History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 26

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 26

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Washington encamped near Whitemarch, be- tween the Perkiomen and the Skippack creeks, with his army of about 11,000 men.

The British entered Philadelphia on the 26th of September and occupied the city and German- town.

Congress and the Pennsylvania Assembly had early taken measures to secure the safety of the public property, and on June 16, 1777, the As- sembly passed a resolution, viz: "That the presi- dent and council be authorized and empowered to remove as soon as they may think proper, all

the bells belonging to the several churches and other public buildings, as also all the copper and brass in this city, to some place of safety."

On Sept. 12, 1777, the Assembly ordered "That Mr. Parker, Mr. Shubart and Mr. White- hill, be a committee to provide a shallop for- transporting the public records, papers and printing press, up the river to Colonel Kirk- bride's, from thence to be carried to some place of security, under the care of the members for Bucks county."

The Supreme Executive Council, met on Sun- day, Sept. 14, 1777, and ordered "That Mr. Lowden and Mr. Hoge be appointed to have the Money and Papers belonging to the Public Loan Office removed to Easton, in the County of Northampton, and John Snyder and Henry Bartholomew were employed with a Waggon to convey it to the said place. That Colonel Ni- cola furnish a squad of Two men to go with the said Waggoners. These Papers, &c., are contained in a case, a barrel and an iron chest. That Colonel Flower employ James Worrell, Francis Allison and Mr. Evans, carpenters, or such other workmen as he may think proper to employ, and take down the Bells of all the public buildings in this City, and convey them to a place of safety."

The next day, Sept. 15th, Mr. Lowden and Mr. Hoge reported that they had received a large iron chest containing over £20,000 in paper money from the Trustees of the Loan Office and the Council ordered the chest with its contents to be immediately sent to Easton and committed to the care of Robert Levers, Esq.

On September 17th the Council directed that the books in the Library belonging to the State be also sent to Mr. Levers at Easton, to whose care a case and a barrel, containing the books and papers of the late Council of Safety and the Board of War, had already been sent, with the Loan Office money and papers. A memor- andum accompanying this says, "Fourteen boxes and two trunks sent by Philip Mosser and Jacob Kuhn, accordingly."

To transport the continental stores, the sick and wounded soldiers and the prisoners, a large number of wagons were required. In pursu- ance of circulars sent out by the Executive Coun- cil on June 17, 1777, quite a number of men assembled at Allentown on June 26th and elected Conrad Kreider, of Allen township. wagon mas- ter. On July 5th Kreider reported that there were 550 wagons in the county. These were divided into brigades, each under a wagon mas- ter. On September 4th thirty wagons were or- dered to be sent to Philadelphia from Northamp-

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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

ton county by the Executive Council, and in all about two hundred wagons from Northampton county were impressed into service.

Congress adjourned on the 18th and left Philadelphia early on the morning of the 19th to convene at Lancaster on the 27th, but three days after removed to York.

The Assembly adjourned on the 18th and met at Lancaster on the 29th. The Executive Council held its last meeting in Philadelphia on September 23d and met again at Lancaster on October Ist.

The diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Phila- delphia, who was connected with the Quarter- master's Department, gives us a good idea of the situation. Under date of September 19, 1777, he wrote: "I sent off George Nelson with the money, books and papers belonging to the public to Abraham Hunt's in New Jersey, and one load of my private goods to Peter Trexler's in Northampton county.'

Sept. 23. "The city much alarmed and peo- ple moving out."

Sept. 24. "Left Philadelphia with my whole family ; dined at Bristol, and from thence to Abraham Hunt's, at Trenton, where we were kindly received."

Sept. 26. "This day the English entered Philadelphia."

Oct. 5. "Sent off David Kinney with two wagons, with my goods, for Reading."

Oct. 6. "Set out from Trenton with my family for Reading."

Oct. 7. "Reached George Taylor's at Gal- loway's Iron Works (Durham), where we had everything we could desire."

Oct. 8. "Dined at Bethlehem, and then pro- ceeded to Squire Peter Trexler's, who received us with great good will."

Oct. 9. "Sent on Nelson and Kinney with the wagons, but remained another day owing to the rain."

Oct. 10. "Arrived at Reading."

After the battle of Brandywine, General Washington ordered the transfer of the mili- tary stores to Bethlehem. This order was transmitted in an official letter from David Rit- tenhouse, member of the Board of War, and State Treasurer, to John Okely, then an Assist- ant Commissary at Bethlehem, on September 16th. With the message, 36 wagons laden with such stores, arrived from French Creek. The following day, 38 more wagons arrived and the supplies were deposited near the Monocacy, north of the town, under a guard of forty soldiers. On September 18th a continual train of army

wagons came into the place. On the 19th more wagons arrived, bringing quantities of ammuni- tion and material for the preparation of more.

The Bethlehem Moravian Diary, under date of September 22d, says: "In the evening ar- rived 50 troopers and 50 infantry, with the ar- chives and other papers of Congress, from Tren- ton, via Easton." The entry for September 23d states that the Delegates to Congress (of whom there were then sixteen in Bethlehem, in- cluding John Hancock, John and Samuel Adams, and Richard Henry Lee) "generously ordered the removal of the laboratory, just set up in one of our workshops for the manufacture of cart- ridges, to Allentown, and the early transfer of the Highlanders to Lancaster."

On September 24th the entry for the day reads thus: "The whole of the heavy baggage of the army, in a continuous train of 700 wagons, direct from camp, arrived under escort of 200 men, commanded by Colonel William Polk, of North Carolina. They encamped on the south side of the Lehigh, and in one night destroyed all our buckwheat and the fences around the fields. The wagons, after unloading, returned to Trenton for more stores. Among the things brought here were the church bells from Philadelphia, and the wagon in which was loaded the State House bell, broke down in the street, and had to be unloaded."

The accident occurred in the large open space in front of the Brethren's House, then spoken of as "der Platz," or the Square, on the descent to the mill. Careful and painstaking research has not revealed any further information regarding the Liberty Bell's journey than what is here stated. The tradition in the Mickley family for years is that John Jacob Mickley hauled the bell to Bethlehem where his wagon broke down, when it was transferred to Frederick Leaser's wagon, who brought it to Allentown. The tradition handed down in the Leaser family is that Fred- erick Leaser hauled the bell to Bethlehem, where his wagon broke down and it was then brought by some other person to Allentown. No docu- mentary evidence exists to substantiate these tra- ditions, and it is hoped that the future may bring to light evidence that will clear up this question.

Besides the chimes of Christ Church, eight in number, weighing 2,400 pounds, two bells be- longing to St. Peter's Church were among those brought in the wagon train. Nicholas Haupt, a resident of Bucks county, was in charge of one of the wagons, upon which were two bells. These bells were of varying sizes and weights, some ex- tremely heavy, and it was not possible that they could all be hauled in one vehicle, therefore

I38

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

several wagons and drivers were employed in this duty.

The Liberty Bell and the chimes of Christ Church were taken to Allentown and secreted beneath the floor of the stone building erected by Zion Reformed congregation in 1774. Un- fortunately, history has not preserved the names of those who assisted on this historic occasion. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that the church consistory, who had charge of the build- ing, and who must have consented to the conceal- ing of the bells under the floor of the church, were present and aided in the work of conceal- ment. These men were Peter Rhoads, treasurer, John Griesemer, Nicholas Fox, John Miller and Michael Kolb. Rev. Abraham Blumer, who lived in Whitehall township, was at this time the pastor of the congregation. Historians have dif- fered regarding the place of concealment of this famous "herald of freedom." Trenton, Bethle- hem and Lancaster have been mentioned as its hiding place and some writers have it that it was sunk in the Delaware. The wagon train, as we have seen, went by way of Trenton to Beth- lehem, where the baggage remained for some time. The honor of sheltering this famous sym- bol of American liberty belongs wholly to Allen- town, where it reposed until the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, when it was re- turned to the State House.

A tablet was placed on Zion Reformed Church on June 27, 1902, bearing this inscription : "1777-1902. To commemorate the concealment of the Liberty Bell during the Revolutionary War in the second church built on this site. This tablet is erected by the Liberty Bell Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution."

On November 3, 1903, the Liberty Bell was again brought to Allentown, on its return trip from the World's Fair at Chicago, when it was escorted to the church by the largest parade ever seen in Allentown. Impressive services were held at the church and the bell remained over night at Allentown.

A fine bronze memorial tablet in front of the church has this inscription :

"In commemoration of the saving of the Lib- erty Bell, in September, 1777. Erected to the memory of John Jacob Mickley, Commissary of Issues and Member of the General Committee from Whitehall township, Northampton county, Pa., who, under cover of darkness, and with his own farm team, hauled the Liberty Bell from Independence Hall, Philadelphia, through the British lines to Bethlehem, when the wagon broke down, Sept. 23, 1777. The bell was trans- ferred to Frederick Leaser's wagon and brought

in safety to Allentown, Sept. 24, 1777, where it was placed beneath the floor of Zion Reformed Church, and remained secreted for nearly a year. "This tablet is placed by order of the Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, June 2, 1907, under the auspices of the Pennsylvania Daughters of the American Revolution, dated October 15, 1908, and signed by Mrs. Alfred G. Saeger, chairman, and Miss Minnie F. Mickley, secretary, of the John Jacob Mickley Memorial Committee, appointed by Mrs. Allen P. Perley, State Regent of Pennsylvania."

Early in the year 1777, a number of the Hes- sians taken prisoner at Trenton were brought to Allentown and kept for a time in tents. The camp was located in the northern part of the town in the neighborhood of Gordon street, ac- cording to the testimony of an old citizen.

The Bethlehem Diary of September 26th, says : "To this date some 900 wagons, with munitions of war have arrived, and been parked behind the tavern, in the fields towards Nain." Nain was a village established by the Moravians for their Indian converts, and was situated north- west of West Bethlehem, in Hanover township, Lehigh county. The damage done by this large wagon train and the troops accompanying it amounted to over £1,700. Twenty-two acres of buckwheat, four acres of Indian corn, six acres of turnips and one acre of cabbage were de -. stroyed, 17,000 fence rails and 200 chestnut posts used, a crop of flax ruined, six tons of hay and 59412 cords of wood utilized during the time the train remained at Bethlehem.

Besides the military stores and prisoners, the sick and wounded of the army were brought to Northampton county. The order transferring the General Hospital was brought to Bethlehem by Dr. Hall Jackson on the evening of Septem- ber 19, 1777. It was from the Director Gen- eral of the Continental Hospital and read as fol- lows :

"My Dear Sir :

"It gives me pain to be obliged by order of Congress to send my sick and wounded soldiers to your peaceable village-but so it is. Your large buildings must be appropriated to their use. We will want room for 2,000 at Bethle- hem, Easton, Northampton (Allentown), etc., and you may expect them on Saturday or Sunday. I send Dr. Jackson before them that you may have time to order your affairs in the best man- ner. These are dreadful times, consequences of unnatural wars. I am truly concerned for your Society, and wish sincerely this stroke could be averted, but 'tis impossible. I beg Mr. Hasse's

139

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

assistance, love and compliments to all friends from, my dear Sir,

"Your affectionate humble Serv't. "W. SHIPPEN, D. G."

Trenton, Sep. 18, 1777.

By October 22d over four hundred sick and wounded were quartered in the Brethern's House at Bethlehem, and fifty in tents in the garden at the rear, besides numerous sick officers in other buildings. The surgeons refused to receive any more and those that arrived that day were sent to Easton. Dr. Benjamin Rush, Surgeon and Physician General, arrived in Bethlehem on No- vember 3d, and at his suggestion seventy pa- tients were removed to the Geisinger farm, up the Lehigh river.

James Allen, proprietor of Allentown, who was then living on his property in his home "Trout Hall," wrote in his diary October 1, 1777, "All the baggage of our Army is at Beth- lehem and here; and what with Hospitals and artificers these little towns are filled," and on the 15th, "When the hospital and publick works were erected in this little town, I offered to supply them with wood at a reasonable rate, &c.," and again on Nov. 21st, "The General Hospital is still here."

In a letter written by John Arndt and David Deshler, who were Commissioners of Purchases, to President Wharton of the Executive Council, dated March 6, 1778, they state that they had little hope of procuring a large number of cattle or swine at this time of the year, "there being large hospitals in the Towns of Easton, Bethle- hem and Northampton, where considerable quan- tity of Provision is consumed."

A number of soldiers were quartered in the homes of citizens of Allentown, but the greater number were sheltered in Zion Reformed church, which was transformed into a hospital. The gov- ernment re-imbursed the church authorities for the use of the building and for any damage in- flicted, as the accounts of the congregation show. Peter Rhoads, Esq., at this time a member of the Assembly, was the treasurer, and in his accounts is this entry :

"October 3, 1778. Received from Mr. Rob- ert Lettis Hooper, through George Graff, £103, for rent and damages suffered by the church dur- ing the war."

Col. Robert Lettis Hooper was Deputy Quar- ter Master General in the Continental army

and a man in whom Gen. Washington seems to have reposed especial confidence. His depart- ment covered Northampton, Bucks, Berks and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, and Sus- sex county in New Jersey. He lived at this time in Saucon township, about five miles south of Bethlehem.

A log house on the north side of Hamilton street, a short distance east of Eighth, was also used as a hospital. This building was removed from Hamilton street to the rear of No. 36 North Eighth street, then owned by Jacob Newhard. It was blown down by a storm about 1870 and many wooden articles such as chairs, benches, mallets and kitchen utensils were made from its logs and presented to friends as relics by Silas Newhard. The key of this house is said to have been deposited in the old state house at Phila- delphia by Jacob Kuntz.

The number of inmates of the hospital at Bethlehem on December 28, 1777, amounted to 700. On April 8, 1778, an order was received removing the hospital to Reading, and on April 14th the removal was completed.

Mention has been made of the removal of the laboratory for the manufacture of cartridges from Bethlehem'to Allentown on Sept. 23, 1777. After this removal works were also established at Allentown for repairing arms and the manu- facture of saddles and scabbards for bayonets. Captain Stiles was in charge of the depot for military supplies, and John Tyler and Ebenezer Cowell were Armourers in the employ of the state. Mr. Cowell arrived at Allentown in the beginning of October, 1777, and fitted up a shop with the timber of an old saw mill owned by David Deshler, in which he employed sixteen armourers, and where he fitted up a waterwheel to turn a grindstone on which bayonets were ground.

This building was situated on the Little Le- high creek. Mr. Cowell with ,Dr. William Smith, rented a house on South Seventh street, from Mr. Deshler, in which Mr. Cowell and his family resided for some time. It was also used for a laboratory, until required by Mr. Deshler for the storage of provisions for the army, upon his appointment as a Commissioner of Purchases.

The following is a general return of all the arms, &c., the property of the State of Pennsyl- vania, received into the public Armourer's Store at Allentown, from Oct. 15 to Dec. 4, 1777.

I40

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

When received, 1777.

Of whom received

Pistols

Muskets

Bayonets

Scabbards

Rifles

Carbines

Barrells

Oct. 15

Col. Henry's Clerk

669 169

120

194

Capt. James Pearson

Nov. 18

Col. Wetzel

Capt. Knappenberger

rifles with locks

Capt. Stiles, muskets with locks ..

Champion Wood, a private In Capt. Moulder's Company.

Dec. 4

Adam Clendening, Lieut. 6 Batt. North'n Militia.

810

847

360

A statement of the Arms, &c. delivered out of the Public Armorour's Store at Allentown from Oct. 5, 1777, to Jan. 1779, follows:

To Whom Delivered

Blunderbusses

Pistols

Barrels

Bayonets

Scabbards

Rifles

Carbines

1777

Major Boyd, of the Northampton County Militia.

Colonel Breinig, of the Northampton County Militia.

Colonel Wetzel, Lieut. of Northampton County

13M

Colonel Deshler. Sub. Lieut. of Northampton County.

James Pearson, Capt. of the Ammunition Guard.

Nov. 18

James Pearson, Capt. of the Ammunition Guard ..

Colonel Wetzel, Lieut, of Northampton County Militia.

12M

John Jackson, sent to Gen. Armstrong at Camp. ..

180M

180

Dec. 2

Adam Clendening, Lieut. 6th Batt. Northampton County Militia

12M

Capt. Kuntz, of Northampton County Militia

12M

Jacob Snell. Serg't. 5th. Batt. Northampton County Militia.

Henry Reitz, Capt. 6th. Batt. Northampton County Militia. .

17M

22M

110M

110

1778

Sent to Col. Wm. Henry at Lancaster

** 24

Ebenezer Cowell

50M

Feb. 28

John Jacobson, Clerk.

136M

1.36

.. 26

John Jacobson, Clerk.

100M

100

" 26

Col. Henry for his own use

90M

* 31

Sent to Col. Morgan at Reading.

75M

July 8

Col. Hanger, Sub. Licut. of Philadelphia.

66M

.. 31

Col. Hanger, Sub. Lieut. of Philadelphia ..

50M

265M

265

Col. Shoemaker. Sub. Lieut. of Northampton County

1779

Col. Hagner, Sub. Lieut. of Philadelphia.

322M

312

Col. Hagner, Sub. Lieut. of Philadelphia.

298 2

Bbs. S

Total delivered out at Allentown

2961

2522

685

Col. Wetzel

Col. Henry, muskets with locks

without locks

Ebenezer Cowell, gunsmith, by Col. Bonham's order

25M

Ebenezer Cowell

Col. Abraham Miller, of Northampton County Militia.

22M

James Allison, Esq., Adjutant of Northampton County Mi litia.

33M

Jacob Young. Qr. Master, 5th. Batt. Northampton County Militia John Jacobson, Clerk.

Jan. 14

Ebenezer Cowell

John Jacobson, Clerk

625M

625

Mar. 13

John Jacobson, Clerk

224M

224

110

Col. John Chambers, Sub. Lieut. Northampton County Militia

110M

Aug. 16 16

Col. Hanger. Sub. Lieut. of Philadelphia.

50M

Jan. 25

Col. Wetzel, Lieut. of Northampton County

123

150

371

162

without locks

Muskets and

Oct. 18

May

John Jacobson. Clerk ..

Col. Hanger, Sub. Lieut. of Philadelphia.

Col. Wetzel, Lieut. of Northampton County

Among the gunsmiths employed at Allentown were John Moll, Jacob Newhard, George Lag- undecker and Adam Foulke. John Moll was the son of William Moll, also a gunsmith, and lived in Allentown from 1772 until his death in 1794. His son, John, born in 1773, succeeded

him in the trade. Their gunshop was on North Seventh street, immediately south of the Lafay- ette Hotel. John Moll, second, married Eliza- beth Newhard, and their eldest son, John, born in 1796 and died in 1883, was also a gunsmith, as well as William H. Moll, the grandson, who

Total

Gun

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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

was the fifth generation of the family in the vocation.

The extreme rigors of the Revolution were felt among the workmen at Allentown, as they were by the American soldiers and artisans em- ployed in that war almost everywhere. Under date of Feb. 17, 1778, John Wetzell, Lieuten- ant of the county, wrote to the president of the Executive Council at Lancaster, "My duty de- mands that I should give news to you of a new order received yesterday, viz, in relation to short- ness of rations issued to military workers and saddlers, the same having created such great un- rest among the workmen that they concluded to give up work. A conversation with David Desh- ler and Fred Hagener made them more content. The sub-lieutenants have received many arms to be repaired, and received yesterday four hundred muskets, and more are expected daily. The quartermaster writes that he wants a large quan- tity of repaired guns, because he is expecting new militia every day, as well as militia of this coun- ty, which is to be fully equipped. We have de- cided to allow former rations until we receive further instructions. Our department is now in good order, and is increased every day, so that I entertain the hope to obtain the necessary work- men to finish our labor."

"P. S .- The rations which at present are is- sued are 11/2 pounds of beef, 11/2 pounds of bread, also flour and vegetables, 1/2 pint of rum or whiskey, wood, soap, and candles."

Lieut .- Com. Cornelius Sweers, of Lebanon, writing to Wharton, May 4, 1778, says, "On investigation of the stores at Allentown, I found certain barrels and chests containing sail-cloth. Since we are in immediate need of this article, I asked Capt. Stiles for the same, which he said could only be surrendered on an order of the Council. I flatter myself that you will give this order, as Gen. Washington needs the same for ordinance wagons, etc."

Frederick Hagner, Sub-Lieutenant, wrote May 11, 1778, to Thomas Wharton, Jun., Esq., President of the Executive Council of Pennsyl- vania at Lancaster, as follows: "May it please your Excellency ; According to your Excellency and Council's last Request dated the 28th April, I have diligently examined and inquired into, but have not been able until this day to give a true and exact Account of what Arms, etc., are now in my possession and how many shall and can be properly repaired by the 20th of this month, which is as follows: In my possession in store, 800 Muskets & Bayonets, with Scabbards, 550 Bayonet Belts, 750 Cartouch Boxes, 45 Shot Punches and 118 Powder Horns. 400 Knap

and Havre Sacks, New, 75 Blankets, 25 Tent Cloths, 140 Camp Kettles. In John Tyler's possession, in good repair, 31 Rifles. Will be ready the 10th May, 150 Muskets & Bayonets, from J. Tyler, 150 Muskets and Bayonets from E. Cowel.

"This number of arms, etc., may be depended upon, all in good repair, and shall endeavor, if possible, to exceed the above number, as both Mr. Tyler and Mr. Cowell have promised to deliver more muskets than I have mentioned be- cause it is difficult to get the scabbards for the Bayonets finished. I have three saddlers now employed and will not leave a stone unturned, to serve my Country and your Excellency and Council. I am, with the utmost esteem, Your Excellency's Most Obedient and Most Humble Servant, Frederick Hagner, Sub. Lieut."

Mr. Cowell's letter to Mr. Wharton is as fol- lows:

"Allentown, May 9, 1778. Sir: In answer to your Favour of the 28th ult. I have to inform you that since the return of Arms I made on the 2Ist Jan. last, I have delivered Col. Fredk. Hagner two hundred and seventy two stand of arms in repair, and have now on hand three hun- dred and fifty stand complete, except half the number of bayonets are yet to be ground, but expect to have them all ground by 20th inst. The above 250 stand of Arms are all I have upon hand worth repairing, except a few that want new stocks, some of which I expect will be done before that time. I am, Sir, Yr. Most Obednt. Humble Servt., Ebenezer Cowell."

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 26

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158