USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. IV > Part 12
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The House then withdrew and the Council adjourned.
At the Courthouse of Philadia., October 19th, 1736.
PRESENT :
Clement Plumsted, r Thomas Laurence, Esquires.
Ralph Assheton,
Thirty-seven Foreigners from the Palatinate, who, with their Families, making in all one hundred and ten persons, were imported here in the Brigantine John, of Perth Amboy, George Frazer, Mas -!
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ter, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover, as by Clearance thence,
· were this day Qualified as usual, whose Names were as follows :
Abraham Beer, Peter Quattel Ban,
Johan Adam Ransch,
. Johannes Trans,
Johan Georg. Quickle,
Johan Georg. Micklyn,
Johan Lutwig Sil,
Johan Christfel Shinger,
Johan Phillippus Quickell,
Daniel Spelter,
Johannes Segel,
Johan Henrich Schmidt,
Johan Peter Pris,
Jacob Plyger,
Johan Michal Qnukle,
Abraham Dumbolb,
Jacob Keller,
Erns Fredrich Dumbolb,
Fransisens Josephus Hornig,
Peter Haas,
Johan Casper Schmidt,
Johannes Herr,
Casper Struvel,
Debolt Feit,
Casper Lombarb,
Derrich Shutten,
Georg. Keg,
Nicolas Stop,
Paulus Andoni,
Peter Vean,
Fredrick Clipton,
Godfried Eberhard.
Johannes Geyer,
Åt a Council held at Philadia., Novr- 23d, 1736.
PRESENT :
The Honble JAMES LOGAN, Esqr., President.
Samuel Preston,
Ralph Assheton,
Anthony Palmer,
Samuel Hasell,
Clement Plumsted,
Thomas Griffits,
Esquires.
Thomas Laurence,
Johan Jost Meyer,
Johannes Sler,
Lutwig Tretler Walsteller,
Peter Kohl,
The President acquainted the Board that a Discovery had lately been made of an Association or Engagement entered into by several persons living in or about New Garden, in the County of Chester, who having received some Encouragement from the Governor of Maryland, & others in Authority there, had undertaken to oust by Force of Arms those Dutch Families settled on the west side of Sasquehannah, within this Province, against whom the late hostile Preparations of Maryland was intended, and to possess themselves of their Plantations, which they proposed to draw Lotts for, & ac- knowledging to hold them in Right of the Proprietary of Maryland, they were to defend those Possessions against this Government ; that for this End Arms & Amunition were provided & lodged at the House of one Rigby, in Baltimore County, & every thing was in readiness for carrying their Design into Execution ; That on making this Discovery a Warrant was issued here by one of the Provincial
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Judges, for apprehending several Persons concerned in this unlaw- full Association, particularly one Henry Munday, who, from the Information given, appeared to be one of the principal Persons in conducting it, & that such Care & Diligence had been used in ex- ecuting the said Warrant, that Munday was taken at his House that very day, when he expected a Rendezvous of the Party, & had sun- dry Papers relating to the Conspiracy lying before him, & several Letters to Persons in Maryland on this subject just finished and ready to be forwarded, all which were, with himself, secured; and one Edward Leet, another of the Persons embargued with him in this Design, being likewise apprehended, they were brought to Town in Custody, & are now under Confinement; but that one Charles Higginbotham, a principal Person in the said Design, had escaped ; That as this Matter highly concerns the Peace of this Province & the safety of its Inhabitants, the Board is called together to take the whole into their Consideration, & if they think fitt to examine Munday & Leet, from whose Examinations same further Discover- ies may probably be made.
Then were laid before the Board the several Papers which were found with Munday on his being apprehended, to witt :
An Application to him signed by thirty one Persons, in these Words :
"Mr. Henry Munday :
"SIR :- We, the underneath subscribers, being informed that there is some vacant Land & Plantations near Sasquehannah river that were settled by some Dutch Familes, and that the said Land were by them located by Warrants issuing from the Land Office in the Province of Maryland, as of the right & property of the Lord Baltimore; and that since the said Dutch Families hath disclaimed the Right & Property of the said Lord Baltimore, and hath taken Umbrage under the Proprietarys Penns; That we are informed that the absolute Fee & Right to the said Land is within the Limits & Bounds of the Lord Baltimore's Patent or Charter; That the Lord's chief Agent hath, & doth give Encouragement for the re- setling the said vacant Plantations & Land. We therefore pray & request, that you will in our behalf & stead interceed with the Governor and Agent to settle us in such vacant Land or plantations, and we shall all be willing to pay such Fee or Rent charge as his ' Lordship usually demands, and we shall with our Lives & Fortunes defend the same, and be subject to the Laws of his Province, & defend his right, for which service Sr. we shall be all your very much oblidged.
" Thomas Charlton,
" John Charlton,
" Edward Charlton,
" John Charlton, Jur.,
" Willm. Limis,
" John Limis,
" John Coates,
" Robert Jessop,
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" Thomas Charlton, Junr.,
" George Moore,
" Arthur Charlton,
" Robert Moore,
" Richard Sedgwick,
" Gibbons Jennings,
" William Betty,
" Thomas Scarlett,
" William Betty, Sr.,
" Willm. Downard,
" James Downard,
" James Henthorn,
" James Starr,
" Henry Charlton,
" Daniel Oneal,
" Richard Pope,
" George Bond,
" Samuel Williamson,
" Richd. Ryan,
" John Carter,
" Moses Starr,
"Joseph Moss."
A list of the Names of several Persons, ranged in three Columns, with a Certificate signed by Govr. Ogle, that he had given Instruc- tions to the Deputy Surveyor for laying out two hundred Acres of Land to each, which Names & Certificate are as follows :
" Henry Munday, " Barnibe Clarke,
" Thomas Charlton,
" Edward Leet,
" Charl. Higginbotham,
" Richard Ryan,
" Edward Charlton,
" John Charlton, .
" John Smith,
" Thomas Linass,
"Thomas Charlton, Junr.
" Hugh Kaine,
" William Linass,
" John Linass,
"Henry Charlton, Junr.,
" Robert Trotter,
" Robert Rowland,
" Willm. Miles,
" William Greenlee,
" Stephen White,
" John Cross,
" John Kaine, Senr.,
" John Kaine,
" Edward Ryly,
" Patrick Savage,
" Arthur Browlee,
" James Love,
" Anthony Dixson,
" Benj". Dixson,
" John Morrow,
" Thom. King,
on the original - Thomas Dawson, John Dawson.
" Ralph Higginbotham,
" John McNabb,
" James McGee,
" Whereas, Application hath been made to me by Henry Mun- day, Edwd. Leet, & Charles Higginbotham, & forty nine Persons by them mentioned, I have given Instructions to Thomas White, . Depty. Surveyor, to lay out, and in the names of the said Persons, two hundred acres for each Person.
SAM. OGLE."
A Letter from Henry Munday, Maryland, to the Reverd. Mr. Jacob Henderson, in these Words :
"Reverend Sir:
"I wrote to you from Annapolis (which freedom I hope you'l
" William Webb.
" Robert Moore,
" Gibbons Jennings,
" Tho. Scarlet,
" William Carpenter,
" Richard Pope,
" William Betty,
" George Moore,
" Arthur Charlton,
" James Nickleson,
" Thomas Moore,
" John Charlton, Senr.,
" James Kaine,
" George Bond,
" John Coats,
" Richard Sedgwick,
" Robert Jesson,
" William Betty, Junr.,'
" Thomas Limis,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
please to excuse with the freedom of this) concerning settling some Persons, Inhabitants here, on vacant Plantations near Sasquehannah. I met with a disappointment in securing a preference or first Choice for them as I proposed, occasioned by the cinister Ends & Practice of two Persons, who made head of a separate Party against me, Notwithstanding I first apprized them of the Design, & they pro- mised me to come in as Copartners. It is agreed that both Parties take their chance by Lotts drawn. The Names of the Persons are ranged in three Columns as directed to the Surveyor, the third column is filled up with the Names Tho. Charlton, John Charlton, Edward Charlton, John Charlton, Junr .; Tho. Charlton, Junr., Arthur Charlton, Henry Charlton, Junr., Richd. Sedgwick, William Betty, William Betty, Junr., William Webb; That there is some Persons in the first column whose Character is not so good as could be desired by those now recited, which are Persons I presume well known to you, who hath a Relyance on your Friendship in this Affair, As you being the first that projected the settling the said Lands & Plantations, may have such Influence on the Govern". not- withstanding the Directions given for those that did apply to appear at the Place to take Possessions of their several Lotts by the last. of this Month. Mr. Henry Charlton had the misfortune to break his Legg, the Journey of your Kinsmen to Virginia, & other Lets & Hinderances of those Persons that beggs & requests your care in using such measures that they may not be precluded or foreclosed from the benefit of the Governor's Grant, notwithstanding they do not appear to draw their Lotts at the time proposed. Your assist- ance in this will not only oblige those Gentlemen (in whose favour I take the freedom in giving so much trouble) but me, who am,
" Sir, "Your most obliged humble Servant, "HENRY MUNDAY.
"London Grove, ye 14th of November, 1736."
A Paper addressed to Messrs, Betties in these Words:
"November ye 14th, 1736. "Messrs. Betties :
"If Instructions can be sent to Capt Crissop to return so many of the Names of the vacant Plantations, reserving eleven of the best, which is the Number of the third Column, Then every Person that appears to draw hath his equal Chance.
"Yrs Sr.,
"HENRY MUNDAY.
"Captain Crissop send to the Parties to come to draw their Lotts by next Saturday."
Several scrolls of Letters being likewise taken with the foregoing Papers, a Copy of the above Letter to Mr. Henderson was found amongst them.
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MINUTES OF THE
The Board continued the whole under Consideration till to-mor- row morning at ten a clock, to which time the Examinations of Munday & Leet are likewise thought proper to be deferred, Munday having voluntarily offered to a Member of this Board to make a full Declaration under his hand of all that he knew of the affair.
At a Council held at Philadia., November 24th, 1736. PRESENT :
The Honble JAMES LOGAN, Esqr., President.
Samuel Preston, Ralph Assheton,
Anthony Palmer,
Thomas Griffitts,
Thomas Laurence,
Esqrs.
The Minute of yesterday's Council being read, the Board resumed the Consideration of the Matters then laid before them, & Henry Munday having delivered to a Member of this Board the Declara- tion he had promised to make of his Knowledge in the Affair, the same was laid before the Board & read, but being unsatisfactory, the Board resolved to examine him on Interogatories, in drawing up of which a considerable time being spent, the Council adjourned to the afternoon.
-
EODEM DIE, P. M. PRESENT :
The President and the same Members as in the forenoon.
The Board thinking it proper that Edward Leet should be exam- ined before Henry Munday, Leet was sent for, whose Examination was taken in these Words:
"Edward Leet of the township of Marlborough, in the County of Chester, Yeoman, aged about Seventy-one years, being examined before the Honble the President & Council of Pennsylva., saith :
"That about a month since Henry Munday came to his, Exami- nant's house, & brought with him a Petition signed by several Persons in the Neighbourhood for some Land, & asked this Exami- nant's Opinion of the Petition, & whether he would joyn in it; that the Examinant declining to sign it Munday left him; That some few days after Charles Higginbotham came to this Examinant, & acquainting him there were some Lands to be laid out in Maryland, asked this Examinant whether he would not goe with him to Anna- polis, & this Examinant wanting not only to take up some Lands for himself but for eight of his Cousins, agreed to accompany Higginbotham, & accordingly they, with John Smith, John Hen- thorn, Hugh Kaine, John Kaine, & James Nicholson, sett out for
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Maryland, but instead of taking the direct way to Annapolis, they went as high up on the East side of Sasquehannah as the Ferry late of John Emmerson, deceased, over against Thomas Cressap's house on the West, & crossing the River there went to Cressap's house, near to which they understood those Lands lay which the Governor of Mary- land intended to dispose of; That Cressap being from home his Wife made some difficulty of admitting them into his House, & enquired whether they were friends, & on what design they were come, & they telling her they were come to look out for some Land they were ad- mitted, & lay at that House all night ; That next morning their Com- pany took a view of the Lands in the Neighbourhood of Cressap's House, & five of them, accompanied by one - - Lowe, a Relation of Cressap's, went to view the Lands lying further up Sasquehanna, where those Dutch People were setled who were said to have re- volted from Maryland, while this Examinant & Higgenbotham viewed some Lands lying back or to Westward of Cressap's; that afterwards pursuing their Journey they came to Annapolis on Sat- urday the thirtieth day of October last, where meeting with Thomas Cressap, at whose House they had been, he offered to go with them to Governor Ogle, & accordingly being introduced by Cressap, they waited in the evening on the Governor, & acquainted him they were come to treat with him about some Lands on Sasquehannah, & hav- ing entred into discourse with Governor Ogle on the Subject, he told them he intended to dispossess the Dutch who were settled there, and for that End he was sending up arms, & would very soon give the necessary Orders to the Sherif; that he, the said Governor, would put this Examinant & the others who applied to him in pos- session of two hundred acres of Land each, & defend them therein ; and some Mention being made of Difficulties which might probably happen in turning off the Dutch, the Governor named two Persons of Pennsylvania, whose Names this Examinant does not distinctly remember, but believes they were Blumston & Wright, for appre- hending of whom he, the said Governor, offered a Reward of one hundred pounds for one of them, & Fifty pounds for the other ; that Higginbotham hereupon told the Governor he knew one of them, & made no doubt but he could find means to gett him apprehended, and the Governor having appointed this Examinant & Higgin- botham to attend him next Monday, they left him and went to their Lodgings, where they understood from Thomas Cressap that he had come to Annapolis to receive, & actually had received on board a Sloop a considerable Quantity of fire arms, Powder, & Ball, which were to be carried into Baltimore County to be used in dispossessing
those Dutch People who had revolted from Maryland; that three Drums & two Trumpets were sent by Land by certain Dutch Men who were then there; That Henry Munday coming to Annapolis & attending Governor Ogle with them on Monday the first instant, he, the said Henry Munday, presented a Paper to the Governor, sign'd by several Persons for those Lands on Sasquehannah, & ap- peared to be much dissatisfied with Higginbotham for being before
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MINUTES OF THE
hand with him in the application to Governor Ogle. That this Ex- aminant saw & heard the Paper or Petition then delivered by Henry Munday, which he, this Examinant, verily believes to be the same now shewn unto him at the Board, & this Examinant further says that he saw Governor Ogle sign the writing on the Paper now pro- duced to him where the Names of the Persons applying for Lands are ranged in three columns, & likewise saw him sign the Order to the Surveyor for the Lands to be laid out, which to each Man was to be two hundred acres; That Governor Ogle told them he had ordered arms for them, & in a month's time would cause possession to be given, in which he would maintain them, and give them good Titles under Maryland ; That this Examinant & Higginbotham re- turned to Pennsylvania the shortest way, but the other five of the Company went up Sasquehannah, & crossing at Emmerson's Ferry returned the same way they went; That this Examinant having some Reason to apprehend Difficulties in this settlement on Sasque- hannah resolved to lay aside all further thoughts of the matter, and adhering to that Resolution he declined being at Munday's house on the fifteenth instant, where he understood several of those who had applied to the Governor of Maryland were to meet, and this Examinant hearing of Munday's being apprehended, & judging some Information was likewise given against him, this Examinant was so far from endeavouring to keep out of the way that hearing the Sherif & officers were at a publick House in the Neighbourhood he went to them and surrendred himself.
" EDWARD LEET.
" Taken in Council at Philadelphia the twenty-fourth day of No- vember, 1736. JAMES LOGAN."
The Council adjourned till to-morrow afternoon, then to proceed on the Examination of Henry Munday.
November 25th.
The President being indisposed, a Committee of the Council mett, & having sent for Henry Munday, took his Examination to be laid before the Board at their next meeting.
At a Council held at Philadia., November 27th, 1736, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honble JAMES LOGAN, Esq., President.
Samuel Preston,
Ralph Assheton,
Clement Plumsted,
Samuel Hasell, Esquires.
Thomas Laurence.
Thomas Griffitts,
The Minute of the preceeding Council being read & approved,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
The Committee who had taken the Examination of Henry Munday reported the same this day to the Board, which follows in these Words :
"Henry Munday of London Grove, in the County of Chester, Sadler, aged about forty-eight years, being examined before a Com- mittee of the Council of Pennsylvania, saith :
"That about the latter End of September last, Thomas Thom- son of London Grove, in the County of Chester, informed this Ex- aminant that having been in Company at the house of one William Miller, in New Garden, in the said County, with the Revª. Jacob Henderson, Minister in Maryland, to whom the said Thomson is Brother-in-Law, & with Benjamin Tasker, Esqr-, who were then on their Road towards Philadelphia, the said Thomson had mentioned his Desire of having some Settlement for himself & his Sons, whereupon Mr. Tasker had wrote a Letter to some Person in Mary- land & gave the same to Thomson, the import of which Letter, as Thomson informed this Examinant, was, that the Person to whom it was directed should show Thomson & his Son some Lands on Sasquehannah; That the said Thomson, with John Star & William Downard, went towards Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, with the said Letter, & crossed Sasquehannah; That Star procecded to Annapolis, & Thomson & Downard returned, who told this Examinant that they had been over Sasquehannah with one Cressap, to whom this Ex- aminant believes Mr. Tasker's Letter was directed, that Cressap had shewn them some vacant Plantations, & some that were inhabited by Dutch People, with a very large Tract of good Land, & that they had sent Star to Annapolis to treat with the Governor about these Lands & Plantations; That Star on his Return from Annapolis informed this Examinant that Governor Ogle had agreed to grant the said Plantations & Lands to Star, Thomson, Downard, Thom- son's two Sons, & these other Persons who are Friends or Relations of Star & Downard, to witt: James Star, Ja. Hinthorn, John Hin- thorn, Nathaniel Dawson, James Downard, and one - Savor, an Attorney at Law, & Orders were issued to Mr. White, the Surveyor of Baltimore County, for laying out two hundred Acres to each Person ; That this Examinant was informed the Plantations of the Dutch on Sasquehannah were become vacant by their disowning the Government of Maryland, and that some of those Plantations had been deserted. This Examinant says, that Will™. Downard having told this Examinant that sundry Persons were desirous of settling on these Lands on Sasquehannah, proposed to this Examinant to draw up some thing for such Persons to sign, and accordingly this Examinant wrote the Paper addressed to himself, now produced, signed by thirty-one Persons, to several of whom this Exam" car- ried the said Paper and got it signed, & others signed it at this Examinant's house, and this Examinant, at the desire of others, wrote their Names to it; That this Examinant went to Annapolis with the said Paper about the latter end of October, and came there
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on Sunday afternoon, and meeting with one Mr. Wye, a Minister, he went with him to the house of Mr. Humphry's, the Minister of Annapolis, but says he spoke nothing of his Business to these Gen- tlemen ; That on Monday morning this Examinant fell in with Edward Leet and Charles Higginbotham, in whose Company Capt. Cressap (as he is called) was, & with them this Examinant went to wait on Governor Ogle (this Examinant having understood that Leet & Higginbotham had been with him on the Saturday before), and this Examinant having put into the Governor's hands the Paper signed by thirty-one Persons, some Dispute arose between this Ex- aminant & Higginbotham, who insisted that the preference in chusing the Lands should be given to those for whom he & Leet had applied; but at Last a List of all that had applied being made to the Number of forty-nine Persons, Governor Ogle signed the Writing thereupon now shown to this Examinant, & it was agreed that each Person of both Parties should have two hundred acres, & that they should take their Chance by Lott; This Examinant says that Gov". Ogle told them that the Dutch settled on Sasquehannah had taken Grants from Maryland-that they were within Maryland, but that being perswaded by some Persons living in Lancaster County, in Pennsylvania, those Dutch People had revolted; that he intended to give Orders to the Sherif to dispossess them & put those that had applied now to him in possession of their Lands, in which he promised to support & defend them; That Governor Ogle said as soon as matters were got in Readiness, notice would be sent that all the Persons might be acquainted where & when they should meet ; That this Examinant was but once with Gov". Ogle, & having wrote a Letter to Mr. Henderson, acquainting him with what passed at Annapolis, & that more Relations of his were come into Penn- sylvania who wanted Settlements & desired his Friendship in assisting them, he left Annapolis, & with Leet & Higginbotham came as far as John Williams' Ferry on Sasquehanna, where he parted with them, they continuing their Journey homewards & this Examinant following next day; That this Examinant upon his Re- turn sent notice to several of the Persons in whose Names he had applied to meet him, & accordingly on Monday the eighth instant, these Persons, to witt : Robert Ryan, John Coats, George Moore, Henry Charlton, Richard Sedgwick, William Betty, & William Betty, Jun". met at the House late of Moses Harlan, now possessed by Thomas Limis, one of the signers of the Petition, to whom this Examinant related what he had done at Annapolis, & show'd them what the Governor had signed, & that the Governor had promised to Order the Sherif to put them in possession, & that notice would be sent when they should come together, with all which those Per- sons whom this Examinant met appeared to be pleased; That this Examinant appointed another meeting on the fifteenth instant, the day he was apprehended, at which time he intended to have pro- posed that they should fix on some Person to goe in their behalf to
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Maryland to see if the Draughts of the Land were got ready, & to know what time the Governor of Maryland would appoint for their coming together, & that they might draw Lotts for their several Settlements.
The Examinant, being shewn the Letter to Jacob Henderson, acknowledges the same to be his own handwriting, & likewise that to John Williams, & the note addressed to Messrs Betties, in which this Examinant desires that Cressap should send to the Parties to come & draw their Lotts by next Saturday. The Examinant being asked what the Paper was which in his Letter to Williams he calls the proceedings of Lord Baltimore & proprietary Penn's Case, says it was a written Paper which he had of one Andrew Caldwell, of Kent county, in Maryland. This Examinant being asked about his acquaintance with Colo. Rigby, says he had none with him before this Journey to Annapolis; that on going thither, he went to Colo Rigby's with an intention to secure his friendship in obtain- ing a Preference for himself, this Examinant, & his friends, in taking up the Lands on Sasquehannah ; that Rigby wrote nothing by him, but encouraging this Examinant in his Design, desired his Compli- ments to Governor Ogle ; that this Examinant afterwards went to the House of Mr. White, the Surveyor of Baltimore County, for the same purpose, but not finding him at home, The Examinant left a Letter for him, with the Names of sundry Persons for whom he desired a preference in the Disposal of these Lands. This Exami- nant being asked if he knew of any arms being lodged at Rigby's, or in that Neighborhood, says he knows of none, but Higginbotham told him that several Arms were ordered, & Drums & Trumpets sent up.
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