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 65
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" When the Winter of 1777 '78 came on ", states Halsey in "The Old New York Frontier," "the main body of Indians and Tories had retired from Oswego to Niagara, but a considerable number of Indians remained to spend that season in Unadilla and Oghwaga." Cruikshank (in " The Story of Butler's Rangers ") declares that "during the Winter [of 1777-'78] the Senecas carefully abstained from molesting the fron- tier of New York until they found an opportunity of removing such of their friends as might be exposed to retaliation, when, they told Butler, they meant 'to strike in a body.'"
In December, 1778, six full companies of " Rangers" were assem- bled at Fort Niagara to receive their clothing, and then they went into Winter quarters in an isolated range of log buildings which had been constructed under Major Butler's supervision during the Autumn on the west side of the river, in what is now Niagara-on-the-Lake. These buildings (still standing) were thenceforth known as the " Rangers' Barracks".t The uniform selected for the "Rangers" was of dark green cloth, trimmed with scarlet ; with a low, flat cap, having a brass plate in front bearing the letters "G. R.", in monogram, encircled by the words " Butler's Rangers." It was intended that the corps should be armed with rifles, but, as each of the "Rangers" was expected to provide his own gun, there were all sorts of fire-arms in use among them. In the latter part of December, 1778, Governor Haldimand informed Major Butler that all matters relating to the "Rangers" and the Indian Department had been placed in charge of Lieut. Colonel Bolton ; that all the accounts for the maintenance of the "Rangers" must pass through Bolton's hands; that the corps should be mustered, and the large expenses connected with its maintenance should be explained, and that "bounty" could not be allowed to the men enlisting in the corps. In April, 1779, Lord George Germain, in an official communication§ to Governor Haldimand, approved of the conduct of Maj. John Butler and his
* In "The Falls of Niagara", published in 1839.
t At Niagara, March 8, 1779, Maj. John Butler drew on Governor Haldimand for payment of the ex- pense incurred in "building barracks for the 'Kangers' and distressed families."
Į GEORGIUS REX ("King George").
" See the "Haldimand Papers", B. M. 21,710-L:12.
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son Capt. Walter N. Butler in their various incursions and forays against the Americans during the preceding year. Haldimand wrote Butler that he regarded the assistance of the Indians as indispensable as ever. "I am confident," he said, " that no pains or trouble will be spared on your part to keep the different tribes in the humor of acting for the ser- vice of the Crown, and that every argument will be made use of by you to convince them how severely they would feel the contrary behavior."
In September, 1779, Captains Walter N. Butler, William Caldwell, John McDonnel and Peter Hare, "doing duty with the Rangers", addressed a memorial to Major Butler-which was forwarded by him to Governor Haldimand-asking that a Captain be appointed to each company of the corps. Late in the Summer of 1779 Col. Guy Johnson arrived at Niagara and assumed control of the Indian Department .* Major Butler continued to act as his Deputy. At Quebec, under the date of January 28, 1780, Governor Haldimand wrote to Lord George Germain relative to the unfitness of Colonel Johnson for the office of Indian Superintendent. He stated, in plain terms, that the good effected by the Five Nations was "due to Major Butler, Colonel Cald- well, Joseph Brant" and certain other officers, Johnson having neglected his duty. t
Under the date of February 12, 1780, Governor Haldimand wrote to Major Butler that he had taken upon himself the responsibility of naming him (Butler) "a Provincial Lieutenant Colonel." He stated, also, that he was "sensible of Captain [Walter N.] Butler's zeal and activity," but could not promote him " over the heads of so many offi- cers of merit and long standing as " were connected with the army in his Department. Two days later John Butler was commissioned "Lieu- tenant Colonel of the Rangers." He desired to have a Major and an Adjutant appointed and commissioned for his corps, but Haldimand declined his request, saying : "Rangers are in general separated, and the nature of their service little requires the forms of parade or the manœuvres practised in the field. It is the duty, and I am persuaded will be the pleasure, of every Captain to perfect his company in dispers- ing and forming expeditiously, priming and loading carefully, and levelling well. These, with personal activity and alertness, are all the qualities that are effective or can be wished for in a ranger."
In the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, XXXI:12, there is printed a roster of "Butler's Rangers." It bears no date, but may be presumed to have been made up in 1780, or early in 1781. The following-named appear as Captains: Peter Hare, John McDonnel, Benjamin Pawling, A. Thompson, Walter N. Butler and William Cald- well. Among the names of the other officers, and among those of the privates, are to be found the following, recognized as names of former inhabitants of the town of Westmoreland. Jesse Pawling, Quarter- master ; Benjamin Pawlingt, James Secord, Sr., and Solomon Secord, Lieutenants ; Stephen Secord and John Young, Sergeants ; Abraham, John and Peter Wintermute, Corporals; Jacob Anguish, Henry An- guish, Frederick Anker, Sr., Frederick Anker, Jr., Adam Bowman, Jr.,
* See note on page 300, Vol. I.
t See the "Haldimand Papers", B. M. 21,714-LIV : 271.
In a letter written about 1801 by Col. John Jenkins (see Craft's "Wyalusing," page 52), he refers in a special manner to "the three Pawlings," who left the Wyoming settlement in 1777, joined John Butler, and were commissioned officers in the "Rangers." "They afterwards returned home in the Winter sea- son, made arrangements for their friends, and then joined Butler early in 1778."
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Henry, Jacob and Peter Bowman, Philip Buck, Edward Hicks, Henry Hover, Abraham, Jonas and Peter Larraway, Elijah Phelps, Nicholas Phillips, Benjamin, James and William Pickard, David Secord, Sr., John Secord, Jr., Peter Secord, Sr., Michael Showers, Sr., Parshall Terry, Jr., Jacob Van Alstyne, Frederick Vanderlip, Henry and Hendrick Windecker, Abraham, Benjamin and Philip Wintermute.
In September, 1781, the tenth company of the " Rangers " was com- pleted, and pronounced by Colonel Powell, after inspection, to be a very good one. At Niagara, on the 1st of the ensuing October, Lieut. Col- onel Butler, "for himself and the officers of his corps," forwarded a memorial to Govornor Haldimand praying that the words in their commissions, " to serve with the Indians", might " be omitted, as they [the words] are made a pretext for ill-treating any of the corps of Rangers who may be taken prisoners."* At Niagara, under the date of July 18, 1782, Lieut. Colonel Butler petitioned that his corps might " receive a distinctive name, and not be styled merely 'Butler's Rang- ers.'" He stated that he could complete the enlisting of one or two more companies that Summer "should His Excellency [Governor Hal- dimand] sanction the proposal." No action on this petition seems to have been taken by the Governor.
In the Autumn of 1782 one John Dease was appointed "principal of the Indian Department at Niagara in the room of Lieut. Colonel But- ler". In writing to Sir John Johnson Governor Haldimand expressed great surprise at this change. Just a short time before this Col. (later Brig. Gen.) Allen Macklean, who was then in command of the garrison at Fort Niagara, had written to Haldimand to the effect that Butler was the only man there "equal in any degree to the management of the Indians." During the Summer of 1783 the entire battalion of " Rang- ers " was officially inspected, and the returns showed a strength of 469 men, 111 women and 257 children. The corps was finally disbanded in June, 1784, with the intention that the men should at once take up their residence on lands assigned to them in the immediate vicinity of Niagara. Within a month 258 officers and men had agreed to settle, making, with their families, a body of 620 persons.
Returning now to Wilkes-Barre we find that, at a town-meeting of the inhabitants of Westmoreland held here early in September, 1777, 149 freemen of the town took the oath of allegiance to the State of Con- necticut, in compliance with a new Act of Assembly then recently passed. According to the rate-bills, or tax-lists, of the various districts of Westmoreland for the year 1777, there were then 546 tax-payers in the town ; which, as explained on page 877, ante, would indicate a probable population of 3,276.
However, just as in the case of the tax-lists for 1776 (as has been previously noted), so in the present instance we find missing from the lists the names of many men known to have been owners of land in Westmoreland in 1777, and either present on the ground or absent as soldiers in the American army. As for example: The Reverends Jacob Johnson and Noah Wadhams, Matthias Hollenback, James Bidlack, Jr., Lebbeus Tubbs, John Jenkins, Jr., Daniel Denton, Rudolph Fox, James Gould, Solomon Johnson, Gideon Church, Constant Matthewson, John Swift, Elisha Satterlee, John Carey, Frederick Follett, James Frisbie,
* See the " Haldimand Papers," B. M. 21,874-CCXIV : 272.
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Elisha Garrett, Stephen Munson, Aaron Perkins, Ira Stephens, Stephen Pettebone, Parker Wilson, Mason F. Alden, Caleb Atherton, Jesse Bis- sell, Samuel Billings, Asa Burnham, John O'Neal, Peter Osterhout, Thomas Niell and Solomon Strong. Of those subsequently ascertained to be Tories, the names of some are in the lists,* but others are missing, as for example : Jacob Anguish, George Kentner, John De Pui, Benja- min Pawling, John Secord, James Secord, Solomon Secord, Philip Buck, Henry Windecker, John Young, Edward Hicks, Nicholas Phillips, Adam Wortman, Adam Bowman, Jacob Bowman and Henry Hover.
* The lists of 1777 are now in existence, and copies of them will be found printed in "Proceed- ings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," V : 219-230. The names contained in the lists are as follows:
WILKES-BARRE DISTRICT. Wm. Hooker Smith,
Asa Gore, Obadiah Gore,
Jehu Fish,
John Smith,
Richardson Avery, Christopher Avery, Jonathan Avery,
Isaac Smith,
Silas Gore, Peter Harris,
John Franklin, Jr., Robert Frazer,
Goodwin,
William Avery,
Josiah Stanburrough,
John Abbott,
Jabez Sill,
Lebbeus Hammond,
Benjamin Bailey,
John Staples,
John Hammond,
Justus Gaylord,
Col. Zebulon Butler,
Joseph Staples,
Oliver Hammond,
Daniel Hewitt,
Dethick Hewitt,
Isaac Bennet,
Gamaliel Truesdale,
Christopher Hurlbut,
Asa Bennet,
John Truesdale, Job Tripp,
Josiah Kellogg,
Nathan Bullock,
John White,
James Hopkins,
George Cooper,
Jonathan Weeks,
Joseph Crooker,
Jonathan Weeks, Jr.,
Philip Weeks,
Peter Wheeler,
Eleazar Carey,
John Williams,
Robert McIntire,
Nathan Carey,
Thaddeus Williams,
Dr. Jarib Dyer,
Robert Durkee,
labez Darling,
Flavius Waterman,
William Warner,
Elihu Waters.
Timothy Rose,
William Dorton,
KINGSTON DISTRICT.
William Dunn, Jr.,
Thomas Dunn,
Daniel Downing,
Dr. Shadrack Derby, Henry Elliot, John Elliot,
Isaac Baldwin,
Benjamin Budd,
John Bass,
Henry Bush,
Aholiab Buck,
Jonathan Fitch,
John Foster,
Daniel Gore,
Obadiah Gore, Jr.,
Cornelius Gale,
James Green,
David Bixby,
John Garrett,
Robert Campbell,
Samuel Cummings,
PLYMOUTH DISTRICT.
Samuel Andrews, Samuel Ayres, Mary Baker,
James Bidlack,
Joshua Bennet,
Nathan Beach, Bull, .
Benjamin Cole,
James Roberts,
Benjamin Kelly, Solomon Lee,
Thomas Mcclure,
James Divine, Esther Follett,
Fliphalet_Follett,
Thomas Foxen, Peter Finch, Isaac Finch,
Daniel Finch,
Stephen Fuller, Jr., John C. Fox, Gabriel Ferguson,
William Gallup, Hallet Gallup,
Lemuel Gustin, Samuel Gordon, Charles Gillett,
Thomas Dodson, James Dodson, Gilbert Denton, Joseph Dewey, Frederick Eveland, Hugh Foresman,
Noah Pettebone, Jr., Elisha Parker, James Parker, Giles Permon, Junia Preston, Nehemiah Parks, Peren Ross,
John Hageman, Enoch Judd, William Judd,
Henry Decker,
Joseph Disberry,
Azariah Ketcham,
Amos Draper, Isaac Downing, Nathan Denison,
Jeremiah Coleman,
Jeremiah Coleman, Jr.,
Jesse Coleman,
John Coleman,
Joshua Coleman, John Caldwell, William Churchill, Jonathan Churchill,
Thomas Carscadden, Richard Dodson, John Dodson,
Mary Roberts, Josiah Rogers, Jonah Rogers, Benjamin Reed, David Reynolds,. William Reynolds, Elisha Richards, Samuel Ransom, William Stewart, Simon Spalding, Benedict Satterlee, Daniel Sherwood, Oliver Smith, Obadiah Scott, Solomon Squire, Jacob Sly.
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David Goss,
Nathaniel Goss, Philip Goss,
Gideon Baldwin,
Elisha Blackman,
Justus Worden,
Eldad Kellogg,
Nathaniel Landon,
Peter Lowe,
Jesse Lee,
James Legget, Winchester Matthewson,
Ezekiel Peirce, John Peirce,
Timothy Peirce,
Noah Pettebone, John Perkins,
Samuel Jackson, Jr., Thomas Kitchen,
Benjamin Kilbourn,
Stephen Lee, Zebulon Lee, William Landon, Rufus Lawrence, David Lindsey,
Stephen Fuller, Jabez Fish, Elisha Fish,
Asahel Buck, William Buck,
Asa Brown,
Thomas Bennet,
William Baker,
Richard Brockway,
Nathaniel Terry, Ichabod Tuttle, Isaac Underwood, Stephen Whiton, Ozias Yale.
Thomas Leavenworth, Gad Marshall, Nicholas Manvil, David Marvin, Samuel Marvin, Uriah Marvin, Ephraim McCoy, Phineas Nash, James Nesbitt, William Nelson, Daniel Owen, Jonathan Otis, Peter Pugh,
Rezin Geer, Darius Hazen, Zeruiah Hazen, John Hollenback,
Amaziah Cleveland, Elias Church,
Samuel Hutchinson,
Samuel Hutchinson, Jr., Joseph Hubbard, John Hyde,
John Comstock, Peleg Comstock, Elnathan Cary, William Crooks, George Dorrance, John Dorrance,
James Cole, Jonathan Center,
James Roberts, 2d, Daniel Roberts, Hezekiah Roberts,
William Parker, Thomas Porter, Daniel Rosecrans, Ann Ross, William Rowley,
Isaac Rhodes, David Reynolds, Darius Spafford, Toseph Shaw, Beniamin Shaw, William Stark, Aaron Stark, Elizabeth Stark, Tosiah Smith,
Jonathan Slocum,
Asa Stevens,
Elijah Harris, William Hammond,
Aaron Gaylord,
Joseph Gaylord,
Thomas Brown, John Brown,
James Staples,
Samuel Staples,
Philip Goss, Jr.,
Daniel Ingersoll,
Solomon Goss, John Heath,
Thomas Heath,
Timothy Hopkins, Jonathan Hunlock, Andrew Herrega, George Herrega, William Hurlbut, Benjamin Harvey, .= Silas Harvey, Zachariah Hartsouf, Jacob Holdrin, Samuel Jackson,
David Darling,
Anderson Dana,
James Atherton, James Atherton, Jr., Asahel Atherton,
Joseph Elliot,
Ebenezer Skinner, William Stephens, Constant Searle, William Searle, Thomas Stoddart, Joshua Stevens, Jedidiah Stevens, Lockwood Smith, Mary Ransom Swift, Elijah Shoemaker, Luke Swetland,
Parshall Terry, Uriah Terry,
William Cooper, Samuel Cole,
Daniel Whitney, James Wigton,
Jonathan Forsythe,
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The regular semi-annual session of the General Assembly of Con- necticut was held at Hartford in October, 1777, beginning on the 11th of the month, and Judge John Jenkins and Isaac Tripp, Esq., were present as Representatives from the town of Westmoreland. The Assem- bly promoted Maj. George Dorrance of Kingston to be Lieutenant Col- onel of the 24th Regiment "in the room of Lazarus Stewart, Esq., resigned," and Capt. John Garrett "to be Major in the room of George Dorrance, promoted." The following additional promotions and appoint- ments in the 24th Regiment were also made *- all the officers named being shortly afterwards commissioned by Governor Trumbull. Dethick Hewitt to be Captain, Aholiab Buck, Lieutenant, and Asa Gore, Ensign, "of the 2d [or Kingston] Company, or Train-band "; John Hageman to be Ensign "of the 6th [or Upper Wilkes Barre] Company, or Train-
PLYMOUTH DISTRICT (Concluded).
Elijah Inman, Jr.,
Israel Inman,
James Lewis, Solomon Lee, Samuel Miller, James Moore,
John Wintermute, Richard West.
Peter Stevens,
John Jacobs,
Thomas Sawyer, Daniel Trask,
Robert Jameson,
Ebenezer Marcy, Zebulon Marcy,
Matthias Van Loon,
William Jameson,
Alexander Mackey,
James Moore, Jr.,
Francis Phillips,
Timothy Pearce,
Justus Pickett,
. Ezer Curtis, Benjamin Eaton,
William White,
George Mack,
John Ryan,
Zachariah Squire,
Richard Fitzgerald,
Asaph Whittlesey, Nathan Wade,
William McKerachan,
William Shay, John Scott,
Reuben Herrington,
John Wilson,
Benjamin Potts, Josiah Pell, William Kandall,
Joseph Sprague,
Isaac Larraway,
HANOVER DISTRICT.
Benjamin Marcy,
Prince Alden,
William Armstrong, Robert Alexander,
Peleg Burritt,
Edward Spencer,
Elijah Silsby, John Stafford,
Ichabod Phelps,
Gideon Burritt,
Levi Spencer,
William Smith, Jr.,
Aaron Stark,
Frederick Smith,
James Stevenson,
Joseph Thomas,
Isaac Tripp,
. Michael Showers, Benjamin Skiff, Sebastian Strope,
James Brink, Isaac Bennet, Jr., Jeremiah Bickford,
Japhet Utley,
Thomas Taylor,
Garret Vanderbarrack,
Henry Burney, Aaron Bowen, Stoddard Bowen, James Cook,
PITTSTON DISTRICT.
Elisha Wilcox,
Isaac Adams,
Eleazar West,
Joseph Winkler,
Daniel Allen,
John White,
James Wells,
Isaac Allen,
Justus Worden.
Amos York.
David Allen,
NORTH DISTRICT
LACKAWAY DISTRICT.
Thomas Angel,
(EXETER AND PROVIDENCE) . John Ainsley,
Caleb Bates,
Joseph Baker,
Hezekiah Bingham,
Capt. Jeremiah Blanchard. Nathan Bradley,
Uriah Chapman, Esq.,
Isaac Baldwin,
Roger Clark,
Rufus Baldwin,
James Dye,
James Brown,
John Gardner,
Jasper Edwards,
William Benedict,
Stephen Gardner,
Capt. Eliab Farnam,
Silas Benedict,
Capt. Stephen Harding,
Nathaniel Gates,
Increase Billings,
David Gates,
Elihu Carey,
Jonathan Haskell,
Barnabas Carey,
Peter Harris, Jr.,
Jacob Kimball,
Joseph Carey,
James Hadsall,
Abel Kimball,
Daniel Cash, John Carr,
John Jenkins, Esq.,
Moses Killam,
George Cooper,
Zadock Killam,
Thomas Christy, Isaac Finch, Isaiah Halstead,
William Martin,
Jephthah Killam,
Richard Halstead, Levi Hicks,
Samuel Morgan, James Newton, Elisha Scovell,
Silas Park, Esq.,
Abraham Harding,
Zebulon Parrish,
Thomas Harding, Timothy Howe,
Fton Jones,
Joel Strong,
Richard Jones,
Flijah Witter,
Christopher Wintermute, Enos Woodward,
Philip Wintermute,
Enos Woodward, Jr.
* See "Records of the State of Connecticut," 1 : 480.
NORTH DISTRICT ("UP THE RIVER").
Frederick Anker,
John Van Why,
Elibu Williams,
Edward Lester,
Ebenezer Lane,
Conrad Lines,
James Lasley,
Thomas Pickett,
Lemuel Fitch,
John Herrington,
Jesse Washburn.
Capt. Lazarus Stewart, Lazarus Stewart, Jr.,
Daniel St. John, David Sanford,
Ephraim Sanford,
John Pensil, Abel Palmer, Elijah Phelps,
Stephen Burritt, Daman Beef, John Bony, Gideon Booth, Isaac Booth,
John Tillbury,
Job Tripp,
Isaac Van Valkenburg,
John Taylor,
Preserved Taylor,
James Van Alstyne,
Isaac Van Alstyne,
Robert Young.
Nathaniel Williams,
"Old" Van Alstyne,
William Williams, Whittaker, Esq.,
Thomas Wilcox,
Noah Adams,
Amy Wilcox,
James Corkindale, John Commer, Kingsley Comstock, Tonathan Corey, Jenks Corey, Christopher Courtright, Elisha Courtright, John Carlisle, Isaac Campbell, Alexander Campbell, James Cochran, Charles Carrell,
William Casson, Nathaniel Davenport, Samuel Davenport, Samuel Ensign, Tohn Ewing, Isaac Fitchett,
Stephen Harding, Jr., Lemuel Harding,
Walter Kimball,
Andrew Freeman, Tames Forsythe, Roasel Franklin, John Franklin, Flias Green, Nathaniel Howard,
Benjamin Jones, Justus Jones, Thomas Toslin,
Ephraim Killam,
Samuel Howard, Corian Hibbard, William Hibbard, Frenezer Hebard,
David Smith, John D. Shoemaker,
John Pellet, Jr.,
Tames Sutton, Richard Tozer, Samuel Tozer,
William Pellet,
Titns Hinman. Nathan Howell. Tobn Hutchins, David Inman,
Timothy Keyes, Joseph Leonard,
Samuel Slater, Jr.,
William Pawling,
Caleb Spencer,
James Spencer,
Minor Robbins,
William Smith,
William Stark,
John Sharar,
John Walker,
Adam White,
Elijah Brown, Ishmael Bennet,
Capt. Robert Carr,
Elihu Williams, Jr., Rufus Williams, Samuel Williams,
Jacob Morris,
Samuel Slater,
Nathan Kingsley,
George Liquors,
John Jameson,
Richard Inman,
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John Killam,
Amos Park,
James Bagley,
Manasseh Cady, James Finn,
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band "; James Bidlack, Sr., Lebbeus Tubbs and John Comstock to be, respectively, Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign "of the 1st Company of the Alarm List in the 24th Regiment."
The gloomy aspect of affairs along the seaboard in 1777 ; Burgoyne with his powerful army descending from the North; the accession of the Indians to the cause of Great Britain-carrying with it the certainty that the frontier settlements, as in the French and English War, would be one long line of conflagrations and massacres-awakened in the breasts of the people of Westmoreland great fears for the general cause, and extreme anxiety for their own safety. Miner states that a system of scouting was established at Wyoming in the Summer and Autumn of 1777, by which details of the 24th Regiment were sent up the river to watch the Indian paths and bring back such intelligence concerning the Indians and Tories as they could gather. Each party of five or six was generally absent a week, but their numbers, and the frequency of their tours of duty, were increased as emergencies seemed to require.
About the 10th of September news reached Wilkes-Barre that a number of Tories, whose homes were up the Susquehanna in that part of Westmoreland now within the limits of the counties of Wyoming and Bradford, Pennsylvania, had returned to their homes from New York State where they had been for some months, presumably within the British lines. Colonel Denison immediately sent out a detachment of men from the 24th Regiment in search of these Tories. His official report of the incident was subsequently made to his superior officer (Brigadier General Wolcott, commanding the 6th Brigade, Connecticut Militia) in the following letter*, now published for the first time.
" WESTMORELAND the 20th of September 1777.
"Honoured S? - I Recd your Letter of the 12th of August with some blank returns: Directing me to make out and send you the Preasent state of the Regement in this part of the State of Connecticut, Which will be don & transmitted to your Hont by the Rep- resentetives of this town when they attend the general assembly in Octobr sesion, with what is wanting to enable us in the most effectual maner to secuar the Peace and safty of our Country:
" With Regarde to the Disposition of the indians toward this settelment, S!, you have no Doubt heard of A numbr of tories that left there posessions in this settelment and gone to Join the enemy at niagary some time last spring. Last week I got intele- gence from that Part of the settilment that those People went from, that they wear Returnd: upon which I sent a party of men with orders to mak Prisoners of such as might be found of them, but they giting intelegence of the Partys coming against them took to the mountains for shelter, so that our People took two of them Prisoners and killed onet more: tho the one that was kiled first fired on one of our men and slitely wounded him. Sence this happened I find that some of them have gon to the indian settelments on this River, others are Lurking about there famlies, so that if it is in there Power to bring the indians upon us it will be done, tho I conceive that a war with them Depends upon the succes of the american armes in other Parts.
" by what I can find out by the Prisoners there was about one hundred and 40 or 50 indians Returnd from the battel at fort stanwicks to there settelments up this River; what there Diseine is is unnone to me. I have some expectation of some of those tories com- ing in and giving them selvs up, but this is uncerting.
"Sr, wold Request your advice and Direction with Regard to Disposing of the Prisoners in our hands.
"Permit me, St, to subscribe my self your most obedient Hu! servent,
[Signed] "NATHAN DENISON." "To
Honble OLIVER WOLCOTT, Esq! Brigadier General of the Militia, State of Connecticut, Litchfield."
* The original is among the "Wolcott Papers," mentioned on page 29, Vol. I.
t ADAM WORTMAN, a German, living a short distance above what is now Tunkhannock, in Wyoming County, where he had settled about 1772, was the man who was shot at the time referred to. When the scouting party arrived at his home Wortman came out of his house armed with a gun. His wife called to him, "Shoot, Adam, shoot!" Adam fired, and the ball from his musket struck and penetrated an iron
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- The names of the two prisoners referred to in the foregoing report are preserved in an original bill* rendered in September, 1777, by the then jailer of the Westmoreland County jail, as follows :
"Col. NATHAN DENISON, &c., Committee of Inspection for Westmoreland, "To ISAAC UNDERWOOD, Dr.
"To boarding and tending Hicks and Woodreck in goal eight days, @ 9sh. a day,
.£3 : 12 : 0."
About that time a number of Tories were captured in the Lack- away District of Westmoreland. The occurrence is described by Miner (see his " Wyoming," page 469) in these words :
"A body of men, eighteen in number, were seen lurking in the ' Great Swamp,' as the bottom land along the Wallenpaupack was called. They were discovered by a young girl, a daughter of Nathaniel Gates (afterwards a Sergeant in Dethick Hewitt's com- pany ), as she was looking for some cows. She gave notice to the officer in command of the troops-Lieut. Jonathan Haskellt-and he collected the force of the settlement and succeeded in capturing the whole body. They proved to be Tories, who had deserted from the American army. Lieutenant Haskell conducted them to Hartford, [Connecti- cut], where they were confined."
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