USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 28
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 28
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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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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.
After the Declaration, the magistrates who held appointments under the royal authority declined serving longer ; the business of the courts was suspended. Our citizens were left for a while without any constitutional government. In this state of things a committee of safety in Philadelphia undertook the management of affairs, under the unassuming name of recommendations, prescribed to the people of the state."
" On Monday the 15th of July, 1776, a convention for forming the constitution of Pennsylvania, met at Phila- delphia, and elected Benjamin Franklin, president ; col- onel George Ross, vice president; John Morris, secre- tary, and Jacob Garrigues, assistant secretary. The dele- gates from Lancaster county, were George Ross, Philip, Marsteller, Thomas Porter, Bartram Galbraith, Joseph Sherer, John Hubley, Henry Slaymaker and Alexander Lowrey. The convention, after framing the first consti- tution of the State of Pennsylvania, adjourned the 28th September .*
#Several of the provinces had adopted state constitutions before and after Pennsylvania. New Hampshire adopted the
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As soon as this convention was organized, it assumed the powers of the committee of safety-the political power of the state. One of its first acts was the appoint- ment of delegates to Congress. The delegates were, Messrs. Franklin, Morton, Morris, Wilson, George Ross, James Smith, Benjamin Rush, George Clymer and Geo. Taylor.
Pennsylvania made prodigious exertions, in co-opera- ting with the allied colonies, fully to meet the hostilities. Several regiments were raised and equipped in Lancaster county. "It is believed, had all the other provinces done as much in proportion to their ability,* and the men been first state constitution, January 5, 1776 ; South Carolina, March 24, 1776 ; Virginia, June 29, 1776; New Jersey, July 2, 1776; Maryland, August 14, 1776 ; Pennsylvania, September, 1776; Delaware, September, 1776 ; North Carolina, December, 1776; New York, April, 1777 ; Massachusetts, March, 1770; Vermont, July 4, 1786; Georgia, May, 1789.
The first constitution of Pennsylvania of 1776, was altered and amended by a convention, held at Philadelphia in Novem- ber, 1789. Delegates from Lancaster county were Edward Hand, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, William Atlee, John Hubley, and John Breckbill. This convention framed the second constitution. Another convention was held at Harris- burg, in the spring and summer of 1837. Met May 2- after two month's session, it afterwards met at Philadelphia. The present or third constitution of Pennsylvania, was framed by this convention. Delegates from Lancaster county were Wil- liam Hiester, James Porter, Jeremiah Brown, Lindley Coates, R. E. Cochran, Joseph Konighmacher, Henry G. Long, Emanuel C. Reigart.
A convention commenced at Philadelphia, November 20, 1787, for the purpose of taking into consideration the consti- tution framed by the federal convention for the United States. The delegates from Lancaster county were Stephen Chambers, Robert Coleman, Sebastian Graff, John Hubley, Jasper Yeates, and John Whitehill.
*Graydon's Mem. 116.
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enlisted in war, the Americans might have avoided the hair-breadth escapes which ensued,"* as well as the long continued, arduous conflict of eight years, and an enor- mous sum of expense, besides saving many valuable lives, in delivering themselves from a foreign dominion, „and gaining, as they did, a rank among the nations of the earth. Much treasure, and many lives might have been saved. Great Britain expended more than one hundred millions of dollars, with a hundred thousand lives, and won nothing. America expended rising of ninety millions of dollars, and lost many lives, and endured cruelty and distress.
Lancaster county furnished its full quota of militia and continentals, during the Revolution. Her citizens acted early and efficiently. "Prior to the four regiments of St. Clair, Shee, Wayne and Magaw, that of De Haas, and Hand's rifle company, were already raised and equipped, respectively commanded by Miles and Atlee, in the whole, nine regiments complete and very reputably officered."
Numerous are the incidents, and some full of adven- ture, which happened in this county during the Revolu- tion. Gen. Washington, and other distinguished Ameri- can and British officers were in the borough of Lancaster at the period referred to. Though neither battles, nor skirmishes took place within the limits of the county, the wounded and prisoners here were many. At the battle and cannonading of Trenton, December 26, 1776, many of
*The quota furnished by Pennsylvania from 1775 to 1783, consisted of 7357 militia and 22,198 continentals. The aggre- gate quota by all the states was 234,971 continentals and 56,- 163 militia-total 279,134. In the year 1776, Pennsylvania fur- nished 5,519 continentals and 4,876 militia-total 10,395.
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the Hessians,* prisoners taken there, were conveyed to Lancaster borough.
American soldiers were quartered at the barracks and other parts of the county during the winter of '77 and '78. Both the Lutheran and Reformed church at Man- heim were quartered with soldiers. When the battle of Brandywine was fought, September 11th, 1777, many of the wounded soldiers were conveyed to Ephrata, where about one hundred and fifty of their number, which was rising of five hundred, died.
While General Washington took winter quarters, Gen- eral Wayne encamped in this county, in Mountjoy town- ship, where his men endured no small degree of suffering, as appears from the following letters, from the General to his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq., at Lancaster :
*In 1775, the British King entered into treaties with some of the German princes for about seventeen thousand men, who were sent to America early in 1776, to assist in subduing the colonies. Among these were the Hessians, who had been taken at Trenton and conveyed as prisoners to Lancaster. At the close of the Revolution many of them remained and in- termarried with German and English families, whose descend- ants are respectable, and some of the best citizens,
In September, 1843, we visited one of the German mercene- ries, living at Millport, Warwick township; a Mr. Jacob Ha- genberger, who according to his own statement, was born March 3d, 1750, arrived at Quebeck, March 5, 1775. He belonged to Captain Schachter's company ; he was taken prisoner at the surrender of General Burgoyne, October 17, 1777; taken to the barracks near Boston, thence to Winchester, Virginia, thence to Reading, and lastly to Lancaster, where, on the close of the war, he was sold for eighty dollars, for the term of nearly three years to Captain Jacob Zimmerman, of Earl township. Hagenberger is now in his 94th year. His health is good and memory remarkable.
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To his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq.
Mountjoy, 28th Dec., 1777 .*
Dear sir :- I was favored with yours of the 12th instant, but the enemy being then out, prevented me from acknowledging it sooner.
I can't help expressing both surprise and concern, at the councils directing the clothing collected in this state into the hands of the Clothier general- especially after being informed that the other states were collecting clothing for the use of their troops; clothing for the Eastern troops has actually arrived-they are now com- fortable, whilst ours are perishing.
His excellency is also informed that Governor Henry of Virginia, has ordered on clothing for the troops of that state, which he expects every hour.
Thus sir, whilst other states are exerting every power (under a resolve of Congress) to provide for their own troops only-you are following the generous course of providing for the whole-this sir, is being generous out of time-it is an old adage, that a man ought to be just, before he can be permitted to be generous-the case applies in full force here. Supply the immediate wants of your own troops first-then give scope to your generosity.
Enclosed is an estimate of the cost of 650 suits of uniform, which Mr. Zantzinger has provided for the troops of that state. He is in great want of money. I
Secretary's Office, Harrisburg, Oct. 11, 1843.
Mr. I. D. Rupp-Sir: Your letter of the 9th instant was re- ceived, and in reply I would inform you that it appears from the letters you mentioned, that General Wayne had his camp at Mountjoy, in Lancaster county, during the winter of 1777 and 1778:
Very respectfully, yours,
CHAS. M'CLURE.
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wish you would assist him to the cash he wants, and to take some effectual method to clothe the troops in the best, speediest, and neatest manner possible. Lest you should be under a deception with regard to the mode in which the clothing in the hands of the Clothier general is dis- tributed, I am to inform you that they are delivered in proportion to their wants (or in plain English) to the number of men in each regiment throughout the army.
Judge how far inadequate our proportion must be to. our wants, whilst the troops from other states have an equal dividend in addition to their other supplies.
At this inclement season, one third of our troops are totally destitute of either shoes, stockings, shirts or blankets,* so that unless they receive an immediate supply of those necessary articles, sickness, death and. desertion will be the inevitable consequence.
I am your excellency's most ob't humble serv't,
ANT'Y WAYNE, B. G.
I have directed Mr. Zantzinger to call on you for money. I wish you to order the clothier general to esti- mate the price of the clothing, which, agreeable to a resolve of Congress is to be in proportion to the pay of the officers and men-the states to be at the loss of the surplus. A. W.
To his excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esq., President of Pennsylvania, Lancaster ..
Camp Mountjoy, February, 1778.
Dear sir :- Enclosed is a list of the officers sent on the
. *1777, 2d May, Bartram Galbraith, James Crawford, Adam Ordt, Robert Thompson, Joshua Elder, Christopher Crawford, William Atlee, John Hubley, Alexander Lowry, Curtis Grubb, Philip Marsteller, Matthias Slough and Adam Reigart, were appointed by the war-office, to supply the army with blankets, &c. for Lancaster county, Pa.
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recruiting service from my division who, you will see by the within instructions, are directed to wait on your ex- cellency for recruiting orders. I wish they may meet with that success that the exigence of the case requires, but I fear that nothing short of a draft will save America ; however the effect of a total prohibition of the substitute business ought first to be tried. I flatter myself that when the people (who used to hire themselves as substitutes) once find that no more hundred dollars can be had in that way, that they will enlist in the line of the continent.
But I am confident that they never will whilst any idea is held up of a family substitute, for it is only hiring a man to-day, and he may be sent to-morrow as substitute belonging to my family.
Will you, and the honorable Council, use your influence with the House of Assembly to put this substitute busi- ness totally out of the question, for believe me that the salvation of this State depends upon the exertions that may be made during the winter towards filling the con- tinental regiment.
I wish you to order all such recruits as may be enlisted, to be completely uniformed before they leave Lancaster. I also wish that no more cloth be made up in coats unless it be blue ; but that all the rest be made into over-alls and vests, except such colors as will admit of being dyed blue. The Virginians have received blue cloth sufficient for to uniform the whole of their troops, so that I fear we shall be eclipsed by all the other states, unless we take some pains to give our soldiers an elegant uniform ; for I do lay it down as a position that the best dressed troops will ever be both the healthiest and bravest with equal discipline and regimen.
The Clothier general informed me when I was at Lan-
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caster, that there were shirts plenty at camp; I find he was mistaken, for although some hundreds of our poor worthy fellows have not a single rag of a shirt, (but are obliged to wear their waistcoats next their skins, and to sleep in them at night,) I have not been able to draw a single shirt from the store; for the want of which our men are falling sick in numbers every day-contracting vermin, and dying in hospitals, in a condition shocking to humanity, and horrid in idea ; for God's sake procure a quantity for me, if you strip the Dutchmen for them- which I beg your order to camp, together with such other clothing as may be ready, with all possible despatch,
Interim, I am your excellency's most obedient
And very humble servant,
ANT'Y WAYNE.
To his excellency Thomas Wharton, Esq, Lancaster : Mountjoy, 27th March, 1776.
Dear sir :- It's at last concluded to throw the Pennsyl- vania troops into one division, after reducing them to ten regiments, which I believe will be as many as we can fill. I have but little hopes of being supplied with many recruits, unless the officers in the back counties meet with more success than those in Philadelphia and Chester; an officer from the latter came in yesterday, after being out five weeks, without a single recruit.
I would beg leave to suggest the expediency of em- ploying a greater number of officers on that business in Berks, Lancaster, York and Cumberland counties, as the most likely places to meet with success. I fear all our exertions in this way will fall far short of our wishes, and that nothing but a draft will be adequate to the business.
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