hill,"  within  the  limits  of  the  borough,  covered  with  half- 
grown  forest  trees,  is  (strange  to  tell)  an  admired  and  much 
frequented  spot  by  the  Lion. 

The  population  in  1840,  was,  1,145.     Of  these  were : 

White  males — under  5  years,  78  ;  5  and  under  10,  58  ; 
10  and  under  15,  63 ;  15  and  under  20,  74  ;  20  and  under 
30,  113  ;  30  and  under  40,  65  ;  40  and  under  50,  35  ;  50 
and  under  60,  22  ;  60  and  under  70,  7 ;  70  and  under  80; 
11 ;  80  and  under  90,  1. 

White  females — under  5,  77  ;  5  and  under  10,  73 ;  10 
and  under  15,  56 ;  15  and  under  20,  53 ;  20  and  under  30 
109  ;  30  and  under  40,  54 ;  40  and  under  50,  37 ;  50  and 
under  60,  26  ;  60  and  under  70,  10 ;  70  and  under  80,  4  ; 
90  and  under  100,  3. 

Colored  males — under  10,  16  ;  10  and  under  20,  20 ; 
24  and  under  36,  7  ;  36  and  under  55,  6 ;  55  and  under 
100,  3. 

Colored  females — under  10,  14 ;  10  and  under  24, 28 : 
24  and  under  36,  11 ;  36  and  under  55,  7 ;  55  and  under 
100,4. 

Of  these,  according  to  the  census  of  1840,  3  were  engaged 
in  agriculture,   20  m  commerce,  96  in  manufactures  and 


208 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 


trades,  8  in  the  navigation  of  canals,  23  in  the  learned  pro- 
fessions and  engineers,  2  were  deaf  and  dumb,  3  insane  idi- 
ots at  public  charge,  5  primary  and  common  schools,  187 
scholars ;  47  white  persons,  rising  20  years  of  age,  who  nei- 
ther read  nor  write. 

About  200  dwelliags,  a  brick  court  house,  a  stone  jail,  a 
bank,  an  academy,  6  churches,  a  Presbyterian,  German  Re- 
formed, Associate  Reformed,  a  Methodist,  Catholic,  and  an 
African  Methodist,  13  stores,  2  tanneries,  2  distilleries,  1 
brewery,  1  pottery,  2  printing  offices,  2  weekly  newspapers. 
The  Academy  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  19th  March, 
1816,  granting  a  donation  to  the  institution  of  $2000.  A 
public  school  of  the  county  of  Huntingdon,  located  in  the 
borough,  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  19th  Feb.  1790;  the 
second  section  of  which  speaks  of  "  lands  therein  granted," 
but  no  grant  whatever  is  made,  either  in  the  printed  statute 
or  in  the  original  act,  in  the  office  of  the  secretary  of  the 
commonwealth. 

It  is  a  place  of  considerable  trade,  notwithstanding  that 
the  public  improvements  have  diverted  business  from  here, 
by  affording  facilities  to  other  points.  It  is  still  the  natural 
outlet  and  depot  of  the  surplus  products  of  Woodcock  and 
Stone  valleys. 

It  has  long  been  noted  for  the  wealth,  intelligence  and 
hospitality,  and  amiable  manners  of  its  inhabitants.  Within 
a  few  years  considerable  improvements  have  been  made  in 
the  town. 

Contiguous  to  this  is  Smithfield,  a  small  village  across 
Juniata,  opposite  the  borough.     The  Juniata  is  crossed  here  * 
by  a  substantial  bridge. 


HOLIDAYSBURG, 

At  the  head  of  canal  navigation  on  Juniata  river,  near  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Allegheny  mountain,  and  23  miles  west 
of  Huntingdon.  From  its  site  one  has  a  commanding  view 
of  the  surrounding  mountain  scenery.  It  is  the  largest  town 
in  the  county:  the  borough  contains  about  2,200  inhabit- 
ants, a?nd  including  Gay  sport,  separated  only  by  a  branch  of 
the  Juniata,  the  population  exceeds  3,000.  This  population 
is  considerable,  when  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  in  1830  it  was 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  '      209 

considered  an  obscure  village,  with  about  70  inhabitants. 
Since  the  completion  of  the  State  improvements,  the  pro- 
gress of  this  town  has  been  more  rapid  than  that  of  any  other 
between  Pittsburg  and  Philadelphia.  Its  business  operations 
is  in  a  ratio  with  its  population.  Large  quantities  of  iron 
and  other  produce  are  shipped  here,  as  well  as  the  bituminous 
coal  destined  for  an  eastern  market.  "  It  is  the  centre  of  a 
fruitful  country,  now  rapidly  opening  to  cultivation,  and 
teeming  with  abundant  resources  both  mineral  and  vegetable. 
It  is  in  the  midst  of  an  abundant  iron  region  ;  and  bitumin- 
ous coal,  obtained  on  the  summit  of  the  Allegheny  descends 
by  its  own  gravity  to  town." 

There  are  at  this  place  a  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Luth- 
eran, Baptist,  Catholic,  and  two  African  churches ;  5  public 
schools,  and  one  classical  school.  There  are  several  foun- 
dries and  machine  shops,  a  large  steam  flour  mill,  a  screw 
dock,  and  marine  railway,  10  or  12  forwarding  houses,  with 
15  large  warehouses.  A  large  basin,  formed  by  the  waters 
of  Beaver-Dam  Creek,  for  the  accommodation  of  canal  boats. 
More  than  1200  railroad  cars  may  be  seen  here  at  different 
times.  The  Portage  railroad  commences  here,  crossing  the 
Allegheny  mountain  by  the  summit  at  Blair's  Gap,  descends 
to  the  valley  of  the  Conemaugh,  down  which  it  proceeds  to 
Johnstown,  and  there  meets  the  Western  Division  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Canal.  On  this  road  are  10  inclined  planes, 
numbered  from  Johnstown  eastward,  and  11  "levels,"  or 
graded  lines  of  the  road,  the  inclination  of  which  is  gener- 
ally 10  to  15  feet  to  the  mile,  except  that  between  Johns- 
town and  the  first  plane,  where  it  is  about  24  feet,  and  that 
between  the  eastern  plane  and  Holidaysburg,  where  the 
maximum  is  52  feet. 

The  summit  of  Blair's  Gap  is  2,325  feet  above  the  level 
of  mean  tide  ;  the  ascent  from  Holidaysburg  to  the  summit 
is  1,171  feet  in  a  distance  of  10  miles,  and  the  descent  to 
Johnstown  1,171  feet  in  a  distance  of  261  miles.  There  are 
five  inclined  planes  on  each  side  of  the  summit ;  the  largest 
being  No.  8,  or  the  third  one  west  of  Holidaysburg,  which 
is  3,117  feet  in  length,  with  a  rise  of  307i  feet ;  and  the 
shortest,  No.  3,  the  third  east  of  Johnstown,  1,480  feet  in 
length,  rising  ISOh  feet. 

At  the  head  of  each  inclined  plane  are  two  stationary  en- 
gines of  about  35  horse  power  each,  which  move  the  endless 
18* 


210  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

rope  to  which  the  cars  are  attached.  Four  cars,  each  loaded 
with  a  burden  of  7000  pounds,  can  be  drawn  at  once,  and 
as  many  let  down  at  the  same  time ;  this  operation  can  be 
performed  from  6  to  10  times  in  one  hour.  An  ingenious 
contrivance,  called  a  safety  car,  is  attached  to  the  rope  be- 
low the  cars,  which  stops  them  in  case  of  accident  to  the 
rope  or  fastenings.  But  one  ot  the  stationary  engines  is  used 
at  a  time;  the  other  being  provided  to  prevent  delay  fiom 
accidents  or  repairs.  On  the  short  levels  between  the  planes, 
horses  are  used  for  drawing  the  cars ;  but  on  the  longer  ones 
locomotives  are  preferred. 

A  viaduct  over  the  Conemaugh,  about  eight  miles  easl  of 
Johnstown,  is  much  admired  for  its  boldness  and  beauty  of 
design  and  execution.  It  is  a  single  arch  of  80  feet  span, 
at  a  height  of  80  feet  above  the  water  of  the  stream.  In 
order  to  pass  through  an  abrupt  ridge  near  the  head  of  the 
first  plane  east  of  Johnstown,  a  tunnel  has  been  constructed 
901  feet  in  length,  20  feet  wide,  and  19  feet  high  within  the 
arch.  The  entrances  have  ornamental  facades  of  cut  stone, 
and  the  tunnel  is  arched  with  stone  150  feet  from  each  end, 
beyond  which  the  rock  is  sufficiently  solid  to  form  a  roof. 
This  road  was  opened  for  use  in  March,  1834 — Length  361 


The  following  interesting  and  novel  account  of  Mountain 
Sailing  will,  it  is  believed,  be  read  with  interest.  It  is  dated 
Holidaysburg,  Nov.  1834- 

On  Monday  last,  the  inhabitants  of  Holidaysburg  were 
permitted  to  witness  a  novelty,  in  the  tide  of  emigration, 
which  the  completion  of  the  grand  chain  of  internal  improve- 
ments, has  caused  to  flow  through  this  channel,  and  by  which 
the  Mississippi  and  Delaware  have  been  made,  as  it  were,  to 
unite  their  waters. 

"A  gentleman,  by  the  name  of  Christman,  from  Lacka- 
wanna, a  tributary  of  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
embarked  with  his  family,  in  all,  consisting  of  eleven  persons, 
together  with  the  necessary  requisites  for  their  comfort ; 
namely,  beds,  tables,  chairs,  stoves,  cooking  utensils,  poultry, 
pigeons,  etc.  etc.,  on  board  a  canal  boat,  29  feet  long,  and 
7  feet  wide.  In  this  he  proceeded  down  the  North  Branch 
of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  to  the  junction  of  the  Central 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  211 

Division,  and  up  the  latter  to  Holiday sburg.  Here  he  in- 
tended to  dispose  of  his  boat,  and  proceed  by  way  of  the 
Portage  Railroad,  and  Western  Division  of  the  Canal,  to 
Pittsburg. 

Here,  it  was  suggested  to  Mr.  Christman,  that  it  would 
be  practicable  to  pass  the  boat,  together  with  the  family  and 
cargo,  over  the  traversing  height  of  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tain. A  railroad  car,  calculated  to  bear  the  novel  burden, 
was  prepared,  the  boat  was  taken  from  its  proper  element, 
and  placed  on  wheels,  and  at  12  o'clock  the  same  day,  the 
boat,  together  with  the  delighted  family,  began  their  pro- 
gress over  the  rugged  Allegheny.  It  was  pleasing  to  see 
the  comfort  and  convenience,  which  the  ingenuity  of  man 
has  added  to  the  journey  of  the  emigrant.  The  whole  fam- 
ily were  comfortably  located  in  the  cabin  of  the  boat,  which 
appeared  to  glide  up  the  height  of  the  mountain,  unconscious 
of  the  change.  While  some  of  the  family  were  preparing 
the  coming  meal,  others  were  lying  on  their  downy  pillows, 
occasionally  roused  by  the  hissing  steam,  at  the  head  of  the 
inclined  plane.  They  were,  however,  not  to  be  stopped  by 
the  hissing  of  the  puffing  auditory,  but  continued  to  ascend, 
and  at  night,  safely  rested  on  the  summit  of  this  proud  em- 
inence. 

"  On  the  following  morning,  the  boat  and  crew  left  the 
sunny  summit  of  the  Allegheny,  and  smoothly  glided  down 
her  iron  way  to  Johnstown,  astonishing  the  inhabitants.  On 
the  same  day  she  was  safely  deposited  in  her  own  element, 
in  the  basin  at  Johnstown,  amidst  the  plaudits  of  the  con- 
gregated citizens." 


GAYSPORT, 

Like  its  "kin-sister,"  is  also  of  recent  origin.  Its  founda- 
tion was  laid  in  1829,  and  bids  fair  to  become  a  town  of 
some  importance — it  may  vie  with  Holidaysburg  at  a  fu- 
ture day. 

FRANKSTOWN, 

Is  a  comparatively  small  village,  on  the  turnpike  road,  three 
miles  east  of  Holidaysburg,  contains  between  40  and  50 


212  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

dwellings.  It  is  an  incorporated  borough,  and  contained 
in  1840,  357  inhabitants.  Near  it  is  a  furnace.  It  con- 
tained at  the  last  census,  three  stores,  a  saw  mill,  one  tan- 
nery, and  several  taverns.  Frankstown  is  mentioned  in 
the  Provincial  Records  more  than  90  years  ago;  as  the 
following  extract  from  the  Provincial  Records  will  show  : 

"  Conrad  Weiser,  on  his  way  to  Logstown,  14  miles 
below  the  forks  of  the  Allegheny  and  Monongahela,  in 
1749,  passed  by  here  August  20.  In  his  Journal  of  that 
date,  he  says,  'came  to  Frankstown,  but  saw  no  houses 
or  cabins ;  here  we  overtook  the  goods,  because  four  of 
George  Croghan's  hands  fell  sick.'  " 

The  following,  from  a  work  recently  published,  contains 
some  particulars  derived  from  a  respectable  citizen  of  Hol- 
idaysburg,  gives  some  interesting  incidents  : 

Daniel  Moore,  and  William  Moore,  two  brothers  from 
Cumberland  county,  and  Adam  Holliday,  from  Franklin 
county,  whose  name  has  been  perpetuated  by  the  town, 
whose  farm  was  situated  near  the  town,  just  southwest  of 
the  rai'road  bridge. 

They  came  here  about  the  commencement  of  the  revo- 
lutionary war,  and  endured  to  the  fullest  extent  the  priva- 
tions and  sufferings  incident  to  a  wilderness  still  inhabited 
or  haunted  by  the  red  men.  Stockade  forts  were  built  to 
protect  the  inhabitants  in  case  of  invasion.  Mr.  Holliday 
however,  on  one  occasion  had  not  availed  himself  of  the 
fort,  and  was  engaged  in  the  labors  of  the  field,  when  the 
savages  appeared  suddenly.  The  family  took  to  flight ; 
Mr.  H.  jumping  on  a  horse  with  his  two  young  children, 
John  and  James.  His  elder  son,  Pat,  and  daughter,  Janet, 
were  killed  while  running  from  the  enemy.  "  Run,  Janet, 
run  !"  said  the  old  man.  The  cruel  savage  repeated  his 
words  in  derision,  as  he  sunk  the  deadly  tomahawk  into 
her  brain. 

There  was  another  fort  in  Sinking  Valley,  at  the  lead 
mine  ;  and  William  Moore,  finding  it  necessary  to  go  there 
for  ammunition,  started  very  early  one  morning,  with  a 
boy  by  the  name  of  M'Cartney.  As  he  was  passing  a  log 
by  the  side  of  the  road,  with  some  brush  behind  it,  a  shot 
from  an  Indian  in  ambush  caused  him  to  jump  several 
feet  into  the  air;  and  he  started  off  into  the  bushes,  in  a 
direction  opposite  to  that  which  he  should  naturally  have 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  213 

taken — his  brain  being  undoubtedly  bewildered  by  the 
shot.  The  boy  and  the  Indian  at  once  jumped  behind 
trees ;  but  the  latter  peeping  out  from  his  tree,  which  was 
not  large,  the  boy  availed  himself  of  the  chance  to  put  a 
bullet  into  his  buttock,  which  was  exposed  at  the  other 
side.  The  Indian  ran,  and  dropped  his  belt  and  knife;  and 
the  road  was  found  strewed  with  bunches  of  bloody  leaves, 
with  which  he  had  attempted  to  stanch  the  wound.  But 
the  man  himself  was  not  found,  though  bones  were  after- 
wards found,  supposed  to  be  his. 

The  boy  returned  and  reported  the  occurrence,  when 
Mr.  Daniel  Moore  assembled  a  band  of  men  to  seek  his 
brother,  and  if  possible  to  drive  off  the  savage.  The  poor 
man  was  found  at  Brush  creek,  nearly  upright,  leaning 
against  a  pile  of  driftwood. 

The  depredations  and  murders  of  the  Indians  became 
so  frequent,  that  the  few  and  scattered  colonists  were  com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  settlements,  and  retire  below  Jack's 
mountain,  to  Ferguson's  valley,  near  Lewistown,  where 
they  remained  five  or  six  years ;  and  then  returned  again 
to  their  desolated  homes,  and  settled  in  Scott's  valley- 
Moore  joined  them  after  the  war,  and  among  others  Messrs. 
John  Blair,  and  John  Blair,  jr.,  who  gave  name  to  Blair's 
gap,  where  the  old  Frankstown  road  used  to  cross  the 
Allegheny  mountain,  and  which  is  now  surrounded  by  the 
proud  monument  of  the  enterprise  of  Pennsylvania — the 
Portage  railroad.  Mr.  John  Blair,  Jr.,  was  a  most  useful 
and  intelligent  citizen,  and  earned  and  deserved  the  char- 
acter of  the  Aristides  of  the  county.  A  Mr.  Henry  also 
came  about  the  same  time. 

The  first  village  here  consisted  only  of  half  a  dozen  or 
a  dozen  houses,  on  the  high  ground  along  the  Frankstown 
road.  Old  Frank  was  the  Indian  chief  of  this  region,  and 
had  a  town  about  two  miles  below  Holidaysburg,  called 
Frankstown,  or  Frank's  Oldtown.  It  was  on  the  flat,  on 
the  right  bank  of  the  Juniata,  at  the  mouih  of  Oldtown 
run,  near  where  the  mill  now  is.  From  this  place,  in  later 
days,  the  Frankstown  road  led  over  Blair's  gap  to  the  Co- 
nemaugh  country,  by  which  the  commodities  of  the  east 
and  west  were  transported  on  pack-horses.  What  a  con- 
trast presents  itself  now,  at  this  same  summit,  between  the 
locomotive  and  the  old  pack-horse  ! 


314  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

Burgoon's  gap  was  about  four  miles  north  of  Blair's, 
and  through  it,  or  rather  through  the  Kittaning  gap  near 
it,  led  the  old  war-path  through  the  north  end  of 
Cambria  county  to  Kittaning.  It  was  out  upon  this  path 
that  a  band  of  tories,  from  the  eastern  parts  of  Huntingdon 
and  Mifflin  counties,  went  to  escort  the  British  and  Indi- 
ans from  Kittaning,  to  cut  off  the  defenceless  settlements 
of  the  frontier.  They  met  the  fate  that  traitors  always 
deserve.  On  arriving  near  Kittanning,  they  sent  forward 
messengers  to  announce  their  approach  and  their  errand  ; 
but  as  they  had  been  for  some  time  on  short  allowance, 
the  whole  body,  on  seeing  the  fort,  were  so  elated  at  the 
prospect  of  better  supplies,  that  they  simultaneously  rush- 
ed forward,  and  overtook  their  own  messengers.  The  gar- 
rison, seeing  the  rapid  approach  of  such  an  armed  force, 
took  them  for  enemies,  and  welcomed  them  with  a  warm 
discharge  of  bullets,  which  killed  many  of  their  number. 
The  rest  fled,  in  the  utmost  consternation,  on  the  route  by 
which  they  had  gone  out.  Their  provisions  had  been  ex- 
hausted on  the  way  out,  and  the  poor  fugitives  were  com- 
pelled to  recross  the  mountains,  in  a  most  famished  condi- 
tion. Two  of  them  contrived  to  crawl  over  the  mountain, 
and  arrived  at  an  old  deserted  cabin,  in  Tuckahoe  valley, 
where  the  inhabitants  had  happened  to  leave  a  small  por- 
tion of  corn  meal  and  hog's  fat.  Forgetting  every  thing 
but  their  hunger,  they  carelessly  stood  their  rifles  against 
the  house  outside,  and  fell  tooth  and  nail  upon  the  meal, 
seated  upon  the  hearth  inside,  where  they  had  kindled  a 
fire  to  cook  it.  Samuel  Moore  and  a  comrade  happened 
to  be  out  hunting,  when  they  approached  the  cabin,  and 
espied  the  rifles  leaning  against  [he  house.  Moore  crept 
very  cautiously  up,  secured  the  rifles,  and  then  opening 
the  door  with  his  rifle  in  his  hand,  called  on  the  poor 
starved  tories  to  surrender;  which  of  course  they  did. 
They  were  conducted  into  the  fort  at  Holidaysburg.  While 
going  from  the  cabin  to  the  fort,  the  tories  could  scarcely 
walk  without  being  supported.  One  of  them  was  disposed 
to  be  a  little  obstinate  and  impudent  withal,  when  Moore's 
comrade,  an  immensely  stout  man,  seized  him,  tied  a  rope 
round  his  neck,  and  throwing  one  end  of  the  rope  over 
the  lintel  of  the  fort-gate,  swung  upon  it,  and  run  the 
poor  fellow  into  the  air.  Moore,  however,  being  of  a  cool- 


HUNTINGDON  COUNTY.  215 

er  as  well  as  more  merciful  disposition,  did  not  approve 
of  this  summary  justice,  and  ran  immediately  and  cut  the 
rope,  in  time  to  save  the  fellow;s  life. — His.  Col.  Pa. 

About  two  miles  west  of  Holidaysburg,  on  the  turnpike 
road,  is  a  flourishing  village  of  recent  origin,  around  ex- 
tensive iron  works. 


NEWRY, 

A  post  town,  on  Poplar  run,  a  tributary  of  Frankstown 
branch  of  the  Juniata  river,  about  24  miles  west  of  Hun- 
tingdon borough;  four  miles  southwest  from  Holidays- 
burg. It  contains  between  forty  and  fifty  dwellings, 
several  churches,  stores,  and  a  tavern. 


WILLIAMSBURG, 

Is  a  post  town  and  borough,  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Juniata  river,  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Huntingdon  bo- 
rough, and  fourteen  miles  below  Holidaysburg.  The 
town  was  laid  out  in  1794  by  Jacob  Ake,  a  German, 
who  owned  the  land.  He  leased,  as  was  customary  then, 
the  lots  on  ground  rent ;  a  circumstance  that  has  here,  as 
well  as  in  other  towns  laid  out,  and  lots  improved  on  si- 
milar conditions,  created  some  unpleasant  feelings  between 
the  citizens  and  the  proprietor.  The  town  was  incorpor- 
ated February  19,  1828. 

Favored  with  a  fine  water  power  from  a  spring  which 
issues  from  a  limestone  rock,  near  the  town,  sufficient  to 
propel  a  flouring  mill,  woollen  factory  and  saw  mill,  and 
enjoying  the  trade  of  the  large  and  fertile  valley  of  Mor- 
rison's Cove,  the  place  continued  for  some  years  to  flour- 
ish ;  but  the  completion  of  the  canal  has  not  contributed 
much  to  the  prosperity  of  the  borough,  though  the  farmers 
have  been  benefited  by  it.  The  borough  contains  about 
one  hundred  dwellings.  There  are  five  churches  in  the 
place  ;  a  Presbyterian,  Lutheran,  German  Reformed,  Me- 
thodist, and  a  Baptist.     Population  in  1840,  637. 


216  HUNTINGDON  COUNTY. 

ALEXANDRIA, 

Is  a  neat  post  town  and  borough,  on  the  turnpike  road 
leading  from  the  borough  of  Huntingdon  to  Ebensburg, 
and  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Juniata,  seven  miles  above 
Huntingdon,  near  the  mouth  of  Little  Juniata  ;  it  contains 
about  seventy-five  dwellings,  chiefly  brick  and  frame,  a 
Presbyterian  and  Methodist  church,  seven  stores,  one 
brewery,  one  grist  mill.  It  was  incorporated  as  a  borough 
April  11,  1827.     It  is  quite  a  place  for  business. 


McCONNELLLSBURG, 

In  Porter  township,  upon  Vineyard  creek,  at  the  fort  of 
Warrior  Ridge,  is  a  brisk  little  village,  five  miles  south  of 
Huntingdon  borough,  contains  between  fifteen  and  twenty 
dwellings,  a  tavern,  store  and  a  tan-yard ;  population  be- 
tween eighty  and  ninety. 


ENNISVILLE, 

In  Barre  township,  on  Standing  Stone  creek,  contains  half 
a  dozen  of  buildings,  a  store,  tavern,  and  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


ANTESTOWN, 
The  name  of  a  Post  Office,  in  Antes  township. 

DAVIDSBURG, 

Is  a  village  in  Antes  township,  west  of  the  Brush  Moun- 
tain, on  the  left  bank  of  the  Little  Juniata,  about  twenty 
miles  north  west  of  Huntingdon  borough :  it  contains 
eight  or  more  houses,  a  store,  tavern,  and  tan-yard. 

YELLOW  SPRING, 

A  mineral  spring  in  Canoe  Valley  :  there  is  a  post  office 
here. 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  217 


GRAYSVILLE,  or  GRAYSPORT, 

In  Morris  township,  opposite  the  mouth  of  Spruce  run,  con- 
tains eight  or  ten  nouses,  and  a  store. 


SMITHFIELD, 
On   the   Juniata,  opposite   Huntingdon — a  small  village. 


WARRIORS  MARK-TOWN, 

In  Warrior  Mark  township,  contains  18  or  20  dwellings, 
two  stores  and  a  tavern. 


PETERSBURG, 

A  post  town  and  borough,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Franks- 
town  branch  of  the  Juniata,  about  six  miles  above  Hunting- 
don borough,  three  miles  east  of  Alexandria*  at  the  mouth 
of  Shaver's  creek.  It  was  incorporated  April  7,  1830,  and 
contains  between  30  and  40  dwellings — several  stores  and 
a  tavern.  Juniata  forge,  whose  iron  has  been  in  high  repute 
ever  since  the  forge  has  been  in  operation,  is  in  this  town. 


WATER  STREET, 

So  called,  from  the  circumstance  of  the  roadj  in  early  days, 
passing  through  a  gap  in  the  mountain  literally  in  a  stream 
of  water,  is  a  brisk  little  village,  cousisting  of  some  ten  or  a 
dozen  of  buildings.  It  is  two  miles  above  Alexandria,  on 
the  turnpike  road  and  Juniata  river.  There  are  valuable 
iron  works  in  this  region. 


BIRMINGHAM, 

A  borough  and  post  town,  on  a  branch  of  Juniata  river,  15 

miles  northwest  of  Huntingdon  borough,  near  the  old  lead 

19 


218  -  HUNTINGDON   COUNTY. 

mine,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  Iron  Works  of  Sinking  Valley, 
The  town  contained  in  1824,  only  nine  houses,  and  now  con- 
tains between  forty  and  fifty,  and  a  church.  It  was  incor- 
porated as  a  borough  in  1827  or  '8.  There  are  seven  mills 
in  the  neighborhood.  In  1840  it  contained  six  stores,  and 
235  inhabitants. 

A  gentleman,  who  visited  the  lead  mines  in  1832,  says : 
"  The  lead  mines  have  been  long  since  abandoned.  The  up- 
per lead  mine,  as  it  is  called,  on  the  lands  now  belonging  to 
a  German  family  by  the  name  of  Crissman,  exhibits  but  the 
traces  of  former  excavation,  trifling  indications  of  ore.  The 
lower  one,  about  a  mile,  in  a  direct  distance  from  the  Little 
Juniata^was  worked,  within  my  remembrance,  under  the  su- 
perintendence of  a  Mr.  Sinclair,  a  Scotch  miner  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Carron  iron  works.  The  mine  then  was 
owned  by  two  gentlemen,  named  Musser  and  Wells.  The 
former,  I  think,  lived  and  died  in  Lancaster  county. 

"Three  shafts  were  sunk  to  a  great  depth  on  the  side  of  a 
limestone  hill,  possibly  a  hundred  yards.  This  was  expen- 
sive. No  furnace  or  other  device  for  melting  the  ore  was 
ever  erected   at  this  mine.     Considerable  quantities  of  the 

mineral  still  lies  about  the  mouth  of  the  pit.     Mr.  H , 

of  Montgomery  county,  who  had  read  much,  and  practised 
some  mining — so  far  as  to  sink  some  thousands  of  dollars — 
visited  this  mine  in  1821,  in  company  with  another  gentle- 
man and  myself,  and  expressed  an  opinion,  that  the  indica- 
tions were  favorable  for  a  good  vein  of  the  mineral." 


SHIRLEYSBURG, 

A  post  town  in  Aughwick  valley,  near  Aughwick  creek,  in 
the  east  part  of  the  county,  16  miles  south  of  Huntingdon, 
contains  between  thirty  and  forty  dwellings,  several  taverns 
and  stores.     Population  about  275. 

In  the  early  history  of  this  county,  a  fort  had  been  erect- 
ed here,  or  near  this  place,  called  Fort  Shirley,  as  the  fol- 
lowing account  will  exhibit : 

Between  the  date  of  that  event  and  1756,  a  place  called 
Aughwick  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  old  provincial  re- 
cords ;  but  whether  a  settlement  of  whites  or  Indians  it  does 
not  distinctly  appear.  It  was  probably  the  same  place  where 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  219 

Fort  Shirley  was  subsequently  built,  in  Jan.  1756 — one  of 
the  line  of  frontier  posts.  After  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Brad- 
dock,  in  the  summer  of  1755,  scalping  parties  of  Indians 
roamed  throughout  the  whole  frontier,  cutting  off  all  the 
defenceless  settlements.  The  following  extracts,  from  Sar- 
geant's  Abstracts  of  the  Provincial  Records,  relate  to  this 
region : — 

1755.  From  Aughwick,  Oct.  9.  That  14  days  before, 
160  were  about  leaving  the  Ohio  to  attack  the  frontiers. 
That  the  Indians  meant  to  draw  off  all  the  Indians  from  out 
of  Pennsylvania  and  from  the  Susquehanna,  before  they  at- 
tacked the  province. 

1755.  Nov.  2.  Accounts  from  C.  Weiser  and  others, 
that  the  people  of  Aughwick  and  Juniata  were  all  cut  off. 

March  4.  Conference  with  a  number  of  Indians,  one  of 
whom  had  returned  from  his  visit,  in  Dec.  last,  to  the  Indi- 
ans on  the  Susquehanna,  and  the  Six  Nations ;  and  those 
who  lived  at  Aughwick  before  Braddock's  defeat,  and  since 
at  Harris's. 

175G.  Aug.  2.  Mr.  Morris  informed  the  governor  and 
council,  that  he  had  concerted  an  expedition  against  Kittan- 
ning,  to  be  conducted  by  Col.  John  Armstrong,  who  was  to 
have  under  his  command  the  companies  under  Capt.  Hamil- 
ton, Capt.  Mercer,  Capt.  Ward,  and  Capt.  Potter ;  and  to 
engage  what  volunteers  he  could  besides :  that  the  affair 
was  to  be  kept  as  secret  as  possible,  and  the  officers  and  men 
ordered  to  march  to  Fort  Shirley,  and  from  thence  to  set  out 
for  the  expedition.  And  he  had  given. "Gol.  Armstrong  par- 
ticular instructions,  which  were  entered  in  the  orderly  book; 
and  in  consequence  of  his  orders,  and  agreeable  to  the  plan 
concerted,  Col.  Armstrong  had  made  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions, and  has  wrote  to  him  a  letter  from  Fort  Shirley,  stat- 
ing that  he  was  on  the  point  of  setting  out.  Letter  from 
Col.  Armstrong,  containing  an  account  of  the  capture  of  Fort 
Granville  by  the  French  and  Indians,  and  the  garrison  taken 
prisoners.  That  they  designed  very  soon  to  attack  Fort 
Shirley  with  400  men.  "  Capt.  Jacobs  said  he  could  take 
any  fort  that  would  catch  fire,  and  would  make  peace  with 
the  English  when  they  had  learned  him  to  make  gunpow- 
der." 


220  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

Carlisle,  19th  April,  1756. 
Honored  Sir : 

The  Commissary  General  of  the  musters,  with  your  Hon- 
or's instructions  to  review  and  pay  off  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Shirley,  arrived  in  a  very  lucky  time,  when  the  greater  part 
of  our  men  were  about  to  abandon  the  Fort,  for  want  of  pay. 
It  was  with  great  difficulty  I  could  prevent  their  doing  so, 
for  three  weeks  before,  that  is  ever  since  the  time  of  enlist- 
ment had  been  expired.  I  am  sorry  to  observe  that  numbers 
of  our  best  men  have  declined  the  service,  and  reduced  me 
to  the  necessity  of  recruiting  anew,  thro'  diffidence  with  re- 
gard to  their  pay,  and  I  have  been  obliged  to  engage  that 
even  such  as  left  us  when  paid  off,  should  have  the  same  al- 
lowance as  formerly  for  their  overplus  time,  depending  upon 
my  being  reimbursed,  as  without  such  engagement  it  was 
impossible  to  prevent  the  fort  from  falling  into  the  enemy's 
hands. 

I  am  now  filling  up  my  company  to  sixty  men,  agreeable 
to  your  orders,  and  have  drawn  upon  the  Commissioners  for 
£30,  for  this  purpose.  A  garrison  of  30  men  are  now  at 
Fort  Shirley,  engaged  to  remain  there  till  the  first  of  May, 
by  which  time,  I  am  in  hopes  of  completing  the  company, 
and  shall  immediately  thereupon  repair  thither.  It  is  to  be 
feared  that  our  communication  with  the  settlement  will  soon 
be  cut  off,  unless  a  greater  force  isvbrdered  for  the  garrison. 
As  your  Honor  is  sensible  that  I  can  send  no  detachment  to 
escort  provisions,  equal  in  force  to  parties  of  the  enemy  who 
have  lately  made  attempts  upon  our  frontiers,  and  consider- 
ing how  short  of  provisions  we  have  hitherto  been  kept,  the 
loss  of  our  party  upon  this  duty  must  reduce  us  to  the  last 
necessity. 

Mr.  Hugh  Crawford  is  upon  the  return  of  Lieutenant,  and 
Mr.  Thomas  Smallman,  who  acted  before  as  commissary  in 
the  Fort,  is  ensign  to  my  company.  It  will  be  a  particular 
obligation  laid  upon  me  to  have  an  exchange  of  James  Hays 
for  Lieutenant,  and  Mr.  Smallman  continued  ;  and  perhaps 
Mr.  Crawford  would  be  satisfied  to  fill  Mr.  Hay's  place  with 
Captain  Patterson,  as  numbers  of  that  company  are  of  his 
acquaintance. 

I  have  given  Mr.  Croghan  a  receipt  for  what  arms  and 
other  necessary  articles  belonging  to  him,  are  at  Fort  Shir- 
ley, a  copy  of  which,  together  with  my  Journal  and  general 


HUNTINGDON    COUNTY.  221 

return  shall  be  sent  by  Captain  Salter — and  I  find  it  impos- 
sible to  arm  my  men,  or  complete  what  yet  remains  of  our 
outworks,  without  them.  The  guns  are  preferable  to  those 
belonging  to  the  government ;  and,  I  hope  will  be  purchased 
for  our  use.    '„ 

Captain  Salter  will  inform  your  Honor  how  unfit  the  arms 
in  general  are  for  use,  even  after  being  righted  by  a  gun- 
smith, whose  account  is  very  considerable ;  besides,  we  have 
no  cartridge  boxes,  nor  any  convenient  pouches  for  powder 
and  lead,  so  that,  in  complying  with  your  instructions  of  giv- 
ing a  detail  of  what  is  wanting  for  the  company,  I  may  men- 
tion arms  and  accoutrements,  besides  orders  to  the  commis- 
sary for  a  large  supply  ot  provisions  at  once,  and  regular 
pay  once  a  month:  it  will  put  me  to  extreme  difficulty,  if  the 
commissioners  do  not  think  proper  to  remit  me  me  money  to 
pay  my  men  by  the  first  of  May :  I  have  written  them  to 
this  purpose,  and  beg  your  Honor  will  enable  me  to  fulfil 
my  engagements  with  the  company ;  without  which  I  can 
hope  for  very  little  satisfaction  in  serving  the  public. 

The  trust  your  Honor  has  been  pleased  to  repose  in  me  in 
giving  me  the  command  of  Fort  Shirley,  calls  for  my  warm 
acknowledgments,  and  cannot  fail  of  engaging  my  utmost 
attention  and  zeal  in  the  execution  of  your  orders. 
I  am, 

Your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  and  most 
Humble  servant, 

Hugh  Mercer. 


ORBISONIA, 

A  small  town  laid  out  of  Shirleysburg,  named  after  the  pro- 
prietor, William  Orbison,  Esq.,  ot  Huntingdon.  Two  fur- 
naces and  a  forge  have  been  built ;  and  the  inexhaustible 
mines  of  valuable  ore,  and  steady  water  power,  promise  to 
make  it  a  growing  place. 


MANER  HILL,  &  SALISBURY,     , 

Are  brisk  villages ;  the  former  containing  a  population  ns- 
19* 


222  HUNTINGDON    COUNTY. 

ing  of  sixty;  the  latter  above  one  hundred.    The  usual  num- 
ber of  handicrafts  in  small  villages,  are  found  here. 

Striking  improvements  have  been  made  in  agriculture  and 
manufactures  within  the  last  twenty  years ;  but  popular  ed- 
ucation is  still  limited  ;  it  has  thus  far  not  met  with  the  en- 
couragement it  deservedly  merits ;  although  the  common 
school  system  has  been  adopted  in  every  township,  except 
Shirley;  consequently  30  out  of  31  districts  have  adopted  it, 
24  of  which  have  reported  (1844)  160  schools,  as  in  opera- 
tion ;  and  that  15  were  yet  required  in  these  districts ;  aver- 
age nnmber  of  months  taught,  4  months  and  15  days,  em- 
ploying 154  male  teachers  and  9  female ;  average  salary  of 
male  teachers  $19,91  cts. ;  female  $12,50 ;  taught  4,263 
male  scholars,  and  3,315  females ;  79  of  the  whole  number 
learning  German  ;  average  number  of  scholars  in  each  school 
48 ;  cost  of  teaching  a  scholar  per  month,  42  cents.  A  dis- 
trict tax  raised  $13,219  42 ;  state  appropriation  $8,188  00; 
cost  of  instruction  $10,577  42 ;  fuel  and  contingencies  $1,- 
043  15 ;  cost  of  school  houses,  &c,  spent  in  1844, 
$2,354  75. 

There  is  an  academy  at  Huntingdon,  which  was  incorpor- 
ated by  an  act  of  March  19,  1816  ;  but  the  higher  branches 
t>f  learning  meet  not  with  liberal  encouragement.  It  is  how- 
ever, confidently  hoped  that  a  change  for  the  better  is  at 
hand. 

The  people  of  this  county  will  not  shrink  a  comparison 
with  others  as  to  their  industry,  economy,  temperance,  and 
morality;  many  of  them  are  devotedly  religious.  The  reli- 
gious denominations  are  Lutherans,  German  Reformed,  Pres- 
byterians, Baptists,  Mennonites,  Dunkards,  Episcopalians, 
Methodists,  and  some,  so  called  members  of  the  Church  of 
God,  or  "  Winebrennerians." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Mifflin  County. 

Mifflin  county  erected — Streams  and  geological  features  of  the  coun- 
ty — Statistics  of  1840 — Public  improvements — Towns — Lewistovvn, 
McVeytown,  or  Waynesburg,  Hamiltonville,  or  Newton  Hamilton, 

j  Belleville,  Horreltown,  &c.  &c. — Education,  &c. — Riots  in  Mifflin 
county. 

Mifflin  county  was  formed  or  erected  by  virtue  of  an  act 
passed  September  19,  1789,  which  defines  the  original  boun- 
daries as  follows :  That  all  and  singular  the  lands,  lying 
within  the  bounds  and  limits  hereinafter  described  and  fol- 
lowing, shall  be  and  are  hereby  erected  into  a  separate  coun- 
ty, by  the  name  of  Miffiin  county,  namely;  Beginning  at 
Susquehanna  river,  where  the  Turkey  Hill  extends  to  the 
said  river,  then  along  the  said  hill  to  the  Juniata  where  it 
cuts  Tuscarora  mountain,  thence  along  the  summit  of  the 
said  mountain  to  the  line  of  Franklin  county,  thence  along 
the  said  line  to  Huntingdon  county  line,  thence  along  the 
said  line  to  Juniata  river,  thence  up  the  said  river  to  Jack's 
Narrows,  thence  along  the  line  of  Huntingdon  and  Northum- 
berland counties,  so  as  to  include  the  whole  of  upper  Bald 
Eagle  township,  in  the  county  of  Northumberland,  to  the 
mouth  of  Buck  creek,  where  it  empties  into  the  Bald  Eagle 
creek,  thence  to  Logan's  Gap,  in  Nittany  mountain,  then  to 
the  head  of  Penn's  creek,  thence  down  the  said  creek  to 
Sinking  creek,  leaving  George  McCormick's,  in  Northum- 
berland county,  thence  to  the  top  of  Jack's  mountain,  at  the 
line  between  Northumberland  county  and  Cumberland,  thence 
along  the  said  line  to  Montour's  Spring,  at  the  head  of  Ma- 
hantango  creek,  thence  down  the  said  creek  to  Susquehanna 
river,  aud  thence  down  the  said  river  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

By  the  same  act,  John  Oliver,  William  Brown,  David 
Beale,  John  Stewart,  David  Bole  and  Andrew  Gregg,  wTere 
appointed  trustees  for  Mifflin  county,  with  authority  "  to 


224  HUNTINGDON   COUNTY. 

purchase,  or  take  and  receive  by  grant,  bargain,  or  other- 
wise, any  quantity  or  quantities  of  land,  not  exceeding  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  on  the  north  side  of  Juniata  river 
and  within  one  mile  from  the  mouth  of  Kishicoquilis  creek, 
for  the  use,  trust,  and  benefit  ol  said  county,  and  to  lay  out 
the  same  into  regular  lots,  and  to  dispose  of  so  many  of  them, 
as  they,  or  any  four  ot  them  may  think  best  for  the  advan- 
tage of  said  county,  and  they,  or  any  four  of  them,  as  -were 
authorized  to  sell  and  convey  so  many  of  them  as  they  may 
think  proper,  and  the  monies  arising  therefrom,  and  with 
other  monies  duly  assessed  and  collected  in  the  county  to 
erect  a  court  house  and  prison. 

Subsequently,  in  1791,  the  boundaries  of  the  county  were 
altered,  and  again  in  1792  and  in  1800,  the  county  was  re- 
duced by  the  erection  of  Centre,  and  by  the  act  of  March 
2d,  1831,  Juniata  was  separated  from  it.  Thus  its  original 
extended  bounds  have  been  much  reduced,  and  is  now  bound 
as  follows  ;  on  the  northwest  by  Centre  county,  on  the  north 
by  Union,  on  the  southeast  by  Juniata,  on  the  south  and  west 
by  Huntingdon.  Length  30  miles,  breadth  15 ;  area  about 
360  square  miles ;  and  containing  about  230,400  acres.  Po- 
pulation in  1790,  7,562  ;  in  1800, 13,809  ;  in  1810, 12,132; 
in  1820,  16,618  in  1840,  (Juniata  being  separated)  13,062. 
Aggregate  amount  of  property  taxable  in  1845,  $3,827,- 
454  00. 

The  population  of  the  several  townships  in  1840,  were  as 
follows : 

Derry  1,080,  Armagh  1,468,  Union  1,221,  Wayne  1,350, 
Decatur  767,  Brown  903,  Menno  974,  Granville  1,016,  Ol- 
iver 1,907.  Boroughs,  viz  :  Lewistown  2,058,  McVeytown 
348. 

See  Table  on  the  opposite  page. 


c" 
c 

►a 

£ 
1 

Armagh 

Brown 

Union 

Menno 

Decatur 

Derry 

Granville 

Lewistown  boro 

McVeytown  bor 

Oliver 

Wayne 

VI 

en 

£9 

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226  MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 

The  county  forms  a  long,  irregular  figure,  stretching  in  a 
southwest  and  northeast  direction,  traversed  longitudinally 
by  a  series  of  rugged  mountains  of  nearly  uniform  height. 
These  mountains  are  separated  by  fine,  fertile  valleys.  On 
the  east  are  Shade  and  Black  Log  Mountains,  near  the  mid- 
dle is  the  lofty  and  rugged  Jack's  Mountain,  which  rises  in 
Huntingdon  county,  and  extends  70  miles  throngh  Centre, 
Mifflin  and  Union  counties,  to  Penn's  creek  near  New  Ber- 
lin, in  the  last  named  county.  The  western  boundary  of  this 
county  passes  along  Stone  Mountain,  and  thence  northeast- 
ward by  that  complicated  series  of  elevations  known  by  the 
name  of  "  The  Seven  Mountains,"  part  of  which  are  in  Mif- 
flin, and  part  in  Centre. 

The  principal  valley,  is  Lewistown  Valley,  distinguished 
for  fertility  of  soil.  This  valley  is  subdivided  into  several 
smaller  ones.  Kishycoquillas  is  eminently  one  of  the  most 
fertile  and  beautiful  vallies  in  this  region  of  the  State.  It  is 
about  thirty  miles  long  and  from  three  to  four  broad.  Be- 
sides these,  there  are  others,  such  as  Dry  Valley,  Fergu- 
son's, Long  Hollow,  and  others. 

Kishycoquillas  Valley  was  named  after,  a  distinguished 
Shawanese  Chief,  who  died  in  1756,  as  appears  from  the 
following  letter : — 

Philadelphia,  June  13,  1756. 
To  the  Sons  of  Kishycoquillas,  the  late  Shawanese  Chief, 
deceased. 

I  am  obliged  to  you  for  your  letter  by  our  good  friend, 
John  Shickcalamy.  Your  father's  letter  and  present  were 
received  by  the  late  Governor  Hamilton,  who  acquainted  me 
with  it ;  and  I  intended,  at  a  time  when  less  engaged  by 
public  business,  to  have  sent  you  my  acknowledgments  and 
answer. 

I  heartily  condole  with  you  on  the  loss  of  your  aged  fa- 
ther, and  mingle  ray  tears  with  yours,  which  however  I 
would  now  have  you  wipe  away  with  the  handkerchief, 
herewith  sent. 

As  a  testimony  of  love,  the  proprietors  and  this  govern- 
ment retain  for  the  family  of  Kishycoquillas,  you  will  be 
pleased  to  accept  of  the  present  which  is  delivered  to  John 
Shickcalamy  for  your  use. 


MIFFLIN  COUNTY.  227 

May  the  Great  Spirit  confer  on  you  health,  and  every 
other  blessing.  Continue  your  affection  for  the  English,  and 
the  good  people  of  this  province,  and  you  will  always  find 
them  grateful. 

I  am, 

Your  assured  friend, 

Robert  H.  Morris. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  valley  were  annoyed  by  the  Indi- 
ans, and  in  great  danger  of  being  killed. 

Carlisle,  May  26,  1755. 
R.  H.  Morris,  Esq.,  Gov.  of  Pa. 

This  day  I  received  a  letter  from  my  brother,  who  is  lay- 
ing out  lands  for  the  settlers  in  the  new  purchase,  giving  an 
account  of  three  Indians  very  much  painted,  who  last  week 
robbed  and  drove  off  several  settlers  from  the  Valley  of 
Kishacoquillas.  One  of  the  Indians,  by  his  skulking  po- 
sition, seemed  as  if  he  designed  secretly  to  have  shot,  but 
the  white  man  discovering  him,  escaped.  They  took  three 
horses,  three  or  four  guns,  and  some  cash.  'Tis  said  they 
robbed  another  man  up  Juniata. 

To-morrow  I  am  to  set  out  for  Kishacoquillas,  there  to 
decide  some  controversies,  and  thence  to  proceed  to  Susque- 
hanna, near  Shamokin,  where  I  expect  to  meet  Conrad  Wei- 
ser.  If  he  is  there,  he  may,  by  the  assistance  of  the  Shick- 
calamies,  be  of  use  in  regard  to  those  robbers. 
I  am,  sir, 
Yours,  &c. 

John  Armstrong. 

This  country  has  a  number  of  streams,  the  principal  of 
which  are  the  Juniata  river,  Kishycoquillas  creek,  Jack's 
«.reek. 

The  Juniata  passes  through  the  southern  part  of  the  coun- 
ty; its  course  for  about  five  miles  after  passing  Jack's  moun- 
tain, is  southeastward,  then  north,  and  after  flowing  on  a 
short  distance  it  inclines  westward,  and  after  a  course  of 
several  miles,  approaches  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  its 
channel  above  the  Bend.  It  then  turns  northeastward,  and 
pursues  that  general  direction  into  Juniata  county.  Kishy- 
coquillas rises  in  Armagh  township,  by  several  branches, 


228 


MIFFLIN   COUNTY. 


which  unite  near  the  centre  of  the  township,  and  flows  in  a 
southern  course  along  the  foot  of  Jack's  Mountain,  and  flow- 
ing onward  down  through  a  gap  in  Jack's  mountain,  and  falls 
into  the  Juniata  at  Lewistown.  Jack's  creek  rises  at  the 
foot  of  Jack's  mountain  on  the  confines  of  Decatur  township, 
flows  southwest  about  twenty  miles  into  the  Juniata  river, 
about  one  mile  below  Lewistown ;  and  receiving  in  its  course 
Meadow,  and  Bell's  run. 

The  geological  features  of  this  county  show  abundant  ev- 
idence, says  Trego,  of  the  disturbance  which  has  effected  the 
whole  of  the  Apalachiam  region.  The  action  of  those  mighty 
forces  has  produced  alternate  lines  of  elevation  and  depres- 
sion, by  which  the  rock  strata  are  tilted  in  opposite  direc- 
tion, and  successive  formations  exposed.  The  high  mountain 
ranges  already  ^mentioned,  contained  the  hard  sandstone, 
which  is  the  usual  rock  in  most  of  the  mountains  in  the  mid- 
dle part  of  the  State.  The  valley  between  Shade  and  Jack's 
mountain  is  a  synclinal  depression,  in  which  the  rocks  dip  in 
a  direction  towards  the  centre  from  both  sides.  We  accord- 
ingly find  the  series  of  variegated  and  red  shales,  overlying 
the  mountain  sandstones  on  both  sides  of  the  valley,  and  near 
the  middle  of  it  the  limestone  and  fossiliferous  sandstone, 
forming  a  series  of  hills  nearly  midway  between  the  two 
mountains.  This  limestone  is  seen  on  the  Juniata,  at  Lew- 
istown. From  Waynesburg,  or  McVeytown,  southwestward, 
the  olive  slate  formation  extends  to  the  Juniata,  above  New- 
ton Hamilton. 

In  Kishicoquillas  Valley,  on  the  contrary,  an  axis  of  ele- 
vation has  brought  up  the  lower  limestone  to  the  surface, 
having  around  it  a  border  of  the  overlying  dark  slate  near 
the  base  of  the  surrounding  mountains.  Iron  ore  is  dug  at 
various  places  in  this  valley,  of  the  kind  usually  accompany- 
ing the  same  limestone  in  other  parts  of  the  State;  being  the 
brown  hydrated  peroxoid,  occurring  in  cellular  or  compact 
masses,  hematitic,  or  of  the  stalactite  structure,  commonly 
called  pipe  ore.  The  fossiliferous  band  of  ore  contained  in 
the  slates  and  shales  above  the  mountain  sandstone,  is  found 
in  several  places  wTithin  the  county,  of  sufficient  thickness  to 
be  productive.  It  is  mined  on  the  southeast  flank  of  Jack's 
mountain,  and  at  some  other  points. 

There  are  several  curious  caves  in  this  county,  which  have 
been  only  partially  explored.     Bevin's  cave,  on  the  summit 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY*  229 

of  a  limestone  ridge.  Alexander's,  in  Kishicoquillas  valley, 
abounds  with  finest  stalagmites  and  stalantites.  It  is  a  nat- 
ural ice4iouse,  preserving  it  in  the  heat  of  summer.  Hani- 
wall's  in  Wayne  township,  near  McVeytown,  is  the  most 
extensive — it  is  of  vast  dimensions,  studded  with  stalagmites, 
stalantites  and  various  calcareous  concretions — crude  saltpe- 
tre has  occasionally  been  taken  from  this  cave.  It  has  been 
explored  some  fifty  or  sixty  rods — says  report. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  county  in  the  Sta£e  in  which  better 
wheat  is  grown  than  in  this.  Many  of  the  farms  are  highly 
improved  and  very  productive.  Upon  the  whole,  this  coun- 
try can  vie  with  any  other  in  the  State  for  its  excellency  of 
water,  fertility  of  soil,  in  some  parts,  and  ior  its  picturesque 
scenery.  In  the  following  extract,  the  reader  has  a  graphic 
description  of  the  scenery,  &c,  of  Mifflin  county: — 

"  Much  of  the  scenery  along  the  banks  of  the  Juniata  in 
this  county,  is  of  the  same  wild  and  picturesque  character 
which  gives  such  a  varied  and  romantic  beauty  to  the  shores 
of  the  river,  throughout  most  of  the  distance  from  its  source 
in  the  dark  and  solitary  glens  of  the  Allegheny  mountain,  to 
its  junction  with  the  placid  waters  of  the  Susquehanna.  High 
mountain  ridges  rise  from  the  river  with  towering  cliffs, 
whose  gray  and  naked  summits  have  braved  the  storms  of  a 
thousand  winters,  still  standing  in  their  sublime  and  quiet 
grandeur,  as  unchanged  by  the  shock  of  the  tempest  as  by 
the  sighing  of  the  summer  breeze;  and  there  they  will  stand 
forever,  bidding  defiance  to  the  elements  and  to  time,  until 
at  the  word  of  Him  by  whom  they  were  erected,  *  the  ever- 
lasting hills  shall  be  scattered  and  the  perpetual  hills  shall 
bow.5 

"In  this  wild  and  romantic  region,  the  charms  of  our  native 
scenery  are  displayed  in  all  the  beauty  of  their  rude,  pimitive 
character.  The  tree  clad  mountain,  the  towering  precipice, 
the  beautiful  river  pursuing  its  quiet  course  between  the  hills 
— the  desert  loneliness  and  the  savage  grandeur  which  reign 
around,  afford  to  the  lover  of  nature  many  a  scene  for  de- 
lightful contemplation — many  a  quiet,  secluded  spot,  where 
he  may  rest  in  undisturbed  meditation,  and,  far  removed  from 
the  works  of  man,  derive  lessons  of  wisdom  and  good  from 
those  of  the  Creator  so  magnificently  displayed  around  him." 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  in  this  coun- 
ty 4  furnaces,  providing  1,904  tons  of  cast  iron,  2  forges 
20 


230 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 


produced  600  tons  of  bar  iron,  these  consumed  3,365  tons  of 
fuel,  giving  employment  to  207  men,  including  mining  oper- 
atives ;  capital  invested  $144,500 :  horses  and  mules  3,817, 
neat  cattle  9,933,  sheep  11,323,  swine  15,002,  poultry  of  all 
kinds  valued  at  $3,329,  wheat  raised  307,696  bushels,  bar- 
ley 922,  oats  227,31,  corn  189,45,  rye  47,466,  buckwheat 
8,649,  pounds  of  wool  raised  20,395,  potatoes  51,499  bush- 
els, 10,331  tons  of  hay,  value  of  the  products  of  the  dairy 
$11,970,  of  the  orchard  2,664,  value  of  home  made  or  fami- 
ly goods  $2,641 ;  42  retail  dry  goods  and  other  stores,  with 
a  capital  of  $225,900 ;  value  of  lumber  produced  $5,551 ; 
brick  and  lime  manufactured  to  the  value  of  $7,380,  58  hands 
employed,  capital  invested  $2,650 :  2  fulling  mills,  5  wool- 
len factories,  value  of  manufactured  goods  $18,500,  26  men 
employed,  capital  invested  $8,800 ;  14  tanneries  tanned  2,- 
180  sides  of  sole  leather  and  2,490  upper,  82  men  employed, 
capital  21,600  ;  all  other  manufactories  of  leather,  saddler- 
ies, &c.  38,  value  of  manufactured  articles  $29,365,  capital 
invested  $10,360 :  5  distilleries  produced  43,296  gallons, 
one  brewery  produced  24,960  gallons,  12  men  employed, 
capital  $8,150 :  2  potteries  manufactured  articles  to  the 
amount  of  $2,600,  employed  3  hands,  capital  $400 :  6  prin- 
ting offices,  $2,000 :  1  rope  walk,  value  of  manufacture  $500, 
one  man  employed,  capital  $150 :  value  of  the  manufacture 
of  wagons  and  carriages  $14,120,  31  men  employed,  capital 
$4,890 :  24  grist  mills,  61  saw  mills,  value  of  manufactures 
of  mills  $177,350,  employed  100  men,  capital  $140,770 : 
value  of  furniture  manufactured  $13,600,  32  men  employed, 
capital  invested  $5,240.  Total  capital  invested  in  all  kinds 
of  manufacture  $227,865.  Aggregate  amount  of  all  taxable 
property  in  1844,  $3,827,454  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  Juniata  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Canal  passes 
through  this  county,  which  has  contributed  much  towards  the 
increased  prosperity  of  the  agricultural  and  manufacturing 
interests  of  this  county. 

The  following  extract  will  show  with  what  feelings  the 


MEFFLIN  COUNTY.  231 

Packet  Boat  "Juniata,"  was  hailed  on  her   approach  to 
Lewistown. 

"  Lewistown,  Penn.,  Nov.  5,  1829. 
"  Packet  Boat,  Juniata. — On  Thursday  last  this  boat, 
built  by  Joseph  Cummins,  Esq.,  of  Mifflintown,  arrived  at 
this  town  from  Mifflin,  having  on  board  a  large  party  of  la- 
dies and  gentlemen  from  the  lower  end  of  the  county.  The 
boat  was  met  at  the  head  of  the  "  Narrows"  by  a  large  par- 
ty of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  Lewistown,  accompanied  by 
the  Lewistown  Band,  who  got  on  board  of  the  Packet,  and 
landed  here  about  2  o'clock,  P.  M.  About  4  o'clock,  the 
company  from  Mifflin,  after  having  taken  dinner,  and  a  num- 
ber of  ladies  and  gentlemen  from  Lewistown,  embarked  on 
board  the  Packet  and  returned  to  Mifflin  that  evening,  re- 
mained there  all  night,  and  the  next  day  returned  to  Lewis- 
town,  with  a  view  of  conveying  the  members  of  the  Legis- 
lature who  had,  by  a  publication  in  the  papers,  been  invited 
to  pass  through  the  canal  to  the  mouth  of  the  river ;  but,  in 
consequence  of  a  letter  having  been  received  by  Mr.  Clarke,  , 
from  Mr.  Craft,  of  Pittsburg,  one  of  the  western  members, 
stating  that  the  members  from  the  west  would  be  on,  on  Sat- 
urday; the  boat  was  detained  until  about  half  after  three  on 
that  day,  when  several  members  of  the  west  arrived,  viz : 
Mr.  Brown  of  Allegheny,  Mr.  Fox  of  Indiana,  &c.  Mr. 
Craft  of  Allegheny,  Mr.  McQuaid  of  Westmoreland,  Mr. 
Blair  of  Huntingdon,  Mr.  Galbraith  of  Venango,  Mr.  Pet- 
riken  of  Centre,  and  Mr.  Cummin  of  Mifflin,  &c.  and  a  num- 
ber of  citizens  of  Lewistown,  and  strangers  got  on  board  the 
boat,  which  was  drawn  by  two  white  horses,  when  she  set 
off  in  fine  style,  with  the  'star-spangled  banner'  flying  at 
her  head,  and  amidst  the  roar  of  cannon,  the  shouts  of  the 
populace,  and  the  cheering  music  of  the  band  which  was  on 
board." 

The  northern  turnpike  road  from  Harrisburg  to  Pittsburg 
passes  through  this  county.  There  is  also  a  turnpike  road' 
irom  Lewistown  to  Bellefonte. 

The  common  public  roads  are  in  very  good  condition. 


232 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 


LEWISTOWN, 


The  seat  of  justice,  is  a  flourishing  town ;  it  stands  on  a 
beautiful  and  elevated  spot,  on  the  north  side  of  Juniata  and 
Kishacoquillas  creek,  immediately  at  the  confluence  of  the 
latter,  the  mouth  of  which  forms  a  very  safe  harbor  for  boats 
— on  which  are  a  number  of  spacious  store-houses  erected. 
Lewistown  derives  numerous  advantages  from  its  location  on 
the  Juniata  river  and  Pennsylvania  canal,  which  render  it  a 
place  of  considerable  deposit  for  a  large  district  of  country. 
Here  centres  the  trade  of  Kishacoquillas,  part  of  Penn's, 
Ferguson's  and  Dry  Valleys,  and  a  considerable  portion  of 
Stone  and  Nittany  Valleys.  Although  a  mountainous  coun- 
try around  Lewistown,  it  affords  the  finest  and  most  lively 
scenery  in  all  this  region  of  country;  the  valleys  are  fertile 
and  very  productive.  It  is  considered  one  of  the  healthiest 
places  in  the  interior  of  the  State.  We  breathe,  says  the 
editor  of  the  Eagle,  the  pure  mountain  air ;  our  streams 
abound  with  fish  of  the  choicest  kind,  particularly  the  trout, 
which  are  to  be  found  in  spring  streams,  and  which  afford 
the  angler  much,  amusement  in  taking  them ;  our  forests  are 
filled  with  game  of  every  description  ;  and  Milliken's  Spring 
(noticed  below)  which  is  ascertained  to  possess  all  the  medi- 
cinal qualities  of  the  Bedford  water,  operates  as  a  balm  in  the 
cure  of  many  maladies,  particularly  bilious  complaints. 

Since  opening  the  canal  Lewistown  has  much  increased.  The 
houses  are  generally  of  brick  and  display  considerable  taste. 
The  public  buildings  are  a  splendid  court  house,  recently 
built,  a  stone  prison,  a  bank,  and  an  academy ;  it  contains 
also  several  fine  churches — an  Episcopal,  Methodist,  Luthe- 
ran, Catholic,  Baptist,  and  Seceder's  church,  and  two  Afri- 
can churches.  There  are  also  two  foundries  here.  Boat 
building  is  carried  on  here  to  a  considerable  extent. 

The  population  in  1840  was  2,058,  of  which  were — 

White  Males  under  5,  152 ;  5  and  under  10,  105 ;  10 
and  under  15,  85 ;  15  and  under  20, 104  ;  20  and  under  30, 
231 ;  30  and  under  40,  129 ;  40  and  under  50,  70 ;  50  and 
under  60,  50 ;  60  and  under  70,  9 ;  70  and  under  80,  6. 

Wthite  Females  under  5,  164 ;  5  and  under  10,  120 ; 
10  and  under  15,  82 ;  15  and  under  20,  120  ;  20  and  under 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY.  233 

30,  214;  30  and  under  40,  95;  40  and  under  50,  51 ;  50 
and  under  60,  34 ;  60  and  under  70,  12 ;  70  and  under  80, 
9 ;  80  and  under  90,  2. 

Colorbd  Males  under  10,  37  ;  10  and  under  24,  25 ;  24 
and  under  36,  34;  36  and  under  55,  15;  55  and  under 
100,  2. 

Colored  Females  under  10,  39;  10  and  under  24,  36; 
24  and  under  36,  31 ;  36  and  under  55,  11 ;  55  and  under 
100,  4. 

Of  these  14  were  engaged  in  agriculture,  40  in  commerce, 
292  in  manufactures  and  trades,  40  in  navigation  of  canals, 
24  in  the  learned  professions,  7  primary  schools,  231  schol- 
ars. There  were  28  persons  above  20  years  old  who  could 
neither  read  nor  write.  It  had  in  1840  five  commission  hou- 
ses in  foreign  trade,  17  retail  stores,  one  furnace,  one  grist 
mill,  one  saw  mill,  three  tanneries,  one  brewery,  one  pottery, 
and  two  printing  offices. 

The  Mineral  Spring  is  on  the  farm  of  James  Milliken, 
Esq.,  adjoining  the  borough  of  Lewistown.  It  rises  at  the 
toot  of  a.  firm  bank  of  limestone  formation,  and  within  a 
stone's  throw  of  the  west  bank  of  the  Kishacoquillas.  The 
water  of  this  spring,  it  is  said,  equal  that  of  the  Bedford 
Springs.  In  its  effect  it  is  purgative  and  diuretic,  and  acts 
also  as  a  tonic.  "  Taking  from  four  to  eight  tumblers  full  . 
before  breakfast  has  produced  no  unpleasant  effect,  unless 
indeed  the  stomach  was  in  an  unfavorable  condition,  or  that 
it  was  an  over  quantity  for  the  beginning." 


McVEYTOWN, 

fWaynesburg)  an  incorporated  borough,  11  miles  above 
Lewistown,  on  the  turnpike,  is  quite  a  flourishing  village.  It 
contains  many  new  and  recently  built  brick  houses.  It  con- 
tains several  churches,  a  furnace,  foundry,  and  a  forge,  near 
town,  several  stores  and  taverns.     Population  in  1840,  348. 


20* 


334  MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 


HAMILTONVILLE, 


(Or,  Newton  Hamilton,)  is  a  brisk  village,  21  miles  above 
Lewistown,  and  10  above  McVeytown.  The  town,  until 
the  spring  of  1828,  contained  only  four  huts ;  since  that  time, 
owing  to  the  impulse  given  by  the  construction  of  the  State 
canal,  which  passes  through  it,  the  town  has  increased  till  it 
has  reached  some  30  or  more  dwellings,  several  stores  and 
taverns.  The  river  here  makes  a  circuitous  bend  ;  above  the 
bend,  the  canal  crosses  on  a  splendid  aqueduct  to  the  right 
Ojf  the  Juniata. 


BELLEVILLE, 

On  the  east  side  of  Stone  Mountain,  contains  about  twenty 
dwellings,  several  stoies  and  taverns.     It  is  in  Kishicoquil- 

las  Valley. 


HORRELTON, 

Also  in  Kishicoquillas  Valley,  contains  about  thirty  houses, 
several  taverns  and  stores.  Besides  this  village,  there  are 
are  several  other  small  villages,  viz : 

Perrysville,  Belltown,  Whitehall,  Texas  or  Thompsons- 
town,  Lock's  Mills,  Reedsville,  or  Brown's  Mills. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  this  place,  is  Logan's  Spring, 
named  after  the  second  son  of  Shicalamy,  a  distinguished  In- 
dian chief,  who  died  at  Shamokin  in  1749.  Logan  resided 
here  for  some  time,  whose  family  was  afterwards  cruelly 
murdered,  at  Baker's,  near  the  mouth  of  Yellow  creek,  on 
the  Ohio  river,  above  Wheeling,  as  appears  from  the  fol- 
lowing : — 

"About  the  latter  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  May,  1774, 
I  lived  on  the  waters  of  Cross  creek,  about  16  miles  from 
Joshua  Baker,  who  lived  on  the  Ohio,  opposite  the  mouth  of 
Yellow  creek.  A  number  oi  persons  collected  at  my  house, 
and  proceeded  to  said  Baker's  and  murdered  several  Indians, 
among  whom  was  a  woman,  said  to  be  the  sister  of  the  In- 
dian chief,  Logan.     The  principal  leader  of  the  party  was 


t  MIFFLIN     COUNTY.  235 

Daniel  Greathouse.  To  the  best  of  my  recollection,  the  cause 
which  gave  rise  to  the  murder  was,  a  general  idea  that  the 
Indians  were  meditating  an  attack  on  the  frontiers.  Captain 
Michael  Cressap  was  not  of  the  party  ;  but  I  recollect  that 
some  time  before  the  perpetration  of  the  above  act,  it  was 
currently  reported  that  Captain  Cressap  had  murdered  some 
Indians  on  the  Ohio,  one  or  two,  some  distance  below 
Wheeling. 

Certified  by  me,  an  inhabitant  of  Shelby  county  and  State 
of  Kentucky,  this  loth  day  of  Nov.  1799. 

Charles  Polke. 

On  the  15th  day  of  Nov.  1799,  I  accidentally  met  upon 
the  road,  Joshua  Baker,  the  person  referred  to  in  the  certifi- 
cate signed  by  Polke,  who  informed  me  that  the  murder  of 
the  Indians  in  1774,  Opposite  the  mouth  of  Yellow  creek, 
was  perpetrated  at  his  house  by  thirty-two  men,  led  by  Dan- 
iel Greathouse ;  that  twelve  were  killed  and  six  or  eight 
wounded  :  among  the  slain  was  a  sister  and  other  relations 
of  the  Indian  chief,  Logan.  Baker  says,  Captain  Michael 
Cressap  was  not  of  the  party  ;  that  some  days  preceding  the 
murder  at  his  house,  two  Indians  left  him  and  were  on  their 
way  home;  that  they  fell  in  with  Capt.  Cressap  and  a  party 
of  land  improvers  on  the  Ohio,  and  were  murdered,  if  not  by 
Cressap  himself,  with  his  approbation;  by  being  the  leader 
of  the  party,  and  that  he  had  this  information  from  Cressap. 

Harry  Innes. 

The  following  extract  from  John  Sappington's  statement, 
proves  conclusively  that  Logan's  family  was  not  killed  below 
Wheeling,  as  Dav,  in  his  Historical  Collections  of  Pa.  states 
(p.  468). 

"  Logan's  family  (if  it  was  his  family,)  was  not  killed  by 
Cressap,  nor  with  his  knowledge,  nor  by  his  consent,  but  by 
tbe  Greathouses  and  their  associates.  They  were  killed  30 
miles  above  Wheeling,  near  the  mouth  of  Yellow  creek." — 
Jefferson's  of  Virginia,  Appendix  p.  30-'46. 

Note. — Logan's  people  were  killed  at  the  mouth  of  Yel- 
low creek,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1774. — Compiler. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  Logan  was  urged  by  the 
Indians,  who  were  anxious  to  be  relieved  from  Lord  Dun- 


236  MIFFLIN  COUNTY. 

more's  army,  who  had  waged  war  against  them,  he  sent  his 
speech,  in  a  belt  of  wampum,  to  be  delivered  to  Dunmore,  by 
a  faithful  interpreter.  Under  an  oak,  still  standing  in  a  field 
of  one  Wolf,  seven  miles  from  Circleville,  Ohio,  in  a  southern 
direction,  the  following  speech  was  delivered  by  the  person 
who  carried  the  wampum.  It  is  a  pure,  native  specimen  of 
heart -stirring  and  soul-moving  eloquence  : 

"  I  appeal,"  says  Logan,  "  to  any  white  man,  to  say,  if 
he  ever  entered  Logan's  cabin  hungry,  and  he  gave  him  not 
meat ;  if  he  came  naked  and  cold,  and  I  clothed  him  not. 
During  the  last,  long  and  bloody  war,  Logan  remained  idle, 
in  his  cabin,  an  advocate  of  peace.  Such  was  my  love  for 
the  whites,  that  my  countrymen,  as  they  passed,  said,  '  Lo- 
gan is  the  friend  of  the  whites.'  I  had  thought  of  living 
among  you,  but  for  the  injuries  of  one  man.  Captain  Cressap,* 
last  spring,  in  cold  blood,  and  unprovoked,  murdered  all  the 
relations  of  Logan,  not  sparing  even  my  women  and  cbildren. 
There  runs  not  one  drop  of  my  blood  in  any  living  creature. 
This  called  on  me  for  revenge :  I  have  sought  it,  I  have 
killed  many  ;  I  have  fully  glutted  my  vengeance.  For  my 
country,  I  rejoice  in  the  beams  of  peace.  But,  do  not  harbor 
the  thought,  that  mine  is  the  joy  of  fear.  Logan  never  felt 
fear.  He  will  not  turn  on  his  heel  to  save  his  life.  Who  is 
there  to  mourn  for  Logan  ?     Not  one  !" 

John  Heckewelder,  a  distinguished  Moravian  Missionary, 
says,  "About  the  year  1772,  Logan  was  introduced  to  me, 
by  an  Indian  friend,  as  son  to  the  late  reputable  chief,  Shik- 
eleraus,  and  as  a  friend  to  the  white  people.  In  the  course 
of  conversation,  I  thought  him  a  man  of  superior  talents, 
than  Indians  generally  were.  The  subject  turning  on  vice 
and  immorality,  he  confessed  his  too  great  share  of  this,  es- 
pecially his  fondness  for  liquor.  He  exclaimed  against  ,the 
white  people,  for  imposing  liquors  upon  the  Indians;  he  oth- 
erwise admired  their  ingenuity  ;  spoke  of  gentlemen,  but  ob- 
served the  Indians  unfortunately  had  but  few  of  these  neigh- 
bors, &c.  He  spoke  of  his  friendship  to  the  white  people, 
wished  always  to  be  a  neighbor  to  them,  intended  to  settle 
on  the  Ohio,  below  Big  Beaver ;  was  (to  the  best  of  my  re- 

•  Logan  had  been  misinformed,  in  part,  as  to  the  leader  of  those  who 
murdered  his  family;  it  was  not  Capt.  Cressap,  but  Daniel  Greathouse 
and  his  associates. 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY.  237 

collection)  then  encamped  at  the  mouth  of  this  river,  (Bea- 
ver) urged  me  to  pay  him  a  visit.  I  was  then  living  at  the 
Moravian  town  on  this  river,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cuskus- 
kee.  In  April,  1773,  while  on  my  passage  down  the  Ohio 
for  Muskingum,  I  called  at  Logan's  settlement,  where  I  re- 
ceived every  civility  I  could  expect  from  such  of  the  family 
as  were  at  home. 

"  Indian  reports  concerning  Logan,  after  the  death  of  his 
family,  ran  to  this;  that  he  exerted  himself  during  the  Shaw- 
anese  war  (then  so  called)  to  take  all  the  revenge  he  could, 
declaring  he  had  lost  all  confidence  in  the  white  people.  At 
the  time  of  negotiation,  he  declared  his  nluctance  to  lay 
down  the  hatchet,  not  having  (in  his  opinion)  yet  taken  am- 
ple' satisfaction ;  yet,  for  the  sake  of  the  nation  he  would  do 
it.  His  expressions,  from  time  to  time,  denoted  a  deep  mel- 
ancholy. Life,  said  he,  had  become  a  torment  to  him ;  he 
knew  no  more  what  pleasure  was ;  he  thought  it  had  been 
better  if  he  had  never  existed.  Report  further  states,  that 
he  became  in  some  measure  delirious,  declared  he  would  kill 
himself;  went  to  Detroit,  and  on  his  way  between  that  place 
and  Miama  was  murdered.  In  October,  1781,  while  as  pri- 
soner on  my  way  to  Detroit,  I  was  shown  the  spot  where 
this  should  have  happened." 


EDUCATION,  RELIGION,  &c. 

The  general  system  of  education  has  been  adopted  in  every 
township  of  this  county;  and  all  the  districts  (eleven)  have 
made  regular  Reports  of  the  schools,  except  Menno.  Ten 
districts  have  reported  54  schools  in  operation,  and  4  more 
wanted  ;  schools  open  7  months;  employed  49  male  and  11 
female  teachers ;  the  former  received  $20,41  cts.  per  month, 
the  latter  $12,52.  Number  of  scholars,  1,749  males,  and- 
1,389  females ;  of  the  whole  number,  73  were  learning  Ger- 
man. A  district  tax  of  $6,002  01  was  raised  ;  state  appro- 
priation $2,982  00.  Cost  of  tuition,  $5,838  42  ;  fuel  and 
contingencies,  $415,59;  cost  of  school  houses  $1,055  54. 

An  academy  and  female  seminary  are  in  successful  opera- 
tion in  Lewistown. 

The  prevailing  religious  denominations  are  Presbyterians, 


238  MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 

Methodists,  Lutherans,  German  Reformed,  Ornish,  Dunk- 
ards  or  German  Baptists ;  there  are  also  some  Baptists,  Epis- 
copalians, and  Winebrennerians,  or  Church  of  God. 

In  1791,  there  was  quite  a  serious  riot  in  Lewistown,  as 
will  fully  appear  from  the  following,  which  are  given  with- 
out abridgment : — 

A   Report  of  the   Riot  in  Lewistown,  in  the   County  of 
Mifflin. 

Sir:— 

On  Monday  the  12th  of  September,  1791,  the  Hon.  W. 
Brown,  James  Bryson  and  James  Armstrong,  Esquires,  met 
in  the  forenoon,  in  order  to  open  the  Court  and  proceed  to 
business;  but  Thomas  Beale,  Esq.,  one  of  the  Associate 
Judges,  not  having  arrived,  their  honors  waited  until  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  time  he  arrived,  and  was 
requested  to  proceed  with  them  and  the  officers  of  the  court 
to  the  court  house,  he  declined  going,  and  the  procession 
moved  on  to  the  court  house,  where  the  judges'  commissions 
were  read,  the  court  opened,  and  the  officers  and  the  attor- 
nies  and  the  attornies  of  the  court  sworn  in,  and  the  court  ad- 
journed till  ten  o'clock  next  morning. 

About  nine  o'clock,  while  preparing  business  to  lay  before 
the  grand  jury,  I  received  information  that  a  large  body  of 
men  were  assembled  below  the  Long  Narrows,  at  David 
Jordan's  tavern,  on  the  Juniata,  and  were  armed  with  guns, 
swords  and  pistols,  with  an  avowed  intention  to  proceed  to 
Lewistown,  and  seize  Judge  Bryson  on  the  bench  and  drag 
him  from  his  seat,  and  march  off  before  them,  and  otherwise 
ill-treat  him.  This  information  was  instantly  communicated 
to  Messrs.  Brown,  Bryson,  and  Armstrong,  the  judges,  who 
agreed  with  me  that  Samuel  Edminton,  Esq.  the  Prothono- 

tary,  Judge  Beale, Stewart,  Esq. Bell,  Esq. 

should,  with  George  Wilson,  Esq.  the  Sheriff  of  Mifflin  co. 
proceed  and  meet  the  rioters  ;  and  the  Sheriff  was  command- 
ed to  enquire  of  them  their  object  and  intention,  and  if  hos- 
tile, to  order  them  to  disperse,  and  tell  them  the  court  was 
alarmed  at  their  proceedings. 

Two  hours  after  this,  the  court  opened,  and  a  grand  jury 
was  impannelled.     A  fife  was  heard  playing,  and  some  guns 


MIFFLIN    COONTY.  239 

fired,  and  immediately  the  mob  appeared  marching  towards 
the  court  house,  with  three  men  on  horseback  in  front,  hav- 
ing the  gentlemen  that  had  been  sent  to  meet  them  under 
guard  in  the  rear,  all  of  whom  on  their  arrival  at  Lewistown, 
they  permitted  to  go  at  large,  except  the  sheriff,  whom  four 
of  their  number  kept  a  guard  over.  The  court  ordered  me, 
as  the  representative  of  the  commonwealth,  to  go  and  meet 
them,  remonstrate  against  their  proceedings,  and  warn  them 
of  their  danger,  which  order  was  obeyed,  but  all  endeavors 
were  in  vain,  the  mob  crying  out,  march  on!  march  on!  draw 
your  sword  on  him!  rideqever  him!  I  seized  the  reins  of  the 

bridle,  that  the  principal  commander  held,  viz : Wilson, 

Esq.  brother  of  the  Sheriff  aforesaid,  who  was  well  mounted 
and  well  dressed,  with  a  sword,  and  I  think  two  pistols  belt- 
ed round  him,  a  cocked  hat,  and  one  or  two  feathers  in  it. 
He  said  he  would  not  desist,  but  at  all  events  proceed  and 
take  Judge  Bryson  off  the  bench,  and  march  him  down  the 
Narrows  to  the  judge's  farm,  and  make  him  sign  a  written 
paper,  that  he  would  never  sit  there  as  a  judge  again. 

The  mob  still  crying  out,  march  on,  he  drew  his  sword, 
and  told  me  he  must  hurt  me,  unless  I  would  let  go  the  reins. 
The  crowd  pushed  forward,  and  nearly  pressed  me  down ; 
one  of  them,  as  I  learned  afterwards,  a  nephew  of  Judge 
Beale,  presented  his  pistol  at  my  breast  with  a  full  determi- 
nation to  shoot  me.  I  let  the  reins  go,  and  walked  before 
them  until  I  arrived  at  the  stairs  on  the  outside  of  the  court 
house,  when  Judge  Armstrong  met  me  and  said,  since  noth- 
ing else  will  do,  let  us  defend  the  stairs.  We  instantly  as- 
cended, and  Mr.  Hamilton  and  the  gentlemen  of  the  bar,  and 
many  citizens ;  and  the  rioters,  headed  by  William  Wilson, 
Col.  Walker  and  Col.  Holt,  came  forward,  and  the  general 
cry  was,  march  on,  damn  you,  proceed  and  take  him.  Judge 
Armstrong  replied,  you  damn'd  rascals,  come  on ;  we  will 
defend  the  court  and  ourselves,  and  before  you  shall  take 
Judge  Bryson,  you  shall  kill  me  and  many  others,  which 
seems  to  be  your  intention,  and  which  you  may  do.  At  this 
awful  moment  one  Holt  seized  Judge  Armstrong  by  the  arm, 
with  intent  to  pull  him  down  the  stairs,  but  he  extricated 
himself.  Holt's  brother  then  got  a  drawn  sword,  and  put  it 
into  his  hands,  and  damned  him  to  run  the  rascal  through  ; 
and  Vk  ilson  drew  his  sword  on  me  with  great  rage,  and 
young  Beale  his  sword,  and  cocked  his  pistol  and  presented 


240 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 


it.  I  told  them  they  might  kill  me,  but  the  judge  they  could 
not,  nor  should  they  take  him — and  the  words,  fire  away  ! 
shouted  through  the  mob.  I  put  my  hand  on  his  shoulder, 
and  begged  him  to  consider  where  he  was,  who  I  was,  and 
reflect  but  lor  a  moment.  I  told  him  to  withdraw  the  men, 
and  appoint  any  two  or  three  of  the  most  respectable  of  his 
people  to  meet  me  in  half  an  hour,  and  try  to  settle  the  dis- 
pute. He  agreed,  and  with  difficulty  got  them  away  from 
the  court  house.  Mr.  Hamilton  then  went  with  me  to  Mr. 
Alexander's  tavern,  and  in  Wilson  and  Walker  came,  and 
also  Sterrett,  who  I  soon  discovered  to  be  their  chief  coun- 
sellor. 

Proposals  were  made  by  me,  that  they  should  return  home, 
offer  no  insult  to  Judge  Bryson  or  the  court,  and  prefer  to 
the  Governor  a  decent  petition,  stating  their  grievances  (if 
they  had  any)  that  might  be  laid  before  the  Legislature;  and 
that  in  the  meantime,  the  judge  should  not  sit  on  the  bench 
of  this  court.  They  seemed  agreed,  and  our  mutual  honor 
to  be  pledged  ;  but  Sterrett,  who  pretended  not  to  be  con- 
cerned, stated  that  great  delay  would  take  place  ;  that  inju- 
ries had  been  received  which  demanded  instant  redress,  and 
objected  to  the  power  of  the  Governor  as  to  certain  points 
proposed.  At  this  moment  young  Beale  and  Holt  came  up, 
the  former  with  arms,  and  insisted  on  Wilson's  joining  them, 
and  broke  up  the  conference.  I  followed,  and  on  the  field 
among  the  rioters,  told  Wilson,  "  your  object  is,  that  Judge 
Bryson  leave  the  bench,  and  not  sit  on  it  this  court :"  him 
and  Walker  said  "  yes."  "  Will  you  promise  to  disperse 
and  go  home,  and  offer  him  no  insult  ?"  he  said  "  yes,"  and 
our  mutual  honor  was  then  pledged  for  the  performance  of 
this  agreement. 

Mr.  Hamilton  proceeded  to  the  court,  told  the  judge,  and 
left  his  seat  and  retired.  I  scarce  had  arrived  until  the  fife 
began  to  play,  and  the  whole  of  the  rioters  came  on  to  the 
court  house,  then  headed  by  Wilson.  I  met  them  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs,  and  told  them  the  judge  was  gone,  in  pur- 
suance of  the  agreement,  and  charged  them  with  a  breach  of 
the  word,  and  forfeiture  of  honor,  and  Walker  said,  it  was 
so,  but  he  could  not  prevail  on  them.  Wilson  said  he  would 
have  the  judge,  and  attempted  going  up  the  stairs.  I  pre- 
vented him,  and  told  him  he  should  not,  unless  he  took  off 
his  military  accoutrements.     He  said  he  had  an  address  to 


MIFFLIN  COUNTY. 


241 


present,  and  complied  with  my  request,  and  presented  it, 
signed  "  The  People"  Young  Beale,  at  the  moment  I 
was  contending  with  Wilson,  cocked  and  presented  his 
pistol  at  my  breast,  and  insisted  that  Wilson  and  all  of 
them  should  go;  but  on  my  offering  to  decide  it  by  com- 
bat with  him,  he  declined  it,  and  by  this  means  they  went 
off  swearing,  and  said  that  they  were  out-generaled. 

The  next  day  Col.  M'Farland  with  his  regiment,  came 
down  and  offered  to  defend  the  court,  and  addressed  it;  the 
court  answered,  and  stated  that  there  was  no  occasion,  and 
thanked  him. 

Judge  Bryson  read  a  paper,  stating  the  ill-treatment  he 
received,  and  mentioned  that  no  fear  of  danger  prevented 
him  from  talcing  and  keeping  his  seat ;  but  that  he  under- 
stood an  engagement  had  been  entered  into  by  his  friends 
that  he  should  not,  and  on  that  account  only  he  was  pre- 
vented. The  court  adjourned  until  two  o'clock  that  day, 
and  were  proceeding  to  open  it  with  the  sheriff,  to  wait 
on  him  and  request  him  to  walk  with  them ;  he  returned, 
and  said  the  judge  would  not  walk  or  sit  with  Bryson,  and 
addressed  Judge  Bryson  with  warmth,  who  replied  to  it 
in  a  becoming  manner.  The  sheriff  struck  at  him,  and 
kicked  also.  JuJge  Armstrong  seized  the  sheriff,  and 
commanded  the  peace,  and  took  the  sheriff's  rod  from  him; 
the  coroner  took  his  place,  and  the  sheriff  was  brought  up 
before  the  court.  I  moved  he  might  be  committed  to  gaol, 
and  his  mittimus  wrote  and  signed,  and  the  court  ordered 
the  coroner  and  gaoler  to  take  him,  and  he  submitted.  The 
court  adjourned.  After  night  the  drum  beat,  and  Holt 
collected  about  seventy  men,  who  repeatedly  huzza'd,  cry- 
ing out  "liberty  or  death,"  and  he  ordered  to  rescue  the 
sheriff,  but  the  sheriff  refused. 

At  ten  o'clock  at  night  I  was  informed  expresses  were 
sent  down  the  Narrows,  10  collect  men  to  rescue  the  sher- 
iff, and  Major  Edmiston  informed  me  he  was  sorry  for  his 
conduct,  and  offered  to  beg  the  court's  pardon,  and  to  en- 
ter into  recognizance.  I  communicated  this  to  the  Judges 
Brown  and  Armstrong,  and  requested  they  would  write 
to  the  gaoler  to  permit  him  to  come  down;  they  did,  and 
the  sheriff  came  with  Major  Edmiston,  begged  pardon  of 
every  member  of  the  court,  and  Judge  Bryson,  who  was 
21 


242 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 


not  present,  and  entered  into  recognizance  to  appear  at 
next  sessions. 

The  next  day  near  three  hundred  were  assembled  below 
the  Narrows,  and  I  prevailed  on  some  gentlemen  to  go 
down  and  disperse  them ;  and  upon  being  assured  the  she- 
riff was  out  of  gaol,  they  returned  to  their  respective  homes, 
and  the  court  have  finished  all  business ;  nothing  further 
requiring  the  attendance  of  the  grand  jury,  the  court  dis- 
missed them  and  broke  up.  I  must  not  omit  to  inform, 
that  Judge  Beale  had  declared,  during  the  riot,  in  court, 
that  he  would  not  sit  on  the  bench  with  Judge  Bryson,and 
that  both  him  and  said  Stewart  appeared  to  countenance 
the  rioters,  and  are  deeply  concerned. 

I  must  now  close  the  narrative  with  saying,  that  owing 
to  the  spirit  and  firmness  of  Judge  Armstrong,  and  the 
whole  of  the  bar,  I  was  enabled  to  avert  the  dreadful 
blow  aimed  at  Judge  Bryson,  and  to  keep  order  and  sub- 
ordination in  court ;  and  unless  the  most  vigorous  mea- 
sures are  exerted  soon,  it  will  be  impossible  ever  to  sup- 
port the  laws  of  the  state  in  that  county,  or  punish  these 
who  dare  transgress. 

The  excise  law  is  execrated  by  the  banditti;  and  from 
every  information,  I  expect  the  collection  of  the  revenue 
will  be  opposed. 

I  am  happy  to  add,  the  dispute  which  originated  by  a 
mistake  between  Huntingdon  and  Mifflin  counties,  is  hap- 
pily closed  in  the  most  amicable  manner,  without  any  pro- 
secution in  Mifflin. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 

John  Clarke,  Dy.  St.  Attorney. 
To  Thomas  Smith,  Esq.  Presiddnt  of  the  court  of  Mifflin 

county. 

Carlisle,  September  21. 

At  a  period  when  the  general  voice  of  the  people  pro- 
claims the  excellence  of  the  Federal  Government — and  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  in  particular  is  anticipating  every 
blessing  from  a  constitution  so  conformable  to  it,  an  alarm- 
ing sedition,  together  with  a  most  daring  turbulent  temper 
has  unhappily  manifested  itself  in  the  county  of  Mifflin. 

The  Governor  has  lately  appointed  Samuel  Bryson,  Es- 
quire, second  Associate  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY.  243 

Pleas  of  that  county — this  gentleman  having  been  Lieute- 
nant of  the  county  of  Mifflin,  had  excited  the  determined 
enmity  of  two  men,  who  were  ambitious  of  being  Colo- 
nels of  Militia ;  and  against  the  commissioning  of  whom 
(as  unfit  persons)  Mr.  Bryson  as  county  Lieutenant  had 
made  representations.  Enraged  at  the  promotion  of  Judge 
Bryson,  and  unhappily  yielding  to  the  impulse  of  the  most 
unjustifiable  passions,  one  William  Wilson,  brother  to  the 
sheriff  of  Mifflin  county,  and  one  David  Walker,  levied  a 
considerable  force  and  marched  at  the  head  of  about  forty 
armed  men,  with  a  fife  playing  to  Lewistown,  with  the 
avowed  determination  to  seize  upon  the  person  of  Judge 
Bryson,  whilst  on  the  Bench,  drag  him  from  thence,  oblige 
him  to  resign  his  commission,  and  compel  him  to  march 
many  miles  along  the  rugged  Narrows  of  Juniata  river. 

Secrecy  marked  this  unexampled  Treasonable  Riot.  It 
was  not  known  at  Lewistown  until  about  an  hour  before 
the  insurgents  appeared.  Justice  Stuart  who  had  been 
lately  commissioned,  and  who  is  a  very  worthy  man,  had 
been  imprisoned  in  the  morning  by  four  men  who  belong- 
ed to  the  party  of  the  rioters — they  attempted  to  make  him 
engage  his  word  that  he  would  not  give  information  ;  but 
he  refused.  Ignorant  of  the  private  movers  of  this  daring 
and  turbulent  procedure,  it  was  agreed  by  Judges  Brown 
and  Armstrong  and  other  gentlemen,  to  request  the  sher- 
iff of  the  county  and  Judge  Bails,  who  were  presumed  to 
have  influence  over  them,  together  with  the  prothonotary 
of  the  county,  to  represent  the  illegality  and  imprudence 
of  their  conduct  and  prevail  on  them  if  possible  to  return. 
No  advantage  has  been  derived  from  this  step.  Mr.  Ed- 
miston,  the  prothonotary,  was  insulted — the  sheriff  was 
taking  into  a  mock  imprisonment ;  and  Judge  Bails  soon 
after  adopted  a  part  which  evinced  that  little  real  exertion 
could  have  been  expected  from  him  in  quieting  this  dis- 
turbance. 

The  court  was  sitting  when  this  armed  force,  levying 
war  against  the  state,  with  a  fife  playing,  marching  reso- 
lutely forward.  At  this  juncture  Judge  Bryson  asked  Judge 
Bail  if  it  was  not  likely  they  would  stop,  to  which  the 
other  replied,  that  they  never  would  whilst  such  a  rascal 
sat  upon  the  bench. 

Mr.  Clark  and  Mr.  Hamilton,  two  Attornies  of  the  court, 


244 


MIFFLIN   COUNTY. 


at  the  desire  of  some  of  the  judges,  remonstrated  with  Mr. 
Wilson,  who  was  on  horseback,  and  within  a  few  paces  of 
the  court  house,  at  the  head  of  the  troops,  respecting  his 
conduct:  Mr.  Wilson  was  dressed  in  a  military  style,  with 
a  cockade  in  his  hat,  and  was  armed  with  a  horseman's 
sword  and  pistols — he  declared  his  intention  was  to  oblige 
Mr.  Bryson  to  resign  his  commission,  and  go  down  the 
Narrows  with  him  and  his  men.  He  was  warned  by  the 
gentlemen  of  the  danger  of  the  attempt,  he  observed  that 
nothing  would  divert  him  from  his  purpose,  and  immedi- 
ately drew  his  sword  and  marched  to  storm  the  court- 
room, where  Judge  Armstrong  and  others  were  stationed 
at  the  door.  The  two  gentlemen  who  had  addressed  Wil- 
son ran  to  the  steps  in  front  of  the  force,  where  they  found 
a  number  of  persons  on  the  stairs:  The  rioters  followed, 
with  a  cry  of  Liberty  or  Deatli.  Mr.  Armstrong  hollowed 
out  repeatedly,  Villains  come  on,  but  you  shall  first  march 
over  my  dead  body  before  you  enter.  This  resolution,  se- 
conded by  the  circumstance  oi  the  gentlemen  above  men- 
tioned, and  a  number  of  other  persons  keeping  their  ground 
on  the  stairs  (although  once  or  twice  some  called  to  the 
rioters  to  fire,  seemed  to  stagger  the  resolution  of  Wilson.) 
At  this  moment  a  gentleman  proposed  to  him  tliat  if  he 
would  disarm,  he  might  have  admittance  into  the  court 
room;  to  this  he  seemed  immediately  to  accede,  the  troops 
were  filed  off  to  a  short  distance.  It  was  then  agreed  that 
a  meeting  should  take  place  in  half  an  hour  with  the  lead- 
ers of  the  party.  Messrs.  Clark  and  Hamilton,  with  tho 
assent  of  some  members  of  the  court,  met  Messrs.  William 
Wilson,  David  Walker,  and  William  Sterrett,  who  appear- 
ed on  behalf  of  the  rioters.  Entertaining  hopes  of  preser- 
ving the  person  of  Mr.  Bryson  from  injuiy,  it  was  thought 
prudent  to  promise  if  the  party  would  disperse,  that  Mr. 
Bryson  would  not  sit  during  that  week  on  the  bench.  Du- 
ring this  conference,  Mr.  Wilson  offered  no  other  charge 
against  Mr.  Bryson  but  what  respected  the  militia  com- 
missions for  him  and  Mr.  Walker,  but  it  was  not  until  af- 
ter much  discourse  that  the  leaders  of  the  troops  could  be 
convinced  that  an  extorted  Resignation  would  not  avail. 
When  they  saw  the  futility  of  this  idea,  it  was  long  insist- 
ed, that  Mr.  Bryson  should  go  with  them  down  the  Nar- 
rows. 


MIFFLIN    COUNTY.  245 

Mr.  Wilson  in  contravention  of  the  agreement  marched 
the  troops  to  the  court  house.  In  the  meantime  Judge 
Bryson  had  sent  for  a  horse,  and  effected  his  escape.  It 
was  then  Mr.  William  Sterret  exclaimed  with  an  oath,  we 
are  out-generaled. 

An  address  was  presented  by  Mr.  Wilson  to  the  court, 
who  w»nt  in  unarmed,  signed  "  The  People  :"  it  was  in 
the  hand- writing,  as  is  supposed,  of  Mr.  Sterret.  It  con- 
gratulated the  other  Judges  upon  their  appointments,  but 
mentioned  and  avowed  their  design  in  coming  armed  to 
the  court  to  force  the  dismission  of  Judge  Bryson.  Mr. 
Bails,  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  rioters,  armed  with  a 
sword  and  pistols  slung  around  him,  wished  to  force  his 
way  into  the  court  room,  but  was  prevented  by  Mr.  Clark. 
Four  armed  men  surrounded  the  person  of  the  Sheriff. 
Under  this  delusive  imprisonment,  all  intercourse  of  con- 
versation with  him  was  prohibited.  In  the  evening  the 
rioters  departed  in  a  turbulent,  straggling  manner,  gener- 
ally intoxicated;  at  night  one  Corran,  who  had  been  very 
active  in  raising  men,  was  drowned,  together  with  his 
horse,  in  a  mill  dam,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from  the 
town. 

About  twelve  or  one  o'clock  the  next  day,  Judge  Bry- 
son returned,  soon  afterwards  Col.  James  M'Farland  with 
about  seventy  militia  on  horseback,  appeared  in  sup- 
port of  the  court  and  the  laws.  At  three  o'clock  Judge 
Brown,  Bryson  and  Armstrong,  preceded  by  the  sheriff, 
prepared  to  open  the  court.  The  sheriff  was  sent  with  a 
message  to  Judge  Bails,  informing  him  that  the  Judges 
waited  for  him  to  join  them  in  proceeding  to  the  court 
house ;  his  reply  was  that  he  would  not  go  whilst  Mr. 
Bryson  was  with  them  ;  the  Judges  had  not  walked  more 
than  a  few  paces,  followed  by  the  attomies  and  citizens, 
when  the  sheriff  with  his  rod  of  office  in  his  hand,  sudden- 
ly stopped,  and  demanded  of  Mr.  Bryson  if  he  had  said 
any  thing  injurious  of  him — Mr.  Bryson  made  a  very  mo- 
derate reply,  notwithstanding  he  was  immediately  assaul- 
ted by  the  sheriff,  and  received  a  kick  in  the  same  leg 
which  had  beeu  shattered  by  a  ball  at  the  battle  of  Ger- 
mantown.  The  sheriff  was  immediately  taken  into  cus- 
tody. The  coronet  received  the  sheriff's  rod  and  under- 
took to  go  before  the  Judges  to  Court.  There  the  sher- 
21* 


246  MIFFLIN  COUNTY. 

iff  refused  to  give  any  recognizance  for  his  appearance  at  the 
next  court,  and  was  therefore  committed  to  gaol. 

Col.  M'Farland  presented  an  address  to  the  judges  on  he- 
half  of  himself  and  the  militia  under  his  command,  mention- 
ing his  abhorrence  of  the  proceedings  which  had  taken  place, 
and  offering  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives  to  protect  the  court: 
to  which  the  following  answer  was  returned  : 

"  The  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the  county 
of  Mifflin,  are  very  sensible  of  the  laudable  zeal  of  Colonel 
M'Farland,  and  the  militia  now  under  aims,  subject  to  his 
command,  in  support  of  the  laws  and  government  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  particularly  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  this 
court  from  injury  and  insult.  They  tiust,  that  the  during 
mob,  who  being  aimed,  assembled  jesteiday  and  assaulted 
the  court,  threatening  the  lives  of  the  numbers  are  now  too 
conscious  of  the  magnitude  of  their  offence  and  ihe  spirit  of 
the  citizens  of  this  county  to  repeat  their  attack  :  measures 
are  preparing  to  vindicate  the  dignity  of  cur  insulted  laws, 
and  to  bring  to  a  just  punishment  the  atrocious  offenders  and 
their  abettors,  who  have  bi ought  disgiace  upon  the  county, 
and  trampled  upon  the  most  sacied  rights  of  the  community. 
The  court,  therefore,  Sir,  letuin  )ou  thanks  for  the  suproit 
which  you,  and  the  militia  under  )our  cenmand,  have  with 
so  much  alacrity  brought  to  the  aid  of  the  administration  of 
justice  in  this  county:  but  beirg  of  opinion  that  all  danger 
from  these  infatuated  men  had  ceased,  we  do  not  think  it 
necessary  that  your  attendance  should  be  longer  continued." 

After  which  Judge  Bryson,  standing  at  the  bar,  spoke  the 
following  words : 

"  Fellow  Citizens : — 

"  It  is  not  my  intention  to  resume  my  seat  on  the  bench 
during  this  term — I  do  not  decline  it  from  any  apprehension 
of  the  mob,  who  yesterday  assaulted  the  court  and  marked 
me  for  their  vengeance;  supported  by  my  country,  by  every 
virtuous  citizen,  and  a  consciousness  of  my  integrity,  I  have 
nothing  to  fear ;  but  understanding  that  some  gentlemen, 
anxious  for  my  personal  safety,  entered  into  an  engagement 
with  the  leaders  of  the  banditti,  that  I  should  not  sit  as 
judge  during  this  court — my  respect  for  these  gentlemen  is 
my  sole  and  only  motive  for  making  this  declaration." 


MIFFLIN   COUNTY.  247 

Col.  M'Farland  after  this,  thanked  the  militia  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms : 

"  Col.  M'Farland  returns  his  thanks  to  the  militia  of  his 
regiments  who  now  attend  in  support  of  the  laws  of  their 
country:  He  is  particularly  indebted  to  Capt.  Robert  John- 
ston and  Capt.  John  Brown  for  their  extraordinary  vigilance 
in  collecting  the  men  of  their  respective  companies,  upon  a 
notice  given  to  them  so  late  as  last  night  after  12  o'clock. 
He  has  no  doubt  but  that  the  same  zeal  which  has  distin- 
guished the  militia  undtr  his  command  upon  this  occasion, 
will  always  be  as  honorably  manifested  should  this  county 
ever  be  so  unhappy  as  to  be  disgraced  by  a  similar  necessity." 

Soon  after  which  the  militia,  having  been  discharged  by 
the  court,  returned  home. 

The  evening  of  the  day  was  replete  with  alarms — One 
Holt,  who  thought  he  had  cause  of  complaint  respecting  a 
militia  commission,  assembled  a  body  of  men  to  the  amount 
of  about  forty;  they  paraded  a  considerable  time  with  sound 
of  drum.  At  length  at  eight  o'clock  they  appeared  before 
the  prison  door  with  an  intention  to  break  it  and  enlarge  the 
sheriff:  Mr.  Sterrett  then  appeared,  and  informed  them  'That 
the  sheriff  thanked  his  friends  for  their  intention  to  serve 
him,  but  this  is  not  a  proper  period,' — or  words  to  that  ef- 
fect. 

About  nine  o'clock,  several  persons  having  long  applied 
to  the  sheriff  without  success,  prevailed  on  him  at  length  to 
give  a  recognizance  to  appear  at  the  next  court  to  answer 
for  the  assault  and  battery  on  Judge  Bryson :  happily,  the 
sheriff  in  this  instance  relinquished  a  system  which  was  col- 
lecting new  horrors  and  threatened  to  involve  in  new  scenes 
of  guilt  a  number  of  the  inhabitants.  Great  numbers  in  Tus- 
carora  valley  and  its  vicinity,  prepared  the  following  day  to 
march  and  liberate  the  sheriff,  and  probably  to  demolish  the 
Court  house  and  prison — The  news  of  his  release  arrived  in 
time  to  stop  the  progress  of  those  infatuated  men,  who  ap- 
peared to  have  lost  sight  of  the  social  compact,  and  whose 
felicity  seems  to  lie  in  scenes  of  tumult,  disorder,  and  licen- 
tiousness. It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that  government, 
when  it  comes  to  enforce  the  laws,  will  contemplate  the  ig- 
norance and  delusion  of  these  unfortunate  men ;  and  that 
mercy  will  so  far  temper  the  prosecution  as  that  it  will  not 


248  MIFFLIN    COUNTY. 

be  extended  to  a  capita]  charge ;  yet,  it  is  indispensably  ne- 
cessary that  they  be  taught  that  genuine  liberty  consists  in 
the  power  of  doing  every  thing  which  is  not  prohibited  by 
the  laws,  and  that  the  exercise  of  an  unbounded  licentious- 
ness which  threatens  the  dissolution  of  society  itself,  must 
receive  a  punishment  in  some  degree  commensurate  to  the 
greatness  of  the  offence. 

How  far  Mr.  Bryson's  representations  to  the  Governor, 
against  Messrs.  Wilson,  Walker  and  Holt,  has  been  founded 
in  a  just  estimate  of  the  characters  of  these  men  cannot  be 
elucidated  here — but  it  would  appear  to  afford  the  highest 
evidence  of  its  propriety,  that  they  were  the  principals  in  this 
most  unexampled  Riot. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Centre  County. 

Centre  county  erected — Streams  and  geological  features — Statistics  of 
1840— Public  improvements — Towns — Bellefont,  Philipsburg,  Miles- 
boro,  Boalsburg,  Potter's  Bank,  Potter's  Old  Fort,  Aaronsburg,  Mill- 
heim,  Earleysburg,  Pattonsville,  Walkersville,  New  Providence, 
White  Hall,  Rabersburg,  Jacobsburg,  &c. — Education — Indian  vil- 
lages. 

Centre  county,  originally  embraced  by  Lycoming,  North- 
umberland, Mifflin  and  Huntingdon  counties,  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  February  13,  1800,  and  from  its  central  posi- 
tion was  named  Centre.  Its  boundaries  according  to  the  act 
of  1800,  were  as  follows — Beginning  opposite  the  mouth  of 
Quin's  n:n,  on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna;  thence 
a  straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  Fishing  creek,  where  it  emp- 
ties into  the  Bald  Eagle  creek ;  thence  to  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  Miles,  late  Haines'  township,  including  Nittany  valley; 
thence  by  the  northeast  boundary  of  the  said  township  to  the 
summit  of  Tussey's  mountain  ;  thence  by  the  summit  of  said 
mountain,  by  the  lines  of  Haines'  township  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Potter  township  in  Mifflin  county,  and  Frank- 
lin township  in  Huntingdon  county,  to  a  point  three  miles 
southwest  of  the  present  line  between  Mifllin  and  Hunting- 
don counties  ;  thence  by  a  direct  line  to  the  head  of  the  south- 
west branch  of  Bald  Eagle  creek ;  thence,  a  direct  line  to 
the  head  waters  of  Mushanon;  thence  down  the  same  to  the 
Susquehanna  to  the  place  of  beginning.  The  limits  of  this 
county  were  reduced  by  forming  Clinton  county.  Three  town- 
ships, Bald  Eagle,  Lamar,  and  Logan,  were  taken  off. 

By  the  act  of  1800,  the  following  gentlemen  were  appoin- 
ted Trustees,  viz:  Andrew  Gregg,  William  Swanzey,  and 
Robert  Boggs,  and  were  authorized  to  take  assurances  for 
the  payment  of  money  and  grants  of  land,  stipulated  for  by- 
James  Dunlop  and. lames  Harris,  and  such  others  as  might 
be  offered  to  them  in  trust  to  dispose  thereof,  on  moiety  in 


250  CENTRE    COUNTY. 

some  productive  fund  for  the  support  of  an  academy  or  pub- 
lic school  in  the  county,  and  with  other  monies  to  be  raised 
in  the  county  to  erect  public  buildings  lor  the  county  in  the 
town  of  Beflefonte. 

Centre  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Clinton,  on  the 
east  by  Union,  on  the  southeast  by  Mifflin,  and  on  the  south 
by  Huntingdon,  on  the  west  by  Clearfield  county.  Length, 
about  58  miles;  breadth  36;  area  1,370  square  miles,  con- 
taining 678,400  acres  of  land.  Population  in  1S00,  2,075  ; 
1810,  10,680  ;  in  1820,  13,706  ;  in  1830,  18,879;  in  1840, 
20,492.  The  population  of  the  several  townships  in  1840, 
was  as  follows : — 

Boggs  1,714,  Ferguson  1,254,  Gregg  1,671,  Haines  1,- 
978,  Howard  1,409,  Half  Moon  1,406,  Miles  1,198,  Potter 
1,787,  Rush  317,  Patton  473,  Spring  1,793,  Walker  1,180, 
Husten  557,  Marion  559,  Snowshoe  162,  Harios  2,002, 
Bellefonte  borough  1,032. 

[See  Table  on  the  opposite  page. 


c 

0 
B 

P. 

a 

B 

Bellefonte 

Boggs 

Ferguson 

Gregg 

Harris 

Halfmoon 

Howard 

Husten 

Marion 

Miles 

Potter 

Patten 

Rush 

Spring 

Showshoe 

Walker 

Harios 

o3 

under    5    years 
old. 

5  and  under  10 
years  old. 

en 

10    and     under 
15  years. 

o 

*0 

OCT)          0DH»(DUlWU-J&O-J<»JOi 

15     and    under 
20  years.  * 

09 

9 

20  and  under  30 
years. 

as 

t©  «3       h->— co<icnco**<jao*-oo<[tDOi 

^D0)010lOt3M^0-l(iffi0)^5i^OlC0a 

30  and  under  40 

~3 

40  and  under  50 

£ 

o»to        *>•              GO  *0  »—        CO  M  wco  ts  ^  w 

50  and  under  60 

3 

*0    !-■             W                     iO—             ,_i__iH-W*-*9r- 

60  and  under  70 

o 

JmOOO^^OiUM-WM^-JOIM 

70  and  under  80 

5 

WMOtSSOOO^-S^^OWMaC 

80  and  under  90 

30 

30 

OOMHCnM^fflOOiUlOJOOCl'-aOl 
^U^00ffl»J"JOlU>3~JPa33Cei 

under    5    years 
old. 

if»(OMH.f3t0MOai0!D0tl#>-0DWOl 

5  and  under  10 
years  old. 

CO 

(OCX          ©«M»v!»W-JCOCOO)CI*. 

10  and  under  15 
years  old. 

o 

oaMfflHuotnauooMtooatooi 

(JO>-Cllffl«)a»!aUO-45-5iKX 

V5  and  under  20 

03 

«o  <r>  ~  oi»a«jcv>ao»03ieoi  - 
cooio^acoxM-JWoio^mvi-ci 

20  and  under  30 
years  old. 

o 

tocrs       <ot3»o-jia5*3*-a5<!tD;Do<jC7i 

30  and  under  40 
years  old. 

i(»005tOOiif»»aiOO(Ot5C)Cfl*.CKW 

10  and  under  50 

to 

■*»•  '*•      rf*          mm-      w  w  co  co  »o  eo  *s |50  and  under  60 

EC 

as 

CO  W   63  O)  -  OiWOlOOOO^O^-   CO   31  0D 

60  and  under  70 

1    -oxoo)0»c,'ioi»si5*'a^oiioo»o 

70  and  under  80 

<v 

MHOl^OHISMOOM-OBiaWC 

80  and  under  90 

*0 

a          Mm                 *-  m                         CO  © 
to   MClOr-UOOWOlf  (BMO^U^ 

Colored  pop'n. 

*•* 


252  _         CENTRE   COUNTY. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  greatly  diversified  by  high 
mountain  ridges,  ranging  from  northeast  to  southwest,  with 
deep  valleys  intervening.  Tussey's,  Brush  and  Nittany 
mountains  are  in  the  east  and  northeast.  Bald  Eagle  is  a 
ridge  of  the  Allegheny,  and  is  called  Bald  Eagle,  upon  the 
confines  of  Huntingdon  and  Centre  counties,  northeast  of  the 
Juniata  river,  and  extends  across  the  county  near  the  mid- 
dle ;  and  northwest  of  Bald  Eagle  is  the  Allegheny  moun- 
tain, beyond  which  is  a  tract  of  very  wild,  broken  high  lands, 
composing  the  western  declivity  of  that  mountain.  The  prin- 
cipal valleys  are  Brush,  Nittany,  Bald  Eagle,  Sugar,  Half 
Moon,  George's,  Penn's,  and  others. 

Nittany,  the  great  central  valley  of  the  county,  in  which 
the  county  town  is  pleasantly  situated,  abounds  with  many 
gushing  rills  or  beautiful  springs. 

The  county  is  well  watered.  The  principal  streams  are 
Bald  Eagle  creek,  Mushanon  creek,  with  their  numerous 
tributaries,  and  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  on  the 
northwest,  the  recipient  of  Bald  Eagle  and  others.  The 
smaller  streams  are  Beach  creek,  Tungascootae,  Spring  creek, 
Elk  creek,  Marsh  creek,  Spruce  creek,  Half  Moon  run,  Big 
Fishing  creek,  Cedar  creek,  Cold  stream,  Little  Mushanon 
creek,  Logan  creek,  Buffalo  run,  Little  Fishing  creek,  and 
others. 

The  soil  of  this  county  is  various.  In  some  of  the  valleys 
it  may  be  safely  classed  among  the  best  in  the  State,  and  is 
highly  productive,  if  well  cultivated  ;  this  is  the  case  espe- 
cially in  Nittany  and  Penn's  valleys,  and  form  the  finest 
agricultural  districts.  Other  parts  of  the  county  are,  per- 
haps, equally  productive  ;  but  not  so  desirable  on  account  of 
water, — the  want  of  water  is  often  severely  felt,  and 
in  some  instances  wells  have  been  sunk  to  a  great  depth 
without  obtaining  water.  The  smaller  streams,  after  run- 
ning some  distance,  frequently  sink  into  the  fissures  of  the 
limestone  rock  and  are  seen  no  more.  The  mountain  ridges 
separating  the  valleys,  are  generally  steep  and  rocky,  not  fit 
to  be  cultivated,  anJ  only  valuable  for  the  timber  that  grows 
there.  Some  portions  along  the  Allegheny  are  little  inhabit- 
ed. The  prevailing  timber  is  pine,  hemlock,  sugar  maple, 
and  different  kinds  of  oak. 

The  geological  features  of  the  county  are  varied.  East 
of  the  liald  Eagle  mountain  the  valleys  are  of  limestone  for- 


CENTRE  COUNTY.  253 

mation,  bordered  on  their  margin  next  to  the  mountains  by 
the  overlying  slate.  This  mountain  and  the  high  ridges  south- 
east of  it  are  of  sandstone.  Northwest  of  Bald  Eagle  moun- 
tain, along  the  valley  in  which  flows  Bald  Eagle  creek,  are 
found  the  red  and  variegated  shales,  and  the  fossiliferous 
limestone,  next  in  order.  Above  this  is  a  thin  belt  of  the 
fossiliferous  sandstone,  not  always  perceptible.  From  this  to 
the  southern  base  of  the  Allegheny,  or  rather  of  the  hills 
which  jut  forward  from  that  mountain,  is  a  belt  two  or  three 
miles  wide,  occupied  by  olive  slates  and  sandstones;  and 
above  this  the  red  shale  and  red  and  gray  sandstones, 
which  form  the  steep  front  of  the  Allegheny.  Passing  over 
the  intermediate  formations,  we  find  on  the  high  lands  beyond 
the  summit,  in  the  vicinity  of  Snowshoe  and  Philipsburg,  beds 
of  bituminous  coal,  which  have  been  opened  in  some  of  the 
most  accessible  places,  and  the  coal  transported  to  the  coun- 
try east  of  the  mountain. — Trego. 

Though  bituminous  coal  abounds  in  the  northwest  of  the 
Allegheny  mountain  about  Philipsburg,  yet  it  is  not  so  im- 
portant a  mineral  as  iron  ore,  which  is  abundantly  found  in 
the  limestone  valleys,  in  always  any  quantity  or  variety, 
yielding  from  50  to  60  per  cent,  of  metalic  iron. 

The  wealth  of  the  county  may  be  pretty  fairly  estimated 
from  the  late  census,  of  which  the  following  is  an  abstract : 

In  1840  there  were  7  furnaces  in  the  county,  (but  the 
number  has  since  increased)  produced  7,500  tons  of  cast 
iron ;  9  bloomeries,  forges  and  rolling  mills,  produced  10,110 
tons  of  bar  iron  ;  there  were  20,400  tons  of  fuel  consumed; 
the  number  of  men  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  iron,  in- 
cluding mining,  was  603;  capital  invested  $398,000  :  there 
were  87,000  bushels  of  bituminous  coal  raised,  employing 
7  men,  capital  invested  86,000 :  horses  and  mules  4,752, 
neat  cattle  15,494,  sheep  17,461,  swine  10,769,  poultry  of 
all  kind  estimated  at  81,979,  bushels  of  wheat  raised  34,421, 
barley  1,473,  oats  114,470,  rye  141,045,  buckwheat  8,946, 
corn  204,122,  pounds  of  wool  produced  38,449,  hops  618, 
wax  280,  bushels  of  potatoes  107,547,  tons  of  hay  11,273, 
11  tons  of  flax  and  hemp ;  sold  7,490  cords  of  wood  ;  value 
of  the  products  of  the  dairy  $72,159,  value  of  the  products 
of  the  orchard  $14,068,  value  of  home  made  or  family  goods 
$8,690  ;  retail  dry  goods  and  other  stores  48,  with  a  capital 
of  $158,950 ;  value  of  lumber  produced  $28,140  •  60  bar- 
22 


254  CENTRE   COUNTY. 

rels  of  tar  manufactured  ;  value  of  machinery  manufactured 
$4,700,  employed  two  hands ;  hardware  and  cutlery  manu- 
factured $800 ;  bricks  and  lime  manufactured  $5,070,  em- 
ployed five  men  ;  fulling  mills  3  ;  woollen  factories  3 ;  value 
of  manufactured  goods  $18,500,  employed  17  hands,  capital 
invested  $17,000  ;  value  of  hats  and  caps  manufactured  $3,- 
100,  5  persons  employed,  capital  $2,200 ;  tanneries  20,  tan- 
ned 2,705  sides  of  sole  leather,  4,260  of  upper,  employed  33 
men,  capital  $38,200 ;  all  other  manufactories  of  leather, 
saddleries,  &c.  7,  value  of  manufactured  articles  $17,050, 
capital  $8,800  ;  two  distilleries  produced  43,000  gallons,  1 
brewery  produced  7,280  gallons,  6  men  employed  in  manu- 
facturing distilled  and  fermented  liquors,  capital  $5,500 ;  2 
printing  offices,  employed  6  hands,  capital  $1,500 ;  value  of 
carriages  and  wagons  manufactured  $10,000,  13  men  em- 
ployed, capital  invested  $2,900 ;  grist  mills  35,  saw  mills 
61,  one  oil  mill,  value  of  manufacture  of  the  several  mills, 
$89,250,  employed  21  hands,  capital  $77,900 ;  brick  and 
stone  houses  built  13,  wooden  ones  25,  men  employed  22, 
value  of  constructing  the  buildings  $49,000.  Total*  capital 
invested  in  manufactures  $173,000.  Aggregate  amount  of 
all  kinds  of  property  taxable  in  1844,  $4,980,2ia  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

Bald  Eagle  and  Spring  Creek  navigation,  from  the  West 
Branch  State  Canal  at  Lock  Haven,  in  Clinton  county,  up 
the  Bald  Eagle  creek  and  Spring  creek  to  Bellefonte,  a  dis- 
tance of  25  miles,  will,  when  fully  completed,  prove  a  great 
advantage  to  this  county. 

There  are  several  good  turnpike  roads  in  this  county,  the 
principal  of  which  is  from  Bellefonte  to  Lewistown.  This 
pike  leads  westward  from  the  county  town  towards  the  town 
of  Erie. 


BELLEFONTE, 

A  post  town  and  borough,  including  Smithfield,  was  incor- 
porated March  18,  1814,  is  the  seat  of  justice.  The  town 
derives  its  name  from  a  compound  French  word,  i.  e.  Bell, 


CENTRE   COUNTY.  255 

beautiful,  and  Fonte,  a  fountain,  the  name  of  a  beautiful 
spring,  giving  the  name  to  the  town,  and  supplying  the  in- 
habitants thereof,  with  the  finest  water  imaginable,  which  is 
raised  by  a  machinery  into  a  reservoir,  on  an  eminence  about 
90  feet  above  the  level  of  the  spring.  These  works  were 
first  erected  in  1S08,  and  have  since  been  rebuilt  and  impro- 
ved. The  town  was  first  commenced  in  1795,  by  Messrs. 
James  Harris  and  James  Dunlop,  who  were  owners  of  the 
site,  and  is  on  the  right  bank  of  Spring  creek,  in  a  township  of 
the  same  name,  latitude  40  degrees,  50  minutes,  north  longi- 
tude, and  40  minutes  west  from  Washington  city;  122  miles 
northwest  from  that  city,  and  85  from  Harrisburg.  It  is  sit- 
uated in  a  fine  valley  of  limestone  land,  highly  susceptible  of 
improvement  and  well  cultivated,  abounding  with  first-rate 
timber,  and  the  earth  pregnant  with  inexhaustible  quantities 
of  iron  ore,  of  the  very  best  quality,  easily  smelted  and  very 
productive,  yielding  from  60  to  621  per  cent,  of  metal.  In 
and  about  the  vicinity,  especially  on  Spring  creek,  is  a  great 
number  of  furnaces,  forges,  rolling  mills,  tilt-hammers,  grist 
mills,  saw  mills,  fulling  mills,  oil  mills,  &c.  It  is  a  highly 
prosperous  place. 

When  Centre  county  was  erected,  they  gave  half  of  the 
lots  for  public  purposes,  among  which  was  the  establishment 
of  the  seminary.  The  town  contained  in  1S10,  203  inhabit- 
ants, in  1820,  433,  in  1830,  699,  in  1840,  1,032 ;  of  these, 
were — 

White  Males  under  5,  77  ;  5  and  under  10,  47  ;  10  and 
under  15,  49 ;  15  and  under  20,  56 ;  20  and  under  30,  100; 
30  and  under  40,  53 ;  40  and  under  50,  35 ;  50  and  under 
60,  24  ;  60  and  under  70,  11 ;  70  and  under  80,  2. 

White  Females  under  5,  66  ;  5  and  under  10,  63  ;  10 
and  under  15,  4S ;  15  and  under  30,  58  ;  20  and  under  30, 
106 :  30  and  under  40,  55 ;  40  and  under  50,  132 ;  50  and 
under  60,  23  ;  60  and  under  70,  8  ;  70  and  under  80,  2. 

Colored  Males  under  10,  17 ;  10  and  under  24,  13;  24 
and  under  36,  17 ;  36  and  under  55,  3 ;  55  and  under 
100,  3. 

Colored  Females  under  10,  29 ;  10  and  under  24,  10 ; 
24  and  under  36,  18 
100,  3. 


256 


CENTRE   COUNTY. 


Of  these  there  were  engaged,  according  to  the  census  of 
1840,  2  in  agriculture,  11  in  commerce ,  manufactures  and 
trades  138,  1  in  navigation,  21  in  the  learned  professions  and 
engineering.  The  borough  contained  130  dwellings,  four 
churches,  a  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  United  Brethren,  and 
a  Catholic;  an  academy,  8  stores,  1  fulling  mill,  1  woolLpi 
factory,  2  tanneries,  1  printing  office,  1  weekly  newspaper, 
4  schools,  120  scholars. 

The  scenery  around  the  town  is  very  imposing ;  nay,  in- 
viting. The  town  has  some  high  land  around  it ;  but  none 
which  is  not  capable,  under  proper  culture,  of  producing  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  per  acre ;  and  from 
lands  contiguous,  once  called  barrens,  have  been  known  to 
yield  30  bushels.  The  supply  of  mineral  fuel  is  easy,  as  bit- 
uminous coal  is  abundant  within  10  miles  of  the  borough  ; 
and  is  accessible  by  a  well  constructed  turnpike  road  from 
the  town  to  the  mines. 

As  to  salubrity,  it  is  said  by  competent  judges,  that  no 
town  in  the  Union  excels  Bellefonte.  This  town  possesses 
many  natural  and  artificial  advantages.  Schools  of  a  higher 
order,  efficiently  conducted,  amid  a  moral,  intelligent  and 
industrious  community;  and  other  advantages  will,  ere  long, 
attract  the  attention  of  those  who  can  appreciate  that  wThich 
renders  life  desirable. 

Turnpikes  in  various  directions  radiate  from  this  place,  af- 
fording facilities  of  access  to  the  farmer,  traveller,  and  tra- 
der. Superior  lines  of  stages  leave  daily  for  Lewistown,  and 
other  places. 

The  following  sketch  of  a  prominent  person,  from  the  Cen- 
tre Democrat,  is  worthy  of  a  place  here  :-*— 

"Died  in  Bellefonte,  on  the  20th  May,  1835,  in  his  80th 
year,  Andrew  Gregg,  Esq.  Mr.  Gregg  was  among  the  early 
settlers  in  Penn's  valley.  He  was  born  on  10th  June,  1755, 
at  Carlisle.  He  acquired  a  classical  education  at  several  of 
the  best  schools  of  that  day,  and  was  engaged  for  some  years 
as  a  tutor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  year 
1783,  Mr.  Gregg,  having  saved  a  few  hundred  dollars  from 
his  salary  as  a  teacher,  changed  his  employment,  and  com- 
menced business  as  a  storekeeper  in  Middletown,  Dauphin 
county.  In  1787  he  married  a  daughter  of  General  Potter, 
then  living  near  the  West  Branch,  in  Northumberland  coun- 
ty ;  and  at  the  earnest  request  of.  h;s  fa,tb,er-iu-Ia\v,  in  1789, 


CENTRE    COUNTY.  257 

moved  with  his  family  in  Penn's  valley,  where  he  settled 
down  in  the  woods,  and  commenced  the  business  of  farming, 
about  two  miles  from  Potter's  old  fort.  On  the  place  he  first 
settled,  he  continued  improving  his  farm  from  year  to  year, 
pursuing  with  great  industry  the  business  of  a  country  farm- 
er. There  all  his  children  were  born  and  some  married,  and 
there  he  resided  until  the  year  1814,  when  he  came  with  his 
family  to  reside  in  this  borough;  having  some  years  before 
purchased  property  in  this  neighborhood.  In  1790  Mr. 
Gregg  was  elected  a  member  of  congress,  and  by  seven  suc- 
cessive elections,  for  several  districts,  as  they  were  arranged 
from  time  to  time,  including  one  by  a  general  vote  or  ticket 
over  the  whole  state — was  continued  a  member  of  that  body 
for  16  successive  years — and  during  the  session  of  £806-7, 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the  U-  S.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  term,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1803,  he  re- 
turned to  private  life.  One  principal  object  of  coming  to 
reside  in  this  borough,  was  a  desire  to  be  convenient  to  good 
schools,  for  the  benefit  of  his  younger  children.  Here  he 
lived  a  retired  life,  attending  to  the  education  of  his  children 
and  the  improvement  of  his  farms,  until  Dec.  1820,  when  he 
was  called  by  Gov.  Hiester  to  the  situation  of  secretary  of 
the  commonwealth.  During  the  administration  of  Governor 
Hiester,  the  duties  of  that  office  were  executed  by  him  with 
talent  and  integrity.  Mr.  Gregg,  as  a  public  man,  as  well 
as  in  private  life,  was  remarkable  for  a  sound  and  discrimin- 
ating man,  agreeable  and  dignified  manners,  strict  regard  for 
truth,  and  unbending  and  unyielding  honesty." 

"  Died  in  Aug.  1833,  at  his  residence  in  Spring  township, 
Gen.  Philip  Benner,  aged  70  years.  He  was  among  the 
first  settlers  in  this  county,  and  made  his  residence  at  the 
spot  where  he  died  as  early  as  1792.  At  that  time  there 
were  but  few  inhabitants  within  the  bounds  of  what  is  now 
Centre  county.  He  was  born  in  Chester  county.  His  father 
was  an  active  whig  of  the  revolution,  was  taken  prisoner  by 
the  British,  and  imprisoned.  Philip,  then  a  youth,  took  up 
arms  under  Gen.  VS  ayne,  his  relative  and  neighbor.  When  he 
went  forth  to  the  field,  his  patriotic  mother  quilted  in  the 
back  of  his  vest  several  guineas,  as  a  provision  in  case  he 
should  be  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  After  the  war  he 
became  a  successful  manufacturer  of  iron,  at  Coventry  forge, 
in  Chester  county.  About  the  year  1790  he  purchased  the 
22* 


258  CENTRE    COUNTY. 

present  site  of  Rock  Furnace,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  he 
erected  a  forge,  the  first  built  in  the  county ;  to  which  he 
subsequently  added  another  forge,  a  furnace,  and  a  rolling 
mill.  To  his  example  the  people  are  mainly  indebted  for 
the  development  of  the  vast  mineral  wealth  of  this  county. 
At  that  early  day  the  supply  of  provisions  for  the  works  to 
be  transported  from  a  distance,  over  roads  that  would  now 
be  deemed  almost  impassable  ;  and  a  market  for  his  iron  was 
to  be  found  alone  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard.  Undeterred  by- 
adverse  circumstances,  the  vigorous  mind  of  General  Benner 
struck  out  a  new  channel  of  trade.  The  rising  importance 
of  the  west  impressed  him  with  the  idea  of  opening  a  com- 
munication with  Pittsburg,  as  a  market  for  his  iron  and  nails. 
He  succeeded,  and  enjoyed  for  several  years,  without  com- 
petition, the  trade  in  what  was  termed  by  him  the  "  Juniata 
iron,"  for  the  western  country — a  trade  now  of  immense  im- 
portance. He  held  the  rank  of  major-general  in  the  militia 
of  the  state,  and  was  twice  an  elector  of  president  of  the  U. 
S.  He  Was  a  democrat  throughout  his  life.  The  borough 
of  Bellefonte  bears  testimony  to  his  enterprise  and  liberality. 
He  has  adorned  it  by  the  erection  of  a  number  of  dwelling 
houses,  and  aided  in  the  construction  of  works  to  give  it  ad- 
vantages which  nature  denied.  He  established  the  Centre 
Democrat  in  1827.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  industry, 
enterprise,  generosity,  and  open-hearted  hospitality :  his 
home  was  the  abode  of  a  happy  family." 


PHILIPSBURG, 

On  the  Mushannon  creek,  at  the  western  side  of  the  county, 
2-5  miles  west  of  Bellefonte,  on  the  highlands  behind  the  Al- 
legheny mountains,  where  the  Bellefonte  and  Meadville  turn- 
pike road  crosses  the  Mushannon  creek.  The  town  is  named 
after  Henry  and  James  Philips,  two  enterprising  and  intelli- 
gent Englishmen,  who  laid  out  the  town  in  1797.  The  first 
house  erected  in  the  "wilderness  town,"  was  built  by  John 
Henry  Simler.  Though  the  town  contains  now  between  40 
and  50  buildings,  and  a  very  neat  church,  erected  by  the  li- 
berality of  Mr.  Philips — it  was  studded  with  stumps  not  more 
than  15  years  ago.     The  following  extract,  from  "notes  of 


CENTRE    COUNTY.  2-59 

a  traveller,"  who  visited  here  in  1830,  will  show  what  it 
was  then — "  We  proceeded  over  an  excellent  turnpike  to 
Philipsburg,  which  may  emphatically  be  called  a  town  of 
stumps.  Hairs  never  stood  more  plenteously  on  a  dog's  back 
than  the  stumps  in  Philipsburg,  yet  it  is  a  stirring  place,  and 
much  indebted  to  the  public  sj  irit  and  enterprise  of  Dr.  Phil- 
ips, the  proprietor.  Among  other  manufactories,  there  is  one 
for  the  manufacture  ot  '  screws,'  which  is  among  the  most 
singular  of  modern  inventions." 

The  following  account  is  given  of  Mr.  Simler,  who  is  men- 
tioned in  the  preceding  page  : — 

"  Mr.  Simler  enlisted  in  1780,  in  France,  as  a  private,  and 
served  as  a  dragoon  in  Capt.  Bart's  corps  of  the  first  troop 
of  Light  Dragoons,  Free  Legion,  under  the  command  of  Col. 
Armand.  He  arrived  at  Boston,  and  proceeded  thence  with 
his  troop  to  Yorktown,  Va.,  at  which  memorable  siege  he 
was  present,  and  assisted  in  the  capture  of  it  by  the  united 
forces  of  America  and  France.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
forehead  and  eye  by  a  sabre,  and  retained  the  scar  until  his 
death.  He  remained  in  the  service  until  regularly  discharged 
at  Philadelphia,  although  the  greater  part  of  his  troop  was 
discharged  immediately  after  the  surrender  of  Yorktown.  On 
the  termination  of  the  war,  he  married  and  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  he  remained  for  about  15  years.  In  1793, 
he  lost  his  wife  by  the  yellow  fever ;  he  then  married  a  se- 
cond time,  and  in  1797  removed  to  Philipsburg,  in  Centre 
county,  Pa. — a  perfect  wilderness  at  the  time.  He  built  the 
first  house  in  the  place,  where  he  resided  until  he  lost  his 
second  wife,  in  the  year  1822.  In  the  year  1829  he  remo- 
ved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  died  the  same  year." 

Hardman  Philips  had  erected  the  screw  factory  and  other 
extensive  iron  works,  which  are  not  now  in  operation.  There 
is  a  most  valuable  mineral  district  around  this  place,  abound- 
ing in  coal,  iron,  limestone,  and  fire  clay ;  and  forest  timber 
almost  without  limit. 


MILESBORO, 

Is  two  miles  north  of  Bellefonte,  on  the  turnpike  ;  it  is  quite 
a  brisk  village — containing  between  40  and  50  dwellings, 
and  two  churches,  Baptist  and  Methodist,  in  and  near  it — a 


260  CENTRE   COUNTY. 

foundry,  iron  works,  forge,  axe  factory  and  mills.  The  Bald 
Eagle  canal  passes  through  it.  A  woollen  factory  was  start- 
ed here  some  years  ago.  The  briskness  is  owing  much  to 
the  energy  of  Gen.  Miles,  and  a  few  other  enterprizing  in- 
dividuals. 


BOALSBURG, 

On  the  main  branch  of  Spring  creek,  10  miles  sonthwest  of 
Bellefonte,  at  the  upper  end  of  Penn's  valley,  is  a  pleasant 
and  thriving  village.  It  contains  about  35  dwellings,  a  store 
and  tavern,  a  Lutheran  church,  a  grist  mill,  woollen  factory, 
and  a  number  of  mechanics'  shops.  The  country  around  it 
is  pretty  well  improved.     It  is  a  German  settlement. 

The  following,  copied  from  the  Weekly  Messenger,  print- 
ed at  Chambersburg,  is  introduced  here,  as  being  of  unusual 
occurrence. 

Boalsburg,  Centre  co.  Pa.,  Jan.  21,  1846. 

On  the  12th  of  November  last,  a  son  of  Mr.  Christian 
Hoffer,  of  Potter  township,  of  this  county,  who  is  about  21 
years  of  age,  was  attacked  with  a  bilious  cholic,  but  soon 
afterwards  recovered  so  far  as  to  be  able  to  attend  his  usual 
employment. 

Nine  days  after  this,  as  he  returned  to  his  house  in  the 
evening  from  labor,  he  was  again  seized  with  such  violent 
pain,  that  his  system  began  evidently  to  sink  under  it.  By 
prompt  medical  treatment,  however,  he  was  relieved  of  his 
pain  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  A  fever  followed.  His 
conversation  continued  to  be  perfectly  rational.  On  the  fourth 
or  fifth  clay  following,  he  began  to  speak,  exhort,  sing  and 
pray,  in  sleep.  When  he  awoke,  he  had  no  recollection  of 
what  had  happened  during  his  sleep,  except  that  he  had 
dreamed.  He  soon  recovered  his  bodily  health  to  such  an 
extent,  that  his  physician  pronounced  him  well.  He,  how- 
ever, had  some  kind  of  presentiment  that  something  extraor- 
dinary would  transpire  in  his  case,  which  the  result  has  shown 
was  by  no  means  unfounded. 

On  the  evening  of  the  11th  of  December,  after  he  had  ■ 
been  reading  for  a  short  time  in  the  bible,  he  complained  of 
having  very  unpleasant  sensations  in  his  head,  and  as  he  at- 


CENTRE    COUNTY.  261 

tempted,  in  accordance  with  the  advice  of  his  friends,  to  seat 
himself  upon  the  bed,  he  fell  suddenly  upon  the  floor. 

For  a  short  time  he  was  insensible,  and  when  he  recovered 
his  senses,  he  was  unable  to  speak  a  word  ;  yea,  not  so  much 
as  to  utter  the  least  sound-  His  countenance  was  calm,  and 
by  signs  he  gave  those  present  to  understand  that  he  desired 
paper,  ink  and  pen,  to  write.  As  these  were  handed  to  him, 
he  took  them,  and  wrote  various  things  with  readiness ;  and 
amongst  others,  "  that  on  the  fourth  or  fifth  night  following 
he  would  either  die  or  speak."  Contrary  to  his  wishes,  his 
physician  put  a  large  blister  upon  him,  to  which  he  submit- 
ted only  after  much  persuasion. 

On  the  second  day  following,  he  wrote  to  the  physician, 
"  that  he  esteemed  him  highly;  that  his  sickness  was  not  that 
which  he  thought  it  was ;  that  his  liver  was  not  swollen,  as 
his  physician  thought ;  if  it  were  so,  he  would  certainly  ex- 
perience something  of  it,  &c."  He  urgently  entreated  the 
physician  not  to  put  another  blister  upon  him,  and  also  not 
to  give  him  any  more  medicine,  at  least  not  before  Tuesday 
morning  at  8  o'clock,  when,  should  he  yet  live  and  still  be 
unable  to  speak,  he  would  cheerfully  comply  with  his  pre- 
scriptions.    To  which  the  physician  assented. 

On  Sunday,  the  14th  December,  he  wrote  that  he  wished 
to  see  me  on  Monday  evening,  and  requested  that  I  should 
hold  a  prayer  meeting  at  his  father's  house  ;  with  which  re- 
quest I  complied.  After  the  prayer-meeting  had  closed,  he 
fell  into  a  sleep,  and  from  the  motions  of  his  hands,  it  could 
be  perceived  that  his  mind  was  exercised  in  a  very  extraor- 
dinary manner.  He  made  a  sign  for  something  ;  a  bible  was 
handed  him,  and  also  a  German  and  English  hymn  book :  he 
opened  the  bible,  and  with  his  eyes  closed,  he  speedily  ran 
his  fingers  over  certain  passages,  and  pointed  out  one.  He 
did  the  same  thing  with  the  hymns,  pointing  to  a  German 
and  also  an  English  hymn.  When  he  awoke,  he  pointed  out 
to  me  the  passage  of  scripture,  to  which  he  had  pointed  when 
asleep,  viz :  Ezekiel  xi,  19 — as  also  the  hymns ;  and,  I  must 
acknowledge,  that  had  I  taken  the  greatest  possible  pains,  I 
could  not  have  selected  in  either  of  the  hymn  books,  hymns 
more  suitable  to  the  text  pointed  out,  than  those  which  he 
selected.  At  11  o'clock,  the  same  evening,  he  wrote  for  me 
among  other  things,  "  that  in  the  course  of  five  hours,  it 
would  be  known  whether  he  would  die  or  speak." 


262 


CENTRE    COUNTY. 


Before  the  time  fixed  upon  arrived,  he  again  iell  asleep, 
and  at  the  time  itself,  he  became  so  weak  that  it  was  believed 
that  he  would  die.  His  strength,  however,  returned  again  ; 
he  began  to  speak ;  opened  the  bible ;  read  a  passage  of 
scripture,  John  i,  29,  and  discoursed  upon  it  very  correctly 
and  powerfully  about  forty  minutes  in  German,  and  ten  in 
the  English  language.  When  he  had  ended  his  discourse,  he 
appeared  to  be  in  a  deep  and  quiet  sleep ;  and  in  about  fif- 
teen minutes  afterwards,  he  awoke,  and  was  quite  calm. 

Several  days  after  the  above  occurrence,  he  informed  his 
friends  that  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  18th  instant,  between 
12  and  1  o'clock,  he  would  be  placed  in  a  similar  condition. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  calm,  attended  church,  Sunday 
school,  &c,  but  he  often  spoke,  sang  and  prayed  in  his 
sleep. 

I  was  with  him  on  last  Thursday  and  Friday.  He  still 
insisted,  on  Friday,  that  what  he  had  before  said  would  cer- 
tainly take  place  at  the  specified  time ;  and  for  some  time  he 
was  quite  cast  down,  not  knowing  whether  or  not  he  should 
recover  his  power  of  speech,  in  case  he  should  live.  Still  he 
endeavored  to  console  himself  with  the  promise,  that  "All 
things  shall  work  together  for  good,  to  them  that  love  God." 
I  gave  him  and  his  parents  all  the  counsel  and  consolation 
which  it  was  in  my  powder  to  give  them. 

On  Sunday,  at  the  appointed  time,  whilst  he  was  engaged 
with  his  parents  and  brothers  in  reading  useful  books,  and 
proposing  and  answering  questions  about  edifying  subjects, 
he  sank  down  some  minutes  before  1  o'clock.  It  was  believ- 
ed that  he  was  dying.  For  some  time  he  was  insensible.  At 
length  he  opened  his  eyes,  but  could  not  speak  a  word  or 
move  a  limb.  About  an  hour  afterwards  he  was  able  to 
move,  and  made  signs  for  pen  and  ink.  He  wrote,  amongst 
other  things,  "  that  in  seven  or  eight  hours  he  would  either 
speak  or  die."  When  he  specified  the  time  had  elapsed,  he 
became  again  so  weak  whilst  he  slept,  that  it  was  thought 
he  would  die.  After  some  time,  however,  he  recovered  his 
strength,  and  began  to  speak,  exhort,  sing,  &c,  both  in  the 
English  and  German  languages.  When  he  had  finished,  he 
appeared  again  to  sleep,  and  when  he  awoke,  he  was  cheer- 
ful and  calm.  He  is  now  to  all  appearances  well,  and  re- 
lieved in  mind.     I  was  several  times  present  when  he  spoke 


CENTRE    COUNTY.  265 

in  his  sleep,  and  can  truly  say  that  I  did  not  hear  an  unbe- 
coming word  from  him. 

P.  S.  Fischer. 


POTTER'S  BANK, 

A  post  village,  though  small,  is  a  very  pleasant  and  thriv- 
ing manufacturing  village,  12  miles  from  Bellefonte,  on  a 
branch  of  Sinking  creek,  on  the  Lewistown  and  Bellefonte 
turnpike.  It  contains  a  first  rate  grist  mill,  woollen  factory, 
several  dwellings,  a  store  and  tavern,  owned  by  James  Pot- 
ter, Esq.  and  Gen.  Potter,  sons  of  Gen.  James  Potter. 


POTTER'S  OLD  FORT, 

Is  four  miles  north  of  Potter's  Bank,  on  the  turnpike  road. 
Traces  of  the  Fort  are  still  visible. 

The  history  of  Potter's  Fort  is  briefly  thus  related.  "Soon 
after  the  Indian  Treaty  of  1768,  James  Potter,  afterwards 
a  Brigadier  General  under  Gen.  George  Washington,  came 
up  the  West  Branch  and  Bald  Eagle  creek  to  seek  for  choice 
lands.  He  crossed  the  Nittany  monntain  at  Logan's  Gap, 
and  for  the  first  time  set  his  eyes  upon  the  lovely  Penn  val- 
ley, afterwards  his  happy  home.  After  reconnoitering  the 
valley,  he  descended  Penn's  creek  in  a  canoe — but  soon  re- 
turned again,  took  up  a  large  body  of  land,  made  a  settle- 
ment there,  and  erected  a  Stoccade  Fort.  The  place  is  still 
known  as  Potter's  Fort.  Gen.  Potter,  with  many  others,  was 
driven  from  his  new  home  by  the  Indians,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolution  of  '76.  He  entered  the  services  of  his 
country,  and  was  with  Gen.  Washington  during  the  cam- 
paigns of  Brandywine,  Valley  Forge,  Germantown,  New 
Jersey.  At  the  close  of  that  eventful  war,  another  treaty 
was  made  with  the  Indians  for  the  purchase  of  all  the  terri- 
tory in  the  State,  northwest  of  the  West  Branch  ;  and  Gen. 
Potter  was  employed  as  agent  and  surveyor  of  a  company  of 
land  speculators,  to  visit  and  superintend  the  settlement  of 
their  lands  on  the  Sinnemahoning  and  West  Branch,  above 
the  Allegheny  mountain. 


264  CENTRE  COUNTY. 

AARONSBURG, 

A  post  town,  twenty  miles  east,  by  the  road  from  Bellefonte, 
on  Mill  creek,  a  branch  of  Penn's  creek,  contains  between 
thirty  and  forty  houses,  several  stores  and  taverns.  It  is 
contiguous  to  Millheim,  being  separated  from  it  by  Mill 
creek.  A  turnpike  road  runs  through  it,  which  intersects 
that  leading  from  Bellelonte  to  Lewistown. 


MILLHEIM, 

Contains  about  thirty  dwellings,  a  store  and  tavern.     It  lies 
in  Penn's  Valley,  east  of  Brush  mountain. 


EARLEYSBURG, 

Is  a  post  village,  eight  miles  southeast  of  Bellefonte,  in 
Penn's  valley,  near  the  turnpike  road  from  Lewistown  to 
Bellefonte. 


PATTONSVILLE, 

Near  the  head  of  Slab  Cabin  branch  of  Spring  creek,  fifteen 
miles  south  of  Bellefonte. 


WALKERSVILLE, 

A  post  town,  fourteen  miles  southwest  of  Bellefonte,  on  the 
east  side  of  Bald  Eagle  ridge. 


NEW  PROVIDENCE, 

A  Post  Office,  on  Bald  Eagle  creek,  twenty  miles  northeast 
of  Bellefonte. 


WHITE  HALL, 

A  small  village,  3  miles  west  of   Pattonsville,  and  14  miles 
south  of  Bellefonte. 


CENTRE  COUNTY.  265 

RABERSBURG, 

A  post  town,  in  Brush  Valley,  sixteen  miles  east  of  Belle- 
fonte,  contains  about  20  dwellings,  and  a  store  and  tavern. 
The  valley  possesses  a  rich  limestone  soil. 


JACOBSBURG, 

In  Brush  Valley,  is  thirteen  miles  northeast  of  Bellefonte. 


EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION. 

The  co;iinM  school  system  has  been  adopted  in  every 
township  except  Gregg  and  Plaines.  There  are  13  school 
districts  in  the  county,  14  of  which  have  reported  36  schools 
in  operation,  and  7  more  required  in  those  districts;  5  months 
was  the  average  time  that  schools  were  open ;  having  enga- 
ged 32  mile  ail  10  femile  teachers;  the  former  receiving 
82J,20  cts.  per  imath,  the  latter  $16— number  of  scholars 
taught,  2,733  mile,  L, 9-5:5  females,  of  which  number  131 
were  learning  Germ  in  ;  average  namber  of  scholars  to  each 
school  44;  cost  of  teaching  a  scholar,  per  month,  401  cents. 
A  district  tax  was  raised  to  the  amount  of  $5,737  70;  state 
appropriation  $2,931  00.  Cost  of  tuition  $6,737  70  ;  fuel 
and  contingencies  $535,85;  expended  in  1344  for  school 
houses,  $)47,ll. 

Besides  the  public  schools  and  common  subscription  schools, 
there  are  two  schools  of  advanced  standing  in  Bellefonte — 
the  academy,  where  upwards  of  fifty  pupils  are  instructed, 
and  at  the  same  place  a  femile  seminary,  with  about  the 
same  number  of  scholars.  The  progress  of  education  is  go- 
ing onward. 

The  prevalent  religious  denominations  are  the  same  as  in 
the  adjacent  counties,  except  the  Amish  or  more  rigid  Men- 
nonites  and  Dunkards. 


23 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Union  County. 

Union  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features— Census  of 
1840— Public  improvements — Towns;  New  Berlin,  Frederick  Stump 
and  Ironcutter  killed  ten  Indians,  &c- -Lewisburg,  Capt.  Brady,  Mif- 
flinburg,  Middleburg,  Hartleyton,  Freeburg,  Selin's  Grove,  Charles- 
town,  Beavertown,  Adamstown,  Centreville,  New  Columbus,  Swifts- 
town— Education,  &c. 

Union  county,  formerly  a  part  of  Northumberland  county, 
was  separated  from  it  by  the  act  of  March  22,  1813.  The 
act  directed,  That  all  that  part  of  the  said  county  of  Union, 
from  and  after  the  first  day  of  November  next,  be  entitled  to 
and  at  all  times  thereafter  shall  have  all  and  singular  the 
courts,  jurisdictions,  offices,  rights  and  privileges,  to  which 
the  inhabitants  of  other  counties  of  this  state  are  entitled  by 
the  constitution  and  laws  of  this  commonwealth.  Some  time 
afterwards  Mifflin  county  was  added  ;  but  this  portion  was 
again  re-annexed.  By  an  act  March  16,  1819— That  all 
that  part  of  Decatur  township,  in  Mifflin  county,  lying  east- 
ward of  a  line  to  begin  at  or  near  the  southeast  corner  of 
Centre  county  on  the  top  of  Jack's  mountain,  nearly  opposite 
John  Eberhart's  stillhouse,  so  that  the  same  remains  in  the 
county  of  Mifflin ;  and  from  thence  a  south  course  to  the 
original  division  line  between  Union  and  Mifflin. 

Previous  to  re-annexing  Decatur  township  to  Mifflin  coun- 
ty, a  part  of  Union  was  annexed  to  Lycoming,  by  an  act  of 
March  11,  1815 — That  from  and  after  the  first  day  of  May 
next,  the  township  of  Washington,  in  Union  county,  be  an- 
nexed to  the  county  of  Lycoming. 

Union  county  is  now  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lycoming, 
on  the  east  by  the  Susquehanna,  separating  it  from  Northum- 
berland, on  the  south  by  Juniata  county,  and  on  the  west 
by  Mifflin  and  Centre  counties.  Length  26  miles,  breadth 
21,  area  in  square  miles  550;  in  acres  352,000.  Population 
in  1820,  18,619  j  1830,20,795;  1840,22,787. 


UNION   COUNTY.  267 

The  population  of  the  several  townships  was,  in  1840,  as 
follows : 

Beaver  2,609,  East  Buffalo  812,  West  Buffalo  1,460, 
Clapraan  1,279,  Centre  1,891,  Hartley  1,866,  Kelly  788, 
Penn  2,280,  Union  1,630,  Perry  1,254,  Washington  1,135, 
White  Deer  1,252,  Buffalo  1,348,  Middle  Creek  562.  Bor- 
oughs, viz :  Miffiinsburg  704,  Lewisburg  1,220,  New  Ber- 
lin 679. 

[See  Table  on  the  following  page. 


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Chapman 

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UNION    COUNTY.  269 

Though  this  county  may  strictly  be  called  mountain- 
ous, yet  it  is  not  rugged.  It  lies  in  the  range  of  the  Alle- 
ghan'ies,  under  the  central  transition  formation.  The 
branches  of  the  mountains  traverse  it  in  an  eastern  and 
northeastern  direction. 

The  mountains  you  meet  with  entering  at  the  south,  end- 
ing a  few  miles  west  of  the  Susquehanna,  are  Shade  moun- 
tain, and  Jack's  mountain,  the  most  lofcy  in  the  county. 
Nittany,  Buffalo  and  White  Deer,  are  considerable  eleva- 
tions. The  latter  forms  the  southern  boundary.  The  Blue 
Hill  opposite  Northumberland,  attracts  the  attention  of  the 
traveller,  being  isolated  of  considerable  height.  Besides 
these  mountains  there  are  a  number  of  ridges,  which  give 
the  county  a  broken  appearance,  especially  in  the  southern 
part,  if  we  except  bottoms  along  the  Susquehanna,  and  the 
small  valleys  of  Middle  creek  and  Klapperdahl.  The  val- 
leys generally  here  have  a  calcareous  soil,  and  are  very 
productive,  especially  Buffalo  Valley,  which  is  a  fertile 
and  beautiful  vale  of  limestone  soil,  extending  from  west 
to  east,  nearly  through  the  county;  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Buffalo  mountain  ;  south  by  Jack's  mountain  and  the 
Shamokin  ridge.  Owing  to  the  character  of  the  soil,  agri- 
culture is  the  chief,  and  almost  the  only  pursuit  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  county. 

This  county  is  abundantly  supplied  with  water.  The 
principal  streams  are  the  Susquehanna,  West  Branch  of 
Susquehanna,  Buffalo,  White  Deer,  Middle  and  Mahan- 
tongo  creeks,  and  others  with  small  tributaries,  such  as 
Beaver,  Swift,  Penns,  West  Mahantongo  creeks,  and  oth- 
ers; Turtle,  Rapid  and  Spruce  runs. 

The  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  flows  along  the 
east  side,  to  its  junction  with  the  North  Branch  at  Nor- 
thumberland, uniting  there,  both  roll  onward  to,  and  be- 
yond the  southern  boundary  of  the  county,  affording  the 
most  ample  water  power  imaginable,  for  all  kinds  of  mills 
and  factories,  if  once  demauded  for  that  purpose. 

Penn's  creek,  too,  is  a  stream  of  considerable  importance, 
Tt  rises  in  the  southeast  part  of  Centre  county,  and  flows 
east  through  Centre  and  Union,  by  New  Berlin,  and  falls 
into  the  Susquehanna  river  at  Sehn's  Grove,  after  a  com- 
parative course  of  more  than  fifty  miles,  for  the  great  part 
of  which  it  is  navigable  for  rafts  and  arks.  New  Berlin, 
23* 


268  UNION   COUNTY. 

which  is  twelve  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  the  natural  depot 
of  the  descending  trade  of  this  stream. 

Buffalo  creek,  in  the  north  of  the  county,  is  a  union  of 
Great  Buffalo  and  Little  Buffalo  ;  the  former  rises  on  the 
confines  of  Centre  county,  and  flows  east  through  this 
county,  into  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  at  Lew- 
isburg,  receiving  in  its  course  Rapid  run,  Spruce  run  and 
the  Little  Buffalo  creek,  which  rises  in  White  Deer  town- 
ship, and  runs  south  until  it  flows  into  Great  Buffalo. 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  two  furna- 
ces m  this  county,  which  produced  355  tons  of  cast  iron, 
one  forge  produced  150  tons  of  bar  iron,  and  consumed 
427  tons  of  fuel ;  39  men  employed  in  manufacturing  iron 
including  mining  operatives,  capital  $22,000.  Horses  and 
mules  in  the  county  5,07S,  neat  cattle  14,605,  sheep  18,- 
196,  swine  16,578,  poultry  of  all  kinds  estimated  at  $6,- 
193,  wheat  raised  310,010  bushels,  barley  965,  oats  263,- 
501,  rye  135,387,  buckwheat  24,461.  corn  172, 191, pounds 
of  wool  25,492,  hops  515,  wax  1,603,  bushels  of  potatoes 
107,570,  tons  of  hay  1S,56S,  pounds  of  tobacco  gathered 
8,000,  cords  of  wood  sold  2,908,  value  of  the  product  of 
the  dairy  $10,625,  value  of  the  products  of  the  orchard 
$4,455,  value  of  home  made  or  family  goods  $15,304. 
Retail  and  dry  goods  and  other  stores  51,  with  a  capital  of 
$232,200;  two  lumber  yards,  capital  $2,400.  Value  of 
machinery  manufactured  $8,800, 7  men  employed.  Bricks 
and  lime  manufactured  valued  at  $S,300,  employed  96 
hands.  Fulling  mills  13,  one  woollen  factory,  value  of 
manufactured  goods  $7,500,  IS  hands  employed,  capital 
invested  $4,000.  Value  of  hats  and  caps  manufactured 
$7,950,  employed  16  hands,  capital  invested  $3,500.  24 
tanneries  tanned  3,920  sides  of  sole  leather  and  6,325  of 
upper,  employed  52  hands,  capital  $38,400  ;  all  other  ma- 
nufactories of  leather,  saddleries,  &c.  38,  value  of  manu- 
factured articles  $27,750,  capital  invested  $16,710.  Eigh- 
teen distilleries  produced  140,63  gallons;  two  breweries 
produced  6,000  gallons  of  beer,  32  hands  were  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  distilled  and  fermented  liquors,  cap- 
ital invested  $15,500.  Eight  potteries  manufactured  to 
the  value  of  five  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety  dollars, 
employed  14  hands,  capital  nine  hundred  dollars.  Six 
printing  offices  and  one  bindery,  employed  24  hands,  cap  • 


UNION    COUNTY.  271 

ital  nine  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Value  of  wagons 
and  carriages  manufactured  eighteen  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars,  employed  5S  hands,  capital  invest- 
ed seven  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Thirteen 
flouring  mills  manufactured  8,526  barrels;  32  grist  mills. 
75  saw  mills,  6  oil  mills,  value  of  the  manufacture  of  mills 
23,258  dollars,  employed  130  hands,  and  a  capital  of  119,- 
050  dollars.  Value  of  furniture  manufactured  3,500  dol- 
lars, employed  16  hands,  capital  2,350  dollars.  Total  cap- 
ital invested  in  all  manufactures  224,940  dollars.  Total 
aggregate  of  property  taxable  in  1844,  $4,235,053  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  Susquehanna  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal 
extends  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  county  to  Northum- 
berland, where  the  tow-path  crosses  the  West  Branch,  by 
a  substantial  bridge.  The  West  Branch  canal  being  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  Cross-cut  or  Side-cut  extends 
from  Lewisturg  to  the  pool  formed  by  a  dam  in  the  river, 
and  thus  communicates  with  the  State  canal.  This  cut  is 
about  three-fourths  a  mile  long,  and  has  contributed  much 
towards  the  briskness  of  business  in  Lewisburg.  Much  of 
the  produce  of  this  fertile  region  is  shipped  here. 

On  its  completion,  the  citizens  of  Lewisburg  and  vicini- 
ty, had  a  Canal  celebration.  The  following  is  taken  from 
the  Lewisburg  Journal. 

Canal  Celebration. — The  Lewisburg  Cross-Cut,  consist- 
ing ol  a  dam,  and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  canal, 
making  a  complete  communication  between  Lewisburg 
and  the  West  Branch  Canal,  being  this  day  (October  26. 
1833)  finished  ;  and  upon  letting  the  water  pass  from  the 
canal  into  the  river,  a  large  number  of  persons  collected  to 
witness  the  operation  of  an  improvement  in  which  all  ap- 
peared to  feel  a  common  interest.  It  was  proposed  that  a 
meeting  be  organized  at  the  house  of  Col.  Christian  Shro- 
yer,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  public  expression  of  sen- 
timent relative  to  those  concerned  in  procuring  for  us  this 
improvement. 


272  UNION   COUNTY. 

Christian  Shroyer  was  called  to  the  chair,  P.  Geddes  & 
W.  Cameron,  acted  as  Secretaries.  Among  others,  the  fol- 
lowing sentiments  were  given  : — 

Samuel  J.  Packer,  Esq. — The  able,  intelligent,  and 
faithful  representative  of  his  senatorial  district.  His  zeal 
and  untiring  exertion  in  favor  of  the  law  authorizing  the 
improvement  that  has  just  been  finished,  is  still  fresh  in'our 
memories,  and  should  an  opportunity  offer,  the  borough 
of  Lewisburg  will  prove  that  her  citizens  are  not  ungrate- 
ful. 

The  Lewisburg  Cross-Cut — The  Liberality  that  author- 
ized the  genius  that  designed,  and  the  skill,  perseverance 
and  industry  that  constructed,  all  deserve  the  admiration 
and  esteem  of  every  one  who  looks  forward  to  the  rise 
and  prosperity  of  our  already  flourishing  and  growing  vil- 
lage and  its  surrounding  neighborhood. 

A  turnpike  road  extends  from  Lewisburg  by  Mifflins- 
burg,  and  Hartleytown  to  Aaronsburg  and  Bellefonte. 
There  are  three  bridges  across  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  within  the  bounds  of  this  county;  the  State 
bridge  at  Northumberland,  and  two  company  bridges  in 
which  the  State  holds  stock,  one  at  Milton  and  the  other 
at  Lewisburg.  Besides  these,  there  are  bridges  over  all 
the  principal  streams,  when  crossed  by  the  main  roads. 

The  common  public  roads  are  generally  kept  in  good 
repair  in  this  county. 


NEW  BERLIN, 

Is  the  seat  of  justice,  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  Penn's 
creek,  rather  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  in  the  midst 
of  a  fertile  limestone  valley.  It  was  laid  out  by  a  Mr. 
Long,  about  forty-five  years  ago,  who  afterwards  sold 
out  and  moved  away,  about  thirty  years  ago.  When 
first  laid  out  it  was  called  Longstown,  but  on  the  erec- 
tion of  the  county  in  1812,  the  name  was  changed  to 
New  Berlin.  The  town  was  then  built  exclusively  upon 
the  southernmost  of  the  two  principal  streets,  of  which 
it  now  consists.  In  1813  it  contained  only  five  or  six 
frame  houses,  but  on  the  establishment  of  the  county,  the. 


UNION    COUNTY.  273 

holders  of  outlots  north  of  the  town  and  under  Montour's 
ridge,  threw  them  into  a  common  stock,  made  a  lottery  "rjf 
them,  at  twenty-five  dollars  per  share  of  one  lot. 

The  town  contains  nearly  one  hundred  dwellings,  a  fine 
court  house  and  county  offices,  of  brick,  and  a  stone  jail, 
three  churches,  Lutheran,  Methodist,  and  Evangelical 
Association.  There  are  also  several  stores  and  tavern?. 
Four  papers  are  published  here,  two  English  and  two  Ger- 
man. 

Population  in  1840,  679,  of  these  there  were — 

White  Males  under  5,  72 ;  5  and  under  10,51;  10 
and  under  15,  28;  15  and  under  20,45;  20  and  under 
30,  61;  30  and  under  40,  38;  40  and  under  50,  24; 
50  and  under  60,  17;  60  and  under  70,  6;  70  and  un- 
der SO,  2;  SO  and  under  90,  1. 

White  Females  under  5,  49 ;  5  and  under  10,  45; 
10  and  under  15,  40;  15  and  under  20,  45;  20  and 
under  30,  66;  30  and  under  40,  33;  40  and  under  50, 
27;  50  and  under  60,  11;  60  and  under  70,  12;  70 
and  under  SO,  4;  80  and  under  90,  1. 

Of  these  5  were  engaged  in  agriculture ;  87  in  man- 
ufactures and  trade,  1  in  navigation,  and  18  in  the  learn- 
ed professions. 

The  Penn's  creek  is  navigable  for  rafts  and  arks  above 
50  miles,  and  affords  great  facilities  for  transporting  the 
surplus  produce  of  this  county,  and  ere  long  this  natu- 
ral depot  of  the  trade  of  this  fertile  valley  will  command 
,    a  large  share  of  trade. 

Not  far  fram  this  town,  Frederick  Stump,  the  Indian- 
killer,  slew  some  Indians  at  their  own  cabins. 

Below  is  given  an  account  of  this  horrid  murder,  Stump's 
-apprehension,   and  proceedings  of  government  relative 
thereto. 

Two  or  three  families  of  Indians,  one  called  the  White 
P  Mingo,  another  Cornelius,  one  Jonas,  and  one  Cammell, 
three  Indian  women,  two  girls  and  a  child,  had  removed 
from  the  Big  Island,  on  the  West  Branch  oi  Suscuiehanna, 
in  the  spring  of  1767,  came  and  built  themselves  cabins  on 
Middle  creek,  about   15  miles  above  the  mouth  of  said 


274  UNION    COUNTY. 

creek ;  where  they  lived  and  hunted,  and  were  on  friendly 
terras  with  their  white  neighbors — were  always  well  received 
and  kindly  treated.  In  the  month  of  January,  1768,  they 
came  to  the  house  of  William  Blyth,  who  lived  at  the  mouth 
of  Middle  creek.  He  treated  them  kindly.  From  his  house 
they  went  to  Frederick  Stump's,  who  lived  near  Blyth's, 
where  it  is  supposed  some  differences  happened.  Here  four 
of  the  Indians  were  murdered  ;  their  bodies  cast  into  Middle 
creek,  through  a  hole  in  the  ice.  Stump,  with  his  servant, 
Ironcutter,  (Eisenhauer,)  then  proceeded  to  a  cabin  about 
four  miles  from  his  house,  where  he  found  two  Indian  girls 
and  one  child,  whom  he  also  murdered,  and  setting  fire  to  the 
cabin,  endeavored  to  consume  the  remains. 

The  body  of  one  of  those  thrown  into  Middle  creek,  was 
afterwards  found,  "  lying  dead  within  the  water-mark  of  the 
river  Susquehannah,"  some  distance  below  the  Harrisburg 
bridge,  and  interred  in  Allen  township,  as  will  appear  from 
the  following  letter,  dated 

East  Pennsborough,  Cumberland  co.,  Feb.  29,  1798. 
John  Penn,  Esq.,  Hon.  Sir : 

We  take  this  opportunity  to  inform  you,  that  on  the 
27th  inst.,  at  Allen  township,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland, 
one  James  Thompson  found  an  Indian  man  lying  dead  with- 
in the  water-mark  of  the  river  Susquehannah,  who,  without 
doubt,  is  one  of  the  Indians  Stump  killed,  and  was  brought 
down  there  by  the  water.  As  soon  as  we  heard  thereof, 
hearing  at  the  same  time  that  the  Coroner  was  sick,  we  went 
down,  and  held  an  inquest  on  the  dead  body.  He  was  struck, 
as  appeared  to  us,  on  his  forehead,  which  broke  his  scull. 
There  was  also  a  large  scalp  taken  off  his  head,  which  took 
both  of  his  ears.  We  held  the  inquest  on  the  28th  inst.,  and 
interred  him  decently — cut  small  poles  and  made  a  pen  about 
his  grave.  We  have  nothing  material  more  to  inform  you 
of  at  present,  but  beg  leave  to  subscribe  ourselves, 
Your  obedient  and  humble  servants, 

James  Galbreath, 
Jonathan  Hoge. 

The  murder  of  these  Indians  produced  a  prodigious  ex- 
citement, at  the  time,  as  will  appear  from  all  the  facts  and 


UNION   COUNTY.  275 

proceedings  arising  from,  and  connected  with  it.  As  soon 
as  this  atrocity  was  made  known  to  the  governor  of  the  pro- 
vince, and  to  Sir  William  Johnson,  Penn  issued  his  procla- 
mation, offering  a  reward  for  the  apprehension  of  Stump  and 
Ironcutter,  promising  to  punish  them  with  death ;  and  this 
declaration,  with  two  strings  of  wampum,  he  sent  to  be  made 
known  to  the  Indians  living  on  the  Susquehanna,  requesting 
them  not  to  break  the  peace  in  consequence  of  the  murder. 
A  message  was  also  sent  to  the  same  effect,  says  Heckewel- 
der,  by  the  governor  to  the  Christian  Indians,  with  the  re- 
quest that  they  should  make  it  known  in  public  assembly ; 
and  soon  after,  a  special  message  was  sent  to  the  Christian 
Indians  (at  Friedenshueten)  from  Sir  William  Johnson,  de- 
siring if  they  knew  of  the  relations  of  those  persons  murdered 
at  Middle  creek,  to  send  them  to  him,  that  he  might  wipe 
the  tears  from  their  eyes,  comfort  their  afflicted  hearts,  and 
satisfy  them  on  a*ccount  of  their  grievances.  Sir  William 
Johnson  also  invited  the  chief  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  other 
tribes  of  Indians  living  on  Susquehanna,  and  on  the  Ohio  to 
an  amicable  convention.  A  convention  was  held,  peace  and 
friendship  again  re-established. — [For  particulars  see  Heck- 
ewelder's  Narrative. 

All  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  murder  were 
communicated  to  the  governor  and  council.  Mr.  Blyth  re- 
paired to  Philadelphia,  and  made  information  upon  oath. — 
[See  extracts  of  Records  below. 

Mr.  William  Blyth,  of  Penn's  township,  in  Cumberland 
county,  just  arrived  in  town,  in  order  to  give  information  to 
his  Honor  the  Governor,  of  the  murder  of  ten  Indians,  late- 
ly committed  by  Frederick  Stump,  at  Middle  creek,  in  that 
county,  appeared  at  the  Board,  and  being  examined  on  oath, 
related  what  is  contained  in  the  following  deposition,  taken 
in  council  before  the  Chief  Justice,  who  was  expressly  de- 
sired to  attend  for  that  purpose,  viz  : 

The  deposition  of  William  Blyth  of  Penn's  township,  in 
the  county  of  Cumberland,  Farmer,  being  sworn  on  the  Ho- 
^  ly  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  saith  : 

That  hearing  of  the  murder  of  some  Indians  by  one  Fred- 
erick Stump,  a  German,  he  went  to  the  house  of  George  Ga- 
briel, where  he  understood  Stump  was,  to  enquire  into  the 
matter ;  that  he  there  met  with  Stump  and   several  others, 


276  UNION    COUNTY. 

on  the  12th  of  the  present  month,  January ;  and  was  there 
informed  by  the  said  Stump  himself,  that  on  Sunday  even- 
ing before,  being  the  10th  of  the  month,  six  Indians,  to 
wit,  the  White  Mingo,  an  Indian  man  named  Cornelius,  one 
other  man  named  John  Campbell,  one  other  man  named 
Jones,  and  two  women  came  to  his  (Stump's)  house,  and  be- 
ing in  drink,  and  disorderly,  he  endeavored  to  persuade  them 
to  leave  his  house,  which  they  were  not  inclined  to  do,  and 
being  apprehensive  that  they  intended  to  do  him  some  mis- 
chief, killed  them  all,  and  afterwards,  in  order  to  conceal 
them,  dragged  them  down  to  a  creek  near  his  house,  made  a 
hole  in  the  ice  and  threw  them  in — and  that  the  said  Fred- 
erick Stump  further  informed  this  deponent,  that  fearing 
news  of  his  killing  the  Indians  might  be  carried  to  the  oth- 
er Indians,  he  went  the  next  day  to  two  cabbins  about  four- 
teen miles  from  thence  up  Middle  creek,  ^where  he  found 
one  woman,  two  girls  and  one  child,  which  he  killed  in  or- 
der to  prevent  their  carrying  intelligence  of  the  death  of  the 
other  Indians,  killed  as  aforesaid,  and  afterwards  put  them 
into  the  cabbins  and  burnt  them ;  that  this  deponent  after- 
wards sent  four  men  up  the  creek,  to  where  the  cabbins 
were,  to  know  the  truth  of  the  matter,  who  upon  their  re- 
turn, informed  him  that  they  had  found  the  cabbins  burnt, 
and  discovered  some  remains  of  the  limbs  of  some  Indians 
who  had  been  burnt  in  them — And  further  saith  not. 

William  Blyth. 

Sworn  at  Philadelphia  the  19th  day  of  January,  1768, 
before  me,  William  Allen. 

As  soon  as  Capt.  William  Patterson,  (formerly  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  then  residing  on  the  Juniata)  heard  of  this  atro- 
cious act,  went,  without  waiting  orders  from  the  governor, 
with  a  party  of  nineteen  men,  and  arrested  Stump  and  Iron- 
cutter,  and  delivered  them  to  John  Holmes,  sheriff,  at  Car- 
lisle jail.  Aware  that  the  relatives  of  the  murdered  Indians 
would  be,  on  the  receipt  of  this  news,  exasperated,  he  sent 
one  Gersham  Hicks,  with  a  message  to  the  Indians  at  Big 
Island,  oh  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna. 

Carlisle,  January  23,  176S. 
The  21st  instant,  I  marched  a  party  of  nineteen  men  to 
George  Gabriel's  house  at  Penn's  creek  mouth,  and  made 


UNION   COUNTY.  277 

prisoners  of  Frederick  Stump  and  John  Ironcutter,  who 
were  suspected  to  have  murdered  ten  of  our  friend-Indians, 
near  fort  Augusta ;  and  I  have  this  day  delivered  them  to 
Mr.  Holmes  at  Carlisle  jail. 

Yesterday  I  sent  a  person  to  the  Great  Island,  that  un- 
derstood the  Indian  language,  with  a  talk ;  a  copy  of  which 
is  enclosed *'. 

Myself  and  party,  were  exposed  to  great  danger,  by  the 
desperate  resistance  made  by  Stump  and  his  friends,  who 
sided  with  him.  The  steps  I  have  taken,  I  flatter  myself, 
will  not  be  disapproved  of  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  govern- 
ment ;  my  sole  view  being  directed  to  the  service  of  the 
frontiers,  before  I  heard  his  Honor  the  Governor's  orders. — 
The  message  I  have  sent  to  the  Indians,  I  hope  will  not  be 
deems!  assuming  an  authority  of  my  own,  as  you  are  very 
sensible  I  am  no  stranger  to  the  Indians  and  their  customs. 
I  am,  with  lespect, 

Your  most  obedient 

humble  servant, 

W.  Patterson. 

Juniata,  January  22,  1768. 

"  Brothers  of  the  Six  Nations,  Delawares,  and  other  in- 
habitants of  the  West  Branch  of  Susquehanna,  hear  what  I 
have  to  say  to  you.  With  a  heart  swelled  with  grief,  I 
have  to  inform  you,  that  Frederick  Stump  and  John  Iron- 
cutter,  hath,  unadvisedly,  murdered  ten  of  our  friend-Indians 
near  Fort  Augusta — The  inhabitants  of  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania  do  disapprove  of  the  said  Stump  and  Ironcut- 
ter's  conduct ;  and  as  a  proof  thereof,  I  have  taken  them 
prisoners,  and  will  deliver  them  into  the  custody  of  officers, 
that  will  keep  them  ironed  in  prison  for  trial ;  and  I  make 
no  doubt,  as  many  of  them  as  are  guilty,  will  be  condemned, 
and  die  for  the  offence. 

"  Brothers,  I  being  truly  sensible  of  the  injury  done  you, 
I  only  add  these  few  words,  with  my  heart's  wish,  that  you 
may  not  rashly  let  go  the  fast  hold  of  our  chain  of  friendship, 
for  the  ill  conduct  of  one  of  our  bad  men.  Believe  me,  Bro- 
thers, we  Englishmen  continue  the  same  love  for  you  that 
hath  usually  subsisted  between  our  grand-fathers,  and  I  de- 
sire you  to  call  at  Fort  Augusta,  to  trade  with  our  people, 
for  the  necessaries  you  stand  in  need  of.  I  pledge  you  my 
24 


278  UNION    COUNTY. 

word,  that  no  white  man  there  shall  molest  any  of  you, 
while  you  behave  as  friends.  I  shall  not  rest  night  nor  day, 
until  I  receive  your  answer. 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

W.  Patterson. 

The  following  is  an  answer  to  Captain  Patterson's  mes- 
sage, of  January  22,  1768. 

"  February  11th,  1768. 
"  Loving  Brother : 

I  received  your  speech  by  Gertham  Hicks,  and  have  sent 
one  of  my  relatives  with  a  string  of  wampum,  and  the  fol- 
lowing answer : 

Loving  Brother : 

I  am  glad  to  hear  from  you — I  understand  that  you  are 
very  much  grieved,  and  that  the  tears  run  from  your  eyes 
— With  both  my  hands  I  now  wipe  away  those  tears  :  and 
as  I  don't  doubt  but  your  heart  is  disturbed,  I  remove  all 
the  sorrows  from  it,  and  make  it  easy  as  it  was  before.  I 
will  now  sit  down  and  smoke  my  pipe.  I  have  taken  fast 
hold  of  the  chain  of  friendship  ;  and  when  I  give  it  a  pull, 
if  I  find  my  brothers,  the  English,  have  let  go,  then  it  will 
be  time  for  me  to  let  go  too,  and  take  care  of  my  family- 
There  are  four  of  my  relatives  murdered  by  Stump ;  and  all 
I  desire  is,  that  he  may  suffer  for  his  wicked  action  ;  I  shall 
then  think  that  people  have  the  same  goodness  in  their  hearts 
as  formerly,  and  intend  to  keep  it  there.  As  it  was  the 
evil  spirit  who  caused  Stump  to  commit  this  bad  action,  I 
blame  none  of  my  brothers,  the  English,  but  him. 

I  desire  that  the  people  of  Juniata  may  sit  still   on  their 
places,  and  not  put  themselves  to  any  hardships,  by  leaving 
their  habitations ;  whatever   danger   is   coming,  they  shall 
know  it  before  it  comes  on  them. 
I  am, 

Your  loving  Brother. 

Shawana  Ben. 
To  Capt.  William  Patterson. 

The  Council,  after  examining  Mr.  Blyth,  immediately 
took  this  most  important  matter  into  consideration,  and  were 
of  opinion  that  warrants  should  forthwith  be  issued  by   the 


UNION    COUNTY.  279 

chiet  justice,  directed  to  the  sheriffs,  under  sheriffs,  and  oth- 
er officers  of  the  Province,  and  particularly  to  those  of  the 
counties  of  Cumberland,  Lancaster  and  Berks,  for  the  appre- 
hending of  the  above  mentioned  Frederick  Stump,  and  bringing 
him  before  one  of  his  Majesty's  Justices  of  Oyer  and  Terminer, 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law.  The  Board  also  advised 
the  Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation  offering  a  reward  of 
£200  for  apprehending  said  offender,  and  bringing  him  to 
justice;  but  to  delay  the  publication  of  the  same  for  a  short 
time,  till  other  more  secret  means  should  be  used  for  taking 
him,  lest  news  of  such  a  proclamation  should  reach  his  ear, 
and  he  might  be  thereby  so  alarmed,  as  to  abscond,  or  make 
his  escape  before  any  sheriff  could  arrive  at  Penn's  creek, 
where  it  is  believed  he  continues  to  remain  with  his  family. 
They  therefore  advised  the  governor  to  write  immediately  to 
the  magistrates  of  Cumberland  county,  strictly  requiring  them 
to  exert  themselves  on  this  occasion,  by  giving  their  best  as- 
sistance to  the  sheriff  and  other  officers,  and  taking  all  other 
measures  in  their  power  for  apprehending  and  securing  the 
said  Frederick  Stump,  and  also  to  despatch  letters  of  the 
same  kind  to  the  magistrates  of  Lancaster  and  Berks  coun- 
ties, instructing  them  to  send  their  sheriffs  with  sufficient  aid 
to  the  utmost  limits  of  those  counties  on  the  Susquehanna,  so 
as  to  be  nearly  opposite  to  Middle  crrek,  that  they  may  be 
in  readiness  to  apprehend  the  said  Stump,  in  case  he  should 
cross  the  river  to  retire  to  either  of  those  counties. 

The  Board  further  advised  the  governor  to  write  to  Gene- 
ral Gage  and  Sir  William  Johnson,  acquainting  them  with 
this  unhappy  accident,  and  the  steps  he  is  taking  on  this  oc- 
casion, and  to  request  Sir  William  will  be  pleased  to  commu- 
nicate the  same  as  soon  as  possible  to  the  Six  Nations,  in  the 
best  and  most  favorable  manner  in  his  power,  so  as  to  prevent 
their  taking  immediate  resentment  for  this  unavoidable  injury, 
committed  on  their  people,  and  to  assure  them  of  the  firm  and 
sincere  purposes  of  this  government  to  give  them  full  satisfac- 
tion at  all  times  for  all  wrongs  done  to  the  Indians,  and  to  pre- 
serve the  friendship  subsisting  between  us  and  them  inviolable. 
Accordingly,  the  chief  justices  warrants  and  several  letters 
to  the  magistrates  of  Cumberland,  Lancaster  and  Berks  coun- 
ties, were  prepared  without  delay  and  despatched  by  ex- 
press. But  before  those  letters,  and  the  proclamation  of 
chief  justice  Allen  reached  the  magistrates  and  sheriffs,  Stump 


280 


UNION    COUNTY. 


and  Ironcutter,  as  above  stated,  had  been  lodged  in  jail ;  but 
before  they  were  brought  to  trial,  were  rescued  from  prison 
by  their  friends  and  neighbors,  whose  fears  were  excited  that 
Stump  and  Ironcutter  were  to  be  taken  to  Philadelphia,  there 
to  be  tried,  they  "  not  properly  distinguishing  between  exam- 
ination and  trial,"  rescued  them  from  prison,  on  the  29th  of 
January,  and  carried  them  off. 

Governor  Penn  sent  a  message  express  to  the  chiefs  on 
Great  Island,  on  which  he  deplores  the  death  of  the  Indi- 
dians. 

A  Message  from  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  to  Ne-wo- 
lee-ka,  the  Chief  of  the  Delawares,  and  to  other  Indians  at 
the  Great  Island. 

Brother  Ne-wo-lee-ka : 

The  Indian  man,  Billy  Champion,  who  is  the  bearer  of  this 
letter,  has  informed  me  there  were  some  white  people  in  your 
parts,  surveying  and  marking  out  lands,  under  a  pretence  of 
hunting ;  and  you  sent  him  to  desire  to  know,  if  this  was 
done  by  my  order  or  knowledge.  I  assure  you  it  was  not. 
It  is  a  wicked  thing,  contrary  to  my  treaties  with  you,  and 
contrary  to  our  laws  and  my  proclamations.  I  will  make  it 
my  business  to  find  them  out ;  and,  if  you  know  who  they 
are,  I  desire  you  will  inform  me,  that  they  may  be  taken  and 
brought  to  justice.  The  string  herewith  sent  confirms  my 
words.     A  String. 

Brother — 

I  am  glad  this  Indian  man,  Bill,  came  down  at  this  time, 
for  it  gives  me  an  opportunity  of  informing  you  of  a  melan- 
choly affair  which  I  have  only  heard  of  within  these  few 
days,  and  which  fills  the  hearts  of  all  your  Brethren  with 
the  deepest  sorrow  and  grief.  It  is  this :  two  or  three  fami- 
lies of  Indians,  namely  the  White  Mingo,  Jonas  and  John 
Cammell,  three  women,  two  girls  and  a  child,  left  the  Big 
Island  in  the  spring  and  came  and  built  themselves  cabins  on 
Middle  creek,  about  fifteen  miles  up  the  creek ;  there  they 
lived  and  hunted,  and  were  often  with  our  people,  and  were 
always  well  received  and  kindly  treated  by  them.  About 
ten  days  ago  they  were  at  Mr.  Wm.  Blythe's,  who  lives  at 
the  mouth  of  Middle  creek,  who  treated  them  kindly ;  and 
from  his  house  they  went  to  one  Frederick  Stump's3.a  Dutch- 


UNION    COUNTY.  281 

man,  who  lives  h  that  neighborhood.  There  it  is  supposed 
some  difference  happened,  but  what  it  was  we  have  not  heard, 
but  they  were  all  found  murdered ;  six  of  them  in  Stump's 
own  house,  and  four  at  a  certain  cabin  at  some  distance  from 
it.  I  am  further  informed,  Stump  says  he  killed  them  all 
with  his  own  hands,  and  that  there  was  no  other  person  con- 
cerned with  him  in  the  act. 

On  my  receiving  this  melancholy  account,  the  sheriff  was 
immediately  sent  with  his  officers  to  take  up  this  Stump  as 
the  murderer ;  and  for  their  encouragement,  I  offered  them  a 
reward  of  two  hundred  pounds ;  and  I  am  in  hopes  he  is  by 
this  time  taken ;  and  no  time  shall  be  lost  to  bring  him  to  his 
trial,  that  he  may  suffer  death  in  the  same  manner  as  he  would 
have  done,  had  he  killed  some  white  men. 
Brother — 

I  consider  this  matter  in  no  other  light,  than  as  the  act 
of  a  wicked,  rash  man,  and  I  hope  you  will  also  consider  it 
in  the  same  way,  and  not  imagine  that  since  it  was  done  by 
one  man,  in  the  manner  I  have  related  it  to  you,  that  any 
other  persons  have  been  concerned  in  it,  or  that  it  has  been 
in  any  way  encouraged  by  any  of  my  people.  I  assure  you 
it  has  not. 
Brother — 

There  are  among  you  and  us  some  wild,  rash,  mad- 
headed  people,  who  commit  actions  of  this  sort.  Whenever 
it  so  happens,  all  that  can  be  done,  is  immediately  to  acquaint 
each  other  of  them,  and  to  bring  the  offenders  to  justice,  that 
it  may  make  no  breach  between  us,  but  be  considered  as  a 
rash,  sudden  act,  that  could  not  be  prevented  :  and,  we  now 
inform  you  further,  that  we  are  going  to  send  off  a  messen- 
ger immediately,  to  the  relations  of  the  deceased  people,  who, 
we  hear,  live  near  Chenasse,  (Genesee)  to  inform  them,  and 
the  Seneca  Nation,  to  whom  they  belong,  of  this  murder: 
and  to  bury  their  bodies  and  wipe  their  tears  from  their  eyes, 
that  it  may  not  break  the  friendship  subsisting  between  us 
and  the  Indians ;  but  that  we  may  live  together  and  love  one 
another,  as  we  did  before  this  melancholy  accident  happened. 
This  belt  confirms  ray  words.     A  Belt  of  Wampum. 

Brother— 

I  desire  this  belt  of  wampum  may  be  sent  to  any  of  our 
brethren,  near  you,  that  they  may  not  be  frightened,  or  think 

24* 


282  UNION    COUNTY. 

the  English  are  not  their  friends.  Assure  them  to  the  con- 
trary; and  that  we  will  keep  the  chain  of  friendship  entire 
and  bright,  notwithstanding  this  accident.  To  confirm  this? 
my  request,  I  give  you  this  string.     A  String. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the   Lesser  Seal  of 

{  Locus  )  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia,  the 
\  sigili.  j  23d  of  January,  1768. 

John  Penn. 

By  his  Honor's  command  : 

Joseph  Shippen,  Jr.,  Secretary. 

Immediately  on  the  rescue  of  the  prisoners,  Mr.  Armstrong 
sent  a  letter  express,  by  Mr.  Cunningham,  to  governor  Penn, 
informing  him  of  what  had  happened.  Mr.  Cunningham's 
deposition  was  taken,  by  Chief  Justice  Allen,  before  the 
council  and  Assembly,  whereupon  the  governor  issued  a  proc- 
lamation for  the  apprehension  of  the  prisoners. 

Carlisle,  January  29th,  1768. 
John  Penn,  Esq.,  Hon.  Sir : 

In  this  perturbation  of  mind,  I  cannot  write;  but  in  real 
distress,  only  inform  your  Honor,  that  we  are  deceived  and 
disgraced  at  once;  for  about  ten  o'clock  this  morning,  to  the 
number  of  70  or  80  men,  under  arms,  surrounded  our  jail, 
when  af  number  of  them,  unknown  to  the  magistrates,  I  must 
say,  appear  to  have  had  too  ready  entrance  into  the  dungeon? 
and  in  less  than  ten  minutes  time,  carried  off  Stump  and  his 
servant,  in  open  triumph  and  violation  of  the  law.  The  few 
magistrates  that  were  present,  Messrs.  Miller  and  Lyon  and 
myself,,  have,.  I  hope,  obviously  enough  done  our  duty;,  but, 
while  we  were  engaged  at  the  prison  door,  exerting  ourselves 
both  by  force  and  argument,  a  party,  utterly  without  our 
knowledge,  was  in  the  dungeon,  of  which  we  were  not  ac- 
quainted either  by  the  jailer  or  any  other  person,  who,  be- 
fore we  were  aware  of  it,  had  the  prisoners  in  the  open 
street,  when  we  were  unable  to  make  further  opposition,  and 
they  were  gone  in  less  than  a  second. 

The  jailer  says  that,  a  pistol  was  held  at  his  breast,  and 
this  is  all  we  can  at  present  say  of  that  circumstance.  These 
rioters  give  as  reasons  for  their  conduct,  that  the  prisoners 
were  to  be  carried  to  Philadelphia  for  trial — that  a  number 
of  white  men  have  been  killed  by  the  Indians  since  the  peace,, 


UNION    COUNTY.  28o 

and  the  Indians  have  not  been  brought  to  justice,  &c.  At 
present  we  know  not  what  step  to  take  for  the  best,  and 
beg  leave  to  be  favored  with  your  Honor's  further  instruc- 
tions. I  have  written  in  the  presence  of  the  two  magistrates 
mentioned  above,  and  am 

Your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  servant, 

John  Armstrong. 

P.  S.  The  bearer,  Mr.  Cunningham,  is  a  prudent  young 
man — knows  the  state  of  these  things,  and  may  be  depended 
on  in  any  questions  your  Honor,  or  the  chief  justice  may 
think  proper  to  ask. 

James  Cunningham  appeared  before  the  Board,  Thursday 
Feb.  4,  1798 — his  deposition  taken  in  the  presence  of  John 
Penn,  Esq.,  James  Hamilton,  Wm.  Logan,  Benj.  Chew,  Rich- 
ard Penn  and  James  Tilghman  was  examined,  and  his  depo- 
sition taken. 

James  Cunningham,  of  Lancaster  county,  farmer,  being 
sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  deposeth 
and  saith,  that  on  Friday,  the  29th  day  of  January  last,  about 
nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  as  he  was  sitting  at  break- 
fast with  John  Armstrong,  Esq.,  in  the  town  of  Carlisle,  in 
the  county  of  Cumberland,  he  was  surprised  to  see  a  number 
of  armed  men  surrounding,  on  a  sudden,  the  public  jail  in  the 
said  town,  that  he  and  the  said  John  Armstrong,  apprehend- 
ing that  tbe  said  company  met  with  an  intention  to  rescue 
from  the  said  jail  a  certain  Frederick  Stump  and  John  Iron- 
cutter,  who  were  confined  there  for  the  murder  of  a  numbei 
of  Indians, they  both  instantly  ran  to  the  said  jail  in  ordei 
to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  execution  of  so  wicked  and  illegal 
a  design.  That  when  they  got  up  to  the  said  jail,  the  said 
John  Armstrong  made  his  way  through  a  number  of  armed 
men,  who  stood  before  the  door  of  the  said  jail,  which  wa> 
open,  and  guarded  by  four  men,  who  stood  within  the  door 
with  arms  in  their  hands;  that  the  said  John  Armstrong  and 
John  Holmes,  high  sheriff  of  the  said  county,  both  attempted 
to  go  into  the  door  of  the  jail,  but  were  several  times  pushed 
back  and  prevented  :  that  as  the  said  John  Armstrong  stood 
on  the  steps,  under  the  door,  he  addressed  himself  frequently 
to  the  armed  company  who  were  about  him,  and  used  many 


284 


UNION    COUNTY. 


arguments  to  persuade  them  to  desist  from  their  lawless  un- 
dertaking, and  told  them,  among  other  things,  that  they  were 
about  to  do  an  act  which  would  subject  themselves  and  their 
country  to  misery.  That  while  the  said  Armstrong  was 
speaking,  this  deponent  saw  one  man  take  hold  of  him,  and 
draw  him  down  the  said  steps,  upon  which  the  said  Armstrong 
by  violence  pushed  back  the  person  who  had  hold  of  him,  and 
regained  his  stand  on  the  said  steps,  saying  at  the  same  timer 
that  they  should  take  his  lite  before  they  should  rescue  the 
prisoners.  This  deponent  further  saith,  that  while  the  said 
John  Armstrong  and  Robert  Miller,  and  Wm.  Lyon,  Esq., 
and  the  Rev.  J.  Steel,  who  had  joined  the  said  Armstrong, 
were  endeovoring  to  disperse  the  said  company,  several  other 
armed  men  appeared  within  side  the  said  jail,  to  the  very 
great  surprise  of  every  one,  with  the  two  prisoners  above 
mentioned  in  their  possession,  whom  they  brought  forward, 
and  after  pushing  the  said  Armstrong,  Miller,  Lyon,  Steel, 
Holmes,  and  this  deponent,  by  violence  and  crowding  from 
before  the  said  jail  door,  carried  them  off  with  shouts  and 
rejoicing,  and  immediately  left  the  town.  This  deponent 
further  saith  that  he  cannot  with  certainty  declare  what  num- 
bers were  in  the  company  which  made  the  said  rescue,  but 
that  from  the  best  judgment  he  could  form,  there  were  70  or 
80,  all  armc  d  with  guns,  and  some  tomahawks.  This  depo- 
nent further  saith,  on  his  solemn  oath,  that  he  does  not  know, 
nor  has  any  personal  knowledge  of  any  one  of  the  persons  he 
saw  in  the  said  company,  concerned  in  the  said  rescue,  and 
that  after  the  said  company  had  left  the  town,  the  Rev.  Steel 
came  to  the  said  Armstrong  and  Mr.  Lyons  and  Holmes,  and 
informed  them  that  the  said  rescuers  desired  theyjvould  come 
to,  and  confer  with  them  at  the  plantation  of  John  Davis,,  to 
come  to  some  terms  with  them.  That  the  said  three  last 
mentioned  persons  immediately  mounted  their  horses  and  went 
towards  the  said  Davis's,  but  informed  this  deponent  that  on 
their  return,  that  the  said  company  had  altered  their  resolu- 
tion, and  had  gone  on  without  waiting  for  them;  and  further 
saith  not. 

James  Cunningham. 
Taken  and  sworn  before  the  Gov- 
ernor and  council,  Feb.  4, 1798. 

Deposition  of  James  Cunningham,  of  the  county  of  Lancas- 


UNION    COUNTY. 


2S/ 


ter,  being  sworn  according  to  law,  taken  an  oath,  adminis- 
tered by  the  Chief  Justice,  before  the  House,  February  4, 
1768. 

That  about  ten  o'clock  last  Friday  morning,  as  he  sat  at 
breakfast,  with  Col.  John  Armstrong,  in  the  town  of  Carlisle, 
looking  through  a  window  opposite  to  the  prison,  he  saw  a 
number  of  armed  men  running  towards  the  back  of  the  jail, 
of  which,  acquainting  the  colonel,  they  both  arose  from  the  ta- 
ble, run  into  the  street,  and  made  their  way  through  the  arm- 
ed men  to  the  jail  door,  the  colonel  calling  out  to  the  people 
that  they  were  acting  a  bad  part,  or  words  to  that  effect,  and 
desiring  them,  as  they  could  not  be  all  reasoned  with,  to 
choose  out  three  or  four,  or  half  a  dozen  of  their  leaders,  and 
he  would  convince  them  that  they  were  acting  a  part  that 
must  subject  them  and  their  country  to  misery;  that  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Steei  came  out  and  spoke  to  the  people  to  the  same  ef- 
fect ;  that  the  Colonel,  Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  Lyon,  the  Sheriff, 
the  deponent  and  others,  having  got  to  the  jail  door,  forced 
all  the  people  from  it,  except  iour  armed  men,  who  stood 
within  the  door  with  their  muskets  across  it ;  that  some  of  the 
armed  men  within  pushed  the  Colonel  down  the  steps,  who,, 
having  recovered  himself,  said  to  them  ;  Gentlemen,  I  am  un- 
armed, and  it  is  in  your  power  to  kill  me,  but  I  will  die  on 
the  spot  before  you  shall  rescue  the  prisoners.  Mr.  Miller 
spoke  in  like  manner ;  that  while  the  magistrates  and  sheriff 
were  thus  attempting  in  vain  to  get  at  the  door,  to  the  sur- 
prise of  every  one  but  the  mob,  the  prisoners  were  brought 
out,  (Stump  handcuffed,  the  servant  not)  when  the  people 
accompanying  them,  called  out  to  the  mob,  "make  way, here 
are  the  prisoners;"  many  shouting  out,  "we  have  them,"  and 
immediately  run  off  with  them — that  the  deponent  had  no 
personal  knowledge  of  any  of  the  rescuers,  but,  to  the  best 
of  his  memory,  was  informed  by  the  jailer,  that  one  of  the 
persons  who  had  hold  of  him  in  the  jail,  was  named  James 
Morrow;  that  he  also  heard,  but  knows  not  from  whom,  that 
there  was  one  among  them  by  the  name  of  Beard  ;  likewise 
Adams,  Parker,  Williams  or  Williamson,  and  one  John  Mor- 
row, who  was  on  the  outside  of  the  jail  armed :  that  after  the 
mob  and  prisoners  were  gone  off,  Mr.  Steel  came  down  to  Col. 
Armstrong's,  and  informed  him  he  had  seen  two  that  he  sus- 
pected were  of  the  party,  who  told  him  they  wanted  the  Co- 
lonel, Mr,  Lyon,  and  the  Sheriff  to  go  to  John  Davis's  place 


286 


UNION    COUNTY. 


at  the  creek,  about  two  miles  off,  to  converse  with  them, 
hoping  they  might  come  to  terms;  that  upon  this  notice,  the 
Colonel,  Mr.  Lyon  and  the  Sheriff,  immediately  took  their 
horses  and  went  off:  that  a  little  before  sunset  they  returned, 
when  Colonel  Armstrong  told  this  deponent  they  had  gone  to 
Davis's,  and  to  some  other  house  farther  off,  (he  does  not 
remember  the  name)  and  were  there  acquainted  that  the  mob 
being  apprehensive  a  party  might  pursue  them  and  retake  the 
prisoners,  had  moved  off  with  them  from  that  place,  thinking 
it  was  unsafe  to  stay  longer;  that  Justice  Byers  having  heard 
of  the  matter,  met  them  here,  and  Colonel  Armstrong  sent  a 
messenger,  with  a  few  lines,  after  the  mob,  setting  forth  to 
them  the  danger  they  were  in,  and  the  mischievous  conse- 
quences of  such  conduct,  and  advising  them  to  return  and  sur- 
render the  prisoners  to  justice  ;  that  the  deponent  was  told 
the  names  of  the  rioters  above  mentioned  by  Colonel  Arm- 
strong, Mr.  Miller,  Mr.  Lyon,  or  the  Sheriff,  but  he  is  not 
certain  which  of  them;  and  that  after  the  rescue,  he  heard  a 
company  of  lads  say  they  saw  the  mob  going  along  with  the 
prisoners,  and  carrying  a  Smith  with  them,  (named  McGonef 
gal)  with  a  pistol  held  to  his  breast ;  that  three  men  from 
Carlisle,  to  wit,  Ephraim  Blain,  Ralph  JNailor  and  Joseph 
Hunter,  told  the  deponent  he  had  followed  the  mob  to  one 
Ferguson's,  near  the  foot  of  the  North  mountain,  six  or  seven 
miles  from  Carlisle,  and  coming  up  with  them,  endeavored  to 
convince  them  they  had  done  wrong,  and  ought  to  give  up 
the  prisoners  to  government;  that  some  appeared  concerned, 
as  if  convicted  of  misconduct,  and  thereupon  told  these  men, 
that  if  they  could  have  security  that  the  prisoners  should  not 
be  carried  to  Philadelphia  for  trial,  they  would  take  care  of 
them,  and  engage  they  should  be  delivered  up  to  justice; — 
that  the  said  Blain,  Nailor  and  Hunter,  however,  gave  them 
no  encouragement  to  expect  the  security  they  wanted,  but 
acquainted  them  they  would  mention  it  to  the  magistrates 
and  Sheriff;  that  after  this,  deponent  heard  some  talk  of  the 
magistrates  and  sheriff  intending  to  go  out  to  the  mob,  but 
they  were  gone  up  when  he  left  Carlisle ;  that  the  deponent 
heard  on  the  Wednesday  before  the  rescue,  the  magistrates 
met  to  consult  on  some  matter,  he  supposes  it  might  be  about 
sending  the  prisoners  to  Philadelphia,  when  a  party  of  armed 
men  appeared  in  sight  of  Carlisle,  from  whom  two  persons, 
John  Davis  and  John  McClure,  came  to  town,  and  he  was 


UNION    COUNTY.  287 

told,  informed  the  magistrates  that  this  party  were  coming  to 
rescue  the  prisoners  from  jail,  understanding  the  sheriff  was 
to  take  them  to  Philadelphia  that  day :  that  two  young  men 
came  also  from  the  said  party  to  town,  to  speak  to  the  sher- 
iff, having  heard  the  prisoners  were  cruelly  treated,  and  were 
to  be  sent  to  Philadelphia  for  trial ;  that  upon  talking  with 
the  sheriff,  and  being  convinced  that  the  prisoners  were  not 
ill  used,  nor  to  be  carried  to  Philadelphia  to  be  tried,  but  only 
for  examination,  they  seemed  satisfied  and  returned  to  their 
party,  who  fired  their  muskets  and  moved  off;  that  the  sher- 
iff told  this  to  the  magistrates,  and  the  deponents  heard  they 
advised  the  sheriff  to  be  careful  of  the  jail  doors,  but  he  does 
not  know  that  the  magistrates  placed  a  guard  or  took  any 
other  method  for  strengthening  and  securing  the  prison ;  that 
on  the  morning  of  the  rescue,  before  the  mob  appeared,  two 
men,  as  the  deponent  was  informed,  went  into  the  jail,  the 
door  being  open,  called  for  some  liquor,  and  were  talking  with 
the  jailer,  when  a  party  of  armed  men  rushing  in,  the  two 
that  first  entered  seized  the  jailer  and  hurried  hjm  to  a  back 
apartment,  where  the  debtors  are  kept,  one  drew  a  pistol  and 
put  it  to  his  breast,  the  other  a  cutlass  or  hanger,  and  swore 
that  he  was  a  dead  man  if  he  made  any  noise  or  resistance ; 
that  a  part  of  the  mob,  in  the  meantime,  got  into  the  dungeon, 
a  girl  hired  by  the  jailer  having,  the  deponent  knows  not 
whether  by  threats  or  persuasion,  furnished  them  with  the 
keys  and  a  candle,  or  (as  he  once  heard)  the  door  being  bro- 
ken by  force ;  that  the  deponent  was  in  the  dungeon  when 
the  prisoners  were  committed,  at  which  time  their  legs,  he 
thinks,  were  ironed  and  chained  to  the  floor ;  that  before  the 
day  of  rescue  he  went  down  again  with  parson  Bogart,  (Bu- 
cher)  and  then  the  servant  lad  being  sick  and  his  hands  much 
swelled  with  the  tying ;  when  brought  to  Carlisle,  he  found 
all  the  irons  had  been  taken  off  the  lad,  and  those  also  upon 
the  legs  of  Stump,  but  that  Stump  yet  continued  handcuffed; 
that  the  deponent  being  about  going  to  Lancaster  county, 
where  he  lived,  was  desired  by  the  jailer,  who  had  heard  that 
Stump's  friends  in  that  county  would  oppose  his  going  to  Phi- 
ladelphia, to  use  his  influence  with  them  to  quiet  their  minds 
and  discourage  them  from  so  rash  an  attempt;  but  that  he  was 
informed,  and  believes  the  principal  part  of  the  rescuers  were 
inhabitants  of  Schearman's  valley,  about  twelve  miles  from 
Carlisle. 


288 


UNION    COUNTY. 


Here  deponent  was  asked,  if  he  knew  the  reason  why  the 
sheritf  did  not,  agreeable  to  the  Chief  Justices  writ,  immedi- 
ately bring  the  prisoners  to  Philadelphia  ? 

Answer. — That  Stump  and  his  servant  were  brought  into 
Carlisle  late  on  Saturday  night,  when  they  were  put  into  jail, 
and  the  next  day  the  sheriff  endeavored  to  procure  a  guard 
to  set  out  with  them  on  Monday  morning  for  Philadelphia — 
that  the  guard  were  accordingly  ready  on  Monday  morning, 
and  the  deponent  intended  at  that  time  to  go  homewards,  was 
desired  by  the  sheriff  to  make  one  of  the  party,  and  provided 
himself  with  arms  for  that  purpose ;  that  the  sheriff  being 
thus  prepared,  determined  to  set  off,  and  had  the  irons  taken 
from  the  prisoners,  and  their  arms  bound ;  that  just  at  this 
juncture  Mr.  Miller  and  M.  Pollock,  going  to  Colonel  Arm- 
strong's, mentioned  some  uneasiness  the  people  were  under, 
on  account  of  Stump's  removal  to  Philadelphia,  alleging  that 
it  would  not  be  proper  to  set  off  with  the  prisoners  that  day, 
the  weather  being  bad,  and  the  Susquehanna  supposed  to  be 
dangerous,  a*s  it   had   been  stopped  by  ice  the  week  before, 
and  that  in  case  they  should  proceed  to  the  river  and  find  it 
impassable,  an  attempt  might  be  made  there  to  rescue  the 
prisoners,  which  would  probably  be  attended  with  dangerous 
consequences  to  the  sheriff  and  his  guard  ; — that  Col.  Arm- 
strong, upon  these  suggestions,  sent  for  the  sheriff  from  the 
jail,  who,  with  a  number  of  town's  people,  met  at  the  Col.'s 
house,  when  some  were  of  opinion  that  it  was  not  advisable 
to  set  out  that  day;  others  encouraged  the  attempt ;  but,  in 
fine,  it  was  concluded  best  to  defer  it.     Col.  Armstrong  and 
the  sheriff  were  for  going ;  Messrs.  Miller  and  Lyon  object- 
ed to  it,  for  the  reasons  above  mentioned,  without  assigning 
any  others  that  the  deponent  remembers  ;  Mr.  Pollock,  Mr. 
Sweeny — a  lawyer,  and  some  others,  thought   it  improper, 
because  illegal,  to  remove  the  prisoners  from  the  county; — 
that  Mr.  Tea,  and  Mr.  Campbell — a  lawyer,  urged  strenu- 
ously to  bring  them  down,  and  further  deponelh  saith  not. 

James  Cunningham. 
William  Allen,  Chief  Justice. 
February,  1768. 

Carlisle,  Feb.  7th,  1768. 
Hon.  John  Penn : 

Please  your  Honor — Though  I  am  very  certain  you  will 


UNION  COUNTY.  <iOV 

receive  full  intelligence  of  the  affair  of  Frederick  Stump  be- 
fore this  can  reach  you;  yet  as  my  conduct  and  character 
are  so  much  concerned,  I  pray  your  Honor  to  receive  the 
following  plain  statement  of  the  case,  as  all  the  vindication  I 
can  offer  of  my  conduct.  James  Galbreath,  Esq.,  brought 
to  Carlisle,  and  delivered  to  me  the  chief  justice's  warrant 
on  the  3d  day  of  January.  Immediately  on  the  receipt 
thereof,  I  summoned  a  guard  to  attend  me  next  day  to  go  in 
quest  of  Stump;  but  that  very  evening,  Captain  Patterson 
brought  him  with  with  his  servant,  and  delivered  them  to 
me.  Next  day  I  summoned  a  guard  to  set  off  in  obedience 
to  the  chief  justice's  warrant,  having  the  same  morning  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster,  who  waited  for 
me  at  John  Harris's.  Col.  Armstrong  sent  for  me,  and  told 
me  they  had  concluded  to  keep  Stump,  and  not  send  him 
down.  I  alleged  to  him,  I  was  not  obliged  to  obey  any  or- 
ders of  any  magistrate  in  Cumberland  county,  as  I  had  the 
chief  magistrate's  warrant  to  the  contrary.  But  he  insisted 
I  should  not  take  him  off,  bat  discharge  my  guard,  which  I 
absolutely  refused,  whereupon  the  Col.  went  to  jail  and  dis- 
charged my  guard,  brought  up  the  prisoner,  examined  him 
and  by  mittimus,  committed  him,  and  wrote  to  some  other 
justices  to  attend  in  Carlisle  on  Wednesday.  On  Wednesday, 
while  said  justices  were  sitting  in  council,  a  large  party,  un- 
der arms,  came  very  near  Carlisle  and  sent  in  messengers  to 
the  magistrates  and  to  me,  claiming  that  they  should  be  well 
used,  and  not  sent  to  Philadelphia.  Being  satisfied  that  they 
were  properly  used,  and  having  been  told  they  were  committed 
to  our  jail,  they  dispersed.  The  magistrate  wrote  a  full  account 
to  the  chief  justice,  and  I  made  free  to  acquaint  him  that  I  was 
ready  to  execute  his  orders,  if  he  thought  proper  to  call  for 
the  prisoners,  being  persuaded  now  we  should  meet  with  no 
further  trouble  from  the  country;  but  on  the  29th  of  January 
another  large  body  of  armed  men,  thought  to  be  mostly  the 
former,  joined  with  a  party  from  Sherman's  valley,  on  a  sud- 
den rushed  into  town,  and  marched  up  to  the  jail,  having 
sent  a  few  without  arms,  to  appear  before  them,  who  went 
into  the  jail  when  the  company  came  up,  seized  the  prisoner, 
making  the  jailer  and  his  family  prisoners ;  we  labored  with 
the  armed  men  to  disperse,  to  offer  no  violence,  not  dream- 
ing they  had  got  into  prison,  when,  unexpectedly,  they 
25 


290 


UNION      COUNTY. 


brought  out  Stump  and  made  off.  Mr.  Steel,  at  my  request, 
followed  them  to  the  creek,  two  miles  from  town,  but  labored 
in  vain. 

On  Sunday  I  called  a  posse,  and  set  off  early  on  Monday 
into  Sherman's  valley.  Several  magistrates  and  most  of  the 
principal  inhabitants  of  Carlisle  and  in  the  country  attended, 
but  we  could  neither  find  out  where  they  had  concealed 
Stump,  nor  by  any  arguments  prevail  with  them  to  deliver 
him  to  us.  Since  this,  they  wrote  me  unless  the  Governor, 
Mr.  Allen,  (who  was  then  chief  justice)  another  gentleman 
of  note,  would  oblige  themselves  that  Stump  should  not  be 
taken  out  of  the  county. 

Please  your  Honor,  I  have  given  you  a  plain  and  true  ac- 
count of  the  affair,  and  pray  that  I  may  not  be  considered 
as  designing  or  acting  in  disobedience  to  the  chief  justice's 
warrant,  as  I  am  persuaded  your  Honor  will  plainly  see. 

I  purpose  to  set  off  into  Sherman's  valley  again  to-mor- 
row, and  do  what  lies  in  my  power  to  have  the  prisoners  de- 
livered up;  though  I  fear  that  infatuated  people  will  pay 
very  little  regard  to  my  endeavors. 

I  am  your  Honor's,  &c. 

John  Holmes. 

Nothing  was  left  undone  on  the  part  of  government,  and 
the  magistrates  to  re-take  the  escaped  prisoners,  and  bring 
them  to  trial,  also  punish  those  who  aided  in  their  rescue. — 
The  magistrates  of  Cumberland  issued  warrants  for  appre- 
hending and  securing  in  jail  those  concerned  in  the  rescue. — 
They  discovered  some  twenty  more. 

Carlisle,  Feb.  28, 1768. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

Your  commands  per  Capt.  William  Patterson  of  the 
20th  inst.,  came  to  hand  on  the  24th.  On  receipt,  a  num- 
ber of  the  justices  met  the  same  evening,  at  Carlisle,  (Mr. 
Montgomery  assisting)  to  concert  measures,  how  to  execute 
your  Honor's  injunctions  in  the  most  effectual  manner.  As 
it  appeared  to  us  utterly  impossible  that  these  licentious  peo- 
ple who  rescued  Stump,  would,  or  ever  had  it  in  their  power 
to  return  to  justice  the  perpetrators  of  the  late  murder  on 
the  Indians,  and  as  the  best  intelligence  we  can  gain,  ren- 
ders it  matter  of  scruple  whether  he  be  in  our  county,  we 


UNION    COUNTY.  291 

proceeded  to  take  information  on  oath,  and  issue  warrants  to 
the  proper  officers  for  apprehending  and  securing  in  jail  these 
villains,  who  were  concerned  in  the  rescue.  We  have  trans- 
mitted a  copy  of  your  Honor's  injunction  to  the  justices  of 
the  upper  end  of  the  county,  with  our  advice  to  exert  them- 
selves ,  as  it  appeared  to  us  probable  that  the  murderers 
might  take  that  way  to  Virginia,  where  it  is  thought  they 
will  seek  refuge. 

We  cannot  sufficiently  acquit  ourselves  in  not  acquainting 
your  Honor,  yet  we  can  assure  you  the  sheriff,  justices,  and 
several  of  the  principal  people  here,  have  exerted  themselves 
with  all  their  might,  to  regain  Stump  and  Ironcutter,  though 
we  have  not  had  success,  we  are  persuaded  all  pains  will  be 
used  by  the  proper  officers  to  apprehend  the  rioters,  and  that 
the  magistrates  will  be  aiding  hereunto  with  all  their  influ- 
ence. 

W  ith  all  wise  and  good  men,  we  abhor  the  base  insult  on 
government,  sensible  of  the  direct  tendency  of  such  a  crime, 
to  the  subversion  of  order,  justice  and  propriety. 

We  are  concerned  your  Honor's  order  and  the  chief  jus- 
tices warrant  were  not  immediately  complied  with,  which  we 
conceived  might  have  been  done  with  safety  before  these  li- 
centious people  had  time  to  cabal  and  contrive  their  plan ; 
this,  we  think,  might  have  prevented  such  disagreeable  con- 
sequences, nor  can  we  conceive  why  it  was  not  done.  But 
your  Honor  no  doubt  has  had  reasons  laid  before  you. 

We  are,  with  many  others,  highly  pleased  with  the  brave 
conduct  of  Capt.  William  Patterson,  (he  did  honour  to  our 
county)  and  the  notice  your  Honor  has  taken  of  merit  in  the 
manner  of  expressing  your  approbation,  we  persuade  our- 
selves will  influence  not  only  the  young  man  himself,  but 
others  to  behave  worthily. 

We  gratefully  respect  your  Honor's  goodness  in  repeating 
your  injunctions  of  the  4th  inst.,  as  most  of  us  had  not  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  them  before.  We  shall  willingly  receive 
from  time  to  time,  what  commands  your  Honor  may  think 
proper.     We  are  your  Honor's  most  humble  servants, 

Jonathan  Hoge, 
Jas.  Galbreath, 
Andw.  Calhoun, 
Jno.  Byers, 
Jno.  McKnight, 
Herms.  Alricks. 


292  UNION    COUNTY. 

Copy  of  a  list  of  names  enclosed  in  the  original  letter,  pre- 
served at  Harrisburg. 

James  Murry,  John  Murry,  Andrew  Jones,  James  Ham- 
ilton, Richd.  Shenky,  Richd.  Irwin,  Neilson,  Francis 

Irwin,  Joseph  Childers,  James  Rody,  Win.  Adams,  Thos. 
Huitt,  Jno.  Glass,  James  Ferguson,  Jostph  McDowel,  Wil- 
liam Williams,  Jno.  Clark,  Wm.  McGary,  Jno.  Beard,  Mat- 
thew Gregg,  Joseph  Goldon,  James  Eakles,  Wm.  WTillson. 

The  murdering  of  the  Indians,  and  the  subsequent  rescue 
of  Stump  and  Ironcutter,  produced  a  great  excitement,  not 
only  at  Carlisle,  but  through  the  whole  country.  The  mag- 
istrates and  sheriif,  it  appears  had  been  censured.  But,  the 
general  impression  appears  to  have  been,  judging  from  doc- 
umentary evidence,  that  the  officers,  sheriff  and  magistrates, 
did  not  favor  the  prisoners.  In  support  of  this  impression, 
the  following  is  submitted  : 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1768,  Governor  John  Penn 
wrote  to  Col.  John  Armstrong,  desiring  him  to  appear  before 
the  Board  of  the  Provincial  Council. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  the  Governor  informed  the  Board 
that  both  John  Armstrong  and  John  Holmes,  the  sheriff  of 
Cumberland,  were  in  town  to  attend  the  Council,  in  order  to 
be  examined  with  respect  to  their  conduct.  They  appeared 
— "  each  related  the  circumstances  respecting  the  detention 
of  Frederick  Stump,  in  the  jail  at  Carlisle,  the  reasons  for 
taking  that  measure,  as  well  as  the  manner  and  cause  of  his 
rescue,  and  then  laid  before  the  Board  sundry  depositions  in 
proof  of  what  they  respectfully  alleged. 

"It  appearing  in  their  examination,  that  they  disagreed  in 
some  particulars,  and  that  Robert  Miller  and  William  Lyon, 
Esqrs.,  Justices  of  the  Peace,  were  also  concerned  in  pre- 
venting the  execution  of  the  Chief  Justice's  warrant ;  the 
Council  were  of  opinion  that  they  also  should  be  examined 
with  respect  to  their  conduct  and  knowledge  in  this  matter, 
before  any  proper  judgment  can  be  given  on  it." 

The  Board  advised  the  Governor  to  have  Miller  and  Lyon 
to  appear  before  them.  They  were  accordingly  commanded 
to  appear  before  the  Board  in  the  month  of  May. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  Col.  Armstrong,  Miller,  and  Lyon, 
Esqrs.,  appeared  before  John  Penn,  William  Logan,  Benja- 
min Chew,  Richard  Penn,  and  James  Tilghman,  members  of 


UNION    COUNTY.  293 

the  Board  of  Council,  and  were  severally  examined  with 
respect  to  their  own  conduct  in  the  detention  of  Frederick 
Stump  in  the  jail  at  Carlisle,  as  well  as  all  that  they  knew 
in  regard  to  his  rescue  from  the  hands  of  justice.  The  Board 
agreed  to  take  this  matter  into  further  consideration  and  ap- 
pointed a  meeting  of  the  Council  to  be  held  the  12th  of  May 
in  order  to  come  to  a  final  result  on  the  subject. 

Depositions,  still  on  file  at  Harrisburg,  had  been  presented 
on  the  19th  of  March  and  on  the  6th  of  May;  affording  the 
Council  some  aid  to  come,  as  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  sup- 
pose, to  a  correct  conclusion,  as  to  the  guilt  or  innocence  of 
the  persons  accused  in  the  detention  and  rescue  of  Stump — 
and  it  is  also  not  incredible  to  believe  that  Gov.  Penn,  who 
had  evidence  before  him  of  the  true  state  of  the  case,  would 
not  shrink  to  pronounce  a  true  verdict — nor  exculpate,  or 
acquit  the  sheriff,  if  he  was  indeed  a  principal  actor  in 
freeing  the  prisoners  from  jail,  and  rescuing  them  from  the 
justices. 

The  12th  day  of  May  the  Board  met,  and  came  to  a  final 
result  on  the  subject.  What  that  was,  the  reader  may  learn 
from  the  following  extract  from  the  Provincial  Records. 

At  a  Council  held  at  Philadelphia,  on  Thursday  the  12th 
of  May,  1768 — present :  The  Hon.  John  Penn,  Esq.,  Lieut. 
Gov.  &c,  William  Logan,  James  Tilghman,  Esqrs. 

Mr.  Armstrong,  Mr.  Miller,  and  Mr.  Lyon,  appearing  at 
the  Board,  agreeable  to  the  Governor's  appointment,  the 
following  admonition,  which  was  read  to  them,  viz  : 

Col.  Armstrong,  Mr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Lyon — Upon  the 
rescue  of  Frederick  Stump,  and  John  Ironcutter,  who  had 
been  arrested  for  the  murder  of  ten  Indians,  I  was  informed 
that  you,  as  magistrates  of  Cumberland  county,  had  inter- 
posed' to  prevent  their  being  bi  ought  to  Philadelphia,  in  obe- 
dience to  the  Chief  Justice's  warrant,  in  the  hands  of  the 
sheriff;  and  that  in  particular,  Col.  Armstrong,  had  himself, 
discharged  the  sheriff's  guard,  after  he  (the  sheriff)  had  re- 
fused to  do  it;  and  committed  the  prisoners  to  the  county  jail, 
which  was  in  a  great  measure  the  occasion  of  the  rescue,  as 
it  gave  the  persons  who  committed  that  bold  and  daring  in- 
sult upon  the  laws  of  the  Government,  time  to  consult  mea- 
sures for  the  execution  of  it.  The  matter  was  of  such  con- 
sequence, and  the  reputation  of  the  Government  so  much 
concerned  in  it,  that  I  could  not  pass  it  by,  without  making 


£94 


UNION    COUNTY. 


an  enquiry  into  it,  and  upon  hearing  you  and  the  sheriff,  and 
considering  the  several  proofs,  which  both  you  and  he  have 
laid  before  me,  I  find,  that  on  Monday  the  25th  day  of  Jan- 
nary  last,  the  sheriff  was  ready  to  set  off  with  the  prisoners 
from  Carlisle,  under  a  guard  of  eight  or  ten  men,  in  order  to 
bring  them  to  Philadelphia,  as  the  warrant  required — that 
the  people  of  Carlisle,  thinking  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
their  county  would  be  infringed,  by  the  prisoners  being 
brought  to  Philadelphia,  grew  uneasy  under  these  apprehen- 
sions, and  did  apply  to  you  and  press  you  to  interpose  in  the 
affair,  until  they  could  have  an  opportunity  of  remonstrating 
upon  the  occasion,  which  was  at  first  warmly  opposed  by  Col. 
Armstrong;  but  that  at  length,  partly  to  quiet  the  minds  of 
the  people,  and  partly  from  an  apprehension  of  danger  of  a 
rescue,  in  case  the  sheriff  with  the  prisoners,  should  be  de- 
tained on  the  banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  which  was  then 
hourly  expected  to  break  up,  you  were  induced  to  cause  the 
prisoners  to  be  examined,  and,  upon  their  examination,  they 
were  committed  by  Col.  Armstrong  and  Mr.  Miller  to  Car- 
lisle jail ;  in  order  that  the  Government,  informed  by  ex- 
press, which  was  determined  to  be  sent  on  that  occasion, 
should  give  further  instructions  respecting  them. 

"  Tho'  the  transaction  has  not  been  proved  in  the  aggra- 
vated light  in  which  it  was  represented  to  me,  yet,  it  was  un- 
doubtedly officious  and  beside  your  duty  to  interpose  at  all  in 
the  affair,  as  it  w7as  unjustifiable  in  the  sheriff  to  pay  any  re- 
gard to  your  interposition,  and  your  conduct,  upon  the  occa- 
sion, was  in  itself  an  obstruction  of  justice,  and  is  not  to  be 
iustified  ;  however,  it  may  in  some  measure  be  excused  by 
the  motives  of  it.  But  as  I  am  satisfied  from  the  evidence, 
that  both  you  and  the  sheriff  were  far  from  having  any  in- 
tention either  to  favor  the  prisoners,  or  to  offer  the  least 
contempt  to  the  authority  of  the  Chief  Justice's  warrant, 
and  that  you  acted  for  the  best,  in  a  case  of  perplexity,  not 
expecting,  but  rather  intending  to  prevent  the  consequences 
which  followed.  I  shall  take  no  other  notice  of  the  matter, 
than  to  admonish  you  for  the  future,  to  be  very  careful,  in 
confining  yourselves  within  the  bounds  of  your  jurisdiction, 
and  not  to  interfere  again  in  matters  which  belong  to  supe- 
rior authority." 


UNION   COUNTY.  295 

The  following,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Geo.  Duffield, 
in  reference  to  an  implication  arising  from  Stump's  rescue, 
we  here  insert,  as  follows : — 

Carlisle,  Feb.  16,  176S. 
On  the  18th  and  19th  of  January,  the  first  notice  arriv- 
ed here  of  Frederick  Stump,  and  his  men,  having  murder- 
ed a  number  of  Indians  within  this  county,  and  that  Wil- 
liam Rlyth  was  gone  down  to  inform  the  governor.  This 
account  came  not  by  any  express,  but  by  a  private  gen- 
tleman on  business  of  his  own.  It  was  the  beginning  of 
our  court  week.  The  magistrates  in  town  immediately 
met,  to  consult  on  measures  to  be  taken.  Had  the  sheriff 
then  gone,  it  would  have  greatly  impeded  the  public  bu- 
siness depending  at  court :  And  as  all  ends  might  be 
equally  answered  by  the  coroner,  with  the  additional  ser- 
vice of  holding  an  inquest  on  the  bodies,  it  was  concluded 
to  send  him,  and  a  message  accordingly  was  immediately 
despatched  to  him.  As  he  lives  some  distance  from  town, 
and  the  place  where  he  was  to  go,  lying  remote,  so  that 
some  little  preparation  was  requisite,  it  was  Thursday  be- 
fore he  could  get  off.  His  directions  were,  to  take  a  posse 
with  him  from  beyond  the  hills,  and  try  to  take  Stump  and 
his  men,  hold  an  inquest  on  the  bodies,  and  bury  the  dead. 
On  the  23d,  in  the  afternoon,  the  Governor's  orders  came 
up,  very  near  the  same  in  substance  with  the  above,  and 
directing  the  sheriff  also  to  go,  and  the  Chief  Justice's 
warrant,  ordering  the  prisoners,  when  taken,  to  be  sent 
down  to  Philadelphia,  to  be  examined  and  dealt  with  as 
the  law  directs.  The  sheriff,  and  some  of  the  magistrates, 
were  preparing  to  set  off,  according  to  the  Governor's  or- 
ders, but  about  8  or  9  in  the  evening,  the  prisoners  were 
brought  in  by  Capt.  Patterson,  and  a  party  from  Juniata. 
Next  day  (being  Sabbath)  the  weather  being  very  disa- 
greeable, a  guard  to  be  provided,  and  some  necessary  pre- 
parations to  be  made,  rendered  it  impracticable  for  the 
sheriff  to  set  off  with  the  prisoners  before  Monday  ;  nor 
had  any  body  at  this  time,  the  least  apprehension  of  any 
design  to  rescue  them.  The  clause  in  the  warrant,  order- 
ing them  down  to  Philadelphia,  began  to  be  a  topic  of 
much  conversation  in  the  town.  The  more  general,  nay, 
almost  universal  sentiment  was,  that  if  they  went  down, 


296  UNION    COUNTY. 

they  would  undoubtedly  be  tried  there,  some  not  properly 
distinguishing  between  examination  and  trial ;  but  the 
greater  part,  apprehensive  that  an  act  might  be  made  for 
that  purpose.  On  Monday  morning,  when  the  sheriff 
was  now  nigh  ready  to  set  off,  a  number  of  respectable 
inhabitants,  with  some  from  the  country,  went  to  Colonel 
Armstrong's,  and  warmly  remonstrated  against  the  pris- 
oners being  sent  down,  until  the  Governor  and  Chief  Jus- 
tice's pleasure  should  farther  be  made  known,  and  whe- 
ther they  insisted  upon  it,  strenuously  alleging  it  was  yiel- 
ding up  a  most  valuable  privilege,  and  setting  a  precedent 
that  might  hereafter  be  of  pernicious  consequence.  They 
were  then  told,  as  were  sundry  others,  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, at  different  times,  that  the  Chief  Justice's  warrant 
must  be  obeyed ;  that  he  had  an  undoubted  right  to  call 
any  persons,  in  such  case,  before  him,  from  any  part  of 
the  Province  ;  that  there  was  a  wide  difference  between 
examination  and  trial ;  that  it  was  uncharitable  to  suspect 
any  of  the  people  below,  while  nothing  illegal  was  yet 
done,  of  attempting  to  deprive  us  of  so  valuable  a  privi- 
lege ;  that  it  was  at  most  but  bare  suspicion,  and  ought 
not  to  prevent  from  present  duty,  but  all  was  overbalan- 
ced by  the  above  too  tender  jealousy  of  privilege,  and  ap- 
prehensions of  a  particular  law  being  made.  It  was  also 
pleaded,  it  was  not  usual  to  have  prisoners  sent  out  of 
their  proper  county;  and  would  not  be  insisted  on  by  those 
in  authority,  on  a  representation  of  matters  being  given, 
and  the  confessions  of  the  prisoners  being  sent  down.  The 
weather,  at  the  same  time,  was  very  bad  ;  creeks  broke 
up,  and  waters  high  ;  the  Susquehanna  apprehended  to  be 
dangerous,  and  most  provable  impassable ;  and  to  have 
had  the  prisoners  lying  by  the  way,  would  have  been  dis- 
agreeable, and  might  have  been  running  some  hazard. 
Upon  the  whole,  therefore,  it  was  thought  most  advisable 
that  the  sheriff  should  not,  as  yet,  set  off  with  the  prison- 
ers, (though  no  determination  was  formed  that  they  should 
not  all  be  sent).  As  the  prisoners  were,  in  consequence 
of  the  above  result,  to  remain  yet  some  time  longer  in  this 
jail,  the  sheriff  and  prison-keeper  requested  a  commitment, 
and  were  told  it  was  not  necessary,  but  this  being  farther- 
insisted  on,  it  was  given,  not  before  the  above  remonstra- 
ting and  reasoning  on  the  case,  but  after  it,  on  Monday 


UNION    COUNTY. 


297 


afternoon,  with  a  necessary  clause,  "until  removed  by  su- 
perior authority."  It  was  also  thought  expedient,  by  the 
magistrates  in  town,  at  rhis  critical  juncture,  to  have  the 
assistance  of  as  many  of  their  brethren  from  the  county  as 
could  conveniently  be  hf d,  in  an  affair  so  embarrassed, 
through  the  above-mentioned  generally  prevailing  mis- 
take ;  and  notices  were  accordingly  sent  them  on  Tuesday 
and  their  attendance  requested  the  next  day.  The  hasty 
apprehension  of  the  prisoners  being  ordered  to  Philadel- 
phia for  trial,  had  spread  almost  beyond  credibility,  like 
an  electric  shock,  over  all  the  county,  and  into  adjacent 
counties  and  governments;  and,  unexpectedly  to  all  here, 
had  occasioned  a  very  general  alarm.  On  the  Wednesday, 
when  the  magistrates  were  met,  an  anonymous  letter,  that 
had  been  dropt  in  a  porch  and  found  by  the  sheriff,  was 
brought  to  them,  containing  information,  that  several  par- 
ties were  formed,  and  forming,  to  rescue  the  prisoners,  if 
attempted  to  be  sent  out  of  the  county,  and  shortly  a  party 
of  40  or  50  armed  men  were  discovered  on  their  way  to 
town  ;  but  by  the  influence  of  several  who  met  them,  they 
were  happily  prevented,  and  prevailed  on  to  disperse. 

It  now  began  to  appear,  by  various  accounts,  that  were 
the  prisoners  taken  either  by  the  direct  road  to  Lancaster 
county,  or  by  the  way  of  York,  or  had  they  even  been  ta- 
ken sooner,  there  was  the  highest  probability  of  a  rescue, 
by  parties  secretly  formed  for  that  purpose,  as  soon  as  it 
was  known  the  prisoners  were  sent  to  Philadelph  a.  The 
magistrates,  therefore,  fully  convinced  of  the  imminent 
danger  attending  the  prisoners  going,  thought  the  most 
safe  and  prudent,  that  they  should  not  be  removed  until 
the  Governor  and  Chief  Justice  were  first  informed  how 
matters  stood,  which  was  accordingly  done.  And  as  there 
was  not  the  least  apprehension  of  any  design  against  the 
jail,  save  what  appeared  in  the  above  party,  and  they  had 
gone  away  perfectly  satisfied,  no  one  suspected  any  fur- 
ther disturbance  or  danger,  while  the  prisoners  were  there. 
But  on  the  Friday  following,  January  30,  a  parly  of  about 
60  or  70,  said  to  be  chiefly  beyond  the  North  Mountain, 
came  on  the  same  wicked  design.  They  sent  in  two  of 
their  number,  a  little  before  the  body,  who,  going  into  the 
room  of  the  jail,  called  for  a  dram,  and  got  it.  The  jailer 
discovering  some  arms  on  them,  immediately  ran  to  the 


^y»  UNION    COUNTY. 

door  and  shut  it,  but  was  met  by  three  more,  who  bolted 
in  armed,  seized  him,  carried  him  to  a  different  room,  set 
a  guard  on  him,  and  threatened  him  severely,  if  he  should 
stir.  Instantly  after  these  came  the  whole  party,  who  hav- 
ing entered  the  town,  till  then  undiscovered,  had,  with  the 
most  violent  precipitation,  hastened  to  the  jail,  placed  a 
guard  on  the  door,  and  on  all  within,  whom  they  thought 
might  molest  them ;  they  then  constrained  a  girl  to  get 
them  the  keys,  lighted  a  candle,  went  down  to  the  dun- 
geon, (though  without  crow-bar,  axe,  or  any  such  instru- 
ments) opened  the  door  and  brought  out  the  prisoners. 
While  this  was  transacting,  the  sheriff  came,  Colonel  Arm- 
strong, Messrs.  Miller  and  Lyon,  magistrates;  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Steel,  and  some  others  of  the  inhabitants,  had  at- 
tempted to  bring  these  infatuated  people  to  reason,  urging 
a  conference,  and  that  they  should  be  satisfied  in  any  rea- 
sonable demand.  The  sheriff  and  magistrates  got  in  as 
far  as  the  door,  and  some  of  them  declared  they  would  die 
before  the  prisoners  should  be  taken  out,  not  knowing 
what  was  transacting  within,  for  in  an  instant  the  prison- 
ers were  at  the  door,  and  a  cry  made  to  clear  the  way. 
The  sheriff  attempted  to  lay  hold  of  Stump,  but  was  push- 
ed off, 'and  both  he  and  the  magistrates  were  jostled  or 
borne  away  into  the  street,  and  the  prisoners  carried  off. 
The  whole  transaction  was  but  a  few  minutes.  At  the 
extremity  of  the  town,  going  out,  they  compelled  a  smith 
to  cut  off  their  hand-cuffs.  At  the  instance  of  the  sheriff 
and  magistrates,  who  alleged  that  might,  at  that  juncture, 
have  more  influence  on  this  people  than  they  could,  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Steel  and  Bucher,  (the  only  clergy  then  in 
town)  with  some  others,  went  after  them,  and  overtook  a 
few  of  the  hindmost,  about  a  mile  out  of  town  (the  body, 
with  the  prisoners,  being  gone  off.)  these  said,  that  they, 
for  their  part,  would  agree  to  the  prisoners  being  restored, 
on  condition  they  were  assured  they  should  not  be  f  ent  to 
Philadelphia.  When  this  message  was  brought  back,  the 
sheriff,  Col.  Armstrong  and  Lyon,  went  after  them,  but 
came  up  with  none,  they  having  all  proceeded  as  fast  es 
they  could  on  their  way  over  the  hill.  On  Sabbath  it  was 
agreed  to  raise  the  posse,  and  cross  the  hill,  to  attempt 
regaining  the  prisoners — this  was  accordingly  done.  In 
the  temper  these  people  were  in,  violent  measures  would 


UNION  COUNTY.  299 

have  instantly  occasioned  the  shedding  of  blood  ;  the  milder 
steps  of  reasoning  and  opening  consequences  were  therefore 
pursued ;  and  assurances  given  them,  that  the  trial  of  the 
prisoners  would  undoubtedly  be  in  their  proper  county.  This 
was  the  grand  point ;  and  I  doubt  not  the  prisoners  would 
have  been  returned  the  next  day,  had  not  a  mischievous  re- 
port been  carried  to  them  just  after  the  sheriff  and  his  posse 
came  away,  that  a  party  of  soldiers  were  ready  to  take  the 
prisoners  to  Philadelphia,  as  soon  as  delivered. — When  the 
Governor's  letter  came  up,  in  answer  to  one  informing  him 
of  the  rescue,  Col.  Armstrong,  and  some  others  with  him, 
went  over  again,  and  had  a  number  of  them  together.  They 
all  declared  their  willingness  to  return  the  prisoners,  but  de- 
sired opportunity  to  consult  others  of  their  number,  and  had 
unluckily  permitted  Stump  to  go  to  see  his  family,  on  his 
promise  of  returning  in  a  few  days,  though  some  alleged  he 
was  still  in  custody  somewhere  among  them.  Those  present 
promised  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to  have  both  the  pris- 
oners returned. 

This  is  a  plain  statement  of  that  unhappy  affair.  Some, 
I  hear,  reflect  severely  on  the  civil  officers  concerned  in  it, 
and  on  the  keeper  of  the  prison;  but  I  am  fully  convinced, 
on  a  candid  examination,  it  will  be  found  they  acted,  every 
man,  with  the  greatest  uprightness  of  heart,  that  part  which 
appeared  at  that  time  most  conducive  to  the  public  good, 
tending  to  the  preservation  of  good  order,  and  support  of 
government,  and  what,  perhaps,  even  those  who  may  blame 
with  the  greatest  severity,  could  have  thought  most  prudent, 
had  they  been  in  the  situation." 

Carlisle,  March  15,  1768. 
Messrs.  Hall  and  Sellers : 

As  several  injurious  aspersions  have,  in  the  affair  of 
Frederick  Stump,  been  cast  on  my  people  and  me,  and  so  as- 
siduously propagated  and  made  public,  as  that  there  now 
remains  no  other  method  of  overtaking  and  wiping  away  the 
reproach,  but  by  a  public  defence.  I  hope,  therefore,  a  re- 
gard to  injured  innocence,  \\TiIl  procure  the  following  a  place 
in  your  next  paper,  which  will  much  oblige  many,  as  well 
as  gentlemen, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Geo.  Duffilld. 


300  UNION   COUNTY. 

To  the  Public. 

It  gives  me  peculiar  concern  to  find  myself  obliged  to  the 
disagreeable  task  of  vindicating  my  conduct  in  this  manner, 
in  a  matter  where  I  thought  myself  secure  from  the  attacks 
of  malice  itself;  but  the  gross  misrepresentations  of  facts, 
which  I  have  good  reason  to  believe,  have  been  made  by 
some  invidious  pen  or  pens,  from  this  town,  and  industrious- 
ly spread,  lay  me  under  the  unhappy  necessity  of  either  sac- 
rificing my  character  to  those  assassins,  or  justify  myself  to 
the  public  by  a  true  state  of  facts ;  which  latter,  every  man 
having  regard  to  either  character  or  usefulness,  would  choose. 
This,  therefore,  I  hope,  will  sufficiently  plead  my  excuse.  I 
am  then  openly  reproached,  as  having  advised  and  prevailed 
on  Col.  Armstrong  to  oppose  the  chief  justice's  warrant,  or- 
dering Stump  and  Ironcutter  down  to  Philadelphia,  and  hav- 
ing also  influenced  in  exciting  the  people  that  lescued  the 
prisoners,  to  that  riotous  undertaking.  As  to  the  first  of 
these,  it  is  sufficient  to  observe  :  The  prisoners  were  brought 
in  on  Saturday  evening ;  on  Monday  forenoon,  when  they 
were  nigh  ready  to  be  sent  off,  a  number  of  reputable  inhab- 
itants of  the  town,  with  some  from  the  country,  met  and  re- 
monstrated against  it,  as  has  been  represented  in  the  Gazette, 
of  the  3rd  inst,  and  that  afternoon  the  temporary  commit- 
ment of  the  prisoners,  until  removed  by  superior  orders,  was 
wrote.  From  early  on  Sabbath  morning,  until  the  whole 
was  over  on  Monday  I  was  out  of  town,  having  been  in 
course  at  my  congregation  in  the  country  ;  nor  saw  Colonel 
Armstrong,  nor  heard  from  him,  nor  sent  to  him,  from  before 
the  prisoners  came  in,  until  the  Monday  evening,  after  7 
o'clock,  he  came  to  my  house,  and  greatly  complained  of  the 
opposition  which  had  that  day  been  made  to  sending  off  the 
prisoners ;  and  expressed,  in  the  strongest  terms,  his  senti- 
ment, that  the  chief  justice's  warrant  must  be  obeyed,  and 
his  earnest  desire  of  having  the  prisoners  taken  down,  accor- 
ding to  the  order  therein  contained,  and  went  away  fully  of 
the  same  mind  ;  only  proposing  to  have  the  assistance  of 
some  of  the  magistrates  from  the  country,  in  a  matter  where 
the  uneasiness  of  the  people  was  so  general  and  great,  which 
step  had  been  proposed  and  advised  to  by  some  of  the  mag- 
istrates in  town  before  he  came  to  my  house;  nor  had  I  any 
thing  farther  with  the  colonel  on   this   head,  at  any  other 


UNION    COUNTY.  301 

time.  From  this  true  state  of  the  fact,  which  I  am  able  to 
prove,  if  requisite,  it  is  evident,  1st.  That  I  had  no  inter- 
course of  any  kind  with  Col.  Armstrong,  from  before  the 
prisoners  came  in,  until  the  evening  after  they  had  been,  in 
consequence  of  the  unreasonable  weather,  and  remonstrance 
of  the  people,  prevented  from  being  taken  off,  and  committed 
as  above.  2dly.  That  the  expedient  of  having  other  magis- 
trates, was  not  by  any  advice  of  mine,  but  proposed  before 
I  so  much  as  saw  the  Col.  3dly.  That  Col.  Armstrong  was 
equally  firm  in  the  sentiment  of  obedience  being  due  to  the 
chief  justice's  warrant  at  his  going  from  my  house,  as  he  was 
at  coming  to  it,  and  equally  desirous  of  having  it  obeyed,  and 
was  the  same  afterwards,  as  I  am  also  able  to  prove.  And 
4thly.  As  a  natural  consequence  from  the  whole,  that  the 
author  and  spreader  of  the  report,  that  Col.  Armstrong  was 
informed  by  me  to  disobey,  or  oppose  the  chief  justice's  war- 
rant, were  guilty  of  raising  and  spreading  a  false  report.  As 
to  my  having  used  any  influence  to  excite  those  who  res- 
cued the  prisoners,  in  that  iniquitous  step,  I  shall  just  ob- 
serve:  That  week  the  prisoners  were  in  jail,  I  was  provi- 
dentially prevented  from  visiting  my  charge;  (the  service  I 
was  then  engaged  in)  this  now  appears  a  favorable  circum- 
stance, for  had  I  been  employed  in  executing  that  part  of  my 
office,  the  pen  of  detraction  would,  most  probably,  have  con- 
strued it  into  sowing  sedition  from  house  to  house:  but  from 
the  time  I  returned  home  on  Monday  afternoon,  I  was  no 
where  out  of  my  house,  except  at  two  or  three  neighbors  in 
town,  and  saw  scarce  any  body  but  my  own  family  until 
Wednesday  morning,  when  I  set  off,  by  sun  up,  in  company 
with  several  gentlemen,  for  Yorktown,  and  did  not  return 
till  Saturday  afternoon,  (the  day  after  the  rescue)  and  can, 
if  requisite,  vindicate  my  character,  stabbed  by  defamatory 
influence.  On  my  way  home,  I  was  alarmed  with  the  news 
of  the  rescue.  On  the  next  day  (being  Sabbath)  I  publicly 
declared  from  the  pulpit,  my  detestation  of  the  fact.  Early 
on  Monday  I  crossed  the  North  mountain,  in  company  with 
William  Lyon,  Esqr.,  before  the  posse  were  yet  gathered, 
and  joined  my  best  endeavors,  in  attempting  to  recover  those 
infatuated  people  to  reason;  and  openly,  in  the  presence  of  a 
large  number  assembled  together,  condemned  their  distract- 
ed conduct,  and  urged  the  return  of  the  prisoners.  The  next 
Sabbath  I  preached  on  subjection  to  government,  and  that 
26 


302  UNION   COUNTY. 

week  went  over  again,  in  company  with  Col.  Armstrong  and 
some  other  gentlemen,  who  went  to  make  those  people  assu- 
rances from  the  Governor,  of  the  prisoners  being  tried  in 
their  county.  These  things  I  say  not  in  boasting,  but  in 
self  vindication,  and  whether  this  was  consistent  with  having 
excited  to  the  fact,  let  the  impartial  world  judge.  I  must 
have  had  a  face  of  impudence,  almost  beyond  Beelzebub 
himself,  to  have  encouraged  first,  and  then  acted  thus,  and 
blamed  and  censured,  even  to  raising  resentment  of  some 
against  me,  for  my  being  so  much  engaged. 

But  what  innocence  can  be  secure  from  the  impeachment  of 
determined  obloquy  and  reproach  ?  But  to  attack  myself 
alone,  and  to  attempt  a  single  character,  did  not  suffice — Ha- 
inan's malice  cannot  rest  in  aiming  at  Mordecai's  men  only ; 
the  whole  nation  is  marked  out  for  vengeance.  The  same 
spirit  seems  to  have  actuated  these  modern  Hamans,  in  at- 
tempting to  roll  over  the  blame  of  rescuing  the  prisoners,  en- 
tirely on  my  people,  and  assert  that  the  rescuers  were  all  of 
them,  or  that  the  whole  was  done  by  the  "new  side,"  as 
they  are  termed  :  this  charge  must  have  proceeded  from  the 
greatest  malevolence  and  rancor,  beyond  expression ;  partly 
in  religion  not  having  any  hand,  more  or  less,  in  the  matter; 
and  to  attempt  turning  it  into  the  channel,  (though  I  know 
it  was  early  done  in  this  place,  and  is  perfectly  agreeable  to 
the  general  course  some  have  been  steering  for  several  years 
past)  is,  I  am  bold  to  say,  infamous  and  base  to  the  last  de- 
gree, calculated  only  to  heighten  the  fire  of  party,  embroil 
society,  both  civil  and  religious,  weaken  the  country,  by  di- 
viding it  against  itself,  subserve  in  every  respect,  the  Prince 
of  Darkness,  without  being  able  of  answering  any  one  single 
valuable  purpose.  Suppose  they  had  all  been  of  my  people 
that  perpetrated  the  rescue,  would  it  have  been  friendly,  or 
acting  the  part  of  christian  brotherhood,  to  have  been  so  ea- 
ger to  expose  the  whole  body  ?  Would  it  not  have  been 
imitating  Eden,  as  recorded  by  Obediah  ?  Might  it  not,  in 
such  case,  have  been  sufficient  to  name  out  the  guilty  per- 
sons, without  attempting  to  brand  the  whole  society  with 
infamy,  unless  they  had  already  become  infamous  for  such 
conduct  ?  Or  could  any  other  reason  be  alleged  for  pointing 
out  the  particular  society,  unless  to  attempt  rendering  both 
me  odious  in  the  eyes  of  all  good  men,  even  on  that  suspicion 
of  their  having  all  belonged  to  me  ? — which  yet  is  far  from 


UNION    COUNTY.  303 

being  the  case.  A  great  part  of  the  rescuers  came  from  be- 
yond the  North  mountain ;  and  though  the  very  idea  of  party 
in  the  affair,  and  esteem  the  attempting  to  fix  it  on,  or  roll  it 
off,  any  one  sect  or  party,  an  evidence  of  a  wicked  temper, 
as  some  of  all  sorts  concerned,  as  they  happened  to  live  in 
the  neighborhood,  or  part  of  the  country  where  the  design 
was  formed,  and  were  made  acquainted  with  it,  both  old 
side  and  new,  Seceders,  Covenanters,  Church  of  England, 
and  even  Papists,  as  some  of  the  persons  concerned  have 
declared.  Yet,  this  I  will  assert,  and  can  maintain,  that  as 
far  as  I  have  yet  been  able  to  learn  the  names  of  those  found 
out  to  have  been  engaged,  there  are  not  more  of  what  was 
formerly  called  I  he  new  side,  than  there  are  of  what  was 
called  the  old  ;  this  I  do  not  say  to  blame  or  free  any  one 
particular  sect  or  party,  but  merely  to  show  it  was  no  party 
matter. 

I  have  now  stated  this  matter  in  a  fair  point  of  light, 
which  I  am  able  to  maintain,  and  leave  it  to  every  impartial 
mind,  what  sentiment  to  form  of  the  author  or  authors,  and 
spreaders  of  such  invidious  misrepresentations.  Every  good 
man,  I  am  sure,  must  hold  them  in  detestation,  as  pests  in 
society,  civil  or  religious,  base  incendiaries,  and  a  nuisance 
in  a  commonwealth.  And  yet,  odious  as  the  character  is, 
and  however  detestable  the  conduct,  there  are  some  of  so 
perverse  a  disposition,  so  uninfluenced  by  religion,  and  des- 
titute of  honesty,  as  to  lurk  privily  for  the  innocent  without 
cause,  who  sleep  not  except  they  have  done  mischief,  and 
their  sleep  is  taken  away,  unless  they  have  attempted  to 
cause  some  to  fall.  If  any  see  proper  to  contradict  the  state 
of  facts  here  given,  I  desire  they  may  do  it,  not  in  the  un- 
dermining way  of  private  whispering  and  suggestion,  the  fa- 
vorite plan  of  base  detractors,  whose  safety  lies  in  conceal- 
ment, and  to  whom  day  is  as  the  shadow  of  death,  but 
openly  in  the  public  prints,  signed  with  their  name.  Nor 
shall  I  esteem  myself  bound  to  take  any  notice  of  any  thing 
which  the  author  will  not  dare  to  avow.  And  if  none  ap- 
pear, I  hope  the  public  wrill  be  so  candid  as  to  take  their 
silence  on  this  head,  as  a  full,  though  tacit  confession,  of 
their  being  convinced,  that  the  representations  they  have 
made,  or  propagated,  are  false  and  groundless. 

George  Duffield. 


304  UNION    COUNTY. 


LEWISBURG, 

(Derrstown,)  situated  at  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  valley,  eight 
miles  above  Northumberland,  is  a  thriving  town.  It  was  laid 
out  by  Ludwig  Derr,  an  old  German,  who  owned  the  land, 
and  had  for  many  years  an  Indian  trading  house  here.  At 
first  it  increased  slowly;  in  1806  it  contained  about  65  or 
70  houses.  It  contains  now  upwards  of  200  houses,  and  a 
population  of  about  1300.  In  1840  it  contained  13  stores, 
1  furnace,  1  grist  mill,  1  saw  mill,  1  foundry,  2  tanneries, 
1  distillery,  2  printing  offices,  an  academy,  4  schools,  several 
commodious  store-houses,  and  a  number  of  churches — a  Lu- 
theran, Methodist,  Presbyterian,  Christian. 

It  is  the  depot  and  customary  market  place  for  the  pro- 
ducts of  Penn's,  Brush  and  Buffalo  valleys.  There  is  a  sub- 
stantial and  beautiful  bridge  across  the  river  and  leads  di- 
rectly from  the  end  of  Main  street  to  the  Northumberland 
shore ;  it  was  completed  in  1818,  at  a  cost  of  $60,000.  A 
dam,  opposite  the  town,  built  in  1833,  forms  a  basin,  which, 
with  a  Cross  Cut,  enables  the  trade  to  reach  the  West  Branch 
Canal,  which  is  about  half  a  mile  from  Derrstown.  A  turn- 
pike road  commences  at  the  Lewisburg  bridge,  and  leading 
through  Mifflinsburg  (Youngmanstown)  and  Hartley  ton,  in- 
tersects the  Bellefonte  and  Lewistown  turnpike  at  Potter's 
Fort  in  Penn's  valley. 

When  Captain  John  Brady  left  Shippensburg,  he  located 
himself  at  the  Standing  Stone  creek  and  the  Juniata  river, 
where  the  present  town  of  Huntingdon,  in  Huntingdon  coun- 
ty stands,  in  part  on  the  site  of  the  Standing  Stone.  From 
thence  he  removed  to  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
opposite  the  spot  of  Lewisburg,  or  Derrstown,  in  Union  co., 
stands.  If  I  mistake  not,  the  tract  settled  on  by  him,  now 
belongs  to  George  Kremer,  Esq.  Derr  had  a  small  mill  on 
the  run  that  empties  into  the  river  below  the  town,  and  a 
trading  house,  from  whence  the  Indians  were  supplied  with 
powder,  lead,  tobacco  and  rum.  In  the  commencement  of 
the  strife  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  Bra- 
dy discovered  that  the  Indians  were  likely  to  be  tampered 
with  by  the  British.  The  Seneca  and  Muncy  tribes  were  in 
considerable  force,  and  Pine  and  Lycoming  creeks  were  na- 
vigable almost  to  the  State  line  for  canoes.     Fort  Augusta 


UNION    COUNTY.  305 

had  been  built  upon  the  east  side  of  the  North  Branch,  im- 
mediately where  it  connects  with  the  West  Branch,  about  a 
mile  above  the  present  town  of  Sunbury.  It  was  garrisoned 
by  "  a  fearless  few,"  and  commanded  by  Captain,  afterwards 
Major  Hunter,  a  meritorious  officer.  He  had  under  his  com- 
mand about  50  men.  In  the  season  for  tillage,  some  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  farming,  but  the  women  and  children  mostly 
resided  in  the  fort,  or  were  taken  there  on  the  slightest 
alarm. 

It  was  known  that  the  Wyoming  flats  were  full  of  Indi- 
ans of  the  Delaware  and  Shamokin  tribes. — The  latter  since 
extinct,  was  then  a  feeble  people,  and  under  the  protection 
of  the  Dela  wares.  In  this  state  of  affairs  Capt.  John  Brady 
suggested  to  his  neighbors  and  comrades,  under  arms  at  Fort 
Augusta,  the  propriety  of  making  a  treaty  with  the  Seneca 
and  Muncy  tribes ;  knowing  them  to  be  at  variance  with  the 
Delawares.  This  course  was  approved  of,  and  petitions  sent 
on  to  proper  authorities,  praying  the  appointment  of  commis- 
sioners for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  treaty :  commissioners 
were  appointed,  and  Fort  Augusta  was  designated  as  a  place 
ot  conference;  and  notice  of  that,  and  of  the  time  fixed  for 
the  arrival  of  the  commissioners,  was  directed  to  be  given  to 
the  two  tribes.  Captain  John  Brady  and  two  others  were 
selected  by  the  people  in  the  fort  to  confer  with  the  Senecas 
and  Muncies,  and  communicate  to  them  the  proposal. 

The  Indians  met  the  ambassadors  of  the  settlers,  to  wit : 
Capt.  John  Brady  and  his  companions.  The  chiefs  listened 
with  apparent  pleasure  to  the  proposal  for  a  treaty,  and  af- 
ter smoking  the  pipe  of  peace,  and  promising  to  attend  at 
Fort  Augusta  on  the  appointed  day,  led  our  men  out  of  their 
camp,  and  shaking  hands  with  them  cordially,  parted  in 
seeming  friendship. 

Brady  feared  to  trust  the  friendship  so  warmly  expressed, 
and  took  a  different  route  in  returning  with  his  company, 
from  that  they  had  gone,  and  arrived  safe  at  home. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  holding  the  treaty,  the  Indians 
appeared  with  their  wives  and  their  children.  There  were 
about  one  hundred  men,  all  warriors,  and  dressed  in  war 
costume.  Care  had  been  taken  that  the  little  Fort  should 
look  as  fierce  as  possible,  and  every  man  was  on  the  alert. 

In  former  treaties,  the  Indians  had  received  large  presents, 
and  were  expecting  them  here  ;  but  finding  the  fort  too  poor 
26* 


306 


UNION    COUNTY. 


to  give  any  thing  of  value,  (and  an  Indian  never  trusts)  all 
efforts  to  form  a  treaty  with  them  proved  abortive.  They 
left  the  fort,  however,  apparently  in  good  humor,  and  well 
satisfied  with  their  treatment,  and  taking  to  their  canoes, 
proceeded  homeward-  The  remainder  of  the  day  was  chiefly 
spent  by  officers  and  people  of  the  fort  in  devising  means  of 
protection  against  anticipated  attacks  of  the  Indians.  Late 
in  the  day,  Brady  thought  of  Derr's  trading  house,  and  fore- 
boding evil  from  that  point,  mounted  a  small  mare  he  had  at 
the  fort,  and  crossing  the  North  Branch  he  rode  with  all 
possible  speed.  On  his  way  home  he  saw  the  canoes  of  the 
Indians  on  the  bank  of  the  river  near  Derr's.  When  near 
enough  to  observe  the  paddles,  to  work  canoes  over  to  this 
side  of  the  river,  and  that  when  they  landed  they  made  for 
thickets  of  sumach,  which  grew  in  great  abundance  on  this 
land  to  the  height  of  a  man's  head,  and  very  thick  upon  the 
ground.  He  was  not  slow  in  conjecturing  the  cause.  He 
rode  on  to  where  the  squaws  were  landing,  and  saw  that  they 
were  conveying  rifles,  tomahawks,  and  knives,  into  the  su- 
mach thickets,  and  hiding  them.  He  immediately  jumped 
into  a  canoe  and  crossed  to  Derr's  trading  house,  where  he 
found  the  Indians  brutally  drunk.  He  saw  a  barrel  of  rum 
standing  on  end  before  Derr's  door,  with  the  head  out.  He 
instantly  overset  it,  and  spilled  the  rum,  saying  to  Derr, 
"  My  God,  Frederick,  what  have  you  done?"  Derr  replied, 
"  Dey  dells  me  you  gif  um  no  dreet  town  on  de  ford,  so  I 
dinks  as  I  gif  um  one  here,  als  he  go  home  in  bease." 

One  of  the  Indians,  who  saw  the  rum  spilled,  but  was  un- 
able to  prevent  it,  told  Brady  he  would  one  day  rue  the  spil- 
ling of  that  barrel.  Being  well  acquainted  with  the  Indian 
character,  he  knew  death  was  the  penalty  of  his  offence,  and 
was  constantly  on  his  guard  for  several  years. 

Next  day  the  Indians  started  off.  They  did  not  soon  at- 
tack the  settlements,  but  carried  arms  for  their  allies,  the 
English,  in  other  parts.  Meanwhile,  emigration  to  the  West 
Branch  continued  ;  the  settlement  extended,  and  Freeland's 
Fort  was  built  near  the  mouth  of  Warrior  run,  about  eight 
miles  above  Derr's  trading-house." 


UNION    COUNTY.  307 


MIFFLINSBURG, 


(Youngmanstown,)  on  the  south  side  of  Buffalo  creek,  in 
Buffalo  valley,  five  miles  northwest  of  New  Berlin,  and  eight 
miles  from  Lewisburg,  contains  nearly  one  hundred  dwell- 
ings, two  churches,  Lutheran  and  Methodist,  an  academy, 
incorporated  at  the  time  the  town  was  erected  into  a  bor- 
ough, April  14,  1827.  In  1840  it  contained  6  stores,  2 
tanneries,  2  breweries,  2  potteries,  3  schools,  180  scholars, 
and  704  inhabitants. 


MIDDLEBURG, 

(Swinefordstown,)  stands  on  the  left  bank  of  Middle  creek, 
six  miles  southwest  of  New  Berlin.  It  contains  between  50 
and  60  dwellings,  several  stores  and  taverns,  and  a  Luther- 
an church.     It  is  quite  a  pleasantly  located  village. 


HARTLEYTON, 

A  post  town,  on  the  road  to  Potter's  Fort  from  Mifflinburg, 
and  six  miles  southwest  of  the  latter,  contains  between  30 
and  40  dwellings,  several  stores  and  taverns,  and  also  a  Lu- 
theran church. 


FREEBURG, 

(Stroupstown,)  a  post  town  on  Middle  creek,  eight  miles 
southeast  of  New  Berlin,  contains  about  forty  dwellings,  se- 
veral stores  and  taverns.     It  is  situated  in  "  Klopperdahl." 


SELIN'S  GROVE. 

Is  on  the  Susquehanna,  near  the  mouth  of  Penn's  creek, 
which,  uniting  with  Middle  creek,  enters  the  Susquehanna 
bv  two  outlets,  and  thus,  with  the  river,  encloses  the  "  Isle 
of  Q." 

Selin's  Grove  was  founded  by  Anthony  Seling,  a  brother- 


-308  UNION    COUNTY. 

in-law  of  the  late  Simon  Snyder,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
whose  memory  will  long  be  cherished  by  the  citizens  of  his 
native  State. 

Selin's  Grove  contains  about  one  hundred  dwellings,  some 
five  or  six  stores,  several  taverns,  and  one  church.  The 
great  public  road  along  the  Susquehanna,  runs  through  the 
town ;  it  is  the  great  thoroughfare,  not  only  between  the 
southern  and  northern  counties,  but  between  the  southern 
and  northern  states  of  Canada.  The  Northumberland  and 
Harrisburg  stages  pass  through  here  daily. 


CHARLESTOWN, 

A  small  village,  connected  with  Selin's  Grove,  has  lately 
sprung  up  on  the  Isle  of  Q.,  on  the  canal,  the  passage  of 
which,  along  this  island,  has  closed  the  upper  thoroughfare, 
and  forced  both  streams  to  empty  their  waters  under  the 
aqueduc',  at  the  lower  end  of  the  peninsula,  for  such  it  is 
now. 

During  the  French  and  Indian  war,  shortly  after  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  the  Indians  made  hostile  incursions  and  butch- 
ered a  number  of  persons  here. 


BEAVERTOWN, 

In  Moser's  valley,  10  miles  southwest  of  New  Berlin,  con- 
tains 15  or  20  dwellings,  a  store  and  tavern. 


ADAMSBURG, 

At  the  foot  of  Black  Oak  Ridge,  12  miles  southwest  of  New 
Berlin,  contains  about  25  dwellings,  a  store  and  tavern,  and 
a  church. 


CENTREVILLE, 

At  the  foot  of  Jack's  mountain,  on  the  right  bank  of  Penn's 
creek,  about  4  miles  southwest  of  New  Berlin,  contains  about 
20  dwellings,  several  stores,  a  tavern,  and  Lutheran  church. 


UNION    COUNTY.  309 


NEW  COLUMBUS, 

On  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  nearly  oppo- 
site Milton,  at  the  mouth  of  White  Deer  Valley,  contains 
about  30  dwellings,  several  stores  and  a  tavern.  It  is  12 
miles  from  New  Berlin. 


SWIFTSTOWN, 

A  small  village  in  Middle  creek  valley. 


EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION. 

Education  is  a  mere  secondary  matter  with  the  great  mass 
of  the  inhabitants,  especially  the  agricultural  portion  of  them. 
The  cultivation  of  the  soil  is  deemed,  with  many,  of  more 
importance  than  the  improvement  of  the  mind.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Beaver,  Chapman,  Middle  creek,  Perry  and  Union 
townships,  have  not  as  yet  seen  proper  to  adopt  the  common 
school  system.  Out  of  17  districts,  only  11  reported  45 
schools  in  operation,  and  5  more  wanting  in  those  11  dis- 
tricts ;  the  schools  were  open  5  months,  employing  44  male, 
and  7  female  teachers  ;  the  former  receiving  $20,17  cts.  per 
month,  the  latter  $9,83 :  number  of  scholars  taught,  1,601 
males,  and  1,766  females  ;  of  which  number  113  were  learn- 
ing German.  District  tax  raised  $2,368  71 ;  state  appro- 
priation $3,272  00.  Cost  of  instruction  $3,567  74 ;  fuel 
and  contingencies  $358,75 ;  paid  out  in  1844  for  school 
houses,  $47,00. 

The  prevailing  religious  denominations  are  Presbyterians, 
Lutherans,  German  Reformed,  Methodists,  Evangelical  As- 
sociation, and  some  Dunkards  and  Christians. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Columbia  County. 

Columbia  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features— Statistics 
of  1840— Public  improvements — Towns:  Danville,  Catawissa, 
Bloomsburg,  Berwick,  Miffiinsburg,  Washingtonville,  Freictstown, 
Jerseytown,  Williamsburg,  Orangeville,  White  Hall,  Espytown, 
Moorstown,  &c. — Education,  &c. — Narrative  of  Van  Camp. 

Columbia  county  was  former!}'  a  part  of  Northumberland, 
and  was  taken  from  it  by  an  act  passed  March  22,  1813. 
Its  boundaries  are  thus  described  : 

Beginning  at  the  nine  mile  tree,  on  the  bank  of  the  north- 
east branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  from  thence  by  the  line 
of  Point  township,  to  the  line  of  Chilisquaque  township  ; 
thence  by  the  line  of  Chilisquaque  and  Point  townships,  to 
the  West  Branch  of  the  river  Susquehanna  ;  thence  up  the 
same  to  the  line  of  Lycoming  county;  thence  by  the  line  of 
Lycoming  county  to  the  line  of  Luzerne  county ;  thence  by 
the  same  to  the  line  of  Schuylkill  county;  thence  along  the 
same  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Catawissa  township;  thence 
by  the  line  of  Catawissa  and  Shamokin  townships,  to  the  ri- 
ver Susquehanna  ;  and  thence  down  said  river  to  the  place 
of  beginning,  shall  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  according  to 
the  present  lines,  declared  to  be  erected  into  a  county. 

By  an  act  of  January  22d,  1816,  part  of  the  townships  of 
Chilisquaque  and  Turbit,  in  Northumberland  county,  were 
annexed  to  Columbia,  and  by  an  act  of  March  3d,  1818, 
part  of  Columbia  county  was  annexed  to  Schuylkill  county ; 
and  is  now  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lycoming,  on  the 
southeast  by  Schuylkill  county,  and  on  the  south  and  west 
by  Northumberland.  Length  25  miles,  breadth  23;  area 
574  square  miles ;  area  in  acres,  367,360. 

Population  in  1820,  17,621;  in  1830,  20,059;  in  1840, 
24,267. 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY.  311 

The  population  of  the  several  townships,  in  1840,  were 
as  follows : — 

Greenwood  1,217,  Madison  1,700,  Hemlock  956,  Bloom 
1,774,  Liberty  1,328,  Sugarloaf  934,  Mount  Pleasant  609, 
Mifflin  2,150,  Limestone  646,  Derry  1,754,  Catawissa 
2,064,  Mahoning  1,927,  Fishing  creek  904,  Roaring  creek 
1,855,  Bear  creek  1,905,  Orange  833,  Montour  809,  Val- 
ley 633,  Jackson  625. 

[See  Table  on  the  following  page. 


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Colored  pop'n. 

COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 


313 


This  county  is  spread  over  the  Apalachian  range  or  sys- 
tem ;  the  surface  is  uneven,  being  diversified  by  mountains, 
hills  and  valleys.  Though  the  mountain  ranges  of  this  coun- 
ty are  not  very  high,  yet  they  are  very  much  broken.  Be- 
tween these  are  some  broad,  fertile  valleys,  of  different  kinds 
of  soil.  Along  the  Susquehanna  are  some  level  tracts,  and 
a  very  rich  soil,  and  in  the  western  parts  of  the  county,  the 
limestone,  when  well  cultivated,  is  very  productive.  The 
hilly  and  broken  portions  are  found  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  county.  The  soil  here  is  not  so  productive  as  in  the 
western  parts  of  the  county. 

The  principal  mountains  are  Little,  Nescopeck  or  Cata- 
wissa,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  county :  in  the  northeast 
is  Knob  mountain,  extended  westward  from  Luzerne ;  and 
on  the  north  border  is  the  high  range  prolonged  eastward 
from  the  Allegheny,  which  is  here  called  the  North  moun- 
tain. 

The  principal  streams  in  the  county  are  the  North  Branch 
of  Susquehanna  river,  Catawissa,  Roaring,  Fishing,  Chilis- 
quaque,  Mahoning,  and  others,  and  some  smaller  tributaries. 
Little  Fishing,  Hemlock,  Briar,  Green,  Huntingdon  creeks, 
Limestone  run,  &c. 

The  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  flows  through  the 
central  part  of  this  county,  entering  at  Berwick  and  leav- 
ing at  Danville.  Fishing  creek  rises  by  numerous  branches 
along  the  side  of  the  North  mountain,  and  has  a  nearly  south 
course  to  the  river,  near  Bloomsburg.  Catawissa  rises  in 
Schuylkill  county,  flows  northwestward,  and  empties  at  Cat- 
awissa, into  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  Roaring 
creek  rises  near  the  southern  extremity  of  this  county,  and 
forms  part  of  the  southwestern  boundary.  Fishing  creek  has 
its  source  in  Lycoming  county,  whence  it  receives  many  tri- 
butaries, and  forcing  its  way  through  the  Bald  mountain  into 
Sugarloaf  township,  it  flows  south  into  the  Susquehanna  riv- 
er, about  three  miles  above  Catawissa,  its  volume  having 
been  much  increased  by  the  waters  of  Huntingdon  creek, 
from  Luzerne  county  and  by  Little  Fishing  creek,  and  seve- 
ral other  smaller  streams. 

The  geology  of  this  county  is  interesting,  but  somewhat 
complex,  for,  says  Trego,  "  so  many  rock  formations  are 
brought  to  the  surface  in  this  county,  by  numerous  anticli- 
nal and  synclinal  axes  or  lines  of  elevation  and  depression, 
27 


314 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


and  so  often  are  some  of  these  formations  repeated  by  the 
consequent  changes  of  dip,  that  a  minute  description  of  theiif 
various  ranges,  foldings  and  doublings,  would  occupy  several 
pages.  A  more  general  notice  of  some  of  the  more  prominent 
features  in  the  geology  of  the  county  is  all  that  our  limits 
will  permit. 

In  the  elevated  range,  called  Montour's  ridge,  which  ex- 
tends from  the  West  Branch  above  Northumberland,  east- 
ward by  Danville,  to  a  point  northeast  of  Bloomsburg,  an 
axis  of  elevation  passes  nearly  along  the  middle  of  the  ridge, 
is  composed  of  hard  gray  and  reddish  sandstones,  which  are 
covered  along  both  sides,  and  sometimes  nearly  or  quite  to 
the  top  of  the  ridge,  by  the  slates  and  shales  of  overlying 
series,  the  lower  part  of  which  consists  of  yellowish  or  green- 
ish slates,  containing  thin  strata  of  limestone,  in  which  are 
impressions  of  shells  and  other  fossil,  and  near  these  a  very 
valuable  layer  of  brownish  red  iron  ore,  from  six  inches  to 
two  feet  in  thickness,  also  containing  fossil  impressions.  This 
ore  is  found  on  both  sides  of  the  ridge,  as  far  east-  as  the 
neighborhood  of  Bloomsburg,  where  the  strata  converge  and 
unite  over  its  top  as  it  sinks  away  on  the  east,  and  finally 
disappears  under  the  overlying  red  shale  in  the  vicinity  of 
Espytown.  In  the  slates  above  the  iron  ore  are  some  thin 
layers  of  dark  colored  limestone,  succeeded  by  a  thick  bed 
of  red  shale,  which  forms  the  upper  portion  of  the  series. 
Overlying  this  red  shale  is  a  limestone  formation,  which  en- 
circles the  ridge  on  the  outside  of  the  red  shale,  and  which 
may  be  seen  not  far  from  the  river  above  Northumberland, 
and  along  the  railroad  from  Danville  to  Bloomsburg,  extend- 
ing also  from  this  to  within  two>  or  three  miles  of  Berwick, 
where  it  sinks  away  beneath  the  overlying  slate.  From  this 
point  the  northern  division  of  the  limestone  extends  along  the 
outer  border  of  the  red  shale  north  of  the  ridge,  passing  a 
little  south  of  Moorsburg,  to  the  West  Branch,  near  the 
mouth  of  Chilisquaque  creek.  The  next  formation  in  order, 
the  fossiliferous  sandstone,  appears  to  be  wanting  in  this  part 
of  the  State ;  for  immediately  next  to  the  limestone  last  men- 
tioned we  find  the  olive  slate,  which,  with  red  shales  and 
sandstones  next  above  spread  over  a  wide  region  south  of 
Montour's  ridge,  in  the  valleys  of  Shamokin  and  Roaring 
creeks,  as  far  as  the  Little  mountain.  The  same  formations 
also  occupy  most  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  extend- 


COLUMBIA   COUNTY. 


315 


ing  to  the  southern  side  of  the  North  mountain.  In  the 
neighborhood  of  Washington,  in  the  west  of  the  county,  the 
limestone  appears,  encircling  the  red  shale  which  extends 
eastward  from  the  vicinity  of  Milton. 

The  Knob  mountain,  which  terminates  at  Fishing  creek, 
near  Orangeville,  is  formed  by  the  union  of  two  ridges  which 
in  Luzerne  county  pass  on  either  side  of  the  southwestern 
point  of  W  yomingcoal  basin,  and  extend  into  Columbia  coun- 
ty, in  a  long  narrow  ridge,  which  is  capped  with  a  hard 
coarse  sandstone.  The  same  rock  appears  in  Nescopeck  or 
Catawissa  mountain,  and  in  Little  mountain.  South  of  Cat- 
awissa  mountain,  the  little  valleys  on  Catawissa  creek  are 
of  red  shale,  which  underlies  the  conglomerate  of  McCau- 
ley's  and  Buck  mountain,  supporting  the  anthracite  beds. 

Although  much  attention  has  latterly  been  paid  to  the 
manufacture  of  iron,  agriculture  forms  the  principal  occupa- 
tion of  the  inhabitants,  and  they  have  annually  a  large 
amount  of  surplus  productions,  consisting  of  flour  of  differ- 
ent kinds,  pork,  &c,  &c,  to  send  to  Philadelphia  and  Bal- 
timore. 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  in  this  coun- 
ty, two  furnaces  (since  increased  by  four  or  five)  which  pro- 
duced 1,300  tons  of  cast  iron,  consuming  2,000  tons  of  fuel, 
employing  80  hands,  and  a  capital  of  $80,000.  Mules  and 
horses  5,905,  neat  cattle  13,525,  sheep  22,184,  swine  19,- 
474,  poultry  of  all  kinds  estimated  at  $ 3,394,  wheat  214,426 
bushels,  223,373  of  oats,  rye  153,246,  buckwheat  50,584, 
corn  208,400,  pounds  of  wool  31,453,  potatoes  163,480 
bushels,  14,878  tons  of  hay,  8  tons  of  flax.  Value  of  pro- 
ducts of  the  dairy  825,705 ;  of  the  orchard  $6,800 ;  100 
gallons  of  wine  made  ;  value  of  home  made  or  family  goods 
818,710 ;  55  retail  dry  goods  stores,  with  a  capital  of 
^335,000.  Value  of  machinery  manufactured  $57,895,  em- 
ployed 71  hands.  Value  of  bricks  and  lime  manufactured 
$23,600,  employed  30  hands,  and  a  capital  of  $37,210. 
There  were  seven  fulling  mills  in  the  county  and  three  wool- 
len factories,  manufactured  goods  to  the  value  of  $3,600, 
employed  32  persons  ;  capital  $4,800.  Value  of  hats  and 
caps  manufactured  $13,500,  employed  16  persons,  capital 
invested  $2,755.  Twenty-three  tanneries  tanned  4,427  sides 
of  sole  leather,  5,299  of  upper,  employed  47  hands,  capital 
-invested  $35,650.     All  other  manufactories  of  leather,  sad- 


316  COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

dleries,  &c.  63,  value  of  manufactured  articles  $27,685,  ca- 
pital invested  $10,549.  Twelve  distilleries  produced  121,- 
000  gallons,  one  brewery  produced  14,336  gallons,  25  hands 
employed  in  manufacturing  distilled  and  fermented  liquors, 
and  employed  a  capital  of  $43,100.  Two  potteries  manu- 
factured articles  to  the  value  of  $1,900,  employed  5  hands, 
capital  $750.  One  paper  manufactory  made  paper  to  the 
value  of  $4,000,  employed  12  men,  capital  $6,000.  Four 
printing  offices  employed  14  hands,  capital  $3,100.  Car- 
riages and  wagons  manufactured  $13,650,  50  men  employ- 
ed, capita]  $8,425.  Eight  flouring  mills  manufactured  6,- 
710  barrels,  40  grist  mills,  74  saw  mills.  Total  capital 
invested  in  manufactures  $266,487.  Aggregate  amount  of 
all  kinds  of  property  taxable  in  1844,  was  $4,260,914  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  North  Branch  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  .Canal 
passes  through  this  county,  for  the  distance  of  about  twen- 
ty-five miles,  extending  from  below  Danville  to  Berwick, 
where  it  passes  into  Luzerne  coi.nty. 

There  is  also  a  turnpike  road  extending  from  Danville  to 
Pottsville.  The  unfinished  (1844)  Little  Schuylkill  and 
Catawissa  railroad  is  paitly  in  this  county,  passing  down 
Catawissa  valley.  There  are  five  bridges  across  the  river 
at  Berwick,  Catawissa  and  Danville.  The  common  public 
roads  are  generally  in  a  tolerable  condition. 


DANVILLE, 

Situated  on  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  is 
sixty-five  miles  from  Harrisburg,  and  11  miles  above  the 
junction  of  the  North  and  West  Branch,  though  of  compar- 
atively recent  origin,  is  destined  before  many  days  to  become 
one  of  the  most  important  and  flourishing  inland  towns  in 
Pennsylvania.  Upwards  of  two  hundred  dwelling  houses 
were  erected  here  during  1845,  besides  one  furnace,  one 
foundry,  two  rolling  mills ;  one  of  the  latter  alone  cost  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars.     Jn  1845?  there  were 


COLUMBIA  COUNTY.  317 

no  less  than  twelve  or  thirteen  establishments  ior  the  manu- 
facture of  iron,  in  operation,  within  the  limits  of  the  town. 
The  rolling  mill,  owned  by  the  New  York  company,  was 
built  for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  railroad  iron  with 
anthracite  coal.  T  railing  of  a  superior  quality  are  manu- 
factured here — upwards  of  eight  hundred  tons  of  which  were 
manufactured  in  one  month.  The  New  York  company  also- 
own  four  furnaces  besides  the  extensive  rolling  mill,  and  are 
superintended  by  Major  Brevoort. 

The  following,  from  the  Sunbury  American,  describes  the 
manner  in  which  the  T  rail  is  made  here : 

"  In  order  to  make  the  T  rail,  the  iron  is  first  rolled 
through  one  sett  of  rollers  into  heavy  flat  bars,  about  three 
inches  in  width  and  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 
These  bars  are  then  cut  into  pieces,  something  less  than  three 
feet  in  length.  A  number  of  the  pieces,  probably  15  or  30, 
•are  then  placed  together,  making  a  square  bundle  or  faggot, 
weighing  nearly  400  pounds.  This  faggot  is  then  placed 
into  one  of  the  furnaces  and  brought  to  a  white  heat,  when 
it  is  drawn  out  on  a  small  iron  hand  cart  and  conveyed  to 
the  rollers. — The  great  weight  and  intense  heat  of  such  a 
heavy  mass,  requires  considerable  skill  as  well  as  strength, 
in  passing  it  through  the  rollers.  The  bar  as  it  passes  through 
is  caught  and  supported  by  iron  levers,  fastened  to  chains, 
that  are  suspended  on  pullies  from  above.  The  bar  first 
through  the  square  grooves  of  the  rollers  three  or  four  times, 
before  it  is  run  through  the  different  groves  that  gradually 
bring  it  to  the  form  of  the  T  rail,  as  seen  upon  our  railroads. 
Through  the  last  grooves  it  passes  five  or  six  times  before 
it  is  completed.  It  is  then  placed  on  a  small  railway  car- 
riage, on  a  track  18  feet  wide,  and  hauled  up  about  20  feet, 
when  the  rail  comes  in  contact  with  two  circular  saws,  one 
of  which  is  placed  on  each  side  of  the  railway.  These  saws 
revolve  with  great  rapidity,  and  the  moment  the  rail,  still 
red  hot,  reaches  them,  the  red,  sparkling  iron  saw  du.'-t  is 
scattered  in  every  direction.  The  rails  are  then  cut  off 
square  at  each  end,  exactly  18  feet  long,  apparently  as  easi- 
ly as  if  they  were  made  of  tough  hickory  wood.  The  rail 
is  then  dragged  to  the  pile  and  left  to  cool,  perfectly  finish- 
ed. The  rails  we  saw  made  were  intended  for  the  Harris- 
burg  and  Lancaster  road,  and  weighed  fiftv-one  pounds  to 
27* 


318  COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

the  yard,  or  something  more  than  three  hundred  pounds 
each.  These  are  said  to  be  the  first  rails  ever  made  with 
anthracite  iron,  in  this  or  any  other  country,  and  are,  we 
believe,  superior  to  any  that  have  ever  been  imported." 

Ever  since  the  canal  has  been  completed  this  town  has 
risen  in  importance.  Many  of  the  houses  are  neat  and  com- 
modious. The  public  buildings — court  house,  prison,  and 
other  county  buildings ;  an  academy,  incorporated  March 
23d,  1818,  and  several  churches,  viz  :  Presbyterian,  Epis- 
copal, Methodist,  Baptist,  are  all  fine  buildings.  There  is 
a  very  substantial  bridge  across  the  Susquehanna  at  this 
place.  The  population  in  1840  was  about  1000 ;  at  pres- 
ent it  may  exceed  1250.  Its  increase  having  been  very  ra- 
pid for  the  last  three  or  four  years.  The  site  of  the  place 
is  commanding,  being  an  elevated  bank  of  the  river ;  imme- 
diately behind  it  is  Montour  ridge,  abounding  with  iron  ore: 
it  is  said  to  contain  one  of  the  most  valuable  mines  in  the 
State.  The  State  Geologist,  in  speaking  of  the  iron  ore 
here,  says,  "  The  daily  growing  experience  derived  from 
the  mining  operations  now  (1838)  on  foot,  will  tend  to  mul- 
tiply the  data  for  making  a  safe  estimate  of  the  exact  ex- 
tent to  which  the  buried  treasures  of  Montour's  ridge  can 
be  pursued.  Enough  is  already  known  respecting  the  ex- 
cellent quality  of  the  ore,  the  large  quantity  still  readily 
accessible,  and  the  cheapness  of  the  present  mode  of  mining 
it,  to  establish  a  just  confidence  in  the  value  of  this  forma- 
tion as  one  of  the  choicest  ore  tracts  in  the  State." 

«  The  land  where  Danville  now  stands  was  originally  ta- 
ken up,  or  purchased  by  Mr.  Francis  and  Mr.  Peters,  of 
Philadelphia.  During  the  Revolutionary  war,  but  subse- 
quent to  the  hottest  period  of  the  contest,  Capt.  Montgome- 
ry, of  Philadelphia — the  father — and  Col.,  afterward  Gen. 
Wm.  Montgomery — the  uncle — of  Hon.  Judge  Montgome- 
ry, now  living,  resolved  to  come  out  and  settle  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna, then  a  wild  and  dangerous  frontier,  still  occasion- 
ally disturbed  by  Indians.  They  purchased  their  farms  at 
the  mouth  of  Mahoning  from  one  John  Simpson.  They  had 
but  just  entered  upon  the  hardships  of  frontier  life,  when  the 
storm  of  savage  warfare  descended  upon  Wyoming.  The 
Montgomerys,  just  retired  from  the  campaigns  of  the  revolu- 
tion, were  no  strangers  to  the  alarms  of  Indian  warfare  ;  but 
Mrs,  Montgomery  had  been  reared  amid  the  security  and 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  319 

luxury  of  Philadelphia,  and  became  so  terrified  in  anticipa- 
tion of  being  murdered  by  savages,  that  her  husband  was 
prevailed  upon  to  remove  with  her,  and  her  little  son,  now 
die  Judge,  to  Northumberland,  where  the  settlements  were 
protected  by  a  fort.  Previously  however,  to  their  removal, 
they  were  often  annoyed  by  the  lurking  foe,  and  frequent 
murders  were  committed  in  the  vicinity.  Their  fears,  too, 
were  as  often  excited  by  merely  imaginary  dangers.  Capt. 
Daniel  Montgomery,  looking  out  one  evening,  about  dusk, 
upon  the  river,  saw  a  fine  canoe  drifting  down  the  stream, 
and  immediately  pushed  out  with  his  own  canoe  to  secure 
the  prize.  On  coming  up  to  it,  and  drawing  it  towards  him 
with  his  hand,  he  was  thunderstruck  at  seeing  a  very  large, 
muscular  Indian  lying  flat  on  his  back  in  the  canoe,  with  his 
eyes  wildly  glaring  upon  him.  He  let  go  his  hold  and  pre- 
pared for  defence — but  in  a  moment,  reflecting  that  he  had 
seen  water  in  the  bottom  of  this  strange  canoe,  he  again  ap- 
proached it,  and  found  the  Indian  was  dead.  A  paper  on 
his  breast  set  forth  that  he  had  been  shot  near  Wyoming, 
and  set  adrift  by  some  of  the  Yankees.  The  captain  towed 
his  prize  to  the  shore  with  a  lighter  heart,  and  after  a  hear- 
ty laugh  with  his  neighbors,  sent  the  Indian  on  his  misson. 
The  following  from  the  "  Hazleton  Travellers,"  by  Mr.  Mi- 
ner, of  Luzerne  co.,  is  the  counterpart  to  the  story. 

"Among  the  Indians  who  formerly  lived  at  Wyoming 
was  one  by  the  name  of  Anthony  Turkey.  When  the  sav- 
ages removed  from  Wyoming  he  went  with  them,  and  re- 
turned as  an  enemy  at  the  time  of  the  invasion.  With  him 
and  the  people  there  had  been  before  a  good  understanding, 
and  it  created  some  surprise  when  known  that  he  was  with 
the  bloody  band  who  had  come  on  an  errand  of  destruction. 
It  was  Turkey  who  commanded  the  party  that  came  to  Mr. 
Weeks'  the  Sunday  after  the  battle,  (1778,)  and  taking  the 
old  gentleman's  hat,  shoved  his  rocking-chair  into  the  street 
and  sat  down  and  rocked  himself.  In  the  invasion  of  March 
following  Turkey  was  here  again,  and  in  an  engagement, 
on  the  Kingston  flats,  was  shot  through  the  thigh  and  sur- 
rounded by  our  people.  '  Surrender  turkey,'  said  they,  '  we 
wont  hurt  you."  Probably  conscious  of  his  own  cruelties, 
he  defied  them,  and  fought  like  a  tiger-cat  to  the  last.  Some 
of  our  boys,  in  malicious  sport,  took  his  body,  put  it  into  an 
old  canoe,  fixed  a  dead  rooster  in  the  bow —  fastened  a  bow 


320 


COLUMBIA   COUNTY. 


and  arrow  in  the  dead  Indian's  hands,  as  if  in  the  act  just  to 
fire — put  a  written  *  pass'  on  his  breast  to  '  let  the  bearer 
go  to  his  master  King  George  or  the  d — 1' — and  launched 
the  canoe  into  the  river,  amid  the  cheers  of  men  and  boys." 
"  After  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Sullivan  had  quitted  the 
frontier  and  expelled  the  Indians,  the  Montgomerys  return- 
ed to  Danville,  where  Daniel  Montgomery  established  a 
store,  and  laid  off  a  few  lots  on  a  piece  of  land  given  him  by 
his  father.  A  few  other  settlers  came  in,  and  in  about  1806 
we  find  Danville  described  in  Scott's  Geography  as  a  '  small 
post-town  on  the  east  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  the 
mouth  of  Mahoning.'  Judge  Montgomery  was  at  that  time 
the  post-master — the  first  in  the  place  who  enjoyed  that  dig- 
nity. When  it  was  proposed  to  erect  Columbia  co.,  and  es- 
tablish Danville  as  the  county  seat,  the  elder  Gen.  Montgo- 
mery was  opposed  to  the  scheme,  fearing  annoyance  in  his 
farming  operations  by  the  proximity  of  the  town ;  but  his 
son,  on  the  contrary,  was  eager  for  the  success  of  the  pro- 
ject, anticipating  large  gains  from  the  sale  of  Jots.  After 
the  county  was  fairly  established,  Gen.  Montgomery  not 
only  requiesced,  but  entered  with  his  whole  heart  into  the 
enterprise  for  its  improvement.  He  and  his  relations  en- 
dowed and  erected  an  academy,  and  gave  thirty  lots  as  a 
fund  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  here.  He  afterwards 
took  a  leading  part  in  getting  a  charter  for  the  Bear-gap 
road,  which  opened  the  place  to  the  Pottsville  travel ;  and 
also  had  great  influence  in  inducing  Stephen  Girard  to 
embark  in  the  enterprise  of  Danville  and  Pottsville  rail- 
road. A  part  of  the  road  was  made  near  Pottsville,  and 
is  now  rotting  in  the  sun  without  use.  Girard  and«Gen. 
Montgomery  died  nearly  at  the  same  time — other  inter- 
ests interfered,  and  the  Danville  and  Pottsville  railroad, 
with  the  bright  visions  of  augmented  wealth  associated 
with  it,  exists  only  on  paper." 


CATAWISSA, 

Was  laid  out  in  1787,  by  William  Hughes,  a  Quaker,  (to 
which  James  Watson  made  addition  in  1776)  is  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river, 
about  nine  miles  above  Danville,  at  the   mouth  of  Cata- 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


321 


wissa  creek,  situated  in  the  midst  of  the  picturesque  scen- 
ery. In  1840  it  contained  three  churches,  one  Methodist, 
one  Lutheran,  and  one  Friends'  Meeting  House  ;  several 
stores,  taverns,  and  upwards  of  two  hundred  dwellings, 
and  about  800  inhabitants.  There  are  a  foundry,  a  pa- 
per mill,  and  several  tanneries  in,  and  near  the  place.  The 
region  abounds  in  iron,  and  there  are,  within  a  few  miles 
of  town,  several  furnaces  and  forges,  John  Hauch  built 
the  first  furnace  in  this  region  in  1816. 

Though  the  Germans  constitute  the  principal  popula- 
tion at  present,  it  was  originally  a  Quaker  settlement.  The 
first  settlers  emigrated  principally  to  Ohio. 


BLOOMSBURG, 

(Eyersburg)  was  laid  out  in  1802,  by  Ludwig  Eyer :  it  is 
a  nourishing,  well  built  town,  near  the  river  and  canal,  9 
fniiles  northeast  of  Danville,  and  four  from  Catawissa.  It 
is  finely  situated  on  the  rising  ground,  about  2  miles  from 
the  Susquehanna,  and  contains  upwards  of  one  hundred 
dwellings,  with  a  population  of  650.  The  North  Branch 
canal  passea.between  the  river  and  the  town.  A  very  ex- 
tensive trade  is  carried  on  here  with  the  fertile  valley  of 
Fishing  creek.  It  is  a  place  of  some  importance,  and  will 
ere  long  be  noted  for  the  manufacture  of  iron. 

The  town  contains  a  German  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
church  hi  common  ;  there  are  also  a  Methodist  and  Epis- 
copal church.  In  the  cemetery  of  the  German  Reformed 
church  is  a  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  foun- 
der of  Bloomsburg.     It  has  this  inscription  : 

In  memory  of  Ludwig  Eyer,  born  January  8,  1767. 
Died  Sept.  20,  1814,  in  the  48th  year  of  his  age.  He  left 
a  widow,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  to  deplore  his  loss. 
He  was  proprietor  of  Bloomsburg,  laid  it  out  in  1802,  and 
presented  this  square  to  the  Lutheran  and  Presbyterian 
congregations,  for  a  church  and  burying  ground,  in  1807. 

His  liberality  was  not  confined  to  these  congregations, 
he  also  gave  the  Episcopalians  a  lot  of  ground. 

Near  this  place,  south  of  the  town,  on  the  Susquehan- 
na, was  a  Stoccade  Fort  erected  in  1781,  and  another  in 
Fishing  creek,  about  3  miles  above  its  mouth. 


322 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


In  February,  1780, 1  was,  says  Van  6ampen,  promoted 
to  a  lieutenancy,  and  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  an 
officer,  by  heading  scouts,  and  as  Capt.  Robinson  was  no 
woodsman  or  no  marksman,  he  preferred  that  I  should  en- 
counter the  danger  and  head  scouts ;  we  kept  up  a  con- 
stant chain  of  scouts  around  the  frontier  settlements,  from 
the  north  to  the  northwest  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  by 
the  way  of  Little  Fishing  creek,  Chilisquaqua,  Muncy, 
&c.  In  the  spring  of  1781,  we  built  a  fort  on  the  widow 
McClure's  plantation,  called  McClure's  Fort,  where  our 
provisions  were  stored.— Incidents  of  Border  Lije. 


BERWICK, 

Is  twelve  miles  above  Bloomsburg,  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Susquehanna,  on  the  eastern  boundary — part  of  the 
village  is  in  Luzerne  county.  It  was  originally  settled  by 
Evan  Owen,  in  1783.  It  contains  about  one  hundred 
dwellings,  a  Methodist  church,  an  academy,  several  stores 
and  taverns,  and  about  800  inhabitants.  From  this  town 
a  turnpike  road  runs  to  Lausanne,  on  the  Lehigh  river, 
above  Mauch  chunk,  passing  near  the  Beaver  Meadows. 
The  road  crosses  the  Susquehanna  by  a  substantial  bridge 
which  connects  Berwick  with  Nescopee  village — com- 
menced in  1814  and  completed  in  1818,  at  a  cost  of  $52,- 
435.  The  North  Branch  canal  passes  along  the  foot  of  the 
elevated  bank  upon  which  the  town  is  built. 


MIFFLINSBURG, 

Is  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  river,  seventeen 
miles  above  Danville.  It  contains  about  thirty  dwellings, 
several  stores  and  taverns — a  Lutheran  and  a  Methodist 
church.     In  and  near  it  are  several  mills  and  tanneries. 


WASHINGTONVILLE, 

Is  seven  miles  southwest  of  Danville :  contains  about  40 
dwellings,  several  stores  and  taverns.  It  is  situated  in  the 
fertile  valley  of  Chilisquaque  creek. 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  323 

FRUITSTOWN, 

Is  a  small  hamlet,  twelve  miles  north  of  Danville,  on  a 
branch  of  Chilisquaque  creek,  at  the  head  of  Chilisquaque 
valley. 


JERSEYTOWN, 

Seven  miles  northeast  of  Danville,  contains  about  thirty 
dwellings,  a  store,  a  tavern,  and  a  church. 


WILLIAMSBURG, 

On  Fishing  creek,  three  miles  above  Bloomsburg,  and  13 
northeast  of  Danville,  consists  of  a  dozen  of  houses,  a  store 
and  tavern,  and  a  Methodist  church. 


ORANGEVILLE, 

Five  miles  north  of  Bloomsburg,  on  Fishing  creek,  con- 
tains about  40  dwellings,  several  stores  and  taverns. 


WHITE  HALL, 

Ten  miles  from  Danville,  four  miles  northwest  of  Jersey  - 
town,  contains  six  or  eight  dwellings,  a  store  and  tavern. 


ESPYTOWN, 

On  the  west  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  on  the  road  from 
Danville  to  Berwick,  twelve  miles  from  the  former  place, 
contains  about  25  dwellings,  several  stores  and  a  tavern. 


MOORSBURG, 

A  small  village,  in  Liberty  township.     Prettily  located. 


324 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION. 


Genera]  education  has,  as  in  several  other  counties,  been 
much  neglected  in  many  parts  of  the  county.  Although 
all  the  townships,  except  Mifflin  and  Valley,  have  adopted 
the  system  of  public  schools.  The  compensatiion  allowed 
to  teachers,  is  such  as  to  induce  illy  qualified  persons  to 
take  charge  of  schools.  There  are  19  school  districts,  14 
of  which _have  reported  104  schools  as  in  operation,  and 
12  wanting  in  those  districts:  schools  open  7  months;  em- 
ployed 98  male  and  31  female  teachers;  the  former  at  a 
salary  of  $16  per  month,  and  the  latter  at  $9.  In  these 
schools  there  were  3,296  male  and  2,556  female  pupils; 
138  of  whom  were  learning  German.  District  tax  raised 
$5,207  95 ;  state  appropriation  $4,778  00.  Cost  of  in- 
struction $6,106  33;  fuel  and  contingencies  $589  41;  cost 
of  school  houses  $5S6  77.  There  is  an  academy  and  a 
female  seminary  at  Danville,  pretty  liberally  patronized. 

Methodists  and  Presbyterians  are  the  most  numerous 
religious  denominations — there  are  some  Episcopalians, 
German  Reformed,  Lutherans,  and  Quakers. 


NARRATIVE 

Of  Lieut.  Moses  Van  Campen,  during  the  War  of  the  Rev- 
olution ;  sent  by  the  author  to  Congress  in  1838,  accom- 
panied by  a  petition  for  pension,  which  was  granted. 

My  first  service  was  in  the  year  1777,  when  I  served 
three  months  under  Colonel  John  Kelly,  who  stationed  us 
at  Big  Island,  on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna. 
Nothing  particular  transpired  during  that  time,  and  in 
March,  1778, 1  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  a  company  of 
six  months  men.  Shortly  afterwards  I  was  ordered  by 
Colonel  Samuel  Hunter  to  proceed  with  about  twenty  men 
to  Fishing  creek,  (which  empties  into  the  North  Branch  of 
the  Susquehanna,  about  twenty  miles  above  Northumber- 
land,) and  built  a  fort  about  three  miles  from  its  mouth, 
for  the  reception  of  the  inhabitants,  in  case  of  an  alarm 
from  the  Indians. 

In  May,  my  fort  being  nearly  completed,  our  spies  dis- 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


'32-5 


covered  a  large  party  of  Indians  making  their  way  towards 
the  fort.  The  neighboring  residents  had  barely  time  to  fly 
to  the  fort  for  protection,  leaving  their  goods  behind.  The 
Indians  soon  made  their  appearance,  and  having  plundered 
and  burnt  the  houses,  attacked  the  fort,  keeping  a  steady  fire 
upon  us  during  the  day.  At  night  they  withdrew,  burning 
and  destroying  every  thing  in  their  route. 

What  loss  they  sustained,  we  could  not  ascertain,  as  they 
carried  off  all  the  dead  and  wounded,  though  from  the  marks 
of  blood  on  the  ground,  it  must  have  been  considerable.  The 
inhabitants  that  took  shelter  in  the  fort,  had  built  a  yard  for 
their  cattle,  at  the  head  of  a  small  flat,  a  short  distance  from 
the  fort,  and  one  evening  in  the  month  of  June,  just  as  they 
were  milking  them,  my  sentinel  called  my  attention  to  some 
movement  in  the  brush,  which  I  soon  discovered  to  be  Indi- 
ans, making  their  way  to  the  cattle  yard.  There  was  no 
time  to  be  lost ;  I  immediately  selected  ten  of  my  sharp- 
shooters, and  under  cover  of  a  rise  of  land,  got  between  them 
and  the  milkers.  On  ascending  the  ridge  we  found  ourselves 
within  pistol  shot  of  them;  I  fired  first,  and  killed  the  lead- 
er, but  a  volley  from  my  men  did  further  execution,  the  In- 
dians running  off  at  once  In  the  meantime  the  milk  pails 
flew  in  every  direction,  and  the  best  runner  got  to  the  fort 
first. 

As  the  season  advanced,  Indian  hostilities  increased,  and 
notwithstanding  the  vigilance  of  our  scouts,  which  were  out 
constantly,  houses  were  burnt  and  families  murdered.  In  the 
summer  of  1778  occurred  the  great  massacre  at  Wyoming; 
after  which  the  Governors  of  Connecticut,  New  York  and 
Pennsylvania,  petitioned  Congress  to  adopt  speedy  measures 
for  the  protection  of  the  western  frontier,  which  subject  was 
referred  to  a  committee  of  Congress  and  Gen.  Washington. 
The  committee  recommended  that  the  war  should  be  carried 
into  the  enemy's  country,  and  a  company  of  rangers  raised 
for  the  defence  of  the  frontier. 

In  1779  Gen.  Sullivan  was  sent  with  an  army  into  their 
country.  The  provisions  for  the  supply  of  the  army  were 
purchased  in  the  settlements  along  the  waters  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, and  deposited  in  storehouses.  I  was  appointed,  under 
the  title  of  quartermaster,  to  superintend  this  business,  and 
about  the  middle  of  July,  by  means  of  boats,  had  collected 
all  the  provisions  at  Wyoming,  where  Gen.  Sullivan,  with 
28 


326 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


his  army,  lay  waiting  for  them.  About  the  last  of  July  our 
army  moved  for  Tioga  Point,  while  a  fleet  of  boats  ascended 
the  river  parallel  with  the  army. 

We  reached  Tioga  Point  early  in  August,  where  we  halt- 
ed for  Gen.  Clinton  to  join  us  with  his  brigade,  which  came 
by  the  way  of  the  Mohawk  river,  and  so  on  into  Lake  Otse- 
go. During  this  time  the  Indians  were  collecting  in  consid- 
erable force  at  Chemung,  a  large  Indian  village  about  11 
miles  distant.  As  they  became  very  troublesome  neighbors, 
Gen.  Clinton  contemplated  an  attack  upon  them,  but  wished 
to  ascertain  their  numbers  and  situation,  and  selected  me  for 
that  dangerous  enterprise.  I  prepared  myself  an  Indian 
dress,  breech  cloth,  leggings,  and  moccasins.  My  cap  had  a 
good  supply  of  feathers ;  and  being  painted  in  Indian  style,  I 
set  off  with  one  man,  dressed  in  the  same  manner.  We  left 
the  camp  after  dark,  and  proceeded  with  much  caution  until 
we  came  to  the  Chemung,  which  we  supposed  would  be 
strongly  guarded.  We  ascended  the  mountain,  crossed  over 
it,  and  came  in  view  of  their  fires,  when  having  descended 
the  hill,  we  waited  quietly  until  they  lay  down  and  got  to 
sleep.  We  then  walked  around  their  camp,  counted  the  fires 
and  the  number  of  Indians  at  some  of  the  fires,  thus  forming 
an  estimate  of  their  number,  which  I  took  to  be  about  six  or 
seven  hundred.  I  returned,  and  having  made  my  report  to 
the  general  early  next  morning,  I  went  to  my  tent,  spread 
down  my  blanket,  and  had  a  refreshing  sleep. 

In  the  afternoon  Major  Adam  Hoopes,  one  of  the  gener- 
al's aids,  requested  me  to  wait  upon  the  general,  which  I 
obeyed.  The  latter  requested,  as  I  had  learnt  the  way  to 
Chemung,  that  I  would  lead  the  advance,  he  having  selected 
Gen.  Samuel  Hand,  of  the  Pennsylvania  line,  to  make  them 
a  visit  with  eleven  hundred  men.  I  accepted  the  service, 
and  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  after  sundown.  When  we 
came  to  the  Narrows,  I  halted,  according  to  order,  until  the 
main  body  came  up,  when  the  general  ordered  us  to  enter  the 
Narrows,  observing,  "  Soldiers,  cut  your  way  through."  We 
did  so,  and  entered  the  Indian  village  at  daybreak,  but  found 
that  the  birds  had  flown.  We  halted  a  few  minutes  for  our 
men  to  refresh,  set  fire  to  their  village,  and  having  discov- 
ered from  their  trail,  that  they  had  gone  up  the  river,  fol- 
lowed it  about  two  miles.  Here  our  path  lay  up  a  narrow 
ridge,  called   Hogback   Hill,  which  we   remarked,  seemed 


COLUMBIA   COUNTY. 


327 


formed  by  nature  for  an  Indian  ambuscade.  Accordingly, 
every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  hill,  and  as  we  began  to  ascend, 
we  saw  the  bushes  tremble,  and  immediately  rifles  were  pre- 
sented, and  we  received  a  deadly  fire,  by  which  sixteen  or 
seventeen  of  the  advanced  were  killed  or  wounded. 

We  that  stood,  sprang  under  cover  of  the  bank,  and  for  a 
moment,  reserved  our  fire-  Six  or  seven  stout  fellows  rushed 
out  with  tomahawk  and  knife,  to  kill  and  scalp  our  com- 
rades. It  was  now  our  turn  to  fire  :  every  shot  counted  one 
— they  fell.  Gen.  Hand  now  came  on  at  quick  stop,  advan- 
ced within  a  few  rods  of  them,  and  ordered  his  men  to  fire, 
and  then  charge  them  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  they  were 
soon  routed  and  put  to  flight.  We  returned  with  our  dead 
and  wounded  the  same  night,  to  our  former  camp. 

We  had  no  further  opportunity  of  coming  to  a  brush  with 
them,  until  we  were  joined  by  our  whole  force,  under  Gen. 
Clinton.  We  were  opposed  by  the  enemy's  whole  force, 
consisting  of  Indians,  British  and  tories,  to  whom  we  gave 
battle  a  little  below  Newtown  Point.  Our  loss  was  compa- 
ratively trifling. 

On  the  return  of  the  army,  I  was  taken  with  the  camp  fe- 
ver, and  was  removed  to  the  fort  which  I  had  built  in  1778, 
where  my  rather  was  still  living.  In  the  course  of  the  win- 
ter I  recovered  my  health,  and  my  father's  house  having  been 
burnt  in  1778,  by  the  party  which  attacked  the  before-men- 
tioned fort,  my  father  requested  me  to  go  with  him  and  a 
younger  brother  to  our  farm,  about  four  miles  distant,  to 
make  preparations  for  building  another,  and  raising  some 
grain. 

But  little-  apprehension  was  entertained  of  molestation 
from  the  Indians  this  season,  as  they  had  been  so  completely 
routed  the  year  before.  We  left  the  fort  about  the  last  of 
March,  accompanied  by  my  uncle  and  his  son,  about  twelve 
years  old,  and  one  Peter  Pence.  We  had  been  on  our  farms 
about  four  or  five  days,  when  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  of 
March,  we  were  surprised  by  a  party  of  ten  Indians.  My 
father  was  thrust  through  with  a  war  spear,  his  throat  was 
cut  and  he  was  scalped,  while  my  brother  was  tomahawked, 
scalped,  and  thrown  into  the  fire  before  my  eyes.  While  I 
was  struggling  with  a  warrior,  the  fellow  who  had  killed  my 
father,  drew  his  spear  from  his  body  and  made  a  violent 
thrust  at  me.     I  shrank  from  his  spear  ;  the  savage  who  had 


328  COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

hold  of  me,  turned  it  with  his  hand,  so  that  it  only  penetrated 
my  vest  and  shirt.  They  were  then  satisfied  with  taking  me 
prisoner,  as  they  had  the  same  morning  taken  my  uncle's 
little  son  and  Pence,  though  they  killed  my  uncle. 

The  same  party,  before  they  reached  us,  had  touched  on 
the  lower  settlements  of  Wyoming,  and  killed  a  Mr.  Upson, 
and  took  a  boy  prisoner  by  the  name  of  Rogers.  We  were 
now  marched  off  up  Fishing  creek,  and  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  same  clay  we  came  to  Huntingdon,  where  the  Indians 
found  four  white  men  at  a  sugar  camp,  who  fortunately  dis- 
covered the  Indians  and  fled  to  a  house ;  the  Indians  only 
fired  on  them,  and  wounded  a  Captain  Ransom,  when  they 
continued  their  course  till  night. 

Having  encamped  and  made  their  fire,  we,  the  prisoners, 
were  tied  and  well  secured,  five  Indians  lying  on  one  side  of 
us  and  five  on  the  other  ;  in  the  morning  they  pursued  their 
course,  and,  leaving  the  waters  of  Fishing  creek,  touched 
the  head  waters  of  Hemlock  creek,  where  they  found  one 
Abraham  Pike,  his  wife  and  child.  Pike  was  made  a  pris- 
oner, but  his  wife  and  child,  they  painted  and  told  Joggo — 
squaw — go  home.  They  continued  their  course  that  day, 
and  encamped  the  same  night  in  the  same  manner  as  the  pre- 
vious. The  next  day  I  had  an  opportunity  to  communicate 
my  plan  to  my  fellow  prisoners ;  they  treated  it  as  a  vision- 
ry  scheme  for  three  men  to  rttempt  to  despatch  ten  Indians. 
I  spread  before  them  the  advantages  that  three  men  would 
have  over  ten,  when  asleep;  and  that  we  would  be  the  first 
prisoners  that  would  be  taken  into  their  towns  and  villages, 
after  our  army  had  destroyed  their  corn  ;  that  we  should  be 
tied  to  the  stake  and  suffer  a  cruel  death;  we  had  now  an 
inch  of  ground  to  fight  on,  and  if  we  failed  it  would  only  be 
death,  and  we  might  as  well  die  one  way  as  another. 

That  day  passed  away,  and  having  encamped  for  the  night, 
we  lay  as  before.  In  the  morning  we  came  to  the  river,  and 
seen  their  canoes ;  they  had  descended  the  river,  and  run 
their  canoes  upon  Little  Tunkhannock  creek,  so  called ;  they 
crossed  the  river  and  set  their  canoes  adrift. 

I  renewed  my  suggestion  to  my  companions,  to  despatch 
them  that  night ;  and  urged  that  they  must  decide  the  ques- 
tion. Disarm  them,  and  each  take  a  tomahawk,  and  come 
to  close  work  at  once.  There  are  three  of  us ;  plant  our 
blows  with  judgment,  and  three  times  three  will  make  nine, 
and  the  tenth  one  we  can  kill  at  our  leisure. 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  329 

They  agreed  to  disarm  them,  and  after  that,  one  take  pos- 
session of  the  guns  and  tire,  at  the  one  side  of  the  four,  and 
the  other  two  take  tomahawks  on  the  other  side  and  despatch 
them.  I  observed  that  would  be  a  very  uncertain  way;  the 
first  shot  fired  would  give  the  alarm ;  they  would  discover 
it  to  be  the  prisoners,  and  might  defeat  us.  I  had  to  yield 
to  their  plan.  Peter  Pence  was  chosen  to  fire  the  guns,  Pike 
and  myself  to  tomahawk ;  we  cut  and  carried  plenty  of  wood, 
to  give  them  a  good  fire ;  the  prisoners  were  tied  and  laid  in 
their  places;  after  I  was  laid  down,  one  of  them  had  occa- 
sion to  use  his  kni/e ;  he  dropped  it  at  my  feet ;  I  turned  my 
foot  over  if  and  concealed  it — they  all  lay  down  and  fell 
asleep.  About  midnight  I  got  up  and  found  them  in  sound 
sleep.  I  slipped  to  Pence,  who  rose ;  I  cut  him  loose  and 
handed  him  the  knife ;  he  did  the  same  for  me,  and  I  in  turn 
took  the  knife  and  cut  Pike  loose ;  in  a  minute's  time  we 
disarmed  them.  Pence  took  his  station  at  the  guns.  Pike 
and  myself,  with  our  tomahawks,  took  our  stations;  I  was 
to  tomahawk  three  on  the  right  wing  and  Pike  two  on  the 
left.  That  moment  Pike's  two  awoke,  and  were  getting  up; 
here  Pike  proved  a  coward  and  laid  down.  It  was  a  critical 
moment.  I  saw  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost ;  their  heads 
turned  up  fair ;  I  despatched  them  in  a  moment,  and  turned 
to  my  lot,  as  per  agreement,  and  as  I  was  about  to  despatch 
the  last  on  my  side  of  the  fire,  Pence  shot  and  did  good  exe- 
cution ;  there  was  only  one  at  the  off  wing  that  his  ball  did 
not  reach  ;  his  name  was  Mohawk,  a  stout,  bold,  daring  fel- 
low. In  the  alarm,  he  jumped  off  about  three  rods  from  the 
fire ;  he  saw  it  was  the  prisoners  that  made  the  attack,  and 
giving  the  war-whoop,  he  darted  to  take  possession  of  the 
guns;  I  as  quick  to  prevent  him;  the  contest  was  then  be- 
tween him  and  myself.  As  I  raised  my  tomahawk,  he  turned 
quick  to  jump  at  me ;  I  followed  him  and  struck  at  him,  but 
missing  his  head,  my  tomahawk  struck  his  shoulder,  or  rath- 
er the  back  of  his  neck  ;  he  pitched  forward  and  fell ;  at  the 
same  time  my  foot  slipped,  and  I  fell  by  his  side;  we  clinched; 
his  arm  was  naked  ;  he  caught  me  round  my  neck,  at  the 
same  time  I  caught  him  with  my  left  arm  around  the  body, 
and  gave  him  a  close  hug,  at  the  same  time  feeling  for  his 
knife,  but  could  not  reach  it. 

In  our  scuffle,  my  tomahawk  dropped  out.  My  head  was 
under  the  wounded  shoulder,  and  almost  suffocated  me  with 
28*  . 


330  COLUMBIA  COUNTY. 

his  blood.  I  made  a  violent  spring  and  broke  from  his  hold : 
-we  both  rose  at  the  same  time,  and  he  ran ;  it  took  me  some 
time  to  clear  the  blood  from  my  eyes ;  my  tomahawk  got 
covered  up,  and  I  could  not  find  it  in  time  to  overtake  him ; 
he  was  the  only  one  of  the  party  that  escaped.  Pike  was 
powerless. 

I  always  have  had  a  reverence  for  Christian  devotion.  Pike 
was  trying  to  pray,  and  Pence  was  swearing  at  him,  charg- 
ing him  with  cowardice,  and  saying  it  was  no  time  to  pray, 
he  ought  to  fight ;  we  were  masters  of  the  ground,  and  in 
possession  of  all  their  guns,  blankets,  match  coats,  &c.  I 
then  turned  my  attention  to  scalping  them,  and  recovering 
the  scalps  of  my  father,  brother,  and  others.  I  strung  them 
all  on  my  belt  for  safe  keeping. 

We  kept  our  ground  till  morning,  and  built  a  raft,  it  be- 
ing near  the  bank  of  the  river  where  they  had  encamped, 
about  fifteen  miles  below  Tioga  Point ;  we  got  all  our  plun- 
der on  it,  and  set  sail  tor  Wyoming,  the  nearest  settlement. 
Our  raft  gave  away,  when  we  made  for  land,  but  we  lost 
considerable  property,  though  we  saved  our  guns  and  ammu- 
nition, and  took  the  land  ;  we  reached  Wylusing  late  in  the 
afternoon.  Came  to  the  narrows  ;  discovered  a  smoke  below 
and  a  raft  lying  at  the  shore,  by  which  we  were  certain  a 
party  of  Indians  had  passed  us  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and 
had  halted  for  the  night. 

There  was  no  other  alternative  for  us,  but  to  route  them, 
or  go  over  the  mountain ;  the  snow  on  the  north  side  of  the 
hill  was  deep ;  we  knew,  from  appearance  of  the  raft,  that 
the  party  must  be  small ;  we  had  two  rifles  each  ;  my  only 
fear  was  of  Pike's  cowardice.  To  know  the  worst  of  it,  we 
agreed  that  I  should  ascertain  their  number  and  give  the  sig- 
nal for  the  attack ;  I  crept  down  the  side  of  the  hill,  so  near 
as  to  see  their  fires  and  packs,  but  saw  no  Indians.  I  con- 
cluded they  had  gone  hunting  for  meat,  and  that  this  was  a 
good  opportunity  for  us  to  make  off  with  their  raft  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river.  I  gave  the  signal ;  they  came  and 
threw  their  packs  on  to  the  raft,  which  was  made  of  small, 
dry  pine  timber,  and  had  got  nearly  out  of  reach  of  shot, 
-when  two  of  them  came  in;  they  fired  ;  their  shots  did  no  in- 
jury; we  soon  got  under  cover  of  an  island,  and  went  seve- 
ral miles;  we  had  waded  deep  creeks  through  the  day;  the 
night  was  cold ;  we  landed  on  an  island,  and  found  a  sink 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  331 

hole,  in  which  we  made  our  fire  ;  after  warming,  we  were 
alarmed  by  a  crackling  in  the  crust ;  Pike  supposed  the  In- 
dians had  got  on  to  this  island,  and  commenced  calling  for 
quarters;  to  keep  him  quiet,  we  threatened  him  with  his  life; 
the  stepping  grew  plainer,  and  seemed  coming  directly  to  the 
fire ;  I  kept  a  watch,  and  soon  a  noble  raccoon  came  under 
the  light.  I  shot  the  raccoon,  when  Pike  jumped  up  and 
called  out,  "  Quarters,  gentlemen  ;  quarters,  gentlemen."  I 
took  ray  game  by  the  leg,  and  threw  it  down  to  the  fire  ; 
"  Here,  you  cowardly  rascal,"  I  cried,  "  skin  that,  and  give 
us  a  roast  for  supper." 

The  next  night  we  reached  Wyoming,  and  there  was  much 
joy  to  see  us ;  we  rested  one  day,  and  it  being  unsafe  to  go 
to  Northumberland  by  land,  we  procured  a  canoe,  and  with 
Pence  and  my  little  cousin,  we  descended  the  river  by  night; 
we  came  to  Fort  Jenkins  before  day,  where  I  found  Colonel 
Kelly  and  about  one  hundred  men  encamped  out  of  the  Fort; 
he  came  across  from  the  West  Branch  by  the  heads  of  Chil- 
isquaka  to  Fishing  creek,  the  end  of  the  Nob  mountain,  so 
called  at  that  day,  where  my  father  and  mother  were  killed  ; 
he  had  buried  my  father  and  uncle;  my  brother  was  burnt; 
a  small  part  of  him  only  was  found. 

Colonel  Kelly  informed  me  that  my  mother  and  her  chil- 
dren were  in  the  fort,  and  it  was  thought  that  I  was  like- 
wise killed.  Col-  Kelly  went  into  the  fort  to  prepare  her 
mind  to  see  me.  I  took  off  my  belt  of  scalps  and  handed 
them  to  an  officer  to  keep.  Human  nature  was  not  sufficient 
to  stand  the  interview.  She  had  just  lost  a  husband  and  a 
son,  and  one  had  returned  to  take  her  by  the  hand  ;  and  one 
that  she  supposed  was  killed. 

The  day  after,  I  went  to  Sunbury,  where  I  was  received 
with  joy:  my  scalps  were  exhibited,  the  cannons  were  fired, 
&c.  Before  ray  return,  a  commission  had  been  set  me  as  an 
ensign  of  a  company,  to  be  commanded  by  Captain  Thomas 
Robison.  This  was,  as  I  understood,  a  part  of  the  quota 
which  Pennsylvania  had  to  raise  for  the  continental  line. 
One  Joseph  Alexander  was  commissioned  as  Lieut,  but  did 
not  accept  his  commission. 

The  summer  of  1780  was  spent  in  the  recruiting  service; 
our  company  was  organized,  and  was  retained  for  the  defence 
of  the  frontier  service. 

In  February,  1781,  I  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy,  and 


332  COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

entered  upon  the  active  duty  of  an  officer  by  heading  scouts, 
and  as  Capt.  Robison  was  no  woodsman  nor  marksman,  he 
preferred  that  I  should  encounter  the  danger  and  head  the 
scouts;  we  kept  up  a  constant  chain  of  scouts  around  the 
frontier  settlements,  from  the  North  to  the  West  Branch  of 
the  Susquehanna,  by  way  of  the  head  waters  of  Little  Fish- 
ing creek,  Chilisquaqua,  Muncy,  &c. 

In  the  spring  of  1781  we  built  a  fort  on  the  widow  Mc- 
Clure's  plantation,  called  McClure's  Fort,  where  our  provis- 
ions were  stored. 

In  the  summer  of  1781  a  man  was  taken  prisoner  in  Buf- 
falo Valley,  but  made  his  escape ;  he  came  in  and  reported 
there  were  about  three  hundred  Indians  on  Sinnemahoning, 
hunting  and  laying  in  a  store  of  provisions,  and  would  make 
a  descent  on  the  frontiers  ;  that  they  would  divide  into  small 
parties,  and  attack  the  whole  chain  of  the  frontier  at  the 
same  time  on  the  same  day. 

Colonel  Samuel  Hunter  selected  a  company  of  five  to  re- 
connoitre, viz :  Capt.  Campbell,  Peter  and  Michael  Groves, 
Lieut.  Cramer  and  myself;  the  party  was  called  the  Grove 
Party.  We  carried  with  us  three  weeks'  provisions,  and 
proceeded  up  the  West  Branch  with  much  caution  and  care; 
we  reached  the  Sinnemahoning,  but  made  no  discovery,  ex- 
cept old  tracks ;  we  marched  up  the  Sinnemahoning  so  far, 
that  we  were  satisfied  it  was  a  false  report.  We  returned, 
and  a  little  below  the  Sinnemahoning,  near  night,  we  discov- 
ered a  smoke ;  we  were  confident  it  was  a  party  of  Indians, 
which  we  must  have  passed  by,  or  they  got  there  some  other 
way;  we  discovered  there  was  a  large  party,  how  many  we 
could  not  tell,  but  prepared  for  the  attack. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  we  new  primed  our  rifles,  sharp- 
ened our  flints,  examined  our  tomahawk  handles,  and  all  be- 
ing ready,  we  waited  with  great  impatience,  until  they  all 
laid  down :  the  time  came,  and  with  the  utmost  silence  we 
advanced,  trailed  our  rifles  in  one  hand,  and  the  tomahawk 
in  the  other.  The  night  was  warm  ;  we  found  some  of  them 
rolled  in  their  blankets  a  rod  or  two  from  their  fires.  Hav- 
ing got  amongst  them,  we  first  handled  our  tomahawks;  they 
rose  like  a  dark  cloud  ;  we  now  fired  our  shots,  and  raised 
the  war  yell ;  they  took  flight  in  the  utmost  confusion,  but 
few  taking  time  to  pick  up  their  rifles.  We  remained  mas- 
ters of  the  ground  and  all  their  plunder,  and  took  several 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


333 


scalps.  It  was  a  party  of  twenty-five  or  thirty,  which  had 
been  down  as  law  as  Penn's  creek,  and  had  killed  and  scalp- 
ed two  or  three  families;  we  found  several  scalps  of  different 
ages  which  they  had  taken,  and  a  large  quantity  of  domestic 
cloth,  which  was  carried  to  Northumberland  and  given  to 
the  distressed  who  had  escaped  the  tomahawk  and  knife. 

In  December,  1/8 L,  our  company  was  ordered  to  Lancas- 
ter ;  we  descended  the  river  in  boats  to  Middletown,  where 
our  orders  were  countermanded,  and  we  were  ordered  to 
Heading,  Berks  county,  where  we  were  joined  by  a  party  of 
the  third  and  fifth  Pennsylvania  regiments,  and  a  company 
of  the  Congress  regiment.  We  took  charge  of  the  Hessians 
taken  prisoner  by  Gen.  Burgoyne. 

In  the  latter  part  of  March,  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign 
of  1782,  we  were  ordered  by  Congress  to  our  respective  sta- 
tions. I  marched  Robison's  company  to  Northumberland, 
where  Mr.  Thomas  Chambers  joined  us,  who  had  been  re- 
cently commissioned  as  an  ensign  of  our  company.  We  hal- 
ted at  Northumberland  two  or  three  days  for  our  men  to 
wash  and  rest ;  from  thence  ensign  Chambers  and  myself 
were  ordered  to  Muncy,  Samuel  Wallace's  plantation,  there 
to  make  a  stand  and  rebuild  Fort  Muncy,  which  had  been 
destroyed  by  the  enemy. 

We  reached  that  station,  and  built  a  small  block-house  for 
the  storage  of  our  provisions.  About  the  10th  or  11th  of 
April,  Captain  Robison  came  on  with  Esquire  Culbertson, 
James  Dougherty,  William  McGrady,  and  Mr.  Barkley.  I 
was  ordered  to  select  twenty  or  twenty-five  men,  with  these 
proceed  up  the  West  Branch  to  the  Big  Island,  and  thence 
to  Bald  Eagle  creek,  to  the  place  where  Mr.  Culbertson  had 
been  killed.  On  the  15th  of  April,  at  night,  we  reached  the 
place,  and  encamped  for  the  night ;  on  the  night  of  the  16th 
we  were  attacked  by  eighty-five  Indians;  it  was  a  hard  fought 
battle;  Esquire  Culbertson  and  two  others  made  their  escape. 
I  think  we  had  nine  killed,  and  the  rest  of  us  were  made 
prisoners.  We  were  stripped  of  all  our  clothing,  excepting 
our  pantaloons.  When  they  took  off  my  shit t  they  discov- 
ered my  commission;  our  commissions  were  written  on  parch- 
ment, and  carried  in  a  silk  case,  hung  with  a  ribbon,  in  our 
bosom;  several  got  hold  of  it,  and  one  fellow  cut  the  ribbon 
with  his  knife,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  it. 

They  took  us  a  little  distance  from  the  battle  ground,  and 


334 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 


made  the  prisoners  sit  down  in  a  small  ring,  the  Indians  form- 
ing around  us  in  close  order,  each  with  his  rifle  and  toma- 
hawk in  his  hand.  They  brought  up  five  Indians  we  had 
killed,  and  laid  them  within  their  circle.  Each  one  reflected 
for  himself;  our  time  would  probably  be  short;  and  respect- 
ing myself,  looking  back  upon  the  year  1780,  at  the  party  I 
had  killed,  if  I  was  discovered  to  be  the  person,  my  case 
would  be  a  hard  one. 

Their  prophet,  or  chief  warrior,  made  a  speech,  as  I  was 
informed  afterwards  by  the  British  Lieutenant,  who  belonged 
to  the  party,  he  was  consulting  the  Great  Spirit  what  to  do 
with  the  prisoners,  whether  to  kill  us  on  the  spot  or  spare 
our  lives :  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  had  been 
blood  enough  shed,  and  as  to  the  men  they  had  lost,  it  was 
the  fate  of  war,  and  we  must  be  taken  and  adopted  into  the 
families  of  those  whom  we  had  killed.  We  were  then  di- 
vided amongst  them  according  to  the  number  of  fires.  Packs 
were  prepared  for  us,  and  they  returned  across  the  river  at 
the  Big  Island,  in  bark  canoes. 

They  then  made  their  way  across  hills,  and  came  to  Pine 
creek,  above  the  first  forks,  which  they  followed  up  to  the 
third  fork,  and  pursued  the  most  northerly  branch  to  the 
head  of  it,  and  thence  to  the  waters  of  the  Genesee  river. 
After  two  days  travel  we  came  to  a  place  called  the  Pigeon 
Woods,  where  a  great  number  of  Indian  families,  old  and 
young,  had  come  to  catch  pigeons.  There  we  met  a  party 
of  about  forty  warriors,  on  their  way  to  the  frontier  settle- 
ments ;  they  encamped  some  little  distance  apart,  the  warri- 
ors of  the  two  parties  holding  a  council  at  our  camp. 

I  soon  perceived  that  I  was  the  subject  of  conversation.  I 
was  seized  and  dragged  to  the  other  camp,  where  the  war- 
riors were  sitting  on  one  side  of  a  large  fire ;  I  was  seated 
on  the  opposite  side.  Every  eye  was  fixed  upon  me.  I  per- 
ceived they  were  gathering  around  in  great  numbers ;  in  a 
short  time  I  perceived  a  man  pressing  through  the  crowd  ; 
he  came  to  me  and  sat  down ;  I  saw  he  was  a  white  man 
painted,  in  Indian  dress.  He  examined  me  on  the  situation 
of  the  frontiers,  the  strength  of  our  forts,  the  range  of  our 
scouts,  &c.  After  he  got  through,  he  observed  that  there 
was  only  one  there,  beside  himself,  that  knew  me.  "Do  you 
know  me,  sir?"  said  I.  "I  do:  you  are  the  man  that  killed 
the  Indians" 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  335 

I  thought  of  the  fire  and  the  stake. — He  observed  that  he 
was  a  prisoner  and  a  friend  ;  that  his  name  was  Jones,  and 
he  had  been  taken  prisoner  in  the  spring  of  '81,  with  Capt. 
John  Boyde,  in  Bedford  county ;  that  he  would  not  expose 
me,  and  if  I  could  pass  through  undiscovered  and  be  delivered 
up  to  the  British,  I  would  be  safe ;  if  not,  I  would  have  to 
die  at  the  stake.  The  next  morning  they  moved  down  the 
river;  two  days  afterwards  they  came  to  the  Caneadia  vil- 
lage, the  first  on  the  Genesee  river,  where  we  were  prepared 
to  run  the  Indian  gauntlet.  The  warriors  don't  whip  ;  it  is 
the  young  Indians  and  squaws.  They  meet  you  in  sight  of 
their  council  house,  where  they  select  the  prisoners  from  the 
ranks  of  the  warriors,  bring  them  in  front,  and  when  ready, 
the  word  joggo  is  given ;  the  prisoners  start,  the  whippers 
follow  after,  and  if  they  outrun  you,  you  will  be  severely 
whipped. 

I  was  placed  in  front  of  my  man  ;  the  word  being  given, 
we  started.  Being  then  young  and  full  of  nerve,  I  led  the 
way;  two  young  squaws  came  running  up  to  join  the  whip- 
ping party,  and  when  they  saw  us  start  they  halted,  and 
stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  their  whips ;  when  I  came 
near  them  I  bounded  and  kicked  them  over;  we  all  came 
down  together;  there  was  considerable  kick  ing  amongst  us, 
so  much  so,  that  they  showed  their  under-dress,  which  ap- 
peared to  be  of  a  beautiful  yellow  color ;  I  had  not  time  to 
help  them  up.  It  was  truly  diverting  to  the  warriors ;  they 
yelled  and  shouted  till  they  made  the  air  ring. 

They  halted  at  that  village  for  one  day,  and  thence  went 
to  Fort  Niagara,  when  I  was  delivered  up  to  the  British. 
I  was  adopted,  according  to  Indian  custom,  into  Col.  But- 
ler's family,  then  the  commanding  officer  of  the  British  and 
Indians  at  that  place.  I  was  to  supply  the  loss  of  his  son, 
Capt.  Butler,  who  met  his  death  late  in  the  fall  of  1781, 
by  the  Americans. 

In  honor  to  me,  as  his  adopted  son,  I  was  confined  in 
a  private  room,  and  not  put  under  a  British  guard.  My 
troubles  soon  began  ;  the  Indians  were  informed  by  the  to- 
nes that  they  knew  me,  that  I  had  been  a  prisoner  before, 
and  had  destroyed  my  captors;  they  were  much  excited, 
and  went  to  Butler  and  demanded  me,  and,  as  I  was  told,  of- 
fered to  bring  in  fourteen  prisoners  in  my  place.  Butler  sent 
an  officer  to  examine  me  on  the  subject ;  he  came  and  inform- 


336  COLUMBIA    COUNTY. 

ed  me  their  Indians  had  laid  heavy  accusations  against  me ; 
they  were  informed  that  I  had  been  a  prisoner  before,  and 
destroyed  the  party,  and  that  they  had  demanded  me  to  be 
given  up  to  them,  and  that  his  Colonel  wished  to  know  the 
fact.  1  observed  :  "  Sir,  it  is  a  serious  question  to  answer  ; 
I  will  never  deny  the  truth ;  I  have  been  a  prisoner  before, 
and  destroyed  the  party,  and  returned  to  the  service  of  my 
country:  but,  sir,  1  consider  myself  to  be  a  prisoner  of  war 
to  the  British,  and  I  presume  you  will  have  more  honor  than 
to  deliver  me  up  to  the  savages.  I  know  what  my  fate  will 
be;  and  please  to  inform  your  Colonel  that  we  have  it  in  our 
power  to  retaliate." 

He  left  me,  and  in  a  short  time  returned  and  stated  that 
he  was  authorized  to  say  to  me  that  there  was  no  alternative 
for  me  to  save  my  life,  but  to  abandon  the  rebel  cause  and 
join  the  British  standard  ;  that  I  should  take  the  same  rank 
in  the  British  service  as  I  did  in  the  rebel  service.  I  replied, 
"  No,  sir,  give  me  the  stake,  the  tomahawk,  or  the  knife,  be- 
fore a  British  commission ;  liberty  or  death  is  our  motto." — 
He  then  left  me. 

Some  time  after,  a  lady  came  to  my  room,  with  whom  I 
had  been  well  acquainted  before  the  Revolution ;  we  had  been 
schoolmates;  she  was  then  married  to  a  British  officer,  a 
captain  of  the  Queen's  rangers  ;  he  came  with  her.  She  had 
been  to  Col.  Butler,  and  she  was  authorized  to  make  me  the 
same  offer  as  the  officer  had  done.  I  thanked  her  for  the 
trouble  she  had  taken  for  my  safety,  but  could  not  accept  of 
the  offer.  She  observed,  how  much  more  honorable  would 
it  be  to  me  to  be  an  officer  in  the  British  service.  I  remarked 
that  I  could  not  dispose  of  nv. self  in  that  way;  I  belonged 
to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  that  I  would  abide 
the  consequences.  She  left  me,  and  that  was  the  last  I  heard 
of  it.     A  guard  was  set  at  my  apartment. 

In  about  four  days  after,  1  was  sent  down  Lake  Ontario 
to  a  place  called  Carlton  Island  :  from  thence  down  ihe  St. 
Lawrence  to  Montreal,  where  I  was  placed  in  prison,  and 
found  forty  or  fifty  of  our  American  officers,  and  where  we 
had  the  honor  to  look  through  the  iron  grates.  The  fourth 
of  July  was  drawing  near;  ten  of  us  combined  to  celebrate 
the  political  birth-day  of  our  country ;  we  found  ways  and 
means  to  have  some  brandy  conveyed  in  to  us,  unknown  to 
the  British  guard.     It  was  highly  offensive  to  the  British 


COLUMBIA    COUNTY.  337 

officers,  and  we  ten  were  taken  out  and  sent  to  Quebec, 
thence  down  to  St.  Lawrence,  and  put  on  the  Isle  of  New 
Orleans,  where  we  remained  until  the  last  of  September ;  a 
British  fleet  sailed  about  the  same  time  and  bound  for  New 
York ;  we  were  put  on  board  of  that  fleet.  When  we  came 
to  New  York  there  was  no  exchange  for  us.  General  Carlton 
then  commanded  the  British  army  at  New  York ;  he  paroled 
us  to  return  home. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1783,  I  was  exchanged,  and  had 
orders  to  take  up  arms  again.  I  joined  my  company  in  March 
at  Northumberland  ;  about  that  time  Capt.  Robison  received 
orders  to  march  his  company  to  Wyoming,  to  keep  garrison 
at  Wilkesbarre  Fort.  He  sent  myself  and  ensign  Chambers 
with  the  company  to  that  station,  where  we  lay  till  Novem- 
ber, 17S3.  Our  army  was  then  discharged,  and  our  compa- 
ny likewise;  poor,  and  penniless,  we  retired  to  the  shades  of 
private  life. 


29 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Juniata  County. 

Juniata  county  erected— Streams  and  geological  features—Public  im- 
provements—Towns ;  Mifflin,  Thompsonstown,  Mexico,  Perrysville, 
Tammany,  Waterford  or  Waterloo,  Calhounsville  or  McAllister- 
ville,  Ridgesville,  Greenwood,  &c— Education— Case  of  law  suit, 

i    &c.  &c. 

Juniata  county  was,  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  March  2nd, 
1831,  separated  from  Mifflin  county,  and  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Union  county ;  for  a  short  distance  on  the  east  by 
the  Susquehanna  river ;  on  the  southeast  it  is  bounded  by 
Perry  county ;  and,  on  the  southwest,  by  Huntingdon 
county. 

Average  length  about  forty  miles ;  breadth  nine ;  area  in 
square  miles,  about  360 ;  it  contains  about  230,400  acres  of 
land. 

Population  in  1840,  11,080. 

The  population  in  the  several  townships  in  1840,  was  as 
follows : — 

Fermanagh,  831;  Greenwood,  1,237;  Milford,  1,829; 

Turbett,  1,319;  Lack,  761;  Tuscarora,  1,018;  Walker, 

1,423;  Delaware,  956;  Fayette,  1,291;  Mifflin  borough, 
420. 

[See  Table  on  the  opposite  page. 


o  So  -i  ET'-s  »  rr  P  "•  Ri 


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20  years. 


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60  and  under  70 


70  and  under  80 


80  and  under  90 


under   5    years 
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5  and  under  10 
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10  and  under  15 
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30  and  under40 
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340 


JUNIATA  COUNTY. 


This  county,  like  all  noticed,  belongs  to  the  great  central 
transition  formation  of  the  State.  Its  surface  is  traversed 
northeast  and  southwest  by  several  mountains.  The  Tusca- 
rora  mountain  forms  the  most  of  the  southeastern  boundary, 
dividing  Juniata  from  Perry,  and  on  the  northwest  the  Shade 
and  Black  Log  mountains  separate  it  from  Mifflin.  The  sur- 
face of  the  county,  as  well  as  the  soil,  is  diversified.  The 
mountains  and  hills  are  separated  by  intervening  valleys. 
The  principal  streams  are  the  Juniata  river,  Tuscarora,  Lost, 
Licking,  Cocalamus,  West  Mahantango,  Black  Log. 

The  Juniata  river  passes  through  the  middle  part  of  this 
county.  The  Tuscarora  creek  rises  in  Huntingdon  county, 
runs  northeast  between  30  and  35  miles,  passes  through  the 
western  part  of  this  county,  in  a  northeastward  couise,  and 
falls  into  the  Juniata  below  Miffiintown,  being  joined  by 
Licking  creek.  Lost  creek  rises  by  several  branches,  and 
flows  into  the  Juniata  river,  about  two  miles  above  Miffiin- 
town. Cocalamus  creek  rises  in  Greenwood  township  and 
flows  southeast  into  Perry  county,  and  thence  into  the  Juni- 
ata river  some  distance  below  Millerstown. 

The  geological  features  of  the  county  are  not  so  greatly 
diversified  as  in  some  counties.  A  series  of  nearly  parallel 
belts  of  various  rock  formations  range  across  this  county 
from  northeast  to  southwest,  following  the  direction  of  the 
mountain  ridges,  and  being  brought  successively  to  the  sur- 
face by  undulations  or  lines  of  elevation  and  depression.  The 
variegated  and  red  shale  overlying  the  mountain  sandstone, 
appears  along  the  northwest  side  of  Tuscarora  mountain, 
and  again  on  the  Juniata  above  Mexico,  having  between 
those  points  a  belt  of  overlying  fossiliferous  limestone  and 
sandstone,  as  seen  between  Thompsontown  and  Mexico,  on 
the  turnpike.  A  similar  belt  of  this  limestone,  with  the  sand- 
stone accompanying,  appears  at  Miffiintown,  above  which 
place  we  find  the  red  and  variegated  shale  formation  extend- 
ing to  the  foot  of  Shade  mountain.  In  the  valley  of  Tusca- 
rora creek,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Juniata,  the  fossiliferous 
sandstone  divides  into  two  branches,  having  between  them 
the  overlying  olive  slate,  which,  still  farther  in  the  valley, 
is  itself  overlaid  by  the  red  shales  and  sandstones,  next  in 
series. 

The  soil   in  many  parts  is  very  productive,  especially  in 
the  valleys  in  which  limestone  is  generally  at,  or  near  the; 


JUNIATA    COUNTY.  341 

surface.  The  mountainous  portions  are  broken  and  unusu- 
ally sterile.  The  chief  occupation  of  the  inhabitants  is  agri- 
culture. The  finely  improved  fields,  the  well  built  house, 
and  huge  barns,  give  strong  evidence  of  the  industry  of  this 
class  of  the  community. 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  3,571  horses 
in  Juniata  county,  11,089  neat  cattle,  12,023  sheep,  18,604 
swine,  value  of  all  kinds  of  poultry  3,822,  219,859  bushels 
wheat,  barley  3,035,  oats  156,072,  rye  69,219,  buckwheat 
17,726,  corn  162,659,  wool  19,907  pounds,  hops  787  lbs., 
wax  399  pounds,  potatoes  53,320  bushels,  8,958  tons  of 
hay,  5i  tons  of  flax,  1,257  cords  of  wood  sold,  value  of  the 
products  of  the  dairy  $34,305,  value  of  the  products  of  the 
orchard  §7,667,  value  of  home  made  or  family  goods  §800. 
Retail  dry  goods,  grocery,  and  other  stores  33,  with  a  capi- 
tal of  §112,600.  Products  of  the  forest  §3,865.  Value  of 
machinery  manufactured  §4,400.  Value  of  hardware,  cut- 
lery, &c,  manufactured  §3,500.  Value  of  bricks  and  lime 
§13,794;  30  men  employed,  capital  §13,305.  Nine  fulling 
mills,  value  of  manufactured  goods  §20,200,  21  hands  em- 
ployed, capital  invested  §10,000.  Value  of  hats  and  caps 
manufactured  §900,  3  persons  employed,  capital  §300 ;  21 
tanneries,  tanned  14,742  sides  of  sole  leather,  3,472  up- 
per, 53  men  employed,  capital  invested  54,100.  All  other 
manufactories  of  leather,  saddleries,  &c,  91:  value  of  ar- 
ticles manufactured  §29,550,  capital  invested  §5,815.  Five 
distilleries  produced  11,425  gallons,  six  men  employed,  ca- 
pital §3,700.  Three  printing  offices,  7  hands  employed, 
capital  §1,400.  Value  of  carriages  and  wagons  manufac- 
tured §3,520,  13  men  employed,  capital  §800.  Eleven 
flouring  mills,  manufactured  11,875  barrels.  There  were 
also,  17  grist  mills  and  52  saw  mills;  value  of  manufac- 
tures of  mills  §192,440,  74  men  employed,  capital  invest- 
ed §89,250.  Value  of  furniture  manufactured  §4,525,  16 
men  employed,  capital  §1,890.  Total  capital  invested  in 
manufactures  §185,690.  Aggregate  amount  of  all  property 
taxable  in  1844,  §2,498,930  00. 


PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  Juniata  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal,  and  the 

29* 


342  JUNIATA  COUNTY, 

northern  turnpike  road,  from  Harrisburg  to  Pittsburg,  both 
pass  through  this  county. 


MIFFLINTOWN, 

The  seat  of  justice,  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Ju- 
niata river ;  it  occupies  an  elevated  site,  commanding  an  ex- 
tensive view  of  the  adjacent  and  neighboring  hills  and  moun- 
tains. It  was  laid  out  in  the  year  1791,  by  John  Harris.  It 
improved  very  slowly  until  1831,  when  it  was  made  the  seat 
of  justice :  since,  it  has  improved  rapidly.  It  now  contains 
about  one  hundred  dwellings,  some  of  which  are  very  commo- 
dious, and  of  brick.  It  has  the  usual  number  of  county  build- 
ings. There  are  also  an  academy,  a  Presbyterian,  and  Luth- 
eran church.  The  Methodists  worship  in  the  court  house. 
There  are  4  stores,  2  apothecary  stores,  and  three  taverns.- 

The  Juniata  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  canal  passes 
along  the  river;  and  the  Huntingdon  township  road  passes 
through  town.  A  thriving  trade  is  carried  on  here ;  it  is 
the  depot  of  all  the  surplus  produce  of  the  adjacent  valleys. 
A  substantial  bridge  crosses  the  Juniata  here,  affording  great 
facilities  to  the  farmers  of  Tuscarora  valley.  The  population 
is  about  four  hundred  and  seventy-hve.  In  1840  it  was  420. 
Of  these  there  were  : 

White  Males  under  5,  30 ;  5  and  under  10,  26 ;  10  and 
under  15,  23  ;  15  and  under  20,  31 ;  20  and  under  30,  38  ; 
30  and  under  40,  32  ;  40  and  under  50,  17 ;  50  and  under 
60,  7 ;  60  and  under  70,  4 ;  70  and  under  80,  1 ;  80  and 
under  90,  2. 

White  Females  under  5,  36 ;  5  and  under  10,  23 ;  10 
and  under  15,  £2  ;  15  and  under  20,  23  ;  20  and  under  30, 
42 ;  30  and  under  40,  32 ;  40  and  under  50,  13 ;  50  and 
under  60,  5 ;  60  and  under  70,  3  ;  70  and  under  80,  3. 

Colored  Males,  6. 

Colored  Females,  1. 

Of  the  entire  population,  14  were  engaged  in  agriculture, 
13  in  commerce,  72  in  manufactures  and  trades,  7  in  navi- 
gation, 11  in  the  learned  professions,  2  primary  schools,  120 
scholars. 


Mill  i     ; 

wJI       MPs 
HIT 


JUNIATA    COUNTY.  343 

THOMPSONSTOWN, 

Laid  out  by  Mr.  Thompson,  is  a  flourishing  post  village, 
about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  Juniata  river  and  State  canal; 
and  on  the  turnpike  road  leading  from  Millerstown  to  Lew- 
istown  :  it  contains  about  50  dwellings,  several  stores  and 
taverns,  and  three  churches — Lutheran,  Seceder,  Baptist — 
and  a  school  house.  Delaware  run  passes  through  and  emp- 
ties into  the  Juniata  river. 


MEXICO, 

Laid  out  by  Tobias  Kreider,  about  40  years  ago,  is  a  plea- 
sant little  village  on  the  Juniata  river  and  turnpike  road, 
leading  to  Lewistown,  three  miles  southeast  of  Mifflintown, 
contains  between  30  and  40  dwellings,  3  stores,  3  taverns, 
a  grist  mill,  saw  mill,  and  woollen  factory ;  two  churches — 
a  Seceder  and  Methodist — and  a  school  house.  The  mills 
and  factory  are  on  Doe  run. 


PERRYSVILLE, 

Was  laid  out  15  or  18  years  ago  :  it  is  a  fine  village,  situ- 
ated on  the  right  bank  of  the  Juniata  river,  at  the  mouth  of 
Licking  and  Tuscarora  creeks,  two  miles  and  a  half  below 
Mifflin.  It  contains  three  stores  and  a  tavern.  The  Juni- 
ata is  crossed  here  by  a  substantial  bridge. 


TAMMANY, 


In  Turbit  township,  consists  of  a  few  houses ;  and  a  wool- 
len factory  and  saw  mill,  owned  by  Mr,  Hertzler. 


WATERFORD  &  WATERLOO, 

Both  in  Lack  township,  in  Tuscarora  valley,  and  on  the 
Tuscarora  creek,  are  very  small  villages,  some  three  or  four 
miles  apart.  They  are  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county. 


344 


JUNIATA    COUNTY. 


CALHOUNSVILLE, 


* 


■ 


Or  McAllisterville,  was  laid  out  by  Mr.  McAllister.  It  con- 
tains 12  or  15  dwellings,  and  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  moun- 
tain, girded  by  Cocalamus  and  Lost  creeks. 


RIDGEVILLE, 

Lies  on  the  south  side  of  West  Mahantango  creek,  and  on 
the  road  from  Calhounsville  to  Selin's  Grove.     It  contains  a^ 
number  of  dwellings,  and  a  store. 


GREENWOOD, 

Is  quite  a  small  village.     The  situation  is  very  romantic. 


EDUCATION. 

The  common  school  system  has  been  adopted  in  every 
township  in  the  county.  Of  the  10  districts,  9  have  report- 
ed. Sixty  schools  are  in  successful  operation,  and  but  five 
more  are  yet  required. .  Schools  were  open  four  months  and 
a  half;  60  male  and  15  female  teachers  were  engaged  ;  aver- 
age salary  of  male  teachers  is  $15,57  cents  per  month  ;  fe- 
male teachers  $9,60.  Number  of  scholars  taught ;  males 
1,791 ;  females  1,417.  District  tax  raised  $3,069  15;  state 
appropriation  $2,707  00.  Cost  of  instruction  $3,254  00  ; 
fuel  and  contingencies  $290,82  ;  cost  of  school  houses  $492,- 
30.  In  Tuscarora  academy  the  higher  branches  are  taught, 
and  the  institution  is  well  patronized. 


"  The  first  settlements  in  Tuscarora  Valley  were  made  by 
Scotch  Irish,  from  the  Cumberland  Valley,  about  the  year 
1749.  At  that  day  the  slate  lands  bordering  the  moun- 
tains, watered  by  clear  and  copious  springs,  were  more  es- 
teemed than  the  limestone  lands,  where  the  waters  sunk  be- 
neath the  surface,  and  expensive  wells  were  consequently 
required.     The  adventurous   pioneers,  therefore,  extended 


JUNIATA   COUNTY.  345 

their  researches  over  the  mountains,  and  discovered  the  rich 
and  well-watered  valleys  along  the  Juniata.  In  1833,  at 
the  circuit  court  sitting  at  Mifflin,  an  important  lawsuit  was 
tried,  involving  the  title  to  a  farm  of  390  or  400  acres  of 
the  best  land  in  Tuscarora  Valley,  about  six  miles  from  Mif- 
flin. The  farm  was  in  controversy  for  about  50  years,  be- 
fore various  courts  at  Carlisle  and  Lewistown.  It  is  known 
among  lawyers  as  the  Grey  property  case,  report  in  10,  Ser- 
geant and  Rawle,  page  182.  Many  of  the  facts  given  in 
evidence  are  interesting  as  elucidating  the  history  of  the 
times ;  and  the  whole  case,  with  the  amusing  scenes  that 
occurred  at  the  trials,  and  the  marked  originality  of  many  of 
the  principal  personages,  would  constitute  an  excellent  theme 
for  an  historical  novel.  The  following  statement  of  the  case 
is  derived,  partly,  from  a  sketch  by  Samuel  Creigh,  Esq., 
published  in  Hazard's  Register,  and  partly  from  verbal  con- 
versation with  a  number  of  the  eminent  counsel  in  the  case. 

"  Robert  Hagg,  Samuel  Bigham,  (or  Bingham,)  James 
Grey,  and  John  Grey,  were  the  four  first  settlers  in  Tusca- 
rora Valley,  and  the  first  white  men  who  came  across  Tus- 
carora mountain,  about  the  year  1749.  They  cleared  some 
land,  and  built  a  fort,  called  Bigham's  fort  Some  time  in 
1756,  John  Grey  and  another  person  went  to  Carlisle  with 
pack-horses,  to  purchase  salt :  as  Grey  was  returning,  on  the 
declivity  of  the  mountain,  a  bear  crossed  his  path  and  fright- 
ened his  horse,  which  threw  him  off.  He  was  detained  some 
hours  by  this  accident ;  and  when  he  arrived  at  the  fort,  he 
found  it  had  just  been  burned,  and  every  person  in  it  either 
killed  or  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians.  .  His  wife,  and  only 
daughter,  three  years  old,  were  gone, — also  Innis's  wife  and 
children.  A  man  by  the  name  of  George  Woods  (he  was 
the  father-in-law  of  Mr.  Ross,  who  ran  for  governor,  and 
afterwards  lived  in  Bedford)  was  taken  outside  the  fort,  with 
a  number  of  others. 

"  John  Grey  joined  Col.  Armstrong's  expedition  against 
Kittanning,  in  the  autumn  of  that  same  year,  in  hopes  of 
hearing  from  his  family.  The  hardships  of  the  campaign 
prostrated  his  health,  and  he  returned  to  Bucks  county,  his 
original  home,  only  to  die.  He  left  a  will,  giving  to  his  wife 
one  half  his  farm,  and  to  his  daughter  the  other  half,  if  they 
returned  from  captivity.     If  his  daughter  did  not  return,  or 


346 


JUNIATA    COUNTY. 


was  not  alive,  he  gave  the  other  half  to  his  sister,  who  had  a 
claim  against  him  of  £13,  which  she  was  to  release. 

"  In  the  meantime,  George  Woods,  Mrs.  Grey  and  her 
child,  with  the  others,  were  taken  across  the  mountains  to 
Kittaning,  then  an  Indian  village,  and  afterwards  delivered 
to  the  French  commander  of  Fort  Duquesne.  Woods  was 
noted  for  his  gallantry,  and  during  their  captivity  at  Fort 
Duquesne  he  represented  to  Mrs.  Grey  how  much  better 
married  than  single  persons  fared  among  the  Indians,  and 
proposed  a  match.  Mrs.  Grey  had  no  inclination  for  a  part- 
nership in  misfortune,  and  peremptorily  declined.  Woods 
was  given  to  an  Indian  by  the  name  of  Hutson ;  and  Mrs. 
Grey  and  her  child  were  taken  charge  of  by  others,  and  car- 
ried into  Canada.  About  a  year  after  the  burning  of  the 
fort,  Mrs.  Grey  concealed  herself  among  some  deerskins  in 
the  wagon  of  a  white  trader,  and  was  brought  off,  leaving 
her  daughter  still  in  captivity.  She  returned  home,  proved 
her  husband's  will,  and  took  possession  of  her  half  the  pro- 
perty. She  afterwards  married  a  Mr.  Enoch  Williams,  by 
whom,  however,  she  had  no  issue.  Some  seven  years  after 
her  escape,  in  1764,  a  treaty  was  made  with  the  Indians,  by 
the  conditions  of  which  a  number  of  captive  children  were 
surrendered,  and  brought  to  Philadelphia,  to  be  recognized 
and  claimed  by  their  friends.  Mrs.  Grey  attended,  but  no 
child  appeared  that  she  recognized  as  her  dear  little  Jane. — 
Still,  there  was  one  of  about  the  same  age  whom  no  one 
claimed.  Some  one  conversant  with  the  conditions  of  John 
Grey's  will,  slyly  whispered  to  her  to  claim  this  child  for 
the  purpose  of  holding  the  other  half  of  the  property.  She 
did  so,  and  brought  up  the  child  as  her  own — carefully  re- 
taining the  secret,  as  well  as  a  woman  could.  Time  wore 
away,  and  the  girl  grew  up,  gross  and  ugly  in  her  person, 
awkward  in  her  manners,  and,  as  events  proved,  loose  in  her 
morals.  \A  ith  all  these  attainments,  however,  she  contrived 
to  captivate  one  Mr.  Gillespie,  who  married  her.  A  Scotch- 
Irish  clergyman  of  the  Seceder  persuasion,  by  the  name  of 
McKee,  became  quite  intimate  with  Gillespie,  and  either 
purchased  the  property  in  question  from  him,  or  had  so  far 
won  his  good  graces,  that  he  bequeathed  it  to  him.  The 
clergyman  made  over  the  property  to  one  of  his  nephews,  of 
the  same  name.  The  clergyman  had  also  a  brother,  McKee, 
who,  with  his  wife,  was  a  resident  of  Tuscarora  Valley. — 
His  wife  "  old  Mrs.  McKee,"  was  a   prominent  witness  in 


JUNIATA  COUNTY.  347 

the  subsequent  trials.  After  a  lapse  of  years,  the  children  of 
James  Grey,  heirs  of  John  Grey's  sister,  got  hold  of  some 
information  leading  them  to  doubt  the  identity  of  the  return- 
ed captive ;  and  the  lawsuits  consequent  upon  such  a  state 
of  things  were  speedily  brought,  about  the  year  1789.  It 
would  literally  "  puzzle  a  Philadelphia  lawyer"  to  describe 
the  multiform  and  complicated  phases  which  the  case  assu- 
med during  a  legal  contest  of  more  than  50  years,  and  would 
besides  throw  no  light  upon  the  history  of  the  valley.  The 
Williamses,  the  Greys,  and  the  McKees,  all  claimed  an  in- 
terest by  inheritance, — to  say  nothing  of  the  Beales,  the 
Norrises,  and  others  who  had  bought  into  the  property,  and 
several  lawyers  with  large  contingent  fees.  Many  of  the 
facts  stated  above  were  elicited  during  the  examination,  al- 
though some  of  them  were  not  admitted  by  the  court  as  le- 
gal testimony. 

"  Mrs.  Grey  (or  Mrs.  Williams)  said  that  when  they  were 
crossing  Sideling  hill  she  had  examined  the  child  Jane,  and 
found  a  mark  on  her  by  which  she  had  been  able  to  recog- 
nize her.  Mr.  Innis  was  one  of  the  captives,  and  remained 
with  the  Indians  until  the  treaty ;  and  when  one  day  he 
chided  Mrs.  Williams  for  keeping  a  child  not  her  own,  she 
replied,  "  you  know  why  I  keep  this  girl."  Mrs.  Innis  told 
her  that  her  daughter  was  not  returned,  that  this  was  a  Ger- 
man girl,  and  could  not  talk  English  when  she  came  to  Mon- 
treal. Mrs.  Innis  herself  had  lost  three  children.  One  the 
Indians  put  under  the  ice  because  it  was  sick — the  other 
two  she  got.  One  of  these  a  gentleman  of  Philadelphia 
had,  and  refused  to  give  it  up,  until  Innis  proved  the  child 
his  by  a  private  mark.  Mrs.  Williams  said  to  one  wit- 
ness, "  No,  this  is  not  my  daughter,  but  George  Woods 
knows  where  my  daughter  is,  as  he  has  promised  to  get 
her."    The  real  daughter,  however,  never  was  recovered. 

"  Old  Mrs.  McKee,  the  principal  living  witness  at  a 
number  of  trials,  and  who  spoke  with  a  rich  Irish  brogue, 
on  one  occasion  became  quite  garrulous,  and  entered  large- 
ly into  the  history  of  the  valley,  to  the  great  amusement 
of  the  court.  Among  other  things,  she  described  the  spu- 
rious girl  as  a  "  big  black  ugly  Dutch  lump,  and  nofto  be 
compared  to  the  beautiful  Jenny  Grey."  Her  historical 
developments  so  much  interested  one  of  the  Jury  at  Lew- 
istown,  an  old  settler  himself,  that  he — forgetting  the  res- 


348 


JUNIATA    COUNTY. 


traints  of  a  juryman — sent  for  the  old  lady  to  come  to  his 
room  at  the  hotel,  and  enter  more  at  large  into  "  the  days 
of  auld  lang  syne."  The  old  man  was  a  little  deaf,  and 
the  old  lady's  voice  could  be  heard  throughout  the  house. 
One  of  the  counsel,  whose  side  of  the  case  wore  rather  a 
discouraging  aspect,  overheard  the  old  lady;  and  the  next 
morning  exposed  the  poor  juryman,  amidst  a  roar  of 
laughter  from  the  court  and  the  bar.  The  case  of  course 
had  to  be  ordered  for  trial  before  another  jury.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  deposition  of  George  Woods,  written  by  him 
or  at  his  dictation,  at  Bedford,  in  1789,  but  never  sworn 
to.  It  was  not  without  great  resistance  on  the  part  of 
counsel,  that  the  facts  were  introduced  as  testimony.  The 
case  was  finally  decided  in  1833  or  '34,  against  the  iden- 
tity of  the  adopted  child,  and  the  property  vested  accord- 
ingly. 

"  Personally  appeared,  &c,  &c,  &c,  George  Woods, 
and  saith,  that  about  the  12th  or  13th  of  June,  1756,  he 
was  taken  by  the  Indians  in  the  settlement  of  the  Tusca- 
rora,  in  the  county  aforesaid,  [of  Mifflin,]  and  that  the 
wife  of  John  Grey  and  his  daughter  Jane,  and  others, 
were  taken  at  the  same  time ; — that  we  were  all  carried 
to  the  Kittanning  town  on  the  Allegheny  river — and  there 
divided  among  the  Indians, — and  some  time  in  the  month 
of  July  then  next,  the  said  Indians  delivered  me,  together 
with  Jane  Grey,  to  a  certain  Indian  named  John  Hutson; 
which  said  Indian  took  me  and  the  said  Jane  Grey  to 
Pittsburg,  then  in  possession  of  the  French ;  and  after 
some  days  the  Indian  Hutson  delivered  me  to  the  French 
Governor,  Mons.  Duquesne;  from  which  time  I  heard 
nothing  of  the  said  Jane  Grey  until  the  winter  after  Stump 
killed  the  Indians  up  Susquehanna;  at  which  time  I  fouiad 
out  the  said  Indian  called  John  Hutson,  who  informed  me 
that  little  Janey  Gray  was  then  a  fine  big  girl,  and  lived 
near  Sir  William  Johnson's — which  information  I  gave 
to  Hannah  Grey,  mother  of  the  said  Jane  Grey. 

"At  the  same  time  Hannah  Grey  showed  me  a  girl  she 
had  taken  out  from  the  prisoners  released  by  Col.  Bou- 
quet for  her  own  child. 

"  I  then  informed  the  said  Hannah  that  the  child  she 
had  taken  was  not  her  own  child — said  Hannah  request- 
ed me  not  to  mention  that  before  the  girl  she  had  taken, 


JUNIATA    COUNTY.  349 

for  that,  if  she  never  got  her  own,  she  wished  not  to  let 
the  one  she  had  know  anything  of  her  not  being  her  own 
child.  Some  time  in  the  same  year  Col.  George  Croghan 
came  to  my  house.  I  informed  him  the  account  I  had  got 
from  John  Hutson.  He,  Mr.  Croghan,  informed  me  that 
the  Indian's  information  was  true,  and  that  he  got  the 
said  Jane  Grey  from  the  said  Indian;  and  had  put  her  into 
a  good  family  to  be  brought  up; — all  which  I  informed 
the  said  Hannah, — and  this-summer-was-a-three-years  the 
said  John  Hutson,  and  his  son,  came  to  my  house  at  Bed- 
ford and  stayed  some  time.  I  inquired  about  little  Janey, 
as  he  called  the  child  he  had  got  with  me — he  informed 
me  little  Janey  was  now  a  fine  woman,  had  a  fine  house 
and  fine  children,  and  lived  near  Sir  William  Johnson's 
seat,  to  the  northward.  I  am  sure  that  the  girl  Mrs. 
Hannah  Grey  showed  me  she  had  taken  for  her  child  was 
not  the  daughter  of  John  Grey — and  further  saith  not. 

"Dated  June,  1789 — never  sworn  to — used  in  1815, 
1S1 7— Mifflin  county." 

A  number  of  persons  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  from 
1756  to  1763,  residing  on  the  Juniata  river;  some  in  this 
county,  others  within  the  present  limits  of  Perry. 

The  following  narrative,  though  already  given  in  sub- 
stance, will,  it  is  believed,  not  be  considered  out  of  place 
here. 

"The  next  I  remember  of,  was  in  the  year  1756 — the 
Woolcomber  family,  on  Sherman's  creek:  the  whole  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  valley  were  gathered  to  a  fort  at  Geo. 
Robison's ;  but  Woolcomber  would  not  leave  home ;  he 
said  it  was  the  Irish  who  were  killing  one  another;  these 
peaceable  people,  the  Indians,  would  not  hurt  any  person. 
Being  at  home,  and  at  dinner,  the  Indians  came  in,  and 
the  Quaker  asked  them  to  come  and  eat  dinner;  an  Indian 
answered  that  he  did  not  come  to  eat,  but  for  scalps ;  the 
son,  a  boy  14  or  15  years  of  age,  when  he  heard  the  In- 
dian say  so,  repaired  to  a  back  door,  and  as  he  went  out 
he  looked  back  and  saw  the  Indian  strike  the  tomahawk 
into  his  father's  head.  The  boy  then  ran  over  the  creek, 
which  was  near  to  the  house,  and  heard  the  screams  of  his 
mother,  sisters  and  brothers.  The  boy  came  to  our  fort 
30 


350  JUNIATA  COUNTY. 

and  gave  us  the  alarm ;  about  40  went  to  where  the  mur- 
der was  done,  and  buried  the  dead. 

In  the  second  war,  on  the  5th  July,  1763,  the  Indians 
came  to  Juniata,  it  being  harvest  time,  and  the  white  people 
were  come  back  to  reap  their  crops :  they  came  first  to  the 
house  of  Wm.  White,  it  was  on  the  Sabbath  day ;  the  reap- 
ers were  all  in  the  house ;  the  Indians  crept  up  nigh  to  the 
door,  and  shot  the  people  lying  on  the  floor,  and  killed  Wm. 
White,  and  all  his  family  that  were  there,  excepting  one  boy, 
who,  when  he  heard  the  guns,  leaped  out  of  the  window  and 
made  his  escape. 

The  same  party  went  to  Robert  Campbell's,  on  Tuscarora 
creek,  surprised  them  in  the  same  way,  and  shot  them  on  the 
floor  where  they  were  resting  themselves ;  one  Geo.  Dodds 
being  there  harvesting,  had  jnst  risen  and  gone  into  the  room 
and  lay  down  on  the  bed,  sitting  beside  him;  when  the  Indi- 
ans fired,  one  of  them  sprung  into  the  house  with  his  toma- 
hawk in  his  hand,  running  up  to  where  a  man  was  standing 
in  the  corner;  Dodds  fired  at  the  Indian  not  six  feet  from 
him;  the  Indian  gave  a  halloo  and  ran  out  as  fast  as  he  could. 
There  being  an  opening  in  the  loft  above  the  bed,  Dodds 
sprung  up  there  and  went  out  by  the  chimney,  making  his 
escape,  and  came  to  Sherman's  valley.  He  came  to  Wm. 
Dickson's  and  told  what  had  happened,  there  being  a  young 
man  there  which  brought  the  news  to  us,  who  were  harvest- 
ing at  Edward  Elliot's ;  other  intelligence  we  got  in  the 
night.  John  Graham,  John  Christy  and  James  Christy,  were 
alarmed  in  the  evening  by  guns  firing  at  Wm.  Anderson's, 
where  the  old  man  was  killed  with  his  Bible  in  his  hand  ; 
supposed  he  was  about  worship;  his  son  also  was  killed,  and 
a  girl  had  been  brought  up  from  a  child  by  the  people.  Gra- 
ham and  the  Christys  came  about  midnight.  We  hearing 
the  Indians  had  got  so  far  up  the  Tuscarora  valley,  and 
knowing  Collins'  family  and  James  Scott's  were  there  about 
harvest,  12  of  us  concluded  to  go  over  to  Bigham's  gap  and 
give  those  word  that  were  there;  when  we  came  to  Collins' 
we  saw  that  the  Indians  had  been  there,  had  broke  a  wheel, 
emptied  a  bed,  and  taken  flour,  of  which  they  made  some 
water-gruel ;  we  counted  13  spoons  made  of  bark ;  we  fol- 
lowed the  tracks  down  to  James  Scott's,  where  we*  found 
the  Indians  had  killed  some  fowls ;  we  pursued  on  to  Gra- 
ham's, there  the  house  was  on  fire,  and  burned  down  to  the 


JUNIATA    COUNTY.  351 

joists.  We  divided  our  men  into  two  parties,  six  in  each; 
my  brother,  with  his  party,  came  in  behind  the  barn;  and 
myself,  with  the  other  party,  came  down  through  an  oats 
field  ;  I  was  to  shoot  first ;  the  Indians  had  hung  a  coat  upon 
a  post  on  the  other  side  of  the  fire  from  us;  I  looked  at  it, 
and  saw  it  immoveable,  and  therefore  walked  down  to  it  and 
found  that  the  Indians  had  just  left  it ;  they  had  killed  four 
hogs,  and  had  eaten  at  pleasure.  Our  company  took  their 
track,  and  found  that  two  companies  had  met  at  Graham's, 
and  had  gone  over  the  Tuscarora  mountain.  We  took  the 
run  gap ;  the  two  roads  meeting  at  Nicholson's  ;  they  were 
there  first,  heard  us  coming,  and  lay  in  ambush  for  us — they 
killed  five,  and  wounded  myself.  They  then'went  to  Alex- 
ander Logan's,  where  they  emptied  some  beds,  and  passed 
on  to  George  McCord's. 

The  names  of  the  12  were,  Wm.  Robison,  who  acted  as 
captain,  Robert  Robison,  the  relater  of  this  narrative,  Tho- 
mas Robison,  being  three  brothers;  John  Graham,  Charles 
Elliott,  William  Christy,  James  Christy,  David  Miller,  John 
Elliott,  Edward  McConnel,  William  McAlister,  and  John 
Nicholson;  the  persons  killed  were  William  Robison,  who 
was  shot  in  the  belly  with  buckshot,  and  got  about  half  a 
mile  from  the  ground ;  John  Elliott,  then  a  boy  about  17 
years  of  age,  having  emptied  his  gun  by  random,  out  of  his 
powder  horn,  and  having  a  bullet  in  his  mouth,  put  it  in  the 
muzzle,  but  had  no  time  to  ram  it  down ;  he  turned  and  fired 
at  his  pursuer,  who  clapped  his  hand  on  his  stomach  and  cried 
och  !  then  turned  and  fled.  Elliott  had  ran  but  a  few  perches 
further,  when  he  overtook  William  Robison,  weltering  in  his 
blood,  in  his  last  agonies ;  he  requested  Elliott  to  carry  him 
off,  who  excused  himself  by  telling  him  of  his  inability  to  do 
so,  and  also  of  the  danger  they  were  in ;  he  said  he  knew  it, 
but  desired  him  to  take  his  gun  with  him,  and,  peace  or  war, 
if  ever  he  had  an  opportunity  of  killing  an  Indian,  to  shoot 
him  for  his  sake.  Elliott  brought  away  the  gun,  and  Robi- 
son was  not  found  by  the  Indians. 

Thomas  Robison  stood  on  the  ground  until  the  whole  of 
his  people  were  fled,  nor  did  the  Indians  offer  to  pursue,  un- 
til the  last  man  left  the  field  ;  Thomas  having  charged  and 
fired  a  second  time,  the  Indians  were  prepared  for  him,  and 
\vhen  he  took  aim  past  the  tree,  a  number  fired  at  him  at  the 
same  time ;  one  of  his  arms  was  broken  ;  he  took  his  gun  in 


352 


JUNIATA    COUNTY. 


the  other  and  fled ;  going  up  a  hill  he  came  to  a  high  log, 
and  clapped  his  hand,  in  which  was  his  gun,  on  the  log  to 
assist  in  leaping  over  it ;  while  in  the  attitude  of  stooping,  a 
bullet  entered  his  side,  going  a  triangular  course  through  his 
body;  he  sunk  down  across  the  log ;  the  Indians  sunk  the 
cock  of  his  gun  into  his  brains,  and  mangled  him  very  much. 
John  Graham  was  seen  by  David  Miller  sitting  on  a  log,  not 
far  from  the  place  of  attack,  with  his  hands  on  his  face,  and 
the  blood  running  through  his  fingers.  Charlesv  Elliott  and 
Edward  McConnel  took  a  circle  round  where  the  Indians 
were  laying,  and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  Buffalo  creek, 
but  they  were  pursued  by  the  Indians;  and  where  they  cross- 
ed the  creek  there  was  a  high  bank,  and  as  they  were  endea- 
voring to  ascend  the  bank  they  were  both  shot,  and  fell  back 
into  the  water. 

.  A  party  of  40  men  came  from  Carlisle,  in  order  to  bury 
the  dead  at  Juniata :  when  they  saw  the  dead  at  Buffalo 
creek,  they  returned  home.  Then  a  party  of  men  came  with 
Capt.  Dunning  ;  but  before  they  came  to  Alexander  Logan's, 
his  son  John,  Charles  Coyle,  Wm.  Hamilton,  with  Barthol- 
omew Davis,  followed  the  Indians  to  George  McCord's,  where 
they  were  in  the  barn;  Logan  and  those  with  him  were  all 
killed,  except  Davis,  who  made  his  escape.  The  Indians  then 
returned  to  Logan's  house  again,  when  Capt.  Dunning  and 
his  party  came  on  them,  and  they  fired  some  time  at  each 
other  ;  Dnnning  had  one  man  wounded. 

I  forgot  to  give  you  an  account  of  a  murder  done  at  our 
own  fort  in  Sherman's  valley,  in  July,  1756;  the  Indians 
waylaid  the  fort  in  harvest-time,  and  kept  quiet  until  the 
reapers  were  gone ;  James  Wilson  remaining  some  time  be- 
hind the  rest,  and  I  not  being  gone  to  my  business,  which 
was  hunting  deer  for  the  use  of  the  company,  Wilson  stand- 
ing at  the  fort  gate,  I  desired  liberty  to  shoot  his  gun  at  a 
mark,  upon  which  he  gave  me  the  gun,  and  I  shot ;  the  In- 
dians on  the  upper  part  of  the  fort,  thinking  they  were  dis- 
covered, rushed  on  a  daughter  of  Robert  Miller,  and  instantly 
killed  her,  and  shot  at  John  Simmeson;  they  made  the  best 
of  it  that  they  could,  and  killed  the  wife  of  James  Wilson, 
and  the  widow  Gibson,  and  took  Hugh  Gibson  and  Betsy 
Henry  prisoners.  While  the  Indian  was  scalping  Mrs.  Wil- 
son, the  narrator  shot  at  and  wounded  him,  but  he  made  his 
escape.  The  reapers  being  40  in  number,  returned  to  the 
fort,  and  the  Indians  made  off. 


JUNIATA    COUNTY.  353 

I  shall  relate  an  affair  told  me  by  James  McClung,  a  man 
whom  I  can  confide  in  for  truth,  it  being  in  his  neighborhood. 
An  Indian  came  to  a  tavern,  called  for  a  gill  of  whiskey, 
drank  some  out  of  it ;  when  there  came  another  Indian  in, 
he  called  for  a  gill  also,  and  set  it  on  the  table,  without  drink- 
ing any  of  it,  and  took  out  the  first  Indian,  discoursing  with 
him  for  some  time;  the  first  Indian  then  stripped  himself  na- 
ked, and  lay  down  on  the  floor,  and  stretched  himself;  the 
other  stood  at  the  door,  and  when  he  was  ready,  he  stepped 
forward  with  his  knife  in  his  hand,  and  stabbed  the  Indian 
who  was  lying  down,  to  the  heart ;  he  received  the  stab, 
jumped  to  his  feet,  drank  both  the  gills  of  whiskey  off,  and 
dropped  down  dead  :  the  white  people  made  a  prisoner  of 
the  other  Indian,  and  sent  to  the  heads  of  the  nation ;  two 
of  them  came  and  examined  the  Indian,  who  was  a  prisoner, 
and  told  them  to  let  him  go,  he  had  done  right. — [Loudon's 
Narrative. 


30 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Clinton  County. 

Clinton  county  erected— Geological  features  and  streams— Public  im- 
provements—Towns; Lock  Haven,  Farrandsville,  Dunnstown,  Lock- 
Port,  Mill  Hall,  New  Libert}',  Young  Womanstown,  Salona— Educa- 
tion— Religious  denominations — Indians  visited  by  Count  Zinzen- 
dorff,  1742;  by  David  Brainerd,  1746;  by  Conrad  Weiser,  1755— 
Weiser's  letters  to  Gov.  Morris  and  Richard  Peters,  touching  the 
Indians  here,  and  his  visit  to  them — Moses  Van  Camp. 

Clinton  county  was  organized  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly 
passed  in  1839;  and  was  separated  from  Centre  and  Lycom- 
ing. The  townships  of  Bald  Eagle,  Lamar  and  Logan,  from 
Centre;  and  part  of  Lycoming,  were  taken  to  form  this 
county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Potter,  on  the  west 
by  Clearfield  and  Elk  counties ;  the  latter  also  a  recently 
organized  county,  having  been  erected  in  1843.  The  county 
is  of  an  irregular  form ;  about  20  miles  wide  and  50  miles 
long ;  not  much  unlike,  in  this  respect,  to  its  northern  coun- 
ty, (Lycoming,)  which  was  in  1S35,  92  miles  long,  but  now 
reduced  to  about  60  in  length.  It  is  estimated  that  this  por- 
tion of  Centre  and  Lycoming,  now  constituting  Clinton,  con- 
tained a  population  in  1820  of  about  4,000 ;  in  1840,  the 
population  was  8,323,  when  it  was  divided  into  the  following 
townships,  viz : 

Allison,  with  a  population  of  643;  Dunstable  841 ;  Wayne 
307;  Limestone  200;  Grove  239;  Chapman  622;  Lumber 
105;  Coal  Brook  546  ;  Pine  Creek  572;  Bald  Eagle  1,178; 
Lamar  1,813;  Logan  1,187. 

The  following  Table  exhibits  the  population  of  the  differ- 
ent sexes  and  ages,  of  each  township. 


Qg.sSe.B«^g4l|f 


CfQ  J  O 
i —  T>  o 
CD    7T  ?? 


CB 


X 

•JO^MOOiOOiMDJOOO! 

tS 

en  —  <<  *a  co       tOHHH^^ 

OQ©'-'-aOCnCO>P»WCn(r>CO 

(OfflM^Ol'-Oi^MMOiO 

M^if>.^O)MO)C»O100 


40  CO  <1  Cn  CO 


_  ob  —  tft.  K> 


O  OJOi  Oi 


s 

CO  © 

- 

©  O  O  i-  i- 

M 

~ 

co  o 

-I 

35 
X 

CO  -i 

—  00 

-J 

*>.  Ol  i-<  >P>-  tS 

ta 

10 

05  Cn 

©    tO 

35 
35 

co  cn 
to  o 

30 

o 

^  CO         i^  t3 

to  <t  co  co  to 

Jo 

Cn  CO 
CO  05 

33 

<1     H- 

O  CO 

CJl 

CO  N          CO 

£ 

»0 

rf^  to 

-3    *- 

^ 

tn  o 
tO   *» 

Cn 

— 

M  tO          CO 

00   *>■  *>  CO  CO 

oc 

*i 

CO   >£■ 

—  OJ^-rf^^-^t^^-^tSCiCn 

20  and  under  30 
years  old. 

►-H-<soocn*>to©cn©<r>co 

30  and  under  40 
years  old. 

ta 

^uuMS-       >-               coi— 
—  ci^jtscniCo^i^icoi^H-oo 

40  and  under  50 

<: 

-co- 

0DCOCDCOa0tS#>.Cn>^<!C0CD 

50  and  under  60 

31 

ai^ffiOMo^ostoaf-^ 

if 

tOCnCOtOOOCOCOOt^Cn^ 

X 

©^•^-^-©©tOOOOCO© 

01OO05OMOOOO03 


under  5  years 
old. 


5  and  under  10 
years  old. 


10  and  under 
15  years. 


15  and  under 
20  years. 


20  and  under: 
years. 


30  and  under  40 


40  and  under  50 


50  and  under  60 


60  and  under  70 


70  and  under  80 


80  and  under  90 


under  5  years 
old. 


5  and  under  10 
years  old. 


10  and  under  15 
years  old. 


15  and  under  20 


60  and  under  70 


70  and  under  80 


80  and  under  90 


Colored  pop'n. 


356  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

This  county  is  generally  mountainous  and  very  uneven;  in 
consequence  of  which,  some  portions  are  but  sparsely  inhab- 
ited. The  geological  character  of  course,  owing  to  the  moun- 
tains, is  various.  "  Passing  northwestward  from  the  lime- 
stone of  Nittany  valley,  we  observe  in  a  regular  succession 
the  several  formations  of  slate,  sandstone,  shale,  and  lime- 
stone, which  intervene  between  the  lower  limestone  and  the 
coal  formation  west  of  the  main  Allegheny  ridge.  Bitumin- 
ous coal  is  found  on  Queen's  run  near  the  Susquehanna,  and 
at  several  other  places  further  westward."  Owing  to  the 
different  variety  of  rock  formations,  the  soil  is  various.  The 
alluvial  bottoms  and  limestone  valleys  are  very  fertile ;  and 
under  proper  culture  very  productive.  The  slate  lands,  how- 
ever, are  no*  so  productive,  yet  they  yield  good  crops,  and 
pay  the  husbandman  abundantly  for  his  labor  and  care  be- 
stowed upon  them.  That  portion  abounding  with  sandstone 
is  rough,  and  difficult  to  cultivate;  and  does  not  so  amply 
repay  the  labor  of  the  farmer  as  the  others  just  named. 

Timber  is  very  abundant,  and  affords  a  fine  supply  to  the 
lower  counties,  along  the  Susquehanna.  Some  townships,  as 
appears  from  the  foregoing  Table,  are  thinly  settled,  and 
perhaps  never  will  be  able  to  support  a  dense  population. 
The  principal  settlements  in  these  townships,  exist  along  the 
banks  of  the  river  and  smaller  streams ;  where,  in  passing 
along,  the  traveller  meets,  at  intervals,  scattered  settlements 
of  farmers,  miners  and  lumber-men,  whose  manners  and  hab- 
its are,  like  the  country,  "  being  settled  and  improved."  No 
where  do  we  meet  with  a  more  hospitable  people  than  among 
the  lumber-men  of  these  pine  forests. 

This  county  is  well  watered.  The  principal  streams  are 
the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  Bald  Eagle,  Sinnema- 
honing  and  Kettle  creeks,  and  numerous  smaller  streams. 

The  West  Branch  rises  in  Cambria  county,  with  the  Apa- 
lachian  valley,  and  pursues  a  northeast  course,  receiving  a 
number  of  tributaries,  flows  through  this  county  from  west 
to  east,  and  affords  ample  water  power  in  its  course  for  man- 
ufacturing, and  other  purposes. 

The  Bald  Eagle  rises  in  Centre  county.  It  is  navigable 
for  boats  above  Milesboro',  and  affords  excellent  mill  seats. 
Sinnemahoning  rises  in  Clearfield  county,  flowing  a  north- 
eastern direction,  receives  several  tributaries,  and  after  a 
course  of  about  50  miles,  unites  with  the  West  Branch.  Ket- 


CLINTON   COUNTY.  357 

tie  creek  rises  in  Potter  county,  and  empties  also  into  the 
West  Branch.  These  streams,  says  a  traveller,  as  they  me- 
ander along,  tumbling  down  as  they  do,  along  the  ravines  of 
the  mountains,  furnish  an  abundance  of  water  power  for  all 
the  purposes  to  which  streams  of  the  kind  are  usually  ap- 
plied. 

According  to  the  census  of  1840,  there  were  in  this  coun- 
ty, two  furnaces  that  produced  663  tons  of  bar  iron ;  capital 
employed  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  $80,000.  Bituminous 
coal  raised  400,000  bushels.  The  live  stock  of  the  county 
was  as  follows:  horses  and  mules  1,803,  neat  cattle  5,867, 
sheep  6,806,  swine  9,316  ;  value  of  poultry  of  all  kinds  $3,- 
330  ;  wheat  150,354  bushels,  barley  700,  oats  223,373,  rye 
44,975,  buckwheat  11,603,  corn  66,552,  pounds  of  wool 
11,314,  potatoes  60,464  bushels,  hay  4,576  tons.  Value  of 
tt.e  products  of  the  dairy  $2,905,  of  the  orchard  $3,468,  of 
family  goods  $3,046.  Stores  20;  capital  91,100  dollars. 
Six  tanneries,  tanned  775  sides  of  sole,  and  655  of  upper 
leather.  One  distillery  produced  4000  gallons:  mills  11; 
saw  mills  28.  Total  amount  of  capital  invested  in  all  kinds 
of  manufacture  $47,435.  Aggregate  amount  of  property 
taxable  in  1845,  $1,588,628. 

The  West  Branch  Division  of  the  Pennsylvania  Canal, 
which  commences  at  the  termination  of  the  Susquehanna  Di- 
vision, at  Northumberland,  in  following  the  course  of  the 
river,  passes  into  this  county,  affording  facilities  for  the  trans- 
portation of  produce  of  all  kinds  to  the  eastern  markets,  and 
for  carrying  merchandise  into  this  county. 

The  Bald  Eagle  and  Spring  Creek  Navigation,  affords 
transporting  facilities  to  that  portion  of  the  county  through 
which  it  passes,  to  carry  the  surplus  produce  to  an  eastern 
or  more  southern  market. 

Common  roads  are  generally  in  good  order,  and  some  of 
the  streams  have  bridges,  at  convenient  places,  across  them. 


LOCK  HAVEN, 

The  county  town,  is  a  new  place,  situated  at  the  junction  of 
the  Bald  Eagle  Navigation  with  the  West  Branch  Division. 
In  1833,  the  site  of  the  town  was  a  cornfield.  In  1834  Je- 
remiah Church  laid  out  the  town,  which  is  now  flourishing 


358 


CLINTON    COUNTY. 


and  in  a  rapidly  growing  condition,  numbering  at  present 
about  100  good  dwelling  houses,  besides  the  county  build- 
ings, and  an  academy,  endowed  by  the  state  with  two  thou- 
sand dollars;  a  large  steam  flouring  and  saw  mill,  2  church- 
es— Presbyterian  and  Methodist — and  several  stores  and 
taverns. 

This  place  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  more  than  ordinary 
importance.  The  town  and  country  have  the  elements  to 
cause  this  town  to  flourish  and  become  a  central  point  of 
trade.  Men  of  enterprise  and  liberality,  like  Mr.  Church, 
who  made  a  liberal  donation  of  land  for  the  public  buildings, 
can  do  much  towards,  and  will  contribute  essentially  to  the 
prosperity  of  any  town  or  neighborhood. 

The  scenery  around  Lock  Haven  is  romantic,  and  inviting 
to  the  weary  worn,  and  those  who  delight  in  Nature,  as 
she  is. 


FARRANDSVILLE, 

Is  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Susquehanna,  at  the  mouth 
ot  Licking  creek.  This  place  originated  from  a  settlement 
commenced  here  in  1831,  '32,  by  a  company  of  Boston  cap- 
italists. It  was  named  after  W.  P.  Farrand,  a  gentleman 
from  Philadelphia,  acting  agent  for  the  Bostonian  company. 

A  visiter  to  this  place  in  1835  (J.  Holbrook)  has  described 
it  thus: 

"  The  Lycoming  Coal  Company — the  proprietors  of  Far- 
randsville — have  a  good  farm  of  200  acres,  a  short  distance 
above  the  village;  and  progressing  up  the  river,  the  bottoms 
are  extensive,  and  settlements  closer. 

"  Lick  run  is  a  strong,  steady  stream.  On  it  is  erected  a 
large  nail  establishment,  capable  of  manufacturing  from  the 
pig  metal  10  tons  of  nails  per  day:  an  air  and  cupola  fur- 
nace, which  in  the  last  six  months  have  turned  out  nearly 
300  tons  of  castings;  mills  for  sawing  different  descriptions 
of  lumber,  shingles,  lath,  &c. ;  an  establishment  for  manu- 
facturing railroad  cars  on  a  large  scale.  There  are  nowT 
three  veins  of  coal  opening,  and  the  shutes  in ;  50  coal  cars 
finished,  and  in  the  best  manner,  and  two  miles  of  railroad, 
communicating  with  the  different  mines  and  the  basin,  finish- 
ed. One  track  of  the  road  leads  to  the  nail  works,  which 
are  calculated  to  consume  5,000  tons  of  coal  per  year.     An 


CLINTON    COUNTY.  359 

extensive  rolling-mill  is  in  progress,  and  a  furnace  for  smelt- 
ing iron  ore  with  coke  will  be  erected  in  a  short  time,  imme- 
diately below  the  nail-works.  Farrandsville  proper  is  situa- 
ted on  the  Susquehanna  ;  on  the  mountain  where  the  coal 
mines  have  been  opened,  there  are  a  number  of  buildings, 
where  the  miners  and  their  families  reside,  with  a  street  run- 
ning between  them  town-fashion ;  and  at  the  foot  of  this 
mountain,  at  Lick  run,  there  are  also  large  boarding-houses 
and  habitations  tor  artisans  and  their  families.  These  three 
separate  towns,  however,  all  belong  to  the  community  of 
Farrandsville,  which  contains  a  large  hotel,  far  advanced  in 
the  erection,  two  reputable  taverns,  three  large  boarding- 
houses,  and  upwards  of  90  tenements,  each  calculated  to 
render  a  family  entirely  comfortable.  Here  are  inexhausta- 
ble  mines  of  iron,  with  the  bituminous  coal  for  smelting  it, 
and  all  the  elements  for  building  up  a  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment capable  of  supplying  iron  in  all  its  forms  to  our 
widely-extended  and  populous  country." 


DUNNSTOWN, 

Was  laid  out  by  William  Dunn,  in  1794.  The  proprietor 
had  strong  hopes  that  it  would  become  the  county  seat  of 
Lycoming  county,  which  was  erected  in  1795.  It  contains 
about  30  dwellings,  stores,  taverns,  &c. 


LOCK  PORT, 

Near  Lock    Haven,  consists   of  several   large  houses  and 
stores,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river* 


MILL  HALL, 

A  post  village,  situated  on  Fishing  creek,  immediately  below 
a  romantic  gorge  through  which  it  steals,  and  tumbles  through 
Bald  Eagle  mountain.  The  town  was  laid  out  by  Nathan 
Harvey,  who  erected  a  saw  mill  here  more  than  forty  years 
ago.     It  contains  several   stores  and   taverns,  a  Methodist 


360  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

church,  &c.     It  is  a  brisk  manufacturing  village ;  and  con- 
tains also  a  forge  and  furnace. 


NEW  LIBERTY,    YOUNG  WOMANSTOWN,   AND 
SALONA, 

Are  small  villages.      The  most  important  among  them  is  Sa- 
lona,  near  Mill  Hall,  on  the  road  to  Bellelonte. 


EDUCATION  AND  RELIGION. 

Most  of  the  townships  have  adopted  the  common  school 
system.  The  number  of  school  districts  is  16,  11  of  which 
have  reported  41  schools  in  operation.  Tax  levied  for 
school  purposes  in  1845,  was  $1,732  50.  The  State  appro- 
priation amounted  to  $955,43.  The  number  of  scholars 
taught  was  1,803,  during  four  months. 

The  religious  denominations  are  Presbyterian,  Methodist, 
Lutheran,  German  Reformed,  and  Baptist. 


Prior  to  1768,  the  date  of  the  "  new  purchase,"  this  re- 
gion of  country  was  occupied  by  Delawares,  Shawanese,  and 
some  Muncy,  Nanticoke  and  Conoy  Indians.  Some  of  the 
Shawanese,  who  had  for  some  time  straggled  along  the  Ohio, 
returned  again  to  the  West  Branch,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
sequel.  It  appears,  according  to  Loskiel,  "  that  this  region 
of  country  was  not  only  inhabited  by  Indians  of  different 
tribes,  but  also  by  Europeans,  who  had  adopted  the  Indian 
manlier  of  living."  When  Count  ZinzendorfF  visited  Oston- 
wackin,  (or  Frenchtown,)  he  was  met  (July  30,  1742,)  by 
an  Indian  who  understood  French  and  English. 

The  Revd.  David  Brainerd,  a  missionary  to  the  Indians, 
visited  this  region  of  country  in  1746.  August  23d,  he  ar- 
rived at  Shamokin,  where  he  remained  a  few  days. 

In  his  journal,  he  says  : 

"  September  1st.  Set  out  on  my  journey  towards  a  place 
called  '  The  Great  Island,'  about  fifty  miles  distant  from 
Shamokin,  in  the  northwestern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna. 


CLINTON    COUNTY.  361 

Travelled  some  part  of  the  way,  and  at  night  lodged  in  the. 
woods.  Was  exceedingly  feeble  this  day,  and  sweat  much 
the  night  following. 

"September  2d.  Rode  forward ;  but  no  faster  than  my 
people  went  on  foot.  V\  as  very  weak,  on  this  as  well  as  pre- 
ceding days.  I  was  so  feeble  and  faint,  that  I  feared  it 
would  kill  me  to  lie  out  in  the  open  air ;  and  some  of  the 
company  being  parted  from  us,  so  that  we  had  now  no  axe 
with  us,  I  had  no  way  but  to  climb  into  a  young  pine  tree, 
and  with  my  knife  to  lop  branches,  and  so  made  a  shelter 
from  the  dew.  But  the  evening  being  cloudy,  and  very  likely 
for  rain,  I  was  still  under  fears  of  being  extremely  exposed  : 
sweat  much  in  the  night,  so  that  my  linen  was  almost  wring- 
ing wet  all  night.  I  scarcely  ever  was  more  weak  and  weary 
than  this  evening,  when  I  was  able  to  sit  up  at  all.  This 
was  a  melancholy  situation  I  was  in;  but  I  endeavored  to 
quiet  myself  with  considerations  of  the  possibility  of  my  being 
in  much  worse  circumstances,  amongst  enemies,  &c. 

"  September  3d.  Rode  to  the  Delaware  town  ;  found  di- 
vers drinking  and  drunken.  Discoursed  with  some  of  the 
Indians  about  Christianity ;  observed  my  Interpreter  much 
engaged  and  assisted  in  his  work ;  some  few  persons  seemed 
to  hear  with  great  earnestness  and  engagement  of  soul. 

"About  noon,  rode  to  a  small  town  of  Shawanese,  about 
8  miles  distant;  spent  an  hour  or  two  there.  Was  scarce 
ever  more  confounded  with  a  sense  of  my  own  unfruitfulness 
and  unfitness  for  my  work,  than  now.  0  what  a  dead,  heart- 
less, barren,  unprofitable  wretch,  did  I  now  see  myself  to  be! 
My  spirits  were  so  low,  and  my  bodily  strength  so  wasted, 
that  I  could  do  nothing  at  all.  At  length,  being  much  over- 
done, lay  down  on  a  buffalo  skin;  but  sweat  much  the  whole 
night. 

"  September  4.  Discoursed  with  the  Indians,  in  the  morn- 
ing, about  Christianity;  my  Interpreter,  afterwards,  carrying 
on  the  discourse  to  a  considerable  length.  Some  few  ap- 
peared well-disposed  and  somewhat  affected.  Left  this  place, 
and  returned  towards  Shamokin ;  and  at  night  lodged  in  the 
place  where  I  lodged  the  Monday  night  before." — [Brain- 
erd's  Memoirs. 

In  1755,  Conrad  Weiser,  Indian  Agent,  then  residing  in 
Heidelberg  township,  near  Womelsdorf,  Berks  county,  was 
visited  by  some  Shawanese  from  this  region.  He  soon  after- 
31 


362  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

wards  visited  them  at  Ostonwackin.  The  following  gives, 
among  other  things,  all  the  particulars  in  relation  to  this 
matter. 

The  Indians  alluded  to,  had  left  the  Susquehanna  for  the 
Ohio,  about  the  year  1727  or  1728.  These,  or  others  of 
the  same  tribe,  had  been  induced  to  go  south,  towards  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio,  about  the  year  1744,  by  Peter  Chartier, 
who  had  accepted  of  a  captain's  commission  from  the  French. 

Heidelberg,  in  the  co.  of  Berks,  March  1st,  1755. 

To  Gov.  R.  H.  Morris. 

Honored  Sir: 

I  must  inform  you  that  I  have  been  visited  this  winter  by 
a  good  number  of  Indians,  chiefly  of  those  that  came  away 
last  year  from  Ohio,  because  of  the  invasion  of  the  French, 
whom  they  hate,  and  will  not  live  in  their  neighborhood. 
The  first  company  that  came  consisted  of  19  persons,  all  of 
the  Six  Nation  Indians ;  one  Jonathan  Cayienquily-quoah  at 
their  head  :  they  arrived  on  the  27th  and  28th  of  January 
last.  The  second  company  that  came,  consisting  chiefly  of 
Shawanos,  12  in  number;  they  arrived  on  the  26th  and  27th, 
this  instant.  They  jointly  intend  to  make  a  town  next  spring 
on  the  West  branch  of  Susquehanna,  commonly  called  Otzin- 
zachson,  at  a  place  called  Otstuagy,  or  Frenchtown,  about 
40  miles  above  Shamokin;  and  they  gave  me  the  enclosed 
string  of  wampum,  to  send  it  to  Philadelphia,  with  a  short 
speech,  to  the  following  purport : 

Brother : 

The  Governor  of  Pennsylvania — We,  your  brethren,  have 
been  obliged  to  come  away  from  Ohio,  because  we  would 
not  live  so  nigh  the  French ;  but  rather  nigher  our  brethren, 
the  English,  in  these  critical  times ;  but  we  deprived  our- 
selves, by  that  means,  of  a  good  hunting  ground,  and  our 
little  corn  fields.  We  intend  to  build  a  town  at  Otstuagy, 
on  Otzinachson  river,  and  pray  you  will  be  so  good,  consid- 
ering our  poverty,  as  to  send  some  of  your  industrious  peo- 
ple up,  next  spring,  to  fence  in  a  small  piece  of  ground  for  a 
corn-field  for  us,  and  we  will  thankfully  acknowledge  your 
favors. 


CLINTON   COUNTY.  363 

Jonathan  Cayienquily-quoah,  the  speaker,  gave  a  string 
of  wampum- 

I  received  the  string  of  wampum,  and  promised  to  send  it 
to  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  by  the  first  safe  opportu- 
nity, and  transmit  his  answer  to  them,  according  to  direc- 
tion. 

Before  these  Indians  left  me,  they  made  me  a  present  of 
some  skins,  to  the  value  of  about  four  pounds,  ten  shillings, 
as  a  satisfaction  for  expense  and  trouble  I  have  been  at  dur- 
ing their  stay.  I  received  it  and  thanked  them;  but  I  must 
bring  in  an  account  against  the  Province  next  August,  and 
your  Honor,  after  perusing  it,  will  recommend  it  to  the  house 
of  the  general  Assembly  for  better  satisfaction. 

I  take  this  opportunity  of  informing  your  Honor  that  when 
Tachnachdorus,  the  Chief  of  Shamokin  of  the  Cayuker  Na- 
tion, was  down  here  in  the  beginning  of  the  winter ;  he  told 
me  that  the  Indians  about  Shamokin  and  Otzinachson,  had 
been  informed  that  a  set  of  people  from  New  England  had 
formed  themselves  into  a  body  to  settle  the  lands  on  Susque- 
hanna, and  especially  Scahantowano,  and  that  against  the 
advice  of  their  superiors  ;  and  asked  me  whether  it  was  true 
what  they  heard.  I  told  him  it  was  true,  as  to  their  inten- 
tion to  settle  that  land  ;  but  whether  with,  or  without  the 
advice  of  their  superiors,  I  could  not  tell ;  but  that  I  was 
persuaded  by  some  letters  I  saw  last  fall  in  Philadelphia,  it 
was  against  the  advice  of  the  superiors  of  that  country.  The 
said  chief  then  desired  me  to  make  it  known,  that  whosoever 
of  the  white  people  should  venture  to  settle  on  any  land  on 
Woyennock,  or  thereabouts,  belonging  hitherto  to  the  Indi- 
ans, will  have  his  creatures  killed  first,  and  then  if  they  did 
not  desist,  they  themselves  would  be  killed,  without  distinc- 
tion, let  the  consequence  be  what  it  would. 

I  found  he  had  intelligence  from  the  Indians  up  the  river, 
that  some  of  the  New  England  people  had  been  there  spying 
the  lands.  I  found  this  a  difficult  matter,  and  was  no  ways 
inclined  to  make  it  known,  to  keep  off  trouble  from  myself; 
but  the  last  visiters  insinuated  the  same  thing ;  so  I  resolved 
to  acquaint  your  Honor  with  it,  who  is  best  able  to  judge 
what  must  be  done  to  prevent  bloodshed  among  us  by  the 
Indians,  who  would  then  certainly  (if  they  should  do  such  a 
thing,  as  I  fear  they  will,)  out  of  a  guilty  conscience  submit 


364  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

themselves  to  the  protection  of  the  French:  the  consequence 
of  that  would  be  very  disagreeable  to  the  English  in  general 
in  this  and  neighboring  colonies. 

I  have  nothing  else  to  trouble  you  with  at  present ;  but, 
-A-ith  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  subscribe  myself, 
Honored  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and 
Humble  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

Heidelberg,  May  19,  17->j. 
To  Richard  Peters. 
Sir— 

My  son   Sammy  is  coming  to  you  with  two  Indian  boys, 
mm  of  Jonathan  Gayienquiligoa,  a  noted  Mohawk,  that 
an  read  and  write  in  his  language,  well  known  to  you.    He 
:s  poor,  and  prays  that  you,  with  the  gentlemen  managers  oi 
.ademy,  will  teach  them  to  read   and   write  English, 
.  provide  necessaries  of  life  for  them,  during  their  stay 
:n  Philadelphia,  which  will  be  as  long  as  it  will  require  time 
to  teach  them.  The  biggest  of  them  is  a  very  intelligent  boy, 
^nd  good  natured :  the  other  is  not  so,  but  more  oi  an  Indi- 
m,  as  something  cross,  as  his  father  says.    If  you  could  pre- 
vail with  Mr.  Heintzelman,  my  son-in-law,  for  a  few  weeks 
-o  board  with  him,  it  would    be  agreeable  to  the   lads ;  be- 
ause  my  daughter  is  somewhat  used  to  the  Indians,  and  un- 
ierstands  here  and  there  a  word  :  then,  afterwards,  you  can 
put  them  where  you  please.     The  name  of  the  biggest  is 
Jonathan,  and  the  other  Philip.     I  believe  their  father  will 
.k\  them  stay  long  enough  to  learn   English  to  perfection, 
provided  proper  care  is  taken  of  them,  which  I  hope  wont  be 
vanting:. 

Jonathan  wanted  me  to  go  to  Philadelphia  with  the  boys, 
Sut  I  thought  Sammy  could  do  as  well. 

The  Indians  on  Susquehanna  are  starving,  and  have  almost 
nothing  to  eat,  because  deer  are  scarce.  He  thought  to  have 
had  an  answer  before  now,  concerning  their  petition  to  the 
governor  for  some  provision  and  the  fencincj  in  of  a  corn- 
field. 

French  Margaret,  with  some  of  her  family,  has  gone  to 
the  English  camp  in  Virginia,  and  her  son  A'icklaus  has  gone 


CLINTON    COUNTY.  365 

to  Ohio,  to  the  French  fort.  I  suppose  they  want  to  join 
the  strongest  party,  and  are  gone  for  information.  The  In- 
dians that  are  with  the  French  on  Ohio  are  chiefly  Anakun- 
kis,  neighbors  to  New  England ;  and,  neither  they  nor  the 
rest  (I  cannot  learn  their  number)  will  be  true  to  the  French, 
as  they  give  out  to  our  Indians.  The  other  Indians  on  Ohio 
thinks  our  troops  much  too  slowly.  They  say,  they  will  be 
glad  to  see  the  French  driven  away  from  the  Ohio.  This 
report  was  brought  by  one  of  Jonathan's  sons  from  Ohio: 
he  was  not  in  the  French  fort — he  was  afraid  of  going  nigh 
it;  but  the  Indians  thereabout  have  told  him  so. 

I  wrote  to  the  Governor  last  week  about  the  Indians'  pe- 
tition. I  hope  he  has  received  my  letter.  The  Indians  should 
have  an  answer.  What  can  I  say  to  them  without  having  it 
from  the  Governor  or  Assembly  ?  They  are  continually 
plaguing  me  for  an  answer,  which  I  hope  you  will  send,  if 
you  can,  by  this  opportunity. 

I  have  nothing  to  add,  but  am, 
Sir, 
Your  most  humble  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

P.  S.  Tachnachdorus  sent  word  by  Jonathan  for  me  to 
come  up  to  Shamokin,  that  the  Indians  had  something  of 
importance  to  lay  before  me. 

I  understood  since  that  several  messages  had  arrived  at 
Otstuacky  from  the  English  army  or  Virginia,  (as  was  said) 
with  strings  of  wampum  to  forewarn  the  Indians  on  Susque- 
hanna not  to  come  nigh  the  army,  for  fear  of  being  taken  for 
French  Indians,  and  to  stay  where  they  are. 

Heidelberg,  in  the  co.  of  Berks,  June  12,  1755. 

Honored  Sir : 

Last  night  I  arrived  safe  at  my  house  from  Otstuacky, 
an  Indian  town  about  45  miles  above  Shamokin,  on  the 
Northwest  Branch  of  Susquehanna  river,  where  I  have  been 
with  ten  hired  men  to  fence  in  a  cornfield,  for  the  Indians, 
according  to  your  Honor's  order :  but  when  I  came  there,  I 
found  the  Indians  that  petitioned  the  governor  for  that  pur- 
pose, had  mostly  deserted  the  place  for  want  of  provision, 
and  chiefly  for  having  lost  all  their  corn  by  that  great  frost 

31* 


366  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

in  the  night  between  the  29th  and  30th  of  May  last  past, 
which  was  the  second  frost  they  had  on  that  river  since  their 
corn  was  up,  and  entirely  killed  it.  There  was  only  Jona- 
than, and  one  of  the  Cayugas,  named  Canadies,  upon  the 
spot,  with  their  families.  They  thanked  your  Honor  very 
sincerely  for  the  kindness  you  had  shown  them  in  sending 
hands  to  fence  in  their  cornfield;  but  said,  that  as  they  could 
have  no  hopes  of  getting  one  grain  of  corn  this  year,  from 
^'hat  they  have  planted,  they  thought  it  needless  to  have  a 
fence  made  about  their  field  ;  but  should  be  extremely  glad 
if  the  government  would  help  them  with  some  provision  in 
their  present  necessity;  which  I  promised  to  use  my  endeavor, 
or  to  write  to  your  Honor  to  get  it  for  them.  I  left  one  sack 
of  flour  with  them:  the  same  I  did  to  the  Indians  at  Cana- 
.soragy,  about  10  miles  on  this  side  of  Otstuacky,  and  two 
sacks  at  Shamokin,  with  the  rest  of  the  provision  I  took  up 
with  me  for  the  hands,  and  could  now  spare. 

I  have  bought  of  Christian  Lower,  a  miller  of  Tulpehock- 
en,  120  bushels  of  good  wheat,  and  60  bushels  of  Jacob 
Fisher,  his  neighbor,  to  be  distributed  among  the  Indians,  as 
your  Honor  will  be  pleased  to  direct. 

I  gave  them  hopes  that  the  meal  should  be  delivered  at 
John  Harris's  Ferry,  where  they  could  fetch  it  by  water — 
and,  I  believe  it  will  be  the  cheapest  way.  There  is  a  good 
wagon  road  from  Christian  Lower's  mill  to  Harris's.  The 
distance  is  about  40  miles,  and  wagons  may  be  had  reason- 
ably. 

In  my  going  up,  I  took  John  Shickallamy  with  me,  and 
as  we  passed  by  Canasoragy,  where  an  Indian  town  now  is, 
John  told  me  that  it  would  be  very  unmannerly  or  unbecom- 
ing me,  not  to  say  something  to  those  Indians  (chiefly  Shaw- 
anese  and  Chickasaws,)  as  I  was  a  public  person,  and  trusted 
with  the  Indian  affairs ;  and  that  the  Indians  longed  to  hear 
from  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  how  things  are,  concern- 
ing the  war. 

I  therefore  told  the  Indians,  who  were  then  met  in  coun- 
cil, that  I  was  sent  by  the  governor  of  Pennsylvania  to  Ot- 
stuaky,  to  fence  in  a  cornfield  for  the  Indians,  according  to 
their  petitions  sent  down  last  winter  to  the  governor  and  his 
council,  by  Cayenquiligoa  and  others ;  and  that  the  governor 
took  this  opportunity  to  send  his  salutation  to  them,  and  had 
ordered  me  to  acquaint  them — 1st.  That  the  King  of  Great 


CLINTON   COUNTY.  367 

Britain  had  sent  a  great  number  of  men  and  ammunition,  who 
are  now  on  their  march  to  drive  away  the  French  from  Ohio 
by  force. 

2dly.  That  no  war  was  yet  proclaimed  between  the  Eng- 
lish and  French,  but  that  it  was  daily  expected  :  that,  in  the 
meantime,  the  governor  desired  them  to  stop  their  ears  to 
every  thing  that  the  French  could  say  to  them,  and  to  listen 
altogether  to  the  English,  and  to  depend  upon,  that  their 
brethren,  the  English,  will  strictly  observe  the  treaties  of 
friendship,  subsisting  between  them,  and  their  brethren,  the 
Indians. 

odly.  That  as  soon  as  the  governor  would  receive  the 
news  of  war  being  proclaimed  between  the  English  and  the 
French,  the  governor  would  let  them  know,  and  whatever 
else  should  pass,  wrorthy  their  notice. 


Gave  a  string  of  w 


ampur 


There  are  about  20  men  in  this  town,  when  they  are  all  at 
home:  five  or  six  of  them  are  Chickasaws,  that  lived  many 
years  among  the  Shawanese.  There  happened  then  to  be 
two  messengers  from  the  Chickasaw  Nation,  in  the  town, 
with  some  particular  message  to  them.  I  could  not  then 
learn  what  it  was.  One  of  these  messengers  told  me,  that 
his  Nation  would  be  mighty  glad  to  see  the  English  in  ear- 
nest to  fight  the  French — that  they,  the  Chickasaws,  had 
observed,  that  wherever  the  French  came,  Ihey  did  mischief; 
and,  that  they  are  more  generally  hated  among  the  southern 
Indians. 

The  Indians  of  this  town  informed  me,  that  a  few  days 
ago,  some  Shawanese  Indians  came  from  Ohio,  and  reported 
that  the  French  are  in  a  very  poor  condition  at  Ohio :  their 
provisions  being  half  rotten  ;  and  that  there  are  not  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  there  ;  and  that  all  their  Indians  had  left 
them;  but  a  very  few  French  praying  Indians  are  yet  with 
them.  I  have  nothing  else  to  trouble  your  Honor  with  at 
present,  but  am, 

Sir, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser, 
To  Governor  Morris. 


368  CLINTON   COUNTY. 

Among  those,  as  an  early  pioneer,  whose  name  is  familiar 
to  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  county,  was  Moses  Van 
Campen. 

Though  a  brief  sketch  of  his  adventures  has  already  been 
given ;  a  passage  touching  his  heroism  in  this  region,  is  here 
repeated,  as  it  is  believed  it  will  not  be  out  of  place. 

"  My  first  service,"  says  Van  Campen,  "  was  in  the  year 
1777,  when  I  served  three  months  under  Col.  John  Kelly, 
who  stationed  us  at  Big  Island,  on  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Susquehanna.  Nothing  particular  transpired  during  that 
time;  and  in  March,  1778,  I  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  a 
company  of  six  months'  men.  Shortly  afterwards  I  was  or- 
dered by  Col.  Samuel  Hunter  to  proceed,  with  about  twenty 
men,  to  Fishing  creek,  on  the  North  Branch,  to  build  a 
Fort. 

In  February,  1781,  I  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy,  and 
entered  upon  the  active  duty  of  an  officer  by  heading  scouts, 
and  as  Capt.  Robison  was  no  woodsman  nor  marksman,  he 
preferred  that  I  should  encounter  the  danger  and  head  the 
scouts ;  we  kept  up  a  constant  chain  of  scouts  around  the 
frontier  settlements,  from  the  North  to  the  West  Branch  of 
the  Susquehanna,  by  way  of  the  head  waters  of  Little  Fish- 
ing creek,  Chilisquaqua,  Muncy,  &c. 

In  the  spring  of  1781  we  built  a  fort  on  the  widow  Mc- 
Clure's  plantation,  called  McClure's  Fort,  where  our  provis- 
ions were  stored. 

In  the  summer  of  1781  a  man  was  taken  prisoner  in  Buf- 
falo Valley,  but  made  his  escape;  he  came  in  and  reported 
there  were  about  three  hundred  Indians  on  Sinnemahoning,, 
hunting  and  laying  in  a  store  of  provisions,  and  would  make 
a  descent  on  the  frontiers;  that  they  would  divide  into  small 
parties,  and  attack  the  whole  chain  of  the  frontier  at  the 
same  time  on  the  same  day. 

Colonel  Samuel  Hunter  selected  a  company  of  five  to  re- 
connoitre, viz :  Capt.  Campbell,  Peter  and  Michael  Groves, 
Lieut.  Cramer  and  myself;  the  party  was  called  the  Grove 
Party.  We  carried  with  us  three  weeks'  provisions,  and 
proceeded  up  the  West  Branch  with  much  caution  and  care ; 
we  reached  the  Sinnemahoning,  but  made  no  discovery,  ex- 
cept old  tracks ;  we  marched  up  the  Sinnemahoning  so  far, 
that  we  were  satisfied  it  was  a  false  report.  We  returned, 
and  a  little  below  the  Sinnemahoning,  near  night,  we  discov- 


CLINTON    COUNTY.  369 

ered  a  smoke;  we  were  confident  it  was  a  party  of  Indians, 
which  we  must  have  passed  by,  or  they  got  there  some  other 
way;  we  discovered  there  was  a  large  party,  how  many  we 
could  not  tell,  but  prepared  for  the  attack. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  we  new  primed  our  rifles,  sharp- 
ened our  flints,  examined  our  tomahawk  handles,  and  all  be- 
ing ready,  we  waited  with  great  impatience,  until  they  all 
laid  down  :  the  time  came,  and  with  the  utmost  silence  we 
advanced,  trailed  our  rifles  in  one  hand,  and  the  tomahawk 
in  the  other.  The  night  was  warm ;  we  found  some  of  them 
rolled  in  their  blankets  a  rod  or  two  from  their  fires.  Hav- 
ing got  amongst  them,  we  first  handled  our  tomahawks;  they  . 
rose  like  a  dark  cloud  ;  we  now  fired  our  shots,  and  raised 
the  war  yell ;  they  took  flight  in  the  utmost  confusion,  but 
few  taking  time  to  pick  up  their  rifles.  We  remained  mas- 
ters of  the  ground  and  all  their  plunder,  and  took  several 
scalps.  It  was  a  party  of  twenty-five  or  thirty,  which  had 
been  down  as  low  as  Penn's  creek,  and  had  killed  and  scalp- 
ed two  or  three  families;  we  found  several  scalps  of  different 
ages  which  they  had  taken,  and  alarge  quantity  of  domestic 
cloth,  which  was  carried  to  Northumberland  and  given  to 
the  distressed  who  had  escaped  the  tomahawk  and  knife. 

In  December,  1781,  our  company  was  ordered  to  Lancas- 
ter ;  we  descended  the  river  in  boats  to  Middletown,  where 
our  orders  were  countermanded,  and  wTe  were  ordered  to 
Heading,  Berks  county,  wThere  we  were  joined  by  a  party  of 
the  third  and  fifth  Pennsylvania  regiments,  and  a  company 
of  the  Congress  regiment.  We  took  charge  of  the  Hessians 
taken  prisoner  by  Gen.  Burgoyne. 

In  the  latter  part  of  March,  at  the  opening  of  the  campaign 
of  1782,  we  were  ordered  by  Congress- to  our  respective  sta- 
tions. I  marched  Robison's  company  to  Northumberland, 
where  Mr.  Thomas  Chambers  joined  us,  who  had  been  re- 
cently commissioned  as  an  ensign  of  our  company.  We  hal- 
ted at  Northumberland  two  or  three  days  for  our  men  to 
wash  and  rest ;  from  thence  ensign  Chambers  and  myself 
were  ordered  to  Muncy,  Samuel  Wallace's  plantation,  there 
to  make  a  stand  and  rebuild  Fort  Muncy,  which  had  been 
destroyed  by  the  enemy. 

We  reached  that  station,  and  built  a  small  block-house  for 
the  storage  of  our  provisions.  About  the  10th  or  11th  of 
April,  Captain   Robison  came  on   with   Esquire  Culbertson, 


370  CLINTON  COUNTY. 

James  Dougherty,  William  McGrady,  and  Mr.  Barkley.  I 
was  ordered  to  select  twenty  or  twenty-five  men,  with  these 
proceed  up  the  West  Branch  to  the  Big  Island,  and  thence 
to  Bald  Eagle  creek,  to  the  place  where  Mr.  Culbertson  had 
been  killed.  On  the  15th  of  April,  at  night,  we  reached  the 
place,  and  encamped  for  the  night ;  on  the  night  of  the  16th 
we  were  attacked  by  eighty-five  Indians;  it  was  a  hard  fought 
battle;  Esquire  Culbertson  and  two  others  made  their  escape. 
I  think  we  had  nine  killed,  and  the  rest  of  us  were  made 
prisoners.  We  were  stripped  of  all  our  clothing,  excepting 
our  pantaloons.  When  they  took  off  my  shirt  they  discov- 
ered my  commission;  our  commissions  were  written  on  parch- 
ment, and  carried  in  a  silk  case,  hung  with  a  ribbon,  in  our 
bosom ;  several  got  hold  of  it,  and  one  fellow  cut  the  ribbon 
with  his  knite,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  it. 

They  took  us  a  little  distance  from  the  battle  ground,  and 
made  the  prisoners  sit  down  in  a  small  ring,  the  Indians  form- 
ing around  us  in  close  order,  each  with  his  rifle  and  toma- 
hawk in  his  hand.  They  brought  up  five  Indians  we  had 
killed,  and  laid  them  within  their  circle.  Each  one  reflected 
for  himself ;  our  time  would  probably  be  short ;  and  respect- 
ing myself,  looking  back  upon  the  year  1780,  at  the  party  I 
had  killed,  if  I  was  discovered  to  be  the  person,  my  case 
would  be  a  hard  one. 

Their  prophet,  or  chief  warrior,  made  a  speech,  as  I  was 
informed  afterwards  by  the  British  Lieutenant,  who  belonged 
to  the  party,  he  was  consulting  the  Great  Spirit  what  to  do 
with  the  prisoners,  whether  to  kill  us  on  the  spot  or  spare 
our  lives:  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  had  been 
blood  enough  shed,  and  as  to  the  men  they  had  lost,  it  was 
the  fate  of  war,  and  we  must  be  taken  and  adopted  into  the 
families  of  those  whom  we  had  killed.  We  were  then  di- 
vided amongst  them  according  to  the  number  of  fires.  Packs 
were  prepared  for  us,  and  they  returned  across  the  river  at 
the  Big  Island,  in  bark  canoes. 

They  then  made  their  way  across  hills,  and  came  to  Pine 
creek,  above  {he  first  forks,  which  they  followed  up  to  the 
third  fork,  and  pursued  the  most  northerly  branch  to  the 
head  of  it,  and  thence  to  the  waters  of  the  Genesee  river. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
Maintenance  of  the  Poor. 

There  is  an  old  book  in  which  it  is  written  :  "  Blessed  is 
he  that  considereth  the  poor."  Whether  the  system  that  has 
been  adopted  by  this  State,  or  its  originators,  did  "consider" 
the  poor,  as  they  should  have  done,  I  feel  no  disposition  to 
discuss  here.  To  consider  the  poor,  evidently  implies  that 
the  poor,  or  such  as  are  deserving  objects,  who  have  become 
poor  by  the  operation  of  causes  which  they  could  not  con- 
trol— the  diseased  and  aged — all  who  are  prevented  by  bo- 
dily or  mental  incapacity  from  earning  their  own  bread  or 
maintaining  themselves,  should  be  treated  considerately,  and 
with  a  view  to  alleviate  their  sufferings,  and  render  them  ac- 
tually, so  far  as  feasible,  comfortable. 

That  the  swarms  of  vagrants  and  beggars,  a  great  major- 
ity of  whom  are  foreigners,  do  not  properly  fall  under  the 
denomination  that  should  be  considered,  needs  no  waste  of 
words  to  show;  for  they  generally  are  too  lazy  to  procure 
by  manual  labor,  a  decent  subsistence.  "  Beg  or  steal,"  is 
the  motto  of  many  of  such  characters.  Where  all  who  can, 
and  desire  to  labor,  are  remunerated  for  services  rendered, 
there  is  no  need  to  beg,  or  depend  upon  public  or  private 
charity.  And  none,  who  are  actually  poor,  should  be  suf- 
fered to  stroll  the  country.  If  rendered  so  by  circumstances 
beyond  their  control,  ample  provision  is  made  for  their  sup- 
port at  home — in  their  township  or  county.  In  many  of  the 
counties  of  this  State,  houses  for  their  relief,  with  all  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  are  provided  for  the  poor;  and  where  houses 
are  not  provided,  overseers  or  guardians  of  the  poor  are  cho- 
sen in  each  township  and  district  in  the  State,  whose  duty  it 
is  to  provide  the  necessary  means  for  all  poor  persons,  who, 
by  reason  of  age,  disease,  infirmity,  or  from  mental  incapa- 
city, are  unable  to  labor  and  support  themselves. 

In  the  counties,  of  which  a  history  and  topography  are 


372 


CLINTON    COUNTY. 


given,  there  are  no  poor  houses :  the  system  following  is, 
that  the  overseers,  which  are  elected  annually  in  March,  in 
each  township,  do,  with  the  concurrence  of  two  justices  of 
the  peace,  assess  the  tax  necessary,  contract  with  any  person 
for  a  house  or  lodging,  for  keeping  and  employing  the  poor; 
or  as  the  phrase  runs,  "their  paupers  are  annually  distributed 
in  families,  who  receive  them  at  the  lowest  rate  for  which 
they  are  bidden."  Whether  this  system,  in  practice,  "  con- 
siders the  poor"  is  best  decided  by  facts. 

The  following  facts,  collected  by  a  Miss  D.  L.  Dix,  while 
travelling  through  these  counties  a  few  years  ago,  are  sub- 
mitted for  consideration. 

i  "  Centre  County  has  no  poor  house.  Some  details  of  suf- 
fering reached  me.  The  number  of  insane  poor  is  computed 
at  forty,  including  the  idiotic  cases.  I  understand  many  in- 
digent families  receive  liberal  aid  from  the  more  prosperous 
citizens,  especially  near  Bellefonte;  but,  much  doubt  was 
expressed  respecting  the  general  condition  of  the  aged  poor 
sick  through  the  county  at  large. 

Mifflin  County.— "  This  county  has  no  poor-house.  The 
poor  are  distributed  as  cheapness  and  convenience  determine. 
For  the  insane,  idiots,  and  epileptics,  there  is  no  appropriate 
provision;  there  is  no  medical  attendance,  and  I  heard  of  no 
recoveries  amongst  the  poor.  Many  I  did  not  see;  those  who 
described  them,  concurred  in  the  opinion  that  'something  was 
needed  for  their  help,  and  they  thought  well  of  a  State  Hos- 
pital.' 

"Huntingdon  County  has  no  poor-house;  but  the  poor  are 
boarded  with  those  who  name  the  lowest  receivable  price. 
From  the  best  information  received,  the  idiots,  epileptics,  and 
insane,  in  this  county,  may  be  estimated  at  about  sixty.  The 
desire  for  a  State  Hospital  wTas  strongly  expressed  by  intel- 
ligent citizens. 

I  seldom  refer  to  cases  existing  in  private  families,  and 
never  by  name  ;  but  there  is  one  in  Huntingdon  county,  so 
well  known,  and  so  publicly  exposed,  that  I  feel  a  descrip- 
tion of  his  condition,  as  given  to  me  by  a  citizen,  will  be  in 
place  here,  and  serve  to  illustrate  the  fact  that  there  are  ter- 
rible sufferings,  and  miseries  which  call  for  speedy  relief. — 
On  the  banks  of  the  canal,  near  the  Juniata,  stands  a  farm- 


CLINTON   COUNTY.  373 

house,  to  which  the  cooks  of  the  canal  boats  are  accustomed 
I  o  resort  for  supplies  of  milk,  butter,  &c.  Immediately  ad- 
jacent to  the  house  is  a  small  shanty,  constructed  of  boards 
placed  obliquely  against  each  other.  In  this  wretched  hovel 
is  a  man,  whose  blanched  hair  indicates  advancing  years; 
not  clad  sufficiently  for  the  purposes  of  decency;  "  fed  like 
the  hogs,  and  living  worse;  in  filth,  and  not  half  covered: 
the  decaying  wet  straw  upon  the  ground,  only  increases  the 
offensiveness  of  the  place."  In  the  rains  of  summer,  and  the 
frosts  of  winter,  he  is  alike  exposed  to  the  influence  of  the 
elements.  There  is  no  fire,  of  course.  There  is  no  room  for 
such  a  luxury  as  a  fire-place  or  stove !  And  there  you  may 
see  hira,  affording  a  spectacle  so  miserable  and  revolting,  that 
you  are  thankful  to  retreat  from  a  scene  you  have  no  autho- 
rity to  amend.  It  is  but  a  few  days  since  nineteen  cases, 
from  sources  of  unquestionable  authority,  have  been  commu- 
nicated to  me;  some  accompanied  with  solicitations  to  inter- 
pose in  behalf  of  these  poor  maniacs,  whose  sufferings  almost 
transcend  belief.  These  are  in  private  families,  chiefly  of 
humble  circumstances;  and  most  of  all,  those  who  are  connect- 
ed with  them  are  utterly  perplexed  by  the  trials  of  their  lot, 
and  ignorant  how,  or  in  what  manner,  to  manage  the  refrac- 
tory and  violent  mad-men.  These  all  need  care  and  protec- 
tion in  a  Lunatic  Asylum.  They  cannot  elsewhere  be  brought 
into  decent  conditions,  or  rendered  in  any  sort  as  comforta- 
ble as  the  lowest  of  the  brute  creation. 

Columbia  County. — In  this  county  there  is  no  poor-house. 
The  present  mode  of  disposing  of  those  who  become  a  public 
cost,  is  the  same  as  in  all  the  northern  and  most  of  the  inte- 
rior counties.  Physicians  informed  me,  that  the  insane  suf- 
fered much  for  want  of  suitable  care. 

Union  County. — In  this  county  there  is  no  poor-house. 
The  poor  are  supported  as  in  Columbia  county.  The  cost 
of  supporting  each  individual  was  variously  estimated  at  from 
forty  to  sixty  dollars  per  annum.  Of  the  insane,  a  consid- 
erable number  are  under  the  care  of  relatives.  Their  condi- 
tio! varies  according  to  the  forms  the  disease  manifests,  and 
the  dispositions  and  ability  of  those  who  have  them  in  charge. 
A  physician  acquainted  me  at  New  Berlin,  that  within  the 
links  of  his  own  practice,  there  are  now  six  insane  persons, 
32 


374  CLINTON    COUNTY. 

proper  subjects  for  an  insane  hospital,  and  he  writes,  "  to 
give  you  some  data,  I  inform  you,  that  beside  myself,  there 
are  fifteen  practitioners  of  medicine  in  the  county ;  all  of 
whom  traverse  a  considerable  territory.  We  leel  the  want 
of  a  hospital  constantly."  I  heard  of  about  thirty  cases  of 
idiotic  and  demented  persons  in  Union  county,  but  this  can- 
not embrace  all  of  the  class,  though  it  may  exceed  the  num- 
ber strictly  needing  remedial  treatment." 

Similar  iacts  have  been  collected  in  several  of  the  other 
counties. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Clearing  Lands. 

As  it  may  be  interesting,  especially  hereafter,  an  account 
is  given  in  this  Chapter  of  "  former  customs,"  and  still,  in 
some  instances,  practiced  in  clearing  lands,  &c.  The  account 
given,  was  written  about  twenty  years  ago — and,  the  writer 
spoke  then  in  the  present  tense. 

"  When  we  wish  to  clear  a  piece  of  land,  we,  in  the  first 
place,  stake  it  off,  and  provided  with  a  grubbing  hoe,  take 
up  by  the  rools  every  sapling  which  a  stout  man  can  shake 
in  the  root,  by  grasping  the  stem  and  bending  it  backwards 
and  forwards.  If  the  roots  give  to  this  action,  it  is  called 
a  grub — dogwood,  ironwood,  and  witch-hazel,  are  always 
classed  among  grubs,  whether  they  shake  in  the  root  or 
not. 

After  the  land  is  grubbed,  the  brush  is  picked  in  heaps. 
We  then  chop  the  saplings  ;  that  is,  every  thing  is  cut  down 
which  does  not  exceed  twelve  inches  across  the  stump.  Such 
part  of  the  saplings  as  are  fit  for  ground  poles,  are  chopped 
at  the  length  of  eleven  feet ;  such  parts  as  are  fit  for  fire- 
wood are  left  for  that  purpose,  and  the  top  brush  thrown 
upon  the  heaps  made  of  the  grubs.  Next,  the  trees  are 
deadened,  leaving  one  or  two  for  shade.  This  process  of 
deadening  is  called  letting.  The  manner  of  doing  the  work 
is  this ;  to  chop  entirely  around  the  tree  a  curve  of  three  or 
four  inches  wide.  A  tree  is  not  well  deadened  unless  it  is 
cut  to  the  red  ;  that  is,  the  axe  must  penetrate  through  the 
sap  {alburnum),  but  it  is  not  thought  necessary  to  chip  out 
more  than  the  bark  of  oak  timber.  Sugar  maple,  gum,  &c., 
must  be  chipped  out  half  an  inch  or  an  inch  deep,  to  kill 
them. 

The  advantages  of  deadening  timber,  are  immense;  labor 
is  saved   in  chopping  down  and  burning   the  stuff  on  the 


376 

ground.  Indeed,  in  this  country  it  is  next  to  impossible  to 
cut  down  the  timber,  unless  we  live  in  the  vicinity  of  Bed- 
ford— the  county  town — because  farmers  are  not  rich  enough 
to  pay  for  it.  The  dead  timber  gives  us  firewood  for  years, 
which  obviates  the  necessity  of  resorting  to  the  woods.  When 
it  falls  the  roots  are  taken  out  with  the  tree.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  falling  branches  incommode  us  for  years,  covering 
our  grain  every  winter,  and  causing  great  labor  in  picking 
the  branches  or  limbs  in  heaps.  The  trees  fall  over  the  fen- 
ces and  demolish  them;  sometimes  they  fall  on  horses,  cat- 
tle, &c,  &c.,  killing  or  maiming  them;  not  unfrequently  men 
and  boys  have  been  killed. 

As  soon  as  the  brushes  will  burn,  it  is  fired,  and  every 
particle  consumed.  The  fire  sometimes  gets  away  from  the 
workmen,  and  great  havoc  is  committed  on  fences,  woods, 
and  mountains.  After  the  clearing  is  burnt,  the  rail  timber 
is  chopped  and  logged  off,  the  rails  mauled,  and  the  tops  of 
the  rail  timber  hauled  home  for  firewood.  If  saw-logs,  or 
building  timber  is  wanted,  they  are  cut  down  and  hauled  off. 

At  any  time  between  the  1st  of  September  and  middle  of 
October,  the  ground  is  scratched;  that  is,  rough-ploughed; 
a  bushel  of  wheat  per  acre  sown  broadcast,  harrowed  in  and 
crossed.  New  ground  is  sometimes  ploughed  twice,  but  this 
is  so  seldom  done  as  scarcely  to  form  an  exception,  though 
it  is  admitted  that  a  second  ploughing  adds  a  fourth  to  the 
crop. 

Wheat  is  universally  the  first  crop  sown  on  new  land,  un- 
less we  clear  a  patch  for  potatoes.  The  average  crop  is  from 
12  to  20  bushels  per  acre.  The  second  crop  is  rye ;  oats 
follow,  and  then  corn.  This  is  the  usual  course.  It  is  then 
left  out  a  year  or  two,  and  then  the  course  begins  again  un- 
til it  will  produce  nothing. 

In  eight  or  ten  years  the  timber  begins  to  fall  rapidry. 
When  the  ground  is  pretty  well  covered  with  old  logs,  the 
farmer  goes  in  "  to  nigger-off."  This  is  effected  by  laying 
the  broken  limbs  and  smaller  trees  across  the  logs  and  put- 
ting fire  to  it.  Boys  or  women  follow  to  chunk  up  the  fires. 
In  a  day  or  two  the  logs  are  "  niggered  off"  at  the  length 
of  12  or  15  feet ;  sometimes  the  entire  tree  is  consumed. 
When  they  are  thus  reduced  to  lengths  that  can  be  handled 
by  men,  the  owner  has  a  log-rolling.  He  gives  the  word  to 
18  or  20  of  his  neighbors  the  day  before  the  frolic,  and 


CLEARING   LANDS.  377 

when  they  assemble,  they  generally  divide  the  force  into  two 
companies.  A  company  is  chosen  by  acclamation  for  each 
company,  and  the  captains  choose  their  companies,  each  nam- 
ing a  man  alternately.  When  the  whole  is  formed,  they  set 
to  work,  provided  with  handspikes,  and  each  company  exerts 
itself  to  make  more  log  heaps  than  the  other. 

Nothing  is  charged  for  the  work,  and  the  only  thing  ex- 
ceptionable in  these  frolics,  is  the  immoderate  use  of  whis- 
key. In  general,  great  hilarity  prevails ;  but  these  meet- 
ings, like  many  others  in  this  county,  are  sometimes  disgraced 
by  dreadful  combats  between  the  persons  composing  them. 

Bedford  county,  like  most  mountain  countries,  possesses  a 
large  proportion  of  stout,  athletic  men.  Bravery  is  a  pre- 
dominant feature  in  their  character,  and  they  value  themselves 
in  proportion  to  their  strength  :  hence  arise  animosities  which 
are  seldom  allayed  but  by  battle — these  pugilistic  scenes  now 
(1845)  seldom  occur.  They  possess  one  noble  quality,  how- 
ever ;  and  that  is,  forgiveness  of  injuries.  After  a  fair  trial 
of  strength,  though  each  may  have  been  so  severely  cut  and 
bruised  as  to  be  disabled  for  several  days,  they  will  meet  in 
perfect  harmony,  and  no  trace  of  malice  or  even  resentment 
appears.  This,  to  one  who  has  always  looked  upon  the  in- 
dignity of  a  blow  as  meriting  the  chastisement  of  death, 
seemed  impossible;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  their  tacit 
reconciliation. 

The  general  price  of  clearing  land  is  five  dollars  per 
acre,  put  under  fence  six  rails,  and  a  ground  pole  4  feet 
round  and  ready  for  the  plough.  Sometimes  it  is  cleared  on 
the  shares,  and  then  if  the  proprietor  finds  the  grubber  in 
boarding  and  lodging,  finds  horses,  feed,  and  puts  it  in  him- 
self, the  grubber  gets  the  first  crop,  or  the  half  of  the  two 
first.  If  the  undertaker  finds  every  thing,  he  gets  the  two 
nrst  or  the  three  first  crops,  according  as  he  can  make  his 
bargain,  and  the  bargain  is  usually  determined  by  the  quality 
of  the  land  and  the  difficulty  of  clearing.  Meadow  land  is 
cleared  for  from  four  to  seven  crops. 

In  addition  to  our  log-rolling  frolics,  we  have  frolics  to 
haul  dung,  to  husk  corn,  to  raise  our  buildings. 

The  dung-hauling  frolics  are  nearly  out  of  vogue — and  ne- 
ver ought    to  have  been  practised,  because  a  man  can  do.it 
himself.    The  corn  husking  is  done  at  nights.  The  neighbors 
meet  at  dark;  the  corn  has  been  previously  pulled,  and  hauled 
32* 


378  CLEARING    LANDS. 

in  a  pile  near  the  crib.  The  hands  join  it,  the  whiskey  bot- 
tle goes  round,  the  story,  the  laugh,  and  the  merry  song  is 
heard.  Three  or  four  hundred  bushels  are  husked  by  9  or 
10  o'clock — a  plentiful  supper  is  provided,  and  sometimes  the 
frolic  ends  with  a  stag-dance;  that  is,  the  men  and  boys, 
(without  iemales)  dance  like  mad  devils,  but  in  good  humor, 
to  tune  of  a  neighbor's  cat-gut  and  horse  hair,  not  always 
drawn  with  much  judgment. 

Our  buildings  are  made  of  hewn  logs,  on  an  average  24 
feet  long  by  20  wide,  sometimes  a  wall  of  stone,  a  foot  or 
more  above  the  level  of  the  earth,  raised  as  a  foundation;  but 
in  general,  four  large  stones  are  laid  at  the  corners,  and  the 
building  raised  on  them.  The  house  is  covered  sometimes 
with  shingles,  sometimes  with  clapboards.  The  advantage 
of  the  latter  kind  of  roof  is,  it  requires  no  laths,  no  rafters, 
no  nails,  and  is  put  on  in  less  time.  It  has  been  called  a  poor 
Irian's  make  shift,  and  its  use  can  only  be  justified  by  the 
poverty  and  other  circumstances  of  the  country.  The  ground 
logs  being  laid  saddle-shaped,  on  the  upper  edge,  is  cut  in 
with  an  axe,  at  the  ends,  as  long  as  the  logs  are  thick,  then 
the  end  logs  are  raised  and  a  notch  cut  to  fit  the  saddle.  This 
is  the  only  kind  of  tie  or  binder  they  have;  and  when  the 
building  is  raised  as  many  rounds  as  it  is  intended,  the  ribs 
are  raised,  on  which  a  course  of  clapboards  is  laid,  butts 
resting  on  a  butting  pole-  A  press  pole  is  laid  on  the  clap- 
boards immediately  over  the  ribs  to  keep  them  from  shifting 
by  the  wind,  and  the  pole  is  kept  to  its  berth  by  stay  blocks, 
resting  in  the  first  course  against  the  butting  pole.  The  logs 
are  run  up  on  the  building  on  skids  by  the  help  of  wooden 
forks.  The  most  experienced  "  axe-men"  are  placed  on  the 
building  as  "corner-men;"  the  rest  of  the  company  are  on 
the  ground  to  carry  the  logs  and  run  them  up. 

In  this  way  a  building  is  raised  and  covered  in  a  day, 
without  a  mason,  and  without  a  pound  of  iron.  The  doors 
and  windows  are  afterwardr  cut  out  as  the  owner  pleases. 

As  the  country  becomes  rich  and  more  densely  settled, 
those  hastily  constructed  buildings  will  give  way  to  more 
durable  and  more  comfortable  dwellings;  but  at  present  there 
are  very  few  buildings  in  this  county,  except  on  the  turnpike 
and  in  our  larger  towns,  of  any  material  than  rude  or  unhewn 
logs. 

Every  landholder  lives  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow.  We  have 


CLEARING   LANDS.  379 

no  slaves — master  and  slave  are  terms  unknown ;  laboring 
hands  are  hired.  The  usual  wages  of  a  good  hand,  when 
boarding  and  lodging  are  provided,  is  from  $5  to  $7  per 
month;  if  by  the  day  31  to  37i  cts.  The  cradler  has  from 
75  to  80  cts.  per  day ;  the  reaper  and  mower  from  37i  to 
50  cts.  The  food  of  the  agricultural  laborer  is  the  same  as 
that  of  the  employer.  No  farmer  in  the  county  could  get  a 
hireling,  if  he  made  any  distinction;  and  the  entire  family, 
maids,  men,  children,  wife  and  master,  eat  at  the  same  table. 
The  quality  of  the  fare  depends  on  the  circumstances  of  the 
master ;  usually  it  is  coffee,  wheat  bread,  and  bacon,  fresh 
meat,  poultry,  or  salt  fish  for  breakfast;  white  bread,  bacon, 
fresh  or  salt  meat,  poultry,  with  abundance  of  vegetables  or 
pies,  and  a  glass  of  whiskey  for  dinner ;  tea,  the  same  sort 
of  meat  and  bread  for  supper ;  sometimes  mush  and  milk  in 
winter. 

In  summer,  farmers  work  from  sunrise  till  sunset,  allowing 
an  hour  or  an  hour  and  a  half  for  breakfast,  and  the  same 
for  dinner.  In  winter  they  breakfast  by  candle-light,  and 
join  their  work  by  the  dawn  of  day;  they  are  all  called  to 
dinner,  eat  and  go  it  again. 

We  raise  neither  cotton  nor  sugar  cane,  but  we  manufac- 
ture sugar  from  the  sugar  maple  (acer  saccharimtm).  This 
tree,  which  arrives  at  a  size  rivalling  the  largest  white  oaks, 
flourishes  in  our  sandy  bottoms,  spouting  drafts  on  the  sides 
of  our  mountains  and  the  summit  of  the  Allegheny. 

When  the  sugar  season  begins,  which  is  generally  about 
the  first  of  March,  the  sugar  maker  repairs  his  camp  if  it  is 
out  of  order.  The  camp  is  a  small  shed  made  of  logs,  cov- 
ered with  slabs  or  clapboards,  and  open  at  one  end  or  side. 
Immediately  before  the  opening,  four  wooden  forks  are  plant- 
ed, on  which  is  placed  a  strong  pole.  From  this  is  suspend- 
en  as  many  wooden  hooks  as  the  sugar  boiler  has  kettles — 
usually  four.  Wood  is  hauled,  and  it  requires  a  large  quan- 
tity to  boil  a  season. 

The  troughs  to  receive  the  watei  are  roughly  hewn  of  cu- 
cumber, white  or  yellow7  pine,  or  wild  cherry,  and  contain 
from  one  to  three  gallons.  The  trees  are  tapped  with  a  thfee- 
quarter  inch  auger,  about  one  inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half  deep. 
In  the  hole  is  placed  a  spile  or  spout,  18  inches  long,  made 
of  sumach  or  alder.     Two  spiles  are  put  in  a  tree. 

A  good  camp  will  contain  one   hundred  and  fifty  or  two 


•380  CLEARING  LANDS. 

hundred  trees.  When  the  troughs  are  full  the  boiler  goes 
round  with  a  sled  drawn  by  horses,  on  which  are  placed 
vessels  or  barrels  to  receive  the  water.  Having  filled  the 
barrels,  he  returns  to  the  camp  and  fills  up  the  vessels,  which 
consists  of  meat  vessels,  &c.  well  cleansed.  The  water  which 
is  gathered  in  should  be  immediately  boiled,  because  it  makes 
the  best  sugar.  If  left  to  stand  a  few  days,  it  becomes  sour 
and  ropy.  The  kettles  are  filled,  and  as  the  water  boils 
down,  the  kettles  are  filled  up  again  until  all  is  boiled  in. 

In  order  to  ascertain  when  it  is  fit  to  stir  off,  a  little  of  the 
molasses  is  taken  out  with  a  spoon  and  dropped  into  a  tin  of 
cold  water.  If  the  molasses  is  thick  it  will  form  a  thread  in 
the  water,  and  if  this  thread  will  break  like  glass,  when 
struck  with  a  knife,  it  must  be  taken  off  the  fire,  and  is  fit 
to  stir.  The  kettle  is  set  on  the  ground  and  occasionally 
stirred  in  till  it  cools  and  granulates. 

Great  judgment  is  required,  and  the  most  exact  attention 
to  take  it  off  at  the  very  moment  it  is  fit.  If  it  is  taken 
off  too  soon,  the  sugar  will  be  wet  and  tough  ;  if  it  is  left 
on  too  long  it  will  be  burnt  or  be  bitter,  and  scarcely  fit 
for  use.  Some  boilers  try  it  by  taking  a  few  drops  of  the 
molasses  between  the  thumb  and  finger,  and  if  it  ropes 
like  glue  when  it  cools,  it  is  said  to  be  in  sugar.  A  tree 
is  calculated  to  produce,  a  season,  a  barrel  of  water  of 
30  gallons,  and  it  requires  six  gallons  to  make  a  pound  of 
sugar.  This  estimate,  however,  appears  too  large.  I 
have  never  known  a  camp  turn  out,  one  tree  with  anoth- 
er, more  than  three  pounds,  In  Jamaica  it  is  not  unusu- 
al for  a  gallon  of  raw  cane  liquor  to  yield  a  pound  of  su- 
gar. It  is  supposed  that  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  fact 
that  our  trees  do  not  produce  as  much  as  formerly.  Many 
of  the  trees  have  been  injured  by  fire,  but  the  fatal  cause 
of  their  deterioration  is  the  auger.  When  a  tree  is  cut 
down  which  has  been  frequently  tapped,  there  is  a  black 
and  rotten  streak  for  a  foot  above  and  below  many  of  the 
auger  holes.  The  great  miracle  is  that  a  single  sugar  tree 
is  alive  in  Bedford  ;  but  the  Almighty  Fabricator  of  the 
universe  has  in  his  infinite  wisdom  and  beneficence  be- 
stowed on  this  precious  tree  a  tenacity  of  life  truly  won- 
derful.    Though  every  year  assaulted  by  the  axe,  the  au- 


CLEARING    LANDS.  381 

ger,  or  by  fire,  it  clings  to  existence  and  yields  to  its  un- 
grateful possessor  a  luxury,  and  necessary  of  life,  which, 
but  for  it,  would  command  a  price  which  would  debar  its 
use  from  the  poor.  Maple  sugar  is  worth  Irom  six  to 
ten  cents  per  pound." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


Biographical  Notices, 


Of  distinguished  individuals,  who  were  actively  engaged  in 
this  region  of  country,  at  an  early  period,  or  who  resided 
within  the  bounds  of  the  several  counties,  of  which  a  history 
is  attempted. 


No.  1. 
CONRAD  WEISER. 

The  name  of  Weiser  is  intimately  associated  with  many  of 
the  leading  events  in  the  history  of  Pennsylvania,  from  1730 
to  1760,  especially  in  all  the  important  Indian  treaties  during 
that  period.  It  is  a  name  which  every  German  should  de- 
light to  honor,  for  the  disinterested  benevolence  of  the  "In- 
dians' Friend,"  and  friend  of  humanity.  Several  of  our  most 
influential  men  of  Pennsylvania  have  descended  from  Conrad 
Weiser.  He  was  the  great-grandfather,  on  the  maternal 
side,  of  the  Honorable  Henry  A.  Muhlenberg,  late  of  Read- 
ing, and  of  Doctor  Muhlenberg,  of  Lancaster. 

Conrad  Weiser,  son  of  John  Conrad  Weiser,  was  born  at 
Herrenberg,  in  Wittemberg,  Germany,  November  2d,  1696. 
His  father  had  sixteen  children.  Mrs.  Weiser  died  May  1st, 
1709.  Shortly  after  her  death  John  Conrad  Weiser,  with  8 
of  his  children,  in  company  with  several  of  his  countrymen, 
left  Germany;  and  arrived  at  London,  in  June.  Several 
thousand  Germans  having  arrived  at  the  same  time,  were 
maintained  at  the  expense  of  Queen  Anne,  upon  whose  invi- 
tation they  had  gone  thither.  In  December  about  four  thou- 
sand of  them  embarked  for  America.     They  arrived  at  New 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  383 

York,  June  13th,  1710.  In  the  autumu  of  this  year,  John 
Conrad  Weiser,  with  his  family,  and  several  hundred  Ger- 
man families,  were  transferred,  at  the  Queen's  expense,  to 
Livingston  District,  where  many  of  them  remained  till  1713. 
Two  younger  brothers  of  Conrad's,  George  and  Christopher, 
had,  before  their  father  went  to  Livingston  District,  been 
apprenticed  by  the  Governor  of  New  York,  to  a  gentleman 
on  Long  Island. 

It  was  assigned  to  these  Germans  to  manufacture  tar,  and 
raise  hemp,  to  re-pay  freightage  from  Holland  to  England, 
and  thence  to  New  York.  The  business  proving  unsuccess- 
ful, they  were  released  of  all  freightage.  More  than  half  of 
the  families  in  Livington  District,  now  resolved  to  leave  and 
settle  at  Schoharie,  40  miles  west  of  Albany.  Previous  to 
going  there,  they  sent  deputies  to  Schoharie  to  consult  with 
the  Indians,  touching  their  locating  there;  for  one  of  the 
chiefs,  five  of  whom  had  been  in  England  at  the  time  these 
Germans  were  there,  granted  the  Queen  a  tract  of  land  for 
the  use  of  the  Germans.  The  names  of  the  chiefs  were  Te- 
yee-neen-ho-ga-prow,  Sa-ga-yean-qua-prah-tou,  of  the  Ma- 
quas ;  Elow-oh-kaom,  Oh-nee-yeath-tou-no-prou,  of  the 
river  Sachem. 

John  Conrad  Weiser  was  one  of  the  deputies  to  Schoharie. 
After  returning  from  the  Maqua  country,  in  which  Schoharie 
lay,  a  number  of  families  moved  thither  in  the  autumn  of  1713; 
some  to  Albany,  others  to  Schenectady — Weiser  had  moved 
to  the  latter  place,  and  remained  with  one  Johannes  Meyn- 
derton,  during  the  winter.  Here  he  was  repeatedly  visited 
by  Quagnant,  a  chief  of  the  Maquas,  who  proposed  to  take 
Conrad,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  with  him  to  his  own  coun- 
try, and  teach  him  the  language  spoken  by  that  nation.  By 
the  consent  of  his  father,  Conrad  accompanied  his  instructor, 
and  now  lived  among  the  Indians. 

While  with  Quagnant,  and  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the 
Maqua  tongue,  his  sufferings  were  beyond  description.  He 
had  scarce  clothes  to  cover  his  nudity,  much  less  to  protect 
him  against  the  inclemency  and  piercing  cold  of  a  severe 
winter  ;  to  all  this  was  added,  that  often  times  he  had  not 
wherewith  to  satisfy  hunger.  Still,  to  heighten  the  sufferings 
of  this  young  stranger  among  savages,  they  repeatedly  threat- 
ened him,  when  they  were  drunk,  with  death,  to  escape 
which  he  had  to  secrete  himself,  till  reason  Jiad  given  them 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

a  "  sober  second  thought"  to  restrain  the  execution  of  their 
threats  upon  him.  While  the  patient  young  scholar  was 
among  the  savages,  his  father  moved  in  the  spring  of  1714 
to  Schoharie,  accompanied  by  upwards  of  one  hundred  Ger- 
man families. 

In  the  month  of  July,  having  mastered  that  language,  Con- 
rad left  Quagnant :  he  returned  to  his  father's  house,  and  as 
occasion  demanded,  he  was  interpreter  between  the  Germans 
and  Maquas  or  Mohawks.  Several  families  of  the  Maqua 
nation  lived  within  a  mile  of  his  father's  house.  Conrad 
was  poorly  compensated  here  as  interpreter.  In  his  Journal 
he  says :  "  So  lagen  auch  allezeit  Maquaische  hie  und  wieder 
auf  der  Jagd,  da  es  oefters  was  fehlte  dass  ich  viel  zu  dol- 
metchen  hatle,  aber  ohne  Lohn" 

The  Germans  here,  amid  trials  and  difficulties,  ever  inci- 
dent to  new  settlements,  made,  in  a  few  years,  considerable 
improvements.  Their  flattering  prospects  were,  however, 
wholly  blasted.  Owing  to  a  defect  in  their  land  titles,  they 
were  dispossessed.  Many  of  them  left  Schoharie  in  the  spring 
of  1620 ;  came  to  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  among  the  In- 
dians in  Tulpehocken,  now  Berks  county.  The  Weiser  fa- 
mily however  remained  till  1719,  when  Conrad  left  with  his 
wife  and  five  children,  Philip,  Frederick,  Anna,  Madlina, 
and  Maria,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania.  He  settled  half  a 
mile  east  of  the  present  site  of  Womelsdorff.  His  father, 
John  Conrad,  remained  at  Schoharie  till  1746.  He  left  then 
on  account  of  the  dangers  which  he  apprehended  from  the 
French  and  Indians,  who  had  already  murdered  several  Ger- 
man families  at  Schoharie.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  the 
house  of  his  son,  Conrad,  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
nearly  ninety. 

Weiser's  profound  knowledge  of  the  Indian  and  character, 
and  an  intimate  aoquaintance  with  their  language,  attracted 
the  attention  of  Governor  Gordon,  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania, shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Tulpehocken.  As  inter- 
preter and  Indian  agent,  having  received  that  appointment 
from  the  governor,  he  accompanied  the  noted  Shikelamy,  of 
Shamokin,  and  Cehachquay,  from  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia.— [Prov.  Records. 

He  was  now  nearly  constantly  absent  for  years,  on  Indian 
missions,  on  bthalt  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania.  He  and 
Shikelamy  were  appointed  by  the  treaty  of  1732,  "as  fit  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  385 

proper  persons  to  go  between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  gov- 
ernment, and  to  be  employed  in  all  actions  with  one  another, 
whose  bodies,  the  Indians'  said,  were  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them  and  us ;  we  have  one  half — that  they  (Indians) 
had  found  Conrad  Weiser  faithful  and  honest — a  true  and 
good  man,  and  had  spoken  their  words,  and  our  words,  and 
not  his  own." — [Prov.  Records. 

In  1736,  Governor  Thomas  commissioned  him  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace.  Now  in  a  threefold  capacity — Interpreter, 
Indian  Agent  and  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  was  added 
that  of  Colonel,  in  1756.  He  continued  his  public  career  for 
many  years.  His  was  emphatically  an  active  life.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1736,  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  were  expected  at 
Philadelphia,  to  confirm  a  treaty  that  had  been  made  in  1732: 
Weiser  was  active  on  this  occasion,  as  we  learn  from  the  Pro- 
vincial Records.  "Conrad  Weiser,  our  Interpreter,  about 
the  beginning  of  September,  1736,  advised  from  Tulpehock- 
en,  that  he  had  certain  intelligence  from  some  Indians,  sent 
before  him,  that  there  was  a  large  number  of  those  people, 
with  many -of  the  chiefs,  arrived  at  Shamokin,  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna, upon  which  he  was  directed  to  repair  thither  to 
attend  them,  and  supply  them  with  necessaries  on  their  jour- 
ney to  Philadelphia." 

"  On  the  27th  of  September,  the  chiefs  came  with  Weiser 
to  the  President's  house  at  Stenton,  being  near  the  road, 
where  a  suitable  entertainment  was  provided  for  them ;  on 
the  next  day,  the  honorable  proprietor,  Thomas  Penn,  and 
some  of  the  Council,  with  other  gentlemen,  coming  thither 
from  Philadelphia  :  after  dinner,  a  council  was  held  at  Sten- 
ton, September  28th.  The  council  continued  till  the  29th, 
then  adjourned  to  meet  Oct.  2d,  in  the  Great  Meeting  House, 
in  Philadelphia." — [Prov.  Records. 

In  the  year  1737,  he  was  sent  to  Onondago,  N.  Y.,  at  the 
desire  of  the  Governor  of  Virginia.  He  departed  quite  un- 
expectedly, towards  the  close  of  February,  on  a  journey  of 
five  hundred  miles,  through  a  wilderness,  where  there  was 
neither  road  nor  path,  and  at  a  time  of  the  year  when  ani- 
mals could  not  be  met  with  for  food.  It  was  an  unpleasant 
journey.  In  a  letter,  he  says,  "There  were  with  me,  a  Dutch- 
man and  three  Indians.  After  wehad  goneone  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  on  our  journey,  we  came  to  a  narrow  valley,  about 
half  a  mile  broad  and  thirty  mdes  long,  both  sides  of  which 
33 


586  BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 

were  encompassed  by  high  mountains ;  on  which  the  snow 
lay  about  three  teet  deep;  in  it  ran  a  stream  of  water  also 
three  feet  deep.  The  stream  was  so  crooked  that  it  kept  a 
continual  winding  from  one  side  of  the  valley  to  the  other. 
In  order  to  avoid  wading  so  often  through  the  water,  we  en- 
deavored to  pass  along  the  slope  ol  the  mountain — the  snow 
now  being  three  feet  deep,  and  so  hard  frozen  on  the  top  that 
we  walked  upon  it,  but  were  obliged  to  make  holes  into  the 
snow  with  our  hatchets,  that  we  would  not  slide  down  the 
mountain,  and  thus  we  crept  on.  It  happened  that  the  old 
Indian's  foot  slipped,  and  the  root  of  the  tree  by  which  he 
held,  breaking,  he  slid  down  the  mountain,  as  from  the  roof 
of  a  house ;  but  happily  he  was  stopped  in  his  fall,  by  the 
string  which  fastened  his  pack,  hitching  on  the  stump  of  a 
small  tree.  The  two  Indians  could  not  go  to  his  aid,  but 
our  Dutch  fellow  traveller  did  ;  yet  not  without  visible  dan- 
ger of  life.  I  also  could  not  put  a  foot  forward,  till  I  was 
helped  ;  after  this  we  took  the  first  opportunity  to  descend 
into  the  valley,  which  was  not  till  after  we  had  labored  hard 
for  half  an  hour  with  hands  and  feet.  Having  ^observed  a 
tree  lying  directly  off  from  where  the  Indian  fell,  when  we 
were  got  into  the  valley  again,  went  back  about  one  hundred 
paces,  where  we  saw,  that  if  the  Indian  had  slipped  four  or 
five  paces  farther,  he  would  have  fallen  over  a  rock  one  hun- 
dred feet  perpendicular,  upon  craggy  pieces  of  rocks  below. 
The  Indian  was  astonished,  and  turned  quite  pale;  then  with 
outstretched  arms,  and  great  earnestness,  he  spoke  these 
words:  "I  thank  thee  Great  Lord  and  Governor  of  this 
world,  in  that  he  had  mercy  upon  me,  and  has  been  willing 
that  I  should  live  longer."  This  happened  March  25, 1737. 
On  the  9th  of  April,  while  we  were  yet  on  our  journey,  I 
found  myself  extremely  weak,  through  the  fatigue  of  so  long 
a  journey,  with  cold  and  hunger,  which  I  had  suffered ;  there 
having  fallen  a  fresh  snow  about  20  inches  deep,  and  we  be- 
ing yet  three  u'ays  journey  from  Onondago,  in  a  frightful 
wilderness,  my* spirit  failed,  my  body  trembled  and  shook— I 
thought  I  should  fall  down  and  die  :  I  stepped  aside,  and  set 
under  a  tree,  expecting  there  to  die.  My  companions  soon 
missed  me;  the  Indians  came  back  and  found  me  there.  They 
remained  awhile  perfectly  silent.  At  last  the  old  Indian  said: 
"  My  dear  companion,  thou  hast  hitherto  encouraged  us,  wilt 
thou  now  quite  give  up  ?     Remember  that  evil  days  are  bet- 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES. 


387 


ter  than  good  days ;  for  when  we  suffer  much  we  do  not  sin 
— sin  will  be  driven  out  of  us  by  suffering,  and  God  cannot 
extend  his  mercy  on  them ;  but  contrary  wise,  when  it  goeth 
evil  with  us,  God  hath  compassion  with  us."  These  words 
made  me  ashamed.  I  rose  up,  and  travelled  as  well  as  I 
could. 

In  1738,  in  the  month  of  May,  he  again  went  to  Ononda- 
go,  accompanied  by  Bishop  Spangenberger,  David  Zeisber- 
ger,  and  Shebosh,  Moravian  missionaries  to  the  Indians. 
Here  he  again  experienced  great  hardships.  He  not  only 
accompanied  these  men  to  the  Indians,  but  in  1742,  he  met 
Count  Zinzendorf  (of  whom  an  account  is  given  in  the  se- 
quel) at  Bethlehem,  who  had  just  arrived  from  Europe.  The 
count  went  with  him  to  Tulpehocken,  where,  Aug.  14,  they  met 
a  numerous  embassy  of  Sachems  of  the  Six  Nations,  return- 
ing from  Philadelphia.  The  Count  preached  to  them  through 
Weiser  as  interpreter. 

Soon  afterwards  Weiser  accompanied  Zinzendorf  to  Sham- 
okin,  where  he  was  kindly  received  by  Shikelamy. 

In  January,  1743,  Weiser  again  went  to  Shamokin,  at  the 
request  of  Governor  Thomas. 

The  many  active  duties  performed  by  Mr.  Weiser  would 
have  completely  engrossed  all  the  time  of  an  ordinary  man, 
still  he  found  leisure  to  instruct  others  in  the  Indian  tongue. 
In  1743  we  find  that  distinguished  Moravian  missionary, 
Pyrlacus,  at  the  house  of  Conrad  Weiser,  and  being  made 
acquainted  with  the  Maqua  language.  Weiser's  superior 
qualifications  as  a  qualified  instructor,  soon  enabled  his  pupil 
to  master  the  language,  so  as  to  be  able  to  address  the  Indi- 
ans of  that  Nation  in  their  own  tongue.  Pyrlacus  having 
acquired  a  competent  knowledge  of  that  language,  moved 
with  his  wife  into  the  interior  parts  of  the  Iroquois  country, 
and  took  up  his  abode  with  the  English  missionaries,  in  Jun- 
tarogu. 

In  April,  1743,  he  went  again  to  Shamokin,  in  behalf  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland.     In  his  Journal,  he  says: 

"April  9th.  I  arrived  at  Shamokin,  by  order  of  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania,  to  acquaint  the  neighboring  Indians, 
and  those' on  Wyoming,  that  the  Governor  of  Virginia  was 
well  pleased  with  the  mediation,  and  was  willing  to  come  to 
an  agreement  with  the  Six  Nations  about  the  land  his  peo- 
ple were  settled  upon,  and  if  it  was  that  they  contended  for, 


388  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

and  to  make  up  the  matter  of  the  late  skirmish,  in  an  amica- 
ble way."     A  treaty  was  subsequently  held  at  Lancaster. 

In  June,  of  the  same  year,  he  went  again  to  Onondago,  in 
obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  governor  and  council  of  Penn- 
sylvania. He  kept  a  most  minute  Journal  of  this  journey, 
replete  with  many  interesting  notices. — [Prov.  Records,  K., 
pp.  280-297. 

In  consequence  of  the  massacre  of  John  Armstrong  and  his 
servants,  noticed  pages  80-90,  he  again  went  to  Shamokin. 

In  May,  1745,  accompanied  by  Shikelamy,  one  of  his  sons 
and  Andrew  Montour,  he  again  went  to  Onondago,  where 
they  arrived  in  safety  on  the  6th  of  June.  In  1747  he  start- 
ed for  Shamokin,  charged  with  a  message  to  the  Indians  to 
notify  them  of  the  death  of  John  Penn,  late  proprietary  of 
the  province  of  Pennsylvania.  On  his  way  thither  he  met 
Shikelamy,  and  several  Indians,  among  whom  was  Scaien- 
ties,  at  Chambers'  mill,  now  M'Allister's,  where  he  delivered 
the  message. 

In  November,  he  again  went  to  Shamokin,  to  administer 
relief  to  some  of  the  suffering  there.  He  was  surprised,  on 
his  arrival,  to  find  Shikelamy  in  so  low  a  condition ;  reduced 
by  sickness.  Many  of  them  had  died.  He  administered 
medicines  to  the  sick,  under  the  directions  of  Dr.  Greene. — 
[Prov.  Records,  L. 

The  period  had  now  arrived  that  the  French  were  actively 
engaged,  to  seduce,  if  possible,  all  the  Indians  on  the  Ohio, 
and  westward,  and  persuade  them  to  take  up  the  hatchet 
against  the  English,  to  counteract  the  influence  of  ihe  French 
emissaries,  Mr.  Weiser  was  selected  as  a  suitable  person  to 
pay  the  Indians  a  visit  at  Logstown,  14  miles  below  the 
present  site  of  Pittsburg.  Weiser  set  out  August  11th,  1748, 
for  Ohio;  crossed  the  Susquehanna  at  Harris's  Ferry,  passed 
through  what  is  now  Cumberland,  Perry,  and  Huntingdon, 
by  way  of  Frankstown,  Kittaning,  &c,  on  to  Logstown, 
through  a  perfect  wilderness.  On  arriving  at  Logstown  the 
Indians  received  him  with  great  joy. 

The  utmost  vigilance  was  now  required  by  the  public 
functionaries  to  conciliate  the  Indians.  White  intruders  upon 
Indian  lands  had  now  to  be  expelled.  In  1750  Weiser,  Sec- 
retary Peters,  joined  by  the  magistrates  of  Cumberland  coun- 
ty, and  the  delegates  from  the  Six  Nations,  a  chief  of  the 
Mohawks,  and  Andrew  Montour,  went  to  Cumberland,  now 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  389 

Perry  and  Bedford,  and  removed  many  of  those  intruders. 
The  same  year  he  undertook  another  journey  to  Onondago, 
with  a  message  from  the  Honorable  Thomas  Lee,  Esq-,  Pre- 
sident of  Virginia  to  the  Indians  there.  He  left  home  on  the 
15th  of  August,  and  arrived  at  Onondago,  on  the  26th-  He 
spent  some  time  among  them.  He  arrived  at  home  October 
1st. 

About  this  time  a  scheme  was  formed,  to  educate  the  Ger- 
mans. He  was  appointed,  in  connection  with  other  distin- 
guished gentlemen,  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  Trustees. 

From  1752  to  1757,  he  repeatedly  visited  the  Indians  at 
Harris's  Ferry ;  attended  treaties  held  there  and  at  Carlisle. 
He  acted  as  Interpreter  at  the  treaties  held  at  Carlisle  in 
October,  1753,  and  in  January,  1756. 

During  the  French  and  Indian  war  he  was  appointed  Col. 
of  a  regiment  of  volunteers  from  Berks  county.  In  1759, 
Governor  Denny  appointed  him  a  commissary.  The  duty 
assigned  him  by  his  late  commission  was  too  tedious  for  his 
worn  out  constitution.  In  a  letter  of  Sept.  19,  1759,  to  the 
governor,  he  says  :  "  I  am  in  a  very  low  state  of  health,  and 
cannot,  without  great  fatigue,  hazard  to  undertake  my  jour- 
ney." 

He  closed  his  eventful  life  July  13th,  1760.  He  left  sev- 
en children — having  been  the  father  of  fifteen — and  a  widow, 
to  lament  his  departure.  His  remains  rest  about  half  a  mile 
east  of  Womelsdorf,  a  few  hundred  yards  south  of  the  turn- 
pike. A  rough  hewn  stone  stands  to  mark  the  spot,  with 
the  following,  almost  obliterated,  inscription  : 

Diesses  ist  die 
Rube    Staette  des 
weyle  ehren  geachteten  M.  Conrad 
Weiser  derselbige  ist  gebohren  1696  den  2  No- 
vember in  Astaet  in  Amt  Herrenberg  ira  Wittenberger 
Lande,  und  gestorben  1760  den  13 
Julius,  ist  alt  worden  63 
jahr  8   Monat  und 
13  Tage. 


33* 


No.  II. 
Revd.  Nicholas  Louis  Zinzendorf,  Count. 

This  pious  and  devoted  man  was  the  patron  of  the  Mora- 
vians. He  was  born  at  Dresden,  in  May,  1700.  He  studied 
at  Holle  and  Utrecht.  About  the  year  1721,  he  purchased 
the  lordship  of  Berthelsdorf,  in  Lusatia.  Some  poor  Chris- 
tians, the  followers  of  John  Huss,  obtained  leave  in  1722  to 
settle  on  his  estate.  They  soon  made  converts.  Such  was 
the  origin  of  the  village  of  Herrnhut.  Their  noble  patron 
soon  alter  joined  them. 

From  this  period  Count  Zinzendorf  devoted  himselt  to  the 
business  of  instructing  his  fellow  men  by  his  writing  and 
preaching.  He  travelled  through  Germany  and  Denmark, 
and  became  acquainted  with  the  Danish  missions  in  the  East 
Indies  and  Greenland. 

About  1732  he  engaged  earnestly  in  the  promotion  of 
missions  by  his  Moravian  brethren,  whose  numbers  at  Herrn- 
hut were  then  about  five  hundred.  So  successful  were  these 
missions,  that  in  a  few  years  four  thousand  negroes  were  bap- 
tised in  the  West  Indies,  and  the  converts  in  Greenland 
amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  eighty-four. 

In  1737  he  visited  London ;  and  in  1741  came  to  Ameri- 
ca, and  preached  at  Germantown,  Bethlehem,  Tulpehocken; 
and  visited  the  Indians  at  Shamokin,  Wyoming,  and  State  of 
New  York. 

In  1743  he  returned  to  Europe.  He  died  at  Herrnhut  in 
1760,  the  same  year  that  his  friend  Weiser  did.  His  coffin 
was  carried  to  the  grave  by  thirty- two  preachers  and  mis- 
sionaries, whom  he  had  reared,  and  some  of  whom  had  toiled 
in  Holland,  England,  Ireland,  North  America,  and  Green- 
land. What  monarch  was  ever  honored  by  a  funeral  like 
this? 


No.  III. 
Revd.  David  Brainerd. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  born  at  Haddam,  Connec- 
ticut, April  20,  1718.  His  mind  was  early  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  religion.  After  preparatory  studies  he  be- 
came a  member  of  Yale  College  in  1739,  where  he  was  dis- 
tinguished for  application  and  general  correctness  of  conduct. 
He  was  expelled  from  this  institution  in  1742,  inconsequence 
of  having  said,  that  one  of  the  tutors  wae  as  devoid  of  grace 
as  a  chair.  In  the  spring  of  1742,  he  began  the  study  of 
divinity,  and  at  the  end  of  July  was  licensed  to  preach.  Hav- 
ing received  from  the  society,  for  propagating  Christian  know- 
ledge, an  appointment  as  missionary  to  the  Indians,  he  com- 
menced his  labors  at  Kaunameek,  a  village  of  Massachusetts, 
situated  between  Stockbridge  and  Albany.  He  remained 
there  about  twelve  months,  and  on  the  removal  of  the  Kau- 
nameeks  to  Stockbridge,  he  turned  his  attention  towards  the 
Delaware  Indians. 

In  1744,  he  was  ordained  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  fixed  his 
residence  near  the  Forks  of  the  Delaware  and  Lehigh  rivers, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  about  a  year.  From  this 
place  he  removed  to  Cross weeksing,  in  N.  J„  where  his  ef- 
forts among  the  Indians  were  commenced  with  success. 

In  the  summer  of  1745  and  1746,  he  visited  the  Indians 
on  the  Susquehanna,  at  Duncan's  Island,  at  Shamokin,  and 
on  the  West  Branch.  On  his  return  in  September  he  found 
himself  worn  out.  His  health  was  so  much  impaired,  that 
he  was  able  to  preach  but  little  more.  Being  advised  in  the 
spring  of  1747  to  travel  in  New  England,  he  went  as  far  as 
Boston,  and  returned  in  July  to  Northampton,  where  he  pass- 
ed the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  died  October  9th,  1747, 
aged  twenty-nine  years. 


No.  IV. 
Revd.  David  Zeisberger. 

This  distinguished  Moravian  missionary  among  the  Indi- 
ans, was  born  in  Moravia,  in  Germany,  1721,  whence  his 
parents  emigrated  to  Hernnhut,  in  Upper  Lusatia.  In  1738 
he  came  to  Georgia.  Thence  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  assisted  in  the  commencement  of  the  settlements  of  Beth- 
lehem and  Nazareth.  From  1742  he  was  for  sixty-two  years 
a  missionary  among  the  Indians.  He  visited  them  on  the 
Susquehanna.  He  attended  Shikelamy  in  his  last  illness,  at 
Sharaokin,  ih  1749.  Loskiel  says,  "  He  (Shikelamy)  was 
taken  ill — was  attended  by  David  Zeisberger,  and  in  his 
presence,  fell  happily  asleep  in  the  Lord,  in  full  assurance  of 
obtaining  eternal  life,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Zeisberger  was  an  indefatigable  missionary.  He  instructed 
and  baptised  about  fifteen  hundred  Indians.  This  he  did 
araid  trials  and  opposition  from  several  quarters. 

About  the  year  1768,  he  wrote  two  grammars  of  the  On- 
ondago,  in  English  and  in  German,  and  a  dictionary,  German 
and  Indian,  of  more  than  1700  pages.  In  the  Lenape,  or 
language  of  the  Delawares,  he  published  a  spelling  book, 
sermons  to  children,  and  a  hymn  book,  containing  upwards 
of  500  hymns,  translated  partly  from  German  and  partly 
from  English.  He  left  in  manuscript  a  grammar  in  German 
of  the  Delaware  language,  which  has  been  translated  by  Mr. 
Du  Ponceau,  late  of  Philadelphia;  also  a  harmony  of  the 
four  gospels,  translated  into  Delaware. 


No.  V. 

Governor  Simon  Snyder. 

He  was  born  at,  Lancaster,  in  November,  1759.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  respectable  mechanic,  who  had  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania,  from  Germany,  about  the  year  1740.  The 
maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Knippenberg.  She  was  born 
near  Oppenheim,  in  Germany.  In  April,  1774,  his  father, 
Anthony  Snyder,  died  at  Lancaster.  In  1776,  Simon  Sny- 
der left  Lancaster,  and  went  and  resided  at  York.  There  he 
remained  more  than  eight  years-  In  that  place  he  learned 
the  tanning  and  currying  business.  As  a  proof  of  early  in- 
tegrity, it  may  be  mentioned  that  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship ol  four  years,  without  being  bound  by  an  indenture  or 
written  contract.  At  York,  he  went  to  night  school,  kept 
by  John  Jones — a  worthy  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends 
— where  he  learned  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  and  made 
some  progress  at  mathematics.  Often,  at  the  midnight  hour, 
after  a  hard  day's  work,  Simon  Snyder  was  found  engaged 
in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge ;  and  his  Sundays  were  almost 
constantly  devoted  to  its  acquirements. 

In  July,  1784,  he  removed  to  the  county  of  Northumber- 
land, to  that  portion  which  is  now  Union  county.  There  he 
became  a  storekeeper,  and  the  owner  of  a  mill.  He  soon 
became  very  useful,  and  much  respected  as  a  scrivener.  He 
was  in  all  situations,  and  at  all  times  the  friend  of  the  poor 
and  the  distressed  ;  modest  and  unassuming ;  yet  was  his 
sound  judgment,  impartiality,  and  love  of  justice,  so  well 
known,  and  duly  appreciated,  that  he  was  elected  unani- 
mously by  the  freeholders  of  a  large  district  of  country,  a 
justice  of  the  peace.  In  this  office  he  continued  to  officiate 
for  twelve  years,  under  two  commissions.  The  first  was 
granted  under  the  constitution  of  1776,  and  the  last  was  un- 
der the  constitution  of  1790.  So  universally  were  his  decis- 
ions respected,  that  there  never  was  an  appeal  from  any  judg- 
ment of  his  to  the  court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  but  one  writ 
of  certiorari  was  served  on  him  during  all  that  time. 

Though  the  inhabitants  consisted  of  that  description  of 
persons  who  are  the  settlers  of  all  new  countries,  amongst 


394 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 


whom  quarrels  and  disputes  are  very  frequent,  yet  so  great 
was  his  personal  influence,  and  so  strenuous  his  efforts  to 
reconcile  contending  parties,  that  he  generally  prevailed;  in-* 
deed,  so  efficient  was  his  influence,  that  of  the  many  aclions 
brought  before  him  for  assaults  and  batteries,  during  the 
whole  period  of  12  years,  he  made  return  to  the  Court  of 
Quarter  Sessions  of  but  two  recognizances.  These  are  evi- 
dences of  an  extraordinary  degree  and  extent  of  public  confi- 
dence in  the  disposition  and  judgment,  and  general  good  prin- 
ciples and  character  of  Mr.  Snyder,  and  confidence  which 
his  whole  life  proved  to  have  been  well  deserved. 

In  1789  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  convention  which 
formed  the  late  constitution  of  this  State.  Mr.  Snyder  had, 
heretofore,  taken  but  little  part  in  political  contests  of  the 
day,  yet  his  principles  seemed  to  have  been  well  understood ; 
and  his  votes  in  the  convention  proved  him  to  have  been, 
then,  as  he  continued  through  life,  the  steady  supporter  of 
those  invaluable  principles,  which  were  best  calculated  to 
maintain  the  rights  and  promote  the  happiness  of  the  people 
of  this  free  country. 

In  1797  he  was  eleoted  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  He 
was  never  considered  a  speaker  of  much  impression,  nor  did 
he  ever  speak  at  length,  yet  what  he  did  say,  was  listened 
to  with  marked  attention,  and  always  carried  weight,  be- 
cause he  never  spoke  but  when  he  felt  assured  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  speak,  and  that  he  had  something  in  the  way  of  fact 
or  information  to  communicate,  which  should  influence  the 
minds  of  J j is  fellow  members. 

As  a  committee  man,  his  services  were  much  sought  and 
much  valued.  In  1802  he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives.  As  Speaker,  Mr.  Snyder  presided  with 
much  dignity,  with  a  full  knowledge  of  his  duties,  and  a  most 
accurate  recollection  and  prompt  application  of  the  rules  of 
the  House.  None  of  his  decisions  were  reversed  by  the  House. 
His  amendments,  which  were  frequently  of  moment,  suggest- 
ed by  him  as  Speaker,  even  when  the  bill  wras  in  its  last 
stage,  were  almost  always  adopted,  with  unanimity,  which 
marked  the  high  respect  entertained  by  the  House  for  his 
judgment. 

With  him  originated  in  our  Legislature,  a  proposition  to 
engraft  the  arbitration  principle  on  our  judicial  system,  as 
well  as  many  other  wholesome  provisions  for  the  adjustment 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  395 

of  controversies  brought  before  justices  of  the  peace.  ITe 
continued,  after  repeated  unanimous  elections,  to  preside  in 
the  Speaker's  chair  to  the  session  of  1805.  During  that  ses- 
sion he  was  taken  up  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Gover- 
nor, and  ran  in  opposition  to  the  then  Governor,  Thomas 
McKean. 

The  question  of  calling  a  convention  to  amend  the  State 
constitution,  was  so  intimately  interwoven  with  the  question, 
who  should  he  Governor?  that  the  contest  was  conducted  ra- 
ther in  reference  to  the  question  oi  the  convention,  than  upon 
the  popularity  of  the  candidate. 

Governor  McKean  was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  5000. 
In  1806,  Mr.  Snyder  was  again  elected  to  the  House  of  Re- 
presentatives, and  again  chosen  Speaker,  and  was  re-elected 
to  both  stations  in  1807. 

In  1808,  he  was  taken  up  as  candidate  for  Governor,  and 
after  an  arduous  contest,  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  28,000. 
In  1811,  he  was  re-elected  ;  and,  also  in  1814.  His  conduct 
in  the  war  of  1812,  was  patriotic,  and  worthy  of  a  Gover- 
nor of  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  session  of  1813-14,  a  very  large  majority  of  both 
Houses  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  the  bill  to  charter 
forty  Banks!  The  candidate  for  Governor  was  at  that 
time  nominated  by  the  members  of  the  Legislature.  Having 
assembled  in  caucus,  for  that  purpose,  it  was  remarked,  after 
the  meeting  had  been  organized,  that  the  bill  to  charter  40 
Banks  was  then  before  the  Governor,  and  that  it  would  be 
prudent  to  adjourn  the  caucus  without  making  any  nomina- 
tion of  a  candidate  for  Governor,  until  it  was  ascertained 
whether  he  would  or  would  not  approve  ol  the  bill. 

Within  three  days,  Governor  Snyder  returned  the  bill, 
with  his  objections,  and  it  did  not  pass  that  session.  The  in- 
dependence of  Governor  Snyder  was  the  theme  of  almost 
universal  praise,  and  he  was  that  year  re-elected  by  nearly 
30,000  majority. 

Having  served  the  constitutional  period  of  nine  years,  he 
retired  to  his  former  place  of  residence — Selin's  Grove — 
where,  at  the  general  election,  he  was  elected  and  forthwith 
entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  guardian  of  the 
poor  of  the  township. 

At  the  next  general  election,  Mr.  Snyder  was  elected  a 
Senator  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania3  and  served  one  session. 


396  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES* 

He  died  in  the  spring  of  1820,  honored,  respected  and  be- 
loved. He  was  in  truth  an  honest  and  upright  man.  Peace 
to  his  ashes. 


No.  VI. 
John  Harris,  Proprietor  of  Harrisburg. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  notice,  was  the  son  of  the  well 
known  elder  John  Harris,  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
and  who  was  the  first  settler  west  of  the  Conewago  hilk. 
John  Harris  was  born  at  the  present  site  of  Harrisburg,  in 
1726.  He  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
west  of  the  Conewago  hills. 

Harris's  father  was  a  middle-aged  man  when  he  immigra- 
ted to  America.  He  first  settled  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
married  Esther  Say,  an  English  lady;  a  woman  of  rather  an 
extraordinary  character,  for  energy  and  capacity  of  mind. 
When  but  a  young  man,  John  Harris  was  occasionally  em- 
ployed by  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  to  transact  important 
business  with  the  Indians  at  a  critical  period.  His  house  was 
frequently  visited  by  the  aborigines.  Several  important  con- 
ferences were  held  there  between  the  several  tribes  of  Indi- 
ans on  the  Susquehanna,  Ohio,  &c,  and  the  government  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Prior  to  1754,  he  had  been  sent  on  an  Indian  mission  to 
Ohio,  and  at  the  same  time  to  notice  the  most  practicable 
route  from  his  Ferry  to  Logstown.  That  he  performed  his 
duty  faithfully  may  be  seen  from  the  following  brief  extracts 
from  his  journal : 

"  From  my  Ferry  to  George  Croghan's,  it  is  five  miles — 
(this  place  was  in  Cumberland  county) ;  to  Kittatinny  moun- 
tains 9;  to  Andrew  Montour's  5;  Tuscarora  hill  9;  Thomas 
Mitchell's  sleeping  place  3;  Tuscarora  14;  Cove  Spring  10; 
Shadow  of  Death  8;  Black  Log  3.  Sixty  miles  to  this 
point. 

The  road  forks  to  Raystown  (Bedford)  and  Frankstown — 
we  continued   to  Raystown-     To  the    Three   Springs  10; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES.  397 

Sideling  Hill  Gap  8  ;  Juniata  Hill  8  ;  Crossings  at  Juniata 
8 ;  Snake's  Spring  8  ;  Raystown  4 ;  Shawana  cabins  8  ;  Al- 
leghany hill  6  ;  Edmund's  swamp  8 ;  Stoney  creek  6  ;  Kich- 
eney  Paulin's  house  (Indian)  6  ;  Clearfield's  7  ;  to  the  other 
side  of  Laurel  hill  5;  Loyal  Hanning  6;  Big  Bottom  8; 
Chestnut  ridge  8  ;  to  the  parting  of  the  roads  4  ;  thence  one 
road  leads  to  Shanoppintown,  the  other  to  Kiscomenettas 
Old  Town — To  Big  Lick  3  ;  Beaver  dams  6  ;  James  Dun- 
ning's  sleeping  place  8  ;  Cockeye's  cabin  8  ;  Four  mile  run 
11 ;  Shanoppintown  on  Allegheny  river  4 ;  to  Logstown 
down  the  river  18 ;  distance  by  the  old  road  246  miles. 

"  Now  beginning  at  the  Black  Log — Frankstown  road 
to  Aughwick  6  ;  Jack  Armstrong's  Narrows  (so  called 
from  being  murdered  here)  8 ;  Standing  Stone,  which  is 
about  14  feet  high  and  6  inches  square,  10.  At  each  of  the 
last  places  we  crossed  the  Juniata.  The  next  and  last 
crossing  of  Juniata  8 ;  Branch  of  Juniata  10;  Big  Lick 
10;  Frank's  (Stephen's)  Town  5;  Beaver  dams  10;  Al- 
legheny hill  4 ;  Clearfield  6  ;  John  Hart's  sleeping  place 
12  ;  Shawanese  cabins  24 ;  Shaver's  sleeping  place,  at  two 
large  licks  12;  Eighteen  mile  run  12;  Ten  mile  lick  6; 
to  Kiscomenettas  town  on  the  creek  which  runs  into  the 
Allegheny  river  six  miles  down,  almost  as  large  as  Schuyl- 
kill 10  ;  Chartier's  landing  on  Allegheny  8  ;  &c." 

Having  accepted  an  Indian  agency  he  was  faithful  to 
his  charge,  both  to  the  Indians  and  the  government.  The 
latter  he  kept  constantly  advised  of  what  was  going  on  in 
the  frontier  settlements ;  for  at  this  time  many  of  the  In- 
dians on  the  Ohio  had  taken  up  the.  hatchet  against  the 
English. 

He  frequently  visited  the  Indians  at  Shamokin ;  and 
when  the  French  and  Indians  had  committed  atrocious 
murders  upon  the  frontier  settlers,  he,  aided  by  others, 
came  and  buried  the  bodies  of  the  slain. 

He  was  a  great  patriot.  "When  the  independence  was 
agitated,  he  thought  the  declaration  premature.  He  feared 
that  the  colonies  were  unequal  to  the  task  of  combating 
with  Great  Britain;  but  when  independence  was  declared, 
he  advanced  £3000  to  carry  on  the  contest." 

He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  forecast.  He  un- 
derstood well  the  advantages  of  Harris's  Ferry.  Twenty- 
years  before  he  had  laid  out  Harrisburg,  he  observed  to 
34 


398  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 

the  late  Judge  Hollenback,  that  his  place  would  become  a 
place  of  central  business,  and  the  Seat  of  Government  of 
Pennsylvania. 

When  he  laid  out  Harrisburg  in  1785,  he  conveyed  with 
other  property  to  commissioners,  four  acres  of  ground  on 
Capital  Hill,  to  the  east  of  the  present  State  Buildings,  in 
trust  for  public  use,  and  such  public  purposes  as  the  Leg- 
islature shall  direct. 

He  was  always  liberal;  he  gave  lot  No.  185,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Chesnut  and  Third  streets,  to  the  German  Reformed 
and  Lutherans,  in  1787,  to  erect  a  church  thereon — the 
same  lot  on  which  the  German  Reformed  Church  now 
stands. 

After  a  life  of  usefulness,  he  closed  his  eventful  period, 
July  29,  1791,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the  Paxton  church 
graveyard. 


No.  VII. 

Rochefoucauld   Liancourt. 

This  distinguished  French  Duke  was  born  in  France, 
1747  ;  and  was  grand  master  of  the  wardrobe  to  Louis  xv. 
and  xvi.  During  the  revolution,  like  another  Lafayette, 
he  was  the  friend  of  liberty,  but  the  enemy  of  licentious- 
ness. The  downfall  of  the  throne  compelled  him  to  quit 
France,  and  after  having  resided  for  some  time  in  Eng- 
land, he  visited  America,  in  1795,  and  made  a  tour  through 
this  part  of  Pennsylvania,  by  way  of  Harrisburg,  &c,  and 
in  1796  passed  through  Northumberland  county,  where  he 
tarried  for  some  time ;  which  place,  with  others,  he  noti- 
ces in  his  work,  entitled,  "  Travels  in  the  United  States." 

In  1799,  he  was  allowed  to  return  to  his  native  coun- 
try, and  he  died  in  March,  1827,  generally  respected  for 
his  liberal  principles  and  his  active  benevolence.  It  was 
chiefly  by  his  exertions  that  vaccination  was  introduced 
into  France. 


No.  VIII. 


Colonel  Hartley. 

Colonel  Thomas  Hartley — stationed  for  some  time  in 
Sunbury — was  born  in  Berks  county,  September  7,  1748. 
Having  received  the  rudiments  of  a  classical  education,  in 
the  town  of  Reading,  he  went,  at  the  age  of  18,  to  York, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law  under  Samuel  Johnson. 
Pursuing  his  studies  with  unremitting  diligence  for  three 
years,  he  was  admitted  to  practice,  in  the  courts  of  York, 
July  25,  1769.  He  soon  distinguished  himself  in  his  pro- 
fession. 

Young  Hartley  was  early  a  distinguished  as  a  warm 
friend  of  his  country,  both  in  the  cabinet  and  in  the  field. 
In  1774,  he  was  elected  by  the  citizens  of  York,  a  member 
of  the  Provincial  meeting  of  deputies,  which  was  held  at 
Philadelphia,  July  15th,  of  the  same  year.  In  1775  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Provincial  convention,  held  at  Philadel- 
phia, January  23d. 

The  time  now  approached  that  tried  men's  souls.  Hart- 
ley now  espoused  the  cause  of  his  country  in  good  earnest. 
He  soon  distinguished  himself  as  a  soldier.  The  Commit- 
tee of  Safety  recommended  a  number  of  persons  to  Con- 
gress, for  Field  Officers  to  the  sixth  battalion,  ordered  to 
be  raised.  Congress  accordingly,  on  the  10th  of  January, 
1776,  elected  William  Irwin,  as  Colonel ;  Thomas  Hartley 
as  Lieutenant-colonel ;  and  James  Dunlap,  as  Major.  Mr. 
Hartley  was  soon  afterwards  promoted  to  the  full  degree  of 
Colonel. 

Colonel  Hartley  having  been  three  years  in  service,  wrote 
a  letter  to  Congress,  February  13th,  1779,  asking  permission 
to  resign  his  commission.  His  resignation  was  accepted.  In 
1778  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  from  York 
county.  In  1783  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Council 
of  Censors.  In  1787  he  was  a  member  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion, which  adopted  the  Constitution  ol  the  United  States. 

In  1788  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress.  He  con- 
tinued a  member  of  that  body  for  about  12  years. 


400 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 


April  28th,  1800,  Governor  McKean  commissioned  him  a 
Major-General  of  the  fifth  division  of  the  Pennsylvania  mili- 
tia, consisting  of  the  counties  of  York  and  Adams.  He  soon 
after  receiving  this  appointment,  died  at  his  house  in  York, 
December  21st,  1800,  in  his  53d  year. 


No.  IX. 

George  Croghan. 

Mr.  Croghan  was  an  Indian  Agent  for  many  years.  He 
resided  several  years  five  miles  west  of  Harris's  Ferry,  in 
Cumberland  county,  at  whose  residence  several  Indian  con- 
ferences were  held  ;  one  in  May,  and  anolher  in  June,  1750. 
Soon  after  1750  he  was  sent  to  Aughwick,  where  he  dis- 
charged faithfully  his  duty.  Prior  to  his  settling  at  Augh- 
wick, he  had  accompanied  Conrad  Weiser  to  Logstown  in 
1748.  In  1750  and  1751  he  held  conferences  with  the  In- 
dians at  Logstown.  In  1755  he  tendered  his  services,  and 
those  of  a  number  of  friendly  Indians,  to  General  Braddock: 
but  was  repulsed  by  the  selfish  General.  In  1753  he  was 
present  at  the  treaty  held  at  Carlisle.  He  erected  Fort  Gran- 
ville in  1756. 

Having  received  a  commission  from  Sir  William  Johnson, 
as  Deputy  Indian  Agent,  after  the  French  had  evacuated 
Fort  Du  Quesne,  in  1758,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Fort 
Pitt,  where  he  held  several  important  treaties  with  the  seve- 
ral Indian  nations  of  Ohio,  and  west  of  the  Ohio. 

In  1765  he  set  off  from  Fort  Pitt  with  I  wo  batteaux,  be- 
ing accompanied  by  several  men,  and  deputies  of  the  Sene- 
cas,  Shawanese  and  Delawares,  down  the  Ohio,  for  Fort 
Chartres,  on  the  Wabash  river.  They  left  Fort  Pitt  on  the 
15th  of  May,  and  towards  the  latter  part  of  July  arrived  at 
Fort  Chartres.  It  was  quite  a  hazardous  undertaking.  Be- 
fore they  arrived  at  the  Fort  they  were  attacked,  June  8th, 
at  daybreak,  by  a  party  of  Indians,  consisting  of  80  warriors 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  401 

of  the  Kickapoos  and  Musquatrimus,  who  killed  two  of  his 
men  and  two  Indians ;  himself  and  all  the  rest  of  his  party 
being  wounded,  except  two  white  men  and  one  Indian.  They 
were  all  made  prisoners,  and  plundered  of  every  thing  they 
had,  and  were  now  hurried  on  through  a  dreary  wilderness 
for  several  hundred  miles,  crossing  a  great  many  swamps, 
morasses,  and  beaver  ponds.  On  the  15th  of  June  they  ar- 
rived at  Port  Vincent,  now  Vincennes.  Thence  they  were 
carried  as  captives  to  Ouicatanon,  a  distance  of  upwards  of 
two  hundred  miles  from  Port  Vincent. 

Here  they  were  enlarged  on  the  25th  of  July.  Mr.  Cro- 
ghan  now  set  his  face  for  Detroit,  where  he  arrived  on  the 
17th  of  August.  He  describes  Detroit  and  vicinity  as  con- 
sisting of  a  Stoccade  Fort,  enclosing  about  80  houses,  and 
standing  close  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  on  a  high  bank, 
commanding  a  very  pleasant  prospect  of  nine  miles  above  and 
below  the  Fort — the  country  thickly  settled  with  French; 
their  plantations  generally  laid  out  about  three  or  four  acres 
in  breadth  on  the  river,  and  eight  in  depth;  the  soil  good, 
producing  plenty  of  grain.  All  the  people,  he  says,  are  ge- 
nerally poor  wretches  here,  and  consist  of  three  or  four  hun- 
dred French  families — a  lazy,  idle  people,  depending  chiefly 
on  the  savages  for  subsistence. 

During  his  stay  at  Detroit  he  held  frequent  conferences 
with  the  different  Indian  nations  assembled  there.  He  left 
Detroit  September  26th,  and  arrived  at  Niagara,  October 
8th.     Afterwards  he  retired  to  Fort  Pitt. 

In  1770  he  was  still  stationed  at  Fort  Pitt,  where  George 
Washington,  on  his  way  down  the  Ohio,  dined  with  him  in 
the  Fort.  Colonel  Croghan  accompanied  Washington  as  far 
as  to  Logstown.  He  was  an  extensive  landholder  at  that 
time.  He  owned  all  the  land  between  Raccoon  creek  and 
the  Monongahela. 

Colonel  Croghan  was  one  of  the  most  active  Indian  Agents 
and  pioneer  settlers  of  his  day, 


34* 


No.  X. 
Colonel  John  Kelly. 

John  Kelly  was  a  native  of  Lancaster  county.  He  was 
born  in  February,  1747.  After  the  purchase  from  the  Indi- 
ans, by  the  proprietaries  ot  Pennsylvania,  in  1768,  he  left 
Lancaster  county  and  settled  in  Buffalo  valley.  Here  he  en- 
dured the  hardships  common  to  all  settlers  in  new  countries. 
He  was  well  calculated  for  a  new  settlement ; — tall,  about 
six  feet  two,  vigorous  and  muscular,  with  a  body  inured  to 
labor,  and  insensible  of  fatigue,  and  a  mind  fearless  of  dan- 
ger. 

He  was  a  major  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  brilliant  actions  at  Trenton  and  Princeton. 

In  the  course  of  one  of  their  retreats,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  through  Col.  Potter,  sent  an  order  to  Major  Kelly  to 
have  a  certain  bridge  cut  down  to  prevent  the  advance  of 
the  British,  who  were  then  in  sight.  The  major  sent  for  an 
axe,  but  repiesented  that  the  enterprise  would  be  very  haz- 
ardous. Still  the  British  advance  must  be  stopped,  and  the 
order  was  not  withdrawn.  He  said  he  could  not  order  an- 
other to  do  what  some  would  say  he  was  afraid  to  do  him- 
self ;  he  would  cut  down  the  bridge.  Before  all  the  logs  on 
which  the  bridge  lay  were  cut  off,  he  was  completely  within 
the  range  of  the  British  fire,  and  several  balls  struck  the  log 
on  which  he  stood.  The  last  log  broke  down  sooner  than 
he  expected,  and  he  fell  with  it  into  the  swollen  stream.  Our 
soldiers  moved  on,  not  believing  it  possible  for  him  to  make 
his  escape.  He,  however,  by  great  exertions,  reached  the 
shore,  through  the  high  water  and  the  floating  timber,  and 
followed  the  troops.  Encumbered  as  he  must  have  been  with 
his  wet  and  frozen  clothes,  he  made  a  prisoner,  on  his  road. 
of  a  British  scout,  an  armed  soldier,  and  took  him  into  camp. 
History  mentions  that  our  army  was  preserved  by  the  de- 
struction of  that  bridge ;  but  the  manner  in  which  it  was 
done,  or  the  name  of  the  person  who  did  it,  is  not  mentioned. 
it  was  but  one  of  a  series  of  heroic  acts,  which  happened 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES.  403 

every  day ;  and  our  soldiers  were  then  more  familiar  with 
the  sword  than  the  pen. 

After  his  discharge,  Major  Kelly  returned  to  his  farm  and 
his  family,  and  during  the  three  succeeding  years  the  Indians 
were  troublesome  to  this  then  frontier  settlement.  He  became 
colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  it  was  his  duty  to  keep  watch 
against  the  incursions  of  hostile  Indians,  through  our  moun- 
tain passes.  At  one  time  our  people  were  too  weak  to  re- 
sist, and  our  whole  beautiful  country  was  abandoned.  Col. 
Kelly  was  among  the  first  to  return.  For  at  least  two  har- 
vests, reapers  took  their  rifles  to  the  fields,  and  some  of  the 
company  watched  while  others  wrought.  Col.  Kelly  had 
the  principal  command  of  scouting  parties  in  this  valley,  and 
very  often  he  was  out  in  person.  Many  and  many  nights  has 
he  laid  among  the  limbs  of  a  fallen  tree,  to  keep  himself  out 
of  the  mud,  without  a  fire ;  because  a  fire  would  indicate  his 
position  to  the  enemy.  He  had  become  well  skilled  in  their 
mode  of  warfare.  One  circumstance  deserves  particular  no- 
tice. The  Indians  seemed  to  have  resolved  on  his  death, 
without  choosing  to  attack  him  openly.  One  night  he  had 
reason  to  apprehend  they  were  near.  He  rose  the  next 
morning,  and,  by  looking  through  the  crevices  of  his  log- 
house,  he  ascertained  that  two  at  least,  if  not  more,  were  ly- 
ing with  their  arms,  so  as  to  shoot  him  when  he  should  open 
his  door.  He  fixed  his  own  rifle,  and  took  his  position  so 
that,  by  a  string,  he  could  open  the  door,  and  watch  the  In- 
dians. The  moment  he  pulled  the  door  open,  two  balls  came 
into  the  house,  and  the  Indians  rose  to  advance.  He  fired 
and  wounded  one,  and  both  retreated.  After  waiting  to  sat- 
isfy himself  that  no  others  remained,  he  followed  them  by 
blood  ;  but  they  escaped. 

For  many  years  CoJ.  Kelly  held  the  office  of  a  magistrate 
of  the  county.  In  the  administration  of  justice,  he  exhibited 
the  same  anxiety  to  do  right,  and  disregard  of  self,  which 
had  characterized  him  in  the  military  service  of  the  country. 
He  would  at  any  lime  forgive  his  own  fees,  and,  if  the  par- 
ties were  poor,  pay  the  constable's  cost,  to  procure  a  com- 
promise. 

There  is  a  monument  in  the  Presbyterian  cemetery  in  Lew- 
isburg,  to  the  memory  of  Colonel  Kelly.  This  was  erected 
April  8th,  1835,  amid  a  solemn  and  imposing  military  array. 
After  the  ceremony,  James  Merrill,  Esq.,  delivered  an  ad- 
dress. 


No.  XI. 

David    R.  Porter. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  notice,  was  born  October  21st, 
178S,  in  Montgomery  county.  His  father,  Andrew  Porter, 
colonel  of  the  fourth,  or  Pennsylvania  regiment  of  artillery, 
and  subsequently  Brigadier  and  Major-General  of  the  second 
division  of  Pennsylvania  militia,  was  also  a  native  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  He  was  born  September  24th,  1743.  The 
life  of  General  Porter  affords  a  striking  and  useful  example 
•f  what  native  energy  and  genius  may  accomplish,  unfostered 
and  unaided,  except  by  its  own  exertions.  He  rose,  without 
any  peculiar  advantage  of  an  early  education,  to  rank  and 
respectability,  both  in  civil  and  military  life,  and  held  a  dis- 
tinguished station  in  the  scientific  world.  David  R.  Porter 
resided  for  many  years  in  Huntingdon  county,  where  he  en- 
joyed the  confidence  of  the  people;  holding  several  offices, 
at  different  periods,  both  civil  and  military.  He  was  twice 
elected  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  now  resides  at  Har- 
risburg,  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  iron. 


OMISSION. 


The  following  interesting  narrative  of  incidents,  written 
by  a  daughter  of  a  revolutionary  soldier,  familiar  with  the 
facts,  was,  by  reason  of  misplacing  the  Mss.,  omitted  being- 
being  inserted  in  its  proper  place.  It  was  not  discovered  in 
time  to  correct  the  omission. 

"  James  Thompson  lived,  at  the  commencement  of  the  re- 
volutionary war,  on  a  beautiful  farm,  near  Spruce  run,  in 
White  Deer  township.  On  a  contiguous  farm  lived  a  family 
named  Young.  One  morning  in  March  they  were  surprised 
by  five  Indians,  who  took  Thompson  and  Margaret  Young 
prisoners.  Thompson  was  a  very  active  young  man,  and  de- 
termined to  rescue  Miss  Young,  and  make  his  own  escape, 
On  the  second  night  of  their  captivity,  while  the  Indians 
were  asleep, — each  with  his  rifle,  tomahawk,  and  scalping- 
knife  wrapped,  with  himself,  in  his  blanket, — Thompson 
found  a  stone  weighing  about  two  pounds,  and  kneeling  down 
beside  the  nearest  Indian,  with  his  left  hand  he  felt  for  his 
temple — his  intention  being  to  kill  one,  and,  having  secured 
his  tomahawk,  he  thought  he  could  despatch  the  rest  succes- 
sively as  they  arose.  The  darkness  of  the  night,  however, 
frustrated  his  plan;  for,  not  seeing,  he  did  no  serious  injury. 
The  Indian  bounded  up  with  a  fierce  yell,  which  awoke  the 
others,  and  springing  on  the  young  man — who  had  thrown 
his  stone  as  far  from  him  as  he  possibly  could — would  have 
put  an  end  to  his  existence,  had  not  the  rest  interfered  and 
secured  Thompson.  The  Indian  immediately  accused  him  of 
endeavoring  to  kill  him — while  he  signified  that  he  had  only 
struck  him  with  his  fist — and  nothing  appearing  to  induce 
them  to  doubt  his  word,  they  were  highly  amused  at  the  idea 
of  an  Indian  making  so  terrible  an  outcry  at  any  stroke  a 
pale-face  could  inflict  with  his  naked  hand.  He,  however, 
although  he  had  not  an  ocular,  had  certainly  a  very  feeling- 
demonstration  that  something  weightier  than  a  hand  had  been 
used — but  was  shamed  into  silence  by  the  laugh  raised  at  his 
expense.     Our  prisoners  were  now  taken  up  the  Susquehan- 


406  OMISSION. 

na,  crossed  the  river  in  a  canoe,  and  proceeded  up  Loyal  Sock 
creek.  For  five  nights  he  was  laid  upon  his  back,  with  his 
arras  extended  and  tied  to  stakes.  On  the  seventh  night,  near 
the  mouth  of  Towanda  creek,  the  Indians  directed  Thomp- 
son and  his  companion,  as  usual,  to  kindle  a  fire  for  them- 
selves, while  they  built  another.  By  this  means  he  had  an 
opportunity  of  communicating  to  her  his  intention  of  leaving 
the  company  that  very  evening.  She  advised  him  to  go 
without  her.  He  expressed  great  unwillingness;  but  she 
overruled  his  objections,  declaring  that  even  did  she  now 
escape,  she  would  not  be  able  to  reach  home.  Accordingly, 
in  gathering  the  dry  sticks  which  were  strewn  round,  he  went 
further  from  the  circle,  throwing  each  stick,  as  he  found  it, 
towards  the  fire,  and  then  wandering  slowly,  though  notrun- 
consciously,  still  further  for  the  next,  until  he  had  gone  as 
far  as  he  thought  he  could  without  exciting  suspicion  ;  then 
he  precipitately  fled.  They  were  soon  in  pursuit ;  but  were 
unable  to  overtake  him;  and  he  ran  in  such  a  quick,  zigzag 
manner,  that  they  could  not  aim  straight  enough  to  shoot 
him. 

He  was  obliged  to  travel  principally  at  night;  and  in  go- 
ing down  Loyal  Sock  creek,  he  frequently  came  upon  In- 
dian encampments,  when  he  had  either  to  wade  the  stream, 
or  cross  the  slippery  mountains,  to  avoid  thera.  Sometimes 
he  came  to  places  where  they  had  encamped.  The  bones  of 
deer,  &c  ,  which  he  found  at  these  places,  he  broke  open, 
and  swallowed  the  marrow.  This,  with  the  few  roots  he 
could  find,  was  all  the  food  he  was  able  to  procure.  Once, 
when  almost  overcome  with  fatigue  and  loss  of  sleep,  he 
thought  of  getting  into  a  hollow  tree  to  rest ;  but  this  w'ould 
not  do,  for  where  he  could  get  in  a  wild  animal  might  also 
get,  although  naturally  possessed  of  great  courage,  he  did 
not  like  to  be  attacked  in  this  manner,  where  he  had  no 
means  of  defence.  In  this  wTay  he  reached  the  Susquehan- 
na, where  he  found  the  cance  as  they  had  left  it.  He  en- 
tered it,  and  descended  the  river  ;  but  fatigue,  and  want  of 
nourishment  and  rest,  had  so  overcome  him,  that  when  he 
reached  Fort  Freeland — a  short  distance  above  where  Mil- 
ton now  stands — he  was  unable  to  rise.  He  lay  in  the  can- 
oe until  discovered  by  the  inhabitants,  who  took  him  ashore  ; 
and  by  cartf  j1  treatment  he  was  restored  to  health.  He  af- 
terwards received  a  pension  from  the  United  States,  and  died 
about  the  year  1838,  in  the  96th  year  of  his  age. 


OMISSION.  407 

The  Indians,  meantime  pursued  their  course,  taking  Miss 
Young  with  them,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Montreal,  in  Can- 
ada. She  had  frequently  understood  them  to  lament  the  loss 
of  Thompson.  As  he  was  a  fine  active  young  man,  they 
were  keeping  him  as  a  subject  upon  which  to  exercise  their 
cruelty.  Miss  Young  was  given  to  an  old  squaw,  who  wish- 
ed to  make  her  work  sufficient  to  maintani  them  both  ;  but 
an  old  colored  man  advised  hei  to  work  as  little  as  possible 
— and  what  she  must  do,  she  should  do  as  badly  as  she 
could  ;  "  for,"  said  he,  "  if  you  work  well,  she  will  keep 
you  for  a  slave, — but  be  lazy,  and  do  your  work  wrong, 
and  she  will  get  tired  of  you,  and  sell  you  to  the  whites." — 
Poor  young  girl !  away  from  her  home  and  her  friends,  she 
was  grateful  for  the  advice  which  even  an  old  colored  man 
gave.  She  acteti  her  part  well ;  for  when  the  corn  was  rea- 
dy for  hoeing,  she  would  cut  up  the  corn,  and  neatly  dress 
some  weed  in  its  stead.  The  old  squaw  thought  she  was 
too  stupid  ever  to  learn — for,  notwithstanding  all  the  pains 
she  had  taken  to  teach  her,  she  was  still  as  awkward  and 
ignorant  as  ever  ;  and  thinking  her  a  useless  burden,  she  sent 
her  to  Montreal,  according  to  her  wish,  and  sold  her.  Her 
purchaser  was  a  man  of  some  distinction,  of  the  name  of 
Young  ;  and  when  he  discovered  her  name,  he  began  to  trace 
relationship,  and  found  they  actually  were  cousins.  This 
was  a  happy  discovery.  She  lived  almost  as  contentedly,  in 
her  cousin's  family,  as  in  her  father's  house.  Some  time  af- 
ter the  conclusion  of  the  war,  she  became  very  anxious  to 
visit  her  friends  in  the  United  States.  She  came  home,  where 
she  sickened  and  died  soon  after." 


APPENDIX. 


A— page  43. 

Several  conferences  were  held  by  the  Indians  touching  the 
encroachments  of  the  whites  upon  their  lands,  fyc,  which 
are  given  below;  and  Richard  Peters'  Report,  in  1750,  to 
Governor  Hamilton. 

At  a  conference  held  with  the  Indians  at  Mr.  Croghan's, 
in  Pennsboro'  township,  Cumberland  county,  on  Thursday 
the  17th  day  of  May,  1750. 

Present. — Richard  Peters,  Esq.,  Secretary.  Conrad  Wei- 
ser,  Esq.,  James  Galbreth,  Esq.,  George  Croghan,  Esq., 
George  Steveson,  Esq.,  William  Wilson,  Esq.,  Hermanus 
Alricks,  Esq.,  Andrew  Montour,  Jac-nech-doaris,  Sai-uch- 
to-wano,  Catara-dirha,  Tohornady  Hunthoa,  Mohock,  from 
Ohio. 

Sai-uch-to-wano  spoke,  as  follows: 
Brethren — 

We  were  in  hopes  of  giving  the  Secretary  a  cheerful 
welcome  into  this  part  of  the  county,  but  we  have  just  heard 
a  piece  of  bad  news,  which  has  interrupted  our  joy — that  one 
of  the  principal  men  of  the  Province  is  taken  away  by  a  sud- 
den death ; — a  wise  counsellor,  and  a  good  friend  of  ours. 
Be  pleased,  therefore,  to  convey  to  the  Governor  our  expres- 
sioos  of  sorrow  on  this  melancholy  occasion ;  and  let  this 
string  of  wampum  serve  to  comtort  his  heart,  and  wipe  away 
tears  from  his  eyes,  till  this  great  loss  shall  be  supplied  by 
some  fit  person  to  succeed  him. 

A  String  of  Wampum. 


APPENDIX.  409 

To  which  the  Secretary  made  Answer. 

Brethren — 

I  will  deliver  your  string  to  the  Governor,  with  your 
expression  of  sorrow  for  the  death  of  the  Chief  Justice.  This 
is  indeed  a  real  cause  of  concern  to  the  whole  Province,  since 
the  loss  which  the  public  sustains  by  the  death  of  wise  men 
cannot  soon  be  repaired.  Wisdom  in  the  administration  of 
the  affairs  of  government,  requiring  experience  as  well  as 
great  abilities,  both  of  which  the  deceased  gentleman  had  a 
large  share. 

Then  Catara-dirha,  on  behalf  of  the  Conestogoe  Indians, 
spoke. 

Brother — 

When  the  Six  Nations  sold  their  land  on  Susquehanna, 
to  the  proprietaries,  the  Conestogoe  Indians  were  then  living 
in  their  town,  near  Lancaster,  for  which  reason,  the  place 
where  they  lived  was  excepted  out  of  the  sale.  It  will  ap- 
pear by  your  Records,  that  they  were  to  live  there  as  long 
as  they  pleased,  and  when  they  should  incline  to  depart,  they 
were  to  signify  it  to  the  proprietaries,  and  receive  a  consid- 
eration: they  are  now  inclinable  to  remove  nearer  to  the 
other  Indians,  and  according  to  the  agreement  already  made 
with  the  proprietaries,  they  request  you  to  inform  the  Gover- 
nor of  their  intention.  They  want  to  sell  their  improvements, 
and  now  make  the  proprietaries  the  first  offer  of  them. 
A  String  of  Wampum. 

Brother,  the  Governor — 

Many  of  your  old  people  are  dead,  so  that  we  are  now 
left,  as  it  were,  orphans  in  a  destitute  condition,  which  in- 
clines us  to  leave  our  old  habitations.  When  we  are  gone, 
ill-minded  people  may  tell  you  stories  to  our  prejudice,  but 
we  assure  you  that  distance  will  not  alter  our  affections  for 
you;  therefore,  give  no  ear  to  such  stories,  as  we,  on  our 
part,  will  not  think  you  can  lose  your  regard  for  us,  though 
there  are  some,  who  would  persuade  us  that  we  are  now  not 
so  much  regarded  by  you  as  we  have  been. 


35 


410  APPENDIX. 

Then  Andrew  Montour  spoke,  as  follows : 
Brethren — 

The  Twightwees,  who  were  admitted  into  the  alliance 
of  the  English,  in  a  treaty  held  at  Lancaster,  two  or  three 
years  ago,  sent  their  deputies  to  Allegheny  last  winter,  with 
a  message  addressed  to  the  Six  Nations,  and  other  Indians 
living  at  Ohio,  and  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
delivered  to  them  this  string  of  wampum ;  and  as  this  gov- 
ernment is  equally  concerned  with  those  Indians  in  the  Twight- 
wee  message,  they  have  commissioned  me  to  relate  it  to  the 
Governor,  and  to  give  him  over  the  string  of  wampum  sent 
with  it,  and  desire  he  will  favor  them  with  his  answer  to  it 
by  Mr.  Croghan,  who  is  going  this  summer  to  Allegheny. 

The  Message  delivered  by  the  Deputies  of  the  Twightwees, 
was  as  follows : 

Brethren  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  all  the  other  Indians  living 
on  Ohio,  and  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  all  the 
English  Governors. 

We,  the  Twightwees,  who  are  now  one  with  you,  de- 
sire that  the  road  which  has  lately  been  opened  between  us, 
being  a  new  one,  and  therefore  rough,  blind,  and  not  well 
cleared,  may  now  be  made  plain,  and  that  every  thing  which 
may  hinder  the  passage,  may  be  removed  out  of  it  so  effec- 
tually as  not  to  leave  the  least  obstruction;  and  we  desire 
this  may  be  done,  not  only  as  far  as  where  you  live,  but  be- 
yond you  to  the  places  where  our  brethren  the  English  live, 
that  their  traders,  whom  we  desire  to  see  amongst  us,  and  to 
deal  with  us  for  the  future,  may  travel  to  us  securely  and 
with  ease. 

Brethren — 

We  are  yet  young  and  inexperienced.  You,  the  Six 
Nations,  are  our  elder  brothers,  and  can  advise  us  what  to 
do  on  all  occasions.  We,  therefore,  put  ourselves  under  your 
care,  and  request  that  you  will  look  upon  us  as  children,  and 
assist  us  with  your  counsel,  and  we  promise  to  follow  what- 
ever advice  you  give  us,  for  we  are  sensible  that  it  will  be 
for  our  good.  Our  father,  Onontio,  has  kept  us  poor  and 
blind,  but  through  your  means,  we  begin  to  open  our  eyes, 


APPENDIX.  411 

and  to  see  things  at  a  great  distance.  We  assure  you  by  this 
string  of  wampum,  that  we,  the  T  wight  wees,  have  entirely 
laid  Onontio  aside,  and  will  no  more  be  governed  by  his  ad- 
vice, nor  any  longer  hearken  to  what  he  shall  say. 

This  is  our  settled  determination,  and  we  give  you  the 
strongest  assurances  that  we  shall  abide  by  it,  and  of  this  we 
desire  you  will  inform  the  Six  Nation  Indians  at  Onondago, 
and  all  the  Indians  who  are  in  their,  and  your  alliance,  and 
likewise  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  other  Eng- 
lish Governors. 

Brethren — 

I  have  it  further  in  charge  to  relate  to  you  the  answer 
which  the  Allegheny  Indians  gave  to  this  Message  of  the 
Twightwees,  and  it  was  to  this  purpose. 

Brethren,  the  Twightwees — 

Hearken  to  what  we  say,  and  consider  our  answer,  and 
the  joint  answer  of  all  the  Nations  of  the  Indians  living  in 
these  parts,  of  our  father's,  the  Six  Nations,  living  at  Onon- 
dago, and  of  the  English  governors,  all  whom  we  include  in 
the  answer. 

Brethren  of  the  Twightwees  Nation — 

You  have,  by  your  deputies,  desired  of  us  that  we  would 
open  the  new  road  between  us  and  you  wider,  and  take  out 
of  it  every  thing  that  can  possibly  hinder  our  travelling  safe- 
ly and  pleasantly  to  one  another,  and  that  the  English  trad- 
ers may  come  more  amongst  you:  and  further,  that  you  hence- 
forth put  yourselves  under  our  care,  and  desire  we  will  assist 
you  with  our  council,  and  that  you  have  entirely  laid  aside 
Onontio,  and  will  be  no  more  governed  by  his  councils-  We 
declare  ourselves  well  pleased  with  every  part  of  your  mes- 
sage, and  heartily  join  with  you  in  making  the  road  perfectly 
clear,  and  free  from  all  impediments ; — we  will  take  you  un- 
der our  care,  and  assist  you  on  all  occasions  in  the  best  man- 
ner :  we  trust  your  determinations  are  made  with  the  utmost 
seriousness  and  deliberation,  and  that  you  will  adhere  to 
what  you  say.  The  English  and  we  are  firmly  united  toge- 
ther— we  are  all  one  people,  and  our  hands  joined  so  that 
nothing  can  separate  them.  You  have  joined  hands  with 
$hera  and  us,  'tis  true;  but  yours  are,  as  yet,  like  the  hands 


412 


APPENDIX. 


of  infants,  they  cannot  take  hold  of  the  chain  of  friendship 
with  so  much  strength  as  those  of  riper  years ;  but  we  ad- 
vise you  to  take  as  strong  a  hold  of  it  as  ever  you  can,  and 
to  form  an  union  that  nothing  can  break  through :  if  any 
tree  should  fall,  and  block  up  the  road  between  us,  be  sure 
and  let  us  all  put  our  hands  to  it,  and  unitedly  and  amicably 
like  brethren,  throw  it  out  of  the  road.  Don't  let  us  act 
single  on  any  occasion,  but  altogether,  and  then  shall  we 
have  the  more  strength. 

A  message  arrived  from  the  Twightwees  just  before  I  left 
Allegheny,  to  thank  the  Indians  on  Ohio  for  their  kind  re- 
ception of  an  answer  to  their  message  in  the  winter,  with 
further  assurances  that  they  would  continue  true  to  their  new 
engagements,  and  expected  to  see  Mr.  Croghan  with  the  an- 
swer of  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  other  Eng- 
lish Governors. 

Brethren— 

I  have  finished  what  was  given  me  in  charge  with  re- 
spect to  the  Twightwees,  but  I  have  still  something  to  com- 
municate to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania — and  all  the  other 
governors  on  the  continent,  which  was  communicated  to  me 
by  the  Onendot  Indians,  in  conjunction  with  the  other  In- 
dians on  the  Ohio;  be  pleased  therefore  to  receive  a  message 
sent  by  the  Onendots  and  the  other  Indians. 

Brethren — all  the  English  Governors  : 

When  you  were  at  war  with  Onontio,  we  were  persuad- 
ed by  Cordear  to  strike  the  French;  you  have  since  made 
peace  with  Onontio,  and  we  expected  that  we  were  included 
in  that  treaty,  but  we  don't  find  it  so;  for  the  French  are 
always  threatening  us,  and  have  put  us  into  so  much  fear  by 
their  menaces,  that  we  dare  not  suffer  our  people  to  go  into 
the  hunting  places  at  a  distance  from  us,  lest  we  should  meet 
a  party  of  French. — This  was  the  case  all  last  summer,  and 
we  have  received  intelligence  from  the  Six  Nations,  that  the 
French  of  Canada  are  now  making  military  preparations,  and 
intend  to  attack  us  this  summer. 

Brethren — 

You  ought  to  have  included  us  in  your  Peace;  but  since 
you  did  not,  we  now  request  that  the  English  governor  would 


APPENDIX.  413 

joinlly  apply  to  have  us  included  in  the  peace,  that  we  may  not 
be  subject  to  the  intimidations  and  resentment  of  the  French, 
as  well  as  you. 

The  Secretary  then  informed  the  Indians  that  the  magis- 
trates were  come  together,  to  go  and  remove  the  people  off 
the  land  at  Juniata  and  other  places,  by  direction  from  the 
governor,  agreeable  to  the  promise  his  honor  made  the  depu- 
ties of  the  Six  Nations  last  summer,  and  that  Mr.  Weiser  and 
he  were  appointed  to  see  this  work  effectually  done. 

Sai-uch-to-wano,  spoke  as  follows: 
Brethren — 

We  have  thought  a  great  deal  of  what  you  have  impart- 
ed to  us,  that  ye  were  come  to  turn  the  people  off  who  are 
settled  over  the  hills:  we  are  pleased  to  see  you  on  this  oc- 
casion, and  as  the  council  of  Onondago  has  this  affair  ex- 
ceedingly at  heart,  and  it  was  particularly  recommended  to 
us  by  the  deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  when  they  parted  from 
us  last  summer,  we  desire  to  accompany  you.  But  we  are 
afraid,  notwithstanding  the  care  of  the  governor,  that  this 
may  prove  like  many  iormer  attempts ;  the  people  will  be 
put  off,  and  come  next  year  again  ;  and  if  so,  the  Six  Na- 
tions will  no  longer  bear  it,  but  do  themselves  justice.  To 
prevent  this,  therefore,  when  you  shall  have  turned  the  peo- 
ple off,  we  recommend  it  to  the  governor  to  place  two  or 
three  faithful  persons  over  the  mountains,  who  may  be  agree- 
able to  him  and  us,  with  commission  empowering  them  im- 
mediately to  remove  every  one,  who  shall  presume  after  this 
to  settle  there,  until  the  Six  Nations  shall  agree  to  make  sale 
of  their  lands.  To  enforce  this,  they  gave  a  string  of  wam- 
pum, with  the  strongest  assurance  that  they  would  do  their 
duty. 

Soon  afterwards  another  conference  was  held  at  the  same 
place,  as  appears  from  the  following  minutes : 

M   a  Conference   held  with   the  Indians,  at  Mr.  George 
Croghan's,  on  Thursday  the  1th  of  June,  1750. 

Present — Richard  Peters,  Esq.,  Secretary.     George  Cro- 
ghan,  Matthew  Dill,  Hermanus  Alricks,  William  Trent  and 
35* 


414  APPENDIX. 

George  Stevenson,  Esquires.  Andrew  Montour,  Ca-na-ja- 
cha-nah  alias  Broken-Kettle,  Hatchin-hattu,  Ca-dre-dan- 
hin-nut, — chiefs  of  the  Seneca  Nation  settled  in  Ohio. 

Ca-na-ja-cha-nah  spoke  as  follows  : 

Brethren, — 

We  have  been  sent  for  by  Capt.  Cressap,  and  are  now 
upon  our  road  to  his  house — meeting  with  settlements  of 
white  people  as  we  came  along  from  Allegheny,we  asked  why 
they  settled  so  far  back,  and  whether  the  Six  Nations  had 
sold  that  land  to  Pennsylvania,  but  received  from  them  no 
satisfactory  answer.  As  we  came  among  the  inhabitants, 
we  were  told  that  the  lands  were  not  sold  by  the  Six  Na- 
tions, and  the  Secretary  had  been  turning  the  white  people 
off,  and  was  at  Mr.  Croghan's,  whereupon  we  came  here  to 
enquire  if  this  be  true,  and  as  we  find  it  is,  we  return  the 
government  thanks  for  their  care  of  our  lands. 

We  were  sent  from  Ohio  about  six  years  ago  to  Canada, 
to  desire  the  French  to  supply  us  with  goods,  and  they  could 
not  supply  us.  When  we  returned,  our  council  determined 
to  send  a  string  of  wampum  to  the  governor  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, to  desire  that  the  English  governor  would  send  their 
traders  with  goods  among  us;  which  string  was  sent  by  James 
Lowry,  to  which  we  have  received  no  answer :  therefore, 
we  present  you  with  this  string,  to  know  whether  that  was 
delivered  or  an  answer  ever  given  to  it. 

A  String  of  Wampum. 

Brother — 

The  Six  Nations  come  down  every  year  to  sell  land, 
and  we  are  part  of  the  Six  Nations ;  live  at  Allegheny  and 
hunt  there.  They  sell  land  and  give  us  no  account  of  the 
value ;  therefore,  we  are  sent  by  the  Ohio  council  to  desire 
our  brother,  the  governor,  to  recommend  it  to  the  Six  Na- 
tions, that  when  any  lands  shall  be  sold  we  may  have  part  of 
the  value. 

We  are  now  become  a  stronger  body  than  when  we  re- 
ceived the  present  from  our  brothers,  the  governors  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania,  and  have  got  many  to  join  us,  and 


APPENDIX.  415 

are  become  a  great  body,  and  desire  to  be  taken  notice  of  as 
such,  and  for  this  purpose  our  Nations,  by  us,  present  this. 

Belt  of  Wampum. 

Though  we  have  been  sent  for  by  Capt.  Cressap,  yet,  if  it 
be  to  buy  lands  of  us,  we  shall  have  nothing  to  say  to  that, 
as  it  has  not  been  given  us  in  charge  by  our  council ;  but,  if 
it  should  be  for  any  thing  else,  perhaps  trade,  now  we  see, 
we  would  know  your  opinion  about  it. 

The  Secretary  answered. 

I  am  glad  I  happened  to  be  here,  and  shall  consider  your 
message,  and  give  you  such  an  answer  this  afternoon  as  I 
can ;  though,  whatever  I  say,  will  be  only  my  private. senti- 
ments. 

In  the  Afternoon. — Present  as  before. 
Brethren — 

I  shall  give  your  belt  to  the  governor,  and  faithfully 
relate  what  was  said  to  me  at  the  delivery  of  it,  and  doubt 
not  but  you  will  receive  his  honor's  answer  in  a  little  time. 

As  trade  is  of  a  private  nature,  the  Indians — since  you  ask 
my  advice — ought  to  buy  their  goods  where  they  can  be  best 
served.  The  people  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  who  deal  in 
this  trade,  may  serve  you  as  well  as  any  others  from  Penn- 
sylvania or  elsewhere;  and  I  advise  you  by  all  means  to  go 
to  Capt.  Cressap,  and  to  cultivate  a  good  understanding  with 
every  body  who  can  supply  you  with  goods,  for  it  is  equal 
to  this  government,  from  whence  the  Indians  are  supplied, 
so  that  there  be  a  good  harmony  kept  up  between  them  and 
the  king's  subjects.  It  is  no  part  of  my  business  to  give  you 
advice,  but  I  cannot  help  repealing  to  you  my  sentiments, 
that  you  do  well  to  trade  with  the  people  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland,  as  well  as  with  those  of  Pennsylvania,  and  give 
to  them  the  preference,  if  you  find  they  treat  you  better  than 
our  people.  And  as  I  am  at  the  house  of  an  Indian  trader, 
I  charge  you  Mr.  Montour,  to  tell  them  truly  what  I  say, 
and  that  it  will  be  agreeable  to  the  proprietaries,  and  this 
government,  that  the  Indians  trade  wherever  they  can  be 
supplied. 


416  APPENDIX. 

In  a  conversation  after  the  conference,  the  Indians  desired 
Andrew  to  relate  to  me  the  particulars  which  passed  about 
the  invitation  of  Cressap;  viz:  that  last  fall  Barny  Currant, 
a  hired  man  of  Mr.  Parker,  brought  them  a  message  from 
Cressap,  to  let  them  know  that  he  had  a  quantity  of  goods, 
and  from  the  true  love  that  he  bore  to  the  Indians,  he  gave 
them,  viz:  Seneca  George,  Broken  Kettle  and  the  Stone,  an 
invitation  to  come  and  see  him;  that  he  intended  to  let  them 
have  the  goods  at  a  low  rate — much  cheaper  than  Pennsyl- 
vania traders  sold  them  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  people  of 
Pennsylvania  always  told  them  they  were  their  brethren,  and 
had  a  great  value  for  them,  yet  this  only  come  from  their 
mouth,  and  not  from  their  heart ;  for  they  constantly  cheated 
them  in  all  their  dealings,  which  Capt.  Cressap  was  very  well 
acquainted  with;  and  taking  pity  of  them  he  intended  to  use 
them  in  another  manner,  and  mentioned  the  rates  that  he  and 
Mr.  Parker  would  sell  their  goods  to  them  at,  which  is  chea- 
per than  the  first  cost,  be  they  any  where  imported,  viz :  a 
matchcoat  for  a  buck,  a  stroud  for  a  buck  and  a  doe,  a  pair 
of  stockings  for  two  raccoons,  twelve  bars  of  load  for  a  buck, 
and  so  on  in  proportion. 

Richard  Peters  Reported,  1750. 
To  James  Hamilton,  Esq.,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania. 
May  it  please  your  Honor  : 

Mr.  Weiser  and  I  having  received  your  Honor's  orders 
to  give  information  to  the  proper  magistrates  against  all  such 
as  had  presumed  to  settle  on  the  lands  beyond  the  Kittoch- 
tinny  mountains,  not  purchased  of  the  Indians,  in  contempt 
of  the  laws  repeatedly  signified  by  proclamations,  and  par- 
ticularly by  your  honor's  last  one,  and  to  bring  them  to  a 
legal  conviction,  lest  for  want  of  their  removal  a  breach 
should  ensue  between  the  Six  Nations  of  Indians  and  this 
Province.  W  e  set  out  on  Tuesday,  the  15th  of  May  1750;, 
for  the  new  county  of  Cumberland,  where  the  places  on  which 
the  trespassers  had  settled  lay. 

At  Mr.  Croghan's  we  met  with  five  Indians,  three  from 
Shamokin,  two  of  which  were  sons  of  the  late  Shickcalam)v 
who  transact  the  business  of  the  Six  Nations  with  this  gov- 
ernment; two  were  just  arrived  from  Allegheny,  viz:  one  of 
the  Mohock's  nation,  called  Aaron,  and  Andrew  Montour^ 


APPENDIX,  417 

the  interpreter  at  Ohio.  Mr.  Montour  telling  us  he  had  a 
message  from  the  Ohio  Indians  and  Twightwees  to  this  gov- 
ernment, and  desiring  a  conference,  one  was  held  on  the  18th 
of  May  last,  in  the  presence  of  James  Galbreth,  George  Cro- 
ghan,  William  Wilson  and  Hermanus  Alricks,  Esqs.,  justices 
of  the  county  of  Cumberland ;  and  when  Mr.  Montour's  bu- 
siness was  done,  we,  with  the  advice  of  the  olher  justices, 
imparted  to  the  Indians  the  design  we  were  assembled  upon, 
at  which  they  expressed  great  satisfaction. 

Another  conference  was  held,  at  the  instance  of  the  Indi- 
ans, in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Galbreth  and  Mr.  Croghan,  be- 
fore mentioned,  wherein  they  expressed  themselves  as  fol- 
lows : 

Brethren — 

We  have  thought  a  great  deal  of  what  you  imparled  to 
us,  that  ye  were  come  to  turn  the  people  off  who  aie  settled 
over  the  hills ;  we  are  pleased  to  see  you  on  this  occasion, 
and  as  the  council  of  Onondago  has  this  affair  exceedingly 
at  heart,  and  it  was  particularly  recommended  to  us  by  the 
deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  when  they  parted  from  us  last 
summer,  we  desire  to  accompany  you,  but  we  are  afraid, 
notwithstanding  the  care  of  the  governor,  that  this  may  prove 
like  many  former  attempts ;  the  people  will  be  put  off  now, 
and  next  year  come  again;  and  if  so,  the  Six  Nations  will 
no  longer  bear  it,  but  do  themselves  justice.  To  prevent  this, 
therefore,  when  you  shall  have  turned  the  people  off,  we  re- 
commend it  to  the  governor,  to  place  two  or  three  faithful 
persons  over  the  mountains,  who  may  be  agreeable  to  him 
and  us,  with  commissions,  empowering  them  immediately  to 
remove  every  one  who  may  presume  after  this,  to  settle 
themselves,  until  the  Six  Nations  shall  agree  to  make  sale 
of  their  land. 

To  enforce  this  they  gave  a  string  of  wampum,  and  re- 
ceived one  in  return  from  the  magistrates,  with  the  strong- 
est assurances  that  they  would  do  their  duty. 

On  Tuesday,  the  22nd  of  May,  Matthew  Dill,  George 
Croghan,  Benjamin  Chambers,  Thomas  Wilson,  John  Fin- 
ley  and  James  Galbreath,  Esqs.,  justices  of  the  said  county 
of  Cumberland,  attended  by  the  under  sheriff,  came  to  Big 
Juniata,  situate  at  the  distance  of  20  miles  from  the  mouth 
thereof,  and  about  10  miles  north  from  the  Blue  Hills,  a 


418 


APPENDIX. 


place  much  esteemed  by  the  Indians  for  some  of  their  best 
hunting  ground ;  and  there  they  found  five  cabins  or  log 
houses,  one  possessed  by  William  White,  another  by  George 
Cahoon,  another  not  quite  yet  finished,  in  possession  of  David 
Hiddleston,  another  possessed  by  George  and  William  Gal- 
loway, and  another  by  Andrew  Lycon;  of  these  persons, 
William  White  and  George  and  William  Galloway,  David 
Hiddleston  and  George  Cahoon  appeared  before  the  magis- 
trates, and  being  asked  by  what  right  or  authority  they  had 
possessed  themselves  of  those  lands,  and  erected  cabins  there- 
on? They  replied,  by  no  right  or  authority,  but  that  the 
land  belonged  to  the  proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania.  They 
then  were  asked,  whether  they  did  not  know  they  were  act- 
ing against  the  law,  and  in  contempt  of  frequent  notices  giv- 
en them  by  the  governor's  proclamation?  They  said  they 
had  seen  one  such  proclamation,  and  had  nothing  to  say  for 
themselves,  but  craved  mercy.  Hereupon  the  said  William 
White,  George  and  William  Galloway,  David  Hiddleston 
and  George  Cahoon,  being  convicted  by  said  justices  on  their 
view,  the  under  sheriff  was  charged  with  them,  and  he  took 
William  WThite,  David  Huddleston  and  George  Cahoon  into 
custody,  but  George  and  William  Galloway  resisted,  and  hav- 
ing got  at  some  distance  from  the  under  sheriff,  they  called 
to  us:  You  may  take  our  lands  and  houses  and  do  what  you 
please  with  them;  we  deliver  them  to  you  with  all  our  hearts, 
but  we  will  not  be  carried  to  jail. 

The  next  morning  being  Wednesday,  the  23rd  of  May, 
the  said  justices  went  to  the  log  house  or  cabin  of  Andrew 
Lycon,  and  finding  none  there  but  children,  and  hearing  that 
the  father  and  mother  were  expected  soon,  and  Wm.  White 
and  others  offering  to  become  security,  jointly  and  severally, 
and  to  enter  into  recognizance,  as  well  for  Andrew's  appear* 
ance  at  court,  and  immediate  removal,  as  for  their  own;  this 
proposal  was  accepted,  and  William  White,  David  Huddles- 
ton  and  George  Cahoon,  entered  into  a  recognizance  of  one 
hundred  pounds,  and  executed  bonds  to  the  proprietaries  in 
the  sum  of  five  hundred  pounds,  reciting,  that  they  were 
trespassers,  and  had  no  manner  of  right,  and  had  delivered 
possession  to  me  for  the  proprietaries.  When  the  magistrates 
went  to  the  cabin  or  log  house  of  George  and  William  Gal- 
loway, (which  they  had  delivered  up  as  aforesaid  the  day 
before,  after  they  were  convicted,  and  were  flying  from  the 


APPENDIX.  419 

sheriff)  all  the  goods  belonging  to  the  said  George  and  Wil- 
liam were  taken  out,  and  the  cabin  being  quite  empty,  I  took 
possession  thereof  for  the  proprietaries  ;  and  then  a  confer- 
ence was  held,  what  should  be  done  with  the  empty  cabin ; 
and  after  great  deliberation,  all  agreed  that  if  some  cabins 
were  not  destroyed,  they  would  tempt  the  trespassers  to  re- 
turn again,  or  encourage  others  to  come  there,  should  these 
trespassers  go  away ;  and  so  what  was  doing  would  signify 
nothing,  since  the  possession  of  them  was  at  such  a  distance 
from  the  inhabitants,  could  not  be  kept  for  the  proprietaries; 
and  Mr.  Weiser  also  giving  it  as  his  opinion,  that  if  all  the 
cabins  were  left  standing,  the  Indians  would  conceive  such 
a  contemptible  opinion  of  the  government,  that  they  would 
come  themselves  in  the  winter,  murder  the  people,  and  set 
their  houses  on  fire.  On  these  considerations  the  cabin,  by 
my  order,  was  burnt  by  the  under  sheriff  and  company. 

Then  the  company  went  to  the  house  possessed  by  David 
Hiddleston,  who  had  entered  into  bond  as  aforesaid,  and  he 
having  voluntarily  taken  out  all  the  things  which  were  in 
the  cabin,  and  left  me  in  possession,  that  empty  and  unfurn- 
ished cabin  was  likewise  set  on  fire  by  the  under  sheriff,  by 
my  order. 

The  next  day  being  the  24th  of  May,  Mr.  Weiser  and 
Mr.  Galbreath,  with  the  under  sheriff  and  myself,  on  our 
way  to  the  mouth  of  Juniata,  called  at  Andrew  Lycon's, 
with  intent  only  to  inform  him,  that  his  neighbors  were 
bound  for  his  appearance  and  immediate  removal,  and  to 
caution  him  not  to  bring  him  or  them  into  trouble  by  a  refu- 
sal. But  he  presented  a  loaded  gun  to  the  magistrates  and 
sheriff;  said  he  would  shoot  the  first  man  that  dared  to  come 
nigher.  On  this,  he  was  disarmed,  convicted,  and  commit- 
ted to  the  custody  of  the  sheriff.  This  whole  transaction 
happened  in  the  site  of  a  tribe  of  Indians,  who  had  by  acci- 
dent in  the  night  time  fixed  their  tent  on  that  plantation  ; 
and  Lycon's  behavior  giving  them  great  offence,  the  Shick- 
calamies  insisted  on  our  burning  the  cabin  or  they  would  do 
it  themselves.  Whereupon,  every  thing  was  taken  out  of  it 
(Andrew  Lycon  all  the  while  assisting)  and  possession  be- 
ing delivered  to  me,  the  empty  cabin  was  set  on  fire  by  the 
under  sheriff,  and  Lycon  was  carried  to  jail. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Chambers  and  Mr.  George  Croghan  had 
about  an  hour  before  separated  from   us ;   and   on  meeting 


420 


APPENDIX. 


them  again  in  Cumberland  county,  they  reported  to  me  they 
had  been  at  Sheerman's  creek,  or  Little  Juniata,  situate  about 
6  miles  over  the  Blue  Mountain,  and  found  there  James  Par- 
ker, Thomas  Parker,  Owen  M'Keib,  John  M'Clare,  Rich- 
ard Kirkpatrick,  James  Murray,  John  Scott,  Henry  Gass, 
John  Cowan,  Simon  Girtee  and  John  Kilough,  who  had  set- 
tled lands  and  erected  cabins  or  log  houses  thereon  ;  and  hav- 
ing convicted  them  of  the  trespass  on  their  view,  they  had 
bound  them  in  recognizances  of  the  penalty  of  one  hundred 
pounds,  to  appear  and  answer  for  their  trespasses  on  the  first 
day  of  the  next  county  court  of  Cumberland,  to  be  held  at 
Shippcnsburgh,  and  that  the  said  trespassers  had  likewise 
entered  into  bonds  to  the  proprietaries  in  five  hundred  pounds 
penalty,  to  remove  off  immediately,  with  all  their  servants, 
cattle  and  effects,  and  had  delivered  possession  of  their  hous- 
es to  Mr.  George  Stevenson  for  the  proprietaries  use ;  and 
that  Mr.  Stevenson  had  ordered  some  of  the  meanest  of  those 
cabins  to  be  set  on  fire,  where  the  families  were  not  large, 
nor  the  improvements  considerable. 

On  Monday  the  28th  of  May  we  were  met  at  Shippens- 
burgh  by  Samuel  Smith,  William  Maxwell,  George  Crog- 
han,  Benjamin  Chambers,  William  Allison,  William  Trent, 
John  Finley,  John  Miller,  Hermanns  Alricks  and  James  Gal- 
breath,  Esqrs.,  justices  of  Cumberland  county,  who  inform- 
ing us  that  the  people  in  the  Tuscarora  Path,  in  Big  Cove, 
and  at  Aucquick,  would  submit,  Mr.  Weiser  most  earnestly 
pressed  that  he  might  be  excused  any  further  attendance, 
having  abundance  of  necessary  business  to  do  at  home ;  and 
the  other  magistrates,  though  with  much  reluctance,  at  last 
consenting,  he  left  us. 

On  Wednesday  the  30th  of  May,  the  magistrates  and  com- 
pany, being  detained  two  days  by  rain,  proceeded  over  the 
Kittochtinny  mountains,  and  entered  into  the  Tuscarora  Path 
or  Path  Valley,  through  which  the  road  to  Allegheny  lies. 
Many  settlements  were  formed  in  this  valley,  and  all  the  peo- 
ple were  sent  for,  and  the  following  persons  appeared,  viz : 
Abraham  Slach,  James  Blair,  Moses  Moore,  Arthur  Dunlap, 
Alexander  McCartie,  David  Lewis,  Adam  McCartie,  Felix 
Doyle,  Andrew  Dunlap,  Robert  Wilson,  Jacob  Pyatt,  jr., 
William  Ramage,  Reynolds  Alexander,  Robert  Baker,  John 
Armstrong  and  John  Potts,  who  were  all  convicted  by  their 
own  confession  to  the  magistrates,  of  the  like  trespasses  with 


APPENDIX,  421 

those  at  Sheerman's  creek,  and  were  bound  in  the  like  recog- 
nizances to  appear  at  court,  and  bonds  to  the  Proprietaries 
to  remove  with  all  their  families,  servants,  cattle  and  effects, 
and  having  voluntarily  given  possession  of  their  houses  to 
me,  some  ordinary  log  houses,  to  the  number  of  eleven,  were 
burnt  to  the  ground  ;  the  trespassers  most  of  them  cheerful- 
ly and  a  very  few  of  them  with  reluctance,  carrying  out  all 
their  goods.     Some  had  been  deserted  before  and  lay  waste. 

At  Aucquick,  Peter  Falconer,  Nicholas  De  Long,  Samuel 
Perry  and  John  Charleton,  were  convicted  on  the  view  of 
the  magistrates,  and  having  entered  into  the  like  recogniz- 
ances and  executed  the  like  bonds,  Charleton's  cabin  was 
burnt  and  fire  set  to  another  that  was  just  begun,  consisting 
only  of  a  few  logs  piled  and  fastened  to  one  another. 

The  like  proceedings  at  Big  Cove  (now  within  Bedford 
co.)  against  Andrew  Donnaldson ,#John  MacClelland,  Charles 
Stewart,  James  Downy,  John  Macmean,  Robert  Kendell, 
Samuel  Brown,  William  Shepperd,  Roger  Murphy,  Robert 
Smith,  William  Dickey,  William  Millican,  Win.  MacCon- 
nell,  James  Campbell,  Wm.  Carrell,  John  Martin,  John  Ja- 
mison, Hans  Patter,  John  MacCollin,  James  Wilson  and  John 
Wilson;  who,  coming  before  the  magistrates,  were  convicted 
on  their  own  confession,  of  the  like  trespasses,  as  in  former 
cases,  and  were  all  bound  over  in  like  recognizances  and  ex- 
ecuted the  like  bond  to  the  proprietaries.  Three  waste  cab- 
ins of  no  value  were  burnt  at  the  north  end  of  the  Cove  by 
the  persons  who  claimed  a  right  to  them. 

The  Little  Cove  (in  Franklin  co.)  and  the  Big  and  Little 
Conolloways,  being  the  only  places  remaining  to  be  visited, 
as  this  was  on  the  borders  of  Maryland,  the  magistrates  de- 
clined going  there,  and  departed  <for  their  homes. 

About  the  year  1740  or  1741  one  Frederick  Star,  a  Ger- 
man, with  two  or  three  more  of  his  countrymen,  made  some 
settlements  at  the  above  place,  where  we  found  Wm.  White, 
the  Galloways,  and  Andrew  Lycon,  on  Big  Juniata,  situ- 
ate at  the  distance  of  20  miles  from  the  mouth  thereof,  and 
about  10  miles  north  of  the  Blue  Hills,  a  place  much  esteemed 
by  the  Indians  for  some  of  their  best  hunting  ground — which 
(German  settlers)  were  discovered  by  the  Delawares  at  Sha- 
mokin,  to  the  deputies  of  the  Six  Nations,  as  they  came  down 
to  Philadelphia  in  the  year  1742,  to  hold  a  treaty  with  this 
government ;  and  they  were  disturbed  at,  as  to  enquire  with 
36 


422 


APPENDIX. 


a  peculiar  warmth  of  governor  Thomas  if  these  people  had 
come  there  by  the  orders  or  with  the  privilege  of  the  govern- 
ment;  alleging  that  if  it  was  so,  this  was  a  breach  of  the 
treaties  subsisting  between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  proprie- 
tor, William  Penn,  who  in  the  most  solemn  manner  engaged 
to  them  not  to  suffer  any  of  the  people  to  settle  lands  till 
they  had  purchased  from  the  Council  of  the  Six  Nations. — 
The  governor,  as  he  might  with  great  truth,  disowned,  any 
knowledge  of  those  persons'  settlements  ;  and  on  the  Indians 
insisting  that  they  should  be  immediately  thrown  over  the 
mountains,  he  promised  to  issue  his  proclamation,  and  if  this 
had  no  effect,  to  put  the  laws  in  execution  against  them.  The 
Indians  in  the  same  treaty  publicly  expressed  very  severe 
threats  against  the  inhabitants  of  Maryland,  for  settling  lands 
for  which  they  had  received  no  satisfaction;  and  said,  if  they 
would  not  do  them  justice  jthey  would  do  justice  to  them- 
selves ;  and  would  certainly  have  committed  hostilities,  if  a 
treaty  had  not  been  under  foot  between  Maryland  and  the 
Six  Nations,  under  the  mediation  of  governor  Thomas ;  at 
which  the  Indians  consented  to  sell  lands  and  receive  a  valu- 
able consideration  for  them,  which  put  an  end  to  the  danger. 

The  proprietaries  were  then  in  England,  but  observing,  on 
perusing  the  treaty,  with  what  asperity  they  had  expressed 
themselves  against  Maryland,  and  that  the  Indians  had  just 
cause  to  complain  of  the  settlements  at  Juniata,  so  near  Sha- 
mokin,  they  wrote  to  their  governor,  in  very  pressing  terms, 
to  cause  those  trespassers  to  be  immediately  removed  ;  and 
both  the  proprietaries  and  governor  laid  these  commands  on 
me  to  see  this  done,  which  I  accordingly  did  in  June,  1743 ; 
the  governor  having  first  given  them  notice  by  a  proclama- 
tion served  on  them. 

At  that  time  none  had  presumed  to  settle  at  a  place  called 
the  Big  Cove — having  this  name  from  its  being  enclosed  in 
the  form  of  a  basin  by  the  southernmost  range  of  the  Kit- 
tochtinny  Hills  and  Tuscarora  Hills,  which  last  end  here, 
and  lose  themselves  in  other  hills.  This  Big  Cove  is  about 
five  miles  north  of  the  temporary  line,  and  not  far  west  of 
the  place  where  the  line  terminated.  Between  the  Big  Cove 
and  the  temporary  line  lies  the  Little  Cove,  so  called  from 
being  likewise  encircled  with  hills ;  and  to  the  west  of  the 
Little  Cove,  towards  Potowmec,  lie  two  other  places  called 
the  Big  and  Little  Conollaways,  all  of  them  situate  on  the 


APPENDIX. 


423 


temporary  line,  and  all  of  them  extended  toward  the  Po- 
*towmec. 

In  the  year  1741  or  1742  information  was  likewise  given 
that  people  were  beginning  to  settle  in  those  places,  some 
from  Maryland  and  some  from  this  Province.  But  as  the 
two  governments  were  not  then  on  very  good  terms,  the  go- 
vernor did  nol  think  proper  to  take  any  other  notice  of  these 
settlements,  than  to  send  the  sheriff  to  serve  his  proclamation 
on  them,  though  they  had  ample  occasion  to  lament  the  vast 
inconveniences  which  attend  unsettled  boundaries.  After  this 
the  French  war  came  on,  and  the  people  in  those  parts  tak- 
ing advantage  of  the  confusion  of  the  times,  by  little  and  lit- 
tle stole  into  the  Great  Cove;  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  war 
it  was  said  thirty  families  had  settled  there;  not,  however, 
without  frequent  prohibitions  on  the  part  of  the  government, 
and  admonitions  of  the  great  danger  they  run  of  being  cut 
off  by  the  Indians,  as  these  settlements  were  on  lands  not 
purchased  of  them.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Maxwell, 
one  of  the  justices  of  Lancaster  county,  delivered  a  particu- 
lar message  from  this  government  to  them,  ordering  their  re- 
moval, that  they  might  not  occasion  a  breach  with  the  Indi- 
ans, but  it  had  no  effect. 

These  were,  to  the  best  of  my  remembrance,  all  the  places 
settled  by  Pennsylvanians  in  the  unpurchased  part  of  the 
province,  till  about  three  years  ago,  when  some  persons  had 
the  presumption  to  go  into  Path  Valley  or  Tuscarora  Gap, 
lying  to  the  east  of  the  Big  Cove,  and  into  a  place  called 
Aucquick,  lying  to  the  northward  of  it ;  and  likewise  into  a 
place  called  Shearman's  creek,  lying  along  the  waters  of  Ju- 
niata, and  is  situate  east  of  the  Path  Valley,  through  which 
the  present  road  goes  from  Harris'  Ferry  to  Allegheny;  and 
lastly,  they  extended  their  settlements  to  Big  Juniata  ;  the 
Indians  all  this  while  repeatedly  complaining  that  their  hunt- 
ing ground  was  every  day  more  and  more  taken  from  them ; 
and  that  there  must  infallibly  arise  quarrels  between  their 
warriors  and  these  settlers,  which  would  in  the  end  break 
the  chain  of  friendship,  and  pressing  in  the  most  importunate 
terms  their  speedy  removal.  The  government  in  1748  sent 
the  sheriff  and  three  magistrates,  with  Mr.  Weiser,  into  these 
places  to  warn  the  people  :  but  they,  notwithstanding,  con- 
tinued their  settlements  in  opposition  to  all  this ;  and  as  if 
those  people  were  prompted   by  a  desire  to  make  mischief, 


424  APPENDIX. 

settled  lands  no  better,  nay  not  so  good,  as   many  vacant 
lands  within  the  purchased  parts  of  the  Province.  9 

The  bulk  of  these  settlements  were  made  during  the  admi- 
nistration of  president  Palmer  ;  and  it  is  well  known  to  your 
honor,  though  then  in  England,  that  his  attention  to  the  safe- 
ty of  the  city  and  the  lower  counties,  would  not  permit  him 
to  extend  more  care  to  places  so  remote. 

Finding  such  a  general  submission,  except  the  two  Gallo- 
ways and  Andrew  Lycon,  and  vainly  believing  the  evil  would 
be  effectually  taken  away,  there  was  no  kindness  in  my  pow- 
er which  I  did  not  do  for  the  offenders ;  I  gave  them  money 
where  they  were  poor,  and  telling  them  they  might  go  di- 
rectly on  any  part  of  the  two  millions  of  acres  lately  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians;  and  where  the  families  were-  large, 
as  I  happened  to  have  several  of  my  own  plantations  vacant, 
I  offered  them  to  stay  on  them  rent  free,  till  they  could  pro- 
vide for  themselves :  then  I  told  them  that  if  after  all  this 
lenity  and  good  usage,  they  would  dare  to  stay  after  the  time 
limited  for  their  departure,  no  mercy  would  be  shown  them, 
but  that  they  would  feel  the  rigor  of  the  law. 

It  may  be  proper  to  add,  that  the  cabins  or  log  houses 
which  were  burnt,  were  of  no  considerable  value ;  being  such 
as  the  country  people  erect  in  a  day  or  two,  and  cost  only 
the  charge  of  an  entertainment. 

Richard  Peters, 
July  2d,  1750, 


B.— Page  55. 

Neulaender. 

Extracts  from  the  Hallische  Nachrickten. 

As  it  is  the  custom  of  the  Neulaender,  or  first  emigrants, 
to  persuade  the  Germans  to  quit  Europe  and  immigrate  into 
Pennsylvania,  promising  them  great  advantages,  quite  be- 
yond what  is  true;  and  when  the  Germans  arrive  in  Ameri- 
ca, they  find  themselves  wofully  disappointed.  Their  con- 
dition is  then  the  most  miserable.  Even  ministers  of  the 
gospel  have  often  been  deceived  by  them.  The  Neulaender 
prevail  upon  ministers  to  immigrate  to  America,  so  that  the 
number  of  colonists  may  be  increased. 

Neulaender  are  those,  who  are  too  lazy  to  labor,  yet  anx- 
ious to  become  wealthy,  and  yet  for  that  purpose  return  again 
to  their  native  country,  travelling  from  one  part  to  the  other, 
and  prevail  upon  their  German  friends  to  accompany  them  to 
Pennsylvania;  promising  them  that  their  most  sanguine  ex- 
pectations would  be  fully  realized — that  in  a  few  years  they 
might  accumulate  any  amount  of  wealth,  and  then  live  like 
lords.  All  this  is  represented  from  sinister  motives ;  for  it 
is  a  stubborn  fact,  that  they  receive  from  each  captain  of  a 
vessel  a  stipulated  sum,  for  each  person  they  induce  to  take 
a  passage  at  Amsterdam. 

I  cannot,  says  Muhlenberg,  let  this  opportunity  pass,  with- 
out cautioning  all  our  Germans  to  beware  of  this  class  of 
persons.  I  do  not  speak  of  those  who  return  to  Germany 
for  their  fortunes,  and  invest  their  money  in  the  purchase  of 
goods,  and  return  to  America — this  kind  of  traffic  is  lawful 
and  right ;  but  I  am  now  speaking  of  the  Neulaender,  who 
have  no  inclination  to  live  by  their  own  industry;  but  who 
depend  entirely  upon  their  success  in  making  a  fortune  by 
persuading  the  unwary  to  leave  their  Fatherland  and  immi- 
grate to  the  New  World. 

The  Neulaender,  on  their  arrival   in   Holland,  enter  into 
contracts  with  the  merchants  there,  on  condition  that  if  they 
3$* 


426 


APPENDIX. 


•will  grant  them  a  free  passage,  with  the  permission  to  bring 
with  them  some  merchandize,  that  they  will  secure  them  a 
stipulated  number  of  German  emigrants.  When  these  make 
their  appearance  in  Germany,  they  are  generally  well  dress- 
ed ;  a  time-piece  or  watch  in  the  fob,  exhibiting  now  and 
again — all  this  is  done  to  attract  attention  and  impose  on  the 
credulous,  to  induce  them  also  to  immigrate  to  a  country, 
affording  such  great  advantages.  Besides,  in  their  letters 
from  America  to  their  countrymen  in  Europe,  they  give  such 
flattering  accounts  of  Pennsylvania,  that  one  wrould  readily 
believe,  it  was  in  this  country  that  the  elysian  fields  were  to 
be  found,  producing  spontaneously  what  the  heart  of  man 
could  desire;  and  that  all  the  mountains  are  pure  gold  and 
unalloyed  silver,  and  all  the  fountains  gushing  milk  and  ho- 
ney. He  that  goes  thither  as  a  servant,  will  soon  be  a  lord ; 
the  handmaid  be  the  mistress  of  a  respectable  family;  the 
farmer  become  a  nobleman;  the  common  mechanic  a  baron  ! 

That  the  rulers  are  chosen  by  the  people,  and  at  their 
pleasure  deposed  from  office.  These  representations,  adapted 
to  the  feeling  of  those  desiring  worldly  prosperity,  induced 
numbers  to  forsake  their  native  country,  burdened  with  hea- 
vy taxes,  and  extravagant  demands  upon  their  personal  labor 
to  sustain  princes  in  power,  and  immigrate  to  America.  To 
accomplish  theii  ends,  they  make  great  sacrifice  in  disposing 
of  their  effects,  or  converting  their  property  into  money.  Af- 
ter paying  the  just  demands  against  them,  if  any  thing  is 
left,  they  place  it  into  the  hands  of  the  Neulaender  to  pay 
their  passage  down  the  Rhine.  Arriving  in  Holland,  they 
take  passage  there.  But  before  embarking,  they  have  to 
subscribe  to  a  written  contract,  generally  written  in  English, 
and  of  course  not  understood  by  the  Germans  ;  and  in  almost 
every  instance  advantages  are  taken  of  their  ignorance. 

Hundreds  of  them  are  crowded  into  a  vessel,  and  often 
many  of  them  die  on  the  Atlantic.  If  they  have  been  pa- 
rents and  left  children,  the  captains,  in  such  cases,  generally 
appoint  some  Neulaender  as  guardians  or  protectors  of  the 
orphans  ;  to  take  possession  of  their  chests  and  other  effects; 
and  as  soon  as  the  ship  lands,  these  children  are  sold  in  ser- 
vice for  a  number  of  years,  to  pay  the  freightage  of  them- 
selves and  their  deceased  parents.  What  goods  or  effects 
they  have  had  on  kept  by  their  guardians  or  protectors,  as 
a  recompense  for  their  services  rendered  the  orphans. 


APPENDIX.  427 

These  almost  unheard  of  impositions  moved  a  number  of 
benevolent  German  citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  especially  of 
Philadelphia,  to  form  an  association  to  aid,  as  far  as  possible, 
all  distressed  or  indigent  German  immigrants,  on  their  arri- 
val,— that  they  would  be  dealt  with  according  to  strict 
justice. 

As  soon  as  the  vessels  are  freighted  in  Holland,  commen- 
ces the  arduous  and  dangerous  voyage.  Storms,  sea-sick- 
ness, and  other  unexpected  casualties  crowd  upon  the  anxi- 
ous passengers.  The  prospect  of  soon  entering  the  elysian 
fields,  buoys  them  up.  After  many  days  of  anxious  waiting 
they  arrive  at  Philadelphia;  and  often  when  winter  is  setting 
in.  The  list  of  passengers  and  their  written  agreements  are 
now  placed  into  the  hands  of  some  merchants  in  Philadelphia. 
Formerly,  each  adull  passenger  paid  from  six  to  ten  Louis 
d'or ;  but  at  present  it  amounts  to  from  fourteen  to  seven- 
teen Louis  d'or.  Before  they  are  allowed  to  cast  in  the 
port  of  Philadelphia,  all  the  passengers  have  to  be  examined 
in  conformity  to  the  law  of  the  land,  to  ascertain  whether 
any  of  them  are  sick  or  infected  by  disorder.  This  done,  the 
immigrants  are  conducted  in  procession  to  the  City  Hall, 
where  they  have  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  king  of  Great 
Britain,  and  are  then  re-conducted  through  the  medium  of 
the  press,  that  German  passengers  are  to  be  disposed  of  for 
their  freight  across  the  Atlantic.  Those,  however,  w7ho  have 
the  means  to  pay  their  passage,  are  discharged.  Those  who 
have  rich  friends  here  seek  aid  from  them ;  but  few  such  are 
found.  The  ship  is  the  place  of  sale.  .  The  purchasers  enter 
the  vessel,  select  such  as  they  desire;  enter  into  a  contract 
with  them  as  to  the  length  of  time  of  service;  then  take  their 
servants,  for  such  they  call  them,  to  the  merchant  holding  the 
contract,  and  pay  the  stipulated  sum.  This  done,  the  ser- 
vants are  now  bound  by  a  written  indenture  before  some 
magistrate  to  their  master  or  purchaser. 

Unmarried  persons  of  both  sexes  are  generally  first  select- 
ed ;  and  whose  condition  in  life  depends  much  upon  the  dis- 
position of  their  masters  or  purchasers.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark, that  those  children  who  left  home  without  their  parents' 
consent,  have  generally  such  master  that  recompense  them 
for  their  self-will,  and  disobedience  toward  their  parents. 

Aged,  married  and  decrepid  persons  can  scarce  obtain  mas- 
ters, because  this  class  of  persons  is  already  numerous,  and 


428  APPENDIX. 

have  become  a  public  charge.  But  if  they  have  healthy  and 
likely  children,  in  such  a  case  the  freight  of  the  parents  and 
children  are  taken  together,  and  the  children  are  obliged  to 
serve  a  longer  time,  and  are  sold  at  an  advanced  price.  They 
are  sold  to  different  masters,  and  thus  dispersed,  perhaps  ne- 
ver to  see  each  others  faces  any  more.  The  aged  parents 
are  now  discharged.  In  this  indigent  condition  they  are 
turned  upon  society.  Many  of  them  have  scarce  clothing 
to  conceal  their  nudity.  In  appearance  as  though  they  had 
just  escaped  the  grave,  they  now  wander  about  begging  from 
house  to  house,  and  are  often  repulsed  when  asking  a  pit- 
tance at  the  door. 

These  things  are  calculated  to  effect  the  heart.  Especially 
if  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  they  forsook  a  christian  country, 
and  their  comfortable  firesides,  for  the  New  World,  where 
they  now  deplore  most  lamentably  their  deception.  Some 
curse  most  bitterly  the  Neulaender,  imprecating  the  wrath 
of  heaven  upon  the  heads  of  their  deceivers.  But  as  they 
are  not  present  to  hear  these  imprecations,  it  effects  them  not 
at  all.  And  if  they  were  present,  the  only  consolation  they 
would  give  to  those  whom  they  deceived,  would  be  that 
which  the  Pharisees  gave  Judas  Iscariot :  What  is  that  to 
us?  Mat.  27,  4. 

The  children,  on  reflecting  that  their  situation  is  none  of 
the  most  agreeable,  and  their  time  of  servitude  has  been 
prolonged  because  of  their  parents,  become  impatient  and 
obdurate  against  them  on  that  account. 

The  above  mentioned  association  for  the  relief  of  the  Ger- 
mans, have  had  numerous  applications  made  to  them  for  re- 
lief. The  members  thereof  pay  every  three  months  a  cer- 
tain sum.-  They  occasionally  receive  contributions  from 
other  benevolent  persons  from  the  country.  With  these 
funds  they  buy  bread  and  other  necessaries  of  life,  and  dis- 
tribute them  among  the  needy.  Notwithstanding  (heir  ef- 
forts, the  wants  of  comparatively  few  are  met.  They  take 
special  care  of  the  sick.  As  occasion  demands  it,  they  in- 
terpose when  any  of  them  are  unjustly  dealt  with. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  there  are  still  some  of  the  more 
credulous  Germans  believe  the  representations  of  the  Neula- 
ender, and  when  they  arrive  here  depend  wholly  upon  the 
German  association  for  relief  and  support.  This  would  be 
impossible,  for  it  would  require  a  fund  of  many  thousand 


APPENDIX.  429 

pounds  annually.  Failing  in  their  applications  to  this  asso- 
ciation, they  call  upon  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  for  aid  ; 
believing  that  the  ministers  in  this  country  receive  salaries 
equal  with  those  of  the  Protestant  churches  of  Germany. 
But,  alas,  what  can  ministers  do  tor  them.  They  themselves 
are  dependant  upon  the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  mem- 
bers of  their  congregations ;  and  these  are  by  no  means 
generally  in  affluent  circumstances;  consequently  cannot  af- 
ford to  contribute  liberally  toward  the  support  of  their 
ministers. 


C.— Page  176. 

SHAMOKIN' 

The  following  letters,  extracts,  &c,  are  here  inserted  as 
affording  additional  facts  and  incidents,  that  transpired  at 
Shamokin,  and  that  region  of  country,  or  having  some  con- 
nection with  this  place. 

January  the  2d,  1744. 
To  Richard  Peters. 

Sir— 

I  make  bold  to  trouble  you  again  with  a  few  lines.  The 
occasion  of  which  is,  my  son  came  the  other  day  from  Vir- 
ginia, where  I  had  sent  him  after  one  of  my  honest  debtors; 
and,  by  the  way  he  met  several  Indians  of  the  Six  Nation's 
country  from  the  Southern  Indians,  the  Catawbas ;  and  has 
been  told  that  one  of  Shikelimy's  sons,  to  wit,  Unhappy  Jake, 
has  been  killed  by  the  Catawbas,  with  five  more  of  the  Six 
Nations,  in  an  engagement ;  and,  as  this  is  a  great  stroke  to 
our  friend  Shikelimy,  who  is,  for  the  trust  put  in  him,  by  the 
council  of  the  Six  Nations  and  our  government,  worthy  to 
be  taken  notice  of,  I  thought  it  my  indispensable  duty  to  in- 
form you  of  this,  and  lay  it  before  the  governor,  whether  or 
no  he  thinks  fit  to  send  to  Shikelimy  a  small  present,  in 
order  to  wipe  his  tears,  and  comfort  his  heart;  and  enable 
him,  by  so  doing,  to  stand  to  his  charge  aforesaid,  which 
would  not  only  be  satisfactory  to  Shikelimy,  but  very  agree- 
able and  pleasing  to  the  council  of  the  said  nation ;  and  con- 
sequently some  little  service  done  to  ourselves. 

His  honor,  the  governor,  will  be  able  to  judge  to  whom, 
with  my  humble  respects,  I  leave  the  whole,  and  remain 

Sir, 
Your  servant,  to  command 

Conrad  Weiser. 

P.  S.  It  is  customary  with  the  Indians,  that  let  what  will 
happen,  the  chiefs  or  people  in  trust  with  them,  don't  stir  to 


APPENDIX.  431 

do  any  services  or  business  to  the  public  when  they  are  in 
mourning,  till  they  have,  in  a  manner,  a  new  commission, 
before  said,  in  being  fetched  out  of  mourning,  and  invested 
with  newer  courage  and  disposition. 

Lancaster,  June  9,  1744. 
To  Richard  Peters. 
Sir— 

I  gave  you  an  account  some  days  ago  of  a  man's  coming 
down  from  John  Harris's,  and  reporting  that  about  one  hun- 
dred Indians  were  there;  and  that  to  know  the  certainty  of 
it,  the  sheriff  went  up  and  returned  to  this  town ;  in  the 
meantime  Conrad  Weiser  received  the  true  account  from 
Shickalamy,  of  which  he  informed  me  by  letter,  and  also 
that  he  had  sent  an  express  to  the  governor,  viz :  that  about 
six  of  the  deputies  who  came  from  Oneida  town  were  ar- 
rived at  Shamokin — that  they  had  all  set  out  about  the  18th 
May  last,  and  the  body  of  them  were  daily  expected,  and 
as  soon  as  the}'"  arrived  Conrad  was  to  have  notice  by  a 
special  messenger,  which  I  presume  he  has  not  yet  received. 

The  sheriff  finding  the  man's  account  of  the  number  of 
Indians  at  Harris's  false,  and  that  we  must  wait  for  an  ac- 
count of  the  arrival  of  the  rest  at  Shamokin,  returned  home, 
being  promised  by  you  to  have  timely  notice  of  the  day  fixed 
by  the  government  for  setting  out,  in  order  to  wait  on  him. 
Now  on  Col.  Patten's  coming  to  town,  he  says  the  Virginia 
gentleman  propose  to  come  up  on  Monday  next.  Several  of 
our  townspeople  ar^informed  that  you  design  to  set  out  on 
Monday;  and  particularly  George  Honey,  who  came  into 
town  just  now,  says  that  you  told  him  you  should  set  out  on 
Monday,  but  does  not  write  with  certainty.  These  accounts 
have  perplexed  me,  as  I  have  not  received  a  line  from  you 
about  it,  notwithstanding  so  many  opportunities  have  offered. 
And  least  there  should  be  any  mistake  about  it,  or  miscar- 
riage of  a  line,  I  sent  a  messenger  to  know  how  the  gover- 
nor has  determined,  whether  to  come  up  on  the  first  account 
or  to  await  the  arrival  of  a  messenger  from  Conrad  Weiser 
— as  the  sheriff  lives  thirty  miles  from  town,  time  must  be 
allowed  to  send  him  word  ; — and  you  cannot  expect  that 
either  he  or   I   shall  take  common  report  of  people  com- 


432  APPENDIX. 

ing    from    town    to   the    Nation.       Your    friend    is   not 
up. 

I  am,  sir, 
Your  most  humble  servant, 

Tho.  Cookson. 

P.  S.  We  have  no  Backgammon  Tables  nor  Long  Pipes 
to  amuse  you. 

September  29th,  1744. 
Sir — 

The  day  before  yesterday  I  came  back  from  Shohomo- 
kin,  where  I  have  been  with  eight  young  men  of  my  coun- 
try people  whom  Shickelimy  hired  to  make  a  log-house  for 
him,  and  I  went  with  them  to  direct  them ;  we  finished 
the  house  in  seventeen  days ;  it  is  about  forty-nine  and  a 
half  foot  long  and  seventeen  and  a  half  wide,  and  covered 
with  shingles. 

Shickelimy  informed  me  that  the  governor  of  Canada 
had  sent  an  embassy  to  Onontago  to  lament  over  the  death 
of  Tocanuwarogon,  a  chief  of  the  Onontagers  who  died 
last  spring  (in  whose  house  I  used  to  lodge)  and  he  let  the 
Council  of  the  Six  Nations  know  that  the  French  had 
made  war  against  the  English,  whom  they  would  soon 
beat ;  and  as  they,  the  Six  Nations,  loved  their  Brothers, 
the  English,  their  father  Onontio,  desired  them  to  take  no 
offence,  nor  be  on  either  side  concerned,  but  be  neutral ; 
and  that  they  should  be  supplied  by  the  French  with  pow- 
der, lead  and  other  commodities  at  their  several  trading 
houses  as  usual  and  as  cheap  as  before ;  and,  as  the  Eng- 
lish traders  had  men  away  from  Oswego,  cowards  as  they 
are,  Onontio  would  take  the  house  of  Oswego  to  himself, 
as  his  people  are  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  northern  coun- 
tries, and  would  supply  his  children,  all  the  Indians,  with 
all  sorts  of  goods  very  cheap.  At  the  same  time,  the  in- 
terpreter of  Albany  was  at  Onontago  with  a  message  from 
the  commissioners  of  Indian  affairs,  who  was  to  desire 
the  council  of  the  united  nations,  to  take  the  house  at  Os- 
wego into  their  care  for  a  little  while,  till  sufficient  force 
could  be  sent  from  Albany  to  defend  it.  The  council  gave 
no  answer,  neirher  to  the  French  nor  to  the  commissioner 
aforesaid.     The  interpreter  went  to  the  Siniker  country  to 


APPENDIX.  433 

prevail  with  that  nation  for  that  purpose,  but  it  was  not  known 
when  Jonuhaly  (who  brought  the  news)  came  away  from 
Onontago,  with  what  success  he  met.  Jonuhaly  further  told 
Shickelimy  that  the  council  of  the  united  nations  had  agreed 
to  some  of  their  chiefs  to  Catarockron  (Fort  Frontinac)  to 
let  their  father  Onontio  know  that  his  children,  the  united 
nations,  did  not  approve  of  his  intention  to  take  the  house  at 
Oswego  to  himself,  which  could  not  be  done  without  blood- 
shed ;  and  as  there  were  always  some  of  the  united  nations 
with  their  brethren,  the  English,  at  Oswego,  it  might  proba- 
bly fall  out  so  that  soma  of  them  would  be  sprinkled  with 
blood,  which  would  raise  the  spirit  of  revenge.  They  there- 
fore thought  it  would  be  a  dangerous  undertaking  of  Onontio, 
and  it  would  also  look  very  maan  in  their  farher,  Onontio,  to 
attack  the  English  on  their  back,  since  he  made  war  against 
them,  they  would  advise  him  to  act  more  honorably  as  be- 
coraath  a  warrior,  and  go  round  by  sea  and  face  the  English. 

The  deputies  have  orders  not  to  go  farther  than  to  the 
aforesaid  place,  and  deliver  the  message  to  the  governor  of 
the  place,  and  return  immediately. 

The  chiefs  of  the  Cajukers  have  sent  word  to  Shickelimy 
to  stay  at  home,  to  ba  ready  whenever  they  should  send  to 
him. 

French  Andrew,  who  want  to  fight  the  Oatawbas,  fell  sick 
near  Jamas'  river,  in  Virginia,  and  his  company  left  him  un- 
der tha  care  of  Pisqueton,  one  of  the  company.  Andrew  got 
wall  and  is  now  coma  bick  to  Siamokin:  he  told  me  he 
would  coma  down  with  the  other  two  young  Indians,  who  are 
to  coma  against  the  time  when  the  Indian,  in  Philadelphia 
prison,  will  be  tried. 

The  fever  was  among  the  Indians  at  Shamokin,  and  has 
carried  off  five  or  six  while  I  was  here.  Olumapies,  the  Del- 
aware chief,  is  recovered  again  of  his  long  sickness.  This  is 
all  at  present  I  thought  fit  to  inform,  or  rather  trouble  you 
with,  who  am 

Sir,  your  dutiful 

Conrad  Weiseb. 

N.  B.  Jonuhaly  is  a  noted  warrior  of  the  Onontagers — 
was  one  of  the  deputies  of  that  nation  at  the  treaty  held  at 
Lancaster ;  he  is  gone  to  war  against  the  Catawbas.  Credit 
may  be  given  to  his  information. 

37 


434  APPENDIX. 

Tulpehocken,  February  10th,  1744-5. 
To  the  Hon.  Gov.  George  Thomas. 

Honored  Sir — 

I  received  the  packet  of  letters  by  Mr.  Mohlon,with 
the  several  copies  which  your  Honor  was  pleased  to  send  to 
me,  and  as  there  was  a  deal  of  business  to  be  done  under  a 
great  deal  of  noise  at  our  last  court,  I  could  not  answer  im- 
mediately, but  thought  necessary  to  do  it  home,  in  hopes  that 
your  Honor  would  not  take  it  amiss,  considering  the  weight- 
iness  of  the  affair. 

I  shall  never  be  wanting  in  your  Honor's  service,  what- 
ever may  be  required  of  me  that  tends  to  the  honor  of  your 
government  and  the  good  of  the  public ;  and  am  very  willing 
to  undertake  a  journey  to  Onontago  in  the  spring,  to  put  the 
finishing  hand  in  behalf  of  Onas  to  so  good  a  work ;  and  I  do 
not  doubt  of  my  success.  If  that  what  is  said  by  the  Cataw- 
ba king  be  no  deceit,  which  I  fear  it  is — my  reasons  are  these: 
the  Catawbas  are  known  to  be  a  very  proud  people  and  have, 
at  several  treaties  they  had  with  the  Cherokees,  used  high 
expressions,  and  thought  themselves  stout  warriors  for  hav- 
ing deceived  Garantowano — (the  captain  of  that  company 
that  was  so  treacherously  killed).  I  should  have  been  bet- 
ter pleased  to  see  the  said  king's  name  with  some  of  his 
countrymen  signed  to  the  letter  they  sent  governor  Gooch. 

The  Catawbas  are  also  known  to  be  an  irregular  people. 
They  have  no  council.  The  richest  or  greatest  among  them 
calls  himself  a  king,  with  the  consent  of  his  brothers,  cous- 
ins or  wives ;  and  prove  often  the  greatest  fool,  acts  all  what 
he  does  as  an  arbitrator :  the  rest  don't  mind  him,  and  after 
all  send  him  to  the  grave  with  a  broken  head.  This  is  what 
those  that  were  prisoners  among  them  all  agree. 

If  that  one  article  is  true  with  them,  that  they  will  own 
that  they  treacherously  murdered  Garantowano  and  some  of 
his  men,  a  peace  no  doubt  will  be  made  between  those  poor 
wretches. 

I  shall  soon  go  up  to  Shamokin  to  see  Shickelimy,  and 
shall  then  have  an  opportunity  to  talk  a  great  deal  with 
Shickelimy;  and  if  he  seems  inclined  for  peace,  I  will  let  him 
know  of  Gov.  Gooch's  request  to  your  Honor,  otherwise  not; 
and  will,  on  my  return  from  Shamokin,  wait  upon  your  Ho- 
nor to  receive  the  necessary  instructions. 


APPENDIX.  435 

I  should  be  well  pleased  if  the  Six  Nations  would  make 
Williamsburgh  the  place  of  Congress;  but  question  very  much 
whether  they  will  not  think  of  giving  up  too  much,  or  sub- 
mit too  much  to  the  Catawbas.  They,  the  Six  Nations, 
will  refuse  at  once,  and  therefore  that  point  must  be  given 
up.  Your  Honor  said  enough  to  Gov.  Gooch  about  that  in 
the  letter.  As  for  a  third  place,  I  shall  be  more  able  to  give 
my  sentiments  about  when  I  return  from  Shamokin. 

I  shall  hardly  meet  any  Frenchmen  in  Onontago,  but  a 
messenger  or  two,  perhaps,  which  cannot  hurt  me  ;  and  if 
there  are  more,  I  think  they  will  have  more  to  fear  from  me, 
than  I  from  them.  The  council  of  the  Six  Nations  have 
always  looked  upon  me  as  their  friend,  and  one  of  their  own 
nation.  It  will  be  dangerous  for  a  few  Frenchmen  to  meddle 
with  me  amongst  the  Indians :  they  will  soon  find  their  mis- 
take. I  have  a  great  deal  more  to  fear  from  the  family  Haines 
in  my  absence ;  they  are  worse  than  the  French  or  Indians, 
and  I  do  not  know  yet  my  wife  and  children  will  be  so  far 
out  of  fear  that  I  can  leave  them.  The  Haines  (Heans)  have 
still  more  friends  than  they  had  twenty  years,  otherwise  not 
one  soul  of  the  family  would  in  these  days  be  in  the  province, 
or  if  they  had  had  their  due,  they  would  have  been  out  of  the 
world.  I  do  not  know  how  to  do,  the  whole  neighborhood 
is  afraid  of  them;  and  the  many  felonies  they  have  commit- 
ted, and  hitherto  escaped  punishment,  will  be  sufficient  cause 
for  several  good  families  to  move  to  some  other  places.  I 
did  expect  at  least  that  they  would  all  be  bound  to  stay  at 
their  own  houses,  in  time  of  night,  and  behave  well  in  all  re- 
spects ;  but  I  find  their  time  is  not  yet  come.  I  shall  not 
trouble  you  any  longer  about  that  family  in  this  letter ;  but 
am  in  hopes  when  I  shall  have  an  opportunity  to  wait  upon 
your  Honor,  I  shall  be  heard  somewhat  further. 

As  for  the  time  to  set  out  for  Onontago,  I  think  it  almost 
impracticable  before  the  middle  of  May,  because  of  the  creeks, 
and  food  in  the  woods  for  the  horses,  and  the  Southern  In- 
dians cannot  expect  an  answer  in  their  own  towns  till  the 
latter  end  of  August  next.  If  every  thing  goes  well  I  should 
have  liked  it  much  better  if  they  had  sent  two  or  three  old 
men  as  deputies :  I  should  have  travelled  with  them  to  the 
Mohawk  country  by  the  way  of  Albany,  and  having  got  the 
opinion  of  the  council  of  the  Mohawks,  I  would  have  acted 


436  apiendix. 

accordingly,  without  any  danger  to  the  Catawbas.     I  intend 
to  go  round  by  way  of  Albany  now  if  I  go. 
1  have  nothing  more  to  mention,  but  am, 
Sir, 
Your  obedient  and  dutiful 

Conrad  Weiser. 

In  the  early  part  of  1747,  Conrad  Weiser,  the  Provincial 
Interpreter  and  Indian  Agent,  was  sent  to  Shamokin,  to  de- 
liver a  Message  to  the  Indians-  While  on  his  way  to  this 
place,  they  met  him  at  Mr.  Chambeis's,  now  McAllister's, 
where  he  delivered  the  following  Message  : 

Memorandum  of  the  Message  delivered  to  the  Indians  of 
Shamokin,  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Chambers,  in  Paxton, 
by  Conrad  Weiser. 

There  were  present — Shickelimy,  Taghneghdorus,  Canai- 
darogan,  Scaienties,  (a  man  of  note  among  the  Cayjukers). 

Brethren — 

You  that  live  at  Zinachson,  (Shamokin,)  I  am  sent 
to  you  by  your  brethren,  the  President  and  his  council  of 
Philadelphia,  to  pay  you  a  visit,  and  to  acquaint  you  of  what 
passes  among  the  white  people,  also  to  infoim  myself  how 
you  do,  and  what  passes  among  the  Indians  in  these  critical 
times. 

Gave  a  String  of  Wampum. 

Brethren — 

In  the  first  place  I  am  to  acquaint  you  that  your  friend 
and  countryman,  John  Penn,  the  eldest  son  of  Great  Onas, 
died  last  winter  in  England,  on  his  bed,  and  with  a  content- 
ed mind,  and  as  his  death  must  needs  affect  you,  as  it  did  us, 
being  you  are  sensible  he  always  has  been  a  true  friend  to 
the  Indians,  I  give  you  these  handkerchiefs  to  wipe  off  your 
tears. 

Gave  twelve  handkerchiefs. 

Brethren — 

I  also  inform  you  that  your  brother,  Gov.  Thomas,  has 
left  us  and  is  gone  to  England  ;  not  out  of  any  ill  will  or  dis- 


APPENDIX.  437 

gust,  but  for  the  sake  of  his  health ;  he  has  been  ill  ever  since 
the  treaty  of  Lancaster.  The  doctors  of  this  country  could 
do  no  good  to  him.  He  is  in  hopes  that  the  air  of  his  native 
country,  and  the  assistance  of  some  skilful  doctor  there  will 
give  him  ease:  he  went  away  a  good  friend  of  the  people  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  his  brethren  the  Indians,  and  will  do 
them  what  service  he  can  when  in  England. 

Laid  a  String  of  Wampum. 

Brethren — 

Nothwithstanding  the  governor  is  gone,  the  same  cor- 
respondence will  be  kept  up  with  all  the  Indians,  by  the 
President  and  council  of  Philadelphia  :  they  resume  the  same 
power  with  their  President  as  if  the  governor  were  here;  and 
the  body  of  the  people  heartily  join  them  to  keep  up  a  good 
correspondence  with  all  the  Indians.  According  to  the  trea- 
ties of  friendship  subsisting  between  us,  your  old  and  assured 
friend,  James  Logan,  is  also  in  being  yet,  although  he  laid 
aside  all  public  business  as  to  the  white  people:  in  Indian 
affairs  he  assists  the  council,  and  will  not  lay  that  aside  as 
long  as  he  is  alive  and  able  to  advise. 

In  confirmation  thereof,  I  laid  a  String  of  Wampum. 

Brethren — 

There  was  a  trunk  found  in  one  of  the  rooms  where 
your  friend  John  Penn  used  to  lodge  when  in  Philadelphia, 
with  some  clothes  in  it,  and  as  he  has  been  gone  for  several 
years,  and  the  clothes  were  not  spoiled,  your  friend,  the  Sec- 
retary, changed  them  for  new  ones,  and  sent  them  up  to  me 
to  give  to  the  Indians  at  Zinachson,  (Shamokin,)  to  wear 
them  out  in  remembrance  of  their  good  friend  and  country- 
man, John  Penn,  deceased. 

Gave  ten  strowd  maich  coats  and  twelve  shirts. 

Brethren — 

I  have  at  present  no  more  to  say. 
January  the  17th,  1747. 

After  about  fifteen  minutes  Shickelimy  made  answer — di- 
rected his  discourse  to  the  President  and  council  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  said : 

37* 


438  APPENDIX. 

Brethren — 

We  thank  you  for  this  kind  visit :  we  longed  to  hear  of 
you,  and  to  inform  ourselves  of  the  truth  of  things  reported 
among  us.  Some  few  of  us  intended  a  visit  to  Philadelphia 
this  summer  for  that  purpose:  we  are  pleased  with  what  has 
been  said ;  and  will  give  you  a  true  account  this  day  of  all 
what  passes  among  the  Indians. 

We  then  broke  up  for  about  an  hour. 

Then  Shickelimy  informed  me  in  the  presence  of  the  others 
before  mentioned,  that  in  the  beginning  of  last  spring,  some 
of  the  Zistagechroann  came  to  treat  at  Oswego,  with  a  mes- 
sage from  their  whole  nation,  joined  by  the  rest  of  the  Indi- 
ans about  the  lakes  of  Canada,  to  the  Six  United  Nations — 
to  the  following  purport,  viz : 

Brethren — 

The  United  Nations — We  have  hitherto  been  kept  like 
prisoners  on  the  other  side  of  the  Lake:  Onontio,  our  father, 
told  us  that  if  we  should  treat  with  the  English,  he  could 
look  upon  it  as  a  breach  of  the  peace  with  him.  Now  we 
come  to  let  you  know  that  we  will  no  more  be  stopped  from 
treating  with  your  brethren,  the  English.  W  e  will  join  with 
you  to  support  the  house  of  Oswego,  when  the  goods  that 
the  Indians  want  are  so  plenty— all  the  Indians  about  the 
Lakes  will  join,  and  if  need,  take  up  the  hatchet  against  our 
foolish  father  (the  French)  Onontio,  whenever  you  require 
it :  his  goods  are  very  dear,  and  he  is  turned  malicious ;  be- 
cause he  sees  our  women  and  children  clothed  fine  in  English 
cloths  bought  at  Oswego.  We  have  already  let  him  know 
that  we  want  no  more  of  his  advice,  as  we  did  formerly, 
when  we  were  young  ;  but  that  we  became  now  men,  and 
would  think  for  ourselves,  so  let  the  consequence  be  what  it 
will.  In  confirmation  of  the  above  speech,  the  said  deputies 
laid  several  fine  tobacco  pipes,  adorned  with  wampum  and 
fine  feathers. 

They  had  an  agreeable  answer  from  the  Six  Nations  coun- 
cil. The  Six  Nations  have  received  messages  from  other 
nations  to  the  same  purport,  all  promising  to  engage  in  favor 
of  the  Six  Nations  and  the  House  of  Oswego. 

Note. — The  Zistagechroann  are  a  numerous  nation  to  the 


APPENDIX.  439 

north  of  the  Lake  Frontenac;  they  chpn't  come  by  Niagara 
in  their  way  to  Oswego,  but  right  across  the  Lake. 

Shickelimy  told  me  further  that  of  late  a  council  was  held  at 
Onondago,  by  the  Six  Nations,  in  which  it  was  agreed  to 
send  a  message  to  Canada,  of  the  last  importance;  and  that 
also  a  message  was  sent  to  Albany  to  desire  their  brethren, 
the  English,  to  tie  their  canoes  or  batteaux  for  a  few  days 
to  the  bushes,  and  not  to  proceed  in  their  expedition  against 
Canada,  till  their  messengers  came  back  from  Canada,  which 
would  clear  off  the  clouds,  and  the  United  Nations  would 
then  see  what  was  to  be  done. 

Scaienties  informs  me  that  a  few  days  before  he  came  away 
from  Cayiuckquor  (which  was  about  the  20th  day  of  May 
last)  a  message  arrived  at  the  Cayjucker  country,  and  the 
Senickers,  from  the  commanding  officer  at  the  French  Fort 
of  Niagara,  inviting  those  two  nations  to  come  and  pay  him 
a  visit,  and  to  receive  a  fine  present  which  their  father  Onon- 
tio  had  sent  those  two  nations.  He  having  understood  that 
the  large  presents  he  had  made  to  the  Six  Nations  from  time 
to  time  were  withheld  by  the  Onondagoes  and  Mohocks,  of 
whom  he  had  been  informed  that  they  are  corrupted  by  the 
English,  by  which,  and  what  they  had  received  from  Onon- 
tio  they  had  enriched  themselves,  and  cheated  the  other  na- 
tions in  union  with  them. 

That  some  of  the  two  nations  were  actually  gone  to  Nia- 
gara to  receive  the  presents,  and  were  set  out  the  same  day 
when  Scaienties  came  away. 

War  against  the  French,  in  Canada,  was  not  declared  by 
the  Six  Nations  when  Scaienties  came  away,  and  as  yet  un- 
certain when  it  would  be  done,  at  least  not  before  the  arrival 
of  their  messenger,  and  perhaps  not  this  summer.  The  Sin- 
ickers  and  Cayiuckersare  against  it ;  the  Mohocks  are  for 
it  very  much ;  the  Onoutagers  have  declared  in  open  coun- 
cil last  spring  never  to  leave  the  Mohocks,  their  eldest  bro- 
ther and  founder  of  the  Union — The  Oneiders  and  Tuscarro- 
ras  will  follow  the  Onontagers  example. 

This  is  what  Shickelimy  assures  not  to  be  true. 

The  Mohocks  engaged  themselves  in  the  war  against  the 
French,  on  their  own  accord,  without  the  approbation  of  the 
Six  Nations  council,  they  having  been  over-persuaded  by 
their  brethren,  some  of  the  white  people  at  Albany,  and  by 
the  force  of  presents  prevailed  upon  the  council  of  the  Six 


440  APPENDIX. 

Nations,  does  not  altogether  like   it,  but  think  it  too  rashly 
of  the  Mohocks. 

Shickelimy  and  Scaienties  wonder  at  the  dexterity  of  the 
French  to  have  intelligence  of  the  declaration  of  the  Onon- 
tagoes  in  council,  and  so  soon  had  presents  af  Niagara,  and 
a  message  in  the  Sinickers  country  ;  but  both  say,  the  Six 
Nations  will  after  all  stick  together,  notwithstanding  the 
presents  received  from  the  French. 

The  five  French  traders  that  were  killed  on  the  south  side 
of  Lake  Erie,  have  been  killed  by  some  of  the  Six  Nations, 
(then  called  Accquanushioony,  the  name  which  the  Six  Na- 
tions give  their  people,  signifies  a  Confederate).  Another 
French  trader  has  since  been  killed  in  a  private  quarrel  with 
one  of  the  Jonontatochraanu,  likewise  between  the  river 
Ohio  and  the  Lake  Erie.  The  Frenchman  offered  but  one 
charge  of  powder  and  one  bullet  for  a  beaver  skin  to  the 
Indian,  the  Indian  took  up  his  hatchet  and  knocked  the 
Frenchman  on  his  head,  and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

This  is  all  the  news  that  can  be  depended  on :  several  more 
stories  I  heard  not  worth  while  to  trouble  the  council  with, 
as  there  was  no  confirmation  of  them. 

Conrad  Weiser. 

The  above  report  was  read  in  council  July  9,  1747. — 
[Provincial  Records. 

Tulpehocken,  October  15,  1747. 
To  Richard  Peters,  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Province  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

On  the  6th  of  this  instant  I  set  out  for  Shamokin,  by  the 
way  of  Paxtang,  because  the  weather  was  bad  :  I  arrived  at 
Shamokin  on  the  9th,  about  noom  I  was  surprised  to  see 
Shikalimy  in  such  a  miserable  condition  as  ever  my  eyes  be- 
held ;  he  was  hardly  able  to  stretch  forth  his  hand  to  bid  me 
welcome:  in  the  same  condition  was  his  wife;  his  three  sons 
not  quite  so  bad,  but  very  poorly;  also  one  of  his  daughters, 
and  two  or  three  of  his  grand-children,  all  had  the  fever. 
There  were  three  buried  out  of  the  family  a  fewr  days  before, 
viz :  Cajadies,  Shikalimy's  son-in-law,  who  had  been  mar- 
ried to  his  daughter  above  fifteen  years  ago,  and  reckoned 
the  best  hunter  among  all  the  Indians ; — his  eldest  son's  wife 


APPENDIX. 


441 


and  grandchild.  Next  morning  I  administered  the  medicine 
to  Shikalimy  and  one  of  his  sons,  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Graeme,  which  had  a  very  good  effect  upon  both.  Next 
morning  I  gave  the  same  medicine  to  two  more;  who  would 
not  venture  at  first — it  had  the  same  effect ;  and  the  four 
persons  thought  themselves  as  good  as  recovered  :  but  above 
all,  Shikalimy  was  able  to  walk  about  with  me,  with  a  stick 
in  his  hand,  before  I  left  Shamokin,  which  was  on  the  12th 
instant. 

As  to  what  passes  among  the  Indians,  the  Six  Nations 
(except  the  Mohawks)  have  not  yet  declared  war  against  the 
French.  Some  of  their  chiefs  are  now  in  Canada  ;  but  for 
what  reason  is  not  known.  It  is  generally  believed  by  the 
Indians  that  they  are  about  bringing  over  the  French  Pray- 
ing Indians  to  the  Five  Nations  country,  or  put  a  stop  to 
their  war  against  the  English.  Shikalimy  says  if  they  miss 
in  their  schemes,  war  will  then  be  declared  against  the 
French.  Some  of  the  Sinikers  young  men  have  followed  the 
example  of  the  Mohawks,  and  went  to  war  against  the 
French,  and  five  of  their  company  killed  by  the  French.  The 
young  people  of  the  Six  Nations  are  inclined  to  fight  the 
French. 

Shikalimy  told  me  further,  that  the  Governor  of  Canada 
has  sent  a  message  to  all  the  Indians  about  the  Lakes,  and 
desired  them  to  take  up  his  hatchet  and  fight  the  English  ; 
that  two  of  the  Nations  had  accepted  it,  but  Shikalimy  does 
not  know  which  two — all  the  rest  of  the  Six  Nations  refused 
it  at  once. 

The  Zisgechroonu,  or  Jonontadyhagas  (Wyandot  Indian) 
or  both  jointly,  have  sent  a  large  black  belt  of  wampum  to 
all  the  Delaware  and  Shawanese  Indians  living  on  the  rivers 
Ohio  and  Susquehanna,  to  invite  them  into  the  war  against 
the  French.  The  Belt  came  to  Shamokin  with  the  said 
message.  Shikalimy  saw  the  belt,  but  the  Delaware  Indians 
that  brought  it  could  not  remember  which  of  the  above  named 
two  Nations  (or  whether  jointly)  had  sent  it.  That  one  hun- 
dred men  of  the  Delawares  were  actually  gone  to  meet  the 
Jonontadyhagas  about  Deoghsaghronty,  where  seventy  or 
eighty  of  the  Six  Nations  living  at  Canoyinhagy  were  also 
expected.  They  intended  to  cut  off  a  French  settlement  to 
the  south  of  Lake  Erie. 

Another  black  belt  of  wampum  was  sent  by  the  aforesaid 


442 


APPENDIX. 


Indians  to  the  Six  Nations,  to  the  same  purpose.  Shikalimy 
said  that  himself  and  the  Indians  about  Shamokin  keep  their 
ears  open  to  the  said  Nations,  and  they  will  act  according 
as  the  Six  Nations  act. 

Whilst  I  was  at  Shamokin,  fourteen  warriors  came  down 
from  Diagon,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  Sha- 
mokin, to  go  to  war  against  the  Catawbas. 

On  my  return,  about  three  miles  this  side  Shamokin,  I  met 
eleven  Onontagers  coming  from  war :  they,  with  some  of  the 
Cajukers,  in  all  twenty-five  men,  had  an  engagement  with 
the  Catawbas,  in  which  five  of  the  Cajukers  were  killed.  The 
Onontagers  said  the  Catawbas  were  two  hundred  men.  I 
sat  down  and  smoked  a  pipe  with  them.  I  had  some  tobacco 
and  a  little  rum  left,  with  which  I  treated  them;  and  we  dis- 
coursed about  the  wars.  Their  captain  was  a  very  intelli- 
gible man.  I  told  him,  before  we  parted,  that  we,  their  breth- 
ren of  Pennsylvania,  long  to  hear  of  the  Six  Nations,  how 
things  go  concerning  the  war  with  the  French,  whether  or 
no  they  had  engaged  in  it ;  that  if  they  had,  we  were  desir- 
ous our  brethren,  the  Council  of  Onontago,  would  let  us 
know.  If  they  had  not,  we  had  nothing  to  say  to  them;  well 
knowing  that  our  brethren,  the  Six  Nations,  were  people  of 
understanding  and  experienced  in  the  war:  we,  therefore, 
leave  that  entirely  with  them;  only,  we  wanted  now  and  then 
to  receive  a  message  from  them  in  these  critical  times,  and  to 
hear  of  their  welfare.  I  gave  the  captain  a  piece  of  eight, 
to  remember  what  has  been  said  to  the  council  at  Onontago. 

In  my  going  up,  I  saw  a  French  scalp  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  McKee ;  some  Indians  from  Ohio  had  brought  it 
there.  Thomas  McKee  was  gone  to  Philadelphia.  I  left  it 
where  it  wras.  The  same  day  I  met  the  Indian  that  brought 
it  the:e.  He  desired  me  to  take  it  to  the  governor  in  Phil- 
adelphia, since  Thomas  McKee  was  not  at  home,  who  was 
desired  to  do  it — and  he  pressed  very  hard  upon  me  to  re- 
ceive the  scalp  for  the  government  of  Pennsylvania,  in  whose 
favor  the  scalp  was  taken  ;  and  at  the  government  of  Penn- 
sylvania's request  the  Indians  of  Canayiahagon  had  taken  up 
the  hatchet  against  the  French ;  and  that  I  wras  the  fittest 
man  to  receive  it.  I  told  him  that  I  had  been  concerned  in 
Indian  affairs  these  many  years,  but  I  never  knew  that  the 
government  of  Pennsylvania  had  given  the  hatchet,  or  em- 
ployed any  body  to  kill  Frenchmen,  and  that  I  was  sensible 


APPENDIX.  443 

the  government  had  never  requested  the  Indians  at  Canay- 
iahagon  to  kill  Frenchmen ;  and,  therefore,  I  could  not  re- 
ceive the  scalp;  and  as  I  was  well  informed  that  this  scalp 
had  been  taken  in  time  of  peace,  I  could  in  no  wise  receive 
it — all  white  people  would  look  upon  such  actions  with  con- 
tempt :  and,  as  my  commission  for  the  transaction  of  Indian 
affairs  did  not  extend  to  Ohio  or  Canayiahagon,  but  reached 
only  to  the  Six  Nations,  I  must  leave  that  affair  to  those  that 
had  correspondents  that  way  to  inform  government  of  it,  and 
receive  an  answer.  I  hoped  he  would  excuse  me;  and  so 
we  parted. 

I  must,  at  the  conclusion  of  this,  recommend  Shikalimy  as 
a  proper  object  of  charity.  He  is  extremely  poor — in  his 
sickness  the  horses  have  eaten  his  corn  :  his  clothes  he  gaVe 
to  Indian  Doctors  to  cure  him  and  his  family — but  all  in 
vain.  He  has  nobody  to  hunt  for  him ;  and  I  cannot  see 
how  the  poor  old  man  can  live.  He  has  been  a  true  ser- 
vant to  the  government,  and  may  perhaps  stjll  be,  if  he 
lives  to  do  well  again.  As  the  winter  is  coming  on,  I  think 
it  would  not  be  amiss  to  send  a  few  blankets  or  match- 
coats,  and  a  little  powder  and  lead.  If  the  government 
would  be  pleased  to  do  it,  and  you  could  send  it  soon,  I 
would  send  my  sons  with  it  to  Shamokin  before  the  cold 
weather  comes.* 

Olamipies  is  dead — Lapaghnitton  is  allowed  to  be  the  fit- 
test to  succeed  him ;  but  he  declines ;  he  is  afraid  he  will 
be  envied,  ami  consequently  bewitched  by  some  of  the  Indi- 
ans. However,  this  must  lie  still  till  next  Spring,  according 
to  what  Shikalimy  says. 

It  is  my  humble  opinion  that  the  present  intended  for 
the  Indians  on  the  river  Ohio,  should  be  larger.  If  that 
what  George  Croghan  is  to  take  with  him  is  intended  for 
the  Indians  at  Canayiahagon,  the  Indians  at  Ohio,  our 
much  nearer  neighbors  should  not  be  passed  over  without 
something. 

I  arrived  this  day  about  12  o'clock  at  my  house  in  good 

*  In  the  early  part  of  Nov.  1747,  the  following  goods  were  brought 
for  Shikalamy : 

5  strowu  match  coats  at  £7 ;  §  cask  of  gunpowder,  £2  15;  §  cut 
bar  of  lead,  £1  ;  15  yards  of  blue  half  thicks,  £2  7  6  ;  1  dozen  best 
buck-hefted  knives,  9  shillings  ;  4  Duffell  match  coats,  £3  ;  amounting 
to  £16,  11,6. 


444  APPENDIX. 

health,  and  I  hope  this  will  find  in  perfect  health  and  pro- 
found peace  of  mind,  who  am, 
Sir, 
Your  ever  dutiful  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 


Account  of  the  dreadful  devastation  of  Wyoming  settlements 
in  July,  1778.  From  Gordon's  History  of  the  Ameri- 
can War. 

So  early  as  the  8th  of  February,  1778,  General  Schuyler 
wrote  to  Congress — "  There  is  too  much  reason  to  believe 
that  an  expedition  will  be  formed  (by  the  Indians)  against 
the  western  frontiers  of  this  State  (New-York)  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania."  The  next  month  he  informed  them 
— "A  number  of  Mohawks,  and  many  oftheOnondagoes, 
Cayugas,  and  Seneccas,  will  commence  hostilities  against 
us  as  soon  as  they  can ;  it  would  be  prudent  therefore 
early  to  take  measures  to  carry  the  war  into  their  coun- 
try ;  it  would  require  no  greater  body  of  troops  to  destroy 
their  towns  than  to  protect  the  frontier  inhabitants."  No 
effectual  measures  being  taken  to  repress  the  hostile  spirit 
of  the  Indians,  numbers  joined  the  tory  refugees,  and  with 
these  commenced  their  horrid  depredations  and  hostilities 
upon  the  back  settlers,  being  headed  by  Colonel  Butler, 
and  Brandt,  an  half  blooded  Indian,  of  desperate  courage, 
ferocious  and  cruel  beyond  example.  Their  expeditions  were 
carried  on  to  great  advantage,  by  the  exact  knowledge 
which  the  refugees  possessed  of  every  object  of  their  enter- 
prise, and  the  immediate  intelligence  they  received  from 
their  friends  on  the  spot.  The  weight  of  their  hostilities 
fell  upon  the  fine,  new  and  flourishing  settlements  of  Wy- 
oming, situated  on  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna, 
in  a  most  beautiful  country  aed  delightful  climate.  It  was 
settled  and  cultivated  with  great  ardor  by  a  number  of  peo- 
ple from  Connecticut,  which  claimed  the  territory  as  included 
in  its  original  grant  from  Charles  II.  The  settlement  con- 
sisted of  eight  townships,  each  five  miles  square,  beautifully 


APPENDIX.  445 

placed  on  each  side  of  the  river.  It  had  increased  so  by  a 
rapid  population,  that  the  settlers  sent  a  thousand  men  to 
serve  in  the  continental  array.  To  provide  against  the  dan- 
gers of  their  remote  situation,  four  forts  were  erected  to  co- 
ver them  from  the  irruptions  of  the  Indians.  But  it  was  their 
unhappiness,  to  have  a  considerable  mixture  of  royalists 
among  them;  and  the  two  parties  were  actual ed  by  senti- 
ments of  the  most  violent  animosity,  which  was  not  confined 
to  particular  families  or  places;  but  creeping  within  the  roofs 
and  to  the  hearths  and  floors,  where  it  was  least  to  be  ex- 
pected, served  equally  to  poison  the  sources  of  domestic  se- 
curity and  happiness,  and  to  cancel  the  laws  of  nature  and 
humanity. 

They  had  frequent  and  timely  warnings  of  the  danger  to 
which  they  were  exposed  by  sending  their  best  men  to  so 
great  a  distance  Their  quiet  had  been  very  frequently 
interrupted  by  the  Indians,  joined  by  marauding  parties  of 
their  own  countrymen,  in  the  preceding  year;  and  it  was 
only  by  a  vigorous  opposition,  in  a  course  of  successful  skir- 
mishes, that  they  had  been  driven  off.  Several  tories,  and 
others  not  before  suspected,  had  then  and  since  abandoned 
the  settlement ;  and  beside  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  their 
particular  circumstances,  carried  along  with  them  such  a  stock 
of  private  resentment,  as  could  not  fail  of  directing  the  fury, 
and  even  giving  an  edge  to  the  cruelty  of  their  Indian  and 
other  inveterate  enemies.  An  unusual  number  of  strangers 
had  come  among  them  under  various  pretences,  whose  be- 
haviour became  so  suspicious,  thot  upon  being  taken  up  and 
examined,  such  evidence  appeared  against  several  of  them, 
of  their  acting  in  concert  with  the  enemy,  on  a  scheme  for 
the  destruction  of  the  settlements,  that  about  twenty  were 
sent  off  to  Connecticut  to  be  there  imprisoned  and  tried  for 
their  lives,  while  the  remainder  were  expelled.  These 
measures  excited  the  rage  of  the  tories  in  general  to  the 
most  extreme  degree ;  and  the  threats  formerly  denounced 
against  the  settlers,  were  now  renewed  with  aggravated 
vengeance. 

As  the  time  approached  for  the  final  catastrophe,  the  In- 
dians practised  unusual  treachery.  For  several  weeks  pre- 
vious to  the  intended  attack,  they  repeatedly  sent  small 
parties  to  the  settlements,  charged  with  the  professions  of 
friendship.  These  parties,  besides  attempting  to  lull  the 
38 


446  APPENDIX. 

people  in  security,  answered  the  purposes  of  communi- 
nicating  with  their  friends,  and  of  observing  the  present 
state  of  affairs.  The  settlers,  however,  were  not  insensible 
to  the  danger.  They  had  taken  the  alarm,  and  colonel  Ze- 
bulen  Butler  had  several  times  written  letters  to  congress 
and  general  Washington,  acquainting  them  with  the  danger 
the  settlement  was  in,  and  requesting  assistance ;  but  the 
letters  were  never  received,  having  been  intercepted  by  the 
Pennsylvania  tories.  A  little  before  the  main  attack,  some 
small  parties  made  sudden  irruptions,  and  committed  sever- 
al robberies  and  murders  ;  and  from  ignorance  or  a  contempt 
of  all  ties  whatever,  massacred  the  wife  and  five  children 
of  one  of  the  persons  sent  for  trial  to  Connecticut,  in  their 
own  cause. 

At  length,  in  the  beginning  of  July,  the  enemy  suddenly 
appeared  in  full  force  on  the  Susquehanna,  headed  by  colo- 
nel John  Butler,  a  Connecticut  tory,  and  cousin  to  colonel 
Zebulon  Butler,  the  second  in  command  in  the  settlement. 
He  was  assisted  by  most  of  those  leaders,  who  had  render- 
ed themselves  terrible  in  the  present  frontier  war.  Their 
force  was  about  1600  men,  near  a  fourth  Indians,  led  by 
their  own  chiefs ;  the  others  were  so  disguised  and  painted, 
as  not  to  be  distinguished  from  the  Indians,  excepting  their 
officers,  who,  being  dressed  in  regimentals,  carried  the  ap- 
pearance of  regulars.  One  of  the  smaller  forts,  garrisoned 
chiefly  by  tories,  was  given  up  or  rather  betrayed.  Anoth- 
er was  taken  by  storm,  and  all  but  the  women  and  children 
massacred  in  the  most  inhuman  manner. 

Colonol  Zebulon  Butler,  leaving  a  small  number  to  guard 
fort  Wilkesborough,  crossed  the  river  with  about  400   men, 
and  marched  into  Kingston  fort,  whither  the    women,  chil- 
dren, and  defenceless  of  all  sorts  crowded  for  protection. — 
He  suffered  himself  to  be  enticed  by  his  cousin   to  abandon 
the  fortress.  He  agreed  to  march  out,  and  hold  a  conference 
with  the  enemy  in  the  open  field  (at  so  great  a  distance  from 
the  fort,  as  to  shut  out  all  possible  protection  from  it)  upon 
their  withdrawing,  according  to  their  own  proposal,  in  or- 
der to  the  holding  of  a  parley,  for  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty. 
He  at  the  same  time  marched  out   about  400  men,  well 
armed,  being  nearly  the  whole  strength  of  the   garrison,  to 
guard  his  person  to  the  place  of  parley,  such  was  his   dis- 
trust of  the  enemy's  designs.     On  his  arrival  he  found  no- 


APPENDIX.  447 

body  to  treat  with,  and  yet  advanced  toward  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  where  at  a  distance  he  saw  a  flag,  the  holders  of 
which  seemingly  afraid  of  treachery  on  his  side,  retired  as 
he  advanced ;  whilst  he,  endeavoring  to  remove  this  preten- 
ded ill-impression,  pursued  the  flag,  till  his  party  was  thor- 
ougly  enclosed,  when  he  was  suddenly  freed  from  his  delu- 
sion, by  finding  it  attacked  at  once  on  every  side.  He  and 
his  men,  notwithstanding  the  surprise  and  danger,  fought 
with  resolution  and  bravery,  and  kept  up  so  continual  and 
heavy  a  fire  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  that  they  seemed 
to  gain  a  marked  superiority.  In  this  critical  moment  a  sol- 
dier through  a  sudden  impulse  of  fear,  cried  out  aloud — 
4i  the  colonel  has  ordered  a  retreat."  The  fate  of  the  party 
was  now  at  once  determined.  In  the  state  ot  confusion  that 
ensued,  an  unresisted  slaughter  commenced,  while  the  ene- 
my broke  in  on  all  sides  without  obstruction.  Colonel  Ze- 
bulon  Butler,  and  about  seventy  of  his  men  escaped  ;  the 
latter  got  across  the  river  to  fort  Wilkesborough,  the  colon- 
el made  his  way  to  fort  Kingston  which  was  invested  the 
next  day  on  the  land  side.  The  enemy,  to  sadden  the  droop- 
ing spirits  of  the  weak  remaining  garrison,  sent  in  for  their 
contemplation,  the  bloody  scalps  of  a  hundred  and  ninety-six 
of  their  late  friends  and  comrades.  They  kept  up  a  contin- 
ual fire  upon  the  fort  the  whole  day.  In  the  evening  the 
colonel  quitted  the  fort  and  went  down  the  river  with  his 
family.  H«  is  thought  to  be  the  only  officer  that  escaped. 
Colonel  Nathan  Dennison,  who  succeeded  to  the  command, 
seeing  the  impossibility  of  an  effectual  defence,  went  with 
a  flag  to  colonel  John  Butler,  to  know  what  terms  he  would 
grant  on  a  surrender :  to  which  application  Butler  answered 
with  more  than  savage  phlegm  in  two  short  words — the 
hatchet-  Dennison  having  defended  the  fort,  till  most  of 
the  garrison  were  killed  or  disabled,  was  compelled  to  sur- 
render at  discretion.  Some  of  the  unhappy  persons  in  the 
fort  were  carried  away  alive ;  but  the  barbarous  conquer- 
ors, to  save  the  trouble  of  murder  in  detail,  shut  up  the  rest 
promiscuously  in  the  houses  and  barracks ;  which  having 
set  on  fire,  they  enjoyed  the  savage  pleasure  of  beholding 
the  whole  consumed  in  one  general  blaze. 

They  then  crossed  the  river  to  the  only  remaining  fort, 
Wilkesborough,  which,  in  hopes  of  mercy,  surrendered  with- 
out demanding  any  conditions.     They  found  about   seventy 


448  APPENDIX. 

continental  soldiers,  who  had  been  engaged  merely  for  the 
defence  of  the  frontieis,  whom  they  bukheied  with  every 
circumstance  of  horrid  cruelty.  The  remainder  of  the  men, 
with  the  women  and  children,  were  shut  upas  before  in  the 
houses,  which  being  set  on  tire,  they  perished  together  in 
the  flames. 

A  general  scene  of  devastation  was  now  spread  Ihrongh 
all  the  townships.  Fire,  sword,  and  the  other  different  in- 
struments of  destruction  alternately  triumphed.  The  settle- 
ments of  the  tories  alone  generally  escaped,  and  appeared 
us  islands  in  the  midst  of  the  surrounding  ruin.  The  merci- 
less ravagers  having  destroyed  the  main  object  of  their  cru- 
elty, directed  their  animosity  to  every  part  of  living  nature 
belonging  to  them;  shot  and  destroyed  seme  of  their  cattle, 
and  cut  out  the  tongues  of  others,  leaving  thtm  still  alive  to 
prolong  their  agonies. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  more  singular  circumstan- 
ces of  the  barbarity  practised  in  the  attack  i  pon  Wyoming. 
Captain  Bedlock,  who  had  been  taken  prisoner,  being  strip- 
ped naked,  had  his  body  stuck  full  of  splinters  of  pine  knots, 
and  then  a  heap  of  pine  knots  piled  around  him;  the  whole 
was  then  set  on  fire,  and  his  two  companions,  captain  Ran- 
sy  and  Durgee,  thrown  alive  into  the  flames  and  held  down 
with  pitch-forks.  The  returned  tories  who  had  at  different 
times  abandoned  the  settlement  in  oider  to  join  in  those  sav- 
age expeditions,  were  the  most  distinguished  for  their  cruel- 
ty :  in  this  they  resembled  the  tories  that  joined  the  British 
forces.  One  of  these  Wyoming  tories,  whose  mother  had 
married  a  second  husband,  butchered  with  his  own  hands, 
both  her,  his  father-in-law,  his  own  sister  and  their  infant 
children.  Another,  who  during  his  absence  had  sent  home 
several  threats  against  the  life  of  his  father,  now  not  only 
realized  them  in  person,  but  was  himself,  with  his  own 
hands,  the  exterminator  of  his  whole  family,  mothei,  broth- 
ers and  sisters,  and  mingled  their  blood  in  one  common  car- 
nage, with  that  of  the  ancient  husband  and  father.  The 
broken  parts  and  scattered  relics  of  families  consisting  most- 
ly of  women  and  children,  who  had  escaped  to  the  woods 
during  the  different  scenes  of  this  devastation,  suffered  little 
less  than  their  friends,  who  had  perished  in  the  ruin  of  their 
houses.     Dispersed  and  wandering  in  the  forests,*  as  chance 


APPENDIX.  449 

and  fear  directed,  without  provision  or  covering,  and  many 
without  doubt  perished  in  the  woods. 

In  October,  1744,  the  Rev.  David  Brainerd,  accompanied 
by  the  Rev.  Byram,  two  chief  Indians  from  the  forks  of  the 
Delaware,  and  his  interpreter,  visited  the  Indians  on  the  Sus- 
quehanna. "  We  went,"  says  Brainerd,  "  on  our  way  into 
the  wilderness,  and  found  the  most  difficult  and  dangerous 
travelling,  by  far,  that  ever  any  of  us  had  seen.  We  had 
scarce  any  thing  else  but  lofty  mountains,  deep  valleys  and 
hideous  rocks,  to  make  our  way  through.  Near  night,  my 
beast,  on  which  I  rode,  hung  one  of  her  legs  in  the  rocks, 
and  fell  down  under  me;  but  through  divine  goodness  I  was 
not  hurt.  However,  she  broke  her  leg;  and  being  such  a 
hideous  place,  and  near  thirty  miles  from  my  house,  I  saw 
nothing  that  could  be  done  to  preserve  her  life,  and  so  was 
obliged  to  kill  her,  and  to  prosecute  my  journey  on  foot.  This 
accident  made  me  admire  the  divine  goodness  to  me,  that  my 
bones»were  not  broken.  Just  at  dark,  we  kindled  a  fire,  cut 
up  a  few  bushes,  and  made  a  shelter  over  our  heads,  to  save 
us  from  the  frost,  which  was  very  hard  that  night."  This 
was  Oct.  1st. 

"  October  5th,  we  reached  the  Susquehanna  river,  at  a 
place  called  Opeholhaupung,  and  found  there  twelve  Indian 
houses.  After  I  had  saluted  the  king  in  a  friendly  manner, 
I  told  him  my  business,  and  that  my  desire  was  to  teach  them 
Christianity. 

"After  some  consultation,  the  Indians  gathered,  and  I 
preached  to  them.  And  when  I  had  done,  I  asked  if  they 
would  hear  me  again.  They  replied,  that  they  would  con- 
sider of  it ;  and  soon  after  sent  me  word,  that  they  would  im- 
mediately attend,  if  I  would  preach;  which  I  did,  with  free- 
dom, both  times.  When  I  asked  them  again,  whether  they 
would  hear  me  further,  they  replied  they  would  the  next 
day. 

"  October  6th,  near  noon,  preached  again  to  the  Indians ; 
and  in  the  afternoon  visited  them  from  house  to  house,  and 
invited  them  to  come  and  hear  me  again  the  next  day,  and 
put  off  their  hunting  design,  which  they  were  just  entering 
upon,  till  next  Monday. 

"  October  8.  Visited  the  Indians  with  a  design  to  take 
my  leave  of  them,  supposing  they  would  this  morning  go  out 
to  hunting  early;  but,  beyond  my  expectation  and  hope,  they 


450  APPENDIX. 

desired  to  hear  me  preach  again.  I  gladly  complied  with 
their  request,  and  afterwards  endeavored  to  answer  their  ob- 
jections against  Christianity.  Then  they  went  away;  and  we 
spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon  in  reading  and  prayer,  intend- 
ing to  go  homewaid  early  next  morning." 

In  a  subsequent  part  of  his  journal,  Brainerd  says,  "there 
were  as  nigh  as  I  could  learn  at  Opehalhaupung,  about  70 
souls,  old  and  young,  belonging  to  them.  The  men,  I  think 
universally,  except  <  ne,  attended  the  preaching.  Only  the 
women,  supposing  the  affair  to  be  of  a  public  nature,  belong- 
ing only  to  the  men,  and  not  what  every  individual  person 
should  concern  himself  with,  could  not  readily  be  persuaded 
to  come  and  hear;  but  after  much  pains  used  with  them  for 
that  purpose,  some  lew  ventured  to  come  and  stand  at  a 
distance." 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  ho  again  visited  the  In- 
dians on  the  Susquehanna. 

"  Sept  13.  After  having  lodged  out  three  nights,  I  arrived 
at  the  Indian  town  on  the  Susquehanna,  called  Shaumoking; 
one  of  the  places,  and  the  largest  of  them,  which  I  visited  in 
May  last.  I  was  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  the  In- 
dians; but  had  little  satisfaction,  by  reason  of  the  heathen- 
ish dance  and  revel  they  then  held  in  the  house  where  I  was 
obliged  to  lodge;  which  I  could  not  suppress,  though  1  often 
entreated  them  to  desist,  for  the  sake  of  one  of  their  own 
friends  who  was  then  sick  in  the  house,  and  whose  disorder 
was  much  aggravated  by  the  noise." 

On  the  17th  he  left  Shaumoking,  about  noon,  and  travel- 
led down  the  river  southward.  On  the  19th,  he  writes — 
"Visited  an  Indian  town  called  luneauta,  situated  on  an  isl- 
and (Duncan's)  in  the  Susquehanna.  Was  much  discouraged 
with  the  temper  and  behavior  of  tin-  Indians  here;  although 
they  appeared  friendly  when  I  was  with  them  the  last  spring, 
and  then  gave  me  encouragement  to  come  and  see  them  again. 
But  they  now  seemed  resoked  to  retain  their  pagan  notions, 
and  persist  in  their  idolatrous  practices. 

"Sept  20.  Visited  the  Ind  ans  ag-in  at  Juneauta  island, 
and  found  them  almost  universally  very  busy  in  making  pre- 
parations for  a  great  sacrifice  and  dame.  I  had  no  oppor- 
tunity to  get  them  together,  in  order  to  discourse  with  them 
about  Christianity,  by  reason  of  their  being  so  much  engaged 
about  their  sacrifice.     My  spirits  were   much  sunk  with  a 


APPENDIX.  451 

prospect  so  very  discouraging ;  and  especially  seeing  I  had 
t bis  day  no  interpreter  but  a  pagan,  who  was  as  much  at- 
tached to  idolatry  as  any  of  them,  and  who  could  neither 
speak  nor  understand  the  language  of  those  Indians:  so  that 
I  was  under  the  greatest  "disadvantages  imaginable.  How- 
ever, I  attempted  to  discourse  privately  with  some  of  them, 
hut  without  any  appearances  of  success ;  notwithstanding,  I 
still  tarried  with  them. 

"In  the  evening  they  met  together,  nearly  100  of  them,  and 
danced  around  a  large  fire,  having  prepared  ten  fat  deer  for 
the  sacrifice.  The  fat  of  th°  inwards  they  burnt  in  the  fire 
while  they  were  dancing,  which  sometimes  raised  the  flame 
to  a  prodigious  height ;  at  the  same  time  yelling  and  shout- 
ing in  such  a  manner  that  they  might  easily  have  been  heard 
two  miles  or  more.  They  continued  their  sacred  dance  near- 
ly all  night,  after  which  they  ate  the  flesh  of  the  sacrifice, 
and  so  retired  each  one  to  his  own  lodging. 

"I  enjoyed  little  satisfaction  ;  being  entirely  alone  on  the 
island,  as  to  any  Christian  company,  and  in  the  midst  of  this 
idolatrous  revel ;  and  having  walked  to  and  fro  till  body 
and  mind  were  pained  and  much  oppressed,  I  at  length  crept 
into  a  little  crib  made  for  corn,  and  there  slept  on  the  poles. 

"Lord's  day,  Sept.  2  L — Spent  the  day  wrth  the  Indians  on 
the  island.  As  soon  as  they  were  well  up  in  the  morning  I 
attempted  to  instruct  them,  and  laboured  for  that  purpose  to 
get  them  together ;  but  soon  found  they  had  something  else 
to  do  ;  for  near  noon  they  gathered  together  all  their  powaws, 
or  conjurers,  and  set  about  half  a  dozen  of  them  playing 
their  jungling  tricks,  and  acting  their  frantic,  distracted  pos- 
tures, in  order  to  find  out  why  they  were  then  so  sickly  upon 
the  island,  numbeis  of  them  being  at  that  time  disordered 
with  a  fever  and  bloody  flux.  In  this  exercise  they  were 
engaged  for  several  hours,  making  all  the  wild,  ridiculous, 
and  distracted  motions  imaginable,  sometimes  singing,  some- 
times howling,  sometimes  extending  their  hands  to  the  ut- 
most stretch,  and  spreading  all  their  hngers;  they  seem  to 
push  with  them  as  if  they  designed  to  push  something  away, 
or  at  least  keep  it  off  at  arm's  end  ;  sometimes  stroking  their 
faces  with  their  hands,  then  spurting  water  as  fine  as  mist ; 
sometimes  sitting  flat  on  the  earth,  then  bowing  down  their 
faces   to   the   ground ;    then  wringing  their  sides  as  if  in 


452  APPENDIX. 

pain  and  anguish,  twisting  their  faces,  turning  up  their  eyes, 
grunting,  puffing,  &c. 

"Their  monstrous  actions  tended  to  excite  ideas  of  horror, 
and  seemed  to  have  something  in  them,  as  I  thought,  peculi- 
arly suited  to  raise  the  devil,  if  he  could  be  raised  by  any- 
thing odd,  ridiculous,  and  frightful.  Some  of  them,  I  could 
observe,  were  much  more  fervent  and  devout  in  the  business 
than  others,  and  seemed  to  chant,  peep,  and  mutter  with  a 
great  degree  of  warmth  and  vigor,  as  if  determined  to  awa- 
ken and  engage  the  powers  below.  I  sat  at  a  small  distance, 
not  more  than  thirty  feet  from  them,  though  undiscovered, 
with  my  bible  in  my  hand,  resolving,  if  possible,  to  spoil 
their  sport,  and  prevent  their  receiving  any  answers  from 
the  infernal  world,  and  there  viewed  the  whole  scene.  They 
continued  their  horrid  charms  and  incantations  for  more  than 
three  hours,  until  they  had  all  wearied  themselves  out;  al- 
though they  had  in  that  space  of  time  taken  several  intervals 
of  rest ;  and  at  length  broke  up,  1  apprehended,  without  re- 
ceiving any  answer  at  all. 

"Alter  they  had  done  powawing,  1  attempted  to  discourse 
with  them  about  Christianity ;  but  they  soon  scattered,  and 
gave  me  no  opportunity  for  anything  of  that  nature.  A 
view  of  these  things,  while  1  was  entirely  alone  in  the 
wilderness,  destitute  of  the  society  of  any  one  who  so  much 
as  "named  the  name  of  Christ,"  greatly  sunk  my  spirits, 
and  gave  me  the  most  gloomy  turn  of  mind  imaginable,  al- 
most stripped  me  of  all  resolution  and  hope  respecting  furth- 
er attempts  for  propagating  the  gospel  and  converting  the 
pagans,  and  rendered  this  the  most  burdensome  and  disa- 
greeable Sabbath  which  I  ever  saw.  But  nothing,  I  can  tru- 
ly say,  sunk  and  distressed  me  like  the  loss  of  my  hope  re- 
specting their  conversion.  This  concern  appeared  so  great, 
and  seemed  to  be  so  much  my  own,  that  I  seemed  to  have 
nothing  to  do  on  earth  if  this  failed.  A  prospect  of  the  great- 
est success  in  the  saving  conversion  of  souls  under  gospel 
light  would  have  done  little  or  nothing  towards  compensa- 
ting for  the  loss  of  my  hope  in  this  respect ;  and  my  spirits 
now  were  so  damped  and  depressed,  that  I  had  no  heart  nor 
power  to  make  any  further  attempts  among  them  for  that 
purpose,  and  could  not  possibly  recover  my  hope,  resolution 
and  courage,  by  the  utmost  of  my  endeavors. 

"  The  Indians  of   this  island  can,  many  of   them,  under- 


APPENDIX.  453 

stand  the  English  language  considerably  well,  having 
formerly  lived  in  some  part  of  Maryland,  among  or  near  the 
white  people ;  but  are  very  drunken,  vicious  and  ptofane, 
although  not  so  savage  as  those  who  have  less  acquaintance 
with  the  English.  Their  customs,  in  various  respects,  differ 
from  those  of  the  other  Indians  upon  this  river.  They  do 
not  bury  their  dead  in  a  common  form,  but  let  their  flesh 
consume  above  the  ground,  in  close  cribs  made  for  the  pur- 
pose. At  the  end  of  a  year,  or  sometimes  a  longer  space  of 
time,  they  take  the  bones,  when  the  flesh  is  consumed,  and 
wash  and  scrape  them,  and  afterwards  bury  them  with  some 
ceremony.  Their  method  of  charming  or  conjuring  over  the 
sick,  seems  somewhat  different  from  that  of  the  other  Indians, 
though  in  substance  the  same.  The  whole  of  it  among  these 
and  others,  perhaps,  is  an  imitation  of  what  seems  by  Naa- 
man's  expression,  (2  King  v.  11)  to  have  been  the  custom 
of  the  ancient  heathen.  It  seems  chiefly  to  consist  in  their 
"striking  their  hands  over  the  diseased,"  and  repeatedly 
stroking  them,  "  and  calling  upon  their  god;"  except  the 
spurting  of  water  like  a  mist,  and  some  other  frantic  ceri- 
monies  common  to  the  other  conjurations  which  I  have  al- 
ready mentioned. 

"When  I  was  in  this  region  in  May  last,  I  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  learning  many  of  the  notions  and  customs  of  the  In- 
dians, as  well  as  observing  many  of  their  practices.  I  then 
travelled  moie  than  130  miles  upon  the  river,  above  the  En- 
glish settlements ;  and  in  that  journey  met  with  individuals 
of  seven  or  eight  distinct  tribes,  speaking  as  many  different 
languages.  Eut  of  all  the  sights  I  ever  saw  among  them, 
or  indeed  any  where  else,  none  appeared  so  frightful,  or  so 
near  akin  to  what  is  usually  imagined  of  "infernal  powers," 
none  ever  excited  such  images  of  terror  in  my  mind,  as  the 
appearance  of  one  who  was  a  devout  and  zealous  reformer, 
or  rather  restorer  of  what  he  supposed  was  the  ancient  reli- 
gion of  the  Indians.  He  made  his  appearance  in  his  pontifi.- 
ficiaJ  garb,  which  was  a  coat  of  bear-skins,  dressed  with  the 
hair  on,  and  hanging  down  to  his  toes ;  a  pair  of  bear-skin 
stockings,  and  a  great  wooden  face  painted,  the  one-half 
black,  the  other  half  tawny,  about  the  color  of  the  Indians' 
skin,  with  an  extravagant  mouth,  cut  very  much  awry  ;  the 
face  fastened  to  a  bear-skin  cap,  which  was  drawn  over  his 
head.     He  advanced  towards  me  with  the  instrument    in  his 


454 


APJEjNDIX. 


hand  which  he  used  for  music  in  his  idolatrous  worship; 
which  was  a  dry  tortoise-shell  with  some  corn  in  it,  and  the 
neck  of  it  drawn  on  to  a  piece  of  wood,  which  made  a  very 
convenient  handle.  As  he  came  forward  he  beat  his  tune 
with  the  rattle,  and  danced  with  all  his  might,  but  did  not 
.suffer  any  part  of  his  body,  not  so  much  as  his  fingers,  to  be 
seen.  No  one  would  have  imagined  from  his  appearance  or 
actions,  that  he  could  have  been  a  human  creature,  if  they 
had  not  had  some  intimation  of  it  otherwise.  When  he  came 
near  me  I  could  not  but  shrink  away  from  him,  although  it 
was  then  noonday,  and  I  knew  who  it  was ;  his  appearance 
and  gestures  were  so  prodigiously  frightful.  He  had  a  house 
consecrated  to  religious  uses,  with  divers  images  cut  upon 
the  several  parts  of  it.  I  went  in,  and  found  the  ground  beat 
almost  as  hard  as  a  rock,  with  their  frequent  dancing  upon 
it.  I  discoursed  with  him  about  Christianity.  Some  of  my 
discourse  he  seemed  to  like,  but  some  of  it  he  disliked  ex- 
tremely. He  told  me  that  God  had  taught  him  his  religion, 
and  that  he  would  never  turn  from  it,  but  wanted  to  find  some 
who  would  join  heartily  with  him  it;  for  the  Indians,  he  said, 
were  grown  very  degenerate  and  corrupt.  Fie  had  thoughts, 
he  said,  of  leaving  all  his  friends,  and  travelling  abroad,  in 
order  to  find  some  who  would  join  with  him;  for  he  believed 
that  God  had  some  good  people  somewhere,  who  felt  as  he 
did.  He  had  not  always,  he  said,  felt  as  he  now  did  ;  but 
had  formerly  been  like  the  rest  of  the  Indians,  until  about 
five  years  before  that  time.  Then,  he  said,  his  heart  was 
very  much  distressed,  so  that  he  could  not  live  among  the 
Indians,  but  got  away  into  the  woods,  and  lived  alone  for 
some  months.  At  length,  he  said,  God  comforted  his  heart, 
and  showed  him  what  he  should  do;  and  since  that  lime  he 
had  known  God,  and  tried  to  serve  him;  and  loved  all  men, 
be  they  who  they  would,  so  as  he  never  did  before.  He 
treated  me  with  uncommon  courtesy,  and  seemed  to  be  hearty 
in  it.  I  was  told  by  the  Indians,  that  he  opposed  their  drink- 
ing strong  liquor  with  all  his  power  ;  and  that,  if  at  any  time 
he  could  not  dissuade  them  from  it  by  all  he  could  say,  he 
would  leave  them,  and  go  crying  into  the  woods.  It  was 
manifest  that  he  had  a  set  of  religious  notions  which  he  had 
examined  for  himself,  and  not  taken  for  granted  upon  bare 
tradition ;  and  he  relished  or  disrelished  whatever  was  spo- 
ken of   a    religious   nature,  as   it  either  agreed  or  disagreed 


APPENDIX. 


455 


with  his  standard.     While  I  was   sometimes  discoursing,  he 
would  sometimes  say,  "  Now  that  I  like  ;  so  God  has  taught 
me,"  &c- ;  and  some  of  his  sentiments  seemed  very  just.  Yet 
he  utterly  denied  the  existence  of  a  devil,  and  declared  there 
was  no  such  creature  known  among  the  Indians  of  old  times, 
whose  religion  he  supposed  he  was  attempting  to  revive.  He 
likewise  told  me  that  departed   souls  went   southward,  and 
that  the  difference  between  the  good  and  bad  was  this :  that 
the  former  were  admitted  into  a  beautiful  town  with  spirit- 
ual walls,  and  that  the  latter  would  for  ever  hover  around 
these  walls  in  vain  attempts  to  get  in.     He  seemed  to  be 
sincere,  honest,  and  conscientious  in  his  own  way,  and  ac- 
cording to  his  own  religious  notions ;  which   was  more  than 
I  ever  saw  in  any  other  pagan.     I  perceived   that  he   was 
looked  upon   and  derided  among  most  of  the  Indians  as  a 
precise  zealot,  who  made  a  needless  noise  about  religious 
matters  ;  but  I  must  say  that  there  was  something  in  his  tem- 
per and  disposition,   which  looked   more   like   true  religion 
than  any  thing  I  ever  observed  among  other  heathen.     But. 
alas !  how  deplorable  is  the  state  of   the  Indians  upon  this 
river  !  The  brief  representation  which  I  have  here  given  of 
their  notions  and  manners  is  sufficient  to  show  that  they  are 
led  captive  by  Satan  at  his  will,  in  the  most  eminent  man- 
ner ;  and  methinks  might  likewise  be  sufficient  to  excite  the 
compassion  and  engage  the    prayers   of  God's  children  for 
these  their  fellow-man,  who,  "  sit  in  the  region  of  the  sha- 
dow of  death. 

Letter  to  Governor  Hamilton. 
Heidelberg,  in  Berks  county,  May  the  2d,  1754. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

Last  night  I  arrived  safe  from  my  journey  to  Shamokin 
and  Wyomink,  of  which  I  think  I  am  obliged  by  your  Hon- 
or's orders  to  lay  before  you  a  just  and  distinct  account, 
which  is  as  follows  : 

April  the  17th  I  set  out  from  my  house,  and  went  by  way 
of  John  Harris's  and  Thomas  McKee's,  being  afraid  of  the 
two  high  mountains,  and  bad  road  that  leads  from  them  to 
Shamokin.  I  arrived  at  Shamokin  the  20th  of  April ;  found 
that  two  of  the  Shickalamy's  being  about  30  miles  off  on  the 
Northwest  Branch  of  Susquehannah,  commonly  called  Zin- 


456  APPENDIX. 

achson,  I  sent  a  messenger  for  them,  there  being  a  great  num- 
ber of  Indians  at  and  about  Shamokin,  I  thought  fit  to  send 
my  son  with  James'  Logan,  the  lame  son  of  Shickalamy  with 
another  Indian  to  Oskohary,  Nishibeckon  and  Wyomeek, 
three  Indian  towns  on  ^usquehannah  (Northeast  Branch) 
with  your  Honor's  message. 

They  set  out  from  Shamokin  on  the  22nd,  by  water,  be- 
cause there  was  no  fodder  to  be  had  by  the  way  for  horses. 
On  the  26th  they  came  back  again,  and  reported  that  they 
lodged  the  first  night  at  Oskohary  with  Lap'ickpitton,  the 
chief  man,  and  Sammy  interpreted  your  Honor's  message  in 
Mohock,  ann  James  Logan  and  he  to  Lapackpitton  in  Dela- 
ware. That  Lapaekpiiton  was  well  pleased  with  the  mes- 
sage, thanked  them  very  kindly  and  gave  them  a  string  of 
wampum  b;ick  again  which  they  had  given  him,  and  told 
them  it  was  best  to  leave  the  string  at  Niskibeckon,  (Nesco- 
peck)  where  there  were  more  Indians  with  old  Nutimus, 
their  chief.  When  they  arrived  at  Niskibeckon,  old  Nuti- 
mus  was  from  ho  i  e,  but  the.  rest  of  the  Indians  received  the 
message  very  kindly,  and  said  they  would  lay  it  before  Nu- 
timus  and  the  rest  of  their  Indians  after  they  should  come 
home.  At  Woyomeck  it  was  just  the  same;  Paxanosy,  chief 
man  there  was  from  home  also;  the  message,  with  another 
string  of  wampum,  was  taken  well  by  those  that  were  at 
home.  It  is  supposed  they  will  have  a  council  together, 
when  they  are  all  come  home,  which  will  be  at  their  pi  ant- 
ing time. 

In  the  meantime  that  Sammy  w.isgone  up  to  Woyomeck, 
I  was  gone  up  the  Northwest  Branch  about  20  miles  to  see 
some  Indians,  in  particular  one  that  came  from  the  Cayuga 
country  ;  but  missed  him,  however.  John  Shikalamy  told 
me  all  the  news  he  brought  from  Cayinkquo,  which  is  insert- 
ed in  the  paper  of  Indian  news  herewith  sent. 

The  Indians  on  Susquehanna  and  about  Shamokin  saw 
some  of  the  New  England  mm  that  came  as  spies  to  Woyo- 
meck last  fall,  and  they  saw  them  making  of  draughts  of  the 
land  and  rivers,  and  are  much  offended  about  it:  they  asked 
me  about  them.  I  told  them  we  had  heard  so  much  as  that, 
and  that  we  had  intelligence  from  New  England  that  they 
came  against  the  advice  of  their  superiors,  as  a  parcel  of 
headstrong  men  and  disturbers  of  the  peace.  They,  the  In- 
dians, said  they  were  glad  to  hear,  that  neither  their  brother 


APPENDIX. 


457 


Onas  nor  their  own  chief  men  had  sent  them ;  and  they  hoped 
they  would  not  be  supported  by  any  English  government  in 
so  doing. 

The  Nanticokes  are  gone  up  the  river  to  live  at  Otsen- 
encky,  a  branch  of  Susquehanna,  where  formerly  some  Onon- 
dagers  and  Shawanese  lived.  The  Indians  in  general  about 
Shamokin,  enquire  strongly  about  what  the  English  are  do- 
ing against  the  French  on  Ohio ;  they  seemed  too  mightily 
pleased  when  I  told  them  that  the  government  of  Virginia 
had  sent  five  or  six  hundred  men,  and  that  a  great  number 
would  be  sent  by  N.  Carolina;  but  they  wondered  why 
Pennsylvania  would  not  assist  their  brethren'  I  told  them 
I  hoped  they  still  would,  though  perhaps  not  at  this  time. 
They  said,  perhaps  it  will  be  too  late  then ;  for  the  Indians, 
said  they,  will  not  engage  before  they  see  the  English  fight 
the  French  courageously  with  one  accord. 

I  have  nothing  to  add,  but  am 

Sir,  your  very  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

News  that  the  Indians  told  Mr.  Weiser  at  Shamokin. 

Canadehnia,  son  of  Sakuchsonyont,  deceased,  came  from 
Cayukoe  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  brought  some  news 
that  some  of  the  Senecas,  on  their  way  to  the  Southern  In- 
dians, met  at  Ohio  with  three  parties  of  French  praying  In- 
dians, who  came  from  the  inhabited  parts  of  Virginia,  and 
had  a  great  many  scalps  and  four  prisoners,  one  thereof  they 
knew  was  a  son  of  Col.  Cressap.  The  Senecas  asked  them 
why  they  did  so,  they  made  answer  that  they  did  it  not 
themselves,  but  their  father  Onontio  had  ordered  them  so  to 
do  ;  that  they  did  not  know  where  they  had  been,  being  led 
by  a  Frenchman ;  but  supposed  it  was  upon  James*  river, 
or  Pottowmack;  that  they  had  also  two  Indian  scalps  which 
they  gave  to  the  Senecas,  and  told  them  they  might  now  go 
home,  as  these  scalps  would  answer  their  end,  and  the  Sene- 
cas turned  home  accordingly. 

Again,  that  a  large  belt  of  wampum,  one  end  black  and 
the  other  white,  was  sent  by  the  Shawanese  and  Delaware* 
on  the  Ohio  to  Onondago,  with  the  following  speech,  by  the 
black  part,  he,  the  Shawanese,  spoke : 

39 


458  APPENDIX. 

"  Brethren,  the  United  Nations,  hear  us;  the  French,  your 
father's  hatchet  is  just  over  our  heads,  and  we  expect  to  he 
struck  with  every  moment ;  make  haste,  therefore,  and  come 
to  our  assistance  as  soon  as  possible ;  for  if  you  stay  till  we 
are  killed,  you  wont  live  much  longer  afterwards ;  but  if  you 
come  soon,  we  shall  be  able  to  fight  and  conquer  the  French, 
our  enemy." 

The  Delawares  said  by  the  white  part : 

"  Uncles,  the  United  Nations,  we  expect  to  be  killed  by 
the  French,  your  father,  we  desire  therefore  that  you  will 
take  off  our  petticoat,  that  we  may  fight  for  ourselves,  our 
wives  and  children :  in  the  condition  we  are  in,  you  know 
we  can  do  nothing." 

Newmoch,  an  old  Delaware  Indian  from  the  Big  Island, 
came  to  Shamokin  while  I  was  there,  and  brought  the  news 
that  above  one  hundred  men,  Delawares,  where  by  the  way 
of  Ohio  to  settle  upon  the  Big  Island  upon  Zinachsy  river, 
for  security  of  their  wives  and  children  ;  that  as  many  staid 
at  Ohio,  and  are  moving  towards  the  Shawanese ;  that  the 
Shawanese  had  sent  a  message  to  the  Delawares,  when  they 
heard  of  their  intention  to  move  to  Zinachsy  with  a  belt  of 
wampum,  and  said,  "  Grand-fathers" — for  so  they  style  the 
Delawares — "don't  leave  me,  but  let  us  live  and  die  togeth- 
er, and  let  our  bones  rest  together ;  let  us  die  in  battle  like 
men,  and  fear  not  the  French." 

That  Captain  Trent  had  surprised  and  taken  six  French 
praying  Indians,  but  that  three  of  them  had  made  their  es- 
cape afterwards,  by  carelessness  of  the  guard. 

Canadehnia  also  said  that  three  columns  of  Frenchmen 
passed  the  Lake  Ontario  towrards  Ohio ;  the  first  column  of 
four  hundred,  the  second  of  three  hundred,  and  the  third  of 
four  hundred  men ;  in  all  eleven  hundred  ;  and  it  was  said 
that  more  would  come. 

Sarroyady  to  Governor  Morris. 

Shamokin,  September  11th,  1755. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

According  to  your  request  at  our  last  council,  I  am  re- 
membering you  to  the  Six  Nations,  and  all  other  Nations, 
and  as  you  requested  of  me  to  acquaint  you  of  whatever 


APPENDIX.  459 

affairs  happened  amongst  your  brethren,  the  Six  Nations,  this 
is  to  inform  you  that  I  have  already  heard  good  news,  viz: 
This  day  a  belt  of  wampum  (black)  came  to  Shamokin  from 
Oneida  from  the  Six  Nations,  setting  forth  that  the  French, 
with  all  the  Indians  they  can  get,  are  coming  down  upon 
them,  and  are  near  at  hand,  and  therefore,  the  Six  Nations 
have  sent  the  said  belt  (about  a  fathom  long)  to  their  cou- 
sins, the  Delawares,  and  all  other  Nations,  their  allies,  to 
come  with  speed  to  their  assistance,  for  they  expect  nothing 
but  death,  and  likewise  the  Six  Nations  have  ordered  their 
cousins,  the  Delawares,  to  lay  aside  their  petticoats  and  clap 
on  nothing  but  a  breech  clout.  This  is  only  to  let  you  know 
the  news  that  I  have  already  heard  and  met  with,  but  not- 
withstanding, I  shall  go  up  with  all  speed  to  your  brethren, 
the  Six  Nations,  and  all  our  other  allies,  according  to  my 
promise  to  you ;  and  to  confirm  my  words,  I  send  you  this 
string  of  wampum.  These  are  to  let  you  know  that  there 
are  twenty  in  number  of  our  men  got  this  length,  and  there 
are  more  daily  coming  to  us  and  we  shall  go  and  view  the 
French  forts  and  serve  them  as  they  served  us.  Your  friend 
Henry  Montour  is  along  with  our  men. 

Skirooniatta. 

The  subscriber  is  getting  a  company  with  all  the  expedi- 
tion he  can  to  go  against  the  French ;  the  people  whose 
names  are  under  his  are  going  with  him. 

Tohneetonas  alias  John  Sicalamy,  the  captain. 
Cunnoy  Sam. 
tuckaunauteneo. 
James  Logan  Sicalamy. 
Onnoharioh. 
John  Petty  Sicalamy. 
Jno.  Davison,  in  camp  with  them. 
These  are  the  heads  of  this  company. 


To  Governor  Morris. 

Heidelberg,  in  the  co.  of  Berks,  November  19,  1755. 
May  it  please  the  Governor : 

That  night  after  my  arrival  from  Philadelphia,  Eman- 
uel Carpenter  and  Simon  Kuhn,  Esqrs.  came  to  my  house 


460  APPENDIX. 

and  lodged  with  me.     They  acquainted  me  that  a  meeting 
was  appointed  (of  the  people  of  Tulpehocken  and   Heidel- 
berg, and  adjacent  places)  in  Tulpehocken  township  at  Ben- 
jamin Spycker's  early  next  morning.     I   made  all   the  haste 
with  the  Indians  I  could,  and  gave  them  a  letter  for  Thomas 
McKee  to  furnish  them  with  necessaries  for  their  journey. — 
Scariyade  had  no  creatine  to  ride  on,  I  gave  him  one.     Be- 
fore 1  could  get  down  with  the  Indians,  three   or  four  men 
came  from  Benjamin  Spycker's  to  warn  the  Indians  not  to  go 
that  way,  for  the  people  were  so  enraged  against  all   the  In- 
dians, and  would  kill  thtm  without  distinction.     1  went  with 
them,  so  did  the  gentlemen  before  mimed.     When  we  came 
near  Benjamin  Spyckei's,  I  saw  about  four  or  five  hundred 
men,  and  there  was  a  loud  noise.     I  rode  before,  and  in  rid- 
ing along  the  road  (around  men  on  both  sides  of  the  road,) 
I  heard  some  say,  "  Why  must  we  be  killed  by  the  Indians?" 
1  got  the  Indians  to  the  house  with  much  ado,  where  1  treat- 
ed them  with  a  small  dram  ;  and  so  parted  in  love  and  friend- 
ship.    Capt.  Diefenbach,  undertook  to  conduct  thtm,  with 
five  other  men,  to  the  Susquehanna.     Alter  this,   a  sort  of 
council  of  war  was  held  by  the  officers  present,  the  gentle- 
men before  mentioned,  and  other  freeholders.     It  was  agreed 
that  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  should  be  raised  immediately 
to  serve  as  outscouts,  and  as  guareTYrt  certain  places,  under 
the  Kittatinny  hills,  for  forty  dajs;  that  thofe  so  raised  to 
have  two  shillings  per  day,  and   two  pounds  of  bread  and 
two  pounds  of  beef,  and  a  gill  of  rum,  and  powder  and  lead, 
(arms  they  must  find  themselves.)     This  scheme  was  signed 
by  a  good  many  freeholders,  and  read  to  the  people. 

They  cried  out  that  so  much  for  an  Indian  scalp  they  would 
have  (be  they  friend  or  enemy)  from  the  governor.  I  told 
them  that  I  had  no  such  power  from  the  governor  nor  from 
the  Assembly.  They  began  to  curse  and  swear  the  gover- 
nor; some  the  Assembly  ;  called  me  a  traitor  of  the  country, 
who  held  with  the  Indians,  and  must  have  known  this  mur- 
der beforehand.  I  sat  in  the  house  by  a  low  window;  some 
of  my  friends  came  to  pull  me  away  from  it,  telling  me,  some 
of  the  people  threatened  to  shoot  me.  I  offered  to  go  out 
to  the  people,  and  either  pacify  them,  or  make  the  king's 
proclamation ;  but  those  in  the  house  with  me  would  not  let 
me  go  out.  The  cry  was,  "  The  land  is  betrayed  and  sold.'1 
The  common  people  from  Lancaster  county  were  the  worst. 


APPENDIX.  461 

The  wages,  they  said,  were  a  trifle,  and  said  somebody  pock- 
eted the  rest,  and  they  would  resent  it.  Somebody  had  put 
it  into  their  heads,  that  I  had  it  in  my  power  to  give  as  much 
as  I  pleased.  I  was  in  danger  of  being  shot.  In  the  mean- 
time, a  great  smoke  arose  under  Tulpehocken  mountain,  with 
the  news  following  that  the  Indians  had  committed  murder 
on  Mill  creek  (  a  false  alarm  )  and  set  fire  to  a  barn  :  most 
of  the  people  ran,  and  those  that  had  horses  rode  off  with- 
out any  order  or  regulation.  I  then  took  my  horse  and  went 
home,  where  I  intend  to  stay,  and  defend  my  own  house  as 
long  as  I  can.  There  is  no  doings  with  the  people  without 
law  and  regulation  by  the  governor  and  Assembly. 

The  people  of  Tulpehocken  all  fled  till  about  six  or  seven 
miles  from  me,  some  few  remain.     Another  such  attack  will 
lay  the  country  waste  on  the  west  side  of  the  Schuylkill. 
I  am  Sir, 

Yoar  most  obedient, 

Conrad  Weiser. 

Fort  Augusta,  14th  August,  1756. 
To  Robert  H.  Morris,  Governor. 
Sir- 
Last  night  I  received  by  express,  the  disagreeable  news 
that  Fort  Granville  was  taken  and  burnt  to  the  ground  by  a 
body  of  about  five  hundred  French  and  Indians ;  that  the 
whole  garrison  were   killed,  except  one  person,  who  was 
much  wounded,  and  made  his  escape;  and  am  well  assured 
that  this  loss  was  entirely  occasioned  by  a  want  of  ammuni- 
tion, having  received  a  letter  two  or  three  days  ago  from  Col. 
John  Armstrong,  that  they  had  in  that  Fort  only  one  pound 
of  powder  and  fourteen  pounds  of  lead. 

I  must  again  acquaint  your  Honor  that  we  are  still  with- 
out the  necessary  military  stores,  for  which  Mr.  Bard,  per 
my  order,  has  frequently  written  to  the  commissioners,  but  to 
no  purpose ;  and  should,  in  our  present  situation,  which  in 
all  probability  is  their  design,  it  is  impossible  but  we  must 
likewise  fall  a  sacrifice  to  them.  We  have  not  in  the  store 
more  than  four  half  barrels  of  powder,  which  is  only  half 
a  pound  to  each  man,  and  none  remaining  for  the  use  of  the 
cannon.  Inclosed  is  a  list  of  several  articles  absolutely  and 
immediately  necessary  for  our  security;  with  which  I  expect 
39* 


462  APPLNDIX. 

the  commissioners  will  furnish  us  without  delay;  and  then  we 
may  be  able  to  give  a  good  account  of  ourselves.  We  have 
the  walls  of  the  Fort  now  about  half  finished,  and  our  other 
works  in  such  situation,  that  we  can  make  a  \ery  good  de- 
fence against  any  body  of  French  and  Indians  that  shall  seat 
themselves  before  us,  without  cannon. 

I  am  informed  by  the  express  that  the  twelve  baftoes,  I 
sent  the  10th  inst.  to  Harris's  for  flour,  &c,  met  with  so 
much  difficulty  in  getting  down  the  river  lo  Halifax,  that  I 
am  convinced  it  will  be  quite  impracticable  for  them  to  push 
up  before  the  river  rises;  but  least  they  should  attempt  to 
do  it,  I  have  despatched  a  messenger  to  Captain  Jameson, 
whom  I  have  ordered  not  to  sutler  them  to  stir,  but  to 
Temain  at  Hunter's  Fort  till  further  orders,  as  I  am  appre- 
hensive the  enemy  have  by  this  time  posted  themselves  along 
the  river,  in  order  to  interrupt  our  communication  and  harass 
our  convoys. 

The  present  method  of  supplying  this  garrison  by  water 
is  so  uncertain,  that  some  quick  expedient  should  be  fallen 
upon  to  engage  a  number  of  pack-horses  into  the  service, 
which  may  transport  our  provisions,  &c,  at  all  times  of  the 
year,  by  way  of  Tulpehocken,  or  any  other  that  may  be 
thought  more  convenient. 

Our  battoes,  during  the  winter  season  must  lay  by,  so  that 
it  will  be  necessary  that  three  or  four  months  provisions 
should  be  stored  up  here  in  the  fall  for  the  support  of  this 
garrison  till  the  spring. 

*'  Mr.  Bryan,  who  by  no  means  has  supported  the  charaeter 
of  a  £o0d  officer,  this  morning  delivered  me  up  his  commis- 
sion, which  he  chose  to  do  rather  than  stand  a  trial  before  a 
general  court  martial  for  his  late  misconduct.  I  have  there- 
fore filled  up  an  ensign's  commission  for  Mr.  Thomas  McKee's 
son,  who  entered  wiih  the  regiment  as  a  volunteer  at  Mr. 
McKee's  store,  and  has  since  behaved  himself  extremely  well 
in  that  capacity. 

I  have  put  Lieut.  Plunket  under  an  arrest  for  mutiny,  and 
only  wfait  for  the  return  of  Capt.  Lloyd,  the  judge  advocate, 
to  have  him  tried  by  a  general  court  martial. 
Your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  humble  servant, 

William  Clapham. 

P.  S.  If  this  letter  should  not  be  very  clean  when  it  cemes 


APPENDIX.  463 

to  your  Honor's  hands,  you  will  excuse  it,  as  I  am  obliged 
to  put  it  into  the  pad  of  the  courier's  pack-saddle,  Jest 
the  enemy  should  get  possession  of  it. 

Fort  Augusta,  17th  Aug.,  1756. 
Honored  Sir, 

When  I  wrote  on  the  14th  inst.  I  omitted  to  inform 
your  honor,  that  the  garrison  at  Fort  Halifax,  Hunter's  and 
McKee's  store  had  very  iittle  ammunition  ;  and  yesterday 
I  received  a  letter  from  Capt.  Jammison  acquainting  me  that 
no  warlike  stores  are  yet  arrived  at  Harris's  from  Philadel- 
phia, so  that  I  hope  the  commissioners  will  make  the  great- 
est despatch  in  furnishing  these  several  garrisons  with  all  the 
necessary  supplies.  I  forgot  to  mention  our  want  for  Gran- 
ada shells,  which  should  be  sent  up  properly  filled  and  fuzed. 
Inclosed  is  the  examination  of  a  young  man,  who  has  been 
among  the  Indians  about  six  months,  and  made  his  escape 
here  last  Saturday. 

I  am  with  due  esteem, 
Your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

William  Clapham. 
Hon.  Rob.  H.  Morris,  Gov. 

Fort  Augusta,  7th  Sept.,  1756. 
To  Benj.  Franklin. 
Sir — 
The  bearer,  Michael  McGuiro,  enlisted  as. a  private  sol- 
dier, for  the  term  of  three  months,  in  the  service  of  the 
province;  he  has  not  only  during  that  time  behaved  him- 
self soberly  and  well  as  a  soldier,  but  has  been  particu- 
larly useful  as  an  overseer  and  carpenter  in  the  building  of 
the  Fort.  The  term  of  his  enlistment  expired  a  month  ago. 
and  as  he  is  capable  of  earning  more  in  the  practice  of  his 
business  than  his  pay  amounts  to,  he  is  now  come  to  offer 
his  further  services  to  the  gentlemen  commissioners  on  rea- 
sonable terms.  If  the  government  design  to  strengthen  this 
post  by  doubling  the  Fort  with  another  case  of  logs,  and 
filling  up  the  intermediate  space  with  earth,  in  order  to 
render  it  cannon  proof,  which  I  think  ought  to  be  done. 


464  APPENDIX. 

Such  a  man  will  be  particularly  serviceable:   at   least,  I 
could  not  refuse  him  his  certificate  of  his  merit — and  am, 
Sir, 
Your  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

William  Clapham. 

Harris's,  October  13,  1756. 
Sir- 
Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  intelligence  conveyed  to  Fort  Au- 
gusta by  an  Indian  chief  of  the  Six  Nations,  on  whose  credit 
I  can  formerly  rely;  and  transmitted  to  me  by  Major  Burd, 
as  also  an  inventory  of  the  stores,  ammunition  and  provisions 
now  in  the  garrison,  from  which  your  Honor  will  be  enabled 
to  judge  of  the  state  and  condition  of  that  Fort,  and  what 
probability  there  is  of  it  maintaining  a  long,  or  a  vigorous 
siege.  I  have  despatched  Capt.  Lloyd  to  your  Honor  with 
this  intelligence,  and  to  receive  your  orders.  I  shall  imme- 
diately repair  to  my  post  and  defend  it  to  the  last  extremity, 
in  which  endeavor  I  promise  myself  all  the  assistance  your 
Honor  may  be  able  to  afford  me.  I  should  be  very  glad  of 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  Myer,  the  engineer,  if  your  Honor 
thinks  proper  to  dispatch  an  express  to  him  with  orders  to 
repair  to  me.  The  garrison  consists  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  effective  men,  and  not  one  side  arm  in  case  of  an  at- 
tempt to  storm.  If  the  most  vigorous  measures  are  taken  I 
presnme  that  good  may  be  made  of  this  timely  intelligence  ; 
in  the  meantime  I  shall  endeavor  to  discharge  my  duty  both 
as  a  soldier  and  an  honast  man  ;  and  relying  on  your  Honor 
for  the  necessary  supply  and  assistance,  I  am 
Your  Honor's 

Most  obedient,  humble  servant, 
William  Clapham. 

Fort  Augusta,  October  18,  1756. 
Sir— 
I  have  just  time  to  inform  you  that  I  have  arrived  here 
safe  with  my  party  on  Sunday  afternoon,  having  brought 
with  me  70  horse  loads  of  flour,  and  a  quantity  of  salt,  and 
•30  head  of  cattle.  Captain  Bussee  arrived  here  with  his 
company  this  evening,  and  as  I  am  informed  that  the  com- 
missary of  musters  is  on  his  way  thither,  I  have  detached  a 


APPENDIX. 


460 


party  of  30  men  this   night,  under  two  officers,  as  a  rein- 
forcement to  his  escort. 

Inclosed  you  have  a  return  of  the  regiment,  by  which  you 
will  be  informed  of  the  number  of  duty-men,  &c.  I  have  also 
sent  the  substance  of  a  conference  I  have  had  this  day  with 
the  Indians. 

I  remain 

Your  most  obedient, 
Humble  servant, 

William  Clapham. 
To  Gov.  W.  Denny. 

According  to  the  return  there  were  164  duty-men — 300 
total,  viz : 

Colonel's  company,  18  duty  men;  total  43. 
Major's  company  27  ;  total  44. 
Capt.  Lloyd's  company  18;  total  39. 
Capt.  Shippeii's  company  27  ;  total  44. 
Capt.  Work's  company  23;  total  43. 
Capt.  Hambright's  company  26 ;  total  49. 
Capt.  Salter's  company  25;  total  44. 

These  consisted  of  sergeants,  corporals,  drummers,  bakers, 
blacksmiths,  herdsmen,  cooks,  carpenters,  masons,  ;awyers, 
coal  burners,  butchers,  brickmakers,  &c. 

According  to  the  deposition  of  George  Allen,  Abraham 
Sowerhill,  James  Crampton,  John  Gallaher,  John  Murray 
and  Robert  Egar,  who  had  been  out  as  scouts  on  the  3d  of 
June,  to  reconnoitre  from  McKee's  store  and  upward  the 
Susquehannah,  they  saw  nothing  till  they  came  to  McKee's 
and  found  his  house  burnt — then  they  went  up  to  Shamokin, 
and  not  observing  an  enemy,  went  to  the  place  where  the 
town  had  been,  the  houses  being  burnt  to  the  ground — after 
some  time  returned,  and  on  this  side  found  a  canoe  in  which 
they  came  down  to  George  Gabriel's  place,  whose  houses 
were  burnt,  and  searched  about  for  some  guns  that  were  lost 
last  fall  in  the  skirmish  between  the  Indians  and  McKee's 
party,  and  found  five  of  them  in  the  ruin,  that  they  then  pro- 
ceeded to  Charles  Williams'  house — thence  proceeded  by 
Berry's  place  to  the  camp  at  Armstrong's. 


466  APPENDIX. 

Fort  Augusta,  October  23d,  1756. 

Sir — I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  Mr.  Myers's  in- 
structions relative  to  the  additional  works  to  be  made  at  Au- 
gusta, and  shall  endeavor  to  conform  to  them  with  all  the 
exactitude  which  so  geod  a  plan  deserves  and  the  time  will 
allow — but  beg  leave  to  inform  your  Honor  that  two  escorts 
for  provision,  and  the  reconnoitering  parties  which  I  am  con- 
tinually under  the  necessity  of  detaching,  will  necessarily 
impede  the  execution  of  the  plan,  at  the  same  time  that  they 
weaken  the  garrison,  and  if  only  once  intercepted,  subject  it 
to  the  danger  of  inevitable  ruin  from  the  want  of  provisions, 
of  which  there  is  seldom  more  than  a  sufficiency  for  two 
weeks  in  store.  I  have  endeavored  to  hire  four  men,  pursu- 
ant to  your  Honor's  direction,  but  they  having  been  employ- 
ed in  the  service  of  the  government  and  received  no  compen- 
sation for  their  services  are  utterly  unwilling  to  engage,  tho' 
I  offered  to  become  bound  for  their  reward. 

I  have,  with  the  advice  of  Mr.  Myers  and  Mr.  Young, 
(who,  at  the  same  time  communicated  to  me  your  Honor's 
opinion  on  the  subject,)  presumed  to  promise  each  man,  nine 
pence  additional  pay,  per  day,  during  the  time  he  is  employ- 
ed, and  faithfully  discharges  his  duty  as  a  pioneer  in  the 
works — and  having  no  rum,  should  be  glad  of  a  supply,  as 
seems  necessary  for  their  health  at  this  season,  and  at  the 
same  time  is  the  most  effectual  encouragement  to  exert  them- 
selves. 

Inclosed  is  a  return  of  the  provisions,  ammunition  and 
stores  now  in  this  magazine,  and  also  a  return  and  descrip- 
tion of  the  deserters  from  the  regiment,  as  there  is  no  provi- 
sion made  by  law  for  the  recovery  of  them,  while  the  farmers 
entertain,  and  the  regulars  publicly  enlist  them,  I  am  at  a 
loss  here  to  proceed,  and  the  service  in  the  meantime  suf- 
fers. 

I  wait  with  impatience  for  your  Honor's  further  orders, 
and  am 

Sir, 
With  the  greatest  respect, 
Your  Honor's  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

William  Clapham. 


APPENDIX.  467 

Extract, 
To  Gov.  Denny  from  Thomas  McKee. 

Fort  Augusta,  June  16,  1757. 

I  left  the  Indian  camp  at  Lancaster,  the  23d  of  last  month, 
and  when  I  came  as  far  as  Samuel  Scott's,  I  was  obliged  to 
stop,  and  bury  a  Tuscarora  Indian,  who  was  killed  by  one 
of  his  own  Nation ;  from  thence,  with  much  difficulty,  by 
reason  the  Indians'  excessive  drinking,  I  came  to  John  Har- 
ris', where  I  was  detained  three  days,  and  buried  another  man 
of  the  same  Nation,  who  died  of  the  small  pox  ;  from  thence 
I  came  to  Fort  Hunter,  where  the  Indians,  in  spite  of  all 
that  I  could  do,  got  into  a  drinking  frolic,  which  detained 
me  three  days ;  and  from  thence  I  set  off  by  water  to  Fort 
Augusta,  where  Major  Burd  received  us  very  kindly,  and 
gave  the  Indians  plenty  of  all  such  provisions  as  he  was  mas- 
ter of;  and  lest  there  should  be  any  difference  between  the 
Indians  and  the  soldiers,  he  gave  the  Indians  but  a  gill  of 
rum  a  day,  which  did  not  altogether  please  them,  as  they  ex- 
pected another  drinking  frolic ;  but  we  did  not  think  it  ex- 
pedient, by  reason  that  our  scouting  parties  daily  discovered 
fresh  signs  of  the  enemy — Indians. 

I  must  acquaint  your  Honor,  that  after  we  left  the  inhab- 
itants, Thomas  King,  one  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  seemed  much 
out  of  humor,  and  did  not  prove  so  free  or  familiar  as  I  ex- 
pected ;  and,  after  we  were  some  time  at  Fort  Augusta,  I 
asked  him,  in  the  presence  of  Maj.  Burd,  which  of  rjis  peo- 
ple he  would  leave  here?  And  he  replied,  he  would  leave 
none  but  what  died  here. 

They  left  this  Fort  the  5th  of  last  month,  with  plenty  of 
flour,  meat  and  rum,  sufficient  to  carry  them  home. 
_  _  I  have  still  here  two  families  of  Tuscaroras,  and  two  fam- 
ilies of  Conestogas,  and  old  Ogohadorio  alias  Kiskatay,  but 
they  have  not  as  yet  resolved  whether  they  will  stay  or  not. 
I  must  further  acquaint  pour  Honor,  that  a  family  of  the 
Oneidas,  came  yesterday  down  the  river,  and  they  want  pow- 
der and  lead ;  but  the  Major  does  not  think  proper  to  part 
with  any  more  ammunition  out  of  the  garrison.  So  that,  in 
my  humble  opinion,  it  would  be  very  requisite  that  your 
Honor  would  order  a  supply  of  powder,  lead  and  flour,  to 


468 


APPENDIX. 


be  sent  to  this  Fort,  inasmuch  as  by  all  information,  there 
would  be  a  continual  resort  of  Indians  to  this  place. 

I  understand  by  this  family  that  Teedyuscung  is  gone 
from  Wyomink  across  the  country,  with  a  great  number 
of  Indians  to  go  to  Easton.  The  aforesaid  Indians  like- 
wise inform  me,  that  they  expect  two  canoes  with  Indians 
here  this  day  or  to-morrow,  in  order  to  get  powder  and 
lead,  and  provisions — and  as  they  are  in  a  starving  condi- 
tion, they  expect  sustenance  from  here,  during  this  sum- 
mer. 

If  it  is  your  Honor's  pleasure,  that  I  should  remain  here, 
1  humbly  desire  the  favor  of  receiving  your  Honor's  in- 
structions, and  the  liberty  of  distributing  amongst  the  In- 
dians, according  as  it  will  suit  such  things  as  are  designed 
for  them,  for  sale. 

I  remain  your  Honor's 

Most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Thomas  McKee. 

At  Barnabas  Hugh's,  Lancaster  co.  Nov.  22d,  1757. 
To  the  Hon.  W.  Denny. 
Honored  Sir — 

A  few  miles  on  this  side  of  Wyomink,  Teedeuscung 
with  some  of  his  friends  met  us,  and  showed  their  way 
to  the  spot  he  had  pitched  upon  for  the  town,  and  said  he 
had  desired  us  not  to  erect  a  fort,  but  only  some  houses, 
and  accordingly  we  set  the  men  to  work,  and  when  we 
had  covered  in  two  and  set  up  six  more,  he  let  us  know 
he  was  satisfied,  as  he  intended  to  go  to  Bethlehem  imme- 
diately and  live  there  all  winter,  in  which  time,  he  thought 
if  not  improbable,  but  some  straggling,  ill  effectual  Indians 
might  burn  them  down ;  howeVer  be  that  as  it  might,  he 
designed  to  return  in  the  spring  and  settle  there,  where  he 
would  have  the  business  completed. 
We  are  with  due  esteem, 

Your  Honor's  most  obedient  and  humble  servants, 

James  Hughes, 
E.-wd.  Shippen, 
James  Galbreath. 


APPENDIX. 


469 


Fort  Augusta,  20th  January,  1758. 
To  Major  James  Burd. 
Dear  Brother — 

I  had  the  pleasure  to  write  you  the  2d  inst.  per  Mr. 
Bard,  when  I  enclosed  you  the  returns,  &c.,  for  the  1st  of 
January,  1753,  since  wliich  several  small  parties  of  Delaware 
Indians  have  arrived  here  with  skins,  to  trade  at  the  store ; 
among  the  rest  came  old  King  Neutimas,  Joseph,  and  all 
their  family;  and  we  have  now  forty-three  present,  including 
women  and  children.  Job  Chilloway,  brother  to  Bill  Chil- 
loway,  came  here  the  other  day  from  the  Muncy  country  at 
the  head  of  the  Cayuga  branch  above  Diahoga  ;  he  was  born 
and  bred  at  Egg  Harbor,  is  a  very  sensible  fellow,  and 
speaks  the  English  language  perfectly  well.  From  all  the 
circumstances  of  his  conversation  and  behavior,  he  appears 
to  be  a  strict  friend  to  the  English  interest ;  his  releasing 
Armstrong's  wife  fram  the  Indians  last  summer,  and  the  pru- 
dent precautions  he  used  in  sending  her  here,  is  a  confirma- 
tion of  my  good  opinion  of  him.  He  assures  me  that  the 
only  Indians  on  the  Susquehanna,  who  are  our  enemies,  are 
the  Muncy  nation;  and  they  are  determined  to  continue  the 
war  against  the  English:  he  says  he  understood  from  some 
of  the  Indians,  when  he  came  away,  that  a  small  party  of 
French  were  expected  next  month  from  Niagara,  to  join  a 
Muncy  captain  and  some  of  his  warriors ;  and  their  intention 
is  to  go  towards  the  settlements  near  Delaware,  and  to  take 
-an  English  Fort,  situated  at  a  place  called  Bendig  Hill, 
which  we  suppose  to  be  Fort  Allen.  He  further  informs  me 
that  last  March  he  carried  a  parcel  of  skins  to  the  French, 
at  Niagara,  to  purchase  clothing  for  his  family,  which  mere 
necessity  obliged  him  to  do,  much  contrary  to  his  inclination, 
observing  that  the  unhappy  Indian  war  had  put  an  end  to 
English  trade;  that  while  he  was  at  that  fort,  there  were 
but  five  officers,  and  he  had  computed  the  number  of  sol- 
diers not  to  exceed  150,  who,  by  his  description  of  their  ap- 
pearance and  dress,  are  regulars ;  that  they  mounted  in  the 
tort  45  pieces  of  cannon,  some  of  which  were  the  brass  field 
pieces  taken  from  General  Braddock,  which  they  intended 
in  the  summer  to  send  to  fort  Frontenac ;  that  the  fort  was 
strong  and  pretty  large,  having  in  it  a  great  stone  house, 
three  stories  high,  where  the  officers  lived. 
40 


470 


APPENDIX. 


He  intends  to  return  to  the  Muncy  country  in  a  few  days 
in  order  to  bring  away  his  things,  and  in  the  spring  is  de- 
termined to  live  among  his  brethren,  the  English,  with  whom 
he  has  always  enjoyed  peace  and  friendship. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Capt.  Jamison  and 
Lieut.  Garraway  arrived  here  yesterday  with  twelve  battoes 
containing  6000  of  flour,  two  hogsheads  of  whiskey,  three 
barrels  of  salt,  and  twenty  bushels  of  Indian  corn  for  the  gar- 
rison, besides  a  quantity  for  Carson's  store. 

In  the  morning  I  shall  despatch  off  Capt.  Davis  and  En- 
sign McKee  with  a  party  of  fifty  men  in  the  battoes  to  make 
another  trip,  if  possible,  while  the  river  is  open  and  favor- 
able. 

I  have  restricted  the  garrison  to  an  allowance  of  one  pound 
of  flour  per  man,  since  the  1st  of  January,  and  shall  think 
it  necessary  to  continue  the  same  till  Capt.  Davis's  return, 
with  an  additional  supply. 

We  have  in  store  17,390  of  flour,  and  91,481  of  beef. 
Yours,  &c, 

Joseph  Shippen. 

Fort  Augusta,  July  19,  1758. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

I  received  yours  of  the  3d  inst.,  wherein  your  orders 
to  me  is  to  carry  on  the  works  relating  to  the  strengthening 
of  thjs  fort,  which  I  shall  observe  to  do  to  the  utmost  of  my 
power,  with  the  few  men  that  are  left  to  garrison  this  place. 
Capt.  Montgomery  arrived  here  on  the  16th  instant,  with 
three  subalterns  and  sixty-two  private  men,  who  were 
draughted  out  of  several  companies  of  the  new  raised  levies. 
General  Forbes  has  ordered  Capt.  Robt.  Eastburn  and 
Capt.  Paul  Jackson,  and  their  subalterns,  with  thirty-five  of 
each,  company,  (which  is  more  than  they  have  here,)  to 
march  and  join  him  at  Raystown.  He  likewise  ordered  me 
to  draught  forty  of  the  best  men  belonging  to  Colonel  Burd's 
battalion,  and  send  them  to  him,  with  two  officers,  viz:  Lieut. 
Broadhead,  and  Ensign  Holler.  There  is  but  one  officer 
left  here,  beside  myself,  of  Colonel  Burd's  battalion,  who  is 
Ensign  Henry.  I  have  no  Ensign.  The  above  draughts 
march  from  this  place  this  day.  There  is  only  one  hundred 
and  forty-three  men  left  here,  out  of  which  number  there  are 


APPENDIX.  471 

ten  whose  time  is  expired,  and  will  not  enlist  again;  besides 
two  men  more  that  Major  Lloyd  has  sent  discharges  for,  and 
a  great  part  of  them  that  are  left,  are  blind,  lame,  sick,  old, 
and  decrepid,  not  fit  to  be  intrusted  with  any  charge.  I  have 
got  but  few  tradesmen  to  carry  on  any  building ;  one  car- 
penter, two  masons,  and  one  smith,  are  left  here.  I  have  be- 
gun to  build  a  powder  magazine  (as  there  has  never  been 
any  other  than  the  common  provision  store)  an  unfit  place 
to  hold  powder,  and  am  obliged  to  leave  it  unfinished  for 
want  of  lime  and  stone ;  the  limestone  we  fetch  six  miles, 
and  it  is  impossible  to  fetch  them  any  other  way  than  by 
water,  and  all  the  batteaux  men  are  discharged ;  so  it  is  im- 
possible for  me  to  carry  it  on  any  further  than  without  some 
more  assistance. 

The  four  pieces  of  cannon  are  come  up  that  were  sent 
from  Philadelphia ;  but  there  is  not  a  person  to  make  car- 
riages for  them,  so  they  will  be  useless  till  such  time  as  there 
is  a  fit  person  sent  here  to  make  them,  and  as  to  what  intel- 
ligence I  can  get,  I  shall  always  immediately  send  to  your 
Honor  and  General  Forbes,  and  I  have  no  other  way  to 
get  but  by  sending  out  some  Indians  that  frequent  this  gar- 
rison, who  have  offered  their  services,  provided  they  be  pro- 
perly rewarded  for  their  trouble.  Capt.  Hembus  says  that 
he  has  not  been  rewarded  for  the  scalp  he  brought  some 
some  time  ago. 

I  have  not  had  any  instructions  from  your  Honor  concern- 
ing sending  out  Indians  to  bring  intelligence  or  French  scalps 
and  rewarding  them  for  the  same  :  had  it  not  been  Colonel 
Burd's  positive  orders  to  send  Mr.  Dunlap  and  Capt.  Hem- 
bus  to  him,  I  should  have  sent  immediately  to  your  Honor. 
I  sent  Lieut.  Broadhead  with  a  party  of  thirty  men,  on  the 
2d  instant,  down  to  Harris's  Ferry,  to  escort  some  batteaux 
up  here,  as  your  Honor  ordered  Commissary  Bard  to  engage 
all  the  batteaux  men  in  the  service  again.  Capt.  Hembus 
went  down  with  him ;  Lieut.  Broadhead  received  the  gene- 
ral's orders  to  continue  there  for  some  time,  and  on  the  10th 
instant,  in  Mr.  Broad  head's  absence,  I  got  intelligence  of  a 
party  of  enemy  Indians  being  seen  down  the  Susquehanna, 
on  the  west  side,  opposite  Capt.  McKee's  place.  Two  Indi- 
ans brought  me  the  news ;  the  name  of  one  was  James  Co- 
tas;  he  judged  there  were  about  30  in  number,  and  were 
bending  their  course  towards  the  inhabitants.     Immediately 


472 


APIENDIX. 


I  despatched  the  two  Indians  with  an  express  to  Lieutenant 
Broadhead,  desiring  him  to  take  particular  care  in  marching 
up,  and  to  alarm  the  inhabitants  that  they  put  themselves  in 
a  posture  of  defence. 

On  the  13th  instant  Capt.  Hembus  and  James  Cotas  had 
some  difference  at  Hunter's,  and  the  former,  in  the  dead  time 
of  the  night,  killed  the  latter.     Mr.  Broadhead  informs  me 
the  General  would  not  employ  any  batteaux  men  for  this  ri- 
ver, but  ordered  George  Allen,  captain  of  the  batteaux,  to 
engage  as  many  of  them  as  he  could  to  go  on  the  expedition. 
There  have  been  several  parties  of  Indians  here  from  Wyo- 
ming for  Indian  corn,  but  not  having  any,  I  was  obliged  to 
give  them  flour.     I  understand  there  is  corn  below;  but  as 
there  are  no  batteaux  men,  we  can't  get  it  up;  and  our  gar- 
rison is  so  weak,  we  can't  spare  men  from  the  fort ;  and  if  I 
would,  there  is  not  one  who  understands  working  a  batteaux. 
As  the  guns,  powder,  and  sundry  other  necessaries,  which 
are  much  wanted  here,  were  at   Harris's,  Commissary  Bard 
gave  orders  to  Lieut.  Broadhead,  who  went  down  with  a 
party  to  engage  as  many  batteaux  men  as  would  bring  up 
the  necessaries,  and  he  would  see  them  paid.     Here  is  one 
Mr.  Hausey,  son-in-law  to  Capt.  Eastburn,  who  came  a  vo- 
lunteer; he  is  a  ship  carpenter,  and  seems  an  ingenious  young 
man ;  and  might  be  of  great  service  here  in  doing  many  things 
in  that  way,  if  he  had  any  encouragement.     He  is  a  sober, 
active,  genteel  young  man,  and  by  his  behavior  since  he  has 
been  here,  I  believe  would  make  a  good  officer,  if  your  Ho- 
nor thought  proper. 

'  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  carry  on  the  Indian  storehouse, 
for  want  of  workmen  and  tools,  and  as  this  last  draught  has 
taken  all  the  workmen  from  me,  save  the  few  I  have  men- 
tioned to  your  Honor ;  but  I  have  for  the  present  fitted  up 
one  of  the  barracks,  that  is  almost  joining  the  present  Indian 
store,  which  will  hold  a  great  quantity  of  skins. 

We  have  no  drums  here;  they  took  them  all  away;  and  I 
understand  there  are  some  new  ones  in  Philadelphia.  Capt. 
John  Teedyuscung,  with  an  other  Indian,  who  were  sent  by 
the  king  last  April  to  Allegheny,  returned  here  the  10th  inst. 
and  went  from  hence  for  Wyoming,  the  14th,  and  informed 
he  intended  to  be  in  Philadelphia  by  the  first  of  next  month 
at  farthest ;  he  had  belts  from  the  Allegheny.Indians.    Doc- 


APPENDIX.  473 

tor  Bond  came  here  with  the  party  under  Captain  Montgo- 
mery. 

I  am,  with  due  respect, 

Your  Honor's  most  humble  servant, 

Levi  Trump. 
P.  S.  I  have  set  the  above  named  Mr.  Hausey  to  work  at 
the  carriages  for  the  cannon,  but  he  has  no  one  to  help  him 
to  carry  it  on. 

I  this  moment  received  an  account  from  an  Indian  that  has 
come  from  hunting,  that  saw  three  of  the  enemy  Indians' 
rires,  and  several  of  their  beds,  yesterday  morning,  about  30 
miles  from  this  fort,  down  towards  the  inhabitants.  Capt. 
Eastburn's  detachment,  just  ready  to  march  that  course  where 
the  fires  were  seen — I  gave  him  orders  to  march  his  men  in 
such  order  as  would  best  discover  them,  if  there  should  be 
any  thereabouts  ;  at  the  same  time,  I  sent  a  party  out  of  the 
garrison  in  search  of  them  elsewhere. 

L,  T. 

The  batteaux  men  were  greatly  exposed  to  immediate 
dangers,  as  would  appear  from  the  following  extract  of  a 
report : 

A  roll  of  men  killed  in  the  batteaux,  28th  March,  1759. 

James  Allen,  of  the  Governor's  company — 1st  battalion. 

Frederick  Devoid,  of  Major  Shippen's  company — 2d  bat- 
talion. 

Philip  Bond,  of  Major  A-imstrong's  company — 1st  battal- 
ion. 

Christopher  Dolen,  of  Captain  Ward's  company — 1st  bat- 
talion. 

Joseph  Leard,  of  Captain  Callender's  company — 1st  bat- 
talion. 

John  McCotter,  of  Captain  Patterson's  company,  and  Da- 
vid Cody,  of  Major  Jameson's  company,  both  taken  from  the 
Fort,  the  26th  March. 

John  McCotter  returned  the  2d  of  April. 

Fort  Augusta,  March  1st,  1758. 
Joseph  Shippen,  Capt.  in  the  Augusta  regiment,  Reports, 
March  1st,  the  military  store  there  to  consist  of  75,786  pounds 
of  beef,  3,694  pounds  of  flour,  7  sheep,  2  bushels  of  salt,  40 
40* 


474  APPENDIX. 

gallons  of  rum,  23  pounds  of  match  rope,  12  old  gray  coats 
entirely  worn  out,  173  pairs  of  stockings,  14  frying  pans,  15 
reams  of  cartridge  paper,  4  horse-bells,  10  ordinary  broad- 
axes,  70  tomahawks,  22  spades,  215  shovels,  2  hand-saws, 
5  drag-chains,  4  ordinary  whip-saws,  18  grubbing  hoes,  14 
batteaux — patched  up  for  present  use,  8  pieces  of  cannon*, 
2  swivels,  7  blunderbusses,  413  small  arms,  &c. 

Thomas  Lloyd,  major  of  2d  battalion,  and  commandant, 
reports  the  number  ot  officers  and  of  companies  stationed 
there  April  1st,  1758  : 

Lieut.  Col.  James  Burd,  Major  Thos.  Lloyd  ;  Captains 
Joseph  Shippen,  Patrick  W  ork,  David  Jameson,  John  Ham- 
bright,  Levi  Trump,  and  Asher  Claytonf.  Total  of  each  ; 
viz  :  1  Lieut.  Col.,  4  Majors,  6  Captains,  3  Ensigns,  1  mate, 
11  sergeants,  8  drummers;  205  men  fit  for  duty;  20  sick,  2 
in  the  hospital,  95  on  command,  3  on  furlough. 

Absent  officers  at  the  time — Col.  Burd,  Capts.  Ilambright, 
Trump,  Shippen;  Lieuts.  Miles,  Scott,  Ensign  Henry  Hol- 
lar— Doctor  John  Morgan  visiting  ihe  sick  at  Harris's. 

Dec.  1,  1758,  they  had  provisions,  &c. — 103  bullocks, 
1S,316  pounds  of  flour,  6  ferkins  of  butter,  &c.  Total  num- 
ber of  men  170  ;  whereof  123  were  unfit  for  duty. 

Extract. 
Joseph  Shippen  to  Major  Burd. 

Fort  Augusta,  20th  January,  1758. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Capt.  Jameson  and 
Lieut.  Garraway  arrived  here  yesterday  with  12  battoes, 
containing  6000  pounds  of  flour,  2  hogshead  of  whiskey,  3 
barrels  of  salt,  and  20  bushels  of  Indian  corn  for  the  garri- 
son, besides  a  quantity  for  Mr.  Carson's  store. 

In  the  morning  I  shall  dispatch  off  Capt.  Davis  and  En- 
"slgn  McKee  with  a  party  of  50  men  in  the  battoes  to  make 

*  August  1,  1758,  13  pieces  of  cannon  are  reported;  704  cannon  ball, 
1,301  grape  shot  made  up  for  cannon. 

+  August  1,  1758,  in  additiou  to  these  captains  we  find  others  sta- 
tioned here,  viz:  Robert  Eastburn,  Paul  Jackson,  John  Montgomery, 
Ludwig  Stein,  John  Clark  and  Robert  Boyd;  but  few  officers  present 
then. 


APPENDIX.  475 

another  trip,  if  possible,  while  the  river  is  open  and  favora- 
ble. I  have  restricted  the  garrison  to  an  allowance  of  one 
pound  of  flour  a  man  since  the  1st  of  January,  and  shall 
think  it  necessary  to  continue  the  same  till  Capt.  Davis's  re- 
turn with  an  additional  supply. 

We  have  now  in  store  17,390  pounds  of  flour,  and  91,481 
pounds  of  beef. 

.in  Indian  Conference,  was  held  at  Shamokin,  or  Fort  Au- 
gusta, 1769. 

Saturday,  August  19,  1769,  a  little  before  noon,  Seneca 
George,  Gen-gu-ant,  and  about  fifty-three  more  Indians  of 
different  tribes,  being  chiefly  Nanticokes  and  Conoys,  landed 
from  their  boats,  and  sent  a  message  to  Col.  Francis  to  know 
when  they  might  speak  to  him,  who  immediately  returned 
an  answer,  that  in  the  afternoon  that  he  would  be  glad  to  see 
his  brother,  Seneca  George,  and  the  friends  and  brethren  he 
had  brought  with  him.  Col.  Francis  then  proposed  to  re- 
ceive the  Indians,  and  desired  the  Rev.  Doctor  Smith,  of 
Phila.,  who  happened  to  come  to  the  fort  about  half  an  hour 
before  the  Indians,  to  give  his  assistance  in  taking  the  min- 
utes. 

Aug.  11,  P.  M. 

Present,  Col.  Francis,  Rev.  Smith,  and  about  50  inhabi- 
tants on  and  near  Susquehanna;  Seneca  George,  Last  Night, 
the  Conoy  King  ;  Gu-en-gu-ant  an  Onondago,  and  22  more 
warriors  and  young  men. 

Isaac  Still,  Interpreter. 

Seneca  George,  speaks : 

Brother :  You  sent  a  letter  some  days  since  inviting 
me  to  this  place.  I  invited  ray  brother  Gu-en-gu-ant,  one  of 
the  Onondagoes  to  come  with  me,  and  likewise  some  of  my 
children  of  the  Nanticokes  and  Conoys.  I  also  found  other 
young  men  waiting  for  me  to  come  down  J  and  now  we  are 
all  here  before  you  as  you  was  the  governor,  for  you  could 
not  expect  me  to  come  alone. 

Brother : 

We  have  met  among  ourselves  this  day  with  many  tears,. 


476  APPENDIX. 

but  now  see  you,  our  tears  begin  to  dry  up  a  little,  and  we 
are  ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say,  and  you  may  ap- 
point the  time  as  soon  as  you  please;  and  when  you  speak, 
all  of  us  will  consider  one  with  another  what  you  say  to 
us. 

Brother  : 

I  will  speak  one  word  more.  I  desire  you  would  stop 
all  your  strong  drink  for  awhile,  for  you  and  I  can  neither 
speak  or  smoke  together  rightly,  if  our  young  men  should 
get  drink  at  this  council  fire,  kindled  by  the  Governor  at 
"Shamokin. 

Brother : 

You  and  I  are  friends,  and  know  each  other,  and  you 
likewise  very  well  know  what  the  custom  is  when  the  Gov- 
ernor meets  his  brethren  at  any  place  where  he  appoints  a 
council  fire — now  you  see  your  brethren  here,  and  we  de- 
sire you  will  give  us  something  to  eat,  for  this  is  always 
the  custom  when  we  meet  the  Governor  at  a  council  fire — 
we  have  no  more  to  say  at  this  time. 

Col.  Francis  was  going  to  make  some  reply,  and  to  ex- 
press his  pleasure  at  meeting  his  brethren,  and  to  tell  them 
i hat  they  should  hear  good  things  from  the  Governor  on 
Monday.  The  Indians  then  went  to  their  camp  and  provi- 
sions were  sent  them.  This  evening,  Joseph  Shippen,  Esq., 
Provincial  Secretary,  arrived  at  the  Fort. 

Sunday,  Aug.  20,  1769. 

The  Indians  having  understood  that  Doctor  Smith  was  to 
have  divine  service  to  white  people,  assembled  at  the  Fort, 
Seneca  George  sent  notice  that  his  people  worshipped  the 
same  God  with  the  English,  and  would  attend  divine  ser- 
vice ;  which  they  did  accordingly,  with  great  decency,  and 
Isaac  Still  interpreted  the  conclusion  of  the  discourse,  which 
was  particularly  addressed  to  them. 

Monday,  Aug.  21,  1769. 
Present,  Col-  Francis,  Joseph  Shippen,  Dr.  Smith,  Chas. 


APPENDIX. 


477 


Stewart  and  near  one  hundred  inhabitants ;  and  all   the  In- 
dians that  had  attended  on  Saturday. 

Isaac  Still,  Interpreter. 

Seneca  George  speaks. 
Brother,  and  all  you,  my  Brothers  : 

This  day  we  are  alt  met  here  together ;  some  chief 
men,  my  brothers,  are  come  with  me,  and  some  young  men, 
to  this  council  fire,  kindled  by  the  governor.  You  have  sent 
foi  me  to  come  from  Shenango,  and  now  I  am  come  to  hear 
my  brother,  and  I  suppose  you  have  something  within  your 
heart  to  tell  me.    Gives  a  String. 

Colonel  Francis  spoke  then  as  follows : 

Brother  Seneca  George,  and  all  you,  my  brethren : 

I  am  glad  to  see  you  here,  and  that  you  received  the 
letter  I  sent  you,  soon  enough  to  meet  me  here,  at  the  very 
lime  I  wished  to  see  you.  My  grief  for  what  has  happened 
has  been  equal  to  yours,  but  in  seeing  you  here,  in  so  friend- 
ly and  good  a  disposition,  my  grief  is  now  so  much  removed 
that  I  have  been  able  to  light  this  council  fire,  and  to  ac- 
quaint you  with  what  is  contained  within  the  Governor's 
heart,  on  this  occasion.     Gives  a  String. 

Now  brethren  open  your  ears  and  listen — I  am  going  to 
deliver  to  you  what  the  Governor  desired  me  to  speak  to 
Seneca  George,  and  his  friends  on  this  sad  occasion — Attend 
then,  brethren,  for  it  is  now  the  Governor  speaks. 

Brethren : 

I  take  this  opportunity  by  Col.  Francis  to  give  you 
my  kind  and  hearty  salutation,  and  by  this  String  desire  you 
will  hearken  to  the  message  I  send  you  by  him.  A  String 
of  Wampum. 

Brethren : 

It  is  not  above  a  month  ago,  that  Col.  Francis  came 
from  Shamokin,  on  purpose  to  acquaint  me  of  the  death  of 
one  of  our  Indian  brethren,  and  that  the  man  who  was  sup- 
posed to  have  committed  the  crime  was  apprehended  and  se- 
cured in  Lancaster  jail. 


IT- 


APPENDIX. 


On  this  information,  I  ordered  the  man  to  be  sent  to  the 
jail  of  this  city,  to  be  kept  secure,  till  he  can  be  tried. 

Brethren :  „    — 

Col.  Francis  further  acquaints  me  that,  the  Indians, 
who  were  in  the  cabin  with  our  deceased  brother,  at  the 
time  he  was  killed,  were  present  when  the  offender  was  ta- 
ken, and  were  satisfied  with  Col.  Francis'  conduct  in  this 
arfair,  and  were  kind  enough  to  take  a  message  from  him, 
to  give  an  account  of  what  had  been  done,  and  to  tell  you 
he  was  hastening  to  Philadelphia,  to  lay  the  same  before  me, 
md  would  bring  in  a  month  or  six  weeks,  my  message  to 
you  on  this  melancholy  occasion,  and  desired  you  to  be  at 
Sharaokin  in  order  to  receive  it. 

Brethren: 

Knowing  that  by  treaties  between  this  government  and 
the  Indians,  we  are  obliged  to  inform  each  other  of  any  ac- 
cident that  happen,  which  may  be  likely  to  disturb  the  peace 
subsisting  between  us ;  as  soon  as  I  had  made  myself  ac- 
quainted with  the  particulars  attending  this  matter,  I  lost  no 
time  in  sending  account  thereof  to  Sir  YVm.  Johnson,  that  he 
might  relate  the  real  truth,  as  far  as  was  come  to  my  knowl- 
edge, to  the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  assure  them, 
that  the  person  apprehended  should  be  taken  great  care  of, 
and  safely  secured,  and  receive  his  trial  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  the  deceased  had  been  a  white  man,  and  by  his  trial  it 
will  appear  whether  the  affair  was  accidental  or  designed. 

Brethren : 

We  are  sensible  that  whilst  the  body  of  our  deceased 
brother  lies  above  ground,  your  minds  cannot  be  easy.  We 
therefore,  by  these  strouds,  bury  his  body,  and  cover  it  so 
deep  that  your  eyes  may  never  more  see  it. 

Brethren : 

With  these  handkerchiefs  we  wipe  away  all  the  tears 
which  run  down  your  cheeks,  and  take  the  sorrow  from  your 
hearts,  and  desire  you  would  grieve  no  more.  Handkerchiefs. 

Brethren: 

With  this  belt  we  scrape  up  all  the  blood  that  has  lain 


APPENDIX.  479 

on  the  ground,  or  may  have  stained  the  bushes.  We  collect 
them  together,  bury  them  under  ground,  that  neither  your 
nor  your  friends  eyes  may  more  behold  them,  as  you  pass 
and  re-pass  the  place  where  the  accident  happened.  A  Belt. 

Brethren : 

As  we  have  not  buried  the  body  of  our  deceased  broth- 
er, we  desire  you  will  suffer  no  uneasiness  to  remain  in  your 
minds,  that  may  cause  the  least  ill  will  towards  your  breth- 
ren of  the  English.     A  Belt. 

Brethren : 

As  you  are  the  relations  of  our  deceased  brother,  as  a 
token  of  our  affection  for  you,  and  to  comfort  your  hearts, 
we  desire  you  would  accept  of  this  present  of  goods.  Deliv- 
ered the  Goods. 

Signed  John  Penn. 

Seneca  George  speaks. 

Brother : 

Now  I  have  heard  what  the  governor  has  to  say  to'me 
on  this  occasion ;  my  young  men  and  the  chiefs  that  are 
come  with  me  have  likewise  heard  it  and  are  very  glad  that 
they  have  heard  the  Governor  of  Philadelphia  speak.  Now 
I  will  return  to  my  fire  place,  and  to-rnorrow  will  give  an 
answer  to  what  the  governor  has  said  to  us. 

Tuesday,  22nd  Aug. — The  Indians  sent  word  they  could 
not  be  ready  to  answer  the  Governor's  message  till  to-mor- 
row in  the  afternoon. 

Wednesday,  23rd  August. — Having  met,  Seneca  George 
spoke  as  follows : 

Brothers : 

We  have  met  here  on  this  good  day,  and  as  the  Gover- 
nor of  Philadelphia  has  sent  you  here  to  speak  to  me,  I  shall 
look  upon  you  as  in  the  governor's  room.  I  am  glad  to  hear 
what  my  brother  the  governor  has  said,  and  so  are  also  my 
young  men,  and  I  doubt  not  your  young  men  are  likewise  as 
well  pleased  as  our  young  men  are  with  what  the  governor 
has  said. 


4S0  APPENDIX. 

Brother : 

I  let  you  know  I  am  not  a  king,  but  a  captain  of  the 
Six  Nations.  But  here  is  a  king,  (pointing  to  Last  Night, 
the  Conoy  King,)  you  will  hear  him  speak  good  things.  His 
words  and  mine  are  one. 

Brother : 

You  may  see  that  the  occasion  which  has  called  us  to 
meet  here,  is  not  from  a  bad  spirit  on  our  part,  but  on  yours. 
The  Great  and  Good  Spirit  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  our 
grandfathers  and  yours,  to  lay  strong  foundations  for  peace 
with  each  other ;  we  must  follow  what  they  have  done,  and 
if  we  hide  any  thing  in  our  hearts  from  one  another,  this 
Great  Spirit,  whom  you  call  God  Almighty,  will  know  it. 

The  Conoy  King  then  speaks. 
Brother : 

I  am  really  glad  to  see  you  at  this  fire  which  the  gov- 
ernor has  placed  at  Shamokin,  and  to  hear  what  my  brother 
the  governor  has  said  ;  and  to  see  all  these  young  men  that 
are  come  with  you.  My  young  men  are  likewise  glad  on 
the  same  account. — A  string  of  four  rows. 

Brother : 

I  now  speak  to  the  governor,  by  you,  Colonel  Francis. 
I  have  put  into  my  heart  what  the  governor  lias  said.  My 
young  men  have  done  the  same.  We  all  believe  what  the 
o-overnor  has  said  to  Col.  Francis  has  really  come  from  his 
heart.  I  will,  therefore,  now  open  my  heart,  and  you  shall 
hear  my  good  things. — Second  string  of  four  rows. 

Brother  : 

I  am  well  pleased  the  governor  takes  this  method  to 
bury  our  grief  under  ground.  I  need  not  repeat  what  you 
said  to  us.  I  am  glad  you  have  wholly  wiped  away  that 
stain  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  I  now  assure  you,  I  will 
look  on  you,  my  brothers,  as  I  used  to  do,  and  think  well  of 
you. 

Brother: 

As  I  told  you,  we  are  all  glad  to  hear  our  brother,  the 


APPENDIX.  481 

governor.  But  I  assure  you,  brother,  I  do  not  know  what 
to  do  on  the  affair  we  are  met  about.  I  have  considered  this 
sad  breach,  and  should  know  what  to  do  in  it  if  any  of  my 
people  had  committed  the  like  against  any  of  yours. 

Brother : 

You  know  best  how  to  manage  such  of  our  people  as 
have  been  overcome  by  the  evil  spirit,  and  therefore  I  leave 
this  matter  wholly  to  you. — A  belt  of  wampum. 

Brother : 

Let  me  now  speak  one  word  to  my  brother,  the  gover- 
nor, and  to  you  Col.  Francis.  I  would  have  my  brother,  the 
governor,  be  strong,  to  hold  fast  that  good  friendship,  where- 
of our  forefathers  laid  fast  foundations  when  you  first  came 
into  this  country.  Sir  William  Johnson  is  but  lately  come ; 
but  we  had  in  old  time  a  very  firm  peace,  and  you  and  I  used 
always  then  to  speak  to  one  another.  Now,  as  I  said,  bro- 
ther, we  then  laid  a  firm  foundation  for  peace,  and  this  was 
one  great  article  of  that  peace ;  that  we  should  have  pity  on 
our  young  men  and  also  on  our  women  and  children;  because 
we  all  came  from  one  woman,  as  you  may  easily  know  by 
the  mark — "  That  our  little  children  when  born  have  all  the 
same  shapes  and  limbs  as  yours,  although  they  be  of  a  dif- 
ferent color."  Wherefore,  I  would  have  you  be  strong,  and 
in  good  earnest  to  preserve  this  our  ancient  friendship,  so  that 
our  young  men,  whoever  they  meet  on  a  journey  or  hunting 
about  in  the  woods,  may  always  be  glad  to  see  one  another. 

Brother : 

There  was  also  another  mark  in  this,  our  old  friendship, 
that  if  we  had  one  loaf  of  bread  when  we  meet  each  other  in 
the  woods,  we  would  cut  it  in  two,  and  divide  it  with  one 
another.  Let  us  all  then  cast  our  eyes  to  the  great  Good 
Being,  to  bless  our  endeavors  to  preserve  this,  our  ancient 
friendship. — A  belt  of  eight  rows. 

Brother : 

You  know  that  our  Grandfathers  made  a  road  between 
each  other,  which  passes  by  my  door  and  reaches  to  Onon- 
dago-  We  have  now  kindled  a  council  fire  at  Shamokin.  Let 
41 


ls'-2  APPENDIX. 

us  then  be  strong,  that  our  young  men,  women  and  children 
may  pass  and  re-pass,  and  always  be  glad  to  meet  one  an- 
other as  they  hunt  in  the  woods. 

Brother : 

You  may  perhaps  hear  bad  stories  from  other  nations, 
but  I  would  not  have  you  listen  to  them,  but  let  you  ami  1 
still  hold  fast  the  ancient  friendship. 

Brother : 

You  and  I  are  brothers.  The  Nations  to  which  I  be- 
long, the  Nanticokes  and  Conoys,  never  yet,  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world,  pulled  one  scalp,  nor  even  one  hair  from 
your  heads;  and  this,  I  say,  gives  us  a  right  to  call  you  bro- 
thers. Although  you  have  done  me  some  hurt,  I  have  never 
yet  cast  my  eye  upon  that,  but  have  always  looked  stead- 
fastly to  our  ancient  friendship. 

Brother: 

Now  we  have  healed  this  sad  breach,  and  you  see  all 
my  young  men  here  are  satisfied  it  is  so  made  up,  and  I  hope 
your  young  men  are  also  pleased.  But,  brother,  I  would 
have  you  tell  your  young  men  never  to  make  the  least  breach 
of  our  friendship  again,  and  I  will  tell  our  young  men  the 
same. — A  belt  of  seven  rows. 

Brother : 

Now  you  have  heard  all  your  brothers  had  to  say  to 
you  on  this  good  day.  There  is,  as  I  told  you,  a  council 
"fire  at  Shamokin,  which  is  the  door  of  the  Six  Nations. 
When  I  go  home,  all  your  brethren  shall  know  what  you 
have  said,  and  Sir  William  Johnson  shall  also  know  it. 

Brother : 

We,  the  Nanticokes  and  Conoys,  hare  wiped  away  all 
the  grief  from  the  eyes  of  our  great  warrior,  Seneca  George. 
We  show  you  this  belt,  wherewith  we  joined  you  in  wiping 
his  eyes. 

Brother : 

Last  fall,  Sir  Wm.  Johnson  and  all  the  Governors  kin- 


APPENDIX. 


483 


died  a  council  fire  at  Fort  Stanwix.  They  sent  for  all  his 
Indian  brethren,  as  lar  as  Allegheny,  to  meet  at  this  council 
fire.  It  was  his  business  when  they  met,  to  find  provision 
for  them,  and  he  did  so.  But  they  killed  one  six  years  old 
steer  for  me,  and  I  have  no  satisfaction  for  it.  If  you  think 
proper  to  consider  this  matter,  and  allow  me  satisfaction,  I 
shall  think  well  of  it. 

Brother : 

To-morrow  I  intend  to  leave  you.  I  was  in  hopes  you 
would  send  me  a  squaw  to  warm  me  at  night.  Perhaps  you 
have  one  to  keep  you  warm;  but  as  you  did  not  send  me  one 
I  must  go  home  to  my  own  as  fast  as  I  can.  But  you  know 
the  custom  is,  that  you  must  give  me  a  little  bread  to  eat  on 
the  way. 

Col.  Francis  then  spoke  as  follows : 
Brothers ;  Seneca  George,  Last  Night,  and  you  my  brethren: 
I  am  really  rejoiced  to  hear  all  the  good  things  you  have 
said,  and  to  find  that  the  governor's  message  to  you,  with  his 
small  present  of  goods,  have  wiped  away  all  the  tears  from 
your  eyes,  and  confirmed  in  your  hearts  the  old  friendship 
and  good  will  you  have  for  your  brothers,  the  English.  All 
who  are  present  with  me  rejoice  on  the  same  account.  You 
see  I  have  caused  to  be  written  down  on  paper  all  the  good 
things  you  have  said,  that  I  may  send  them  directly  to  the 
governor,  who  will  put  them  in  his  heart  and  remember  them 
the  first  time  you  speak  together. 

Brother : 

As  to  what  you  say  about  a  squaw,  I  have  really  none 
here.  We  keep  all  ours  in  Philadelphia,  and  we  are  as  de- 
sirous to  get  home  as  you  are.  I  am  sorry  that  we  have  so 
little  provisions  here ;  but  you  shall,  this  very  evening,  have 
all  that  I  can  get  for  you.  I  will  kill  one  of  our  best  cattle 
tor  you.  I  will  send  you  all  the  flour  I  have  left,  to  make 
cakes  on  your  way,  and  I  will  give  some  powder  and  shot  to 
your  young  men  to  kill  a  little  deer  to  eat  with  your  cakes 
as  you  go  along.  I  shall  likewise  send  you  a  little  walking 
sticky  (the  Indian  phrase  for  rum)  and  I  am  sorry  I  cannot 
make  it  long  enough  for  a  setting  pole;  but  really  the  rum 


484  APPENDIX. 

kegs  begin  to  run  very  low ;  however,  I  will  make  the  stick- 
as  long  and  strong  as  I  can  Brother  Last  Night,  I  will  con- 
sider what  you  say  about  your  steer,  and  look  what  there  is 
in  my  purse  when  I  go  home  to  my  lodgings  from  this  coun- 
cil fire. 

Col.  Francis  having  finished  the  above,  which  was  received 
with  great  cheerfulness  and  many  signs  of  approbation  by  the 
Indians.  Mr.  Frederick  Y\  eiser  desired  Col.  Francis  that  he 
would  be  pleased  to  deliver  the  following  short  speech  to 
Seneca  George. 

Brother  Seneca  George : 

Now  the  business  of  the  Governor  is  finished  ;  the  son 
of  your  old  brother  and  friend,  Conrad  Weiser,  desires  me  to 
speak  a  few  words  to  you.  Myself  and  all  the  children  of 
Conrad  have  had  great  grief  and  many  tears  for  the  unhappy 
death  of  your  son,  and  our  tears  have  run  down  our  cheeks 
in  greater  abundance,  because  a  cousin  of  our's,  the  sister's 
.son  of  our  father,  Conrad,  has  been  suspected  of  the  mis- 
chief. He  is  soon  to  be  tried  by  the  English  laws,  and  if  he 
should  be  proved  guilty,  which  we  hope  he  may  not  be,  we 
are  willing  he  should  suffer  the  same  punishment  as  if  he  had 
committed  the  crime  against  a  white  man. 

Brother : 

This  matter  has  grieved  and  surprised  us  greatly,  for 
neither  the  man  who  is  said  to  have  done  this,  nor  any  of  our 
lamily,  have  ever  had  any  difference  with  our  Indian  breth- 
ren, and  time  will  show  whether  this  man  is  guilty  or  not ; 
and  as  we  do  not  wish  to  screen  him  from  justice,  we  desire 
you  will  not  entertain  in  your  hearts  any  ill  will  against  any 
of  the  family  or  children  of  our  old  friend  and  brother,  Con- 
rad Weiser,  on  account  of  this  one  man,  who,  if  he  is  guilty, 
must  have  been  carried  away  by  a  very  evil  spirit  towards 
the  Indians,  and  different  from  the  spirit  of  all  his  family. 
As  a  mark  of  our  love  to  you,  I,  who  am  the  eldest  son  of 
your  old  friend,  Conrad  Weiser,  desire  you  will  accept  this 
small  present  from  his  family,  to  wipe  all  tears  from  your 
eyes. 

A  present  from  Mr.  Weiser. 


0     I 


APPENDIX.  485 

Seneca  George  having  sat  after  this  speech  three  or  four 
minutes  in  deep  silence,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground, 
and  tears  visibly  flowing  from  them,  got  up  and  spoke  as 
follows : — 

Brother : 

I  have  really  been  pleased  with  what  the  governor  has 
spoken  by  you,  Col.  Francis,  for  making  up  this  sad  affair. 
Now,  as  to  what  has  been  said  by  the  son  of  Conrad  Weiser, 
1  am  glad  to  see  one  of  his  sons,  and  to  hear  him  mention  a 
little  of  the  old  friendship  and  love  that  was  between  us  and 
our  brother,  his  father.  Yes,  old  Conrad  Weiser  was  indeed 
my  brother  and  friend.  He  was  a  counsellor  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions, and  knew  all  that  passed  between  them  or  was  in  their 
hearts.  I  am  very  glad  the  tears  have  flowed  from  the  eyes 
of  his  children,  as  they  have  done  from  mine,  on  account  of 
this  unhappy  affair,  which  has  certainly  been  a  great  grief  to 
me  :  for,  he  that  is  lost,  was  a  son  that  lay  near  to  my  heart. 
He  was  all  the  child  that  I  had  ;  and  now  that  I  am  old,  and 
the  loss  of  him  has  almost  entirely  cut  away  my  heart.  But 
I  am  yet  pleased  my  brother  Weiser,  the  son  of  my  old  friend, 
has  taken  this  method  to  dry  my  tears.  I  assure  my  brother 
Weiser  this  matter  shall  be  remembered  no  more  against  his 
family  to  their  hurt,  but  I  will  look  upon  it  that  an  evil  spirit 
got  into  the  mind  of  the  person  who  did  it. 

All  the  while  Seneca  George  was  delivering  the  above,  he 
kept  advancing  still  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  table  where 
Col.  Francis,  Mr.  Weiser,  and  the  other  gentlemen  sat,  and 
his  action  and  whole  behavior  was  surprisingly  great.  That 
part  especially  where  he  spoke  of  his  son,  was  understood, 
even  before  interpreted,  by  the  tone  and  manner  in  which  it 
was  delivered.  When  he  came  to  the  last  part,  where  he  de- 
clared he  had  no  ill  will  to  the  family  of  the  Weiser's,  he 
sprang  forward  with  a  noble  air  of  forgiveness,  and  shaking 
Mr.  Weiser  by  the  hand,  I  have,  said  he,  no  ill  will  to  you, 
Mr.  Weiser ;  nor  to  you,  Col.  Francis ;  nor  any  to  you,  fa- 
ther, (meaning  Dr.  Smith) ;  nor  any  to  you,  (meaning  Mr. 
Stewart) ;  and  shaking  every  one  by  the  hand,  then  spread- 
ing out  his  arms,  and  turning  quite  round  to  all  the  company; 
nor  have  I  any  ill  will  to  any  of  you,  my  brothers,  the  En- 
glish. 

That  manly  spirit  of  forgiveness  and  reconciliation  which 
4L* 


486  APPENDIX. 

Seneca  George  showed  on  this  occasion,  by  his  looks  and 
gestures,  and  whole  action,  made  some  of  them  at  the  table 
cry  out,  as  he  ran  up,  holding  out  his  hand  to  them,  "This 
is  noble;"  for  here  his  speech  stood  in  need  of  no  interpreter. 


A  conference  with  the  Dela wares,  inhabiting  the  Big  Island 
and  West  Branch  of  Shamokin. 

During  the  conference  with  Seneca  George  and  his  friends, 
Colonel  Francis  had  great  uneasiness  on  account  of  the  Del- 
aware Chief,  Newaleeka,  and  about  forty-two  of  his  friends, 
who  had  come  down  the  West  Branch  on  a  rumor  that  there 
was  to  be  a  general  treaty  at  Shamokin,  and  that  the  gover- 
nor was  to  be  there. 

The  Nanticokes  and  Conoys  refused  to  admit  them  into  the 
onlerence,  and  said  they  had  no  business  with  it,  while  the 
others  complained  that  they  had  waited  many  days  last  past 
of  their  hunting  season,  and  wore  now  starving  for  hunger. 

Col.  Francis  sent  Isaac  Still  to  bring  three  or  four  of  their 
chiefs  to  a  private  conference;  who  being  come,  told  him  that 
since  they  could  not  see  the  governor,  nor  hear  from  him,  they 
intended  to  proceed  to  Ohio.  Col.  Francis  told  them  the  go- 
vernor was  not  at  Philadelphia,  but  gone  on  a  long  journey, 
but  that  he  would  carry  any  message  they  had  to  the  gov- 
ernor, and  that  they  might  not  be  wholly  disappointed,  he 
would  give  them  some  provisions  and  a  little  'walking  slick,' 
to  help  them  back  to  their  hunting-place. 

The  chief  then  desired  Col.  Francis  to  carry  this  message, 
viz : 

That  they  would  return  home  and  hunt  awhile  a  few  skins 
to  make  a  pair  of  breeches  for  the  governor,  which  they 
would  bring  down  in  the  fall,  to  have  a  talk  with  him  ac- 
cording to  an  old  custom,  for  they  now  longed  to  see  him, 
and  had  many  things  to  say. 

It  was  then  found  necessary  to  give  them  some  flour,  &c... 
and  to  get  them  away  as  well  pleased  as  possible,  for  the  in- 
habitants were  apprehensive  that  they  wrould  kill  cattle  or 
do  some  hurt,  for  want  of  provisions,  and  on  account  of  their 
disappointment  in  their  journey. 


APPENDIX.  487 

Fort  Augusta,  23d  July,  1779. 
To  Col.  Mathew  Smith. 
Dear  Sir — 

We  have  really  distressing  times  at  present  in  this  coun- 
ty, occasioned  by  the  late  depredations  committed  by  the  sa- 
vages on  our  defenceless  frontiers.  Immediately  after  the 
evacuation  of  Fort  Muncy  the  Indians  began  their  cruel  mur- 
ders again.  The  3d  of  June  they  killed  three  men  and  took 
two  prisoners  at  Lycoming.  They  burned  the  widow  Smith's 
mills  and  killed  one  man.  The  17th  June  they  killed  two 
men  and  took  three  prisoners  from  Fort  Brady;  the  same  day 
they  burnt  Sterret's  mills  and  all  the  principal  houses  in  Mun- 
cy township.  The  30th  inst.  they  killed  three  men  at  Free- 
land's  Fort,  and  took  two  prisoners.  They  striking  so  close 
to  this  county  after  the  continental  troops  have  marched  to 
Wyoming,  has  intimidated  the  people  so  much  that  they  are 
really  on  the  eve  of  deserting  the  county  entirely,  as  there  is 
no  prospect  of  any  assistance,  that  the  people  on  the  frontiers 
could  get  their  harvests  up.  I  thought  the  army  marching 
even  to  Wyoming  would  draw  the  attention  of  the  savages 
from  us ;  but  I  think  it  never  was  worse  than  at  present,  and 
without  some  reinforcements  are  sent  to  this  county  soon,  'tis 
not  possible  the  little  Forts  we  have  at  Freeland  and  Boon's 
can  stand  long.  Suppose  I  never  see  the  people  of  this  coun- 
ty behave  more  spirited  than  they  do  at  present ; — suppose 
they  are  reduced  to  a  few.  I  have  just  arrived,  after  being 
on  a  scout  along  Muncy  Hill,  and  we  made  great  discover- 
ies where  the  savages  had  been  along  the  frontiers  and  taken 
off  a  number  of  horses. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

Samuel  Hunter, 

Northumberland  Town,  May  18,  1780. 
To  his  Excellency,  Joseph  Reed. 

Sir— 
I  am  unhappy  enough  to  inform  you  that  the  savage  ene- 
my made,  on  the  16th  inst.,  a  stroke  on  the  inhabitants  of 
this  much  distressed  county,  at  Buffaloe  Vally,   at  French 
Jacob  Grozong's  mill,  and  killed  four  men,  viz  :  John  Fos- 


1SS  APPENDIX. 

ter,  jr.,   Eytzwiller,  James  Chambers,  and  Samuel 

McLaughlin.  The  enemy  got  only  one  of  the  scalps.  The 
neighboring  inhabitants,  on  hearing  the  firing,  briskly  turned 
out,  and  pursued  the  enemy  very  bravely,  but  were  not  able 
to  overtake  them.  The  inhabitants  have  stood  it  longer  here 
than  could  have  been  expected,  were  it  not  desperation. 

But,  sir,  unless  some  support  can  instantly  be  afforded,  the 
State  must  shortly  count  one  county  less  than  formerly;  which 
God  forbid. 

I  refer  you,  dear  sir,  to  the  bearer,  General  Potter,  for 
turther  information,  as  he  waits  on  horseback  while  I  write 
these  imperfect,  distressing  accounts. 

Provision,  we  have  none  ;   cash,  none :  nor  can  it  be  had 
in  this  place.     Gen.  Potter's  accounts,  from  this  place,  to  the 
honorable,  the  Assembly — which  I  doubt  not  you  will  see — 
will  fully  satisfy  you  of  the  state  of  this  place. 
I  am,  dear,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and 
Humble  servant, 

Mathew  Smith. 


D.— Page  219. 

AUGHWICK. 

Aughwick,  or  Old  Town,  was  for  some  time  the  residence 
of  George  Croghan.  and  a  resort  for  many  of  the  friendly  In- 
dians. The  following  letters,  &c.  are  here  presented,  though 
with  little  or  no  connection,  they  still  cast  some  light  on  the 
early  history  of  this  place. 

A  message  to  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  by  Lewis 
Montour,  express  from  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  met  in 
council  at  the  "  Old  Town,"  27th  October,  1753. 

October  the  27th,  1753,  the  Old  Town. 

A  speech,  delivered  by  the  Half-King  and  all  the  head 
men  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  those  that  were  at  the  last  coun- 
cil in  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  and  by  this  belt  we  have 
all  joined  our  hand  to  it  and  sent  it  to  our  brother,  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Pennsylvania,  hoping  he  will  look  on  the  case  as  it 
stands,  and  we  depend  that  you  and  the  Governor  of  Virgi- 
nia will  join  hand  and  be  as  one,  and  we  the  Six  Nations 
will  be  the  third  brother ;  and  as  for  the  French,  our  enemy, 
is  at  hand  with  a  tomahawk  in  their  hands,  holding  it  over 
our  heads,  to  us  to  take  hold  of  it,  or  else  to  be  struck  with 
it ;  and  to  take  and  strike  our  own  flesh,  we  think  it  very 
hard ;  as  for  you,  they  have  already  struck,  and  openly  de- 
clare they  will  clear  this  river  of  the  English,  and  all  others 
that  will  not  join  them.  So  now  we  beg  our  brother's  as- 
sistance with  quick  dispatch;  and  for  the  security  of  our 
word  we  send  you  this  belt  of  wampum,  and  we  beg  you 
will  come  to  our  assistance :  and  farther,  all  the  land  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Ohio  (Allegheny)  river,  we  deliver  to  you  for 
to  make  a  restitution  to  you  for  to  clear  us  and  our  traders 
of  what  they  are  indebted  to  you,  so  we  desire  you  will  come 
to  secure  us  and  our  ground,  and  we  beg  that  you  may  not 
look  light  on  this,  and  send  us  a  speedy  answer  by  the  bea- 
rer and  his  brother,  or  any  body  you  see  cause  to  entrust, 


4i)0 


APPENDIX. 


and  we  beg  you  will  come  to  raise  a  couple  of  Forts,  espe- 
cially one  at  the  mouth  of  "  Mohongialo,"  and  the  other 
higher  up  the  river ;  so  we  wait  for  an  answer  for  you. 
These  from  your  brothers,  the  Six  Nations.  We  entrusted 
Lewis  Montour  and  William  Campbell — for  said  Montour 
openly  declares  himself  one  of  is,  and  we  hope  our  brothers 
will  use  him  well. 

The  Half  King, 

MlNKOTTOHA, 

Jontha,  the  Deer. 

A  speech  made  in  the  said  Council,  by  one  of  the  Mohocks, 

named  Jonathan. 
Brothers — 

I  have  heard  since  I  came  up,  more  nor  what  I  knew 
when  I  was  with  you  last,  concerning  the  French ;  and  now 
we  have  concluded  of  and  with  all  the  Six  Nations,  as  we 
aie  now  put  to  distress  by  the  French,  and  see  that  many 
of  our  brothers,  the  traders,  are  broke  and  cannot  assist 
us  as  they  used  to  do  formerly,  and  we  have  all  concluded 
to  pay  their  debts  which  they  stand  indebted  to  you;  and 
tarther,  what  our  young  men  are  indebted  to  our  traders, 
shall  be  good  and  no  reflections,  and  for  restitution  of  heir 
debts  we  deliver  all  the  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Ohio 
river,  from  the  head  to  the  mouth  ;  to  confirm  the  above 
we  have  taken  hold  of  the  said  belt  of  wampum,  which  we 
have  sealed  with  blood. 
We  desire  a  speedy  answer. 

There  are  a  few  lines  of  their  own,  wrote  on  the  small  bit 
of  paper— it  is  their  names. 
Us  present — 

Thomas  Mitchell, 
Reed  Mitchell, 
Joseph  Campbell, 
Thomas  Mitchsll,  jr. 
William  Campbell. 

March  the  23d,  1754. 
To  Richard  Peters,  Esq. 
Sir — I  am  sorry  to  hear  the  Assembly  was  not  convinced 


APPENDIX.  491 

of  the  absolute  necessity  there  is  at  present  of  assisting  the 
Indians,  whose  country  is  invaded  by  a  number  of  French. 
I  hear  likewise  they  are  in  suspense,  whether  Ohio  will 
fall,  any  part  of  it  within  this  Province.  I  am  surprised 
to  think  that  the  gentlemen  of  Philadelphia  are  so  little 
acquainted  with  the  back  parts  of  this  Province;  tor  I  as- 
sure you  that  from  the  Three  Springs,  (which  is  about  8 
miles  west  from  my  house,  and  certainly  some  miles  from 
Philip  Davies,)  but  70  miles  to  the  Laurel  Hill,  the  road 
we  now  travel,  which  I  suppose  may  be  about  50  odd 
miles  on  a  straight  course,  and  from  Laurel  Hill  to  Sha- 
noppins  is  but  46  miles,  as  the  road  now  goes,  which  I  sup- 
pose may  be  30  odd  miles  on  a  straight  line;  what  distance 
the  Three  Springs  may  be  from  Philadelphia  I  cannot  tell ; 
but  I  think  it  can't  be  above  one  hundred  and  forty  miles  on 
a  straight  line ;  and  I  assure  you  from  where  the  Allegheny 
road  crosses  the  Laurel  Hill,  Venango,  where  John  Cure  is 
now  building  a  Fort,  lies  due  north.  I  wish  with  all  my 
heart  some  gentleman,  who  is  an  artist  in  Philadelphia,  and 
whose  account  could  be  depended  on,  would  have  the  curi- 
osity to  take  a  journey  in  those,  whose  return,  I  dare  say, 
would  give  general  satisfaction  to  the  whole  Province. 
Sir,  I  am  your  most  humble  servant, 

Geo.  Croghan. 

Aughwick,  Old  Town,  Aug.  30,  1754. 
To  the  Hon.  James  Hamilton,  Esq.  Gov.  Pa. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

Yesterday  I  received  your  Honor's  express,  and  acquaint- 
ed the  Indians  that  Mr.  Weiser  was  on  the  road,  with  a 
message  from  your  Honor  to  them,  which  was  very  agreea- 
ble news  to  the  Indians  in  general. 

One  of  the  Indian  messengers  that  went  to  Ohio,  is  re- 
turned, and  brings  an  account  that  there  will  be  a  great  num- 
ber of  Indians  from  Ohio  here  in  a  few  days,  as  he  tells  me 
they  are  all  deserting  the  French.  By  a  French  deserter 
from  the  Fort,  I  hear  the  French  are  very  sickly,  and  not 
less  than  three  or  four  die  daily. 

I  assure  your  Honor  I  have  been  as  frugal  as  in  my  pow- 
er, in  supplying  the  Indians  since  they  came  here ;  nor  did  I 
know  any  thing  of  their  coming  till  they  got  here ;  for  had 


492  APPENDIX. 

been  at  Wills'  creek  when  they  set  off,  I  should  have  endea- 
vored to  make  them  stay  in  Virginia,  at  the  Camp,  before  I 
would  have  drawn  such  an  expense  on  the  Province,  or  such 
a  trouble  on  myself.  I  was  abroad  when  they  came;  but  as 
soon  as  I  came  home  I  put  a  stop  to  any  spirits  being  brought 
amongst  them;  nor  do  I  even  keep  one  drop  in  my  own 
house. 

I  here  enclose  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Stobo, 
mentioned  in  his  last  letter,  with  a  plan  of  the  Fort,  (Fort 
Du  Quesne,)  which  I  received  two  days  ago,  by  an  Indian 
named  Moses. 

I  received  a  letter  from  Col.  Innes  yesterday,  who  makes 
his  compliments  to  your  Honor :  he  informs  me  that  there 
will  be  one  of  the  council  from  Virginia  up  here  for  certain, 
to  confer  with  the  Indians  soon,  who,  I  hope,  will  bear  some 
of  the  expenses ;  for  I  assure  your  Honor  the  expense  will 
be  great.  There  is  such  a  number  of  women  and  children, 
and  more  are  coming ;  they  have  already  destroyed  nearly 
30  acres  of  Indian  corn  for  me,  exclusive  of  other  provisions, 
which  are  very  dear,  and  had  to  be  got,  as  the  country  takes 
every  opportunity  to  extort  an  extravagant  price  for  what 
they  have  to  sell ;  but  if  these  Indians  are  to  be  maintained 
here,  I  would  be  glad  if  the  government  would  send  some 
person  to  purchase  the  provisions  for  them,  whom  I  would 
assist  as  much  as  in  my  power,  by  which  means  the  govern- 
ment might  be  fully  satisfied  of  the  prices  of  provisions  and 
the  quantity  that  would  serve,  as  well  as  the  trouble  of  tak- 
ing care  of  so  many  different  tribes. 

I  shall  do  every  thing  to  assist  Mr.  Weiser,  pursuant  to 
your  Honor's  command. 

I  am  your  Honor's  most  humble 

and  most  obedient  servant, 

Geo.  Croghan. 

P.  S.  The  Indians  insist  on  the  promises  made  them  last 
fall  by  the  government  of  Virginia  and  this  government;  that 
is,  to  supply  their  wives  and  children  with  provisions,  as  they 
are  driven  out  of  their  own  country. 


APPENDIX.  493 

Instructions  to  Conrad  Weiser,  Esq. 

Philadelphia,  Aug.  24,  1754. 

Having  received  by  express  a  message  from  the  Half-King* 
Tanacharissan,.  and  Scarroyady,  who  with  some  Shawanese 
and  Delawares  came  lately  to  Aucquick,  and  intend  to  stay 
there,  I  have,  by  the  advice  of  council,  and  with  the  ap- 
probation of  the  speaker  and  such  other  members  of  the  As- 
sembly as  live  in  town,  thought  proper  to  send  you  to  Auc- 
quick ;  where  you  are  to  inquire  of  Mr.  Croghan,  what  they 
have  at  any  time  said  to  him  of  their  dispositions  of  future 
intentions,  as  well  as  those  of  the  Tvvightwees,  Owendots, 
Shawanese  and  Delawares,  respecting  the  present  hostilities 
of  the  French. 

You  are  to  learn,  if  possible,  if  any  and  what  directions 
have  been  given  them  for  their  behavior  towards  the  English 
or  French  from  the  council  of  Onondago,  or  any  of  the  Six 
Nations,  their  Fathers ;  or  whether  they,  or  which  of  them, 
have  ever  encouraged  the  French — particularly  enquire  about 
the  disposition  of  the  Senecas. 

When  you  have  received  information  of  these  and  all  other 
necessary  matters,  then  you  are  to  consult  wilh  Mr.  Crog- 
han, and  deliver  the  following  answer  : 

Brethren — 

The  Governor  sent  me  express  to  acknowledge  and  thank 
you  for  your  message  by  Mr.  Croghan,  and  to  bid  you  wel- 
come to  Aucquick,  and  to  enquire  after  your  health  and  that 
of  your  families. 

Brethren — 

You  have  done  right  to  put  yourselves  under  the  protec- 
tion of  this  Province.  We  shall  make  all  necessary  provision 
for  you,  till  the  government  shall  come  to  some  determina- 
tion respecting  the  present  situation  of  affairs. 

Brethren — 

Our  present  governor's  administration,  agreeable  to  what 
has  been  some  time  ago  fixed  by  himself,  draws  to  a  period. 
A  new  governor  is  appointed,  and  is  hourly  expected.  This 
renders  it  difficult  for  us  to  know  what  to  do.  We  are  all 
disposed  to  concur  with  Virginia  and  to  repel  the  French, 
42 


494  APPENDIX. 

but  are  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  new  governor,  that  it 
may  be  done  more  effectually. 

Brethren — 

This  being  the  case,  the  governor,  who  is  your  hearty 
friend,  desires  you  will  be  quiet  and  remain  where  you  are, 
till  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  or  he,  or  both  together,  who  I 
believe  are  determined  to  strike  the  French  this  fall,  send  to 
you  to  let  you  know  their  determination  what  they  expect 
from  you. 

As  to  the  speeches  made  by  the  Shawanese  and  Delawares 
to  the  Governors  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  which  were 
delivered  to  Mr.  Croghan  and  the  Half-King,  consult  with 
Mr.  Croghan  about  the  particulars  thereof,  and  return  such 
answers  as  are  consistent  with  the  treaties  subsisting  between 
us,  and  the  present  circumstances  of  our  affairs. 

You  are  to  declare  to  the  inhabitants  that  they  will  be  se- 
verely punished  if  they  presume  to  carry  any  spirits  to  Auc- 
quick,  and  you  are  to  charge  the  Indians  to  stave  all  the 
casks,  and  if  they  will  not  do  it,  you  are  to  insist  on  Mr. 
Croghan  doing  it. 

The  distribution  of  the  three  hundred  pounds  is  committed 
to  your  care,  in  which  you  may  consult  Mr.  Croghan,  and 
when  you  have  consulted  every  thing  to  your  mind,  Mr. 
Croghan,  through  your  direction,  will  be  better  able  to  con- 
duct matters. 

August  24,  1754,  Conrad  Weiser  received  instructions 
from  Gov.  R.  H.  Morris,  to  go  and  hold  a  conference  at 
Aughwick  with  the  Indians,  on  the  29thraccompanied  by  anv 
Indian,  called  Half-King,  and  Andrew  Montour.  He  left 
his  house,  in  Tulpehocken  township,  Berks  county,  by  way 
of  Harris's  Ferry  and  Tobias  Kendrick's — at  the  latter  place 
he  staid  all  night. 

Sept.  1st,  he  crossed  the  Kittatinny  Mountain  at  George 
Croghan's  Gap  (Sterret's)  and  Sheerman's  creek,  and  arriv- 
ed that  day  at  Andrew  Montour's,  accompanied  by  himself, 
the  Half-King,  and  another  Indian,  and  my  son.  I  found  at 
Andrew  Montour's  about  15  Indians,  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren ;  and  more  had  been  there,  but  were  gone.  Andrew's 
wife  had  killed  a  sheep  for  them  some  days  ago :  she  com- 
plained that  they  had  done  great  damage  to  the  Indian  corn, 
which  was  now  fit  to  roast ;  and  I  found  that  there  were  most 


APPENDIX.  495 

every  day  Indians  of  those  that  came  from  Ohio  with  some  er- 
rand or  other  which  always  wanted  some  victuals  in  the  bar- 
gain ;  I  gave  him  ten  pounds  of  the  government  money. 

The  2d  of  Sept.  we  set  out  from  Andrew  Montour's  with- 
out any  provision,  because  he  told  me  we  should  be  at  Augh- 
wick  before  night ;  we  rode  six  hours  in  the  forenoon  and 
three  in  the  afternoon — took  up  lodging  in  the  woods. 

Sept.  3d,  we  set  out  by  six  o'clock,  and  by  eight  we  came 
to  the  Trough  Spring ;  by  9  to  the  Shadow  of  Death,  by  11 
to  the  Black  Log,  and  by  12  arrived  at  Aughwick.  The 
Indians  fired  off  many  guns  to  make  me  welcome,  according 
to  their  custom. 

By  the  way,  Tanacharisson,  otherwise  called  the  Half- 
King,  complained  very  much  of  Col.  Washington,  though  in 
a  very  moderate  way,  saying  the  colonel  was  so  good-na- 
tured a  man,  but  had  no  experience,  &c. 

The  Indians'  names  that  were  present  at  Auehwick  in 
Sept.  1754.  5 

Tanacarisson— Seneca  chief;  Scarroyady— Oneida  chief; 
Tokaswayeston— Seneca  chief ;  Seneca  George— chief ;  Cap- 
tain William— Seneca  ;  Kanachjakanyjady— Seneca  ;  Sako- 
jaduntha— Cayuga  ;  Moses  Contjochqua— Mohock;  Aquo- 
yioda — Mohock. 

Shawanoes.— Lapechkewe,  the  Young  King;  Donyle- 
queshoney;  Wapatykeety,  speaker;  Kunjuchha  (alias  Penn) 
the  Runner;  Catousiraa,  Cachkawatchiky's,  Grandchild, and 
several  others. 

The  white  people  that  were  present  for  the  most  part,  my- 
self and  my  son,  Andrew  Montour,  Interpreter  to  the  Dela- 
wares ;  George  Croghan,  Peter  Sheffer,  Hugh  Crawford, 
Thomas  Simpson,  and  John  Owen. 

On  the  8th  Sept.  about  10  o'clock,  I  left. 

Aughwick,  Old  Town,  October  16,  1754. 
To  Mr.  Peters. 
Sir- 
Two  days  ago,  came  here  an  old  man  of  the  Six  Nations, 
from  the  French  Fort  on  Ohio,  and  brought  with  him  a  very 
large  belt  of  black  wampum,  with  a  speech  made  on   it  by 


4%  APPENDIX. 

one  of  the  Six  Nations,  who  lives  wilh  the  commandant  in 
the  Fort.  The  speech  was,  to  desire  those  Indians  to  return 
immediately  to  Ohio,  to  settle  themselves  under  their  father's 
arm,  where  they  might  be  sure  to  be  fed  and  clothed  ;  with 
great  plenty,  and  where  their  wives  and  children  would  be 
safe  from  the  attack  of  any  enemy,  as  they  have  plainly  seen 
that  no  enemy  can  stand  before  their  father,  the  French. 

The  same  man  sent  me  the  enclosed  string  of  wampum,  to 
desire  me  at  my  peril,  not  to  interfere  nor  stop  those  Indians 
from  going  home  to  their  own  country.  Those  Indians'  an- 
swer was,  that  they  never  would  return  in  peace  with  the 
French,  but  that  they  expected  to  live  yet  on  the  Ohio  lands, 
which  lands  justly  belong  to  them,  their  brethren,  the  Eng- 
lish, and  not  to  the  French. 

By  every  Indian  that  comes  down  from  the  Ohio,  we  hear 
of  great  preparations  making  by  the  French  to  attack  the 
back  inhabitants,  in  small  parties,  in  hopes,  I  suppose,  to 
put  a  stop  to  any  English  army  marching  out  this  fall, 
which  I  think  they  need  not  dread.  Col.  James  Innes.  has 
built  a  fortification  at  the  mouth  of  Wills'  creek,  opposite 
the  new  store  called  Fort  Mount  Pleasant.  He  has  invited 
the  Indians  that  are  here  to  go  to  see  him,  and  receive  a 
present  fiom  the  government  of  Virginia,  which  he  will  de- 
liver them.  They  set  oil  to-morrow,  but  leave  their  women 
and  children  here  behind  till  they  return;  which  they  expect 
will  be  in  ten  days. 

You  heard  of  the  Half-King's  death,  I  hope,  which  has 
been  much  lamented  by  all  the  Indians.  As  (  ol.  Innes  had 
sent  for  them,  I  was  obliged  to  make  a  condolence  speech  to 
them,  and  a  present  of  goods  to  cover  his  grave  in  the  name 
of  the  government  of  this  province,  as  they  could  not  see 
the  road,  nor  hear  what  the  Governor  of  Virginia  had  to  say 
to  them  till  that  ceremony  had  been  done  ;  the  expense  was 
£23,  14  shillings:  as  I  did  it  without  any  orders,  I  have  omit- 
ted putting  it  in  the  account,  and  submit  it  to  the  honorable 
house,  if  they  think  proper  to  pay  it  with  the  balance  of  my 
account,  which  I  here  inclose.  I  likewise  leave  it  to  the 
honorable  house  what  they  please  to  allow  me  for  my  corn ; 
out  of  30  acres  of  good  corn,  the  Indians  have  left  me  but 
66  bushels,  now  measured,  which  corn  Mr.  Weiser  saw 
when  he  was  up  here,  and  told  me  I  would  be  paid  for  it. 
The  Indians,  at  their  return,  intend  to  build  a  town  here, 


APPENDIX. 


497 


and  expect  the  government  will  stoccade  it  round  for  them  ; 
for  I  assure  yon  the  Indians  apprehend  danger  this  fall 
from  the  French.  I  hope  you  will  let  me  know  by  the 
bearer,  whom  I  send  down  at  the  request  of  the  Indians, 
what  is  to  be  done  with  them.  They  have  been  expensive 
to  the  government,  and  I  assure  you  no  small  trouble  and 
loss  to  me,  more  than  I  am  able  to  bear,  which  Mr.  Weiser 
can  inform  you  of.  I  expect  as  the  Assembly  sits  you  will 
know  what  will  be  done  for  them,  that  I  may  know  how  to 
act  with  them,  or  whether  I  shall  let  them  go  about  their 
business.  If  the  house  will  pay  my  account  and  any  thing 
for  the  loss  of  my  corn  and  expenses  on  the  condolence  speech, 
which  I  expect,  they  will  please  to  send  the  amount  by  the 
bearer.  I  would  have  written  to  his  Honor,  the  governor, 
but  thought  it  would  be  too  forward  in  me,  who  had  no  ac- 
quaintance with  him.  My  compliments  to  Governor  Ham- 
ilton ;  and  pray  excuse  me  for  giving  you  so  much  trouble 
to  read  so  long  a  letter. 

I  am,  sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 
-  .  Geo.  Croghan. 

November  23, 1754. 
To  R.  H.  Morris. 

May  it  please  your  Honor — 

Four  days  ago  an  Indian  man,  called  Caughcustian,  of 
the  Delaware  Nation,  who  had  been  gone  six  weeks  to  the 
French  Fort  as  a  spy,  returned  and  brings  an  account  lhat 
there  were  eleven  hundred  French  come  to  the  Fort  on  the 
Ohio,  and  70  French  Indians,  called  the  Orundox,  and  that 
there  were  more  French  at  the  head  of  the  Ohio,  (Allegheny 
river),  and  tljree  hundred  Indians  of  the  Conewagos  and  Ot- 
taways,  which  were  expected  every  day  when  he  left  the 
Fort — they  have  brought  eight  more  cannons  with  them.  He 
says  that  the  French  sent  out  three  small  parties  of  Indians 
against  the  English  settlements  before  he  left  that ;  but  whi- 
ther they  are  destined  he  could  not  find  out.  He  likewise 
says  that  the.e  are  three  hundred  French  families  settled  at 
the  Twightwees  town  and  thereabouts,  which  is  a  fine  coun- 
try, lying  on  this  side  of  the  southwest  end  of  Lake  Erie. 
This  news  he  had  from  a  man  of  his  Nation,  who  saw  them» 
42* 


198  APJENDIX. 

and  had  bought  three  cows  from  them.  This  news  makes 
the  Indians  here  very  uneasy,  at  whose  instance  I  am  obliged 
to  trouble  your  Honor  with  this  express. 

The  Indians  who  went  to  the  camp  of  Virginia,  to  treat 
with  that  government,  returned  fifteen  days  ago  with  a  pres- 
ent of  goods;  and  in  two  days  ten  men  will  return  to  camp 
and  stay  there  this  winter,  ami  act  as  scouts.  Monacatootha 
and  another  chief  set  olfat  the  return  of  the  express  for  the 
Onondago  country,  and  propose  leaving  the  rest  of  the  peo- 
ple here  the  winter,  in  number  about  one  hundred  and  eigh- 
ty, big  and  little,  at  the  expense  of  the  government,  (which, 
ii'  the  government  undertakes,  will  be  no  small  expense)  as 
they  are  afraid  to  separate  or  go  out  in  the  woods  a  hunting 
for  fear  of  the  enemy.  I  am  sensible  they  have  already  been 
a  great  expense  to  this  government,  and  much  more  to  me; 
for  they  have  destroyed  all  the  corn  and  grain  I  had  for  the 
support  of  my  family  this  winter;  and  now  I  am  obliged  to 
kill  my  own  cattle  for  their  support  besides. 

The  chiefs  have  frequently  kept  out  scouts  to  watch  the 
notions  of  the  French,  and  obliged  me  to  pay  them,  which 
has  cost  me  above  £-30  worth  of  goods  this  summer,  which 
is  a  burden  I  am  not  able  to  bear,  and  I  can't  charge  the 
government,  as  I  had  no  orders  to  do  so. 

I  hope  your  Honor  will  send  some  persrn  to  provide  for 
them,  if  the  government  intends  to  maintain  them  this  win- 
ter, or  let  me  know,  that  I  may  discharge  them  before  I  set 
off,  as  I  am  going  to  remove  into  the  inhabitants ;  for  I  as- 
sure your  Honor,  I  don't  think  myself  safe  here. 

I  am  ashamed  of  troubling  the  government  with  so  many 
expresses  as  1  have  done  this  summer  ;  but  I  assure  your 
Honor  I  had  been  obliged  to  do  it,  at  the  repeated  instance 
of  the  chiefs  of  those  Indians. 

I  hope  your  Honor  will  dispatch  this  messenger,  as  Mon- 
acatootha waits  impatiently  for  his  return,  to  set  off  to  the 
Onondago  country.  If  your  Honor  intends  to  provide  for 
those  people,  it  must  be  done  very  soon,  as  there  will  be  no 
carrying  across  the  mountains  in  a  little  time. 
I  am,  sir, 

Your  Honor's  most  humble 
and  most  obedient  servant, 

Geo.  Croghan. 


APPENDIX.  499 


P.  S.  I  understand  the  reason  of  the  French  making  those 
great  preparations  this  winter,  is  from  a  report  by  one  of 
the  deserters  from  the  Virginia  regiment,  took  there  this 
summer,  that  there  were  four  thousand  of  his  Majesty's 
troops  coming  from  England  to  Virginia,  to  act  this  fall  on 
the  expedition. 

g.  a 


E.— Page  273-303. 

Stump's   Case. 

Gov.  Perm's  several  Proclamations,  fyc,  See. 
I.  Proclamation. 

Whereas,  it  appears  by  a  deposition,  this  day  taken,  be- 
fore the  chief  justice  of  this  Province,  that  on  Sunday,  the 
10th  day  of  this  month,  a  certain  Frederick  Stump,  a  Ger- 
man of  Penn's  township,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  did, 
in  violation  of  the  public  faith,  and  in  defiance  of  all  law, 
inhumanly  and  wickedly  kill,  without  any  provocation,  four 
Indian  men,  and  two  Indian  women,  in  his  own  house,  near 
the  mouth  of  Middle  creek,  in  the  said'eounty ;  and  that  the 
said  Frederick  Stump  went  the  next  day  to  an  Indian  cabin, 
about  14  miles  up  the  said  creek,  and  there  barbarously  put 
to  death,  and  burnt  an  Indian  woman,  two  girls  and  a  young 
child. 

And,  whereas,  not  only  common  justice  loudly  demands, 
but  the  laws  of  the  land,  and  the  preservation  of  the  public 
faith  of  Treaties  with  the  several  Indian  Nations  require  that 
the  most  speedy  and  vigorous  exertions  of  the  civil  authority 
should  be  made,  in  order  to  secure,  and  bring  to  condign 
punishment,  an  offender  that  hath  perpetrated  so  audacious 
and  cruel  an  act  on  Indians,  who,  for  several  months  past, 
have  lived  near  the  frontiers  of  this  Province  in  a  friendly 
and  quiet  manner,  and  have  at  all  times,  since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  general  peace  with  the  Indians  in  1764,  behaved 
themselves  peaceably  and  inoffensively  to  all  his  majesty's 
subjects. 

I  have,  therefore,  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the  council, 
thought  fit  to  issue  this  proclamation,  and  do  hereby  strictly 
charge  and  command  all  judges,  and  justices,  sheriffs,  con- 
stables, officers  civil  and  military,  and  all  other  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's faithful  subjects  within  this  Province,  to  make  diligent 
search  and  enquiry  after  the  said  Frederick  Stump ;  and  that 


APPENDIX. 


501 


they  use  all  possible  means  to  apprehend  and  secure  him  in 
one  ol  the  public  jails  of  this  Province,  to  be  proceeded 
against  according  to  law.  And  I  do  hereby  promise  and 
engage,  that  any  person  or  persons,  who  shall  apprehend  and 
secure  the  said  Frederick  Stump,  so  that  he  be  brought  to 
conviction,  shall  have  and  receive  the  public  reward  of  two 
hundred  pounds. 

Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  great  seal  of  the  said  pro- 
vince, at  Philadelphia,  the  19th  January,  1768. 


II.    Proclamation. 

Whereas,  a  number  of  armed  men,  unlawfully  assembled, 
did,  on  Friday,  the  29th  of  January  last,  forcibly  enter  the 
jail  at  Carlisle,  in  Cumberland  county,  and,  in  defiance  of 
all  laws,  rescue  from  thence  the  persons  of  Frederick  Stump 
and  John  Ironcutter,  who  had  been  apprehended  and  com- 
mitted there,  for  the  murder  of  ten  Indians,  on  Middle  crk., 
and  have  since  set  them  at  liberty. 

And,  whereas,  the  measures  hitherto  pursued  for  retaking 
the  said  Stump  and  Ironcutter,  have  proveuMneffectual ;  and 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  murderers  are  either  con- 
cealed within  this  province,  or  have  made  their  escape  to 
some  of  the  neighboring  colonies. 

And,  whereas,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  in  the  present  cri- 
tical situation  of  affairs,  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and 
friendship  subsisting  between  his  Majesty's  subjects  and  the 
several  Indian  Nations  ;  and  as  it  is  highly  expedient  for  the 
discouragement  of  such  atrocious  crimes,  that  the  said  Fred- 
erick Stump  and  John  Ironcutter  should  be  brought  to  exem- 
plary punishment. 

I  have,  therefore,  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  thought 
fit  to  issue  this,  my  second  proclamation,  hereby  strictly 
charging  and  commanding  all  judges,  justices,  sheriffs,  con- 
stables, and  the  civil  and  military  officers,  as  well  as  all 
other  subjects  within  this  government,  to  make  diligent  search 
and  enquiry  after  the  said  Frederick  Stump  and  John  Iron- 
cutter, and  to  use  all  possible  means  for  apprehending  and 
securing  them,  that  they  may  be  proceeded  against  according 


-~>0'2  APPENDIX. 

to  law.  And  as  an  encouragement  for  bringing  the  said  offen- 
ders to  justice,  I  do  hereby  promise  and  engage,  that  any 
person  or  persons,  who  shall  apprehend  and  secure  the  said 
Frederick  Stump  and  John  Ironcutter,  so  that  they  may  be 
prosecuted  to  conviction,  shall  have  and  receive,  as  public 
reward  for  Frederick  Stump,  two  hundred  pounds,  current 
money;  and  for  John  Ironcutter,  one  hundred  pounds:  and 
for  the  better  security  of  saiil  Stump  and  Ironcutter,  I  have 
caused  a  description  to  be  published  at  the  foot  of  this  proc- 
lamation. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  the  said  province,  at 
Philadelphia,  the  lGth  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  and  in  the 
eighth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign. 

Jly  his  Honor's  command. 

John  Penn. 

Joseph  Shipper),  jr.,  Secretary. 

[God  save  the  King]. 


Description  of  Frederick  Stump  and  John  Ironcutter,  viz  : 

Frederick  Stump,  born  in  Heidelberg  township,  Lancaster 
county,  in  Pennsylvania,  of  German  parents.  He  is  about 
-i'S  years  of  age,  5  feet  8  inches  high,  a  stout  fellow,  and 
well  proportioned  ;  of  a  brown  complexion,  thin  visaged,  has 
small  black  eyes,  with  a  downcast  look,  and  wears  short 
black  hair ;  he  speaks  the  German  language  wTell,  and  the 
English  but  indifferently.  He  had  on,  when  rescued,  a  light 
brown  cloth  coat,  a  blue  great  coat,  an  old  hat,  feather 
breeches,  blue  leggins  and  mockasons. 

John  Ironcutter,  bom  in  Germany,  is  about  19  years  of 
age,  5  feet  6  inches  high,  a  thick,  clumsy  fellow,  round- 
shouldered,  of  a  dark  brown  complexion,  has  a  smooth,  full 
face,  grey  eyes,  wears  short  brown  hair,  and  speaks  very 
little  English.  He  had  on,  when  rescued,  a  blanket  coat,  an 
old  felt  hat,  buckskin  breeches,  a  pair  of  long  trousers,  coarse 
white  yarn  stocking,  and  shoes  with  brass  buckles. 


appendix.  503 

Chief  Justice's  Warrant. 

Pennsylvania,  ss. 

Whereas,  proof  hath  been  made  before  me,  William  Allen, 
Esq.,  chief  justice  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  that  a 
certain  Frederick  Stump,  of  Penn's  township,  in  Cumberland 
county,  hath  most  maliciously  and  barbarously  killed  and 
murdered  four  Indian  men,  three  Indian  women,  and  three 
Indian  children,  being  in  the  peace  of  God,  and  of  our  Lord, 
the  King.  These  are,  therefore,  in  his  Majesty's  name,  to 
wdl  and  require  you,  and  every  one  of  you,  forthwith  to  make 
diligent  search  for  the  said  Frederick  Stump,  and  him  the 
said  Frederick  Stump  to  apprehend,  and  take  and  bring  him 
before  me,  or  any  other  of  his  Majesty's  justices  of  Oyer  and 
Terminer,  for  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  to  answer  for 
the  said  murders,  and  to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law.  And 
I  do  hereby  require  all  his  Majesty's  liege  subjects,  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Province,  to  be  aiding  and  assisting  to  the  utmost 
of  their  power,  towards  apprehending  the  said  Frederick 
Stump. 

In  witness,  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  the  seal  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  this  19th 
day  of  January,  A.  D.,  1768. 

William  Allen. 

To  the  high  sheriff,  under-sheriff,  constables,  bailiff,  and 
all  other  officers  of  the  said  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
particularly  to  those  of  the  several  counties  of  Cumberland, 
Lancaster,  York,  and  Berks. 


The  following  are  the  names  of  the  Indians  killed  on  the 
10th  and  11th  of  January,  1768,  by  Frederick  Stump  and 
John  Ironcutter,  at  Middle  creek,  viz: 

The  White  Mingo,  otherwise  called  John  Cook,  a  Seneca 
Indian,  whose  relations  are  said  to  live  on  the  head  of  the 
Cayuga  branch,  (which  runs  into  the  Susquehanna  at  Dia- 
hoga,)  at  a  place  called  Pee-raee-kannink,  not  far  from  Gen- 
essee. 

Cornelius,  a  Mohickon  Indian,  from  a  place  called  Pagh- 
Sekacunk,  on  the  Susquehanna,  6  miles  below  Diahoga. 

John  Campbell,  a  Mohickon  Indian  also. 


504  APPENDIX. 

Jonas  Grifly,  either  a  Stoekbridge  or  Jersey  Indian. 

Women. — The  White  Mingo's  wife.  Two  other  women, 
supposed  to  be  the  wives  of  Cornelius  and  John  Campbell. 

Two  girls  and  a  child. 

The  women  are  said  to  be  of  the  Delaware  and  Shawa- 
nese  tribes. —  [Prov.  Records. 


A  letter  from  the  Governor  to  the  Magistrates  of  the  county 
of  Cumberland. 

Philadelphia,  19th  January,  1768. 
Gentlemen — 

Having  received  certain  information  that  on  Sunday,  the 
10th  inst.,  Frederick  Stump,  a  German,  of  Peon's  township, 
in  Cumberland  county,  did,  without  provocation,  murder  in 
the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  manner,  in  his  own  house,  near 
the  mouth  of  Middle  creek,  four  Indian  men,  and  two  Indian 
women,  and  that  the  next  day  he  proceeded  fourteen  miles 
up  that  creek,  and  there  put  to  death  and  burnt  in  their  cab- 
ins an  Indian  woman,  two  girls,  and  a  child.  I  do  hereby 
strictly  charge  and  require  you  immediately  to  exert  your- 
selves in  the  most  active  manner  on  this  occasion,  by  giving 
your  assistance  to  the  sheriff  and  the  officers  of  justice  in 
executing  the  chief  justice's  warrant,  and  taking  all  other 
measures  in  your  power  for  the  immediate  apprehending  the 
said  Frederick  Stump,  and  that  also  give  your  best  assist- 
ance to  the  sheriff  in  sending  him  under  such  a  guard  as  may- 
secure  him  from  all  possibility  of  escape  or  rescue  down  to 
this  city,  agreeable  to  the  chief  justice's  warrant  forwarded 
for  that  purpose,  by  this  opportunity,  to  be  examined  by  one 
of  the  justices  of  the  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  to  be  dealt  with 
by  them  according  to  law. 

The  sheriff  and  the  officers  of  the  county  should  be  dis- 
patched without  the  least  delay  to  George  Gabriel's  house, 
on  Penn's  creek,  where,  I  am  informed  Stump  is  gone,  and 
to  such  other  places  where  it  is  most  likely  he  may  be  found. 
You  are  also  to  give  directions  for  the  apprehending  of  his 
servanflad,  (whose  name  I  don't  yet  know)  about  18  years 
of  age,  who  was  whh  him  at  the  murder  of  the  women  and 
children,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  most  material  evidence  that  can 
be  got  against  him.     You  are  likewise  to  direct  the  coroner 


APJPENDIX.  505 

of  your  county  to  proceed  thither,  and  to  the  cabins  before 
mentioned,  and  to  hold  an  inquest  on  the  bodies  of  all  the 
said  Indians  that  can  be  found,  and  cause  them  to  be  buried 
in  a  very  decent  manner. 

I  am  persuaded,  gentlemen,  that  the  love  of  justice,  a  sense 
of  duty,  and  a  regard  for  the  public  safety,  will  be  sufficient 
with  you  to  exert  yourselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  leave  no 
measures  untried  which  may  be  likely  to  apprehend  and  bring 
to  punishment  the  perpetrators  of  so  horrid  a  crime,  which 
in  its  consequences  will  certainly  involve  us  again  in  all  the 
calamities  of  an  Indian  war,  and  be  attended  with  the  effu- 
sion of  much  innocent  blood,  unless  by  a  proper  exertion  of 
the  powers  of  government,  and  a  due  execution  of  the  laws, 
we  can  satisfy  our  Indian  allies,  that  the  government  does 
not  countenance  those  who  wantonly  spill  their  blood,  and 
convince  them,  that  we  think  ourselves  bound  by  solemn 
treaties  made  with  them. 

I  have  this  matter  somewhat  at  heart,  that  I  have  deter- 
mined to  give  a  reward  of  £200  to  any  person  or  persons 
who  shall  apprehend  the  said  Frederick  Stump  and  bring 
him  to  justice,  and  should  have  sent  up  proclamations  for 
that  purpos3,  by  this  opportunity,  if  I  was  not  apprehensive 
the  setting  up,  and  making  public  such  proclamations  might 
be  a  means  of  terrifying  him,  and  put  him  on  making  his  es- 
cape, or  absconding  before  the  officers  of  justice  could  take 
him.  I  mention  this,  therefore,  to  you  in  confidence,  and 
that  you  by  discreetly  communicating  it  to  such  as  you  think 
proper,  may  the  more  easily  prevail  with  them,  willingly  to 
engage  in  the  undertaking,  and  you  may  assure  them,  that 
they  shall  have  the  reward,  though  he  should  be  apprehend- 
ed before  the  proclamation  is  actually  published. 

I  am,  with  great  regard,  gentlemen, 

Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

John  Penn. 

To  John  Armstrong,  James  Galbreath  and  John  Bayard, 
Esqrs.  and  others,  his  Majesty's  Justices  for  Cumberland 
county. 


43 


506  APPENDIX. 

Letter  to  William  Allen,  Esq.,  Chief  Justice,  from  the  Mag- 
istrates of  Cumberland  county. 

Carlisle,  27th  January,  1768. 

Sir— 

At  a  consultation  of  the  subscribing  magistrates,  'tis 
agreed  to  inform  you,  that,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  his 
Honor,  the  Governor,  and  your  special  warrant,  the  sheriff 
and  posse  of  this  county,  on  the  evening  of  the  23d  instant, 
stood  prepared  to  set  out,  in  order  to  apprehend  Frederick 
Stump  and  his  servant  man,  when,  to  our  satisfaction,  Capt. 
William  Patterson,  together  with  about  20  young  men  of  the 
settlers  on  Juniata,  brought  in  the  said  Stump  and  servant, 
who  were  delivered  to  the  sheriff  and  committed  to  our  jail 
for  their  sale  keeping,  until  the  sheriff  could  be  prepared 
with  a  safeguard  to  carry  them  down  to  Philadelphia.  But, 
when  the  sheriff  was  ready,  viz  :  on  the  morning  of  the  25th, 
the  river  was  thought  to  be  impassable,  and  any  impediment 
in  the  way  judged  at  last  to  be  attended  with  possible  haz- 
ard, so  that  as  the  prisoners  were  in  custody,  it  was  agreed 
best  to  retain  them  until  this  day,  when  the  magistrates  were 
notified  to  meet  here,  in  order  to  assist  the  sheriff  with  their 
advice  and  influence  at  his  setting  out  with  the  prisoners,  who 
met  accordingly,  but  were  furnished  with  various  suggestions 
that  the  relatives  and  connexions  of  Stump  would  very  pro- 
bably attempt  a  risk,  as  he  (Stump)  had  been  heard  to  say 
that  he  expected  his  trial  where  the  act  was  committed, 
which,  taken  in  conjunction  with  other  circumstantial  ap- 
pearances, moved  us  to  suspect  that  the  removal  of  the  pris- 
oners, at  this  time,  would  but  too  probable  be  attended  with 
bad  consequences,  and  to  conceive  the  first  expedient  incum- 
bent upon  is  to  inform  the  principal  officers  of  the  govern- 
ment of  these  appearances,  of  the  safety  of  the  prisoners  in 
this  jail ;  and  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  the  hearty  incli- 
nations of  the  body  of  the  county  to  see  public  justice  admi- 
nistered, submitting  any  further  procedure  at  present  to  the 
judgment  of  our  superiors. 

We  are  sorry  to  inform  you  that  the  officer  of  the  coroner 
has  been  prevented  by  his  taking  sick  on  the  road,  and  as  we 
are  informed,  is  yet  confined  by  a  pleurisy,  and  that  since  we 
received  this  account,  it  has  been  impracticable  to  pass  the 
sundry  waters  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  are  now  of 


APPENDIX. 


507 


opinion,  that  beyond  doubt  the  dead  bodies  are  swept  off  by 
this  extraordinary  flood. 

For  your  satisfaction  we   hereby  send  the  confession  of 
Frederick  Stump  and  John  Ironcutter,  made  on  the  25th  in- 
stant, and  am,  sir,  with  great  respect  and  esteem, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  servants, 

John  Armstrong, 
James  Galbreath, 
John   McKnight, 
Jonathan  Hoge, 
Robert  Miller, 
William  Lyon. 
To  the  Hon.  William  Allen,  Esq.,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Province  of  Pa.,  at  Philadelphia — by  Robert  Harvey,  who 
will  wait  ior  an  answer. 

A  letter  from  the  Governor  to  the  Magistrates  of  the  county 
of  Lancaster. 

Philadelphia,  19th  January,  1768. 
Gentlemen — 

Having  received  certain  information  that  on  Sunday  the 
10th  instant,  Frederick  Stump,  a  German,  of  Penn  township, 
in  Cumberland  county,  did,  without  provocation,  murder  in 
the  most  cruel  and  inhuman  manner,  in  his  own  house,  near 
the  mouth  of  Middle  creek,  four  Indian  men,  and  two  Indian 
women,  and  that  the  next  day,  he  proceeded  14  miles  up 
said  creek,  and  there  put  to  death,  and  burnt  in  their  cabins, 
an  Indian  woman,  two  girls  and  a  child.  I  do  hereby  strictly 
charge  and  require  you  immediately  to  exert  yourselves  in 
the  most  active  manner,  on  this  occasion,  by  giving  your  as- 
sistance to  the  sheriff  and  other  officers  of  justice  in  execut- 
ing the  chief  justice's  warrant,  and  taking  all  other  measures 
in  your  power,  for  the  immediate  apprehending  the  said  Fre- 
derick Stump,  and  that  you  also  give  your  best  assistance  to 
the  sheriff,  in  sending  him  under  such  a  guard  as  may  secure 
him  from  all  possibility  of  escape,  or  rescue,  down  to  this 
city,  agreeable  to  the  chief  justice's  warrant,  forwarded  for 
that  purpose,  by  this  opportunity,  to  be  examined  by  one  of 
the  justices  of  Oyer  and  Terminer,  and  to  be  dealt  with  by 
them  according  to,  l#w. 


508  APPENDIX. 

I  have  directed  the  magistrates  of  Cumberland  county  to 
dispatch  the  sheriff,  with  the  power  of  the  county,  without 
delay,  to  George  Gabriel's  house,  on  Penn's  creek,  where  I 
am  informed  Slump  is  gone,  and  to  such  other  places  as  it  is 
most  likely  lie  may  be  found.  But,  as  it  is  probable,  he  may 
abscond  and  throw  himself  out  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Cumber- 
land, by  crossing  the  Susquehanna  and  taking  refuge  in  the 
upper  part  of  Lancaster  county,  near  that  river,  it  will  be 
absolutely  necessary  that  your  sheriff,  with  all  the  assistance 
he  can  collect,  be  also  dispatched  as  far  as  Mahonoy  creek, 
or  the  furthest  limits  of  the  county,  to  be  in  readiness  to  ap- 
prehend him,  in  case  he  should  retire  thither. 

I  am  persuaded,  gentlemen,  that  the  love  of  justice,  a  sense 
of  duty,  and  a  regard  for  the  public  safety,  will  be  sufficient 
inducements  with  you  to  exert  yourselves  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  leave  no  measures  untried,  which  may  be  likely  to  ap- 
prehend and  bring  to  punishment  the  perpetrators  of  so  hor- 
rid a  crime,  which,  in  its  consequences,  will  certainly  involve 
us  again  in  all  the  calamities  of  an  Indian  war,  and  be  at- 
tended with  the  effusion  of  much  human  blood,  unless,  by  a 
proper  exercise  of  the  powers  of  government,  clue  exertion  of 
the  laws,  we  can  satisfy  our  Indian  allies  that  the  government 
does  not  countenance  those  who  wantonly  spill  their  blood, 
and  convince  them  that  we  think  ourselves  bound  by  the 
solemn  treaties  made  with  them. 

I  have  this  matter  so  much  at  heart,  that  I  have  deter- 
mined to  give  a  reward  of  £200  to  any  person  or  persons 
who  shall  apprehend  the  said  Frederick  Stump  and  bring 
him  to  justice,  and  should  have  sent  up  proclamations  for  the 
purpose,  by  this  opportunity,  if  I  was  not  apprehensive  that 
the  setting  up,  and  making  public  such  proclamations  might 
be  a  means  of  terrifying  him  and  put  him  on  making  his  es- 
cape, or  absconding  before  the  officers  of  justice  could  take 
him.  I  mention  this,  therefore,  to  you  in  confidence,  and 
that  you,  by  discreetly  communicating  it  to  such  as  you  think 
proper,  may  the  more  easily  prevail  with  them,  willingly  to 
engage  in  the  undertaking,  and  you  may  assure  them  that 
they  shall  have  the  reward,  though  he  should  be  apprehend- 
ed before  the  proclamation  is  actually  published. 

I  am,  with  great  regard,  gentlemen, 
Your  most  obedient  servant, 

John  Penn* 


APPENDIX.  509 

To  Emanuel  Carpenter,  Isaac  Saunders,  Edward  Shippen, 
Adam  Simon  Kuhn,  Adam  Reed,  James  Burd,  John  Philip 
De  Haas,  and  James  Bickham,  Esqrs.,  and  others,  his  Ma- 
jesty's Justices  of  the  Peace. 

A  similar  letter  was  written  by  the  Governor  to  James 
Diemar,  John  Patton,  Henry  Christ,  and  other  justices  of 
Berks  county. 

John  Armstrong's  Letter  to  the  Governor. 

Carlisle,  24th  January,  1768. 
May  it  please  your  Honor — 

Your  Honor's  orders  of  the  19th  inst,  together  with 
the  chief  justice's  warrant  came  to  hand  yesterday  afternoon. 
This  most  barbarous  murder,  pregnant  as  it  is  with  every 
gloomy  appearance,  as  well  to  the  public  as  to  many  help- 
less families,  you  very  justly  conceived  of. 

Agreeable  to  these  apprehensions,  as   soon  as  the  report 
came  here,  although  at  second  hand,  I  did,  with  the  advice 
of  a  number  of  magistrates  write  for  and  immediately  sent 
off  the  coroner,  not  only  to  do  his  office,  but  to  use  every 
possible  means,  whether  by  stratagem  or  force,  to  bring  in 
Frederick  Stump  and  his  servant  man,  hoping  at  the  same 
time,  that  unless  men  were  lost  to  reflection,  and  the  laws  of 
society,  the  thing  would    not   be  to  do  when  the  coroner 
should  get  there,  accordingly  to  our  great  satisfaction,  whilst 
in  obedience  to  the  orders  of  government  we  were  fixing  out 
the  sheriff  with  William  Lyon,  James  Maxwell  and  John 
Allison,  Esqrs.,  who  were  to  have  a  proper   guard,  Stump 
and  his  man  were  brought  to  town  about  8  o'clock,  P.  M., 
by  Capt.  Wm.  Patterson,  and  about  20  young  men,  inhabit- 
ants of  Juniata,  who  did  this  good  act,  and  the  sheriff  sets 
out  with  the  criminals  to-morrow  morning.     I  hope  the  cor- 
oner, who  has  not  yet  time  to  return,  nor  did  the  party  meet 
him,  will  also  be  enabled  to  do  his  office.    I  told  him  to  bury 
those  said  to  be  under  the  ice,  at  least  in  two  graves,  and 
also  sent  a  message  to  Patterson,  before  he  came  here,  pro- 
vided the  fellows  even  cannot  be  taken,  that  if  any  Indians 
were  in  them  parts,  he  should  immediately  be  dispatched  to 
the  Great  Island,  or  next  party  of  Indians,  to  assure  them 
that  the  government  would  do  them  justice;  accordingly,  he 
43* 


510 


APPENDIX. 


tells  rae  he  has  sent  one  Gersham  Hicks,  formerly  a  prisoner 
with  the  Indians,  and  have  also  ad  vised  that  if  a  second  mes- 
senger can  be  got,  he  may  be  sent  to  show  the  particular 
•are  your  Honor  has  taken  on  the  occasion,  but  the  last,  I 
hope  may  be  better  effected  by  Blyth,  on  his  return  home,  if 
any  Indians  there  be  about  him.  We  have  not  attempted 
any  formal  examinations  here,  but  the  fellows  frankly  ac- 
knowledge that  they  were  the  onlyperpctrators  at  both  pla- 
ces :  Stump  killing  9  of  the  Indians,  and  the  servant  one,  but 
fonacd  a  similar  story  touching  the  conduct  of  the  Six 
Indians  at  Stump's  house,  and  the  necessity  lie  was  under 
io  kill  them,  which  I  take  to  be  false.  The  report  of  the 
roroner  shall  be  transmitted  by  the  first  opportunity  after  his 
return.  Sundry  families  are  fled  off  of  the  Susquehanna,  near 
to  Stump's,  yet  1  think  the  Indians  will  consult  before  they 
attempt  hostilities,  but  am  afraid  they  may  strike  before  any 
proper  state  of  this  matter  can  be  sent  them. 
I  am,  your  Honor's 

most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

John  Armstrong. 

Governor  Penn : 

28th  inst.,  the  magistrate's  letter  to  the  chief  justice 
will  show  the  coroner's  disappointment  as  well  as  that  of  my 
own  expectations,  when  1  wrote  your  Honor  as  above,  re- 
specting the  speedy  removal  of  the  prisoners  to  Philadelphia. 
\Ve  are  most  sincerely  anxious  and  deeply  affected,  why  a 
punctual  compliance  with  your  Honor's  orders  and  the  war- 
rant of  the  chief  justice,  in  regard  of  sending  Stump  to  Phil- 
adelphia for  examination,  &c,  should  meet  with  any  appear- 
ance of  reluctance  or  disobedience  upon  our  parts,  which  is 
tar  from  the  fact,  but  the  truth  is  humbly  vested  in  your 
Honor's  confidence,  that  by  certain  means  an  alarm  is  raised 
in  the  minds  of  many,  touching  their  privileges  in  this,  and 
in  any  future  case,  which  they  allege  would  be  infringed  by 
this  measure,  as  they  take  it  for  granted  that  these  men  would 
not  be  remanded  for  trial  to  the  county  where  the  fact  was 
committed,  but  the  whole  process  carried  through  at  Phila- 
delphia, and  these  opinions  and  uneasiness  are  founded  chief- 
ly on  the  judgment  of  some  person  supposed  to  be  learned  in 
the  law;  so  that  on  the  whole,  we  have  not  had  it  in  our 
power  to  do  otherwise  than  we  have  done,  without  a  mani- 


APPENDIX.  511 

fest  risk  of  complicated  .evil,  as  will  more  fully  appear  by  the 
letter  now  sent  the  chief  justice.  The  sentiments  of  the  mag- 
istrates expressed  in  that  letter,  as  they  respect  the  safety 
of  the  prisoners  here,  and  desire  of  the  people  that  justice 
may  be  distributed  to  them.  I  think  you  may  fully  rely  on, 
and  also  upon  any  thing  in  our  power  to  do,  in  aiding  the 
sheriff,  should  the  sending  down  of  these  unhappy  people  be 
thought  indispensable.  I  have  not  rested  from  this  affair 
since  last  Saturday  at  1  o'clock,  and  ought  now  to  have  been 
in  town,  had  not  these  troubles  arose. 

J.  A. 

Philadelphia,  3d  February,  176S. 
Sir: 

The  moment  I  received  your  letters  of  the  24th  and 
28th  alt.,  I  was  sending  off  an  express  to  your  sheriff  with 
positive  orders  to  bring  the  bodies  of  Frederick  Stump  and 
his  servant,  Ironcutter,  to  the  verge  of  your  county  and  de- 
liver them  to  the  sheriff  of  Lancaster,  that  they  may  be  con- 
veyed forthwith  agreeable  to  the  Chief  Justice's  warrant  to 
this  city  for  examination.  I  find  no  answer  from  your  let- 
ters to  countermand  the  above  order,  and  therefore  expect 
that  absolute  obedience  be  paid  to  it.  Time  will  not  at  pres- 
ent admit  of  my  saying  more  on  this  occasion,  than  that  1 
am  astonished  at  the  impertinent  insolence  of  those  who  here 
take  upon  them  to  suggest  even  to  suppose  that  the  govern- 
ment or  judges  intended  to  do  so  illegal  an  act  as  to  try  pris- 
oners in  any  other  county  or  place  than  where  the  fact  was 
committed,  and  that,  if  the  inferior  officers  of  government 
are  with  impunity  suffered  to  control,  or  counteract  the  pro- 
ceedings of  their  superiors,  there  will  not  only  be  an  end  to 
all  subordination  and  order,  but  of  government  itself. 
I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant, 

John  Penn. 
To  John  Armstrong,  at  Carlisle. 

Lancaster,  28th  January,  (Noon,)  1768. 
Honored  Sir: 

As  soon  as  the  magistrates  of  this  county  received  the 
honor  of  your  directions  by  William  Blyth  for  apprehending 


012  APPENDIX. 

Frederick  Stump,  the  sheriff  and  coroner  went  off  with  a 
copy  of  said  directions,  to  James  Burd,  Esq.,  and  other  offi- 
cers are  now  returned,  and  inform  us  that  the  murderers  of 
the  Indians  is  taken  by  young  Capl.  Patterson  with  a  par- 
ty of  twenty  more,  and  secured  in  Carlisle  jail,  that  on  our 
said  officers  return  to  Mr.  John  Harris's,  Mr.  liuid  being 
there  they  sent  an  express  over  to  the  sheriff  of  the  county 
of  Cumberland,  desiring  him  to  bring  Stump  to  them  and 
they  would  take  care  to  convey  him  safely  down  to  Phila. 
in  order  to  be  examined,  but  he  wrote  them  for  answer  that 
he  could  not,  for  reasons  which  he  should  immediately  send 
by  express  down  to  his  Honor  the  Governor.  The  magis- 
trates who  live  in  this  borough  thought  it  advisable  to  send 
your  Honor  this  news  by  express,  who  is  to  set  off  after  his 
horse  is  shod. 

I  am  your  Honor's  affectionate  friend,, 
and  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

Edward  Shippen. 


Carlisle,  February  7th,  1768. 
May  it  please  your  Honor : 

Last  night  your  Honor's  favor  of  the  3d  inst.  by  Apty, 
express,  came  to  hand,  whereby  1  see  you  had  not  received 
my  last,  on  the  taking  of  Stump  and  his  servant  out  of  this 
jail  by  violence.  I  shall  not  spend  your  Honor's  time  in 
showintr  the  several  methods  that  have  since  been  taken  to 
have  these  men  delivered  back  to  the  custody  of  the  sheriff, 
as  he  no  doubt  will  do  that  by  the  return  of  your  express, 
nor  can  I  fully  express  the  distraction  of  mind  and  uneasi- 
ness I  have  with  many  others  here,  at  this  piece  of  outrage 
and  disregard  of  lawful  authority,  directly  calculated  to  awa- 
ken the  shame  of  our  best  friends,  and  upon  a  poor  unfortu- 
nate county  the  just  resentment  of  the  government,  and  pen- 
alties of  the  law.  And  yet  should  I  presume  so  far  on  your 
Honor's  candor,  as  expect  to  be  believed,  when  I  assure  you 
that  after  the  closest  examination  I  have  been  able  to  make, 
even  the  ignorant  and  giddy  crowd,  who  have  committed 
this  hasty,  flagrant  violation  of  the  established  course  of  jus- 
tice, have  done  it  under  the  influence  of  a  mistaken  appre- 
hension of  the  intentions  of  carrying  Stump  to  Philadelphia, 


APPENDIX.  513 

together  with  a  few  particular  matters  that  the  more  orderly 
and  sedate  among  them,  as  well  as  their  young  people,  deep- 
ly lament,  and  complain  of,  as  bearing  hard  on  them  in  their 
exposed  situation. 

They  tell  us  that  the  government  always  manifests  a  great- 
er concern  at  the  killing  or  death  of  an  Indian,  than  at  the 
death  or  killing  of  any  of  them — that  the  Indians  first  break 
the  peace,  and  have  since  the  last  establishment  thereof,  kill- 
ed a  considerable  number  of  Pennsylvanians  at  different  times 
and  places,  and  that  no  lamentation  has  been  made,  nor  ex- 
ertion of  the  powers  of  government,  to  bring  those  savage 
butchers  (as  they  call  them)  to  account  for  this  dangerous 
and  bloody  account,  whereby,  they  say,  that  some  of  the 
frontier  people  will  always  be  exposed  to  suffer  the  same 
fate,  and  that  their  wives  and  children  must  be  threatened 
and  insulted  by  Indians,  and  that  a  number  of  them  must  re- 
ceive the  fatal  blow  before  they  dare  say  it  is  war,  with  sun- 
dry other  complaints  of  this  sort.  All  these  things  have  been 
reasoned  against  to  the  uttermost  in  our  power,  in  order  to 
appease  these  piteous  and  distracted  people,  as  well  as  to 
convince  them  that  those  matters  have  no  connection  with 
the  conduct  of  such  of  their  young  men  as  have  in  this  in- 
stance opposed  themselves  to  lawful  authority  and  to  the  Di- 
vine Author  of  it;  but  that  the  perceptible  and  illegal  beha- 
vior of  this  is  directly  calculated  to  prevent  them  the  benefit 
of  that  seasonable  protection  and  relief  they  have  always  a 
right  to  expect,  when  their  grievances  are  dutifully  repre- 
sented. 

That  the  sheriff  and  magistrates  here  had  sufficient  reason 
to  fear  a  rescue  of  the  prisoners,  and  other  mischievous  con- 
sequences on  the  road,  had  they  been  sent  off  when  we  ap- 
prehended the  river  to  have  been  passable,  is  beyond  all 
doubt ;  for  it  is  a  matter  of  great  surprise  with  what  rapid- 
ity, and  to  what  extent  this  wild  spirit  of  jealousy  was  car- 
ried ahroad,  and  how  many  different  parties  as  well  out  of 
this  county  as  in  it,  were  all  intending  the  same  thing,  viz : 
to  prevent  the  prisoners  being  carried  to  Philadelphia  for 
trial,  as  their  mistake  led  them  to  believe :  notwithstanding, 
wre  had  not  the  least  suspicion  that  any  would  attempt  to 
take  them  out  of  the  county  jail,  which  they  say  they  would 
by  no  means  have  done,  but  that  they  imagined  we  would 
convey  them  off  secretly  by  night, 


514  APPENDIX. 

These  madmen,  however,  keep  Stump  and  his  servant 
confined  somewhere  beyond  the  mountains,  but  at  what  par- 
ticular place  we  have  not  yet  heard,  but  think  that  they  are 
not  yet  out  of  Sheerraan's  valley,  from  whence  we  have  still 
expectations  of  having  them  delivered  back  to  the  sheriff, 
"lis  but  natural  for  such  as  know  our  unhappy  circumstan- 
ces, to  believe  that  the  severest  measures  ought  before  this 
time  to  have  been  taken,  but  permit  me  to  assure  your  Hon- 
or, that  none  other  than  what  has  been  taken,  and  what  we 
are  still  engaged  in,  could  yet  have  been  attempted  by  us, 
with  any  probability  of  success. 

Whilst  this  letter  lay  unsealed,  I  was  favored  with  your 
Honor's  agreeable  instructions  of  the  4th  inst.  which,  though 
more  mild  than  the  offenders  had  any  reason  to  expect,  yet 
probably  adapted  to  the  present  circumstances,  and  will  very 
probably  produce  the  desired  effect.  I  intend  to  set  out  to- 
morrow morning  to  cross  the  mountains,  and  shall  detain  the 
second  express  in  order  to  carry  down  the  answer  that  I  shall 
receive  from  those  persons,  who  at  present  detain  Stump  and 
his  servant  man. 

Your  Honor's  faithful  and 
Most  humble  servant, 

John  Armstrong. 

To  Governor  Penn. 

Philadelphia,  February  4,  1768. 
Sir: 

The  information  given  in  yours  of  the  29th  ult.  of  the  res- 
cue of  Frederick  Stump  and  his  servant  gives  me  the  greatest 
concern,  and  is  truly  alarming.  Perhaps,  if  the  magistracy 
of  your  county  had  not  indiscreetly  (to  say  no  more)  interpos- 
ed when  thesheriffwas  ready  to  proceed  with  the  prisoners 
to  Philadelphia,  this  event  so  full  of  mischievous  consequen- 
ces had  not  happened.  However,  since  matters  have  so 
unluckily  fallen  out,  the  best  is  to  be  done  what  the  exigen- 
cy of  the  case  requires  and  the  most  probable  method  of  re- 
gaining the  custody  of  the  prisoners,  are  now  to  be  pursued. 
If  the  people  who  have  gone  into  this  rash  and  wicked  step 
were  actuated  by  the  principles  they  professed  of  preserving 
their  rights  rather  than  those  of  screening  the  prisoners  from 
the  hand  of  justice,  they  will  certainly  be  ready  to  deliver 


APPENDIX.  515 

them  up  when  they  can  be  satisfied  that  they  will  receive 
their  trial  in  the  county  where  the  offences  were  committed. 
You  will  therefore,  in  the  first  place,  try  the  expedient  of 
assuring  these  people  (if  it  can  be  known  who  they  are)  that 
the  governor  never  entertained  the  least  thought  of  so  ille- 
gal an  act  as  trying  them  out  of  their  proper  county,  and 
that  they  were  ordered  down  to  Philadelphia  that  the  Chief 
Justice  himself  might  have  the  examination  of  them  in  a 
matter  of  such  consequence,  and  that  they  might  then  be  out 
of  the  reach  of  any  attempts  to  rescue  them,  which  their 
friends  or  abettors  might  be  disposed  to  make,  till  the  time 
of  their  trial.  If,  upon  this  assurance  they  will  retake  the 
prisoners,  or  deliver  them  up,  it  will  go  a  good  way  towards 
convincing  me,  and  all  others,  that  they,  upon  a  mistaken 
notion  took  this  rash,  though  most  unwarrantable  step,  to 
prevent  an  invasion  of  their  rights.  If  this  measure  should 
fail  of  the  desired  effect,  and  these  people  should  persist  in 
refusing  to  deliver  up  the  prisoners,  or  if  they  have  already 
permitted  their  escape,  you  are,  after  waiting  a  reasonable 
time  for  the  result,  to  proceed  immediately  in  the  most  ac- 
tive and  vigorous  manner,  as  well  for  apprehending  the  pri^ 
soners  who  have  been  rescued  as  to  procure  testimony  on 
which  to  found  legal  charges  against  the  rioters  (many  of 
whom  it  is  more  than  probable  you,  and  those  other  magis- 
trates who  were  present  with  you,  and  were  witnesses  of  the 
whole  transaction,  personally  know,)  for  this  most  daring 
assault  upon  the  laws  of  the  country,  and  with  the  assist- 
ance of  the  magistrates,  you  are  to  call  before  all  such  wit- 
nesses as  you  may  think  can  give  any  information  of  the 
names  of  the  rioters,  and  to  take  their  examinations,  and  to 
issue  warrants  for  apprehending  and  securing  them,  and  upon 
every  occasion  which  you  may  think  requires  it,  you  are  to 
dispatch  expresses,  informing  me  of  any  material  occurrence, 
that  I  may  take  the  measures  which  I  may  think  necessary : 
and  particularly  you  are  to  dispatch  an  express  immediately 
with  the  answer  which  the  rioters  may  give  to  the  assurance 
which  you  are  above  instructed  to  make  them.  I  must  press 
you,  and  the  magistrates,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  that 
upon  this  important  occasion,  you  exert  the  utmost  assiduity, 
vigor  and  activity  in  your  power,  least  a  failure  of  success 
in  our  endeavors  to  bring  the  persons  to  justice  should  in- 


516  APPENDIX* 

volve  the  frontier  inhabitants  in  the  dreadful  efforts  of  an 
Indian  war. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  and  obedient  servant* 
John  Penn. 
To  John  Armstrong,  at  Carlisle. 

Carlisle,  26th  of  February,  1768. 

May  it  please  your  Honor : 

I  thank  your  Honor  for  your  favor  of  the  20th  instant, 
which  came  to  hand  at  the  same  time  as  your  last  general 
letter  to  the  magistrates  of  this  county,  and  also  for  the  lib- 
erty you  are  pleased  to  grant  me  of  going  to  Philadelphia 
for  the  justification  of  my  conduct,  in  regard  to  that  opposi- 
tion to  the  chief  justice's  warrant  with  which  I  am  charged, 
in  the  case  of  Frederick  Stump,  and  shall  accordingly  wait 
on  your  Honor  as  soon  as  I  possibly  can. 

The  less,  therefore,  is  at  this  time  necessary  to  be  said, 
having  lately  sent  a  state  of  that  matter  to  the  chief  justice, 
which  I  expect  he  will  produce  to  your  Honor.  Had  I,  on 
that  occasion,  been  conscious  of  disobedience  or  injury  to  the 
public,  it  is  not  very  likely  I  should  have  wrote  you  in  the 
manner  I  did,  and  in  so  many  different  letters  have  always 
neglected  even  the  least  labor  to  justify  myself.  I  knew 
ray  own  innocence,  and  never  imagined  that  any  person 
would  ever  suggest  the  contrary,  or  that  my  conduct  would 
be  placed  to  your  Honor  in  that  point  of  light  in  which  it 
now  appears  to  stand,  for,  however,  directly  or  otherwise, 
any  may  have  wrote  or  spoken  to  my  disadvantage,  or  how- 
ever mistaken  I  might  by  any  means  have  been,  yet,  an 
act  so  unnatural  as  that  of  voluntary  disobedience,  either 
to  your  orders,  or  the  chief  justice's  warrant,  I  beg  leave 
to  say,  is  at  least  highly  improbable,  unless  I  were  known 
to  be  actuated  by  principles  equally  opposed  to  virtue  and 
my  own  interest. 

The  letters  I  wrote  were  never  intended  to  palliate  the 
crime  of  the  lawless  mob  who  rescued  the  prisoners,  but  rea- 
dily confess,  that  at  that  time,  I  had  strong  expectations  they 
would  be  returned,  which  led  me  to  mention  those  things 
that  your  Honor  now  construes  to  be  against  me.  'Tis  very 
true,  I  was  desirous  that  the  impending  resentment  of  the 


APPENDIX.  517 

government  might  be  mitigated,  had  they  returned  the  pris- 
oners, but  this  desire  arose  from  very  different  motives,  than 
barely  to  cover  the  crimes.  My  principal  intention  was,  to 
acquaint  your  Honor  more  generally  of  the  prevailing  tem- 
per and  sentiments  of  the  people,  which  I  conceived  neces- 
sury  that  you  should  know,  and  therefore  incumbent  upon 
ms  to  relate. 

The  anxiety  and  public  concern  I  have  had  on  the  present 
occasion,  has  at  least  been  considerable ;  but  your  Honor's 
conceptions  of  my  conduct  have  added  a  complete  supplement. 
However,  as  by  the  utmost  exertion  of  my  capacity,  I  find 
myself  still  unable  to  render  that  satisfaction  for  which  I  have 
faithfully  labored.  Duty  obliges  me  to  rest  on  one  compre- 
hensive wish — The  will  of  God  may  be  done. 

As  soon  as  the  breaking  up  of  the  river  would  admit  a 
passage,  I  did  not  fail  of  having  conveyed  for  your  informa- 
tion, all  that  I  there  had  heard — but  deferred  sending  anoth- 
er express  until  the  utmost  intelligence  could  be  had,  from 
which  it  is  now  evident  that  Stump  and  Ironcutter  are  both 
set  at  liberty.  The  former,  'tis  said,  went  first  to  the  parts 
where  he  had  lived  ;  thence  proceeded  to  his  father's,  in  Tul- 
pahawka,  in  which  neighborhood,  'tis  alleged,  he  yet  remains. 
That  his  friends  are  to  ask  advice  of  some  able  counsellor  in 
the  law,  to  know  whether  there  is  a  good  prospect  of  his 
safety,  and  should  the  answer  be  agreeable,  that  he  may  be 
expected  to  deliver  himself  up  in  the  month  of  April,  other- 
wise, is  determined  to  flee  somewhere,  and  most  probably,  I 
should  think,  in  some  part  of  Virginia.  Ironcutter,  'tis  said, 
was  carried  off  by  a  German,  suspected  to  be  from  Tulpe- 
hawka  ;  but  I  think  it  natural  to  suppose  that  Stump  and  he 
will  repair  to  some  back  part  of  Virginia,  if  they  are  not  al- 
ready gone.  I  shall  not  assert  the  reasons  assigned  by  the 
rioters  for  their  aggravated  guilt  in  dismissing  Ironcutter ; — 
the  grand  reason  being  now  evident — unwillingness  that 
white  men  should  be  brought  to  the  risk  of  life  for  killing 
Indians  at  this  time,  when  war  is  expected. 

I  herewith  send  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  of  the  magis- 
trates, on  receipt  of  your  Honor's  orders  of  the  20th  instant, 
and  had  intended  their  meeting  on  the  25th,  in  consequence 
of  former  orders.  We  have  got  testimony  against  21  of  those 
that  committed  the  rescue,  including  the  ringleaders,  as  we 
suppose;  and  have  already  issued  a  number  of  warrants.  I 
44 

\ 


518  APPENDIX. 

design  this  by  express,  but,  if  disappointed,  by  the  first  safe 
hand  ;  and  am,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

John  Armstrong. 
To  Governor  Penn. 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  Carlisle,  containing   a  full  account 
of  the  taking  and  rescue  of  Frederick  Stump. 

"  Captain  William  Patterson,  lately  in  the  Provincial  ser- 
vice, now  living  on  Juniata,  about  20  miles  from  Frederick 
Stump's,  hearing  of  the  murder  committed  by  him  and  his 
servant,  on  the  bodies  ot  a  number  of  Indians,  engaged  19 
men,  at  two  shillings  and  sixpence  per  diem  wages,  to  go 
with  him  to  take  them.  On  their  approach,  Stump  fled  to 
the  woods ;  but  Patterson  pretended  to  the  people  in  the 
house,  that  he  came  there  to  get  Stump  to  go  with  them  and 
kill  the  Indians  at  the  Great  Island  ;  this  decoy  had  the  de- 
sired effect.  Some  one  went  out,  found  and  brought  Stump 
to  the  house.  On  his  coming  in,  Patterson  arrested,  bound, 
and  brought  him,  with  his  servant,  John  Ironcutter,  without 
delay,  to  Carlisle  jail,  where  he  was  lodged  on  Saturday 
evening,  the  23d  of  March,  1768.  The  court  just  then  con- 
cluding, all  the  justices  were  in  the  town.  The  Monday 
morning  following,  the  sheriff  was  preparing  to  carry  him  to 
Philadelphia,  agreeable  to  the  express  mandate  of  the  chief 
justice's  warrant ;  but  a  doubt  arose  amongst  the  justices  and 
townspeople,  as  is  pretended,  whether  the  sheriff  had  a  right 
to  remove  him,  he  being  committed  to  their  jail  by  two  jus- 
tices, Armstrong  and  Miller.  But  the  truth  was,  they  ap- 
prehended a  design  to  try  him  at  Philadelphia,  though  the 
chief  justice's  warrant  expressly  commanded  that  he  should 
be  brought  down  for  examination — and  thereupon  the  sher- 
iff was  directed  to  proceed  in  his  duty. 

"  Wednesday,  several  justices  again  met,  to  consult  about 
sending  him  down ;  while  they  were  consulting,  about  40  of 
the  country  people  assembled,  and  marched  near  the  town, 
declaring  they  would  take  him  out  of  jail,  as  they  understood 
he  was  to  be  taken  to  Philadelphia.  A  gentleman  advised 
them  not  to  go  into  town,  but  send  in  two  of  their  party,  to 
know  the  sentiments  of  the  magistrates  on  that  head.  The 
two  messengers  came  into  town,  and  received  assurances  that 


APPENDIX. 


519 


Stump  should  not  be  sent  to  Philadelphia,  but  receive  his 
trial  at  Carlisle ;  upon  which  the  messengers  returned,  and 
the  company  dispersed,  and  went  to  their  respective  dwell- 
ings. 

"  Thus  matters  quietly  rested  until  Friday,  when  a  com- 
pany from  Shearman's  valley,  about  15  miles  from  Carlisle, 
and  Stump's  neighborhood,  assembled,  and  came  near  the 
town,  about  eight  of  whom  came  in  by  couples  ;  the  first  two 
that  entered  the  prison,  asked  the  jailer  for  a  dram,  or  some 
liquor,  which  he  went  to  get  for  them,  and  when  he  brought 
it,  the  others  entered.  They  directly  drew  a  cutlass,  and 
presented  a  pistol,  swearing  they  would  kill  him,  if  he  re- 
sisted, or  made  the  least  noise ;  the  same  care  was  taken  as 
to  the  jailer's  wife.  Immediately  came  up  the  general  com- 
pany, of  about  60  armed  men,  and  surrounded  the  jail :  the 
rioters  within  had  a  sledge,  crowbar,  and  axe,  with  which 
(as  some  say)  they  broke  the  inner  jail  door ;  while  others 
assert,  that  they  had  procured  the  keys  of  the  dungeon  from 
a  girl  in  the  jail.  They  proceeded  down  to  the  dungeon, 
where  Stump  lay  handcuffed,  the  chain  which  fastened  him 
to  the  floor  having  been  taken  off  two  days  before.  They 
then  brought  him  up.  In  the  meantime  came  the  sheriff, 
Colonel  John  Armstrong,  Robert  Miller,  Esq.,  and  Parson 
Steel,  who  were  admitted  within  the  circle  of  the  armed  men 
round  the  jail,  but  not  knowing  of  others  being  within,  went 
on  the  steps  of  the  jail,  and  declared  they  would  defend  it 
with  their  lives.  By  this  time  those  within  came  with  Stump 
to  the  door — the  sheriff  seizing  him,  when  one  of  the  men 
made  a  thrust  with  a  cutlass,  which  passed  close  by  his 
throat,  and  immediately  the  whole  body  surrounded  the  sher- 
iff and  justices,  and  carried  them  to  the  middle  of  the  street, 
but  happily  did  not  touch  a  hair  of  their  heads,  and  went  off 
with  Stump,  greatly  shouting; — but  first  took  him  to  a  smith, 
whom  they  obliged  to  cut  off  his  irons.  The  sheriff  and  jus- 
tices immediately  went  after  them,  and  overtook  one-half  of 
the  company  ;  but  the  rest,  with  Stump,  were  gone  over  the 
hills  to  Shearman's  valley. 

Some  of  them  declared  they  would  give  Mr.  Patterson  the 
interest  of  his  £200  reward,  which  should  not  be  of  any  ser- 
vice to  him,  and  great  danger  is  now  apprehended  to  his 
person  and  property,  for  his  upright  and  spirited  behavior  in 
the  cause  of  virtue  and  his  country. 


520  APPENDIX. 

"  N.  B.  John  Ironcutter  was  also  rescued  and  carried  off 
with  Stump." 

The  editor  of  the  Pa.  Gazette,  continues  as  follows : 

"  By  a  gentleman  who  left  Carlisle  last  Thursday,  we  are 
informed  that  the  sheriff,  clergy,  magistrates,  and  several 
other  reputable  inhabitants,  had  been  to  Shearman's  valley, 
among  the  people  that  rescued  Stump,  and  represented  to 
them  the  consequences  of  their  conduct,  in  such  a  manner, 
that  they  seemed  convinced  of  their  error,  and  promised  to; 
deliver  him  up  in  three  days ;  and  that  it  was  expected  they 
would  bring  him  back  last  Friday  night. 

"  By  another  gentleman,  arrived  since  from  Lancaster  co., 
we  are  informed  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  frontier  were  so 
alarmed  at  what  had  happened,  that  many  of  them  left  their 
places  5  and  that  Capt.  Patterson  being  threatened  by  the 
rescuers  of  Srump,  was  obliged  to  keep  a  guard  in  his  house 
night  and  day. 


F. — Tedyescung. 

Tedyescung  was  the  last  Delaware  chief  in  these  parts 
east  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  His  name  makes  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  history  of  Pennsylvania  previous  to  the 
Revolution,  and  particularly  towards  the  commencement  of 
the  war  of  1756. 

Before  he  was  raised  to  the  station  of  a  chief,  he  had  sig- 
nalised himself  as  an  able  counsellor  in  his  nation.  In  the 
year  1749,  he  joined  the  Christian  Indian  congregation,  and 
the  following  year,  at  his  earnest  desire,  was  christened  by 
the  name  of  Gideon.  He  had  been  known  before  under  that 
of  Honest  John. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1754,  that  his  nation  called  on 
him  to  assume  a  military  command.  The  French  were  then 
stirring  up  the  Indians,  particularly  the  Delawares,  to  aid 
them  in  fighting  the  English,  telling  them  if  they  suffered 
them  to  go  on  as  they  had  done,  they  would  very  soon  not 
have  a  foot  of  land  to  live  on.  The  Susquehanna  and  Fork 
Indians  (Delawares)  were  then  in  want  of"  a  leading  charac- 
ter to  advise  and  govern  them — their  great,  good,  beloved, 
and  peaceable  chief,  Tademe,  (commonly  called  Tattemi,) 
having  been  murdered  some  time  before,  down  in  the  Forks, 
by  a  foolish  young  white  man.  They,  therefore,  called  on 
Tadeuscund  to  take  upon  himself  the  station  of  a  chief,  which 
having  been  accepted,  he  repaired  to  Wyoming,  whither 
many  of  the  Fork  Iudians  followed  him. 

Whatever  might  have  been  Tadeuscund's  disposition  to- 
wards the  English  at  that  time,  it  is  certain  that  it  was  a  dif- 
ficult task  for  him  to  govern  an  exasperated  people,  entirely 
devoted  to  the  opposite  interest.  This  may  account  for  his 
not  having  always  succeeded  in  gratifying  our  government 
to  the  extent  of  their  wishes.  Yet,  he  did  much  towards  les- 
sening the  cruelties  of  the  enemy,  by  keeping  up  an  inter- 
course with  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  and  occasionally 
drawing  many  from  the  theatre  of  war  and  murder,  to  meet 
the  colonial  authorities  at  Easton  or  Philadelphia  for  the  ne- 

44* 


522  APPENDIX. 

gotiation  of  treaties,  by  which  means  fewer  cruelties  were 
committed  than  would  otherwise  have  been. 

His  frequent  visits  to  the  governor,  and  to  the  people  call- 
ed Quakers,  (to  whom  he  was  much  attached)  excited  much 
jealousy  among  some  of  his  nation,  especially  the  Monseys, 
who  believed  that  he  was  carrying  on  some  underhanded 
work  at  Philadelphia  detrimental  to  the  nation  at  large ;  on 
which  account,  and  as  they  wished  the  continuation  of  the 
war,  they  became  his  enemies. 

From  the  precarious  situation  Tadeuscund  was  placecLin, 
it  was  easy  to  foresee  that  he  would  come  to  an  untimely 
end.  Perhaps  no  Indian  chief  before  him  ever  found  himself 
so  delicately  situated  ;  mistrusted  and  blamed  by  our  govern- 
ment and  the  English  people  generally,  because  he  did  not 
use  his  whole  endeavors  to  keep  his  nation  at  peace,  or  com- 
pel them  to  lay  down  the  hatchet ;  and  accused  by  his  own 
people  of  having  taken  a  bribe  from  the  English,  or  entered 
into  some  secret  agreement  with  them  that  would  be  of  ben- 
efit to  himself  alone,  as  he  would  not  suffer  them  to  inflict 
just  punishment  on  that  nation  for  the  wrongs  they  had  done 
them,  but  was  constantly  calling  on  them  to  make  peace. 
The  Five  Nations,  on  the  other  hand,  (the  enemies  of  the 
Delawares,  and  in  alliance  with  England),  blamed  him  for 
doing  too  much  for  the  cause  which  they  themselves  support- 
ed, for  making  himself  too  busy,  and  assuming  an  authority 
which  did  not  belong  to  him,  the  leader  of  a  band  of  women, 
but  to  them,  the  Five  Nations  alone. 

To  do  justice  to  this  injured  chief,  the  true  secret  of  his 
apparently  contradictory  conduct  must  be  here  disclosed.  It 
is  said  by  those  Indians  who  know  him  best,  and  who  at  that 
time  had  the  welfare  of  their  own  nation  much  at  heart,  that 
his  great  and  sole  object  was  to  recover  for  the  Lenni  Le- 
nape  that  dignity  which  the  Iroquois  had  treacherously  wres- 
ted from  them;  thence  flowed  the  bitterness  of  the  latter 
against  him,  though  he  seemed  to  be  promoting  the  same  in- 
terest which  they  themselves  supported. 

He  had  long  hoped  that  by  showing  friendship  and  at- 
tachment to  the  English,  he  would  be  able  to  convince  them 
of  the  justice  of  his  nation's  cause,  who  were  yet  powerful 
enough  to  make  their  alliance  an  object  with  the  British  go- 
vernment ;  but  here  he  was  mistaken.  No  one  would  exam- 
ine into  the  grounds  of  the  controversy  between  the  Dela- 


APPENDIX.  523 

wares  and  the  Five  Nations ;  the  latter  were  supported  in 
their  unjust  pretensions  as  heretofore,  and  were  called  on  to 
aid  in  compelling  the  Lenape  to  make  peace. 

This  unjust,  and  at  the  same  time  impolitic  conduct,  irrita- 
ted to  the  utmost  the  spirited  nation  of  the  Delawares  ;  they 
felt  themselves  insulted  and  degraded,  and  were  less  disposed 
than  ever  from  complying  with  the  wishes  of  a  government 
which  sported  in  this  manner  with  their  national  feelings,  and 
called  in  question  even  their  right  to  exist  as  an  independent 
people. 

Surrounded  as  he  was  with  enemies,  Tadeuscund  could  not 
escape  the  iate  that  had  long  been  intended  for  him.  In  the 
spring  of  1763,  when  the  European  nations  had  made  peace, 
but  the  Indians  were  still  at  war,  he  was  burnt  up,  together 
with  his  house,  as  he  was  lying  in  his  bed  asleep.  It  was 
supposed,  and  believed  by  many  who  were  present,  that  this 
dreadful  event  was  not  accidental,  but  had  been  maturely  re- 
solved on  by  his  enemies,  whoever  they  were,  and  that  tfie 
liquor  which  was  brought  to  Wyoming  at  the  time,  was  in- 
tended by  them  for  the  purpose  of  enticing  him  to  drink,  that 
they  might  more  easily  effect  their  purpose.  A  number  of 
Indians  were  witnesses  to  the  fact,  that  the  house  was  set  on 
fire  from  the  outside.  Suspicion  fell  principally  upon  the 
Mingoes,  who  were  known  to  be  jealous  of  him,  and  fearful 
of  his  resentment,  if  he  should  succeed  in  insinuating  himself 
into  the  favor  of  the  English  and  making  good  terms  with 
them  for  his  nation.  It  is  said  that  those  Indians  were  con- 
cerned in  bringing  the  fatal  liquor  which  is  believed  to  have 
been  instrumental  in  the  execution  of  the  design. 

While  Tadeuscund  was  at  the  head  of  his  nation,  he  was 
frequently  distinguished  by  the  title  of  "  King  of  the  Dela- 
wares." While  passing  and  repassing  to  and  from  the  ene- 
my with  messages,  many  people  called  him  "  The  War 
Trumpet" 

In  his  person  he  was  a  portly,  well-looking  man,  endowed 
with  good,  natural  sense,  quick  of  comprehension,  and  very 
ready  in  answering  the  questions  put  to  him.  He  was  rather 
ambitious — thought  much  of  his  rank  and  abilities — liked 
to  be  considered  as  the  king  of  his  country,  and  was  fond 
of  having  his  retinue  with  him  when  he  would  go  to  Phil- 
adelphia on  business  with  the  government. 


98  \  APPENDIX. 

His  greatest  weakness  was  a  fondness  for  strong  drinks  ; 
the  temptation  of  which  he  could  not  easily  resist,  and  would 
sometimes  drink  to  excess.  This  unfortunate  propensity  is 
supposed  to  be  the  cause  of  his  cruel  and  untimely  death. — 
Heckewelder's  Historical  account  of  the  Indians. 


G.— Page  187. 
Priestley's  Case. 

Birmingham,  July  21. 
Numerous  fabricated  accounts  having  appeared  in  the  Lon- 
don and  other  prints,  of  the  tate  unhappy  riotous  proceed- 
ings in  this  town,  we  have  taken  much  pains  to  collect  the 
following  authentic  particulars : 

Riots  in  Birmingham. 

•In  consequence  of  an  advertisement  on  Thursday  the  14th 
of  July,  upwards  of  90  gentlemen  met  at  the  hotel  to  com- 
memorate the  French  revolution.  It  is  previously  to  be  ob- 
served, that  six  copies  of  a  seditious  handbill  had  been  left 
early  in  the  week  by  some  person  unknown,  for  discovering 
the  author,  printer,  or  publisher  of  which  a  reward  of  one 
hundred  guineas  was  offered  by  the  magistrates,  and  which 
have  been  very  generally  copied,  causing  no  small  sermenta- 
tion  in  the  minds  of  the  people.  In  consequence  on  Thurs- 
day afternoon,  a  considerable  number  of  persons  gathered 
round  the  hotel,  hissing  at  the  gentlemen  as  they  assembled  ; 
and  afler  their  departure  (which  happened  two  hours  alter) 
every  window  in  the  front  was  completely  demolished,  not- 
withstanding the  personal  appearance  and  interference  of  the 
magistrates. 

The  mob  next  attacked  the  new  meeting  house,  (Dr.  Priest- 
ley's) and  after  trying  in  vain  to  tear  up  the  seats,  &c,  they 
set  it  on  fire,  and  nothing  remains  that  could  be  consumed. 

The  old  meeting  house  was  completely  emptied  of  pulpit, 
pews,  &c,  which  were  burned  in  the  adjoining  burying 
ground,  and  afterwards  the  building  was  levelled  nearly  with 
the  ground,  it  being  considered  dangerous  from  its  situation 
to  set  it  on  fire. 

Dr.  Priestley's  house  at  Fair  Hill  (a  mile  and  an  half  from 


o26 


APIENDIX. 


thence)  next  met  a  similar  fate,  with  the  whole  of  his  val- 
uable library,  and  more  valuable  collection  of  apparatus  for 
philosophical  experiments.  Here  one  of  the  rioters  was  kill- 
ed by  falling  from  a  cornice  stone. 

On  Friday  morning  the  infatuated  mob  continued  their 
depredations,  for  there  were  no  armed  force  in  the  town,  and 
the  civil  power  were  not  sufficient  to  repress  them.  Armed 
with  bludgeons,  &c.  and  vociferating  church  and  king,  they 
spread  a  terror  wherever  they  appeared. 

About  noon  they  attacked  and  demolished  the  elegant 
mansion  of  Mr.  John  Ryland  at  (late  Mr.  Baskervill's)  Easy 
Hill,  where  many  of  the  rioters  who. were  drunk,  perished  in 
the  cellars,  either  by  the  flames,  or  suffocation,  by  the  fall- 
ing in  of  the  roof.  Six  poor  wretches  terribly  bruised,  were 
got  out  alive,  and  are  now  in  our  hospital,  and  ten  dead  bo- 
dies have  since  been  dug  out  of  the  ruins ;  but  a  man,  who 
had  remained  immured  in  one  of  the  vaults  from  the  preced- 
ing Friday,  worked  his  way  out  on  Monday,  with  little  in- 
jury. 

This  afternoon  the  magistrates,  anxious  to  preserve  the 
town  from  further  outrage,  until  military  aid  could  be  pro- 
cured, attended  and  swore  in  some  others  as  constables,  who 
with  mob  staves  in  their  hands  marched  up  to  Mr.  Ryland's 
to  disperse  the  mob,  who  at  first  gave  way ;  but  rallying, 
after  a  stout  conflict,  in  which  many  were  severely  wounded, 
the  jwsse  commitatis  were  obliged  to  retire  without  effect- 
ing any  useful  purpose. 

The  country  residence  of  John  Taylor,  Esq.  Bordesley 
Hall,  after  the  greatest  part  of  its  splendid  furniture  had  been 
demolished,  or  carried  away,  was  set  on  fire,  together  with 
the  out-offices,  stables,  ricks  of  hay,  &c.  and  altogether  ex- 
hibited a  most  tremendous  scene  of  devastation.  Every  ex- 
ertion to  preserve  this  elegant  seat  was  made  by  captain  Car- 
ver, but  in  vain — on  offering  them  his  purse  with  an  hundred 
guineas,  to  save  the  house,  he  was  hustled  amidst  the  crowd, 
with  the  cry  of  no  bribery  !  and  narrowly  escaped  their  fury. 

In  the  night  of  Friday,  the  house  of  Mr.  Hutton,  in  High 
street,  was  completely  stripped,  his  large  stock  of  paper ; 
his  very  valuable  library  of  books  and  all  his  furniture  de- 
stroyed or  carried  away.  Fire  was  several  times  brought 
by  a  woman,  (women  and  boys  were  particularly  active  in 


APPENDIX. 


527 


all  their  depredations)  but  the  majority  of  the  populace,  in 
tenderness  to  the  town  would  not  suffer  it  to  be  applied. 

From  Mr.  Hutton's,  they  proceeded  to  his  country  house 
at  Washwood  Heath,  about  three  miles  from  town,  which 
with  its  offices  they  reduced  to  ashes, 

Saturday  morning  the  rioters  made  an  attack  on  Mr. 
George  Humphreys's  elegant  house  at  Spark  Brook,  but 
were  repulsed  and  one  man  killed  ;  they  went  off  after  ran- 
sacking the  house  of  all  its  valuable  furniture,  but  did  not 
burn  it. 

Mr.  Wm.  Russell's  house  at  Showell  Green,  experienced 
all  the  violence  of  fire  and  devastation. 

The  house  of  Mr.  T.  Hawkes,  Mosley  wake  green,  was 
stripped  of  its  furniture,  which  was  either  broken  to  pieces 
or  carried  away. 

Mosley  Hall,  the  residence  of  the  Dowager  countess  Car- 
hampton,  but  the  property  of  John  Taylor,  Esq.  Mr.  Har- 
wood's  and  Mr.  Hobson's  a  dissenting  minister,  were  both 
on  fire  at  one  time. 

Lady  Carhampton  had  notice  on  the  proceeding  day  to 
remove  her  effects,  as  their  vengeance  was  not  directed 
against  her  :  the  good  old  lady  gave  directions  accordingly  ; 
and  Sir  Robert  and  Capt.  Lawley  immediately  attended  on 
their  noble  relation,  whom  they  accompanied  in  safety  to 
Canwell,  Sir  Robert's  seat. 

The  whole  of  Saturday  business  was  at  a  stand,  and  the 
shops  mostly  close  shut  up,  notwithstanding  the  appearance 
of  the  magistrates,  and  several  popular  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men, for  the  reports  were  so  vague  and  various  of  the  num- 
ber and  the  strength  of  the  insurgents,  and  having  no  milita- 
ry save  a  few  undisciplined  recruits,  no  force  could  be  sent 
out  against  them.  In  the  afternoon  and  evening,  small  par- 
ties of  three  or  five,  levied  contributions  of  meat,  liquor  and 
money,  with  the  same  indifference  that  they  would  levy  par- 
ish taxes ;  but  the  night  passed  without  interruption  in  the 
town. 

On  Sunday  the  rioters  bent  their  course  towards  Kings- 
wood,  seven  miles  off,  extorting  money  and  liquors  by  the 
way.  There  the  dissenting  meeting  house,  and  the  dwelling 
house  of  their  minister  were  reduced  to  ashes  ;  as  were  the 
premises  of  Mr.  Cox,  at  Worstock,  the  same  day. 

The  reports  of  every  hour  of  this  day  appeared  calculated 


528  APPENDIX. 

to  excite  alarm  in  the  town,  while  depredation  and  extortion 
were  committing  in  the  surrounding  villages  and  country 
seats. 

Sunday  night  soon  after  ten,  three  troops  of  the  15th 
light  dragoons,  arrived  amid  the  exclaimations  of  the  inhab- 
itants, whose  hopes  and  fears  had  been  visibly  depicted 
through  the  day  in  every  countenance,  as  reports  of  the  near 
approach  of  the  soldiery  were  spread  or  contradicted.  The 
town  was  immediately  illuminated,  and  before  morning  every 
thing  was  tolerably  quiet,  but  the  rioters  were  full  continu- 
ing their  depredations  in  the  country. 

Their  visits  to  Mr.  Hunt's,  at  Ladywood,  Mr.  Coate's,  at 
the  Fives  Ways,  and  Dr.  Withering's  Edgbaston-hall,  were 
attended  with  great  alarm,  but  not  the  injury  reported.  They 
exhausted  the  cellars  at  each  place,  and  received  various 
sums  of  money  to  prevent  their  proceeding  to  further  violence, 
but  were  at  the  last  mentioned  place  in  great  force  at  the 
time  the  troops  arrived,  which  they  no  sooner  had  intima- 
tion of  when  they  began  to  flink  off  in  small  parties,  and  the 
peasantry  taking  courage  put  the  rest  to  flight  in  various  di- 
rections. 

So  rapid  were  the  light  horse  in  their  route  for  the  relief 
of  this  place,  that  they  came  here  in  one  day  from  Notting- 
ham, a  distance  of  59  miles,  but  to  the  great  injury  of  their 
horses,  one  of  which,  a  famous  old  horse,  that  had  been  in 
the  regiment  18  years,  died  the  next  day. 

Monday.— The  town  in  perfect  security,  but  as  much 
crowded  as  during  the  three  .preceding  days,  in  viewing  the 
military  ;  the  mob  keeping  at  such  a  distance  as  to  render  all 
accounts  of 'them  dubious — At  one  time  said  to  be  at  A  Ices- 
ter,  the  next  hour  at  Broomsgrove,  fyc.  which  reports,  how- 
ever, were  refuted  by  the  Earl  of  Plymouth,  who  kindly  at- 
tended as  a  magistrate  of  the  county  of  Worcester,  as  did  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Cartwright,  of  Dudley. 

Tuesday. — Flying  rumors  of  depredations  near  Hagley, 
Halesowen,  &c.  and  in  the  evening  certain  information  was 
received  that  a  party  of  rioters  were  then  attacking  Mr.  Male's 
of  Belle  Vue,  a  few  of  the  light  dragoons  immediately  went 
to  his  assistance ;  but  they  had  been  previously  overpowered 
by  a  body  of  people  in  that  neighborhood,  and  ten  of  them 
are  now  confined  at  Halesowen. 

Wednesday. — 'This  morning  the  country  round,  for  ten 


APPENDIX. 


529 


miles  was  scoured  by  the  light  horse,  but  not  one  rioter  to 
be  met  with,  and  all  the  manufactories  are  at  work,  as  if  no 
interruption  had  taken  place.  These  troops  of  the  11th  Light 
Dragoons  marched  in,  this  morning,  and  more  troops  are  still 
expected. 


To  the  Inhabitants  of  Birmingham. 

My  late  Townsmen  and  Neighbors : 

After  living  with  you  eleven  years,  in  which  you  had 
uniform  experience  of  my  peaceful  behavior,  in  my  attention 
to  the  quiet  studies  of  my  profession  ami  those  of  philosophy, 
I  was  far  from  expecting  the  injuries  which  I  and  my  friends 
have  lately  received  from  you.  But  you  have  been  misled 
by  hearing  the  Dissenters,  and  particularly  the  Unitarian 
Dissenters,  continually  railed  at,  as  enemies  to  the  present 
government,  in  church  and  state.  You  have  been  led  to  con- 
sider any  injury  done  to  us  a  meritorious  thing,  and  not  hav- 
ing been  better  informed,  their  means  were  not  attended  to. 
When  the  object  was  right,  you  thought  the  means  could  not 
be  wrong.  By  the  discourses  of  your  teachers,  and  excla- 
mations of  your  superiors  in  general,  drinking  confusion  and 
damnation  to  us,  (which  is  well  known  to  have  been  their  fre- 
quent practice)  your  bigotry  has  been  excited  to  the  highest 
pitch,  and  nothing  having  been  said  to  you  to  moderate  your 
passions,  but  every  thing  to  inflame  them :  hence,  without 
any  consideration  on  your  part,  or  on  theirs — who  ought  to 
have  known  and  taught  you  better — you  were  prepared  for 
every  species  of  outrage;  thinking  that  whatever  you  could 
do  to  spite  and  injure  us,  was  for  the  support  of  government, 
and  especially  the  church.  In  destroying  us,  you  have  been 
led  to  think  you  did  your  God  and  your  country  the  most 
substantial  service. 

Happily,  the  minds  of  Englishmen  have  a  horror  of  mur- 
der, and  therefore,  I  hope,  you  did  not  think  of  that;  though, 
by  your  clamorous  demanding  of  me  at  the  hotel,  it  is  pro- 
bable that,  at  that  time,  some  of  you  intended  me  some  per- 
sonal injury.  But  what  is  the  value  of  life,  when  every  thing 
is  done  to  make  it  wretched.  In  many  cases,  there  would  be 
45 


OJO  APPENDIX. 

greater  mercy  in  dispatching  the  inhabitants  than  burning 
their  houses.  However,  I  infinitely  prefer  what  1  feel  from 
the  spoiling  of  my  goods,  to  the  disposition  of  those  who  have 
misled  you. 

You  have  destroyed  the  most  truly  valuable  and  useful 
apparatus  of  philosophical  instruments  that  perhaps  any  in- 
dividual, in  this  or  any  other  country,  was  ever  possessed  of, 
in  my  use  of  which  I  annually  spent  large  sums,  wiih  no  pe- 
cuniary view  whatever,  but  only  an  advancement  of  science, 
for  the  benefit  of  my  country  and  mankind.  You  have  de- 
stroyed a  library  corresponding  to  that  apparatus,  which  no 
money  can  purchase,  except  in  a  long  course  of  time.  Hot 
what  I  feel  far  more,  you  have  destroyed  my  manuscripts, 
which  have  been  the  result  of  the  laborious  study  of  many 
years,  and  which  I  shall  never  be  able  to  re-co  npose  ;  and 
this  has  been  done  to  one  who  never  did,  or  imagined  you 
auy  harm. 

I  know  nothing  more  of  the  handbill  which  is  said  to  have 
enraged  you  so  much  than  one  of  yourselves,  and  I  disap- 
prove of  it  as  much  ;  though  it  has  been  made  the  ostensible 
handle  of  doing  infinitely  more  mischief  than  any  thing  of  that 
nature  eould  possibly  have  done.  In  the  celebration  of  the 
first  anniversary,  at  which  I  did  not  attend,  the  company  as- 
sembled on  the  occasion  only  expressed  their  joy  in  the  eman- 
cipation of  a  neighboring  nation  from  tyranny,  without  inti- 
mating a  -desire  of  any  thing  more  ihan  such  an  improvement 
of  our  own  constitution,  as  all  sober  citizens,  of  every  per- 
suasion, have  long  wished  for.  And  though,  in  answer  to 
the  ^ross  and  unprovoked  calumnies  of  Mr.  Madan  and  oth- 
ers, 1  publiclv  vindicated  my  principles  as  a  Dissenter,  it  was 
only  with  plain  and  sober  argument  and  with  perfect  good 
humor.  We  are  better  instructed  in  the  mild  and  forbearing 
spirit  of  Christianity,  than  ever  to  think  of  having  recourse  to 
violence;  and  can  you  think  such  conduct  as  yours  any  re- 
commendation of  your  religious  principles,  in  preference  to 


■an 


You  are  still  more  mistaken,  if  you  imagine  that  this  con- 
duct of  yours  has  any  tendency  to  serve  your  cause,  or  to 
prejudice  ours.  It  is  nothing  but  reason  and  argument  that 
can  ever  support  any  system  of  religion.  Answer  our  argu- 
ments and  your  business  is  done.  But  your  having  recourse 
to  violence  is  only  a  proof  that  you  have  nothing  belter  U> 


APPENDIX.  531 

produce.  Should  you  destroy  myself  as  well  as  my  library, 
and  apparatus,  ten  more  persons,  of  equal  or  superior  spirit 
and  ability,  would  instantly  rise  up.  If  those  ten  were  de- 
stroyed, an  hundred  would  instantly  appear;  and  believe  me, 
the  church  of  England,  which  you  think  you  are  supporting, 
has  received  a  greater  blow  by  this  conduct  of  yours,  than  I 
and  all  my  friends  have  ever  aimed  at  it. 

Besides,  to  abuse  those  who  have  no  power  of  making  re- 
sistance is  equally  cowardly  and  brutal,  peculiarly  unworthy 
of  Englishmen,  to  say  nothing  of  Christianity,  which  teaches 
us  to  do  as  we  would  be  done  by.  In  this  business  we  aie 
the  sheep  and  you  are  the  wolves.  We  will  preserve  our 
character,  and  hope  you  will  change  yours.  At  all  events, 
we  return  you  blessings  for  curses ;  and  pray  that  you  may 
soon  return  to  that  industry,  and  those  sober  manners,  for 
which  the  inhabitants  of  Birmingham  were  formerly  distin- 
guished.    I  am, 

Your  sincere  and  well  wisher, 

London,  July  19,  1794.  J.  Priestley. 

P.  S.  The  account  of  the  first  toast  at  the  revolution  din- 
ner in  The  Times  of  this  morning,  can  be  nothing  less  than 
a  malicious  lie.  To  prove  this,  a  list  of  the  toasts,  with  an 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  day,  will  soon  be  published. 
The  first  of  them  was,  The  King  and  the  Constitution,  and 
they  were  all  such  as  the  friends  of  liberty,  and  of  the  true 
principles  of  the  constitution,  would  approve. 


H—  Page  3U  and  ?. 


At  the  request  of  a  friend  of  education,  lo  notice  tl  - 

of  I^sbarg,"  under  the  bead  of  LraSshurg,  the 


Act,    Uihfihii^  the  Umrerar v,  is  given  Lere.    The  request 


-  •  -. 


-irf  la  frfai/tra  /a<  Umrernty  «tf  Lewubmrg- 

i-  ■■ 
lor  tke  ssasntenanee  of  any  partkakr 

Aad  whereas,  tke  (autev  of  a  Uaheratj,  to  be  placed 

and  direction,  would  be  a 


-:   :*_.  ::-i.  :---  :-. .  :i: -5  ::'  :i-f  ::~- 

the  efforts  of  said* 

_  1  - "  :   •  - 
1-  Be  it  enacted  by  tke  Senate  and  House  of  Re- 
of  the  ri—i  ai  ihk  of  Pennsylvania  ■  Gen- 
eral \mwh\)  saet,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  tie  authority 
'  "ae  sane,  Thai  there  be,  and 


-:'  :ir  si--.     j.Lz:    -z:t  :~.  ---".  :-  _5  :-:>;  =-  , 

■:i  :•:::- :-_  ::  L        ^ :.-:      ;.    1-  ::  _:.:y  ;: 

1  college,  and  sack  other  de- 


APPENDIX.  533 

maintain ;  and  that  the  name  and  constitution  of  the  said  Uni- 
versity shall  be  and  they  are  as  follows : 

Article  I. 

Section  1. — The  said  Institution  shall  be  forever  called  and 
known  by  the  name  of"  The  University  at  Lewisburg." 

Article  II. 

Section  1. — The  said  University  shall  be  under  the  man- 
agement, direction,  government,  and  supervision  of  a  number 
of  Trustees  not  exceeding  20,  and  a  number  of  Curators  not 
exceeding  40,  or  a  quorum  of  each  as  hereinafter  mentioned. 

Section  2. — The  Trustees  and  a  majority  of  the  Curators 
shall  be  regular  members  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  Five 
or  more  of  the  Trustees  shall  be  a  quorum  of  the  Trustees  ; 
and  seven  or  more  of  the  Curators  shall  constitute  a  quorum 
af  Curators. 

Article  III. 
Section  1. — The  Trustees  of  said  University  shall  consist 
of  the  following  persons,  to  wit:  James  Moore,  James  Moore, 
jr.,  Joseph  Meixell,  W  illiam  H.  Ludwig,  Samuel  Wolfe,  Levi 
B.  Christ,  Henry  Funk,  Joel  E.  Bradley,  Eugenio  Kincaid, 
Benjamin  Bear,  William  Keene,  William  T.  Bucknell,  Tho- 
mas Watson,  James  M.  Linnard,  Lewis  Vastine,  Oliver 
iilackburn,  Caleb  Lee  and  Daniel  L  Moore;  which  said 
Trustees  and  their  successors,  to  be  elected  as  herein  subse- 
quently mentioned,  shall  be,  forever  hereafter,  and  they  are 
Lereby  created,  established,  and  declared  to  be  a  body  politic 
and  corporate,  with  perpetual  succession,  and  with  all  the 
incidents  of  a  corporation,  in  deed  and  in  law,  to  all  intents 
aad  purposes  whatsoever,  by  the  name,  style,  and  title  of 
"The  Trustees  of  the  University  at  Lewisburg;"  by  which 
name  and  title,  said  Trustees  and  their  successors  shall  be 
capable,  in  law  and  in  equity,  to  take  to  themselves  and  their 
successors,  for  the  use  of  siid  University,  any  estate  in  any 
messuages,  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  goods,  chattels, 
moneys,  or  other  effects,  by  gift,  grant,  bargain,  sale,  con- 
veyance, assurance,  will,  devise,  or  bequest,  of  any  person  or 
persons  whatsoever;  and  to  bold  ten  acres  of  land,  together 
with  the  improvements  thereon,  exempt  from  taxation,  Pro- 
vided,. That  the  annuel  nett  income  accruing  from  said  estate, 
45» 


534  APPENDIX. 

and  subject  to  a  yearly  appropriation  or  disposition  of  said 
Trustees  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars ;  and  the  same  messuages,  lands,  tenements,  heredita- 
ments, and  estates  real  and  personal,  to  grant,  bargain,  sell, 
convey,  assure,  demise,  and  to  farm,  let,  and  place  out  on 
interest,  or  otherwise  dispose  of,  or  invest,  for  the  use  of  said 
University,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  them,  at  least  a  quorum 
of  them,  shall  seem  most  beneficial  to  said  Institution;  and 
to  receive  the  rents,  issues,  profits,  income,  and  interest  of  the 
same,  and  to  apply  the  same  to  the  proper  use  of  said  Uni- 
versity; and  by  the  same  name,  to  sue,  and  be  sued,  implead 
and  be  impleaded,  in  any  courts  of  law  or  equity,  and  in  all 
manner  of  suits  and  actions  whatsoever ;  and,  generally,  by 
and  in  the  same  name,  to  do  and  transact  all  the  business 
touching  or  concerning  the  premises,  or  which  shall  be  inci- 
dentally necessary  thereto,  as  fully  and  effectually  as  any 
natural  person,  or  body  politic  or  corporate,  has  power  to 
manage  the  concerns  belonging  to  such  person  or  body;  and 
to  hold,  enjoy,  and  exercise  all  such  powers,  authorities,  and 
jurisdictions,  as  are  customary  in  other  Universities,  or  in 
Colleges  within  this  commonwealth. 

Section  2. — Said  Trustees  shall  cause  to  be  made,  for  their 
use,  one  common  seal,  with  such  devices  and  inscriptions 
thereon  as  they  shall  think  proper,  and  by  and  with  it,  all 
deeds,  diplomas,  certificates,  and  acts  of  said  incorporation 
shall  pass  and  be  authenticated  ;  and  said  Trustees  may,  at 
their  pleasure,  alter  their  seal,  or  break  it  and  substitute  a 
new  one. 

Sec.  3. — A  quorum  of  said  Trustees  shall  meet  at  Lewis- 
burg,  within  ten  days  from  the  date  of  this  charter,  to  tran- 
sact any  business  which  the  interests  of  the  Institution  may 
then  require.  (More  particular  notice  of  said  meeting  shall 
be  given  by  the  first  Trustee  first  named  on  the  list.) 

Sec.  4. — There  shall  be  a  meeting  of  said  Trustees  held 
as  often  as  once  in  six  months,  at  or  near  the  borough  of 
Lewi&burg,  at  such  particular  times  and  place  or  places  as 
said  Trustees,  or  a  quorum  of  them,  shall  appoint,  of  which, 
after  the  fir^t  meeting,  notice  shall  be  given  by  a  written 
communication,  signed  by  the  chairman  or  secretary  of  the 
board,  and  addressed  to  said  Trustees  severally,  at  least  ten 
days  before  the  time  of  such  intended  meeting,  and  if  at  such 
meeting  less  than  a  quorum  shall  be  present,  the  members 


APPENDIX  535 

present  shall  have  power  to  adjourn  t  o  some  other  day ;  but 
if  a  quorum  of  said  Trustees  meet  at  the  appointed  time,  or 
at  any  time  of  adjournment,  then  the  majority  of  the  votes  of 
such  quorum  or  board,  shall  be  capable  of  doing  and  tran- 
sacting all  the  business  and  concerns  of  said  University  not 
otherwise  provided  for  by  this  act,  and  particularly  of  mak- 
ing and  enacting  ordinances  and  by-laws  for  the  government 
and  instruction  of  said  University;  of  adding,  within  the  limit 
prescribed  by  article  two,  section  one,  to  the  number  of  Trus- 
tees whose  names  are  inserted  in  this  charter ;  of  electing 
Trustees  in  the  place  and  stead  of  those  who  shall  decline 
service,  resign,  or  die,  or  whose  places  become  vacant  from 
any  other  cause;  of  electing  or  appointing  the  President, 
Professors,  tutors,  and  other  teachers  of  said  University,  of 
agreeing  with  them  for  their  salaries  and  stipends,  of  remov- 
ing them  for  misconduct,  breaches  of  the  ordinances  of  the 
institution,  or  other  sufficient  causes;  of  appointing  a  chair- 
man, secretary,  treasurer,  and  other  officers  necessary  for 
managing  the  concerns  of  the  corporation,  of  providing  for 
the  maintenance  and  observance  of  discipline  in  said  Univer- 
sity, and  of  prescribing  and  inflicting  the  penalties  due  to  all 
violations  of  the  rules,  ordinances,  or  regulations  thereof,  or 
to  other  misconduct  committed  by  students  or  other  persons 
thereat ;  and  generally  by  the  majority  of  the  voices  of  the 
board  or  quorum  of  said  Trustees,  at  any  stated  or  extra 
meeting,  shall  determine  all  matters  or  things  (although  not 
herein  specified)  which  shall  occasionally  arise  and  be  inci- 
dentally necessary  to  be  determined  by  said  Trustees ;  Pro- 
vided, That  said  Jaws,  rules  and  ordinances,  or  any  of  them, 
be  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  constitution  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  or  to  the  laws  and  constitution  of  this 
commonwealth. 

Sec.  5. — As  soon  as  said  Trustees  shall  have  obtained,  in 
the  form  of  subscriptions,  believed  to  be  valid,  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  they  shall  purcliase  a  lot,  or 
farm,  and  proceed  to  erect  thereon  suitable  buildings  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  said  University ;  to  procure  the  requisite 
library,  apparatus  and  specimens  in  natural  history;  and  they 
shall  exercise  their  own  judgment  and  discretion  in  so  doing, 
as  likewise  in  the  general  management  and  disj  osition  of  the 
funds  of  said  University ;  Provided,  however,  Said  Trustees 
shall  exact  from  their  treasurer  adequate  security  for  all  the 


636  APPENDIX. 

moneys  and  other  property  of  the  Institution,  which  he  may 
at  any  time  receive;  Provided,  also,  That  if  any  person  con- 
tributing to  the  funds  of  said  Institution,  indicate  a  special 
appropriation  of  the  amount  so  contributed,  said  contribution, 
if  accepted,  shall  be  disposed  of  in  stiict  accordance  with  the 
evident  intent  or  expressed  wish  of  the  contributor;  Provid- 
ed, likewise,  That  a  fourth  part  of  said  one  bundled  thous- 
and dollars,  and,  at  least  twenty- five  per  cent,  of  all  monies, 
and  every  species  of  pi  or  erf  y  capable  of  producing  revenue 
(and  not  herein  already  specified  or  excepted)  which  shall 
come  into  the  hands  of  said  institution,  shalL  be  placed  out 
on  interest,  the  principal  or  stock  secured  by  bond  and  mort- 
gage on  real  estate;  and  the  revenue  thence  accruing  shall 
be  exclusively  of  instruction  in  said  University;  And  provid- 
ed, too,  That  said  Trustees  shall  not,  for  any  cause,  or  un- 
der any  pretext  whatever,  encumber,  by  mortgage  or  other- 
wise, the  real  estate,  or  any  other  property  of  said  Institu- 
tion, and  that  they  shall  not  involve  it  in  any  debt  which 
they  have  not  the  means  of  paying,  consistently  with  the  re- 
strictions above  mentioned 

Section  6. —  Said  Trustees  shall,  annually,  publish  an  ab- 
•tract  of  the  minutes  of  their  doings. 

Article  IV. 

Section  1. — The  President,  Piofessors,  tutors,  and  other 
teachers,  or  a  majority  of  them,  for  the  time  being,  shall  con- 
stitute the  Faculty  of  the  University,  and,  in  their  respective 
departments,  shall  have  the  power  of  enforcing  the  rules  and 
regulations  adopted  by  the  Trustees  for  the  government  and 
instruction  of  the  students ;  and  the  President  and  Profes- 
sors, with  the  counsel  and  consent  of  a  quorum  of  Curators, 
shall  have  the  power  to  grant  and  confirm  unto  the  students 
of  the  University,  or  unto  others  deemed  worthy,  such  de- 
grees in  the  liberal  arts  and  sciences,  or  in  certain  branches 
thereof,  as  have  been  usually  granted  in  other  Universities: 
to  grant,  likewise,  to  said  graduates,  diplomas,  under  the 
common  seal  of  the  corporation,  in  order  to  authenticate  and 
to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  such  graduation;  and  to  grant 
also,  certificates  to  such  students  as  have  duly  completed  the 
course  of  studies  prescribed  in  any  subordinate  department  of 
Ibe  University. 


537 


Article  V. 


Section  1. — The  Curators  of  the  University  shall  consist 
of  the  following  persons,  to  wit :  The  Governor,  and  the  Sec- 
retary of  this  commonwealth,  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Courts,  and  the  President  of  the  University,  (ex-officia,)  to- 
gether with  Abbott  Green,  J.  G.  Webb,  George  B.  Ide, 
V\  illiam  Shadrack,  Lansing  Burrows,  A.  D.  Gillette,  J.  H. 
Kennard,  Wilson  Jewell,  David  Jane,  A.  A.  Anderson, 
Charles  Tucker,  John  0.  Rockafellow,  Simon  Schuyler, 
Martin  Bell,  James  Estep,  Simon  Cameron,  Geo.  I.  Miles, 
Joseph  Green,  James  Buchanan,  Jackson  M'Faddin,  Geo. 
F.  Miller,  James  Irwin,  Morgan  J.  Rees,  (Delaware)  Geo. 
M.  Keim,  William  R.  Williams,  (N.  Y.)  T.  O.  Lincoln,  (N. 
J.)  and  Jacob  Wagenseller ;  which  persons  and  their  suc- 
cessors, in  perpetual  succession,  are  hereby  made  and  de- 
clared to  be,  and  forever  hereafter,  are  to  be  known  by 
"  The  Curators  of  the  University  of  Lewisburg." 

Sec.  2. — Within  six  months  from  the  date  of  this  char- 
ter, (the  room  and  hour  to  be  designated  by  the  Curator, 
whose  proper  name  is  first  mentioned  above,)  said  Curators, 
or  at  least  seven  of  them,  shall  meet  at,  or  near  said  Lew- 
isburg, and  appoint  a  chancellor,  a  scribe,  and  such  com- 
mittees of  their  own  body,  as  they  may  deem  requisite,  in 
order  to  the  faithful  and  convenient  discharge  of  their  du-> 
ties,  and  they  shall  observe  the  same  rules  in  calling  meet- 
ings, passing  decisions,  adding  to  the  number  of  Curators 
whose  names  are  herein  specified,  and  filling  vacancies  in 
their  own  body,  as  herein  prescribed  to  the  Trustees.  The 
meetings  are  all  to  be  held  at,  or  near  the  borough  of  Lew- 
isburg, and,  after  the  first,  they  are  to  be  notified  by  the 
chancellor  or  scribe. 

Sec.  3. — Said  Curators,  a  quorum  of  them,  or  at  least  a 
committee  of  three,  are  required  and  expected  to  attend  the 
principle  examinations  and  the  annual  commencements  of  the 
University;  they  are  to  make  themselves  acquainted  with 
the  manner  in  which  the  work  of  study  and  recitation  is 
planned  for  the  students,  and  by  them  executed;  and  partic- 
ularly with  the  scholarship,  conduct,  and  character  of  such 
students  as  are  candidates  for  admission  from  a  lower  into  a 
higher  class,  or  department  of  the  University,  or  for  degrees; 
and  the  consent  of  the  majority  of  Curators  present  shall  be 


538 


APPENDIX. 


necessary,  in  order  to  a  student's  promotion,  or  receiving  of 
a  degree. 

Sec.  4. — Said  Curators  are  to  have  access  to  the  minutes 
of  the  official  doings  of  the  faculty  ;  and  they  are,  likewise, 
to  take  care  to  inform  themselves  respecting  the  methods  of 
government  and  instruction  adopted  and  practised  by  the  se- 
veral teachers  in  the  University. 

Sec.  5. — Said  Curators  are  to  inspect  the  records  of  the 
business  transactions  of  the  Trustees,  and  audit  the  Treasur- 
er's accounts. 

Jirticle  VI. 

Sec.  1. — No  misnomer  of  the  said  corporation  shall  defeat 
or  annul  any  gift,  grant,  devise,  or  bequest,  to  or  from  the 
said  corporation,  Provided,  The  intent  of  the  parties  shall 
sufficiently  appear  upon  the  face  of  the  gift,  grant,  will,  or 
■writing,  whereby  any  estate  or  interest  was  intended  to  pass 
to  or  from  said  corporation. 

Article  VII. 

Seel. —  No  religious  sentiments  are  to  be  accounted  a 
disability  to  hinder  the  election  of  an  individual  to  any  office 
among  the  teachers  of  the  Institntion,  or  to  debar  persons 
from  admittance  as  pupils,  or,  in  any  manner,  to  abridge  their 
privileges  or  immunities  as  students,  in  any  department  of  the 
University. 

Article  VIII. 

Sec.  1. — The  Legislature  reserves  the  right  to  alter  or 
annul  the  charter,  in  case  of  any  abuse  of  the  privileges 
hereby  granted. 


Lewisburg,  Feb.  14,  1846. 
To  the.  Pastors  of  Baptist  churches  in  Pennsylvania  and   N. 

Jersey,  to  whom  this  paper  may  come. 
Gentlemen : 

Your  particular  attention  is  invited  to  the  above  copy 
of  a  charter  recently  granted  by  the  Legislature  of  this  state. 
It  presents  a  subject  of  immense  importance,  not  merely  to 
the  Baptist  denomination,  but  to  all  the  friends  of  science  in 


APPENDIX.  539 

our  state.  We  need  and  request  your  hearty  co-operation  in 
representing  the  subject  in  its  proper  light,  to  those  in  our 
vicinity.  We  shall  call  upon  you  soon  to  assist  in  raising 
the  requisite  amount  of  funds.  We  trust  you  will  manifest 
an  interest  proportioned  to  the  magnitude  of  the  object  at 
which  we  aim. 

In  behalf  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

J.  E.  Bradley,  Secretary. 


INDEX 


Aborigines  or  Indians,  12 

Aquanuschioni,  or  United  People,  14,  32 

Amusements  among  the  Indians,  20 

Abitibis,  Algonkins,  Adirondaks,  Arkansas,  31,  32 

Andaggyjunkquagh,  an  Indian  sachem,  38 

Arrivals  of  Germans  numerous,  54,  55 
Armstrong  John  and  his  servants  murdered  by  the 

Indians,  80 

Armstrong  Alexander  his  letters,  81 

"         James,  deposition  taken  before  him,  82 

Adams  James  abducted  by  the  Indians,  117 

Armstrong  John  his  letter  to  Gov.  Morris,  126,  227 

Antis'  Fort,  141 

Allen  Captain,  175 
Allison  Francis  his  letter  to  Col.  Joshua  Elder,       178,  181 

Ake  Jacob  laid  out  Williamsburg,  215 

Alexandria,  216 

Antestown,  216 

Aaronsburg,  264 

Adamsburg,  308 

Anthony  Turkey,  a  Wyoming  Indian,  319 

Auchwick  Crogan's  residence  at  97 

B. 

Buck  adored  by  the  Indians,  18 

Burial  of  the  dead  among  them,  24 

Belt  or  War-belt,  among  the  savages,  27 

Boehm,  Anton  William  Revd.  52 
46 


542  INDEX. 

Burns  Patrick  taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  94 

Braddock's  defeat  effects  the  frontier  settlers,  102 

Bighara  George  abducted  by  the  Indians,  117 

Baskins  on  the  Juniata  killed,  119 

Bradon  wounded  at  Granville,  128 

Brown's  and  Benjamin's  families  killed,  141 

Broadhead  rebuilt  Fort  Muncy,  142 

Big-runaway  noticed,  144 
Brainerd  David  Revd.  visited  Shamokin,                   158,  360 

Bard  Peter,  his  letter  to  Gov.  Morris,  174 

Batteaux  employed  in  service,  175 

Bille  Sock,  176 

Boon  Capt.  killed  at  Fort  Freeland,  179 

Boat  launched  at  Huntingdon,  203 

Birmingham,  217 

Bevin's  cave,  228 

Belleville,  234 

Brown's  Mills,  234 

Bellefonte  borough,  254 

Boalsburg,  260 

Blythe  William,  his  deposition,  275 

"     examination  before  the  council,  278 

Beavertown,  308 

Brevoort  Major  at  Danville,  317 

Blooinsburg,  321 

Berwick,  322 

Biennial  feast  held  by  the  Indians,  17 

Beaver,  a  noted  Indian,  48 

C. 

Custom  of  Indians,  14,  20 

Clapham's  letter  to  Gov.  Morris,  165 

Children  treatment  of  by  the  Indians,  14 

Ceremonies  observed  by  the  Indians  at  their  feasts,  18 

Chase,  the  Indian's  chief  dependence,  19 

Calumet  or  Pipe  dance,  21 

Canadian  sanicle,  a  medicine  with  the  Indians,  23 
Catawbas  and  Cherokees,                                       30,  32,  33 

Christinaux  or  Kilistinos,  31 

Cayugaes,  Cherokees,  Chicasaws,  Chactaws,  32 

Charter  from  Charles  II.  to  William  Penn,  35 


INDEX.  543 

Conestoga  Indians,  33 

Canasatago,  an  Indian  of  note,  40 

Cressap,  a  Maryland  Intruder,  53 

Catholic  Germans  arrive  at  Philadelphia,  61 

Cardross  Lord  settles  Irish  in  N.  Carolina,  79 

Croghan  George  his  letters,  97 
Cample  Joseph  an  Indian  trader  killed  by  the  Indians,     97 

Cochran  Jane  abducted  117 

Croghan  George  erected  Fort  Granville,  118 

Cumberland  county  overrun  by  savages,  135 

Cook  and  wife  taken  prisoners,  141 

Cady  Abel  killed  by  the  Indians,  141 
Covenhoven's  adventures,                                          142  144 

Clapham  William  orders  to  '  ig2 

Carson  John  his  letter  to  Gov.  Morris,  174 

Capitulation  of  Fort  Freeland,  179 

Costikan  Edward  killed,  180 

Centre  county  organized,  249 

Canal  celebration  at  Lewisburg,  271 

Cunningham  James  his  deposition  283 

Centreville,  3Q8 

Columbia  county  organized,  310 

Catawissa  320 

^afhounsville,  344 

Clinton  county  organized,  354 

Canasoragy,  366 

^niJIisquaque  creek,  150 

D. 

Delaware  Indians,  13  32 

Drunkenness  among  the  Indians,  '  14 

Diseases  among  the  Indians,  22 

Dancing,  an  Indian  custom,  17 

Doctors  of  medicine  among  the  Indians,  23 

Dachotas  or  Sioux  Indians,  30 

Dongan's  purchase  from  the  Indians,  1696,  37 

Dickinson's  remarks  touching  the  Germans,  52 
Disputes  among  the  Irish  and  Germans,                 76,  77,  78 

Devoy  Henry  taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  94 

Durham  Mrs.  scalped  by  the  indians,  142 

Dalmatia,  190 


5  1  I  INDEX. 

Davidsburg,  216 

Duffield  George  Revd.  his  letters,  295,  300 

Derr  Ludwig  Jaiil  out  Lewisburg,  304 

Dunnstown,  3oJ 

Doctors  of  both  sexes  among  the  Indians,  23 

Disputes  how  to  settle  between  whites  and  Indians,  37 

E. 

Early  marriages  among  some  Indian  tribes,  15 
Early  settlers  in  various  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  44,  4 IS 
Emigrants  from  Scotland  and  Ireland,  79 
Evans  John  taken  captive  by  the  Indians,  04 
Endless  mountains  on  Joniady,  160 
Elder  Joshua,  Colonel  178 
Ennisvillc  204 
Education    in    Northumberland,  190:  in  Huntingdon, 
222:    in  Mifllin,  237:    in  Centre,  265:  in  Union, 
300:  in  Columbia,  324  :  in  Juniata,  344  :  in    Clin- 
ton ■  360 
Earleysburg  264 
Eisenhauer,  Stump's  servant  kills  Indians  274 
Espy  town  323 
Edict  of  Nantes  revocated  45 


Fornication,  how  punished  by  the  Indians  16 

Feasts,  several  kinds  among  the  Indians  17 

Figurative  language  among  the  Indians  25 

First  settlers  under  William  Penn  36 

Fort  Stanwiz  42 

Ferree  Madame,  a  Huguenot  48 

Frankfort  Land  Company  50 

Fort  Granville  taken  by  the  French  and  Indians  119 

French  Mss.  posted  up  at  Granville  122 

Fort  Shirley,  Armstrong  at  126 

Fort  Augusta,  Shamokin  or  Sunbury  157 

Freeland  Fort  capitulated  179 

Fort  Freeland  town,  so  called  189 

Frankstown  211 

Fisher  P.  S.  Revd.  his  letter  260 

Freeburg  307 


INDEX.  545 

Fruitstown  323 

Farrandsville  358 

G. 

Graves,  how  dug  by  the  Indians  24 
Germans,  history  of                                                         49,  72 

Germantovvn  early  settled  49 

Gabriel  George  his  house  burnt  by  the  Indians  104 
Galbreath  James,  his  letter                                116,  131,  132 

Giles  Susan,  killed  and  scalped  by  the  Indians  117 

Granville  Fort  erected  in  1756  118 

Green  Ezra,  killed  at  Fort  Freeland  180 

Gaysport  211,  Graysville  217,  Greenwood  344 

Gregg  Andrew,  biographical  notice  of  256 

Grey  John  joins  Armstrong's  expedition  345 

Gibson  widow  was  murdered  by  the  Indians  352 

H. 

Hospitality  of  the  Indians  14 

Hiely  George,  an  Indian  prisoner,  escaped  121 

Huts,  how  built  by  the  Indians  16 

Hatchets  used  by  the  savages  26 

Huron  nation  of  Indians  30 

Huguenots,  several  of,  noticed  45 

Hutchinson  George  taken  captive  by  the  Indians  94 

Hostilities  commenced  in  1755  100 
Harris  John,  his  letter                             104,  105,  115,  133 

Horsefield  Timothy,  deposition  taken  before  him  110 

Heckewelde*';  recount  of  Luke  Holland  112 

Hogan  John,  an  fndian  prisoner,  escaped  120 

Hoops  Adam,  his  letter  to  Hance  Hamilton  124 

Hamilton's  let  ter  to  H oops  126 

Hepburn  Colonel  stationed  at  Muncy  141 

Horn's  Fort  141 
Hartley  Colonel  at  Fort  Muncy                                142,  177 

Hambright's  instructions  from  Col.  Claphara  172 
Hunter  Samuel,  his  letter  to  Colonel  Smith             181,  182 

Huntingdon  county  organised  192 

Huntingdon  borough  204,   Holidaysburg  208 

Hamiltonvilie — Horrelton  234,  Hartleyton  307 

HofTer  Christian,  bis  son,&c.  260 

Holmes  John,  his  letter  to  John  Penn  2£0 

Hoge  and  others  write  to  John  Penn  291 
46* 


I  |6  INDEX. 

Hebrew  Lord's  prayer  25 

I. 

Indians,  various  opinions  as  to  their  origin  13 

Illinois  Indians'  residence  31 

1         or  Scotch-Irish,  history  of  73 

Indian  massacres,  genera!  notice  of  80 

Instructions  to  Colonel  Clapham  162 

Indian  physician  described  23 

J. 

Johnstown,  place  of  resort  for  relugees  137 

John  Daniel  murdered  on  Tangascootac  141 

.I.i.  kson  Captain,  his  company  175 

Jones  John,  killed  at  Fort  Freeland  180 

Jacobshuiur  266,  Jerseytown  •!■-'•'- 

Juniata  county  organised  :;:;^ 

Jonathan  Gayienquiligoa,  a  Mohawk  364 

Journey,  when  taken  by  the  Indians  19 

K. 

Keith  Sir  William  favorable  to  the  Germans  53 

King  Jacob,  a  Swisser,  murdered  hy  the  Indians  103 

Kemplin  Captain  177 

Kishicoquillas,  a  Shawanese  chiet  226 

Kishicoquillas  valley  -'Js 

Kelly  John  Colonel  324 
L. 

Lenni  Lenape  or  Linape  14 

Leininger  Barbara  taken  captive  104 

Loskiel' s  account  of  the  Indians  15 

Lum,  Indians  fond  of  it  19 

Language  of  the  Delawares  and  Iroquois  24 

Lord's  prayer  in  the  Delaware  and  other  tongues  25 

Localities  of  different  Indian  nations,  &c.  29 

Logan  James,  his  opinion  of  the  Irish  74 

Lord's  prayer  in  the  Irish  language  78 

Le  Roy  murdered  by  the  Indians  104 

Le  Roy  Anne  Mary  taken  captive  104 
Luke  Holland,  a  noted  Indian                                  112,  113 

Lime  mountain  147 


INDEX.  547 

Lewistown,  a  flourishing  town  232 

Lewisburg  304,  Lock  Haven  357,  Lockport  359 

Legerdemain  tricks  practiced  by  the  Indian  doctors  23 

M. 

Mengwe,  Maquas  or  Mingoes  14 
Mohawks,  one  of  the  confederate  nations  14 
Materia  Medica  of  the  Indians  23 
Manitto  or  Good  Spirit  16 
Metaphors  used  by  the  Indians  25 
Muskhogee-chocta  30 
Markham  William,  his  instructions  from  Penn  37 
Mascoutens,  Miamies,  Messesaques  31 
Musemeelin  murdered  John  Armstrong  and  others  80,  86 
Magenty  Alexander  taken" by  the  Indians  94 
Mahahany,  Penn's  creek  murders  committed  at  103 
Monacatootha  communicates  news  to  John  Harris  106 
Mitcheltree  Mrs.  killed  by  the  Indians  117 
McAllister  Alexander  abducted  117 
Miller  Zephaniah  killed  by  the  Indians  141 
Menninger's  Fort  142,  Muncy  Fort  destroyed  141,  142 
Mahonoy  hills  147,  Mack  Martin  Rev.  at  Shamokin  157 
McKee's  trading  house  169,  McClain  Sir  Allen  175 
Maclay's  letter  to  Timothy  Matlock  177 
McDonald  John  Captain  179,  Milton  borough  188 
McGlaghlen  killed  at  Fort  Freeland  178,  McEwensville  189 
Mountains  in  Northumberland  147,  in  Huntingdon  196, 
in  Mifflin  228,  in  Union  269,  in  Centre  252,  in  Col- 
umbia 313,  in  Juniata  340 
McMurtie,  an  early  settler  206 
Mountain  sailing  210 
Moore  William  and  Daniel  212 
Mercer  Hugh,  his  letter  to  Gov.  Morris  220 
Manor  Hill  221,  Mifflin  county  organized  223 
McVeytown  233,  Milliken's  mineral  spring  233 
Milesboro  259,  Millheim  264,  Montour's  ridge  314 
Message  from  John  Penn  to  Newoleeka,  an  Indian  chief  280 
Middleburg  307,  Mifflinsburg  322 
Moorsburg  323,  Mifflintown  342,  Mexico  343 
Mill  Hall  360,  Mennonites  settle  first  in  Lancaster  co.  45 
Muhlenberg  estimates  the  number  of  Germans  61 


548  INDEX. 

N. 

Nations  of  Indians  connected  with  the  Iroquois  11 

Natchez  Indians'  residence  30 

New  Netherlands,  so  called  36 

Nova  Belgia,  Penn  purchases  part  of  it,  &c.  30 

Neulaender  impose  upon  their  countrymen  55,  56 

Nicholas  Edward  killed  by  the  Indians  117 

Northumberland  county  organized  146 

Northumberland  town  185,   Newry  i31«T> 

Nittany  valley  232,  New  Providence  264,  New  Berlin    272 

Newoleeka,  a  Delaware  chief  at  Great  Island  380 

New  Columbus  309,    New  Liberty  380 

Narrative  of  Van  Campen  324 

Nonconformists  severely  oppressed  35 

O. 

Offensive  and  defensive  weapons  used  by  the  savages         26 

Outaoncas,  Onondagos,  Qsages  31,  32 

Owen  Nicholson  taktn  captive  by  the  Indians  94 

Old  Belt  urges  the  whites  to  go  to  Shamokin  109 

Old  Town,  on  the  Juniata  river  119 

Ostonwackin  on  the  West  Branch  157,  16L 

Opeholhampin^  on  the  Susquehanna  158 

Orders  to  William  Cfepham  162,    Orbisonia  221 

Old  Frank,  an  Indian  chief  213 

OrangeviUe  323,   Otstuacky  365 

P. 

Polytheism  was  not  common  among  the  Indians  17 
Preparations  for  war  among  the  Defawares&  Iroquois         28 
Pennsylvania,  whence  the,  name  34 
Penn  William,  propiietary  of  Pennsylvania  34,  38 
Purchases  made  of  the  Indians  38,  46 
Plans  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers  101 
Pomfret  castle  fired  by  the  Indians  119 
Petitions  to  Gov.  Morris  95,  129 
Population  of  Northumberland  co.  147,  of  Huntingdon 
194,  of  Mifflin  224,  of  Centre  250,  of  Union  267,  of 
Columbia  311,  of  Juniata  338,  of  Clinton  354 
Public  improvements  in  Northumberland  153,  of  Hun- 
tingdon 203,  in  Mifflin  230,  in  Centre  254,  in  Union 
271,  in  Columbia  316,  in  Juniata  341 


549 


Priestley  Joseph  Dr.  a  distinguished  philosopher  1S6 

Porter  Mrs.  her  heroic  valor  197,  Pottsgrove  189 

Petersburg  217,  Potter's  Bank—Potter's  Old  Fort  263 

Packet  Boat  Juniata  231,    Philipsburg  258 

Pattonsville  264,   Perrysville  343 

Patterson  William  apprehended  Frederick  Stump  276 


Queen  Anne  sends  Germans  to  New  York  51,  52 

Quenishachshachki  161 

R. 

Robertson's  opinions  of  the  Indians  — 

Resemblance  between  the  Delawares  and  Iroquois  14 

Rattlesnake's  skin,  a  medicine  with  the  Indians  23 

Redemptioners,  German  58,  59 

Reed  Adam,  his  letter  to  Ed.  Shippen  132 

Religious  denominations  in  Northumberland  county,  and 
several  counties  near  the  same  188,  in  Huntingdon 
222,  in  Mifflin  237,  in  Centre  265,  in  Union  309,  in 
Columbia  324,  in  Clinton  360 

Riot  in  Lewistown  238,  Rabersburg265,  Ridgeville       344 
Robinson  William  killed  by  the  Indians  351 

Roaring  creek  151 

Sacrificial  feasts  among  the  Indians  16 

"       dance      "                "  22 

Snakeroot  used  by  the  Indians  23 

Senecas,  Shawanoes  Indians  31 

Solconwanaghly,  a  noted  Indian  40 

Sauers  Christopher  writes  to  Gov.  Denny  55 

Sufferings  of  the  Germans  56,  57 

Scheme  to  educate  the  Germans  62,  72 

Schlatter  Revd.  general  school  visiter  69 

Smith  James  murdered  by  the  Indians  SO 

Shamokin,  Cenrad  Weiser  at  84 

Seidel  Christian,  his  affidavit  — 

Salter  Elisha,  his  letter  119 

Smith  Abraham,  his  letter  to  J.  Reid  139 

Saltzburn  murder  on  Sinnemahoning  141 
Streams  in  Northumberland  150,  in  Huntingdon  196,  in 


550 


INDSX. 


218 

278 


Mifflin  827,  in  Centre  90S,  in  Union  269,  in  Colombia 

313,   in  Juniata  ;;  jo 
Sutiatica  of  Northumberland  152,  i  /Huntingdon 201, of 

Mifflin  2:30,  of  (Vm n   -'">:;,  of  Union  36*,  of  Columbia 

315,    o|  Clinton  :i.~,7 

Sunburr,  ;<  leaf  ofjoatiee  153,  Sbainokin  hills  I  i^ 

Sbikellunua,  notice  of,  l»v  Loakiel  161,  Sbippen'a  latter  L6G 

Smitb  Nathaniel  kill..!  at  Fort  FreeJand  179 

Sollivan'a  1.  ttei  to  Samoi  1  Hooter  180 

Smith  William,  his  letter  L80,  Smith  William  Kivd.  205 

Smith  Matthew,  his  letter  to  Joeeph  Reed  L83 

Sodom  189,   Snyderetown  190,   Sbamokin  190 
Sinking  Run  197,  Standing  Stone  204,   Shirleyaborg 
Saliabon  821,   Shawana  Ben'a  letter  to  Patterson 

Simlcr  Mr.  notice i  I  259,  Stump  murders  ten  Indians  273 

Sefinagrofe  307,   Swiftatown  3094   Salona  300 

Shearman'a  rallei  the  Indiana  commit  mordera  350 

St<  iming  resorted  to  by  the  Indians  22 

T. 

Thorny  ash,  a  medicine  need   by  the   Indians  23 

Tribes  of  Indians,  principal  ones  13,  29,  30 

Twightweea'  Indiana  reaaJenoe  31,32 

Tomer  Robert,  his  letter  touching  the  name  of  Pcnn'a.     34 
Treaties  held  with  tin-  Indians  37,  Traders  among  44 

Tulpehocken  early  eettlementa  .it  52 

Thomas  Revd.  how  he  raiaed  funds  to  educate  fiermans63, 64 
Taylor  Robert  abdocted  by  the  Indians  117 

Turner  taken  at  Fort  Granville  120,  Teedyuscung  a  chief  134 
Translation  ot  a  French  Mss.  posted  up  at  Granville       124 
Townships  in  Northumberland  1  17.  1  19,  of  Huntingdon 
l'.'j,  195,  in  Mifflin  225,  in  CenTre250,  in  Union  268, 
in  Colombia  :>13,  in  Juniata  338,  in  Clinton  355 

Toyanogon,  a  Cayulcer  Indian  169,  Trump  capt.    175,  176 
Tammany — Thompsontown  343 

U. 

Upland,  now  Chester,  William  Penn  landed  at  36 

Union  county  organized  266 

V. 

Virginia    poke  used  as  a  medicine  by  the  Indians  23 

Van  Campen's  Narrative  324 


INDLX.  551 

w. 

War  dance  among  the  Indians  21 

Wild  laurel,  an  article  of  the  Indians'  materia  medica  23 

Wars,  how  carried  on  among  the  Indians  26 

Widagh,  an  Indian  sachem  38 

Weiser  Conrad  his  letters   40,  85,  103,  110,  169,  362,  263 

Wharton's  opinion  of  the  Germans  60 
Wood  worth  Arnold  murdered  by  the  Indians               80,  81 

Will's  creek  Indians  fire  at  the  camp  98 

Woods  George  abducted  by  the  Indians  117 

Ward  captain  at  Fort  Granville                                119,  120 

West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  150 

Woods  Andrew  killed  at  Fort  Freeland  180 

Watsonburg  189,  Warm  Spring  197,  Williamsburg  215 

Warrior's  Mark  Town  217,  Water  street  217 

Walkersville  264,  White  Hall  264 

Washingtonville  322,  Williamsburg— White  Hall  323 

Waterloo— Waterford  343,  Woolcomber  family  killed  352 

Waldborough,  settlement  of  Germans  at  62 


Young  James  his  letter  to  Gov.  Morris  170 

Yellow  Spring  2 16,  Younwomanstown  360 

Z. 

Zeisberger  David  his  affidavit  111,  162 

ZinzendorfT  Count  at  Shamokin  157 


NAMES  OF  SUBSCRIBERS  IN  HUfs'l  INGDON  CO. 


'  Huntingdon.  Thomas  Slates 

A.  Benedict,  Esq.  Saml.  Dinsmore 

M.  A.  Henderson,  Esq  John  G.  Ohaplin 
A.  P.  Wilson,  Esq.         E.  C.  Summers 
Geo.  Jackson  Matthew  Wright 

Geo.  Raymond,  Esq.      Chas.  Hergeshumer 
Rev.  Geo.  W.  Williard  Win.  Calt 


James  Clark,  Esq. 
James  Steel,  Esq. 
Jacob  Miller.  Esq. 
John  Scott,  Esq. 
W.  S.  Ervis,  Esq. 
D.  Sewell  Setert,  Esq. 


Alex.  Port 

Root.  V*  oods 

Isaac  Fisher,  Esq. 

A.  Willaghbey 

J  M  Cunningham,  Esq 

Barton  Hight 


Wm.  T.  Wilson,  Esq.   WTm.  Boat,  jr. 


John  A.  Duck 

A.  K.Cornyn,  E<q. 

James  Hollinghead 

James  Hempfield 

John  Cruswell,  Esq. 

John  Ker,  Esq. 

James  Gwin,  Esq. 

D.  J.  Gotwell 

W.  s.  ATrica 

Jos.  Law 

A.  Isenhower 

Edwin  Hawkin 

Henry  Africa 

Rev.  Wm.  Bunker 

J.  A.  Hall 

David  Woods 

O.  Stevens 

John  Fisher 

John  M'Cahan,  Esq. 

Rev.  John  Peebles 

Rev.Mat'w  Crownover  John  Porter 


John  Snyder 
John  B.  White 
Henry  Williams 

Saml.  Cams 
Afidw.  M.  Hazlet 

Jacob  Grubb 

Wm.  Wimer 

Wm.  H.  Hamilton 

.Mexanrlua. 

Rev.  Saml.  H.  Reed 
John  Swoap,  E*q. 
D.  Hauts.  M.  D. 
Henry  Walker,  Esq. 
Saml.  Jenkins 
Chas.  C.  Byrn 
Henry  Weight 
Michael  Householder 
Granberry  Taylor 
Rev.  John  McKinney 


Rev.  John  Miller  John  Scott 

Rev.  Geo.  G.  Fields  Charles  Camren 

Rev.  Geo.  Whittaker  Saml.  Isenberger 

Thomas  Jackson  Geo.  Shutz 

Alex.  Gwin,  Esq.  |  Michael  Byrns 

Geo.  Tailor,  Esq.  '  Wm.  P.  Cook 

J.  Williamson,  Esq.  John  Isenberger 

ThomaslAdams,  Esq.  Wm.  Birk 

C.  H.  Miller,  Esq.  James  Laird 
James  Hazlet  Geo.  Pitenger 
Wm.  Swope,  M.  D.  Michael  Lisler 
H.  W.  Swope  James  Gardener 
W.  S.  Heldebrand  James  Dean 

D.  R.  Findley  Jacob  Baker 
David  Miller  Wm.  C.  Geven 
John  Armenlage,  Esq.  Meyers  Miles 
Henry  Sturtsman  J.  P.  Baker 

D.  Buoy  Mchael  Becker 

S.  S.  Whorten,  Esq.  Samuel  Hues 

David  Decker,  jr  Wm.  Christy,  Esq. 


Saml.  Hatfield 
John  B.  Martin 
Benj.  Swartz 

Water   Street. 
L.  G.  Mitinger 
Saml.  Wilson 
A.  Moyer 

Maj.  Robt.  Kinkead 
Lewis  Mytinger,  Esq. 
Rev.  Wm.  Emey 
George  Davis 
Robt.  Sneath 
G.  H.  Sieiner 
John  M'Faddin 
F.  Snyper 

Petersburg. 
Joseph  M  Stevens,  Esq 
John  P.  Murphey 
Wm.  Temple 
Jacob  Longnecker 
Wm.  P.  Hamilton 
Wm.  Heiger 
Geo.  Baker 

A.  Jaquay 
Wm.  M.  Couley 
Geo.  W\  Barkley 
John  Fetterhoop 
William  Nail 
Joseph  Meradith 

B.  Zeigler 
Jogn  Zeek 
Joseph  Keith  ' 
John  Davis 
John  B.  Updike 
Amos  Sqarp 
Jno.  Moorhead 
Saml.  S.  Watson 
Jno.  McCulJock,  M.  D. 
James  Dovis,  Esq. 
Abr.  Brubaker 
Daniel  Dougherty 
Benj.  Laser 

Saml.  A.  Rogers 
Aaron  Updiker 
James  Temple 
Wm.  Ellis 
James  Dennis 
Henry  Shively 
David  Beyer 
Geo.  Helsel 
Jonas  Moor 
Wm.  Black,  jr. 
Geo.  W.  Slaly 


558 


NAMES  OF  suBscanu  US. 


Holiday  tburg. 
W.  Williams,  Ksq. 
John  I.  Royer 
John  Penn  Joneu 
James  M'Cahen 
Johnson  M'Kee 
Alex.  Jacobs 
Rev.  J.  P.  Rockfellow 
Rev.  John  C.  Bradey 
Saml.  Calvin.  I 
Joseph  Reed 
Joseph  Kemp,  Y.*'\. 
Henrv  Lamer 
y.G.'Umun 
John  M.  Gibbeny 
J.  A.  B.lea 
Haden  Smith,  artist  & 

civil  engineer 
W.  McMunrie 
J.  Cunningham,  Esq. 
H.  A.  Caldwell,  Esq 
Michael  Kelley 
Nathaniel  Heart 
John  Barr 
E.  Gilbreath 
Isaac  Hershbereer 
James  M.  Bell.  Esq 
Tha'd  Banks,  Esq 
Saml.  L.  Blair,  Esq. 
Jas.  Hammer 
John  Kay  lor 
Jacob  Fell,  tailor 
Then.  H.  Boggs.  Esq. 

J.  M.  M'Cord 
Jno.  Crisswell,  Esq. 
0.  A.  Traugh,  Editor 
*«»o.  Cramer 
.-.      «3.  S.  McFatlane 
Thomas  McAwlay 
E.  Sm'th 
W.  pr.  Coburn 
John  B.  Rimona 
Geo.  W.  Penline 
Ren  en  leister 
Joseph  Baldridge 
Robert  Stratton 
Robt.  C.  McKillip 
Dharles  Merriman 
John  Young 
Stephen  G.  Keech 
Wm.  Tompkins 
Joel  C.  Rogers 
Alex.  McConnel 
Lloyd  <fc  Graff 
E.  Howard 
Washington  Bivins 
John  8.  Hallar 


Jacob  Bnllinger 
Henry  IJiiit 
James  Stewart 
William  Butler 

Wm.  II.  I, mes 
George  Beatly 
Henry  McCooi 

('has.  Uepulie 
G        T.  Cyphers 
Danl.  Kline 
Geo.  K.  Stewart 

Daniel  Hunter 
Henrv  Carner 
Peter  Bush 
W  Uliam  Dan  ley 
Mrs. Catharine  Ze:gler 
John  F> 

Henry  Mc.Cauley 
James   Rmard 
Michael  Linnoo 
Mi  s.  Letitia  Harkens 
Isaac  Keubineer 
James  Long 
John  O.  D.  Jackson 
Joseph  Stuff 
Geo.  W.  Low 
W.  H.  S.  Tailor 
Mrs.  Martha  Bil 
J.  S.  Mard.rk 
Philip  Fau:t 
Money  I 
John  Ra.iii 
Rev.  H.  Wescotc 
Rev  Thompson  Mitch 
Benj.  Dasher 
John  Bairn,  jr 
David  D.  Lewis 
Rev  P  Anstatt 
Jesse  Herbit 
Paul    McCachan 
James  McHugh 
Benjamin  Wilson 
David  Sufler 
John  Sufler 
David  Myers 
James  Alexander 
8  Loughan 

Gnysport. 
Wm  W  Jackson 
Andrew  Donley 
Michael  Maxwell 
John  Barr,  Esq 
George  Reesman 
Jacob  Gailey 
George  Innes 
James  Bradly 


Lewis  Swinehenrt 
U  R  Henderson 
.1.  hn  B  fie 
David  Taie,  E»q 
Joseph  Q  Han 
James  »  Harrcle 

Aswry. 

Daniel  Beigle.  M.  I>. 

Rev  Win  V\  eaver 

Rev  Jamea  Biapley 

Daniel  .McCoinial,  K*q 

A  Baker 

Sohn  MrNamara 

Daniel  Null 

Robert  Dienurr 

I    Met  onnal 

/c hn   Mvres 

John  M  Eogala  . 

Ihim  untxxlU. 
John  Miller  _ 
Peter  Bradley 
John  Kane 
J  11  Fuller 
James  Ron* 
W  H  Baker 
James  Z.qiper 
Saml.  Wallace 
Wm  Ganhan 
Daniel   Fesler 
Thomas  Holland 
Wm.  Kay 
James  Onksl 
Sam'l  Baker 
Jacob  Chngernaen 
Alex  Sw  iera 

JllUghetty  Townfhip. 
Thomas  Flyn 
Jacob  Gales 
Adam  Thomas 
Elijah  Smith 
Samuel  Smith 
John  Words 
John  Champion 
Andrew  Douling 
Wm  Arble.  jr 
Jacob  Funck 
Simon  Breninger 
Wm  Walker 
John  Lautz 
8am'l  Deyasmin 
Sam'l  Hileman 
JosephDysart 
Adam  Siufft 
Philip  Can 


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