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 9
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In the year 1759-as shown by an original muster-roll in the Connecticut State Library, and by an original receipt-book in the collections of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society (see the last paragraph on page 635, ante,)-George Beckwith, Jr., then eighteen years of age, was a private in the 9th Company (commanded by Capt. Zebulon Butler) of the 4th Regiment of Connecticut troops. With his younger brother, Nathaniel Brown Beckwith, George Beckwith, Jr., was graduated a Bachelor of Arts at Yale College in 1766, and in 1769 received from the college the degree of Master of Arts. One of his col- lege classmates was Jared Ingersoll, Jr. (son of the Hon. Jared Ingersoll mentioned on page 483, Vol. I),
661
to repair to Wyoming to officiate as pastor for the settlers. He arrived at Fort Durkee about the last of June, 1770, and continued there in the performance of his duties until the latter part of September, when the Yankees and their adherents were all driven from the valley-as is fully described hereinafter.
From the journals of the Moravian missionaries* at Friedenshütten (previously mentioned) we glean the following, under the date of June 16, 1770 :
"There arrived here two Mohawks, sent by the Six Nations with a message and a belt to the New Englanders at Wyoming, to the effect that if they, the New Englanders, delayed evacuating the valley they [the Mohawks] would come down and take them by the hair of their heads and shake them. Colonel Croghant and Dr. Forbes here, and left soon for Wyoming."
Whether or not the Mohawks above referred to continued their journey to Wyoming, we are unable to state.
About the middle of June-the work of surveying the five "settling" townships being well under way-the matter of assigning to the several townships the various proprietor-settlers then on the ground was ac- complished ; whereupon some of the proprietors (not singly, but in bands and companies) began to make improvements in their respective townships-continuing, however, to dwell at Fort Durkee, to which place of safety they returned each evening.
The surveying and plotting of the township of Wilkes-Barré having been completed in the manner previously described, a "drawing of lots" took place at Fort Durkee on Friday, June 29th. Slips of paper, upon which were written the names of the township proprietors present to participate in the drawing, were placed in a hat, while in another hat were deposited slips bearing the numbers-"1" to "50"-of all the lots in a particular division of the township. Then from the one hat a "number" slip was drawn, and simultaneously a "name" slip was drawn from the other hat, and to the bearer of the name thus drawn the lot corresponding to the number which "came out" was formally allotted. This process was carried out with respect to the distribution of the lots in each of the four divisions of the township. Owing, however, to the destruction and loss of many of the early records of The Susquehanna Company and of the township of Wilkes-Barré, we are unable to give any detailed information concerning the distribution of the Wilkes- Barré lots on June 29, 1770, beyond what is contained in an original document prepared on or shortly after that date, and now in the posses- later a Member of Congress from Pennsylvania and the first Attorney General of Pennsylvania under the Constitution of 1790. F. B. Dexter, in his "Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College," states (III : 172) that George Beckwith, Jr., "studied theology, and is first heard of as exercising his gifts as a preacher at Wyoming in the Susquehanna country, where he arrived with the Colony called the 'First Forty,' in February, 1769. He remained there till late in 1770." The latter part of this statement- which is based on a somewhat similar statement made in Pearce's "Annals of Luzerne County" (page 278)-is, of course, erroneous, as Mr. Beckwith did not come to Wyoming Valley until June, 1770, and he left in the following September, as mentioned above. A tutorship in Yale College was offered him in October, 1770, states Mr. Dexter, but was not accepted.
October 22, 1772, the Rev. George Beckwith, Jr., "was ordained to the pastoral care of the Second Congregational Church in the town of Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The Rev. George Beck- with, Sr., of Lyme, preached a sermon suitable to the occasion, and gave the charge." Mr. Beckwith was the first pastor of this Church, which was located in the parish of Litchfield South Farms, now Mor- ris. "His career as a clergyman," states Mr. Dexter, "was clouded by some misconduct, which led to his dismissal in 1781." Shortly afterwards he removed to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he en- gaged in the practise of medicine, returning, however, in the course of a few years to Litchfield South Farms. In 1790 he was expelled from the Church there on account of drunkenness. About 1807 he re- moved to Triangle Township, Broome County, New York, where he resided with his son George until his death-which occurred in October, 1824, from a stroke of paralysis. For a considerable period prior to his death he was partially deranged. He was married about 1774 to Rachel, daughter of Capt. John and Sarah ( Webster) Marsh of Litchfield, Connecticut, who died at Triangle, New York, in May, 1825, aged eighty-two years. Besides the son George mentioned above two daughters, at least, were born to the Rev. George Beckwith, Jr., and his wife Rachel.
* See "Transactions of the Moravian Historical Society," I : 200.
+ Col. GEORGE CROGHAN, mentioned on page 347, Vol. I.
662
sion of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. A copy of that document is here printed for the first time, as follows :
"DRAFT OF THE LOTTS as they came out by Lottery of the 2D DIVISION* in the Town of WILKS BARRE.
Ely Mead, No. 26.
James Geers,
No. 29.
Ebenezer Hibbard,
42.
Aaron Wilder,
8.
James Bidlack,
33.
Reuben Farnum,
39.
Daniel Brown,
48.
Isaac Bennit, Jabez Fish,
19.
Daniel Gore,
=
36.
John Collins,
¥
1.
Henry Heffelfinger,
Asa Gore,
2
Samuel Pelton,
27.
Asa Ludington,
44.
Jonathan Weeks,
66
15.
William Warner,
43.
Robert Hopkins,
18.
David Mead,
31.
George Minard,
40.
Stephen Fuller,
16.
Ichabod Downing,
66
45.
James Grimes,
12.
David Beckwith,
3.
Joseph Morse,
"
32.
John Stephens.
25.
Levi Farnum,
28.
Frederick Smith,
4.
William Comstock,
14.
Andrew Cypher,
6.
Thomas Fish,
21.
Ichabod Hyde,
5.
Ebenezer Farnum,
16
24.
"The above is a true entry of the Draft of Lotts as they came up against the several namest at the meeting June 29th, A. D. 1770. . [Signed] "CHRIST AVERY, ; Clerk."
* See the draft of the town-plot (the "2d Division") on page 655.
+ It will be noticed that the names of only thirty-six men appear in this list. Whether or not those men were the only proprietors who, at that time, had been assigned to Wilkes-Barre, it is now impossible to tell. It would appear, however, from the following minute recorded on page 580 of Book "C" of the original transactions of The Susquehanna Company (referred to on page 28, Vol. I), that in 1770 there was at least one other proprietor who had drawn lots in Wilkes-Barre.
"Whereas Jonathan Hebard of Windham, in the State of Connecticut, has stated to the Commis- sioners of The Susquehanna Company that he settled at Wilksbarre in 1769 ; that he was there a settler a great part of two years, when he found a certain Conrad Baker to do his duty, who was accepted by the Committee. That he drew a right throughout the town of Wilksbarre; that said Conrad being taken prisoner the lot was assigned to some other person ; that said Jonathan could never gain his said right. That he also did sundry services for the Company, for which he hath not had compensation-and he now applies for compensation in lands elsewhere. It is therefore agreed by the Commissioners that the said Jonathan Hebard have liberty to lay out to his own use 1,000 acres upon any of the unappropriated lands in the Company's Purchase. Certified by order of the Commissioners at Athens, 20 June, 1795.
[Signed] "JOHN FRANKLIN, Clerk."
# CHRISTOPHER AVERY (mentioned on pages 512, 515 and 629, and on subsequent pages), was a native of Groton, New London County, Connecticut, being fifth in descent from Christopher Avery of Gloucester, Massachusetts. This Christopher was one of the Selectmen of Gloucester between 1646 and 1654. About 1665 he removed to New London, Connecticut, where he purchased a house and lot in the town-plot. In October, 1669, he was made a freeman. He died before 1685. His son James, who was born in England in 1620 and came with his father to Gloucester, and removed thence to New London in 1650, settled between 1660 and 1670 in that part of the town of New London known as Poquonock (on the east side of the River Thames) and which in May, 1705, was erected into the town of Groton. James Avery took an important part in the affairs of New London. He was Townsman for twenty-three years up to 1680. He was suc- cessively Ensign1, Lieutenant and Captain of a train-band in the town, and was in active service in King Philip's War in 1675. Prior to 1680 he served twelve times as a Deputy from New London in the General Court, or Assembly, of Connecticut. Captain Avery built at Poquonock (Groton) the house known as "The Hive of the Averys," and which stood there until only a few years ago. The site of thisold homestead was marked in 1900 by a handsome memorial erected by the descendants of Captain Avery. He was married November 10, 1643, to Johanna Greenslade, and they became the parents of nine children. Captain Avery died at Poquonock in 1700.
Samuel Avery, the youngest child of Capt. James and Johanna (Greenslade) Avery, was born at New London August 14, 1664. The first town-meeting of Groton was held in December, 1705, and Samuel Avery acted as Moderator. At that meeting he was chosen First Townsman, and thereafter was annually re- chosen to that office until near the time of his death in 1723. In 1709, '16, '18 and '19 he was a Representa- tive from Groton to the General Court of the Colony. In May, 1716, he was established and commissioned Captain of the Groton train-band. In 1718 Captain Avery was chosen Town Clerk of Groton and in that office he served until his death, when he was succeeded by Lieut. Christopher Avery. The wife of Capt. Samuel Avery was Susannah Palmes, and they were the parents of several children-one of whoin, Col. Christopher Avery (born February 10, 1697; died January 17, 1768), was a Representative from Groton in the General Assembly of Connecticut from 1738 to 1764, inclusive.
Humphrey Avery, a younger son of Capt. Samuel and Susannah (Palmes) Avery, was born July 4, 1699, in what is now Groton. From 1732 to 1743, inclusive, he was one of the Deputies from Groton to the General Assembly. He was a skilled surveyor, and in 1733 was appointed by the General Assembly one of the Surveyors of Lands in and for New London County. From 1735 to 1751, inclusive, he was a Justice of the Peace in and for New London County. In 1737 he was one of the Commissioners for Connecticut appointed "to perambulate" the Connecticut-Rhode Island boundary-line. About 1744 or '45 Humphrey Avery removed with his family from Groton to the town of Preston, adjoining Norwich, in New London County, and in 1747 he was a Deputy from Preston to the General Assembly. In the "Colonial Records of Connecticut," IX : 537, we find in the proceedings of the General Assembly for May, 1750, the following : "Upon a memorial of Humphrey Avery of Preston, shewing to this Assembly the great difficulty and dis- tress himself and family are brought to by his dwelling-house and household goods, cloaths, &c., being consumed by fire ; praying for relief from this Assembly. Resolved by this Assembly that the memorialist have out of the publick treasury of this Colony the sum of £2,100 in bills of credit of the old tenor on the Colony of Rhode Island or New Hampshire, for the space of two years, interest free-provided he give bond with good and sufficient sureties * * for the repayment of the like sum at the expiration of said two years." Mr. Avery repaid this loan in 1754.
In October, 1752, Capt. William Witter was appointed by the General Assembly Surveyor of Lands in and for New London County "instead of Mr. Humphrey Avery, who has moved away." (See "Colonial
20.
13.
Peregreen Gardner,
50.
7.
Daniel Hanes,
9.
Silas Gore,
663
At Easton, Pennsylvania, only a few days before the abovemen- tioned drawing of lots took place, the "Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace and Gaol Delivery in and for the County of Northampton" convened, and action was taken with reference to the alleged riots at Wyoming-which was probably the most important business of the term. Amos Ogden, John Murphy, Charles Stewart, Alexander Pat- terson, John Dick and Thomas Craig were examined under oath by the Grand Jury, whereupon that body made a presentment to the Court, the formal document being drawn up by the Hon. Andrew Allen, Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and reading, in part, as follows* :
"The Grand Inquest * * do present that LAZARUS STEWART, late of the same County, yeoman, JOHN DURKEE, late of the same County, yeoman, and JOHN COCHRAN, late of the same County, yeoman, and divers others persons to this Inquest as yet un-
Records of Connecticut," X : 149.) Humphrey Avery undoubtedly lived in Windham County, Con- necticut, from 1753 till 1759. In the year last mentioned he located in the town of Norwich, New London County, and there he resided until within a few years of his death, when he moved back to Groton. From 1760 to 1773, inclusive, he was a Justice of the Peace in and for New London County. May 14, 1772, he wrote from Norwich to Capt. Zebulon Butler at Wilkes-Barre as follows : "Christopher, Samuel and William [Avery] intend soon to be with you, and mean to plant what they can. Remember me to Mr. Johnson, * * and be kind to Mr. Johnson." (This was the Rev. Jacob Johnson, formerly minister of the Groton Congregational Church, and then at Wilkes-Barre.) Humphrey Avery died at Groton March 28, 1788. His wife was Jerusha Morgan, and they were the parents of ten sons who "were great travelers and land-owners. They all owned land-some in New Hampshire, some in Vermont, others in Penn- sylvania and others in New York."
Solomon, son of Humphrey and Jerusha (Morgan) Avery, was born at Groton June 17, 1729. He settled in Norwich about the time his father removed there, and from Norwich he immigrated to Wyo- ming Valley. In the Summer of 1772 he drew Lot No. 36 in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barre (see page 655), and lots in the three other divisions of the township. May 15, 1780, he was admitted a proprietor in the township of Putnam in the Susquehanna Purchase. In 1786 he was residing in the township of Wilkes- Barré, but a few years later he removed with his family to Putnam Township, then in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. May 8, 1798, he deeded to his sons Solomon, Miles, Stephen, Punderson and Henry part of Lot No. 11 in Putnam Township. Another of his sons-who was then residing in Putnam Town- ship-was Cyrus Avery. Solomon Avery died in Putnam Township-at what is now Tunkhannock, Wyo- ming County, Pennsylvania-December 23, 1798. In September, 1799, his son Miles resided at Great Bar- rington, Massachusetts, and Henry resided at Livingston, Columbia County, New York.
Samuel, son of Humphrey Avery, was born at Groton October 17, 1731. In 1762 he was still living in Groton, but prior to October, 1769 (see page 513, Vol. I) he had removed to Norwich. In the Summer of 1772 he removed from Norwich to Wilkes-Barre. In The Luzerne Federalist (Wilkes-Barre) of April 4, 1803, it was stated that "the first man who made a fence and cut a road in Wilkesbarre" was Samuel Avery, who then (1803) resided at or near Tioga Point (now Athens), Pennsylvania. This statement, un- doubtedly, is erroneous. How long Samuel Avery remained in Wyoming Valley we are unable to state. In 1795 he was an inhabitant of Vermont (see further in a subsequent chapter), but about 1796 he removed to Tioga Point, abovementioned. He was the author of a pamphlet of 150 pages which was printed at Wilkes-Barre in 1803 by Asher and Charles Miner, and which was entitled : "The Susquehanna Contro- versey Examined ; the material objection against the Connecticut title or claim answered, with some general reasoning on the whole matter (done with truth and candour)." Samuel Avery died at Owego, New York, August 14, 1805.
CHRISTOPHER AVERY, son of Humphrey and Jerusha ( Morgan) Avery, was born at Groton May 3, 1739. He removed with his parents to Preston, and in 1758 or '59 accompanied them to Norwich, where he was living in 1762. August 24, 1762, he purchased a half-right in The Susquehanna Company's Purchase, and December 1, 1762, he purchased a whole right, which he sold to his father August 30, 1773. As noted on page 284, Vol. I, Christopher Avery bought of Benedict Arnold and his sister two rights in the Susque- hanna Purchase. Certificates for these rights were issued August 30, 1773, and under one of them 300 acres of land were laid out to Christopher Avery in Putnam Township in 1776. Christopher Avery came to Wyo- ming from Norwich in May, 1769, with the company of settlers led by Major Durkee. (See page 487.) He was not here, apparently, in 1771, nor in the Spring of 1772, but arrived at Wilkes-Barre June 18, 1772- from which time until his death he resided here, and was active in the affairs of the settlement. At the drawing of lots in Wilkes-Barre in 1772 Jordan Hopson drew Lot No. 41 in the town-plot (see page 655) and lots in the other divisions of the township. Later in that year Hopson's rights were forfeited, aud Christopher Avery became the possessor of the lots in question. A few years later Mr. Avery became the owner, also, of Lot No. 2 in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barre, and after his death his administrator sold the lot to Thomas Neill of Wilkes-Barre, who, the same day (October 18, 1786), sold to Jacob Fridley for £62, 10sh. the lot "and likewise one house-frame now [then] on said lot, 2,600 brick, 2,000 feet of boards, 2,000 pine shingles three feet long-all to be delivered on said lot." January 27, 1792, Jacob Fridley, above- mentioned, sold Lot No. 2 to Thomas Wright of Wilkes-Barre, who, April 1, 1800, sold the same to Arnold Colt for $2,660. Christopher Avery was one of the original Ensigns of the 24th Regiment, Connecticut Militia. (See Chapter XII.) He was killed at the battle of Wyoming, July 3, 1778, and at the time of his death was one of the Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Westmoreland. His brother Solo- mon was appointed administrator of his estate, the inventory of which (real and personal), made September 22, 1778, amounted to £1,069, 11sh. So far as known Christopher Avery was never married. (For further mention of him see other pages in this history.)
William Avery, a settler at Wyoming, whose name is mentioned several times in these pages, was a brother of Samuel, Solomon and Christopher Avery. He was born at Groton Septemer 13, 1726, and was muar- ried at Preston, Connecticut, September 27, 1749, to Hannah Meacl. They had children, Cynthia, Jerusha, William, Humphrey. Elisha, and perhaps others. William Avery came to Wilkes-Barre in the latter part of 1772 or early in 1773. His name appears in the "rate bills", or tax lists, "for Wilkesbarre District" for the years 1776, 1777, 1778 and 1781-the only lists of that early period now in existence, so far as known1. It is doubtful (judging by the tax list) if any of his immediate family were here with him in 1781. He was still here in September, 1782, at which time he became surety for Daniel Dana, Adininistrator of the estate of Anderson Dana, deceased. William Avery was a private in the 24th Regiment, Connecticut Militia, and was at the battle of Wyoming, July 3, 1778. In the following October he was at the Wyoming Post (Wilkes-Barre) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Butler. (See Chapters XV and XVI.) He removed from Wyoming Valley to northern Vermont probably about 1785 or '86.
* See "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XVIII : 615.
664
known, on the 30th day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1770, at Wyoming, in the County aforesaid, did unlawfully, riotously and routously assemble and gather together to disturb the Peace of our said Lord the King ; and so being then and there assembled and gathered together, in and upon one JOHN MURPHY, in the peace of God and our said Lord the King then and there being, unlawfully, riotously and routously did make an assault, and him the said JOHN MURPHY unlawfully, riotously and routously did beat, wound and ill treat, so that of his life it was greatly despaired ; * * and with- out legal warrant or justifiable cause did imprison and detain for the space of six- teen days."
The records of the Court show that Major Durkee subsequently ap- peared, pleaded "not guilty," and put "himself upon the County."
At Philadelphia, June 28, 1770, the day before the Wilkes-Barré lands were distributed by lottery, Gov. John Penn issued the following proclamation,* which was printed, not only in the newspapers of Phila- delphia, but in the form of a broadside, copies of which were duly dis- tributed throughout eastern Pennsylvania.
"WHEREAS, a number of Persons, chiefly of the Colony of Connecticut, have lately, as well as at different Times heretofore, without any License or Grant from the Honor- able the Proprietaries of this Province, or authority from this Government, made At- tempts to possess themselves of and settle upon a large Tract of Land within the known Limits of this Province, lying at and between Wyoming, on the River Susquehanna, and Cushietunk on the River Delaware.
"AND WHEREAS, I have lately received intelligence that divers People of the said Colony of Connecticut have persuaded and enveigled many of the Inhabitants of this Province to join them, and with their Assistance have, with Force and Arms, in the most hostile and warlike manner, not only possessed themselves of the lands at and near Wyo- ming, * * but have also, in the same hostile and warlike manner, driven and expelled from their lawful Settlements and Possessions divers Persons there settled by lawful Authority under the said Proprietaries, burned their Houses, killed their Cattle and other stock, destroyed their other Effects, and imprisoned the persons of many of them, in open Defiance of all Law and Justice.
"WHEREFORE, as well to assert the just Rights of the Proprietaries of this Province to the said Lands, as to warn and prevent any of the Inhabitants of this Province from being unwarily drawn in to join the said Intruders in prosecuting their illegal settlements, I have, by and with the advice of the Council, judged it proper to issue this my Procla- mation, hereby strictly enjoining and requiring, in His Majesty's Name, all and every Person and persons already settled and residing on the said lands without the license of the Proprietaries or authority from this Government, immediately to evacuate their settle- ments and to depart and remove themselves off and from the said lands without delay. And I do hereby forbid all His Majesty's subjects of this or any other Province * * to intrude upon, settle or possess any of the aforesaid lands or any other lands within the limits of this Province, without the express permission of this Government-as they will answer the contrary at their peril. * *
"AND I DO HEREBY DECLARE, that all and every person or persons who have joined or shall join the said intruders in supporting or holding their present illegal and unjust possessions, or in making further settlements within this Province, shall not only be deprived of the benefit of taking up any lands within this Province, but shall be treated with the utmost strictness in respect to any lands they have heretofore taken up, or do possess under the said Proprietaries, which have not been fully paid for. And I do hereby strictly charge, enjoin and require all Magistrates, Sheriffs and other officers, as well as all other His Majesty's liege subjects within this Province, to exert themselves and use their utmost endeavors to prosecute and bring to Justice all offenders in the premises."
At the same time the Governor issued special commissions to Col. Turbutt Francist and Capt. Samuel Huntert-both residing at Fort Augusta, then within the bounds of the county of Berks-appointing them Justices of the Peace in and for said county.
* See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records," IX : 679.
+ Mentioned on page 489, Vol. I. According to a statement made by Tench Coxe, Esq., in 1800 (see "Pennsylvania Archives," Second Series, XVIII : 740), Colonel Francis died in 1777.
SAMUEL HUNTER, mentioned on page 419, Vol. I, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, in 1732. He was commissioned Captain in the Pennsylvania service November 10, 1763, and served in the Bouquet campaign of 1764. He resided at or near Fort Augusta (now Sunbury), Pennsylvania, from 1763, at least, until his death in April, 1784. February 8, 1776, he was commissioned Colonel of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Associators (Pennsylvania Militia), and from March 21, 1777, till his death he held the office of County Lieutenaut of Northumberland County, with the rank of Colonel. He made his head- quarters at Fort Augusta (he owned the land upon which it was built), and was in command of the military department of the West Branch. He was a brave and generous man.
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