A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 52

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734

USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I > Part 52

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Tuesday morning (November 11th), at sunrise, Schmick and Frey left Paxinosa's town on their homeward journey, and about the same time Jonathan and Paxinosa's son, Samuel, set off down the river to fetch Kieffer from Shamokin.T The latter, however, alarmned at the

* See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 459.

+ JOHN JACOB SCHMICK was born at Königsberg, Prussia, October 9, 1714, and was liberally educated for the Church. While in charge of a Lutheran congregation in Livonia he became acquainted with the Moravian Brethren, with whom he united in 1748. He arrived at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in September, 1751, and, being appointed to serve at the Indian mission, turned his attention to the Mohegan language, in which he soon became very proficient. He labored among the Indians at Bethlehem, at Nain (after their dispersion from Gnadenhitten), and then followed them into exile at Philadelphia. In April, 1765, he accompanied Zeisberger and the Moravian Indians to Wyalusing, to found Friedenshiitten (see note, page 220)-returning shortly afterwards to Bethlehem ; but in July, 1766, he and his wife, Joanna, repaired to Friedenshiitten, where they lived and labored until May, 1772. For the first two or three months of this period of nearly six years Schmick was Zeisberger's assistant, but upon the latter's departure from the mission the former succeeded him as missionary in charge. It is said that Schmick usually preached in the Mohegan tongue. He died at Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1778.

Į HENRY FREY was, as early at least as 1742, a resident of Skippack, in what is now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and belonged to "The Associated Brethren of Skippack," or "Wiegner's Economy," an organization which met at the farm of Christopher Wiegner (near the present Kulpsville), "for the 'worship of God and for religious edification." Some time later Frey removed to Bethlehem, where he joined the Moravian Brethren.

§ JONATHAN was the son of Abraham mentioned above, who was the Mohegan chief Abraham previ- ously mentioned.

See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, II : 458.

{ The following paragraph is from an original unpublished letter in the collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, written at Bethlehem, January 12, 1818, by the Rev. J. G. B. Hecke- welder (mentioned on page 42), and addressed to Isaac A. Chapman of Wilkes-Barre, then engaged in writing his "History of Wyoming."

* * * "A later chief of the Shawanese nation, named Paxnous, became their [the Moravian Brethren's] sincere friend, rendering them at times essential services, especially at the time in 1755 when a banditti of the Six Nations [sic] had fell upon the settlers near Shamokin and had murdered fourteen white people, when he, upon application by the Brethren, relieved a Brother named Kieffer who was stationed at Shamokin at the time, by his sending his sons to conduct him in safety to the settlements, and with orders that if they should find that he already was in the hands of the enemy, to take such measures that he be rescued fromn then."

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conditions prevailing in the vicinity of Shamokin, had set out alone for Wyoming. He was met on the way by Jonathan and Samuel, who turned back with him to Wyoming, whence, accompanied by several other Indians and missionary Post (who had then been in the valley for several months), they proceeded over the mountains to Gnadenhütten, where they arrived November 20th. David Zeisberger was then at Gnadenhütten, and, upon receiving certain information from the Wyo- ming Indians, he hastened to Bethlehem, where he drew up the following statement and made oath to it before Justice Timothy Horsfield, who forwarded the document to the Governor at Philadelphia .*

"22 November, 1755, David Zeisberger upon his solemn affirmation declarethi and saith : That Indian Jonathan the day before yesterday came from Wyoming on Sasqua- hannah River to Gnadenhütten, and reported that the Indians living on the River between Wyoming and Nescopecky had observed and followed the tracks of a considerable number of Indians in their neighborhood until they could discover by their tracks that they had divided and gone several ways in small companies. That the Indians at Wyoming were all of opinion that those Indians they tracked were enemies, and that they would soon attack the settlements upon the Delaware River. That the Wyoming Indianst met in council to consider what was best to be done, and it was decided that Jonathan should come to Gnadenhütten to see if the Indians could safely come down amongst the white people, who they were afraid would suspect them for enemies. If they found they miglit safely come they would send five or six of their chiefs to the Governor to inform him of what had passed, and of their fidelity to the English. That Jonathan yesterday returned back to Wyoming, and promised to be back in four days to be assured if the Indians could be safely conducted to Philadelphia."

On Sunday, November 9th-the day before Schmick and Frey reached Wyoming-Charles Brodhead of Smithfield Township, North -. ampton County, son of Daniel Brodhead, Sr. (mentioned on page 258), had arrived at Teedyuscung's town (now Wilkes-Barré)-evidently sent here by Governor Morris, or some one in authority, to interview Teedy- uscung. Brodhead found the Indians very uneasy. At his desire they were summoned to ineet forthwith in conference, but they did not gather together until about ten o'clock at night. The Indians then formulated a message to the Governor, which they asked Brodhead to carry to Philadelphia with two strings of wampum which they gave hin. Teedyuscung referred to the fact that Sir William Johnson had sent word to him and his companions when they were at Philadelphiat to return to Wyoming and be still there till they heard from him. Since then they had heard nothing either from Johnson or the Governor or the Six Nations, and they did not know what to do. "And now," continued he, "we hear the hatchets are flying about our ears, which puts us in fears, and makes us believe we are in great danger." Owing to the unsettled condition of the country and to other interferences Brod- head was unable to deliver this message to the Governor until Novelli- ber 29th, at which time he also made the following statements :

"These Indians settled at Wyomink consist of Delawares, Shawanese and Mini- sinks, | and it is my opinion that they are very true to the English interest at this time ; though how long they may so continue without receiving the hatchet from us is hard to determine. They show great willingness to join with us against the French and their Indians. The number of warriors at Wyomink on the 9th inst. was about thirty, but

* For a copy of the original, made at the time by Justice Horsfield, see "The Horsfield Papers" in the collections of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.

+ Undoubtedly the Shawanese and Mohegans in Paxinosa's town.

# See page 315. ¿ See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VI : 751.

|| It seems to have been the custom about this period for many of the whites as well as the Indians to refer to the Minsis, or Monseys, as a separate and distinct tribe of Indians; and, about the same time, the Unami clan of the Delawares was also often referred to in the same manner. For example, in August, 1757, when Teedyuscung was conferring with Governor Denny and his Council he was asked who the Unamis were, and in reply stated that they were "a distinct tribe of Delaware Indians, and Allumapees [men- tioned on page 186, ante] was formerly King of that tribe." (See "Colonial Records of Pennsylvania," VII : 726.)

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much larger bodies of them were higher up the river and branches, many of which I imagine would join with those at Wyomink on receiving proper encouragement from us."

In November, 1756, at a conference held in Easton, Teedyuscung stated with reference to Brodhead's visit to him one year previously, as just described :

"I lived in the middle of the road leading from the Six Nations to Philadelphia, where I was ordered by my uncles to sit down. And there I sat in profound peace, under no apprehension of danger, * * * until all at once a man-Charles Brodhead-an in- habitant of this Province, came to me at Wyoming and told me (as if he had such a mes- sage from the Governor) that I had struck my brothers the English ; which I denied over and over. And when I could not prevail with him to believe me, I took two hand- fuls of wampum and desired him to go down with them to the Governor and assure him that it was not I who struck the English."*

This is the language of a blusterer possessed of a guilty conscience. Neither Governor Morris nor Charles Brodhead suspected Teedyuscung of having had a hand in any of the hostilities or atrocities which had been committed in eastern Pennsylvania during October and the first week of November, 1755, and they certainly did not charge him with having had any connection therewith either as a participant or an acces- sory. Just one week after Brodhead's conference with Teedyuscung at Wyoming (to wit, on Sunday, November 16, 1755) a band of hostile Indians crossed the Susquehanna into Berks County at some distance below Shamokin, where they murdered thirteen persons, burnt a number of houses and destroyed cattle, grain, etc. Some writers (among them Pearcet) have stated that Teedyuscung was the leader of this band- which is highly improbable. Nearly all the hostile- incursions from which the white settlers in eastern Pennsylvania suffered during October and November, 1755, were made by Delawares and Shawanese from beyond the Alleghenies, led by either Shingast or "Captain Jacobs," two noted Delaware chiefs, or by sub-chiefs or captains under their directions.

At a meeting of the Provincial Council held in Philadelphia Novem- ber 14, 1755, Scarooyady and Andrew Montour were instructed to go with all possible despatch to the Six Nations by way of the Susque- hanna; and they were directed as they traveled along to apprize all friendly Indians of the doings of the Ohio Indians, and, wherever they thought it politic, to apply in behalf of the Government for assistance from the well-disposed Indians. They were given a supply of wamptun belts and strings. At the same time Aroas, or "Silver Heels," a friendly Six Nation Indian (the step-son of "The Old Belt," an old and friendly Seneca chief of some renown who lived on the Susquehanna near Har- ris' Ferry), was sent by Governor Morris from John Harris' "along the east side of the Susquehanna as far as Shamokin and Nescopeck to observe what was doing by the Indians there." The Governor had recently learned that the Indians on the North Branch of the river had "given the French Indians leave to seat themselves at Nescopeck."

* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VII : 322.

¡ See his "Annals of Luzerne County," page 40.

# SHINGAS was a brother of Tamaque, or "Beaver," the King of the western Delawares. About 1748 and later the town at the mouth of Beaver River -- not far from Logstown, mentioned on page 213-was known indifferently as "King Beaver's Town" or "Shingas' Old Town." It was a noted fur-trading station, and the French erected houses there for the Indians after the building of Fort Duquesne. In 1755 and '56 Shingas, "Beaver" and "Captain Jacobs" lived at Kittanning, about twenty miles north of Fort Duquesne. (See map facing page 320.) "During this period Shingas had the reputation of being the greatest warrior among his people, and such a terror did he become to the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania that the Government set a reward of £200 on his head or scalp. In April, 1756, Governor Morris wrote to Sir William Johnson : "The main body of the Delawares live at Kittanning and the other Delaware towns on and beyond the Ohio, and have been the most mischievous, and do still, even so late as last week, con- tinue to murder and destroy." (See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," VIII : 98. )

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"Silver Heels" set out immediately. At Shamokin he found no Indians, but upon going up to Nescopeck he saw there "140 Indians, all warriors, dancing the war-dance. They expressed great bitterness against the English, and were preparing for an expedition against them, and he thought they would go to the eastward." He then went on to the house of an uncle of his, between Nescopeck and Wyoming, where he was told that "the Delawares and Shawanese on the Ohio were per- snaded by the French to strike the English, and had put the hatchet into the hands of the Susquehanna Indians (a great many of whom had taken it greedily, and there was no persuading them to the contrary) ; and that they would do abundance of mischief to the people of Pennsyl- vania, against whom they were preparing to go to war."*

After the defection of Abraham (Schabash) and Teedynscung from the ranks of the Moravian Indians at Gnadenhütten, and the withdrawal of themselves and their followers from that place to Wyoming, the Indians who remained were joined by the Christian Delawares from Meniolago- meka (mentioned on page 308). The land on the Mahoning having become impoverished, and other circumstances requiring a change, a new settlement was shortly afterwards made on the north or left bank of the Lehigh, where Weissport, in Carbon County, is now located. A new chapel was built there and the dwellings were removed from the banks of the Mahoning in June, 1754. The place was called "New Gnaden- hütten" and sometimes, also, "Gnadenhütten East," and the Delawares lived on one, and the Mohegans on the other, side of the one long street of the village. The Brethren at Bethlehem took upon themselves the culture of the old land on the Mahoning, made a plantation of it for the use of the Indian congregation, and converted the original chapel into a dwelling, to be occupied by the Brethren and Sisters who had the care of the plantations, and by missionaries passing on their visits to the Indians on the Susquehanna.

Early in the evening of November 24, 1755, when there were fifteen persons in the dwelling-house at Old Gnadenhütten in the valley of the Mahoning, the place was surprised by a band of hostile savages from Nescopeck, eleven of the inhabitants were murdered and all the build- ings of the settlement were burnt. Gnadenhütten East was deserted the same night, and the surviving missionaries and their Mohegan and Delaware converts-upwards of seventy men, women and children in 1tinber-fled to Bethlehem.

According to a manuscript of David Zeisberger's preserved in the Moravian Archivest "the party that inade the assault on Gnadenhütten was composed of Monseys, and numbered twelve. It was led by Jacheapus, the chief of Assinnissink [a Monsey town in what is now Steuben County, New York]." Another of the Moravian diarists states that old King Nutimus (mentioned on page 225, ante) told the Brethren at Bethlehem how he had "advised these Monseys" not to attack the settlement on the Mahoning ; but as soon as they had left Nescopeck they took their way thither. It has been stated by several writers that Teedyuscung, on his way to attend a conference at Easton, Pennsyl- vania, in July, 1757, fell in with "the chief who had commanded the expedition against Gnadenhütten ; high words arose between them,

* See Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, V : 288.

t See F. C. Johnson's Historical Record, II : 77.

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when the King raised his tomahawk and laid the chief dead at his feet." In a Moravian account of a conference held at Bethlehem August 27, 1757, between several of the Brethren and Teedyuscung, it is stated that the Delaware King said upon that occasion "that the Shawanese brave whom he had killed near Easton on the way to the treaty [of July, 1757], had led the attack on the Mahoning."* The Indian thus killed by Teedyuscung was probably one of the warriors who had aided in the destruction of the Gnadenhütten settlement, inasmuch as Jacheapus, the chief of the marauding band, died of small-pox in the Mohawk Valley, in 1765. He had taken part in Pontiac's uprising, and, being captured by the English, died a prisoner in their hands.

It was about the time of the gathering of the Delawares, Shawanese and other hostile Indians at Nescopeck (as previously related), followed by the incursion upon the Moravian settlement on the Mahoning, that Teedynscung was chosen "King"-not of the Delaware nation, but, 1in- doubtedly, of the Unami, or Wanamie, clan of that nation. He may have been chosen King, or Sachem, of the eastern Delawares-King Beaver being at that time the undisputed head of the western Dela- wares ; but that seems improbable, inasmuch as the chiefs of the Mon- seys at Asserughney and elsewhere along the North Branch of the Sus- quehanna, and on the upper waters of the Delaware, did not recognize Teedyuscung's kingship and refused to join with him in formal mnes- sages to and conferences with the Pennsylvania authorities. However, Heckewelder statest that the chief of the Unami clan of the Delawares was recognized as the head-chief of the nation, being chosen and in- stalled with great ceremony and rejoicing.}

Elated by the acquisition of a kingly name and kingly power and aroused by the fall of Gnadenhütten, Teedyuscung soon began to busy himself with his tongue and his tomahawk. Always a man of many words he now became a tireless talker about the woes and wrongs en- dured by the Delawares-all on account of the English. With "rage in each thought, by restless musing fed," he hastened not only to the vil- lages and solitary cabins of the Indians in Wyoming Valley, but to others at a distance, where he incited and encouraged the warriors to put on their war-paint, take up their hatchets and go out with him on the war-path. No longer was he spoken of as "Honest John" or "Gid- eon," but as "The War Trumpet " ! §

Along the northern line of the "Walking Purchase" (referred to on page 194), which had been "fraudulently surveyed so as to embrace a goodly portion of the Minisinks, or upper valley of the Delaware," were laid the first scenes of the relentless warfare carried on by Teedyuscung. It was there that the King, with his eastern Delawares, "mindful of the indignities that had been heaped upon him and his kinsmen of the 'Forks' by the imperious Canassatego at the treaty of 1742, wreaked his long cherished resentment on the whites who had planted in Long Valley, or who were trespassing within the Minisinks west of the Delaware. And thus, within a short month, fifty farms, with their houses, were plundered

* See Reichel's "Memorials," page 348

+ In "An Account of the History, Manners and Customs of the Indian Nations Who Once Inhabited Pennsylvania" (ed. of 1818), pages 51 and 53.

# In this connection see note (1) on page 325.

* See Heckewelder's sketch of Teedyuscung in Rupp's "History of Northampton County," page 477.

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and burned, and upward of one hundred persons were killed* on the front- tiers of Northampton County, on both sides of the Kittatinny Mountains. * * From their lurking-places in the fastnesses of the Great Swampt the savage warriors, led by their King in person, would sally forth on their marands, striking consternation into the hearts of the defenseless settlers, ruthlessly destroying with torch and tomahawk, and then re- treating with what booty and prisoners they had taken. * Plan- * tation after plantation was pillaged, and before the close of December [1755] the enemy had overrun the greater part of Northampton."} "Teedynscung, at the head of a scouting party," states Pearce ("Annals of Luzerne County," pages 40 and 42), "fired into a company assembled at a funeral. He penetrated into New Jersey, and even approached within a few miles of Easton."

December 8, 1755, Governor Morris commissioned Charles Brod- liead, Aaron De Pui and Benjamin Shoemaker (all previously mentioned) of Northampton County to carry a message to the Indians at Shamokin, Nescopeck and Wyoming, inviting them to a conference at Harris' Ferry on January 1st. The Commissioners were directed to proceed immediately to Wyoming and conduct to Harris' the Indians here who should be willing to go. The invitation was to be extended "to the In1- dians and their families." "If they give you a cool reception," wrote the Governor in his letter of instructions, "then endeavor to discover their true sentiments and future designs. If you cannot get all, get as many of the chiefs as you can to come."$ Within three days after the issuing

* Capt. JACOB ARNDT, of the Provincial service, commandant of Fort Allen in 1756-'57, prepared a list of the inhabitants of Northampton County who had been killed and taken prisoners by the Indians from the beginning of hostilities till the middle of December, 1757, and according to this 114 men, women and children had been slain and fifty-two taken captive. Of the latter, seven were returned by the Indians, or effected their escape .- Egle's "History of Pennsylvania," p. 972.

+ The swamp here referred to covers a large extent of territory in the present township of Buck (formerly a part of the township of Wilkes-Barre). It lies between the Wyoming-Moosic and Pocono ranges of mountains described on page 45, and, "as the crow flies, " is twelve miles south-east of the city of Wilkes-Barre, about twenty-four miles north of the site of Old Gnadenhiitten, and about forty-two miles north-west of Bethlehem. It is noted on the map facing page 320, although placed too far north. The Pocono Mountains are thereon noted as the "Cushetunk Mountains." Nearly in the middle of the swamp is situated that part of it known as the "Shades of Death."

In April, 1756, Governor Morris referred in a letter to "the Great or Laurel Swamp, through which the Indians pass in their way to and from Wyoming and Nescopekon." The paths from Wyoming and Nes- copeck to the Minisinks on the Delaware (see note, page 189) ran through the Great Swamp, and it was probably over those paths that the hostile Indians traveled when they sallied forth from their various villages to cut off the settlers along the Delaware north of the Kittatinny Mountains. In 1779 a road was made through this swamp, over which General Sullivan's army marched from Easton to Wilkes-Barre (see Chapter XVIII, post), and the following extract is from the diary of the Rev. William Rogers, D. D., one of the Chaplains who accompanied the expedition. "This day we marched through the Great Swamp and Bear Swamp. The Great Swamp, which is eleven or twelve miles through, contains what is called in our maps the 'Shades of Death,' by reason of its darkness. Both swamp's contain trees of amazing height-hemlock, birch, pine, ash, etc. * * * The road through the swamps is entirely new, being fitted for the passage of our wagons by Colonels Courtlandt and Spencer at the instance of the Commander- in-chief [Sullivan]-the way leading to Wyoming being before only a blind, narrow path. The new road does its projectors great credit, and must in a future day be of essential service to the inhabitants of Wyoming and Easton."

In January, 1787, Col. Timothy Pickering traveled this road on horseback, en route from Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barré, and concerning the swamps mentioned above he wrote as follows : "About -miles from Larner's you enter the Great Swamp. Then, after passing - miles of higher ground, you enter that part of the swamp which is called the 'Shades of Death,' and - miles farther you enter Bear Swamp, which is also a branch of the Great Swamp. The swamps are filled chiefly with white pine and hemlock ; but there is a mixture of proper spruce, beech, maple, black birch and wild cherry trees. The high grounds between the swamps are but moderate risings, though pretty rocky. What is called the Great Swamp is generally hard ground; and all the miry parts on the present route (being what is called 'Sullivan's Road')-which is by no means deemed an eligible one-would not together exceed two miles."

Alexander Wilson thus refers to these swamps in "The Foresters," mentioned on page 66, ante : "The 'Shades of Death' is a place in the Great Swamp, usually so called, from its low, hollow situation, overgrown with pine and hemlock trees of an enormous size that almost shut out the light of day.

"But one deep solitude around prevails,

And scarce a cricket eye or ear assails. * * *

Below dark, drooping pines we onward tread, *. *

Where BEAR CREEK grumbles down his gloomy bed. Through darksome gulfs, where bats forever skim, The haunts of howling wolves and panthers grim."

The Great Swamp to-day is a tangled mass of laurel, rhododendron, cranberry and huckleberry bushes, scrub oaks, hemlock roots, fallen trees and bogs endlessly intermingled.

# See Reichel's "Memorials," pages 194 and 221 ; also Egle's "History of Pennsylvania." pages 970-972. ¿ See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records, " VI : 779.

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of this commission Teedyuscung and his marauders had attacked the Brodhead house (as noted on page 258), and some days later they were engaged in scalping or carrying away as prisoners the remaining inhab- itants of Smithfield Township and burning their buildings.

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A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. I, Part 52

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray Publication date: 1909-1930 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press Number of Pages: 734

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851-1922; Smith, Ernest Gray
Publication date: 1909-1930
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre : Raeder Press
Number of Pages: 734