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 74
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The letter concluded with a request that the Delegates of Pennsylvania be permitted to have a conference with Governor Clinton on the subject.
On the same day, the President of Council addressed a letter to the Penn- sylvania Delegates in Congress, stating the substance of the above Communi- cation, and informing them "that Council have thought of sending a few reso- lute men to bring off and apprehend Franklin and Jenkins."
On September 8th, General Arthur St. Clair, Delegate to Congress, wrote to President Franklin, that "the Delegates have had a conference with Governor Clinton, who is well disposed to concur in any measure that may tend to preserve the peace of the two states. * * As to Franklin and Jenkins, the Dele- * gates are of the opinion that no more proper method could be pursued than that suggested, of sending a few resolute men to take them, and should they escape to the York side of the line, the apprehending them will give no offense to the Government."
The dignity of Pennsylvania, at least, was deemed at stake in putting an end to Colonel Franklin's adverse activities and the stage was rapidly set for the dramatic scenes of his apprehension. From the "Pickering Papers"t the most direct evidence is obtainable as to preliminaries of the undertaking. On Sept. 1, 1787, Vice President Biddle wrote to Commissioners Pickering and Balliet, then at Wilkes-Barré, the following:
"Understanding that Jno. Franklin is at the head of * * all opposition to the Laws, we have thought it necessary to send a warrant to apprehend him. If you are of opinion it will tend to preserve the peace of the County you can have it executed during the sitting of the Court."
*See "Pennsylvania Archives," X1 : 187.
¡See the "Pickering Papers, LVII : 2-69.""
Verhuctions to the office in andning the Abolition 1 Is be sent ouraised in the Country of Lecquemen, la the stateation ofyore respecting that porech under 1 your command not being to aile offensively against any place, personen persons in the County but meerly to protect the Civil officers in the exercise of their functions Of to heure the head ofthe County Of the deed opera um of Laws of the rate against the attconfits of the crow derbe part of the people who have Pating of hoved the same. you are to to beypeculiar that yourmen observe the strictest deKlime nie then injuring now modeling any of the
Inhabitants in fursono property
.
And you are to take your orders from the
Plat formiles Otho civil authority of thelowry
haf circumstances should offer to you an any occasion to require additional force, you are to apply to the secret of the County for his afis- tam also to consult by advise with him in all cases of importance
til Savent
lunkent
PHOTOGRAPHIC COPY LETTER OF INSTRUCTION TO THE MILITIA OF THE COUNTY OF LUZERNE Issued by the Supreme Executive Council over the signature of Benjamin Franklin. November 11. 1787.
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The warrant enclosed, in the handwriting of Chief Justice Mckean of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, is likewise among the same "Papers." It was directed to:
"Zebulon Butler, Lieutenant of Luzerne County, Lord Butler, Sheriff and to all and singu- lar the Bailiffs, Coustables and other Ministers within our County and especially to Wm. Nichols* of the City of Philadelphia, Esq., Greeting:
"John Franklin, being a pernicious and seditious man and a person of disquiet mind, contriving, practicing and maliciously and turbulently intending our peace and common tran- quility to molest and disturb, hath at divers times and within the last six months in the said County of Luzerne * * * incited and encouraged divers inhabitants of the said County to disobey our laws and resist our Government, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending and against our peace."
Thom Rean
Being allowed a discretion of serving the warrant against Colonel Franklin, Colonel Pickering seems to have moved with his usual deliberation. Doubtless, he kept the possession of the warrant to himself, awaiting the appearance of Colonel Franklin on more favorable ground than at Tioga, where his attempted arrest would have been an almost impossible procedure. Moreover, Colonel Pick- ering realized that in the arrest of the leader of the Connecticut party, a grave danger existed of estranging many of his former neighbors who were now yield- ing at least a luke-warm allegiance to Pennsylvania. As a third object in delay, he may have awaited the commission by Colonel Franklin of some overt act so imminent and so flagrant in its nature, as to justify the risks of his capture.
Colonel Franklin opened the door to the vengeance of Pennsylvania almost at once. On September 23rd, Colonel Franklin was guilty of an indiscretion that was to vex him grieviously in after months. He sent orders in writing to some of his adherents, in many of these documents styling himself "Colonel, Command- ant," to assemble at a fixed time and place with arms and ammunition "to prevent the Pennsylvania loyalists from holding an election of militia officers." One of these letters was intercepted by agents of Colonel Pickering, and is now among the "Papers" of the latter. It was addressed, as follows: "Mr. Jehiel Franklin,
"Sir :- You are requested to give notice to the half share men and settlers at Wysox and Towanda who expect to support their lands under the Susquehanna Company that they will appear at Abel Yarrington's in Wilkesbarre on Tuesday, the 9th of October next at 9 o'clock in the morning compleat in arms and equipped.
"JOHN FRANKLIN. "Wilkesbarre, Sept. 25, 1787."
Among the "Butler Papers" is found a letter which indicates how wide - spread were these incendiary notices sent out by Colonel Franklin:
"Col. Zebulon Butler, "Wilkesborough,
"Wyalusing, Sept. 29, 1787.
"Sir :
"I am this instant informed by Capt. Landon, that you intend to get one battalion of the militia together as quick as the Law will admit, which gives me great satisfaction. Inform you that Esquire Franklin has sent letters up the river to Tunkhannock, Wyalusing, Tioga and New- town-by young Isaac Baldwint who stayed at my house last Wednesday night. He left one of the letters with Joseph Eliot directed to him or Amasa Wells to warn all the half share men in these parts to appear at the house of Abel Yerinton on the 9th day of October next, complete in arms without fail. My son has received the letter. I find there is some in these parts are very spirited and are determined to proceed, as they are military men. I hope you will be able to receive them in that line etc. I hope to be down and see you at the election. "Yours, "(Esq.) NATHAN KINGSLEY."
*Nichols, then living at Philadelphia, was one of the four attorneys first admitted to the Luzerne County bar. TA nephew or brother of Waterman Baldwin.
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From the "Autobiography of Charles Biddle"* (p 221) a hitherto unre- corded account of the plot to apprehend Colonel Franklin is now available. That it was formulated in the Supreme Council at Philadelphia, and not in the mind of Colonel Pickering, as has heretofore been frequently asserted, is now certainly known. Mr. Biddle's account of the circumstance is such as would indicate that any attempted interference with the personal liberties of Colonel Franklin was a desperate measure not to be lightly undertaken.
"The disturbances at Wyoming still continuing, and complaints being continually made to Council, the Board thought it would be necessary to send some militia from Berks and North- ampton Counties. They, therefore, sent for Captain Craig, the County Lieutenant of Northamp- ton, (John Craig, a very mild, worthy man, cousin of Colonel Craig, and, like him, an intelligent, active, gallant officer. He served all the war in Moylan's Regiment of Horse) to consult with him as to the number of militia necessary to be sent on the expedition. When Craig came to town, he gave it as his opinion, that if John Franklin was taken, the other insurgents would soon be quiet, for that he was the man who occasioned all the disturbances. After mentioning our intention of sending out the militia, he said he would rather have a few old Continental officers than all the militia of Berks and Northampton, for it was only necessary to take Franklin, and if Council would allow him to take eight or ten of his friends, he would bring Franklin to Philadelphia, or never return. Council, agreeing to let him have his own way, he chose seven officers who had served with him, three of whom I knew-Stevenson, Brady and Erbe-and more determined fellows never went upon any desperate enterprise.
"They were going to take from the midst of his friends a very stout, active man, as fear- less as any of themselves.
"Although Craig and his companions were anxious to go, it was against my inclination they went, as I thought it highly probable they would all be sacrificed.
"Franklin has told me since that it was owing to a chapter of accidents that they were not. They went to Wilkes-Barre under pretense of purchasing land from the Connecticut claimants for whom they pretended a great regard. Watching their opportunity when Franklin was alone in a tavern they attacked him. He called out that the Pennanites were murdering him, but he was not heard. They got him down and with great difficulty, tied his hands behind his back, and gagged him. They had prepared themselves with a rope and gag before they took hold of him. He fought with great desperation, and there was not one of them that did not feel the weight of his arm.
"He hurt Stevenson so much that he would have shot him through the head if Craig had not prevented. They got him at last on horseback, tied his feet under the horse's belly, and set off before his friends could assemble and arm themselves. They rode thirty-eight miles before they halted; they were closely pursued, and if they had halted sooner it is probable they would have been overtaken, and killed, for they were all well armed and would not have surrendered.
"Craig appeared before Council about ten days after he set off; he sent the doorkeeper in to me, and informed me when I went to him that he had brought Franklin to town. Council ordered him to gaol, and, as it was apprehended he would endeavor to make his escape, he was ordered in irons. Craig and his companions had 300 Pounds given them. They were entitled to much more. However, with that sum they were perfectly satisfied."
Supplementing the Biddle account is a letter, preserved in "Pennsylvania Archives," II : 189, relating to instructions given by Council to Colonel Craig. It was dated September 26, 1787. and addressed to the latter, as "Lieutenant of Northampton County:"
"You are to take what number of militia you think necessary and proceed with the greatest dispatch to Wilkesbarre, in the County of Luzerne. When there, if you think necessary, consult
*CHARLES BIDDLE-whose name is several times mentioned hereinbefore, was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1745, the sixth child of William Biddle (who died in 1756), a native of New Jersey, and his wife Mary, daughter of Nicholas Scull (Surveyor General of Pennsylvania), to whom he was married April 3, 1730. In October, 1784, heing then engaged in business at Reading, Pennsylvania, and also following the calling of a sea captain, Charles Biddle was elected a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. John Dickinson was then President and James Irvine was Vice President of the Council.
On taking his seat, Mr. Biddle found the Council nearly equally divided between what were then called Repub- licans and Constitutionalists. James Irvine having tendered his resignation as a member of the Council, October 10, 1785, Mr. Biddle was elected Vice President in his place. This appears to have been the last meeting of the Council that President Dickinson attended. Benjamin Franklin was elected a Councillor on October 17th, and the next day was unanimously selected, by the members of the Council, President to succeed Dickinson. On October 29th, Franklin was formally elected President, and Charles Biddle, Vice President by the joint vote of the Council, and the House of Representatives, as required by the Constitution.
At this time, as Franklin was in poor health and suffering much physical pain, he did not often attend the meetings of the Council, wherefore his duties as President, devolved upon Vice President Biddle. The latter's term of office expired in October, 1787, and he was immediately elected Secretary of the Council to succeed Gen. John Armstrong, Jr. The office of Secretary, as well as the Supreme Executive Council itself, ceased to exist on December 21, 1790, when the new Constitution of Pennsylvania (adopted in September, 1790) went into effect. Therefore, in February, 1791, Governor Mifflin appointed and commissioned Mr. Biddle, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, to succeed his brother, James Biddle,
Charles Biddle was married in 1778, to Hannah Shepard, and they became the parents of ten children. Mr. Biddle died April 4, 1821, at his residence on Chestnut Street, west of Eleventh Street, Philadelphia.
THE CAPTURE OF FRANKLIN From an old wood cut in possession of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society. The incorrect "Pickering House" is shown in the eut.
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Col. Pickering on the best method you can take to apprehend John Franklin, John Jenkins, Zerah Beach and John Mckinstry. Should you take all or any of the men prisoners, you are to bring them to Philadelphia. If you take Franklin at Wilkesbarre, do not proceed any further or run no risk of losing him by endeavoring to apprehend the others.
"Council have the utmost reliance on your secrecy and prudence in conducting this affair. If opposed by force, you are to use force and execute the warrant at all events."
Miner in his History, (p 413) gives a vivid account of the capture of the "Hero of Wyoming" (October 2, 1787) basing his narrative on data he secured from eye witnesses:
"Col. Franklin, at the close of September, had been on a political tour down the west side of the river to Huntington and Salem, and returned by Hanover to Wilkes-Barre, when as he stood by Mr. Yarrington's near the ferry, it being about two o'clock in the afternoon, a person whom he knew came up and said, 'a friend at the red house wished to speak to him.' Unconscious of danger, he walked down, when suddenly he was seized behind, and an attempt made to pinion his arms. By powerful efforts, he shook himself loose; was again seized, but by the most vigorous exertions kept his opponents from their purpose, till a noose was thrown over his head, and his arms confined; the power of all four being requisite to tie him. To get him on horseback was the next object. Col. Franklin now cried out: 'help, help. William Slocum! Where is William Slocum?' and drawing his pistols, for he went armed, discharged one of them without effect, when a heavy blow struck him for a moment almost senseless, and covered his face with blood. The hour had been judiciously selected,-in the midst of seeding time. William Slocum, with nearly all the male population, were at work in distant fields sowing grain. But the spirit of the good Quaker mother was aroused. Her Yankee blood was up. A lovely and amiable woman she was, but for a moment she thought of nothing but the release of Franklin. Mrs. Slocum seized the gun, and running to her door, 'William,' she cried, 'Who will call William? Is there no man here? Will nobody rescue him?'
"From the river bank, Capt. Erbe had got his prisoner into the main street near Col. Pick- ering's, but with tremendous power, in despite of his four captors, Franklin threw himself from the horse, as often as placed on him, when Col. Pickering was obliged to come from behind the curtain, and decisively to interpose. Accompanied by his servant, William A. George, he ran to the door armed with a loaded pistol, which he held to Franklin's breast, while George tied his legs under the horse, and bound him to one of his captors."
Whatever prescience Colonel Pickering may have possessed of the adven- ture, and however much he was "consulted" as to methods, it is certain that, as a witness to the struggle between Franklin and his abductors, he showed no hesitancy in action, nor fear of assuming responsibility. The first Pickering residence in Wilkes-Barré was not the "Pickering House" or "Ross House", whose sturdy frame still withstands the onward march of business structures, at 130 South Main Street. Colonel Pickering had written his partner Hodgdon, on August 7, 1787, to send forward "an Irish bricklayer and a carpenter * *
* to carry forward my buildings" and further declared that "I have a good stone mason." These, in all probability, combined their efforts to con- struct the "Pickering House," which is still an ornament to Wilkes-Barré and was, in its time, the most pretentious of all buildings in the settlement.
During the period of his exile in the fall of 1787, Col. Pickering forwarded directions as to the construction of this new home down to even minutest details." "Enjoin it upon Dr. Sprague to dig it as low as possible, and stone it well," he wrote to his wife in November, in referring to the well on the premises. "I wish John Scott (one of his servants) to see to the carrying up of the chimney. Let John see that the mortar is faithfully made, the bricks laid true and let the joints be all well filled with mortar," he wrote a week later. "I have therefore con- cluded to have 7 by 9 glass. Four hundred panes should glaze the house," he writes again.
Colonel Pickering built as he labored-on sure foundations. That is why to-day, 1923, there still stands, in Wilkes-Barré, the "Pickering House," with the mortar yet filling every joint and many of the four hundred panes of 7x9 glass still glazing its windows.
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The first Pickering residence stood a "few rods," as he himself wrote, from the Yarrington Ferry, whose landing was at the foot of Northampton Street. In a row stood the home of Col. Zebulon Butler, where now stands the residence of Judge J. Butler Woodward, at the corner of Northampton and River streets; the old "red house", or tavern, and a third house owned by John Hollenback, which was oc- cupied at the time by Colonel Pickering and his family. It was from this building that Pickering witnessed the struggle on the River Common, and realizing its bearing on the future relationships of Wyoming, lent assistance to the enterprise. With his usual punctilious care, Colonel Pickering recorded the event as follows:
THE OLD RED' HOUSE ON RIVER STREET Erected by Capt John P. Schott 1783
"The four gentlemen seized him, two of their horses were in my stable, which were sent to them; but soon my servant returned on one of them, with a message from the gentlemen, that the people were assembling in numbers, and requested me to come with what men were near me, to prevent a rescue. I took loaded pistols in my hands, and went with another servant to their aid. Just as I met them, Franklin threw himself off his horse, and renewed his struggle with them. His hair was disheveled and face bloody with preceding efforts. I told the gentlemen they would never carry him off unless his feet were tied under his horse's belly. I sent for a cord. The gentle- men remounted him, and my servant tied his feet. Then one taking his bridle, another following behind, and the others riding one on each side, they whipped up his horse, and were soon beyond the reach of his friends."
That the news of Colonel Franklin's arrival, under heavy guard, in Philadel- phia, was received with great satisfaction by those in authority, who had so long attempted to checkmate his activities, is evidenced by a letter written at 2 A. M. October 5th, by Mr. Hodgdon to Colonel Pickering. In part, it reads as follows:
"At one o'clock this day, Franklin was brought to town and lodged in jail. It seems 6 men were deputed to take him, under a charge of Misprision of Treason. They say he fought the whole of them for several minutes before he surrendered. Five of them have receipts to prove the assertion-a black eye, each. Franklin has a black eye and is otherwise bruised. How this will effect you, time will discover, but I hope his party is too contemptible to affect you or alarm It affords a great triumph here, and I sincerely hope that peace may follow violence.
any one. * *
* Col. Dennison* has this moment called on me. He has seen Franklin. He informs me he seems disposed to be composed, tho' it is manifest, he is in the horrors. His plan of independ- ency seems to lay heaviest against him."
In the Pennsylvania Packet, at Philadelphia, under date of October 7, 1778, the following sententious notice appeared:
"October 6, 1787. We are informed that John Franklin, the hero of Wyoming, has been seized by several of the friends of government, and brought to this city. It is hoped that some legal steps will be taken to subdue the turbulent spirit of this modern Shays, who has been the chief cause of the discontents in the county of Luzerne, and has uniformly labored to involve the county in a civil war. Every overture that has been made on the part of government has been rendered ineffectual by his machinations, and even his election as a representative in the General Assembly was not sufficient to gratify his ambition. 'Better to reign in hell, than serve in heaven,' has ever been a favourite sentiment with the demons of sedition."
While news of the Franklin episode was received with quiet satisfaction at Philadelphia, it created a profound sensation in Wilkes-Barré and throughout the whole of the Susquehanna Purchase. From Nescopeck to the York state line, commotion was in evidence. Older settlers, and many reconciled former neighbors of the imprisoned leader, held their peace. But the rage and chagrin of the younger generation and of newer claimants under grants of the Susquehanna
*Colonel Denison was then a member of the Council.
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Company, knew no bounds. From the north rode Capt. John Swift and Capt. Elisha Satterlee, firebrand adherents to the Franklin cause, breathing revenge and retribution. Other followers nearer at hand lacked only leadership to stir them to unwonted activity.
Leadership came in the person of Captain Swift. At Kingston, the Franklin party assembled during the evening hours of October 2nd, and a plan to abduct Colonel Pickering was quickly determined. The party was quietly set in motion toward the ferry.
In opposition to this maneuver, the friends of Colonel Pickering, under com- mand of Colonel Butler, assembled for his protection. After the Swift party had crossed the river, it immediately surrounded the house and demanded admission, under threat of setting the building on fire in case of refusal. Fire actually having been started,* Colonel Butler then came out and pledged his word that Colonel Pickering was not there. Still unsatisfied, an agreement was finally reached between the besiegers and Colonel Butler, that if the arms of both parties were deposited in the hands of a committee, to be mutually chosen, Captains Swift and Satterlee could enter the house and make such search as they chose. Here it is well to let Colonel Pickering himself take up the narrative:
"The rising of Franklin's men was expected from the opposite side of the river. I desired my friends to place sentinels along the bank, where they might discover the first movements for crossing the river, and then sat down to sup with my family. Before I had finished that meal, a sentinel came in haste from the river, and informed me that Franklin's adherents were crossing in boats. My house was within a furlong of the river. I took up a loaded pistol and three or four small biscuits, and retired to a neighboring field. Soou the yell of the insurgents appraised me of their arrival at my house. I listened to their noises a full half hour, when the clamour ceasing, I judged that the few armed neighbors, who had previously entered and fastened the doors, had surrendered. This was the fact. The rioters, (as I afterwards learned) searched the house for me, and for concealed arms, if any there were.
"While I was listening, Griffith Evans, secretary to the board of commissioners, and a lodger at my house, retiring from it, fortunately taking the same course, joined me. Believing that when they should have searched the house in vain, they would proceed to the near fields to find me, I told Mr. Evans it would be well to retire still farther. When we had gained the side of Wilkesbarre mountain, we laid ourselves down and got some sleep. In the morning I descried at the distance of a mile or more, a log house, which was ou a lot of land I had purchased, and near a mile from the village, and occupied by an honest German, whose daughter lived with Mrs. Pickering as a maid. I proposed to Mr. Evans, as he had no personal injury to apprehend from the rioters, to go to the log house, and ask the German, in my behalf, to go down to my house, (which, as his daughter was there, would be perfectly natural,) and if he could see Mrs. Pickering, inquire what was the state of things, and whether I could return with safety. Mr. Evaus waited his return; and then brought me word from my wife, that I must remain concealed, for they were still sear. hing for me. It was now about eleven o'clock. I told Mr. Evans that as I could not return to Wilkesbarre, we had better proceed for Philadelphia, and inform the Executive of the state of things at Wyoming. He readily assented, and we immediately commenced our march. It was through pathless woods, and we had no provisions except the three or four biscuits I had put into my pocket the preceding evening. That we might not get lost, I proposed turning short to our left, to strike the road leading from Wyoming, and thence take our departure with more safety. We did so; and then again darting into the woods, proceeded as nearly as we could judge, in a lite parallel to the road, but not in sight of it. A little before sun-setting, we came to a small run of water, which I supposed to be the "nine mile run," being at that distance from Wilkesbarre. I therefore desired Mr. Evans to go cautiously down the run till he should strike the road which crossed it. He did so, it was not far off. On his return we concluded to lie down to get some sleep, intending to rise when the moon should be up, at about two the next morning and prosecute our journey. About two miles from the nine mile run was Bear Creek, a stream perhaps forty or fifty feet wide, and without a bridge. Having several times traveled that road, I knew when we approached it. There I thought it probable the insurgents had posted a small guard to intercept me, leaving their main guard at a deserted cabin four miles back. Mr. Evans proposed to advance alone, to reconnoiter, and if he discovered there, any armed men, to halloo, that I might escape into the woods. I told him, that was impracticable; fatigued and destitute of provisions, I could not fly; that each of us had a loaded pistol; that I presumed the guard at the creek would not exceed three men; that if they attempted to take us, we must each kill his man, when the third would be glad to escape. With this determination, we proceeded. The creek was not guarded, we forded it, and then marched at our ease. In the morning, we reached the first inhabited house about twenty-five miles from Wilkesbarre. Here we were refreshed with a comfortable breakfast,
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