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 89
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(iv) Ichabod Blackman, born at Lebanon, Connecticut, March 24, 1762, second son of Elisha and Lucy (Polley) Blackman, was eleven years old when he came with his parents and the other members of their family to Wilkes-Barre. At the time of the irruption of the Tories and Indians into Wyo- ming Valley Ichabod Blackman was in the seventeenth year of his life, and, being within the age limits fixed by the militia laws of Connecticut, was an enrolled member of the 24th Regiment. With his father and elder brother, Elisha, Jr., he took part in the military expedition from Forty Fort to Sutton's Creek, July 1, 1778, as described on page 990. Whether or not Ichabod Blackman took part in the battle of Wyoming is not now known. It is quite probable that he was one of the garrison at Fort Wilkes-Barre. He fled from the Valley with his mother, sisters and younger brother, and, mak- ing his way with them to Connecticut, remained there until 1786, when he returned to Wilkes-Barre. The same year he was married at Goshen, New York, to Elizabeth (born at Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1760), daughter of Arnold Franklin of Hanover Township in Wyoming Valley.
In 1790 Ichabod Blackman removed with his wife and child from Wilkes-Barre to Sheshequin (previously mentioned), where he settled on, and cleared up, a large tract of land now owned by one of his descendants. In the month of April, 1798, he was accidentally drowned in the Susquehanna River while crossing it in a canoe near the mouth of Sugar Creek, on a very dark night. He was survived hy his wife, Elizabeth (who was subsequently married to Timothy Winship), and the follow- ing-named children: (a) Franklin Blackman, born at Wilkes-Barre September 28, 1787. He was about three years old when his parents removed to Sheshequin, and there he continued to make his home until his death. He was a useful and an influential citizen. He was a Justice of the Peace for fifteen years, and held various offices in the State militia- attaining, ultimately, the rank of Colonel. In 1809 he was married to Sibyl (born October 6, 1788), daughter of David and Sibyl Beardsley, and they became the parents of ten children. Mrs. Sibyl (Beardsley) Blackman died December 12, 1864, and Colonel Blackman died August 14, 1880. (b) Elisha Blackman (commonly known for the greater part of his life as "Elisha Blackman, 2d") was born at Sheshequin, in what is now Bradford County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1791. About 1812 or '13 he removed from Sheshequin to Wilkes-Barré Township, and July 14, 1814, was married (1st) to Mary, daughter of Miner Searle of Pittston. They settled in that part of Wilkes-Barre which is now Plains Township, and as early as 1821 Elisha Black- man was keeping hotel on the hill now covered by the village of Plains. Some years later he removed to wbat is now the city of Pittston. He became a member of Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkes-Barré, March 5, 1821, and in 1822 and '23 was a member of the "Mark Masters' Lodge" held under the author-
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" I do certify that I was in the battle of Wyoming, fought on the 3d day of July, 1778, and that I am well acquainted with the facts as they took place on that day, and subsequently. I have read the account published in the National Gazette of the 6th inst., and know that most of the circumstances related, and especially the material ones, are absolutely false. I have also read the letter of Lord Butler, Esq., relating to the bat- tle, and from personal knowledge, as well as from information obtained at the time, know the facts there stated concerning it, to be correct. I was on the left wing and know that that wing retreated first. I heard Col. Zebulon Butler advise not to go forward that day, but to wait for information and succours. I came into the fort at Kingston from the battle with Colonel Butler, and there were but four or five others with him. I served under Colonel Zebulon Butler in Washington's arny, and never heard, until I saw the account in the Gazette, either his courage or capacity in the least questioned. On the contrary, his character as an officer always stood high. " December 26, 1820.
[Signed] "RUFUS BENNET.""
ity of the warrant of Lodge No. 61. He was one of the original members, and the first Secretary, of St. John's Lodge, No. 233, F. and A. M., constituted at Pittston April 17, 1848. Mrs. Mary (Searle) Black- man having died, Elisha Blackman was married (2d) in 1825 to Philena, daughter of William Searle of Pittston; and upon her death at Providence, Luzerne County, December 8, 1833, he was married (3d) in 1836 to Sarah (born in 1796), daughter of Eleazar Atherton of Lackawanna Township, Lu- zerne County, who was one of the earliest settlers in the Lackawanna Valley. Mrs. Sarah (Atherton) Blackman died at Waverly (formerly Abington Center), Luzerne County, November 10, 1858, and some time later Elisha Blackman was married (for the fourth and last time) to Mrs. Myra G. Rey- nolds. Elisha Blackman died October 17, 1881, in the ninetieth year of his age. He was the father of the following-named children: (1) Miner Searle, born August 14, 1815; married in 1843 to Ann Elizabeth Drake of Wilkes-Barré; died May 26, 1848. (See a subsequent chapter for a sketch of his life.) (2) Frances Searle, born April 20, 1817; married in 1848 to Dr. Avery Knapp of Pittston (born May 25, 1815; died October 4, 1896). She died in March, 1882. (3) Charles R., born March 28, 1819. (4) Harvey C., born September 28, 1821. (5) Cornelius Scarle, born January 12, 1826. (6) Mary H., born August 26, 1827. (7) Elizabeth F., born February 6, 1831. (8) Thomas Atherton, born April 23, 1838. (c) David S. Blackman, third and youngest child of Ichabod and Elizabeth (Franklin) Blackman, was born at Sheshequin June .14, 1794, and became a Methodist minister. He was married to Lydia, daughter of Elijah M. Horton. He died September 5, 1828, and was survived by his wife and six children.
(v) Eleazar Blackman, youngest child of Elisha and Lucy (Polley) Blackman, was born in Leb- anon, Connecticut, May 31, 1765, and was consequently eight years old when he came with his par- ents to Wilkes-Barre. In the Spring of 1778, as a boy of thirteen, he aided in strengthening the defenses of Fort Wilkes-Barre-by hauling logs with an ox-team, and digging in the trenches. After the battle of July 3d he fled from the Valley with his mother, sisters and brother, as previously related, and proceeded to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he remained until his return to Wilkes-Barre in 1786. Eleazar Blackman was married October 7, 1786, at Wilkes-Barré, to Clorinda (born Feb- ruary 14, 1769), daughter of John Hyde, originally of New London County, Connecticut, but then an inhabitant of Wilkes-Barre, residing on Lot No. 29 of the "Second Division" of the township. (Some years later he removed to Hanover Township.)
Eleazar Blackman settled in Wilkes-Barre. "In the progress of the settlement and opening up of the country he mingled actively in the business of life, held public stations-both civil and military- and during his entire life enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him." In 1788 he was a private in the "Troop of Light Dragoons" raised and commanded by Capt. John Paul Schott. In 1790 he was a private in the company of Light Infantry (commanded by. his brother, Lieut. Elisha Black- man, Jr.) attached to the "Ist Regiment of Militia in Luzerne County," commanded by Lieut. Col. Matthias Hollenback. In September, 1800, he was elected and commissioned Captain of the "First Troop of Horse," 2d Brigade, 8th Division, Pennsylvania Militia. This position he held for a num- ber of years, and in 1812 he attained the rank of Major in the militia. From 1801 till 1803 he was one of the Commissioners of Luzerne County; and from 1808 till 1810 Treasurer of the County. He was made a Free Mason in Lodge No. 61, F. and A. M., Wilkes-Barre, November 2, 1795, and was Secretary of the Lodge in 1797, Senior Warden in 1798, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '13, '14, '15 and '16, Treasurer in 1806, and Worshipful Master in 1804 and 1809. In 1822 and '23 he was a member of the "Mark Masters' Lodge" working under the authority of the Warrant of Lodge No. 61.
Major Blackman, for many years prior to his death, lived on his farm in Wilkes-Barre near the Hanover Township line and not far from the foot of the mountain. Prior to 1830 he opened up a "coal-bed" on this farm, and thenceforward, for a number of years, he carried on in a small way the business of coal-mining in addition to his farming operations. In time this coal-bed became known as the "Blackman Mine," and years later-when the operations had become more extensive-the mine was known as the "Franklin." (See its location on the map facing page 456, Vol. I.) Major Black- man died at his home September 10, 1843, and was buried two days later with the honors of Free Masonry-a large number of the Brethren of the Craft being in attendance at the funeral. Mrs. Clorinda (Hyde) Blackman died December 26, 1829. The children of Maj. Eleazar and Clorinda (Hyde) Blackman were all born in the township of Wilkes-Barre, and their names were as follows: (i) Lucy, born March 4, 1788; married at Wilkes-Barre March 17, 1806, to Shepard Sterne. (ii) Lucretia, born August 22, 1789; died February 10, 1790. (iii) Minerva, born December 30, 1790; married at Wilkes-Barre July 28, 1811, to Calvin Edwards, a tailor. (iv) Melinda, born May 4, 1793; married at Wilkes-Barre October 7, 1812, by William Ross, Esq., to Daniel Collings (a sketch of whose life will be found in a subsequent chapter); she died in Wilkes-Barre March 28, 1861. (v) Amanda, born February 27, 1795; married to Thomas Gray; died in March, 1861. (vi) Hiram, born March 27, 1801; died August 7, 1822. (vii) Clorinda, born March 4, 1803; died December 24, 1805. (viii) Eleazar, born March 25, 1806. (ix) Julia, born September 4, 1808; married to Edward Jones, a native of Wales, who died about 1850, survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. Mrs. Julia (Blackman) Jones died October 22, 1889. (x) Lovina, born March 4, 1811; married at Beaver Mead- ows, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1837, by the Rev. Roger Moister to Richard Jones (born March 20, 1816), a brother of Edward Jones, mentioned above. Richard Jones died at Wilkes-Barré January 17, 1874, and his widow-survived by one son and one daughter-died here April 5, 1894.
* RUFUS BENNETT was born in New England in 1760. The names of his parents are not known, but it is probable that he was a brother or a son of Isaac Bennett who died in Newport Township, Luzerne County, July 28, 1809, aged seventy-six years. Rufus Bennett was administrator of Isaac's estate. On the tax-lists of Hanover District (which included Newport Township) the name Isaac Bennett, Jr., appears in 1776, '77 and '78. He was dead in 1787, and had left children: Isaac, Lois (wife of Moses Brown) and Susanna (wife of Elias Green). The Isaac last mentioned may have been the Isaac who died in July, 1809, and the father of Rufus.
Rufus Bennett was a private in Capt. Samuel Ransom's Wyoming company in the Continental ser-
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" I was in the battle of Wyoming, July 3d, 1778, and am acquainted with the cir- cumstances attending it. I can assert that Col. Zebulon Butler had not the command of the whole colony, but that he was requested to take the command of the militia who were collected, and lead them on to battle. I know that Col. Zebulon Butler was not a cousin of Col. John Butler, the commander of the enemy's forces, for I have heard them both say so. I know Col. Zebulon Butler was not drawn out of the fort by the lavish promises of the enemy. He did not march out to a parley, but went to meet the enemy for the purpose of fighting them. He had with him between 300 and 400 men, all that were col- lected in the fort. Colonel Butler's opinion was that it would be better to delay and not fight that day. His reasons I do not know particularly.
" No flag appeared to entice Zebulon Butler and his men into an ambush. We marched out between the Kingston Fort and the Wintermute's Fort, so called, and formed a line in a secure place, without danger of being surrounded, and were there to have waited for the British and Indians. But the men, seeing the smoke rise from a burning house, and having their feelings much excited, were determined to pres's forward. Pre- vious to this our advance guard had fired upon some Indians. We then marched up and attacked the enemy, who were also formed in a line. I was on the right wing when the battle commenced, and supposed we were beating the enemy, until the firing ceased on the left, and the confusion and retreat began.
" Colonel Denison did not attempt to defend the fort in Kingston-there was not a gun fired front it to my knowledge-nor did the enemy burn the women and children either at Kingston or at Wilkesbarre. I knew Colonel Butler from the year 1769 till the time of his death. I was an officer in his regiment and served under his command in the militia before the war, as well as in the Continental army, and never heard his patriotism, courage or capacity questioned in any way whatever.
" Dec. 26th, 1820.
[Signed] " MATTHIAS HOLLENBACK."
In 1824 there was published the "Military Journal" of James Thacher, M. D., of Massachusetts, who had been a surgeon in the Ainer- ican army during the Revolutionary War. This book was widely read, and in 1827 a second edition was published. On page 141 of the book we find these paragraphs :
" Highlands [on the Hudson], August 3, 1778. I am now to notice one of the most dreadful instances of perfidious savage cruelty that can perhaps be found on the records of history. However incredible the particulars may appear, they are found in various publications, and received as indubitable facts. Nor would I tarnish a page with the diabolical transaction till the detailed account has been incontrovertibly established. * *% * Wyoming consisted of eight townships, containing 1,000 families; and such was the zeal with which they espoused the cause of America, that they voluntarily raised about 1,000 soldiers for the Continental army. * * *
"About the 1st of July last the ferocious enemy, consisting of 1,600 Tories, Indians and half-blooded Englishmen, approached the settlement. This motley combination was commanded by Col. John Butler, a Tory refugee, and others, no less inhuman and
vice, and continued in the service under Captain Spalding upon the consolidation of the two Wyo- ming companies. He was one of those who came home from "the front" (as mentioned on page 978) to assist in defending Wyoming against the enemy. After the battle he joined Captain Spalding, and undoubtedly served with him until the end of the war. After the war he settled in Hanover Town- ship, where, about 1783 or '84 he was married to Martha Bennett (born in 1763), daughter of Ishmael Bennett of Hanover by his first wife.
Ishmael Bennett, mentioned above, was, so far as known, not related by blood to Rufus Bennett. He was born in Rhode Island about 1730; removed to Connecticut, and came to Wyoming about 1773 with his three children-his wife being dead. He settled in Pittston, and, with his children, was in the Pittston fort at the time of the battle of Wyoming. About 1783 Ishmael Bennett-then living in Wilkes-Barre-was married (2d) to Abigail (Beers) Weeks, widow of Philip Weeks of Wilkes-Barre, and about 1788 they removed to Hanover Township. About 1816 Ishmael Bennett removed to the State of Ohio, where he died at the age of 104 years. His children by his first wife were: (i) Ishmael, born in 1760; came to Wyoming with his father; some years subsequently to the battle of Wyoming he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Constant Searle and widow of Capt. Dethick Hewitt; settled in Pittston Township, where he died August 29, 1844, at the age of eighty-four years. (ii) Martha, born in 1763; married to Rufus Bennett, as previously noted. (iii) Thomas, born in 1765; married to Mary Ann Espy. The children of Ishmael Bennett, Sr., by his second wife were: (iv) Daniel, born in 1784. (v) Josiah, born in 1786; married to Sarah Taylor; died in 1857. (vi) Nathan, born in 1788; died in 1872. (vii) Polly, born in 1789; died in 1831. (viii) Sarah, born in 1791; died in 1881.
Rufus and Martha (Bennett) Bennett werc the parents of three daughters and six sons. Rufus Bennett died April 21, 1842, at the home of one of his sons in the hamlet of Woodville, just below the then borough of Wilkes-Barre, and his widow died there in 1853. On April 22, 1842, a meeting of the citizen-soldiers of Wilkes-Barre was held at Dennis' Hotel, to take into consideration measures for paying proper respect to the remains of Rufus Bennett. Gen. William S. Ross presided, and the fol- lowing minute was adopted: "Rufus Bennett sleeps with his fathers! The Continental soldier and the border warrior-the staunch foeman of the foreign tyrant and the ruthless savage-has closed his earthly career among the scenes consecrated by the blood of his compatriots and endeared by the rec- ollection of his own gallant participation in the memorable struggle for Wyoming. As Americans, and citizens of this Valley, we are anxious to testify our respect for the memory of the veteran soldier who periled life and limb in the war of liberty." The funeral of Rufus Bennett took place on April 23d. There was an unusually large number of people in attendance, and the procession to the grave- yard was headed by a detachment of "Citizen Volunteers," with music, under the command of Gen. William S. Ross. Gen. Isaac Bowman was Chief Marshal of the procession.
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cruel than their savage allies. * Those capable of bearing arnis were immedi- ately embodied under the command of Col. Zebulon Butler, cousin to the commander of the savages. * * The enemy approached, and pretending they were desirous of a par- ley, proposed that Col. Zebulon Butler should meet them at some distance from the fort for that purpose. He complied, but for safety took with him 400 armed men. This proved to be a fatal stratagem; he soon found himself surrounded and attacked on every side. He and his little party defended themselves with great firmness and bravery, and the commander, with about twenty of his men, finally made his escape. The enemy 110w rushed on and invested the fort, which they cannonaded most of the day; and horrid to relate, when they sent in a demand for the surrender, it was accompanied by 196 bloody scalps taken from those who had just been slain.
" Colonel Denison, on whom the command of the fort had devolved, defended him- self till most of his men had fallen by his side, when he went out with a flag to inquire what terms would be granted liim on surrendering the garrison. He received from the ferocious Butler a reply in two words --- ' The hatchet!' Colonel Denison was finally obliged to surrender at discretion, still retaining the hope of mercy. But he was wofully mistaken; the threat of Butler was rigorously executed. After selecting a few prisoners, the remainder of the people, including women and children, were enclosed in houses and barracks, which were immediately set on fire, and the whole consumed together.
"Another fort was near at hand, in which were seventy Continental soldiers. On surrendering without conditions, these were, to a man, butchered in a barbarous man- ner; when the remainder of the men, women and children were shut up in the houses, and the demons of liell glutted their vengeance in beholding their destruction in one general conflagration! This tragical scene being finished, the merciless authors of it spread fire and sword throughout the settlement, sparing, however, the houses and farms of the Tories. They extended their cruel hands to the cattle in the fields, shooting some and cutting out the tongues of others, leaving them alive. The additional particulars, from their unparalleled enormity, would not be recited here, were it not that they have been already promulgated from authentic sources." [Then follows a description of the tortures inflicted upon Captains Bidlack, Durkee and Ransom, and an account of the alleged threats and doings of Thomas Terry and Parshall Terry, Jr.]
Undoubtedly Dr. Thacher gained his information concerning the battle of Wyoming and the after-events from the New York Journal and from flying rumors.
In May, 1827, there was published in The Independent Republican, a Pennsylvania newspaper, an account of the battle and massacre of Wyoming, evidently drawn from Thacher's "Journal." In answer to this newspaper article Col. John Franklin wrote to the editor of the Republican as follows :
"Mr. CATLIN :- In your paper of the third instant I find a statement of the battle of Wyoming, which took place on the 3d of July, 1778, and on examination I find the account greatly exaggerated. Though it is true in part, yet there is a large part that is not true. It is stated that the enemy that entered Wyoming on the first of July were supposed to be about sixteen hundred strong. It was not so; their number did not exceed seven hundred. That out of four hundred that marched out to the battle with Col. Butler, it is stated that not more than twenty escaped. This is not true; though it is true that more than one half fell a sacrifice to savage barbarity. It is also stated that the great body of the people that were in the fort of Kingston were shut up in their houses and burnt up, and that [Maj. John] Butler, with his forces, crossed to Wilkes- barre fort, and, hacking to pieces about seventy Continental soldiers, the remaining men with the women and children shared the fate of their brethren in Kingston; that they perished in the flames. This is not true.
" I was an eye-witness to the transactions of that time. I cannot at present recol- lect of any man now living, except myself, that was in the fort at Kingston when it was given up, who knew the transactions. There were numbers of women, young people and children that were in the fort at the time, and I expect numbers are yet living that can bear witness to many things that took place at that time. Colonel Hollenback was in the battle, and made his escape by swimming the river, and got into Wilkesbarre fort, and did not return back to Kingston.
"The fort in Kingston was surrendered to the enemy on Saturday, July the 4th, in pursuance of articles of capitulation previously agreed upon between Col. Jolin Butler, in behalf of his Britannic Majesty, and Col. Nathan Denison, in behalf the inhabitants of Wyoming. I saw the articles written and executed by the parties, and have the original now in keeping. The articles of capitulation were as favourable as we could expect, con- sidering the circumstances at that time. I was present when Butler with his Indians and Tories marched into the fort. I walked out with Colonel Denison, and met them and led them in and delivered up the fort with the few arms that were within it.
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"The articles agreed on and executed in writing, although favourable for the inhabit- ants, were violated by the enemy in every part, except that of massacreing the people. There was no personal injury done to any one in the fort; but plunder, and firing the dwellings of the inhabitants, laying the whole of the settlements in ruins, without reserve, immediately followed. An old man of the name of Hickman, and his wife, living near Capouse, were murdered, and a man by the name of St. Jolin, when going out towards the great swamp, was shot by the Indians. The woman with her child was suffered to go unhurt.
"On the day of the battle by far the greater part that lost their lives had surren- dered on the promise of protection, but were afterwards massacred-many being tortured in the most cruel manner that savages could iuvent. Only one prisoner was saved alive, whose name was Samuel Cary, who is (or was not long since) living at Lackawanna. Col. Zebulon Butler, and the few Continental soldiers that escaped the slaughter on the day of the battle, left Wyoming before Kingston fort was surrendered, as it was proposed that they should be held as prisoners of war.
"I am not able at present to give you but a short account of the transactions-only some of the outlines. As soon as my health will permit, I will furnish you with the his- tory* of the events that took place in those days of tribulation and distress at Wyoming. "Atliens, May 14th, 1827. [Signed] "JOHN FRANKLIN."
In 1840 Col. W. L. Stone's "Poetry and History of Wyoming" was published, and five years later Charles Miner's "History of Wyoming " was given to the public. In each of these books some of the many fabulous tales, which for years had been accepted as authentic Wyoming history, were effectually demolished. But still the earlier-printed accounts of Gordon, Botta and Thacher continued to be read and accepted, and when, in 1857, Dr. J. A. Spencer published his "History of the United States " he incorporated in it an account of the battle of Wyo- ming based on the disproved narratives of Gordon, Thacher, et al. The Rev. George Peck, D. D., wrote to the editor of The New York Times in January, 1858 (only a few months prior to the publication of the former's "Wyoming"), in part as follows relative to Dr. Spencer's account of the battle of Wyoming.
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