USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 30
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. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
Lieutenant.
Matthias Kern, .Oct.
5, 1781
Nov. 22
47
John Fink, .Oct.
5, 1781 Nov. 22
47
Isaac Sherret.
.Oct. 12, 1781
Nov. 22
40
Michael Yiesly,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
John Klein, . Sept. 22, 1781
Henry Knappenberger, .Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
George Hoffman,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
John Meyer,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
Ditrich Hartman,
Oct. 17, 1781 Nov. 22
36 Daniel Neyhardt, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
Drummer.
Leonard Steininger, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22
Jacob Yundt,
. Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22
Nov. 22 34
Casper Reaser, Nov. 2, 1781
Nov. 22 20
William Laury,
Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60 Privates.
Jacob Schreiber, Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Christian Barge,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Andrew Hek, .Oct. 20, 1781 Nov. 22 33
Peter Neihard, .Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
Peter Burkhalter, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
George Flickinger, Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
Jacob Steckel, Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Henry Steckel, Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22
60
Godfried Weasner,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Adam Garny,
Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
Nov. 22
25
Stoffel Kern,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
George Nease,
Sept. 22, 178I
Nov. 22
60
John Ohlenwine,
Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
John Bildhouse,
Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Henry Heiser, . Oct. 15, 1781 Nov. 15 30
Peter Braun, Nov. 5, 1781
Nov. 22 I8
Michael Ringer, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
Philip Mink, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22
60
60
John Rhinehart,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
John Rishel, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Casper Hapler, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60 60
Casper Shoenebruch, .. Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
David Musgenung,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Nov. 22 60
John Butz,
. Sept. 22, 1781 . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Matthias Rissel,
. Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
60
Isaac Berlin, Sept. 10, 1781 Nov. 10 60
Nicholas Meyer, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
Nov. 22
4I
Jacob Delb, Oct. 4, 1781 Nov. 4
30
Ensign.
Daniel Rex. Nov. 8, 1781 Nov. 22 14 Sergeants.
John Derr, .Oct. 28, 1781 Nov. 22 25
George Vogt, . Oct: 15, 178I
Nov. 22 38 Corporal.
Bernhard Smith, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Nicholas Lambert, Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
Fifer.
Frederick Rise, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 60
Mustered this 19th day of November, 1781, per order of Col. Robert Levers, per me. JOHN CHAMBERS.
Allentown and the townships of old North- ampton county west of the Lehigh river fur- nished a number of men prominent in civil and military life during the Revolution.
Biographical sketches of these patriots follow :
PETER RHOADS.
Among the patriots of Allentown and vicinity, the man who attained the highest civil positions in the Revolutionary period, was Peter Rhoads. Born in Whitehall township in April, 1737, two miles north of the present city of Allentown, the son of Daniel Roth, a native of Switzerland, who died in the same hour in which his son was born, he was educated among the Quakers, by whom he was persuaded to change the spelling of his name to Rhoads. He received a good English education, and was equally as well read in German, besides acquiring a knowledge of French, Latin, surveying, book-keeping and those
Simon Snyder, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22 Nov. 22
60
Henry Hertzel, . Sept. 22, 1781
George Zimmerman, . Sept. 22, 1781
Nov. 22
Adam Swander, Sept. 22, 1781
Lieut. Col.
Christian Shouse, . Sept. 10, 1781 Nov. 10, 60
Jonathan Trexler,
Nov. 22 60
Adam Serfass, Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 10 60
Dietrich Dorner,
Henry Durny, . Sept. 22, 1781 Nov. 22
60
Nov. 22 60
60 60
Jacob Hartman, . Oct. 18, 1781
John Weaver,
. Oct. 28, 1781
Nov. 22 60
Nov. 22 60
Francis Warmkessel,
161
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
duties pertaining to the scrivener of that day. He also learned the trade of a tailor, as it was customary among the Quakers to teach the young men useful occupations.
In 1761 he returned to his native township, Whitehall, and the following year, on November 23, 1762, was married to Sabina Kohler, daugh- ter of Jacob Kohler, of Egypt. In that year he began to build a stone dwelling house on North Seventh street in Allentown, which still stands, the oldest house in the city. Upon the organization of the Reformed congregation in the new town in the same year, he was chosen one of the deacons. Already in 1768 he con- ducted a general store, which he maintained un- til his death. In 1772 he was tax-collector of Salisbury township, and in 1773 was treasurer of Zion Reformed congregation.
He became a member of the county Committee of Observation on October 2, 1775, and on July 8, 1776, with Peter Burkhalter, was elected a member of the first constitutional convention, which met at the state house in Philadelphia on the 15th of July, 1776, and was in session until September 28th following. On July 23, 1776, the convention elected the members of the council of safety, consisting of fifteen members from Philadelphia county, and one from each of the other counties. Mr. Rhoads was elected the member from Northampton county. The council of safety in session from July 24, 1776 to March 17, 1777, was the most important body in the state at that time, and carried on the executive duties of the government until the Supreme Executive Council, chosen under the constitution at the election in February organ- ized in March, 1777.
On May 2nd, 1777, Mr. Rhoads was ap- pointed by the Board of War one of the com- missioners from Northampton county, to collect blankets for the continental troops. November 24, 1776, he was appointed treasurer for the ad- vance money, for Northampton county.
In October, 1777, he was elected a member of the assembly, which met at Lancaster on Oc- tober 27th, but did not obtain a quorum until November 20, 1777, and was re-elected in 1778, 1779 and 1780. On April 2, 1781, he voted in favor of the bill which was passed abolishing slavery in Pennsylvania. He was appointed jus- tice of the peace, December 4, 1783.
On October 8, 1784, he was appointed and commissioned by the Supreme Executive Council, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and of General Quarter Sessions for Northamp- ton county. On October 22nd, 1787, he was
chairman of the meeting at Bethlehem approv- ing the Federal Constitution, and condemning the acts of the members of the Pennsylvania As- sembly who had withdrawn from that body. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1789-'90, and under that constitution com- missioned an Associate Judge, August 17, 1791. This position he held continuously in Northamp- ton county, until the erection of Lehigh county in 1812, when he was appointed Senior Asso- ciate Judge in that county, which position he filled until his death, making a total service on the bench of thirty years.
In 1792 an attempt was made by the Allen family to establish a separate county with Allen- town as the county seat, and Judge Rhoads, who was the agent of the Allen family at Allen- town, took a leading part in the movement, but the effort was unsuccessful.
About 1798, the Lehigh Navigation Company was formed for the purpose of improving the Lehigh river, and Judge Rhoads became its President. After expending a large sum of money, the company abandoned the project. In 1811, Allentown was incorporated into a bor- ough, and Judge Rhoads was elected the first Burgess and re-elected in 1812. He was a man of fine physical proportions and possessed great energy and activity. Dr. Egle in a sketch of him, says: "Judge Rhoads was a gentleman of firm convictions, upright and conscientious and wielded a great influence in the town and coun- ty.'
In a letter written September 22, 1814, to Judge Rhoads by the eminent lawyer, Samuel Sitgreaves, of Easton, the writer in discussing the depression of the Federalist party, says: "I have become indolent and inert, and must leave the Turmoil of Elections to younger men who love Bustle and whose Zeal is not rendered tor- pid by Infirmity of Body. I rejoice, my dear Sir, that you, to whose more advanced age these Observations might still more reasonably apply, appear to preserve the Zeal of a youthful Spirit beneath the Frost of Years; and I wish it were more generally the Case with our veteran Pat- riots-Altho' I fell the weight of Apathy heavy on my own Mind, I much honor the perennial Vigor of others-and hope you may long live to infuse your Ardour into the refractory Spirits about you."
Judge Rhoads died at his residence in Allen- town on Sunday evening, December 18, 1814, at nine o'clock, at the age of 77 years and 8 months. He was buried the following Wednes- day, in the cemetery at Tenth and Linden streets.
162
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
DAVID DESHLER.
David Deshler, the son of Adam Deshler, was born in Switzerland, in 1734. His father was one of the early settlers of Whitehall township, where he became quite prominent. David, his eldest son, who was naturalized April 10, 1761, purchased the mill property on the Little Le- high from Michael Rothrock in 1762 and was one of the first settlers of Allentown. In 1762 he was taxed £9, and in 1768 for a grist mill and a saw mill and fifty acres of land in Salis- bury township.
He became a member of the county Commit- tee of Observation on Dec. 21, 1774 and was a delegate from Northampton county to the Pro- vincial Conference of Committees, which met in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, on June 18, 1776. He was chosen by this conference as one of the judges of election for members of the convention, on July 8, 1776, at Allentown, where the second election district, consisting of North- ampton, Salsburg, Upper Saucon, Upper Mil- ford, Macungie, Weisenberg, Lynn, Whitehall and Heidelberg held its election.
On March 12, 1777, he was elected by the Assembly one of the four Sub-Lieutenants of Northampton county.
In his account, filed September 4, 1779, he re- ports having received £4,818 17s 9d, from sun- dry persons for non-performance of militia duty. He was appointed one of the Commissioners of Purchases for Northampton county on February 19, 1778; Assistant Forage Master on April 5, 1780, and on July 7, 1780, Assistant Commis- sary of Purchases. He was a delegate to the convention called to ratify the Federal Constitu- tion in 1787.
Mr. Deshler was a man of great ability and much force of character. In 1782, he purchased from John Benezet of Philadelphia, the house built by George Taylor, a signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, with the land belonging to the plantation along the Lehigh, near Cata- sauqua, which Mr. Taylor had sold to Mr. Benezet in 1776. Here he spent the latter part of his life. When slavery was abolished in the state, Mr. Deshler owned two negroes. He was one of the wealthiest men of his time in the county and in his will bequeathed each of his six daughters £500, his son David £1,000, and his tanyard and bark-mill to his son George, hav- ing already given his portion to his son John Adam.
He died in December, 1796, at the age of 62 years, at Biery's Bridge, now Catasauqua.
PETER BURKHALTER.
Peter Burkhalter, the son of Ulrich Burkhal- ter, was born December 2, 1731, and accom- panied his parents to America from Switzerland, arriving at Philadelphia on September 28, 1733. The family settled in Whitehall township, where the father purchased a tract of 300 acres in 1743, which he conveyed by deed of gift to his only son, Peter, on March 9, 1754. Peter Burk- halter was naturalized on April 10, 1761. He married Eve Catherine Deshler, a daughter of Adam Deshler.
On July 8, 1776, Mr. Burkhalter was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, which met on July 15, 1776, and in November of that year was elected a member of the first Assembly under that constitution, which organ- ized on November 28, 1776. He was re-elected in 1777, and again elected in 1784, 1785, 1786 and 1787. On March 30, 1780, he was ap- pointed one of the Sub-Lieutenants of Northamp- ton county. His name also appears as captain of a company of associators on May 22, 1775.
He died October 22, 1805, and is buried at Egypt church.
PETER KOHLER.
Peter Kohler, the son of Jacob Kohler, a pioneer settler of Whitehall township, was born April 2, 1735, at Egypt. The first mention of him in active life is in 1764, when he opened a store at Egypt. He operated a grist mill built by his father and also kept a house of entertain- ment for travelers.
He became a member of the county Committee of Observation on May 30, 1776; was appointed one of the commissioners to collect clothing for the troops on November 8, 1777, and on Decem- ber 16, 1777, was appointed by the Pennsyl- vania Assembly one of the persons to take sub- scriptions for the Continental loan in Northamp- ton county. He was commissioned one of the Justices for Northampton county on May 28, 1779, and was elected to the Assembly in 1780, 1781 and 1782. He died September 27, 1793, and is buried at Egypt.
STEPHEN BALLIET.
Stephen Balliet, the son of Paul Balliet, was born in 1753. He married Magdalena Burk- halter, a daughter of Peter Burkhalter.
He was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel in December, 1776, and commanded his battal- ion at the battles of Brandywine and German-
163
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
town. He also saw service on the frontiers and was one of the officers in command on the march to Nescopeck. He was appointed agent for Forfeited Estates on May 6, 1778 and on Oct. 20, 1783, was elected a member of the Supreme Executive Council. He was appointed a mem- ber of the Board of Property on June 7, 1784, and was elected to the Assembly in 1788 and 1 789.
In 1797 he was appointed Revenue Collector for the Second District of Pennsylvania. He died August 4, 1821, and is buried in the old graveyard at Unionville.
PETER TREXLER, SR.
Peter Trexler, Sr., the son of Peter Trexler, the first settler in Macungie township, was born Feb. 11, 1721. He was elected one of the first county commissioners of Northampton county in 1752 and in 1753 was commissioned a Justice of Northampton county under the King, which office he filled many years. In the French and Indian war he was captain of a company called into service by Benjamin Franklin to garrison the forts on the frontier and to protect the set- tlers from Indian attacks.
In 1755 he was one of the six trustees of the school erected in Easton by a society composed of many of the English nobility whose purpose was to promote the instruction of Germans in the English language. He was appointed a jus- tice of the peace under the new government on June 3, 1777, and on Nov. 8, 1777, was ap- pointed one of the commissioners to collect clothing for the soldiers. He died August 25, 1798, and is buried in a private cemetery near Breinigsville.
GEORGE BREINIG.
George Breinig was a native of Germany, where he was born January 31, 1733. He emi- grated to America in 1749 and settled in Macun- gie township.
He was one of the judges of election at Allen- town, on July 8, 1776, and became colonel of the second battalion of Northampton county Militia, consisting of eight companies, his name appearing in muster rolls dated May 21, 1777, and May 14, 1778. In 1786, he was commis- sioned a justice of the district of Macungie and Weisenberg townships.
He died May 12, 1812, and is buried at Le- high Church.
PETER TREXLER, JR.
Peter Trexler, Jr., son of Peter Trexler, one of the first commissioners of Northampton coun- ty, and a colonial justice, and grandson of Peter Trexler, the pioneer settler of Macungie town- ship, was born August 15, 1748. On May 21, 1777, he was captain of the fifth company of Col. Breinig's Second Battalion of Militia; on November 1, 1781, Major of the First Battal- ion, under Lieut. Col. Balliet ; and on May 6, 1783, was chosen lieutenant colonel in the mili- tia battalion district of Whitehall, Macungie and Upper Milford townships. The several persons chosen lieutenant colonels met at the house of Joseph Hartzell, esq., on May 14, 1783, and cast lots for rank of the battalions, and the third battalion fell to the lot of Lieut. Col. Trexler. He was elected a member of the assembly in 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788. He died March 13, 1828, and is buried at Mertztown.
GEORGE GRAFF.
George Graff, born at Killendorf, Alsace, October 11, 1747, emigrated to America with his father, Jacob Graff, in 1754. The family settled in Whitehall township, where the sub- ject of this sketch had a narrow escape from death by Indians on October 8, 1763. George Graff married Barbara, daughter of Jacob Koh- ler, and in 1772 entered into partnership with his brother-in-law Peter Kohler, at Egypt. In 1773 Mr. Graff removed to Allentown and opened a store at Eighth and Hamilton streets.
In June, 1776, he became Captain of the third company of the first battalion of the Flying Camp, which was commanded on June 18, 1777, by Col. George Huebner. He was a commis- sioner for purchasing clothing in Northampton county in 1778; was elected collector of the excise on November 27, 1778, serving as such until January 9, 1786; was sheriff of the county from 1787 to 1790; and a member of the As- sembly from 1793 to 1796. In 1814 he was burgess of Allentown.
Mr. Graff died February 2, 1835, aged 87 years, and is buried in the old Allentown Ceme- tery.
HENRY HAGENBUCH.
Henry Hagenbuch, who was Captain of a company of the second battalion of the Flying Camp, on August 6, 1776, was born in 1738. He kept a hotel at Eighth and Hamilton streets,
164
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Allentown, for many years, and died here April 20, 1805. He is buried in the old Allentown Cemetery.
CHARLES DESHLER.
Charles Deshler, born September 10, 1754, was quarter-master of the fourth battalion of Northampton County Militia, under the com- mand of Lieut. Col. Boehm. He was a store- keeper here for many years and a prominent citi- zen. He was appointed storekeeper at Easton of the military stores on March II, 1778. He married Catharine, daughter of David Deshler, and lived on South Center Square. He died February 4, 1841, and is buried in Union Ceme- tery.
HENRY GEIGER.
Henry Geiger, a resident of Heidelberg town- ship, was born about 1720. He was commis- sioned an ensign in the Second Pennsylvania Regiment, on December 20, 1755 and saw con- siderable service in the French and Indian War. He became a lieutenant in 1757 and was in command of soldiers at various blockhouses and at Fort Allen. In October, 1776, he was com- missioned a Colonel of the second battalion of Northampton County Militia. He was also commissioned a colonial justice in 1764. He was for many years a prominent figure in Heid- elberg township.
JOHN WETZEL.
John Wetzel, a resident of Macungie town- ship, was a prominent figure in the early Revo- lutionary period. In 1774 he became a King's Justice and in 1775 was a delegate to the Pro- vincial Conference of June 18th. He was elect- ed to the first assembly on Nov. 5, 1776, and on May 16, 1777, was appointed lieutenant of the county, in which office, by reason of his ar- bitrary actions, he became extremely obnoxious to the Moravians and other non-resistant sects as well as to officers of the militia.
FREDERICK LIMBACH.
Frederick Limbach, a resident of Upper Mil- ford township, was appointed a justice of the peace in 1777, and a judge of the courts in 1784. On March 30, 1780, he was appointed a sub-lieutenant of the county and in 1783 was elected to the assembly. He removed from the county in 1787.
THOMAS MEWHORTER.
Thomas Mewhorter, a native of Scotland, be- came a resident of Allentown about 1776. He served in the Revolution and was elected to the assembly for four terms, serving from 1784 to 1788. He built the stone house at the south- east corner of Lehigh and Lawrence streets, where he had a tanyard. He died in Allen- town in 1807.
PHILIP BOEHM.
Philip Boehm, a grandson of Rev. John Philip Boehm, the pioneer Reformed clergyman, was born December 14, 1747. He married Barbara Deshler, sister of David Deshler, and for some years was a storekeeper in Allentown. In June, 1777, he was appointed Quartermaster and Aug. 27, 1777, Paymaster of Militia. On Oct. 19, 1778, he was elected coroner of the county. He became major of Northampton County Militia and in 1780 Lieutenant Colonel. He died Janu- ary 10, 1816.
JOHN JENNINGS.
John Jennings, son of Solomon Jennings, one of the participators in the Indian Walk of 1737. was the owner of the fine farm along the Lehigh, later owned by Jacob Geisinger. He was a Quarter-master in the Revolution and was Sheriff of the county several terms, and died while hold- ing that office in 1778. He proved himself an energetic officer in the Wyoming troubles.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE IN THE REVOLUTION, FROM THAT PART OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NOW LEHIGH COUNTY.
Committee of the Provincial Conference, held at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, June 18, 1775.
David Deshler. John Wetzel.
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, July 15, 1776. Peter Rhoads. Peter Burkhalter.
Member of the Council of Safety, July 24, 1776. Peter Rhoads.
Member of the Supreme Executive Council. Stephen Balliet. Oct. 20, 1783. Members of Assembly. Elected Nov. 5, 1776. John Wetzel. Peter Burkhalter.
165
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
Elected Oct. 14. 1777. Peter Burkhalter. Peter Rhoads. Elected Oct. 13, 1778. Peter Rhoads. Elected Oct. 12, 1779. Peter Rhoads. Elected Oct. 10, 1780. Peter Kohler. Peter Rhoads. Elected Oct. 9, 1781. Peter Kohler. Elected Oct. 8, 1782. Peter Kohler.
Elected Oct. 14, 1783. Frederick Limbach.
Elected Oct. 12, 1784. Thomas Mewhorter.
Elected Oct. II, 1785.
Thomas Mewhorter. Peter Trexler, Jr. Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 10, 1786. Peter Trexler, Jr. Thomas Mewhorter. Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 9, 1787.
Peter Trexler, Jr.
Thomas Mewhorter. Peter Burkhalter.
Elected Oct. 14, 1788. Peter Trexler, Jr. Stephen Balliet. Elected Oct. 13. 1789. Stephen Balliet.
Commissary of Purchases. David Deshler. Feb. 19, 1778. Assistant Forage Master. David Deshler. April 5. 1780.
Persons to take subscriptions for the Continental Loan. (Appointed by the Assembly,
Dec. 16, 1777.) Peter Kohler.
Commissioners to seize the Personal Effects of
Traitors. (Appointed Oct. 21, 1777.) Paul Balliet. Treasurer of the Advance Money for the Militia.
Peter Rhoads. Nov. 24, 1776.
Commissioners to collect clothing. Peter Trexler, Sen., Nov. 8, 1777. Peter Kohler, Nov. 8, 1777. George Graff, Mar. 18, 1778.
OFFICERS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, 1776 TO 1790, FROM THAT PORTION NOW LEHIGH COUNTY. President Judge. Peter Rhoads. Judges. Frederick Limbach. Peter Kohler. Matthias Brobst. Jacob Horner. George Breinig. Ludwig Stahler. Jacob Morey. Sheriffs. John Jennings, Nov. 5, 1777. George Graff, Oct. 16, 1787.
Coroners.
Peter Rhoads, Nov. 5, 1776.
Philip Boehm, Oct. 19, 1778.
George Knauss, Nov. 5, 1784.
George Schreiber, Oct. 16, 1787. Collector of Excise. George Graff, Nov. 27, 1778. Justices of the Peace.
Peter Trexler, Sen., June 3. 1777. David Deshler, June 3, 1777.
Frederick Limbach, June 3, 1777. Matthias Brobst, June 3. 1777.
Jacob Horner, June 3, 1777. Daniel Snyder, June 3, 1777.
Jacob Morey, June 3, 1777.
Peter Kohler, Nov. 2, 1780.
Peter Rhoads, Dec. 4. 1783.
George Breinig. Jan. 26, 1786.
Ludwig Stahler, Nov. 8, 1788.
Dedimus Potestatems.
Peter Trexler, June 4, 1777. County Lieutenant. John Wetzel, May 16, 1777. Sub-Lieutenants.
David Deshler, Mar. 12, 1777.
Peter Burkhalter, Mar. 30, 1780. Frederick Limbach, Mar. 30, 1780. Assistant Commissary of Purchases. David Deshler, July 7, 1780. Paymaster of Militia. Philip Boehm, Aug. 27, 1777. Storekeeper at Easton. Chas. Deshler, Mar. II, 1778. Agent for Forfeited Estates. Stephen Balliet, May 6, 1778.
Pennsylvania Archives-Colonial Records-Forces American Archives-Egle's History of Pennsyl- vania-Richard's The Pennsylvania German in the Revolutionary War-Levering's History of Beth- lehem-Jordan's Bethlehem during the Revolution-Moravian Diary-Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution-Stryker's Battle of Trenton-Davis' Washington on the West Bank of the Delaware- Journals of the Assembly-Historical Society of Pennsylvania Manuscript Collections-Revolution- ary Patriots of Allentown and Vicinity-Diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer-James Allen's Diary-Wat- son's Annals-Wyoming Valley Historical Record-Ellis' History of Northampton county-Allen- town Friedensbote.
CHAPTER IX.
"THE FRIES REBELLION."* I 798-99.
.
"Fries Rebellion" took place in contigious parts of Bucks and Northampton counties, in the Fall and Winter of 1798-99, and is so called from the name of the leader, John Fries, who was mainly instrumental in creating this opposition to the Federal authority. In each case the disturbance was caused in whole, or in part, by what the people considered an unjust and unlawful tax, and they resisted putting it in force. In the two latter cases the assessments to be made were of an unusual character, though not heavy in amount, and the opposition to it was caused, no doubt, by want of correct information, and not a settled design to interfere with the execution of the law. The history of the Fries Rebellion proves, quite conclusively, the outbreak was of this character, and, if proper means had been taken by the authorities to explain the law and its necessity, to the disaffected, the extreme meas- ures taken by the general government need not have been resorted to. It was fortunate, how- ever, the trouble was brought to a close without the loss of life or bloodshed, and the bitterness engendered was not permanent.
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