USA > Pennsylvania > Franklin County > Chambersburg > Historical sketch of Franklin County, Pennsylvania : prepared for the centennial celebration held at Chambersburg, Penn'a, July 4th, 1876, and subsequently enlarged by I. H. M'Cauley John M. Pomeroy, publisher. To which is added a valuable appendix by J. L. Suesserott, D. M. Kennedy and others, and embellished by over one hundred lithographic illustrations, drawn by W. W. Denslow > Part 9
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Colonel Irvine's regiment was composed of eight companies, numbering six hundred and seventy-nine officers and men, viz. :
Company one, Captain Samuel Hay,
Officers and 92 men. ١١
= two,
.. Robert Adams
Abraham Smith,
66 .. 99
94
five,
86 60
David Grier,
Moses M'Lean,
66
65 66
66 Jeremiah Talbott, ت
69
66
The regiment I organization was as follows, viz :
Colonel,
Lieut. Colonel, Thomas Hartley,
James Dunlop,
Major, Adjutant, John Brooks,
66
.. 66 Surgeon,
Surgeon's Mate, John M'Dowell,
Quartermaster, James Calderwood.
Wm. Nichols.
Robert Hoops.
93 ª
three,
four, William Rippey,
Jas. A. Wilson, 16
66
81
six, sevell, eight, Wm. Irvine, commissioned January 9th, 1776. 66 66 66
Robert Johnston,
78
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
But three of these companies, viz : Abraham Smith's, William Rippey's and Jeremiah Talbott's, are claimed to have been from that section of country now embraced in Franklin county.
Captain Abraham Smith, it is said, resided in Lurgan township, Cumberland county, just north of the present boundary line of our county. He owned a considerable tract of land there, none of which however, was ever taxed in our county, according to the assess books in the Commissioners' office. The people of that section of the county point with pride to his military record, and claim him as having gone out from among them. He and his company were with Colonel Irvine's regiment throughout its varied service in the war of the revolution. Nothing can be determined from the names of the men composing his company, as to where they were from, for an examination of the roll shows that the names upon it are the same as those of residents of other parts of the county than Lurgan township.
On the 5th of July, 1777, an Abraham Smith, of Cumberland county, was elected Colonel of the 8th battalion of the militia of that county, and it is claimed that he was from Lurgan township. How the fact was, I have not been able to determine. That there were two Colonel Abraham Smiths in Cumberland county, is most likely, one the military man, the other the civilian. Former writers have generally, though mistakenly, I think, confounded Abraham Smith of Lurgan, with Abraham Smith of Antrim, and given to the for- mer the honor and credit of having filled the offices undoubtedly held by the latter.
The following are names of the officers and men of Captain Abra- ham Smith's company, in Colonel Irvine's regiment :
COMPANY NO. 3, OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT.
Captain, Abraham Smith; commissioned January 9th, 1776.
First Lieutenant, Robert White; commissioned January 9th, 1776; resigned February 9th, 1776.
Second Lieutenant, John Alexander; promoted February 10th, 1776. Second Lieutenant, Andrew Irvine; commissioned Feb. 9th, 1776. Ensign, Samuel Montgomery ; promoted June Ist, 1776.
Ensign, Samuel Kennedy ; commissioned June Ist, 1776.
SERGEANTS.
John Beatty, Samuel Hamilton, Hugh Foster,
William Scott, William Burk.
CORPORALS.
William Burk, George Standley, John Moore, William Campbell, John Fannon, Drummer.
Seth Richey, William M'Cormick, William Drennon.
William Cochran, Fifer.
紅
79
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
PRIVATES.
David Armor,
John Brown, Patrick Brown, John Blakeley, John Brannon,
Michael M'Mullin,
James M'Kissock,
Adam M'Breas,
John M'Dowell,
Samuel M'Brea,
Philip Boyle,
Robert M'Ilno,
Josiah Cochran,
Alex. M'Kenny,
Robert Craighead,
John M'Kingham,
Anthony Creevy,
John Montgomery,
William Cochran,
Alex. Moor,
James Dunlap,
Robert Miller,
Thomas Drennon, William Downey,
Moses Powell,
Hugh Drennon,
Nath. Points,
Daniel Divinney,
John Rannell,
Pat. Flemming,
Seth Richey,
Patrick Rogers,
John Rannell, Jr.,
Peter Runey,
Alex. Reid,
Barthol Roharty,
Thomas Smith,
Patrick Silvers,
Thomas Scott,
George Simpson,
Robert Swinie,
¿ Samuel Love,
John Stoops.
George Lucas,
Ad. Sheaver,
Nicholas Little,
William Stitt,
James Lowrey,
Peter Sheran,
Daniel M'Kissock,
Charles Tipper,
John M'Collam,
John Todd,
William M'Cormick,
Mich. White,
Michael M'Garra,
James White,
Bryan M'Laughlin,
John Wilson,
John M'Fetridge,
John Young.
Ninety-three officers and men.
In November, 1777, this company was under Captain Samuel Montgomery, and numbered but forty-three men-officers and pri- vates-the men being captured, or killed, or incorporated into other companies. I find the names of many of the men in Captain John Alexander's company.
1 Thomas Higgins, James Holliday, Thomas Holmes, John Hendricks, Benj. Ishmail, Robert Jarrett, Thomas Johnson,
. William Gwin, Alex. Gordon, Robert Gregg,
Hugh Milligan,
80
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
COMPANY 4, CAPTAIN WILLIAM RIPPEY.
Captain Rippey resided in Shippensburg, but the most of the men composing his company were from the adjoining township of Lnr- gan, now in Franklin county. Colonel Irvine's regiment, the sixth, with the first under Colonel J. P. DeHaas, the second under Colonel Arthur St. Clair, and the fourth under Colonel Anthony Wayne, were formed into a brigade in the summer of 1776, and sent to Can- ada under General Sullivan. On the 21st of July, 1776, many of Sullivan's command were captured at the Isle Au Noix. Among them was Captain Rippey, but he was so fortunate as to escape. Colonel Irvine was captured at Three Rivers, Canada, on the 8th of June, 1776, when the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Thos. Hartley, who, after the disaster at the Isle Au Noix, fell back to Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and win- tered there. These battalions were enlisted for one year from Janu- ary Ist, 1776, and at the expiration of their terms of service, nearly all of the men re-enlisted in new regiments for three yearsor during the war. In the month of March, 1777, Irvine's regiment re-en- tered the service as the seventh regiment of the Pennsylvania line, under Lieutenant Colonel David Greer, its original commander, Colonel Irvine then being a prisoner of war. After the close of the war Captain Rippey lived at the Branch Hotel in Shippensburg, where he died September 22d, 1819, aged seventy-eight years.
·
The following are the names of the officers and men of his com - pany :
COMPANY NO. 4, OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT.
Captain, William Rippey ; commissioned January 9, 1776.
First Lieutenant, Wm. Alexander; commissioned January 9th, 1776. Promoted to Captain June 1st, 1776.
First Lieutenant, Alexander Parker ; commissioned June Ist, 1776. Second Lieutenant, John Brooks.
Ensign, Wm. Lusk.
SERGEANTS.
John Hughes, Robert Watt,
John M'Clelland, William Anderson.
CORPORALS.
William Gibbs, Jeremiah M'Kibben, James M'Culloh,
George Gordon, Nath. Stevenson,
Daniel Peterson, Drummer,
Wm. Richards, Fifer.
Page 300
FAIR VIEW PLACE, PROPERTY OF JOHN PHILIPS, WASHINGTON TP. FRANKLIN CO. PA. (WAYNESBORO P. O.)
PATTERN HOUS
PAINT
STORE HOUSE
SHOP
OFFICE
MACHINE SHOP
W.W.T.
BOILER WORKS.
Page R41
-
0
PATTERN HOUSE.
PAINT
BOILER WORKS
STORE HOUSE
SHOP
OFFICE
MACHINE SHOP
FOUNDRY
W.W ...
WAYNESBORO STEAMENGINE AND BOILER WORKS. WAYNESBORO, PA
Page 241
Page 304.
FARM PROPERTY of BENJ. E . PRICE, QUINCY TP., FRANKLIN CO .. PA ( NEAR WAYNESBORO. )
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Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
81
PRIVATES.
Jacob Anderson,
Robert Barckley,
Josiah M'Call, John M'Michael, James M'Comb,
Barnerd Burns.
Robert Caskey,
William M'Intire,
Henry Cartwright,
John Moor, James Mullin,
Jacob Christyardinger,
Thomas M'Call,
Benjamin Cochran,
Philip Melon,
Hugh Call,
Alexander M'Nichols,
John Collins,
James M'Coy, ~
William Dougherty,
James M'Con,
John Davison,
David M'Clain,
Joseph Divine,
John M'Donell,
Anthony Dawson,
Daniel M'Clain,
Thomas Dycke,
John M'Gaw,
James Finerty,
Charles Malone,
Hugh Forsyth,
George M'Ferson,
* Hugh Ferguson, >
William Nicholson,
Thomas Falls,
John Ortman,
William Gorge,
John O'Neal,
Henry Girden,
Thomas Pratt,
Thomas Gell, Jacob Glouse.
! Aaron Patterson,
Nathan Hemphill,
Charles Rosbrough,
Robert Haslet,
John Rosbrough, John Rogers, Thomas Reed,
William Henderson,
James Hervey, "
Robert Robeson,
Cumberland Hamilton,
Basil Regan,
Neal Hardon,
John Stoner,
George Hewitt,
Henry Scott,
Jacob Justice,
Alexander Stephenson,
Robert Irvine,
Nath. Stephenson,
John Johnston,
James Smiley,
Christopher Kechler,
William Thompson,
Francis Kain,
John Tribele, Jacob Trash,
William Lowry,
John Van Kirk,
Daniel Lavery,
William Winn,
David Linsey,
John Wright,
James Lynch,
Peter Young.
John Madden,
Ninety-nine officers and privates.
Many of these men, in November, 1777, were incorporated in Captain Alexander Parker's company. 11
Thomas Parsons,
Jolin Hendry,
John Kelly,
Robert Cortney,
82
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
COMPANY NO. 8, CAPTAIN JEREMIAH TALBOTT.
This company was recruited in Chambersburg and its vicinity, by Captain Talbott. He was a native of Talbott county, Maryland, and removed to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, before the com- mencement of the revolutionary struggle, and settled at Chambers- burg. On the 25th of September, 1777, Captain Talbott was appointed major of the sixth battalion of the Pennsylvania troops, and served in that position until the proclamation of peace. In March or April, 1777, Major Talbott was assigned to the recruiting service, and such was his popularity that in a few weeks he enlisted sixty men in Chambersburg and its -vicinity, paying a bounty of twenty dollars to each recruit.
After the close of the war, upon the formation of our county, Major Talbott was, at the first election for county officers, held Octo- ber, 1784, elected Sheriff of the county, and was re-elected in 1785 and in 1786. On the 3d December, 1787, he was appointed Lieuten- ant of the county, and served until 1790. Sheriff Talbott owned the brewery on the bank of the Conococheague creek now carried on by Charles Ludwig. He also owned two lots of ground on West Queen street -- one improved, the other unimproved. His dwelling house was on the site of that now owned and occupied by Judge John Huber. It was of stone, and part of the western wall is still standing, having been used in the erection of the present dwelling. In addition to this property, Sheriff Talbott owned a trat of one hundred acres of land in Hamilton township, and had one horse, three cows and one female negro servant. The tax lists for 1786-1788, and 1789, show that he then resided in Chambersburg, as he was taxed there during these years for all the foregoing property, except the one hundred acres of land. About 1789 Sheriff Talbott became pecuniarily involved, and on the 16th of December, 1789, Sheriff John Johnston, his successor, sold his Hamilton township farne, and the 17th of June, 1790, sold his Chambersburg property. He died on the 19th of January, 1791, and was buried in the Presbyte- rian grave-yard at Chambersburg. After his death his widow and children removed to the vicinity of Mercersburg, but he never re- sided there, nor at Greencastle.
The following are the rolls of his company at three different periods :
COMPANY NO. 8, OF IRVINE'S REGIMENT.
Captain, Jeremiah Talbott; commissioned January 9th, 1776. First Lieutenant, John M'Donald; "
Second Lieutenant, Alex. Brown ; 66
Ensign, William Graham ; 16 66
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Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
83
SERGEANTS.
John M'Collam, John Wilson,
James Cuppels, Samuel Mitchell.
CORPORALS.
William Campbell, Robert Hunter,
John Chain, John Reniston.
John Milton, Drummer.
John Killin, Fifer.
PRIVATES.
Robert Asten,
John Bradley,
William Black,
Matthew M'Connell,
John Church,
Thomas M'Creary,
George Coghren,
Lawrence M'Creary,
Francis Clark,
Charles M'Mullen, Thomas Mitchell,
. Charles Conna, John Campbell,
Charles Marry,
Joseph Chambers,
Able Morgan,
John Dinning, William Evans,
Andrew Pinkerton,
John Faulkner,
Samuel Power,
Hugh Fairess,
John Pollock,
James Gardner,
James Quarre,
Daniel Gibson,
William Shaw,
William Heaslett.
Mike Sesalo,
John Heatherington,
John Shoomaker,
Duke Handlon,
James Sloan,
John Higgens,
John Totton,
Kern Kelley,
John Thompson,
Stephen Lyon,
Hugh Thompson,
Jacob Lewis,
William White,
Hugh Lilley,
John White,
John Marten,
John Welch,
Robert Mollon,
Robert Watson,
Benj. Morison,
Isaac Wiley.
James M'Farlan,
Commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates, 69.
In January, 1776, Captain Talbott's company mimbered sixty-nine officers and men. By April, 1777, it was so much reduced that it required sixty men to bring it up to the regulation standard. The following are the names of the men then added to the company, viz. :
Patrick Marray,
Archibald Nickel,
Robert Carnahan,
Charles M'Roun, Archibald M'Donald,
.
84
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
John M'Cullum,
John Shoemaker,
John Foster,
James Garlant,
John Wilson,
James Loe,
Robert Hunter,
Jacob Weaver,
William Gibbs,
Conrad Carcass,
Thomas Whitely,
Patrick Murrey,
Hugh Thomson,
John Kellenough,
William Foster,
John Johnson,
Phelix O'Neal,
Charles Kelly,
John Crowl,
John M'Kinley,
John Fulerton,
Michael Sitsler,
Patt. Boyle,
John Smith,
Thomas Sherry,
Peter Smith,
John Cavenaugh,
Joseph West,
Robert Burns,
Patrick Guinn,
Andrew M'Gahey,
Patrick M'Cullum,
William M'Calley,
Michael Danfee,
Isaac Shackey
William Campbell,
Christopher Row, Francis O'Harrah, Thomas Dunn,
Peter M'Kinley,
Daniel M'Cartey,
John Smith, (tanner),
Barney M'Gillegan,
Thomas Aston,
Jolin Fergison,
William M'Donald,
Michael Black,
Patrick Doyle, James Ralls,
Gilbert Berryhill,
Henry Vaughan,
Hugh Casserty,
John Milton,
Charles Conner,
Michael Brown,
George Corohan,
William Antrican.
Edward Hart,
The following is the company's roll as it stood November 30th, 1777 :
Jeremiah Talbott, Captain,
Andrew Irvine, Lieutenant,
Joseph Torrence,
Hugh Thompson, 66
John M'Cullam, Ensign,
John Smith, Corporal.
William Gibbs, Sergeant,
PRIVATES.
Jacob Weaver, Franeis O'Hara,
Charles Conner, William Foster,
Daniel M'Carty,
Patrick Marry, Felix O'Neal, Charles Kelley, James Rawls, George Coghran,
Robert Hunter, Sergeant, Thomas Whiteley, "
John Brown,
John Feaghander,
John Robinson,
85
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
Jos. West, Hugh Cassady,
James Lee,
John Johnson,
John M'Kinly,
Andrew M'Grahy,
Michael Pitzler,
Edward Hart,
Patt. Boyle,
John Carray.
Nine officers and twenty men; total, twenty-nine.
In the early part of 1776 three new battalions were organized, commanded respectively by Colonels Samuel Miles, Samuel J. Atlee and Daniel Broadhead, and they were marched to Long Island with the battalions of Colonels Shea, Magaw and Cadwallader.
By the 16th of August, 1776, thirteen companies of men, fully officered and equipped, had left Cumberland county for the seat of war, and six other companies were preparing to go. Of these the companies of James M'Connell, William Huston, Robert Culbert- son and Conrad Schneider were from the territory now Franklin county. I have not been able to find their company rolls, nor any record of their actions during the war.
On the 16th of November, 1776, Fort Washington was captured by the British, and over twenty-three hundred Pennsylvania troops, commanded by Colonels Magaw, Cadwallader, Atlee, Swope, Watts, and Montgomery were taken prisoners. Among them was John Crawford, of our county, a brother of Edward Crawford, Esq., our first Prothonotary. On the 19th of April, 1775, Mr. Crawford was commissioned by John Morton, Esq., Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, a second lieutenant in the fifth battalion of associators of Cumberland county, and after his capture was held as a prisoner of war at Flatlands, Long Island, until some time in the year 1780.
In the latter part of the year 1776, or the beginning of the year 1777, the first battalion of Cumberland county militia was com- manded by Colonel James Dunlap. The lieutenant colonel was Robert Culbertson of our county. This battalion had in it the com- panies of Noah Abraham, of Path Valley, Patrick Jack, of Hamil- ton, and Charles Maclay, of Lurgan. I have not been able to find the rolls of the companies of Captains Jack and Maclay ; but Cap- tain Abraham's company, which was from all parts of Path Valley, was made up as follows, viz. :
Captain, Noah Abraham. First Lieutenant, Archibald Elliott. Second Lieutenant, Samuel Walker.
SERGEANTS.
1st. James M'Connaughy, 2d. Joseph Noble,
3d. Robert M'Connell, 4th. Thomas Clark.
86
Historical Sketch of Franklin County. PRIVATES.
Robert Alexander,
James Alexander,
Henderson Harvey, Alex. Hopper, Adam Humburg,
David Armstrong, John Adams, William Adams,
John Johnson,
Joseph Kilgore,
James Allen, John Brown,
William M'Lellan,
James Bogs,
William M'Ibbins,
Nathaniel Bryan,
John M'Lellan,
Allen Brown,
John Means,
William Buchanan,
Nathan M'Colley,
John Bell,
James Montgomery,
Daniel Colbert,
William Carty,
Samuel M'Cauley,
John Canady,
James M' Lellan,
James Carmady,
Hugh M'Curdy,
Samuel Campbell,
Alexander M'Connell,
Andrew Douglas, Sr.,
Patrick Dougherty, Henry Delmer,
Samuel Mears,
Alex. Douglas, (weaver),
Robert M'Guire,
George Dixson,
Henry M'Gee,
Abram Elder,
John Mackey,
Francis Elliott,
John Montgomery,
William Elliott,
James Nealy,
David Elder,
David Neal,
Samuel Elder,
James Park,
George Farmer, John Garven,
William Wright,
Charles Gibson,
Robert Walker,
James Harvey,
Samuel Watson,
James Howe,
William Woodrow,
Andrew Hemphill,
Samuel Woodrow.
William Harvey,
The second battalion, commanded by Colonel John Davis, had in it the company of Captain Charles Leeper, of Lurgan township.
The fourth battalion, commanded by Colonel Samuel Lyon, had in it the company of Captain James M'Connel, of Letterkenny.
The sixth battalion was officered as follows, viz. : Samuel Cul- bertson, Colonel ; John Work, Lieutenant Colonel ; James M'Cam- mont, Major; John Wilson, Adjutant ; Samuel Finley, Quarter- master ; and Richard Brownson, Surgeon.
Alexander Meor,
Patrick Davidson,
James Mitchell,
John M'Lellan, Jr.,
James Mackey,
Henry Varner,
Alex. Long,
RES. OF DE E. A. HERING, WAYNESBORO, PENNA.
Page279
CIEHL&80
RES . OF JACOB J. MILLER, WASHINGTON TWP.
l'ages 267,315
87
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
Company No. 2, of this battalion, had the following officers: Cap- tain, Patrick Jack ; First Lieutenant, William Reynolds ; Second Lieutenant, James M'Lene; Ensign, Francis Gardner. This com- pany was from Hamilton township.
Company No. 3, the following : Captain, Samuel Patton ; First Lieutenant, John Eaton ; Second Lieutenant, David Shields; En- sign, William Ramsay. This company, I believe, was from Letter- kenny township.
Company No. 4, the following: Captain, James Patton : First Lieutenant. Thomas M'Dowell; Second Lieutenant, John Welsh ; Ensign, John Dickey. This company was most likely from Peters township.
Company No. 5, the following : Captain, Joseph Culbertson ; First Lieutenant, John Barr; Second Lieutenant, William Cessna; En- sign, Hugh Allison. This company was from Lurgan township.
Company No. 6, the following: Captain, William Huston ; First Lieutenant, William Elliott; Second Lieutenant, James M'Far- land ; Ensign, Robert Kyle. This company is believed to have been from Montgomery, Peters and Hamilton townships. It was to this company that the Rev. Dr. John King, of Mercersburg, made a patriotic address as they were about to leave their homes for the battle-field.
Company No. 7, the following: Captain, Robert M'Coy ; First Lieutenant, James Irwin ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Dunwoody ; Ensign, Walter M'Kinney. This company was from Peters town- ship. .
Company No. 8, the following : Captain, John M'Connell; First Lieutenant Joseph Stevenson ; Second Lieutenant, George Steven- son; Ensign, James Caldwell. This company was from Letterken- ny and Lurgan townships.
The eighth battalion, commanded by Colonel Abraham Smith, of our county, had for Lientenant Colonel, James Johnston ; Major, John Johnston; Adjutant, Thomas Johnston ; and Quartermaster, Terrance Campbell, the last four of whom were of this county.
Four of the companies of this battalion were from our county, certainly, and perhaps more. The company officers were as follows, viz .:
Company No. 1, Waynesboro'-Captain, Samuel Royer; First Lieutenant, Jacob Foreman ; Second Lieutenant, John Riddles- berger; Ensign, Peter Shaver.
Company No. 2, Lurgan township-Captain, John Jack; First Lieutenant, James Brotherton ; Second Lieutenant, Daniel M'Lene; Ensign, James Drummond.
Company No. 3, Antrim township-Captain, James Poe; First Lieutenant, Jos. Patterson; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Stotler; En- sign, James Dickson.
+
88
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
Company No. 8, Lurgan township-Captain, John Rea; First Lieutenant, Albert Torrence ; Second Lieutenant, Alex. Thomson ; Ensign, Hugh Wiley.
No rolls can be found of these several battalions, nor can I tell where their services were rendered. I have seen returns of them as late as May, 1778, but cannot say when their services ceased.
In the year 1779, because of some troubles with the Indians, some troops were sent from our county westward. They were mustered into service on the 22d of June of that year, at Ligonier, by Colonel John Thomson, D. M. M. G. of P. M. The following is the roll of the company from Path valley :
Captain, Noah Abraham. First Lieutenant, Nathaniel Stevenson. Second Lieutenant, Adam Harman.
SERGEANTS.
Joseph Ferguson, Campbell Lefever,
James Hamilton, John Roatch.
PRIVATES.
Daniel Colbert,
John Maghan,
Neal Dougherty,
John Millisen,
Fred'k Dougherty,
James Megraw,
Patrick Dougherty,
Isaac Miner,
Thomas Knox,
James Russell,
Daniel Lavrey,
John Robison,
William Love,
James Ray,
Redmond M' Donough,
William Walker.
Matthias Maiers,
The following are the officers and men of the company from
Letterkenny :
Captain, Samuel Patton. First Lieutenant, Ezekiel Sample.
SERGEANTS.
John Kincaid,
William Speare.
PRIVATES.
John Bran, Thomas Crotley,
Richard Cooper,
George Hunter, Samuel Howard, John Hart, William Lowry, George Lamb, John Lytle,
Henry Marshal, Joli Matthiasweaver, Lorans M' Ready, John Parker, William Patterson, Ab'ın Rosenberry, William Sharpe, John Welsh, Henry Williamson.
89
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
THE WHISKY INSURRECTION.
In the year 1794 President Washington called for five thousand one hundred and ninety-six men from Pennsylvania, as her share of the army called out to suppress the Whisky Insurrection, then in existence in the south-western part of our State. The quota of our county was two hundred and eighty-one men, who were gotten to- gether with considerable difficulty, because the mass of the people of this valley sympathized to a greater or less degree with their fel- low citizens who were resisting the collection of the excise taxes.
Our quota was, however, furnished after some delay ; but I cannot tell into how many companies these men were divided, nor by whom they were connnanded. Having been in the service of the United States, they were doubtless paid by the general government, and their pay rolls should be in the War Department at Washington city, but I could not find them there, nor any evidence that they ever had been there. Neither could I find them at Harrisburg, though a careful search was made for them. Large numbers of papers in the War Department at Washington city were destroyed by fires about the years 1798 and 1801, as I am informed, and it is believed that those relating to the army services in the Whisky In- surrection were among them.
Brigadier General James Chambers, of our county, commanded the third brigade of the Pennsylvania troops in the Whisky Insurrec- tion. It was composed of one thousand seven hundred and sixty- two men, five hundred and sixty-eight of whom were from Lancas- ter county, five hundred and fifty from York, three hundred and sixty-three from Cumberland, and two hundred and eighty-one from Franklin county. The troops marched to Pittsburg, were in service about one month, marched back again and were discharged, with- out having fired a shot or lost a man. .
THE WAR OF 1812-'14.
The war with England for the establishment of the right of the vessels belonging to the people of the United States to navigate the waters of the world withont molestation from any foreign power, was declared by Congress on the 12th of June, 1812. Before that time the British government had claimed authority to search all merchant vessels found upon the high seas, to ascertain what kinds of goods, wares and merchandize they carried ; and to seize and impress all such seamen found upon them as were claimed to be natives of the British Empire, or at some previous period owed alle- giance to the British government.
This claim the government of the United States resisted, as im- founded under the laws of nature and of nations, and the English government persisting in exercising the right, notwithstanding the
12
-
90
Historical Sketch of Franklin County.
remonstrances of the United States authorities, Congress declared war, and called upon the people of the country to rally to the defence of " free trade and sailor's rights."
The hardy yoemanry of this valley responded with alacrity to the call of the constituted authorities of the nation. Like their patriot sires of the days of 1776, they were ready and eager for the contest, and during the years 1812, 1813 and 1814, thirteen companies of men were organized within our county and went into service.
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