USA > Pennsylvania > A geography of Pennsylvania : containing an account of the history, geographical features, soil, climate, geology, botany, zoology, population, education, government, finances, productions, trade, railroads, canals &c. of the state : with a separate description of each county, and questions for the convenience of teachers : to which is appended, a travellers' guide, or table of distances on the principal rail road, canal and stage routes in the state > Part 2
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
ground that they had no right to control the votes of the people. The country party, in order that no violence might ensue on their part, and that every appearance of force should be taken away, re- solved that not even those who commonly carried canes should take them to the polls. Many of the Germans, however, who were attached to this party were aliens, and the friends of the governor feared violence from them. On the morning of the elec- tion a party of about seventy sailors, strangers, from the ships in the river, paraded the streets in a noisy and riotous manner. The magistrates were solicited to check them, but declined ; and it was said that the presence of the sailors at the polls was as proper as that of the alien Germans. It was also intimated by the recorder that any trouble or riot which might occur would be chargeable to the country party, in consequence of their having refused to com- promise in the choice of inspectors. On proceeding to choose in- spectors, William Allen was proposed to the assembled voters, but was rejected, and Isaac Norris was chosen. Immediately the sailors rushed up, and attacking the voters with clubs, cleared the ground. When the polls were afterwards opened for the general election, they took possession of the steps which led to the place of voting, and attempted by violence to prevent the country party from approaching, many of whom were beaten and wounded. The patience of the countrymen being at last exhausted, they op- posed force to force, and finally beat off the sailors, about fifty of whom, with their leaders, Captains Mitchell and Redmond were imprisoned. The election now proceeded quietly and the country party were successful, electing all their members of the former house of assembly. The circumstances of this riot were after- wards investigated by the assembly, and it was strongly presumed that the governor's party had incited the sailors to their violent and disorderly conduct. Among other circumstances, it appeared that money had been promised, and advanced to them in the prison ; and that some unknown persons had engaged them to beat off the Quakers and Germans from the election ground. The assembly sent an address to the governor praying that he would order a trial of the mayor, recorder and other city officers before the Supreme Court; but this was refused, because, as he alleged, the mayor's court alone had jurisdiction of offences committed in the city. The assembly then passed a resolution of censure on the chief officers of the police, and the affair ended.
The indirect hostilities between France and England in 1743-4, caused much trouble and anxiety in Pennsylvania. The Indians, incited and stirred up by French agents and traders from Canada, were becoming troublesome on the border settlements. The militia of Lancaster county were organized and disciplined by the gov- ernor, and other precautionary measures adopted. On the war being declared between these two European powers in March 1744, serious apprehensions of French invasion were entertained; the able bodied men of the province were ordered to prepare arms and train for military service. Benjamin Franklin distinguished himself on this occasion, and chiefly by his exertions, a body of
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
ten thousand volunteers was raised: a battery was also erected below the city, from funds raised by lottery.
Much dissatisfaction existed among certain tribes of Indians at the encroachments of the white settlers upon their lands. The country south of the Kittatiny or Blue mountain, had previously to this time been by various treaties sold by the Indians to the pro- prietaries ; but the Delaware Indians refused to relinquish the country between the Lehigh and the Delaware, and it is said that the proprietor complained of them to the Five Nations to whom they were subject. A treaty was held in 1736, by which the right of the whites to the country as far as the Kittatiny was confirmed; and in 1742, another, at which the Six Nations compelled the De- lawares to remove from the disputed territory, which they did, and went to Wyoming, Shamokin, and some to Ohio. In 1749, for five hundred pounds, the Indians sold the country on the east side of the Susquehanna, from the Blue mountain upwards as far as the mountain on the north side of Mahanoy creek, and thence by a line to the mouth of Lackawaxen on the Delaware.
The white people had made settlements on the Juniata, at which the Indians were much displeased ; and the French emis- saries used their influence to heighten the jealous feeling. A treaty was held at Albany in 1754, by order of the king, with the Six Nations, at which they granted in consideration of four hun- dred pounds, to Thomas and Richard Penn, " all the lands lying within the province of Pennsylvania, bounded as follows: begin- ning at the Kittochtinny or Blue hills, on the west of Susquehanna river, and thence by the said river a mile above a certain creek called Kayarondinhagh, (now Penn's creek,) thence northwest and by west as far as the said province of Pennsylvania extends, to its western lines or boundaries ; thence along the said western line to the south line or boundary of the province, and thence by the said south line or boundary to the said Kittochtinny hills, thence by the south side of said hills to the place of beginning."
This large grant, which included the dwellings of the Shaw- anese and others, as well as the hunting grounds of the Delawares, Nanticokes and Tuteloes, so much increased the discontent that many of the tribes openly joined the French. The design then entertained by the French government of opening a communica- tion by a line of armed posts between Canada and Louisiana was vigorously prosecuted. Forts were erected at Presque isle, (now Erie,) on French creek, and at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. The governor of Virginia, who regarded the establishment of these outposts as an act of aggression on the English colonies, resolved to remonstrate with the French com- mandant on the Ohio. As the bearer of his despatches he selected Major George Washington, then not twenty years of age, but who gave promise in youth, of those qualities which afterwards rendered him so nobly conspicuous. After a hazardous and toil- some journey in the depth of winter, Washington returned with an answer in which the French officer stated that he was acting under the orders of the governor of Canada, and should maintain
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
his position. This defiance roused the spirit of Virginia, and Washington was sent with three hundred men in advance, as far as the Great Meadows, where he met with and defeated a party of French and Indians. The remainder of the regiment coming up, they advanced to dislodge the French from Fort du Quesne, which was built on the spot where Pittsburg now stands. They soon received intelligence that a force of twelve hundred French and Indians were on the way to meet them, and being short of provisions they determined to retreat to the Great Meadows where a stockade was hastily erected and called Fort Necessity. This spot is yet to be seen, near the national road, in the southeast of Fayette county. Before the fort was finished Washington was attacked, and after a most gallant resistance was forced to capitu- late, his men being allowed to retain their arms and baggage and to return home unmolested.
The expedition of General Braddock followed, to which the assembly of Pennsylvania, though from alleged conscientious scruples they gave no direct encouragement to the raising of troops, yet contributed funds for the purchase of provisions; and through the exertions of Dr. Franklin, then Post Master General, one hun- dred and fifty wagons and two hundred and fifty pack horses were obtained for the use of the army, chiefly in Lancaster, York and Cumberland counties. Braddock was posted at Fort Cumberland, near the junction of Will's creek with the Potomac, in the western part of Maryland. In June, 1755, he broke up his camp, and crossed the mountains at the head of two thousand two hundred men, cutting a road for their passage through the wilderness. This road is yet in many places distinctly visible, and pursues for many miles nearly the same route as that occupied by the present national road. Having reached the Little Meadows, Braddock, by the advice of Washington who accompanied him, left a portion of his force with the heavy artillery and stores, and pushed for- ward with one thousand two hundred men and twelve pieces of cannon. Though repeatedly advised by Washington and the other provincial officers to scour the woods and guard against sur- prise, he rejected their counsel with scorn, and asserted the supe- riority of his military knowledge over that of the American buck- skins. His foolish confidence and reckless disregard of the mode of Indian warfare was destined to a speedy and fatal reproof. On the 9th of July he was suddenly attacked by a strong force of French and Indians, who, concealed behind trees and bushes, poured in a well directed and destructive fire, by which his troops were thrown into confusion. Their bravery was ineffectual against an invisible enemy, who from rocks and trees and high grass took sure aim at the officers and men, without being them- selves perceived. The slaughter was dreadful, and Braddock himself was mortally wounded. The British regiments, unaccus- "tomed to this mode of fighting, could not be rallied ; but the pro- vincial troops stood their ground and under Washington covered the retreat of the survivors. Braddock lived until the remains of the army had reached about forty miles from the field of battle,
.
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
where he was buried, as is reported, in the middle of the road which he had cut. To prevent the Indians from discovering his grave, it is said that the troops, horses and wagons were passed over it. The spot was marked by the soldiers, and is still to be seen a little north of the national road, about ten miles east of Uniontown.
The defeat of Braddock's army spread consternation and dismay throughout Pennsylvania. The retreat of the remaining portion of the army under General Dunbar to Philadelphia, left the whole western frontier exposed, and the Indians falling upon the defence- > less inhabitants committed, at will, the most savage cruelties and wanton destruction. They first attacked the settlers in Cumber- land county, and next those east of the Susquehanna at Tulpe- hocken, Mahony and the Moravian village of Gnadenhutten which was burned and destroyed. The near approach of danger aroused the authorities of the province to provide for defence. The settlements on the Juniata had been wasted by the enemy, and such of the people as did not escape, were either killed and scalped, or taken prisoners. To guard against the marauding parties of French and Indians who infested the country north of the Kitta- tiny mountain, a line of defence, consisting of forts and block houses was constructed along it from the Delaware river to Mary- land. The patriotic Franklin was conspicuous for his services in this hour of danger. Men were marched to garrison the forts, Bethlehem was put in a state of defence, and twelve hundred men, with a company of artillery, were raised in the city, formed into a regiment and Franklin chosen as colonel.
Still, however, war had not been declared by the province against the Indians. Though the Delawares and Shawanese had committed hostilities, the assembly relied upon the influence of the Six Nations over them, and the friendly relations which had so long existed between these people and the Quakers were not yet forgotten. The assembly was moved to address the governor, and request him to suspend his declaration of war, but without effect; he proclaimed it by the advice of his council, with but one dissenting voice. The Quakers in the assembly were much blamed and suffered much trouble on account of their pacific principles ; but though declining any exertion to procure their election to that body, many of them were chosen by the people, sometimes, per- haps, with a view of escaping taxes and military service.
In August 1756, an expedition was undertaken under the command of Colonel Armstrong against the Indian town of Kit- taning, on the Alleghany, which was taken and burned after an obstinate conflict. Eleven English prisoners were released and a large quantity of powder and goods, which had been given to the Indians by the French, was destroyed.
The Indians on the Susquehanna and in other parts of the province having generally become desirous of peace, a treaty was held at Easton, in August 1757, at which the representatives of ten tribes attended. They not only agreed to a treaty of peace, but resolved to take up arms against the French. The western 2*
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
Indians, however, still under the French influence, and supplied with arms, powder and goods from Fort du Quesne, continued to roam in small parties over the province, keeping the settlers in continual alarm and apprehension. All out-door labour was per- formed with arms at hand, or under an armed guard; and the tomahawk and rifle of the savage was used without mercy. The unprotected dwelling was attacked and burned, women and chil- dren were butchered and scalped ; while the savage enemy, avoid- ing the forts and armed bands of the settlers, even advanced some of these prowling war parties, it is said, to within thirty miles of Philadelphia.
The capture of Fort du Quesne was now resolved upon, and in July 1758, General Forbes marched from Carlisle with a strong force. He proceeded by way of Raystown and Loyalhanna, at which latter place an advanced division under Colonel Bouquet had been attacked by the French and Indians. These having re- tired, the general advanced towards Fort du Quesne, but before his arrival the French had destroyed and abandoned it. The ruined fortifications were repaired, and a garrison being left, the main body of the army returned to the eastern counties. The surrender of Canada to the English in 1760, put an end to the war.
A season of peace and tranquillity was now hoped for ; but it was of short duration. A secret league was formed among the tribes on the Ohio, and the border settlements were to be simulta- neously attacked. The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia were overrun and plundered by scalping parties ; the forts at Venango, Le Boeuf and Presque isle being weakly manned were taken and the garrisons murdered. In the summer of 1763. the whole country west of Shippensburg was at the mercy of the savages. The people quit their farms and flocked to Ship- pensburg, Carlisle, and other towns for protection. Fort Ligonier, west of the mountains, still held out, though besieged by the enemy, and Colonel Bouquet was despatched by General Am- herst to relieve it. He marched from Carlisle in July, the enemy retired on his approach, but attacked him at Turtle creek, on his advance to Fort du Quesne, where he escaped the fate of Braddock only by superior skill in the method of Indian warfare. He com- pletely routed and dispersed the assailants, with the loss of fifty men and many horses, and was obliged to destroy a large portion of his provisions. Four days afterwards he reached Fort du Quesne, then named Fort Pitt; the Indians having retreated to their remote settlements.
In the following winter the frontiers were again harassed by the Indians. Some of the Delawares and Six Nations who re- mained among the whites, professing neutrality, became suspected of aiding the enemy ; and a party of armed settlers, chiefly from Paxton, or Paxtang, township, Lancaster county, in December 1763, attacked an Indian village near Conestoga, barbarously killing old men, women and children. The Indian men were mostly absent at the time, and were placed for protection in the
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
prison at Lancaster. The prison was forced, and the miserable Indians were killed, protesting their innocence and their love for the English. The magistrates of the town seem to have taken no measures to prevent this outrage. The governor afterwards issued a proclamation offering a reward for the discovery of the perpe- trators, but without effect.
The Indians who remained, being alarmed by these hostile de- monstrations, were desirous of proceeding to the province of New York; but the governor there refusing permission, they were taken to Philadelphia for their security. Their enemies in Lan- caster county, however, being determined to expel them, assem- bled in great numbers and marched for the city. The governor prepared for tefence, cannon were mounted, and the approaches to the city placed under strong guards. The insurgents proceeded to Germantown, and finding the strength of the preparations made to oppose them, forbore the attack upon the city, and by the advice of some prudent persons who visited them, sent two of their leaders to the governor and assembly with a memorial, which was referred to a committee; the excitement subsided and the affair terminated.
John Penn, one of the proprietaries was now governor of Penn- sylvania. Further supplies were necessary for the support of the war against the western Indians ; the quota of men to be furnished by Pennsylvania was one thousand, which the assembly resolved to raise, and to maintain it they voted £50,000. Difficulties, however, arose between them and the governor respecting the mode of taxation and other subjects, which gave rise to a long and bitter controversy, which was carried to such a height that the assembly at last resolved to take measures for effecting a change in the government. Petitions to the king for that purpose were presented, and agents were sent to England for the pur- pose of obtaining a change of the government from proprietary to royal.
In 1764 all the American colonies were thrown into agitation by the avowed design of the British government to raise a revenue from them by taxation. The indignation was universal, and Penn- sylvania stood with her sister provinces in opposition to the odious measure. Dr. Franklin was sent to England as agent for the province, and laboured earnestly to avert the dangerous experi- ment of taxing the colonies. The stamp act was, however, passed in March 1765, and was one of the leading causes which, not many years after, produced that revolution which separated the colonies from the mother country.
At the treaty of Fort Stanwix, in 1768, another large purchase of land was made from the Indians. In consideration of $10,000, the chiefs of the Six Nations there assembled, granted to Thomas Penn and Richard Penn all that part of Pennsylvania not pre viously purchased within the following limits : beginning at the boundary line of the province, on the east branch of the Susque- hanna at a place called Owegy, and running with the boundary line, down the east branch, to the mouth of a creek called Awan-
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
dac or Tawandee. Thence up the said creek and along the hills called Burnett's hills to the head of a creek which runs into the west branch of the Susquehanna, which creek is called by the Indians Tiadaghton, (Pine creek,) and down the said creek to the west branch of the Susquehanna, and up the same to the fork which lies nearest to Kittaning. (This fork is now called canoe place, or the Cherry Tree, being, it is said, the farthest point to which a canoe could be pushed up the west branch : it is at the northwest corner of Cambria county.) From this the line of purchase ran straight to Kittaning and thence down the Allegheny and Ohio rivers to the western boundary of Pennsylvania, and along it to the southern boundary which limited the purchase on the south as far eastward as the " Allegheny hills." Thence along east of said hills to the west line of the former purchases, and north of them to the mouth of Lechawachsein (Lackawaxen) creek on the Delaware, then up the Delaware to an east line from Owegy, and along it to the place of beginning at Owegy.
By tracing the lines of this purchase on the map, it will be seen that it included the whole of the lands in the province not before purchased, with the exception of a large tract in the northwest which continued to be Indian ground until after the revolution. In 1784, this was also purchased from the Six Nations ; and thus, in a period of about one hundred and two years, was the whole Indian title within the bounds of Pennsylvania extinguished.
But though the Indian title was thus peaceably extinguished, a dispute arose among the white settlers themselves respecting a portion of these lands, which finally assumed a serious aspect and led to violence and bloodshed. A number of settlers from Connec- ticut had established themselves at Wyoming, and the "Susque- hanna Company" of that province claimed a large tract in the north and northeast of Pennsylvania as belonging to Connecticut, the charter of which, it was asserted, covered the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. In 1761 some emigrants from Connecticut established themselves on the Delaware in North- ampton county, (now Pike and Wayne) and in 1762 others settled at Wyoming. The government of Pennsylvania remonstrated against their claims and encouraged Pennsylvania settlers to oc- cupy these lands. A large body accordingly proceeded to the Susquehanna, and soon came into collision with the people from Connecticut. Open war was the consequence : forts were erected, besieged and taken; and at last the Connecticut settlers, persisting in their claims, the sheriff of Northumberland county was sent with a body of near five hundred men to dispossess them. His party was, however, beaten off and compelled to retire. Seeing that forcible ejection of the intruders must be followed by much bloodshed and misery, Pennsylvania forbore further hostilities. The right of jurisdiction to the disputed territory, was not settled until after the revolution, when it was determined in favour of Pennsylvania by commissioners appointed by Congress. The rights of territory were afterwards settled between the Pennsyl- vania and Connecticut claimants by the laws of Pennsylvania.
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HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
In 1774 a contest arose with the governor of Virginia in relation to the western boundary. The fort at Pittsburg had been seized by an agent of Lord Dunmore, under the pretence that it was within the Virginia boundary; land titles were contested and troubles with the Indians ensued.
But these domestic difficulties were soon to be absorbed by a question of much greater consequence. The determination of the British government to tax the colonies and to infringe their rights by various acts of oppression, had at length driven the American provinces to open resistance. The spirit of freedom was aroused, public meetings were held, delegates to a general Congress were chosen, and in 1776 that memorable declaration was signed by which the United States of America became an independent nation.
The limits to which we are confined in this brief sketch of the history of Pennsylvania will not allow us to describe those inci- dents of the revolutionary war in which this state was more im- mediately concerned. These belong rather to the general history of the United States, and will be found fully detailed in the several works which have been written upon that subject.
The Congress of 1776 having recommended the formation of new state governments, and the colonial assembly being regarded as deriving its power under the authority of the crown, a pro- vincial conference assembled at Philadelphia in June, which recom- mended the calling of a convention for the purpose of framing a constitution for the government of the state, under the authority of the people. This convention, consisting of eight members from each county, elected by the people, met on the 15th July, 1776, and chose Dr. Franklin president. The constitution was completed in convention, and signed September 28th. The state continued under its government until 1790, when another conven- tion was called, and another frame of constitution agreed upon, under which Pennsylvania remained until 1838. In 1836 the people of the commonwealth determined by a majority of votes in favour of calling a convention to amend the constitution, and in 1837 elected members to the convention who assembled at Harrisburg, and afterwards adjourned to Philadelphia, where, on the 22d of February, 1838, the present constitution of the state was signed, and at the election in October of the same year, was adopted by the votes of a majority of the people.
Since the revolution, the history of Pennsylvania has become merged in that of the United States, and from that period we have no separate account of the leading public events which more im- mediately relate to this state. A work upon the recent history of Pennsylvania, in continuation of those which have been written concerning its earlier periods, is much to be desired, and ample materials exist for such an undertaking. It is hoped that this will be attempted by some one of the many whom we have among us well qualified for such a task, and that it will not be long before this defect in the annals of our state will be fully supplied.
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