USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County : to which is prefixed a brief sketch of the early history of Pennsylvania > Part 29
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Resolved, That the members of the committee do examine the quantity of powder and lead the store-keepers have in their hands, in the respective townships, and that the store-keepers be required that they sell no powder or lead before the first of June next, as they tender the trade and custom of the inhabitants of the respective townships,
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provided that it be sold only by such store-keepers having a license from two members of the committee."
At a meeting of the committee of observation, on the 4th day of May, 1775, the Commissioners of the county being also present, Mr. Charles Hamilton agrees, that the county shall have his powder, being 26 casks, at the rate of £14 per cwt. and they paying the carriage ; and that the county shall have his lead, being about eight hundred weight, at 45 pence per cwt .*
Messrs. Josiah & Robert Lockhart agree that the county shall have their powder, being five quarter casks, at £15 per cwt., they paying the carriage ; and their lead at 45 pence per cwt.
Mr. Matthias Slough agrees that the county shall have his powder, being four quarter casks, at £15 per cwt., they paying the carriage ; and his lead at 45 pence per cwt.
Mr. Simons by Mr. Levy, Andrew Levy, agrees that the counties shall have his powder, being 2 quarter casks, at the rate of £15 per cwt., they paying the carriage ; and his lead, being about 200 pounds, at 45 per cwt.
Mr. Christian Wirtz agrees that the county shall have his powder, being 5 quarter casks and some pounds loose, at the rate of £15 per cwt., they paying the carriage; and his lead, being about 150 pounds, at 45 per cwt.
Mr John Hopson agrees that the county shall have his powder, being 2 quarter casks, at the rate of £15 per cwt., they paying the carriage.
*January 22, 1774, an act was passed by the General Assem- bly, that no person or persons within the limits of Lancaster borough, shall keep in any house or shop, cellar, store, or other place more than twenty-five pouuds weight of gunpowder, and that was to be kept in the highest story of the house, at any one time, unless it had been fifty yards distant from any dwell- ing house, under the penalty of five pounds.
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Mr. Crawford agrees that the county shall have his powder, being 10 or 12 pounds, at the rate of £15 per. cwt. and carriage.
Mr. Bickham agrees that the county shall have his powder, being 1 quarter cask and some loose powder, at the rate of £15 per cwt. and carriage ; and his lead at 45 per cwt.
Mr. Graff agrees that the county shall have his powder, being about a quarter cask, at the rate of £15 per cwt. paying carriage.
At a meeting of the committee of observation for the' borough and county of Lancaster, at the house of Adam Reigart, the 15th May, 1775.
Present ; George Ross, Esq., chairman, Jasper Yeates, Esq., William Atlee, Esq., Charles Hall, Eberhart Mi- chael, Casper Shaffner, Adam Reigart, Sebastian Graff, Esq., Emanuel Carpenter, Esq., James Clemson, Esq., Alexander Lowry, James Cunningham, Samuel Bare, James Burd, Esq., Christian Voght and Jacob Erb.
The question being put whether the powder, lead, and other military stores, which can be collected in the ** * county.
[Here the connection is broken.]
Wednesday, November 8th, 1775.
A number of the members of committee, chosen and appointed by the several townships in Lancaster county, to serve as committee men for the ensuing year, assem- bled at the Court house, in Lancaster.
Present.
For the borough of Lancaster-William Bausman, Ja- cob Clatz, Casper Shaffner, Christian Voght, Abraham Dehuff, Michael Musser. For Lancaster -- Andrew Graff, Michael Shank. For Manheim-Peter Bachman, Se- bastian Graff, Jasper Yeates. For Manor-Leonard Rod-
-
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funk. For Conestoga-William Atlee, Michael Haber® stick, Abraham Newcomer. For Strasburg-Everhard Gruber, John Breckbill. For Warwick-John Erb, Pe- ter Kratser. For Cocalico-Michael Witmer. For Lam- peter-John Whitman, jr., Henry Kendig. For Caer- narvon-David Jenkins, Joshua Evans, Henry Weaver. For Lebanon -- John Philip de Haas, Philip Greenwalt. For Bethel-Casper Kohr, John Beshore, Killian Long. For Hanover-John Rogers, John McKewn. For Lon- donderry-William Hays. For Donegal - Alexander Lowry, Robert Craig. For Mountjoy-James Cunning- ham, John Jamison, Abraham Scott. For Upper Pax- tang-Samuel Taylor, James Morrow. For Brecknock- Benjamin Leslie.
The members present proceeded to the choice of a chairman, when JASPER YEATES, Esq. was elected, and took his seat accordingly.
GEORGE Ross, junior, Esq. was chosen Secretary.
Peter Riblet was appointed door-keeper and messenger to this committee.
The returns of the elections in the several townships were produced, and read, and approved of by this com- mittee ; the following gentlemen thereby appearing to have been duly chosen in the respective townships as members of committee in the county of Lancaster, viz :
In the borough of Lancaster-Edward Shippen, Geo. Ross, William Bausman, Jacob Clatz, Casper Shaffner, George Moore, Christian Voght, Abraham Dehuff, Jacob Krug, Michael Musser, Adam Reigart. In Lancaster township-Matthias Slough, Andrew Graff, Michael Shank. In Hempfield-Peter Brubaker, Robert Spear, John Hoover. In Manheim-Peter Bachman, Sebastian Graff, Jasper Yeates. In Manor-Leonard Rodfunk, Jacob Rupley, Henry Funk. In Conestogo-William
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Atlee, Michael Haberstick, Abraham Newcomer. In Drumore-John Long, William McEntire, John Smiley. In Strasburg-Samuel Lefevre, Everhard Gruber, John Breckbill. In Lampeter-John Whitman, jun., Henry Kendig, John Kirk. In Warwick-Valentine Griner, Jacob Erb, Peter Cratzer. In Elizabeth-George Hoyle, Christian Staley, Christian Royer. In Cocalico-Michael Witman, Adam Grill, George Elick. In Earl-Gabriel Davis, George Rhine, Jonathan Roland. In Carnarvon- David Jenkins, Joshua Evans, Henry Weaver. In Breck- nock-Benjamin Leslie, Peter Good, Conrad Popp. In Heidleberg-Henry Eckart, George Hudson, Michael Ley In Lebanon-John Philip de Haas, Philip Green- walt, John Light. In Bethel-Casper Kohr, John Be- shore, Killian Long. In Hanover-John McKown, John Rogers, William Cathcart. In Londonderry-William Hays, Robert Clark, Jacob Cook. In Donegal-Bartram Galbraith, Alexander Lowry, Robert Craig. In Mount- joy-James Cunningham, Abraham Scott, John Jamis son. In Rapho-James Patterson, Jacob Haldeman, Jo- seph Litle. In Upper Paxtung-Adam Warts, James Murray, Samuel Taylor.
The return from the township of Paxtang being pro- duced in these-words, to wit :
" At an election held at Mr. William Dickey's, in Pax- ton township, the 17th October, 1775, the following six persons were elected as members of the county commit- tee for the county of Lancaster, to wit : James Burd, Jo- seph Sherer, William Brown, John Harris, James Crouch, and Jacob Awl, or any three of these men to be admitted in the committee from time to time."
Certified by James Burd and Joseph Sherer. The same was objected to, and it being put to vote whether the same return should be received, as it contained a
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return of six persons instead of three, it passed in the negative unanimously.
Resolved, That in determining a question in this com- mittee, the borough of Lancaster and the several town- ships in this county shall have each one vote, and the majority of the townships or borough and townships so voting shall determine the question.
Resolved, That no person shall speak more than twice on the same point, without leave of the committee.
The letters of the committee of safety of this province, to the committee of this county, respecting J. Brooks and Doctor John Kearsley, (which were received at Lancas- ter, between the time of the election of this committee, and this meeting,) were read ; and the proceedings of the gentlemen of the committee who negociated that busi- ness, and escorted Doctor Kearsley to York, being taken into consideration, their conduct is approved of by this committee. And the following persons, to wit: George Ross, Jasper Yeates, William Atlee, William Bausman, Matthias Slough, Christian Voght, Jacob Glatz, Abraham Dehuff, Sebastian Graff, Andrew Graff, John Whitmer, jun., and Jacob Krug are appointed by the members of the committee now present, a sub-committee to see the sentence and resolves of the committee of safety respect- ing J. Brooks, a prisoner in goal of this county, strictly carried into execution. And it is ordered that no person be admitted into the company of the said J. Brooks, but in the presence of one or more of the sub-committee aforesaid, of which the goaler is to have notice.
Adjourned until to-morrow morning, eleven o'clock.
Thursday, November 9th, 1775.
The committee met according to adjournment.
Present,
The same members who attended yesterday, and
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moreover George Ross, Jacob Krug, George Moon and Adam Reigart, for the borough of Lancaster: Henry Eckert and Michael Ley for Heidleberg township; and Gabriel Davis for Bart township.
A new return of members elected for Paxtang town- ship being produced to the committee, certifying that Jo- seph Sherer, William Brown and John Harris were duly chosen to serve as members of the committee for the said townships, the said return is approved of, and they took their seats accordingly.
A letter from the committee of safety to the late com- mittee of this county, dated October 7th, 1775, respecting some provincial muskets supposed to be in the hands of the military associators and others in this county, being produced and read :
Resolved, That William Atlee, Alexander Lowry and Sebastian Graff be a committee for preparing the draft of an answer to the said letter, and that they report the same to this committee in the afternoon.
Resolved, Unanimously, that this committee will use their endeavors to carry into immediate execution the resolves of the honorable House of Assembly respecting the six hundred stand of arms and other military accou- trements to be furnished by the county of Lancaster.
The question being put whether the gun-smiths residing in the borough of Lancaster should not be immediately sent for to give their reasons to this committee, why they have not set about making the arms directed by the hon- orable House of Assembly to be made in the county of Lancaster, agreeable to the application of the commis- sioners and assessors of the said county. The same was unanimously carried in the affirmative, and the gun- smiths were sent for accordingly.
A petition signed by Henry Zericher being presented
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to the committee, upon inquiry into the facts: therein contained, it is ordered by this committee (three town- ships dissenting) that the said Henry Zericher be allowed five pounds of powder, and no more, out of the public magazine, for the purposes expressed in the petition, he paying for the same into the county treasury at the rate four shillings per pound.
The sub-committee appointed to essay the draft of an answer to the letter of the committee of safety respecting the provincial muskets, do now report to this committee, the draft of the answer which they had prepared, in these words, to wit :
Lancaster, November 9th, 1775.
Gentlemen :- Your letter of the 7th day of October last, directed to the committee of Lancaster county respecting the provincial muskets, in the hands of the military associators and others in this county, has been laid before this committee and taken into consideration.
We find that the gentlemen who were the committee of correspondence, appointed by the late county commit- tee, had upon the receipt of your letter, published and dispersed hand-bills throughout the county requiring the persons possessed of such muskets to bring them in at this time. As none are brought in, we beg leave to suggest to you some facts, relative to those arms, and wait your further directions.
After the troops raised by the province in the late war were disbanded, a number of muskets and military accou- trements were lodged at a Mr. Carson's in Paxtang, where they remained without any notice or care being taken of them, until the unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the Colonies rendered it indispensably neces- sary for our safety to associate and arm in defence of our rights. The then committee of this county upon hearing
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of those arms, requested some of their members to exam- ine and send them down, intending an application to the Assembly to have them repaired at the public expense, and put into the hands of such associators as were unable to furnish themselves, and who were to give receipts for them to be returned, if not lost in actual service. At this time arms were sought for with great assiduity by every one, who wished to be instructed in the military discipline. The inhabitants of Cumberland county, knowing also of the provincial muskets, were beforehand with us, and having the first choice, took between sixty and seventy of the best of them (for which Mr. Carson has a receipt) leaving a parcel of rubbish which were sent to this town, consisting of barrels mostly without locks and stocks, and all of them so covered with rust that they were thought almost unfit for use, and scarcely worth repairing. Many of them were loaded and had probably been so for many years. Some of the poor associators here took the barrels, and with much labor had them cleaned. By the help of some old locks which about this time were found in a garret in this town (without an owner) and were distributed amongst them, they had them put into such repair, as to serve them to exercise with. These persons have been at a considerable expense in putting them in the order they now are; and if they are deprived of them, are not able to purchase others .- There are a few indeed of the best of the firelocks which we think could safely be trusted to for real service. To take the arms from the poor people under such circum- stances would greatly damp their martial spirit.
We conceive it our duty to mention these things to the committee of safety. If that honorable Board, neverthe- less, shall be of opinion that such firelocks will be of use and will direct in what manner the people who have
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been at expense in repairing them are to be reimbursed, we shall cheerfully exert ourselves to the utmost of our power in calling them in, and forwarding them to Phila- delphia.
This, gentlemen, is the first opportunity we have had of answering your letter relative to the arms. Give us leave to assure you, it will afford us great pleasure to be instrumental in any degree to the safety of the city of Philadelphia. We feel very sensibly the situation of your citizens; we deem ourselves most strongly bound to give every assistance in our power to repel any attack which may be attempted against you, and humbly trust we shall not be deficient in the day of danger.
Your letter of the 19th October, came to our hands .- According to your desire a proper guard from hence con- ducted Dr. Kearsley to York, and took a receipt for his safe delivery to the committee there. S. Brooks remains confined in our gaol. A sub-committee of twelve gen- tlemen residing in and near this town, has been appoint- ed to see that your sentence and resolves respecting Brooks, be carried into execution, and no person is per- mitted to visit him but in the presence of one or more of those gentlemen.
By order of the committee of Lancaster county.
The foregoing answer being read at the table, was unanimously approved of, and it is ordered that the same be transmitted to the committee of safety by the first conveyance.
Adjourned until to-morrow, eight o'clock
Friday, November 10th, 1775.
The committee met according to adjournment.
Present.
The same members who attended yesterday, and moreover Joseph Litle for Rapho township.
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LANCASTER COUNTY.
Upon motion, Resolved, That in case any of the gun- smiths, in the county of Lancaster, upon application made to them by the members of the committees of the respec- tive townships to which they belong, shall refuse to go to work and make their proportion of the firelocks and bayonets required by this county, by the honorable House of Assembly, within two weeks from such application agreeble to the patterns, at the Philadelphia prices ;- such gun-smiths shall have their names inserted in the minutes of this committee as enemies to their country, and published as such, and the tools of the said gun- smiths so refusing shall be taken from them, and more- over the said gun-smiths shall not be permitted to carry on their trades, until they shall engage to go to work as aforesaid, nor shall leave their respective places of resi- dence, until the arms are completed. And it is further
Resolved, That the committee of correspondence and observation, do take especial care that their resolves be carried into execution.
Christiain Isch and Peter Reigart appeared in commit- tee, and agreed to set to work on Monday, the twentieth day of November instant, and make muskets and bayo- nets for this county, (part of the number required from this county, by the honorable House of Assembly,) at the Philadelphia prices ; and that they will confine them- selves to that work entirely from that time to the first day of March next, and furnish as many as they can possibly complete in the time, and deliver the same to the Com- missioners of the county or this committee.
Michael Withers appeared in committee, and agreed to set to work as soon as he hath completed a few guns which he hath now in hand, and make muskets and. bayonets for this county (part of the number from this county by the honorable House of Assembly,) at the
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Philadelphia prices ; that he will confine himself, and his workmen to that work and carry on the same as expedi- tiously as he can, and that he will deliver in to the com- missioners and assessors of this county or to this com- mittee as many muskets. (If further proceedings were had, they cannot be found.
NOTE .- Members of Assembly from Lancaster county for 1775: Curtis Grubb, Matthias Slough, George Ross, James Webb, Thomas Porter, Bartram Galbraith. 1776: William Brown, John M'Millan, Philip Marsteller, James Anderson, Alexander Lourey, Ludwig Louman.
CHAPTER IX.
Course of the mother country objectionable-Military convention at Lan- caster-Daniel Roberdeau and James Ewing elected Brigadier Generals- Resolutions passed and adopted-Committee of safety ; Convention to form the first State constitution. Pennsylvania and Lancaster county active-Numerous incidents, &c. in Lancaster county during the Revolu- tion-General Wayne's head quarters and correspondence with his excellency, Thomas Wharton, president of the executive council of Penn- sylvania-Congress repairs from Philadelphia to Lancaster, thence to York-Military meeting at Manheim-Surviving Revolutionary soldiers- Notes, &c.
THE course pursued by the mother country, incensed the people of the several colonies-a continental Congress assembled at Philadelphia, Sept. 4, 1774-resolutions were passed approving the course of the people of Mas- sachusetts, in opposition to Gen. Gage-the open and decided hostilities eventuated in bloodshed at the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775 ; which was soon followed by another, the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th. To meet the emergency, the colonists held conventions, mili- tary and other meetings. In this great conflict between
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the mother country and the colonists, the inhabitants of Lancaster and adjacent counties, met at Lancaster borough, July 4th, 1776. The meeting consisted of the officers and privates of the fifty-three battalions of the Associators of the colony of Pennsylvania, to choose two Brigadier Generals, to command the battalions and forces of Pennsylvania. Col. George Ross, was president of the meeting, and Col. David Clymer, secretary.
The following officers and privates attended, as dele- gates to the convention, from Philadelphia city and Lib- erties: Colonels, Chevalier, Roberdeau, Clymer and Major Knox. Captains, Copenwhait, Bradford, Du- lancy, Brewster, and Bitting. Privates, Messrs. Nevil,. Nelson, Montgomery, Pool, Cox, Prior, Brower, Keck, Craig. and Kitter. From Philadelphia county : Major Hughs, and George Grey standard bearer; Captains Hart and Edwards; Privates; Roberts, Smith, Whitten, Simpson, Hazelett and Hicks.
From Bucks county : Colonels Heckline, and Erwin ; Lieutenant colonels Bryan and Robinson; Captains Jarvis, Falwell, Jameson, and Adjutant Thompson ; pri- vates, Watts, Fenton, Hollis, Herr, Patterson, Stoneback, Middleswarth, and Titus.
From Chester county: Major Culbertson ; Colonel Montgomery ; Lieutenant colonel Gibson ; Captains Wal- lace, Scott, Gardiner; privates, Cunningham, Boyd, Denny, Culbertson Mackey, and Fulton.
From Lancaster county : Colonels, George Ross, Curtis Grubb, James Crawford, M. Slough, John Ferre, Peter Grubb, Timothy Green ; Lieutenant colonels, Adam Rei- gart, R. Thompson, Lowry, Leonard Rautfaung, Peter Hendricks, Christian Weyman, Andrew Little; Majors, Philip Marstaler, Thomas Smith, James Cunningham, Michael Fire ; Captains, Joseph Sherrer, James Murray,
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James Mirur, Henry Weaver; privates, Christian Werts, Francis Baily, James Sullivan, Ludwick Ziering, John Smiley, Isaac Erwin, Abraham Darr, William Leard, Henry Slaymaker, John Whitehill, George Bealy, John Jameson, Christian Bough, Simon Snider, George Line, Joseph Whitehill, William Smith, George Wry, William Barnet, George Little, Michael Diffebaugh, and Anthony Debler.
From York county : Colonels Smith, Diel, and Lieu, tenant colonel Donaldson ; Majors Donwiddie, Jefferies, Andrew, Finley and Craft ; Captains Smiser and Camp- ble ; privates, W. Scott, Ewing, Clinghan, Hamilton, Little, Shley, J. Scott, Nealor, Messerty.
From Cumberland county : Colonel J. Armstrong, and Lieutenant colonels Blair, Clark, Watts; Captains J ... Steel, M'Clelland, Davison, M'Farland, Robinson ; Ma- jor J. M'Calmont ; privates Hogge, E. Steel, Smith, Paw- ling, Brown, Sterrett, Hamilton, Read, Finley, Vance.
From Berks county : Colonels Bird, Patton, Levan ; Majors, G. Hiester, Jones, Lindimuth, Loeffler; Lieuten- ants, Cremer, Lutz, Rice, Miller ; Adjutant, S. Eby ; Captains, Keim, May ; privates, Hartman, Filbert, Mor- gan, Tolbut, Spoon, Winrich, Moser, Seltzer, Winter, Hill, Larke, Wister, Smack.
From Northampton county : Colonels, Guigar, Stroud; Majors, Lebar, Siegfried ; Captains, Orndt, Snider, Kearn, Jayne ; privates, M'Farren, Upp, Barkhaus, Haas, Brown, Best, J. M'Dawd, jr., D. Von Flick.
From Northumberland county : Colonel B. Weiser, and Lieutenants Calhoun, M'Kinzie ; Lieutenant colo- nels, M'Clay, Moodie ; Captains, Gillespie and Gray ; Major, Brady ; privates, Stone, M'Cartney, Gattes, Cul- bertson, Matlock, Yokan, Starret, M'Clanahan.
From Westmoreland county : Colonel, P. Mornly ;
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Captains, V. Orey, Thompson ; Major, James Smith ; privates, William Guthrey, W. Perry, Carmichael and George Gray.
A question was put, whether the officers and privates shall vote by ballot, singly; and it was agreed they should. It was also further resolved that both Brigadier generals be voted for at the same time, and the highest in votes to be the commanding officer. After colonel Mark Bird and captain Sharp Dulancy, with colonel George Ross, president of the convention, were appointed jndges of the election of Brigadier generals, an election was held, and after casting at the poll, the votes stood thus for Brigadier general: Daniel Roberdeau 160; James Ewing 85; Samuel Miles 82 ; James Potter 24 ; Curtis Grubb 9; George Ross 9; Thomas McKean 8 ; Mark Bird 7. Robertdeau was elected first Brigadier general, Ewing second Brigadier general.
Resolutions were then adopted, that the Brigadier gen- erals shall have full power and authority to call out any number of the associators of this province into action, and that power be continued until superceded by the convention, or by any authority under the appointment. That the president of the board shall have full power and authority to grant commissions to the two Brigadier gen- erals until commissions issue from the convention ; or any authority they shall appoint to succeed them. That we will march under the direction and command of our Brig- adier general, to the assistance of all or any of the Free and Independent states of America. That associators to be drafted out of each county, by the Brigadier generals, shall be in the same proportion as that directed by the late provincial conference held in Philadelphia. This conference met June 18, and adjourned the 25th. Dele- gates to this conference were William Atlee, Esq., Mr.
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Lodowick Lowman, colonel Bartram Galbraith, colonel Alexander Lowrey, captain Andrew Graaf, Mr. William Brown, Mr. John Smiley, major James Cunningham, major David Jenkins.
While the convention was holding in Lancaster, the friends of American Independence, having met in con- vention at Philadelphia, and discussed the suject fully and dispassionately, passed a Declaration of Indepen- dence, on the same day the convention was held in Lan- caster. Now the contest was fairly begun. The diffi- culties, on the part of the Americans, in supporting their pretensions, as a declared free and independent people, were of the most appalling character.
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