USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 27
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 27
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387
LANCASTER COUNTY.
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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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.
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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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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HISTORY OF
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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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 Jami- son. In Rapho-James Patterson, Jacob Haldeman, Jo- seph Litle. In Upper Paxtang-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, cleven o'clock.
Thursday, November 9th, 1775. The committee met according to adjournment.
Present, ·
The same members who attended yesterday, and
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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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 publie 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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LANCASTER COUNTY.
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.
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