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1804 HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY
PENN 1883.
Mr & Mrs Lafayette Squires
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
UNIVERSITY
PITTSBURGH
0
Dar. Rm. qF157 T6H6
LIBRARIES
3 1735 060 396 045
8 37952
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/historyoftiogaco00sext
THE COURT BUILDINGS AT WELLSBORO, TIOGA CO., PA.
.
cl
1804.
HISTORY OF
TIOGA COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA,
WITH
illustrations, lortraits, &
Sketches
OF
.
PROMINENT FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.
NEW YORK: W. W. MUNSELL & CO., 36 VESEY STREET.
1883.
PRESS OF GEORGE MACNAMARA, 36 VESEY STREET, NEW YORK.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
OUTLINE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
The Discovery of the Delaware-Pennsyl- vania Granted to and Organized by Wil- liam Penn
9
CHAPTER II.
German Immigration -The Administra- tions of William Penn and Sir William Keith
CHAPTER III.
The Question of Taxing the Proprietary Estates-Wars with the French and In- dians.
CHAPTER IV.
" Mason and Dixon's Line "-Causes of the Revolution-Patriotic Action of Penn- sylvania
CHAPTER V.
Revolution in the Provincial Government
-Pennsylvania a State-Battles of 1776 and 1777-Indian Warfare ..
CHAPTER VI.
Later Events of the Revolution-War with the Western Indians - Constitutional Changes.
CHAPTER VII.
The Pennamite War-Whiskey Insurrec- tion-" Molly Maguire " Outrages- The Riots of 1877.
CHAPTER VIII.
Harrisburg made the Capital-Internal Improvements-Schools
CHAPTER IX.
Patriotic Action in the Mexican and Civil
Wars-Governors of Pennsylvania ...
GENERAL HISTORY OF TIOGA COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
The Indians in Possession-Land Purchases from them-The State Line Located ......
CHAPTER II.
Incentives to Settlement-Characteristics and Experiences of the Pioneers ..
CHAPTER III.
Organization and Development of the County-Officers and Representatives- Statistics .
CHAPTER 1V. PAGE
PAGE
Middlebury Township.
326
Morris Township ..
199
Nelson Township. 202
337
Richmond Township and Mansfield.
285
CHAPTER V.
Roseville Borough.
336
The Development of the Mineral Products
Rutland Township
334
of Tioga County ..
44
Shippen Township Sullivan Township
330
CHAPTER VI.
Tioga Township and Borough.
242
Strikes at the Coal Mines.
50
Union Township
210
Ward Township
217
Wellsboro
144
Lumbering and Tanning.
57
Westfield Township.
226
Westfield Borough
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
15
- Teachers' Institutes - The Common Schools
62
Adams Family .. 251-264
Adams, Joel 187
Adams, John W. 69
Allen, Adolphus .. 351
294
Allen Family.
267
War-Rolls of Commissioned Officers ....
79
Allen, Henry
69
Allen, Jacob.
294
Arnot, John.
90
Babb, Samson
200
Babcock, F. G
312
Bache, John N
69
Bache, William ..
365
Bache, William, jr
365
Backer, E. It ..
312
Bacon Family
140
Bloss Township-Arnot.
89 Bacon, James.
240
96 Bailey, Clark W.
301
Brookfield Township.
109
Baker, Samnel
90
24 Charleston Township.
113
Baldwin, Buel.
262
Chatham Township ...
119
Baldwin, Eleazer
262
123
Baldwin, Thomas L
262
128
Baldwin, William
281
13] Bannon, Patrick.
98
999 Barden, W. M
300
Delmar Township.
138
Barrows, William
159 Baxter, George H.
67
166 Beach, Clark W
70
Elkland Borongh
26
29
Hamilton Township-Morris Run
176 Bentley Family.
260
181 | Berry, Thomas.
252
Jackson Township ..
313 Billings, Silas.
167, 173
Knoxville Borongh
Lawrence Township-Lawrenceville.
19]
Blackwell, Enoch.
200
Liberty Township
32 Mainesburg Borongh
333 Blackwell, Enoch ..
203
13
The Farming Interest-Agricultural Socie-
ties and Fairs ..
59
CHAPTER IX.
Educational Institutions -- Early Academics
CHAPTER X.
Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Tioga
17
County
64
CHAPTER XI.
Tioga County's Patriotism in the Civil
Allen, Fordyce A
294
19
CHAPTER XII.
Topography and Geology of Tioga County
83
Covington Township
Covington Borough
Deerfield Township
215
Duncan Township-Antrim ..
Elk Township.
204 Beach, Lyman ..
299
Fall Brook Borough ..
169 Beiser, John C ....
195
171 Bennett, John Colvin.
134
Gaines Township ..
219 Beecher, Hopestill
202
Farmington Township.
185 Billings, Silas X
157
11
Early Wagon Roads -- Navigation -- Railroads -Stage Lines-Travel and Transporta- tion.
37 Osceola Township
207
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
20
TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH HISTORIES.
Blossburg Borough
Clymer Township.
Allen, Almon.
6
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Bliss, P. P ...
130
Furman, Joseph
171
Mann, Chandler.
996
Bloss, Aaron.
96
Gaffney, Thomas.
164
Marvin, Elihu
289
Bodine, Ellis M.
146 Gaige, A. M.
185
Marvin, Tilley ..
129
Bosard, James Huntington
35I
Gamble, J. W ..
282
Mather, John W.
,3
Bosworth, Charles Henry.
351
Garretson, William
68, 270
Matteson Family
314
Bosworth. Henry Carter.
351
Gaylord, Elijah
133
Matteson, Jantes
261
Bowman, Charles O
322 Gaylord, Ilezekiah
296
Maynard, John
166
Brewster, A. S
Gear, John Thomas.
393
Maynard, John C
167
Brewster, George A
116 Gerould, Ephraim B.
129 MeAllister, Ira ..
265
Bristol, George O ..
121 Gerould, Otis G.
133
MeCormick, Patrick.
213
Bryant, David.
169 Gibson, John Bannister.
64
MeCullough, J. S
281
Burley, Ebenezer.
290
Gillett, Aaron.
296
McMahon, Thomas.
165
Burley, Elijah.
258 | Gobin, Edward.
288
MeVoy, James.
194
Burton, Thomas
165
Goodrich Family
267
Merrell, James.
195
Bush, Alvah (
272
Goodspeed, John.
314
Merrick, George W
73
Butts, Dyer J
311
Gordon, John
259
Merrick, Israel
Butts, Lorin.
298
Gray, Victor.
133
Millard Family
Caldwell, David
129
Grinnell, Ira N.
166
Miller, Garret.
Campbell, Robert
140
Groover, Joseph.
214
Miller, Leonard.
Caulking Family
266
Guernsey Family.
278
Mitchell Family
249
Channell, S. F
70 Gulick, James 11.
98 Monroe, A. J
322
Clark, Elijah.
290 Ilall, Roland.
265
Moon, Solomon Horatio.
351
('lark, Elijah P'
290 Ilardt, Anton.
163
Morgan, Thomas.
99
Clark, F. W
70
Harrer, Frederick.
195 Morris, Benjamin W
144
Clark, J. B ..
291
Ilarrington, Martin R.
215
Morris, Joseph P
298
Clark. Phineas M
290
Hart, John F
196
Morris, Samuel W.
290
IIebe, George ..
196
Murray, Bernard ..
Clemmons, David
129
leggie, Adelbert John
351
Neal, John.
193
293
Heise, David.
149
Newell, Jared.
214
Cochran, John
293
Hoard, Joseph S ..
299
Newell, John.
Coles, James S
366
Hodges, Hiram.
312
Niles, Aaron.
Cook, Reuben.
350 Holden Family.
293
Niles, Jerome R.
Copp, John ..
287 Holliday. Daniel
328
Norris, John
213
Cummings, Daniel
314 Horton, John C ..
73
Ormerod, John.
392
Daggett, Reuben
182 Ilovey, Josiah ..
288
Packer. Horace B
74
Daggett, Seth.
182, 274
Howell, William jr
163
Paddock, D. A
173
Daily Family.
265 Howland, Eddy
240
Palmer, Nathan.
213
Dartt, Cyrus.
117 Hoyt, Isaae Gunn
352 Parkhurst, Joel
206
Dartt, Justus.
116 Hoyt, Charles L.
362
Pattison, O ..
163
Davis. Ezra
298 Humphrey, William Grow
351
Peek, Charles L
322
Day, William W.
351 Inseho Family
250
Phillips, C. M
323
Deane, Erastus P
141 Jackson, Alfred.
12 Potter, Henry H
323 269
Decoursey, Thomas.
214
Jennings, Isaiah
253
Prekay, George.
253
De Pui Family.
263 Jerald, Thomas
313 Preston, Daniel
215
Dibble, Charles M.
213 Johnson, A. L.
134 Proctor, Thomas.
314
Diekinson, James
261 Keeney, Elisha ..
116 Prutsinan Family.
258 132
Donaldson, Asa
297
Keeney, George D
327 Rathbone, Clarendon
75
Donaldson. John F
146 Kelley Family
Rathbone, William ..
260
Dorrance, Benjamin
205 Kelsey, Daniel.
145 Rathbone, William C.
Dorrance, George ..
205 Kelts, John.
289 Redfield, Augustus.
Dorsett, David.
297 Kelts, Peter
217
Reese, Charles A
Dyer, Edwin
133 Kiff, Horaee H
218 Reynolds, Rev. I. B.
212
Dyer. Thomas.
132 Kiff, John M ..
218 Rexford, David
172 323
Eberenz. William
14.
King, George W
299 Ripley, Ebenezer
292
Elliott Family (Mansfield).
300 King, Mart
299 Ripley, Nehemiah H .
Elliott Family (Tioga).
114 Kirkendall, Samnel E ..
73 Ritter, F. D.
Elliott, Levi ..
71 Knapp, Jerome.
323 Rixford, Simon.
Emery, Josiah
97 Knox, John C
69 Robinson, John L
159
Evans, John L
163 Knox, William
232 Rockwell, H. H
186
Farrer, Thomas
287 Rohrabacher, Abran
127
Fellows, Asahel
287 Holand, Henry W
75
Fellows, E.
146
Lamb, Gad
288 Rose Family.
165 Lamkin, Harvey
67 Ross, Andrew J.
300
194 Rundell, Abram
215
Foulkrod, Isaac
192
Levegood, John
196
Lnek, James.
146 Rusling, J. F.
187
Foulkrod, John.
165 Ryon, James S
76 75 76 97
Foster, M. L
297 Losoy, Jesse ..
248
Sayniseh, Lewis.
Fralie Family.
323 Lounsberry, Isaae
293 Schiefflein, Jacob.
115
Franeis, Walter R
240 Lowrey, James
68 Sebring, John.
195
Frazer, Allen
322 Lyon, William R.
217 Sebring, Jonathan.
193
Freeborn, De Laneey.
Frost, James T.
130 Mann, Asa.
289 Sebring, Robert C.
195
.
130 Ilollands, William
300
Niles, Nathan
Corey, Benjamin.
Cox, Robert C ..
157 Hollis, Tracy O.
218
Ogden, Luther S
351 Patchen, Ira
134
Davis, David J
164 Humphrey. W. T ..
257 Peirson, Mrs. Lydia Jane ..
198
Deane, D. L
71 Ives Family
214 Phillips, H. A
323
Dearman, Albert Appendix 10 Jackson, Mary Emily. Appendix
Dearman, Justus
Appendix 10 James, John ..
98
Power, Simeon I
Dillistin, Jobn.
278
Keeney Family
269
Putnam, Elijah
213 75 196 323
Eastman, A. B
365 Kilbonroe, Henry.
99 Rich, William B.
251 Ripley, W. C ..
292 292 175 314 248
Elliott, Mortimer F
147 Knapp, John Il
96 Roberts Family
Fellows, Horace
193 Lamb, Lorain
Fletcher, Andrew K
72 Lodge, Joseph
16£ Loop, Albert M ..
203 Ryon, John W.
Forrest, John
72 Loper, Uriah sen.
210 Sanders, T. C.
Foote, Henry M.
257 Kiphart, Jacob.
132,289 Reed, Joseph.
124 Kiff, Erastus.
Douglass, ('harles P
Appendix
5 İlall, Benjamin R
Mitchell, Jolin 1.
73
('hase, S. P.
Clark, William E.
145 98
Cochran, Abner
212
158 74 254 146
147
260
182
193
142 Lamb, Daniel
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
PAGE
PAGE
Seelye, Ebenezer
232
Tubbs, Robert H.
351
Black well, Mr. and Mrs. E. .. ... 203
Seymour, Charles H
76
Tubbs, Samnel
341
Butts, D. J
311
Shaw, Daniel M
33-
Tuttle, Ayres.
227
Cox, Robert C ..
157
Shaw, Joshua .-
290
Tuttle, L. H
Dorrance, Benjamin
205
Shaw, Rodney
29
Vail, Levi.
266
Dorrance, George.
205
Shaw, Vardis.
291
Van Camp, Cobin.
255
Eastman. A. B ..
366
Sheffer, George R
193
Vermilyea, Horace C
Sheffer, John
194, 195
Verrill, Charles H
301 Foote, Henry M
67
Sheffer, Joseph.
194
Videan, Richard
129 Hodges, Hiran
312
Sherman, Charles
312
Walker, Delos H
366 Humphrey, William T ..
363
Sherwood, Andrew
313
Walker, Isaac.
132 Jerald, Thomas
313
Sherwood Family.
296
Walker, James
130 Maynard, Johr
206
Sherwood, Henry.
76
Wells, William
139 Niles, Aaron.
74
Sherwood, Walter
77
Werline, Isaac
196
Parkhurst, Joel
206
Skelley, Patrick
215
Westbrook, Samuel
266
Ripley, W. C ..
293
Skelley, Peter.
215
Wheeland, George.
195
Robinson, J. I
66
Smith, David.
175 Whiteomb, Charles.
214 Shaw, D. M ..
334
Smith, F. E.
77 White, Robert G.
65 Sherman, Charles
312
Smith, James M.
187 Whitney, Nelson
115 Sherwood, Henry
76
Smith, Nathaniel
183 Whittaker, Peter.
293 Smith, Nathaniel.
184
Smith, Oetavins.
175 Wiekham, Benjamin C.
273 Stevens, D. G ..
3.29
Spencer, Amos
290
Wilbur, Joseph.
213 Stevens, Martin ..
3229
Spencer, Uriah
253
Willard Family.
255 Tubbs, Charles .
303
Sperry, E. L
300 | Williams, Henry W
66
Williams, H. W
66
301
Wilson, S. F
67
Stevens, Horace L.
329 Wilson, James R.
Stevens, Martin
329
Wilson, Stephen F.
66
Stickley, Henry
142
Wilson, Sumner.
1:29
Stiles, Asa ..
251
Wynkoop, Gershom.
267
Stone, William A
77 Wynn. Patrick
215
Strang, Butler B.
78 Yonkin, Joseph
97
Stratton, Martin.
99
Young, E. B ..
79
Allen, Mrs. Jane M., Mansfield .. 334
339
Strawbridge, John
339
Streeter, Angustus.
77
Butts, D. J., Residence, Mansfield.
998
Sweet, Caleb.
186
Butts, Lorin, Homestead, Mansfield
998
Taylor, Rev. B. F. Appendix 23
Conrt Buildings, Wellsboro (frontispiece'.
1
Taylor, James P
99
Crary, H. H. & Co., Tannery, Westfield .. Gaige, A. M., Residence, Jackson
184
Taylor, William De Witt ..
351
Allen, Henry.
69
King, Mart, Factory, Mansfield.
299
Tebo, Thomas
214
Bache, John N
69 Mansfield, Birdseye View
298
Teeter, A. J
218 Bache, William.
364 Map, Geological.
83
Temple, Hermon.
323
Bache, William, sen
365
Map, Historieal ..
8
Thomas, R. W
99 Baker, E. R.
311
Sherman, Charles, Residence, Mansfield .. .. 312
Tubbs, Charles
363 Billings, Silas X
157 Stevens, Horace L., Residence, Hammond 329
329
Williams, Philip
298
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Strawbridge, James
231,339
Strawbridge, George.
Bache, Laugher, Wellsboro .. 36
Blackwell, E., Residence, Nelson. 203
PORTRAITS.
Taylor, O. F
131 Allen, F. A., (deceased).
294
22%
Welsh, Elijah
266
Niles. J. B.
74
Simpson, Robert C.
175 Elliott, Mortimer F ..
76
Stevens, D. G
INTRODUCTORY.
In preparing the Illustrated History of Tioga | records at Wellsboro, Williamsport and Harris- County the publishers enlisted the best histor- ical talent in the county, gentlemen who were familiar with the local and general history of the various townships and boroughs-their set- tlement, and mining, agricultural, railroad, tan- ning, lumbering and other industrial interests- and who have been untiring in their search after facts relating to the establishment of schools, academies, churches, lodges and associations, the judicial history of the county and its rep- resentative men of bench and bar and in the leg- islatures of the State and nation; and whatever else goes to make up a record of events in the county, from the treaty of 1784 with the Six Nations at Fort Stanwix, Rome, N. Y., when this territory was ceded to Pennsylvania, down to the present. The general historian, Mr. John L. Sexton jr., of Blossburg, has been treasuring up historical data pertaining to the county for the last twenty years, and has spent almost the entire past year in visiting the various town- ships, calling on the old settlers, searching the
burg, obtaining historical facts and compiling them for this work; and like care has been exer- cised by other gentlemen whose names appear in connection with their contributions to the work. Every effort upon the part of the pub- lishers has thus been made to make the Illus- trated History of Tioga County accurate, com- plete and exhaustive, and it is with a degree of confidence that it is presented to the public. While the history may possibly contain some facts which might have been omitted, and lack some facts which might have been inserted, yet upon the whole it is believed that the reader will coincide in the judgment which has de- termined its contents, and read its pages with satisfaction and profit. The compiling of this work has been the means of preserving to future generations many valuable historical facts which otherwise would soon have been lost, and of placing upon record data which werefast fading from the recollection of the pioneers.
1
PENNSYLVANIA.
'T
TE
To Scale d Miles to the inch N B
F
W
Y
O
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From Covington,
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O
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From Deerfield, 1821,
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Sabinsville !! PO
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NOTE .- For more definite particulars relative to the formation and organization of the several townships and boroughs see page 33.
OUTLINE HISTORY
OF
PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.
-
THE DISCOVERY OF THE DELAWARE - PENNSYLVANIA GRANTED TO AND ORGANIZED BY WILLIAM PENN.
T HE first discovery of Delaware bay, and the river which forms a portion of the eastern boundary of the State of Pennsylvania ap- pears to have been made by Hendrick Hud- son, an Englishman in the service of the Dutch, in 1609. In August of that year he entered the bay, and after a short cruise in it left and proceeded to the mouth of the Hudson river, which stream he ascend- ed as far as Albany.
It is said that Lord Delaware visited the bay in 1610; hence the name by which it and the river are known. It was called by the Dutch South river, the Hudson being termed by them the North river.
Another Dutch navigator, Captain Mey, visited the bay in 1614; but Captain, or, as he was termed, skipper Cornelius Hendrickson first ascended the river as far as the mouth of the Schuylkill, in 1616.
A short lived settlement was made on the east bank of the Delaware under the auspices of the Dutch West In- dia Company in 1623, under the direction of Captains Mey and Tienpont. Another settlement was made on the bay, farther down, in 1630; but this was soon de- stroyed by the Indians, whose enmity the colonists had indiscreetly incurred.
Maryland was granted to Lord Baltimore in 1632, and the territory on the west side of the Delaware was claimed by him, and the disputes arising out of this claim remained unsettled during many years.
In 1638 a settlement was made on the west bank of the Delaware by a colony of Swedes, under the patron- age of Queen Christina. This colony was under the direction of Peter Minuit, a Hollander, who had been a director in the colony of New Amsterdam. Several Swedish governors followed Minuit in succession; pros- perous settlements sprang up along the west bank of the
river, and a thriving trade was carried on by the Swedes. They were watched with jealousy by the Dutch, who set up the claim of jurisdiction by reason of former occupa- tion, and instituted intrigues and plans to dispossess the Swedes. In 1655 a force of seven vessels and six hun- dred men was sent up the Delaware for that purpose. The Swedish government had been kept in ignorance of this expedition, and it was easily successful.
On the restoration of Charles the Second to the throne of Great Britain, he granted the territory now including New York and New Jersey, and afterwards that of Del- aware, to his brother the Duke of York. The latter im- mediately sent a force to take possession of the country thus granted. New Amsterdam and Fort Orange on the Hudson were at once possessed, and rechristened re- spectively New York, in honor of the Duke of York, and Albany. A portion of the force was then dispatched to take possession of the Dutch colonies on the Delaware, which was accomplished almost without resistance. This dispossession of the Dutch by the English led to a war between Great Britain and Holland, at the conclusion of which the title of the former to these territories was ac- knowledged by treaty. The Duke of York continued in possession of this region, undisturbed except by the Marylanders, who resorted to occasional. acts of violence in order to assert the claim of Lord Baltimore, until, in 1663, war again broke out betwen Great Britain and Holland, and Dutch privateers visited the coasts and plundered the inhabitants; and during that year a Dutch squadron of vessels arrived and repossessed the domin- ions which had been granted to the Duke of York. These were restored by the treaty of Westminster in 1674, and in the same year, by a new patent, the title of the Duke of York was confirmed. During eight years following these events great changes took place among the propri- etaries of the region, in the course of which William Penn, by reason of being a trustee of one of these. pro- prietaries and a purchase of a portion of the territory, became quite familiar with the region, as well as with the plans for its colonization.
William Penn was the son of Sir William Penn, an ad- miral in the royal navy, who at his death left a claim of
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OUTLINE HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
sixteen thousand pounds against the government of Great Britain. Though in early life he was a soldier of some distinction, he afterwards became a Quaker, and was several times imprisoned because of his religious faith. Having become, as before stated, familiar with the re- gion on the Delaware, and with the schemes for its colo- nization, he conceived the plan of founding a colony there on the broad principles of equality which his faith taught. Accordingly, in 1680, he petitioned King Charles the Second for a grant of a tract of land west from the Delaware river and south from Maryland, in liquidation of the claim which he had inherited from his father. Af- ter the discussion and arrangement of the preliminaries the petition was granted, and a charter signed by the king in 1681. Penn at first desired that the province might be called New Wales, and when objections were raised against this he suggested Sylvania. To this the king and his counsellors prefixed Penn, for the double reason that the name would appropriately mean high woodlands, and that it was the name of a distinguished admiral, whose memory the king desired to honor. A royal address was at once issued informing the inhabit- ants that William Penn was the sole proprietor, and that he was invested with all the necessary governmental powers. A proclamation was also issued by William Penn to the people of his province, setting forth the policy which he intended to adopt in the government of the colony. A deputy was sent in the spring of the same year, with instructions to institute measures for the management of affairs and the temporary government of the province. In autumn of the same year he sent com- missioners to make treaties with the Indians, and arrange for future settlement.
South from the province of Pennsylvania, along the Delaware bay, the Duke of York was still the proprietor of the country. Foreseeing the possibility of future an- noyance to the commerce of his province, Penn was de- sirous of acquiring this territory; and accordingly en- tered into negotiations with the Duke of York for it, and in the autumn of 1682 he became the proprietor of the land by deeds, which, however, conveyed no political rights. In the autumn of 1682 Penn visited his province in the new world, took formal possession of the territory along Delaware bay, proceeded up the Delaware and visited the settlements along that river. During this year the celebrated treaty between William Penn and the In- dians was made, it is said by some historians, under a large elm tree at Shakamaxon. By others it is insisted that no evidence exists of any such treaty at that place; but that the accounts of it that have passed into history were drawn largely from the fertile imaginatons of early writers. Whether a treaty was held there or not, it is almost certain that during that year treaties were made between Penn and the Indians, and it is a historical fact that between the Indians and Quakers perfect faith was kept. Voltaire said of the treaty which was said to have been made at Shakamaxon: "It was the only one ever made between savages and Christians that was not ratified by an oath, and the only one that was never broken."
The three principal tribes of Indians which then in- habited Pennsylvania were the Lenni Lenapes, the Min- goes and the Shawnees. Their relations with the Swedes had been of a friendly character, and the pacific and kind policy of Penn and his Quaker colonists toward them bore fruit in strong contrast with that which the dishonest and reckless policy of other colonies, and of the United States government in later times, has brought forth.
The plan of the city of Philadelphia, which had been laid out by the commissioners that had preceded the pro- prietor, was revised by him, and the present beautiful and regular plan adopted, and even the present names given to the principal streets.
In the latter part of the year 1682 the first legislative body in the province was convened by the proprietor, who, though he was vested with all the powers of a pro- prietary governor, saw fit, in the furtherance of his original plan, to adopt a purely democratic form of government. This body was a general assembly of the people, and was held at the town of Chester, which was first called by the Swedes Upland. This assembly continued in ses- sion from the fourth till the seventh of December; during which time they enacted three laws, one of which was called the great law of Pennsylvania. It was a code of laws consisting of between sixty and seventy subjects or chapters, that had been prepared by the proprietor in England, and it was intended to cover all the exigencies which were deemed likely to arise in the colony. It se- cured the most ample religious toleration-to all whose faith agreed with that of the Friends-and only punished others by fine and imprisonment; thus exhibiting a marked contrast with the bigoted and intolerant Puritans in some of the New England colonies. It guaranteed the rights and privileges of citizenship to all tax-payers, guarded personal liberty, secured, as far as possible, by punishing bribery, the purity of elections, abolished the English law of primogeniture, discarded the administration of re- ligious oaths and affixed the penalty of perjury to false affirmation, and established marriage as a civil contract. Drinking healths, drunkenness, or the encouragement of it, spreading false news, clamorousness, scolding, railing, masks, revels, stage plays,cards and other games of chance, as well as evil and enticing sports, were forbidden and made punishable by fine and imprisonment. It is a cu- rious fact that all these laws have either been super. seded by others or become obsolete.
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