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 54
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In October, 1782, a British spy, writing to headquarters at Quebec relative to "the situation, plans and feelings in Vermont", stated that a change in conditions and sentiments there had taken place, "created by the capitulation of Cornwallis"; that the Vermonters dreaded Washington, who was, "under the curtain, their avowed enemy". Con- tinuing, the writer said: "I am now in the State of Vermont, and have publicly assumed the character of an American officer. In private I have let my name, &c., be known, by which means I have possessed myself of the political situation of this Republic [of Vermont]."
As stated, the independence of Vermont was acknowledged by Great Britain in September, 1783, and the next year New York abandoned her claims to the "Green Mountain State." Of course, with the actual ending of the Revolutionary War and the establishment of peace between Great Britain and the United States, there was no longer any talk among the persistent Vermonters with respect to the annexing of their State to the Dominion of Canada. All the energies of Allen and his adberents were now directed towards the admission of Vermont to the Union of States.
At this point we may appropriately introduce the following paragraph concerning Allen, extracted from one of bis biographies: "He had the confidence of Washington, and whatever lengths he went in the way of deceiving the British with promises made to be broken, his whole life- and especially his refusals to be bribed by the British-fully dis- prove any taint of treason."
At Bennington, Vermont, in 1784, there was published at 8va book of 477 pages written by Ethan Allen and bear- ing the following title: "Reason| The only | Oracle of Man, | Or a | Compenduous System | of | Natural Religion. Alternately Adorned With Conversations | of a variety of Doctrantes | incompatible to it; | Deduced from The most exalted | ideas Which We are able to form | of the Divine and Human Characters | and from the | Universe in General. By Ethan Allen, Esqr., | Bennington, [ State of Vermont. | Published by Haswell & Russell, | M, DCC, LXXXIV."
This book is said to be, according to competent authority, the first work published in America in direct oppos- ition to the Christian religion." Copies of the original edition of the book are now scarce, and are the rarest of Allen's publications. At a public sale in 1897 (at Philadelphia) a copy of the original edition sold for $16., while at a sale in Boston, in 1901, three copies of the book sold for $10, $28, and $20, respectively.
Allen subsequently prepared an essay on "The Universal Plenitude of Being, and On the Nature and Immortality of the Human Soul," which he intended to publish as an appendix to his"Oracles", in order to correct certain of his errors in that work. It was never printed by him, however, but about 1873 it was printed in Dawson's Historical Magazine. In a note prefixed to it the editor said that it had fallen to the lot of few men in the United States to bave been more seriously misrepresented as a man and citizen, and in regard to his opinions on religious subjects than was Ethan Allen.
About 1793, Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, of Hartford, Connecticut (1750-1801), having read Allen's "Oracles," wrote the following poem:
"Lo! Allen 'scaped from British jails, His tushes broke by biting nails, Appears in Hyperborean skies To tell the world the Bible lies. See him, on green hills north afar, Glow like a self-enkindled star; Prepar'd (with mob-collecting club Black from the forge Beelzebub, And grim with metaphysic scowl, With quill just plucked from wing of owl),
As Rage and Reason rise or sink. To shed his blood nr shed his ink Behold! inspired from Vermont dens,
The seer of Antichrist descends To feed new mobs with hell-born manna
In Gentile lands of Susquehanna. And teach the Pennsylvania Quaker High blasphemies again t his Maker
Behold him move, ye stauch divines! Hi: tall head bristling thro the pines. All front he seems, like wall of brass, And hrays tremendous as an ass.
One hand is clenched, to batter noses, While t'other scrawls 'gain t Paul and Mo es."
Ethan Allen was married (fir-t) it 1762 to Mary, daughter of Cornelius and Ahigail (Jackson) Brownsan of Wood- bury, Connecticut, who bore him one son and four daughters, and died about 1783. He was married (second) Feb- ruary 9, 1784, to Mrs. Frances Buchanan, who bore him one daughter and two sous. This daughter died in a nutitiery at Montreal, and the sons-Hannibal and Ethan A .- became officers in the United States Navy, and died at Norfolk, Virginia.
Ethan Allen died February 12, 1789-a little less than three years after his pilgrimage to Wyoming Valley (as hereinafter related), and a trifle more than two years before the admission of Vermont to the Union. His remains were interred in Winoo ki Falls Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont, and over them was erected a simple marble slab bearing this inscription: "Beneath this stone lies the corporeal part of Col. Ethan Allen, while his spirit has returned to his God, in whom he believed and firmly trusted."
In 1873 Allen's remains, together with the last fragment of his old gravestone saved from the ravages of relic hunters, were removed to Green Mount Cemetery, Burlington, where they were reinterred, and where, by authority of the Legislature of Vermont, a monument of Barre granite was erected at a cost of $3.000. To the shaft of the mon- ument are affixed four white marble tablets, bearing the following inscriptions: (1) "Vermouit to Ethan Allen, born in Litchfield, Connecticut, 10 January, 1737, O. S. Died in Burlington, Vermont, 12 February, 1789, and buried near the site of this monument " (2) "Wielding the Pen as well as the Sword, he was the sagacious and intrepid Defender of the New Hampshire Grants, and Master Spirit in the arduous struggle which resulted in the Sovereignty and In- dependence of this State " (3) "The Leader of the Green Mountain Boys in the Surprise and Capture of Ticonderoga. which he demanded in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." (4) "Taken prisoner in a daring attack on Montreal, and transported to England, he disarmed the purpose of his enemy by the respect which he inspired for the Rebellion and the Rehel." On the canital of the shaft. upon a base hearing the word "Ticonderoga", stands a heroic statue of Allen in Carrara marble. The left hand of the figure is lifted as in the act of summoning the commander of Ticonderoga to surrender. The right hand grasps a sword, while at the feet of the figure lies a mortar.
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Wyoming Yankees, and that he and some of his "Green Mountain Boys" were soon coming to Wyoming, did not long remain a secret in this locality, and in consequence the active opposition of the Wyoming Yankees against the few Pen- namites who still remained in the region became more strenuous and, in some instances, extremely violent.
The Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania metat Philadelphia, Aug- ust 30, 1785. President John Dickinson, Charles Biddle, John Boyd, Stephen Balliet and other members being in attendance. A petition was read from the magistracy of Northumberland County, stating that, "under the outrages of the people known by the name of the Connecticut claimants, a number of the good citizens have been put into great fear and suffering;" and praying that the Govern- ment might "take such speedy, judicious and effectual measures as may at once convince the deluded and lawless of the power of the State, and give effectual and permanent security and protection to those who have always acknowledged its jurisdiction and submitted to its laws." The Council ordered that this peti- tion should be referred to the Assembly.
At Philadelphia, under the date of September 3, 1785, the Hon. John Bayard wrote as follows* to Col. Zebulon Butler, at Wilkes Barr, concerning the prevailing disorder.here and hereabouts.
"Sir-I am greatly distressed and disapointed to find that your people are conducting matters at Wyoming with such high handed violence and disorder by seising the Effects and hanishing the persons of all those claiming under Pennsylvania at the very time that We are applying to Congress to determine whether your Claims shall be submitted to a Federal Court -Yea or Nay-this I am sure is not the Way to secure Success in the Decision & you must be certain will Justly irritate this Government. The Legislature cannot tamely look on such Insults & suffer them to continue and altho they are extreemely averse to Hostile Measures, Yet I think they will unanimously and at every hazard support the Honor & Dignity of the State by bring- ing to condign punishment such Lawless & disorderly men.
"Squire Mead informs me these people have seised all His Grain, farming utensils, part of his Stock, &c .- is this Conduct sufferable in a civilized Country? & will it not sooner or later bring down deserved Vengeance on the Heads of the perpetrators? I beseech you Sir if you have any Influence with those people, at least prevail with them either to restore the property so unjustly taken away or pay a reasonable consideration for it-but if you cannot or will not interfere I would advise you to withdraw from those desperate Freebooters & be not a partaker in their Wicked proceedings.
"I cant but entertain a good Opinion of you both from your former Character & The assurances you gave me of your Determination to submit to & support the Constitution & Laws of this State-& I shall be extreemly sorry to have any Just cause to alter my sentiments on this Head. pray let me have a line from you touching these matters. In the meantime, I am Sir your very Hhle. Servt."
As noticed in the foregoing letter, Mr. Bayard referred to the question pending before Congress, as to whether or not the claims of the Connecticut settlers in Wyoming should be submitted to a Federal Court. Apparently the Pennsylvania authorities had allowed this matter to rest for a number of months, thereby disregarding the advice given to them by Mr. Wilson, one of their agents and counsel, in his letter of February 26, 1785, printed on page 1461, ante.
The records of Congress show that, for one reason and another, the sub- ject of the Wyoming controversy was not formally taken up by Congress for final disposition until September, 1785, when Col. John Franklin, Ebenezer Johnson, Phineas Peirce and Lord Butler, repaired to New York from Wilkes- Barre, in behalf of the Wyoming Yankees. On September 21st, after considerable discussion, the following was adopted by Congress (see "Journals of Congress,"
*The original letter is in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society.
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IV: 574): "Whereas, the petition of Zebulon Butler and others, claiming private right of soil under the State of Connecticut, and within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, doth not describe with sufficient certainty the tract of land claimed by the said Zebulon Butler and others, nor particu- larly name the private adverse claims under grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Resolved, That the resolutions of Congress, of January 23, 1784, relative to the claim of Zebulon Butler and others, be, and hereby are, repealed."
Colonel Franklin states in his "Journal" that on the day following the adoption of this resolution, he and his fellow committeemen presented a peti- tion to the Congress, in which they set forth their desire "to know the grounds and reasons of the resolve of Congress of September 21st, and also urged that the Wyoming settlers should be quieted in their possessions until a memorial could be brought in and a decision had thereon.
This petition was referred to a committee of three delegates, who, on September 28th, reported in favor of the petition, declaring that "the repeal of the resolution of Congress was founded in the insufficiency of the allegations and defective description of the lands in controversy, and was not intended to foreclose the proprietors-settlers and claimants of lands at and near Wyo- ming-from the appointment of a Federal Court to try their rights of soil,
* * * when a petition shall be brought describing the land and naming the adverse claimants with a due degree of certainty."
This report was not approved by the Congress, and on September 30th and again on October 3rd; it was reconsidered, but in each instance the resolution to approve and adopt the report was voted down. Colonel Franklin and Messrs. Johnson and Peirce remained in New York until October 7, 1785, endeavoring to accomplish the objects of their mission.
At Bennington, Vermont, under the date of October 27, 1785, Ethan Allen wrote to "Colonel Butler and Mr. Franklin and such others as they see fit to communicate to, at Wyoming." Some time subsequently, a copy of this letter came into the hands of Col. Timothy Pickering, and is preserved among the "Pickering Papers,"* Vol. LVII, page 28. The letter reads as follows, (and is now published for the first time, so far as the present writer is aware.)
"You have undoubtedly previous to this date, been informed that I have aspoused your cause, against Pensylvania. I purposed in August last to have made a visit to Wyoming, and to have consulted with your principle men, on the best measures of defence, but urgent business would not admit it. Extraordinaries excepted, I purpose to make a tour to your hostile ground next Spring.
"My father was an original proprietor in the Sisquehannah purchaise, and besides that I have since been considerably interested. Furthermore I am very sensible, that our cause is just, and our title to the fee of the land indefeasible; add to this, you have been greatly oppressed by the land schemers of Pennsylvania, more so than any district of country in English America. It is my opinion, that those schemers were instrumental in bringing the common enemy against Wyoming; and consequently [guilty] of their destruction. Avaricious men make interest their God, and plot against the lives of thousands to accomplish their mercenary designs.
"What a lawyer may suppose to be law, in this case, I will not determine, but I think that as the Connecticut charter which expressely covers the disputed territory, is eighteen years older than that to Sir William Penn; and as we have a bona fida purchaise from the Indian or- iginal proprietors, and been in the possession of it twenty-five years last past, and thro the late revolution been an outpost and guard to Pennsylvania, the right of soil, of right, belongs to The Susquehannah Company. If this is not a sufficiently authentic & legal title, it is in vain for mankind ever to acquire one to any lands whatever.
"Probably the justice of our claim will have but little or no effect on our haughty antag- onists, who seek our lands and labours, it may nevertheless inspire us to defend our rights with
*See page 29, Vol. I, of this work.
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great zeal and fortitude and serve to make us friends abroade, particularly in Congress, & justifie our opposition, even to blood.
"I hope that Congress will finally adjudge the right of soil to the Susquehannah Company, but whether they do or not, it is good policy to soliset for it, and in the meantime crowd your settlements, add to your numbers and strength, procure fire arms and ammunition, be united among yourselves. I hope to see you face to face next Spring, nor will I give up my interest to usurpers, without trying it out by force of arms; if we have not fortitude enough to face danger in a good cause, we are cowards indeed, and must in consequence of it be slaves, and our pos- terity, to Penemitish land thieves. Liberty & Property, or Slavery & Poverty, are now before us, and our Wisdom and fortitude, or Timidity and folly, must terminate the matter.
"I am gentlemen your friend and humble servt."
Colonel Franklin, referring in his "Brief" to the distribution of shares and half-shares in the Susquehanna Purchase, in pursuance of the action taken by The Susquehanna Company, at its meeting on July 13, 1785, says: "A large number of new settlers were accordingly admitted. In the month of November, [1785] the settlers had got to be numerous. A meeting was called-about 400 being present. A regiment was formed and officers were appointed. A form of government was also established by the authority of the people, to remain in force until law should be established on constitutional principles. A committee of directors was also appointed to regulate the affairs of the settlement agree- ably to the form of government then adopted. Upwards of 400 subscribed their names to support the committee, or directors, in the execution of the important trust reposed in them."
The town-meeting thus briefly referred to by Colonel Franklin was held at Forty Fort, in Kingston Township, Tuesday, November 15, 1785, and John Franklin was elected Colonel, and John Jenkins, Jr., Major, of the regiment which was formed at that time. So far as now known, the fullest contemporary account of that meeting is contained in a letter which was written at Wyoming, February 1, 1786, and was published in several Connecticut newspapers. It was reprinted in The Pennsylvania Packet, at Philadelphia, March 21, 1786, and reads in part as follows:
"At a meeting of the Connecticut settlers and inhabitants of Wyoming held in Kingston November 15, 1785, Dr. William Hooker Smith being chosen chairman, the following regulations and resolves were unanimously agreed upon and voted.
"Whereas, The Connecticut settlers of Wyoming and the lands adjacent became proprie- tors of the soil from an original, fair and bona fide purchase of the natives, and under the patron- age of the then Colony, now State of Connecticut, which claims-and we think justly claims --- by charter grant a large territory of the western lands, of which these settlements are a part. "And Whereas, We have experienced every kind of calamity from the blood thirsty sav- ages on the one side, and the more cruel Pennsylvania land-jobbers on the other; from destroying floods and a mortal pestilence; and in addition to all these, from the time the jurisdiction of these settlements was Congressionally decreed in favour of Pennsylvania, we have ever had to regret the want of Government and the fruits of anarchy. The Legislature of that State-by adhering to wicked and false representations against us-have withheld from us the rights of free citizens and the benefits of civil government and participation of their laws on constitutional principles, though solemnly plighted to us by a resolve of the legislative body of February 20, 1783. That troops have been raised and quartered among us in time of peace. That they have been suffered, without constraint, to assist the land-jobbers of the State in driving us from our justly acquired habitations and property-all which they affected in a most cruel and barbarous manner, with- out any apparent discrimination of health, age or sex, as by sufficient testimony can be abun- dantly proved to the satisfaction of the impartial world.
"And Whereas, The depravity of mankind renders government necessary to the end that each member of society may peaceably possess, enjoy and be protected in his life, liberty and prop- erty-so far forth as he shall be found not to encroach upon the similar blessings which belong equally to others.
Therefore, Resolved, That, in order to prevent as much as possible that disorder and licen- tiousness which are inseparable from a state of anarchy, we find it indispensably necessary to agree upon and adopt some concise mode of Government, whereby to regulate our conduct to- wards each other and towards all men until the laws of Pennsylvania can operate in these settle- ments, and be administered on constitutional principles.
"Therefore, Resolved, First, That a committee of five of the most wise and judicious men be appointed to regulate the internal police of this settlement, according to justice and equity
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(to be chosen by votes to be given in to a clerk appointed for that purpose), until we shall have laws established in this settlement. Second, That the committee who shall be elected as above shall have full power to regulate the police of this settlement, so far as respects the peace, safety and welfare of the whole, according to justice and equity. Third, That we the subscribers, being convinced of the necessity of order and regulation in this settlement, do pledge our faith to each , other, our interests, if necessary, and our personal aid when called for, to support the committee in the execution of the important trust reposed in them. Fourth, That the committee shall be removable by the people for maladministration, and others be selected to fill any such vacancies
"In pursuance of the foregoing resolves, it was voted that Messieurs JOHN FRANKLIN, EBENEZER JOHNSON, WILLIAM HOOKER SMITH, JOHN JENKINS [Jr.] and JOHN PAUL SCHOTT be a committee to put said resolves in execution."
The members of this committee became known as "Directors," and were so styled by themselves and the inhabitants of Wyoming generally.
The foregoing plans and specifications for the government of the people of Wyoming-both by their nature and the method of their adoption-remind one somewhat of the rules and regulations put in force by the vigilantes of San Francisco and other western frontier towns of the United States, in the early days of their existence.
Governor Hoyt, in his "Brief of a Title in the Seventeen Townships in the County of Luzerne" having in mind the proceedings of the Susquehanna Company, and the conduct of some of the Connecticut settlers at Wyoming during the period of 1783 to 1787, declares: "The action of the Susquehanna Company, after 1782, was inexcusably mischievous and wholly unjustifiable. The power and pride of Pennsylvania were sure to be successfully arrayed
against them, and it was certain that its authority must finally prevail. * *
* During the years 1785-86, the conduct of some of the leaders of the Connecticut people, under the reckless proceedings of The Susquehanna Company, were simply insurrectionary. Pennsylvania was then pursuing no hostile measures towards them, but, on the contrary, able advocates were springing up in Penn- sylvania in their behalf, and had already made a deep impression in the councils of the State."
Miner ("History of Wyoming," page 386), referring to the proceedings which took place in Wyoming in November, 1785, and during the two or three previous months, says; "It would be an imputation on the vigilance and sag- acity of Pennsylvania to suppose that these proceedings were not known to and watched by her with jealous solicitude. What could she do to avert the threatened evil?"
A meeting of the Supreme Executive Council was held at Philadelphia, November 17, 1785, Vice President Charles Biddle, John Boyd, Peter Muhlen- berg and other members being present. On motion, the following was adoptedt : * *
* "It is the sense of this Board that a law should be passed [by the House of Representatives] as early in this session as possible, requiring the insurgents at Wyoming or elsewhere in the county of Northumberland to sub- mit to the laws of this Commonwealth, and give clear and unequivocal evidence of such their submission on or before the 15th day of January next, in such manner as the House will be pleased to prescribe; and that such of them as shall neg- lect or refuse to comply with this requisition should be deemed outlaws and made liable to be proceeded against as such."
On December 24, 1785, the House of Representatives passed "An Act for quieting disturbances at Wyoming, for pardoning certain offenders, and for other purposes." After reciting that "a spirit of licentiousness, and disobedience
*See "Pennsylvania Colonial Records", XIV: 579.
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to the laws," prevailed in the counties of Northumberland and Northampton, in consequence of the controversies between the Connecticut claimants and other citizens of the State; and that, "to strengthen the hands of Government and quiet the disturbances," it was fit "that lenient means be tried, before the most coercive ones" should be used, the Act provided that all offenses committed before "the 1st of November, 1785, be pardoned and put in oblivion", provided the persons having so offended should surrender themselves to the authorities before April 15, 1786, and enter into bonds to keep the peace. The Act also authorized the calling out of the militia, and repealed the Act of Assembly passed September 9, 1783, confirming the division of the townships of Shawanese, Stoke and Wyoming into two districts for the election of Justices of the Peace, and "annulled and made void" the commissions granted in pursuance of the elec- tion of said Justices.
The year 1786 was a year of disturbances and unsettled conditions through- out the majority of the thirteen United States-which, however, were not then either very heartily or very firmly united together, for the Federal Constitution had not yet been framed, adopted and ratified.
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