USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 10
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One reason why the frontier was left defenee-
Artillery confined by Gen. Braddock to consist of 1 Col. 2 Field Officers and 10 Captains.
SIR PETER HALKETT, President. MR. SHIRLEY, Judge Advocate.
To sit at the President's tent and to meet at 12 o'clock.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Monday 26th May, 1755. Parole-Oxford.
Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Gage.
For the Generals Guard 48th Regt.
The General Court Martial whereof Lt. Col. Gage was president is dissolved His Excellency hav- ing approved the several sentences allotted them.
John Nugent of the 44th Regiment having been tryed for the theft and found guilty of the crime laid to his charge as an accomplice in receiving a share of the money that was stole, is adjudged to receive 1000 lashes and to be drummed out of the Regiment through the line with a halter about his neck. Sam- uel Draumer of the 44th Regt. and George Darty of Capt. Demere's Independent Company having been tryed for desertion are adjudged each of them to receive 200 lashes.
Henry Dalton of the 48th Regmt. having been tryed for shooting Henry Pelkington, soldr in the said Regmt, the Court Martial is of opinion that the said Dalton did not shoot the said Pelkington with design, but that it was done by accident. Therefore His Excellency Gen. Braddock, has ordered him to be released and sent back to his duty.
If any soldier is seen drunk in Camp he is to be sent immediately to the Quarter Guard of the Regmt. he belongs to and the next morning he is to receive 200 lashes without a Court Martial.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Tuesday May 27, 1755. Parole-Petersfield.
Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Burton.
For the General's Guard 44th Regiment.
The party of Picquets that lay advanced to load with raming ball the rest of the Picquets to load with powder and to have their ball in their pockets. The following detachments to march on Tues- day morning to parade at Revelle beating. The men to be provided with two days' provisions ready dress- ed. The 44th and 48th Regts are to furnish 1 field
officer, 4 captains, 12 subalterns, 12 sergeants and 250 rank and file.
Capt. Rutherfords, Capt. Demeres Independent Companys, Capt. Waginer's, Capt. Peyrouneys Com- panies of Virginia Rangers and Capt. Polson's Com- pany of Carpenters are also to march with this de- tachment who are to take with them their camp equippage and baggage.
Major Chapman Field Officer for the detachment. The Independent Company and the companys of Virginia Rangers are ordered for this detachment to furnish no men for the guards to-morrow and any men that they may have upon the outguards are to be relieved immediately. Particular care is to be taken that the men's arms are in good order and that each man is provided with 10 flints and com- pleated with 24 rounds of ammunition.
The Tools and Tomahawks of the 2nd Brigade are to be given at gun firing this evening to the Quarter Master General at his tent and a dem'd to be. made tomorrow night at 6 o'clock of ye number of tools each Brigade will want, the quarter master to attend.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Wednesday May 28, 1755. Parole-Quarendon.
Field Officer to-morrow, Maj. Sparke. General's Guard 48th Regmt.
The Regulation of stoppages with the Director of the Genl. Hospital to commence from the 24th of this month.
As it is necessary to employ the soldiers in mak- ing and amending the roads His Excellency has been pleased to appt the following allowances:
To every sub. Officer, 3s od Sterling per day.
To every sergeant, 1s Sterling per day.
To every Corporal, 9d Sterling per day.
To every Drummer and private centinal 6d Ster- ling per day.
But as at present there is no public market and of course the men will have no opportunity of making use of the ready money His Excellency is so kind as to promise that he will see they are punctually paid whatever is due to them when they arrive in winter quarters therefore whatever subaltern officer or sergeant has the command of any working party
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
less was the wrangle going on between the people and the Proprietor identical with the dispute between Penn and the people of Pennsylvania. The people claimed in both Provinees that the Proprietor should bear his proportion of the bur- dens of the public protection and the Proprietor of both Provinces elaimed an exemption from all taxation and at Annapolis the dispute continued while the people of Conococheague and Long Meadows were being sealped. Thomas Cressap with sixty of his brave riflemen, were at Frederick Town painted like Indians, and evinced a decided disposition to march down and help the Legisla- ture in their deliberations. This was not neces- sary however, for just at this time an act was
passed. The Proprietors' lands were taxed and Governor Sharpe thoughit proper to approve the bill in disregard of his orders to the contrary. A thousand pounds were appropriated to paying a bounty of £10 each for Indian sealps. This was in 1756 during the incursions which followed immediately upon Braddock's defcat. Conoco- cheague was the most important outpost and still contained a large magazine of supplies left there for General Braddock. A French ensign leading a party of Indians had been killed in Virginia and there was found a bag tied to his neck con- taining instructions from the commander of Fort Duquesne to attack Conococheague and destroy this magazine. Soon after this we learn from a
as soon as they are relieved or come back they are to make an exact return of the number of men of their party and give it in to the Quarter Master General.
But if hereafter there should be any public mar- ket or that the money will be found to be of use to the men upon a proper application His Excellency will give orders for their being paid.
The companies of Rangers are for the future to furnish their proportion of men for duty with the rest of the line.
As there will be an express going in a few days any officer that have any letters to send to Great Britain are desired to give them either to the Gen- eral's aid de camp or to Mr. Shirley.
After Orders.
The men of the detachment that march to-mor- row to be commanded by the officers of their own Corps or Company.
Sixteen men from line to be appointed to the Guns tomorrow that march and to be under the di- rection of the officer of Artillery.
The Independent Company and Rangers of the two Brigades to Mount but one picquet.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Thursday, 29th May, 1755. Parole-Queensbury.
Filed Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Gage. The Generals Guard 44th Regiment.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Friday 30th May, 1755. Parole,-Rochester. Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Burton. General's Guard 48th Regmt.
The Troops to hold themselves in readiness to march in 24 hours warning.
Whatever Barrells the Regiments and Companys have got belonging to the Artillery are to be sent back immediately with their troops to the foreman of the train.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Saturday 31st of May, 1755 Parole
Field Officer to-morrow Maj'r Sparke. General's Guard 44th Regiment.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Sunday 1st of June, 1755. Parole-Tamworth.
Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Gage.
General's Guard 48th Regmt. Camp at Fort Cumberland, Monday 2nd June, 1755. Parole-Weybridge.
Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Burton. General's Guard 44th Regmt.
The Hatchet men of the two Regmts and one man per company from the rest of the line to Pa- rade this afternoon att 3 o'clock at Mr. Gordon's (Engineer) Tent.
Four Seregants, 2 Corporals and 100 men with arms; one subaltern, 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal and 30 men with arms to parade to-morrow morning at revelle beating at the head of the line and to re- ceive their orders from Mr. Gordon, Engineer. His Excellency has been pleased to appoint Col. Innes Governor of Fort Cumberland.
Monday Evening.
Three Subaltern officers to march with the de- tachment of 100 men without arms which is to pa- rade to-morrow morning at Reville beating.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Tuesday June 3, 1755. Parole-Yarmouth.
A general Court Martial of the line consisting of 6 Captains and 6 Subalterns to sitt to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock at the President's Tent. MAJ. SPARKE, President. MR. Shirley, Judge Advocate. Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Burton. General's Guard 48th Regiment.
Four Subalterns, 5 Sergts, 5 Corpls and 150 men without arms to parade to-morrow morning at ye head of the line at Revelle beating.
One Subaltern; 1 Sergt, 1 Compl and 30 men without arms to parade at the same time and act as a covering party; they are to receive their order from Mr. Gordon, Engineer.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Wed'ay 4th of June, 1755. Parole-Doncaster. Field Officer to-morrow Lt. Col. Burton. For the General's Guard 44th Regiment.
The 44th Regiment and Capt. Mercer's Company of Virginia Carpenters to hold themselves in Readi- ness to march in an hour's warning. The working Party to be relieved to-morrow morning, and by the same number.
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
letter from Washington to Lord Fairfax that the whole colony of Conococheague had fled and that between them and Frederick Town only two fam- ilies remained. During all this terrible time the streets of Frederick were thronged with refugees in the last stage of destitution. A subscription was raised and twenty men under Lieut. Leagond were sent into our valley.
A large number of the settlers appear to have returned to Conoeoeleague before the close of hos- tilities. In July 1763, nearly eight years after the outbreak we find the condition of affairs thus described by a writer from Frederick Town in the Maryland Gazette: "Every day, for some time
past, has offered the melancholy seene of poor, distressed families driving downwards through this town with their effects, who have deserted their plantations, for fear of falling into the cruel hands of our savage enemies, now daily seen in the woods. And never was panie more general or forcible than that of the back inhabitants, whose terrors at this time exceed what followed on the defeat of General Braddock when the frontiers lay open to the incursions of both French and Indians. Whilst Conoeocheague settlement stands firm, we shall think ourselves in some sort of security from their insults here. But should the inhabitants there give way, you would soon see your eity and
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Thursday, June 5th, 1755. Parole-Boston.
Field Officer to-morrow Maj. Sparke. For the General's Guard 48th Regiment.
The Working Party to be relieved to-morrow morning and by the same number of men.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Friday, June 6th, 1755. Parole
Field Officer tomorrow Lt. Col. Burton.
Sir Peter Halkett's Regiment to march tomorrow morning; the sick of the Regiment unable to march to be sent to the General Hospital. One Subaltern officer to be left behind with them.
The men of Sir Peter Halkett's regiment now on guard, when they are relieved or ordered to come off are to be assembled together and marched regu- larly to the Regiment by an officer.
Captain Gates' Independent Company and all ye remaining companys of Provincial troops to march on Sunday morning with the whole Park of Artillery.
No more women are allowed to march with each regiment and company than the number allowed of by His Excellency in the orders of the 18th of May.
Any soldier, sutler, woman or other person what- ever who shall be detected in stealing, purloining or wasting of any provisions shall suffer Death.
The General Court Martial whereof Gen. Sparke's was President is dissolved.
Michael Shelton and Caleb Sary, soldiers belong- ing to Captn. Edward Brice Dobb's Company of Americans, tryed for Desertion are by sentence of the Court Martial found guilty and adjudged to re- ceive 1000 lashes each.
John Igo. a convict servant, accused of thett, is by the sentence of the Court Martial found guilty of receiving and concealing goods, the property of soldiers in his Majesty's service and is adjudged to receive 500 lashes with a cat and nine Tails by the hands of the common hangman.
John Mcdonald, soldier in Sir Peter Halkett's regmt. accused with being an accomplice and con- cerned with John Igo is acquitted.
The guards advanced up Wills Creek, the Po- tomac and the flats to be taken off to-morrow morn-
ing and to join their several corps, the other guards to remain and be relieved as usual.
Capt. Gates independent Company and ye re- maining companies of the Provincial Troops to fur- nish their proportion for the guards to-morrow and when they are relieved they are to join their com- panies in the same manner as those of Sir Peter Halkett's regiment are directed to do in this day's orders.
No soldier's wife to be suffered to march from this ground with a horse as their own.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Saturday June 7, 1755.
Parole-Doncaster.
Capt. Yate's Independent Companies and the remaining companies of Provincial Troops & ye whole Park of Artillery to march to-morrow morning and to be under the command of Lt. Col. Burton.
The Artillery and companies that march to-mor- row to receive this afternoon provisions to compleat them to the 11th inclusive and ye women to ye 17th. The 48th Regiment to take all the guards to- morrow; the men of ye 48th now upon ye train Guard are to join their corps to-morrow morning, when the Artillery marches off & that grant to be mounted by the companys that march to-morrow.
The 48th Regiment to hold themselves in read- iness to march on Monday next.
After Orders.
The General's Guard is to be reduced to-morrow to 1 Sergt, 1 Corpl and 12 men who are not to be relieved but to remain with the General's Baggage. Camp at Fort Cumberland, Sunday, June 8, 1755.
Parole-Essex.
Capt. Gates' Independent Company and the re- maining companies of the Provincial troops and ar- tillery are to march to-morrow.
The 48th Regiment to march on Tuesday as Col. Dunbar's Regiment is not to march to-morrow the Genl's Guard to be relieved to-morrow morning.
The Companys that march to-morrow to send immediately 1 Sergeant Corporal & 12 men to as- sist Mr. Lake Commissary of Provisions at the Fort.
A return to be sent immediately from Col. Dun- bar's Regmt, Capt. Gate's Company and the Ameri-
Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown.
HAGERSTOWN
Old Hagerstown Bank.
57
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
the lower Counties crowded with objects of eom- passion, as the flight would, in that ease, beeome general. Numbers of those who have betaken them- selves to the forts, as well as those who have actu- ally fled, have entirely lost their erops, or turned in their own eattle or hogs to devour the produee, in hopes of finding them again in better condition, should it hereafter appear safe for them to return. The season has been remarkably fine, and the har- vest in general afforded the most promising ap- pearance of plenty and goodness, that has been known for many years. But, alas! how dismal an alteration of the prospect ! Many who expeet- ed to have sold and supplied the necessities of others, now want for themselves, and see their warmest hopes defeated, the fruits of their honest industry snatched from them by the merciless at- tacks of these bloodthirsty barbarians, whose treat- ment of such unhappy wretehes as fall into their hands, is accompanied with circumstanees of in- fernal fury, too horrid and shocking for human nature to dwell upon, cven in imagination. We were so sensible of the importance of Conoco- eheague settlement, both as a bulwark and supply to this neighborhood, that on repeated notice of their distress, Captain Butler, on Wednesday last, called the Town Company together, who appeared under arms on the Court House green with great unanimity. Just as the drum beat at arms, we had the agreeable satisfaction of seeing a wagon sent up by his Exeellency (whose tender eare for the security of the Province raised sentiments of the highest gratitude in the breast of every one present) loaded with powder and lead. Articles
of the greatest importance at this critical juncture, when the whole country has been drained of those necessary artieles by the diligenee of our Indian traders who had bought up the whole for the sup- ply of our enemies, to be returned, as we have dearly experieneed, in death and desolation upon us. A subscription was then set on foot and checrfully entered into, in consequence of which, twenty stout young men immediately cnlisted un- der Mr. 'Peter Grosh, to march immediately to the assistance of the back inhabitants, and with other volunteers already there raised, to cover the reapers in hopes of securing the crops. Had not the Gov- ernor's supply arrived so seasonably it was doubt- ed whether the whole town eould have furnished ammunition sufficient for that small party, half of which marehed backwards in high spirits on Thursday and the remainder on Friday morning. And on Sunday subscriptions were taken in the several congregations in Town for sending up further assistance. On Sunday afternoon we had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Michael Cressap ar- rive in Town with mokosins on his legs, taken from an Indian whom he killed and scalped, being one of those who shot down Mr. Welder, the eir- eumstances of which much lamented murder, and the sueeess of Col. Cressap's family, you no doubt have received from other hands. Money has been cheerfully contributed in our town, towards the support of the men to be added to Col. Cressap's present foree, as we look upon the preservation of the Old Town to be of great importance to us, and a proper check to the progress of the savages ; but notwithstanding our present efforts to keep
can troops of the number of men they have fitt for Waggoners or Horse drivers.
In the return of Col. Dunbar's regiment they are only to include those men that have joined the Regiment since they have been landed in America.
Camp in Fort Cumberland, Monday, June 9, 1755. Parole-Fallmouth.
Col. Dunbar's Regiment to send their sick unable to march to the Genl. Hospital and to leave a Subal- tern officer behind with them.
One Sergeant, 1 Corpl, 24 men without arms to parade to-morrow morning at Daybreak to assist Mr. Lake, Commissary of Provisions in loading of the waggons.
Camp at Fort Cumberland, Tuesday, June 10th, 1755. The Fort Guard to join their Regiments as soon as Governor Innes has taken possession of it and placed his centrys.
Camp at the Grove (First Camp from Fort Cumber- land.)
Parole-Gainsborough,
All the officers of the line to be in the Gen's tent tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock.
No fires to be made upon any acct whatever within 150 yards of the Road on either side, any person acting contrary to this order shall be very severely punished.
All the waggons to be drawn up to-morrow morn- ing as close as possible and as soon as the waggons belong to the detachment under the command of Maj. Chapman have closed up to the rear of the Artillery that Detachment then to join the respec- tive Corps.
Col. Dunbar's Regiment to encamp to-morrow morning upon the left of the whole according to the line of encampment.
Camp at the Grove, Wednesday, June 11, 1755. Parole-Hartford.
Capt. Rutherford and Capn. Gates Indp. Com- panys and all the American's Troops to be under
58
HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
the enemy at a distance, and thereby shelter the whole Province, our inhabitants are poor, our men dispersed, and without a detachment from below, it is to, be feared we must give way, and the inun- dation break upon the lower counties."
In October 1764 a company of forty-three woodsmen from our valley marched under Capt. Witham Mcclellan to Fort Pitt to serve without pay in the expeditions against the Indians beyond
the Ohio river. This was one year and eight months after a treaty of peace had been signed by France and England. The treaty of Paris which deprived France and gave to England the immense territory in America from Hudson Bay to the Mississippi river claimed by France by virtue of the discoveries of Carteret was signed February 1763. Hostilities soon ceased and "the land had peace twelve years."
arms immediately at the head of their respective encampments.
Any person whatsover that is detected in steal- ing shall be immediately hanged witht being brought to a Court Martial.
One Subaltern officer, 1 Sergt, 1 Corporal and 40 men without arms from each of ye 2 Regts to parade immediately at ye head of the artillery.
One Sub., 1 Sergt., 1 Dr. & 30 men of the line to Parade in the rear of Col. Dunbar's Regt as soon as they have come to their proper ground. The officer is to receive his orders from Maj. Sparkes.
Whatever number of Horses are furnished by the officers are to be paraded as soon as possible in the Rear of Col. Dunbar's Regmt. and to be reviewed by Maj. Sparkes.
The officers are desired to acquaint Maj. Sparkes which of their Horses for carrying Horses and which are for Draught and to be so good as to send with the carrying horses Bat-saddles & etc., if they have them.
The Commanding Officers of the 2 Regmts and the Captns of the Independent and Provincial Troops to send in a return to the Genl. of the number of Horses furnished by their respective officers and opposite to the officers' names, the number of Horses furnished by each officer; that the Genl. May be able to inform His Majesty of the Inclination and readiness of the particular officers in carrying on the service.
After Orders.
No more than 2 women per company to be al- lowed to march from the camp, a list of the names of those that are to be sent back to be given into Captn Morris that there may be an order sent to Col .. Innes at Fort Cumberland to victual them-A list of the names of the women that are to be allow- ed to stay with the troops to be given into the Major of Brigade & any woman that is found in camp & whose name is not in the list will for the first time be severely punished and for the second suffer Death.
59
OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
CHAPTER V
HE brief era of peace from the elose of the Indian War to the beginning of the war of the American Revolution, witnessed a re- markable development of the Valley. Dur- ing these ten or fifteen years, immigrants poured into the County from all sides, but more es- pecially from Germany, attracted by the mag- nificent soil, healthful and invigorating eli- mate, pure and wholesome water and the in- dueements offered by Lord Baltimore, which have already been set forth. Mills were built along the banks of the Antietam and Conoco- eheague. Small factories of various kinds, were started in different parts of the County. Barn- abas Hughes, the ancestor of the Hughes family, had emigrated from Ireland, and built the Mt. Aetna iron furnace at the foot of South Mountain. Roads were laid out, the streams were spanned by bridges and there was general prosperity.
The principal event of this period was the laying out of the town of Hagerstown in Septem-
ber, 1761, by Jonathan Hager on his traet ealled "New Work." Jonathan Hager,* as has been already stated, was born in Germany.
About the year 1730 he emigrated to America and after a short stay in Pennsylvania, eame to the Valley where his memory is perpetuated by the town which bears his name, probably in 1737 or 1738. In the patent for two hundred aeres of land which he received from Lord Baltimore in 1739, "a bounded white oak standing on the side of a hill within fifty yards of said Hagar's dwell- ing-house," is mentioned in one of the lines. He was married in 1740 to Elizabeth Kershner, or Grischner, and by her had two children, a daugh- ter, Rosina, born April 21st, 1952, and a son, Jonathan, born in 1756. To his wife, Elizabeth, Hagar was tenderly attached. Upon her death he wrote in his family Bible in the German language, "We lived together until the 16th of April, 1765, Then it pleased the Lord to call her, after severe suffering, out of this world. What God does is
*The Heger family is of old Saxon origin; the very name denotes its source and its antiquity. The "Heger" was one of the "sworn and knowing free- men," called "Vierherren," holding the Folkmoete or , Thing, which was legislature, divine-service and court of justice combined. The mystic-square of the Thing, on which sat or stood the officers, was called "Die Hegung," and one of the Vierherren, who had to look to it that no uninitiated person overstepped the boundaries of the square, was the Heger; after- wards, the representative of the Count or Graf, when holding court, was called Heger.
Such offices. in very early times became heredi- tary; if the father was a Vierherr, his oldest son would be initiated in due time, and generally receive or inherit the same office. Family names were only to be found with the princes (athelings). Gradually,
the nobility began to take the name of their place of residence, or of their office, and it is obvious that the office of Heger very early furnished the names for a family connected with the same for several gener- ations.
That the Heger family had the name for the old Saxon Thing, is distinctly told us in a quaint old chronicle of the sixteenth century, entitled "Dassel- sche und Einbecksche Chronica, v. Johann Setzner um Hardessianum, Erfurt, 1594," Page 171, we read: "The noble men of Heger held from olden time as a fief a free-field-court from the Imperial Abbey of Corvey and derive a hereditary revenue from the same and today there are under their auspices in Strothhagn two sessions of the free-field-court annu- ally."
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