USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County : to which is prefixed a brief sketch of the early history of Pennsylvania > Part 28
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6. That it is highly expedient to appoint a committee to meet the committees of the other counties of this prov- ince, at Philadelphia, on the 15th instant, to confer with them on the important matters, mentioned in the letter from the chairman of the committe of Philadelphia.
7. 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.
8. That we tenderly sympathize with our brethren of Boston, who are suffering in the American cause, by an unconstitutional and oppressive act of the British Parlia- ment, called the Boston Port bill
9. That a subscription be opened for the relief of our suffering brethren there.
10. That the subscription be put into the hands of the committee of this county, to be by them laid out in the pur- chase of provisions and sent to Boston towards the relief of their distresses.
11. That the committee for the borough of Lancaster already appointed, be a committee of correspondence, and that George Ross, James Webb, Mathias Slough, Joseph Ferree, Emanuel Carpenter and William Atlee, Esqrs., Mr. Alexander Lowry, Mr. Moses Irwin, be a
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committee to meet and consult with the committees of the other. counties of this province at Philadelphia the 15th inst., and also to join with the committee of correspond- ence in receiving subscriptions for the relief our Boston brethren.
It was then moved, that the thanks of the freemen and inhabitants present, should be rendered to the worthy Chairman for the very proper and spirited address made by him to this Assembly, replete with the warmest expressions of loyalty to his Majesty, and fervent zeal for the common interest of America-which motion was agreed to by a general holding up of hands, and the thanks of the Assembly were then presented to Mr. Ross for his patriotic conduct upon this occasion.
EBERHART MICHAEL, CIK.
A subscription was then immediately opened by the committee for the benefit of our suffering brethren of the town of Boston, and very handsome sums subscribed by several of the persons present, and at the request of numbers of the reputable inhabitants, papers are printing and sending to the different townships, to receive the subscriptions of the inhabitants of this county, which, it is expected, will amount to a considerable sum, and will be collected as expeditiously as possible by the com- mittee and laid out, as shall be thought to answer the good purpose intended.
A paper was delivered by Mr. Elijah Weikersham, to the Chairman at this meeting, and read by him, contain- ing similar resolves (with the above) of the freemen of the townships of Paxton and Derry, at their meeting at the town of Middletown on the 8th last past, and signed by James Bird, Esq., chairman.
At a meeting of the committee of the county of Lan-
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caster, at Lancaster, on the 9th September, 1774, Edward Shippen, Esq. in the chair.
The subscription received for the relief of the distresses of the poor inhabitants of the town of Boston, were laid before the committee, and it appeareth that the sum of one hundred and fifty three pounds, fifteen shillings and two pence, has been collected in the Borough of Lancas- ter for the purposes aforesaid, and it being put to the vote whether the said sum should not be immediately remitted to Philadelphia to Mr. John Nixon the Treasurer of the city and county of Philadelphia, to be laid out.in such manner as the committee for the said city and county should think proper for the relief of our distressed poor brethren of the town of Boston, the same was carried in the affirmative, and Edward Shippen, Esq., the chairman, is requested to forward the said sum of money forthwith to Philadelphia for the purpose aforesaid.
At this time no proper account could possibly be had of the subscription papers of the several townships in this county.
The following letter was omitted entering in its proper place, and is as follows, to wit :-
Gentlemen :- Enclosed you will receive a printed cir- cular letter signed by the chairman of our committee, and the resolves therein referred to, with some other printed papers. The use to be made of them, your own prudence and good judgment will suggest; we would be glad to hear as soon as possible from the committee for your county, and are Your most humble servant, WILLIAM SMITH.
Your assured friend,
ISAAC HOWELL.
Philadelphia, June 29, 1774.
To Edward Shippen and George Ross, Esq'rs., who
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are requested to communicate the enclosed papers to the other gentlemen of the committee.
Those gentlemen named and appointed at the meeting of. the 9th July last, did attend the provincial convention at Philadelphia, on Monday the 15th then next. And the proceedings together with the resolves of that provin- cial committee, hath been inserted in the public papers.
At a meeting of the committee August 11th, they were informed that Joshua and Robert Lockharts, of this borough, shopkeepers, had brought to this town a quantity of tea, that hath paid duty under the late act of parliament. A note was therefore sent to them by the committee requiring their: immediate attendance. In consequence thereof one of the partners called on the committee, but denied their having received any tea, but as this account by no means appeared satisfactory from several matters which escaped the partner attending, the committee did inspect their shop, and with some diffi- culty learned of a chest of Bohea tea, weight 349 neat weight which they had bought from a certain merchant in. Philadelphia. The committee taking an account of all' the marks of the case in which it was packed, removed the tea, and wrote to the committee of Philadelphia, who examined the matter, and it appeareth that this tea never had paid any duty, but was part of a seizure made by the Custom house and was afterwads purchased at public sale by the original owner of it, as by a letter from the committee of Philadelphia, dated August 25th, wrote and signed by the Honorable Thomas Willing, the chairman, directed to this committee, appears; upon which, the said teas were returned again, and the said Lockharts were acquitted.
The Continental Congress held at Philadelphia, the 5th of September, 1774, continued to the 25th of October
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The votes and proceedings of which, have since been pub- lished in the public papers, and printed also by a pam- phlet containing the bill of rights, list of grievances, occasional resolves, the association, an address to the people of Great Britain, a memorial to the inhabitants of the British American Colonies, and petition to the King.
November 22nd, 1774. The committee of this bor- ough met and the following hand bill by them ordered to be printed, and sent to, and put up at all the public places in this county viz :
To the freeholders and electors of the county of Lancaster :
The committee for the borough of Lancaster, taking in their consideration the resolves and recommendations of the American continental Congress, request that the free- holders and others qualified to vote for Representatives in Assembly for the county of Lancaster, would meet at the Court house, in Lancaster, on Thursday the fifteenth day of December next, to choose by ballot sixty proper persons for a committee, to observe the conduct of all persons touching the general Association of the general Congress; which committee, it is proposed, when elected, shall divide the county into different districts, and appoint. members of the committee to superintend each district, and any six of the members so appointed for a district to be a quorum for transacting business.
It will be necessary, previous to the general election, that each township shall elect a proper person to act as inspector, and receive the tickets of the electors on that. day.
On the said 15th day of December, in pursuance to the notice above mentioned, a general election was held at the borough of Lancaster, for this county, and the fol-
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lowing persons were chosen as, and for, a committee, viz:
Lancaster borough-Edward Shippen, George Ross, James Webb, Adam Sim. Kuhn, Jasper Yeates, William Atlee, Adam Reigart, Wm. Bausman, Christian Voght, Eberhart Michael, Charles Hall, Casper Shaffner.
Conestoga-Martin Bare. Manor-John Killhafer, Jacob Wistler, *James Jacks. Hempfield-Val. Breneman .- Manheim-Samuel Bear, Sebastian Graff. (As the first district.) Upper Paxton, Londonderry, Derry, Hanover and Paxton, (the second district,)-Paxton-James Burd, do. Joseph Sherer-Hanover, Timothy Green-Derry, Castle Byers, do. * William Laird, do. * Robert McKee- Londonderry, John Campbell,-Paxton, John Bakes- tose-Upper Paxton, William Patterson-Hanover, William Brown, do. James Crawford. Warwick, Rapho, Mountjoy and Donegal, (the 3rd district,) Mountjoy, *James Cunningham, do. Abrm. Frederick-Rapho, Ja- cob Erisman, do. Patrick Hay-Donegal, *Bartram Gal- braith, do. Alexander Lowrey, do. Fred'k Mumma- Warwick, Jacob Erb, do. Peter Grubb. Bethel, Heidel- berg, Elizabeth and Lebanon, (the 4th District,-Leba- non, Thomas Clark, do. Curtis Grubb, do. Henry Light- Bethel, *Ludwig Shuy, do. * Casper Corr, do. * John Bi- shon-Heidleburg, John Weiser-Bethel, *Killian Long, do. * Sam'l Jones-Elizabeth, Hans Frantz, Lebanon, Henry Bealor. Brecknock, Carnarvon, Cocalico and Earl, (the 5th District,)-Earl, *Alex'r Martin, do. *Emanuel Carpenter, do. * Anthony Ellmaker, do. Wm. Smith, do. * Zacheus Davis, do. Geo. Rein, do. Jno. Bru- baker-Cocalico, John Jones-Brecknock, Benj. Lessley -- Carnarvon, David Jenkins. Lampeter, Strasburg, Lea- cock and Salisbury, (the 6th District,)-Salisbury *James Clemson, do. * Jno. Whitehill-Leacock, David Watson, do. Nath'l Lightner-Strasburg, Eberhart Grube, do.
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LANCASTER COUNTY.
Mich'l Witter-Lampeter, Jno. Witmer, Jr. Martick, Bart, Sadsbury, Colerain, Little Britain and Drumore, (the 7th district,)-Sadsbury, Robert Baily-Little Brit- ain, John Allton-Drumore, *Thos. Porter-Bart, Jacob Bare-Colerain, Joshua Anderson-Martick, Jno. Snod- grass- Drumore, *William McEntire-Little Britain, Thomas Whitesides-Bart, Hieronimus Hickman.
N. B. The names with Astericks (*) before them, were elected in their respective townships, and upon proper certificates by them produced of their being duly elected, their names being added to committee.
At a meeting of the committee of the borough of Lan- caster. Present, Edward Shippen, Esq. Wm. Bausman, Charles Hall, Christian Voght, Sebastian Graff, Adam Reigart, Casper Shaffner, William Atlee, Peter Grubb, and Eberhart Michael, Edward Shippen, Esq. in the chair.
Several of the reputable inhabitants of this borough of Lancaster, having mentioned their dislike to Mr. Francis -, having opened a dancing school in this borough, (at the present time) and that in their opinion the same was contrary to the eighth article of the association of the continental Congress, and requesting a meeting of this committee and their sentiments on the occasion. Upon consideration of the matter, it is the opinion of this com- mittee, that the said Mr. Francis -, opening and keeping a dancing school in the said borough, comes within the meaning of the eighth article of the association of the continental Congress, and that the same ought, at the present time, during the unhappy dispute with the mother country, to be discontinued. And Mr. Francis being sent for, waited upon the committee, and being informed of the sentiments of this committee, agreed and promised to break up and discontinue his said school.
Signed by the members above named.
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A letter received from the committee of correspondence of the city of Philadelphia, dated the 22d December, 1774, directed to the committee of this place, of which the following is a copy, viz :
Gentlemen: By order of the committee of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, we have the pleasure to trans- mit you the following resolves, passed this day with great unanimity, viz :
"That this committee think it absolutely necessary that the committees of the counties of this province, or such deputies as they may appoint for this purpose, be request -? ed to meet together in provincial convention as soon as convenient.
"That it be recommended to the county committees to meet in said convention, on Monday, the 23d day of Jan- uary next, in the city of Philadelphia."
From a view of the present situation of public affairs, the committee have been induced to propose this conven- tion, that the sense of the province may be obtained ; and that the measures to be taken thereupon, may be the result of the united wisdom of the colony.
The obvious necessity of giving an immediate conside- ration to many matters of the greatest importance to the general welfare, will, we hope, sufficiently apologize to you for naming so early a day as the 23d of January.
We are, gentlemen, respectfully,
Your humble servants,
Jos. Reed, Charles Thompson, Geo. Clymer, John Nix- on, John Benezet, Sam'l Meredith, Thos. Mifflin, Jona. B. Smith, Committee of correspondence.
The following letter from the committee of correspond- ence for the county of Berks, was sent to the committee of this place, viz:
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Reading, 2d January, 1775.
This day the committee of this county met here. A letter from the committee of correspondence of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, (meaning the same above,) was laid before them proposing a provincial convention, to be held ,at Philadelphia, the 22d instant. The letter being duly considered, the committee unanimously agreed to the proposed convention, and appointed Edward Bid- dle, Jonathan Potts, Mark Bird, Christopher Shultz, John Patton, Sebastian Levan, and Balzer Gehr, a committee to attend to said convention, in behalf of this county .- The committee then proceeded to choose a committee of correspondence, and Edward Biddle, William Reerer, Mark Bird, Jonathan Potts, and Christopher Wittman, were duly elected a committee of correspondence for this county. Extract from the proceedings of the committee. JONATHAN POTTS, Clerk.
Another letter from the same committee of correspond- ence of the county of Berks, to the committee of this place, viz :
Gentlemen : Enclosed is an extract from the proceed ings of the committee of this county, by which you will see that deputies are appointed to attend the proposed provincial convention.
When we consider that our disputes are drawing fast to a crisis, and that the most cordial unanimity is absolutely necessary for our preservation ; we cannot doubt but that your respectable committee will without hesitation appoint deputies to attend the provincial Congress. The neglect of any one county may have the most fatal consequences. And we well know the pleasure it would give our ene- mies to see even the appearance of a disunion at this very important time.
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The great consequence of this subject will, we hope, apologize for this freedom.
We are, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, Your most obedient humble servants,
Edward Biddle, Jonathan Potts, William Reerer,, Christopher Witman, Mark Bird,
Committee of correspondence.
Reading, 5th January, 1775.
N. B. The above mentioned extracts, &c. are put among the files of other papers relative to the committee.
At a meeting of the committee of inspection of the county of Lancaster, at the Court house, in Lancaster, on Saturday, the 14th day of January, 1775, Edward Ship- pen, Esq. was chosen chairman.
It was unanimously agreed that in case of any differ- ence in sentiments, the question proposed be determined. by the members of committee, voting by townships.
A letter from the committee of correspondence of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, and another letter from the committee of correspondence of Berks county, were then read; and it being put to vote, whether this com- mittee would appoint deputies to meet the other counties of this province in provincial convention, on Monday, the 23d January instant, the same was carried in the affir- mative :
Yeas; Borough of Lancaster, Hempfield township, Manheim township, Paxton township, Hanover township, Londonderry township, Mountjoy township, Rapho town- ship, Donegal township, Warwick township, Lebanon township, Bethel township, Elizabeth township, Earl township, Brecknock township, Carnarvon township, Salisbury township, Leacock township, Lampeter town- ship, Sadsbury township, Little Britain township, Dru- mere township, Colerain township.
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Nays ; Lancaster township, Derry township, Strasburg township, Bart township.
Absent; Conestoga township, Upper Paxton township, Heidleberg township, Cocalico township, Martick town- ship, Manor township.
The committee then proceeded to appoint deputies, and the following gentlemen, to wit :- Adam Simon Kuhn, James Burd, James Clemson, Esq., Peter Grubb, Sebas- tian Graff, David Jenkins and Bartram Galbraith, or any five of them, were nominated to attend the said provin- cial convention, in behalf of the county of Lancaster.
EDWARD SHIPPEN, Chairman.
The preceding proceedings of the committees and occurrences, being recorded by E. M. (June 3d, 1775.)
. At a meeting of the committee of inspection and obser- vation, of the borough of Lancaster, the 27th of April, 1775, at the house of Adam Reigart.
Present; Edward Shippen, Esq., William Atlee, Wm. Bausman, Charles Hall, William Patterson, Casper Shaff- ner, Eberhart Michael, Adam Reigart.
EDWARD SHIPPEN, Esq. was chosen president.
It appearing by intelligence from divers places and by the papers, that General Gage, hath at length attacked the inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay, and killed and wounded many of them, and the latest accounts from England confirming the accounts that the Parliament of Great Britain are determined by force of arms to compel the colonies to an abject submission to the late acts of the British Parliament, calculated to deprive the inhabitants of the colonies of their inestimable rights and privileges ; and that a formidable fleet and army are preparing to invade the colonies or some of them; it is therefore thought proper to request a general meeting of the com- mittee for this county, to consult and determine upon such
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measures as may be necessary to be pursued at this alarming crisis ; and it is unanimously agreed that hand- bills be immediately printed and distributed throughout the county, requesting the members of the committee to meet at the house of Adam Reigart, in the borough of Lancaster, on Monday, the first day of May next, at two o'clock in the afternoon for those purposes ; and Mr. Bai- ley is requested to print a sufficient number of hand-bills. for this purpose, in the following words, to wit :
The members of the committee of observation for the respective districts and townships, are desired to meet at the borough of Lancaster, at the house of Adam Reigart, in the said borough, on Monday, the first day of May next, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to consult and determine upon proper and necessary measures to be taken for the general good in the present alarming situa- tion of affairs.
At the request of the committee of observation, in the borough of Lancaster. (Signed.) EDWARD SHIPPEN, Chairman. Lancaster, the 27th April, 1775.
At a meeting of the committee of observation, at the house of Adam Reigart, the thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and. seventy-five.
Present, George Ross, Esq., Jasper Yeates, Esq., Wm. Atlee, Esq., Adam Reigart, William Bausman, Esq., Charles Hall, Casper Shaffner, Samuel Bare, Eberhart Michael, James Cunningham, Alexander Martin, Wm. Smith :- George Ross, Esq., chosen chairman ;: George Ross, jun., chosen clerk.
A complaint being made to the committee, that Charles Hamilton had sold tea contrary to the association of the continental Congress. Ordered that notice be given to
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said Charles Hamilton. Thereupon a copy of the follow- ing notice was sent to Mr. Charles Hamilton.
"SIR-You are charged before the committee for this county of having vended a quantity of tea since the first instant, contrary to the association of the continental Congress. The committee are now sitting at Mr. Adam Reigart's, and desire your attendance to answer to the charge." (Signed) GEO. Ross, jun., Clerk.
To Mr. Charles Hamilton, shopkeeper.
March 30, 1775.
Mr. Hamilton having attended, and it appearing by the oath of John Taylor, the clerk, that the tea was sold in Mr. Hamilton's absence at Philadelphia, contrary to the express orders given by him in his store since the first of March instant ; and Mr. Hamilton, upon knowing of the said tea being sold, immediately disapproved of the sale thereof. And Mr. Hamilton himself, upon oath, declar- ing that ever since the first of March instant, his orders in the store have been to his clerk, that they should sell no tea whatsoever, and that the said sale was in his absence, and that he disapproves thereof. Upon conside- ration of the premises by the committee, it is their unani- mous opinion, that Mr. Hamilton, stands acquitted of the charge against him, and that he hath not counteracted the association of the continental Congress.
"I, Charles Hamilton, of the borough of Lancaster, shopkeeper, do hereby declare and assert, that I utterly disapprove of the sales of any tea in my store since the first day of March, instant, and it is and always hath been my fixed intention and determination to adhere inviola- bly to the association of the American continental Con- gress, being fully convinced that the measures proposed thereby are the only probable modes of rescuing America
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from British Parliamentary despotism. Witness my hand, the thirtieth day of March, A. D., one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. (Signed)
"CHARLES HAMILTON."
Edward Shippen, Esq., George Ross, Esq., Jasper Yeates, Esq., William Atlee, Esq., Adam Simon Kuhn, Esq., and William Bausman, Esq., or any four of them, are appointed a standing committee of correspondence for the county of Lancaster. .
The members of the committee for the county of Lan- caster, now present, taking into consideration the conduct of George Ross, Esq., in the late interesting dispute in the House of Assembly of this province, respecting the answer given to his honor, the Governor's message, re- commending a separate petition to his Majesty from the the said House of Assembly, do unanimously approve of the active part taken by the said Mr. Ross in opposition to that measure, as the same would tend to introduce dis- union amongst the colonies ; and do return the thanks of the committee to Mr. Ross, and the other worthy members of the honorable house, who have so steadily adhered to the true welfare of their constituents in opposing a deep- laid plan to disunite us.
May 1st :- The association of the freemen and inhabi- tants'of the county of Lancaster, the 1st May, 1775.
Whereas, the enemies of Great Britain and America have resolved by force of arms to carry into execution the most unjust, tyrannical, and cruel edicts of the British Parliament, and reduce the freeborn sons of America to a state of vassalage, and have flattered themselves, from our unacquaintance with military discipline, that we should become an easy prey to them, or tamely submit and bend our necks to the yoke prepared for us: We do most solemnly agree and associate under the deepest sense
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of our duty to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, to defend and protect the religious and civil rights of this. and our sister colonies, with our lives and fortunes, to the utmost of our abilities, against any power whatsoever that shall attempt to deprive us of them.
And the better to enable us so to do, we will use our utmost diligence to acquaint our ourselves with military discipline and the art of war.
We do further agree to divide ourselves into companies. not exceeding one hundred men, each, so as to make it most convenient to our situation and settlement, and to elect and choose such persons as the majority of each company shall think proper for officers, viz : for each company a captain, two lieutenants and one ensign, who shall have the power of appointing the other officers under them, necessary for the companies.
That when the companies are formed and the officers chosen and appointed, an association shall be signed by the officers and soldiers of each company, for the good order and government of the officers and soldiers.
May 3d : Resolved, That the members of the commit- tee of the county of Lancaster, do, with the utmost expe- dition, take an account of the number of whites-men, women and children-to the respective townships of this county, and transmit the same to the members of the committee, residing in Lancaster, to be forwarded to the members of the general Congress for the province of Pennsylvania.
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