USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > Centennial : the settlement, formation and progress of Dauphine County, Pennsylvania, from 1785 to 1876 > Part 2
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William Calhoun,
Andrew Steen,
John Neal,
Thomas M'Cormick,
John Cochran,
John Dougherty,
John Wiggins,
Alexander Johnson,
George Gabriel,
John Wiley,
Thomas Forster, Esq.,
John Carson,
Andrew Cochran,
James Aiken,
Samuel Hunter,
Robert Potter,
James Alcorn,
John Daily,
PAXTON-SOUTH END.
William Kirkpatrick,
Martin Shultz,
John Johnson,
Thomas King,
David Shields,
Charles Gordon,
Thomas Meays,
Moses Dickey,
John Montgomery,
William Steel,
H. M'Kinney,
Timothy Shaw,
Robert Tyler,
H. Sellers,
Matthew Jordan,
Hugh Stuart,
Valentine Starn,
Andrew Huston,
Peter Fleming, John Shields,
Thomas Dugan,
Samuel Words,
Kennedy Kanix,
James Lusk,
Alexander White, John Morrow,
William Harris,
Andrew Hanna,
James M'Night,
Richard M'Clure,
George Shiets,
Francis Johnson,
John Wilson,
Timothy M'Night,
James Wilson,
Oliver Wiley,
William Sharp,
William Dickey,
Samuel Galbreath,
H. M'Elroy,
Patrick Kinney.
THE "NARROWS" OF PAXTON.
The taxable and early settlers along the Susquehanna northward, were
John Kelton,
John M'Kee,
James English, John Given,
Mr. Murray,
Robert Clark,
Robert Armstrong,
Thomas Adams,
James Baskins,
John Armstrong,
Harbert Adams,
Thomas M'Kee,
Thomas Gaston,
John Watt,
Charles Williams,
William Foster,
George Clark,
John Mitchell,
Thomas Clark,
James Reed,
John Lee, a trader.
HANOVER-WEST END.
Joseph Rogers,
Seth Rogers, Hugh Samuel Sterret, James M'Creight, James Beard,
James Riddle, Thomas MaQuire, John M'Cord, Robert Huston, John Gamble,
William M'Clenahan, David M'Clennahan, sr.,
Daniel Shaw, Samuel Stewart,
Robert Love,
Alexander Brown,
John Welsh,
John Gray, John Means,
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Robert Porterfield, Matthew Thornton, William Rogers, William Thompson, Samuel Todd, George Johnson, John Brown, John M'Cavit,
John Henry, Thomas M'Clure, William Barnet,
Andrew Wallace, Richard Johnston,
Josias Wiley, John Snodey, John Cooper,
James M'Cavit,
Thomas Cooper,
Thomas French,
Francis M'Clure,
James French,
Michael Neal,
James Finney,
H. Hart,
Thomas Sharp,
Robert Humes,
Matthew Tyler, Andrew Walker, Robert Martin, James Wilson,
John Sharp,
James Robinson,
James Rippert,
George Miller, John Miller,
John Hill, Philip Robeson, James Brown,
James Wilson, John Strean,
Patrick Gracy, William Cooper, Thomas Martin, John Stuart,
Samuel Barnet,
Hugh Wilson,
Alexander Montgomery, James Wilson,
Thomas Robeson,
Thomas Bell,
Robert Wallace,
James Wallace,
Samuel Robeson,
Robert Snodgrass,
Michael Wallace.
HANOVER-EAST END.
Jacob Musser,
Peter Hettrich, Melchoir Henry, Thomas Promer, Henry Bachmar, Conrad Clatt, Anthony Rosebaum, Jacob Mosher, Esau Ricker, William Clark, John Libbins, John Schwar, James Young, John Gilliland, Peter Hailman, Widow Work, Frederick Hoke, James Sloan, Widow Gilleland, Jacob Sopc,
Martin Lichty, Adam Roth,
Ludwig Shits,
John Stewart,
John Forster,
John Andrew, Walter M'Farland, Joseph Brechtbill, William Robinson, Philip Kolps,
Onwal Jagel, Thomas Orvil, Alexander Swan, Alexander Thompson, John Graham, Samuel Ainswortlı, John Martin, Barnet M'Night, Widow Brown, John Humes,
William Laird, John Hutchinson, , Samuel Young, James Finney, John M'Nealey, James M'Connel, Thomas Russell, Charles M'Clure, John Wood, Andrew Wood,
John Dobbins, Mr. M'Cowen,
Mathew Snody,
John M'Cormick,
John M'Clure,
William.Erwin,
Robert Park,
William Woods, John Porterfield, Robert Haslet, John Crawford, William Watson, Henry Gantz, James Greenleaf, John Craig, Hugh M'Gowen, John Dickson, Joseph Willson, Adam Miller, Edward M'Murray, Jacob M'Cormick, John Kansey, James Stewart, Humphrey Cunningham, Robert Kirkwood, James M'Corey, William Thomson,
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
John Sops,
Andrew M'Kechan,
Rudolph Hoke,
Thomas Brewster,
Thomas Strain, Matthias Rank, Jacob Steiner,
Joseph Hoof,
John Thomson,
Benjamin Clark,
James Graham,
William Stoner,
Killian Mark,
John Cunningham,
George Tittel,
William Cunningham,
James Tood, John Young, James Dixon,
Isaac Williams,
Christopher Sies,
Adam Clannean,
John Myers,
Robert Bryson,
John Casnet,
Patrick Brown,
William Bryson,
James Williams,
John Andrews,
Daniel Andrew,
Anthony Tittel,
John Strein,
David Stevenson,
Dennis Keril,
Antony M'Elrath,
William Cathcart,
Mathias Boon,
George Shetley,
William Crosby,
John Sloan, Walter Bell,
Benjamin Ainsworth,
Daniel Ankel,
Leonard Long,
Patrick Bowen,
William Young,
Adam M'Neeley,
Adam Harper,
Abraham Williams,
John M'Clure,
Lazarus Stewart,
James Clark,
John Henderson,
Benjamin Wallace.
The above lists represent nearly all the taxable inhab- itants residing in the territory now covered by Dauphin county one hundred and twenty-six years ago. They were the fathers of our county-the men who climbed among the hills with their axes to cut away room for cabins sacred to family prayer and domestic duties; to sow for the good future to come ; whose children foddered their cattle in the snows, and built stone fence while the corn was sprouting in the hills; where the good housewive made coats, cooked the meals, and in case of necessity, handled the rifle in defence of her fireside; these are the men and women out of whom "we draw our royal lineage."
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
With the exception of occasional personal or individual disputes, a friendly feeling had existed between the Indi- ans and the inhabitants of Pennsylvania for a period of nearly seventy years. In 1753, however, a different spirit manifested itself in the conduct of some of the Indians in the western part of the colony. They united themselves with the French against the English, many of whom, at the instigation of their new allies, they murdered most cruelly. The inhabitants of the frontiers were in a panic, for the Indians, true to their character, when enemies, struck wherever an opportunity presented itself, sparing neither sex nor age.
The settlers in the region now comprising this county, partook in the prevailing alarm, and sent the following petition to Governor Hamilton:
"The humble petition of the inhabitants of the town- ships of Paxton, Derry and Hanover, Lancaster county, humbly sheweth, that your petitioners being settled on and near the river Susquehanna, apprehend themselves in great danger from the French and French Indians, as it is in their power several times in the year to transport themselves, with amunition, artillery and every necessary, down the said river-and their conduct of late to the neighboring provinces, increases our dread of a speedy visit from them, as we are as near and convenient as the provinces already attacked, and are less capable of de- fending ourselves, as we are unprovided with arms and amunition, and unable to purchase them. A great num- ber are warm and active in these parts for the defence of themselves and country, were they enabled so to do, 4
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
(although not such a number as would be able to with- stand the enemy). We, your petitioners, therefore humbly pray, that your Honor would take our distressed condi- tion into consideration, and make such provision for us as may prevent ourselves and families from being de- stroyed and ruined by such a cruel enemy; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
Dated July 22, 1754.
Thomas Forster,
Samuel Hunter,
John Hume,
James Armstrong,
Thomas Mays,
John Craig,
John Harris,
James Coler,
Thomas M'Clure,
Thomas Simpson,
Henry Renicks, William M'Clure,
Samuel Simpson,
Rich. M'Clure, John Rodgers,
John Carson,
Thomas Dugan, James Peterson,
David Shields,
John Johnson,
John Young,
William M'Mullen,
Peter Fleming,
Ez. Sankey,
John Coit,
Thomas Sturgeon,
John Forster,
William Armstrong,
Matthew Taylor,
Mitchell Graham,
James Armstrong,
Jeremiah Sturgeon,
James Toalen,
William Bell,
Thomas King,
James Galbreath,
John Daugherty,
Robert Smith,
James Campbel,
James Atkins,
Adam Reed,
Robert Boyd,
Andrew Cochran,
John Crawford,
James Chambers,
James Reed,
Thomas Crawford,
Robert Armstrong,
Thomas Rutherford,
John M'Clure,
John Campbell,
T. M'Carter,
Thomas Hume,
Hugh Black,
William Steel,
Thomas Steene,
Thomas Black.
This petition was read in Council 6th August, 1754.
Shortly after the defeat of Gen. Braddock, July 9, 1755, the French and their Indian allies, encouraged by their success, pushed their incursions into York, Cumberland, the northern part of Lancaster (now Dauphin), Berks and Northampton counties, and the massacres which fol- lowed were horrible beyond description. King Shinges, as he was called, and Captain Jacobs were supposed to have been the principal instigators of them, and a reward of seven hundred dollars was offered for their heads. It was at this period, that the dead bodies of some of the murdered and mangled were sent from the frontiers to
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Philadelphia, and hauled about the streets, to inflame the people against the Indians, and also against the Quakers, to whose mild forbearance was attributed a laxity in sending out troops. The mob surrounded the House of Assembly, having placed the dead bodies at its entrance, and demanded immediate succor. At this time the above reward was offered.
The condition of affairs in the interior and western part of the Province are thus described by Gov. Robert Morris in his message of July 24, 1755, to the Assembly, in relation to Braddock's defeat:
"This unfortunate and unexpected change in our affairs deeply affects every one of his majesty's colonies, but none of them in so sensible a manner as this province; while having no militia, is thereby left exposed to the cruel incursion of the French and barbarous Indians, who de- light in shedding human blood, and who make no distinc- tion as to age or sex-as to those that are armed against them, or such as they can surprise in their peaceful habi- tations-all are alike the objects of their cruelty-slaugh- tering the tender infant, and frightened mother, with equal joy and fierceness. To such enemies, spurred by the native cruelty of their tempers, encouraged by their late success, and having now no army to fear, are the inhab- itants of this province exposed; and by such must we now expect to be overrun, if we do not immediately pre- pare for our own defence; nor ought we to content our- selves with this, but resolve to drive to, and confine the French to their own just limits."
On the 23d of October, 1755, forty-six of the inhab- itants about Harris' Ferry (now Harrisburg) went to Shamokin, to enquire of the Indians there who they were, who had so cruelly fallen upon and ruined the settlement on Mahahony creek. On their return from Shamokin, they were fired upon by some Indians who lay in ambush,
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
and four were killed, four drowned, and the rest put to flight.
The following is the official report of this expedition :
"I, and Thomas Forster, Esq., Mrs. Harris, and Mr. M'Kee, with upwards of forty men, went up the 2d inst., (October, 1755,) to Captain M'Kee, at New Providence, in order to bury the dead, lately murdered on Mahahony creek; but understanding the corpse were buried, we then determined to return immediately home. But being urged by John Sekalamy, and the Old Belt, to go up to see the Indians at Shamokin, and know their minds, we went on the 24th, and staid there all night-and in the night I heard some Delawares talking-about twelve in number-to this purpose: "What are the English come here for?" Says another: "To kill us, I suppose; can we then send off some of our nimble young men to give our friends notice that can soon be here?" They soon after sang the war song, and four Indians went off in two canoes, well armed-the one canoe went down the river, and the other across.
"On the morning of the 25th, we took our leave of the Indians, and set off homewards, and were advised to go down the east side of the river, but fearing that a snare might be laid on that side, we marched off peaceably on the west side, having behaved in the most civil and friendly manner towards them while with them; and when we came to the mouth of the Mahahony creek, we were fired on by a good number of Indians that lay among the bushes; on which we were obliged to retreat, with the loss of several men; the particular number I cannot ex- actly mention; but I am positive that I saw four fall, and one man struck with a tomahawk on the head in his flight across the river. As I understand the Delaware tongue, I heard several of the Indians that were engaged against us, speak a good many words in that tongue dur- ing the action.
"ADAM TERRANCE."
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
"The above declaration was attested by the author's voluntary qualification, no magistrate being present, at Paxton, this 26th October, 1755, before us:
JOHN ELDER, THOMAS MCARTHUR,
MICHAEL GRAHAM, ALEX. MCCLURE,
MICHAEL TEAFF, WILLIAM HARRIS,
THOMAS BLACK, SAMUEL LENES,
SAMUEL PEARSON, WILLIAM MCCLURE.
"N. B .. Of all our people that were in the action, there are but nine that are yet returned."
Conrad Weiser, an Indian interpreter and a prominent man in the province, thus writes to James Read, Esq., of Reading, about this period:
"HEIDLEBERG, October 26, at II o'clock Sunday night, 1755. "Loving Friend:
"About an hour ago I received the news of the enemy having crossed the Susquehanna, and killed a great many people, from Thomas McKee's down to Hunter's Mill.
"Mr. Elder, the minister of Paxton, wrote to another Presbyterian minister, in the neighborhood of Adam Reed, Esq., that the people were then in a meeting, and immediately desired to get themselves in readiness to oppose the enemy, and lend assistance to their neighbors. Mr. Reed sent down to Tulpehocken, and two men, one that came from Mr. Reed's, are just now gone, that brought in the melancholy news. I have sent out to alarm the townships in this neighborhood, and to meet me early in the morning, at Peter Spicker's, to consult together what to do, and to make preparations to stand the enemy, with the assistance of the Most High.
"I wrote you this that you may have time to consult with Mr. Seely, and other well-wishers of the people, in order to defend our lives and others. For God's sake let us stand together, and do what we can, and trust to the hand of Providence. Perhaps we must, in this neighbor-
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
hood, come to Reading; but I will send armed men to Susquehanna, or as far as they can go for intelligence.
"Pray, let Sammy have a copy of this, or this draft for his Honor, the Governor. I have sent him, about three hours ago, express to Philadelphia, and he lodges at my son Peter's. Despatch him as early as you can. I pray, beware of confusion; be calm, you and Mr. Seely, and act the part of fathers of the people. I know you are both able; but excuse me for giving you this caution- time requires it. I am, dear sir,
"Your very good friend and humble servant, "CONRAD WEISER."
The near approach of the enemy created the utmost consternation among the outer settlements. The only safety was to flee and leave all to the enemy. They had in vain looked for effectual relief from the Colonial gov- ernment. Homes that had been occupied; barns filled with the fruits of a rich and plenteous harvest; newly sowed fields, standing corn, and cattle, sheep, etc., were all abandoned by the hardy and industrious frontier set- tlers, in order to save themselves from being cut off by the barbarous enemy. Even John Harris and his family were threatened with death, as stated by Mr. Harris him- self in the following letter:
"PAXTON, October 29, 1755. "Sir :
"We expect the enemy upon us every day, and the in- habitants are abandoning their plantations, being greatly discouraged at the approach of such a number of cruel savages, and no present sign of assistance. I had a cer- tain account of fifteen hundred French and Indians being on the march against us and Virginia, and now close upon our borders, their scouts scalping our families on our frontiers daily. Andrew Montour, and others at Shamo- kin, desired me to take care, that there was a party of
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
forty Indians, out many days, and intended to burn my house and destroy myself and family. I have this day cut loop-holes in my house, and am determined to hold out to the last extremity, if I can get some men to stand by me. But few can be had at present, as every one is in fear of his own family being cut off every hour. Great part of the Susquehanna Indians are no doubt actually in the French interest, and I am informed that a French officer is expected at Shamokin this week, with a party of Delawares and Shawanese, no doubt to take posses- sion of our river. We should raise men immediately to build a fort up the river to take possession, and to induce some Indians to join us. We ought also to insist on the Indians to declare for or against us, and as soon as we are prepared for them we should bid up their scalps, and keep our woods full of our people upon the scout, else they will ruin our province, for they are a dreadful enemy. I have sent out two Indian spies to Shamokin; they are Mohawks.
"Sir, yours, &c., "JOHN HARRIS. "Edward Shippen, Esq."
In the latter part of October, 1755, the enemy again appeared in the neighborhood of Shamokin, and in No- vember of that year they committed several murders upon the whites under circumstances of great cruelty and bar- barity. Not only the settlers on the immediate frontier, but those residing far towards the interior, were kept in constant alarm, as will be seen by the following address, or appeal, to the inhabitants of the province, issued from the present site of Harrisburg:
"PAXTON, October 31, 1755. [From John Harris, at 12 P. M. ]
"To all His Majesty's subjects in the Province of Pennsyl- vania, or elsewhere :
"Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mohawks, and other Indians, came down this day from
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
Shamokin, who say the whole body of Indians, or the greatest part of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side of George Gabriel's [about thirty miles north of Harrisburg, on the west side of the river], near Susquehanna, and we may expect an attack within three days at farthest; and a French fort to be begun at Shamokin in ten days hence. Tho' this be the Indian report, we, the subscribers, do give it as our advice, to repair immediately to the frontiers with all our forces, to intercept their passage into our country, and to be pre- pared in the best manner possible for the worst events.
"Witness our hands:
JAMES GALBREATH, JAMES POLLOCK, JOHN ALLISON, JAMES ANDERSON,
BARNEY HUGHES, WILLIAM WORK,
ROBERT WALLACE, PATRICK HENRY. JOHN HARRIS,
"P. S .- They positively affirm that the above named Indians discovered a party of the enemy at Thomas McKee's upper place on the 30th of October last.
"Mona-ca-too-tha, The Belt, and other Indians here, insist upon Mr. Weiser's coming immediately to John Harris' with his men, and to counsel with the Indians. " Before me.
"JAMES GALBREATH."
Fortunately, the reports conveyed in Mr. Harris' letter, as well as in the above address, proved to be premature, the enemy confining his depredations to the regions of the Susquehanna, about Shamokin, and the Great or Big Cove, in the western part of Cumberland county, a de- tailed account of which would not come within our prov- ince to write.
It was not until the middle of the following year that the Indians, incited, and in some instances officered, by their allies, the French, extended their incursions into the interior of the colony, and imagination fails to conceive
Historical Sketch of Dauphin County. 29
the peril and distress of the settlers of Paxton, Hanover, and other townships then in Lancaster (now Dauphin and Lebanon counties). Some idea, however, may be formed of their condition from the subjoined letters.
" DERRY TOWNSHIP, 9th August, 1756. "Dear Sir:
"There is nothing but bad news every day. Last week there were two soldiers killed and one wounded about two miles from Manady fort; and two of the guards that escorted the batteaus were killed; and we may expect nothing else daily, if no stop be put to these savages. We shall all be broken in upon in these parts. The people are going off daily, leaving almost their all behind them; and as for my part, I think a little time will lay the country waste by flight, so that the enemy will have noth- ing to do but take what we have worked for.
"Sir, your most humble servant,
" JAMES GALBREATH. "Ed. Shippen, Esq."
" DERRY TOWNSHIP, IOth August, 1756. " Honored Sir :
There is nothing here, almost every day, but murder by the Indians in some parts or other. About five miles above me, at Manada Gap, there were two of the Prov- ince soldiers killed and one wounded. There were but three Indians, and they came in among ten of our men and committed the murder and went off safe. The name, or sight of an Indian, makes almost all in these parts tremble-their barbarity is so cruel where they are mas- ters; for, by all appearance, the devil communicates, God permits, and the French pay, and by that the back parts, by all appearance, will be laid waste by flight, with those who are gone and going; more especially Cumberland county.
5
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
"Pardon my freedom in this wherein I have done amiss.
"Sir, your most humble servant,
"JAMES GALBREATH."
The above murders are corroborated by the follow- ing :
"HANOVER, August 7, 1756. "Sir:
"Yesterday Jacob Ellis, a soldier of Capt. Smith's, at Brown's, about two miles and a half over the first moun- tain, just within the Gap, having some wheat growing at that place, prevailed with his officers for some of the men to help him to cut some of the grain; accordingly ten of them went, set guards and fell to work. At about ten o'clock they had reaped down, and went to the head to begin again; and, before they had all well begun, three Indians, having crept up to the fence, just behind them, fired upon them and killed the Corporal, and another who was standing with a gun in one hand and a bottle in the other, was wounded; his left arm is broken in two places, so that his gun fell, he being a little more down the field than the rest. Those who were reaping, had their fire-arms about half way down the field, standing at a large tree. As soon as the Indians had fired, and without loading their guns, they leaped over the fence right in amongst the reapers-one of them had left his gun on the outside of the field-they all ran promiscuously, while the Indians were making a terrible haloo, and looked more like the devil than Indians. The soldiers made for their fire-arms, and as three of them stood be- hind the tree with their arms, the Indian that came want- ing his gun, came within a few yards of them and took up the wounded soldier's gun, and would have killed another, had not one perceived him, fired at him, so that he dropped the gun. The Indians fled, and in going off, two soldiers standing about a rod apart, an Indian ran through between them, they both fired at him, yet he es-
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Historical Sketch of Dauphin County.
caped. When the Indians were over the fence, a soldier fired at one of them, upon which he stooped a little-the three Indians escaped. Immediately after leaving the field, they fired one gun and gave a haloo. The soldiers hid the one that was killed, went home to the fort, found James Brown who lives in the fort, and one of the sol- diers missing.
"The Lieutenant accompanied by some more, went out and brought in the dead man; but still Brown was missing. Notice was given on that night; I went up next morning with some hands. Capt. Smith had sent up more men from the other fort; these went out next morning; against I got there, word was come in that they had found James Brown, killed and scalped. I went over with them to bring him home. He was killed with the last shot, about twenty rods from the field-his gun, his shoes and jacket carried off. The soldiers who found him said, that they tracked the three Indians to the sec- ond mountain, and they found one of the Indians' guns a short distance from Brown's corpse, as it had been not worth much. They showed me the place where the In- dians fired through the fence, and it was just eleven yards from the place where the dead man lay. The rising ground above the field, was clear of standing tim- ber and the grubs low, so that they had kept a look out.
"The above account you may depend on. We have almost lost all hopes of everything, but to move off and lose our crops that we have cut with so much difficulty.
"I am your Honor's servant,
"ADAM REED. "To Edward Shippen, Esq., at Lancaster."
Some time in the latter part of October, the Indians again visited Hanover township, where they murdered, under circumstances of much cruelty, several families, among whom was one Andrew Berryhill. On the 22d of October, they killed John Craig and his wife, scalped
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