A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683

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. II > Part 107

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# JOHN PAUL SCHOTT, son of Col. Frederick Schott of the Prussian army, was born in Berlin, Prussia, October 15, 1744. After an academic education he was, at the age of sixteen years, commis-

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sioned to a military office of subordinate rank by Frederick II, "the Great" King of Prussia. He served some time in the army of that distinguished soldier and ruler, where he had occasion, during the last three years of the "Seven Years' War," to see and take part in much se- vere service, and in which he received unusual marks of the favor of the King. Near the close of the war he was pro- moted First Lieutenant, and appointed Adjutant to Lieutenant General Charles William Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick, a brother-in-law of King George III of England. In the Spring of 1775 Lieu- tenant Schott resigned from the Prussian service, and a few months later sailed from Rotterdam for New York. He brought with him letters of introduction to Lieut. Gen. Sir William Tryon, the royal Governor of New York, and to other prominent citizens, and through his soldierly bearing and refined manners he soon won the favor of the aristocratic circles in which he first appeared. After he had spent some time in New York he went to Philadelphia, bearing letters of introduction to some of the principal peo- ple in that city.

Observing the deep interest and earnest- ness which the American patriots showed for the cause of freedom, Lieutenant Schott became inspired with a strong de- sire to attach himself to them- strug- gling as they were to secure and main- tain a station to which their situation, wealth and numbers gave them a claim. Noticing, at the same time, that the rev- olutionists were poorly supplied with weapons-especially heavy guns-and am- munition, he determined to procure a supply for them. Consequently, in July, 1776, a few days after the Declaration of Independence had been promulgated, he CAPT. JOHN PAUL SCHOTT. From a portrait painted late in his life. sailed for the Island of Eustatia, one of the Lesser Antilles belonging to Holland, where certain speculative Dutchmen had established a depot for blockade-runners, and were supplying them with provisions, arms, etc. Lieu- tenant Schott chartered a schooner at the island and loaded her with arms and munitions of war, on his own account, and then sailed for Chesapeake Bay. After a variety of exciting experiences he sailed safely into the harbor of Norfolk with his valuable cargo, which he soon disposed of to the Continental military authorities. Proceeding to Philadelphia without delay he formally offered his services to the American cause in a communication reading as follows: "To the Honourable Con- tinental Congress .- The petition of JOHN PAUL SCHOTT most humbly showeth, That your petitioner having served as a Lieutenant with the German troops commanded by Prince Ferdinand during the last War, and having acquired a considerable share of military skill in the profession of soldier, most humbly begs the honourable Congress (as he has ample testimonials with him of his good character) to grant him a Captain's commission in the Continental army. And he, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

"Philadelphia, September 4, 1776. [Signed] "JOHN PAUL SCHOTT."

This petition was received by the Congress on September 5th, and, having been read, was referred to the Board of War. The next day the Board brought in a report, which having been duly consid- ered by the Congress, it was "Resolved, That JOHN PAUL SCHOTT, who is well recommended as an experienced officer, be appointed Captain in the Continental army, with directions to raise a company as soon as possible; but, in order that he may be usefully employed immediately, that he be forthwith sent to General Washington at New York, and that one month's pay be advanced to him." (See "American Archives," Fifth Series, II : 157, 1882.) He was at that time in the thirty-second year of his life. Having received his commission, his orders, etc., Captain Schott set out for New York, where he arrived and reported to General Washington on September 9th. Just two weeks before his arrival at New York the battle of Long Island had been fought (see page 1159), and a few days after his arrival it was decided by Washington that the evacuation of New York City should take place on September 15th. In the meantime Captain Schott had been assigned to the temporary com- mand of the 8d Battery of the "Continental' Regiment of Artillery," and on September 16th he and his battery were with Washington's main army at Harlem Heights, seven miles from the city of New York. At the battle of White Plains, New York, October 28, 1776, Schott's battery rendered import- ant and effective service.

Upon the close of the "Seven Years' War" Nicholas Dietrich, Baron De Ottendorff (a Saxon nobleman who had served in that war as a Lieutenant), went to Paris, where he associated with Kos- ciuszko and Roman De Lisle. At the breaking out of the American Revolution these three warriors came together to this country to assist the colonists in their struggle for independence. Kosciuszko became a member of Washington's staff, De Lisle was made Captain of artillery, and De Ottendorff, by a resolution of Congress passed November 8, 1776, was "appointed a Brevet Captain in the service of the United States." December 5, 1776, Congress directed De Ottendorff "to raise an independent corps, consisting of 150 men, sergeants and corporals included; that the same be divided into three companies-the 1st to consist of sixty men, light infantry, to be commanded by one Captain and two Lieutenants; the other two companies to consist of hunters [riflemen], of forty-five men each, to be commanded each by a Captain and two Lieutenants; that Captain De Ottendorff have the rank of Major, be Captain of the light infantry company, and command the whole."

This battalion was to be known as "De Ottendorff's Corps," and on December 7, 1776, Captain Schott was assigned to it, and in the following January was sent into the German districts of Penn- sylvania to recruit a company. This he did in a short time, when he was appointed to command it, and permitted to nominate his subordinate officers. This company was designated as the "8d" of De Ottendorff's Corps. At the battle of Short Hills, New Jersey, June 86, 1777, the Corps covered the retreat of the defeated Americans, and at that time Captain Schott was severely wounded, and cap- tured by the enemy. He was held as a prisoner in the infamous Provost Prison, New York City, for about six months, when he was exchanged. Meanwhile, De Ottendorff's Corps having been greatly

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decimated at the battle of Short Hills, the remains of the three companies that had composed it were organized into two independent "rifle-companies." A writer in the Pennsylvania Magasine (II : 5) states that these companies were "composed of volunteers who could not speak the English language." Capt. Anthony Selin (mentioned more at length hereinafter) was appointed to command the 1st Com- pany, and when Captain Schott returned from captivity he was designated Captain of the 8d Company and placed in command of the battalion of two companies, which became known as "Schott's Inde- pendent Corps"-although sometimes it was still referred to as De Ottendorff's. In the latter part of March, 1778, the Corps was ordered to join Pulaski's Legion at Minisink, on the Delaware.

About that time Captain Schott applied for promotion. In a letter dated at "Wyoming Garrison, November 26, 1779," he referred to the matter in these words: "When I was exchanged I got the command of that Corps I now command. I made frequent application to the Honorable Board of War to grant me the rank of Major, and liberty to enlist men and raise that Corps again to its former strength; by which I thought to have an opportunity to take satisfaction of the enemy, in an hon- ourable way, for the ill usage I received when a prisoner (which I would have done, or died in the attempt)-but was always refused. Having had no opportunity to distinguish myself, I was even left out of the arrangement of the Line with the rest of the officers in this Corps."

About the time the expedition against the Six Nations was determined on Captain Schott was detached "on command," but about May 1, 1779, he arrived at Wilkes-Barre and assumed command of his Corps. Upon the return to Wilkes-Barre of the Sullivan Expedition, Schott's Corps was detached from the army by command of General Sullivan, and ordered to assist in garrisoning Fort Wyoming. In March, 1780, Lieut. Colonel Weltner, then in command of the German Regiment (with headquarters at Sunbury), desired the Board of War "to determine between Captains Schott and Selin, each claiming to remain in command of the Company formerly De Ottendorff's, and now to be incorporated with the German Battalion," or Regiment. The Board decided that if Colonel Weltner could not "settle the dispute," a board of officers should be convened to determine the rel- ative rank of the two Captains. At Philadelphia, under the date of April 12, 1780, Assistant Pay- master Burrall wrote to the Treasury Board as follows: "Captain Schott, who commands an Inde- pendent Corps stationed at Wyoming, is waiting in town for their pay, which is due from September last, and amounts to more than I have on hand. I should be glad of 20,000 dollars, which will be sufficient to pay him. I hope this last sum, at least, may be obtained, as Captain Schott's returning without the money would occasion much uneasiness in the Corps, who have six months' pay due; and the expense of another journey from Wyoming would be considerable."

About that time, or shortly afterwards, Captain Schott determined to make Wilkes-Barre his per- manent home, and September 21, 1780, he purchased from Phineas Peirce, for £50, a half-share in the Susquehanna Purchase. A week later he bought of Benjamin Bailey, for £50, Lot No. 33 in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barre-he (Schott) being described in the deed of conveyance as "of Westmore- land." On the 18th of the following month he was married to Naomi (born November 28, 1754), third child of Jabez and Elizabeth (Noyes) Sill of Wilkes-Barre, and a younger sister of the wife of Col. Nathan Denison. (See a sketch of the Sill family in a subsequent chapter.) Miner, in his "History of Wyoming," says of Captain Schott's marriage: "The banns were published on Sunday, October 15th, and on Wednesday, the 18th, they were married; the occasion being one of great joy and fes- tivity in the garrison, and among the whole people."

In February, 1781, Captain Schott was ordered to march with his Corps (which then consisted of only twenty-six men, including himself, Captain Selin, and one Lieutenant) to Fishkill, New York, to join Colonel Hazen's "Congress' Own Regiment." Schott joined this regiment about March 15th, but three months later, owing to the serious illness of his wife, he obtained leave of absence for an indefinite period and hastened to Wilkes-Barre. Within a short time thereafter "Congress' Own" moved down the Hudson to the neighborhood of New York City, and early in September proceeded with other regiments to Virginia to take part in the siege of Yorktown. The war being virtually ended, by the surrender of Cornwallis, Captain Schott tendered his resignation and was honorably discharged from the Continental service in November, or December, 1781. In May, 1782, having pur- chased from his father-in-law, for £6, the north-west corner of Lot No. 1 in the town-plot of Wilkes- Barre, he built thereon what long afterwards was known as the "old red house." Moving into this house in 1783 (the year in which it was completed), he kept there for a number of years a public inn, and later carried on a store in the same building. During the ensuing twenty-one years Captain Schott was prominent and influential in various ways in the life of Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming Val- ley, and his name appears frequently in the following pages. (For a more detailed account of his life see the present writer's "History of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M.," published in 1897.)

December 4, 1790, Captain Schott was appointed and commissioned by Governor Mifflin a Justice of the Peace for Wilkes-Barre, to serve during good behavior. This office he held until he removed from the town. In 1802 he was, with Rosewell Welles, a candidate for the State Legislature, but was defeated. In February, 1794, he was one of the charter members of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M., and was its first Senior Warden. He was Master of the Lodge in 1795, '96, 1800, '01 and '08. In April, 1804, he withdrew from the Lodge, and seven years later became one of the charter members of Philanthrophy Lodge, No. 187, F. and A. M., Philadelphia. Of this Lodge he was Treasurer in 1814, '15 and '16, and Master in 1815. In the Summer of 1804 Captain Schott removed from Wilkes- Barre to Philadelphia, where he held, until within a few months of his death, the office of Inspector of Customs in the United States Custom House. He died at his home in Philadelphia July 29, 1829, and his wife died there on the 31st of the following August.

Capt. John Paul and Naomi (Sill) Schott were the parents of four sons and one daughter who grew to maturity, as follows: (i) John Paul, born in 1782; married about 1801 to Emily Eliza, daugh- ter of Lieut. John Markland of Philadelphia; was for more than twenty years a successful merchant in Philadelphia. (ii) James, born in 1784; as early as 1809 was a merchant in Philadelphia; married to Rebecca, daughter of Guy and Martha (Matlack) Bryan of Philadelphia; died at Philadelphia Octo- ber 28, 1870. (iii) George S., born in 1786; was graduated at the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1811, and practised his profession in Philadelphia and elsewhere for many years; was a prominent Free Mason, and an officer of the Grand Lodge and of the Grand Chapter of Penn- sylvania; his wife, Eleanor, died at Scranton, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1855, in the sixty-fourth year of her age; he died at Nanticoke, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1863. (iv) Charlotte, born in 1788; married at New York in October, 1809, to Henry D. Mandeville. (v) Charles, born January 26, 1790; died January 20, 1810, from wounds caused by an explosion in a powder-mill at Philadelphia.

ANTHONY SELIN, a Swiss by birth, was commissioned a Captain by Congress December 10, 1776, and was assigned to De Ottendorff's Corps, mentioned in the preceding note. He raised and commanded the 2d Company of this Corps, as originally organized. He was in service with his com- pany at Wilkes-Barre, in "Schott's Independent Corps" (previously described), until March, 1781, when, with that Corps, he joined "Congress' Own" Regiment. In this regiment he served until his honorable discharge from the army in January, 1788. In the Journal of Congress, February 24, 1784, he is referred to as "late Major, 2d Canadian Regiment ['Congress' Own']." Captain Selin, after his retirement from the army, purchased from the estate of his deceased brother-in-law, John Snyder, a tract of land on the Susquehanna River, in what is now Snyder County, Pennsylvania, and there be established his home. The settlement which grew up there became known as Selinsgrove, and the place has been for many years now a flourishing town. Simon Snyder (a brother-in-law of Captain Selin, and from December, 1808, to December, 1817, Governor of Pennsylvania) settled there in 1785.

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you must take care not to advance on them precipitately before you know their number, or until you have sufficiently extended your front to prevent being out-flanked.

"By a steady adherence to the above directions you will have little danger to appre- hend. Double your attention as you approach the fort. As the badness of the roads at present, and the scarcity of horses, will prevent your carrying your heavy baggage, you must leave it at Fort Penn with a guard, until you have a more favorable opportunity. Relying much on your Steddyness, Industry, Zeal and Activity, I wish you a Good march, and am,.Sir, your obedient servan't."

Shortly after despatching this letter to Major Burchardt, General Hand set out for his home in Lancaster County, to make a brief visit there before coming to Wilkes-Barre to take command of the troops to be assembled here. Within a couple of days after the receipt of his orders Major Burchardt marched for Wyoming from his station on the upper Delaware. He was joined at "Lardner's," or "Learn's," and accom- panied the remainder of the way, by Lieut. John Jenkins, Jr., who was returning to Wilkes-Barre from the headquarters of General Hand and of General Washington, whither he had been sent, as narrated on page 1161. Major Burchardt reached "Learn's " in the evening of April 8th, and early the next morning sent forward an express to Wilkes-Barre, bearing the following letter* to Colonel Butler :

"Agreeable to my instructions from General Hand I inform you that I am now on my march to join you with the German Regiment, Armand and Schott's Corps. You'll please to give me some information how to proceed on, as the roads are strange to me. You can best judge when I can reach you. I set off from this place this morning. I am, Sir, with due respect, your most obedient humble servant."

Upon receipt of this communication Colonel Butler sent forward some guides to meet and conduct Major Burchardt's command to Wilkes-Barre. The arrival of these troops-numbering about 300- at Fort Wyoming in the evening of Sunday, April 11th, made a wel- come addition to the garrison under the command of Colonel Butler. He was now enabled, not only to defend his position, but to clear the open portions of the Valley of the cruel and insolent red men. But small parties of Indians still hovered about Wyoming, like wolves around a sheep-fold. In the various mountain passes they lay in wait for chance travelers, and occasionally they exhibited extraordinary instances of courage and audacity.

Under the date of April 7, 1779, Colonel Butler wrote from Wilkes- Barre to Col. William Cook, Deputy Quartermaster General at North- umberland, Pennsylvania, saying :

"As I've lately received orders from his Excellency, General Washington, to pro- vide for a number of troops he has ordered to this Post, I'm sure you will not fail of for- warding the articles the Quartermaster writes for, as far as in your power ; and if you cannot forward the money immediately I must apply to the Board of War, as I've bor- rowed money to pay for expenses, carriages, forage, etc., with an expectation of money from you."

On the same day Colonel Butler wrote to the Board of War relative to the expenses incurred in and by the Quartermaster's department at the Wyoming Post, in view of orders received from General Washing- ton. In conclusion he said : "I must desire the Board to forward some

Captain Selin was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He died at Selinsgrove in 1792. He had two children-Anthony Charles and Agnes. The former, who was married August 26, 1810, to Catharine Yoner of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, was a Major in the United States Army in the War of 1812.

[] Mentioned on page 1167, and on other pages hereinbefore.

[ Learn's Tavern, mentioned on page 1167. See "Map of North-eastern Pennsylvania" in Chap- ter XXIII.

** Five miles in a bee-line, but about nine miles by the "Lower Road," which was the route Major Burchardt was directed to march.

* The original letter is now in the possession of the present writer.

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money, either by way of Colonel Cook, or directly from the Board by the bearer, Mr. Stewart, as we have received only £1,155 for the above uses." This letter Colonel Butler placed in the hands of William Stew- art, " Commissary of Purchases and Issues," accompanied by an order directing him to "procure and forward to this Post, immediately, pro- visions and liquor for a reinforcement of 500 men ;" and "likewise pro- vide soap and candles, and also necessaries for the use of the Hospital, such as rum, wine, sugar, molasses, coffee, vinegar, etc."

A couple of days after the arrival of Major Burchardt's command at Wilkes-Barre, Colonel Butler received from Sunbury, by the hands of an express, a letter reading as follows* :

"Dear Sir: I have inclosed a Letter to you for Gen! Hand which I have left open for your perusal. you will please put a Wafer on it and send it to him by Express if he is not at your place. I have requested him to order the two compe of our Reg! here (for several reasons, & one in particular) to reinforce Fort Jinkins. There is a set of the Damnedst Rascals about Fishing Creek & Fort Jinkins that ever existed. I expect in a short time to make some great discoveries, in respect of a correspondence held between them & the Indians, and we have some Reason to think they intend making a strike at that place.

"I am, Sir, Your Very Hum! Sert, [Signed] "GEO. BUSH, Capt. Comdg." "Sunbury April 11, 1779.

At a town-meeting of the inhabitants of Westmoreland held at Wilkes-Barre April 12, 1779, Giles Slocum, Christopher Hurlbut, Daniel Ingersoll, Asa Chapman aud Joel Strong were admitted free- men, and took the oath of fidelity to the State of Connecticut. Col. Nathan Denison and " Deacon " John Hurlbut were, at the same time, chosen Representatives from the town of Westmoreland to the General Assembly of Connecticut to meet at Hartford in the following May.

Under the date of April 14, 1779, President Reed of Pennsylvania wrote from Philadelphia to Col. Samuel Hunter, Lieutenant of the county of Northumberland, in part as followst :

"By a letter I received from General Washington, of the 8th inst., General Hand was to march from Minisink for Wyoming the 5th inst., with about 600 men, which will be a very competent force for your protection, as well as that of Wyoming. * * * We have now only to add that, as it is a time of common danger, we would recommend to you to cultivate Harmony and a good understanding with the people at Wyoming, leav- ing our unhappy disputes in that quarter to be settled as peace and more favorable cir- cumstances will admit."

At Lancaster, Pennsylvania, under the date of April 16, 1779, Brig. Gen. Edward Hand wrote to President Reed, at Philadelphia, as follows :

"In consequence of General Washington's orders, I am thus far on my way to Wyoming, to take the command of the troops on the Susquehanna. * * * It is need- less to mention how happy I should deem myself could I render any services to the dis- tressed inhabitants of that part of the State."

About the middle of April a detachment of the "New 11th Regi- ment," Pennsylvania Line (see note "}," page 1108), consisting of about 100 men under the command of Maj. Joseph Prowell, was ordered to march from the general camp in New Jersey to Wilkes-Barre, via Easton, to reinforce the Wyoming Garrison. The detachment left Easton on April 18th, marching to Heller's Tavernt (twelve miles),

* The original is in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.

t See "Pennsylvania Archives," First Series, VII : 288.

# Heller's Tavern was in Plainfield Township, Northampton County, about one and a-half miles south of the Wind Gap. Simon Heller, the first of the name to locate at that place (in 1760), was from Saucon Township.

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thence through the Wind Gap to Brinker's Mills* (about seven miles), and thence about nine or ten miles to Learn's Tavern, t near the foot of a spur of the Pocono range of mountains then known as "Pocono Point." The route from the Wind Gap to "Learn's" was along the " Lower Road " to Wyoming, described on pages 979 and 1054. This particular stretch of the road, however, had been improved within the preceding year to such an extent that it was in almost as passable a con- dition as the long-traveled road leading from Easton to the Wind Gap, or as the newer one running from a point about three miles north of Brinker's Mills to Fort Penn, or "Stroud's." "Learn's" was at that time the outpost of Northampton County civilization on the road to Wyo- ming-there being no other house, except Nathan Bullock's (see page 1039), between " Pocono Point " and Wilkes-Barre ; while the road for this distance was still the rough, narrow bridle-path that it had been for several years except in a few places, where efforts to remove some of the worst obstructions had been made by the ax-men, or pioneers, of the troops under Major Burchardt during their march to Wilkes-Barre.

Major Prowell and his command arrived at Bear Creek, some twelve miles from Fort Wyoming, in the evening of April 22d, and there they encamped for the night. Early the next morning Major Prowell, believing that they were now out of danger from a surprise by Indians, ordered his officers and men to burnish their arms and furbish up their uniforms and accouterments so as to present as fine an appear- ance as possible upon their arrival at Wilkes-Barré. With drums and fifes playing the column then advanced.

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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. II, Part 107

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press] Number of Pages: 683

Author: Harvey, Oscar Jewell, 1851- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Wilkes-Barre [Raeder press]
Number of Pages: 683