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 95
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See Kraft's "The French at Asylum."
1703
Franklin stoves with pipe, since the weather had been so cold the masons could not build chimneys; also window frames, seasoned lumber, nails and hinges.
The fact that the then growing colony did not understand the language of those about them, were wholly unaccustomed to labor of any sort and expected to find in their new homes much of the comfort and luxury to which they had been accustomed in France, but added to the confusion.
In December, 1793, Mr. Talon arrived at Asylum, only to find that the winter prevented further operations. Supplies for the settlement, which he had forwarded
OVER TALON
From a miniature presented by himself to John Keating (Courtesy Louise Welles Murray.)
to Catawissa, were ice bound for a time and gave him great concern, but a fortu- nate period of open weather permitted the boats on which they were transported to reach their destination.
When spring came and navigation of the river reopened, numerous other refugees who had spent a comfortable winter in Philadelphia, began their voyage to their wilderness homes. Some of these were of noble birth, some had been connected with the king's household, a few of the secular clergy were represented. There were keepers of Parisian cafes, soldiers, merchants and gentlemen.
Some had found time to adjust their affairs before their hurried departure from France or San Domingo and, as a consequence had ample means at their disposal. Others had fled from the very shadow of the guillotine, unable to
1704
secure more than a few personal effects, and depending upon financial assistance from friends to reach the new world. The estates of all had been confiscated by the government under the decree of 1792, hence, unless the monarchy were restored, or property rights realigned after the madness of the Revolution had passed, they had little to look forward to, even if permitted to return to their own country.
The families of many of these refugees had accompanied them, especially those who were exiles from San Domingo. Not a few of them, however, had been forced to sail alone, hoping and planning against the day that circumstances might permit reuniting the family ties.
The arrival at Wilkes-Barré of groups of these refugees on their way to Asylum in the spring of 1794, attracted considerable attention.
Correspondence of the time indicates with what curiosity the wives and daughters of the settlement, usually clad in their homespun garments, gazed upon the gay attire of the ladies of the party, indicative of the styles of the most extrava- gant capital of the world and the product of looms accustomed to the demands of royalty. The men were no less conspicuous in dress. They insisted, even in wilderness travel, in maintain- ing that outward appearance of gentility to which they had been accustomed. But with Wilkes-Barré the last semblance of even a mod- erately comfortable frontier life fell behind. It is left to the imagination to describe the feelings of these strangers when they reached the rude landing at Asylum and gazed upon the muddy thoroughfare which led to their log cabins, half hidden in the forest.
No agriculturalists and but few artisans were in the party. Yet from the unbroken soil and by their own manual efforts, they were sup- posed to eke out an existence.
It was not until the spring of 1794, that the promoters of the enterprise actually organ- ized the Asylum Land Company, which was to suffer many vicissitudes. In the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union Journal, published at Philadel- phia, December 1, 1884, "devoted" as its pub- lisher, Martin I. J. Griffin, wrote, "to the ad- vancement of the Irish Catholic Benevolent STANDING STONE (Courtesy Louise Welles Murray.) Union" appears the following account of the affairs of this Company, taken, as the editor states, "from records of the com- pany now in possession of Mr. Dreer, of Philadelphia."
On April 23d, 1794, the Company was formed by the election of Robert Morris as President, Louis de Noailles, John Keating, Garrett Cottringer and John Nicholson as Managers; later John Nicholson became President and John Ashley and Jas. Gibson were Managers.
James Duncan was Secretary at $1200 a year until he resigned, September 28, 1795, when he was succeeded by James Gibson. Omer Talon and Adam Hoops were the agents; later John Keating was such. General de Noailles was agent for sale of lands and shares.
Mons. Renand was made agent in West Indies for the sale of the land, Chas. De Cadigan for Europe, and Mons. Davernet for France, and in October William Payne Gorges was also appointed for the West Indies.
1705
At the meeting of Managers, June 20, 1794, John Keating reported that, prior to the es- tablishment of the Company, contracts for the sale of land were made with the following named persons for the number of acres stated :
Mons. Maffron
3000 acres.
Mons. Colin.
. 6000 acres ..
.. Carles ..
1000
..
Gerbier .
600
..
Carles Freres
1000
.4
Sibort .
500
..
De Mouleiau
1000
..
Bircy.
500
..
..
Buzard
4000
Sidshat.
6000
.. Palyart
500
Caignet
6000
..
.. Montulli
7400
Noailles .
4000
..
.. Bonnet
6000
Freinel.
Beidsloin .
3000
..
Marrisback.
1000
..
Cottineau
2000
4 4
Pere Leraphin.
5000
..
Boulogne
1000
..
..
Talon. .
3000
Blacon .
6000
The purchase price in this case was 10 shillings an acre, provided that during the first three years not less than $100 per 1000 acres were expended ou improvements. The Managers ratified the contract, fixed the period within which the privilege might be availed of, and ordered that lands be assigned by lot. General Victor Collot, the exiled Governor of Guadaloupe, attended this meeting, and expressed his desire to purchase 1,000 acres for himself and 9,000 for friends.
"In consequence of the advanced price of lands occasioned by the increased demand in Europe as well as in this country," the price of the Asylum lands was increased to $3 an acre, and notice to that effect sent Cadignan in Europe.
In July, 1795, the first dividend of $15 a share was paid the stockholders, as follows:
Robert Morris
11 shares
Chas Huger
John Nicholson
394
Jas. Cramond
General de Noailles
22
Dr. John Sparhawk
Omer Talon
4
Joan B. H. Montulli .
Chas. De Cadignan
100
Dr. Enoch Edwards
400
Felicite F. Fage and Brigette Finot
14
Cheville Huger & Co. 4.3
Alexander Durevniet.
2
Mons. Rosseau.
10
Chas. F. Bui Boulogne
18
John Keating ..
Nicholas de Broval
7
Mons Bois Clairean
14
Jas. Duocan ..
3
John Nicholson, for Trustees
306
Leon Changeur
30
Dividend, July, 1796, $15 a share.
John Nicholson
205
Fras. Belon.
3
Louis de Noailles.
15
John Ashley ..
36
Omer Talon.
13
John Vincent Becdilure
-
Chas. de Cardignan .
100
Anthony Gerbin
2
Filicite and Brigette Finot.
14
Sophia Ducrabin 6
5
James Cramond.
1.34
Wm. Cramond.
1
Dr. Enoch Edwards
10
James Gibson
I
John Keating
15
John Reed and Standish Ford 27
M. Bois Clairent
14
Joanna Hamilton
3
Ingersoll & Clarkson
306
Abijah Daws. 30
Dennis N. Cottineau
35
Philip R. Fendall and R. Young
87
Jean B. B Barbarin
4
Bazin Dulongval
6
Rt. Rev. Wm. White
67
John Vanghan 30
Chas. De Grossey
James Yard
6
Thos. MeEnen
166
Emard Millot.
2
For land sold the Company, Morris, Nicholson, Talon and Noailles were, on February 21st, 1795, given 460 shares each.
In April, 1795, Nicholson purchased all the interest of Morris and those associated with him. Nicholson conveyed title of the land to Jared Ingersoll, Attorney General of Pennsylvania, and Mathew Clarkson, Mayor of Philadelphia, as Trustees.
In May, 1795, Duke Rochefoucauld de Liancourt, then visiting this country, visited the colony, and on July 8th John Keating, the agent, notified the managers that the Duke intended encouraging several families to reside at the colony and that he wished to purchase lands for himself, family and friends.
On June 5th, 1795, a suitable town lot, 20 acres in the flats and 2000 acres elsewhere, was appropriated for the support of a school and chapel at town of Asylum.
The affairs of the Company became so embarrassing by reason of the pecuniary troubles of Morris and Nicholson, that its assets were disposed of by Marshal's sale in 1801. The shares sold, 739 in number, were purchased by those named below. They made an agreement, dated October 26th, 1801, reciting, that as the Company had not been perfected in the manner purposed in the Articles of April 22d, 1794, and April 25th, 1795, that a re-organization should be made and that the 739 shares should be divided into 1261 shares and assigned as follows:
Wm. Cramond, 221; Louis de Noailles, 95; Abraham Dubois, 54; Robert Porter, 54; Archibald McCall, 230; James Gibson, 70; Wm. Cramond, 208; John Ashley, 329; total, 1261. It was agreed that on surrender of all the 739 shares of the old Company that the 1261 shares thus assigned should represent 2000 shares of the new company. The land, 1,000,000 acres, was held by Trustees. Until the regular election on the second Monday of January, 1802, the five managers were to be Wmn. Cramond, John Ashley, Louis de Noailles, John Travis and James Gibson. Managers were to be paid not over $500 a year."
All who have written contemporaneously of the colony, however, refer to the cheerfulness of the refugees under these adverse circumstances. They were
..
6000
10 shares 356 7
3
Leon Changeur
1
John Sparhawk.
1706
hospitable to a degree, and maintained the outward appearance of their old life as best they could .*
In May, 1795, the Duke de Rochefoucauld de Liancourt visited the settlement, and has given a very full account of it in his "Travels in North America." He says:
"Asylum at that time consisted of about thirty houses, inhabited by families from St. Domingo and from France, by French artisans, and even by Americans. Some inns and two shops have been established, the business of which is considerable. Several town shares have been put in very good condition, and the fields and gardens begin to be productive. A considerable quantity of ground has been cleared on the Loyal Sock, from ten to twenty-acres per share having been cleared. The owner can either settle there himself or intrust it to a farmer. The sentiments of the colonists are good. Every one follows his business-the cultivator as well as the inn-keeper * * or tradesman-with as much zeal as if he had been brought up to it. * Motives arising
from French manners and opinions have hitherto prevented even French families from settling here. These are, however, in great measure removed. Some families of artisans are also estab- lished at Asylum, and such as conduct themselves properly earn good wages. This cannot be said of the greatest part of them. They are, in general, very indifferent workmen, and much addicted to drunkenness. Those who reside here at present are hardly worth keeping. The real farmers who reside at Asylum live, upon the whole, on very good terms with each other, being sensible that harmony is requisite to render their situation comfortable and happy. They possess no considerable property, and their way of life is simple. Mr. Talon lives in a manner somewhat more splendid, as he is obliged to maintain a number of persons to whom his assistance is indispensable. The price of the company's land at present is $2.50 per acre; that in the town of Asylum fetches a little more. The bullocks which are consumed in Asylum are generally brought from the back settlements, but it is frequently found necessary to send thither for them. The grain which is not consumed in Asylum finds a market in Wilkes-Barré, and is transported thither on the river. In the same manner all kinds of merchandise are transported from Phila- delphia to Asylum. They are carried in wagons as far as Harrisburg and thence by barges up the river. The freight amounts, in the whole, to two dollars per hundredweight. (Freight from Wilkes-Barré to Asylum was 51 cents per cwt.) The salt comes from the salt houses at Genesee. Flax is produced in the country about Asylum. Maple sugar is made in great abundance; each tree is computed to yield, on the average, from two to three pounds per year. Molasses and vinegar are prepared here. A considerable quantity of tar is also made and sold for four dollars per barrel containing thirty-two gallons. Day laborers are paid five shillings per day. The manufacture of potashes has been commenced at Asylum, and it is contemplated the brewing of malt liquors. A corn mill and saw mill are building on the Loyal Sock."
Much of hearsay and tradition surround the building of the "Queen's House" at Asylum. Correspondence of the time indicates plainly enough that one of the first thoughts of the colonists, if not a main purpose in the minds of many of them in founding the colony, was to prepare residences for King Louis and Queen Marie Antionette, as suitably appointed as the resources of their wilderness retreat could command. The fact that the construction of two resi- dences, intended for royal occupants was begun, has led to considerable specu- lation and much conflict of opinion among those who have written of Asylumn.
The availability of recently discovered data, made possible through the researches of Mrs. Murray in particular, serves to clear up much of error which has crept into earlier literature on the subject.f In spite of tardily received
*No better picture of the outward life of the people, the style of their houses and the character of their improve- ments could be given than the following description embodied in an agreement entered into between Sophia de Seybert and Guy de Noailles, December 23, 1797: "On number four hundred and sixteen stands a log house thirty by eighteen
. feet covered with nailed shingles. The house is divided into two lower rooms and two in the upper story. The lower ones are papered. On both sides of the house stand two small buildings of the same kind, one is used for a kitchen, the other being papered is commonly called the dining room; both these buildings have good fire-places and a half- story. Three rooms in the biggest house have fire-places, the two side buildings and the other are joined together hy a piazza. There is a good cellar under the dining room. The yard is enclosed by a nailed paled-fence, and there is a good double gate. The garden bas a like fence, and a constant stream of water runs through it. Over the spring a spring-house has been erected ; it is divided into two rooms one of which is floored. The garden is decorated by a con- siderable number of fruit trees, young Lombardy poplars and weeping willows, and by a lattice summer house. Next to the garden is a nursery of about nine hundred apple trees. The lower part of the lot forms a piece of meadow of about eight acres enclosed hy a post and rail fence. On the same lot stands a horse grist-mill. The building is forty feet long by thirty-four feet wide. Part of the lower story is contrived into a stable for the mill horses and a cow stable. Part of the upper story is used to keep fodder. The mill is double-geared and in complete order, being furnished with a good pair of stones, good bolting-cloth, and in one corner stands a good fire place. Above the mill runs a never- failing spring which waters a great art of the meadow." See Krafts "The French at Asylum."
+In October, 1796, Mr. Weld, an Englishman, passing through the Susquehanna country, stopped at Asylum, which he describes as "a town laid out at the expense of several philanthropic persons of Pennsylvania, who entered into a subscription for the purpose, as a place of retreat for the unfortunate French emigrants who fled to America. The town consists of about fifty log houses, and for the use of the inhabitants a considerable land has been purchased adjoining it, which has been divided into farms. The French settled here, however, seem to have no great ability or inclination to cultivate the earth, and the greater part of them have let their lands, at a small yearly rental, to the Americans, and amuse themselves with driving deer, fowling and fishing. They live entirely to themselves; they hate the Americans, and the Americans in the neighborhood hate and accuse them of being an idle and dissolute set The manner of the two people are so very different that it is impossible they should ever agree."
L
THE QUEEN'S HOUSE AT ASYLUM (Courtesy Louise Welles Murray)
1707
intelligence from France on matters of great moment there, it was known to the colonists, early in the Company's affairs, that the King had met a tragic end in 1793. They did not, however, expect a like fate for his consort. La Grange Maison, "Great House" or "Queen House" as it became known, was one of the two houses intended for the Queen's occupation. This was completed in 1793, and was occupied by Talon with an intention of turning it over to the one on whom the minds of the colonists centered in case of her escape to American shores. This home on the town plot became the center of social, as well as ad- ministrative activities of the colony. The other was intended to be a hiding place for the Queen, deep in the woods. Its site was selected in the seclusion of the forest some seven miles from Asylum, on the Loyal Sock road, near West Terry. A clearing was made and the construction of spacious buildings was actually begun, when news of the fate of the Queen likewise became known. No further attempts seem to have been made after receipt of this intelligence to complete the ambitious plans of this wilderness hiding place, and practically no remains of this second "Queen's House" are now to be found.
However it may have missed its royal occupant, the completed "Queen's House"* became the assembling point of the colony. Here were held conferences. No doubt plots as to European affairs, which might have sounded strange to the ears of American neighbors, entered frequently into the ani- mated discussions. In its huge reception rooms, upon winter evenings or, upon the oc- casion of visits by distinguished guests, were scenes of gaiety, perhaps unequalled on the continent. Without doubt it was the most pretentious of American homes of the period. To it, as guests, came the French general, Ternant, who accompanied Rochefoucauld, as did Talleyrand in the fall of 1795, to spend a brief period of his two years' visit to the United States.
Nor was Mr. Talont behindhand in en- couraging the colonists to beautify their rude surroundings, clear up their lots and adapt themselves to new conditions.
PRINCE TALLEYRAND (Courtesy Louise Welles Murray.)
A log Chapel was built on the town plot and services were held, with the Abbe Carles and other exiled priests officiating. Several marriages were held in the Chapel. A theater and outdoor dancing pavillion were likewise constructed.
*The "Queen's House" after the settlement was abandoned, became the home of Bartholomew Laporte, himself a refugee and one of the few of the colonists to become a permanent resident of the Susquehanna country. His son, the Hon. John Laporte succeeded to the ownership of the house. In 1846, the "Great House" became a memory, the best of its squared pine logs going into a bara still standing on the Laporte estate.
Bartholomew Laporte married, December 11, 1797, Elizabeth, daughter of John Franklin, an Englishman. He acquired, from the Company's trustees, title to nearly 500 acres of what was the upper section of Asylum and became one of the most successful farmers of what is now Bradford county. He was County Commissioner for two terms, being chosen at the elections of 1819 and 1821. He died on his estate, February 11, 1836. His wife, much his junior ia years, survived him sixteen years, dying May 5, 1853. She helped to preserve the true story of the original settlement.
tOmer Talon, the head of the colony, with his love of order, resolute will and generous hospitality, seemed equal to every emergency. How his heart must have swelled with pleasure as he saw the little community, to which he had given his whole thought and energy for so many months, begin to take on a homelike and industrious air. How he must have rejoiced that through his efforts so many poor fugitives would know again the pleasures of home and the
1708
No running stream being available for the purpose, a grist mill, driven by horse power was established, the mill stones being sent up from Wilkes-Barré and one of the ladies contributed a silk petticoat for a bolting cloth. Two stores were shortly
Compte or Ruaud pour curry
29 jours à l'établifum de la boulangerie. raison de La 5 jours à la grande maison pour les portes
Le 14
8.
finitions &co. 1.10
a
ETO ... 4.
Asylum 1. 11.8Pm, 794. avrete le present memoire a la somme a fiat. quatre schelling ce 11 octobre 174 Talen
WORKMAN'S ACCOUNT IN BUILDING "LA GRANDE MAISON," OR THE "QUEEN'S HOUSE."
opened in the settlement, while the shops of blacksmiths, weavers, tailors and car- penters challenged the hand-craft skill for which France has always been famous.
society of fellow countrymen, though their dearest ones were separated from them for a time. And with what joyful anticipations he must have looked forward to the coming of the Queen, for it is generally acknowledged that it was for the Royal fugitives that this Asylum was planned. It seems, however, that the death of the King must have been known or that he was never expected, for the houses built for royalty's use were always known as the "Queen's houses." Besides the house, built by Talon in the town plot, and afterward occupied by him, deep in the woods on the Loyal Sock road, near West Terry or New Era, was begun a spacious house or two and a large bakery and other buildings were planned; these were in charge of Charles Homet and were intended for a hiding place for the Queen. Strange irony of fate, even before they were completed the unhappy Queen had followed her husband to the guillotine. The suspension of intercourse between France and America, and the arduous journey between the colony and Philadelphia, accounts for the long delay in the sad news reaching the Colony.
The house built by Talon was the most pretentious in the settlement, and is said to have been the largest log house ever built in America. Elizabeth Laport said her grandfather always called it "the Queen's House," but it was generally known as "La Grande Maison" or the "Great House," and is so called in all laborer's accounts. It was built of hewn logs with a plain sloping roof, shingled. There were no shingles on the sides. It was about 84 feet long and 60 feet wide, two stories high, with a spacious attic. There were four stacks of chimneys and eight fireplaces on each floor. The windows were square, with no hooded or dormer effects, small square panes of glass. There were heavy, solid- wooden shutters on the windows. On each floor was a hall the entire length, from eight to twelve feet wide, with out- side door at each end, with three rooms on the side facing the river and four on the other. The four rooms were of equal size. On the river side the middle room was twice the size of the others in length and extended into the ball with double doors set crosswise on each corner, opposite each of which was a broad flight of stairs to the second story. In each end of this room were fireplaces, one much larger than the other. So large indeed that when it was used by the Laportes as a kitchen, oxen drew the back logs right into the room. The mantel was about as high as a man's head. In the center of the side was a double door with the upper half set with small panes of glass. Each side of this door were French windows, very large, opening from the floor nearly to the ceiling. Plain board ceiling was used instead of plaster for walls, most of the woodwork plain and unpainted, though the lower stairs had newell posts and rails of hlack walnut. This house was built on lot No. 418 and just north of the house now standing, built by Judge Laporte in 1839, now owned by the Hagerman family. It was torn down in 1846 for fear of fire. Traces of the foundation are still in evidence. In this "Great House" was dispensed the hospitality of the settlement. As long as it stood, the large room was called the French ladies' drawing room; here doubtless gathered all the famous visitors to the Colony. Here perhaps were breathed oaths of loyalty to Louis Philippe, whom they hoped soon to see on the throne. What brilliant conversation their walls echoed! Alas, there has come down to us but two amusing little stories of the gatherings here. Though the winters were long and dreary, the summer heat was far more fierce than ever known in "Belle Paris." The first time the writer ever heard of Asylum, was when a little child, she was riding by with Chas. F. Welles of Wyalusing. After pointing out the location and the picnic rock, he added this anecdote told to him by one of the old pioneers. Entering the drawing room (evidently unannounced) he found the great dames seated around the apart- ment, all complaining bitterly of the intense heat. Skirts were daintily lifted, while slave girls, seated on the floor, industriously plied fans to cool their mistresses' ankles.
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