USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Ransom > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 5
USA > Pennsylvania > Lackawanna County > Newton > History and directory of Newton and Ransom townships, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania; > Part 5
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CHAPTER THREE
THE WYOMING VALLEY
The name Wyoming is a corruption of the Indian name Maughwauwame, composed of the words maughwau, large, and wame, plains. The name, then signifies The Large Plains. The early settlers, finding it difficult to pronounce the word correctly, spoke it, Wauwaumie, then Wiawume, then Wiomic, and finnally Wyom- ing, which name the valley has born for over one hundred and fifty years. £ "This is, of
course, the original Wyoming-all other lo- calities, places and objects in North America which bear the same name having derived it either primarily or secondarily from that of the fair vale 'on Susquehanna's side.' " This beau- tiful and historic valley of Wyoming is a long oval or elliptical basin, some sixteen miles in length, with an average breadth of three miles, situated in north-eastern Pennsylvania on ei-
ther side of the winding Susquehanna. "On both sides of the river, for nearly this whole distance, lie rich and fertile alluvial bottom- lands, forming plains, or flats ; at some points narrow and restricted in breadth, but at others stretching out towards the hills or mountains for at least a mile. These flats contain several thousand acres, nearly all of which are well cultivated, and have been for more than a hun- dred years."
While the Wyoming Valley in its limited meaning, now gives a name to a valley unsur- passed for its beautiful scenery and the romance of its history, it was formerly used in a more enlarged sense. and included all the country purchased by the Susquehanna Company from the Iroquois Indians (Six Nations) July 11, 1754.
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
THE SUSQUEHANNA COMPANY
In1753 an association was formed in Connec- ticut, called the Susquehanna Company, for the purpose of forming a settlement in the fertile and beautiful valley of Wyoming, and during the same year agents were sent to explore the country and to establish a friendly intercourse with the Indian tribes that should be found in possession of it. They found the valley occu- pied by the Delaware Indians, but was claimed by the Six Nations.
Soon after the agents of the Susquehanna Company arrived, "Indian scouts and interpre- ters carried the news to Philadelphia, and alarmed the Proprietary Government of Penn- sylvania, which also claimed this wild tract yet unlocked by any Indian treaty, grant, or title to any party. Daniel Broadhead and William Parsons, two justices of the peace in Northamp- ton county, on the war-path from Connecticut to Wyoming Valley, were instructed by Penn- sylvania to watch all persons and parties going hither, either to explore or begin a settlement. -Hollister's History, p 71.
In fact, no inland point within the province was watched with greater care or devotion for many years, than was Wyoming. James Hamiltion, who was Governor of Pennsylva- nia under the Proprietaries, having been in- formed of the intentions of the Susquehanna Company, it not being kept a secret, imme- diately adopted measures to defeat the plans of this company, and endeavor to purchase the land for the use of the Proprietaries of Pennsyl- vania.
"It should be understood by the general reader, that all lands claimed by the English in America were sold or granted to one or more persons with an understanding that the right or rather the necessity still existed of repurchas- ing the same territory of the Indian tribes hav- ing ownership, before it could safely be occu- pied by the whites. Thus a portion of the land granted to William Penn by King Charles II. March 11, 1681, was repurchased by him of the native tribes, in a manner so explicit and satisfactory to them, that ever afterwards his intercourse with all the aborigines was marked by a constant and unvarying friendship, un- known in modern times."-Hollister's History.
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania, to whom the matter had been referred, decided that "the Wyoming valley had not yet been purchased from the Six Nations, but had been reserved, and used by them for their hunting grounds." John and Richard Penn, Isaac Nor- ris and Benjamin Franklin were appointed by Governor Hamilton as commissioners, who were sent to Albany in June, 1754, to meet the great council of the Six Nations, which had assembl-
ed there to meet the delegates sent from Con- necticut to represent the Susquehanna Com- pany, who were William Pitkin, Roger Wol- cott and Elisha Williams.
The agents or delegates of the Susquehanna Company were sent to purchase this much coveted valley from the Indians if possible, and Governor Hamilton and his agents devised every known scheme to thwart the Connecticut enterprise, holding several private councils with the chiefs of the Six Nations, and endeav- oring to purchase the same land themselves. Notwithstanding this opposition, strengthened as it was by the influence of Sir William. John- son, the purchase was made by the agents of the Susquehanna Company, July 11, 1754.
The sum paid was two thousand pounds of current money of the province of New York, and the tract purchased extended about seventy miles south from New York State line, and from a parallel line ten miles east of the Sus- quehanna river, and extending westward about 120 miles.
This purchase included the whole valley of Wyoming, and the country westward to the sources of the Alleghany river, which included the territory now known as Luzerne, Wyoming, Sullivan, Bradford, Tioga, Lycoming, Potter and Clinton counties, and portions of Clearfield, Centre, Union, Montour, Columbia, Lacka- wanna and Susquehanna counties.
THE DELAWARE COMPANY
Another association was later formed in Con- necticut called the "Delaware Company," which purchased all the land of the Indians, lying east of the Susquehanna Company tract to the Delaware river. This company commenced a settlement on the Delaware river at a place called Coshutunk (Cochecton, Sullivan county, N. Y.), in 1757, which was the first settlement founded by the people of Connecticut within the territory claimed by them west of New York.
In 1758 the Susquehanna Company again made preparations for making a settlement in Wyoming, but the unsettled condition of the frontier seemed to render it inexpedient, if not hazardous, for those intending to settle, to ven- ture so far into the wilderness at that time.
FIRST SETTLEMENT IN THE WYOMING VALLEY
In 1760 the cabin of no white man had broken the Wyoming forest. The first settle- ment in this picturesque valley was made in August, 1762, when about two hundred of the Susquehanna Company came from Connecti- cut, and settled upon the eastern shore of the beautiful Susquehanna river, in Plains town- ship (then called Jacob's Plains), just above
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
the mouth of a small stream, celebrated afar by the name of Mill Creek (formerly Beaver brook), just north of the present boundary of the city of Wilkes-Barre. Here they erected a village of rude log cabins, at a sufficient dis- tance from the Indian towns, Wyoming (Maughwauwame) and Shawanese, located on the flats just below the present city of Wilkes- Barre, to prevent any immediate collision of their agricultural interests.
The greater part of the valley was yet covered with forest, excepting for short dis- tances surrounding the Indian towns, where the trees had been cut away in the slow pro- gress of Indian husbandry. But the new col- onists set themselves vigorously at work. They felled the timber and erected a sufficient num- ber of log houses and cabins for their accommo- dation, and before the arrival of winter, had cleared and sown large fields of wheat and rye upon lands covered with forest trees in August. Having now made so favorable beginning, they concealed their rude agricultural implements in the ground and returned in November to their families in Connecticut for the winter. Early the next spring they returned to their Wyoming settlement with their families, and others, bringing some live stock, furniture, pro- visions, etc., but little meditating the dreadful fate which awaited them.
The summer of 1763 had been favorable for the pioneers. Their various crops on the fer- tile plains had proved abundant, and they were looking forward with hope to scenes of pros- perity and happiness. They extended their settlement to the west side of the river, which is now Forty Fort.
INDIAN TROUBLES
On the night of April 19, 1763, a number of the Iroquois came among the Delaware Indians in the garb of friendship, and fired the dwelling of Teedyuscung, which was consumed, and the venerable Delaware chieftain perished in the flames. The culprits charged the crime upon the colonists, and the aggrieved Delawares re- solved to avenge themselves. On the 15th of October they fell upon the unsuspecting pio- neers in the fields, killed twenty or thirty of them, took several prisoners, and drove off their live stock. The following are a few of the number killed: Rev. William Marsh, Thomas Marsh, Timothy Hollister, Timothy Hollister, Jr., Nathan Terry, Wright Smith, Daniel Bald- win and wife, Jesse Wiggins, Zeruah Whitney, and Isaac Hollister. Among the prisoners were a Mr. Shepherd and Daniel Baldwin's son. The survivors who were not captured fled to the mountains, while the savages burned their houses. The fugitives, destitute of every pre- paration for a journey, had no alternative but
to strike out into the wilderness for a trip of two hundred and fifty miles to their old homes in New England. For several succeeding years the history of the Susquehanna Company settlement is a blank.
THE FORTY PIONEERS.
Early in the year 1769, the Susquehanna Company decided to again take possession of the valley. They called a meeting in January at Hartford, and regulations for the govern- ment of the colony were drawn up, and a com- mittee appointed to carry them into effect. This committee consisted of Isaac Tripp, Benjamin Follet, John Jenkins, William Buck and Ben- jamin Shoemaker. The association, in order to strengthen their claims, and to expand their settlements now appropriated five townships, each five miles square, and divided into forty shares, as free gifts to the first forty settlers in each township. An appropriation of two hun- dred pounds (nearly $600.00) was made for the purchase of agricultural implements. The names of the five original townships laid out in the valley were "Wilkes-Barre," "Hanover," "Plymouth," "Kings-town" and "Pitts-town."
In January forty pioneers were sent by the Susquehanna Company to the Wyoming valley, so long the object of their keen desire, to be followed by about two hundred more in the spring. On the 8th day of February, 1769, they arrived at the place where they had made a settlement in 1763, where they found Ogden and his men in possession. The forty pioneers not willing to use any force to regain possession, erected a fort on the west side of the river, op- posite Fort Ogden, which was called Fort Forty, in honor to the forty sturdy pioneers, and several years later was changed to Forty Fort.
THE YANKEES IMPRISONED.
Stewart and Ogden had but ten men in their blockhouse, who despatched a messenger to Governor Penn, requesting assistance. But after waiting a sufficient length of time without receiving reinforcements, decided to recourse to stratagem to accomplish what they could not effect by power. The Yankees were outwitted by the Ogden party, who under the pretext of a desire to consult and arrange their difficulties, three of the leaders of the Connecticut party, viz .: Isaac Tripp, Vine Elderkin and Benjamin Follet were induced to enter the garrison, where they were arrested by John Jennings, who was sheriff of Northampton county, and carried to Easton jail, seventy miles away. The prisoners were accompanied to Easton by the whole of both parties, where they were promptly released on bail, and returned to Wyoming. In March Jennings made another effort to arrest the Yan-
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
kees, and with a posse of the county, together with several magistrates, again marched upon Wyoming in an imposing array. The doors to the blockhouse, which had been hastily pre- pared by the Connecticut people, for defense, were broken by Jennings, who succeeded in arresting thirty-one persons, all of whom, ex- cepting a few who escaped while marching through a swamp, were taken to Easton, and cast into prison as before. They were again released on bail, just in time to be accompanied to their Wyoming cabins by the two hundred recruits who were arriving from Connecticut.
Soon after the arrival of the two hundred Yankees, they moved to the east side of the river, nearly two miles below, and constructed a fort near the bend in the river (below the bridge at Wilkes-Barre), which they named Fort Durkee, in honor of its commander. Near the fort they erected about thirty log houses, with loopholes through which to fire if they were attacked. Jennings and Ogden again raised forces and on the 24th of May marched to Fort Durkee, but the works of the settlers appeared too strong to justify an attack by so small a number of men, and they returned to Easton and reported to the Governor that their numbers were insufficient to dispossess the Con- necticut boys, who now numbered three hun- dred able-bodied men. The Yankees were left for a short period without being molested, and during this interval commissioned Colonel Dyer and Major Elderkin to proceed to Phila- delphia and endeavor to effect a compromise on the question, but Governor Penn refused to negotiate, and an armed force, under the com- mand of Colonel Francis was sent to Wyoming with orders to demand a surrender of the fort and garrison. The summons was not obeyed and the Colonel, like Sheriff Jennings had done before, retreated after surveying the works, and presented the facts to the Governor.
THE YANKEES FORCED TO RETURN TO CONNECTICUT
Early in September, Sheriff Jennings with a large force of men, well supplied with small arms, a four-pounder and an abundant supply of ammunition, after being carefully instructed by Governor Penn, to avoid, if possible, the shedding of blood, dashed upon the garrison with two hundred men, and took Colonel Dur- kee and several others prisoners, and drove off their cattle and horses found grazing in the fields. The settlers were weakened, and becom- ing discouraged because of the arrest of their leader and loss of their property, they agreed to surrender the fort and adjoining buildings, and that all should return to Connecticut except seventeen and their families, who were to be al-
lowed to remain and harvest the crops upon the ground. The articles of capitulation drawn out in due form, were faithfully carried out by the settlers, but Ogden, regardless of a solemn pledge to respect the rights of property, plun- dered the settlement as soon as the settlers had departed for Connecticut, leaving the seventeen and their families alone. All their live stock was seized and driven away, and their houses were stripped, depriving the few remaining of food and necessary clothing, who were com- pelled to wend their way back to Connecticut. Thus the year 1769 closed with the Pennsylva- nians in possession of the valley.
THE FIRST BLOOD SHED
"At last this fair valley was to be made the scene of civil war; and in contending for the rich prize, the blood of one white man was to be spilled by the hand of another white man. The parties had exhausted their diplomatic skill; each had sent deputations to the mother country, and in turn obtained the most respec- table legal decisions in their favor. Nothing seemed left to them but to maintain their claims by force." ..
THE PENNSYLVANIANS EXPELLED
In February, 1770, the Connecticut boys, to- gether with a number of men from Lancaster in Pennsylvania, who were also share holders of the Susquehanna Company, again appeared in this valley of beauty and trouble, and dispos- sessed the Pennsylvanians. The Yankees were led by Lazarus Stewart from Lancaster, and they were all well armed, and Fort Durkee, garrisoned by only eight or ten men, was easily taken. Ogden was away at the time, and the Yankees proceeded to his house and cap- tured a piece of ordinance. After hearing of the return of the Yankees, Ogden hastened back to Wyoming, accompanied by about fifty men, by whom he garrisoned his own house, which was a strong blockhouse. On the 28th of Feb- ruary, the Yankees with fifty men marched to. Ogden's stockade and attempted to take him prisoner. Ogden had a deputy sheriff with him. who, at the head of several men rushed out to arrest the assailants, which resulted in a skirm- ish, during which several of the Connecticut people were wounded and one killed. Find- ing that Ogden's men could fire upon them from his house, without exposing themselves to danger, the Connecticut people retreated.
Colonel Durkee had returned from Philadel- phia where he had been imprisoned since he was captured the September before. Three breastworks were rapidly constructed. from which the Yankees again commenced firing. which was briskly returned. After several
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
days of firing on both sides, the Ogden party surrendered upon terms similar to those which had been granted to the Connecticut party the season before. Ogden had no crops to harvest or land to protect, but the agreement was that he and all his party should leave the valley, ex- cepting six men, who were to remain to guard
his house and preserve his property. After Ogden and his men had left the valley, the Yankees seized his property and burned his house, remembering the mischief which he had done the people from Connecticut the season before. Settlers came again, crops were plant- ed, and during the summer the Yankees were not disturbed.
THE YANKEES AGAIN IMPRISONED
After the expulsion of Captain Ogden and his men from the valley in the spring of 1770, Governor Penn called on General Gage to furn- ish regular troops to reinstate him in possession of the valley. General Gage quite properly declined to allow the use of the king's troops in a mere dispute concerning the title to property, and Governor Penn was compelled to raise forces by his personal exertions, which he final- ly succeeded in doing. In September his forces numbering 140, under Captain Ogden, marched to the valley. They entered the valley by an unusual route, divided in detachments and surprised the Yankees while at work, capturing a portion, and put the others to flight. At night they made a sudden assault on the fort, which was confusedly filled with men, women and children ; and after killing a few made prisoners of the rest, and soon after- wards sent them to prison at Easton except a few who were taken to Philadelphia. The Pennsylvanians then plundered the settlement and withdrew, leaving a small garrison in Fort Durkee.
THE PENNAMITES SURPRISED
In the following December this garrison was surprised and the fort retaken by the Connecti- cut Company led by Captain Lazarus Stewart. "Although the Pennamites were in possession of Fort Durkee and were the sole occupants of Wyoming Valley, and John Durkee, Zebulon Butler and other New Englanders were being restrained of their liberty by the Pennsylvania authorities, the Susquehanna Company was not yet defeated. On the 18th of December, 1770, at Fort Durkee,
When all the doors were fastened, And all the windows shut, There was yet one little window, And that one was forgot."
garrison-too confidently secure, even, to keep a sentinel on duty-was aroused about three o'clock in the morning by a 'Huzza for King George!' and Captain Lazarus Stewart, with twenty-eight men, took possession of the fort 'in behalf of the colony of Connecticut.' Six of the Pennamite garrison, leaping nearly naked from the parapet of the fort, escaped to the mountains, while the others were as un- ceremoniously expelled-after their firearms had been taken from them-as had been the previous Yankee occupants."
CAPTAIN OGDEN RETURNS TO THE VALLEY
A month later, or in January, 1771, Captain Ogden again appeared in the valley with the Sheriff of Northampton county and a posse for the arrest of Captain Stewart. "This 'posse' consisting fully of one hundred well-armed and equipped men, arrived in Wyoming Valley Jan. 18, 1771, and immediately began the erec- tion of a strong wooden fort, subsequently call- ed Fort Wyoming." Captain Lazarus Stewart still commanded at Fort Durkee, which was garrisoned with about forty or fifty men and a few women and children. "Ogden demanded the surrender of Fort Durkee. Stewart replied that he had taken possession in the name and behalf of the Colony of Connecticut, in whose jurisdiction they were, and by that authority he would defend it."
The fort was finally fired on by Captain Og- den, which was returned, killing Nathan Ogden, his brother, and wounding several of his men. During that night the fort was evacuated by Captain Stewart, and the next day was occupied by Captain Ogden. For six months the valley remained in the possession of the Pennsylva- nians, during which time their number was in- creased to eighty-three persons including wo- men and children. Fort Wyoming was en- larged and strengthened, and all the Penna- mites dwelt therein.
, During this time the Yankees were not idle, for in March, April and June, 1771, largely- attended meetings of the company's sharehold- ers were held at Windham, Conn., and plans were made for retaking possession of their set- tlement at Wyoming. Over one hundred men (nearly every one a shareholder in the com- pany, and had been at Wyoming at some time previously) were enrolled to proceed to the much-coveted valley. Each man was well armed and equipped. They were under the command of Captain Zebulon Butler and Capt. Lazarus Stewart.
CAPTAIN OGDEN'S BOLD ESCAPE.
On July 6th of the same year Captain Zebu- "Without the slightest warning the sleeping lon Butler and Lazarus Stewart, with the brave
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HISTORY OF THE WYOMING VALLEY
Connecticut men, entered the valley and at once took measures to regain possession. They besieged Fort Wyoming, which had been built and occupied by Captain Ogden, about sixty rods above Fort Durkee. Notwithstanding the close and vigligant investment of the fort by the besiegers, whose number was constantly be- ing increased by recruits from Connecticut, Captain Ogden by a bold and cunning strata- gem escaped alone and went to Philadelphia for assistance, instructing his troops in any event to retain the post until his return.
"His plan was executed with equal courage and skill. On the night of July 12th he made up a light bundle to float upon the surface of the river upon which he secured his hat. Con- necting this bundle with his body with a cord of several yards in length, he dropped gently into the stream and floated down with the cur- rent, and the bundle, which presented much the most conspicuous object, being intended to draw the bullets should it be discovered. It was soon discovered by the sentinels, and a brisk fire directed upon it from three redoubts. But as it appeared to hold the even tenor of its way without interruption from the bullets, the firing ceased, and the bundle and its owner escaped- the latter untouched, but the former and less sensitive object pierced with several bullets." -- Colonel Stone's History, p 176.
Ogden arrived at Philadelphia without de- lay, and presented the situation of the Wyom- ing affairs to the Honorable James Hamilton, President of the Council, who was again the executive officer of the Pennsylvanians during the absence of Governor John Penn, who had retired from the colony for a time. A detach- ment of one hundred men was ordered to be raised to be divided into two companies, one under the command of Captain Joseph Morris, and the other by Captain John Dick. They were to march'to the scene of action by different routes, and at different times. Great difficulty was experienced in raising the men as before, and Captain Dick, who was to raise the first detachment, was compelled to advance with only thirty-six men, encumbered by pack horses and provisions for the relief of the besieged.
THE PENNAMITES FIRED UPON
The Yankees were aware of Ogden's escape and movements, and every needful preparation for the arrival of Capt. Dick and his men, who were suddenly fired upon as they were ap- proaching the fort; and sixteen of the men, to- gether with the entire stock of provisions were captured by the Connecticut forces on the 30th day of July. Ogden, with twenty of the men succeeded in entering the fort. The Yankees, elated by their success, kept up a daily firing whenever any person of the garrison appeared
in view, until the 11th of August, when Cap- tain Butler sent a flag to the Pennsylvanians, demanding a surrender, but they had con- trived to send another messenger to Philadel- phia, with an account of Dick's misfortune, and requesting more assistance. The Government was endeavoring to send another body of one hundred men, with more supplies, which gave the besieged new courage, and they refused the summons. Consequently the Connecticut forces resumed firing until August 14th, when the garrison surrendered, having been for sev- eral days upon short allowance, and being dis- appointed in not receiving the promised rein- forcements, and their provisions had become entirely exhausted. Captain Amos Ogden was severely wounded, also several others of the garrison were killed and wounded. A detach- ment of sixty men under Captain Ledlie had arrived within ten miles of the fort at the time of the surrender.
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