USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Lodge no. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkesbarr?, Pa. with a collection of masonic addresses > Part 20
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Thomas Fell, the eighth child of Joseph, married Jane Kirk, of Bucks county, and their first child was JESSE FELL, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Buckingham, the empire township of Bucks, April 16th, 1751.
Jesse Fell and Hannah Welding, of Bucks, were joined in marriage August 20th, 1775, by Isaac Hicks, Esq. (one of the Justices of the Peace of Bucks county), "by virtue of a marriage license by them produced from under the hand and seal of the Hon. John Penn, Esq., Governor and Com- mander-in-Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania."
WEE
JUDGE JESSE FELL'S INN, AT "THE SIGN OF THE BUCK," North-east corner of Northampton and Washington streets, Wilkesbarré.
259
In the latter part of the year 1785 Jesse Fell removed with his wife and four children from New Britain township, Bucks county, to the Wyoming Valley, for the purpose of engaging in mercantile pursuits. On the Ist of December, 1787, he purchased from Jonathan Avery, for £40, a certain lot of land in the town of Wilkesbarre "on the road [now Northampton street] running from the river ferry to the mountain."
In the deed of conveyance this lot was described as con- sisting of "One acre, with dwelling house, barn, and well on the same; clear from all incumbrances, so far as a Con- necticut title can be, and that the same was improved before the decree of Trenton in 1783." Mr. Fell enlarged the house and otherwise improved the premises, and then took possession .* In a portion of the building he carried on his "store" business for some time, but the larger portion of the building was devoted to use as an inn, or tavern. Be- fore long the store was given up, and in providing "enter- tainment for man and beast" Friend Jesse employed all his energies. He was licensed "to keep a Public House in the town of Wilkesbarre for the selling of Whiskey, Rum, Brandy, Beer, Ale, Cider, and all other spirituous liquors : provided he shall not at any time during said term suffer drunkenness, unlawful Gaming, or any other Disorders."
His tavern was "known by the sign of the Buck." Tra- dition tells us much of the hilarity attendant upon the gath- erings in that old log house.
* In 1799 Judge Fell advertised this property for sale. In his ad- vertisement he described it as follows: "A two-story log and frame building, with an 'addition' one story high. Has ten rooms, six fire- places, three entries, a garret, a good cellar, and an excellent well of never-failing water at the kitchen door. On the premises a good frame barn 38x28 feet, shed and stable 30x20 ft., and near at hand a wood-lot."
260
For a long time it was the sojourning place of the judges and lawyers upon the circuit, and the rendezvous of local celebrities, and of all these Mr. Fell, in his social hours, had some pleasant and characteristic anecdotes to relate ; for though a man generally of few words, he was a nice ob- server of character, and a thorough judge of mankind.
From the 16th to the 23d of March, 1790, Jemima Wil- kinson, "the Universal Friend," sojourned with some of her followers at the "Buck," and preached three or four times to large congregations gathered at the inn. This eccentric founder of a religious sect was then on her way up the river to the Genesee country, of which entire region she and her followers were the pioneers, preceding even the Indian treaties for acquiring land titles.
During 1797, 1798 and 1799 the Sheriff's sales of real es- tate were held at the "Buck," and in an upper room of the inn LODGE No. 61 was organized and constituted, and subse- quently the meetings of the Lodge were held there for a season. In the "long room" of the inn the 4th of July and other public balls of the town were held in early days, and in April, 1804, Charles Bird informed the ladies and gentle- men of Wilkesbarré that he proposed "opening a dancing school at the house of Judge Fell, Esq."
Mr. Fell continued to occupy these premises and keep "open house" until his death, and for many years thereafter the place was known as the "Old Fell House." A very small portion of the old building is still standing, having been incorporated in the modern structure which stands at the north-east corner of Washington and Northampton streets.
The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania com- missioned Mr. Fell Sheriff of Luzerne county October 21st, 1789. He took the required affirmation before Col. Nathan Denison, Associate Judge, on the 12th of November, and the same day filed his bond, his sureties being James Stew- art, Putnam Catlin and Nathan Kingsley, who were bound
261
in the sum of £1500 "unto his Excellency Thomas Mifflin, Esq., President of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Captain General and Commander-in-chief in and over the same." Sheriff Fell was re-commissioned October 23d, 1790, and served an additional term of two years. He fulfilled the duties of his station with intelligence, and an uprightness so pure that not the slightest censure or complaint was heard against him. This was the more remarkable, and redounded to his credit, as he was prepossessed in favor of the Penn- sylvania claimants, and contests were continually occurring between them and their opponents, the Yankees, in almost every variety of form, which he was called upon to decide. In this connection we might remark that Col. Timothy Pickering came to Wyoming about the time that Mr. Fell removed here, and an intimacy existed between them which produced mutual respect and attachment that only termi- nated with life.
Mr. Fell was appointed "Lieutenant of the county of Luzerne" January 10th, 1792, by Thomas Mifflin, Governor of the Commonwealth. He succeeded in this office Col. Zebulon Butler, who had been appointed in 1787.
In 1890 a new Constitution for Pennsylvania was adopted. Section 2 of Article VI. was as follows: "The freemen of this Commonwealth shall be armed and disciplined for its defense. Those who conscientiously scruple to bear arms shall not be compelled to do so, but shall 'pay an equivalent for personal service." In conformity with this requirement the "Luzerne Militia Brigade" was organized, and Governor Mifflin appointed Jesse Fell Brigade Inspector, to serve for seven years from April 11th, 1793. Although he was a Quaker, and a professed non-combatant, he accepted the office, and performed the duties thereof until the Spring of 1798, when he was succeeded by. Putnam Catlin, Esq., a member of the Luzerne county Bar. Major Fell's first
262
military experience has been described as follows: On the morning of the first parade of his brigade he took it into his head to drill a little by himself. Dressed in full regimentals he marched out on the back porch of his house, and, placing himself in a military attitude, with his sword drawn, he ex- claimed, "Attention, battalion! Rear rank three paces to the rear, march !"-and he tumbled down into the cellar. His wife, hearing the racket, came running out, crying, "Oh ! Jesse, has thee killed thyself?" "Go to, Hannah," said the hero, "what does thee know about war ?"
He was appointed by Governor Mifflin, February 5th, 1798, an Associate Judge of the Courts of Luzerne county (vice Rosewell Welles, Esq., resigned), to serve during good behavior. This position he filled with dignity and credit for a period of thirty-two and a half years, terminated only by his death.
At the time of his appointment as Judge he was in very comfortable pecuniary circumstances. Besides the tavern property, he owned several town lots, upon one of which a store-house was erected. He also owned a saw-mill and five or six acres of land situated one and a half miles south of the Court House, and about 1000 acres of wood-land adjoining Harvey's Lake.
Few men wrote so plain and beautiful a hand as Judge Fell, his handwriting being, indeed, so excellent as to be an enviable accomplishment, and was of much use to him. In 1798 he was appointed Town Clerk of Wilkesbarré, which position he held for several years. In 1804 he was ap- pointed assistant Clerk to the County Commissioners. This position he held until January, 1819, when he succeeded Arnold Colt as Chief Clerk, and in this office he continued as long as he lived.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania, on the 4th of April, .1799, passed an act entitled "An Act for offering compen- sation to the Pennsylvania claimants of certain lands within
263
the seventeen townships, in the county of Luzerne." This act is familiarly known as "The Compromise Act of 1799," and was adopted for the purpose of putting a final end to the controversy that had been going on between the Con- necticut and Pennsylvania claimants for over a quarter of a century. It was strictly an act of mediation, and proposed terms of settlement and compromise to the parties.
Several acts, supplemental to the general act, were sub- sequently passed by the Legislature, and Judge Thomas Cooper,* Gen. John Steele,t and William Wilson, Esq., were appointed Commissioners to execute these "confirm- ing" laws. The Commissioners appointed Judge Fell their clerk. From the beginning to the end he was their right hand man, for information or for advice, and his services were inestimable. By October, 1802, about one thousand Connecticut claimants had exhibited their titles. The work of the Commissioners was done with great fidelity and intel- ligence. They went through the "seventeen townships," re- ran all the surveys of the Susquehanna Company, by whose lines the claims were bounded, and issued "certificates" to the holders, upon which the State issued the patents. In all, the Commissioners issued 1745 certificates, embracing 288,532 acres of land.
On the 17th of March, 1806, the act incorporating the Borough of Wilkesbarré was passed by the Legislature of Pennsylvania. Judge Fell was named in the act as a com- missioner to issue the proclamation for holding the first election for borough officers. The proclamation was issued April 25th, and the election was held May 6th, 1806. He was elected Burgess, and served in the office for one year.
* For notice of Judge COOPER, vide sketch of Judge Gibson, post.
+ Gen. JOHN STEELE was born at Lancaster, Penn'a, in 1758. He was a captain through the Revolutionary War, and served at Brandy- wine and Yorktown. In 1780 he commanded Washington's Life Guards. He was Collector of the Port at Philadelphia in 1809.
264
Subsequently he served four terms as Burgess, from May, 1814, to May, 1818.
He was a member of the Borough Council for many years, and served as its President from May, 1809, to May, 1810, May, 1811, to May, 1814, and May, 1820, to May, 1823.
He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of the Wilkesbarré Academy, incorporated March 19th, 1807, and filled that position until his death. He was four years Secretary, and three years President, of the Board.
In 1808 occurred that event which, more than any other circumstance in the life of Jesse Fell, has caused his name to be known and remembered by the people of this section of our Commonwealth down to the present day.
A very simple thing was Whitney's discovery of the cot- ton-gin. A very simple discovery was that of Fulton's application of steam to propelling vessels. Others-Fitch among the number-had thought of it, talked of it, and made promising experiments, but no one had done it. A very simple thing, also, it may be said, was the discovery that anthracite, or stone coal, would burn in grates, and without the aid of a blast by the smith's bellows.
It had been in use under the igniting power of the Tuyve iron blow-pipe for thirty years, and yet no one had dreamed of its being of any more value as a domestic fuel than the same quantity of granite or brickbats. On account of the difficulty with which it ignites, as well as its disagreeable decrepitation, it was not considered valuable or eligible for household purposes.
Judge Fell had seen the anthracite, which abounds in the Wyoming Valley, burnt by the blacksmiths* in their smithy
* OBADIAH GORE, an early settler of Wyoming, is supposed to have been the first person who attempted to use the coal. In 1768 or '69 he found, by experiment, that it was valuable in blacksmithing, and soon its use became general among the blacksmiths of the Valley, to the entire exclusion of charcoal.
265
fires, and he himself had used it as early as 1788 in a nailery, for making wrought nails. He was satisfied that it would burn in a grate properly constructed, and thus answer for family use. Turning the matter in his own mind, and gathering information and advice from the Hon. Thomas Cooper (then President Judge of the Courts of Luzerne county), who was familiar with the use of bituminous coal in England, Judge Fell and his nephew, Edward Fell, im- provised a rude grate of green hickory withes.
Having satisfied himself that the general design was good, the Judge aided a blacksmith in forming a rude iron grate, which he placed in the bar-room of his house.
As no little amusement had been excited at the Judge's ex- ertions to burn coal, he determined to make a suitable exhibi- tion of the first attempt in the new grate, and accordingly gave notice to a large number of the most respectable citizens that on the succeeding evening his experiment would be tried.
The evening came, the fire was kindled, and the coal burned with unexpected brilliancy, but only two or three of his neighbors came to witness the experiment. The others, supposing the Judge had found out the fallacy of his plans, and intended to take a little innocent vengeance on them for their incredulity, very prudently tarried at home with the view of laughing at those of the invited who might have been more yielding than themselves. Among others, Judge Cooper had been invited to stop at the tavern on his way home. He did so, and saw a nice coal fire burning in the grate. Judge Cooper became very angry to find that he had been superseded in the discovery, and he walked the floor, "muttering to himself, that it was strange an illit- erate man like Fell should discover what he had tried in vain to find out."
A few days after the experiment Judge Fell purchased a copy of William Preston's "Illustrations of Masonry" ("The first American from the tenth London edition, Alexandria,
266
1804"), and he wrote the following memorandum on a fly- leaf of the book :
"February II, of Masonry 5808. Made the experiment of burning the common stone coal of the Valley in a grate in a common fire-place in my house, and find it will answer the purpose of fuel, making a clearer and better fire, at less expense, than burning wood in the common way.
" JESSE FELL.
" Borough of Wilkesbarré, "Feb. 18th, 1808."
His experiment succeeding beyond his sanguine expec- tations, he caused a substantial grate to be made and set up in his house, where it was in use for a long time.
For many years it was generally considered and believed, without any suggestion to the contrary, that Jesse Fell was the first person to discover that anthracite coal could be used for domestic purposes; but within the last few years certain antiquarians have been claiming that, three or four years before Fell made his experiment, anthracite coal had been successfully burned in a stove and grate by certain experimenters in the city of Philadelphia, who soon after recounted their successes in letters to some of their friends, which letters are now in existence and exhibited.
In 1810 the Luzerne County Agricultural Society was organized, and Judge Fell was its first President. In Sep- tember of the same year he was appointed one of the Di- rectors of the Philadelphia Branch Bank at Wilkesbarré. From 1812 to 1814 he was Treasurer of the Bridgewater and Wilkesbarré Turnpike Company, operating the road running from Wilkesbarré to Tunkhannock ; and for a num- ber of years he was one of the managers, and in 1824 Presi- dent, of the Easton and Wilkesbarre Turnpike Company.
In 1845 Fell township, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) county, was organized, and named in honor of Judge Fell.
Jesse Fell was made a Mason March 31st, 1794, he being
267
the fourth person initiated into the mysteries of Free Ma- sonry in LODGE 61. From the beginning of his connection with the Fraternity to the day of his death he was a most active, earnest and intelligent Free Mason. During all the long period of his membership-with the exception of the first nine months thereof-he held some important office in the Lodge. He served as Worshipful Master in 1798, 1799, 1803, 1808, and 1813; as Treasurer in 1804 and 1805, Junior Warden in 1806, Senior Warden in 1807, and as Secretary for twenty-five and a half years-occupying that office when he died. On St. John the Baptist's Day, 1804, he delivered a Masonic address* before the members of LODGE 61, and visiting Brethren, which address was pub- lished in The Luzerne Federalist of July 7th, 1804.
In form Judge Fell was about the middle height, and in early life was strong and active. His face was round, of Grecian cast, and there was a peculiar but not unpleasant protrusion of the under lip, which gave the impression of firmness and decision. Generally grave and thoughtful, his countenance assumed a glow of light and cheerfulness when animated by conversation with his friends.
Brought up a member of the Society of Friends, he used their plain language in domestic and more friendly inter- course. He was a man of lucid and strong mind, of decision and firmness of character. He wrote well, and in early days published a series of essays in certain newspapers over the sig- nature of "Epaminondas," sustaining the laws and claims of Pennsylvania against writers on the other side of the question.
He was a man of few words, as the following anecdotes will illustrate: About the year 1800 the President Judge was detained from Court by illness, and Judge Fell was on the Bench alone. A lawyer, then full of ardor, and who after- wards rose to great eminence in another State, offered to
* See Chapter VI. for copy of address.
268
the Court and jury, as the foundation of a suit, a paper pur- porting to be a promissory note, of long standing, the name of the maker-if ever signed-torn off. "It is not a note !" said Judge Fell. The lawyer argued, reasoned, explained, and wished to introduce parol testimony to sustain the paper. "It is not a note," said the Judge. The lawyer took another tack, and read decisions from the books, until the Judge, who had listened as long as was deemed fitting, threw the paper on the table, and said a third time, with emphasis, " It is not a note!" There the matter ended. Brief and decided, he entered into no elaborate argument, but gave his opinion, and the suit was never resumed. A man had come through the swamp, as it was called be- fore the turnpike was finished, having been robbed on the road of a large sum of money, as he said. He called the chief men of Wilkesbarré together to state his case, expect- ing that his loss, in part at least, would be made up to him, and that the highwayman would be pursued. All assem- bled, the gentleman related his story circumstantially, when they all turned to Judge Fell, as the most venerable, for his opinion. "It's all a hum," said the Judge. The gentleman robbed was disconcerted, but protested, swore, and looked imploringly. "It's all a hum," repeated the Judge, not in a passion, but with firmness. At length the man confessed that, out of money, he had resorted to this artifice to recruit his finances. On an occasion of great excitement, when the time had arrived that a party to which he belonged must recede, or take more decisive steps, the Judge was appealed to. "We must be men or mice," was his emphatic remark.
Throughout all his life he enjoyed remarkably good health, which may in part be ascribed to the daily labor, in Spring and Summer, in his garden. It was his recreation, his delight, and amply was he repaid, by having a garden beauti- ful and productive, rich in every variety of fruit and vegetable.
He had three sons and five daughters. SARAH FELL, his
269
third child and second daughter, married Joseph Slocum, Esq., of Wilkesbarré, and a number of their descendants now reside in the Wyoming Valley. ABI K. FELL, his seventh child, married Col. Jacob J. Dennis, of Wilkesbarré, and two sons, the result of this union, became members of LODGE 61-Dr. Welding Fell Dennis, and Capt. James P. Dennis, who was W. M. of the Lodge in 1860, and is now next to the oldest living Past Master of the Lodge. Dr. SAMUEL W. FELL, sixth child of Jesse, died at Belvidere, N. J., July 11th, 1824, aged 36 years. NANCY W. FELL, the youngest child, married Dr. Isaac Pickering, originally of Bucks county, Penn'a, and died at Catawissa, Penn'a, January 15th, 1834.
Judge Fell's wife died in Wilkesbarré March 7th, 1816.
On the 5th of August, 1830, he made his last appearance on the Bench, in the discharge of his official duties. He died on the I Ith of August, and the next day, at the meeting of the Court-Judges Scott and Ross being on the Bench- his death was announced. Thomas Dyer, Esq., moved the adoption of the following resolutions : "Resolved, That the surviving members of this Court and the members of the Bar sincerely deplore the death of the Hon. Jesse Fell, who has so long and so faithfully performed the duties of an Associate Judge of this Court; and that as a testimony of respect to the deceased the Court and the Bar will attend the funeral to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Resolved, That as a further testimony of respect to the deceased the members of the Court and Bar will wear crape on the left arm for thirty days." The funeral took place the following day, and "was attended by the largest concourse of citizens that had ever assembled in Wilkesbarré on a similar occa- sion." The Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity were present in large numbers, and at the grave the solemn rites of the Fraternity were performed.
Judge Fell was succeeded on the Bench by the Hon.
270
Chas. D. Shoemaker, of Kingston, who took his seat No- vember Ist, 1830 .*
The following tribute to Judge Fell was written at the time of his death by one who had known him long and well :
"In private life the deceased was kind and conciliating, a pattern of industry and temperance, worthy the imitation of
* CHARLES DENISON SHOEMAKER was the eldest son of Elijah and Elizabeth Shoemaker. Elijah Shoemaker was the son of Elijah Shoe- maker, who was the son of Benjamin Shoemaker, who immigrated to the Wyoming Valley in 1763 from Bucks county, Penn'a, and was one of the earliest settlers on the Susquehanna. Elijah, Sr., was killed in the Wyoming massacre, and at the time of his death Elijah, Jr., was but six weeks old, having been born at Forty Fort May 20th, 1778.
The last named was married May 28th, 1800, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Col. Nathan Denison, and the subject of this sketch, born in Kingston township, Luzerne county, July 9th, 1802, was their eldest child. He was educated at Yale College, from which institution he graduated in 1824. January 26th, 1824, prior to his graduation, he was appointed by Governor Shulze, of Pennsylvania, Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts of Luzerne county for a term of three years. He took the oath of office, and assumed its duties, February 2d, 1824. December 2Ist, 1826, he was reappointed to serve another term. April 3d, 1828, he was appointed Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds of Luzerne county, and August 21st, 1830, he was appointed by Governor Wolf Associate Judge of the Courts of Luzerne county, to succeed Judge Fell. This position he held for a number of years.
He was initiated into LODGE 61 November 22d, 1825, and was Junior Warden of the Lodge in 1827.
Judge Shoemaker was twice married. First, October 4th, 1825, to Mary E. Denison, eldest daughter of Austin Denison, Esq., of New Haven, Conn. She died leaving two children, Austin and Martha, both now dead. Second, May 18th, 1835, to Mrs. Stella (Sprigg) Mercer, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn'a, who died November 3d, 1875, leaving four sons-Robert C., Frederick M., William M. and Frank L.
Judge Shoemaker died at his home in Kingston township August Ist, 1861. "Few men in the community were more favorably and generally known. His position in public life had brought him much in contact with the people; and it may be doubted, in'the many years of his official life, if any man ever received from him an unkind word or other cause of offense. During the latter years of his life he de- voted his time to agricultural pursuits."
271
his fellow citizens. In the discharge of his duties-public and private-he was regular and assiduous; and by strict temperance and regularity of life he retained his mental energies without apparent decay. In religion he professed attachment to the Society of Friends, although ministers of other denominations found his doors of hospitality opened for their entertainment and comfort. When his whole character is viewed there is much worthy of imitation. His sickness was short, and in his sudden death his family have to mourn the loss of a kind relative who always sought to advance their happiness. Few men lived more esteemed, or died more regretted."
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.