USA > Pennsylvania > Historical register : notes and queries historical and genealogical, chiefly relating to interior Pennsylvania. Volume I > Part 19
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12. Samuel Hays, d. at Eric, Penna., leaving two sons and three daughters.
213
First Settlers of the Irish Settlement.
13. Mary Hays, died unmarried, January 11, 1851, aged 64 years.
14. Rebecca Hays. d. April 10. 1810, aged 49 years.
Of the other children of John Hays (1st) and Jean, his wife, we have no record further than a draft, indorsed Robert Hays, 168 acres, ninety-six perches: the descriptive part stating that it is "a draught of a tract of land situated in Allen township, Northampton county, being part of a larger tract. late Wil- liam Allen's, Esq. Surveyed the 22d May, 1781, for Robert Hays per James Brown." Robert Hays married Mary Allison, daughter of James and Jennet Allison. (Hist. Reg., page 122.)
Thomas Herron. There were two persons of this name, one of whom resided in Moore township previous to the year 1747. He married Jean McConnell. Thomas Herron died October 4, 1772. aged sixty-three years. His wife, Jean, died during the year 1804. They had no issue. Thomas Herron be- queathed a certain portion of his estate to a certain Mary Fleming, who afterwards married William Moffat. He also gave the sum of ten pounds unto his minister, the Rev. John Rosbrugh ; also a certain sum unto Arthur Lattimore, of Allen township, "to be by him applied to such charitable uses, chiefly or only to the gospel, as he, in his judgment and dis- cretion, shall think best." The other Thomas Herron married Jane Brown, daughter of Samuel and Jean (Boyd) Brown : they removed to Rockingham county, Virginia, where Thomas Herron died, previous to June 5, 1818, (Hist. Reg., page 123.)
James Horner came from the North of Ireland. He resided on the farm now owned and occupied by Thomas Laubach, situated on the main road leading from Bethlehem to Mauch Chunk, near the village of Howertown, in Allen township, Northampton county. He married Jean Kerr. James Hor- ner was born in Ireland, in the year 1711, and died May 1, 1793. Jean (Kerr) Horner was also born in Ireland, in the year 1713, and was murdered by a party of Indian warriors at the time of the Stinton massacre .* On her tombstone is the following inscription: "In memory of Jane, wife of James
.
* See Dr. Egle's History of Penn'a, pages 974-5.
-
214
Historical Register.
Horner, who suffered death by the hands of savage Indians, October 8, 1763. Aged fifty years." The writer was informed by the late Mr. Thomas Clendinen that his father came near being a victim of the Stinton massacre, from the fact that he was present at a corn-husking frolic at the house of Mr. Stinton on the night preceding the massacre, and staying until late in the night, he was about leaving for home, but being prevailed to remain until morning, he consented to do so, but, after stay- ing awhile, it seemed to him that something prompted him to leave, and in obeying it he escaped being present at the mas- sacre. Also that, consequent to the trouble and excitement at that time, Mrs. Horner was buried without a coffin, and that her husband took her corpse to the meeting-house of the English Presbyterian congregation, and there sat up with it, alone, on the night following the massacre, and that the interment took place the following day. James and Jean (Kerr) Horner had issue :
1. Hugh Horner, b. September 20, 1743 : d. April 15, 1806; m. Elizabeth Wilson, d. December 22, 1835, in the 87th year of her age. They had issue :
i. Jean, m. Samuel Abernethy.
ii. James, b. January 1, 1779 ; d. October 28, 1823 ; m. Esther Clendinen. She m.secondly James Vliet, Esq. (See Hist. Reg., p. 37.)
iii. Robert, b. April 23, 1781 ; d. July 7, 1844; m. Jane Wilson, d. November 10, 1859, in her 87th year.
iv. Judith, b. April 28, 1784; d. at 14 years of age.
". William, b. May 31, 1786; d. May 14, 1868.
vi. Hugh, b. April 21, 1738; m. Sarah E. Humphrey, daughter of Dr. Edward and Elizabeth (Hays) Humphrey. (See preceding.)
vii. Elizabeth, b. May 28, 1790 ; d. August 11, 1826.
2. John Horner, b. October 1, 1747 ; m. Susan Darrah.
3. Thomas Horner, b. November 1, 1749 ; d. November 27, 1825; m. Jane Patterson, d. September 9, 1835, aged 74 years. They had issue :
.
i. Sarah, b. June 19, 1785; m. Nathan Kerr, son of James and Jane (McInstry) Kerr, d. June 18, 1844, aged 62 years
ii. Jeun, b. January 12, 1787 ; d. June 20, 1791.
215
First Settlers of the Irish Settlement.
iii. James, b. July 30, 1789; died in Ohio subsequent to the year 1861; m. 1st Letty Brown ; 2d. Pleasant Harvey.
it. Jane, b. February 12, 1795.
v. Anna, b. May 31, 1797 ; m. Joseph Harvey.
vi. Thomas, b. in 1800; m. 1st, Cassandra Anderson ; 2d, Jane Barton. In the year 1877 he resided at Nunda, Living- ston county, N. Y.
4. Sarah Horner, b. December 12, 1751; d. 1826, in the State of New York : m. Wm. McNair, son of John and Chris- tianna (Walker) McNair. Mr. MeNair died in 1823, near Mt. Morris, N. Y.
5. Mary Horner, of whom we have no record.
6. James Horner. b. May 14, 1757 ; no record.
7. Jean Horner, b. October 20, 1759; m. John Hays, son of John and Barbara (King) Hays.
BAPTISMS OF ST. GABRIEL'S P. E. CHURCHI, MORLOTTON, (DOUGLASSVILLE,) BERKS COUNTY, PA.
COMMUNICATED BY MORTON L. MONTGOMERY.
Birth.
Child.
Parents.
Baptism.
Ezekiel, Mary, .
Peter and Elizabeth Jones,
30 Sept., 1735.
1 April, 1736, .
. Nicholas,
.
Jonas and Mary Jones,
23 May, 1736.
28 Sept., 1736, . James,
Oct., 1736, . . Christine,
Burgund and Mary Bird,
1737.
Sarah,
Andrew and Dorothy Jones, .
Peter and Elizabeth Jones, .
2 April, 1738. 4 Feb., 1739. 1 May, 1739.
29 Sept., 1738, .
Thomas,
. Justin and Anne Mayberry,. Andrew and Dorothy Jones,
1 May, 1739.
10 Feb., 1741, . . Stephen,
Nathan and Catharine Evans,
30 Aug., 1741. 4 Sept., 1743.
13 Mar., 1740, . . Evan, . Andrew, Rebecca,
Andrew and Dorothy Jones, . William and Bridgette Bird,
19 June, 1744. 1745. 1745.
3 Nov., 1744, . . Peter, . John, William, Ruth,
Peter and Ruth Jones, .
14 April, 1745. 8 April, 1748.
6 Dec., 1747, . .
Peter and Ruth Jones, .
27 May,
1753.
26 Mar., 1753, . . Ruth,
1753.
17 April, 1752, . . Peter,
Mounce and Margaret Jones,
27 May, 15 July,
1753.
1 June, 1753, Jane,
George and Mary Douglass,
18 July,
1753.
4 July, 1746, . . James,
John and Catharine Williams, Benjamin and Susanna Boone,
6 Ang., 1753.
11 Nov., 1739, . Mary, .
13 Aug., 1741, . . Benjamin, Benjamin and Susanna Boone,
6 Ang., 1753.
24 Mar., 1743, . . James, Benjamin and Susanna Boone,
6 Aug., 1753.
11 Aug., 1745, . . Samuel,
.
Benjamin and Susanna Boone,
6 Aug., 1753.
3 May, 1749, . . Dinah,
. Benjamin and Susanna Boone,
6 Aug., 1753.
13 Dec., 1753, . . Samuel, .
Nicholas and Judith Jones, .
20 Jan., 1754.
.
31 Feb., 28 Aug., 1737.
Margaret, Marcus, .
William and Bridgette Bird, .
21 April, 1739, .
Moses,
Andrew and Dorothy Jones,
2 April, 1741.
11 June, 1744, .
Jonas and Mary Jones,
Mounce and Margaret Jones,
13 Jan., 24 Jan.
Peter and Ruth Jones,
.
.
Historical Register.
216
Burgund and Mary Bird,
29 Oct., 1735.
William and Bridgette Bird, 3 Oct., 1736.
Baptisms of St. Gabriel's Church. Morlotton.
23 Dec., 1753. . . Mary,
William and Bridgette Bird.
20 Jan.,
1754.
18 Mar., 1747, . . Elizabeth,
James and Margaret Bird,
1 Sept., 1754.
16 Jan., 1750, . Eleazer, .
James and Margaret Bird, 1 Sept., 1754. 1 Sept., 1751. 1 Sept., 1754.
5 May, 1752, .
. Ruth, . James and Margaret Bird,
18 Aug., 1754, . . Judith,
James and Margaret Bird,
23 Sept., 1754, Mary,
George and Mary Douglass,
17 Nov., 1754. 29 Jmie, 4 Dec.,
1755. 1757. 1757.
28 Sept., 1757, .
. Hannah,
Nicholas and Judith Jones, Peter and Ruth Jones,
S April, 1758, .
21 Feb., 1759, . Sarah,
Nicholas and Judith Jones,
31 July, 1759, . Judith,
Peter and Ruth Jones,
21 Dee., 1759, . . Abraham, Ezekiel, .
Monnice and Margaret Jones, Peter and Ruth Jones,
20 April, 1760. 15 Feb., 1762.
12 April, 1762, . . John, .
Nicholas and Judith Jones,
18 May, 18 May, 18 May, 25 Mar.,
1762. 1762. 1765.
18 Mar., 1765, . .
William, John, .
Mark and Mary Bird,
17 Nov.,
1767.
20 Jan., 1776, . Margaret,
Monnce and Margaret Jones,
·
Peter and Catharine Jones,
9 Ang., 1777, . . Peter,
Harris and Judith Jones,
1 Nov., 1774, . . Amos,
8 July, 1796, . Caleb, Peter and Catharine Jones,
8 Nov., 1794, . . Samuel,
.
John and Cynthia Jones,
3 Feb., 1796,
Caleb, .
17 April, 1797, .
Sarah,
.
16 Ang., 1799, . George W.
George and Mary Donglass, · Peter and Catharine Jones, Peter and Catharine Jones,
5 April, 1802, . Rebecca,
George and Mary Douglass,
3 May, 1808.
2 Feb., 1808, . Theodore,
Sammel D. and Sarah Franks,
.
George and Mary Douglass, . .
26 May, 1814, . . Rachel May,
Thomas and Margaret Jones,
.
. George and Mary Douglass,
IS Dec., 9 Oct., 15 Jan.,
1814. 1815.
217
2 April, 1812, . . William,
John and Cynthia Jones, . John and Mary Jones, .
17 Mar., 1776. 1777. 15 Oct., 10 Sept., 1778. 1796. 1796. 1 Aug., 1796. 31 July, . 31 July, 25 June, 1797. 6 June, 1801. 12 April, 1801. 25 Dee., 1802.
1762.
. Monner and Margaret Jones,
Rebecen, Bridgette,
Monnee and Margaret Jones, Mark and Mary Bird, .
24 June, 1755,
Elizabeth, . Peter and Ruth JJones,
20 Mar., 1757, Pierce, Hannah,
. Monnee and Margaret Jones,
31 July, 1758. 1759. 1759.
28 Mar., 1799, . Catharine,
8 Oct., 1804, . . Amelia, .
·
1808.
26 April, 1808, . . Elizabeth,
218
Historical Register.
JAMES McLENE,
ONE OF THE UNMENTIONED " MEN OF MARK" OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY.
BY BENJ. M. NEAD.
It is the case, and it is so naturally, that, with few notable exceptions, in reviews of the events of the revolutionary por- tion of our Commonwealth's history, the greater prominence has been given to the military characters of that dramatic period. These were the chief actors upon the stage, and the luster of their achievements secured for them-when the jealousy or personal pique of ruling spirits in the home govern- ment did not eclipse their names entirely-such prominent mention in the printed records of those times as comported with a due preservation of the dignity and State pride of New England chronicles, to whom, to our shame as Pennsylvanians be it said, we have been content almost unto this day to dele- gate the principal business of conserving and promulgating American history.
But aside from those Pennsylvanians who contributed by their military prowess to the general grand results of the Revo- lution, there were men in the more quiet walks of civil life whose names do not appear upon the printed pages of history, who in their own spheres contributed their share in the con- summation of a free and independent form of government for Pennsylvania. Of one of this class of almost forgotten patriots it is the purpose of this article to make some mention.
James McLene was the son of William McLene, and although readily mistaken for an Irishman,* was born in New London, Chester county, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of October, 1730.
* When I first took my'seat in council, (Sup. Ex.,) not having been acquainted with any people from the western country, I thought from their conversation that McLene, Boyd, Smith, and Whitehill were Irishmen. Talking one day with Smith (who had as much
219
James Mc Lene.
He was fortunate in enjoying more opportunities in the way . of an early education than were ordinarily available at that period. During his boyhood, New London was the seat of a classical academy, which. under the charge of the Rev. Francis Alison," a man of large scholarly attainments, had become deservedly celebrated as an institution of learning. At this academy James was educated, in company with such worthy companions as Charles Thomson, afterwards master of the Quaker free school in Philadelphia, secretary of the conference of committees and of the Continental Congress: Thomas Mc- Kean, who became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and second Governor of Pennsylvania under the Constitution of 1790 ; George Reed and James Smith, signers of the Declara- tion of Independence.
In the year 1753, James McLene, then a young man of twenty-three years of age, attracted by the fame of the "Cono- cocheague Settlement," the name which the early settlers in old Antrim township, Cumberland (now Franklin) county, had given to their home, took up a valuable tract of land there, and having married, July 5. 1753. Christina Brown, (of that vicin- ity,) he located upon his purchase the next year. Here he seems to have pursued, for twenty years and upwards, the usual
of the brogue and look of an Irishman as any one that ever came from Tipperary) about being at sea, he told me he never was at sea in his life. "And how, my honey," says Dean, who was sitting by me, and who also thought him from Ireland, " did you get to Philadelphia ?" " Why I rode here." "And arrah, honey! did you ride here all the way from Ireland ? I never heard of a bridge between the two coun- tries." "Devil a bit of me," says Smith, " was ever out of Pennsyl- vania." And this I found was true, and that McLene, Whitehill, and Boyd were all born in Pennsylvania. People who live in an Irish settlement, or who are much with the Irish, generally affect the brogue .- Autobiography of Charles Biddle. p. 203.
* Rev. Francis Alison came to America in 1735, served for a short time as tutor in John Dickinson's father's family, became pastor of New London Church in 1737, opened his academy in 1743, removed to Philadelphia in 1752, and became principal of the Philadelphia Academy, accepted in 1755 the professorship of moral philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania, of which institution he was subse- quently vice prevost. He was the founder of the Presbyterian So- ciety for the Relief of Ministers and their Widows.
220
Historical Register.
avocation of a yeoman of the frontier, with no event in his career, except his evident growth in popularity, to challenge particular mention, until the thunder of the Revolution awoke him to activity in an important sphere of labor for the cause of freedom.
Among the "number of gentlemen " who met at Carpenter's Hall, in Philadelphia, on the 18th of June, 1776, was Mr. James McLene, from the county of Cumberland .* These gen- tlemen were deputed by the committees of several of the coun- ties of the Province to join in provincial conference to take ac- tion upon the resolution of the Continental Congress of May 15, 1776, which called upon the colonies "to adopt such gov- ernments as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their con- stituents in particular, and America in general."
In the deliberations of this conference, the importance of which it is not necessary to enlarge upon, Mr. McLene took an active part. The conference lasted but one week, yet in that time all the preliminaries for calling a State convention and for choosing representatives thereto were arranged. Besides this, important measures, demanded by the exigencies of the times, and not strictly within the legitimate scope of the conference, were adopted. The most important of these was the establish- ment of the Pennsylvania Flying Camp, a militia force of four thousand five hundred men, raised in obedience to a resolution of Congress, and subsequently sent to the relief of General Washington's army on Long Island. The disasters of the Continental army at Fort Washington and in the battles on the Island were shared to the utmost by this brave body of Pennsyl- vania yeomen who have been scarcely accorded a mention in his- tory. James McLene was on the committee which devised the ways and means of raising the Flying Camp and of fitting them to take the field.
Having been so closely and in so able a manner identified
* Mr. McLene's colleagues from Cumberland county in this con- ference were : Col. James Allison, John Maclay, Esq., William El- liot, Esq., Col. William Clark, Dr. John Calhoon, John Creigh, Hugh McCormick, John Harris, and Hugh Alexander.
221
.James Mc Lene.
with the workings of the provincial conference, as a natural consequence Mr. MeLene was chosen from Cumberland county one of the members of the constitutional convention, which met in Philadelphia on the 15th day of July. 1776. to complete the work begun in the conference .* Of this body, the delibera- tions of which lasted a little over two months, Mr. MeLene was an attentive inember, and here doubtless gained much of that intimate knowledge of public men and manners, which fitted him for intelligent service in those positions of kindred char- acter which he subsequently filled ably and with credit to himself.
Just as natural was the next step McLene took, from the convention to frame the fundamental law of the new govern- ment to the first Assembly of Representatives to enact the statute law.
All of McLene's colleagues from the home county in the con- stitutional convention, with the exception of Jonathan Hoge, served with him in the Assembly of 1776-7. During this session the good common sense and executive ability of Mc- . Lene is strongly indicated by the character of the committees upon which he served. and by the manner in which he per- formed his work. His attention, as a member of the military committee, was closely given to formulating a practicable militia system for the State. He was one of the Assemblymen of Pennsylvania delegated to confer with the delegates of Vir- ginia and Maryland respecting the boundary lines, some point of that vexed question, notwithstanding the impending war, being at that time agitated; and when the British army took possession of Philadelphia, and the adoption of extreme meas- ures in the councils of the patriots became necessary, he was named as one of the committee to prepare a bill to authorize the president and council of Pennsylvania to suspend the habeas corpus act, and of the committee to devise a plan to prevent the giving of supplies and intelligence to the enemy.
In the session of 1777-8 the record of McLene as a leader is
* The other members of the convention from Cumberland county were John Harris, William Clarke, William Duffield, Hugh Alexan- der, Jonathan Hoge, Robert Whitehill, and James Brown.
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Historical Register.
still more marked. He was elected Speaker of the Assembly on the 20th of November. 1777, and served in that important capacity until the 20th of February, 1778, when he voluntarily resigned the position, and John Bayard was chosen as his successor.
In March, 1778, a difficulty which seems to have been of a somewhat serious nature occurred between the Pennsylvania authorities and the Continental Board of War, relative to sup- plies for the army, ordered by Congress, then in session at York. The precise nature of this difficulty is not apparent. owing to the omission of the record concerning the same in the minutes of the Council and Assembly. Pennsylvania had a grievance, and set it forth in an address from the Council and the Assembly to Congress. James McLene and Robert Whitehill, members of Assembly, were appointed a committee, on the 6th of March, to go to Yorktown and present to Con- gress this joint representation of the Council and Assembly of Pennsylvania. Congress took steps to remove this grievance, and a short time subsequently passed the following resolve in regard to the same : "That Congress conceive all cause of com- plaint against the instructions of the Board of War to their superintendents must now cease as three of said superinten- dents have been dismissed, and it is expressly enjoined upon the others to conform to the regulations of the State in which they are from time to time employed."
On the 9th of November, 1778, McLene, having won the confidence of the people by his service in the Supreme Legis- lative branch of the new government, was advanced to a seat in the Supreme Executive branch, viz : the Supreme Execu- tive Council. For the choice of councillors the State was divided into three districts, the first consisting of the city of Philadelphia and the three original counties of the State, and the remaining two of four counties each. In the first district one councillor was chosen from the city of Philadelphia and one from each of the counties,* to serve three years; in the second district one councillor was chosen from each of the counties.t
* Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks.
t Lancaster, York, Cumberland, and Berks.
223
James McLene.
to serve two years, and in the third district one councillor was chosen from each of the counties," to serve one year. McLene was chosen a councillor to represent Cumberland county, by the people of the second district, at the October election. 1778, and served for two years.
James McLene is next recorded as sitting with the Conti- nental Congress. Of that important body he was an able. conservative member, during the trying session of 1779-80.+
The framers of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 evi- dently looked upon the results of their labor simply as an ex- periment. They seemed to believe that the body politie created under that instrument following the analogy of the human body, would undergo radical changes in a period not exceeding seven years. Accordingly, by the terms of the Constitution itself. it was provided that at the end of that time, namely. in the year 1783. (and every seventh year thereafter.) that a so- called Council of Censors should be chosen by ballot. consist- ing of two persons from each county and city in the State. The duty of the Council of Censors was defined to be to in- quire whether the Constitution had been preserved inviolate in every part, and whether the legislative and executive branches of the government had performed their duty as guardians of the people, or had assumed or exercised other or greater pow- ers than they were entitled to under the Constitution. They were also to inquire whether the public taxes had been justly levied and collected in all parts of the Commonwealth. in what manner the moneys had been disposed of, and whether the laws had been duly executed. For these purposes they had power to send for persons, papers, and records. They had also au- thority to pass public censures, to order impeachments. and recommend to the Legislature the repeal of such laws as ap- peared to them to have been enacted contrary to the principles of the Constitution. Theirs was also the right, upon the con- sent of two thirds of their number, to call a convention to meet within two years after their sitting, if there appeared to them
* Northampton, Bedford, Northumberland, and Westmoreland.
+ His colleagues in Congress from Pennsylvania were William Ship- pen, James Searle, and Fred. A. Muhlenburg.
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Historical Register.
an absolute necessity of amending any article of the Constitu- tion which was defective, explaining such as were considered not clearly expressed and of adding such as were necessary for the preservation of the rights and happiness of the people. But all proposed changes were to be promulgated for the con- sideration of the people at least six months before the election of delegates to a convention.
In the Council of Censors which began its first session Mon- day, November 10. 1783, James McLene and William Irvine were the representatives from Cumberland county. With them sat many of the ablest men of the State, and the record of the deliberations of this council is full of interest. The first Constitution of our present form of State government bears in many particulars the impress of their opinions and is largely the result of their labors. McLene and Irvine both took an active part in the proceedings of the council. McLene was a member of the chief committee which was appointed to in- quire whether the Constitution had been preserved inviolate in every part. It was this committee which recommended the bi-cameral system of legislation, and suggested the propriety of restricting the exercise of the executive power to a single person.
In the year 1783, McLene was chosen to represent Cumber- land county a second term in the Supreme Executive Council, and the new county of Franklin having been erected from Cumberland. in 1784. he was elected in October of that year to serve still another term in that body as the representative of the new county. One who was intimately connected with the Council as an officer, speaks as follows of the situation of affairs at this time : "Council was nearly equal at this time with respect to parties. The Republican members were Messrs. Neville, Hill, Muhlenburg. Ross, Willing, Boyd, and Elliott. The Constitutionalists were Messrs. McLENE, Whitehill, Smi- lie, Findley, Watts, Smith. Dean, Hoge, and Martin. The dis- tinction was that the Republicans wanted an alteration in the Constitution. They wished to have a House of Representa- tives and a Senate. The other party thought no alteration necessary * # We had frequent and violent disputes
225
.James McLene.
between these members upon political subjects, but they were of little consequence then. and can be of none now. The best informed man of either party and the readiest of business was Mr. Hoge, but he was so diffident a man that if we had a full council he could never rise to make a motion, or even to sec- ond one. He was a worthy. valuable man. MeLENE. White- hill. Smilie, and Findley are all sensible men. They would not be the least embarassed in speaking before any assembly whatever. Smilie and Findley are natives of Ireland; the former was brought up a house carpenter. the latter a weaver. They are both men of talents, and if they had received a good education would have made figure in any legislative body. MeLene and Whitehill are Pennsylvanians. These four had been leading members of the State Legislature. They are all now (1803) living. McLene has retired from public business. " *
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