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 II > Part 46
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Roger Sherman
Photo-reproduction of a copy of a portrait painted in 1787. (By courtesy of the publishers of The Connecticut Magazine.)
As noted on page 354, Volume I, the First Continental Congress convened at Philadelphia Septem- ber 5, 1774. "In general, the delegates elect were men of uncommon ability, who had taken a prom- inent part in the political action of their several localities. * 1119
* New England presented, in John Sullivan, vigor; in Roger Sherman, sterling sense and integrity; in Thomas Cushing, commercial knowl- edge; in John Adams, large capacity for public affairs; in Samuel Adams, a great character, with
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One week after the receipt of the foregoing letter (to wit, Septem- ber 11, 1775), a general town-meeting was held at Wilkes-Barré. Some unimportant business was attended to, and then, owing to tlie small num- ber of inhabitants present, the meeting was adjourned till September 19th. On that day Colonel Butler was chosen Moderator "for ye work of ye day", and after some discussion the following resolution was adopted :
" l'oted, That Col. Zebulon Butler, Joseph Sluman, Esq., Mr. Christopher Avery, Maj. William Judd and Col. Nathan Denison, they or either of them, be a committee to correspond with ye Continental Delegates now at ye Honourable Continental Congress at Philadelphia; or send a special agent to represent this town to said Congress when they judge necessary."
At the time this meeting was held John Vincent (see page 824), his son Cornelius, and two or three other men who, just as the Vincents, were settled on the West Branch of the Susquehanna within the limits of the Susquehanna Purchase, were in Wilkes-Barré for the purpose of conducting to their destination a company of " people at Wyoming who had arranged to go on to the West Branch to make settlements and ex- tend the jurisdiction and authority of Connecticut to that country." This company of settlers started fromn Wilkes-Barre on September 21, 1775 ; but before doing so they signed certain "Articles of Association," or a compact, which had been duly drawn up by a committee. The original of this document is probably not now in existence, but in the hands of Mr. James Terry (previously mentioned) of New Haven, Con- necticut, there is a contemporary copy of the original-minus the signa-
influence and power to organize." Roger Sherman was a Delegate from Connecticut in each Continen- tal Congress from 1774 to 1781, inclusive, and again during the session of 1783-'84. June 11, 1776, he was appointed a member of the committee of five Delegates instructed to prepare a Declaration of Independence. This Declaration having been adopted by the Congress (see note on page 355, Volume I), Roger Sherman became one of its signers. In 1777 he was one of the framers of the original Articles of Confederation of the United States of America, and in May, 1787, was appointed a delegate from Connecticut-in company with Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson (mentioned on page 478, Vol. I)-to the convention for framing the Constitution of the United States.
At the session of the General Assembly of Connecticut held in October, 1775, the following was adopted: "Whereas, this Assembly are informed that Benjamin Stiles of Woodbury hath publicly and contemptuously uttered and spoken many things against the qualifications of the three Delegates [ Messrs. Dyer, Sherman and Deane] of the Colony of Connecticut now belonging to the Continental Congress, with respect to their abilities, integrity and uprightness; and also against the measures that have been adopted by the Continent for the relief and security of the valuable rights and privileges, * * It is Resolved by this Assembly that the said Benjamin Stiles be cited to appear before the General Assembly at their next session, to answer to the matters alleged against him."
"It was the good fortune," declares R. Eston Phyfe in The Connecticut Magazine, VII : 234, "of but one man to be privileged to take part in the making of the four great documents of our early national history: the Declaration of Rights-formed by the convention of 1774-the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. And this good fortune came to this man not simply in the train of favoring political circumstances, but because of acknowledged merit of great excellence. The man was Roger Sherman, a sterling patriot, whose history should be familiar to every true American, and especially to every patriotic citizen of Connecticut." Roger Sherman was a Representative from Connecticut in the First Federal Congress (1789-'91), and from 1791 till his death (at New Haven, July 23, 1793) he was a United States Senator from Connecticut. He was also Mayor of the city of New Haven from its incorporation in 1784 till his death.
"Roger Sherman is one of the finest examples of self-inade men to be found in American history," says Mr. Phyfe, previously quoted. "Born in humble circumstances he raised himself by his own strength of mind and character to positions of the highest usefulness in county, city, state and nation. Going from a country shoe-shop he became the peer of the wisest counselors of the land, and became the honored associate of such men as Franklin, John Adams and Washington." "Only second to Washington !" was the estimate the late United States Senator George F. Hoar gave of Roger Sherman, who was his grandfather. John C. Calhoun declared in the Senate of the United States that it was owing mainly to two States-Connecticut and New Jersey-that we have, as a nation, "the best govern- ment instead of the worst and most intolerant on earth." He said: "Who are the men of the States to whom we are indebted for this admirable government? I will name them. Their names ought to be engraved on brass and live for ever. They were Chief Justice [Oliver] Ellsworth, Roger Sherman, and Judge Patterson of New Jersey. * * To the coolness and sagacity of these three men, aided by a few others not so prominent, we owe the present Constitution." Roger Sherman possessed, more than most men, an intimate acquaintance with human nature. He understood the springs of human action in a remarkable degree, and well knew in what manner to touch them to produce a designed effect. This practical wisdom-another name for common sense-powerfully contributed to guide him to safe results on all the great political questions in which he was concerned, and assisted him to select the means which were best adapted to accomplish the best ends.
Roger Sherman was twice married. By his first wife (who was a Miss Hartwell) he had seven children, and by his second wife (Rebecca Prescott, of Danvers, Massachusetts) he had eight children. Col. Isaac Sherman, mentioned on page 637, was a son, and the late William M. Evarts of New York, George F. Hoar of Massachusetts, and Roger S. Baldwin of Connecticut, were grandsons.
# SILAS DEANE was born at Groton, New London County, Connecticut, December 24, 1737. He was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1758, and received the degree of A. M. in 1763. In July, 1774 (as noted on page 393, Vol. I), he was appointed one of the delegates from Connecticut to the
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tures-bearing, in the handwriting of Col. Zebulon Butler, this endorse- ment : "This may certify whom it may concern that I was one of the committee to draw up the above Articles, and that the above is a true сору. [Signed] "Zebn Butler."
By the courtesy of Mr. Terry we are able to give here a copy of these "Articles"-now printed for the first time.
"1st .- WHEREAS WE THE SUBSCRIBERS, inhabitants of the Colony of Connecticut in New England in America, already settled and about to settle on certain lands scituate on the Western Waters of the Susquehanna River in said Colony-by us and our Associ- ates some time since purchased of the original Natives by and with the consent of said Colony of Connecticut. And Whereas the same Lands are claimed to be within the Jurisdiction of the province of Pennsylvania-notwithstanding they are evidently included in the Charter to the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecticut. And Whereas the Governor and Company of the Colony of Connecticut at their sessions held at Hartford within and for said Colony on the second Thursday of May, 1775, did annex the same Lands unto the Town of Westmoreland in the County of Litchfield-granting to the Inhabitants all the Powers, previlidges and advantages the Inhabitants of any other town in the Colony of Connecticut are intituled to. And Whereas a Number of the said Purchasers have a mind to settle themselves upon the Western Waters of said River. And Whereas it is said a Number of People are now settled on and contiguous to the said Western Waters of said Susquehanna River under pretence of claim under the Proprietors of Pennsylvania. And Whereas The Susquehanna Company, so called, have the undoubted right to order and regulate the settlement of the Towns and other the prudential affairs of said Company, whose orders and directions we ingage hereby to pay due Obedience unto at all Times.
"2d .- We solemnly agree and associate together under the ties of Honour and faith of Gentlemen That we will strictly adhere to the recommendations of the Honourable Continental Congress, * * ready with our Lives and fortunes to support the same * when our Country demands our Assistance.
"3d .- That we will strictly and religiously observe the Rules, orders, Laws and or- dinances of the Colony of Connecticut, and punctiliously obey and submit to the Legis- lative, Executive and Ministerial Authority of the same, and at all times hold ourselves in readiness for that purpose.
"4th .- We will not by force, fraud, deceit or sarcasm molest, Disturb, or by any ways or means dispossess any person or persons that are settled under the proprietors of Pennsylvania ; neither will we use any threats to that purpose.
"5th .- We will not press or urge upon such setlers under Pennsylvania a submission to the Laws of Connecticut, but at all times [will] stand ready with open Arms to receive and cordially bid them Welcome with us to participate in the benefit of the Laws and Ordinances of the Colony of Connecticut ; and that whenever they choose to submit thereto they and every of them shall be protected and defended thereby.
"6th .- We will not desert or absent ourselves from the Body [of settlers] without Leave or License from such committee as shall be appointed to conduct the settlements on said West Branch; who, with the advice of the major part of such setlers, shall, front time to time-as there shall be occasion for-make such other Rules and regulations for the conduct of such setlers as shall be found Necessary, and not inconsistent with the foregoing Rules, the good of our Country or the laws of this Colony.
"7th .- That * * * * * Be and they are hereby appointed a Committee to superintend, order and conduct the settlement as aforesaid, to whose counsel, orders and advice we ingage to conform ourselves.
"In Witness Whereof we have hereunto signed our Names this 21 Day of Septen1- ber, 1775."
First Continental Congress, and in 1775 was sent as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress, which assembled at Philadelphia on the 10th of May. In March, 1776, the first American envoy was despatched by Congress to France-reaching Paris in the following June, even before there was an assumption of nationality by the Colonies. "Silas Deane was the man selected. He was the true Yankee jack-at-all-trades; he had been graduated at Yale College, then taught school, then practised law, then engaged in trade, had been all the while advancing in prosperity and reputation, had been a member of the First and Second Congresses, had failed of re-election to the Third, and was now without employment. Mr. Parton describes him as 'of somewhat striking manners and good appearance, accus- tomed to live and entertain in liberal style, and fond of showy equipage and appointment.' Perhaps his simple-minded fellow-countrymen of the Provinces fancied that such a man would make an imposing figure at an European court. He developed no other peculiar fitness for his position; he could not even speak French; and it proved an ill hour for himself in which he received this trying and difficult honor. * * September 8, 1777, Congress voted that Deane had no authority to make contracts with persons to come to America. November 21 they voted to recall him. Undoubtedly the vexation which Deane had caused them by sending over a great number of persons to serve in the army, under contracts which enabled them to demand large pay and high rank, was the chief cause of irritation against him. * * The affair of Silas Deane has importance far beyond the merits or the fate of that individual. The quarrel over him and his rights and wrongs entered into the hottest party contests in Congress during the next two or three years."-Larned's "History for Ready Reference," V : 3241, 3244.
Silas Deane died at Deal, England, August 23, 1789.
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We are not able to give the names of the signers of this compact, nor is it possible to state the exact number of those who made the jour- ney from Wyoming Valley to the West Branch. Col. John Franklin -who presumably knew the facts-stated in writing*, a few years after the occurrence, that " Maj. William Judd, and Joseph Sluman, Esq., and about eighty others, went on to the said West Branch in a peace- able manner in the month of September [1775]." It is quite certain that there were no women or children in the party.
Under the date of September 21, 1775, William Maclay, Esq. (men- tioned on page 759, ante), wrote from Sunbury to Col. Joseph Shippen (previously mentioned in these pages several times), Secretary of the Provincial Council, at Philadelphia, in part as followst:
* "The Congress, at the last meeting, ordered the memorials respecting the Connecticut intrusion to lie on their table to the next meeting, on the 5th of September. In the meantime their Delegates were directed to enjoin a peaceable behavior on their people. The 5th of September is come and past ; the injunction, therefore, is no longer binding, according to their mode of reasoning. We never had more rumours [than at pres- ent ] about them and their designs. Samuel Wallist has just now been with me respect- ing the conduct of one [John] Vincent, who lives near Mr. Moody. This mian was some time ago appointed a Connecticut magistrate, and is now at Wyoming in order to pilot down 300 of them to the West Branch. His son was with him, and is returned, and gives out that his father only waited until the armament would be ready. Wallis says he has taken some pains to examine into the story, and for his part verily believes it to be true. If so, we shall soon hear of them. They have lately been at great pains to enlist their adherents into the 24th, or Butler's, Regiment.
"It is highly probable that every motion of the people at Wyoming is in consequence of orders from the Colony of Connecticut. If so, it is incontrovertible that they intend, per fas et nefas, to possess themselves of the country. It seems mysterious that they should be so intent upon pushing their encroachments so far southward into the Sus- quehannah settlement while the lands west of Wyoming are quite unoccupied and quite disregarded. Perhaps a west line from the most southern settlement they can effect, by art or force, may be contemplated by them, as the boundary of their future empire; that is, in case they intend to leave Pennsylvania a name or place at all among the Colonies."
On Tuesday, September 26, 1775, Thomand Ball wrote from Sun- bury to Colonel Shippen at Philadelphia in part as follows§:
" William Maclay, Esq., being at present so much indisposed as renders him inca- pable of writing, I have the honour, by his directions, to inform you that a party of the Connecticut intruders-supposed to be a detachment from Colonel Butler's regiment, consisting, as nearly as can be conjectured, of 300 men, arrived last Saturday night [Sep- tember 23d] at Freeland's mill, on the Warrior Run, about thirteen miles distance from this town, where we are informed they immediately began to intrench themselves; and as they brought neither women nor children, but, instead of them, fortifying and intrenching tools-with the additional circumstance of some of the sellers of lands in this County, under Connecticut rights, being of the party-we cannot consider their visit as amicable. In consequence of which a Company, consisting of about fifty men, left this town at one o'clock yesterday [September 25th ], in order to join other companies of the County, to meet and demand the reason of this intrusion and hostile appearance. This being wrote early in the morning, by a gentleman who is just setting off for Philadel- phia, cannot at present gain further intelligence, but in a few days shall transmit you an account of their and our further proceedings. If the state of our county with regard to arms and ammunition will be satisfactory to you, Capt. [Samuel] Hunter can inform you thereof, from a letter which the bearer carries, as well as his own knowledge."
The two foregoing letters were, immediately upon their receipt by Colonel Shippen, turned over by him to Governor Penn, who, on the 29th of September, transmitted them with a message to the Provincial Assembly. The next day the House, having taken the subject into consideration, passed the following :
" Resolved, That the Delegates for this Province be specially directed to lay the same before the Congress, with the mischevious tendency the pursuing such measures
* See Miner's " History of Wyoming ", page 168.
t See "American Archives," Fourth Series, III : 774.
# See page 653, ante.
§ See "American Archives," Fourth Series, III ; 807.
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will have; and procure the aid of that Assembly to quiet the minds of the good people of this Province, and prevent further intrusion or extension of settlements under the said claim, until the matter shall be determined by the King and Council, to whom both sides have submitted the dispute."
On September 28th the Yankees at their encampment on the banks of Warrior Run were attacked by a force of Pennamites outnumbering them five to one. Meginness, in his "History of the West Branch Val- ley " (ed. of 1889), page 423, refers to the event in these words :
"Colonel Plunket, under orders from the Government, detailed a strong force of Northumberland militia* and marched to break up the settlements at Charleston and Judea. How much resistance was offered is not stated, but it must have been small, as only one life was lost and several of the Connecticut people were wounded. After burn- ing the buildings and collecting what property he could, Colonel Plunket returned to Sunbury with a number of prisoners. * *
* The expedition resulted in breaking up the Connecticut settlement, because it was not heard of again, and the Pennsylvania claimants remained in full possession of the territory."
In an original document-now in the possession of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society-which was written by Col. John Franklin a few years after the occurrence of the events therein narrated, it is stated that on the 28th of September, 1775, "immediately upon their arrival [at Warrior Run], they [the Yankees] were attacked and fired upon by about 500 Northumberland militia-one man being killed and several wounded; the party all taken prisoners, robbed of their horses and all of their furniture ; Messrs. Judd and Sluman sent to Philadelphia gaol; three others confined in Sunbury gaol, and the others dismissed."t
In the possession of Mr. James Terry, previously mentioned, is an original document which was sent by the Selectinen of Westmoreland to the Hon. Roger Sherman at Philadelphia in March, 1776. This document, either as a whole or in part, has never heretofore been print- ed, but by the courtesy of Mr. Terry we are able to give the following extracts :
" Bill of the value of the goods taken by the Authority of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, September 28, 1775, on the Warrior's Run near the West Branch of the Susquehanna, from the following persons: William Judd, 1 gun, £3; seal-skin bullet- pouch, 12s .; bullets, 2s. Joseph Sluman, large pistol, 20s .; saddle, 50s. Peler Finch, 1 gun, 30s .; powder-horn and lead, 2s. 6d. Ephraim McCoy, 1 gun, £2 8s .; horn, bullet- pouch, and ammunition, 12s. Phineas Nash, 1 gun, £2 14s .; powder-horn and bullets, 6s. Simon Spalding, 1 mare, £12; saddle, £1; gun, £2; powder, 3s .; 2 1bs. bullets, 1s. 6d .; pouch and horn, 3s. Timothy Smilh, 1 saddle, 50s .; gun, £3; ammunition, 8s. Parshall Terry, mare, £8 2s .; gun, 39s .; saddle, 30s .; bridle, powder, lead and horn, 7s. John Murphy, horse, £10; saddle and bridle, 30s .; rifle, £3; curious powder-horn, shot-bag and knife, 15s .; powder and lead, 5s. 8d. Juslus Gaylord, gun, £5; powder, horn and lead, 4s. Jonalhan Weeks, 1 gun, £2 8s .; horn and pouch, 3s .; powder and lead, 3s. 4d .; shirt and pair of trousers, 12s. John Jameson, horse, £12; gun, £2 5s .; saddle and bridle, 25s. Jonalhan Hunlock and Jacob Ely (in company), 2 horses, £26; 2 saddles and bridles, £4, 19s .; blanket and hatchet, 10s .; new rifle, £4; 1 gun, £2; ammunition-horn and bag, 5s. Amos Draper, 1 gun, £1 15s .; horn and pouch, 6s .; lead and powder, 6s. Thomas Parke, rifle, £4 4s .; horn and powder, 6s .; bullet-pouch & lead, flints, steel, knife, hook & line, 14s. Phineas Peirce, horse, £12; saddle, £3; bridle, 6s .; rifle, £6; shot-bag and horn, £1; powder & lead, 12s .; expences in gaol 10 days-unlawfully detained-£1 10s. Hallet Gallup, 1 gun, £4; pouch, powder and lead, 3s. Richard Inman, 1 mare, £12; saddle & bridle, £2; 1 gun, £3 10s .; 1 bell, 6s .; bullet-pouch and ammunition, 10s. David Inman, 1 rifle, £3 10s. William Buck, gun & ammunition, £3. Charles Gaylord, gun, powder and lead, £2 2s. George Dorrance, 1 mare, saddle & bridle, £22; gun and am- munition, and Colony Law Book, £4 8s. John Hyde, 1 gun, £1 4s. Slephen Fuller, 1 gun, * & ammunition, £1, 16s. * * * Total, £646, 4s. 2d."
* In 1790 Robert King of Northumberland County presented an account against the State of Pennsyl- vania for services performed. The following is one of the items of the account: " 1775, September 25. To sundry services rendered by order of William Cook, Esq., Sheriff, against a party of Yankees assembled at Vrieland's [Freeland's] Mill, viz., from 25th to 28th, both days included, £1 10s."-"Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XVIII: 698.
t It may be remarked here that Major Judd and Mr. Sluman were detained in jail until the following December-until after the adoption by Congress, on December 20th, of the resolution printed on page 856 -while the three men who were imprisoned at Sunbury were held only ten days.
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This attempt of the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming to take pos- session-openly and aboveboard, under the auspices of The Susque- hanna Company-of the lands on the West Branch of the Susquehanna, aroused very strong feelings of disquietude and antagonismn in the Penn- sylvania claimants to those lands-many of whom resided in Philadel- phia. Some of these claimants, as has been heretofore shown, owned Pennsylvania titles to lands in Wyoming Valley also, and these men, in particular, were doubly incensed against the Yankees. In consequence, a number of the claimants held a ineeting at Philadelphia, October 9, 1775, effected an organization (subsequently known as the Pennsylvania Land-claimants' Association), and took action as follows :*
"WHEREAS, It is necessary to assist the inhabitants of Northumberland and North- ampton Counties in protecting their property and preserving the peace of those counties, We hereby promise to pay the sums annexed to our respective names for that purpose, when called upon by the Treasurer of the committee appointed to receive the same, or any other person authorized by the said committee.
Turbutt Francis, £50. Henry Keppele, Jr., £20. Matthias Slough, £15.
Edwd. and Jos. Shippen, 40.
John Musser, 10. Charles Stewart, 30.
James Tilghman, 25. Reuben Haines, 50. David Shakespeare, 12.
Tench Francis, 25. John Vandenn, 20. Owen Biddle, 10.
Andrew Allen,
20. John and Jesse Lukens, 20. William Sitgreaves, 10.
John Cox,
20. Robert Morris,
25. Edward Milnor, 10.
William Smith, 20. Samuel Meredith, John Maxwell Nesbitt, 20."
25. Samuel Garrigues, 10.
To effect the designs of these Pennsylvania land-claimants the fol- lowing committee was appointed : Joseph Shippen, Jr., f James Irvine, Turbutt Francist, William Sitgreaves, Thomas West, the Rev. William Smith§, D. D., John Lukens||, Samuel MeredithT, John Cox, Henry Keppele, Jr., and Robert Harris. This committee subsequently request- ed " Jasper Yeates, Esq., Sebastian Graaf, Esq., the Rev. Thomas Bar- ton and Mr. John Witmore, Jr., to solicit and receive subscriptions in Lancaster County" in aid of the project on foot; and under the date of October 12, 1775, at Philadelphia, the committee addressed to the Com- mittee of Safety of Pennsylvania the following memorial **- the original being in the handwriting of the Rev. Dr. Smith.
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