History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 17

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc > Part 17

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Congress remained in Philadelphia while these military operations were going on at its very doors; but on the 18th of September adjourned to meet at Lancaster, though subsequently, on the 30th, removed across the Susque- hanna to York, where it remained in session till after the evacuation in the following summer. The Council remained until two days before the fall of the city, when having dispatched the records of the loan office and the more valuable papers to Easton, it adjourned to Lancaster. On the 26th, the British Army entered the city. Deborah Logan in her memoir says: "The army marched in and took possession in the city in the morning. We were up-stairs and saw them pass the State House. They looked well, clean and well clad, and the contrast between them and our own poor, bare-footed, ragged troops * was very great and caused a feeling of despair. * *

* Early in the afternoon, Lord Cornwallis' suite arrived and took possession of my mother's house." But though now holding undisputed possession of the American capital, Howe found his position an uncomfortable one, for his fleet was in the Chesapeake, and the Delaware and all its defenses were in posses- sion of the Americans, and Washington had manned the forts with some of his most resolute troops. Varnum's brigade, led by Cols. Angell and Greene, Rhode Island troops, were at Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, and this the enemy determined to attack. On the 21st of October, with a force of 2,500 men, led by Count Donop, the attack was made. In two colums they moved as to an easy victory. But the steady fire of the defenders when come in easy range, swept them down with deadly effect, and, retiring with a loss of over 400 and their leader mortally wounded, they did not renew the fight. Its reduction was of prime importance, and powerful works were built and equipped to bear upon the devoted fort on all sides, and the heavy guns of the fleet were brought up to aid in overpowering it. For six long days the greatest weight of metal was poured upon it from the land and the naval force, but without effect, the sides of the fort successfully withstanding the plunging of their powerful missiles. As a last resort, the great vessels were run suddenly in close under the walls, and manning the yard-arms with sharp-shooters, so effectually silenced and drove away the gunners that the fort fell easily into the Brit- ish hands and the river was opened to navigation. The army of Washing- ton, after being recruited and put in light marching order, was led to German- town where, on the morning of the 3d of October the enemy was met. A heavy fog that morning had obscured friend and foe alike, occasioning con- fusion in the ranks, and though the opening promised well, and some progress was made, yet the enemy was too strong to be moved, and the American leader was forced to retire to his camp at White Marsh. Though the river had now been opened and the city was thoroughly fortified for resisting attack, yet Howe felt not quite easy in having the American Army quartered in so close striking distance, and accordingly, on the 4th of December, with nearly his entire army, moved out, intending to take Washington at White Marsh, sixteen miles away, by surprise, and by rapidity of action gain an easy victory. But by the heroism and fidelity of Lydia Darrah, who, as she had orten done before

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passed tbe guarde to go to the mill for flour, the news of the coming of Howe was communicated to Washington, who was prepared to receive him. Finding that he could effect nothing, Howe returned to the city, having had the weari- some march at this wintry season without effect.

Washington now crossed the Schuylkill and went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. The cold of that winter was intense; the troops, half clad and indifferently fed, suffered severely, the prints of their naked feet in frost and snow being often tinted with patriot blood. Grown impatient of the small results from the immensely expensive campaigns carried on across the ocean, the Ministry relieved Lord Howe, and appointed Sir Henry Clinton to the chief command.

The Commissioners whom Congress had sent to France early in the fall of 1776-Franklin, Dean and Lee had been busy in making interest for the united colonies at the French Court, and so successful were they, that arms and ammunition and loans of money were procured from time to time. Indeed, so persuasive had they become that it was a saying current at court that, "It was fortunate for the King that Franklin did not take it into his head to ask to have the palace at Versailles stripped of its furniture to send to his dear Americans, for his majesty would have been unable to deny him." Finally, a convention was concluded, by which France agreed to use the royal army and navy as faithful allies of the Americans against the English. Accordingly, a fleet of four powerful frigates, and twelve ships were dispatched under com- mand of the Count D'Estaing to shut up the British fleet in the Delaware. The plan was ingenious, particularly worthy of the long head of Franklin. But by some means, intelligence of the sailing of the French fleet reached the English cabinet, who immediately ordered the evacuation of the Delaware, whereupon the Admiral weighed anchor and sailed away with his entire fleet to New York, and D'Estaing, upon his arrival at the mouth of the Delaware, found that the bird had flown.

Clinton evacuated Philadelphia and moved across New Jersey in the direc- tion of New York. Washington closely followed and came up with the enemy on the plains of Monmouth, on the 28th of June, 1778, where a sanguin- ary battle was fought which lasted the whole day, resulting in the triumph of the American arms, and Pennsylvania was rid of British troops.

The enemy was no sooner well away from the city than Congress returned from York and resumed its sittings in its former quarters, June 24, 1778, and on the following day, the Colonial Legislature returned from Lancaster. Gen Arnold, who was disabled by a wound received at Saratoga, from field duty, was given command in the city and marched in with a regiment on the day following the evacuation. On the 23d of May, 1778, President Wharton died suddenly of quinsy, while in attendance upon the Council at Lancaster, when George Bryan, the Vice President, became the Acting President. Bryan was a philanthropist in deed as well as word. Up to this time, African slavery had been tolerated in the colony. In his message of the 9th of November, he said: "This or some better scheme, would tend to abrogate slavery-the approbrium of America-from among us. * * * In divesting the State of slaves, you will equally serve the cause of humanity and policy, and offer to God one of the most proper and best returns of gratitude for His great deliverance of us and our posterity from thraldom; you will also set your character for justice and benevolence in the true point of view to Europe, who are astonished to see a people eager for liberty holding negroes in bondage." He perfected a bill for the extinguishment of claims to slaves which was passed by the Assembly, March 1, 1780, by a vote of thirty-four to eighteen, providing that no child

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. of slave parents born after that date should be a slave, but a servant till the age of twenty-eight years, when all claim for service should end. Thus by a simple enactment resolutely pressed by Bryan, was slavery forever rooted out of Pennsylvania.

In the summer of 1778, a force of savages and sour- faced tories to the num- ber of some 1,200, under the leadership of one Col. John Butler, a cruel and in- human wretch, descending from the north, broke into the Wyoming Valley on the 2d of July. The strong men were in the army of Washington, and the only defenders were old men, beardless boys and resolute women. These, to the number of about 400, under Zebulon Butler, a brave soldier who had won distinction in the old French war, and who happened to be present, moved resolutely out to meet the invaders. Overborne by numbers, the inhabitants were beaten and put to the sword, the few who escaped retreating to Forty Fort, whither the helpless, up and down the valley, had sought safety. Here humane terms of surrender were agreed to, and the families returned to their homes, supposing all danger to be past. But the savages had tasted blood, and perhaps confiscated liquor, and were little mindful of capitu- Jations. The night of the 5th was given to indiscriminate massacre. The cries of the helpless rang out upon the night air, and the heavens along all the valley were lighted up with the flames of burning cottages; " and when the moou arose, the terrified inhabitants were fleeing to the Wilkesbarre Mount- ains, and the dark morasses of the Pocono Mountain beyond." Most of these were emigrants from Connecticut, and they made their way homeward as fast as their feet would carry them, many of them crossing the Hudson at Pough- keepsie, where they told their tales of woe.

In February, 1778, Parliament, grown tired of this long and wasting war, abolished taxes of which the Americans had complained, and a committee, composed of Earl Carlisle, George Johnstone and William Eden, were sent empowered to forgive past offenses, and to conclude peace with the colonies, upon submission to the British crown. Congress would not listen to their proposals, maintaining that the people of America had done nothing that needed forgiveness, and that no conference could be accorded so long as the English Armies remained on American soil. Finding that negotiations could not be entered upon with the government, they sought to worm their way by base bribes. Johnstone proposed to Gen. Reed that if he would lend his aid to bring about terms of pacification, 10,000 guineas and the best office in the country should be his. The answer of the stern General was a type of the feeling which swayed every patriot: "My influence is but small, but were it. as great as Gov. Johntone would insinuate, the King of Great Britain has noth- ing in his gift that would tempt me."

At the election held for President, the choice fell upon Joseph Reed, with George Bryan Vice President, subsequently Matthew Smith, and finally Will- iam Moore. Reed was an erudite lawyer, and had held the positions of Pri- vate Secretary to Washington, and subsequently Adjutant General of the army. He was inaugurated on the 1st of December, 1778. Upon the return of the patriots to Philadelphia, after the departure of the British, a bitter feeling existed between them and the tories who had remained at their homes, and had largely profited by the British occupancy. The soldiers became dem- onstrative, especially against those lawyers who had defended the tories in court. Some of those most obnoxious took refuge in the house of James Wil- son, a signer of the Declaration. Private soldiers, in passing, fired upon it, and shots were returned whereby one was killed and several wounded. The President on being informed of these proceedings, rode at the head of the

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city troop, and dispersed the assailants, capturing the leaders. The Academy and College of Philadelphia required by its charter an oath of allegiance to the King of Great Britain. An act was passed November 27, 1779, abrogating the former charter, and vesting its property in a new board. An endowment from confiscated estates was settled upon it of £15,000 annually. The name of the institution was changed to the "University of the State of Pennsyl- vania."

France was now aiding the American cause with money and large land and naval forces. While some of the patriots remained steadfast and were disposed to sacrifice and endure all for the success of the struggle, many, who should have been in the ranks rallying around Washington, had grown luke- warm. The General was mortified that the French should come across the ocean and make great sacrifices to help us, and should find so much indiffer- ence prevailing among the citizens of many of the States, and so few coming forward to fill up the decimated ranks. At the request of Washington, Presi- dent Reed was invested with extraordinary powers, in 1780, which were used prudently but effectively. During the winter of this year, some of the veteran soldiers of the Pennsylvania line mutinied and commenced the march on Philadelphia with arms in their hands. Some of them had just cause. They had enlisted for "three years or the war," meaning for three years unless the war closed sooner. But the authorities had interpreted it to mean, three years, or as much longer as the war should last. President Reed immediately rode out to meet the mutineers, heard their cause, and pledged if all would re- turn to camp, to have those who had honorably served out the full term of three years discharged, which was agreed to. Before the arrival of the Presi- dent, two emissaries from the enemy who had heard of the disaffection, came into camp, offering strong inducements for them to continue the revolt. But the mutineers spurned the offer, and delivered them over to the officers, by whom they were tried and executed as spies. The soldiers who had so patriot- ically arrested and handed over these messengers were offered areward of fifty guineas; but they refused it on the plea that they were acting under authority of the Board of Sergeants, under whose order the mutiny was being conducted. Accordingly, a hundred guineas were offered to this board for their fidelity. Their answer showed how conscientious even mutineers can be: "It was not for the sake, or through any expectation of reward; but for the love of our country, that we sent the spies immediately to Gen. Wayne; we therefore do not consider ourselves entitled to any other reward but the love of our country, and do jointly agree to accept of no other."

William Moore was elected President to succeed Joseph Reed, from No- vember 14, 1781, but held the office less than one year, the term of three years for which he had been a Councilman having expired, which was the limit of service. James Potter was chosen Vice President. On account of the hostile attitude of the Ohio Indians, it was decided to call out a body of volunteers, numbering some 400 from the counties of Washington and Westmoreland, where the outrages upon the settlers had been most sorely felt, who chose for their commander Col. William Crawford, of Westmoreland. The expedition met a most unfortunate fate. It was defeated and cut to pieces, and the leader taken captive and burned at the stake. Crawford County, which was settled very soon afterward, was named in honor of this unfortunate soldier. In the month of November, intelligence was communicated to the Legislature that Pennsylvania soldiers, confined as prisoners of war on board of the Jer- sey, an old hulk lying in the New York Harbor, were in a starving condition, receiving at the hands of the enemy the most barbarons and inhuman treat-

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ment. Fifty barrels of flour and 300 bushels of potatoes were immediately sent to them.

In the State election of 1782, contested with great violence, John Dickin- son was chosen President, and James Ewing Vice President. On the 12th of March, 1783, intelligence was first received of the signing of the preliminary treaty in which independence was acknowledged, and on the 11th of April Congress sent forth the joyful proclamation ordering a cessation of hostilities. The soldiers of Burgoyne, who had been confined in the prison camp at Lan- caster, were put upon the march for New York, passing through Philadelphia on the way. Everywhere was joy unspeakable. The obstructions were re- moved from the Delaware, and the white wings of commerce again came flut- tering on every breeze. In June, Pennsylvania soldiers, exasperated by delay in receiving their pay and their discharge, and impatient to return to their homes, to a considerable number marched from their camp at Lancaster, and arriving at Philadelphia sent a committee with arms in their hands to the State House door with a remonstrance asking permission to elect officers to command them for the redress of their grievances, their own having left them, and employing threats in case of refusal. These demands the Council rejected. The President of Congress, hearing of these proceedings, called a special ses- sion, which resolved to demand that the militia of the State should be called out to quell the insurgents. The Council refused to resort to this extreme measure, when Congress, watchful of its dignity and of its supposed supreme authority, left Philadelphia and established itself in Princeton, N. J., and though invited to return at its next session, it refused, and met at Annapolis.

In October, 1784, the last treaty was concluded with the Indians at Fort Stanwix. The Commissioners at this conference purchased from the natives all the land to the north of the Ohio River, and the line of Pine Creek, which completed the entire limits of the State with the exception of the triangle at Erie, which was acquired from the United States in 1792. This purchase was confirmed by the Wyandots and Delawares at Fort McIntosh January 21, 1785, and the grant was made secure.

In September, 1785, after a long absence in the service of hie country abroad, perfecting treaties, and otherwise establishing just relations with other nations, the venerable Benjamin Franklin, then nearly eighty years old, feel- ing the infirmities of age coming upon him, asked to be relieved of the duties of Minister at the Court of France, and returned to Philadelphia. Soon after his arrival, he was elected President of the Council. Charles Biddle was elected Vice President. It was at this period that a citizen of Pennsylvania, John Fitch, secured a patent on his invention for propelling boats by steam. In May, 1787, the convention to frame a constitution for the United States met in Philadelphia. The delegation from Pennsylvania was Benjamin Frank- lin, Robert Morris, Thomas Mifflin, George Clymer, Thomas Fitzsimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson and Gouverneur Morris. Upon the completion of their work, the instrument was submitted to the several States for adoption. A convention was called in Pennsylvania, which met on the 21st of November, and though encountering resolute opposition, it was finally adopted on the 12th of De- cember. On the following day, the convention, the Supreme Council and offi- cers of the State and city government, moved in procession to the old court house, where the adoption of the constitution was formally proclaimed amidst the booming of cannon and the ringing of bells.

On the 5th of November, 1788, Thomas Mifflin was elected President, and George Ross Vice President. The constitution of the State, framed in and adapted to the exigencies of an emergency, was ill suited to the needs of State

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in its relations to the new nation. Accordingly, a convention assembled for the purpose of preparing a new constitution in November, 1789, which was. finally adopted on September 2, 1790. By the provisions of this instrument, the Executive Council was abolished, and the executive duties were vested in the hands of a Governor. Legislation was intrusted to an Assembly and a Senate. The judicial system was continued, the terms of the Judges extend- ing through good behavior.

CHAPTER XIII.

THOMAS MIFFLIN, 1788-99-THOMAS MCKEAN, 1799-1808-SIMON SNYDER, 1808-17- WILLIAM FINDLAY, 1817-20-JOSEPH HEISTER, 1820-23-JOHN A. SHULZE, 1823 -29-GEORGE WOLFE, 1829-35-JOSEPH RITNER, 1835-39.

THE first election under the new Constitution resulted in the choice of T' Thomas Mifflin, who was re-elected for three successive terms, giving him the distinction of having been longer in the executive chair than any other person, a period of eleven years. A system of internal improvements was now commenced, by which vast water communications were undertaken, and a moun- tain of debt was accumulated, a portion of which hangs over the State to this. day. In 1793, the Bank of Pennsylvania was chartered, one-third of the cap- ital stock of which was subscribed for by the State. Branches were established at Lancaster, Harrisburg, Reading, Easton and Pittsburgh. The branches were discontinued in 1810; in 1843, the stock held by the State was sold, and in 1857, it ceased to exist. In 1793, the yellow fever visited Phila- delphia. It was deadly in its effects and produced a panic unparalleled. Gov. Mifflin, and Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the United States Treasury, were attacked. "Men of affluent fortunes, who gave daily employment and subsistence to hundreds, were abandoned to the care of a negro after their wives, children, friends, clerks and servants had fled away and left them to their fate. In some cases, at the commencement of the disorder, no money could procure proper attendance. Many of the poor perished without a hu- man being to hand them a drink of water, to administer medicines, or to per- form any charitable office for them. Nearly 5,000 perished by this wasting pestilence."

The whisky insurrection in some of the western counties of the State, which occurred in 1794, excited, by its lawlessness and wide extent, general interest. An act of Congress, of March 3, 1791, laid a tax on distilled spirits of four pence per gallon. The then counties of Washington, Westmoreland, Allegheny and Fayette, comprising the southwestern quarter of the State, were almost exclusively engaged in the production of grain. Being far re- moved from any market, the product of their farms brought them scarcely any returns. The consequence was that a large proportion of the surplus grain was turned into distilled spirits, and nearly every other farmer was a distiller. This tax was seen to bear heavily upon them, from which a non-producer of spirits was relieved. A rash determination was formed to resist its collection, and a belief entertained, if all were united in resisting, it would be taken off. Frequent altercations occurred between the persons appointed United States Collectors and these resisting citizens. As an example, on the 5th of Septem-

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ber, 1791, a party in disguise set upon Robert Johnson, a Collector for Alle- gheny and Washington, tarred and feathered him, cut off his hair, took away his horse, and left him in this plight to proceed. Write for the arrest of the perpetrators were issued, but none dared to venture into the territory to serve them. On May 8, 1792, the law was modified, and the tax reduced. In Septem- ber, 1792, President Washington issued his proclamation commanding all per- sons to submit to the law, and to forbear from further opposition. But these meas- ures had no effect, and the insurgents began to organize for forcible resist- ance. One Maj. Macfarlane, who in command of a party of insurrectionists, was killed in an encounter with United States soldiers at the house of Gen. Neville. The feeling now ran very high, and it was hardly safe for any per- son to breathe a whisper against the insurgents throughout all this district. " A breath," says Brackenridge, "in favor of the law, was sufficient to ruin any man. A clergyman was not thought orthodox in the pulpit unless against the law. A physician was not capable of administering medicine, unless his principles were right in this respect. A lawyer could get no practice, nor a merchant at a country store get custom if for the law. On the contrary, to talk against the law was the way to office and emolument. To go to the Legislature or to Congress you must make a noise against it. It was the Shib- boleth of safety and the ladder of ambition " One Bradford had, of his own notion, issued a circular letter to the Colonels of regiments to assemble with their commands at Braddock's field on the 1st of August, where they appoint- ed officers and moved on to Pittsburgh. After having burned a barn, and made some noisy demonstrations, they were induced by some cool heads to re- turn. These turbulent proceedings coming to the ears of the State and Na- tional authorities at Philadelphia, measures were concerted to promptly and effectually check them. Gov. Mifflin appointed Chief Justice Mckean, and Gen. William Irvine to proceed to the disaffected district, ascertain the facts, and try to bring the leaders to justice. President Washington issued a proc- lamation commanding all persons in arms to disperse to their homes on or be- fore the 1st of September, proximo, and called out the militia of four States -Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia-to the number of 13,000 men, to enforce his commands. The quota of Pennsylvania was 4,500 infan- try, 500 cavalry, 200 artillery, and Gov. Mifflin took command in person. Gov. Richard Howell, of New Jersey, Gov. Thomas S. Lee, of Maryland, and Gen. Daniel Morgan, of Virginia, commanded the forces from their States, and Gov. Henry Lee, of Virginia, was placed in chief command. President Washington, accompanied by Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, Alexander Hamil- ton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Richard Peters, of the United States Dis- trict Court, set out on the 1st of October, for the seat of the disturbance. On Friday, the President reached Harrisburg, and on Saturday Carlisle, whither the army had preceded him. In the meantime a committee, consisting of James Ross, Jasper Yeates and William Bradford, was appointed by President Washington to proceed to the disaffected district, and endeavor to persuade misguided citizens to return to their allegiance.

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History of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Containing a history of the county; its townships, towns, villages schools, churches, industries, etc, Part 17

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Bates, Samuel P. (Samuel Penniman), 1827-1902; Whitman, Benjamin, 1940-; Russell, N. W. (Nathaniel Willard); Brown, R. C. (Robert C.); Weakley, F. E; Warner, Beers & Co. (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1280