USA > Pennsylvania > Historical register : notes and queries historical and genealogical, chiefly relating to interior Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01807 2873
GENEALOGY 974.8 H6293, 1883
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalregist01egle
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL
RELATING TO
Interior Pennsylvania.
"Out of movements, names, wordes, proverbs, traditions, private records, and evidences, fragments of stories. passages of bookse, and the like, we doe save and recover comer hat from the deluge of time."
HARRISBURG, PA. LANE 4. HART, PUBLISHER. ISS3
6968 03
X 097964
HISTORICAL REGISTER: NOTES AND QUERIES.
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Published Quarterly. Price $2 per Annum, in Advance.
Address, WM. H. EGLE. M. D .. HARRISBURG, J' ..
NUMBER 1. JANUARY. 1883.
CONTENTS.
1. The Botiers of the Cumberland Valley, by Rev. J. A. MURRAY, D. D . 1 Reading.
2. First Tionilles of Berks MORTON 1 .. MONTGOMERY, of 3. Frederick Marsteller. a biographical sketch. by HENRY S. DOTIERER, 27
4. First Settlers of the "Irish settlement." by JACOB FATZINGER, Jr .. Weaversville, Northampton L'o .. 34
3. Indian History on the Sus quebona. by Prof. A. L. Goss, of Wash- ington, D. C.
C. The Pallook Fandly of Fentsylvania, by Rev. HORACE EDWIS HAY. DES, of Wilkes-Barre.
7. A Journal of the Whiskey Insurre! ion, 1794, edited by BENJAMIN M. NEAD, of Harrisburg.
3. The Hubleys of Lancaster County.
9. NOTES AND QUERIES : Hahn Family-Franklin's Portrait Joshua Minshall-Harrisburg in 175 Har- rishurg Market House. 1902 - Records of the First Censi, -Res. Joseph Mont- zomery-The Hole Reports - History of Augusta County . Va. - John Mont- Fwinery, of farit-ie.
.
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
NOTES AND QUERIES.
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL
Published Quarterly. Price $2 per Annum, in Advance.
Address. WM. H. EGLE, M. D.,
HARRISBURG, PA.
NUMBER 2. APRIL, 1883.
CONTENTS.
1. John Andre Hanna, by A. BOYD HAMILTON, of Harrisburg, 81
2, Pennsylvanians in the "Genesee County, " by JOHN 1 .. SEXTON, Jr., Số of Blossburg, Tioga county.
3. Fitbian's Journal-from Path Valley to Sunbury. in 1775 -- annotated by JOHN BLAIR LINS. of Bellefonte,
4. The Pollock Family of Pennsylvania, by Rev. HORACE EDWIN HAY- DEN, of Wilkes-Barre, II, 86
5. Baptisins of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, communicated by MARTIN L. MONTGOMERY, of Reading, . 104
6. Marriages in Marsh Creek Settlement, 1774 to 1809, communicated by EDWARD MCPHERSON, of Gettysburg. . 109
7. Early Indian History on the Susquehanna, by Prof. A. L. Guss, of Washington, D. C., IL. 114
S. First Settlers of the "Trish Settlement," by JACOB FATZINGER, Jr., of Weaversville, Northampton county, 122
9. The Conewago Canal, by SAMUEL EVANS, of Columbia, 126
10. The Churches of Roan and Lind in Paxtang, by W. F. R., 131
11. A. Journal of the Whiskey Insurrection, 1794, edited by BENJAMIN M. NEAD, of Harrisburg. 134
12. Papers relating to the Early History of Mercer county, 143
13. The Smysers of York county, 153
14. Pennsylvania Biography, by WILLIAM H. EGLE, M. D., Theodore Burr. Col. William N. Irvine, Gen. Gabriel Hiester.
155
15. NOTES AND QUERIES : 159-100
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
NOTES AND QUERIES,
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Published Quarterly. Price $2 per Annum. in Advance.
Address, WM. H. EGLE, M. D .. HARRISBURG, PA,
NUMRER 3. OCTOBER, 1883.
CONTENTS.
1. Early Indian History on the Susquehanna, by Prof. A. L. Guss, of Washington city, D. C., III, 161
2. Fithian's Journal-Sunbury and Northumberland, in 1775-anno .. tated by JOHN BLAIR LINS, of Bellefonte,
3. Marriages in Marsh Creek Seulement, communicated by EDWARD
MCPHERSON, of Gettysburg. II. .
152
4. Pennsylvanians in the "Genesse Country, " by JOHN L. SEXTON, Jr., of Blossburg, Tioga county II, 188
5. The Pollock Family of Pennsylvania, by Rev. HORACE EDWIN HAY- DEN, of Wilkes-Barre, III. 194
6. First Settlers of the "Irish Settlement," by JACOB .FATZINGER, Jr., of Weaversville, Northampton county, III, 208
7. Baptisms of St. Gabriel's P. E. Church, Morlotton. ( Douglassville. ) Berks county, Pa., communicated by MORTON L. MONTGOMERY, of Reading, 210
8. James McLene. One of the unmentioned "Men of Mark" of the Cumberland Valley, by BENJAMIN M. NEAD, of Harrisburg, . . 218
9. The Defection of Arnold, Letter relating to, 227
10. Col. Matthew Smith, by WILLIAM H. EGLE, M. D., 280
II. Koqnethagaeelon, or Col. White Eyes, by Isaac Craig, of Allegheny City,
12. NOTES AND QUERIES : 284
13. Recent Historical Publications, 236
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
NOTES AND QUERIES,
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Published Quarterly. Price $2 per Annum, in Advance.
Address. WM. H. EGLE, M. D.,
HARRISBURG, PAA.
NUMBER 4. DECEMBER, 1888.
CONTENTS.
1. The Pollock Family of Pennsylvania, IV, by Rev. HORACE EDWIN HAYDEN, of Wilkes- Barre, 241
2. Early Indian History on the Susquehanna. IV, by Prof. A. I .. Guss, of Washington, D. C., . 251
3. Captain David Ziegler, by H. A. RATTERMANN, of Cincinnati. O., . 269
4. Major Isaac Craig, of the Revolutionary army, 289
5. NOTES AND QUERIES, 305
6. Recent Historical Publications, 305
1
7. General Index, 30S
S. Index of Surnames, . 311
in طابق ١٦ : ٥ )
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
NOTES AND QUERIES,
HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL,
RELATING TO
1
INTERIOR PENNSYLVANIA.
FOR THE YEAR 1883. 1
VOLUME I.
HARRISBURG, PA .: LANE S. HART, PRINTER AND BINDER. 1883.
44643
HISTORICAL REGISTER: NOTES AND QUERIES, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
VOL. I.
JANUARY, 1883. No. 1.
THE BUTLERS OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY .*
BY REV. J. A. MURRAY, D. D.
To the people of Cumberland county. Pennsylvania-" that nursery of brave officers "-it ought to be a very gratifying and stimulating recollection that. among the prominent persons of Carlisle, at an early period, but who went to Pittsburgh and other places, where they and their descendants became more or less distinguished, may be mentioned the honored names of Butler, Irvine, Stevenson, Denny, Wilkins. These names, with those of O'Hara, Craig, Kirkpatrick. Neville, Morgan, Ross, were among the trusted friends of our Government, and the leading and influential families of Western Pennsylvania. The Hon. Henry M. Brackenridge, in his "Recollections of the West," speaks of the Butler connection as "a noble race of people," whose fame, we may here add, is not restricted to mother Cumberland or our great Commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, but is national in its range, and is one of the historical
*Authorities consulted and used in the preparation of this article : Original Letters, Denny's Military Journal, and the memoir of the author by his son, published by the Historical Society of Pennsylva- nia; Rogers' American Biographical Dictionary, third edition, Easton, Penn., 1824; Brackenridge's Recollections of the West, Craig's History of Pittsburgh, the Southern Magazine, Pennsylvania Archives, second series, vol. x, &c. ; and recent correspondence with Col. E. G. W. Butler, the aged and honored nephew of Major General Richard Butler. J. A. M.
..
2
Historical Register.
families of our country. The stock was of Anglo or Irish- Norman extraction, having first gone to England with Wil- liam the Conqueror, and afterwards passed over to Ireland.
THOMAS BUTLER and ELEANOR, his wife, came to America in 1740, shortly after their marriage. They were natives of the north of Ireland, and, following the Scotch-Irish emigra- tion, came to Pennsylvania and took up a tract of land "near Conewago, on ye west side of Sasquahan' river, 10th May, 1743," now in York county, where they had " lived for some time; " subsequently removing to a tract of land " adjoining ye Blue mountains," in West Pennsboro' township. Cumber- land county. Here Thomas Butler died in July, 1791, and little more is known of him save that he was the head of a re- markable family of sons. There were five of them, all of whom so favorably distinguished themselves in the American Revo- lution that afterwards Gen. Washington recognized them as . " the five Butlers, a gallant band of patriot brothers." Because of their brave and valuable services throughout that mem- orable struggle they were generally called the "Fighting But- lers," or the " Five Revolutionary Butlers." In regard to them the judgment of the late Lord Dunboyne was this : " I consider the five American Revolutionary Butler brothers as adding lustre to the Dunboyne pedigree." ( The Dunboyne house is next in remainder to the illustrious house of Ormond.)* At the death of Thomas Butler there survived him his wife, ELEANOR, and children, as follows :
i. Richard, b. April 1, 1743; fell in battle Nov. 4, 1791.
ii. William, b. January 6, 1745 ; d. May 16, 1789.
iii. Thomas, b. May 28, 1748; d. Sept. 7, 1805.
iv. Elanor, b. about 1754.
r. Pierce, or Percival, b. April 6, 1760 : d. Sept. 9, 1821.
ri. Elwurd, b. March 20, 1762; d. May 6, 1803.
* James Butler, Duke of Ormond, was the first of the Anglo-Irish family of Butlers on whom the ducal title was conferred. The family was of illustrious antiquity. Genealogical legend carried it back to the dukes of Normandy before the conquest, and it is certain that at the dawn of the 13th century, it held the hereditary office of royal cup-bearer or butler, whence the family name. The son of Major General Richard Butler, the Captain of the " Pittsburgh Blues," was named after the Duke of Ormond. J. A. M.
3
The Butlers of the Cumberland Valley.
RICHARD BUTLER. the oldest of the family, b. April 1. 1743, in now York county, Pennsylvania, was educated at the school of the Rev. Mr. Alison, in Chester county, and studied the pro- fession of law. He served as an ensign of Capt. James Hen- drieks' company, of the First Pennsylvania Battalion. in Col. Henry Bouquet's expedition of 1764, and there received his first experience in the military art. . At the outset of the Rev- olutionary struggle he entered the Pennsylvania Line as major of the Eighth regiment. commissioned July 20. 1776; was pro- moted lieutenant-colonel March 12. 1777. ranking from August 28, 1776, and transferred to lieutenant-colonel of Morgan's rifle command June 9, 1777, whom he afterwards succeeded, and distinguished himself on many occasions. This regiment was made up of picked men detached from the several regiments of the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia Lines. IIe was es- teemed by Gen. Washington and Gen. Wayne one of the ablest partisan officers of the Revolution and most familiar with Indian life and affairs. It is said that he knew several Indian dialects, and had been requested by the Commander-in-Chief to compile an Indian vocabulary.
When Gen. Burgoyne advanced against Gen. Gates. Gen. Washington sent Butler's rifles from the banks of the Delaware to protect the flank and rear of Gates from the Indians under Brant ; and after participating most efficiently and successfully in the battle of Saratoga, October. 1777, were ordered back to Washington's head-quarters. The same regiment distinguished itself at the battle of Monmouth. June, 1778, and when Gen. Washington, in a dispatch to Congress, animadverted on the conduct of Gen. Charles Lee on that occasion, he also stated that "Col. Butler's was the only command which fired a gun." He was promoted colonel of the Ninth Pennsylvania, and under. his command this regiment took a prominent and honorable share in the capture of Stony Point; and St. Clair to Reed, in a letter dated July 25, 1779, says : "My friend, Col. Butler, commanded one of the attacks and distinguished himself."
'After the revolt in the Pennsylvania Line, the Ninth re- giment generally reenlisted under their old colonel and his captains in the Fifth Pennsylvania, who commanded it during
V
4
Historical Register.
the campaign under Gen. Wayne in the South. Of his career in that department we have extant a characteristic letter to Gen. William Irvine, published in the first volume of " Penn- sylvania in the War of the Revolution." Gen. Henry Lee, in his " Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States," alludes to the incidents referred to in that let- ter as follows: " While in his camp before Williamsburg, the British general learned that we had some boats and stores on the Chickahominy river. Hither he detached Lieutenant-colo- nel Simcoe, with his corps and the yagers, to destroy them. This service was promptly performed ; but the American gen- eral, having discovered from his exploring parties the march of Simcoe, detached on the 26th, Lieutenant-colonel Butler, of the Pennsylvania Line, the renowned second and rival of Morgan at Saratoga. The rifle corps. under the Majors Call and Willis, and the cavalry, which did not in the whole exceed one hun- dred and twenty effectives, composed Butler's van. Major MacPherson, of Pennsylvania, led this corps, and having mounted some infantry behind the remnant of Armand's dra- goons, overtook Simcoe on his return near Spencer's plantation, six or seven miles above Williamsburg. The suddenness of MacPherson's attack threw the yagers into confusion; but the Queen's Rangers quickly deployed, and advanced to the support of the yagers.
"Call and Willis had now got up to MacPherson with their riflemen, and the action became fierce. Lieut. Lollar, at the head of a squadron of Simcoe's hussars, fell on Armand's rem- nant and drove it out of line, making Lieut. Breso and several privates prisoners. Following his blow, Lollar turned upon our riffemen, then pressing upon the Queen's rangers; and, at the same moment, Capt. Ogilvie, of the Legion cavalry, who had been sent that morning from camp with our troop for the collection of forage, accidentally appeared on our left flank. The rifle corps fell baek in confusion upon Butler, drawn up in the rear with his continentals Satisfied with the repulse of the assailing troops, Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe began to retire; nor was he further pressed by Butler, as Cornwallis had moved with the main body, on hearing the first fire, to shield Simcoe."
5
The Butlers of the Cumberland Valley.
In October following, in view of Col. Butler's valuable ser- vices prior to and at the capture of Yorktown. he was honorably designated to plant our flag upon the British works after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis: and though Col. Butler detailed for this purpose his ensign, Major Ebenezer Denny. (being ** prob- ably partial to him as coming from his own town. Carlisle," and where the families were near neighbors.) ret Baron Steu- ben, unexpectedly and offensively, appropriated this honor to himself, and Col. Butler that night "sent the arrogant foreigner a message, as every one expected, and it took all the influence of Rochambeau and Washington to prevent a hostile meeting." In this business. however, we have the following statement. ac- cording to which the Baron's conduct was approved : When the commissioners were discussing and arranging the terms of surrender, Gen. Lafayette, whose turn it was next to com- mand the trenches. marched with his division to relieve the Baron. The latter refused to be relieved, urging that having received the flag, the rules of European warfare secured him the right to retain the command until the surrender of the place. Lafayette appealed to Washington, who, after con- sulting Count Rochambeau and other foreign officers, informed him that the Baron was entitled to the command, and must retain it until the matter under discussion should be decided .*
On a plan of Carlisle made in 1764, the Butler home is then and there indicated as being on lot.61 West Main street, north side, and third lot from Pitt street. We have some letters written by him, and afterwards by his widow, as well as letters which we carefully copied from the originals now among the archives of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, written by him to his friend, Gen. Wm. Irvine, (then Commissioner of Public Accounts in New York,) and they indicate Carlisle as the place of his home. These letters, which bear the date of "Carlisle," besides some written by him thither, when absent in the field of military service, extend from September, of 1782,
* We have two interesting letters, by Col. R. Butler to the " Honb'e Brig'd'r General Irvine, at Carlisle,"-one is dated "Williamsburgh, 14th Sept'r, 1751, Camp," and the other is dated, " Camp at York, Oct'r 22d, 1781," and written immediately after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. J. A. M.
-
6
Historical Register.
to July, of 1789. Then in September, of 1789, his letters be- gin to have the date of " Pittsburgh," and the last one we have, posted from "Pittsburgh." is in August, of 1790. It was the next year that he was killed in battle. We are thus particu- lar, as these facts are not generally known, and in order to es- tablish the claims of Carlisle to him as being a resident and citizen of the place the greater part of his life.
After the close of the Revolutionary war, and when residing in Carlisle, the public service repeatedly called his presence and attention elsewhere, especially to Fort Pitt, on business relating to the Indians, with whom he was well acquainted, and a very trusted commissioner of Government aniong them ; and hence he was very generally and favorably known in that place. As an evidence of this statement, we will here mention what might beregarded now as a small matter, but, in the olden time, it was intended as a marked compliment and tribute to a great and popular man. Brackenridge, in his Recollections, speaking of taverns and tavern-keepers of Pittsburgh, says: "When I can first remember, the sign of GENERAL BUTLER, kept by Patrick Murphy, was the head tavern," and the first hotel in the town, just as the painted portrait of Washington, or Lafayette, or Jackson, or Perry, was often hoisted at the front of a public house to dignify and distinguish it, and to attract patronage. Throughout these many years a street in Pittsburgh bears his name. Many a partial parent called a son after him. 'Gen. O'Hara, of Pittsburgh, gave the name of Richard Butler to one of his sons, with whom we were inti- mately acquainted, whose family we often visited at Guyasutha Place, and where still resides his only living daughter, Mrs. Wm. M. Darlington. Butler county, as well as the town of Butler, formed in 1800, was named in honor of the General, and the same honorable name has been conferred on counties, and towns, and townships in other sections of the Union.
-
But what had been his character and public services ? We answer briefly : He was a brave and intrepid soldier, quick to perceive duty and as quick to perform it, and he possessed in a high degree the attachment of his men and the confidence of Washington.
-
7
The Butlers of the Cumberland Valley.
Col. Butler was at Fort MeIntosh. now Beaver, on the 29th of September. 1785, as his will, to which we shall presently refer, was dated at that place. "The will." writes Judge M. C. Herman, of Carlisle, to whom we are indebted for some of the facts here given, "appears to have been written hurriedly, and on the eve of some dangerous expedition. for he says: . Being in perfect health and senses. think it my duty (as I am going far from my family, and into some degree of danger more than generally attend at my happy and peaceful home.) to make such arrange- ment of my wordly affairs as I wish and desire may take place in case of my death. which I hope for the sake of my family, the Great and Almighty God will avert.'"
·
Upon the return from this expedition. Col. Butler remained at Pittsburgh, and owning considerable property in that neigh- borhood, he was quite prominent in securing the formation of the new county of Allegheny. .
The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, appointed him. September 30. 1788. lieutenant for that county, and on the 2d of October following, the General Assembly appointed him commissioner. with Col. John Gibson, to purchase from the. Indians their claim to the triangle on Lake Erie. In Novem- ber, 1788, in connection with his brother William Butler, Jaines Robinson, and Daniel Elliott, made purchase of the reserved lots opposite the town of Pittsburgh. He was commissioned one of the justices of the court of common pleas of Allegheny county, November 21, 1788, which he resigned in December, 1790, having been elected to the Assembly from the district composed of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Upon the expiration of his term of service in the Assembly, Col. R. Butler returned to Pittsburgh. The failure of Gen. Josiah Harmar's expedition against the western Indians occurred in the autumn of 1790. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was then ap- pointed Commander-in-Chief of the United States army. Col. R. Butler was appointed major general and second in command, and fell, when that army was defeated on the Miami, in the very bloody battle fought against the allied Indians under Brant, on the 4th of November, 1791. The expedition had originally numbered about 2,000 men; on the day of action it had been
-
8
Historical Register.
reduced to about 1.400, and of this force, 913 were killed, wounded, and missing. A battalion of artillery was almost en- tirely destroyed. St. Clair was a great civilian and brave sol- dier, but, like the unfortunate Braddock, probably did not suf- ficiently understand and appreciate Indian warfare, or his army may not have been properly trained and disciplined to meet such a foe ; and many believed that if Butler had had the com- mand, the result would have been different. Two of his broth- ers, Cols. Thomas and Edward Butler, were also in the disas- trous battle in which the General had fallen, and the first was severely wounded. Major Ebenezer Denny, the aid-de-camp of Gen. St. Clair, (he had previously been the aid-de-camp of Gen. ITarmar, after whom he named his eldest son, and he named his youngest son after St. Clair, ) gives a detailed account of that battle in his military journal ; and his son, Dr. William H. Denny, in his admirable memoir of his father, thus speaks of it: "After Gen. Butler had received his first wound, he con- tinued to walk in front, close along the line, with his coat off and his arm in a sling, encouraging the men, and retired only after receiving a second wound in the side. The Commander- in-Chief sent Major Denny. with his compliments, to inquire how he was. He found him in the middle of the camp, in a sitting posture, supported by knapsacks: the rifle balls of the Indians, who now surrounded closely the whole camp, concen- trated upon that point. One of the wounded General's servants and two horses were shot here. He seemed, however, to have no anxiety, and to the inquiry of the aid-de-camp, he answered that he felt well. Whilst making this reply, a young cadet from Virginia, who stood at his side, was hit on the cap of the knee by a spent ball, and cried so loudly with the pain and alarm, that Gen. Butler actually shook his wounded side with laughter. This satisfied Major Denny that the second wound was not mortal, that the General being very fleshy, the ball might not have penetrated a vital part. He always believed that he might have been brought away and his life saved. Probably his own aid-de-camp, Major John Morgan, may have offered to bring him off, as was his duty, and the wounded General declined, conscious that his weight and helplessness would only encum-
1
9
The Butlers of the Cumberland Valley.
ber his brave young friend for no use, and hinder him from saving himself."
About the time to which reference is here made. it is reliably stated that the youngest brother, Capt. Edward Butler, removed the General from the field and placed him near the road by which he knew the army must retreat, and on returning to the field. found his other brother, Major Thomas Butler, shot through both legs. He then removed him to the side of the General, who. learning that the army was in retreat, insisted on being left alone, as he was mortally wounded, and that he should en- deavor to save their wounded brother. He consequently placed Thomas on an artillery horse captured from a retreating soldier, and taking a sad leave of their gallant and noble brother, "they left him in his glory."
A letter from Edward Butler to his brother Pierce, of Ken- tucky, dated Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, November 11, 1791, says: "Yesterday I arrived here with our worthy brother, Major Thomas Butler, who is illy wounded, he having one leg broken, and shot thro' the other. I hope, however, he will do well. He has borne the hard fortune of that day with the sol- dierly fortitude you might have expected from so brave a man. We left the worthiest of brothers, Gen. Richard Butler, in the hands of the savages, but so nearly dead that, I hope, he was not sensible of any cruelty they might willingly wreak upon him." We do not know just when he died or how he died. All we know of his end is, that, out of regard for the welfare of others, and with a heroic and self-sacrificing spirit, he de- sired to be left behind. - His desire was granted, sadly and re- luctantly, and we, too, can only hope that he was not conscious of any savage indignity.#
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.