USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 43
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 43
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This is the Sheriff's statement. The others were also heard, by petition, which cast some additional light on the subject. The petition sets forth that, Hans Hamilton did not open the election till two o'clock in the afternoon, which caused no little uneasiness among the people. That Hamil- ton's party, the Marsh creek people, gathered about the election house to give in their tickets and would not suffer the Dutch people and other friends to come near the house, but did what they could to keep them off with clubs, so that the Dutch were obliged to do the best they could, or else go home without voting; and being the most in number,
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
they drove the people from the house, and when they had done so, they came in a peaceable manner to give in their votes; but when the Sheriff saw his party was mastered, he locked up the box, and would not suffer the inspectors to take away more tickets, which made the Dutch people an- gry, and they strove to break into the house-and then the sober people desired the sheriff to continue the election; but he would not, and went away out of the back window, sev- eral of the inspectors going with him-and then the free- holders desired the coroner to carry on the election-which having done carefully and justly: and, afterwards, the sher- iff was asked to come and see the votes read, and an ac- count taken of them; but he refused, &c.
The whole matter was investigated-the sheriff was called before the Assembly, publicly admonished by the speaker, and advised to preserve better order in future .*
Nothing of a local nature transpired within the bounds of the county, from the time after the excitement produced by the second election, till after the defeat of General Braddock, near Pittsburg, July 9, 1755, when on a sudden the people of York county, as well as the western inhabitants, were thrown into the utmost consternation; many of the inhabit- ants of the county fled to the more densely settled parts- some even to Wright's ferry. Here even, they were not deemed safe-all the females and children, at the latter place, numbering some thirty or more, were removed.
York county was not as much exposed as Cumberland, and the western parts of Lancaster, Berks and Northamp- ton were. This was owing to its peculiar situation, having Cumberland on its north and northwestern boundary, as a a protection against the incursions of the Indians. The in-
* Votes of Assembly, iv., 152, 153.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
habitants of the Great Cove,* which was west, and north- west of York county, and then within the southwestern part of Cumberland, and the inhabitants of Conococheague, took into pay a band of thirty or more hunters, inured to hard- ships, and well acquainted with the country; intrepid and resolute-under the command of a person who had been an Indian captain for many years; who, by scouting at a dis- tance, gave timely notice of danger. To these, it is thought York county was greatly indebted for protection. However, there were some depredations committed within the then limits of York county, as will be shown in the sequel.
Though not exposed, as many of their fellow citizens, whom they were ready to protect, the situation of the inha- bitants here, was far from being enviable, as will appear from the following communication to Governor Morris :-
YORK, Nov. 1st, 11 o'clock, P. M., 1755. May it please your Honor :
We received sundry accounts lately, all concurring in this, that a numerous body of Indians, and some French, are in this province, which has put the inhabitants here in the greatest confusion, the principal of whom we have met sun- dry times, and on examination find, that many of us have neither arms nor ammunition.
* The settlement in the Great Cove, on the north side of the North Mountain, (30 or 40 miles west of Yorkj county,) was attacked Nov. 2, 1755-their houses burned, six persons murdered, and seventeen carried off, and the whole settlement broken up and destroyed .- Pro- vincial Records, N., p. 251.
From the following extract, taken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, o Nov. 13, 1755, the names of the murdered and missing at Great Cove may be seen-" Elizabeth Gallway, Henry Gibson, Robert Peer, Wil- liam Berryhill, and David M'Clelland, were murdered.
The missing are John Martin's wife, and two children, and a young woman ; Charles Stewart's wife and two children ; David M'Clelland's wife and two children. William Fleming and wife were taken pris- oners. Fleming's son, and one Hicks, were killed and scalped."
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Herewith we send you a copy of the express, just arrived from John Harris's ferry, (Harrisburg,) by way of James Anderson's, with intelligence that the Indians emcamped up Susquehanna, within a day or two's march of that place, and it is probable, before this comes to hand, part of those back counties may be destroyed.
We believe there are men enough willing to bear arms, and go out against the enemy, were they supplied with arms and ammunition, and a reasonable allowance for their time; but without this, at least arms and ammunition, we fear lit- tle to no purpose, can be done.
If some measures are not speedily fallen upon, we must either sit at home till we are butchered, without mercy or. resistance, run away, or go out a confused multitude, desti- tute of arms and ammunition, and without discipline, or pro- per officers, or any way fixed, or to be supplied with provis- ions. In short, we know not what to do, and have not much time to deliberate.
As the company who go from this town, and parts adja- cents, to-morrow, to the assistance of the inhabitants on our frontiers, will take almost all our arms and ammunition with them, we humbly pray your honor, to order us some arms and ammunitions, otherwise we must desert our habitations ..
We have sent the bearer, expressly with this letter, and also a petition to the Assembly, which our people were sign- ing, when the express came to hand.
We humbly hope your Honor will excuse this freedom, which our distress has obliged us to use, and beg leave to subscribe ourselves,
Honored sir,
Your most obedient and humble servants,
George Stevenson, Hermanus Updegraff, Thomas Armor, James Smith, John Adlum.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
The following letter from John Harris, of Harris's Ferry, (Harrisburg,) to Governor Morris, will cast some addi- tional light on this point :
PAXTON, October 20, 1755.
May it please your Honor --
I was informed last night, by a person that came down our river, that there was a Dutch (German) woman, who made her escape to George Gabriel's, and informs us that last Friday evening, on her way home from this settlement, on Mahahony, or Penn's creek, where her family lived, she called at a neighbor's house, and saw two persons lying by the door of said house, murdered and scalped; and there were some Dutch (German) families that lived near their places, immediately left, not thinking it safe to stay any longer. It is the opinion of the people up the river, that the families on Penn's creek being scattered, that but few in number are killed or carried off, except the above said wo- man, the certainty of which will soon be known, as there are some men gone out to bury the dead.
By report, this evening, I was likewise informed by the belt of wampum, and these Indians here, there were seen, near Shamokin, about six days ago, two French Indians of the Canawago tribe. I, a little doubted the truth of the report at first; but the Indians have seemed so afraid, that they despatched messengers, immediately, to the mountains, above my house, to bring in some of their women that were gathering chestnuts, for fear of their being killed. .
By a person just arrived down our river, brought inform- ation of two men being murdered within five miles of Geo. Gabriel's, four women carried off, and there is one man wounded in three places, who escaped to Gabriel's, and it is imagined that all the inhabitants on Penn's creek and Little Mahahony, are killed or carried off, as most of them live much higher up, where the first murder was discovered. The.
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Indian waraiors here send you these two strings of white wampum, and the women the black one, both requesting that you would lay by all your council pipes, immediately, and open your eyes and ears, and view your slain people in this land, and to put a stop to it immediately, and come to this place to our assistance without any delay; and the belt of wampum particularly mentions that the proprietors and your honor would immediately act in defence of their country, as the old chain of friendship now is broken by several nation» of Indians, and it seems to be such as they never expected to see or hear of. Any delay on our acting vigorously now at this time, would be the loss of all Indian interest, and perhaps our ruin in these parts.
I am your honor's Most obedient servant,
JOHN HARRIS.
P. S. I shall endeavor to get a number of my neighbors to go out as far as the murder has been committed; and, perhaps, to Shamokin, to know the minds of the Indians, and their opinions of these times, and to get what intelli- gence I can from them, and to encourage some of their young men to scout about, back of the frontiers, to give us notice of the enemy's approach, if possible, at any time hereafter. I heartily wish your honor and the assembly, would please to agree on some method at this time towards protecting this province, as this part of it seems actually in danger now ; for should but a company of Indians come and murder, but a few families hereabout's, which is daily expected, the situ- ation we are in, would oblige numbers to abandon their plantations, and our cattle and provisions, which we have plenty of, must then fall a prey to the enemy.
Our Indians here seem much discouraged at the large num- ber of families passing here, every day, on account of the late murders done on the Potomack, and will be much more
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
so, if it should happen to be our case. There were two In- dian women set out from here two days ago, for the Ohio, to bring some of their relations (as they say) down here; and should the French, or their Indians, hear by them, as they will be inquiring for news, the effect that their late murders has had among our inhabitants, it will be a matter of encouragement to them.
I conclude, your honor's
Most obedient and most humble servant,
. JOHN HARRIS.
During the French and Indian war, the Indians committed numerous depredations within the limits of York county. In 1757, August 17, they set fire to William Waugh's barn, in the " Tract." On the 13th of April, 1758, there was a man killed, and nine persons abducted, near Archibald Bard's, at the south mountain. On the 21st of May, one man and five women were taken from the Yellow Breeches .*
Richard Bard was of the number abducted. The follow- ing is an extract from a thrilling narrative of the captivity of Richard Bard, as written by his son, collected from the manuscript of his father :
" My father, Richard Bard, lived in York county, now Adams, and owned the mill, now called Marshall's mill, in what is called Carroll's tract, where, on the morning of the 13th of April, 1758, his house was invested by a party of nineteen Indians. They were discovered by a little girl, called Hannah M'Bride, who was at the door, and on see- ing them, screamed, and ran into the house.
At this time, there were in the house, my father, mother, and Lieutenant Thomas Potter, (brother of General Potter) who had come the evening before (being a full cousin) to- gether with a child of about six months old, and a bound boy. The Indians rushed into the house, and one of them,
Loudon's Narrative.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
with a large cutlass in his hand, made a blow at Potter, but he so managed it as to wrest the sword from the Indian, and return the blow, which would have put an end to his exist- ence, had not the point struck the ceiling, which turned the sword so as to cut the Indian's hand.
In the meantime, my father, (Mr. Bard,) laid hold of a horseman's pistol that hung on a nail, and snapped it at the breast of one of the Indians, but there being tow in the pan it did not go off; at this, the Indians seeing the pistol, ran out of the house.
By this time one of the Indians at the door, shot at Pot- ter, but the ball took him only in the little finger. The door was now shut, and secured as well as possible ; but finding the Indians to be very numerous, and having no powder or ball, and as the savages might easily burn down the. house by reason of the thatched roof, and the quantity of mill wood piled at the back of the building, added to the declarations of the Indians, that they would not be put to death, deter- mined to surrender ; on which a party of the Indians went to a field, and made prisoners Samuel Hunter and Daniel Mc- Manimy. A lad of the name of William White, coming to the mill, was also made a prisoner.
At the distance of about seventy rods from the house, con- trary to all their promises, they put Thomas Potter to death; and having proceeded to the mountain about three or four miles, one of the Indiana struck the spear of his tomahawk into the breast of the small child, and after repeated blows scalped it. After crossing the mountain, they passed the house of Mr. Halbert T- and seeing him out, shot at him, but without effect. Thence passing late in the evening M'Cord's old fort, they encamped about half a mile in the gap -the second day having passed into the Path Valley, they discovered a party of white men in pursuit of them ; on which they ordered the prisoners to hasten, for should the whites
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
come up with them, they should be all tomahawked. Hav- ing thus hurried, they reached the top of the Tuscarora mountain, and all had sat down to rest, when an Indian, without any previous warning, sunk a tomahawk into the forehead of Samuel Hunter-He was scalped and the In- dians proceeded on their journey, &c."*
The Indians were constantly prowling in quest of victims, and while the contiguous counties presented scenes of many murders, the savages occasionally fell, as is their custom, una wares upon the people of this county, as late as 1759; for on the 29th of May, of that year, Mr. Dunwiddie and one Crawford were shot by two Indians in Carrol's District, York county .* The inhabitants had their fears and hopes constantly excited till the close of the French and Indian war.
It might be here remarked, that York county furnished four companies of foot soldiers, in the expedition against Fort Du Quesne in 1758, which was committed to General Forbes at the head of 8,000 men. The captains from York county were, Robert M'Pherson, Thomas Hamilton, David Hunter; the Lieutenants were Andrew Findlay, James Ew- ing, Alexander M'Kean, Victor King; the ensigns were William Haddin, Peter Mim, James Armstrong and William M'Dowell.
From the following letter, it will be seen that John Mann had been taken by the Indians from York, now Adams county.
ALBANY, June 15, 1761.
Hon. Gov. Hamilton-
Sir :
Amongst the children lately sent, that had been in the
* Loudon's Narrative, vol. ii., pp. 57-65,
-
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hands of the Indians, and some that had been secreted by the Canadians, I find there are six that were taken in the government of Pennsylvania, and two in Virginia. All whom I send you, with the enclosed return, which contains all the intelligence I can give you of them, and I beg leave you will be pleased to deliver them to their parents or rela- tions, and forward the two belonging to Virginia, with a proper passport, that they may be restored to their parents.
The person whom I have sent with these children, has received provisions for them during their passport, and has my orders, on his arrival at Amboy, to provide them with what they may want, and proceed with them to Philadel- phia.
I am, with great regard, Sir, Your obedient and humble Servant,
JEFF. AMHERST,
RETURN OF CHILDREN, &c.
Nicholas Silvias, of Plowpark, in Pennsylvania, taken in 1755, by the Indians.
John Mann, of Marsh creek, in Pa., taken in 1758, by the Indians.
Frederick Payer, of Low Bergen, Pa., taken in 1756. His father killed; but his mother is, he believes, still living.
Anne Coon, of Pa., her mother died, and her father was taken at the same time.
Isaac Toople, taken near Presque Isle, in 1756.
Mary Williams, daughter of one Daniel Williams, taken by the Indians, on Delaware, above - years ago-be- lieves her father and mother were killed.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Peter Dawson, of Virginia, taken in 1755, near the Ohio.
Richard Underwood-taken about Winchester-belongs to Virginia.
James Cristis, upon examination, appears to belong to the Mohawk river, and therefore is not sent.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
CHAPTER VI.
Tranquility restored-Boundary line determined and settled-Hanc- ver laid out-" Rogues Resort," &c .- Difficulties at York-Relief afforded to the Boston sufferers-Proceedings, &c .- Donations or contributions-From York town, Germany township, Manheim, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Dover, Fawn, Codorus, and Paradise.
After the close of the French and Indian war, and when the fears of the people were quieted, which had been excited from the massacres committed by the Indians, and the vexed question touching the boundary line between the province of Pennsylvania and Maryland,* had been settled, " the wil- derness " began again to blossom, and towns were laid out; for in the year 1764, Richard M'Allister laid out lots, in the woods, where now Hanover is. It is recorded, " that when the rumor of Mr. M'Allister's intention, of laying out a town, was spread, throughout the neighborhood, the people
* Thomas and Richard Penn, and Lord Baltimore, July 4, 1760, ' jointly, appointed commissioners to finally adjust the boundary. Those for Maryland, were Horatio Sharpe, Benjamin Tasker, Jr., Edward Lloyd, Robert Jenkins Henry, Daniel Dulany, Stephen Bordley, and Rev. Alexander Malcolm. On the part of Pennsylvanja, the Hon. James Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin Chew, Lynford Lardner, Ryves Holt, and George Stevenson.
While the committee were engaged in their labors, the following persons were appointed, on the part of Maryland, to supply vacancies: the Rev. John Bordley, George Stuart, Daniel, of St. Thos. Janifer, and John Beal Boardly. On the part of Pennsylvania, Rev. John Ewing, William Coleman, Edward Shippen, and Thomas Willing.
The commissioners convened at Newcastle, Nov. 19, 1760-made a final report, Nov. 9, 1763. Mason and Dixon were employed to run the line. The warm controversy ended.
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generally laughed at his project, and considered it the effect of a wild fancy.
" A very aged and respectable lady of a remarkable re- tentive memory, related some years ago, the following an- ecdote on this subject. " A certain farmer in those days re- turning to his family after some visits through the neighbor- hood, thus addressed his " home-half," in the presence of the lady above alluded to-"Mammy ! mammy! (this was the endearing appellation of Germans to their wives in those days of simplicity) mammy, I say, I have great, great news to tell you-Richard M'Alister is going to make a town.' Mammy, after some pointed inquiries and observations, sar- castingly remarked, or rather 'exclaimed sneeringly : " Ha! Ha !! Ha !!! I am afraid that man will turn a fool, at last- I thing he'll call his new town, Hickory town.' The place where the new town was located was near, an almost im- penetrable hickory grove."
M'Alister proceeded. " His farm house is yet in existence. It is a two story building on Baltimore street. But the first house erected in town proper, was built in 1764 by Ja- cob Nusser-a one story log house on Frederick street. Soon a few other buildings were erected, and the progress of improvement gradual."
Hanover was known for some years as M'Allistertown- and it, and vicinity were not improperly, prior to the Revo- lution of '76, called "Rogue's Resort;" for all refugees from Justice resorted to this place. The reason of this was sim- ply, that so long as the disputed boundary between the two provinces, Pennsylvania and Maryland, was not adjusted, Lord Baltimore and the Penns alike claimed the neighbor- hood of Hanover. Both claiments granted rights to settlers, and so long as the boundary was not defined, the laws of neither province were inforced against delinquents, and re- fugees from justice here.
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. HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
" If the sheriff of York county could catch the delinquent one half mile out of town, in a north western direction, then he might legally make him his prisoner under the authority of the courts of this county ; but in town not nearer than that, had he any ministerial power.
· ! "An anecdote has been related, by a respectable, old gen- tlemen of Hanover, which deserves credit. A number of robbers having broken into the store of the proprietor, Mr. M'Allister, he seized them and conveyed them to York for safe keeping ; but the sheriff refused to receive them, with the remark, "You of Hanover, wish to be independent, there- fore, punish your villains yourselves." The past strongly Jreminded the officer, of their pleaded privileges.
In York, where difficulties occasionally presented them- selves, " from its foundation," some more of these again presented themselves, as may be seen from the following .communication, addressed to Mr. Peters, Secretary of the Land Office :
YORK, June 8th, 1764.
.. "Yesterday, at 6 o'clock, P. M., Mr. Homel and myself, imet the two Doudels together, with sundry inhabitants of this place, to try to settle the differences between them, about the lots lately granted to Michael, on the west side of Codorus creek, and south side of High street, continued.
"After many things said on both sides, Michael proposed to bind himself, by any reasonable instrument of writing, not to build a tan yard on the said lots for the space of five years next to come-which I thought was reasonable. But nothing would satisfy Jacob but the lots; and he offered to give Michael the two opposite lots, on the other side of High street, and to plough them and fence them, (for Michael has ploughed and fenced his.") This offer gave great offence to all the company. "What," said they, "is nobody to have a lot but the two Doudels ?".
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
For my own part, I do acknowledge, they are industrious men, and deserve a lot as well as their neighbors; but at the same time, there are other people, who have paid dear for lots here, and have improved them well, and deserve lots as well as they.
Sundry persons are building in the proprietor's lots, on the west side of the creek, saying they deserve, and want lots, as well as the Doudels. I think an immediate stop ought to be put to this; otherwise, it will be productive of great trouble to you.
I make free to write this account of these things, to put you upon your guard, and beg leave to advise you not to grant any other lots, until I see you, which will be in about two weeks. In the meantime, I shall lay out the parson's lot for his pasture, and shall bring down an exact draught of it, and all the low bottom lands.
Pray, let me hear from you about these people that will build, and have built-Fas aut nefas.
I am, &c. GEORGE STEVENSON.
As stated above, tranquility seemed to pervade York county, except some slight disturbances from some local causes, and these were confined to the places producing them, till about 1772 or 1773, when the citizens' blood was stirred with a feeling of sympathy towards their suffering, though distantly situated fellow citizens-the Bostonians- and a feeling of disgust and indignation at the mother country.
The measures in the British Parliament, from 1765 to 1772,* eventuated in an open rupture bntween America and
" This year, 1772, there was an uncommon fall of snow ni York county. On the 27th of January the snow was about three feet and a half deep. A heavy rain came on, which, freezing, formed a thick crust-all York county turned out to chase deer; for it was with
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Great Britain. ""All are familiar with the noble deed of the Bostonians' throwing "the taxed tea overboard"-and the consequent mission of Gen. Gage, from Britain, " to dragoon the Bostonians into compliance." ~At this time the Bosto- nians suffered much-the sympathies of their fellow citizens were excited in their behalf. York county, though several hundred miles distant from their suffering brethren, felt " feelingly for them," and did as much as lay in their power to relieve them from their distresses.
Meetings were called, funds and provisions raised, and for- warded to Boston, as may be seen from the following com- munication, from the committee of York county, to John Hancock and Thomas Cushing, Esqrs., committee for re- ceiving and distributing donations for the poor of Boston.
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