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 53
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Roasel Franklin,
Wait Garrett, Titus Hinman,
Cyprian Hibbard,
William Gallup,
Elijah Inman,
Lazarus Stewart,
John Fish,
Ebenezer Roberts, Elisha Richards, William Reynolds, Thomas Sawyer, Simon Spalding, Oliver Smith,
Caleb Bates,
Eher Crandall, Tohn Carr,
878
(according to the rule observed by those who manipulate vital statistics), we have 2,928, which may be accepted as the probable number of in- habitants in Westmoreland in the Summer of 1776. It should be noted, however, that the nanies of the Rev. Jacob Johnson of Wilkes-Barré and the Rev. Noah Wadhams of Plymouth do not appear in these lists ; and it may be that the names of others are missing (for example, that of Lieut. John Jenkins, Jr., is not to be found)-mnen who, for one rea- son or another, were, in like manner as ministers of the gospel, relieved from the payment of taxes. Further, a considerable number of those whose names appear in these lists were, at the time the lists were made up, unfriendly to the New Englanders and to the Connecticut Govern- inent ; and later some of them proved to be downright Tories, who, of course, could not be expected to take up arins against Great Britain.
The fact should be distinctly impressed upon the mind of the reader that, in the Summer of 1776, Wyoming Valley-the chief and mnost thickly populated locality in the small section of the town of West- moreland which was then inhabited-was, in every respect, an isolated, frontier settlement. The most northern outlying settlements of any consequence under the Government of Pennsylvania which were nearest to Wyoming Valley were Easton and Bethlehem, about sixty-five miles distant, and Sunbury, some sixty mniles down the Susquehanna, at the confluence of the North and West Branches of the river. Interven- ing between Wyoming Valley and Easton were the Great Swamp, including the "Shades of Death" (see page 329, Vol. I), and the range of the Kittatinny Mountains beyond. A bridle-path-" the Penna- inites' Path" described on page 646-stretched its narrow course through this dreary region ; but extreme necessity only could oblige a
PITTSTON DISTRICT. (Concluded.)
John Gardner, Peter Harris,
Nicholas Depew [ De Pui], Henry Windecker,
Stephen Harding,
Stephen Harding, Jr.,
John Depew [De Pui], Josiah Dewey,
Abram Workman,
Benjamin Hempstead,
Lemuel Harding,
John De Witt,
Thomas Wigton,
Richard Halstead, Isaiah Halstead,
James Hadsall,
Stephen Farrington,
Amos York.
Jeremiah Hogeboom, Eton Jones,
Daniel Ingersoll, Benjamin Jones, Nathan Jones, Thomas Joslin, Nathaniel Johnson,
Rudolph Fox, Lemuel Fitch,
LACKAWAY DISTRICT.
Joseph Leonard,
Edward Hicks,
Hezekiah Bingham,
James Moore,
John Jenkins, Sr.,
Reuben Herrington,
Ebenezer Marcy,
Timothy Keyes,
Andrew Hickman,
Samuel Millard,
William Martin,
George Kentner,
James Dye,
Timothy Pearce,
William Pickard,
Nathan Kingsley,
Stephen Edwards,
Jonathan Parker, John Ryan, Michael Rood,
Joseph Slocum, Jacob Syne,
Isaac Larraway,
David Gates,
David Sanford,
John D. Shoemaker,
Zebulon Marcy,
Nathaniel Gates, Samuel Hallet, Jonathan Haskell,
Solomon Strong, Aaron Stark, Elijah Silsby,
Levi Townsend,
Benjamin Pawling,
Ephraim Killam,
Samuel Slater,
Job Tripp,
Nicholas Phillips,
Jacob Kimball,
John Stafford,
Preserved Taylor, Philip Wintermute,
Ichabod Phelps, Elijah Phelps,
Amos Park,
Zachariah Squire,
John Wintermute, Richard West.
Huldrick Shout,
Isaac Parrish,
Nathan Williams, Justus Worden,
NORTH DISTRICT ("UP THE RIVER").
Conrad Searle,
John Secord,
NORTH DISTRICT
Frederick Anker, Philip Bender,
MISCELLANEOUS.
(EXETER AND PROVIDENCE) . Prince Bryant,
Jacob Sage,
Ephraim Tyler,
Toel Strong,
Isaac Van Alstyne,
James Cole,
Nathan Albeen, Joseph Baker, Samuel Brown,
Jacob Bowman, Adam Bowman, Elijah Brown,
"Old" Van Alstyne,
Robert Frazer,
Silas Benedict, Daniel Campbell,
David Bigsby,
Isaac Van Valkenberg,
Thomas Leavenworth, Phineas Nash,
Manasseh Cady, Stephen Gardner,
Jacob Brunner, Joshua Beebe,
Frederick Vanderlip,
Hendrick Winter,
John Shaw ..
William Williams,
Henry Simmons, Sebastian Strope,
Silas Park,
Nathan Thomas,
Enos Woodward, Jr.,
John Worden.
Peter Secord,
James Scovell,
Stephen Parrish,
Eleazar West,
Philip Wintermute, Jr.,
John Stephens,
Zebulon Parrish,
Ephraim Sanford,
Elisha Scovell,
Thomas Millard,
Thomas Millard, Jr.,
Zadock Killam,
Isaac Tripp,
William Pawling,
Stephen Killam,
Samuel Slater, Jr.,
Job Tripp, Jr.,
Abel Palmer,
John Pellet, William Pellet,
William Shay,
Thomas Picket,
John Larabee,
Eliab Farnam,
Read Mallory,
John Ainsley,
Obadiah Munson,
Casper Hopper,
Roger Clark,
Uriah Chapman,
Asa Chapman,
Frederick Frank,
Cole,
Elisha Wilcox,
Stephen Harding,
John Williamson,
Samuel Freeman,
Philip Buck,
James Van Alstyne,
Elijah Witter.
David Smith,
Ebenezer Searle,
Frederick Smith,
879
person to travel it. Between Wyoming Valley and Sunbury there was easy communication by water at all times of the year, except when the river was frozen over or filled with floating ice.
Along all the upper branches of the Susquehanna dwelt the Six Nation and other Indians. They were in force at Tioga Point (which was within the bounds of Westmoreland), at Oghwaga, at Unadilla, at Chenango, or Otsiningo, and at Newtown. From Tioga Point, where they were accustomed to rendezvous, boats could-in times of high water-descend to Wyoming in twenty-four hours. Thus, it will be seen, a numerous, warlike and naturally cruel enemy-then at peace, however-was within striking distance of Wyoming on one side, while on the other dwelt embittered and disappointed foes. Thus near was danger ! Thus exposed was Wyoming !
At a meeting of Governor Trumbull and the Council of Safety at Lebanon, Connecticut, July 6, 1776, it was voted, on application of Col. Eliphalet Dyer, " that the Selectmen of Westmoreland may receive at Elderkin and Wales' mill* not exceeding 200 lbs. of gunpowder-they to account to the Colony therefor at the price of 5s. 4d. per pound." At Wilkes-Barré, just one month later, and only a few days after news had been received here concerning the Declaration of Independence, the following letter was written to the Connecticut Delegates in the Conti- nental Congress. The original letter (the body of it in the handwriting of Christopher Avery) is in the possession of Mr. James Terry of Con- necticut, previously mentioned, and by his courtesy is now printed for the first time. It reads-verbatim et literatim-in this wise :
"To Messrs. SHEARMAN, WOLCOT, & HUNTINGTON, Delegates, &c .:
" Gentlemen-As it appears to us to be the Duty of Every Infant settlement when apprehensive of any Danger -- altho the same may arize from want of Propper knowledge of what appears very interesting to their safety & well being-to lay the same before the Parental state from which they acknowledge they ought to receive help, inspiration and knowledge and being from Experience sensible that the safety and well being of an Infant is under the equal Care of a tender Mother as those grone to riper years: from the consideration of which we are induced: To Lay the following subject matters before you, & if thought worth notice that you will Lay the same before the Honourable the Conti- nental Congress.
"As the Northern Army has Returned from Canady & we are informed that the Indians has failed of attending the treaty with his Excellency General Schuylert & also there is reports from persons of integrity from the Indians up this River that they are generally going to a treaty with Johnsont &c., and are driving off their cattle &c. to that quarter which we apprehend is a sufficient reason to induce us to believe that without some propper steps to prevent, the Indians may be induced to ravage this Infant back settlement; for some of the Mohock tribe being Informed that Johnson was killed ( which information proved false) appeared very insolent & seemed to attempt revenge on some persons therefor. We are apprehensive & have reason to fear that the trade being stop- ped on this river, & the want of that former friendly supply of powder and goods to take of their skins, &c., may be productive of their taking other methods to furnish them- selves with blankets, &c., from that quarter; and we cant forbear mentioning we think it extreamly hard to have our arms kept from us at this Critical Day, as none has been returned according to order of Congress, and the circumstances of our country & situation is such at this time that we cannot furnish ourselves with a sufficient quantity of firearms & powder & lead for the defence of this settlement in case of an attack from the Indians.
"We beg leave Just to mention that there has a large number of young People gone into the service, and that Capt. Robert Durkee has obtained Liberty front a General Officer at New York§ for raising a Compy here to join the Continental Army thiere.
* See page 463, Vol. I.
+ In June, 1776, by direction of the Continental Congress, Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler held a treaty with the Six Nation Indians, for the purpose of securing their neutrality. Relative to this see Chapter XIV, post.
# Col. GUY JOHNSON, mentioned in the note on page 300, Vol. I, and on page 822, Vol II.
¿ General WASHINGTON.
880
Which we are and ever shall be extremely fond of forwarding at all times, but cant help mentioning our fears of being dreaned of men & arms which those that Inlist have a right to carry with them guns &c. which will naturally weaken and lesson our numbers but nevertheless shall cheerfully answer all calls from Congress, Generalls or Government, ever supposing they are best acquainted with what would be most expedient for our safety &c. As perfection cannot be expected from persons who settle new Countrys, yet we beg Leave to request the favour of a few things which we believe might be granted consistant with the general good & safety of the whole: First, we are Induced to believe that to keep a number of Companies near the frontiers at this time would be a means of preventing any insults or hostilities from the Indians or tories on the frontiers, & the grand article provisions is very plenty now & doubtless all along the frontier; and if a few Companies at discrestion were stationed here and at Coshothton [Cochecton, or Cushe- tunk-q. v.] and at the West Branch it would certainly secure a very Important Pass, and could be supplyed with provisions here; also if there were spare arms & ammunition to furnish those destitute here they could be a great help in assisting in case of need, and might be paid for with provisions, etc.
"Gentlemen, we have the greatest confidence of your zeal for the good of the Con- tinent in General, therefore rely on your assistance in forwarding the above matters being laid before the Honourable Congress and in such way as shall be thought Best & for the obtaining their answer or conclution on the said matters for the Quieting the minds of the People here and that the same might be Transmited to us by Mr. Elisha Swift who we espetially send on the account of the above. In meanwhile we remain your Honours most obediant most Humbe Servts
" Dated Westmoreland,
August 6, A : D : 1776.
[Signed] " ZEBULON BUTLER, - "NATHAN DENISON, Justices.
"JOHN JENKINS,
" CHRISTOPHER. AVERY, } " SAMUEL RANSOM, "GEORGE DORRANCE,
Selectmen.
" SOLOMON STRONG, " OBADIAH GORE, JR.,
" ELISHA SWIFT,
" PEREN ROSS,
"JEREMIAH BICKFORD,
Committee Inspection." of
On the above date Col. Zebulon Butler wrote a personal letter* to the Hon. Roger Sherman, in which he said: "You will see by the rep- resentations from this town that we are under apprehensions of danger from the Indians, as our army has retreated to Crown Point, and every artifice using to set the Indians on us, by Johnson and Butler at Niag- ara." Colonel Butler also referred in vigorous language to the want of arms in Westmoreland-" those eighty guns taken " from the West- moreland people at Warrior Run nearly a year previously not having been returned. "Our other property," he wrote, " though valuable, we would not mention at this day ; but our arms we cannot forbear speak- ing of, as there are none to be purchased, and we a frontier, and so unanimously willing to defend the United States of America, at the risk of our lives."
At Philadelphia, under the date of August 20, 1776, Mr. Sherman replied to the foregoing letters in a communication to Colonel Butler, as followst:
"I received by Mr. Swift your letter of the 6th inst., with the representation made by the Authority, Selectmen and Committee of Inspection concerning their apprehension of trouble from the Indians; upon which we applied to Congress to raise some companies upon the Continental establishment. The application was referred to the Delegates of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, who reported for raising three companies in the town of Westmoreland, to be under the command of a Major-which now lies before Congress, not acted upon; also a report for raising a battalion in Pennsylvania for defence of the frontiers of that State. Since these applications were made we have had favorable accounts from the Indians that they refused to comply with the solicitations of Butlert and others to take up arms against the Colonies, and are determined to remain neuter. I
* See Miner's "History of Wyoming," pages 187 and 192.
+ The original letter of Mr. Sherman was, in 1900, the property of the late J. Ridgway Wright of Wilkes-Barre, and is now published for the first time.
# Maj. JOHN BUTLER. For his portrait, and a sketch of his life, see Chapter XIV.
881
don't know what will be finally done about raising troops to defend the frontiers, but if any are raised in Pennsylvania 'tis probable you will be allowed to raise three companies. We shall pay proper attention to the affair, and if anything is done about it shall give you the earliest notice. I hope your people will have restitution of their effects, taken at the Warriour's Run, after the state of Pennsylvania hath settled a regular Government."
A conference of representatives from the Committees of Corres- pondence in the various counties of Pennsylvania was held at Philadel- phia in June, 1776, when it was unanimously resolved "that the pres- ent Government of this Province is not competent to the exigencies of our affairs, and that it is necessary that a Provincial Convention be called for the express purpose of forming a new Government in this Province, on the authority of the people only." The Declaration of Independence following soon after gave the old Provincial Government a mortal blow, and arrangements were immediately made for the hold- ing of a general convention of representative men of the Province. The delegates to this Constitutional Convention met at Philadelphia July 15, 1776, and organized by electing Benjamin Franklin President, George Ross Vice President, and John Morris and Jacob Garrigues Secretaries. The convention completed its labors September 28, 1776, by making a "Declaration of Rights," and by adopting Pennsylvania's first Consti- tution,* which went into immediate effect, without a vote of the people, and continued in force until the adoption of a new Constitution in Sep- tember, 1790. The executive power of the State, under its Constitu- tion, was vested in a "Supreme Executive Council," to be composed
* In order that certain references and statements in subsequent pages may be more readily under- stood, and because copies of the Constitution of 1776 are not of easy access to general readers, we print here some sections of the Constitution in full, and other sections in substance. * Whereas the inhabitants of this Commonwealth have, in consideration of "CHAPTER I.
protection only, heretofore acknowledged allegiance to the King of Great Britain; and the said King has not only withdrawn that protection, but commenced and still continues to carry on, with unabated vengeance, a most cruel and unjust war against them, employing therein not only the troops of Great Britain, but foreign mercenaries, savages and slaves, for the avowed purpose of reducing them to a total and abject submission to the despotic domination of the British Parliament, with many other acts of tyrrany, * * * whereby all allegiance and fealty to the said King and his successors are dissolved
and at an end, and all power and authority derived from him ceased in those Colonies. * *
"CHAPTER II. Section 1. The Commonwealth or State of Pennsylvania shall be governed here- after by an Assembly of the Representatives of the freemen of the same, and a President and Council, in manner and form following:
Section 2. The supreme legislative power shall be vested in a House of Representatives of the freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Section 3. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a President and a Council. Section 5. The freemen of the Commonwealth and their sons shall be trained and armed for its defence, under such regulations, &c., as the General Assembly shall by law direct; preserving always to the people the right of choosing their Colonel and all commissioned officers under that rank, in such manner and as often as by the said laws shall be directed.
Section 7. The House of Representatives shall consist of persons most noted for wisdom and virtue, to be chosen, &c .; nor shall any member, while he continues such, hold any other office, except in the militia.
Section 9. The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen annually by ballot by the freemen, on the second Tuesday in October, and shall meet on the fourth Monday of the same month, and shall be styled "The General Assembly of Representatives of the Freemen of Pennsyl- vania," and shall have power to choose their Speaker, the Treasurer of the State, and their other offi- cers, &c. * *
Section 10. Each member, before he takes his seat, shall make and subscribe the following declara- tion, viz .: "I do believe in one God, the Creator and Governor of the Universe, the rewarder of the good and punisher of the wicked. And I do acknowledge the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments to be given by Divine inspiration."
Section 19. For the present the Supreme Executive Council shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner: Freemen of the city of Philadelphia and of the counties of Philadelphia, Chester and Bucks to choose one person for the city and one for each of the counties, for three years; the freemen of the counties of Lancaster, York, Cumberland and Berks to elect one person for each county, to serve two years; the freemen of the counties of Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland and Westmoreland to elect one person for each county, to serve one year. Thereafter, in each vacancy, a Councilor to be chosen for three years. "By this mode of election and continual rotation more men will be trained to public business, there will in every subsequent year be found in the Council a number of persons acquainted with the proceedings of the foregoing years, whereby the business will be more consistently conducted, and moreover the danger of establishing an inconvenient aristocracy will be effectually prevented. * * The President and Vice President shall be chosen annually by the joint- ballot of the General Assembly and Council, of the members of the Council. *
* In case new addi- tional counties shall hereafter be erected in this State, such county or counties shall elect a Councilor
or Councilors .*
*
The Council shall meet annually, at the same time and place with the General
* The President shall be commander-in-chief of the forces of the State, but shall not Assembly. *
command in person, except advised thereto by the Council."
Section 26. Courts of Sessions and Common Pleas, and Orphans' Courts, shall be held quarterly in each city and county.
Section 30. Justices of the Peace shall be elected by the freeholders of each city and county respectively; that is, two or more persons may be chosen for each ward or district, as the law shall
882
of members elected (but not on a general ticket) by the counties. The members of the General Assembly (" Representatives ") and the members of the Council (" Councilors ") were to meet together once a year to choose from the Councilors, by joint-ballot, a President and a Vice President. The Assembly and the Council (under the new Con- stitution) met in Philadelphia November 28, 1776, and elected Thomas Wharton, Jr., President, and George Bryan Vice President of the Coun- ' cil and of the State, and John Jacobs Speaker of the House. With the election of Mr. Wharton the rule of the Penns ended in Pennsylvania; the royal and proprietary Government quietly died without a sigh, and the Commonwealth, or State, of Pennsylvania began its existence.
The Constitutional Convention, at one of its early sessions, received froin certain inhabitants of Northumberland County a memorial, which was referred to a committee for consideration. On August 1st this com- mittee reported to the Convention that the facts set forth in the mnemo- rial were well supported by evidence ; whereupon the following resolu- tions were adopted (see "American Archives," Fifth Series, I : 709):
"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention that the inhabitants of the said county, and of the county of Northampton, are greatly exposed to Indian incursions, without being able to make proper defence, on account of the scattered situation of the inhabitants; they being settled in such a manner as to be unable to afford each other necessary assistance.
"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention that it will be proper to raise and keep up a body of troops for the defence of the frontier, not only of the county of Northumberland, but also of the county of Northampton-the latter county being equal- ly exposed to Indian incursions.
"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Convention that the defenceless situation of those parts of our frontiers be made known to the Congress by the Delegates of this State; and that they further inform them that the battalion ordered to be raised for the defence of the Western frontier can afford no assistance to those two counties, and that the quota of the militia of Northampton, first required for the Flying Camp, is already marched, and the residue of the militia is about to march, agreeable to the late request of Congress; by which means they will be without the least defence, and request Congress to take those matters into consideration."
The foregoing resolutions, together with the memorial from the authorities of Westmoreland (see page 879), having been presented to Congress, were immediately referred to a committee composed of the Delegates from Pennsylvania and Connecticut. This committee brought in a report August 23, 1776, which, having been taken into considera- tion the same day, Congress voted as follows *:
"Resolved, That six companies on the Continental establishment be raised in Penn- sylvania, and posted along the frontiers of the counties of Northampton and Northuni- berland, and parts adjacent, till further orders of Congress.
hereafter direct, and their names shall be returned to the President in Council, who shall commissionate one or more of them for each ward or district for seven years.
Section 31. Sheriffs and Coroners shall be elected annually in each city and county by the free- men; that is, two persons for each office, one of whom for each office is to be commissioned by the President in Council.
Section 36. "As every freeman, to preserve his independence (if without a sufficient estate), ought to have some profession, calling, trade or farm, whereby he may honestly subsist, there can be no necessity for, nor use in, establishing offices of profit -- the usual effects of which are dependence and servility, unbecoming freemen, in the possessors and expectants; faction, contention, corruption and disorder among the people. But if any man is called into public service, to the prejudice of his private affairs, he has a right to a reasonable compensation. And whenever an office, through increase of fees, or otherwise, becomes so profitable as to occasion many to apply for it, the profits ought to be lessened by the Legislature." * *
Section 44. A school or schools shall be established in each county by the Legislature, for the con- venient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters paid by the public as may enable them to instruct youth at low prices. And all useful learning shall be duly encouraged and promoted in one or more universities.
Section 47. Provides for the election in October, 1783, and in October of each seventh year there- after, of two persons in each city and county of the State, to form a body to be called the "Council of Censors;" * "whose duty it shall be to enquire whether the Constitution has been preserved inviolate in every part; and whether the legislative and executive branches of the Government have performed their duty as guardians of the people, or assumed to themselves other or greater powers than they are entitled to by the Constitution. For these purposes they shall have power to send for persons, papers and records; they shall have authority to pass public censures, to order impeach- inents," &c.
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