USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > Annual of the Bradford County Historical Society, 1906 > Part 14
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Carbon, 1843 .- Carbon was settled as carly as 1746 by the Moravians on the Mahoning. The population is of mixed origin.
Elk, 1483 .- This county was unsettled until 1810, when a few pioneers of New England origin began to es-
107
Settlement of Counties.
tablish themselves. In 1842 a German settlement was made a few miles north of Kersey.
Blair, 1846 .- Settlements began to be made about 1750. The first settlers were mainly Scotch-Irish and Germans. Large numbers from other counties and from other States have settled in the towns. In 1755 a colony of German Dunkards settled in Morrison's Cove, many of whose des- cendants are still there.
Sullivan, 1847 .- The first permanent settler was Wil- liam Molyneux, a native of England in 1794. The first settlers were mostly Germans and people from the New England States, and their descendants.
Forest, 1848 .- The Moravian Indian missionary Zeis- berger was probably the first white man to enter what is now Forest county in the fall of 1767. Settlements were made about 1800 by people from the older counties and by Germans from the fatherland.
Fulton, 1850 .- The first settlements were made be- tween 1730 and 1740. The pioneers, numbering 62, were ejected by legal force in 1750. The settlers were of different nationalities, the Scotch-Irish predominating. .
Lawrence, 1850 .- David Zeisberger and Gottlob Sen- seman, the Moravian missionaries, were the first white men who dwelt within the boundaries of the county at Moravia. The place was built up in 1770 and three years later was deserted. White settlers from the older surrounding counties began to move in after 1795.
Montour, 1850 .- This region was settled during the Revolutionary period by settlers from the lower counties.
Snyder, 1855 .- This region was settled during the Revolutionary period by settlers from the older counties, many of whom were Germans.
108
Settlement of Counties.
Cameron, 1860 .- The first settlements were made in the years 1809 to 1815 by people from Eastern and Mid- dle Pennsylvania, from New Jersey and the New Eng- land States. Many German names are found in the list of pioneers.
Lackawanna, 1878 .- The first cabin erected on the site where Scranton now stands was built in 1788.
VIRTUE
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NUMBER
THREE
ANNUAL
Bradford County, Pa.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
No . 3
CONTAINING
Papers on Local History, Reports of Officers, Contributions for Year, History of Society, Its Officers and Members
-
TOWANDA, PA .. BRADFORD STAR PRINT
1909
Col. John A. Codding President of Historical Society 1871-'74. Born July 6, 1819; died June 1, 1909.
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Bradford County During the Revolution
Paper by C. F. Heverly Before the Bradford County Historical Society, March 27, 1909.
IX YEARS before it was declared, "that the S united colonies are absolved from all alleg- iance to the British crown," the first per- manent settler had floated down the Sus- quehanna and pitched his cabin within Bradford county. From 1770 to 1777 about sixty families had found their way into the county and were residing along the river in the great wilderness, stretching from Towanda to Quick's Bend. Most of these settlers had established homes under Connecticut title, some under Pennsylvania title, a few had purchased from the Indians, while others were here merely as "squatters." When the war clouds reached the valley, the Connecticut settlers arrayed them- selves on the side for Independence, while the Pennsyl- vania title men and most of the "squatters" or "inter- lopers," were loyal to Great Britain. The Whigs and
5
6
Bradford County During the Revolution
Tories were about equally divided and a clash was in- evitable.
The situation of the Whig families was most hazard- ous. Above them were the Indian villages of Sheshe- quin and Tioga. Tioga early became the place of ren- dezvous for hostile bands of British soldiers, Tories and Indians, who, following the Susquehanna, or great war- path, which skirted its eastern banks, made their incur- sions upon Wyoming; or, taking the Sheshequin path, fell like a thunderbolt upon the inhabitants of the West Branch. Scarcely a month was allowed to pass, from beginning to close of the Revolutionary War, that these hills did not echo the yells of the savage warrior, or the tread of the American soldier.
In 1776 when the call was issued for the formation of the two Wyoming companies there was a quick response from this end of the valley. Simon Spalding, James Wells and son, Justus Gaylord and sons, Stephen Skiff and others hastened to Wyoming and gave their services to the cause of liberty. Other Whigs, with their fam- ilies, followed to Wyoming for protection and to give aid in the impending struggle. Still others returned to New England and joined the American army. Thus, for a time, the Tories held almost entire possession of the county. The men finally joined Johnson's Royal Greens, and moved their families within the British lines. From 1779 to 1783, owing to the various hostile expeditions into this section, there was left neither Whig, Tory, Neu- tral or Indian within the bounds of the county.
1777.
Bradford county was the scene of many thrilling and history making events during the Revolutionary War.
7
Bradford County During the Revolution
In the month of March, 1777, while Rudolph Fox of Towanda was in search of his cattle, he was seized by the Indians and taken captive to Quebec, where he was kept for nine months, during all of which time his fam- ily was ignorant of his fate.
On Dec. 6, 1777, a party of twenty Indians and refu- gees, under Indian chief Hopkins, plundered the house of Robert Fitzgerald at Standing Stone and drove off his cattle, sheep and horses.
The latter part of December, 1777, Lieutenant-Col- onel Dorrance made an expedition up the river with 111 men, looking after troublesome Tories. He advanced as far as Lower Sheshequin, where he found Indian chief Hopkins domiciled, and whom it was believed was har- boring several prominent Tories. The soldiers were di- rected not to molest the Indians, but hoping to capture some of the harassing whites entered Hopkins' house, made him prisoner and commenced their search. Hop- kins, attempting to escape, was shot through the body by Rufus Baldwin, who was placed to guard him. This was the first bloodshed in this valley during the Revolu- tionary War. Hopkins, however, recovered and was present at the battle of Wyoming.
1778,
The year 1778 commenced with renewed acts of de- predations upon the settlements. In January a party of Indians captured Lemuel Fitch of Standing Stone, took him to Niagara, thence to Canada, where he died in captivity.
On the 14th of February (1778) Amos York of Wya- lusing was seized by a band of Tories and Indians, who plundered his house, drove off his stock, and with much
8
Bradford County During the Revolution
cruelty tore Mr. York from his family and marched him away. He was held in captivity about nine months, but after his release died before reaching his loved ones.
In the month of March (1778) Nathan Kingsley, a neighbor of Mr. York, was also captured by the Indians and taken to Niagara. After about a year he made his escape and reached Wyoming in safety.
During the latter part of March Lieutenant Colonel Dorrance, with 150 men, came up from Wilkes-Barre and removed the York, Kingsley and other Whig fam- ilies remaining at Wyalusing and Wilmot to Wyoming.
On the 20th of May (1778) a band of 13 Indians sur- prised the Stropes and Van Valkenburgs at Wysox, burned their house, drove off their stock and carried all into captivity with the exception of Sebastian Strope, who had started for Wyoming. Rudolph Fox was again captured by the same party, but soon succeeded in mak- ing his escape.
In September (1778) Colonel Thomas Hartley put in operation his bold design of penetrating the enemy's country and destroying the Indian towns in this section. He left Muncy on the 21st with 200 men, and he him- self says : "Our route was met with great rains and pro- digious swamps; mountains, defiles and rocks impeded our march. We waded or swam the river Lycoming upwards of twenty times. In lonely woods and groves we found the lurking places of the savage murderers who had desolated our frontier. We saw the huts where they dried the scalps of the helpless women and children who had fallen in their hands. On the 26th Hartley reached the lower edge of the county, and near Canton met a number of Indians on the war-path. A skirmish ensued
9
Bradford County During the Revolution
in which an important chief was killed when the other Indians fled. At or near Ulster 15 prisoners were taken. Queen Esther's town and all the settlements on the west side of the river were destroyed. The march down the river, a distance of 30 miles, was made in a day. When the expedition reached Indian Hill, just on the lower edge of the county, a heavy onset was made on the left flank and rear by a large body of Indians. The contest was sharp and of short duration. The enemy fled, leav- ing ten of their number dead upon the field. Hartley's loss was four killed and ten wounded. He reached Wyoming on the 5th of October, having performed a circuit of nearly 300 miles in about two weeks, "bring- ing off," as he says, nearly 50 head of cattle, 28 canoes and many other articles."
1779.
As a result of Colonel Hartley's success, a much great- er movement was planned against the Indians. The chief command was given to Gen. John Sullivan, who, in August, 1779, came up the river with an army of 3,500 men. He crossed the county, having encamped at Wyalusing, Standing Stone, Wysox and Sheshequin. Upon reaching Tioga Point he built Fort Sullivan as a base of supplies. Here he was met by Gen. James Clin- ton with an additional force of 1,500, making 5,000 men, or one-third of the whole American army. This was the greatest military force ever assembled in Bradford county. From Tioga Point the expedition proceeded against the Indians, fully accomplished its work of punishment and destruction, then returned to Fort Sullivan and after a great jubilation passed down the river and rejoined Washington's army.
10
Bradford County During the Revolution
1780.
In Wysox, on the night of April 3, 1780, occurred one of the bravest and most desperate encounters recorded in frontier history. Lieutenant Moses VanCampen, a gal- lant soldier of the Revolution and Indian fighter, Peter Pence, Abraham Pike and a boy named Rogers, had been captured by the Indians. Upon reaching Wysox, the border of the Indian country, and, deeming them- selves safe from pursuit, the Indians relaxed somewhat their watchfulness of their prisoners and all lay down to sleep, five Indians on each side of the captives. The prisoners were all tightly bound except Rogers, whom the chief took in his arms and covered with his blanket. When all the Indians were sound asleep, a knife which one of them had dropped, was secured and the captives cut loose. VanCampen with tomahawk and Pence with the guns turned upon their captors, killing nine of them; the tenth Indian escaped badly wounded.
In June, 1780, Capt. John Franklin came up the river with five men on a scout. In Wysox he captured four Tories loaded with valuable plunder.
1781.
In March, 1781, James Thompson, an early settler of Buffalo Valley, was captured by the Indians and marched over the Lycoming path. One night when near Towan- da, he made a dash for liberty and outstripped his pur- suers. With 22 grains of corn in his pocket, his only provision, after several days and nights of severest hard- ships and weak from hunger, he succeeded in reaching his family on the West Branch.
11
Bradford County During the Revolution
1782.
On the 7th of April, 1782, Mrs. Roswell Franklin and four children of Hanover were carried away by the In- dians. A party under command of Sergeant Thomas Baldwin went in pursuit. The Indians were overtaken at Lime Hill, this county, on the 14th, when a fierce and desperate strife ensued. During the engagement Mrs. Franklin was shot and killed by an Indian. Six of the savages were slain and two wounded. Baldwin had two men wounded and succeeded in recovering three of the Franklin children.
These hasty glimpses are sufficient to show that Brad- ford county was a history-making field during the Revo- lution, and that some of the most important and thrill- ing events of that period were enacted within her borders.
After peace had been declared, most of the patriot families returned to the wilds of Bradford county, bring- ing others with them. Men of Sullivan's army, who had been charmed with the bright prospects in this val- ley, also came and selected homes. The Susquehanna Company made renewed efforts and offered extraordin- ary inducements to settlers, which brought scores of New England families to this territory. From 1783 to 1800 the county filled up rapidly with liberty-loving people. In short, Bradford county was favorite soil, and the asy- lum of men who had fought for Independence.
12
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
Patriots Who Fought for Independence.
I invite your attention to the proud honor roll of men, who performed an important part in the creation of our . grand Republic, and whose mortal remains are mingled with the soil of Bradford county :
ALBANY.
SOLDIER,
Robert Potter,
CEMETERY, Wilcox.
Robert Potter, the only Revolutionary soldier buried in Albany township, joined the American army at the first call.
ASYLUM.
SOLDIERS,
CEMETERY, Storrs Farm.
Richard Benjamin,
Charles Felix BueBoulogne,
Old French Grounds.
Samuel Cole, Sr.,
Genessee. N. Y.
Samuel Cole, Jr.,
At Wyoming.
Sartile Holden,
Macedonia.
Amaziah Ketchum,
Removed from County.
Samuel Ketchum,
Removed from County.
Samuel Seeley,
Durell.
Jabez Sill,
Macedonia.
Anthony Vanderpool,
Ellis Hill.
Isaac Wheeler,
State of Indiana.
Samuel and Amaziah Ketchum, who served through- out the Revolutionary War, removed from Asylum to other parts in 1791.
Isaac Wheeler, who was a drummer for five years in the Revolutionary War, removed from Asylum to In- diana, where he died.
Samuel Cole, the founder of the Macedonia Settle- ment, was not only a soldier himself but made the sacri- fice of a son, Samuel, and a son-in-law, Mr. Culbertson,
1.3
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
at the battle of Wyoming. In his declining years, Mr. Cole removed to the Genessee country, where he died.
Charles Felix BueBoulogne was an enthusiastic young Frenchman, who came over with Lafayette and fought for American Independence. He afterwards was a con- spicuous character in the French settlement at Asylum. He died about 1795, and was buried in the old French cemetery.
Sartile Holden, a hero of Bunker Hill and Stillwater, died at Macedonia in 1850, aged 100 years.
Samuel Seeley, who served six years in the American army, died in Asylum in 1841, aged 91 years.
ATHENS.
SOLDIERS,
CEMETERY.
John Anthony,
Not determined.
Jonathan Conkling,
Old burying ground.
Col. John Franklin,
Franklin burying ground.
Zephon Flower,
Franklin burying ground.
Alexander Howden,
Not determined.
Samuel Hulett,
Old burying ground.
Amos Kinney,
Old Chemung cemetery.
Elisha Mathewson,
Old burying ground.
Dr. Amos Prentice,
Rest cemetery. Sayre.
Elisha Satterlee,
Tioga Point.
John Shepard,
Rest cemetery, Sayre.
Joseph Spalding,
Old burying ground.
Ira Stephens,
Angelica, N. Y.
Solomon Taladay,
Old burying ground.
Archelaus Temple,
Old burying ground.
Julius Tozer,
Tioga Point.
William Watkins,
Greens Landing.
Ira Stephens, who served six years, was with his com- mand at Valley Forge, through the Sullivan Expedition in the battle of Germantown and other important en- gagements. In 1803 he went from his home in Athens
14
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
to Angelica, N. Y., to look after some interest. While there he was killed by a desperado.
Zephon Flower entered the American army in 1779 under the age of 14 years and served until the close of the war. He was the first person made a Mason by the first lodge established in Bradford county.
Col. John Franklin, the distinguished champion of Connecticut title, and ardent patriot and soldier of the Revolution, spent the last 44 years of his life in Athens township, where he is buried upon his farm.
Of three brothers, who fought for Independence, Elisha Mathewson was the only one who escaped with his life. He served 63 years in the company of Capt. Simon Spalding.
Elisha Satterlee served seven years. He was with Washington at Valley Forge in the memorable winter of 1777-'78, and in Sullivan's Expedition against the In- dians in 1779.
Julius Tozer served in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, in the latter, with two of his sons, Guy and Samuel.
BURLINGTON.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
James Campbell,
Luther's Mills
David Campbell
Luther's Mills
Paul DeWitt,
Hilton cemetery
Samuel Lamphere, Hilton cemetery
Alexander Lane, Luther's Mills
Ephraim Pratt,
State of Ohio
Jacob Scouten, Mountain Lake
Ephraim Pratt, who served three years and was one of the Burlington pioneers, removed to Ohio, where he died.
James Campbell and three of his sons were soldiers in
15
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
the Revolutionary War. The father and one of these sons, David, are buried at Luther's Mills.
Paul De Witt served four years and was in numerous skirmishes with the Indians on the West Branch.
Alexander Lane was in General Montgomery's expe- dition in Canada and witnessed the surrender of Bur- goyne at Saratoga.
Jacob Scouten served in both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. He died at Mt. Lake in 1842, aged 87 years.
CANTON.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Jacob Granteer,
Old Canton burial
Samuel Griffin,
Old Canton burial
Isaiah Grover,
Scioto county, Ohio
Laban Landon, Troy cemetery
Zepheniah Rogers, Probably old Canton burial
Ezra Spalding, Family plot, now Jno. Brown farm Noah Wilson, Alba cemetery
Isaiah Grover, a pioneer of Smithfield and Canton, removed to Ohio, where he died in 1829, aged 73 years. Samuel Griffin served in the war for Independence, and his son, Samuel, in the War of 1812.
Jacob Granteer was a native of Germany, who served with Morgan's famous riflemen.
Ezra Spalding, the first permanent settler of Canton, and Simon Spalding, the first permanent settler of She- shequin were distant cousins. Both were zealous pa- triots in the war for Independence.
Noah Wilson served his country six years on land and sea. He participated in the battle of Bennington and numerous skirmishes in the vicinity of Saratoga and Stillwater. He witnessed the execution of Major Andre.
16
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
COLUMBIA.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
John Benson,
Rutland, Tioga county, Pa.
John Budd,
Budd farm
Oliver Canfield.
Austinville
Ebenezer Cory,
Not determined
Asa Howe,
Not determined
John McClelland,
Columbia X Roads
Jacob Miller,
Not determined
Eli Parsons,
Troy cemetery
Comfort Peters,
Not determined
Wm. Webber.
Not determined
John Budd participated in the battle of White Plains and the taking of Fort Montgomery.
Oliver Canfield served seven years and experienced many hardships. He was one of the first settlers of Columbia.
Asa Howe was a zealous patriot and served four en- listments.
FRANKLIN.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
David S. Allen,
West Franklin
Wm. French, Old Franklindale cemetery
David S. Allen was one of three brothers who served in the American army. All were present at the Wyo- ming battle but escaped. These three brothers formed the first settlement in Franklin. Isaac removed to Ohio and Stephen O. died in Wysox.
Wm. French served seven years and was in many en- gagements.
GRANVILLE.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Simeon Chesley,
Windfall
Jacob Hadley,
Not determined
John Putnam,
Granville Center
Caleb White,
Granville Center
Betsey (Hager) Pratt, Vroman Hill
17
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
John Putnam enlisted in 1780 at the age of 13 years and served until the close of the war.
One of the most zealous patriots was a woman. She was "Betsey Hager," born in Boston. She grew up on a farm, was of strong muscular frame, and learned to do all rough farm work as well as being an expert at the loom. When the Revolution broke out she was at work for a man named Leverett in his blacksmith shop ; he was very ingenius and he and Betsey were secretly busy fixing the old matchlock guns for the patriots. She would file, grind and scour the work and fit it as fast as Leverett would turn it out. Both, it should be remem- bered, were working gratuitously-soley for the cause of freedom. At the battle of Concord, the British fled, leaving six fine brass cannon, but all spiked. They were taken to Leverett's shop, where he and his helper drilled holes opposite the spikes and then they could punch them out, and stop up the hole with a screw. Betsey worked hard at these cannon six weeks. She also made cartridges, and when her supply of flannel for this pur- pose gave out she took off her underclothes and used them. At night after the battle of Concord, she helped care for and nurse the wounded. Throughout the war she continued to aid the patriot cause in many ways. She married John Pratt and spent her last days in Gran- ville township where she died in 1843, aged 88 years.
LEROY
SOLDIER.
CEMETERY.
Isaac Chaapel,
LeRoy
Benj. Rennalls,
Not determined.
Isaac Chaapel fought at the battle of Bunker Hill and served until the close of the war.
18
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
LITCHFIELD.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Thomas Park,
Park
Silas Wolcott,
Park
Thomas Park, the first settler of Litchfield, was an ardent patriot in the Revolutionary War and a heavy loser in the Yankee and Pennamite struggles.
Silas Wolcott had the distinction of being one of Wash- ington's bodyguard during the memorable winter, when the American army lay encamped at Valley Forge.
MONROE AND TOWANDA.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Ozias Bingham.
Riverside
Benjamin Bosworth,
Coles
Henry Cornelius,
On place, near Hale's
John Cranmer,
Cole's
Noadiah Cranmer,
Cole's
James Dickey,
Riverside
William Finch,
Cole's
Jonathan Fowler,
Cole's
Rudolph Fox,
Cole's
Dr. Caleb W. Miles,
Oak Hill
John Schrader,
Cole's
Joshua Wythe,
Cincinnati, Ohio
All are buried in the local cemeteries, save Joshua Wythe, who removed from Towanda and died in Cin- cinnati, Ohio.
Ozias Bingham was connected with the artillery branch of the service. His notable places were Germantown, Valley Forge and White Plains. He died in 1845, in his 95th year.
Henry Cornelius was one of the unfortunates. He was captured at Fort Stanwix, and held a prisoner in Canada until the close of the war.
Noadiah Cranmer and son, John, both of whom fought
19
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
for Independence, are buried at Cole's. The father died at the age of 92 years.
James Dickey entered the American army in 1775 and served three enlistments. He died in 1844 in To- wanda, in his 89th year.
Jonathan Fowler was in the service three years, dur- ing which time he was captured and a prisoner in the notorious "Sugar House" at New York.
Dr. Caleb W. Miles, the first resident physician of To- wanda, served three years. While fighting desperately at the battle of Monmouth he was overcome by the heat and carried from the field.
John Schrader was one of the Hessian soldiers cap- tured at Trenton. He espoused the American cause, joined Pulaski's cavalry and distinguished himself at the battle of Brandywine.
ORWELL.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Ebenezer Chubbuck,
Orwell
Joel Cook,
Darling
Capt. Josiah Grant,
Orwell
Isaac Howe,
East Orwell
John Kneeland,
Rome
Libbeus Roberts,
Woodruff's Corners
Hezekiah Russell,
Ransom Corners
A peculiar circumstance is related in connection with the service of Joel Cook. To relieve him for a time his aged father took his place in the ranks, sickened and died. However, the son returned and completed an en- listment of three years. Mr. Cook died in Orwell in 1836, aged 90 years.
Josiah Grant served with the "Green Mountain Boys." He held a captain's commission in the Continental army in the brigade of his cousin, Gen. Ethen Allen.
20
Patriots Who Fought for Independence
John Kneeland served his country both on land and sea. He was captured while a seaman, taken to Eng- land and held two years.
Hezekiah Russell fought at the battle of Bunker Hill and served throughout the struggle for Independence.
PIKE
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Nathan Bostwick,
Probably LeRaysville
Ephraim Fairchild,
Stevensville
Isaac Ford,
Probably LeRaysville
Stephen Gregory,
Not determined
Abraham Taylor,
Stevensville
Consider Wood,
LoRaysville
Stephen Gregory served in the command of David Wooster and saw that general shot from his horse in the engagement near Danbury, Conn.
Consider Wood served three years and participated in the series of engagements, resulting in the capture of Burgoyne.
RIDGEBURY.
SOLDIERS.
CEMETERY.
Joseph Batterson,
Removed from town
Alpheus Gillett, Job Stiles.
Old Ceemung Old Chemung.
Joseph Batterson served six years, and was in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and at the capture of Cornwallis. He was one of the first settlers of Ridge- bury, but left the town in his old age.
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