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Cornell University Library F 157B3 M783 History of Berks County, Pennsylvania, i
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Reading Woo
PhcTO E
HISTORY
OF
ERKS
OUNTY,
PENNSYLVANIA,
IN THE
REVOLUTION,
FROM
1774 to 1783, BY
MORTON L. MONTGOMERY, MEMBER OF THE BAR OF BERKS COUNTY, Author of " Political Hand Book of Berks County" (1883), " History of Berks County" (1886), "School History of Berks County " (1889), and " Life and Times of Conrad Weiser " (1893).
VOLUME ARRANGED IN TWO BOOKS : BOOK I .- Revolution. BOOK II .- Biographical Sketches.
READING, PA .: CHAS. F. HAAGE, Printer, Seventh and Court Streets. 1894.
A
A,1522:1
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1894, by MORTON L. MONTGOMERY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D C.
PREFACE.
HE first attempt at the compilation of local history in Berks County was made in 1841 by William Stahle, a storekeeper at Read- ing. He published a small volume of 68 pages in the English and German languages, in separate editions, which related chiefly to the busi- ness affairs of Reading, and was entitled, "A Descrip- tion of the Borough of Reading." It was prepared by a promising young lawyer, Jackson H. Sherman, who had shortly before been admitted to practice in the courts of Berks County. He was a HmStable man of considerable talent, but the re- sult of his labor shows that he lacked the real spirit of research and the true love of authorship. The facts collected by him fall far short of what might have been gathered at that time with ordinary pains. The opportunity was afforded for collecting important data that was truly enviable. Many persons were still living who could have supplied numerous particulars, either of their own knowledge or from hearsay ; and various documents of an historical nature were still in existence, which could have been consulted and made the basis of a most exhaustive and reliable history.
As to the Revolution, the nine survivors (whose names are mentioned) could have been easily in- terrogated. All of them were over seventy-five years
4
PREFACE.
old. When the struggle for independence was going on, they were young men. By their assistance, the compiler could have collected sufficient materials to have enabled him to write a satisfactory story of the part that Berks County took in the war; and by patient inquiry and determination he could have ob- tained almost every important fact worth mentioning. But this opportunity was neglected ; and this neglect is surprising to me, for the reason that there were then at Reading at least a dozen men who were highly qualified to compile an interesting and correct history, not only by their education, but also by their social position and their ample means, which would have enabled them to go ahead earnestly and success- fully, without the fear of embarrassinent or failure.
The next attempt was made by I. Daniel Rupp, of Lancaster, in ยท 1844. For some years before, he had been gathering information relating to a number of counties in Pennsylva- nia that lay to the east and west of the Susque- hanna River, and the result of his persever- I. D. Rupp. ing industry was pub- lished in separate vol- umes, entitled after the several counties. One of them was the "History of Berks and Lebanon Counties," an octavo volume of 504
5
PREFACE.
pages. His local information does not show much re- search. Beyond the taxables and the descriptive nature of tlie work, his effort is not to be classed above that of Stahle's. The joining of Lebanon County to Berks was a misconception, because there was no just reason for doing so. He should have joined Schuylkill County, for which there were many good reasons.
The disconnected portions about the Revolution are of the most ordinary nature. With the ability and experience that he apparently possessed to guide and encourage him, he should have been particularly successful, because he was looking up so many counties at the same time and for the same purpose. His chief aim must have been personal rather than general. He gave considerable space to two promi- nent political characters of Berks County (Weiser and Hiester), and also several ministers, without even a reference to others. Joseph Hiester, it is true, acted his part well in the Revolution ; but there were other men who were his superiors in various ways, and yet Rupp did not regard them as worth looking after at all. I allude to such active and influential men as Edward Biddle, George Nagel, Henry Haller, Jacob Morgan, Nicholas Lotz, Mark Bird, Bodo Otto, Jona- than Potts, Daniel Udree, Daniel Hunter, Daniel Brodhead, Valentine Eckert, John Lesher and John Patton. These men were so prominent that he could not have failed to learn much about them while making his inquiries, if he had directed his efforts in the proper way.
Until then, the natural and inevitable changes from the lapse of time were not numerous nor great. Many
6
PREFACE.
of the older buildings, erected before 1776, still re- mained. Hence documents and correspondence of all kinds could have been found in the different counties that would have proven of incalculable value. But during the lapse of forty years more, the changes were both numerous and great, and matters and things had not only come to be disturbed very much, but many valuable links connecting the past with the present, that is to say, the times of 1776 with those of 1826, and particularly with 1876, were absolutely gone.
When I came to interest myself earnestly in historical subjects after 1880, I was not only surprised but very much disappointed to find available materials about the Revolution so limited at Reading ; and personal inquiries at Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia and Washington were next to fruitless. The men at Read- ing, from 1830 to 1850, who were highly qualified for literary work, with leisure to accomplish it, are inex- cusable for this gross neglect respecting a topic of such general value and importance. Even the proprietors of newspapers of that interesting period did not regard such information as worthy of preservation. The peo- ple seemed to turn constantly towards distant coun- tries for knowledge relating to general history, govern- ment, &c. ; and it never occurred to them that local matters were more important in the daily affairs of life. The Revolution was a subject that was particularly valuable, for the reason that it concerned their own personal freedom, unrestricted enterprise and local government ; and a discussion of its causes, its merits and its successes would have given the two succeed- ing generations a higher conception of these elevating
7
PREFACE.
and ennobling ideas. This notion has been trans- mitted even until now, making it apparent that progress in this respect could not be expected to reach a plane above that occupied then.
In 1859, Amos K. Strunk, of Boyertown, published a small and useful book of 124 pages that contains the names of officers of the county who officiated from 1752 to 1860. He caused it to be printed in two editions, one in the Eng- lish language and the Amos K.Strunck other in the German. He gave much labor to its compilation, but he received only a little praise for his pains and enterprise. In 1883, I published the "Political Hand-Book of Berks County" (octavo volume of 104 pages), an enlargement of Strunk's idea as a book of reference. Tliese two publications did not make any pretensions beyond the subject treated, and nothing else should be looked for in them.
In 1886, I completed the " History of Berks County," a royal octavo volume of 1204 pages. In it I devoted thirty-one pages (double column) to the Revolu- tion. That was something on this line of inquiry, a good start ; but a comparison of the matters therein contained with the contents of this volume will show that I had made only a feeble attempt at portraying the part Berks County accomplished in that important crisis of our history. In the short time that has elapsed since 1886, a considerable new information about the Revolution has come to light. The State of Pennsylvania published several additional volumes
8
PREFACE.
of Archives which were devoted entirely to that topic. Vet with this information as to Berks County added, and the whole narrative reconstructed, I still find this compilation imperfect and short of what it should be.
The patriots from Berks County in the war for personal liberty and free government had a right to expect succeeding generations to appreciate their sacrifices and to preserve a record of their actions. In doing their part well, they were not only prompted by selfish considerations for the enjoyment of privileges and advantages in their day, but by noble impulses for justice, and by the hope that their children would have the blessings of self-government, equality and peace. Such a record, however, was neglected by the next generation after them, and even by the second generation. What would those heroes, as colonels and captains and committeemen have said to their sons and grandsons if, by some mysterious power, they should have appeared in 1826, more especially in 1876, and seen naught done by way of recognizing or appre- ciating their services for freedom ? The third genera- tion is also rapidly passing away. Shall it be said of the great-grandsons that they, too, have not shown a proper spirit of appreciation ?
My great-grandfather, John Spohn, was one of the captains of the year 1776. As a great-grandson of one of the heroes of that momentous struggle, I have en- deavored to do my part towards building up a record worthy of their courage in the destructive ordeal of war for the right of self-government, and I hope it will be the means of awakening a proper spirit of in-
9
PREFACE.
quiry by other descendants, looking to a completion of the undertaking herein attempted.
This volume is arranged in two books. The first is devoted to show the public support given by the people of Berks County to the Revolution; and the second to historical sketches of the more prominent men from the county who were engaged in active service. The former required much labor, research and study ; but numerous facts in the latter were far more tedious to obtain.
The zinc etchings, published in connection with the biographical sketches, were made by John E. Heinly and William Diener, of the Reading Wood Cut and Photo-Engraving Company. The names are fac-similes of signatures, which I copied from the last wills of the respective persons on file in the Register's office, or from the entry of satisfaction of mortgages in the Recorder's office.
I have not given any references, showing the sources of my information, because a great many pages would have been marred by numerous repetitions of the same book ; and also because the general reader is not in- terested in foot notes. The greater part of my in- formation in the first book was obtained from the valu- able publications issued by the State of Pennsylvania, namely, the Colonial Records and Pennsylvania Ar- chives, first and second series ; and in the second book from the papers on file, and also from the records in the offices of the Register and Recorder of Berks County. Besides the publications mentioned, the more prominent books consulted are the following :
IO
PREFACE.
Rupp's History of Berks and Lebanon Counties. Scharf & Wescott's History of Philadelphia County.
Futhey & Cope's History of Chester County. Bean's History of Montgomery County.
Rupp's History of Lancaster County.
Mombert's History of Lancaster County. Egle's History of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties.
American Archives (Penn'a Historical Society).
Irving's Life of Washington.
Autobiography of Charles Biddle.
Bancroft's History of the United States.
Ramsey's History of the United States.
Johnson's Campaign of 1776 Around Brooklyn and New York.
I acknowledge the kindly attentions of Dr. William H. Egle (State Librarian of Pennsylvania), and Mr. Frederick D. Stone (Librarian of Pennsylvania His- torical Society), to me at various times during the course of my researches for this compilation.
I cannot conclude this preface without expressing my appreciation of the co-operation and indulgence of Mr. Charles F. Haage, the printer, in the satisfactory production of this volume as to its arrangement, appearance, etc., for they contributed a great deal of encouragement to me in the completion of my arduous undertaking.
M& Montgomery
READING, PA., June 1, 1894.
CONTENTS.
BOOK I .- REVOLUTION.
INTRODUCTION
17-18
CHAPTER I.
CAUSE OF THE REVOLUTION
19-21
CHAPTER II.
PATRIOTIC SPIRIT OF THE COUNTY 23-38
Public Meeting at Reading, July 2, 1774 ; Resolutions Adopted; Committee Appointed-Provincial Con- ference, July 15, 1774-Congress of Deputies, Sept. 4, 1774-Committee of Observation Chosen at Pub- lic Meeting, Dec. 5, 1774-Delegates to Provincial Convention Appointed, Jan. 2, 1775-Letters to Lan- caster Committee-Circular Letter as to Wool- Resolutions of Provincial Convention-Battle at Lexington Awakens County-Conscientious Scru- ples Against War-First Officers Selected from County by Council of Safety-Germans to the Res- cue-Population and Districts of County in 1776.
-
-
CHAPTER III.
ASSOCIATORS. 39-42
Counties of Pennsylvania in 1775-Recommendation of Congress-County Colonels of Associators-Pre- amble to Articles of Association-County Committee Recommends Articles.
12
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
INDEPENDENCE OF THE PROVINCE
Suppression of British Authority-Support of Civil Authority by the County-Provincial Conference, June, 1776; Deputies from County ; Address ; Declaration of Independence; Address for Flying Camp-Declaration of Independence by Congress ; Read in County, July 8, 1776-Constitutional Con- vention of the Province; County Delegates Elected; Preamble to Constitution: Declaration of Rights.
43-55
CHAPTER V.
MILITIA SYSTEM
56-74
System Provided by General Assembly-County Re- turns for 1775-County Returns for 1776; Delegates from County to Lancaster Convention, July 4, 1776 - County Returns for 1777- New System Provided, June 13, 1777; Oath of Allegiance Re- quired ; County Districts Established ; Battalions, Companies and Classes ; Pay and Rations ; Days of Drill ; Fines ; Pensions ; Persons Exempted from Service; Oaths Administered in the County- County Returns for 1778-County Returns for 1780 -County Returns for 1783.
CHAPTER VI.
COMPANIES FROM COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION 75-150
In 1775.
Nagel's Company at Cambridge; Roll of Company ; Services of Company.
In 1776.
Jones's Company in Canada Campaign ; Roll of Com- pany ; Services of Company-Companies at New York : Of Captains John Spohn, Peter Decker and Henry Christ ; Services of Companies-Lotz's Bat- talion in Flying Camp; Field and Commissioned Officers; Letter of Standing Committee to Con-
13
CONTENTS.
gress ; Intentions of Congress Explained; County Troops at Bethlehem ; Marching Order to Capt Daniel DeTurck ; Roll of Company ; Order to Or- ganize; Battle of Long Island ; Incidents of Hies- ter's Company-Weiser's Company in the German Regiment ; Roll of Company ; Services of Com- pany ; Other Men from County in the Regiment- County Troops at South Amboy ; Battalion of Col. John Patton ; Field Officers of Battalion ; Compa- nies of Captains John Lesher, Michael Wolf, George Miller and Michael Furrer ; Battalion of Col. Mark Bird ; Letter to Council of Safety ; Resolution of Congress-Haller's Battalion near Trenton; Letter to Council of Safety; Resolution of Council of Safety.
In 1777.
Hunter's Battalion in New Jersey; Letter of Col. Daniel Brodhead ; Resolution of Council of Safety ; Letter from Gen'l Israel Putnam-Three Companies at Newtown ; Letter of Gen'l Thomas Mifflin ; Com- panies of Captains George Will, John Diehl and Nicholas Scheffer-County Men in Continental Line ; Companies of Captains Jacob Moser and Jacob Bower ; Sundry Enlistments : Captains, Sub- alterns and Privates-Two Battalions at Chester, Commanded by Hunter and Udree-Spyker's Bat- talion at White Marsh ; Lieutenant Whitman Wounded at Germantown-Washington's Army near the County-Troops Encamped at Kutztown- No British Invasion of County.
In 1778.
Dragoons from the County in Provost Guard ; Company of Capt. Bartholomew Von Heer-Lindemuth's Battalion on the Frontiers.
In 1780.
Hiester's Battalion with Reed's Army ; Field Officers ; Companies of Captains Charles Gobin, Ferdinand Ritter, Conrad Sherman, John Ludwig, Jacob Baldy and Henry Strouch ; Selections from the 3rd Battalion-Two Companies of Ely's Battalion in the Frontier Service; Inhabitants Killed by the Indians.
14
CONTENTS.
In 1781.
Class of Lindemuth's Battalion on the Frontiers-Ely's Battalion at Newtown; Company of Capt. John Robinson-Capt. Jacob Livingood's Company.
In 1782.
County Troops on the Frontiers ; Robinson's Company in Northumberland County ; Sundry Troops Sup- plied.
Other Enlistments from the County; Names of Men Ascertained - Army Surgeons from the County ; Hospitals at Reading-Reports of Men Supplied from the County-Payments for County Militia.
CHAPTER VII.
PRISONERS OF WAR AT READING 151-167
English Prisoners ; Letter from Committee to Dele- gates in Congress ; Conduct of Prisoners; Letter from James Read to Council of Safety ; Quaker Prisoners from Philadelphia ; Company of Capt. Conrad Geist on Guard Duty-Hessian Prisoners ; Letter by Council of Safety about Removal of Prisoners to Reading ; Camp Located on Commons ; Camp Surprised by Militia in Disguise of Indians ; Officer Drowned ; Sickness and Burial of Hessians -German Prisoners ; Company of Capt. Charles Krause on Guard Duty ; Additional Men as Guard ; Continental Troops as Guard; County Militia as Guard ; Order of Council of Safety ; Company of Capt. Peter Nagel on Guard Duty.
CHAPTER VIII.
ESTIMATE OF MEN IN SERVICE 168-173
For. the Years 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1780, 1781 and 1782-Recapitulation-Names of Captains Ascer- tained-Names of Colonels Ascertained.
15
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
ARMY SUPPLIES FROM THE COUNTY 174-189
Store House at Reading-Reports of Supplies Manufac- tured-Reports of Supplies Collected -Supplies taken in Oley in 1778-Masts for the United States Navy-Receipt Book of Col. Nicholas Lotz-Promi- nent Industries ; Names and Location of Furnaces and Forges; Iron Masters; Other Industries-Prices during the Revolution- Pay of Men in Service-Con- tinental Paper Money.
CHAPTER X.
PROCLAMATIONS FOR THE FAVOR OF GOD 190-193
First Recommendation of Congress for Prayer-Appeal for Support in Warfare-Proclamation Issued by Executive Council-Observance by County.
CHAPTER XI.
COUNTY INCUMBENTS OF POSITIONS 194-197
National Positions-State Positions-County Positions.
CHAPTER XII.
AFFAIRS AT READING. 198-204
Public Papers Removed from Philadelphia-Social Con- dition in 1777-Conway-Cabal supposed at Reading -Duel at Reading-Pre-Revolutionary Buildings at Reading.
CHAPTER XIII.
CONCLUSION 205-208
Independence and Peace-Return of the Soldiers-Revo- lutionary Survivors in 1823; in 1840; in 1846.
-
16
CONTENTS.
BOOK II .- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Edward Biddle 209
John Ludwig 246
Mark Bird.
212
Jacob Morgan. . 247
Jacob Bower.
214
Jacob Morgan, Jr 250
Michael Bright 215
David Morgan 253
Daniel Brodhead
216
George Nagel 254
Edward Burd.
218
Peter Nagel. 255
Henry Christ.
219
Bodo Otto.
258
Peter Decker
220
John A. Otto.
261
George Douglass.
220
John Patton.
262
Thomas Dundas
221
Jonathan Potts 263
Valentine Eckert
223
Collinson Read
264
Conrad Eckert
224
James Read
265
George Ege
225
William Reeser
266
Balser Geehr.
227
Christopher Schultz 267
Alexander Graydon 230
Edward Scull. 268
Henry Haller 230
Peter Scull 268
Gabriel Hiester
232
Charles Shoemaker.
269
Joseph Hiester 233
Jacob Shoemaker. 271
Daniel Hunter 235
John Soder. 271
Thomas Jones, Jr
236
John Spohn
272
John Lesher
237
Benjamin Spyker.
274
Daniel Levan
238
Peter Spyker 275
Sebastian Levan
238
Henry Spyker
276
Abraham Lincoln
239
Daniel Udree
277
Jacob Livingood
241
Henry Vanderslice. 280
Nicholas Lotz.
242
Benjamin Weiser. 281
Christian Lower.
245
Christopher Witman 282
-
BERKS COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTION.
BOOK I .- REVOLUTION.
INTRODUCTION.
The American Revolution was carried on from 1774 to 1783 against Great Britain by the thirteen Colonies that constituted the prominent settlements along the Atlantic coast from New Hampshire to Georgia, and existed under organized forms of government. The direct cause was the attempted imposition of increased taxes by parliament upon the inhabitants without representation or without their consent. The great majority of the people were distinguished for their steadfast determination and inflexible resolution in such an important matter as concerned their personal welfare, more especially the leaders of public thought and action in the several colonies, and this widely- prevailing sentiment developed amongst them a spirit of opposition that was earnest, persistent and cour- ageous.
This sentiment, however, was not created in 1774. It had its origin thirty, even forty, if not fifty, years before. Without a steady growth through a number of years, it could not have become substantial. Look-
18
REVOLUTION.
ing at the situation and qualification of the people in this manner, we can not fail to give great credit and honor to the men of sound discrimination who lived several decades before that time and exerted a strong influence over them in establishing correct notions of social freedom, political equality, and local rights.
The County of Berks was erected in 1752 as a sep- arate political body in Pennsylvania. For over thirty years, the taxpayers had been practically interested in public business that related to the laying out of roads for facilitating intercourse of one community with another, and to the erection of townships for admin- istering local affairs. Afterward, in quick succession, numerous things of general concern were conducted in their midst to keep them interested in public pro- gress, the more important having been the "Indian Invasion," the erection of the "District of Reading," the proposed change of government, and the building of the Court House and County Prison, together with many township improvements and private enterprises. In this way they were gradually and unconsciously prepared for a more serious undertaking, and when the crisis came that required them to show real apprecia- tion of personal rights and local welfare, they mani- fested such a wonderful degree of social cnergy and co-operative resistance as to enable them to carry bur- densomne taxation, and endure trying and costly war- fare for over eight years, until they finally realized the establishment of free government.
19
REVOLUTION.
CHAPTER I.
CAUSE OF THE REVOLUTION.
The Parliament of Great Britain passed an Act on March 22, 1765, which required all instruments of writing, such as deeds, bonds and promissory notes, to be written on parchment or paper and stamped with a specific duty, otherwise they were to have no legal effect; but tliis measure met with such general opposition in Great Britain and throughout the Amer- ican colonies, and was found to be so unpopular, that the act was repealed in the following year, February 17, 1766. The cheapest stamp was of the value of one shilling. The stamps on documents increased in value according to their importance. All the colonists manifested unbounded joy over the repeal of this odious law.
This opposition, however, led Parliament to pass a declaratory Act-which accompanied the repealing Act -asserting the power over the colonies "in all cases whatsoever." And in 1767 an Act was passed impos- ing certain duties on tea, glass, paper, and painters' colors that were imported into the Colonies. There was no representation in Parliament from the several Colonies, and regarding taxation of this kind as unjust and tyrannical, they held public meetings, formed associations to discourage and even to prevent the importation of British goods, and passed appropriate resolutions, which they forwarded to the King. His
20
REVOLUTION.
ministers, believing that a reduction of the tax would restore tranquillity, ordered this law also to be re- pealed, saving only a tax of three pence per pound on tea; and in 1770 an Act was passed accordingly. But even this was not satisfactory to them, and their recommendations to one another not to receive any tea were strictly carried out.
In the meantime, the East India Company had ac- cumulated 17,000,000 pounds of this article on hand, and fearing great losses, they led Parliament to author- ize the exportation of tea to any part of the world free of duty. With such encouragement, the company in 1774 loaded several ships with tea and sent them to the American Colonies; but the colonists were firni in their resolution and determined to obstruct the sale of it and to refuse to pay even so slight a tax as three pence per pound. When the ships arrived near Phil- adelphia and New York, the captains were warned not to land, and, fearing this warning, they returned to England. The tea sent to Charleston was landed, but it could not be sold, and after having been stored for a while in damp cellars it became a total loss to the company. And at Boston, while efforts were being made to land the tea, certain men in the disguise of Indians stole their way upon the vessels, broke open 342 chests of tea and threw the contents overboard. When Parliament heard of these proceedings, an Act was passed, called the "Boston Port Bill," directing the Port of Boston to be closed and the Custom House to be removed to Salem; and other humiliating Acts were also passed which were particularly offensive to the people of Boston, indeed of all Massachusetts.
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