USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855 > Part 9
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Buffalo, White Deer, and Potter were in the third election dis- trict; and the first election under the constitution was held at Fought's mill, (near Mifflinburg,) on 3d of November. The Assembly met in Philadelphia on the 28th of November, when Thomas Wharton, junior, was elected President of the Council and State ; John Jacobs Speaker of the House.
Copy of Certificate on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, November 7, 1776.
Agreable to an ordinance in Convention for the State or Com- monwealth of Pennsylvania, this is to certify that the following per- sons were duly elected for the respective offices annexed to their names for the county aforesaid :
Council, John Lowdon ; Assembly, Thomas Hewitt, Samuel Dale, Jacob Fulmer, Robert Fruit, David Robb, and Samuel Wallis ; Sheriff, Jonathan Lodge and James Murray ; Coroner, James Mc- Mahan, John Murray ; Commissioners, William Gray, Philip Cole, Joseph Wallis; Assessors, David Mead, Andrew Moore, James Thompson, James McClure, William Watson, and William Shaw.
(Signed) JOHN BRADY, JAMES MCCLENACHAN, JOHN GRAY, THOMAS ROBINSON, Judges of the Different Districts.
Incident at Derr's Trading-House.
It is singular, after a careful search of contemporary documents, I can find no allusion to the treaty, said to have been held at Fort Augusta, at the time this incident occurred. It appears by contem- porary evidence, that the Indians cut down their corn, and moved off their families and effects, on the Ist of July. Two Seneca In-
97
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.]
dians came to the Great Island, (just below Lock Haven, ) the day before, and the whole party moved off suddenly, to join the Six Nations in the war. That is the last we know of them as residents of the West Branch valley, and our troubles with them then began.
In a letter, dated Paxton, August 27, 1776, John Harris says : "The Indians, to the northward, southward, and westward, are for war against us, as I am informed by a letter from Northumberland county, by their post, two days ago. The Susquehanna Indians are only for peace with us. About twenty Indians, (enemies, ) men, women, and children, have been many days past at Sunbury, and make said report." In all probability this was the party that stopped at Derr's trading-house, and the date of the incident, therefore, August, 1776.
Christian Van Gundy (father of Captain Jacob Gundy, who is my authority,) often related the incident. He said, his father, Christian Van Gundy, senior, lived between John Strohecker's and the late Jacob Spidler's, and kept the ferry there. He thought he was about thirteen years old at the time ; but it appears, by his tomb- stone, that he was born about the Ist of March, 1766, and if thir- teen, it would throw the date beyond that of the death of Captain John Brady, (11th April, 1779.) He could, therefore, have been only ten years of age. To resume his story: he said he saw the Indians come up the river, until they arrived opposite where they lived. They stopped, carried some things ashore, and left the women there, then crossed over to Derr's trading-house. He asked his father for permission to go up to see the Indians. He said he saw Derr knock in the head of a whisky barrel, and give the In- dians tin-cups to drink with. They drank and danced, and showed how they scalped by gestures. Most of them got beastly drunk ; but one would not drink any. He then saw Brady approach, and kick over the barrel, which put an end to the frolic. He said they would seize each other by the hair, and go through the form of scalping, tearing off the scalp with the teeth. (Derr's house stood by the cherry tree in the present garden, and the barrel was just in front. So John Brown, senior, said, who owned the mill property many years.)
R. B. McCabe, Esquire, of Blairsville, Indiana county, (whither William P. Brady removed,) published, some forty years ago, in the
7
98
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1776.
Blairsville Record, some sketches of the life of Captain Samuel Brady, written upon the dictation of one of the Brady family, (so the late Jasper E. Brady informed me,) in which this incident is alluded to. He says Captain John Brady lived on the West Branch, opposite the site of Lewisburg, on the place owned by Honorable George Kremer's heirs. Derr had a small mill on the run that empties into the river below the town, where he supplied the Indians with powder, lead, rum, &c. Brady discovered that the Indians were likely to be tampered with by the British, and proposed making a treaty with the Seneca and Muncy tribes, who were up the West Branch, and were at variance with the Delawares, who were on the North Branch. Captain Brady and two others were selected by the people at Fort Augusta to go after the Senecas and Muncys. The Indians met them in a very friendly manner, and promised to attend at Fort Augusta on the day appointed.
They came down about one hundred strong, and dressed in war costume. The people at the Fort were too poor to give them any- thing of value, and they did not succeed in making a treaty. They left the fort, however, in a good humor, and taking their canoes, proceeded homeward.
Late in the day, Brady thought of Derr's trading-house, and mounting a small mare he had, crossed the North Branch, rode home with all speed. He saw the canoes of the Indians on the bank of the river, near Derr's, and, when near enough, saw the squaws working the canoes over to his side of the river, and when they landed they made for the thickets of sumac which grew on his land. They were conveying the rifles, tomahawks, and knives into the thickets, and hiding them. Brady jumped into a canoe and crossed to Derr's trading-house, where he found the Indians drunk, and a barrel of rum standing on end before Derr's door, with the head out. He instantly overset it and spilled the rum, saying to Derr, " My God, Ludwig, what have you done?" Derr replied, " Dey dells me you gif um no dreet down on de fort, so I dinks as I give um one here, als he go home in bease." One of the Indians told Brady he would one day rue the spilling of that barrel ; and Brady, being well acquainted with the Indian character, was con- stantly on his guard for several years.
On the 4th of July, there was a convention of the associators, at
99
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.]
Lancaster, to elect two brigadiers general. Colonel Hunter's bat- talion was represented by Captain Charles Gillespie, Lieutenant George Calhoun, privates Frederick Stone and Laughlin McCart- ney. Colonel Plunket's, by Major John Brady, Lieutenant Mor- decai Mckinney, privates Paul Geddes and Andrew Culbertson. Colonel Weiser's, by the colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Maclay, privates Seth Matlock and Jonas Yocum. Colonel Potter's, by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Moodie, Captain William Gray, pri- vates James McClenachan and Benjamin Starret. Daniel Roberdeau and James Ewing were elected, Colonel Potter receiving a very respectable vote.
July 29, Walter Clark and John Kelly, in attendance upon the convention at Philadelphia, petition the Council of Safety that they had just grounds to believe that the county would be disturbed by the Indians, and stated that there was not sufficient ammunition in the county for the four battalions already raised.
The original of the following minutes were given to the late Joseph G. Wallace, of Lewisburg, by his grandfather, Captain Wil- liam Gray, of Buffalo Valley, and loaned by him to Sherman Day, who never returned them. I am indebted to John Jordan, junior, Esquire, of Philadelphia, for a printed copy of them, published by the Historical Society among their proceedings in 1846 :
Minutes of the Committee of Safety of Northumberland county, Penn- sylvania,
From February 8th, 1776, to April 17th, 1777.
[From the original MS. lately presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. ]
On the 8th of February, 1776,
The following gentlemen, being previously nominated by the respective townships to serve in this committee, for the county of Northumberland, for the space of six months, met at the house of Richard Malone, viz. :
Augusta township. John Weitzel, Esquire, Alexander Hunter, Esquire, Thomond Ball.
Mahoning township. William Cook, Esquire, 1
Benjamin Allison, Esquire, Mr. Thomas Hewet.
100
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [ 1776.
Turbut township. Captain John Hambright, William McKnight, William Shaw.
Muncey township. Robert Robb, Esquire, William Watson, John Buckalow.
Bald Eagle township.
Mr. William Dunn, Thomas Hughes, Alexander Hamilton.
Wioming township.
Mr. James Maclure, Mr. Thomas Clayton, Mr. Peter Melick.
Buffaloe township. Mr. Walter Clark, removed to White Deer, William Irwin, Joseph Green.
Penn's township.
Moughonoy township.
Potter township. John Livingston, Maurice Davis, John Hall.
White Deer township. Walter Clark, Matthew Brown, Marcus Huling.
The committee proceeded to elect a chairman and clerk, when Captain John Hambright was unanimously appointed chairman during the continuance of this committee, and Thomond Ball clerk.
A return was presented to this committee, signed by William Scull, Esquire, chairman of a meeting of the officers and committee- men of the lower division of this county, held at Northumberland, the 7th instant. certifying that the following gentlemen were duly elected field officers for the battalion of said division, viz :
Samuel Hunter, Esquire, colonel. William Cook, Esquire, lieutenant colonel.
1 Casper Weitzel, Esquire, first major.
Mr. John Lee, second major.
10I
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.]
. Resolved, That we accept of the same as a true return, and that the gentlemen therein mentioned be recommended to the Honorable Assembly or Committee of Safety to be commissioned accordingly.
Complaint being made that the battalion of the upper division of this county have not yet met, so as to have a fair election for field officers,
Resolved, That it be .recommended to the officers, with three committeemen from each township in said division, to meet at the house of John Scudder, on Saturday, 24th instant, to elect their field officers, and return them to this committee on Monday, 26th instant, in order to be recommended to the Committee of Safety.
Resolved, That the absence of several gentlemen chosen captains of companies in this county, (upon their several occasions, ) and such as did appear (from the short notices they have had) not being provided with as regular returns of their officers and companies as we think can authorize our recommendation of said captains or their subalterns to the Assembly or Committee of Safety of this Province, to remedy this inconvenience it is recommended to the committee- men of each township to advertise a meeting of the several compa- nies on Wednesday, 2Ist instant, at such places as the majority of the committeemen shall think most convenient, where, under the inspection of two or more committeemen, each company shall establish their present, or elect other officers, as they shall think proper, and the captains so established or elected shall make returns of their subalterns and companies to this committee on Monday, 26th instant. It is expected that no gentlemen will offer to return a company that does not consist of forty privates with the officers and non-commissioned officers, agreeable to the regulations of our Honorable House of Assembly.
Resolved, That if a committeeman or committeemen be elected officers, one or more magistrate or magistrates present may certify for them ; and if no magistrate be present, then two or more reputa- ble men certifying for the justness of the election will be accepted of.
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee that a petition be presented to the Honorable Assembly of this Province, setting forth the late murder of two of the sheriff's posse, near Wioming, for attempting to act in conformity to the laws.
Resolved, That John Weitzel, Esquire, Alexander Hunter, Es-
102
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY. [1776.
quire, and Mr. Thomond Ball, be a committee to frame said petition and present it to this committee at their next meeting.
The committee then adjourned to Monday, 26th instant, at the house of Laughlin McCartney, in Northumberland town.
Monday, February 26th, 1776.
The committee met, according to adjournment, at the house of Laughlin McCartney, in Northumberland town, Captain John Hambright in the chair.
Messrs. Weitzel, Hunter and Ball presented the form of a petition to the Honorable Assembly, relative to the Connecticut intruders, which was approved of and ordered to be copied fair.
The following gentlemen appeared and produced certificates of their being regularly chosen captains of companies in Colonel Hunter's battalion, and produced lists of their subalterns, compa- nies, &c., viz :
Captain, Nicholas Miller,
First Lieutenant, Christopher Gettig,
Second Lieutenant, Nehemiah Breese,
First Ensign, Gustavus Ross,
Second Ensign, William Sims.
Captain, Hugh White, First Lieutenant, John Forster, Second Lieutenant, Andrew Gibson, Ensign, Samuel Young.
Captain, James McMahon,
First Lieutenant, John Murray,
Second Lieutenant, William Fisher, Ensign, William Baily.
Captain, Charles Gillespie, First Lieutenant, Robert King,
Second Lieutenant, Samuel Fulton,
First Ensign, William Boyd, Second Ensign, John Woodside.
Captain, William Scull, First Lieutenant, Jonathan Lodge, Second Lieutenant, George Colhoun,
103
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.]
First Ensign, William Sawyers,
Second Ensign, George Grant.
Captain, William Clarke,
First Lieutenant, John Teitson,
Second Lieutenant, William McDonald,
First Ensign, John Moll.
Resolved, That the above six companies appear to be full and regularly officered, and that they, with the field officers of that bat- talion, be recommended to the Committee of Safety to receive their respective commissions ; which was done in a letter, of which the following is an abstract :
NORTHUMBERLAND, February 26, 1776.
GENTLEMEN : At a meeting of the committee for this county, held this day, the following gentlemen were returned as duly elected field officers, captains, and subalterns of a battalion raised in this county, viz : the officers mentioned above. The above returns of six com- panies belonging to the battalion expected to be commanded by Samuel Hunter, Esquire, appear to be well and regularly certified as complete companies. There are two or three companies more intend to belong to said battalion, but their captains being at present out of the county, we have received no returns of them. We further have the pleasure to inform you there is another complete battalion formed in this county, intended to be under the command of Wil- liam Plunket, Esquire ; but he with his other field officers being so lately promoted, their companies have not had sufficient time to elect captains in their room, we, therefore, think we cannot at present, with propriety recommend them, but hope in a few days to have the honor of transmitting to you a proper return of said battalion. In the meantime take the liberty to recommend the above named gen- tlemen to be commissioned in the several stations annexed to their names.
And are, gentlemen, with due esteem, your very humble servants. By order of the committee,
JOHN HAMBRIGHT, Chairman.
To the COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, Philadelphia.
Resolved, That as several companies belonging to battalions in this county have not yet brought in their returns, and it may be
10.4
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1776.
inconvenient to call the whole committee together to receive their returns, that the chairman, with four others of the committee, be sufficient to receive such returns, and recommend the officers to the Committee of Safety.
Resolved, That this committee be adjourned to Wednesday, 13th of March next, then to meet at the house of Frederick Stone, in Northumberland town.
Wednesday, March 13, 1776.
The committee met at the house of Frederick Stone, in North- umberland town, agreeable to adjournment, Captain John Ham- bright in the chair, when the following gentlemen made returns of their officers, captains, subalterns, &c., properly certified, viz :
William Plunket, Esquire, Colonel, James Murray, Esquire, Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. John Brady, First Major, Mr. Cookson Long, Second Major.
Captain, Henry Antis, Esquire, First Lieutenant, Thomas Brandon, Second Lieutenant, Alexander Hamilton, First Ensign, John Morison, Second Ensign, James Alexander.
Captain, Samuel Wallis, First Lieutenant, John Scudder, Second Lieutenant, Peter Jones, Ensign, James Hampton.
Captain, John Robb, First Lieutenant, William Watson, Second Lieutenant, Robert Wilson, Ensign, James White. Captain, William McElhatton, First Lieutenant, Andrew Boggs, Second Lieutenant, Thomas Wilson, Ensign, John McCormick.
Captain, William Murray,
First Lieutenant, Richard Irwin,
105
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.]
ยข
Second Lieutenant, Thomas Plunkett, First Ensign, Andrew Robinson, Second Ensign, Benjamin Jordon.
Captain, Simon Cool, First Lieutenant, Thomas Camplen, Second Lieutenant, James Brandon, First Ensign, William King, Second Ensign, James Hewes.
Captain, David Berry,
First Lieutenant, William Hammond,
Second Lieutenant, Joseph Bonser, Ensign, Israel Pershel.
Resolved, That the returns made of the above mentioned field officers and seven companies appear to be regular and well certified as full companies, and that [the] officers be recommended to the Committee of Safety ; which [was] done by letter, of which the fol- lowing is a copy :
NORTHUMBERLAND, March 13, 1776.
GENTLEMEN : Agreeable to the promise of our last of 26th ultimo, we now inform that at a meeting of the committee for this county, held this day, the following gentlemen were returned as fairly elected field officers, captains, and subalterns of a battalion raised in this county, viz :
William Plunket, Esquire, Colonel, and the rest as above.
The above returns of officers for a battalion, consisting of seven companies, appear to us to be regular and well certified to be com- plete companies ; we, therefore, take the liberty of recommending said gentlemen to the respectable Committee of Safety, appointed for the Province of Pennsylvania to receive commissions in the several stations annexed to their names. Being unwilling to trouble the committee, who, we apprehend, are already overburthened with business, we have transmitted an enumeration of grievances, under which we think this county labors, to Samuel Hunter, Esquire, our Representative, and one of your respectable body, who is well ac- quainted with the circumstances of this county, requesting he may,
106
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1776.
if necessary, lay the same before you, and should be glad of your opinion how to act in the different cases therein mentioned,
We are, gentlemen, &c.
Signed by order of the committee,
JOHN HAMBRIGHT, Chairman.
To the COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, Philadelphia.
[Copy of Letter referred to in the above.]
NORTHUMBERLAND, March 13th, 1776.
SIR : We have this day wrote to the Committee of Safety, re- commending officers of another battalion, to wit : Colonel Plun- ket's. We had it in contemplation to write to the Committee of Safety concerning the recruiting parties that have lately been amongst us and taken away some good men, when both officers and men could be sent from this, if any ought to be sent out of the county. It is unnecessary for us to inform you of our situation, as you are so well acquainted with it. There have been different applications to us for recommendations as officers of companies to be raised in this county, to go into immediate service. We are somewhat at a loss what to do ; but would be desirous, if men are to be taken for the continental service out of this county, officers should go with them. We, not considering it proper to trouble the Committee of Safety with our sentiments on this occasion, have taken the liberty to write to you, with an intention to get your advice upon the matter, as we cannot prevent recruiting parties from coming amongst us, or stop men from going into the army out of this county. If more battalions should be raised, or more men wanted, would it not be proper, from our situation as a frontier county, to have two or three companies raised, officered, and disci- plined, and put into immediate pay; and if not wanted nearer home, to be always in readiness to go upon any service on which the continent may have occasion for them. We have sufficient information that Hawkins Boone has enlisted several men in this county, and has declared his having received his authority and money from the Congress for that purpose, and that he is to be a guard to the Congress. By this conduct he has drawn off some men from the different companies of military associators. We have, as a committee of the county, taken liberty to cite him to appear
107
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1776.1
before some of us, and show by what authority he has undertaken so to do ; but he has not appeared. We think when men are enlisted in this county, we have a right to know for what service they are enlisted. It is from our zeal for the good cause now carrying on that we are desirous to know the reason of such procedure. This, if you think proper, you may communicate to the Committee of Safety, and are requesting your advice how to act.
With due respect, your very humble servants.
Signed on behalf of the committee, JOHN HAMBRIGHT, Chairman.
To SAMUEL HUNTER, Esquire, Philadelphia.
Information being given to the committee that a certain Haw- kins Boone is now enlisting men in this county, without giving any satisfactory account for what purpose or service the said men are enlisted,
Resolved, That the chairman of this committee call upon the said Hawkins Boone, by letter or otherwise, to appear before him and two or more of said committee, as he, the chairman, shall think expedient, on such day and at such place as he shall appoint, to show cause why he, the said Boone, enlists men as aforesaid.
Resolved, That this committee be adjourned to Monday, 25th of March, instant, then to meet at the house of Thomond Ball, in Sunbury.
MONDAY, March 25th, 1776.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment at the house of Thomond Ball, in Sunbury, Captain John Hambright in the chair.
Resolved, That it appears to this committee that several recruit- ing officers belonging to the battalions of different counties in this Province, have lately come to this infant frontier county and drained it of a number of useful men, to the prejudice of the same.
Resolved, That for the future no officer or non-commissioned officer be allowed to recruit men in this county, except the officers who are or may be appointed therein.
John Simpson, Esquire, presented a return, wherein appears the following list of officers, the company belonging to Colonel Hun- ter's battalion, viz :
108
.
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[ 1776.
Captain, John Simpson, Esquire. First Lieutenant, Robert Curry.
Second Lieutenant, John Ewart. First Ensign, Thomas Gaskins. Second Ensign, David Mead.
Resolved, That the same appears a full company, and that the gentlemen therein mentioned as officers, be recommended to the Committee of Safety to receive their several commissions ; which was done accordingly, by a letter, of which the following is a copy :
SUNBURY, 27th March, 1776.
GENTLEMEN : Our last to you was of 13th instant, recommending William Plunket, Esquire, colonel, with other officers of a battalion commanded by said colonel. At this meeting, John Simpson, Esquire, presents a return in which it appears that he is captain, Robert Curry, first, and John Ewart, second lieutenants, Thomas Gaskins, first, and David Mead second ensign, which is well certi- fied to be a full company, belonging to Col. Hunter's battalion ; we, therefore, take the liberty of recommending said gentlemen to receive commissions agreeable to the ranks to which the people have appointed them. We are now, gentlemen, to inform you of what we think a grievance to this young and thinly inhabited county, viz : a constant succession of recruiting officers from dif- ferent counties in this Province. Our zeal for the cause of Ameri- can liberty has hitherto prevented our taking any steps to hinder the raising of men for its service, but finding the evil increasing so fast upon us as almost to threaten the depopulation of the county, we cannot help appealing to the wisdom and justice of your com- mittee to know whether the quota of men that may be demanded from this county under their own officers is not as much as can reasonably be expected from it. Whether, at a time when we are uncertain of peace with the Indians, (well knowing that our ene- mies are tampering with them,) and a claim is set up to the greatest part of this Province by a neighboring Colony who have their hos- tile abettors at our very breasts, as well as their emissaries amongst us, is it prudent to drain an infant frontier county of its strength of men ? and whether the safety of the interior parts of the Province would not be better secured by adding strength to the frontiers ?
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.