USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 38
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 38
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David Wiley Jacob Sehner G Sehner Josiah Devish Clement B Grubb Michael Malone Anthony McGlinn John Kauffman Philip Benedict Felix P Devlin Wm W Morrows Henry Kinzer, East
Strasburg
Catharine Eicholts Daniel Burgert James Regan Mrs H A M'Lenegan Henry Hines Bernard Huber John Maguire Bernard Flynn George Rees Henry Flick John Young, Columbia
William Hensel John H Pearsol John F Shroder David Reese William Yerger
J G Hathaway BP Miller D W Patterson Henry M White Andrew McGinnis George Sener John Flick Henry B Good, Colum- bia
James Warren, jr. M D Strasburg W C Bradley, Lebanon county
Mich'I Horst, Rapho tp. Benjamin Grosh, do
John Shaub, Lampeter
Benj M Frick do
A W Baldwin do
John McLeod do
George H Miller do Abraham Leman do John Conklin, Rapho Abraham Cassel do Martin Blymire do Henry Gurce, Lampeter John Young, Columbia George P Luttman do William Mathiot do .
Brecknock tp.
Samuel Bowman
Daniel Polm
Daniel. Sensenig William Sneader
Isaac Messner William Lupole Ephraim Shober Frederick Ream
Philip Von Neida Chr'n Schneder jr Daniel Bowman Samuel Fox
George Zeller
Richard Davis
Samuel McColm
East Earl tp.
Huston Goshen Henry Yundt Daniel S Geist Davis Wallace
Eckert Sheafer Stephen Kurtz
John L Neff John Jacobs jr John Martin Peter Good .. Peter Stauffer Michael Sensenig George Wallace David Witmer Samuel D Patton Edward S Francis Henry W Hess Joshua Mitchell Jacob F Shofer Amos K Bower George Witwer John McCartney
J B Good W Boyd John Kreider Amos S Kinzer
W B Young John Weaver
Henry Martin
Henry Martin, miller
€
Christian D Schnader John Shirk Samuel Watts John Hurst John Newpher David Martin John Weaver
Levi Weiler
John Staufer
A E Roberts
Allen Yundt Isaac Winters, M D
John W Meckley
Henry M Weaver
Jacob Weaver
John Souders
Jas Lee & Wm Rodgers
William Burkholder William Eynso
John Faustenauer
Abraham Morrow
David Albright
Daniel Epler Solomon Fair Isaac Johnston
-
Henry Shirk William E Ranek
Joseph Gear
Levi Edwards
526
HISTORY OF
William Furgerson John Davies Davies Ranck John Becher John A MeLaughlin Samuel E Ranck David Grosh William Stuukard John Lightner Henry Ranck
Joseph Jones
Peter Ream Amos Diller
Benj Bear
John Mentzer
John Miller
David Hoover
Jeremiah Ranck
Michael Good
Mary Ann Rudy
Simon Nagel
John W Mills
Emanuel E Gates
John Dick
John Brimmer
John Ranck
Solomon Martin
Daniel Rife
Martin Meyer jr
Christian Musselman
Levi Rhoads, Leacock
Mark Connel
Henry Haverstick
Gabriel Balmer
Henry Slouch, teacher.
George F Dosh
Benjamin Wenger
Samuel Wenger
Roland Diller
W Hiester
Michael Diffenderfer
C F Groff, M D
David Stone
George Reed, Esq
Samuel Rupp
David Groff
John G Wenger
Eli J Smith Isaac Good
Jacob Sheaffer
James Vogan
Epinger Cake
Seth G Burkholder
Christian Oberholtzer.
John Sheaffer
Levi Bard
George Byerle
John Sheaffer
Henry Bard
Daniel Bitzer
Danicl Kemper
Abraham Sleugh Isaac Vogan John Vogan M S Groff Adam L Harting
Isaac M Weaver. Christian S Hoffman John Petershine
John Hunsberger George S Deitrick Elias Zuck Amos Reiter David Waid Abraham Harting
West Earl tp.
J W GroffEsq John Moore,
Henry Reemsnyder
Christian Wenger
Christian Garber, M D
F Garber, coachmaker Jacob Zook
Levi Carpenter
1
Peter Kafroth
David Good
Henry Grebill
John Johns
Daniel Becher Solomon Parmer David Bear Esaias E Ellmaker
Samuel Lutz Mary Grabill
John R Rutter
Solomon Sheafer Abraham Groff Cyrus Bear Abraliam Clowner John How
Peter S Eshleman
John Coffroad John Killhefner William Boyer Adam Weitzel Henry Mehring Jacob Uner
Richard Goshen
John W Luther M D
Solomon Weaver John C Loser
Solomon Diller Michael Rowland John Sonsenig Martin Buchwalter
|Henry Musser Lewis Bowers Samuel Holl
Gideon Howder John Howder William Diller Nancy Rhoades Samucl Weaver John Gansman Jsaac Overly Jacob Ranck Abrabam Rutt George Harkey Gabriel Davis John W Sheaffer Solomon Diffenderfer Col Henry Brimmer Caroline T Kinzer Abraham Royer Jacob Brown Peter Diller
Leacock ip.
Jacob Holl ; Isaac C Weidler. M D Amos Weidler Levi E Kinzer
Mahlon Ruth Phebe A Dehaven
Naomi Azoline Diller William Kinzer Isaac Smoker Isaac Hoover
Samuel Grabill
William Gabel William Miller
Joseph Hoover
Henry Rowland
David Shultz
Henry A Shultz John R Brubaker
David Groff Eckert Myers
527
LANCASTER COUNTY.
Rev Samuel Trumbaur G Bryan & S Vonder- saal Mark Connell jr Jolın . Buck walter Isaac B Weidler Emanuel Weidler Washington Simmons Isaac L Bear William Fritz Henry Barton Emanuel Keremes George Mearig John Bard jr Peter Vandersaal Jacob Vandersaal Jacob Brubacher Isaac Kling Abraham Sheibly Samuel Stafford Samuel Ranck Samuel Weidler Andrew Kolb Henry Weidler John F Lcahman Andrew Bard Daniel Bard Lewis Sheaffer Sam'l & Israel Fink Isaac & Abr'm Johns Reuben Weidler William Weidman Esq Adam Bare Samuel W Beecher John Bender Samuel. Cassel, teacher Andrew Bare Samuel Ranck Christian Kennel Roland Wenger John Miller - Joseph Miller Esq Amos Rutter Peter Kling Jacob K Eckert Samuel Cowen jr Daniel S Eaby Daniel Groff Peter Boffemmeyer Solomon Groff Jacob Bard, Lampeter Joseph Wenger James Lytle Elias Bare
ĮChristian Landis Benjamin Stauffer Jacob Coughnour Jonas Buckwalter Abrahanı Gibbons Jacob Steman
Conestoga tp.
Abner Rohrer, shoem'kr Jacob Fehl John Warfel
J E Mellinger
Martin Light
Isaac Heiney
Christian R Herr
Michael John's
Jolın Mecartney
John Charles
Daniel & Benj'n Con- rad, blacksmiths
Jacob Charles, merch'nt Chr'n Yordy, weaver B Snavely, blacksmith Andrew Mehaffey, tax collector Johh Charles jr David Meyers, farmer George Kreider . Amos Mylin John Harman
Christian R Sterneman Maris Hoopes Christian Forrer Henry R Musselman Abraham Charles Michael McMillan Christian Warfel Benjamin Sourbeer John Dailey P S Clinger M D Christian Shenk , Samuel Crossen
David P Sterneman Abrier Miller Daniel Harnish Amos Miller Elizabeth Miller Abraham Kendig Daniel W How John Martin
Sadsbury tp. William Noble
Henry Bear Samuel L Denney Elijah Lewis Caleb C Hood E P Irwin
Isaac Rodgers Andrew Watkins James J Brinton John Boon David H Agnews John Jones
Benjamin Skeen
William Thornton
Lewis Skeen
William T Carr Sprowl Knotc James Wright John H Mecawley
Alvin White, Strasburg Slater C Moore
W Easton Thomas McClure Thomas Withrow William Boyd John Fite Abraham Musketnus Joscph Powel Hesekiah Clemmans John Williams
Martic tp.
John W Rawlins John Peoples Leonard Null jr Martin Smith James H Pagan Stewart McMullen David Creamer
Hugh O Neil Rev J C Owens Samuel Herr Henry Strohm Benjamin Hess John Hess David Hoble Benjamin Gochenour John Winter Benjamin Barr Daniel Bleacher ¡Henry Good James Stence James Kelly John Spence jr
528
HISTORY OF
John Corran H L Thompson, teacher Stephen Owens Josiah Burgess Geo W Smithson Henry Fisher James W Walker Geo Horn Jesse Engles - Washington Travis W Morris Woods Thomas Wentz David W Scott R B McAllister Esq John Elliot Benjamin Miller John F Anderson Geo Dunkle Jolın Rawlins Daniel M Dunkle Christian Cramerjr Jacob Huber Henry Stoek, merchant Rev Henry Bowman Abraham Miller Jacob Miller, miller William McCreary John K Rohrer · Samuel Forrey
Colerain tp.
Robt B Cabean Maria Marshall David Burnite James W Andrews
James Elwell James Brown Andrew B Magough Wincent King James W Paxson Joseph Walker Joseph Paxson James Richardson
Samnel McCowmon John Clark John Clendenin Robert Hodgson Benjamin Swayne jr Samuel Pennock Aaron Foulk
Benjamin Kent William Broseus
Drumore tp. Alexander Gordon M D D Bair Jas C Penny
Valentine Creamer
C M Johnston
George Hammond
George Brown Reuben Alexander William Arnold Charles Stewart William Shanks Stephen B Ails John Wells Jonathan Pritchard E M Pusey
Elwood H Doan
Boyd Mahow & Co Gardner Furness John McSparren Jacob McCall
Washington C Scott John Lynch
John Retzer jr
Thos C McDowell
James Rorkey
William C Westcott Samuel J Davies Jesse McConkey James A Towson Robert Alexander Wesley Fergerson Samuel M Steele Joseph Showalter Cornelius Campbell Joseph Furguson Reuben Reynolds John Hastings Benjamin F Scott Jacob Philips David Lewis A N Landis John Rees Joshua M Deaver M D
Mark Showalter Benjamin Bleacher Edward Wicks Thomas Lewis Levi Somers William Barckley A Dubree Esqr
Bart tp.
Custer Lewis
Jacob Mowrer
James McColgan Jacob Barr
George W Hensel
George Shaub Peter Iboch
Sarah Jane Campbell
Samuel Forrey John Elliot
A Ankrim Morris Cooper
James Calwell
Nathaniel Mills
Caleb Hood
John Funk Asa Walton
William Pickel
Joseph McClure
William P Cooper
Jacob Baughman
William Rakestraw Henry Hess George Whitson
John Matthews, jr George Heidlebaugh
Levi Pierce, jr John Kidd Hugh Donlay James Duncan John Bossler
George Hersh Henry Burd
Joshua Keehn
Abraham Hare
Wm Darlington, West Chester Caleb C Hood
Christian Diffenbach Jsseph Elliot Amos Elliot
Alvin White, Strasburg William Howell
CORRECTION.
In page 445, line 19 from top, read Benjamin Konigmacher, instead of William.
1
HISTORY
OF
YORK COUNTY,
FROM ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED & NINETEEN TO THE PRESENT TIME :
WITH AN
APPENDIX;
TOPOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS,
COMPRISING A GEOLOGICAL SKETCH OF THE COUNTY ; TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, VILLAGES, AND CENSUS OF EACH OF 1840.
COMPILED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES, BY I. DANIEL RUPP, AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF BERKS AND LEBANON COUNTIES, &C., &c., &c.
1
PUBLISHED AND SOLD BY GILBERT HILLS, PROPRIETOR. LANCASTER, PA. 1845.
VRUTPIRY
:
PT
ADVERTISEMENT.
-
In compiling these pages, we availed ourselves of numerous sources in collecting materials. The usual marks of credit have been generally given.
To those gentlemen who have been pleased to furnish original matter, we here return our cordial thanks for favors conferred upon us, by them.
Lancaster, Dec. 1844.
[Several communications, intended for these pages, came too late to hand for insertion.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Penn's Charter-Treaties with the Indians-Dougan's purchase-First Settlements in Lancaster county-Squatters west of the Susque- hanna-John Grist Removed-Border Difficulties-Uneasiness among the Conestoga Indians-Governor Keith visits the Indians -Keith's Survey West of the Susquehanna-Philip Syng claims Keith's Tract-Syng arrested and examined-Keith prevents Mary- landers from making Surveys-Holds a Council with the Indians- Causes Springettsbury Manor to be surveyed-Keith addresses Governor Ogle of Maryland-Copy of Warrant to survey, &c .- The Return by French, Worley and Mitchell, Surveyors. Note .- Springettsbury Manor Re-surveyed-p. 525.
CHAPTER II.
First English settlers west of Susquehanna-These removed by Gov- ernor Gordon-Hendricks and others settle by authority-Policy to induce settlers-Samuel Blunston authorized to grant license, &c. -Maryland intruders-Hendricks and Marshall abducted-lhe no- torious Cressap, threatenings, &c .- With force and arms makes a Survey-Germans seduced-Apply to the government of Pennsyl- vania for protection-Maryland militia, &c .- Governor issues a proclamation to all to preserve the peace-A new scheme-Irish called on to help to remove the Germans from their homes-Far- ther aggressions-Cressap is arrested-Proceedings between the Governor of Pennsylvania and Maryland-The issue -- p. 547.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
Early settlements-Kreutz' creek-Origin of the name-Hendricks &c .- First settlers' simple habits-Plain dress-Want of Shoemak- ers, &c. - First dwellings-Stone houses- Settlement of the Barrens -Whence the appellation-Origin of first settlers-Strict Presby- terians-Revd. Whittlessy-Great improvements, &c .- Generous people -- The Red Lands --- Names of first settlers --- Settled by Quak- ers --- Anecdote --- Digges' choice of Hanover settlement --- Digges lo- cates lands --- The forest --- York and vicinity --- Principal settlements arise from those enumerated --- p. 564.
CHAPTER IV.
First public road from Wright's ferry, &c .- York first laid out-Pub- lic road from York to Smith's land-First public house at York- York at first improves slowly-Causes thereof-Billmayer's, Falk- er's and Schall's case-Clashing interests-First settlers at York, principally Germans-Names of some families-Ministers visit congregations-Influx of Germans great-No lands sold to the Irish -- Many Irish moved to Cumberland --- p. 571.
CHAPTER V.
Erection of York county-Petition presented --- Deferred-Granted --- Act passed -- Court House built --- First Court of General Quarter Sessions --- List of Jurors-Constables --- First county officers --- Sher- . iff's election -- Affray at --- M'Callister elected ; but Hamilton was commissioned --- Overseers of the Poor --- Election for Representa- tives --- Affray at --- The Sheriff before the Assembly -- Is reproved, and advised to keep better order --- French and Indian war --- Inhab- itants of York much alarmed -- Letter to Governor Morris --- Indians commit massacres in York county --- Bard's abduction -- Dunwiddie and Brawford killed --- p. 577.
CHAPTER VI.
Tranquility restored --- Boundary line determined and settled --- Hano- ver laid out-" Rogues Resort," &c .- Difficulties at York-Relief
CONTENTS.
afforded to the Boston sufferers --- Proceedings, &c .--- Donations or contributions from York Town, Germany township, Manheim, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Dover, Fawn, Codorus & Paradise. p. 595.
CHAPTER VII:
The Revolution --- Meeting at York -- Meetings of Committee, &c .--- Companies formed " in York Town --- Address to the Pennsylvania Delegates in Congress -- A company marches to Boston --- Committee of safety and committee of correspondence appointed --- More com- panies formed -- Flying camp -- Officers of companies --- Remarks --- Congress meets at York-Extracts from the proceedings of the Journal, &c .--- Correspondence, &c .--- p. 602.
CHAPTER VIII.
Riot in York Town --- Federal Constitution procession, &c .- Sherif's' election of, in '89-"Chronicles" --- Western insurrection, &c .--- Hail storms -- Fire in the Borough of York --- Doctor Dady and his ac- complices, Rice Williams or Rainsford Rogers, John Hall, &c., in York county --- their trial and conviction --- Lancaster expedition and detection of Dady and others --- p. 628.
CHAPTER IX.
York county reduced in its limits-Warm controversies --- Negro con- spiracy --- Poor house and house of employment erected -- Late war --- Companies from York go to Baltimore --- Cooorus floods --- Flood of 1817; much property destroyed and many lives lost --- Flood of 1822 --- Drought of 1822 -- Storm of 1030 --- p. 648.
CHAPTER X.
Education-Schools among the first settlers --- Luther's views of schools --- Systematic effort to establish schools --- Schools patronised by the English and Quakers -- Penn's views of the importance of education --- York County Academy --- Theological Seminary at York --- Present state education --- Common Schools, &c .--- Note .--- Scheme of educating Germans, and others, in 1775 --- p. 668.
-
1
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Religious History --- the Lutherans --- The German Reformed --- The Presbyterians --- The Episcopalians --- The Moravians -- The German Seventh Day Baptists --- The Roman Catholics --- The Methodists ... The Baptists --- The Evangelical Association --- The Church of God .-- The German Baptists --- The Friends or Quakers --- The Menno- nites --- p. 791. -
5
2
1
-
e
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
7
CHAPTER I.
Penn's Charter-Treaties with the Indians-Dougan's purchase-First Settlements in Lancaster county-Squatters west of the Susque- hanna-John Grist Removed-Border Difficulties-Uneasiness among the Conestoga Indians-Governor Keith visits the Indians -Keith's Survey West of the Susquehanna-Philip Syng claims Keith's Tract-Syng arrested and examined-Keith prevents Mary- landers from making Surveys-Holds a Council with the Indians- Causes Springettsbury Manor to be surveyed-Keith addresses Governor Ogle of Maryland-Copy of Warrant to survey, &c .- The Return by French, Worley and Mitchell, Surveyors. Note .- Springettsbury Manor Re-surveyed-p. 525.
In the year 1681, Charles II., King of England, granted to William Penn, a charter for a large tract of land on this side of the Atlantic, in lieu of the payment of claims he had upon the British government for services rendered to that country by his father, Sir William Penn, Admiral of the English Navy. The charter embraced Pennsylvania and Delaware. Before Penn obtained this charter, settlements had been commenced by some Swedes and Dutch, on the Delaware river, within the present boundaries of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
The date of the charter is March 4th, 1681. Soon after- wards Penn made sales to adventurers, called first settlers, who embarked the same year, some at London, others at Bristol for America, and arrived at Upland, now Chester, December 11, 1681. The next year Penn, with' many
2
C
526
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Friends, chiefly from Sussex, England, sailed for America, and landed at Newcastle, October 27th, 1682.
In conformity with a principle that had obtained in Eu- rope, and by virtue of his charter, Penn had an undoubted right to the soil granted him by Charles II .; but he "was influenced by a purer morality, and sounder policy, than that prevailing principle which actuated the more sordid. His religious principles did not permit him to wrest the soil of Pennsylvania by force from the people to whom God and nature gave it, nor to establish his title in blood; but under the shade of the lofty trees of the forest, his right was fixed by treaties with the natives, and sanctified, as it were, by smoking from the calumet of peace."*
Prior to his arrival, he had instructed William Markham , the deputy Governor, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1681, to hold treaties with the Indians, to procure their lands peaceably. Markham, a short time previous to Penn's ar- rival, held such a treaty, July 15, 1972, for some lands on the Delaware river. Penn held similar treaties ; and before his return to England, in 1684, adopted measures " to pur- chase the lands on the Susquehanna from the Five Nations, who pretended a right to them, having conquered the people formerly settled there." The Five Nations resided princi- pally in New York; and Penn's time being too much en- grossed to visit them personally, engaged Thomas Dongan, Governor of New York, to purchase from the Indians, "all that tract of land lying on both sides of the river Susque- hanna, and the lakes adjacent in or near the province of Pennsylvania." Dongan effected a purchase, and conveyed the same to William Penn, January 13, 1696, "in consider- ation of one hundred pounds sterling."+
It was Penn's object to secure the river through the whole extent of the province; and subsequent transactions with the
*Smith's Laws, Pa., ii., 105.
+ Smith's Laws, Pa., ii., 111.
527
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Indians show how careful he was to have this purchase well confirmed.
" September 13th, 1700; Widagh and Andaggy-junk- quagh, Kings or Sachemas of the Susquehanna Indians, and of the river under that name, and lands lying on both sides thereof. Deed to W. Penn for all the said river Susquehan- nagh, and all the islands therein, and all the lands situate, lying and being upon both sides of the said river, and next adjoining the same, to the utmost confines of the lands which are, or formerly were, the right of the people or na- tion called the Susquehannagh Indians, or by what name soever they were called, as fully and amply as we or any of our ancestors, have, could, might or ought to have had, held or enjoyed, and also confirm the bargain and sale of the said lands, made unto Col. Thomas Dongan, now earl of Limer- ick, and formerly governor of New York, whose deed of sale to said Governor Penn we have seen."*
The sale to William Penn from the Five Nations was thus well confirmed; the Conestoga Indians, however, would not recognize the validity of this sale, believing that the Five Nations had no proper anthority to transfer their pos- sessions, to secure the lands conveyed to him by Dongan, Penn entered into articles of agreement, shortly after his second visit to Pennsylvanla, with the Susquehanna, Potow- mask and Conestoga Indians. The agreement is dated April 23, 1701. In this agreement the Indians ratified and confirmed Governor Dongan's deed of January, 1696, and the deed by Widagh and Andaggy-junkquagh, of Septem- ber 13, 1700.+
Notwithstanding all these sales and transfers, the lands on the west side of the Susquehanna were still claimed by the Indians ; for the words in the deed of Sept. 13, 1700, " next adjoining the same," were considered inconsistent
* Book F, vol. viii., p. 242. + Smith's Laws, Pa., ii., 112.
228
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
with an extensive western purchase; and the Indians of the Five Nations still continued to claim a right to the river and the adjoining lands. The sachems or chiefs, with all the others of the Five Nations, met in the summer of 1736, at a great council held in the country of the Onondagoes, in the State of New York; and as the old claims had not as yet been adjusted, they resolved that an end should be put to all disputes connected with it. They accordingly appointed their sachems or chiefs with plenary powers to repair to Philadelphia, and there among other things, settle and adjust all demands and claims connected with the Susquehanna and the adjoining lands. On their arrival at Philadelphia, they renewed old treaties of friendship, and on the 11th of Octo- ber, 1736, made a deed to John Penn, Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, their heirs, successors and assigns. The deed was signed by twenty-three Indian chiefs of the Onondago, Seneca, Oneida and Tuscarora nations, granted the Penn's " all the said river Susquehanna, with the lands lying on both sides thereof, to extend eastward as far as the heads of the branches or springs which run into the said Susque- hanna, and all the lands lying on the west side of the said river to the setting of the sun, and to extend from the mouth of the said river, northward, up the same to the hills or mountains, called in the language of said nations, Taya- mentasachta, and by the Delaware Indians the Kekachtana- min hills."* Thus were the claims of the Indians upon the lands of this part of Pennsylvania relinquished to the pro- prietors ; nevertheless surveys had been authorized to be made, and had actually been made west of the Susquehanna prior to 1736, by both the Governor of Maryland as well as by the Governor of Pennsylvania.
As early as 1708 a company of Swiss immigrated to Ame- rica, and settled on Pequa creek, within the present bounds * Smith's Laws, Pa., ii., 115.
529
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
of Lancaster county, in 1709, in the midst of the Indians ; these were soon followed by others, who settled principally on the same stream, and along the Conestoga, towards the Susquehanna river ; among these were the two Cartlidges, Edward and John, who for some years had been Indian agents and interpreters. They settled within the bounds of Manor township, and erected a house in 1719, in which a numbe of councils were held with the Indians .*
Notwithstanding the early settlements made contiguous to the Susquehanna, and directly opposite the most fertile por- tion of York county, few whites veutured to settle west of the Susquehanna, prior to 1725, except some Marylanders, who were viewed as intruders. So determined was govern- ment that none should intrude to the annoyance of the Indi- ans, that the commissioners of property, on complaint to them of any intruders by the Indians, they caused them to be arrested and imprisoned.
A certain John Greist, or Grist, with divers others fami- lies, settled himself and family on the west side of the Sus- quehanna about the year 1716 or 1720, took up lands within the limits of Pennsylvania, without any warrant from the commissioners of property, or any other legal right to the same. The Indians complained to Governor Keith when at Conestoga in July, 1721, that the said John Grist, and others, had abused them. "The Governor, with the advice of some of the commissioners of property then with him at Conestoga, judged it absolutely necessary for the quiet of the Indians, and also to prevent such audacious behavior in contempt of the authority of this government, for the time to come, by a warrant under his hand and seal, to direct John Cartlidge, Esq., one of his Majesty's justices of the peace, residing at Conestoga, to warn and admonish said John Grist and his accomplices, forthwith to relinquish the
* His. Lan. Co., 74, 119.
2*
530
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
said lands whereon they had taken possession, without the least color of right or title thereto, and in case of their re- fusal, the Governor by his warrant, did further require the said John Cartlidge to raise the posse comitatus, and to burn and destroy their dwelling houses and habitations, the first part of which said orders having been exactly observed, and notice given, the said persons to remove themselves accord- ingly. Notwithstanding whereof, they still refusing to show any regard to the Governor's orders, or to remove them- selves from off the said lan s, the Indians did thereupon de- stroy some of their cattle; whereof, the said John Grist coming to complain to the Governor at Philadelphia, the Governor being just then going out of town, remitted with his complaint against the Indians to the Secretary, before whom behaving himself in a very insolent, seditious manner, the Secretary, with the advice of the Attorney General, committed him to gaol for want of security, to be forthcom- ing when required, and for the good behavior."*
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