USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Athens > A history of old Tioga Point and early Athens, Pennsylvania > Part 47
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It was voted that Col. John Franklin, Col. Matthew Scott (a new name), Col. John Jenkins, Gen. Simon Spalding and Isaac Tripp be a Committee to prepare and report necessary business, adjourned to next day, at which time various resolutions were passed. The first and most important was "this Compy. will in every legal and Constitutional way, support their claim and title to the land included in their purchase made of the Natives July 1754." The Treasurer was authorized to col- lect all moneys and dispose of the residue of 600 rights vested in Com- missioners at Hartford in 1785. The resolution of preceding year, requiring claims of proprietors to be exhibited by March 1, 1796, was extended to October 1, 1797. Adjourned with day. The minutes of this meeting are neither signed nor attested. It is a great pity that they are not more particular, especially as it was five years before the Company met again.
The following report is self-explanatory :
"In the House of Representatives, Monday, January 16, 1797.
"The Committee appointed on the part of the Governor's address, respect- ing the territorial controversy at Wyoming, report :
"That they find the principles of the present were organized into system by a meeting said to consist of twelve hundred proprietors of the Connecticut Susquehanna Company convened at Tioga Point on the 18th day of February, 1795, and continued by adjournment to the 20th of the same Month; that Elisha Hyde was chosen Moderator and David Paine Clerk of said Meeting; That a charter of Charles the Second, extending to the South Sea, was read, and sun- dry other acts and deeds by which the company claimed the whole forty-second degree of north latitude for two degrees in longitude, beginning ten miles east of the Susquehanna. The meeting engaged to protect the Lands aforesaid for the real owners, and to recover possession of what may be held in opposition to them. A resolution was passed appointing Commissioners to whom the Claims of the Company were to be exhibited on or before the first of March 1796 among whom are Zebulon Butler, John Franklin, Simon Spalding, John Jenkins and Elisha Satterly of the County of Luzerne. The powers of the said Com- missioners were fully detailed, as to granting Lands, fixing the pay of Sur- veyors and other officers, indemnifying persons who may sustain loss etc., in the service of the company. A Common Seal was to be procured, under which all grants of Land were to be made. John Franklin was appointed Clerk, and David Paine Assistant Clerk, John Franklin was appointed Treasurer, and John Frank- lin and John Jenkins were appointed Agents, to support persons in possession of lands where the Interest of the Company were concerned. John Jenkins was appointed Surveyor for the Company, with power to appoint as many deputies as he should deem necessary. Taxes were directed to be collected and proceed- ings had, as in an independent government, and the design of erecting one openly avouwed.
"Your Committee do not know what passed on the first Monday in June last, the time to which the meeting was adjourned; but they find the country west of the Susquehanna, nearly to the Allegheney river, along the Northern boundary, has been generally surveyed by them. Fifteen surveying parties are represented to have been out at one time. They have appeared in such force as to intimidate every person disposed to support the Laws of Pennsylvania. The act against Connecticut Intruders has not been put in force, although the viola- tion appears to have been general. Commissions from the State have been re- jected and persons holding appointments under the same appear to have acted equivocally. In short the civil authority of the State is laid prostrate, and in every statement which has been laid before your Committee, the names of John
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Franklin, John Jenkins and Simon Spalding stand conspicuous as the principal promoters of these enormities.
"Your Committee are decidedly of opinion, that nothing short of military force can introduce order, support justice, or afford any protection to the grantees under Pennsylvania, along the Northern border of the State.
"They therefore offer the following resolution :
"That a Committee be appointed to bring in a bill, authorizing and requir- ing the Governor of the Commonwealth to order the Militia of the State from the Counties of Northampton, Northumberland and Lycoming to be posted at the South branch & point of Tioga, & such other places as he shall judge ex- pedient; and that he shall commission two or more respectable Majistrates to accompany the Militia aforesaid, whose duty it shall be to see the laws of the State duly executed and observed, and who shall upon the application of any Pennsylvania Land Holder, or their agent, view any force or intrusion of which complaint is made; and if any settlement appears to be made or possession taken without the authority of the Pennsylvania holder or grantee, they shall forthwith direct their Warrant to the officer commanding the whole, or any de- tachment of the Militia aforesaid, requiring him with the force under his Com- mand, immediately to abate and destroy all such settlement, and remove all such intruders from the premises; and also directing the Supreme Court and the Courts of Quarter Sessions & Common Pleas of the counties of Northampton, Northumberland & Lycoming, upon the application of any person, being a party to any suit in Luzerne county & making oath or affirmation that he verily be- lieves that justice will not be done to him in Luzerne county aforesaid, or that he apprehends himself in personal danger by attending in the said County, to direct a writ in the nature of a certiorari, to the Court of Luzerne County, after the issuing of which writ, the cause shall be proceeded upon in one of the counties of Northampton Northumberland or Lycoming, as the writ of removal may direct ; and also for the altering of the boundaries of Luzerne and Lycoming counties by extending the North one Degree west line until it crosses the East branch of the Susquehanna near the mouth of Wyaloosing Creek, & from thence up the east side of the same to the Northern boundary of the State."-Report of Committee respecting the Connecticut intrusion.
Clement Paine again takes the pen :
"I arrived July 1. David has been absent most of the time, (unquestionably looking after townships) and I have been occupied building We are erecting an elegant house and stable, which will make an uncommon appearance in this country. The titles of our lands are growing in repute. A great many persons of respectability, property and influence in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont have purchased and made themselves inter- ested in the business, not through inadvertence, but in a full knowledge of all the leading circumstances, and a firm persuasion that the title derived from the Susquehanna Company is equitable, just and genuine. Leffert Lefferts Esq. a capital merchant of New York was here a few days since, some time ago he purchased one township and a quarter of another adjoining our lands, and he has engaged us to allot it and promote the settlement, drawing on him for money for the purpose. * * However flattering present prospects are here, it is not impossible they may suddenly be blasted, but that they are at present flattering is absolutely certain."
At this time David was in Connecticut on business of the Susque- hanna Company. The Government of Connecticut were taking meas- ures to obtain a rehearing on the Trenton decision, as it was discovered that important papers, favorable to Connecticut, were suppressed by the Pennsylvanians at Trenton. "Should Connecticut proceed with spirit in the business, as it is thot they will," writes Clement, "the price of our land will be much enhanced." He, therefore, urges his brother Seth, the Charleston printer, to advertise through pamphlets, giving complete history and investigation of the matter.
345
THE INTRUSION LAW-SOCIAL AMENITIES
About this time, their house being completed, the Paine brothers became "entirely disconnected in business." The house was arranged for two families, Clement took a "small decent family" into his outer room, who cooked for him and his family; he says David boarded in the neighborhood. Clement writes :
"The Government of Pennsylvania continues to hold up terror to the people who hold lands in this country under the state of Connecticut. It is reported that a resolution has lately passed the house proposing to authorize the Gov- ernor to station a body of militia in this country, for the purpose of expelling all settlers (since the Trenton decree) under any title not derived from this state, and for supporting the Pennsylvania claimants and other purposes, subservient to those ends."
He states that the Intrusion Law passed two years before has never been put into execution. Speaking of the unreasonable and un- constitutional laws passed by Pennsylvania, he says:
ELIZABETH MURRAY A belle of 1797
"At an early period of this settlement a law was passed that any person settling here under Connecticut title should on conviction suffer death; one individual only was prosecuted, and he was supposed to escape. Notwithstanding all these violent proceedings there are not less than 12 or 15000 Con- necticut claimants now here. It seems to be the policy of Penn- sylvania to pass violent laws and spread terrifying reports. Many people are of opinion violence will be made use of before the dispute is settled. But I can hardly persuade myself that this state will attempt a thing so perfectly and amazingly ab- surd, as to send on troops to dispossess 12 or 15000 people. God only knows what will be the result. * * * We at present live quite agreably, soon after my return we rented, then purchased a convenient house in the compact part of town, and leased it to a very genteel family who removed here some time since from near Boston, with whom we have since boarded. * * * We have in the place several young ladies, and some young gentlemen of very decent polite accomplish- ments-enough to form a clever party for dancing or other social amusements. And it is remarked by strangers that we have the most genteel collection of young people that can be found for some hundred miles distance.31 We shall continue to prosecute our business notwithstanding the hostile intentions of our enemies. This is the general intention of the people."
Clement was now studying law and reports farming lands acquired and in process of cultivation. Also many new buildings proposed in town, especially a handsome edifice for accommodation of an Academy beneath, and an elegant arched ball room in the upper story.
So after all of Old Fogy's somewhat modern protests, the sec- ond story of the first Academy was planned for Terpsichore's shrine! It is a matter of admiration that this handful of people in an acknowl- edged precarious situation should have turned their attention so early to a superior form of education. A school, of course, had already been established (see later chapter).
31 Doubtless Noah Murray's four daughters were among these genteel young people, therefore the silhouette is here given of Elizabeth Murray. On Christmas Day of 1797, wed- dings were in order in the Murray family, and perhaps in some others. Abner, Elizabeth and Mary, with their chosen mates, repaired to 'Squire Buck's at Chemung, and all were married; Abner to Dorothea Harris of Athens, Elizabeth to John McConnell of Newtown, and Mary to Ambrose Collins, then a resident of Athens, later of St. Louis. Elizabeth became the mother of Murray McConnell, who achieved fame and distinction in later years as one of the founders of Illinois. It is a great pity that 'Squire Buck's records have been lost to sight.
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
SILK COAT OF FERDINAND MCDUFFEE Beau Brummel of Tioga Point
How many families were there now, and where were their houses? As to the people the best way to de- cide about them is to read the Tioga assessment for 1796 (see Appendix). No doubt the young men and maidens were gathered from Sheshequin, Ulster, and the surrounding coun- try; of course, Benedict and Elias Satterlee, the young McDuffees, Ferdi- nand, who was called the Beau Brummel of the set- tlement ; the Spaldings, and perhaps the Backus and Lindley girls.
All through these first years there had been a steady stream of emigration passing through Tioga Point. Generally tarrying; for here were to be found not only plenty of accommodations, while looking around, but also agents interested in the sale of lands; usually men thoroughly acquainted with the prospective advantages of the Phelps and Gorham, and the Boston Purchase. Here, too, were found "the men who by their resistance to Pennamite oppression, had given name and fame to the Susquehanna and Wyoming."
The books of the Susquehanna Company and the Luzerne County records show the most amazing transfers of property, and indicate a shifting population quite beyond ordinary comprehension. There are some telling and puzzling descriptions, too. Patterson's location, as deeded to Robert McAlhoe, is described as "a lot of 400 acres, opposite Hollenback's and Harris' Store,32 formerly occupied by John Miller,
32 Harris' store was evidently established on lot No. 13 probably after the death of John Miller, who had built a store there (now Crandall lot). John Harris' identity has not been proven, but there is documentary evidence that he was of the Harrisburg family, and was the one who had a corner lot assigned by Hollenback and Lockhart. He was a resident of "Tyoga Point" in 1789; there is no further record until 1796, when he purchased of Josiah Lockhart store supplies to the amount of £11. 17s. 9d. One year later, this bill being unpaid, Lockhart swore that this was a faithful account, on which he had received no satisfaction, which was at- tested by Col. Adam Hubley. The attested account was forwarded to Matthias Hollenback with the following characteristic letter: "My good Friend: I send you an account proven against John Harrise, and I Expect you will Doe all you Can to recover the Same and for your trouble give me as Mutch After you being Satisfied if it were a Shute of Close or I will Give you one &c I keep in a pretty good State of health and Allwise Bussied and as pros- perous as Ever I could Wish to see you Please to remember my Compliments to Mrs Holin- back and Ms. Hollinback; be sure you try to recover this Debt, if we shoud Drink it all in Madera Wines these with my Best wishes for your Prosperity & with respect yr Humble Servt Josiah Lockhart .- Lancaster Augst 13th 1797." It appears that Harris had expected this to be paid from an old account placed in Hollenback's hands for collection; we do not know if it was settled. Harris did not long continue the store at the Point, as in 1798 he was living on Cayuga Lake, whence he wrote: "I want you to inform me respecting the Agentcey for the Indians-as I conceite that by the Racamendation of you to Col. Pickren and him to put in a word for me to his Excellency will do the Business as I flater myself I can Soplie that Office as well as Som of the candadates that is pushing for it-you know ho I mean. I am your Humble Servt, John Harris."
347
FEARS OF EXPULSION
a grant of Waterman Baldwin." Julius Tozer in 1795 owned the prop- erty now occupied by C. M. Myer and part of O. L. Haverly's. John Shepard in 1794 and '95 has become an extensive land owner in and near Athens. John Paul Schott relinquished his property to Job Heath in 1793.
Copies from both mentioned records were made by Edward Herrick, Jr., and Rev. David Craft, and can be found in Tioga Point Museum.
There is one noticeable record of "Suffering Rights," as follows :
"Betsy Matthewson in 1795 was granted 300 acres in Columbia twp. in con- sequence of her sufferings at Wyoming in the contest between Penna. and Con- necticut claimants in 1783; this claim entered March 19, 1795."
In March, 1797, the settlers were greatly agitated hearing that a bill had passed the House of Representatives requiring the Governor to issue a proclamation commanding all persons who had settled after decree of Trenton to leave their possessions ; and authorizing the Gov- ernor to raise 2,000 to 10,000 troops to be stationed where they could expel all those who did not peaceably withdraw. (See accompanying letter. )
"Athens March 20, 1797.
"Col Jenkins Respected Sir. From the best information I have obtained concerning Wyoming controversy, I have reason to believe the Assembly will authorize Gov. to send troops among us. The consequences must for the pres- ent operate against us, the final issue may be favorable. If the President of the U. S. can, as has been suggested, legally interfere, that would be a circumstance in our favor in the public mind. We have collected money for expenses of send- ing Mr Bingham & some others as messengers to the President. I do not feel as though troops would be stationed among us this season, therefore am pro- ceeding with my buildings and improvements and shall pursue my lawful bus- iness until obliged to stop. It is not reasonable, very improbable, & hardly pos- sible that the U. S. will allow ten or fifteen thousand staunch supporters of or- der and good government to be driven from their habitations- by a few over- bearing land jobbers. If they should, we may with propriety say the Fathers and guardians of the people have become their oppressors, have broken the social compact which holds society together, and are no longer to be considered as protectors, of our most sacred rights & privileges. I have faith that when the officers of Federal Government understand the proceedings of our enemies that they will interfere in our behalf. We are about building an Academy- have about $1000. subscribed. I am for prosecuting the building immediately, some are discouraged by the aforementioned reports. The erection of such a building would certainly be much in our favor, and have a good effect on the public mind.
"Please give advice as to building and business in general concerning us as a company (Susquehanna). I have shut the office, and secured the books and papers which will be kept secret until further orders, Considering it would be good policy in our enemies to destroy the records of the company, I con- ceived they might plan a private expedition to save them, therefore thought prudent to secrete them. It is suggested that, should nothing now be done, some of the principals in company will be taken and put under bonds, among which are particularly mentioned, Franklin, Spaulding, Jenkins, Satterlee and Paine. I am willing to rise or fall with you. As the Lord liveth & suffers me to live, I will hold on and hold out unto the end, and persevere in just and legal methods to attain our just rights. I am ready and willing to perform any service in my power for the good of the public, and only wait to be taught my duty. With respect and esteem
"DAVID PAINE."
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OLD TIOGA POINT AND EARLY ATHENS
Other provisions were made to execute the Intrusion Law with extreme rigor. Great distress was anticipated, and Clement Paine wrote: "Our only consolation will be that we have many thousands of companions." The bill was rejected by the Senate, and the appre- hensions for the time subsided, and it was thought Pennsylvania's un- successful struggle might be estimated as a favorable circumstance to the settlers. The boast was made that after the Intrusion Law was passed more sales were made than at any previous time; Paine again writes :
"If Connecticut as a state interferes in the matter as in duty bound to do; probably a great number of wealthy farmers in that state will become purchasers of these lands. Col Franklin has now gone to Connecticut to aid our cause in the legislature. David as clerk accompanied him."
Clement was busily occupied clearing and improving land, as doubt- less were many other settlers, in most hopeful fashion. Franklin's visit to Connecticut was disappointing. David Paine thus reports :
"The people concerned in the Susquehanna business in this country depend on us who live on the ground. They make fair promises to induce Franklin and others to come and attend to the business-when they get here they are wholly neglected as respects the money part of the business-while we who live on, the ground continue our exertions, the non-residents will not advance a farthing.'
He advised Franklin and Jenkins to return home and report that they had neglected to bring forward the business for want of support; thinking such a report might incite the non-residents to advance some money. They found Col. Ezekiel Hyde, recently made Superintendent of Surveys, and others selling Connecticut rights to Pennsylvania claimants at four and six cents-"or what they can get." They made pompous promises to Col. Franklin, but performed nothing. "We that are on the ground must look out for ourselves," reports David. What disheartening news for the little settlement. Their representatives unable to collect a cent of money, business of every kind dead, and people dispirited and gloomy. A great stagnation of mercantile and speculative business was the universal complaint throughout the Northern States.
The Paines seem to have opened a store in a small way, probably in their own house, as was the fashion, previous to 1798. At this period Pennsylvania is compared to a farmer who exhibits scarecrows to terrify the birds feeding on his field, but does not succeed in driving them entirely away ; a happy simile. However, for twelve years Tioga Point was occupied by the Connecticut people unmolested by more than rumors of various Pennsylvania claims. They built their little homes, cleared and cultivated the land, reared large families, and began to pro- vide for their education. Their subsistence was by hunting and fishing and from their crops.
In 1797 the first ark was built far up the Conhocton and suc- cessfully ran the river. Not only this country, but that far below was greatly excited over the navigation of the Susquehanna River, and the great extent of country and trade thus to be opened up. It seems
349
ADVANCE OF PENNSYLVANIA CLAIMS
more than probable, judging from knowledge of the people and from existing letters, that this possibility of navigation was one of the causes of the next epoch in the history of the Point, the coming of the Pennsylvania Claimants, although doubtless the Intrusion Law at once led Lockhart to see that he now had, as he thought, a chance to enforce his claim without resistance. Therefore he was on the lookout for a purchaser, and had applied to Matthias Hollenback for assistance, as per following letter :
.
My good Friend
Show your letter of bitte figth v197 by these gentlemen whome you recommended. I looke your Advice and told the Avintes and Excepted two lots for you lown toto and some more to have on rent or regulation one for you to be free they Were the mount Hourourable fen themen I loud mete with as I have been Many Times attached by Many for to purchase it yet I Befest. Smelt with the best before they Came Some week Our Fermans Which. men offered mes one Way more but not to tatiofing and & Expect this gentleman to be the Very men to Lette all the trables in that Country I have had more from the states of new youth that wants to Durch als more lands at tornethey 3220 Queres Ihave not time to Write at Oft more then our writings w only get an Article and y wo loto is excep! and thereow a dell time to Lette all then Iwill write More fully I Team in as good health at fas for many years and has to young men in the those Iam not to Confined I Expect to de you in the City this Winter as Fintend to make a food thay I Lel More goods then ber IC give my Compliments to mero Hollinback & your Daughter and Sincerely Wishes you. every good Hapiness and Temains With respect yr_
Lancafter Dumb 1 # 1797 Humble Jer JEfish Lockhart Mathew Follenbauch Coor
350
THE LINDSLEY FAMILY
After the foregoing chapter was in type we learned of a manuscript concerning this family in the possession of Mrs. S. W. Badger, a resident of Athens to-day. This is a copy of the gleanings of Mrs. E. B. Beaumont (deceased), a descendant of Col. Eleazer Lindsley. The records say that this name, both in England and America, has always had as many spellings as it has letters, father and son often using different ones. It was originally derived from the numerous linden trees with which the family lands abounded in Linddeseya, later Lindsaye and now Lincolnshire. The original emigrant John Lindsley came from England (near London) and settled in Guilford, Conn., where he died in 1630. The family were all strong Presbyterians, therefore persecuted; Frances, son of John, was a friend and staunch adherent of Cromwell, after whose death he decided to follow his family to America, about 1659. A few years later, during the troubles between different Connecticut Colonies, the brothers, Jobn and Frances, joined a band of the disaffected, and purchased a large tract of land in New Jersey, and laid out the city of Newark. John, son of Frances, was the first boy born in the new settlement, and the proprietors gave him a tract of land where Orange now stands. Later, Frances bought a tract covering the present site of Morristown, where he died at the age of 104. Colonel Eleazer Lindsley (as he and his descendants have spelled it) was a great grandson of Frances, being a son of Jonathan, son of Jonathan, son of Frances, as found in Connecticut and New Jersey State records. Eleazer married Mary Miller, granddaughter of Thomas Miller and Margaret Wallace, and had two sons and six daughters. Mrs. Hopkins, Mrs. Backus and Mrs. Paine have already been mentioned. One of the sons was also a temporary resident of Athens. Anna m. Dr. Ezekiel Mulford and had thirteen children. According to notes of Edward Herrick, Jr., the Mulfords also lived at Athens, and died there of the "cold fever." They were the great great grandparents of Mrs. Badger. Eleazer Lindsley was in active ser- vice all through the Revolution, attaining to the rank of Colonel; was aide-de-camp to Wash- ington, and finally on the staff of General Lafayette, who became a personal friend and visited at the Lindsley home some weeks. On his departure he bestowed upon his host a ring from his finger and a court vest, which was preserved by the family by being cut up into pincushion covers.
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