USA > Pennsylvania > Historical register : notes and queries historical and genealogical, chiefly relating to interior Pennsylvania. Volume II > Part 21
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Till the Hand of Jehovah shall roll up yon screen.
BENJ. M. NEAD.
HARRISBURG, September 15, 1884.
HISTORICAL REGISTER:
NOTES AND QUERIES,
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
RELATING TO
Interior Pennsylvania.
Vol. Il.
No. 4.
* Out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, traditions, private records, and evidences, fragments of stories, passages of books, and the like, we doe save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time."
HARRISBURG, PA. LANE S. HART, PUBLISHER. ISS4.
HISTORICAL REGISTER: NOTES AND QUERIES, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
VOL. II.
DECEMBER. 1884. No. 4.
FITHIAN'S JOURNAL, 1775.
ANNOTATED BY JOHN BLAIR LINN.
Wednesday. August 23d. I had almost forgotten to tell the person who shall read these papers, a couple of hundred years hence, that there is now standing in a garden at Huntingdon, a tall stone column or pillar nearly square which has given to the town and to the valley the name of "Standing Stone Val- ley." The column is seven feet above the ground .*
*NOTE -Hon. J. Simpson Africa, Secretary of Internal Affairs. has very kindly furnished me with the following notice of the Standing Stone, and notes to which his initials are attached .- LINN.
The earliest official mention of the Standing Stone is supposed to . be that of August 18, 1746, by Conrad Weiser in the journal of his trip to Ohio, [Col. Ree. r, 348.] In John Harris' account of the road from his ferry to Logstown. dated 1754, but probably computed from his journey made in 1753, [Pa. Arch. ii, 130.] the Standing Stone is described as being "abo' 14 f. high 6 inch square." Several old citi- zens, consulted a number of years ago, concurred in fixing the loca- tion on or near No. 210 Alleghany street, in the borough of Hunting- don.
Hugh Crawford, whose name is frequently mentioned in our pro- vincial records, was the first white claimant of the "Standing Stone"' tract of land, which includes the most of the built part of the bor- ough of Huntingdon. He conveyed to George Croghan, by deed dated June 1, 1760, to whom a warrant was granted by the proprietaries, December 10, 1764. Croghan sold his warrant to " William Smith, D. D., aud provost of the college of Philadelphia," by deed of March 25, 1766. On the return of survey, the deputy surveyor notes that,
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After breakfasting with Mrs. Fowley, a smart, neat woman ; her pewter in the dresser glistened, her wooden dishes, pails, and the like were white and sweet: and after appointing ser- mon to be here on Sunday. we rode up Ofwick, six miles to Mrs. Cluggage's. The good little woman, with great kindness, received me. She looks to be an old woman, very healthy, and, indeed, florid in her appearance; yet, she wears neither shoes or stockings. It is the custom in these back-woods, almost universal with the women, to go barefooted. Men, in common, I observe, wear mockisons. Impatient of confine- ment, I rambled out. Near are two fine brooks, on the north and south are two high mountains. From them the streams come trickling down. As I was strolling along the waters I found two sorts of plums. The one is a red or streaked plum, not yet quite ripe and very tart. The other, by far the best, is a yellow, and, when rubbed a little, is a bright orange colored plum, now ne rly ripe and very juicy and sweet. Both kinds are nearly of a size, and grow upon a low, scrubby, thorny bush. We received, this afternoon, intelligence that Genl. Gage, in "On the above tract is an old improvement made by one Crawford, (of whom George Croghan purchased,) in the year 1753 or 1754."
By the treaty and purchase of July, 1754, the Indian title to the lands in the valley of the Juniata was extinguished. It is an accepted tradition that the Indians, who then lived and cultivated land in the vicinity, on migrating after the treaty, carried the original stone with them, and that Crawford or other white residents caused another to be erected on its site. The difference in height, between the account of John Harris in 1753 or 1754 and that of Rev. Fithian in 1775, may be taken as a confirmation of the tradition. A part of the stone that was standing in 1775 is preserved at Huntingdon. The earliest re- liable date thereon is "1768," appended to the name of John Lukens, who was then Surveyor General of the Province.
A town was regularly laid out by direction of Dr. Smith in 1767, and was soon afterward called Huntingdon. In the warrant of 1764, the survey of May 6, 1766, the deeds of 1760 and 1766, and many other contemporaneous legal papers, the land is described as the "Standing Stone" tract.
Alleghany street, the first street north of and parallel with the Ju- niata river, was laid out on the route of the old traders' road, and was the chief place for athletic exercise. "Long-bullets " was a fav- orite pastime, and in a missthrow the ball struck the "stone " and broke it.
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some fit of surprize, has burned down the town of Boston, and, with all his army, gone off. This, in my opinion, wants con- firmation: it came by an unprinted letter.
Thursday, August 24. The weather is wet and very muggy. All the inhabitants in these back settlements are remarkably strong. fresh, and cheerful. I have seen only one young man in Northumberland at all indisposed with any kind of fever. With Mr. Cluggage I rode, after dinner, three miles to the Shades of Death" to fish. Ofwick creek runs between two high mountains. These narrows are overhung with high spruces, elms, ash, and interspersed with ivy, laurel, &c., which makes a dismal gloom.
Friday, August 25. As I was with eagerness looking over Dunlap's paper of the 7th, impatient to hear from oppressed Boston, in my hurry of reading I passed over this astonishing sentence : "On Friday the 20th of July, died a+ his home in Cohansie, New Jersey, Rev. Andrew Hunter, A. 1." Iam aided in averting grief by Mrs. Cluggage's pathetic sorrow. One of her sonst has gone captain of a company of riflemen to Boston. Just now gone. Her tears are not yet dried since his departure. She appears to be a woman of sedate. philosophic temper, car- ries a kind of dignity that is persuasive in her presence. The young gentleman who is gone was a magistrate here and in high reputation. Since his departure another of this good kind woman's sons has been chosen by the company of militia for captain. There are five brothers, all grown, and appear to be young men of prudence and understanding.
Sunday, August 27, Shirley. We held service in Mr. Fow-
*"Shades of Death," the water gap in the Shade mountain, now called Shade gap .- J. S. A.
¡ Capt. Robert Cluggage enlisted a company in Huntingdon, then Bedford county, for Col. Hand's, afterwards James Chambers' First regiment of the Continental line, which served in front of Boston during the winter of 1775-1776. Captain Cluggage resigned October 6, 1776, and was subsequently a justice of the peace of Shirley town- ship, Huntingdon county. He was one of his Majesty's justices who held the first court in Bedford county, April 16, 1771. The family re- sided in Black Log Valley, east of Orbisonia, Cromwell township, Huntingdon county .- J. S. A.
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ley's barn, # a rainy, stormy day. Many, however, were present- fifty or more. On my way to sermon I was met by a messen- ger from a poor dying man to hasten me on that I might con- verse with him a little before his departure. A stranger and here dying. He came to Mr. Fowley's last Thursday on his way to Virginia. He appeared ill when he came in. He was exceeding ill. He begged the liberty of a bed to rest awhile, but poor youth it was the bed of death. His disorder was a consumption. When I came in he was too far wasted to con- verse. His body, even his head, was cold. His legs were much swollen. He was in a deep sweat, his breath, too, was cool and short. He had his understanding in full, and I asked some questions which he answered with calmness and great judg- ment. He told me he was near his end and begged that I would remember him in the public assembly, and recommend him to God's mercy. I summed up to him in the plainest man- ner a few of the great necessary evidences of union to God by Christ, and assured him of the ability and willingness of our Great Redeemer to save to the uttermost. Before the last ser- mon was finished, poor youth, he expired. This settlement is broken with religious divisions. There is a Baptist society now under the direction of one Mr. Lane.t There is also a Methodist society, but no stated minister. These, when the whole settlement is not large, make every society quite incon- siderable in number and power. Good Mrs. Cluggage staid with Mrs. Fowley to assist in directing the funeral. After ser- mon I staid at young Mr. Cluggage's over the night. For my supply, one of the hearers, I know not who, gave 20 shillings.
Monday, August 28. A damp, muddy, sickly morning. I set out over the rocky path for Loudoun. My new horse meas- ures the way eagerly. I came about twelve miles into the great road that leads from Philadelphia to Fort Pitt, most hilly most stony. In these valleys I seem fated to have rain. I ar-
*" Fowley ;" James Foley. then owner of the Fort Shirley tract of land .- J. S. A.
i"Mr. Lane;" Rev. Samuel Lane, a Baptist minister, who then resided at Saltillo, Huntingdon county, but subsequently removed to a farm on Mill creek, Brady township. Numerous descendants reside in Huntingdon and vicinity .- J. S. A.
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Fithian's Journal.
rived at 6at Mr. Harris',# within five miles of Mr. King's; I can go no further. Two young misses were singing at their wheels. 'They sung well, in perfect unison, not one long note or pause did either of them hurry over. I was writing when they be- gan ; unable to sit, I rose and entered the room. They were young, both were handsome. They were singing hymns. too. They were bashful, and with much persuasion sang while I was present. We spent the rainy evening much to my satis- faction. I supped alone on coffee, and, whether I would or not, the scrutinizing landlady found out that I was a preacher. Are you a surveyor ? says she. I was looking over my sum- mer course as I have it laid down upon a sheet of paper. Are you a surveyor? No madam, I am not. She walked out. In she came again, however. You are from appearance, I presume, sir, a divine? Indeed madam, I am not. After supper she outwittel me. Three young men were sent by the Presbytery from an order of synod this summer to the back woods. Pray, sir, do you know their names? Pshaw, thought I, woman, thy name is curiosity. Distance rode to-day, 25 miles.
[No entries made in the Journal on the 29th and 30th.]
August 31. Warm springst by four in the evening; met with Col. Calendert on the way. Back creek swimming high. Cloudy, sloppy day. A.huge stone tumbled from the mountain direct to the spring. Fray between Mr. Fleming and Mr. Hall concerning an account. Mr. Hall wrung Mr. Fleming's nose. I took lodging at Mrs. Baker's. Mr. Miller an aged rheumatic invalid taken ill in the bath.
Friday, September 1. Drank early and freely of the waters. About four hundred now present. Near one half of these visi- bly indisposed. Many in sore distress. I made several new ac- quaintances, Col. Lewis of Fredericksburg, Dr. Holmes, Mr. Fin- ley and Mr. Williamson of Alexandria, Mr. Blair of Maryland,
* Probably Rowland Harris, who then resided in Peters' township, (now Franklin county.)
t Berkeley Springs (Morgan county, West Virginia.)
# See Note of Col. Robert Callender, Egle's Notes and Queries, 1881, page 15, by Samuel Evans, Esquire, as according to Mr. Evans Col. Callender died in 1775; he was no doubt on a fruitless journey to the springs for the restoration of his health.
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Historical Register.
Mr. Washington. Major Willis Morrow. I met also with some old ones. Capt. Blackwell. George Lewis. an old fellow student. Mr. Parke, Mr. Stephens and Mrs. Mitchell of this colony. Par- son Allen of Frederick in Maryland left Bath this morning. It is said he has been snubbed by the ladies. Tickets going about for a ball this evening. Parson Wilmore said to be the veriest buck in town. With Col. Callender, Dr. Holmes, Mr. Blair, Finley. Murray and Hunter walked over the mountain to the Cold Spring. Spoke here with Miss Slemons, white, feeble, weak maid. Mr. Diggs of York in this government the picture of decrepitude.
Evening. In one part of the little brisk village, a splendid ball. At some distance and within hearing, a Methodist preacher was haranguing the people. In our dining-room, companies at cards-five and forty, whist, all-fours, calico Betty, &c. I walked out among the bushes: here also were amusements in all shapes and in high degree constantly taking place among so promiscuous company. The observation when on the spot (to see it in real life) I can picture it out but sadly, is curious and improving. Mr. Biddle* one of the delegates for the Province of Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress is here, and much disordered with rheumatism.
Saturday, Sept. 2. From 12 to four this morning soft and con- tinual Serenades at different houses where the ladies lodge. Several of the company, among many the parson, were hearty Miss -- , said to be possessed of an estate in Maryland worth £10,000, is accused by the bloods as imperious and haughty- an accusation against one-for breaking, in the warmth of his heart through the logs and entering the lodging-room of buxom
* Edward Biddle of Reading, Pennsylvania, elected member of the Congress, September 5, 1774. reelected May 10, 1775, died September 5, 1777, aged forty-one. See autobiography of Charles Biddle, E. Claxton & Co .. Philadelphia, 1853. page 74, for an account of the ac- cident by which Mr. Biddle became an invalid from rheumatism. This autobiography is the most interesting and valuable contribu- tion of biographical incidents that has appeared since the publication of Graydon's delighful " Memoirs of a Life Chiefly Passed in Penn- sylvania." Its graphic sketches of our Pennsylvania revolutionary officers largely supplement the 10th and 11th vols. of the 2nd Series of Pennsylvania Archives.
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Fithian's Journal.
Kate ---- Unfortunate Scot. he was led to this, iminedi - ately stimulated by a plentiful use of these vigor giving waters. He came to recruit his exhausted system. He was urged, he was compelled by the irresistible call of renewed nature. But breaking houses is breaking the peace, and Salacious Caledo- nian, if it be made appear you broke last night into buxom Kate's house and then and there were unable to make her full satisfaction for such conduct, it were as well you had been in the bushes. Before noon we returned expenses, ferry 6d., Club dinner at Guver's 2s. 3d., Mrs. Baker's bill 10s. 5d., for a show of Boston, &e. 4d. Distance from Mr. Hunter's 26 miles ; at Mr. Hunter's by 2 o'clock.
Sunday, Sept. 3. I preached at Falling Water. Few present ; I preached but one sermon. Rode afterwards to Mr. Van Lear's. The Potomac very high and still rising; dangerous crossing; very great logs floating by.
LAs Mr. Fithian on his return had now reached a point where his return by way of Hagerstown, Gettysburg, and Sus- quehanna Ferry, made a further description of the country he passed through unnecessary, as he had amply described it in his Journal commencing May 17, 1775, (Egle's Notes and Queries, page 156, &c.,) he therefore only notes dates and ex- penses.]
[Note to page 201, HISTORICAL REGISTER : Hell valley, a narrow valley lying between Jack's mountain and Chestnut ridge extending south-west from Mount Union. Originally called " The Hunter's Little Hill Valley," now contracted to Hill valley .- J. S. A.]
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Historical Register.
NOTED CHARACTERS IN OUR EARLY HISTORY.
BY ISAAC CRAIG.
BIENVILLE DE CELORON.
In a late reprint of a portion of Marshall's account of Ce- loron's expedition down the Ohio, in 1749, the following note occurs :
"I have not yet succeeded in learning more of Celoron than is contained in the text, however interesting it would be to know something of his previous and subsequent career."
As I have been more fortunate, a brief statement of the re- sult of my reading may be worth inserting in the HISTORICAL REGISTER.
In 1739, Céloron was sent from Michilimackinac in command of the Canadians and Indians in the expedition against the Chickasaws. In July, 1741, he was sent by Beauharnois. Governor of New France, on a mission to the Ottawas of Michilimackinac. In a dispatch, dated October 10th, 1743, he is mentioned as "formerly commandant at Detroit." October 8th, 1744, Beauharnois writes: "I have sent Sieur de Celoron to command the post of Niagara, and have added thirty men to its garrison." June 6th, 1747, he is mentioned as commandant at Fort St. Frederick.# November 10th, 1747, Captain de Sabrevois was selected to command Fort St. Frederick in place of Celoron, whom he relieved. May 27th, 1748, it is recorded : " The convoy for Detroit has left La Chine, under command of Captain de Celoron, escorted and well supplied with provisions, ammunition and goods." September 5th following: " Mr. de Celoron arrives at Quebec on his return from Detroit." In
*Built by the French in 1731, at Crown Point, Lake Champlain. On Brassier's map of Lake Champlain, 1762, it is stated : "The In- dians give that spot the name of Tek-ya-dough-nigarigee, which sig- nifies two points opposite each other."
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Noted Characters in our Early History.
June, 1749, he started from La Chine, on his Ohio river expe- dition. June 23. 1750. " M. de Celoron. Knight of the Royal and Military Order of St. Louis, Major and Commandant of Detroit," witnessed the proceedings in regard to an exchange of prisoners at Montreal. In the summer of 1755 he was again at Fort St. Frederick, with Baron Dieskau, by whom he was ordered to the falls of Lake Saint Sacrament* to prevent the English attempting anything in that direction. In the summer of 1756, a detachment under the command of M. de Ce- loron had a fight near Cresap's fort,t in the rear of Cumber- land: killed 8 Englishmen whose scalps the Indians were not able to secure, finding themselves in the dusk of the evening under the musketry of the fort. We have had two Indians killed and one wounded." The 15th of September following, Celoron arrived at Montreal with a letter from Captain Dumas, commanding Fort Du Quesne, containing an account of the capture and destruction of Fort Granville, on the Juniata, by Captain Coulon de Villiers.
Ferland, in his Cours de Historie du Canada, confounds Cap- tain Bienville de Celoron with Captain Celoron de Blainville, who was quite another person. In 1749, Captain Blainville, if living, must have been at least eighty-seven years of age. In November, 1703, Gov. Vaudreiul wrote: "M. de Blainville, captain in the Regulars in this country, has been here twenty years without having re-passed to France. He asks leave of absence, my lord, in order to attend to the affairs of his family, which have experienced many changes during that time. I can assure you that he is a very worthy officer, and that his request is very just." Ensign Celoron de Blainville, probably a son of Captain Blainville, was killed near Fort Cumberland in the spring of 1756.
*The French name of Lake George. The falls is a short distance above Ticonderoga, where Lake George empties into Lake Champlain.
+At Old Town, Maryland; originally called Shawanee Old Town. The key of Cresap's Fort was purchased, a few years ago, by George Plumer Smith, Esq., of Philadelphia, and by him presented to the writer of this article. It is a very long and heavy iron key.
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Historical Register.
MARTIN AND PETER CHARTIER.
In another note on Peter Chartier, the writer states: "Mr. Marshall says, he [Chartier] left for the Vermillion country in 1745; but it appears from the Pennsylvania Archives (vol. v, p. 311,) that he did not join the French till November, 1747. But I must confess that no character in history has been so difficult to trace as that of this mercurial Chartier."
The writer is mistaken in saying that Chartier did not join the French until November, 1747, and Pennsylvania Archives, v, 311, makes no allusion whatever to Chartier.
In 1698, the Shawanese came from the south and settled at Pequea creek in Lancaster county, and Martin Chartier came and resided with them. He built a trading-post on the farm afterwards owned by the Stehmans, at or near where they built a saw-mill in Washington borough. He married an Indian squaw. He acquired great influence with the Indians because he spoke the Shawanese and Delaware languages. James Logan, the secretary of William Penn, was anxious to be on good terms with him, and took especial pains to cultivate his friendship. 1 At a council held at Philadelphia, 15th, 2 mo., 1704, " Martin [Chartier,] a Frenchman who has long lived among the Shawanah Indians and upon Sasquehannah, being come last night to this town, was sent for and examined by the Governour in relation to himself, the Indians, and those that had lately left Conestogoe. And there not appearing sufficient oc- casion to put him to any further trouble, he was dismissed un- der solemn engagements to be true to the government, and inform of whatsoever might come to his knowledge worth notice."2 " On June 27, 1707, Governor John Evans, with Messrs. French, Mitchell, Bizaillon, Gray, and four servants started from New Castle, Del., and on the next morning arrived on the Octorara, where the Shawanese met them and presented the Governor with some skins, and the same night the party arrived at Pe- quehan, the Indian town, and was received at Martin Chartier's by Opessah, their king, and some chiefs who conducted them to their town, and, upon entering, were received with a salute
of fire-arıns. * * * * * * * On July 1st, the Governor and
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Noted Characters in our Early History.
party went to Conestoga and remained all night. From thence, the next day. they went to within three miles of Paxtang vil- lage. Martin Chartier, who went along with the party, went into the town and brought Joseph Jessup and James Le Tort back with him. It was then and there that Nichole Godin, an Indian trader who had no license, was arrested and taken thence to Philadelphia. "3 On the 24th of February, 170g, a message from the Indians at Conestoga was delivered to the Provincial Council by Harry, an interpreter, " to acquaint them that Mit- chell, (a Swiss,) Peter Bezalion, James Le Tort, Martin Char- tier. the French Glover of Philadelphia, Frank, a young man of Canada, who was lately taken up there, being all French- men, and one from Virginia who also spoke French, had seated themselves and built houses upon the branches of the Patomac, within this government, and pretended that they were in search of some mineral or ore, that in the Governor's name they had required the Indians of Conestoga, to send some of their peo- ple with them, and be servicable to them, for which the Gov- ernor would pay them."+ At a council held at Conestoga, June 18th, 1711, Martin Chartier acted as interpreter for the Shaw- anese, 5 and at another council held at the same place on the 19th of July, 1717, he again acted as interpreter for the same Indians. 6 This year he received a warrant for five hundred acres of land " where he had seated himself on the Susquehanna river above Conestoga creek, including within the survey the improvements there made by him, for which he agreed, on be- half of his son, Peter Chartier, in whose name he desired the survey to be made."7 Martin Chartier died in April, 1718; James Logan, in a letter to Isaac Taylor, dated Philadelphia, 26th, 2mo., 1718, writes: "Yesterday being at Jos. Cloud's on my return from Conestoga whither Mr. Chartier's death called me." 8
Peter Chartier appears to have been an only son, and his father left him all of his property. He married a Shawanese squaw, and, in 1727, sold the farm to Stephen Atkinson, and moved to the mouth of Yellow Breeches creek, and thence to Conecocheague.9 Nov. 3d, 1730, he was licensed as an In- dian trader by the Lancaster court. 1 0
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About the year 1724, the Delaware Indians migrated to the branches of the Ohio, and, in 1728, the Shawanese gradually followed them. They were soon met by French emissaries who attempted to estrange them from the English. 11 The au- thorities of Pennsylvania, becoming alarmed at this, endeavored to induce the Indians to return to the Susquehanna. 12 Ed- mund Cartlidge, James Le Tort, and Peter Chartier were em- ployed to negotiate with them. One inducement for their re- turn is shown in the following letter :
"Peshtank, Nov. ye 19th, 1731.
Ffriend Peter Chartiere,
This is to Acquaint Thee that By the Comisioners' & the Governour's order We are now Going over Susquehanna, To Lay out a Tract of Land between Conegogwainet & The Shaawna Creeks five or six miles back from the River, in order to ac- comodate the Shaana Indians or such others as may think fit to Settle there, To Defend them from Incroachments, And we have also orders to Dispossess all Persons Settled on that side the River, That Those woods may Remain free to ye Indians for Planting & Hunting, And We Desire thee to Comunicate this to the Indians who Live About Allegening.
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