A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 33

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 33

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Hollenback's first location at Tioga Point could not have been, as sometimes stated, in a building of Hepburn's or Alexander's, as these men were not at Tioga Point until later. The cabin of Andreas

245

LOCATION OF HOLLENBACK'S STORE

Budd may have been built or used by Hollenback, but, as has been already shown, he purchased John Secord's location, on which in 1778 were "suitable buildings." As there is no reason to believe these build- ings were destroyed by either Hartley or Sullivan, doubtless they were occupied by Matthias Hollenback.

Hollenback's store then probably was always located on the pres- ent Hunsiker property, just south of the Museum-Library. And Secord's buildings` were quite likely the small house and log stable reported in 1805 to be rotting down and nearly gone. The old well, still in use, was said by Mr. Hollenback's family to have been dug before the Revolution, probably by Secord. The correspondence with Lockhart also indicates that Hollenback was established prior to 1785, and either in that or the following year he built the well-known house and store on the northeast corner of the lot, around which clustered the first houses of the settlers. "Hollenback's Store" was long the address on letters ; and Mrs. Perkins says, "the town itself was known more by that name than any other." This building, which the builder called "a small tavern," was a two-story structure of hewn logs, facing the north, with greatest length east and west. The store or tavern room occupied the whole south side, a door from Main Street opening into a dividing hall, and a north door into the living rooms. One large chimney in the center, built of rough stone, furnished corner fireplaces for each room. The house seems to have been well furnished by Mr. Hollenback; although, having once established the business, he did not make any continued stay at his trading posts, having a clerk, partner, agent or apprentice as oc- casion warranted, both here and at Newtown. However, he or some member of his family fre- quently spent some time at Tioga Point, keeping a watchful eye on the business, and the household goods. So observant was he that even a broken window glass or a missing weight or pair of and- irons was at once noted and entered in memoranda. The first clerks at .both Tioga Point and Newtown were Daniel McDowell11 and John Shepard12; the former probably chosen because of his familiarity with the country and popu- larity with the Indians

John Thehard

11 Daniel McDowell, later one of the first settlers at Chemung, was the son of John Mc- Dowell, said by some to be a Cameronian Scotchman, and by others a Scotch-Irishman, whose home at Stroudsburg was always a veritable haven to the Connecticut settlers in their various flights from Wyoming. Indeed, it is a matter of record that McDowell's love for the

246

OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

as well as with the Connecticut settlers. Probably the first white customers were the commissioners who were delegated at the treaties of 1784-5 to deal with the Indians (see Chap. X), or William Maclay and his companions, sent to explore the upper Susquehanna, and later to lay out the lottery warrants. It is known that the Boun- dary Commissioners of 1786-7 made their headquarters at Tioga Point. And it will also be seen later that many Connecticut men were in the vicinity. While it has always been understood that both his stores were started as Indian trading posts, all the first invoices were made up of white men's goods, liquor and salt pork. There is, however, one list of 1784 or 1785 (date illegible) that was probably for the Indians. (See Chap. X.)

Yankees was so well known that they were on one occasion compelled by the Pennamites to choose another route. It seems quite possible that the Snells were friends of the McDowells, and by them directed to their new home; for Daniel was always a warm friend of the Snell family, and stories of his bravery and agility have been handed down by them to present generation, many of which are corroborated by printed records. Daniel early espoused the cause of the colonies, and became a Captain in Revolutionary Army. About 1782, being cap- tured at Shawnee by Indians, he was taken over this route to Niagara. He was particularly impressed with the beauty of the Chemung Valley, then in the glory of autumnal foliage, and resolved, if he were spared, to settle there. He had ample opportunity to observe the scenery, for, according to the story still told by Isaac Snell, and repeated by Thomas Baldwin and others, the inhuman savages fastened him to the ground, near his future home on the ridge above Chemung village, close to a spring not twenty rods from present Erie station. His tormentors placed a forked stick across his neck, and two or three on each arm and leg. This, like running the gauntlet was an experimental torture, which his muscular frame, great agility and superhuman bravery helped him to endure, and led his captors to name him "Keto" (the iron man). He was finally conveyed to Canada, where after being prisoner for some months, he was exchanged for blankets by some white men, set free and worked his way home by Quebec and a sailing vessel for New York.

After testing his bravery, the Indians tried his agility by proposing a foot race from Newtown to Teaoga and back, about twenty miles each way. It was bravely run and won! The Indian kept ahead until they came to a foot-log thrown. across Cole's Creek. Here for- tune favored "Keto." The moccasin thongs of the Indian became loosened, caught on a pro- jecting twig, and threw him into the water. When he came in behind he was muttering, "Me bad luck." Such true tales of the trials, courage and persistence of the pioneers are, indeed, stranger than fiction.

12 John Shepard, clerk, Indian trader, taverner, miller, merchant and landowner, was one of the most prominent pioneers of the valley, whose descendants are still among us. His life and character are fully pictured in "Early Times," and are already well known. Born in Plainfield, Connecticut, April 17, 1765, he came thence to Sheshequin in 1784 with his uncle, Simon Spalding, and soon after, in his own words, "engaged as Clerk for Weiss and Hollen- back in the Indian country at Newtown." After some experimental trading on his own ac- count in the lake country, he returned to Tioga Point and clerked in Hollenback's store in 1787. He twice saved Matthias Hollenback's life when threatened by a wily redskin. In 1788, having accumulated by his industry and enterprise some capital, he purchased the mills of Prince Bryant on Cayuta Creek, afterwards called Shepard's, as was also the little settlement clustered around the mills. He soon became prosperous, as these were the only mills of any size in the valley, and made large purchases of land and improved them. According to the tax list of 1796 he was then the most extensive landowner in the township. He married Anna, daughter of Obadiah Gore of Sheshequin, and built a large house still standing opposite Elm Cottage. Their children were Prentice, who died young; Isaac, who lived and died near his birthplace; Miami, who married Jesse Floyd of Long Island; Amanda, who married Charles Hopkins; Julia Anna, well known as the gifted writer, who married George A. Perkins; Job, who married Abigail Ellsworth, and lived and died in Elm Cottage at Milltown, and Phoebe, who married John Hepburn. Mrs. Anna Shepard died in 1805, and in 1811 he married a sec- ond wife, Hawkins of Long Island. Their children were Ruth, who married Dr. A. H. Woodworth; Letty, who died unmarried; John and Joseph, who removed to California, and Mary, who married Silas Fordham, and spent most of her life in her father's second home- stead, built near the Susquehanna River in 1817. Isaac P. Shepard, son of Charles H., son of Isaac, son of John, is now the only descendant of the name in this locality.

PRICES OF GOODS AND PELTRY

247

Some idea of the goods and prices may be obtained from the fol- lowing lists, copied many years ago from some old account books, then in the possession of the late Harrison Wright :

Retail Price List at Hollenback's Store, 1787-8.

Almanacs per doz. 6/-

1 Heifer

£ 4

66 pocket. .

3/-

Hose

blue yarn. .per pr. 6/-

5/6

Black Stroud per yd.

Gauze 66

5/-

Beef salt . per 1b.

6 d

Indigo

. per oz.

Ink pots

.ea

Irish linen

.yd

Jews Harps .ea

. per day

Beans

per bush

Bibles

.ea

Blankets

point

20/-

Muslin

.per yd

Nails

. per 1b

Needles .per doz

Paper

.per quir.

Butter

. per lb

1/-

Butter tubs

.ea

3/6

Potatoes

per bush

Calico french

.per yd

white sprig

7/- 2/-

Pen knives

. ea

Chocolate . per 1b.

3/-

Pipes

. ea

Cheese

1/4

Pins

. per paper

Psalm books . ea

Powder

. per 1b

Razors

. ea

Rum

. per gal

. per qt

Russia sheeting .yd

Salt

.per bush

. per peck

Saw Mill saws

. ea

Scissors

. per pr

Deer skins dressed.

24/- 4/6

red

Shad

Shoes . per pr

Shoebuckles

Shingles

.per M

Shot

per lb

Sickles

. ea

Silk

per skein

1 Sling

per lb

Soap

.per lb

Spectacles

. per pr

Sow and pigs

Steel

. per 1b

Spelling books

1/-

Hats

. ea

5/-

maple

1/3

Hay . per cwt

loaf

2/6

4/- 4/- 6 d 2/6 8/- 1/- 3/- 3/- 6/6 1/6 6 d 3/6 2 d 3/- 4 d 1/- 1/6 3 d 1/6 6/- 5/- 2/- 12/- 2/- 4/6 28/- 7/- 32/- 1/6 4/- 4/6 4 d 18/- 2/6 30/- 2/6 5/6 1/- 1/3 6/- 7/- 1/3 4/- £ 2.8 1/4 3/-

Handkerchiefs, silk, 66

Barcelona, ea

8/-

Silk Romall.

66 Putticat, . ea

Cotton

4/6

Sugar

per pr 66

Gill Glasses . ea

1/3

Grog

per bowl

1/3

. bottle

& milk

1/6

Cider

2/- 1

Fish hooks .ea

Flannel red .per yd

4/6

Flax Seed .per bush

Flints

. per doz

Flour

. per 1b.

Garters

per pr.

12/ -- 1/- 5 d 1/-

Cutteau . ea

1/-

Serge, white

Egg Nog per bowl

2/-

Corduroy

per yd

Cotton Stripe

3/-

1 Cow

£ 5

Drilling . per yd.

7/6

Corn per bush

3/6

Combs .ea

6 d

Copperas

per 1b

1/3 10/-

Cider

. per qt.

1/-

Cloth superfine yd

32/-

.per sheet

Pork

salt. .per 1b

Caps . ea

12/-

Linen stripe .yd

16/-

Bowls pint ea

21/-

Broadcloth .per yd.

28/-

Bull yearling

.per loaf

1/6 10

Labor 66 mason

8/- 8/-

Lead

per lb.

4/- 1/-

Bacon

1/3 4 d

Beaver spears

. each

Bread 66

.per 1b.

12/-

Hoes

.ea

7/6

Indian meal pr bush

Baize . per yd.

2/6

8/-

8/- 6/6

Snuff

. ea

drab . per yd.

£ 2

8/-

Moccasins

per pr.

248

OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

Tallow

1/-

Deer

2/6 @ 7/- 4/-

Tape

Tea

7/-

Fox black

Testaments

. ea

Thread

. per skein

Tobacco, plug . per lb.

2/-

1/3

. per yd

3 d

Toddy per bowl

1/3

Tumblers pint . ea

2/-

Tea cups & saucers. .per set

4/6

Tricot

.per yd

5/-

Weasel

4/-

Wild cat

5/- @ 8/-

Whipsaw files . ea

1/3

Whiskey 66

per gill

6 d

per gal

10/-

FURS & PELTRY.

Bear skins 16/- @ 20/-

Beaver

22/-

. per lb

12/-

Calf

. ea

5/-

8/- = $1.00

Elk

. ea

16/-

£1

= $2.50

Many other account books, earlier and later, have since been found .. The residents in the region may be known from the following list of customers, residence being added as far as known :

Names from the Books of "Hollenback's Store" at Tioga Point in 1787-8.

Residence, as far as known, added by author, 1906.

John J. Ac Modery

Newtown

Capt. Allen, Athens

Henry Buck

Allen & Shepard

Ulster or Buckville

Lucius Dedrick

Benjamin Badlock

William Buck

Lewis Dedrick

Athens

Elijah Buck

Moses Dewitt

Isaac Baldwin

Chemung

John Dolson

Chemung

Jonathan Burwell Athens

Tunis Dolson (mason) Nicholas Depue Amos Draper Union or Owego

Thomas Baldwin Chemung

Benjamin Clark Ulster

Frederick Eiglor Joseph Elliott Wyalusing

Usual Bates

Daniel Cole Athens

James Fanning Springfield

John Bedford

Solomon Bennett Athens

John Cole Sheshequin

John Finch

Abisha Bingham

Theodry Cole

Chester Bingham Ulster

Nathaniel Cook

Charles Cornales (Cor- nelius ?) Samuel Coe

Hezekiah Bingham Jacob Bowman Sugar Creek

Benjamin Brink

Ezekiel Brown Humphrey Brown

Benjamin Crosby Sally Crosby Aaron Dean Athens

Arnold Franklin Wysox

red 7/-@ 8/-

Marten

Mink 3/- @ 4/-

Muskrat

1/-

Otter 10/- @ 24/-

Panther 8/-

Raccoon

3/- @ 5/-

Venison

per 1b

Wolf

6/-

COIN RATES.

130 Spanish Milled dollars = £52 1 Guinea £1. 17.4

Johannes = £3. 4

CURRENCY.

Prince Bryant Milltown

Mr. Debartsch Elisha Decker Athens

William Baldwin

Chemung

Henry Bush

Thomas Christie

Isaac Benjamin

Samuel Beidleman

Benjamin Cole, Sen'r

Seth Fields

Richard Fitzgerald Meshoppen Caleb Forsythe, Union Jonathan Forsythe Union Rudolph Fox Towanda

5/-

3 d

gray

leaf .per 1b

. per qt

2/6

2 d

Fisher

249

LIST OF CUSTOMERS IN 1787-8

Roswell Franklin Wysox

Thomas McClure Athens

Doctor Smith

James Smith

Stephen Fuller

Thos. McClure, Jr.

Gerard Smith

Sheshequin

Athens

William Slocum

Benjamin Gardner Athens Peregrine Gardner

Newtown

Francis Sneckenberger

Milltown

Nathaniel Goodspeed

Mr. McCady

Jacob Snell Athens

Sheshequin

David McCormick

Samuel Southard Newtown

Obadiah Gore Sheshequin

Newtown

Thomas Green

Col. Mckinstry Athens Miss Betsy Mccullough

John Spalding Athens

George Hall

John Handy

James McManus

Joseph Spalding Athens

Athens

John Manhart

Simon Spalding Sheshequin

John Harris

Ulster

Alexander Stephens

Athens

Christian Minier Ulster

Athens Uriah Stephens

ed Post

John Miller, Esq.

Athens

William Harris

Athens

John Stephens

Athens or Paint- ed Post

Ag. Moody

Daniel Sullivan

Isaac Hancock

Athens

Sutton

of Wylouising.

John Nestler

Abner Hatfield

John O'Neal Athens

Mr. Taylor Joel Thomas Athens

Jacob Herrington

William Ovenshire Sheshequin

Joseph Thompson

Reuben Herrington

Epenetus Owen

Lawrence Tremper

John Hollenback

Stephen Parrish

William Tripp

Wilkes-Barré

Samuel Tubbs

Matthias Hollenback

Sheshequin

The Proprietor

Joseph Tyler Athens

John House

Mr. Pocksby

Daniel Upson

William Jackaway Athens

Henry Provost

Newtown

William Jenkins Athens

Samuel Ransom Tioga John Redford

Newtown James Whitney Chenango

Solomon Jennings

John Roberts

William Jones

James Roberts

Thomas Wigton

Eldad Kellogg

William Ross

Meshoppen

Athens

Anthony Rummerfield

Stephen Wilcox Milltown

Abner Kelsey Newtown

Elisha Satterlee Athens Senter

Timothy Winchell

Nathan Kingsley

Jonathan Woodworth

Wyalusing

John Shearer

Samuel Wright

Wareham Kingsley

John Shepard Athens or Milltown

Joseph Kinney Sheshequin

Daniel Shaw

Abner Kyer

Jeremiah Shaw

Ephraim Lewis

Adriel Simons

Christian Loop

Ulster Reuben Smith

William Wyncoop Athens or Che- mung Abel Yerrington (Yar- ington) Upper Ul- ster John Young.

Newtown

Benjamin Patterson Athens William Patterson

Silas Hopkins

John Person

Jeremiah Potter

Walter Waters, Sen'r

Walter Waters

Clark Jennings

James Moore

Athens

James Headley

Joseph Thomas

Athens

Phineas Stephens

Samuel Harris

Athens or Paint-

Abraham Miller

Thomas Handy

Newtown

Josiah Marshall

Athens

Daniel McDowell Chemung

Avery Gore

John McClure

These are all the names entered on the books of "Hollenback's Store" for any purpose, between February 10, 1787, and August 21, 1788.

250

OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

The following is an account of some "Discoverers" and their In- dian goods, "Discoverers" being a term applied to the men, surveyors or others, sent by land speculators to locate their claims :

"Tioga, Augt. 13th 1788.

"Matthias Hollenback, Elijah Buck & Daniel McDowel,

Dr. to Store, for Sundries delivered the Discoverers, Indians, &c.

To Sundries of powder and lead.

£. 6. 3.

66 60 John 13.

66 66 Charles Cornales

1. 13.

66 Thomas Green

1. 2.

66 Isaac

10.

1 cow killed by Sutton.

3. 10.

1 Bushel meal

66 by Philip, a Tuscarorah

6 calico shirts at 16/.

4. 16.

Six two-point blankets, at 12/.

3. 12.

cash 8/, 3 1b. plint (flints ?) at 6/.

2. 16.

5 pound of powder, at 6/.

10.

66 32 silver broaches 32/, sunds. 1/6.

13. 6.

scarlet and linen

10. 6.

sundries

2. 4.

£.40. 0. 0.

It is rather unusual that there is no fire water in this account.

The stock of the store consisted of dry goods, wines and liquors, groceries, books, stationery, iron and leather in bulk, and all sorts of household goods. While some cash in gold, silver and paper was taken, the greater part of the trade was by barter ; all kinds of furs, maple sugar, grain, etc., being taken in exchange for goods. When the country became settled, wheat seems to have been the chief medium of exchange, trade being brisk or dull, according to the crop, and price offered. During the winter the wheat crop of the famous Genesee Valley and the Lake country was drawn on sleighs to Newtown, the head of navigation, to be ready to ship on the "spring fresh."

The numerous invoices and inventories show that the earliest settlers purchased far more ready-made goods than has been generally supposed, and that the stock at "Hollenback's Store" was an extensive one, embracing many articles now unknown, especially in cloths and cottons. The pioneers at Tioga Point had no need to dress in home- made linsey-woolseys, etc., for they could purchase calimanco in all colors, cordurett, blue half thicks, buff cassimere, spotted swansdown. green baize, yellow flannel, thicksett, Joan's spinning in all colors, strouds, romals, durants, watered camblet, sarcenett, rattinett, bom- basett and fustian ; also socks for the men and hose for the children ; and shawls for the women, of chintz, muslin and silk in every color ; apron tape, cap tape, etc. Other, somewhat unusual, goods were lemon juice by the bottle, brimstone by the barrel, ink powder, black- ball in sticks, hatbands and loopings ; bar iron, bar steel, pig lead, and many pounds of bread. Coffee was seldom on the lists; chocolate in

by Snipe Nose 2.

13.

66 66 Jacob 2.

66 Sutton for pledge of Rifle.

251

WHOLESALE PRICE-LISTS, 1783-4-5

large quantities and Bohea tea seeming to be the favorite beverages, unless mention is made of every kind of liquor, even the far-famed Hollenback Madeira wine. These lists explode many old stories of the necessity for home manufacture by the busy housewives. The following price list may be of some interest :

General Wholesale Prices from the Books of Weiss & Hollenback, in 1783-4.

Superfine Cloths, pr. yd.

18/

25/

Irish Linen, do do.

2/6 @ 4/3

Hatts, each

28/ @ 32/

Pen Knives, pr. doz.

Cutteaus, pr. doz.,

Knee Buckles, pr doz.,

28/

Check Handkerchiefs, pr. doz.,

24/

@ 27/

Gray Worsted Hose, pr doz.

Thread, pr 1b.

Hooks & Eyes, pr 1b.

2/6

Chintz, pr piece.

80/

Sewing-silk, pr oz.,

4/3

Milled yarn hose, pr doz.,

36/

Gray do. do. pr doz.,

30/

White serge, pr pr yd.

1/5

Swanskin, pr yd.

3/3

Thick Tricot, pr yd.

2/8

Brown Linen, pr yd.

1/5

Men's hats, each. .

2/6

do. shoes, pr pair,

3/6

Brandy, pr gall.,

4/3

Salt, pr bush.

1/6

Tobacco, pr 100 1bs,

55/

London quality binding, gross,

15/

Garters, pr gross

18/9

Two 1/2 point

do pr do

20/

Three point do pr do

26/3

Red flannels, pr yd

2/9

Silk Romalls, pr piece,

96/

Fine ivory combs, pr doz.,

14/

Coarse horn do. pr doz

Common needles, assorted, hundred,

7/6

Pig lead, pr 100 lbs.,

30/

Price-List of Indian Goods, Bo't of Turnbull, Marmie & Co By Weiss & Hollenback, 1784-5.

500 Gunflints, at 2/ per hundred

2 doz Razors, 2/6 pr. doz.

4 Enamelled Knives, at 1/6 pr. doz.

2 Women's Scissors, " 2/- "

472 doz Silver Broaches

4/3 pr. doz. 66

48 60

31 66 66

.at 4/3 66

66 Ear Rings

.at 14/- 66

13 Ear Wheels . at

1/6

5 Large Crosses .at

2/3

8 Double .at

8/-

3/9

54 doz. Silver Broaches, No. 1. at

. at

4/9

44 66

. at

5/-" 66

Two point

do. pr do

13/9

One-half point Blankets, pair

11/3

56/ 3/

15/ 7/6 7/ @ 15/ @ 12/

Pinchbeck do. pr. doz.,

252

OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS

2 Setts Gorgets .at 42/-

do. Moons .at 24/-

2 large do. .at 6/-

3 do do. .at 10/ --

10 Wrist bands at

4/- -

8 Arm do. at

10/-

6 do do at 8/ -- 5/-

1 doz Dutch Pipes.

2 strings Seed Beads at

10d.

1-1b. of 14oz Wampum. 1/6

4-1bs. 6oz Round do 3/9

In 1788 Guy Max- well13 took charge of the store and continued in full Tuyenaxwell charge until 1795, when he embarked in business for himself at Newtown, although for many years afterward he seems to have had a partial supervision over both the Newtown and Tioga Point business. His immediate predecessor was Aaron Dean, a man about whom absolutely nothing is known. He con- ducted the store on a credit system and contracted many debts, as shown in the accounts of the period. Some idea of the amount of stock may be obtained from Mr. Hollenback's estimate of the business when Guy Maxwell relinquished it in 1795. In the seven years he had ordered goods to the amount of £7566 and sold to the amount of £6093.

Let us try to imagine the beginnings of the settlement. Except for the ground cleared by Secord, probably from river to river, "Hollen- back's Store" was practically in the woods. East of the river, where Patterson had his cabin, the river flats were probably clear. West of the Tioga (Chemung), from the Chemung Narrows to present Milan or farther, extended the open grassy flats known as "Queen Esther's or Hester's Flats." On the upper end of these was Jacob Snell's cabin, and nearly opposite the Point was another cabin, which sheltered many occupants. The Snell's was nearest the wilderness, some of whose wild inhabitants were as plenty and as much to be dreaded as the red men. Andreas Budd doubtless had the only habitation on the Point except Hollenback's store. But there were a goodly number of neigh- bors by the close of the year 1784. According to the depositions of Franklin and Kinney, "a number of people took up land east of the river"; Christopher Hurlbert, William Miller,14 Daniel Moore,14* and

13 Guy Maxwell (already mentioned in Chapter X) was a Scotch youth, according to his son; parentage unknown.

"Having learned the art of trade, and mystery of a merchant" as an apprentice in Pittsburgh, he was visiting his home in Martinsburgh, Virginia, when Matthias Hollenback went there to visit his relatives in the fall of 1788. Soon a mutual liking sprang up, and the youth of eighteen returned with Mr. Hollenback to Tioga Point, where he lived until 1795. About 1790 he married Nelly, daughter of William Wyncoop, who then lived just across the Tioga River. It is said theirs was the first marriage celebrated at Chemung, a favorite resort for Tioga Point lovers. Thomas Maxwell, son of Guy, was born at Athens in 1792. It is somewhere noted that Guy Maxwell's wife was Eleanor Von Steinberg, but that is a perfectly unfamiliar name in the vicinity, and must be an error.

Mr. Craft says that Guy was born in Ireland, July 15, 1770.

He was made a justice of the peace September 1, 1791, a youthful official, but highly esteemed, as shown in the trust reposed in him by Pickering (see Chapter X).

14 Very little definite information is at hand about William Miller. He is generally saia to be German by descent; known to have resided at Wyoming, and to have been an Indian

253

BEGINNINGS OF THE SETTLEMENT

a few months later Mason, Carey and Eldad Kellogg. None of these had a title, but hoped to acquire one by possession. Hurlbut was a surveyor from Wyoming Valley, to which he returned. He and Miller were located on the flats very near Patterson. Miller and Moore each built a house, according to the depositions ; but as these became some- what confused under cross-examination, it seems best to rely on Z. F. Walker, who had access to all the early surveys. He states that "Miller was located opposite the head of the island, Patterson opposite the lower end, and Moore just below, where for some years he maintained the ferry" in the bend of the river, about half a mile below the island. Moore's ferry was later known as "Park's Ferry." While there is only casual mention of these pioneers, there is reason to believe that Hurl- bert, Miller, Moore, Kellogg (and some others mentioned in Jenkins' survey) were the advance guard of the Connecticut settlers, who, as will be seen later, wished to have a strong settlement near the York state line. It will be observed that the locations chosen were not con- tiguous, but such as to command the land and the river, so that, like the Indians of a previous epoch, they could waylay travelers by land or water, and prevent the coming of the enemy, who in this instance was the hated Pennamite. Their locations also could be recognized as pitches to be included in a new township, which was done when Athens was granted.

In November, 1779, the Assembly of Pennsylvania passed a law, assuming to itself jurisdiction over the entire territory granted to William Penn; feudalism was no more. Henceforth it was the State, and not the Province or Proprietaries. April 9, 1781, a law was en- acted to establish a land office, for the purpose of perfecting the titles of those to whom grants had already been made, and July 1, 1784, another law was made, opening a land office for the sale of vacant lands under Penn's purchase of 1768. The price was fixed at ten pounds per 100 acres, or 333 cents per acre ; quantity limited to 400 acres, with 6 per cent. allowance for roads and creeks.

The purchase in 1784 of Pennsylvania from the Indians having been confirmed by treaty at Fort McIntosh, in January, 1785, a land office for sale of lands in the "new purchase" was soon opened ; terms, thirty pounds per hundred acres, and warrants allowed to contain ten per cent. overplus, besides the six per cent. allowances. A number of men formed an association for the purchase of 63,000 acres, a con- siderable part of which was in Bradford County and Athens Town- ship. It covered the land west of the Susquehanna River, north of

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A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania, Part 33

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.] Number of Pages: 726

Author: Murray, Louise Welles, 1854-1931. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Athens, Penna. [i.e., Pa.] : [s.n.]
Number of Pages: 726