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 early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume I > Part 86
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On the 10th of May, 1769, Col. Turbutt Francis, previously men- tioned, was at Harris' Ferry (now Harrisburg), in the Paxtang region,
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en route from Philadelphia to Fort Augusta, and to Col. James Burd, at Tinian, some six miles below Harris', he wrote as follows* :
"I would not have passed your house without calling on you, but had very particu- lar business which pressed me. There are now here five or six New Englanders from Wyoming, who are come down to purchase provisions for their friends, and, perhaps, have some other plan in view. If you could lay hold of them with propriety I fancy it might be of service, as they are in want of provisions at Wyoming. It would prevent these provisions from going up to them, and would deter others from coming down on the same errand. They talk of going hence on Monday next [May 15th]. I shall start for Augusta this afternoon, to spend my Summer."
Colonel Burd was at that time one of the magistrates in and for the county of Lancaster, which accounts for this information and the accom- panying suggestion being sent to him by Colonel Francis. While the latter made a good guess when he surmised that the New Englanders had "some other plan in view" than the purchase of provisions at Pax- tang, he was very far astray from the facts in the case when he presumed that the men had journeyed there from Wyoming. When Francis wrote, there were no New Englanders in Wyoming. It is more than probable that the coming of James McClure and his companions to Wyoming-as mentioned by Charles Stewart in his letter to Governor Penn, printed on page 488-and the visit of the men from Cumberland County-as described in the letter on page 499-were in consequence of the visit of the Yankees to Paxtang and its vicinity. Later-probably in June or July-Lazarus Young, William Young, John Espy, George Raab and Adam Stager came from either Paxtang or Hanover, in Lancaster County, to Wyoming, where they joined the Yankees at Fort Durkee.
When Major Durkee returned from Easton to Fort Durkee, and learned of the hostile demonstrations which had been made a day or two previously by Colonel Francis and his "corps" from Fort Augusta, he immediately proceeded to strengthen the defenses of Fort Durkee and to cause the sentinels and scouts of the settlement to redouble their vigi- lance. About the same time-say the last of June or early in July, 1769-Major Durkee compounded and originated the almost unique name "WILKESBARRE," and bestowed it upon the settlement and terri- tory at and immediately adjacent to Fort Durkee.
In the Spring of 1769, when the Wyoming colonists left New Eng- land, it was well known that Col. JOHN WILKES (who had been a mem- ber of the British Parliament, and whose name was indissolubly con- nected with Liberty in the minds of the American colonists and their friends) was suffering what his admirers and followers believed to be an unjust imprisonment in the King's Bench Prison, London. At the same time Col. ISAAC BARRÉ (who had been an officer in the English army in America in the campaigns of 1758 and 1759, and had been per- sonally known to Major Durkee-who, it will be recalled, was also an officer in the Provincial service during the same campaigns) stood in the British House of Commons as the foe of America's oppressors, and was almost unrivalled as a brilliant speaker, and hardly surpassed by any of the Opposition-even by Edmund Burke himself-in violent denuncia- tions of the Government.+ Among the admirers of Wilkes and Barré in Connecticut, during the period to which we refer, it is doubtful if there was one who surpassed in earnestness and devotedness the tried and steadfast patriot John Durkee. Other members of the Durkee
* See page 219 of "The Shippen Papers."
+ For extended sketches of JOHN WILKES and ISAAC BARRÉ, see Chapters IX and X.
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family in Windham County were also lovers of Liberty and Free Speech -and so it was that when in October, 1767, a son was born to Maj. John Durkee he gave to him the name "Barré"; and when in July, 1768, a son was born to Andrew Durkee, cousin of John, he received the 'name "Wilkes."* Andrew Durkee was for a time in Wyoming in 1769. (See his name in the lists on pages 497 and 509.)
John Durkee, Sr.
Stephen Durkee
William Durkee
Andrew Durkee
John Durkee
Wilkes Durkee
Barre Durkee
The earliest recorded mention of the name "Wilkesbarre" that the present writer has been able to find, after long and diligent search, is on page 176 in Book "B" of the original records of The Susquehanna Com- pany, mentioned on page 28, ante. It occurs in a certificate, or receipt, therein recorded as follows :
"WILKESBARRE 31ST JULY, 1769-received of GEORGE RAAB of the Province of Pensylvania the sum of Twenty Spanish Mill'd Dollars, which Intitles him to one half share or Right in the Susqh purchase so called, by virtue of a vote of the Proprietors the 12th day of April, 1769.
"Pr JNº DURKEE, President of the first settlers."
The next mention of the name that we have been able to find is in a copy of a receipt produced before the Confirming Commissioners at Wilkes-Barré in 1787, and recorded in the minutes of their proceedings referred to on page 29, ante, paragraph "(4)." The copy is in these words :
"WILKESBARRE AUGUST 25th, 1769-received of ADAM STAGER 20 dollars and & which entitles him to one whole right or share of land in the Susquehanna purchase, he paying 19 dollars more.
[Signed] "JNO DURKEE, President."
At Windham, Connecticut, under date of August 8, 1769, Colonel Dyer wrote to William Samuel Johnson, Esq., in London (see page 478), relative to The Susquehanna Company's agent and counsel in London, John Gardiner, Esq. (see page 443), who had "run away" from London to the West Indies without first turning over to a representative of The Susquehanna Company the deed and other papers belonging to the Company which were in his hands. Colonel Dyer stated that he had sent to Gardiner at St. Kitts, West Indies, instructing him to send the papers in question to Mr. Johnson. Continuing, Colonel Dyer wrote :
"Sent forty of our people on ye lands. Soon after their arrival Governor Penn sent a party, took twenty of them and carried them off to Easton, where they are bound over for a riot and for forcibly entering on the Proprietaries' land and cutting down thirty trees, to the terror of the people, &c. The lands were vacant-no possessors there -and the people were obliged to march forty miles from the settlements to get to where our people were, in order to be terrified ! Our people behaved with the utmost caution- not to offer any abuse or insult, but yet were determined not to be carried off until over- powered with numbers.
"After that we sent on 200 or 300 resolute men with Major Durkee at their head- with no intention to hold the lands by force, but to oblige the Proprietaries to bring their action of ejectment, that the matter of right and title might be brought into question and fairly tried and decided, first, in the Province, and then, by appeal to the King's Coun- cil. They [the Pennsylvanians] have not been able to remove the people, and they still
* See page 481.
See the original letter among the unpublished papers of William Samuel Johnson in the possession of The Connecticut Historical Society.
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remain there building and improving and cultivating their lands, though not without threats of removing them by force. We are ready to submit to any civil action or pro- cess, whereby the title to our claim may be fairly tried, and to that purpose our posses- sion is absolutely necessary. *
* * You may be assured that our people have behaved in the most quiet and inoffensive manner. They have gained much credit in that part of ye world, and the people of note and consequence, as well as others, in that Province are much in favor of our people and the Connecticut claim.
"They still hold us in the first prosecution for a riot. My son and Major Elder- kin's were with the 'First Forty' who went up in the Winter, and are of those bound over to Easton Court. Major Elderkin and myself have been at Philadelphia, from thence to the Court at Easton ; but the cause was continued, and the twenty indicted for a riot [were] obliged to be recognized in £100 principal and £100 surety, each-for their ap- pearance at the next Quarter Sessions, and also in the meantime to their good behavior -amounting to the enormous sum of £4,000, which is esteemed excessive and in the highest degree oppressive to the subject. But the Judges are under the immediate influence of the Governor, being of his appointment." * *
About the 15th of August, 1769, the inmates of Fort Durkee at Wilkes-Barré were surprised by a friendly visit from some fifty-six Indi- ans, who had come down the Susquehanna from Chenango, and its vicinity (see page 219), in a small fleet of canoes. The chief men of the party were "Seneca George," "a Captain of the Six Nations"; "Last Night," King of the Conoys; Genquant, an Onondaga sachem ; Isaac Still (mentioned on page 364), who had joined the company at Sheshe- quin, and "James Nanticoke," and they were on their way to Fort Augusta, where "Seneca George," by invitation of Governor Penn, was to hold a conference with Colonel Francis (the Governor's representa- tive) and receive condolences and presents on account of the death of his only son, who had been shot some time previously in Pennsylvania by an unknown person. These Indians encamped over night near Fort Durkee, and the next morning proceeded on their way to Fort Augusta, where they arrived in the morning of Saturday, August 19th. The next day (Sunday) the Rev. William Smith, D. D., Provost of the Col- lege of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania)-who had unexpectedly arrived at Fort Augusta about a half hour before the Indi- ans landed there-conducted religious services at the fort, which were attended by the Indians, as well as by the white people of the place. Isaac Still interpreted for the Indians on that occasion, as well as at the conference, which was begun at the fort on Monday and was attended by all the Indians, Colonel Francis, the Rev. Dr. Smith, Joseph Shippen, Secretary of the Provincial Council (see page 361), Frederick Weiser, son of Conrad Weiser, deceased, Charles Stewart (who had followed the Indians down from Wyoming), and about 100 of the inhabitants of Shamokin and vicinity .*
At that time Charles Stewart, Amos Ogden and John Anderson and a considerable party of their adherents were still in possession of the block-house and cabins at the mouth of Mill Creek and in the immediate neighborhood, and they were diligently cultivating the land on Jacob's Plains-and probably on Abraham's Plains also-building fences and making other small improvements. Meanwhile Stewart and his assist- ant surveyors were lotting out to numerous holders of warrants-issued by the Pennsylvania Land Office-large bodies of land at various points within the bounds of The Susquehanna Company's Purchase. From the records of the Land Office we learn that among those warrantees who, during the period from June to October, 1769, had lands surveyed to and for their use in the so-called Wyoming region, were the follow-
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," IX : 610 et seq.
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ing : Jacob Lumbey (208 acres); Thomas Hays (329 acres) ; John Anderson (306 acres); Thomas Lake (215 acres above the mouth of Tunkhannock Creek); Charles Harrison (318 acres on Abraham's Plains); William Tharp (tract of 302 acres called "Londonderry,"* on the westerly bank of the Susquehanna, four and a-half miles above the mouth of Fishing Creek); William Grey (tract of 301 acres, called "Raphoe," adjoining "Londonderry" on the north); David Chambers (tract of 298 acres, called "Bloomsburry," about five and a-half iniles above the mouth of Fishing Creek and adjoining "Raphoe" on the north); Philip Grandin (tract of 295 acres, called "Freehold," about six miles up stream from the mouth of Fishing Creek, and adjoining "Bloomsburry" on the north.
At Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1769, Lewis Gordon, Esq., of Easton (see pages 473 and 476), wrote to Edmund Physick, Esq., Receiver General of the Province, as followst :
"Meeting accidentally with Mr. John Anderson, who intends for Philadelphia in a day or two, and has lately come from Wyoming where he has resided these several years past, and has been an eye-witness to many transactions of Messrs. [Charles] Stewart and [Amos] Ogden relative to their disposition of the Manor lots there, I thought it would not be amiss that you should ask him some questions on that subject, as it might add some weight to what has already been said, and give more light into that matter-being convinced you are desirous to sift it to the bottom and to find out the truth. He is, there- fore, charged to deliver this hasty scrawl into your own hand. * * *
"Questions to be asked [Anderson ]. *
* (1) Whether Mr. Stewart gave Mr. Jennings timely notice (when he, Mr. Stewart, went first up to Wyoming) to acquaint the people of this County of the Proprietaries' terms, to give them an equal chance with those of New Jersey? (2) Whether, when the Northampton people went up, Mr. Stewart did not tell them the lots were all disposed of ; whether at last, what lots were granted them were not all without the Manor (as it now proves), for the lines of the Manor were kept secret for some hidden purpose-which, if you examine him upon, he can give a plausible reason for ; and whether, upon the whole, they were not supercili- ously dealt with, receiving ambiguous and uncertain answers-particularly one Nicholas Snider, who, being pretty knowing and more earnest than the rest, was not threatened to be sent to prison for his impertinence. (3) Whether the people of this County did not go several times in a body of ten or fifteen men together and offer to settle immediately ; by which means the New England people would undoubtedly have been frustrated, had our people been encouraged. (4) Whether one or two lots were not granted to Mr. Ledlie,į the Spl Bl of those people [the Yankees] and a great stickler for them from the beginning ; and whether Benjamin Shoemaker's son was not also promised, ? but was disappointed, on being taken prisoner with them. (5) Whether Mr. Stewart can claim any merit to grant lots to rich men in New Jersey,|| who, it can be proved, never intended to settle themselves or children there, but offered to let their lands to our country people on shares. (6) How many of our country people have got lots within the Manor?"
One week later Justice Gordon wrote again (this time from Easton) to Receiver General Physick, as follows :
"I make no doubt you are by this time pretty well informed and convinced how affairs at Wyoming have been conducted, and how partially the people of this county have been dealt with by those the Government so highly confided in. *
* * It is the opinion of all men that, had proper measures been pursued by the gentlemen intrusted, a prior settlement by our own people was very practicable, and that the New England men might have been entirely frustrated and disappointed. But, it is said, instead of employing time properly, it was consumed in vain and fruitless journeys back and forth to Wyoming from New Jersey, writing expresses, etc., whilst their whole plan-instructions and all-were most industriously concealed from our people, who could obtain lots on no other terms than those offered by the New Jersey men-namely, to take them on shares, and so enjoy the privilege of becoming their tenants.
* It was customary at this period, and for some years subsequently, for many of the Pennamites as well as the Yankees at Wyoming to give fancy names to their plantations, and even to their town lots. This custom is more fully referred to hereinafter.
+ See the "Penn-Physick Manuscripts," previously mentioned.
Į See last paragraph, page 475.
§ See letter of Stewart and Jennings to Governor Penn, on page 473.
| For instance, Stewart's father-in-law, Judge Samuel Johnston. See page 459.
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"The bearer, Mr. [Peter] Kechlein, late Sheriff [of Northampton County ], is a man of good sense, well acquainted in the County, has an interest and influence in it, and, as he knows divers of those whose applications have been so superciliously rejected and the New Jersey men preferred, I thought him a fit person to give you an account of such of their transactions as he knows. * * * But what avails it to be sensible of the mis- management when we know not how to rectify it? As to what is already granted, that cannot be recalled. All that can be done is to put it out of the power of those gentle- men to grant more.
"If the New England people will not peaceably abandon their settlements (which appears not likely, after all their expence, trouble and fatigue), what can be done? To drive them off by force and violence is by no means eligible, and may prove unsuccessful. What then remains but to offer to the Pennsylvanians the lands not yet disposed of, on moderate terms, and to get men of spirit and influence (if any such there be !) to rouse and encourage them to make a settlement, late as it is. But I would not have them settle in a body, as the New England people have done, but upon separate plantations, and at a distance from one another ; by which means they may yet get the whole land in their possession without bloodshed, and weary and tire out the New England men, already almost spent with fatigue and expence !''
Governor Penn having been fully informed that the Yankees were still in Wyoming, and that they seemed determined to keep possession of the lands upon which they were settled, wrote from Philadelphia under date of August 24, 1769, to Colonel Francis at Fort Augusta, in part as follows* :
"As the New England men have not thought proper to observe their agreement made at Easton [in June], but seem determined to retain their unlawful possession at Wyoming, I must desire you to exert your influence in raising as good a party as you can in order to assist the Sheriff of Northampton in executing the King's writ on the New England people at Wyoming, who were indicted at Easton ; and I hope you will find the people in your neighborhood as willing to embark in the affair as they have hereto- fore shown themselves. *
* I send you £- to defray the expence of the expedition. It is hoped you will be able to procure the people to go without pay, as they have already manifested a very good disposition to bring the intruders to justice."
On the same day Messrs. Stewart and Ogden (who were probably then in Philadelphia, or perhaps at their homes in New Jerseyt) were desired by the Governor, in writing, to immediately repair to Wyoming in order to carry on a correspondence with Colonel Francis and with Sheriff John Jennings of Northampton County. "If," wrote the Gover- nor, "upon going to Wyoming you find that all the persons indicted have left the place, you are immediately to advise both Colonel Francis and the Sheriff of it." At the same time the Governor sent a letter of in- structions to the Sheriff, containing, among other things, the followingt :
"You are to summon to your aid as many of the inhabitants of the County as you may judge necessary. It is expected that a number of people? from the West Branch of the Susquehanna will join you in the neighborhood of Wyoming, whom you will also take to your assistance. *
* As you are a stranger to the persons indicted, you should take with you such of the persons settled at Wyoming under Pennsylvania as are ac- quainted with them, to show or point out to you those named in the writ. You are to be cautious not to arrest any who are not named in the writ, except they oppose you in the legal execution of your duty, or attempt a rescue, or otherwise commit a breach of the peace ; in either of which cases you may arrest and detain them until they can be carried before a Justice to answer for their offense.
"If the persons named in the writ, or any of them, retire to any house and refuse to admit you, you are first to demand entrance and inform those within that you have the King's writ against the several defendants ; and if they afterwards refuse to open the doors you will be justified in breaking them open and entering to make the arrest. But be- fore you proceed this length it is absolutely necessary you should know that one or more of the defendants are within the house ; but in this case it would be well if, before you use force, you would parley with the wrong-doers, and urge arguments to induce them to desist from their illegal purpose.
"As the New England men threaten to oppose you, in the execution of your duty, with force and violence, it is prudent that you and your party should furnish yourselves
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," IX : 606.
+ Stewart was at Fort Augusta on the 21st of August, as we have noted on page 505.
Į See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," IX : 606.
¿ Colonel Francis and his party.
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with arms for your defense and preservation only ; but not to make use of them unless reduced to the necessity of doing it by an illegal and violent resistance-in which case you may oppose force with force. It is, however, highly recommended to you to exer- cise on this unhappy occasion the utmost discretion and prudence, to avoid the effusion of blood, and that neither you nor your party strike, fire at or wound the offenders unless you are first stricken, fired on or wounded. At the same time that it is required of you to act a spirited and resolute part in using your utmost endeavors to arrest the offenders, it is not expected or desired that you should expose yourself and your party to unneces- sary danger, or run great hazards, if you should be opposed by numbers so greatly superior to you that there is no probability of succeeding in the attempt-which must be left to your own judgment and observation on the spot. In such case you are to return and make your report to me, in order that I may apply to General Gage* to furnish me with the military force to support the civil power and enforce the execution of the laws."
Five days subsequently to the writing of the foregoing communi- cations by Governor Penn an interesting and important documentt was prepared at Wilkes-Barré. It reads as follows :
"WILKS BARRE, SUSQUEHANNAH RIVER, AUGUST 29th 1769.
"To the Honorable the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticutt to be holden at Newhaven within sd Colony on the second Thursday of October next .-
"The Petition of John Durkee, Stephen Gardner and the rest of the subscribers In- habitants of sd Colony and proprietors and settlers on Susquehannah River and now Im- proving on the same : To your Honours would Humbly show that your Petitioners by their Petition to your Honours in the year 1753 obtained Liberty from your Honours to pur- chase a certain Tract of Land of the several Tribes of Indian Nations that Claimd the same and allso Liberty of a further purchase; and sonie time after the obtaining sd.
* Brig. Gen. THOMAS GAGE, commander-in-chief of the British forces in America, and having his headquarters in New York City.
¡ The original of this petition is MS. "14" in the volume of MSS. entitled "Susquehannah Settlers, 1755-1796, Vol. I"-mentioned on page 29, ante. The following reduced photo-reproduction of a portion of the first page of the original was specially prepared for this book.
to the honorades the general Djaably of the Colony of Connecticut to to holdon at New haven within Gotany on the Brand theory of Citation nedt- xin Gardner and the want one estony and profit
Improving on
family show that your
nous in the your 17 6 Honore by their Bolicion to your
blaine Voorly from your own nous to purchase a Gorlain end of land of the journal tribes of Indian Nations that claim the fame and allo Liberty of a further hanshaus ,
Same time for the Obtaining ? Liberty your homenous Teammore at an Open Congres all Allony when all the Game Northern Colony Down so far as Digono olho Debahia
509
Liberty your Honours Petitioners at an open Congress at Albany when all the Governors of the Northern Colonys Down as far as Virgene, or the Deputies Governors, were then present, and in the most fair Legal and open Manner your Petitioners proceaded and made their purchase of a large tract of Land on sd Susquehannah River of the Sachems and Chiefs of the six nations of Indians ; and made payment to the full satisfaction and Content of sd sachems and chief men of sd Tribes ;
"And in the year 1762 some of your petitioners with others of the Proprietors of sd Lands Proceaded and took Possession of sd Lands for them selves and the Rest of the Proprietors ; But not being able to Defend the same, Being beset by the Indians on the one side and the Mobbs from the Back Parts of Pensilvania on the other ; after many . were slain the remainder fled into the old settlements not being able to prosecute their sd settlement, much to the Prejudice of some of your Petitioners; Till the year 1769 when some of your Honnours Petitioners Proceaded to said Lands in order to Improve the same, and Built housen thereon, but being beset by Mobbs from the north Part of Pensilvania and their housen set on fire over their heads and much of their affects destroyd in the flames and otherwise ; and they by force and Violence taken off there Possessions and Carried out of this Colony into one of the north Countyes of Pensilvania and there under Colour of Law kept and Confin'd some of your sd Petitioners ; and still continue by threatning to Destroy us and our whole affects and to hire the Indians to Destroy us and by Every unfair and unlawfull way Endevour to Intimedate anoy and Distress your Petisioners to the Great Prejudice and Detrement of your Petisioners Pro- secuting their sd settlements ; on which we your Petisioners have been at Great Expense in Building housen mills and other nesseserry Buildings ; and a Great number of us have- ing brought our whole estates how and now our fortunes are wholey Dependant upon the Prosecuting this setelment ; yet being wholey Destitute of any Protection of the Laws of this Colony your Honnours Petisioners was Greatly Destressed sufferers Being without the Advantage of any Recovery of Dammages to us in Person or Estate.
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