USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. II > Part 36
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Nor age, nor wealth, nor rank, nor birth,
Avail'd with these true sons of earth, The offspring of the valley ; For all the lore of ages past,
What cared the statesman with his last, Or hero of the Alley ?
At close of day, no tired horse (Covered with sweat,-with bawling hoarse,) More gladly reached home ; Each doff'd his civic oaken crown, First took a dram, then laid him down, And dream'd of joys to come
CANTO SECOND.
Now Titan raised his flaming head And drowsy sentinels to bed Retired from irksome duty ;
For they were placed, as it behooved, To watch if tory-goods were moved, That they might share the booty.
The most tumultuous instant seize, With venom'd rage, on whom they please; The People cannot err! Can it be wrong, in Freedom's cause, To tread down Justice, Order, Laws, When all the mob concur ?
But now, through Mitchell's brazen throat,
Faction, with mean, abusive note, Proclaims a grand town meeting, Where printers' devils, barbers' boys, Apprentice lads, express their joys, The council members greeting.
Each vagrant from the whipping-post, Or stranger stranded o. the coast, May here reform the State : And Peter, Mich, and Shad-row Jack, And, Pompey-like Mcl 7, in black, Decide a people's ?
The trained bands of Ge .. nantown With clubs and bayonets came down, And swell'd the motley train ; Resolv'd to change, like him of old, Old rags and lampblack, ¿ into gold, Or chaos bring again.
And now the State-house yard was full
And orators, so grave and dull, Appear'd upon the stage : But all was riot, noise, disgrace,
* General and Governor Reed-and we do not mean to endorse the slurs.
t The firm of Robert Morris and Blair McClenachan were reproached and threatened and had to get into Judge Wilson's house for defence. Vide " Fort Wilson." in the Annals of Philadelphia.
# The materials of continental money.
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And Freedom's sons, o'er all the place, All raised the hand, with mighty burst In bloody frays engage.
Sagacious Matlack strove in vain To pour his sense in Dutchman's brain ; With every art to please- Observ'd, that as the money fell, Like Lucifer, to lowest hell, Tho' swift,-yet by degrees,-
So should it rise, and goods should fall,
Month after month, till one and all, Might buy as cheap as ever ;- That they lost all, who grasp'd so much, (This, Col. Bull* declared in Dutch,) But fruitless each endeavour.
With solemn phiz and action slow Arose the chairman, Roberdeau, t And made the humane motion, That Tories, with their brats and wives,
Should flee, to save their wretched To their prime mover, Joseph Reed, lives, From Sodom into Goshen. "The virtuous and sublime ;"'- So virtuous, that he cheats his friends, Sublimely cheats, to gain his ends, And glories in the crime.
He central stood, and all the ground With people cover'd, him surround- And so it came to pass, That as he spoke with zeal upon it, He turn'd his face to those in front- To those behind, his back.
This gave offence - his voice was drown'd- He should have turn'd himself all round, Like whirligig in socket ; Or, if this did his art surpass, At least, he should have took his end And put it in his pocket.
Then Hutchinson, that bully calf, (A goose has got more sense by half,) With croaking, frog-like note, Approved the motion, and demands The People's sense, by show of hands, Might save or damn the vote.
Of loud acclaim, (the case revers'd- All lift their hands again,) Blue Bayard grinn'd, that long-ear'd ass- With mobs, he saw it was a farce To reason, or explain.
But thoughtful Rush, and artful Gaff,
And Bryan, (too much vex'd to laugh, ) Were fill'd with grief and pity ; And soon dismiss'd the rabble rout- Concluding what they met about With choosing a Committee.
Hoping to get them more in tune Before the 25th of June,
Which was the chosen day For them to meet by sound of drum, Unless the enemy should come, And make them run away.
To tell their tale, with haste they speed
Ambition is his darling theme, Integrity an idle dream,
That vulgar minds may draw. At home, abroad, with friend, or wife In public, and in private life, The tyrant's will is law.
Of deep resentments, wicked, bold, The lust of blood, of power, of gold, Possess alternate sway. And Johnston's bribes had surely won Rebellion's pale-faced, matchless son, Had mammon ruled that day.
But time would fail me to rehearse, In my poor, limping, doggrel verse, His character divine : Suffice it, that in Dunlap's page, || Drawn by himself, from age to age, It shall with splendour shine.
* Of Chester county. t A militia general in the war-also a board merchant.
# A nick-name of T. Matlack.
§ The British commissioner-who, it is said, failed to bribe Gov. Reed.
I Vide the letter from Cleves, on the Lower Rhine, in packet, May 25, 1779. VOL. II .- 2 0 26*
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Occurrences of the War of Independence.
I have often heard it stated by persons, who went through the trials of that period, that we, their descendants, have no just concep- tions of their state of suffering and deprivations. Their clothing was of the coarsest form-of home-made-made by the female's spinning done in the house; they also made all the shirting and sheeting, &c. Where so much was to be done, it was necessary that all should help; to this cause, I know that two lads, both after- wards commodores in the United States' navy, were both taught to be good spinners on the little wheel. Tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar. and all kinds of spices, were wholly gone in almost all country places. Sage tea and teaberry were used as substitutes. Salt was greatly needed and could not be procured. When sometimes smug- gled into the country, it was done in women's pockets. Salt pans were settled all along the seacoast, to make salt at expensive rates. In many places where the armies passed, flour was not to be had for bread. People in Virginia and elsewhere were obliged to live on pounded corn. The mills were equally dismantled by both of the warring parties. I have known persons, in very respectable and decent families, that found very great difficulties to keep themselves even passably clothed. Women indulged in no fineries or changes then ; all pretence to fashion was wholly out of the question. Wherever the armies were to pass and forage, &c., as through New Jersey, and Virginia, and the Carolinas, the farmers lost nearly all they had that was eatable or movable; their horses were pressed, and their cows and swine taken ; they had no spirit to sow seed, or to till their grounds. There was no regular business in any thing; even apprentices were not safe, for they had to serve their turns in the several requisitions. There was, indeed, a mighty spirit of resistance raised and maintained by the men of that day; but the women felt the war extremely-and both men and women were most heartily glad, when they at last saw that their struggles were to have an end. It was an occasion of extrava- gant and universal joy. It could never have been borne so long as it was, but that the practice of war then gave long seasons of respite during the several winters, allowing time to the worn down to recruit their strength and spirits, and giving time to resort to new enter- prises, and to new means of recruiting their forces, &c. Besides all this, it was almost a universal expectation, that every next cam- paign would surely end the contest. None foresaw or feared a term of seven years !
In our present repose and consciousness of strength and security, we can hardly conceive the state of excitement and concern daily felt in the revolutionary period. A friend of mine, who was an ob- servant and intelligent boy, dwelling on a farm near the Yellow springs, in Chester county, has related to me some of the incidents of that time. Their ordinary religious Sabbath worship was irregu- lar and broken up; their male neighbours, every here and there, were absent on militia service. The talk and greeting of the neigh
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bours, were generally about the absentees; news was very uncer- tain, and yet anxiously inquired after. News " by flood and field" occasionally came, which stirred and disturbed the whole commu- nity ; sometimes it came saddening, of some one or other mishap befallen, to some one of their families. When the news of the landing of the British at the head of Elk, and of their advance upon the Brandywine, occurred, every family was put upon the tiptoe of expectation and alarm ; besides which, new calls were made upon the people to go to head-quarters as soldiers, guides, or wagoners. In the absence of the males of the families, women and children were full of apprehension ; floors were taken up, and out-houses made into concealed places for their most valuable articles of portable cha- racter. They had all undefined apprehensions of being plundered and abused. At and after the time of the battle of Brandywine, the country could be seen all in motion, in the rapid coming and going of men on horseback. In time could be seen numerous bands and parties of wearied and discomfited soldiers-none of them aiming at order, and some few of them without officers or arms. Some were going to an assigned point on the Schuylkill ; but several were resolved to make their escape to their homes; many of them were beggars for some refreshments, and all was cheerfully given to them which they could spare. For many nights, the family set up all night, from wakeful apprehension. The father of the family I describe had been a Quaker, so strictly trained, that his sister, who was a preacher, would not wear her caps of any other than brown linen-white being a condemned refinement-for dress sake! Such a man, although averse to war, had by this time become so far war- like, that he had gone for the country, and was actually from home in the ranks, where he took a severe cold from sleeping on the ground, and died.
On one of the nights of apprehension, there came to the house a small company of cavalry. Their presence was disquieting any how ; but when they took off their military cloaks and displayed the red coats of British officers, their dread was irrepressible. The mind said, what shall we do, and to what is this visit of the enemy to tend! They saw the dismay, and soon quieted them by saying they were American officers in disguise, out upon a tour of recog- nizance near to the enemy. Every now and then, after the winter campaign was deemed closed, and the British were gaily revelling in Philadelphia, the dread of British foraging parties was felt. Any thing of military aspect, and approaching them on horseback, was quickly interpreted as British assailants, and set the whole family in commotion. Sometimes they were parties of Americans, half as clamorous for needed succours, as the British themselves would pro- bably have been. Men acting as farmers, felt as if they had no security for reaping what they might plant. The heart was heavy and reluctant at its wonted toil. Mothers, acting in the absence of their husbands, looked upon their children, and wondered if their
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fathers should ever return to foster and rear them. Sad forebodings were but too often true! Such facts, thus faintly expressed, have been but too true a picture all over our extended country of united colonies, wherever the approach of the hostile bands could be appre- hended, or were realized. Those who lived upon the frontiers, were kept in Indian alarms; and those along the Atlantic dreaded British invasion and ravages. Their march was always a cause of desolation and anxiety, even where their discipline was intended to check any individual and family aggressions.
Among the marvels of the revolution may be mentioned the remarkable fact, that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the last three surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, should both die on the 4th of July, 1826, at a day and a period peculiarly set apart as the semi-centennial anniversary! Jefferson was ill, and expressed a wish to live to that eventful day! If Mr. Carroll, the other last survivor, had also died, the epic story would have been complete.
When the mind is awakened to the consideration of singularities, it may find an increase of them: for instance, the following facts are equally peculiar respecting the succession of our several presidents :
John Adams died in his ninety-first year, and was eight years older than Thomas Jefferson ; Thomas Jefferson was eight years older than James Madison ; James Madison was eight years older than James Monroe ; and James Monroe was eight years older than John Quincy Adams.
It has been calculated, (that Mr. Jefferson at thirty-three, and John Adams at forty, when they signed the Declaration of Independence,) the chance of their both living fifty years longer, and dying at their expiration, is only one in twelve hundred millions! Again, James Monroe, having strangely died on the Independence day of 4th July, 1831, makes up the three chances to be, by calculation, as 18,268 millions, to one mill !!
Among other peculiarities of our early presidents, it may be no- ticed, that the first five of them-they being the entire number of the revolutionary men-all ended their several terms of service in the sixty-sixth year of their age! and John Q. Adams himself, had he been re-elected for a second term, would have also ended in his sixty-sixth year! Did he mark the turning point in our national career ? Nous verrons! The facts are these, viz. :
Washington, born February 22d, 1732-inaugurated 1789; term of service expired in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
John Adams, born October 19th, 1735-inaugurated 1797; term of service expired in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
Thomas Jefferson, born April 2d, 1743-inaugurated 1801; term of service expired in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
James Madison, born March 4th, 1751-inaugurated 1809; term of service expired in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
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Occurrences of the War of Independence.
James Monroe, born April 2d, 1759-inaugurated 1817; term of service expired in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
John Adams was on the committee of five who were charged to draft the Declaration. He was peculiarly ardent in the cause of in- dependence ; and was considered as the leader therein of the New England delegates whom he held to his then desperate measures, as they were generally considered. He watched their actions, and misgivings, as a shepherd governs the wanderings of his fold! In truth, Jefferson gave the Declaration by his proper hand-writing to the congress ; but as truly, Adams gave it to the nation! The place of writing the Declaration has been differently stated. Some have said that it was at Jefferson's chamber, in the Indian Queen inn; but Mrs. Clymer, with whom Mr. Jefferson boarded, at the south-west corner of Seventh and High streets, said it was there, and to settle that point, Dr. Mease wrote to Mr. Jefferson, and had it confirmed as at her house.
It may be mentioned as remarkable, the coincidence of action apparent in the conduct of those two leading and prominent states of the revolution-Virginia and Massachusetts. Both of them have supplied more public officers than any of the other states. They might justly claim parentage of the union. The great drama of the revolution opened in Lexington in one, and closed at Yorktown in the other. The first signer of the Declaration of Independence was from one; the signer of the Constitution of the United States from the other. The great leaders of the Federal and Democratic parties-Adains and Jefferson-resided in Massachusetts and Vir- ginia, each was vice president and each was president; each a signer of the Declaration of Independence ; each a negotiator of his country's treaties in Europe; and finally, both, after serving their country in their lives, were gathered to their immortality on the same day in which, fifty years before, they had together set their names to the freedom of their country.
I cannot but remember with what deep and stirring interest I used to sit by and hear the recitals of those who had been actors in, or observers of, the times and incidents occurring in the revolution- ary war. It all seemed to me as a time and a drama passed by -no longer the din and the perils of war existed-all around me was peace and smiling plenty. It seemed to me like the stillness and repose after the great storm had passed by. I felt eager to look upon some of the remains of the desolating epoch; but little or none remained to the eye; and what I could contemplate and con- sider, came home to the feelings through the ear -- by hearing the recitals of those who had been familiar with the incidents. What I failed thus to get at closely, concerning the war and its people con- cerned, I came at last, in subsequent years, to see and feel on other objects, seen gliding down the stream of time, like floating drift-wood, and which it has been my pleasing business, and useful occupation, to snatch from the ebbing tide, and to warehouse (or chronicle) as
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the relics and remains of olden time-gathering up for my own con templation, and for the wonderment of another generation, the passing and dissolving characteristics of men and things of a passing and a dissolving age. "Oh, sweet is a tale of the olden time !" How grateful to the mind to have it stored with images, all its own and which others can only possess by gratefully rece ving as a kindness and as a boon !
They who are now alive, and remember the termination of the last war-who recollect what joy they felt at its annunciation ; and how often they felt gloomy and foreboding concerning its successful end, while in its actual progress, may have some faint conception of what the peace of 1783 was to our forefathers. Fighting with such vast odds against them as they had for seven long years, it then seemed as if it would never have an end! They who had screwed up their courage and their strength, again and again, for one more, and yet one more still, of exhausted efforts, looked out with per- petual longings-" making the soul sick with hope deferred," for some happy chance, or eventful providence, to bring their hopes and fears to a close. When it at last came, it came overwhelming ; and was expressed, not so much in tumultuous joy, as in that comfort- able sinking of the soul which one feels in fainting, after one has been struggling for life in the whelming waters, and at last reaches the shore, and then sinks into rest, from a sense of safety and thank- fulness. Many who had heard of the recitals of the revolutionary war, had secretly " wished that Heaven had made them such a man," in such a time, only for the sake of seeing and feeling what our fathers did in so eventful a struggle ; and when the second war came, they were not sorry to have so lively a picture brought home to their bosoms and interests ; but when it came to questions of landings and predatory invasions, like those at Baltimore, and the threatened renewal of a landing at Elkton, and a march upon Phila- delphia, it became a heart-sickening affair to many, who held up to their imaginations the successful demonstration upon Washington city, and its conflagration. Some stout hearts might sigh for the trial, in the hopes of their personal renown ; but the mass, the great crowd of society, it might be seen, had sincere desires for a speedy and a lasting peace-thus proving that war is not congenial to the mass of society and business people. Some of these facts at which I have hinted should be remembered, as a sedative to any future calls of the people for military enterprise and glory ! It is a bad business, for the social system, at all times !
Incidents of the Revolutionary War, as seen and noted by a widow lady of respectable character, of tory feelings and prejudices- dwelling at Burlington, New Jersey.
The following facts are taken from a MS. diary of Mrs. M. M. preserved in her family, and will comprise such selections as seem best calculated for the public eye.
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December 6th, 1776. Being on a visit at Haddonfield, I heard from a person from Philadelphia, that the people there were in great commotion-the English fleet being approaching in the river, and the inhabitants removing into the country ; that several of good repute had been forming a design to fire the city, and being summoned be- fore congress were strictly enjoined to abandon their purpose. My heart died within me at the news. On my journey home, I was told that the inhabitants of our little town (Burlington) were hastering away to the country, and that my nearest neighbours were already gone. I was ready to faint at the intelligence. I thought of my lonely situation, with no husband to cheer, with the voice of love, my sinking spirits-my little flock too, without a father. A flood of tears, alone, came to my relief, and I raised my heart to my God. Finally, I was favoured to reach home, and to find my family safe and well.
December 7th. A letter from my next neighbour's husband, at camp, warned her to be gone in haste-news comes from many that the British army is advancing towards us.
December 8th. Every day begins and ends with the same accounts, and we now hear that the regulars are at Trenton.
December 10th. My brother set off, but soon returned, saying he could not get away, as he heard that the Hessians were entering the town. A number of galleys have been lying before the town, for two days past.
December 11th. A party of our riflemen passed through our town going over to Bristol, saying they were forced onward before the Hessians. John Lawrence and two or three others thought best, for the safety of the town, to go out and meet them. The Hessian colonel received them civilly, and promised safety to the people. Doctor Odell made himself useful as interpreter, in talking French with the colonel. 'I'he terms were settled, that they should receive unmolested quarters and refreshments, and that none should conceal arms or ammuniton for sinister purposes. If any concealments were discovered in any of the houses, such houses should be liable to pillage. The troops remained without the town in their ranks, while the officers came into town and dined with friend Lawrence, intend- ing to await there the determination of the commodore of the gon- dolas, to whom Captain Moore had been sent from the town, to confer with him for orders in our extremity. The wind being high, he could not communicate, and presently the galleys got before the town ready for firing. Then John Lawrence and William Dillwyn went down to the wharf and waved their hats, and to their astonish- ment, they were fired upon. This result being reported to the colonel, he and his officers, and their body guard, went out to make their ob- servations. These being occasionally seen from the gondolas, and they thinking the town was filled with Hessians, they set up a cannonade till near dark-sometimes along the main street, and sometimes across it. Several houses were struck and a little
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damaged, but not one living creature was injured ! At night the gondolas fell down a little below the town. While these things were occurring, we, who lived upon the green bank, went with our families into the cellars.
December 12th. The men of the galleys talk of firing the town- several of them landed on our banks and told us so.
December 13th. The Hessians have been removed some miles from town, and the gondola men have been busy ashore, looking as they say, for tories. Some of the gentlemen who entertained the foreigners were pointed out, and two were seized upon, and dragged on board their galley.
From the 13th to 16th, we had various, reports of the advancing and retiring of the enemy. Some of the gondola men broke into and pillaged R. S.'s house, on the bank. About noon of the 16th, we were alarmed with the alleged advance of thousands! My in- cautious son, in using his spyglass, was seen from the galleys, which soon brought an armed boat on shore with a loud knocking at my house, and asking to search for the tory who had been spying at them. The captain, a smart little fellow, named Shippen, desired to be shown the spyglass; this transaction reached the town, and Colonel Cox was very angry, and ordered the men on board.
December 17th. "More news! Great news!" "The British troops at Mount Holly-guards of militia placed at London and York bridges-gondola men parading the streets, and searching for fire-arms and tories !" But a friend has made me easy, who has come from Mount Holly, who says no harm is done to any, and they only spoil the goods of some known to be in actual rebellion, as they termed it. The gondola men are all ordered on board, and not again to land. So far so good.
December 19th. A report prevails that General Putnam, with one thousand men, is on his march-this put all into motion at Holly. The Hessians retire to Black Horse.
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