History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 16

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 16

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" Rec'd August 7th, 1759, of Roger Hunt, Twenty shillings for an- tering five Pack Horses of my own and one gray mear, Branded P. I. M., belonging to the King, which I dos haarby promis to De- liver to Mr. James Sinclair at Carlile. WILLIAM POWER."

" Entered into his majesty's servis & black mare, Branded W. P., belonging to William Poor, appraised ut £4 108. 0d.

[Appraisers.]

" JOHN DOWNING,

ROBERT CARTEA,

JONATHAN STALKER, EVAN JONES."

"August ye 7tb, 1759,

Ree'd the above horse into

the servis. ROGER HUNT."

(Similar entries of four other horses.)

" August 7th, 1759 : Contracted for Eighteen pence per day for Each Horse, and Entered in behalf of Whiteland Township."

Mem. "Sep!" 5, that William Power Returned with all his horses." Same date received £14 68. 5}d., for carrying C.16, 1, 8 of flour from Carlile to Ft. Bedford.

(2d account.) Dr. to Casb, £20 158. 10d .; To ditto received at Bedford of Mr. Ourrey, £0 158. 0d. Credited by 5 Bags of flour from Carlile to Bedford, weighing C.8, 0, 11 gross ; 5 Bags of flour from Carlile to Bedford, C.8, 3, 26 gross-C.17, 0, 9 @ 178. 6d., £14 188. 10d .; By 176 miles from the white borse to Carlile and Back £6 128. 0d.

Willistown .- Jobn Hanna entered one wagon July 26, and received £20 advance ;- to set off the 31st without fail. Credited by C.16, 2, 12 freight, including boxes of tools and leather: mileage for 200 miles, to and from Carlile. Balance of £1 188 9d. paid Ang. 21.

Oct. 16. Samuel Hughes enters one wagon as per John Wilson's letter may appear : Credited by 62 bushels of Speltz, weigbing C.18, 1, 3, from Carlile to Loudon : mileage from Carlile to Willistown and back, 194 miles, £7 58. 6d .*

King George II. died on the 25th of October, 1760, but his grandson and successor, George III., was not proclaimed in Pennsylvania till the 21st of January following. On May 6, 1762, Governor Hamilton informs a special session of the Assembly of a declaration of war against Spain. This aroused considerable alarm, especially in Philadelphia, as Spain then possessed a powerful navy, and preparations werc made for defense.

In 1758 the Yearly Meeting of Friends had advised its members to withdraw from political affairs, and this advice was renewed in 1762. The subordinate meetings took up the subject, and appointed committees to wait upon office- holders personally. Thus, at Goshen Monthly Meeting, 3, 11, 1763, "Amos Yarnall, John Hibberd, David Reece, and Isaac Thomas are appointed to treat with such friends within this meeting's compass who hold offices in Govern- mt, which subjects them to a violation of the funda- mental privilege of Liberty of conscience."

5, 6, 1763, they " report they have taken an oppty with one of the representatives of Assembly, and that he do not apprebend himself culpable, and as to county commis- sioners and assessors there are none within the verge of this meeting."

The member of Assembly mentioned was George Ash-

* From another source the following account is obtained, without date, but perhaps prior to 1759 :

George Bently Acknowledges Himself Having Rec'd on Acot of the Waggon Fitted out by Newlin Township the following sums of money, Vizt

£ 8. d.

Of Roger Hunt.

47 8 0

Of James Coultis ... 10 14 0

Goods sold at Vendue 8 14 9 66 16 9

Craves allowance by the following suma :

paid to Dan1 Stubbs 23 9

To Wm. Nichols.

To Dan1 Stubbs 12 9

To Thos Baily 5 19

To Charles Wilson. 2

To Joseph Hayes 0 14 11

To Alexr Duncan

0 7

To Philip Taylor, he says by Discount of Taxes, &c., &c.

4 10 0

The Waggoner's acot,

5 8

To Jnº Strode + rect 0 14 10

To sundry persons by Goods they bought at Vendne & kept in their hands To- ? 3 3 11

wards money Due to them

£ 8. d. 67 19 104

£ s. d.

GENERAL HISTORY.

bridge, who, through all the stormy political dissensions and the enactment of warlike measures, kept his seat for thirty years. It is somewhat singular that his vote on some of the questions was not called up for condemnation by the society to which he belonged.

Peace with France was proclaimed in January, 1763, and with Spain soon after. A fresh outbreak of Indian outrages on the frontiers occurred in May, and the year closed with the massacre of the Conestoga Indians at Lan - caster, under the pretence that they were secretly aiding the hostile tribes. Their murderers were called the Pax- tang volunteers. Samnel Lightfoot, of Pikeland, writing to his son Thomas, in Ireland, 3, 24, 1764, says of them : " But not yet satisfied with Blood, they assembled about the beginning of last month, and came down to destroy about 140 Indians who had taken refuge in the Barracks at Phile, among whom were Papoonhang & Compª, with a Number of Moravian Indians from about Bethlehem. These ye sd volunteers intended to kill, as they told in their way down : a number of 'em marched by the Red Lion on the first day of the week after meeting. Some of 'em in Indian dress, as I was told, & all armed with guns, Tomahawks, &c." 'Their appearance at Germantown caused, perhaps, more excitement and alarm in the city than anything which had yet happened. Finding that they would be met with armed resistance, they abandoned their bloody design and returned to their homes. That the descendants of these people would seek to justify their actions is perhaps only natural, but the reasons advanced can scarcely be consistent with the laws of humanity.

The act of the British Parliament for charging certain stamped duties in the American colonies, known as the Stamp Act, was passed in 1765. In October of this year a vessel bringing a supply of stamps arrived at Philadel- phia, but the opposition to the law was so great that it could not be enforced. The excitement produced through- out the British colonies was unparalleled, and the discus- sions that resulted, it is known, led to the Revolution.

The Indian troubles ceased with a general treaty of peace entered into in 1765 with Sir William Johnson ; but it was through the instrumentality of Col. Boquet that the Indians were humbled and brought to terms.

The odious Stamp Act was repealed on the 18th of March, 1766, the news of which event, when it reached America, caused unbounded demonstrations of joy. Though the Quakers generally would not have violently resisted the execution of the law, they shared with others the joy pro- duced by the tidings of its repeal.

The most important event of 1767 was the final estab- lishment of the line between the provinces of Pennsylvania and Maryland by the surveyors whose name it bears,- Mason and Dixon. Although this reduced the extent of our territory on the southern border, it did not take effect practically for several years.

After the repeal of the Stamp Act, the British Parlia- ment passed, almost unanimously, an act imposing duties on certain articles imported into the colonies. This act, involving the same principle as that just repealed,-taxa- tion without representation,-met. with the same opposi- tion. Under a belief that it was the amount of the tax,

rather than the principle involved in imposing it, to which the colonists objected, assurances were given in 1769 that five-sixths of the taxes should be repealed. In the follow- ing year the whole was abolished, except threepence per pound on tca.

This produced only a temporary lull in the great politi- cal storm that for some time had been gathering; for the right of taxation by the mother-country was still main- taincd.

On the 15th of September, 1774, Governor John Penn issued a proclamation directing the recognition and observ- ance of the line lately run between the provinces of Penn- sylvania and Maryland, reciting that,-

"In pursuance of certain Articles of Agreement made the tenth day of May, Anne Domini, 1732, between Charles Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of the Province of Maryland, and the Honorable the Pro- prietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, and of the Decree of the Lord High Chancellor of England, bearing date the fifteenth day of March, Anno Domini, 1750, fer the specific Performance and Execution of lhe said Artieles, and also in pursuance of certain other Articles of agreement made the fourth day of July, Anno Domini, 1760, between the Right Honorable Frederick Lord Baltimore, son and Heir of the said Charles Lord Baltimore, and the Honorable the Proprietaries of the said Province and Counties, and of one other Decree of the Lord High Chancellor ef England, bearing date the sixth day of March, 1762, for the specific porformance of the said last mentioned Articles; the several Lines mentioned and described in the said Articles, and therehy finally agreed upon and settled by the said Parties, to ho and forever remain the Boundaries and Division Lines between the said Provinces and Counties, have heen run by Commissioners fer that Purpose appointed and authorized hy the said respective Proprietors, and marked out in exact conformity to the said Articles with visible Stones, Pillars and other Land marks, as by the said Articles and Decrees, and the Return of the said Commissioners under their Hands and Seale, and an exact Plan or Map of the Lines, so as aforesaid by them run and marked, may at large appear."

There was also recited the order of the king in Council of Jan. 11, 1769, confirming the said agreements and proceedings.

The then heir of Lord Baltimore was a minor, and his guardians declared their incapacity to join in the ratifica- tion of the line, and from a fear that the ex-parte action of the Penns would provoke violence on the borders, the king directed, by order of Aug. 26, 1774, that the above procla- mation should be recalled. Thereupon Governor Penn, on November 2d, issued directions to await His Majesty's fur- ther pleasure therein, and at the same time sent a statement to the Earl of Dartmouth, Secretary of State, of the benefits which had already appeared in consequence of the first proclamation.

Another order from the king, approving of the procla- mation of the 15th of September, was received March 12, 1775, and was followed by a final proclamation from Gov- enor Penn, April 8th, which appears to have ended the matter.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

We now come to what is generally considered the most momentous period of our history. The selfish policy pur- sned by Great Britain towards her colonies was more like what might be expected towards a conquered nation than that which marks the treatment of a child by a parent. Whether by the act of 1750, which forbade the colonies to

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

erect steel-furnaces and slitting-mills, the Stamp Act of 1765, or the subsequent tax-bills, the evident design was to benefit the mother-country at the expense of the chil- dren. It was the constant aim to make the colonies buy as much and sell as little as possible.

The merchants of the cities adopted non-importation res- olutions in regard to the articles upon which a duty was laid, and cargoes of tea destined for Philadelphia and New York were sent back in the vessels which brought them. The cargoes whichi reached Boston were emptied into the bay by a mob. This act aroused the anger of the British government to such an extent that, among other vindictive measures, it was decided in March, 1774, to close the port of Boston. The people of the different colonies having, in the case of the Stamp Act, co-operated for their mutual ben- efit, were not wholly unprepared for this occasion. Meet- ings were held in Philadelphia, from which emanated a circular to the people of the several connties of the prov- ince. This circular was addressed to Francis Richardson, Elisha Price, and Henry Hayes, of Chester County, who immediately issued the following call for a meeting of the people of the county :

"To the Freehelders and others, inhabitants of the County of Ches- ter, qualified by law te vete fer Representatives in General Assembly. "Gentlemen :

"The large, and very respectable committee for the City and Ceunty ef Philadelphia, have wrote to us, the subscribers, requesting that a committee might be chosen fer this county as soon as possible, to meet the committee from the other Counties of this prevince, at the city of Philadelphia, on the 15th day of this instant, to deliberate en matters of the greatest weight and importance, not only to us, but te all America. And we are new assured, that on the acceunt of the Indian disturb- ances, his Honour the Governor has found it necessary to call the Assembly te meet, in their legislative capacity, on Monday the 28th of this instant ; and we also find, that it is not only the opinion and request of the said cummittee fer Philadelphia, but also the epinien and desire of a number ef respectable persons of this county, cein- ciding with our own opinions, as lovers of civil and religieus liberty, that the committees of the several counties of this prevince, aheuld meet at Philadelphia, on the said 15th ef this instant, in order te assist in framing instructions, and preparing such matters as may be proper to recommend to our representatives, at their mecting the Monday following.

" We have therefore thought proper en mature deliberation, and by the advice of a number of gentlemen ef this county, to appoint Wed- nesday the 13th instant, at one o'clock in the afternoon, as a proper time for the inhabitants of this county to meet at the Court House in Chester, to choose a number of cur best and wisest men as a commit- tee fer this county, as shall be judged necessary to meet the other committees, at the time and place above mentioned, for the purpose aforesaid, and for such other purposes, as may then be deemed useful and necessary. And we sincerely hope, that the good people of this county, will give their attendance on that day, and calmly and heartily join with [us] in doing the business proposed, which we earnestly wish and desire may answer the geod proposed, and the goed pur- poses intended by it.

" CHESTER July 4th 1774."

The following is the record of the proceedings of the meeting :

"At a meeting of a very respectable number of the Freeholdera and others, inhabitants of the County of Chester at the court-house on Wednesday the 13th of July, 1774, in consequence of public notice for that purpose given, Francis Richardson Esq. Chairman.

"This Assembly, taking into their serious consideration, the present critical and alarming situation of American affairs, and the unhappy differences now subsisting between Great Britain and her Colonies, do agree and resolve as follow, viz. ;

"1. That the inhabitants of this county do owe, and will pay all due faith and allegiance to cur lawful and rightful sovereign Lord George the Third, king of G. Britain, and the dominions thereunto belonging.

" 2. That it is an absolute right, inherent in every English subject, te have free use, enjoyment and disposal of all his property, either by himself or representative, and that no other power on earth can legally divest him of it.

" 3. That the act of Parliament lately passed for shutting np the port of Boston is unconstitutional, oppressive to the inhabitants of that town, in its consequences dangerous te the liberties of the British colonies ; and that therefore, we consider our brethren at Boston aa suffering in the common cause of America.

"4. That the protection of the liberties of America is an in- dispensable duty which we owe to ourselves, whe enjoy them, to our ancestors whe transmitted them down, and to our posterity who will claim them at our hands, as the best birthright and noblest inheritance ef mankind.

"5. We de agree with the Committee of the City and County of Philadelphia, that a Congress of Deputies from the said Colonies is the most profitable and proper mede of procuring relief for our soffer- ing brethren, obtaining redress; preserving our rights and liberties, and establishing peace and mutual confidence between our Mether country and her Colonies, on a constitutional foundation.

"6. The inhabitants of this County ought and will cheerfully adept, adhere to, and assist in executing all and singular such penceable and constitutional measures, which may hereafter he agreed upon and determined by the said general Congress.

"7. It is our opinion that it would conduce greatly to the restora- tion of the liberties of America, should the Colonies enter into a solemn agreement net to purchase any geoda, wares or merchandize imported frem Great Britain, under such restrictions as be agreed upon by the Congress. We, for eur parts, sensible of the great advantages which must arise from prometing economy and manufacturing among our- selves, are determined to use as little fureign manufactures of what kind er quality soever, as our necessities will permit until the several acts of the British Parliament, injurieus to American liberty, be repealed.

"8. That as our brethren at Boston are now suffering in the cause of America, it is the duty of the inhabitants of this County, in com- mon with the neighbouring Colonies, genereusly tu contribute towards their support; and therefore the Committee hereafter appointed, are requested immediately to epen and set on foot a subscription for the said sufferers, and the money arising therefrom to be laid out and ex- pended as the said Cemmittee, er a majority of them, shall judge best to answer the benevolent intention.

"9. That the following persons, to wit : Francia Richardson, Elisha Price, John Hart, Anthony Wayne, John Sellers, Hugh Lloyd, William Mentgomery, Francis Johnston, William Parker, Richard Riley, Themas Heckley, Rebert Mendenhall, and John Fleming, or a majority of them, be and they are hereby appointed a Committee for this County to meet and correspond with the Committees of the several Counties of this and the other Colonies, and to join in such measures us to them shall appear necessary for the public good.

" FRANCIS JOHNSTON, Clk. Com."

Of this committee, Richardson, Price, Hart, Wayne. Sellers, Lloyd, Johnston, and Riley met with the other similar committees in conference at Philadelphia on July 15, 1774.

There had been some correspondence between the Phila- delphia committee and influential persons in the several counties of the province a month earlier, at which time it was not expected that the Governor would convene the As- sembly. Delegates from the several county committees convened at Philadelphia, and engaged in the preparation of a series of general resolutions to be laid before that body, which met shortly afterwards. The Assembly, acting in harmony with similar bodies in the other colonies, ap- pointed deputies to the General Congress that convened at Philadelphia on the 5th of September following. The

GENERAL HISTORY.

whole number of deputics was fifty-five, of whom eight were from Pennsylvania, and of these, two-viz., Charles Hum- phreys and John Morton-were from Chester County.

On the 20th day of December following we again find "a very respectable number of the inhabitants of the County of Chester convened at the Court-house, in the borough of Chester," for the purpose of choosing a com- mittee " to carry into execution the Association of the late Continental Congress." The following persons were chosen, viz .: Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnston, Richard Riley, Evan Evans and James Moore, Esqs., Hugh Lloyd, Thomas Hockley, David Cowpland, John Hart, Sketchley Morton, Samuel Fairlamb, Isaac Eyre, John Crosby, Nicholas Diehl, Jesse Bonsall, Aaron Oakford, Benjamin Brannan, John Talbot, Joseph Brown, Samuel Price, John Crawford, John Taylor, Lewis Gronow, Edward Humphreys, Henry Law- rence, Richard Thomas, William Montgomery, Persifor Frazer, Thomas Taylor, John Foulke, Robert Mendenhall, Joseph Pennell, George Pierce, Nicholas Fairlamb, Samuel Trimble, Charles Dilworth, John Hannum, George Hoops, Joel Bailey, John Gilliland, Joseph Bishop, Jr., John Kerlin, Edward Jones, William Lewis, Patrick Anderson, Joshua Evans, Thomas Hartman, Dr. Branson Van Leer, William Evans, Joseph Cowan, Thomas Haslep, Patterson Bell, Dr. Jonathan Morris, Andrew Mitchell, Thomas Buf- fington, James Bennett, Joseph Musgrave, Williamn Miller, Richard Flower, Walter Finney, James Simpson, David Wherry, James Evans, Thomas Bishop, William Edwards, Jonathan Vernon, Jr., Lewis Davis, Sr., Joseph Gibbons, Jr., and Thomas Evans, which committee were " to be and continue from this time until one month after the rising of the next Continental Congress, with full power to transact such business, and enter into such associations as to them shall appear expedient."

After the appointment of the above committee they pro- ceeded to appoint a chairman and secretary, when Anthony Wayne, Esq., was selected for the former, and Francis John- ston, Esq., for the latter office. The committee then passed the following resolves unanimously :

" Ist. That any twelve or more of the said Committee, meeting upon due notice, be empowered to enter upon and transact all such busi- ness, as shall come under their consideration ; provided, the majority agreeing shall not be less than twelve.

"2d. That the present unhappy situation of public affairs in gen- eral, and of this Province in particular, renders it highly necessary that a Provincial Convention should be held as soon as possible; for which purpose twelve persons shall be appointed, out of the said Com- mitlee as delegates to attend the said Convention, at such time and place as shall be generally agreed on."

The committee then adjourned to meet at the house of David Cowpland, in the borough of Chester, on the 9th of Jannary, 1775.

Agreeably to one of the resolves of the first meeting of the people of Chester County, subscriptions were circulated for the relief of the suffering people of Boston. The So- ciety of Friends, acting in a meeting capacity, did not hesi- tate to contribute to the same object. Chester Monthly Meeting contributed seventy pounds "for the relief of Necessitous inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay and Provinces adjacent ;" Darby Mecting paid thirty-three pounds and fourteen shillings " for the relief of the poor and distressed

in New England ;" while Haverford Meeting responded to the request of the meeting for sufferings "that Friends should contribute liberally for the relief of Friends or others (in the New England government) who are or may be re- duced to indigent circumstances in this time of public calamity," and in a short time had the satisfaction to receive " an affecting account of the state of the poor of these Provinces, and of the distribution of the donations sent from hence."

In this connection it may be remarked that the period under consideration was one of great tribulation with the more staid members of the Society of Friends. Their tenets imposed a condition of perfect neutrality, and this was gen- erally adhered to ; but many, and among them men in high repute for their intelligence, took an active part in opposing the arbitrary measures of the mother-country. The effect of allowing their members to participate in the commotions of the times was foreseen, and the most kindly caution was repeatedly administered by the visitation of committees.

The proposed Provincial Convention assembled at Phila- delphia on the 23d of January, 1775, and continued its sessions until the 28th. The following ton delegates from Chester County appeared at the first meeting of the conven- tion: Anthony Wayne, Esq., Hugh Lloyd, Richard Thomas, Francis Johnston, Esq., Samuel Fairlamb, Lewis Davis, William Montgomery, Joseph Musgrave, Joshua Evans, and Persifor Frazer. The absentees were Thomas Hockley and Thomas Taylor.

The proceedings of the convention were unanimous, and the object of one of its first resolves was " to procure a law prohibiting the future importation of slaves into the province."

No record of a meeting of the Chester County committee on the 9th of January, the day to which they adjourned, has been found ; but they are again assembled on the 20th of March, pursuant " to adjournment and public notice," showing that an intervening meeting had been lield. This meeting was held at the house of Richard Cheyney, in East Caln, when, on motion, it was " Ordered, that Mr. Hockley, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Gronow, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Taylor, be and they are hereby appointed a Committee to essay a draught of a petition to present to the General Assembly of this Province, with regard to the manumission of slaves,-especially relating to the freedom of infants hereafter born of black women within this Colony,-and do make report of the same to this Committee at its next meeting."

On motion, " Ordered, that each member in this Com- mittee will use his utmost diligence in collecting the several sums of money subscribed for the use of Boston, and pay the same into the hands of Anthony Wayne, Esq., Treas -. urer, at the next meeting of the Committee."

The committee then adjourned to mect at the house of David Cowpland, in the borough of Chester, on Wednesday, the 31st of May next.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 16

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162