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 41
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
"Their remains were collected, placed in coffins, and exposed to public view ; as the bones of those to whom we are now paying funeral honors, are now publicly exhibited. The relatives and friends of the dead attended to weep over their remains-as is here witnessed on this occasion. The people assembled, as here, to participate in the solemnities. The remains of the dead were conveyed in solemn pro- cession to the cemetery prepared for their reception, and there de- posited, as has here been done ; and a monument was erected to their memory, and their names inscribed thereon. Here, too, the corner- stone of a monument to the patriotic dead has just been laid ; a col- umn is to be erected, and their names are to be inscribed upon it.
"These are grave and interesting ceremonies-they must reach the bosom and affect the heart of every one present. And if the scenes here witnessed dispose the mind to serious and sober thought, how much more solemn the reflections and intense the feelings excited, and what fearful apprehensions awakened in the mind, by the allu- sions which have been made to the ancient republics. Where now are the free States of Greece? Where enlightened and polished Athens? Where her celebrated schools of learning? Where her splendid monuments erected to the memory of her patriots ? Where her free institutions ? Prostrate in the dust-annihilated by the ruth- less hands of the enemies of civil liberty! The internal enemies of the ancient republics inflicted the first wounds upon their free institu- tions! 'We, the People' the life-giving principle of liberty in their con- stitutions, was expunged-blotted out forever !
" Political aspirants, seeking their own personal aggrandizement, promulgated new and unheard of notions, now significantly denomi- nated the doctrine of nullification ; the national councils were divided ; the people were deluded ; the sacred bands of their Union were burst asunder, and they became an easy prey to their external enemies. Their institutions of learning, and their temples, and their monuments, and their free governments, and their very existence as nations, were nullified; and the most intolerable despotism was erected upon their ruins, which the efforts of ages were unable to overthrow. God preserve
518
our country from so miserable a catastrophe! May the admonitions which history furnishes, teach us political wisdom ; and may our union as a nation, our free institutions, and this monument to the patriot dead, exist till Time shall be no longer."
"In the Summer of 1837 Judge Scott had some intention of retiring from the Bench-would do so, in fact, if he could have an assurance that some person whom he could ap- prove would be appointed his successor. The matter was broached to Governor Ritner by a mutual friend. The Governor expressed doubts of the Judge's sincerity, but promised to appoint the Hon. Nathaniel B. Eldred (then President Judge of the 18th Judicial District-Warren and McKean counties) to the Luzerne district if Judge Scott would resign. This suited the latter, and in March, 1838, he drew up his resignation and delivered it to the ‘mutual friend.' Upon its delivery to Governor Ritner it is said that he promised to appoint Judge Eldred, 'and no other man.' On the 7th of April, however, Judge Scott, Judge Eldred, the 'mutual friend,' and a good many other people were astonished by the announcement that the Governor had ap- pointed William Jessup, Esq., President Judge of the 11th District."
DAVID SCOTT was made a Free Mason in Rural Amity Lodge No. 70, receiving the various degrees on the same dates that his brother George received them. He withdrew from the Lodge November 25th, 1806, and soon thereafter joined with the Brethren of Wysox and Orwell in petitioning for a Warrant for Union Lodge No. 108 ; but, in view of his intended removal to Wilkesbarré, he retired from the organi- zation before the Lodge was constituted. He first visited LODGE 61 in December, 1806. After he became a resident of Wilkesbarré he frequently attended the meetings of the Lodge, but was not admitted to membership until June 18th, 1814. He was elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge December 16th, 1816, but at the meeting held on St. John
519
the Evangelist's Day (December 27th) following, he sent this communication to the Lodge :
"To the members of Lodge No. 61 at Wilkes-Barre.
"A sudden and unexpected change in my situation renders it impos- sible for me to occupy the station which your partiality lately assigned to me in the Lodge for the year ensuing. I therefore am under the necessity of declining the acceptance of the situation and of withdraw- ing from the Lodge. Grateful for the many attentions paid me and wishing you long to live in friendship and brotherly love, I subscribe myself your brother, " Dec. 21, 1816.
[Signed] " DAVID SCOTT."
After his return from Dauphin county to Wilkesbarré in 1818, he attended the meetings of LODGE 61 very frequently, and on St John the Evangelist's Day, 1820, he delivered a public address on Masonry before the Lodge and its friends .*
About this period various Lodges throughout the Penn- sylvania jurisdiction began to complain loudly and frequently because of their failure to receive official visits, and instruc- tion in the work of the Craft, from the Grand Lodge officers.t There was then no such officer in this jurisdiction as Dis- trict Deputy Grand Master. In view of these complaints the R. W. Grand Master (Hon. Josiah Randall, of Phil- adelphia) appointed, April 25th, 1822, the first District Deputy Grand Master in the State-Bro. Morgan Neville, of Pittsburg. May 6th, 1822, he appointed Bro. David Scott D. D. G. M. " for the district to be composed of the coun- ties of Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, and Susquehanna; and by the middle of July following he had appointed two more Deputies for the State. At a Grand General Communica- tion of the Grand Lodge held in Philadelphia on St. John the Evangelist's Day (December 27th), 1822, the Grand Master made a report relative to these four appointments,
* See page 49, ante.
t See pages 59 and 60, ante.
5 20
and his action in the premises was unanimously approved by the Grand Lodge. The announcement of the appoint- . ments was made to the Fraternity at large by the R. W. Grand Secretary, in a circular letter dated and sent out February 7th, 1823. It read, in part, as follows :
* "I am directed by the R. W. Grand Master to inform you
* that he has appointed in different parts of the State DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS, authorizing and enjoining them respectively to visit those Lodges that are now, or hereafter may be constituted within their respective districts, to inspect their labours, examine and inquire into the state of the said Lodges and their proceedings, and to give them all due Masonic advice and instruction ; also in the name and and on the behalf of the said R. W. Grand Master to deliver to the said Lodges respectful affectionate and brotherly addresses, recom- mending harmony and union among the Brethren, and the strictest adherence to the true and acknowledged principles of ancient Ma- sonry; also for the purposes aforesaid to congregate and assemble to- gether severally the Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brethren of the said Lodges, at their respective places of meeting, and at such times as shall be convenient ; also authorizing and empowering them, in the name of the said R. W. Grand Master, to grant dispensations to enter, pass, and raise persons to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, and to pass Brethren to the chair, in any of the Lodges now constituted or hereafter to be constituted within their said districts. * * *
The Brethren under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania are enjoined and required to pay all due homage and respect to the different DISTRICT DEPUTY GRAND MASTERS, within their respective districts, and to obey their lawful requisitions in all matters relating to the welfare and prosperity of the Craft."
At a regular meeting of LODGE 61 held February 17th, 1823, the foregoing communication was read; also the fol- lowing :
" To the Worshipful Master Wardens and brethren of Lodge No. 61 Wilkes-Barre.
"The undersigned, a Past master* mason, being desirous of becom- ing a member of your worshipful Lodge, prays that he may be admit- ted as such as of St. John the Evangelist's day last past. Upon his
* He was only a "virtual," not an "actual," Past Master.
521
admission, he engages to conform to all the legitimate laws, usages and customs of your ancient and honourable institution.
"Monday evening 17th Feb., 1823."
[Signed]
" DAVID SCOTT."
This petition was immediately acted upon, and Brother Scott was re-admitted to membership in the Lodge. He was then elected, with Brothers Isaac Bowman and Gould Phinney, to represent the Lodge in the Grand Committee which was to meet at Philadelphia on the 25th of February .*
Early in the preceding January the members of "61" had determined that the Lodge should be represented at the pro- posed meeting of this committee, and Bro. Samuel D. Bet- tlet was requested to prepare suitable and proper Masonic
* See pages 60 and 61, ante.
t John Bettle came from Philadelphia in 1810, to take the position of cashier in the Philadelphia Branch Bank opened at Wilkesbarré in September of that year. (See page 164, ante.) He served the Bank in that capacity until December 23d, 1817, when he died suddenly.
SAMUEL D. BETTLE was his son, was an engraver and silver- smith, and was engaged in business in Wilkesbarré for a number of years. For several years about 1815 he was in business on the north side of the Public Square with Daniel Collings, who was also a silver- smith by trade, as well as a clockmaker. (See note, page 109, ante.) In July, 1815, they advertised for sale at their shop "gold and silver watches, chains, silver ware, etc."; and also gave notice that they had taken the nail factory formerly owned by G. Gordon, and had on hand "all kinds of nails, brads, and sprigs made by good workmen." In 1819-'20 Mr. Bettle lived on Northampton street, near River. In 1820-'21 he was Orderly Sergeant of the Wyoming Guards, com- manded by Capt. John L. Butler.
In the Susquehanna Democrat of June 4th, 1824, the following edi- torial paragraph appeared : "We would recommend to the attention of the citizens of Luzerne county the map of the county just published by I. A. Chapman and S. D. Bettle, not only on account of its neat- ness and accuracy, but because it is exclusively the work of two of our own citizens, justly distinguished for their talents in their several professions. *
* * A copy of the map is deposited in the Wilkes- barré Reading Room for public inspection."
Samuel D. Bettle was initiated into LODGE 61 January 20th, 1823. He was admitted August 6th, 1823, to the Mark Lodge working under the Warrant of "61." He died November 10th, 1833.
522
aprons to be worn by the representatives of the Lodge. The aprons were duly completed, being of white satin trimmed with blue silk fringe, and embellished with an elaborate sym- bolic and emblematic design drawn, engraved and printed by Brother Bettle. One of these aprons, which was owned and worn by Bro. Isaac Bowman, has been carefully preserved by his family, and is now in the possession of his grand- daughter, Miss Ella M. Bowman, of Wilkesbarré, to whose courtesy the writer is indebted for the accompanying picture of the same. The motto or legend on the upper part of the apron is : "Hail ! heavenly Virtue, thine's a Sacred flame !" Upon the base of the left-hand column is the name " S. D. Bettle"; and upon the base of the right-hand. column, " Sculpsit, MDCCCXXIII."
Brother Scott attended the meetings of the Grand Com- mittee with his fellow-representatives, and took a very active part in the debates and proceedings. He held the office of D. D. Grand Master until the Summer of 1823, when the Grand Master appointed Bro. Garrick Mallery to succeed him. He withdrew from the Lodge October 6th, 1823, and, so far as the minutes of the Lodge show, did not attend a meeting until December 27th, 1826, when he was present and was appointed a member of a committee to devise plans for erecting a Lodge-room .* He was an original member of the Mark Lodge working under the Warrant of LODGE 61, and was its presiding officer, or "Master Overseer," in 1822. Although not an active member of any Lodge dur- ing the last fifteen years of his life, yet Judge Scott was always interested during that period in the welfare of LODGE 61 and its members, and was ever ready to serve them in any way possible. His daughter, Mrs. Watson, in a letter to the writer some years ago, said : "My dear father was always a strong and zealous Free Mason, and I was brought . up to be a firm believer in that Order."
* See page 62, ante.
MASONIC APRON OWNED AND WORN BY GEN. ISAAC BOWMAN, 1823-'50.
523
"DAVID SCOTT was an eminent example of the invigorating effects and auspicious influences of our Republican institu- tions upon the actions and fates of men. He was, in truth, a self-made man. Unaided by wealth or influential con- nections, with no other capital than his head and his hands to commence with, he rose from the humble walks of life to some of the most prominent and respectable public stations ; filling all with that measure of ability and industry which alone make office respectable, and secure to the people the legitimate benefits of a well-administered government. In all the private relations of life Judge Scott bore the reputa- tion of stern integrity, and strict regard to morality and jus- tice." [Kulp's "Families of the Wyoming Valley," I .: 393.]
The late Chief Justice George W. Woodward-who was admitted to the Luzerne Bar in 1830, and practiced before Judge Scott for nearly eight years-described him as "one of the ablest men that ever presided in a Pennsylvania Court of Justice-stern as the image of Justice itself. He had not been thoroughly educated either in literature or law, but he supplied his deficiencies by application and force of character. He was an honest, upright judge; a little overbearing some- times, and always of irascible and pugnacious temper." The late Hon. W. W. Ketcham described him as "the autocrat of the Bench, the determined and courageous man with the will of iron, who decided questions with most decided de- cision." For several of the latter years of his life Judge Scott was afflicted with painful bodily infirmities, the re- sults, probably, of severe illnesses which he suffered in his earlier years. A paralytic affection had seated itself upon his system, which, in the end, subdued a constitution not very robust, and quenched the light of a mind capable of brilliant and energetic action.
The following extract is from a memoir of Judge Scott by the late Hon. Hendrick B. Wright, written a number of years ago for, and published in, The Luzerne Legal Register:
524
"Judge SCOTT was a man far above the ordinary standard. Such was undeniably the fact. From point to point in preferment he hur- ried on; passing over those periods of probation, in the ordinary course, which most men have to undergo. The young lawyer who had hardly made his first brief is elected to Congress, and before he takes the oath of office is transferred to the Bench ! A truly rapid progress. His judgment and intellect formed in bold relief the out- line of a character which made and left its impression upon the circle in which he moved. With great energy he overcame the obstacles of early life which lay in the path before him, and moved steadily for- ward to the point of his ambition ; and he attained it. In a fair and honorable encounter with the world he reached the summit-the sum- mit of his ambition.
"He could not be said, as a Judge, to be a book lawyer. Perhaps he did not read as much as a Judge should read. He had not occa- sion to do this, as Graham, Welles, Bowman, Denison, Mallery, Conyngham, Collins, and others were attendants and practitioners in his courts. If he were leaning from the rule of an adjudicated case, their keen eyes would surely bring him to the point. They were all able lawyers, and no one knew it better than he. But if he did not read, he thought; and when the mind of DAVID SCOTT was aroused there was a great intellect at work ; and seldom did he fail to arrive at a correct conclusion. * * * *
"There was emphasis in his language and manner. In his charges to the jury you could see the big veins rise upon his broad and massive forehead as he moved on with his argument, and his re- markably clear and penetrating eye would of itself attract your atten- tion. His language was plain, uttered in distinct sentences without regard to rhetoric, but always to the point. *
* DAVID SCOTT was no advocate ; at least not one that would have become eminent in the forum. I have heard him speak at public meetings on different subjects, and he failed to make a decided hit. What he said was to the point, and good sense; but the emphatic manner and somewhat discordant style lessened the effect. He was not what the world calls an orator. He dealt too much in facts.
"Stare decisis was not always the rule of his actions. His pride of opinion sometimes led him astray from the adjudicated track, though probably not from the true one. * * * Very few of his causes * went up on writ of error from Luzerne. In Wayne and Pike counties a part of his district) the decision of DAVID SCOTT was treated as the law, and probably during his twenty years on the Bench not ten cases went up from these two counties.
525
"As a criminal Judge he was humane in his sentences. Though remarkably fair and decided, and apparently a severe Judge against offenders, his judgments were always tempered with mercy. We have known him to change the term of imprisonment which he had written out and before him, and the prisoner on the floor for sentence, where suggestions have come voluntarily from some member of the Bar in the prisoner's favor. His heart was filled with generous im- pulses ; but if he had made up his mind, and believed he was right, then no man had more decision. *
"During the latter part of his judicial career his deafness, which had more or less afflicted him for many years, grew upon him, and at times it required a loud voice to make him hear. His position on the Bench during the taking of evidence, or hearing the argument of counsel, was with one hand back of his ear and leaning forward."
Judge Scott died at Wilkesbarré December 29th, 1839, and his remains were interred in St. Stephen's Episcopal church-yard, but subsequently were removed to the Hollen- back Cemetery, where they now rest. A meeting of the members of the Luzerne Bar was held December 30th, Hon. J. N. Conyngham presiding, Thomas Dyer, Esq., act- ing as Vice President, and William Ross, Esq., as Secretary. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted :
"WHEREAS, The Hon. DAVID SCOTT, who presided in this Judicial District for more than twenty years, has at length 'come to his grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season,' and the relations, social and professional, which have long and kindly sub- sisted between him and us, are now severed forever, it is
"Resolved, That we have received with deep sensibility the intelli- gence of Judge Scott's decease; and, whilst we would humble our- selves beneath the afflictive hand of Providence, we would also record this expression of our gratitude to Almighty God, for sparing our elder brother so long to perform various and valuable public services to illustrate and adorn our profession, and to be an example as a Chris- tian, parent, Judge, and citizen.
"Resolved, That we sympathize with the family of the deceased in the painful bereavement which they mourn, and we tender to them our affectionate condolence.
"Resolved, That as a token of our respect for his public services and private character, we will attend the funeral of our deceased friend,
526
and wear the customary badge of mourning until the end of the next January Term of Court."
DAVID SCOTT was twice married. First, September Ist, 1811, to Catharine, daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Young) Hancock,* who was born at Wilkesbarré Decem-
* JONATHAN HANCOCK was born in 1768 at Snow Hill, Worcester county, Maryland, and was of Irish descent. At the age of twenty- one years he went to Dauphin (now Lebanon) county, Penn'a, and engaged in teaching school. In 1790 he was married there to Martha Young, and the next year they removed to Wilkesbarré.
In May, 1792, Mr. Hancock purchased of Christian G. Oehmig of Kingston, for £75, an acre of land in Wilkesbarré, having a frontage of 99 feet on North Main street, and 235 feet along the north side of Centre, or Public Square-being a portion of "Town Lot No. 20." Upon this land stood a frame dwelling-house facing the Square (about half way between Main and Market streets), a stable and a smith's shop. These buildings were immediately let for tavern purposes to Captain Schott by Jonathan Hancock, and the latter began to erect upon the vacant portion of his lot, at the corner of North Main street and the Square (where the "Bennett Building" now stands), a frame building of good size; but in the following November, before the building was completed, Jonathan and Martha Hancock conveyed the entire property to Thomas Duane of Kingston, for £200.
In the Fall of 1793 Duane succeeded Schott at the old tavern stand, and having completed the new building at the Main street corner he let it to Jonathan Hancock, who, early in 1802, opened there a tavern which he named "The Free Masons' Coat of Arms." July Ist, 1805, Mr. Hancock was appointed Post Master of Wilkesbarré, and he kept the office in a front room of his tavern. Jacob Cist was appointed to succeed him as Post Master October Ist, 1808.
About this time Isaac Carpenter of Kingston (who came from New Jersey in 1804 or '5, and was admitted to LODGE 61 November 18th, 1805), purchased the Duane property. Jonathan Hancock thereupon removed and established himself as an innkeeper elsewhere-prob- ably at the old stand on the north side of Centre Square. Mr. Car- penter having made some alterations in the corner building after Han- cock had vacated it, changed its name to "Carpenter's Hall" and then let it to Col. Eliphalet Bulkeley, who kept a tavern there until March, 18II, when he vacated the premises and Jonathan Hancock again moved in, and continued the business as the tenant of Carpenter. In
527
ber 17th, 1792, and died there November 15th, 1832. March Ist, 1836, Judge Scott was married to Mrs. Mary S. (Elder) Dorrance of Lykens Valley, Dauphin county, Penn'a. (See note, pages 362-5, ante.) He had seven children, all by his first wife, as follows :
I. WILLIAM BOIES SCOTT, born at Wilkesbarre in 1812. He married, February 6th, 1833, Susan, daughter of Ebene-
February, 1812, the latter sold for $2500 the whole of the Duane-Car- penter property to Jonathan Hancock, who thus regained the owner- ship of the land which he had originally purchased nearly twenty years before, together with the appurtenances and improvements. He con- tinued in the tavern business at the corner stand until 1827, when Donley and Layng rented the building for mercantile purposes. A number of years later this building was torn down, and upon its site was erected the four-story brick hotel long known as "Steele's," and afterwards as the "Luzerne House"; which, in turn, was demolished in 1895 to make way for the present "Bennett Building," one of the handsomest buildings in Wilkesbarré.
Jonathan Hancock was initiated into LODGE 61 March 2d, 1795. He was one of the directors of the Philadelphia Branch Bank estab- lished at Wilkesbarre in 1810. About 1818 he was somewhat promi- nent in Luzerne county politics, being a member of the Democratic- Republican party. He was a large owner of valuable real estate in Wilkesbarré and Plains townships, and was a shrewd, wide-awake, intelligent man of business, and an influential citizen. During the last years of his life he lived on Washington street, near Market, Wilkes- barré, in which locality he owned a good deal of property.
By his first wife Jonathan Hancock had the following children : i .- John, born in 1791. He was Constable of Wilkesbarre, 1818-'21, and Assessor in 1822 and '25. He died in 1825, unmarried. ii .- Catharine (who married*Judge Scott). iii .- James, born in 1794. He resided in Wilkesbarré until 1829, when he removed to a farm owned by his father in Plains township. He was a farmer there for many years, and later resided in the village of Wyoming, where he died July 16th, 1880. One of his sons is Col. Elisha A. Hancock, well known in the principal business and social circles of Philadelphia. During the War of the Rebellion Colonel Hancock served in the Union army from October, 1861, to July, 1865, as an officer of the 92d Reg't Penn'a Vols. (9th Cavalry)-first as Lieutenant of Co. "H," then
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.