Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018

USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 31

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James Read succeeded him, and was qualified on June 30, 1778. On Dec. 1, 1778, he received one vote for Pres- ident of the Executive Council. He resigned June 4, 1781, and on the 5th, was elected Register of the Court of Ad- miralty of Pennsylvania.

Sebastian Levan, of Maxatawny, was also a councillor, and officiated from Oct. 31, 1781, to Oct. 15, 1784.

Wagon Masters General

Henry Haller, June, 1779, to Aug. 14, 1780. Jacob Morgan, Jr., Aug. 14, 1780, to 1783.

Superintendent of Commissioners of Purchases

Jacob Morgan, Jr., Aug. 14, 1780, to 1783. Register of Court of Admiralty

James Read, June 5, 1781. Prothronotary of Supreme Court

Edward Burd, Esq., appointed Aug. 12, 1778; he con- tinued until Jan. 26, 1786, when he was re-appointed.

COUNTY

Committee on Correspondence, July 2, 1774

Edward Biddle

Christopher Schultz

James Read

Thomas Dundas

Daniel Brodhead

Jonathan Potts

Henry Christ

Committee on Observation, Dec. 5, 1774

Edward Biddle John Jones

Christopher Schultz John Old

Jonathan Potts Sebastian Levan

William Reeser George Nagel

Balser Geehr Christopher Witman

Michael Bright

Jacob Shoemaker

John Patton James Lewis

Mark Bird

Colonels of Associated Battalions, 1775

Edward Biddle

Balser Geehr

Mark Bird

Christian Lower

Daniel Brodhead

Standing Committee, 1775

Edward Biddle Collinson Read, Sec.

Mark Bird Valentine Eckert

Jonathan Potts Nicholas Lotz, Chairman

Daniel Brodhead Sebastian Levan

Balser Geehr Richard Tea

Lieutenants of County

Jacob Morgan, June 9, 1777, to 1780; Valentine Eckert, Jan. 8, 1781, to 1783.

Sub-Licutenants

Henry Shoemaker Daniel Udree

Christian Lower, Jr. Jacob Sweyer

Valentine Eckert John Mears

Paymasters of County Militia

Daniel Hunter, 1776, to Aug. 25, 1777; Henry Spyker, Aug. 26, 1777, to 1783.

Superintendent of Purchases

John Patton, 1778.

Commissioners of Forage

Valentine Eckert. .1778 Nicholas Lotz .. 1780 to 1783 John Lesher ...... 1778

In October. 1779, Col. Michael Lindenmuth was ap- pointed Commissioner to purchase flour for the French fleet.

Collectors of Excise

John Biddle. .1774 Daniel Levan ...... 1779-80 John Witman ...... 1780-81 Conrad Foos ..... 1782-83

Henry Christ 1774. '75

Henry Haller 1776

George Ege .1779

'80, '82

Jonathan Jones .1779

John Patton. 1780 '82

Thomas Mifflin. .1780

Joseph Hiester ... .. 1780, '81

Benjamin Weiser .. .1781

John Bishop 1781

Daniel Clymer '83

Abraham Lincoln. . 1782, 83

Nicholas Lotz. . ... 1782, '83

John Ludwig. .1782

Valentine Eckert .. .1779

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WAR PERIODS

Wagon-Master

Henry Haller, 1778 to 1783

Quartermaster

Jacob Morgan, Jr., 1778 Storekeeper at Reading

Joseph Cowperthwaite, 1778

Local Committees

Owing to the aid given by divers inhabitants to the enemy, the Council in September, 1777, appointed com- mittees to dispose of the property of such offenders and make return of their proceedings under oath. The fol- lowing committee was appointed for Berks county :

Thomas Parry Daniel Udree Henry Spyker

David Morgan

Peter Nagel

Joseph Hiester

Henry Haller

This committee appointed two persons in each district to make provision for distressed families whose husbands and fathers were in service. The appointees for Reading were Henry Hahn and Peter Feather.

On Nov. 8th, the Council also appointed committees to collect arms, clothing, etc., from the inhabitants who did not take the oath of allegiance, or who aided the enemy, and to deliver them to the clothier-general. The com- mittee in Berks county was :

Henry Christ Nathan Lewis John Lower

Henry Haller

Thomas Parry

Godfrey Riehm

Daniel Udree

Jacob Seltzer

Philip Miller Nicholas Scheffer

Committee on Attainder and Vesting Forfeited Estates, 1778

Thomas Parry

David Morgan

Henry Haller

Auditing Committee

Francis Richardson, Reynold Keene, Collinson Read, James Biddle and Henry Haller were appointed Jan. 23, 1777, commissioners for the county, to audit and settle the accounts for arms and accoutrements purchased, the property of persons lost in actual service, and of those who were killed, died in service, or were made prisoners.

Judges

Peter Spycker 1775-83

Jonathan Potts .1776-77

George Douglass 1775-83

Daniel Levan. .1777

Balser Geehr 1775-83

John Patton. 1775-77

William Reeser. .1778-83 Mark Bird. 1775-76

Peter Spycker was appointed president judge of all the courts on Nov. 18, 1780.

Justices of the Peace

1777-Henry Christ, Reading; Jacob Shoemaker, Wind- sor; James Read, Reading; Daniel Hiester, Heidelberg; Peter Spycker, Tulpehocken; Jacob Weaver, John Old, Amity; John Ludwig, Exeter; Benj. Shott; Christopher Schultz, Hereford; Samuel Ely, Richmond; Jacob Wag- oner, Bern; Daniel Rothermel, Maiden-creek; Charles Shoemaker, Windsor; Egedius Meyer, Jacob Morgan, Caernarvon; Thomas Parry, Union.

1778-Benjamin Weiser, Heidelberg; Michael Linden- muth, Bern; Gabriel Hiester, Bern.

1780-John Guldin, Oley.

County Commissioners

Samnel Hoch .. .. .1775-76

Thomas Jones. 1780-82

Michael Bright. .... 1775-77

Thomas Parry .1781-83

Abraham Lincoln ... 1775-78

Daniel Messersmith

.1782-83

John Kerlin ........ 1778-80

Michael 1783

Adam Witman ..... 1779-81

1.1

Sheriffs

George Nagel. .. 1775 Henry Hoffa .1780-81 Henry Vanderslice .. 1776-77

Daniel Levan ...... 1778-79

Treasurers

Christopher Witman.1775-79 Daniel Levan. ... .. 1780-83

Assessors

The assessors appointed by the county commissioners for the years named were:

1776-Vernor Stamm, Michael Furrer, Paul Geiger, John Spohn, John Kerlin, John Egner. 1777-John Hartman, Michael Furrer, John Robinson, John Egner, George Kelchner, Joseph Sands.

INDEPENDENCE AND PEACE.

The surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781, was virtually the end of the war between Great Britain. and America. The news of the surrender reached London on the 25th of November, following: Several months afterward, the warfare in the American Colonies was discussed and its continuance discouraged in the House of Commons. These discussions were continued with earnestness till they culminated in a preliminary treaty of peace on Nov. 30, 1782. In the first arti- cle of this treaty, "the independence of the thirteen United States of America" was recognized. The treaty was not made final then, owing to the three allied powers-Great Britain, France and Spain- having been pledged to one another not to conclude a treaty except by common consent. The final treaty was concluded at Paris on Sept. 3, 1783, and thereby the United States was acknowledged to be "free, sovereign and independent."

During these two years of negotiation and de- lay, there were no general military operations. But great anxiety was felt over the prospects for a per- manent peace. Through the inactivity of the army, the officers and soldiers became restless; also dis- contented, because they were not rewarded for their patriotic services. An attempt was made by anonymous and seditious publications to inflame their minds and to induce them to unite in redress- ing their grievances whilst they had arms in their hands. But Washington succeeded in quieting them. His wisdom and eloquence elicited from the officers the unanimous adoption of a resolution by which they declared "that no circumstances of dis- tress or danger should induce a conduct that might tend to sully the reputation and glory they had ac- quired; that the army continued to have unshaken confidence in the justice of Congress and their country ; and that they viewed with abhorrence and

Philip Kraemer 1782-83

Christian Lower .... 1777-79

Sebastian Zimmerman

1778-83 Jacob Morgan. 1775-77

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

rejected with disdain the infamous proposition in army. On the appearance of the troops in Novem- the late anonymous address to the officers of the ber, the insurrection subsided. There was no oppo- army." sition and no bloodshed. Among the Pennsylvania troops, there was a company from Reading, under the command of Capt. Daniel De B. Keim. This company was formed from certain survivors of the Continental army, which had been commanded by Lieut .- Col. Nicholas Lotz, and was called the "Reading Union Volunteers." It was afterward known as the "Reading Artillerists." This insur- rection cost the government $1,100,000.

RETURN OF SOLDIERS .- In order to avoid the in- conveniences of dismissing a great number of sol- diers in a body, furloughs were freely granted. In this way, a great part of the unpaid army was dis- banded and dispersed over the States without tu- mult or disorder. As they had been easily and speedily formed out of farmers, mechanics and la- borers in 1775, so with equal facility did they throw off their military character and resume their for- mer occupations. They had taken up arms earn- estly for political freedom, but when these were no longer necessary, they laid them down peaceably to become again good citizens, as they had been for eight years patriotic soldiers.

WHISKEY INSURRECTION, 1794.

CAUSE .- As early as 1756, the province of Penn- sylvania had looked to excise on ardent spirits for the means of sustaining its bills of credit. The original law was limited to a period of ten years; but it was extended from time to time as necessi- ties pressed upon the treasury. During the Revo- lution, the law was generally evaded in the west- ern part of the State by considering all spirits as for domestic use, such having been excepted from excise. But, when the debts of the Revolution be- gan to press upon the States, the government offi- cials became more vigilant in the enforcement of the law and Congress, after a long debate, passed an Act in March, 1791, increasing the duty on im- ported spirits and levying a tax of four pence per gallon on all distilled spirits, which went into opera- tion in July following. The Legislature had in- structed their representatives in Congress to vote against the law.

Opposition arose at once in the western counties of the State, and resolutions were adopted at pub- lic meetings demanding an unconditional appeal. Liberty-poles were erected, and people even as- sembled in arms to resist officers in the enforce- ment of the law. Various public excitements con- tinued until 1794, when an insurrection ensued. Governor Mifflin declined to call out the militia to suppress the insurrection, and, as a consequence, the spirit extended into contiguous States.

TROOPS FROM COUNTY .- The proportion of troops which was to be supplied by Berks county toward the quota of Pennsylvania militia under the requi- sition of the President of the United States, was 434 officers and privates, and 26 cavalry. The 434 men were placed under the command of Brig .- Gen. Francis Murray, in the 2d Brigade. The Adjutant- General of the State issued an order on Sept. 11, 1794, requiring the quota for the counties of Bucks, Northampton and Berks to assemble at Reading, receive arms, equipments and camp equipage, and march thence by way of Harrisburg to Carlisle.

The Quartermaster-General of Pennsylvania, Clement Biddle, arrived at Reading on Sunday evening, Sept. 28, 1794. In a letter by him to Gov- ernor Mifflin dated the day following, he remarked about the Berks county troops : "Colonel Cowperth- waite had collected four hundred men in the en- campment at Peters's farm, who were fully fur- nished with everything they required. The drafts from the county continued to come in and he pro- posed marching tomorrow." And he reported that Captain Forrest's troops had moved from Read- ing on Saturday (27th) ; that he expected the Bucks County Militia here on 30th; and that the Militia of Berks County would assemble on Oct. 1st ; also that the rear of the Jersey troops would march from here on the 30th under General White.

WASHINGTON AT READING .- In another letter to Governor Mifflin, dated at Reading, Oct. 2, 1794, he stated that-"The President was here last night, and went on this morning to Carlisle." He also re- ported then that "the cavalry of this county [ Berks ] are by this time at Carlisle. Captain Spayd has a fine company of infantry ready to march, and I shall hasten the drafts from the county off to-morrow." The cavalry mentioned was Moore's.

HOUSE-TAX AND LIBERTY-POLES, 1799

CAUSE .- During the early part of Adams's ad- ministration, Congress passed an Act requiring a direct tax to be levied upon houses. This tax was called the "house-tax," also "window-tax." The Federal government, in collecting it in the eastern counties of Pennsylvania, caused considerable ex- citement and opposition, which eventually broke out in an insurrection in 1799. The leader was John Fries, of Bucks county, who was tried and convicted of high treason and sentenced to be hanged, but President Adams, against the advice of his cab-

President Washington called on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia for fifteen thousand men, and sent commissioners to the scene of the disturbance in Washington county, with power to arrange for peaceful submission any time before Sept. 14, 1794. But the commissioners re- turned to Philadelphia ten days after that date without a settlement. The troops were promptly put in motion, the governors of the several States named commanding their respective quotas. Gover- nor Lee, of Virginia, had chief command of the inet pardoned him, and also issued a general am-

WAR PERIODS

121

nesty for all the offenders. The excitement extend- thanks for this instance of your patriotism and be pleased ed into the northeastern border of Berks county.

EXCITEMENT AT READING .- The insurrection was indirectly the cause of a considerable commotion at Reading. Certain troops were called out to sup- press the insurrection; and among them was Cap- tain Montgomery's company of Light Dragoons from Lancaster. Their way to the scene of excite- ment was through Reading. Upon arriving here they cut down certain "Liberty-poles," insulted the people, etc .; and these unwarranted performances induced the Adler to publish a letter, criticising their conduct. This appeared whilst the company was on the way to Northampton county. But upon their return they heard of it, and this naturally developed in them as soldiers a spirit of revenge. So they went to Jacob Schneider, the senior pro- prietor of the Adler, and demanded from him the name of the person who had written the letter con- demning and ridiculing them. But he refused to comply and his refusal led the soldiers to spend their anger on him by taking him forcibly to the market-house and giving him a certain number of lashes."

Mr. Schneider made complaint before a justice of the peace and caused the criminals to be arrested, but Captain Montgomery denied the authority to make the arrest, and the matter was referred to General Macpherson, who said he would look into it. By the time Montgomery's troops returned to Reading on their way home, Strohecker had erected a liberty-pole in the place of the one erected by' his children. Hearing this, the soldiers went to Stro- hecker's place and attempted to compel a common laborer to cut down the "offensive wood," notwith- standing he protested against doing so. They suc- ceeded in divesting the pole, and with it as a trophy they rode through the streets of Reading to their quarters. In a few days they left, but on the 24th of April an army, under Gen. Macpherson, arrived at Reading. They apprehended some of the insur- rectionists, who were afterward tried; some of them were found guilty, some fined and imprisoned, and others condemned to be capitally punished; but none atoned with their lives-they were pardoned through executive clemency.

KEIM'S COMPANY COMPLIMENTED .- Upon the breaking-up of the headquarters at Reading, on April 22, 1799, General Macpherson addressed the following interesting letter to Capt. Daniel Keim:

While I congratulate you and the company you com- mand on their return home, I take an additional pleasure in expressing my complete satisfaction with every part of their steady and soldier-like conduct during a very fa- tiguing though short expedition. It is much to be re- gretted that in a country blessed as this is, by an excellent constitution faithfully administered, there should be found any portion of its inhabitants so ignorant, or so wicked, as to oppose laws peculiarly adapted to the ease of the mass of the people, since the burden falls immediately upon the opulent. But it is a great consolation to see gentlemen, such as compose your company, come forward and brave fatigue and danger in support of the honor and happiness of their country. Accept, sir, my sincere

to convey to every individual my particular acknowledg- ments, best wishes and affectionate farewell.

EMBARGO OF 1807

Congress passed an Act on Dec. 22, 1807, laying an embargo on all the ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States in pursuance of a recommendation of President Jefferson. It pro- hibited the departure of all American vessels and all foreign vessels, except those in ballast. No merchandise whatever was to be exported. The Act was not simply to save American ships from danger, as Jefferson suggested in his message, but it was a measure of aggression against England. It was unpopular in proportion as men were or were not engaged in commerce. The maritime States thought that the agricultural States took a special satisfaction in a quasi war, of which all the burden fell at first upon commerce; but the burden at length became universal. The men whose to- bacco, corn and cotton could not be sent to market soon learned that they also, as well as the carriers of those products, were paying a heavy tax by this interdiction of commerce. Under the pressure of public opinion, this Act was repealed on March 1, 1809, and another Act was then substituted which interdicted the commercial intercourse between the United States, Great Britain and France, and forbade imports from Europe. From this policy of non-intercourse and from other difficulties, which in a state of war hindered importations from Europe, there was born unexpectedly that gigantic system under which the United States has become a great manufacturing nation.

During this interdiction, the people of Berks county began to feel the evil effects of this policy of non-intercourse. A number of millers and other citizens met at Reading on April 11, 1812, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the late meas- ures of Congress, the perilous situation of our com- mon country, and of consulting and devising such means or measures as may tend to relieve us from the distress which impends over us"; and passed res- olutions disapproving of the action of Congress.

ENGLISH WAR, 1812-15

CAUSE .- The Revolution was carried to a suc- cessful termination, and Independence, which the Colonies had declared in 1776, was thereby estab- lished. But though peace was declared to exist be- tween the two nations, the British government con- ducted itself persistently in an offensive manner toward the people of the United States, their com- merce, etc., and to their great injury for thirty years. The United States government passed natur- alization laws whereby foreigners could be natur- alized and become citizens, but the British govern- ment contended that a British subject could not be naturalized, and claimed the right of stopping United States vessels, searching for seamen of Eng- lish birth, and impressing them into their service.

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HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

In exercising this right, they stationed ships at harbors of the United States and searched every departing and arriving vessel. They were so vigi- classified with the 2d Brigade, under the command lant that within a period of eight years they cap- of Maj .- Gen. Daniel Udree, of Oley, in two regi- ments : the 1st Regiment, commanded by Lieut .- Col. Jeremiah Shappell, of Windsor, and the 2d, by Lieut .- Col. John Lotz, of Reading. tured nine hundred vessels and impressed over six thousand seamen into their navy. All this humilia- tion was borne with patience, but finally the com- plaints became too loud, and the injuries too griev- Eight of the companies in the 1st Regiment were commanded by the following captains : ous to be endured any longer, and President Madi- son made them the subject of a message to Con- John May George Ritter gress on June 1, 1812, which ended in a declaration John Mauger Jacob Marshall Jonathan Jones Henry Willotz of war on June 19, 1812. George Marx George Zieber

Anticipating this Declaration of War, Governor Snyder issued an Order on May 12th, requiring the quota of troops from Pennsylvania, fourteen thous- and, to be promptly raised and formed into two divisions. The first division included the troops from Berks county and was placed under the com- mand of Maj .- Gen. Isaac Worrell. A noble res- ponse was made to this call; for the troops tendered exceeded three times the quota requested.

The naval battle on Lake Erie was fought on Sept. 10, 1813, with brilliant success. Commodore Perry then sent his famous despatch to General Harrison : "We have met the enemy, and they our ours." The news reached Reading on the 27th of September following, and a grand illumination of the town took place in the evening from 7 till 10 o'clock, to signalize the glorious event.

FAMILIES FROM PHILADELPHIA .- During this period a number of English families, resident at Philadelphia, left the city for the interior parts of the country owing to a law which required them to move away from the sea-coast and ports at least fifty miles. Some of these families went to Read- ing, and took quarters at the "Tyson Inn," at the head of Franklin street (where the Park public school is situated). Whilst here (in August, 1814) the city of Washington was captured by the English, who wantonly destroyed the government buildings, excepting the patent office. This news caused these families to rejoice; and, to express their joy, they carried on dancing with the assistance of music; but they misconceived the temper of the German people of this inland borough, and soon found that their conduct wounded their national pride. In the midst of their demonstrations, they were suddenly attacked by a party of citizens, and the attack was made so earnestly as to require the building to be closed and the performance to be stopped.

This destruction of the Capitol and public build- ings at Washington, and the threatened attack on Baltimore by the enemy shortly afterward, brought the war near to Pennsylvania. The march of the enemy toward the interior by way of the Potomac river and Chesapeake bay naturally stimulated the military spirit of the State and a great number of men rallied in her defense. When the news reached Reading this spirit became thoroughly aroused in the entire county.

COMPANIES FROM COUNTY .- There were eleven companies enlisted in this war from Berks county,

And three of the companies in the 2d, by the fol- lowing captains :

Thomas Moore

Gabriel Old

John Christman

These eleven companies were stationed at York, Pennsylvania, from September, 1814, to March, 1815.

There was a twelfth company from the county, the Reading Washington Guards, commanded by Capt. Daniel De B. Keim. It rendered service at Wilmington, Delaware, in the latter part of Sep- tember, 1814; and afterward it was attached to the "Advance Light Brigade" as the 11th Company in the 1st Regiment of the Penna. Volunteer Infantry, commanded by General Cadwalader, with which it continued until the close of the war.

PEACE DECLARED .- Peace was concluded at Ghent on Dec. 24, 1814, but it was not till Feb. 22, 1815, that the event became known at Reading. During that day, the citizens of the borough signalized it by shooting off cannon, and at night by a grand illumination in which sixteen hundred pounds of candles were consumed.

MEXICAN WAR, 1846 To 1848

CAUSE .- The Mexican war arose out of the ques- tion relating to the annexation of Texas to the United States. The constitution of Mexico prohib- ited slavery in Texas, and this provision was a suffi- cient reason why the Southern States should wish to control it. President Adams and also President Jackson had made fruitless efforts to buy the prov- ince; and subsequently for some years the scheme of annexation was considered. One of the last acts of Jackson's official life was the appointment of an official agent to Texas, thereby acknowledging the independence of the province. This was looked upon as the first step toward obtaining possession of territory large enough for five new slave States. Henceforward, the project was urged with persist- ence, but little success till about 1842, when Presi- dent Tyler gave it his encouragement. It was ar- gued that if slavery were abolished in Texas, the ruin of the Southern States was inevitable, but if the province were annexed to the Union, the future of the slave States would be brilliant.

In 1844, Calhoun became Secretary of State, and he "believed in annexation at any cost," and Presi-

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WAR PERIODS

dent Tyler justified Calhoun's invitation to Texas company's shops distinguishing themselves in this to join the United States because he thought Great respect. The Captain and the Second and Third Britain was engaged in a diplomatic intrigue to Lieutenants were in the company's employ. The officers were presented with swords. Sergeant Mc- Michael was presented an elegant sword, revolver, sash, belt and accoutrements by his friends and shopmates engaged at Johnston's foundry. And numerous pistols and Bibles were also presented. abolish slavery in Texas. Calhoun then made a treaty with Texas in reference to annexation with- out the consent of Mexico, but offered Mexico $10,- 000,000 as an indemnity. At the close of Tyler's administration, a joint resolution was passed annex- ing Texas; and Tyler acting under this resolution, the annexation was carried. But as Tyler went out of office with the scheme carried through Congress, Polk came into office with the certainty of war with Mexico. In the beginning of May, 1846. the regu- lar troops under General Taylor were intercepted along the Rio Grande by the Mexican troops under General Arista, and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma ensued. Before the news of these events reached Washington, Congress had de- clared war on the 13th of May, and authorized the President to call for fifty thousand volunteers for one year. After carrying on war for nearly two years, the Mexicans were conquered, and a treaty of peace was signed in February, 1848, at the City of Mexico, whereby the United States acquired not only Texas, but also Arizona, New Mexico and California.

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Historical and biographical annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, embracing a concise history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 31

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1018

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846; J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : J. H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1018