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 64
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"The Minister was conducted into Congress Hall by the two Members who had received him at the foot of the steps of the outer door. As he entered within the har the President and House arose, the President being covered. The Minister, as he advanced to his chair, bowed to the President, who took off his hat and returned the bow. The Minister was uncovered. The Minister then howed to the Members on each side of the Chair, who were standing uncovered, but did not return the how. The Minister then sat down and put on his hat. * * * The President the Members and the Minister all took their seats at the same time. After a pause of about a minute the Minister arose, and, taking off his hat, addressed the United States itt Congress assembled in a short speech delivered in French.
"The House sat still while he delivered his speech, the President only being covered. Having finished his speech he sat down, and the Secretary of the Embassy, coming forward, delivered the letter from His Most Christian Maj- esty to the Secretary of Congress, who advanced to the end of the platform, and, having received it, caused the inter- preter to advance, gave it to him open, and he read in the original to the audience. The Secretary then read a tratis - lation of it, and returned the letter to the President. Whereupon the Members and the Minister arose (the President being covered, but the Members and Minister uncovered), and the President, on behalf of the United States addressed the Ministers in a short speech. After this they all sat down, and after a short pause the Minister arose, whereupon the President and Members arose. The Minister then bowed to the President and the Members, and withdrew-the Members who had introduced him reconducting him to the foot of the steps at the outer door."
The Royal infant in whose honor this ceremonious program was carried out, would have been known as Louis XVII had he lived long enough. Dying in 1789, however, he was succeeded as Dauphin by his younger brother, who, as Louis XVII, died a prisoner. in the Temple at Paris in June, 1795.
At Philadelphia, in the evening of July 15, 1782, a splendid entertainment was given by Luzerne to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin of France Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote, at the time, an elaborate account of the function, which is printed in full in the Pennsylvania Magazine, XXI : 257, 261. The following paragraphs have been extracted from the account.
"Great preparations were made. Hundreds crowded daily to see a large frame building which he [Luzerne] had erected for a dancing-room on one side of his house. This building, which was sixty feet in front and forty feet in depth. was supported by large painted pillars, and was open all round. * *
* Besides these preparations, we are told that the Minister had borrowed thirty cooks from the French army. *
* * 1.100 tickets were distributed, most of these two or three weeks before the entertainment. * * * For ten days before the entertainment nothing else was talked of in our city. The shops were crowded with customers. Hair-dressers were retained, and tailors, milliners and mantua-makers were to be seen, covered with sweat and out of breath, in every street. * * *
"At half an hour after seven o'clock in the afternoon was the time fixed for the meeting of the Company. The approach of the hour was proclaimed by the rattling of all the carriages in the city. The doors and windows of the houses of the street which leads to the Minister's were lined with people, and near the Minister's house there was a collection of all the curious and idle men, women and children of the city who were not invited to the entertainment, amounting probably to 10,000 people. * * * It was impossible to partake of the joy of the evening without being struck with the occasion of it. It was to celebrate the birth of a Dauphin of France. How great the revolution in the mind of an American, to rejoice in the birth of an heir to the crown of France-a country against which he had imbihed prejudices as ancient as the wars between France and England! How strange for a Protestant to rejoice in the birth of a prince whose religion he has been taught to consider as unfriendly to humanity! And above all, how new the phenomenon for republicans and freemen to rejoice in the birth of a prince who must one day be the support of monarchy! * * *
"Here were to be seen heroes and patriots in close conversation with each other. Washington and Dickinson held several dialogues together. Here were to be seen men conversing with each other who appeared in all the dif- ferent stages of the American war. Dickinson and Morris frequently reclined together against the same pillar. Here were to be seen statesmen and warriors from the opposite ends of the Continent, talking of the history of the war in their respective States. Rutledge and Walton, from the South, here conversed with Lincoln and Duane. from the East and the North. Here and there, too, appeared a solitary character, walking among the artificial howers in the garden. The celebrated author of 'Common Sense', ['Thomas Paine] retired frequently from the company to enjoy the repast of his own original ideas.
"Here were to be seen men who had opposed each other in the councils and parties of their country, forgetting all former resentments, and exchanging civilities with each other Even Thomas Mifflin and Joseph Weed accosted each other with all the kindness of ancient friends. Here were to be seen men of various countries and languages such as Americans and Frenchmen, Englishment and Scotchmen, Germans and Irishmen, conversing with each other like children of one father. And lastly, here were to be seen the extremes of the civilized and of the savage life-an
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no longer, and shall be held at the house of Zebulon Butler, in the town of Wilkesburg*, in the said County of Luzerne, until a Court House shall be built- as hereafter directed-in the said County; which said Courts shall then be holden and kept at the said Court House, on the days and times before mentioned.
[Section V of the Act respected the election of Justices of the Peace in certain districts. Section VIII related to the first general election to be held in the new County, and provided that "on the second Tuesday of October then next", there should be chosen at Wilkes-Barre "one Representative to serve in the Assembly, one Councillor, two fit persons for Sheriff, two fit persons for Coroner, and three Commissioners."]
Indian chief in his savage habits, and the Count Rochambeau in his expensive and splendid uniform, talking with each other as if they had heen the subjects of the same Government, Generals in the same army, and the partakers of the same blessings of civilized life. * * *
"'On one side of the room were provided two private apartments, where a number of servants attended to help the company to all kinds of cool and agreeable drinks, with sweet cake, fruits and the like. Between these apartments and under the orchestra, there was a private room where several ladies, whose dress would not permit them to join the assembly, were indulged with a sight of the company through a gauze curtain. This little attention to the curiosity of these ladies marks, in the strongest manner, the Minister's desire to please everybody. *
* At twelve * o'clock the company was called to supper. It was laid behind the dancing-room, under three large markees, so connected together as to make one large canopy. Under this canopy were placed seven tables, each of which was large enough to accommodate fifty people. The ladies, who composed near one-half of the whole assembly, took their seats first, with a small number of gentlemen to assist in helping them.
"The supper was a cold collation, simple, frugal and elegant, and handsomely set off with a dessert consisting of cakes and all the fruits of the season. The Chevalier de la Luzerne now appeared, with all the splendor of the Min- ister and all the politeness of a gentleman. He walked along the tables, and addressed himself in particular to every lady. A decent and respectful silence pervaded the whole company. Intemperance did not show its head, levity composed its countenance, and even humor itself forgot for a few minutes its usual haunt; and the simple jest, no less than the loud laugh, was unheard at any of the tables. So great and universal was the decorum, and so totally sus- pended was every species of convivial noise, that several gentlemen remarked that 'the company looked and behaved more as if they were worshiping than eating.' In a word, good breeding was acknowledged by universal consent to he mistress of the evening, and the conduct of her votaries at supper formed the conclusion of her triumphs. At two * o'clock in the morning the company broke up, and we returned home." * *
In 1781, Luzerne received from Harvard College the honorary degree of LL.D., and in 1782 the same degree was conferred upon him hy Dartmouth College. In May or June, 1783, the Pennsylvania Branch of the Society of the Cincinnati elected Luzerne a member thereof. According to the late Sidney Hayden, in an address delivered at Wilkes- Barre in June, 1867, Luzerne was a Free Mason, "and his name bas honorable mention as such in the archives of the Grand Lodge" of Pennsylvania.
Having satisfactorily discharged the important duties of his mission to this country, Luzerne, early in 1784, in response to his own request, was recalled to France, by the King. On June 19, 1784, the Supreme Executive Coun- cil of Pennsylvania addressed to the retiring Minister the following communication. (See "Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, X : 282.)
"The Executive Council of Pennsylvania cannot witness your preparations to embark for your Native Country without expressing the pain we feel at the prospect of your departure, & tbe high Sense we entertain of the Zeal and Ability with which you have promoted the Union of France with the United States during your residence among us.
"We heg leave to assure you at the same time that the return of peace, and our General intercourse with the powers of Europe, have not in the least lessened our Sense of our many obligations to the illustrious Monarch of France, nor our gratitude for the benefits we derived from the bravery and treasure of the French nation.
"We are happy in this opportunity of acknowledging that your conduct towards the Supreme Executive power of the State has been uniformly marked with all that decency and respect which characterise the Gentlemen of the nation to which you belong.
"Accept of our best wishes for your Safe and Speedy Voyage; may you long possess the favour of your Sovereign and the esteem of your Country Men, and enjoy in every stage of life the pleasures which arise from faithful con- tributious to the interests of humanity."
To this communication Luzerne replied the same day, as follows: "I have passed many years in this city with too much satisfaction not to feel the most sensible regret on leaving it. The interests of the two nations are so firmly united that I could, without ceasing to be a Frenchman, consider myself a citizen of the United States. Separated from my nearest connections for more than five years, and in times of public calamity and danger, I have found in this city everything which could make amends for the want of those enjoyments of which I was necessarily deprived. I heg you will allow me, on taking leave of your Excellency and Council, to assure you that I shall preserve all my life the remembrance of the friendship which you, as well as all the citizens of Philadelphia, have constantly shown me. I sincerely solicit the continuance of it, and beg you will be persuaded that the sentiments which attach me to this country will end only with my life." (See "Colonial Records of Pennsylvania", XIV : 147.)
Prior to the departure of Luzerne from Philadelphia in July, 1784, John Nixon, John Maxwell Nesbitt, John Ross, Clement Biddle, Isaac Hazlehurst, and others, representing the merchants of Philadelphia, formally expressed their regret at his leaving the city which had heen honored by his residence for some years. In the signed letter which they presented to the Minister was the following paragraph: "The part which you have taken for the protection of our commerce in time of war; your wisdom in negotiation, and your affability and attention in conciliating the affec- tions of the people of this country, and cultivating a friendly intercourse between the two nations, have attached to you the respectful esteem of the citizens of Philadelphia."
Luzerne departed for France in July, 1784, and when, a little more than two years later, his name was given to Pennsylvania's newest County, the fact was communicated to the French Government hy M. Otto, the Charge d' Affaires of that Government at New York, in a despatch worded as follows (translated): "The Assembly of Pennsyl- vania, Monseigneur, wishing to hand down to posterity a testimonial of its gratitude for the services which M. le Chevalier de la Luzerne rendered to the Union, has just given bis name to a new County."
Later, a copy of the Act erecting Luzerne County having been sent to the Chevalier by the Speaker of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, the former addressed to the latter, the following letter, which was read in the Assembly March 10, 1788:
"Sir :- I have received the Act of Assembly of Pennsylvania and the letter you have honored me with, from which I learn that that State has condescended to give my name to one of its newly-erected Counties. It is impossible for me to explain the grateful sense I have of this distinguished favor. Having the advantage of a long residence in Penn- sylvania, I have been witness to all the acts of Patriotism and Valor performed in that State, which contributed so much to American Independence. I have had the further advantage of a personal knowledge of the different members of your Government, and the opportunity of judging with what wisdom, prudence and firmness they have succeeded in establishing one of the best Governments in the world. Lastly, Sir, my long residence, my inclination, and the honor just conferred on me, are ties which hind me inviolably to the State of Pennsylvania.
"Be pleased, Sir, to assure the illustrious body you preside over of my veneration and respect, and permit me to renew the assurance of the attachment with which I have the honor to be, Sir, your most humble and obedient Servant."
About the time this letter was received at Philadelphia, Luzerne was appointed by King Louis Ambassador to the Court of St. James. Proceeding to London, he continued to reside there in the performance of bis duties until his death, which occurred September 14, 1791, in the fifty-first year of his age.
For further interesting matter relative to the Chevalier de la Luzerne, see "Proceedings and Collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society", VI : 67.
*The framers of the Act of September 25, 1786, believed the actual name of Wilkes-Barre to be Wilkesburs- as fully explained in the last paragraph on page 517, Vol. I.
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"Section IX-And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid: That Zebulon Butler, Nathaniel Landon*, Jonah Rogerst, John Phillipst and Simon Spalding§ are hereby appointed Trustees for the said County of Luzerne; and they, or any three of them, shall take assurances of and for a piece of land, situated in some convenient place in or near Wilkesburg within the said County of Luzerne, for the seat of a Court House and of a County Gaol, or prison, for the said County, in the name of the Commonwealth, in trust and for the use and benefit of the said County of Luzerne; and thereupon to erect a Court House and prison sufficient to accommodate the public service of the said County.
[Section Y of the Act related to the matter of raising money to pay for the erection of the public buildings.] "Section XI -* That the Justices of the Supreme Court of this State shall have like powers, jurisdictions and authorities within the said County of Luzerne as by law they are vested with and entitled to in the other Counties of this State; and they are hereby authorized and empowered, from time to time, to deliver the gaol of the said County of capital and other offenders, in like manner as they are authorized to do in other Counties of this State."
On December 27, 1786, the General Assembly enacted, relative to the western boundary line of Luzerne County: "The line from the month of Nesco- peck Creek shall be run north-west until it intersects the line which divides the waters of the East Branch of the Susquehanna River from those of the West Branch." By an Act passed September 29, 1787, the Assembly declared that this boundary-line should run north, one degree west, until it intersected the line dividing the waters of the East Branch from those of the West Branch. At the time this last-mentioned enactment was made it was declared in the As- sembly that "it would be more agreeable if the line was run north, five degrees
*NATHANIEL LANDON is said to have heen born at Sonthold, on Long Island, New York, September 2, 1732. He settled in Wyoming Valley nuder the auspices of The Susquehanna Company, sometime in 1772 or '73, and iu March , 1774, was elected one of the Selectmen of the newly-erected town of Westmoreland. In the following December, he was elected a member of the Westmoreland School Committee. In May, 1775, he was appointed by the Genera 1 Assembly of Connecticut, a Surveyor of Lands in and for Litchfield County-to which County Westmoreland was attached. Upon the organization of the 24th, or Westmoreland, Regiment of Connecticut Militia, in October, 1775 (see page 856, Vol. II), Nathaniel Landon was appointed and duly commissioned Captain of the Second, or Kingston , Company of the Regiment. He was at that time a resident of Kingston Township.
In October, 1777, Captain Landon was succeeded in the captaincy of the Second Company by Dethick Hewitt (see page 957, Vol. II), but at the time of the battle of July 3, 1778, the former was undoubtedly still a resident of Kingston and an enrolled member of the 24th Regiment, and presumably took part either in the battle, or the defense of one of the forts, on July 3rd. As shown by the muster-roll on page 1096, Vol. II, he was at Wilkes-Barre, in October, 1778, serving in the detachment of troops commanded by Col. Zebulon Butler.
In 1793 and '95 Captain Landon was residing in Kingston Township, and was largely engaged in land-surveying. In the Kingston tax-list for 1796, the names of Nathaniel, David, James and Samuel Laudon appear. As stated on page 893, Vol. II, Captain Landon was married (2d) sometime subsequently to 1780 to Mrs. Sarah Durkee, widow of Capt. Robert Durkee of Wyoming.
¡This was Jonah Rogers, Sr., mentioned on page 1153, Vol. II.
#From a small pamphlet entitled "A Brief Sketch of the Ancestry and Life of Stephen Miller," compiled aud published in 1901 by Mrs. M. M. B. Stone of Wilkes-Barre, we learn that JOHN PHILLIPS was born in Vermont Jan- uary 4, 1752, the sou of Francis Phillips, of Welsh descent. The latter became a settler in Wyoming Valley, under the auspices of The Susquehanna Company, in 1772 (see pages 733 and 752, Vol. II), hut it is doubtful if he brought his family with him at that time. His name appears in the tax-lists of Pittston District, Westmoreland, for the years 1777 and '78; but neither his name nor that of John appears in the tax-lists of 1780 and '81. Neither name appear s in the "Bill of Losses" prepared at Wilkes-Barre in October, 1781, in pursuance of a resolution passed by the General Assembly of Connecticut. It is probahle that during the years 1779-'81 the Phillipses were back at their old home in Vermont.
The names of Francis and John appear in the list of Wyoming petitioners to the New York Legislature in February, 1783 and in the list of settlers present in Wyoming in April, 1783, the name of John Phillips appears.
According to Mrs. Stone "Joba Phillips enlisted as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, January 10, 1776, at Pownal, Vermont, and was in service a short time in 1776, 1777, 1778 and 1779." He owned considerable land in the townships of Pittston and Exeter, Wyoming Valley-the tract in Pittston being called "Phillips Villa", aud the tract in Exeter "Johnsylvania." About 1812. he settled in Abington, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) County, where be spent the rema'n - der of his life. He was for many years a Deacon in the Baptist Church, and September 1, 1791, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace in and for Luzerne County.
John Phillips was married three times-first, January 20, 1771, to Mary Chamberlain (probably of Vermont), who died at Wilkes-Barre November 9, 1815, aged 70 years, 3 months and 2 days; second, November 17, 1816. to Mrs. Lydia Harding of Deer Park, New York (born, 1770; died, 1840); third, October 27, 1842, by the Rev. John Miller of Abington, to Mrs. Bathsheba Green of Newton, Pennsylvania. "Deacon" Phillips was then in the ninety-first year of his life, and bis bride was sixty-seven years of age. Charles Miner, writing about this marriage in May, 1843 said: "We have the pleasure to say that John Phillips, Esq., was married last Winter, and is still a highly respectable, hale old gentleman."
"Deacon" Phillips died at Abington September 4, 1846, aged ninety-four years and eight months. His remains lie in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Abington.
By his first marriage "Deacon" Phillips had the following-named children: (i) Martha, horn October 21, 1771; married to John Tripp. December 16, 1789. (ii) Susannah, born August 7, 1773; married September 7, 1788, to Samuel Miller, originally of Duchess County, New York, then of Pittston, Pennsylvania, and later of Hughestown, Pennsyl- vania, where he died. Samuel and Susannah (Phillips) Miller were the parents of seven sous and six daughters. (iii) Sarah, boru July 29, 1775; married February 7, 1794, to Isaac Wilson. (iv) Mory, born May 4, 1778; married to Isaac Hewitt. (v) Hosco, boru May 2, 1781; married October 28, 1799, to Lavinia Davis. (vi) Comer, born Nov- emher 24, 1783; married February 5, 1807, to Hannab Mott.
The third child of Samuel and Susannah ( Phillips) Miller (referred to above) was Stephen Midler, born February 9. 1793; married March 3, 1811, to Mary Goodrich ; he died April 24, 1862, and she died April 2, 1869. They were the parents of ten children. The sixth child of Samuel and Susannah (Phillips) Miller was Rufus Miller, born at Pittston, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1802; married (2d) to Cynthia Howard, born May 26, 1806, at Columbus, Chenango County, New York. Their eldest child was Garrick Mallery Miller (horn March 17, 1827; died at Wilkes-Barre, February 7, 1895), who was for a number of years Receiver of Taxes in and for the city of Wilkes-Barré.
§See page 980, Vol. II.
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west;" and two months later Timothy Pickering, writing to the Speaker of the Assembly, said:
"I would here beg leave to mention the alteration lately made in the lower line of the County of Luzerne. In the first law it was declared that it should run west from the month of Nescopeck Creek. In the supplement to that law it was declared that it should run north-westwardly from the month of Nescopeck; and in the law passed on the 29th day of September last this word north- westwardly was interpreted to mean N. 1° W. I am well informed that this last line will never strike the ridge dividing the waters of the East and West Branches of the Susquehanna. I am also informed that it will cut off one-half, and perhaps the whole, of the townships of Huntington*, which is one of the seventeen townships, * *
* and in which there are sundry Connecticut i* settlers, who occupied and improved their lots long before the Trenton Decree." * *
As thus erected, the County of Luzerne comprehended the territory now contained in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Bradford, Susquehanna and Wyoming Coun- ties and small sections of the Counties of Carbon and Lycoming. In other words, the new County embraced within its bounds 3,783 square miles, or 2,421,120 square acres, of territory ; its area being three-fourths as large as that of Connecticut, greater than the combined areas of the States of Delaware and Rhode Island, and nearly equivalent to one-twelfth of the present area of Penn- sylvania. Its greatest breadth was seventy-five miles, while the distance from the mouth of Nescopeck Creek to the New York State line was sixty-four miles in a bee-line, or 123 miles by way of the winding Susquehanna. From Wilkes- Barré to the State line, by way of the river, was ninety-six miles.
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