USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 41
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 41
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"The want of success in the former scheme had proceeded from their own militia, the common men of which, had too much humanity, and too little concern in the event to act heartily in it; therefore, the new scheme was, to pick up a set of people from Ireland, and other new-comers, who as yet had no settlement or lands of their own; and to promise them, if they would assist to drive out these Germans, they should have their cleared lands, buildings and improvements !! And to make this the more horrid and barbarous, this scheme, to turn the poor Germans and their wives and children out of their houses and improvements, was to be executed as soon as the hard weather began, in the severe winters of North America, when the cold is most intense."
"Accordingly a number of men were picked up, and they were to petition, and did, by the help of Mr. Henderson, pe- tition Governor Ogle for lands, which, if he would grant them, they promised to defend the same, and Lord Balti- more's right thereto, with their lives and fortunes, and Go-
* The act of feudatory or tenant vassal, by which he consents to re- ceive a new lord or another superior.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
vernor Ogle himself signed an order that fifty of them should have each of them two hundred acres laid out-Governor Ogle and his council concerted and promised that the militia should go up, and meet those new petitioners, and give them possession of their land- arms were accordingly prepared for that, scheme; and Cressap showed the persons who were to have those lands, the Germans' houses, mills, settlements and improvements."
To repel the encroachments of these Irish and other new comers, as well as to bring to condign punishment for another offence, Cressap the agitator, the two Justices of the Su- preme Court of Pennsylvania, issued out a warrant to Samuel Smith, Sheriff of Lancaster county, reciting complaints made to them, that Cressap had murdered one Daunt, and that he stood charged with other high crimes and misdemeanors; therefore commanding in his Majesty's name (as they had divers times before commanded) the Sheriff to apprehend Cressap, and bring him before them, to be dealt with accor- ding to law."
Cressap still persisted in his threats-nothing intimidated ; for he declared publicly, " that in the winter next coming, when the ice was on the river, a great number of armed men would come up from Maryland, and be in the woods, near the German inhabitants, and Cressap, with ten armed men, would go from house to house, and take the masters of the families prisoners, and when they had as many as they could manage, they would carry them to the armed force in the woods, and return again till he had taken all who would not submit to Maryland. And, if any of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania should come to their relief, the armed force who lay in the woods, would pursue, take and carry them all prisoners to Maryland ; and if any of them fled from their houses, he would turn the women and children out of doors, and bring up other people from Maryland, and place
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them in their possessions; who should hold the same by force of arms for Lord Baltimore.
"Cressap openly declared that he himself had advised the sheriff, when the three hundred men came up before, to fire on the people in the boats crossing the river, but said that they were fools and cowards, and had done no good in com- ing up. He also declared that the Governor of Maryland had now sent up a great number of small arms, cannons and ammunition, to Colonel Rigby's, to be conveyed to Cres- sap's, and that the sheriffs and officers were sent, to dispos- sess and confine all the German people on the west side of the river, southwesterly from John Hendricks', who would not submit to the Maryland government; and that the Gove ernor of Maryland sent to Newcastle and Chester county for Irish people, (Governor's have a liking for the Irish,) who were to come up and be put in possession by the sheriff and officers of the German people's possessions."
Cressap was quite a patriot, disregarding sacrifices, of either of his money or the lives of others. So valorous was he as to enlist " one man in his service, at fifteen pounds a year, as his drummer, and to exercise his men, and promised to recommend him to the Governor, to make it worth twen- ty-five or thirty pounds a year-and promised him, to give him one of the German people's plantation, if he would help to dispossess them."
In the month of November his heart pulsated freely, "and he enlisted another at twelve pounds a year to defend him, and to go on such enterprises against the Pennsylvanians, as Cressap should think proper. By this time Mrs. Cressap had an opportunity to show her feeling in this affair-she brought her husband news that Munday and Leet, two of the heads of those people, who had petitioned for the German people's lands, were taken with their papers, and with Go- vernor Ogle's orders; and she proposed if Cressap and Ja-
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cob (a servant) would go over the river, one Mary Emerson should engage John Ross at a game of cards, and in the mean time Cressap should go, and sieze him, and carry him away-Jacob swore he would be revenged of Mr. Ross, and would go over the water and shoot him; and Cressap told him, he would not be a faithful servant unless he did it. Another of Cressap's men present, offered to go over with Jacob and wait in the canoe, while he committed the murder, and take him safely back; and Cressap added, the promise of his freedom if he did it, and a discharge, with a pass to travel into Maryland, where, he said, the Pennsylvania men dare not follow him."
"On the 24th of November, 1736, Cressap sent down two men with four horses, to Colonel Rigby's, for the arms and ammunition, and declared that he daily expected up about one hundred and fifty men, who were to be, by him, con- ducted to the German settlements, to take the people out of their houses in the night by force of arms, and carry them to Maryland, and that these people were to hold the said places by force of arms, as tenants to Lord Baltimore.".
In all of the foregoing instances the people of Pennsylva- nia were passive, and submitted peaceably to these treat- ments ; the only charge against them, wherein they were said to be active, was the apprehending of Cressap upon a legal warrant, to answer for murder he had committed, and for many disorders he had been guilty of. Cressap was ap- prehendeded on the 24th of November, by the sheriff of Lancaster county, aided by a posse. The circumstances of taking him, as deposed by a number of respectable witness- es, were as follows-
A posse, consisting of twenty-three, for his protection against violence from the Marylanders, accompanied the sheriff. "He went to Cressap's house early in the morning -he, himself and others, read the warrant for murder, to
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Cressap, and in his hearing, several times over. The sheriff required Cressap several times to surrender peaceably. In answer thereto, Cressap swore, he would never surrender till he was dead. He called for a dram of rum, and drank "Damnation to himself and all with him, if ever they would surrender" !! He swore he would kill all the Pennsylvanians before he would be taken. He would shoot the first of his own men who would refuse to fire at his command, or who offered to capitulate."
"Before any force or violence was offered, two blunder- busses with shot were fired from Cressap's house, upon the Sheriff and his assistants, some of whom were wounded .- The Sheriff desired and entreated him to let his wife go out of the house, and the Sheriff and his assistants would retire; but he refused. Cressap declared he had sent down to Ma- ryland for arms, and expected three hundred men by the time it should be night. Therefore night coming on, some of the people without the sheriff's consent, set fire to a shed near to the house, which was only round logs of wood, piled upon each other, and was very low, the roof being within reach; the Sheriff endeavored to put it out; and then Cressap and his men rushed out, and fired upon the Sheriff and his as- sistants, and wounded several. Michael Risner, one of Cres- sap's men shot a Marylander in a mistake for a Pennsylva- nian-he shot Laughlin Malone, and killed him.
They now seized Cressap, and Risner-and carried both to Lancaster, where Cressap uttered menaces-declaring that they could not keep him long, " for he could soon be relieved, and the town set on fire-he declared once and again, that a body of men would soon be sent from Mary- land, and burn Lancaster to ashes, and that it was the sher- iff's best way to remove him from thence as soon as possi- ble." He was then conveyed to Philadelphia jail .* Mor- * Gordon's Pa., 220.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
ris, Craver, Low, Hendricks, Evans, Joseph, and others, were imprisoned at Lancaster .* ,
The news of Cressap's confinement in jail having reached Governor Ogle, he despatched Edmund Jennings and Daniel Dulany, to Philadelphia, to demand reparation, and the re- lease of Cressap. The Council refused both-they had ear- nestly remonstrated against the encroachment of the people of Maryland, encouraged and protected by their Governor. To gratify his revenge, the Governor of Maryland ordered reprisals. Four German settlers, under one Higginbothan, aided by a band, after several efforts were made to expel the Germans from their rightful possessions-were abducted.
At this crisis, the Council again ordered out the sheriff of Lancaster, and the power of the county, with directions to dispose detachments, in proper positions, to protect the people. They despatched for this purpose, Messrs. Law-
* At the November Session of 1736, John Morris, and Philip Cra- ver, were indicted and tried, with divers other malefactors and dis- turbers of peace, who riotously and unlawfully, with force and arms, ·entered upon inclosed land of John Wright, Jr .- did enter three hun- dred acres thereof for the use of Thomas Cressap-did survey without any loyal warrant for so doing. The prisoners at the bar, confessed they could not gainsay. They were mulcted ten pounds, and had to pay costs, and enter bail for good behavior.
At the same session, Daniel Low was placed at the bar for trial, who, with other malefactors, &c., to the number of three hundred, in warlike manner, riotously assembled, with sound of trumpet, and beat of drums-with force of arms-fell upon John Wilkins, and did him assault, make, and have prisoner for fourteen hours. He was fined seventy pounds, &c.
John Hendricks, at the same time, was fined seventy pounds for entering the house of John Wilkins and Henry Hendricks ; and scared the children and "servants greatly, and took two pewter dishes, two pewter plates, and one iron stew kettle.
Daniel Low, John Low, Edward Evans and Nicholas, were each fined twenty pounds, for having assaulted Charles Jones, and held him a prisoner for fifteen hours. Rec. Courts of Q. S. of Lan. co.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.'
rence and Ashton, members of the board, to support the sheriff in the execution of their orders. When the sheriff entered the field, the invaders retired, but returned as soon as his force was withdrawn. Captures were made on both sides-the German settlers were harrassed perpetually ; in many instances driven from their farms, and in others de- terred from every attempt to plant or improve.
In May, 1737, the council sent Samuel Preston and John Kinsey, on an embassy to Governor Ogle, to treat on some measure which might preserve the quiet of the border, until the pleasure of the King should be known, to whom both parties had appealed. But Governor Ogle requiring some concessions imcompatible with the rights of the proprietaries of Pennsylvanla-the deputies returned without having made any agreement.
In October, 1737, a party of Marylanders, to the num- bers of sixteen, broke into the jail at Lancaster, and released the rioters who had been apprehended by the Sheriff, among whom was a brother of their leader. Fortunately, when indignation was prompting the inhabitants on both sides of the line to further breaches of the peace, an order of the King in council, on the subject of the boundary, induced both parties to refrain from further violence-to drop all prosecutions, and discharge their respective prisoners on bail .* -
* Gordon's Pa., 221.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
Early settlements-Kreutz' Creek-Origin of the name-Hendricks, &c .- First settler's 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. ; Whittlesey-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.
From the preceding, it is evident that the first settlements under the authority of the government of Pennsylvania were made at Kreutz creek, and principally by Germans. There is some speculation among the curious as to the origin of the name of the creek on which the first settlers located. By some it is asserted, the stream has its name from George Kreis, an early settler on that creek, near the Susquehanna. Others, calling to aid the union of two streams, forming a cross, or Kreutz, in German; hence, Kreutz creek, by which name the settlement has been known since 1739, the date when a full purchase was made from the Indians, for all the lands in York county .*
It has already been stated that John Hendricks, James Hendricks, Joshua Minshall, John Wright, Charles Jones,
* These are the views of Carter and Glossbrenner. May the stream not have derived its name from John Grist, "who with divers other persons, settled himself and family, and had taken up land," as early as 1718, on the west side of the Susquehanna, as shown before. In a Report of 1739, touching the location of a road from Wright's ferry towards Potomack, Grist creek is mentioned .- Rec. Court of Q. S. of Lan. co.
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Henry Hendricks, and others, had made , settlements within Springettsbury Manor, prior to 1733; and, that all these were greatly molested by Maryland intruders. The Ger- mans, as stated, were, however, the principal settlers here, (except at Wrightsville,) while many of the English located in the neighborhood of the Pigeon Hills. William Morgan's was the only English family among the Germans, in this fertile vale.
· The first settlers, and their children, were of simple and plain habits-no superfluity of dress-for the want of wool neither imported nor homespun, and home made woollen cloth was worn. Tow served as a substitute. And this was made up 'only into shirts, trowsers and frocks-vests and coats they had none." To protect themselves against the "increase of cold weather," they wore one, two, or more tow frocks at the same time. No sooner had they cleared a spot, erected a cabin, and raised a few sheep, than they manufactured linsey woolsey for their own "comforts."
· For a short time they had no mills nearer than Christian Stoneman's, Hans Graff's, and Samuel Taylor's, all erected." in Lancaster county, prior to 1729. Stoneman's was the nearest, being on the Conestoga creek, not many miles from the Susquehanna. Soon, however, some mills were erected on the streams which meander through the glens: where now are scores of mills of every description.
It has been stated* that, for some time after settlements had been commenced, shoemakers and tanners were wanting, and that the families were supplied with shoes from the city of Philadelphia. When mending was needed, to supply the place of tanners and shoemakers, itinerant cobblers, with a supply of leather for " patching and soleing," travelled from house to house, much as parish visiters are wont to do, "to care for soles," and if it needs be, mend them. The first * Glosbrenner's History of York county, p.[26.
5*
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
permanent shoemaker in the county was Samuel Landys, who established his shop near, or on Kreutz' creek. For a compeer, in another department of "wearables," the shoe- maker had Valentine Heyer, who for many years was the only tailor here, and as Landy's made men's and women's shoes-Heyer made clothes for men and women too. This, no doubt, was done to compensate in part the women, who did men's work; for many of them wielded the axe, and held a steady plough, in assisting their frugal husbands in labor- ing for " the meat that perishes."
Peter Gardener was the first blacksmith in all the settle- ment,-Jacob Lochman, a blacksmith, resided seven miles west from John Hendricks, in 1735 .* While the mechanic and farmer were busily engaged in their daily avocations, the schoolmaster was abroad among the Germans. Nothing of his success as a teacher can be said with much confidence. Some idea may be formed of his personal services; he was familiarly known, as "Der Dicke Schulmeister," and he was, undoubtedly, feared by all the urchins of the neighbor- hood.
The first dwellings were mere cabins, or round-log houses -wood being for some years the only material used in build- ing. About the year 1735, two brothers, John Schultz and Martin Schultz, built each a house of stone on Kreutz creek. Not long afterwards others were erected of the same mate- rial. At present, though only a little more than a century ago, when no human habitations, except a few Indian wig- wams were to be found here, this portion is thickly studded with substantial and commodious dwellings, and other im- provements corresponding thereto.
The townships of Chanceford, Lower Chanceford, Fawn Hopewell, and the Southern portion of Windsor, comprise what is usually denominated The York Barrens, amounting * Min. Prov. Council, iii., 665.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
to one hundred and thirty thousand acres of arenaceous, gravelly and loamy soil. The term Barrens has not been applied to this portion of the county from the sterility of the soil; but from the circumstance that the Indians for many years and until 1730 or 1731, to improve this portion of their Great Park for the purpose of hunting, fired the copse or bushes as oft as their convenience seemed to call for it; and thus when the whites commenced settling here, they found no timber, hence they applied the term Barrens, a common appellation at that time, to such portions of country,however fertile the soil. Portions that were sixty or seventy years ago without any timber are now thickly covered with sturdy oaks, and large hickories.
This portion of the county was originally settled by Irish and Scotch, between the years 1731 and 1735. Tradition has it, "that they were principally of the better order of peasantry-they were a sober, industrious, moral and intel- ligent people. As to religion, strict Presbyterians ; and as these are ever wont to do, they erected soon after their first settling, a log church near Muddy creek. The Rev. Mr. Whittlesey was their first pastor, who ministered to all the Scotch and Irish in the above named and contiguous town- ships. The original church was burnt.
The lands settled by the first immigrants are, in many instances, still owned by their descendants; but much im- proved within the last thirty years. These worthy sons of worthy sires, know from experience, the force of the maxim, " The wise man is his own best assistant," and are aware that no man is truly independent, who depends on the labor or fidelity of others, for comfort. Having abandoned the deteriorating routine of farming, and introduced a better system, their lands, which had been rendered actually barren, have since been much improved. Years, heretofore, their practice in farming was to clear a piece of land, sow it with
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
wheat, which would yield from fifteen to twenty bushels per acre; then follow it by rye, corn, oats-the same course repeated till the soil was so much exhausted as not to yield any thing adequate in return for the toil bestowed upon it. This course of farming has been changed-now the face o the country wears a more favorable aspect; and if improve- ment in agricultural is progressive, the Barrens of York will be fruitfully productive, when another generation succeeds .*
About the year 1735, Thomas Hall, John W. Fesson, Jos. Bennet, John Rankin and Ellis Lews, from Chester county, in search of a future residence, west-ward from the homes of their fathers, visited the northern part of York county, then within the bounds of Lancaster county ; and after several days' excursion, they resolved to locate in the valley conti- gious to Horshoe or Fishing creek. From the red shale abounding there, or " Red Rock" forming the substratum of the soil, they named it the Red Valley, or Red Lands. Af- ter they had located, others, of Irish and Scoth descent, from the same county, joined with them, in settling among the tawny sons of the forest-the aborigines. They newly settled, and Indians lived for some years on terms of intima- cy ; for they were Quakers, or the spiritual kindred of the
* From the first hardy settlers have sprung a generous race-both hospitable and intelligent-which circumstance, with other advan tages, makes this portion inviting. "I know of no place," says a cer- tain writer, "where the valitudinarian, or the man wearied with the toils, and vexations incident to a bustling world, could retire for a time, with a more prospect of advantage. The pure, fresh mountain breezes, and the icy coldness of their limpid, bubbling springs, impart a salutary and invigorating effect to the former; while the turbulent passions of the latter are delightfully calmed, as he traverses their interminable forests, admiring the works of nature, or pursuing the different varieties of game that sport upon their boughs, and gambol in their shades ; or angling for the speckled trout, which glide in goodly numbers through the silvery fluid that gushes along in unsul- lied brightness over its pebbly bed."-Columbia Spy.
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Onas (Penn) of whom, and them, the Indians for years, spoke in no other than terms of respect.
Nothing memorable of the first settlers here has been pre- served, or handed down by tradition, except an anecdote oft related, which is given below. Passing it might be re- marked, the name " Bennet," while the main stream in the Red valley winds its devious way 'down the glen, and is known as Bennet's Run, will be remembered.
The anecdote alluded to, runs thus-When Bennet, Ran- kin and Lewis were making their adventurous visit into the wilds of Lancaster county-wending their faces west-ward, they naturally, on their way from Chester county, met in their course, the "Majestic Susquehanna," whose broad wa- ters unceasingly roll, between the mouths of the Swatara and Fishing creek-this imposing obstacle they ventured to pass over, for the want of flats at hand, in a craft construct- ed for the emergency. Each of them had a horse. To carrying these across, they lashed two canoes laterally, pla- cing their horses with their hinder feet in one and their fore feet in the other, they paddled across to the west side, at no small peril of safety to their horses, and their own lives.
At a comparatively early period of the first settlements made within the bounds of York county, a noted person, named John Digges, obtained from the proprietor of Mary- land, a grant for ten thousand acres of land-it was left optional with Digges to locate unimproved lands wherever he found them, either north or south of the disputed boun- dary between Maryland and Pennsylvania, so that it would be somewhere within the bounds of Lord Baltimore's claims. Mr. Digges, at the suggestion of Tom, the Indian chief on Tom's creek, located six thousand eight hundred and twen- ty-two acres, of which Hanover forms a part. This formed the nucleus of a settlement, that may be ranked among the early one's of the country. Tradition has it, that this re-
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
gion was thickly and heavily wooded with hickory; and also, that for causes sufficient, it is maintained, it was the resort "for rogues." Of this more will be said in the sequel.
These, then, were the principal early settlements in York county, viz: Kreutz creek, the Barrens, the Redlands, and Digges' choice, or Hanover; all of which, in the progress of some years, by new accessions, increased in population and extent. Kreutz creek settlement, and York, supplied a people for a large tract around them, comprising parts of Hellam, Spring-garden, Shrewsbury, Manchester, Dover, &c. The Barrens gave a population to all the eastern and southeastern portion of York county; the Redlands, with some emigrants from Berks, Lancaster, and Cumberland counties, on the Yellow Breeches, populated the whole nor- thern portion, embracing Fairview, Newberry, Monahan, Franklin, Carroll, Warrington and Washington townships.
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