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 43
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*See note, page 1110, Vol. 11.
tSee "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 665-667.
See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 659.
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made two days later by Messrs. Read and Okely, we learn that they, accompanied by Captain Boyd, were proceeding along the street when two armed men-one of whom was Waterman Baldwin *- came rushing out of a house on the opposite side of the way and ordered Captain Boyd to halt. Baldwin, holding a stick over the head of Boyd, said: "You are Captain Boyd, ain't you? And you were one of the Commissioners who pulled off your hats to us when we laid down our arms."f Boyd replied that he was, whereupon Baldwin said, "Now I order you to pull off your hat to me;" at the same time violently striking Boyd three or four times with his stick. Then with dire threats of a lambasting, Baldwin invited Boyd to go into the woods with him. Boyd refused, saying, "If you have any business with me, come to my quarters." Baldwin then asked, "How long do you intend to stay here?" "As long as my business calls me," replied Boyd. Baldwin and his companion then walked off.
That considerable turbulence and disorder prevailed in Wyoming Valley at this time, we learn from a number of depositionst which were made before Justices Henry Shoemaker and John Seely, at Wilkes-Barré in the latter part of September, 1784. Joseph King, of the township of Shawanese, deposed:
"That on Sunday, September 19, while he and another man, with his wife, sat in his own house he was fired upon from without by some person, then unseen; that going to the door to enquire the cause of it, he was instantly surrounded by about a dozen armed men, who began to beat this deponent with great violence; that, breaking from them, he retired within the door of his house, and with the assistance of his wife endeavored to keep the assailants out; that they shut and latched the door for this purpose, when the assailants broke it open and began again to beat this deponent with the butts of their guns, and otherwise much abuse him and his wife; that they then extorted a promise from him, under pain of death, that he would not make any information against them, and that they then withdrew; that some of the persons thus assailing him he knew, viz .: John Swift, Elisha Satterlee, Waterman Baldwin, Frederick Budd and Phineas Stephens."
William Lantarman deposed, as follows:
"That on Monday, September 20, being in his father's corn field, in the township of Stoke, he there met Waterman Baldwin, who asked him where his father was, and told him that if he caught him taking any corn out of that field he (Baldwin) would scalp him. This deponent then told him that he had come to get some corn, and added: 'You will not shoot me, will you?' Upou which Baldwin replied that he would. The deponent then told him that such conduct would be contrary to law, when Baldwin answered that there was no law here; that he had tried it long enough, and that Swift and he. and thirty others had come down to take the corn by force and keep it. That he (Baldwin) was armed with a rifle gun and two pistols."
Obadiah Walker, deposed as follows:
"That on September 21, being at the house of 'Trucks, in the township of Shawanese John Swift, Elisha Satterlee, Waterman Baldwin and Phineas Stephens came into the aforesaid house, and, after boasting of having beaten Major Boyd, one of the Commissioners, John Swift drew the wiper from the rifle with which he was armed and struck this deponent with it about fifty times, with all his force, and then departed from the house."
Nicodemus Travis, deposed as follows:
"On September 20, being at his labor on Jacob's Plains, Daniel Gore came up to him with three stones in one hand and a club in the other, and declaring that he would sacrifice him if he did not leave the oats which he had in his wagon. He further declared that he (Travis) should have none of his crops, and at length obliged the deponent to unload and leave the oats on the ground. The deponent says that he sowed these oats in peace; and further saith that he is afraid his life will be taken should he return again to look after his property."
On September 22nd, the Commissioners at Wilkes-Barré sent a formal inquiry to Justices John Seely, Henry Shoemaker and David Mead, as to whether or not, in their opinion, the Commissioners could "proceed in the execution of their trust with security to their persons; and what security, if any," the mag-
*The other was undoubtedly Phineas Stephens.
+See page 1418.
#See"Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 659-668.
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istrates could give them. To this inquiry the magistrates replied on the follow- ing day, in part as follows :*
"We offer it as our joint opinion that you cannot proceed to the execution of the trust com- mitted to you, with security to your persons or to the dignity of the State which is so inseparably connected with it. We have also contemplated every means in our power to give you the pro- tection you wish for, and can find.it only in the interposition of an armed force. We are therefore induced to propose to your own consideration the propriety of applying to this alternative; while we cannot (in justice to what we believe to be the sentiments of a very respectable part of this community) but declare that a force very adequate to your protection can be immediately obtained."
At Wilkes-Barré, on September 24th, the Commissioners wrote to President Dickinson as follows:
"Wyoming, 24th September, 1784.
'Sir, The papers enclosed will explain to your Excellency and Council the interruptions we have met in executing the trust reposed in us. The spirit of violence which presented itself upon our arrival at this place & the daring outrage upon the person of Major Boyd, which imme- mediately followed, were so alarming in themselves and connected with so many exaggerating circumstances as to produce the inclosed application to the Magistracy (mark'd No. 7); their reply (No. 8); while it confirmed our apprehensions of farther violence, left us however a good deal embarras'd, & has made this communication immediately necessary. Your Excellency will observe that while they give us assurances that 'a force adequate to our protection may be immediately obtained', they leave it to 'our own determination, whether an application to this alternative be necessary or expedient.' Upon this point we have some doubts; which have grown out of a belief that a step of this kind in us would induce to hostilities & precipitate this unfortunate country again into bloodshed. We therefore commit ourselves in this instance to the wisdom of Council, & hope from that for such a decision as will best promote the intentions of Govern- ment & the interest of the public.
"As we feel ourselves oblig'd to offer matters of opinion as well as fact to your Honorable board we cannot suppress our apprehensions that the grain now on the ground will begin some immediate violence. It has already been the subject of dispute, and we have been press'd by some of the Connecticut claimants to an immediate decision upon it, as the great point upon which the peace of this country depended. We have been told that unless this decision was in their favor, an appeal to arms would be the consequence. We are here led to one observation which cannot but make Council as unhappy as the cause of it has made us, viz .: that the lenity of Govern- ment so explicitly shown by their late laws & resolutions in favor of this description of people, do not seem to have yet had all the effect upon their disposition which was to have been expected from it; while on the other hand we cannot but declare our happiness in finding the Pennsylvania claimants, in every instance which has fallen under our observations, accommodating themselves to the acknowledged principles of order and good government.
"We are, sir, with the highest respect, your Excellency's most obedient & very humble Servants,
[Signed] "JNO. BOYD, "JOHN ARMSTRONG, JR. "JAMES READ "J. OKELY."
'P. S. From motives of a very obvious policy we have yet declined giving any opinion respecting the grain. The bearert is an intelligent & very confidential person." "Directed,
To His Excellency John Dickinson, Esq."
This letter was received at Philadelphia, by President Dickinson, and read in the Supreme Executive Council on September 28th.
At Wilkes-Barre, on September 25th, the Commissioners issued the follow- ing advertisement, which was posted in several public places.
"Whereas the Honorable the Supreme Executive Council have by their resolution of the 9th inst. appointed us, the subscribers, to carry into effect a resolution of the General Assembly, taken on the 7th of the same month for the following purposes, viz .:
"Ist, To obtain the most exact knowledge they can get of the names of the Widows & Children of such persons as were lately settled at or near Wyoming, and have fallen fighting against the Savages.
"2dly, Of all such others as did actually reside on the Lands at or near Wyoming when the late Decree was given at Trenton, 30th Dec'r, 1782.
"3dly, Of the Widows & Children of such of them as have since died.
"4thly, Of the quantity of Land possessed by each of the persons before described at the time of his Death, or of the said Decree, respectively.
"5thly, Of the Improvements on each of the said parcels of Land.
** See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 663.
+William Sims.
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"6thly, Of the nature of the Claim on which the possessions of each parcel as aforesaid was founded.
"7thly, Of the Evidences in support of such Claim.
"8thly, Of what parts of such Lands are claimed under Pennsylvania, &c. "9thly, By whom.
"We do therefore give this public notice to all concerned that on Monday next [September 27] we will begin to receive all such information upon the preceding subjects [excepting the 5th article] as may be laid before us; and for this purpose we have thought it proper to direct that the Inhabitants of the Township of Stoke will attend on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday next, and the Inhabitants of Shawnee Township on Thursday, Friday & Saturday following, at the House of John Hollenback in the Township of Stoke."
The same day that the foregoing advertisement was issued, a petition or remonstrance, was prepared at Wyoming, addressed to Commissioners Read and Okley, which was signed by eighty-four of the New England settlers. The document read as follows :*
"Wyoming, Sept. 25th, 1784.
"The Hons. James Read and John Okely, Commissioners.
"Gentlemen, We can't but observe the good Intention of the General Assembly of Penn- sylvania in behalf of the Connecticut Claimants, in the late Resolve of that Honorable House; which reflects much Honor upon them, and will terminate much in Favor of the Connecticut Claimants. And also the Resolve of the General Assembly, authorizing the President and Council to appoint Commissioners to repair to Wyoming in order to ascertain the Names of those brave men who fought, bled and expired in the glorious Cause of liberty and Property.
"And what quantity of Lands they occupied and possess'd; and also the names of the Widdows and Fatherless Children; that the General Assembly might be in a Capacity to make a just Discrimination, and extend their Humanity and Commiseration to those Persons who had been the greatest sufferers by the Depredations of the Savages; And also the names of those who liv'd here at the Decree of Trenton, the Quantity of Lands they possessed at that Time, their Title, etc.
"The above Resolve we can't but take the greatest Notice of, and assure you, Gentlemen, that our Hearts glow with Gratitude and high Esteem for that Honorable House; yet at the same time let us tell you, that we are sorry to say that we have just Reason to suspect that two of the Commissioners are so prejudiced against the Connecticut Claimants that it's impossible for them to do Justice, and therefore very unfit persons to act in that Capacity.
"The Gentlemen whom we refer to are Lt. Col. John Armstrong and John Boyd, Esqr., who have once deceived us by forfeiting their word and Honour; especially Col. John Armstrong, who now appears to be replete with Prejudice, and we may say Malice, against us; for when the civil Question was ask'd Esqr. Boyd, 'Is Col. Armstrong one of the Commissioners?' the said Col. spoke and said, 'Yes I am, and I will make you know it, too!'
"Now, Gentlemen, we leave you to judge whether a man who is capable of giving such an answer to Gentlemen, and at the same Time show'd such Prejudice, is fit for a Commissioner. We have reason to believe that no justice can come from Men who have such Prepossessions and Prejudices against us as those Gentlemen appear to have, together with the Ill Treatment the Connecticut Claimants have already received from the above mentioned Gentlemen.
"Therefore, we the Subscribers do most solemnly, and in the name of everything that is sacred and dear to us as Christians, throw in our Protestations against John Boyd, Esqr., and Lt. Col. John Armstrong acting in the capacity of Commissioners, especially the latter.
"We are, Gentlemen, with suitable Respects, your most obed't and most humble servants,
Samuel Ayres Jonathan Center James Cole
Richard Brockway
Andw. Blanchard
Barnabas Carey
Jonathan Corey
Richard Inman
Josiah Rogers
James Bidlack
Josh. Bennet
John Budd
Amos Egleston
Fred. Budd James Brown
John Franklin
John Staples Wm. Hooker Smith
James Benedict
Samuel Tubbs
Ishmael Bennet
Renben Cook Ralph Compter John Carey
Elias Church
Nathl. Cook
Manassah Cady Jeremiah Colman Benj. Cole
Abraham Harding
Henry Harding Thomas Heath Danl. Holly Samuel Ransom
Aaron Perkins Darius Parke
Wm. Brick Elijah Buck
John Dorrance Jon. Davis Elisha Drake
Ebenezer Johnson
Hezekiah Roberts John Rosecrance Fra. Stevens John Scott David Sanford
James Brown, Jr.
Frederick Eveland
Wm. Jacques Eldad Kellogg Joseph Leonard Eph. Lewis David Mitchel Samuel Miller William Miller Phineas Nash James Nisbitt Thomas Neill John O'Neal Phineas Peirce Daniel Peirce Abel Peirce Noah Pettebone Thomas Park
Joseph Thomas Jonah Woodworth Jabez Winship Wm. Williams Abraham Westbrook Leonard Westbrook Richard Westbrook James Westhrook
John Wright
*See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 670.
Solomon Finch Samuel Gore Joseph Gaylord Ambrose Gaylord Stephen Gardner Daniel Gore Benjamin Harvey Elisha Harvey Timothy Hopkins Samuel Hallet
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Concerning the visit of Colonel Armstrong and his fellow Commissioners to Wilkes-Barré, in September, 1784, Col. John Franklin wrote as follows, in his "Brief," several times referred to hereinbefore.
"The said Commissioners arrived at Wyoming September 20. Previous to this Council had been well informed of the cruel treatment of Armstrong and Boyd towards the Connecticut settlers [in August, 1784]. On their arrival Messrs. John Franklin, Ebenezer Johnson, Phineas Peirce and Giles Slocum were requested to meet the Commissioners. They were also requested (as the leading men among the settlers) to transact the business with the Commissioners in be- half of the said settlers, which was agreed to. However, the day following the Commissioners informed us that they had appointed other persons to transact the business in behalf of the Con- necticut settlers, and [they were] three persons who were entirely unacquainted with business of that kind.
"The Commissioners continued at Wyoming, about six days, and appeared to transact their business principally with Alexander Patterson and his party at the Garrison. A remon- strance was drawn up against Messrs. Armstrong and Boyd proceeding in the capacity of Com- missioners, as being persons replete with prejudice against the Connecticut settlers, and that we could not expect any justice at their hands. This remonstrance was addressed to Messrs. Read and Okely, to be by them transmitted to the Supreme Executive Council; but before it was conveyed to them the Commissioners had absconded, in this manner:
"Mr. Armstrong had taken his lodgings in the Garrison with his friend Patterson; the other three lodged at the house of Mr. [John] Hollenback, in the neighborhood of the Garrison. In the night season of Sunday, September 26, an alarm was made, the Garrison and the house of Mr. Hollenback (where the Commissioners lodged) were fired upon, and the Commissioners ran off, and shortly afterwards made their report to Council that they were fired upon by the Connecticut people and were obliged to flee for their lives. However, their report was false! The Connecticut party were innocent, and knew nothing of the attack until it was over. The fact is, the attack was made by the people of the Garrison, and there is not the least doubt but that Armstrong and Boyd, with their friend Patterson, were the inventors of the plan. Messrs. Read and Okely might probably be innocent. It may be remarked that, though 'a severe attack was made', there was not any person hurt."
As previously mentioned, the letter from the Commissioners written at Wilkes-Barré, on September 24th, was read in Council on September 28th, and the same day, by direction of Council, President Dickinson wrote to the Commis- sioners as follows *:
"We have received your Letter of the 24th Instant, & are concerned, that such a spirit of violence prevails among the settlers.
"As Captain Boyd & Colonel Armstrong have had opportunities of acquainting themselves with many Circumstances relating to the late Disturbances, it is our wish that they may im- mediately repair to Philadelphia, that we may receive from them all necessary Information.
"Messrs. Read & Okely are impowered to proceed in the Execution of the Commission; and we hope that when the nature of it is fully made known to the deluded People who have been so troublesome, they will perceive that it is dictated by a Desire to treat them with Equity. "If such interruptions shall be given to the proceedings of these two Commissioners, that they cannot with safety discharge the trust delegated to them, their presence at Wioming will be useless, for the Business is of such a kind that it cannot be accomplished but in free Conference with the settlers. An armed force would not promote it; and besides, such a measure would not be agreeable to the sense of the Legislature. We rely upon the Prudence & firmness of the Com- missioners, that they will make every possible effort before they relinquish an affair of so much importance.
"With Respect to Grain raised on disputed Lands, it appears to us equitable, upon a Con- sideration of all Circumstances that it should be divided among the Claimants in an amicable manner, so that their present necessities may be as much as possible relieved, & those that may reasonably be apprehended in the approaching winter be prevented.
"We should be glad to know in particular the names of those settlers who were expelled last spring, & of such of them as are now again repossessed of their Houses, Lots or Lands."
This letter was delivered to William Sims, the Commissioners' express, who immediately set out for Wilkes-Barré; but before he had covered half his journey, he met the Commissioners en route to Philadelphia. Delivering the Council's letter to them, Sims proceeded on to Wilkes-Barré.
At Philadelphia, October 1, 1784, the four Commissioners signed, and pre- sented to the Council the following reportt:
"We beg leave to take up the report of our proceedings under the late appointment of Council, where our letter of the 24th left it.
"The disposition to violence discovered by the Connecticut claimants, while it gives us room to apprehend an immediate outrage of the public peace, could not entirely suspend our
*See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X: 339. tSee ibid., page 676.
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endeavors to execute the intentions of Government; & tho we regretted that want of confidence which the resolutions of the Assembly supposed, and which, at first view, we considered as in- separable from the service we were instructed to perform, yet we could not feel ourselves justified in omitting anything which but tended to remove such ill-founded prejudice, and reconcile the minds of this deluded people to the admission of a service so evidently calculated to promote their exclusive interest.
"To effect this desirable purpose, the first step which presented itself to us as necessary and proper was the promulgation of the objects for which we came. This was made in a manner which, of all others, we flattered ourselves would most contribute to a cheerful reception of it. It was put into the hands of one of their very confidential men, who engaged to second it with all his professional as well as personal influence. This was the Rev. Jacob Johnson. With these dispositions, and in this manner, did we enter upon the discharge of our trust, when a very serious interruption was given to our further proceedings.
"About 12 o'clock at night, on Sunday the 26th ult., a party of Connecticut claimants, whose number is yet undetermined, attempted to break open the store-house in which the public and other arms were deposited. It is probable that their original design upon this occasion went no farther, and that if they had been able to succeed in the robbery no other excess would have immediately followed; but having been early discovered from a neighboring house (the quarters of Colonel Armstrong), and meeting with some opposition from thence, they soon turned their arms thither, and exchanged several shots with that gentleman and three or four others who were with him. Retiring, however, from this resistance, they carried their attack to the house of Mr. John Hollenback, where the remaining part of us lodged, and after discharging several guns upon it (from the effects of which Messrs. Boyd and Okely narrowly escaped), they then withdrew in to the bushes and disappeared.
"We now saw an end to our business with the utmost regret, and that it was improper for us to remain longer in a country where every moment threatened us with the dangers of assassination.
"Under the influence of this opinion, we called upon the magistrates and some other principal Pennsylvania claimants, and left with them a paper of acknowledgments, for the support which they had in every instance discovered an inclination to give us; of advice to keep themselves in as defensible state as possible, and of assurance that as we believed the late attack upon us to be introductory to other mischief, we would exert every nerve in our power to bring Government into some decisive measures for their relief. Under these assurances we left them about 3 o'clock on Monday, the 27th ult.
"The events which have since happened, and have been brought forward by express, which are truly lamentable, and serve to confirm the opinions we have already expressed of the intended violence of the Connecticut claimants, and the distress and suffering which we are afraid the better subjects of the State are fated to undergo.
"Captain Patterson's letter of the 28th September and the deposition of Captain Shoemaker of the same date are submitted as a part of this report.
"We beg leave to close this representation by offering to Council the result of our enquiries into the character of the people called Connecticut Claimants. With very few exceptions they appear to be a Banditti, who, having fled from the operation of other laws, are very unwilling to submit to the restraint of ours, and who are without any well-founded pretentions to either prop- erty or reputation."
The letter of Captain Patterson and the deposition of Captain Shoemaker referred to in the foregoing report, read as follows *:
"Wyoming, September 28, 1784.
"Sir: Eleven hours after you Left this place We were Surrounded by the Connecticut Band. They kept up a hot and Incessant fire for the Space of Two hours; you know that our House is not proof against Shot; poor Lients. Reed & Henderson are boath Mortally Wounded. Mr. Reed is Shot from the Back and into the Guts; Henderson is Shot in five places, one of which is in his Breast; that is the Dangerous one. Capt. Shoemaker and Henderson attempted to gain the Blockhouse; poor Henderson fell at the Door; Capt. Shoemaker Gained the Blockhouse, to whose Exertions we owe our Lives who remain. The Enemy put a burning Toarch to our House, which struck me with the utmost Horror. I stript myself naked and went out at the window and Pushed the fire off with my Gun. Soon after, Capt. Shoemaker, as we Suppose, Killed or Mortally wounded one of the Villians; we heard his Groans. This morning Discovered Much Blood and found his Rifle.
"From the Time you left us we had only Time to remove the Arms and ammunition into Shrawder's Room, where they are safe. The Justices, with myself, purpose calling in the Coun- try, and will Endeavor to Make a stand untill we hear from Government, which I pray God may be soon.
"There is no Doubt but that Johnson, Franklin and Pierce were among the Murderers. "Oh! for Pitty's sake stimulate Government to Grant us Imediate and Effectual relief; it is not Possible to Describe my Mortification for my two Brave Gentlemanly Bosom friends. I have no more Time. Adien."
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