USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 46
USA > Pennsylvania > York County > History of Lancaster and York Counties > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
629
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
tion, to the place where her vaccine excellence was exposed to vendition. This was the square where Maine and Bea- ver street cross each other. The appearance of such a bo- dy of men armed for outrage, was the cause of an instant alarm. They had hardly proceeded to commit violence, when the whole town, as on the alarm of fire, was assem- bled together. The inhabitants met the rioters with the like weapons, clubs, pistols, guns and swords. One justice Hall, deprived of his senses hastened to the spot and support- ing himself with both hands against a corner said " I com- mand thee in my name to keep peace." But something more forcible was found in the weapons of Henry Miller, John Hay, John Edie, William Baily, &c., all well prepared for the battle. Miller during the affray, struck with his sword at one Hoake, who leaping over a wagon-tongue, just escaped the blow; the sword falling upon the wagon- tongue, sunk into it about an inch.
After some boxing and striking, the party dispersed in every direction, and the whole tumult hushed. The men became ashamed of their folly, and said that "they had just come in to see what became of the money."
Frederick Hoake was afterwards severely fined for cutting the rope around the cow's neck, and letting her loose ; though the fact was, Peter Schneider, jun., did the very thing for which Hoake, innocent as to this, was punished.
The several rioters were shortly afterwards brought be- fore the justices of the peace, and bound for appearance at next court, and on the 23d of January, 1787, Godfrey King, Andrew Hoake, Philip King, [son of Godfrey, ] Philip Wintemeyer, George Miller, and Adam Hoake, were each bound before the court of Quarter Sessions, in a considera- ble sum, to appear at the next Supreme Court, to answer such bills of indictment as should be presented against them, and not to depart the court without leave, and in the mean-
630
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
time, to keep the peace to all the liege subjects of the com- monwealth." They accordingly appeared, and with others of their brethren, were fined, "judgment being tempered with mercy." Thus ended an affray of which many speak, and of which, from the much speaking, we have been induced to write. It was, in fact, a cow-insurrestion; it brought Manchester and York into a fond and loving union."*
The inhabitants of this county, on every suitable occa- sion, manifested their attachment to their country, and her institutions. In time of peril, they were ever ready to de- fend her rights, repel invaders, and at times, when an ex- pression of sentiment was necessary, either in favor of, or against a measure, they were heard; of this we have a striking exhibition in the following toasts, given at York, by the bearers of the flags, in procession, formed to cele- brate the progress of the Federal Constitution, July 4th, 1788.
Toasts given by ths bearer of the flag of the United States. May our powers explore every inlet of the habitable globe -our flag ride triumphant on every ocean. May imparti- ality wield the sword of Justice, and impetuosity the sword of War.
Flag of the State of Pennsylvania .- The State of Penn- sylvania-may she hold the federal balance, and become the arbitress of the continent.
Magistrate's Flag .- May Justice with the sword protect her scales-may nothing but righteousness turn the beam, and may she write on Sophistry, what convulsed Belshazzer, " Thou art weighed in the balance and art found wanting." Farmer's Flag .- Perpetual laurels to the men who have " beaten the sword of civil dissention into a plough share" -- who have sown the seed of good government; may it
* Glosbrenner's His. York. co.
1
631
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
spring up without tares, and may each revolving harvest witness its increase.
Mason's and Bricklayer's Flag .- May the component parts of the Federal edifice be squared by the plummet of impartial justice, inseparably attached by the cement of ci- tizenship.
Clock and Watchmaker's Flag .- May virtue be the mainspring of our Government-Patriotism keep its works in order. May the popular voice wind up its chain, and may its hand point to the public good.
Bakers .- May an oven, "seven times heated" be the fate of him, whose only objects are "the loaves and fishes."
Stocking Weavers .- May he who first broached the for- mation of a new government, have a wreath of laurel twis- ted round his brow, and a garland of honorary flowers wove for his reward.
Taylors .- May Fate with her shears cut the thread of that man's life, Fame dishonor him with the name of Goose, and Society baste him, who endeavors to Cabbage from his country.
Coppersmiths and Founders. May we be brazed toge- ther by a love of country, as by borax and spelter, and rivetted by an energetic government.
Potters. As often as the wheel of time revolves this day, let gratitude tell of the heroes, who were proven as by fire; let a tear of remembrance fall for such as were cracked.
Rough Carpenters. May his head be divorced from his body by the broadaxe of Justice, who does not square his. conduct by the rule of Right.
House Carpenters. The new political mansion-May its apartments be commodious-may three rafters be added to the ten which already support its roof: and may its lights be great and many.
Blacksmiths. May the thirteen States be welded into
632
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
one united empire, by the hammer of conciliation on the an- vil of peace; and may the man who attempts to blow the coals of discord, be burned by the sparks.
Nailers. May our government be well pointed and have a good head.
Painters. The new Constitution in its true colors; nei- ther caricatured nor flattered, and may the brush of investi- gation correct the glare of light given by its friends, and the profusion of shade thrown on it by its enemies.
Glaziers. May the Pane remain forever uncracked, that threw light on the subject of our late war, and may the rays of truth be drawn to a focus by the glass of genius ..
Saddlers. A curb bit, and a transverse rain to the impor- tation of foreign luxuries; and may the man who denies his encouragement to home manufactures, be stirruped round the world.
Hatters. May he who twangs the bow of tumult, be stripped to the pelt, then dipped into a kettle of blacking ; may his head be brought to the block, and their union con- stitute his character.
Shoe and Bootmakers. May we wax a great and happy nation; be bound by principles of mutual regard, actuated as by one soul, and may our prosperity as a people last un- til the end of time.
Breeches makers and Skinners .- May he be shorn against the grain, smoked and welted, who has not brains to know that the bands of the old government were loosed.
Tobacconists .- May the leaves of anti-federalism be twisted together, and fastened by thorns, or be rolled into tubes, and end in a puff.
Wagon Makers .- three more Spokes to our new wheel- a federal band for its tire-a willing people for its axis- political wisdom to set it in motion; and may its progress never be retarded by the lockchain of opposition.
633
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
-
Saddle-tree Makers. As we are chips of the same block; branches from the same tree; may we be glued together by a general efficient government.
Blue Dyers and Stampers. May Fame stamp immortal- ity on their names, who have died for our country.
Tanners and Curriers. ' May every limb of that man be hacked-may he be leathered through society-and have his hide completely tanned-who is mean enough to curry favor.
Weavers. Forever honored be the names of those, who, rejecting even the thrumbs of the old web, have cut it out of the loom, and wove another to clothe the political naked- ness of their country.
Tin-plate Workers. May the shears of liberality and and extended policy cut away local prejudices, and may the late heat of political disquisition only tend to melt the ce- ment that is to solder us together.
Scythe and Sickle Makers. May the sickle of industry be filled with heavy harvests, until Time, with his scythe, shall mow down empires and ages.
Butchers. As the marrow is connected with the bone, or one joint with another, so let us be united, and may no cleaver ever disjoint us.
Gun-smiths. When the implements of war are requisite to defend our country's rights, or resent her wrongs, may coolness take the sight, and courage draw the trigger.
Printers. May no government be so potent as to restrain. the liberty of the press; or so impotent as not to be able to check its licentiousness.
Brewers. May he be choked with the grains, or drowned in his ale, whose business it is to brew mischief.
Barbers. Hot curling irons and a dull razor, to the wig they once took upon them, may they remain as they now are, in the suds.
11
634
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Turners. May the anti-federalists be, "turned from the evil of their ways," and he be held no longer in the vice of groundless opposition. 1 .212
Coopers. May the new government prove a binding hoop to the States, and never suffer them to go to staves.
Brickmakers. The materials which compose our new constitution-may they sustain the heat of party rage with- out a crack, and come out more perfect from the kiln of faction.
Ropemakers. May the production of our trade be the neck-cloth of him, who attempts to untwist the political rope of our union.
Mathematical Instrument Makers. The political com- pass-as it has been graduated by the finger of accuracy ; may it prove our guide in the winds of legislation, and pre- serve its counterpoise, however shaken by the storms of for- eign invasion or domestic broil.
Joiners. The unanimity, which augurs that the hatchet shall soon be buried.
Surveyors. May the needle of the new government be magnetized by an honest love of fame, and make the ap- plause of the people its pole-may the sight be taken by the pervading eye of genius-the course be sloped by integ- rity-and may there be no variation from national honor.
Merchants. The new constitution -- may it prove 100 per cent. better than the old one; may justice, mercy, and wisdom, be found in the invoice of its excellencies; and may its nett proceeds be in good order at home, and respect in the councils of Europe.
Lawyers. A mild judge, a believing jury, a blundering opponent, a good cause, a handsome fee, and a federal cli- ent, to every advocate of our infant constitution.
Physicians. The political physicians, who, in place of mending, have made a constitution-may it retain its health
635
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
and vigor, without the aid of medicine, and may the quack undergo, at the same time, the double operation of cathar- tic and emetic, who prescribe bleeding.
The contest at elections is unusually characterized by warmth; but, it is believed, that York county has never been a "whit" behind other counties in this respect. The first election for Sheriff, in the county, and the election of the year following, were both "spirited and bloody"-as well as the election of 1789, when two rival candidates, of equal strength, were before the people. Conrad Laub and William M'Clellan, were the candidates. Laub received 2,130 votes; M'Clellan 2,111. Shortly after the election, William Harris, a merchant of York, faithfully and face- tiously chronicled the passing events and scenes, in one of the York papers of the campaign. Place is given, below, to the
"'First Chapter of Chronicles.",
1. Now it came to pass in these days, when George* was President, even George the Great, was President over the Nation, and John,t even John, surnamed the steady, who had done justice and judgment among the people, had ful- filled his time, that there was a great stir among the peo- ple, whom they should choose to reign in his stead.
2. Then the Williamites,t who inhabited the western country, and the people gathered themselves together, and communed one with another, and said : We will make Wil- liam to rule over us, for he is a proper young man, and will do justice over us, for he is a proper young man, and will do justice and judgment, even as John has done, whose work is fulfilled.
3. And when these sayings went abroad among the peo-
* George Washington.
+ John Edie, former Sheriff.
# The friends of William M'Clellan. 1
636
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
ple, there were certain men rose up and withstood the Wil- liamites, and said, God do so to us, and more also, if Wil- liam shall rule over us at this time, in the stead of John.
4. Then the governors, the judges, the captains of the fifties, and the rulers of the people gathered themselves to- gether.
5. And so it.was that they communed together, even the Schlegelites,* the Rudisellites,t the Shermanites,t the Gos- slerites,§ the Millerites,|| the Campbellites, TI the tribe of Eli, ** and John, the Lawyer.tt
6. Now all entered into a covenant, and said, of a truth, we will make Conradtt our ruler, for he is an upright man, and will do what is right in the eyes of the people.
7. And after these things, it came to pass on the thir- teenth day of the tenth month, about the eleventh hour, in the fourteenth year after the people had come out of the house of bondage, that the people strove with one another, even the Williamites on the one side, and the Conradites on the other.
8. And there was a great slaughter, for the battle contin- ued until the going down of the sun.
9. For the Conradites came forth by hundreds and by thousands, by their tribes, as sands by the sea-shore for multitude.
10. And so it came to pass, that the army of the Wil- liamites was discomfitted.
* The friends of Henry Schlegel.
+ The friends of Jacob Rudisel.
# The friends of Conrad Sherman.
§ The friends of Philip Gossler.
! The friends of Henry Miller.
" The friends of John Campbell.
** Eli Lewis.
it John Lukens.
## Conrad Laube 1
637
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
11. Now the land will have rest for three full years."
The inhabitants of York county, it seems, to have, for some five or six years, enjoyed peace within their borders ; every thing flourished ; towns and villages were being laid out, of which somc notice will be taken in the sequel ; but were, like many others of their fellow citizens, untranquil- ised by the illegal combination of those opposed to " Excise on ardent spirits."
"On the 7th of August, 1794, President Washington issued a proclamation, setting forth that illegal combinations existed in the western part of Pennsylvania, to " defeat the execution of the laws laying duties upon stills, and upon spirits distilled in the United States"-and that the conspir- ators had attacked the' house of John Neville, one of the inspectors of the revenue of Pennsylvania, and had seized and maltreated David Lennox, marshal of the District of Pennsylvania. The proclamation concluded with a call to all good citizens, to aid the government in "suppressing and preventing such dangerous proceedings."{
"Immediately on the appearance of the President's call, Governor Mifflin, of Pennsylvania, issued a proclamation, requiring the General Assembly of the Commonwealth, to meet forthwith, at the State House, in Philadelphia, for the purpose of devising the necessary means to maintain the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth. The Legislature accordingly convened September 2d, 1794. One of their earliest acts was to provide for engaging the service of the militia of the Commonwealth, in defence of the laws."
In the opinion of the President of the United States, an army of fifteen thousand was deemed necessary-to be composed of troops and volunteers from Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Governor Lee, of Virginia, had the chief command of the army. The other Generals were Governor Thomas Mifflin, of this State, Governor
11*
638
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
Howell, of New Jersey, Gen. Daniel Morgan, and Adju- tant General Hand, Gen. Knox, Secretary of War, and Gen. Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, and Judge Peters of the United States Court, also went to the scene of action.
"York county, ever ready to act when the public inter- est, honor, or safety requires an appeal to arms, furnished, in this emergency, a regiment of militia, and two companies of volunteers. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel May. One company of volunteers was commanded by Captain Andrew Johnston. Of this company, Charles Barnitz was first Lieutenant, and John Green, Ensign. Of the other, a rifle company, James Cross was Captain."
A formidable army was raised-the soldiers arrived on the martial ground in November, 1794-but met no opposi- tion-and no blood was shed !!
The year 1797 is somewhat remarkable in the annals of this county for hail-storms, and fire in the Borough of York. The following account of a hail-storm in 1767, is extract- ed from manuscripts left by the Hon. Thomas Hartley.
"On the **** day of June, 1797, there was a hail storm in the town of York, and in a part of the neighborhood, which, as far as it extended, destroyed the gardens and broke down the winter grain in a most extraordinary man- ner : there was hardly a hope that any would be saved; but the farmers were able, in the harvest, to gather more than half of what they considered as lost. The Indian corn was apparently injured, but the sun brought it up again. The hail stones were prodigiously large. Several persons were in danger of losing their lives from them. Many fowls and birds were killed. Some of the stones were as large as a pullet's egg, or as the apples then growing. It is supposed that in York town and Butts-town, fully 10,000 panes. of glass were broken.
Fire in 1797 .- As an account of the fire which raged in
639
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
York town, in the year 1797, we give two extracts, the first from the manuscripts of the Hon. Thomas Hartley, and the second from the private papers of another late member of the York bar.
" The hail-storm made a serious impression upon the citi- zens ; but on Wednesday night, the 5th of July, 1797, be- tween the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock, the town was alarmed by the cry of fire, which, it seems, had been communicated from an oven of Mr. John Hay. The house of Mr. John Hay was soon in flames. The German Reformed Church also took fire. The kitchen and small stable were soon on fire; the stable stood about forty feet from my back build- ings. The sparks and inflamed parts of shingles ascended into the air, and were then dispersed and carried upon parts of the town, and far into the neighboring country. Between twenty and thirty houses and barns were on fire nearly at the same time; but by mighty exertions, none were materi- ally injured, beside those I first mentioned. My house, it is said, was on fire four or five times. A willow tree nearly fifty feet high, standing beyond my buildings, away from the fire, had several of its upper branches scorched and burnt .- The trees and shrubs in the garden were hurt. A small bush of a monthly white rose, at the distance of per- haps seventy feet from the church, was totally blasted and destroyed, never to rise again. So great was the heat. that pears hanging on espaliers in my garden, fifty feet from the flames, were in part roasted. The circumstances of the gar- den, I carefully noticed on my return home, (which was on the 8th of July ;) and I shewed the trees and pears to seve- ral of my acquaintances, among others, to Mr. Milledge, a member of Congress from Georgia. There was scarcely any wind at York on the night of the fire, (Mr. Milledge says that at the great fire at Savannah, the air was calm, and the horizon clear and serene.) But after the flames had
640
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
ascended some height in the sky, the sparks became dis- turbed and more scattered, and fell upon several houses, which caught fire at the same time, and drew off the people from the places at which they were first engaged to take care of their respective dwellings. What does great honor to the town is, that, though the furniture, goods, wares, and merchandize were carried out by different hands, yet scarce- ly a single article is, as I hear, missing.
THOMAS HARTLEY."
The second account is as follows:
"Last Wednesday night was a night of terror to the in- habitants of this place. Between the hours of twelve and o'clock, a fire broke out in the back-buildings, adjoining the dwelling-house of John Hay, Esq. Mr. Hay, who slept in one of the back rooms, on being awakened by the noise of the fire, immediately arose and gave alarm. But before the 'citizens had collected in numbers sufficient to make an effec- tual resistance to its progress, the fire had been communi- cated to the dwelling house and to the German Reformed Church, both of which were in a few minutes all in flames. The fire advanced with such rapidity, that all the efforts to save those buildings were soon found to be in vain. The burning was, in a small degree, an object of terror .- Sparks of fire, and blazing shingles were thrown to a vast height, and many of them falling upon houses and stables in different parts of the town. From fifteen to twenty build- ings, among which was the court house, were on fire during the night. All, however, except the two first mentioned, were saved through the vigilance and activity of the citi- zens. The buildings in the immediate neighborhood of Mr. Hay's house and of the church, were almort continually on fire; but, by the most surprising intrepidity and persever- ance of the citizens, the ruinous element, which threatened
1
641
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
general devastation, was, at last, under the favor of a calm night, happily subdued.
"The citizens, animated with a sense of duty as well as danger, exerted their utmost strength in warring against the invading flames. Some were stationed on the roofs of the neighboring houses, where they remained for hours amidst fire and smoke, resisting the progress of the destroying ele- ment, which seemed every moment to be gathering with fresh fury around them : some kept the fire engines in con- tinual operation, while others furnished a constant supply of water. Many of the fair sex, of every age, strengthened by strong apprehensions of danger, were employed the grea- ter part of the night in conveying water, thereby contribu- ting much to the common safety. A few strangers, who were accidentally in the town, also rendered essential ser- vice.
" At about six o'clock in the morning the danger was over. No lives were lost, and but two persons were mate- rially hurt. Mr. Hay lost part of his furniture, a large quantity of grain, &c., but his papers, and most valuable effects, it is said were saved. The church organ, bells, and records were entirely destroyed.
" The fire appears to have originated from an oven, in the walls of which a wooden post was placed to support the shed above. The oven had been twice heated the prece- ding day ; and as there was but the thickness of a brick be- tween the fire and the wooden post, it is probable that by long and repeated use of the oven, the wall separating the fire from the wood, had been in some measure demolished ; so that the wood became exposed, and when the oven was heated, took fire; but that, for want of air, the fire made so slow a progress that it did not break out till late at night."
Within the period comprised in this chapter several noto-
642
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY.
rious impostors carried on some nefarious schemes, " to raise the wind," among the people of York county. They fig- ured first, for some time in Dauphin, now Lebanon county, then tried another region. To show, what may be done ' among a people of simplicity, place is given to the following. Wholesome lessons may be deduced from the whole .- The account is from the pen of the Hon. Judge Henry, and sent by him to Philadelphia with the convicted impos- tors.
Dr. Dady, who was a German by birth, came to this coun- try with the Hessians during the American revolution. Pos- sessing a fascinating eloquence in the German language, and being very fluent in the English, he was afterwards employ- ed as a minister of the gospel by uninformed, but honest Ger- mans.
When the sacerdotal robe could no longer be subservient to his avaricious views, he laid it aside and assumed the character of a physician. As such he went to York county, and dwelt among the poor inhabitants of a mountainous part thereof, (now within the limits of Adams county,) where, in wvarious artful ways, he preyed on the purse of the unwary.
Of all the numerous impositions with which his name is connected, and to which he lent his aid, we will mention but two. The scene of one of them is in what is now Adams county, where he dwelt ; and of the other in the "barrens" of York county.
The following is an account of the Adams county impo- sition :--
Rice Williams, or rather Rainsford Rogers, a New Eng- lander, and John Hall, a New Yorker, (both of whom had been plundering the inhabitants of the southern states by by their wiles,) came to the house of Clayton Chamberlain, a neighbor of Dady, in July, 1797.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.