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 60
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In the early Spring of 1777 the Loyalists who were settled along the Susquehanna from Tunkhannock to Tioga Point began to exhibit signs of uneasiness and activity. " The few Indians," states Dr. Craft, * " who had continued to live in the white settlements on friendly terms, were more insolent, and finally withdrew to the Indian towns. * The Indians now began to engage in acts of open hostility against the Whigs." Rudolph Fox, t Ensign of the 9th Company, 24th Regiment, resided near the Susquehanna, on the west side of Towanda Creek, in what is now Bradford County. In March, 1777, he was seized by Indi- ans and taken to Quebec, where he was kept for nine months, during all which time his family were ignorant of his fate. He returned home in December, 1777.
Dr. Peck, in his "Wyoming," states : "In the year 1777 X there was much talk of war with the Indians. Several persons were killed up the river, and others taken prisoners. Mr. [James] Sutton and John Jenkins, afterwards known as Colonel Jenkins, made a journey through the wilderness to Queen Esther's Flats in order to procure the liberation of Mr. [Daniel ?] Ingersoll, who had been carried into cap- tivity. The distance of Queen Esther's townt from Wyoming was about ninety miles. The visitors were treated very courteously by the Queen, and she was free in her communications with regard to the
* In his "History of Bradford County," page 69.
+ RUDOLPH Fox and his family were the first white settlers in what afterwards became Towanda Township. In May, 1778, he was captured a second time by Indians, but escaped from them. Shortly before the battle of Wyoming he and his family fled down the Susquehanna to Sunbury, and in that locality they remained until 1783, when they moved to Wilkes-Barre, and shortly afterwards to their old home on Towanda Creek. Elizabeth (born September 1, 1770), daughter of Rudolph Fox, became the wife of William Means, who in 1812 founded the village of Meansville, later called Towanda.
Į The "Queen Esther" here referred to was (iv) Esther Montour, mentioned in the fifth paragraph, page 206, Vol. I. For a more extended reference to her see Chapter XV. Her "town" was on the flats near Tioga Point.
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prospect of war. She said she was opposed to war; she wished the In- dians and white people to live in peace with each other. Mr. Sutton belonged to the Society of Friends, was a religious man, and talked with the Queen religiously. She seenied to have correct views of relig- 1ous and moral obligations.
" They were invited to spend the night with the Queen, and the true spirit of hospitality seemed to characterize all her communications and arrangements. In the course of the evening, however, things took a new turn, and the travelers, for awhile, were at a loss what construc- tion to put upon the indications outside. A company of Indians came before the house, and, seating themselves upon a log, began to sing the ' war song.' The old Queen went out to them, and was engaged in an earnest conversation with them for a long time. When she came in she frankly told her guests that the Indians were determined to waylay and kill them, adding, with great emphasis: 'I can do nothing with them. Now you lie down until I call you.' They did so, and when all was still in the town she called them and said: 'You must go down the river. Go down the bank, take my canoe and paddle it with- out noise.' * They slipped off * * * * and found their way home in safety."
In the narrative of Elisha Harding, published in " Proceedings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society," VII : 92, we find the following : "A few remarks on the up-river settlement. In the Spring of 1777 the inhabitants above Buttermilk Falls, with a few exceptions, went to [Fort] Niagara, and continued there until Fall. They then returned home and took the freeman's oath, so called, and continued until about the first of May, 1778, and then returned to the enemy and soon came down with a party of Indians and 'Rangers ' with craft [boats] and took their families. They came down as far as Buttermilk Falls."
At Westmoreland, under the date of March 31, 1777, John Jenkins, Esq., wrote the following letter* to the Hon. Roger Sherman, to whom it was delivered at Philadelphia on April 7th.
"Dear Sir. Since the letter of the 28th from the Authority, &c., we have made a considerable further discovery in respect to the Tories, as you will see by the Inclosd Deposition, and expect this week to be able to give a better account of them, as we have sent a party to take and secure all we have discovered & all they shall discover in the pursute of those; & have had accounts of more substantial witnesses, but at so greate dis- tance that we cannot get them so as to send them by this oppertunity; & as it will be unsafe to keep them here, should be glad of some directions how to dispose of them. Hope by this early discovery to prevent their plans taking place; but God only knows the event. If God should suffer those slavish, serpentine wretches to Influence the sav- ages into acts of hostillities, it might be the cause of some Blood shed; but make no doubt but they would soon sick of the Bargain. Sir, the Persons who gave the Inclosed [depo- sition] is esteemed Persons of truth & varasity.
"Sir, I hope you will excuse my boldness and freedom of troubling you with these Lines, being unacquainted; but am, Sir, your sincere friend & humble serv't, [Signed] "JOHN JENKINS."
The following information, relative to certain Tories in Westmore- land in the Spring of 1777, is extracted from the proceedingst of the Committee of Safety of Northumberland County at Sunbury, in April of that year.
"In consequence of sundry reports from different parts of the country of a danger- ous plot being on foot by some of our enemies to bring on an Indian war, and in particu-
* The original is in the possession of Mr. James Terry, of Connecticut, previously mentioned, and a copy is now printed for the first time.
t See "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XIV : 364, 365.
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lar by an intercepted letter written by Nicholas Pickard to John Pickard, at the house of Caspar Reed in Penn Township-a copy of which was transmitted to us by Nathaniel Landon of Wyoming, as follows :
"' WYOMING, March 7, 1777.
" 'Worthy Friend. * * As soon as the river is clear of ice we will march from every part. Therefore I would advise you as a friend to get out of the way, for we intend to cut all off. Perhaps by Easter I shall be with you; then I shall tell you further.
[Signed] 'NICHOLAS PICKARD.'
" In consequence of which letter Col. James Murray and Capt. James Espy were sent by order of the Committee in search of Nicholas and John Pickard. April 17th Captain Espy returned and brought John Pickard before the Committee, who deposed, under oath, that about last Christmas, [1776], he went up the river from Middletown to Wyoming [Wilkes-Barre] by boat, and at Wyoming met Nicholas, his cousin; and that they went by land about twenty miles farther up the river to Tunkhannock, where, in the house of a certain Nicholas Phillips the latter told the Pickards that the Indians had told hin they would come down and cut all off in the Spring, or as soon as they got their orders; and that they would in particular strike upon the Mohawk River and the Susquehannah. And that when he (John) parted with Nicholas the latter promised to write him as soon as he thoughit there was immediate danger, so that he might get out of the way-withal telling him that the Indians did not want to kill any that did not take up arms against them. And further, told him about a fortnight ago that there were 500 Indians at Chemung, waiting for orders from Niagara.
"Likewise, he (John) asked Nicholas why he came down to Caspar Read's at that time (about two weeks ago). He said the Yankees were going to apprehend him for a Tory, and that a certain Dennis Clark came to him about midnight and gave him notice of it, and accordingly he made his escape down the river. And that he ( Nicholas) told him (John) he had written two letters to him, which he had sent.
"John Pickard then took the oath of allegiance to the United States of America, and gave bonds in £100 for good behavior, and was dismissed.
"April 17, 1777, Colonel Murray returned and brought the body of Nicholas Pick- ard, who confessed that he wrote the letter to John, and further confesses that he is in connection with the Ministerial troops at Niagara, and that he has taken an oath of alle- giance to the King of Great Britain; but says he was forced to it. * Said that Nich- * olas Phillips of Tunkhannock notified him and several others thereabouts to move away with their families to Tioga, in the Indian country, as the English were coming down to cut off the inhabitants upon the Mohawk and the Susquehannah. That there were 15,000 of the Ministerial troops at Niagara, 4,000 of whom were to come down the West Branch and 4,000 down the North Branch of the Susquehanna, and a number of Indians were to be with them. And that the person who informed Phillips was John De Pui,* who is gone off and joined the English at Niagara, and that he sent him this piece of informa- tion by an Indian, after he left.
"The Committee voted Nicholas Pickard an enemy, and sent him to the Supreme Executive Council at Philadelphia."
After much prodding on the part of the Connecticut Delegates, the Continental Congress at last reached the conclusion that the inhabitants of Westmoreland were really in need of arms and ammunition, which they did not seem to be able, of themselves, to procure anywhere. In consequence Congress passed the followingt April 11, 1777.
"Resolved, That 175 fire-arms-either musquets or rifles-200 wt. of powder, 800 wt. of lead, and 500 flints be sent to the town of Westmoreland, on the East Branch of the Susquehanna River, to the care of Col. Nathan Denison, to be used by the militia there for the defence of the said town, if necessary; the arms to be returned when the service there will admit of it."
There is an original document in the possession of Mr. James Terry of Connecticut (frequently referred to hereinbefore), which, by his courtesy, is now printed for the first time. It reads as follows :
"A message from the Six Nations delivered to the Committee at Westmoreland in Connecticut, May 1, 1777, by sundry messengers from the Six Nations, and is as fol- lows, viz :
" Well, we your Brothers say we are here before you, and are glad to see you. Brotli- ers, I have understood you have been greatly disturbed and been in sorrow this long time. Brothers, this is to wipe the tears off your eyes, so that you may see again. It is all through friendship that we, your Brothers, come to see you. [ Three strings of wam- pum delivered.]
" It is through false people that we are disturbed, and we are liired by the people to come here and let you know it. Brothers, I see this ground looks like blood, and we
* Mentioned on pages 857 and 874.
¡ See "The Journals of Congress", III : 104.
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are come to clean it so that you may sit down as before this to clean your throats, so as you may speak as before, to take all that is bad out of your throats.
"Well, Brothers, we are here, and we were hired by the Six Nations to let you know what we have agreed on. Brothers, you must not think I came to speak from my mouth. I speak from my heart. I tell you the truth. Brothers, there is our Maker above us-we will not speak lies. There is a number from Delaware [the Delawares]. You must not mind them. They tell lies. We mean to abide by our former agreement. Brothers, there is a number of old and young about that want a meal's victuals or a dram, that will tell lies, but you must not mind them. You must think of the old agreement. " Brothers, 'King Last Night ' is no more a king, and by hisinvitation a number of men went off. 'Last Night' incouraged them to go forward, but they could not settle, and were obliged to go forward to Niagara. 'Last Night' is thrown out and is no more a king, but a private man, because he harboured Tories that went up this river, and the people refused to let them stay amongst them, but they were obliged to go on to Niagara. And the Six Nations did not give him ['Last Night'], nor none of the others that was with him at the treaty at Easton, any orders to complain of the New England people, nor to appoint anybody there to speak for us but our Brothers and head-men at Wyoming, that we are acquainted with. Brothers, those are bad people that go about telling bad news; and you pay them, but you must not mind them. We come to do good, and we do not expect pay for it. Them are bad people, and tell lies.
"Well, Brothers, you have heard us so far. If you want to hear anything further our Council-fire is at Shanangah [Chenango]. There the Six Nations sit round the Council-fire, and there you must go to hear the truth of any story. Well, Brothers, I let you know this man ( Mr. Sampson Luts, Interpreter) is in the form of our ears-by him you will hear the truth. Well, Brothers, you have heard us so far. Maybe you think we are enemies and want to go to war upon one side or the other. We are Brothers upon one side and the other. We want to be [continue so] still, nor want to go to war upon one side or the other. We have pity for you, and will not engage for or against you. There is nothing but good from us. By and by there will be a number of young nien that are going amongst you to hunt. You will use them well and trade with them with what you can spare. There is a number of men amongst you foolish, and will say when they see an Indian, 'You are come to kill us!'
"Brothers, you know it was the fashion that your grandfathers had in treaties to give a little powder [to the Indians] to put in their guns to kill pidgeons to make broth, and we ask for some. Brothers, we hope you will let all the Brothers know this [is given] in token of friendship, that our friendship still lasts. [A belt of wampum delivered.] We hope, our Brothers, when we go off you will give your Brothers a walking-stick .* Your Brothers say no more.
"The above and within is a true copy of the origenal. Test pr. me, [Signed] "NATHAN DENISON, Chairman of Conitee "
" The Answer of the Comtee [of Inspection] of Westmoreland to the messengers from the Six Nations, sent from their Council-fire at Chenango. May 1, 1777.
"Brothers, we are glad you are come at this time with a message of peace to us. We cordially receive the same. The string you have presented to clear our throats we gladly receive, and can assure you that our throats are clear, and so shall speak freely. Brothers, the string you present us with to speak from our hearts is also cordially received by us, and you may rely upon it that what we speak is from our hearts, and not from our Mouths only. Brothers, the string you present us with to let us know that whenever we hear any News, either bad or good, we may, by applying to the fire-place at Shenango, know the truth. Brothers, we now from our hearts let you know that we mind but little about those straggling fellows that tell false news, and hope you do so too, and we will discountenance them and mind them not, but treat them as enemies to both us and you and let them know that we have a sure place to go to, where we can know the truth, and that we shall not mind them.
"Brothers, we cordially receive the Belt of Peace from you. We kindly thank you and all our Brothers of the Six Nations for the same. Brothers, we desire nothing but peace between us, which we hope will last as long as the sun shines and the water runs. Brothers, those disturbances that have lately happened through the instigations of wicked persons that have spread false reports and are no friends to us, have made tears in our eyes which we now wipe away by this cordial meeting. Brothers, we have no desire that you should take any part in the present disturbances between us and Great Britain, but hope you will use them and us as friends. Brothers, Colonel Denison will speak to you hereafter about the pigeons for broth, and stick to walk with. Brothers, we are extremely glad to hear you speak of our Maker above, who is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe and rules all things for good and teaches us all to speak truth, and in His fear we now speak. Also, [we] say to you in truthi, and believe, [that] you are good Brothers, and will tell us nothing but the truth.
"The above and within is a true copy. Test pr. me,
[Signed] "NATHAN DENISON, Chairman of Comtee of Inspection." * Rum or whisky.
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At the Westmoreland town-meeting held in the Spring of 1777 John Jenkins, Sr., and Isaac Tripp were elected Representatives to the next General Assembly of the State. Miner says ("Wyoming," page 196) " rumors had reached Wyoming that the Assembly intended to appoint to some of the more elevated judicial offices certain persons not inhabitants of the Valley, but chosen from that part of the State east of New York. Whereupon it was voted, as instructions to Messrs. Jenkins and Tripp : 'If any person that is not an inhabitant of this town should be nominated for an office in this county, that they [the Representa- tives] immediately remonstrate against it, in the most spirited inanner, as unconstitutional and an unprecedented thing in this Colony in any former times.'" It is probable that this action on the part of the inhab- itants of Westmoreland was called forth by the fact that in October, 1776, the Assembly had appointed and the Governor had commissioned Increase Moseley and Andrew Adams, of Litchfield County, respectively Judge of the Westmoreland County Court and a Justice of the Quorum (see page 908), but that neither of these gentlemen had come to West- moreland to assume the duties of his office.
The Assembly met at Hartford May 8, 1777, and Representatives Jenkins and Tripp were in attendance from Westinoreland. John Jen- kins, Sr., was appointed Judge of the County Court of Westmoreland for the ensuing year ; Col. Zebulon Butler, Col. Nathan Denison, Chris- topher Avery and Capt. Obadiah Gore were appointed Justices of the Peace and Quorum, and John Jenkins, Sr., Maj. William Judd, Uriah Chapman, Asaph Whittlesey, Caleb Bates and William McKerachan Justices of the Peace, and John Jenkins, Jr., Surveyor of Lands, in and for the county of Westmoreland for the ensuing year. Nathan Denison was reappointed Judge of the Court of Probate of the district of West- moreland for the ensuing year.
Lieut. Col. Nathan Denison was also promoted "Colonel of the 24tl1 Regiment of foot in this State, in the place of Col. Zebulon Butler now in service in the Continental ariny."* Capt. Lazarus Stewart was "established " Lieut. Colonel of the 24th Regiment "in the place of Col. Nathan Denison advanced "; Lieut. George Dorrance of the 2d Company, 24th Regiment, was promoted Major of the regiment, "in the place of William Judd, now in the Continental army "; Jeremiah Blanchard was established Captain of the 4th Company, in the place of Capt. Solomon Strong, holding a commission in the Continental army ; Timothy Keyes, Ensign of the 4th Company, was promoted Lieutenant of the same company ; William Shays was established Ensign of the 4th Company; Asaph Whittlesey, Ensign of the 3d Company, was pro- moted Captain of the same company, in the place of Capt. Samuel Rail- som; Aaron Gaylord was established Lieutenant of the 3d Company, to succeed Peren Ross, a Lieutenant in the Continental army; William White was established Ensign of the 3d Company, to succeed Asaplı Whittlesey, promoted ; Roasel Franklin was established Lieutenant of the 5th Company, to succeed Lazarus Stewart, Jr .; Titus Hinman was established Ensign of the 5tli Company to succeed Silas Gore, who had removed to Kingston; James Bidlack, Sr., of Plymouth and Lebbeus Tubbs of Kingston were respectively established Lieutenant and Ensign of the " Ist Aların List Company in the 24th Regiment," and
* See "Records of the State of Connecticut," I : 264, 265, et seq.
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Dr. William Hooker Smith, Flavius Waterman and Elisha Blackinan of Wilkes-Barré were respectively established Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign of the " 2d Alarm List Company in the 24th Regiment." These two "Aların List" companies had been organized only a short time pre- viously, in conformity with the Act of Assembly passed in December, 1776. (See page 911.) All the officers promoted and " established," as aforementioned, were subsequently commissioned by Governor Trulli- bull without delay.
Near the close of the May session of the Assembly Representative Jenkins of Westmoreland, Col. William Williams and Capt. Jabez Hun- tington were appointed by the Assembly a committee "to audit and adjust the accounts of the State with the Treasurer."
In the possession of Mr. James Terry of Connecticut (previously mentioned) is an interesting original document, heretofore unprinted, relating to certain of the Tories in Westmoreland in the year 1777. By the courtesy of Mr. Terry we are able to give the following copy of this old paper.
"JAMES ATHERTON and JAMES ATHERTON, JR., of Westmoreland, Connecticut, of lawful age, testify and say that June 1st, instant, at the house of Jacob Ankish* of said Westmoreland, the said Ankish not being at home, asked his wife where her husband was, and she answered: 'Up the River a boiling of Salt along with the rest of his neighbors.' * * She then began to complain of the treatment they had received from the Yankeys, in taking away their cattle from them, and that they were no more Torys than the Yankeys were. We told her that we were called Torys at Wyoming. She said she had heard as much. That then Asaliel Atherton told her that he heard his name was in the Tory listy that was gone up the River, and that the whole family were called Torys. And then she said she was a mind to reveal something, but she was afraid. Upon which the said James Atherton, Jr., and Asahel [Atherton] told her that she might speak, for they would not hurt her. I [James Atherton] told her the same. Upon which she told us that there were a great many thousand of British troops, Torys and Indians a great way this side Acquagat; that the Torys from all parts were collected there, and the Six Nations had all joined them, as also all the Indians on this River. That the treatys lately made here [in Westmoreland] were only to amuse the people and keep them quiet and easy while they [the Tories] were carrying on their design; that her husband and son were with them, and all the men that liad gone up the River were there also.
" We asked her how she knew all this. She said two or three nights ago twelve of her neighbors had been home to their families and told it, and said all their friends must keep open doors and not be afraid, and they would not be hurt; that the white men were to come forward and the Indians to follow after, and their orders were to kill the Yankees -. men, women and children-as fast as they came to them; and that we must come up there very soon and join them, and come into her house; and that Asahel and James must go right up and join the army, and she would speak a good word for us and keep us from being hurt. That three men her neighbors were lately gone off, that had not been gone before, to join the army.
" That 'Captain Henry,' an Indian, came down on Thursday as an express to a number of Indians that was down here as spys, and they all returned on Saturday, and Henry asked her if she had her daughter home from Wyoming. She said 'No.' Then he told her to send for her soon; upon which she sent her two little boys in a canoe to fetch her home, and not to stay for her, for they must come right back whether she came or not, for if they stayed they would all be killed together. We then told her we had not any canoes to move in, and did not know whether the people would let us miove. She offered us a canoe, which we agreed to pay for if we did not return it, and came home in the canoe to Wyoming. She said the Indians had a back road marked out, to come in undiscovered. That they were to divide the army in three parts, one to go down the West Branch and another the East Branch of the Susquehanna, and a third to go to Kashethton§ and drive down the Delaware and meet some where below and join the British army in the Jerseys and go to Philadelphia and take the Congress.
[Signed] "JAMES ATHERTON, "JAMES ATHERTON, JR."
" Westmoreland, June 3, 1777.
"Personally appeared the above deponents and made solemn oath to the above de- position. Before me, [Signed] "NATHAN DENISON, Justice of the Peace."
* JACOB ANGUISH, then living at or near Tunkhannock. See a more extended reference to him here- inafter. + See page 935.
Į Oghwaga, previously mentioned herein. § Cushetunk, previously mentioned.
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The foregoing deposition was forwarded to the Hon. Roger Sher- man by Colonel Denison, who first wrote upon the back of the paper the following memoranda :
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