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 38
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Col. John Armstrong, Jr., and Capt. John Boyd, writing to President Dickinson from "Learns," under the date of August 7, 1784, had the following to say about the fight at Locust Hill.}
"The late affair at Locust Hill was one of the most impudent and improvoked attacks that has yet been made, and shall become an early object of our enquiries. The circumstances were as follows:
"Colonel Moore, agreeably to a plan which we had concerted in Philadelphia, had collected about twenty volunteers, with whom he had taken possession of a little height about midway in · the Swamp, merely to command the avenne by which we proposed to march. The Colonel
*See "Pennsylvania Archives," 656, 657, 661, 667, 632.
¡Colonel Franklin states that Everett was a New Jerseyman.
See "Pennsylvania Archives, Old Series, X: 632.
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had lain there some hours, believing himself to be perfectly secure (as they were still in North- ampton County), when, without any provocation on his part or previous notice on theirs, he was fired upon by the insurgents, driven into a little hut, and there obliged to sustain a two hours' attack of great violence, in which three of his men were wounded and one killed. The assailants then withdrew into the Swamp, and the Colonel retired hither.
"This little rencounter would have been much more equal had not Moore himself been ill of a fever, and his party so much dispersed."
Upon reading the foregoing depositions of Colonel Moore, Harmon Brink and John Stickafoos, and the letter of Commissioners Armstrong and Boyd, one could easily conceive that the Pennamites gathered at Locust Hill were on a Sunday School excursion, for no mention is made in those documents of the fact that McDonald and his men were supplied with fire-arms and ammunition, which they used against the Yankees as effectively as the circumstances permitted. It was their use of fire-arms that caused the fight to last for about an hour and a-half. They defended themselves well, and the Yankees were unable either to dislodge them from Brown's log house, or to force them to surrender. However, only one of the Yankee party was wounded-Dr. George Minard* being shot in one of his legs.
About noon, Captain Swift and his men ceased firing at the Pennamites in the log house and in the woods beyond (to which some had retreated), and without further ceremony marched off in the direction of Wyoming. About five o'clock in the afternoon they arrived at Emmons' house at Bear Creek, where they partook of food which had been prepared for them in advance of their coming. Two hours later they again took up their line of march, and upon reaching the place where they had spent the preceding Sunday, they bivouacked for the night. Bright and early the next morning (August 3d) they set off for Wilkes-Barré, where they arrived in the course of three or four hours.
*His name frequently appears in the early Wyoming records as "Doctor Minor" and "George Minor." His sur" name was Minard, and he was probably originally of New London, Connecticut, a descendant of William and Lydia (Richards) Mynard. (See Caulkin's "New London", page 354.) In 1787 he was living at Manville, Connecticut, and through his son Lemuel he lodged with the Confirming Commissioners, at Wilkes-Barre, a claim for certain "original proprietor's" rights in the township of Newport.
At Wilkes-Barre, under the date of June 12, 1793, Col Zebulon Butler, of a Committee representing The Sus- quehanna Company, certified that "George Minard was one of the first 200 settlers in the Susquehanna Purchase, and had his right in Wilkes-Barre; but, by reason of absence, lost that right But, by order of the Company, he is entitled to a suffering right, to he taken up in any of the Proprietors' townships " (See page 713, Vol. II.)
CHAPTER XXV.
PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA REACH WILKES-BARRE FROM EASTON-A DISAS- TROUS TRUCE ARRANGED-HOSTILITIES AGAIN PROVOKED-SEVENTY- TWO YANKEES SENT TO THE EASTON AND SUNBURY JAILS THE INJUSTICES DONE CONNECTICUT SETTLERS EXCITE GENERAL INDIGNATION-JOHN FRANKLIN'S OATH-FORT DICKIN- SON EVACUATED BY THE HATED ARMSTRONG AND HIS MILITIA, THUS ENDING THE SECOND PENNAMITE-YANKEE WAR-GREAT RE- JOICING AS THE SETTLERS RAZE THE FORT.
"On rolls the stream with a perpetual sigh; The rocks moan wildly as it passes by; Hyssop and wormwood border all the strand, And not a flower adorns the dreary land." Bryant.
"This hand, to tyrants ever sworn the foe, For freedom only deals the deadly blow; Then sheaths in calm repose the vengeful blade, For gentle peace in freedom's hallowed shade." Adams.
Upon the departure of the Yankees from Locust Hill, August 3, 1784, Colonel Moore, Captain McDonald and their Pennamite associates made pre- parations to march back to Easton. However, upon arriving at Sebitz's, or Learn's, they ascertained that the Northampton County militia, who were to
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proceed to Wyoming under the direction of Commissioners Boyd and Armstrong, were about to rendezvous at Sebitz's, whence they would begin their march to Wilkes-Barré. Whereupon Coloncl Moore decided that he and McDonald's band would remain at that point until the arrival of Boyd and Armstrong.
The reader will recall that the Sunbury Committee of Mediation set out from Wilkes-Barré, on their homeward journey, in the afternoon of August 1st. They had accomplished about half their journey, when they met David Mead, Robert Martin and Christian Gettig, Esquires, Justices of the Peace, and Col. Henry Antes, Sheriff, of Northumberland County, on their way to Wilkes- Barré. The Committee of Mediation retraced their way and journeyed with Justice Mead and his party hither, where they all arrived late in the afternoon of August 2d. The next day, to their amazement, they learned of the Locust Hill fight, which had taken place only a few hours before their arrival at Wilkes- Barré.
After looking the ground over, Justices Hewitt, Mead and Martin served, on August 5th, the following notice on John Franklin, Phineas Peirce, Giles Slocum and John Swift, as representatives of the Yankees .*
"In obedience to our instructions from the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania, we have repaired to this place, and find two parties in actual hostilities. There- fore, in the name of the Commonwealth, we command you-and that without delay-to deliver to us the arms of your party, together with such a number of your men as we shall think proper, to put in charge of the High Sheriff of the county until the pleasure of the Chief Justice in this case shall be known; and if required, those that remain, to be bound to the peace and good be- havior, with sufficient security.
Without delay Franklin and his associates replied to this communication in the following words:
"We received yours of the present date as Magistrates, and as such we revere you in your exalted sphere; and as you have, in the name of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, made a demand for our arms, we declare our prompitude to comply with your requisition. We shall rely, Gentlemen, upon your honors, that we shall have the benefits of the laws of this State in all respects for the future- at the same time lamenting the neglect of the law in times past, which has been the occasion of all the hostilities with which we are charged."
The same day, Justices Martin, Hewitt and Mead sent to Fort Dickinson, addressed to Alexander Patterson, B. W. Ball, Samuel Read and Andrew Hender- son, a communication reading as follows:
"In consequence of our instructions from the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania, we have demanded of the Connecticut party their arms, and such a number of their men, as we think proper, to be put in charge of the High Sheriff of the County until the pleasure of the Chief Justice in the case shall be known; and those that remain to be bound to the the peace, &c .- which they have complied with. Therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth, we demand the same of you and your party; also, the delivery to us of all State property, and your flag to be taken down!"
Colonel Franklin, in his "Brief", makes the following reference to the occurrences at Wilkes-Barré on August 5-7, 1784. "The Justices informed us that they were clothed with authority to execute the laws and to quell all hostilities. That as they had found us under arms, they required us to give up our arms and surrender our persons submissive to the laws of the State, and they engaged that they would also disarm Patterson and the Pennsylvania party at the garrison, and that our possessions should be restored to us according to law. That they had come to Wyoming for that purpose. We complied with their requisitions on August 5th-gave up our arms and surrendered our persons.
"The Justices proceeded to the garrison, accompanied by the Sheriff and the Coroner. They returned in a short time and informed tis that Patterson *See Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 629.
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and his party were obstinate, had refused to surrender themselves to the Sheriff (he having warrants against many of them), or to give up their arms. We de- manded protection of the Justices, offered to give bail for our appearance at Court, or remain in the custody of the Sheriff, if required. The Justices told us that we had complied on our part; that they were fully satisfied with our peace- able disposition. They also requested us to cease all hostile measures, to with- draw from the neighborhood of the garrison and repair to our several houses, farms and possessions, secure the grain then on the ground, and prepare to bring back our families.
"They also informed us that about 400 Northampton militia were on their march-or, at least, had collected to come-to Wyoming to quell the disturb- ances, and that they, the said Justices, should send an express to have the militia proceed immediately; that Patterson and his party would positively be taken and dispersed from Wyoming; that when the militia should arrive they would undoubtedly call upon us to assist in putting the laws into execution. They also advised us to send for our families to return to our possessions, &c. W'e accordingly dispersed lo our former several places of abode, and proceeded securing the grain, &c., in peace."
At Wilkes-Barre, on August 6, 1784, Justices Hewitt, Mead and Martin prepared and signed a communication to the Supreme Executive Council, which read as follows :*
"In obedience to the Instructions of Council of 24th July, we Repaired to this Place and found the Two Parties in actual Hostilities, and yesterday made a Demand of the Connecticut Party a Surrender of their arms and submission to the Laws of this State, which they Complyed with, reference being had to the Inclosed papers.
"We also made a Demand of the same nature of the Party in the Garrison, but have Re- ceived no direct, but evasive, answers-at the same time expressing fear of their lives; in reply to which they were promised Protection agreeable to Law in every respect, but they still hold the Garrison and have not Dispersed.
"We Believe that a Due execution of the Laws will be the most effectual measure to Quiet the Country. As to the Pretended Claim or Title of the Connecticut Party, we have nothing to fear, and are Convinced that, had it not been through the cruel and Irregular Conduct of our Own People, the peace might have been established long since, and the Honor and Dignity of Government supported as well."
This document was placed in the hands of Capt. John Paul Schott of Wilkes- Barré, who immediately set out for Philadelphia by way of the Sullivan Road and Easton.
The next day (August 7th), the Justices made further efforts to get at the Pennamites in Fort Dickinson, but with no more success than before-as is shown by the following affidavits, sworn to before Justices Mead and Martin. at Wilkes-Barré, August 7, 1784.
"Charles Manrow, Constable, doth depose and say, that he this day went to the Garrison at Wyoming, or as near as he could, and was ordered to stand by Elisha Cortright, who asked him his business. When this deponent replied that he wanted admission to the Garrison in order to serve civil processes for debt, said Cortright replied that he would inform Captain Patterson of his business that he might have an answer. He (Manrow) stood there a few minutes, and then received orders to be gone. Delaying a little, he received a second order to be gone immediately. He accordingly went, being afraid to make any further attempt to serve the processes."
"Samuel Kerr doth depose and say, that this day, soon after the Constable attempted to serve processes, and could not on any person in the Garrison, considering himself a friend of theirs, at the request of the Justices went to the Garrison in order to persuade them to submission to the law, and to admit the civil officer to serve process therein; and after using many arguments with sundry of the principal men, received for answer by Captain [Preserved] Cooley that Captain Patterson desired him to inform this deponent to go home about his business-if any he had. that no person should be admitted into the Garrison."
*See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 630.
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Without further ado, Justices Mead and Martin wrote the following letter to Commissioners Boyd and Armstrong, which they placed in the hands of an express, who, the same day (August 7th), hurried off to Easton.
"We are sorry to have occasion to write to you on so disagreeable a subject as the hostilities of this place. We have dispersed the Connecticut party, but our own people we cannot [disperse]. Yesterday, when we despatched a message to Council, we had some expectation of introducing the laws of Government here; but this day, when a civil officer attempted the service of legal process on persons in the Garrison, admission and service were denied-the proper depositions of which we have taken in order to transmit them to the Chief Justice. Therefore, we think it our indispensable duty to request you to come forward with the militia, with as much despatch as possible!"
Upon the refusal of the Pennmites in Fort Dickinson to yield obedience to the demands of the law, the Northumberland magistrates permitted the Yankees to resume their arms for self defence.
Let us now turn our attention to Commissioners Armstrong and Boyd. On Sunday, August 1, 1784, they arrived from Philadelphia at Easton, where they found that Colonel Craig, the County Lieutenant, was carrying on, under somewhat discouraging circumstances, the work of enlisting the Northampton militia for the Wyoming expedition .* On August 2d, at Easton, the Commissioners wrote to President Dickinson, as follows:
"In our haste to accomplish some part of the preparatory business which we have taken upon ourselves we have only time to inform your Excellency & Council that we got to this place early on yesterday & that we purpose to leave it early on to-morrow.
"There has a late Account been received from Wyoming which left them in almost the same situation as those Accounts we saw in Philadelphia. A 2d summons has been sent to Patterson, offering Money to Him & his followers, if they surrender, & threatening them all with the sword if they do not. Some Women & one Child have been wounded within a few days.
"We propose to write you again in a day or two-when we shall be better able to determine the temper as well as preparation of the Troops with whom we are to act, & of whom our accounts (at this moment) are not the most promising."
The Commissioners arrived in the morning of August 4th, at Sebitz's, where they found Colonel Moore and his party, and also some of the militia who had been summoned to take part in the Wyoming expedition. During that day and the next two days other militia arrived at the rendezvous, so that by the morning of Saturday, August 7th, a force of nearly 400 had assembled. On the 7th Captain Schott arrived at Sebitz's, en route to Philadelphia from Wilkes- Barré, with the letter from the magistrates to the Supreme Executive Council, to which reference has heretofore been made. The Commissioners opened and read this letter, and then prepared the following letter to President Dickinson, which Captain Schott agreed to deliver with the letter which he had brought from Wyoming, upon his arrival at Philadelphia.
"Till to-day we have had no easy mode of communicating with your Excellency nor was our intelligence such as would have authorized the trouble and expense of employing an Express. We are this morning however so fortunate as to meet with Captain Schott by whom we must beg leave to state in a very hasty way the proceedings which have already been taken & those we have it in contemplation yet to take.
"Upou our arrival at Easton we found neither the temper nor preparation of the militia such as we had expected to find them. The first (to which no service would be very acceptable)
*Muster-rolls of two of the companies that took part in this expedition have been preserved. (See "Pennsylvania Archives", Second Series, XIV. 589, 590.)
(1) "Muster Roll of Capt. John Van Etten's company of the 5th Battalion of Northampton County Militia. commanded by Col. Nicholas Kern, on the expedition to Wyoming, 1784. Captain, Johannes Van Etten; Lieutenant. Cornelius Decker; Sergeants, Jacob Decker, Adam Shenk and Jasper Edwards; Corporals, Lodwick Hover and Abraham Decker; Privates [twenty-one in number, among whom were], Andrew Dingman, James Van Etten, Gideon, Levi. David and Cornelius Cortright, Benjamin and Elijah Decker, Gilbert, Moses and Alexander Van Gorden, David and James Vanaken, and Peter Quick." All the officers and men of this company were enlisted for service July 31, 1784. (2) "Muster Roll of Capt. Lewis Stecher's company of the 6th Battalion of Northampton County Militia, now in the service at Wyoming, commanded by Col. Nicholas Kern, commandant. Captain, Lewis Stecher; Ensign, George Gross; Sergeants, John Knouss and George Neighhard; Corporal, John Deets; Privates [twenty-eight in number, and, judging by their names, all Pennsylvania Germans].
"August 20, 1784. Mustered then Capt. Lewis Stecher's company of Northampton County Militia, as specified [Signed] "PHILIP SHRAWDER, Deputy Muster Master."
in the above roll.
All the officers and men of Stecher's company were enlisted for service on either July 30 or 31, 1784.
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had been particularly set against this by the agency of some fellows who, with influence enough to mislead the people, have had wickedness enough to misrepresent the object & intentions of Government. We everywhere met the following objections: 'That it was the quarrel of a sett of Land jobbers; that the whole Country was not worth the life of a single man, or the labor of the many who were now called out to quiet it; & that they were drawn forth not merely to support the laws, hut to extirpate the whole race of Connecticut claimants &c. &c.'
"Idle and absurd as these objections were, & much as Colonel Craig & others had exerted themselves to obviate them, yet such was their effect upon the minds of the people that not more than one-third of the number warned appeared at the place of Rendezvous-& among these but very few declared themselves to be perfectly willing to go farther. Disagreeable as we felt this want of disposition, it was not however more unpromising than their almost total want of preparation. Out of 70 men who came from the 6th Northampton Battalion, there were but 40 who had brought their arms-accoutrements, kettles, &c., &c., there were none.
"This must have necessarily produced a delay, had one not arisen from another source. Colonel Craig, having in the first instance counted upon a more exact compliance with his orders than they afterwards met, had made a very extensive arangement of three detachments, which were to move by different routes very widely apart & entirely out of reach of each other. This supposed that each would be equal if not superior to the whole force of the insurgents, which your Excellency will find generally stated at 250 or 300 men. We need, therefore, enter into the reasoning which induced us to alter this plan, & instead of committing ourselves by detail, to bring the whole force to some advanced point, from which we might operate as contingency would direct. This place, which entirely commands the entrance of the Swamp, was thought the most proper for this purpose, & we have accordingly drawn them hither.
"In this situation an account of the half finished negotiation of the Northumberland Magis- trates has found us. We could wish it had been more compleat. but from some private evidence which we shall soon be at liberty to communicate, we are led to apprehend that the principles upon which it has been conducted were neither very fair to individuals nor honorable to the State, & cannot, therefore, he either very lasting or satisfactory. Some part of this opinion we have formed upon the magistrates own letter to your Excellency, which we took the liberty' to open and which we again enclose. We propose, therefore, to proceed immediately and endeavor to execute the further intentions of Council. We shall move the troops at sunset, and hope to get through the Swamp at daybreak to-morrow."
About sunset, on Saturday, August 7th, the Pennamite forces, headed by Commissioners Armstrong and Boyd, began their march for Wyoming from Sebitz's. MacDonald's Locust Hill party formed part of the command, but Lieut. Colonel Moore proceeded to Philadelphia in company with Captain Schott.
As the Commissioners set off on their march, they sent forward an express, bearing letters addressed to the Pennamites in Fort Dickinson and the Con- necticut settlers in Wyoming, and stating (according to Colonel Franklin, in his "Brief") "that they (the Commissioners) were on their way to Wyoming clothed with authority from Government as Commissioners of Peace, to quell disturbances, repress violence from whatever quarter, establish order, and restore the reign of Law; that they should do the most perfect and impartial justice; that the innocent should meet with protection, and the guilty be brought to punish- ment. They demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities and the surrender of the arms of both parties."
On their way through the Great Swamp, the Commissioners were met by the express from Wilkes-Barré bearing the request from Justices Mead and Martin to the Commissioners "to come forward with the militia, with as much despatch as possible." In consequence, the march of the little army was quickened, and it reached Wilkes-Barré in the middle of the afternoon of Sunday, August 8th. Proceeding down Northampton Street to the River Common, it deployed before the wooden walls of Fort Dickinson.
A formal demand for the surrender of the fort being made by the Commis- sioners, it was complied with forthwith, and thereupon detachments of the Northampton militia were put in possession of the fort and the neighboring block-houses. The same day the Commissioners, at their request, were furnished
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by Alexander Patterson and his lietitenants with a document reading as follows :*
"List of the Men who have been shut up in the Garrison at Wyoming with the Subscribers and the Numbers of Arms & ammunition Public & private property.
Luke Brodhead, Gabriel Ogden
William MeKinney
James Melvin
George Tanner, Junr.
William Miller
Daniel MeLaskey
Joseph Montanye
Alex. Hoover
Joseph Cavana
James Covert
Abm. Hammond
Joseph Marshall
John Potman
Alex. Strickland
Abm. Courtright
James Johnson
Jacob Van Horn
Elisha Courtright
Ehpm. Van Norman
George Yoman
John Courtright
Isaae Van Norman
John Pinsell
Ezekiel Schoonover
John Van Norman
Daniel Swartz
Peter Consan
Henry Wynn
Joseph Biggers
Saml. Vangorden
Obadiah Walker
John Boreland
Enos Randle
Jacob Woodeoek
George Tanner
Laurence Kinney
Richard Woodeoek
Edward Cavana
Garrett Shoemaker, Jun.
James Culver
Garrett Shoemaker
Jacob Tillbury
Isaiah Culver
James Stagg
Abraham Tillbury
Preserved Cooley
Richard Savage
Peter Stagg
Peter Taylor
Laurence Osbourne
Jacob Cramer
Silas Taylor
Patriek Dunlevey
Jacob Klyne
Ebenezer Taylor
Joseph King
David MeCartney
Benj. Hillman
Nicholas Brink
John Lasley
John Hillman
Juba
"2 Four-Pounders.
State Property. ditto Private property.
98 stand of arms
Publie property.
33 stand of Arms
1 Box of Cartridges
"We the subscribers do Certify upon our Honor, that the above is an exaet and true Return of the Men, arms & ammunition that were in Fort Dickinson on the arrival of the Commissioners from the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania at this place.
[Signed] "ALEXANDER PATTERSON
"BLACKALL W. BALL
"SAMUEL READ
"ANDREW HENDERSON."
"Wyoming, August 8, 1784.
The attention of the reader is drawn to the fact that several of the men whose names appear in the foregoing list of Pennamites had served during the Revolutionary War, as privates either in Captain Spalding's Westmoreland Independent Company (see page 980, Vol. II) or in Capt. John Franklin's company of Connecticut Militia, stationed at Wilkes-Barré (see pages 1229 and 1230, Vol. II)-some of them being as follows: John Borelen or Boreland, Preserved Cooley, Abraham Tillbury, Jacob Tillbury, Isaac Van Norman, Obadiah Walker and Richard Woodcock.
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