History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 21

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Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Adams County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland and Adams counties, Pennsylvania. Containing history of the counties, their townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc.; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 21

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At Ancquick, Peter Falconer, Nicholas De Long. Samuel Perry and John Charleton were convicted on the view of the magistrates, having entered into the like recogniz- ances and executed the like bonds. Charlton's cabin was burned and fire set to another that was just begun, consisting only of a few logs piled and fastened to one another.

The like proceedings at Big Cove (now within Bedford County) against Andrew Don- naldson, John Macclelland, Charles Stewart, James Downy, John Macmean, Robert Kendell, Samuel Brown, William Shepperd, Roger Murphy, Robert Smith, William Dickey, Will- iam Millican, William Macconnell, Alexander Macconnell, James Campbell, William Carrell, John Martin, John Jamison, Hans Patter, John Maccollin, James Wilson and John Wilson, who, coming before the magistrates, were convicted on their own confes- sion of the like trespasses as in former cases, and were all bound over in like recogniz- ances and executed the like bond to the proprietaries. Three waste cabins of no value were burned at the north end of the cove by the persons that claimed a right to them.

The Little Cove (in Franklin County) and the Big and Little Connolloways being the only places remaining to be visited, as this was on the borders of Maryland the magis- trates declined going there and departed for their homes.

About the year 1740 or 1741 one Frederic Star, a German, with two or three more of his countrymen, made some settlements at the very place where we found William White, the Galloways and Andrew Lycon (on Big Juniata situate at the distance of twenty miles from the north thereof and about ten miles north of the Blue Hills, a place much esteemed by the Indians for some of their best hunting ground .- ( Votes Assem. Vol. IV. p. 138,) which (German settlers) were discovered by the Delawares at Shamokin to the deputie of the Six Nations as they came down to Philadelphia in the year 1742 to hold a treaty with this government; and they were so disturbed as to inquire with a peculiar warmth of Gov- ernor Thomas if these people had come there by the orders or with the privity of the gov- ernment, alleging that if it was so this was a breach of the treaties subsisting between the Six Nations and the proprietor, William Penn, who in the most solemn manner engaged to them not to suffer any of the people to settle lands until they had purchased them from the council of the Six Nations. The Governor, as he might, with great truth, disowned any knowledge of these persons' settlements, and on the Indians requesting that they should immediately be thrown over the mountains, he promised to issue his proclamation and if this had no effect to put the laws in execution against them. The Indians, in the same treaty publicly expressed some very severe threats against the inhabitants of Mary- land for settling lands for which they received no satisfaction, and said if they would not do them justice they would do justice to themselves; and would certainly have commit- ted hostilities if a treaty had not been on foot between Maryland and the Six Nations under the mediation of Governor Thomas, at which the Indians consented to sell lands and receive a valuable consideration for them, which put an end to the danger.

The proprietaries were then in England, but observing, on perusing the treaty, with what asperity they had expressed themselves against Maryland, and that the Indians had just cause to complain of the settlements at Juniata, so near Shamokin, they wrote to their governor in very pressing terms, to cause those trespassers to be immediately removed; and both the proprietaries and Governor laid their commands on me to see this done, which I accordingly did in June, 1743, the Governor having first given them notice by a proclamation served on them.

At that time none had presumed to settle at a place called Big Cove-having this name from its being enclosed in the form of a basin by the southernmost range of the Kit- tochtinny Hills and Tuscarora Hills, which last end here and lose themselves in other hills. This Big Cove is about five miles north of the temporary line and not far west of the place where the line terminated. Between the Big Cove and the temporary line lies the Little Cove, so-called from being likewise encircled with hills; and to the west of the Little Cove, toward Potowmec, lie two other places called the Big and Little Conollaways, all of them situated on the temporary line, was it to be extended toward Potowmec.

In the year 1741 or 1742 information was likewise given that people were beginning to settle in those places, some from Maryland and some from this province. But as the two governments were then not on very good terms, the Governor did not think proper to take any other notice of these settlements than to send the sheriff to serve his proclama-

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

tion on them, and thought it ample occasion to lament the vast inconveniencies which attend unsettled boundaries. After this the French war came on, and the people in these parts, taking advantage of the confusion of the times, by little and little stole into the Great C'ove, so that at the end of the war it was said thirty families had settled there- not, however, without frequent prohibitions on the part of the government, and admonitions of the great danger they ran of being eut off by the Indians, as these settlements were on lands not purchased of them. At the close of the war Mr. Maxwell, one of the justices of Lancaster County, delivered a particular message from this government to them, ordering their removal. that they might not occasion a breach with the Indians; but it had no effect.

These were, to the best of my remembrance, all the places settled by Pennsylvanians in the unpurchased part of the province till about three years ago, when some persons had the presumption to go into Path Valley or Tuscarora Gap, lying to the east of Big Cove and onto a place called Auequick, lying to the northward of it; and likewise into a place called Shearman's creek, lying all along the waters of Juniata, and is situate east of the Path Valley through which the present road goes from Harris' Ferry to Allegheny; and lastly they extended their settlements to Big Juniata, the Indians all this while repeatedly complaining that their hunting ground was every day more and more taken from them, and that there must infallibly arise quarrels between their warriors and these settlers which would in the end break the chain of friendship, and pressing in the most importunate terms their speedy removal. The government in 1718 sent the sheriff and three magis- trates with Mr. Weiser unto these places to warn the people; but they, notwithstanding, continued their settlements in opposition to all this, and as if those people were prompted by a desire to make mischief, settled lands no better-nay not so good-as many vacant lands within the purchased parts of the province.

The bulk of the settlements were made during the administration of President Palmer; and it is well known to your Honor, though then in England, that his attention to the safety of the city and lower counties would not permit him to extend more care to places so remote.

Finding such a general submission, except the two Galloways and Andrew Lycon, and vainly believing the evil would be effectually taken away, there was no kindness in my power which I did not do for the offender -. I gave them money where they were poor, and tell- ing them they might go directly on any part of the two millions of aeres lately purchased of the Indians; and where the families were large. as I happened to have several of my own plantations vacant. I offered them to stay on them rent free till they could provide for themselves. Then I told them that if, after this lenity and good usage, they would dare to stay after the time limited for their departure, no mercy would be shewed them, but that they would feel the rigor of the law

It may be proper to add that the cabins or log houses which were burnt were of no considerable value, being such as the country people erect in a day or two and cost only the charge of an entertainment.

After the close of Pontiac's war, the valley, which had been so sadly devastated, soon began to wear an air of great prosperity. When it became a positive assurance that the savages, in fear of whom the people had lived for years, were to trouble them no longer, the joy of the afflicted was great, being tempered, however, by the recollections of the awful scenes through which they had so lately passed. The inhabitants who had left their homes to seek safety in the older settled counties to the east now returned to their homes in the valley, and many immigrants of a desirable class also came in and took advantage of the chances offered to them in the new country. In 1762 of 141,000 neres of land in the county, 72,000 acres had been patented and warranted by actual settlers. Abont the same time (1761-62) a few Germans had settled in the eastern part of the county, near the Susquehanna. Louther Manor was resurveyed and opened for settlement (1764 65), and two years later it was again surveyed and divided into twenty-eight lots or parcels. con- taining from 150 to 500 acres each, which lots were purchased principally by Scotch-Irish in Lancaster and Cumberland Counties, though some were sold to Germans. Robert Whitehill is said to have erected the first stone house on the manor. Among purchasers of manor lands who were of Scotch Irish nativity were Isaac Hendricks, Capt. John Stewart, John Boggs, John Arm- strong, James Wilson, Robert Whitehill, Moses Wallace, John Wilson, Sam- uel Wallace, James MeCurdy, David Moore, Rev. William Thompson (Episco-

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. -

pal minister at Carlisle), Alex Young, Jonas Seely. Among the Germans were John Mish, Conrad Reinninger, Caspar Weaver, Christopher Gramlich, Philip Kimmel, Andrew Kreutzer.

Prominent settlers about the same time in various parts of the county were Ephraim Blaine, who built a grist-mill in 1764 on the Conodoguinet about a mile north of Carlisle; Robert Collander, who also built a mill near the conflu- ence of the Conodoguinet and Letort's Spring, in Middlesex Township; Will- iam Thompson, a captain in the Indian war, and later a general in the Revo- lution; William Lyon, justice, judge and military officer; John Holmes, elected sheriff October 5. 1765; William McCoskry, coroner in 1764; Stephen Duncan, Rev. George Duffield (pastor of a Presbyterian Church as early as 1768); John Montgomery, Esq .. Dr. Jonathan Kearsley. Robert Miller, Rev. John Steel (captain in the Indian war)-all at Carlisle; George Armstrong, member of the Assembly, and Walter Gregory, both in Allen. James Carothers, Esq., James Galbraith, Esq., James and Matthew Loudon .* in East Pennsborough; George Brown, Ezekiel Dunning (sheriff in 1764). John Byers, an extensive farmer near Alexander Spring and subsequently a member of Council, all of West Pennsborough; William Buchanan, James Blaine, John McKnight (judge), Thomas Wilson (judge)-all of Middleton.

Shippensburg, the oldest town in the county, had become a prosperous settlement also. A company of twelve persons had settled there in June, 1730, and were soon joined by others. Hopewell Township, which was formed as a part of Lancaster County in 1735, had settlements outside of Shippens- burg (then in its limits) as early as 1731. And it is easy to see that upon the breaking out of the war of the Revolution the number of residents in the territory now included in Cumberland County was quite considerable.

The following interesting sketch, written by Thomas Craighead, Jr., of Whitehill, December 16, 1845, and published in Rupp's History of Dauphin, Cumberland and other counties, is worthy of insertion in this connection, and will doubtless be new to many:

* my mind. * The facts, incidents, etc., I communicate, I record as they occur to I will confine myself to my youthful neighborhood and such facts as I heard related by those who have, by reason of age, gone beyond the bourne whence none return. I need not inform you that the first settlers of new countries have to encounter trials, hardships and dangers. These my ancestors, in common with others, experienced on their first coming into this county. Nothwithstanding their multiplied trials and difficulties, they had ever in miud the fear and worship of one common Creator. An ancestor of mine, who early immigrated to America, was a student of theology under the Rev. Tuck- ney, of Boston, who had been a member of the General Assembly at Westminster. You will find, on consulting the history of the Presbyterian Church of this county, that the name of Craighead appears at an early period. In establishing churches in this county, Craighead appears as one of the first ministers. The first sermon preached west of the Susquehanna was delivered by the Rev. Thomas Craighead, then residing. as I believe, in Donegal Township, Lancaster County. Soon after, these congregations were organized in what is now Cumberland and Franklin, viz .: One in the lower settlement, near Carlisle; onc at Big Spring, near Newville, and one in the Conogocheague settlement. Thomas Craighead preached at Big Spring. When divine service was first held, the settlers went with their guns to hear preaching. These defensives were then deemed necessary to deter the Indians from attacking them. However, the peaceful disposition of the true Christian had its salutary influence upon the untutored Indian-the Indian feared and respected the consistent professor of religion. Religious influence was felt-at Big Spring protracted meetings were held for public worship. So powerful, it is said, were the influences of the Spirit, that the worshippers felt loth, even after having exhausted their stores of provis- ions, to disperse. I have heard it from the lips of those present, when Thomas Craighead delivered one of his parting discourses, that his flow of eloquence seemed supernatural-

:* Matthew and James Loudon had come from Scotland and settled first in Shearman's Valley, but were driven out hy the Indians, and relocated on land near Hogestown, southeast of Carlisle. James returned to Shearman's Valley after peace was declared with the Indians. His son, Archibald, born on shipboard during the passage from Scotland, afterward became postmaster at Carlisle, and also published several volumes, one of which was descriptive of outrages during the Indian wars, and has been much quoted.

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

he continued in bursts of eloquence, while his audience was melted to tears-himself how. ever exhausted, hurried to pronounce the blessing, waving his hand, and as he pronounced the words, " farewell, farewell," he sank down, expiring without a groan or struggle. Ilis remains rest where the church now stands as the only monument to his memory.

John Craighead, a son of Thomas, settled at an early date on Yellow Breeches Creek. near Carlisle. llis son John officiated a short time as pastor at Big Spring. He then re- moved to Conegocheague, and was there placed as pastor. When the Revolution was the absorbing question of the day, he was an ardent Whig, and fearless of consequences; the Government had an eye on him, but the people were with him. He preached liberty or death from the pulpit; the young men's bosoms swelled with enthusiasm for military glory -they marched to the tented field, and several were killed. Still he urged them not to be daunted. On one occasion he brought all his eloquence to bear on the subject, until the congregation arose to their feet as if ready to march. An old lady who had just lost a son in battle, hallooed out: " Stop, Mr. Craighead! I just want to tell ye agin you loss such a purty boy as I have in the war, ye will na be so keen for fighting. Quit talking and gang yersel to the war. Ye're always preaching to the hoys about it, but I dinna think ye'd be very likely to gang yersel. Jist go and try it!" lle did try it, and the next day, he and Mr. Cooper-I think-a preacher also, set ahout to raise a company. They did raise one, of the choicest spirits that ever did live; marched in short order, and joined the army under Washington, in the Jerseys. Ile fought and preached alternately, breasted all danger, re- lying on his God and the justice of his cause for protection.

One day, going to battle, a cannon ball struck & tree near him, a splinter of which nearly knocked him down. "God bless me," says Mr. Cooper, "you were nearly knocked to staves." "Oli, yes," says he very cooly, "though you are a cooper you could not have

set me up." Ile was a great bumorist. * * When he marched his company they encamped near where I am now writing, at the Hon. Robert Whitehill's, who opened his cellar, which was well stored with provisions and barrels of apple brandy. Col. Hen- drick's daughters assisted in preparing victuals for them. They fared sumptuously with this brave man. They next encamped at Boyd's, in Lancaster County; he fell in love with Jennie Boyd and married her. Ile died of a cancer on his breast, leaving no children. Ilis father, John, had been educated in Europe for the ministry, but on his return he found preaching a poor business to live by. He stopped at Philadelphia, took to tailoring, took good care when he went into good company to tie up his forefinger. for fear of his being discovered, but being a handsome little man and having a good education he was courted by the elite of the day. He fell in with an English heiress, of the name of Montgomery, I think, married her, and spent the fortune all but a few webs of linen, with which he pur- chased from the proprietor 500 acres of land on Yellow Breeches. * * *

* His other two sons, Thomas and James, were farmers; they had great difficulty in paying the balance due on their land. They took their produce to Annapolis (no business done in Baltimore then); prices got dull; they stored it; the merchant broke; all seemed gone; they applied for more time; built a saw-mill. They had made the money, but the war came on. Thomas was drafted; his son John, thirteen years old, and my father drove the baggage wagon. It took the money to equip and bear their expenses while going to and in camp. Thomas took the camp fever and his son the small-pox. Gen. Washington gave them a furlough to return home. A younger son, James, met them below Lancaster, and drove the team home. Ile often stopped and looked into the wagon to see if they were still liv- ing, but he got them home, and they both recovered. By some mistake in recording their furlough, there was a fine imposed on Thomas for leaving camp a few days before his time was up. When the bailiff came to collect it he was up on a barrack building wheat. The officer was on horseback. He told him he would come down and pay him. He came down, took a hickory withe that happened to lie near, caught his little horse by the tail, and whipped the officer, asking him if he was paid, until he said he was paid. That set- tled the fine. He was paid off with Congress money; broke up again with a chest full of mouey. By this time things began to go up; all prospered. John Craigbead, his father, had been an active member of the Stony Ridge convention, which met to petition parlia- ment for redress of grievances. Ile was closely watched by the Tories, and one Pollock was very near having him apprehended as a rebel, but the plot was found out and Pollock had to leave the county. Near the place where this convention met, at the stony ridge, one Sammel Lamb lived on his land. There was a block-house, where the neighbors flew for shelter from hostile Indians. * Lamb was a stone mason, built stone

chimneys for the rich farmers who became able to hew logs and put up what was called n square log house. They used to say he plumbed his corners with spittle-that is, he spit down the corner to see if it was plumb. Indeed, many chimneys are standing to this day and look like it: but he had a patriotic family. When the army rendezvoused at Little York, four of his sons were in the army-two officers and two common soldiers. His daughters had a weh of woolen in the loom: they colored the woof with sumach berries, and made it as red as they could, for all war habiliments were dyed red as possible; made coats by guess for their brothers, put them in a tow-cloth wallet, slung it over their young brother, Samuel, to take to camp. He hesitated, the country being nearly all forest and

HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY.

full of wolves, bears, etc. One of them, Peggy, asked him: "What are you afraid of? Go on! Sooner come home a corpse than a coward!" He did go on, and enlisted during the war; came home, married Miss Trindle, of Trindle Spring, removed to Kentucky, raised a large family. *

* It seems as if there was something in the blood, as one of his sons in the last war* was a mounted volunteer in Gen. Harrison's army. At the battle of Tippecanoe he rode a very spirited horse, and on reining him to keep him in the ranks, his bridle bit broke. Being an athletic, long-legged young fellow, and his horse running at full speed toward the ranks of the enemy, he brandished his sword, hal- loving: "Clear the way, I am coming!" The ranks opened, let him through, and he es- caped safe and got back to his camp.+ Peggy Lamb deserves a notice. She afterward married Capt. William Scott, who was a prisoner on Long Island, and she now (1845) en- joys a captain's half pay; lives in Mechanicsburg. near her native place, a venerable old lady in full strength of intellect, though more than four-score years have passed over her. She well deserves the little boon her country bestows upon her. The first horse I remen- ber to ride alone was one taken in the Revolution by William Gilson, who then lived ou the Conodoguinet Creek, where Harlacher's mill now is. He was one of Hindman's rifle- men, and after the battle of Trenton, he being wounded in the leg, two of his brother soldiers were helping him off the field; they were pursued by three British Light Horsemen across an old field and must be taken. They determined to sell themselves as dearly as possible. Gilson reached the fence, and propped himself against it. "Now," says he. "man for man: I take the foremost." He shot him down, the next was also shot, the third was missed. The two horses pursued their courses, and were caught by Gilson and his compauions and brought into camp. His blue dun lived to a great age. Gilson was offered €1,500 for him. Gilson removed to Westmoreland County. His wife was also a Trindle. He left a numerous and respectable family. I wish I was able to do those families more jus- tice for their patriotism and integrity to their country. They have left a long line of off- spring, who are now scattered far and wide over the Union. If they would but all take their forefathers for examples! I come now within my own remembrance of Cumberland County. I have seen many a pack-horse loaded with nail rods at Ege's Forge to carry out to Somer- set County and the forks of Yougheigany and Red Stone Fort, to make nails for their log cabins, etc. I have seen my father's team loading slit irou to go to Fort Pitt. John Rowan drove the team. I have known the farmer's team to haul iron from the same forge to Virginia; load back corn for feed at the forge. All the grain in the county was not enough for its own consumption. I have known fodder so scarce that some farmers were obliged to feed the thatch that was on their barns to keep their cattle alive. James Lamb bought land in Sherman's Valley, and he and his neighbors had to pack straw on horses across the mountain. He was on the top of the mountain waiting until those going over would get up, as they could not pass on the path. He hallooed out: "Have they any more corn in Egypt?" I saw the first mail stage that passed through Carlisle to Pittsburgh. It was a great wonder; the people said the proprietor was a fool. I think his name was Slough. I happened a short time ago to visit a friend, Jacob Ritner, son of that great and good man, ex-Gov. Ritner, who now owns Capt. Denny's farm, who was killed during the Revolutionary war. The house had been a tavern, and in repairing it Mr. Ritner found some books, etc., which are a curiosity. Charge, breakfast, £20; dinner, horse-feed. £30; some charges still more extravagant. But we know it was paid with Congress money. The poor soldier on his return had poor money, but the rich boon, liberty, was a prize to him far more valuable. As late as 1808 I hauled some materials to Oliver Evans' saw-mill at Pittsburgh. I was astouished to see a mill going without water. Mr. Evans satisfied my curiosity by showing and explaining everything he could to me. He looked earnestly at me and said: "You may live to see your wagons coming out here by steam." The words were so impressed that I have always remembered them. I have lived to see them go through Cumberland County, and it seems to me that I may see them go through to Pittsburgh; but I have seen Mr. Evans' prophecy fulfilled beyond what I thought possible at that time. But things have progressed at a rate much faster than the most gigantic minds imagined, and we are on- ward still. * * * * Yours, truly, etc., THOMAS CRAIGHEAD, JR.

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Author: Publication date: Publisher: W. Taylor Number of Pages: 1280

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher: W. Taylor
Number of Pages: 1280