A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from its first beginnings to the present time; including chapters of newly-discovered, Vol. II, Part 24

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 24

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).

* NOAH WADHAMS-or WADHAM, as he himself wrote his surname in 1773 and earlier-was born in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, May 17, 1726, the son of Noah and Anne ( Hurlout) Wadham. Noah Wadham, Sr., last-mentioned, was born August 10, 1695; in 1786 he removed from Wethersfield to Middletown, Connecticut, and thence, about 1778, to Goshen, Litchfield County. Connecticut, where he died in 1783 He was the son of John Wadham (born July 8, 1655), who was the son of John Wadham who came from England to America, as early as 1650, and settled in Wethersfield, where he died in 1676. Noah Wadham, Jr., was graduated at the College of New Jersey ( Princeton University) in September, 1754, with the degree of A. B. Subsequently he studied theology with the Rev. Abel Newell at Goshen, Con- necticut, and in 1757, upon the organization of the Society, or Parish, of New Preston in the towns of New Milford and Kent in Litchfield County, Connecticut, he was ordained to the gospel ministry and installed pastor of the Congregational Church of New Preston. November 8, 1758, he was married to Elizabeth (born October 9, 1781), daughter of Moses Ingersoll of Westfield, and later of Great Barrington, Massa- chusetts. Moses Ingersoll, who was born February 10, 1694, the son of Thomas, was a first cousin of the Hon. Jared Ingersoll. mentioned on page 585, as well as hereinafter.

In 1764 the honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon the Rev. Noah Wadham by Yale College. After his return from Wyoming late in the Summer of 1772, Mr. Wadham continued to serve as pastor of the Church at New Preston until March, 1773.

Under date of February 14, 1773, Mr. Wadham wrote from New Preston to Zebulon Butler at Wilkes- Barre in part as follows (see original letter in the collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society): "I have heard often of you this Winter, and take it that you are almost fearless about Penne- mites, and I hope it is upon sufficient foundation ; and I desire you may be directed to what is wise and for your safety to keep up a watch. From the little acquaintance I have about the Susquehanna proprie- tors I can't see but that there is a great prospect that they will be in a short time the quiet possessors as can be expected in such weighty unsettled matters. From what I can learn friends to the Susquehanna settlements much increase in the Government. * * * * If it should be thought expedient by the people

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that I should come over to preach in any of your towns, I should be willing if the state of my family should admit. * * * An affectionate regard to all friends and to Mr. [Jacob] Johnson. * * I have not forgot the state I see the inhabitants were in, as sheep without a shepherd, when I was with you, and as there was a comfortable prospect that Mr. Johnson would come and settle with you. And as there was some that talked with me about my coming again, for they should want another preacher the Sum- mer coming, if they were prosperous."

Mr. Wadham having decided to remove to Wyoming Valley, arrived at Wilkes-Barre early in April, 1778, and on the 22d of that month, at Wilkes-Barre-as shown by the original records of The Susquehanna Company (Book "C," page 100)-Zebulon Butler, "one of the committee empowered to admit settlers," re- ceived of "Rev. Mr. Noah Wadham 42 dollars," entitling him to "one whole right or share in the Susque- hanna Purchase, agreeable to the vote of The Susquehanna Company at their meeting in 1772." October 14, 1773, Philemon Sanford and wife of Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut, conveyed their interest in a half-right in the Susquehanna Purchase to "Mr. Noah Wadham of New Milford," for £7.

Mr. Wadham settled in the township of Plymouth, and about that time his surname was metamor- phosed into "Wadhams," either by his own act or through the careless speech and writing of his friends and neighbors. Col. H. B. Wright, in his "Historical Sketches of Plymouth," states (page 875) that "Mr. Wadhams continued his pastoral relations [at Plymouth], interrupted by an occasional visit to his family in Litchfield, until the year [1779] succeeding the Wyoming massacre, when he removed them to Ply- mouth." Undoubtedly this is an erroneous statement, as there is evidence that some or all of Mr. Wad- hams' family were living in Plymouth prior to 1778. The Rev George Peck, D. D., in his "Early Methodism," states that the Rev. Noah Wadhams "was baptized with the spirit of Methodism, and com- menced preaching here and there, wherever he found an opening. He joined the Methodist Church and became a local preacher. He spent his latter years in preaching and laboring with great zeal and accept- ability for the promotion of the interests of the societies." The fact is, that at about the time of his com- ing to Plymouth Mr. Wadhams became a Wesleyan in his theological opinions-which, like those of his friend and brother-in-law, the Rev. Samuel Hopkins (the celebrated Presbyterian divine, and the hero of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "A Minister's Wooing"), had undergone a change under the preaching of John Wesley and George Whitefield.

In the "Bill of Losses Sustained by the Inhabitants of Westmoreland" from July 3. 1778, to May, 1780 (see Chapter XIX), the amount of the Rev. Noah Wadhams' losses is stated at £193, 6sh.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Ingersoll) Wadhams having died at New Preston, Connecticut, February 19, 1793, the Rev. Noah Wadhams was married a few years later to Diana, daughter of Jeremiah and Ann (Paine) Ross of Wilkes-Barre, and widow of John Hageman of Kingston. She died at Plymouth in October, 1804, and Mr. Wadhams died at Plymouth May 22. 1806, being survived by four sons, as follows : (i) Noah Ingersoll (born at New Preston October 14, 1761, and died at Plymouth May 12, 1845), (ii) Calvin, (iii) Noah and (iv) Moses. A daughter, Anna (born November 20, 1763), and a son, Samuel (born April 27. 1767), had died previously at New Preston ; the former, December 5, 1799, and the latter, February 4, 1785.

(iii) Noah Wadhams was born June 6, 1770, at New Preston, Connecticut, and came to Plymouth with the other members of his father's family. Some years later he returned to Connecticut, studied law at the famous Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to practise before the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He returned to Plymouth in 1798 or '94, and in the latter year was admitted to the Bar of Luzerne County. November 7, 1814, he became a member of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkes-Barre. His wife was Kliza- beth Barney of Plymouth. For a number of years he was a Justice of the Peace in Plymouth, where he died September 30, 1846.

(iv) Moses Wadhams was born February 8, 1778, at New Preston, Connecticut, the sixth child and fifth son of the Rev. Noah and Elizabeth ( Ingersoll) Wadhams. January 11, 1801, he was married to Ellen (born January 12, 1776), daughter of John and Eunice ( Bradley) Hendrick of New Fairfield, Con- necticut. Eunice Bradley was a daughter of David and Damaris Bradley of Fairfield, Connecticut, and John Hendrick was a descendant, in the fourth generation, of Hendrick Hendricksen, a Hollander who was settled in Fairfield County, Connecticut, as early as 1664. His wife was "Heinechy," or Hannah (surname unknown). During the lifetime of their only son, Hendrick Hendricksen ("Henry the son of Henry"). the latter's name was anglicized into Henry Hendricks. Some of his descendants, at a later period, lopped off the "s" of their surname. Moses Wadhams and his wife established their home in Plymouth, and there he died September 25. 1804, of yellow fever, which was epidemic in Wyoming Valley that year. He was survived by his wife (who subsequently became the wife of Joseph Wright g. v.) and two daughters, viz .: Phebe (born October 26, 1801; died in September, 1867) and Lydia (born October 23, 1803; died January 2, 1890).

(ii) Calvin Wadhams, the second son of the Rev. Noah and Elizabeth (Ingersoll) Wadhams, was born at New Preston, Connecticut, December 22, 1765. Coming with the other members of his father's family to Plymouth, he lived there until his death. The Rev. George Peck, in his "Early Methodism," previously referred to, says that Calvin Wadhams contributed largely to the erection in Plymouth of "a building called the 'Academy,' adapted both to the purposes of a school and of religious worship. The upper story was seated and fitted up with a pulpit and an altar, and was the only church in Plymouth for perhaps fifty years. Mr. Wadhams' house was ever open to the preachers, and was often filled full on quarterly-meeting occasions." Col. H. B. Wright, in his "Historical Sketches of Plymouth," says that Calvin Wadhams "possessed an agreeable presence and always had a kind expression upon his lips. He was strictly temperate, very industrious, and no man knew better the value of real estate." Calvin Wadhams was married February 10, 1791, to Esther (born June 10, 1768), daughter of Elijah and Susannah ( Henderson) Waller of Kent, Connecticut. She died February 19, 1818, and on April 28, 1820, Mr. Wad- hams was married (2d) to Lucy, third daughter of Capt. Samuel and Chloe ( Cruttenden) Starr of Middle- town, Connecticut, and widow of Samuel L.ucas of Greenfield, Massachusetts, and Berkshire, New York. Samuel Starr, who was a sea-captain, was born at Middletown, Connectcut, April 25, 1726, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth ( De Jersey) Starr. He was lost at sea in November, 1765. Chloe Cruttenden, to whom he was married May 31, 1748. was the daughter of Dr. Daniel Cruttenden. Calvin Wadhams died at Plymouth April 22, 1845, and his wife Lucy died there September 21, 1840, aged seventy-eight years.

Samuel Wadhams, the only son of Calvin and Esther ( Waller) Wadhams who grew to maturity, was born in Plymouth August 21, 1806. "He inherited," says Colonel Wright, "the business qualifications and the even temper and kind disposition of his father. Stepping into the occupation of a large estate he exhibited great skill and judgment in its management, and made many valuable additions to it. * * He died as he had lived, a man of unblemished integrity ; upright in his dealings, and a worthy Christian member of society." He resided in Plymouth all his life, and was a man of much influence as well as of large wealth. He was a member of Plymouth Lodge, No. 332, F. and A. M., having been one of the first men admitted to membership in the Lodge after its constitution in April, 1859.

Samuel Wadhams was married April 7, 1824. to Clorinda Starr (born October 23, 1795), daughter of Dr. Rlijah and Hannah (Starr) Catlin. Elijah Catlin was born in Harwinton, Connecticut, October 18, 1762, the son of Jacob and Hannah (Phelps) Catlin. He was married December 16, 1790, to Hannah (born August 18, 1764 ; died August 8, 1847) youngest child of Capt. Samuel and Chloe ( Cruttenden) Starr men- tioned above, and they settled in New Marlboro, Massachusetts, where Elijah Catlin died in June, 1828.

Samuel Wadhams died at Plymouth, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1868, and his wife died there April 28. 1870. The children of Samuel and Clorinda Starr (Catlin) Wadhams who grew to maturity were the following-named, all born in Plymouth : (i) Elijah Catlin, born July 17, 1825; died January 18, 1889. (if) Esther Waller, born December 18, 1826; married October 10, 1848, to Lazarus Denison Shoemaker, men- tioned in the note on page 469; died at Wilkes-Barre August 4, 1889. (iii) Calvin, born December 14, 1833 ; died July 20, 1883. (iv) Moses, born November 23, 1836. He was married (Ist) May 24, 1864. to Jane Chapman (born June 6, 1888), daughter of Seth and Harriet ( Douglass) Starr of Canaseraga, New York.

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necticut. He came in response to an informal invitation from some of his former parishioners, or neighbors, who were settled at Wyoming and who desired to have him remove from Litchfield County and take up his abode in their midst as their pastor. Mr. Wadhams remained at Wyo- ming for a few weeks and then returned to his home.

During all the exciting and important events which took place at Wilkes-Barré subsequently to September 22, 1770, and prior to the last days of August, 1772, Maj. John Durkee, the founder and namer of Wilkes-Barre, was languishing in the City Jail at Philadelphia. (See page 671.) At that period the jails in this country were, as a rule, noisome, loathsome places, and the life led by the majority of their in- mates was little more than beastly. The jail in the City of Brotherly Love was no exception to this rule. In confirmation of this statement read the following item from the Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia) of January 4, 1770.

"Who would expect to hear of objects amongst us whose sufferings and miseries are beyond the power of words to describe? But such in reality is the miserable condition of the unhappy criminals in our gaol every Winter ; not so much for want of food, as from cold and nakedness, for private familes daily send them more or less [food], and in hard Winter the religious societies make public collections."

As we have previously noted (see page 726) the weather in eastern Pennsylvania-particularly in the locality of Philadelphia-was ex- tremely severe in the Spring of 1772, and in the Pennsylvania Packet of March 16, 1772, we read the following :

"We hear that three of the prisoners confined in the gaol of this city died during the last week, and the Coroner's Inquest have found that they perished through want of necessaries. Think of this, ye who dissipate the bounty of Heaven in idle amusements ! * * These poor sufferers, like Lazarus of old, ask for nothing but the crumbs which fall from your tables. The very refuse of your kitchens, beds and wearing apparel would

She died December 28, 1867, leaving two children : (1) Marian Starr Wadhams, born September 5, 1866; married September 25, 1804, to Samuel R. Maynard of Utica. New York. (2) John Starr Wadhams, born December 16, 1867; died November 10, 1868. (iv) Moses Wadhams was married (2d) to Jennie Fenn Morse, daughter of Aldson and Marcia (Kendall) Morse of Wilkes-Barre. Moses Wadhams died March 28, 1878, and some years later his widow became the wife of George S. Dana of Utica, New York.

(i) Elijah Catlin Wadhams was educated at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, and the University of New York-being graduated at the latter institution in 1847. For twenty-five years he was a successful merchant in Plymouth ; for upwards of twenty years he was a Justice of the Peace there ; he was the first Burgess of the Borough of Plymouth, and, by successive re-elections, held the office for seven years. In 1878 he removed with his family to Wilkes-Barre, where he continued to reside till his death. In 1876 he was elected, as a Republican, to represent the 21st Senatorial District (comprising a large part of Luzerne County, including Wyoming Valley) in the Pennsylvania Senate for a term of four years. For upwards of thirty years he was a Director of The Wyoming Bank and its successor, The Wyoming National Bank, of Wilkes-Barre, and for a number of years prior to his death he was President of The First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. For many years he was Superintendent of the Sunday School of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Plymouth, and for a long time previous to his death filled a similar position in the Central Methodist Episcopal Church of Wilkes-Barre. Mr. Wadhams was a zealous and influential Free Mason for over thirty years. He was initiated into Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M , Wilkes- Barre, April 16, 1855. He withdrew therefrom in 1850 and became one of the charter members of Ply- mouth Lodge, No. 382. He was the third Worshipful Master of that Lodge. He was a charter member and the second M. E High Priest of Valley Chapter. No 214, Royal Arch Masons, instituted at Plymouth August 8, 1867, and a charter member and the first T. I. Grand Master of Mt. Horeb Council, No. 84, Royal and Select Masters, constituted April 6, 1868 He was also a Knight Templar, and was for years an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Elijah Catlin Wadhams was married at Plymouth October 7, 1851, to Esther Taylor (born at Plymouth February 12, 1890). eldest child of Samuel French (born at Stratford, Connecticut, July 6, 1808; died at Plymouth July 25, 1866) and his wife Lydia Wadhams (born October 28, 1808 ; married May 21. 1829; died January 2, 1800), younger daughter of Moses and Ellen (Hendrick) Wadhams previously mentioned. Samuel French was the son of Samuel French (born at Weston, Connecticut, February 17. 1774) and his wife Frances, daughter of William and Eunice (Burr) Holberton of the parish of Stratfield, now a part of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Elijah Catlin and Esther Taylor (French) Wadhams became the parents of three sons and four daughters, namely : Samuel French. Moses Waller, Ralph Holberton, Ellen Hen- drick, Cornelia Frances, Stella Catlin and Lydia French. Elijah Catlin Wadhams died at Wilkes-Barre January 18. 1889, and was survived by his wife and the children named above.

(iii) Calvin Wadhams was graduated at Princeton College in 1854 with the degree of A. B. He was admitted to the Rar of Luzerne County April 6. 1857. and located in Wilkes- Barre as a practising attorney. In September, 1858, he became a member of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, and from 1861 to 1872 was Secretary of the Society, and in 1878 and '74 was its President. He was one of the cor- porators and early managers of the Wilkes-Barre City Hospital. Calvin Wadhams was married at Wilkes- Barre October 8, 1861, to Fanny D., daughter of John W. Lynde (born at Putney, Vermont, in 1788; died at Wilkes-Barre July 17. 1875, and his wife Mary Ann Cleveland (born in 1809; died at Wilkes-Barre September 21, 1837). Calvin and Fanny D. (Lynde) Wadhams became the parents of four children. Cal- vini Wadhams died at his Summer home at Harvey's Lake, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, July 20, 1883. and was survived by his wife and one son-Raymond Lynde Wadhams For further interesting references to Calvin Wadhams see, iu Chapter XXX, "Memorial Presbyterian Church."

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be received by them with joy and thankfulness. We hope the humane part of the in- habitants of this city will guard for the future against accidents of the like nature, and thus wipe off the dishonour which the above melancholy catastrophe has done not only to Christianity but to Humanity. The inclemency of the present season still calls upon the public to afford relief to numbers who are now under confinement and in great dis- tress in our gaol."

One week later the Packet printed the following :

"Since our last we have the pleasure of informing the public that large contribu- tions of victuals, bed-clothes, wearing apparel and wood have been sent to the prisoners confined in our gaol."

It was not alone the vicious and the criminal inmates of the Phila- delphia jail who suffered from cold, hunger and other ills, but also those helpless and hopeless individuals who were incarcerated for no other reason than that they were absolutely unable to pay their honest debts. All suffered alike-John Durkee with the rest. Finally, at a meeting of the Provincial Council held in Philadelphia August 21, 1772, Gov- ernor Penn laid before the Council a petition from Major Durkee, set- ting forth that he was indicted for a riot on the lands at Wyoming at the Sessions for the county of Northampton in April, 1770, and that from September following he had been closely confined in jail. Con- tinuing, the petitioner stated : "That sometime afterwards he was sued for a large sum of money due to a gentleman in New York, with whom he has now compounded and obtained a discharge from his suit ; that he has a wife and children in Connecticut who are in great distress, oc- casioned by his imprisonment, &c., * and therefore humbly pray- ing for relief by means of a nolle prosegui or otherwise." * * The said petition being read and considered by the Board, it was their opinion that, "in consideration of the prisoner's long confinement, and that he has now obtained a discharge from his creditors-at whose suit he has hitherto been detained in prison, as well as at the suit of the Crown, a nolle prosegui should be entered on the indictment, and the petitioner be discharged from his confinement-which the Governor accordingly directed to be done."* After his release from this confine- ment of twenty-three months Major Durkee returned to his home in Norwich, as stated on page 483.

In an original list of the settlers at Wyoming in July, 1772, prepared by the Committee of Settlers at the time, we find the following names which do not appear in the May or the June list previously mentioned. Cooper, Thomas Hutchins, John

Rollen, William-Home 3d.

Colt, Harris

Heath, Thos

Silsberry, Elijah

Cady, Manasseh-28th.

Keyes, Timothy

-- Home 18th for 10 days.

Ells, Thomas

Marvin, Uriah

Swift, Elisha

Dart, Nathan

Minor, Thomas-26th.

Staples, Samuel-2d.

Gallup, William

Pixley, David

Sill, Jabez

Goss, Solomon

Pixley, Ely

Sill, Shadrack

Hunt, Austin

Root, Stephen-28th.

Worden, Caleb

Hedsall, James-Jr. Died Dec. 31, '72. Yale, Ozias-12th.

Upon his return home from Wyoming the Rev. Jacob Johnson gave the matter of his removal to the new settlements much consideration, and shortly afterwards wrote the following lettert :

"Groton August 18th 1772.

"To the Comte at Wilks Barre and People there and in the Towns on the Susquehanna. "Gentlemen and christian Friends.

"All Love & Respect unto you. I lately received a Letter from Capt Zn. Butler as also one from Col Elp! Dyer and Comte at Windham with an enclosed copy of a letter from Capt Butler to sd Comte Signifying the unanimous Request & Desire of the settlers

* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," X : 52.

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

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on the Susquehanna that I would come among them in the character of a Preacher & Minister of christ. I have taken the very Important Request into the most serious con- sideration And find a complyance therewith is like to be attended with almost Infinite difficulty both in my Family & People under my present care & charge. However this notwithstanding (upon the whole view of the case ) I am of the mind 'tis the voice of God in his Holy wise & aldisposeing Providence that I should come to you. Shall therefore endeaver by the Will of God to get things in Readiness for that Purpose as fast as con- veniently may be.

"You will therefore I hope take some care to provide a House or some convenient place for Religious Worship that may best commode the whole Body of the People for the present, some where near to which you will please to provide me a House or Place of Residence for my selfe & what small part of my Family I shall bring should any of them come with me. As to any other Provision I shall leave the ordering of that to the Comte & People as they may think fit or as occasion may call for.

"In the mean Time I pray you not to ferget the Principle end & design of our Fathers coming into this wilderness-Nor be off your watch & guard & so be exposed to your spiritual or Temporal enemies. But above all by your Holy Lives & conversations Interest yourselves in the Divine Favor & Protection that God Himselfe may dwell with you & bless you and prepare the way for the Blessing of the Gospel Ministry & ordinances among you.

"So wishes so prays & most sincerely Desires your real Friend & humle ser! for christs sake with all affection, "To the People in the

[Signed] "JACOB JOHNSON."

Several Towns on the

East Branch of the

Susquehanna.

"P. S. Possibly the Rumer of Peace & counter orders to Gover! Peen [Penn] may be a Devise to put you off your Guard to make you a more easy Prey, be the more watch- ful that you may not be betrayed. 'Sure bind sure find' Is a Proverb as True as it is old. 'Trust not an Enemy too soon,' Make no man a Friend but upon sufficient Tryal, 'Such as have broken their Promise twice Dont believe tho' they should swear Thrice.' Never trust a Fox out of a cage-or a serpent 'till His Head is broke. When thine Enemy speaketh fair believe Him not, For there are Seven Abominations in his Heart .- Proverbs of Solomon. The Lord give understanding in all things .- St. Paul."

About the middle of August, 1772, Zebulon Butler, who, it is hardly necessary to state, was then the principal man in the Wyoming settle- ments, set out from Wilkes-Barre for Connecticut to visit his family at Lyme, and, at Hartford and Windham, to attend to important affairs concerning the settlements. At Groton, under the date of September 1st, the Rev. Jacob Johnson wrote to Captain Butler at Lyme as follows : "I have sent Letters to you both as being at Lyme & Susqha Have received Letters from you & Comte at Windham. If you come into N. End & I dont see you before you return Please to let the People know I have determined to come there & winter there by the Leave of Divine Providence Yea & if it be the will of God to spend the Remnant of my Days in the work of the ministry among them I think it my Duty & hope it may be the salvation of many of their souls.

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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 24

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