USA > Pennsylvania > Dauphin County > History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania > Part 14
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"The citizens and magistrates of Lancaster, shocked at the horrible outrage, with commendable humanity, gathered the scattered individuals of the tribe, who remained, into the stone work-house at Lancaster, where, under bolts and bars, and the strict supervision of the keeper, they could not doubt but the Indians would be safe until they could be conveyed to Philadelphia for more secure pro- tection.
"But the Paxton men were satisfied with nothing less than extermination of the tribe, alleging, however, that one or two of the hostile Indians were still among the Indians protected by the civil authority at Lancaster. Concealing themselves at night, near Lancaster, they waited until the next day, December 27, when the whole community was engaged in the solemnities of the sanctuary; then riding suddenly into town in a gallop, the band seized upon the keeper of the work-house and overpowered him, and rushing into prison, the work of death was speedily accomplished. The poor Indians, about fourteen in number, were left weltering in gore, while the Paxton men left town in the same haste with which they entered it. The alarm was raised through the town, but before the citizens could assemble, the "boys" were beyond their reach. In consequence of this affair the Moravian Indians at Wyalusing and Nain, who had come to Philadelphia for protection, were removed to Pro-
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vince Island near that city, and placed under the charge of the gar- rison.
"The Paxton men, elated by their recent success, assembled in great numbers early in January, and threatened to march to Phila- delphia in a body, and destroy the Indians there. The people of the city were prodigiously alarmed, and several companies of foot, horse and artillery were formed to repel the expected attack. The Paxton men who had approached the Schuylkill on their march, find- ing such a force prepared to receive them, returned home."
Rev. John Elder, in a letter to Governor John Penn, dated Paxton, December 16, 1763, says:
"On receiving intelligence, the 13th instant, that a number of persons were assembling on purpose to go and cut off the Cones- toga Indians, in concert with Mr. Forster, the neighboring magis- trate, I hurried off with a written message to that party, entreating them to desist from such an action, that it was cruel and unchristian in its nature, and would be fatal in its consequences to themselves and families."
In another letter to Governor Penn, Rev. Mr. Elder describes Mr. Stewart (one of the Paxton boys) as humane, liberal and re- ligious. In a subsequent letter to the Governor, he says:
"The storm which had been so long gathering has at length exploded. Had government removed the Indians from Conestoga, which had frequently been urged without success, this painful catas- trophe might have been avoided. What could I do with men heated to madness? All that I could do was done; I expostulated, but life and reason were set at defiance. And yet the men in private life are virtuous and respectable; not cruel, but mild and merciful. The time will come when each palliating circumstance will be calmly weighed. This deed magnified into the blackest of crimes, shall be considered as one of the youthful ebullitions of wrath caused by the momentary excitement to which human infirmity is subjected."
There is no doubt that this massacre was committed by the younger and more hotheaded members of Rev. Colonel Elder's corps of Rangers, residing at and about Harris Ferry, joined as they proceeded on their way to the fated village, by residents of Derry and Donegal townships who were led by one Lazarus Stewart, a daring partisan, and a man of considerable influence and standing in the Paxton settlement.
The following are extracts from a series of historical papers written by Redmond Conyngham, Esq., of Lancaster, Pennsylvania :
10
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"Imagination cannot conceive of the perils with which the settlement of Paxton was surrounded from 1754 to 1765. To por- tray each scene of horror would be impossible; the heart shrinks from the attempt. The settlers were goaded on to desperation; murder followed murder; scouts brought in intelligence that the murderers were traced to Conestoga. Rifles were loaded, horses were in readiness. They mounted; they called on their pastor to lead them. He was then in the fifty-seventh year of his age. Had you seen him then you would have beheld a superior being. He had mounted, not to lead them on to the destruction of Conestoga, but to deter them from the attempt. He implored them to return; he urged them to reflect; 'Pause, pause, before you proceed.' It was in vain; 'the blood of the murdered cries aloud for vengeance; we have waited long enough on Government; the murderers are within our reach, and they must not escape.' Col. Elder reminded them that 'the guilty and innocent cannot be distinguished.' Innocent! can they be called innocent who foster murder? Mr. Elder rode up in front and said, 'As your pastor, I command you to relinquish your design.' 'Give way then,' said one Smith, 'or your horse dies,' presenting his rifle. To save his horse, to which he was much at- tached, Mr. Elder drew him aside, and the Rangers were off on their fatal errand."
A proclamation was issued by the Governor, expressing the strongest indignation at the outrages at Conestoga and Lancaster, and offering a reward for the arrest of the perpetrators; but such was the state of public opinion in the interior counties that no one dared to bring the offenders to justice, although they mingled openly among their fellow citizens.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
As in all the great wars in which this country has been engaged, Dauphin county had her share in the great struggle for inde- pendence. In fact her "Hanover Resolutions" antedated the "Declaration of Independence" of July 4, 1776, by more than two years. The discussion which ensued upon the "Paxton Boys" affair, in fact sowed the seeds of the great Revolution; and in a letter of Governor John Penn to his brother in England, written at this time, he thus alludes to the inhabitants of Paxtang : "Their next move will be to subvert the government and establish one of their own." And no wonder, for they were a liberty loving people, oppressed by the tyranny of Europe, which fact drove them to seek a land of refuge midst the wild forests of America, where they believed they might be permitted to worship God according to the dictates of their own personal conscience.
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As early as the spring of 1774 meetings were held in the vari- ous townships of Dauphin county, the resolves of only two of which have been preserved in record form for the historians of latter days. The first was that of a meeting of the people of Hanover township, Lancaster county, held Saturday, June 4, Colonel Timothy Green serving as chairman, at which assembly it was unanimously resolved :
"Ist. That the recent action of the Parliament of Great Bri- tain is iniquitous and oppressive.
"2nd. That it is the bounden duty of the people to oppose every measure which tends to deprive them of their just prerogatives. "3rd. That in a closer union of the colonies lies the safeguard of the liberties of the people.
"4th. That in the event of Great Britain attempting to force unjust laws upon us by the strength of arms, our cause we leave to heaven and our rifles.
"5th. That a committee of nine be appointed who shall act for us and in our behalf as emergencies may require."
The committee consisted of Timothy Green, James Caruthers, Josiah Espy, Robert Dixon, Thomas Koppenheffer, William Clark, James Stewart, Joseph Barnett and John Rogers.
The resolutions referred to are worthy of a perpetual record, for they sounded the sharp, certain key-note which was eventually to sever the connection between Great Britain and the American colonies. While the people at Philadelphia and the lower counties were deliberating and doubting the expediency of independence, the Scotch-Irish districts, firm and dignified, demanded justice and boldly denounced British tyranny and wrong. Let it be further re- corded here that these Hanover "resolves" preceded those of the famous Mecklenburg Convention, showing that the same Scotch- Irish liberty-loving people were the "head and front of the American Revolution of 1776."
Following in the footsteps of these brave men, on Friday follow- ing, June 10, 1774, a similar meeting was held at Middletown, Colonel James Burd, chairman, at which these stirring resolves were concurred in, and which served as the text of those passed at the meeting of Lancaster, subsequently, which read as follows :
"Ist. That the acts of Parliament of Great Britain in divesting us of the right to give and grant our money, and assuming such power to themselves, are unconstitutional, unjust and oppressive.
"2nd. That it is an indispensible duty we owe to ourselves and posterity to oppose with decency and firmness every measure tend- ing to deprive us of our just rights and privileges.
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"3rd. That a close union of the Colonies and their faithful adhering to such measures as a general Congress shall judge proper, are the most likely means to procure redress of American grievances, and settle the rights of the Colonies on a permanent basis.
"4th. That we will sincerely and heartily agree to and abide by the measures which shall be adopted by the members of the general Congress of the Colonies.
"5th. That a committee be appointed to confer with similar committees relative to the present exigency of affairs."
The German inhabitants in the eastern portion of Dauphin county were but little behind in action for asserting their rights, and consequently met at Hummelstown (then called Frederickstown), on Saturday, June 11, 1774, at which Captain Frederick Hummel was chairman, resolving to stand by the other townships of the county in all their actions.
Oppression, taxation without representation, and a host of other political evils created an ill feeling to the mother country.
It was in the month of December, 1774, that a general com- mittee of Lancaster county was formed, consisting of delegates from all the townships. At the first meeting of that committee the present territory of Dauphin county was represented by the following gentlemen :
Paxtang .- James Burd, Joseph Sherer, John Backenstose.
Hanover .- Timothy Green, William Brown, James Cooper.
Derry .- Castle Byers, William Laird, Robert McKee.
Upper Paxtang .- (Above Kittochtinny Mountain), William Patton.
Londonderry .- John Campbell.
In 1775 appeared from :
Paxtang .- Joseph Sherer, William Brown, John Harris.
Hanover .- John McCune, John Rogers, William Cathcart.
Londonderry .- William Hayes, Robert Clark, Jacob Cook.
Upper Paxtang .- Adam Werts, James Murray, Samuel Taylor.
When the battle drum first sounded in that long fought war, Dauphin county was ready for the engagement. Inside forty-eight hours of the receipt of the news of the opening battle at Lexington, (Massachusetts) the men able to bear arms in this region were organized for the defense of their long looked for personal liberty. War was no new thing to these people, in any sense, for it should be remembered that they had been cradled midst the clash of arms all along the frontiers made desolate by the savage Indians-the Delawares, with no mercy, and the perfidy of the Shawanese tribes.
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The subjoined document gives the names of the first company of. the Associators, now in record form. It consisted almost en- tirely of men from Londonderry township. Its commanding officer, Captain Jacob Cook, was prominent in organizing troops through- out the war, at the same time being a provincial magistrate, and as such continued by the convention of July 15, 1776. First Lieuten- ant William Hay rose to be a lieutenant colonel in the Flying Camp in 1776-77, doing great service in the Jerseys and at Brandywine and Germantown, as well. The McQueens, Robert and David, were subsequently connected with the Flying Camp and it is quite certain were at Fort Washington at its capture. Of this first Lon- donderry company, several served through the war from Quebec to Yorktown, while many of them fell on the bloody altar for the sake of liberty. The articles of association to which each and every one of these men subscribed their names to are worthy a sacred place in the annals of Dauphin county.
"The Association of the Liberty Company in Lancaster County.
"In order to make ourselves perfect in the art of Military, &c., We, the subscribers, have associated, and severally Agree, Promise, and Resolve as follows, viz :
"Ist. That Jacob Cook be the Captain, William Hay the first Lieutenant, Robert M'Queen the second Lieutenant, and David M'Queen the Ensign of the Company in London Derry called the Liberty Company, which said Officers, according to their respective stations, to have the Command of said Company whilst under Arms, Mustering, or in actual Service, and that the said Officers shall remain till altered by a Majority of the Officers and two-thirds of the Company.
"2nd. That none of the Subscribers or Company shall disobey the Orders of either of the said Officers whilst under Arms or Mustering, or in actual Service, under the Penalty of paying a sum not exceeding Twenty Shillings for every disobedience, to be in- flicted and judged of by a Majority of the Officers.
"3rd. That each Person of the Company shall (if not already done) as soon as possible, provide himself with a good Gun or Musket, in good order and repair, with a Cartouch-Box or Shot- Bag, and Powder-Horn, and a half Pound of Powder and two Pounds of Lead.
"4th That each of the said Company shall attend weekly on Saturday, and on such other Times as the Officers of a majority of them shall appoint, in the Town of Lancaster, or in the county of Lancaster, at such places as the said officers shall deem necessary, under the Penalty of forfeiting and paying the sum of One Shilling, for every absence, Sickness of the person or Business out of the
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Town or Townships, to excuse. This is to be judged of by a ma- jority of the Officers; but in case of absence at any Meeting, the Party so absenting to show Cause to the Officers against the next succeeding Meeting, or the Fine to be absolute; every Person is to appear at such Meeting with his Arms and Ammunition as aforesaid under the Penalty of forfeiting the said Sum of One Shilling, for every Default, unless a Majority of the Officers shall remit such Fine.
"5th. That no Person of the said Company shall appear drunk, or curse or swear whilst under Arms Mustering, or in actual service, under the Penalty of paying Three Shillings for the first offence; Five Shillings for the second offence, and for the third offence to be expelled the Company, a Majority of the Officers are also to judge of these offences.
"6th. That should any of the Soldiers, by their conduct render themselves unworthy of being a Member of said Company, a Ma- jority of the Officers and Company may expel him; and in such case the Party expelled shall yet be obliged to pay off all arrearages of Fines.
'7th. All fines to be paid or exacted in consequence of the Resolutions or Regulations of this Company, are to be paid to the Captain for the time being, or the Person appointed by him for that purpose, and are to be laid out for the use of the said Company.
"8th. That the said Company shall be increased to any number, not exceeding One Hundred Men.
"9th. That the said Company shall not be obliged to march out of this Province, without the Direction of a Majority of the officers, with the consent of a Majority of the soldiers.
"Ioth. That in case it be thought expedient the Companies of this County should form themselves into Battalions or Regiments, we do hereby impower the Officers aforesaid, to join with the other officers of the County, in choosing Field Officers to command such Battalion or Regiment.
"IIth. That this Association to continue for the space of Eight Months next following, unless the time be enlarged by a Majority of the subscribers, or the Association dissolved by two- thirds of the Subscribers.
"12th. That this Company and every member thereof shall also comply with any other Resolutions that shall be entered into by a majority of the officers and a majority of the Company for the Regulation, Government or Support of this Company.
"13th. That a majority of the officers shall appoint the Ser- geants, Corporals, and Drum for the Company.
"14th That the officers are to be fined for offences equal with ye privates.
"In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our Hands, the seventeenth day of May, 1775.
HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
15I
Privates.
Allimen, John
Hunter, Robert
Bratton, John
Hunter, William
Bishop, Stophle
Johnson, John
Black, James
Johnson, William
Boyd, Samuel
Kelley, James
Bream, Peter
Kelley, Patrick
Brown, James
Kelley, Thomas
Buck, Robert
Kenady, John
Buck, Thomas
Keyner, Adam
Campble, John
Lawser, Michael
Campble, William
Logan, John
Carnahan, Robert
Lynch, Patrick
Chambers, Robert
McCleary, Robert
Cook, Jacob
McClintock, Alexander
Creed, James
McClintock, Joseph
Davis, John
McDougal, Duncan
Dixon, John
McQueen, David
Donaldson, James
McQueen, Jonas
Dougherty, Hugh
McQueen, Robert
Duncan, John
Moore, William
Elliott, Archibald.
Moore, Edward
Falkner, Joseph
Morrison, James
Farmer, John
Morrison, Alexander
Farmer, William
Notemurr, James
Flack, James
Null, Christopher
Foster, Andrew
Null, George
Foster, David
Pooreman, Peter
Foster, James
Rheas, Robert
Fulton, Alexander
Roan, John
Fureman, Daniel
Shank, Stophel
Grimm, Dewalt
Sheeley, Michael
Hall, William
Shier, Jacob
Hamilton, Charles
Stauffer, Christian
Hay, James
Stauffer, Jacob
Hay, John
Steel, Dennis
Hay, Matthew.
Stevick, John
Hay, William
Thompson, John
Henry, Adam
Walker, Archibald
Hoover, John
Weir, John
Hostater, John
Wolf, Michael
"A true Copy, Certified by Jacob Cook, Chairman of Com- mittee, and James Sullivan, Clk."
A Congressional resolution of June 14, 1775, provided for raising six companies of expert riflemen in Pennsylvania, two in
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
Maryland and two in Virginia, which, when completed, were to join the Continental Army at Boston, Massachusetts. June 22, the same year, it was ordered that "The Colony of Pennsylvania" be directed to raise two more companies, which with the six were to form a battalion. The form of enlistment was :
"I have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the American Continental Army for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said army." Each company was to consist of one captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates. The pay of the officers and privates was as follows: Captain, twenty dollars per month ; a lieutenant thirteen and one-third dollars; sergeant, eight dollars; a corporal, seven and one-third; a drummer or trumpeter, the same; privates, six and two- thirds, to find their own arms and clothes.
One of the first companies raised in the colonies was that of Captain Matthew Smith, of Paxtang. Within ten days after the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington this company was armed and equipped for service, and when the orders of Congress came it was ready. At the same time a company had been raised in and around the town of Lancaster, which information reaching the Congress, both were accepted into the Continental service. The patriotism of Pennsylvania was evinced in the haste with which the companies of the First Pennsylvania (Thompson's) Battalion were filled to overflowing, and the promptitude with which they took up their march for Boston.
From a letter dated at Hartford the latter part of July it is stated : "Yesterday came to town a number of Paxtang boys, dressed and painted in the Indian fashion, being part of a body of two hun- dred volunteers who are on their way to General Washington's army at Cambridge. Several of them we hear are young gentlemen of fortune."
Thacher, in his military journal of the Revolution, under date of August, 1775, describes this battalion :
"They are remarkably stout and hardy men; many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in white frocks or rifle shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance. At a review a company of them while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inches diameter at the distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are now
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
stationed in our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers who expose themselves to view, even at more than double the distance of common musket shot."
These soldiers participated in the attack on Quebec, where Captain William Hendrick fell. The command, after desperate fighting, were forced to surrender. The survivors were paroled August 7, 1776, and after being exchanged followed the fortunes of the Pennsylvania soldiers who went with. General Wayne to Georgia and resisted the fearful night attack on Wayne's camp near Sharon, Georgia, May 24, 1782, entering in triumph with him, the city of Savannah, July II, and Charleston, on December 14, returning to Philadelphia in July, 1783.
On the 20th of March, 1776, John Harris wrote to the Com- mittee of Safety, informing that body that "a large quantity of pitch and tar may be made up the Susquehanna, Juniata, etc., which if wanted for public use, may be brought down the river in boats to Middletown, and from thence to Philadelphia." He also said "there are some good four-pounder cannons at Sunbury, cannon balls, swivels, etc."
It would seem that Harris Ferry was a depot for army supplies during the Revolution. Colonel Hartley wrote to President Reed, May 1I, 1779, that "the commissary in this county (York) had exerted himself very much in procuring provisions for the troops on the Susquehanna. The expedition on the waters must greatly depend upon the supplies from hence; but unfortunately no wagons can be provided in the ordinary course to transport the flour to Harris Ferry, where the boats are to receive the same."
Middletown, this county, is also noted in the Colonial Records, as being a supply depot for the army.
THE WHISKEY INSURRECTION.
The opposition to the excise law, or the collection of a duty on whiskey made at farm stills and the larger distilleries of the country, culminated in 1794, in what was termed the "Expedition to the Westward," or the Whiskey Insurrection.
Graydon's Memoirs says :
"A duty being laid upon whiskey, that general favorite beverage in Pennsylvania, it was found a potent theme for the purpose of sedition; and it was accordingly preached upon with so much unc- tion that an insurrection was the consequence. It began beyond the mountains, in the summer of 1794, spreading from West to East
.
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HISTORY OF DAUPHIN COUNTY
with wonderful rapidity. Harrisburg was quickly infected; and a meeting had been called for the purpose of passing some inflamma- tory resolutions. By the persuasion, however, of a few of us, who were untouched by the contagion, these inconsiderate men were in- duced to desist ; though less perhaps from a sense of their error than from our assurance that a body of troops were on their march to the seat of the insurrection, and that if they persisted in their under- taking, they would involve themselves in the guilt of a forcible opposition to the laws, and most surely have cause to repent of their temerity."
In common with other parts of the state of Pennsylvania and the states to the east, including New England, troops were enrolled in Dauphin county for this expedition to the seat of war in the Ohio valley.
From a Harrisburg newspaper-the "Oracle of Dauphin"-it is learned that on Friday, September 19, 1794, three companies of horse, containing in all one hundred and thirty, arrived from Philadelphia. the whole under the command of Captain John Dunlap. The company of light dragoons, commanded by Captain John Irwin, of Harrisburg; the corps of light infantry, commanded by Captain George Fisher, with the most distinguished officers of the county, were prepared in parade, all in complete uniform, in order to receive them. After the usual ceremonies, the dragoons dismounted to refresh themselves and on Monday morning they proceeded to Carlisle. The following Tuesday some eighty regular recruits from Massachusetts, commanded by Captain Lyman, passed through Harrisburg to join General Wayne's army in the Ohio country. On the 25th of the same month a battalion of New Jersey volunteer dragoons, under command of General Richard Howell, Governor of the state, reached Harrisburg. They were all equipped and completely mounted and numbered 370 men. The next morning they crossed the Susquehanna on their way to Carlisle, after expressing their satisfaction in the following manner :
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