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 27
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This letter was placed in the hands of Capt. Zebulon Butler, and when he went to Connecticut shortly afterwards he carried it with him and turned it over to the Standing Committee of The Susquehanna Company, accompanying it with an account of the circumstances under which it had been obtained, and with other information bearing on the case. Very soon thereafter Mr. E. P., at Wyoming, received from the Committee a communication reading as followsT:
"Windham Sept: 14th 1772.
"SIR : We have received intelligence several ways (and which we fear is too well founded ) that you have been laying a plan to deliver Lazarus and William Stewart upon the Proclamation against them, of which they have been advised, and which must expose you in the highest degree to their resentment, and may possibly endanger your person. "We are extremely sorry to hear you have given the least encouragement to an attempt of that kind, as they (the Stewarts) have placed their confidence in ye Susque- hannah Company & risqued their lives in what they have done for them. It would be un- generous to the last degree to deliver them up to the resentment of our adversaries, how- ever they may have conducted themselves in some particular instances. Captain Butler is sincerely concerned for the event, and has informed us of nothing but what we think he was obliged to do for your security, as well as the interest of ye Company.
"You cannot but be sensible how much the Company must be exposed by any un- happy variance among the settlers there, and therefore we must advise you to come down and see your friends here for a few months, while matters may be settled on a more sure footing; and the present jealousies of the Stewarts may subside. You know how far you have acted in the affair, and we cannot doubt of the intelligence we have received-and of which Captain Butler can acquaint you. We should be very glad if you will come down here and convince us to the contrary, as we fear the consequences may be bad. If you do not, [we] hope Prudence will direct you-and are your real friends, &c.
[Signed] "ELIPHT DYER,
"NATEL WALES, JUR , Comte" "SAML GRAY,
In response to this letter Mr. E. P. went down to Connecticut early in October to see his friends, and remained there some time. Captain Stewart having learned of the plot against him, left Wyoming, by the
* On the "Pennamites' Path," beyond the Pocono Mountains, in what is now Pocono Township, Mon- roe County. See "Map of North-eastern Pennsylvania," in Chapter XXIII.
t WILLIAM STEWART, one of the Hanoverians, and a cousin of Lazarus Stewart.
I Capt. LAZARUS STEWART. ¿ At Capouse Meadows, afterwards Providence.
[ASA LYON. In January, 1772, he was admitted to a settling right in Plymouth. In 1774 he was located at Wapwallopen.
[ From an original copy made at the time, and now in the possession of the present writer.
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advice of his friends, in company with his cousin Lazarus Stewart, Jr., and they did not return until the middle of October; by which time the jealousies and animosities that had been rife were in a state of subsidence.
At a meeting of the Susquehanna Purchase proprietors held at Wilkes-Barre September 26, 1772, it was resolved to send Obadiah Gore, Jr., as "the agent of the Company," to the General Assembly of Con- necticut at its session in New Haven beginning the second Thursday of October, to present a memorial which, it was arranged, should be pre- pared forthwith.
In an original list* of the settlers at Wyoming in September, 1772, prepared by the Committee of Settlers at that time, we find the follow- ing names which do not appear in any of the lists for the preceding months of the same year.
Anguish, Jacob
Comstock, John-23d. Marcy, Ebenezer
Alexander, Robert -Home 2d.
Comstock, Wm .- 29th.
McIntyre, Henry-22d.
Gore, George
Porter, Justice
Brokaw, George
Gaylord, Ambrose-11th.
Parker, Jonathan
Bullard, Josiah
Harding, Oliver
Pettebone, Stephen-19th.
Bush, Henry
Hill, Thos -14th.
Pensil, Henry
Cole, Leonard
Home 16th for 6 days.
Swift, Heman-11th.
Cooper, Haggai
Judd, Enoch
Thomas, Elias
Cary, Joseph
Karr, Samuel -Home 22d for 4 weeks.
Cady, Simeon-9th.
Weeks, Philip-4th.
The following minutes are to be found on page 1,047 of "The Town Book of Wilkes Barre," previously mentioned :
"Att a meeting of the Propriators & setlers legally warned and held in wilksbarre oct. 2d 1772, Capt. Butler was chosen Moderator for ye work of ye Day.
"Voted, That Capt Gore, Cap. Butler, Maj! Peirce be and they are hereby ap- pointed a Comtee to provide a place or House for ye Revnd Mr. Jacob Johnson to Live in this winter, &c.
"Voted, by this company, to continue their meetings once a fortnite on mondays at two of ye clock in ye afternoon.
"Voted, That Mr. Perkins of Kingstown, Mr. Carey of Lackawanna, t Mr. Goss for Plymouth, Mr. Daniel Gore, Wilksbarre, Mr. William Stewart for Hanover, are apptd a Comtee to draw subscriptions, & see what they can git signed by ye adjourned meeting, for ye making a rode from Dilleware River to Pittstown."
The memorial ordered to be prepared at the town-meeting held September 26th was drawn up on October 3d. The original is now pre- served in the State Library at Hartford, Connecticut, having been taken by Obadiah Gore, Jr., from Wilkes-Barre to New Haven and duly pre- sented to the General Assembly. (See the opposite page.) The body of the document is in the handwriting of Obadiah Gore, Jr .; the signatures of Zebulon Butler, Ezekiel Peirce, Stephen Fuller, Obadiah Gore, Jr., and William Gallup were written by those men respectively, while the re- maining signatures were written, some by Obadiah Gore, Jr., and others by Ezekiel Peirce. The document reads as follows :
"To the Honourable the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut To be Holden at Newhaven on the second Thursday in October A. D. 1772.
"The Memorial of us the subscribers Inhabitants of Wyoming on Susquehannah and within the Colony of Connecticut Humbly Sheweth that we being Destitute of the advantages of Civil Authority which lays us under many Disadvantages by Reason of our setlers being very numerous and consequently some unruly Persons among us who com- mit Disorders to the great Disturbance of the Inhabitants-which to Prevent we Pray your Honours to take into your wise consideration our unhappy and Distress'd condition and either Incorporate us into a County and appoint us Proper Authority ; or annex us to some one of the Counties or in some other way grant us Relief as your Honours in your wisdom shall Think Proper-(we would Humbly suggest that some thing of this
* In the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
t About that time renamed Pittstown, or Pittston, Township.
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kind would not only tend to suppress vice and Immoralitys among us but Promote virtue and be a means to spread the gospel through these western parts) and your Memorialists as in Duty bound shall ever Pray.
"Dated in Wilksbarre on Susquehannah October ye 3d 1772.
Wyoming on Julyucho mich and within the deduct Stambly Thewith that we hang depth of the advantages of fruit thethority which Laps us what many faisantages by weapon of Dar Sellers being very Numerous and Consequently Some Unruly Derfors on as who commit tilorten to the Great Differences of the Inhabitants
Honours to take into your wife Confederation our unhappy and dating low lion and lether forporate is calle a (grunty and appoint us Broker Buthonily, of annex as to some one of the countries of in Some) Other way Grant us heleif as your Honour on your lo from shall Think broker a ( we want Mindig) Suggest that some thing of this kind would not only this to Suppress bife and Immorally among us but Bromate virtud and be a means to spend the fifth through these western pach ) and your Memorialy's af in July bound that Soer bray
Sale in withs lasse on Julywhomch f tele fo John Abbot Minha Brocheity
Sage aller
Zebulon Butter The Bonnet Brahiel Raine Slephan Fuller Chapterchi loong Solomon Bonnet
This about
Phil Buch
Balet Bates
Photo-reproduction of a portion of the first page of the aforementioned memorial.
"Zebulon Butler, Ezekiel Peirce, Stephen Fuller, Obadiah Gore, Jr., William Gallup, James Atherton, Asel Atherton, James Atherton, Jr., Isaac Allen," John Abbot, Isaac Addams, Christopher Avery,
Jacob Anguish, Daniel Allen, . Philip Abbott, Caleb Bates, Richard Brockway,
Isaac Bennet, Thomas Bennet, Solomon Bennet, William Buck, Gideon Baldwin, James Bidlack, David Brown, Philip Buck, Ezra Belding, Gideon Bingham, Henry Barney, Josiah Bullard, Henry Bush, Elisha Blackman,
Amos Beach, Aholiab Buck, Joshua Bennet,
John Baker, Coonrad Baker, John Bray, Jeremiah Blanchard,
John Cary, Haggai Cooper, Ebenezer Crandel, John Comstock, Eleazar Carey, Benjamin Clark, Leonard Cole, Joseph Carey, William Comstock, Barnabas Cary, Jonth Churchill,
Thomas Cooper, Simeon Cady,
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Ebenezer Hibbard,
Andrew Hickman, Oliver Harding, Jordan Hopson,
Augustin Hunt,
James Smith,
Zerrubabel Jearom,
Solomon Johnson,
Oliver Smith, Jr., Oliver Smith,
John Jenkins, John Jameson,
Stephen Jenkins,
John Jenkins, Jr.,
Edward Johnson,
Shubael Drake,
Enoch Judd,
Douglass Davidson,
Stephen Jordan,
Anderson Dana,
Timothy Keyes,
Robert Dixson,
George Kentnor,
Simeon Draper,
Samuel Karr,
Frederick Eveland,
Stephen Lee,
Michael Sealey,
John Ewing,
Asa Lyon.
William Stewart,
Thomas Ells, Benjamin Follett, Jr.,
Peter Matthews,
Heman Swift, Elisha Swift,
Levi Farnum, Elisha Fish,
Uriah Marvin,
Andrew Spaulding,
Joseph Fish,
Matthew Marvin,
John Stephens,
Jabez Fish,
Seth Marvin,
Joseph Slocum,
John Franklin,
David Marvin,
Jonathan Steele,
Stephen Fuller, Jr.,
Ebenezer Marcy,
Samuel Storey,
Jacob Feezler,
Nicholas Manvil,
Daniel Scott, Asa Stevens.
Peregreen Gardner,
Henry MacIntyre,
Parshall Terry, Jr.,
Joseph Gallup,
Thomas McClure,
Solomon Tracy,
Philip Goss, Solomon Goss, James Green,
Samuel Nisbitt,
Parshall Terry,
Ambrose Gaylord, Stephen Gardner, Joseph Gaylord,
John Pensil,
Elias Thomas,
Nathaniel Goss,
John Perkins,
Moses Utter,
Obadiah Gore,
John Perkins, Jr.,
Asa Upson,
George Gore,
Francis Phillips,
Isaac Underwood,
Silas Gore,
Isaiah Pasky,
Aaron Wilder,
Giles Gaylord,
Timothy Peirce, Phineas Peirce, Abel Peirce,
Jesse Weeks,
Justus Gaylord,
Timothy Pearce, Jr.,
Thomas Weeks,
James Hedsall,
Thomas Porter,
Bartholomew Weeks,
Cyprian Hibbard,
Noah Pettibone, Jr.,
William Hibbard,
Stephen Pettibone,
Philip Weeks, William White, Reuben Webb,
Peter Harris,
William Parke, Jr.,
Caleb Worden,
Thomas Heath,
Nicholas Phillips,
John Williams,
William Hopkins,
Jonathan Parker,
James Hopkins,
David Pixley,
Robert Hopkins,
William Parke,
Zopher Williams,
Timothy Hopkins, Jr.,
Eli Pixley,
Henry Windecker,
Timothy Hopkins,
Ashbel Roberson,
Philip Wintermute,
Francis Hopkins,
William Reynolds, Stephen Root, Elias Roberts,
Asaph Whittlesey,
Benjamin Harvey,
Thomas Roberson,
Robert Young,
Benjamin Harvey, Jr.,
Christopher Reynolds,
William Young,
Elisha Harvey,
Daniel Ross,
John Young, Jr.,
Abraham Harding,
Michael Rude,
Abel Yarington."
James Hedsall, Jr.,
[Total, 241.]
On page 1,048 of "The Town Book of Wilkes Barre" we find the following minutes of a town-meeting held at Fort Wyoming October 5, 1772.
"Voted, That Esq! Tripp, John Jenkins, Philip Goss, John Perkins, Capt. Bates, Daniel Gore, William Stewart are apptd comtee men to mark out ye rode from Dillaware River to Pittstown. Capt. Butler is apptd to receive in ye money & grain that each man
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Benjamin Follett,
John Murphy,
Ephraim McCoy,
Isaac Tripp,
James Nisbitt,
Jonathan Terry,
Phineas Nash,
Joshua Tuttle,
Henry Pensil,
David Smith Tammage,
Elisha Wilcox,
Daniel Gore,
Thomas Walworth,
Asa Gore,
Lemuel Harding,
Justice Porter,
Richard West, William Warner,
John White, Eason Wilcox,
Peter Harrington,
Samuel Hotchkiss,
Joseph Sprague, Benjamin Stevens, Elijah Silsberry, John Sawyer, Samuel Slater, John Staples, Samuel Staples, Shadrack Sill, Jabez Sill, Thomas Sill,
Edward Lester,
John Swift,
David Marvin, Jr.,
Timothy Rose, Thomas Stoddard, Abel Smith, Timothy Smith,
Frederick Curtis, Jenks Corey, Nathan Chapman, Nathan Denison, Jonth Downing, William Davidson, Jonth Dean, Nathan Dart, Stephen Durell, John Dorrance, John Dougherty, John David,
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has signed to ye subscriptions for ye makeing ye rode from Dilleware River to Pittstown, & pay out ye same by orders from ye Comtee appointed to do said work.
"Voted, That ye Comtee appointed to mark out ye rode from Dilleware River to Pittstown are appointed as a Comtee to see sd rode made and completed.
"Voted, That if any proprietor or settler now on sd land, or shall be received in as a settler, that shall refuse or neglect to do his duty in guarding & scouting when warned thereto, shall be punished according to ye laws of ye Colony of Connecticutt.
"Voted, That Mr. Jabez Sills is appointed to be sealer of weights & measures for ye time being for this company, &c."
The following is a verbatim copy of the original draft of the minutes of a town-meeting now in the collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
"Att a propriators meeting Legally warned and Held in Wilksbarre october 19th 1772-
"voted that Capt. Butler was chosen moderator for ye work of ye day &c.
"voted-that Esq! Tripp is appointed to oversee those persons that shall from time to time be sent out from ye severall towns to work on ye Rode from Dillaware River to this place and see that ye work be Done according to the Directions of ye Comtee that was sent out to mark out sd Rode, &c.
"voted-that Mr. Blackman is appointed for ye town of wilksbarre to git out ye men out to work on ye Rode to Dillaware, &c.
"voted-that m! Dixson is appointed for ye town of Kingstown to git ye men out to work on ye Rode to Dillaware, &c.
"voted by this Company that Capt. Lazarus Stewart & m! willm Stewart and their associates are Deserving of the town of Hannover Agreable to ye votes passed at their General meeting of ye Propriators of ye Susquehannah company Held at windham January 94% 1771.
"voted-that every man of the setlers Belonging to the setling towns in ye Susque- hannah Purchase shall do their Duty Both guarding & scouting according to ye votes of sd setlers, and if any man Refuse or Neglect to do sd Duty they shall be subject to lose their Rights according to ye votes of ye Propriators at their meeting at windham January 1769, except they give satisfaction to the Comtee of setlers within twenty-four Hours after sd Neglect, &c.
"whereas it was voted at a General meeting of ye Propriators Held at wilksbarre June 29th 1772 that ye Propriators Belonging to ye township of Plymouth shall by them- selves within 40 Days provide a sufficient Block House to keep their guard by themselves and remove themselves into ye same for their Defence and ye Rest ye setlers on sd Land or forfitt there setling rights &c .; and whereas the time is Now expired and ye House is not yet Built &c. it is Now voted that they shall Have forty Days from this time to Build their House to guard &c. according to the former vote &c .- except their removeing in to ye same to live, But Do their Duty there."
In the Spring of 1772 a tolerable road had been constructed from Wilkes- Barré to Pittstown. It started at the head of what was later called Main Street in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barré, and ran in a north-easterly direction nearly a straight course to the settlement below the mouth of the Lackawanna River. In the Fall of 1772 the Wyoming set- tlers, pursuant to the several resolutions adopted at the town-meetings, very generally turned out to build the projected road from Pittstown to the Delaware. It was laid out nearly, if not exactly, along the line of the old path, or trail, known as the "Upper Road to the Delaware" (see page 646) and running up along the Lackawanna to Capouse Meadows, thence due east to Sho- hola, and thence south-east to what is now known as Dingman's Ferry.
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The course of the road from Wilkes-Barre to the Delaware is plainly in- dicated on the "Map of North-eastern Pennsylvania" in Chapter XXIII. By hard work this road was made passable for carts, wagons and sledges by the end of the year 1772-but it was a pretty rough road .*
At New Haven, Connecticut, under date of October 20, 1772, Nathaniel Wales, Jr. (see note on page 639), wrote to Capt. Zebulon Butler at Wilkes-Barre as follows :
* * "Mr. Gore has been very faithful, but we think our Assembly don't look with so good a complextion as we could wish, and can have no hopes of favor at this time, as we are waiting for advice from home.t Have also been corresponding with Gov! Penn by way of Capt. Trumbull. We think it not best at this time to stir the hornets' nest, but keep as still as possible and creep into possession as fast as we can. * * * I doubt not but you will personally endeavor to promote harmony, and it seems to me there might be so many persons of consideration among you that you can curb the few unruly ones, if any there be. * * In the meantime let us try to keep all things still here, and at Pennsylvania and among yourselves, and crowd in settlers with all our might, so as to get good foot-hold.
"I hope if Mr. [Jacob] Johnson comes among you he will be a great peacemaker. He is a good man. * * Should love to God and to one another prevail among you, I should not be afraid of what man could do. I wish that every one had a just sense of the importance of having God for our friend, our Guide & Protector, and with one heart seek His favor. In such a case how would that wilderness rejoice ! It would doubtless soon blossom like a rose.
"Your safety depends on your virtue, and I hope every one will, to his utmost, in- culcate principles of virtue & goodness, love & harmony. It appears to me there is a fine opportunity for all to preach among you ; and believe me, Sir, there is much seems to devolve on you, and that you have a fine opportunity of doing good, and I sincerely wish you a heart to improve it. The cause is glorious, the work is pleasing and delightful, and the reward is certain !"
The following is a verbatim copy of the minutes of a town-meeting recorded in the handwriting of Maj. Ezekiel Peirce on page 1,069 (see photo-reproduction on the opposite page) of "The Town Book of Wilkes Barre," mentioned on page 27, Volume I.
"Att a meeting of ye Propriators & setlers Belonging to ye Susquehannah Purchase Legally warned and Held In wilksbarre Novbr 18th 1772-
"Capt Butler was chosen moderator for ye work of ye Day.
"Voted-that those Persons that Lives In Pittstown shall Do the Duty there ; and those that Lives Below Frederick Eveland's in Plymoth is to Do their Duty their ; and those that Belongs to Hanover to Do their Duty in ye Block house where Capt Stewart Now Livest; and those that Belongs to & Lives in ye town of Kingstown to come and Do their Duty in ye fort at wilksbarre untill they Fortifie and Gaurd by themselves at Kings- town ; But those that Belongs to Kingstown shall be Brought over ye River upon free cost if they come at ye time appointed ; if Not, then to pay their Ferige [ferriage]. And for ye gaurd that comes to gaurd at ye fort at Wilksbarre to bring over ye gaurd that comes to gaurd that Day on free cost ; and for ye twelve men to come from Kingstown and above Evelands when their turns comes all in one Day to gaurd, &c.
"Voted-that each town to keep gaurd according to ye List now made out untill further orders for ye future.
"Voted-that those persons that have neglected to do their duty in gaurding for ye time past shall make it up by working on ye gaurd house one day each for one day's neglect, and that within ten days from this time, and to be notified by Mr. Stowel what day to work, &c.
"Voted-that Mr. Christopher Avery is appointed to collect in those species that ye proprs & setlers have signed to ye support of ye Revd Mr. Jacob Johnson ye year ensuing. "Voted-that Mr. Swift of Kingstown, Mr. Asa Stevens for Wilksbarre, Mr. Parker for Pittstown, Mr. Marvin for Plymoth is apptd Comtee men to git men to work on ye rode from Dillaware River to this place, and to set out next Wednesday to work on ye rode, &c. "Voted-that every man that holds a setling right in either of these setling towns shall provide himself a good firelock & ammunition sufficient according to ye laws of ye Colony of Connecticutt : that shall be excepted [accepted] of by ye Comtee of setlers, & that by ye first Monday of December next, and then to appear compleat in their arms at ye fort in Wilksbarre at 12 of ye clock on sd Day, fitt for viewing, as ye Law Directs, &c.
"Voted-that Thomas Bennet's setling right is forfited to this Company by his neglect in not doing his Duty in gaurding, &c.§
*See page 636, sixth paragraph. t England. # See page 644.
§ His right was restored to him by a vote passed at a town-meeting held December 7, 1772.
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"Voted-that Silas Gore is not intitled to a setling Right of Land in ye town of Wilksbarre & Nantecook, but in wilksbarre.
"Voted-that Mr. Jesse Weeks is intitled to ye Right of Land in ye township Nantecook that was reserved for Silas Gore in sd Nantecook-sd Gore chose his right in Wilks Barre, &c.
"Voted-that ye Revd MI. Jacob Johnson shall be intitled to a setling right in some one of ye setling towns, &c."
Att a meeting of y Propriations & Sollers Belonging tony Susquehannaich Binbags Legally vorne and. HO gn withsome Nou b 18th 1772
Cort-Butter was Chalon moderator for of work
to - that thou Devions that Lives on Dittslown - Shall To the Duty there on those that Lives -. Blow Frederick Svelands in Plymouth is to Do their Duty their? and those that Belongs to Hanover to Do their ty in of Block house · where Cop- Stewart Now Lives : on thou that Belongs to & Lives in of town of Kingstown to Come on Do their fruity in I fort at withsome untill they shortifie i Goon by theufoalves at Kingstowne. But those that Belongs to Kingstown shall be Brought ' overy diver ion frecost of they Come at of ¥
time oppointed ? if Not then to pay their Terings
Photo-reproduction of a portion of page 1,000 of "The Town Book of Wilkes Barre."
At a town-meeting held December 7, 1772, the following resolu- tions, among other matters, were adopted.
"That there shall be a tax granted upon each settling-right on the East Branch of the Susquehanna Purchase in order to make and finish a road from Delaware River to this place. That those persons that shall go out to work on ye road from Delaware River to ye westernmost part of ye Great Swamp* shall have three shillings per day, lawful money, for ye time they work to ye acceptance of ye overseers ; and from ye Great Swamp . this way, shall have one shilling and six pence per day, and no more.
"Voted, To allow Esquire Tripp five shillings, lawful money, per day to go out to work on ye road from Delaware River to ye westernmost part of ye Great Swamp, & to oversee those that go out to work-to see that ye work be well done. Mr. Nathan Den- ison is appointed overseer from ye westernmost part of ye Great Swamp this way, to this place, & is to have three shillings per day. The following collectors of taxes, to be raised on each right, were appointed : Asa Stevens for Wilksbarre, Capt. Follett for Kingstown, 'Deacon' Hopkins for Plymouth, William Stewart for Hanover, Lemuel Harding for Pittstown, Solomon Johnson for Providence.
"Voted, That Lieut. Buck, Christopher Avery, William Warner, Peregreen Gardner and Asa Stevens be appointed a Comtee to say how old a person shall be to hold a settling right-and make report at the next meeting.
* See page 829, Vol. I.
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"Voted, That Asa Stevens, Daniel Gore and Abel Peirce are appointed to Inspect into all ye Houses that sell or retail strong drink, that no person or Persons shall at any time Hereafter sell or Lett any Indian or Indians have any strong Drink on forfiture of his or their setling Right or Rights, & also forfitt ye whole of ye Remainder of. their Liquor to this Company ; and that ye Comtes above [is] appointed to take care of sd liquor Immediately.
"Voted, That their shall be a Comtee of five men to appoint Houses of Publick entertainment, but not to appoint more than two persons within this Fort. Cap! Follet, Asa Stevens, Mr. Avery, Esq! Tripp and Mr. Dana is appointed a Comtee for ye abovesd work.
"Voted, That ye Comtee in each of ye respective towns shall view ye arms and am- munition belonging to each town, and for ye Comtee in each town to make their returns to ye Comtee of setlers when called upon by ye Comtee [of Settlers]."
At a town-meeting of the proprietors of Wilkes-Barre held Decem- ber 11, 1772, at which Capt. Stephen Fuller served as Moderator, it was "Voted to give and grant unto ye Revd Mr. Jacob Johnson, and his heirs and assigns forever, in case he settle in this town as a gospel minister, fifty acres of land." In pursuance of this vote the town conveyed to Mr. Johnson, May 31, 1773, the "50-acre Lot" mentioned on page 656, ante -reserving, however, out of the same, four acres at the south-easterly corner for a public burial-ground. (See Chapter XLIX.) In lieu of this reservation the town voted to Mr. Johnson (about that time, and not in 1776 or '77 as has been heretofore stated) "the island known by the name of Wilkesbarre Island" and described on page 51, Volume I. The "50-acre Lot" was in the 3d. Division of the Wilkes-Barre lands, and adjoined the town-plot on the north-east-being bounded on one side by the river, on another side by North Street, and on a third side by the extension of Main Street north, or the Wilkes-Barre-Pittston road. (See, in Chapter XXVI, a photo-reproduction of a certified draft of a part of this lot.) Within the original bounds of the "50-acre Lot" are now located the Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Irish Catholic and the German Catholic cemeteries, the works of the Wilkes-Barre Gas Company, the Luzerne County Prison, Reichard & Weaver's Brewery, and numerous private residences.
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