History of Lancaster and York Counties, Part 21

Author: Rupp, Israel Daniel
Publication date: 1845
Publisher: Gilbert Hills
Number of Pages: 734

USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 21
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 21

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

* NOTE .- Gen. John Clark, a native of this county, was born in 1751-at twenty-five he entered the public services of his

300

HISTORY OF

These years of plenty were followed by years of scarcity. The summers of '53, '54, and '55, were remarkable for continued drought, and consequent want of food for man, and provender for beast ; both lacked the wonted abundance-both were, in some in- stances, reduced to the point of starvation. There was a public calamity in the land, and not unlike the famine in the days of David, (2 Sam. 31); the indigent suffered greatly. In addition to their pressing wants, Indian hos- tilities having commenced, the fear of being murdered by the Indians, cast a deep gloom over the face of the country. They felt it as a merited rebuke of heaven for their excesses. "For about the 20th of October, 1755, the news was received at Lancaster, that the French and

country. Congress appointed him, February 6, 1778, as one of the auditors for the army under General Washington. He was also aid-de-camp to Gen. Green. The following letter from Washington, to Congress, speaks of Clark's character :

Head Quarters, Valley Forge, Jan. 2, 1778.

I take the liberty of introducing Gen. John Clark, the bearer of this, to your notice. He entered the service at the com- mencement of the war, and has for some time past acted as aid-de-camp to Major General Green. He is active, sensible, and enterprising, and has rendered me great services since the enemy has been in Pennsylvania, by procuring me constant, and certain intelligence of the motives and intentions of the enemy. It is somewhat uncertain whether the state of his health will admit of his remaining in the military line; if it should, I shall perhaps have occasion to recommend him in a more particular manner to the favor of Congress at a future time. At present, I can assure, that if you should, while he remains at York, have any occasion for his services, you will find him not only willing, but very capable of executing any of your commands. Respectfully,

GEO. WASHINGTON.

At the close of the Revolution, Clark resumed the practice of law at York. He died December 27, 1819.

301

LANCASTER COUNTY.

Indians had massacred and scalped many of the inhabi- tants, not more than forty miles above Harris's Ferry, (Harrisburg). About forty-five persons from Paxton immediately proceeded to the spot, where they found fourteen bodies shockingly mangled, which they in- terred." At Reading, October 22, 1755, says Conrad Weiser, the people are in a great consternation, coming down, leaving their plantations and corn behind them; twenty-five persons, men, women and children, killed, scalped and carried away on the 16th October; thirteen killed, who were men, and elderly women, and one child; the rest being young women and children carried away; a house burnt up. Many had been alarmed before.

The defeat of Braddock's army, July 9, 1755, threw the inhabitants into the utmost consternation. "All the females and children of the settlements, at Wright's Ferry, numbering about thirty, were removed to Phila- delphia, where they spent the winter. They occupied a house in Chestnut street, which has since been pulled down to make room for the Arcade. The men only remained."*

Toward the close of the year, 1755, a large number of French neutrals were transported from Nova Scotia into the different English provinces of America; and many of these unfortunate persons, men, women and children, destitute of means to support themselves, were thrown into Lancaster county, and became a public charge to the inhabitants.

While preparations were making on the part of Eng- land to carry on the war against the French, in 1755, an expedition was undertaken against Nova Scotia, under · the command of Colonel Monckton. The expedition

*D. Goheen.

302

HISTORY OF

proved successful, and the French forces in Nova Scotia were vanquished. "A question then arose how the French inhabitants should be disposed of. They had called themselves neutrals; but some of them were found in arms, and they had, as appeared, supplied the French with arms, and thus seven thousand of them were distressed in consequence of a few taking up arms. The rest were peaceable, industrious, pious and frugal people. A proposal was made to such of them as had not borne arms, to remain in possession of their lands, upon condition that they would take the oath of alle- giance to the British Government, without qualification ; this they refused; for they might then have been com- pelled to take up arms against their own kindred and Indian neighbors, which they deemed a flagrant abuse of a former right : for by the treaty of Utrecht, 1713, they were permitted to retain their lands, on taking the oath of allegiance to their new sovereign, Queen Anne, with the gratification that they should not be compelled to bear arms against their Indian neighbors, or their countrymen, the French; and this immunity was, at subsequent periods, assured to their children. On refusing to take the proposed oath of allegiance, their property was destroyed, and they were transported and distributed among the several British Colonies. Some of them were thrown on the public charge of this county."

Their condition was unenviable-deplorable indeed .- From a pathetic address, drawn up by themselves, to his most excellent Majesty, King of Great Britain, we learn that the miseries they endured were great. "The miseries," said they, "we have endured since our depar- ture from Nova Scotia, cannot be sufficiently expressed, being reduced for a livelihood to toil and labor in a southern climate, so disagreeable to our constitutions,

303

LANCASTER COUNTY.

that most of us have been prevented by sickness from procuring the necessary subsistence for our families; and therefore are threatened with that which we esteem the greatest aggravation of all our suffering, even of having our children forced from us and bound out to strangers, and exposed to contagious distempers unknown in our native country. This, compared with the affluence we enjoyed, shows our condition to be extremely wretched. We have already seen in the province of Pennsylvania, two hundred and fifty of our people, perish through miseries and various diseases."

This memorial, says Halyburton, in his History of Nova Scotia, had not the effect of procuring them redress ; they were left to undergo their punishment in exile, and to mingle with the population among whom they were distributed.

In this county, the citizens petitioned the Legislature for the passage of an Act to disperse the inhabitants of Nova Scotia, thrown upon them. An Act was passed March 5, 1756, by which Calvin Cooper, James Webb and Samuel Le Fevre, were appointed to carry its several provisions into execution. The Act empowered and required them, or a majority of them, or their sur- vivors, and enjoined it, that within twenty days after the passage of the Act, to order and appoint the disposition of the inhabitants of Nova Scotia imported and per- mitted to be landed, in such manner and proportions as to them appeared most equitable under certain limita- tions, to have regard to such lands and plantations, or other employment as they might procure for them towards maintaining themselves and families, and there- by easing the province of the heavy charge of support- ing them. The act further provided in these words :- " And for the more effectual settling and employing said

304

HISTORY OF

inhabitants, it was enacted that the overseers of the poor of the several townships of Lancaster county were required and enjoined to accept of, provide for, and receive into their respective townships such of the Nova Scotians, as were to be allotted, and sent into their town- ships, by an order under the hands and seals of at least two of the above named persons; provided, that not more than one family was allotted to the care of the overseers of the poor of any one township. They were to secure them employment, as was most suitable to the circumstances of the families and persons allotted, and appointed for their respective townships, as directed .- The overseers were directed to keep just and true ac- counts of all such unavoidable charges and expenses as might have accrued; which accounts were directed to be transmitted under oath, or affirmed, to the persons nominated.

Those who had been bred to farming, farms at a rea- sonable rate, were to be rented for them, and some small assistance was to be afforded them toward settlement thereof. The commissioners were authorized to pur- chase or procure such stock or utensils of husbandry for making settlements, provided the supplies allotted to any single family did not exceed in the whole ten pounds .- The expenses incurred were to be defrayed and paid out of the money given to the King's use by an Act of Assembly.

Their condition was such as to make it necessary for the Assembly to pass another Act, January 18, 1757 :- "Whereas it has been found by experience that the Act of March 4, 1756, has not answered the good intentions of the Legislature of uniting them with his Majesty's loyal subjects by granting the said inhabitants of Nova Scotia equal privileges and immunities with the inhabi-

305

LANCASTER COUNTY.

tants and settlers of the province, and the grievous bur- dens of maintaining them in the manner hitherto used is greater than the good people of this province, under their present distressed circumstances, are well able to bear, and for as much as there are numbers of children among them whose real advantage and interest it would un- doubtedly prove to be brought up in industry and fru- gality, and bound out to learn husbandry, or some other profitable art, whereby they might become reputable inhabitants, entitled to the rights of the British subjects, and their parents thereby eased of the charge of their maintenance as well as the public, which by proper care may be in a good degree relieved from the present heavy expenses."

It was enacted that the overseers of the poor of the townships in which the Nova Scotians were dispersed, were required and enjoined within two months of the passage of the Act, or as soon afterwards as convenient, by and with the consent and approbation of one or more justices of the peace to bind out, such of the children of the Nova Scotians, whose parents or friends were not capable to maintain them, or neglected otherwise to pro- vide for them, to kind masters and mistresses, on the best terms they could obtain; on condition the children were taught to read and write the English language, and such reputable and profitable occupations as would ena- ble them to support themselves at the expiration of the term of apprenticeship; males were to be bound out till twenty-one; females till eighteen.

Further provision was also made for those, who, by reason of age, impotence, or any bodily infirmity, were rendered incapable to maintain themselves, that they were provided for, and maintained, as other poor of the town- ship; but at the charge of the province.

26*

306

HISTORY OF

We doubt not, there may some of the descendants of the French neutrals, reside in the county. Vestiges of them remained in Philadelphia for a long time. "They refused," says Gordon, speaking of those in Philadel- phia, "for a long time to labor, but, finally, settled in low huts, in a quarter of the town, where a vestige continued until the year 1800."

Those who were carried to Baltimore, soon found means to become proprietors of much of the ground on South Charles street, and erected thereon their habitations, which long bore the name of French town. Many of the French descendants of the old French neutrals, are still there.

NOTES .-- October 20, 1749, the Annual Synod of the German Reformed church, met for the first time in Lancaster. Rev. Bartholomaeus, V. D. M. preached the Synodical sermon. - The number of German reformed ministers in America was small in 1749; these were John Philip Boehm, George Michael Weiss, P. B. Rieger, Jacob Lischy, formerly a Moravian, Rev. Bartholomaeus, John Philip Leydich, Michael Schlatter, missionary from Holland, two on probation, Conrad Temple- man, at Swatara, J. C. Wirts, at Sacany, and two students lately from Europe, David Marinus, and Jonathan Du Bois.

January 27th, 1749-50, Cumberland county was erected- March 11th, 1752, Berks was erected-June 1 and 2, 1750, se- vere fro: t-ice in many places-rye and corn injured.

Governor Pownall in Lancaster in 1754 :- " I took the road from Philadelphia to Wright's Ferry, on the Susquehanna .- Lancaster is a growing town, and making money-a manu- factory in Here of guns-it is a stage town-500 houses-2,000 inhabitants. Between Lancaster and Wright's Ferry, I saw the finest farm one can possible conceive, in the highest culture ; it belong. to a Switzer. Here it was, I saw the method of wa- tering meadows by cutting troughs in the side of the hill for the springs to run in; the waterrunsoverthe sides and waters whole ground .- Pownall's Journal.

307

LANCASTER COUNTY.

Lancaster county had, for half a century, been celebrated for the manfacture of guns. This business was successfully carried on by John Fondersmith, a European, who located at Strasburg, in 1749, where, assisted by one of his sons, he made "defensive arms" for the Revolutionary patriots.

The late Dr. Eberle's father-a peerless genius in steel and iron-a natural mechanic-manufactured bayonets, during the Revolution, not inferior to the damask blade.

Peter Schaub, of Lancaster county, setting forth to the Assembly, that when the forces under Col. Dunbar were at Lancaster, on their way to Philadelphia, a considerable num- ber of horses and cattle belonging to them were put into his meadow, and kept there for two days, whereby the greatest part of the grass was destroyed, required compensation for damages sustained; Jacob Myers and others valued the damages at £11, 7s. The Assembly considered the petition, September 19th, 1755. John Brubaker presented a similar petition ; his damages were £8, 6s .*

Col. Dunbar was an officer under Edward Braddock, who met with a fatal reproof, July 9th, 1755, near Pittsburg, for his overweening confidence and reckless temerity.

Members of Assembly for Lancaster county, for 1743 :- Anthony Shaw, Arthur Patterson, Thomas Lindly, John Wright -in 1744: James Mitchell, John Wright, Arthur Patterson, Samuel Blunston-in 1745 and 1746: John Wright, James Mitchell, Arthur Patterson, James Wright-in 1747 and 1748: John Wright, Arthur Patterson, James Webb, Peter Worrall.

«Votes of Assembly.

308

HISTORY OF

CHAPTER V.

Moravian community at Litiz-Zinzendorf in Lancaster-Application to the conference at Bethlehem-Commencement of Litiz-Parsonage built-School House removed-Rev. B. A. Grube-Present condition, or state of Litiz; Improvements; Church, and consecration of it, &c .- List of the names of Pastors-Schools and names of Teachers-Brother and Sister Houses-The grave yard-The spring-Population, mechanics, &c.

THE Moravians, those who embraced the views of Count Zinzendorf, of whom a passing notice has been given in a preceding page, commenced the formation of a community, in this county, about the year 1755 or 56, at LIFIZ, eight miles north of the city, of which we shall give a detailed account. The subject is interesting .*

To give a full account of this village, and the first settlement of the Moravians in Lancaster county, we shall begin with the year 1743. It happened, in that year, that Count Zinzendorf, the patron of the renewed church of the United Brethren or Moravians, who being persecuted in Saxony, by such as disliked his attempts to form Christian communities, which were not to be governed by the established church government of that Kingdom, directed his attention and Christian eye to Pennsylvania, where, at a previous period, a great num- ber of German Separatists had emigrated; accordingly, he visited Pennsylvania, and believing that his visit might be rendered more profitable, if he could succeed in uniting many of these emigrated Christians, who differed in some particular points, he set out on his tour through Pennsylvania, and whenever he had an oppor-

*This article has been furnished by a member of the Mora- vian Society of Litiz.

305

LANCASTER COUNTY.

Further provision was also made for those, who, by reason of age, impotence, or any. bodily infirmity, were rendered incapable to maintain themselves, that they were provided for, and maintained, as other poor of the town- ship; but at the charge of the province.

26*

306

HISTORY OF

NOTES .- October 20, 1749, the Annual Synod of the German Reformed church, met for the first time in Lancaster. Rev. Bartholomaeus, V. D. M. preached the Synodical sermon. - The number of German reformed ministers in America was small in 1749; these were John Philip Boehm, George Michael Weiss, P. B. Rieger, Jacob Lischy, formerly a Moravian, Rev. Bartholomaeus, John Philip Leydich, Michael Schlatter, missionary from Holland, two on probation, Conrad Temple- man, at Swatara, J. C. Wirts, at Sacany, and two students lately from Europe, David Marinus, and Jonathan Du Bois.

January 27th, 1749-50, Cumberland county was erected- March 11th, 1752, Berks was erected-June 1 and 2, 1750, se- vere frost-ice in many places-rye and corn injured.

Governor Pownall in Lancaster in 1754 :- " I took the road from Philadelphia to Wright's Ferry, on the Susquehanna .- Lancaster is a growing town, and making money-a manu- factory is here of guns-it is a stage town-500 houses-2,000 inhabitants. Between Lancaster and Wright's Ferry, I saw the finest farm one can possible conceive, in the highest culture ; it belongs to a Switzer. Here it was, I saw the method of wa- tering meadows by cutting troughs in the side of the hill for the springs to run in; the water runs overthe sides and waters whole ground .- Pownall's Journal.

307

LANCASTER COUNTY.

The late Dr. Eberle's father-a peerless genius in steel and iron-a natural mechanic-manufactured bayonets, during the Revolution, not inferior to the damask blade.

Col. Dunbar was an officer under Edward Braddock, who met with a fatal reproof, July 9th, 1755, near Pittsburg, for his overweening confidence and reckless temerity.

Members of Assembly for Lancaster county, for 1743 :- Anthony Shaw, Arthur Patterson, Thomas Lindly, John Wright -in 1744: James Mitchell, John Wright, Arthur Patterson, Samuel Blunston-in 1745 and 1746; John Wright, James Mitchell, Arthur Patterson, James Wright-in 1747 and 1748: John Wright, Arthur Patterson, James Webb, Peter Worrall.

*Votes of Assembly.

308

HISTORY OF

CHAPTER V.

THE Moravians, those who embraced the views of Count Zinzendorf, of whom a passing notice has been given in a preceding page, commenced the formation of a community, in this county, about the year 1755 or 56, at LITIZ, eight miles north of the city, of which we shall give a detailed account. The subject is interesting .*

*This article has been furnished by a member of the Mora- vian Society of Litiz.

311

LANCASTER COUNTY.

spring of that year, Mr. Geogre Kline had built a large two story stone house for a residence, which, however, he occupied but a short period, as he moved to Bethle- hem, where he ended his life. This house stands to this day, and is found in the central part of the village, and according to it, the main street has been located, and which causes, that it does not run due east or west.

In 1757, the village was laid out by the Rev. Na- thaniel Seidel, and Mr. John Reuter, who were sent from Bethlehem for that purpose, and the name of Litiz was given to it, in memory of a village in Bohemia, from which the forefathers of the United Brethren had emi- grated. * * The same religious basis was then given to all the future proceedings of the United Breth- ren, in Litiz, which is characteristic of all their settle- ments, in Europe and in this country, and accordingly, the Brother and Sister Houses, of which we shall say more hereafter, were built in the years, 1758 and 1759.

In 1761, the present Parsonage was built, and the greater part of the upper story was dedicated for a place of worship. It was provided with a small organ, and the walls were adorned with a number of beautiful oil paintings ; the works of the celebrated Hayd, represent- ing all the most remarkable scenes of our Saviour's life. In this Hall, the congregation worshiped until the 13th of August, 1787, wken the present church, of which we shall say more hereafter, was consecrated for spiritual services.

In 1762, the Warwick church and school house, of which we spoke above, was removed into the village, to serve as a dwelling and school house for the teacher, who had the charge of the school for such children as did not belong to the Society. In those days, schools were not as numerous as in our day, and there was not

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Lancaster and York Counties, Part 21

Author: Rupp, Israel Daniel Publication date: 1845 Publisher: Gilbert Hills Number of Pages: 734

Author: Rupp, Israel Daniel
Publication date: 1845
Publisher: Gilbert Hills
Number of Pages: 734