History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 17

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 17

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The following extract from their proceedings shows that the committee met at an earlier day than that to which they adjourned :

" IN COMMITTEE, CHESTER, May 22, 1775. " Whereas it appears very necessary, in order to avert the evils and calamities which threaten our devoted country, to embody ourselves

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

and make all the military preparation in our power; and it appears absolutely impussible to carry this laudable design into execution, without observing the greatest order, bnrmony and euncord, not only under the laws of civil government, but also while under nrins and in actunl duty,-we therefore unanimously recommend the following As- sociation, to he entered into by the good people of this County :

"We, the Subscribers do most solemnly resulve, promise and engage, under the sacred ties of honor, virtue, and love to our country, that we will use our utmost endeavours to learn the military exercise and promote barmony and unanimity in our respective companies; that we will strictly adhere to the rules of decency during duty ; that we will pay a due regard to our officers; that we will, when called upon, support with uur utmost abilities the civil magistrate in the execution of the laws for the good of our country, and that we will at all times be in readiness to defend the lives, liberties, and properties of uur- selves and fellow-countrymen against all attempts to deprive us of them.

"Extract from the minutes. " By order of the Committee, "FRANCIS JOHNSTON, Sec'y." "CHESTER COUNTY, September 7, 1775.

"The Committee of Chester County are desired to meet ot the sign of the Turk's Hend, in the township of Goshen, on Monday, the 25th inst., ot Ten O'clock, A. M., on business of consequence, at which time and place the board of commissioners and assessors are requested to attend.

" By order of the Committee, " ANTHONY WAYNE, Chairman."

" IN COMMITTEE, CHESTER COUNTY, Sept. 25, 1775.

" Whereas some persone, evidently inimiea) to the liberty af Amer- iea, have industriously propagated n report that the military asso- ciators of this County, in conjunction with the military nssocintors in genernì, intend to overturn the Constitution, by deelaring an Inde- pendency, in the execution of which they are nided by this Committee and the board of Commissionere and Assessors with the arme now making for this County ; and as such report could not originate but among the worst of men for the worst of purposes,-This Committee have therefore thought proper ta declare, and they do hereby declare, their abborrenee even of an iden so pernicious in its nature; as they ardently wish for nothing more than n happy and speedy reconcilin- tion, on constitutionn) principles, with that state from whom they de- rive their origin.

"By order of the Committee, "ANTHONY WAYNE, Chairman."

The strong language of this disclaimer against any inten- tion of favoring independence, and the desire expressed for a reconciliation with the mother-country, sounds strange at this day, yet there can be no doubt that up to this late period it was the prevailing sentiment even among those who were most strenuous in their opposition to the measures of the home government.

After having provided for the election of a new committee for the ensuing year by the people of the several townships on the 2d of October, the committee adjourned to meet at Chester on that day, but we have no record of the proceed- ings of that meeting. Whether the complexion of the committee was changed by the election is not known, but we judge it was not, from the proceedings of the next meeting :

"CHESTER, Oct. 23d, 1775.

. " Pursuant to public notice given, the Committee met nt the house of David Cuwpland, in the borough of Chester. On motion ordered, that each member of this Committee do immediately make return to the Chairman of the quantity of Powder which he already has or mny collect within his distriet, together with the price and the onme of the owner thereof, that the same may be paid for.

"On motion resolved, that Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnston, and Elishn Price, Esqrs., Mr. Richardson, Mr. Knowles, Mr. Lloyd, and Mr. Brannan, be and they are hereby nppointed a Committee of Cor- respondence for this County.

" By order uf the Committee, " FRANCIS JOHNSTON, Sec'y."

The second meeting of Congress was in May, 1775. At the close of the first meeting of that body it was hoped and believed by many that a second meeting would not be necessary ; that the representations made to the home gov. ernment by the representatives of all the colonies would bring the desired relief. But this was a delusion, for be- fore Congress met hostilities had actually beguo. From this time onward for seven long years war measures and the events of the war engrossed public attention. Only those of a local character will be noticed.

A Committee of Safety was appointed by the Assembly on the 30th June, consisting of twenty-five members, of whom Anthony Wayne, Benjamin Bartholomew, Francis John- ston, and Richard Riley were from Chester County. This committee was especially active in providing for the defense of the province, and particularly for that of the city of Philadelphia.

Each county was required to furnish a certain number of firelocks, the quota for Chester County being six hundred. These were manufactured by a man named Dunwicke, and were ready to be proved by the 6th of October. Gunboats were constructed, ammunition provided, companies, battal- ions, and regiments were organized, and breastworks hastily thrown up. These defenses were mostly in the neighbor- hood of Fort Mifflin. In addition, two tiers of chevaux- de-frize were thrown across the main channel of the Dela- ware, one opposite the upper part of Hog Island, near the fort, and the other nearly opposite the Lazaretto. The fol- lowing resolution, adopted by the committee on the 16th of November, directs additional tiers to be sunk, but it does not appear that any barrier to the navigation of the river was placed so far down as Marcus Hook :

" Resolved, that one or more tiers of Chevaux-de-frize be sunk nbove those nlrendy sunk, near to Fort Islund.

"That two tiers of Chevaux-de-frize he sunk for the further security of this Province in the channel opposite or near to Marcus Hook."

In October there was a reorganization of the Committee of Safety made by the Assembly. All the names from Chester County contained in the first appointment are in- cluded in this, with the addition of that of Nicholas Fair- lamb, the whole number of members being increased to thirty-two.

" In committee (of Chester County), September 25, 1775. This com- mittee do recommend it to the Inhabitants of each Township within this county, to meet at their usual place or pinces of holding Elections in the same, on Wednesday, the 11th of October next, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in order to chuse one or more committee men, to repre- sent them in n committee for the ensuing year; and the committee 80 chosen are desired to meet at the house of David Cowpland, in the Borough of Chester, on Monday the 23rd of said month, at ten o'clock, A. M. By order, F. JOHNSTON, Sec'y."

At a meeting of the Chester County committee, held on the 26th of December (1775), regulations were enacted to secure a perfect organization of the associators, agreeably to a vote of the Assembly. At the same meeting it was also

" Resolved, that Anthony Wayne, Jaunes Moore, Francis Johntson, Eeq., Dr Samuel Kenedy, Caleb Davis, Willium Montgomery, Persi- for Frazer, and Richard Thomas, Gentlemen, or any five or more of them, be appointed, and they are hereby appointed, to represent this county, (if occasion be,) in Provincial Convention for the ensuing year."

RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM T. PAINTER, BIRMINGHAM.

R -. L Stomien.Enp-

"GREEN BANK." RESIDENCE OF CHARLES PAIST, EASTTOWN.

RES. OF DAVID P. CHAMBERS, LONDON GROVE PA.

GENERAL HISTORY.

The Committee of Safety held its sessions almost daily in Philadelphia. Their duties were arduous in the extreme. It is indeed difficult to comprehend how a body of men could control and direct such an amount of business, in all its details, as was brought under their notice. Some idea may be gained in respect to their doings by a detail of such of their transactions as relate more particularly to this county or its vicinity.

Four battalions of Continental troops were ordered by Congress to be raised in Pennsylvania. At the request of that body, the committee recommended proper persons for officers. On the 2d of January, 1776, they recommended to the Congress the appointment of Anthony Wayne, of Chester County, as colonel of the Fourth Pennsylvania Bat- talion ; Francis Johnston, of Chester County, as lieuten- ant-colonel; and Nicholas Hausecker, of Lancaster County, as major of the same battalion ; which accordingly took place .*

On the 5th of January they selected for captains for the four battalions John Beatty, Thomas Craig, William But- ler, John Miller, William West, John Brisban, Samuel Benizet, Persifor Frazer, Thomas Robinson, Rudolph Breen- ner, Thomas Byles, John Reese, John Spohn, Nathaniel Vansant, James Moore, John Lacey, Peter Scull, Caleb North, Christopher Stuart, Alexander Graydon, Thomas Church, Samuel Watson, John Hulings, Frederick Vernon, David Lenox, Walter Stewart, Henry Allice, James Taylor, Peter Decken, Joseph Huhley, Matthew Duncan.t

On the 17th of January the committee resolved,

" That Col. Wayne, Col. Johnson, M' Bartholomew & Mr Reiley, be a committee to examine the Firelocks, Cartridge hoxes, Knapsacks &c. as ordered by the Assembly to be provided by Chester County

The two tiers of chevaux-de-frize that had already been laid were not regarded as sufficient. Others were con- structed at Gloucester, and on the 13th of March it was resolved by the committee "that John Cobourn be em- ployed to take the Chevaux-de-Frize, when launched at Gloucester, and sink them in their proper places near Fort Island, and that he be authorized to procure anything for the purpose, hire persons under him on the best and cheapest terms, and that he draw on this board for the expense."

Saltpetre for the manufacture of gunpowder was the great desideratum of the times, and great apprehensions were entertained in regard to the possibility of obtaining a suf- ficient supply for a successful defense of the province. The following advertisement shows the extraordinary means adopted to insure a supply of this necessary article :

" To the INHABITANTS of the County of. CHESTER :

" Pursuant to the recommendation of the Committee of Safety for the Province of Pennsylvania, to the Committee for Inspection for the County of Chester, Benjamin Brennan, Walter Finney, and John Beaton were appointed to attend the saltpetre mannfactory in the City of Philadelphia, in order to perfect themsolves in said art : We baving complied therewith do hereby give notice to all those whose public virtue and patriotic spirit would excite them to such a valua-

ble and necessary undertaking at this crisis of time; that attendance will be given at the house of Benjamin Brunnan in Darby, on the 23rd and 24th of February ; at the house of Mr. Cochran in East Fallow- field on the 27th and 28th ; at the house of Mrs. Whitby [Withy] in the borough of Chester, on the Ist and second of March; at the house of Mr. Hood in Oxford, on the 4th and 5th ; at the house of Mr. Mil- ler in Birmingham on the 6th and 7th ; at the house of Mr. Powell in Newtown on the 8th and 9th ; at the house of Mr. Bell in Kennet on the 12th and 13th, and at the house of Walter Finney in New Lon- don on the 14th and 15th of said month, in order to teach and instruct all persons who may please to apply at the times and places ahove mentioned.

" BENJAMIN BRANNAN,

"WALTER FINNEY."

"N. B .-- The times and places in the North West district are not yet appointed."

Feb. 7, 1776, Thomas Heimberger, a powder-maker, engaged to erect a mill in Chester County, about thirty- three miles from Philadelphia, a few miles from Yellow Springs, on a never-failing stream, provided the commit- tee advanced him one hundred and fifty pounds and kept him one year employed.

Feb. 26th, John Beaton advertises that he will be at the house of William McFall, in Charlestown, Feb. 27th and 28th ; at the house of Mr Culbertson, at the Yellow Springs, March 4th and 5th ; and at the house of Mr. Brumback, of Vincent, March 11th and 12th, to instruct in making salt- petre.

Three other appointments were subsequently made by John Beaton.

About the 4th of March the Chester County committee petitioned the Assembly for a change in the articles of the military associations. The principal change asked for was that the associators be furnished with arms. The petition is signed by Anthony Wayne as chairman of the committee.

On the 29th of March, upon application of Col. Wayne, an order was drawn by the Committee of Safety in favor of the Chester County committee for five hundred pounds, for purchasing arms on account of Congress.

Under the apprehension of an attack being made by water, every precaution was used to guard against it. Neither pilots nor pilot-boats were allowed to pass the che- vaux-de-frize, and the persons specially appointed to conduct vessels through the opening in that obstruction were not permitted to go below Chester.

Provincial troops were rapidly recruited and organized along the river, so rapidly that, upon a representation made by Col. Miles " that there is not a sufficient number of houses in or about the towns of Chester and Marcus Hook to quarter the troops now raising for the defense of this Province," the Committee of Safety, on the 13th of April, resolved, " That Col. Miles do procure, for the use of the said troops, one hundred good tents on the most reasonable terms in his power."

On the 17th of April, upon the application of Caleb Davis, an order for one thousand five hundred pounds was drawn by the Committee of Safety in favor of the commis- sioners and assessors of Chester County, " for the payment of firelocks, etc., made in that county for the use of the Province."

An application was made to the Committee of Safety by the Chester County committee for 850 pounds of powder,

* Wayne and Johnston continued to sustain the noble cause; hut Hausecker became disgusted with the service, and went over to the enemy soon after the battle of Trenton.

+ Cul. Rec., x. p. 447.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

in addition to the 400 pounds on hand, and lead enough for the whole, and also for 1500 flints, to be distributed among the associators, "in order to supply them with twenty-three rounds per man." This supply was to be sent to the care of Nicholas Fairlamb.

The committee had judged rightly of the danger to be apprehended from armed vessels coming up the Delaware. "In consequence of intelligence received on the 29th of April, that the Roebuck Man-of-war is aground upon Bran- dywine [shoals], Capt. Reed was ordered with the provin- cial Ship Montgomery, to proceed down the river and Bay, and join the Commodore who is already on his way, with the armed Boats, in order to take or destroy her .. . "

The provincials had quite a fleet of armed boats and other craft on the river at this time. A list, with the num- ber of men on each, made up to the 1st of May is as fol- lows :

Men.

The Washington. 50

The Bull-Dog

Franklin

" Ranger ..

Congress ..

" Warren 22

Effingham.

" Dickenson. 35

4 Burke

" Hancock. 48

Camden.

Floating Battery 116

16 Chatham

Ship Montgomery 117

Experiment. 31

414

265

679

The " Roebuck" was a vessel of forty-four guns. She suc- ceeded in getting from her perilous situation without being captured. There was also another British war-vessel in the bay, the "Liverpool," of twenty-eight guns, which likewise escaped; but the presence of the provincial fleet prevented them from ascending higher up the river than the neigh- borhood of Wilmington. Here on the 8th of May both vessels were attacked by the provincial fleet under the com- mand of Capt. Reed. Col. Miles, with one hundred rifle- men, had repaired to that vicinity, with the view of ren- dering any assistance in his power, and witnessed the en- gagement. At 4 o'clock on that day he writes from the river-bank near Wilmington to the Committee of Safety :

"Our boate and the two men-of war have been engaged for two hours at long shot. I believe there is no damage done on either side, tho' I suppose three or four hundred shots havo passed between them. . . . Our boate fire much better than the other vessels, but in my opiniou engage at too great a distance. . . . "

There was disappointment expressed at the failure of the gondolas or armed boats to capture or destroy the "Roe- buck," and those in charge of the expedition, to screen them- selves from censure, attributed their want of success to a de- ficiency of supplies, particularly of ammunition, thus casting the blame on the Committee of Safety. This body very promptly asked the Assembly " to promote such an inquiry as shall satisfy the public where the blame & misconduct is justly chargeable." Perhaps an item in the instructions sent by the committee to Capt. Reed-" to be careful in exposing any of the Boats to capture or destruction"-had as much to do in causing the failure of the expedition as the want of supplies.

From the following orders, adopted by the committee on the 7th of May, it may be inferred that a considerable land force was at this time stationed at Chester :

"Robert Towers was directed to deliver to Colo. Samuel Miles, for the use of the Provincial troops under his command, 1000 pounde of gunpowder and 2000 pounds of Lead, or as great a part thereof as is in store."

At the same time twenty thousand cartridges for mus- kets, " for the use of the Associators of Chester County," were directed to be conveyed there, "agreeably to Col. Miles' direction." And on the next day the commissary was directed " to send down to Chester, for the use of the Provincial troops under Col. Miles, Sixty Firelocks." These guns were sent under the protection of a guard.

After procuring a supply of saltpetre, the next great, necessity of the country was to have it manufactured into powder. There was no powder-mill in the province before the Revolution broke out.

June 3, 1776. John Ladd Howell reports to Commit- tee of Safety respecting powder-works :

"The Dimensions of the Powder Mill erecting by Messrs Cowperth- waite & Biddle on French Creek, about four miles above Moore Hall, 102 ft. by 31 ft., 8 Inohs.

" Two Water Wheels in the Centre of the House, 18 ft. Diamet", four ft. Head and 9 ft. Fall, each Wheel to work three Shafts 32} ft. Length, Six Mortar Trees 28 ft. Length, 12 Mortars, each Tree 22 Inchee Length, 12 do Br'dth, 17 do. D'pth; Two Stampers, each Mor- tar 4 Inches Square & 12 ft. Length.

"The Graining Mill, 37} hy 272 ft., built of Stone not yet cover'd in. Water Wheel, 10} ft. Diameter, to work seventy-two Stampers for preparing Sulphur, 12 Seives for Graining Powder, and one Bolt- ing Cloth.

"One Salt Petre House for refining ready to eet twelve Kettles, each Kettle capable of refining 150 wt. Four Drying Houses, 27 ft. by 21 ft. each. One end of the Powder Mill being near finished, can make thirty Hundred Powder & Week, or perhaps two Tons; will be ready to work about the 25th Inst., the very extraordinary Fresh oo the 26th May having fill'd the race, carried away the Dam, (as it has most in that part of the country) besides other Damage in the Loss of Boards, Seantling, &ca., has put them hack at least Two Weeks.

" Thomas Heinberger's Powder Mill on a Creek which emptye into French Creek, about five miles ahove the aforesaid Mill & two miles from Young'e Forge, 36 ft. hy 30 ft. Water Wheel, 16 ft. Diameter over Shot.

"Two Shafts, 22 ft. Length, to work 18 Stampers, each 9 ft. Long, 43 Inches Square. Two Mortar Trees, 20 ft. Long, 9 Mortars, each of 12 Inches hy 9, & 16 Inches Depth.

"Ooe Drying House, 18 ft. hy 20 ft., the Mill not floor'd nor the Drying House Plaster'd, expects to begin Work in Ten Days. Hie Dwelling House not being yet in hand I cannot think he will begin so soon : he has received one Ton of Salt Petre but no Sulphur; has not began to build a refining House, what Salt Petre he has recd he refines in this City ; he expects to make half a Ton of Powder p Week."

A mill on Crum Creek, belonging to Dr. Robert Harris, had begun to work about May 23d, and still another small mill was in the course of erection on Swamp Creek, ia Bucks County.

Lead was also in great requisition-so much so, that all the leaden clock weights, draught weights, etc., were re- quired to be given up for military purposes. Six pence per pound was allowed for the lead thus taken.

June, 1776. Estimate of the number of fire-arms fit for service in Chester County :

1st Battalion, Col. James Moore, 380. 2d Battalion, Col. Thomas Hookley, 400. 3d Battalion, Col. Hugh Lloyd, 300. 4th Battalion, Col. Wm. Montgomery, 450. 5th Battalion, Col. Richard Thomas, 300.

GENERAL HISTORY.

June 22. By order of the Committee of Safety, Robert Towers, commissary, was directed to deliver the following quantities of ammunition to the colonels of the different battalions of associators in Chester County :

To Col. James Moore 2300 cartridges for provincial muskets; 2070 do, sorted, for the other different bores of firelocks, 1500 flints.

To Col. Thomas Hockley 2300 of first kind, 2300 of second, and 1600 flints.

To Col. Hugh Lloyd, 1840 of first, 1610 of second, and 1200 flints. To Col. Wm. Montgomery, 2760 of first, 2415 of second, and 1800 flints.

To Col. Richard Thomas, 1840 of first, 1610 of second, and 1200 flints.

And to each of the said colonels the same proportion of loose pow- der and lead equal to the quantity of cartridges .*

In Congress, Friday, 5th July, 1776 :

" Resolved, That copies of the Declaration be sent to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils of Safety, and to The several commanding officers of the Continental Troops, that it be proclaimed iu each of the United States, and at the Head of the Army."

It now became known that New York, and not Phila- delphia, was to be attacked, and, in consequence, on the 2d of July, Colonel Miles was requested to march his battal- ions immediately to Philadelphia. Letters were at the same time dispatched by the committee "to the Colonels of the different Battalions of the Counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester & Lancaster, requesting they would hold themselves in readiness to march at an hour's warning, with their battalions to the city."

The military organizations in Pennsylvania, known as Associators, were constituted into fifty-three battalions. These assembled, by representatives, in convention at Lan- caster on the 4th of July,-the day independence was de- clared,-" to choose two Brigadier-Generals to command the Battalions and forces of Pennsylvania." Daniel Rober- deau and James Ewing were elected.

The delegates to this convention from Chester County were Major Culbertson, Colonel Montgomery, Lieutenant- Colonel Gibson ; Captains Wallace, Scot, Gardiner; Pri- vates Cunningham, Boyd, Denny, Culbertson, and Fulton.

July 12. Robert Smith wrote to President Wharton :

"Sir, I am under the necessity of applying to you, by Col. Chey- ney, for money to enable me to fill the 1st class of Chester county Militia. The class has been long since duly ordered to March. Not- withstanding repeated orders, there are but about 320 arrived at Chester,-200 of which are substitutes. This account I have received from Col. John Hannum, the commanding officer of that station : His pressing request to fill the 1st class, with your orders, occasions me thas to intrude on your patience. The class when filled will consist of near 700 meu. Two thousand pounds are necessary for the present."

July 15, 1776. Abraham Marshall asks leave to resign his commission as captain of a company in the musket battalion, which is granted, and Lieutenant Joseph Mc- Clellan, of the same battalion, is appointed in his stead.

This musket battalion was under the command of Col- onel Samuel John Atlee, of Lancaster, and contained, on July 1st, the following companies and number of men : Patrick Anderson's, 56; Peter Z. Loyd's, 61; Francis Muncy's, 52 ; Abraham Marshall's, 44; Abraham De- huff's, 64; Thomas Herbert's, 57 ; John Nice's, 55 ; Joseph Howell's, 55 ; total, 444.

This battalion, with other troops from Chester County, were hurried off to take part in the campaign around New York. Their condition will appear from a letter written by Colonel Atlee to the Committee of Safety, dated at Perth Amboy, August 2d, in which he says that numbers of them were without shirts, breeches, or stockings. An appropriation of two hundred and fifty pounds was made on the 7th to supply them with clothing. On the 11th he wrote again, saying his battalion would march that after- noon to join General Washington, but in a most disgrace- ful situation.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 17

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