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 III > Part 100
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"TO CARPENTERS.
"Wanted in the township of Wilkesbarre a good workman who will undertake to procure and set up a Frame for a Meeting-house, 55 feet in front and proportionably wide, with a steeple -enclose the same completely and lay the floors.
"Any person inclining to undertake the work, or any part, is desired to send forward his proposals in writing (naming in the proposals the security he can procure for the faithful performance of the work) to the subscribers (who are a Committee appointed for the above purpose) between this and the 15th of January next, from whom they may receive an answer.
"WILLIAM ROSS
"DAVID RICHARDS Committee."
"Wilkesbarre, Luzerne County, November 11, 1799."
"ELEAZER BLACKMAN
1736
That the work of fashioning and assembling the materials which were to enter into the construction of the new edifice had progressed with considerable rapidity, under the guidance of the architect, is evidenced by the following call for volunteer erectors, which appeared in the Gazette, July 7, 1800:
"The raising of the new MEETING HOUSE in Wilkes-Barre will commence on Wednesday morning the 9th inst., at 9 o'clock, weather permitting. The services of any gentleman who chuse to attend will be thankfully received. "JOSEPH HITCHCOCK,* Principal Architect."
The present writer has searched the files of newspapers of the period for some description of the scenes attending the raising of the meeting house. Cer- tainly it must have been an event of importance. Today, the construction of the largest and most imposing structure of any community would have com- manded extensive mention in the public prints. The newspaper of yesterday, however strange it may now seem, turned its efforts to calling the attention of its readers to something that was about to happen in their midst. It then trusted to all these readers being present when the event transpired and thus becoming familiar with its details. Probably it was considered that a reportorial description of incidents would be mere repetition to readers, and that space could be used to far better advantage by omitting such description.
It is one thing to erect the walls and quite another problem to complete a church for its intended use, as many small congregations of even the present day can testify. The year 1800 differed but little in its experiences from those of later times The whole pop- ulation of the community would be considered a small congre- gation, in terms of today. The committee, discouraged from lack of financial backing, asked the architect to compromise some of his claims against those who had prosecuted the enter- prise to partial completion, and no ecclesiastic or other leader at hand to spur on lagging interest and endeavor, left the shell of "Old Ship Zion," for many years a reminder to the community of an ambition not yet to be consummated.
Almost a year from the time its timbers were raised, the following appeared in the Luz- erne County Federalist, of June 15, 1801, indicative of its in- complete condition :
"During the rainstorm on Thursday last the lightning struck the conductor of the new meeting house OLD SHIP ZION in this town; and owing. to its incomplete state (not reaching to the ground) entered the lower story of the house and sat fire to the shavings-luckily a number of workmen having taken shelter in the house, extinguished the flames without any material injury being done."
*JOSEPH HITCHCOCK was an architect and builder of New Haven, Connecticut, whose services were obtained in erecting the structure and who later erected the second Court House.
1737
Some anonymous poet, in 1801, published the following as to the church :
"No lofty towers here in grandeur rise, No spires ascending seem to seek the skies, Save one that bears aloft the lightning rod, Toward the bolts of an avenging God; This rod alone essays his shafts to stay,
For none within attempt to watch, or pray."
While there is intimation that a few public meetings were held in the incomplete structure late in 1801, and possibly in years next succeeding, the new building brought no minister of the gospel to the community as its pastor until 1806.
In the nine years intervening between the death of the old pastor of the settlement and the appearance of the new, religious services were held from time to time under auspices of the Connecticut Missionary Society and by "mis- sionary preachers" as they were called. Until the year 1803, if records of these intermittent meetings were ever kept, no traces of them are known. On July 1, 1803, the minutes of which meeting survive, citizens of Wilkes-Barré, aug- mented by several residents of Kingston, organized a congregation under the name of the Church of Christ of Wilkes-Barré and Kingston. A confession of Faith and Covenant were adopted, after the manner of Congregational and Presbyterian churches of that period, and these were signed by twenty-seven members .*
At a subsequent meeting, Hugh Connor, Nehemiah Ide and Daniel Hoyt were chosen to the office of deacon. Later in that year, Rev. Jabez Chadwick supplied the pulpit of this congregation upon several occasions, and at one meeting baptized three children of William Ross, at Wilkes-Barré. The Rev. James Woodward was another supply preacher sent forward by the Connecticut society, in the fall of that year, as was a Mr. Potter, a youthful but eloquent preacher, who was accompanied on some of his tours by Rev. David Harrower.
The years 1804, 1805 and the early part of 1806, record the marriages of the community as conducted by Justices of the Peace, hence the inference is plain that no minister was available to perform such ceremonies in that period. On Friday, February 28, 1806, The Luzerne Federalist published the following notice :
"The inhabitants of Wilkes-Barre, Hanover and Kingston who are desirous of procuring a minister, are requested to attend at the Court House Thursday next at 1 o'clock, P. M."
What steps followed the announcement are not of record, but the same newspaper, under date of August 22, 1806, states: "On Wednesday next, the Rev. Ard Hoyt will be ordained in this village, Pastor of the Presby- terian church."
Following the course of events through files of the Federalist, in lieu of other sources of information, a brief announcement appears in the subsequent issue, under date of August 29, 1806, to the effect that:
"On Wednesday last, the Rev. Ard Hoyt was ordained pastor of the church in this place. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Osborn; the Rev. Mr. Williston officiated by prayer and the laying on of hands; the charge was given by the Rev. Mr. Sage, and the right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Mr. Dana."
At the time of the accession of Rev. Hoyt to the pastorate, his congre- gation consisted of thirty-four members. Six years later the Covenant of the Luzerne Association of Congregational churches was adopted by this church. During his pastorate of eleven years, eighty-five members were added to the church; sixty-one on profession, and by letter from other churches twenty-four.
*See "Johnson's Historical Record," Vol. V: 80.
1738
Mr. Hoyt* continued his pastoral relations with the church until November, 1817, at which time he resigned his charge.
The two years succeeding must have been discouraging ones to the new pastor, viewed in light of accomplishments in completing the church. It is not now known who proposed the project which was eventually to provide early Wilkes-Barré with its most famous public building. That the plan of a lottery for the purpose was finally decided upon is not surprising. The foundation of Princeton College, as well as many other enterprises of merit, may be traced, in a measure, to the financial returns of lotteries. Connecticut, in 1756, had legislated the lottery out of business. Pennsylvania, on the other hand, encour- aged it until 1833.
The state, however, required that each lottery project be incorporated and that responsible citizens guarantee carrying out the terms of the lottery to the letter. The local venture was, therefore, incorporated by an act approved February 15, 1808, in the following form:
"AN ACT TO RAISE BY WAY OF LOTTERY, A SUM OF MONEY FOR THE PUR - POSE OF FINISHING THE MEETING HOUSE IN WILKES-BARRE, AND FOR PRO- TECTING THE BANK OF THE RIVER, OPPOSITE THE BOROUGH, FROM THE EN- CROACHMENTS OF THE RIVER.
"Section I. (Section 1, P. L.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That Ebenezer Bowman, Lord Butler, William Ross, Rosewell Welles, Matthias Hollenback, Mathew Covell, Ebenezer Slocum, Thomas Wright, Arnold Colt, Cor- nelius Courtright, Nathan Palmer, Nathan Waller and John Robinson, be, and they are hereby appointed commissioners to raise by way of lottery, the sum of five thousand dollars, to be by them applied for finishing the meeting house, and for protecting the bank of the river, in the borough of Wilkesbarre, from the encroachments thereof.
"Section II. (Section II, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners, before they proceed to sell any tickets in the said lottery, shall lay such scheme thereof before the governor as shall meet his approbation, and shall enter into bonds with him for the due performance of their duty in selling the tickets, drawing the lottery and paying the prizes; and each of them before entering on the duties of his appointment, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation diligently and faithfully to perform the duties hereby entrusted to him; and three or more of said commissioners shall attend at the drawing of each day, and when the whole is completed, shall cause an accurate list of the fortunate numbers to be pub- lished in at least three public newspapers; and shall pay and discharge the prizes that shall be demanded by persons legally entitled thereto, within sixty days after the drawing of the lottery shall be completed.
"Section III. (Section III, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners be, and they are hereby authorized to settle and adjust all the ac- counts which may be exhibited by any person or persons legally employed in carrying this act into effect, and that all expenses attending the same shall be paid by the said commissioners, out of the proceeds of said lottery: Provided, that nothing herein contained, shall be taken to allow said lottery commissioners any compensation for their services cnjoined on them by this act, nor shall any other person for the performance of said services.
"Section IV. (Section IV, P. L.) And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all prizes not demanded within twelve months next after the publication of the list of prizes as aforesaid, shall be considered and deemed as relinquished for the benefit of the objects of the lottery."
It will be noted that the thirteen men named as Commissioners were the most prominent residents of the community. Their names afterward appeared on each lottery ticket issued, as a guarantee of good faith.
*DR JOHN DORRANCE, who was a successor of Mr Hoyt, said of him: "He was a man of sound mind, of energy and firmness of character; his youth bad been devoted to mechanical employments, but being deeply impressed with a sense of spiritual things he left bis secular calling and entered upon a course of study preparatory to preaching the gospel, and in due time was inducted into the ministry. Few men have exhibited a life so uniformly consistent with their professions. With him there was no compromise of duty. He was a fearless preacher of the doctrines of grace. He labored incessantly, extending his efforts as a missionary throughout various parts of the county. The effect of his labors was evident in the edification of the Church; its members were thoroughly instructed in every good word and work." On the foundations laid hy him others bave builded with satisfaction and confidence and the structure survives with honor to all connected with its founding. Mr Hoyt was horn in Danbury, Conn. 1770. He was, while resident of Wilkes-Barré for seven years, President of the Board of Trustees of the Wilkes-Barré Academy. After his resig- nation as Pastor he was appointed a missionary to the Cherokee Nation of Indians in the State of Tennessee, where he labored faithfully with much success until his death. He died within the present limits of the State of Alabama. February 18, 1828.
1739
The name used was the Wilkes-Barre Meeting House and Bank Lottery, the word "Bank" adding somewhat to the substantial sound of the title but referring, of course, to the river shore in need of repair, rather than to any con- nection with a financial institution.
The plans of the Commissioners as to the arrangement of tickets, the value of prizes and the method of drawing numbers, were slow in maturing.
Late in 1808, it was announced that tickets were to be of two classes, those of the first-class selling at six dollars each and those of the second-class at three dollars.
Prizes were advertised as follows:
"FIRST CLASS
One prize of $ 4,000
One prize of
2,000
One prize of
1,000
+ prizes of $500
2,000
10 prizes of 100 1,000
50 prizes of 50 2,500
60 prizes of 20 1,200
200 prizes of 10 2,000
1525 prizes of S 12,200
1852 prizes $27,900
SECOND CLASS One prize of
$ 2,000.00
One prize of
1,000.00
Two prizes of $500 each
1,000.00
42 prizes of $50 each
2,100.00 59 prizes of $20 each
1,180.00
159 prizes of $10 each
1,590.00
1785 prizes at $7.50 each
13,387.50
3049 prizes
$22,257.50"
The printed matter of the tickets was, in form, as follows:
"No. 1957
"Wilkes-Barre Meeting-House and Bank Lottery .- Class Second.
"This ticket will entitle the bearer to such prize as may be drawn against this number,- if demanded in one year-subject to deduction of twenty per cent.
Lord Butler, Ebenezer Bowman, William Ross, Rosewell Welles, Matthias Hollenback, Matthew Covell, Ebenezer Slocum, Cornelius Cortright, Thomas Wright, Arnold Colt, Nathan Palmer, Nathan Waller, John Robinson, Comm's.
"Peleg Tracy, "George Haines, "Agents."
The total amount of prizes offered, in case all were drawn, amounted to $50,157.50, less 20 per cent., which was to be deducted at the time each prize was paid, for the benefit of the objects of the enterprise.
The original plan of selling all the tickets in advance of one big drawing was soon found impractical. The entire Susquehanna country was canvassed by agents with tickets to sell. Philadelphia and Easton merchants, doing busi- ness with local firms, were importuned to buy. But even with such an impres- sive prize list as the lottery offered, such sums as $3.00 or $6.00, especially in currency, were not quickly obtainable.
In order that prompt action might be obtained by those who had specu- lated in tickets, and as an inducement for reinvestment on the part of fortunate holders, as well as others whose cupidity might be aroused by the news, hand- bills were distributed and newspaper advertising was used, to inform the public that a drawing for a list of fifty prizes would be held at the Court House, Wilkes- Barré, Saturday, March 11, 1809.
1740
Of ticket holders present, the holder of No. 2069 drew $20.00, No. 6200 a $10.00 prize and eight other ticket holders departed with prizes of $7.50 each. A second and larger drawing was announced for April 7th of the same year, when sixty-eight prizes, the largest of $50.00, were drawn.
August 11th, witnessed the third drawing, when two hundred and fifty numbers were taken from the wheel, five prizes of $50.00 each being the lar- gest paid. It is noted of that occasion, that "at this day's drawing the wheel gained $325.00." On October 21st and November 9, 1809, and on January 5th, February 14th, and March 24, 1810, the drawings continued, and then seems to have followed the denouement. So anxious had been the agents of the lottery to dispose of tickets that, without authority from the Commissioners, they had accepted grain, merchandise of all sorts and practically any other commodity in lieu of cash. Instead of being converted into currency, these supplies were carelessly handled and eventually disappeared.
Moreover, at the last drawing, large prizes were offered without a sufficient number of tickets being sold to cover them, the agents figuring that the wheel itself would draw a certain number of prizes on the unsold numbers and that the sums represented would thus remain in the treasury.
Fortune, however, smiled on the ticket holders, not on the wheel, and the Commissioners were shocked to learn that prizes could not be met by approxi- mately $8,000. Up until the crash came, the sum of $1712.50 had been raised by the lottery for its intended purposes. This sum, naturally, could not be touched, and it fell upon the Commissioners to make the shortage good. This they appear to have done by private arrangement among themselves .*
In 1811, the lottery was reorganized. An advertisement appearing in the Gazette of March 20th of that year, states that the Commissioners had appointed Thomas Dyer, Esq., Treasurer and Ebenezer Bowman, Lord Butler and Matthew Covell, Managers of the new organization. Drawings took place at irregular intervals until the year 1814, when all remaining tickets were sent to Philadelphia and the lottery widely advertised.
The plan of conducting the Philadelphia venture seems to have differed in many respects from that under which the Wilkes-Barré drawings were held. Instead of deducting a percentage of prizes paid, two thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight blanks were included among the four thousand six hundred
*"The agents, charged with the duty of selling tickets, began their work with much energy. Tickets were offered in every quarter where there might he a chance of disposing of them. Among others the Philadelphia merchants took many tickets in exchange for goods, partly to help in a good cause, mainly to increase their trade in this region hy gaining the friendship of the people here, and possibly with some small hope of drawing a prize. Tickets were sold elsewhere, far and near, and payments were made in almost anything of value: farm produce, horses, cattle, chaises, wagons and agricultural implements. This method of conducting the business involved the additional task of converting these various commodities into cash to provide for the payment of the promised prizes, and would, even under the most skillful management, confuse the accounts and bring about loss, but under the stewardship of the agents the result was grievous to contemplate. The guarantors relying upon the integrity of the agents paid little attention to the details of the business until the drawing took place, at which time it appeared that there was not enough money in hand to pay the prizes, the deficit being about $13,000.
The guarautors alarmed by this state of affairs then took charge of the business and made an effort to induce the ticket holders to bear a share of the loss by agreeing to a compromise by which they should receive a less sum than the ticket called for. They succeeded, after much work, in reducing the amount to about $8000. Most of the Philadelphia merchants readily agreed to the plan in view of the unfortunate circumstances. Some, however, demanded the full payment; one in particular, a man known for his close dealings, refused all overtures. Some one, however, explained to him that in case payment was refused he never would dare to go to Wilkes-Barre to enforce his claim, because the Yankees up there were the men who went to war with the whole state of Pennsylvania; that they were used to fighting Indians, Tories and the British, and that they were a very remarkable people and were not to be coerced. The man relented. Having reduced the sum to $8000 the guarantors borrowed this amount of the branch bank of Pennsylvania, at Wilkes-Barré, and paid the prizes, dividing the loss among themselves, $2000 each. It is said that in those days one might huy the hest farm in the valley for $2000. On the day of the final settlement and payment of the loss by the gentlemen who had made themselves responsible, one of the number who lived on Carey avenue, set out for his home greatly depressed by the burden he had assumed, and meeting his wife at the threshold of his home, a lady of many accomplishments, fond of society and very hospitable, he said to her, "no more parties until this debt is paid," and proceeded to nail a broad plank across the front of the door of his house in evidence of his determination to economize, which remained there many years, and was, perhaps, never removed during his lifetime."
From a "History of the First Presbyterian Church," by Sheldon Reynolds, Esq., published in Vol. IV:45, Pro- ceedings of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
1741
and fifty tickets sold at $6.00 each. As disclosed in Philadelphia advertise- ments, a copy of which appeared in the Susquehanna Democrat of March 18, 1814, the method of drawing was as follows:
"The 10th drawn ticket on the third day's drawing, a prize of 1000 dollars. The 10th do. on the 6th do. a prize of 2000. The 110 do. on the 9th do. a prize of 4000.
"This lottery will commence drawing on the 4th day of May next in the city of Philadelphia, and it must be acknowledged that it holds an ample encouragement to the adventurer according to the scheme. Prizes payable after the drawing is completed; but relinquished for the benefit of the institution, if not demanded within twelve months after the completion of the Lottery. "Peleg Tracy, "George Haines, I "Agents for the Lottery.
"Note. Three Commissioners will regularly attend the Drawing of the Lottery. Tickets now rapidly selling at Michael Fortune's No. 117 Chestnut street, also at Moore Wharton's No. 58 Chestnut street. George Taylor Jr.'s No. 85 South Second street."
The Philadelphia drawing on May 4, 1814, concluded the unique money raising campaign for the "Meeting House on the Square," to which we must again turn for a brief space to trace that structure to completion.
In the fall of 1811, Joseph Hitchcock was recalled from New Haven, to finish the meeting house which, as architect and builder, he had begun eleven years before.
With funds available from the lottery, together with subscriptions which a greater prosperity of the community permitted in that year, the building with its high gothic pulpit, a lofty gallery and its high backed seats was nearing completion in December.
The "seating" of a meeting house was an old New England custom and a matter of grave importance in popular estimation, as it established the relative social standing of the townspeople. It was usually intrusted to a committee of leading citizens who were appointed by the town government, from year to year, and who assigned the different seats to different families, in accordance with their ideas of the relative precedence of members of the congregation.
In Wilkes-Barré, however, the general custom was not followed, so far as is known. The need of funds was doubtless the reason for auctioning off the pews.
In the Gleaner of December 13, 1811, the following notice appeared:
"Pews in the new Wilkes-Barre meeting house are to be sold to the highest and best bid- der on January 2, 1812, at 1 P. M. Inhabitants of Wilkes-Barre, Kingston and Hanover and all who wish, are invited to come and procure themselves seats, where preaching is purposed every Sabbath."
While the church structure, with its tall, graceful spire, was to be a matter of pride to inhabitants of the community during the period of half a century that the building survived, its sweet toned bell appears to have made the deep- est impression upon those who have written of the edifice.
The Gleaner of March 3, 1812, presents the first mention of the bell:
"A handsome new bell has just been purchased and hung in the meeting house of this town. It is the first bell that has ever been provided for religious purposes in the county. The tone is sweet and clear."
No record can be found of who brought the bell to Wilkes-Barré from the foundry of George Hedderly, at Philadelphia. The turnpike to Easton was then open and, while the bell weighed six hundred and eighty pounds and its transportation by team must have been a matter of public interest, the inci- dent escapes authentic mention. The bell, now in possession of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, discloses three inscriptions cast in its metal sides as follows:
"George Hedderly, Founder, Philadelphia, August 6, 1811.
"Gloria in Excelsis Deo. Fili Dei Miserere.
"I will sound and resound unto Thy people, O Lord, to call them to Thy word "
1742
In a paper read before the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, October 9, 1896, by Rev. Nathan Grier Parke, D. D., and called by him "The Bell of the Old Ship Zion," the following account of the migratory history of this prized historical object may be of interest to the reader:
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