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 67
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Shortly after receiving these appointments Colonel Pickering wrote to his nephew, the Rev. John Clarke, D. D. (a graduate of Harvard, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Boston, and the author of "Letters to a Student," and other works) in part as follows:
"You will wonder to see so many offices vested on one person, but it is here the practice, in new Counties, because, where there are few inhabitants, the fees are consequently few. * * * My inducements to accept these offices are various. 1-My lands nearest to Philadelphia lie in the County of Luzerne, and I can promote the settlement of them while I hold these offices. --- Sundry gentlemen of my acquaintance, who are large landholders in the same County, will commit the disposition of their lands to me on commission. 3-The offices are not at present lucrative, yet, as the County will populate rapidly, the gentlemen of the law assure me that, in a few years, they will become greatly so. 4-While the profits are small, the business will be small, and admit of my frequent absence to direct the settlement and improvement of my lands. 5-By the time that my sons come of age the business of the several offices will be so increased as to require a separation; when, if I should live, I can successively resign one and another into the hands of my sons! These, I hope, you will deem weighty reasons for my determination.
"There is another consideration, which your philanthropy will pronounce an important one. This new County is chiefly settled by New England people, and multitudes more are ready to emigrate from that country to this, provided the dispute with the Wyoming people [as to the title of their lands] were settled. As one probable means of settling the dispute, these appointments are conferred upon me. On one hand, I possess the confidence of Government; on the other, it is presumed I shall be acceptable to my countrymen. I have it much in my power to effect a reconciliation. This I shall attempt.
"Further, these people, during the late war, have been destitute of instruction, both civil and religious. I shall have it in inclination-as it will be not a little in my power-to introduce such means of education as will prevent their degenerating to a savage state, to which they have been verging."
On December 27, 1786-the same day on which The Susquehanna Company at Hartford, Connecticut, passed the series of important resolutions herein- before recited at length-the Pennsylvania Assembly passed a Supplement to the Act of creating Luzerne County. This Supplemental Act provided that Col. Timothy Pickering, Col. Zebulon Butler and Col. John Franklin, acting as Com- missioners should notify the electors of the new County that on February 1, 1787, an election would be held to choose a Councillor, a Member of Assembly, a Sheriff, a Coroner and three Commissioners. The Act also indicated how, or in what manner, Judges and Inspectors of the election were to be appointed; directed that an oath of allegiance was to be taken by the voters, and provided for the election of Justices of the Peace.
"The olive branch could hardly have been more conspicuously tendered than by naming John Franklin as one of the Commissioners, engaged as he had been for months previously in openly planning and waging hostilities against the State. Zebulon Butler was also wisely selected, as the most eminent and able man among the settlers, whose influence over them would be paramount, whether for conciliation or controversy, and whose sound and conservative judgment had kept him from taking part in the violent action of Franklin and The Susquehanna Company. The addition of Timothy Pickering was a remark- able one, and indicated in the clearest manner that the disposition of Pennsyl- vania was now fully awakened to bring the unhappy condition of Wyoming to a close honorable to both parties."*
*From an address, "Connecticut's East India Company", by Henry T. Blake of New Haven, Connecticut. Pub - lished in the "Reports and Papers" of the Fairfield County Historical Society for 1896-'97.
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For the purpose of effectuating certain measures necessarily preliminary to the real business of organizing the new County, Colonel Pickering arranged to proceed to Wilkes-Barré. He kept a diary of his journey, which is now preserved among the "Pickering Papers" (LVII : 39), and has never heretofore been pub- lished. It comprises ninety manuscript pages, containing much interesting mat- ter relative to Wyoming and some of its people of that period, and we shall quote from it at some length.
"Wednesday, January 3, 1787 .- At twelve o'clock set out from Philadelphia with S. Wheeler, and went that night to his house, twenty miles. January 5 .- Having reached Bethlehem, pro- ceeded to Heller's tavern, near the Wind Gap. Here I found M[atthias] Hollenback [of Wilkes- Barre]. Left Heller's and proceeded sixteen miles to Larner's [or Learn's] on the way to Wyoming. Proceeded twelve miles to Tobyhanna Creek. (At this time the creek was about three rods wide; the water half-way up the horses sides; the bottom muddy; the banks steep.) Just on the other side lives one Luce. He here supplies travelers with rum and victuals, but has neither grain nor hay. From Tobyhanna we went forward to Kelly's (formerly Bullock's tavern) seventeen or eighteen miles, and seven from Wyoming. I staid all night. Hollenback and [Christian G.] Oehmig went on to Wyoming.
"About seven miles from Tobyhanna we crossed the Lehi, where it is about four rods wide, and nearly as deep (with a rocky bottom) as Tobyhanna. Bear Creek is about two rods wide, and has a very rocky bottom; is rapid, and now about three feet deep. From Bear Creek to Kelly's is about two miles, so the whole distance from Larner's to Wyoming [Wilkes-Barre] isabout thirty-six miles; to which add sixteen miles (Heller's to Larner's) and sixty-eight (Philadelphia to Heller's), and you have 120 miles for the whole distance [Philadelphia to Wilkes-Barre.] * * *
"Left Kelley's before sunrise, and came to Wyoming [Wilkes-Barre] to breakfast. Three miles from Kelly's I crossed Laurel Run, in one hour's riding. The road along the Run is ex- cessively rocky, and for several rods the Run has got into the road and gullied it three or four feet deep. In one mile more I reached the top of the [Wilkes-Barré] mountain by a very easy ascent. Here* I had a view of the Susquehanna and the flats on each side. Wyoming seemed just at hand, yet was three miles distant. It cost me half an hour to descend the mountain-part of the way pretty steep. The rest of the ground to Wyoming consists of several ranges of very moderate, swelling hills, with low grounds-fit for meadows-between them. Through one of the low parts (which is called a swamp) runs a small creekt, which, running about a mile below the town of Wilkesborough, turns and runs up near to the lower end of ye town lots, where it empties into the Susquehanna. The mountain is exceedingly barren, bearing only bushes and a few oaks and pines of small growth.
"At Wyoming [Wilkes-Barre] January 8 .- In conversing with John Hollenbackt on the articles of rum and whiskey, he informed me that he was in the practice of distilling whiskey when grain was plenty; that he used to sell one gallon of whiskey for two bushels of rye, which two bushels would make at least four gallons; and his wood cost him nothing but the cutting and hauling-for everybody cuts wood where he pleases on the uninclosed grounds (and none are inclosed but the flats). Rye whiskey, he says, is pre- ferred, because more fiery than whiskey made of wheat, which is soft and mild- tho rye produces rather the most liquor. "WHISKEY .- To one and a-half bushels of chopped, or coarse-ground, rye, add eight quarts of malt made of rye, for a mash. Add so much water as will fill a hogshead. To the whole add so much good yeast as the heat or cold- ness of the weather requires to produce a proper fermentation. The mash hav- ing been duly fermented, is put into the copper and distilled.
"January 8-evening .- Colonel Butler and Captain [John Paul] Schott called to see me on the subject of the proposed elections. I had given Col- onel Butler a copy of the law, and the printed notifications, in the forenoon. He thought it prudent to advise the Committee§ of the matter before the
OLD HOLLENBACK MILL On Mill Creek, within the present limits of Wilkes-Barre.
¡This was the brook which is described on page 59, Vol. 1.
*From a point at or near Prospect Rock
#At wbose bouse, on South Main Street below Northampton, Colonel Pickering lodged.
§The committee of "Directors" mentioned on page 1490.
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notifications should be issued; and was to consult Captain Schott, who is one of the Committee. Captain Schott now confirmed the necessity of this measure. He said the Committee were appointed to watch over the settlements, to prevent any measures being taken which might be injurious to their rights; that the people had suffered so much, and had so often been annoyed with proposals which in the end they had found deceitful, they had become extremely jealous, and would therefore, hardly enter into any measures not previously approved by their Committee. At the same time he added that he did 'not doubt the people would readily come into the election'-or words to that effect-by which I understood him to mean that they would elect a Representative, Councillor, &c.
"As Mr. [John] Franklin, one of the Committee, was absent in Connecticut, and probably might not return in time to sign the notifications with Colonel Butler and me, I closed with the proposal of Colonel Butler and Captain Schott, and furnished them with copies of the Act [of December 27, 1786] and notifications, which they undertake to send to Mr. [John] Jenkins at Lackawanna and Mr. [Christopher] Hurlbut at Nanticoke (the only two others of the Committee now in the settlement), requesting them to meet us at Wyoming to-morrow evening to converse on the matter of the elections.
"In the forenoon, on my presenting the Act to Colonel Butler, he hesitated about joining in the conducting of the elections, because he had uniformly declined all offices, and had deter- mined not to accept of any. But I reminded him of his having acted as Moderator at the meetings of the inhabitants, and that the business committed to him, Franklin and me, by the Act, was of a nature exactly similar to that of a Moderator, and therefore I hoped he would consent to act. He admitted the likeness of the two cases.
"Tuesday, January 9 .- In the afternoon Dr. [William Hooker] Smith and Captain Hover, from Jacob's Plains, called on me, to converse on the subject of the elections, and to get copies of the Act to show their neighbors. * *
* Thursday, January 11 .- This morning I dispatched James Whitney with copies of the Act, and notifications signed by Colonel Butler and me (Franklin not being in the County), to deliver and post up through the whole settlement, from Lackawanna to Tioga, on both sides of the river. In the afternoon Maj. [John] Jenkins from Exeter, old Mr. Thomas Bennett from Abraham's Plains, Major McCormick from Kingston, Capt. John Swift from Shawnee, and divers others, came to my lodgings to speak and hear in relation to the pro- posed elections."
Among the "Pickering Papers" (LVII : 86) is preserved one of the original notifications issued as above described. It is a printed handbill, about 8x10 inches in size, and bears the imprint of "Thomas Bradford, 'Philadelphia." The date at the end of the notice, and the names of Colonels Pickering and Butler, are written in ink. The following is a verbatim copy of the same:
"NOTIFICATION."
"Whereas, by an Act of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, passed on the 25th day of September last, the northern Part of the County of Northumberland was erected into a separate County, by the name of Luzerne; and a Representative, Councillor, and other officers were to have been chosen on the Day of the General Election in October last; but the Electors were prevented from assembling by an extraordinary Flood, and no Elections were made.
"And Whereas, the General Assembly, by a supplement to the Act, passed on the 27th Day of December last, have thought fit to allow further Time for making the said Elections, and have accordingly appointed the same to be held on the 1st Day of February next.
"Now, in pursuance of the Powers vested in us by the said supplementary Act,
"NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, "To the Electors of the said County of Luzerne,
"To assemble on the said Ist Day of February, next, at the House of Zebulon Butler in Wilkesborough, in the same County, then and there to elect one Representative to serve in the General Assembly, one Councillor, two fit persons for Sheriffs, two fit persons for Coroners, and three Commissioners; and also three Inspectors of the said Elections.
"Given under our hands, at Wilkesborough aforesaid, the 10th Day of January, 1787.
[Signed] "TIMOTHY PICKERING.
"ZEBULON BUTLER."
During the days of January 11th, 12th and 13th Colonel Pickering spent considerable time in visiting various prominent inhabitants of Wyoming Valley and explaining to them the nature of the laws governing elections in Pennsyl- vania; and then:
"Saturday, January 13-in the evening .- Colonel Butler and Captain Schott came to see me. In speaking of the election they gave their opinion that if [John] Franklin returned, and with any extraordinary encouragement from The Susquehanna Company, he would make every effort to prevent an election-even to bringing men in arms; but that if open force were not used, the elect- ion would take place. They said that Ethan Allen was one of the Committee of The Susquehanna Company, and that he would doubtless be with Franklin at the meeting at Hartford, and prob- ably come with him to Wyoming, together with one [Zerah] Beach, another of that Committee.
·
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I had before supposed that Allen would be at Hartford, and that it was likely he would be here at the election, though I did not know he was a member of the Committee.
"Sunday, January 14 .- There lives at Wilkesborongh an old gentleman named [Jacob] Johnson, who was formerly a minister to the people here, who, at this place, had erected a church, which was burnt by [John] Butler and his Indians in 1778. Mr. Johnson still preaches to the people in private houses here, and in all the neighboring settlements on both sides of the river. This day he preaches at Shawnee. He is said to be very constant in performing divine service on Sundays, but receives nothing for it from the people except now and then a trifling present of a few bushels of grain. Neither are there any school-houses; though here and there the people have employed a temporary school-master.
"Monday, January 15 .- Crossed the river to Kingston with Colonel Butler and Captain Schott, and went to Mr. Lawrence Myers.' He, with his brother and another young man (all from Maryland), keep a small store of goods, wet and dry. L. Myers was formerly a Lieutenant in Schott's company, and Deputy Sheriff to Colonel Antes, Sheriff of Northumberland. He is now a candidate for the office of Sheriff in Luzerne County. Tuesday, January 16 .- With Colonel Butler and Captain Schott went to old Thomas Bennett's*, on Abrahams' Plains. * * *
I have seen more industry at Mr. Bennett's than at all other places in the County. The old man was near his house, with another hand, breaking flax, and when we entered the house we found his wife and two daughters spinning. . The room, too, was hung round with clothing, chiefly of their own spinning, and hanks of linen yarn, like in the Low Dutch houses in Jersey. The old man put on a brown linen coat, waist-coat and breeches, of their own fabric-save the weaving, which is well executed in the settlement. His wife said that since their sheep had been destroyed, they were obliged to content themselves with linen garments; and the old man said that use rend- ered him comfortable in them. They dined us well and hospitably-at three o'clock P. M.
"Returning to Wilkesborough by way of Myers' we stopped a few minutes, finding Mr. [John] Jenkins there. Lord Butler (the Colonel's son) was with us. He is a candidate for the Sheriff's office, and got engaged with Jenkins. * *
* The Colonel [Butler] now informs me that though Jenkins has all along declared his determination not to join in the election, yet that he heard him speaking with another man about proper characters for officers, for the purpose of fixing the tickets. He says, also, that, entering into conversation with Jenkins, and repeating some of the reasons why an election should be held, he discovered less opposition than formerly- particularly, when he mentioned my opinion that all persons holding Connecticut titles for their lands were to be deemed freeholders in voting for Justices of the Peace, it seemed to give great satisfaction. Jenkins said he would come to see me at Wilkesborough the latter end of this week. This looks well, and I begin to think that Jenkins is convinced it will be best to hold the elections, on the principles I have advanced; but, as he has warmly and firmly opposed, decency requires that he let himself down gently and by degrees, and after repeated conversations with me and others (who are in favor of the measure)-on which he may at length acknowledge that there is reason for changing his opinion and conduct.
"I suppose he [Jenkins] had some conversation this afternoon at Wilkesborough with William Slocum, another warm opposer, who spent an hour with me on Monday evening, alone; and who at first said, whatever others might be willing to do he should hold fast his general claim to the Susquehanna lands, as well as his particular possession. Nevertheless, before we parted he appeared to be satisfied with the expectation of the people holding their original farms, actually settled and improved before the Decree at Trenton; for I in plain terms told him that nothing more would be granted by the Assembly of Pennsylvania; but that I had no doubt so much would be yielded, and on easy terms of payment, if any payment should be demanded. Just as he was going, I drank to him; and when he received the bowl he prefaced his drinking with-'Here's wishing that you and other good men may bring about an amicable settlement!'
"Wednesday, January 17 .- Went this day to Nanticoke and Newport. At Nanticoke [that is, Hanover Township] we-Colonel Butler, Captain Schott and I-called on Mr. [Chris- topher] Hurlbut, the committee-man. At Newport, about nine miles from Wilkesborough, we stopped at Mr. Alden's, a son of Major [Prince] Alden. Here we found a Mrs. [Agnes (Dixson)] Jamesont, au elderly woman of agreeable manners and a good understanding. She was clad, as it might be expected an industrious, prudent woman would be; and I find her family has uniform- ly exhibited examples of industry. She was courteous, and pressed us to call and take a bed at her house. She remarked that I might be tired of staying so much at Wilkesborough, and urged me to spend a day at her house. I told her that perhaps by this time twelve months I might bring my wife to see her, and that I should take pleasure in doing it. Just at this time she understood I was a New England-man. This gave her much pleasure, and she said she thought well of the State that had commissioned a Yankee ou this business. She is a native of Ireland, and came, when a child, with her parents to Boston, and resided some little time at Londonderry [New Hamp- shire], whence they removed to Connecticut, where she had spent the greater part of her life. "Major [Prince] Aldent had notice from his son that we were at his house, so the old man and his wife came thither. He bid me welcome. Pretty soon he began to speak on the subject of the election. He expressed some doubts and made some objections; but these were grounded on mistakes, and so were easily removed. He prefaced his objections with saying that he wished not to be overjealous and suspicious, for that jealousy and suspicion were the inseparable compan- ions of little minds. We dined at his son's, and the time being too short to go far into the subject of the election and its consequences, the old gentlemen said he would come up to see me at Wilkes-
*See [+] note page 1240.
+See fourth paragraph from bottom, page 1288. She was the great-great-grandmother of the present writer. #See page 500, Vol. I.
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borough. 'I am pleased', said he, 'to find it easy to converse with you. I did not know but they had sent a man whom we could not speak to.' * * * "Thursday, January 18 .- Went with John Hollenback across the river to see Captain [John] Swift* at Shawanee. Swift gave us a narrative of some parts of the contest between the Yankees and Pennamites since the Decree of Trenton. He particularly mentioned the conduct of Arm- strong and Boyd. Before their arrival [at Wyoming] the Yankees had agreed to lay down their arms at the instance of some Pennsylvania agents; and accordingly grounded them by John Hollenbacks'. This was on condition that the troops in the fort also surrendered their arms to these agents; but the latter refused. So the agents advised the people to resume their arms and go to their homes, and to defend themselves if molested by the troops. They retired accordingly.t After this Armstrong and Boyd arrived with the militia. The former, particularly, desired the people to testify their submission to Government by surrendering their arms. The people said that they had once done it, to the other agents and commissioners. Armstrong said that he wished to be able to give personal evidence of their submission-he and Boyd at the same time declaring, upon their honour, that no advantge should be taken of their delivering up their arms.
"The people were jealous of a deception. However, at length, Squires Mead and Martin pledging their honour also that no advantage should be taken, the people reluctantly laid down their arms, to the number of sixty or seventy rifles and muskets. As soon as their arms were grounded, and they, by order, had marched from them, a platoon of the militia took possession of them and immediately began to dispute about the disposition of them. These arms were thus given up to private plunder! Previous to the surrender the militia had been formed into a sort of square, and now the Yankees were inclosed, and marched as prisoners, with a platoon in front and rear, and two ranks marching by files on each flank. It was not enough to trapan them by this dishonorable artifice. To add insult to treachery, Armstrong ordered the drums and fifes to strike up 'Yankee Doodle'!
"As soon as they arrived at the fort, near thirty of them were immediately confined as prisoners-being pinioned and their hands, besides, tied behind them; and in this condition they were ordered to lie down in the barn where they were lodged, and the sentries had orders to kill instantly any man who should attempt to get up.
"At one period of the conflict, after the people had been driven from the settlement, four persons only for some time kept the adjacent woods and harrassed the Pennamites. These were Captain Swift, Captain Satterlee, Phineas Stevens and Waterman Baldwin. At this time Charles Stewartį came into Wyoming, and finding what daring attempts were made by these four men, and fearing probably that the people might return and collect to them, sent Captain Sims to them with an offer of 100 half-joes if they would leave the country. One, or more, was for receiving the money, and then still keeping their ground-in order to retaliate by this deception, in part, for the treachery which had been practised by Armstrong; but Swift would not consent to do it. He rejected the proposal-despising the very idea of such deceit. They kept their ground ac- cordingly, and the people soon collected to them in numbers. Soon afterwards the violent and extravagant conduct of the Pennamites engaged the notice of the Government.
"In the evening [of January 18] we returned to Wilkesborough. Mathias Hollenback had been to Kingston at a meeting of the people there. About fifty had assembled. Mr. [John] Jenkins was present, and warmly opposed the election; urging his former reasons, and again ab- surdly declaring that the law for erecting the County of Luzerne was unconstitutional. I learn from all quarters that Jenkins is a wilful, obstinate man.
"Friday, January 19 .- Went this day with Colonel Butler and Mr. [Benjamin] Bailey to dine with Dr. [Wm.Hooker] Smith at Jacob's Plains. We agreed to go to Lackawanna on Monday, to meet the inhabitants there by noon; and Dr. Smith undertook to give them notice, that they might assemble. The Doctor said that Mr. [James] Finn, the Baptist minister who lives there, had also expressed a desire to converse with me. Wrote to Captain Swift that, if I were informed when the people should meet at Shawanee, I would attend them-if there were no objection to it. "Saturday, January 20 .- Dined to-day with Captain Schott. * *
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