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 65
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The map facing this page is a photo-reproduction of a portion of a map of Pennsylvania published by Reading Howell, in 1791. At that time neither com- plete nor careful surveys of all the territory in the north-eastern part of the State had been made, and in consequence some of the boundary-lines of Luzerne County-particularly the extreme southerly and south-westerly lines-are not cor- rectly indicated on this map. According to an address delivered by the Hon. William Merrifield of Scranton, upon the occasion of the dedication of the new County Court House at Wilkes-Barre in 1858, the population of Luzerne County, at its birth, was "sparse, with here and there a few settlements dotted along the winding Susquehanna and its tributaries. Her immense territory was mostly a vast wilderness, inhabited only by the catamount, the howling wolf and the fleeting deer." The number of inhabitants within the bounds of the new County was about 2,700. (According to the first United States census, taken in 1790, the population of the County then numbered 4,904.)
As related, the Wyoming settlers were notified to assemble at the house of Abel Peirce, in Kingston Township, on Saturday, October 7, 1786, to adopt measures for holding on October 10th the election directed to be held by the Act of Assembly erecting Luzerne County. On October 5th, however, an untoward and disastrous occurrence took place, which not only completely prevented the pro- posed gathering, but the election itself. A terse, but luminous account of what happened is contained in a letter written by Colonel Franklin at Wilkes-Barré, November 7, 1786, to his friend Dr. Joseph Hamilton, as follows:t
"I expect you have heard of the late Deluge. The rain on the 5th Oct'r, which fell in about 24 hours, Raised the River about 6 feet, and in the narrow 10 feet-Deeper than ever known. The small streams became mighty Rivers; the Mills are mostly swept off, and one-half of all kinds of food for man and Beast is forever lost-even the Roots in the Earth, such as Pota-
*1n 1775, The Susquehanna Company laid out in their Purchase a township five miles square, which they called Huntington. Through it cour & what was known as the East Branch of Fishing Creek, but which later came to be called, locally. Huntington Creek. In the year 1790, by decree of the Luzerne County Court, Luzerne County was divided into eleven township;, and the territory of Huntington was comprehended in the township of Salem -- Hunt- ington, as a township, being wiped off the map Three years later, however nearly upon the site of the old, a new Huntington Township was erected, which comprehended not only the territory of old Huntington, but considerable more territory in addition 1t included what is now Fairmount Township, as well as the present Huntington Town- ship, and a part of the present Union Township.
tSee "Pennsylvania Archives," Old Series, XI : 85.
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WYDDINN LAKAWANNA
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toes, turnips, Parsnips, &c., are mostly Rotten in the Earth. The greatest part of the Rain fell in the afternoon and evening of the fifth. The Susq'h River, that was fordable at 4 of the Clock after noon, was over the face of the Earth from Mountain to Mountain at 6 o'clock the morning of the 6th. * *
* In the smallest Runs of Water you may see Stones from three Pounds to three Tuns Weight Drove to a great Distance and hove up in heaps. A stone judged to weigh two tons Lies mounted on two stumps near Toby's Creek, that was drove from a considerable distance. A number of Cattle were drowned; our fences are all gone; one man was Drowned attempting to save some effects."
Miner, referring to this flood, says ("History of Wyoming," page 399) :
"In October [1786] the waters of the Susquehanna rose to a height never known except at the ice flood two years previously. Wilkesbarre was partially inundated, and many were pre- paring canoes to take off the inhabitants to the hills. This was termed the 'Pumpkin Fresh', from the immense number [of pumpkins] that floated down the stream to the astonishment of the people below. Great and irreparable losses were sustained in hay, grain and cattle, occasion- ing much suffering during the ensuing Winter. Several houses and barns were swept away, and one or two lives were lost.
Not only in Wyoming Valley, but in the upper Susquehanna valley, the farmers had gathered their hay, and much of it was in stacks; the corn was in shocks; the cattle were feeding in the meadows-and the flood swept all before it! The fruit of the Summer's toil-the hope of the Winter's sustenance-was borne off in triumph by the turbulent waters.
In March, 1865, a contributor to The Harrisburg Union, writing about Susquehanna River floods, had the following to say about the "Pumpkin Flood."
"The bottom-lands on the head-waters of the river-especially of the North Branch, and in New York State-had been planted principally with pumpkins. These came down the river in enormous quantities. Esquire Montgomery, who was a clerk in the Recorder's office [at Harris- burg] as early as 1790, said, in the hearing of the writer, that 'for two whole days the river [evi- dently at or near Harrisburg] looked as if a person could walk over it on pumpkins.' Small houses, hay stacks, grain-stacks, with chickens, &c., on them, came down in great numbers."
It is an interesting fact, worth noting just at this point, that, within ten or twelve days after the subsidence of the "Pumpkin Flood", business affairs were being transacted at Wilkes-Barré as though nothing particularly unusual had just happened. From book I, page 1, of the "Susquehanna Company's Records," we learn that on October 18, 1786, "Solomon Avery of the town of Wilkes-Barré conveyed to Thomas Neill of the same place a certain lot ("No. 2') on the (Front Street in the town-plot of Wilkes-Barré, lying between Colonel Butler's lot and Mr. Sill's lot, and which was formerly the property of Christopher Avery, Esq., deceased." The deed of conveyance was witnessed by Abel and Rebecca Yarring- ton, and was acknowledged before "John Franklin, Director, at Wilkesbarre, Wyoming, October 19, 1786." The same date Thomas Neill sold and conveyed to Jacob Fridley, for £62, 10 sh., the above-described lot, "containing about three and one-half acres of ground; and likewise one house-frame now on said lot, 2,600 bricks, 2,000 feet of boards, 2,000 pine shingles three feet long-all to be delivered on said lott."
As soon as possible after the "Pumpkin Flood" the inhabitants of Wyoming were "legally warned" to assemble in town-meeting at Kingston on Monday, November 6, 1786. A considerable number of the Connecticut settlers attended at the time and place fixed, and Col. Zebulon Butler was chosen Moderator, or Chairman, of the meeting, and his son, Lord Butler, was chosen to serve as Clerk. The "two Johns" made a full report of their pilgrimage to Philadelphia in September, and of the action which had been taken by the Pennsylvania Assembly; whereupon, after some discussion, the following preamble and reso- lution were adopted :*
"This Meeting, taking into consideration the said Recited Law, and the Singular and Extraordinary Circumstances of the inhabitants of the County of Luzerne, (that there is neither *See "Pennsylvania Archives," Old Series, XI : 83.
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Courts, Justices, Sheriff, Coroner, Constable or any Civil officer whatsoever within the limits of the County) and regretting the Deficiency in s'd Recited Law-came to the following resolution: "Resolved, Unanimously, That it is the opinion of this Meeting that the law of this State Erecting the Northern parts of the county of Northumberland into a New County, makes no Provision whereby the Inhabitants thereof may or can enjoy the Rights, Liberties and Priviledges that Citizens of the State are entitled to; that they are not authorized or Impowered to hold any Election, or to Elect any officer of Government, or Civil Officer whatsoever, for the following Reasons: That the law for Erecting the County has not come to hand, except a bill published for Consideration and said to be Enacted into a Law; that the time for holding the annual Elec- tion in Oc't last was expired so soon after the law was Enacted that an Election Could not have been held agreeable to the Constitution, after the Return of the Agents from Assembly: That there is no Person or Persons, whatsoever, Authorised or qualified to call the Freemen, or Free- holders for the Purpose of holding an Election, to hold an election, or to Elect any Civil officer or officers of Government whatsoever; that there is no Person authorised to qualify Judges and Inspectors of Elections, or to make Return; that an Election held where a legal Warning is not or cannot be given, and where no Person is Authorised or qualified, as aforesaid, either as Jus- tices, Sheriff, Constable or Judges and Inspectors of Election, to warn or hold such Election, or to make Return, is in Violation of the Constitution and Laws of this State."
The meeting adopted, also, the following preamble and resolution :*
"Whereas, The Susquehanna Company at their meeting held at Hartford May 17, 1786t, appointed a Committee consisting of four persons [Col. John Franklin, Gen. Ethan Allen, Maj. John Jenkins and Col. Zebulon Butler], with full power and authority to enquire into the claims of all persons settled at Wyoming, and such as shall make out their claims in pursuance of the votes of The Susquehanna Company, and to quiet them in such lands as they shall judge them justly entitled to, agreeable to the votes of said Company.
"And Whereas, one of said Committee [Gen. Ethan Allen] has been absent since his ap- pointment, and is still from this place, and a second [Col. Zebulon Butler], for certain reasons, declines acting in that capacity, there is not a quorum to proceed on that business agreeable to said vote. That it is apparently necessary and expedient that there be a full committee for that purpose aforesaid. That, as the business of such committee is a matter that more particularly and immediately concerns the settlers, an appointment by this meeting cannot be esteemed il- legal, or as doing any injustice to the Susquehanna Company.
"Therefore, Be it Resolved, That Capt. John Paul Schott, Mr. Christopher Hurlbut and Col. NathanDenison be, and they are hereby, appointed a committee with full power and authority to act in conjunction with those [Colonel Franklin and Major Jenkins] already appointed by the Com- pany, and agreeable to the afore-recited vote. And that the Clerk of this meeting transmit a copy of this Resolve to the Clerk of the Committee [Colonel Franklin], to be by him transmitted to the Clerk of the Company, to be laid before the Company at their next meeting, for their con- firmation."
At Wilkes-Barré, on the day following the aforementioned meeting, Colonel Franklin wrote to Dr. Joseph Hamilton, at Hudson, New York, in part as follows:#
"A Meeting of the Inhabitants was held yesterday to hear the report of the Agents from Philadelphia, and for other purposes, as there had been no meeting before, since our return. I send enclosed a Resolve Respecting the Law for Erecting a New County. We have passed a Re- solve appointing a Committee to Act in Conjunction with Major Jenkins and myself to Enquire into the Claims of the Settlers as we had not a quorum of those appointed by the Company. It is a matter that Concerns the Settlers more immediately. We have also Past a Resolve Pro- hibiting the Exportation of grain from this settlement. I have not time to copy them, but will send them the first opportunity.
"That old Traitor [Dr. William Hooker] Smith made his appearance at the meeting. I have not seen him these 4 months before. He urged a Petition to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, and would give up our Connecticut title, throw ourselves on the Mercy of Pennsylvania, and pray for our improvements. However, he had no influence on any of the Meeting. A Number urged a Petition for five miles each side of the River, but nothing done on that head. We expect another meeting next Tuesday; I am not sure whether the Inhabitants will Petition or not. I don't know why we need Petition, unless we withdraw our last, as nothing is Determined on that; but should we Petition it will be for a Certain Territory, 5 miles Each side of the River. It is most likely I shall Draught the Petition (if any is sent). You may depend that the foundation shall be laid in such way as it will do no injury to the Company. I am sure the State Cannot, nor will not, grant us one foot."
Very shortly after their appointment on November 6th the "Committee of Claims"-as they seem to have been styled-got busy, and we learn from the "Susquehanna Company's Records", I:31, that on November 22, 1786, "the Com- mittee appointed for the purpose [duly set forth], being met at Wilkesbarre- present: John Franklin, John Jenkins, John P. Schott and Christopher Hurlbut
*See "Susquehanna Company's Records," I : 30.
+See page 1507.
#See "Pennsylvania Archives," Old Series, XI : 85.
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-they proceeded to enquire into the claims of Capt. Benjamin Jenkins, Capt. Caleb Bates, Gideon Osterhout, Zebulon Cady, Isaac Tripp's heirs, Zebulon Marcy and others, claiming to to be proprietors in the town of Putnam .* *
* The Committee, after examining the several claimants, titles, etc.," unani- mously came to the opinion that the persons whose names they attached to their report were the proprietors of Putnam.
At Wilkes-Barré, on November 24, 1786, the "Committee of Claims" granted to certain proprietors of the Susquehanna Company the "town of Johnson on the Tioga River", which had been duly "surveyed and accepted." On the same day-the towns of "Hamilton", "Goresburgh" and "Bentonsburgh" were grant- ed by the Committee to certain proprietors.
At Wilkes-Barré, under the date of November 25, 1786, Colonel Franklin wrote to Dr. Joseph Hamilton, forwarding the letter to him by the hands of Dr. Caleb Benton, who had then been spending some time in Wyoming. The letter read in part, as follows :; * * * "We have not heard from Philadelphia. Since their [the Pennsylvania Assem- bly's] last sitting we have sent nothing to them. * As I informed you before, we appoint- * ed a committee to enquire into the claims of the settlers-that is, to act in conjunction with Major Jenkins and myself. We have, last Wednesday, determined a dispute between claimers to the town of Putnam, on the Tankhannack [Creek]. I believe we gave satisfaction to almost every one. We found land enough in the town for every one that could prove himself a proprietor. "I have spent part of two days with Dr. [Caleb] Benton and the gentlemen with him; have made out grants for four towns and also six 'pitches' to the Doctor and five to Captain Bortle; also sold a whole share to Mr. Loopt-who is to send some money by you to me at the Susquehanna [Company's] meeting. I have gave Mr. Loop a right in a town at Standing Stone. Dr. Benton was deficient in not having his certificates-he could not tell who the proprietors were. The grants are made on condition of producing certificates, &c. In every grant it is necessary to have a complete list of the proprietors, a certificate under the hand of the Clerk, or one of the Committee, that such are proprietors and their taxes are paid. This is sufficient, but it is best that every certificate be endorsed with the entry on the back. The Doctor can inform you.
"I have made enquiry respecting Capt. [Solomon] Strong and the Hogeboom settlers. Esquire Gore informs me that the only settlers they have are one Newell and his son, that live in the town, but are soon to remove to Choconut.§ One Ackley lives on Wysox Creek, but says he is not a settler for them. There is one Vaughn in Kingston holds himself a settler for Strong. Jonathan Davis, living at Lackawanna, has talked of being a settler, but is uncertain. The fact is this, the Hogebooms have not a settler, and it can hardly be said that Strong has any. The town of Wysox will be taken up soon by other proprietors. We have a meeting this day, respecting adopting a mode for the recovery of debts."
At Wilkes-Barré, on November 25, 1786, Joseph Sprague| wrote a letter to "the Honurebel Exitive Consill of the Comon Walth of Pensalvenia at Phila-
*See page 1497.
t "See Pennsylvania Archives", Old Series, XI : 94.
#Capt. Peter Loop, Jr., of Columbia County, New York.
§See page 421, Vol. I, and page 889, Vol. II.
|| JOSEPH SPRAGUE was born about 1730, probably in New York. He came to Wyoming Valley from Poughkeepsie, New York, in August or September, 1771, and on September 30th was voted a "settling right in one of ye five towns.' In the following December, he was voted a settliog right in the township of Lackawanna, and on January 21, 1772, he was voted a settling right in Wilkes-Barré, under certain conditions. (See pages 713, 717, 720 and 721, Vol. II.) When, in April or May, 1772, a distribution or allotment of the lands in Wilkes-Barre was made to the proprietors of the township, Dr. Sprague drew Lot No. 46. 1st Division (on Jacob's Plains), Lot No. 45, 2d Division (the town- plot). Lot No. 30, 3d Division (back lots), and Lot No. 31, 4th Division (5-acre lots). (See page 728. Vol. II )
About 1773 or '74, Dr. Sprague disposed of Lot No. 45 in the town-plot-evidently to the town of Wilkes-Barré -and it was made the public graveyard. A portion of this lot is now occupied by the City Hall of Wilkes-Barré. In March, 1774. Dr. Sprague was living on Lot No. 30, 3d Division. He was still there in October, 1776, when, for £110, 10s., he sold to Darius Spofford "the whole of said lot" on which he dwelt-"to extend from the Centre Street [now Maio Street] eastward " This lot lay at the corner of the present Ash and South Main Streets. March 9, 1774. Dr. Sprague deeded to Dr. Samuel Cook of Poughkeepsie, New York, for £52, 8s., Lot No. 46, 1st Division-thirty- five acres, on Jacob's Plains. This lot lay along the river, and was about where Port Bowkley now is. This sale, how- ever. must have fallen through, for on July 28, 1774, Dr. Sprague conveyed the same lot to Dr. William Hooker Smith, for £100.
In all the Wyoming records in which the name of Joseph Sprague appears he is given the title of "Doctor". He was undoubtedly a stone-mason by trade-see hereinafter, particularly in letters written by Timothy Pickering-and. on the side. and in a primitive way, practised the healing art, as opportunity offered. Of him, Hollister, in his "His- tory of Lackawanna Valley", says: "Of the yet uninhabited forest, called in the ancient records 'ye Town of Lacka - worna', Dr. Sprague was one of the original proprietors. * * For a period of thirteen years [1772 to 1785], with the exception of the Summer of 1778, Dr. Sprague lived near the Lackawanna, between Spring Brook and Pittstoo, ia happy seclusion, practising medicine when opportunity offered, and in fishing, hunting and farming ." It is doubt- ful if he lived in the locality named by Dr. Hollister prior to 1776, for he was living in Wilkes-Barre in the year 1772- '76-as shown hereinbefore-and in 1777 and '78 his name appears in the tax-lists of Pittston Township.
Dr. Sprague was twice married. By his first wife he had two sons, at least-Joseph and Eleazer. The latter fell at the battle of Wyoming, and the former died-presumably in Wyoming Valley-in the Autumn of 1814, when
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dalphia." The letter is printed in full on pages 93 and 94 of Vol. XI of "Penn- sylvania Archives." As it contains references to matters of interest occurring here at the time it was written we will introduce the greater part of it at this point, but with the atrocious spelling of the document-which marks it as a unique specimen of eighteenth century orthography-as well as the punctuation, changed for the better.
"The present circumstances of this place stops the mouth of every one that is a friend to [the] Government. No one dares to say one word in behalf of Government, or much more to in- form Government, as he would immediately fall a sacrifice to laws and arbitrary power. For this reason there is many good citizens in this place that dare not appear in the behalf of Govern- ment, but are obliged to be silent and mute. The natural obligation that every good citizen is under, by his oath of allegiance to this Commonwealth, must, or ought to, oblige him to inform Government of all and every apparent danger.
"The true state of affairs here at Wyoming is, in fact, a total rejection of Government; and they are at this time forming and modeling a new form of government among themselves, and do act, in every respect, independent of this or any other State. They have formed courts for the administration of civil cases and the determining of disputes in all land cases, (with) con- fiscation of lands and tenements to their own use. Last Monday a fort-night ago [November . 6] the inhabitants were called together, and at that meeting, as a body, voted and engaged to throw off all allegiance to this State, and to make a form of government for themselves. This meeting has been held three times since, by agreement.
"There is a considerable number of our inhabitants that have not associated with them at this meeting, but they dare not oppose them, and, I believe dare not inform Government. They are very busy in dividing [up] the country to their new levy, or half-share men-as they call them -who are to hold arms three years against Pennsylvania; for which reason they become entitled to part of the country.
"Gentlemen, I have put my life in my hands, and venture the consequence that I am ex- posed to, by informing Government. If Government will enquire of those persons that are un- prejudiced, it will be informed of the truth of what I have wrote." * * *
Dr. Sprague, the writer of the foregoing letter, had settled in Wyoming at an early day as a proprietor in the Susquehanna Purchase, but at the period
Jeremiah Blanchard was appointed administrator of his estate. Dr. Sprague was married (2d) in 1769 to Mrs. Eunice (Chapman) Poyner. The latter was born at Colchester, Connecticut, in 1732, and about 1749 was married at Sharon, New York, to- Poyner, a French Huguenot, who had served as a Commissary in the French and English War. He died of small pox at Albany, being survived by his wife and two or three children. According to Miner ("History of Wyoming". Appendix, page 47) "the united [Sprague and Poyner] families removed to Wyoming in 1770". It was not until 1771 that they arrived here-as we have previously stated.
In the collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is an original document relating to Dr. Sprague, of which the following is, in part, a copy. "Be it remembered that on the 29th day of October, 1788, Joseph Sprague of the County of Luzerne, Mason, is convicted before me, one of the Justices of the Peace, &c., of suearing seven Pro- fane Oaths, by the name of God, and I do adjudge him to forfeit for the same and for each oath the sum of five shil- lings. * * * To the Gaol-keeper of the County of Luzerne: You are hereby required to take the body of Joseph Sprague and keep him in close custody [for] the time appointed hy an Act of this State, intitled An Act to Prevent Vice, Immorality, &c., dated in 1786; uoless he the said Sprague shall pay the several sums, with the costs-to wit: five shillings for each oath. * * *
[Signed "WM. HOOKER SMITH, [L. S ]
"Justice of the Peace."
About the time Dr. Sprague was convicted of profane swearing, as stated above, his wife brought against him an action for divorce, charging him with barbarous and cruel treatment, adultery, &c. The original "libel" in the case is now in the collections of The Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, is entitled "Eunice Sprague of Wilkesbarre vs. Joseph Sprague of said Wilkesbarre, Practitioner of Physics," and is addressed to "The Honorable Thomas Mc- Kean, Doctor of Laws, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and his Associate Justices of the same Court."
Dr. Sprague died in 1799, or early in 1800 (Miner says, in Virginia), and in August, 1800, Joseph Sprague, Jr. of Wilkes-Barre, was appointed adminstrator of his estate. Mrs. Eunice Sprague died in Wilkes-Barre, April 12, 1814, aged eighty-two years. Of her Dr. Hollister wrote: "She was a worthy old lady, prompt, cheerful and successful, and at this time ( 1785) the sole accoucheur in all the wide domain now embraced by Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming Counties. Although of great age, her obstetrical practice as late as 1810 surpassed that of any physician in this portion of Pennsylvania. For attending a confinement case-no matter how distant the journey, how long or fatiguing the detention-this sturdy and faithful woman invariably charged one dollar for services rendered, although a larger fee was never refused if any one was able or rash enough to offer it."
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